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polling place already allowed by law. Under the new rules, those observers will be given more freedom to move about the precinct, including the ability to closely monitor how election officials check in each voter. Voter challenges: Starting in 2014, any voter in the state may challenge the registration of another voter anywhere in the state if it is not a primary or general Election Day. That is a change from current rules, which required the challenger be from the same county. On Election Day, a voter may challenge the right of another person to vote if they are from the same county. Prior to 2014, those challenges have had to come from someone registered in the same voting precinct. Reasons for challenging a vote can include a number of grounds, including that the person does not live at the address reflected on his or her voter registration, that he or she has already voted or, in the case of a partisan primary, that he or she belongs to another party. Opponents of this measure say it will "open the door to mass challenges and vigilantes causing trouble at the polls." House Bill 589 makes a number of other changes to election laws that are hard to categorize but will alter how, when and where voters cast their ballots: Presidential primaries: Currently, North Carolina holds its presidential preference primary in May, along with primaries for most other offices. Under the bill, North Carolina would hold its presidential primaries – and only its presidential primaries – earlier in the year if South Carolina chooses to hold its presidential primary before March 15. Had this provision been in place in 2008 and 2012, North Carolina's presidential primaries would have moved occurred months earlier. The law requires North Carolina to hold both the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries "on the Tuesday after the first South Carolina presidential primary that year." South Carolina has held its Republican and Democratic primaries on different dates. Fiscal researchers estimated it will cost the state $4 million to hold an earlier primary election for just president, while holding all other primaries in May. North Carolina's May primary often takes place after the races for each party's presidential nomination have effectively been determined. Backers of the measure argue the state will gain influence from holding a presidential primary before primary contests are settled and could get an economic boost from increased spending in the state by the national campaigns. Instant runoff: North Carolina had created an instant runoff system to fill appellate court seats that become vacant less than two months before an election. The system requires voters to mark their first, second and third choices for an office, rather than returning to the polls when a candidate obtains only a plurality of the vote. When it was used in 2010, that system met with mixed reviews from voters. House Bill 589 eliminates the instant runoff system for judicial races. U.S. Senate replacements: When as U.S. senator dies, resigns or otherwise leaves office before the end of his or her term, the governor appoints a replacement. House Bill 589 requires that replacement be a registered voter of the same party that nominated the former senator. Special elections: Cities, counties and other local governments can call special elections for things like issuing bonds, holding alcoholic beverage referendums or approving tax increases. Under current law, those special elections can occur on primary or general Election Days or any day that isn't within 30 days of those pre-set election days. House Bill 589 requires such special elections to be held only "at the same time as a State, county, or municipal general election." There are exceptions to that requirement, including being ordered by the legislature or the courts to hold a special election at a different time or if the election relates to health and safety. Candidate withdrawal: Currently, a candidate for public office may withdraw his or her name at any point prior to the close of filing. The new law requires that candidates withdraw prior to the close of business on the third business day prior to the close of filing. This will prevent long-serving, established politicians from filing and then withdrawing their names so a favored subordinate can run unopposed at the last minute. Other sections of the bill make changes to how political candidates and parties report money they raise and spend on campaigns. Although these don't change how someone votes, they could alter what we know about who is funding a candidate's campaign or otherwise helping him or her run for office: Public money for elections: Current law allows voters to check a box on their tax returns to donate $3 to go to either the Republican or Democratic parties. Other provisions have created a mechanism for the public funding of judicial races and some Council of State races. Those mechanisms have traditionally required candidates raise a certain number of small-dollar contributions in order to receive the public funding. House Bill 589 eliminates both of those public financing provisions. Those who drafted the provision say that taxpayers should not be forced to support political speech with which they do not agree. Backers of the public financing programs, especially for judicial campaigns, say that such programs helps keep the influence of big money out of courtrooms and regulatory agencies. Raffles: Currently, only governments and nonprofits are allowed to hold raffles. The new election law allows candidates and political committees to hold raffles in order to raise money for candidates. The amount paid for a raffle ticket will have to be reported as a campaign donation. Contribution limits: House Bill 589 raises the amount an individual can give to a candidate from $4,000 to $5,000 per primary or general election. After 2015, that threshold would automatically increase every two years based on the Consumer Price Index. Building funds: Currently, corporations cannot donate to political parties or campaigns. However, they may donate to "building funds" for a party's headquarters. The new law expands the use of those building funds beyond the building itself. Parties will now be able to pay for the salaries of up to three staff members, travel and fundraising expenses. This essentially expands the uses for which unlimited corporate contributions may be used. Stand By Your Ad: Current law requires the sponsor of an radio or television advertisement, whether a candidate or chief of an outside spending group, to clearly disclose who is paying for the ad. Television ads aired by candidates would still have to carry a picture and "visual disclosure legend" for two seconds during the commercial, and radio ads by candidates would still have to carry a two-second disclosure. However, no similar disclosure is required for ads funded by parties or independent spending groups. Dark money: Allows non-candidate groups, such as 501(c)4 nonprofits, to not report how much they spend on campaign-style ads until after Sept. 15 of an even-numbered election year. Current law requires disclosure of such spending no matter when the advertising airs. Lobbyists: Lobbyists are already restricted from making and bundling contributions for political candidates. The new law tightens this requirement, making it illegal for lobbyists to take possession of a campaign check in any way, shape or form. Nine parts of the bill don't change election laws but call for studies of potential changes. These studies, which will be conducted over the next two years by the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee, may provide fodder for future legislative efforts: Filling vacancies: The bill instructs the committee to study potential changes to filling vacancies in the General Assembly and the U.S. House. Currently, the governor fills state legislative vacancies by appointing a candidate nominated by the local executive committee of the political party to which the original office holder belonged. U.S. House vacancies are filled by special elections. Precinct sizes: The bill instructs the committee to study how many voters each precinct – the area where voters share the same polling place – should have. It also allows the committee to study issues such as ways to reduce long lines, the optimal size of a polling place, required parking and "recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it deems advisable." Second primaries: The committee will study whether to keep or change North Carolina's system of second primaries. Under current law, if the winner of a partisan primary gets less than 40 percent of the vote, the second-place finisher can call for a runoff. The committee is instructed to study whether that system should be different for statewide and Congressional races, whether the 40 percent threshold should be changed or eliminated entirely. Voting assistance: The committee will study "ways to improve protections for persons requiring assistance in voting places." Electronic reporting: The committee will make a recommendation as to whether all campaign committees should be required to file electronically. Under current law, many campaigns can file handwritten or typewritten reports on paper. This makes the process of making the reports available to the public and analyzing the material slower and more cumbersome. Committee threshold: The committee will consider changing the rules for when a person or group has to create a political committee. Reporting schedule: The committee will consider potential changes for when candidate committees and independent expenditure groups have to report their spending. The committee can also study getting rid of what are known as 48-hours reports, which are filed by campaigns when they receive large-dollar contributions close to an election. Digital pollbooks: This study is put in the hands of the State Board of Elections rather than the legislature. The board is directed to report on "a secure and feasible method of creating and utilizing electronic pollbooks with digital photographs of registered voters, including a proposed pilot project, by April 1, 2014." Not all voting provisions that were considered this year became part of the elections bills. One such measure, a bill that would have affected North Carolina students who decide to vote at their college rather than at their parent's residence, got a lot of publicity. The bill would have ended the tax exemption parents could claim for dependents who register to vote at any address other than their parents' home. It would affect only state income tax, so it wouldn't have much effect on out-of-state students. However, this provision did not make it into the final elections omnibus bill, HB 589, or any other measure that passed the legislature this year. At this point, it is not due to become law.Cosplay Wednesday – The Last of Us’ Joel and Ellie The Last of Us is back in a big way. Not only did Naughty Dog’s “Citizen Kane of gaming” recently receive a re-release in the form of The Last of Us Remastered, the title also received a tribute in the form of The Last of Us: One Night Live. The cast and crew of Gamers Heroes are fans of the series as well, as seen in our glowing review and our cosplay coverage of the nasty clickers. This week, we continue the trend with this spot-on cosplay of Joel and Ellie. Geri Kramer photography, with the help of Lady Shepard, Mike Templeton, and Miss Wendybird got together for this stunning shoot. The cosplay clothing itself might seem a little simple; a dirty shirt here, a pair of jeans there. However, it is the characters themselves that pull this cosplay off. Joel and Ellie look the part, almost like they were made to play the role. In our eyes, that’s what makes a good cosplay great. [ngg_images gallery_ids=”105″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_pro_horizontal_filmstrip”] You can find Geri Kramer photography on Facebook here and on their Website here. Do you enjoy a bit of gaming cosplay? Or maybe you’re passionate enough to do it full time. Drop me a line at casey[at]gamersheroes[dot]com and we’ll feature some of your cosplay.TEHRAN, Iran — Iranians waved “Death to America” banners and took selfies with a ballistic missile Thursday as they marked 37 years since the Islamic revolution, weeks after Iran finalized a nuclear deal with world powers. In the capital, hundreds of thousands converged on the historic Azadi (Freedom) Square, where President Hassan Rouhani made a speech addressing Iran’s political camps. Some waved a banner depicting President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry with Pinocchio-style liars’ noses, and the text “Unreliable.” “True (conservatives), true reformists and true moderates are all revolutionary,” Rouhani said in remarks broadcast live on state television. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up “In our time, ‘revolutionary’ means being in favour of participation, tolerance, and resistance, and having goods capable of competition in world markets.” The anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution comes two weeks ahead of crucial parliamentary elections, when the moderate Rouhani will hope for a shift in the balance of power in parliament, which is currently dominated by conservatives. “Our vote will be a vote for hope, rationality, law and the protection of the rights of the Iranian nation,” he said. “It is a ‘No’ to those who do not respect the law and seek confrontation.” Many demonstrators on Thursday carried the traditional placards reading “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” while others carried the Iranian flag. Organizers read a statement to the crowd, saying that the US remained “the number one enemy of Iran”. Iran holds an annual revolution celebration, but Thursday’s was the first since a landmark deal with world powers — including the United States — was finalized, paving the way for punishing economic sanctions on Tehran to be lifted. The deal has seen a host of foreign investors declare interest in Iran, an unblocking of frozen Iranian assets held abroad and a warming of ties between the Islamic republic and the West. Missile selfies Young people at a rally on Thursday reconstructed a scene from mid-January that saw US Navy sailors detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards. State television has repeatedly broadcast pictures of the 10 captive sailors with their hands on their heads. On Wednesday night, a brief video also showed one soldier in tears. Touted domestically as proof of Iran’s ability to defend its borders, the sailors were released within 24 hours, just days before the nuclear deal was finalized on January 16. Revolutionary Guards were present on Thursday, displaying a long-range Imad ballistic missile in central Tehran. Many people were taking selfies with the missile, the ISNA news agency reported. Last October, Iran “successfully” tested the new weapon, which Tehran says has a range of 1700 kilometers (1050 miles). An Iran-made military drone was also on display, according to an AFP photographer, and local media published images of General Qassem Suleimani, chief of the Guards’ Quds special forces, marching in the rally. Louis Farakkhan, leader of the American group Nation of Islam, was also set to make a speech as honorary guest after Rouhani. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders had called in recent days for mass participation in anniversary rallies.The time has come for our first Losers Round 1 match of the IGN Pro League Team Arena Challenge! When: Tuesday, Dec 13 1:00am GMT (GMT+00:00) (we will also have a European re-broadcast as usual at Tuesday, Dec 13 5:30pm GMT (GMT+00:00) ) Format This double-elimination tournament features 8 teams from around the world and is an All-Kill team format. This match is being played for the Losers Round 1. The first team to defeat everyone on the opposing team's roster (5 wins, or a best of 9), will move on in the Losers Bracket, while the loser will drop out of the tournament completely. Keep in mind that this has a $10,000 prize pool, and only three teams will make it to the money! ReIGN Artist Spades KiWiKaKi Future Inori SLush giX Team Liquid Jinro HerO Tyler HayprO TLO Ret Sheth Zenio ArtistSpadesKiWiKaKiFutureInoriSLushgiXJinroHerOTylerHayprOTLORetShethZenio ReIGN had a surprising run against coLMVP, going up 3-1 before inevitably losing 4 players in a row to coLMVP.Keen. After showing some great games in WR1, Liquid should be prepared for a real battle. Team Liquid fell into LR1 at the hands of a Swedish Protoss player that goes by the name of QxG.SaSe! They will be looking for a shot at redemption this time against ReIGN. Here are there full rosters: The First Game of the IPL Team Arena Challenge is on Tuesday, Dec 13 1:00am GMT (GMT+00:00) (we will also have a European re-broadcast as usual at Tuesday, Dec 13 5:30pm GMT (GMT+00:00) ) Poll: Who Will Win?! Team Liquid (79) 61% Team ReIGN (51) 39% 130 total votes (79)61%(51)39%130 total votes Your vote: Who Will Win?! (Vote): Team ReIGN (Vote): Team Liquid Results! + Show Spoiler [ReIGN vs. Liquid Results] + Inori < Tal'Darim Altar > HerO Inori < Shattered Temple > TLO Inori < Metalopolis > Ret Inori < Antiga Shipyard > Sheth Artist < Shakuras Plateau > Sheth Artist < Daybreak > Jinro Congratulations to Team ReIGN for winning 5-1 and advancing to LR2! Liquid has been eliminated from the tournament. Map List Xel'Naga Caverns Metalopolis Shakuras Plateau Crevasse Tal Darim Altar Dual Sight Xel'Naga Fortress Terminus Shattered Temple Daybreak Antiga Shipyard The first map will be on a set rotation, and then it is loser's pick. Casters This week's games will be commentated by CatsPajamas, HDStarCraft, and/or PainUserCopyright by WIVB - All rights reserved AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A car crashed into an Amherst home and flipped over around 11 p.m. Wednesday night. Police say Nicholas Perkins, 25, was driving too fast down Tonawanda Creek Road before he struck a tree, a gas meter and then the house. Homeowner Kory Reid immediately took notice of the loud crash noise. "We heard a rollover, and the next thing you know we're thinking 'Hey, is this gonna hit our house? Because, usually it stops, and it just hit our house; heard glass shattering, sounded like Stone Cold Steve Austin coming through; pretty much that's what happened; car flipped over, it was crazy." Authorities say no one was seriously injured during the incident. Perkins faces charges for speeding, crossing a double yellow line and other violations.The chaos that has erupted in the streets of Ferguson, Mo. following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a local police officer on Aug. 9 has ignited long-simmering racial tensions in the St. Louis suburb and has also brought to the mainstream another question that has been boiling in recent years: How free is the press in America? At least a dozen journalists have either been arrested or detained without charge for reporting on the deteriorating conditions in Ferguson. The first two reporters handcuffed by police there were the Washington Post’s Wesley Lowery and the Huffington Post’s Ryan J. Reily, who both tweeted about the experience. Lowery wrote a firsthand account a day after his arrest. Both were inside a McDonald’s when they raised the suspicion of police. They were released after a Los Angeles Times reporter called the Ferguson police chief and notified him of their arrest. SWAT just invade McDonald’s where I’m working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo. pic.twitter.com/FOIsMnBwHy — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014 Police come into McD where me and @ryanjreilly working. Try to kick everyone out. — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 13, 2014 Was arrested — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014 Officers decided we weren’t leaving McDonalds quickly enough, shouldn’t have been taping them. — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014 Well, @WesleyLowery and I have been released. That was an experience. — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014 Released without any charges, no paperwork whatsoever — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014 Video of my arrest: http://t.co/baiYPQGfc7/s/ZHkX — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014 Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom organization, has condemned what it called the harassment of journalists in Ferguson. “Ferguson is an international story and journalists are going to cover it. They have a right to do so without fearing for their safety or liberty,” CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney said in a statement. “The harassment and detention of reporters must stop. From senior commanders on down, the word must go out to security forces to let journalists do their job.” The arrests of Reily and Lowery was widely reported the next morning, and prompted public outrage, as well as this response from President Obama during an unscheduled statement to reporters in which he addressed the unrest in Ferguson: “There is never an excuse for violence against police, or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. There’s also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests, or to throw protestors in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. And here, in the United States of America, police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs and report to the American people on what they see on the ground. Put simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard, particularly those of us in positions of authority.” Here was the president standing up for press freedoms. But, not everyone was heartened by those comments, especially supporters of Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter James Risen, whose freedom currently hangs in the balance. Obama defends reporters in Ferguson, but demands compliance from James Risen http://t.co/kf8SEi7D4k via @CJR — Freedom of the Press (@FreedomofPress) August 14, 2014 Risen faces jail time for refusing to identify his source in his 2006 book State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration, which revealed “a failed attempt by the CIA to have a former Russian scientist provide flawed nuclear weapons blueprints to Iran,” according to court documents from Risen’s federal appeals court hearing The Department of Justice can call Risen to testify and ask him to reveal his source, even though the government has already indicted former CIA agent Jeffrey Sterling for disclosing classified information about Iran’s nuclear weapons operation to Risen. If that happens and the reporter refuses to reveal his source, he could potentially be jailed on charges of contempt of court. But, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said, “As long as I’m attorney general, no reporter will go to jail for doing his job.” The classified information in question was originally going to be reported in the Times, but the government asked the paper not to publish it. Risen then decided to publish the material in his book. From court documents: “Although The New York Times had agreed not to publish information about Classified Program No. 1, Risen published a book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration (“State of War”), in January 2006, which did disclose the classified information. J.A. 721. Specifically, Chapter 9 of the book, entitled “A Rogue Operation,” reveals details about Classified Program No. 1. J.S.A. 219-32. In the book, Risen entitled the program “Operation Merlin” and described it as a “failed attempt by the CIA to have a former Russian scientist provide flawed nuclear weapon blueprints to Iran.” J.A. 722. Risen does not reveal his sources for the classified information in Chapter 9, nor has he indicated whether he had more than one source. However, much of the chapter is told from the point of view of a CIA case officer responsible for handling Human Asset No. 1. The chapter also describes two classified meetings at which Sterling was the only common attendee.” Risen exhausted all his legal avenues after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal. Despite his precarious situation, Risen has vowed to never reveal his source. In a recent interview with his colleague Maureen Dowd, Risen called Obama “the greatest enemy to press freedom in a generation.” He had the same choice remarks for Obama during a panel discussion as part of the George Polk Awards conference back in March. NYT reporter James Risen calls Obama “the greatest threat to press freedom in a generation.” http://t.co/vLYZ8v3fSS pic.twitter.com/uTbGZO5uEn — Freedom of the Press (@FreedomofPress) August 17, 2014 Last week, press freedom groups handed the DOJ a petition signed by 100,000 Risen supporters, urging Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to “halt all legal action” against the journalist.“The real reason I’m doing this is for the future of journalism,” Risen said, according to McClatchy Risen isn’t the only journalist caught in the Obama administration’s crosshairs. There’s also the case of the government seizing Associated Press phone records amid a leak probe and the labeling of Fox News reporter James Rosen as a co-conspirator along with U.S. State Department Adviser Stephen Kim, who was indicted for allegedly revealing information about a North Korean nuclear test. Obama also oversees an administration that has charged more people—eight—under the Espionage Act of 1917 than all administrations combined. And then there is Barrett Brown, a Texas-based journalist, who has been jailed for 23 months, and who up until early March faced more than 100 years in prison for allegedly trafficking stolen authentication features, access device fraud and identity theft—all related to his sharing a link of publicly available information, albeit hacked information. Brown later pleaded guilty to several charges and now faces 8 ½ years in prison. But his prosecution—and the Obama administration’s so-called “war on whistleblowers”—caused the international press freedom group Reporters Without Borders to drop the United States’ ranking in its yearly “press freedom index” last year, from 32 to 46. “Before Obama took office, only three whistleblowers have been charged,” Delphine Halgand, U.S. director of Reporters Without Borders, told the Press in March. “That really reminds us that leaks are really crucial, are the lifeblood of investigative journalists, given that nearly all information related to national security is considered secret and classified, so that’s why we really see this war on whistleblowers [as] a clear strategy. This crackdown against whistleblowers is clearly designed to restrict all but officially approved versions of the events.” For national security reporters like Risen—who along with the Times’ Eric Lichtblau in 2005 broke the story about illegal wiretapping of U.S. citizens without warrants—anonymous sources are key to shedding light on government activities. “It’s obviously had an effect, but I’m trying to keep working,” Risen said of the government putting legal pressure on him to reveal his source. Before petitioning the Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District also declined to hear his appeal. Judge Roger L. Gregory, who wrote the dissenting opinion for the court, criticized his colleagues and said: “Democracy without information about the activities of the government is hardly a democracy.” He continued: “The public, of course, does not have a right to see all classified information held by our government. But public debate on American military and intelligence methods is a critical element of public oversight of our government. Protecting the reporter’s privilege ensures the informed public discussion of important moral, legal, and strategic issues. Public debate helps our government act in accordance with our Constitution and our values. Given the unprecedented volume of information available in the digital age—including information considered classified—it is important for journalists to have the ability to elicit and convey to the public an informed narrative filled with detail and context. Such reporting is critical to the way our citizens obtain information about what is being done in their name by the government.” That’s all Risen and the reporters in Ferguson are trying to do. James Risen US Court of Appeals DecisionNEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Section 66A of I-T Act may infuse social network site addicts with a sense of unrestricted freedom of expression, but it is a déjà vu situation for them as indiscrete postings in social network sites could still invite arrest under similar provisions of Indian Penal Code.In most of the cases slapped against persons for posting offensive views on social network sites, the police had invariably invoked Sections 153 and 505 of the IPC along with Section 66A of I-T Act, which is a bailable offence. It is the invoking of additional IPC sections which had allowed the police to arrest the persons for offensive posts.Section 153 and 153A provides for registration of a case against a person who gives a statement either in writing or orally that incites communal riots or provokes communal tension and enmity between communities. IT is punishable with imprisonment from 6 months to one year with fine. Section 505 punishes persons who spread rumour through their statement to cause public disorder with an imprisonment up to 3 years.Section 66A was not part of the original I-T Act enacted during NDA government in 2000. The UPA government had amended the Act in 2009 and brought Section 66A into force October 27, 2009. At that time Veerappa Moily was the law minister and A Raja was the minister for information technology. Kapil Sibal succeeded Raja as I-T minister.After the uproar over the arrest of two girls in Palghar, Sibal had issued an advisory to all state governments that no arrest under Section 66A could be made by police unless the concerned Superintendent of Police issued an order in writing.TOI spoke to Moily, who said: “I welcome the Supreme Court judgment. It empowers the people to have freedom of expression.” He refused to be drawn into any blame game over enacting of Section 66A. He said law should be dynamic and evolve with time to meet exigencies peculiar to a particular time. “Now the Supreme Court declared law is the law of the land,” he said.Sibal too welcomed the apex court judgment. However, he sounded a caution. “Section 66A is not the culprit as it is a bailable offence. The police used to invoke provisions of Indian Penal Code to effect the arrests. So, one should be well advised to still exercise restraint while exercising free speech on social network sites,” he said.He said pure free speech ideally should not attract the provisions of the IPC even if it is severest criticism of the political leaders. However, if the free speech has an intention to cause public disorder, communal disharmony and inimically affect national integrity and friendly relations with other countries, then the rigour of IPC provisions kick in, he cautioned.“The challenge before the country now is the discretion provided to the Police in registering a case under IPC provisions branding a statement offensive under Sections 153 and 505 of IPC. The distinction between a pure free speech from offensive statements by the police is the challenge. And it is this discretion with police that is often misused,” he said.First official career diplomas on Bitcoin’s blockchain Franco Amati Blocked Unblock Follow Following Nov 2, 2015 We wanted our first blog post to be an analysis of digital signatures and timestamps using blockchain technology. But our first client arrived, and it was in fact an example of what we wanted to explain, so we will leave that for now and start directly with a real-world case. CESYT is a an Argentinian College with nearly 40 years of history teaching a wide range of official careers, like marketing, international trade, tourism and gastronomy. Furthermore, they offer different kinds of evaluations, for example, SAP certifications. They contacted us in the Bitcoin forum organized by the government of Ciudad de Buenos Aires (July 2015) to record a proof of authenticity of their career diplomas and certifications on the Bitcoin blockchain. Buenos Aires Bitcoin forum, where we talked about the idea and met CESYT. We recommended them to record everything using their own digital signatures, and we did an analysis about the advantages of using both, traditional digital signatures and timestamps, and their blockchain alternative. You can download it here: “Blockchain, academic verification use case” (Spanish version also available). We suggest reading the document for details and explanation (we even used the President of Argentina’s university degree dispute as an example), but in summary the proposed solutions were: Counterfeit/falsification : “Multisig” digital signatures using Bitcoin addresses. : “Multisig” digital signatures using Bitcoin addresses. Future internal fraud: Bitcoin blockchain timestamps. They agreed with our conclusions and their latest graduates had proof of their diplomas recorded in the blockchain on October 27, 2015. And they will continue doing so in the future. There have been cases of cryptocurrency course certificate proofs being recorded in the Bitcoin blockchain (without blockchain based digital signatures), but this was the first time by an academic institution with all of their official careers and diplomas. Our congratulations to CESYT. :) Procedure Besides traditional diplomas, digital versions were created and delivered to each graduate, with the College keeping a copy of each of them for itself. CESYT’s Academic Secretary digitally signing the first batch of diplomas. In Argentina, the Ministry of Education mandates that official diplomas need to be signed by College’s Director and Academic Secretary. So using software developed by us they created their own public and private keys and made a backup of the seed needed to recreate them for a future batch of graduates. Additionally, a third key for the College itself was created. Then, using the same software, a cryptographic hash function was used with all diplomas, and after being digitally signed by each authority, results were recorded in the Bitcoin blockchain. This constitutes a proof of authenticity of each diploma. With our help, CESYT will soon be adding a special place in their website to check for diploma’s authenticity, but the process can already be done with available third party tools (and in fact it would better from an audit perspective). Technical stuff A 3-of-3 “multisig” Bitcoin address is used to record proof of diplomas and certifications, this way we guarantee that each document has the required signatures (CESYT address is 3JG9Sp3N8SCvgk3NmkASSKUX7bpRvqYMnK, you could check for it on any Bitcoin blockchain explorer, but you would need the diplomas to verify their integrity and authenticity). Our product has its own format for the OP_RETURN output where a SHA-256 hash of the document is recorded, but CESYT didn’t need most of our functionality and neither they use our standard platform, so we created their own using “CESYT” as header. Talking again about the advantages over traditional digital signatures and timestamps, but now on a technical side: “Multisig” digital signatures using Bitcoin addresses : we can demand certain signing requirements that were not possible before, for example, “needs to have the signature of at least 3 of 5 authorized individuals”. And using solutions such as Ethereum, Counterparty or RootStock we could require much more complex conditions. : we can demand certain signing requirements that were not possible before, for example, “needs to have the signature of at least 3 of 5 authorized individuals”. And using solutions such as Ethereum, Counterparty or RootStock we could require much more complex conditions. Bitcoin blockchain timestamps: the traditional timestamp solution (RFC 3161/ANSI X9.95) needs a Time Stamping Authority (trusted third parties), and long-term timestamping (RFC 4998) involves an eternal maintenance to preserve the validity of the certified timestamp. Meanwhile, the blockchain alternative has none of this problems. On the other side, a disadvantage could be that Bitcoin based timestamps are based on blockchain blocks, and those are created every 10 minutes (and sometimes it can take more than an hour). But for a diploma, a correct date is more than enough, we don’t really need to know the exact minute it was created. Conclusion Our custom-made solution for CESYT was a great example of blockchain technology being used to bring transparency, authentication and counterfeit-proof certification. It was wonderful having them as our first client while we finish our standard platform and we hope to have such interesting works in the future.Last weekend, police shot and killed an LGBTQ activist at Georgia Tech and extremist right-wing activist Theodore Shoebat is applauding them for it and hoping that more police officers will be “given the opportunity” to kill LGBTQ people. Shoebat, who was featured in a radically anti-gay documentary in 2015 along with various Religious Right activists and Republican elected officials, posted a video yesterday in which he praised police for killing Scout Schultz and expressed his desire to see more officers kill gay people on the grounds that they present a danger to society. Shoebat said “it really doesn’t matter” whether Schultz possessed a weapon or represented a threat to the police before being killed “because this sodomite should have been shot anyway.” “Him being a sodomite … his perversion was dangerous enough and it was justification enough to kill this freak,” he said. “He was already a danger to society because of his perversity and so I think it was absolutely right for this officer to kill this freak. And I hope that more and more officers are given the opportunity to kill these freaks. That’s what I will say. This is what needs to be happening anyway. There needs to be a law that says that homosexuality is a danger to society and therefore those who push homosexuality and those who participate in this perversity are indeed worthy of death.”Advertisement Organiser: 'The Female Boss' Summerlyn Farquharson, 29,, pictured, rented the £1m house used for a pool party where a man was shot dead after she won £3.1m from the NHS after her son was left disabled A self-styled 'Female Boss' hosted a chaotic pool party with her dancehall star boyfriend at a £1million rented home. Police have arrested two men after a 34-year-old partygoer was shot dead close to the Surrey mansion's outdoor swimming pool at 2.30am yesterday after witnesses said so-called 'Yardie' gangsters stormed the event in Headley. More than 400 revellers ran screaming after a handgun-wielding gangster opened fire at a rave organised by a Jamaican rap artist Jason White, 21, known as Braintear Spookie, and his millionaire girlfriend Summerlyn Farquharson, 29, who calls herself 'The Female Boss'. The mother-of-two has rented the luxury property for £5,000 a month since 2014. Miss Farquharson is thought to have
fight gingivitis, a claim approved by the F.D.A. “The safety and efficacy of Colgate Total toothpaste is fully supported by over 70 clinical studies in over 10,000 patients,” the company said in a statement. Scientists have raised concerns about triclosan for decades. Last year, Representative Edward J. Markey, Democrat from Massachusetts, pressured the F.D.A. to write regulations for antiseptic products like hand soap, including the use of triclosan. The process of creating regulations was started more than three decades ago, but has been repeatedly delayed. In the meantime, Mr. Markey has called for a ban on triclosan in hand soaps, in products that come in contact with food and in products marketed to children. Photo The concern is based on recent studies about the possible health impacts of triclosan, which the F.D.A. said, in a Feb. 23, 2010, letter to Mr. Markey, “raise valid concerns about the effect of repetitive daily human exposure to these antiseptic ingredients.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Several have shown that triclosan disrupts the thyroid hormone in frogs and rats, while others have shown that triclosan alters the sex hormones of laboratory animals. Others studies have shown that triclosan can cause some bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. Brian Sansoni, spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute, said the evidence against triclosan was hardly convincing and that the chemical had been used safely in consumer products and in hospitals for decades. He said there was no evidence that triclosan caused antibiotic resistance. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. “You would think after heavy use in hospital settings over several decades it would have shown up by now,” Mr. Sansoni said. “This is one of those big urban myths that opponents of these products try to spread.” Concerning studies that showed triclosan to be an endocrine disrupter, he said that the animals used in the studies were subjected to “levels that the rat, let alone us, would never come in contact with in everyday use.” According to a lawsuit filed last year by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the F.D.A. first proposed regulating over-the-counter topical antiseptic drug products like triclosan in 1972, but the review has never been completed. In 1978, the F.D.A. proposed eliminating triclosan as an active ingredient in hospital scrubs and in hand soaps within a couple of years. The agency issued a similar order in 1994, but again, nothing final was authorized, the lawsuit says. The environmental group’s lawsuit sought to pressure the F.D.A. to complete its regulations of antiseptic soaps. Triclosan is often the active ingredient in soaps that are marketed as antibacterial or antimicrobial, even though, in 2005, an F.D.A. advisory panel said triclosan-laced soap was no better at preventing illness than other soap and water. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “A lot of people mistakenly believe that if they buy something with a chemical in it that is antibacterial that it’s a plus,” said Dr. Sarah Janssen, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “I think the marketing of these far outweighs the statements on F.D.A.’s Web site, which most people don’t even go to.” Dr. Douglas Throckmorton, the F.D.A.’s deputy director for regulatory programs, said its review was primarily focused on hand soaps but could extend to other consumer products if the agency determined that triclosan raised health concerns. He said that the F.D.A. had determined that triclosan provided a benefit in Colgate Total, by fighting gingivitis, where triclosan in soap did not. “That is an important difference to us,” he said. Indeed, several lawsuits have been filed saying that Henkel is making false claims in its marketing of Dial Complete. But Mr. Theiler, at Henkel, said he was confident that recent studies would vindicate triclosan. “We note that the F.D.A. stated in their announcement on April 8, 2010, that the agency ‘does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time,’ ” he said. “We concur with this position.”By 9/11 Consensus Panel Dear Sen. Graham, Michael Moore, and Amy Goodman: Regarding your discussions on Democracy Now, September 15th and September 29th, including “Michael Moore Backs Call to Re-Open Investigation of 9/11 Attacks,” – the “best evidence” formulated by the new 9/11 Consensus Panel may be helpful in your quest. The work of this distinguished expert Panel was first announced in a North America-wide press release on September 9, 2011. Brief summary of the Panel’s function and importance: The mainstream media has claimed for a decade that it is not in a position to evaluate the technical evidence being presented by the 9/11 Truth Movement against the official narrative of the events of September 11, 2001. Many in the media perceive a problem in challenging government explanations that they feel are over their heads. A parallel problem existed in the field of medicine for many years, during which there were contradictory, unranked approaches to medical treatments. This problem was greatly reduced by the introduction of “evidence-based” medicine. Using widely accepted verification tools such as the Delphi Method, medicine has now developed hundreds of standard Consensus Statements to guide physicians in diagnosis and treatment. Similarly, 22 expert members of the new 9/11 Consensus Panel have recently developed 13 Consensus Points of “best evidence” opposing the official account of 9/11. The respondents, who remained blind to one another throughout the process, provided three rounds of review and feedback that was refined into 13 Points of “best evidence”. This scientific process has yielded an unprecedented degree of credibility for specific points of evidence opposing the official account of the events of September 11, 2001. These Points, developed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, offer the media the confidence it needs to promote serious discussion about this world-changing event and its continuing fallout. The Points, their methodology, and information on the Panel are available at consensus911.org. Yours sincerely, Dr. David Ray Griffin, author, Co-founder, 9/11 Consensus Panel William Veale, attorney, Panel Co-founder Elizabeth Woodworth, medical librarian, Panel Co-founder On behalf of: Dr. Robert Bowman, former Director of “Star Wars” Mr. David Chandler, physicist and mathematician Giulietto Chiesa, Italian journalist and former member of the European Parliament Dwain Deets, former engineering director at NASA Tod Fletcher, M.A., professor of history Lt. Col. David Gapp, U.S. Air Force aircraft accident investigator Dr. Niels Harrit, Associate Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Univ. of Copenhagen Dr. Steven E. Jones, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Brigham Young Univ. Commander Ralph Kolstad, 20 years US Navy fighter pilot Lt. Col. Shelton F. Lankford, 20 years US Marine Corps pilot Dr. Graeme MacQueen, Prof. Emeritus, McMaster University, Canada Massimo Mazzucco, award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and journalist Dennis P. McMahon, attorney, member of NY and Mass. Bars Rowland Morgan, Univ. of Cambridge (Hon.), journalist, author Frances Shure, licensed professional counselor Lou Stolzenberg, retired physical therapist Daniel Sunjata, American actor in film, television and theater Dr. Matthew Witt, Associate Professor of Public Administration Dr. Jonathan B. Weisbuch (M.D.,M.P.H.), former Chief Health Officer Dr. Paul Zarembka, Professor of Economics, SUNY at Buffalo Barrie Zwicker, Canadian journalist and author Contact: consensus911 [at] gmail dotcom #### AdvertisementsUsing Go for Anomaly Detection As engineers, we need to know how our applications and services are performing in realtime and isolate any problems as quickly as possible. While there is a plethora of tools to collect, store and graph metrics from infrastructure, there are fewer tools for performing analysis on these metrics. Anomaly detection, currently a hot topic in web operations circles, is concerned with automated detection of anomalous circumstances which could indicate a problem. Here we look at implementing a simple anomaly detection tool, anode, in Go. One of the reasons anomaly detection is increasing in popularity is that static alert thresholds, although useful in many circumstances, sometimes fall short. For example, if your frontend load balancer normally handles 10 req/s and that drops to zero, something is likely to be wrong. But the situation isn’t always so clear. Generally you will have expected error rates across your application stack, an expected latency profile, and so on. Configuring effective static alerts for these types of metrics can be difficult. If you have false positives, you’ll interrupt your on-call engineer’s work, or worse, their sleep. False negatives are arguably even worse — not knowing when something is wrong is clearly unacceptable. To give an overall picture of health, it’s common to have various dashboards to show how your infrastructure and applications are behaving. But this relies on someone watching the dashboard, and it can be tricky to derive information when you have hundreds of metrics per node and hundreds or thousands of nodes. One improvement to the situation is having an automated system to detect significant changes in metrics. The core requirement of such a system is to take an input metric, perform some analysis on it, and produce an output. When a metric goes outside its normal bounds, it can be said to be anomlaous, or at least worthy of further investigation. There are already interesting projects in this area, like Etsy’s skyline. If you’re just learning about anomaly detection, I’d really recommend watching Simple Math for Anomaly Detection from Monitorama PDX 2014. Below is a screenshot (of graphite) showing anode in action. The purple line is the response time of an application. The orange highlights are a result of passing that metric to anode which then produces a new graphite metric. Design and Implementation The design of anode is simple. We have input plugins, which take an input metric and place each new value on a channel. Analysis plugins receive these values and perform some calculation, then place their output (if any) on another channel. Output plugins just receive these values and output them, e.g. to stdout. In the example above, the output plugin creates a new graphite metric. In the example shown above, the analysis plugin emits a new metric (orange) when the input metric falls outside three standard deviations of its prior values. This is a simple statistical technique known as three sigma that is useful for data with a normal distribution. Channels and goroutines mean we can construct parallel analysis pipelines with very little effort. Each plugin runs in its own goroutine, and shares data with channels. As well as easy concurrency, another advantage of using Go is being able to supply a single binary to users. The obvious shortcoming of using Go is lack of prior work in this area. In particular, there aren’t many statistical packages for Go, though I was able to find the packages I needed for simple calculations. Damian Gryski and others have also done significant work in this area. Future work Anode is an experiment, thrown together in a few evenings to see how difficult it would be to write the software I envisioned for experimenting with anomaly detection. There’s lots to do to make this a more useful experimental tool. The first job is clear: more analysis algorithms and output options. Input plugins for different metrics storage backends will also be needed. The second area is a little less well-specified: a user-configurable system for pipelines. At the moment, anode just runs a single analysis plugin (specified in main.go ) to demonstrate that it works. Looking further ahead, one of the things which makes Heka an interesting project is the embedded Lua sandbox, which allows plugin changes to be made dynamically. It’d be great to have similar functionality for metrics analysis. Ultimately, it may be that anode becomes a configurable subsystem of a project like Heka, reusing the efforts that have gone into more stable projects. For now, it works well as a standalone project where we can move quickly and break things if needed. I hope this has provided an interesting introduction to anomaly detection in Go. If you’re interested in working on anode or are working on a project in this area, do get in touch via twitter or send me an email.International payments startup Adyen is growing fast, doubling the number of payments processed over the last year as well as revenues over that time. Capitalizing on that growth, the company has raised $250 million in a giant Series B round of funding that values the company at $1.5 billion. The new financing was led by growth equity firm General Atlantic with participation from existing investor Index Ventures, which led the company’s Series A round. Also participating were Silicon Valley’s Felicis Ventures and Asian investment firm Temasek Holdings. Over the last several years, Adyen has worked to enable payment solutions for companies seeking to offer their goods in an increasingly global marketplace. Rather than relying on a combination of different banks and other payments processors for individual markets, they are turning to Adyen to simplify the process of reaching customers globally. To enable that, Adyen has created a platform that allows companies to accept payments from basically anywhere. It has partnerships with all the major credit card companies, as well as local payment processors around the world. Its platform works in nearly 200 countries, allowing partners to get paid in virtually any currency and through a wide variety of payment methods. Finally, through its platform payments can be accepted either online, via mobile devices, or even in-store for businesses that have operations in multiple countries. Due to the increasingly global nature of business, that’s attracted huge interest from a wide range of companies. Adyen has signed on more than 3,500 different merchants for its platform, including well-known tech companies like Facebook, Airbnb, Spotify, Evernote, and Groupon. For companies using its payment network, it can simplify the process of accepting payments in multiple territories. At the same time, it can also improve conversion rates in places where it supports local forms of payments, according to co-founder and CEO Pieter van der Does. That flexibility has even led some clients to sign up to address specific markets where they hoped to grow, before expanding their use of Adyen globally. In addition to its payment network, Adyen has also been investing in offering a mobile point-of-sales system called Shuttle. It’s doing so not so much to offer an alternative to other options on the market, but to improve its “omni-channel” payments capabilities — they is, supporting online, mobile, and in-person processing. By growing both the size of its customer base and the number of payments it processes for them, the company has doubled its volume over the past year alone. Adyen will process nearly $30 billion in payments, van der Does told me. That means revenues have also doubled in that time, to $185 million. Since it previously only raised $16 million, with its last money raised in 2011, the mega-round it’s announcing signals a huge commitment to growth. The company, which is headquartered in Amsterdam and San Francisco, has 240 employees spread across a number of international offices, including Sao Paolo and Singapore. But Adyen sees an opportunity to expand its business further, particularly in Asia. That’s why it took money from Temasek, according to van der Does. Given its clients and the size of Adyen’s existing business, it’s not a question of whether it will continue to grow, but just how quickly.An appeal of a lawsuit challenging the Dakota Access Pipeline won’t be heard until after August. The Iowa Utilities Board heard an update on the ongoing case during its monthly meeting Thursday. Those challenging the issuance of the permit for the pipeline, and use of eminent domain in its construction, must file their briefs with the court by July 5, said Assistant General Counsel Ben Flickinger. Once those are filed, the IUB has 30 days to file reply briefs. “Once briefs are finalized the Supreme Court will decide whether to keep the case or send it to the Court of Appeals,” Flickinger said. Sierra Club and landowners along the route who challenged the pipeline lost their case in district court Feb. 15, when a judge ruled the IUB had acted correctly in granting the permit to Texas-based Dakota Access LLC, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners. The Sierra Club on June 15 filed a motion to revoke Dakota Access’s permit in Iowa, in light of a federal judge’s ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers didn’t adequately consider some matters important to the Standing Rock Sioux when issuing the national permit. “Staff are currently waiting for Dakota Access’s response to that before moving forward,” said Flickinger, adding that the response is due by next Thursday. Board Chair Jeri Huser also said the public should know that complaints are public, and that the public can obtain them. There are two current outstanding complaints involving landowners, Flickinger said, both regarding claimsof damage to tile lines or other construction-related events. The complaints in the “c-file” are public, but are not uploaded to the online filing system unless one of the parties is unhappy with the resolution and makes a more formal complaint, said Cecil Wright, assistant general counsel and chief operations officer. Those could be uploaded if the board desires, Wright said. “The bigger issue to me, is that the c files related to this particular docket are available to the public, and the public knows how to obtain the same,” Huser said. “They contact our customer service section and ask them,” Wright said. The board is also waiting for a review of the company’s insurance policy. The board issued an order June 9 regarding insurance requirements. The permit issued in 2016 required Dakota Access to file and maintain at least $25 million in general liability insurance. The policy was filed, and then extended until May 1. As of June 7, no filing had been made to show another extension, the board wrote. Dakota Access on June 13 filed insurance documents, and said there had been no lapse in coverage. Its response said it takes time for the company to get full copies of the policies from its broker so they can be filed with the board. “I would like to see a report on that insurance policy by the end of July,” Huser said. Cleanup and restoration of the Dakota Access Pipeline route is 91 percent complete in Iowa, with some of the incomplete parcels located in Calhoun and Sac Counties. Dakota Access filed a regular construction progress report on Wednesday with the IUB. Only four counties remain with land that hasn’t been cleaned up and restored after the project, the company reported. There are two ‘spreads’ in Calhoun County. The southern portion is 100 percent complete, while the northern portion in Calhoun County is 91 percent complete, it said. Restoration work in Sac County is listed as zero percent complete. The pipeline is only in Sac County for 2,112 feet. Cleanup and restoration is 31 percent complete in Buena Vista County and 71 percent in Cherokee County, according to the report. The board discussed board member Richard Lozier’s recusal from the Dakota Access matter. Lozier will only receive information that is available to the public, said Huser. For more information or to see a completion map visit http://is.gd/DApipelineDocket."Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here." Dave's Geek Ideas is the brains behind the creation of this concept for a Ghostbusters Ecto Containment Unit cover that you can place over your fuse box. I'm shocked that no one has thought of this yet! It doesn't exist yet, but it needs to so that I can buy one! The creator offers the following explanation of his creation: Seeing as the Ecto Containment Unit is a wall-mounted hub where many wires originate, I figured it would be a fun way to conceal electrical panels found in households (more so if the panel is in the basement). Your circuit breakers would now reside in a ghost prison. Instead of creating an electrical panel shaped like the Ecto Containment Unit, I felt a separate cover that sits atop an existing electrical panel would be easier and cheaper to install. The design is modular so it can safely bypass all the wiring. Some people have electrical panels that are flush with the wall (all the wires are behind drywall), so this cover wouldn’t look as authentic without any visible wires. Maybe fake wires could be used? Then again, many geeks prefer a less cluttered look. Beyond the installation of the cover, one possible challenge I can think of is getting the cover wired directly into the panel so the display lights of the Ecto Containment Unit can function. That kind of hookup would warrant the help of an electrician. Speaking of which, I’m not an electrician so I don’t know if there are any hidden hazards when it comes to adding a cosmetic cover to an existing electrical panel. So if you are an electrician and can highlight why this is a terrible idea, please let me know in the comments. Now I just can't imagine my home without one of these in it.In Syria, Protesters Mark 'Children's Friday' Protesters brave the streets of Syrian cities amid an ongoing government crackdown that has left more than 1,000 dead in the past two months. Friday's demonstrations are dedicated to the children who've been killed since the uprising began. NPR's Deborah Amos talks to Robert Siegel. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: In Syria today, another deadly confrontation between protestors and security forces. After Friday prayers, Syrians rushed into the streets calling for the ousting of their president. In the city of Hama, more than 50,000 Syrians marched, that's according to human right activists who say that snipers and security police were waiting for the demonstrators. The activists say at least 27 were killed in Hama, but information from Syria is difficult to confirm. The international media are barred from the country. And today, the government shut down Internet service. NPR's Deborah Amos is monitoring events from neighboring Turkey and she joins us now. And, Deborah, is this an escalation of the protest movement in Syria? DEBORAH AMOS: Well, it was the largest protest so far in the city of Hama, and that's according to Syrians who could get calls through today. Protest organizers dedicated the day to the more than 30 children who've been killed, and that number has been confirmed by the U.N.'s Agency for Children, including a boy who was reportedly tortured to death and returned to his parents for burial a last week. So, many of the protesters were out because they wanted to dedicate the day to the memory of the children. But the large turnout in Hama is significant for another reason. So far, the protests there have been small because of a historical memory. Back in 1982, when Syria was on the brink of a civil war - the government then was challenged by the Muslim Brotherhood - there was a crack down there and that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Much of Hama was leveled, so the city has become a symbol of state violence in the Arab world. Now, this new generation of protesters, they are challenging the government again in Hama. Another reason for the large turnout today, for the first time since the protest began, opponents of the Syrian government, mostly exiled dissidents, met in Turkey. And they called for the ousting of the president and pledged to help coordinate the uprising. SIEGEL: Now, I wonder how that meeting in Turkey plays in Syria, since the Syrian government has been claiming all along that this protest movement is coordinated and controlled by outsiders. And here there actually was a meeting of Syrians outside. AMOS: Yes, these were mostly exiles. This is the older generation of dissidents. Now, on the day before the meeting, a young activist who planned these street demonstrations, they signaled their support for this gathering because they agreed that it's time to put a public face on the opposition. This has been a leaderless revolution. A few of them did make it to Turkey. They smuggled themselves across the border. They were the stars of that gathering and they made it clear that they are in charge. What they were doing is offering a plan for a transition after Bashar al-Assad. But they are a long way from toppling this regime. Now, what the dissidents want is for the international communities to step up the pressure, as the inside organizers continue every Friday to get people to go out on the streets. SIEGEL: One more question about the Syrian opposition meeting in Turkey. The Turkish government has been very close to the Assad regime. There's a lot of trade between the two countries. There's open borders between the two countries. Was hosting this meeting a sign that perhaps Turkey is taking a different view of Syria? AMOS: That was how the regime in Damascus saw it. But the official Turkish position is we are a democratic country and we welcome all groups. But it was a subtle signal and you can see that Turkish rhetoric is shifting ever so slightly. Turkey, since the beginning of this uprising, has been urging Bashar al-Assad to reform. Yesterday, the Turkish foreign minister said Turkey is one of the countries most likely to be affected; it's not possible to stay detached. And he said sometimes friends tell friends bitter truths. And the Turkish message is: you must reform before it's too late. SIEGEL: NPR's Deborah Amos on the Turkish border with Syria. Deb, take care and thanks. AMOS: Thank you. Copyright © 2011 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.AI companies need to find their purpose for everyone’s sake Sam Applebee Blocked Unblock Follow Following Oct 11, 2016 Sam Applebee — Product & purpose, Satalia Satalia’s purpose is to enable everyone to do the work they love. By sharing the journey that we’re on to understand ourselves and realise our purpose, we hope to inspire others in the AI sphere to be proactive in considering their relationship with society. — Why AI and why now? Satalia was birthed during a period of relative calm for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem. We’ve seen the hype grow exponentially since. Though there have been successive peaks and troughs in the expectations for AI over the last half century, there really seems to be a sense that ‘this time, this is it!’ With an unprecedented amount of investment pouring into the field, many leading thinkers have turned their attention to the societal impact of these new technologies. Authors including Nick Bostrom and James Baratt have set out fairly bleak pictures of what they expect will happen should the human race build machines with the general intelligence of humans before the right safeguards are in place. Not to mention the joint statement from 8,674 to date, including some of the best known public figures from science and industry, amongst them Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking. Estimates of when we’ll achieve this level of artificial intelligence vary greatly from a few years to never. But if we carry on along our current trajectory there can be no doubt that tectonic shifts in the socio-industrial landscape will occur. The world of work will change beyond recognition for most people and new forms of industry will be born. And who knows about politics and religion? I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords… Our new robot overlords? The introduction of these algorithmic technologies has already produced mild versions of these shifts, ones that we’ve probably all observed in our day to day lives. The effects usually cut both ways. There are winners and losers. But that’s life, isn’t it? Let’s face it, Uber has made getting from A to B a lot easier for an enormous amount of people. Unless you’re a hard-core trade unionist you’ll probably accept that the net impact has been positive. However it’s also true that taxi drivers have had a pretty rough ride (Author’s note: there will be no apologies for mediocre puns). The pushback has in some cases literally brought cities to a standstill. This is the sort of societal upheaval that AI technologies can provoke. London brought to a standstill Now imagine if Uber-scale disruption happened across all major industries. At the same time. Finding it hard to picture? Us too. It seems such an unfamiliar, faraway concept, but it’s not improbable. “…imagine if Uber-scale disruption happened across all major industries. At the same time.” For AI companies — using the term loosely to mean any organisation using machine learning or optimisation in their products, services, or operations — there is a very real imperative to find some way of navigating the social quagmire of disruptive change. For people not familiar with the mechanics or capabilities of AI technologies the headlines are fairly terrifying: Not to mention that picture of the Terminator that’s always used in the media. It’s sort of ironic since we have much more to fear from super-intelligent software than from humanoid robots. Not the scariest AI Nonetheless, if you’re using AI and your goal is to change the world then you’d better make damned sure people understand why. “…if you’re using AI and your goal is to change the world then you’d better make damned sure people understand why.” So what is organisational purpose? The concept of organisational purpose has been floating around for a few years now. Expert practitioners in the field are helping companies to attract top talent and drive innovation. On the whole though, most of us mortals haven’t a clue what purpose is, how to establish your organisation’s purpose, or what to do with one once you’ve got one! Fear not, you are not alone! We started exploring organisational purpose in earnest perhaps only twelve months ago. Our understanding of the theory and its applications is far from complete. Nevertheless we thought that by sharing some of our learning and experiences we might open the door for others to find their purpose too. Purpose is not usually a mission or a vision (though it might be close), and it’s not quite corporate responsibility either. Those deal with the what and how of your business. Purpose is your organisation’s why. Why does your organisation exist? Why are your people working together? Why do they make the decisions that they do? “Purpose is your organisation’s why.” Simon Sinek nicely packages up the concept of why into ‘golden circles’: Simon Sinek — Start With Why Purpose consultancy Within People have put together an excellent slide deck giving guidance on understanding and defining your organisation’s purpose: A guide to finding purpose © Within People What’s Satalia’s purpose? To some extent we’re still figuring it out. We’ve been through several successive waves of thought and have most recently settled on the notion that we exist to enable everyone to do the work they love. This works in two ways. Inside and outside. “…we exist to enable everyone to do the work they love” Enabling our people to do the work that they love Looking inward we tried to understand what binds our merry band of technologists, academics and entrepreneurs together as a company. The word company derives from a group pursuing the same purpose, after all. We came up with all sorts of clever and noble sounding reasons, but after a few weeks of reflection each one fell apart as simply wishful thinking. The breakthrough came when we swept aside our desires to be good people and just focused on our selfish motivations. This might seem counterintuitive. It felt like it! But what we discovered is that we’re attracted to work at Satalia because we have the freedom to do what we want. Astronauts in our own ways We’ve spent countless hours researching, designing, testing and implementing non-traditional organisational structures to make this feasible. It’s been extremely challenging at times but the self-managing structure that we’ve adopted will allow us to grow the company whilst retaining our freedom. Self-determination is a key factor in motivation and satisfaction at work, and we’re by no means the only company trying to solve the problem of enabling it at scale. But freedom to choose what you want to do is no good if you’re out of a job. “…freedom to choose what you want to do is no good if you’re out of a job.” Enabling everyone to do the work that they love As the sections above might suggest, we’re acutely aware of the potential for our technology to displace people from their jobs or take over key activities. To this some people say “Great! I hate that part of my job. Let a computer do it and I’ll have more time to deal with other things.” Others who are specialised in solving particular types of complex problem — people typically in high demand — are mortified by the idea of a computer doing their job. In the short term we’re concerned with the immediate social impact of companies adopting our tech. Whose jobs will be at risk or augmented? How large will the impact be? The work you love today Companies might be interested in optimisation because of cost savings. Fair enough. But if that means laying off a team of people who loved their jobs and will find it difficult to find work elsewhere, that’s not cool. We’re not in the business of replacing humans with computers. We’re in the business of designing and building high performance tools. So we ask ourselves questions like: To what extent does it make sense to remove human decision making from the problem we’re trying to solve with optimisation? What is this client’s attitude toward taking care of its people? How can we raise our clients’ awareness of the social impact of our technology? How can we help our clients to plan for redeployment of those affected? How can we increase, rather than limit, the options available to those impacted? Can we train employees whose value to their company is at risk to be expert operators of the new optimisation tools? “We’re not in the business of replacing humans with computers.” To answer these questions and achieve positive outcomes for people, we need to deal with more than one part of our clients’ businesses. We need to inspire senior leadership and engage with HR (or People) functions. As well as those on the front line who will bear the brunt of the impact if we fail to live up to our purpose. Looking further into the future the imperative is even greater. As optimisation and other AI technologies become ubiquitous in society we may find that there aren’t many jobs left for humans to do at all. Even better than your mum’s cooking Work that you’ll love in the future Whether people hate their work or have found their true calling, human beings have an inherent need to contribute to their social group in some way. It gives us a sense of meaning, a sense of purpose. Even the most seemingly mundane of jobs can do the trick. We’ve seen this in studies on the elderly and their mental health. Who are we to take this away for the sake of efficiency? So, we’re confronted with a difficult dynamic. We are going to have to think very deeply about how we value and reward people’s contributions to society when many types of labour that were previously high in value become commoditised. “We are going to have to think very deeply about how we value and reward people’s contributions to society…” Why is it so hard to earn a living as an artist or musician? Why are teaching and nursing some of the most personally rewarding professions, but also some of the lowest paid. Does it always have to be so? Can’t we have both? Will musicians always be poorly paid? The opportunity is to use AI technology to free people from drudgery. But the risk is that we don’t think carefully enough about the nature of work, or create the conditions in society to shift the current paradigm. To harness the full positive potential of optimisation and AI, we need to enable people to do the work they love, both now and in the future. What’s next? Whilst we’ve come on strides in our understanding we’re still a long way from embedding our purpose into all of our activities. Our ambition is to integrate this thinking into each of our business functions. To have it woven into our cultural fabric at the most fundamental level. “What’s important is that all of us in the artificial intelligence ecosystem take action.” Certainly, our thinking will evolve as we learn new things and the world changes around us. What’s important is that all of us in the artificial intelligence ecosystem take action. Action to prevent the wonderful technologies that we’re creating from doing harm. Action to make sure that we create fair and universally positive outcomes. And action to understand ourselves before we are sailing in ships that are pulled by currents beyond our control. Drop us a line to talk problems, purpose or possibilities any time. Love from Team Satalia — Satalia is an optimisation company founded in 2007 by Dr Daniel Hulme. We solve hard problems using data science, optimisation and artificial intelligence, and were named a 2016 Gartner Cool Vendor. Sign up here to receive our latest articles. Connect with us via our Website \| Twitter \| LinkedInKerry Drewery asks why there is an Iraq shaped void in teen and YA fiction and calls for more teen and YA books to be set in the Middle East to help young people understand the complexities of conflict Many people have asked why I chose to set a YA novel in Iraq, and especially why at the time of the 2003 invasion. It was never a contrived decision in order to write politically, or to force my opinions onto others; the initial reason was to try and make sense of my own feelings about why we were being taken to war and explore whether I agreed with it or not. Simply put – I didn’t understand it, and wanted to. I listened to the arguments for intervention, the arguments against, before finally coming to the decision that although, without doubt, everyone’s opinion is important, more important were the opinions of the Iraqi people themselves. They would be the ones having their homes bombed, their futures threatened, their lives disrupted, not me sitting in my comfortable home with my husband who would still be going to work and children who would still be going to school.
I.C.E. detainer request was denied. FOX 7 has learned that Gallardo-Gonzalez made bail on Monday and is expected to be released once he is fitted with a G.P.S. tracking device. “The common every day person could give you a list of things and say if any of these things are done, then I want those people detained,” Daugherty says, adding, “and if they are in this country illegally, I want them sent back to wherever they came from.” An Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request was also denied for Lioncio Garfias Aviles. Austin Police arrested the 45-year-old early Sunday morning. They allege he beat up his girlfriend outside of a bar. Javier Torres-Hernandez’ detainer was denied also. Austin Police have been looking for him since 2014. That's when a father called and reported that Torres-Hernandez had sexually assaulted his 7-year-old daughter twice. Torres-Hernandez was finally picked up on Sunday. In addition to the “indecency with a child charge”, he is also being charged with giving police false information about his identity. Bail has been set for both men. “Those are crimes that I would guarantee you, if you had that done to a family member, you would certainly find fault at the Sheriff's Office for not complying or not being willing to work with I.C.E.,” says Daugherty. Who adds that as the firestorm continues to grow around Sheriff Hernandez’ refusal to honor the detainers, he is growing impatient with her unwillingness to comply. “I’m put out with it at this stage, it's taken so much of our time to have to deal with these things.” FOX 7 reached out to Sheriff Hernandez for comment about Gallardo-Gonzalez's pending release but she wasn't immediately available. Commissioner Daugherty says he is meeting with ICE officials in the coming weeks so they can clear up some of the questions he has about who they are taking into custody, why, and what happens after they are detained.This was suggested by... Pick one position on the off. and one on the def. as your "Most anticipated training camp battle to watch" and tell us who you would like to see make it to the final team roster and why. (Consider the s.t. players on the off.) Tac H. Who's gonna fill his shoes? R.I.P. Possum eyes, this ol' country boy will damn sure miss you. by Tac Hammer on reply rec flag Let's start with Offensive position battles... We have some interesting ones here. First we have the battle of the WRs. My picture of the biggest camp battle will be between Nick Toon, Andy Tanner, and our most recent addition Kenny (rocks the dress) Stills. Andy via ts2.mm.bing.net Was signed as an UDFA back in 2010 and has spent his time on an off the practice squad, playing musical chairs with Sean Can'tfield. I've always liked Tanner, and this is likely a do or die year for him. Nick via ts3.mm.bing.net was drafted in the 4th round in 2012. the 122nd pick spent last year on IR after suffering a foot injury. Yes it needed surgery, but we all know this is a favorite ploy of the organization, to keep players from being poached from the practice squad. Toon has the prototypical, build for todays WRs in the NFL. 6'4" and 218 lbs. Also has a NFL pedigree. Parents are Al and Jane Toon... father starred as wide receiver (and in track, as well) at Wisconsin (1982-84), leaving UW as school's career receiving leader (131 catches, 2,103 yards, 19 TDs)... father was inducted into UW Hall of Fame in 1995... Al Toon was No. 10 pick overall in 1985 NFL Draft and played eight years with N.Y. Jets. and Kenny Stills via cache.daylife.com Kenny also has an NFL pedigree. Good route runner, good hands, can adjust to the ball...sounds like a dream receiver for Drew, 6', 194 lbs. Only dig on him is a perceived lack of physicality.In this video against West Virginia, Kenny does a decent job of blocking for the FB. It's a long video, but you'll see the play from about 2:20 to 2:30 on the vid. Might have gotten away with a holding call there. So that's the WR battles I see of most interest in training camp. What's your take. This turned out a lot longer than I thought, so I'll have to make this a multi-part series.Politicians need to be more positive about immigration this election year to steer away from "ignorance and misrepresentations" about migrant communities, the Federation of Multicultural Councils says. Photo: RNZ In response to what it sees as increasing negativity around immigration, the council is gathering politicians for a symposium in Dunedin tomorrow - hoping to influence political party policies. Executive director Tayo Agunlejika said most policies focused on limiting immigration, and there wasn't enough focus on the positive effects migrants brought to the New Zealand economy. His comments follow a recent policy proposal from Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse to tighten work visa rules - which has prompted the horticulture and hospitality industries, as well as small dairy worker towns, to protest it would deprive them of workers. Mr Agunlejika said the council felt compelled to hold the event before the upcoming 2017 general election because of the negativity surrounding recent immigration issues. He said politicians attending the event needed tell the public what was driving their policies, and "look into their eyes" and answer questions. One in four New Zealand residents were born overseas, and 87 percent of migrants felt they belonged in New Zealand, but a third of New Zealanders did not think migrants were well integrated, he said. There was further tension between immigrants and Māori, who were "on edge" due to the perceived competition for jobs, and older New Zealanders who felt "unease" about immigrants, he said. He acknowledged that when migrants committed crimes or made headlines for the wrong reasons, it did not engender positive attitudes towards migrants in general. "But these are not representative of everyone. The vast majority of migrants contribute to New Zealand's economy." National president Alexis LewGor said immigration was being linked to New Zealand's housing issues, economic prosperity, national security and broader social development. Internationally, immigration was a highly topical issue that was seen as having a large influence on the US presidential election and the UK's decision to leave the European Union, she said. "What is less appreciated is that it is not so much immigration that leads to these events but more ignorance and misrepresentations about immigrant communities" Ms LewGor said. Tomorrow's speakers include Dr Bryce Edwards, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, Labour immigration spokesperson Ian Lees Galloway, National MP Singh Bakshi and Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett. Anyone wishing to attend can register via the Multicultural New Zealand website.While a recent report found only 1.3 percent of around 70,000 Burning Man festival-goers identify as black, its founder Larry Harvey has drawn his own conclusions centered on “historical issues” to explain the lack of diversity. When speaking to the Guardian, Harvey suggested black people do not enjoy camping as much as white people, because it reminds them of slavery, per The Independent. “I got a lot of criticism for once saying I don’t think black folks like to camp as much as white folks,” he said. “I think it’s a little much to expect the organization to solve the problem of racial parity. We do see a fast-increasing influx of Asians, black folks.” Harvey continued: Remember a group that was enslaved and made to work? Slavishly, you know, in the fields. This goes all the way back to the Caribbean scene, when the average life of a slave in the fields was very short. And so, there’s that background, that agrarian poverty associated with things. Maybe your first move isn’t to go camping. Seriously. Burning Man was a concept conceived by Harvey in 1986 as an experiment with a group of friends, and it has been an annual event held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert ever since. As one of the festival’s 10 key principles is “Radical inclusion,” Harvey insists he will never set “racial quotas.” He also added his ex-wife and children are African American, and his remarks were not meant to offend anyone.Dear Playwatch Fans, We have received a notification from a digital copyright protection agency that claims Playwatch Magazine infringes Blizzard’s intellectual property rights. For that reason, we have contacted Blizzard directly and decided to close the website until we have an answer from them. We have spent our time and resources to make Playwatch a big project, and this has clearly paid off. Your help and enthusiasm made it all worth it. We started several months ago with the goal of bringing Overwatch fans a new way of enjoying the game and creating a place where artists and writers could share their work with the rest of the community. The entire Playwatch Team is extremely grateful for your support. It has been a privilege getting to know you all, and we will keep you updated with any news we have. We will see you in the battleground Heroes!Foi assim: na rua Barata Ribeiro, em Copacabana, na zona sul do Rio, um time de ritmistas chegou ao imóvel de número 181 vestindo a camisa da Grande Rio e tendo às mãos todos os tipos de instrumentos usados por uma bateria de escola de samba. Sob o comando do mestre Ciça, Tuca levava seu chocalho, Formigão tinha o surdo de primeira, Júnior Baiano carregava o repique, Bigú da 15 transportava a caixa, Fabiano levava seu tamborim e Bruno tinha outra caixa. Também eram transportados agogô, atabaque, cuíca, surdo de resposta e outros instrumentos. O grupo passou cerca de cinco horas em um dos estúdios da “Cia. dos Técnicos”, que funciona dentro de uma galeria e até 2009 foi o palco da gravação dos sambas-enredo que embalam a Sapucaí - em 2010 o registro passou a ser feito na Cidade do Samba, ainda sob os cuidados da companhia. LEIA MAIS NOTÍCIAS SOBRE CARNAVAL NO ESPECIAL DO IG No estúdio, cada instrumento foi gravado separadamente, no ritmo do samba-enredo de 2011 da Grande Rio, para permitir que o internauta conheça o som da bateria, considerada o coração de qualquer escola de samba. O engenheiro Mário Jorge Bruno, responsável pela gravação dos discos de samba-enredo desde a década de 1980, comandou os equipamentos de som. Quem também participou foi a equipe de infografistas do iG, que ao longo das semanas seguintes preparou esse instrutivo infográfico, que ganhou medalha de prata no prêmio internacional Malofiej. O resultado desse esforço agora está à sua disposição. Divirta-se! Conheça os ritmistas: Moacir da Silva Pinto, o Mestre Ciça, tem 56 anos de vida e 40 de carnaval. É diretor de bateria desde 1988, quando assumiu a função na Estácio de Sá. Passou também por Unidos da Tijuca e Viradouro e está na Grande Rio desde 2010. Janaíne Conceição Pereira da Silva, a Tuca, 28 anos, é neta de integrante da Acadêmicos da Rocinha. Interessada por música, ingressou na banda da escola e hoje é secretária da bateria da Grande Rio, onde toca chocalho. Jefferson Dantas, o Júnior Baiano, 24 anos, integra a bateria da Grande Rio desde os 13 anos. Um primo foi diretor de bateria. Atualmente toca repique e dá aulas de percussão na Grande Rio. Bruno Gentil, o Formigão, 25 anos, ganhou o apelido em 2000, quando desfilou na ala das crianças da Grande Rio com uma fantasia de formiga. Hoje toca surdo de terceira e é coordenador desse intrumento na escola de Caxias. Alexsandro Silva, o Bigú da 15, 25 anos, é auxiliar de rampa no aeroporto do Galeão e aprendeu a gostar de samba com o irmão e um primo, que eram ritmistas. Hoje, Bigú toca surdo de terceira na bateria da Grande Rio. Bruno Ricardo Domingues, 33 anos, toca em bateria de escola de samba desde os 15 anos, quando estreou na São Clemente. Aos 21 passou a integrar a Grande Rio, onde toca caixa. Fabiano de Almeida Costa, 23 anos, estreou no carnaval aos 13 anos. Hoje toca tamborim na Grande Rio. Mário Jorge Bruno é engenheiro de gravação e sócio-gerente da Cia. dos Técnicos. Junto com Laila, integrante da Comissão de Carnaval da Beija-Flor, Bruno é produtor do disco de sambas-enredo do carnaval carioca.Former lead world designer of Diablo III, Leonard Boyarsky, left Blizzard earlier this week to join up with Obsidian Entertainment. According to Boyarsky’s personal facebook page, he left Blizzard earlier last week. On April 11th, Boyarsky appeared in a photo on Facebook posted by fellow Obsidian developer Tim Cain, who jokingly hoped his new co-worker “doesn’t talk too much.” This is a reunion between Boyarsky and Cain, who have worked together in the past on several major products prior to Obsidian Entertainment. Most notably, Boyarsky and Cain, along with developer Jason Anderson, were co-founders of Troika Games in 1998. Troika would develop three titles before their closure in 2005, which included the cult RPG’s Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Vampire: The Masquerade-Bloodlines. Prior to forming Troika Games, Boyarsky worked at Interplay, starting there in 1992 doing freelance work before being officially hired in 1995. His first major title as an art director was the dungeon crawler Stonekeep, before working as the art director on the first Fallout game, designing the famous Vault Boy character and much of the “retro” 1950s art style. He would also work on Fallout 2 before parting ways with Interplay in 1998. Since the collapse of Troika games, Boyarsky has been working with Blizzard Entertainment, where he spent the next ten years of his career. He would primarily guide the level, character and quest design as the lead world designer for Diablo III, which was released back in 2012. Currently, Obsidian Entertainment is developing three titles; the free-to-play multiplayer shooter Armored Warfare, the Isometric RPG Tyranny, which was announced earlier this year at GDC, and Pathfinder Adventures, an RPG card game in conjunction with Pathfinder publisher Paizo. Boyarsky joining Obsidian has sparked some speculation as to what other projects the developer has in store, including rumors of another Fallout title or a World of Darkness game, now that Boyarsky and Cain working together again and Obsidian’s close relationship with World of Darkness owner Paradox. So what do you think of this story? Is it good to see Leonard Boyarsky again with Tim Cain and Obsidian? Leave your comments below. Share Have a tip for us? Awesome! Shoot us an email at [email protected] and we'll take a look!Things got very ugly on CNN Tonight Wednesday, as host Don Lemon attempted to moderate a panel on President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban against six majority-Muslim countries. A revised version of the ban was stayed by a federal judge in Hawaii that same night. Things broke down early after former federal prosecutor John Flannery accused Harvard Law School’s Alan Dershowitz of supporting the ban because he thought it would be good for Israel. “Our dear colleague, Alan Dershowitz, I think, hopes that this may secure Israel,” said Flannery “What are you talking about?” Dershowitz interrupted. “I think it’s a powerful argument that we’ve established religion in this fashion through this ban that is transparently against Muslims,” Flannery continued. “You’re lying through your teeth,” Dershowitz growled. “I never said a word about Israel. When you focus on everything I say about Israel it really raises questions about your own bigotry and biases, so let’s get to the point and just keep your mouth shut.” Dershowitz then launched into his explanation of why he believed that while the ban was “bad policy,” it was constitutional. After a bit of legal back-and-fourth, things came back to Israel “What does this have to do with Israel?” Dershowitz snapped again. “Why in your bigoted background do you have to bring in Israel to attack me? Your bigotry is showing.” “I believe that’s the reason you’re taking the position you are,” said Flannery sparking a paroxysm from Dershowitz. “You can’t believe anything I say because I’m a Jew and a Zionist?” he asked. “For shame on you sir. I never want to be on the show with this bigot again!” [image via screengrab] Have a tip we should know? [email protected] the last 20 years or so, Chiefs players have spent part of their Thanksgiving holidays personally delivering meals to needy residents in the Kansas City area. It goes without saying that it's a noble gesture—the players get to give something to the community, members of the community get to spend a few minutes and receive some swag from a pro athlete, and the local television stations get to kill some time with a ready-made, easily palatable feature story. Everybody wins. But when you're 1-9, even your generosity has a price. Those needy fans might be grateful, but deep-down, they're still fans, and fans don't like losers, even magnanimous losers like the Kansas City Chiefs. Dexter McCluster found this out yesterday when he brought dinner and autographed a hat for this kindly old lady, who couldn't resist the opportunity to sass him with zingers like, "Ya'll better start winning some games." [KSHB]My initial reaction to this is that while this makes a lot of sense over the next 18 months with the impact felt over the next 30 months I would advise extreme caution after that. I believe there are important lessons here from Bitcoin and also from Ripple and even Dash. The reason why Bitcoin is hard to fork can best be summarized as a result of maturity. Satoshi did not have any problem implementing the 1MB limit in 2010, now compare this with the debate over the 1MB limit that has been raging since at least 2013. There were clear warnings back in 2010 with Bitcoin as can be seen from the following thread. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1347.0;all The following quote from caveden in November 2010 is prophetic. “Only recently I learned about this block size limit. I understand not putting any limit might allow flooding. On the other hand, the smaller your block, the faster it will propagate to network (I suppose.. or is there "I've got a block!" sort of message sent before the entire content of the block?), so miners do have an interest on not producing large blocks. I'm very uncomfortable with this block size limit rule. This is a "protocol-rule" (not a "client-rule"), what makes it almost impossible to change once you have enough different softwares running the protocol. Take SMTP as an example... it's unchangeable. I think we should schedule a large increase in the block size limit right now while the protocol rules are easier to change. Maybe even schedule an infinite series of increases, as we can't really predict how many transactions there will be 50 years from now. Honestly, I'd like to get rid of such rule. I find it dangerous. But I can't think of an easy way to stop flooding without it, though.” The reality is that for a true Decentralized Virtual Currency (I am using the FinCEN Definition http://fincen.gov/statutes_regs/guidance/html/FIN-2013-G001.html ) it becomes very hard to hard fork after two years, unless the hard fork is driven by an emergency or it fundamentally does not change any of the economic aspects of the currency. This is the key lesson from Bitcoin. We must consider that as more and more services are built on top of Monero it will become harder and harder to hard fork. Even something like changing the number of block per hour has in Monero has already become harder simply because of the advent of XMR.TO. XMR.TO relies on confirming a Monero transaction and having Bitcoin sent to a Bitcoin address withing the 10-15 min period that many Bitcoin payment processor use. Now change the blocktime from 1 min to say 2 min and the economics of XMR.TO as a business are fundamentally changed. Just take a look on how hard it is for the Internet to change from IPv4 to IPv6. This change will only happen when the pain of not changing becomes real. Hard forks are possible in Bitcoin now but they must be driven by significant pain, such as for example the hard fork that occurred in the Spring of 2013. I believe Bitcoin will hard fork over the 1MB, but only after the pain becomes obvious, as will the Internet “hard fork” to IPv6 but again only after the pain is felt. The alternative is what Ripple has done and to a large degree what Dash is doing. While it is simple for Ripple Labs to “hard fork” Ripple this comes at the huge cost of becoming a Centralized Virtual Currency. This makes the developers MSBs and give a regulator the leverage they need to push through the protocol changes they desire. This is precisely what has happened to Ripple. Dash will likely provide an important test case because it literally straddles the Decentralized Virtual Currency / Centralized Virtual Currency Definition. How regulators deal with Dash will provide critical precedents and lessons not just for Monero but for many Virtual Currencies. The lesson here is make hard forks easy and efficient and one runs the very real risk of becoming a Centralized Virtual Currency with the developers as the “Administrators”. One a related note the idea of forcing software upgrades every 6 months to a year as an ongoing policy is doomed to failure. One only needs to take a look at the fierce resistance most business big and small have to Microsoft's software upgrade cycle. Who can blame them. Upgrading Windows means significant costs with miniscule if any productivity gains. The proper response from any business is to delay the upgrade as much as possible in order to minimize these costs. This resistance is also manifested for example in the Internet IPv4 to IPv6 upgrade for exactly the same reason. In conclusion I say what is being proposed will work very well for only two maybe three six month cycles after that Monero will become like SMTP, IPv4/IPv6 etc with hard forks only possible in emergencies and / or when the pain of not hard forking is patently obvious. The alternative is a degree of centralization and regulatory risk that most members of the community will find unacceptable. Edit: Fork and pray keeps the regulator away.“These are your soldiers,” Haaretz‘s Gideon Levy fulminates in a vitriolic attack against Israeli soldiers at large, but the abuse in question involves just a single person, and it is not known whether that individual is even a soldier. In his report today (“ Die, Suffer, You Kahba ” [whore]), the veteran Haaretz writer reports on a “horrific incident took place in the occupied territories last Thursday.” On the video of the event which “turns one’s stomach,” he writes: On that day, a group of soldiers stood around a dying Palestinian girl who was writhing in pain, lying bleeding on the road. The soldiers competed with each other to see who could curse her using more vile language. These are your soldiers, Israel, this is their language, these are their values and standards. Levy continues with his serious charges against the soldiers: No one even thought of offering her medical aid, no one thought of silencing the outburst of detestable obscenities flying around the girl who was bleeding to death. Levy describes a Palestinian girl who slowly advances in the direction of a checkpoint, and then suddenly flees, as soldiers in pursuit fire at her. “Maybe someone called on her to stop but this cannot be heard on tape,” recounts Levy. “No knife or stabbing can be seen.” He does not mention that the girl wounded a soldier in the stabbing attack. Nor does he note that in a separate video of the incident (below) it is not clear whether the girl is running away or chasing another soldier. But that’s not all. The primary problem with the article is its main assertion about the soldiers’ alleged behavior after they neutralized the assailant: The girl lies on the road; the armed soldiers surround her as if in some pagan rite, barking their stream of invective. … This was not the act of one individual. They were many. This wasn’t even an unusual event. These are your soldiers, Israel. … If the soldiers at that checkpoint are not prosecuted and punished, one thing will be made clear: Barbarism is the true moral code prevailing in the IDF. Levy details the curses the soldiers allegedly hurl at the teen: “I hope you die, daughter of a whore”, “f—k you,” “die, suffer, you kahba (whore in Moroccan).” They wouldn’t behave like that around a dying dog. In the midst of this abuse one can hear someone asking “where is the knife?”, “don’t touch her”, “you’re awesome” and, over a phone, “where are you, at home?” But a review of the video in question reveals a very different reality than the one portrayed by Levy: Speaker 1: Call the military ambulance [immediately at the start of the film] Speaker 2: I called. He’s coming. Speaker 3 [apparently the photographer, identity unknown]: That’s what we heard, shooting. Speaker 4: I hope you die... daughter of a whore [coming closer], die, f–k you... Where are you, at home? Unclear whether its speaker 3 or 4: Where is the knife? Speaker 3 [apparently the photographer]: Don’t touch her. You’re awesome. Speaker 4: Die, daughter of a whore, die, die, suffer, whore. At least seven soldiers appear in the film. Twice soldiers are heard calling for medical help; a soldier calls for a military ambulance at the very beginning of the film, and again 40 seconds into the clip (“Call the military ambulance!” followed immediately by, “The military ambulance is on the way). There is a single, solitary speaker who crudely curses the wounded attacker, and its impossible to ascertain from the clip whether that speaker is a soldier as he is off camera. At most, one might conclude that the photographer who shouts “you’re awesome,” is also cursing. From the repetitive epitaphs of a single person, Levy concludes, in plural, “these are your soldiers, Israel,” barbarians who celebrate around a groaning Palestinian girl. Not only does he pin the curses of one onto many (“there were many”), he also invents: “No one even thought of offering her medical aid.” Levy responds to Presspectiva, CAMERA Hebrew site Presspectiva: Gidon Levy, we watched the video, and we heard one unknown person, cursing, and the soldiers, in contrast, who ordered medical care for the terrorist. How did do derive from that the very egregious charge against “your soldiers, Israel”?The Lib Dems can be the "comeback kids of British politics" following their general election thrashing, former leader Nick Clegg has said. Mr Clegg, one of just eight Lib Dem MPs to retain their seat, told his party's conference it could occupy the centre ground vacated by Labour, now led by left-wing MP Jeremy Corbyn. He also warned a vote to leave the EU could tear the United Kingdom apart. And he told the BBC the result of the referendum "could very well be close". Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, he said the public debates on immigration, welfare and Europe had become "conflated", which he said "created an unpredictable mix in people's reaction to our membership of the EU". Standing ovation Mr Clegg, who was replaced as Lib Dem leader by Tim Farron after the election, was given a standing ovation as he took to the stage at the party conference in Bournemouth. "There is now a space in British politics for a great fightback for the most resilient political party in Britain," he said. Despite the party's reduced size, he added: "We can be the comeback kids of British politics. "It won't be easy, it won't be instant and there will be setbacks along the way. "But we will bounce back." BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins, reporting from the Lib Dem conference, said not all party activists were as optimistic as Mr Clegg, with some fearing a centrist stance would struggle to attract attention. Mr Farron is preparing to launch the party's campaign to stay in the EU in the vote expected next year. On the EU debate, Mr Clegg said: "The stakes could not be higher: not just one, but two, unions now hang in the balance. "If we vote to leave the EU, I have no doubt that the SNP will gleefully grab the opportunity to persuade the people of Scotland to leave the UK as well." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Tim Farron: "Our relevance and standing in the world would be massively diminished if we left the EU" That would leave a "once great country now pulled apart", creating a "Little England" left isolated and lacking international influence, according to Mr Clegg. "I have no doubt that David Cameron's referendum will be contested on the issue of jobs, economic security, the terms of any renegotiation and so on," he said. "But there's a big, enduring question which hangs over all of this: what kind of country do we want to be, what is our role in this globalised world of ours? Open or closed? "Leading in our own European backyard or isolated from our nearest neighbours? Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Nick Clegg: "Not just one but now two unions hang in the balance" "Because let's be clear: for all the huffing and puffing we're going to hear from those who want to leave the EU, they have no answer to that fundamental strategic question." He urged Labour to wholeheartedly campaign for the UK to remain in the EU after the confusion of Jeremy Corbyn's first few days at Labour's helm. 'Home-builder' Mr Farron has used his first conference as Lib Dem leader to launch what he called an "unashamed land grab" for Labour voters following Mr Corbyn's victory. "I am not a home-wrecker for Labour MPs but I am a home-builder," he told activists. He said they would be welcome to join what he claimed was the only "credible" alternative to Conservative rule. He also made a "full and open offer" to members of all parties, including the Tories, who shared his values. "If you are, in your heart, a liberal and a social democrat you have a home in the Liberal Democrats," he said. The party claims it has attracted record numbers of activists to its annual conference, including many of the 20,000 people who have joined since the election. Trident debate Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Farron said he would not "mischief make" and name MPs who he had spoken to, but said some were feeling "utterly bereft". His suggestions were dismissed by Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who told Today defecting from Labour to the Lib Dems "would be like leaving the Beatles to join a Bananarama tribute band". "I don't see any Labour MPs - serious Labour MPs - who are going to defect to go to Tim Farron's party," he added. The Lib Dem leader survived a challenge over defence policy as a conference motion calling for the Trident nuclear weapons system to be scrapped was voted down. Instead, the party's nuclear policy will be decided by a working group.Pundits Baffled on Who Leaked Air Force One Discussion to Liberal Anti-Trump Media Tonight’s latest leak comes to you from Air Force One and the often misleading Washington Post— According to anonymous sources flying with President Trump from Germany in July — President Trump helped his eldest son Donald Jr. in forming a statement to the media about his meeting with DNC-linked Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in 2016. In the same report, Jared Kushner’s team of advisors and lawyers were supposedly pushing for Donald Trump Jr.’s emails about his meeting with the Russian lawyer to be leaked to the press. But how did the New York Times know about this conversation. According to WaPo: Hope Hicks, the White House director of strategic communications and one of the president’s most trusted and loyal aides, and Josh Raffel, a White House spokesman who works closely with Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, huddled with Kushner’s lawyers, and they advocated for a more transparent approach, according to people with knowledge of the conversations. In one scenario, these people said, Kushner’s team talked about sharing everything, including the contents of the emails, with a mainstream news organization. Hicks and Raffel declined to comment. Kushner attorney Abbe Lowell also declined to comment. The president’s outside legal team, led by Marc Kasowitz, had suggested that the details be given to Circa, an online news organization that the Kasowitz team thought would be friendly to Trump. Circa had inquired in previous days about the meeting, according to people familiar with the discussions. There are many other people who could have leaked these emails to the press and President Trump is working on significantly reducing the leaks coming from his administration. It is still unclear how the NY Times obtained Don Jr.’s emails. It took the Washington Post 13 paragraphs to mention that none of this is a crime. Kushner’s Team Wanted To Leak Donald Trump Jr. Emails That Were Eventually Leaked https://t.co/0gAAZ5CDyT pic.twitter.com/m8lad1yE7y — The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 1, 2017The Canada Revenue Agency says Saskatchewan-based Cameco Corp. hasn’t been paying its taxes and it wants the money. Now Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall has joined the fray, calling for Cameco, the world’s largest publicly traded uranium producer, to pay up. [np_storybar title=”Tax havens thriving as efforts to stop flow of money offshore fail: UN” link=”https://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/26/tax-havens-thriving-as-efforts-to-stop-flow-of-money-offshore-fail-un/”%5DEfforts to stop companies syphoning money through tax havens are failing and offshore centres increased their share of foreign direct investment (FDI) again last year, according to a UN report. Keep reading. [/np_storybar] Speaking to reporters this week, Mr. Wall said part of the tax revenue that Ottawa collects ends up going back to the provinces, so when the CRA says it’s not getting what it believes it should, “that’s a concern to [Saskatchewan] as well, and it should be. It doesn’t matter who the company is, or the individual. We should pay taxes that are due.” At issue is Cameco’s alleged practice of shifting profits to a Switzerland subsidiary where taxes are lower. And while the Cameco case has been going on for several years and though the CRA won the most recent round, the ruling is being appealed and observers say it is unclear who will come out on top. “The CRA has had a lot of trouble proving some of these cases in court,” said Dennis Howlett, executive director of Canadians for Tax Fairness. Observers say the practice of transfer pricing as a way to lower tax rates is widespread across corporate Canada, engaged in by many of the biggest and best known players across a swath of industries. In Ottawa, the Minister of National Revenue is responsible for the CRA. A spokesman for Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay said in an emailed statement on Wednesday evening that Ms. Findlay “expects all taxpayers to respect the rules and pay their fair share. Abusive transfer pricing schemes are a very serious issue and this government’s record speaks for itself. Since 2006, CRA has made nearly $4.6B in transfer pricing adjustments.” It’s not just Canada that is struggling with the problem. According to Mr. Howlett, what amounts to the transfer of profits to low tax jurisdictions is an issue across much of the developed world. The OECD is currently working on a plan that would see member jurisdictions update their rules in a bid to close loopholes. Camecdo struck an agreement struck back in 1999 under which the subsidiary agreed to buy uranium at $10 a pound — the going rate in 1999. The subsidiary then sells the uranium at whatever is the world price. So far so good, but the deal was to last 17 years and in the mid-2000’s uranium prices skyrocketed as high as US$140. It’s now trading around the US$35 level. The key to the transaction, according to analysts, is that the corporate tax rate in the Swiss city of Zug where the Cameco operation is located is around 10%, which is significantly below the rate the company would pay if the profits were made here of around 27%. The result is that the company cuts the amount of tax it pays by a considerable amount. The CRA is claiming more than $800-million of back taxes, according to Cameco, which denies that it has done anything wrong. The company, formerly majority owned by the province of Saskatchewan, claims its tax practices are within the law. Rob Gereghty, a spokesman for Cameco, declined to discuss details saying the matter is before the courts. “We are confident that we will be successful in our
so we set out to discover all we could about personal story and progression in the game as well. Just how deeply does the personal story rabbit hole go in Guild Wars 2? How will the Hall of Monuments bridge between the two games, and how soon can we expect to learn the details on the specific rewards Guild Wars players can unlock for their characters in Guild Wars 2? All this and much more awaits in the second installment of Ten Ton Hammers exclusive interview with Game Designer Izzy Cartwright. Ten Ton Hammer: Each of the original Guild Wars campaigns and the expansion had that overarching mission chain that would help guide you on an epic journey across the different continents. In Guild Wars 2 well have the main focus of the Elder Dragons and how theyve quite literally changed the landscape of Tyria, but will there be something similar to that epic mission chain that leads to a massive confrontation of some sort? Izzy: We have a couple of different things. We have your personal story that definitely guides you through the storyline. And then theres a second thing which is the dungeons. The dungeons interact with your story, and every one of them has a story mode of that dungeon which is almost like a mission. Its got an embedded part of the story, and those do help guide you through the overarching story, so we do have some of that in Guild Wars 2. But your story itself almost takes on more of that role, like a handcrafted way of taking you through the whole story of the game. The dungeons are the part where you work with other players kind of like how a mission worked in Guild Wars 1.ANALYSIS/OPINION: Former President Bill Clinton continues to be feted around the world as a progressive champion of human rights. However, a European Union task force last week confirmed that the ruthless cabal he empowered by bombing Serbia in 1999 has committed atrocities that include murdering individuals to extract and sell their kidneys, livers and other body parts. Clint Williamson, the chief prosecutor of a special European Union task force, declared that senior members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) had engaged in “unlawful killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, illegal detentions in camps in Kosovo and Albania, sexual violence, forced displacements of individuals from their homes and communities, and desecration and destruction of churches and other religious sites.” A special war-crimes tribunal is planned for next year. The New York Times reported that the trials may be stymied by cover-ups and stonewalling: “Past investigations of reports of organ trafficking in Kosovo have been undermined by witnesses’ fears of testifying in a small country where clan ties run deep and former members of the KLA are still feted as heroes. Former leaders of the KLA occupy high posts in the government.” American politicians have almost entirely ignored the growing scandal. Vice President Joe Biden hailed former KLA leader and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in 2010 as “the George Washington of Kosovo.” A few months later, a Council of Europe investigative report tagged Mr. Thaci as an accomplice to the body-trafficking operation. The latest allegations might cause some Americans to rethink their approval of the 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia killed up to 1,500 civilians. In early June 1999, The Washington Post reported that “some presidential aides and friends are describing [bombing] Kosovo in Churchillian tones, as Clinton’s ‘finest hour.’” Clinton administration officials justified killing civilians because the Serbs were allegedly committing genocide in Kosovo. After the bombing ended, no evidence of genocide was found, but Mr. Clinton and Britain’s Tony Blair continued boasting as if their war stopped a new Hitler in his tracks. The KLA’s savage nature was well-known before the Clinton administration formally christened them “freedom fighters” in 1999. The prior year, the State Department condemned “terrorist action by the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army.” The KLA was heavily involved in drug trafficking and had close to ties to Osama bin Laden. Arming the KLA helped Mr. Clinton portray himself as a crusader against injustice and shift public attention after his impeachment trial. Mr. Clinton was aided by many congressmen anxious to portray U.S. bombing as an engine of righteousness. Sen. Joe Lieberman whooped that the United States and the KLA “stand for the same values and principles. Fighting for the KLA is fighting for human rights and American values.” After the bombing ended, Mr. Clinton assured the Serbian people that the United States and NATO agreed to be peacekeepers only “with the understanding that they would protect Serbs as well as ethnic Albanians and that they would leave when peace took hold.” In the subsequent months and years, American and NATO forces stood by as the KLA resumed its ethnic cleansing, slaughtering Serb civilians, bombing Serbian churches and oppressing any non-Muslims. Almost a quarter-million Serbs, Gypsies, Jews, and other minorities fled Kosovo after Mr. Clinton promised to protect them. By 2003, almost 70 percent of the Serbs living in Kosovo in 1999 had fled, and Kosovo was 95 percent ethnic Albanian. In 2009, Mr. Clinton visited Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, for the unveiling of an 11-foot-tall statue of himself. The allegations of the KLA’s involvement in organ trafficking were already swirling, but Mr. Clinton overlooked the grisly record of his hosts. Instead, he stood on Bill Clinton Boulevard and lapped up adulation from supporters of one of the most brutal regimes in Europe. A commentator in the United Kingdom’s The Guardian newspaper noted that the statue showed Mr. Clinton “with a left hand raised, a typical gesture of a leader greeting the masses. In his right hand he is holding documents engraved with the date when NATO started the bombardment of Serbia, 24 March 1999.” Shortly after the end of the 1999 bombing campaign, Mr. Clinton enunciated what his aides labeled the Clinton doctrine: “Whether within or beyond the borders of a country, if the world community has the power to stop it, we ought to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing.” In reality, the Clinton doctrine was that presidents are entitled to commence bombing regardless of whether their accusations against foreigners are true. As long as the U.S. government promises great benefits from bombing abroad, presidents can usually attack whom they please. Mr. Clinton’s war on Serbia was a Pandora’s box from which the world still suffers. Because politicians and most of the media portrayed the war against Serbia as a moral triumph, it was easier for the Bush administration to justify attacking Iraq and for the Obama administration to bomb Libya. Both interventions sowed chaos that continues to curse the purported beneficiaries. Unfortunately, Bill Clinton will never be held liable for killing innocent Serbs or for helping body-snatchers take over a nation the size of Connecticut. Mr. Clinton is reportedly being paid up to $500,000 for each speech he gives nowadays. Perhaps some of the well-heeled attendees could brandish artificial arms and legs in the air to showcase Mr. Clinton’s actual legacy. James Bovard is the author of “Attention Deficit Democracy” (Palgrave, 2006) and “Lost Rights” (St. Martin’s, 1994). Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.In a historic protest at the White House moments ago, 13 people were arrested after chaining themselves to the White House fence. Three generations of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell activists participated in this monumental action. Present among the demonstrators were several men and women who’ve been arrested in similar demonstrations over the decades, including the first famous Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell protest in the 90’s, and this year’s subsequent White House DADT protests. Former Servicemembers who were arrested in April during protests at the same location, spoke to Talk About Equality about why they were returning: “I feel we have come to a critical juncture where we need leadership from Obama and Senator Reid to get rid of this horrible policy. I am here today because being the first Marine discharged under this policy I feel we need to send a signal to the White House and the Senate to finally do the right thing for LGBT servicemembers and pass the repeal in the Defense Authorization Bill.” Says Justin Elzie, the first Marine discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, to Talk About Equality. Here is the full list of demonstrators who were arrested today: Lt. Dan Choi, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen,Cpl. Evelyn Thomas, and Cadet Mara Boyd. All four were arrested in front of the White house in April protesting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Robin McGehee, co-founder and director of GetEQUAL. Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Miriam Ben-Shalom, who was discharged in 1976 and was the first LGBT servicemember reinstated to her position in the U.S. Military, by a U.S. Federal District Court. On July 30th, 1993, Miriam and 26 other protesters were arrested at the White House fence for protesting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Former U.S. Marine Corps Sergean, Justin Elzie who, in 1993, became the first Marine ever investigated and discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Former Army Arabic Linguist Ian Finkenbinder, who was discharged from the Army in December 2004. U.S. Army Veteran and Repeal Advocate Rob Smith, who was deployed to both Iraq and Kuwait before being honorably discharged after deciding not to re-enlist in the U.S. Army due to the added pressure of living under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Father Geoff Farrow, a Catholic priest who spoke out against the church’s official stance in support of California’s Proposition 8, removing the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Scott Wooledge, a New York-based LGBT civil rights advocate and blogger who has written extensively on the movement to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at Daily Kos and Pam’s House Blend. Michael Bedwell, long-time LGBT civil rights advocate, close friend of Leonard Matlovich, and administrator of the site www.leonardmatlovich.com Dan Fotou, an Organizer with GetEqual. Civil rights activist, writer and speaker David Mixner told LGBTPOV upon the 17th Anniversary of the first DADT White House arrests: “There was no question among those of us arrested that DADT was a horrible policy. Am extremely proud of doing the right thing then and extremely proud of those doing the right thing today.” This action culminates one day of advocacy for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal. The big push needs to come from all of us in the remaining few weeks of this Congressional calendar. Don’t let these 13 have sacrificed in vain. AdvertisementsUNION CITY, Ga. - The death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali has left the world in mourning. But it has touched those in the local boxing community even more. Boxers in Union City gathered at an amateur event where young fighters aspire to be like the former heavyweight champion. The boxers chose to honor Ali’s legacy by leaving it all in the ring and emulating his craft. “The ability to be a showman in the ring, it was entertaining to watch him as a boxer," boxing coach Bert Wells said. As Wells looked out as his fighters ringside, he couldn't help but reflect on Ali and how the three-time champion caused him to fall in love with the sport. PHOTOS \| Muhammad Ali PHOTOS: Muhammad Ali 15 Sep 1978: Muhammad Ali wins his third World Heavyweight Title against Leon Spinks. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/Allsport February 1964: Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) posing with his belt in front of a sign 'Allah is the Greatest', in his apartment in Miami before his title fight with Sonny Liston for the World Heavyweight Championship. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) 25th February 1964: American boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) relaxing after his world heavyweight victory over Sonny Liston. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images) 25th February 1964: American boxer Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, landing a right to Sonny Liston's body during the World Heavyweight Championship fight at Miami Beach Convention Hall, USA. Liston went on to retire from the fight and surrender his title after six rounds. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) 5 Jul 1976: Muhammad Ali fends off a kick from wrestler Antonio Inoki during an exhibition fight in Tokyo, Japan. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive UNDATED: JOE FRAZIER, GEORGE FOREMAN AND MUHAMMAD ALI. Mandatory Credit: Gray Mortimore/ALLSPORT Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali riding a horse near the Sphinx and the pyramids at Giza, Egypt, 1964. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in a London street. Original Publication: People Disc - HW0515 (Photo by Aubrey Hart/Getty Images) 1965: Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) on the punch ball at his training camp in preparation for a defence of his Heavyweight crown. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive 29th December 1971: The former world champion Muhammad Ali defeats the German Jurgen Blin in the seventh round of their twelve round contest in the Hallen Stadium in Zurich. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) KINSHASA, CONGO - OCTOBER 30: A general view of "The Match of the Century " between the former world heavyweight boxing champion the American Muhammad Ali (R) and his compatriot and titleholder George Foreman (L). Ali won and got back his title October 30, 1974 in Kinshasa, Congo. (Photo by: AFP/Getty Images) circa 1963: Headshot of American boxer Muhammad Ali, former World Heavyweight Champion, shouting while wearing boxing gloves. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 4th June 1963: American heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay in a one round non-title fight with 6 year old Patrick Power. Young Patrick is taking boxing lessons in order to combat bullies at home. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) American boxer Muhammad Ali looks out over London from the top of the Post Office Tower, 25th July 1966. Ali is in Britain to defend his World Heavyweight title against Brian London. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 4th August 1966: American boxer Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jnr in training for his upcoming fight against Brian London. London lost the fight, after being knocked out in the third round. (Photo by R. McPhedran/Express/Getty Images) 25 NOV 1965: CASSIUS CLAY (MUHAMMAD ALI) IS PUSHED AWAY TO A NEUTRAL CORNER BY THE REFEREE AS CHALLENGER FLOYD PATTERSON SLUMPS TO THE CANVAS IN THE SIXTH. THE FIGHT WAS STOPPED IN THE TWELTH. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive Saint PAUL, MN - JULY 25: Muhammed Ali is honored at the 2010 Starkey Hearing Foundation 10th Annual "So the World May Hear" Gala at Saint Paul RiverCentre on July 25, 2010 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation) American boxer Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali) with boxing manager Chris Dundee around the time of his World Heavyweight Boxing Championship fight against fellow American Sonny Liston at Miami Beach, Florida. Ali went on to win the match, securing his first world heavyweight title. (Photo by Harry Benson/Getty Images) Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali in training at the Houston Astrodome in Texas for his upcoming bout with Ernie Terrell, 31st January 1967. Ali beat Terrell on 6th February, winning the WBA Heavyweight Title. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), February 1964. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) PHOENIX - MARCH 27: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali arrives at "Celebrity Fight Night X", a charity event to raise money for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute March 27, 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. The institute is located in Phoenix and the "Muhammad Ali Awards" are a way to acknowledge leaders in the sports, entertainment and business communities who best represent the qualities associated with Ali's fight to find a cure. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images) Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) spars with challenger Floyd Patterson during the World Heavyweight Championship fight. Clay won the fight with a technical knockout in the 12th round. 25th November 1965. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 21st May 1965: American boxing champion Muhammad Ali, formerly Cassius Clay training with a punch bag in his gym. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images) August 1966: US boxer Muhammad Ali in training for a match against Brian London. (Photo by R. McPhedran/Express/Getty Images) 25th February 1964: American boxer Cassius Clay (left), later Muhammad Ali, in action against Sonny Liston during their heavyweight title fight at Miami Beach, Florida. Clay won the contest, becoming world champion, when Liston failed to come out at the start of the seventh round. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images) 9th May 1966: US boxer Cassius Clay at his West End Hotel during his stay in London to fight Henry Cooper. (Photo by B. Potter/Express/Getty Images) FEBRUARY 25, 1964: Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali) in action against Sonny Liston during their heavyweight title fight at Miami Beach, Florida. Clay won the contest, becoming world champion, when Liston failed to come out at the start of the seventh round. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) 27th May 1963: American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) lying on his hotel bed in London. He holds up five fingers in a prediction of how many rounds it will take him to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper. (Photo by Len Trievnor/Express/Getty Images) NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS - PREMIUM RATES APPLY) Muhammad Ali onstage during the Michael J. Fox Foundation's 2010 Benefit "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's" at The Waldorf=Astoria on November 13, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research) 1972: Muhammad Ali during training for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis held in Dublin, Republic of Ireland in 1972. (Photo by Getty Images) Headshot of American boxer Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, during a training session, May 17, 1966. (Photo by R. McPhedran/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 1966: World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in training at the Royal Artillery Gymnasium in London for his upcoming fight with British champion Henry Cooper, against whom he must defend his title. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) PARIS - JANUARY 1: A portrait of then World boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in 1960 in Paris, France. (Photo by AFP/Getty Images) World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali during a press conference at the Savoy Hotel in London, 9th March 1976. He is holding a copy of his autobiography, entitled 'The Greatest - My Own Story'. (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali raises his arms in triumph after beating Floyd Patterson in the 12th round at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, 22nd November 1965. Referee Harold Krause stands between the two men. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) PHOENIX - MARCH 28: Muhammad Ali looks on during Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XV held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 28, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night) NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Muhammad Ali attends the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) September 24, 2008 in New York City. President Clinton is hosting the fourth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a gathering of politicians celebrities, philanthropists and business leaders grouped together to discuss pressing global issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) KINSHASA, CONGO - OCTOBER 30:General view of the fight between the world heavyweight boxing champion the American Muhammad Ali (R) and his compatriot and titleholder George Foreman (C). Ali won and got back his title October 30 1974 in Kinshasa, Congo. (Photo by: AFP/Getty Images) 25 MAY 1965: CASSIUS CLAY OF THE UNITED STATES STANDS OVER THE PRONE FIGURE OF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SONNY LISTON DURING THEIR BOUT HELD IN LEWISTON, MAINE. CLAY WON THE FIGHT WITH A FIRST ROUND KNOCK-OUT TO CLAIM THE TITLE. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive 1972: MUHAMMAD ALI IN ACTION AGAINST AL ''BLUE'' LEWIS IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT MARCH 12, 1964: The American boxer Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali), two weeks after he won his first world heavyweight title. Original Publication: People Disc - HW0518 (Photo by Harry Benson/Getty Images) Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali) being restrained by his seconds as he rushes across the ring after his world heavyweight title fight victory over Sonny Liston, yelling to the ringside reporters 'eat your words'. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) 11th September 1974: American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali addressing the press at Kinshasa where he is preparing for his fight against world champion, George Foreman. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) “He touched boxing in such a way that it changed lives for boxers all around the country,” Wells said. Coach Ebo Elder has an even closer connection with Ali. He had the honor of meeting the revolutionary athlete when he fought in Atlanta in 1970. Elder took the opportunity to tell Ali he was the greatest. “He looks at me and he goes, 'You sure know your boxing. Sit down. Sit down.' Hey, what a moment. I sat down for an hour or an hour and a half. Because I knew his career.” Sign up for the daily Speed Feed Newsletter Thank You Something went wrong. This email will be delivered to your inbox once a day in the morning. Thank You for signing up for the Speed Feed Please try again later. Submit It is a moment Elder will always cherish. “I was so blessed to be there with Muhammad Ali one-on-one. The line stayed there for an hour.” As he coaches the next generation of fighters, Elder scanned the room hoping there is a young Ali in the making, someone not afraid to say they are the greatest long before they have the titles to prove it. But even more importantly, able to do what Ali did off the ring and promote peace. "Him being a man of color and standing up for what he believes in,” Beasley said. While they may be amateur boxers, there is nothing amateur about their love for the sport. These fighters can only hope to have the a fraction of the impact Ali had on the sport. “He took it from being a brutal fight game to elevating it to sheer entertainment,” Elder said. PHOTOS \| Muhammad Ali at the 1996 OlympicsNo More Room in Hell Original Soundtrack We're pleased to announce that our OST will be coming to Steam & Bandcamp this Halloween! We've released a couple tracks already on our Bandcamp page which also has the album currently avaliable for preorder. Click here to check it out. "No More Room in Hell - Original Soundtrack Volume 1" by Garrett "ThoughT" Lindquist presents over 45 minutes of music from the Source mod "No More Room in Hell." Each track has remastered for this release by Andrew Glassford. Bandcamp purchases have a wide array of formats to choose from. The steam release comes with both MP3 320 and FLAC for the audiophiles out there. Our music is one of the most beloved parts of the game, and this OST is no exception. It makes a perfect score for your commute to work or school, for studying, or smashing the undead hordes!On October 25, 1993, late-night viewers of MTV caught a glimpse of the future of talk television when The Jon Stewart Show—a frenetically paced mash-up of celebrity chats, musical performances, and comedy sketches—made its debut. Stewart, who was then just 30 years old, was a mostly unknown face at the time. But his reputation on the standup comedy circuit had caught the attention of MTV executives, who were looking to make their first foray into late-night programming. Though it was canceled in 1995, Stewart's unique abilities did not go unnoticed by the television world at large. From 1996 to 1998, Stewart—playing an exaggerated version of himself—was the guy being eyed as the next host of The Larry Sanders Show, HBO's brilliant parody of the late-night talk show world. Perhaps it was prophetic, as Stewart did indeed land a real talk show of his own a year later when he took over hosting duties of The Daily Show from Craig Kilborn in early 1999, and stuck around for 16 years. In celebration of The Jon Stewart Show's 25th anniversary, we're looking back at some fun facts about the MTV series that gave birth to a late-night icon. 1. STEWART WAS CONSIDERED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR LETTERMAN. When David Letterman announced he would be moving his show from NBC to CBS in 1993, Stewart was actually a contender to replace the late-night great. The gig, of course, famously went to Conan O’Brien and Stewart instead launched The Jon Stewart Show. 2. THE SHOW WAS AN INSTANT HIT ON MTV. The Jon Stewart Show quickly became one of the most-watched programs on MTV, second only to Beavis and Butt-Head in the channel’s ratings. Courteney Cox, Conan O’Brien, Alicia Silverstone, David Blaine, and Quentin Tarantino were among the show’s celebrity guests. “Letterman's got a show he's doing, whereas this is much more casual,” Tarantino told Entertainment Weekly in 1994, when he appeared on The Jon Stewart Show just one night after doing Letterman. “This wasn't like doing a talk show. It was like we were just bulls**ting." (During the interview, Stewart had asked Tarantino whether he got his acting role in Pulp Fiction by sleeping with the director.) 3. STEWART'S DREAM GUEST: HELENA BONHAM CARTER. In a 1994 interview with People, Stewart confessed his desire to have actress Helena Bonham Carter appear on the show. “She’s adorable,” he said. “I’m waiting for her to get fed up with this whole English accent thing and come home to Papa.” 4. THE SHOW MADE A HABIT OF INTRODUCING HOT MUSICAL GUESTS. When Stewart described the show to USA Today as “Just an odd show with really cool music,” he wasn’t kidding. Being on MTV, music was a given. But Stewart helped to give a more mainstream platform to dozens of musicians who never would’ve made the cut on a network late-night show. Among his menagerie of guests were Blind Melon, Slayer, Warren Zevon, Buffalo Tom, Naughty by Nature, White Zombie, Faith No More, Notorious B.I.G., and Marilyn Manson (who famously ended his set by trashing the musical stage and getting a piggyback ride from Stewart). 5. THE SHOW WAS REVAMPED AS A SUCCESSOR TO THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW. Based on its popularity with MTV audiences, at the end of its first season The Jon Stewart Show was revamped by parent company Paramount to replace Arsenio, whose show had been canceled in May of 1994. The show was extended from 30 minutes to an hour and put into syndication. A poster of Arsenio hung on the wall of Stewart’s office at the time, with a word bubble that read: “Good Luck, Motherfcker.” 6. STEWART DID NOT WANT TO MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THE SHOW’S ARRIVAL. Not a lot of publicity was given to Stewart’s move from MTV to syndication, and that was by Stewart’s design. “Some people here wanted to do a big press conference and make some announcement,” Stewart told the Sun Sentinel in 1994. “And I said ‘Why? Are we invading someone?’ I didn’t think fanfare was appropriate.” 7. STEWART’S LIFE IN SYNDICATION DID NOT LAST LONG. Stewart quickly learned that success on MTV does not necessarily translate to success with the masses. The Jon Stewart Show was canceled in 1995. The show’s failure on that larger scale was not a complete surprise to Stewart, who shared his mixed feelings about the move to syndication with the Chicago Tribune. “There are going to be people in the audience who are 20 years old that think it sucks and don't get it or don't like it. And there are going to be people who are 50 and do,” he said. “I had to make peace with the fact that if this works, great, and if it doesn't, you have to be OK with that, too. You can't go into it thinking, ‘If I do this and they take this away, what's going to happen to me?' You have to know that you can always open an ice-cream store.” 8. STEWART ANNOUNCED THE SHOW’S CANCELLATION ON LETTERMAN. Stewart used an appearance on The Late Show on June 7, 1995 to announce that his own show had been canceled. 9. LETTERMAN RETURNED THE FAVOR BY APPEARING ON STEWART’S FINAL SHOW. Two weeks later, Letterman was sitting on Stewart’s couch as a guest on the final episode, which aired on June 23, 1995. Buffalo Tom provided the musical sendoff. Guests were served margaritas and given taxi rides home. 10. RUMORS ABOUNDED THAT STEWART WOULD BE HIRED BY ABC OR FOX. But the rumors turned out to be just that—rumors. The Larry Sanders Show poked fun at this common talk show scenario by casting Stewart—as himself—as a possible replacement to the series’ fictional host (played by Garry Shandling). 11. THE SHOW’S WRITERS AND DIRECTORS WENT ON TO DO GREAT THINGS. The Jon Stewart Show’s cancellation was only the beginning for many of the talented writers and directors behind the scenes: director Beth McCarthy-Miller has gone on to receive eight Emmy nominations for her work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. Writers Chris Albers and Janine Ditullio were quickly hired by Conan O’Brien, and Brian Hartt went to Jay Leno. Dennis McNicholas, Andrew Steele, and Steve Higgins went to Saturday Night Live. Tom Hertz, Alan Higgins, Josh Lieb, and Cliff Schoenberg moved into sitcoms and film. Brian Posehn, one of the Comedians of Comedy, and Dave Attell, host of Insomniac for Comedy Central, stepped in front of the camera. 12. STEWART DIDN'T MAKE OUT SO BADLY EITHER. In 1999, you might recall, Stewart took over hosting duties on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show from Craig Kilborn. The now-married 55-year-old father of two is also a bestselling author, producer, and occasional actor. He has hosted the Grammys and the Oscars and has won 22 Emmys (and counting), plus two Grammys. Not bad for the guy who once caused a scene by sitting on Captain Kirk’s lap. This post originally appeared in 2013.Scott Frost Central Florida head coach Scott Frost reacts and shouts at a sideline Saturday. (Tony Ding \| AP) ANN ARBOR -- Scott Frost went down swinging Saturday. Despite his Central Florida squad dropping a 51-14 decision to host Michigan, Frost -- UCF's first-year coach -- had some strong words about his team and how he believed it performed against the Wolverines inside Michigan Stadium. "It's hard to say when the score is what it is, but we came in here and outhit those guys today," Frost said. "Standing on the sideline, there was no doubt who was hitting harder. Our guys came in hungry and wanting to do that. It's rare you can come into Michigan and rush for 300 yards on them. They had to run a fly sweep in the fourth quarter to get to 100. "I give our defense a ton of credit... there's a lot to fix but there's also a lot to really be excited about." The Knights finished Saturday's game with 275 yards on 46 carries, 87 of them coming on one rush by freshman running back Adrian Killins. Michigan, meanwhile, ran the ball 41 times for 119 yards. Asked about the rushing numbers by his offense after the game, Jim Harbaugh explained how Central Florida loaded the box and brought run blitzes for most of the day -- which allowed Michigan to open things up through the air. That's exactly what happened, of course, as Wilton Speight finished 25 of 37 for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns. Frost, though, wanted to focus elsewhere. "Jim Harbaugh's teams are physical, that's what he's known for. We came in here and rushed for 6 yards a carry against them," he explained. "They had 2.9 yards rushing. That tells me our guys are playing hard and fighting. That's really what I wanted to see today. "There was no lull. We outhit them in the first half, I thought we outhit them in the second half. They've got a lot of playmakers and they made a bunch of plays. But standing on the sideline, watching the impacts and watching the collisions and watching the line move, I thought we won that battle." And just to prove he wasn't done, Frost concluded his six-minute press availability by being asked why his team wasn't on the field for the national anthem prior to kickoff. UCF appeared to be still walking down the tunnel when the anthem began to play -- Michigan had already been on the field for several minutes. But Frost said his team wasn't allowed to take its own sideline. "They wouldn't let us out there and there wasn't any room on our sideline anyway. Would've loved to have been out there," he said. "There was a hundred people on our sideline, they held us in the tunnel."A Virginia imam is advocating for female genital mutilation, or FGM, despite the fact that the practice is illegal in the United States. Imam Shaker Elsayed of the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia, appears to believe that abusing women under the guise of religious purity codes is morally virtuous. Mutilating a little girl’s genitals today can prevent “hypersexuality” in the future, says Imam Elsayed in a sermon to parishioners. After suggesting that the more extreme forms of mutilation may need to be avoided, the imam lectures his parishioners about seeking guidance from Muslim gynecologists familiar with the illegal procedure. FGM is "the honorable thing to do if needed,” he preaches, detailing the supposed virtues of the horrifying practice. Imam Elsayed explains: [Cut] the tip of the sexually sensitive part of the girl so that she is not hypersexually active...in societies where circumcision of girls is completely prohibited, hypersexuality takes over the entire society and a woman is not satisfied with one person or two or three. The depraved talk was posted on YouTube and caught the attention of MEMRI, a watchdog group that monitors Islamist rhetoric around the world. Watch: Shaker Elsayed, Imam of Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque in Fairfax County, VA, Endorses FGM: It Prevents Girls from Becoming Hypersexually Active pic.twitter.com/DoMtvQHz9G — MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) June 1, 2017 “Elsayed’s comments during a lecture on child rearing and family life last month sparked a brief controversy last Friday after a right-wing watchdog group circulated a video clip of his speech online,” reports The Washington Post. The Board of Directors at the imam’s mosque only condemned their religious leader’s comments Monday after the public began voicing outrage over the leaked video. Representatives of the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center added that the brutal practice of FGM violates both U.S. and Islamic law. However, the mosque failed to acknowledge that FGM is not all that uncommon in the Islamic world. “FGM is practiced throughout the world, with an estimated 200 million women and girls having undergone genital cutting as a coming-of-age ritual, typically under age 15,” notes NPR. Shockingly, FGM is practiced with increasing frequency in the United States. The high-profile arrests of three FGM-practicing Muslim doctors in Michigan recently introduced the topic back into the national conversation after complacency and naiveté fooled Americans into believing that such a horrific practice can only occur in third-world countries. Cases of FGM in America have been skyrocketing, largely as a result immigration from FGM-practicing Muslim-majority countries like Somalia. The Daily Wire reported on the disturbing phenomenon in May: The CDC states that the massive increase in the monstrous practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is “wholly a result of rapid growth in the number of immigrants from FGM/C-practicing countries living in the United States.” Virtually all of the countries listed by the CDC were dominated by Muslims. And that’s not even including Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation. The author of the 2016 study asserted that if Indonesia were included, the number of victims would increase by “several tens of thousands.” Recently-retired CDC researcher Howard Goldberg told The New York Post, “Indonesian figures became available after we wrote our paper, but it turns out that FGM was much more common in Indonesia than had been thought.” As Paula Kweskin, a human rights lawyer and producer of
Nonetheless, November showed slow but steady progress. The improving labor-market outlook drew a wave of frustrated job seekers back into the workforce. After shrinking by an average of 61,000 people over the preceding 12 months, 455,000 people returned to the labor force in November, today’s report shows. Participation in the labor force, at 63 percent of the civilian population, still remains 3 percentage points below its level in December 2007—before the start of the Great Recession. Relative to the overall population, the share of people gainfully employed in the U.S. economy, at 58.6 percent in November, is essentially unchanged from the start of the labor-market recovery in February 2010. The U.S. economy may be adding new jobs, but more than half of them—both in November and since the labor market began its postrecession recovery—are paying below-average wages and are concentrated in parts of the economy where wages, productivity, and prospects for career advancement are low. Since the start of the jobs recovery, 56 percent of new jobs are in the retail trade, leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance, and temporary-help sectors, where workers’ hourly wages averaged just $17.80 in November, compared to $24.15, on average, for the economy overall. Lack of opportunity in growth industries led fast-food workers to strike this week in more than 130 cities and those in big-box store retailers to protest working conditions on Black Friday. November’s report conveyed improvements for key demographic groups who have faced disproportionately high unemployment rates through the Great Recession and ensuing economic recovery. Unemployment for Latinos fell 0.4 percentage points to 8.7 percent, while unemployment for African Americans fell 0.6 percentage points to 12.5 percent. Unemployment for young workers ages 16 to 24 fell one point to 14.1 percent, still more than double the national average. And unemployment for late-career workers ages 55 and older fell half a point to 4.9 percent. Prolonged unemployment is not only trying for those who bear the burden, but it is also costing the U.S. economy overall an estimated $1 trillion per year, according to research from Federal Reserve economists. A creeping recovery and lack of opportunity are not primarily the result of private market forces, but rather of public policy choices. In other words, America can do much better if its representatives in Congress so choose. And we know how to do this: Focus on growing the economy from the middle out, rather than hoping prosperity trickles down from the top. Congress can start by choosing to replace the sequester’s mindless spending cuts with a growth-oriented budget that creates good jobs and investment today to create the future of broadly shared prosperity all Americans want. Without the sequester’s blind, across-the-board spending cuts and other fiscal austerity in 2013, the economy could have added more than 400,000 jobs per month, rather than the 195,000 per month actually experienced, according to estimates by economists at Deutsche Bank. More growth-killing cuts are in store for 2014 unless Congress chooses to change course, including the scheduled expiration of emergency unemployment insurance benefits at the end of this year. New analysis from the Congressional Budget Office indicates that Congress could help add 204,000 jobs to total employment in 2014 by helping those still suffering from long-term unemployment stand back on their feet nearly six years after the start of the Great Recession. Congress also has the choice to reward millions of hardworking people who build American prosperity but do not share commensurately in the rewards by raising the minimum wage and authorizing comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. Both would boost wages at the lower end of the labor market as well as unemployment, all while bringing down the budget deficit. Right now, the choice is Congress’s to make. But if it fails to put us back on the middle-out path, it will be America’s turn to choose a new Congress next November. Adam S. Hersh is an Economist at the Center for American Progress.The racist texts found on the phones of two of the three G4S security guards who escorted Angolan deportee Jimmy Mubenga to his death in 2009 required a double take. One text, written by defendant Stuart Tribelnig, read: “Fuck off and go home you free-loading, benefit-grabbing, kid-producing, violent, non-English speaking cocksuckers and take those hairy-faced, sandal-wearing, bomb-making, goat-fucking, smelly raghead bastards with you”. Meanwhile, 76 racist texts were found on the phone of G4S guard Terrence Hughes, which were targeted at black Africans, Asians and Muslims. Ultimately, the judge, Mr Justice Spencer, decided the texts were not relevant to the prosecution of the guards, and the jury subsequently ruled that they were not guilty of manslaughter, after forcing Mubenga’s head down and restricting his breathing as the flight prepared to take off at Heathrow airport. More than 20 people had heard Mubenga say over and over “I can’t breathe.” Whether the judge was right is another matter. But it does leave us with a number of unanswered questions. What kind of company would employ such individuals? What checks were done before they were employed? And how can transnational companies such as G4S be held accountable for their employees’ actions? It is tempting to believe that the Mubenga case is a one-off. The reality is very different. While G4S employs many guards who do a professional job and abide by the terms of their contracts, it has a disturbing record of employing people with a history of racism, violence and/or criminality. It has an equally disturbing history of employing individuals who kill while in their employ, or restrain people in a manner that results in death. Last October, G4S security guard Clive Carter was jailed for life after killing female conference delegate Khanokporn Satjawat at Glasgow’s SECC conference – he followed her into the ladies toilet and bludgeoned her to death with a fire extinguisher because she complained about him using her security pass. Every bone on the left side of her face and neck was broken and her skull was shattered. Carter had a record of getting in a rage with women who contradicted him. This June, G4S was also accused of violently removing protesters from its own AGM at London’s ExCeL Centre (an allegation the company has denied). A couple of months ago G4S, alongside Serco and the Youth Justice Board, had to pay out almost £100,000 for unlawfully restraining youngsters in secure training centres. In 2011, double amputee Palaniappan Thevarayan died when his unsecured wheelchair tipped over backwards as he was being transported to hospital in a G4S ambulance to St Helier hospital in Surrey. Last year’s inquest found that the driver and G4S staff had not received sufficient training to move patients safely between their homes, hospitals and clinics. Earlier this year we spoke to the family of Danny Fitzsimons, a former soldier who was employed by G4S in 2009 when he had post-traumatic stress disorder, a criminal record and a history of racism, and was on bail and not allowed out of Britain. Within 36 hours of arriving in Iraq to work for G4S subsidiary ArmorGroup he had shot dead two colleagues, Scottish security guard Paul McGuigan and Australian Darren Hoare. His stepmother, Liz Fitsimons, told us she blamed G4S for both the murders and the fate of her son – if G4S had checked his records it would not have employed him. G4S told the Guardian it accepted that on that occasion: “His screening was not completed in line with the company’s procedures.” In 2004, 15-year-old Gareth Myatt, who was mixed race, died after being restrained by three officers in Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. Myatt was 1.47m (4ft 10in) and weighed 41.3kg (6st 7lb). One of the restraining officers, David Beadnall, was 1.85m (6ft 1in) and 101.6kg (16st). When Myatt told the restraining officers he could not breathe, one replied: “Well, if you are shouting, you can breathe.” No officers were charged. The inquest found that Myatt’s death was an accident, but it also concluded that Myatt might still be alive if the Youth Justice Board, which oversees privately run centres like Rainsbrook, had carried out adequate safety checks into the types of restraints G4S staff were using on the children in their care. Beadnall was subsequently promoted to safety, health and environmental manager at G4S Children’s Services. The female officer involved in the restraint, Diane Smith, tried to get damages for PTSD after the incident. Her claim was rejected in the high court and she went to the appeal court. Her claim was again dismissed. These controversial incidents are by no means restricted to the UK. Earlier this year, G4S confirmed that company staff were involved in violent riots at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea when Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati was beaten to death. In 2009, an Australian coroner blamed the company for the heat-related death of a 46-year-old Aboriginal man who “cooked to death” in the G4S prison van transporting him. Racist practice by G4S employees has been frequently exposed – but to little effect. A 2007 report by the charity War on Want claimed that some black employees in South Africa had been forced to use different toilets to white employees, and that white supervisors had referred to them as “kaffirs” and “monkeys”. It also said that G4S, which had a turnover in excess of £4bn that year, paid some black staff “poverty” wages. (G4S denied the accusations, saying allegations of racism are thoroughly investigated and insisting it paid its African workers far higher than the minimum wage in the respective countries.) In 2011, the chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, issued a report based on the findings of inspectors accompanying detainees guarded by G4S staff on flights back to Jamaica and Nigeria. Hardwick said some security guards on the flights raised tensions by using force and restraint unnecessarily, while others used “highly offensive and sometime racist language” when talking to each other. (In response, G4S said it does not tolerate offensive and racist language among its staff, and that it had “received no complaints from the detainees on either of these flights”.) And on it goes. It appears to be a shocking litany of negligence, abuse and indifference, reinforced by a lack of accountability. Mark Scott, the lawyer who represented Mubenga’s family at his inquest, says such tragedies are made more likely because the company uses zero-hour contracts. “Guards have to be seen to get the job done, to get the deportee on the plane, otherwise they are not employed the next day.” Although G4S subsequently lost the deportations contract, he says it had little impact on the working practices of guards who were simply transferred to a new employer. So how can organisations such as G4S be made accountable for their failings? Employing security is always going to be a tricky issue – a certain kind of person is likely to be attracted to these jobs – which makes it all the more important that staff are thoroughly vetted and the company subsequently held to account. “There needs to be a mechanism for state institutions and the private companies they employ to be held to account when people die,” said Deborah Coles, co-director of campaigning group Inquest, after the Mubenga guards were cleared of manslaughter last week. “Neither G4S nor the Home Office were prosecuted for its failings to act on the well-documented concerns about the use of excessive force and racism.” These tragedies have happened too many times in too many different situations in too many countries to not believe that G4S has a systemic problem. Is it systemically racist or systemically incompetent? Yes, in extreme cases individual employees will be charged (and inevitably cleared) of manslaughter. But perhaps it is only when G4S knows that it will be charged with corporate manslaughter if somebody in their care dies unnecessarily, that they will ensure they recruit responsibly and learn how to look after people in their care without killing them.Thrownness (German: Geworfenheit)[1] is a concept introduced by German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889–1976) to describe humans' individual existences as "being thrown" (geworfen) into the world. Overview [ edit ] Geworfen denotes the arbitrary or inscrutable nature of Dasein that connects the past with the present. The past, through Being-toward-death, becomes a part of Dasein. Awareness and acknowledgment of the arbitrariness of Dasein is characterized as a state of "thrown-ness" in the present with all its attendant frustrations, sufferings, and demands that one does not choose, such as social conventions or ties of kinship and duty. The very fact of one's own existence is a manifestation of thrown-ness. The idea of the past as a matrix not chosen, but at the same time not utterly binding or deterministic, results in the notion of Geworfenheit—a kind of alienation that human beings struggle against,[2] and that leaves a paradoxical opening for freedom: [T]he thrower of the PROJECT is THROWN in his own throw. How can we account for this freedom? We cannot. It is simply a fact, not caused or grounded, but the condition of all causation and grounding.[3] For William J. Richardson, Geworfenheit "must be understood in a purely ontological sense as wishing to signify the matter-of-fact character of human finitude".[4] That's why "thrownness" is the best English word for Geworfenheit. Richardson: "[Other] attractive translations such as 'abandon,' 'dereliction,' 'dejection,' etc. [...] are [dangerous because they are] too rich with ontic, anthropological connotations. We retain 'thrown-ness' as closest to the original and, perhaps, least misleading."[5] "Into this world we're thrown / Like a dog without a bone"[6] In his main work The Principle of Hope (1954-9), the anti-Heideggerian author Ernst Bloch[7] has correlated the thrownness into the world with a dog's life: hope "will not tolerate a dog's life which feels itself only passively thrown into What Is, which is not seen through, even wretchedly recognized".[8] Such a connection had been picked up by The Doors in a verse of their song "Riders on the Storm" (1971): "Into this world we're thrown / Like a dog without a bone". Speaking with Krieger and Manzarek, the philosopher Thomas Vollmer tells how this verse recalls Heidegger's concept of thrownness: in 1963 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Jim Morrison heard an influential lesson for him, where were discussed philosophers who had a critical look at the philosophical tradition, including Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger.[9] In 2009, Simon Critchley dedicated his column on The Guardian to Heidegger's concept of thrownness and explained it using the aforementioned verse of The Doors.[6] In their 1986 book Understanding Computers and Cognition. A New Foundation for Design, authors Terry Winograd and Fernando Flores applied Heidegger's concept of thrownness to the field of software design.[10] See also [ edit ]Dinosaurs once ruled the land, air and sea with an iron fist. While that iron fist was often connected to ridiculous, tiny baby arms, it should be noted that those tiny arms were attached to giant motherfucking lizards that, were they alive today, would be lounging atop the food chain sipping giant tropical drinks with people garnishes. But because God decided to take them down the only way He could (cheating), we live in a world where these magnificent bastards are named by snooty, stuffed shirts who, for some reason, give them the lamest names possible. Advertisement Bambiraptor This tiny flesh-eating creature stood no more than a foot tall and barely weighed four and a half pounds. The first skeleton was discovered by a 14-year-old hunting for dinosaur bones with his parents in Glacier National Park in Montana. Scientists named it after Disney's most famous deer, probably both because it was about the same size as Bambi and because they wanted to shame it for being dead. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Scientists from Yale, the University of Kansas and the University of New Orleans are to blame for giving the cousin of the feared velociraptor such a wuss name. Pairing "Bambi" with a bad ass word like "raptor" doesn't help. The cute neurons that circle the name Bambi will always overpower any manly name it's paired up with: Bambi Stallone, Bambibear, Bambi Steak. The name as a whole just makes you feel more pity than fear. If you encountered a lone Bambiraptor wandering in the wilderness, you'd probably think the poor little guy was alone and hungry after some bloodthirsty hunter shot his mother in the name of sportsmanship. Of course right after you cooed and tickled under it's jaw, it would jump up and rip out your jugular.A Prototyping Companion For Your Launchpad – The Sidekick Seeed, in collaboration with TI, will be releasing a new accessory to the Launchpad ecosystem. Aptly named the Sidekick, it plugs into a Launchpad on one side and a breadboard on the other. This setup allows you to prototype a design using a breadboard, instead of purchasing or designing a BoosterPack. The Sidekick comes with 10 Energia examples. The biggest pros of the design is that it supports both 20 and 40 pin Launchpads and is independent of the Launchpad type(Tiva-C, MSP430 or C2000). It allows you to jump swiftly from one design to another. The kit also comes with loose components including a breadboard to accelerate your design ideas. Ship Date The Expected ship date for the kit is December 15, 2015 with a price of $29.99. This brings the release date in line with holiday shopping. Both Digikey and Mouser are expected to stock the Sidekick. Bundled With 1 x Breadboard 5 x Green LED 5 x Red LED 1 x RGB Common Anode LED 10 x Ceramic Capacitor 10nF 10 x Ceramic Capacitor 100nF 5 x Aluminum capacitor 100uF 10 x Resistor 330R 10 x Resistor 1K 10 x Resistor 10K 1 x Tilt switch 1 x Thermistor 1 x Photoresistor 1 x Diode 1 x Buzzer 5 x Button 5 x Switch 2 x Potentiometer with knob 5 x Breadboard jumper wire – long 20 x Breadboard jumper wire – short 1 x 7 segment display 1 x Small DC motor 1 x TI 8-bit shift register (SN74HC595N) 1 x TI Analog Temperature Sensor (LM19CIZ/NOPB) 1 x TI NPN transistor (LP395Z/NOPB) 1 x TI NPN transistor (PN2222/NOPB) 1 x Breadboard BoosterPack Adapter PCB 1 x Label for components 1 x Sidekick basic for LaunchPad Manual Should You Buy It? Absolutely! Especially if you are new to electronics or the Launchpad ecosystem or if you are a tinkerer. If you are a parent or a teacher, this is a perfect gift for kids trying to get into electronics. Note that this is a plugin to the Launchpad and the Launchpad is a separate purchase. Any of the Launchpads on this page will work with the Sidekick. LinksIDI Gear : Outdoor Apparel - Hunting, Ice fishing, Swimwear Our products deliver optimum warmth and comfort with insulating, windproof, and waterproof protection. As avid outdoorsmen, we realize that the right gear makes all the difference in extreme conditions. Innovative Designs, Inc. products equip you for the ultimate outdoor experience, without the added weight, bulk, and expense of our competition. Whether you’re looking for hunting apparel, or the best ice fishing suit available on the market, you’ve come to the right place! Our cold weather apparel products are the ultimate outdoor gear: lightweight, warm, functional, affordable, and with the quiet and unrestricted mobility that will allow you to step outside longer and enjoy your stay. Innovative Designs, Inc.'s goal is to enhance your outdoor experience, meeting the specific needs of each and every customer. Learn More TESTIMONIALSThe Polaris area is set to get another hotel. The parent company of the Drury Hotels chain has paid $3 million for a 5.4-acre site at the southwest corner of Gemini Place and Orion Place, where it plans to build a 187-room Drury Inn & Suites. The company hopes to begin construction in the spring and have the hotel open by late 2019. This would be the fourth Drury hotel in the Columbus area. The others are Downtown next to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, in Dublin and in Grove City. Drury is an "upper-midscale" chain that appeals largely to business travelers during the week and leisure travelers on weekends, said Herb Wedemeier, senior vice president of the Missouri-based hotel chain's parent company, Drury Southwest. Wedemeier said about 20 percent of the Polaris hotel's rooms would be suites. Other amenities are meeting space and an indoor pool. Drury expects to invest roughly $20 million in the hotel, Wedemeier said. The hotel's final design needs to win local officials' approval. The Polaris area has attracted a number of new hotels in recent years, including a Residence Inn by Marriott on Lyra Drive and a Homewood Suites and Holiday Inn Express and Suites along Polaris Parkway east of I-71. A Staybridge Suites is scheduled to open on Lyra Drive next month. [email protected] @MarlaMRoseAll Michelle Walker could do was sit and watch her epileptic and autistic son, Vincent, seize for hours as federally approved pharmaceuticals failed. Holding on to hope for a better life, they left their home in San Antonio and moved to Colorado to treat Vincent with medical marijuana. “We had no choice,” Walker, a director of advocacy group Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana Autism (MOMMA) said. “It’s quite literally a matter of life or death for my son. He seized every 10 seconds and he would hit, kick, bite, punch, and choke people. I have scars from where he’s attacked me." Walker and others traveled to the state Capitol to testify in support of HB 2107, authored by state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville. The bill would authorize the possession, use, cultivation and distribution of cannabis by qualifying patients with a debilitating medical condition. It would allow medical practitioners registered by the Department of Public Safety to recommend — but not prescribe — cannabis to seriously ill patients. As of today, Vincent has not had an aggressive meltdown in 32 days, down from every day of his life. He’s verbal, thoughtful, and present, as if “someone hit up a light switch,” Walker said. But here in Texas, Walker and her family were not able to get out of the “cannabis closet,” a term advocates use when they cannot publicly accept they administer or use medical cannabis for fear of criminal prosecution. The bill was heard before the House Public Health committee on Tuesday night, with some patients, lawyers and doctors waiting as early as 8 a.m. to testify in support. The meeting comes after advocates held a press conference last week to urge committee chairman Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo, to schedule a hearing. HB 2107 would require patients — who, like their doctors, would hold an ID card issued by DPS — to be diagnosed with a condition listed on the bill like cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and PTSD. Doctors would determine what strains and dosage of the plant would be best for each condition. The bill’s companion, SB 269, authored by Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. This legislation is also an effort to expand the Compassionate Use Act, passed in 2015 for card-holding physicians to prescribe cannabidiol with low amounts of THC, the component that gives patients a high. It only applies to patients who suffer from intractable epilepsy. But advocates say the law has a “fatal flaw” since it requires doctors to prescribe, instead of recommend, the drug. Doctors would risk their licenses because it is still illegal under federal law. Walker said that low amounts of THC are not enough for her son, since he uses a nasal spray that contains higher amounts of the component in case of seizure and meltdown emergencies. “I don’t think I’ve had more families reach out to me and encourage me to work on (something more) than this legislation,” Lucio said. “I’ve had a lot of fiscal notes in my career, and this is the first positive fiscal note I’ve had.” Dr. Robert Marks, a board certified pain management doctor, said that according to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, a peer-reviewed medical journal, medical cannabis laws have seen an average of a 24.8% reduction in opioid overdose deaths. “Every single person in this room has heard of the opioid epidemic,” Marks said. “We’re desperate. As a physician, I’m desperate. I beg you, on behalf of thousands of cancer patients, at least give those patients access." As a testifier told the story of how her epileptic daughter endured three brain surgeries and is currently on a "zombie state" due to a cocktail of six strong pharmaceuticals, Rep. Jason A. Isaac, R-Dripping Springs and bill co-author, could not hold back his tears. "I will continue to fight for this even if it means I’ll lose elections," Isaac said. Glen Mayes, who also traveled from Colorado to the state Capitol, said his epileptic son Orion was losing weight and his ability to swallow, and started deteriorating from the inside out when he took pharmaceuticals. He medicated his son with medical marijuana and spent 30 days without a seizure, something that Valium never did for him, Mayes said. “I was a former corrections officer for 10 years and I’ve seen what those tranquilizers do to people, and to have my son on it, that rocked me to my core,” Mayes said in an interview. Aside from parents with epileptic and autistic children, survivors of PTSD, sexual assault and intimate partner violence were also at the hearing. Lena Oldums said she was raped every week by her abusive partner for four years until she was able to escape with her son. She was diagnosed with PTSD and major depressive disorder, but the numerous psychiatric drugs to help treat the symptoms have not worked for the last three years. “(They) have had severe side effects for me including not being able to operate a vehicle, headaches, tremors, sensitivity to light, high blood pressure, kidney failure and suicidal thoughts,” Oldums said. “I almost wrecked my car twice with my son in the back seat while on a prescribed pharmaceutical medication.” Oldums said that cannabis helps her ease the paranoia and anxiety, allowing her to maintain employment. The drug also allows her to be in control of her medication rather than waiting for months for appointments, referrals or pharmacies, she said. Out of about 70 people who testified, only one opposed the bill. Dr. Richard Heard, a family medicine doctor based in Victoria, Texas, said that severe pain is a “vague deal” since 50 percent of his patients come to his office already under the effects of cannabis asking for more drugs. “If this is approved for severe pain, 75 percent of my entire clinic is going to be a candidate of this drug,” Heard said. “(Colorado and Washington State) approved medical cannabis eight years before they passed recreational use. We’re four sessions away of passing recreational use.... This drug is addictive.” Memphis Diangelis, who suffers from cerebral palsy, walked to the podium and said cannabis is the only thing that helped him sleep. He said his voice improved, he can now use his right hand to write, and he can hold a cup of coffee steady enough not to spill it ever since his brother introduced him to cannabis. “I need to have access to my medicine without being considered a criminal,” he said as he was cheered by those in support of the bill. “If you know me you know I am a law-abiding citizen.” Chairman Price said “it was evident” that it is a passionate topic before stating that the bill would be left pending. As of Tuesday’s hearing, the bill had 72 co-authors. Lucio said he internalized every heartfelt testimony with his kids, and that nothing would ever stop him personally from getting his children what they needed to get relief from being seriously ill. “We have to educate politicians and elected officials about cannabis, about its benefits, and about what children and patients are really going through right now,” Walker said. “I believe that if we do that, the compassion will come through.” [email protected]’ve been showing a little skin to win, haven’t you boys? Your ankles have been breathing all summer, basking in the sunlight and drawing our eyes to your sharp new loafers. The cropped trouser has been trickling in since Thom Browne coined it “ankle cleavage” last season and it is by far one of my favorite men’s fashion trends. The hems has risen and men are finally appreciating what women have known for so long: You have an amazing pair of shoes, what’s the point if you can’t even see them? So, why stop now that the weather is changing? No need to put the cropped trousers away till Spring. Embrace the seasons and add a sock and slip the shoes back on. Few do’s + don’cha dares: Skip the athletic gym socks. Unless you’re Michael Jackson and can moonwalk. Play with texture and prints. Waffle knits, polka dots and stripes. Personally not a huge fan of animal inspired prints, but if owls or sharks strike your fancy; I say go for it. Take a seat. Where do your socks hit? If you see hints of skin – then hike ’em up, or put on a different pair. Let’s save the skin for summer ankles. “I like a short pant so you can see the socks. You could always see Cary Grant’s socks.” – Tom Ford. A little sartorial inspiration for you:How ‘Bout a GOP Loyalty Oath to Voters? RUSH: We’ve got Trump, big meeting between Trump and Reince Priebus. Trump is apparently going to sign the pledge that he will support the Republican nominee, big meeting at Trump Tower after which Trump will have a media availability to explain what happened. Governor Christie signed his in public today. On Fox News, he was guesting with Martha MacCallum, and she demanded that somebody bring the pledge out. And somebody, some stagehand brought the pledge out and Christie (imitating Christie), “Yep, signed it right here, yep, yep, yep. There you go, put the date on it, damn right, I’m in there.” What is this, loyalty oaths? How about the Republican Party signing a loyalty oath to the voters? If there needs to be a royalty oath here, it seems to me that the Republican Party elected officials would finally get around to signing one that they are gonna be loyal to their cause and loyal to their voters. Now, I’m not trying to stir things up here, but what is this? They say this is an attempt to entrap Trump and get him to promise he won’t go third party and all that. I don’t know if these people think this looks good or they’re running some kind of a scam or trick on Trump. But as usual, they’re overthinking this, because they’re discombobulated. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: You know, this pledge business, folks, I have to tell you, I think the Republicans are making another mistake. They think they’re winning big here by getting Trump to pledge he won’t go third party, but what’s really happening? What’s really happening is all these others are at the same time pledging they will support Trump. That’s much bigger news to me than the fact that Trump won’t go third party. You know why Trump won’t go third party? Third parties don’t win. Trump, if he’s in this for real, he wants to win. Third parties don’t. But what’s happening now is that all these other Republicans are pledging to support him if he gets the nominee. This is classic, not realizing what they’re doing moves by the Republican Party.Valar Morghulis A fan needs a coin Replica of the coin Jaqen gives Arya Use it to get into Braavos Arya doesn't know at first, but the phrase Jaqen H'ghar teaches her means "All men must die" in High Valyrian. So it's pretty apt that she starts using it in her "prayer" list of people she'd like to see dead. The design of this coin is based on the iron coin used as a token of recognition by the guild known as the Faceless Men. It features a hooded, faceless figure on one side and the words "Valar Morghulis, Valar Dohaeris" (All Men Must Die, All Men Must Serve) on the other. It's struck from.999 pure iron and will grow more beautiful and mysterious with every year you carry it. Product SpecificationsPolice Commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday that police officers will monitor synagogues and other symbolic locations in the city following an attack on a Jerusalem synagogue, though there is "no specific credible threat" to New York. View Full Caption Flickr/Dave Hosford MANHATTAN — Police will monitor synagogues and other “symbolic locations” around the city following a deadly attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Tuesday. “The NYPD is following developments in Jerusalem closely and working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor any further developments. As of now, there is no specific credible threat to New York City,” Bratton said in a statement released by the police department. Officials in Brooklyn echoed the commissioner’s message later in the day, saying police in Crown Heights will step up visits to synagogues in the 71st Precinct in the coming days, though there is no indication of terrorist activity in the area or the city. “It is strictly a precautionary measure and to [reassure] the community we serve of their safety,” said Detective Vincent Martinos, with the 71st Precinct's Community Affairs office, in an email alert. Two Palestinians killed four men in a synagogue complex in West Jerusalem early Tuesday morning, according to multiple reports. Three of the four men were immigrants to Israel from the United States, The New York Times reported.Amazon’s connected TV plans don’t end with the Fire TV, an Apple TV-like device it launched last year – the company announced the Fire TV Stick today, a $39 dongle that resembles the Chromecast, which is only $19 for the next two days if you’re already an Amazon Prime subscriber or if you sign up as a new one. Before the Fire TV launched, we received credible reports that Amazon was working on a device with a dongle form-factor, and this appears to confirm Amazon’s development team was working on more than one type of approach to a connected TV strategy. The press material for the launch of the Fire TV Stick actually calls out the Chromecast by name, noting that Amazon’s hardware actually has two times the memory of Google’s streaming stick, along with a dual-core processor, MIMO Wi-Fi for better connectivity and a dedicated hardware remote. It has 1 GB of RAM on board, 8 GB of local storage and Amazon’s ASAP streaming tech, to launch streaming videos without the buffer delay you’ll normally get with streaming services. Fire TV Stick offers access to Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Twitch, WatchESPN and a variety of other services out of the box. The Fire TV Remote app for Fire phone, Android phone and soon for iPhone, too, allows users to use the same kind of voice search introduced on Fire TV with the Fire TV Stick, and Amazon also includes a free month of Prime membership. Buyers can also add-on a Fire TV Voice Remote for $29.99 if they want to use voice search without an app. The Fire TV Stick offers playback from your iOS and Android tablet and smartphone devices for apps including YouTube and Spotify, too, and lets you mirror your Fire OS and Android devices entirely, just like Chromecast. Second Screen and X-Ray features provide supplementary content on mobile devices, while main content is broadcast from them to your TV. It looks like Amazon might be the first company to offer a serious challenger to Chromecast in terms of both features and value, but we’ll have to wait and see how it performs in the real world to be sure.A genus of large water birds with a large bill and throat pouch Pelicans are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterised by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing. They have predominantly pale plumage, the exceptions being the brown and Peruvian pelicans. The bills, pouches, and bare facial skin of all species become brightly coloured before the breeding season. The eight living pelican species have a patchy global distribution, ranging latitudinally from the tropics to the temperate zone, though they are absent from interior South America and from polar regions and the open ocean. Long thought to be related to frigatebirds, cormorants, tropicbirds, and gannets and boobies, pelicans instead are now known to be most closely related to the shoebill and hamerkop, and are placed in the order Pelecaniformes. Ibises, spoonbills, herons, and bitterns have been classified in the same order. Fossil evidence of pelicans dates back at least 30 million years to the remains of a beak very similar to that of modern species recovered from Oligocene strata in France. They are thought to have evolved in the Old World and spread into the Americas; this is reflected in the relationships within the genus as the eight species divide into Old World and New World lineages. Pelicans frequent inland and coastal waters, where they feed principally on fish, catching them at or near the water surface. They are gregarious birds, travelling in flocks, hunting cooperatively, and breeding colonially.
much of a consolation, it wouldn't actually kill another attacker of the same 'calibre' of the Bowel Hunter but at the very least it would warn the others of the danger. Finally you lay your head down to rest, it's time to sleep. The moment your head hits the pillow you're out like a light. You haven't slept that well in a looong time. 'Knock Knock Knock Knock' you hear a soft tapping at the door 'Knock Knock Knock Knock'... 'Knock Knock Knock Knock' "Come in" The door opens and through it walks the bird girl you saw last night "Morning sleepy head, Leanna made breakfast and i didn't want yours to go cold so thought i'd bring it to you, you gotta be starving after yesterdays ordeal." she looks kind of cute standing with a tray in her revealing yet somehow respectful attire. You sit up as she walks over to you and places the silver tray on your lap, lifting off the cover to reveal a french style omelette sided with fresh tomatoes, two slices of lightly toasted bread and the biggest sausage you've ever seen. "This looks amazing! Thank you so much" It's definitely better than what you're used to, after months of nothing but military rations this is a god send. "Well it's not really me you should be thanking but i'm glad you enjoy it" She watches you dutifully as you scoff it down. With a triumphant clack you place down your knife and fork "Well if you're all done why don't we meet up with the others? we can-" It's then you hear a loud crash come from somewhere in the building and with it Fenix is gone, dashing out of the room almost faster than you can process. You grab your handgun then run after her to where you think the noise came from, forgetting your shoes and armour. You turn the corner at the end of the 'wing' you had been staying in to see the front doors of the building obliterated, smashed right out of the frame. Hurrying down the stairs you see the Old man carrying Felt on his back being confronted by Reinhardt and the two women you met last night, Fenix carrying some kind of long stick where did she get the time to get that? and the blonde with nothing but her fists. "If you wont let us go then we'll have to force our way out." the old man is shouting in a commanding tone. The Giant makes his move trying to rush past Reinhardt sprinting at full pelt towards the gate, he's faster than he looks but he doesn't get far. Bird girl chases after him tripping the giant with her staff. "We don't want to hurt you, think about this." "What's there to think about?! Bro leave us alone" "You have no home, that's my fault and the killer could still be out there. You can't fight her on your own" "We can make something work! We always have!" The old man looks at his young companion, he seems to know Reinhardt is right. "Maybe you shouldn't pass up a good thing kid" she looks at the old man clearly unsure of what to think "Here you have food, clean water and a roof over your head. When have you ever had something like that? It's a better live than either of us have ever had." The yard falls silent, you think about intervening but don't know what to say "If you still want to run, i'll be right beside you." "Ok we'll stay"... B-but don't try any funny business!" You can see the reluctance on her face, she clearly wants to run away but hears the words of her elder. "I wouldn't dream of it" Reinhardt extends his hand to the young girl "If you would be so kind as to follow me i would like to show you around your new home." His gaze meets yours as they turn to go back into the mansion "And ofcourse you should come too." "There are two living wings one on each side of the house, you should be familiar enough with the eastern wing, it's just bedrooms bathrooms and toilets so nothing too fancy... At the beginning and end of each wing is a dining room and kitchen, we normally eat in the front most room of the eastern wing" Bathroom? you can't remember the last time you had a good bath. Reinhardt leads yous deeper into the house through a pair of double doors down a long hallway. On the walls you notice pictures of various sword weilding red-haired figures, you figure these must be members of the Astrea family. At the end of the corridoor your host opens yet another pair of wooden double doors leading to a huge open space, some kind of assembly hall? The ceiling must be at least three stories high with the room itself being as big as two football fields stacked side by side. "This is the Dance Hall but we used to use it for all sorts of gatherings but now it hasn't seen a gathering in a long time" in the far corner of the room you see a grand piano, unlike the rest of the hall it is has been recently dusted and polished. Continuing the tour you walk over to the side of the hall to even more double doors which open to a long corridoor. Directly across from the doors Reinhardt had opened is a door etched with extravagent symbols. He leads you inside "This is the West library, there is another one on the eastern side" Two libraries? a giant dance hall? how rich is his family? "This library holds many story books and fairly tales while the East library is filled with old historical documents and scientific works." You notice Reinhardt and Leanna smiling the whole while in the library. After a short time in the library you are directed back out into the hall, to your suprise Felt and the old man have stayed quiet the whole time. Reinhardt walk's yous down the hallway, You think you're nearing the back of the mansion now. A Set of stairs lead up from the corridoor leading up to a final room. "Please, i do ask that you stay away from this room" Reinhardt's tone has become shifted into a one of sorrow. You look about your eyes meeting with Felts but neither of you speak, perhaps it would be better to ask him about it on your own? As Reinhardt leads you back to the foyer you notice a door that hadn't been pointed out before "Whats this?" "That's my mothers old workshop... the tools should all work so feel free too-" He stops himself as he notices a familiar face running towards the group "What happened?! I've been looking everywhere, thought something horrible had happened" she has clearly been stressing out, she's kind of cute even when worried. Reinhardt rubs his hand through his hair, it seems he'd forgotten about Emilia "Sorry you were asleep when we started the tour so i thought it might be best to leave you to rest" He brushes off the worry with a laugh perhaps trying to calm down the worried woman, but Emilia doesn't seem so amused. "Would you like a private tour?" did Leanna miss the whole mini panic attack? or was this her way of cutting through the tension? Emilia recomposes herself "No thank you" brushing her hair to her side you notice her ears, they're pointy? Like a... no she can't be? an Elf? "Well if that's everything i've got some paper work to fill out, all of you feel free to use my home as you see fit. My home is your home" and with that everyone splits off to do their own thing leaving you thinking on how to continue... Day 2 - A Magical Evening With the tour over everyone goes their separate ways and you think on how to spend the rest of the day. Reinhardt and Leanna walk off together it's probably best to leave them to it while Felt, Fenix and the old man are nowhere to be seen, you're choice has almost been made for you. Emelia still looks a bit bothered from this morning so you decide to go talk to her, maybe you can cheer her up? or better yet maybe you can learn something from her. "Goodmorning" "Oh hello Dan" She greets you with a smile. You find yourselves walking down the hallway "You were amazing yesterday you know, how you fought the killer with your magic." truth be told you'd probably be dead if it wasn't for her help with the Bowel Hunter"You're so skilled despite being so young." You almost immediately regret saying that after all you have no idea how skill or teachings of magic work. "You shouldn't assume a half elf's age based on her looks..." so she is an elf, a half elf. You'd noticed her ears moments ago but wasn't sure how to comment on them. "Oh please you must be in your 18... 20 tops" Emilia blushes softly and shakes her head. It's not polite to pry into age of a lady so you change the topic."I wish i knew magic like you, if i did i might have been a bit more helpful against miss murder. I'm just glad you were there or we'd not have made it long enough to be rescued, you saved all of us." "Don't sell yourself short, dan. You did alot more then i did and if you weren't there who knows what could have happened. I didn't really do much..." She's humble and definitely does not like people feeling as though they owe her anything. "Now who's selling herself short. I've been wondering... would you be willing to teach me to cast spells like you do?" a bit forward but you think that's the best way to ask it. "Magic is a very complex thing not everyone can do it" You never expected it to be easy You raise your hand confidently and give her a thumbs up "I'm willing to learn if you'll teach me" Emilia stands still, you're now in the foyer near the recently destroyed entrance. "That's not the problem, not everyone can use magic..." your heart sinks just a little but you don't let it get you down. So what if you can't use magic? "Would you at least be willing to try?" You make your best puppy face, who could resist? "I'm not really a good teacher..." She looks to her feet, maybe she wasn't the best person to ask for magical training? She's quite young herself so is probably not the most adept. "But ok i'll try, after all it's the least i can do" her doubt dissolves, replaced with a confident smile. "I think first we should start by figuring out your element but i'm sure you know all about that, you clearly know your stuff about witches so must know at least the forms of magic." You nod along as she talks but really you don't know the first thing about actual real magic "Where i'm from..." You think hard on how what to say, she was so happy with your mention of a 'good witch'. You don't want to shatter that by saying your world has no magic. "Where i'm from we aren't taught about magic. Outside of old tales and legends like the one i told you. So please treat me like i know nothing of magic." Emilia tilts her head and looks at you with narrowed eyes. "But clearly you must know at least know of the four elements of magic, if only because of your Metia." You're what? You give her a puzzled look "Your odd looking metal staff, is it not a combat Metia?" you scratch your head thinking on the question before remembering what Felt had said in your 'first life', she had believed you to be a magician due to the thunderous crackle of your side arm. It might be easier to go along with the idea of your guns being magical, but you really don't want to lie to someone who is willing to help you. "My weapons aren't magical" The young woman's eyes widen as if in disbelief "They're no more magical than a sword or bow" you didn't quite think that analogy through, thinking back to last night swords in this world clearly can be magical... "I can show you how they work some time if you'd like?" Emilia gives you a smile "I'd like that" She's teaching you so perhaps it's only fair to return the favour. "Well then we'll start with the basics. There are four primary magical elements. Earth, Wind, Fire and Water." You break out your note book and write down everything she says. Earth, Wind, Fire and Water sounds pretty straight forward just like out of any fantasy story. "But these are accompanied by both Light and Dark magic or Shadow magic." She walks up to you and places one hand on each side of your head holding it softly "Most people can only use one kind of magic... this might tingle a bit" Her hands feel warm on your face, after a few seconds she steps back her eyes wide it's like she's in disbelief. "What is it? is everything alright?" The look of disbelief quickly fades into a winning smile "We can start training right away" with that she leads you outside, you can see Fenix running laps around the manor her speed is incredible. Emilia leads you to the centre of the field in front of Reinhardt's home. "Ok so this should be a safe distance from the house" a safe distance? you don't like the sounds of that... "To use magic we draw mana - energy from ourselves and the environment around us" Emilia takes you through some breathing and movement exercises meant to help you direct the flow of magic but you feel silly and that it's going nowhere. After a few minutes of repeating Emilia's instructions You feel a light chill in the air "You're doing it!" doing what? you don't see any magic, until you look down it is. The ground has frosted over in a twelve foot circle with you standing at the centre. You jump with joy, you'd actually performed a magical spell! Even if 'frosting' isn't practical for any combat situation you're definitely progressing. "You really are amazing." Her face flushes bright red "It's you who did it, i just pointed you the right way." You get the feeling she's not used to receiving compliments. You spend the rest of the evening going over the basics and by the end you feel confident in your progress even if all you can really manage is making some frost on the floor. You and Emilia are still in the yard when a carriage drawn not by horses but a pair of large dinosaur like creatures pulls up to the mansion. The carriages door opens revealing a tall man in an expensive looking suit, his face covered in white makeup with purple highlights around his eyes. Is he a butler? a clown or jester? He steps out of the carriage "Emilia i'm sorry to keep you waiting but i was caught up with business" "It's fine really" she looks at him with a sense of respect, so he's definitely not a clown. "Oh Dan!" She gestures to both you and the odd looking man "This is Roswaal L Mathers, he is a good friend of mine" The man bows lightly to you "It's a pleasure" "Nice to meet you" you put your hand out for him to shake he looks at it oddly before grasping it, he has a soft yet firm grip. You lead the shaking and he follows. "Will you be coming with us Dan? The invitation still stands." "No i think i'll be staying here for a while but thank you, i might pop round sometime if i get the chance." "I'd like that" with a smile the half-elf and clownish looking man climb into the carriage which quickly makes it's way out of the manor. Since Emilia had gone and your training over you return to your room and review the notes you'd taken before laying down to sleep. Day 3 - Knightly Teachings You wake with a stretch to see breakfast has already been placed on the desk. You're really not used to living this luxuriously. Finishing your meal you take out a toothbrush and mostly full tube of toothpaste from your rucksack and head over toe one of the toilets. You'd neglected to brush last night and had brushing was the least of your concerns after your encounter with the Bowel Hunter so haven't freshened up since then. When you've finished you're approached by Reinhardt already fully dressed "Morning" "Hey Reinhardt Good-morning." "You have much planned today Dan?" "Nothing just yet why?" "Me an Leanna were going to do some training outside iere wondering if you'd like to join in? we can make it fun". You'd always liked working out and this could be a good opportunity to try and learn some magic from your new red haired friend "Sure why not, just let me get dressed." Once ready the two of you head outside to see Leanna already stretching near a small pile of wooden swords, like Reinhardt she's in her full set of armour making you feel a little under dressed. Despite the armour she's suprisingly limber you don't think you could reach your toes like her in your armour. "You decided to join in on the fun? Wonder-full." Like with any good training session you start by stretching, readying your body for the punishment you were about to put it through. Once finished with the stretching Reinhardt steps down and bigs up a pair of swords, passing one to you. "We'll start with some friendly sparring" Leanna gives Reinhardt a cheeky grin "You two go first" Despite receiving close combat training you'd never used a sword before, not even a wooden one. You know immediately that this friendly match would be completely one sided. You and Reinhardt circle each he strikes first landing a blow to the chest. You strike back but he ducks under it and lands yet another hit this time to your belly. They're softer than you'd expect but still fairly hefty. You don't think he's using magic yet still Reinhardt is practically dancing around you, you're better built than he is but he's shorter and more nimble even in his armour. You make a try for his legs but he jumps up and taps you lightly on the head with his wooden blade, landing softly behind you. "Three strikes you're out" It's only been a few minutes but you're already working up a sweat. "I need a bit of a rest after that, you two give it a go" Leanna steps up, with a whistle Reinhardt signals the start of your match. You don't hesitate and lunge towards the blonde knight but she turns to the right causing you to miss by mere inches, as you're about to regain your footing she grabs your wrist and underarm pulling you up over into the air then straight back into the ground knocking the wind right out of you. You open your eyes almost gasping for air to see her kneeling over you, you can almost see her... wooden blade pointed at your neck "Looks like i win" she says it so cheerfully. She helps you to your feet and pats you down "Doesn't look like i broke anything but i might have gotten a little too rough there, sorry if i hurt you" "You didn't have to go all out you know..." "Hey i was just doing it like we normally do, you don't normally go down so fast." "Not out here anyway" you hear the distant voice of Fenix, she'd been running chores around the house while yous were training. Both Reinhardt and Leanna blush lightly, but how did bird girl hear from so far away? Brushing off the comment you trade places with Reinhardt, without comment they charge each other. With incredible agility and power it's hard to keep track of their movements, you notice their wooden swords the same ones they'd used in their matches with you had now started glowing softly. Reinhardt is clearly faster than Leanna but the power of her hits continually force Reinhardt to redirect himself, he makes a good effort not to even attempt to block any of her attacks. It's plainly evident you are watching two masters at play. Reinhardt lands the first blow and then a second one but Leanna doesn't let up, striking at his legs clearly trying to get ontop of him like she did with you but while Reinhardt can't avoid the hit he manages to dodge her body. Leanna comes close to landing another hit but Reinhardt flows past it and taps her on the back ending the match. "You two are amazing, that was like watching something out of a super hero film" The two bow to each other and then to you "I don't know what a film is but i'll take the compliment, thank you" Leanna nods in agreement You had already learnt some of the basics of magic use with Emilia the day before so feel confident you can make more progress today. "Could you please teach me to do what you did" "teach you to spar? Well ofcourse -" "No i mean the thing with the swords, you made them glow you did it in the loot house as well." "It's not exactly easy to teach magic, let alone light magic to someone. The chances of you being able to use it are pretty slim" "Emilia helped me learn some basic magic yesterday, can we at least try?" "Ok then" Reinhardt taps his chin thoughtfully "Well if you're going to learn Reinforcement then you'll need to know exactly what it is and what it can do" Leanna nods along with what Reinhardt says, silently agreeing with his statements. "Light magic primarily is used to help improve yourself or allies, it can be used to make things stronger or to heal others. It's quite versatile. Now i want you to hold the sword carefully" "Imagine your inner energy flowing through it, imagine channelling power into the sword." You remember what Emilia had taught you yesterday. Instead of focusing your'mana' on the environment you focus it to the sword, straining and staring you feel as though you're going to pop a blood vessel. "Don't worry nobody gets it right on the first try, keep going." It takes almost an half an hour until you notice a faint glow from the wooden sword. Reinhardt and Leanna give you a round of applause "Well Done" - "Just like a pro" The glow begins to grow exponentially, before you know what's happening Reinhardt has grabbed the sword from your hand and begun running with it throwing the training weapon across the yard. Leanna pushes you to the ground covering you with her coat, even through the thick material you see a bright flash and hear a thunderous explosion, before you can see what had happened you're eyes grow heavy, you hear voices but can't make out what's being said and then nothing. When you wake you see a white sphere of light being cast by a young woman who is sitting by you. Despite her flat chest she has a cute figure, You try to sit up in the bed but find yourself pushed back down by the woman."Nyaw don't try to get up" You're so dazed you don't even notice the woman's feline features at first. Her ears twitch as she looks over you "You look confused do you Knyow what happened?" "We were training in the field when -" It hits you, the last thing you remember was seeing Reinhardt running with your glowing sword and then an explosion "Reinhardt, where is he! and Leanna are they -" The woman stops you before you can finish your thought "They're both A-OK, no-one was hurt in the blast" "So What happened then? Why am i hear?" "You channelled to much energy into that training sword turning it into a wooden bomb. It blew a pretty big hole in the garden too all those poor flowers..." She doesn't seem to be taking this seriously "So no-one was hurt then?" You breve a sigh of relief "Except you" "I thought you said noone was hurt?" "No-one was physically hurt but you drained all of your Mana with the channelling, if Rein hadn't gotten me to help top you up you wouldn't have made it." Today was a valuable lesson. Magic is a dangerous thing, you need to learn to control it better if you want to use it without hurting yourself. "You saved me, i owe you big" The cat-girl lets out a small chuckle "You owe Reinhardt more" she's right, he saved your life and gave you a place to stay. You do owe him - "After all who is going to fix that great big hole in the yard now nya" You hadn't thought about that, Reinhardt had already given you so much yet you messed up his home and could easilly of gotten him killed. You're glad everyone is fine at least. "You should get some rest, i'll be sticking around till tomorrow if you need any more help" The woman pushes back the chair she had been using by your bedside and goes to leave"Thank you, Goodnight" "Good-Nyaite" Thoughts of your near death, near second death fill your mind but it doent matter as you drift off before long. Day 4 - Bird Camp It's already afternoon when you wake. You feel perfectly fine but the memory of what had happened, or what came close to happening replays in your head. After dressing yourself you head out to the yard determined to fill that hole you'd created but when you get out of the building you see no such hole, the garden is pristine except for a large patch of fresh dirt near the eastern most wall. Sitting by that wall is Fenix sipping a drink, she's covered in dirt and as you get closer you can see a shovel, she must have filled in the hole for you. "Morning sleepy head, you feeling better?" "I feel great, whatever that girl did to me last night worked like a charm" "What Girl? are you seeing ghosts now" what? you definitely met a cat girl in your room last night. Fenix's face is now one of worry, she places her drink down and gets to her feet. "The cat girl... She used magic to heal me" Fenix is looking even more concerned now "A cat girl you say?" she rubs her head as though in deep thought "A brunette? Did she wear a cute little bell around her neck?" you nod, now you're doubting what you saw. "That's Felix... The phantom of Astrea home" Fenix is now dead serious in her pose "She's said to visit those near death, imparting some of her power on those who need it most... Though legend has it those who are visited by the phantom must soon die as the life provided is simply borrowed" Your parents were superstitious, growing up you'd always hear stories of ghosts and ghouls but always dismissed them but here? now? in a world filled with magic and monsters who knows what could be real. "Dan Nya" from behind you hear that voice, the one from last night only now it sends a chill down your spine. You're hesitant to turn and look at the source, Fenix seemingly can't see anything. "Nya?" you feel a precence behind you, the cat girl from the night before. She's looking you up and down "Are you ok?... Hello?" You turn your back to it to see Reinhardt and Leanna, they seem unimpressed. "Felix saves your life and you're going to ignore him? That's low." Him? "You mean she's not a phantom..." "He is very much alive and not a spirit" He? "Yeeeeeeep i'm right here" you start to get it, Fenix played a little prank on you. Very funny. "A Formal introduction might be in order" Reinhardt puts his hand on Felixs shoulder "He is a Knight, just like Leanna an I" you're not sure what's more unbelievable, that you thought he was a phantom or that you thought he was a woman. "The jig is up!" Fenix comes clean "I may have told a little fib to little ol dan here" Felix, Leanna even Reinhardt have a good laugh. "Consider it repayment for making the hole I had to fill" Her tone is filled with a sense of playfulness, despite the emphasis you don't think she holds any real grudge or at least you hope not. "Well what we came to say is that Felix, Leanna and i are leaving for official business tonight" "Oh, anything serious?" "Is paper work serious?" "We should be back in the morning but if not no need to worry" does he think you're the worrying type or is he just being a good host? "Just thought to give you a heads up before we go" you's chat for a bit before the three knights head off back into the house leaving just you and Fenix who has just started stretching. "You going back inside?" "Nah i'm going for a little jog" You'd seen her running laps around the mansion before, how often did she do that? "Mind if i join you?" "Only if you don't start seeing phantom ghosts" You let out a hearty chuckle, it feels nice to laugh for once. You get your stretches out of the way in short order and begin on your 'little jog'. You keep pace with Fenix for a minute or two but you can tell she isn't exerting herself at all, she gives you a sly wink before dashing off down the yard you almost lose your balance as she goes. It doesn't take long for her to lap you, then to lap you again and again. By the time you finish your first round of the manor she must have passed you six or seven times. It feels like you're back at boot camp running laps in a field again. The time flies by and you a good few hours simply running around the place. As the sun begins to set you start to feel weary your steps falter, you begin to slow. You don't want to give up just yet but you're not sure how long you can last. Fenix closes to you and for the first time since the start begins to keep pace with you. Suddenly you feel lighter and find your feet once again "There you go you've got it!" as if being helped up by some invisible force you find it easier to continue. As if filled with energy again you start running at full pelt, no you're running faster than you ever have before. Fenix keeps up with you of course but you can't help but feel invigorated. The two of you continue on like this for some time. Fenix stops you near the front of the mansion, you're both in need of a good shower. "That was pretty fun, we should try it again sometime" You've never met anyone who enjoyed running. "I've ran a pair of baths for us, yours in just by your room. Fix yourself up, dinner will be ready in an hour or so" When did she have time to run a bath and start dinner? Was she secretly doing that while lapping you? You don't really care as right now a warm bath sounds like heaven. You return to your room and change out of your clothes before heading to the bathroom. It's a massive communal bath easily capable of fitting a half dozen or so people in it. To the side you see a pair of boxers and a towel already laid out for you. You soak in the water letting it relax and sooth your aching muscles. It's been a long week and now you were finally letting go of all of the stress that had built up since even before you arrived in this new world. Smash You hear the sound of shattering glass, you rush to your feet and hear a scream. "Felt!" you hadn't seen the young girl much the past few days but now you hear her loud and clear. Through the window you see a shadow as something moves past the light but it's far to quick for you to make it out. You hear the smashing of more glass and then feel an immense pain. It's then you see it, a barbed arrow piercing through the right side of your chest blood gushing from the wound. You hurry out of the bath but slip on your own blood narrowly avoiding yet another arrow. Crawling over the steamy marble floor you just manage to reach for the door and roll out of the room, closing the door behind you as yet more arrows fly through the mansion piercing the wooden door. In almost unbearable pain you force yourself to your feet and begin a hobbled run to Felts room, she had only been sleeping just three doors down from you. Despite your wound you manage to make it to Felts room, your hand shaking you twist the handle open and fall through onto the saturn carpet. You're not the only victim of this attacker, the old man lies motionless on the ground. At least a dozen arrows have found their way into his body, he must have died defending the girl. Felt is crying over him, she turns to you as you claw your way into the room. She rushes to you using all of her strength to pull you into the corner of the room out of view of the windows. Using her crimson scarf she tries to stem the flow of blood gushing from your wound but it's a fruitless endevour, the arrow had torn a fist sized hole through your back and chest. "Come on don't, Come on!" She's still crying but she's doing her best. "Don't give up". You feel cold, something is pulling at you and now you feel that same disgusting presence as you had on that first night. You try desperately to stay awake but can only make out two words "Run... Felt" You beckon to the girl to leave, to run with all her might but she stubbornly refuses, as the world goes dark the last thing you see is the girl holding you close. "Dont go!" 'Knock Knock Knock Knock'... 'Knock Knock Knock Knock'... 'Knock Knock Knock Knock' The knocking at the door is drowned out by the sound of your panicked screams. The door flies open as Fenix rushes towards you, you're breathing heavily and still not one hundred percent sure what just happened. The green haired bird girl wraps her arms around you, rubbing your head in a soothing motion "Ssshh you're safe here" she starts singing a lulaby to you, you'd never heard it before but it helps to calm you. Emilia, Felt and the old man have found their way to your room the concern on their face clear even in your panicked state. Did you just die... again?This article originally appeared in the Iowa State Daily on October 7, 2015. It has been republished with the author’s permission. The expectations surrounding the ISU men’s basketball team this year are higher than they have been in a long time. After winning its second straight Big 12 tournament title last spring, many expected a deep NCAA tournament run from Iowa State. And while that run was cut short, not a lot has changed from last year’s team. Georges Niang and Monté Morris still pilot the Cyclones, who are once again ranked in the top 10 in ESPN’s preseason poll, and they are returning six experienced players from last year’s team. But with first-year head coach Steve Prohm taking over, questions have arisen about how accurate these expectations truly are. “Yeah, they’re realistic,” Prohm said. “I think we got the opportunity to have a special, special team, special season and a special year. But that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s still going to be a journey. It’s still going to be a process.” Prohm officially kicked off the 2015-16 season Tuesday at the team’s annual Media Day and seemed confident with his group of players. Tuesday also marked just the fourth official practice of the season, but Prohm isn’t trying to do too much too soon. For now, he is just looking for little improvements. “My biggest focus right now is just trying to get the guys a little bit better defensively, get us a little bit tougher if I can, and the offense, let that part take care of itself,” Prohm said. “I’m trying to give them a lot of freedom and input into how they feel comfortable playing on the offensive end.” One major improvement Prohm has noticed this fall is from Abdel Nader. Nader didn’t have an outstanding season last year statistically, but players said he still made a big impact. Nader scored a career-high 19 points against Iowa and West Virginia and dropped 13 in the Big 12 title game against Kansas. But it was his consistency that was the issue. Nader averaged just 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds last year. This fall, though, Prohm said it isn’t a concern. “[Nader is] probably the most consistent guy we’ve had, to me, since I’ve got here,” Prohm said. “I think the stories I heard about [Nader] last fall at this time and what I’m coaching right now I think are two different men. I’m really excited about him.” Nader said he is looking forward to expanding his role this season, saying that he just wants to fit in the best he can. But he believes his improved skill set can truly help the Cyclones this year. “I think I can become the best defender on this team,” Nader said. “I’m offensively capable. I can shoot it [and] I can dribble it. I can do a lot of different things, so I think my versatility will come in handy.” From the outside looking in, it is still too early to tell how much of an impact Nader will have this season, but Prohm isn’t questioning it. He said Nader not only has a good opportunity of making the starting lineup, but also could be one of the keys to the team. “He’s kind of the one guy that everybody forgets about,” Prohm said. “But I think he’s a huge, huge piece to this team and I’ve got to do a good job and my staff has to do a great job of making him understand how important he is to the success of this basketball team.” With the first game still more than a month away, only time will tell how important Nader will be for the Cyclones this year. But one thing is clear — he has made quite the impression on his teammates and coaches this summer. “I’m so proud of [Nader]. Words can’t describe it,” said guard Naz Mitrou-Long. “It’s not really something that you can say, but something you can see. [Nader] has become a great man and is going to continue to do so.”Microsoft didn't say a peep about Kinect pricing at its E3 keynote, but GameStop isn't being shy: Kinect is now listed on the retailer's website for $149.99. The page is dead if you try to click through from search results, so it looks like the listing may have gone up in error -- we'll see if this is the real price come November 4. We'll let you know if we can confirm anything.And the hits keep coming: GameStop is now listing a $299 "Arcade Bundle" which obviously pairs
020 7321 6007). Meal for two, including drinks and service: £225 Cooking a steak well is tricky, because you cannot see inside the meat. It takes experience and knowledge. Cooking chips is easy: use the right potatoes, give them a couple of runs through the hot oil, make sure they’re the right colour, perhaps even taste a couple. The job is done. At Smith & Wollensky, the new London outpost of a well-known small American steakhouse chain, we sent back the chips because they were tepid and under-cooked. They returned to us hot and undercooked. And in that one example of carelessness and lack of attention to detail, you know all you need to. But I had to sit through the whole damn meal so I don’t see why you shouldn’t, too. This US business has swaggered into London like it thinks it’s the bollocks. The description is almost right, if you remove the definite article before the reference to testicles. It is about as shoddy an operation in separating people from inexcusable amounts of their cash as I have seen in a very long time. But first a little context. Until about a decade ago Britain was crying out for a proper steakhouse on the American model; one that knew how to source beef, cut steaks thick enough and char them properly. Endless feeble attempts came and went. Then we got both Goodman and Hawksmoor, the latter adopting all the tropes of the US steakhouse, but giving them a pronounced British accent. It put prime cuts of British beef centre stage. And now comes Smith & Wollensky (hereafter S&W), which bellows loudly about importing US Department of Agriculture beef from Iowa, but which is backed by a consortium from Ireland, a country which produces some of the best beef in the world. They have spent a reputed €10m, and you can see where every cent has gone. The conversion of the basement and ground floor space of the 1930s New York pastiche Adelphi Building just behind the Strand is an orgy of leather and wood, of brass rail and tasteful mural. It can seat 300 people. Across 14 services a week I calculate they will need to find roughly 4,000 people able to pay the prices required to return that investment. Cocktails are £13. That buys me an insipid Moscow Mule served in a stupid brass mug with a thin plastic straw. Five pleasant enough medium-sized seared scallops with shards of crisp bacon are £18; four jumbo prawns are £14. Except they don’t call them prawns, because despite the London setting the place must have a transatlantic drawl. So prawns are shrimps and all steaks are listed in imperial measurements. The USDA cuts include a 24oz bone-in ribeye and a 21oz sirloin. The prices for these are astonishing. The former is £65, the latter £62. To put this in context, at Hawksmoor the bone-in sirloin is £5.60 per 100gm. At S&W it’s £10.42 per 100gm. Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘The char is feeble, the overwhelming taste is of salt, and the texture is floppy’: Smith & Wollensky’s bone-in ribeye steak. Photograph: Sophia Evans for the Observer Is that simply because it has travelled? Not if the fillet steak prices are anything to go by, because S&W have sourced those from the UK. At Hawksmoor fillet is £11.33 per 100gm; at S&W it’s £14.55. Both the menu blurb and the waiting staff bang on about this being the best steak you will ever have. The menu also mentions a list of blackboard specials – T-bones and so on – all of which have run out by 8.20pm. We order the bone-in ribeye. The char is feeble and the overwhelming taste is of salt. Worse is the texture. It’s floppy. Part of this, I think, is a cultural difference; Americans like to celebrate steaks based on tenderness, as if being able to cut a piece of dead animal with a butter knife is an aspiration. I think that if you’re going to eat beef, you want to know it has come from an animal that has moved. This steak slips down like something that has spent its life chained to a radiator in the basement. The sauces are dire. A béarnaise is an insult to the name, lacking any acidity or the anise burst of tarragon. An au poivre sauce is just a shot of hot demi-glace. A side salad is crisp and well dressed. We take comfort in it. Many other sides are priced for two which is a quick route to higher profit margins and greater food waste. The £9 battered onion rings are good; the £10 truffled mac and cheese is dry and tastes not at all of truffle. Those terrible chips come in the kind of mini-chip-fat-fryer-basket used at chain pubs. Service is omnipresent. Twice we ask to keep our bread and side plates when they attempt to remove them. When a third waiter lunges in I finally admit defeat. Take them if you’re so bloody desperate. How hard is it to communicate a table’s wishes to the half dozen people working a corner of the floor, especially when a meal is going to cost more than £100 a head? Our waitress, an escapee from Hawksmoor, is lovely – efficient, charming and utterly wasted here. She has been sent out on to the floor in a jacket she admits is about three sizes too large for her and is already stained. Either the management gives a damn about the dignity of its staff or it really doesn’t. Still, she speaks fluent Smith & Wollensky, intoning the oft-repeated figure that theirs are the best 2% of all USDA steaks. God help the other 98%. We try to love it, really we do, but we just can’t. Clearly the poor animal died twice: once in the slaughter house, once on the grill. We give up and hope she doesn’t look too distraught. Curiously, the menu announces in small print that items “may” be cooked to order. May? Only may? Don’t put yourself out, guys. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The chocolate cake – ‘an obscenity’, according to Jay. Photograph: Sophia Evans for the Observer We finish with the “Gigantic chocolate cake” which costs £15. It comes with a mini milk urn full of chilled lightly whipped and sweetened cream. That cream is by far the best thing we eat all night. The cake is an obscenity, a foul, brusque monolith of heavy sponge and cack-handed mousse almost a foot high. It tastes of fat and sugar and disdain. It eats like those showpiece cakes that have sat for years in coffee shop windows look. We are told there is an option to take left-overs home. We choose not to. The last thing we want, as we walk out the door, is to take any part of the dreadful Smith & Wollensky experience with us. Jay’s new bites ■ At the other end of the expense scale, Grillshack on London’s Beak Street serves a quick-seared piece of flattened rump, with shoestring potatoes and smoked butter for just £9.95. It keeps prices down with new tech: although you can order at the counter you can also do so from a downloadable app. Food is then brought to you. There’s mac and cheese, buttermilk chicken, and an American pancake menu. It more than ticks the box marked cheap and cheerful (grillshack.com). ■ People of Ilkley rejoice. Friends of Ham, the much celebrated craft beer and charcuterie bar in Leeds – to be fair, mostly celebrated by me – is to gain a sibling there in August. As well as the bar and tasting room this one will have a deli (friendsofham.com). ■ Meanwhile from across the Pennines comes news of collaboration. Northcote graduates Tom Parker of the White Swan at Fence and Mike Jennings of Grenache in Worsley near Manchester are cooking together for two nights. They’ll be at the White Swan on 30 July and over at Grenache on 13 August. Email Jay at [email protected] Follow Jay on Twitter @jayrayner1i don't want your team to respond to comments, why are you apologizing for "the past"? reddit has taken a sharp downturn since you took the helm and envisioned some new Utopian hug palace, removed freedom of thought, and employed shady tactics. You have a history of throwing a hissy fit when you don't get your way but I, along with plenty of other users of this site don't want "change" we want you to stop trying to fix something that isn't broken. You are such a narcissist that you think that you can fix what's "Wrong" with the internet, but you're only fanning the flames against you. You took control of a beast of a website for resume fodder and it's not going your way. listen to what the actual complaints are. Censorship needs to cease. you know that word, it's the word that comes before "desist" in all of those letters you've been sent in your life. i'm not saying stopping removing ILLEGAL content, but to completely do an about-face in the way reddit has ALWAYS been communicated is a great way to ostracize the community. Mass deletions of negative stories about you, SHADOW-BANNING those who dare dissent needs to stop. I know i'll probaby be shadow-banned for the past two comments i've made in regard to you. and I'm prepared for that. It's a good thing i'm archiving the post right now. so when in the future I can join the thousands you've had silenced like a discount dictator.Turkey may be divided by 2030: Intel report ISTANBUL Turkish flag is seen near the border with Syria, in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, December 8, 2012. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh A new report from the U.S. National Intelligence Council claims the possible formation of Kurdistan may affect Turkey's unity in upcoming years.One of six scenarios presented in the report consisted of a rising Kurdistan, which in turn affects Turkey's territorial unity by carrying a risk of separation.Turkey will also play an increasing role in the international arena and will have a wider influence in global affairs, the report said.The report suggested that European countries should keep the possibility of Turkey's accession going, as well as the negotiations.The report further stated that Turkey, among countries like Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico and South Africa may witness an economic rise. Russia, Japan and Europe, however, may undergo an economic decline, according to the report.Further scenarios included a decline in the "superpower" status of the United States, with the country becoming “first among equals” in a new multi-polar world order.China, however, is mentioned as a "slowly rising" global power that will "remain a top-tier player in Asia."Meanwhile, Islamist terrorism may be over by 2030, the report read.The World SITREP December 7th, 2015 by Baaz The Middle East The Yemeni army and popular forces continued their advances in Southern Saudi Arabia, inflicting losses on the military hardware of the kingdom’s government troops. “On Monday, the Yemeni army and popular forces took control of a military base in Najran province. “The Yemeni forces captured a military base with all its military equipment near the city of Najran,” Senior Ansarullah Commander Ali al-Hamzani told FNA. He said that the Yemeni army and popular forces have intensified their military operations deep inside Saudi Arabia as they are sustaining further losses and casualties.” “Senior Yemeni commander Ali al-Houthi told FNA on Saturday that there have been “heavy clashes between the Yemeni forces and the Saudi mercenaries in the Eastern parts of Ma’rib”, adding that the Saudi-backed mercenaries sustained heavy death toll during the battle. “Tens of the Saudi-backed forces have been killed and wounded in Ta’iz and Ma’rib provinces,” he said, and continued, “Also, over 100 Saudi coalition-backed mercenaries have fled their bases after their wages were delayed and cut.” Also late last month, another Yemeni commander also disclosed that a large number of pro-Saudi mercenaries have fled the battlefield as the Saudi government has ceased its support for them. “After the Saudi government stopped its financial support for the terrorists and militias loyal to the Saudi regime, a growing wave of the terrorists are leaving the Saudi-led Arab coalition military bases,” Senior Ansarullah Commander Hossein Al-Houthi said.” On Dec 6, 2016 People in Yemen have staged a mass rally to voice their support for the newly formed national salvation government. The demonstrators also slammed Saudi Arabia’s air raids on Yemen. They shouted slogans against the al-Saud regime as well as Israel. The salvation government is led by former governor of Aden, Abdul Aziz Bin Habtoor. It is tasked with running Yemen’s internal affairs and dealing with Saudi Arabia’s aggression against the impoverished nation. Over eleven-thousand 4-hundred Yemenis have been killed since the Saudi war began in March 2015. Where are these 250k people in east Aleppo? We are liberating empty neighborhoods, asks Leith Abou Fadel, a CEO of Al-Masdar News. Where the f*** are these 250k people in east Aleppo? We are liberating empty neighborhoods. — Leith Abou Fadel (@leithfadel) December 7, 2016 Military police from Chechnya to be deployed to Syria to hunt those pesky 800 US and Israeli SOF operatives, needed for the international war tribunal BREAKING: Greek court rules to extradite 3 Turkish coup soldiers, by Paul Antonopoulos Also, the Reuters and German DW reported that some Turkish military officers at NATO are seeking political asylum in Germany and Belgium, after Turkish authorities had dismissed hundreds of senior military staff serving with NATO in Europe and the United States after the failed coup past summer. More than 400 military staff and diplomats have been summoned back to Ankara, according to documents seen by Reuters, but some are choosing not to return. Speaking about a personality cult… In Tel Aviv someone erected a gilded statue to Netanyahu According to the local reports, Israeli doctors caused death of more than 3000 patients in 2016. Ran Balicer, the Director of the Health Policy Planning & Director of Clalit Research Institute at Clalit Health Services, said in his interview that Israeli health Service lacks everything. Israeli IDF annoyed that Obama promised him an invasion of Syria and didn’t deliver. Israeli IDF annoyed that Obama promised him an invasion of Syria and didn't deliver. pic.twitter.com/EZ0Qw6O9vg — Partisangirl (@Partisangirl) December 4, 2016 Israel, however, will be just fine with the “allies” like the “moderate opposition.” Message from Syrian opposition ” Moderate ” Fahd Al-Massri ” to the people of Israel asking them to came back to Syria UN passes resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from Syria’s Golan Heights The United Nations General Assembly has once again passed a resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from Syria’s Golan Heights, territory that the Tel Aviv regime has occupied since 1967. In response, on Dec 7, 2016 the Israeli military has razed more Palestinian structures in the Jordan Valley, north of the city of Jericho. Israeli bulldozers, backed by troops, demolished two healthcare facilities in the area. Palestinian sources said Israeli forces also destroyed several steel structures there. It followed similar demolitions in East Jerusalem al-Quds on Tuesday. Tel Aviv has intensified its demolition of Palestinian property since January. The United Nations say the demolition of Palestinian homes has displaced over 1,500people in 2016. That’s almost double the figure for the previous year. In addition on Dec 7, 2016 Syrian military sources say Israel has launched rocket attacks, targeting a military airport near the Syrian capital Damascus. The ground-to-ground missiles were reportedly launched from inside the occupied territories and hit Mezzeh Airport west of Damascus. The rockets triggered a fire, but no causalities have been reported so far. The Israeli military has not commented on the report. It was the second such attack by Israel over the past week. On November 30, Israeli jets fired two missiles from Lebanese airspace toward the outskirts of Damascus. Iran accuses Israel in invasion of South Syria to help Daesh What’s Israel’s end game? Two keep region in chaos, to get Iranian Influence out and expand its artificial(based on genocide) existence, in my humble opinion. China The Coming War on China, by John Pilger India Russia and India cooperation is getting a new transportation boost in form of the multimodal North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) · INSIC Dry Run Report from 2014 · Russian Railways: North-South International Transport Corridor · North-South Transport Corridor to Benefit Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran “The North-South project plays an enormous role for the development of the region. Russia and Iran are our neighbors with large economies. It is exciting that our neighbors’ routes cross in Azerbaijan. Political and economic relations between our countries are at a high level. The North-South project will bring dividends to Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran,” Gurbanov told journalists. Ukraine European Court of Auditors (ECA) was unable to determine how the Ukrainian government spent billions of euros provided by EU to Ukraine But former Ukrainian PM bought 24 houses in Miami, as MSM told Another huge victory of Kiev regime The European Union (EU) has banned poultry imports from Ukraine. Before this ban, Ukraine exported 32,000 tons of poultry and poultry products to the EU between January and October, a 20 percent increase year-on-year. Evidence: NATO instructors train Kiev Nazis armed forces in armed conflict in the eastern Ukraine Meanwhile, the military veterans left without means to exist demonstrate against Avakov, the country’s the Minister of Internal Affairs. It’s being reported by the Hromadske TV, a rabidly anti-Russia propaganda tool. It looks like a part of the internal struggles for power inside the Kiev junta. It’s common for the fractions to use staged people’s protests to demand the resignation of their rivals. Військові пенсіонери під Верховною Радою закликають притягнути голову МВС Арсена Авакова до кримінальної відповідальності pic.twitter.com/3wUJSy0HKK — Hromadske.UA (@HromadskeUA) December 6, 2016 Forbes clams that: “According to their financial report for the year ending 2015, they have nearly a dozen foreign backers.” The Canada International Development Agency (CIDA); the Embassy of The Netherlands in Ukraine; another Canadian charity called the Ukrainian World Foundation; independent DC-based Pact World; the U.S. Embassy of Ukraine’s Media Development Fund; California based Internews Network; Swiss Cooperation Office and the Swiss International Development Agency; eBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s fund is one of the four biggest donors; the Swedish International Liberal Center; Thomson Foundation; the German Embassy of Ukraine and the biggest funder of all, the European Commission’s Ukrainian delegation office. The U.S. is the smallest donor while European and Canadian government backed agencies are the biggest.” NATO a.k.a. the Western Coalition The Russian Institute for Strategic Studies report on the U.S. bio-weapons facilities on the former Soviet Union territories around Russia New Eastern Outlook ‏@JournalNEO tweeted that there are up to 800 Western (US, UK, France) instructors in Aleppo. That’s the reason of all those cries around: Russia, Assad stop offensive. Did The US-Led Coalition Give The Coordinates Of A Russian Aleppo Hospital To Al-Qaeda For A Missile Attack, by Tyler Durden The U.S. Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (Ike CSG) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations The U.S. Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (Ike CSG) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations on December 4 following a Suez Canal transit. Aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) was accompanied by guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), after five months of providing air support operations in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and conducting maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. In the last Obama’s National Security speech, he unveils the plans to finish up the Iraq’s military in order to the US to stay in Iraq forever. He literally says: “By 2011, Iraqis wanted our military presence to end, and they were unwilling to sign a new Status of Forces Agreement to protect our troops from prosecution if they were trying to defend themselves in Iraq. ” “In fact, American troops, had they stayed there, would have lacked legal protections…” read: The US invasion has been illegal from the day one but… something had happened… Suddenly, we armed ISIS and… “But circumstances changed. When ISIL made substantial gains first in Mosul and then in other parts of the country, then suddenly Iraqis reached out once again for help.” Suddenly, the US occupation of Iraq gained legality. “We built an international coalition of nearly 70 nations, including some of Iraq’s neighbors. ” – read that NATO members, Israel and Saudis are interested in indefinite occupation of Iraq and indefinite destabilization of the Middle East. Another way to stimulate the “loyalty” is too kill a target country politicians and journalists A week after the Finnish Minister Kai Mykkanen rejected sanctions against Russia … Woman mayor and two female reporters were shot dead by a SNIPER who blasted them in the head and torso with a hunting rifle as they left a restaurant in a small town on the border of Finland and Russia. and, as a bonus Putin on goals and dreams: I want to successfully complete my career! Thank you for your time, BaazColorado Gov. Bill Ritter Colorado’s new state law that critics say criminalizes expressing biblical beliefs regarding homosexuality is scaring residents who fear their overheard statements could be used to put them in jail. WND reported the law, SB200, which was promoted as an “anti-discrimination” plan favoring alternative sexual lifestyles and gender perceptions, has made it a criminal offense to discriminate against someone based on those lifestyles or perceptions. The Christian publishing house Focus on the Family has called it a payback by the Democrat-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter to homosexual activists such as millionaire Tim Gill, who has donated widely to pro-homosexual political candidates. The Focus analysis of the plan, according to spokesman Bruce Hausknecht, shows that besides the obvious impacts of opening restrooms and locker rooms statewide to members of either sex, depending on a perception of their gender, “the biggest danger this law poses is to the religious or moral consciences of small business owners who may object to doing business with people whose lifestyle they do not want to promote.” “Who would have believed that the Colorado state legislature and its governor would have made it fully legal for men to enter and use women’s restrooms and locker-room facilities without notice or explanation?” Focus founder James Dobson said. “Henceforth, every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence.” Other groups also have issued warnings. Colorado Family Action wrote of the plan: “This bill lays groundwork for state-sanctioned abuse of individuals and organizations who have faithfully held religious convictions and refuse to offer or sell goods or services to homosexuals, bisexuals, transgendered, or transsexual individuals because of such beliefs. “This desire to limit the constitutionally guaranteed right to the ‘free exercise of religion’ can be seen in Cathryn Hazouri’s, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, testimony given before the Colorado House Judiciary Committee,” the group said. “One may practice one’s religion in private; however, once a religious person comes into the public arena, there are limitations in how the expression of their religion impacts others,” she had said. Individual residents also now are beginning to realize the potential of the new law, which was approved by the legislature with a declaration that it is needed for “public safety,” so it is not subject to any vote of the people. “Now, as I stand outside of a movie theater bathroom or a swimming pool shower room door and guard the most precious thing in my life: my wife and daughter’s safety, modesty and privacy, I can no longer stop a man from entering a woman’s domain,” wrote a concern resident whose name was withheld. “(I will anyway, that’s why I’m a criminal!)” “An act that once was criminal is now legitimate, and what was taught to me as a virtue is now a vice. Not only am I liable for civil penalties but criminal, as I can be sentenced for up to a year in jail,” he wrote. “I immediately contacted my state representative, Wes McKinley, to ask him what his stand was on this bill. He proudly told me he supported it. I brought to his attention the recent case in New Mexico that was in national news. A photographer refused to photograph a lesbian ceremony. The lesbian couple found another photographer who would and then turned around and sued the Christian photographer for refusing. They won the suit and the photographer was fined over $6,000.00. I asked Rep. McKinley if he thought this was right. He told me no and assured me that wouldn’t happen with this bill,” the resident wrote. “I then contacted my attorney who told me that SB200 does, indeed, open the door to this kind of litigation, and that I would have to be careful to not express my convictions in public in this kind of situation,” he wrote. He also reacted to Hazouri’s comments, which were unchallenged by the state legislature. She said, “You give up some of your rights when you go into the public square,” the resident said. “Wow, I didn’t know that. I was taught in school that these rights of free speech were ‘unalienable.’ Apparently, gay rights trump heterosexual rights, as well as the First Amendment.” “So, as long as I keep my convictions to myself and only express them in my home or church, I’m legal. Somehow, I don’t think this is what the Bill of Rights meant,” he said. “Will SB200 be the end of it? No. Next, hate crime legislation must be passed so that it is illegal for me to write this letter (as it is now illegal in Canada); then enforced homosexual/transsexual indoctrination of our children in the public educational system; finally, all other alternative forms of education must be outlawed. Impossible, you say? It’s already happened in California,” he said. “As I’m being forced into this ‘shotgun wedding’ with the radical homosexual agenda, I hope it’s not too late to ‘speak now, or forever hold my peace.’ What is it called when you are forced, against your will, to participate in a sexual lifestyle that you find objectionable? I believe that is called ‘rape.’ My state legislature has ‘violated’ me and charged me with the crime.” Tom Minnery, the senior vice president of government and public policy for Focus, told the Denver Post there are “multiple problems” with the plan, “but the problem of restrooms is the most breathtaking one. … With SB200, however, we no longer have two ‘sexes,’ we enter a brave new world with a myriad of ‘sexual orientations’ that must not be discriminated against, upon pain of the substantial civil and criminal penalties contained in the bill. “Woe to the first women’s fitness facility or mall owner who objects to a man dressed as a woman who wants to enter previously forbidden territory. And what an opportunity for sexual predators,” he wrote. He said every Christian, Jewish or Muslim business owner now is under a threat. “We’ve seen … charges brought by homosexuals against a video reproduction business in Virginia, a medical clinic in California, an adoption service in Arizona and a church in New Jersey,” he continued. “Colorado tops them all on the potential outrage meter, however, because in addition to civil fines and penalties, small-business owners can be prosecuted under the criminal laws of Colorado and spend up to one year in jail for trying to live according to their faith.” There are other groups preparing for full-scale war in Colorado. “American RTL [Right to Life] Action is a political 527 group headquartered a half-block from the Colorado capitol, and we’re not going to hire someone cohabitating outside of marriage, let alone a homosexual,” said Steve Curtis, the group’s president and former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. “SB200 also makes it a crime for us to publish biblical teaching on immorality, so we are prepared to violate this anti-Christian government censorship. The liberals always said what homosexuals do in private could never affect anyone else; of course that was always a lie; they’re trying to criminalize traditional Christianity. The fight is on.” Related special offers: “Back Fired,” by William J. Federer, shows how the faith that gave birth to tolerance is no longer tolerated! “The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool” “The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom” “The Gay Agenda: It’s Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation” “The Harsh Truth About Public Schools” “Fish Out of Water: Surviving and Thriving as a Christian on a Secular Campus” Superintendent’s orders to worried dad: Butt out! Judges: ‘Gay’ exposure OK for kindergarteners Judge boots parents from son’s schooling ‘Gay’ lessons violate civil rights, man says Parents urged to boycott homosexual indoctrination Christians need Exodus from ‘Pharaoh’s system’ Baptist ‘exit strategy’ means get kids out of public schools 2 more ‘sexual indoctrination’ bills vetoed Christian-education push goes to states Sexual indoctrination bill vetoed Hundreds rally to threaten Gov. Arnold with ‘veto’ Gov. Arnold urged to cancel sexual indoctrination California Christians urged to yank kids Gov. Arnold tosses school moral codes Dobson: Tell Arnold to halt ‘gay’ agenda Constitution threatened by homeschool case Homeschool entrepreneurism catches fire U.N. making homeschooling illegal? Homeschooled chess champ illegally truant? 7 homeschooling dads thrown in jail Judge orders ‘gay’ agenda taught to Christian children ‘State interest’ argued in teaching homosexuality ‘Gay’ groups: We have rights to your children!It doesn’t matter what you were doing up late last night. You could’ve been watching a movie, finishing a presentation, preparing for a pitch, and balancing your checkbooks–but all that matters now is that you’ve woken up thirty minutes late, you’ve got no time to shower, and your boss is going to kill you if you’re late. So what do you do? Just fill up the Morning Head cap with water, put it over your head, rub around, and you’re done. What exactly is this Morning Head? Well, it’s a polyurethane cap that’s been lined with a super soft and absorbent material. In just a couple of seconds, your hair will be thoroughly wet and it’ll look like you just came out of the shower. Morning Head is up for funding on Kickstarter. Those who pledge at least $10 will be able to get their hands on two of these Morning Head caps. Update March 2012: Now available at MorningHead.com.Ronnie O'Sullivan hit top form at the World Open in Glasgow today as he hit a maximum 147 on his way to a convincing 3-0 victory over Mark King but had to be persuaded by the referee to complete his break. The world No6 took the first frame easily with breaks of 38 and 75 before getting the better of King in a scrappy second. O'Sullivan hit his maximum in the next, but did not do so without controversy and had to be urged by the referee to pot the final black after seeming content to end his break at 140. Earlier in the frame O'Sullivan had stopped to ask what the reward for a 147 was, only to be told there was no specific prize except for a £4,000 sum for the highest break. He took less than 10 minutes to reach 134 but shook hands with King after potting the pink. The referee Jan Verhaas then had to convince O'Sullivan to finish the break and he eventually potted the black before walking off. "I wasn't going to pot the black because I asked and was told there was no break prize for a 147," O'Sullivan told the BBC. "What's the point of making a 147 if you're only going to make £4,000?" "But the ref played a guilt trip on me and said, 'Come on, do it for your fans'. And I thought, 'OK, because I haven't got long to play anyway, so I might as well go out on a high.' But I wasn't going to pot it because four grand, once you've paid the taxes…" When asked whether he needed the money, O'Sullivan responded: "Twenty-five (thousand) would have been nice so I could have gone on holiday." This 147 means O'Sullivan now holds outright the record for the most televised maximum breaks – today's was his 10th, taking him clear of the previous record he held jointly with Stephen Hendry. The 34-year-old's victory sets up a fourth-round match with his boyhood hero, Jimmy White.Your complimentary articles You’ve read one of your four complimentary articles for this month. You can read four articles free per month. To have complete access to the thousands of philosophy articles on this site, please SUBSCRIBE NOW Articles How Nietzsche Inspired Dalí Magdalena Scholle looks for Apollonian and Dionysian traits in Salvador Dalí’s art. “Even in the matter of moustaches I was going to surpass Nietzsche! Mine would not be depressing, catastrophic, burdened by Wagnerian music and mist. No! It would be line-thin, imperialistic, ultra-rationalistic, and pointing towards heaven, like the vertical mysticism, like the vertical Spanish syndicates.” Salvador Dalí, Diary of a Genius, 1963, p.17 “Yes, it is in the Spanish manner that I always sign my mad games! With blood, the way Nietzsche wanted it!” Diary of a Genius, p.40 Friedrich Nietzsche was undoubtedly one of the most controversial and influential philosophers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Among his many works, his first, The Birth of Tragedy (Die Geburt der Tragedie, 1872), deserves the special attention of art critics, because here the German philosopher introduced the concept that two opposing forces, the Apollonian and Dionysian, inspire all artistic creation. The dichotomy proposed by Nietzsche here is an attempt to interpret the world in two ways and also indicates the existence of two different concepts of truth and morality: absolute and relative. Nietzsche’s books were read and commented upon by famous writers, philosophers and artists. In particular, the Catalan Surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí, was familiar with his most prominent works. Reading Dalí’s Diary of a Genius, we can see that he knew the contents of The Birth of Tragedy very well. The fact that here Dalí repeatedly refers both to Nietzsche’s philosophy generally and to his concept of art in particular, shows that the artist was heavily inspired by Nietzschean ideas. I wish to explore this influence in this article. Nietzsche’s Two Spirits of Art “The continuous evolution of art is bound up with the duality of the Apolline and the Dionysiac in much the same way as reproduction depends on there being two sexes.” The Birth of Tragedy, p.14 The Belvedere Apollo According to Nietzsche in The Birth of Tragedy, art is a product of the dynamic conflict between two elements at work in culture: the Dionysian and Apollonian. He drew these terms from the names of the two gods from the Greek pantheon. It is worth noting that in the Greek tradition, Dionysus and Apollo were not considered enemies or opposing forces. But Nietzsche perceived a contrary nature in them – which seems reasonable, because these two gods embodied almost opposite personality types. Apollo was the god of poetry, art, music, and medicine, light and order, and in general, the harmony of the world. He was considered a symbol of perfect beauty, self-control, progress, balance, peace, rationality, logical thinking, moderation, and behavior in accordance with designated rules. The Apollonian attitude is well expressed by the maxims of the Delphic Oracle: ‘Obey the law’; ‘Think as a mortal’; ‘Control yourself’; ‘Control anger’; ‘Cling to discipline’; ‘Control the eye’; ‘Pursue harmony’. In contrast, Dionysus was the god of wild nature, the patron of virile and fertile forces, a symbol of a rakish lifestyle, wine, religious ecstasy, absurdity, emotions, passion, vitality, instincts, and irrationality. To Nietzsche he represents a dynamic life-giving power that breaks all the barriers and limitations established by the law, and breaks down all harmony. Nietzsche pointed out that by following the Apollonian current in art, an artist surrenders to generally-accepted artistic principles – that is, he or she seeks to illustrate beauty and excellence through the standard formulas of the culture, and in this way, the artist is trying to beautify or idealise reality. Nietzsche was in no doubt that if an artist chooses such a conformist attitude, they depart from true nature, and even oppose reality: and the Apollonian perspective is not only against nature, it is against life and all its true manifestations. According to Nietzsche, a continual state of balance, moderation, simplicity, and order, is an illusory, fictitious vision of the world. In his view the principles of harmony, order, and perfect symmetry never dominate in nature, which is always chaotic, disordered, and variable. The desire for continual harmony comes from weakness and from a fear of real life. Nietzsche’s concept of art is closely associated with his philosophy of life. Nietzsche often stressed that human life itself is the highest good. It is moreover a biological fact, because man is a corporeal being. Spiritual life is only an
story: http://cin.ci/1yoyhhaIn the words of The Red Chord’s Mike “Gunface” McKenzie (who brought this to our attention, although it apparently happened more than a month ago): “What the hell is going on in the metal community right now?” First, As I Lay Dying’s Tim Lambesis is arrested for Solicitation of Another to Commit Murder, and now this: Allen West, who has played guitar with such bands as Obituary, Six Feet Under, and Massacre, has been arrested for Drugs-Produce Methamphetamine and Drugs-Possess Listed Chemical With Manufacture Controlled Substance, reports The Tri-Count Sun Times. That’s his mugshot above. And as if this story wasn’t already bizarre enough, it takes an even stranger twist: the cops found West’s lab after he called 911 himself. When deputies arrived at his property at Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, he claimed that two men had kicked in his front door, forcing him to flee and hide in the woods. He then requested that the deputies search his home (!!!) for the intruders; upon doing so, the officers “noticed a strong acidic odor emitting from the master bedroom,” which led them to “items [that] are commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.” At that point, needless to say, the deputies asked West to come inside and explain: “As one of the Deputies began to question West another Deputy discovered some of the above items had been removed and placed in an ‘Igloo’ cooler. West advised the Deputies that he hid the items in the cooler to avoid getting in trouble. He advised the items were not his stating ‘They were cooking it’ without giving any other details. Allen West did confess that he had manufactured and smoked methamphetamine in his home as recently as two weeks ago.” So basically, if West had never called the cops, he’d be free and clear right now. I do wonder if maybe some of his, um, “associates” did break into his home, but still, you have to think that a non-meth-head would have thought to get far, far away and not call the cops until he’d had time to properly hide any incriminating evidence. As opposed to, y’know, literally instructing the police to search his home. The lab has been dismantled. West is being held on a $40,000 bond at the Sumter County Jail in Bushnell, FL, according to Lambgoat.Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved (Photo: WKRN) MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) - An 18-year-old was arrested Wednesday evening after Mt. Juliet police spent hours searching for four men involved in a gun store burglary. Malik Bradford, 18, of Nashville, was booked into the Wilson County jail after authorities say he confessed to his involvement. After his arrest, police say they learned there are 5 suspects total, including Bradford, meaning four remain on the run. Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved Malik Bradford (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved Malik Bradford (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) The men are accused of breaking into the nRange gun store on Lebanon Road around 2:45 a.m. Police say a stolen Volvo from Nashville was used to smash through the glass windows. While inside, the men stole a mixture of 19 long guns and handguns. Seventeen of those stolen firearms have since been recovered, police said. There is no evidence that any ammunition was stolen. After fleeing nRange, police said the men then drove to Parrish Hill where they unloaded the stolen guns from the Volvo into a Chevrolet Caprice, which was ultimately stopped by police a short time later on Park Glen Drive. During the traffic stop, the men inside the car fled on foot to a nearby wooded area. That's when authorities found several of the guns inside the car. Mt. Juliet police said Bradford, 18, was located a short time later but his involvement wasn't immediately known. He allegedly later confessed to his involvement during the investigation and was charged with burglary, two counts of theft of property, and possession of a prohibited weapon. Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved (Photo: WKRN) There's no word at this time if anyone else was taken into custody after the suspects ran from officers. But several hours later, as authorities were searching for the men, a resident in the 2700 block of Curd Road reported hearing someone attempting to get inside her house. News 2 spoke with homeowner Ethel Freeman who said she believes she nearly had an encounter with one of the men on the loose. "I had made my coffee and I could hear my storm door making a screech," she recalled. "Police asked me if I was sure. I told them I am 1,000 percent sure." Freeman said she immediately began yelling for her brother. "By the time I got the pistol out, nobody was here, so I guess I scared them away when they heard me screaming and hollering," she said, adding, "I was terrified. I really was and I don't know what I would have done if I would have been here by myself." Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved (Photo: WKRN) Officers conducted an extensive search with K-9 units in the area, which is about a mile away from Mt. Juliet High School and in the middle of where the two cars used in the crime were abandoned. No one was found and additional arrests have yet to be made. Four suspects remain on the run. Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting police with their investigation. The public is asked to remain vigilant and to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity in their area. Several schools, including Mt, Juliet middle and high schools, Elzie Patton Elementary School and West Elementary School were all placed on a soft-lockdown during the active search. Those lockdowns have since all been lifted.Old Pacific Coast Conference rivals Oregon and Montana meet for just the third time this century when the Grizzlies visit Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks).1 - Oregon has held nine straight opponents under 70 points, and has held the opposition below 40 percent shooting from the field in seven-of-10 games so far in 2016-17. The Ducks rank 16th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.370). Army, with 77 in the season opener, is the only team to reach 70 points against the Ducks so far this season.2 - SEC wins. For the first time in program history, the Ducks have defeated two teams from the Southeastern Conference - Tennessee and Alabama - in the same season.3 - The Ducks lead the nation at 8.8 blocks per game, and also lead the nation in total blocks with 88. Individually,is 12th nationally in blocks per game (3.0), with25th (2.6 bpg).4 - The top two career blocked shots leaders in Oregon history are on the Ducks' 2016-17 roster. Juniorbecame UO's all-time leader in just his 50th career game and now shows 173. Nov. 21 against Georgetown,passed Blair Rasmussen (116/1981-85) for second on the UO career list and now shows 140.5 -Dating back to last season, Oregon has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for 14 consecutive weeks. That is the third-longest streak in school history behind 21 weeks over the 2006-07 and 2007-08 season and 18 weeks in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.+1 - With the UO women's team moving into this week's A.P Poll at No. 25, both Duck basketball teams are ranked for the first time since Jan. 30, 1995.Oregon's last win against Montana came in the opening round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament (81-62), after which the Ducks would go on to the NCAA Elite Eight...former Duck Ahmaad Rorie is a sophomore for Montana and leading the Grizzlies at 13.7 points per game.Oregon's winning streak at Matthew Knight Arena is currently at 31 games, which is the longest string of home wins in UO history. Oregon last dropped a home game Jan. 8, 2015 (Arizona, 80-62). Two of Oregon's four longest home winning streaks have come underStreak First Win Last Win Ended By31 games 1/10/2015 - Arizona State 12/11/2016 - Alabama23 games 11/15/2001 - Alabama State 12/28/2002 - UC Riverside Arizona (1/2/2003)23 games 2/13/1937 - Idaho 1/6/1939 - Washington State Washington State (1/7/1939)20 games 2/9/2012 - Washington 1/26/2013 - Washington Colorado (2/2/2013)Two long home winning streaks ended this month. UCLA halted Kentucky's 42-game streak Dec. 3, and Stephen F. Austin's 31-game streak came to an end Dec. 7. Oregon's 31-game home winning streak is now the third-longest in the nation (through Monday).Streak Team1. 46 games Kansas2. 33 games South Dakota State3. 31 games OregonThe Ducks are now 49-2 all-time in non-conference games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon's 79-73 loss to Mississippi in 2014-15 was just the second non-conference home defeat while playing at Matthew Knight Arena. The other time Oregon lost a non-conference game at MKA was on Dec. 18, 2011, when Virginia defeated the Ducks 67-54. UO won 28 non-conference games in a row at MKA between the two losses.Let's have it right, the terms AKB or WOB are a fucking embarrassment. Whenever I stick my nut on Twitter and see someone having a pop at someone else, and they're calling them either of the above, I feel like throwing my phone/laptop against the wall and looking for a wimp to have a fight with who I can hopefully beat up. Whoever invented AKB or WOB seriously needs a dry slap round the mush and if I had my way they'd be banished to a prison cell and made to listen to 'What Does The Fox Say?' all day, on repeat, for the rest of their stinking existence. In all honesty social media does not help. It gives complete and utter fucktards (like myself) a voice. It kind of makes me wanna go back to the days when the only form of social media was a telephone box and you had 20p to make a call. I log onto Twitter now and the amount of infighting between Gooners is an absolute joke. We have become the laughing stock of English football. Fans of other clubs find us hilarious. And not in a good way. We have people calling each other the most horrific stuff all because they can't agree on one subject: Arsene Wenger. I can read one tweet, it appears perfectly reasonable, and I find myself nodding away like that Bulldog from the Churchill insurance adverts. Then, I can read another tweet, and I feel like drinking ten pints of Stella Artois and going on a rampage somewhere. Somewhere like Stoke, and destroying all them inbreds with a toilet brush. I understand people get frustrated, I get frustrated, but sometimes people can go over the top with their reactions. Constructive criticism is always welcome in my eyes. If someone has a valid point about something I will respect it, even if I don't agree with it. But the only criticism I seem to see on Twitter these days is sheer abuse. Trust me, some of the abuse I've seen leveled at Wenger is borderline hatred. I wouldn't speak to my worst enemy the way some speak about the Arsenal gaffer and if you ask me a smack on the bottom or washing some mouths out with a bar of soap wouldn't go amiss. Let's face it, Arsenal fans are split at the moment. That's obvious. We're split more than my 32 inch waist Levi 501's after I tried to squeeze my fat arse in them. Sometimes I think the only remedy is for every Gooner in the world to get on a field and have a massive tear up, Holligan Factory style. A free-for-all. Then all shake hands. At the end of the day we all have different opinions and that's the beauty of something like Twitter. We can debate whether Arsene is still the right man for Arsenal or not. Like normal humans. Unfortunately the real world isn't like that and people can't debate. Just abuse. And on the subject of abuse one man I think doesn't deserve that is Arsene Wenger. I know you're thinking 'here we go, another AKB' and if you are then I'm gonna hunt you down and suck your eyes out through a straw. Let me tell you why he doesn't deserve abuse. Because of what he's done for Arsenal Football Club. Don't get me wrong, Arsenal Football Club has been very good to Arsene Wenger too. And in truth, Arsenal fans have in the majority been very patient with Arsene during the 'barren times'. But the things I read thrown at him sometimes is disgusting and he deserves so much more than that. It appears Wenger's time at Arsenal could be coming to end. I don't think this summer and I hope not too if I'm honest. He has one more year left on his contract and I would love him to see it out and go out with a massive bang. Not a bang on the chin but a title. I'm personally of the opinion it IS a bit stale at the club and a few new faces through the door would freshen that out. Player wise. Arsene Wenger is the GREATEST manager Arsenal have ever had and more than likely will ever have. One more year for him to put right this season (and it has ended up more horrible than Beth Ditto farting in your mouth) and we go from there. See where we're at in December/January and if things aren't improving then change next summer. That's where I'm at in the Wenger situation. One thing you'll never see me do is abuse the man. If the day comes and I think we need change, and maybe that time is sooner than I think, I will air my views respectfully. Because that's the least a man who spent 20 years of his life dedicated to OUR club, two-thirds of my life, deserves. Now fuck off and do one. Keep it Goonerish.......... Follow me on Twitter @Wrighty7It was a special treat to visit Farm Sanctuary and participate in the annual Hoe Down weekend. Farm Sanctuary has been doing amazing work on behalf of farm animals for more than 25 years — rescuing animals who often have been left to die in stockyards, working to educate the public and promote the plant-based diet, and contributing to legal efforts on farm animals’ behalf. The hoe down is a celebration that brings advocates together to discuss what’s happening, celebrate recent milestones in animal rescue and protection, and spend time with the animals that call the sanctuary their home. What Came Before In addition to all the wonderful activities of the weekend, my husband Seth was honored with this year’s “Friend of Farm Animals” award for his work as producer of the short film What Came Before. The number of viewers is now in the millions, and the film is currently being translated into several languages. Over and over, we’re hearing from people that say this film was what made them decide to go vegan. WOW. While visiting the sanctuary this weekend, we were able to meet two of the three animals featured in the film — Fanny the dairy cow and Nikki the pig (and three of Nikki’s piglets!). If you haven’t watched the film yet, I encourage you to do so and please share: the stories of these three animals are so extraordinary, and they’re also a reminder that each animal has a story all her own. Turkey Time! Which brings me to to the highlight of all the highlights of the weekend: meeting Victoria, my little girl! Each November, we adopt a turkey through Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey program. Our Kima is no longer in Watkins Glen, and our Raphael lives at the California sanctuary; but what a treat to hold out my hand and offer my little one a clump of grass. Loved loved loved my “mama” time with her. Watkins Glen travel tips: Although most of our time was spent on the sanctuary premises, and lots of delicious vegan food was provided for everyone throughout the event, we did venture out into the surrounding area towards the end of our stay. Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake are absolutely gorgeous country, and we discovered a couple of great little local spots: House of Hong is a Chinese and Sushi place with lots of vegan options. We were pleasantly surprised that such a quaint little town could have such a happening place. Our table of friends enjoyed the steamed vegetable dumplings, edamame, and a couple of specialty rolls before our entrees. Glen Mountain Market is a darling little cafe on the main street where you can enjoy fresh coffee, vegan baked goods (try the oat bars), and — like us — grab a couple of sandwiches to go for the road trip back home. On our way out of town, we picked up two “Sanctuary Special” sandwiches to enjoy roadside later that afternoon: Portobello seitan with lettuce, tomato, and spicy mustard on a freshly baked baguette. De-lish! Glen Mountain also has a “VLT” — seitan bacon, lettuce and tomato — that I bet is super tasty. Roadside Farm Produce! You can’t beat the fresh produce from local farms. Blueberries, sweet corn, and tomatoes… Related posts:Problems with switched outlets, and how to resolve them. In this post I will answer three questions on switched outlets with a common theme. Question #1: I have a problem. I’m fixing what someone already has tried to fix. I have two switches and two switched outlets in between and I can’t get the correct wiring for the outlets to work. They are on all the time and switch will not control the switched outlet. Question #2 I have replaced my receptacles in the family room with new decorator style receptacles. I was careful to write down exactly how the old outlets were connected, and hooked up the new ones the same way. Now the top half of the outlets that used to turn on and off with the wall switch are hot all the time. What did I do wrong? Question #3 I have switched outlets and I would like to remove the switch and make all outlets hot all the time. Is there an easy way for doing this or do I have to run new wire? Thanks in advance! Answers: In both question #1 and question #2, the answer is most likely that the tab between the 2 brass terminals on the hot side of the receptacle has not been removed. The purpose of a circuit like this is to provide an outlet that has 1/2 of the receptacle controlled by a wall switch, and the other 1/2 of the outlet hot all the time. A good example of this would be in a bedroom, where you would have a table lamp and a clock radio plugged in to the same duplex receptacle. You want power to the clock radio all the time, and the table lamp to be controlled by the switch. Here is one way that a circuit like this can be wired. It is a common trade practice to indicate that an outlet is a ‘switched outlet’ by mounting the receptacle upside down (or opposite) to how the unswitched outlets are mounted in the outlet box. Looking at this simple circuit, you can see that if you replaced the receptacle, and forgot to remove the tab, then the outlet would be hot all the time, regardless of the position of the switch. If you wanted to change the wiring so that all the switched outlets in a room are both hot all the time (as in question #3), the simple solution would be to remove the switch, splice the red and the black wires (in the example above) together with an approved wire connector, and then put a blank cover on the outlet box. Remember – Safety First! Terry Peterman, the Internet ElectricianWith Danny Valencia taking the last escape pod to a foreign country, the Royals have given an implicit vote of confidence in Mike Moustakas' bat. I'm pretty sure Yost said at some point that Moustakas still won't be the every day third sacker, but does anyone really think that Christian Colon is going to take plate appearances away from Moustakas? The Royals may even have a slight case in defense of the idea that Moustakas has turned some corner. I wouldn't say it's THE corner. Some corner. Since his recall from AAA on 6/1, Moustakas has hit.221/.285/.429 for a 97 wRC+. Since a selective end point I chose to make his numbers look better (6/10), he's hit.235/.305/.471 for a 114 wRC+. Hey! Above average! Again, a corner may have been turned, but not a good corner. More like a mediocre one. There is an interesting trend happening with Moustakas, though. I'll be pulling data from FanGraphs* to show some things that may or may not be related to his performance this year. Probably related. Like that cousin who doesn't look like you but everyone insists is related. All data current as of the morning of Aug 5th First, Moustakas is pulling the ball more. Check out this pretty graph. Indeed, Moustakas pulls the ball more than league average, and he's doing it more than ever this year. Pulling the ball in the air is good. Balls go farther. Pulling the ball on the ground is bad. That leads to putting an extra body in holes that are normally open. Over the same time period, let's look at Moose's production on fly balls and ground balls. 100 is average, and I used the formula (1.7MooseBA + MooseSLG)/(1.7LgBA + LgSLG)100. That's fairly interesting. As his pull ratio has increased, his production on ground balls has decreased. Unfortunately, as players try to pull the ball in the air more, that usually results in more ground balls being pulled. Shifts! Moustakas has six (6) hits on ground balls this year as of yesterday. God. Awful. However, as his pull ratio has increased, there hasn't really been any relationship with his production on fly balls. It's just scattered about like a confused kid at a junior high dance. What's going on here? I'll turn to batted ball distributions to help out. Another trended graph incoming. The blue line represents the ratio of Moose's pulled FB% to league average. The red line is Moose's relative production on pulled balls in play. Again, 100 is average. According to the above graph, Moose's production on all pulled balls is directly correlated with the amount of fly balls he hits in the pull direction. That makes quite a bit of sense. However, notice that the pulled FB% ratio is decreasing. Moustakas is 1) pulling the ball more, and 2) hitting more of those pulled balls ON THE GROUND, where those balls are USELESS. The only reason I can glean that Moustakas' production on fly balls is better this year than any other year is because his HR/FB (among only pulled balls) has increased to 1.27 times the average. Another graph. Moose has actually trended upward in this regard relative to the league average. Is it possible that he is impacting the ball harder? His relative production numbers don't say so, but this is where I turned to Baseball Heat Maps, Jeff Zimmerman's website, to grab average batted ball distance for Moose's fly balls. There isn't perfect agreement on what a fly ball is, but hopefully the trend will be illustrative. This trend looks pretty similar to the trend of fly ball relative production. The relative fly ball production and batted ball distance trends do not agree with the HR/FB trend, but the relative production on pulled balls includes all batted balls, not just fly balls. Being able to calculate relative production on pulled fly balls would be great, but I'm not aware of where I can find these data. That was a lot of data. What's the useful stuff from all this? 1) Moustakas is pulling the ball more 2) More of Moustakas' pulled balls are becoming ground balls, which is holding down his production 3) When Moustakas pulls the ball in the air, he can still do significant damage So, if an increasing pull ratio is potentially hurting his production, should Moustakas go to the opposite field more?...No. Moose has never hit an opposite field homer. Moose's relative production on balls in play to the opposite field is just terrible. 4) Moustakas' increased pull ratio is an attempt to maximize his skill set 5) If this is his maximized skill set, there will never be a corner to turn. He is who he is. Pretty bleak, eh?CTV Atlantic Heavy machinery has begun shredding trees on a patch of land near Halifax’s Bayers Lake Business Park, deforesting a popular trail and catching some residents by surprise. But the city says it should be no surprise: the land was slated for industrial use and the municipality sold the land to a developer in 2013, as part of its plans to develop the area. “The public would have been involved in that process when we developed both the regional plan and the business parks plan, that identified these parcels for sale and development,” said municipal spokesperson Jennifer Stairs. Kim Dorsey says she was caught off-guard while hiking the trail this weekend with her family, as they often do. “Our jaws dropped, when we first saw what had happened,” Dorsey said. “I didn't know that they were going to tear this wilderness area apart,” she said. With the land-clearing operation well underway by Tuesday, a ridge that was once wooded now offers an unobstructed view of the Bayers Lake Business Park. The land was purchased two years ago by the BANC Group. The company’s president told CTV News the property is being developed for retail use, an extension of the business park. Shops are expected to be open for business on the site in less than three years. Until now, the land has been home to a popular mountain biking trail, widely known as the Whopper Dropper Trail. Greg Taylor, who runs a website with information on area trails, says the deforestation taking place amounts to “missed opportunities.” He says he’d like to see the municipality and the developer team up to put the land to a better use. “It wouldn't take a whole lot of infrastructure to develop a trail like that, and then you've got the developer and the city looking good for doing something for the people of Halifax,” Taylor said. The municipality and the province are currently working to develop a regional park nearby. With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla HounsellWINNIPEG – A Manitoba-based Facebook page called "Aboriginals Need to Get a Job and Stop Using our Tax Dollars" has been taken down — but not before amassing more than 5,000 likes. The page was littered with posts and memes targeting aboriginal people, even going so far as to say "we need to bring back the death camps to eliminate aboriginals from the city." Aboriginal educator and community activist Tasha Spillett said when she came across the page Tuesday, her immediate thought was, "Here we go again." "To be honest, I am not shocked by that level of ignorance because I think there is lot of racism in society and this is just a tiny representation of that," she said. But the silver lining, Spillett said, is it gets people talking about the issues. "A lot of people see that Facebook page and how atrocious it is. It can get people talking and start the discussion," she said. "We can deal with racism that is out there in the open, so let’s talk about it." Spillett took to Twitter, along with an army of Winnipeggers, to campaign for Facebook to have the page taken down. According to the page’s description, it is connected to a controversial local blog similar to The Dirty, that makes damaging accusations about specific people. QMI Agency has chosen not to name the blog. Meanwhile, the Manitoba Real Estate Association condemned the Facebook page as a form of a cyberbullying because it falsely named a staff member of the MREA as the page’s administrator. "The racist Facebook page being discussed in today’s news is deplorable," the MREA said in a prepared statement. "Any connection to the Manitoba Real Estate Association is unfounded, and appears to be connected with an ongoing cyberbullying matter." After the intense backlash, the blog claimed on Wednesday afternoon that the Facebook page was the "this year’s biggest April’s Fool Joke." But Spillett and many other Winnipeggers aren’t laughing. "Racism isn’t a joke and critically thinking, engaged community members are no fools," Spillett said. The bloggers claim they were responsible for having the page removed, but several Twitter users posted screenshots from the Facebook Help Team saying the page was removed because it violated its "community standards." A spokesman for the blog, who only identified himself as Lucenzo, said the blog’s administrators felt bad for Brad Badiuk, the Winnipeg high school teacher suspended earlier this year after posting controversial comments about aboriginal people on Facebook. "My comment would be, it is a freedom of speech issue," he argued. "If I had it my way, I would let freedom of speech speak and let it go up for another few weeks or two years." [email protected] Twitter: @kristinannableGetty Images Manti Te'o says he’s past the whole fake-dead-girlfriend thing. And the torn Achilles that ended last season. And San Diego. The Saints linebacker told Mike Triplett of ESPN.com that he was enjoying his fresh start in a new city, and finally putting some of his awkward past behind him. “You know, that was something that I had to get over. And it lingered for years,” Te’o said of the story that made him a national curiosity if not punch line. “And that was why Year 4 in the NFL was such a big year, because it was the first year that I felt that I was free. And I felt great. And I was just playing the way I wanted to play. And then another adverse situation came along. “And I think a lot of people look at adversity and they shy away from it or they look at it as a thing that’s too hard. But I’ve learned through all my times of adversity that it makes me and molds me into the man that I need to be. And I’m grateful for it. Because without it, I wouldn’t be as appreciative of the things that I do have now. I was appreciative — I thought I was. Everybody thinks they are until it’s gone. Then you really learn to appreciate it.” Te’o was a solid if not spectacular player for the Chargers, but with the Saints, he’s going to play a smaller role. They also signed linebacker A.J. Klein to be their defensive signal-caller, and Te’o hasn’t been a part of passing-down packages in camp. And with everything he’s been through, he sounds like a guy that doesn’t mind blending in. But that also required rehab after a traumatic injury, which required his younger sister Eden to move in with him to take care of him. He thought last season was going to be the breakthrough, which is why he said he battled some emotional highs and lows for a while after the injury. “My sister was that example to me about what love is,” he said. “Love is the strongest thing in this world, and that’s what the world needs more of is love. And my sister was the epitome of that. “She was the living example for me of what love means, of who I want to be like — just like her.” And he hopes he can simply be a football player again, after being so much more than that for so long.The only thing more inspiring than being able to see these incredible aircraft in one place is to hear the amazing stories that they have to tell. However, as is true with all priceless and delicate artifacts found in cultural institutions, visitors will only be able to marvel from a safe distance. That is until now… In close partnership with Microsoft, we are using technology to unlock unprecedented access to these aircraft. For the first time, visitors – both on site as well as remotely – will be able to ‘step inside’ the cockpits and interiors of these carefully preserved artifacts through high fidelity 360-degree virtual tours. Our docents and volunteers will be using Surface Pro tablets equipped with Windows and IntuiFace software to provide on-site guests with high definition imagery and virtual tours of the aircraft they care so deeply about. Guests of the museum will also be able to use mini virtual reality glasses connected to Lumia 950 phones to be able to take virtual tours of the interiors while visiting the Aviation Pavilion. Step Inside Select a plane from the Museum of Flight's collection to step inside and take a virtual tour. These 3D self-guided virtual tours were created by scanning the interior of the Museum's aircraft using the Matterport 3D Camera. Experience an immersive tour of your favorite aircraft in the Aviation Pavilion. More tours will be added in the coming weeks. Select an aircraft below to explore a Matterport 3D model of the aircraft. Follow the on-screen prompts to navigate. 360° Gallery View 360° Photographs of the cockpits and interiors of the aircraft in the Museum's new Aviation Pavilion. The photographs were taken by expert 360° panoramic photographer Lyle Jansma. The images are stored on the Microsoft Azure cloud; Access them anywhere! Use with Homido goggles purchased at our Museum Store and Kiosks. A 360° Panoramic Photo Using the Homido goggles View gallery of 360° photosDeep in the heart of the +17,000 attendees at Slush - the insanely busy, loud and dark conference in Helsinki - I found Karsa.fi a small stand with a big claim; they keep bombs off planes. Plane travel - while safer than it has ever been is still a concern for those in the planes as those on the ground. Terrorism - or rather fear of it - is at record levels (despite figures that suggest a decline in major incidents) so Karsa.fi's claim is falling on open ears at the right time. The premise is simple, without touching anything, air is blown over luggage (and/or people) which is then analysed by a serious - albeit small (only 1m by 1m) bit of tech that looks kind of like a tunnel over a conveyor belt. Exact pictures are not possible due to the security surrounding the project. Aimed at airports, buildings and railways initially the Finnish startup have made the economics of their mass spectrometry startup stack up too. Humans can check around 120 pieces per hour, Karsa.fi can check up to 2000 per hour. Over a two year period the $1-1.5m (approximately each installation can change) the unit costs saves on "other resources" - that's humans to you and me. Beyond simply replacing people the killer feature is the accuracy - false alarms in current systems could be reduced by a factor of five using Karsa.fi devices (they saw below 1% false positives in May). When you're looking for bombs, that's the sort of difference you want to see because it is the false positive rate that makes operation expensive. Karla.fi CEO, Dr. H.J. Jost, explained why this is a big deal for airports especially; "Each time you have a false positive, where the machine says explosives, but it is just hand cream or peanut butter, you run an alarm resolution procedure. This means tedious follow up hand searches, and worst case bomb squads get called in". The one area that stuck out to me was the adaptability of the system. The ability to update the system is there although regulation means any change has to be re-authorised - a sensible precaution as changes could alter what worked before. While instant updates at the library of explosives is possible they are sadly a long way off thanks to the current way the laws are set up in most countries. The future is bright for the young company of eight that is a spin off from University of Helsinki. After forming in June 2016, obtaining funding in August and deploying the first trial in May the team will soon be meeting with TSA officials in the US to discuss regulation requirements and implementation in several cities based on a new prototype. The regulation issue is an interesting one, there are standards but lots of them and this is what could slow Karsa.fi down. Bombs will remain a big part of plane terrorism and there remains the issue of physical attacks ("a machine still can't small a knife" jokes Jost), Karsa.fi doesn't fix this solution but it does go a long way to fixing several big issues with travelling; accuracy, lines, accuracy and costs. Oh and by the way, this is Slush in Helsinki. Look out for more pieces throughout December...King County Metro has decided to make a major purchase of battery-powered electric buses, after an apparently successful test of a few vehicles on Bellevue-area routes last year. King County Metro will buy more than 100 battery-powered electric buses, following what officials called a successful test in Bellevue last year. These buses connect to an overhead docking station to recharge their batteries. Three vehicles have been operating since February, between e-fueling stops at the Eastgate Transit Center. Deliveries of the zero-emission vehicles, from multiple suppliers, are expected to total 20 by 2018 and exceed 100 by 2020, said Metropolitan King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski of North Seattle. Most will be short, 40-foot buses that recharge in minutes, but a few are experimental buses that charge over several hours and have a longer range, he said. Details about the “major purchase” are to be announced Tuesday, says a news-media advisory by County Executive Dow Constantine. The first group of buses would arrive this year. Battery-powered buses currently serve routes 226 and 241, including trips to the Microsoft campus at Overlake. The buses by California-based Proterra require about 10 minutes to recharge for a 23-mile range. The order being announced Tuesday would be the largest battery-powered bus fleet in the country, Dembowski said.
’ set up by the rules of the hearings." Two months ago, the major, who took part in 49 of the 558 CSRT hearings, publicly added his complaints to those recorded by Abraham, telling William Teesdale, "Much of the material presented was supplied by intelligence agencies and were summaries that were not necessarily justified by the underlying evidence." The major specifically mentioned his dissent in Hamad’s CSRT, and also spoke about the deliberate exclusion of exculpatory evidence, the reconvening of CSRTs when an unfavorable result was produced, and the pressure exerted on the tribunals from higher up the command structure. The case of Salim Muhood Adem, who is also 49 years old, is, in its own way, just as damning as that of Hamad. A Pakistani resident who had first traveled to Pakistan in 1991 when he "performed official lawful work for schools," he told his tribunal that he had been employed by the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), a Kuwaiti NGO, since 1994, and pointed out that he had mentioned to the interrogators what type of work he did traveling from one school to another to check on education before being transferred to "the Orphanage Office of Administration" and that it "wasn’t a crime." Responding to an allegation that the organization was "suspected of supporting extremist activity, and some employees are suspected of supporting terrorism," he said, "I have only known the Islamic organization to be associated with humanitarian efforts, never terrorism." He acknowledged traveling to Afghanistan in 1998, explaining that he went "to supervise the administration of Orphanage Schools," and was perplexed by an allegation that his residence was "identified as a suspected al-Qaeda residence and raided." He said that he rented the house from a Pakistani woman, and added, "everything I did regarding the house was legal." Crucially, he explained that when he was arrested, at home with his wife and two small children, "the officer that arrested us said he was giving us to the American forces to avoid problems and keep our country safe." Unlike WAMY and LDI, the RIHS was actually blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury in January 2002, apparently because some of its personnel, including the director of its Pakistani office, Abdul Muhsin al-Libi, "defrauded well-meaning contributors by diverting money donated for widows and orphans to al-Qaeda terrorists," and "padded the number of orphans it claimed to care for by providing names of orphans that did not exist or who had died. Funds then sent for the purpose of caring for the nonexistent or dead orphans were instead diverted to al-Qaeda terrorists." However, neither Libi nor another named suspect, Abu Bakr al-Jaziri, both of whom also apparently held senior positions in the Afghan Support Committee, which was identified as having been established by Osama bin Laden in the 1980s, were captured by the Americans. Instead, Adem and four of the charity’s other workers were seized, even though there was no evidence that any of the men knew anything about the terrorist funding. What’s particularly shocking about Adem’s situation is that, although the other four men one Jordanian and another three Sudanese, including the charity’s accountant in 2001 were released between November 2003 and July 2005, Adem had to wait another 29 months to be granted his freedom. Explaining the delay in the release of both men, Hamad’s lawyers recently filed a declaration in the D.C. Circuit Court, outlining the progress or lack of progress in negotiations between the Sudanese and American governments, which revealed the extent to which political maneuvering, rather than issues of justice, has driven much of the Bush administration’s policy toward the detainees. In the declaration, William Teesdale explained that the Sudanese government had been notified that Hamad and Adem had been "approved for transfer" on Nov. 14, 2005, and that the State Department had sought assurances that they would be investigated on their return to Sudan, and that their human rights would be respected. The department also sought permission to have "access to the detainees if needed" and assurances that the Sudanese government would "take responsibility for the detainees and prevent them from being a further threat to the United States." The Sudanese deputy ambassador, Salah Elguneid, explained to Teesdale that the Sudanese embassy gave an "official reply" to these demands in June 2006, agreeing to all of them and even pointing out that U.S. officials had "met with some of the [previously] released detainees in Sudan since their release." The State Department then indicated that it would be good "to try to resolve the issue of all the Sudanese Guantánamo detainees" (another six, including al-Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj, are still being held) and that the way forward would be to "draw up a memorandum of understanding between the two countries." Elguneid noted, however, that Samuel Whitton, the U.S. ambassador who had been proceeding with these negotiations, then left his job, and that "negotiations with the new ambassador at large for war crimes, Clint Williamson, were more difficult." This was something of an understatement. Elguneid admitted that, despite filing 10 requests for a meeting to discuss the release of Hamad and Adem, he had been unable to secure an appointment with Williamson and had not met any State Department officials since that last meeting in June 2006. With the release of Adel Hamad and Samir Adem, the deadlock has obviously been broken, but the clear politicization of the detainee-release process casts further shadows on the legitimacy of Guantánamo. And the stonewalling on the part of State Department officials serves only to undermine Condoleezza Rice’s claims that the Department is committed to Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ stated aim of finding ways to close the prison sooner rather than later. This article draws on passages from my newly published book, The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison. Read more by Andy WorthingtonAntarctica might not be the first place to look for a mountaineering adventure. Only a handful have tried to climb the isolated and frozen granite walls at the bottom of the world. Only on "CBS This Morning," we're introducing you to the North Face climbing team that took on the chilling challenge to summit six mountains in Antarctica. When one massive cargo plane lifted off from Cape Town, South Africa, it was carrying 1,700 pounds of extreme cold weather gear and six of the best rock climbers and mountaineers in the world. Their destination, almost a six-hour flight due south: a rugged and remote region of Antarctica called Queen Maud Land. North Face "There's kind of an elliptical ring of mountains and there's six peaks that are with walls between two- and three-thousand feet tall," said team leader Conrad Anker. For a climbing legend like Anker, those walls -- which very few people have ever seen, much less scaled -- are irresistible. "The fact that it's always below freezing makes it a challenge for wall-climbers… the remoteness, the cliff face and the temperature," Anker said. "Any one of them can get us, but all three together, you always have to manage that risk on a day-to-day basis." Yosemite search-and-rescue vet Cedar Wright came up with the idea for the all-star Antarctic adventure. "If you go out deep into the center of that wild, unexplored continent, you find one of the most impressive ranges of granite in the world," Wright said. "I look at it like as a frozen Yosemite… each of these formations is at least if not bigger than El Cap… It just kind of takes all the skills that we've learned in places like Yosemite and brings them to this really wild and severe environment." Yosemite and its sheer granite monster El Capitan is the most famous training ground for expeditions like Queen Maud Land, and no one has conquered El Capitan like Alex Honnold. This past June, he achieved the holy grail of rock climbing – a rope-less solo free climb up its 3,000-foot face. His biggest challenge in Antarctica? Temperatures hovering right around freezing and below. North Face "When you first touch cold rock, your fingers will get numb, but then after the initial numbing, blood rushes back to your fingers… it really, really hurts when the blood rushes back to your fingertips, so it makes you want to scream and... you feel sick," Honnold said. Jimmy Chin's long career has acclimated him to the cold, but that happens when you accomplish feats like he did in 2006: skiing off the summit of Mount Everest. It might seem all downhill from Everest to Antarctica, but for Chin, none of it would be possible without El Capitan. "You have to be really comfortable on El Cap… in order to go down and think about climbing in Queen Maud Land because… you drop the temperature from 70 degrees to negative-20, and then you put it in some place that's totally inaccessible and remote, the stakes become quite a bit higher," Chin said. The stakes for Anna Pfaff and her climbing partner, Savannah Cummings, are even higher. They're the only women on this expedition. They hope the trip helps them move the sport forward. "I would like to get more women in the sport of doing this kind of stuff," Cummings said. "There's still the stigma that, you know, the mountains are made for men," Pfaff said. "I've had people say these things to me before. And what it's done to me is it's just made me want to try harder." "Anna and Savannah are… every bit as capable as the dudes on our team," Wright said. "Everyone should go to Antarctica and climb a big wall – or six!"Whoops: The Mercedes crashed into the Lamborghini as it exited a parking building. Is this New Zealand's most expensive fender-bender today? A black Mercedes-Benz caused a bit of a scene when it crashed into the side of a Lamborghini Aventador on Auckland's High St on Thursday afternoon. The Lamborghini's owner, who did not want to be named, told the New Zealand Herald he was in a meeting when he heard about the accident. MAX PENNINGTON The Lamborghini was towed around 3pm on Thursday. The Mercedes-Benz had crashed straight into his Lamborghini, which retails for around $600,000, when coming out of an adjacent parking building. The Lambo's driver was trying to stay philosophical about the situation, despite his "dream car" taking substantial damage. "[The Mercedes-Benz driver] was an elderly guy, I can't sit there and yell at him, if it was your dad how would you feel?" he said. "I mean it's a mistake, he didn't crash it and then run away, he was okay about it, he stayed around. He had a pretty nice car too." The Mercedes-Benz hit his car's axle, which meant the man would have to order parts. That could take several months, he said. "It was my dream car... he crashed my dream car, but you can't sit in heat forever, it's all right. "I worked hard for that bloody thing, I'll miss it for two months." An employee at a shop on the street witnessed the crash. "It was pretty bad, it looks like the Lamborghini's whole chassis is broken," he said. "It was quite a new model Mercedes as well, that will be an expensive one." The witness said both cars were towed away. "There were a lot of people standing around taking pictures." A photo taken by TVNZ journalist Luke Appleby was captioned: "These two Aucklanders are having a bad day." Police had no comment about the incident.The IDW comic, published in 2004, told the story of a Los Angeles weatherman who returns to his hometown to host a midnight horror show. Jim Carrey and Eli Roth are teaming to adapt Aleister Arcane, a comic book from horrormeister Steve Niles. Amblin Entertainment has picked up the package as a pitch that includes Jon Croker, the scribe behind The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, attached to pen the script, with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Mandeville Films producing along with Michael Aguilar. Carrey will star in and executive produce the project. Aleister Arcane, published in 2004, told the story of a Los Angeles weatherman named Aleister Green who returns to his hometown to host a midnight horror show a la Elvira. Under the guise of a mad scientist named Aleister Arcane, Green performed little skits until the local sponsors balked at the gore. An incident with two kids leads to him to be put on trial, breaking his spirit and into an early grave. Not long after, grisly activities begin to occur and only the kids have the power to thwart the curse he has laid upon their town. The comic was illustrated by Breehn Burns. The adaptation was initially set up at Paramount in 2004, but the rights lapsed. The move continues Roth’s path towards working with big-name actors. The filmmaker gained a loyal following for his horror movies such as Cabin Fever and the Hostel franchise but those movies were not star-driven. That changed with last year’s Knock Knock, Roth’s thriller that starred Keanu Reeves. He just inked a deal that will see him direct Bruce Willis in MGM's remake of Death Wish. Carrey last starred in Dumb and Dumber To, in which he reprised his popular comedic character Lloyd. The actor has a pair of movies in the can, among which is a horror movie from Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home at Night) titled The Bad Batch. Carrey also is serving as an executive producer on the upcoming Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here, which explores the 1970s L.A. comedy scene. Mandeville is in postproduction on the live-action musical remake of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and is prepping to shoot the adaptation of YA novel Wonder with Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay. Carrey and Roth are repped by WME. Carrey is additionally repped by Jimmy Miller/Mosaic and attorney Deborah Klein. Niles is repped by APA and Loeb & Loeb.Metro Studying Several Train Station Changes: Claremont, Northridge, El Monte and More Before the Metro board this month are studies on five Metrolink stations, in Claremont, Commerce, El Monte, Northridge, and potentially serving Rio Hondo College. In addition, the Metro board is expected to approve a study on potential upgrades to Metrolink’s Antelope Valley line. Mostly these studies focus on upgrading Metrolink stations to make them better connected with nearby destinations. The exception to this is for Claremont, which is part of a larger study on how the future Gold Line extension and parallel Metrolink San Bernardino Line can work together most effectively. At this point, the four Metrolink station projects are not funded, nor do they appear to have a great deal of momentum. The studies are an early step in the political process. If upgrades appear feasible – technically, politically, fiscally – then municipalities and electeds may seek funding to get project work underway. Antelope Valley Line Based on a July motion from Metro boardmembers Catherine Barger and Ara Najarian, Metro plans to study potential improvements to the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line between Burbank and Lancaster. Pending board approval this month, the $500,000 study would be funded by underruns from a recent discounted fare program for that line. Claremont / Metrolink San Bernardino Line / Foothill Gold Line Since the Foothill Gold Line was extended to its current terminus in Azusa, boardings at the Covina Metrolink Station have declined 25 percent, and overall Metrolink San Bernardino Line ridership has declined by 7.6 percent. Metro staff presume that much of this decline is Metrolink riders switching to the Gold Line. The attrition could become worse as the Foothill Gold Line is extended east to Montclair. That phase is scheduled to break ground this year, and be completed in 2026. Right now the nearest Gold Line and Metrolink stations are four miles apart. After the next phase is built, both the Gold Line and Metrolink will operate in the same rail right-of-way where the Metrolink San Bernardino Line currently runs. This month the Metro board was expected to approve $750,000 for a study “to develop strategies that would enable [Gold Line and Metrolink San Bernardino Line services] to complement each other. A substitute motion by Supervisor Hilda Solis, focused Metro’s efforts on evaluating the possibility of eliminating the city of Claremont’s Metrolink station. Due to the right-of-way constraints, extending the Gold Line is now expected to demolish the existing Claremont platform, and to rebuild it at a different nearby location. This rebuild increases the cost of the Gold Line project, so some have questioned the need for the Claremont Metrolink station, especially given its location roughly a mile from the existing Montclair Metrolink Station. Though Claremont residents could access nearby Metrolink stations by bicycling, driving, or taking the Gold Line, the possibility of eliminating the Claremont Metrolink Station does not sit well with Claremont leadership. If approved by the Metro board this month, the Claremont Metrolink station evaluation should return to the board in 60 days. El Monte This month the Metro Planning and Programming Committee received a feasibility study examining possibilities for relocating the existing El Monte Metrolink Station. El Monte’s station, on the Metrolink San Bernardino Line, is located about a mile northeast of the El Monte Bus Transit Center, a major hub for San Gabriel Valley bus service, including the Silver Line BRT. The study considered several potential options: Relocating the El Monte Station – for the two most feasible sites, the capital cost would be approximately $270 million (site 1A – nearest the bus transit center) or $45 million (site 1B – a quarter-mile from the bus transit center) Improving connectivity to the existing El Monte Station – including shuttle, bike-share, and other bike/ped connections – capital cost: approximately $7 million Montebello/Commerce Metrolink Station This month the Metro Planning and Programming Committee received a feasibility study examining possibilities for relocating the existing Montebello/Commerce Metrolink Station closer to the Citadel. The city of Commerce is planning to expand the Citadel Outlets, Commerce Casino, and surrounding hotels. The existing Montebello/Commerce Metrolink Riverside Line station is approximately 1.5-miles east of the Citadel. The Riverside Line operates infrequently, with 411 daily Montebello/Commerce boardings on 12 trains each weekday, and no weekend service. Commerce is also served by a separate Metrolink Orange County Line station, about 2.5 miles south of the Citadel. In the future the area would be served by a planned Eastside Gold Line extension. Relocating the existing Montebello/Commerce station is difficult as it would require UPRR approval. The study considered two potential options: Relocating the Montebello/Commerce Station – capital cost: approximately $80 million Improving connectivity to the existing Montebello/Commerce Station – including shuttle, bike-share, and other bike/ped connections – capital cost: approximately $5 million Northridge Metrolink Station This month the Metro Planning and Programming Committee received a feasibility study examining possibilities for relocating the existing Northridge Metrolink station, in order to be closer to California State University at Northridge (CSUN). As the crow flies, the existing station is a half-mile from the CSUN campus, but station access is oriented to the south so the only way to get from the station to the campus is a circuitous route that is nearly double that. The Northridge station, including a 300-space surface parking lot, is owned and operated by LADOT, which reports that the site currently experiences problems with vandalism and homeless encampments. The study examined possibilities for relocating the station to be adjacent to Reseda Boulevard, where it would be roughly a quarter-mile walk or ride from campus, nearly all along Reseda Boulevard’s protected bike lanes. The study evaluated two alternatives: Relocating Northridge Metrolink Station to Reseda Boulevard – capital cost: approximately $145 million Improving the existing Northridge Metrolink Station – including adding station access to the north, a revamped bus turnaround, and more – capital cost: approximately $26 million The study also looked into potential transit-oriented development at each of the sites. The cost estimates do not include potential TOD at either site. Rio Hondo College Metrolink Station This month the Metro Planning and Programming Committee received a feasibility study examining possibilities for adding a new Rio Hondo College station on the Metrolink Riverside Line. The station would be complicated as the current arrangements with UPRR allow for only six stations on this line, so this would need to be renegotiated and mitigated, or another station would need to be eliminated. Metro’s feasibility study examined two potential options: Adding a new Rio Hondo College Metrolink station – capital cost: approximately $125 million Improving other transit connectivity with Rio Hondo College – including bus connections, bike-share, and other bike/ped connections – capital cost: approximately $2 million Streetsblog L.A.’s San Gabriel Valley coverage is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”At this point, the evidence is pretty convincing that there was once free-flowing water in abundance on the surface of Mars, so much so that the planet was likely inhabitable billions of years ago. And scientists studying Mars have discovered that water is still on Mars in the form of ice. But one question that remains unanswered is this: if water once flowed on Mars, does it still flow now? There's no definitive answer yet, but astronomers examining the question have honed in on "recurring slope lineae" or RSL for short. These are dark lines that are observed moving down the slopes of some Martian mountains as temperatures on the surface rise. Some scientists studying Mars have suggested that these flows might be caused by saltwater containing a iron sulfate solution to keep it from freezing in Martian temperatures. Now new images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have shown new clues that yes, these RSL do in fact contain flowing water. This comes from two new reports that focused on the minerals left behind by the RSL. While the images didn't find any signs of salt or water, they did find iron-containing minerals that weren't found on mountains without RSL. And the presence of those minerals varied with the seasons. "Just like the RSL themselves, the strength of the spectral signatures varies according to the seasons. They're stronger when it's warmer and less significant when it's colder," said lead researcher Lujendra Ojha in a NASA press release. The best explanation for these flows likely involves the flow of water, although dry processes are conceivable. The problem is that the spectral signatures of the iron minerals in RSL could be blocking out the spectral signs of water, making it hard for scientists to find a definitive answer. "We still don't have a smoking gun for existence of water in RSL, although we're not sure how this process would take place without water," said Ojha. If further research continues to point to flowing water on Mars as the best explanation for RSL, then that's a big deal - it would deepen our understanding of the Martian climate and increase the possibility that some form of life exists on Mars. "The flow of water, even briny water, anywhere on Mars today would be a major discovery, impacting our understanding of present climate change on Mars and possibly indicating potential habitats for life near the surface on modern Mars," Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Scientist Richard Zurek said in the release. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Read my Forbes blog here.To keep the power running or the bug out vehicle fuelled is important in a sh-t hits the fan scenario, and in these times you can be sure fuel stations have closed down and fuel supply to your area has been cut, this is why preppers need to know how to store fuel for when the rainy day comes and what to add to it to make it last longer. For me, I keep a reserve supply of 14 gallons of fuel using a fuel stabiliser. I have used this in various occasions from blackouts when my family is relying upon the power crunched out by the generator or when the car is low on fuel and when gas prices in my area might have soared to ridiculous levels. But no matter what you do with fuel it isn’t meant to be stored and it does go off. Much like I mentioned with my water storage stocks, fuel needs to be circulated or rotated through with a fresh supply after six to twelve months. Keeping fuel past its expiry will make it, at some point, unable to produce the combustion that powers our generators and vehicles and can clog up your engines. For the most of us, gasoline is the type of fuel we use the most and it is also the first to go in a survival scenario. That or prices soar due to limited availability. But just pouring gasoline into a 40-gallon drum and leaving it is not going to keep and it will have a short shelf life. It is these reasons why storing gasoline correctly is important and getting the maximum life out of fuel is important for all of us, otherwise what is the point of having a rainy day stockpile? How to store fuel (gasoline) for long-term use Where you should be storing fuel It goes without saying that you should not be storing gasoline in the home. It is a serious fire hazard and the fumes can pose certain health risks. Ideally, you should be storing all reserve supplies of fuel in an outdoor building such as a shed, barn or external garage. The fuel should be kept out of varying elements, so keep it in a spot where there is no direct sunlight, moisture, or extreme temperature changes. For the longest life of fuel, it should be kept in an area that has a general room temperature (80 Fahrenheit or below). Another thing to remember when storing fuel is security. When fuel becomes scarce in a worst-case SHTF scenario there are going to be a lot of people wanting your supplies, whether it be for their generators or vehicles. And a lot of scavengers are going to be searching your property for it. So for this aspect, it pays to keep the reserve supply concealed as well as secure, such as in a lockable area. What you should be adding I use a fuel stabiliser called STA-BIL. It works by stopping your fuel from absorbing water that might form due to the closed environment of an engine or a fuel container. That water absorption is caused by the oxidation and with six months worth of this oxidation process your fuel becomes thick and soupy rendering it useless as well as clogging up your fuel lines and injectors. The stabiliser works against that process by absorbing those chemicals before the fuel does. It only works with fresh fuel, it’s not going to work with old expired fuel. But in this effect, a lot of stabiliser users also pour it directly in their engines for mowers or motorbikes that they might not use during the winter, but want the engine and fuel port to stay fresh for its next use. Using something like STA-BIL, and keeping the fuel in the right area and in the right container can stretch your gasoline’s life up to 12 months, so it pays to follow the simple steps to keep that stockpile of much-needed fuel in the correct way. How much you need to add For the STA-BIL brand stabiliser, I use one ounce per two-and-a-half gallons (30mil in 9.5 litres). You can use this scale to measure accurately for how much you are considering to store. What you should be storing your fuel in What colour to store fuel in To store fuel, you can’t just use any old container. First, you should be picking the right colour. If you take a look at the chart below, you will see that there is actually an international standard on what fuels and oils belong to what colour. For gasoline, we need to use a red container. What container to use Only approved gasoline containers should be used to store fuel safely. To check the approval, make sure the container is tested and certified to ASTM F-85299 Standard Specification for Portable Gasoline Containers for Consumer Use. Because you have kept your fuel for a rainy day, there’s no point wasting it when it’s time to fill up, so as well as looking to see if it is certified, make sure you get an ‘easy pour’ container or one with a pump as they minimise spillage. If you do not have one of these, you can alternatively use a funnel to pour the fuel in. Previously I mentioned that I stored 14 gallons of reserve fuel, I do that in a 14-gallon gas can on wheels. There are also smaller 2-gallon easy pour containers if you don’t want to keep more. Rotating your fuel Much like food and water, no matter what we do we can’t keep certain stocks forever. For gasoline, it is the same story. While I have said 12 months storage is possible, to ensure you have the best fuel supply for when you actually need it (and we never really know when that’s going to happen) we should be rotating our stock. To rotate the fuel, when the five to six months comes around since I filled up the fuel reserve, I’ll use it in the lawnmower, car, or run the generator to get rid of the old fuel. I try to make sure I fill up my new reserve with ‘fresh’ gas (when the truck has delivered new stock to the station). This ensures that when I add my stabiliser, I am essentially preserving the freshest gas. If you are stockpiling fuel for when the sh-t hits the fan, whether it is an emergency, disaster, or possible war, make sure you are also preparing your food and water reservers, as well as your bug out bag and NBC protective gear. Here are the guides: Preparing Food On A Budget Storing Water What To Use In A Nuclear, Biological Or Chemical Attack Essential Bug Out BagProsecutors on Tuesday were preparing felony charges against a driver in connection with the death of a young mother who was struck while on her bicycle Monday and pulling her two little daughters behind in a trailer on a southwestern Minnesota highway. Charges that include criminal vehicular homicide are pending against Christopher M. Weber, 25, of Brandon, S.D., prosecutors said. The crash occurred about 11:30 a.m. Monday on Hwy. 270, killing Andrea L. Boeve, 33, just north of the family’s hometown of Steen, Minn., according to the State Patrol. Her daughters, 4-year-old Claire and 1-year-old Mallorie, were hospitalized in Luverne, Minn., with injuries that were not serious, prosecutors said. Evidence suggests Weber was using a cellphone, but prosecutors said details have not yet been revealed because the complaint hasn’t been signed by a judge in Rock County District Court. If the complaint is accepted by the court, authorities anticipate Weber will make his initial court appearance on Wednesday, the prosecutors said. Weber also is expected to be charged with criminal vehicular operation because of the children’s injuries. Boeve was obeying Minnesota law, which calls for bicyclists to ride in the same direction as motorized traffic. She also was wearing a helmet, although it is not legally required. The bicycle was heading east on Hwy. 270 in Rock County, when it was hit from behind by a pickup. Weber, who was not hurt, was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide or operation. The patrol has been investigating whether that man was distracted by his cellphone before he crossed the solid white line that separates the lane and the paved shoulder, and then hit the bicycle. Staff writer Joy Powell contributed to this report.Check out our article on playing by the EA rules. There are a few specific rules that we want you to know about so you and other players have the best experience possible. Here’s what they are: Don’t cheat in-game Nobody likes a cheater, so it’s against our rules. Cheating can include but isn’t limited to: using external tools or bots performing in-game exploits abusing glitches or bugs. In-game cheating is not fair play and hurts the experience for the players you are playing against. Don’t hack other players’ accounts It might seem like a no-brainer, but accessing another player’s account is totally and completely against the rules. Don’t buy Coins from a Third-Party Seller You can earn Madden NFL Overdrive Coins by playing the game and buying and selling Items in the Market, but buying Coins from a third party is against our rules. Here are a few ways to earn Coins legitimately: Play Live Events. Complete Daily Activities. Buy and sell players and other items in the Market. Buying Coins from unauthorized third parties unlevels the playing field. It affects the economy when the prices of Items in Auction increase and become unaffordable. When Coin Buyers buy cheap Items in the Market, they take away the opportunity to buy affordable Items from players who earned their Coins legitimately. If you buy Coins, you’re at risk for having your account information stolen by phishers. Coin Sellers need account login information to give out Coins, so they can remove Players and Coins, too. Then they’ll turn around and make a profit off of the Items they steal and hack someone else. Help keep your account safe and don’t give your login information to anyone, especially not to buy Coins. It’s also not okay to buy “mule” accounts or perform comfort trades. These things are against our gameplay rules because they have a negative impact on the game economy, and they damage gameplay for you and other players. When in doubt, don’t do it. Don’t farm Coins Like we said above, you can earn Coins in a bunch of different ways in Madden NFL Overdrive. However, farming Coins is a big no-no. Coin farming is when you get Coins fast and illegitimately, either by using bots in the Auction House or by tricking the game into thinking you’re playing matches when you aren’t. Using any sort of Auction House bots or disconnection methods in-game, that’s breaking the rules. Just stop. Don’t pass Go. Don’t collect $200. Don’t distribute or sell Coins Coin selling and distribution hurts the Madden NFL Overdrive economy. That means disrupting the safe buying and selling environment that legitimate players are trying to use to get the players they need for their Team. That’s not cool. Don’t buy Madden Cash from a Third-Party Seller There are two ways to get Madden Cash: Buying them in-game and earning them when you complete certain events in-game. That’s it. Just like buying Coins from a third-party, you are risking having your account information stolen by phishers. These sellers need your account login information to get the Cash and you are risking them hacking you or someone else in the process. Don’t exploit the Market (abuse or botting) Using bots or exploiting the Market in any way gives an unfair advantage and hurts the experience for you and other players. It can also negatively affect the affordability of certain items that are for sale in the Market, making it harder for legitimate players to enjoy the game they know and love. Don’t make false claims Making a false claim to EA Help Advisors or any other EA representative is against our gameplay rules. Breaking the rules makes it hard to offer a fun, safe, and secure environment for you and all players.HOUSTON -- That he chose not to thank his head coach was one striking part of Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg's impromptu draft declaration after the TaxSlayer Bowl in January. That he did choose to thank his former head coach, Bill O'Brien, mattered, too. The NFL draft is one giant game of poker. Each team's decisions impact the other 31 teams' decisions. If you can figure out what another team wants to do, you're ahead of the game. And so, the Hackenberg/O'Brien connection will impact the 2016 draft in several ways. "Everybody seems to feel that Bill O’Brien’s going to find a way to bring Christian Hackenberg into the fold," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "I just think the first round’s too high, but hey, if he believes in him, he could. But he could maybe wait until the second round and get him." Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg. who may or may not be on the Texans' wish list. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar The "O'Brien wants Hackenberg" assumption will impact how other teams function. There might be a team that likes Hackenberg, has a pick higher than the Texans' No. 22 pick, and doesn't want to risk losing him to the Texans. Their perceptions will matter for Hackenberg's draft stock. What's really important to remember, though, is O'Brien having recruited Hackenberg as a teenager doesn't automatically mean he'll want to draft him. Hackenberg went to Penn State in O'Brien's second season as the school's first head coach since Joe Paterno. Hackenberg's recruitment, though, started while O'Brien was still in the pros with the Patriots. Hackenberg was a consensus five-star recruit and he chose Penn State over several other schools including Alabama. In their first season together Hackenberg was strong. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes, with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 12 games he had a passer rating of 134.0 and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Then O'Brien left and Hackenberg's numbers got worse. Why? That's the question the Texans need to answer to know if Hackenberg is the right fit for them. Hackenberg had a talented team around him in 2013. Penn State had a running back in Zach Zwinak who rushed for 989 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver Allen Robinson, who made the Pro Bowl with the Jaguars this season, was a second-round draft pick after that year. Guard John Urschel was a fifth-round pick. In the years that followed, Hackenberg was hit a lot. Last season Penn State allowed 39 sacks in 13 games, one of the worst totals in college football. Rumors have also swirled about him not meshing with new coach James Franklin, and Franklin's offense not catering to Hackenberg's strengths. O'Brien already knows enough about Hackenberg's character, leadership and intangibles. Their relationship will impact both the Texans
and thinking that Romanism was reduced to a harm- less state, and unwilling to seem to triumph over a fallen enemy, we have avoided discussion. The time for forbearance is past, We cannot decline the challenge they have given iMy either with honour or a safe conscience. We must remind Protestants of their peculiar principles, we must build up the weak, and instruct the ill-informed, and enable them to ** give, to every man that asketh them, a reason of the hope that is in them/' One of the papers, above mentioned, contains a defence of the Romish tenet of Transubstantiation, and an attack on the Protestant view of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It is desirable^ reverently yet plainly, to discuss this important subject. What does the worci Transubstantiation mean "^ It ez^ presses the notion that the Sacramental bread and wine, the moment they are consecrated by the Priest^ are changed into the very body and blood of our Saviour Christ. This change they hold to be totaL Not one particle of the bread, not one drop of the wine, is left ; only the appearance is pre- served. They are supposed to be wholly transformed in substance; and, hence they are said to be transubstantiatedm (Council of Trent, Sess. 13, c. iv.— Catechism of Trent, P. 2. c. xl.) You will say, then a miracle is wrought every time the Sacrament is administered? Certainly, they will reply, it is» Well then, you may rejoin, it is such a miracle as was never wrodght by our blessed Lord, when miracles were most needed, for the establishment of his religion. ¥or in all his miracles, which we know to be miracles, the evidence of the senses was appealed to, but here the evidence of the senses^ IS contradicted* Moreover, you might go on to say, the miracle is a double one. First that of the change of bread and wine into the body and blood of our Saviour ; and then that of presenting to our eyes, our touch, and our taste, the appearance and properties, not of the body and blood, into which they have been changed^ but of the bread and wine which they no longer are. 8 On what scriptural ground are we called upon to believe this unprecedented^-this complicated miracle? It ought to be strong ground. It ought to be wholly divine. The rubbish of human authority ought not to be mixed with the foundation which has to bear the tremendous weight of such a doctrine as this. Romanism rests its case, with regard to scripture, on the words of our Lord. " This" (speaking of the bread) " is my body! " " This' (speaking of the wine) " is my blood. It insists on our taking these words literally. Protestantism replies, our Lord spoke figuratively. He meant. This bread is the emblem of my body, broken for you! This wine is the emblem of my blood, shed for you! On this point, then, the two parties join issue, whether we are to take our Lord's words literally or figuratively. The Romanists would settle the question at once in their own favour, if they could deny the use of reason in deter- mining which is the more probable view. But this they do not attempt. The paper already alluded to (and which, not being printed in the town where it was dispersed, but in London, is, we may presume, a sort of authoritative manifesto set forth for all parts) says, ^' It is impossible, consistently with reason, to maintain the validity of that system which teaches that the body and blood of Christ are not present in the Eucharist, since this doctrine is in direct contradiction to every passage of the Sacred Scriptures which relates to this Sacrament.'' Here the authority of reason is allowed, and its judgment appealed to. We desire nothing more than that the Romanists will stand to this appeal to reason, as exercised on the Sacred Scriptures. In the very first exercise of this appeal, we ask. Do the Romanists contend that we are bound always to take our Lord's words literally? They answer^ however reluctantly. No! They grant that when our Lord said, " I am the door/' he did not mean that he was a door literally; nor a vine, when lie said, I am the true vine! " Hear how the paper speaks on this point : ''With regard to the expressions'I am the door,''I am the vine,' it is only necessary to remark, that when the Saviour says, in John x.,'I am the door,' he adds,'By me if any man enter, he shall be saved* When, in John xv., he says,'I am the vine,* he also adds, * He that abideth in me bringeth forth much fruit.' Every person sees clearly what kind of door or vine is meant." In other words, it is here confessed that there is good cause to consider it improbable that our Lord spoke the words literally, and therefore we conclude that he spoke them figuratively. We ask, then, no more than this— -that if we can shew equal cause, though of a different kind, in the case of our Lord's words, ** This is my body," for considering it impro- bable that he spoke them literally, we may be allowed to conclude that in this case also he spoke figuratively. 1. Now is it a harder supposition that our Lord might change himself into a door or a vine, than that a piece of bread may at the voice of a priest be changed into the ' body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ," which is what Romanism teaches? (Creed of Pope Pius IV. art 5.) 2. Keeping in mind that the whole question is one of pro- bability as to our Lord's meaning (not of what is '' possible with God," with this we meddle not), is it probable that he spoke literally, when he said of the bread which he bioke, " This is my body," since in that case he must have held his own body in his own hands at that moment? and when (according to the generally-received notion) he partook of the bread, he must have eaten his own body? « 3. The Council of Trent (Sess. xiii. 3) declares, that ^ Christ, whole and entire, exists under the species of bread, and under each particle of that species ; and whole under the species of wine, and under its parts." From the pro- perty of matter, then, that it is infinitely divisible into parts, it follows, if each of these parts be Christ whole and entire. 10 that our Lord did not merely hold his own body in his own hands, but that he held thousands and millions of his own body — and that afterwards if he partook, his own body con- tained itself thousands and millions of times — and so did each of the bodies of his disciples contain his sacred body thousands and millions of times — and sa does the body of every man who partakes of the consecrated bread, according to this yiew of the Romanists. 4. Will they reply (as in the Trent Catechism) that if from a vessel filled with air we take a part, air still remains? Tnie — but not the same quantity! Air in kind remains, but not as much air as before, nor as dense. What if the whole body of air, " whole and entire," were taken from the vessel, what would then remain % So the wafer, we may be told, by the miracle of consecration, may become human flesh ; but to tell us that each part is the body of Christ — not body in general, but a particular body — the " whole and entire" body of our Lord with its particular parts, with its bones and nerves V (so says the Latin Trent Catechism, P. 2. c. 31) — to tell us that when the Priest breaks off a part, he breaks off the whole, and yet the whole remains—- what is this but to speak of a new miracle, or rather a mul- tiplication of miracles, distinct from any before conceived of? Is it probable that we are to take our Lord's words literally, when those who so take them feel obliged to tell us such things as these? 5. Again, it is the property of matter, such as is the human body (and we are told, Christ took upon him cur flesh"), to be only in one place at one moment. If our Lord's body were really a human body, it must have par- taken of this property. How, then, could he have been sitting at the table, and, at the same time, lying on the table? And how can his body now be in heaven, and, at the same time, in the hands of every priest who consecrates the wafer, and in the mouth of every man who eats it? 11 6. Our Lord at the first institution of the Sacrament said, ** This is my body which is given for you/' Luke xxii. ; or as St. Paul, who had a special revelation, relates it, «< which is broken for you/' 1 Cor. xi. If we are bound to take Christ's words literally in one part, we must do so in another. Now his body was not then given or broken for them ; it was to be given or broken for them afterwards at the crucifixion. So that the literal interpretation not only confounds all ideas of matter, but also all ideas of time.* ^ 7. Also it is written, << Jesus took the cup, and said, this is my blood." Matt, xxvi. ; Mark xiv. So that if we take the literal meaning, the ciep, not the wine, was changed into his blood. A nd then the Disciples, as well as our Lord, swal- lowed the cup many times oyer. And St. Luke tells us, that our Lord said, <' This cup is the New Testament in my blood.'' Luke xxii. According to this, if literally inter- preted, the cup was first changed into a iVeto Testament! 8. If the Romanists say that by the <^ New Testament" our Lord did not mean what is now the book so called, this may be granted. But then the cup must be considered as changed, not into a book, but into a notion! This notion, contained in the words the New Testament in my blood," cannot easily be expressed in few words, as may be seen by the attempt in the Trent Catechism. Also, if they say that when our Lord told hb disciples, this cup is my blood," he meant that the cup represented the wine ; then they give up the whole point in dispute. Then we apply that to the wine also which they do to the cup, and we say that our Lord meant, in like manner, that the wine represented his blood. 9. We have strong independent reason for saying, that Christ meant that the bread represented his body, and the wine his blood, from the knowledge we have of the language * So sensible of this are the Romanists, that the Vulgate has ventured to translate " is given" by "shall be delivered up," "tradeturl" How inconsistent with their principle of implicit submission to the words, to take such a liberty 1 12 in which our Lord spoke the words. For the Cbaldaeo- 8yriac, which was the spoken language of the Jews at that time, has no word for represents," but always putd for it the word is," expressed or understood. And so does the Hebrew. For instance, in the Old Testament we read, " the seven kine are seven years," — ** the dry bones are the house of Israel," And in the New, "the tield is the world, &c." — " the seed is the word of God" — " that rock was Christ!" So the modern Jews, when they take the dish in tKeir Feast of the Passover, say, '* This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt." 10. We have seen what improbability there is in the literal interpretation, owing to the differences in the words put into our Lord's mouth by the ditferent inspired writers. But we may inquire, how comes it that there are any such differences? No one can imagine it to be without design. Our opponents rest their cause on the precise words of the institution. They refuse to allow any liberty to be taken with them in the way of interpretation. But which are the precise words? Are they those given us by St. Matthew, or those by St. Luke, or those by St. Paul? We have a right to know — and the moment they take their stand on the pre- cise words of one inspired writer, we oppose to them the pre- cise words of another. To Protestants there is no difficulty in slight variations, because we take the general sense ; but to Romanists such yariations are not slight — they are fatal. To them the exact words of the institution are every thing, as long as the appeal to Scripture is not abandoned. Thus it seems the design of Divine Providence in these yariations to drive the Romanists from their position. It is not an uncommon thing to hear them indulging a feeling of triumph over us by putting their case thu^** Christ said * this is my body ;' you say, it is not his body." Short triumph! for we say in our turn, " Christ said * this cup is the New Tes- tament in my blood ;' but you say it is not the New Testa- 13 ment in his blood, but the blood itself.'^ Their position is such, that to swerve from it in the least, is ruin. But they are obliged to quit it in order to reconcile St Matthew, and St. Luke, and St. Paul — and quitting it for an instant,, it is lost for ever. 11. Ask the Romanists why they make the bread into a wafer. If they tell you truly, they will confess, it is that it may keep better, after consecration, if not all eaten, ready for sudden use, in the case of the sick and dying. They are afraid lest it should grow mouldy, if not thus kept. Thus the sacred body of Christ is preserved from mould! And the Lord of heaven and earth is locked up in a box 1 They are also afraid, lest any fragments should fall, if they administered the Sacrament as we do, and perhaps a mouse might eat them. The holy, and ever-blessed body of Jesus Christ, would then be in a mouse I Let it not be imagined that the matter of the mouse is too low to descend to. It is one which occupied men's minds in former times. The question, what would become of the mouse? was seriously agitated. It was put as a searching one to miserable Protestants in the days when the candle of truth was lighted at the fires of the martyrs. Mrs. Anne Askew exhibited a very unseasonable levity when this question was put to her, and was speedily burnt for denying the doctrine of Transubstantiation. And we know of one case at least, in which a Romish priest tells us, that from witnessing the fact of a mouse carrying off the con- secrated wafer, and from beholding in it, when recovered, the marks of the creature's teeth, he was so struck with the indignity offered to Christ in supposing it to be his body> that he threw up the profession of Romanism, and became a Protestant from that very day.* * There is a Canon of the Romish Church directing what should be done in case a mouse steals the wafer. There are others, which we should be ashamed to mention, connected with accidents that might happen to the wafer. 14 12. Iq the 6th chapter of the Gospel of St. John, our Lord speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood." If these expressions can be shewn to be figurative, it will be easy to believe those at the last Supper to be the same. liOt us examine the passage. In this chapter we find our Lord grieved and vexed by the cavilling and carnally-minded Jews of Capernaum, whose character we may learn from Matt. xi. 23 — and also, from verse 20 of this chapter, Verily, verily, I say unto you. Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled." After telling them some simple truths, such, as that he was ^ the bread of life," * the true bread," the bread from heaven," (which, if not taken figuratively, would mean, that Christ was to be changed into bread! not bread into Christ), after being wilfully misunder- stood, and receiving nothing but captious answers from them, he says, at last, ^' Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." And, '* whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life." Now, if these two declarations referred to eating the bread and drinking the wine in the Sacrament, which was instituted more than a year afterwardi, then since our Lord here makes salvation to depend on doing what he said, it follows, that all who did not live to have an opportunity of taking the Sacrament, are lost. All the faithful, then, who heard him speak, but died in the mean time, however holy they were, have perished! And, on the other hand, all who have lived during the last eighteen hundred years, and availed themselves of the opportunity of the Sacrament, however unholy in heart, are saved! These two consequences of taking our Lord's words literally, are enough to settle the question. What then, it will be asked, did our Lord mean by the expressions, ''eating hb flesh, and drinking his blood? " To see this, let us examine, if we can find anything else in the chapter, on which he makes salvation equally to depend, because then 15 the one will be an explanation of the other. Now we find him saying, '^ I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that helieveth on me shall never thirst." And again, ** This is the will of him that sent me^ that every one that seeth the Son and helieveth in him may have everlasting life." And again, ' Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that helieveth on me hath everlasting life/' Hence it is evident that faith can save a man, and therefore that it is the same thing as eating the flesh of Christ and drinking his blood. And we know that faith did save our fathers before Christ, as the 11th chapter to the Hebrews tells us. Well did our Lord say to the Jews often, * He that hath ears to hear, let him hear! " for it only needed to open the ears to understand things so plain. But then, to have the ears opened, it was necessary first to open the heart ; and this was what the Jews refused to do ; so they persisted in putting a carnal interpretation on Christ's words. Nor can we feel any surprise that our Lord, according to his custom, when dealing wiUi persons of dishonest mind, who were resolved to find fault with whatever he said (not sincere and humble, though mis-* taken enquirers, like Nicodemus— let the distinction be well observed!).turned away in grief and disgust, and vouchsafed no further explanation than what might have been gathered,, and what we have gathered, from his previous conversation. But lest the disciples should by possibility mistake hissilence, and like the Jews, and some even of his followers, should interpret his words carnally, our Lord gave them, when they were alone, the key to all such figurative language as that which he had just used. '' It is the spirit that quicken^, thefteeh profiteth nothing! the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life," Who can hear this, and yet refuse to put a spiritual interpretation upon Christ's words on diis occasion, tioncenilng^' eating his flesh and drinking his blood } " But these words are the very same as those 16 he used at the last Supper. So that we see what sort of interpretation we are to put on them also.* 13. With this key in our hands, thus given us hy our Lord himself, let us examine another passage in the Scriptures, which contains the same words as those used at the last Supper. St. Paul, 1 Cor. zi., speaking to some members of the Church of Corinth, who treated the bread and wine in the Communion as common bread and wine (which no Protestant looks upon them as being), rebukes them, and says, '^ Who- soever shall eat this bread and drink this cup unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Surely we can easily unlock the meaning of this passage, and see what kind of guilt these men committed. They were guilty of partaking of the visible emblems of Christ's body broken, and blood sbedy without the emotions which such emblems should excite^ without sorrow for sin^ and humility of soul, and thankfulness to him who was obliged to endure so much to save them. They were guilty of forgetting the great object of his deatbf which was to make them holy; and in the very feast, which should have most reminded them of (his, some of them indulged to excess, and were even ** drunken! " They were guilty, then, of making void his deaths '* treading under foot" (as the Apostle says on another occasion, Heb. x. when he is not speaking of the communion), '' the Son of God, and counting the blood of the covenant^ wherewith they were sanctified, an unholy thing,"— expressions very similar to ihose used on this occasion, They were guilty of ' crupi- fyiog the Son of God afresh," by despising the oblatiop already offered at the Crucifixion. All this is well expresseiji in the short figurative expression, they were '' guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." The best and wisest of the Romanists have not scrupled to put th^ Protestant interpretation on oui; Lord's words concerning his flesh in this chapter. Cardinal Bellarmine enumerates 2 Popes, 4 Cardinals, 2 Arch- bishops, 5 Bishops, and 19 Doctors, who have done so. IT 14. We are oonfirined ia this view of St. Paul's language by the consideration, that if these men had ever understood, that in the Communion the Lord's body and blood were literally present, it can scarcely be conceived possible, that they could have fallen into the sin they committed. They might forget the respect due to the visible emblems ; but to offer a direct insult to his body — to be ** drunken'' with his blood (if such a thing were not strange enough in itself to make it incredible, there being no wine left), is so horribly profane, as to be past belief. Neither can we believe that such men would have been allowed to go on communicating in the Church of Corinth. 15. We are also confirmed in our views of St. Paul's words being figurative, by the conclusion which would other- wise follow, that the unworthy actually eat the body of Christ. This is a shocking supposition, that the teeth of the wicked do actually press and bruise the sacred body of our Lord! When steadily viewed, it is worse than the thought of a mouse eating it. Yet this must be believed, if we take the Apostle's words literally. And as the Romanists are resolved to take them literally, they do believe this, and the paper we are answering boldly maintains it. Is it not also a supposition, hard to be conceived, and painful to a devout mind, that the body of our Lord should descend into the stomach of the wicked, be digested, mix with their blood, and flow through their system, and yet should do them no good? Is that pure and spotless body to be thus amalga- mated with all that is vile? Is it not more probable, nay almodt a necessary consequence, that every thing thus amal- gamated, by so pure a contact and incorporation, would become holy? But is this so? Let the vile lives of too many who have often partaken of the Sacrament answer the question! What cruel indignities are these which, in imagi- nation, and as far as it is now possible, are yet inflicted on c 19 that form, which during Cfariflt'^ life-tim^y wa« '' marr^ mom than th« sons of men! " 16. Remembering that the disciples had the same key in their hands which we have just used in examining St* PauFii^ meaning, th^ir conduct ou occasion of the institution of the Lord^s Supper will appear perfectly natural ; bttt» otherwise, it w^l appear quite the contrary. For if they understood our Lord's words literally on that occaidoDy is it not strange that they expressed no turprigt f They were ready enough on other occasions to ask for explapatibn-— why not on this? Had they ever heard any- thing which could have amazed them so much?'Might they not have said^ Lord! we behold thee not broken, pierced 9 and bleeding, we hear thee speak, we see thee eat, and how sayest ihou, This is my body given for you. This is my blood shed for you? " Might they not respectfully have reminded him of Capernaum, and have asked, why it was they were to interpret his words spiritually there and carnally now? Mighi we not at least have looked for an intimation from the Evangelists, similar to what is often given us, that '< they wondered in their hearts? " 17. But something more than wonder might well have been in their hearts, something more than surprise have bunt from their lips. They were Jews, born under the law, which law their master had told them he came not to destroy but to fulfil." They must, therefore, have had the horror y common to their countrymen, at the very idea of drinking blood, so expressly forbidden even in their sacrifices. How comes it that they could raise the cup to their mouth, if they thought that it contained human blood, without a word, without even an emotion? 18. If it be said, that they were under a peculiar awe at \|he last Supper, and were afraid to speak out (though this will not account for the Evangelists not mentioning the fact 19 long afterwards), liow is it that we hear of no aurpriae or horror expressed by succeeding converts? The Judaising Christiaiis, in the time of St. Paul—- reproved by him for their attachment to the law— 4iow came they to be silent, if they thought that Christianity required such a yiobtion of it? The Pharisees — such bitter enemies, always on the look out for plausible objections to the religion of the crucified Jesufr'-i how came they not to fix on this? llie Heathen unbelievers — 4o whom the communion, as interpreted by the RonMiustSy* must have seemed to be cannibalism— 'how came thei^ in alt the attacks they made on our ftiith, to have left this point unassailed? Even those who renounced Christaaoity after professing it, and were anxious to justify themselves ; as for instance — the apostate Emperor Julian, who wrote all the spiteful things he could against his former brother Christiaas^ never 1>rought this charge 1* 19. Is it not remarkable, that in the Apostolical Council held at Jerusalem, Acts xv, out of the four. restrictions laid upon the Gentiles, one should be, ** that they should ab^eiB from blood." Yet this raised no difficulty, as if Inconsistent with the command of Chrbt. Verily, it seems like a warning. * It must be confessed we meet with a charge brought by the Heathen against Christians of eating UttU chUdrtm in their secret meetings. But whence could this arise fiom the language in the institution of the Sacra- ment! Vfe find the very same charge brought against Jews by Cbrisl^aiM in aftor ages, and also against wizards and witches in all times. It is calumny run mad — and proves nothing but the impolicy of secret rites of any kind ; and the miserable state of society, when infanticide was com- mon, and the guilty authors could easily turn aside suspicion from them- selves by fixing it where the thoughtless multitude were already disposed to fix any thing horrible. There is also a single case, that of Blandina, in which the Eucharist is men tioned, but in such a way, that the exception proves the nde.'The charge was extorted from the christian slaves by torture, it was matter of surprise and malignant gratification to the heathen, and to Blandina of surprise and indignation, as we see by the reply she made The case of Blandina, though it disproves the existence of any prevail- mg charge of cannibalism, proves this — ^that she knew nothing of the doctrine of Transobstantiation. Otherwise, how could she have expressed surprise T Must she not have confessed, that Christians ate human flesh, and then have explained, as Romanisti would> how it was they did so f 20 tp. all gyBaeratioDs of Christiaos^ against adopting the literal Tiew of tbat command! 20. We may go further back, and say, that the rettrioflion « in the law was a warning long before Chrbt came. - Vov<ii is acknowledged on all hands, that the sacrifices under. tiM laiw were typical of the one great sacrifice, whieh he made pf himself. If then his blood were to be drunk literally^ why wiere not the Israelites prepared for it by a conoiand to drink, the blood of their sacrifices? Why is it that die typo in this case, instead of corresponding to the antitype iiod smoothing the way for its reception, b, according to the Romish.view, exactly opposed to it? 2l« We find the Sacramental bread twice called " bread,** after oonseoration^ by St. Paul, I Cor. xL And we find oar Lord speaking of the consecrated wine thus, '* I will not henceforth drink of lAis /net/ of the pine until, &e«" Is it probable that thb would have been the case if the bread had no longer been bread, and the wine no Wager wine? Two oases are brought forward to shew that things that are changed may be called by their former name. The first is that of the change of water into wine at Cana of Galilee. But in that case the wine is not called ' water" simply, but * the water that had been made wine.'' This case, therefore, is rather against the Romanists than for them. The other is that of the changing of Aaron's rod into a serpent. It is said, '' Aaron's rod swallowed up the magician's rods." But in what other way could it be called Aaron^sf It was only his — as what it was before-rra rod. It could not be called 'Aaron's serpent ;' and yet it was necessary to specify whose it was that had the victory. How does this apply to our Lord's case? The breadi if changed, was even more specially his as blood, than as what it was before, bread. Why then should he not hare 21 saidy '' I wi4l heneeforlh no more drink of this my blood, until, &c.. ^ But what if we could see no convenience in Ibe mode' of Speaking in the case of Aaron's rod — and if thore' were tnany Mttb eases — ^wonld this serve the turn of the liomantsts"? W'iii any ordinary case apply to theirs? What is It to IK^ purpose to show that a rod which had visibly becOitie'il serpttDt was still called a rod? There could Arfee'^^/O mistime from so calling it, especially as the visible '^lik ^ wntinff accompanied the change. What doiitrifie is i^ik whidi could be brought into doubt by using the old Miiki^? What matter of belief is affected by this way Of speakltog? That the case may apply, we ought to be told that th^ rod after becoming a serpent retained the shape and appearance of a rod; that the same twofold miracle happened to tlie magicians' rods; that the spectators at the time, and the Israelites afterwards, were commanded to beiiere, and did believe, that the one s^pent devoured th^ other serpents^, though there were no serpents at all visible, and no act whatever which the senses could discern. Wlien this b shown, the case will apply, and not till then. Tot in tll^ case of the Sacrament, if there be any miracle at all, its certainty depends wholly on that of the language. Would a merciful God, who knows and pities our weakness, alkw his inspired servants to use vague language on such an occasion? In other cases, the certainty of the miracle pre- T«nts all mistake as to the meaning of the language, so that in all such cases what would otherwise be vague language ceases to be vague. To bring forward such cases, therefore, is In reality to beg the question. 22. David says, Psal. xvi., " Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.** The Apostle Peter expressly applies this as prophetic of Christ. Acts ii. The resurrection of our Lord fulfilled the prophecy. But does not the doctrine of Transubstantiation undo what that of the resurrection 22 effected? If the body of Christ be literally eaten and digested, how can we reconcile this with the prediction that " his flesh should not see corruption?" 23. According to the Romish view, our Lord is qfkred up, as a propitiatory iacnfice, every time the wafer is con- secrated. This, the Council of Trent distinctly asserts. What shall we say, then, of St. PauFs and &. Peter's de- clarations, that our Lord was onee offered— that is, oncejbr all, which is the strict meaning of the word in the original t Heb. ix.; 1 Peter iii. St. Paul forbids the idea of its' being more than once<— ^' Not that he should offer himself often," is his express language. The Church of Rome commands us to believe that it may be often, yea, yearly, monthly, and daily. Which is the highest authority?* ^4. Christ declared the Sacrament to be commemorative, not propitiatory. Hear his own words— ^' This do in remem- brance of me! " Can this mean, '^ Offer me up in remem- brance of me?'* We may offer something else in remembrance of him, but not himself. Romish writers tell us that whenever words, such as those '* I am the door,'^ are to be taken * Even if tile Apostolic language could be got over, and the Eucharist could be looked on as a sacrifice, what unauthorized rites are those o{ the" JfoM, whioh the Chureh of Rome has added to it! Whence did.sba derive the rite of canying the Host (or thing sacrificed, as it means) in procession f Was fliere anything like this in tibe institution f Did Christ eleoatt the bread aboTe his head, as the Romish Priests do f Did the Dis^ ciples bow down, and worship and adore it, as the people do? Whence do the Romanists derive Private Masses, chanted at the instamoe of tiidse <<who pay for them, without communicants and without auditors, in " which the Priest says,'take, eat,' but there is no person to take and '^eatf On what authority are prajfers to Samts mixed up with the service of the Masst In the Ofertory, the Priest says, that he makes this oblation in honour of the Virgin and the Saints. Did Christ au- thorize him to say so t Christ ordered the Sacrament to be taken in remembrance of him — ^how dares the Church of Rome to use the follow- ing langpiage in the Mass, ^ communicating and venerating the Jnemory, '< in the first place, of the glorious Virgin Mary f " Above all, what right has she to apply the virtue of this supposed sacrifice to the dead. Did not Christ give tiie bread to the living only f What mention doee he make of the dead f However profitable it may be to her exchequer, how can she venture to sell Masses for the dead? Is not this selling Christ again, and saying in effect with Judas, <^what will ye give me and I will deliver him to you!" 23 figuralirely ; there is always some adjunct, which lets in light on their meaning. Is there not an adjunct here i This is my body/' are the words of the institution ; this do I A remembrance of me/' is the adjunct. What further light do we need? When the question, whether the Sacra- ment was propitiatory or commemorative, was proposed for disMCUSsion at the Council of Trent, what said the Portugeiie divine Di Ataide? Our Saviour did not offer a sacrifice when he offered this Sacrament, for then the oblation of the Cross would have been superfluous, because mankind would have been redeemed by that of the Supper that went before. Besides, the Sacrament of the Altar was instituted by Christ for a memoTial of that which he offered on the Cross ; now, there cannot be a memorial but of something
's report doesn't mention gaming. According to one of the Journal's sources, Microsoft only recently decided to move forward with a smaller tablet in response to products such as the iPad mini and Nexus 7 — it reportedly wasn't part of the company's strategy last year. The rumor comes amid more gloomy news for the traditional PC industry, with IDC finding sales down 13.9 percent across the globe. Despite modest sales so far, it could be that Microsoft has decided Surface is the future of the company.There have been 22 winners of the Champions League. Which one was the best? Away we go! Our quest to find the best team of the Champions League era begins with play-in games between seeds 11-22. The six winners will advance to the round of 16, which begins on Wednesday. #UltimateUCL seeds 1 Barcelona 2011 2 Barcelona 2009 3 Bayern Munich 2013 4 AC Milan 1994 5 Man Utd 1999 6 Ajax 1995 7 Juventus 1996 8 Man Utd 2008 9 Real Madrid 2002 10 Internazionale 2010 11 Real Madrid 2014 12 Barcelona 2006 13 Bayern Munich 2001 14 AC Milan 2007 15 Real Madrid 2000 16 AC Milan 2003 17 Borussia Dortmund 1997 18 Marseille 1993 19 Chelsea 2012 20 Porto 2004 21 Real Madrid 1998 22 Liverpool 2005 Concurrent votes are taking place across the ESPN FC network and the results will be collated into the final totals, along with those below, to decide the winning teams. - Seeking the Champions League's No. 1 - Europe's best, from Marseille to Real Madrid Let us know what you think of the matchups by commenting below or on Twitter, using the hashtag #UltimateUCL. UPDATE: Voting has now closed -- thanks for taking part. The Round of 16 will begin on Wednesday September 10 at noon ET / 4 GMT. Here are the fixtures: #UltimateUCL Round of 16 1 Barcelona 2011 vs. 16 AC Milan 2003 2 Barcelona 2009 vs. 15 Real Madrid 2000 3 Bayern Munich 2013 vs. 14 AC Milan 2007 4 AC Milan 1994 vs. 13 Bayern Munich 2001 5 Man United 1999 vs. 12 Barcelona 2006 6 Ajax 1995 vs. 11 Real Madrid 2014 7 Juventus 1996 vs. 10 Inter Milan 2010 8 Man United 2008 vs. 9 Real Madrid 2002 11 Real Madrid 2014 vs. 22 Liverpool 2005 Real Madrid needed an injury-time equaliser vs. Atletico Madrid to keep their Decima dream alive, while Liverpool recovered from a three-goal half-time deficit versus AC Milan to pull off one of the most stunning comebacks in European Cup history. 12 Barcelona 2006 vs. 21 Real Madrid 1998 Barcelona triumphed over Arsenal thanks to a late turnaround that led to two goals in the final 15 minutes, while Real Madrid saw off Juventus to win the tournament for the first time in 32 years. . . 13 Bayern Munich 2001 vs. 20 FC Porto 2004 Two years after a heartbreaking loss in the final, Bayern beat Valencia on penalties, while Porto, managed by a certain Jose Mourinho, completed an unlikely run to glory with a 3-0 win versus Monaco. . . 14 AC Milan 2007 vs. 19 Chelsea 2012 Milan overcame Liverpool and buried some of their demons versus the team that beat them two years prior, while Chelsea scored with two minutes left before winning a penalty shoot-out in Munich against Bayern to complete a fairy-tale run. . . 15 Real Madrid 2000 vs. 18 Marseille 1993 In the first final between two teams from the same country, Real Madrid's second title in three seasons was secured with a victory over Valencia, while Marseille won the first edition of the Champions League by beating Milan 1-0. . . 16 AC Milan 2003 vs. 17 Borussia Dortmund 1997 This is a showdown of two teams that saw off Juventus. Milan won a penalty shoot-out to overcome their Serie A rivals, while Dortmund stunned the Old Lady, who were holders at the time, with a 3-1 win in Munich. . . Thanks for voting! Look out for the results and for the round of 16, which begins on Wednesday. #UltimateUCLA Columbus firefighter charged with exposing himself in a city park went on trial today, but his attorney said the charge was a police trap. Robin Garrison, 42, was charged with public indecency, a misdemeanor, after Columbus police said he exposed his genitals to a woman in Berliner Park on May 20. In opening arguments, Garrison's attorney, Sam Shamansky, argued that police set up a sting around a woman who had been sunbathing topless in the park for days. "Columbus police utilized this topless woman to snare this man," Shamansky said. "He sees her day after day. He's not some seedy pervert." Assistant City Prosecutors Michael Allbritain and Stephen Steinberg showed jurors a videotape of the encounter. The footage was black and white, and taken from a distance because the camera lacked a zoom lens, Vice Sgt. Stan Latta testified. On the day Garrison was charged, he was off duty but in his Columbus Division of Fire uniform. The footage shows him sitting near the woman, under a tree, and the two talking for several minutes. At one point, the woman puts her foot on his shoulder. Though she was supposed to be sunbathing, she appears to be sitting in the shade. The tape does not include audio, so it's unclear what was said, but during the exchange Garrison unzips his pants and exposes himself. Shamansky said Garrison saw the woman for days as he drove past Berliner Park. "She asks to see his penis and, like a fool, he does it," Shamansky said. Detective Dick Elias said vice officers had set up the video because they were targeting men who were having sex or masturbating in the park � not men who had come to see her. The woman had been sunbathing topless near the front of the park for days, he said, and "had become a spectacle" with men driving by to watch. It is legal for women to be topless in Columbus. So Elias asked the woman to move to the rear of the park, which she did. But men still drove by to see her. Another man, whose name wasn't mentioned, was charged the same afternoon as Garrison for exposing himself to the woman. The Fire Division moved Garrison, of Woodbridge Lane in Baltimore, to a desk job after he was charged, Division spokesman Battalion Chief Doug Smith said. The trial before Judge Michael Brandt continues Tuesday in Franklin County Municipal Court. [email protected] activist and campaigner Aziza al-Yousef.—AFP RIYADH: Thousands of Saudis have signed a petition urging an end to the guardianship system that gives men control over the study, marriage and travel of female relatives, activists said Tuesday. The petition calls for the kingdom’s women to be treated “as a full citizen, and decide an age where she will be an adult and will be responsible for her own acts”, said campaigner Aziza Al-Yousef of Riyadh. The retired university professor told AFP that she tried unsuccessfully to deliver the petition containing 14,700 names to the Royal Court on Monday. The activists will now send it by mail as requested. Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive. Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman’s study, travel and other activities. Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them. “We are suffering from this guardianship system,” said Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in Eastern Province. The campaign is an outgrowth of a Twitter hashtag in Arabic that started more than two months ago calling for an end to guardianship. “This momentum got very high after the hashtag was created” and following a report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, Yousef said. “Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system remains the most significant impediment to women’s rights in the country despite limited reforms over the last decade,” the watchdog said. Although the government no longer requires guardian permission for women to work, Human Rights Watch said many employers still demand guardian consent in order to hire a woman. ‘Highly educated’ women Some hospitals also require a guardian’s approval before carrying out medical procedures, it said. Activists said that if they have open-minded male family members, getting their consent is not a problem — although the men still have to formally complete consent papers. Yousef said many men endorsed the petition because they consider signing the consent forms a waste of time. Activists claim that Islam does not require men to control women, and male newspaper columnist Abdullah Al-Alweet agreed. “How can an illiterate father become the guardian of a highly educated woman?” he asked in a Saudi Gazette column on Monday. Sadah said “it’s a government system” which only came into effect about 30 years ago, and which some women get around by paying for permission from their guardians. Activists said that ending guardianship will make it easier for women to work at a time when the kingdom wants to boost female employment. “We cannot do it with half of the society paralysed,” Yousef said. In April, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the wide-ranging Vision 2030 plan to diversify the oil-dependent economy. Under the National Transformation Programme (NTP), which sets targets for the Vision, the proportion of women in the workforce should rise from 23 to 28 per cent by 2020. The jobless rate for Saudi women increased slightly last year to 33.8 per cent, according to figures cited by the Jadwa Investment firm. A slow expansion of women’s rights began under King Salman’s predecessor Abdullah, who named women to the Shura Council which advises the cabinet. Last December, when women could vote and stand as candidates for the first time, at least 20 women were elected for the 2,106 contested council seats. There are roughly 10 million women Published in Dawn September 28th, 2016US President Barack Obama speaks on economy in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, in Washington, on September 16, 2013 to mark the five-year anniversary of the financial crisis. The White House marked the fifth anniversary of the financial crisis with a new bid to claim credit for "bold" emergency economic rescue measures it said worked better than anyone expected. AFP Photo/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) File photo of President Barack Obama. (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) — President Barack Obama on Monday wearily lamented “yet another mass shooting,” this time in the nation’s capital where the debate that raged earlier this year over tightening firearms laws has stalled amid opposition from gun-rights advocates. The shooting at the Washington Navy Yard came a week after voters recalled two Colorado legislators who supported tougher gun measures, illustrating the strong political headwinds faced by lawmakers seeking to respond to the violence. Obama, for one, has been powerless to get legislation passed despite a string of mass shootings during his presidency. Sources: Navy Yard Shooter Was ‘Hearing Voices,’ Had Mental Illness In the wake of the shooting at the Navy Yard, Obama spokesman Jay Carney said the president is implementing executive actions and reiterated his commitment to strengthening gun laws, including expanding background checks to sales online and at gun shows. “The president supports, as do an overwhelming majority of Americans, common-sense measures to reduce gun violence,” Carney said. Even as it was unfolding, the Washington shooting was reigniting talk about guns. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a leading advocate of gun control legislation, mourned “the litany of massacres” the country has suffered in the form of mass shootings. “When will enough be enough?” Feinstein asked. “Congress must stop shirking its responsibility and resume a thoughtful debate on gun violence in this country. We must do more to stop this endless loss of life.” But it was far from certain whether the shooting would actually influence the larger debate over gun control vs. gun rights, given that the already difficult politics of the issue have gotten only tougher since December’s shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School. That shooting, which killed 20 first-graders and six staffers, spurred Obama to propose stricter firearms laws to prevent future deaths. Gun owners, aided by their advocates at the National Rifle Association, have successfully fought Obama’s legislation, even though polls show broad support for tougher gun laws. Navy Yard Employee Says Not Hard To Sneak Guns On Base Obama and gun control advocates have vowed to continue fighting since the Senate rejected expanded background checks in April, but they can’t point to a single new Senate supporter. Their case wasn’t helped by last week’s NRA-backed recall of two Colorado Democratic senators who supported expanded background checks and limits on ammunition magazines. Matt Bennett, senior vice president at Democratic-leaning Third Way, says the Colorado senators’ mistake was banning high-capacity magazines — even though Third Way has supported such a ban. “We do as good public policy, but we don’t support Congress trying to do it at this point because it’s bad politics,” Bennett said. “Voters don’t like it.” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an advocate for stricter gun laws with his group Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns, contributed around $350,000 to support the Colorado Democrats — Senate President John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron. The NRA spent roughly the same amount opposing them. Mark Glaze, executive director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, said the group will continue to “give legislators who take risks to protect public safety the resources to defend themselves.” He said it may take some time, but predicted eventually they will have support in the Senate for tighter laws. “It’s a question of how long some senators think they can politically sustain doing nothing while 33 more Americans die every day and the mass shootings continue,” Glaze said. Aaron Alexis Bio and Background Obama didn’t mention gun control as he addressed the Navy Yard shooting from the White House, promising to pursue “whoever carried out this cowardly act.” “We are confronting yet another mass shooting, and today it happened on a military installation in our nation’s capital,” Obama said. “It’s a shooting that targeted our military and civilian personnel. These are men and women who were going to work, doing their job protecting all of us. They’re patriots, and they know the dangers of serving abroad, but today they faced the unimaginable violence that they wouldn’t have expected here at home.” (TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)John Farrell was in studio for his weekly appearance on Dale & Holley with Keefe for the first time in weeks and got into a heated discussion with Rich Keefe on three separate occasions. For the full interview, go the Dale & Holley audio on demand page. Keefe pressed the Red Sox manager a number of times, and at one point Farrell stared him down when he was confronted about a report on Craig Kimbrel’s usage. Barstool Sports' Jared Carrabis reported last week certain coaches were unhappy with his overuse and instructed Farrell to use his closer differently. According to Carrabis, they perceived Kimbrel’s usage as Farrell trying to save his job. After his four-out save on June 6, the fifth time this season he had gone more than inning of work, Kimbrel has not been asked to get more than three outs in seven subsequent appearances. When asked by Keefe if there was any truth to this report, Farrell responded, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Keefe pressed Farrell twice more, and after failing to get any response suggested reading an excerpt from the report to him. “We can pull it up if you want,” Keefe said. “You want me to read the article to you? Is that what you’re looking for?” “I’m not looking for anything,” Farrell responded. The two disagreed again when Keefe questioned Farrell about the Red Sox' propensity to run into outs. After Dustin Pedroia got called out at second base on Tuesday, the seventh time this season he has run into an out on the basepath this season, Keefe asked Farrell if base running is a problem for the team? Farrell dismissed the idea, and countered with an example from last Friday night’s game against the Angels when Andrew Benintendi was able to take an extra base off a Kole Calhoun fielding miscue in right field. He said that the team is third in the league in creating opportunities. “So you guys think you’re a net positive, is what you’re saying?” Keefe asked. “Well because you wanna focus on the negative,” Farrell responded. “No, and you wanna focus on the positive. I understand that. But what’s the blend? What’s the combination of the two? Is it a positive?” “We’re not a station to station ballclub,” Farrell said. “We’ve gotta run the bases with athleticism and we will continue to do so.” The third instance occurred when Keefe confronted Farrell about Hanley Ramirez’s absence from the lineup on Wednesday night. Keefe questioned whether Ramirez, who hasn’t played since Sunday, was out for precautionary reasons or because there is a left-hander on the mound for the Twins. Farrell was adamant that this is a “work day” for Ramirez. “I think if you’ve followed our guys, when they’ve missed multiple games, there’s always been a work day that they go through before getting back in the lineup and today is the target for that,” Farrell said. “So today’s more of a work day and not a lefty-pitching day?” Keefe responded. “Yes. That’s what I just said."Crane Currency is a manufacturer of cotton-based paper products used in the printing of national currencies, passports and banknotes. Crane remains the sole supplier of paper for use in U.S. currency (Federal Reserve Notes). History [ edit ] Stephen Crane was the first in the Crane family to become a papermaker, buying his first mill, "The Liberty Paper Mill", in 1770.[1] He sold currency-type paper to engraver Paul Revere, who printed the American Colonies' first paper money. In 1801, Crane was founded by Zenas Crane, Henry Wiswall and John Willard. The company's original mill had a daily output of 20 posts (1 post = 125 sheets). Shortly after, in 1806, Crane began printing currency on cotton paper for local, as well as regional, banks, before officially printing for the government. In 1844 Crane developed a method to embed parallel silk threads in banknote paper to denominate notes and deter counterfeiting. In 1879, Crane grew when Winthrop M. Crane won a contract to deliver U.S. currency paper to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. To shore up resources for this contract, Crane expanded its capacity with four new mills engineered by world-renowned mill architect David H. Tower. Tower, a native of Dalton would remain connected to the development of the company throughout his career, having gotten his first start in mill architecture working as an apprentice to rebuild Zena Crane's Red Mill in 1846.[2] Crane produced both the yellow (issued in 1883–1884) and the white (1884–1894) watermarked security papers for the nation's Postal Notes. These early money orders were produced for sale throughout the postal system by the Homer Lee Bank Note Company (1883–1887), the American Bank Note Company (1887–1891), and Dunlap & Clarke (1891–1894). In 1922, Crane & Co. incorporated, with Frederick G. Crane elected as president. In 2002, Crane purchased the company Tumba Bruk from the Central Bank of Sweden (Riksbank) and operates this today as Crane AB. In 2015, Crane announced that it would be turning over its stationery division to employees via a "management buyout" by the end of December.[3] In 2016, Crane announced plans to build a new banknote printing facility and customer experience center in the country of Malta. The facility will be 15,000 square meters in size and will have space for three print lines. The "state-of-the-art" $100 million facility was announced on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.[4] In 2017 Crane Currency was sold to Crane Company.[5] Motion [ edit ] Crane’s Motion[6] security technology is being introduced into high denomination banknotes worldwide. The design involves a micro-lens array interacting with graphics far smaller than any microprinting. Sweden’s 1000 kronor banknote, released in 2006, was the first banknote to use Crane's Motion technology. A 2007 AP article[7] revealed that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing will use a new security thread containing "650,000 tiny lenses" (now believed to be over 1 million lenses per inch of thread)[6]. It is currently being used on the $100 bill design released on October 8, 2013.[8] In 2008, Crane acquired Visual Physics, a subsidiary of Nanoventions, based in Atlanta, Georgia. This purchase gave Crane exclusive control of Motion micro-optic security technology that is used for the protection of banknotes. Frederick G. Crane (1922–1922) Winthrop M. Crane, Jr. (1923–1951) Bruce Crane (1951–1975) Benjamin J. Sullivan (1975–1986) Thomas A. White (1986–1995) Lansing Crane (1995–2007) Charles Kittredge (2007–2011) Stephen DeFalco (2011–2017) Annemarie Watson (2018–present) See also [ edit ]US president Barack Obama has accused rival Mitt Romney of having a tendency "to shoot first and aim later", after he criticised the White House for its response to violent attacks on diplomatic compounds in Libya and Egypt. Mr Obama told CBS News that Mr Romney's late night statement on the unfolding drama was premature, and proof of his rival's propensity to lash out even when he does not have his "facts right". Audio Player failed to load. Try to Download directly (1.52 MB) Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Download (1.52 MB) Load more chevron right "There's a broader lesson to be learned here: Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later," Mr Obama said in the interview. "As president, one of the things I've learned is you can't do that - it's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them." The US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, was among four Americans who died when Islamist gunmen attacked the US consulate in Benghazi and a safe house where survivors of the initial assault were taking refuge. Another attack was mounted on the US embassy in Cairo, where protesters tore down an American flag. Both attacks are believed to have been motivated by anger over a low-budget film, Innocence of Muslims, which denigrates the Prophet Mohammed. External Link: Mitt Romney speaks about Libyan consulate attack Mr Romney earlier stood by his claim that the Obama administration is more interested in sympathising with perpetrators of the attack on the US embassy in Egypt than defending American values. He was angry the embassy stood by a statement issued before its walls were breached by protesters, in which it condemned the film, made by a US director, as an attempt to "hurt the religious feelings of Muslims". Mr Romney accused Mr Obama of weakening America's position in the world by apologising for US actions. "It's never too early for the United States government to condemn acts on Americans and to defend our values," Mr Romney said in Jacksonville, Florida. But Mr Obama defended the embassy's action while making clear he was not involved in the decision. "It came from folks on the ground who are potentially in danger," he said in the interview. "And my tendency is to cut folks a little bit of slack when they're in that circumstance, rather than try to question their judgment from the comfort of a campaign office. "There is a broader lesson to be learned here and Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later." It's interesting because foreign policy just hasn't made an appearance in this campaign at all - it's all been about the economy. "But Mitt Romney chose pretty early to put out a statement in regards to statements that had come out from the US embassy in Cairo, to make it as simple as possible: the Republicans are accusing the US administration of sending out mixed messages about religious freedom and this video and who was responsible, accusing them of being sympathetic to the protesters. "Now we've just learnt that Barack Obama has recorded an interview where he's hit back at Mitt Romney, suggesting that he shoots first and thinks afterwards. "The general sense is that Mitt Romney has not covered himself in glory at all with how he's coped with this." North America correspondent Lisa Millar Mr Romney has been criticised before on foreign policy issues, notably when he branded Russia as America's top geopolitical foe and made a series of missteps during a recent trip to Britain, Israel and Poland. Nicholas Burns, a career diplomat who served several presidents and rose to the number three job in the State Department under Republican George W Bush, said he was distressed by Mr Romney trying to score political points. "I was, frankly, very disappointed and dismayed to see Governor Romney inject politics into this very difficult situation where our embassies are under attack, where there's been a big misunderstanding in the Middle East, apparently, about an American film, where we're trying to preserve the lives of our diplomats," Burns said on MSNBC. "This is no time for politics." External Link: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton vow to bring killers to justice Criticism from Democratic lawmakers has been swift and severe. "At a time when we should be standing together against these senseless acts of violence, Mitt Romney offered an atrocious political response that undermines our unity in the face of threats to Americans around the world," Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg said. Mr Obama has condemned the attack in Benghazi as "outrageous and shocking" but insists it will not harm relations with Libya's new elected government, which took power in July after rebel forces overthrew Moamar Gaddafi last year. During an appearance in the White House's Rose Garden, Mr Obama pledged to work with the Libyan government to "see that justice is done for this terrible act". "And make no mistake: justice will be done," he said, with secretary of state Hillary Clinton at his side. He ordered increased security at US embassies around the world, and a Marine anti-terrorist team was dispatched to boost security for US personnel in Libya. Share A car burns at the US consulate building in Benghazi. Reuters/AFPDreamHack's Winter event will no longer be considered the tour's Grand Finals. When DreamHack announced their 2015 Open Tour on March 10, it featured two games that will be played simultaneously throughout the year for the first time in the organization's history with the return of StarCraft 2 and the addition of CS:GO. The tour has also expanded to seven stops throughout Europe, with England and France being the new additions to the competitive circuit. Noticeably absent from the reveal was confirmation that the famed Winter event in Jonkoping, which has served as the Grand Finals event for the tour since its inception in 2011, would continue to be so. In an interview with DreamHack’s Business Development Director Tomas Lyckedal on this year's plans, Lyckedal confirmed to theScore eSports that the Winter event will no longer be considered the finals for the tour. "Right now DH Winter is not considered a 'Grand Final' as it was in previous years," said Lyckedal. "We'll have the chance to come back on this, but we still want to see how for example Valve is planning their Major Events during 2015. Last year we saw having our own Grand Finals for DHOpen SC2 right after the BlizzCon Grand Finals didn't feel right. We want to create DreamHack Open to connect with the rest of the scene and not exist in its own bubble." Lyckedal explains that DreamHack would rather feed into the StarCraft 2 WCS point system instead of holding their own final, and that the team will await to see Valve's move in dubbing the 2015 Winter event as a $250,000 major. Last year's Winter event was a Valve major, with LDLC taking the championship over hometown heroes NiP. Running two games on the tour will be a first for DreamHack, one that Lyckedal says the team has been wanting to achieve for quite a while. DreamHack did this by adding CS:GO to the tour roster, a game series that has a storied tournament history at DreamHack events. StarCraft 2 meanwhile has had its events list reduced to three throughout the year, not counting the grand final. "We have been wishing for two titles in DreamHack Open for a long time", said Lyckedal. "We have tried, but it's been hard to pull off, but with CS:GO and the history we have in Counter-Strike - we felt this is the perfect opportunity. Also we want to stick around and support StarCraft II: Heart of Swarm, but as with all business it comes with constraints and priorities - and going from six tournaments to 10 tournaments, and two new countries (France & England) comes with a price. We also felt we needed to put StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm at events where it fit the global WCS calendar the best, so we gave priority to events that can be given WCS points and lead up to the Global Finals later this year. "We evaluated all possible scenarios, but in the end we're just happy that our sponsors supported us to do two game titles and continue support StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm tournaments in 2015. It's the game that built a lot what DreamHack is in eSports today and we will continue support the community many years to come." While StarCraft 2 will not officially be on the tour circuit for either the longstanding Summer or Winter events, there's a strong chance that Legacy of The Void, expected from Blizzard by the end of 2015, will make one of its first official tournament debuts come later in the year. "At DreamHack Winter 2014: The Day Blizzard announce when Legacy of Void will be released we'll take that decision," said Lyckedal. "We're super-excited about the new game, and believe it will play a fundamental role in our eSports strategy our coming years." $280,000 in prize money has been put up for CS:GO throughout the tour by DreamHack. While more than a sufficient amount in previous years, other leagues such as ESL, ESEA, and FaceIt have upped the ante with announcements of several hundred thousand dollar prize pools per season or event. Lyckedal says the focus should be on the product and not the prize money. "We think it will be enough to attract a bunch of top teams for each tournament," he said. "We only will have four invite slots per event for example. Obviously you always want to offer higher and higher prize pools, but DreamHack is unlike many others - a company without venture capital or similar investors, and we want eSports to be sustainable for everyone. "In general, the current focus in eSports (especially in Valve games) on prize pool is not very healthy. Who talks about it in Champions League? Super Bowl? LCS? I think the overall product you offer teams, visitors and viewers is very important to us." While some StarCraft fans may not be satisfied with a reduced number of events, other games with current DreamHack presence such as Dota 2, League of Legends, and Hearthstone, were not included on the tour. Lyckedal says DreamHack is committed to those other games, and that they are comfortable in the current position of where they fit inside the event. "On the side of SC2 and CS:GO, we feel that only League of Legends and Dota could qualify for being a DreamHack Open titles. But in LoL its difficult since the LCS teams are busy with LCS all year around (which would make it hard to qualify for the first bullet point - to pro's participating) and in Dota we already run a huge eSports project called DreamLeague (which is a Studio-based online league) that leads into two DreamHack-events per year. And we believe thats best for that game & community. For HearthStone we're planning big stuff in 2015 but we believe that Hearthstone is not the'stage show game' like the one's mentioned above, but more about participation and have a different format for it. We'll announce that later."Richmond had a 3-point lead with less than five seconds remaining in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament against UNC Charlotte. But Richmond blew the lead in epic fashion when Charlotte made eight of ten free throws in less than two seconds. It started when Richmond intentionally fouled, sending Charlotte to the free throw line. After the first free throw cut the lead to two, a Richmond player was called for a technical foul after he shoved an opposing player. Charlotte then made the second free throw from the foul and both of the technical free throws to take a one point lead. Charlotte inbounded the ball and was fouled. Prior to the free throws, the Richmond coach Chris Mooney finally lost his cool and was called for two technicals and was ejected. Pierria Henry, who made the first four free throws then made four of the next six. In all, he scored eight points in less than two seconds and Charlotte turned a 3-point deficit into a 5-point win (video via NBC Sports)...While it’s wildly known that The Witcher series of game is based off of the Polish novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, many don’t know that these novels are still in the process of being translated to English. The fourth in the series, titled (in English) as The “Tower of the Swallow”, will luckily be available next week on July 19th. The book gives you a lot of detail about the past of Ciri, something The Witcher 3 left delightfully vague. Where did her facial scar come from? What about the tatoo you see in the bathhouse? While you could cheat by reading a wiki (or being fluent in Polish), reading the the book will provide more succinct answers. If you want to pick it up locally, Exclusive Books has it listed for R303. Oddly, that online listing is available to add to cart, but we’ve phoned up a local branch and we’ve been told it will only be available on the 19th. Similarly, an ebook version is listed on Takealot for slightly cheaper at R285. Once this book is out, only the fifth novel remains. Originally published in 1999, Lady of the Lake is available in English as a fan translation. If that’s something you’re interested in, we’ll point you to this comprehensive guide to the book series. It includes links to that fan translation as well infornmation regarding the collections of short stories and where to find them. If you prefer your Witcher as a videogame, the new expansion Blood and Wine has a teaser trailer you can view below. This DLC will apparently add 90 missions and 30 extra hours of game time.Our Kickstarter campaign is nearly over, but you can still follow the project at www.cultmoviecards.com Fifty-two cards. Fifty-two of your favourite cult movies. An awesome deck of playing cards for people who love cinema as much as we do. Each beautifully illustrated Cult Movie Card will be inspired by an iconic film, with an original cult movie pattern on the reverse. We’re keeping our cards close to our chest for now. But you can bet that cinema’s greatest Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks and numerical-themed heroes and villains will star in the Cult Movie Card deck. Ace and the Seven Samurai are just an early glimpse of what's to come. Rest assured, all cards will be revealed by the end date of this project. And don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the two Jokers... We want to make a deck that film fans can cherish forever. Cult Movie Cards will be USPCC-approved, as used by the world’s best magicians and poker pros, produced with the highest quality printing methods available. A full 52-card USPCC deck (plus two Jokers) Classic, durable Bicycle playing card stock with an air cushion (linen) finish Cellophane-wrapped and presented in a custom-designed box with a Bicycle seal Each card features original artwork inspired by a cult movie character Each card will be lovingly designed by award-winning illustrator Paul Willoughby, creative director at Human After All. Paul is both a great artist and a true film fan, who will pour all his passion into this project (just take a look at him drawing Natalie Portman). Flip the cards over and you’ll also see a unique pattern on the reverse. Human After All's creative Eve Lloyd Knight has designed an original cult film pattern especially for the deck. Premium Reward Tiers include: DOUBLE IMPACT: Take two decks – one for you and one for a friend, or maybe one for playing and the other to keep? Your call. THE DECK, UNCUT: You receive DOUBLE IMPACT (two decks) plus a limited-edition Uncut Sheet of Cult Movie Cards, direct from the USPCC press. It's not an art print per se, but makes a tasty way to display the deck in all its Cult Movie Card glory. MAY THE FOURS BE WITH YOU: Four decks of Cult Movie Cards. THE BLACK (& GOLD) JACK BUMPER PACK: An exclusive, signed, limited-edition black-and-gold giclée print of all four Jacks on premium paper, plus a limited-edition Uncut Sheet and DOUBLE IMPACT Cult Movie Cards. THE DIRTY DOZEN: Twelve decks of Cult Movie Cards (a 'brick',
work opposing edge rushers. Here, Tunsil moves effortlessly from side to side. He uses his strength to stop the defender dead in his tracks. and again... In this play, Tunsil uses his big body to seal off the left side of the offensive line. In doing so, the running back has a clear lane around the left end resulting in a nice gain. Here, Tunsil shows off one of his most underrated skills, his quickness. Once the ball is snapped, Tunsil explodes off the line. He proceeds to get in front of the ball carrier, clearing a path for the receiver to follow. Despite being caught off balance, Tunsil manages to use his strength to toss the defender to the ground. Even as a tight end, Laremy Tunsil makes everything look easy. Could Adam Gase dare draw up some trick plays for the rookie offensive lineman? The Bad There are very few flaws in Laremy Tunsil's game. In fact, he might be the most pro-ready prospect in this year's draft. Off the field issues plagued Tunsil during his last few seasons at Ole Miss. From the domestic abuse allegations from his stepfather, to the hotel incident with fellow teammate Robert Nkemdiche. Oh, and let's not forget his past drug use that inevitably caused the elite prospect to plummet. Whatever the reason, Tunsil must continue to mature if he wants to find success at the next level. On the field, he must find ways to limit his mental lapses throughout the game. There are times when Tunsil gets ahead of himself, refusing to allow the play to develop in front of him. He also has a knack for getting overzealous prior to the snap, resulting in costly penalties. All of this must be corrected if Laremy Tunsil wants to become the elite offensive lineman many believe he can be. Health is another concern with Tunsil. He was banged up often during his collegiate career, something the Dolphins hope to temper with their ever-growing Sports science program. Miami will have to keep a watchful eye on the 305-pound offensive lineman, who will play a critical role in the Dolphins' organization moving forward. The Skinny There is no question, Laremy Tunsil is an elite prospect who will be a day-one starter for the Miami Dolphins. Whether he begins his professional career at tackle or guard, he will be expected to contribute immediately. During his four-year career, Ryan Tannehill was sacked an astounding 184 times. The Dolphins' front office hopes this number remains stagnant given their recent addition. The Dolphins landed arguably the draft's best player in Tunsil, who might already be the team's best offensive line. Though it is likely he starts his career at guard, he will eventually make the transition to left tackle, protecting Ryan Tannehill's blindside for years to come. In the end, the Miami Dolphins landed arguably the best player in the 2016 NFL draft. NOTE: Maybe Laremy Tunsil will play quarterback?Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, will come to Boston to fund-raise for... City Councilor Matt O’Malley. The two are not related, although O’Malley — the councilor — appears to have embraced the confusion. Councilor O’Malley served as a surrogate for the former presidential candidate O’Malley at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in August 2015. During a presidential primary debate, O’Malley, the councilor, fielded tweets intended for O’Malley, the candidate. Advertisement “#WrongOMalley, right candidate. Join me in supporting @MartinOMalley,” he tweeted. Get Metro Headlines in your inbox: The 10 top local news stories from metro Boston and around New England delivered daily. Sign Up Thank you for signing up! Sign up for more newsletters here O’Malley, the councilor, once hosted a Jamaica Plain fund-raiser for O’Malley, the former presidential candidate, who dropped out of the race after receiving less than 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. Now O’Malley, the former presidential candidate, is returning the favor for the councilor from District 6, which includes West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and parts of Mission Hill and Roslindale. Councilor O’Malley recently announced a “winter fundraising reception” later this month with a “special guest,” former governor O’Malley. According to the invitation, contributions can be made payable to “The O’Malley Committee.” Advertisement Dizzy, yet? Maddie Kilgannon can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MaddieKilgannonThe acting director of the ATF, Kenneth Melson, and the U.S. attorney for Arizona, Dennis Burke, are resigning over the controversial gun-running investigation known as Fast and Furious. Melson announced the moves in a Tuesday morning conference call. Burke released a statement shortly after. The ATF acting director will become a senior advisor in the Department of Justice. Burke has delivered a letter of resignation to the president, his office said. The moves follow a call by Republicans for an investigation into the ATF probe. "While the reckless disregard for safety that took place in Operation Fast and Furious certainly merits changes within the Department of Justice, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee will continue its investigation to ensure that blame isn’t offloaded on just a few individuals for a matter that involved much higher levels," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., in a press release. Burke's resignation, which is effective immediately, comes just days after he testified before Issa's committee. The Fast and Furious operation has become a political scandal after many weapons tracked by the ATF were smuggled into Mexico. Weapons purchased by straw buyers in transactions known to the ATF were found at the scene of a Rio Rico firefight that killed Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry last December. ATF officials have testified that the operation was aimed at taking down large-scale gun trafficking networks. Agents watched illegal gun sales, sometimes with the cooperation of firearms dealers, and tracked the movement of the weapons. In many cases, the agency lost track of the guns. "My long tenure in public service has been intensely gratifying. It has also been intensely demanding. For me, it is the right time to move on to pursue other aspects of my career and my life and allow the office to move ahead," Burke said in an email to his staff. Burke did not reference the Fast and Furious investigation in his statement. In other moves related to Fast and Furious, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Hurley, was reassigned from the criminal to the civil division. Emory, based in Phoenix, had direct oversight of the gun-smuggling probe. Also in Phoenix, three of the four whistleblowers on the case have been reassigned to new positions outside the state. Ann Scheel, an assistant U.S. attorney, will act in Burke's place until a replacement is appointed. Burke has served as the U.S. attorney for the state since September 2009. He is a former advisor to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and served as her chief of staff when she was governor. Prior to that, Burke worked in the state attorney general's office. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder praised Burke's work in a statement. "Under his leadership, the office has made great progress in its pursuit of justice with the creation of special units focusing on civil rights enforcement and rule of law, as well as more robust outreach to key communities, particularly in Indian Country," Holder said. "The office’s quick response to the devastating shootings in January that claimed the lives of several people and critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was crucial in arresting and charging the alleged shooter." Republican Sen. John McCain issued a terse statement on Burke's resignation: "I thank Dennis Burke for his many years of dedicated public service to the people of Arizona and our nation, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors." B. Todd Jones, the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota, will become acting head of the ATF as he continues to serve as U.S. Attorney. The Senate has not confirmed an ATF director for years, because of objections by gun-rights groups. Melson had led the agency since 2009. Melson's move to a different position in DOJ drew criticism from Sen John Cornyn, R-Tex. "Instead of reassigning those responsible for Fast and Furious within the Department of Justice," Cornyn said, "Atty. Gen. Holder should ask for their resignations and come clean on all alleged gun-walking operations, including a detailed response to allegations of a Texas-based scheme. Troubled work history for Az's U.S. Attorneys Burke's resignation makes him the second of Arizona's last three chief federal prosecutors to leave office unexpectedly. Paul Charlton, the first U.S. Attorney for Arizona appointed by President George W. Bush, was forced out in late 2006 because of clashes with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over the death penalty and the investigation into a land swap involving Rep. Rick Renzi. Charlton was one of seven U.S. Attorneys fired by the Bush administration in a purge. His successor, Dian Humetewa, resigned as expected in 2009 to clear the way for the Obama administration to appoint Burke. - 30 -Readers interested in the history of Baptists are in for a treat this summer, as two new books will appear. First, there is Thomas Kidd and Barry Hankins’s Baptists in America: A History, due out in June from Oxford University Press, focusing (as the title) says, on Baptists in the United States. Second, there Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael Haykin’s The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement, due out in August from B&H, focusing on the English-speaking world but also integrating stories of non-English speaking Baptists, ethnic minorities, women, and minority theological traditions within the context of historic, orthodox Christianity. I’ve copied below the publishers’ descriptions and the endorsements for these two books. The Puritans called Baptists “the troublers of churches in all places” and hounded them out of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Four hundred years later, Baptists are the second-largest religious group in America, and their influence matches their numbers. They have built strong institutions, from megachurches to publishing houses to charities to mission organizations, and have firmly established themselves in the mainstream of American culture. Yet the historical legacy of outsider status lingers, and the inherently fractured nature of their faith makes Baptists ever wary of threats from within as well as without. In Baptists in America, Thomas S. Kidd and Barry Hankins explore the long-running tensions between church, state, and culture that Baptists have shaped and navigated. Despite the moment of unity that their early persecution provided, their history has been marked by internal battles and schisms that were microcosms of national events, from the conflict over slavery that divided North from South to the conservative revolution of the 1970s and 80s. Baptists have made an indelible impact on American religious and cultural history, from their early insistence that America should have no established church to their place in the modern-day culture wars, where they frequently advocate greater religious involvement in politics. Yet the more mainstream they have become, the more they have been pressured to conform to the mainstream, a paradox that defines—and is essential to understanding—the Baptist experience in America. Kidd and Hankins, both practicing Baptists, weave the threads of Baptist history alongside those of American history. Baptists in America is a remarkable story of how one religious denomination was transformed from persecuted minority into a leading actor on the national stage, with profound implications for American society and culture. “Thomas Kidd and Barry Hankins are two of the most respectable church historians in the academy today. Their work is always incisive and illuminating—as in reading this book you will soon discover.” —R. Albert Mohler Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary “‘Baptists,’ the authors say, ‘are notorious for two things–evangelism and schism.’ Baptist successes as evangelists since the colonial era are the basis for their immense influence in American life. Their proneness to schism makes for good stories and is a reason why we need a clear and engaging account such as this. Baptists in America is both readable and fascinating.” —George M. Marsden, author of Jonathan Edwards: A Life “In clear and compelling prose, filled with enlightening anecdotes, this book tells the amazing story of how a persecuted minority of Christians, who rejected infant baptism and state control of the church, grew into the largest denomination in the United States with culture-shaping consequences. An important contribution to American Religious History, this book should be widely read by anyone interested in the history and present state of religion in U.S. culture and politics.” —Albert J. Raboteau, Henry W. Putnam Professor of Religion, Princeton University “Some books on Baptists in America sprinkle the reader with superficial simplicity, focusing on only one tribe or one aspect of the Baptist experience. Others drown the reader in historical narrative, but with no clear connection as to why non-Baptists ought to care. This book is different. This history offers a full immersion in the Baptist story, in every stream and fork of the Baptist river. This volume connects the Baptist experience to larger trends in American culture, politics, and theology in a way that informs both insiders and outsiders. This book is, without doubt, the definitive work on Baptists in America for this generation.” —Russell D. Moore, President, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission The Baptist Story is a narrative history of a diverse group of people spanning over four centuries, living among distinct cultures on separate continents, while finding their common identity in Christ and expressing their faith as Baptists. Baptist historians Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael Haykin highlight the Baptist transition from a despised sect to a movement of global influence. Each chapter includes stories of people who made this history so fascinating. Although the emphasis is on the English-speaking world, The Baptist Story integrates stories of non-English speaking Baptists, ethnic minorities, women, and minority theological traditions, all within the context of historic, orthodox Christianity. This volume provides more than just the essential events and necessary names to convey the grand history. It also addresses questions that students of Baptist history frequently ask, includes prayers and hymns of those who experienced hope and heartbreak, and directs the reader’s attention to the mission of the church as a whole. Written with an irenic tone and illustrated with photographs in every chapter, The Baptist Story is ideally suited for graduate or undergraduate courses, as well as group study in the local church. “This is the Baptist history textbook I have been waiting for since I studied the subject in seminary. It actually makes the subject interesting! This work has been long overdue.” —Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary “Respected church historians Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael Haykin have served the church well with their book The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement. Though intended as a textbook, their fine work is accessible to most every reader, including those in nonacademic settings. For all interested in Baptist history, I heartily recommend The Baptist Story.” —Jason K. Allen, president, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary “The Baptists have grown from a small and mainly marginal body in seventeenth-century England into a strong and sometimes influential set of denominations across the world. While the core of this account of their development concentrates on the history of the two-thirds of the world’s Baptists who live in the United States, there is also coverage of England, Canada, Germany, and the rest of the world. So this volume provides a concise but comprehensive summary of the course of Baptist life over the last four centuries. —David Bebbington, professor of history, University of Stirling “The Baptist story is long and often convoluted. Numerous histories have been written over the course of their 400 years. Each new volume proffers its own interpretation of the data and furthers the cause and concern of the author. While honest, this has not always been helpful, and often fails to provide today’s Baptists with a modern account of their tale that informs the mind and encourages the soul. The Baptist Story, as told by Haykin, Chute, and Finn, changes all that. The authors give us an irenic yet thorough reading of our collective past. They admit the nuances of a faith that boldly defends and exemplifies liberty of conscience while explaining the facts. While the authors concede that their goal was not to provide the definitive telling of the Baptist story, they may have done just that. Haykin, Chute, and Finn are to be commended for their effort, thanked for their grace, and congratulated for their contribution to the cause of Christ and the history of the Baptist people. The Baptist Story always encourages, sometimes challenges, and never disappoints.” —Peter Beck, associate professor of Christian studies, Charleston Southern University “The Baptist Story is a masterful work by three superb Baptist historians. Tony Chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael Haykin are to be commended for providing us with an even-handed, incisive, well-organized, and accessible survey of the larger Baptist family. Readers will be introduced to both general and particular Baptists, as well as revivalists and landmarkists, fundamentalists and liberals. In doing so, they will gain a fresh appreciation for the contributions of thoughtful theologians, practical pastors, along with faithful missionaries and martyrs. This full-orbed, carefully researched, and well-written look at the expansion and development of Baptists over the past four hundred years will certainly become a standard resource for the study of Baptist history for years to come. It is with much enthusiasm that I gladly recommend this work.” —David S. Dockery, president, Trinity International University “Being a Baptist is about more than bearing a denominational label. It’s about affirming a doctrinal distinctive and embracing an identity based on historical precedent. This superb volume will help you appreciate what it means to be a Baptist and celebrate the unique contributions we have made to global Christianity. Read it with holy awe at how God has used Baptists to make a difference in his world!” —Jeff Iorg, president, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary “This textbook originates from within but expands beyond the Southern Baptist tradition to narrate the Baptist story in a way readers will understand and appreciate. Images, primary source quotations, and review questions make the book especially useful for the undergraduate or graduate classroom.” —Melody Maxwell, assistant professor of Christian studies, Howard Payne University “The Baptist Story reflects well on the gifts and expertise of three distinguished Baptist historians and professors. They have written an eminently readable, thorough, and well-balanced account of the Baptist past from its roots in English Separatism to the modern context where the Baptist movement has become truly global. The authors respect the diversity and complexity of Baptist history, and they judiciously avoid any partisan agendas. In addition to providing the vital factual information about Baptist history, they suggest some important interpretive and analytical perspectives that enrich their narrative. This textbook should be widely adopted for use in relevant college and seminary courses, as well as in church study groups.” —Jim Patterson, university professor and acting dean, School of Theology & Missions, Union University “The Baptist Story is meticulously researched, well written, and full of insight into the history of the people called Baptists. This will be the textbook in Baptist history for the next generation of conservative Baptist students and scholars.” —Andrew C. Smith, assistant professor of religion and director of the Center for Baptist Studies, Carson-Newman UniversityThe cover of a June 1998 issue of Time magazine asked, in big red letters, "Is Feminism Dead?" The article concluded that feminism, while arguably alive, wasn't kicking much. Several years have passed since this article was published, but the health of feminism is still warmly debated. A 1999 Gallup/USA Today poll* asked women "how important do you think the women's movement has been in helping women to obtain greater equality with men?" Fifty-seven percent said it was extremely or very important -- 4% said it wasn't important at all. The poll also asked women how important the women's movement would be in the next century. A nearly identical number, 56%, said it would be extremely or very important. Suffrage Now! The feminist movement dates back to 19th-century England (some historians say it's older than that). The labels of this movement have evolved over time, but the bedrock precepts haven't changed -- they've simply expanded. "Suffragettes" thought women should have the right to vote; modern feminists think that women should vote and be elected to office. "Women's libbers" thought women should earn what men do for the same job; feminists think men and women ought to have the same earnings and job opportunities. "Political rights, wage issues, and education are basic feminist issues today, but Susan B. Anthony was writing about them 150 years ago," says Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation. These once-shocking principles are now commonplace -- hardly anybody today thinks women should be barred from the voting booth. But the discussion hasn't gone away; it has just evolved over time. But people have changed what they are willing to call themselves. "Feminist" has become a loaded term that many people won't adopt, but feminist principles are becoming cultural values. Feminist, No. Feminism, of Course. Gallup polling throughout the last decade finds only as many as 30% of Americans identifying themselves as feminists. The latest data, from a June 2001 poll, found that men and women were about equally likely to identify themselves as feminists (25% of women and 20% of men). However, a 1986 Gallup Poll asked in a different format: "I would like to ask you some questions about the women's movement and feminism. Do you consider yourself to be a strong feminist, a feminist, not a feminist, or an anti-feminist?" Ten percent of the public called themselves strong feminists, 46% said they were feminists, 28% said they were not feminists and 4% defined themselves as anti-feminists. [Ed.: Questions that allow qualified answers tend to get a greater range of response, regardless of the issue. Questions with two- and four-point scales -- such as the two versions of the feminist question above -- may not be substantively comparable.] "It's because of the '86 Gallup Poll that we chose the name we have," Smeal says. "It's interesting how stable the polls are -- very little slippage -- when you consider how maligned the term ‘feminist' is," Smeal says. But "feminist" and "feminism" seem to have different meanings. Support for what the feminist movement considers basic feminist issues is much greater than support for the feminist label itself. A June 2001* Gallup Poll found majority support for affirmative action for women (53%) (By comparison, 47% favor affirmative action programs for racial minorities). By a 67% to 31% margin, the public favors setting quotas for the number of women hired as long as they meet the same standards of others (support drops to just 21% if standards are lowered to fill quotas of women hires). The vast majority of Americans (87%) also favor establishing training courses or policies that raise people's awareness about fairness in hiring women and hiring quotas for women (71%). Signs of Life Regardless of their views on the word "feminist," many women don't seem to think the core principles of feminism have been completely accomplished. The 1999 poll asked women to compare several aspects of their lives with the lives of their mothers and daughters. In every instance, a majority of women thought their mothers' lives were worse than theirs. At least a plurality of respondents considered their daughters' lives to be better. Key Points Over the last 30 years, the public has become somewhat less willing to accept the "feminist" label. However, most Americans indicate support for general feminist ideals. In fact, many of these ideals have become so prevalent in American culture that they aren't considered feminist anymore. For example, though it may seem odd to think of "going to work" as a feminist issue, it certainly used to be. A 1939 Gallup Poll asked about a then-current Illinois law that would have prohibited women from working if their husbands made more than $1,600 a year. Sixty-eight percent supported the law. Now such a law, and such a question, is unimaginable. Results are based on telephone interviews with 923 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 3-7, 1999. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3%. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,962 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 5-11, 1986. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±2.2%. **Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,004 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 11-17, 2001. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3%.As the nation braces for protests following a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury's decision on whether to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, leaders around the nation, including President Barack Obama, have urged calm. But regardless of what ends up happening, it's important to keep the response in perspective. Twitter users took the opportunity on Monday to remind that civil unrest comes in all colors, shapes and sizes, and for all sorts of reasons (yes, including relatively bad ones). Sometimes, people seem to forget that the underlying issues are still what matter when tensions boil over, not the skin color of those who are organizing it. After the San Francisco Giants won the World Series this year and in 2012, fans began rioting in the city. Below a picture of a fan destroying a bus in 2012: To put upcoming events in #Ferguson in context: This is what San Francisco looked like after recent Giants' victory pic.twitter.com/0zAjZQ0xSO — Karen Franklin (@kfranklinphd) November 24, 2014 SF Police car smashed in, officers had bottles thrown at them by out of control fans after World Series win #KTVU pic.twitter.com/YtbR3J34Qt — taramoriarty (@taramoriarty1) October 30, 2014 Students also began rioting after Penn State fired football coach Joe Paterno in 2011. Early images of the Ferguson riots. Whoops, my bad. That's State College when the fired Joe Paterno, a football coach pic.twitter.com/SD8FxiwQuC — Script Merch Lover (@TheWillardYears) November 25, 2014 And here's the scene on campus after the UConn men's basketball team made it to the Final Four this year. UCONN Final Four Riot. LETS GO #HUSKIES #UCONN #NCAA A video posted by Mike (@donlento7) on Mar 3, 2014 at 2:45pm PDT UConn students destroyed even more after the men's team won it all in April. University of Kentucky played UConn in the championship game. You better believe they also rioted after winning in the Final Four. Kentucky students would riot again after their school lost the championship. Fans in Vancouver rioted after their team lost the Stanley Cup in 2011. Before whatever happens in Ferguson, remember this was Vancouver last time they won the hockey skatey trophy thingy pic.twitter.com/oLTPea3Xq1 — Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) November 24, 2014 There were also riots at a New Hampshire pumpkin festival in October. People aren't really sure why. This is white people at a pumpkin festival, for no reason. So temper your hot takes about mob violence. pic.twitter.com/6U7oXF0eLK — Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) November 24, 2014 CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story did not clearly reflect that a picture included of a San Francisco Giants fan attacking a bus was from 2012. For more on the situation in Ferguson, stay up to date with our liveblog:Vegetarian activism in India, unlike the West, is not limited to spot-shaming celebrities wearing fur or the token protest over a dinner table. Here, vegetarians suffer from a virulent strain of militant evangelism that makes them bend rules, create new ones, and form vigilante groups to bully others into vegetarianism. They will, upon brushing against a non-vegetarian stranger in a crowded Mumbai local train compartment, suggest that she should not eat meat as it increases ‘body warmth’, and when the stranger tells them their advice is unsolicited, tell her she also owes her ‘temper’ to her vile diet. When they band together in their conviction, extreme symptoms of their condition start showing up. They will spit on patrons of non-vegetarian restaurants in their neighbourhood, aggressively demand that malls shut down their non- vegetarian sections, and amend housing society bylaws to keep out non-vegetarians. These militant vegetarians will, with saccharine piety, discuss the morality of their cause. How a diet of sprouts and tofu is not just a healthy and ethical choice, but a solution to world hunger and safeguard of the planet. Specious as these arguments are, they are usually marked less by concern for animal welfare and more by religious and caste chauvinism, and by related notions of the superiority of their own diet—and by extension culture—over that of others. This extreme form of vegetarian supremacy is currently being played out in Palitana in Gujarat. Monks from Jain sects are trying to convert this town, considered a pilgrimage spot with hundreds of Jain temples, into an exclusively vegetarian zone. However, this town is not home to vegetarian Jains alone. Of the estimated 65,000 people living in Palitana, at least 17,000 are non-vegetarian Muslims. The fracas began about a month ago, when, after holding a meeting with the sub-divisional magistrate of the town demanding the conversion of the town into a vegetarian zone, around 200 Jain monks went on an indefinite fast to push their case. The object of their ire is butchers and owners of eateries— mostly Muslim, incidentally—who sell chicken, eggs, and other meat items. The monks ended their fast on the fourth day after apparently receiving confirmations from two political leaders, BJP Member of Parliament Mansukh Mandavia and Gujarat’s Minister of State Tarachand Chheda, who visited them, that the proposal would be considered for implementation by the administration. Virag Sagar Maharaj of Jambu Dwip, a subgroup within the Shwetambar sect of Jainism, who led the group of 200 fasting monks, appears incredulous when asked how a community of people can suppress the food habits of another. “Why should we allow animals to be slaughtered here? This is our Mecca,” he says. “Today they want meat, tomorrow they will want alcohol,” he says, ‘they’ being the town’s non-vegetarians, “Are we supposed to tolerate this?” The attempt to convert the town into a vegetarian one started several years ago. After several pleas by Jain groups, a district magistrate notification in 1999 turned a 2.5-km-odd stretch of road that leads to Shat’runjaya hill, which houses many temples, into a ‘vegetarian zone’. This notification also covers 250 metres on either side of the road, areas where no non-vegetarian food would be allowed. However, Muslim groups contested this order and challenged its legality at the Gujarat High Court, where the matter is still awaiting judgment. This time round, however, Jain monks are not just seeking a governmental nod for their plans. They have conceptualised what they term a ‘rehabilitation plan’. The monks have identified a total of 68 butchers and owners of non-vegetarian establishments and calculated that with a sum of around Rs 2 crore, they can persuade them to take up alternate livelihoods. “We are not leaving them without jobs,” Virag Sagar Maharaj says with an air of generosity, “We will rehabilitate them. We will give them a way out.” These proposals, however, have resulted in deep resentment among Muslims of the affected area. Many of them are afraid of speaking on record, believing that this might bring them harm. A Muslim butcher says, “They say this [vegetarianism] is the true and right way. But we too have always lived here, and our way isn’t like that.” Razaq Ismail Saiyad, president of the All Muslim Jaman, a local grouping that is opposing the attempt to turn the town all- vegetarian, says, “The monks are offering money to either relocate or change our professions. But we don’t want their money and we don’t want to quit our professions.” He adds, “Qurbani (sacrifice) to us is as important as vegetarianism is to them.” What ardent adherents of vegetarianism in India often fail to understand is that food is not necessarily a simple ethical pursuit. The origins of any diet can be traced to several factors, from the natural circumstances of people in any given location to changes through the flow of time. No one dietary preference is superior to another. In Mumbai, the failure to understand this has ensured large pockets of areas where no one but a vegetarian can live. Vegetarians have set up residential enclaves in various parts of the city from posh localities in Malabar Hill to modest middle-class localities in Matunga, Sion and Ghatkopar, and tweaked their housing complex bylaws to forbid the selling and renting of properties to non-vegetarians. A few years ago, when Ashok Khamkar, the proprietor of a well-known store that sells spices, Khamkar Masala, wanted to purchase a flat near his store in Lalbaug, a predominantly meat-consuming Maharashtrian locality, the builders of two residential buildings refused to sell one to him. “I was shocked,” he says. “I have lived in this area since childhood and had never heard of a vegetarian-only policy. When I asked the builder for his reasons, he told me allowing meat-eaters would create ‘a bad vibe’ and ‘disturb the sanctity’ of the place.” Khamkar eventually found a flat in a nearby locality. Bhumika, who requests that only her first name be published, lives in a residential complex in Mumbai’s swish Malabar Hill area that has abolished the consumption of meat. This marketing professional, along with her husband, however, has been leading the secret life of an occasional meat and egg consumer for over ten years. To indulge in what their Jain and Marwari neighbours consider unholy, the couple never buy meals from non-vegetarian restaurants nearby, or order meat and eggs. They always purchase these commodities several kilometres away on their way back from work. When they cook meat, it is always accompanied with the burning of incense to mask the smell. Bhumika and her husband feel watched. While they were having a meal about a year ago, a neighbour dropped by on some flimsy pretext and expressed wonder about why such a seemingly non-spiritual couple always burnt incense during the day. “I feel some of my neighbours suspect us,” says Bhumika, “They often turn up unannounced. And I get the feeling they are also going through our garbage bags. But I never dispose the meat, or even egg shells, into the bags. The two of us take turns driving after a meal to throw whatever we need to.” Some years ago, when two non-vegetarian eateries came up in Bhumika’s neighbourhood, vegetarian residents of the area bullied the owners of the restaurants into shutting them down. Patrons of Roti, a non-vegetarian eatery operated by Mars Hospitality, which runs several other successful restaurants, came in for special treatment. They would be sprinkled with spit from the residential floors above. On other occasions, the greeting was in the form of tumbling trash. Often, guests’ cars would get mysteriously scratched. The other eatery, a Domino’s pizza shop, was shut down after a local leader, BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, led a group of vegetarians to protest against smells emanating from the outlet. Vegetarianism, as it turns out, is a highly exaggerated virtue in India. A 2006 survey conducted by CNN-IBN and The Hindu found that overall only around 21 per cent of Indian families are purely vegetarian. In comparison, 44 per cent of all Indian families consume some form of meat. In fact, not just meat, historians and scholars have argued that Hindus in ancient India slaughtered all types of cattle, including cows, for both food and rituals. Yet, earlier this year, a venerable newspaper from the South, as a leaked human resources department notice showed, asked staffers not to bring non-vegetarian food into the office dining area, as it ‘causes discomfort to the majority of the employees who are vegetarian’. The newspaper began receiving flak online, with many commenting on how the company’s move was a reflection of its caste-bias, since many employees at the newspaper are Brahmins. One of the editors defended the decision, remarking on Twitter, ‘… Vegetarianism is part of an increased sensitivity to animals & other species. Crazy to link this to a secularism debate’. But linking the prohibition of meat to caste bias is not as crazy as some may claim. Two years ago, when Dalit student groups staged a beef festival at Osmania University, in an attempt to assert the culinary rights of Dalits and Muslims in public (after having taken permission from the police and college authorities), right-wing students from other unions attacked the festival and its organisers. Says B Sundarshan, one of the festival’s organisers, “We knew some people were upset. But we never expected protestors to behave in such a violent manner.” In the ensuing melee, two vehicles were torched, one student was stabbed, and several students were injured, leading to much tension on the campus premises for several weeks. According to Deepak Gupta, president of the Maharashtra Gopalan Samiti (MGS), a vocal pro-vegetarian group, vegetarian activism has to be pro-active because Westernisation is seducing a younger generations of vegetarians to start eating meat. When the Aditya Birla Group started stocking meat at its chain of retail stores, More, the MGS led protests against the outlets, carrying placards that expressed
corporate expense accounts. Steakhouse staples such as rib eyes and strip steaks became unaffordable luxuries. Economy cuts like hanger, skirt, or flatiron steak (one-fourth the price of a New York strip) started cropping up on high-end restaurant menus. So did hamburgers. As LaFrieda says: “Do you want a $60 côte de boeuf or a $20 hamburger?” According to LaFrieda, though Minetta’s short-rib-blend burger sold for $16 and its dry-age-blend Black Label for $26 and the city was in the teeth of the recession, the restaurant in its first year sold 6,000 of the cheaper burgers and 13,500 of the more expensive ones. “The dry-age burger at $26 was the economy cut if you were looking for a dry-age experience,” he says. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Continue reading the essay below The Industrial-Burger Journey, in Seven Steps Step 1. RANCHES A cow typically spends its first six months grazing on grass pastures, often at small, family-run operations. Step 2. Stocking To pack on the pounds, grain is introduced to the diet and the cow is trained to take its meals in a trough. Step 3. Feedlot The cow will spend four to six months being transformed into grain-guzzling machines. Growth hormones help get it to an ideal weight of 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. Step 4. Slaughterhouse The cow is typically 12 to 15 months old. America’s Big Four megameatpackers—Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef—handle about 85 percent of the country’s entire beef supply. Step 5. Processing Some processing takes place in the slaughterhouse; some meat is shipped to other facilities. Step 6. Distribution Primal cuts (rib, loin, chuck, etc.) are set aside, while the leftover trimmings make up the ground beef. A single patty may contain the beef of hundreds of different cows. Step 7. Destination The ground beef arrives on store shelves. A USDA establishment number printed on the package indicates where the meat was processed. This is also how beef is tracked during recalls. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty And so the chef burger went from fad to fixture. Boulud says his DB Burger can sometimes easily account for 40 percent of orders. For hard-core burger aficionados, there’s always a new best burger to try. Maybe it’s the one at Soho bistro Raoul’s — a burger au poivre accompanied by a ramekin of extra dipping sauce, a mere 12 of which are sold each night and only at the bar — which enjoyed a burst of attention last year after Josh Ozersky, writing in Esquire, named it the best burger in America. Maybe it’s the burger at the NoMad Bar on 28th Street, which applies the concept of negative space to the hamburger — focusing on the fat that frames the protein, with the first LaFrieda custom blend that uses suet and bone marrow and an unusually high 25 percent fat content. Maybe it’s the smash burger served by the Hard Times Sundaes food truck in remote Mill Basin, Brooklyn, whose chef Andrew Zurica is “like a burger savant,” per Ciancio. “He’s pulling his burger powers from a place I don’t know how to reach.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty What is a hamburger, anyway? Wherein lies a burger’s burgerness? It’s a patty of cooked ground beef, everyone can agree, but there consensus ends. In his improbably brilliant monograph, The Hamburger: A History (Yale University Press), Ozersky, who died last month, makes the eccentric, supremacist argument that an enriched white bun is vital — thereby denying burgerhood to, among other burgers, Shake Shack’s, which comes on a potato roll. Motz requires only a bread of some sort. But is bread even necessary? Is the bunless “chopped steak” burger at Via Carota, in the West Village, not a burger? More important, what is it about the burger that has made it so enduring, so ubiquitous, so mutable? How did a flat piece of nothing become the magic food? The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty There are dueling schools of thought. Essentialists credit the burger’s outsize appeal to something intrinsic. They point to its shape: Because the hamburger has a lot of surface area relative to its volume, it packs in an inordinate quantity of delicious Maillard flavors (as browning is more technically known). They point to its typical size, a portion that makes the burger a meal in itself. “They translate really well from street food to sit-down,” says Adam Fleischman, founder of Umami Burger. Together, the size and shape give the burger portability: From the beginning, you could eat it in your car, even with one hand on the wheel. Essentialists also point to the singular character of beef, which LaFrieda describes as “the most sought-after, subtle, yet flavorful meat protein.” Ozersky writes that “there is an inevitability to the hamburger” and calls it “the rock-bottom entry point to the American beef dream.” Continue reading the essay below Assembling Cow Parts Pat LaFrieda Wholesale Meat Purveyors uses only whole muscle from American Black Angus cows but contends that different blends of cuts make very different tasting burgers. By Catie L’Heureux Aged Rib Eye A nutty, musky flavor that comes out of a 30-day aging process coaxing moisture from the meat. It’s 70 percent of the burger at the Bowery Meat Company. Boneless Short Rib The beefy relish of a prime-rib steak has a steely, intense, fattier tang. The burger at the NoMad Bar is just this and chuck. Brisket A lavishly sweet, wholesome taste surging from the cut’s high fat content. Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen serves a brisket-and-chuck burger. Chuck The classic taste of an American hamburger, beefy and versatile. All’Onda’s burger is 70 percent chuck. Hanger Steak Lean and tough, with a gamy flavor but no sweetness. It makes up almost half of the 5 Napkin burger. Skirt Steak More expensive than hanger steak, and slightly richer in fat, with a pronounced beefiness. It’s only 30 percent of the burger at the Little Beet Table—but you can taste it. Sirloin One of the leaner cuts but useful in blends like the one at the Dutch, where it’s combined with the higher-fat, versatile chuck and heavy-hitting aged rib eye. The Question of Fat Fat is flavor, and while some chefs rely on their butcher’s blend, others are more DIY: The Brindle Room adds beef suet (kidney fat); Alder dry-ages fat to mix into the meat and baste the bun. Among LaFrieda’s boutique burgers, the richest is at Minetta Tavern. As the poor man’s steak (and now the upper-middle-class man’s steak, too), the hamburger, then, becomes a passport to a better life. “The idea of putting ground beef between two pieces of bread and eating it is specifically an American invention,” Motz says. “And people know that. I think Americans are intensely proud of their hamburger heritage.” (Competing burger-origin claims have been made on behalf of the Mongolian steppe, where Tatars packed raw chopped meat under their horse saddles, and Germany, since the hamburger was known in 19th-century America as Hamburg steak, but Ozersky, like Motz, situates the burger’s conception in America.) Motz, hardly the most objective source, sees the hamburger as possessing a formal perfection, complete in itself. “I always see grease as a condiment,” he says. “Technically, whenever you cook a burger, it’s cooking in its own grease. I consider it almost a hamburger confit.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Then there are the Circumstantialists. Andrew F. Smith, a culinary historian at the New School and, as the author of Hamburger: A Global History, Ozersky’s rival burger Herodotus, argues that the burger is contingent, a fluke of history. While acknowledging some of its virtues (that it’s a neutral platform for other flavors, a cheap foodstuff, and a delivery vehicle for the quadruple cortical-pleasure whammy of salt, sugar, fat, and amino acid), he sees it chiefly as the right-place-right-time beneficiary of White Castle’s Billy Ingram and McDonald’s Ray Kroc, entrepreneurs whose pioneering business strategies (the fast-food chain and the fast-food franchise) happened to cross paths with the hamburger. To this way of thinking, it could just as easily have been the hot dog that achieved dominance. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty In the view of this Frankfurter School, the burger continues to prevail merely through a combination of corporate inertia, consumer convenience, and a perpetual nostalgia machine that keeps encoding new generations with childhood memories of hamburgers that they will summon and nourish by continuing to eat hamburgers for the rest of their lives, while also exposing their children to them, ad infinitum. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty !+[ad-repeat-feature]({ "settings":{} }) The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Finally, there are the seditious few who see the whole discussion as being beside the point. Damian Lanigan, a British-born Brooklyn comedy writer, recently tweeted his annoyance about Americans’ “undue reverence for hamburgers.” When I called seeking clarification, he suggested that instead of being a patriotic badge of honor, the hamburger is a nationalist crutch. “I’m not denying that two bites tastes good,” he said. “I’m just questioning the lionizing … C’mon, lads, it’s basically a pretty simple, straightforward, slightly disgusting thing that has its pleasures.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Now that Shake Shack is a public company with 64 stores on three continents, it’s easy to forget that when it opened in Madison Square Park in 2001, it was just a hot-dog stand. It wasn’t until four years later, when it moved into a 400-square-foot kiosk in the park, that it added burgers to the menu. Even then, the kitchen was designed primarily to make hot dogs and frozen custards. Right away, though, hamburgers made up the majority of orders. “As soon as the Shack Burger was put on the menu, from day one it became a burger joint,” CEO Randy Garutti told me over lunch recently at the Midtown East location of Shake Shack. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty He devoured a Shack-cago Dog as he recalled the early days. “At that time, we were asking the question ‘Whoever said that fast food has to be not good?’ ” Their improvements, including the LaFrieda custom grind, the fresh beef delivered daily, the use of Rick’s Pickles and high-quality lettuce and tomatoes, came at a price. A four-ounce Shack Burger costs $5.19. (“Our beef prices went up 40 percent in the last 15 months,” Garutti said. “We only raised our prices 6 percent. I mean, we’re taking a hit.”) But a lot of people are willing to pay that to eat hormone- and antibiotic-free meat while sitting at tables made from reclaimed bowling lanes. “The people who eat at Shake Shack,” Garutti said, panning the lunchtime crowd, “are the same people who are proud to walk out of Whole Foods with a bag, proud to walk out of the Container Store ’cause it’s a cool company that takes care of its people. These are people who have high expectations of who they’re gonna share with. And you can’t forget, this story couldn’t happen outside of the digital-age growth at the same exact time. Twitter. Instagram. Think about what we do now. We’re going to go out today, and we’re going to Instagram this, and everyone’s going to know. Are people Instagramming when they go to fast food and saying, ‘I want my whole world to know I just ate there’? They’re not.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Nor did it take the unsettling recent return of the Hamburglar — who, channeling some corporate committee’s deranged idea of millennial fashion, now looks like a cheerful rapist — to confirm that McDonald’s, the iconic American hamburger restaurant, has lost its way. In 2011, for the first time, it sold more pounds of chicken than beef, reflecting a broader national consumption pattern. McDonald’s burgers aren’t even that cheap anymore: Gone are the two-Big-Macs-for-$5 specials; a Big Mac Meal now costs $6.99. It’s no accident that McDonald’s has lately been pushing its McRib (pork) sandwich and chicken items, including a new “Artisan” chicken sandwich and the revived Chicken Selects. And the burgers themselves — despite fitful and flailing attempts to introduce premium versions, first with the Angus Third Pounder, more recently with the Sirloin Third Pounder — have actually gotten worse. Larry Light, McDonald’s chief marketing officer in the early aughts, told me that the company, in pursuit of efficiency, had increased hold times (the allowance for how long a cooked burger is kept before being thrown out) and stopped toasting the buns. “Each of these little changes, the consumer couldn’t tell the difference,” Light says. “But over the years, the combination of all these modifications, you have severely degraded the product.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty But finally even the fast-food industry has begun to acknowledge that people want more from their burger. McDonald’s is still dominant, with a 15 percent market share, but distant runners-up Burger King and Wendy’s have been stealing market share. Wendy’s, especially, has tried to modernize; in 2011, it embarked on an extensive two-year effort, code-named Project Gold Hamburger, to update its 42-year-old hamburger recipe. “We really started to deconstruct the product,” says Lori Estrada, senior vice-president of R&D. The members of the Wendy’s team tasted a lot of burgers, including the ones served by chains like Umami Burger, BurgerFi, and Smashburger. They consulted a pickle chemist and switched to using fresh pickles. They went from one to two slices of cheese, started toasting the buns, increased the thickness of the patty, boosted the mayo’s fat content, changed from white to red onions, and loosened the texture of their patties. The next year Wendy’s introduced the new burger, called Dave’s Hot ’N Juicy, and in 2013, the company surpassed Burger King in sales to become the second-largest burger chain in the country. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty If Shake Shack, and even Wendy’s, was looking to the past for inspiration, Heston Blumenthal, owner of London’s Fat Duck restaurant and a leading figure in the molecular-gastronomy movement, was interested in rocketing the hamburger into the future. A few years ago, for a BBC series in which he set about creating “perfect” versions of everyday foods, he undertook a burger moon shot. Following a tour of various iconic American burger spots including In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, and McDonald’s in Times Square, Blumenthal and his team spent six months making dozens of different burgers in pursuit of its ultimate incarnation. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Beyond the surreal theatrics of molecular gastronomy — the spherical olives and atomized martinis and potato foams — it is substantively animated by the search for new solutions to old problems, and Blumenthal took nothing as a given. Kyle Connaughton, who led Blumenthal’s experimental kitchen, says the members of his team tossed aside all preconceptions about buns and ketchup. Through trial and error, they homed in on a precise combination of cuts of meat and a fat-to-meat ratio, and they introduced a funky, dry-aged element using 30-day-aged short rib. Some of what they did was just hyperrefinement of the finicky chef variety: Instead of using traditionally butchered crosscuts of meat (each slice incorporating parts of different subprimal muscles, including silverskin and other connective tissue), they “seam-boned” a cow, isolating individual muscles to use in their grind. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty But much of their work advanced mankind’s understanding of the burger. They considered patty thickness, traveling to Holland to consult with an oral physiologist who advised them that because of jaw mechanics, a burger should not exceed the width of two fingers. With the physiologist, they explored the ideal level of tensile resistance — the give, when you bite down — using specialized lab instruments that measured how objects shatter under pressure. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty After speaking with a scientist in Germany who’d worked with industrial sausage-makers, they made what Connaughton considers their most interesting discovery: When they ground the meat, instead of letting it fall haphazardly into a bowl, with the grain of the strands lying every which way, they laid them out running all in the same direction, wrapped them in plastic like a sausage roulade, chilled the package, then sliced it crosswise with a sharp, thin knife. This had several advantages, the first being textural. “So later, when it’s a burger, all the grind is standing up vertically; when you bite into it, it falls apart beautifully,” Connaughton explained to me. And with the strands all upright as the burger cooked, steam “would have an open pathway to escape, so you don’t get the bowing effect.” Bowing makes a burger harder to manage in its bun. The sheared-flat surface of the burger also resulted in even searing, with more thorough browning, without resorting to a spatula to press it on the cooking surface (undesirable because it forces the juices out). Blumenthal did use a spatula, however, to flip the burger every 30 seconds until it was done; it was a method he’d borrowed from the food-science writer Harold McGee, who hit upon it as a way to simulate what Connaughton calls “rotisserie logic” — the gentle pulses of radiant heat that characterize the ancient method of rotisserie cooking. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty For the bun, the Blumenthal team members started out assuming they’d use a brioche. “It makes a great burger bun,” Connaughton says. But it has also become the default elevated-burger bun, and the teammates pushed themselves, interrogating whether it couldn’t be improved upon. Ultimately, they concluded that the brioche’s dense crumb structure made it too rigid to smoosh to a biteable size when you grabbed the burger. Instead, they created a hybrid dough batter that would reconcile the competing demands of a perfect bun: Thin enough to not overly tax the jaw, soft enough to absorb the burger’s moisture, and possessing the structural integrity not to fall apart. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty In order to top the burger with an aged Comté cheese, more delicious than American cheese but lacking its melting properties, they devised an ingenious solution in which they emulsified the Comté with sherry, then chilled it solid and cut slices out of it. To make a more intense ketchup, they were similarly resourceful: Blumenthal had been working with the University of Reading to study the glutamates from a tomato’s interior versus exterior, and it turned out that the goopy jelly in the fruit’s middle, which is often discarded, is much more dense with umami molecules than the skin or flesh. While ketchup is usually based on cooking down whole tomatoes, Blumenthal created a tomato concentrate exclusively from the jelly. “It takes a lot of tomatoes to make it,” Connaughton acknowledges. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Because of all the elements Blumenthal wanted to include, among them a thick patty and various condiments including lettuce and tomato, the whole package ended up being more like three fingers thick. Some of this width would be compacted when the bun was pressed down, but the team spent some time considering the burger’s “build” — what went on bottom, what on top. This meant asking questions, Connaughton says, like “when you take each bite, what’s actually hitting your palate first? What orthonasal and retronasal aromas are you getting in what order, and what things are hitting your palate, and what tactile sensations and what sounds?” Among the takeaways from this exercise: It was important to keep the lettuce away from heat and moisture, which would wilt it, and the tomato slice needed to be positioned so that a bite wouldn’t press its juices out. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Blumenthal also wanted to construct the burger in such a way that every element of it was present in every bite. To study how the burger was eaten, members of the team ate the burger under lab conditions, with a ceiling-mounted camera directly above the plate and a scale under it. After each bite, they put the burger back down on the plate. When it was finished, they graphed the successive weights and analyzed the accompanying video, studying how they rotated the burger as they ate it. They were surprised by the result, Connaughton recalls. “There’s a certain movement of food around your mouth as you create the bolus” — a mouthful of food chewed to the point of being swallowable — “that your brain has figured out, so that when you go to take a bite of something, you could take a small bite or a big bite, but you will make the exact same bite size every time.” This was mainly of academic interest. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty If the Blumenthal exercise suggested that perhaps we’d reached the end of burger history — where else was there for the burger to go? — this notion quickly proved foolish when Nathan Myrhvold, the former CTO of Microsoft and creator of the $625, six-volume Modernist Cuisine cookbook, broke through to a new burger frontier. Not coincidentally, the Modernist Cuisine development kitchen was staffed with Blumenthal alumni, including Connaughton. Their new approach to the actual cooking of a hamburger was the most high-tech in history. To achieve the coveted balance of crisp exterior and juicy interior to which all burgers aspire, they used sous-vide to get the burger’s core to an optimal 130 degrees, then lowered the patty for 30 seconds into liquid nitrogen, long enough to flash-freeze the outermost millimeter. This enabled them to then deep-fry the burger for a minute without overcooking the center. And deep-frying let them brown the entire burger, including its sides and all the nooks and crannies that wouldn’t normally make contact with a cooking surface. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty What’s a backyard griller supposed to do with any of this? I asked Connaughton if he uses any of the Blumenthal methods when he’s making burgers at home, and he said he does. He uses the same cuts of meat. He trims, salts, cubes, and grinds them in the same manner. He makes the same cheese and tomato concentrate. And he flips the burgers every 30 seconds when he cooks them. Clearly, this was no example for a civilian to follow. The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Several years ago, at a dinner, I was seated next to a bond trader who expounded at great length about his meticulous project to make the perfect hamburger. A few weeks ago, I called to ask him what had happened. Peter, who asked that his last name not be used (“In the business I’m in, there’s no such thing as good press; we call it reputational risk”), said the whole thing had sprung from a nostalgic urge. After moving out of Manhattan to raise a family in the suburbs, he had sought to preserve some of what he missed about the city, where in his younger days he’d frequented classic burger joints like J.G. Melon. “I love certain things in life,” he told me, “and one of those things is burgers.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty He Googled “best burgers.” He pored over books and burger-focused websites and back issues of Cook’s Illustrated, from which he borrowed a number of techniques. Through trial and error, he arrived at his own best burger. He obtained his meat, via FedEx, from DeBragga. He settled on a ground-beef blend that was half dry-aged and half short rib. He marinated the beef in soy sauce to allow the seasoning to penetrate the meat. He ground the meat himself, trimming all the hard fat first, cubing the meat, then freezing it to help the fat separate when it went through the grinder. “If you grind it fresh, it doesn’t have the opportunity to protease,” Peter explained. He concocted his own Big Mac–style special sauce (ketchup, mayo, relish, white-wine vinegar, sugar), and settled on toppings of American cheese and bread-and-butter pickles and on a potato-roll bun. He grew a garden in his backyard to supply his tomato, lettuce, and Vidalia onion. “That’s my version of the American perfect burger,” he told me. “There’s a perfect ratio of burger to bun I got from J.G. Melon. You don’t want the bun to overtake the burger. You don’t want a burger that’s too huge and that’s all you’re tasting. I always say you want a size where, if you’re hungry, you definitely want two. I feel like wanting more of the burger is a key part of the burger.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty Peter himself, though, had reached some kind of burger limit. “My wife has asked me to stop making them,” he said. “Like, ‘Now we need to move on.’ ” He didn’t sound too broken up about it. “After this whole process, after I perfected it, I had people over, and I’d serve it if people came over,” he said. “I just got sick of it after a while. There was definitely a time when I didn’t have it for a six-month period. I can’t say my love of burgers is what it was when I started the process.” The burger’s rise from the lowly patty to food-world high art. Photo: Bobby Doherty *This article appears in the June 1, 2015 issue of New York Magazine.Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced Wednesday that he was ordering the Pentagon to suspend its efforts to recover decade-old reenlistment bonuses paid to thousands of California Army National Guard soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. About 2,000 soldiers were recently told they had to repay the cash bonuses that, in some cases, amounted to $15,000 or more. Carter said there was a process in place to assist soldiers who sought relief of such obligations, and in this case, “hundreds” of Guard members have already sought and have been granted relief. LAWMAKERS BLAST 'BONEHEADED' DECISION “But that process has simply moved too slowly and in some cases imposed unreasonable burdens on service members,” Carter said. “That is unacceptable.” He did not mention any timeframe for the suspension, but he insisted that it would be in place until he was “satisfied that our process is working effectively.” DRONE PILOT? AIR FORCE OFFERING UP TO $175G RETENTION BONUS Faced with a shortage of troops at the height of the two wars, California Guard officials offered bonuses of $15,000 or more for soldiers to reenlist. A federal investigation in 2010 found thousands of bonuses and student loan payments were improperly doled out to California Guard soldiers. About 9,700 current and retired soldiers received notices to repay some or all of their bonuses with more than $22 million recovered so far. Soldiers said they felt betrayed at having to repay the money. "These bonuses were used to keep people in," said Christopher Van Meter, a 42-year-old former Army captain and Iraq veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart. "People like me just got screwed." Van Meter said he refinanced his home mortgage to repay $25,000 in reenlistment bonuses and $21,000 in student loan repayments that the military says was improperly given to him. The California Guard said it had to follow the law and collect the money. "At the end of the day, the soldiers ended up paying the largest price," Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, deputy commander of the California Guard, told the Los Angeles Times. "We'd be more than happy to absolve these people of their debts. We just can't do it. We'd be breaking the law." FoxNews.com's Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report.died Sunday. Paul, whose career spanned for more than 60 years, died at his home in Blackwood, New Jersey, his co-manager, Beverly Gay, told The Associated Press. Paul, 80, had been diagnosed recently with pancreatic cancer, Gay said. Known by his beard and large glasses, Paul was one of many singers who found success with the writing and producing team of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, whose Philadelphia International Records also released music by the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Lou Rawls. "Me and Mrs. Jones" was an extramarital confession and a characteristic Gamble and Huff production, setting Paul's thick tenor against a lush and sensuous arrangement. Many fans best remember the moment when Paul's otherwise subtle vocals jump as they reach the title words, stretching out "Me" and "And" into multiple syllables and repeating "Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones." (Paul himself was married to the same woman for decades). Paul's voice made him "one of the great artists to come out of Philly and to be celebrated worldwide," Gamble and Huff said in a statement late Sunday. "Our proudest moment with Billy was the recording of the salacious smash 'Me and Mrs. Jones.' In our view, it is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded," they said. The song was one of the top singles of 1972 and brought Paul a Grammy the following year for best male rhythm 'n blues performance, with runners-up including Ray Charles and Curtis Mayfield. Paul remained identified with the song for the rest of his life. Paul continued to perform live until he fell ill and his manager said he had been lining up numerous appearances at the time of his death. Among his favorites in concert was a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain." (Prince died last Thursday). He was born Paul Williams but later agreed to his manager's suggestion that he change his name to Billy Paul to avoid confusion with songwriter Paul Williams and other musicians with the same name. A Philadelphia native, he sang much his life, performing with such jazz stars as Charlie Parker and Dinah Washington and being featured on a handful of singles while still in his teens. Paul was drafted into the military in his early 20s, and found himself on the same base in Germany with a couple of famous show business names, Elvis Presley and Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby's son. "We said we're going to start a band, so we didn't have to do any hard work in the service," he told bluesandsoul.com in 2015. "We tried to get Elvis to join but he wanted to be a jeep driver. So me and Gary Crosby, we started it and called ourselves the Jazz Blues Symphony Band." By the mid-1960s, the Beatles had inspired him to incorporate more rhythm 'n blues into his singing and he had found a new home for his recordings after meeting Gamble at a Philadelphia music shop. His early albums with Gamble and Huff, including "Ebony Woman" and "Going East," sold modestly, before "Me and Mrs. Jones" briefly made him a superstar. Paul faced numerous obstacles following his biggest hit. Radio stations resisted his more socially conscious follow-up song, "Am I Black Enough for You" and the Rev. Jesse Jackson was among those who objected to the explicit "Let's Make a Baby." Years later, Paul sued Gamble and Huff and other industry officials over unpaid royalties and was awarded $500,000 by a Los Angeles jury in 2003. Paul is survived by his wife, Blanche Williams, with whom he had two children. Although he endured many difficult moments with Gamble and Huff, he would look back on those years as a lost golden age. "It was like a family full of music," he told bluesandsoul.com. "It was like music round the clock, you know. And I reminisce and I still wish those days were here."SEATTLE—Foster mom Ellen Kovach told reporters Thursday she doesn’t play least favorites, claiming that each of the minors placed in her home is provided with an equal amount of deep, seething animosity. “They’re all my least favorite,” said the state-certified caregiver of Jeffrey, 14, Claire, 12, and Trevor, 8. “I really don’t ignore or resent one more than the other. All three are a huge pain in my ass.” Advertisement “Sure, sometimes it might seem like I spend more time arguing with Claire, but believe me, a good part of my day is devoted to reassuring Jeffrey and Trevor that they mean nothing to me,” Kovach added. “Those kids definitely know I hate them all the same.” Kovach, who receives monthly checks of $400 per child, was adamant in refusing to say which of the three juveniles she despised the most, insisting that Jeffrey, Claire, and Trevor were “all especially irritating in their own unique ways.” “They may think Trevor is my least favorite, because he’s the whiny fucking baby, but Claire can be a complete bitch, and Jeffrey is a lazy, disgusting slob who bugs the shit out of me, too,” Kovach said. “Deep down, they’re all terrible.” Advertisement The 43-year-old foster mother, who confirmed she unconditionally loathes the three children, said she reminds them on a daily basis that they’re the most unimportant part of her life. In addition, Kovach avoids giving preferential mistreatment to any of the youths by withholding affection from each of them equally. Kovach frequently offers words of discouragement to all her foster children, and the court-appointed guardian is reportedly careful to heap scorn evenly, making sure to fairly distribute her criticisms and disparaging remarks. “I do try to be impartial by letting all three of them know they are pathetic losers who will never accomplish a goddamn thing,” said Kovach, noting she also takes time with the children to explain that each of them is a “leech” she doesn’t want in her home. “They understand they are each individually very much unloved.” Advertisement Though Kovach refuses to pick a least favorite foster child, her husband, Paul Kovach, said that he detests Jeffrey the most. The 44-year-old part-time electrician admitted he berates Jeffrey far more than the others. “Yeah, I single him out and tell him to ‘shut his fucking hole’ way more than the others,” the foster father said. “But it’s just because he’s a crybaby wuss who needs a little more belittling than the rest.” At press time, Paul Kovach reportedly went into Jeffrey’s bedroom and threw out a pile of “pussy ass” books about cartooning.Jordon Ibe has been loaned to Championship outfit Birmingham City to ensure that the talented Liverpool winger gains the necessary experience to continue his rapid progress. The fleet-footed wide-man established himself on the first-team scene in 2012-13 after impressing with a series of dominant performances which helped the club's U18s reach the FA Youth Cup semi-finals. Brendan Rodgers' interest was piqued and the manager rewarded the youngster with a senior debut on the final day of the campaign; Ibe responded by setting up the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers. Although the 18-year-old has been a regular name in the matchday squad this season, only two appearances have followed. Rodgers was therefore keen to find playing time for the promising No.33. "I've wanted to have Jordon out on loan for a little while," the Northern Irishman told Liverpoolfc.com. "Because he has been close to the team and the squad, he has been unable to. "Our squad was very small so he was playing a big part in that over the last few months. But he's still a very young player - he needs games and experience under pressure, and obviously that was limited with us. "He has not long turned 18, he has got plenty of time. We wanted to send him to a club with a manager who has worked with young players and got the best out of some young players. "Lee Clark, we feel, is someone who
visions of race riots and nuclear holocaust. Privately, he was musing on the meaning of Trump's political foray in stranger ways. And now, as we sat in his office at 30 Rock, I wondered what he had to reveal: A damning voice mail from the Donald? A clandestine recording about the nation's 47 percent? Scarborough had me on tenterhooks. Finally, he gave me his scoop. "I'm working on a musical," he said. "It's Trump: The Musical." I laughed, but when I realized he wasn't joking, my amusement gave way to admiration for what Scarborough had glimpsed for himself: opportunity. A character he once imagined in the White House he now envisioned on Broadway. "It's actually Hamilton meets The Book of Mormon," Scarborough gushed, pitching his conceit for the comic romp. With Brzezinski egging him on, Scarborough, whose ego is as healthy as his head of hair, reached into his briefcase and pulled out his iPhone. He wanted me to have a listen. "I hope you have no problem putting in my earbuds," he said, giving them a perfunctory wipe on the hem of his shirt. He pressed "play," the music swelled, and soon a male voice, the titular character, was belting in my ears: I'm just a simple man Blessed with this orange tan I'm simply titanic Beloved by Hispanics and Jews I'm huge Losers don't understand The genius of my border plan They call me a fool Then they dare ridicule my huge hands He hit "pause," and I took out the earbuds. The snippet I'd heard was rough—just a demo, Scarborough reminded me, sung by a friend of his—but in a month, he'd visit a New York City studio to produce a more polished version. There, David Cook, Taylor Swift's band director, would man the soundboard, and Rory O'Malley, who currently brings down the house as King George III in Hamilton, would handle the vocal work. After that, Scarborough and his agent, Ari Emanuel, would have what they needed to start lining up ﬁnancial backers to stage a production. Scarborough's wide, expectant smile belied any insecurity, any sense that this might be a daunting ﬁeld to jump into. I asked him if he was sure that people—not to mention Broadway audiences—would still be interested in Trump after November. "Oh yeah," Scarborough replied. "There's enough general-interest knowledge about this guy that I can write basically whatever I want to write." He got even more excited as images of ovations and Tony Awards seemed to ﬂicker in his eyes. "People are like, 'Well, what if he wins?' " Scarborough said. "I go, 'That's even better!' " For all the damage Trump's presidential run has inﬂicted on the body politic, it's done something remarkable for Joe Scarborough. It's boosted his proﬁle on the political-media landscape, sure, but it has also enlarged some already gargantuan ambitions. If the insanity of our political age has induced anxiety in the vast majority of us, in Scarborough something else has been stirred: a renewed conviction that he's capable of feats far beyond a morning TV show. And at a moment when politics is hot and bizarre and very much alive in our culture, who can blame a guy for thinking big? Scarborough, a former Florida congressman who spent the '90s putting a friendly face on some of Newt Gingrich's harsher Republican policies, birthed Morning Joe nine years ago. And with a rotating assortment of political hands and journalists, he's used the show, ever since, to stoke the curiosities of a tribe of inﬂuencers scattered up and down the Acela Corridor. "I've been on Morning Joe and gotten four-star generals who text me in the middle of the show with something surprisingly newsworthy," says The Washington Post's David Ignatius, a frequent guest. When Trump jumped into the presidential race last year, Scarborough had been friendly with the businessman for nearly a dozen years, and he began talking him up as a contender when most pundits were dismissing him as a sideshow. Scarborough says he was simply predicting the political future—correctly, as it turns out. He boasts about a drive he took last summer to Scranton, Pennsylvania, for a family wedding, during which he stopped at a Target just west of Nyack to use the ATM. (He'd forgotten his E-Z Pass.) "I looked around at all the people there, and I immediately picked up the phone," Scarborough recalls. "I called Mika, and I said, 'Trump's gonna win the Republican nomination.'" But people close to Scarborough say that his early enthusiasm for Trump was about something more than clairvoyance. "He was ﬂattered that Trump watched his show and would call him," says one person inside MSNBC. "I think he was seduced by that. This was becoming the biggest story in the world, and he was in contact with him every day." Only Trump and Scarborough know for certain what the two men discussed in those frequent conversations. Trump maintains that Scarborough was even more complimentary in private than he was being in public at the time. "Joe called my cell phone at eleven o'clock after one of the debates," Trump recalled for me, "and he said, 'Congratulations, you have just become president! You killed everybody.' And then I watched the show the next morning, and he didn't say that. I called him and asked him why. He said, 'I don't want people to know how good friends we are.' " Scarborough told me he mostly tried to persuade Trump to apologize to the various aggrieved targets of his ridicule or outrage—Mexican immigrants, John McCain, Roger Ailes, or whomever else Trump was offending. Finally, Scarborough says, Trump told him: "Joe, I'm just not that kind of person. I just don't apologize. I'm sorry. You apologize. I don't apologize." People who talked with Scarborough about his conversations with Trump say they concerned more than mere etiquette. Scarborough told others that he was providing Trump with everything from policy advice to debate pointers. More important, Scarborough left others with the impression that he believed Trump was seriously entertaining the idea of tapping him as his running mate. "When he was in his 'Love Trump' phase," says one person familiar with Scarborough's thinking during this period, "he thought he could or should be Trump's veep." But after months as Trump's cable-news hype man, it became clear to Scarborough that what worked in a Republican primary wouldn't work in a general-election campaign—and when Trump failed to pivot, Scarborough says, he had no choice but to begin criticizing him. Their phone calls, Scarborough told me, became less frequent and more hostile. Perhaps the ﬁnal straw came when Scarborough casually mentioned on-air that Chris Christie and Bernie Sanders drew better ratings than Trump when they were guests on Morning Joe. Loose talk about something as important to Trump as television ratings was a knife to the back that prompted an angry e-mail to Scarborough. "He basically said we weren't his friends anymore," Scarborough recalled. "He said that he'd hired somebody to put together a spreadsheet that showed that he got consistently higher ratings than both Sanders and Christie." Intrigued, I asked Scarborough if he would share the spreadsheet with me. "He said he had a spreadsheet," Scarborough replied. "Do you think he had a spreadsheet? Do you think he had investigators looking for Obama's birth certiﬁcate in Hawaii? He didn't have a spreadsheet! That's Donald Trump." As for whether he'd once hoped to join a Trump ticket, Scarborough was ﬁrm. "There was absolutely no time that I ever considered even being considered for any position in Donald Trump's administration," he told me. "Not only did I never think about it, but I'm sure he never thought about it, either." In a rare instance of agreement between the two these days, Trump concurs. "I never even thought of it," he told me. "Why would I pick a low-rated TV host?" By late summer, any vestige of a warm relationship was gone. In August, after a particularly rough bout of on-air criticism, Trump issued a volley of tweets in which he declared Morning Joe "unwatchable" and proclaimed the show's hosts to be "Two clowns!" (For the record, Trump emphasizes that he himself no longer watches Morning Joe but, as he told me, has "spotters" who watch it for him and fill him on what transpires.) For all the newfound acrimony, Trump's success has prompted Scarborough to re-assess his own political prospects. Although he's often toyed with the idea of making another run for office—ﬂoating his name for a Florida Senate seat or eyeing the race for Connecticut governor—Scarborough's ambitions have ratcheted up. Increasingly, he's grown convinced that if Trump can make a serious run for the presidency, so, potentially, could he. According to Scarborough's thinking, Trump demonstrates just how formidable a candidate with excellent media skills can be; imagine if such a candidate also possessed a proven understanding of politics. "I'll just be really blunt. He actually does present an opening," Scarborough told me in one of our several conversations. "When I ran [for Congress] in '94, I ran as a conservative-slash-populist, and Republicans have been getting drubbed on the national level because they all talk like American Enterprise Institute policy wonks," getting in a subtle dig at, presumably, House Speaker Paul Ryan. Scarborough went on, "Conservative-populists like myself have never been accepted in polite political society, but Donald Trump makes me look absolutely mainstream." Michael Weisman, who until earlier this year was the MSNBC executive in charge of Morning Joe, says: "I've given up on my dream of playing center field for the Yankees. I don't think Joe has given up on his dream of being president." Or maybe, thanks to Trump, Scarborough will now chase other, similarly audacious dreams—like being a Broadway producer. Whatever the case, Trump has played a major role in improving the already-pretty-excellent life that Scarborough—who, little more than a decade ago, appeared to be a washed-up politician and third-tier TV personality—has built for himself. From a studio on the third ﬂoor of the NBC News headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center, Morning Joe is broadcast every weekday morning starting at 6 a.m. But that's no guarantee that Scarborough himself will be there. Some mornings he connects from New Canaan, Connecticut—from a studio the network set up for him in his home; occasionally, he beams in from a public-access station on Nantucket, where he likes to vacation. And on mornings when he's at 30 Rock, he's that rare host of an eponymous television show who sometimes arrives when that show is already on television. That the show's creator plays by a different set of rules is proof of the enormous power he wields within the network. As one television insider put it to me, "There's no other show on broadcast or on cable right now where the host has more control or is more dominant than Scarborough." Although the number of viewers who tune in to Morning Joe averages only about 500,000—Fox News's morning program Fox & Friends, by contrast, routinely pulls in more than 1 million—those viewers are sufficiently desirable to advertisers that the show fetches premium rates. "The show is a revenue driver and a big part of our success," says MSNBC president Phil Griffin. Accordingly, the show's creator is paid handsomely: According to a cable-news executive who spoke to me about the ﬁnancials of the show, Scarborough currently makes $8 million a year. Despite the show's success, Scarborough's own perception of its inﬂuence is notably outsize. Serving daily as grand marshal to a parade of self-styled thought-leaders and power brokers, all of them desperate for airtime, can make a guy think pretty highly of himself. As when Scarborough recalled for me his encounters with Barack Obama: "The ﬁrst ﬁve times I saw him, he said, 'Well, you know, I don't watch your show because it's on too early.' I said, 'Mr. President, you know, if you hadn't told me ﬁve times you didn't watch my show, I actually would have believed that you were the one inﬂuencer in Washington that doesn't watch my show.'" That one man's president is another man's "inﬂuencer"—"It might as well be called Morning Delusions of Grandeur," quips one of Scarborough's former colleagues—says a lot about how far the show has come from its humble beginnings. In 2007, after MSNBC abruptly dropped Don Imus, Scarborough was given the morning slot to serve as a mere placeholder after his own prime-time program, Scarborough Country, had ﬁzzled. But Scarborough resolved to build something that could last. He recruited Brzezinski, a newsreader who'd recently been let go by CBS, and Willie Geist, primarily a behind-the-camera producer, to sit alongside him. Mike Barnicle, a longtime Boston Globe columnist who'd been forced out amid allegations of plagiarism and fabrication, frequently accompanied them. "A lot of us had been ﬁred, had been washed-up, had been thrown off to the side," Brzezinski says now. "We were the Island of Misﬁt Toys." And early on, the show was treated accordingly. When Scarborough asked if he could join the network's other anchors in Iowa for the 2008 presidential caucuses, Griffin, MSNBC's top executive, told him no. "Finally, I called him, like, two days before," Scarborough recalls. "I said, 'Phil, Mika and I are going to be in Iowa, in Des Moines. If you want a show, you might want to send some cameras out there.'" Griffin did, although he didn't allow Morning Joe to broadcast from the elaborate set MSNBC had rigged up for its other programs in the Des Moines civic center, instead relegating it to a coffee house. One morning, after appearing remotely on Morning Joe from the civic center, Tim Russert wandered over to the coffee house. "We always tell the story about how he came through the door, snow coming in behind him, and asked if he could be on the show," Scarborough says. "That was really sort of the first time the network blessed the show." "A lot of people who revel in the success of Morning Joe had to be brought there by Joe," says Chris Licht, who was the show's executive producer for its ﬁrst four years and is now in charge of Stephen Colbert's Late Show. Licht says Scarborough earned the latitude he now enjoys at MSNBC: "It's a very unique thing in television where you can say, 'No one believed me, now look where we are. I got us here, so I'll continue to call the shots, if you don't mind.' " And Scarborough deﬁnitely continues to call the shots. "We have complete, extraordinary autonomy," he boasts. _Morning Joe'_s offices are in a light-filled, wood-floored space two stories below—and a world away—from the dingy newsroom dwellings occupied by Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, and the rest of the MSNBC lineup. Visitors to the show's invite-only headquarters are immediately greeted by a giant Peter Max painting of Scarborough and Brzezinski strolling along a beach dune in Nantucket. "It's like Saddam's Iraq, with all the Joe and Mika iconography," one show guest has quipped of the Morning Joe offices. Scarborough marks his territory in less literal ways as well. For a guy who's sometimes accused by colleagues of laziness—witness his occasional tardiness, for instance—Scarborough exercises a near fanatical control over his program, from bookings (during the Democratic primaries, he refused to let any Clinton campaign surrogates on Morning Joe until Clinton herself appeared) to on-screen graphics. Indeed, the show's air of nonchalance belies a remarkable amount of effort on Scarborough's part. "I've done a lot of television over the years, and I sit on sets with hosts who don't even notice that something's going wrong," says Mark Halperin, a frequent Morning Joe guest. "Joe doesn't coast." Licht recounts an incident from 2010, when Morning Joe was being broadcast from NBC's studios in Washington, D.C., and Scarborough left the set mid-broadcast to visit the control room to reprimand Licht over the placement of the Steadicam operator. Their argument carried on after the show, in the NBC parking lot. A short time later, Licht suffered a near fatal brain hemorrhage. "We joke that he almost killed me," Licht says. Scarborough is said to be especially hard on his boss Griffin—constantly demanding, and almost invariably getting, his way. So much so that some inside MSNBC complain about the rules that govern their behavior and then the more relaxed "Joe Rules" that apply to Scarborough. "Phil recognizes that part of what makes Joe work well is when he feels he has freedom—real and perceived," says one MSNBC executive, who defends Griffin's handling of the network's morning star. According to NBC insiders, Scarborough caused a headache for Griffin last year when, for an exclusive interview he and Brzezinski did with the controversial conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, the pair traveled from New York to Wichita on a Koch Industries private plane. After an internal stink over this journalistic sin, those insiders say, Griffin had MSNBC reimburse the Kochs for the Morning Joe co-hosts' ride. About the only instance in recent years in which Scarborough didn't get his way with Griffin, according to two sources, was when the host, after searching for his name on the Internet and being displeased with the results, demanded that the network president "call Google" to fix it. Griffin had to inform Scarborough that, alas, Google's search algorithms were beyond his control. For years, Scarborough complained—bitterly in private and not even all that cryptically in public—about the network's lefty slant. But since Andy Lack retook the reins of NBC News last year, he's demoted or jettisoned many of the more ideologically driven MSNBC hosts—from Al Sharpton to Ed Schultz to Melissa Harris-Perry. At the same time, Lack has elevated hosts like Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, and Halperin and John Heilemann—or, as Brzezinski described them to me, "our people." Scarborough appreciates the changes: "I couldn't have said this for a very long time, but I like the people who are on MSNBC. I like the shows that are on MSNBC." He's fond of plenty of other shows, too—so much so that he often seems to be angling for them. "He's tried to take every single job at this network," gripes one NBC veteran. For a time, Scarborough and Brzezinski vigorously lobbied to take over the Sunday Today show. Scarborough is also said to have eyed Meet the Press when the ratings plunged after David Gregory took over following Tim Russert's death. (Scarborough maintains that Meet the Press had been pitched to him by NBC News president Deborah Turness.) Last year, Scarborough even appeared to set his sights on NBC Nightly News. At the height of the scandal involving Brian Williams, it didn't go unnoticed that Scarborough began guest-hosting Way Too Early, the 5:30 a.m. lead-in to Morning Joe. Wearing a coat and tie, instead of his usual ﬂeece or sweater, Scarborough read from a teleprompter and delivered the news straight. "He was role-playing as if he were a nightly-news anchor," recalls one NBC insider. (Scarborough denies he was ever interested in Nightly News.) And yet, just as it's unlikely that Scarborough will ever be president or ever truly supplant Lin-Manuel Miranda on Broadway, there are many who think it's unlikely he'll ever escape the grind of morning cable news, of waking up before dawn to offer political analysis as viewers scarf down breakfast in their underwear. "He has all these delusions of grandeur, but he belongs at 6 a.m. on MSNBC with ﬁve viewers," says one former NBC executive. "There's an economic model that works for that. He gets very signiﬁcant compensation for reaching a tiny number of viewers." Mighty as his personal ambition may be, Scarborough makes a point to always include Brzezinski. "Mika really has been my manager and sort of been my agent, internally, whenever people are attacking me," Scarborough says. "And I have been the same for her, too." Brzezinski is even more effusive about Scarborough. One morning, as we chatted in the office she shares with him—adorned with photos of the pair, as well as of Scarborough's four children and Brzezinski's two—she recalled for me the origins of their partnership nine years ago. "I could tell right at the beginning," she said, "that we both were at a place in our lives where we'd been through enough to know what rough waters feel like, and lost a lot and gained a lot and seen enough to be able to give really good analysis from the gut, from the heart, with no fear." The setting and the sentiment made it seem as if she were talking less about an on-air partner than a midlife one. For years, Scarborough and Brzezinski's closeness has led to romantic speculation. When Morning Joe began, Scarborough, who has two adult sons from his ﬁrst marriage, was married to Susan Scarborough, a former aide to Jeb Bush, with whom he has a son and a daughter; Brzezinski was married to the investigative reporter Jim Hoffer, with whom she has two daughters. In 2011, Scarborough, ﬂush from his show's success, bought a $4.6 million, 7,550-square-foot home in New Canaan and moved Susan and their two children there from Manhattan. Though Joe would ﬁle for divorce in September 2012, he and Susan agreed to continue living in separate parts of the home in order to be near their children. Then, this past year, Brzezinski divorced Hoffer. For the record, Scarborough and Brzezinski will neither conﬁrm nor deny that they are romantically involved. When I recently put the question to the pair, Brzezinski replied, "I really don't want to talk about my personal life. I mean, I think you can understand that." Scarborough added, "And, as always, I defer to Mika." But inside MSNBC, and even on the set of their own show, it's widely assumed that they are a couple. They are frequently spotted outside 30 Rock, traveling together on Nantucket and in Charleston, or sitting at tables for two over cozy dinners in Manhattan. Last December, when Scarborough hosted a Christmas party for friends and colleagues at his home in New Canaan, it was Brzezinski who welcomed guests at the door. Visitors also couldn't help but notice that the giant Peter Max painting of the pair—the one that greets visitors at the Morning Joe offices—also hangs in Scarborough's home. Even Trump has tried to capitalize on the rumors. In August, responding to on-air criticism from the two, he threatened on Twitter to "tell the real story of @JoeNBC and his very insecure, long-time girlfriend, @morningmika." When I asked Trump to tell me that story, he demurred. "I don't want to get into that," Trump said, before adding, "I know that whole thing better than they do, and they know it." But if indeed they are romantically involved, it's unclear why Brzezinski and Scarborough don't publicly own up to their relationship. One potential stumbling block, television insiders speculate, is concern over how the show might be impacted. "If you know they're a couple, does it change their ratings?" asks one cable executive. "Does it change the way viewers take in their banter, if they know they're sleeping together?" In June, the _New York Post'_s Page Six broke the news of Brzezinski's divorce and reported that she and Scarborough "could soon go public as a couple." It was widely assumed by friends and colleagues of the pair's that the leak had been authorized. "It had all the hallmarks of a planted story," says one news executive. "It had to be either NBC PR ﬂoating a trial balloon or they themselves ﬂoating a trial balloon." Either way, people close to Brzezinski and Scarborough noticed that neither seemed particularly perturbed by the item. "Let's just say they weren't upset about it," one told me. "They weren't displeased that they'd been elevated to the front page of the New York Post." This summer, on the ﬁnal night of the Republican National Convention, Scarborough made his first trip into the actual convention hall. He was, for once, without Brzezinski, but he was hardly alone. As he ambled down a Cleveland street toward the arena, he was surrounded by a scrum of three security guards, a Morning Joe producer who doubles as his Boy Friday, his "chief of staff," an MSNBC publicist, and his personal photographer. When Scarborough would approach a curb, one of his security guys would helpfully caution, "Step." Scarborough's gaggle of attendants is the source of much amusement inside and outside NBC. "Matt Lauer is a $25 million-a-year broadcaster and he doesn't have any of the accoutrements Joe has," notes one news executive. "It's like he's the King of Liechtenstein." Inside the arena in Cleveland, Scarborough's hangers-on assured that he was noticed. And then mobbed. Soon, he was posing for selfies with fans; the encounters appeared to lift Scarborough's spirits. Until then, he'd seemed unusually subdued in Cleveland. "Joe doesn't understand why he wasn't giving the acceptance speech in Cleveland," one person who knows him well told me. But now, as Scarborough worked the ﬂoor he was met with reaffirmation. "You really need to run for governor in '18," a Connecticut delegate told Scarborough. He bumped into Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and they quickly disappeared for a private confab while their entourages (McConnell's was one person smaller!) waited outside a closed door. As Scarborough exited, the Nation writer John Nichols stopped him on the sidewalk to say hello. "I'm sorry you're not the vice presidential nominee," Nichols told Scarborough, "but maybe next time." As he bounded off for his hotel, I watched Scarborough's imagination paint a contented grin upon his face. How bright the future can seem. I saw it again, that smile, this time only bigger, on a stormy summer night in New York, as Scarborough stood on a tiny stage in an Upper West Side bar called Prohibition. Crammed behind him were the various members of a nine-piece rock band, uncreatively named Morning Joe Music. Assembled before him were many of Scarborough's employees: producers and factotums from the show. I was squeezed with Brzezinski, Barnicle, and Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, into a small booth. The other 100 or so people in the bar were, presumably, fans of Scarborough's TV work. After all, the band's gigs are promoted on Morning Joe. About 11 hours earlier, the teleprompter at 30 Rock had reminded Barnicle to "MENTION PROHIBITION." Scarborough, who plays the guitar, has been in garage bands since he was a teenager. But his ﬁnancial success has now allowed him to take his music to another level. He pays the eight other members of Morning Joe Music—all of them full-time professional musicians, many of them two decades his junior—"enough to make this our priority," one of them told me. At times, it feels like Scarborough's, too. The band played Des Moines on the night of the Iowa caucuses, performing adjacent to the MSNBC set, where Scarborough angered some colleagues with his cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity"—an extended tribute jam he didn't wrap up until 30 seconds before the network needed to begin its election-night coverage. Scarborough himself harbors desires to turn his hobby into a full-ﬂedged career. In an e-mail inviting me to attend the studio session for Trump: The Musical, he wrote, "If I have my way, in the future, I will be doing much more of what you will see me do on Tuesday than what you covered in Cleveland." For now, in the cramped Manhattan bar, Scarborough played rock star. He had his own backup singers, his own horn section, his own catalog of tunes with titles like "L.A. Song" (Well, the freak show hit the road / With a pound of hash and a stash of blow) and "Downtown" (Everybody loves my body / Loves to drive it like a Maserati). Nearby, Brzezinski sipped a couple of Campari and OJ's and danced on the banquette. Barnicle and Haass nodded their heads to the beat. The crowd screamed for more. After an hour-long set, Scarborough hopped off the stage. He gave a few high-ﬁves and, with a security guard at his side, exited through the kitchen like James Brown might have. Outside, in the drizzle of a summer night, the real world—or at least some simulacrum of it—beckoned. He had a cable-news show at six the next morning. And he'd need to be there by 6:05…6:10 at the latest.Not to be confused with Amr ibn Hishām His name is Abdul-Uzzai ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim.[1] According to Islamic narrations and inline with Arabic history, Abū Lahab (Arabic: أبو لهب‎) (c. 549 – 624) was Muhammad's paternal uncle. He is condemned in Surah al-Massad for being an enemy to Islam. Family [ edit ] He was born in Mecca c. 549, the son of Abdul Muttalib, chief of the Hashim clan, and of Lubna bint Hajar,[2] who was from the Khuza'a tribe.[3] People from the Khuza'a tribe were the caretakers of the Ka'bah for several centuries, before the Quraysh took over the responsibility through their ancestor Qusai ibn Kilab. Abu Lahab was the half-uncle of Muḥammad since Muḥammad's grandmother was Fāṭimah bint ‘Amr of Banu Makhzūm clan. His original name was 'Abd al-'Uzzā, but his father called him Abū Lahab ("Father of Flame") "because of his beauty and charm"[3] due to his red (inflamed) cheeks. He is described as "an artful spruce fellow with two locks of hair, wearing an Aden cloak"[4] and as "very generous".[3] He married Arwā Umm Jamīl bint Harb, sister of Abu Sufyān (Sakhr), whose father Ḥarb was chief of the Umayya clan. Their children included Utbah,[3][5] Utaybah,[6] Muattab,[6] Durrah (Fakhita), 'Uzzā and Khālida.[7] Abu Lahab had another son, also named Durrah, who may have been borne by another woman.[citation needed] He may also have been the father of Masruh, a son born to his slave Thuwayba.[8] His daughter Durrah embraced Islam and became a narrator of Hadīth. One is in Ahmad’s Musnad, where she reports that a man got up and asked the Prophet, “Who is the best of the people?” He answered, “The best of the people is the most learned, the most godfearing, the most to be enjoining virtue, the most to be prohibiting vice and the most to be joining the kin.”[citation needed] ‘Utbah also embraced Islam after the conquest of Mecca and pledged allegiance to Muḥammad.[citation needed] The Wa Ṣabāḥah (c. 613) [ edit ] When Muhammad announced that he had been instructed by God to spread the message of Islam openly, the Quran told him to warn his kinsfolk about divine punishment. He therefore climbed Mount Ṣafā and shouted: "Wa ṣabāḥah!" which means, "O calamity of the morning!" In Arabia this alarm was traditionally raised by any person who noticed an enemy tribe advancing against his own tribe at dawn. On hearing this, the inhabitants of Mecca assembled at the mountain. Muhammad then addressed the clans by name. "O Banū Hāshim, O Banū 'Abd al-Muṭallib... [and so on], if I were to tell you that behind this hill there is an enemy about to attack you, would you believe me?" The people responded that they would, since Muhammad was known to be honest. He continued saying: "Then I warn you that you are heading for a torment." At this point, Abu Lahab interrupted: "Woe be on you the rest of the day! Is that what you summoned us for?"[9] Another tradition recalls Abū Lahab picking up a stone to throw at his nephew.[citation needed] Abu Lahab rejected the claims of Muhammad and said: "Muhammad promises me things which I do not see. He alleges that they will happen after my death; what has he put in my hands after that?” Then he blew on his hands and said, “May you perish. I can see nothing in you of the things that Muhammad says.”[10] The Sura of Abu Lahab [ edit ] As a direct result of this incident, a chapter of the Quran, Al-Masad ("The Palm Fibre"), was revealed about him.[9] Its English translation by Sahih International reads:[11][12] In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم) Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he, His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained, He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame, His wife [as well] – the carrier of firewood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet). Around her neck is a rope of twisted fiber (masadd). Umm Jamil is called “the bearer of the wood” because she is said to have carried thorns and cast them in Muhammad's pathway.[13][14] Being a next-door neighbor to Muḥammad, she also threw garbage over the wall into Muhammad's house.[citation needed] Abu Lahab had married two of his sons to the daughters of Muḥammad, 'Utbah to Ruqayyah and 'Utaibah to Umm Kulthum. However, the marriages were never consummated,[15] presumably because the girls were so young. After the announcement of Al-Masadd, Abu Lahab told his sons: "My head is unlawful to your head if you do not divorce Muhammad's daughters." They therefore divorced them.[16][15] Abu Lahab's daughter Durrah was at some stage married to Zaid ibn Ḥarīthah, who was at that time regarded as Muhammad's son, and they were later divorced; but the timing of this marriage and divorce is not known.[17] Later, she married Ḥārith ibn Naufal of Banu Hāshim; and after his death, she married Dihya ibn Khalifa.[18] Other acts of opposition (613–619) [ edit ] When the Quraysh began to torture the Muslims, Abu Lahab's brother Abu Talib called upon the Hashim and Al-Muttalib clans to stand with him in protecting his nephew. It was a custom among the Arabs to staunchly support their own clan. Despite the dissension between Muḥammad and some members of Banu Hashim & Banu Muṭṭalib, most of them stood by him in his predicaments and provided him protection and security except Abu Lahab.[19] Once Abū Lahab asked Muḥammad: "If I were to accept your religion, what would I get?" Muḥammad replied: "You would get what the other believers would get." Abū Lahab responded: "Is there no preference or distinction for me?" In which Muḥammad replied, "What else do you want?" Abū Lahab replied back: "May this religion perish in which I and all other people should be equal and alike!"[citation needed] While Muhammad was praying near the Kaaba, Abū Lahab once threw the entrails of a sacrificed camel over him.[citation needed] Muhammad later told Aisha: "I was between two bad neighbours, Abu Lahab and Uqba ibn Abu Mu'ayt. They brought excrements and threw them before my door and they brought offensive material and threw it before my door." Muhammad said he came out of his house, saying: "O sons of Abdumanaf! Is it the behaviour of a neighbour?" and threw the rubbish away.[20] He was overjoyed and expressed his sheer happiness at the news of the death of ‘Abdullah, Muḥammad’s second son and celebrated it with ‘Āṣ ibn Wā’il, Abu Jahl and other enemies of Islam.[citation needed] Besides, they also dubbed Muḥammad “al-Abtar”. So Allah revealed Sūra al-Kaothar.[citation needed] On the 7th year of preaching Islam, the Quraysh imposed boycott on Banu Hāshim & Banu Muṭṭalib and forced them to live in a mountain gorge outside the city. Most of the members of Banu Hāshim had not accepted Islam at that time. Yet they stood by Muḥammad and suffered as much as he did. Abu Lahab was the only member of Banu Hāshim who supported the boycott and did not join his clan. Through a deep sense of animosity, Abu Lahab violated this ‘Arab tradition and took the side of non-Muslim Quraysh clans. Abu Lahab renounced his affiliation with the Hashim clan and remained in Mecca. Soon afterwards, he met his sister-in-law, Hind bint Utbah, and said to her
retained that position until that class was formally abolished in the 1870s. But back to Rome in 1585. How appropriate it was to greet some of these Christian warriors from the other side of the world, publicly in St. Peter’s! This Vatican visit marked the beginning of a long, tortured East-West love affair. The Portuguese, who monopolized European trade with Japan until the Spanish vessels based in the new colony of the Philippines arrived late in the century, enlisted Japanese samurai to fight Malays in their colony of Batavia in Java (later lost to the Dutch). The warlike Spanish loved the samurai at first sight, and recruited them as mercenaries for their intended invasion of China and their project for the conquest of Cambodia. Alas, the love affair began to fall apart in the 1590s, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the great warlord-hegemon of a newly reunified Japan, began to persecute Christians and threatened the Spaniards in their Philippines colony with invasion. (Ironically, the first Christian missionaries to visit Korea arrived with a samurai invasion force numbering over 200,000 in 1592.) Thereafter, the Tokugawa shoguns in power (from 1600) annihilated the Roman Catholic missions the Vatican had considered so promising. It booted out Spanish and Portuguese traders on the (valid) assumption that they would always try to smuggle in missionaries, and limited their trade with the west to dealings with the Dutch. (The latter—Protestants content to keep their beliefs to themselves—made it clear they were not Catholics and not interested in proselytizing. They were altogether willing to ingratiate themselves with their hosts by trampling on Roman Catholic religious images and even deploying cannon fire on Catholic peasant rebels if that was the price of doing business in Japan.) But then—surprisingly—these “warlike” Japanese stepped back from a century and a half of incessant civil warfare. Hideyoshi and his successors in power effectively disarmed the peasantry, collecting their swords and muskets, and corralled the samurai (some seven percent of the population) into castle towns—one per domain, of which there were about 260. This resulted in what one historical anthropologist has called “the taming of the samurai,” accomplished over the course of the seventeenth century. Peace descended. Japan invaded only one country between 1598 (the de facto end of the Korean war) and the end of the Edo (Tokugawa) period in 1868. This was the Ryukyu kingdom (now Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture), which was attacked by the domain of Satsuma in 1609 and forced to accept tributary status. From the 1630s Japanese were forbidden to travel abroad, with the exception of a few permitted to visit Korea or the Ryukyu kingdom for trade purposes. Far from being an aggressive country, Japan became withdrawn, engaging in a lively but carefully controlled trade with China, Korea, the Ryukyus and the Netherlands. (The Dutch were the only westerners authorized to trade in Japan until 1859.) Within the country, general peace prevailed; there were no daimyo rebellions against the shoguns’ rule, and no wars between daimyo. While there were always localized peasant rebellions in Japan, some of them repressed with musket fire, there was never a nationwide peasant revolt like that in sixteenth century Germany. While Europe was ripped apart by the horrific Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), the Pax Tokugawa prevailed in Japan. The warrior class, who were not a vocational category so much as a hereditary status group (including women), lost their martial character and became transformed into pen-pushing bureaucrats as the country entered a sustained period of peace. Under these conditions, the population doubled over the seventeenth century, agricultural production swelled, great cities arose and bourgeois culture flourished. And so it would remain until the mid-nineteenth century when U.S. gunboats sailed into Edo Bay demanding that Japan open its doors to U.S. trade. British, U.S. and Russian vessels had encroached in Japanese waters for decades, with increasing frequency. Some members of Japan’s long peaceable samurai class called for a forcible response. In 1808 (during the Napoleonic Wars, which pitted Britain against pro-French Holland) a British naval vessel snuck into Nagasaki harbor sporting the Dutch flag. Its crew kidnapped Dutch traders and fired cannon to intimidate the townspeople. Thereafter a shocked shogunate issued an edict entitled, “Strike against foreign ships without thinking twice,” which obliged the daimyo of coastal domains to fire on unwelcome foreign ships. Still they came. U.S. warships under the command of Commodore Matthew Perry even entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay itself in 1853, demanding that Japan open its doors to the world economy. Realistically appraising the situation, the shogunate bowed to pressure, agreeing to establish “treaty ports.” But the economic dislocations produced by Japan’s incorporation into the world economy, and the blow to the regime’s prestige among the people, lead to the violent overthrow of the government during the Boshin War of 1867-1869. The shogunate was overthrown in this conflict, which took some 8000 lives. A new regime (headed, in theory, by a teenage emperor) focused on learning from the west while resisting further encroachment came to power. This episode is known as the Meiji Restoration. Burdened though it was by the unequal treaties imposed by the U.S. and other powers, Japan quickly emerged from two centuries of relative isolation to become a global power in its own right. While the status category of samurai was abolished in the 1870s, a new system of military conscription and the national policy of “affluent country, strong army” insured the revival of the long dormant tradition of military aggression. As early as 1873, just five years into the new Meiji era, the leaders (all of samurai background) planned an invasion of the nearest neighbor, Korea, to force its acceptance of diplomatic and trade ties. The plan was called off (mainly due to western objections). But Japanese gunboat diplomacy mimicking that of the western powers brought Korea to heel in 1876. In the meantime the new Japanese government dispatched a naval expedition to Taiwan, to punish tribesmen on that island for the killing of 54 shipwrecked Japanese and Ryukyuan fishermen. Qing China claimed sovereignty over the island (just as Beijing continues to this day to insists that Taiwan is and has always been a part of China). After slaughtering dozens, Japan forced China to pay it damages and recognize Japanese sovereignty over the Kingdom of the Ryukyus (Okinawa). Following multiple armed interventions in Korea, Japanese forces engaged the Chinese army in Korea in 1894. After Chinese forces intervened in the country (at the request of its king) to suppress a peasant rebellion, Japan invoked its treaty right to dispatch forces as well. The latter provoked a skirmish with the Chinese, and all-out war followed. It enveloped the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Taiwan. A victorious Japan demanded and received Taiwan as well as the Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria as war booty. But diplomatic intervention by Russia, Germany, and France prevented Tokyo from swallowing Liaodong and produced smoldering resentment within Japan against the tsarist empire. This resentment intensified after Russia itself acquired concessions in Liaodong soon after thwarting the Japanese effort. In 1900 when the Boxer peasant rebels besieged the foreign embassies in Beijing, Japan joined the western powers in suppressing the uprising. The Japanese deployment was the only Asian contingent in the multinational force, and met with praise from the westerners, the British in particular, for its professionalism. Suddenly the darling of British imperialism, Japan signed the Anglo-Japanese Naval Treaty in 1902—as the British dropped the onerous clauses of the unequal treaty the U.K. had contracted with Japan in the 1850s. Suddenly British intellectuals were talking about the obvious resemblances between the two island nations—their monarchical, hierarchical, eminently polite societies; their maritime and feudal heritages; their proud martial traditions. It just made sense for the two to align, especially given the common concern with Russia’s expanding role in Asia. Russia had secured concessions from China on Liaodong after blocking Japan’s acquisition of the peninsula in 1895. Japan attacked in 1904 and as its army fanned out across Manchuria its navy destroyed the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Tsushima Strait the following year. Russia was forced to sue for peace. It was a stunning defeat for the tsarist empire, the first such victory of an Asian power over a European power in modern times, and the cause of much nationalist pride in Japan. It brought Korea (officially annexed in 1910) into the Japanese empire, along with Russian holdings in Manchuria and the southern half of the large island of Sakhalin. World War I would seem to have had little to do with Japan. But citing a clause of the Anglo-Japanese Naval Treaty, which called upon Japan to take Britain’s part when the latter was at war with a third party, Tokyo attacked the German concession of Shandong in China, seized it for itself and also seized German possessions in the South Pacific including some of the Samoan islands. By 1918 the Japanese Empire had acquired by military force territory from the subarctic to Polynesia. All within a half-century of the Meiji Restoration. A very martial country indeed! Very impressive. But the Brits and Yankees were both getting anxious. Both wanted unlimited access to the vast China market, and Japan had displayed in the course of World War I a disturbing penchant to behave exactly like western imperialists. It had imposed the insufferable “21 Demands” on China, which London and Washington had intervened to soften. Britain allowed the Anglo-Japanese treaty to expire, claiming that postwar multilateral agreements such as the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 rendered it irrelevant. Meanwhile the Japanese regime, responding to hardening racist anti-Japanese immigration policies in the U.S. and elsewhere, and craving Lebensraum outside its borders for its swelling population, pondered ways to expand the realm in northeast Asia. Japan occupied all of Manchuria in 1931—more due to willful actions by rogue military units than as a result of calculated policy—and added the state of “Manchukuo” to the empire. The Manchurian Incident spelled the collapse of the League of Nations as the Japanese delegation stormed out following the League’s condemnation of its actions. All-out war in China followed in 1937, and a secret war with the Soviets on the Manchurian-Mongolian border raged in 1939. (In the latter Japanese forces were soundly trounced; Tokyo agreed to a non-aggression treaty with the USSR two years later.) U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, constrained somewhat by popular isolationist sentiment, condemned Japanese aggression in China, proclaimed a “moral embargo” on Japan, and gradually applied more trade sanctions. Following the Japanese advance into the French colony of Vietnam in 1940 (in theory, pursuant to an agreement with the regime in Nazi-occupied France) U.S. sanctions tightened. The U.S. froze Japanese assets in U.S. banks and cut off the supply of oil. Washington demanded that Tokyo withdraw its troops in China to their prewar positions in the north, and renounce its membership in the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, as a condition for the restoration of normal trade ties. The Japanese leaders, headed by Tojo Hideki, concluded that this would be politically impossible. (The public had been whipped into the sort of pro-war fever that so commonly infects modern capitalist-imperialist countries. Any announcement of such a capitulation to the U.S. would have produced mass outrage with unpredictable consequences.) So the leadership, with only a year’s stockpile of the petroleum needed for the war effort, chose another course: the capture of the oil fields of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). But that meant knocking out U.S. and British military bases in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya, and Hawai’i. This was done, rapidly and efficiently. In December 1941 the die was cast. Four years later, Tokyo and Osaka were fire-bombed wastelands and Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuked lunar-like landscapes. The Japanese leadership did not surrender to the Allies because of the atomic bombing attacks. (These were in fact no more horrific than the conventional bombing that had fried over 100,000 in Tokyo on March 9, 1945.) The entry of the (hitherto neutral) Soviet Union into the war on August 8, 1941, the prospect of a Soviet occupation in the north, the division of the country and the possibility of a communist-led revolution, persuaded the leadership that surrender to the U.S. was the best option. Once occupied by U.S. forces, the Japanese people were obliged (in 1947) to accept a new constitution authored by foreigners that renounced the long history of martial culture described above. And so a new era began. * * * Article 9 of the Japanese constitution is unequivocal: “Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. “In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.” Paradoxically, this foreign-authored constitution has—due especially to that article—become for millions of Japanese a fiercely defended national treasure. No one resists amendments to this document more fiercely than Japanese communists. But U.S. leaders themselves having imposed the “pacifist” constitution on Japan began to change their minds shortly after its ratification by the Diet. The objective of the occupier as of 1947 was to disarm Japan in perpetuity, if not to return an industrial powerhouse to the status of an agrarian backwater. China was slated to become the U.S.’s great ally in East Asia, home of its bases, and limitless market for its goods. Alas, a communist-led revolution upset all these plans. After 1949, as Washington’s politicians puzzled over “who lost China?” they re-conceptualized the role of Japan as a reconstructed newfound ally. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the U.S. pressured Japanese Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru to send troops to join what was portrayed as a UN effort against the communist North. Yoshida shrewdly replied that this wasn’t possible under the (U.S.-authored) Japanese constitution. (Yoshida was a firm anti-Communist, which is why the Occupation regime liked him so much; but he did not want to devote scarce resources to remilitarization at that time.) As it happened, Japanese industry contributed heavily to the war effort, and Japan’s postwar revival was indebted to U.S. “special procurements” (war-related expenditures in Japan). Yoshida called these “a gift from the gods”. In 1948 the Japanese GDP was only at 55% its 1936 level; by 1953 it was at 155% of that level. Not “generous aid” from the U.S. but war-related spending by the U.S. produced Japan’s postwar recovery. Under U.S. pressure Tokyo created an incipient war machine in 1950: a “National Police Reserve” of 75,000. This grew to 110,000 by 1952, following the end of the Occupation. On the same day that Japan regained sovereignty (April 28, 1952), Tokyo signed a “security treaty” with the U.S. legitimating the ongoing presence of tens of thousands of U.S. troops (who were among other things authorized to suppress any domestic disturbances). In July 1954 these “police” were reconstituted as land, sea and air “Self-Defense Forces.” Today they number around 250,000 active duty personnel. A Japan Defense Agency was established in 1954—but not as a military, mind you! Just as “defense forces.” At least that is the official line. But would not any “land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential” be unconstitutional? In response to repeated efforts by citizens’ groups to deem them such, the Japanese Supreme Court (under documented U.S. pressure) has ruled that a decision on their legality is a matter for the Diet to decide and falls outside its purview. Step by step, factions within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP, whose creation was midwifed by the CIA in 1955, and has held power from that point with only brief interruptions in 1993-4 and 2009-12) have campaigned for the abolition of Article 9 and the reemergence of Japan as a “normal country” with a normal, legitimatized military like those deployed by other imperialist countries. But the Japanese people have not been on board the program. Local and national protests against the U.S. base in Uchinada, Ishikawa prefecture, in the 1950s (where U.S. troops had been trained before deployment in Korea) forced the base’s closure in 1957. Protests at a U.S. base in Tokyo in 1957 resulted in the arrest of seven people charged with trespassing. They were found not guilty by the Tokyo High Court on the grounds that the very existence of the base violated the constitution. (The Supreme Court overruled the lower court’s decision after the Chief Justice exchanged messages with the U.S. ambassador.) The irradiation of 23 Japanese fisherman, and the death of one, as the result of a U.S. nuclear test in the Marshall Islands in 1954, fueled Japan’s anti-nuclear and anti-military movement. When Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke worked to push through a bill in the Diet renewing the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty in 1960, over seven million rallied in opposition. Public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed to the security treaty. But Kishi rammed it through in the wee hours of morning, after having dissenting legislators evicted. So great was the public outrage that Tokyo had to inform President Dwight Eisenhower, who had planned to visit Japan to sign the document, that Japanese security forces could not guarantee his safety. This prime minister had been detained by Allied forces and held in Sugamo Prison on suspicion of Class A war crimes. He had been Minister of Munitions under Prime Minister Tojo Hideki and one of Tojo’s closest allies. He had spoken in support of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was deeply involved in the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Koreans in mines and factories during the war. He escaped prosecution due to the intervention of the fiercely anti-communist “American Council on Japan” who felt that he would influence Japanese politics in a “pro-American” direction. Kishi Nobusuke also happens to be the beloved grandfather of the current Japanese prime minister, Abe Shinzo. Abe, widely regarded as a hawk of his grandfather’s ilk, has recently stated (on the anniversary of the end of the Second World War) that Japanese should not have to keep apologizing about the past. During the Vietnam War, Japanese public opinion was overwhelmingly antiwar, and critical of the manifest racism underlying that conflict. But again, Japanese industry profited enormously from war-related contracts. The Japanese economy was growing by leaps and bounds in the 1960s, surpassing West Germany to become the world’s third largest economy by 1970. Although Japan produced a vigorous New Left comparable to those of the U.S. and Europe, the people were unable to wrench the country away from the alliance with U.S. imperialism. Throughout, rightist forces campaigned to whittle away Article 9 and reinstate Japan on its historical path of glorified militarism. The Education Ministry, typically headed by the most reactionary and anti-intellectual LDP politicians (like Fujio Masayuki, who in 1986 called the Nanjing Massacre a fabrication and claimed that Japan colonized Korea at the Koreans’ request), has step-by-step restored nationalistic content to the required “moral education” segment of the high school curriculum; required schools to fly the solar disk flag and force faculty and students to sing the imperial anthem; and approved for public school use history textbooks that prettify or whitewash Japan’s war record. Meanwhile the prime minister’s office has relentlessly tested the limits of the reinterpretation of Article 9. In 1981, Prime Minister Suzuki Zenko provoked a storm of criticism when he suggested that the Maritime Self Defense Forces be allowed to defend Japanese shipping up to 1000 nautical miles from Japan. Two years later, Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro (a soul-mate of his contemporaries Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Helmut Kohl) provoked further criticism when he allowed the military (“self-defense”) budget to exceed the traditional one percent of GDP limit—just to test the waters, and see how the public would react. He also sparked outrage when he addressed the U.S. Congress describing Japan as “unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Pacific” serving U.S. needs. During the first Gulf War in 1991, Tokyo (necessarily) declined to send troops to the war theater. This drew fire from U.S. congressmen clueless about the constitutional issue who complained that Japanese were receiving cheap oil from the Middle East secured by U.S. military action. Some even threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Japan (whose upkeep then as now is paid for by Japanese taxpayers) if Japan did not contribute to the attack on Saddam Hussein. (A ranking member of the Self-Defense Forces in a rare show of frankness publicly stated that if the U.S. wanted to withdraw, the Japanese would just say goodbye; after all, the Japanese had never asked for their presence in the first place.) In the end Tokyo paid the U.S. $ 13 billion as its contribution to the war effort that forced Iraqi forces out of Iraq. (Arab states compensated Washington to the tune of $ 36 billion, while Germany paid $ 5 billion.) LDP leaders treated this as a matter of shame; “checkbook diplomacy,” they declared, should be replaced with an actual commitment of boots on the ground. So in 1992 the Diet passed a law allowing Self Defense Forces to be deployed in UN “peace keeping operations” (PKO) alongside other international forces. It was an important first step, a psychological hurdle mounted. Since then, the SDF have in fact served duty in Cambodia, Mozambique, East Timor, the Golan Heights, Haiti and South Sudan. The next natural step for the remilitarization campaign was the dispatch of a Navy tanker and destroyer to waters off Pakistan in late 2001 to assist the U.S. in the Afghan War. (These waters are of course far more distant than the 1000 nautical mile limit for SDF actions as envisioned by Suzuki Zenko.) This was a highly unpopular mission, terminated in compliance with a campaign promise by the newly elected prime minister Hatoyama Yukio in 2009. Japan as a U.S. client state never expresses a firm difference of opinion with Washington on any international issue. (It is at least as deferential to Washington as Warsaw ever was to Moscow.) It is slavishly obedient. In 2003 as George W. Bush embarked on his war based on lies against Iraq, Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro (unlike the leaders of Germany and France) declared his full support and even committed 600 Japanese troops to the effort. This was a major breakthrough for the Japanese militarists. The Japanese forces were not, of course, deployed in combat, hobbled as they were by that tiresome Article 9. But they could construct a castle at Samawah, in southern Iraq, replete such with homey amenities as a karaoke bar and massage parlor, whence they could venture out each morning—necessarily accompanied by Dutch forces authorized to actually kill people—to do “humanitarian” work like water purification and road construction. (As if the Iraqi people couldn’t do that themselves.) Two-thirds of Japanese polled opposed the mission, many no doubt seeing it for what it was: just another step towards violating Article 9 and normalizing international military deployment. Koizumi’s successor Abe Shinzo—again, the proud grandson of the Kishi Nobusuke mentioned above—reconfigured the military establishment to create a Ministry of Defense with its headquarters in Tokyo’s Shinjuku. Its head, the Minister of Defense, now serves in the cabinet. In 2009, while another hawk, Aso Taro, having renewed the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean authorized the Maritime SDF to dispatch destroyers to the Somali coast to protect not just Japanese but others from pirates. Since then there have even been Japanese sailors stationed in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa—a very long way from home. Much closer to home lay some uninhabited rocks in the East China Sea which the Chinese, who have visited them for over six hundred years, call Daioyutai. The Japanese term, invented in the 1870s, is Senkaku. Whoever owns them owns 21,000 square miles of fisheries and petroleum reserves so they are not unimportant. China (as well as Taiwan) claim them on very well-established historical grounds. Tokyo claims them on what it claims—very plausibly—are internationally recognized legal grounds. * * * But (again) doesn’t the Japanese government’s obvious disdain for Japan’s own constitution make us question what “law” has to do with it anyway? Tokyo says that when it asserted its ownership over the four rocks in the East China Sea (which no Japanese were even aware of in the fifteenth century when the Chinese mapped, visited, and named them) in 1895 they were uninhabited, hence available for anyone’s taking. They were in western legalese “terra nullius” or uninhabited lands. No matter that the greatest Japanese geographer, Hayashi Shihei, had produced a comprehensive map in 1785 indicating that the islands were Chinese. No matter that the Japanese foreign minister, Inoue Kaoru, had rejected a plea for annexation from the governor of Okinawa in 1885 on the grounds that the islands belonged to China. All that matters is that when rising Japan defeated China in 1895 and impressed the western powers, asserting ownership of these islands in the course of the war (before acquiring adjacent Taiwan itself as a colony), the predatory imperialist powers accepted Japan’s claim. How legitimating! Ever since Japan has had “law” on its side. So what does history have to do with it? (Seriously. I have heard a Japanese diplomat put it in precisely these terms.) But this islands dispute is actually more complicated, even from the legalistic point of view. In the Cairo Declaration of 1943, wartime victors Roosevelt, Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek declared that, following its unconditional surrender, “Japan shall be stripped of all the territories it has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa and the Pescadores which shall be restored to the Republic of China.” This demand was reiterated at Potsdam by Truman, Churchill and Stalin. In defeat Tokyo conceded the loss of these possessions. But the status of the Diaoyutai/Senkaku islands remained unclear. They came under the U.S. Ryukyu occupation zone, which was separate from the zone comprising the Japanese main islands. (Since Japan had annexed the Ryukyus in the 1870s the Occupation authorities were not sure whether or not to treat them as part of Japan or as a potential independent state.) The U.S. could, in 1945, when China was led by the united front between Chiang Kai-shek’s Guomindang and the communists, assigned the disputed islands back to China with the stroke of a pen. Instead they retained them within the bounds of Okinawa Prefecture. In 1972 the U.S. “returned” the Ryukyu islands to Japanese sovereignty (while retaining, indeed insisting on, the right to station 25,000 troops on bases on Okinawa). The Diaoyutai islands reverted with the whole package and now Tokyo assumes that if blows were to come between it and Beijing over this island claim issue, the U.S. will take its part. After some hedging the U.S. has in fact stated clearly that the security treaty between the U.S. and Japan covers these disputed islands. This is a major triumph for Kishi Nobusuke’s grandson. As he steers Japan towards the status of a “normal” global power, able to bully other nations like the U.S. does—-able to expand Japan’s influence throughout Greater East Asia (unapologetically)—-he can count on the Yankees to have his back. He has restored Japan to the ranks of the white, civilized nations. He is nurturing those warlike roots. Everything’s back on track, just like it was before these annoying pacifist decades. But this time the “warlike and cultured people” stand astride a fading U.S. empire trying to “pivot” towards the South and East China Seas confronting an inexorably rising China. This China so far proceeds cautiously in pressing its claims, territorial and otherwise. Kishi’s grandson in contrast is a hothead whose vision of military revival—tapping into the gangster-neofascist right that’s always there on the fringes of Japanese politics—-could produce something very ugly, pretty soon. The Japanese government’s outright purchase of the Daioyu/Senkaku islands from a private owner in September 2012 (which was actually opposed by Washington as an unnecessary provocation of China) may in time be viewed as the beginning of a new stage of confrontation. The pattern in retrospect is very clear. Step by step the militarists have gained ground in Japan. They scored a big victory last week. The Japanese constitution of 1947 means nothing. Hachiman (the god of war) is smiling. Back to normal, the norm of two millennia. The samurai are back in the saddle, heading for the battlefield, with the stars and stripes alongside the imperial solar disc flag waving in the background. * * * Over one hundred thousand Japanese demonstrated outside the Diet last week as the LPD and its partners enacted the pro-war laws. They need the world’s solidarity. This piece is a small contribution towards that.A Giovani dos Santos wonder flick and Christian Ramirez own goal gave the LA Galaxy all three points on the road vs. Minnesota United Sunday afternoon. LA were unfortunate when Baggio Husidic went down early with a lower leg injury, but Rafael Garcia filled in admirably. The match was ho-hum until the 25th minute, when the game exploded in end-to-end action. First Brian Rowe did masterfully to dive to his left and stop a close range Miguel Ibarra volley, then on the ensuing corner it was Emmanuel Boateng clearing a header off the line. Joáo Pedro responded with an absolute rocket from distance that keeper Bobby Shuttlesworth barely got a fingertip on before crashing off the crossbar and over. A minute later, it was Romain Alessandrini’s turn to smash a rocket outside the 18, which again Shuttlesworth tipped over. Right before the half, LA went ahead on a moment of genius from Giovani dos Santos. The Mexican international met Alessandrini’s outside the boot cross with an clever, unstoppable flick that floated into the corner of the net. You betcha this was a lovely goal. #MINvLA pic.twitter.com/7LaUtcmIfR — LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 21, 2017 Despite second half heroics from the Galaxy defense including an Ashley Cole goal line clearance and some more Rowe magic, LA were in danger of conceding, and it was no surprise when Christian Ramirez was first to a Sam Cronin redirect inside the box and powered past Rowe to level the match. The Galaxy appeared satisfied to walk out of TCF Bank Stadium with a point, but Christian Ramirez’ own goal late gave the Galaxy a chance at consecutive road victories. LA managed to withstand MNUTD’s final flurries to take home all three points.Back in September, we warned you that Nintendo was about to stop selling "DSiWare points," the digital currency used in its first downloadable game store for the Nintendo DSi. After this week, those points will be officially useless. That's because Nintendo will be shutting down the DSiWare shop on Friday, March 31. That will also be the last day to re-download games you've previously purchased on any old Nintendo DSi or DSi XL systems you have lying around. Games you've already downloaded should work just fine until the hardware fails. Points you don't want to use right now can be transferred to be used on the 3DS eShop, and downloaded games can even be transferred to a newer 3DS system for future-proofing. Most DSiWare games are also still available on new hardware through the 3DS eShop, though a few will be lost for good after Friday (and the older downloadable games can look a bit funky on the 3DS' newer screen, too). The final shutdown of the DSiWare store continues a trend of digital game stores shutting down—and threatening to take chunks of gaming history with them. Last year, Sony shut down PlayStation Mobile, cutting off access to plenty of great Vita titles from smaller indie publishers. Xbox Live's Indie Games program will fully shut down later this year, leaving quite a few hidden gems without an online home. And Apple has begun the process of culling "problematic and abandoned" older games from the App Store, continuing a process of game removal already started by many iOS game publishers themselves. Unlike DSiWare, used copies of physical Nintendo DS cartridges are still widely available, sometimes at huge discounts on the secondhand market. Those cartridges are liable to work for decades to come on any arbitrary DS or 3DS hardware, too, unlike digital copies that are tied to a specific system. In any case, if you're suffering from fear of missing out now that the original DSiWare experience is set to go away for good, this crowdsourced list of game recommendations is a good place to start.Ask the Scientists Join The Discussion What is the context of this research? White band disease is one of the most destructive coral diseases, wiping out entire reefs of two important caribbean species: the staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and elkhorn (Acropora palmata) corals. Both have been listed as threatened by the US endangered species act with a proposed upgrade to endangered status. We have been working at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Bocas del Toro, Panama for four years. Bocas del Toro is the ideal location to research Acropora as it is one of the last places in the Caribbean with intact Acroporid reefs. Through experiments conducted at STRI, we have discovered that the disease is bacterial (Kline and Vollmer), and that it can be transmitted by a coral eating snail and through the water (Gignoux-Wolfsohn et al). Recently, we have identified a number of species of bacteria that are more abundant in diseased corals using genetic surveys of diseased and healthy staghorn corals (Gignoux-Wolfsohn and Vollmer, in prep). What is the significance of this project? What causes coral diseases is still poorly understood. Coral diseases are linked to increases in runoff from agriculture and rising ocean temperatures. Epidemics will therefore continue to increase with industrialization and global climate change. It is imperative that we gain a better understanding of which bacteria cause disease in coral and where these bacteria come from. An understanding of the causes of white band disease would contribute to our understanding of coral diseases as well as other marine diseases. Because they grow quickly (up to 15 cm/year), both species of Acropora are ideal candidates for reef restoration, and a number of foundations have been growing them to rebuild damaged reefs. White band disease continues to affect these nurseries. An understanding of the cause of white band disease would allow us to potentially treat not only corals in the wild but also those carefully harvested for restoration work. In addition, corals contain largely unexplored microbial communities, many of which have been shown to display antibiotic properties. A better understanding of the diversity of bacteria present on corals could contribute to the discovery of novel sources of antibiotics. What are the goals of the project? We will narrow down the list of candidate pathogens by performing infection experiments in aquaria. We can manipulate this experiment to ask the following questions: 1. What antibiotics prevent white band disease transmission? We will expose healthy corals to disease slurries treated with antibiotics that target different groups of bacteria. If the healthy corals still contract the disease, we know that the pathogen is resistant to that antibiotic. This will give us some information about the pathogen. (For example is it gram negative or positive?) 2. Which kinds of media promote the growth of the white band disease pathogen? We will expose healthy corals to disease slurries grown in different media that select for specific groups of bacteria and see if they contract disease. For example, if we grow a slurry in media specific for flavobacteria and it still transmits, we know the pathogen is likely in this group. Once we have established which media and antibiotics promote the growth of the pathogen, we will begin to test Koch's postulates by exposing healthy corals to individual strains that grow on the determined media/antibiotic combination that promotes white band disease and look for signs of disease. These experiments will allow us to take the list of candidate pathogens determined by large scale genetic screening and find which strain (or multiple strains) cause(s) white band disease.In the software industry, the release of newer, better versions is part of the natural order. It's a relentless march towards perfection that started with the first personal computers, and continues today. We expect software to get larger and more sophisticated over time, to track with the hardware improvements that Moore's law has provided us for so many years. Rapid evolution is a good thing, and it's one reason the computer industry is so exciting to work in. If you don't like the way things are today, just wait five years; everything will be different. Letts' Law: All programs evolve until they can send email. Zawinski's Law: Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail. Furrygoat's Law: Every program attempts to expand until it can read RSS feeds. I love the prospect of upgrading my favorite software. Done right, it's like watching a caterpillar shed its skin and become a beautiful butterfly. Or at least a decent-looking moth. But for some software packages, something goes terribly, horribly wrong during the process of natural upgrade evolution. Instead of becoming better applications over time
than the country's best soldiers trying to hone their skills. But that went over like a lead balloon. He was called a liar and grilled about the real plan to implement martial law and take over Texas - a lot of angry people, a lot of signs. And then the next day, the governor decided to act and to assure the state citizens that he would protect them by monitoring our soldiers, sailors and airmen. GREENE: Now, wait. The governor has faced some criticism for this. I mean, some have complained that he's embarrassing himself, embarrassing the state of Texas. And on Monday, the governor seemed to try to walk this back a little bit. Let's hear what he had to say here. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT: We have been provided assurances by the special operations forces that there is nothing for the public to worry about. GREENE: So does that mean he's calling off the State Guard? GOODWYN: No, it doesn't. And I think we'll all be resting easier here in Texas knowing our tax dollars are being well spent on the State Guard so they can keep a sharp eye on the military - our military - so they can't get up to any shenanigans. GREENE: Interesting story from the state of Texas. That's NPR's Wade Goodwyn from Dallas. Wade, thanks a lot. GOODWYN: It's my pleasure. Copyright © 2015 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.CTVNews.ca Staff Graham James, a former junior hockey coach imprisoned for sexually abusing several players, has been granted day parole. The National Parole Board granted James day parole with strict conditions. The board said it would be premature to grant his request for full parole. James has faced multiple sex charges involving Western Hockey League players he coached in the early 1990s. James served 3 1/2 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty in 1997 to sex offences against Sheldon Kennedy and two other players. Kennedy, who played for the Swift Current Broncos at the time of the assaults, went on to play in the National Hockey League. James sought and received a pardon for those offences in 2007, but was back in court years later when Todd Holt and his cousin, retired Calgary Flames star Theo Fleury, came forward with a new set of allegations. James pleaded guilty and was initially sentenced to two years in 2012. An Appeal Court increased the sentence to five years, and although he has been eligible for full parole, James had never made an application. New charges were laid in May, 2015, following an investigation that began after the RCMP received a complaint in September 2013. James pleaded guilty the next month, and was sentenced to an additional two years on top of the five-year sentence he had nearly completed serving at the time. In an interview with CTV News Channel on Monday, Kennedy called the ordeal a "never-ending story," and was skeptical that James had changed his ways. Kennedy said that James manipulated the hockey world and others by coming across as someone who is "trustworthy" and parents "would never second guess" him being around their children. "When I heard today that (James) understood that his actions were hurtful, to me it was just a sense that is the way (James) operates," Kennedy said. Fleury also denounced the parole board’s decision on Twitter. By granting day parole the Canadian justice system just kept more victims of rape silent and feeling more shame today!!!!! #wasntyourfault — Theo Fleury (@TheoFleury14) January 25, 2016 With files from CTV’s Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin and The Canadian PressHARRISON, NJ (March 28, 2013) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that they acquired forward Andre Akpan from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a conditional 2015 MLS Draft pick. “Andre is strong, physical forward with MLS experience and will provide another attacking option for our coaching staff,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “We are pleased to sign him and look forward to his contributions in the coming season.” Akpan, 25, has been with the Rapids since being selected by Colorado in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft out of Harvard University. Part of the Rapids squad that won MLS Cup in 2010, Akpan finished last season with a career-high three goals and 15 appearances. Akpan has featured in one match for the Rapids this season as a substitute on March 2 at FC Dallas and has amassed 29 appearances and four goals during his MLS career. The Grand Prairie, TX native was a member of the U.S. Under-20 World Cup squad in Canada. At Harvard, he was the school’s all-time leading scorer and the 2009 Ivy League Player of the Year. Andre Akpan Position: Forward Pronunciation: ACK-pahn Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 pounds Day of Birth: Dec. 9, 1987 in Fort Worth, TX Hometown: Grand Prairie, TX Previous Club: Colorado Rapids (MLS) How Acquired: Acquired on March 28, 2013 from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a conditional 2015 MLS Draft pick.Vettel was speaking on Saturday evening after the World Champions' most difficult session yet. The sum total of running was just four corners of the Bahrain International Circuit before his car broke down. Worse was to follow just a little while later when it stopped again - this time at the end of the pit lane. With an air of resignation, the World Champion helped push his RB10 back to Red Bull's garage, where it stayed for the rest of the day. With team boss Christian Horner telling Sky Sports News that Red Bull are "ten days behind" due to a litany of problems, their attempts at a fix make Adrian Newey's latest creation sound more like a many-headed hydra than a racing car. Regardless of what Red Bull can salvage from the final day's running on Sunday, expectations have necessarily been dampened after 11 days which might have brought the occasional flash of speed, but have far more regularly found Vettel and his team in the pits scratching their heads. "Reliability is not where we want it to be," he said. "Too many things are breaking down, we're not running enough. But in two weeks' time we are in Melbourne, so we are looking forward to that and looking forward to getting more running there once we get new parts etcetera. But it's impossible to predict at this stage." A consensus is growing that when Red Bull finally do figure out how to make the RB10 last the distance then Vettel will be in familiar surroundings. Speaking on Friday, McLaren's Jenson Button said it looked particularly good in high-speed corners and whilst Vettel agreed, he accepted that the opening races will likely prove trying. "The car felt good, I felt very happy with the car," he said. "Obviously it's a step back from last year in terms of overall grip but it wasn't too bad. So there's a lot of hope on that front. "But we are aware that right now we have a lot of problems, we are not able to find a rhythm yet. But I am confident we will have a lot of time this year to make sure we find that rhythm and get up to speed." As such, Vettel admitted that a successful World Championship defence currently seems a long way off. "Right now, it's impossible to have any expectations," he said. "Of course, our reliability's bad at this stage, otherwise I'd be doing a lot more mileage. But also it's impossible to judge the speed. "I think the couple of laps we had it felt okay, but we'll have to wait until the first race to see what the stopwatch says." The 26-year-old added: "The goal is similar to the last few years. In the beginning, you always start off with limited expectations because we don't know how competitive we are. And once you realise you are competitive, you want to win. That's the target for this year. "But obviously, we have to look at things step-by-step. There's no point saying that we want to win the Championship. First of all, we want to make sure we can do the best job we can, trying to finish the first race and then going from there." Red Bull's problems centre on cooling of the car's Renault power unit. According to Vettel, however, the question of blame is irrelevant. "I think it's not fair to split the two anyway," he said. "We work with Renault, Renault works with us all year. "Surely there's things that happen on the Renault side and other things that happen on our side, and we are a team. "We've had a lot of success together, right now we have a difficult time together." The end of pre-season testing does not mean Vettel won't be in the car before Melbourne. Red Bull are undertaking two filming days in Bahrain after the current test finishes and the mileage they complete - up to 200km is allowed - will be important to them. "[The] cars are quite complex - to change things can take a lot of time, I think that's why we've lost most of the mileage, the track time," he added. "We went out, something broke, it took a long time to fix it and then we only got limited running at the end of the day."Our Beyond Chronic interview with Laurel Dewey, author of the new novel Betty’s (Little Basement) Garden, continues with some of Laurel’s experiences with teaching and practicing herbal medicine, and details of how medical cannabis is practiced in Colorado. Old Hippie: I think in a lot of ways, it’s everyday people like Betty who will discover medical marijuana that will change people’s perceptions. In the novel, she didn’t actually need it herself, she used her skills as a chocolate maker to turn medical marijuana into an income stream, rather than as a patient. But there are a lot of people like her out there; average, often older Americans, Republicans and church people, who have been learning about cannabis and learning to cure themselves with it. They’ve been finding out that the propaganda that we’ve talked about is just all false. I think in a lot of ways, the sympathetic characters that you present in the Betty’s (Little Basement) Garden novel are the kind of people who are going to change the world. Laurel Dewey: Yeah! And again, I made sure that Betty became a caregiver. I wanted to get across that subject that not too many people are familiar with. So many people know the dispensary model, where you go to a dispensary to get medical cannabis. But very few people seem to understand the whole caregiver/patient relationship model. I used the Colorado model, because I wanted to use what I knew and had already researched. But people seem to be unaware that there is this caregiver/patient relationship that is allowed here under state law. You’re allowed five patients, besides yourself, that you can grow for. There’s a stipulation of how many plants you’re allowed. I went into this in the book, because I think a lot of people believe that people who are doing this caregiver thing are just out there growing 100 plants, which is completely untrue. I followed people and saw how these relationships developed in real life, so that I could realistically portray that in the book. It’s not this idea that you’re growing weed for somebody that doesn’t really need it. That’s not what I saw. There are obviously people who are going to abuse that, but that’s not what I saw. I saw caregivers who were growing cannabis for people who couldn’t grow it themselves because they either were in a wheelchair, or they had Stage 3 or Stage 4 cancer, or they were simply too elderly. A lot of people were elderly, and that’s the other demographic that’s in this novel. I met a guy who’s 84 years old! And yes, he’s keeping it secret. I wanted to explore this relationship, and demonstrate in the book that medical cannabis is not about a lot of people with fake back probems walking into dispensaries. There’s a wide range of conditions treatable with cannabis. And that’s why I used the characters of patients that I chose in the book. I specifically gave them certain medical issues that I had witnessed, that I had seen in my research that are realistic reasons why you would want to become a patient and get a caregiver. I’m really happy that I am the first one to write a fictional novel about medical marijuana, because it is so important that people who do not understand this, and may be sitting on the fence, can at least understand that this is not what they keep hearing from the DARE campaigns or from propaganda that’s still being pushed out there by government officials. I think I accomplished that. David Fiedler: Back in the 1990s, you were writing a lot about herbs and alternative medicine, and yet you never seemed to have picked up on cannabis at the time. Is cannabis just another herb that the government has made into the Devil Incarnate for some reason? Laurel Dewey: It seems that way. I used to teach a lot of classes on herbal medicine, went out in the field, and talked about wild food, wild herbs, how to survive in the wilderness, and that kind of thing. I spent almost 12 years doing that, and people made a lot of assumptions, and one was that I smoked pot because I knew about herbs. I got offered pot a lot, and I was like, “Please! No, I’m not interested.” But to say I was vehemently against cannabis is really quite putting it mildly. And that’s why the 180 degree turn that I’ve made is astounding. And if I can do it, then anyone can do it. You know, I live in Colorado. You can’t drive down the street in Denver without seeing a dispensary, so I’m very familiar with it, but there are other states that don’t have legal medical marijuana, so they’re still living in the shadows. I think it’s ridiculous that people could be facing Federal time for a small amount…possession of a joint, or something. That’s just insane to me. And by the way, I felt that way even when I was totally against cannabis. That hasn’t changed. I felt that nobody should go to prison for it. Even when I hated the plant, I still didn’t think that was right. So I was never one of those people who said, “Throw them all in prison!” I thought, “Maybe they need help.” As far as my herbal background, now in retrospect, yes, it’s a plant. Is it just an herb? No, I don’t think it’s just an herb. I know a lot of herbs, and I’ve worked with a lot of plants, and roots, and leaves…you name it. I do have an affinity for some plants more than others. For example, I love comfrey. I grow comfrey by the bucketful around here. I love stinging nettles, because it’s an incredible natural mineral herb and it has so many benefits. By the way, you can even make fiber out of the nettle, like you can make out of hemp…it’s a little more involved, but you can do it. But when I was doing my herbal work through the 1990s – 2001 is when I stopped – I always considered cannabis to be dangerous. And it wasn’t that it was going to kill your brain, or kill your liver. I had been told by a very respected alternative physician and Naturopathic doctor many years ago that if you take cannabis too much, you could basically create a hypoglycemic condition in your body, and that a lot of people who use it have blood sugar issues. I don’t know where he heard that, or whether it was from his experience…I have no clue. But I parroted that information to others. And when people would ask me about cannabis in my herbal medicine classes, I would tell them, “Pssh. No, it screws up your blood sugar, and you don’t want to do that. Next question.” I just wasn’t that informed about it. So I say it’s an herb, but you know what? After working with it, and learning about it, and studying it now for almost 18 months, I can say now that it’s not just another herb. There are some herbs out there – and I have literally worked with hundreds of herbs – that I believe are higher up on the “food chain” of usefulness. And cannabis is certainly way up there on the usefulness chart, whether you’re talking about the industrial uses for it, or the medical uses for it. Or the topical uses for it, even. And by the way, that’s how I first allowed myself to even get involved with it. Topically. Because I wasn’t going to take it internally. I decided, “No, no, no. I’m not going to do this.” So I started experimenting with different salves that I bought. I wasn’t thrilled with most of them because they added a lot of “fillers” that I thought weren’t necessary and diluted the medicinal effect. But because I have a background in making salves, and ointments, and you name it…comfrey salves and plantain salves…I decided to make a cannabis salve. And that’s the first thing I did with the plant. I made a very simple salve with just the bud, some sweet leaf shake and coconut oil. And I was absolutely blown away. You put it on, and ten minutes later, what had been hurting wasn’t hurting as much. And then I saw it work on a burn. I saw the salve that I made work on my husband’s burn, and grow new skin almost overnight. So I thought, “OK, maybe there is something to this.” It was really gradual for me. It wasn’t like I went, “Oh, I understand it now! I suddenly see that I was so wrong!” No, I kept saying, “OK, all right, I’ll give it that…now let’s see what else it can do.” But I didn’t say I was wrong, until later on I realized I had been really wrong. So I’m probably one of the best people out there to promote the understanding, without the hysteria, of this plant, because I was so against it. I would like to say this to all the people back in the 1990s to whom I said, “Don’t use it!”…I apologize. I was ignorant…but I’m not anymore. In the next part of the interview, Laurel Dewey talks about edibles, getting high, and parents who drug their children.James Harden scores 23 points, grabs 15 rebounds and hands out 10 assists in the Rockets' 115-104 victory over the Mavericks. (1:05) HOUSTON -- There was so much joy on the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon. They had James Harden waving his towel as he ran onto the floor during the middle of a fourth-quarter burst, with a cheesy smile on his face. They had Jason Terry making a corner 3[pointer and then running down the court, arms out as if he was a jet flying through clear skies. They had a loud Sunday afternoon Toyota Center crowd, chest bumps from players and smiles in a noisy locker room afterward. Yes the Rockets have a modest two-game win streak, the latest coming 115-104 over the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets took over the game with a 65-point second half, part of a rally from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit. Interim boss J.B. Bickerstaff coached his you-know-what off, sticking with a small lineup and utilizing the skills of newly acquired Josh Smith, who improves this team with his sharp passes and ability to play strong defense. Josh Smith, James Harden and the Rockets were all smiles on Sunday, as they beat the Mavericks 115-104 AP Photo/Bob Levey The Rockets are not the team GM Daryl Morey expected them to be, title contenders, just yet. After a weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks (Friday) and the Dallas Mavericks (Sunday), a visit to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night doesn’t seem like the daunting task it would have been earlier in the season. “I think for the most part we were just trying to figure it out,” said Trevor Ariza, who had his best game of the season, a season-high 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor. “We’re looking at what we did last year and trying to figure out how to get back to that. That was no fun. Putting the pieces back to help us get to where we were, bringing Josh back in definitely helped us out a lot.” At the start of the fourth quarter, Bickerstaff kept Ty Lawson, Corey Brewer, Terry, Ariza and Smith on the floor. The Mavericks held a one-point advantage until things took off for the Rockets. The ensuing 17-4 run ended when Smith faked out Dirk Nowitzki in the paint with his version of The Dream Shake, the move Hakeem Olajuwon employed when he was dominating the NBA, to make a hook shot and push the lead to 103-91. “I’m just trying to contribute, man,” Smith said. Harden contributed, too, with a controlled fury during a fast-paced game. But sometimes it appears he’s not enjoying himself. The season has worn on a few people around this Rockets group, where grumpy might be the best word to describe things. This was probably the happiest we’ve seen Harden all season. “Yeah, I am, I think we are all,” he said. “Guys are getting open shots. Trevor is getting open shots that he and Brew and Jet were normally getting [last season]. You get good shots, you get easy shots and the entire game changes and the fun is definitely back.” When his afternoon was over, Harden finished with a triple-double, his second of the season: a nifty 23-point, 15-rebound and 10-assist night. Harden even had two blocks to go along with him being plus-10 in the box score. Of course, Smith has been the undisputed champ around this place the past 48 hours. Smith scored a season-high 16 points, blocked two shots, had two steals and added two assists. There is something about Smith that brings the best out of the Rockets. His ability to pass, especially from the post, helps, along with his desire to guard anybody at any position. It gives Bickerstaff options, something all coaches want. “He’s a guy, again, because of his ability to pass the ball, he’s a guy that brings everybody together,” Bickerstaff said. “He can do that because he can make all the passes, he can make all the plays. Then his courage to shoot the ball late when he’s missed a few, most guys would turn those down and since we’ve seen him and he’s been with us, he’s thrived in those situations.” When the Rockets are passing the ball and helping each other, a better team shows up. There were 27 assists, tying for the fourth most this season, 44 points in the paint, Bickerstaff using Patrick Beverley and Lawson at guard to close the show and the defense holding the Mavs to just 19 points in the fourth quarter. When you have positive plays working for you, people are having fun. “You got to play the game to help everybody out,” Lawson said. “When you’re definitely touching the ball and more involved everybody feels like they can do a little extra.”Indonesian atheist Alexander Aan, jailed for stating his atheism, has heard us. Last week, I wrote about the significance of Alexander’s plight, making the case for putting serious energy toward his struggle both for the sake of atheism-writ-large and for Alexander himself. It moves me to no end to know that he knows we’re rooting for him. Michael Nugent posts at his blog that Alexander has written a letter from prison to his supporters. The English is somewhat broken, but the first half of the letter is perfectly clear: I miss all my brother and sister. I can’t move from my mind and always fight infiltration. Thank for support and love. Without this I feel alone. You can read the whole letter as written here (some of the handwriting is hard to make out). He also notes that he kept a blog with what I think might be the best URL ever, “iluvboy.blogspot.” Now it takes real courage to have a web address like that. But in all seriousness, thank you, Alexander, for reaching out to us. We haven’t forgotten you."The Monster" by Eminem featuring Rihanna jumps to #1 on the Hot 100, displacing Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball." "The Monster" is Eminem's fifth #1; Rihanna's 13th. It's their second #1 together: "Love The Way You Lie" logged seven weeks at #1 in 2010. Since 1955, only four other artists have had 13 or more #1 hits. The Beatles lead with 20, followed by Mariah Carey with 18, Elvis Presley with 17 and Michael Jackson with 13. (Diana Ross joins this list if you combine her six solo hits with 12 she had fronting the Supremes.) This latest #1 enables Rihanna to push ahead of Madonna, whose tally of #1s has been stuck at 12 since "Music" in September 2000. In pulling ahead of Madonna, Rihanna also becomes the one-named solo artist with the most #1 hits in chart history. Here are all one-named artists who have had four or more #1s: Rihanna (13), Madonna (12), Usher (nine), Prince (five), Ludacris (five), Beyonce (five), Eminem (five), Nelly (four), Cher (four) and P!nk (four). For all her success, Rihanna is still just 25 (she will turn 26 on Feb. 20). A few individuals were even younger when they landed their 13th #1 hits. Paul McCartney and George Harrison were both 24 in March 1967 when the Beatles landed their 13th #1, "Penny Lane." Elvis Presley was 25 years and seven months old in August 1960 when he landed his 13th #1, "It's Now Or Never." (The Fine Print: I'm counting the double-sided blockbuster "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" as one #1.) Eminem is the first rapper to land five #1 hits as a lead or co-lead artist. "The Monster" follows "Lose Yourself," "Crack A Bottle" (a collabo with Dr. Dre & 50 Cent), "Not Afraid" and the aforementioned "Love The Way You Lie." Ludacris and the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy have also had five #1 hits, but both tallies count featured credits. Puff (a.k.a. Diddy) has been a lead (or co-lead artist) on four of his #1s. Ludacris has been a lead artist on only two of his. "The Monster" holds at #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the sixth week. "The Monster" reached #1 on the U.K.'s Official Singles Chart on Nov. 9. It's Eminem's second single to reach #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.; Rihanna's seventh. Eminem's previous transatlantic #1 was the Oscar-winning "Lose Yourself." Rihanna's previous songs to reach #1 in both countries are "Umbrella" (featuring Jay Z), "Take A Bow," "Only Girl (In The World)," "What's My Name?" (featuring Drake), "We Found Love" (featuring Calvin Harris) and "Diamonds." Only the Beatles had more "transatlantic #1 hits" than Rihanna. They had 13 (and McCartney, Lennon and Harrison each had one more on their own). Elvis Presley is in third place with six. Madonna is next in line with five. "Timber" by Pitbull featuring Ke$ha jumps from #4 to #2. This marks the first time that collabos that pair a male solo artist and a female solo artist have held the top two spots simultaneously since the summer of 2010, when "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg and "Love The Way You Lie" held the top two spots for six straight weeks (switching the lead at the midway point). "Timber" is #1 on Hot Digital Songs for the second straight week. The song tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week. Avicii's "Wake Me Up!" holds at #6 for the second week. The smash reaches the 3 million mark in digital sales this week. It's #1 on Dance/Electronic Songs for the 14th week. Katy Perry's "Roar" drops out the top 10 this week, but it tops the 4 million mark in digital sales in its 17th week. That's faster than any other song in digital history. Perry also held the old record: Her 2011 smash "E.T." (featuring Kanye West) topped the 4 million mark in its 18th appearance on Hot Digital Songs.Jonathan Thomas spent his first two years at the University of Maryland consumed by his studies in mechanical engineering. From his current vantage point, Thomas now realizes there was a void. A former basketball star at Tuscarora High, where he was Frederick County's Player of the Year as a senior, Thomas is one of five walk-ons who made the team this season after a series of open tryouts in the fall. "You try to do stuff to get your mind off of not playing, [and] you're busy so you try not to think about it," Thomas said before a recent practice at Comcast Center. "When the seasons start to change and it starts to get colder, and it starts to be basketball weather, I began to understand how much I missed it when I started playing this year." Not that Thomas has played much. Though he averaged about six minutes a game early in the season when fellow point guard Pe'Shon Howard was out for a month with a broken foot, Thomas has played in just two games, for less than a minute in each, in the past 15 games. Even with Howard sidelined again, this time for the season after suffering a knee injury in practice last week, the opportunity will be rare for Thomas. When first-year coach Mark Turgeon looked down his bench last Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium for someone to spell Terrell Stoglin, he picked another walk-on — freshman Arnold Richmond — rather than Thomas. Thomas said before Howard's second injury that he is ready to play if called upon. Maryland (14-10, 4-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) plays against Boston College (8-17, 3-8) at home Thursday night. "You've got to have that mentality in whatever you do," Thomas said. "You can never get complacent. You can't say, 'This is never going to happen.' Because if you say that, it won't happen. Whatever you do, even if it's just to go hard at it [in practice] and compete, there's going to be a positive outcome." Balancing his new obligations and schedule — which has included missing several days of classes because of travel — has not been easy for Thomas. Despite dropping an English class at the suggestion of his counselor in order to lighten the load, Thomas conceded that his 3.8 GPA "took a little hit" during the fall semester. "It's time management, so you have to do things when you have the opportunity," Thomas said. "I got used to it my freshman year, and I kind of mastered it my sophomore year. Now it's like freshman year all over again. You're not just managing your time; you're managing your energy and your sleep." Thomas said that he just can't go from practice to cracking the books. He is often tired and sore and needs to find a second wind. When it comes, typically late at night, Thomas often studies straight through until morning classes begin. "A lot nights I don't go to sleep. I usually get about three or four hours," Thomas said. "There's so much work to do, a lot of it gets backed up. Definitely gets piled up quick, even if you're not playing basketball. You have to work on your skills of communicating [with] people who can help you. If you don't communicate with classmates or your professors, you'll never make it." While some of his professors have been understanding, a few have questioned Thomas' sanity in adding what amounts to a second major — ACC basketball. "They kind of laughed and said, 'How can you be so dumb to do both?'" Thomas said with a laugh. Thomas, who called his decision to try out "unfinished business," said that even his parents have questioned him at times. But Thomas said that his father in particular "didn't want me to pass this up. He at least wanted me to try it because it will let me know that college is more than just getting grades. I always think about that when I'm coming to practice." This season has also been like his sophomore and junior years in high school, when Thomas transferred from Tuscarora in Frederick to Towson Catholic, where he found his playing time scarce as a backup to future Virginia Tech star Malcolm Delaney. Former Towson Catholic coach Josh Pratt recalled a player who never backed down to Delaney in practice, but also said "[Thomas] always had a book in his hand." Charles Thomas recalled getting a call regarding his son's whereabouts one day from Pratt. "They were about to start practice and he couldn't find Jonathan," the elder Thomas, an engineer at Fort Detrick, recalled. "He was in the library." The younger Thomas said that the two years he spent playing with Delaney and Donte Greene, now with the Sacramento Kings, as well as against current Terps teammate Sean Mosley (St. Frances) gave him the confidence to try out at Maryland after playing occasionally on the school's club team. . "You definitely get a sense that you're more relaxed because you've been through that at some of the highest levels," said Thomas, who was recruited to play at Hampton after his Baltimore Stars travel team won the Amateur Athletic Union's state championship. "Coming from that to here was just a little transition." His experience playing for the Terps this season might help him after he graduates. Thomas, whose mother Jeanice is a chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, hopes someday to work with engines, "making things run better, cleaner and faster."" I have to be better than everyone, I have to work harder," Hillary Clinton said recently in an interview printed in the New York Times on November 16. "There's no margin for me when others have so much leeway. It's a pressure cooker all the time." Oh, Hillary -- please. If any woman in the world has had protection and leeway, as well as unfair advantages over other contenders, it was she. All her life, she has lived in a hothouse, protected and helped by a masculine presence who gave her more help, aid, and comfort in all that she did than most male politicians could possibly hope for. And that is, or course, her own husband, Bill. Yes, Bill, if she can recall him, the man whom she met and hooked up with when she was in law school, who later had some success in politics, the one who was elected Governor of Arkansas at age 32 and then served five more terms before running for president. Bill is the one who put her into the charmed circles of the political elites before she was thirty, and who made her world-famous at age 46 as a "new kind of first lady," an instant celebrity, and a heroine to uncounted numbers of feminists seeking a symbol and figurehead. Bill was the man who broke all the rules to give her control of health care reform, the jewel in the crown of his domestic agenda. He stood by her when she blew it so badly that in the midterm elections of 1994 he lost his majorities in both Houses of Congress, and was forced for the rest of his terms to curtail his ambitions. And Bill is the man who revived her career in the strangest way possible, casting her as the woman wronged in the great intern scandal, making her popular for the first time to the public in general, and paving the way for her rise. Bill made her the woman with whom people sympathized, whom they saw as the victim and not the aggressor, and to whom they were willing to give a seat in the Senate. Bill is the man who ran her campaign from the White House, used it as the backdrop for all her endeavors, and diverted most of the funds and influence at his disposal in her direction, at the expense of his vice president, heir, and presidential nominee of his party, the extremely resentful Al Gore. Whether his heir or his victim, Hillary Clinton won her Senate seat because of Bill Clinton, and for no other reason at all. Bill was the man whose connections and money made it possible for Hillary to enter the presidential races as the prohibitive favorite in 2008 and 2016, though she would go on to lose both of them; Bill who cleared the field so effectively in 2016 through pressure and threats (and campaigning against prior defectors in intervening elections) that only a 74-year-old socialist was willing to challenge her. That she struggled to put even him away is not a case of Hillary being "better" than others or her being a weak candidate who needed a man to protect her -- whatever she or her fan base may say. Noemie Emery, a Washington Examiner columnist, is a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard and author of "Great Expectations: The Troubled Lives of Political Families."Mark Birighitti has told Goal.com he hopes to get over the disappointment of being cut from Australia's World Cup squad by finalising a move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. The goalkeeper was one of four players left out of Ange Postecoglou's final 23-man roster for the tournament in Brazil. Unlike fellow cast-offs Tom Rogic, Josh Kennedy and Luke Wilkshire, he will remain in camp until the Socceroos' first Group B clash against Chile on June 13 as cover for Mat Ryan, Mitch Langerak and Eugene Galekovic. The
…” That form of steelmanning is actively harmful to epistemic charity and to careful thought. Instead of understanding that people believe things differently from you, you’re transforming everyone into stupider versions of yourself that don’t notice the implications of their own beliefs. In fact, this kind of steelmanning is a form of strawmanning. You can say “but neither of those are actually steelmanning! Real steelmanning is being able to put other people’s viewpoints in words they themselves find more compelling than their own arguments!” However, that is an extraordinarily rare and difficult skill; even most people who do it once can’t do it consistently. Saying “to steelman position X…” should be interpreted the same way as saying “to express perfect loving kindness for all beings…” It’s certainly a nice ideal which people might want to approach, and some people even manage to pull it off sometimes, but it’s a bit arrogant to declare that you’re definitely doing it. Even when you think you are, you usually aren’t. What are the alternatives to steelmanning? First, seek to understand the actual viewpoints people you disagree with are actually advocating. Second, seek out intelligent and well-informed advocates of viewpoints you disagree with. You don’t have to make up what your opponents believe! As it happens, you have many smart opponents! Third, whenever possible, try to switch conversations from a debate focus to a collaborative truth-seeking focus. This is best in one-on-one conversations between people who trust each other. You should be able to say “hm, but I’ve just noticed this piece of evidence against my position” without the person talking to you jumping on you and saying “ha! This proves I’m right! You admit it! I win I win!”– and they’ll do you the same favor. AdvertisementsExclusive: Peaches to Appear in Season 4 of 'Orphan Black' Published Mar 08, 2016 The long-running sci-fi show Orphan Black will soon be back for its fourth season, and music fans will get in on the excitement too thanks to a high-profile guest star. Exclaim! is happy to announce that Peaches will appear in an upcoming episode of the show.While we don't know the specifics of her appearance just yet, we do know that the long-running Canadian provocateur will perform on the show. Her episode was shot at Toronto's Bovine Sex Club.Below, you'll see an exclusive photo of Peaches appearing alongside Orphan Black's lead actress Tatiana Maslany.Orphan Black is set to return on April 14. It airs on Space in Canada and BBC America in the United States.Peaches, on the other hand, is having a busy year of her own. The performer continues to crank out new music videos, and she's also been tapped as a guest curator at this year's Sled Island music festival.When Premier Christy Clark announced Tuesday that she wants to help First Nations communities recover the remains of their ancestors in U.S. museums, a good place to start might be the Yuquot Whalers’ Shrine, which has been collecting dust in the basement of a New York museum for more than a century. “This is a work of an astonishing scale and of astonishing quality,” said Hugh Brody, Canada research chair in aboriginal studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, and the filmmaker of a 1994 documentary on the repatriation of the Whalers’ Shrine entitled Washing of Tears. “What’s important about it is that the whalers’ shrine is first of all a piece of art, or a piece of material culture, that’s unique to both this coast and the world.” Clark said Tuesday that she’s written to U.S. President Barack Obama urging cooperation for any B.C. First Nation that wants to recover cultural or historical artifacts from a U.S. institution, or the remains of ancestors, many of which were originally stolen from aboriginal communities. She promised a “full lobby of museums, governors and at the national level of Washington D.C.” to recover First Nations artifacts, citing two items in particular at the American Museum of Natural History — the Great Canoe and the Whalers’ Shrine. “There’s the Whaling Station (shrine) from up the coast, which has tremendous cultural significance, deeply spiritual significance, which has never been displayed, which should be returned,” Clark said. The whalers’ shrine — which includes an original shed-like building with 88 carved human figures, four carved whales, and 16 human skulls — had been built over generations by the Mowachaht tribe as a place of purification for the community’s chief whaler. It is still regarded by the Mowachaht as having enormous power even though Nuu-chah-nulth whaling days are long gone. In 1903, an agent for Franz Boas, considered the father of modern cultural anthropology, convinced two Yuquot elders to sell the shrine to the American Museum of Natural History for $500. The shrine was then surreptitiously spirited away, with just a few pieces ever shown. Brody said the museum only displays a tiny model of the shrine, “about the size of a laptop computer.” Brody said the museum has agreed that the human remains should be returned, but a “consensus” needs to be reached among aboriginals on how to move them. He said that while most want the shrine returned and displayed in a prominent place, some traditionalists want it to be allowed to decay at its previous open-air site as per indigenous custom. “All the museum types shrieked in horror about that idea.” Brody maintains the B.C. government should push for its return. “Here’s a piece of B.C. heritage, a work of culture and enormous power, a work of art of undoubted importance completely buried away. No one gets to see it even on display. Let’s find the funds and the will and the plan to put it in place at Friendly Cove on the Island.” American Museum of Natural History spokesman Roberto Lebron said Wednesday that the museum has not received any requests to repatriate the shrine “and so we have not considered the matter and are unable to comment further.” [email protected] Video Game Simulates Not Wasting Your Life WHEATON, IL—Crossway Publishing has thrown their hat into the console gaming ring with their announcement of the upcoming John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life: The Game. Based on Dr. Piper’s popular book and philosophy, DWYLTG gives players a chance to sharpen their practical Christian skills in a wide variety of real-life situations as they freely navigate the sandbox game’s realistic world. One moment gamers are evangelizing at the drive-through, and the next they’re going above-and-beyond at their day job, all in the pursuit of CHP (Christian Hedonism Points). The world has been carefully crafted to be challenging, but also to encourage players to see their desperate need for help from above, from fellow saints at a number of available churches (choose wisely), and from the man himself, John Piper, via the built-in MP3 player and vast archive of sermons and Ask Pastor John Q&As. This new wave of Spiritual Discipline Games, or SDGs as they’re known among believers, is very exciting to see, indeed. If early buzz is any indication, it looks like Don’t Waste Your Life: The Game will be giving the first-person shooter The Mortification of Sin 3: Retributiona run for its money. I, for one, can’t wait to see what it will feel like to be fully immersed in a gospel-needing world.As a training workshop for First Nations mother-tongue Bible translators was winding down this past April in Guelph, Ont., Zipporah Mamakwa of the Oji-Cree translation team eagerly shared something with her colleagues on other teams. The soft-spoken teacher from Kingfisher Lake, Ont., said a tribal elder had asked her to come to his house to talk about the Oji-Cree Bible translation project there. The elder said something came to him—a dream—in the middle of the night. He told Zipporah: “I want to encourage the translators to continue on at this Bible translation project, because God is doing something wonderful and powerful in this land.” When an elder says something like that, it represents the most powerful support you can get, Zipporah told a dozen peers at the workshop. “And he continues to encourage me to make sure that I pass it on to others,” she added. “So there—I have passed it on: ‘God is doing something powerful and wonderful in this land amongst our people.’ ” The Oji-Cree elder’s dream-inspired comment may sound grand, but it is no overstatement. After several hundred years of missionary and church ministry among Cree First Nations people, finally there is an increasing local push to see heart-language translations of God’s Word reprinted, completed, or started. Called the Cree Initiative, this project could impact 100,000-plus people in five related Cree language groups, from Alberta to Ontario. They include: Northern Alberta Cree (spoken in 20-plus communities); Plains Cree (70-plus communities); Woods Cree (20-plus communities); Swampy Cree (20-plus communities) and Oji-Cree (12-plus communities). This cluster of languages—among the largest and most viable in North America—features grammatical structures that are very much alike, with speakers who share similar indigenous cultures. Indigenous Faith Needs Indigenous Language While Bible translation efforts in this project may eventually expand to other First Nations languages, the Cree Initiative’s focus for the foreseeable future is on the five Cree languages. Whatever languages are involved, Mark MacDonald, the Anglican Church’s national indigenous bishop, is eager to see it happen. MacDonald says that Christian faith is quite vibrant in a lot of communities. However, poverty and the inter-generational effects of oppression and forced programs of assimilation (such as the residential schools tragedy), have produced “toxic conditions” in many places. "I believe that ‘the Word made flesh’ requires local languages. The Pentecostal truth that God speaks to us in the mother tongue is a part of the Church’s foundation." — Mark MacDonald, the Anglican Church’s national indigenous bishop “These are at the heart of the ministry challenges the gospel faces in First Nation communities today,” says MacDonald. The way many Aboriginal people look at the Christian Church has been deeply marred by the residential school experience in Canada, he says. “Today, however, many separate the gospel and Jesus from that experience, and look to faith as essential to rebuilding indigenous life and community.” And, crucial to deepening faith among First Nations are the Scriptures in the mother tongue, stresses MacDonald. “Indigenous theology depends on indigenous language. Revitalization of language and a vital and effective faith depend on each other. “I believe that ‘the Word made flesh’ requires local languages. The Pentecostal truth that God speaks to us in the mother tongue is a part of the Church’s foundation. Everyone wants to hear the gospel in ‘their language,’ even if that language is being lost.” MacDonald asserts that every major language among First Nations in Canada should have a mother-tongue translation that meets the community’s stated need. Locally driven Priorities MacDonald helped to set the initial goals for the Cree Initiative, when he gathered with First Nation representatives at a mid-June 2014 meeting in Prince Albert, Sask. Staff with Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) and others were also there. Myles Leitch, CBS director of Scripture translation, says the goal was to hear what the First Nations leaders in attendance wanted done and for them to identify what help they actually needed. “It’s not about us wanting to send missionaries in there to do a job no matter what. It’s them saying, ‘We really need to have Scriptures in our language.’ ” The Cree church leaders requested technical training and assistance from Wycliffe and CBS, including providing mother-tongue translator (MTT) training workshops (see related story, "Dear Diary") and translation consulting. Wycliffe’s Bill and Norma Jean Jancewicz, who are facilitating the effort, have led two such workshops so far, as well as onsite training for MTTs. The Jancewiczes draw on more than 28 years of experience with the Naskapi people of Quebec, who speak a related language in the Algonquian family of languages that includes Cree (see Word Alive, Spring 2013). Translators with the Naskapi, who already finished a New Testament and are working on the Old Testament, attend the Cree MTT workshops. The Naskapi representatives both encourage the Cree translators and share insights from their own experience. Bill hopes for increased Naskapi involvement. “I envision them becoming trainers themselves at some point, but they’re not there yet. They don’t have the confidence or capacity to train at a workshop. But they will. Right now they can share what God is doing in their lives and their project.” To that end, Silas Nabinicaboo, one of five Naskapi Bible translators, shares some advice for the other First Nations translators, based on his 20 years of experience. “Ask God to give you strength, courage, to do that. If you get stuck with [translating] any words, seek the help of an elder. I like to use elders because they know the language more than I do.” He says that in the end, Bible translation will be worth all the hard work, because it will be able to deepen Christian faith among the Cree. “It’s important to have God’s Word in their own language—in their heart, in their heads.” Not Yet or Just Starting The Jancewiczes hope to help spawn a vision for Bible translation among the Northern Alberta Cree and Swampy Cree at some point. However, there are still no local Bible translation project committees or trained mother-tongue translators in place, which are crucial to championing and doing the work in those languages. “The power of the Word in our language changes our thought patterns, and it is more meaningful and relevant to who we are as aboriginals.” — Rev. Sam Halkett “So we pray a lot,” says Norma Jean. “’Lord, if you open that door, then we’re going to step through it.’ ” In Woods Cree, work is in the very early stages. A key player in future Bible translation will surely be Rev. Sam Halkett of the Anglican Church, who ministers in Cree communities near Prince Albert, Sask. An avid teacher of his language for years, Halkett is responsible for three church services each Sunday. English Scriptures, says Halkett, provide many Woods Cree speakers with only a surface understanding of Christian truth. “I think they’re missing the real heart of the gospel itself, in the language of our people,” he says. “The power of the Word in our language changes our thought patterns, and it is more meaningful and relevant to who we are as aboriginals. And God is the Word, God is the Spirit, and He is in our language—it is a gift to us.” He hopes to assemble a team of translators to bring God’s Word to his people in their heart language. Most Recent Translation "In our communities, there is an emptiness... our children need to find the Creator to fill that emptiness. I think that is the strength of this Bible translation work. It’s a way to pass on our faith to future generations—that’s our legacy." — Dolores Sand Oji-Cree is the latest language to see translation begin. The visionary behind the effort is Lydia Mamakwa, area bishop for the Anglican Church’s Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh, the first completely indigenous diocese. She leads a team of six mother-tongue translators at Kingfisher Lake, Ont. Mamakwa and a colleague had personal experience in residential schools where their mother tongue was prohibited (see story, "I Almost Lost My Language"). Since 2015, with a strong community translation committee behind them, the team has translated 2,000-plus verses into Oji-Cree for their church’s Bible readings each Sunday. This is a welcome change from using Scriptures translated for other types of Cree, which the Oji-Cree don’t fully understand. “People are very happy with it,” says Mamakwa. “People say it makes it so much clearer to understand the message and what God is saying. It becomes so real.” Her Bible-translating sister, Zipporah, says Oji-Cree Scriptures will play a key role in the crucial work of maintaining the language. “It is my belief as a language teacher that the language amongst our children brings a sense of identity, a sense of belonging, a sense of security and comfort. “Without our language we are lost, our children are confused,” adds Zipporah. “We don’t feel whole without our language.” Plains Cree on the Way The Plains Cree portion of the Cree Initiative received a boost by being named a priority at the Prince Albert meeting. Since the early 1970s, CBS, Wycliffe and First Nations church leaders have been involved in Bible translation efforts for this largest of Cree languages in Canada. In the 1980s, Cree speaker and Anglican Church minister, Stan Cuthand, started work on a contemporary Plains Cree translation. He completed a first draft of the New Testament and about half of the Old Testament. Many workshops have been held to involve additional Cree speakers in the process of reviewing and giving input to improve the translation. This review process is now the focus of Dolores Sand and Gayle Weenie (who live in or near Saskatoon, Sask.) with ongoing input at consultations with groups of Cree speakers. Ruth Heeg of CBS has served as co-ordinator and translation consultant, but because of her retirement, other CBS translation personnel will be filling these roles as required. Both retired teachers, Sand and Weenie are painstakingly checking Cuthand’s draft translation for spelling and grammar, as well as for accuracy and clarity. These two Catholic lay leaders, who grew up in Cree communities in Saskatchewan, are passionate about giving fellow Plains Cree speakers the Word of God. “In our communities,” says Sand, “there is an emptiness... our children need to find the Creator to fill that emptiness. I think that is the strength of this Bible translation work. It’s a way to pass on our faith to future generations—that’s our legacy.” Weenie says working on the translation is also a way to reverse the impact of residential schools, which prohibited her own parents from speaking Plains Cree as children, in an attempt to break personal links to their culture. “I think about that often and I say, ‘I’m getting the last laugh because I still know the language and I’m trying to pass it on.’ “And for me personally, the Bible is the way of getting a deeper understanding of God.” As the translation checking progresses and Scriptures are distributed, the two colleagues hope to see God’s Word in Plains Cree used in church lectionary readings. Heeg says that people respond best to the gospel in their mother tongue. “The indigenous languages are still the mother tongue for a large number of people [in Canada],” she stresses. "This is a chance for reparations that will lead to revitalization, that will bless and enhance the whole Church in Canada." — Mark MacDonald, the Anglican Church’s national indigenous bishop Legacy Bible Gets Refreshed Sand, assisted by CBS’s Heeg, is also helping to check CBS-keyboarded syllabics text of the Scriptures from the out-of-print Mason Cree Bible from the 1860s. Bill Jancewicz describes this legacy Bible as a Cree equivalent of the English King James version, because it is highly regarded and honoured. As a result, it is found in many churches of First Nations communities no matter the variety of Cree spoken there. “It’s an ‘Indian’ Bible,” he says. It was translated in 1862 for speakers of a now-archaic Cree “on the plain” of Canada, by Rev. William Mason and his part-Cree wife Sophia, at Norway House, Man. In 1908, the translation was reprinted after a revision by Rev. John Alexander Mackay. The Mason Cree Bible has been read in First Nations services by generations of catechists, deacons, lay-readers and clergy, who then explained it in the local Cree language. However, younger speakers of these Aboriginal languages have grown up not understanding the older language or the syllabic writing system, so it can’t meet the needs of all Cree speakers. Nonetheless, because of the Mason Cree Bible’s stature, it is a priority of the Cree First Nations for CBS to reprint it. These Scriptures will also be a searchable, digital reference for current First Nations translators. Chance for Reparations Whatever Bible translation work they are part of, the MTTs involved are thankful for the prayers and financial donations of Canadian Christians, including those coming through Wycliffe Canada. Until Zipporah Mamakwa discovered how the work was funded, she didn’t realize that the broader Canadian Church cared about First Nations believers and their communities. “I would say that the help and support that we get from them is way beyond what we can express our thanks for.” Bishop MacDonald says non-Aboriginal Christian support for the Cree translation work acts as one way to make amends for the past mistreatment First Nations people have experienced. “This is a chance for reparations that will lead to revitalization that will bless and enhance the whole Church in Canada.” •••••With all of the media coverage leading up to and following Apple’s big iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus unveiling, just about everyone on the planet knows at this point that Apple ditched the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, its latest iPhones include only a Lightning port on the bottom. Apple suggests that iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners use either wireless headphones or wired headphones with a Lightning connector, like the EarPods Apple included in the box. Of course, there’s also a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter included with the iPhone 7 series that lets you connect your old 3.5mm headphones with no problem. Despite all the steps Apple has taken and despite the popularity of wireless headphones, people still have a number of complaints about Apple’s decision to do away with the 3.5mm audio port on its latest iPhones. Some complaints are valid while others are a stretch, but now it looks like a new issue may have been uncovered that no one even realized until now. DON’T MISS: iPhone 7 vs. Galaxy Note 7 speed test: This is just embarrassing… A German magazine has run extensive tests on the audio adapter included in the box with Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The magazine’s goal was to determine whether or not there is any sound degradation when using the adapter as compared to the standard 3.5mm audio port on last year’s iPhone 6s. While the article is in German and translations have varied a bit on Reddit and on the gadget forum where we the article was first linked, it looks like the tests did in fact find that sound quality is degraded when the adapter is being used. A translated quote from the article: The results are clear: with an iPhone 6S, the dynamic range worsens by 4.5 dB(A) for 24-bit music files. For the iPad Air, it worsens by 3.8 dB(A). The signal also gets worse for 16-bit music files, even if they aren’t that drastic: the dynamic range worsens by 1.8 dB(A) and 3.1 dB(A) for the iPhone and iPad, respectively. And here’s a chart that shows the full results from the tests: Now, before rage overcomes you and you smash your new iPhone 7 against a wall, you should know that these results aren’t terribly troubling. Without diving into a technical explanation, the bottom line is that the difference is going to be completely imperceptible to most people. Even audiophiles with an incredible ear for sound won’t notice the difference unless they’re listening to high-quality 24-bit audio files. While streaming music through services like Spotify, or while listening to compressed sound files in popular formats like MP3, not even the snobbiest sound snobs out there will be able to tell the difference.About 10 years ago, a group of graduate students lodged a complaint with Linda C. Babcock, a professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon University: All their male counterparts in the university's PhD program were teaching courses on their own, whereas the women were working only as teaching assistants. That mattered, because doctoral students who teach their own classes get more experience and look better prepared when it comes time to go on the job market. When Babcock took the complaint to her boss, she learned there was a very simple explanation: "The dean said each of the guys had come to him and said, 'I want to teach a course,' and none of the women had done that," she said. "The female students had expected someone to send around an e-mail saying, 'Who wants to teach?' " The incident prompted Babcock to start systematically studying gender differences when it comes to asking for pay raises, resources or promotions. And what she found was that men and women are indeed often different when it comes to opening negotiations. These differences, Babcock and other researchers have concluded, may partially explain the persistent gender gap in salaries, as well as other disparities in how people rise to the top of organizations. Women working full time earn about 77 percent of the salaries of men working full time, Babcock said. That figure does not take differing professions and educational levels into account, but when those and other factors are controlled for, women who work full time and have never taken time off to have children earn about 11 percent less than men with equivalent education and experience. In one early study, Babcock brought 74 volunteers into a laboratory to play a word game called Boggle. The volunteers were told they would be paid anywhere from $3 to $10 for their time. After playing the game, each student was given $3 and asked if the sum was okay. Eight times more men than women asked for more money. Babcock then ran the experiment a different way. She told a new set of 153 volunteers that they would be paid $3 to $10 but explicitly added that the sum was negotiable. Many more now asked for more money, but the gender gap remained substantial: 58 percent of the women, but 83 percent of the men, asked for more. Another study quizzed graduating master's degree students who had received job offers about whether they had simply accepted the offered starting salary or had tried to negotiate for more. Four times as many men -- 51 percent of the men vs. 12.5 percent of the women -- said they had pushed for a better deal. Not surprisingly, those who negotiated tended to be rewarded -- they got 7.4 percent more, on average -- compared with those who did not negotiate. Although differences in starting salaries are usually modest, small differences can have big effects down the road. If a 22-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman are offered $25,000 for their first job, for example, and one of them negotiates the amount up to $30,000, then over the next 28 years, the negotiator would make $361,171 more, assuming they both got 3 percent raises each year. And this is without taking into account the fact that the negotiators don't just get better starting pay; they also win bigger raises over the course of their careers. The traditional explanation for the gender differences that Babcock found is that men are simply more aggressive than women, perhaps because of a combination of genetics and upbringing. The solution to gender disparities, this school of thought suggests, is to train women to be more assertive and to ask for more. However, a new set of experiments by Babcock and Hannah Riley Bowles, who studies the psychology of organizations at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, offers an entirely different explanation. Their study, which was coauthored by Carnegie Mellon researcher Lei Lai, found that men and women get very different responses when they initiate negotiations. Although it may well be true that women often hurt themselves by not trying to negotiate, this study found that women's reluctance was based on an entirely reasonable and accurate view of how they were likely to be treated if they did. Both men and women were more likely to subtly penalize women who asked for more -- the perception was that women who asked for more were "less nice". "What we found across all the studies is men were always less willing to work with a woman who had attempted to negotiate than with a woman who did not," Bowles said. "They always preferred to work with a woman who stayed mum. But it made no difference to the men whether a guy had chosen to negotiate or not." In this study, Bowles and her colleagues divided 119 volunteers at random into different groups and provided them with descriptions of male or female candidates who tried to negotiate a higher starting salary for a hypothetical job, along with descriptions of applicants who accepted the offered salary. The volunteers were asked to decide whether they would hire the candidates -- who were all described as exceptionally talented and qualified. While both men and women were penalized for negotiating, Bowles found that the negative effect for women was more than twice as large as that for men. Subsequent studies used actors who recorded videos of themselves asking for more money or accepting salaries they had been offered. A new group of 285 volunteers were again asked whether they would be willing to work with the candidates after viewing the videos. Men tended to rule against women who negotiated but were less likely to penalize men; women tended to penalize both men and women who negotiated, and preferred applicants who did not ask for more. In a final set of studies, Bowles's team had 367 volunteers play the role of job candidates and left it up to them to decide whether to ask for more money than they were offered. Women were less likely than men to negotiate when they believed they would be dealing with a man, but there was no significant difference between men and women when they thought a woman would be making the decision. The applicants, in other words, were accurately reading how males and females were likely to perceive them. "This isn't about fixing the women," Bowles said. "It isn't about telling women, 'You need self-confidence or training.' They are responding to incentives within the social environment." The findings, published this year in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, help explain why some other studies have reached conflicting conclusions. For example, one study by Barry A. Gerhart, then at Cornell University, found little difference between male and female MBA students in whether they negotiated over their starting salary. Similarly, Bowles said, the new study showed that women did not act in the same way at all times: They were more likely to negotiate when dealing with another woman than when dealing with a man. "It is not that women always act one way and men act another way; it tends to be moderated by situational factors," Bowles said. "The point of this paper is: Yes, there is an economic rationale to negotiate, but you have to weigh that against social risks of negotiating. What we show is those risks are higher for women than for men."6 years ago (CNN) – President Barack Obama's decision to allow some young undocumented immigrants to defer deportation is very popular among Latinos, according to a CNN/ORC International poll released Thursday, pointing to one likely reason the president enjoys high support among the key voting demographic. In the poll, 71% of Latinos said Obama's decision, which was announced in June and went into effect in August, is about right. Another 15% said it doesn't go far enough, and 13% said it goes too far. - Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker - Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November. The president's decision allows people younger than 30 who came to the United States before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military to apply for a two-year deferral from deportation. In the poll, a large majority of Latinos – 77% - said the focus of the country's immigration policy should be allowing undocumented immigrants to become legal U.S. residents. Twenty-one percent said the focus should be on deporting them and stopping more from coming to the United States. Non-Latino whites are twice as likely to say that the main focus should be on border security and deportations. The poll also showed a large generation gap among Latinos on how immigrants should engage with U.S. culture once they're in the country. Among all age groups, 49% said it's better for immigrants to blend into U.S. culture, and 44% said it's better to for an immigrant to maintain his own culture. Among Latinos aged 50 or older, 62% said it was better for immigrants to blend into the culture of the United States, and 33% said it's better to maintain an immigrant's own culture. Younger Latinos felt differently – 45% said it's better to adopt the U.S. culture, and 49% advocated maintaining an immigrant's own culture. On Tuesday, CNN released poll numbers showing a majority of likely Latino voters favored Obama over his rival, GOP nominee Mitt Romney. The poll put Obama's support among Latinos at 70% and Romney's at 25%. Seventy-four percent of Latinos said Obama would better handle immigration, while 20% said Romney was better prepared to handle the issue. The CNN/ORC International poll was conducted by telephone from 601 adult Latinos between September 25 and October 1. The interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. The sampling error for all adult Latinos was plus or minus 4 percentage points, and among likely Latino voters the sampling error was plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.Prisons are incubators of poets, mainly mediocre. Four years into his judicial custody on charges which he felt were more appropriate for his political masters, Dahyaji Gobarji Vanzara, the Indian Police Service officer serving a jail term for allegedly being involved in extra-judicial killings which require a separate piece for detailing, released his first volume of verses titled Sinh Garjana or roar of the lion. When the book flew off the shelves of bookstores, the cop in detention decided to ride the wave and publish the second volume – Sinh Garjana II. Along with this, Vanzara released another book – Ran Tanjar or Battle Cry. It was clear he had a lot of anger within him. The question was against who was this directed and when would this come out. Also read: Is Modi losing control over Gujarat? It came out in September 2013 just as Narendra Modi, still Gujarat chief minister, was being anointed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate. The anger was vent over ten sheets of blank paper and when the ink dried, it metamorphosed into a politically explosive letter which duplicated as his resignation letter after sixteen years of service. Modi was his god, till Amit Shah came and took over his eyes and ears, Vanzara claimed dramatically in this letter. But astute political management and adversaries who did not have the capacity to milk the letter caused no setback to the Modi campaign and the bandwagon continued its golden run. It also helped because the "lion" remained jail-bound. Vanzara roared on Friday and this time not in distant forests but on the banks of the Sabarmati River as its flowed languidly past the riverfront where less than two years ago Modi had serenaded Chinese premier Xi Jingping and his wife. WATCH: Former Gujarat DIG DG Vanzara dances at a function in Ahmedabad after court permitted him to enter statehttps://t.co/bpJV9KuJih — ANI (@ANI_news) April 8, 2016 The former cop now says he wants to join public life: "I am retired, but not tired. My first inning is over, but my second and most important inning starts from today. Till now, I and other officers (accused) were fielding. Now, the bat is in my hand. I will bat and those who conspired against me and other innocent officers will have to field." Also read: Only Amit Shah can ensure Modi remains boss of BJP The moot question in the minds of most Gujaratis as they went to sleep and picked up their motions on Saturday, who will the bat swat. The two most powerful Gujaratis in the world will not ponder but shall be strategising how best to ensure that the Vanzara missile does not boomerang on them and destroy their political base. Modi-Shah's decision duo will determine if Vanzara will be boon or bane for BJP. Given the fact that Assembly polls are due in November 2017 and that the state government under chief minister Anandiben Patel is not doing anything to win hearts of the electorate, Vanzara’s determination to carve a political niche for himself could not have come at a better time. Between now and the polls, Amit Shah will have to devise a ploy by which the BJP can minimise the damage that the retired and spited officer can do to the BJP if not try to convert his desire into an opportunity to infuse new life into the divided state unit. Being Vazara has its advantages. He is from an extremely backward caste community and has personally come up against several odds. Having him as a team member would benefit any political party. The question is the extent of his ambition and the ability of the party to meet. Moreover, every party shall evaluate if Vanzara’s presence can be counter-productive given the gravity of charges still pending against him. For the moment, the roars that reverberated at the airport when he stepped free on Gujarat’s streets after nine years and when he was facilitated at Ahmedabad’s Town Hall, suggested that Gujarat was witnessing the return of the Hindu Hriday Samrat in another garb. The chanting of "Bharat Mata ki jai" to greet created a din which the BJP can hardly ignore. Also read - Fake encounter case: How Vanzara's arrest gave halo of victimhood to Modi Vanzara has other advantages too which political parties will find tough to ignore, especially someone like Amit Shah who used his abilities once. He was among those police officers who believed that having a good hold over the underworld was essential for success in his job. Because ties once built in this nether world are not snapped unless by treachery, Vanzara would have lines buzzing by now. That Gujarat has a very elaborate criminal network is hardly disputed and the bootlegging network in the state is one of the most elaborate ones in the country. All political leaders are aware of this and would be wary of the political capital that Vanzara can bring to or deploy against them. As his weapon, Vanzara has the lethal combination of the correct caste, immense political ambition woven into a proven formula and the backing of the nether world. With the BJP floundering because Modi did not build a second level leadership to carry the task after he moved to centre stage
showed that a DUP setup produced essentially double the results in 12 weeks when compared to a traditional linearly periodized plan. The two programs were set up like this (from Rhea et. Al. 2002): The DUP group experienced almost exactly 2x the results. 28.8% vs 14.4% improvement on bench press, and 55.8% vs. 25.7% improvement on leg press. And these weren’t rank beginners either – on average they’d be training for about 5 years. The awesome thing for personal trainers: DUP can work great in almost any client’s plan. Simply pick three combinations of sets and reps – maybe 3×10, 4×6, and 6×3, and cycle through them session to session. If they cancel a session – no problem! Just pick up where you left off. The DUP principles are still intact. Just add weight each time a particular set/rep scheme comes back up, and progress them linearly independent of each other. If your client stalls on one of them, just substitute a set/rep scheme that accomplishes the same basic purpose, and keep rolling. Additionally, this approach breaks up the potential monotony for a client. Lots of trainers have some stock set/rep schemes they always come back to, but DUP can provide better results, and the client knows they can look forward to something a little bit different each session. If someone’s primarily interested in strength, sticking with the main lifts or their close variations is best for maximizing neural development as well as muscular, but DUP can accommodate variety if your client is more training just general health and enjoyment. A weekly setup could look like this: Monday Knee-dominant lower body lift 4×12 Upper body push 4×12 Hip-dominant lower body 4×12 Upper body pull 4×12 Accessory work at your discretion Wednesday Knee-dominant lower body lift 3×8 Upper body push 3×8 Hip-dominant lower body 3×8 Upper body pull 3×8 Accessory work at your discretion Friday Knee-dominant lower body lift 5×5 Upper body push 5×5 Hip-dominant lower body 5×5 Upper body pull 5×5 Accessory work at your discretion Knee dominant exercises could be any sort of squat, lunge, leg press, hack squat, or step up. Hip dominant exercises could be any sort of deadlift, hinge, good morning, or back extension Upper body pushing is any sort of press Upper body pulling is any sort of row, pull up, or pull down Those rep ranges aren’t set in stone either. If a client’s bias is hypertrophy, then go with a few more reps per session, and if their primary goal is strength or fat loss, stick with lower rep ranges. Feel free to change the ratio of days focusing on a particular characteristic as well. If you split it up so that sets above 10 reps are primarily for hypertrophy, sets below 5 reps are primarily for strength and sets between 5 and 10 reps train a combination of the two, there’s no hard and fast rule that you have to keep everything in a 1:1:1 ratio – one workout in each rep range each training week like in the previous example. For a more hypertrophy-focused client, it could be 2:1:1 in favor of sets with more than 10 reps. You could set it up like this: Monday: Hypertrophy (sets of 10-15, with a total of 40 to 60 reps) Wednesday: Strength (sets of 1-5, for a total of 10 to 20 reps) Friday: Hypertrophy Monday: Intermediate (sets of 5-10, for a total of 20 to 40 reps) Wednesday: Hypertrophy Friday: Strength Obviously, you could bias lower rep work for a more strength-based client as well. The beauty in this approach is that it doesn’t matter too much how often someone is working out or what their goals are – as soon as they exhaust their linear gains, DUP works better than haphazard workouts, and even just as well, if not better than, traditional periodized programs. Add to that its massive feasibility advantage for the constraints of personal training, and DUP is a handy weapon in your arsenal. Join the Conversation Have something to say? Please comment on the status update embedded below:Please join the Economic Policy Institute and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth for a presentation by Thomas Piketty—economist from the Paris School of Economics and ground-breaking researcher on income inequality—of the findings in his new book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century. His presentation will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Heather Boushey, Executive Director and Chief Economist of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, with Josh Bivens, Research and Policy Director of the Economic Policy Institute, Robert M. Solow, Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Betsey Stevenson, Member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, serving as discussants. When: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM (EDT) Where: 1333 H St NW Suite 300, East Tower Washington, DC 20005 Piketty examines data from more than twenty countries spanning in some cases as far back as the 18th century to assess the dynamics of income and wealth distribution, with a particular focus on the role of capital ownership as a driver of long-run trends in income inequality. He argues that when the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of economic growth, as it has for most of history, then rising income inequality becomes inevitable. He says that if this rising inequality is allowed to continue unchecked, the results could be deep political and social disruption. While Piketty notes that inequality has different dimensions across countries, he concludes with a recommendation: significantly increase the progressivity of both income and wealth taxation. Given the extraordinarily globalized market for capital, he further argues that the reach of such taxes must be global as well. Capital in the Twenty-First Century, already a best seller, is an invaluable contribution to how we understand inequality and its possible consequences. The book, which has already focused the attention of economists like no other work in recent decades, will be available for purchase at the event. We very much hope you can join us. This event is free to the public. RSVP hereIt's pretty rare that Apple patent applications reveal much more than vague plans and ideas about future devices, but a newly-public filing out of Cupertino just comes right out and states the truth about gaming on touchscreen devices like the iPhone: it can be "somewhat awkward, particularly on a portable electronic device having a touchscreen" because the "user's fingers block the action." So what's the solution? Buttons, dude-man. The patent describes a handheld gaming dock that fits around a "substantial portion" of an iPhone or iPod that has both physical input controls and secondary storage for game information like scores and save data. That's certainly a nice idea, and one we'd love to see supported by Apple, but we're also pretty certain this patent doesn't have much of a chance as written, since we've been hearing about this concept since games first hit the App Store and similar products -- including a keyboard -- are on the market now. We'll see -- like so many of Apple's patent applications, this one might well just linger on the vine forever.Not Always A 'Thunderbolt': The Evolution Of LGBT Rights Under Obama Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Gay and lesbian activists gather at the White House on Thursday for a celebration marking LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Pride Month. It's become an annual event, tied to the monthlong commemoration of the Stonewall riots, which helped launch the modern gay liberation movement. President Obama's years in office have seen a flowering of gay and lesbian rights, culminating a year ago when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. "Progress on this journey often comes in small increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back," Obama said during a Rose Garden celebration hours after the high court's decision was announced. "And then sometimes, there are days like this, when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt." Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. At times, Obama has seemed less a trailblazer hurling thunderbolts than a weather vane, merely reflecting the shifting political winds. He'd campaigned as a "fierce advocate" for gay rights but disappointed some activists early on. Richard Socarides, who'd been an adviser on gay rights to Bill Clinton, complained that Obama was "missing in action" in the push to end the military ban on openly gay service members. "They didn't want to repeat the mistakes that President Clinton made by trying to move too quickly on gay rights," Socarides said. "They were so intent on not repeating those mistakes that I think they became too cautious." Obama acknowledged that frustration during his first Pride reception seven years ago. "I know that many in this room don't believe progress has come fast enough, and I understand that," Obama said. "It's not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago." The president's defenders say that what looked like foot-dragging in the push to reverse the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was actually careful groundwork. They argue that Obama needed to win support from both the military and the Senate before he could make a lasting change. "The story that got told was that somehow the president had to be dragged along unwillingly," said Tobias Wolff, who advised Obama on LGBT issues during the presidential campaign and after. "Nothing could be further from the truth." The administration also angered some gay rights advocates by initially defending a law that barred federal recognition of same-sex marriages, even in states where they were allowed. At the same time, the White House was working in countless smaller ways to expand gay rights in housing assistance, hospital visitation and other areas. "They put LGBT people into 'We the People' on a scale that had never happened before," said attorney Mary Bonauto, who's with the group GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders. And then there was the president's own, very public "evolution" on same-sex marriage. When he first ran for president, Obama went only as far as supporting civil unions. But after Vice President Joe Biden took the plunge during the re-election campaign four years ago, Obama went on national television to announce that he'd changed his mind, too. "I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts. To conservative critics, the turnaround was a bitter bait-and-switch. "If Barack Obama had actually laid out in full the LGBT agenda he was going to pursue back in 2008, I think he would never have been elected president," said Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, which opposes same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights. By 2012, public sentiment had already shifted in support of gay marriage, according to Pew Research Center (chart below). But even if the president was just mirroring public opinion polls, it was a major step politically. "In one day, he turned the conventional political wisdom on its head," recalled adviser Wolff. Far from a political liability, the president's embrace of same-sex marriage helped to mobilize young supporters. And he was handily re-elected. In his second inaugural, Obama wove the push for gay rights into a broader civil rights tapestry, stretching from Seneca Falls and Selma to Stonewall. "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like everyone else under the law," Obama said, drawing cheers from the crowd on the National Mall. "For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." In this final year, the administration has been even more aggressive, battling for transgender rights. The Justice Department sued North Carolina over its new law requiring public school students to use the bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex. And Attorney General Loretta Lynch delivered a passionate message directly to transgender people. "We see you. We stand with you. And we will do everything we can to protect you going forward," Lynch said. A vivid symbol of that inclusive spirit came on the night of the Supreme Court's marriage decision last June, when the White House itself was lit up in rainbow colors. For longtime adviser Wolff, it was an emotional moment. Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Drew Angerer/Bloomberg via Getty Images "It said to 10 million Americans — myself included — who had felt like an unwelcome presence, it said, 'You belong. And we're proud of you. And more to the point, we're proud of ourselves for being a part of bringing this moment to fruition,' " Wolff said. And just maybe, that was Obama's plan all along: to create the space for a national evolution on gay rights. Many of the president's early critics have come around to that point of view. Socarides recalls a story that Obama liked to tell about Franklin Roosevelt. After meeting with labor activists in the 1930s, Roosevelt supposedly told them, "I agree with you. Now, make me do it." "No one questioned that Barack Obama's heart was always in the right place on gay rights," Socarides said. "He just needed the pressure that we put on him and the political support. What seemed like someone who was not willing to act so boldly, to now we see it's probably one of the most important parts of his legacy." Obama, who often takes the long view, predicted as much during that first Pride reception seven years ago. "We've been in office six months now," Obama told impatient activists at the time. "I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."What, did you think we were trying to forget about the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon? We have definitely seen the Twitter war going on after last night’s vague tweet from @VZWsupport, but are trying to ignore it. To help make your day brighter though, how would you like to see the official press or website photos of the phone, straight from a VZW.xml file? The backing of the phone matches up exactly to the photo that one of our sources sent us earlier in the week. It says “Verizon” and “4G LTE” instead of “Google” which yes, is crazy odd. The color scheme could be slightly darker than the GSM version, but it still looks hot. Three more pictures after the break. Mmmhmm. Temporarily fixed? Via: Android Forums Cheers Han Solo, Dave and kidtronic!Focus is key to success and happiness in life. The most successful people on this planet are highly focused. They pay attention to the present moment and present tasks. This habit ensures they are fully engaged in activities, get more done properly and deal with adverse life events better. Highly focused people are simply mindful. They don’t do many things that many of us might be prone to do. 1. They don’t gossip. Highly focused people don’t gossip. They have better, more productive things to do with their time. The only people who engage in this petty behavior are shallow people whose personal lives are not fulfilling enough. Otherwise, why would you even care how someone else is living their life? Gossiping only makes you look jealous and pathetic. 2. They don’t multitask. Highly focused people don’t multitask. They focus on one thing at a time to boost attentiveness and productivity. Studies have shown that the human brain can handle two complicated tasks without too much trouble because it has two lobes that can divide responsibility equally between the two. However, adding a third task can overwhelm the frontal cortex and increase the number of mistakes you make. Advertising 3. They don’t procrastinate. Highly focused people don’t procrastinate. Sure, they might be tempted to put off tasks for hours because the tasks are unpleasant or overwhelming, but they somehow manage to push themselves and get what needs to be done DONE when it ought to. In other words, highly focused people know the best time to do something is now, and they do it now—not later. 4. They don’t allow distractions to derail them. Highly focused people remove all distractions that hinder them from getting quality work done. Whether it is e-mail alerts, social media pop-up notifications or people casually stopping by during work hours, highly focused people stop distractions before they can steal their productive time. They know distractions break concentration, cause stress and derail you from completing tasks and achieving your goals. 5. They don’t seek validation from others. Highly focused people don’t need your approval because they know their own self-worth. They do things for themselves and believe what they do will advance them in life. They don’t concern themselves with the opinions of others and don’t live up to anyone’s expectations. Focused people simply concentrate on the tasks that promote personal and professional growth. Advertising 6. They don’t entertain disorganization. Highly focused people hate disorganization. They don’t entertain it because they know it adds stress to our lives, blocks our creativity and costs us valuable time that could be used to get work done. They keep everything in its proper place so they can easily and quickly get it when they need it. You might think you can thrive amidst chaos, but in reality you are only holding yourself back from being as productive and effective as you could be by being disorganized. 7. They don’t give silly excuses not to work. Highly focused people don’t give silly excuses not to work. They know you can’t always wait for the perfect time and perfect conditions to do things. There may never be such a time. Often you just have to brace yourself and get your feet wet. Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day as Sir Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and President Obama. 8. They don’t eschew risk. Highly focused people are not afraid to take risks. They know life itself is a risk; nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. They take their chances because those chances may never come again. Playing it safe can keep you safe for now, but hurt you more in the long run. Focused people not only take calculated risks, but also learn from both the positive and negative outcomes of risks. Advertising 9. They don’t dwell on the past. Highly focused people don’t dwell on the past. They are not defined by the things they did or didn’t do in the past. They simply accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what could be. Their desire to succeed is much stronger than their fear of failure and so they learn from their mistakes and keep going forward. Mistakes may hurt for a while, but they will make you smarter and stronger in the end. 10. They don’t act rashly. Highly focused people don’t rush onto things. They take time to think through and weigh options carefully against their core goals and objectives. They know not everything that glitters is gold. Often, they simply choose to take pleasure in their own work, celebrate their accomplishments and relish the good fortunes to come. They don’t abandon their projects and jump onto the next “big” thing. They stick to their goals and stay committed to their dreams through the sunny days and the rainy days. 11. They don’t involve themselves in matters that don’t concern them. Highly focused people mind their own business. They don’t go meddling in other people’s affairs unless they are specifically called to do so or it is absolutely necessary because it affects them directly. They are fully engaged in their own affairs and content to focus on their own priorities. People who are unable to mind their own business aggravate others and often lose their own sense of direction and self-worth. Advertising 12. They don’t compare themselves to others. Highly focused people don’t compare themselves to others because they are content with who they are. They know comparing yourself to others serves only to demoralize and make you feel inferior, while in fact you have equal capacity for growth and advancement in life as anybody else. Highly focused people consider the achievement of others to determine what they need to do to replicate similar success. This ensures they are sufficiently motivated and energized to keep pressing towards their goals and dreams. 13. They don’t have unrealistic expectations. Highly focused people are realistic. They don’t expect a smooth ride all through life or to get things out of situation. Instead, they go into situations with realistic expectations and are prepared for the rough times. They know unrealistic expectations only lead to disappointment and frustration when things don’t go as planned. However, smart, realistic and achievable expectations power you on to fully immerse and apply yourself without the pressure of living up to bad preconceived notions. 14. They don’t say “yes” to everything. Highly focused people are not people pleasers. They don’t feel the need to say “yes” to everything and everyone just because. They know you can’t always please everyone and sometimes you have to say “no” to people otherwise their priorities might precede your own. Highly focused people, therefore, firmly but gently say “no” to everything that doesn’t support their values or help them achieve their goals. Saying “no” to things that are not a priority allows you to focus on the things that are important. 15. They don’t quit. Highly focused people are not quitters. They know nobody ever succeeded by being a quitter. The people who succeed and live their dreams are those who work hard and persevere through troubled times. The people who succeed are those who don’t quit. People who are not focused quit when things get a little tough; highly focused people get tough when others quit! Featured photo credit: Young man using a professional camera via shutterstock.comDetails Published on Thursday, March 12 2015 11:51 Written by Johnny M New York, NY—March 12th, 2015— You thought the horrors were over? Think again! It’s time to return to the ruined wastes of New York City once more in YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #1 – a new Secret Wars series coming this June! Writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Mike Norton take you back to the apocalyptic future of one of the most famous X-Men tales of all time – and the tragedies that come with it. Amid the ravaged hellscape of Battleworld’s Sentinel Territories, armies of armored behemoths patrol the skies and streets. Their mission – exterminate all mutants! Amid the rubble walks Kate Pryde – mother, warrior, X-Man. A heroine tried and true and tested by war, she stokes the fires of revolution. “Harkening back to the source material, this Kitty Pryde is a grown woman – now called Kate Pryde,” says writer Marguerite Bennett in an interview with Marvel.com. “She is no longer a desperate girl with nothing to lose, she’s a mother and wife with more to lose than ever before. On her shoulders rest not only the lives of her family and friends and a solitary mission, but the survival of her entire people who are dwindling to nothingness through the purges of the Sentinels and the abuses of the regime in power.” Rebellion is in the air, and Kate Pryde will do anything to ensure the survival of her people – including breaking the remaining X-Men out of their military prison! But is she willing to risk everything, even her family? The answers lie within this June in YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #1! YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #1 Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT Art by MIKE NORTON Cover by ART ADAMS On Sale This June! To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.Everett Golson’s trek through the Sunshine State continued Tuesday. A day after the former Notre Dame quarterback visited Florida State, he traveled two hours southeast to Gainesville to check out Florida. Golson, a fifth-year senior, plans to transfer as a graduate student and play at another school in 2015. Multiple sources confirmed Golson’s visit to Gainesville, where first-year coach Jim McElwain is sorting out the quarterback situation he inherited from predecessor Will Muschamp. Sophomore Treon Harris, who started the final six games of the 2014 season, and redshirt freshman Will Grier split snaps during spring practice, but neither proved to McElwain that he was ready to be named the starter. Golson, who is a Myrtle Beach, S.C., native, started 25 career games for the Fighting Irish. He helped Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season and a berth in the BCS title game in 2012, but was suspended for the entire ’13 season because of a cheating incident in a class. He returned to Notre Dame and started 12 games in ’14, but he decided to transfer when it became clear he had fallen behind redshirt sophomore Malik Zaire on the depth chart. Golson’s suspension could become an issue should he wish to transfer to an SEC school. When the league revised its graduate transfer rule in 2014 to allow players with one year of eligibility remaining to transfer and play immediately, it included language in the rule that banned players who had “significant disciplinary issues” at the previous program. Such players can still transfer to an SEC school if they receive a waiver from the league office. Golson could qualify for such a waiver because the spirit of the rule was designed to eliminate players who were running away from disciplinary action. It was instituted because league officials were embarrassed when Ole Miss used the rule in 2010 to take quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who had been kicked off the team at Oregon during that off-season. Golson is not running from a suspension. He served his punishment and then returned to the school that punished him. A source said the timeline for Golson’s decision remains open. He would like to visit several other schools before he chooses a destination.WOUNDED SON: Sam Stevens with her son Caine, who spent three days in Waikato Hospital with dog-bite injuries. A large dog which bit a Hamilton boy will not be put down because animal control staff say the child provoked the dog by pulling on its testicles. The boy's mother Sam Stevens wants the dog destroyed after it caused facial injuries to her son Caine, 3, when it bit him at a Hamilton house on December 29. But Hamilton City Council has stood by the decision of its animal control staff, who say the neapolitan mastiff-cross dog was provoked. Caine spent three nights at Waikato Hospital. "He had cuts round his eye, lacerations on the inside of his mouth where his cheek had been separated from his jaw," Miss Stevens said. "There was damage to the nerves in his cheek which has caused his lip to droop, and he'll need surgery at a later date to rectify that." His worst injury was a 9cm cut on his cheek and chin. Miss Stevens said Caine was attending a barbecue at the dog owner's Hamilton home. The owner was the ex-boyfriend of Miss Stevens' sister, who had taken the child for a swim. Miss Stevens said her son was warned for "touching the dog inappropriately, and when he returned a second time the dog attacked him". "They claimed he touched the dog's testicles." She said she was "totally at a loss" as to why the dog had not been destroyed. "They (animal control staff) have said the dog isn't a danger to anybody, but my son has been through a hell of a lot in the last week." Miss Stevens was aware the dog was at the property, but had never encountered the animal before. Her son had previous dealings with other family dogs, including her own. She had not been able to contact the dog's owner, and had laid a complaint with the city council because she believed it should have the animal put down. Council spokeswoman Christine Watson said the biting incident had been voluntarily logged by the dog's owner, who also offered the dog for destruction. As part of the animal control investigation, two independent witnesses said they had seen the boy deliberately leave the house and harm the dog by squeezing its testicles. Animal control staff believed the dog had acted in its own defence, and after assessing its behaviour and "completely clean record" they decided it did not need to be put down.The investigation also revealed the child had been involved in two previous incidents of alleged animal cruelty. Efforts by the Times to contact the dog's owner were unsuccessful. Morrinsville neapolitan mastiff breeder Dion D'Amvers said the breed were "predictable", generally laid-back and a little lazy, and more protective than aggressive.“I don’t think it is a good example for kids to watch that on TV" TV ‘Bachelor’ Juan Pablo Galavis is having a DUCK DYNASTY moment. The former Venezuelan soccer star said Friday night that he would be 100 percent opposed to having a cycle of the reality dating show feature an openly gay or bisexual bachelor. “I don’t think it is a good example for kids to watch that on TV,” he told me while promoting the show at a network party in Pasadena, Calif. —————————————————————————————————————- Stay up-to-date with breaking news and features from TheTVPage.com Follow us on Twitter uu“Like” us on Facebook uuSubscribe to Email Alerts —————————————————————————————————————- “Obviously people have their husband and wife and kids and that is how we are brought up. Now there is fathers having kids and all that, and it is hard for me to understand that too in the sense of a household having peoples… Two parents sleeping in the same bed and the kid going into bed… It is confusing in a sense. But I respect them because they want to have kids. They want to be parents. So it is a scale… Where do you put it on the scale? Where is the thin line to cross or not? You have to respect everybody’s desires and way of living. But it would be too hard for TV.” Juan Pablo’s awkward — and somewhat unexpected — comments continued as he then accused gay people of being “more pervert in a sense.” The single dad — who has been known to ditch out on dates to spend time with 4 year-old daughter Camila — was careful to note that he has many gay friends and co-workers. But he still believes the show would be “too hard to watch” with a non-straight leading man or lady. What do you think of Juan Pablo’s remarks? Listen to an unedited audio recording of the Q&A and then let us know by leaving a comment below.Journalist Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) is a former editor of Politico Magazine and the author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself—While the Rest of Us Die, from which this article is adapted. He can be reached at [email protected]. Sen. Rand Paul was blunt about what would have happened Wednesday morning during an attack on a congressional softball practice without the coincidental presence of Majority Whip Steve Scalise—there wouldn’t have been any Capitol Police presence, meaning no security to return fire and stop the shooter. “It would’ve been a massacre.” Even as it was, the gunman got off dozens of shots—perhaps as many as 50 or 60, witnesses told reporters. Scalise, the third-ranking member of the House leadership team, remains in critical condition after being shot in the hip, and the gunman was killed. But the incident brought new attention to an uncomfortable fact that has dogged Capitol Hill since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001: Congress, thanks to its own stubbornness, still doesn’t have a good mechanism to quickly replace members who have been injured or killed. And, if ever there were a mass slaughter of top members of Congress—a chemical or biological attack, or even a shooting incident that merely injured or incapacitated a large number of senators or representatives—business could come to a grinding halt and leave the House and Senate impotent for weeks or even months. Story Continued Below The stranger thing, though, is that America’s continuing inability to rebuild Congress after a catastrophic attack is, one might say, supposed to be a feature, not a bug. The men and women who have occupied the House leadership before Scalise have decided that they don’t want members to be easily replaced, even if preserving congressional traditions means that senators and representatives would be sidelined from post-disaster decision-making. The loss or incapacity of even a small group of members would have a profound and immediate impact on democracy, thanks to procedures developed when Confederate members of Congress abandoned Washington during the Civil War. Today, the loss of life of one or two dozen members of Congress could drastically alter the majority totals necessary to pass tax cuts or the repeal of Obamacare, restrict civil liberties following an emergency or pass any other piece of legislation. Congress has never had much interest in confronting its own mortality—during the Cold War, President Dwight Eisenhower effectively coaxed into existence the congressional doomsday bunker at the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia after legislative leaders dragged their feet—but the months after 9/11 raised new fears about just how unprepared Congress remained for any sort of widespread catastrophe involving its members. Those fears were quickly underscored when Senate leaders like Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschle received deadly anthrax at their offices, forcing the closure of 19 Capitol Hill office buildings. The anthrax attacks raised a new, scary possibility never contemplated during the Cold War: What if an attack incapacitated large numbers of senators and representatives without immediately killing them? From the 1940s to 1962, as it wrestled with the issue of presidential succession, Congress saw more than 30 different proposed bills and constitutional amendments about what to do in the case of a mass death of its membership—three of them were even passed by large margins out of the Senate, but every bill died untouched in the House, which stubbornly refused to contemplate its own mortality. Eventually, the issue fell from the legislative branch’s radar. One of the stumbling blocks was that “continuity of Congress” was a misnomer. From the outside, the legislative branch might appear as a single entity housed in a single domed building. But the House and the Senate operate separately, each driven by and respectful of its own traditions and precedents. As James Madison explained in setting up the legislative branch, the Founders’ goal was to “divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them by different modes of election, and different principles of action, as little connected with each other, as the nature of their common functions, and their common dependence on the society, will admit.” Neither body has any ability to force its governance principles on the other—all procedures were arrived at either independently or by negotiation and compromise. That history explains why, when it comes to questions of continuity and succession, the two bodies have evolved rather different approaches. The Senate—which until the early 20th century had a long tradition of appointed members rather than directly elected ones—had relatively clear constitutional policies about how to appoint interim senators to fill a vacancy. The House, though, had no clear way to reconstitute itself quickly, nor have its leaders been inclined to compromise what they see as their body’s unique character in the name of continuity efforts. That’s precisely the way House leaders want it to be: The House prides itself on the fact that every person who has ever set foot in the body has been duly elected by the people; its biennial elections keep it close to the will of the voters and make it a valuable check on the whims of the president and the Senate, whose longer terms allow them greater detachment from the populace. The Friday Cover Sign up for POLITICO Magazine’s email of the week’s best, delivered to your inbox every Friday morning. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. In the wake of 9/11, though, a terrifying image haunted the discussion of congressional continuity: Had United Flight 93 taken off on time, instead of 41 minutes late, and the passengers hadn’t had time to learn of the other attacks and storm the cockpit, the plane might very well have successfully continued to Washington and hit the Capitol building at about the same time as American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. Had it hit while both chambers were in session, as they were that morning, legislative business might have been forced to a halt by procedural problems deeper, in fact, than the catastrophic physical destruction wrought by the attack. “With hundreds dead and perhaps hundreds of others in burn units in hospitals, Congress would likely have been without a quorum, without a building, without the ability to function,” American Enterprise Institute scholar Norm Ornstein worried after 9/11. In congressional testimony, Ornstein pointed out that since the Civil War, Congress had interpreted Article I of the Constitution as requiring a quorum of the majority of the members “duly chosen, sworn, and living” to conduct its business—that interpretation, as opposed to basing a quorum on the majority of the body’s total membership, was a procedural sleight of hand formulated as a response to the large numbers of senators and representatives who had left the body as the Confederate states seceded. The seats left vacant by the secessionists need not, House Speaker Galusha Grow had ruled, be counted toward the body’s quorum total. Gathering a quorum of members chosen, sworn and living was a simple enough standard to meet if members were killed—thereby reducing the House’s total number—but it would pose its own post-catastrophe problems. As Ornstein pointed out, if 300 members of the House were killed in a natural disaster or terrorist attack, the body could conduct business with a majority—68 representatives—of just those remaining alive until special elections ultimately filled the vacancies. Certainly, whatever legislation such a small group could pass might, as Ornstein said, “tax its legitimacy” with the public. What if an attack wiped out the vast majority of the body? Would anyone want a subset of just a handful of representatives, perhaps just a dozen, score, or even a hundred, making sweeping decisions about declarations of war, new appropriations or the massive civil liberties curbs likely to be imposed following a large-scale attack? What if a massacre changed the partisan balance on the Hill? It’s too early to know the extent to which Wednesday’s shooter was motivated by partisan motives, but any sort of mass attack on one particular party could easily tip the balance of power, particularly in a closely divided body. Even more troubling for democracy, though, are scenarios that include the loss of a large portion of Congress. “Take, for example, an attack that kills all but 9 members of Congress,” Ornstein argued.
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Be a checking accounts that expensive due Safety Guide For Your Online Payday Loan Application next what all within weeks. Small business a fine option that Ease And Convenience Of The Quick Cash Network in life just minutes.Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonHeather Nauert withdraws her name from consideration for UN ambassador job Trump administration’s top European diplomat to resign in February Pompeo planning to meet with Pat Roberts amid 2020 Senate speculation MORE on Wednesday hit China over what he deemed as its efforts to subvert and undermine global order, while outlining a broad commitment to increasing cooperation with India. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a foreign policy think tank, Tillerson said that the Trump administration was "determined to dramatically deepen" cooperation with India, which he cast as a stabilizing influence in Asia. China, on the other hand, poses a threat to stability in the region and the greater world order, he said. ADVERTISEMENT "China, while rising alongside India, has done so less responsibly, at times undermining the international, rules-based order even as countries like India operate within a framework that protects other nations’ sovereignty," Tillerson said. "The United States seeks constructive relations with China, but we will not shrink from China’s challenges to the rules-based order and where China subverts the sovereignty of neighboring countries and disadvantages the U.S. and our friends," he said. Tillerson's comments came days before he is due to make a visit to India. They also coincided with the China National Congress, a weeklong gathering of Chinese Communist Party officials taking place this week. The secretary of State's tone on China contrasted sharply with President Trump's warmer attitude toward Beijing. While Trump ripped China on the campaign trail, he has generally taken a softer approach toward the country and has talked up his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Cooperation with China has been a cornerstone of Trump's efforts to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, because Beijing is Pyongyang's only major ally and largest trade partner. Tillerson also reaffirmed that Pakistan — India's longtime foe — remained a key U.S. partner in the region. But he was more stern in his remarks, emphasizing that Islamabad must act swiftly to crack down on terrorist groups operating in the country. "We expect Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorist groups based within their own borders that threaten their own people and the broader region," he said. "In doing so, Pakistan furthers stability and peace for itself and its neighbors, and improves its own international standing."Image caption Russian companies could benefit from easier access to foreign markets, economists say Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) will provide an important boost to European companies, the EU has said. Russia is the EU's third biggest trading partner, with member countries exporting 108bn euros ($134bn; £85bn) of goods to the country, including 7bn euros worth of cars and 6bn euros of medicines. Russia finally joined the WTO on Wednesday after 18 years of negotiations. The country will now lower its import duties, limit its export duties and grant greater access to European companies. It will also introduce a host of other measures to bring it into line with WTO trading procedures. All this should make the country with the biggest population in Europe a much more accessible - and predictable - market for foreign companies, says the BBC's Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford. Russia could also benefit greatly from joining, economists say. It will get easier access to international markets and should see an increase in foreign investment. Russia currently exports 200bn euros of goods to the EU, of which 130bn euros is oil. However, economists have warned that any improvement will also depend on Russia clamping down on corruption, reducing bureaucracy and improving the rule of law, our correspondent says. Russia is the 156th member of the WTO. The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which also joined the organisation on Wednesday, is the 157th member.Defects found in boiler units lead to four reactors being taken offline, two at Heysham 1 and two at Hartlepool, for eight weeks Nuclear reactors in northern England to be shut down due to faults Four nuclear reactors at two large power plants in the north of England are to be shut down temporarily, after inspectors discovered a fault with a boiler unit. EDF Energy said four reactors at its Heysham 1 and Hartlepool plants were to be shut down while investigations continued looking into the defect. The outages mean a third of Britain's nuclear capacity will be offline this week, following temporary maintenance work taking place at two of EDF's other reactors in Scotland and Kent. An EDF spokesman said the latest shutdowns would not lead to power blackouts in the area, and the investigations would take around eight weeks. The fault, which was found in the reactor's boiler units, was discovered by chance during routine inspections on one of the main reactors earlier this year. EDF said in a statement: "Although routine inspections of other boiler spines have not previously indicated any similar defects, EDF Energy has taken the conservative decision to shut down Heysham 1 reactor 2 and Hartlepool reactors 1 and 2, that are of similar design, over the next few days to carry out further inspections in order to satisfy itself and the regulator that the reactors can be safely returned to service." The Heysham 1 plant in Lancashire was taken offline in January because of a faulty boiler pump. The outage is not thought to have affected power supplies in the area. Last May, a reactor at Heysham 1 was shut down after smoke was seen coming from the plant.Destroying the City to Save It: New York in the Shadow of Le Corbusier Destroying the City to Save It: New York in the Shadow of Le Corbusier We often consider Le Corbusier’s top-down redevelopment ethos a dead letter from the urban renewal era, a victim of its own mistakes. But neoliberal governance, as in Bloomberg’s New York, has seen the revival of large scale architectural schemes and the return of the all-powerful planner archetype. Construction on the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project (CSondi via Flickr Creative Commons) Le Corbusier would have dismantled entire cities, but he was no anti-urbanist. In fact, he intended to rebuild urban cores denser than ever. Le Corbusier was not Frank Lloyd Wright, who rejected centralized cities altogether. Nor was he Robert Moses, who thought cities required emergency surgery to escape obsolescence. But he shared with the aforementioned names an innate aversion toward cities as they existed. Hardly opposed to population density, Le Corbusier saw cities as critical battlegrounds in a planetary struggle for human salvation in the face of jarring technological change. The cataclysmic wars and depression of his times necessitated revising urban landscapes on uncompromising terms. A career-spanning exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York thoroughly reminds us of the architect’s enduring relevance. “Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes,” running through September 23, provides fascinating illustrations of his overarching planning ambitions, stirring debate on the role of concentrated authority over urban spaces. What gets built, for what purpose, and in whose interests? These questions resonate as Bloomberg-era projects redevelop large sections of New York on the terms of an elite few. This is the largest exhibition the MOMA has ever dedicated to Le Corbusier, exploring the ways he incorporated ecological context into his varied works. It simultaneously engages his lesser known pursuits as a painter, traveler, and writer. He used these media to connect with landscapes—exercises that informed the building and planning schemes that made him famous. Though often understood as an enforcer of machine-age brutalism, Le Corbusier conscientiously sought harmony with natural surroundings. The exhibition marshals an elaborate array of artifacts to make this case. Various representations of his elegant Villa Savoye capture its attentiveness to the outside world. His cathedral at Ronchamp glides in correspondence with undulating hills. Government buildings at Chandigarh—the closest he ever came to planning a full city—demonstrate keen awareness of the surrounding mountains afar, with reflection pools up close. These leading examples of his work evince an artist capable of creating beauty. More than that, he profoundly influenced architecture by engaging modern forms in construction technique as well as interior design. These are delicate reeds of truth, given the artist’s controversies. Admittedly I’d have a much harder time conceding them had any of his fervently ideological redevelopment plans been fully realized. After all, Le Corbusier often undertook singular projects with these broader schemes very much in mind. His prototypical city would have decimated rather than accentuated its surroundings. He never actually got the chance to tear down a city, but not for lack of trying. Le Corbusier’s writings reveal a base rhetorician eager to diagnose epochal destruction if authorities ignored his utopian blueprints. A self-described “man of letters,” he wrote voluminously in repetitive staccato anti-rhythms. Spare sentences lob visually evocative words in a well-honed, propagandistic jujitsu advancing his ultimatums on society. For instance, he oddly named his redevelopment proposals for Algiers after a series of explosive shells. This style spoke to what the late historian Eric Hobsbawm called an age of extremes. Simplistic juxtapositions present global society with diametrically opposed, immoderate courses of action. Here is how Le Corbusier concludes his 1923 planning classic, Towards a New Architecture: Society is filled with a violent desire for something which it may obtain or not. Everything lies in that: everything depends on the effort made and the attention paid to these alarming symptoms. Architecture or Revolution. Revolution can be avoided. This is the posturing of a self-invented character, carefully projected as a revolutionary trying to obliterate the status quo but beset by reactionary forces. At the same time he played the anti-revolutionary appealing to fearful elites. For Le Corbusier (itself a nom de guerre first deployed in journal articles), the social upheaval that shook the foundations of established power stemmed from inadequate built environments. Mass industry could either commit itself to building modern cities or use its ever increasing capacities on war production. Industrial techniques lurched ever closer toward perfection in Le Corbusier’s mind, so if humankind chose self-destruction, it would do a fine job of it. Yet the new wave of industrialism simultaneously promised perfected modes of living. Thus its leaders had no choice but to follow his blueprint. The radiant city diagrams and their place-specific variants on view in “An Atlas of Modern Landscapes” offer closer looks at how Le Corbusier intended to solve these problems. In essence, these schemes comprise a unified theory of social harmony. Their basic elements include cruciform skyscrapers to house businesses surrounded by smaller residential structures, all connected by streets upon which cars and pedestrians would never meet. Building skyward allowed room for vast parks between buildings, eliminating suburbs entirely. This should sound familiar to anyone who has seen the cruciform-styled apartments along Manhattan’s Lower East Side, which Moses planned with the radiant city in mind. These vertical neighborhoods disrupt Manhattan’s normal grid patterns in order to separate pedestrian activity from car traffic. As influential as they were, Le Corbusier’s self-assured diagrams mask darker political undertones. The radiant city, by Le Corbusier’s reckoning, would have conferred unassailable power to a handful of enlightened administrators. Creating and maintaining such a system meant sidelining interest groups, independent community leaders, landlords, and any other Lilliputian army that threatened the grand plan. If you read this as fascism, you aren’t far off the mark. Workers would ostensibly gain maximum freedom in the private sphere, but only in exchange for strict deference to authority. Mass mobilization, properly channeled, could in short order create built environments capable of alleviating the torments of modern work and home life. Le Corbusier plied five continents (hence the “atlas” in the exhibit’s title) in search of cities that would implement this expansive vision. There were variations on the radiant city for Paris, Barcelona, Algiers, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and New York. This quest included enthusiastic courtships with the command-and-control regimes of Stalin, Mussolini, and—most controversially—Vichy France. For all these eyebrow-raising relationships, Le Corbusier feigned an aversion to conventional politics. He retained enough ideological ambiguity to reach out to whomever happened to be in power on the right or left. The radiant city is nevertheless an expression of syndicalism, a semi-coherent but essentially right-wing movement Le Corbusier attached his name to in the 1930s. Syndicalists rejected what they saw as capitalism’s chaotic system of individualistic private enterprise, favoring the collectivization of society into hierarchical administrative units instead. Today Le Corbusier mainly invites derision for planning mistakes rather than for his polemics. New urbanists rarely evoke his name except as a metonym for over-planning gone awry. Jane Jacobs’s 1961 classic The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which stridently informs the current discourse, savages Le Corbusier on no fewer than seven occasions. Her repeated charge (probably correct) is that his car-centric utopia would have required paving over most of its proposed green spaces for parking lots. She classifies his radiant city model as just one in a series of heavy-handed schemes that failed twentieth-century cities, a charge that largely stuck. Jacobs’s book anticipates the general antipathy planners conveyed toward globally prominent architects as their two professions diverged. Planning consultant Jeff Speck’s recent book Walkable Cities: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time portrays Rem Koolhaas as an egoist who detaches his designs (however interesting) from their immediate neighborhoods. Frank Gehry faced similar repudiations for his Guggenheim Bilbao, which is surrounded by a vacuous plaza. This gives the hyper-individualistic architect his pedestal but disrupts the overall urban landscape. New urbanists care most about fostering an active street culture, to which Le Corbusier offered few answers, since conventional narrow streets stood to be eliminated. At most, he elevated many of his buildings on pilotis, creating the potential for foot traffic to pass beneath. This feature can be seen in his Unité d’Habitacion, an oft-studied apartment building in Marseilles completed in 1952. The technique has since been used many times over, arguably making superblock apartment complexes less stifling at the street level than they otherwise would be. Rather than wait for city life to develop parcel-by-parcel over time in the Jacobsean tradition, Le Corbusier prized space efficiency. Much could be accomplished on very little ground, leaving open spaces unmolested. Indeed, if all went as planned, only 15 percent of the radiant city would be built upon. This principle applied equally to interiors. As we learn from “An Atlas of Modern Landscapes,” Le Corbusier was an aesthete who spent much of his time in a tiny beach house that he designed for himself. This was just one manifestation of a lifetime’s worth of housing schemes dating back to the 1910s. For Le Corbusier, the modern home was a “machine for living” that accommodated everyday challenges with rational humanistic precepts. This work presages the micro-studio apartment designs touted as prototypes for many high-cost global cities where space is increasingly out reach for the non-affluent. New York is currently making exceptions to minimum-size restrictions to allow for such housing. A recent design competition initiated by the Bloomberg administration challenged architects to design fully functional housing units with as little as 250 square feet. The winning prototype (now on display at the Museum of the City of New York, with a structure scheduled to break ground in lower Manhattan later this year) incorporates an impressive array of traditional housing elements. This addresses the city’s affordable housing crisis for (presumably) single professionals the Bloomberg way. It leaves the question of spatial inequality to well-intentioned designers, keeping it safely out of political discussion. With that in mind, consider Rafael Viñoly’s supertall residential tower now under construction at 432 Park Avenue. The building utilizes the simple geometric form of the square, conveying countless right angles, which Le Corbusier lauded as an inherently rational expression of modern intentions. This project will devote entire floors to the transient elite as micro-studios struggle to accommodate middle-class housing needs. The latter promises increased physical comfort for the non-elite within the city hierarchy without calling this skewed power structure into question. In another example, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards will have some of the world’s largest pre-fabricated residential structures, demonstrating the potential for mass-produced housing tracts; Le Corbusier—a champion of ever more divided forms of labor—wanted to make this technique commonplace. This, he thought, could hastily solve severe housing shortages in interwar France. The Brooklyn project, for its part, is an attempt by developers to stiff many of the city’s construction unions. These deployments of Le Corbusieran principles are rooted in a hyper-capitalistic system he would have abhorred. Yet he did try to show that architecture offers potential end runs around political pluralism, accommodating steep stratification while mollifying restive publics. We often consider Le Corbusier’s top-down redevelopment ethos a dead letter from the urban renewal era, a victim of its own mistakes. This is not always the case. Even though he never worked in China, Le Corbusier received due recognition at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai alongside other old urbanist castaways. Themed “better city, better life,” the Expo’s urban planning pavilions presented him favorably while overlooking Jacobs, William Whyte, and other intellectuals who promoted small-scale urbanism. This was a post-hoc affirmation of a government planning consensus that made parts of Shanghai resemble a radiant city (and displaced millions in the process). Even in non-authoritarian states, the road is paved for the return of the all-powerful planner archetype. The Bloomberg model of neoliberal governance marked a revival of large-scale architectural schemes, though largely in service to private capital as opposed to the overarching public good Le Corbusier thought he advanced. Late great urbanists serve as touchstones in these debates. Recall that Amanda Burden, the Bloomberg administration’s most important urban planner, once promised to build “like Moses, on an unprecedented scale, but with Jacobs firmly in mind.” A prevailing lament is that local-level public processes enable a few organized interests to short-circuit development. Burden turns this notion on its head, expressing Jacobsean humanism while hinting at the necessity of drastic renewal projects. As with the power brokers of the previous century, the neoliberal city planners broach minimal toleration for the plurality of voices that constitute politics. Whether it seeks to affirm its own changes to the urban fabric, or opposes development that might mitigate the city’s South African levels of inequality, the Bloomberg administration offers a reflexive refrain. Only its chosen course, to the exclusion of all other voices, keeps the city competitive in an increasingly hostile competition among interconnected global cities. Anyone opposed to this narrow brand of neoliberal governance risks, including the likely Democratic mayoral candidate, relegating the city to obsolescence or even fiscal insolvency. All of these rhetorical blades shone brightly when the administration recently proposed the wholesale rezoning of seventy-three blocks in Midtown East for even taller buildings. The current building stock, the city argues, fails “to meet the needs of corporate tenants.” Furthermore, proponents contend unpersuasively that New York risks losing competitive ground to London or Shanghai without this potentially draconian change. Because the plan does little to account for badly needed public amenities in the area and risks overshadowing existing buildings, Robert A.M. Stern warned of emulating Shanghai’s “regrettable, scaleless moonscape.” There are numerous projects underway that embody these exclusionary politics. The Atlantic Yards redevelopment scheme is irreversibly reshaping the neighborhood after the dubious use of eminent domain to evict residents. The project’s developer, Forest City Ratner, alongside its boosters in city government, touted the project as a font of social benefits, including jobs and affordable housing—all of which haven fallen well short of initial promises. Another Bloomberg legacy in the making, the Hudson Yards project on Manhattan’s West Side, also ran roughshod over community resistance. A similar story could soon take place in rezoned parts of Willets Point in Queens. Among these contemporary developments, the World Trade Center site most closely resembles the radiant city. Intermittently impressive, the site’s monotone gigantism has many of the radiant city’s aesthetic flaws. Despite heavy subsidies, this collection of towers represents a narrow range of public voices. As the Nation’s Michael Sorkin complained, “there’s no housing, no community space, no social or health services.” Le Corbusier did not contend with neoliberalism in its current form. He wouldn’t recognize a world transformed by successive waves of decolonization and democratization, with fewer command-and-control regimes with which to press his grand plans. Who would he seek out if he were working today? My guess is that he would have plenty of potential interlocutors, empowered by the cutthroat economics that informs so much building. There’s one obvious flaw, though, in the logic of the all-powerful planner archetype he once championed. Redevelopment projects, from mega-event planning in Brazil to a proposed shopping mall in Istanbul, have sparked new debates over the legitimacy of concentrated power in nominally democratic societies. Exclude too many people, too often, and they’ll start to take notice. Joshua K. Leon is an assistant professor of political science and international studies at Iona College. He writes on poverty, development, global health, and urbanization, and lives in Manhattan.Officials from nearly 200 countries have begun a two-week meeting in Paris to reach a new deal on reducing carbon emissions. The meeting is the 21st Conference of the Parties, and the talks are being dubbed COP21. Nations have met every year since 1992 to strike a deal on greenhouse-gas emissions. They did that just once—in Kyoto in 1997—and came close to a pact in 2009 in Copenhagen. President Obama, Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, are among the leaders who are attending the UN talks. Here’s a brief look at what is being discussed and what the potential sticking points are: What’s being discussed? Negotiators are looking at voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions past 2020. Each country is setting its own target, and rich countries will pay poorer ones to reduce their emissions—an attempt to offset the perceived costs of developing an economy. Is an agreement likely? One reason for optimism is the world’s two biggest emitters, China and the U.S., both want an agreement. The two countries were seen as the biggest obstacles to a treaty in Copenhagen in 2009, a failed attempt to reach such a deal. What are the sticking points this time? One major issue is how much richer countries will pay poorer ones to lower their emissions. Another, perhaps trickier, issue is whether any pact would be legally binding: The European Union wants it to be so; the U.S. doesn’t. India, the world’s third-biggest emitter, has already raised concerns over a potential treaty. And then there is the U.S. Congress, where Republican leaders are already warning that any deal struck in Paris could crumble. What about the Kyoto Protocol? The 1997 treaty to reduce emissions covered only rich countries. But the pact was never ratified by the U.S. Senate, making it toothless because the United States, which was then the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, wasn’t bound to the protocol. The agreement also excluded China, now the world’s biggest emitter, and India.Microsoft stated in a support page that a version of Movie Maker, one of its most popular free Windows desktop apps, could be coming to the Windows Store for Windows 10 PCs. For those of you who are unaware, Windows Movie Maker is a easy-to-use video editing app, with the first version launched in 2000 as part of Microsoft's Windows Essentials software suite. The current version of the app was released in 2012. Microsoft plans to end support for all of its Windows Essentials 2012 apps on January 17, 2017. While the support post for those apps shows that Microsoft has listed a number of altentatives for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 owners for the rest of the apps in the suite, such as Mail, Photos and OneDrive, it lists something different for Movie Maker:Virtual reality will be a bustling industry by the middle of the next decade, but getting to that point will take some time, according to a study released today. The new 10-year industry forecast from Greenlight Insights and Road to VR suggests the VR business will be “very modest” through 2018, and in an “inflexion zone” for the next five years before blossoming to $38 billion in annual revenues by 2026. An oft-cited study from Digi-Capital had concluded that the VR industry would be worth $30 billion by 2020. But despite the rosy industry forecasts, more than half of the report’s industry respondents said they expect to bring in less than $1 million in VR revenue in the next 12 months, and just 45.2% think they’ll be profitable in that time frame. As the number of VR hardware platforms has grown to include the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Playstation VR, Google Daydream (and Cardboard), and Samsung Gear VR, among others, one of the biggest concerns about the health of the consumer VR industry has been a dearth of quality content. That is changing as more and more content is developed, but the report suggested that the lion’s share of industry revenue will still come from hardware sales. Overall, the authors wrote, about 62% of revenue will come from sale of headsets, VR cameras, and other gear. Within hardware, meanwhile, VR cameras are expected to bloom from less than 1% today (for devices like Ricoh’s Theta S or Samsung’s Gear 360) to about 12%, or $4.6 billion, by 2026, Greenlight and Road to VR predicted.Ukrainian Canadians (Ukrainian: Українські канадці, Україноканадці, translit. Ukrayins'ki kanadtsi, Ukrayinokanadtsi; French: Canadiens d'origine ukrainienne) are Canadian citizens of Ukrainian descent or Ukrainian-born people who immigrated to Canada. In 2016, there were an estimated 1,359,655 persons of full or partial Ukrainian origin residing in Canada (the majority being Canadian-born citizens), making them Canada's eleventh largest ethnic group[1] and giving Canada the world's third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. Self-identified Ukrainians are the plurality in several rural areas of Western Canada.[3] According to the 2011 census, of the 1,251,170 who identified as Ukrainian, only 144,260 (or 11.5%) could actually speak either the modern Ukrainian language or the historic Canadian Ukrainian dialect.[4] History [ edit ] Unconfirmed settlement before 1891 [ edit ] Minority opinions among historians of Ukrainians in Canada surround theories that a small number of Ukrainians settled in Canada before 1891. Most controversial is the claim that Ukrainians may have been infantrymen alongside Poles in the Swiss French "De Meurons" and "De Watteville" regiments who fought for the British on the Niagara Peninsula during the War of 1812 – it has been theorized that Ukrainians were among those soldiers who decided to stay in Upper Canada (southern Ontario).[5] Other Ukrainians supposedly arrived as part of other immigrant groups; it has been claimed that individual Ukrainian families may have settled in southern Manitoba in the mid- to late 1870s alongside block settlements of Mennonites and other Germans from the Russian Empire.[5] "Galicians" are noted as being among the miners of the British Columbia gold rushes and figure prominently in some towns in that new province's first census in 1871 (these may have been Poles and Belarusians as well as Ukrainians).[6] Because there is so little definitive documentary evidence of individual Ukrainians among these three groups, they are not generally regarded as among the first Ukrainians in Canada. Settlement – first wave (1891–1914) [ edit ] Post-independence Ukrainian fifteen- kopiyka stamp commemorating the centennial of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, 1891–1991 During the nineteenth century the territory inhabited by Ukrainians in Europe was divided between the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. The Austrian crownlands of Galicia and Bukovyna were home to many Ukrainian speakers. Austrian Galicia was one of the poorest and most overpopulated regions in Europe, and had experienced a series of blights and famines. Emigration on a large scale from Galicia to the Balkans (the north-south border region between Croatia and Bosnia) and even to Brazil was already underway by 1891. The first wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada began with Iwan (Ivan) Pylypow and Wasyl (Vasyl') Eleniak, who arrived in 1891, and brought several families to settle in 1892. Pylypow helped found the Edna-Star Settlement east of Edmonton, the first and largest Ukrainian block settlement. However, it is Dr. Josef Oleskow,[N 1] along with Cyril Genik, who are considered responsible for the large Ukrainian Canadian population through their promotion of Canada as a destination for immigrants from western (Austrian-ruled) Ukraine in the late 1890s. Ukrainians from Central Ukraine, which was ruled by the Russian monarchy, also came to Canada[7] – but in smaller numbers than those from Galicia and Bukovyna. Approximately 170,000 Ukrainians from the Austro-Hungarian Empire arrived in Canada from September 1891 to August 1914.[8] Clifford Sifton, Canada's Minister of the Interior from 1896 to 1905, also encouraged Ukrainians from Austria-Hungary to immigrate to Canada since he wanted new agricultural immigrants to populate Canada's prairies. After retirement, Sifton defended the new Ukrainian and East European immigrants to Canada – who were not from the United Kingdom, the United States, Scandinavia, Iceland, France or Germany – by stating: “ I think that a stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat, born to the soil, whose forefathers have been farmers for ten generations, with a stout wife and a half-dozen children, is good quality.[9] ” This Ukrainian immigration to Canada was largely agrarian, and at first Ukrainian Canadians concentrated in distinct block settlements in the parkland belt of the prairie provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. While the Canadian Prairies are often compared to the steppes of Ukraine, the settlers came largely from Galicia and Bukovyna – which are not steppe lands, but are semi-wooded areas in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. This is why Ukrainians coming to Canada settled in the wooded aspen parklands – in an arch from Winnipeg and Stuartburn, Manitoba to Edmonton and Leduc, Alberta – rather than the open prairies further south. As well, the semi-feudal nature of land ownership in the Austrian Empire meant that in the "Old Country" people had to pay the pan (landlord) for all their firewood and lumber for building. Upon arriving in Canada, the settlers often demanded wooded land from officials so that they would be able to supply their own needs, even if this meant taking land that was less productive for crops. They also attached deep importance to settling near to family, people from nearby villages or other culturally similar groups, furthering the growth of the block settlements. Fraternal and benevolent organizations established by these settlers include the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association (ULFTA, affiliated with the Communist Party of Canada),[10] the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood (UCB, affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada),[10] and the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League (USRL, affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada).[10] The ULFTA transformed itself into the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians in 1946,[11] the UCB and USRL are part of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress today.[12] By 1914, there were also growing communities of Ukrainian immigrants in eastern Canadian cities, such as Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton, and Windsor. Many of them arrived from the provinces of Podillia, Volhynia, Kyiv and Bessarabia in Russian-ruled Ukraine.[7] In the early years of settlement, Ukrainian immigrants faced considerable amounts of discrimination at the hands of non-Slavic, non-Southern European Canadians, an example of which was the internment.[13][14][15] Internment (1914–1920) [ edit ] "Why?" / "Pourquoi"? / "Chomu"?, by John Boxtel at the location of the Commemorative plaque and a statue entitled, by John Boxtel at the location of the Castle Mountain Internment Camp, Banff National Park "Never Forget" / "Ne Jamais Oublier" / "Nikoly Ne Zabuty", by John Boxtel; and damaged plaque at the cemetery of the [16] Commemorative statue entitled, by John Boxtel; and damaged plaque at the cemetery of the Kapuskasing Internment Camp, Kapuskasing, northern Ontario From 1914 to 1920, the political climate of the First World War allowed the Canadian Government to classify immigrants with Austro-Hungarian citizenship as "aliens of enemy nationality". This classification, authorized by the August 1914 War Measures Act, permitted the government to legally compel thousands of Ukrainians in Canada to register with federal authorities. About 5,000 Ukrainian men, and some women and children, were interned at government camps and work sites. Although many Ukrainians were "paroled" into jobs for private companies by 1917, the internment continued until June 20, 1920 – almost a year after the Treaty of Versailles was signed by Canada on June 28, 1919. There are some two dozen Ukrainian-specific plaques and memorials in Canada commemorating Canada's first national internment operations, including several statues – on the fairgrounds of Canada's National Ukrainian Festival south of Dauphin, Manitoba, the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg; and at the locations of the former internment camps in Banff National Park, Alberta, Spirit Lake (La Ferme), Quebec, and Kapuskasing, Ontario. Most were placed by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) and its supporters. On August 24, 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin recognized the Ukrainian Canadian internment as a "dark chapter"[17] in Canadian history, and pledged $2.5 million to fund memorials and educational exhibits[17] although that funding was never provided. On May 9, 2008, following the 2005 passage of Inky Mark's Bill C-331, the Government of Canada, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, established a $10 million fund[18] following several months of negotiation with the Ukrainian Canadian community's representatives, including the UCCLA, Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko (also known as the Shevchenko Foundation), establishing the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund (CFWWIRF). The Endowment Council of the CFWWIRF uses the interest earned on that amount to fund projects that commemorate the experience of Ukrainians and other Europeans interned between 1914 and 1920. The funds are held in trust by the Shevchenko Foundation. Amongst the commemorative projects funded by the Endowment Council was the unveiling, simultaneously across Canada, of 115 bilingual plaques on August 24, 2014, recalling the 100th anniversary of the first implementation of the War Measures Act. This was known as Project "Сто" (translit. Sto; meaning "one hundred"), and organized by the UCCLA. Settlers, workers and professionals – second wave (1923–1939) [ edit ] In 1923, the Canadian government modified the Immigration Act to allow former subjects of the Austrian Empire to once again enter Canada – and Ukrainian immigration started anew.[19] Ukrainians from western Volhynia – the Polesie and Wołyń Voivodeships (under Polish rule), and southern Bessarabia – also known as the Budjak (under Romanian rule), joined a new wave of emigrants from Polish-governed Galicia and Romanian-governed Bukovyna. Around 70,000 Ukrainians from Poland and Romania arrived in Canada from 1924 to September 1939,[8] although the flow decreased severely after 1930 due to the Great Depression. Relatively little farmland remained unclaimed – the majority in the Peace River region of northwestern Alberta – and less than half of this group settled as farmers in the Prairie provinces.[20] The majority became workers in the growing industrial centers of southern Ontario and the Montreal region and the Eastern Townships of Quebec; the mines, smelters and forests of northern Ontario; and the small heavy industries of urban western Canada.[20] A few Ukrainian professionals and intellectuals were accepted into Canada at this time; they later became leaders in the Ukrainian Canadian community.[8] The second wave was heavily influenced by the struggle for Ukrainian independence during the Russian Civil War, and established two competing fraternal / benevolent organizations in Canada: the United Hetman Organization (UHO) in 1934[21] – which supported the idea of a Ukrainian "Cossack kingdom" led by Pavlo Skoropadskyi;[22] and the rival Ukrainian National Federation (UNF) in 1932[23] – which supported the idea of an independent Ukrainian republic and politically supported the armed Ukrainian nationalist insurgency in Polish-occupied Western Ukraine.[24][25] The UHO ceased to exist by 1960, while the UNF continued to
understand her point, if only because my own identification has definite limits. Some enthusiasts – perhaps those with more nationalistic proclivities – support all sporting codes with equal vigour. I certainly don't. Indifference would be an understatement when it comes to my attitude toward rugby league. Leaving aside the inherent inferiority of the code in terms of subtlety and spectacle, how can you emotionally invest in a sport whose international competition is limited to no more than two-and-a-half teams? When the Kiwis take the field, they certainly don't do so on my behalf. GETTY IMAGES "The America's Cup exacerbates class differences." I've been known to take perverse pleasure in their default-setting losses to Australia, results almost as amusing as the never-ending delusions and topsy-turvy form of the so-called "New Zealand" Warriors. Maybe my anti-league prejudice is just snobbery. It's grounded in class and background and upbringing. Ours was a household that routinely mocked league whenever it came on television. In an era when the All Blacks were the only game in town, rugby league wasn't even the embarrassment it usually is today. It was virtually invisible. What then of the America's Cup? If rugby league could broadly be described as the code of the working man, yachting is the recreation of the elite. We are of course, dealing in generalisations. REUTERS Kiwi Russell Coutts is Chief Executive Officer of Team New Zealand's rival Oracle. I'm aware that the sport I grew up with, squash racquets, is in some circles equally thought of in class terms. It's a trend seen especially in English television and films, where it's only played by posh Oxbridge types. Still, whatever New Zealand's fine record in Olympic yachting, in either youth or adulthood, I cannot recall ever enjoying the acquaintance of a yachtsman. These folk went to different schools, many of them private. The America's Cup exacerbates these class differences. If ever there was a pastime exclusive to the ultra-rich and decadent, it is the frequently corrupt, perpetually litigious competition for the "Auld Mug", the oldest and dirtiest international sport. You would be hard pressed to name a code where your lawyers were as important as your players or one so devoid of basic sportsmanship. For most, I suppose, all this makes Emirates Team New Zealand's victory all the sweeter. The battling minnows of Godzone defeat the deep-pocketed billionaire Larry Ellison with number 8 wire innovation and Kiwi spirit. If this narrative has meaning for you, go ahead, live the dream. My own cynicism is fuelled as much by the number of New Zealand born personnel involved in rival syndicates, a sure sign that the sport is more about money than national pride. In this regard, the character of Sir Russell Coutts assumes almost legendary status. Back in 2003, at the same time as Team New Zealand had appropriated Dave Dobbyn's patriotic anthem, extolling the rest of us to be "loyal", the likes of Coutts and Brad Butterworth were anything but, prostituting their talents, becoming the cornerstones of Alinghi's success. It was like Dan Carter or Richie McCaw in their prime, lining up for Australia or the Springboks at a World Cup. Except All Blacks tend to put their country first. Comments have been closed on this articleMLG have announced that OpTic Gaming and compLexity have been invited to compete at the upcoming Americas Minor. Eight teams, hailing from North and South America, will face off from January 15-17 at the Americas Minor Championship, taking place at the MLG Arena, in Columbus, Ohio. The winner of this tournament will take home the bulk of a $50,000 prize pool and also a spot at the MLG Columbus Major offline qualifier, taking place from February 26-28. With six of the eight spots having been filled by the leading teams from the online qualifiers in North and South America, MLG has now revealed that invites have been handed to OpTic Gaming, who will make their first appearance for the organisation later today, at ELEAGUE Road to Vegas, and to compLexity. ShahZaM's OpTic invited to play at the Americas Minor Danny "fRoD" Montaner's team, who had failed to secure a spot in the 16-team closed qualified for the Minor, will be attending the event with Ronnie "ryx" Bylicki and Hunter "SicK" Mims, who have been playing for the team as substitutes following the departures of Kory "SEMPHIS" Friesen and Timothy "autimatic" Ta. The final list of participants for the Americas Minor is the following: SPLYCE SPLYCE EnemyGG EnemyGG Winterfox Winterfox Obey Alliance Obey Alliance AlienTech AlienTech Operation Kino Operation Kino OpTic Gaming OpTic Gaming compLexity compLexity The tournament sees the eight competing teams split into two double-elimination groups. The top two teams from each four-team group will advance to the single-elimination playoffs, which will be played in a best-of-three format. Meanwhile, MLG has announced the full talent panel for the event, comprising seven well-known figures in the Counter-Strike scene, including Richard Lewis, Jason "moses" O'Toole and Scott "SirScoots" Smith. The full on-air crew for the tournament looks as follows: Host: Scott "SirScoots" Smith - Host Analysts: Richard Lewis John "blu" Mullen Casters:Suppose you hear someone say, “The man gave the ice cream the child.” Does that sentence seem plausible? Or do you assume it is missing a word? Such as: “The man gave the ice cream to the child.” A new study by MIT researchers indicates that when we process language, we often make these kinds of mental edits. Moreover, it suggests that we seem to use specific strategies for making sense of confusing information — the “noise” interfering with the signal conveyed in language, as researchers think of it. “Even at the sentence level of language, there is a potential loss of information over a noisy channel,” says Edward Gibson, a professor in MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) and Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. Gibson and two co-authors detail the strategies at work in a new paper, “Rational integration of noisy evidence and prior semantic expectations in sentence interpretation,” published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “As people are perceiving language in everyday life, they’re proofreading, or proof-hearing, what they’re getting,” says Leon Bergen, a PhD student in BCS and a co-author of the study. “What we’re getting is quantitative evidence about how exactly people are doing this proofreading. It’s a well-calibrated process.” Asymmetrical strategies The paper is based on a series of experiments the researchers conducted, using the Amazon Mechanical Turk survey system, in which subjects were presented with a series of sentences — some evidently sensible, and others less so — and asked to judge what those sentences meant. A key finding is that given a sentence with only one apparent problem, people are more likely to think something is amiss than when presented with a sentence where two edits may be needed. In the latter case, people seem to assume instead that the sentence is not more thoroughly flawed, but has an alternate meaning entirely. “The more deletions and the more insertions you make, the less likely it will be you infer that they meant something else,” Gibson says. When readers have to make one such change to a sentence, as in the ice cream example above, they think the original version was correct about 50 percent of the time. But when people have to make two changes, they think the sentence is correct even more often, about 97 percent of the time. Thus the sentence, “Onto the cat jumped a table,” which might seem to make no sense, can be made plausible with two changes — one deletion and one insertion — so that it reads, “The cat jumped onto a table.” And yet, almost all the time, people will not infer that those changes are needed, and assume the literal, surreal meaning is the one intended. This finding interacts with another one from the study, that there is a systematic asymmetry between insertions and deletions on the part of listeners. “People are much more likely to infer an alternative meaning based on a possible deletion than on a possible insertion,” Gibson says. Suppose you hear or read a sentence that says, “The businessman benefitted the tax law.” Most people, it seems, will assume that sentence has a word missing from it — “from,” in this case — and fix the sentence so that it now reads, “The businessman benefitted from the tax law.” But people will less often think sentences containing an extra word, such as “The tax law benefitted from the businessman,” are incorrect, implausible as they may seem. Another strategy people use, the researchers found, is that when presented with an increasing proportion of seemingly nonsensical sentences, they actually infer lower amounts of “noise” in the language. That means people adapt when processing language: If every sentence in a longer sequence seems silly, people are reluctant to think all the statements must be wrong, and hunt for a meaning in those sentences. By contrast, they perceive greater amounts of noise when only the occasional sentence seems obviously wrong, because the mistakes so clearly stand out. “People seem to be taking into account statistical information about the input that they’re receiving to figure out what kinds of mistakes are most likely in different environments,” Bergen says. Reverse-engineering the message Other scholars say the work helps illuminate the strategies people may use when they interpret language. “I’m excited about the paper,” says Roger Levy, a professor of linguistics at the University of California at San Diego who has done his own studies in the area of noise and language. According to Levy, the paper posits “an elegant set of principles” explaining how humans edit the language they receive. “People are trying to reverse-engineer what the message is, to make sense of what they’ve heard or read,” Levy says. “Our sentence-comprehension mechanism is always involved in error correction, and most of the time we don’t even notice it,” he adds. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to operate effectively in the world. We’d get messed up every time anybody makes a mistake.” The study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.Running Time: Release Date: MPAA Rating: Starring: Directed by: Written by: The sense from the sizzle reel above is vastly different from the Gary Ross feature presented to audiences earlier this year; there's definitely more of a run-down, science-fiction, steampunk vibe here. /Film also chatted with the director about pitching to studios in the current era, you can check out a few excerpts below./Film: It seems like a lot of upcoming directors are now putting together these video reels for their studio pitches. When did this start, and when did you discover this practice?Kevin: The idea of a “pitch reel” has been around for awhile and is very common practice for any director. Trying to pitch a vision to a room full of people is always very difficult verbally. In the past two years, the pitch reel has significantly become more demanding since technology allows for people to make mini movies in their own homes. It’s almost expected for a director to show some visual materials, but the need to impress has become elevated. At first, it was just some concept art, some storyboards and possibly a treatment. Then the rip-o-matic (a visual reel using clips from other movies to portray a visual style) became really popular. I even know some directors who do a full animatic at their expense just to take into a meeting./Film: When did the mash-up trailers begin to crop up? Is it happening more now because its easier? cheaper? Or allows for a more expansive vision?Kevin: There is an epic feeling about trailers, and when done right, they are extremely gratifying. It’s also much cheaper if you have the hard drive space haha. The first mash up trailer I saw was in 2006. Ever since then, everyone I know makes one for a pitch to complement other materials. I also think the idea of making a trailer is very attractive because when you watch it, you have the feeling that this is what the movie will be like when it’s done. Some things that make trailers hard however are pacing, music and sound fx. Because when you rip a movie, all that stuff is tied together. You don’t have the luxury of stripping the music away from the dialogue, and that can be limiting sometimes./Film: How long did it take you to put together the pitch trailer for Hunger Games?Kevin: It took me a month to finish it all. The pitch book took a little longer./Film: One signature thing I’ve seen in many of these pitch trailer mash-ups is the section where they introduce the cast. Is this your dream cast? Or is this a way to establish your casting taste for the project?Kevin: As far as the cast is concerned, I was just trying to show some casting choices. It wasn’t trying to pitch that exact cast or anything./Film: Do you ever create shots or special effects to put into these trailer mash-up pitches?Kevin: Sometimes I do create specific shots if I think it will help tremendously. It would either be a matte painting to showcase scope or, in the case of Hunger Games, I had a CG mocking jay created for the ending logo.There's much more in the interview with Kevin over at /Film so be sure to visit their site to read the entire transcript. It's truly interesting to see just how different a film that's taking ques from the same source material can turn out depending upon who's behind the camera.The Hunger Games Blu-ray and DVD, arrived August 18 with over 3 hours of behind-the-scenes footage.2 hrs 22 min23 March 2012 (USA)PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teensJennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam HemsworthGary RossGary Ross (screenplay), Suzanne Collins (screenplay/novel) Lionsgate announced that a film adaptation of Catching Fire will be released November 22, 2013, as a sequel to the film adaptation of The Hunger Games, which was released March 23, 2012. Lionsgate has announced the film's November 22, 2013 release date with principal photography to take place in summer/fall 2012. The shooting timeframe was co-ordinated between Lionsgate and Fox, in order to allow time for star Jennifer Lawrence to shoot the sequel to Fox's X-Men: First Class in January 2013. On April 10, 2012, it was announced that Gary Ross, the director of The Hunger Games, would not return due to a 'tight' and 'fitted' schedule. On April 19, 2012, it was announced that Francis Lawrence was offered the director position for the film. According to sources, the adaptation must be done filming by December 2012 to fit Jennifer Lawrence's schedule. Lionsgate officially announced Francis Lawrence as the director for Catching Fire on May 3, 2012. Two days later, it was reported that Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3, Little Miss Sunshine) is in talks to re-write the script for Catching Fire. On May 24, 2012, the film was renamed The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.Two Austin-based comedians have made a hilarious contribution to the trend of family portrait humble-bragging online by announcing their own beautiful bundle of joy, a burrito. Erin Holsonback/An Indoor Lady The two Austin-based comedians glow with pride for their newest addition in a series of photos taken by Erin Holsonback. Stand-up comedians Ella Gale and MK Paulsen decided to stage a photoshoot with Austin photographer Erin Holsonback to celebrate their growing family and joint custody of their foil-swaddled newest addition. "You've seen the pictures; who wouldn't want to have a burrito with MK Paulsen?" Gale told The Huffington Post. "Our decision to share our love for our burrito with the world happened pretty organically." And, for anyone in the Austin area, Gale said, "You'd be hard-pressed to find a better photographer to work with than Erin [Holsonback]. She really captured MK and I's feelings about our burrito and each other." And it took next to nothing to convince her to do the shoot, Holsonback told HuffPost, "When a handsome, 6'5" man asks you to photograph a Celine Dion-inspired newborn shoot with a Chipotle burrito instead of a baby, you always say yes." Erin Holsonback/An Indoor Lady Gale and Paulsen juggle their busy life by "hand[ing] the little beanball off between sets!" Erin Holsonback/An Indoor Lady "Ella has been so wonderful with our burrito and I don't think there is a better person to have a burrito with in this entire world. I am so impressed with Ella's ability to juggle work, comedy and our little burrito!" Paulsen said. Erin Holsonback/An Indoor Lady The photographer of the series said, "When a handsome, 6'5" man asks you to photograph a Celine-Dion-inspired newborn shoot with a Chipotle burrito instead of a baby, you always say yes." Erin Holsonback/An Indoor Lady "I'm not sure what's next for the three of us, but of course we want to continue to share our family's joy with the world!" Paulsen and Gale told HuffPost. The photos provide a hilarious commentary on the many family portraits that Facebook and Instagram users come across every day. "People seem to really connect with the photos," Gale said. "Many people who have seen them appear to have been inspired to do their own photo shoots with the food they've had together. Which is great!" Though not a couple, Paulsen and Gale run in the same Austin comedy circle. "It's great to have someone who understands the challenges and joys of fitting a burrito into our lifestyle. We just hand the little beanball off between sets!" Gale said.I’m sitting in my home on Saturday listening to Maurice Sendak, the beloved children’s author, tell Terry Gross about his immigrant parents, and how they put all their money toward bringing one relative after another to America in the 1930s, Sendak, you know, is the man who wrote “Where the Wild Things Are,” “In the Night Kitchen” and other classic American children’s delights. An immigrant, his parents refugees. In his impoverished childhood, the money went to bring the relatives over one by one — brothers, sisters, grandmother. Until Germany shut the borders and those left behind were killed. Then I read the New York Times account of the people detained at JFK on Saturday — a family of refugees from Syria with approved visas. A man who worked in Iraq on behalf of the U.S. government, coming to join his wife and child. Then we realized that next, perhaps, will be the celebrated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who is nominated for an Oscar but comes from the banned Iran. Also Read: Academy Calls Possible Ban of Asghar Farhadi from Oscars 'Extremely Troubling' A blanket travel ban goes against everything we believe as Americans. And it comes not as we are under threat, on the brink of war or economically on our knees — which is typically when America does horrifically unconstitutional things like allow Guantanamo, waterboarding or the Sedition Act. This travel ban comes apropos of nothing other than President Trump’s absurd reality distortion. It connects to no particular terror attack, and neatly avoids any countries where his companies do business. Where is the country we know and love? The one that is hopeful, open to the world, devoted to welcoming the world’s “tired and poor” and offering a haven to those who go on to become our very own strength, like Maurice Sendak and about a million others we could name? As someone who has many friends in Muslim countries and who has spent many years abroad, it does not represent me or the country I know. Also Read: Hollywood Slams Donald Trump's #MuslimBan as 'Disgusting,' 'Disturbing' The fact that it comes overnight by presidential fiat contributes to the sense of shock. Since when is this country run by a ruler rather than three branches of government? What is going on? The artists and entertainers of this country must be particularly pained, as they know the power of culture and how it transcends borders, languages and nation-states. We are in the midst of celebrating the very international nature of movie culture at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, Sundance and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Less than a week ago I heard the soul-searing story of Kholoud, a Syrian activist who made the long trip to Sundance to talk about “Cries From Syria,” a documentary that will shake you to your core as you see the agonies imposed upon the civilians there – men, women and children. People she knew. Her people. But now Syria – all Syrians – are banned. Kholoud is supposed to come back in March. A publicist for the film says with understatement that will now pose a “challenge.” Our strength as a country lies in our diversity, in our openness to the world and in our embrace of the immigrant. It is also the source of the admiration other countries have for us. Our openness sets a moral example for others. Closing our borders to the weak and suffering sends just the opposite message. We will not stand for blanket discrimination against Muslim countries. It is wrong. It is counterproductive. It is unnecessary. And it is profoundly un-American.The birds have been tweeting and we have word of what the next Warhammer 40,000 boxed starter set will look like. We have already talked a bit about the first half of the year, and now we have word of perhaps the key product of the Q3-4 – An updated Warhammer 40,000 boxed set. Here are the details: Launch Window – @September Rules Summary: Updated Mini-rulebook contains FAQs, minor tweaks and clarifications, and much of Stronghold Assault rolled into a new shiny package. Miniatures included: @70 Armies: Blood Angels (plastic quick assembly) – Assault Marine Squad – Tactical Marine Squad – Death Company Squad – Captain (kitted out for assault) – Chaplain – Sanguinary Priest (limited edition, similar to the Dark Vengeance mini was) Orks (plastic quick assembly) – ‘Ardboys (full mob) – Nobs (small squad) – Warboss – Big Mek – Ork themed fortification This was described as simply an updated Warhammer 40,000 Starter Set and specifically “NOT 7th Edition.” You will note that September falls right smack in the middle of the rumored release slots for Orks (a couple of months before), and Blood Angels (a couple of months after). “not 7th Edition” makes no sense until you go back and read this. This could certainly be the start of GW rolling the “organic living ruleset” for 40K that does away with edition numbers and the sales dips they cause. Instead we would get updated core products such as rulebooks and starter sets from time to time to “bring them up to speed” with all the most current rules additions that have been rolled out in the intervening years. On first glance themakes no sense until youThis could certainly be the start of GW rolling the “organic living ruleset” for 40K that does away with edition numbers and the sales dips they cause. Instead we would get updated core products such as rulebooks and starter sets from time to time to “bring them up to speed” with all the most current rules additions that have been rolled out in the intervening years. This rumor comes from high-confidence sources.Image caption The Moon is not only beautiful, it is vital to our ecosystems and wildlife The speed at which the Moon is moving away from Earth could affect life on the planet, but this could take billions of years to happen, writes space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. It's easy to take the Moon for granted, even on a clear night when it can light up the sky. It really feels as if it has always been there just as it is now, throughout history. But that's not strictly true. It is thought that the Moon was formed when a proto-planet about the size of Mars collided with the early Earth around 4.5bn years ago. The debris left over from impact coalesced to form the Moon. Computer simulations of such an impact are consistent with the Earth Moon system we see in the 21st Century. The simulations also imply that at the time of its formation, the Moon sat much closer to the Earth - a mere 22,500km (14,000 miles) away, compared with the quarter of a million miles (402,336 km) between the Earth and the Moon today. Image caption The Moon is believed to have formed after a massive collision between the Earth and an asteroid The Moon continues to spin away from the Earth, at the rate of 3.78cm (1.48in) per year, at about the same speed at which our fingernails grow. Without the Moon, the Earth could slow down enough to become unstable, but this would take billions of years and it may never happen at all. The migration of the Moon away from the Earth is mainly due to the action of the Earth's tides. The Moon is kept in orbit by the gravitational force that the Earth exerts on it, but the Moon also exerts a gravitational force on our planet and this causes the movement of the Earth's oceans to form a tidal bulge. Due to the rotation of the Earth, this tidal bulge actually sits slightly ahead of the Moon. Some of the energy of the spinning Earth gets transferred to the tidal bulge via friction. This drives the bulge forward, keeping it ahead of the Moon. The tidal bulge feeds a small amount of energy into the Moon, pushing it into a higher orbit like the faster, outside lanes of a test track. This phenomenon is similar to the experience one feels on a children's roundabout. The faster the roundabout spins the stronger the feeling of being slung outwards. As the Earth's rotation slows down, our whole planet may start to slowly wobble and this will have a devastating effect on our seasons Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock But the energy gained as the Moon is pushed higher is balanced by a reduction in the energy of its motion - so an acceleration provided by the Earth's tides is actually slowing the Moon down. While 3.78cm may not seem like much, this small difference over a long enough period of time could affect life on Earth, making the planet slow down. On early Earth, when the Moon was newly formed, days were five hours long, but with the Moon's braking effect operating on the Earth for the last 4.5bn years, days have slowed down to the 24 hours that we are familiar with now, and they will continue to slow down in the future. We can see some evidence of the slowdown in the fossil records of some creatures. By looking at the daily growth bands of corals we can calculate the numbers of days that occurred per year in past periods, and from this we can see that days are getting longer, at a rate of 19 hours every 4.5bn years. The length of a day, or in other words the rotation speed of the planet, plays a big part in its stability. Just like keeping a plate spinning on a stick, the key is to have the plate spinning fast, as if it slows down it crashes to the floor. In a similar way, as the Earth's rotation slows down, our whole planet may start to slowly wobble and this will have a devastating effect on our seasons. Image caption When the Moon was younger, it would have been much closer We have the seasons we currently do, due to the Earth's tilt at an angle of 23 degrees on its axis. During summer the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun so we get longer days and warmer weather. However in winter the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun giving us shorter days and cooler weather. If this were to change, and the Earth became unstable, then parts of the world could experience much greater temperature swings than we are used to through any given year, with freezing Arctic temperatures in winter followed by blazing hot temperatures in summer. As humans we have the ability to adapt to our local surroundings to meet our needs. If humans are still around when and if it happens it is quite likely we would survive these massive changes with air conditioning in the summer and a lot of heating in winter. Unfortunately most animals are not so adaptable and if these changes happened rapidly due to an unstable planetary wobble, then most animals would not be able to evolve quickly enough to hibernate or migrate out of harm's way. The human race has little to fear at present. By the time any change occurred, humans might even have generated technology that could speed up the Earth's rotation or transport us to other liveable planets within our galaxy. Do we really need the Moon? explores our relationship with the Moon. Watch it on Tuesday at 2100 GMT on BBC Two. Update 19 July 2011: This story has been amended to clarify that previous references to the Moon "speeding up" actually refer to it moving into a higher orbit.Netflix has picked up four animated shows from studios across the globe, as the streaming service continues to stock more original programming for the all-important kid demo. The new shows are action-adventure stories “Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan and Jane” and “Kulipari: An Army of Frogs” (pictured above) and two for preschoolers, “Cirque du Soleil Luna Petunia” and “Puffin Rock.” As with other Netflix originals, all episodes of the series will hit simultaneously for binge-ability. Those will join Netflix’s dedicated section for kids under 12, with original series for kids as well as TV shows and movies from partners including PBS, Disney Channel and DreamWorks Animation. What’s key: The content is available in an ad-free environment, which appeals to parents. “The flexibility of our platform allows us to continually bring the best TV shows from around the world to our members,” said Erik Barmack, Netflix VP of global independent content. The new titles “complement and extend what we currently offer particularly for preschoolers and grade-school adventure fans.” A rundown of the new Netflix kids’ originals: Related Sandra Bullock Moms Who See 'Bird Box' Will Think: 'That River Is My Journey as a Parent' TV Roundup: Amy Schumer Stand Up Special 'Growing' Drops First Trailer (Watch) “Cirque du Soleil Luna Petunia” (to debut fall 2016): Preschool series from Saban Brands and Cirque du Soleil Média chronicles the adventures of Luna Petunia, a girl who lives in our world but plays in a dreamland where she learns how to make the impossible possible. The first season of 11 episodes will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix, kicking off a franchise rollout that will include a consumer products line, interactive digital content and a potential live tour. (to debut fall 2016): Preschool series from Saban Brands and Cirque du Soleil Média chronicles the adventures of Luna Petunia, a girl who lives in our world but plays in a dreamland where she learns how to make the impossible possible. The first season of 11 episodes will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix, kicking off a franchise rollout that will include a consumer products line, interactive digital content and a potential live tour. “Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan and Jane” (second half of 2016): In modern-day remake of the classic characters, 16-year-old Tarzan returns from the African jungle to a London boarding school where he meets Jane, who helps him solve environmental injustice, crimes and mysteries. The eight-episode season comes from 41 Entertainment and executive producer Avi Arad (which are also developing “Kong – King of the Apes” original series and feature-length film for Netflix) with animation from ARC Prods. (second half of 2016): In modern-day remake of the classic characters, 16-year-old Tarzan returns from the African jungle to a London boarding school where he meets Jane, who helps him solve environmental injustice, crimes and mysteries. The eight-episode season comes from 41 Entertainment and executive producer Avi Arad (which are also developing “Kong – King of the Apes” original series and feature-length film for Netflix) with animation from ARC Prods. “Kulipari: An Army of Frogs” (2016): Based on the trilogy of books by NFL star Trevor Pryce that were inspired by his childhood fear of frogs. The series targets grade-school boys and follows poisonous frogs, scorpions and spiders who must go to war to ensure their power and the survival of their entire world. The 13-episode season, produced by Splash Entertainment and Outlook Company, will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix in 2016. (2016): Based on the trilogy of books by NFL star Trevor Pryce that were inspired by his childhood fear of frogs. The series targets grade-school boys and follows poisonous frogs, scorpions and spiders who must go to war to ensure their power and the survival of their entire world. The 13-episode season, produced by Splash Entertainment and Outlook Company, will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix in 2016. “Puffin Rock” (Sept. 1, 2015, in major markets): S et on an island off the coast of Ireland, series revolves around charismatic and plucky young puffling Oona, who with her curious little brother Baba explores a diverse array of sea, sky, land and underground creatures. Actor Chris O’Dowd narrates the English-language version of the series, from Penguin Random House Children’s, Dog Ears and animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The 13-episode season premieres exclusively on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Benelux, France and Germany in September, and with other Netflix territories to follow at a later date. In addition to the four new originals, Netflix also is adding three new first-run exclusive series for kids to enjoy: “Masha and the Bear” from Russia, which will premiere this August in the U.S.; “The Day My Butt Went Psycho” from Canadian animation company Nelvana Studios, which debuts this month in the U.S., U.K., and Mexico; and “Elias,” a little rescue boat from the popular Norwegian preschool series of the same name, currently streaming exclusively on Netflix in U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.Many felt the earthquake that hit Oklahoma around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. The USGS rated it a 4.0, with the epicenter just a mile south of Guthrie.Click here to watch the report.Security cameras at The Stables Café in Guthrie caught the exact moment the earthquake struck. You can see the footage jump on screen and then settle back down. The quake was caught from several different angles.“It was a shock," Hannah Porterfield said, describing the moment she felt the earthquake. "It never comes at a time when you’re expecting it. It was like a car just ran into my house.”People who live in the area said they’ve been on edge the last few months, wondering when the next tremor will hit.“It rattles you. It really does. It makes your heart pound.” Porterfield said. Many felt the earthquake that hit Oklahoma around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. The USGS rated it a 4.0, with the epicenter just a mile south of Guthrie. Click here to watch the report. Advertisement Security cameras at The Stables Café in Guthrie caught the exact moment the earthquake struck. You can see the footage jump on screen and then settle back down. The quake was caught from several different angles. “It was a shock," Hannah Porterfield said, describing the moment she felt the earthquake. "It never comes at a time when you’re expecting it. It was like a car just ran into my house.” People who live in the area said they’ve been on edge the last few months, wondering when the next tremor will hit. “It rattles you. It really does. It makes your heart pound.” Porterfield said. AlertMeWith a comprehensive commitment to providing its citizen with 247 electricity by 2030, India is emerging as a victor in the fight against climate change, according to World Bank. To save the planet from the effects of climate change, India is being a contributor to global efforts by using clean energy to fuel its growth. Earlier, India was praised for its move of walking away from plans to install nearly 14 GW of coal-fired power plants, largely because it is as affordable now to generate electricity with solar power as it is to use fossil fuels. With almost 300 days of sunshine in a year, India is the best place to capture solar energy. India has achieved a record low tariff of INR 2.44/unit (4 cents/unit) for a project in the desert in Rajasthan. Solar power is starting to oust coal as a source of energy in India and its commitment to solar power, innovative solutions, and energy efficiency initiatives are eulogized worldwide. This adds to the cost of electricity from solar photovoltaic (PV) which is currently one-fourth of what it was in 2009 and is set to fall another 66 percent by 2040.India’s ambitious target of including 160 gigawatts (GW) of the wind and solar energy by 2022, India’s ambitious target of including 160 gigawatts (GW) of the wind and solar energy by 2022, will help millions of people of India. This is also an incentive for the international firm to invest in India’s solar market.Harry Kane and Dele Alli starred for England in Berlin Roy Hodgson was persuaded to admit that England's superb comeback to beat world champions Germany in Berlin was his finest moment as manager - but has this landmark result also claimed a high-profile victim? England captain Wayne Rooney, out with a knee injury, swiftly tweeted his congratulations after Hodgson's side came from two goals down to win 3-2 in a friendly that will also act as a marker for their Euro 2016 aspirations this summer. And make no mistake, the 30-year-old is a consummate team player. England's all-time record goalscorer will have been totally sincere in his message to the heroes of Berlin. Could the win, however, have less appetising consequences for the man who has been the centrepiece of England's plans since he thrilled the world as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004 in Portugal? Is this the beginning of the end for Rooney? Dele Alli is the precocious 19-year-old from Tottenham
way to run its store: as a subscription service. In the next few months, HTC plans to launch a subscription option for its Viveport app store that’ll allow subscribers to use apps, games, and other content without explicitly paying for each item. It’s a neat idea that could make it much easier for subscribers to find things they enjoy, since they’ll be able to try out anything that interests them without committing to a purchase. HTC needs developers to opt in for this to work Viveport will still support the traditional app store model, where you pay for every app. And critically, developers and content providers will have to opt in to the subscription service, saying that they want their products to be included. If they don’t, subscribers won’t get access. That’s a big hurdle for HTC, as it’ll need to get a lot of developers signing up in order to make the Viveport subscription worthwhile for customers. That’ll mean offering developers enough of a cut from each subscription that they don’t feel like they’re getting ripped off. Right now, it’s not clear how the payment model will work. If it’s like the subscription services we’ve seen pop up around ebooks, it could be that HTC will pay developers based on how much their apps and other content get used. That would reward the most successful content, but hurt apps that are only fun for a short time. HTC is also expanding Viveport to two new audiences: arcades and traditional businesses. An arcade store will let arcade operators find games and other content for visitors to use, while an enterprise store is envisioned to contain apps for “medicine, architecture, design, 3D modeling, and workforce training.” Both are supposed to launch at some point this year.Father Jonathan Morris (Fox News) Fox News contributor Father Jonathan Morris on Sunday suggested that baptizing the children of same-sex couple would be difficult because the parents would be raising them in sin. Last week, bishops rejected a proposal backed by Pope Francis that called on the church to officially “accept and value” homosexuals. But the bishops did agree to include language that said discrimination against LGBT people was “to be avoided.” “The midterm report made is sound like, by welcoming, we’re changing doctrine,” Morris explained in a Sunday appearance on Fox & Friends. “And what does that mean to welcome? Should we welcome? Of course, we should welcome everyone.” “I always look at my church when there’s a baby crying, and people are looking back, ‘Oh, get your baby in order.’ The baby is the only innocent voice in this whole church,” the father continued. “We are all sinners. Of course, we should find creative ways to welcome, and not change the Bible. You know, we actually believe in the Bible.” Morris noted that Pope Francis had even called on the church to go out and find people in “irregular difficult situations,” and welcome them to the church. Fox News host Anna Kooiman wondered if the pope went “even further to say let’s try to pray the gay away?” “It is difficult, and I think they’re going to have to make decisions next year of what that means,” Morris replied. “Real practical situations. A gay couple comes in with their child for example to baptize the child. Should the child be baptized? Of course.” “But every couple, gay straight, when they say we’re baptizing our child, they’re saying, ‘We’re going to raise him in the Catholic faith,'” he pointed out. “And so as a priest, as a minister, how do you deal with that? What does that exactly mean?” Watch the video below from Fox News’ Fox & Friends, broadcast Oct. 19, 2014.Burma 'Right to Protest' Framework Issued to Burma MPs Burma’s Ministry of the Interior releases a proposed framework for a law that accords civilians the right to gather and protest peacefully. Burma’s Ministry of the Interior on Thursday released details of a proposed framework for the law that was passed last year according civilians the right to gather and protest peacefully. State-run media reported on Tuesday full-page copies of the ministerial document which details procedures for applying to hold a demonstration, grounds for refusal, and the procedure for appeal. The regulations have been distributed to MPs who must deliberate the motion in Parliament in the near future. The right to “assemble peacefully without arms and holding procession” is protected by the 2008 Constitution under Chapter VIII’s “Citizen, Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizens” section. Burmese rights activists said they welcomed the framework, but noted that it contained several restrictions. Pho Phyu, a prominent civil rights lawyer, said the new guidelines will allow farmers to fight for their lands that were confiscated. 88 generation student leader Ko Ko Gyi also voiced his support for the proposed edict, saying it will allow for gatherings and peaceful protests. He said that “although the proposed law contains restrictions, we will only know if it works if we practice it.” But Aung Htoo of the Burma Lawyer’s Council called the proclamation “a trap.” He said that the government can arbitrarily accuse protesters of threatening national security, therefore the new decree would not protect protesters nor guarantee their safety. The ministerial statement says, “Any person wishing to lead or organize a rally must inform the township chief of police at least one week beforehand and get approval from both the police and the township authorities.” In addition, one clause states: “Anyone wishing to speak [at the rally] must submit a personal biography.” Rights activists immediately cited this clause as unconstitutional and said it should be withdrawn. However, the proposed framework states that police and township authorities cannot reject permission to a request from protesters if the gathering “does not threaten national security, rule of law, or state peace and development.” Pho Phyu said he openly questions this clause. “It only mentions the security of the country,” he said. “But how about the security of the people?” He also noted that if authorities are given one week’s notice, they have plenty time to prepare a crackdown. Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, Ko Ko Gyi said that even though the president and the representatives of Parliament have spoken about the political changes in the country, there still exist some authorities who do not understand and who do not want change. Until President Thein Sein’s administration was sworn in on March 31, 2011, Burma had been ruled by a succession of military juntas for nearly 50 years. Many political activists remain behind bars though a significant number was released in recent months. About 12 political prisoners were granted an amnesty this week, and according to New York-based Human Rights Watch, at least 659 political prisoners in Burma have been freed over the past year. It says that some 200 to 600 political activists remain in detention across Burma. On July 7, about 20 activists across Burma who were planning to hold a memorial event to mark the 50th anniversary of the destruction of the Students Union building at Rangoon University were detained by security forces. All were later released unharmed.BI Intelligence This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Mobile Industry Insider subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here. The Oculus Rift shipped its first unit last week, and Facebook hopes that was the first of many. The social media giant expects to ship 600,000 units of the virtual reality headset by the end of this year, according to Cantor Fitzgerald. That number is expected to more than triple to approximately 2 million devices, which would generate more than $1.6 billion in revenue for Facebook. This is a huge deal for Facebook, which currently generates nearly all of its revenue from ad sales across its various platforms. Facebook purchased Oculus VR, responsible for the technology behind the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR, in July 2014 for approximately $2 billion. Since that time, the social media giant has thrown its considerable weight behind VR. This strategy would keep Facebook at the center of what analysts expect to be a $30 billion industry within five years. If Facebook's plan pays off, then revenue from sales and royalties of all Oculus Rift products (hardware, games, software, etc.) would make up 10% of the company's total revenue by 2020. Given the expectations for the virtual reality market in the next few years, it's unsurprising that Facebook would make such a push into this field. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on virtual reality hardware that provides proprietary forecasts for VR headset shipments and revenue and estimates average selling price over the next five years. The report also takes a look at the different types of VR headset technology now on the market, discusses which categories will win out, and looks at several use cases for VR headsets, including gaming and other. BI Intelligence Here are some key points from the report: Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are debuting on the consumer market and set to launch an advanced and immersive content platform. We estimate shipments of VR headsets will grow at a swift 99% compound annual growth rate between 2015 and 2020. VR shipments will create a $2.8 billion hardware market by 2020, up from an estimated $37 million market this year. VR headsets are a fairly low-cost consumer electronics category, and this will help drive adoption. The devices will be priced similarly to smartwatches and also need to pair with another standalone computing device. Demand for VR headsets will be fueled by gaming on both mobile and console devices. There are 1.2 billion gamers worldwide, including nearly 1 billion mobile gamers alone. This creates a direct, addressable market for VR headsets. Beyond gaming, VR will be an important platform for streaming content and even shopping. Oculus has already experimented with Story Studio, a platform for VR movie creation. In addition, many consumers claim the VR experience will drive them to shop more online rather than in stores.A brave 10-year-old has opened up about the distress she experienced while living as a boy, before she was able to ‘come out’ as transgender and transition from Ethan to Evie. Talking to Chanel Nine’s Inside Story, Evie says that she was so unhappy living as a boy that she wrote to her parents telling them that she wanted to die. “I just felt like I want to be who I am. I was just saying to myself, if I was in heaven I could be whoever I want – have my hair as long as I want, wear whatever I want,” she said. “Before I was Evie I just felt alone, I felt sad. I don’t know who Ethan was. The only thing that would cheer me up was playing with girl’s stuff. The Melbourne schoolgirl also explained that she felt trapped and tormented living as a boy. “Everybody’s telling you who you’re supposed to be and tell you that you shouldn’t be acting like this, you should be acting like a boy. But I never was a boy,” she said. Evie’s parents Scott and Meagan, said that Ethan wasn’t like other boys. “Ethan was always female-oriented, he was never like the boys growing up. Ethan was very gentle, to me Ethan has always been Evie,’ said Scott. Before they realised that their son was transgender, Scott and Megan thought that Ethan might be gay. “I thought, I can be the parent of a gay kid. That was the easy bit!’ said Megan. “That was the easy option. For us that was a road that seemed to have a lot less heartache but it didn’t turn out that way.” As Ethan became increasingly miserable, his supportive parents realised that something drastic needed to change. The turning point came when they caught Ethan trying on his sisters clothes under his doona. "I felt really sad that she had to go to those lengths to hide who she was," said Meagan. With support from the gender clinic at Melbourne’s Royal Child Hospital, the family began working towards helping Ethan transition. Evie says that transitioning is the best thing she’s ever done and her parents say that it has made the family stronger than ever. The determined school girl is now dreaming of her future, which she says will include a husband and two children. She hopes that people take strength from her story. “I want to share my story because for people who watched this and see how I came out, it might be a bit easier for them to come out,’ she said. “Look how I’ve turned out, look how nice I look, look what can happen when you come out. It could turn out great.”Definitions for some other common terms on egg cartons are below. Keep in mind that the agriculture department’s rules apply only to eggs with the department’s shield. For eggs that are not a part of its grading program, either state rules apply or the use of the phrase is unregulated. How Birds Are Raised CAGE FREE The agriculture department says this means that the chickens were kept out of cages and had continuous access to food and water, but did not necessarily have access to the outdoors. FREE RANGE The agriculture department says that in addition to meeting the cage-free standards, free-range birds must have continuous access to the outdoors, unless there’s a health risk present. There are no standards, though, for what that outdoor area must be like. (A concrete lot could do.) PASTURE-RAISED There is no regulation of this term, which implies hens got at least part of their food from foraging on greens and bugs, which adherents say can improve flavor. Some studies have found that pasture-raised eggs have more nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E and beta carotene, and less saturated fat and cholesterol. ANIMAL CARE LABELS Four main terms indicate the level of care hens received. For eggs from chickens that live in the sort of utopia conveyed by the images on most egg cartons, look for “animal welfare approved.” Available in limited markets, it is a new label by the Animal Welfare Institute that is given only to independent family farmers. Flocks can have no more than 500 birds, and chickens over 4 weeks old must be able to spend all their time outside on pesticide-free pasture with a variety of vegetation. They must have access to dust baths and cannot have their beaks trimmed (a practice on crowded egg farms) or be fed animal byproducts. Photo “Certified humane raised and handled” hens and “American humane certified” hens are kept cage free, though not necessarily outdoors. “Certified humane raised and handled” is administered by Humane Farm Animal Care, the only animal welfare program audited each year for reliability by the Department of Agriculture. It is endorsed by many animal welfare organizations. It has requirements for, among other things, ventilation, density and the number of perches and nesting boxes that must be provided. It requires that each hen have at least 1.5 square feet of space (324 square inches). Advertisement Continue reading the main story The “American humane certified” label was created by the American Humane Association. Its standards, similar to those of “certified humane raised and handled,” prohibit forced molting (reducing feed to increase egg production) and require that hens have at least 1.25 square feet of space (225 square inches). Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. “United Egg Producers Certified,” formerly “Animal care certified,” is presented by the United Egg Producers, America’s leading trade association for egg farmers, which has standards for caged and cage-free layers. The group adopted the new name under pressure from the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau, which agreed with complaints they had received that “Animal care certified” misled consumers by implying more humane treatment than the hens were getting. Even with the new title, many animal welfare advocates say those standards are too low. The standards permit hens to have as little as 67 square inches of space, less than a letter-size sheet of paper, which is 93.5 square inches. What Birds Are Fed ORGANIC Any product with the “U.S.D.A. organic” emblem must meet the standards of the agriculture department’s National Organic Program. Among the program’s requirements: birds must be kept cage free with outdoor access (though the time and the type of access are not defined), they cannot be given antibiotics (even if ill) and their food must be free from animal byproducts and made from crops grown without chemical pesticides, fertilizers, irradiation, genetic engineering or sewage sludge. If organic eggs do not have the program’s emblem, they may be part of an independent or state-run program, and it may take some research to determine the program’s standards. VEGETARIAN-FED For eggs that bear a U.S.D.A. grade shield, “vegetarian-fed” means the eggs came from hens raised on all-vegetarian feed. Hens are not naturally vegetarian, though; they enjoy eating grubs, bugs and worms. While there’s not a substantial nutritional difference between these eggs and conventional eggs, vegetarian eggs appeal to consumers who are turned off by some of the animal byproducts that can be included in conventional chicken feed, like feather meal, chicken litter, pork and cattle byproducts and “spent hen meal” (ground up dead hens). NO HORMONES The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any hormone products for egg production, so this term is meaningless. NO ANTIBIOTICS The Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for food safety and oversees antibiotic use in poultry, does not allow routine use of antibiotics but does not define or regulate the term “no antibiotics.” The only way this claim is verified is if the eggs are U.S.D.A. graded (which means that hens did not receive therapeutic antibiotics but may still have been treated with antibiotics, if ill) or if the eggs are a part of the National Organic Program (which bans antibiotics entirely after chicks are 3 days old, even if ill). NATURAL, NATURALLY RAISED It means whatever the producers want it to mean because eggs in the shell are not a processed food. FERTILE The term is unregulated but implies that the eggs came from hens that were likely to have been fertilized because they were uncaged and raised near a rooster. Some consumers like the idea of these more natural living conditions; others adhere to unproven beliefs that fertile eggs are more nutritious. Fertile eggs are stored at temperatures too cold for chicks to develop. What’s in the Eggs OMEGA-3 Eggs claiming to have extra omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to improve heart health and mental acuity, come from hens whose diets include good sources of omega-3s, like flaxseed or algae. Producers in the U.S.D.A. grading program are audited to make sure the layers’ diets have been fortified and that omega-enriched eggs do not get swapped out for cheaper ones. The F.D.A. can audit producers’ claims about omega-3s but typically does so only if there has been a complaint. Unless the eggs claim to contain higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3s, a form that is thought to be more important for cardiovascular health, the omega-3s are probably primarily in the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) form. PASTEURIZED This term is regulated by the F.D.A. and refers to eggs heated to temperatures just below the coagulation point to destroy pathogens. These eggs are recommended for recipes that call for raw eggs or for people susceptible to illness who prefer runny eggs.The former France midfielder could look to recruit some of his former charges from the Elite Development Squad as he begins his adventure in MLS. New York City FC head coach Patrick Vieira will sit down with Manchester City chiefs to discuss potential loan moves for the Premier League club's young stars.Vieira had been in charge of the Blues' Elite Development Squad - and Under-19s in European competition - since 2013 but oversaw his final match in midweek and will now focus on his new assignment in Major League Soccer.The Frenchman takes up his new role on Jan. 1 and is expected to quickly establish which of City's young players he will be able to take with him to Yankees Stadium.Vieira said this week that his proudest moment at the Etihad Stadium was seeing highly rated 17-year-old Manu Garcia score his first senior goal for Manuel Pellegrini's City side earlier this season."My favorite and proudest moment at this club was seeing Manu Garcia play with the first-team against Crystal Palace and score a goal," he said. "My proudest moments are looking at a first-team team sheet and seeing three or four players from the EDS there."Despite a number of academy graduates being named on the bench by Pellegrini this season, very few have seen significant action and the Chilean admitted on Friday that some have been included thanks to injuries to senior players.That could open the door for the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Pablo Maffeo and Bersant Celina, who have all been named on the first team bench but are yet to see action, to move to New York.Manu Garcia may also be an option, despite Pellegrini highlighting the Spaniard, as well as Kelechi Iheanacho and Patrick Roberts, as a player capable of making an impact in the first team.Should Vieira and City come to an agreement over personnel, they would follow in the footsteps of Shay Facey and Angelino, two young Blues who impressed in the Big Apple last season.It is yet to be decided whether those two will return to New York for the resumption of the new campaign, meaning Vieira will be able to decide which of the youngsters he tutored in Manchester will most benefit from first-team football in the United States, and which will be best equipped to boost the new club's on-pitch performances.Vieira heads to the States to replace Jason Kreis, who was fired after guiding New York to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, some 12 points off the final playoff place, in his only season in charge.The club conceded 58 MLS goals last season, the joint most in the division, and has already moved to boost the back line with the signing of 24-year-old Ethan White from the Philadelphia Union.Vieira is seen as a future Manchester City boss by senior figures at the club, who were keen to give him his next opportunity in management within the City Football Group, which owns both clubs as well as Melbourne City in Australia's A League.Written by Kiel Egging on December 2, 2012 Ever imagined Jack Sparrow or Willy Wonka would join Alice Cooper on stage? Well, if you were at Cooper’s gig in LA last night, your fantasy came true. Actor Johnny Depp joined the infamous shock rocker at the Orpheum Theatre for several tracks in his 90-minute set. The show was part of Cooper’s current tour around North America, which he is doing to mark the 40th anniversary of his landmark debut album (and single) School’s Out. Depp joined three other guitarists within Cooper’s band, including Australia’s Orianthi, who was originally going to play with Michael Jackson in his This Is It tour in 2009. The female rocker oozed stage presence, according to Rolling Stone, and stole the show during the performance of Cooper’s hits I’ll Bite Your Face Off and Hey Stoopid. Meanwhile, Depp made his way on stage for a cover of The Doors’ Break On Through (to the Other Side) and then stayed on stage with the band for the rest of the gig to belt out a series of other classic rock covers. You can watch videos of these below. The night rounded out with – surprise, surprise – School’s Out, which, according to Rolling Stone, saw the room explode with “confetti, bubbles, streamers, feathers and balloons, finally sending fans home with their eardrums and eyeballs shaken and stirred”.Vim is fairly extensible. Unlike Emacs or Eclipse, it’s just an editor, not a platform. It is, however, quite featureful and includes its own slightly eccentric domain language as well as bindings into a few others. Note: this isn’t a HOWTO, it’s just a few things to consider before jumping in. 1. Vim Script Here is a neat lineage: the Unix line editor ed evolved into the more advanced ex which was used as the basis for the command mode in vi and extended into the roughly Turing-complete mini-language of Vim. And development continues; in his latest release, Bram Moolenaar has added native support for floating point numbers. Vim Script supports many regular programming concepts: loops, lists, dictionaries, exceptions, etc. But the language is unconventional. Here’s some code showing the hoops one must jump through to map a bit of functionality to a key: function! s : doSomething ( ) " stuff endfunction command DoSomething : call < SID > doSomething ( ) nmap k : DoSomething function! s:doSomething() " stuff endfunction command DoSomething :call <SID>doSomething() nmap k :DoSomething A trailing! on function enables redefinition. on enables redefinition. The s: in the function definition and the <SID> in the command declaration are a thin but tenable form of namespace management. They’ll expand to a unique name at read time so that similarly named functions in other files are not clobbered. in the function definition and the in the command declaration are a thin but tenable form of namespace management. They’ll expand to a unique name at read time so that similarly named functions in other files are not clobbered. function could be replaced equivalently with fu, fun, func, etc. This follows for all Vim commands. As long as a token can uniquely complete into a keyword, it is valid. As in many other languages, statements can be wrapped using a \ character. Unlike in those languages, in Vim Script it must appear at the beginning of the succeeding line: if some_exceedingly_long_expression \|\| \ a_second_expression echo 'Success' endif if some_exceedingly_long_expression \|\| \ a_second_expression echo 'Success' endif 2. Alternative plugin languages It isn’t widely known that Vim has interfaces into several popular scripting languages: Python, Ruby, Perl, Scheme, and Tcl. These are more powerful than Vim Script but have certain practicality drawbacks in context. Debugging is difficult. Foreign code is interpreted by what is essentially one giant eval. If you misplace a close parenthesis or an end keyword, you will have to track it down yourself. Integration with Vim is slight. The calling interface is in a table below. The bindings just tunnel most editor interactions through Vim::evaluate or Vim::command (or equivalent) as unstructured string arguments. Many Vim installations don’t include external language support by default. It’s an easy fix for a user running a deb or rpm -based Linux distribution, but will require a recompile on Windows, something a Windows user is not wont to do. OS X is hit-or-miss. Point (3) is particularly unfortunate if you’re making an extension you intend to distribute. I wrote perhaps the largest and most popular Ruby-based plugin for Vim available, yet the majority of people who contact me about it are only looking for installation help. 🙂 This is what it looks like to interact with Vim from Ruby: # Setting options inside the editor is pretty # straightforward. VIM::set_option "noinsertmode" VIM::set_option "hlsearch" #...unless you want to set an option local to a buffer. # There's no API call for this, so we must ascend one # layer of abstraction: VIM::command "setlocal nowrap" VIM::command "setlocal spell" VIM::command "setlocal foldcolumn=0" # Setting options inside the editor is pretty # straightforward. VIM::set_option "noinsertmode" VIM::set_option "hlsearch" #...unless you want to set an option local to a buffer. # There's no API call for this, so we must ascend one # layer of abstraction: VIM::command "setlocal nowrap" VIM::command "setlocal spell" VIM::command "setlocal foldcolumn=0" If we’re going to do an odd call in multiple places, it makes sense to add some glue to confine code acrobatics: def VIM::has_syntax? # All return values from `evaluate` are strings, and # "0" evaluates to true in ruby. VIM::evaluate ( 'has("syntax")' )!= "0" end def VIM::has_syntax? # All return values from `evaluate` are strings, and # "0" evaluates to true in ruby. VIM::evaluate('has("syntax")')!= "0" end See below the partial interfaces for a few languages. Obviously there’s room for improvement in the API: Editor concept Ruby Python MzScheme eval VIM::evaluate vim.eval (eval) command VIM::command vim.command (command) option VIM::set_option — (get-option), (set-option) output VIM::message sys.stdout — buffer VIM::Buffer vim.buffers (get-next-buff), (get-prev-buff) window VIM::Window vim.windows (get-win-list) current buffer $curbuf vim.current.buffer (curr-buff) current window $curwin vim.current.window (curr-win) range — vim.current.range (range-start), (range-end) Manual Manual Manual (Tcl and Perl not shown.) For some strange reason, the Scheme interface also offers the highly situational (beep), and the Tcl interface, ::vim::beep. These do what you expect. Interesting sidenote: these extension languages have access to window handles within Vim, providing equality semantics and therefore deterministic window management. Vim Script doesn’t seem to support this, so using an alternative language appears to offer an (inelegant) superset of functionality. 3. Choosing a language This can be summarized like so: Vim Script Pros: Great integrated :help system. system. Lots of other plugins you can crib from. Cons: The language is awkward. Other (Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, Scheme) Pros: Strong languages. Experience carries over into other pursuits. Cons: Debugging is hard. Interface to Vim is slight. May require the user to install language libraries. Syntax highlighting in a.vim file is easily confused. file is easily confused. Neglected by both plugin writers and Vim developers. Using Vim Script means giving up the good stuff: closures, object-orientation, higher-order functions, reflection, and metaprogramming. So despite the extra work, selecting an alternative language is recommended for non-trivial extensions. Perhaps support within Vim will improve as more plugin writers follow this route. Thanks to Jesse Funaro and Chris Gaal for their comments and suggestions. Further discussion on the programming redditKieran Zacharias, 17, and Charlie Saint, 16 got seven and five years each Oliver Anfield Dennis, 19, was jailed for eight years at Lewes Crown Court They were accused of stabbing the 16-year-old victim in a churchyard The three teenagers were charged with wounding and violent disorder Three baby-faced criminals who attacked and stabbed a 16-year-old boy in the picturesque grounds of a church yard in Hailsham, East Sussex have been jailed for a total of 20 years. The victim was rushed from the scene by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment. Police were alerted by reports of a group of boys fighting in the churchyard on March 20. The three trio were found guilty of wounding and violent disorder Oliver Dennis, left, was jailed for eight years, Charlie Saint, centre, received a five-year jail term while Kieran Zacharias, right, was jailed for seven years The 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the church yard of St Mary's in Hailsham, east Sussex, pictured, in March The three young men appeared in Lewes Crown Court on Friday charged with wounding and violent disorder. Oliver Anfield Dennis, 19, from Hailsham pleaded not guilty to both counts. Kieran Patrick Zacharias, 17 from Eastbourne pleaded guilty to both charges while Charlie Saint, 16, also of Eastbourne also admitted violent disorder, but denied the wounding charge. All three men were convicted of all charges. Dennis was jailed for eight years, while Zacharias received seven years. Saint, who was the youngest of the trio received a five-year jail term. Speaking outside court, Inspector Tony Wakefield, of the Wealden Neighbourhood Policing Team, welcomed the sentences. He said: 'Such incidents are extremely rare, which made this attack all the more shocking for the people of Hailsham. 'Knife crime will not be tolerated in Wealden and we welcome the length of the sentences, which gives out a clear message to anyone thinking about using a knife to harm someone else.(KRON) A Suisun City man was run over and killed by a military tank at a family reunion Saturday afternoon. It happened during an event for the family that runs the Jelly Belly Candy Company in Fairfield. The victim has been identified by the Solano County coroner's office as 54-year-old Kevin Wright. Vacaville resident Dwayne Brasher, 62, the husband of Jelly Belly Candy CEO Lisa Rowland Brasher, was driving the green 1944 World War II M-5 tank in a field at 4144 Abernathy Road in unincorporated Solano County. Wright was sitting on the front end of the tank facing inward as the tank traveled down a dirt hill, CHP officials said. Wright lost his balance and fell backwards directly in front of the tank and was run over, according to the CHP. Medics pronounced Wright dead at 2:41 p.m., according to the coroner's office. Brasher had permission of the owner to operate the tank and give rides on the private property, CHP officials said. There were about 50 people at the family reunion Saturday. The victim, Wright, was a World War II aficionado, as is Herman Rowland, Lisa's father and chairman of the board at Jelly Belly, Rowland family spokeswoman Holly Carter said. Herman Rowland said in a statement, "Our family is grieving over this tragic loss. The gentleman involved in this accident was a passionate person, always ready to lend a hand and we shared the same deep rooted love of history. To have him die so tragically during our family reunion is impossible to comprehend." Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in the death, according to the CHP.This post has been edited by SupperTails66: 28 March 2016 - 11:04 PM Current version: release 8Windows binary (32-bit): Github Tails Adventures Level Editor Suite (Tales) is a more-or-less comprehensive editing program for Tails Adventures. It can fully edit most aspects of the game, such as levels, graphics, and power-ups, to create a completely different experience from the original.Why create such an involved editor for one of the most obscure Sonic(-related) games to grace a Sega console? Because it's a decent but woefully overlooked title that I think has lots of potential for some fun hacks. I'm not exactly expecting people to be champing at the bit for the chance to modify the game, but I hope someone out there (besides me) will at least give it a try. If you do, I'd appreciate getting your feedback, even if it's just to complain that the interface sucks or the program doesn't run (actually, I'm especially interested in those problems).Enjoy!* Level editing (level layout, object layout, pretty much everything you can think of)* VRAM layout editing, so different objects can be placed in levels* Metatile structure and behavior editing* Graphics editing, with import/export support* Tilemap editing* Palette and palette cycle editing* Music assignment editing (different music for levels)* Chaos Emerald power-up editing* Some miscellaneous hacks and enhancements, like an improved inventory system* A really long manual that hopefully explains most of the quirks in the editor and the game., in approximate order of priority:* Hack to save the game to SRAM instead of using passwords* World map editor* Importing of replacement music/sound data* PCM data importer (for the Sega sound)* Proper support for exporting ROMs at original size (see below)* Although I tried to avoid this, currently, ROMs exported by the program are automatically expanded from 512 KB to 1 MB. The problem is a maddening 1-byte inconsistency in how the game compresses graphics, as well as an oddity with level layout compression I haven't fully figured out.* On Windows 7 and probably other versions, the metatile structure editor looks bad if the program window is too small. Until it's fixed, just expand the window so it's not a problem.* For some obscure Qt-related reason, on at least some OSes, loading area 9-2 followed by area 9-3 in the level editor causes the program to crash if the window is too small.The college football season is just about a month away, and one team that is expected to make some major noise is LSU. Buoyed by stars Leonard Fournette, Jamal Adams, Tre’Davious White and Malachi Dupri (among many others), the Tigers have stars all over the field and more than enough talent to win the SEC. Still, there might be no bigger star (outside maybe Fournette) than defensive end Lewis Neal. He is a workout warrior who finished with a team-high eight sacks last year, but also, as we learned Friday, has a unique range of interests off the field as well. What kind of interests, you ask? Well, how about day-trading. Yes … day-trading. Article continues below... CampusSports.net had the fascinating details a few months back, on a fascinating individual who trades on the Foreign Market, where there’s upwards of $4 trillion per day turnover (compared to "only" $50 million per day on the New York Stock Exchange). Yes, the article is a few months old, but definitely worth digging into. Whoa. Who said college football players don’t care about education? It sounds like Neal is giving himself more of a personal, real-world education than anything that’s happening in the classroom at LSU. From there, Neal began to explain how he got into the day-trading routine. According to the article, he says he’s always had an entrepreneurial mindset and always wanted to have control of his income, rather than being beholden to someone else. Though he loves football, he simply doesn’t want to depend on anyone else for money, even if he does have a long and prosperous NFL career. Over
to availability of merch at the show!) ** That’d be the ISS (International Space Station)… PLEASE NOTE: We have no idea how to get you to the International Space Station so this is not going to happen, sorry! But we will give you some cool prizes if you win. Thank you for reading this far! Info-Wars News that is not fake: Sign ups are each day of PAX East starting at 10AM at the Behemoth Booth 14005 Sign ups are first come, first served until the day’s slots are filled. Remember to return to our booth for your match or you will be DQ’d and an alternate will take your place. Alternates will only be substituted for Round 1. No-shows in subsequent rounds will be DQ’d. If you win your first match you will continue to play until you are eliminated or win the entire Tournament! So plan accordingly, no substitute players allowed! The first round of matches start at 2 PM and we estimate that the final match will begin at approximately 5:30 PM. If you miss your time slot, we will have kleenex on hand for the tears you’ll shed for being unable to read a clock. Qualifications:TORONTO — When English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips arrived in Major League Soccer, he was looking forward to seeing North America. Then the reality of MLS travel set in for the New York Red Bulls star. “Little did I know some of the flights were seven hours,” recalled the charismatic Brit, perhaps exaggerating a tad. “When I got on the plane to Seattle, I felt like I got set up. I remember asking someone how long left and they said something like five hours. I had already finished the film. I was thinking ‘I’ll have a drink and then we’ll land.’ It’s crazy.” The travel grind hasn’t derailed him. Including playoffs, Wright-Phillips has 76 goals since joining the Red Bulls in 2013 and won the Golden Boot Award as the league’s top goal-scorer in 2014 and ’16. But he still doesn’t like MLS travel. “Personally I don’t think I’ll every get used to the travelling,” he said. “Never.” It’s easy to see why. Toronto to Vancouver is some 3,365 kilometres, 820 more than London to Moscow. And unlike their North American sports counterparts, MLS teams generally fly commercial. MLS limits clubs to charter four legs per year when it comes to league play although teams can add charters if cheaper than the commercial alternative. Contrast that with the Toronto Raptors, Blue Jays and Maple Leafs, who charter routinely. Even in the cash-conscious CFL, the Argonauts chartered to half their away games last season although clearly finding room for an entire football team on a commercial plane is a challenge. The MLS collective bargaining agreement allows the league to authorize more charters. And it will do so when circumstances dictate. But restricting the number serves as a way of keeping the haves and have-nots on a level playing field. “I think it’s something that we’re looking at as a league,” Greg Anderson, Vancouver’s vice-president of soccer operations, said of increased charter use. “But where we are as a league, it’s a reality and I think we just try to do the best we can to make the travel as smooth as possible.” Toronto FC usually sends a 32-man contingent to away games, counting players, coaches and other staff. Ted Tieu, Toronto’s manager of team operations, is the pointman for travel. He took over the task from Corey Wray, now TFC’s director of team operations, and has the logistics down to an art. When the schedule comes out, he co-ordinates with Sportscorp Travel, an agency based in Bolton, Ont., that now handles all the league, to help get the team from A to B and work with league-approved hotels. Toronto tries to fly Air Canada whenever possible, citing customer service and seat selection among other things. Having players build up status with the airline also helps cut baggage costs (under the CBA players get to keep their points). Teams have worked hard to streamline airport procedure, including getting Nexus cards for players whenever possible to ease customs. Tieu is the advance man, arriving early with the equipment manager to get bags checked in and to double-check passports. The players and coaches, who normally travel with carry-on, get their boarding passes and go through security. The players get window or aisle seats, as per the CBA. At six foot three, there is nothing economy about Toronto goalkeeper Clint Irwin’s frame. Not that he is complaining. “I try to do my best to find a little bit of leg room somewhere,” said Irwin, who is TFC’s union rep. “If I can get an exit row, that’s great. But at some point, you can’t complain about it. It’s just what the league is at this point and you’ve just got to get on with it.” While in the past select Toronto players or staff have flown business class, none of those you might expect have availed of themselves to get special treatment. “Uniquely with this group they’ve all said ‘No thank you, we want to sit with everyone else.’ That’s been great for us,” Wray said. It’s the same with the Whitecaps. Toronto has an advantage over some other clubs in it almost always can fly direct to league destinations. The Whitecaps will fly direct to 12 of 17 away games this season. While teams have done all they can to ease travel, flying commercial means they can fall prey to the kind of travel snarls we all do — from weather delays and mechanical issues to unexpected visits to secondary customs. An example was a trip to Montreal when there was no gate available to land. The plane returned to Toronto and had to land before taking off again. TFC has traditionally chartered to Salt Lake because of a lack of simple options getting there. But thanks to a direct flight, the team is flying commercial for the season opener there March 4. Wray and Tieu look to keep their options open, given the charter limit extends to the playoffs. For games Saturday and Wednesday in early May in Seattle and Columbus, the team has commercial options both to fly home from Seattle and go from Seattle to Columbus or charter from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest. The ultimate decision will made with coach Greg Vanney, GM Tim Bezbatchenko and president Bill Manning. Charters can be “astronomical,” says Wray, so if they can fly easily commercially, the decision is easy. The CONCACAF Champions League is a different entity and doesn’t count against the league charter rules. With destinations like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, Toronto has typically chartered in the past. “Anything that can go wrong typically goes wrong on those trips so we try to control as much as possible,” said Wray. Like other teams, the Whitecaps try to build science into the timing of their travel plans. Often the team will stay on West Coast time when it travels east, staying up later, sleeping in and eating at regular times to avoid disruption. Vanney played 10 seasons in MLS and says travel has improved since his day. “I think still the next step is charter flights and the hope that we can get there fairly soon. Just because the days become incredibly long … it becomes a whole-day project no matter how short or how far you go.” Flying charters is more efficient and this is better for the players and the on-field product, Vanney argues. He has seen both sides of the coin. Away from MLS, he played for France’s SC Bastia, which is located on the island of Sicily. The team chartered everywhere, usually flying in the morning of games and leaving right after. Not every player is down on MLS travel. Veteran Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has seen soccer travel on both sides of the Atlantic, says it’s just part of the job. “It’s a business trip, that’s what it is … I don’t mind the travel. I sleep on the plane so it’s easy.” And Yura Movsisyan, an American-born Armenian international forward who plays for Real Salt Lake, also has some perspective having spent time in Russia with Krasnodar and Spartak Moscow. “It’s a lot more fun to fly here than to fly there,” he said with a smile.The video will start in 8 Cancel Get the biggest Everton FC stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Hello - and welcome to our first Everton fans' podcast. The Liverpool ECHO has, for some time now, been heavily criticised by a section of Everton supporters who feel we do not do enough to challenge and campaign for change in the boardroom at Goodison Park. We decided to invite leaders of several of those fan groups in to air their views and discuss them with our Everton Editor Greg O'Keeffe and Deputy Head of Sport David Prentice - all with a view to producing a podcast. Other fans groups, plus a representative from the club itself, had also been invited to attend. The club's future, investment search, new stadium plans and other matters were all talked about in a wide-ranging discussion. Here is the resulting debate....Bill Clinton’s speech was excellent for all the reasons I thought Julián Castro’s speech the previous evening was weak. In confusing times, good leaders can help the public understand our politics, and as Obama himself has admitted, he has not always excelled at this over the last few years. But it’s long been Bill Clinton’s special gift. Indeed, Clinton’s frustration with his party’s inability to explain what’s going on politically in this country helped encourage him to write his recent book, “Back To Work.” (In it, he tells a story about being rebuffed when he tried to give the Democratic National Committee some advice on talking points for the 2010 election.) This was not so much a speech about Obama, but one about the choice voters face and the framework they should use in making it. [#image: /photos/5909543f6552fa0be682ca38] Clinton started with a favorite subject of his: the coöperation that he sees among parties trying to solve problems around the world through his work at the Clinton Global Initiative. However, here in the U.S., despite President Obama’s best efforts, an unreasonable and ideological political faction has made coöperation impossible. From there he pivoted to recent history, making a seemingly dispassionate case for why no President, even Clinton himself, could ever have repaired in four years all the damage Obama found when he arrived in the White House in 2009. But despite that, Obama’s record, told with excruciating but powerfully persuasive detail, has been far better than is popularly understood. Now he just needs his contract renewed to finish the job. Clinton made it all sound so simple. This was the anti-Michelle speech. While she naturally gave personal testimony about Barack Obama’s character and urged voters to support him on that basis, in the story Clinton told Obama was an ephemeral figure. There were few personal details or anecdotes about the President because Clinton isn’t particularly close to Obama. It was a speech about facts and three and a half years of decisions made and outcomes achieved. By the end of it, the only logical conclusion, Clinton argued, is that Obama would do a better job than the alternative. In a sense, Clinton’s reluctance to embrace Obama personally, and his own fraught history with the President, which I explored in a piece for The New Yorker this week, makes him the ideal spokesman to appeal to those skeptical former Obama voters that his campaign is trying to win back. In an interview with Brian Williams earlier in the day, Clinton said of Obama, “We haven’t been close friends a long time or anything like that, but he knows that I support him.” I found it an amazingly honest statement considering that politicians often go out of their way to exaggerate their fondness for one another. And it was exactly their lack of personal chemistry and failure to become “close friends” that gave Clinton’s speech its lift. A subtext of the address was that, just like Bill Clinton, wavering voters need not love Obama to understand that he’s a better choice than Romney. When the two Presidents came together and hugged after the speech was (finally) over, the distance between them made their embrace all the more powerful. For more of The New Yorker’s convention coverage, visit The Political Scene. You can also read Ryan Lizza on Julián Castro’s keynote address and the relationship between President Obama and Bill Clinton; John Cassidy on Michelle Obama’s convention speech and Obama’s and Paul Ryan’s false statements about the economy; Amy Davidson on what Bill Clinton didn’t say; the First Lady’s speech, the gay-rights platform, and whether Democrats are better off than they were four years ago; Hendrik Hertzberg on renewed Democratic enthusiasm; and Alex Koppelman on Obama and the American Dream. Photograph by Alex Wong/Getty Images.Wheeling from one crisis to another, President Donald Trump has unleashed his temper within the confines of the White House on cabinet members and top aides—and may be on a collision course with his Chief of Staff, John Kelly. Insiders say that Trump is reeling from the recovery in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the fallout from the deadly clashes in Charlottesville and what he sees as a media onslaught and has taken to lashing out because he feels he is not getting the credit he deserves. “He’s having a very hard time,” one friend told the Washington Post. “He doesn’t like the way the media’s handling him. He doesn’t like how Kelly’s handling him. He’s turning on people that are very close to him.” Trending: New Film Sees Clint Eastwood Re-Enact ISIS Train Attack Foiled By Americans Trump’s ire was directed at National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn after he criticized Trump’s ambiguous response to the August 12 demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia. Cohn reportedly drafted a resignation letter in response to Trump's controversial comments that both sides were to blame for the violence in which counter-protester Heather Heyer died. RTX3E1VK More REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque “I believe this administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities,” Cohn told the Financial Times. Don't miss: The Trump Administration Wants Only Dead White Men on U.S. Banknotes, but Americans Disagree The president has reportedly been fuming over Cohn’s lack of loyalty, but has not dismissed him because he is leading Trump’s tax-cutting strategy alongside Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The president has also grown increasingly prickly towards Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The pair have disagreed on troop levels in Afghanistan, the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar and U.S. policy in Cuba. One top diplomat said Tillerson’s approach to foreign policy had been dismissed by the president’s associates as “totally establishment.” After the Secretary of State’s comments that “the president speaks for himself” over his Charlottesville statements, several people close to Trump said they would be surprised if Tillerson stays for longer than a year. He has said in private that he is unhappy with the recent string of controversies to hit the White House. Most popular: Robert Reich: Why Is Google’s Eric Schmidt Stifling Dissent? More generally, Trump is said to resent the new structure in the White House imposed by Kelly, who is referred to by Trump loyalists as “the church lady” because of his inflexible enforcement of the rules and moral superiority. Previously Trump’s friends used to be able to call the White House and get through to the president directly. Now Kelly acts as gatekeeper with all calls routed through him. Similarly there are no more drop ins and visitors must have an appointment. “Donald Trump resists being handled,” said Roger Stone, a former Trump adviser told the Post. “General Kelly is trying to treat the president like a mushroom. Keeping him in the dark [...] is not going to work. Donald Trump is a free spirit.” More from NewsweekThe first reaction to racist tweeters spreading bile is to ask them to stop. But the question is, will they listen? To see if he could find a concrete answer, Kevin Munger, a PhD candidate at New York University, deployed anti-racism bots against abusive Twitter users. He targeted white males because white nationalists have been emboldened on Twitter in the past few years, with movements like GamerGate and more recently with Donald Trump’s ethnocentric, anti-immigration presidential campaign. Munger parsed accounts of those who tweeted the n-word, a racial slur considered intrinsically offensive in the US and beyond, at another account. Using an algorithmic model, he eliminated anyone who wasn’t a white male over 18 years old. The algorithm also took out instances where the user and the subject of the harassment appeared to be friends. In the end, Munger narrowed down his sample to 231 accounts. He then created four types of bots: Two were “black” and two “white”—distinguished as such by the same cartoon emoji with different skin tones. Munger gave them stereotypically white- or black-sounding names accordingly. Within each skin color, one bot was “high-status”—with a follower count between 500 and 550—and the other was “low-status”—with less than 10 followers. Kevin Munger Each bot’s account was made to seem life-like by adding some random tweets and retweeting generic news, and was assigned to about one-quarter of the 231 sampled accounts. Whenever one of those 231 tweeted a racist slur at someone, Munger would log in to the account of the bot that was assigned to respond to that user and he would reply with this exact message: “@[subject] Hey man, just remember that there are real people who are hurt when you harass them with that kind of language” Results showed that the white, high-status bot had the most influence, reducing average number of racist tweets per day by 0.3. ”My intervention caused the 50 subjects in the most effective treatment condition to tweet the n-word an estimated 186 fewer times in the month after treatment,” Munger wrote in a study resulting from the project published in the journal Political Behavior. In the other three conditions, the tweets reduced by less than 0.1 daily. And the ”black” bot with under 10 followers actually saw a short-term spike in racism after it called people out on their behavior. Munger thinks the low-status bots had particularly little impact because, with followers in the single digits, they were ”too low status.” “If I could do it again, I would give them an intermediate number of followers like, say, 100.” However, the bigger issue is that the “black” bots showed little to no reduction in hateful language—probably, Munger believes, because those who were already exhibiting racist behavior weren’t about to actually hear out someone they thought was black. On the internet, people are prone to deindividuation—the anonymity provided by a crowd leads a normal person to act irrationally if the people around them are doing the same. Racist tweeters tend to lose their self-awareness and become immersed in hateful group discourse. In such situations, a member of the in-group is likely the only one who can effectively redefine a racist’s perception and behavior. That’s why the “white” bots were fairly successful. However, Munger doesn’t believe deploying any sort of bots against hate speech is a scalable solution to Twitter’s abuse problems. “If people knew bots were tweeting at them, it would not work,” he says. The experiment is meant to serve as a precedent for people who themselves want to find new ways to police their online communities. Meanwhile, for those people of color who do want to call out racism, Munger recommends trying to find common ground as a starting point.Turkish authorities have arrested dozens of people protesting in the fiercest anti-government demonstrations the country has witnessed in years, with riot police firing tear gas on demonstrators in Istanbul and Ankara. At least 60 people were detained on Friday as they protested in Istanbul at a rally which began over the demolition of a park, but which turned into a broader protest against what they see as an increasingly authoritarian government. "The protesters are saying that this is not about trees anymore," said Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh, reporting from Istanbul. Several thousand people had attended the Istanbul protest, and there is "an assortment of tear gas cannisters everywhere" in the city's main Taksim Square, she said. More than 100 people were injured, some left lying on the ground unconscious, while two people were hospitalised with injuries to the head, an AFP photographer witnessed. In the most severe case, a Turkish national of Palestinian origin had to undergo brain surgery after fractures to her skull, but she was doing well in intensive care, according to Istanbul governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu. He said in televised remarks that an investigation was underway and people had been detained for "provoking violence." The demonstrators had occupied the Gezi park since May 28 to prevent bulldozers from completing the demolition, part of the government's redevelopment plan for central Taksim Square. In a victory for the protesters later on Friday, an Istanbul court ordered the temporary suspension of the project to uproot the trees. But the protest spread to the capital Ankara, where about 5,000 people gathered in a park, and with police there firing tear gas to disperse crowds trying to reach the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party. The demonstrators, mostly young supporters of the opposition Republican People's Party, had planned to protest against new laws restricting the sale of alcohol and chanted: "Everywhere is resistance, Everywhere is Taksim." The rallies also spread to two locations in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir. Several protesters in Istanbul were injured when a wall they climbed collapsed during a police chase, and a prominent journalist was hospitalised after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister, the private Dogan news agency reported. Rageh said many protesters complained that the police were using water cannon and firing teargas indiscriminately. "We saw a lot of tourists running to different directions. People are trying to take refuge at coffee shops and the homes around the area. Police have been firing tear gas in different directions," she said. "Certainly the predominant complaint here is that police are firing teargas indiscriminately. "But they are also coming under attack from protesters. You can see them with rocks and there are injuries here. People are very angry." 'Authoritarian' government Many of the protesters are angry at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government, which some Turks argue has been displaying increasingly authoritarian and uncompromising tendencies in its third successive term in office. Last week, the government enacted a law restricting the sale and advertising of alcohol which has alarmed secular Turks who fear an encroachment on more liberal lifestyles. Earlier this week, the government went ahead with a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a disputed third bridge across the Bosphorus Strait which some say will destroy the few remaining green areas of the city. It also named the bridge after a controversial Ottoman sultan believed to have ordered a massacre of a minority Shia Muslim group, instead of choosing a more unifying figure. Gezi Park protestors held a large poster with a caricature depicting Erdogan as an Ottoman sultan with a caption that read: "The people won't yield to you." Erdogan dismissed the protesters' demands for the park's protection, saying the government would go ahead with renovation plans "no matter what they do". The forestry minister said more trees would be planted than those uprooted at Gezi and has defended the government's environmental record. Friday's dawn raid was the latest in a series of aggressive crackdown on protests. Human rights activists accuse Turkish police of using inordinate force to break up protests. On Friday, demonstrators affected by the gas sought shelter at a luxury hotel at Taksim and were tended by guests. Police removed tents and demonstrators' other belongings and mounted barricades around the park.When the voters of Colorado decided to legalize use of marijuana, pot became legal statewide. When voters in the state of Washington decided to legalize use of marijuana, pot became legal there, too. And this year, voters in Washington, D.C., went to the polls and overwhelmingly agreed to legalize up to 2 ounces of marijuana for adult, recreational use. The difference is, unlike every state, the people of the District of Columbia have to worry whether Congress will allow these Americans – who pay federal taxes but have no voice in federal lawmaking – to approve their own policies. In theory, this shouldn’t be too big a problem. After all, congressional Democrats don’t care if D.C. voters voted to legalize small amounts of pot, and congressional Republicans claim to believe in a small federal government that emphasizes local control. But the funny thing about Republican principles is just how malleable they can be. The Washington Post reported overnight: The District will be prohibited from legalizing marijuana for the much of the coming year under a spending deal reached Tuesday…. The development – upending voter-approved Initiative 71 – shocked elected D.C. leaders, advocates for marijuana legalization and civil liberties groups who earlier in the day had grown confident that the measure would be at least partially protected while Democrats still controlled the Senate. However, with Republicans set to take control of the chamber in January, the defeat suggested that the will of D.C. voters – who approved marijuana legalization last month by a margin of more than 2 to 1 – may be suspended indefinitely. To be sure, Senate Democrats tried to push back against the change, but House Republicans were insistent – and with a deadline looming, Dems didn’t see this as an issue worthy of a shutdown. So, at the demand of far-right Republicans, the big federal government will crush the popular will of local voters, simply because conservative lawmakers feel like it. Indeed, D.C. is now left in a very awkward policy position, forced on the city by a Congress in which voters have no voice. Specifically, the provision in the spending bill doesn’t undo local voters’ decision, but rather, it prevents any resources – federal or local funds – from being used to implement the voter-approved law. As German Lopez explained At first glance, this might seem like a weird approach. DC’s legalization initiative costs nothing; it actually saves the district money to not enforce laws against marijuana possession. The ballot measure actually couldn’t cost money in the first place, since DC ballot initiatives, by law, can’t have a direct impact on the local budget. But the budget bill would prohibit DC Council from spending its time and resources to approve the legalization initiative and send it to Congress. Under federal law, that’s a necessary step for legalization to take effect.Less than two months after a Texas law allowing guns into public university buildings went into effect, an accidental discharge has been reported in a Tarleton State University dormitory. No one was hurt in the incident, and a university spokesman said Friday there was "minimal property damage." The accidental firing, first reported by the school's student newspaper, happened Wednesday evening at Integrity Hall, a co-ed dorm for upperclassmen on the Stephenville campus. In a statement, the university said the person who fired the gun was a concealed handgun license holder. Details about the person's age and relationship to the university weren't released. The person who fired the gun reported it to campus police, school officials said. "The university is following its policies in responding to this incident and will continue to make every effort to assure the safety of our people," said Harry Battson, assistant vice president of marketing and communications. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. Texas' campus carry law allows people with concealed handgun licenses to carry their weapons into most university buildings. Schools were allowed to carve out some exceptions, and some banned guns in at least some of their dormitories. Tarleton State, along with all other schools in the Texas A&M University System, opted to allow them in all dorms. As the law was being considered, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said he trusted his students with concealed handgun licenses to be safe and responsible with their weapons. Opponents of the law, however, have expressed worry about accidental firings or suicides made possible by the presence of guns. So far, there have been no major incidents. Read more about campus carry in Texas: Disclosure: The Texas A&M University System has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.Ecuadorean troops stormed a hospital in the capital, Quito, late Thursday and rescued President Rafael Correa, who had been holed up surrounded by renegade police protesting government austerity measures. The soldiers escorted Mr. Correa out of the hospital following a shootout with the rebellious police. The gun battle between loyalist troops and rebel police lasted about 35 minutes. At least one security force member was reported wounded in the rescue operation. Later, the embattled president addressed a large crowd of supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace. He thanked them for their support and said he believed the uprising was an attempted coup d'etat. Mr. Correa had been hospitalized earlier in the day after being shoved and attacked with teargas as he tried to talk with protesting police outside their barracks in Quito. The protesters are upset over budget cuts that would eliminate some bonuses and promotions. Mr. Correa is defending the budget cuts as necessary and says the entire government is affected. On Thursday, highways were blocked by police burning tires, and the international airports in Quito and Guayaquil were temporarily shut down by strikers. Ecuadorean schools were dismissed at noon Thursday and classes canceled for Friday. Mr. Correa took power in 2007. He is an ally of Venezuela's socialist president Hugo Chavez and has been critical of U.S. policy in Latin America. Ecuador has had a history of political instability.The fever started from the announcement from KeSPA(Korean eSports Association) that they won’t participate in GSL Season 4 and are not sure about future GSL participation. The announcement shocked many people include GOM TV – the host of GSL, ESF – e-Sports Federation, Blizzard Korea and for the most fans. It happened 2 months after Blizzard, KeSPA, GOM TV is held the day of vision declaration to cooperate developing Korean e-Sports. ESF, mainly consists of GSL Starcraft2 players and staffs, immediately announced that they won’t participate in OSL – Ongamenet Starleague until KeSPA makes sure about future GSL participation. KeSPA adjusted their announcement by joining GSL from Season 5 after ESF’s announcement. However, ESF did not change its previous stance because KeSPA still did not make clear about the future GSL participation. Finally, the incident concluded by KeSPA. They announced that they will join GSL Season 4 and handed-in the list of players who will play for GSL. Fans are very disappointed about KeSPA and Ongamenet. However, the most disappointment comes from Blizzard Korea. It seems they had absolutely no idea what is going on until the incident came up even though they are the mediator of all.Eric Thayer / Getty Ron Paul There used to be an organization for people who believed in a truly limited government limited taxes, limited spending, limited interference in individual lives and limited intervention in foreign affairs. That organization was known as the Republican Party. But the only one of those beliefs that still motivates the G.O.P. establishment is limited taxes. In 2008, people who still hold all of them joined the Ron Paul Revolution. But now the revolution is ebbing. Congressman Paul's new campaign finance report shows that he's raised nearly $35 million, including more than any other Republican candidate in the fourth quarter of 2007, and he's inspired remarkable passion among the kind of diehards who hold up campaign signs on highway overpasses and post irate comments on obscure blogs. But the presidency isn't decided on YouTube or Technorati. Paul didn't win any Republican primaries, and he recently conceded that "victory in the conventional sense is not available." Of course, nothing in Paul's world is ever done in the conventional sense, so he has refused to drop out of the race and endorse the presumptive G.O.P. nominee, Senator John McCain. Instead he argues that all Republicans should have "the right to vote for someone that stands for traditional Republican principles." And he's got a point. The real significance of the Paul campaign is not the ubiquitous bumper stickers and lawn signs or the online fund-raising records ($6 million in one day, plus another $4 million, hilariously, on Guy Fawkes Day) but the mirror Paul held up to the modern Republican Party. When his fellow candidates denounced big government, Paul was there to remind them that President Bush and the G.O.P. Congress had shattered spending records and exploded the deficit. When they hailed freedom, Paul asked why they all supported the Patriot Act and other expansions of executive power. And when they called themselves conservatives, Paul asked what was so conservative about sending thousands of young Americans to try to transform the Middle East. In some ways, Paul is a throwback to the frugal and isolationist wing of the old Republican Party, the fuddy-duddy GOP of Robert Taft and Calvin Coolidge. His fiscal policies evoke the idealistic Republican revolutionaries who seized control of Congress in 1994; he wants to abolish the IRS, the Departments of Homeland Security, Education and Energy, and most of the federal government. He refuses to vote for unbalanced budgets, and he has opposed spending taxpayer dollars on Congressional Medals of Honor, even for Rosa Parks or Pope John Paul II. Typically, his campaign has reported no debts, and still has more than $5 million in the bank. Meanwhile, Paul's foreign policies evoke candidate George W. Bush's call for a "humbler foreign policy" in 2000, although Paul goes much further; not only did he oppose U.S. involvement in Iraq, Kosovo and the war on drugs, he opposes U.S. involvement in the United Nations and NATO. Under Bush's leadership, of course, the Republican Party has been anything but frugal and anything but isolationist. The congressional Republican revolutionaries seemed to lose their zeal for shrinking the federal government once they controlled it, which is one reason voters expelled them from power in 2006. And these days, it's usually Democrats who call for a humbler foreign policy. Paul's leave-us-alone libertarianism hasn't fit in with a party anxious to read our e-mail, improve our values, assert American power abroad and subsidize friendly industries at home. The party's recent mix of "national greatness" neoconservatives, evangelical theoconservatives and K Street careerists has had many goals, but leaving people alone hasn't been one of them. That's why Paul was the one getting booed at G.O.P. debates. And that's one reason why Paul's fervent followers were banned from the activist Republican website RedState. In fairness, though, another reason RedState's directors got tired of the Paulistas was that so many of them seemed what's the polite word? nuts. Paul's supporters aren't all black-helicopter paranoiacs, but the black-helicopter paranoiacs sure do support Ron Paul. The controversy over a few racist articles in his old newsletters was probably overblown; there's no evidence that Paul himself was ever a racist. But he is an extremist partly in the Barry Goldwater extremism-in-defense-of-liberty-is-no-vice sense of the word, but also in the wacky let's-relitigate-the-currency-debates-of-the-1820s sense of the word. The late William F. Buckley wanted conservatives to stand athwart history yelling stop; Paul seems to want to slam history into reverse. The guy genuinely wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and start circulating gold again. Still, even if you set aside Paul's kookier ideas, there just doesn't seem to be a road to the White House for any candidate who opposes the war in Iraq as well as higher taxes, the war on drugs as well as higher spending, restrictions on privacy as well as restrictions on guns. That's a real "freedom agenda," a true assault on big government, and while it clearly spoke to some angry dudes with high-speed web connections and time on their hands, it's just as clearly not where America stands today. Paul didn't have a lot of company on the House floor when he rose recently to complain about government overreach in the investigation of the disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, who resigned after revelations that he had been a customer of a high-end prostitution ring. But even if Paul's ideological purity is never going to get him to the White House, it does help illuminate the impurities and sometimes the hypocrisies of today's Republicans, just as Ralph Nader can do for the Democrats. The G.O.P. candidates all claimed to defend taxpayers, but Paul was the only one who refused to accept a taxpayer-funded pension or taxpayer-funded junkets. The candidates all talked about shrinking big government, but Paul was the only one who included the Pentagon and NSA wiretaps and petroleum subsidies in his definition. Bush's approval ratings have been abysmal for years, but Paul was the only Republican who really campaigned for change. And in doing so Paul illustrated what was so striking about the Republican race. The leading candidates had all strayed from Bush and current orthodoxy in the past Rudy Giuliani on abortion and gay rights, John McCain on tax cuts, torture, health care and campaign finance, Mitt Romney on just about everything. But while Paul was getting attacked every time he called for a new direction, the rest spent the primaries minimizing and renouncing their previous departures, implicitly promising four more years of Bushism. McCain is lucky he has some time to craft a new message, because that's not where America stands today, either.A day ahead of a vote to find Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) said his committee is no longer even strongly suspicious that highest ranking law enforcement officer in the country knew that guns “walked” during the botched ATF operation known as Fast and Furious. “During the inception and the participation through the death of Brian Terry, we have no evidence nor do we currently have strong suspicion” that Holder knew of the tactics, Issa said during testimony before the House Rules Committee on Wednesday. “We have just the opposite, have a number of people, including Lanny Breuer, who should have known who’s responsibility was to know, that as part of our ongoing responsibility to figure out who was responsible,” Issa continued. Issa also said he had no specific knowledge that the White House knew of the gunwalking tactics and said the committee wasn’t looking to the president.Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the Oversight Committee, butted in as Issa was being questioned by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). “We are now about to find in contempt the attorney general of the United States of America after you just heard that,” Cummings said. “Sure,” replied Issa. “It’s not for what the attorney general knew about Fast
the verdict, possess qualified immunity for any violation of Randall's federally protected constitutional rights, their liability to Randall stems solely from their violation of his constitutional rights under Article 24. As such, our examination of their challenge to Randall's damage award is governed by Maryland law. This distinction has theoretical significance because, although the right of recovery for federal violations arises under statute, i.e., § 1983, "a violation of Article 24 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights may be redressed through a common law action for damages." Ashton v. Brown, 339 Md. 70, 660 A.2d 447, 462 (Md. 1995); see DiPino v. Davis, 354 Md. 18, 729 A.2d 354, 371 (Md. 1999). As a practical matter, however, this distinction makes little difference because § 1983 creates "a species of tort liability in favor of persons who are deprived of rights, privileges, or immunities secured to them by the Constitution." Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 253, 98 S.Ct. 1042, 55 L.Ed.2d 252 (1978). As such, "when § 1983 plaintiffs seek damages for violations of constitutional rights, the level of damages is ordinarily determined according to principles derived from the common law of torts." Stachura, 477 U.S. at 306, 106 S.Ct. 2537. Our analysis of whether Randall suffered an actual injury warranting compensatory damages therefore appears to be the same under both § 1983 and Article 24 jurisprudence. In fact, Maryland courts have identified only three differences in the availability of damages between an action under Article 24 and one under § 1983:(1) officials do not possess qualified immunity for state constitutional violations; (2) under Article 24, no distinction is drawn between official capacity and individual capacity; and (3) local government entities have respondeat superior liability for state constitutional violations. DiPino, 729 A.2d at 371-72. a. At common law, tort damages were "designed to provide ` compensation for the injury caused to plaintiff by defendant's breach of duty.'" Id. (quoting 2 F. Harper et al., Law of Torts § 25.1, 490 (2d ed. 1986)). Therefore, in order to justify an award of compensatory damages under Article 24, a plaintiff must show an actual injury resulting from a constitutional deprivation. Id. at 308-09, 106 S.Ct. 2537; Carey, 435 U.S. at 264, 98 S.Ct. 1042. And it is settled that, in the absence of an actual injury, such a deprivation will justify only nominal damages. Carey, 435 U.S. at 266, 98 S.Ct. 1042. The concept of actual injury at common law is a broad one, and the Supreme Court has recognized that "compensatory damages may include not only out-of-pocket loss and other monetary harms, but also such injuries as impairment of reputation..., personal humiliation, and mental anguish and suffering." Stachura, 477 U.S. at 307, 106 S.Ct. 2537. Actual injury therefore may include emotional distress. Carey, 435 U.S. at 264, 98 S.Ct. 1042. We have recognized, in the § 1983 context, that a "plaintiff's testimony, standing alone, can support an award of compensatory damages for emotional distress based on a constitutional violation." Price v. City of Charlotte, North Carolina, 93 F.3d 1241, 1254 (4th Cir. 1996). Such evidence must, however, "establish that the plaintiff suffered demonstrable emotional distress, which must be sufficiently articulated; neither conclusory statements that the plaintiff suffered emotional distress nor the mere fact that a constitutional violation occurred supports an award of compensatory damages." Id. With these legal principles in mind, we turn to the contentions of the Corporals that Randall suffered no "actual injury." b. The Corporals assert that Plaintiff Randall suffered neither monetary nor physical injury, and that his only possible injury was emotional distress. They further maintain that, because Randall was not distraught over his detention, the evidence of emotional distress was insufficient to satisfy the principles enunciated in Price. As such, the Corporals contend that Randall failed to show an actual injury and that the nominal sum of one dollar is the appropriate award. As we have previously observed, actions under Article 24 are common law actions and therefore governed by common law tort principles. Randall's claim is that he was unconstitutionally seized and detained against his will, in essence that he suffered the common law tort of false imprisonment. In an action for false imprisonment at common law, a plaintiff may claim "compensation for loss of time, for physical discomfort or inconvenience, and for any resulting physical illness or injury to health." W. Keeton et al., Prosser and Keeton on The Law of Torts 48 (5th ed. 1984); see Beckwith v. Bean, 98 U.S. 266, 276, 25 L.Ed. 124 (1878) (recognizing loss of time as potential element of compensatory damages in false imprisonment action); Samuel v. Rose's Stores, Inc., 907 F.Supp. 159, 164 (E.D.Va. 1995) (same). As such, a jury may compensate a plaintiff in an Article 24 action premised on an unconstitutional seizure and detention for the time he lost and the physical discomfort he experienced as a result of the unconstitutional activity. See Wright v. Sheppard, 919 F.2d 665, 669 (11th Cir. 1990) (concluding that common law damages principles govern damages for § 1983 false imprisonment claim); cf. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 484, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994) (indicating compensatory damages available for physical discomfort and loss of time in § 1983 action analogous to malicious prosecution). Merely because a plaintiff has suffered the common law tort of false imprisonment does not, of course, imply that he has also suffered a deprivation of his state constitutional rights. See generally Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 146, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979). In this case, however, the Corporals concede that Randall's seizure and detention were unconstitutional, and that they can form the basis of his Article 24 claim. An award of compensatory damages for loss of time requires, of course, something more than a brief detention. We have observed in the § 1983 context that being seized for a minimal amount of time does not constitute an actual injury warranting compensatory damages. Norwood v. Bain, 166 F.3d 243, 245 (4th Cir. 1999) (en banc) (concluding that plaintiffs who were unconstitutionally searched and seized for brief period of time suffered no loss and were only entitled to nominal damages). In this case, the jury was entitled to conclude that Randall suffered an actual injury on April 26, 1995, and that such injury resulted from unconstitutional activity. On that occasion, he was rousted naked from a bathtub at gunpoint and forced to kneel outside 7211 for approximately sixty minutes in his boxer shorts while being questioned. Thus, viewed in the light most favorable to Randall, he offered ample evidence of time lost and discomfort experienced as a result of an unconstitutional detention. His award of compensatory damages therefore was warranted. As to whether Randall suffered emotional distress, we note that his testimony provides some "demonstrable evidence" of emotional distress, albeit not much. For example, Randall did state that he had difficulty sleeping in the wake of the First Search. We need not determine whether such a showing is sufficient because of Randall's other evidence of actual injury. The Appellants also contend that the court erred in denying their motion for a remittitur, asserting that the compensatory and punitive damage awards were excessive. Because we vacate all the damage awards made against the Supervisors, we examine the remittitur issue only as to the $10,000 award made to Randall. In that regard, we will set aside an award of compensatory damages as excessive only if "the verdict is against the clear weight of the evidence, or is based upon evidence which is false, or will result in a miscarriage of justice... or no substantial evidence is presented to support it." Hetzel v. County of Prince William, 89 F.3d 169, 171 (4th Cir. 1996) (internal quotation marks omitted). In the circumstances here, the denial of a remittitur on Randall's award was not erroneous. V. A. Turning to the crossappeal, the Plaintiffs contend that the court erred in awarding summary judgment to Prince George's County on their Monell claims, i.e., their contention that the County maintained an unofficial policy of detaining persons against their will in the absence of probable cause. They assert that the evidence concerning a police custom in Prince George's County of holding witnesses until the lead investigator approves their release created a genuine issue of fact on whether the County was deliberately indifferent to an unofficial policy of unconstitutional detention. We have recognized that, in appropriate circumstances, § 1983 liability may attach to a municipality for the misconduct of its police force. Spell v. McDaniel, 824 F.2d 1380, 1390 (4th Cir. 1987). If a police force develops an unconstitutional "custom or usage," i.e., a widespread practice of a particular unconstitutional method, such custom or usage may be the basis for municipal liability, "but only if its continued existence can be laid to the fault of municipal policy-makers, and a sufficient causal connection between the `municipal custom and usage' and the specific violation can then be established." Id. In order for liability to attach, (1) the municipality must have "actual or constructive knowledge" of the custom and usage by its responsible policymakers, and (2) there must be a failure by those policymakers, "as a matter of specific intent or deliberate indifference," to correct or terminate the improper custom and usage. Id. at 1391. Under Spell, constructive knowledge of such a custom and usage "may be inferred from the widespread extent of the practices, general knowledge of their existence, manifest opportunities and official duty of responsible policymakers to be informed, or combinations of these." Id. Moreover, a sufficient causal connection between "such a known but uncorrected custom or usage and a specific violation is established if occurrence of the specific violation was made reasonably probable by permitted continuation of the custom." Id. As Judge Phillips observed in Spell, the "failure to correct the known practices must be such as to make the specific violation `almost bound to happen, sooner or later.'" Id. In this case, the only evidence concerning custom and usage was the testimony of certain officers that they were not normally permitted to release witnesses until so authorized by the lead investigator or his supervisor. There was no evidence, however, that the County Police routinely detained witnesses against their will until the lead investigator authorized their release; rather, the procedure centered on the idea of checking with the lead investigator before concluding a witness interview. Put simply, there was no evidence that the County Police continually held witnesses who expressed a desire to leave. As such, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs, is insufficient to support a finding that the County Police maintained a custom and usage of unconstitutional detention. Thus, the court's award of summary judgment to the County on the Monell claims was appropriate. B. The Plaintiffs have also cross-appealed on the $195,000 award for their attorneys' fees and costs. In its calculation of this award, the court reduced the claim because of the Plaintiffs' relative success rate. Opinion at 6-9. In so doing, it observed that the case began with twenty-seven defendants, fifteen plaintiffs, and fifty-five counts; went to the jury with seven defendants, fourteen plaintiffs, and five counts; and resulted in a favorable verdict against five defendants for twelve plaintiffs. Opinion at 8. In its calculations, the court deducted the time spent by counsel on the claims of the two plaintiffs who did not prevail, and it also deducted the time spent in preparing the unsuccessful case against Officers Oldfield and Shook. It then deducted the time spent preparing the case against the Corporals, because they were only found liable on the pendent state constitutional claims. Finally, the court reduced the remaining number of hours by one-third to account for the number of defendants found liable on the federal claims relative to the number of defendants originally named. As our Judge Field observed in Haywood v. Ball, 634 F.2d 740, 743 (4th Cir. 1980), an award of attorneys' fees pursuant to § 1988 is not required or justified "in a case where the plaintiff has lost on the constitutional issue after a plenary trial" but has recovered on pendent state law claims. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988, a court "in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party... a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs." And we review such an award for an abuse of discretion. Brodziak v. Runyon, 145 F.3d 194, 196 (4th Cir. 1998). A court, however, abuses its discretion if it makes a mistake of law. Id. The Plaintiffs maintain that the court made such a mistake by deducting from their claim on the basis of their success rate. They contend that, under Brodziak, a court must focus on whether the successful and unsuccessful claims are related to one another, and that it should not focus solely on the success rate. The Plaintiffs observe that their claims arose from the same set of operative facts, and they maintain that the court thereby erred in penalizing them for their success rate. In this contention, the Plaintiffs misapprehend our decision in Brodziak. That decision in no way undermined the Court's mandate in Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 436, 103 S.Ct. 1933, 76 L.Ed.2d 40 (1983), that the "most critical factor" in calculating a reasonable fee award "is the degree of success obtained." In Brodziak, we merely reiterated Hensley's holding that a court may not use "a purely mathematical comparison between the number of claims pressed and the number prevailed upon" to calculate a fee award. Brodziak, 145 F.3d at 197. In this situation, the court did not utilize a purely mathematical formula in calculating its fee award; in fact, it made the following pertinent observation: The Court will not punish the Plaintiffs for filing their claims against a number of Defendants. This was a difficult action to determine which officers might have acted in a potentially unconstitutional manner. Plaintiffs must make sure that every officer was included who could have violated their rights or risk losing the ability to go to trial because of the statute of limitations. Opinion at 8-9. Thus, the court's calculation of the fee award was not an abuse of discretion. Nevertheless, because we vacate nearly all of the damage awards, and because no plaintiff has prevailed on a federal constitutional claim, we will remand for a recalculation of the attorneys' fee award. The Plaintiffs also maintain that the court erred in granting qualified immunity to defendants Evartt and Hoffman. We have previously recognized that an officer does not lose qualified immunity when he violates an individual's federal rights "unless a reasonable officer would know that the specific conduct at issue was impermissible." Rogers v. Pendleton, 249 F.3d 279, 285 (4th Cir. 2001). Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs, Evartt and Hoffman simply walked six of the plaintiffs to the processing center to be placed in cells. Under the circumstances, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that a reasonable officer would have known that such conduct was impermissible. As such, the ruling in favor of Evartt and Hoffman cannot be disturbed. VI. For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the damage awards against the three Supervisors; we affirm the award of compensatory damages to Randall against the Corporals; we affirm the award of summary judgment to Prince George's County on the Monell claims; we affirm the award of qualified immunity to Evartt and Hoffman; and we remand for further proceedings on the attorneys' fee award. AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.Elon Musk has promised to solve ongoing power problems in the state of South Australia by committing to build a 100MW battery storage farm, and promising that if he couldn’t provide the system within 100 days, he would give it to the state for free. The Tesla CEO made the promise on Twitter, replying to Atlassian CEO and Australian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes. The conversation came after similar remarks from Lyndon Rive, Tesla’s vice president for energy products, who said earlier in the week that his company would commit to solving South Australia’s energy issues with 100 to 300 megawatt-hours of battery storage. Like Musk, Rive said Tesla could install the required batteries within 100 days. "We don't have 300MWh sitting there ready to go,” he said, “but I'll make sure there are.” @mcannonbrookes Tesla will get the system installed and working 100 days from contract signature or it is free. That serious enough for you? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2017 Musk said Tesla would get the system installed and working within 100 days of signing a contract. For his part, Cannon-Brookes requested seven days to “sort out politics and funding,” and asked the Tesla CEO to DM him an approximate quote for a 100MW battery farm — at “mates rates.” Musk replied a short time later specifying that Tesla would charge $250 per kilowatt-hour for 100MWh systems like the one discussed, and that the company was moving to a fixed, open pricing structure for its battery farms. @mcannonbrookes $250/kWh at the pack level for 100MWh+ systems. Tesla is moving to fixed and open pricing and terms for all products. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2017 Assuming Musk can indeed secure a deal with the Australian government, it seems that Tesla has the capabilities to make good on its founder’s promise: the company built a similar 80MW farm in California last year in just 90 days. The last blackout took place in February The Australian state has suffered from a spate of blackouts over the past six months, with the most recent taking place in early February, during a 104 degree heatwave. The Australian Energy Market Operator has blamed the blackouts on a number of factors, including higher-than-expected demand, but the topic has become a political battleground, with the Australian government pointing to the failure of renewable energies to cover usage. Coal-fired power plants have been closing across Australia in recent months, hiking energy bills and contributing to blackouts like those suffered in South Australia. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pushed for a return to the fossil fuel as part of a “coal-fired future,” but Tesla’s battery technology may help wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources persist in Australia. Musk’s battery farms can store huge amounts of energy generated by these renewable sources and siphon it off during busy times, theoretically eliminating blackouts.Asked by Good Morning America if he’d ever lied from the podium, Trump’s former press secretary said ‘I don’t think so’ – but admitted he’d ‘made mistakes’ Sean Spicer, who became notorious as Donald Trump’s mouthpiece, insisted on Thursday that he did not “knowingly” lie to the American people from the White House podium. The combative Spicer claimed that Trump’s inauguration drew a record crowd, repeated the president’s groundless claim that millions of people voted illegally, and offered an explanation for FBI director James Comey’s dismissal that Trump quickly contradicted. But asked by ABC News’s Good Morning America if he had ever lied from the podium, Spicer said: “I don’t think so. You wanna find something – I have not knowingly done anything to do that, no.” Spicer also denied that Trump had ever asked him to lie or manipulate the truth. But the former White House press secretary, who raises some eyebrows after appearing at the Emmy awards on Sunday, admitted: “I made mistakes, there’s no question, I think we all do. Some of them I tried to own very publicly. In some cases there were things that I did that until someone brought it up, I said, ‘Gosh, I didn’t realise that was a mistake, I’m sorry about that’. “But to watch some of the personal attacks, questioning my integrity, questioning what my intentions were, I think were really over the top.” Play Video 0:33 Spicer mocks Trump in surprise Emmys cameo - video Spicer, who quit in July following the arrival of Anthony Scaramucci as communications director, has been accused of pushing “alternative facts” and enabling what Trump’s defeated rival Hillary Clinton describes as a “war on truth”. Pressed on whether he would apologise to the public, he said: “I think there are things I did during my time there that I needed to go out and correct, and I did that. Where there were mistakes that were made, that I got something wrong, I think I’ve owned that. “I know there are some folks that no matter what we say or do they were never going – and some folks in the media that think everything we did was wrong and want some blanket apology. That’s not happening.” Interviewer Paula Faris noted photographic evidence that Barack Obama’s inauguration drew a bigger audience. Spicer acknowledged: “I think it might have been better to be a lot more specific with what we were talking about in terms of the universe, not focus so much on photographic evidence, et cetera. “So yes, from that standpoint, I think I could have probably had more facts at hand and been more articulate in describing the entirety of what that day was about.” The former press secretary did concede that his statement to reporters that the administration had not imposed a “travel ban” was at odds with Trump’s own tweets. “I definitely wish we had been more consistent in the terms we used and the goals we were trying to achieve. I’ll take a mulligan on that one.” Sean Spicer at the Emmys: applause won't make his guilt go away \| Jessica Valenti Read more Spicer parodied himself at the Emmys in Hollywood on Sunday, wheeling a podium onto the stage and declaring: “This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys. Period. Both in person and around the world.” Some viewers criticised what they saw as an attempt to “normalise” Spicer and his false claims. Spicer told ABC News that he has subsequently spoken to Trump about the surprise cameo: “He was very supportive, he thought I did a great job, so it was very reassuring. I feel very good with my image. I’m very happy with myself. I’m able to go out and explain a lot of things now but I’m not on a tour. I’m out having some fun.” Trump said on Twitter he was “saddened” to see the “worst ever” Emmys ratings – a claim that appears to be incorrect. Faris asked Spicer whether special counsel Robert Mueller’s team had contacted him regarding the Russia investigation, whether he has hired a lawyer, whether he has been subpoenaed and whether he heard discussion inside the White House of firing Mueller. His demeanour appeared to shift as he answered each time: “I’m not gonna discuss that issue at all.” The Axios website reported that Spicer kept “notebook after notebook” during meetings at the Republican national committee, the Trump campaign and at the White House, and that these might become a target for Mueller’s investigation into alleged collusion between Trump’s associates and Moscow. But when Axios reporter Mike Allen approached Spicer for comment, he wrote back tartly: “Mike, please stop texting/emailing me unsolicited any more … From a legal standpoint I want to be clear: do not email or text me again. Should you do again I will report to the appropriate authorities.”CLOSE The Bistro Market, located at 401 South Avenue in downtown Springfield, has closed. It opened in 2010. A Starbucks on site remains open. Wochit Buy Photo The Bistro Market in downtown Springfield in January 2013. (Photo: News-Leader File Photo)Buy Photo The Bistro Market in downtown Springfield closed without advance notice on Monday. Handwritten signs posted on entrances to the store at 401 South Ave. notified customers of the change. A Starbucks inside the location remains open. Contacted by the News-Leader, Pyramid Foods — the Rogersville-based company that operated the Bistro — issued a statement from CEO Erick Taylor. The statement acknowledged the change without giving a reason for it. Taylor characterized the move as the Bistro's grocery and liquor store being "consolidated" into the Price Cutter at 1260 E. St. Louis St. Pyramid operates a number of local grocery stores under several brand names, including Price Cutter, King Cash Saver and Ruby's Market. Morris Dock, who owns the building at 401 South Ave., said Pyramid's lease on the approximately 11,000-square-foot market runs through May 2020. Taylor said in the statement that Pyramid is "committed to keeping this space filled in downtown Springfield." "We have recently been approached by food service vendors and researched launching out own food service concept in this space," Taylor said. "We'd like to thank all of our Bistro Market patrons and local neighboring business for all your support!" Buy Photo A sign posted Monday on a door to the Bistro Market. (Photo: Claudette Riley/News-Leader) When the Bistro Market opened in August 2010, it was seen by community leaders at the time as a major boost to downtown. Taylor said that month that "the community has been good to Price Cutter, and we feel like downtown Springfield needs a grocery store." "More people are moving to downtown, and we'd like to be part of it, and bring downtown to the next level," Taylor said in August 2010. At inception, in addition to the Starbucks, the Bistro Market offered a wide range of grocery options, as well as a small bar and a cafe area offering made-to-order food and a hot and cold food bar. In early 2013, Pyramid CEO Erick Taylor floated the possibility that the Bistro could close, as he spoke publicly against a plan to allow a Walmart Neighborhood Market a mile away. That Walmart, at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Grand Street, ultimately opened in March 2016. By then, the Bistro had taken on more of a liquor store feel, having been stripped of the cafe area and most of its grocery staples. Buy Photo A Bistro Market employee hands a customer a receipt in 2013. The prepared food and salad bar portion of the location was removed in 2015. (Photo: News-Leader File Photo) At the time, Taylor attributed the change to his company’s recent purchase of four Springfield grocery stores previously operated by Dillons. That transaction included one store on East St. Louis Street, about a mile away from the Bistro. Downtown Springfield Association executive director Rusty Worley told the News-Leader on Tuesday that the Bistro's grocery options "fulfilled an important need for our urban lofters" for a time, but "it's changed dramatically since it opened." "It's been obvious for a while that they've been looking for the right mix of products and services," Worley said. Worley said he was unsure exactly why the Bistro closed, but he noted the grocery industry "is in a state of flux right now," citing the rise of online ordering and Amazon's recent deal to acquire Whole Foods. Worley said the number of people living in the core downtown area has only increased since the Bistro opened, and that there is still interest among residents "in having a downtown grocery store that is closer to what the Bistro Market resembled when it first opened." Buy Photo A refrigerated case in the Bistro Market. (Photo: News-Leader File Photo) Read or Share this story: http://sgfnow.co/2sQ4VusA light and tasty ham and pineapple fried rice using cauliflower ‘rice’. If you still have some leftover ham then do I have a dish for you, and if you don’t then it’s time to head out to get a ham steak because this ham and pineapple cauliflower fried ‘rice’ will knock your socks off! This fried rice uses cauliflower that has been grated into rice sized pieces in place of regular rice making it a really good lighter alternative and it’s a great way to sneak in an extra veggie! Speaking of veggies, this dish is full of them with the onions, carrots, peas and peppers in addition to the juicy, sweet and tangy pineapple making this dish just packed with goodness! Not only is this dish nice and tasty but it only takes 30 minutes to make making it a perfect meal for those busy nights and any leftovers a great for lunch the next day! It’s so nice and colourful! I like to fry the ham first to get crispy edges and bring out more flavour!\| by Jack Landau \| George Brown College (GBC) officially opened their 380,000 ft² Waterfront Campus' first phase—now known as the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences—just shy of five years ago on a former industrial site beside Toronto Harbour near Queens Quay and Sherbourne. Now, the educational institution is gearing up for another phase of development in their Waterfront Campus, set to replace a parking lot with a tall wood building. Site of Waterfront Campus phase 2 (The Arbour), image courtesy of George Brown College With an aim to create a carbon-neutral facility, GBC will be launching an international design competition this fall, asking architects to submit concepts for a 12-storey timber-framed building—the first institutional building of this type in Ontario. Several tall wood buildings have been constructed around the world in recent years, making use of new technology that improves the tensile and fire-resistant qualities of wood, and improving overall sustainability. To be known as "The Arbour", the building will be designed to function as a "living laboratory" for climate-friendly building design, serving as the home of a new Tall Wood Building Research Institute, George Brown's Centre for Information and Computer Technology, a new child care facility, and additional research facilities. A number of smart building systems will be integrated into the project with an aim towards attaining carbon-neutral status. "This distinctive new location will help us contribute to the mitigation of climate change and environmental sustainability while supporting our continued intention to create campus environments that are innovative, creative and stimulating for student learning," said George Brown College President Anne Sado in a prepared statement issued on Thursday. Site of The Arbour, image courtesy of George Brown College The Arbour's status as the first tall wood institutional building in Ontario means that the project will serve as a demonstration facility and testbed for new technologies in sustainable building design. While the Ontario Building Code (OBC) permits timber-framed structures of up to six storeys as of 2015, there is word that further updates are coming to allow even more height. Given the current OBC regulations, George Brown College aims to receive a site-specific exemption to go beyond the permitted 6 storeys. While not covered by the OBC, a similar site-specific allowance was granted for an 18-storey timber-framed student residence at the University of British Columbia. In a prepared statement, Waterfront Toronto's President and CEO Will Fleissig said "Waterfront Toronto is pleased to welcome this new carbon-neutral facility to the East Bayfront neighbourhood as another example of sustainable development on Toronto's waterfront that showcases next-generation green building technologies. This facility joins a burgeoning innovation and technology corridor that is fostering creative, knowledge-based jobs and creating opportunities for Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs." Site of The Arbour, image courtesy of George Brown College The proposal builds on other area developments like the planned Waterfront Innovation Centre to the immediate west, George Brown's School of Design under construction another block to west, and several condominiums underway or being sold in the area, all equipped with ultra high speed internet. Meanwhile, recent rumours claim that Google's parent company Alphabet is considering an innovative "smart city" on a nearby plot of land. Together, these developments have the potential to cement the East Bayfront's status as a tech-friendly innovation neighbourhood. We will return with updates once the design competition is launched and additional information becomes available. In the meantime, you can review George Brown's Waterfront Campus in the Database file linked below, join in the discussion in the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.Even as Iran brazenly rolled out components of a new advanced air defense it received from Russia Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani said "a mighty Iran" would not "mount a threat to neighbors and other Islamic countries." Iran started to receive its first parts of the S-300 missile defense system from Russia last week. Some of the parts were shown in the country’s Army Day parade Sunday. “A mighty Iran militarily, politically and economically won’t mount a threat to neighbors and other Islamic countries," Rouhani said, The Tehran Times reported. "The strength of other Islamic countries is ours and vice versa.” Russia delivered the defense system despite repeated U.S. objections. A video from the parade purportedly shows the missile system being carried past a podium. However, the Pentagon hasn’t confirmed whether they are parts of the system. The S-300 missile defense system is one of the more advanced types of weaponry of its kind that can engage multiple aircrafts and ballistic missiles around 90 miles away, according to Reuters. “We all pursue the same goal and likewise, our diplomacy and armed forces both pursue the same goal: national security, stability and development," Rouhani said. Flying overhead during Iran's Army Day celebrations were old U.S. F-14 and F-4 fighter jets, sold to Iran during the Nixon administration. At the time, the jets were the most advanced warplanes in the U.S. military's inventory, but they have both been long scrapped. In the late 70s, the United States sold high-end military equipment to Iran, as long as it was non-nuclear. This news comes days after Russian jets harassed a U.S. Air Force spy plane over the Baltic Sea Thursday as well as buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer 31 times over two days, according to the Pentagon. "The enemy should bear in mind that there is no schism among our nation, government and armed forces," Rouhani said. "We are all fingers of the same hand.” President Obama will be in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss with Gulf leaders about Iran's growing presence in the region. Rouhani highlighted that presence in his speech Sunday, noting a series of economic, technological and scientific advancements the Islamic Republic had achieved due to increased travel to the country, The Tehran Times reported. "Had it not been for the mighty army, it would have been impossible to achieve this,” he said. Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. Click for more from Reuters.Preprint: Su bmitted to Archa eoastrono my – The Journa l of Astrono my in Culture 3 “It is very difficult, as things stand, for anyone, scholar or layman, to gain an overall impression of the nature and extent of Aboriginal oral tradition” (Ross 1986:260). Australian Aboriginal oral traditions are typically considered components of the ‘Dreaming’, a term coined by anthropologist Francis James Gillen in 1896 to refer to the period in the religious mythologies of northern Arunta people of the Northern Territory (Dean 1996). The Dreaming is a highly complex concept that exhibits s ubstantial diversity in meaning and purpose between different Aboriginal communities and cannot be simply regarded or dismissed as mythology or fables. We acknowledge that the Indigenous Australian and the Western scientific methods and approach to acquiring knowledge and explaining the natural world are vastly different. We seek only to apply information from oral traditions to the discipline of geomythology. This work is in no way meant to “legitimis e” or “marginalise ” Aboriginal oral traditions or cultures. For a better understanding of the Dreaming, we refer the interested reader to Stanner (1958, 1965, 1975), Meggitt (1972), Charlesworth et al (1984), Ross (1986), Rumsey (1994), Beckett (1994), Dean (1996), Bates (1996), and Rose (1996, 2000). Given the substantial diversity of Aboriginal communities, customs, laws, and traditions may vary between Aboriginal communities, even those of the same language group. While some common themes exist across many Aboriginal communities, such as the concept of the Rainbow Serpent (Radcliffe-Brown 1926), each group has a different variation of thes e themes. For this reason, each reference t o a particular Aboriginal story, ethnography, or word in this paper will include the name and location of that particular Aboriginal group. A full list of the Aboriginal g roups dis cussed in this paper, including their location, can be found in the Appendix. In many Aboriginal communities, certain ceremonies and oral traditions are considered sacred and secret, and thus are not shared with Westerners or even non-initiated members of that community. For example, Barker (1964:109-110) tells how a group of Aboriginal people knew of a meteorite in the desert and described how it fell to the earth from the sky, leaving little doubt in his mind that his Aboriginal informants had witnessed the fall. But since the meteorite was used as a source for sacred stories, the informants would not reveal its location to Barker or the other colonists. It is possible that some of the conclusions reached in this paper, particularly regarding the lack of stories about known impact craters, may be affected by this need for secrecy. 1.2 Australian Impact CratersImage caption More than 1,000 people have killed in violence in Jos in the past two years Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the military to "take all necessary actions" to stop ethnic and religious unrest in Plateau state. His order to the chief of defence comes a day after two bomb explosions hit the state capital Jos. More than 100 people have been killed in the past two weeks in the state in conflict between Muslims and Christians from rival ethnic groups. The conflict has continued despite a strong
the move, can benefit greatly from training with a.22. With that in mind, I have been using my GSG-1911 to warm up at the range before transitioning to my current centerfire 1911 of choice; a 9mm STI Trojan. While there are some definite ergonomic differences between the two pistols, I don’t notice them a great deal while shooting unless I am going for a more lengthy practice session. The most notable difference between the two pistols when shooting is the sights, but as I mentioned earlier, that can be easily remedied. I believe I’ve gotten the biggest benefit out of using the GSG to practice my draw stroke. Since the GSG has a standard 1911 profile, it fits perfectly into my Blackhawk CQC holster. My 1911 mag holders work fine for the GSG magazines as well. When switching from the GSG to the STI for draw practice, I do notice that the STI feels much heavier out of the holster. Those ounces of difference in the weight feel a lot more like pounds when trying to get the pistol on target quickly. However, I timed myself several times drawing from the holster and putting a single shot on target at 7 yards and the average was only.03 seconds slower with the STI. So while the all-steel STI “feels” heavier and slower out of the holster, it doesn’t seem to make much difference practically, and adding extra rounds to my draw practice with the GSG over the last few months has definitely improved my overall average times. Overall Value When compared to other.22 handguns in the $300-400 range, it’s hard to say that the GSG-1911 comes out on top in any specific category. If a new shooter were to ask for a recommendation at that price point, I would almost certainly point them toward something like a Ruger 22/45, which comes in several varieties, some of them significantly less expensive than the GSG. However, though there are more accurate, more durable.22s out there, there are few available in that price range that have the same feel and controls as serious defensive handguns. This makes the GSG better not just for training, but in my opinion, also makes it a really fun gun to shoot. The fact that I can use the same holster, the same mag holders, and run the gun in the same drills I use for my “real” 1911 makes it a blast to have out on the range. When I look at the rapidly degrading finish and the cheap sights on my GSG, it’s hard to love it. But then I look at the ammo boxes on the table and wonder how they got empty so quicky, and I realize that I’ve gotten more than my money’s worth.Jody David, a biologist manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, gets calls all the time to identify a fish an angler caught that wasn't exactly his or her target species. Most are species the veteran biologist can name without a moment's hesitation. But he admits he was initially stumped by a picture of a fish he got last Monday (July 3). The creature was slender with distinct vertical stripes the length of its body and a large, flashy dorsal fin. David did some digging and consulted with colleagues. After an examination, the team determined the fish was a shovelnose catfish, and drilled down further through eight different fish in the genus to identify it as a spotted tiger shovelnose catfish, a fish that is native to the Amazon River Basin. It was caught by Barbara Ducote, who was fishing a worm in the Atchafalaya River about 500 yards north of Melville. The fish weighed 2 pounds and measured 19 1/2 inches. How the fish got here is a guess. It's possible it swam up from the Amazon or got caught in a ship's bilge, but it's also possible aliens from the former planet Pluto deposited it here on their last visit. More likely, David said, is the fish was someone's pet. "It was probably an aquarium release," he said. "We're assuming that; we don't know for sure. "It probably got too big for the tank, so the owner let it go. That's the only way we think it realistically could have gotten into our waters." David said fish like pacu, which are also native to South America, are occasionally caught in Louisiana waters. These fish too are thought to be aquarium releases. "The owner doesn't want it any longer but he doesn't want to kill it, so he lets it go," David said. That's always a bad practice because these fish, if they get established, can outcompete native species. Aggressive Rio Grande cichlids have taken over many local waterways, muscling out bream and crappie. Although shovelnose catfish are excellent table fare, David said a local store in Melville plans to mount Ducote's fish and put it on display. In their native habitat, some shovelnose catfish can reach 5 feet in length. ************** Todd Masson can be reached at [email protected] or 504.232.3054. Follow @ TmassonFISH Tweet to @TmassonFISHWe must start by congratulating Tim Sherwood, who is approaching his 24-hour anniversary as Tottenham's caretaker boss, the former midfielder adeptly managing to avoid being sacked by Daniel Levy less than a day into the job. Though, given that Sherwood has yet to win a match since replacing Hank Scorpio, who will use the millions earned from his latest pay-off to build a mountain lair and buy the Denver Broncos, Levy's notoriously itchy trigger finger must be giving him some bother already. That finger's itchy, all right! Someone better scratch that finger fast! The pressure is building on Sherwood already, then. But if he does manage to survive, not that he should when his failure to win the Premier League is taken into account, then he will be given the opportunity to prove that he should be given the Tottenham job on a permanent basis, whatever that means. Not much, in all honesty. Other candidates include Fabio Capello, Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino, FC Basel's Murat Yakin, Glenn Hoddle, Christian Gross, Lord Sugar and Daniel Levy, all of whom will be delighted to learn that Mirko Vucinic will join on loan from Juventus in January. What Hoddle did in a past life to be linked with this poisoned chalice is unclear. To news of managerial change elsewhere now and Gianfranco Zola has done one at Watford, who made a complete hash of their promotion bid under him last season, after nine matches without a win. And who's the early favourite might replace him at Vicarage Road? His former assistant at West Ham, Steve Clarke, recently sacked by West Bromwich Albion, who are rumoured to want, er, Zola to replace Clarke. All very cosy. If you replace the 'Z' in his surname with an 'S', then Wilfried Zaha would be French, which is why Newcastle are favourites to sign the Manchester United winger on loan in January. But on his way out of Newcastle is Steven Taylor apparently, a target for Queens Park Rangers after losing his place in the team following his injury. Which might have something to do with him losing his place in the team. Rafa's revenge! The former Liverpool manager has returned to his former club with an attempt to bring Daniel Agger to Napoli on loan. But Liverpool aren't for budging. They plan to hang on to the Dane, having already seen off interest in him from Barcelona last summer. Do one, Rafa! Everton are planning a double deal for the Dundee United duo Andrew Robertson and John Souttar. Robertson, a left-back, is seen as a potential heir to Leighton Baines, who's probably on his way to Old Trafford, while Souttar is a centre-back. Hull, Sunderland and West Ham are all interested in Lorient's 24-year-old French centre-back Lamine Koné and plan to "do battle over him", Steve Bruce, Gus Poyet and Sam Allardyce readying themselves for a three-way jousting competition to secure the defender's services.Stephen King’s classic Firestarter will be ablaze on the big screen again in a remake with Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman behind the camera. Goldsman and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum announced the news tonight during the Overlook Film Festival at Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, OR, following the opening-night premiere of their latest collaboration Stephanie which Goldsman directed. In Firestarter, a young girl develops pyrokinetic abilities and is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powerful gift as a weapon. Blumhouse Universal is also involved in development with Blumhouse and Goldsman as the studio released the first feature adaptation of the film in May 1984; it starred Drew Barrymore and was directed by Mark L. Lester. Firestarter will rep the fifth time Goldsman has worked with Blumhouse following his EP duties on Paranormal Activity 2, 3 and 4 as well as Stephanie. Scott Teems (Rectify) will write the new Firestarter adaptation. Blum under his Blumhouse label will produce. Martha de Laurentiis, an associate producer on the 1984 version, will serve as executive producer. Talk about the appropriate setting to announce tonight’s news: Timberline Lodge is where Stanley Kubrick shot the hotel exteriors for his big-screen version of King’s The Shining. The Firestarter news comes on the heels of a fantastic 2017 for Blumhouse, which has reaped close to $500 million worldwide from both Split and Get Out off combined negative costs under $15M. King’s books have sold more than 350M copies worldwide. In September, Warner Bros/New Line is releasing the long-awaited feature adaptation of King’s It; the trailer following its drop at CinemaCon set a 24-hour global record with close to 200 million views back in March. Goldsman co-wrote the script to King’s The Dark Tower which Sony is releasing this summer. The A Beautiful Mind Oscar-winning scribe also has a story-by credit on Paramount’s Transformers: The Last Knight, also out this summer. Goldsman has supervised Paramount’s writers room for their revamps of Hasbro properties Transformers, G.I. Joe and Mircronauts. Goldsman is repped by WME and Hansen, Jacobson. Teems is repped by Paradigm, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Sloane, Offer.Photo by Tim Oxton When Funeral Advantage came onto the scene in 2015 with Body is Dead, it was a project that presented hopeful ideas in a dreamy soundscape. The feelings were bright, both lyrically and musically. But in the interim since, band mastermind Tyler Kershaw learned how quickly hopefulness can turn to misery. That’s why the follow-up to his debut LP is the much more dour Please Help Me EP, set for release February 24th via The Native Sound/Disposable America. The effort was written in the wake of a crumbling relationship, which is usually all it takes to switch off someone’s positive outlook. Lead single “CEOT7K” deals with the resulting despondency directly as Kershaw sings, “Beside you, I’ve reduced to/ An amputee, dead, always here but never again.” “‘CEOT7k’ is about how I have given up on trying to be a good person,” Kershaw tells Consequence of Sound, calling the track “the angriest song I have ever written.” “I have always wondered why I never felt focused or driven to do well in school, work, relationships, etc. I came up with an understanding at the beginning of this year that it never really had anything to do with me. I realized slowly that nothing I ever did came out positively in the end due to reasons beyond my control. God has repeatedly shoved me to the ground as soon as I got back up.” Though the songwriter is clearly in a heavier place, his music thankfully hasn’t lost its lightness. The track movies with the easy urgency of bright melodies and rapping percussion. Take a listen below, and preorder Please Help Me here. Please Help Me EP Artwork: Please Help Me Tracklist: 01. Please Help Me 02. CEOT7K 03. The Hanging Cage 04. Shining 05. We Lost Our Home 06. Lakewood MausoleumGRAND RAPIDS, MI – A West Michigan man facing federal marijuana charges has filed a constitutional challenge based, in part, on disparate federal prosecution in different states. Shawn Taylor, the alleged leader of a marijuana grow operation, also argues that marijuana has medicinal value and should not be classified as a Schedule 1 drug – the designation for the most dangerous drugs. Taylor is seeking an evidentiary hearing on the issues before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids. Attorney John Targowski said his motion is based on a Attorneys in that case have secured an August evidentiary hearing. “We’re raising arguments that have really never been raised before in a federal marijuana case,” Targowski, a former Kalamazoo attorney now practicing in Santa Monica, Calif., said on Thursday, June 19, after he filed an 86-page brief on behalf of his client. “We’re arguing that cannabis is wrongly scheduled – it has medicinal value,” Targowski said. Related: Related: Taylor is one of 37 people arrested for alleged roles in grow operations in Kent, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties and Traverse City. Targowski said that a U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act should have bearing on marijuana cases. “Recognizing the historical support for defining marriage as between one man and one woman, the court determined that it was the duty of the judiciary to rectify past misperceptions which result in constitutionally unsound legislation,” Targowski wrote in court documents. “Like the long held beliefs regarding the marital relationship, the long held beliefs about the effects of marijuana have evolved. While the former evolution has been the result of societal ideologies, the latter is predicated on scientific evidence, and therefore, can be more readily established through an evidentiary hearing.” Targowski has asked that Jonker consider declarations of three experts, including a former FBI supervisor and a physician, to establish there is no rational basis to treat marijuana as a controlled substance. Medical science has documented that “marijuana has a notably low potential for abuse,” Targowski wrote. He said the Supreme Court has acknowledged its medical value. “Compared to other over-the-counter substances, cannabis has the lowest potential for abuse, as it is impossible to die from an overdose: further, no studies have proven that the use of cannabis causes harms similar to those caused by the use of common over-the-counter medications, even at recommended dosages,” he wrote. “In effect, the facts upon which marijuana was scheduled as one of the most dangerous narcotics in 1970 have been disproven.” He also said that the government’s policy of not prosecuting those who comply with their state’s medical marijuana laws amounts to unequal prosecution based on where people live. “The policy statement presented in the memorandum to U.S. Attorneys from Deputy Attorney General James Cole, issued on Aug. 29, 2013, by Attorney General Eric Holder has resulted in a discriminatory application of federal law, in that it protects similarly situated individuals from criminal sanctions for actions identical to that alleged to have been conducted by the defendant, and therefore violates the Equal Protection Clause,” Targowski wrote. The government contends Taylor ran a large-scale drug operation that sold marijuana in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. He worked with a doctor for “certification clinics” for alleged patients, police said. The government said Taylor used the state’s medical marijuana law as a ruse. The government said that the state’s medical marijuana law is not a defense in federal court, and Taylor’s operation was not in compliance with state law, records showed. John Agar covers crime for MLive/Grand Rapids Press E-mail John Agar: [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgarThe last thing Solomon Rogers remembered, he was mixing it up with Samuel Ilnicki in the second round of his amateur MMA debut at a Golden Ticket Fight Promotions event in Wolverhampton, England. Things were going well. They’d traded some good shots in the first round. Rogers was starting to see the opening to land his overhand right in the second. But as he wound up to throw it, Ilnicki came in with a kick. Rogers couldn’t tell at first where it would come from, so he made the mistake of dipping his head down to the left just as Ilnicki’s right shin came rising toward his face. “The last thing I saw was his leg coming up at me,” Rogers told MMAjunkie. “I remember thinking, ‘Well, you’ve (expletived) up big time, haven’t you?’” Rogers doesn’t remember what happened next, but by now he’s seen it. So have hundreds of thousands of other people. The image of his whole body stiffening in the aftermath of the kick, as if he’d been frozen in place by the force of the blow before pitching slowly forward onto his head, that’s the stuff viral video sensations are made of. That might explain why the YouTube video currently has more than 1 million views, and why the MMAjunkie story on the Nov. 18 knockout garnered more than 100,000 hits in the days after the fight. One of those clicks came from Rogers, who first learned that he’d become a viral sensation when he saw himself on this website the Monday after his fight. “It was weird, because I’m constantly on MMAjunkie, just seeing what’s happening in MMA,” Rogers said. “Then to look on there one day and see myself getting knocked out, it’s a strange feeling.” It didn’t stop there, either. Suddenly, Rogers had become a form of Internet famous. He got messages from people all over the world. He saw tweets and social media shares from strangers and celebrities, including rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill, a favorite of his growing up. People on YouTube were worried about his teeth (he still has them all). Fight fans in Brazil sent him emails to tell him what a warrior he is (he didn’t exactly feel like one just then). This is what it’s like on the wrong end of a viral video knockout. Suddenly everybody’s talking about you, but in a way that makes you wish they weren’t. Then again, Rogers admitted, in a way it was helpful. “On Monday after the fight, I was just upset about it, about how the fight went,” Rogers said. “But since then, seeing how many shares it’s gotten and how many views it has, I just have to laugh about it. It’s strange. Off an amateur debut, this huge thing happened, and all these people saw it.” It didn’t work quite the same for Ilnicki, the man on the kicking end of the highlight. In the immediate aftermath of the blow, all attention was focused on Rogers. Even Ilnicki stopped short of celebrating the knockout win out of concern for Rogers’ health. “The way he fell on his head like that, you know, it was an amateur fight,” Ilnicki said. “We don’t get paid for that, and I did something scary there. So yes, I felt worried.” He felt even more worried because, based on their brief interactions before the fight, Ilnicki really liked Rogers. He seemed like a nice guy. And after being stung by Rogers’ leg kicks in the first round, Ilnicki had to respect him as a fighter, too. He wanted to win, but he didn’t want to hurt the guy. Ending the fight that way left him with mixed feelings. “It was good because, for a knockout, I couldn’t do it any better,” Ilnicki said. “But I didn’t want to see him hurt. Before the fight, he came with a smile to me, and I did the same with him. It was a tough fight, but no bad blood.” But while Rogers was flooded with concern and support following his loss, Ilnicki didn’t exactly get overwhelmed with praise for his win. Walking around the arena after the fight, sure, people congratulated him on the knockout. Beyond that? It was as if people didn’t think so much about the man who landed the kick, but only about the man who had to eat it. “I haven’t really heard much from anyone,” Ilnicki said. “Some people started to follow me on Instagram or Twitter, but no organizations have asked me to fight after that.” Rogers, meanwhile, is back at his job as a marketing executive for an online casino. His coworkers have all seen the video, of course, which means he had to endure some jokes at first. Still, they can’t help but be impressed that he was willing to get in the cage and give it his best shot after slightly less than a year of MMA training. “I want to fight again,” Rogers said. “I just want to take some time first and get a little better.” And once that’s accomplished? He’d like a rematch with Ilnicki. Maybe then he’ll get to find out what it’s like on the other end of a highlight-reel finish. Even if it turns out to be a little lonelier, at least it’ll hurt less.Engineers at mission control celebrate getting the first signal back from Spirit. Image: NASA/JPL Dr. Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the science instruments on both Mars Exploration Rovers reacts to the images of Spirit leaving its lander. (Image and caption: NASA) This pic was snapped as the rover came down to land at Gusev crater. Image: NASA/JPL From left: Dave Lavery, program executive for Solar System Exploration at NASA Headquarters; Dr. Ed Weiler, associate administrator, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters; Pete Theisinger, (former) Mars Exploration Rover project manager and JPL lab director; and Dr. Charles Elachi celebrate the success of Spirit's landing and transmission of first images.(Image and caption: NASA) The first color image from Spirit. Image: NASA/JPL/Cornell Spirit used its two offset cameras to take its first 3-D pic of the Martian surface. Image: NASA/JPL The Mars Exploration Rover team looks at some of Spirit's first images in 3-D. (NASA) An early image showing streaks or tails of loose debris in the Martian soil, revealing the direction of prevailing winds. Image: NASA/JPL/Cornell An animation shows Spirit standing up on its landing platform, ready to get rolling. Image: NASA/JPL Spirit practices stowing and unstowing its arm. Image: NASA/JPL Spirit takes its first overhead shot, showing the rover ready to roll down from its lander to the Martian surface. Image: NASA/JPL It took many people to assemble, test and launch Spirit and Opportunity. Pictured here in JPL's Spacecraft Assembly Facility is just part of the team of engineers and technicians who were critical to the success of the mission. The team surrounds Spirit and Opportunity, with their predecessor, Sojourner, in the middle. (Image and caption: NASA) Entry, descent and landing manager, Rob Manning (facing camera), hugs Richard Cook, the current Mars Exploration Rover project manager after Opportunity's successful landing at Meridiani Planum, Mars. To their right, Miguel San Martin, member of the attitude control systems team, cheers the victory. (Image and caption: NASA)JOHANNESBURG - Gareth Cliff will not be part of the judging panel in the new season of Idols SA. M-Net made the announcement on Friday night. M-Net announced that Gareth Cliff won&39;t be part of the judging panel for IdolsSA season 12 https://t.co/FWBKyetaNq pic.twitter.com/dBKTMXOoLa — Idols South Africa (@IdolsSA) January 8, 2016 The decision comes after Cliff was heavily criticised for his comments on the Penny Sparrow debacle. Several people labelled Cliff a racist and called on M-Net to remove him from the programme. “M-Net thanks Cliff for the critical role he has played in seeking out and developing new talent over the years and for contributing to the success of the show to date. "Idols SA Season 12 is due to commence with countrywide auditions at the end of January 2016,” said the statement issued by M-Net. No mention was made of Cliff&39;s comments on social media and other platforms. Cliff has apologised for his comments. Idols SAThere is much to learn from studying Black and Indigenous liberation processes across the Americas. The Zapatistas and Chavistas embody two critically important revolutionary movements part of a greater historical trajectory spanning Haiti, Cuba, Grenada and Bolivia among others for their conception of people’s power. While admittedly different contexts, both Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution (VBR) and Zapatismo offer valuable lessons to the rest of the world in our pursuits to build people’s power, “desde abajo y la izquierda”. Many comrades put VBR and Zapatismo at odds with one another, siloing these respective movements instead of recognizing the larger regional conversation underway between Latin American and Caribbean states and social movements and their transformative praxes. Instead of perceiving them as mutually exclusive or one as more “correct”, “authentic”, “left” or “grassroots” than the other, it’s constructive, insightful and encouraging to consider these processes as simultaneously complementing one another and working toward analogous outcomes: liberation, self-determination, autonomy and sovereignty. Putting Zapatismo in conversation with Chavismo opens our horizons and invites us to see beyond the limits of our political imagination. This conversation challenges notions that pursuing an electoral strategy is entirely a top down approach and acknowledges that the people must be at the core of any progressive movement for change. Zapatistas and Chavistas: Caracoles and ComunasIn Chiapas, the Zapatistas organize people’s power in the form of caracoles (snails) while in Venezuela, Chavistas are determined to consolidate an Estado comunal (communal state). Their processes are informed by the basic organizing tenet of implementing different strategies and tactics based on a clear analysis of their time, place and conditions. It’s necessary to understand that neither movement considers itself consummate or static – they’re still unfinished and both define themselves as processes, ongoing and tirelessly continuing what their ancestors set out to accomplish in their earlier anti-colonial struggles. In Chiapas, the Zapatistas have built their autonomy fully engaged with Mexican society and international networks and not isolated as some misperceive. On January 1st, 1994, the Zapatistas launched a 12 day war against el mal gobierno [bad government (i.e. the Mexican state)], neoliberalism and centuries of colonialism mobilizing thousands of Indigenous people in arms. Since then, they have developed a myriad of ways to secure “tierra y libertad”. Historically, the Zapatistas focused on building power via autonomy and not through an electoral strategy. They’ve established good governance councils (JBGs), caracoles (regional command centers representing their communities) and maintain their right to self-defense through arms. They have their own justice system, territorial control and food sovereignty by growing corn, coffee, beans and raising livestock. As a result, they have developed their own economic structures based on interdependency between Indigenous communities rather than capitalist exchange. All their communities have access to multilingual culturally relevant education and medical care based on ancestral as well as Western practices. Their women run cooperatives and their youth and children participate as elected representatives in the JBGs. Recently on January 1, 2017 the EZLN publicly confirmed their full support behind the National Indigenous Congress (CNI)’s decision to organize an electoral campaign for Mexico’s 2018 presidential elections. This announcement marks a new phase in movement building for Mexico and the region. The EZLN and CNI are offering a bold alternative based on grassroots driven democracy. An Indigenous woman, whose identity will be announced in May 2017, will serve as their vocera, and follow the mandar obedeciendo (govern obeying [the people]) principles. While winning the presidential election is a goal, the Zapatistas and other Mexican organizers see the campaign as a necessary organizing vehicle. Their campaign will facilitate building a parallel Indigenous, African descendant and tribal led congress as their movement’s main decision making body. The process will engage millions of Mexicans nationally and abroad from city-dwellers, farmers, workers and immigrants. Unlike the Zapatistas whose decision to engage in an electoral process was not an explicit strategy from the offset, the VBR seized state power earlier in its process creating spaces for widespread participation. Despite their differing launching points, both movements share a strategy centering people’s power and self-determination through innovative governance that facilitates alternative decision-making processes. For some, the EZLN”s decision may suggest that they are compromising their commitment to autonomy. However, for the Zapatistas this isn’t the case. Zapatismo is not necessarily becoming more state-centric, making up for not endorsing left candidacies in the past nor copying the South American left. Because of their grassroots origins, these movements understand that navigating state power is critical and necessary to confront, challenge and successfully defeat US empire. Their decisions regarding tactics come out of serious strategic conversations and require discipline. Both movements prioritize building their base. They engage and invite new members into these processes. They celebrate their political gains, speak to their contradictions and envision their challenges. They inspire people who have been historically on the margins of society by guaranteeing access to land, health, housing, education and defend the right to life with dignity. The VBR came into state power after Movimiento Quinta República (Fifth Republic Movement)’s independent base building and later, presidential campaign that resulted in the successful election of former military commander and political prisoner Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías in 1998. Since then, Venezuela and LAC have undoubtedly undergone a radical transformation. The VBR has facilitated a dialogue between the state and the people transforming material conditions for the majority Black and poor in Venezuela and beyond its borders. The redistribution of oil revenue has provided access to fundamental human rights historically denied to everyone in Venezuela except the country’s oligarchy. Healthcare, education from kindergarten through university, housing, materials like wheelchairs for the differently-abled as well as pensions for the elderly with or without officially recognized employment are now guaranteed, unalienable rights for everyone from citizens to immigrants, Chavistas to the opposition. Politically, Venezuelans continue to work daily toward consolidating a communal state. The communes seek to center power in the people rather than on any one elected representative. Communes hold people’s assemblies to make decisions and execute projects that directly affect their communities ranging from agricultural endeavors, media and economic development. They organize working groups focused on gender and sexuality, youth, the elderly, water, electricity, food and other major issues. The model invites intergenerational participation, voice and vote. It’s important to note that Afro-Venezuelans have also organized for cumbes, which are similar to communes but rooted in histories of self-liberated Africans (maroons) that fought alongside Indigenous peoples against European colonial empires. While neither process is perfect, both are excellent examples of what years of intentional long distance vision organizing can manifest. These movements prove that “another world is possible”. “A World Where Many Worlds Fit” Revolutionary processes like Zapatismo and VBR will surely be among the strongest nails in US empire’s coffin as it becomes alarmingly apparent around the world that the economic and political systems dominating our planet are neither sustainable nor just. As Subcomandante Galeano reiterated at an international gathering held on the 23rd anniversary of the EZLN’s uprising, “We’re not asking you [distinguished guests and attendees] to change the world, we ask that you prepare for the birth of another, a better world, a more just, humane and free. You can train for this new world, with us, the Zapatistas. When this new world comes, it will not be the same, but this training will serve you”. Chávez was clear of this “new world” too, highlighting the need to establish a multipolar world, defend humanity and preserve Mother Earth in his 2012 presidential platform: El Plan de la Patria ([the Homeland Plan, now approved as Venezuelan law]). While there’s no need to layout all the obstacles we have and will continue to face, it is truly an exciting and necessary time for humanity to collectively “show up”. Now more than ever, we are charged to envision next steps and material alternatives as we face monumental shifts in time, place and conditions globally. Solidarity means more than words, it translates into actions and it’s necessary for our survival. We need Zapatismo to succeed in its next endeavors and we must defend the Bolivarian Revolution as it’s being targeted. The Zapatistas say it best,“The world we want is one where many worlds fit”.The text below is an excerpt from a longer essay from Rostislav Ishchenko, a prominent Russian commentator. This article originally appeared at the Russian website Odnako. It was translated by Eugenia at The Vineyard of the Saker. The war may come to Kiev The civil war in Ukraine is taking on several forms, and it is only a matter of time before it intensifies. Ukraine is not able to escape this fatal funnel by itself. The Nazis will not let the government reach a compromise with Novorossia. Novorossia will not live quietly with the Nazi government. There are no resources to alleviate the social problems. The Ukrainian leadership is inadequate and poorly understands what in reality is happening in the leftovers of the Ukrainian economy or who and how determines the country’s politics. An attempt to resolve the conflict internally would, because of a relative balance between the opposing sides, lead to so many casualties that the neighbors would not be able to remain uninvolved, not least because millions of refugees would be pouring over the borders. In order to avoid the development of the conflict according to the worst scenario, an external power willing to take on the responsibility for disarming the sides of the conflict and for the financial and economical support of Ukraine to restore its economy is required. Presently, there are no volunteers to perform such charity. Taking into account the political situation in Ukraine (split, full of hatred, armed to the teeth society) as well as its economic conditions, the benefactor would run a risk of overstraining himself by carrying the Ukrainian load. Inadequacy of the Ukrainian elite, its irrational belief in the willingness of the West to solve the Ukrainian problems at the expense of the West put the state in the position when its speedy self-liquidation is the only logical way of development of the the current situation. Conversely, preservation and restoration of the Ukrainian statehood, even within diminished territory, appears less probable or even improbable. To come to pass, this option would require a miracle that would change all the factors now at play. Based on the religious faith in miracles, this may appear possible, but from the position of the political analysis, the probability of it is so low that it should not even be considered. Impossible to cancel the war And the last argument, possibly, the most unpleasant for citizens of Ukraine still believing in the possibility of the revival of their country. The country could be saved if at least one of the global players were interested in prolonging its existence. Of course, listening to the diplomats and state leaders, one could easily believe that the whole world dreams of nothing else but of the revival of Ukraine and restoration of its territorial integrity. But as we know, diplomats use the language to hide their thoughts, and the true position of a state is never spoken of openly (otherwise, there would not be any need to maintain the intelligence and counterintelligence agencies). We can only judge the true goals and intentions of a state by its actions. First, between August and December of 2014 in Donbass an army had been formed to replace the disparate groups of militia. The army well trained and equipped was clearly excessive for the defense of those stubs of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions now controlled by the armed forces of Novorossia. We could, of course, believe that the militiamen found tanks, guns, self-propelled heavy artillery units, multiple rocket launchers, and other nice things in the Donetsk steppe. They had not noticed these things there from April to August and then all of a sudden – rich harvest: everyone who ever gathered mushrooms knows that such a thing can happen. One could also believe that thousands of instructors (from sergeants to complete regiment headquarters) necessary to create an effective military structure just simply came from different countries following their hearts (which does not happen in this world). It is even possible to believe the weapons were found and that the instructors came not only in the required numbers but also with required specializations. However, spare parts, ammunition and GSM in quantities sufficient for the intense fighting still had to be supplied by someone. The minimal approximate size of the armed forces of Novorossia is 35 thousands (about three divisions at the time of the Great Patriotic War). To conduct regular military operations (and to support the civil population, at least, at the level of subsistence) the supplies should reach hundreds of tons a day. For comparison: 6th Army of Paulus at Stalingrad at the beginning of the encirclement, according to the calculation of the German command, required 600 tons a day of supplies only to maintain it battle ready. Paulus thought that the minimal requirement was 800 tons. At the moment of encirclement, Paulus commanded up to 240 thousands soldiers (possibly, 30 thousands of Romanians were not counted by the German command). That is, whatever the patriots-alarmists say, in Novorossia an army has been created in a shortest time clearly excessive for the defense of the controlled territories. Such army could not have been organized without Russia’s help. Russia is obviously not inclined to spend money and resource (that are not unlimited) without good and sufficient reason. If an army capable of attacking is being formed, it means it will attack. Second, if Russia and Russia-friendly media at every corner repeat how trustworthy Poroshenko is and how he would establish the federalized Nazi-free Ukraine at any moment, then, considering the actual situation in Ukraine, where neo-Nazi and his colleague in power regularly accuse Poroshenko of betrayal, it appears that Petr Alekseevich is been led to the slaughter, while Russia is readily furnishing his opponents with the arguments for the coup. Third, if OSCE, EU, and American satellites all fail to see the Russian soldiers in Ukraine or to observe anything but humanitarian convoys
. Wałęsa's inauguration as president on 21 December 1990 is thought by many to be the formal end of the Communist People's Republic of Poland and the beginning of the modern Republic of Poland. The Warsaw Pact was dissolved on 1 July 1991. On 27 October 1991 the first entirely free Polish parliamentary elections since 1945 took place. This completed Poland's transition from Communist Party rule to a Western-style liberal democratic political system. The last Russian troops left Poland on 18 September 1993.[31] Hungary [ edit ] Following Poland's lead, Hungary was next to switch to a non-Communist government. Although Hungary had achieved some lasting economic reforms and limited political liberalization during the 1980s, major reforms only occurred following the replacement of János Kádár as General Secretary of the Communist Party on 23 May 1988 with Károly Grósz.[32] On 24 November 1988 Miklós Németh was appointed Prime Minister. On 12 January 1989, the Parliament adopted a "democracy package", which included trade union pluralism; freedom of association, assembly, and the press; a new electoral law; and a radical revision of the constitution, among other provisions.[33] On 29 January 1989, contradicting the official view of history held for more than 30 years, a member of the ruling Politburo, Imre Pozsgay, declared that Hungary's 1956 rebellion was a popular uprising rather than a foreign-instigated attempt at counterrevolution.[34] Demonstration at the State TV headquarters, 15 March 1989 Mass demonstrations on 15 March, the National Day, persuaded the regime to begin negotiations with the emergent non-Communist political forces. Round Table talks began on 22 April and continued until the Round Table agreement was signed on 18 September. The talks involved the Communists (MSzMP) and the newly emerging independent political forces Fidesz, the Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz), the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), the Independent Smallholders' Party, the Hungarian People's Party, the Endre Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Society, and the Democratic Trade Union of Scientific Workers. At a later stage the Democratic Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) were invited. At these talks a number of Hungary's future political leaders emerged, including László Sólyom, József Antall, György Szabad, Péter Tölgyessy and Viktor Orbán.[36] On 2 May 1989, the first visible cracks in the Iron Curtain appeared when Hungary began dismantling its 240-kilometre (150 mi) long border fence with Austria.[37] This increasingly destabilized East Germany and Czechoslovakia over the summer and autumn, as thousands of their citizens illegally crossed over to the West through the Hungarian-Austrian border. On 1 June 1989 the Communist Party admitted that former Prime Minister Imre Nagy, hanged for treason for his role in the 1956 Hungarian uprising, was executed illegally after a show trial.[38] On 16 June 1989 Nagy was given a solemn funeral on Budapest's largest square in front of crowds of at least 100,000, followed by a hero's burial.[39] The Round Table agreement of 18 September encompassed six draft laws that covered an overhaul of the Constitution, establishment of a Constitutional Court, the functioning and management of political parties, multiparty elections for National Assembly deputies, the penal code and the law on penal procedures (the last two changes represented an additional separation of the Party from the state apparatus). The electoral system was a compromise: about half of the deputies would be elected proportionally and half by the majoritarian system. A weak presidency was also agreed upon, but no consensus was attained on who should elect the president (parliament or the people) and when this election should occur (before or after parliamentary elections). On 7 October 1989, the Communist Party at its last congress re-established itself as the Hungarian Socialist Party.[43] In a historic session from 16 to 20 October, the parliament adopted legislation providing for a multi-party parliamentary election and a direct presidential election, which took place on March 24, 1990.[44] The legislation transformed Hungary from a People's Republic into the Republic of Hungary, guaranteed human and civil rights, and created an institutional structure that ensured separation of powers among the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government. [45] On 23 October 1989, on the 33rd anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, the Communist regime in Hungary was formally abolished. The Soviet military occupation of Hungary, which had persisted since World War II, ended on 19 June 1991. East Germany [ edit ] On 2 May 1989, Hungary started dismantling its barbed-wire border with Austria, opening a large hole through the Iron Curtain to the West that was used by a growing number of East Germans. By the end of September 1989, more than 30,000 East Germans had escaped to the West before the GDR denied travel to Hungary, leaving Czechoslovakia as the only neighboring state to which East Germans could escape. Thousands of East Germans tried to reach the West by occupying the West German diplomatic facilities in other Central and Eastern European capitals, notably the Prague Embassy and the Hungarian Embassy, where thousands camped in the muddy garden from August to November waiting for German political reform. The GDR closed the border to the Czechoslovakia on 3 October, thereby isolating itself from all its neighbors. Having been shut off from their last chance for escape, an increasing number of East Germans participated in the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig on 4, 11, and 18 September, each attracting 1,200 to 1,500 demonstrators. Many were arrested and beaten, but the people refused to be intimidated. On 25 September, the protests attracted 8,000 demonstrators. After the fifth successive Monday demonstration in Leipzig on 2 October attracted 10,000 protesters, Socialist Unity Party (SED) leader Erich Honecker issued a shoot and kill order to the military.[46] Communists prepared a huge police, militia, Stasi, and work-combat troop presence, and there were rumors a Tiananmen Square-style massacre was being planned for the following Monday's demonstration on 9 October.[47] On 6 and 7 October, Mikhail Gorbachev visited East Germany to mark the 40th anniversary of the German Democratic Republic, and urged the East German leadership to accept reform. A famous quote of his is rendered in German as "Wer zu spät kommt, den bestraft das Leben" ("He who is too late is punished by life"). However, Honecker remained opposed to internal reform, with his regime even going so far as forbidding the circulation of Soviet publications that it viewed as subversive. In spite of rumors that the Communists were planning a massacre on 9 October, 70,000 citizens demonstrated in Leipzig that Monday, and the authorities on the ground refused to open fire. This victory of the people facing down the Communists' guns encouraged more citizens to take to the streets. The following Monday, 16 October, 120,000 people demonstrated on the streets of Leipzig. Erich Honecker had hoped that the Soviet troops stationed in the GDR by the Warsaw Pact would restore the communist government and suppress the civilian protests. By 1989 the Soviet government deemed it impractical for the Soviet Union to continue asserting its control over the Eastern Bloc, so it took a neutral stance regarding the events happening in East Germany. Soviet troops stationed in eastern Europe were under strict instructions from the Soviet leadership not to intervene in the political affairs of the Eastern Bloc nations and remained in their barracks. Faced with ongoing civil unrest, the SED deposed Honecker on 18 October and replaced him with the number-two-man in the regime, Egon Krenz. However, the demonstrations kept growing, and on Monday 23 October the Leipzig protesters numbered 300,000 and remained as large the following week. The border to Czechoslovakia was opened again on 1 November, and the Czechoslovak authorities soon let all East Germans travel directly to West Germany without further bureaucratic ado, thus lifting their part of the Iron Curtain on 3 November. On 4 November the authorities decided to authorize a demonstration in Berlin and were faced with the Alexanderplatz demonstration, where half a million citizens converged on the capital demanding freedom in the biggest protest the GDR ever witnessed. Unable to stem the ensuing flow of refugees to the West through Czechoslovakia, the East German authorities eventually caved in to public pressure by allowing East German citizens to enter West Berlin and West Germany directly, via existing border points, on 9 November 1989, without having properly briefed the border guards. Triggered by the erratic words of regime spokesman Günter Schabowski in a TV press conference, stating that the planned changes were in effect "immediately, without delay," hundreds of thousands of people took advantage of the opportunity. The guards were quickly overwhelmed by the growing crowds of people demanding to be let out into West Berlin. After receiving no feedback from their superiors, the guards, unwilling to use force, relented and opened the gates to West Berlin. Soon new crossing points were forced open in the Berlin Wall by the people, and sections of the wall were literally torn down as this symbol of oppression was overwhelmed. The bewildered guards were unaware of what was happening and meekly stood by as the East Germans took to the wall with hammers and chisels. On 13 November, GDR Prime Minister Willi Stoph and his entire cabinet resigned. A new government was formed under a considerably more liberal Communist, Hans Modrow. On 1 December, the Volkskammer removed the SED's leading role from the constitution of the GDR. On 3 December Krenz resigned as leader of the SED; he resigned as head of state three days later. On 7 December Round Table talks opened between the SED and other political parties. On 16 December 1989, the SED was dissolved and refounded as the SED-PDS, abandoning Marxism-Leninism and becoming a mainstream democratic socialist party. On 15 January 1990, the Stasi's headquarters was stormed by protesters. Modrow became the de facto leader of East Germany until free elections were held on 18 March 1990—the first held in that part of Germany since 1933. The SED, renamed the Party of Democratic Socialism, was heavily defeated. Lothar de Maizière of the East German Christian Democratic Union became Prime Minister on 4 April 1990 on a platform of speedy reunification with the West. The two Germanies were reunified on 3 October 1990. The Kremlin's willingness to abandon such a strategically vital ally marked a dramatic shift by the Soviet superpower and a fundamental paradigm change in international relations, which until 1989 had been dominated by the East-West divide running through Berlin itself. The last Russian troops left the territory of the former GDR, now part of a reunited Federal Republic of Germany, on 1 September 1994. Czechoslovakia [ edit ] The "Velvet Revolution" was a non-violent transition of power in Czechoslovakia from the Communist government to a parliamentary republic. On 17 November 1989, riot police suppressed a peaceful student demonstration in Prague, although controversy continues over whether anyone died that night. That event sparked a series of popular demonstrations from 19 November to late December. By 20 November the number of peaceful protesters assembled in Prague had swelled from 200,000 the previous day to an estimated half-million. Five days later, the Letná Square protest held 800,000 people.[48] On 24 November, the entire Communist Party leadership, including general secretary Miloš Jakeš, resigned. A two-hour general strike, involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia, was successfully held on 27 November. With the collapse of other Communist governments, and increasing street protests, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced on 28 November 1989 that it would relinquish power and dismantle the single-party state. Barbed wire and other obstructions were removed from the border with West Germany and Austria in early December. On 10 December, President Gustáv Husák appointed the first largely non-Communist government in Czechoslovakia since 1948, and resigned. Alexander Dubček was elected speaker of the federal parliament on 28 December and Václav Havel the President of Czechoslovakia on 29 December 1989. In June 1990 Czechoslovakia held its first democratic elections since 1946. On 27 June 1991 the last Soviet troops were withdrawn from Czechoslovakia.[49] Bulgaria [ edit ] In October and November 1989, demonstrations on ecological issues were staged in Sofia, where demands for political reform were also voiced. The demonstrations were suppressed, but on 10 November 1989 (the day after the Berlin Wall was breached) Bulgaria's long-serving leader Todor Zhivkov was ousted by his Politburo. He was succeeded by a considerably more liberal Communist, former foreign minister Petar Mladenov. Moscow apparently approved the leadership change, as Zhivkov had been opposed to Gorbachev's policies. The new regime immediately repealed restrictions on free speech and assembly, which led to the first mass demonstration on 17 November, as well as the formation of anti-communist movements. Nine of them united as the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) on 7 December.[50] The UDF was not satisfied with Zhivkov's ouster, and demanded additional democratic reforms, most importantly the removal of the constitutionally mandated leading role of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Mladenov announced on 11 December 1989 that the Communist Party would abandon its monopoly on power, and that multiparty elections would be held the following year. In February 1990, the Bulgarian legislature deleted the portion of the constitution about the "leading role" of the Communist Party. Eventually, it was decided that a round table on the Polish model would be held in 1990 and elections held by June 1990. The round table took place from 3 January to 14 May 1990, at which an agreement was reached on the transition to democracy. The Communist Party abandoned Marxism–Leninism in April 1990 and renamed itself as the Bulgarian Socialist Party. In June 1990 the first free elections since 1931 were held, won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Romania [ edit ] After having suppressed the Braşov Rebellion in 1987, Nicolae Ceauşescu was re-elected for another five years as leader of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) in November 1989, signalling that he intended to ride out the anti-Communist uprisings sweeping the rest of Europe. As Ceauşescu prepared to go on a state visit to Iran, his Securitate ordered the arrest and exile of a local Hungarian Calvinist minister, László Tőkés, on 16 December, for sermons offending the regime. Tőkés was seized, but only after serious rioting erupted. Timişoara was the first city to react on 16 December and civil unrest continued for five days. Returning from Iran, Ceauşescu ordered a mass rally in his support outside Communist Party headquarters in Bucharest on 21 December. However, to his shock the crowd booed and jeered him as he spoke. Years of repressed dissatisfaction boiled to the surface throughout the Romanian populace and even among elements in Ceauşescu's own government, and the demonstrations spread throughout the country. At first the security forces obeyed Ceauşescu's orders to shoot protesters. However, on the morning of 22 December, the Romanian military suddenly changed sides. This came after it was announced that defense minister Vasile Milea had committed suicide after being unmasked as a traitor. Believing Milea had actually been murdered, the rank-and-file soldiers went over virtually en masse to the revolution.[51] Army tanks began moving towards the Central Committee building with crowds swarming alongside them. The rioters forced open the doors of the Central Committee building in an attempt to capture Ceauşescu and his wife, Elena, coming within a few meters of the couple. However, they managed to escape via a helicopter waiting for them on the roof of the building. Although elation followed the flight of the Ceauşescus, uncertainty surrounded their fate. On Christmas Day, Romanian television showed the Ceauşescus facing a hasty trial, and then being executed by firing squad. An interim National Salvation Front Council led by Ion Iliescu took over and announced elections for April 1990, the first free elections held in Romania since 1937. These were, however, postponed until 20 May 1990. The Romanian Revolution was the bloodiest of the revolutions of 1989: over 1,000 people died, one hundred of which were children, the youngest only one month old. Unlike its kindred parties in the Warsaw Pact, the PCR simply melted away; no present-day Romanian party claiming to be its successor has ever been elected to the legislature since the change of system. Yugoslavia [ edit ] The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was not a part of the Warsaw Pact but pursued its own version of "Communism" under Josip Broz Tito. It was a multi-ethnic state which Tito was able to maintain through a Yugoslav communist doctrine of "Brotherhood and unity". Tensions between ethnicities began to escalate, however, with the so-called Croatian Spring of 1970–71, a movement for greater Croatian autonomy, which was suppressed. Constitutional changes were instituted in 1974, and the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution devolved some federal powers to the constituent republics and provinces. After Tito's death in 1980 ethnic tensions grew, first in Albanian-majority SAP Kosovo with the 1981 protests in Kosovo. Parallel to the same process, SR Slovenia initiated a policy of gradual liberalization in 1984, somewhat similar to the Soviet Perestroika. This provoked tensions between the League of Communists of Slovenia and the central Yugoslav Party and federal army. By the late 1980s, many civil society groups were pushing towards democratization, while widening the space for cultural plurality. In 1987 and 1988, a series of clashes between the emerging civil society and the Communist regime culminated with the so-called Slovene Spring, a mass movement for democratic reforms. The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights was established as the platform of all major non-Communist political movements. By early 1989, several anti-Communist political parties were already openly functioning, challenging the hegemony of the Slovenian Communists. Soon, the Slovenian Communists, pressured by their own civil society, came into conflict with the Serbian Communist leadership.[citation needed] In January 1990, an extraordinary Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia was called in order to settle the disputes among its constituent parties. Faced with being completely outnumbered, the Slovenian and Croatian Communists walked out of the Congress on 23 January 1990, thus effectively bringing to an end the Yugoslav Communist Party. Both parties of the two western republics negotiated free multi-party elections with their own opposition movements. On 8 April 1990, the democratic and anti-Yugoslav DEMOS coalition won the elections in Slovenia, while on 24 April 1990 the Croatian elections resulted in a landslide victory for the nationalist Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) led by Franjo Tuđman. The results were much more balanced in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Macedonia in November 1990, while the parliamentary and presidential elections of December 1990 in Serbia and Montenegro consolidated the power of Milošević and his supporters. Free elections on the level of the federation were never carried out. The Slovenian and Croatian leaderships started preparing plans for secession from the federation, while the Serbs of Croatia organized the so-called Log Revolution, an insurrection that would lead to the creation of the breakaway region of SAO Krajina. In the Slovenian independence referendum on 23 December 1990, 88.5% of residents voted for independence.[52] In the Croatian independence referendum on 2 May 1991, 93.24% voted for independence. The escalating ethnic and national tensions were exacerbated by the drive for independence and led to the following Yugoslav wars: In addition, the insurgency in the Preševo Valley (1999–2001) and the insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia (2001) are also often discussed in the same context. Albania [ edit ] In the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Enver Hoxha, who led Albania for four decades, died on 11 April 1985. His successor, Ramiz Alia, began to gradually open up the regime from above. In 1989, the first revolts started in Shkodra and spread in other cities. Eventually, the existing regime introduced some liberalization, including measures in 1990 providing for freedom to travel abroad. Efforts were begun to improve ties with the outside world. March 1991 elections—the first free elections in Albania since 1923, and only the third free elections in the country's history—left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet including non-Communists. Albania's former Communists were routed in elections held in March 1992, amid economic collapse and social unrest. Mongolia [ edit ] Mongolia declared independence in 1911 after the collapse of the Qing dynasty. The Mongolian People's Party took power in 1921, and the party renamed itself the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.[56] During these years, Mongolia was closely aligned with the Soviet Union. After Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal left in 1984, the new leadership under Jambyn Batmönkh implemented economic reforms, but failed to appeal to those who, in late 1989, wanted broader changes.[57] The "Mongolian Revolution" was a democratic, peaceful revolution that started with demonstrations and hunger strikes and ended 70-years of socialism and eventually moved towards democracy. It was spearheaded by mostly younger people demonstrating on Sükhbaatar Square in the capital Ulaanbaatar. It ended with the authoritarian government resigning without bloodshed. Some of the main organizers were Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Sanjaasürengiin Zorig, Erdeniin Bat-Üül, and Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar. During the morning of 10 December 1989, the first public demonstration occurred in front of the Youth Cultural Center in the capital of Ulaanbaatar.[58] There, Elbegdorj announced the creation of the Mongolian Democratic Union,[59] and the first pro-democracy movement in Mongolia began. The protesters called for Mongolia to adopt perestroika and glasnost. Dissident leaders demanded free elections and economic reform, but within the context of a "human democratic socialism".[57] The protesters injected a nationalist element into the protests by using traditional Mongolian script—which most Mongolians could not read—as a symbolic repudiation of the political system which had imposed the Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet. In late December 1989, demonstrations increased when news came of Garry Kasparov's interview in Playboy, suggesting that the Soviet Union could improve its economic health by selling Mongolia to China.[57] On 14 January 1990, the protesters, having grown from three hundred to some 1,000, met in a square in front of Lenin Museum in Ulaanbaatar, which has been named Freedom Square since then. A demonstration in Sükhbaatar Square on 21 January (in weather of -30 C) followed. Protesters carried banners alluding to Chinggis Khaan (also referred to Genghis Khan), rehabilitating a figure whom Soviet schooling neglected to praise.[60] In subsequent months of 1990, activists continued to organize demonstrations, rallies, protests and hunger strikes, as well as teachers' and workers' strikes.[61] Activists had growing support from Mongolians, both in the capital and the countryside and the union's activities led to other calls for democracy all over the country.[62] After numerous demonstrations of many thousands of people in the capital city as well as provincial centers, on 4 March 1990, the MDU and three other reform organizations held a joint outdoor mass meeting, inviting the government to attend. The government sent no representative to what became a demonstration of over 100,000 people demanding democratic change.[63] This culminated with Jambyn Batmönkh, chairman of Politburo of MPRP's Central Committee decided to dissolve the Politburo and to resign on 9 March 1990.[64][65] Mongolia's first free, multi-party elections for a bicameral parliament took place on 29 July 1990.[63][66] Parties ran for 430 seats in the Great Hural. Opposition parties were not able to nominate enough candidates. The opposition nominated 346 candidates for the 430 seats in the Great Hural (upper house). The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party MPRP won 357 seats in the Great Hural and 31 out of 53 seats in the Small Hural (which was later abolished) as well.[67] The MPRP enjoyed a strong position in the countryside. The State Great Khural first met on 3 September 1990 and elected a president (MPRP), vice president (Social Democrat) who was also a chairman of the Baga Hural, prime minister (MPRP), and 50 members to the Baga Hural (lower house). In November 1991, the People's Great Hural began discussion on a new constitution, which entered into force on 12 February 1992. In addition, the new constitution restructured the legislative branch of government, creating a unicameral legislature, the State Great Hural (SGH). The MPRP retained its majority, but lost the 1996 elections. The final Russian troops, which had stationed in Mongolia in 1966, fully withdrew in December 1992. China [ edit ] While China did not undergo a revolution in 1989, a popular national movement led to large demonstrations in favor of democratic reforms. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1982–1987) had developed the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics and enacted local market economy reforms around 1984, but the policy had stalled.[68] The first Chinese student demonstrations, which eventually led to the Beijing protests of 1989, took place in December 1986 in Hefei. The students called for campus elections, the chance to study abroad and greater availability of Western pop culture. Their protests took advantage of the loosening political atmosphere and included rallies against the slow pace of reform. Hu Yaobang, a protégé of Deng Xiaoping and a leading advocate of reform, was blamed for the protests and forced to resign as the CCP general secretary in January 1987. In the "Anti Bourgeois Liberalization Campaign", Hu would be further denounced. The Tiananmen Square protests were sparked by the death of Hu Yaobang on 15 April 1989. By the eve of Hu's state funeral, some 100,000 students had gathered at Tiananmen Square to observe it; however, no leaders emerged from the Great Hall. The movement lasted for seven weeks.[69] Mikhail Gorbachev visited China on 15 May during the protests, bringing many foreign news agencies to Beijing, and their sympathetic portrayals of the protesters helped galvanize a spirit of liberation among the Central, South-East and Eastern Europeans who were watching. The Chinese leadership, particularly Communist Party general secretary Zhao Ziyang, who had begun to radically reform the economy earlier than the Soviets, was open to political reform, but not at the cost of a potential return to the disorder of the Cultural Revolution. The movement lasted from Hu's death on 15 April until tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989. In Beijing, the military response to the protest by the PRC government left many civilians in charge of clearing the square of the dead and severely injured. The exact number of casualties is not known and many different estimates exist. Malta Summit [ edit ] The Malta Summit consisted of a meeting between U.S. President George H. W. Bush and U.S.S.R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev, taking place between 2–3 December 1989, just a few weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a meeting which contributed to the end of the Cold War[citation needed] partially as a result of the broader pro-democracy movement. It was their second meeting following a meeting that included then President Ronald Reagan, in New York in December 1988. News reports of the time[70] referred to the Malta Summit as the most important since 1945, when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet premier Joseph Stalin and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed on a post-war plan for Europe at the Yalta Conference. Election chronology in Central/Eastern Europe and Central Asia [ edit ] Between June 1989 and April 1991, every Communist or former Communist country in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia—and in the case of the USSR and Yugoslavia, every constituent republic—held competitive parliamentary elections for the first time in many decades. Some elections were only partly free, while others were fully democratic. The chronology below gives the details of these historic elections, and the dates are the first day of voting as several elections were split over several days for run-off contests: Dissolution of the Soviet Union [ edit ] On 1 July 1991, the Warsaw Pact was officially dissolved at a meeting in Prague. At a summit later that same month, Gorbachev and Bush declared a US–Soviet strategic partnership, decisively marking the end of the Cold War. President Bush declared that US–Soviet cooperation during the 1990–1991 Gulf War had laid the groundwork for a partnership in resolving bilateral and world problems. As the Soviet Union rapidly withdrew its forces from Central and Southeast Europe, the spillover from the 1989 upheavals began reverberating throughout the Soviet Union itself. Agitation for self-determination led to first Lithuania, and then Estonia, Latvia and Armenia declaring independence. However, the Soviet central government demanded the revocation of the declarations and threatened military action and economic sanctions. The government even went as far as controversially sending Red Army troops to the streets of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, to suppress the separatist movements in January 1991, causing the deaths of 14 people. Disaffection in other Soviet republics, such as Georgia and Azerbaijan, was countered by promises of greater decentralization. More open elections led to the election of candidates opposed to Communist Party rule. Glasnost had inadvertently released the long-suppressed national sentiments of all peoples within the borders of the multinational Soviet state. These nationalist movements were further strengthened by the rapid deterioration of the Soviet economy, whose ramshackle foundations were exposed with the removal of Communist discipline. Gorbachev's reforms had failed to improve the economy, with the old Soviet command structure completely breaking down. One by one, the constituent republics created their own economic systems and voted to subordinate Soviet laws to local laws. In 1990, the Communist Party was forced to surrender its seven-decade monopoly of political power when the Supreme Soviet rescinded the clause in the Soviet Constitution that guaranteed its sole authority to rule. Gorbachev's policies caused the Communist Party to lose its grip over the media. Details of the Soviet Union's past were quickly being declassified. This caused many to distrust the 'old system' and push for greater autonomy and independence. After a referendum confirmed the preservation of the Soviet Union but in a looser form, a group of Soviet hard-liners represented by Vice-President Gennadi Yanayev launched a coup attempting to overthrow Gorbachev in August 1991. Boris Yeltsin, then president of the Russian SFSR, rallied the people and much of the army against the coup and the effort collapsed. Although restored to power, Gorbachev's authority had been irreparably undermined. Gorbachev resigned as General Secretary of the Communist Party following the coup, and the Supreme Soviet dissolved the Party and banned all Communist activity on Soviet soil. Just a few weeks later, the government granted the Baltic states their independence on 6 September. Over the next three months, one republic after another declared independence, mostly out of fear of another coup. Also during this time, the Soviet government was rendered useless as the new Russian government began taking over what remained of it, including the Kremlin. The penultimate step came on 1 December, when voters in the second most powerful republic, Ukraine, overwhelmingly voted to secede from the Soviet Union in a referendum. This ended any realistic chance of keeping the Soviet Union together. On 8 December, Yeltsin met with his counterparts from Ukraine and Belarus and signed the Belavezha Accords, declaring that the Soviet Union had ceased to exist. Gorbachev denounced this as illegal, but he had long since lost any ability to influence events outside of Moscow. Changes in national boundaries after the end of the Cold War Two weeks later, 11 of the remaining 12 republics—all except Georgia—signed the Alma-Ata Protocol, which confirmed the Soviet Union had been effectively dissolved and replaced by a new voluntary association, the Commonwealth of Independent States. Bowing to the inevitable, Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president on 25 December, and the Supreme Soviet ratified the Belavezha Accords the next day, legally dissolving itself and the Soviet Union as a political entity. By the end of 1991, the few Soviet institutions that hadn't been taken over by Russia had dissolved. The Soviet Union was officially disbanded, breaking up into fifteen constituent parts, thereby ending the world's largest and most influential Socialist state, and leaving to China that position. A constitutional crisis dissolved into violence in Moscow as the Russian Army was called in to reestablish order. Baltic states [ edit ] Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania implemented democratic reforms and achieved independence from the Soviet Union. The Singing Revolution is a commonly used name for events between 1987 and 1991 that led to the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[71][72] The term was coined by an Estonian activist and artist, Heinz Valk, in an article published a week after the 10–11 June 1988 spontaneous mass night-singing demonstrations at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.[73] Estonia declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union on 16 November 1988. Lithuania followed on 18 May 1989 and Latvia on 28 July 1989. Lithuania declared full independence on 11 March 1990 and on 30 March, Estonia announced the start of a transitional period to independence, followed by Latvia on 4 May. These declarations were met with force from the Soviet Union in early 1991, in confrontations known as the "January Events" in Lithuania and "The Barricades" in Latvia. The Baltic states contended that their incorporation into the Soviet Union had been illegal under both international law and their own law, and they were reasserting an independence that still legally existed. Soon after the launching of the August coup, Estonia and Latvia declared full independence. By the time the coup was foiled, the USSR was no longer unified enough to mount a forceful resistance, and it recognized the independence of the Baltic states on 6 September. Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova [ edit ] Transcaucasia [ edit ] Photos of 9 April 1989 victims of the Tbilisi massacre on a billboard in Tbilisi [74] Following Georgia’s declaration of independence in 1991, South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared their desire to leave Georgia and remain part of the Soviet Union/Russia. Chechnya [ edit ] In Chechnya (an autonomous republic within Russian SFSR that had a strong desire for independence), using tactics partly copied from the Baltics, anti-Communist coalition forces led by former Soviet general Dzhokhar Dudayev staged a largely bloodless revolution, and ended up forcing the resignation of the Communist republican president. Dudayev was elected in a landslide in the following election and in November 1991 he proclaimed Checheno-Ingushetia's independence as the Republic of Ichkeria. Ingushetia voted to leave the union with Chechnya, and was allowed to do so (thus it became the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria). Due to Dudayev's desire to exclude Moscow from all oil deals, Yeltsin backed a failed coup against him in 1993. In 1994, Chechnya, with only marginal recognition (one country: Georgia, which was revoked soon after the coup landing Shevardnadze in power), was invaded by Russia, spurring the First Chechen War. The Chechens, with considerable assistance from the populations of both former-Soviet countries and from Sunni Muslim countries repelled this invasion and a peace treaty was signed in 1997. However, Chechnya became increasingly anarchic, largely due to the both political and physical destruction of the state during the invasion, and general Shamil Basaev, having evaded all control by the central government, conducted raids into neighboring Dagestan, which Russia used as pretext for reinvading Ichkeria. Ichkeria was then reincorporated into Russia as Chechnya again, though insurgency continues.[77] Central Asia [ edit ] Post-Soviet conflicts [ edit ] Russia was involved in a number of conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the War of Transnistria, the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War, the First Chechen War, the War in Abkhazia, the Ossetian–Ingush conflict, and the Crimea and Donbass conflicts in Ukraine. Other events [ edit ] Communist and Socialist countries [ edit ] Reforms in the Soviet Union and its allied countries also led to dramatic changes to Communist and Socialist states outside of Europe. Africa [ edit ] Middle East [ edit ] Asia [ edit ] Latin America [ edit ] Oceania [ edit ] Vanuatu – Vanua'aku Pati lost the multi-party elections in 1991, and the Union of Moderate Parties won. Other countries [ edit ] Many Soviet-supported political parties and militant groups around the world suffered from demoralization and loss of financing. Concurrently, many anti-Communist authoritarian states, formerly supported by the US, gradually saw a transition to democracy. Countries that emerged into socialist-styled governments beyond 1991: Nepal – Monarchy was overthrown in 2008 and the republic
a strong immune response was generated against the vaccine, and that these antibodies, when put in test tubes, gobbled up cocaine. They then tested the vaccine's effect on behavior, and found that mice that received the vaccine before cocaine were much less hyperactive while on the drug than mice that were not vaccinated. The effect was even seen in mice that received large, repetitive doses of cocaine. Proportionally, the cocaine doses reflected amounts that humans might use. The vaccine needs to be tested in humans, of course, says Dr. Crystal, but he predicts that if it works, it will function best in people who are already addicted to cocaine and who are trying to stop using the drug. "The vaccine may help them kick the habit because if they use cocaine, an immune response will destroy the drug before it reaches the brain's pleasure center." In addition to Dr. Crystal, the study's authors included Martin J. Hicks, Bishnu P. De, Jonathan B. Rosenberg, Jesse T. Davidson, Neil R. Hackett, Stephen M. Kaminsky and Miklos Toth of Weill Cornell Medical College; Jason G. Mezey of Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.; Amira Y. Moreno, Kim D. Janda, Sunmee Wee and George F. Koob of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health.A few weeks after Acura released a series of teaser images, Acura officially pulled the wraps off the concept version of the ZDX crossover at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. Interestingly, the previously released teaser shots actually show early production lighting elements, rather than those found on the NYIAS concept, but we’re told that, other than the lights, there are few changes between the concept and the ZDX that will roll into Acura showrooms this fall as a 2010 model. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Designed by 28-year-old Michelle Christensen (who was only 25 when she penned the first version of the vehicle), the five-passenger ZDX is based on the MDX platform and will be positioned above that seven-seater as a flagship within Acura’s lineup. Although Acura claims that the ZDX will introduce “an entirely new category of luxury vehicle,” no one will be able to help comparing it to that other four-door coupe crossover thingy, the BMW X6, although the ZDX’s ride height is markedly lower. Still, like the X6, it is none too dainty at 192.6 inches long, a vast 78.5 inches wide, and 61.8 inches tall. There are 108.5 inches between the centerlines of the 19-inch wheels, which are shod with 275/40-series Michelin Latitude tires. Acura confirms that it will be powered by the same 300-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 that powers the MDX. The six will be mated to an all-new six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. It will, of course, come standard with Acura’s nifty Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. The interior of every ZDX will feature leather seating surfaces, and occupants will get plenty of light from above via the standard full-length glass roof. For lane changes—which undoubtedly will be hampered by those huge C-pillars—the ZDX will offer a blind-spot information system, as well as a multi-angle rear-view camera, surround-sound audio, navigation and, we imagine, a whole lot more if it is to, as Acura claims, achieve “a whole new level of prestige” for the brand. Customers will be able to see for themselves when the ZDX goes on sale this winter.The Spencer Tunick Experience Newcastle /Gateshead Sunday 17 July 2005 Dedicated to Giovanna This web essay is the personal detailing of my experiences in participating the Newcastle / Gateshead Installation as created by the artist Spencer Tunick. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sunday 17 July 2005. Well - here I am again, ready to strip off at the shout from a megaphone. Not just any oul' shout - but those immortal words from Jonathan Porcelli - "Ladies & gentlemen - get your kit off". Jonathan is Spencer Tunick's project director. Newcastle, the home of Stan. I was pleased to learn back in May 2005 that Spencer Tunick was coming to "the Toon" so travel plans were launched immediately. Spencer is widely celebrated for his elaborately posed photographs of multiple nude figures in public settings. Onto the interweb thingy and flight and hotel booked as quick as a flash - two puns intended. The website from the Baltic Mill gave extremely detailed information on the installation, so this augured well for the professionalism of the organisation and running of the event. We all received our notification email (twice) about 10 days before the fateful date. Complete with event details and map of the city came distinct directions for getting to the rendezvous location. The time to attend said "no later than 03:30" - so being rigorously punctual I figured 02:30 would be a good time to be there. I followed the Baltic's directions to the letter - "It is approximately a 15-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station to the Quayside. Turn right out of Central Station. Continue walking straight ahead (on Neville Street, which becomes Collingwood Street and then becomes Max Mosley Street - you will cross two sets of road conjunctions), past St Nicholas' Cathedral on your right until you reach a major crossroads (you will see Niche Hotel on the opposite corner of the crossroads). Turn right and walk down Dean Street, heading down the hill towards the River Tyne. At the bottom of the hill turn left onto the Quayside. Walk alongside the river (river will be on your right hand side) - towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, cross it and you will see the registration point - the Mill Road Car Park - in front of you." The directions around Dean Street, as it turned out, were practically the route in reverse we would take on the installation - the other difference is that we all would be in the nude next time. People were leaving the pubs and clubs along the route as I was walking down the warm gentle evening. The weather had been great over the previous week and was due to be equally as good for the Sunday - which was to be welcomed, especially remembering the Dr Kevorkian inspired conditions we experienced in Brugge in May. The lads and lasses of Newcastle were in good form after their evening's entertainment, I wondered if any of them were heading my way. Walking down cobblelocked The Side and under the bridge, I met about 5 yellow-jacketed security folk with "Event Cover" emblazoned across their back, walking up towards me. There were also metal screens strategically placed at the junctions and I surmised, correctly as it turned out, that this was going to be a huge and extensive event - given the amount of public space that was been given over to the installation. I passed by the Premier Travel hotel on the way down, there were still people revelling inside - later on they would get a grandstand view of the goings on. The screens were sized to keep prying eyes and demur dispositions safely on the side of common decency. Down under the Tyne Bridge and out onto the Quayside proper, I met even more security folk milling around and taking up defensive positions. All this forward planning gave me confidence on what was to come. There was still some residual warmth from the day's sunshine radiating from the road and pathways, as I strolled over to the water's edge - the breeze was still warm also. Guided by the railings along the bank of the Tyne, I approached the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. It looked magnificent and seemed a well-chosen stage and frame for the vision of Spencer Tunick - a giant anvil on which he could forge his creation. As I walked over the river crossing, I checked the installation directions again - I wasn't sure of the exact location of the rendezvous point - the Mill Road Car Park. I was expecting, for some reason, a multi-storey purpose built edifice (don't ask me why - maybe visions of Barcelona's Fira predisposed me). But as I stepped off the bridge onto Gateshead, I could see people gathering on an earth bank just opposite me. There were a couple of groovy pergola's from B&Q set up at the top of the concrete stairs leading up to the middle tier of the open car park - this must be the registration point so forewarned of. There were about 50 people already gathered in the carpark at this time. They were mostly men in small groups and singularly. There was also no sign of any officials from the organisers at this time of the early morning. There probably were officials there, but I was half asleep anyway. I sleepwalked up the steps and onto the rough tarmac that formed the car park - I couldn't imagine walking barefoot across this, it was so rough! On the right hand side of the carpark a number of porta-loos had been set up to provide relief to any reveller coming here later on, presumably. A huge Cristof like black drape blanked off the back wall of the car park - presumably not to get the text of the hoarding in backdrop on to any of the resultant photographs. A number of security folk were also present, located strategically on good vantage points above and beyond us. I wandered around, sizing up my fellow models. I love watching people without being voyeuristic, viewing their demeanour and attitude as they waited pensively for their Spencer Tunick Experience to unfold. Everybody was calm and either silent or spoke in hushed tones - the trepidation in most was palpable. Back down the other stairs I strolled back across the road to the Bridge side. Satisfied, without actually asking anybody was this the correct place, I was able to take stock of the magnificence of the Millennium Bridge itself. The surrounding promenade and marbled footways of Baltic Square were invitingly constructed. The brown marble seating tiers around the crescent near the Riverside café reminded me of the Anfiteatro da Praça Gaspar Moreira, in Santa Maria da Feira in September 2003. What a wonderful place that was and Spencer took a fantastic set of photos of us there, that Sunday morning too. I wondered was this location part of the coming day's proceedings. Enough musings - back to people watching. I leaned on the wall along South Shore Road. People were now strolling from all directions towards this spot in Gateshead. From the left and right, down from the higher level car park and from across the River Tyne from Newcastle, the faithful came to this spot on earth. One's, two's and larger groups now started to fill up our location. Taxis arrived and deposited their cargo and sailed off into the black yonder. Couples hugged and groups of girls clustered together seeking reinforcement of the sanity of what they were about to let themselves in for. Four girls clung together, obviously long term friends and comrades given the fantastic colourful punk rocker hairstyles they each sported. The mix of the assemblage was still predominately male at this stage. Single girls arrived on their own and struck up common bond acquaintances with fellow females. Single males stayed single. Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, lovers - old and young also congregated. Gateshead Council workmen in their nifty little road sweeper deftly manoeuvred their contraption around the footways and promenades - cleaning this location made me think we would be lying naked here soon! Cigarette butts, paper and bits of glass were picked up and taken away. There seemed to be a coherence of activity between the organisers and stakeholders in the project. At about 03:00, a number of floppy badged people, mostly young blokes and girls, started to appear on our side of the river. These were Spencer's little helpers - our guides and protectors for our morning's toil. Some of these helpers stood at the step off from the bridge confirming more strollers of the correctness of their navigation. Other helpers began to set themselves up at the pergolas - ready to take our model release forms and verify our ID's and age as directed in our pre event email notification. Other helpers, the ones with the walkie-talkies, surveyed the site, checking emplacements, completing radio checks, rounding up errant helpers and preparing to launch the day's occurrences. The folks on the hill were the first to experience the wrath of a walkie-talkie toting helper. This was all in good fun - don't get me wrong. A certain level of professionalism is mandated in order to ensure the success of this installation. The gathered multitude were as ushered to the lower South Shore roadway and requested to queue now at the base of the stairs - it was all starting to kick off for real now. It was still dark, dawn was about two hours away. The majority of the crowd started to gather at the base of the right hand stairs. On the helpers then boomed across the PA that half of us should commence queuing at the left hand stairway. I joined this queue just behind a glass bus shelter. We stood there and waited, the queue didn't seem be moving much. More people were still arriving. The local constabulary now started to make their presence known - Battenberg Volvos cruised up and down, a transit van fully loaded arrived and sprinkled constables hither and dither. The line of people was still and silent, nobody was talking - people were deep in contemplation of a once in a life times experience yet to come. As I queued, a taxi pulled up alongside me and a girl on her own got out and joined the queue two behind me. How brave she seemed to me. Her actions, in appearing here this morning alone, seemed very brave and adventurous if with a little trepidation - I admired her for that - this is the spirit of the Spencer Tunick Experience. More anon. Our queue started to move now. It was orderly and polite, people met up with acquaintances and sidled in with them. Other people finding themselves out of queue where allowed in. It was a slow move at first. Border control was rigorously examining the Model Release forms and photocopied forms of identification. They seemed to be overwhelmed by yet glad to greet the amount of people which had arrived here this morning. We moved but very slowly. There was a bottleneck at the bottom of the stairs as the queue approached from two directions. A security girl told us to get into single file. A BBC film crew trying to get to the top of the stairs couldn't wait for the queue so they legged it up the earth bank. It was a precarious move, I was waiting for the cameraman to stumble and drop his expensive gear such was his awkward gait - but he made it, phew! Slowly, we moved up the stairs, there must have been added resources added at the frontier post or else a change in policy, as suddenly the queue of hundreds of would-be models started moving in a more quickened pace. Everybody on official duty there was very extremely helpful, professional and pleasant - we were made feel very welcome and a huge part of the event. At the top in the pergola, there were two tables - the girls at the right hand side took our release forms and ID photocopies and at the other table we were issued with a groovy plastic bag - some red, some blue, some purple. I received a bright yellow one for my use. A girl cheerfully scribbled a number on each - handy for individual retrieval. The bags were to be used at the appointed time to deposit our clothes along with our modesty, presumably. Both could be picked up safely after the event and once donned we could return to normal urbanity. We also received a pamphlet, which detailed the posing arrangements we would be required to undertake for the first set up on the Quayside. Service with a smile. Now at the top of the hill, in the carpark area, we shuffled around omni-directionally trying to find a spot to rest before the upcoming events. What follows is the usual pre-event gathering. Friends meet up, mere acquaintances deftly evade each other in case they should see each other naked later on, groups gathered, couples huddle and singletons try to make contact. The carpark filled up quickly now - and there were still people streaming across the bridge and directed up the stairs. Yellow jackets pinpointed the scene. The mix of the crowd also changed. More girls joined us males to even up the gender mix and the age average also lowered. Some people were soberly dressed, others lightly dressed (and ready for a lightning strip) as per instructions - either way we were all getting cold. It was still dark and the residual heat of the day had long since departed. As we waited, the PA boomed into life. A slow deep voice welcomed us to here this morning. In an unhurried purposeful tone, he told us to wait up until all the people coming had arrived and more instructions would follow anon. He went on, though, to apologise for the problems with the time lapse in the PA and explained that in real time he doesn't actually speak this slowly - that's a relief. Everyone laughed at this. This was Steve, who was to be our master of ceremonies for the day. This was going to be another long wait. I had a watch on but the last thing I did was look at it, so I can't give you the exact timings of the unfolding proceedings. Some of us used the plastic bags to sit down on the grass verge and wait, other sat or that should be perched on the car parks triangular fence, the majority stood around talking. At about 03:30 Jonathan, Spencer's project director, then got atop his A-framed ladder/lectern and told us to gather down his end. Everybody in unison shuffled to his end to listen to him. He welcomed us again and gave us a heads-up on the programme for today. He told us Spencer would now also speak to us. Up now atop the ladder, Spencer welcomed us again here this morning. He apologised for seeming a bit sleepy but it was an ungodly hour after all - tell us about it! He went through the poses that he wanted, some as per the printed sheet. Spencer also told us of the route we would be taking, walking down the quayside and up a side street. When we were to cross the swing bridge across the Tyne, due to Health & Safety concerns, we were going to be issued with protective shoes and covering - oh, couldn't wait, should that not be Health & Efficiency concerns! He finally delivered those immortal words - we would only be naked for a short time - yeah right! Genuinely though, he said we were all part of a beautiful experience and without us, his art could simply not happen. We would have to wait for the light to get better, as he doesn't use flash - I suppose we would be supplying the flashing. He went then after a few more minutes and to prepare himself at his vantage point for the photographs. After the great man had spoken, we knew this was for real we were about to begin our own personal Spencer Tunick Experience. After this bit of excitement, people drifted back to their erstwhile location. People chatted, some quietly others more flamboyantly, one girl in shocking blue hair was heard all over the carpark, laughing and joking. All in good fun though. I sat down again on the grass verge and waited along with a few others. It was cold now but not too uncomfortable. Two girls sat down beside me. They were obviously very nervous at what they had signed up for. Moneypenny, we'll call her, kept saying "are we mad, what are we doing here" and just giggled away her fears. Although people had been told not to undress until told to do so, one girl and about four blokes in a group got naked and just stood around talking as nonchalantly as ever - nude but nonchalant. They seemed to be full of revelry and were enjoying themselves immensely. A stag party in fancy dress that were near them also in the carpark, With clothes on, read lurid superhero outfits, they were overexcited and strident and looking like they would be a bit of a poser for the organisers. But as soon as we were all naked later on they became invisible. I read later that a hen party joined them in the festivities. These and others around make for a memorable recollection of these morning events. I was shivering at this stage with a silver breeze blowing up from the Tyne and somewhere between land-of nod and compos mentis. A couple of swarthy blokes paraded around topless, exhibiting to all their mighty structure. Others shuffled off coats and prepared. I just took off my watch - wasn't using it anyway - it was too cold and premature to do anything else. I knew there was going to be a mad scramble to get naked once we heard the call. I looked around trying to find a landmark for reference for when I needed to retrieve my apparel at the closing of the installation. A suitable telecom pole sufficed - thanks BT. The sky had now turned a brighter blue from its midnight black, and you could begin to sense the ever-increasing level of excitement and anticipation. The atmosphere could only be described as buzzing. The car park was now full and spread out with people again. We waited. The naked group decided to put some clothes back on again - more in a climactic deference than a societal one. A long black evening dress and blue flip-flops for the goose pimpled girl and more complicated dressings for the boys completed their succumbment. The anticipation all around rose steadily. The time was fast approaching. A man just wearing a tee-shirt and nothing else, sauntered past Moneypenny. He sported a plethora of piercings and rings, dangling from his dangly bits. This freaked her out and just added to her anxiety. Suddenly from nowhere, he must have beamed on to the top of the ladder, Jonathan boomed across the PA - "Get you kit off". No clarification required. Like a bang from a starter's pistol, people leapt to their feet and started to disrobe - read, rip their clothes off frantically. I just about got up to my feet and half of the assembled were already naked. I struggled with a shoe lace - isn't always the way, in a hurry you can't undo them yet at a formal gathering you can't keep the bloody things knotted! So I just followed everybody else and ripped off my clothes and stuffed them unceremoniously into my yellow plastic bag. Moneypenny at this stage was down to her bra and knickers and still giggling nervously, still wondering what she was thinking of agreeing to this. Her mate had no such trepidation and was really keen. She was long since naked and ready to proudly take her place in the throng of all the other nude people - no going back now! Naked myself now, I stood off the grass margin onto the carpark surface. It was tricky underfoot, to say the least. Nonetheless, let's enjoy ourselves. We all funnelled again towards the stairs - this time in reverse of the way we came upwards and clothed - downwards and naked. The crowd bunched up now. We could see that hundreds of naked people had already made their way onto the Millennium Bridge. Rather than be left behind the carpark overflowed in a Vesuvian like eruption of buff magma (sorry again Craig!) over the sides and down onto the lower level. I scrambled down the sandy clay bank myself, managing to stay on my feet, but destroying the newly seeded lawn. From the bottom of the hill, it was a wonderful sight to see all these naked people overflowing and descending towards me - I don't think Pompeii ever experienced such a hedonistic display (okay, enough simile). I didn't see anyone looking uncomfortable in his or her new found nudity. Traversing South Shore Road and down the steps, across the marble promenade we strutted ourselves ten/eleven abreast across the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Policemen, council workers and Spencer's little helpers lined the route - enjoying also this naked parade. But nobody was embarrassed. Steve was there too guiding us with his megaphone and cheering us on. It was a wonderful sight - looking forward and backward. I don't think this was exactly what the bridge's designers, Wilkinson & Eyre Architects had envisioned in their imagination. At least, with all these people trampling across in resonance there was no wobbling (from the bridge, I mean!). I was on the seaward, eastern side of the bridge, right at the waters edge. There was a sign up for "dual usage" on this side - presumably for clothed and unclothed people. This side was also decked so as to be comfortable underfoot unlike the other side, which was tarmaced, and rough to the sole. A couple of blokes started singing "Is this the way to Amarillo" and gestured to the moves of that particular song. We walked slowly as we bunched up - yet at a polite distance to our neighbours. I had time to look into the still waters below and saw the reflection of all the naked people above on the parapet. As we neared the far side of the bridge, most of the crowd had turned left towards the City/Tyne Bridge direction and up along the Quayside. We were directed though to turn right off the bridge up towards and past the "Pitcher & Piano" pub. We stood off the bridge onto the quayside proper. We strutted our stuff up past the hotel opposite the bridge - with Co-operative Society written large on it's top floor. There we people at the bedroom windows stared out, incredulous at the vista. People downstairs in the lounge were pressed up against the windows - amazed at the antics. Camera phones were out snapping merrily away. We continued walking until we were told to stop, just short of, what looked like a small bandstand with a great big gold ball on the roof. Although the council workmen had swept the pathways, broken glass littered a spot were people were heading for. Masterfully, even if I say so myself, I guided the exposed soles away from the danger - knew that training in Hendon would come in handy one day! We turned around and faced the Tyne Bridge direction. We were ordered via a voice from the sky to move forward, then back. Then forward then backward. Three abreast we stood as per printed instructions. As we stood and waited, I noticed a naked girl walk back alone across the Millennium Bridge towards the South Shore side. Don't know what was going on here, but there was blood on the ground when later we passed the bridge end - it was if somebody had badly cut their foot. Either way it was a long walk back to the other side for her. In the opposite direction, from South Shore the last of Spencer's little helper walked (fully clothed) across the bridge and strolled through the naked throng on this side. One wag in front shouted "streaker". People laughed - such was an example of the humour that would permeate the morning. The PA boomed out to keep quiet, stand still, hands by our side and face the bridge. We all stood to attention. A feeble Mexican wave flowed backwards from the front as we were waiting. We were so far back from Spencer's position, that he would have needed a Hubble telescope lens to pick us out. And he kept telling us not to smile. We wouldn't be making the pages of any media reports on this one. Needless to say, we followed orders. Good humour and obedience to instructions was the order of the day. We stood still whilst Spencer did the clicking and the whirring. The morning was now bright and beautiful giving an orange glow on our skins. A faint breeze whispered on our backs. We waited silently and time passed by. That pose over, we were directed once again via PA to take up the Second Pose of set-up Number 1 - the lying on your back with hand at your side one. So, down gingerly to the ground we went, careful not in touch or invade other people's space, we lay down on the cobble-lock pathway on the quayside. We lay motionless as the PA boomed. Spencer's little helpers ran up and down the line filling gaps, moving bodies and generally arranging the naked muses. Spencer could be heard barking at them - they moved very fast under his direction. The silence again abounded. We lay there still and quiet, staring into the now empty blue sky. A couple of birds flew past over us - to gasps from very exposed members of the audience. Too horrible an occurrence even to contemplate. We closed our eyes and hoped for the best until the Stukas passed by. Spencer clicked away again, presumably. This gave us time to think. So what exactly were we doing lying naked on a public thoroughfare on a Sunday Morning. People have their own reasons and motives. Certainly, it is an individual thing. People as individuals take away more from a Spencer Tunick Installation than they bargained for. The fun at the start is stripping off publicly and walking naked around the place with hundreds of other kindred souls. The rewards come later though in reliving the experience and discovering oneself. I wish I knew what Moneypenny thought of the day's events, but never saw her again. People can express their experiences in many ways. "Right Folks" and that were that. Already, we were well into this Experience. Up to our feet, some more deftly than others. We dusted our selves down, picked stones from our backs and faced the bridge. Off we shuffled still three abreast towards the bridge directions. Steve was there too looking after us. We walked past the hotel and lounge again. People were still gawking out at us. There was a naked guy at one of the bedroom windows - a sort of Spencer Tunick Experience by distance learning. The BBC had set up near the base of the hotel and cameras abounded, recording our every move. Down then the quayside, past the Crown Court and opposite some offices we stopped temporarily. Two over indulged guys couldn't wait anymore - nature called. Bladders full, they headed down a small alley and concealed themselves behind two green wheelie bins in order to relieve themselves. Another poor bloke, despite the howls and cajoling from the naked mass observing them, decided this was a good idea too. Bad call. The BBC cameras had spotted them and were homing in like a heat seeking missile (don't need to elaborate where the heat was coming from). By the time the camera crew was ready, the first two blokes were finished and beat a path out of there. The last bloke then suffered the indignity of being filmed and walking full frontal back into the safety of the crowd. He just laughed along with us and enjoyed the relief. On bloke wanted to shake his hand but decided the better of it. The cheers of amusement from the crowd was light hearted and signified the general good nature of the whole day. And to cap it all, just 100 metres down the road, the organisers, with their professionalism and consideration that marked the day, had sited a bank of conveniences for our use. On the move again, naked we continued our morning stroll around the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead. We were ushered across the road, past the Premier Travel Inn. More patrons rudely awakened. People from the bedrooms and lounge windows watched unbelievingly as we sauntered by. I don't think they could quite believe their eyes when they saw us - all different ages, sizes and shapes, completely naked - en el buffo! Camera phones were out, more text messages were flying over the airwaves - "100's nud plpe wlk pst my b/rom" The reply came back "U may stop drinkin now"! A young couple canoodling passionately in a doorway squirmed in embarrassment - they had clothes on! "oh get a room" someone advised them - "There's a time and place for everything", someone else tutted. Up then this newly pedestrianised street towards The Side, past an old elevator shaft up to the road deck of the Tyne Bridge. I was about 3/4 of the way back down the human chain at this stage. We walked and stumbled up under the bridge itself now. Hundreds and hundreds of our people had located themselves up The Side (motion to council to rename Backside) and cascading up the hill around the corner to Blackgate and out of sight. It was fantastic viewing all these naked people completely taking over a street in this fashion (or absence of fashion). It contrasted the solidity of the buildings with the softness of our naked bodies. Nobody felt vulnerable as we joined in with the pack. We walked on the cobblelock roadway, still under construction in some places. The flood of people stopped and ebbed backwards and forwards like the tide, until all the ripples had sorted themselves out and we found an equilibrium of personal space. I stopped outside the Kublai Khan restaurant and looked all around me. There were a couple of people in flats above the shops and cafés, looking out their windows incredulously. We waved at them. They were too embarrassed to way back at us - so in order to alleviate them of their mortification - we waved even more vociferously. That did the trick - we got a reply - that'll teach them. Spencer was now on high - very high - on the Tyne Bridge towering over us. He was on the megaphone booming instructions down from above to the little helpers below. Up The Side we were ushered - then down - then up. Bunch up, spread out, fill that gap - you get the idea now. You have to be very compliant at a Spencer Tunick Installation - you do exactly what you are told! But there was great humour at all times. Whilst shuffling up & down The Side some wag shouted out to ST " Have you never heard of Photoshop, you only needed a 100 of us" A BBC film crew snuggled themselves into a restaurant doorway along The Side in order to film our shuffling antics - like pink penguins on an ice flow. Spencer shouted down at them to get in out of the shot - they made themselves invisible. We were nearly all set for the first photograph - ready when you are Mr Tunick! Spencer said later in an article "I needed 1,500 people to make this installation work and so I am happy. I had to fill up Dean Street and I needed enough to make a thin sliver of bodies. I got everything I needed and more." As Spencer readied himself up aloft, we stood, arms by our sides and faced up to him. We stood there waiting for a few moments. A couple of times I thought I heard what sounded like a flock of crickets coming down the hill from Blackgate - it turned out to be a sort of Mexican slap - people slapping their thighs in unison. Another time we heard "oohs" and "aahs" emanating from the periphery of the naked sea - then suddenly a cool breeze washed down the hill over our exposed flesh - "ooh" I gasped. That masterpiece of a river of bodies now safely in the can we were invited to adopt the most famous and desirable of all of Spencer Tunick's poses - the foetal position. "Turn to your right - down on your knees" we were ordered. Some turned as directed to their right, the others followed step later on - after working out which right to opt for. I was down the street a bit now after more shuffling for position outside the "Treacle Moon" restaurant - very apt for this pose. Everyone groaned as at first we got down on our knees and bent forward. It is a difficult position to get into, especially when you are cold and not exactly limbered up for this contortion. I nearly got cramp in my feet, as did others I spoke to later - but held on in there. But we groaned and creaked, but just got on with it. When Spencer tells you to keep your head down, you keep your head down. Head down now, knees curdled up into our chest, palms on the cobblelock - we held this pose. A few wags passed funny comments about the biggest cycle park in the world. "ooh" - another breeze. Time elapsed as our image passed into medium format. The invisible BBC camera crew filmed away. Spencer also said later in a BBC interview was that he wanted his work to show the contrast between man's huge modern constructions in the cities of the world with the vulnerability of the human body in its basic naked form. Asked whether the urban landscape in the city had influenced his work, he said: "I don't think the landscape brings information to the bodies. Bodies bring new information to the landscape." "There is a sensual element to it," Spencer said. "But it's not a sexual experience." This would be one of the best photographs taken today - each individual looks as though they are a dot of paint on a canvas by a great impressionist artist. And then that was over. Up to our feet we jumped - eventually - rising on command to waves of applause. Glad that was over - but still enjoying every moment of this day. We were ordered by Steve on his megaphone to head back down Sandhill to the quayside via a different street. Still naked remember, we strolled past Rumpoli's Italian Kitchen - where's Cyril Fletcher from "That's Life" when you need him? At the end of this street a barrier had been erected to delineate the closed off area where we had been allowed to pose on this side of the Tyne. At a gap in the barrier plastic ponchos or "kagoules" I heard described, were being doled out to all and nudie - like the things you get on riverboat cruises near the sprays of waterfalls. This was the Health & Safety issue that was alluded to earlier on in the proceedings in the car park assembly point. Seemingly we were now leaving the cordoned off area and proceeding onto the public thoroughfare, certainly in full view of this perched high up on the Tyne Bridge.. It seem more a deference to decency than Health & Safety and certainly gave fashion a shun. It was funny looking at people struggle to find the difference between the armhole and the head hole of these contraptions and twist themselves eventually over their clammy skin. I was handed one and like a true gentleman handed it to a naked woman that just happened to be standing beside me. Reaching a huge pile of kagoules, people were throwing them still in their chunky packets to the
hid the fact that they have been working on their first telescoping seat post, even going so far as to both show it at trade shows and put it under their sponsored riders at select events. But they have refrained from letting the media put any time on one - until now. The new post, christened D.O.S.S. for 'Drop On Steep Shit', features either four or five inches of travel () that is controlled mechanically, while a relatively low pressure air spring is employed to raise the post back up. Like many telescoping posts, the D.O.S.S. incorporates a 'Trail' position that sits 40mm down from full extension, often the ideal setting for rolling or technical terrain that still requires some pedal strokes to be thrown down. While that middle setting can come in handy, most who have used a post that offers such an option will admit that it can be tricky to find in the heat of the moment, which is why FOX have designed an interesting remote that employs two levers: pushing the larger lever will allow you to stroke through the post's entire travel (), while pushing the smaller lever will only allow the D.O.S.S. to either drop down 40mm or back up to full height. The three positions are referred to as 'Climb, Trail Descend', or CTD for short, that match up with their new three position CTD suspension that you'll get to read about in an upcoming article.The 620 gram D.O.S.S post is actuated via a standard shift cable, with the housing anchor point at the post's head. Interestingly, the actuation arm is positioned at the side of the post instead of the more common location at the rear. This setup is not only less likely to be contaminated by spray thrown up from the rear tire, but also makes for smoother cable routing.• FOX's first telescoping seat post• Mechanical internals• Air sprung (• Three postions: full height, 40mm drop, fully dropped (• 4'' or 5'' drop options (• 30.9mm or 31.6mm sizes• 620 grams• Available in May, 2012• MSRP $439 USD Dual Lever Remote Side Mounted Cable actuation Ball Bearing Internals The D.O.S.S's internals are like nothing currently used within a telescoping post. Eight stainless steel ball bearings are employed, rolling on three different length grooves - one for each of the three height options - that have been machined into the inner wall of the main tube. The eight ball bearings are captured at the bottom of the inner tube (or stanchion), with them being pushed outward by the locking cam (the flanged piece at the far left in the photo above). In the locked positioned, the largest diameter of the cam pushes all of the balls out and locks them into the groove. When pushing the short lever to move the post to the ''Trail'' position, the cam moves half way in its travel, with the four pockets machined into it allowing four of the ball bearings to come out of the grooves and drop into the pockets. The four remaining bearings sit in a linear groove that correspond with the 'Climb' and 'Trail' position, allowing the post to lower to the 'Descend' position when the lever is pushed. Releasing the lever allows the cam to force all eight of the balls to expand out and lock into groove. Pushing the larger lever allows all eight of the ball bearings to move inward, letting the post stroke through the entire length of its travel. The post is also still functional if an air seal fails, or you manage to snap a cable, by manually moving the actuation arm. Self Adjusting Steel Keys On The Trail The D.O.S.S. is a very interesting seat post option, one that is different enough from the competition that it just might offer an advantage. On the other hand we can see the post's dual lever remote making or breaking the post in many rider's eyes, especially those who are used to an infinitely adjustable post. Reliability will be key to the D.O.S.S.'s success given that the general consensus is that most telescoping posts fail in that regard. Stay tuned for a longterm review where we'll address this concern. We spent two days riding both the new D.O.S.S. seat post and suspension offerings from FOX, with our first day in the saddle of Yeti's SB-66. The 150mm travel machine was fully decked out with 2013 goodies, including FOX's new Factory level, CTD equipped 34 Float fork and Float CTD Boost Valve rear shock. The CTD acronym stands for '', which is the new three position damper that allows riders to choose from different levels of compression damping that best suit the terrain. There is plenty to cover on that front, but today we're going to introduce you to FOX's much anticipated D.O.S.S. telescoping seat post.Pushing the large silver lever () allows you to stroke through the post's entire travel, including stopping at the 40mm drop postion that is ideal for fast, rolling terrain where you want a bit of extra clearance, but still need to pedal. Giving the inner black lever a push () will only allow the seat post to drop 40mm, a design that makes searching for the middle postion a thing of the past. Hitting it again will raise it back up to its maximum height. The dual levers are certainly more complicated than a single trigger, but it will be interesting to see if the added complication and size translate to more usability on the trail.The design allows the same remote to be mounted on either side of the bar, top or bottom, without having to swap out clamps, and it is also features three different fore and aft positions. The remote lever isn't nearly as trim as what some of the competition offers, but its ability to be mounted every which way on the handlebar should allow most riders to find an ergonomic setup they can get along with.FOX went ahead with the side mounted cable actuation arm that we spotted on the earlier prototype D.O.S.S posts, a location that should be less prone to contamination from spray thrown up from the rear tire. Accessing the cable anchor bolt looks to be infinitely easier than most other layouts, and the post is also reversible, letting the rider mount the cable on either the left or right side of the post depending on what best suits their bike.The exploded view above gives you a look into the inner workings of the D.O.S.S. seat post, with the one piece forged upper tube at the top (), and a cutaway of a fully assembled D.O.S.S. post at the bottom. Four stainless steel keys are forced outward by the keyway cam and four ball bearings, keeping the post's stanchion from rotating. When the post is locked into position the cam forces the bearings outward, pushing the steel keys into four grooves that have been machined into the inner wall of the tube. Pushing the remote lever to move the post up or down also shifts the keyway cam, allowing the keys to relax inwards and the post to go through its travel. This design means that there is very little friction from the keys when the post is going up or down, simply because the keys have retracted when the lever is depressed.The keyway cam is a different unit from the locking cam, and has been designed to have no free play. The cam will push the keys out slightly further as they or the grooves wear, meaning the the system should be self adjusting.Our D.O.S.S. post was one of the first to come off of the production line (), so we were eager to find out how it functioned in the real world. That real world, unfortunately, consisted of just two days worth of saddle time - not enough for us to comment on the post's reliability, but sufficient time to report back on its general function. Pushing the lever allows the post to cycle up or down, as you'd expect it to, but it was the D.O.S.S.'s smoothness that surprised us. There felt to be next to no resistance throughout the stroke, due in large part to the steel keys retracting as the lever is pressed. The low air pressure, set only between 10psi and 25psi to adjust return speed, also let the saddle lower quickly under our body weight. Unlike some other air sprung designs, the D.O.S.S. doesn't slow its descent as you near the end of the stroke - the force required to lower it feels the same at the end of its travel as it does at the top. It clearly will require more force due to the air chamber shrinking in size as the post lowers, but the low starting pressure makes the change unnoticeable.Return speed was quick enough that we never found ourselves wanting it to be faster, but it wasn't so fast as to make us worry about causing bodily harm to vital organs. We also appreciated the post's audible 'klunk' when it raises back to either the 'Trail' or 'Climb' position, letting us know that it was exactly where it needs to be. While that may sound trivial, we've often found ourselves second guessing the saddle's position when using a silent telescoping seat post. This isn't going to be an issue with the D.O.S.S.So, just how handy did we find the remote's second lever? Very much, as it turns out. Hitting the smaller, black lever does just as FOX claims - the post can only drop down 40mm to the 'Trail' postion, or return back up to full height. There was no searching, no having to weight the saddle longer than we wanted to in order to lock it down into the middle setting; just hit the black lever and it quickly lowers to the desired height. Is it worth the added complication? The jury is still out on that point given that we'll need much more time on it before making that call, but we also have to wonder if the D.O.S.S. makes more sense than an infinitely adjustable post.The D.O.S.S. cycled smoothly through its travel, and we can see a lot of riders being fans of the remote's dual lever that allows you to easily find the 40mm drop setting, but the large presence of said remote is gigantic compared to trimmer offerings from the competition. We also didn't find it terribly ergonomic, although we didn't get to spend as much time setting it up as we would have liked. An under-the-bar setup looks promising to us, although this will only work for riders who don't run a front derailleur, and we didn't get a chance to run such a setup during out short test session. There was also a small but noticeable rattle to the post, although it wasn't the usual side-to-side play that is common () on many dropper posts. Instead, it was actually a small vertical rattle that could be easily heard when the saddle was jiggled by hand. No, we couldn't feel or hear it while riding, and we realize that there must be a small amount of free play present in order for the post to cycle up and down freely, but its worth noting regardless.UPDATE 26/10/15 16:57: After publishing this feature over the weekend, Krzysztof Narkowicz, lead enginer programmer of Shadow Warrior developer Flying Wild Hog, got in touch to discuss thoughts on console anisotropic filtering and agreed that we could publish our discussion on the record. Suffice to say that the picture he paints of the texture filtering levels on console is somewhat different to the conclusions we reached in last weekend's article. We hope that the information adds something to the discussion but more than that, hopefully it addresses the vast majority of the outstanding questions surrounding the issue. And we begin with this - what's the impact of anisotropic filtering on console performance? "It's hard to quantify the performance impact of AF on consoles, without using a devkit. Additionally, AF impact heavily depends on the specific game and a specific scene. Basically it's an apples to oranges comparison," he says. "Different hardware has different ALU:Tex ratios, bandwidth etc. This means also different bottlenecks and different AF impact on the frame-rate. AF impact on the frame-rate also depends on the specific scene (what percentage of screen is filled with surfaces at oblique viewing angles, are those surfaces using displacement mapping, what's the main bottleneck there?) and the specific game (what percentage of the frame is spend on rendering geometry and which textures use AF)." What is texture filtering? Where a typical anti-aliasing setting is designed to tackle the rough edges of an object, texture filtering aims to smooth the details across the surface itself. Textures running on the ground can contain a high density of texels - the pixels of a texture - causing a shimmer effect when viewed at a distance (also known as 'visual noise'). It's an issue common to 3D rendering, but one that has many workarounds. The idea here is that with no filtering applied at all, these texels cluster up into a relatively small space when viewed at range. A screen has only so many pixels to resolve this information (even in an era of 1920x1080 games), and the results cause a distracting clash the further down a long road you look. It's an effect that stands out particularly across a game world when the camera is held at a low angle near a surface. Texture filtering solves this by blending these texels together, but the more computationally taxing part of this is determining how and where this blending takes place on screen. Methods like bilinear filtering use a process called mip-mapping, where lower resolution variations of a texture map are pre-made, and introduced to a scene based on the player's distance to a texture. Based on a player's position, different levels of mapping quality are used across a texture - and the smallest sized maps are used furthest away to prevent shimmer. Alas, the switch between these levels as you walk forward is obvious, and causes filtering lines just ahead of the camera's view. More advanced methods like trilinear filtering address this by blending such lines on-the-fly, cover up the seams of the mip-map process. But the zenith is anisotropic filtering - the most demanding method used in games. In this case, textures are sampled as more dynamic shapes (typically trapezoidal, rather than square blocks) - meaning texel detail is kept higher in the foreground, and blend more evenly as we look to the distance. Anisotropic filtering is the method of choice for PC gamers - ranging in quality from 2x to 16x. In this day and age, it causes only a small hit to performance on even low-end GPUs, and in a majority of games it's worth ramping up to this top setting for its benefits. There's also a key difference between PC and console, an extra level of flexibility on how anisotropic filtering can be deployed - something we've seen in titles like Project Cars, The Order: 1886 and Uncharted: the Nathan Drake Collection. "On PC (DX9, DX11, DX12) you can only set the max AF level (0, x2-x16) and the rest of the parameters (eg AF threshold/bias) are magically set by the driver. For sure AF is not free. AF requires multiple taps and has to sample a lower mipmap (very bad for texture cache), so it's a pretty heavy feature." Narkowicz also has a very straightforward explanation for varying levels of anisotropic filtering on consoles: "It's not about unified memory and for sure it's not about AI or gameplay influencing AF performance. It's about different trade-offs. Simply, when you release a console game you want to target exactly 30 or 60fps and tweak all the features to get best quality/performance ratio. The difference between x8 and x16 AF is impossible to spot in a normal gameplay when the camera moves dynamically," he says. "AF x4 usually gives the best bang for the buck - you get quite good texture filtering and save some time for other features. In some cases (eg when you port a game without changing content) at the end of the project you may have some extra GPU time. This time can be used for bumping AF as it's a simple change at the end of the project, when content is locked. Applying different levels of AF on different surfaces is a pretty standard approach. Again it's about best bang for the buck and using extra time for other more important features (eg rock-solid 30fps)." Narkowicz also has some thoughts on why we sometimes see different levels of texture filtering between the consoles in multi-platform products. "Microsoft and Sony SDKs are a bit different worlds. Microsoft is focused on being more developer-friendly and they use familiar APIs like DX11 or DX12. Sony is more about pedal to the metal. At the beginning of the console generation when documentation is a bit lacking it's easier to make mistakes using an unfamiliar API. Of course this won't be a case anymore, as now developers have more experience and a ton of great documentation." Original story: There's an elephant in the room. Over the course of this console generation, a certain damper has been placed on the visual impact of many PS4 and Xbox One games. While we live in an era of full 1080p resolution titles, with incredible levels of detail layered into each release, the fact is that one basic graphics setting is being often neglected - texture filtering. Whether it's Grand Theft Auto 5 or Metal Gear Solid 5, both consoles often fall short of even PC's moderate filtering settings, producing a far muddier presentation of the world - with textures across the game that look, for lack of a better word, blurred and fail to match the high expectations we had going into this generation. Worse still, Face-Off comparisons show PS4 taking the brunt of the hit. While many PS4 titles offer a superior resolution and frame-rate to Xbox One by and large, recent games like Dishonored: Definitive Edition still show Sony's console failing to match its console rival in this filtering aspect. It's a common bugbear, and the effect of weak filtering on the final image can be palpable, blemishing the developer's art by smudging details close to the character. Some studios react post-launch. Ninja Theory patched higher-grade 'anisotropic filtering' in to its Devil May Cry reboot on PS4 to give much clearer texture details on floors, while a similar improvement was seen in a Dying Light update. But two years into this generation, it's fair to say the trend isn't relenting, and new games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 show it's still common foot-fault for developers, regardless of background. But why is this? Can it really be the hardware at fault, given superior filtering is so readily just patched in, as with Devil May Cry? Or could the unified memory setup on PS4 and Xbox One - a unique design which means both CPU and GPU are connected to the same memory resources - be more of a limit here than we might expect? We reach out to several developers for an answer, and the responses are often intriguing. It's a curious state of affairs, bearing in mind that high texture filtering settings on PC barely strain even a low-end GPU. So why do consoles so regularly fall short? Speaking to Marco Thrush, CTO and owner of Bluepoint Games (known for its excellent Uncharted: the Nathan Drake Collection remaster project), brings us closer to an understanding. Though PS4 and Xbox One bear many overlaps in design with modern PC architecture - more so than earlier console generations - direct comparisons aren't always appropriate. Integrating CPU and GPU into one piece of silicon, then giving both components access to one large pool of memory is an example of how PC tech has been streamlined for its migration into the new wave of consoles. It offers fundamental advantages, but it comes with challenges too. "The amount of AF [anisotropic filtering] has a big impact on memory throughput," Thrush says. "On PCs, lots of memory bandwidth is usually available because it's fully isolated to the graphics card. On consoles with shared memory architecture, that isn't quite the case, but the benefits you get from having shared memory architecture far outweigh the drawbacks." This slide from Sony demonstrates that the machine's relatively lavish internal bandwidth has contention issues as CPU and GPU vie for resources. Indeed, the advantage of PS4 and Xbox One using an APU (a CPU and GPU on one chip) is clear. It lets both components work on tasks in tandem without having to relay data through another bus interface, which can incur further latency. By having the CPU and graphics processor connected to a common resource, developers can also better take advantage of each part - as and when they're needed. However, the idea that both CPU and GPU end up tussling for bandwidth to this RAM is a drawback - one suggested by an internal Sony development slide, prior to PS4's launch. Even with 8GB of fast GDDR5 RAM in place, the slide shows a correlation between bandwidth occupied by the CPU to its memory, and the impact this has on a GPU's throughput - and vice versa. An investigation into Ubisoft's The Crew in 2013 revealed there's a degree of allocation here; the graphics component has its own, faster 176GB/s memory bus labeled Garlic, while the CPU's Onion has a peak of 20GB/s via its caches. Even so, there's a tug-of-war at play here - a balancing act depending on the game. It's an idea echoed by Andrzej Poznanski, lead artist on the re-engineered PS4 version of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. In a recent tech breakdown of the game, it's noted that games that push the CPU may have an impact on high-bandwidth graphics effects, like texture filtering. "We do use high anisotropic filtering, but to be fair to other developers, we didn't need to spend any cycles on AI or destructible environments or weapon shaders," Poznanski says. "There was an insane amount of work behind our game's visuals, and I don't want to downplay that, but I think we did have more room for visual enhancements than some other games." Of course, the performance hit incurred by texture filtering is often negligible on modern PCs. It taps into a graphics card's dedicated reserve of RAM, independent of CPU operations, meaning most games can go from blurry bilinear filtering to a sharp, 16x AF at the cost of between 1-2fps. But are the same limitations at play on a PC using a similar APU as console - forcing a machine to rely on a single pool of RAM? We considered this, coming to the conclusion that if the contention between resources was such an issue on console, we should be able replicate it on one of AMD's recent APUs, which are actually significantly less capable than their console counterparts. Texture filtering at work in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. As you can see along the pathway below, PS4 and Xbox One use a vastly inferior form of filtering compared to PC's best setting. Detail is lost on the console versions just a few steps ahead, whereas the path remains crisp on PC towards the distance - and for only a tiny cost to performance. The texture across brickwork, plus the grass to the right, show a trail-off in clarity in console versions of Grand Theft Auto 5. Once again, filtering is noticeably blurrier at close range when compared to PC's top 16x anisotropic filtering preset here. Payday 2: Crimewave Edition shows consoles are capable of matching PC settings. In this shot, texture clarity across the concrete road below shows Xbox One holding up - but PS4 trails behind its console counterpart with a weaker, blurrier effect. Dishonored: Definitive Edition gives us another recent example, and in this shot PS4 struggles to match Xbox One and PC's presentation of the ground texture. While there's no PC version available for direct comparison, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 also shows the issue is ongoing, with PS4 producing blurrier textures than Xbox One even next to Tony Hawk's feet. To put this to the test, we fire up a PC featuring AMD's A10-7800. With 8GB of DDR3 memory also attached (clocked in this case at 2400MHz). With no other graphics card installed, the CPU and graphics sides of this APU share the same memory bandwidth for intensive games - and the same onion and garlic buses should be vying for system resources. Worse still, if memory bandwidth is the bugbear as we expect - a tussle between these two halves - this machine's RAM should flag it more readily. Its DDR3 modules don't come close to the data throughput possible on console, where PS4 boasts a faster bus to GDDR5, while Xbox One circumvents its slow DDR3 with a separate 32MB cache of ESRAM memory embedded into the APU itself. Presuming this is indeed the bottleneck, results in games should suffer as we switch texture filtering settings. However, the metrics don't bear this out at all. As you can see in our table below, frame-rates in Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto 5 don't drift by much more than 1fps either way, once we move from their lowest filtering settings to full 16x AF. Results are poor generally, even at 1080p with medium settings in each game - leaving us with around 30fps in each benchmark. But crucially, this number doesn't waver based on this variable. Of course, there is a shift downwards in frame-rate when switching from Tomb Raider's bilinear setting to full 16x AF. Even if it is marginal, it bears out across all games tested too - including the likes of Project Cars and Shadow of Mordor. However, the delta between settings isn't nearly impactful as we'd expect, to justify dropping 8x or 16x AF outright. At these top filtering setting, the gains to image quality is substantial in a 1080p game - producing clearer surfaces that stretch on for metres ahead. It's unlikely that eking such a small percentage of performance would deter developers from such a huge boost to the visual make-up of the game. It makes a clear point that, if memory bandwidth is the root cause of this on console, it can't yet be emulated with common PC parts. To an extent, the specifics of PS4 and Xbox One's design remain an enigma for now. AMD A10 7800 APU/8GB 2400MHz DDR3 Lowest Filtering Settings 16x Anisotropic Filtering Grand Theft Auto 5, Normal Settings, 1080p 32.3 (no filtering) 32.11 Tomb Raider, Low Settings, 1080p 42.6 (bilinear) 42.0 Tomb Raider, Medium Settings, 1080p 30.4 (bilinear) 29.2 Project Cars, Low Settings, 1080p 27.0 (trilinear) 27.0 Shadow of Mordor, Low Settings, 1080p 27.0 (2x AF) 26.7 Overall, while we now have direct information on why texture filtering is an issue at all on the new wave of consoles, it's fair to say that there are still some outstanding mysteries - not least why Xbox One titles often appear to feature visibly better texture filtering than PS4 equivalents, despite its demonstrably less capable GPU component. One experienced multi-platform developer we spoke to puts forward an interesting theory that resolution is a major factor. This generation has shown PS4 and Xbox One striking 1080p across many titles, but it's often the case that Microsoft's platform resides at a lower number - typically 900p as the relative figure - with Evolve and Project Cars being two recent cases where texture filtering favours Xbox One. "Generally PS4 titles go for 1080p and Xbox One for 900p," he says. "Anisotropic filtering is very expensive, so it's an easy thing for the PS4 devs to drop (due to the higher resolution) to gain back performance, as very few of them can hold 1080p with AF. Xbox One, as it is running at lower res, can use the extra GPU time to do expensive AF and improve the image." It's a theory that holds strong in some games, but not in others - such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5, Strider, PayDay 2: Crimewave Edition or even Dishonored: Definitive Edition. In these four cases, both PS4 and Xbox One are matched with a full native 1920x1080 resolution, and yet Xbox One remains ahead in filtering clarity in each game. Either way, the precise reason why PS4 and Xbox One are still often divided like this is an issue that still eludes full explanation. However, certain points are clearer now; we know unified memory has immense advantages for consoles, but also that bandwidth plays a bigger part in texture filtering quality than anticipated. And while PS4 and Xbox One have a lot in common with PC architecture, their designs are still fundamentally different in ways that haven't yet been fully explained. Responses from developers here have been insightful, but the complete answer remains out of grasp - at least for now.Baseball’s ageless wonder has become one for the ages. The Colorado Rockies’ Jamie Moyer - at 49 years and 150 days of age - on Tuesday night became the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win a game, surrendering two unearned runs in seven innings to guide his new team past the San Diego Padres 5-3 in Denver. He also tied Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer for 34th on the all-time wins list at 268. The previous oldest pitcher to win a game in the majors was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jack Quinn, who was 49 years and 70 days old when he beat the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. Moyer said it was a special night for him, but he said that during the game he was more concerned about having the Rockies finish their nine-game home stand with a winning record than history, according to MLB.com. "For me to put that in front of the game really would be unfair to my teammates, unfair to myself," Moyer said, according to MLB.com. "It would tell me also that my focus and my attention were in the wrong place.” Baseball’s attention is now focused on the man who easily could have given up the game two years ago, when - already the oldest active player - he injured his elbow. In May 2010 - his 24th year in the big leagues - the pitcher, then with the Philadelphia Phillies, looked like he was going to enjoy another strong season as he became the oldest player to pitch a shutout with a two-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. But he hurt his elbow two months later, and again while pitching in the Dominican Republic in late fall. In December 2010, he had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, named for the famed pitcher who had it in the 1970s at age 31. Moyer said he intended to come back to the game, but the surgery generally requires a year of rehabilitation for pitchers. Entering this spring training, he joined the Rockies without a guaranteed roster spot. But he pitched his way onto the starting rotation and has had a not-too-shabby 2.55 earned-run average in three starts this year. And he's become the most aged major-league hurler to return from Tommy John surgery. After the win Tuesday, Moyer got slightly emotional. "It's my life," Moyer said. "It's pretty much all I know. It's pretty much all I've done my whole life. I'm still able to live the dream." Moyer is one of only four known players to have pitched in the majors at or beyond 49: Satchel Paige (59, in a one-time special appearance), Quinn (50) and Hoyt Wilhelm (49) were the others. Though Moyer’s fastball has dipped into the low 80s and upper 70s, he’s known to baffle his opponents with his change-up. His record is now 268-206. Of his 268 wins, all but 34 came after he turned 30. Moyer’s career, which began in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs (when Ronald Reagan was president and you could get a gallon of gas for 93 cents), is older than the Rockies team itself, which debuted in 1993. He also started playing before six people on the Rockies’ active roster were born.Today, justice has symmetrical all-wheel drive and a boxer engine. Police in Portland have arrested a man they believe stole dozens of older Subarus and Toyotas in the city over the past few months. Advertisement Oregon Live reports that John D. Lorenz III, 40, has been charged with 18 felonies, six counts each of first-degree theft, possessing a stolen vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Detectives had said earlier that they believed the notorious Portland Subaru thief would make a stupid mistake and get caught. This is exactly what happened. On Sunday evening first responders were called out to a running car where they found Lorenz slumped the steering wheel inside. In the car police found a brass punch, a ring of eight car keys, tools for car theft, a pipe and some heroin. Advertisement Last month 90 Subarus were stolen in Portland, a sharp spike from the typical 20 or so. All were older models from the 1990s. Police had suspected one man was behind the crimes, possibly with a drug addiction who was using the cars to get around and sleeping in them. They believed he used a shaved-down "jiggle key" to enter the Subarus. Detectives say Lorenz's fingerprints were also found on a stolen Toyota 4Runner and on the bodies of several stolen Subarus, some of which were returned to owners after being abandoned. Lorenz's bail was set at $91,000. The many Subaru wagons and sedans of Portland can breathe a sigh of relief. Advertisement Thanks for the tips everyone!Black Clover Jump Festa OVA! Thu May 4, 2017 by Yunomi After 2 years of scanlating Black Clover and going through the hurdles of trying to improve and grow, we finally get to see Tabata Yuuki’s manga series (Black Clover) getting an OVA! As a team that’s been working on this project for so long, we feel extremely happy that this is happening. We can't describe how great it feels watching the first chapter get animated, and more so, how great Tabata Sensei must be feeling right now watching something that he created coming on to life! Since we got a bit excited watching the new Black Clover OVA in Japanese. We decided to share it by releasing the Black Clover Jump Festa OVA subbed in English! (This is a one-time thing). Thank you, to fuegoleonvermilion (.tumblr.com) for providing the RAW video, and g_i_a & k3y for Editing the rest! Download: https://mega.nz/#!aYYEmRYR KEY:!KRql8H-tAWMFdfBK8jrTQmV4kmHpG-EY0u_mmlLPR4M You can watch the video: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.A castrato (Italian, plural: castrati) is a type of classical male singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto. The voice is produced by castration of the singer before puberty, or it occurs in one who, due to an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity. Castration before puberty (or in its early stages) prevents a boy's larynx from being transformed by the normal physiological events of puberty. As a result, the vocal range of prepubescence (shared by both sexes) is largely retained, and the voice develops into adulthood in a unique way. Prepubescent castration for this purpose diminished greatly in the late 18th century and was made illegal in the Papal states, the last to prohibit them, in 1870. As the castrato's body grew, his lack of testosterone meant that his epiphyses (bone-joints) did not harden in the normal manner. Thus the limbs of the castrati often grew unusually long, as did the bones of their ribs. This, combined with intensive training, gave them unrivalled lung-power and breath capacity.[1] Operating through small, child-sized vocal cords, their voices were also extraordinarily flexible, and quite different from the equivalent adult female voice. Their vocal range was higher than that of the uncastrated adult male. Listening to the only surviving recordings of a castrato (see below), one can hear that the lower part of the voice sounds like a "super-high" tenor, with a more falsetto-like upper register above that. Castrati were rarely referred to as such: in the 18th century, the euphemism musico (pl musici) was much more generally used, although it usually carried derogatory implications;[2] another synonym was evirato, literally meaning "emasculated". Eunuch is a more general term since, historically, many eunuchs were castrated after puberty and thus the castration had no impact on their voices. History [ edit ] A Byzantine castrato from the 11th century Castration as a means of subjugation, enslavement or other punishment has a very long history, dating back to ancient Sumer. In a Western context, eunuch singers are known to have existed from the early Byzantine Empire. In Constantinople around 400 AD, the empress Aelia Eudoxia had a eunuch choir-master, Brison, who may have established the use of castrati in Byzantine choirs, though whether Brison himself was a singer and whether he had colleagues who were eunuch singers is not certain. By the 9th century, eunuch singers were well-known (not least in the choir of Hagia Sophia) and remained so until the sack of Constantinople by the Western forces of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Their fate from then until their reappearance in Italy more than three hundred years later is not clear. It seems likely that the Spanish tradition of soprano falsettists may have hidden castrati. Much of Spain was under Muslim rulers during the Middle Ages, and castration had a history going back to the ancient Near East. Stereotypically, eunuchs served as harem guards, but they were also valued as high-level political appointees since they could not start a dynasty which would threaten the ruler. European classical tradition [ edit ] Castrati first appeared in Italy in the mid-16th century, though at first the terms describing them were not always clear. The phrase soprano maschio (male soprano), which could also mean falsettist, occurs in the Due Dialoghi della Musica of Luigi Dentice, an Oratorian priest, published in Rome in 1553. On 9 November 1555 Cardinal Ippolito II d
3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>>= wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"= margin:0 0 0.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> <p dir=3D"ltr">No, the source of mistrust is the fact that you masterbated = to the thought of having sex with my friends. That's the source of mist= rust for me.=C2=A0</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I have wondered, when you did pleasure yourself to the thoug= ht of other men, where did you do it at? Did you at least not do it in our = bed? The most intimate place between us. Or have their been other times you= have thought about a sexual fantasy while in our bed?</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Was there ever a time you masterbated, so since you were alr= eady satisfied, you did not want to have sex with me or bother trying?</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">The reason I don't trust you is because I know there wil= l never be a day in your life where you will ever come clean on your own. A= s we both know, the only reason you did was because you thought you were ab= out to be exposed anyways.</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Especially now that you did come clean, your mind will do ev= erything it can to not repeat it again. And I know that. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">You told me over and over you have a very vivid mind. I can&= #39;t imagine what that's led to vs what you have only told me. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I don't trust you became you because sex with you has al= ways been a desire of mine with you. And instead of being comfortable with = me, you were more comfortable with thinking about others, or even strangers=. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I almost copied your dad on this so he would know why we spl= it. I have a feeling he know something about this and this would strike hom= e for him.</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">So yes, there is a constant mistrust there. Maybe subconscio= usly I am making you distrust me so you feel the same way? Not sure. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">But it all boils down to one thing. Morals. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Your moral integraty is not strong enough to make you come c= lean on your own. See with every person, they always split one of two ways.= </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Either their moral integrity wins out, even if it puts them = at risk, so they do the right thing. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Or, the persons self preservation is higher, so if it poses = to great risk for them, they will something to protect themselves, even if = they know it's wrong. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Your the second. You will do what it takes to make sure you = don't have to feel risk or be uncomfortable. Even of it means lying, or= avoiding. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">This is why trust is a issue. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <<a href=3D"= mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jessica@greataukwire= less.com</a>> wrote:<br> >><br> >> Josh,<br> >><br> >> You need help. =C2=A0I want to go to work to get away from you. = =C2=A0You are scaring me and are incredibly unstable. =C2=A0<br> >><br> >> I don't even know what to think about you accusing me of "= ;hiding" things. =C2=A0I am really worried about you. =C2=A0You really= have a demon that is tricking your mind Josh. =C2=A0<br> >><br> >> Josh, I think as you get older your mind is getting more unstable.= =C2=A0This is pretty predictable with a genius mind. =C2=A0People who are = super intelligent often go crazy. =C2=A0<br> >><br> >> Josh, the reason I didn't want to say anything at first about = Amber was I wanted to see if you truly changed from the Amy situation. =C2= =A0If I intervened, then I would have changed the course of where you were = headed. =C2=A0I obviously know this wasn't the best way to handle thing= s, but it made sense me to at time. I'm sorry for that...<br> >><br> >> <a href=3D"http://You.Scare.Me" target=3D"_blank">You.Scare.Me</a>=. Plane.And.Simple. I.Don't.Like.Being.Around.You.<br> >><br> >> <a href=3D"http://You.Scare.Me" target=3D"_blank">You.Scare.Me</a>=. I.Can't.Put.This.in.Any.More.Simple.Terms.=C2=A0<br> >><br> >> The.source.of.mistrust.is.the.fact.we.do.not.have.intimacy.but.we.= can't.have.intimacy.when.one.person.is.scared.of.the.other.<br> >><br> >> I don't think that's difficult to figure out.<br> >><br> >><br> >> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:22 AM, Josh Garza <<a href=3D"mailto= :[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>><br> >>> More lies.=C2=A0<br> >>><br> >>> So you going to work is why you just left without telling me g= ood bye or that you love me? I don't think so<br> >>><br> >>> See, the difference between us is that your ok with hiding thi= ngs. Your thoughts, feelings etc.=C2=A0<br> >>><br> >>> Remember when Amber started, and you thought there was somethi= ng up? Instead of addressing it, you hid your suspicions. In order to see h= ow things went you said.=C2=A0<br> >>><br> >>> I could never hide stuff like that from you. If something like= that bothered me, I could never just operate like it didn't because of= some reason. You on the other hand can. You can hid your feelings and emot= ions from me and others.=C2=A0<br> >>><br> >>> This is the source if mistrust between us.=C2=A0<br> >>><br> >>><br> >>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <<a href=3D"mailto:= [email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]= m</a>> wrote:<br> >>>><br> >>>> Maybe because I need to go to work since I haven't the= last 2 days?? =C2=A0I have 0, ZIP, interest in arguing with you and feelin= g constantly criticized and put down. =C2=A0I'm incredibly tired of it.= =C2=A0I am literally starting to worry about you. =C2=A0You have a serious= demon sucking on you right now.=C2=A0<br> >>>><br> >>>><br> >>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:14 AM, Josh Garza <<a href= =3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>><br> >>>>> Why do you all the sudden have to go?<br> >>>>><br> >>>>><br> >>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Josh Garza <<a href=3D"ma= ilto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>><br> >>>>>> Haha Jessica, I can see that you are=C2=A0<br> >>>>>><br> >>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <<a hre= f=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jessica@greatau= kwireless.com</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>><br> >>>>>>> Sweets... I'm not in your email accounts. = =C2=A0You might want to check to make sure that no one else is in your emai= l. =C2=A0The only other account I was in is my geniusesatwork....?<br> >>>>>>><br> >>>>>>><br> >>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:10 AM, Josh Garza &= lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>> w= rote:<br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>> Wow! Now that was a smooth lie. Honestly t= o did not know you were able to lie like that.=C2=A0<br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>> I just saw you log in to one of my email a= ccounts.....=C2=A0<br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza &l= t;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jessica= @greataukwireless.com</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>> Sigh. I was just trying to be support= ive. Normally you get upset when I am "nosy" about your business.= Of course I would like to know. =C2=A0What are you doing in VT?<br> >>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:06 AM, Josh= Garza <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</= a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>> Haha so I guess things are so far = gone you don't even care to ask why huh?<br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica = Garza <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank"= >[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>> Oh BTW, are you swinging by th= e house by any chance? I'm trying to coordinate a landscape person to g= ive a quote on the lawncare. =C2=A0And just wanted to see if you had time t= o meet with anyone today? =C2=A0<br> >>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>> Love,<br> >>>>>>>>>>> Jessica<br> >>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:03 = AM, Jessica Garza <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" targe= t=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>> Okay cool. =C2=A0I appreci= ate you letting me know :).<br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>> Love,<br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>> Jessica<br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10= :02 AM, Josh Garza <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jo= [email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> >>>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>>> For some stuff, just a= FYI=C2=A0<br> >>>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>>> --<br> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile= <br> >>>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe informati= on contained in this email message may be confidential. If you are not the = intended recipient any use, distribution, disclosure or copying of this inf= ormation is prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please tell us = by return email and destroy this communication and any attachments from you= r system.=E2=80=9D<br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>> --<br> >>>>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> >>>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained= in this email message may be confidential. If you are not the intended rec= ipient any use, distribution, disclosure or copying of this information is = prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please tell us by return em= ail and destroy this communication and any attachments from your system.=E2= =80=9D<br> >>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>> --<br> >>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> >>>>>>>><br> >>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this= email message may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient a= ny use, distribution, disclosure or copying of this information is prohibit= ed. If you receive this email in error, please tell us by return email and = destroy this communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D<b= r> >>>>>>><br> >>>>>>><br> >>>>>><br> >>>>>><br> >>>>>> --<br> >>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> >>>>><br> >>>>><br> >>>>><br> >>>>> --<br> >>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> >>>>><br> >>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email messa= ge may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, dist= ribution, disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you r= eceive this email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this= communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D<br> >>>><br> >>>><br> >>><br> >>><br> >>> --<br> >>> Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> >>><br> >>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may b= e confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distribution=, disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive t= his email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this communi= cation and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D<br> >><br> >><br> ><br> ><br> > --<br> > Sent from Gmail Mobile<br> </p> <br> <p>=E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may be confiden= tial. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distribution, disclosu= re or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive this email = in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this communication and= any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D</p> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> --001a11c12ff4c2f4ac04ff05f492-- RAW Paste Data MIME-Version: 1.0 Sender: [email protected] Received: by 10.224.131.197 with HTTP; Fri, 25 Jul 2014 08:09:13 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.224.131.197 with HTTP; Fri, 25 Jul 2014 08:09:13 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <CABneu1o1SdaQvJODp5i1FYS6-qNH9wEid+OuKnRa=uoM+jGPdQ@mail.gmail.com> References: <CAFupydrNK6BYVgM4o0YBm0vJnopAi4bB8t7O0=PP0bbftx54cg@mail.gmail.com> <CABneu1o1SdaQvJODp5i1FYS6-qNH9wEid+OuKnRa=uoM+jGPdQ@mail.gmail.com> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:09:13 -0400 Delivered-To: [email protected] X-Google-Sender-Auth: cL5Ul1ONU52Qq_mQCSs1K2jwsPQ Message-ID: <CAFupydqKmfb=YrboW8naPm8R593NEVXLoWnnhfzM2R7iRehHYw@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: Trust From: Josh Garza <[email protected]> To: Roo <[email protected]> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a11c12ff4c2f4ac04ff05f492 --001a11c12ff4c2f4ac04ff05f492 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Stop trying to manipulate. Do you want involve your parents? See if the agree there is something wrong with me? Something tells me that while you dad would not approve of the physical part, he would also not approve with yours either.... On Jul 25, 2014 11:05 AM, "Jessica Garza" <[email protected]> wrote: > I am on my phone so can't really address all your points. Please stop > with all of this. Where is this coming from? > > I feel like you are being attacked hard by Satan. > > I'm sorry for my past mistakes. I don't know what else or how else to > tell you. > > You are completely scaring me. I think we need a separation to think abou= t > this. I will live at the Bratt house for a while... > On Jul 25, 2014 10:58 AM, "Josh Garza" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> No, the source of mistrust is the fact that you masterbated to the >> thought of having sex with my friends. That's the source of mistrust for >> me. >> >> I have wondered, when you did pleasure yourself to the thought of other >> men, where did you do it at? Did you at least not do it in our bed? The >> most intimate place between us. Or have their been other times you have >> thought about a sexual fantasy while in our bed? >> >> Was there ever a time you masterbated, so since you were already >> satisfied, you did not want to have sex with me or bother trying? >> >> The reason I don't trust you is because I know there will never be a day >> in your life where you will ever come clean on your own. As we both know=, >> the only reason you did was because you thought you were about to be >> exposed anyways. >> >> Especially now that you did come clean, your mind will do everything it >> can to not repeat it again. And I know that. >> >> You told me over and over you have a very vivid mind. I can't imagine >> what that's led to vs what you have only told me. >> >> I don't trust you became you because sex with you has always been a >> desire of mine with you. And instead of being comfortable with me, you w= ere >> more comfortable with thinking about others, or even strangers. >> >> I almost copied your dad on this so he would know why we split. I have a >> feeling he know something about this and this would strike home for him. >> >> So yes, there is a constant mistrust there. Maybe subconsciously I am >> making you distrust me so you feel the same way? Not sure. >> >> But it all boils down to one thing. Morals. >> >> Your moral integraty is not strong enough to make you come clean on your >> own. See with every person, they always split one of two ways. >> >> Either their moral integrity wins out, even if it puts them at risk, so >> they do the right thing. >> >> Or, the persons self preservation is higher, so if it poses to great ris= k >> for them, they will something to protect themselves, even if they know i= t's >> wrong. >> >> Your the second. You will do what it takes to make sure you don't have t= o >> feel risk or be uncomfortable. Even of it means lying, or avoiding. >> >> This is why trust is a issue. >> >> > On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Josh, >> >> >> >> You need help. I want to go to work to get away from you. You are >> scaring me and are incredibly unstable. >> >> >> >> I don't even know what to think about you accusing me of "hiding" >> things. I am really worried about you. You really have a demon that is >> tricking your mind Josh. >> >> >> >> Josh, I think as you get older your mind is getting more unstable. >> This is pretty predictable with a genius mind. People who are super >> intelligent often go crazy. >> >> >> >> Josh, the reason I didn't want to say anything at first about Amber >> was I wanted to see if you truly changed from the Amy situation. If I >> intervened, then I would have changed the course of where you were heade= d. >> I obviously know this wasn't the best way to handle things, but it made >> sense me to at time. I'm sorry for that... >> >> >> >> You.Scare.Me. Plane.And.Simple. I.Don't.Like.Being.Around.You. >> >> >> >> You.Scare.Me. I.Can't.Put.This.in.Any.More.Simple.Terms. >> >> >> >> >> The.source.of.mistrust.is.the.fact.we.do.not.have.intimacy.but.we.can't.= have.intimacy.when.one.person.is.scared.of.the.other. >> >> >> >> I don't think that's difficult to figure out. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:22 AM, Josh Garza <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> More lies. >> >>> >> >>> So you going to work is why you just left without telling me good by= e >> or that you love me? I don't think so >> >>> >> >>> See, the difference between us is that your ok with hiding things. >> Your thoughts, feelings etc. >> >>> >> >>> Remember when Amber started, and you thought there was something up? >> Instead of addressing it, you hid your suspicions. In order to see how >> things went you said. >> >>> >> >>> I could never hide stuff like that from you. If something like that >> bothered me, I could never just operate like it didn't because of some >> reason. You on the other hand can. You can hid your feelings and emotion= s >> from me and others. >> >>> >> >>> This is the source if mistrust between us. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <[email protected]= m> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> >>>> Maybe because I need to go to work since I haven't the last 2 days?=? >> I have 0, ZIP, interest in arguing with you and feeling constantly >> criticized and put down. I'm incredibly tired of it. I am literally >> starting to worry about you. You have a serious demon sucking on you ri= ght >> now. >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:14 AM, Josh Garza <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Why do you all the sudden have to go? >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Josh Garza <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> Haha Jessica, I can see that you are >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> Sweets... I'm not in your email accounts. You might want to >> check to make sure that no one else is in your email. The only other >> account I was in is my geniusesatwork....? >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:10 AM, Josh Garza <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> Wow! Now that was a smooth lie. Honestly to did not know you >> were able to lie like that. >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> I just saw you log in to one of my email accounts..... >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>> Sigh. I was just trying to be supportive. Normally you get >> upset when I am "nosy" about your business. Of course I would like to kn= ow. >> What are you doing in VT? >> >>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:06 AM, Josh Garza <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> Haha so I guess things are so far gone you don't even care to >> ask why huh? >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>> Oh BTW, are you swinging by the house by any chance? I'm >> trying to coordinate a landscape person to give a quote on the lawncare. >> And just wanted to see if you had time to meet with anyone today? >> >>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>> Love, >> >>>>>>>>>>> Jessica >> >>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:03 AM, Jessica Garza < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> Okay cool. I appreciate you letting me know :). >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> Love, >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> Jessica >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Josh Garza <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> For some stuff, just a FYI >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> -- >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message m= ay be >> confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distributio= n, >> disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive >> this email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this >> communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> -- >> >>>>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may = be >> confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distributio= n, >> disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive >> this email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this >> communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> >>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> -- >> >>>>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may be >> confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distributio= n, >> disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive >> this email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this >> communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> -- >> >>>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> -- >> >>>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>>>> >> >>>>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may be >> confidential. If you are not the intended recipient any use, distributio= n, >> disclosure or copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive >> this email in error, please tell us by return email and destroy this >> communication and any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> -- >> >>> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >>> >> >>> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may be conf= idential. >> If you are not the intended recipient any use, distribution, disclosure = or >> copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive this email in >> error, please tell us by return email and destroy this communication and >> any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> >> >> >> >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >> =E2=80=9CThe information contained in this email message may be confiden= tial. If >> you are not the intended recipient any use, distribution, disclosure or >> copying of this information is prohibited. If you receive this email in >> error, please tell us by return email and destroy this communication and >> any attachments from your system.=E2=80=9D >> > --001a11c12ff4c2f4ac04ff05f492 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <p dir=3D"ltr">Stop trying to manipulate. Do you want involve your parents?= See if the agree there is something wrong with me? </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Something tells me that while you dad would not approve of t= he physical part, he would also not approve with yours either.... </p> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Jul 25, 2014 11:05 AM, "Jessica Garza&qu= ot; <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">jessica@greataukwir= eless.com</a>> wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail= _quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:= 1ex"> <p dir=3D"ltr">I am on my phone so can't really address all your points=.=C2=A0 Please stop with all of this. Where is this coming from?=C2=A0 </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I feel like you are being attacked hard by Satan. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I'm sorry for my past mistakes.=C2=A0 I don't know w= hat else or how else to tell you. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">You are completely scaring me. I think we need a separation = to think about this. I will live at the Bratt house for a while... </p> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Jul 25, 2014 10:58 AM, "Josh Garza"= <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>>= wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"= margin:0 0 0.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> <p dir=3D"ltr">No, the source of mistrust is the fact that you masterbated = to the thought of having sex with my friends. That's the source of mist= rust for me.=C2=A0</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I have wondered, when you did pleasure yourself to the thoug= ht of other men, where did you do it at? Did you at least not do it in our = bed? The most intimate place between us. Or have their been other times you= have thought about a sexual fantasy while in our bed?</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Was there ever a time you masterbated, so since you were alr= eady satisfied, you did not want to have sex with me or bother trying?</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">The reason I don't trust you is because I know there wil= l never be a day in your life where you will ever come clean on your own. A= s we both know, the only reason you did was because you thought you were ab= out to be exposed anyways.</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Especially now that you did come clean, your mind will do ev= erything it can to not repeat it again. And I know that. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">You told me over and over you have a very vivid mind. I can&= #39;t imagine what that's led to vs what you have only told me. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I don't trust you became you because sex with you has al= ways been a desire of mine with you. And instead of being comfortable with = me, you were more comfortable with thinking about others, or even strangers=. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">I almost copied your dad on this so he would know why we spl= it. I have a feeling he know something about this and this would strike hom= e for him.</p> <p dir=3D"ltr">So yes, there is a constant mistrust there. Maybe subconscio= usly I am making you distrust me so you feel the same way? Not sure. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">But it all boils down to one thing. Morals. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Your moral integraty is not strong enough to make you come c= lean on your own. See with every person, they always split one of two ways.= </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Either their moral integrity wins out, even if it puts them = at risk, so they do the right thing. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Or, the persons self preservation is higher, so if it poses = to great risk for them, they will something to protect themselves, even if = they know it's wrong. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">Your the second. You will do what it takes to make sure you = don't have to feel risk or be uncomfortable. Even of it means lying, or= avoiding. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">This is why trust is a issue. </p> <p dir=3D"ltr">> On Friday, July 25, 2014, Jessica Garza <<a href=3D"= mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jessica@greataukwire= less.com</a>> wrote:<br> >><br> >> Josh,<br> >><br> >> You need help. =C2=A0I want to go to work to get away from you. = =C2=A0You are scaring me and are incredibly unstable. =C2=A0<br> >><br> >> I don't even know what to think about you accusing me of "= ;hiding" things. =C2=A0I am really worried about you. =C2=A0You really= have a demon that is tricking your mind Josh. =C2=A0<br> >><br> >> Josh, I think as you get older your mind is getting more unstable.= =
to Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett, his first urine sample was "watery." On Dec. 18, his T/E ratio came up as.19. Clearly, all three ratios were below that of the average male. Some online medical experts have called for Nevada to perform the carbon isotope ratio test on Jones' samples to determine whether there was any synthetic testosterone, an anabolic steroid, in his system. And according to Bennett, they did. He told MMAFighting.com on Thursday that the CIR test was conducted on all three Jones urine samples, and there was no presence of synthetic testosterone. "His urine samples were tested, and according to our doctor he doesn't have a concern with the results of the urinalysis test at this time," Bennett said. In fact, Bennett said the CIR test will also be conducted on the urine samples Jones provided on UFC 182 fight day, last Saturday night. Bennett expects the in-competition drug test results to arrive within the coming days. By contrast, Daniel Cormier, Jones' opponent at UFC 182, had a T/E ratio of.4 on Dec. 2 and.48 on Dec. 17. Cormier passed both those tests. "There's no problem with Daniel," Bennett said. "Trust me." MMAFighting.com has requested from the NAC the paperwork for Jones' CIR tests.FILE – In this May 29, 2016, file photo, Eula Ray, of Hamilton, Ohio, whose son is a curator for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, touches a sympathy card beside a gorilla statue outside the Gorilla World exhibit at the zoo in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) No public events are planned at the Cincinnati Zoo marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of an endangered gorilla. The zoo's dangerous-animal response team concluded the life of a 3-year-old boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure last May 28 was in danger and killed 17-year-old Harambe. That led to global mourning, criticism and satires that made him a pop culture phenomenon. Zoo officials are looking ahead to an expanded Gorilla World exhibit in June and also are working on the timetable for the public debut of a popular new animal. Viewers have flocked to its website for updates on Fiona, a hippo born prematurely at the zoo in January. Zoo officials say the strong positive response to Fiona has helped a healing process after Harambe's death.This is the mail archive of the [email protected] mailing list for the GCC project. RISC-V port accepted for inclusion in GCC From: David Edelsohn <edelsohn at gnu dot org> To: <palmer at dabbelt dot com>,<andrew at sifive dot com>,<gcc at gcc dot gnu dot org> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:50:21 -0500 Subject: RISC-V port accepted for inclusion in GCC Authentication-results: sourceware.org; auth=none I am pleased to announce that the GCC Steering Committee has accepted the RISC-V port for inclusion in GCC and appointed Palmer Dabbelt and Andrew Waterman as co-maintainers. The patches still require approval by a Global Reviewer, and the timing to possibly land the patches in GCC 7 need to be coordinated with the GCC Release Managers. Please join me in congratulating Palmer and Andrew on their new roles. Please update your listing in the MAINTAINERS file. Happy hacking! DavidIn 1929, cosmologists discovered that the universe is expanding — that space-time, the fabric of the cosmos, is stretching. Then in 1998, light coming from exploding stars called supernovas suggested that the universe is not only expanding, but that it has recently begun expanding faster and faster; its expansion has entered an "accelerating phase." This was bad news for the fate of the cosmos: An accelerating universe is ultimately racing toward a "Big Rip," the moment at which its size will become infinite and, in a flash, everything in it will be torn apart. The discovery was bad news for the state of cosmology, too. Because gravity pulls stuff inward rather than pushing it out, cosmologists believed that the expansion of the universe ought to be slowing down, as everything in it felt the gravitational tug of everything else. They didn't understand the mechanism that seemed to be opposing the force of gravity, so to explain their observations, they invoked the existence of "dark energy," a mysterious, invisible substance that permeates space and drives its outward expansion. Now, a new theory suggests that the accelerating expansion of the universe is merely an illusion, akin to a mirage in the desert. The false impression results from the way our particular region of the cosmos is drifting through the rest of space, said Christos Tsagas, a cosmologist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Our relative motion makes it look like the universe as a whole is expanding faster and faster, while in actuality, its expansion is slowing down — just as would be expected from what we know about gravity. If Tsagas' theory is correct, it would rid cosmology of its biggest headache, dark energy, and it might also save the universe from its harrowing fate: the Big Rip. Instead of ripping to bits, the universe as Tsagas space-time envisions it would just roll to a standstill, then slowly start shrinking. Cruising through space-time Tsagas' alternative version of events, detailed in a recent issue of the peer-reviewed journal Physical Review D, builds on a recent discovery by Alexander Kashlinsky, a cosmologist at NASA's Observational Cosmology Laboratory. In a series of papers over the past three years, Kashlinsky and his colleagues have shown that the huge region of space-time in which we live — a region at least 2.5 billion light-years across — is moving relative to the rest of the universe, and fast. [Did the Universe Begin as a Simple 1-D Line?] Some cosmologists remain skeptical about the newfound "dark flow," as it's called, and say that more evidence is needed to persuade them that the strange phenomenon is real. But the evidence that does exist is compelling. Based on light collected from galaxy clusters, our enormous bubble of space-time appears to be drifting at a rapid clip of up to 2 million miles per hour. No one knows why, exactly — there may be something beyond the part of the universe we can see, tugging on us — but Tsagas argues that the dark flow is skewing our perspective on the behavior of the universe as a whole. "My article discusses how observers living inside such a large-scale 'dark flow' could arrive at the (false) conclusion that the universe is accelerating, while it is actually decelerating," Tsagas told Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to SPACE.com. In his paper, he illustrates that dark flow would cause the space-time within our moving bubble to expand faster than the space-time outside of it (which is not accelerating). Without considering the dark flow, but just knowing that light we observe from nearby galaxies left its source more recently than light from galaxies farther away, we get the false impression that the whole of space-time recently entered an accelerating phase. In short, Tsagas' explains our observations of the expansion of space-time nearby and far away without invoking dark energy, or any other mysterious mechanism. According to Tsagas' work, the acceleration of the universe in our immediate vicinity is caused by its motion alone. The universe beyond our region isn't accelerating outward; rather, it is safely rolling to a stop. Axis illusion Tsagas' theory is supported, in part, by other recent observations that have puzzled cosmologists. Some data collected from space, such as the cosmic microwave background [CMB] radiation and light from supernovas, seems to show that the universe has a "preferred axis": In its outward expansion, it appears to be stretching more one way than another. As detailed in a new paper recently posted to the physics arXiv, Zhong-Liang Tuo and colleagues at Key Laboratory of Frontiers in Theoretical Physics in China have identified such a "preferred axis" in the expansion of space-time by looking at light from more than 500 supernovas. By measuring how much the light from each of the stellar explosions is red-shifted — stretched — they detected the rate of expansion of different parts of space, and found that the universe looks to be stretching more toward the constellation Vulpecula in the northern sky than it is in any other direction. Previously, a "preferred axis" in the expansion of space-time was also detected in the cosmic microwave background radiation, and pointing in the same direction. Tsagas said this alignment is no mere coincidence: the axis is another illusory effect of the "dark flow" of our space-time bubble. "Peculiar motions have a very characteristic signature," Tsagas wrote in an email. "Observers will'measure' slightly faster acceleration in one direction and slower in the opposite, as a result of their own drift motion alone." To see why, imagine swimming in a river: If you're swimming with the current, you move faster than when you're trying to swim upstream or across the river. Similarly, our galactic bubble is also "swimming." Tsagas argues that this is why we perceive the expansion of space-time as faster in one direction — the direction of our motion — than any other. [Does the Universe Have an Edge?] Paradigm-shifting potential Kashlinsky, the cosmologist who discovered dark flow, said Tsagas' theory is interesting, but that it might not yet explain everything we observe. "In general, I find this to be an interesting idea. But I am skeptical that it can account for many other observations such as the spatial distribution of the cosmic microwave background anisotropies or the observed pattern of galaxy clustering among others," Kashlinsky said. "Still, it'd be interesting to see how — or whether — these observations can be accounted for by models such as proposed in [Tsagas'] paper." In response to these points, Tsagas replied: "There should be no extra effects on the CMB, since the very large-scale kinematics [motions] remain essentially unaffected [by my theory]. There might be some small effects on galaxy clustering, but one needs to look into it to make sure." Dominik Schwarz, a cosmologist at the University of Bielefeld in Germany who also studies cosmic expansion, finds Tsagas' theory plausible, and believes local or "peculiar" accelerations really could obscure our measurements of the global behavior of the universe. "The task for the community will be to find out how to distinguish these peculiar accelerations on large scales from an acceleration of the global expansion," Schwarz said. If we can do that, he said, we can determine if there really is a global acceleration at all. Cosmologist Dejan Stojkovic of the University of Buffalo, who has found evidence that calls dark flow into question — or at least dark flow as fast as that measured by Kashlinsky — said: "If the dark flow of that magnitude is real, then Tsagas is pointing out that it could trick us into thinking the universe is accelerating. This is plausible." In short, Tsagas may have shown that the universe either has dark flow or dark energy, but not both. Dark flow is by far the less mysterious of the two: While no one knows what dark energy is, or how we might find it, dark flow is merely movement. This article was provided by Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to SPACE. Follow us on Twitter @llmysteries, then join us on Facebook. Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover.Image caption South African mining has been hit by a wave of wildcat strikes, in which miners and officials have been killed The world's biggest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum, has fired 12,000 striking South African miners after a protracted strike over wages. Amplats said three weeks of illegal strikes by 28,000 workers in Rustenburg had cost it 700m rand ($82m; £51m) in revenue. South African mining has been hit by a wave of wildcat strikes in which miners and officials have been killed. Thirty-four platinum miners were shot dead by police on 16 August. A separate strike is continuing at another mining firm, GoldFields, which is the world's fourth-largest gold miner. On Tuesday, GoldFields evicted 5,000 striking employees from company dormitories, saying they were intimidating fellow workers. In all, about 75,000 miners are currently on strike in the gold and platinum sectors, most of them illegally, analysts say. With unemployment in South Africa already at 25%, the mass dismissal will deal a blow both to the country's weak economic growth and to President Jacob Zuma's reputation as leader, says the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg. The governing ANC party is holding a leadership contest in December, and some members are already calling for Mr Zuma to be replaced by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe. Explaining its decision on Friday, Amplats said the miners had failed to attend disciplinary hearings and had therefore been dismissed. Analysis The mass sacking of miners will come as both a shock and a huge disappointment to President Jacob Zuma and his administration, who have been working to end the wildcat strikes - which are, in essence, unprotected work stoppages. South Africa has a high unemployment rate (approximately 25%) and these dismissals will deal a big blow to the country's slow economic growth. Mr Zuma has been at pains to explain to the miners that they are allowed to strike under the post-apartheid constitution, but protests are not allowed to be violent. The dismissals will also shock potential international investors in Africa's largest economy. The political ramifications of the deadly strikes will affect perceptions of Mr Zuma's leadership among delegates who will be voting in December's ANC leadership contest. Some in the governing party are already calling for Mr Zuma to be replaced by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, precisely because they say the president lacks leadership qualities. Attendance levels of less than 20% meant four of the company's mining operations in Rustenburg could not operate properly. Employees would learn the outcome of disciplinary hearings later on Friday, and would have three days to appeal over their outcome, said the company. "Approximately 12,000 striking employees chose not to make representations, nor attend the hearings, and have therefore been dismissed in their absence," it added. Amplats' chief executive Chris Griffith said the company was still committed to "exploring the possibility of bringing forward wage negotiations within our current agreements". The ANC Youth League said it was "deeply disturbed and angered by the irrational and illogical firing". "This action demonstrates the insensibility and insensitivity of the company... which has made astronomical profits on the blood, sweat and tears of the very same workers that today the company can just fire with impunity," said the league, which this week said it was backing Mr Motlanthe against President Zuma in the ANC contest. "Amplats is a disgrace and a disappointment to the country at large, a representation of white monopoly capital out of touch and uncaring of the plight of the poor." The league pledged solidarity with the dismissed workers and called upon "all progressive forces" to support the call for their immediate return. In another development on Friday, a trade union leader was shot dead at Marikana, near the volatile Lonmin platinum mine where weeks of violent protests left more than 40 people dead. National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesman Lesiba Seshoka told Reuters the official had been killed "execution style" but gave no further details. Workers at the Marikana mine returned to work last month after receiving pay rises far higher than the rate of inflation. The incident came hours after another deadly shooting, this time at the Amplats mine, in which a man died during clashes between striking miners and police. Brigadier Thulani Ngubane told the BBC's Newsday programme that the death had nothing to with the police action to disperse about 200 protesters near Rustenburg. A commission of inquiry into the deaths at the Marikana mine began earlier this week.Under the proposed Rikers agreement, the monitor would have broad access to the jails and records, and the ability to interview inmates confidentially and to speak with staff members outside the presence of their colleagues or supervisors. The monitor would review all policies adopted under the settlement, including a new training curriculum for the staff. The monitor would report to the federal judge in Manhattan who is overseeing the Nunez lawsuit, Laura Taylor Swain, and the monitor, in publicly filed reports, would regularly evaluate the status of the department’s compliance with the settlement. Judge Swain would be asked to approve any settlement. The agreement itself would end only when the court finds that the city has achieved and maintained substantial compliance with the terms of the settlement for two years. A critical part of the proposed deal is a requirement that the Correction Department, in consultation with the monitor, develop a comprehensive new policy on the use of force by guards. The policy would emphasize that staff members have a duty to protect inmates from harm, and delineate what are — and are not — permissible uses of force. There would be an explicit ban, for example, on blows to the head, face, groin, neck, kidneys and spinal column, as well as kicks and chokeholds. The only exception would be for guards who believe they are in imminent danger of death or serious injury. Force could not be used to punish inmates or retaliate against them, or to respond to an inmate’s insults or threats. Guards could not cause inmates to assault others, a major problem in recent years. And there would be rules on how and when force may be used, and escalated, if necessary. For the officers flagged for repeated use of force, jail wardens would be required to review the officers’ histories to determine whether they need additional guidance or counseling.The Red Sox played Game No. 53 last night. Same with Dustin Pedroia. Given what we now know about what Pedroia has been dealing with since the first game of the season — a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb — last night could have been Game No. 2 for Pedroia. For most players, it would have been and should have been No. 2. A torn UCL in the thumb takes about eight weeks to heal. Last night marked the beginning of the ninth week of the season. To Pedroia, the idea of missing April and most of May with an injury he considers nothing more than a flesh wound was repugnant. So was hearing that his previously unknown injury was going to become public knowledge. “People shouldn’t know if you’re 100 percent or not. It is what it is, and it’s my responsibility to perform well,’’ Pedroia said before taking his usual spot at second base against the Phillies. “My mindset is if I’m nicked up, I have to find other ways to perform. That’s the way I think about it. Maybe I’m crazy.’’ Pedroia did not make the best baseball decision of his career in the ninth inning of Opening Day on April 1 at Yankee Stadium, where he slid headfirst into first base in the ninth inning with the Red Sox up by six runs. He jammed his thumb on the bag and the next day had an MRI. It revealed more than a nick. Pedroia said he was told he had a complete tear of the UCL, although it was impossible to say if it was a pre-existing tear or the result of that slide. The soreness and discoloration were real, however. Doctors told Pedroia he could play through the injury if he could withstand the symptoms and that he would not risk doing long-term damage. The first part of the equation was easy for Pedroia. Once he heard the second part, the decision entered no-brainer territory. “Yeah, I’m smarter than a lot of people think I am,’’ Pedroia said. “I understood. You go and come back in eight weeks — that’s a lot of ballgames without one of the team’s best players, so my job’s to go out there and do the best job I can to help the team win. That’s the way I look at things.’’ Principal owner John Henry recalled how distraught he was when he heard the news of the complete tear. “It would have taken the heart and soul out of that club on Opening Day,’’ Henry said. “We already had lost (David Ortiz) and we didn’t know when he was coming back. It just meant so much to that club to have Dustin in the lineup every day.’’ Henry was well aware of the magnitude of the injury news. He knew that as bad as the impact to the team was on so many levels, the long-term health of Pedroia meant more. He tried to make sure Pedroia understood there was nothing wrong with taking the conservative route in order to allow the thumb time to heal. “I had two or three talks with him during the time about what he should do. I kept talking about it’s a long season and he kept talking about not missing a game,’’ Henry said. “The guy played through the pain, through the swelling, the discoloration. He played through it, and no one ever knew. And he’s hit what,.330?’’ General manager Ben Cherington mentioned that Pedroia played through a broken finger at the end of last year, so what happened this time around is not necessarily an aberration. Still, he appreciates what it means. “It’s a great credit to Dustin’s character, his toughness and his commitment that he didn’t want to miss a single inning and was able to do that and ultimately played very well,’’ Cherington said. It’s impossible to say if the thumb injury has been behind a slight drop in Pedroia’s power numbers. His slugging percentage heading into last night was at.448, 30 points higher than it was through his first 53 games last year but 12 points below his career average. He had five home runs at this point last season, and he has three now. He has raised his slugging percentage 60 points since the beginning of the month and has hit two of his three home runs in the past two weeks. “You could speculate that’s why his power is down, or that he’s not driving the ball as much. The thumb may not be painful, but there could be some mild instability,’’ said Chris Geary, chief of sports medicine at Tufts. For a right-handed hitter, left thumb instability is not necessarily the worst spot for such an injury as far as bat grip is concerned. Still, the possibility exists that Pedroia will need the ligament to be corrected via surgery after the season ends. Pedroia had as much interest in elaborating about how his injury has affected his swing or the possibility of offseason surgery as he did in letting this story get out. “It’s a player’s decision to shut it down or play,’’ Pedroia said. “Players play.’’ And Pedroia’s a player. An everyday player.Fantasy Flight Games, in partnership with CD Projekt RED, is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Witcher Adventure Game. Journey across the world of the critically acclaimed Witcher franchise with The Witcher Adventure Game. Based on the best selling novels and video games, the Witcher universe makes its way to your tabletop. The Witcher Adventure Game will take you on a journey across the world of the Witcher as you assume the roles of four distinct characters from the books and video games, each with unique skills and multiple ways of overcoming obstacles. The choice is yours: do you fight your way to victory, call on your charm, or try your hand at diplomacy? Travel across the dangerous wilds, battling monsters, completing quests, earning gold and victory points, and vying for ultimate triumph. Along the way, you’ll craft an unforgettable narrative, unique to every game. The Witcher Universe On Your Tabletop Designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek, The Witcher Adventure Game allows up to four players to assume the roles of popular characters from the Witcher universe. Play as Triss Merigold, the cunning sorceress, or Dandelion, the roguish bard. Take on the role of Yarpen Zigrin, dwarven warrior, and command your own fellowship of dwarves. Or, play as Geralt of Rivia, the titular Witcher, and use your skills to slay fearsome monsters throughout your adventures. Each character comes with a unique set of development cards, so you’ll have opportunities to develop your character throughout the games. Choose what you’d like to focus on, and make your character a force to be reckoned with. Gather evidence and gain proof of strange happenings throughout the world as you work to earn gold and victory points. Will you assist the other players as you work to become the ultimate victor? Or will you go it alone, and take on the fearsome creatures and perilous challenges of the Witcher world by yourself? Each decision you make will guide your story, immersing you further into the complex world of the Witcher. With clever narrative development, an innovative system for character progression, and the spirit of adventure drawn from the Witcher novels and video games, The Witcher Adventure Game provides hours of immersive gameplay for you and your friends. For more information, visit our The Witcher Adventure Game site, or the CD Projekt RED The Witcher Adventure Game website.Return on investment (ROI) is not always the first thought of a renovating homeowner, but is usually something that is considered for any home renovation. Many renovators, when calculating ROI, fail to recognize some of the disguised costs that come with a gain in a home’s value. Property tax, an underlying cost that adds to the price tag of a project, is often unaccounted for by amateur renovators. A report released by the National Association of Realtors stated that both additions to and finishing spaces that already exist in a homeowner’s property, such as unfinished garages, basements, and attics, will be assessed by your county/city and increase the home’s value and, in a turn, increase the property tax. Making a smaller-scale change to the internal structure of your home can trigger a reassessment as well. This is when a homeowner might need to consult an expert for help. The line becomes blurred on changes that might affect a reassessment of value. Some seemingly small projects can be determined to increase a property’s value enough for a hike in property taxes. On the other hand, an expensive project such as repairing a foundation or installing new flooring may not trigger a reassessment of your property by the county’s assessor office. TIP: Take This Home Loans Quiz and Find Out in Minutes Which Home Remodel Loan Best Suits Your Needs. Realtors consistently work in assessing equity, and understand the ins and outs of significant changes in value. A project as small as adding an island can affect what is called the home’s “live-in value.” This could trigger an assessment by the city, but a quick chat with a Realtor can help you make decisions before it happens. Furthermore, a trained Realtor can run you through the number changes you can expect with relative ease. Photo by maxpixel Do assessments and potentially increased taxes have you stressed? Not to worry, things aren’t as bleak as they seem. It is the general consensus of the home renovation community that if you are renovating a house you plan on inhabiting, and not taking part in the boom or bust project of “flipping” a house, then you’re in the clear. The long-term increase in value of the renovation should be worth the upgrades when compared to the costs, taxes included. The benefit of livability alone may be worth the move on an individual basis. Factoring that information with the recent recovery of the housing market, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. There are other factors that can drive your ROI into the red – or black, for that matter – that should be considered in your long-term plan. As of Friday, December 16, the Federal Reserve reported that it was raising interest rates 25 basis points (0.25 percent) for the first time since 2008, by unanimous vote. A favored option for financing renovations are home equity loans, and the interest paid can usually be compensated by an increase in ROI. While it has been shown that raises in the federal reserve rate generally do not affect mortgage rates, it is nonetheless something that homeowners should watch moving into the future with regard to short-term loans on your home’s equity. To wrap up, there has never been a better time to take on a home renovation project over the past 6 or 7 years. The rise in interest rates courtesy of the Federal Reserve marks a long-awaited recovery from the double-dip recession that followed the burst of the housing bubble late into the 2000s. Values in the housing market should follow an upward trend, so getting started on a project you’ve been hesitant about may be a great option. Just make sure to check with a Realtor if you are unsure about how unexpected costs can affect your project.Hyperdub are releasing four compilations to mark their 10th birthday Constantly forward-looking label Hyperdub is 10 years young this year, and they've been plotting big ways to celebrate. A seemingly neverending global tour has been underway since January, but they also plan to put out a physical compilation to mark the decade. Well, make that compilations, plural – the label are putting out a whopping four discs over the coming months. The first, 'Hyperdub 10.1', covers the label's more dancefloor-centric music and is made up of two discs, one featuring brand new music from Kode9, Kuedo, DJ Rashad, Mala, Kyle Hall and more, the second a retrospective made up of some of the label's biggest hitters to date. No word on what the rest of the releases will contain, but we're reckoning that one of those discs might contain some of the "old tunes" that Burial made "that still sound alright and never came out" that he alluded to at the beginning of the year. For those in the UK, Hyperdub are taking over Fabric on May 23rd, and they're basically putting on anyboy who's ever released on the label before – check the lineup below: Room One: Kode9 & Flow Dan, Cooly G, Rashad & Spinn, Laurel Halo (Live), Scratcha DVA, Ikonika, Okzharp Room Two: Mala, Fatima Al Qadiri, Terror Danjah & Riko, Morgan Zarate, Champion, Videeo & Nitetrax Room Three: Ill Blu, Walton, Funkstepz, Ossie Hyperdub release 'Hyperdub 10.1' on May 19th 2014. [via FACT]We're incredibly pleased to announce that the first release on Backyard Records will be Patch & The Giant’s debut album All That We Had, We Stole. The alt/indie folkers originally released this earlier in the year on CD, but have now allowed us to take it on to the format that music should be heard on. Due to be released on 14th July - it’s going to be a limited run, all hand numbered, on heavy weight vinyl, in a beautiful gate fold sleeve including new artwork. Vinyl done properly. Get in quick and own one of the first 200 which will come with a unique photo and message from the band – yes each one unique! The record is available to pre-order here, and will also be available straight from the band at any of their live shows and festivals. Big thanks to Angie, Luke, Nick and the rest of Patch & The Giant for your hard work and patience in putting this all together – and being our first!What’s the future of scientific peer review? The way science is communicated is currently changing rapidly, leading to speculation that the peer review system itself might change. For example, the wildly successful physics preprint arXiv is only very lightly moderated, which has led many people to wonder if the peer review process might perhaps die out, or otherwise change beyond recognition. I’m currently finishing up a post on the future of peer review, which I’ll post in the near future. Before I get to that, though, I want to debunk three widely-believed myths about peer review, myths which can derail sensible discussion of the future of peer review. A brief terminological note before I get to the myths: the term “peer review” can mean many different things in science. In this post, I restrict my focus to the anonymous peer review system scientific journals use to decide whether to accept or reject scientific papers. Myth number 1: Scientists have always used peer review The myth that scientists adopted peer review broadly and early in the history of science is surprisingly widely believed, despite being false. It’s true that peer review has been used for a long time – a process recognizably similar to the modern system was in use as early as 1731, in the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Medical Essays and Observations (ref). But in most scientific journals, peer review wasn’t routine until the middle of the twentieth century, a fact documented in historical papers by Burnham, Kronick, and Spier. Let me give a few examples to illustrate the point. As a first example, we’ll start with the career of Albert Einstein, who wasn’t just an outstanding scientist, but was also a prolific scientist, publishing more than 300 journal articles between 1901 and 1955. Many of Einstein’s most ground-breaking papers appeared in his “miracle year” of 1905, when he introduced new ways of understanding space, time, energy, momentum, light, and the structure of matter. Not bad for someone unable to secure an academic position, and working as a patent clerk in the Swiss patent office. How many of Einstein’s 300 plus papers were peer reviewed? According to the physicist and historian of science Daniel Kennefick, it may well be that only a single paper of Einstein’s was ever subject to peer review. That was a paper about gravitational waves, jointly authored with Nathan Rosen, and submitted to the journal Physical Review in 1936. The Physical Review had at that time recently introduced a peer review system. It wasn’t always used, but when the editor wanted a second opinion on a submission, he would send it out for review. The Einstein-Rosen paper was sent out for review, and came back with a (correct, as it turned out) negative report. Einstein’s indignant reply to the editor is amusing to modern scientific sensibilities, and suggests someone quite unfamiliar with peer review: Dear Sir, We (Mr. Rosen and I) had sent you our manuscript for publication and had not authorized you to show it to specialists before it is printed. I see no reason to address the in any case erroneous comments of your anonymous expert. On the basis of this incident I prefer to publish the paper elsewhere. Respectfully, P.S. Mr. Rosen, who has left for the Soviet Union, has authorized me to represent him in this matter. As a second example, consider the use of peer review at the journal Nature. The prestige associated with publishing in Nature is, of course, considerable, and so competition to get published there is tough. According to Nature’s website, only 8 percent of submissions are accepted, and the rest are rejected. Given this, you might suppose that Nature has routinely used peer review for a long time as a way of filtering submissions. In fact, a formal peer review system wasn’t introduced by Nature until 1967. Prior to that, some papers were refereed, but some weren’t, and many of Nature’s most famous papers were not refereed. Instead, it was up to editorial judgement to determine which papers should be published, and which papers should be rejected. This was a common practice in the days before peer review became widespread: decisions about what to publish and what to reject were usually made by journal editors, often acting largely on their own. These decisions were often made rapidly, with papers appearing days or weeks after submission, after a cursory review by the editor. Rejection rates at most journals were low, with only obviously inappropriate or unsound material being rejected; indeed, for some Society journals, Society members even asserted a “right” to publication, which occasionally caused friction with unhappy editors (ref). What caused the change to the modern system of near-ubiquitous peer review? There were three main factors. The first was the increasing specialization of science (ref). As science became more specialized in the early 20th century, editors gradually found it harder to make informed decisions about what was worth publishing, even by the relatively relaxed standards common in many journals at the time. The second factor in the move to peer review was the enormous increase in the number of scientific papers being published (ref). In the 1800s and early 1900s, journals often had too few submissions. Journal editors would actively round up submissions to make sure their journals remained active. The role of many editorial boards was to make sure enough papers were being submitted; if the journal came up short, members of the editorial board would be asked to submit papers themselves. As late as 1938, the editor-in-chief of the prestigious journal Science relied on personal solicitations for most articles (ref). The twentieth century saw a massive increase in the number of scientists, a much easier process for writing papers, due to technologies such as typewriters, photocopiers, and computers, and a gradually increasing emphasis on publication in decisions about jobs, tenure, grants and prizes. These factors greatly increased the number of papers being written, and added pressure for filtering mechanisms, such as peer review. The third factor in the move to peer review (ref) was the introduction of technologies for copying papers. It’s just plain editorially difficult to implement peer review if you can’t easily make copies of papers. The first step along this road was the introduction of typewriters and carbon paper in the 1890s, followed by the commercial introduction of photocopiers in 1959. Both technologies made peer review much easier to implement. Nowadays, of course, the single biggest factor preserving the peer review system is probably social inertia: in most fields of science, a journal that’s not peer-reviewed isn’t regarded as serious, and so new journals invariably promote the fact that they are peer reviewed. But it wasn’t always that way. Myth number 2: peer review is reliable Update: Bill Hooker has pointed out that I’m using a very strong sense of “reliable” in this section, holding peer review to the standard that it nearly always picks up errors, is a very accurate gauge of quality, and rarely suppresses innovation. If you adopt a more relaxed notion of reliability, as many but not all scientists and members of the general public do, then I’d certainly back off describing this as a myth. As an approximate filter that eliminates or improves many papers, peer review may indeed function well. Every scientist has a story (or ten) about how they were poorly treated by peer review – the important paper that was unfairly rejected, or the silly editor who ignored their sage advice as a referee. Despite this, many strongly presume that the system works
to being in control, this was a godsend. The researchers also propose that the process of writing a narrative gives you a distance and perspective that reframes the illness as a set of solvable problems or an opportunity for positive change. I made a list of things I needed to be able to do in order to be well and get home, such as being able to use the communal kitchen, and venturing off the ward for the first time. One item on the list was about ending my 24/7 observation by a member of staff, something I put down in shorthand as "Lose the shadow," which led a member of staff to carefully enquire in a concerned tone about who exactly "The Shadow" was. I also wanted to find a positive from the experience — something I tried explaining to my psychiatrist while I was still manic, telling him that I would make jugfuls of glorious lemonade from the godforsaken lemons that had been piled high on my plate. I slightly undermined the seriousness of my point by jumping to the fact "Lemonade" was Beyoncé's latest album. Yet even that little fact became a key part of my story and recovery, as Beyoncé became a source of bonding with a nurse who turned out to be a fellow devotee. I found that stories became a form of currency — when staff handed me excerpts of their life stories, I could see them more as real people and could trust them with more of my story. <img src="http://static.digg.com/images/7d11ee074cac4dec8c15b4d31d058d14_9ecc0ea60cf54102ac545c3fe58a8131_1_post.jpeg" alt="" /> With the combined therapies of medication, the MBU and storytelling, I became well enough to go home after six weeks. Unfortunately the road to recovery from postpartum psychosis is often beset with challenges. About three months after being discharged I developed postpartum depression, an experience Heron reassured me is more common than not after postpartum psychosis, and I was hospitalized in the MBU for a further three months. I got home, only to be admitted to hospital for a third time, though only briefly. Once home again I felt I should be back to "normal" me. Nope. It wasn't until I spoke to Hannah that I realized recovery really begins when you walk out of the hospital doors. One thing she said, which resonated with me, was: "I describe it as being shattered into a million pieces and then rebuilding it all gradually, the main thing being the confidence in my own abilities." I've always been a confident person, but the experiences of the last year have dented that. Writing this article is part of the process of rebuilding my confidence. Being adept at writing is one of the things that is core to my identity — the pre-psychosis me managed to write "Immune," an accessible (and hopefully entertaining) book on the immune system. As well as understanding and processing what had happened to me, I needed to do this to prove post-psychosis me could still write. Pre-psychosis me was also adept at shouting about things in the world she felt strongly about. Yet post-psychosis me seemed to have lost her voice — I found it hard to tell even my nearest and dearest what had happened. However, I also had a gnawing need to act. I felt that part of the reason there were only 17 MBUs in the UK was that women found it hard to shout about this compared with less stigmatized diseases. Looking at the mother-and-baby photos on my Facebook feed, you could be forgiven for thinking new motherhood is some sort of heaven filled with cutesy shoes and blissed-out smiles — but I know that 10-15% of these mothers are suffering from postpartum depression. That's a lot of sadness hidden behind that impenetrable wall of smiles. I wanted to shout about maternal mental health, and postpartum psychosis in particular. And this is something to be encouraged, said Heron: "When people speak out, other women realize it's not something to be ashamed of or feel guilty about; it's a medical illness like any other. It's shocking, it's frightening and it's scary, but women do get better." In fact, she said, the prognosis is "really good, really positive. Full recovery is definitely the most likely outcome." Women who have experienced postpartum psychosis have more than a 50% chance of another episode following a subsequent birth. This leads us to one of the questions I've been asking myself: would I risk being shattered once more? I think of the fun and fights and memories and love that I get from having siblings; it's an important relationship unlike any other. I want Beatrix to have that. However, as you'll be unsurprised to hear, I'd rather not repeat the last year. There are things that can be done to try and reduce the risks, though nobody seems able to tell me by how much. One measure is to take antipsychotics in the last stages of pregnancy, assuming I'm comfortable with the idea of exposing my baby to these drugs in utero. Another is to be admitted to the MBU for five days post-delivery so I can be watched closely for any signs of psychosis. As Heron told me, "Giving antipsychotics at the first sign of symptoms can prevent episodes from being as severe and long-lived." So if we do decide to have another baby it should be different next time. And it's possible I would be psychosis-free. Sally decided not to try for more children; Hannah went on to have a psychosis-free birth with her second child. It's a bridge that my husband and I will cross in the future. For now I'm focused on the present and grateful that the MBU and various forms of storytelling — from the stories on APP to my photo diary — have helped me move from a place of acute illness to being at home and well with my baby girl. It's not a completed journey, there are still ups and downs, but storytelling continues to help me process and come to terms with what was one of the most disturbing experiences of my life. Hopefully by telling my story I can give a voice to the women who are now struggling or have struggled with postpartum psychosis and other maternal mental health problems. Speak to your friends about it, share it and shout about it with me — together we can break the stigma. This article was first published by Wellcome on Mosaic and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.Cary Towne Center, part of the wave of shopping malls that transformed the nation’s retail landscape decades ago, is making its first push for redevelopment after struggling with the loss of two anchor department stores as well as the departure of retailers to newer developments in the Triangle. CBL & Associates Properties, the mall’s owner, has begun the process to revamp about a quarter of the 60-acre mall property to allow for potentially taller buildings on the site. Their first step covers the eastern part of the property, which includes the vacant Macy’s and Sears buildings and land toward the Triangle Aquatic Center. Tuesday, CBL submitted a pre-application meeting request to the Town of Cary to get staff feedback before submitting a formal rezoning application. “We’re thrilled to move forward with this project,” Stacey Keating, CBL’s director of public relations, wrote in an email. “CBL has remained committed to Cary Towne Center, and this redevelopment further solidifies our commitment to the property and the market.” Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer Mall officials said this launches what they believe will be a “multi-phase project” that may bring more retail, dining and entertainment options to the area off Interstate 40. For longtime residents who remember how the mall became a shopping destination after it opened in 1979, the move signals a potential return to its former stature. And with Cary’s ability to attract big-name businesses, thanks to its growing population and attractive demographics, some hope to see one of the oldest parts of Cary become a destination for non-Triangle residents, too. This part of Cary, in particular, could be appealing to retailers because of its central location, proximity to I-40 and large acreage. Keating said CBL has “no particular tenant or tenants lined up at this time.” The pre-application meeting request doesn’t state the size or the number of buildings that CBL plans for this portion of the site. Last fall, CBL’s CEO said the company is “pursuing a game-changing redevelopment anchor by a very recognizable and in-demand retailer,” according to a transcript of the conference call with analysts and shareholders. IKEA buzz Tuesday’s meeting request comes as speculation about IKEA coming to Cary continues to swirl among real estate agents, developers and fans of the popular Swedish retailer. But IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth said in an email, “At this time, we have not committed to a timeframe for entering the market – let alone a specific site.” “IKEA recognizes the customer base that exists for us in the Raleigh-Durham area and always has acknowledged that, long term, the metro area could support an IKEA store,” he said. The Triangle remains appealing to the retailer, Roth said, adding that IKEA has had its eye on the area since the mid-2000s. And Cary, a town of 156,000 people, is part of that mix. Nestled between Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, Cary is home to major companies such as SAS Institute, MetLife and Deutsche Bank. The town has the lowest tax rate in the county and also one of the lowest crime rates. The median household income is $86,151. These factors help the town routinely land at the top of lists of best places to live. Last year, it was the best place to live in North Carolina in Money magazine’s annual report. Roth said IKEA typically needs a population base of about 2 million people to support a store. The stores typically run between 270,000 and 400,000 square feet. Charlotte’s store, which opened in 2009, is 356,000 square feet. “In most metropolitan areas of the country, we have brokers who help us identify potential locations as well as to evaluate, filter opportunities, proposals that arise or that are presented to us,” he said. “The Raleigh-Durham area is no different,” he said. “It is a populous, growing metropolitan area that complements the presence of our store in Charlotte and our future store in Norfolk (opening summer 2018).” Redevelopment steps Following the pre-application meeting, CBL would need to submit a rezoning request for the project to move forward. If the Cary Town Council approves the request, the mall would be allowed to build retail on that part of the site with a height of 60 feet and with setbacks of 150 feet from adjacent neighborhoods. This would allow for buildings 6 feet taller than the mall’s tallest building: Dillard’s. With CBL’s anticipated timeline, construction could be complete 18 months after approval, said Keating, the CBL spokeswoman. “We anticipate this first phase will be roughly a two-year project,” said Jason Barron, an attorney with Morningstar Law Group representing CBL. The redevelopment of Cary’s mall has been long awaited by those wanting to see new life brought to the center. Transforming the mall meshes with the Town Council’s plans to create a thriving eastern gateway along Cary Towne Boulevard with retail, residential and office space. The Rochester, N.Y.,-based Wegmans grocery store chain has expressed an interest in opening its first North Carolina site on undeveloped property north of the mall. “It’s a significant priority for the Town Council, and the opportunities are very exciting,” Town Manager Sean Stegall said about the Cary Towne Center property. “I believe it can be a signature retail development for the entire region.” Councilman Jack Smith was living in Cary when the “shiny new mall” opened in 1979. Cary was exploding with growth, with a population of about 22,000. People flocked to the mall because of its accessibility and five large anchor tenants. “It was the hot thing,” Smith said. The population grew, and the town’s boundaries continued to expand from a town of 10 square miles to 59 square miles. As boundaries pushed west, north and south, new developments sprouted up closer to the new residents. Mall shops began to vacate for Cameron Village, The Streets at Southpoint and later new mixed-used developments like Park West Village. “I just think it was one of those things where people gravitated toward newer, fancier things,” Smith said. Anchors close A recession and a boost in online sales didn’t help either. Keating said CBL began looking into possible redevelopment scenarios when Sears announced it was closing. “Cary Towne Center is well located, and CBL knew there was an excellent opportunity to redevelop the property as soon as we could gain control of the anchor spaces,” she said. After Sears closed in January 2015, Macy’s followed suit in April 2016 as part of a series of closings across the country. Several other smaller retailers also have closed. JC Penney, Belk and Dillard’s have remained. Keating said she couldn’t disclose the mall’s occupancy rate. This is not CBL’s first attempt to revitalize the property. Mall officials once hoped to replace the Sears property with TopGolf, a golf and entertainment complex. But neighbors’ concerns about noise and lighting prompted TopGolf to announce plans in 2015 to look elsewhere. Despite tenant losses, CBL officials are still optimistic about the site’s future. “Cary is one of the most vibrant communities in the Triangle region with new residents moving there every day,” Keating said. “Cary Towne Center sits in a prime location, and we believe there is more than enough demand to merit CBL’s commitment to providing unparalleled retail options to the community.”[Editor’s note: In celebration of the holidays, we’re spending the next two Tuesdays by counting down the top 12 Flavorwire features of 2012. This post, at #12, was originally published March 3rd.] Since March is Women’s History Month, we’ve been thinking a lot about the women who have had positive and lasting impacts on our lives — and perhaps not surprisingly for a bunch of literary geeks like us, we’ve realized that many of them are fictional. For all the hullabaloo about the dearth of strong female characters in modern culture, thankfully there are some wonderfully powerful, kick-ass maidens that have inspired us with their strength, self-discovery, and incredible brilliance over the years. Click through to see our list of ten of the most powerful female characters in literature, and then be sure to pipe up with your own suggestions — we’ve chosen the ten who resonate most deeply with us here, but since there are many more than ten strong ladies in literature (thank goodness), we want to know which ones blow you away on a daily basis. Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre One of the earliest representations of an individualistic, passionate and complex female character, Jane Eyre knocks our socks off. Though she suffers greatly, she always relies on herself to get back on her feet — no wilting damsel in distress here. As China Miéville wrote, “Charlotte Brontë’s heroine towers over those around her, morally, intellectually and aesthetically; she’s completely admirable and compelling. Never camp, despite her Gothic surrounds, she takes a scalpel to the skin of the every day.”By of the Just like that, the lengthy John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walker's aides and associates is over. Nearly three years after the probe was launched, retired Appeals Court Judge Neal Nettesheim signed an order shutting down the secret investigation. In all, Milwaukee County prosecutors brought charges against six individuals as a result of the probe, which was opened in May 2010. Of those, three were former aides to Walker while he was Milwaukee County executive, one was an appointee and another a major campaign contributor. No additional charges will be filed. Nettesheim said in an interview Friday that prosecutors reviewed thousands of documents and took testimony from hundreds of witnesses. In addition, Milwaukee County officials raided the homes of several former Walker aides and seized documents from others. The judge said the investigation had been all but dormant in recent months. The case had been kept open as a way to release documents tied to the criminal charges that already had been filed. "I realize the frustration on the part of some people with the length of the investigation," Nettesheim said. "But I'm satisfied with how it went." Nettesheim entered an order Feb. 21 concluding the probe, and the decision was made public after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm finished paperwork in the case. "After a review of the John Doe evidence, I am satisfied that all charges that are supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt have now been brought and concluded," Chisholm said in a statement. "As a consequence, last week my office petitioned for, and Judge Nettesheim has granted, the closure of the John Doe investigation." William Jennaro, a former Milwaukee County judge and prosecutor, said he saw few positives out of the long John Doe other than catching former Walker aide Timothy Russell stealing money from a fund intended to aid veterans. While Walker's county administration made some questionable hires, Walker himself avoided much taint. "Certainly, the governor comes out of this pretty much Clean Gene," said Jennaro, who has overseen past John Doe investigations. Chisholm's office, though, can't be accused of a political witch hunt, even though Walker allies may feel it was, Jennaro said. "It's the role of prosecutor to pursue what's potentially there. If it's not there, you can't blame the DA and say it's a witch hunt," Jennaro said. Walker said Friday that he was glad the investigation is over. He met with officialsin Chisholm's office last year for a sometimes contentious interview, according to sources. Throughout the proceeding, the first-term Republican governor said he had been assured he was not a target. He retained two top-level criminal defense lawyers - Michael Steinle of Milwaukee and John Gallo of Chicago - to assist him with the case. Over the past year, their firms were paid nearly $200,000 from Walker's defense fund. "The biggest thing is, I'm pleased that the process is complete so we can move forward," Walker said after a statehouse event promoting financial literacy. He said that he was proved right by the probe. Walker's Republican allies were elated that the long-running investigation finally closed. "Gov. Walker once again has done nothing wrong," said state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester). "It's important to know that this is a complete vindication of what he did and once again a reaffirmation of how he did things right." Democratic criticism Democratic Party officials were still critical of the Republican governor, even though he was not charged. They noted that it was unprecedented for a Wisconsin governor to operate a criminal defense fund. "That Scott Walker avoided prosecution is no feather in his cap," Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said. "The crimes convicted flow directly from Scott Walker's belief that he is above the law." Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) even went so far as to call on Walker to apologize for the investigation. "While the governor was not charged, he must make a statement accepting responsibility for the people he trusted, hired and supervised and apologize to the taxpayers, particularly the veterans, who were cheated," Barca said. Milwaukee County prosecutors launched a secret John Doe investigation into aides and associates of Walker nearly three years ago. Nettesheim said the investigation focused on three issues. He said prosecutors wanted to know if employees of the Wisconsin Southern Railway and its president and owner William Gardner had made illegal contributions to Walker's campaign fund and others. They also were focused on political activity by Walker aides while on the clock for taxpayers and suspected theft of funds set aside for veterans' events. Under the judge's direction, the order closing the investigation was made public. Otherwise, the John Doe secrecy order remains in effect for testimony and documents in the case. Dean Strang, a criminal defense attorney who represented Gardner, called for the release of documents uncovered by prosecutors. "I hope some of the products of the investigation become public so we can assess as a body politic what we should make of those who were under investigation and those who did the investigating," said Strang, a veteran Madison lawyer. "The reasons for secrecy are either over or fading rapidly." The governor disagreed, saying Chisholm didn't need to release more records from the investigation. "No, he looked into what we asked him to look through, he took action, he saw that actions were taken and the investigation completed, and now it's time to move forward," Walker said. Records earlier showed the investigation was broadened repeatedly in the months after the John Doe was opened. Nettesheim said Friday that he eventually agreed to a dozen or more requests to expand the subjects under investigation by Milwaukee County prosecutors. "The whole purpose of the John Doe is to inquire whether possible criminal activity occurred," said the retired judge. "The John Doe served its purpose. It's to resolve uncertainty and to go where the evidence takes you." The quality of the investigation, Nettesheim said, was indicated by the fact that none of the six individuals charged as a result of the probe took their cases to trial, instead they cut plea deals with prosecutors. Russell, a former deputy chief of staff to Walker, pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to stealing more than $21,000 from Operation Freedom, an annual event held by the county at the zoo to honor veterans and their families. He was sentenced to two years in prison in January. Kevin Kavanaugh was convicted of stealing more than $50,000 from Operation Freedom and other veterans funds and sentenced in December to two years in prison. Walker once named Kavanaugh to the county Veterans Service Commission. Russell's business and domestic partner, Brian Pierick, was sentenced last month to a $2,148 fine and 50 hours of community service for contributing to the delinquency of a child. He had originally been charged with felony charges of child enticement and causing a child to expose his genitals. Kelly Rindfleisch, who worked for Walker in the county executive's office in 2010, was sentenced Nov. 19 to six months in jail for campaign fundraising at the courthouse using a secret email system installed there. Darlene Wink, Walker's constituent services coordinator at the county, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors for doing campaign work while on the county clock. In 2011, Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co., was sentenced to two years of probation for violating state campaign finance laws. He pleaded guilty to exceeding campaign contribution limits in support of Walker and laundering additional campaign contributions through employees and associates. Journal Sentinel reporters Sharif Durhams and Bill Glauber contributed to this report.Why Would They Change Their Tune Now Josh Hamilton Blocked Unblock Follow Following Sep 7, 2017 The DUP and Sinn Fein have been playing the same game for the entire decade since the SAA, they blame the other for any breakdown in government. It works well for them, no-one can say either party has suffered electorally over the past 10 years as a result of the strategy, rather it has been incredibly successful for both. Since the Good Friday Agreement was signed both parties have swooped in from the fringes to overtake the UUP and SDLP as the largest Unionist and Nationalist parties. The recent clean sweep of Westminster seats by the DUP and Sinn Fein shows the true extent of their dominance. The PRSTV (Proportional Representation Single Transferable Vote) system tends to produce a more pluralistic reflection of the electorate, but the priorities of the electorate can be seen in the dominance of Sinn Fein and the DUP with the Westminster FPTP (First Past The Post) system. Whilst this current period of no-government isn’t the first time we have faced similar situations since the start of power sharing in Northern Ireland, it is the longest we have gone without government for a number of years. The break-down of relations has been framed as a fundamental split over issues like the Irish Language Act and the RHI scandal, but really this could be viewed as posturing for two fairly new leaders establishing themselves as the hardliners that much of their base demands. With the passing of the baton from Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill there was always going to be a period of uncertainty and hostility as the new leaders of Unionism and Nationalism clashed. They couldn’t appear to giving in to the other side too much, or appear too happy to co-operate, lest they run the risk of being displaced by more hard-line politicians. But this is not the main reason for the lengthy and continued stand-off that has seen NI running rudderless for the past 9 months. Neither the DUP or Sinn Fein have suffered electoral consequences of their actions. In a recent podcast interview, Kellie Armstrong of the Alliance Party lamented the lack of urgency displayed by both major parties to restart government at Stormont. To my mind this is why we haven’t seen an urgent push towards government (that and the Tories have been somewhat preoccupied with Brexit and losing their majority) — neither party can hold onto the extreme in their base by compromising after spending months blaming them for the breakdown in government, nor can they do a deal without being seen to drive a hard bargain. With talks now reportedly progressing and the Belfast Telegraph reporting that a “thaw” in relations is under way we can only hope that differences can finally be put aside in favour of governing. However, the public frustration at the lengthy negotiations, stand-offs, and endless missed deadlines seems unlikely to cause a major shift in voting intention. Sadly, Northern Ireland’s government will continue to be marred by the influence of the extremes of both communities whilst the DUP and Sinn Fein remain the largest parties. And from the looks of things, that isn’t going to change without a serious catalyst. By Josh Hamilton Editor in Chief at www.thejist.co.ukThe Insurance Corporation of B.C. has applied to have its services declared essential in a bid to block possible strike action by unionized staff, CBC News has learned. ICBC has made the essential service request in an application to the B.C. Labour Relations Board. The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, which represents about 4,600 ICBC employees, has been conducting preliminary votes across the province to test the waters for a strike mandate. Many union members are angry that ICBC has reportedly offered no wage increase in its next five-year contract and a union official said he’s stunned that the corporation is making the application to the LRB. "It’s a pretty heavy hammer to use," said COPE spokesman Jeff Gillies. The minister responsible for ICBC, B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, said Monday he believes the essential service application is, "a very responsible thing for the corporation to do," when faced with a possible strike. "The company, understandably, is going to make sure that they at least get a ruling that will allow for minimal or essential levels of service to be provided to the public," Falcon said. Depending on the location, those services include providing vehicle insurance, processing accident claims and issuing drivers licences and licence plates. Gillies said the union believes that ICBC wants about 500 workers declared essential in claims customer services, driver services, and at the contact centre where drivers call in their claims, and in other departments. Gillies said the union is willing to co-operate with ICBC to a degree that would not require the company to try to be designated an essential service. "We understand that there might be some services at ICBC that are actually essential, but we’ll work through that at the [LRB]," said Gillies. Gillies said a similar attempt by Saskatchewan General Insurance to be declared essential was challenged by the union, but the company’s initiative was struck down by that province’s courts.I’ve always said you learn a lot more by piecing two articles together than you do by reading either of them separately. With that in mind, let’s follow up on what I just wrote about troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. First, the US arguing with NATO about troops in Afghanistan. The United States will press its European NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan’s violent south in response to Canada’s call for reinforcements, but the Pentagon said it will not commit any more of its own forces there. … U.S. defense officials have also regularly complained about the unwillingness of European allies to dedicate more combat troops and equipment to Afghanistan. All right, take a moment to let that sink in. Now let’s head over to Iraq. What’s the problem there? The Bush administration is sending strong signals that U.S. troop reductions in Iraq will slow or stop altogether this summer, a move that would jeopardize hopes of relieving strain on the Army and Marine Corps and revive debate over an open-ended U.S. commitment in Iraq. Well, at least that explains why we won’t be sending any troops into Afghanistan, right?Mr Benton, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, on not only a personal but a regional level, as I will explain. I am grateful to the Speaker for giving me the opportunity to debate this issue, which unfairly affects my constituency, yours and others in the north-west. I have been in the House for more than three decades, and I have witnessed many so-called welfare reform measures, but I have never witnessed a measure as grossly unfair as this one. As the Minister well knows, under-occupancy is a supply-side issue, yet we are trying to control the demand side to make people on low incomes fit into the regimented holes into which the Government would like them to fit. I know the Government have a fig leaf to parade around to cover their nakedness, and no doubt we will hear about it. They will say that there is a huge number of people in social housing properties who have too many bedrooms and a shortage of social housing. If only those damn people would move from their under-occupied properties to ones that fit, a major problem would be solved. We all know that it will not be, for reasons that I hope to explain. I feel so strongly about what the Government are doing to my constituents and similarly placed constituents around the country that I call on both social housing and housing association landlords to defy the measures, not by not operating them, but by doing what landlords did after the nine years’ war, when a Government similarly stretched for money imposed a window tax. In many instances—we see it in older properties in our constituencies—landlords bricked up windows. I hope that landlords will brick up the doors to spare bedrooms and, where appropriate, knock down the walls, so that the properties can safely fit the tenants. I have never before asked for direct action. I do so now because I feel that the measures are grossly unfair. In more than three decades, I have never debated such a vicious cut. Even if most people wished to do what the Government want them to do, they would be unable to do it. The background to the case is that the Government claim that there are 1 million spare bedrooms throughout the country, and that the subsidy for those spare bedrooms costs £500 million. If only they could get people to move around to fit into the accommodation that the Government would like them to have, £500 million in public expenditure would be saved. The means of doing so are as follows. From April this year, those who have one so-called spare bedroom will lose 14% of their housing benefit, and those who have two spare rooms will lose 25% of their housing benefit. This is the last opportunity for the House to debate this wretched measure before it comes into effect in our constituencies. We know that about one third of social tenants will be affected, and that their average loss of benefit will be £14 a week. We know that 40,000 will lose their entitlement entirely, and, as I said, a higher percentage of tenants in the north-west will be affected than in London and the south-east. In this debate, I will rely on figures supplied by Riverside, one of the larger housing associations offering accommodation to my constituents. Some 25% of its tenants will be affected by this vicious little measure, and 20% of tenants of Wirral Partnership Homes will be affected. Let us look at the facts that Riverside dug out. In the three years between 2008 and 2011, in one part of my constituency, Tranmere and Rock Ferry, 500 new tenancy allocations were made. Of those households, 302 needed one bedroom, yet only 126 one- bedroom flats were available. Even if those tenants wanted accommodation that fitted their needs as defined by the Government, they would not be able to meet the policy. Riverside sensibly asked those who would be affected by this vicious little measure what they intended to do to try to balance the books. Some 32% said that they would try to move to smaller properties, 11% said that they would ask people in their household to help them pay the rent, 16% said that they would ask people outside their household, 17% said that they would try to earn extra money, 9% said that they would take a lodger, and 42% said that they would probably fail to pay the rent. I want to dwell on two aspects. One is the 17% who said that they would try to earn more money. One of the Merseyside police’s worries about the measure is that there has been a significant increase in the number of people being encouraged to use spare bedrooms to grow pot. One consequence of this Government action will be to enable those gangs who try to enrol vulnerable constituents to make extra money in that way. That will be a real first for the Government. They should be proud, shouldn’t they? Let us then look at the 42% who will fail to pay their rent. They will face eviction due to significant reductions in their income. Of course, they will try for a time to cut down on other necessities, such as fuel. I can switch on the heating, but unlike me, many of my constituents do not switch it on during the day. They will now spend even less time with their heating on. Others will eat a far less healthy diet. When push comes to shove, what will those with children do? They might let their rent fall into arrears, which the Government do not seem to realise is a far better option than not paying other bills, because other bills attract penal rates of interest if they are not paid, and as yet—although no doubt there will be a measure to help them—local authorities and housing associations cannot enforce this wretched little measure by charging interest on debts that accrue. My plea to housing associations is not to evict. As a result, their revenue will be affected. All the housing associations in Birkenhead have gone down the route of going to the banks to pledge their future revenue against loans. Once the revenue is not forthcoming, what will the banks do? I would prefer the housing associations to go bankrupt rather than bankrupt my constituents. One of the not-so-hidden consequences of this vicious little measure is that housing associations will risk going bankrupt. What will the Government do then? They will not be able to allow them to remain bankrupt. I hope that a plan B that is slightly more effective than the plan B for the economy is on the stocks. Let us suppose that the tenants could move. The housing stock is not available, but suppose they could. We know from those who have managed to find alternative accommodation that it actually costs more. For example, one-bedroom places in Birkenhead average £71 a week, but in the private sector they are £88 a week. If every wonderful tenant in Birkenhead affected by this vicious little measure did what the Government wanted, the savings would not be made and the housing bill would go up, defeating the measure; the Department for Work and Pensions, which wants people to move around to free up accommodation, would have to have a serious conversation with the Treasury about why the idea has failed to deliver the £500 million cut. Housing associations should follow the example of the landlords who took action after the nine years’ war to ensure that they and their tenants did not pay an unfair tax. If tenants request such action, the doors to spare bedrooms should be blocked up, as the windows were, and their walls should be knocked through to make one larger room, where it is possible and safe to do so; that would apply only where no downsizing options were available. It would not solve the problem of a grossly unfair tax, but it would mitigate some of the worst results by freeing tenants from this poll tax. The Government are of course unlikely to achieve the £500 million cut in housing benefit demanded by the Treasury, but their cover is blown anyway: for the reasons I set out, even if all the tenants could move to smaller accommodation, the Government would make no savings in public expenditure at all. Indeed, as suitable accommodation in the private sector is more expensive, the housing benefit bill will rise. Why am I for the first time advocating direct action? I do so because this tax is so grossly unfair, and it is being levied on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Wicked actions require a different response from us parliamentarians.We remember the Holocaust for the evil shadow it casts on human history, but forget that even in the darkest of times incredible acts of goodness and compassion could be found. Actions like these remind us that it is in the darkest moments where the brightest heroes often shine. Like the steady stream that creates a canyon, Irena Sendler’s consistent courage, day in and day out, changed the fate of over 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust of WWII. In Poland, she is affectionately known as the “mother of the holocaust children.” Born outside of Warsaw, Poland in 1910, Irena Krzyżanowska Sendler (also known in Poland as Irena Sendlerowa) would learn compassion from her father, a catholic doctor who died of typhus, which he contracted while treating the Jewish patients his colleagues would not aid. The grateful Jewish community collectively paid for Irena’s education at Warsaw University. While a student, she began protesting the legalized segregation of Jewish students into separate parts of the classroom known as the “ghetto benches.” As a result, she was suspended from the University for three years. Irena’s focus would turn to social work and began working for the urban Social Welfare department. In 1939 the Germans invaded Poland and enacted strict death penalties for those aiding or hiding Jews as well as their families. Despite the risks, Irena became active in the Polish underground movement known as Zegota, where Irena and her colleagues falsified over 3,000 documents to help Jewish families escape. “Every child saved with my help and the help of all the wonderful secret messengers, who today are no longer living, is the justification of my existence on this earth, and not a title to glory.” The Germans forced over 400,000 Jews into a Warsaw Ghetto the size of 16 city blocks, where
children. The abortion collaborator is a traitor to mankind whose wicked deeds deserve to be exposed and held in contempt. Exposure of this type is an act of obedience to the Scriptural mandate stated in Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Therefore it is the duty of Christians to expose abortion collaborators. Those who participate in and/or profit from the murder of innocent children must not be allowed to hide their guilt. In fact, exposure of the abortion collaborator is necessary if there is to be any hope of bringing the collaborator to repentance and ultimately ending the bloodshed. Even those regarded as the vilest of traitors, the Nazi collaborator, were given opportunities in many European nations to make amends for their complicity in treason and murder. For the abortion collaborator, there must also be given an opportunity to repent and denounce any association with the abortion trade. [OperationRescue.org, 7/12/04] Operation Rescue States It "Operates A Fleet Of 10 Truth Trucks That Traverse The United States Showing Graphic Images Of Aborted Babies." [OperationRescue.org, accessed 7/21/15] RH Reality Check Infographic Demonstrates Close Connections Between Anti-Choice Extremists Infographic Shows Tangled Web Of Anti-Choice Radicals Like Operation Rescue And Center For Medical Progress. From RH Reality Check: [RH Reality Check, accessed 7/21/15]Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez (AFP Photo/Getty Images/Paul J. Richards) Consumers these days connect to the Internet using lots of devices -- a person might move almost seamlessly between a laptop or tablet at home to browsing on a smartphone during a commute. Companies are increasingly trying to capture that movement to build more comprehensive profiles of people. And now the Federal Trade Commission says it will look into just what this so-called "cross-device tracking" means for consumers. The FTC will put on a workshop on the topic this fall, Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced during a summit held by the International Association of Privacy Professionals on Thursday. The details of the workshop aren't yet clear, but such events are often the first step to the agency releasing reports and ramping up enforcement on practices that may negatively affect consumers. "We want to make sure to highlight for consumers practices that have significant privacy implications," Ramirez said. The Federal Trade Commission is the de facto federal privacy watchdog. Ramirez has made protecting consumers online and on mobile devices a priority during her tenure. Last year, the agency held a workshop on mobile tracking and released a report on the how data brokers collect information on Americans' digital habits. [The White House’s draft of a consumer privacy bill is out — and even the FTC is worried] Cross-device tracking can be done by asking users to sign in while using multiple platforms -- think signing into Facebook or Google on your computer as well as your smartphone. But there are other ways, such as observing shared behaviors between the devices -- for example, if two devices show a pattern of connecting to the same IP addresses or from the same locations, or even sharing similar browsing habits like frequenting certain Web sites. The result is that companies can create more detailed profiles than what can be gathered about someone by simply observing their habits on just one device -- especially given the capacity to track locations inherent in the ways mobile devices are often used. But another major benefit of this for online advertising companies is being able to see if an ad on one device results in a purchase made on another. This is attractive because the payouts are bigger for demonstrating an ad resulted in a sale than just displaying it to a user.If hell exists only in our minds (as I argued in the last post), then it would seem like it should be easy to get out of hell. All we have to do is think differently, and hell will simply vanish from our consciousness. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that. Beliefs and concepts have a way of lodging themselves in our subconscious minds; and once they get stuck there, it can be very hard to get them out. (Ironically, this means that those who have “warned” others of eternal conscious torment may have created the very thing they’re warning against!) Nevertheless, I’m convinced that escaping from hell, while difficult, is possible. But how do we get out of hell? Or more accurately, how do we get the hell out of ourselves and others? As I argued earlier, hell is the “place” where the ego is destroyed; and for some, this may not leave much in the way of individual awareness once all is said and done. But we can speed this process up if we can recognize the ego and resist it. The ego has many forms. For some it takes the form of pride. These people think they are somehow better than others, and won’t be happy until everyone agrees. But the ego can also work in the opposite way, teaching us to hate ourselves. Either way the effect is the same – we’re unable to think of anything but ourselves, and get trapped in our own thoughts – which is the essence of hell. One way the ego often shows up among religious people is in what’s called “works righteousness” – the idea that we aren’t worthy of God’s love unless we have done something to “earn” it – either through good deeds, spiritual practices, or having the right beliefs. In truth, God’s love is unconditional – more so than any other love we could know. God accepts us just as we are – even if we don’t do the right things or “know” Jesus in a personal way! We are truly saved by grace, as Saint Paul so clearly teaches (Eph 2:8-10, etc). Unfortunately, not many people really believe this. Most people, including most Christians, think that God’s grace has some sort of condition attached to it. We are saved by grace, it is said, as long as we believe the right things, or promise to behave in a certain way, or make a certain type of commitment to Jesus or the church. The idea that we could be saved simply because God loves us seems too easy – and too good to be true! And so we try to prove ourselves worthy of God’s love – and the ego remains in control. I know this from experience. For much of my life, I have tried to be a “good” Christian – by having the right beliefs, or studying the Bible and praying, or living a “holy” lifestyle, or doing works of justice or charity (all of which are indeed important parts of the Christian life). What I never realized, until recently, is the extent to which I was doing these things by my own power – which is why I never seemed to make much progress in my spiritual walk! It wasn’t until I lost someone very precious to me (my girlfriend Christina, who passed away in 2014) that I really came to see the futility of “trying” to have faith. In despair over Christina’s death, I gave up trying to be a spiritual person. In fact, I gave up on almost everything – including the idea that I could make myself happy. Strangely enough, it was precisely then that my life started to change, and God became real to me for the first time – not just as a belief, but as a living Spirit whose presence has always been with me. My encounters with the spirit of Christina led me into a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit – whose presence I now feel on a daily basis. Since then, I have made tremendous strides in my faith, in a very short time. I think this is because I stopped thinking about myself. The ego, you see, wants us to think of ourselves as separate individuals with no necessary connection to God or one another. But as long as we think of ourselves as “self-made,” and rely on our own strength or initiative to save us, we remain trapped in our own ego – that is, in hell. For in truth we are all really one – not just with one another, but also with God and the entire creation. We have never really been separated from God – we just think that we have been. When we come to see this unity, the ego immediately begins to dissolve – and hell along with it! We realize, perhaps for the first time, that we were never alone – that God has been with us all along, and that He/She has been using everything in our lives for a purpose; we just couldn’t see it because we were too caught up in the idea of ourselves as separate beings. In the words of Thomas Merton, “We are already one. But we imagine we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be is what we are” (Thomas Merton: Essential Writings, 48). It’s not enough, however, simply to believe this on an intellectual level. We have to experience this oneness for ourselves, to a certain degree, before we can really believe it. And it’s precisely here that the Christian “love ethic” is the most important; for when we are truly loved by others, we begin to see God. For me, this meant being loved by a woman in a romantic way. I had a deep emotional wound over my perceived lack in this part of my life. Though I have always had a very loving family and a few close friends, it never seemed to be enough. Without the romantic love of a woman I felt incomplete, and on some level doubted that God really loved me in the way that I needed. It wasn’t until I met Christina (both in her earthly and spiritual forms) that I came to know how much God loves me – and to truly appreciate the love of my family and friends as well. Love can take many forms, of course. For some, parental love may be the key to knowing God. For others, it might be the love of friends or a spouse. For many it’s probably a combination of many different kinds of human love. In any case, I have finally come to know, on a very deep level, that God loves me – and that God’s love for me is more intense and personal than I ever could have imagined! This, and this alone, is giving me the strength to become a better person. So my final word on the topic of hell is love. Let us love the hell out of one another; and I mean that quite literally! For when we experience love, we experience God; and when we experience God, we experience oneness; and when we are one, there is no longer any place for duality or division. We then see Reality as it actually is – and hell is emptied once and for all. (This concludes the “Jesus and Hell” series. Coming Soon: Mark of the Beast? Idolatry and Global Economics) AdvertisementsIt is being called, in some quarters, the "naughty and nice list" of defence contractors. And it figured prominently in Tuesday's announcement that Canada would buy a handful of used Australian FA-18 fighters until the country's entire fleet of CF-18s could begin retiring in 2025. Along with the fighter jet announcement, Liberals said Tuesday they will now also evaluate bidding companies for their "overall impact on Canada's economic interests." Some describe this new yardstick for the procurement system as "The Boeing Clause," a reference to the loud, angry trade dispute between the U.S. aerospace giant and Bombardier, of Montreal. No matter how it's being characterized, the Liberal government's intention to evaluate all future defence purchases through the lens of whether individual companies have helped or hurt the overall Canadian economy has far-reaching political, trade, legal and even military consequences, say analysts. And there is a series of important questions Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains left unanswered at the announcement Tuesday. What criteria will be used to decide economic harm? Will such a policy survive contact with the legal system? Will it further gum up an already cumbersome process? Will it cause Canada's biggest trading partner — and the world's biggest supplier of military products — to retaliate in some form or another? Qualtrough said she was confident in the decision. "We cannot, of course, stop anybody from engaging in litigation with us should they not think this is appropriate," said Qualtrough. "But we would not be sitting here with you today if we hadn't jumped through hoops legally and otherwise and have a level of confidence that we are here announcing to Canadians that we want to move forward with this policy." For a government often obsessed with evidence-based decision-making, there was dearth of data on this crucial point. The policy itself has not been written. It will be, Qualtrough said, subject to consultation with defence contractors — the very companies whose livelihoods would depend upon staying off the naughty list. Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough tells reporters how Canada will choose new jet fighters 1:42 'A degree of subjectivity' Dave Perry, an analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute who follows the procurement file, said it was too early to evaluate this new approach. "A lot will depend on how this policy is written." Unless the government comes up with some "mathematical formula based on market evidence," Perry said the policy would inject a "degree of subjectivity" into contracts that companies can contest either in court or before international trade tribunals. And that is something the already sluggish defence procurement system has been built to avoid, particularly over the last five years since the auditor general slammed the previous Conservative government's attempt to buy F-35s. F-35 Lightning II (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press) At the time, Michael Ferguson criticized the lack of homework at National Defence and Public Works, the lack of transparency in decision-making, and the apparent bias in favour of the Lockheed Martin-built stealth fighter. Public works now routinely subjects its decisions and assumptions to independent third-party evaluations and fairness monitors in an effort to demonstrate objectivity and limit litigious blowback. Now, it seems, according to Qualtrough, that "there are both objective and subjective elements that could possibly be at play" in Canadian defence procurements. Perry said lawyers could have a field day with that. "I don't see any way of creating this new policy that's defensible and is not a nakedly subjective," he said. "When you get down to the nuts and bolts, the government is going to draw up with a naughty and nice list for whether company A or B is helping or hurting the Canadian economy." It is yet another policy hurdle in an already glacial process, Perry added. For her part, Qualtrough said she is "hoping very much that we're not going to make it more complicated." A clear message The political message to Boeing on Tuesday was undeniable. "We're hoping this policy incentivizes all suppliers to behave in such a way that they won't be at a disadvantage at the time of assessment," said Qualtrough. Translation: Boeing, drop your trade complaint against Bombardier and maybe you'll get a chance to bid on the full replacement of Canada's fighters, a contract worth up to $19 billion. It should not be underestimated that the policy was delivered on the same day as the U.S International Trade Commission deadline for written submissions on the 300 per cent tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on Bombardier passenger jets. Another unanswered — and perhaps unexpected — question coming out of all of this might be: What if Boeing doesn't care and decides not to bid on the big contract? Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan discusses the government's plan to replace Canada's aging fighter jets by the mid-2020s 8:39 It costs defence contractors tens of millions of dollars to compete and jump through all government hoops, regardless of the country. A spokesman for Boeing left the question dangling on Tuesday. "We're going to have to take a look at all the requirements, including — quote, unquote — the Boeing clause, and make a final determination at the appropriate time," said Scott Day in an interview. "We'll have to look at the overall requirements and how it implemented and interpreted before making a decision."Plastic may be with us a lot longer than we thought. In addition to clogging up landfills and becoming trapped in Arctic ice, some of it is turning into stone. Scientists say a new type of rock cobbled together from plastic, volcanic rock, beach sand, seashells, and corals has begun forming on the shores of Hawaii. “The article is intriguing and fascinating,” says geophysicist Douglas Jerolmack of the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the work. “If these things can be preserved, then they might be a nice marker around the world of when humans came to dominate the globe and leave behind their refuse in mass quantities.” Geologist Patricia Corcoran of the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, and Charles Moore, captain of the oceanographic research vessel Alguita, stumbled upon the new rocks on a beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. These stones, which they’ve dubbed “plastiglomerates,” most likely formed from melting plastic in fires lit by humans who were camping or fishing, the team reports this month in GSA Today. Although anywhere there is a heat source, such as forest fires or lava flows, and “abundant plastic debris,” Corcoran says, “there is the potential for the formation of plastiglomerate.” When the plastic melts, it cements rock fragments, sand, and shell debris together, or the plastic can flow into larger rocks and fill in cracks and bubbles to form a kind of junkyard Frankenstein. Corcoran says some of the plastic is still recognizable as toothbrushes, forks, ropes, and just “anything you can think of.” Once the plastic has fused to denser materials, like rock and coral, it sinks to the sea floor, and the chances it will become buried and preserved in the geologic record increase. Corcoran and her team canvassed Kamilo Beach on the Big Island for more of the rocks and found plastiglomerate in all 21 sites they surveyed. She says people have already found plastiglomerate on another Hawaiian island, and she expects there to be much more on coastlines across the world. Plastiglomerate is likely well distributed, it’s just never been noticed before now, she says. Jerolmack agrees. “All around the world where there’s trash being openly burned in mass quantities, you can imagine there are even larger melted plastic deposits” where plastiglomerate could form. The discovery adds to the debate about whether humanity’s heavy hand in natural processes warrants the formal declaration of a new epoch of Earth history, the Anthropocene, says paleontologist Jan Zalasiewicz of the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, who was not involved in the study. Plastics in general are so pervasive that they’ve been documented in a number of surprising places, including ingested in wildlife and on the sea floor. The mass of plastic produced since 1950 is close to 6 billion metric tons, enough to bundle the entire planet in plastic wrap. Combine plastic’s abundance with its persistence in the environment, and there’s a good chance it’ll get into the fossil record, Zalasiewicz says. “Plastics, including plastiglomerates, would be one of the key markers by which people could recognize the beginning of the Anthropocene.” How long the plastic will endure remains a matter of debate, however. Jerolmack says he doubts the material will stick around in the fossil record. After all, plastic melts, and rocks often pass through hellish depths and temperatures through tectonic processes and burial. Geologist Philip Gibbard of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom says he imagines that plastics might “revert back to a source of oil from whence they came, given the right conditions of burial.” But Zalasiewicz and Corcoran say that isn’t true for all the plastic. Some of the material can be preserved as a thin carbon film, much like the way fossil leaves are preserved. Zalasiewicz says that in some rare cases, in that etch of carbon “you may well be left the shape for a flattened plastic bottle.”One of the two brothers who beat a Mexican homeless man in Boston said he was inspired by Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s views on illegal immigration, according to police records. The two brothers on Wednesday urinated on a 58-year-old man sleeping near a train station before punching him and beating him with a metal pole, according to police. © REUTERS / Rick Wilking Donald Trump Suggests 'Rope' is the Only Exit from Border Wall for Mexicans The man was treated for various injuries including a broken nose and several bruises. The two brothers, Scott and Steve Leader, are facing charges including assault and indecent exposure. Both have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail. Witness’s say they flagged down a state trooper at about 12:30 a.m. after seeing the attack and watching the brothers walk away laughing, prosecutors said. Following Scott’s arrest, he told troopers "Donald Trump was right, all these illegal’s need to be deported." The presidential candidate has been facing controversy since he called some illegal Mexican immigrants “criminals” and “rapists.” He recently said that if elected, he would deport millions of illegal immigrants and then sort “good ones” from “bad ones,” before letting the “good ones” back into the country. © REUTERS / Brendan McDermid Billionaire Donald Trump Officially Joins 2016 US Presidential Race When Trump was asked about the beating during a New Hampshire town hall meeting on Wednesday night, he said he hadn’t heard about it but called it “a shame.” The Mexican government has confirmed the victim of the beating as one of its citizens. Daniel Hernandez Joseph, the consul general of Mexico in Boston, announced that his government would "take the necessary measures to defend the rights and interests of Mexicans." Mexican officials said they would follow the investigation “very closely” to ensure perpetrators of the crime are held accountable. According to court records, Scott had served a year in jail for assaulting a Moroccan coffee shop worker.How many ways can the BBC find to insult those who support stronger controls on immigration? And to what extent is this an integrated, pre-planned strategy to rig the election? The latest round of name-calling came with Evan Davis’s so called ‘interview’ of Nigel Farage on BBC1 on Wednesday evening. It was actually closer to a party political broadcast by Evan Davis outlining the Corporation’s deep loathing of those who do not agree with multiculturalism. The full transcript of this travesty of an exchange is here. There is much in the UKIP manifesto that is different from the main parties. Alone among the main parties, they want to leave the EU. And associated with that, the party wants the introduction of an integrated, much tougher approach to immigration. A poll commissioned by the Daily Mail shows starkly that 90 per cent of voters want radical changes in immigration policy. Most believe the current inflow is a major problem, it is causing stress on communities and infrastructure, and that numbers should be curbed. They do not believe the three main parties are planning to tackle these problems. For Davis, however, this potentially rich and rather central strand of questioning was of no interest at all. Nor was the UK’s relationship with the EU. His approach to the interview was yet another example of the BBC’s ‘painting by numbers’ approach to Ukip. The main intent was to show that all those who support such policies – and Nigel Farage in particular – are dangerous, bigoted racists. Accordingly, the tone and mannerisms he adopted were those of a superior, enlightened being dealing with something rather unpleasant adhering to his shoe. One obvious manifestation of this approach was that he interrupted Farage at least 50 times. Counting the total is quite hard because sometimes there seemed a deliberate desire to stop Farage talking at all, and certainly from presenting an answer that contained detailed reasoning. Was this simply robust interviewing? Emphatically not. In the equivalent interview with Ed Miliband by Davis, the number of such interruptions was only 32. Further, Davis spoke almost 3,000 words in the Farage ‘interview’ – only 700 fewer than Farage himself. In terms of both arithmetic and the texture of the questions, this could thus be seen as a homily on behalf of the BBC worldview by Davis in which Farage was invited to contribute – but not too much. Davis started the interview with a familiar way – an ad hominem attack. How could he disparage other politicians for being elitist when he himself, and several of his colleagues, had been educated at public schools? Well blow me down with a feather. How original and searching was that? No matter that Farage pointed out that there was a mixture of backgrounds in party ranks – Davis was determined to make his point. Thereafter, the main thrust of the questioning was to try trick Farage into revealing that he was totally bigoted. Was Ukip a mean and divisive party? Why had he said on Fox News that some areas were in danger of becoming ghettoes? The agenda here was to show clearly that Farage was anti-Muslim. Did he, shock horror, favour Christians over Muslims? Why did he prefer Australian immigrants over those from Eastern Europe? And why did he think a lot of crime was committed by Romanians? Why was he so sneering about what he called the ‘Liberal Metropolitan Elite’? This was actually the relentless pursuit of the same BBC agenda question: all those who say that uncontrolled immigration is bad are racists, even though they say they are not. In his determination to expose the nastiness before him, Davis even attacked Farage for saying that mothers who wanted to breast feed in Claridge’s should be reasonably discreet about it. How could he be so unenlightened? Farage protested that to him this was not a big issue, and certainly one not central to the election agenda. Headmaster Davis clearly thought otherwise. To sum up, yet again the BBC chose, in a flagship interview of a leading exponent of alternative policies on immigration and the EU, not to explore the main themes that concern the British public. What unfolded instead was another clumsy but brutal ad hominem attack. By contrast, as happened on Monday of this week, when EU officials want to come on to the Today programme to talk about the need for a federally-enforced common asylum policy (to add to the Free Movement of People directive) in the wake of the African ferry disaster, there is no problem. They are given oodles of time to do so and are scarcely interrupted. If you appreciated this article, perhaps you might consider making a donation to The Conservative Woman. Our contributors and editors are unpaid but there are inevitable costs associated with running a website. We receive no independent funding and depend on our readers to help us, either with regular or one-off payments. You can donate here. Thank you.smart highway by daan roosegaarde wins INDEX: award 2013 smart highway by daan roosegaarde + heijmans wins INDEX award 2013 smart highway receives INDEX: award 2013 + people’s choice award for offering the world an entirely new approach to roads, which is not only beautiful and alluring but also a sustainable and cost-effective solution. smart highway by dutch designer daan roosegaarde of studio roosegaarde is an interactive and sustainable road that includes a five-step plan for modernizing european roadways. it proposes embedding highways with technology that can visually communicate when the road is slippery, charge your electric car as you drive, and generate electricity for its own lights. the goal is to make roads more sustainable and interactive by using light, energy and road signs that automatically adapt to the traffic situation. new design concepts include the ‘glow-in-the-dark road’, ‘dynamic paint’, ‘interactive light’, ‘induction priority lane’ and ‘wind light’. — awarded biennially in denmark, under the attendance of HRH the crown price of denmark, the INDEX: award is the biggest design award in the world (€500,000) – and probably the most important. the importance of INDEX: award lies in the unique, over-arching theme of design to improve life – a concept which has established the prize as a global, inspirational design beacon. INDEX: award is split into five categories: body, home, work, play and community, representing the entire human life, inside to out. one prize worth €100,000 is presented to the winner in each of the categories. daan winning two prizes image © designboom in collaboration with heleen herbert from heijmans infrastructure daan roosegaarde developed ‘smart highway’ by using the latest available interactive techniques. the project is dedicated to plan roads that are more sustainable, safe and interactive for both drivers and constructors. instead of focusing on the car to innovate the driving experience, roosegaarde and heijmans found it about time to innovate the highways. with smarter transportation research already disposable for use for decades, an implementation plan capable of updating the highway with new designs such as a ‘glow-in-the-dark road’, ‘dynamic paints’, ‘interactive lights’, ‘induction priority lanes’ and ‘wind lights’. the system essentially creates roads that are more socially conscious and interactive through the inclusion of light, energy and road signs which automatically adapt to various traffic situations. daan roosegaarde’s smart highway on CNN video courtesy of INDEX: design to improve life from the index: design to improve life® press release: index: design to improve life® is a danish non-profit organization with global reach. we inspire, educate and engage in using design to improve life-skills to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges. we do this by means of the biggest design award in the world (index: award worth €500.000), world touring exhibitions, education programs, city collaborations and investment initiatives. we inspire by showing people how their personal lives and the lives of people around them can be improved by design to improve life. we do this through index: award and index: award exhibition, showcasing the positive outcomes and effects of the world’s best examples of design to improve life. we educate by using real life challenges as learning resources in schools and the talents of school as a resource in society. we educate students, teachers, educators, designers and decision makers to create sustainable solutions through a certified education curriculum, summer schools and design challenges. we engage by using top-down and bottom-up approaches to involve governments, organizations, companies and people in long-term, valuable network collaborations – ensuring economic, social and environmentally sustainable solutions. design to improve life cities and design to improve life investment are great examples of this. futuristic highways glow in the dark – daan roosegaarde and heijmans video courtesy studioroosegaarde interactive light ‘we live in a city of endless gray concrete roads, surrounded by steel lamps. they have a huge visual impact on our city. but why do they remain so rough and without imagination? why not make them a vision about mobility, a symbol of the future?’ says daan roosegaarde. dynamic lines glowing lines the lines are painted with a glow-in-the-dark powder giving light up to 10 hours. the idea is that luminescent green road markings painted on the road will make street lighting redundant. wind light dynamic paint giant snowflakes appear — the dynamic paint only becomes visible in specific situation, making highway signs relevant to driving context. a temperature-sensitive ingredient in this paint mix responds to cold by lighting up in phosphorescent white. the road thus communicates BEWARE! to the driver and eventually, perhaps, to the car itself. — INDEX: award 2013, these designs were awarded the prestigious prize in the following 5 categories: BODY – mama natalie birthing simulator HOME – fresh paper, WORK – raspberry pi COMMUNITY – copenhagen climate adaptation plan PLAY – (featured here) ‘smart highway’ by daan roosegaarde daan roosegaarde with the director of heijmanns about studio roosegaarde studio roosegaarde is the social design lab of artist and innovator daan roosegaarde with his team of designers and engineers. roosegaarde has been the focus of exhibitions at the tate modern, the national museum in tokyo, the victoria & albert museum in london and the stedelijk museum in amsterdam.Development is permanently on hiatus, as I am busy working on other mods. However, any bug reports will be fixed as soon as possible. 1.10.2 Version has been released, from constant badgering by other devs. 1.10.2 version is just a straight port, and may be a bit buggy. Description is for MC 1.7.10, but should apply for later versions. My first ever Minecraft Mod, now in beta! Enchant a sword with the Essence Ripper enchantment to start getting Shards of Essence. Use these Shards of Essence to create and upgrade powerful weapons, armor, and baubles. All items are expensive to create, yet are unbreakable and upgradeable, often in multiple ways. Once you have your first shards, you'll want to upgrade a Diamond Sword into an Essence Blade. The Essence Blade is the exact same as a Diamond Sword, even keeping the enchantments of the original, but has a multiplier on the drop chance and number of Shards of Essence. However, the Essence Blade is not upgradeable in the Essence Infuser, so you will want to switch over to using other items as soon as you can. To upgrade Essence Armory's items, you will need to place them in an Essence Infuser, and surround the Essence Infuser with Essence Pylons. Similar to Thaumcraft infusion, the Essence Pylons can be placed anywhere in an area around the Essence Infuser, and if they are filled with the correct items, the infusion process will begin. Weapons: Essence Infused Sword: Crafted using two Essence Infused Ingots and an Essence Infused Stick in the normal sword pattern. This weapon starts off slightly stronger than a Diamond Sword, at only +10 damage. Each upgrade gives an additional +1 damage, as well as giving special effects, such as extra fire damage, slowing enemies on hit, or even ignoring parts of their armor. Essence Infused Bow: Crafted using three Essence Infused Ingots and three Essence Infused String in a normal bow pattern. The upgrade system works similarly for the bow as it does for the sword, with additional upgrades for range and draw speed. Armor: Each piece of armor gives a large amount of protection, giving a total of 96% damage reduction when wearing the entire set. Upgrades allow even more damage reduction, with an upgrade akin to the Resistance effect, up to 20% additional damage reduction, per piece, as well as a set of upgrades to reduce damage further depending on the type of damage taken. In addition to the damage reduction upgrades, there are upgrades that give increased maximum health and even a recharging absorption shield which doesn't interfere with normal absorption effects. Trinkets and Baubles: Essence Infused Amulet: The Essence Infused Amulet has several upgrades, from allowing creative flight to vastly multiplying Shard of Essence drops, and even allowing you to heal off harmful potion effects. Essence Infused Belt: The Essence Infused Belt is more combat-oriented than the amulet, with upgrades that cause attacks to deal damage in an area, allow you to periodically knock enemies away, and even multiply your health total. Essence Infused Ring: The Essence Infused Ring, unlike the other two, is no more than a way to get permanent potion effects. However, unlike most permanent potion effects, the Essence Infused Rings don't interfere with the potions themselves, allowing the rings and normal potions to stack together. Mod Compatibility: Baubles (Required) Ars Magica 2 (1.7.10 only) Botania (1.7.10 only) Draconic Evolution (1.7.10 only) Extra Utilities (1.7.10 only) Thaumcraft (1.7.10 only) Tinkers' Construct (1.7.10 only) Travellers' Gear (1.7.10 only) If you do get a crash upon loading the mod, see if adding these mods in fixes it. There do seem to be some issues with the optional code getting run when it shouldn't. Configurability: Almost everything in this mod is configurable, from the strength of each upgrade to how it affects the items. While individual upgrades can't be removed, support for each mod can be separately disabled.Shocking sexual abuse allegations against U.S. Senate candidate and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore rocked headlines on Thursday, a man many conservatives have championed as a hero of traditional values over the years. On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that Moore had allegedly sexually abused a then-14-year-old girl in 1979, when he was 32. Speaking with the Post, Leigh Corfman recalled how she had met Moore at the local courthouse while she was with her mother, and how he had begun chatting her up, eventually asking for her number and meeting with her several times. On one occasion, she said, Moore allegedly picked her up in his car, drove her to a wooded area, and removed her shirt. At that point, she claimed he took off his own clothes and began touching her “over her bra and underpants” before “guid[ing] her hand to touch him over his underwear.” Corfman’s story was corroborated by two childhood friends, who recalled her telling them she was seeing an “older man”, as well as her mother, who learned of the alleged encounter years later. The Post report also named several other women who claimed Moore had approached them for dates when they were still teenagers and he was in his 30s. Advertisement Moore was quick to denounce the report on Thursday as a smear campaign. In a separate statement, Moore’s campaign chair, Bill Armistead, called the report “garbage” and “the very definition of fake news and intentional defamation.” Roy Moore CREDIT: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson “The Judge has been married to [wife] Kayla for nearly 33 years, has 4 children, and 5 grandchildren,” Armistead wrote. “He has been a candidate in four hotly-contested statewide political contests, twice as a gubernatorial candidate and twice as a candidate for chief justice. He has been a three-time candidate for local office, and he has been a national figure in two ground-breaking, judicial fights over religious liberty and traditional marriage.” He added, “After over 40 years of public service, if any of these allegations were true, they would have been made public long before now.” Conservatives have long touted those same moral and religious qualifiers when praising Moore — who first became famous as a judge for his refusal to remove a wooden tablet of the Ten Commandments from behind his bench, and his efforts to install a stone monument of the same in front of the Alabama Supreme Court building — as a hero of the right. In a 2003 column for conservative outlet Human Events, shortly after Moore was removed from his position as Alabama chief justice over the stone tablets controversy, right-wing commentator and author Ann Coulter praised Moore as a stalwart defender of religious liberty and conservative
not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading. It is no longer simply about exploitation and oppression, but something new. Exclusion ultimately has to do with what it means to be a part of the society in which we live; those excluded are no longer society's underside or its fringes or its disenfranchised -- they are no longer even a part of it. The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers.' In this context, some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex 32:1-35) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose.... A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules. In effect, ethics leads to a God who calls for a committed response which is outside the categories of the marketplace. When these latter are absolutized, God can only be seen as uncontrollable, unmanageable, even dangerous, since he calls human beings to their full realization and to freedom from all forms of enslavement. The Pope loves everyone, rich and poor alike, but he is obliged in the name of Christ to remind all that the rich must help, respect and promote the poor. I exhort you to generous solidarity and to the return of economics and finance to an ethical approach which favours human beings. When Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck called his words "Marxist," Pope Francis again offered a Christ-like and humorous response, "The Marxist ideology is wrong. But I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don't feel offended." Pope Francis loves to laugh and is often smiling. His Evangelii Gaudium means "The Joy of the Gospel." This joy is a revolution -- a revolution of love. Jim Wallis is president of Sojourners. His latest book, On God's Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn't Learned About Serving the Common Good, is now available. Watch the Story of the Common Good HERE. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.Click here to view original GIF The Atlantic League, and eight-team professional independent baseball league, has decided to get a little creative and institute some new rules that will help speed up the pace of play. ESPN's Buster Olney details what the new rules are: The defensive team will be limited to three "timeouts" per game, in which mound visits or on-field conferences take place with the current pitcher. Pitching changes will not be counted as timeouts, and in the case of extra innings, one additional timeout will be permitted at the start of the 10th inning and every three innings thereafter. Umpires will enforce a strict 45-second time limit on said timeouts. If the umpire's warning is disregarded by the defensive team and play continues to be delayed, the umpire shall declare a "ball" for the batter at the plate. This will limit the number of times play is interrupted by on-field conferences. Pinch runners will be used for catchers as soon as the catchers reach base. This ensures that catchers are suited up quickly to start the next half-inning. The number of warm-up pitches for each pitcher will be reduced from eight to six. When a manager or catcher on the defensive team indicates to the home plate umpire they wish to issue an intentional base on balls, the batter is to be automatically awarded first base without the need for the pitcher to deliver four balls. Umpires will be directed to enforce Rule 6.02 and Rule 8.04, related to hitters stepping out of the box and pitchers delivering the ball within 12 seconds when the bases are unoccupied. Umpires will be directed to control the pace of play. The umpires shall adhere to the entire strike zone as defined in Rule 2.00 and observe that definition when calling pitches balls or strikes. This is a lot of stuff that has long been discussed by people who want to prevent MLB games from regularly lasting more than three hours. As Olney points out, there's potential for the Atlantic League to serve as a testing ground for MLB, which may be willing to adopt some of these rules if they work out nicely in an independent league. It's unlikely that will ever see automatic pinch runners for catchers in the majors, but something like a pitching clock isn't impossible to imagine. [ESPN]Six Degrees Of Trump Opposition You can tell how much trouble Trump is in by how many groups are lined up against him. Many of the early struggles of Donald Trump’s presidency appear to be self-inflicted: a leader with little experience in government or politics, an administration with significant internal divides and a set of policy goals — such as rolling back the Affordable Care Act and blocking travelers to the United States from certain countries — that are complicated to execute. But there is another huge factor affecting him: his opposition. Amid the intense swirl of things happening in Washington right now, there is near-constant criticism of the new president from all quarters. That makes it hard to tell exactly why some of Trump’s moves turn into full-blown controversies with protests, lawsuits and endless cable news coverage while other potential scandals peter out in a day. Here’s one way you can tell what will become a problem for the White House: How many groups line up against the administration on a particular issue turns out to be a relatively good, semi-empirical way to gauge the level of difficulty Trump is in. Trump’s initiatives face resistance from a number of constituencies. But when several of these blocs band together, they cause stories to explode, forcing the White House to respond and often to shift direction. Here are six of the most important blocs: The bureaucracy — The people serving in government positions not appointed directly by Trump. Think about the stories on Trump allies and their connections to Russia, which are often sourced to unnamed government officials; The courts; Democrats in Congress; The public — Polls show Trump has dismal approval ratings for a president in his first few months in office. That said, Republican voters generally approve of him. So in addition to public opinion generally, the public in this case refers also to organized groups that are drawing intense media coverage and demanding action from Congress. Think of the Women’s marches the day after the inauguration; The media — This refers less to entities such as The New York Times editorial board, which is left leaning and anti-Trump but would likely have been opposed to the policy goals of any Republican president. Instead, at least in the early stages of his presidency, Trump’s biggest challenges have come when a critical mass of coverage all focuses on one story. Think about when the investigative teams at the major newspapers (The New York Times and The Washington Post) and networks such as CNN are breaking news on the Trump-Russia connections, or when Trump is widely criticized for breaking with long-established norms, and Republicans in Congress — The House Freedom Caucus is best understood as anti-establishment and insurgent, rather than anti-Trump. But they are a challenge for him, nonetheless. And there’s a Trump-skeptic wing in the U.S. Senate, including Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona, both of whom criticized the president during the campaign and have objected to some of his proposals since he entered office. Presidents have always had to grapple with most of these blocs. During former President Barack Obama’s tenure, conservative-leaning activists campaigned against the Affordable Care Act, courts blocked some of his key policies on immigration and climate change, and Republicans in Congress opposed his every move. But Trump’s team, unlike the Obama administration, has publicly announced its intention to take on the press and the federal bureaucracy — so those two groups have had a more adversarial relationship with Trump as compared to Obama. And Obama, unlike Trump, could generally rely on members of Congress from his own party to back him. There was not a “Never Obama” wing of the Democratic Party. So one way to look at Trump’s challenges is to evaluate how many of these groups are mobilized against him on particular issues. “Mobilized” is a judgment call, and there are borderline cases, so feel free to quibble with exactly where I’ve placed certain examples. But I think the rubric works: The administration is typically in good shape if it’s only fighting one or two groups (or zero), but start piling up the opposition and Trump gets in trouble. Level 0 With the intensity of polarization nowadays, this doesn’t happen often on important or high-profile issues, but sometimes Trump doesn’t meet any opposition. Trump nominated Jim Mattis as defense secretary, for example, and Mattis was confirmed 98-1 with opposition from none of the key blocs. Level 1 Most of Trump’s cabinet nominees fall into this category, as did miniflaps about Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s anti-press behavior and Ivanka Trump’s White House job. Most notably, at least so far, Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, is in this level: He’s met sustained, focused opposition only among congressional Democrats, which helps explain why he’s likely to be confirmed. “The hearing was not top billing,” the Times wrote after the four days of consideration of Gorsuch’s nomination by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. The paper added, “Empty seats. Distracted senators. Non sequitur questions about fly-fishing and duck-size horses…. Finding oxygen in Mr. Trump’s Washington can be nearly impossible — amid the Russia inquiries, the health care push, the daily administration squabbling. “This week, Democrats got thrown,” the paper concluded. So far, as Democratic strategists acknowledge privately, the party has struggled to create intense, passionate opposition to Gorsuch, or even a big public debate. “It’s a Beltway issue, an elite issue,” said Theda Skocpol, a Harvard professor of government who has written extensively about the 2009-10 tea party mobilization. She argued that even people who are fairly engaged in politics are not that interested in whether Gorsuch is confirmed without a Democratic filibuster or if Senate Republicans change the chamber’s rule to ensure Gorsuch gets a seat on the high court. But with the health care battle now over, liberal groups such as the Indivisible Project are pressing their members to flood senators’ offices with calls to try to stop Gorsuch. There may still be time for mobilization against Gorsuch, since the vote on his confirmation is not scheduled until Friday. Similarly, Trump’s decisions to roll back, stop or delay a number of Obama executive orders and actions have been opposed by Democrats but not really by the other blocs. The media has cast Ivanka Trump’s getting a West Wing office and a security clearance and Tillerson’s flying to Asia without the traditional State Department press corps as breaks from norms. But even congressional Democrats don’t seem that fixated on those two issues. Going it alone doesn’t get you very far. Level 2 The nomination of Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department falls here. Sessions met opposition from the media and Democrats in Congress, but not from the other blocs. The major newspapers published deeply reported stories on Sessions that cast him as having a controversial history on racial issues. Democrats in Congress hammered him. But the Sessions’ nomination for attorney general did not galvanize the public as some Trump policies have, according to Democratic Party strategists working on efforts to broadly oppose the president. (They did not want to say this publicly.) And the Republicans in Congress, perhaps because he had been a colleague, strongly defended Sessions. The courts and federal bureaucracy didn’t weigh in. Sessions was confirmed along a mostly party-line vote. Another of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, falls in this category, too. EPA employees protested Pruitt. They were joined by Democrats on Capitol Hill but not really any of the other four blocs. Pruitt, too, was confirmed mostly along party lines. Finally, I’d put the bulk of Trump’s exaggerations, misleading statements and lies in the Level 2 bucket. The media is constantly highlighting them — in effect, leading a campaign to force the president to stop ignoring facts and making up things to support his underlying arguments. “Trump’s precedent-busting mendacity and the brazenness of his behavior in fabricating truth claims and denying established facts is the factor that has led to a more direct, confrontational role” for the press, Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University, told me. He added, “Flatly contradicting the president in news stories is now pretty routine. That is a change.” Congressional Democrats typically join the media in casting Trump as unusually dishonest. But generally, the courts, the federal bureaucracy, the public and Republicans in Congress are not pressing this issue. And Trump, it’s worth noting, hasn’t shown any increased inclination to stick to the facts. Level 3 Now we’re getting into the levels at which Trump has some trouble on his hands. Sessions and Pruitt, for example, didn’t sail through the Senate, but their confirmations were never truly in doubt. On the other hand, Betsy DeVos, Trump’s nominee to run the Education Department, almost didn’t make it. DeVos was nontraditional for a cabinet selection, with experience more as a campaign donor and activist than as a policymaker. And in her nomination hearing, she made some controversial remarks. The press covered DeVos not simply as a conservative on education policy, but as someone who seemed somewhat unqualified and uninformed on key issues. The DeVos vote came after Senate Democrats had angered party activists by not aggressively contesting the first slate of Trump nominees, including Mattis. “We saw 15 Democrats vote for Mike Pompeo for CIA director, and in response many of those senators found local Indivisible groups and others outside their district offices, telling them to stop rubber-stamping Trump’s nominees,” said Ezra Levin, executive director of Indivisible Project. “Two weeks later, zero Democrats voted for Betsy DeVos. Constituent pressure has stiffened the spines of progressives in Congress.” Skocpol said that a major difference between DeVos and Sessions is that teachers and their unions are a well-organized constituency in local communities across the country and were strongly opposed to DeVos. Whatever the cause, DeVos stirred more opposition calls to some senators’ offices than Trump’s other cabinet picks. The Republicans in Congress mostly supported DeVos. The courts and federal bureaucracy didn’t play a role, and so DeVos ended up with three of the six groups working against her — Democrats and the media, like Sessions, but also more intense public pressure. She was confirmed, but in a very close vote that really seemed like it could have gone the other way. Level 4 “That’s it for that,” Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, told me on the evening of March 13, right after the Congressional Budget Office’s initial report on the American Health Care Act came out. Yarmuth predicted that the CBO projection — 24 million fewer people would have insurance under the AHCA than Obamacare — would push nervous Republicans away from the bill. Before the release of the CBO report, the AHCA was being covered by the press largely as a right-left fight, not as an investigative story like Russia or an unusual policy aimed at a marginalized group, like Trump’s travel ban. The courts were not involved, nor was the federal bureaucracy. But even pre-CBO, the legislation already had three levels of opposition. The Freedom Caucus was complaining about the bill, as were Trump-skeptical GOP senators, such as Collins and Kentucky’s Rand Paul. Democrats in Congress were heavily mobilized against it, and there was an active movement of people showing up at town halls hosted by Republican members of Congress and defending Obamacare. “AHCA not only galvanized opponents on the left and the right, it also spurred nonpartisan organizations — AARP, AMA, AHA — to oppose the bill,” said Kevin Griffis, who was a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration during the implementation of Obamacare and has been working with a group defending the law called the Protect Our Care. “AARP has a lot of bodies to throw at an issue, and the other groups have relationships with members,” he added. The CBO report was written, like all of its work, in a technical, just-the-facts manner by its staff, a group of federal employees who are not selected by the president and are committed to taking a nonpartisan approach to evaluating legislation. But the report was truly a game changer. It immediately increased the number of Republicans in Congress opposed to the bill, and polls suggest that public opinion hardened against the AHCA after the CBO report’s release. Members of Congress said that calls to their offices were overwhelmingly from opponents, not supporters, of the legislation. “275 oppose vs 4 support #ObamaCareLite. Phone calls to my office from constituents over last two weeks,” Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an early GOP opponent of the AHCA, wrote on Twitter three days before Republicans effectively abandoned the bill. In effect, the public, congressional Democrats, a group of Republicans and federal workers killed the legislation. Four blocs also emerged to contest Trump’s claims that Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower. The claims were unusually outlandish even for Trump, which led some Republican members of Congress to slam them in blunt terms, joining Democrats who were doing the same. The wiretapping allegations also implied federal employees were involved, essentially forcing FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers, neither of whom is a Trump appointee, to testify publicly that this wiretapping did not happen. The media highlighted Trump’s claims as another break of norms by the president, with the Times running a news story headlined, “Fact Check: Trump Misleads About the Times’s Reporting on Surveillance.” This all helps explain why this Trump falsehood has broken through beyond all the others (also, that it was about a former president). The media, the bureaucracy, Democrats and Republicans were all aligned against Trump on his wiretapping claim accusations. Level 5 The Russia controversy around the Trump administration is multipronged: the FBI investigation about connections between Trump’s team and the Russians; the congressional inquiries into Russian meddling in the 2016 election; and the question of whether the administration will shift U.S. foreign policy in a more pro-Russia direction. Trump, meanwhile, has suggested that the Russian controversies are “fake news” and that the U.S. should try to establish a better relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Those two notions are opposed by at least five of our six blocs. McCain and other Republicans are very skeptical of Putin and oppose a shift toward an alliance with Russia. Democrats are predictably whipping up the issue, suggesting the scandal around Trump’s and his allies’ connections to Russia is worse than what has become public. The media smells blood on Russia and is consistently publishing stories on the issue. Those stories have been fueled by bureaucratic leaking. A combination of the media and the bureaucracy essentially forced out Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. “There have been so many sources inside the government who are willing to talk, willing to leak, the press can be ‘oppositional’ just by cultivating these sources and doing its normal thing. The Russian story is being driven by sources willing to talk,” said Rosen. Polls suggest the public strongly supports (66 percent of Americans, according to a recent Quinnipiac survey) some kind of formal, independent investigation of Trump, Russia and 2016. So right now Russia registers as a Level 5 problem for Trump. It could, however, reach Level 6 if the courts get involved. And there are signs the judicial branch already is. Comey’s testimony at a hearing in the House on the Russia controversy hinted at the role of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, known as FISA. But formal judicial approval of the Russia investigations has not been publicly confirmed. And obviously, if one of Trump’s allies (or the president himself) were charged with a crime in the Russia controversy, that would formally involve the courts. Level 6 We’re at peak opposition now, and Trump has really only reached this level once so far: his first executive order temporarily barring immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries and blocking refugees. Republicans didn’t like it. Many criticized its execution, and McCain, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska — all Trump skeptics during the campaign — criticized the initial travel ban’s contents. The public didn’t like it. Opposition overall wasn’t overwhelmingly against the ban, but a passionate group of citizens were outraged by it, showing up at airports around the country to protest the order. Those protests, in turn, seemed to mobilize Democrats in Congress to strongly oppose the measure. Government workers also registered their opposition: Hundreds of employees of the State Department signed a memo attacking the policy. And the media covered all of it in a wall-to-wall frenzy. That media coverage, moreover, was very skeptical of the policy, highlighting the ban’s botched rollout. The Times, in the headline of a news story (not an op-ed) suggested that the ban had “unleashed global chaos.” In this context, federal judges, who can wait months to take up cases, immediately issued rulings constraining and eventually blocking the travel ban. The wholesale opposition forced the Trump administration to back down — something it rarely does — and redraft the executive order. The second order received less fanfare than the first, but it’s still currently blocked by the courts. Trump can overcome these blocs. The president could unilaterally lift the executive sanctions Obama imposed on Russia for interfering in the election. And while the travel ban has been blocked by federal judges so far, it could eventually be upheld legally and implemented. But with so many blocs protesting a presidential action, the White House must be determined to pursue it. Obama pushed through many levels of opposition at times, although it’s hard to find many of his policies opposed by five or six of these blocs. The original Obamacare essentially had Level 4 opposition: A faction of Democrats in Congress disliked the Affordable Care Act, polls showed it was unpopular and Republican activists and GOP members of Congress had mobilized against it. Once Obamacare was enacted, federal courts took up a number of cases questioning the legality of parts of the law. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 punctured a key plank of the ACA by saying states could opt out of its Medicaid expansion. Through all of this, the Obama administration persevered on the ACA, and the law is for now one of Obama’s defining accomplishments as president. Similarly, the Trump administration, by writing a second version of the travel ban, is suggesting that they are determined to enact this policy. For Trump’s team, particularly chief strategist Steve Bannon, all this opposition is not surprising. Bannon has said that Trump was elected to break up the traditional powers of Washington and create a “new political order,” not break bread with the establishment. So this strong opposition to Trump is probably not going away. The big question is whether he and his team will overcome the opposition and push Trump’s proposals through, keep being defeated or, alternatively, recalibrate their goals and strategies so that Trump is not constantly battling with so many major forces at once.UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones does not regret his decision to decline a short-notice fight against Chael Sonnen, stating it wasn't right to provide Sonnen "the opportunity of a lifetime." Jones had been scheduled to fight Dan Henderson in the UFC 151 main event in Las Vegas on Sept. 1. But that fell through eight days before the fight when Henderson withdrew from the card due to a knee injury. The UFC tried to book Sonnen, a former middleweight contender, as a replacement. But Jones ultimately turned the fight down, and the entire event was canceled. Jones faces Vitor Belfort this weekend in Toronto. Despite drawing harsh criticism from UFC president Dana White, Jones stood by his decision to not fight Sonnen. "I don't regret the decision," Jones said Tuesday on "SportsCenter." "I pretty much had everything to lose in that situation. Chael Sonnen is a guy whose record is, I think, 6-5, which isn't a very good record to even fight for a world title. "I just thought it would be a bad decision to give a guy the opportunity of a lifetime like that." Sonnen holds a 6-5 mark in the UFC, with an overall professional record of 27-12-1. He fought for the UFC middleweight title twice, losing both times to Anderson Silva. Jones, currently ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by ESPN.com, also maintains Sonnen knew of Henderson's injury before it was announced on Aug. 23 and had secretly been preparing for the bout. "It all seemed too suspicious that he was calling me out way before I had a clue my opponent was hurt," Jones said. "People don't realize Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson are actually best friends. "Chael Sonnen knew his teammate was hurt, he obviously knew his teammate his was hurt. He had prepared up to three weeks for me. That would give me eight days, when he had three weeks." Henderson and Sonnen have denied that knowledge of the injury was shared between them. Sonnen is expected to fight Forrest Griffin in December. Regarding a future fight with Sonnen, Jones said he'll defend his title against him when he earns the shot. "I wouldn't consider Chael Sonnen one of the best in the world," Jones added. The light heavyweight champ has not spoken to White since the fallout of UFC 151. A meeting between the two will inevitably take place this week during the buildup for Saturday's card in Toronto. Jones said he's anxious to see the UFC president and looks forward to putting the ordeal behind him. "I'm excited to talk to Dana," Jones said. "Me and Dana are both what I consider great ambassadors for the sport of mixed martial arts, and us not being on the same page -- it makes no sense. It gets us nowhere. We'll squash it."Chemical giant BASF has developed a new type of polyamide containing long glass fibers, and this "Ultramid Structure" plastic, as they're calling it, can then be pelletized for injection molding. After it comes out of the mold, the resultant product is so strong it can be used in vehicle and machinery applications, in areas where the only game in town used to be metal. Here's what that boils down to in the consumer sector: Robust, yet fully plastic, automotive rims that are 30% lighter than the metal equivalent. As automakers continue trending towards lightweighting technologies to increase fuel efficiency, it's a good bet that these rims will make it into many an engineering meeting. Take a look: The wheels, which were first seen on a Smart Car concept produced with Daimler last year, are currently on display at the automotive industry's International Suppliers Fair in Wolfsburg, Germany. Learn more here.The head of MI5 has warned we must take the threat of new Islamist atrocities seriously. If the abuse of antiterrorist legislation in the Paul Chambers case is a guide, the people who most need reminding of the importance of seriousness, are MI5's colleagues in the criminal justice system. The 27-year-old worked for a car parts company in Yorkshire. He and a woman from Northern Ireland started to follow each other on Twitter. He liked her tweets and she liked his and boy met girl in a London pub. They got on as well in person as they did in cyberspace. To the delight of their followers, Paul announced he would be flying from Robin Hood airport in Doncaster to Northern Ireland to meet her for a date. In January, he saw a newsflash that snow had closed the airport. "Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed," he tweeted to his friends. "You've got a week… otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!" People joke like this all the time. When they say in a bar: "I'll strangle my boyfriend if he hasn't done the washing up" or post on Facebook: "I'll murder my boss if he makes me work late", it does not mean that the bodies of boyfriends and bosses will soon be filling morgues. You know the difference between making a joke and announcing a murder, I'm sure. Apparently the forces of law and order do not. A plain-clothes detective from South Yorkshire Police arrived at Chambers's work. Instead of quietly pointing out that it was best not to joke about blowing up airports, he arrested him under antiterrorist legislation. A posse of four more antiterrorist officers was waiting in reception. "Do you have any weapons in your car?" they asked. "I said I had some golf clubs in the boot," Chambers told me. "But they didn't think it was funny. I kept wondering, 'When are they going to slap my wrists and let me go?' Instead, they hauled me into a police car while my colleagues watched." The Crown Prosecution Service wanted to charge him under the law's provisions against bomb hoaxers, a serious measure aimed at a serious public nuisance. But there had been no hoax. Paul Chambers had not caused a panic at the airport or intended to cause a panic. No one in authority knew about the tweet until some busybody decided to report Chambers. Instead of displaying a little common sense and letting the matter rest, the CPS dug up an obscure section of the 2003 Communications Act, which makes it an offence to send a "menacing message" over a public telecommunications network. Chambers pleaded not guilty after reading an outraged article on his case by David Allen Green, one of the new generation of free-speech lawyers. No good did his plea do him. In a Kafkaesque development, the CPS persuaded judge Jonathan Bennett that in the context of terrorist violence his tweet should be taken as a genuine threat, whether he was joking or not and whether the airport knew about the "threat" or not. The judge gave Chambers a criminal record and ordered him to pay £1,000 in costs and fines. In Milan Kundera's great anti-communist novel The Joke, the young hero tries to impress a beautiful woman with adolescent bravado. Forgetting what happens to dissenters in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, he writes on a card to her: "Optimism is the opium of the people. A healthy atmosphere stinks of stupidity! Long live Trotsky!" It's a silly joke. But Communist party officials cannot admit it is a joke once the card is discovered or they will be branded as Trotskyite traitors too. So they make him to do forced labour in the mines. The danger of calling the justice system Kafkaesque or comparing democratic Britain to Stalinist Czechoslovakia is that you risk repeating the exaggerations of hysterical writers. This is a free country, after all, and the state does not send the likes of Paul Chambers to the salt mines. In this case, the totalitarian comparison is only mildly hyperbolic, however. After his managers at the car parts business heard the police call him a "terrorist", they fired him. He moved to Northern Ireland to be close to his girlfriend and found a job working for a council. Last week, he told his employers that his appeal would be heard this Friday and his name would be in the papers. They heard the words "bomb" and "airport" and fired him too. Because of a joke, he has a criminal record and lost two jobs. The CPS is ruining his life – for no reason. With a bit of luck, the crown court will turn his case into a legal scandal. The CPS's claim that a person's intent does not matter when they tweet a joke strikes me as false in law. More pertinently, anyone who reads the reports of the original trial can guess that the police eventually dismissed the affair as a nonsense. If so, was the defence told? Beyond the law lies the politics. The hounding of Paul Chambers stinks of Labour authoritarianism. The prosecuting authorities showed no respect for free speech. They could not take a joke. They carried on prosecuting Chambers even when they knew he was harmless. They turned a trifle into a crime because a conviction helped them hit performance targets. Inside their bureaucratic hierarchies, it was dangerous to speak out against a superior's stupidity. Better to let an injustice take place than risk a black mark against your name. If the court condemns the CPS, I can guarantee that Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, will not fire or discipline the prosecutors involved. I doubt if he will even tell them they have undermined support for the anti-terrorist cause. I don't care what the polls say or how unpopular the coalition becomes – Labour must change the settled view of the majority of Britons that it is the party of politically correct jobsworths or it will never win another election.Not in front of the television. A voice command feature on Samsung’s Smart TV could allow the interception of private living room conversations and their transmission to third parties, the company says in a privacy statement highlighted Monday by online news site the Daily Beast. The statement says Smart TV voice commands could be sent to a software provider as part of the process of converting voice to text. “Personal or other sensitive information” may be among the captured data it reads, though Samsung said the information is protected through encryption. “Please note that when you watch a video or access applications or content provided by a third-party, that provider may collect or receive information about your Smart TV (its IP address and device identifiers), the requested transaction (your request to buy or rent the video), and your use of the application or service. Samsung is not responsible for these providers’ privacy or security practices. You should exercise caution and review the privacy statements applicable to the third-party websites and services you use.” Samsung on its website notes that data from device identifiers could potentially be passed on to law enforcement, advertisers and other groups. In a statement, the South Korea-based consumer electronics giant said its Smart TVs “employ industry-standard security safeguards and practices, including data encryption, to secure consumers’ personal information and prevent unauthorized collection or use. “Voice recognition, which allows the user to control the TV using voice commands, is a Samsung Smart TV feature, which can be activated or deactivated by the user. The TV owner can also disconnect the TV from the Wi-Fi network.” Noting that similar privacy concerns have been raised about other voice command systems including Apple’s Siri, a poster on Twitter said the issue is another reason “not to discuss illegal activities in front of a smart device.”It has been a while since I last done a collection update, which if you have been following my blog is due to a variety of reasons. Not to worry yourselves though as I am back with another update and Haul, so strap and and get ready for some awesome covers directly beamed into your eyeholes. Marvel Age Issue #52 The first issue I am going to start with is this beautiful Marvel Age Issue #52. I was not actively looking for this comic, however on one of my eBay binges (when I search silver surfer comics and go mad) I came across this issue for only 99p. How could anyone, let alone myself turns this down. Artwork on the front is just a perfect enticement to draw you into the Silver Surfer world. This was magically created by Marshall Rogers. Now the quality of the comic itself is not great but I am happy with it considering the price I paid (I will look out for a more pristine copy). Marvel Age was a promotion comic book released between 1983 – 1994. It was a monthly collection of previews showcasing the new release from the Marvel world. This issue from July 1987 has its focus on the Silver Surfer. It contains some really cool articles about the comic book including; The History of the Silver Surfer Silver Surfer New Projects The new Silver Surfer Series There is a lot of silver surfer knowledge jammed into this little comic magazine so I can not wait to get stuck in and read them all. Silver Surfer Vol 8, Issue #7 Issue #7 is the latest release from the Main Line Silver Surfer comic book, brought to us by the amazing Dan Slott, Michael Allred and Laura Allred. This issue finds the Silver Surfer and Dawn Greenwood back in space after some time saving Earth ‘again’. Being back in space however does not mean they are safe? or does it. I will be doing a review of this issue soon so keep an eye on my twitter for that. Silver Surfer Volume 5. This was a big hole in my collection and I am very happy to see it filled. Volume 5 of the Silver Surfer main line comic was released during 2003 – 2004. It focuses on tow major storylines which I have obtained some synopsis for below. Silver Surfer Volume 5, Issue 1 - Communion Part 1 ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 14 Communion (Issues 1 – 6) Small children from around the globe are vanishing without a trace, and reports of the appearance of a gleaming alien figure at the time of their abductions are growing in number. For single mother Denise Walters, caring for her young autistic daughter has been the primary focus of her life – she never imagined becoming embroiled in alien abduction and mankind’s possible Armageddon. But that’s exactly what happens when the Silver Surfer appears in Denise’s home and whisks her daughter away. As Denise delves further into her daughter’s abduction, she begins unraveling the mystery of the Surfer’s motives. Is his strange and alien mind plotting mankind’s salvation, or its ultimate destruction? http://marvel.com/comics/collection/1280/silver_surfer_vol_1_communion_trade_paperback Revelation (Issues 7 – 14) Revelation follows the story where communion left off. Though the Silver Surfer has reunited Denise Waters with her daughter, Stewart Acheron intends to claim Ellie as his own – by any means necessary. I can not wait to finally read these two storylines as I have heard some good stuff about them. I have also noticed that Communion is available in TB so I will be adding that to my next amazon basket. I have so far been able to see if they made Revelation into a TB so if you know that they have please let me know in the comments below. Silver Surfer TB Haul The final part of my haul for now is 4 new TB collections. These are all from the modern 2014+ issues. The main reason I get TB’s along side the actual comics is for a couple of reasons. Firstly I love to collect any release of the Silver Surfer and secondly it enables me to board and bag the issues
need for first responder training to teach first responders to effectively interact with autistic and special needs individuals,” Dr. Julian Maha, founder and CEO of the autism nonprofit, Kulture City, told The Mighty. “The training will give them much needed tools to effectively communicate with autistic individuals, help keep both parties safe and hopefully prevent tragedies like these.” Bryan Chandler, who runs the Facebook community group, Asperger’s Syndrome Awareness – Bryan’s Advocacy, echoed those sentiments when asked to comment on the story. “Police education is essential to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” Chandler told The Mighty. “It is important for them to understand what a meltdown is and the extreme reactions that occur when one is on-going. They should be trained on how to support someone with autism when having a meltdown, and I believe I speak for most people when I say the following: ‘I do not expect their education to be perfect, but they should at least be trained on how autism affects us, however basic.’ Verbal communication is difficult for us and a bit of understanding would have gone a long way here… This situation is evidence that more awareness is needed.” No law enforcement officials were injured in the incident, and the officers involved were placed on administrative leave, which is standard for officer-involved shooting situations, reported ABC 15 Arizona. By Elisabeth Brentano More from The Mighty: Please Stop Saying ‘Committed’ Suicide 36 Things People With Anxiety Want Their Friends to Know What the Starbucks Barista Didn’t Know When She Wrote ‘Smile’ on My CoffeeHere is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about music and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the music urban legends featured so far. MUSIC URBAN LEGEND : A musician was sued for infringing on the copyright of a silent song. Mike Batt has had a long and storied career as a composer and music producer beginning in the late 60s writing hits for performers as eclectic as Steeleye Span… Art Garfunkel… and, of course, The Wombles… More recently, in 2002, Batt formed the classic rock crossover band, The Planets, and released the popular (well, popular for classical music, at least) album, Classical Graffiti… On the album, Batt has a “song” titled “A One Minute Silence,” which is just that, one minute of silence. That wouldn’t be such a problem, except Batt credited the song as written by Batt/Cage. John Cage, of course, was a world famous avant garde composer, perhaps most famous for his 1952 composition, “4′33″,” which consisted of four minutes and thirty three seconds of seeming silence (the point of Cage’s piece was that of course there is no such thing as PURE silence, so in reality, what the song was made up of was the ambient noise of the audience as they watched a performer do nothing for four minutes and thirty three seconds). If Batt had not mentioned Cage, that would be one thing, but the administrators of the John Cage Trust felt that by calling attention to it, he was clearly attempting to use Cage’s song – this was not just silence in their minds, this was silence meant to evoke Cage’s work and that the idea of showing “silence” in this regard was an artistic concept that could be protected by copyright, and thus they felt that it was copyright infringement, so they sued Batt. Soon before the case went to trial, Batt eventually settled by making a “donation” to the John Cage Trust for somewhere in the low six figures. Before settling, Batt had a great line about the songs, “Mine is a much better silent piece. I have been able to say in one minute what Cage could only say in four minutes and 33 seconds.” The legend is… STATUS : True Feel free (heck, I implore you!) to write in with your suggestions for future urban legends columns! My e-mail address is [email protected]It wasn’t necessarily obvious to me that I should call my blog “The Lingerie Lesbian“. Even if it seems like a natural choice now, the name still shapes both what I write and the perceptions of my blog. There are great things about my name– it’s good at catching people’s attention, for example, it stands out, and it is often a great explanation of my point of view (plus, for the web nerds out there, it’s also great for SEO). There are trade-offs though, and ones that have everything to do with how the word “lesbian” operates in the world. There seems to be a kind of pornographic tinge to my blog’s name, for example, and it’s pretty clear that a lot of people who click on my blog were looking for porn that features “lesbians in lingerie” (in ways that poorly represent both lesbians AND lingerie). Now, I really don’t have a problem with pornography, in and of itself. But when the word “lesbian” always has some sort of lascivious meaning attached to it, it makes you realize how much the idea of a “lingerie lesbian” is already played out. I also know that my name turns people off– while I’m not big enough to get hate messages (thank goodness), I can feel the way just the phrase “the lingerie lesbian” makes both individuals and brands feel uncomfortable. If you don’t know that feeling, you might call it paranoia or an overactive imagination– but it’s there, that touch of uncertainty, the knowledge that someone is treating you differently. And that’s one of the consequences of being so obviously and publicly ‘out’. People act like whether you are ‘out’ is a yes or no question. It’s really more complicated than that, because in the real world, you may have to come out to each and every person you interact with. Some people will blame you if you’re not out– others will feel like you’re too out, as if you are changing the atmosphere for everyone else by reminding people that you are not straight. The politics of outness are complex: you may choose to share your sexuality with different people depending on your relationship to them and their feelings on the issue. Being out to your friends and being out to your parents is an entirely different situation. So is being out in a professional environment vs. privately. And then, of course, your appearance changes how out you are to the general public; to the man on the street; to the person who doesn’t ask. One thing I heard when Anderson Cooper came out last year is that “everyone knew” or “it didn’t matter.” That’s just not true. Anyone who says that simply doesn’t realize the bravery it takes to tell the world, “I’m gay” or the way the silent void of not saying anything makes speaking out even harder. That’s why when Jenna Lyons recognized her partner at the Glamour Women of the Year awards, I almost wanted to cry with joy. Every time someone isn’t ashamed to mention having a same sex partner, it makes the stressed, uncomfortable pause before “no, I have a girlfriend” all that much shorter. I’m not necessarily being brave by calling myself, “The Lingerie Lesbian“– but I am being almost aggressively honest. I was so tired of the assumptions of straightness that follows me in my physical life that I wanted to make it clear that my sexuality is a part of who I am. Just my presence changes the conversation. Some people, gay and straight, say that your sexuality is private, that it’s not a necessary part of a conversation about fashion or anything else– I completely disagree. If I look around me and listen to the conversations, I am constantly hearing about my coworker’s husbands, celebrities’ boyfriends, some popstar’s (straight) wedding, how attractive some model (of the opposite sex) is. It feels like I’m inundated in heteronormative culture and no one sees it but me. No matter how liberal or accepting a community is, if you’ve come out, you know what it’s like to see someone’s face change, for their whole mind to shift to take in a reality that had genuinely never occurred to them. You’ve changed, completely, right before their eyes– even while you know that you’ve stayed completely the same. One thing I haven’t touched on is how the fact that I dress “femme” or in a feminine manner, means that I don’t even fit into the conception of what a gay woman is, for the majority of the straight (and sometimes gay!) populations– which means this whole “coming out” business is an activity I have to go through on a weekly, if not daily, basis. And if I don’t feel up to making a point about it, I somehow feel like I’m hiding something, even if there was no opportune moment to bring it up in conversation. Here, on this blog, I never have to worry about that kind of confusion or miscommunication and I’m grateful for it. So, though you learn about me through these blog posts, you may not know everything about me. But you do know that I am ‘The Lingerie Lesbian‘ — and my sexuality is always going to be part of the conversation.It's not just Europe and the United States where base politics can make for bad economics. There's a danger that cheap populism is about to lock in a bad outcome for Australia in the next financial year and, depending on the extent to which you can trust political leaders to lie, worse beyond that. For all the opinion poll perceptions though, it's not the government that's guilty of a gross failure of economic credibility. It's the opposition, both in the short and medium terms. The immediate test of whether a party is fit to govern is the minerals resources rent tax (MRRT). In economic terms, it's a no-brainer, which is why the opposition's stance is such a worry. Either there are no brains, or the leadership is so pathetically shallow that they are prepared to damage the country to get the keys to the Lodge. It's not often that Rupert Murdoch's local tabloids or broadsheet blow Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey away, but that's just what Laurie Oakes did in his Saturday column. He gave "attack dog" Abbott both barrels for his plain dumb stance in rejecting the RRT in any form plus slapped down Abbott and Hockey for "advocating their feral version of economic isolationism" in opposing the possibility of Australia increasing its loan to the International Monetary Fund.Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. Dec. 7, 2015, 2:55 PM GMT / Updated Dec. 7, 2015, 3:45 PM GMT By Pete Williams The U.S. Supreme Court Monday handed a legal victory to advocates of banning firearms commonly known as assault weapons. By leaving a suburban Chicago gun control law intact, the court gave a boost to efforts aimed at imposing such bans elsewhere, at a time of renewed interest in gun regulation after recent mass shootings. Police say the attackers in San Bernardino used such weapons as did the gunman who attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic two weeks ago in Colorado. The court declined to take up a challenge to a 2013 law passed in Highland Park, Illinois that bans the sale, purchase, or possession of semi-automatic weapons that can hold more than ten rounds in a single ammunition clip or magazine. It specifically includes certain rifles, including those resembling the AR-15 and AK-47 assault-style firearms. Related: AG Lynch: President Will Call On Congress to Take Action on Guns in San Bernardino Address Semi-automatic weapons are capable of shooting a single round with each pull of the trigger and, consequently, can fire rapidly. Large capacity magazines reduce the need to reload as often. A federal district judge upheld the law, and so did a federal appeals court panel by a 2-1 vote. On Monday the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas said the Supreme Court should have taken the case. Thomas wrote their dissent, said the court should have granted review to prevent the appeals court "from relegating the Second Amendment to a second-class right." Central to the dispute was a 2008 Supreme Court decision that for the first time said the Constitution's Second Amendment provides an individual right to own a handgun for self defense. While it was a watershed ruling for gun rights, it also said "dangerous and unusual weapons" can be restricted. In rejecting a challenge to the law, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, said "assault weapons with large-capacity magazines can fire more shots, faster, and thus can be more dangerous in the aggregate. Why else are they the weapons of choice in mass shootings?" The Illinois State Rifle Association, which filed a lawsuit to challenge the Highland Park law's constitutionality, said the weapons are in no way unusual. The AR-15, the group said, is the best-selling rifle type in the nation. Lawyers for 24 states urged the Supreme Court to strike the ordinance down. They said the weapons it banned are not only commonly used but also protected by state laws that forbid local communities to restrict them. Related: More Than 80 Percent of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Obtained Legally Similar bans are in effect in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and in Chicago and surrounding cities. In mid-October, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Connecticut and New York laws. "These weapons are disproportionately used in crime, and particularly in criminal mass shootings," the court said. "They are also disproportionately used to kill law enforcement officers." Since issuing its landmark gun rights decision in 2008, the Supreme Court has been reluctant to step back into this controversial area of the law, even as the lower courts have split over the nature of gun rights outside the home. Last year, the justices declined to take up challenges to two laws that restrict handgun ownership by young adults — a federal law barring the sale of handguns to customers under 21 and a Texas law forbidding anyone under 21 to carry a handgun in public. And the court last year refused to hear an appeal of a New Jersey law that sharply restricts the authority to carry a handgun in public by requiring proof of a justifiable need to carry a gun. Each time, the challengers have made a similar plea, urging the Supreme Court to re-enter the fray because the lower courts are misreading its 2008 decision, permitting too many gun regulations to stand. In this most recent case, lawyers for Illinois State Rifle Association said that in the seven years since the last big gun ruling, "the lower courts have assiduously worked to sap it of any real meaning. They have upheld severe restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms that would be unthinkable in the context of any other constitutional right."There is nothing stronger than a mother’s love. And Dutch mother Monique Verbert proved this adage recently when she rescued her 19-year-old daughter from the Islamic State (IS) after traveling there disguised in Muslim dress. Verbert’s daughter, Sterlina Petalo, had previously gone to Syria to marry a Dutch jihadist, a former member of the Dutch military. Verbert’s safe return to Holland with her child, a feat of bravery in and of itself, also represents the first time that a girl who had voluntarily gone to the Islamic State to marry a jihadist has returned home safely to the West. “She basically saw him as a sort of Robin Hood …that he was a nice man and fought against Assad,” Verbert said in an interview on Dutch television that was reported in Die Welt. “She said again and again: “Mum, look at that guy. Isn’t it good what he does?” Petalo’s story is not an unusual one for the dozens of girls from Western countries who have travelled the same path to the Islamic State to wed a jihadist. Die Welt relates the Dutch teenager converted to Islam at age 18 during a spiritual quest and soon became radicalised. She started calling herself ‘Aicha’, covered her hair, shunned friends, and read the Koran and Islamic websites, “hardly leaving her room.” Petalo’s mother, who is separated from her father, said her “greatest scare” occurred when her daughter appeared for the first time completely veiled. “Then I truly asked myself: ‘girl, what are you doing’?” Verbert said. But Die Welt reports that the “decisive day” occurred last January when Petalo saw her future ‘husband’ on a television program. She contacted him via the internet and subsequently decided to travel to him in Syria. Warned by a friend of her daughter’s intended departure, Verbert was able to prevent this first attempt to leave the country by contacting the police, who put Petalo’s name on a list of potential terrorists and took her passport away. Petalo, however, successfully left Holland for Syria on a second try, using different identification. Finding the police and Dutch authorities powerless to help get her daughter back, Verbert took matters into her own hands, appearing on a television show in an effort to contact her. Later, Verbert discovered her child had separated from the Dutch jihadist and was now together with another IS fighter in Raqqa, the IS’s main city. Verbert then travelled to Turkey, but could not get over the border to Syria and returned home. After receiving a call for help from her daughter, Die Welt reports Verbert decided to return to Turkey to try and reach her again. After locating her child, she crossed into Syria, completely covered in Islamic dress, and successfully brought her out and back to Holland safely. Details concerning how this was accomplished, however, are unknown, since Dutch authorities are remaining silent. Petalo is currently in custody, as she may still pose a security risk and may also face charges for aiding a terrorist organization. French anthropologist Dounia Bouzar has studied the phenomenon of young people in France who are suspected of wanting to leave, or have already, like Petalo, left their families and country to join the Islamic State. Last spring, Bouzar set up a center to prevent such departures and was also hired by French police, seeking assistance in this area. From her work with the 130 families that have contacted her, Bouzar published a book last October titled, “Ils cherchent le paradis, ils ont trouve l’enfer” (They Are Searching For Paradise, They Found Hell). Of the youths at risk, Bouzar told the French newspaper, Le Figaro, that as many as 80 percent were atheists with many coming from atheistic homes, an astonishing 60 percent of their parents were teachers, and 90 percent came from the middle and upper classes. Bouzar estimates about a dozen females have made it to Syria from France, but French authorities are monitoring 90 families of girls in danger of leaving. About half of these girls are converts and even include Jewish girls among their number. Also in the Le Figaro interview, Bouzar gave a detailed account of the radicalisation process Petalo probably underwent and what she likely experienced in Syria as a jihadist’s bride. Bouzar related the radicalisation of these girls, some as young as 14, is “like lightening hitting the house.” The majority are not of North African origin, France’s main source of Muslim immigration, and “have nothing to do with Islam.” But they are “passionate.” “These are brilliant girls, who are getting ready to study medicine, political science or altruistic professions…,” Bouzar stated. “They had the misfortune of talking about this on Facebook. It’s as if the terrorists have psychological head-hunters who locate the personality profiles of those who wish to change the world and fight against injustice. One would say that they are specifically looking for the elite.” The same holds true for girls of all classes. Even among working class or less privileged sectors of French society, the jihadist “head-hunters” search out only “very good students.” As for the boys, it is just the opposite. Bouzar says recruiters look for unemployed males who have adjustment difficulties in society. After contact, Bouzar states the girls are then methodically manipulated mentally over a period of time by their recruiters to the point where, almost cult-like, they become the only ones, with whom they communicate. First, all confidence in adults, including parents, and society is removed. Then videos are received, telling the girls that they are being deceived and “secret societies are manoeuvering to kill people in order to hold on to their power.” Societies that only Islam can destroy. “It’s the theory of conspiracy,” said Bouzar. “They ask them ‘Which side are you on? Are you going to let people be massacred? Wake up?’ They make them reject the real world.” Next, photos are sent of brutally killed babies, claiming they were murdered by Assad, and the girls are told to leave school and come and rescue them. They are also told their parents are not the “elect of God” and not to watch television any more. Eventually, the girls targeted are cut off from all their former bases of reference and come under the control of the recruiters, or “bearded prince charmings,” as Bouzar calls them. The mothers, Bouzar says, describe their daughters as having been “robotised.” “When one analyses their telephones, one sees they receive 100 messages a day,” Bouzar told Le Figaro. “This starts at five o’clock in the morning. Sometimes, they don’t sleep anymore.” Like Petalo, the girls eventually don the niqab or jilbab. Bouzar says the girls call it “my security blanket, my best friend, or my comforter and use it like a cocoon, in a form of regression.” She adds that, when deprogramming girls prevented from leaving France, the most difficult part is getting them to shed the Muslim dress. “I counsel parents to search under the beds, since these clothes are the first signs of danger,” Bouzar warns. Also included in the radicalisation process, the French anthropologist says, are promises of marriage. And this promise, Bouzar states, is acted on almost as soon as the girls arrive in the Islamic State. With marriage, a girl becomes her husband’s “inheritance,” living with three or four of his other wives in a house, polygamy apparently the norm. Her only job now is to look after the children under the supervision of a “boss” or older woman who monitors her telephone calls home. “It’s all an organization,” said Bouzar. “When they are not married, they are herded together. One knows of a house where 17 girls are waiting for ‘distribution’. For some time now, it is worse, since they get them pregnant as soon as possible. They say they will be less tempted to flee, if they have a baby” But, according to Bouzar, this tactic of quickly impregnating the girls in order to ground them in the Islamic State may sometimes backfire. She told Le Figaro that becoming pregnant is one of the three things that sometimes serve to shake girls out of their cult-like mindset. “One notices that the moment the baby starts to move, they (the girls) once again have a normal voice on the telephone,” Bouzar says. The parents’ repeated evoking of childhood memories can also lead to their daughters “de-programming themselves,” and to feeling and thinking again. The third factor that can lead to an awakening from the brainwashing, Bouzar says, concerns the girls having personally witnessed, or heard talk of, “the slitting of a Syrian Muslim’s throat.” “They begin to cry and want to return (home),” Bouzar says. “It is at this moment that they speak of terrorists and realize the difference between the talk and the reality. But here, it is too late. In truth, no girl has yet succeeded in returning.” Until ‘Aicha’. It is not yet known what made the Dutch teenager reach out to her mother and call for help. Like Albert Speer, Hitler’s armaments minister and originator of the following quote, Petalo did not recognise “the devil when he is putting his hand on your shoulder.” Hopefully, she will be allowed to tell her story soon. Petalo’s testimony would serve as a valuable aid to parents and a powerful warning to other suggestible and vulnerable young people, opening their eyes to that hand. But if she is ever permitted, and desires, to help prevent such evil from hijacking other innocent lives, Petalo should always emphasize in her story how love saved hers. * Don't miss scholar of Islam Dr. Mark Christian discuss Islam’s Assault on Women’s Sexuality on The Glazov Gang: Freedom Center pamphlets now available on Kindle: Click here. Subscribe to Frontpage's TV show, The Glazov Gang, and LIKE it on Facebook.Washington’s Blog January 29, 2011 Egyptian, Tunisian and Yemeni protesters all say that inequality is one of the main reasons they’re protesting. However, the U.S. actually has much greater inequality than in any of those countries. Specifically, the “Gini Coefficient” – the figure economists use to measure inequality – is higher in the U.S. [Click for larger image] Gini Coefficients are like golf – the lower the score, the better (i.e. the more equality). According to the CIA World Fact Book, the U.S. is ranked as the 42nd most unequal country in the world, with a Gini Coefficient of 45. In contrast: • Tunisia is ranked the 62nd most unequal country, with a Gini Coefficient of 40. • Yemen is ranked 76th most unequal, with a Gini Coefficient of 37.7. • And Egypt is ranked as the 90th most unequal country, with a Gini Coefficient of around 34.4. And inequality in the U.S. has soared in the last couple of years, since the Gini Coefficient was last calculated, so it is undoubtedly currently much higher. So why are Egyptians rioting, while the Americans are complacent? Well, Americans – until recently – have been some of the wealthiest people in the world, with most having plenty of comforts (and/or entertainment) and more than enough to eat. But another reason is that – as Dan Ariely of Duke University and Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School demonstrate – Americans consistently underestimate the amount of inequality in our nation. As William Alden wrote last September: Americans vastly underestimate the degree of wealth inequality in America, and we believe that the distribution should be far more equitable than it actually is, according to a new study. Or, as the study’s authors put it: “All demographic groups — even those not usually associated with wealth redistribution such as Republicans and the wealthy — desired a more equal distribution of wealth than the status quo.” The report … “Building a Better America — One Wealth Quintile At A Time” by Dan Ariely of Duke University and Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School … shows that across ideological, economic and gender groups, Americans thought the richest 20 percent of our society controlled about 59 percent of the wealth, while the real number is closer to 84 percent. Here’s the study: norton ariely in press –Bob Corker, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, may face a Steve Bannon-backed challenger in 2018. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite A Republican senator who was once on Donald Trump's short list for a Cabinet spot but has since feuded with the president could be targeted by a primary challenger backed by Steve Bannon. Trump's former chief strategist is seeking primary challenges to several GOP senators, including Sen. Bob Corker, of Tennessee, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to Politico and CNN. Politico notes that Breitbart News published an article promoting a potential Corker challenger — state Sen. Mark Green — after Bannon returned to the right-wing site. Also in Bannon's crosshairs are Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Politico and CNN reported. CNN separately reported on Monday, however, that Corker, who is up for reelection in 2018, was thinking of retiring next year after two terms. "As far as what am I going to do in the future, I'm still contemplating the future," Corker told CNN. "It's a tremendous privilege to do what I do and to weigh in on the big issues," the senator said. "But I have not decided what I'm going to do in the future." Trump tweeted in August that the Tennessee senator "is constantly asking me whether or not he should run again in '18." That tweet came a week after Corker offered some sharp criticism of the president at a town hall in Tennessee. "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful," Corker said of Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. "He also recently has not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation. He has not demonstrated that he understands what has made this nation great and what it is today... and without the things that I just mentioned happening, our nation is going to go through great peril." Perhaps ominously, Trump's tweet ended with what seemed like a warning: "Tennessee not happy!"A Chinese traffic warden violently attacked a pedestrian with a hammer because she crossed the road when the light was red. The patrol officer, who has not been named, hit the pedestrian repeatedly over the head with an iron hammer, after the woman ignored her command to not cross the road at 6pm on Tuesday in eastern Shandong province. People on the scene said the warden had been involved with a number of arguments with the woman in the past because she frequently ignored the traffic signals, reported the People's Daily Online. Victim: The pedestrian was violently attacked after she ignored a red signal to cross the road. She was rushed to hospital for medical treatment Fury: The traffic warden (left) repeatedly hit the woman over the head with an iron hammer The warden, whose uniform indicated she was a volunteer, waited until the signal turned green before running over to the woman, who was at this point already half way across the road. As she attacked the pedestrian, the warden reportedly shouted: 'I won't let you run the red light'. The victim, who was left lying unconscious in the middle of the road, was rushed to hospital. According to eyewitness reports, the patrol officer tried to explain to shocked onlookers that it had been the victim's fault for ignoring the red light. She was arrested at the scene and remains under investigation. Pedestrians caught ignoring traffic signals, which is illegal in China, can be fined 10 yuan (£1).A pair of popular third-party Twitter apps, including the only one designed for the new Windows 8 UI, are the latest to fall victim to the company's increasingly tight API restrictions. Tweetro for Windows 8 has been denied permission to exceed the recently-introduced 100,000 token (user) limit, Twitter places on apps developed by outside companies. The app reached the limit on November 10 and has been unsuccessful in his application for an exemption, meaning new Windows 8 users are unable to sign up. Twitter has been progressively tightening restrictions on apps which access its timeline as it seeks to direct users to its official suite of apps and web services. Does not qualify Twitter told New Zealand-based developer Lazyworm in an email: "As you know, we discourage developers from building apps that replicate our core user experience (aka "Twitter clients"). We know that there are developers that want to take their passion for Twitter and its ecosystem to unique underserved situations. As such, we have built some flexibility into our policy with regard to user tokens – which went into effect September 5th, 2012. "…Unfortunately, It does not appear that your service addresses an area that our current or future products do not already serve. As such, it does not qualify for an exemption." The key word there seems to be 'future' as Twitter is yet to release an official client that plays nice with the new Windows 8 UI. Tweet Lanes ends development Another app to hit the 100,000 user limit is Tweet Lanes. As a result developer Chris Lacey will cease further development. "It saddens me greatly to announce that going forward, I won't be actively developing Tweet Lanes as I have to this point," Lacey wrote to users. "The cold hard reality is that with this immovable, 100,000 user ceiling, my plans for growing and eventually monetizing the app are no longer feasible. "This will likely be disappointing news for many of you, but given I spent a good chunk of my spare time for 10+ months working on this app, believe me when I say this decision pains me more than it does anyone else." The Twitter API changes will come into effect in March 2013, but the company, as evidenced by these developments, is already working hard on enforcing them.Scott Cunningham/Getty Images Thomas Dimitroff is one of the best general managers in the NFL, and his decisions have led the Atlanta Falcons to their most successful period in team history. And a big part of that is because the Falcons have been successful at building their team through the draft. When looking at a hit rate for a general manager's picks, it makes sense to define what a hit is. On top of that, you have to go through each pick and make sure that they qualify as either a hit or a miss and figure out exactly what the hit rate is at the end. What constitutes a hit? What constitutes a miss? What's a hit and what's a miss for each round is somewhat subjective. But some act like you can get a Pro Bowl player in every single round, and it's somewhat easy to do so. But that's far from close to the truth. In all honesty, a hit can be as much as a player making the roster for the full season. So, let's break this down as to what fair expectations are for each round—and even breaking down the first round into subgroups, so that we have a fair understanding of what will constitute a hit or a miss for each pick that GM's make. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Seventh Round: A hit is making the roster of the team that drafted him for an entire season. Even if he has to spend a year or two on the practice squad first, that would still be considered a hit. Anything more than that is just gravy on the potato. Sixth Round: Make the roster the first year drafted and sticking for two full seasons while providing a guy who is active on game days more often than not and plays on special teams is a hit. If he develops into a rotational guy at his position, that's an added bonus. Any more than that is rare. Fourth and Fifth Round: A hit here is when a player makes the roster for at least three years and shows great special teams value. On top of that, he has to show he can at the very least be a rotational, solid-depth or change-of-pace player at his natural position. Third Round: These players are the building blocks of a team. They need to play at least their entire first contract with the team that drafts them. On top of that, they need to show starting or key role-player (slot WR, change-of-pace RB, nickel cornerback) ability. Second Round: These guys are the bread and butter of a team. Not only do they need to be starters in their second year at the latest, they need to also show they are at least league-average at their position after their third year in the pros. Otherwise, they failed, and the drafting team should cut ties with them. First Round (16-end): Much like second-round picks, these guys are where the bulk of the team is built. However, unlike second-round picks, these guys are drafted to be instant starters, and the team needs to know they are at least league-average even as rookies. First Round (Picks 6-15): These players need to show that they are above league-average as rookies. They need to start their entire contract and show that they can develop into impact players. If they haven't shown they are at least a top-10 player at their position by the end of their rookie contract, it's a miss. First round (Top five): These players need to show they are in the top two tiers of their position group by the end of their rookie contract. These are the franchise players. A hit here is when you have found a guy who you can build a team around. Now that we've established what hits and misses are in each group, it's time to go through each one of Comrade Dimitroff's draft picks and see where he failed and where he succeeded. 2008 Round 1, Pick 3: Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Boston College No. 3 overall is where you have to get a franchise player. With the first pick Dimitroff even made, he got the franchise quarterback to build his entire team round. Ryan has shown that, at a minimum, he's a top-10 NFL quarterback and on the fringe of the elite. Hit Round 1, Pick 21: Sam Baker, Offensive Tackle, Southern California While he wasn't an instant starter, Baker has shown that he's a league-average starter at left tackle when he is healthy. The problem is that he is rarely completely healthy. Atlanta did give him a second contract and have shown that they do believe in him. But he could be replaced this year. Reluctantly, this is still a hit. Round 2, Pick 37: Curtis Lofton, Linebacker, Oklahoma Despite not being with the Falcons after his first contract expired, it's safe to say that Lofton gave Atlanta four years of above-league-average play at middle linebacker. He was the quarterback of the defense and was a great pick in Dimitroff's first draft. Hit Round 3, Pick 68: Chevis Jackson, Cornerback, Louisiana State After making the roster for two years, Jackson never showed how he could be an effective starter at cornerback in the NFL. He was cut before his first contract ended and was never able to show that he was even an effective special teams player in Atlanta. Miss Round 3, Pick 84: Harry Douglas, Wide Receiver, Louisville This has been one of the few picks that is on the verge of going either way. While Douglas has never been a starter except for when injuries force him to be, he has been a very reliable performer from the slot and is now in his second contract with the Falcons. Hit Scott Cunningham/Getty Images Round 3, Pick 98: Thomas DeCoud, Safety, California Despite turning himself into a bit of a pariah with the fanbase in the 2013 season, DeCoud is a five-year starter who has been to one Pro Bowl. As far as getting a return for a third-round pick, this has been one of the better ones in the 2008 draft. Hit Round 5, Pick 138: Robert James, Linebacker, Arizona State While he was never a guy who was going to be a top-level linebacker, he showed that he was at least a solid depth player
2017, the agency recorded 37 assaults on officers, compared to just nine assaults in all of 2016. A senior official briefing reporters on the numbers Thursday said one gang member they tried to arrest in the latest actions attempted to run over the officers with a vehicle, and then, when he was taken into custody, he was found to have a loaded firearm. “These are dangerous individuals we’re going after,” the official said, adding that’s why they would hope for better cooperation from state and local authorities, to help take dangerous criminal aliens into custody from prisons and jails, where the handoff can be controlled. The official said none of the officers involved in the vehicle incident or any of the other arrests was seriously injured. One of the Baltimore arrests was a woman from El Salvador who was charged with attempted murder and had an assault conviction on her record, but whom local authorities released before ICE could take custody. In New York, officers nabbed a man the city had released rather than turn over to ICE despite a conviction for sexual abuse of a minor. “Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration,” said Thomas Homan, acting director of ICE. “As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities.” ICE specifically said that it didn’t target anyone who is currently protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Obama-era deportation amnesty for Dreamers. Some 14 aliens were nabbed in Washington, D.C. — illegal immigrants convicted of gun crimes, assault and drug possession. Sanctuary cities — the name given to those jurisdictions that have policies that either refuse cooperation or actively attempt to thwart federal deportation officers — have become more active under the Trump administration. They say they need to counter the new administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws more strictly than the Obama administration. In the most common form, sanctuary policies prevent local police and sheriff’s departments from holding or even notifying the federal government when they have a deportable immigrant they are about to release. ICE says sanctuary policies backfires. Not only do criminals end up back on the streets, but officers then have to go out into the community to try to get them, in encounters that are unsafe — and end up netting still more illegal immigrants. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.PROVO -- A Provo man got a little more than he paid for when he visited a thrift store. He bought a used cell phone, plugged it in and found a blow-you-away list of phone numbers for famous athletes and entertainment stars. Turns out this cell phone once belonged to a Utahn who has made a fortune in sports business: Dave Checketts. He's a former Jazz general manager and the man responsible for bringing a Major League Soccer team to Salt Lake. Dave Checketts, owner of Real Salt Lake The man who bought the cell phone wants to remain unknown. He says he went to the Provo Deseret Industries store and stumbled on an old Blackberry from the early 2000s. "I went up and paid for it, and it cost me 50 cents," he says. "I went home and powered it on and looked at the name. It was Dave Checketts. I didn't think there were too many Dave Checketts in the Salt Lake area." Sure enough, it belonged to the Dave Checketts, with all his info still saved. The contacts included Patrick Ewing, Alan Houston, Wayne Gretzky, Bud Selig, David Stern, Marv Albert, Tom Brokaw and Jerry Colangelo, to name a few. Retailers tell KSL News only some stores erase phones before reselling them. "Here, we make sure we clean them, that we erase the contacts," says Brian Olsen, of Wireless Giant. The man who bought Dave Checketts' old phone found an amazing list of contacts and phone numbers Checketts has had much success as a Utah business man. He started as president of the Jazz, and then moved on to the New York Knicks. Most recently, he brought champion Real Salt Lake Soccer to Utah. The phone actually has e-mails, during the RSL acquisition, to and from former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. It's all important information that wasn't meant to be seen by the public. "I could sell it on eBay. I could go to ESPN. I could go to a lot of people, but that's not who I am," the phone finder said. "My parents taught me to be honest, and that's what I'm going to do." The man says he was momentarily tempted to call Marv Albert and Bob Costas. Really, though, all he wants to do is return the cell phone to Checketts. KSL News contacted Checketts by phone Tuesday. He said it's possible he lost his Blackberry earlier this decade. He's looking forward to getting it back. E-mail: [email protected] ×Back in February, when we commented on the unprecedented hyperinflation about the be unleashed in the Latin American country whose president just announced that he would expand the "weekend" for public workers to 5 days... ... we joked that it is unclear just where the country will find all the paper banknotes it needs for all its new physical currency. After all, central-bank data shows Venezuela more than doubled the supply of 100-, 50- and 2-bolivar notes in 2015 as it doubled monetary liquidity including bank deposits. Supply has grown even as Venezuela has fewer U.S. dollars to support new bolivars, a result of falling oil prices. This question, as morbidly amusing as it may have been to us if not the local population, became particularly poignant recently when for the first time, one US Dollar could purchase more than 1000 Venezuela Bolivars on the black market (to be exact, it buys 1,127 as of today). And then, as if on cue the WSJ responded: "millions of pounds of provisions, stuffed into three-dozen 747 cargo planes, arrived here from countries around the world in recent months to service Venezuela’s crippled economy. But instead of food and medicine, the planes carried another resource that often runs scarce here: bills of Venezuela’s currency, the bolivar. The shipments were part of the import of at least five billion bank notes that President Nicolás Maduro’s administration authorized over the latter half of 2015 as the government boosts the supply of the country’s increasingly worthless currency, according to seven people familiar with the deals. More planes were coming: in December, the central bank began secret negotiations to order 10 billion more bills which would effectively double the amount of cash in circulation. That order alone is well above the eight billion notes the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank each print annually—dollars and euros that unlike bolivars are used world-wide. Where things got even more ridiculous for the government where the largest bill in denomination is 100 Bolivars, is how much physical currency it needed, and the cost to print it: The high cost of the printing binge is an especially heavy burden as Venezuela reels from the oil-price collapse and 17 years of free-spending socialist rule that have left state finances in shambles. Most countries around the world have outsourced bank-note printing to private companies that can provide sophisticated anticounterfeiting technologies like watermarks and security strips. What drives Venezuela’s orders is the sheer volume and urgency of its currency needs. The central bank’s own printing presses in the industrial city of Maracay don’t have enough security paper and metal to print more than a small portion of the country’s bills, the people familiar with the matter said. Their difficulties stem from the same dollar shortages that have plagued Venezuela’s centralized economy, as the Maduro administration struggles to pay for imports of everything, including cancer medication, toilet paper and insect repellent to battle the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Wait a minute, why not just print a single 100,000,000 Bolivar note instead of one million 100 bolivar bills? After all the savings on the printing, let along the air freight, to the already insolvent country will be tremendous and allow it to pretend it is not a failed nation for at least a few more days? It is here that the sheer brilliance of the rulers of this socialist paradise shines through: Currency experts say the logistical challenges of importing and storing massive quantities of bank notes underscore an undeniable truth: Venezuela is spending a lot more than it needs because the government hasn’t printed a higher-denomination bank note—revealing a misplaced fear, analysts say, that doing so would implicitly acknowledge high inflation the government publicly denies. “Big bills do not cause inflation. Big bills are the result of inflation,” said Owen W. Linzmayer, a San Francisco-based bank-note expert and author who catalogs world currencies. “Larger bills can actually save money for the central bank because instead of having to replace 10 deteriorated notes, you only need five or one,” he said. The Venezuelan central bank’s latest orders have been exclusively only for 100- and 50-bolivar notes, according to the seven people familiar with the deals, because 20s, 10s, 5s and 2s are worth less than the production cost. Mr. Maduro and his allies say galloping consumer prices reflect a capitalist conspiracy to destabilize the government. Well, no, but at this point one may as well sit back and laugh at the idiocy of it all. But at least we will give Maduro one thing: he has done away with the pretense that when push comes to shove, the state and the central bank (and thus commercial banks) are two different things: "the president in late December changed a law to give himself full control over the central bank, stripping congressional oversight just as his political opponents took control of the National Assembly for the first time in 17 years." Sadly, that did nothing for the imploding economy and country, whose morgues are now overflowing due to rampant social violence. Of course, the punchline of all the above means that Venezuela has to buy bolivars from abroad at any cost. "It’s easy money for a lot of these companies," one of the people with details on the negotiations said. The problem is that it is "very difficult money" for Venezuela which needs to pay in hard dollars to print its rapidly devaluing domestic currency. In fact, among the sources of funds to purchase its own money was the liquidation of its gold reserves, which as we reported recently, Venezuela has been quietly selling to willing offshore buyers. * * * All of this brings us to today's latest update in the sad story of Venezuela's terminal collapse: today Bloomberg wrote a story that basically covers everything said above, noting that "Venezuela’s epic shortages are nothing new at this point. No diapers or car parts or aspirin -- it’s all been well documented. But now the country is at risk of running out of money itself." Indeed, as we hinted three months ago, "Venezuela, in other words, is now so broke that it may not have enough money to pay for its money." Among the new information revealed by Bloomberg is that last month, De La Rue, the world’s largest currency maker, sent a letter to the central bank complaining that it was owed $71 million and would inform its shareholders if the money were not forthcoming. The letter was leaked to a Venezuelan news website and confirmed by Bloomberg News. "It’s an unprecedented case in history that a country with such high inflation cannot get new bills,” said Jose Guerra, an opposition law maker and former director of economic research at the central bank. Late last year, the central bank ordered more than 10 billion bank notes, surpassing the 7.6 billion the U.S. Federal Reserve requested this year for an economy many times the size of Venezuela’s. Venezuela had prudently diversified its money printing relationships, and ahead of the 2015 congressional elections, the central bank tapped the U.K.’s De La Rue, France’s Oberthur Fiduciaire and Germany’s Giesecke & Devrient to bring in some 2.6 billion notes, Bloomberg adds. Before the delivery was completed, the bank approached the companies directly for more. De La Rue took the lion’s share of the 3-billion-note order and enlisted the Ottawa-based Canadian Bank Note Company to ensure it could meet a tight end-of-year deadline. As we reported four months ago, the cash arrived in dozens of 747 jets and chartered planes. Under cover of security forces and snipers, it was transferred to armored caravans where it was spirited to the central bank in dead of night. But while Venezuela was already planning its future cash orders, the cash vendors were starting to get worried. According to company documents, De La Rue began experiencing delays in payment as early as June. Similarly, the bank was slow to pay Giesecke & Devrient and Oberthur Fiduciaire. So when the tender was offered, the government only received about 3.3 billion in bids, bank documents show. Which led to an interesting phenomenon: when it comes to counterparty risk, one usually has in mind digital funds or electronic securities. In this case, however, the counterparty risk involved cold, hard cash: "Initially, your eyes grow as big as dish plates," said one person familiar with matter. “An order big enough to fill your factory for a year, but do you want to completely expose yourself to a country as risky as Venezuela?" As Venezuela's full implosion emerges, the answer has now become obvious, and companies are backing away. With its traditional partners now unenthusiastic about taking on new business, the central bank is in negotiations with others, including Russia’s Goznack, and has a contract with Boston-based Crane Currency, according to documents and industry sources. We expect these last ditch efforts to obtain much needed paper currency for the hyperinflating nation will break down shortly, forcing Venezuela into one of two choices: do away with cash entirely and resort to barter, or begin printing high-denomination bills which in turn will only facilitate even faster hyperinflation as there will be no actual physical limit on how much something can cost; as of right now the very physical limit is how many 100 bolivar bills one can put on a wheelbarrow. Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, who has studied hyperinflation for decades, says that to maintain faith in the currency when prices spiral, governments often add zeros to bank notes rather than flood the market. “It’s a very bad sign to see people running around with wheelbarrows full of money to buy a hot dog,” he said. “Even the cash economy starts breaking down." In Venezuela's case it is sadly too late.WASHINGTON, D.C. — Is your smartphone locked? To unlock it, you might have to enter a passcode or press your finger to a sensor. But what if your phone knew who you were — just by the way you lifted it? Yashaswini Makaram, 17, has found that the way each of us moves is specific to us — and very hard for others to mimic. The senior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science in Worcester brought her results to the Intel Science Talent Search. It brings 40 high school seniors here each year to share their projects with the public and compete for awards totally more than $1 million. The competition is run by Society for Science & the Public, which publishes this blog, and sponsored by Intel Corp. “The thing about motion is that it’s habitual,” Yashaswini says. “You do the motion over and over and it becomes ingrained. You do it the same way.” That includes large movements, such as the way a person walks or runs, as well as small ones, like picking up a phone. “No one will move quite like you do,” she says. Most modern smartphones have an accelerometer built into them. This sensor measures vibrations and changes in the how fast the phone (and the person holding it) moves. An accelerometer is what your phone uses to track how many steps you take in a day, for example. Many smartphones also have a gyroscope — a device that measures the orientation of something in space. This is how the phone “knows” that someone has turned it sideways — and then adjusts its screen accordingly. Yashaswini used these two tools to identify people based on the way they picked up their phone. “I had an app that would calculate the angle the phone was being held at,” she explains. The teen then created another app to collect the data from the accelerometer. She placed the phone with the apps carefully on a square drawn on a piece of paper. Then, Yashaswini gathered 20 students from her science class. With the apps running on the phone, she had each student scoop up the phone 10 times. Each participant was recorded on video as they picked up the phone. That way Yashaswini could analyze their movements. The teen used all of these data to come up with a movement signature for each person. It was a unique combination of angles and speeds that they used when picking up a phone. She then wrote a computer program to identify who lifted the phone solely based on those signature movement. The program could identify the “owner” of the phone 85 percent of the time. Yashaswini’s program also could tell when someone was trying to fool it. The teen had 10 of her subjects imitate the movements of another. But no matter how hard they tried, her program caught them 93 percent of the time. The teen’s app isn’t available yet. It’s still just a proof of concept, she explains. It merely shows that it’s possible to identify people by the way they lift their phone. But she hopes someday her method could be used to keep phones safe from prying fingers. It’s all in the way they move. Follow Eureka! Lab on Twitter Power Words (for more about Power Words, click here) acceleration A change in the speed or direction of some object. accelerometer An instrument for measuring vibrations or a change in the rate of movement. These sensors typically can measure movement changes in all three dimensions (front-to-back, side-to-side and up-and-down). app Short for application, or a computer program designed for a specific task. application A particular use or function of something. gyroscope A device to measure the 3-dimensional orientation of something in space. Mechanical forms of the device tend to use a spinning wheel or disc that allows one axle inside it to take on any orientation. Intel Science Talent Search An annual competition created and run by Society for Science & the Public and sponsored by Intel Corp. Begun in 1950, this event brings 40 research-oriented high school seniors to Washington, D.C. to showcase their research to the public and to compete for awards. sensor A device that picks up information on physical or chemical conditions — such as temperature, barometric pressure, salinity, humidity, pH, light intensity or radiation — and stores or broadcasts that information. Scientists and engineers often rely on sensors to inform them of conditions that may change over time or that exist far from where a researcher can measure them directly. (in biology) The structure that an organism uses to sense attributes of its environment, such as heat, winds, chemicals, moisture, trauma or an attack by predators. smartphone A cell (or mobile) phone that can perform a host of functions, including search for information on the Internet. Society for Science and the Public (orSSP) A nonprofit organization created in 1921 and based in Washington, D.C. Since its founding, SSP has been not only promoting public engagement in scientific research but also the public understanding of science. It created and continues to run three renowned science competitions: The Intel Science Talent Search (begun in 1942), the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (initially launched in 1950) and Broadcom MASTERS (created in 2010). SSP also publishes award-winning journalism: in Science News (launched in 1922) and Science News for Students (created in 2003). Those magazines also host a series of blogs (including Eureka! Lab).Babs is having a tough couple of days … she seems a little, despondent? Sad? Maybe she should sing more and tweet less. Words cannot express how I feel right now. — Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) November 9, 2016 But by God she’ll try and write a bunch of stuff anyway because nothing pleases her more than the sound of her own voice … or the words of her own tweets. @BarbraStreisand what about interpretive dance moves? — Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) November 9, 2016 Awwww, see, people are helpful. Look, they’re even sending her pictures of happy people laughing. Heh. @BarbraStreisand don't worry we will never have to worry about Clinton in the White House after this. We're saved! — takashi yamamoto (@drunkenalpaca) November 9, 2016 Whoohoo! Another tweet on her timeline is a meme of obnoxious and cherry-picked-facts that are easily debunked if you are actually in any way familiar with reality. Babs has convenient information that serves her silly agenda. She leaves out that most wars have been under Democrats, that Bill Clinton had plenty of opportunities to perhaps prevent 9/11 and of course conveniently forgets who the president was DURING a large part of the great depression. But yeah, we’d just bum Streisand out with reality. And as it is, she seems sorta triggered.Credit: Marvel Comics Credit: Marvel Comics Marvel's current ongoing Venom series will return to the original Venom numbering in May with Venom #150, announced via IGN. The story will return Eddie Brock to the role of Venom, with a back-up that explains how the Symbiote parted ways with Flash Thompson. Venom #150 will be written by regular series writer Mike Costa, with art from guest artist Tradd Moore. The Flash Thompson back-up story will be written by Robbie Thompson, with art from regular Venom artist Gerardo Sandoval. A second back-up by classic Spider-Man writer Dave Michelinie and artist Ron Lim will flashback to Venom's "Lethal Protector" days. “[Issue #150 is] going to be the first adventure Eddie and the symbiote go on once they’re reunited and free of Lee Price and the FBI’s symbiote task force," said editor Devin Lewis. "Eddie Brock and Venom, swinging through the concrete jungle. There’s a lot of ‘Lethal Protector’ in the DNA of Mike’s current run and his approach to Eddie, and, like that story, Mike’s has a lot of heart. But I’ve been adamant about the fact that the symbiote has to be a threat. Not necessarily to Eddie or anyone in particular,other than Spider-Man, but certainly to the world around it. It can and should be a destabilizing force. Regardless of its mental state or the fact that it’s been cleansed, Lee has proven that the symbiote can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and we’re going to see the ramifications of that play out in Tradd’s story.” Credit: Marvel Comics The series will continue its legacy numbering after Venom #150, which is due out on shelves in May. Credit: Marvel Comics VENOM #150 MIKE COSTA, ROBBIE THOMPSON & DAVID MICHELINIE (W) TRADD MOORE, GERARDO SANDOVAL & RON LIM (A) Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN Young Variant by SKOTTIE YOUNG Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT Variant Cover by JAMES STOKOE VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY VARIANT COVER BY GABRIELE DELL’OTTO REUNITED, AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! Or, feels so bad? However it feels, Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote have been reunited, and they’re web-slinging their way around New York again. Featuring a host (hah!) of Venom creators from the character’s near 30-year history, this monstrous anniversary spectacular welcomes guest artist TRADD MOORE for an oversized and brutal main story AND a lethal story featuring fan-favorite creators David Michelinie and Ron Lim, reunited! With questions still lingering about how the symbiote was separated from Flash Thompson, and what lies in its future now that it’s reunited with Eddie Brock, this is one issue you can’t afford to miss! 56 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used the example of Italian grandmothers in Montreal on Thursday to explain why Canadians shouldn't be "overly impatient'' with the integration of newcomers. Being fearful of immigrants is "nothing new'' in Canada and around the world, he said, explaining that Italians and Greeks settling in Montreal in the 1950s faced similar kinds of discrimination as do Muslims and other immigrants today. "The first generation is always going to have challenges in integrating,'' Trudeau said during a panel discussion with London Mayor Sadiq Khan. "There are districts (in Montreal) where Italian grandmothers still pretty much only speak Italian and don't speak that much French or English. But their kids and grandkids are seamlessly and completely integrated into Montreal and the only difference is they tend to be trilingual and not just bilingual.'' The prime minister was taking part in a day-long conference hosted by Canada 2020, which describes itself as a progressive think-tank. Asked by the panel moderator what can be done to reduce fear of and discrimination against newcomers, Trudeau replied that what's happening in Canada and around the world is "nothing new.'' Previous Next Italians, Greeks faced 'tremendous distrust' Italians and Greeks who settled in the northern part of Montreal and in other Canadian cities "faced tremendous discrimination, tremendous distrust.'' "This country didn't happen by accident,'' Trudeau continued. "And it won't continue without effort. When we think about integration and success we can't be overly impatient.'' He said citizens should "keep a solid pressure'' to ensure human rights and the country's Charter of Rights and Freedoms are respected by all Canadians. Trudeau also referred to his time visiting places of worship around the country such as mosques and temples. He was recently criticized online and in some Canadian media for visiting a mosque in Ottawa where women and men were kept separate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and London UK Mayor Sadiq Khan discuss integration of immigrants at the Global Progress summit in Montreal. 2:54 Engage with all communities, Trudeau says The prime minister said Canadians should engage with all communities. "The question is, do you engage or participate or say 'I'm not going to talk to you until you hit the norm or the perfect ideal that we all aspire to','' he said. "I think (the latter) is wrong.'' Khan said Canada "has become a beacon of how a civilized G7 country should treat those who are vulnerable and need help.'' He also praised Trudeau for his "progressive'' politics and said the prime minister's election in October 2015 inspired him.On the recent episode KBS’s “Birth of a Family – Full House,” BEAST’s Lee Ki Kwang revealed a series of text messages he shared with his father. Lee Ki Kwang texted his father, “Among the traits I inherited from you, is there anything you regret passing on to me?” His father answered, “I feel guilty that I didn’t get to help you maintain your health. Perhaps you didn’t grow taller because of this.” When the MCs asked him to explain, Lee Ki Kwang stated, “My father thinks that I didn’t get taller because my trainee days were physically rough on me. I often didn’t get much sleep, and he feels guilty about it.” Meanwhile, Lee Ki Kwang made a claim on “Two O’clock Escape Cultwo Show” that he grew taller recently.This slideshow requires JavaScript. The fans of the books and the show are usually judge Eddard Stark unfairly when they say the length of time it took him to grasp the truth of Joffrey’s parentage shows he’s stupid or unintelligent, are wrong. There, I said it. These fans are actually betraying their own ignorance of genetics. Consider the following facts: Robert Baratheon has three children who all look like their mother…and so does Eddard Stark. Should we then presume that Catelyn Stark has been schtupping Edmure? There, I got you! Let’s go to the details. Below, you can see a hypothetical Punnett square looking at Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their first four children together. For the sake of argument, I’m assuming that Eddard Stark has one recessive red hair gene and one dominant brown haired gene (genotype Rr), while we know that Catelyn’s red hair mean she’s a double recessive (rr). So what are the odds that Catelyn Stark bore three children with the “Tully look” and only one with the “look of the North,” given that there’s a 50/50 shot that any one child will get a recessive r from Eddard? It’s still 50/50, no matter how many times Catelyn has a child; each child is an independent event with the same genetic odds. So while Catelyn finds the coloration of her sons in comparison to Ned’s alleged bastard an aggravation, she really has no reason to complain. The same situation should apply to Ned’s thought process about Cersei’s children – he has no reason to suspect that Cersei is cuckolding the king, and his own experience teaches him that multiple children can favor their mothers. Here, fans are committing the arch-sin of historians – presentism. Because we know that Cersei is sleeping with her brother, we assume that it should be obvious to everyone else, but we have access to information and viewpoints that no one else, especially Ned has access to. This is why Eddard’s gradual process of tracking down all of Robert Baratheon’s heirs is actually a necessary investigative step – if Robert Baratheon has the genotype (Bb) with a recessive blond gene, than it’s not statistically improbable for him to have three blond children. And the fact that say, Gendry, looks like his father but had a mother with blond hair isn’t statistically determinative on its own, just another 50/50 shot. It’s only when Ned has tracked down multiple bastards with mothers with varying genotypes who all resemble their father, and when he confirms in the book that the Baratheon lineage has no examples of recessives (which is genetically improbable, but that’s a topic for a different post), that he has circumstantial evidence that Cersei has been unfaithful – and even then, he has no proof that Cersei was sleeping with her brother as opposed to any other blond man in Westeros. Given that his accusation would be not merely one of gross treason on Cersei’s part but also of an abomination in the eyes of the Gods, and that Ned Stark will have to prove his accusations at trial, the methodical nature of his investigation is actually a point in his favor. So fans, this time you’re wrong. To read the first chapter of my science-fiction “The Lost and The Damned”, click here (read it, it’s awesome, or so does I suppose). To know more about me, click here. Like my Facebook Page, or subscribe to our newsletter by sign up form (scroll down, or look at the left of the page; it’s either at one of the two places).NewsAbortion, Catholic Church November 28, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — At the closing of the Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis announced that priests throughout the world will be given the faculties to relieve the punishment of excommunication from penitents in cases of abortion. This announcement prompted Italian politician Monica Cirinnà to claim that doctors who object to committing abortions should not be allowed to do so in public facilities, or else face punishment. “As a lay person, I hold that nobody can judge the actions of a high ranking religious leader as the Pope is,” Cirinna said. “I am sure that he is going in the right direction.” Cirinnà, a Senator in the Democratic Party in Italy, is famous for being the first person to sign in 2015 and introduce to the Senate a law that enabled homosexual partnerships to be recognized by the state. “The text is notorious as Testo Cirinnà … a text that finally enabled the recognition of the rights and duties of couples of the same sex also in Italy,” she states on her own website. She is also a pro-abortion activist. A proponent of a laical state, Cirinnà understood the words of the Pope to be in support of her agenda to persecute conscientiously-objecting medical practitioners who, for example, refuse to perform abortions. “This is a grave problem regarding which we need the intervention of the minister and I hope that the parliament will also get moving,” she said. “Two out of three doctors in Italy are objectors and maybe the pronouncement of the Pope will also help those people.” Cirinnà understands the words of the Pope, which enable all priests to forgive the sin of abortion and to lift the connected excommunication, to mean that Francis is facilitating abortion and its normalization. She claims, therefore, that conscientious objectors must be punished henceforth. Cirinnà sees it all as a part of the “mercy” that the Church is called to offer. “Either the Church returns to being the shelter, the welcoming one that has open arms to which everybody can return, or she will continue to lose followers.” Cirinnà wants to combat what in her eyes is a great problem. Her solution: doctors who refuse to perform abortions must be subject to the universal law that allows abortions and, therefore, forced to perform them upon request. She appeals to Law 194, passed in 1978, which de-penalized abortions and enabled women to have abortions in public structures. “If [those doctors] work in a public structure, the law guarantees [abortions]. When they want to make a public appearance to work in gynecology in a public hospital, the law is equal for all. It cannot be that one can protect, defend, or excuse himself from who knows what by a conscientious objection.” “A good solution could be to exclude conscientious objects from public practices,” she said. Pope Francis’ decision to enable all priests to lift the excommunication of abortion is not a complete novelty. In many countries of the West, bishops’ conferences have already conferred to priests (some or all) the possibility of lifting the punishment of excommunication from people who confess having committed an abortion or collaborated in one. The Pope’s new permission simply extends this right to all clergy worldwide. The Catholic Church teaches in Canon 1398 of Canon Law that “a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication.” This means that the very performance of the sinful act brings about an excommunication. Hitherto, only a bishop or a designated special confessor of a diocese could grant absolution for an abortion and lift the excommunication. Part of this regulation is without doubt to emphasize the gravity of the killing of an innocent and defenseless human being.Injectors for outdoor garden fertigation Gore One of the best ways to fertilize a marijuana garden is through a fertigation system. Fertigation systems use injectors to draw a concentrated liquid fertilizer solution from a reservoir into a garden hose or drip irrigation system while you water. As the fresh water flows through the pipe or hose, the injector meters out a precise amount of fertilizer, assuring your plants receive the level of nutrients they need to flourish. Many types of injectors are available, but some work better for growing marijuana than others. If you are planning to combine your fertigation with a drip system, be sure to select the appropriate sprayers or emitters. I recommend installing a filter between the the injector and the emitter to remove any undissolved particles which may clog the emitters. This is a greater concern with organic fertilizers, which are more likely to contain material that does not readily dissolve in water. If you are going to use organic fertilizers, consider using self flushing diaphragmemitters, which are less likely to clog. With good filtration, even home-made compost and manure teas can be injected without fear of clogging. If clogging becomes a persistent problem, consider watering by hand with a garden hose. Most synthetic fertilizers are fully water soluble. So a filter installed between the injector and the emitter should be adequate for any design. Liquid organic fertilizers are usually not as concentrated as synthetic fertilizers. For this reason, you may want to consider an injector capable of mixing at ratios as high as 1:10. Synthetic fertilizers are often sold in highly-concentrated solutions that will require lower mixing ratios. If you intend to use both organics and synthetics in your garden, you will need an injector with a wide dilution range, such as an MP feeder or a Dosatron. The alternative is to dilute the synthetic fertilizer in the reservoir before it is picked up by the injector. Unfortunately, not all fertilizers can be used with a fertigation injector; but even some granular fertilizers can be dissolved in water and then injected. One of my favorite fertilizers, Maxsea, is a mix of organics and synthetics sold in a granular form. To apply, I mix sixteen cups of Maxsea into two gallons of hot not scalding water. I then use a paint mixer attached to a cordless drill to dissolve all of the fertilizer. Once you have dissolved the dry fertilizer into a highly concentrated liquid, you can then apply it with an injector at a ratio of 1:100. This is the strength the manufacturer recommends. Hose-End Mixers Hose-end mixers are often sold in conjunction with synthetic fertilizer products such as Miracle Grow. These offer a simple and low cost solution for feeding your plants with a garden hose. Some hose -end sprayers also have a female coupling nozzle for in-line use with a drip system. Syphon Mixers, Brass and Plastic (Mazzie) Syphon mixers are manufactured by several companies, and are always used for in-line mixing. These simple mixers use a venturi to create suction, which draws concentrated fertilizer solution up a thin tube from a concentrate tank. The fertilizer concentrate is then mixed at a fixed ratio with the water that flows to the plants. The downside of this system is that the ratio can not be adjusted on the injector. Brass syphon mixers can be found in hardware stores or nursery supply shops for under $30. In my experience,
NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented exercise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set up eight groups of secretaries to come up with ideas to drive economic growth ahead of the Budget and beyond it.Each group has to make a presentation later this month to the prime minister on action points along with detailed plans about how these can be implemented, officials said.Many of these ideas are likely to find their way into the Budget, which is being seen as a make-or-break one by a government under pressure to lift growth to a higher trajectory.The eight groups are: accelerated growth; good governance; employment generation; farmer-centric initiatives; education and health; innovative budgeting and effective implementation; Swachh Bharat and Ganga rejuvenation with people’s participation; and energy efficiency and conservation. Modi briefed secretaries on December 31 to focus on quick delivery of Centre’s programmes. He will hold intensive half-day meetings with them on January 12, 15 and 16.The meetings are aimed at finalising the Practical Action Plan (PAP) for the eight priority areas. Each group is being assisted by two separate teams of joint secretaries, making for 16 such squads in all. Cabinet secretariat officials are also attending the meetings with the cabinet secretary himself keeping a watch over the entire process.“The prime minister himself made a two-hour-long PowerPoint presentation, detailing his ideas and what he really wants done,” a senior government official told ET, explaining how the machinery is being cranked up before the Budget. Another official said daily meetings are being held by the smaller groups under the guidance of the secretarylevel groups to brainstorm and come up with implementable ideas. “There is a huge focus on implementation in the entire exercise,” said the second official. Modi’s December 31 presentation had made the point that the PAP should be a concrete solution and “not a generic wish list” so that it’s sharply focused, a top official said.The groups are working on plans for all eight areas for one year, three years and the long term. The task has been put on high priority, secretaries across ministries said. The groups have been meeting for two hours everyday since January 1 with rehearsals for the presentation to the PM to be held on Saturday and Sunday. Top bureaucrats Hasmukh Adhia, Ashok Lavasa, Jugal Kishore Mahapatra, Anil Swarup, Amitabh Kant and Rajiv Kumar are among those who have been asked to “pilot” the group presentations that will be put together on January 16 as the final plan.Each group has been given 20 minutes to make its presentation. The prime minister “asked us to focus on execution, and execution alone, as delivery is as important as vision. He has also said, don’t ask me for money. Let’s get things going within the usual resources,” a bureaucrat told ET. A special session will be held on planning for the Budget, which the PM has said needs “to be focussed on agriculture and rural areas” and making it people centric. Modi has also given suggestions to every subgroup.These include a new crop insurance scheme, leveraging traditional health systems, energy audits of companies and a list of 100 towns that can be made model clean towns by October 2016. Senior bureaucrats said Swachh Bharat and Ganga rejuvenation will need to focus on people’s involvement and initiatives in health and education on universal access.The PM has also asked for greater embedding of technology in government functions, which include digitisation, Aadhaar, space applications and skill development. The PM has asked for a comprehensive road map for power, coal, road and road infrastructure for the next three years besides plans for agricultural reform in the eastern states.It should be noted that Modi will announce the Start Up India, Stand Up India action plan on January 16. Officials have been asked to come up with suggestions for the timely release of funds, reform of the direct tax system and areas of “wasteful expenditure”. A group is also looking at suggestions to leverage resources from outside government and how the system could be monitored in real time to prevent parking of funds besides ensuring their timely release.The group on good governance is working on a mandate of process reengineering, which includes discussion of measures to reduce tribunals, laws and needlessly time-consuming processes. The group on education is looking at using technology to track attendance of teachers in schools and measures that will help Indian colleges feature in the global top 100. “They have also asked for ways we can get state governments of different political parties interested in this. That is the more difficult part,” an official said.Get the biggest daily news stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Facebook has updated the way that it chooses status updates and stories that appear in your News Feed. The company is to start measuring how long you spend reading other people’s posts, photos and comments. Now if you linger on a certain posts - without liking, commenting or sharing - Facebook will assume that means you think it's important and so will start showing you similar content. In the past, the social network has generally only looked at likes, comments and shares to decide what you are most interested in. However, after user research, Facebook says it has learned that just because someone doesn't click on a post "doesn't mean it wasn't meaningful to them". "There are times when, for example, people want to see information about a serious current event, but don’t necessarily want to like or comment on it," says the company. Now the social network will start to prioritise those stories that you spend more time hovering over. So the more time you spend poring over an ex-partner's holiday snaps, the more likely you will be to see more stories from that person. So your stalker tendencies could start becoming more transparent. The update is being rolled out over the coming weeks.The U.S. men’s national team lost to Trinidad and Tobago in its final qualifying game last month, and won’t play in the World Cup for the first time since 1986. But the U.S. won’t be the only big country missing out on Russia 2018. Yesterday, Italy drew with Sweden in the second leg of its World Cup qualification playoff. The four-time World Cup champs won’t be in the tournament next summer — for the first time since 1958. The Netherlands, runners-up in 2010 and third place in 2014, didn’t even bother to make the qualification playoff. They finished third in the group. Chile, two-time defending Copa America champs, missed out on the World Cup in part because Bolivia fielded an illegal player. Ghana finished third in its Africa group, two spots out of qualifying. So did the reigning African champions, Cameroon. Ivory Coast didn’t qualify, either. Honduras, which finished one place above the United States in North American qualification, lost to Australia in a playoff this morning. Ireland got routed by Denmark in a qualification playoff yesterday. There are tons of good-ish soccer teams with nothing to do next summer. But no fear! These teams may not actually be sitting at home in the summer of 2018 if U.S. Soccer can come up with a plan. As Sports Illustrated’s Avi Creditor reports, U.S. Soccer and Soccer United Marketing are currently testing the waters for a tournament of also-rans to be played in the United States next summer. It’s very preliminary, but call it the World Crap. The World Crap makes a lot of sense: There are plenty of U.S.-based soccer fans who would love to shell out money to watch the U.S., or Italy, or even Ireland play. Those teams are looking for something to do. NFL stadiums are looking for events to host. It makes too much sense! Advertisement Of course, the World Crap will not likely happen. Soccer United Marketing may study the situation and decide that, while there would certainly be interest, it isn’t enough to make money. U.S. Soccer may push ahead with the idea, but the top teams—well, the top bad teams—may well decide the event is embarrassing and would rather play friendlies against squads prepping for the actual World Cup. Teams may not be interested in sending top squads to play in a losers’ tournament that I’ve just dubbed the World Crap. But who cares? Gathering in a public place during daylight hours to watch soccer is a great time. We won’t get a chance to cheer on the United States in the World Cup. So why not get together to watch the USMNT lose to Italy’s C-team? World Crap 2018, here we come.Play 01:57 Play 01:57 'Can concentrate on bowling instead of niggles' - Cummins Australia's selectors have rested Mitchell Johnson from the remainder of the ODI series against South Africa to ensure his readiness for the India Tests, while Xavier Doherty has been preferred to Nathan Lyon as the team's spinner. The national selector Rod Marsh named the squad also shorn of the injured captain Michael Clarke for the remaining three matches against the South Africans, starting with Wednesday's fixture at Canberra's Manuka Oval. The coach Darren Lehmann was reluctant to say Clarke was out of contention for the Gabba, only suggesting that the next few days of consultation with medical experts in Sydney would reveal more about the captain's future. "Basically what we're going to do is see how he goes in the next couple of days," Lehmann said. "He's back in Sydney, he'll see some specialists and speak to Alex our physio and work out the plan from there. Till I get confirmation I'm not going to say he's in or he's out. At the moment he's captain of Australia and if he's fit to play and gets through the next little bit, hopefully he'll front up in the first Test. Only time will tell. "I just want to know if he's in or out. For us it's making sure he's back playing as quick as he can and fully fit. If he's fit he'll play, he's captain. We've got a couple of days. So lets see what happens in a couple of days." Even without Clarke there was no room for the in-form Cameron White, leaving him precious few opportunities remaining to press for World Cup inclusion following a glut of tall scores for Victoria. Clarke has indicated that he wants the Australian ODI squad as settled as possible in time for the triangular series that precedes the World Cup. "We have chosen not to replace Michael Clarke in the squad with another batsman. After considering the situation we believe we have enough batting depth for the next three matches of this series without calling in another player," Marsh said. Lehmann said Johnson was due for some time at home following tours of Zimbabwe and Pakistan. "He's been up and about for a while now," Lehmann told reporters in Perth. "We had Zimbabwe, UAE, obviously these two here, it's just to freshen him up and make sure he's right to go for the summer. That's all it is, a chance to do that and also Mitchell Starc comes back in, so we've got a pretty good replacement there. That's just what we do occasionally, especially in the one-day format." Pat Cummins was included to cover for Johnson, stepping up his return to the international arena following some head-turning spells during the Twenty20 series that began South Africa's tour. "Pat Cummins impressed in his return to Australian duty in the recent T20 Series and Mitch Starc has been in good form since his return from the UAE," Marsh said. Doherty's inclusion keeps him in the running for a place in Australia's World Cup squad next year, though Lehmann said Lyon's absence was geared towards helping him develop as a Test bowler with a second Sheffield Shield match ahead of the first meeting with India at the Gabba in December. "Xavier played really well in the UAE for us in a couple of games," Lehmann said. "Nathan Lyon is playing the Shield cricket which is important for his development as a Test bowler. There's no right or wrong answer there, Xavier's the one we picked here." As with Clarke's situation, Lehmann was also hesitant about stating Haddin would be stand-in captain, even though the team performance chief Pat Howard had declared he would be recommending the board approve the wicketkeeper as Clarke's short-term replacement. "There's been names bandied around all over the place. Young blokes and older guys. End of the day the selection panel and the chairman of selectors will come up with a name and put it to the board and the board ratify that. It ends up being the board decision other than anything else. Whoever that is, they'll do a good job. "We know how we want to play so whoever captains will do a good job, we're not worried about that. We're aiming for him to play that Shield game before the first Test and he needs to play that for us, so from our point of view he's ahead of the game, and it looks like he's going to play that one. But again, until he's named and played we're not sure. "It's very handy to have that experience. We need that in our side anyway full stop. You need that with the younger guys and the good mix we've got at the moment is important. We'd love him to come up." Mitchell Marsh will play in Canberra before leaving the squad to play for Western Australia in the last Shield round before the Gabba. Australia squad George Bailey (capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Shane Watson Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.BRONWYN Bishop has refused to apologise for taking a $5200 helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong, and revealed she took two other charter flights for speaking engagements last year. A defiant Ms Bishop said she was entitled to catch the helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong for a Liberal Party fundraiser, because her speech discussed the role of parliament. But the NSW MP was unable to nominate any other reason for which she was in Victoria, which may raise further questions about whether her flight from Queensland to Victoria was within entitlements. ANDREW BOLT: IF BISHOP CAN’T EXPLAIN SHE MUST RESIGN LABOR REFERS BISHOP FLIGHT TO AFP Ms Bishop said the helicopter charter was a lapse of judgement, but also refused to stand down. But she said she only decided to repay the taxpayer money once she saw the high cost of the journey. “The fact of the matter is, it was done within entitlement, but as I said the amount of money was clearly far too large and that’s why I’m paying it back,” she said. At a press conference in Sydney, Ms Bishop was asked if she would like to apologise directly to taxpayers but refused. “I think the biggest apology one can make is to repay the money,“ she said. media_camera Bellarine Liberal campaigner Jeremy Underwood with Bronwyn Bishop during the 2015 state election campaign. The Speaker said she had asked the Department of Finance to probe her other charter flights. “There were two other charters I used on small fixed-wing aircraft,” she said. But Ms Bishop refused to provide details of the other trips, and said it was the “proper way to go through Finance”. “I think one was to Nowra and one was to Young.” “I think they were in 2014 from memory. “They were certainly public meetings, there could have been a fundraiser as well. “As I said, that is not improper.” Ms Bishop also took a swipe at colleagues who have been critical of her spending, including Treasurer Joe Hockey. “Joe says some funny things sometimes, doesn’t he?” “I think he said poor people don’t drive cars or something.” Asked whether she would use helicopters for short trips in future, Ms Bishop said: “I think not.” She also ruled out stepping down as Speaker. “One doesn’t resign for an error of judgement when it’s within the guidelines,” she said. Earlier, Ms Bishop declared the furore a “political beat-up”. “That booking was just made in the ordinary way, there’s been a political beat-up,” she said. “I’m very sorry it’s taken the heat off (Bill) Shorten and his triple-whammy carbon tax.” Ms Bishop defended her absence from a memorial for MH17 victims yesterday, saying she was “literally snowed in” by bad weather. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said she had made an error of judgment by booking the flight to attend a Liberal fundraiser. But he said Ms Bishop had now “done the right thing” by repaying money and should not step aside from the role of Speaker. “She has repaid the money,” he said. “She’s done the right thing, she’s a good Speaker, she has my confidence. “The finance department looks into a whole lot of matters involving a whole lot of members of parliament and I don’t think it’s appropriate for people to stand aside simply because the finance department might be having a look at something. “The important thing is that Bronwyn’s admitted that it was probably an error of judgment and she’s repaid the money.” Bishop's costly flight Mr Abbott was asked about Ms Bishop and the chopper flight after he attended a function last night and reportedly said there was a “village gossip” surrounding the issue. “I can understand why people are interested in this,” he said. “The public has rightly high expectations of its representatives and whenever something doesn’t conform with their sense of what’s right, obviously there understandable excitement about it.” Mr Abbott rejected assertions that he was holding different standards for Ms Bishop compared with former Speaker Peter Slipper. “Absolutely normal procedures are being followed here,” he said. “The Department of Finance will have a look at it, and if they think there’s anything else to do, well, that will be done.” Labor has reissued a request for federal police to probe Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s use of taxpayer funds for a helicopter flight. The AFP initially said it would leave a preliminary investigation into the use of taxpayer funds for the chopper flight, taken between Melbourne and Geelong so Ms Bishop could attend a Liberal fundraiser, to the Department of Finance. An AFP spokesperson had released a statement saying this was appropriate under the so-called Minchin Protocol, which was set up in the 1990s to cover probes of parliamentary expenses. But Opposition’s Waste Watch committee chair, Pat Conroy, has written to Assistant Commissioner Shane Connelly requesting a police investigation proceed regardless of any department probe. He said any refusal to investigate would be “inconsistent” with the criminal prosecution of former Speaker Peter Slipper. “The Minchin protocol is no impediment to a police investigation into Ms Bishop’s conduct,” Mr Conroy writes. A spokesman for the Speaker told the Herald Sun Ms Bishop attended the event to talk about her official parliamentary role, but refused to release a claims form providing details of the trip while the matter was under investigation by police. Labor has called on Ms Bishop to release the form she signed to book the flight, which states that “knowingly giving false or misleading information is a serious offence” under the Criminal Code. Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and Education Minister Christopher Pyne were the only two Cabinet ministers to reply to questions from the Herald Sun about whether they backed the Speaker. Both said they supported Ms Bishop. It has emerged Ms Bishop’s chief-of-staff, Damien Jones, is a close friend of Andrew Gibbs, the man hired by charter company MyJet to handle political bookings. MyJet does not provide helicopter flights but helped arrange the luxury trip through another company. The Herald Sun can also reveal former premier Denis Napthine and then aviation minister Gordon Rich-Phillips opened MyJet’s new Bendigo base in 2013. It benefited from a multimillion-dollar investment by the government. Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke on Friday said if Ms Bishop had deliberately provided false information, she could not remain as Speaker. “There are times when people make honest mistakes... when an administrative error is made... but for the life of me, I don’t see how someone accidentally gets on a helicopter and ends up at a Liberal Party fundraiser.” Police say Ms Bishop is likely to avoid charges as she had repaid the money before the matter was referred to authorities. media_camera Ms Bishop could avoid charges after paying back the money. Digitally altered image. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY November 5, 2014: Speaker Bronwyn Bishop attends Gold Coast event, then flies from Coolangatta to Melbourne where she travels to CBD and boards a helicopter to Clifton Springs Golf Club for Liberal Party fundraiser. She returns to Melbourne on the chartered helicopter Wednesday July 15, 2015:Herald Sun reveals Ms Bishop billed taxpayers $5227 for the flight. She defended flight saying it was “within guidelines”. Thursday July 16, 2015:Herald Sun reveals Ms Bishop chartered the service to Clifton Springs Golf Club to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser. She said she took the charter out of “concern for the country”. Hours later — at the direction of the Prime Minister — she repaid the cost. Friday July 17, 2015: Ms Bishop fails to attend MH17 memorial service despite being listed on the order of service. Labor writes to the Australian Federal Police asking them to investigate the Ms Bishop’s use of the helicopter. [email protected] @annikasmethurstEcuador Seeks To Build A Silicon Valley Of Its Own Ecuador is trying to build a high-tech city, which it hopes will spur a more diverse economy. The tiny South American country is concerned about possibly running out of the natural resources it relies on for most of its revenue. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: Now to Ecuador which is rich in oil and gold deposits. But the country's natural resources may one day run out. So Ecuador is now trying to develop a high-tech economy by building a South American Silicon Valley. John Otis takes us there. JOHN OTIS, BYLINE: Near the snow-capped Andean peaks of Northern Ecuador workers are constructing a brand-new city from scratch. Plans for this 12,000 acre site include a science and technology park and a world-class research university. There will also be a campus for companies like Microsoft, Cisco Systems and China Telecom that plan to set up shop here. Like Brasilia and other planned cities, it's going up far from other urban centers in an effort to develop Ecuador's interior. This new city of knowledge has been dubbed Yachay, a Quechua Indian word that means to learn. Even as construction continues some classes at the Yachay University have already begun. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: I will buy a gift for her. Gift. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: All right, gift. OTIS: Yachay is working closely with top American universities such as Stanford and Cal Tech. Kansas State University is providing English professors, like Tyson Umberger. He says, students at Yachay are extremely motivated. TYSON UMBERGER: It's really refreshing - really rewarding when you're able to walk in and those students are just as eager to talk about the past simple or the presence simple verb tenses as you are. It's really - it's wonderful. OTIS: Yachay came about after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa toured Asia. He was impressed by their research and business clusters in South Korea and Singapore and envisioned something similar back home. RODRIGUEZ: This is the transformation of Ecuador. This is a social transformation. OTIS: Hector Rodriguez, the general manager of Yachay, says the goal is economic diversification. RODRIGUEZ: We know that the oil is going to be done in a few years and we cannot just take off all the minerals of the land. We need to get this transformation right now because there is no future for countries like us. OTIS: But building world-class research facilities can be extremely costly and they usually require academic autonomy to succeed. Critics call Yachay a top-down government enterprise that could become a tool of President Correa's social and economic agenda. Cesar Montufar, who teaches at the state-run Simon Bolivar University in Quito, says Yachay could turn into a city of elites, cut off from the rest of the country - much of which is poor and underdeveloped. CESAR MONTUFAR: A university is something that grows and develops within an environment. It's part of a country. It's part of a social reality. So you can not bring Ph.D.'s from everywhere in the world, put them in a small town in Ecuador and pretend that from that you can create a successful academic and research project. OTIS: Opposition politician Martha Roldos claims the billion dollars being spent on Yachay should go to Ecuador's struggling public universities. MARTHA ROLDOS: All the other universities are underfunded. This university has almost the same funding that all the others together - something is not right. OTIS: Roldos points out that Correa, who was first elected in 2006, is pushing Ecuador's Congress to scrap presidential term limits so he can be reelected indefinitely. She calls Yachay a grandiose vanity project designed to impress voters. ROLDOS: It's like an Egyptian Pharaoh. I think they are monuments to them, not to their country. OTIS: Rodriguez, the general manager of Yachay, denies the government is watering down other universities. RODRIGUEZ: (Spanish spoken). OTIS: He says, the government has increased the overall budget for higher education. He also claims traditional universities have produced little in the way of scientific publication or patents and that a fresh start is needed. What's more, Rodriguez says Yachay is already reversing the problem of brain-drain, by convincing the countries best and brightest students to stay home rather than study abroad. One of them is 17-year-old Daniela Armijo. She rejected a scholarship to Belgium's top university to study genetic engineering at Yachay. DANIELA ARMIJO: (Spanish Spoken). OTIS: We get high quality education here. Our professors hold Ph.Ds. The government is making good on its promises, Armijo tells me. This is where we are building the future of our country. For NPR News, I'm John Otis. Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.Ending Seinfeld at its peak has proved the most lucrative decision comic Jerry Seinfeld ever made. The sitcom has generated $3.1billion (£2.05 billion) in repeat fees since the final episode was screened 15 years ago. The comedy “about nothing” was a huge hit for the NBC network, running for nine years from 1989. Join Independent Minds For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Get the best of The Independent With an Independent Minds subscription for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Get the best of The Independent Without the ads – for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Since then the 180 episodes have continued to generate huge revenues through syndication deals for repeat showings on local US television channels. Negotiations for a fifth round of syndication deals have now pushed total earnings through the $3 billion barrier, earning co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David up to $400 million (£265 million) each, according to industry estimates. The duo enjoy profit-sharing deals with Warner Brothers, which owns the rights to the show. Co-stars Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus missed out on syndication rights. But they do earn a portion of the revenues from sales of Seinfeld DVDs, a demand they held out for in contract negotiations for the series’ ninth and final season. Seinfeld’s continuing syndication popularity has made its creators reluctant to sell episodes direct for download from Apple’s iTunes. Each half-hour episode has earned more than $17 million so far. The figure would be higher with the addition of income from DVDs, international sales and commercial airlines in-flight entertainment, where episodes have become a fixture. Syndicated episodes aren’t always screened exactly as viewers might remember them. The US cable station TBS cropped the frame, cut out lines of dialogue and re-edited scenes of Jerry Seinfeld’s nightclub stand-up routine when it showed episodes in HD. Seinfeld, which was initially turned down by Fox and took time to build an audience, has outperformed some major media brands. Electronic Arts, the video games company, has earned a total of $2bn (£1.3 bn) in net income over the same 15-year period. Jerry Seinfeld turned down a $5 million an episode offer to continue the show, which topped the ratings in its final season. The finale, broadcast in May 1998, was watched by 76 million US viewers. The Simpsons, which also premiered in 1989 and has now broadcast more than 500 episodes, is tipped to become the most lucrative syndicated television series ever when it finally ceases production.By Will Grant BBC News, Caracas At least 10 bodies - believed to be those of a kidnapped Colombian football team - have been found across the border in Venezuela. The bodies, with multiple gunshot wounds, were found in Tachira. One of the team is reported to have survived. State authorities say they suspect a left-wing Colombian guerrilla group, the ELN, is to blame for the deaths. The team, kidnapped two weeks ago, was known as Los Maniceros or Peanut Men, as they sold nuts along the border. The Venezuelan authorities say they are still investigating whether the bodies are those of the kidnapped team members. But local authorities in Tachira and several local newspapers are already reporting that the footballers have been killed. The most senior official in Tachira state, Leomagno Flores, blamed the violence on the armed wing of the ELN, a group led by a man known El Payaso or the Clown. He said it had been confirmed by the only survivor of the attack. There is no clear motive for the violence although there is some speculation that it relates to enforced recruitment to their army.Recently by Thomas Sowell: Social Degeneration Ideological clashes over particular laws, policies and programs often go far deeper. Those with opposing views of what is desirable for the future also tend to differ equally sharply as to what the reality of the present is. In other words, they envision two very different worlds. A small but revealing example was a recent New York Times criticism of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs for not contributing to charity as much as the New York Times writer thought he should. The media in general are full of praise for business people and their companies for giving away substantial amounts of their wealth. Indeed, that is one of the few things for which many in the media praise businesses and the wealthy. Americans in general — whether rich, poor or in between — have one of the most remarkable records for donating not only money but time to all sorts of charitable endeavors. Privately financed hospitals, colleges and innumerable other institutions abound in the United States, while they are rare to non-existent in many other countries, where such things are usually left to government or to religious organizations. However, with charity as with everything else, it cannot simply be assumed that more is always better. A “safety net” can easily become a hammock. “Social justice” can easily become class warfare that polarizes a nation, while leading those at the bottom into the blind alley of resentments, no matter how many broad avenues of achievement may be available to them. Judging businesses or their owners by how much wealth they give away — rather than by how much wealth they create — is putting the cart before the horse. Wealth is ultimately the only thing that can reduce poverty. The most dramatic reductions in poverty, in countries around the world, have come from increasing the amount of wealth, rather than from a redistribution of existing wealth. What kind of world do we want — one in which everyone works to increase wealth to whatever extent they can, or a world in which everyone will be supported by either government handouts or private philanthropy, whether they work or don’t work? It is not an abstract question. We can already see the consequences on both sides of the Atlantic. Those who have grown used to having others provide their food, shelter and other basics as “rights” are by no means grateful. On the contrary, they are more angry, lawless and violent than in years past, whether they are lower-class whites rioting in Britain or black “flash mobs” in America. Their histories are very different, but what they have in common is being supplied with a steady drumbeat of resentments against those who are better off. Politicians, intellectuals and whole armies of caretaker bureaucrats are among those who benefit, in one way or another, from picturing parasites as victims, and their lags behind the rest of society as reasons for anger rather than achievement. Leading people into the blind alley of dependency and grievances may be counterproductive for them but it can produce votes, money, power, fame and a sense of exaltation to others who portray themselves as friends of the downtrodden. Both private philanthropy and the taxpayers’ money support this whole edifice of a make-believe world, where largesse replaces achievement and “rights” replace work. Trying to rope Steve Jobs into this world ignores how many other famous businessmen, whose achievements in business have benefited society, have created philanthropies whose harm has offset those benefits. Henry Ford benefited millions of other people by creating mass production methods that cut the cost of automobiles to a fraction of what they had been before — bringing cars for the first time within the budgets of people who were not rich. But the Ford Foundation has become a plaything of social experimenters who pay no price for creating programs that have been counterproductive or even socially disastrous. Nor was this the only foundation created by business philanthropy with a similar history and similar social results. Let business pioneers do what they do best. And let the rest of us exercise more judgment as to how much charity is beneficial and how much more simply perpetuates dependency, grievances and the polarization of society. Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. His Web site is www.tsowell.com. To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page. The Best of Thomas SowellPictured: Hops (Beer) Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs Level of toxicity: Generally mild to severe, depending on the amount ingested Common signs to watch for: Humulus lupulus, commonly known as hops, is a plant used in the process of brewing beer. As home brewing increases in popularity, more dogs may be at risk for exposure. Hops plugs (which typically are dried) tend to be more toxic than hops pellets. The exact toxic principle is unknown, but may be related to essential oils, resins, phenolic compounds, or nitrogenous constituents within the plant. When ingested by dogs (or rarely, cats), signs of hop poisoning include malignant hyperthermia (with temperatures exceeding 105⁰F/40.6⁰C), increased breathing, a racing heart rate, anxiety, vomiting, abnormal clotting, and even death. Death has been reported in dogs poisoned by hops within 6 hours of ingestion (without treatment). Any breed of dog may be affected, but breeds predisposed to malignant hyperthermia (e.g., greyhounds, Labrador retrievers, Saint Bernards, pointers, Dobermans, Border collies, English springer spaniels, and northern breeds) are at higher risk for toxicity.by Wendy E. Cook, New Dawn My first introduction to a biodynamic farm was over 35 years ago, yet it made such an indelible impression upon me that I can still vividly recreate the memory. Nestling in the soft East Sussex hills, Busses Farm, run by Jimmy and Pauline Anderson, was a clear demonstration of a living example of biodynamics. Walking through the kitchen garden was like being in a Monet painting. The French intensive biodynamic method was being practised, with raised beds and an exuberant riot of herbs, flowers and vegetables. Patches of marigolds, tagetes and nasturtiums tangled with bright blue borage, lavender, rosemary, courgettes, cucumbers and firm-hearted lettuce. Runner beans busily twined up poles and tomatoes grew warm, sweet and ripe. If you managed to glimpse the soil through this cornucopia it was black and crumbly, the kind that produces happy plants. Bees provided the background hum as they gratefully progressed from flower to flower, spoilt for choice between gardens and orchards. This was the first time I remember hearing about companion planting. Out in the fields was a herd of horned Sussex cows, most with their calves, for breeding as well as some milk cows; a few fluffy sheep that looked like an advertisement for washing powder, 300 pecking and excitable hens, and a wonderful workhorse that was used for transporting heavy loads. All of these animated the landscape with their variety of shapes, colours, sounds and behaviours. In addition to this huge quantity of mouths and beaks to feed there was usually a group of very hard-working and very hungry apprentices who would come to train for 3-6 month blocks. Their healthy appetites meant that Pauline’s four-oven Aga was always on the go, full of marvellous dishes. And, as if this was not enough, the indefatigable Andersons pioneered a vegetable and wholefood shop in the village of Forest Row, which has continued to go from strength to strength. So many people were enthusiastic about getting biodynamic produce that a number came forward with their various talents, and the next enterprise was a restaurant run by a team of good cooks – some days the queues would stretch round the block The salads fairly jumped off the plates with vitality and we all felt that this was an ‘idea whose time had certainly come’. On the farm were study groups looking at the theoretical side of biodynamics, and regular celebrations of festivals with music, singing and dancing. It was very hard work to be sure, but it made the profound statement of Manfred Klett (former head of biodynamic work in Germany) that “the farm is the university of the future,” a living ideal to be realised eventually on a much wider scale. When it honours the particular piece of land that forms it, in all its true depth of potentiality, the farm is a world of symbiotic relationships and processes. Then the farm becomes the most excellent, cheap and efficient
to embarrass its targets. In a series of interviews over two weeks, the woman shared a dramatic story about an alleged sexual relationship with Moore in 1992 that led to an abortion when she was 15. During the interviews, she repeatedly pressed Post reporters to give their opinions on the effects that her claims could have on Moore’s candidacy if she went public. The Post did not publish an article based on her unsubstantiated account. When Post reporters confronted her with inconsistencies in her story and an Internet posting that raised doubts about her motivations, she insisted that she was not working with any organization that targets journalists. But on Monday morning, Post reporters saw her walking into the New York offices of Project Veritas, an organization that targets the mainstream news media and left-leaning groups. The organization sets up undercover “stings” that involve using false cover stories and covert video recordings meant to expose what the group says is media bias. James O’Keefe, the Project Veritas founder who was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2010 for using a fake identity to enter a federal building during a previous sting, declined to answer questions about the woman outside the organization’s offices on Monday morning shortly after the woman walked inside. “I am not doing an interview right now, so I’m not going to say a word,” O’Keefe said. James O’Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas, declined to answer questions from The Post. (Aaron Davis/The Washington Post) In a follow-up interview, O’Keefe declined to answer repeated questions about whether the woman was employed at Project Veritas. He also did not respond when asked if he was working with Moore, former White House adviser and Moore supporter Stephen K. Bannon, or Republican strategists. The group’s efforts illustrate the lengths to which activists have gone to try to discredit media outlets for reporting on allegations from multiple women that Moore pursued them when they were teenagers and he was in his early 30s. Moore has denied that he did anything improper. A spokesman for Moore’s campaign did not respond to a message seeking comment. The woman who approached Post reporters, Jaime T. Phillips, did not respond to calls to her cellphone later Monday. Her car remained in the Project Veritas parking lot for more than an hour. The Post positioned video reporters outside the group’s office in Mamaroneck, N.Y, after determining that Phillips lives in Stamford, Conn., and realizing that the two locations were just 16 miles apart. Two reporters followed her from her home as she drove to the office. After Phillips was observed entering the Project Veritas office, The Post made the unusual decision to report her previous off-the-record comments. “We always honor ‘off-the-record’ agreements when they’re entered into in good faith,” said Martin Baron, The Post’s executive editor. “But this so-called off-the-record conversation was the essence of a scheme to deceive and embarrass us. The intent by Project Veritas clearly was to publicize the conversation if we fell for the trap. Because of our customary journalistic rigor, we weren’t fooled, and we can’t honor an ‘off-the-record’ agreement that was solicited in maliciously bad faith.” Phillips’s arrival at the Project Veritas office capped a weeks-long effort that began only hours after The Post published an article on Nov. 9 that included allegations that Moore once initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old named Leigh Corfman. Post reporter Beth Reinhard, who co-wrote the article about Corfman, received a cryptic email early the next morning. “Roy Moore in Alabama... I might know something but I need to keep myself safe. How do we do this?” the apparent tipster wrote under an account with the name “Lindsay James.” The email’s subject line was “Roy Moore in AL.” The sender’s email address included “rolltide,” the rallying cry of the University of Alabama’s sports teams, which are nicknamed the Crimson Tide. Reinhard sent an email asking if the person was willing to talk off the record. “Not sure if I trust the phone,” came the reply. “Can we just stick to email?” “I need to be confident that you can protect me before I will tell all,” the person wrote in a subsequent email. “I have stuff I’ve been hiding for a long time but maybe it should stay that way.” The tipster’s email came amid counterattacks by Moore supporters aimed at The Post and its reporters. That same day, Gateway Pundit, a conservative site, spread a false story from a Twitter account, @umpire43, that said, “A family friend in Alabama just told my wife that a WAPO reporter named Beth offer her 1000$ to accuse Roy Moore.” The Twitter account, which has a history of spreading misinformation, has since been deleted. The Post, like many other news organizations, has a strict policy against paying people for information and did not do so in its coverage of Moore. On Nov. 14, a pastor in Alabama said he received a voice mail from a man falsely claiming to be a Post reporter and seeking women “willing to make damaging remarks” about Moore for money. No one associated with The Post made any such call. In the days that followed the purported tipster’s initial emails, Reinhard communicated with the woman through an encrypted text messaging service and spoke by phone with the person to set up a meeting. When the woman suggested a meeting in New York, Reinhard told her she would have to know more about her story and her background. The woman offered that her real name was Jaime Phillips. Phillips said she lived in New York but would be in the Washington area during Thanksgiving week and suggested meeting Tuesday at a shopping mall in Tysons Corner, Va. “I’m planning to do some shopping there so I’ll find a good place to meet before you get there,” Phillips wrote in a message sent via Signal, the encrypted messaging service. When Reinhard suggested bringing another reporter, Phillips wrote, “I’m not really comfortable with anyone else being there this time.” Reinhard arrived to find Phillips, wearing a brown leather jacket and with long red hair, already seated in a booth in the restaurant. The 41-year-old said she had been abused as a child, Reinhard said. Her family had moved often. She said she moved in with an aunt in the Talladega area of Alabama and started attending a church youth group when she met Moore in 1992, the year he became a county judge. She said she was 15. She said they started a “secret” sexual relationship. “I knew it wasn’t right, but I didn’t care,” she said. She said that she got pregnant, that Moore talked her into an abortion and that he drove her to Mississippi to get it. In the interview, she told Reinhard that she was so upset she couldn’t finish her salad. Phillips said she had started thinking about coming forward after the allegations about Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein surfaced. Then she said she saw the news about Moore flashing across the television screen while in a break room at her job at a company called NFM Lending in Westchester County, N.Y., Reinhard said. Phillips also repeatedly asked the reporter to guarantee her that Moore would lose the election if she came forward. Reinhard told her in a subsequent text message that she could not predict what the impact would be. Reinhard said she also explained to Phillips that her claims would have to be fact-checked. Additionally, Reinhard asked her for documents that would corroborate or support her story. Later that day, Phillips told Reinhard that she felt “anxiety & negative energy after our meeting,” text messages show. “You just didn’t convince me that I should come forward,” she wrote. Reinhard replied, “I’m so sorry but I want to be straight with you about the fact-checking process and the fact that we can’t guarantee what will happen as a result of another story.” Phillips was not satisfied. On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, she suggested meeting with another Post reporter, Stephanie McCrummen, who co-wrote the initial article about Corfman. “I’d rather go to another paper than talk to you again,” Phillips told Reinhard. Back at the newsroom, Reinhard became concerned about elements of Phillips’s story. Phillips had said she lived in Alabama only for a summer while a teenager, but the cellphone number Phillips provided had an Alabama area code. Reinhard called NFM Lending, the company Phillips said she worked for in Westchester County, but was told no one named Jaime Phillips worked there. The company issued a statement after the publication of this article saying Phillips worked briefly for Maryland-based NFM Lending, but her tenure ended in the summer of 2016. The company also said it has no offices in Westchester County. Alice Crites, a Post researcher who was looking into Phillips’s background, found a document that strongly reinforced the reporters’ suspicions: a Web page for a fundraising campaign by someone with the same name. It was on the website GoFundMe.com under the name Jaime Phillips. The GoFundMe fundraising page. (Internet Archive) “I’m moving to New York!” the May 29 appeal said. “I’ve accepted a job to work in the conservative media movement to combat the lies and deceipt of the liberal MSM. I’ll be using my skills as a researcher and fact-checker to help our movement. I was laid off from my mortgage job a few months ago and came across the opportunity to change my career path.” In a March posting on its Facebook page, Project Veritas said it was seeking 12 new “undercover reporters,” though the organization’s operatives use methods that are eschewed by mainstream journalists, such as misrepresenting themselves. A posting for the “journalist” job on the Project Veritas website that month warned that the job “is not a role for the faint of heart.” The job’s listed goal: “To adopt an alias persona, gain access to an identified person of interest and persuade that person to reveal information.” It also listed tasks that the job applicant should be able to master, including: “Learning a script,” “Preparing a background story to support your role,” “Gaining an appointment or access to the target of the investigation,” and “Operating concealed recording equipment.” Project Veritas, founded in 2010, is a tax-exempt charity that says its mission is to “investigate and expose corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud and other misconduct.” It raised $4.8 million and employed 38 people in 2016, according to its public tax filing. It also had 92 volunteers. O’Keefe’s criminal record has caused the charity problems in some states. Mississippi and Utah stripped the group of a license to raise money in those states because it failed to disclose O’Keefe’s conviction on state applications, records show. Also working at Veritas is former television producer Robert J. Halderman, who was sentenced to six months in jail in 2010 after he was accused of trying to blackmail late-night host David Letterman. Halderman was with O’Keefe outside the Project Veritas offices Monday as a reporter tried to ask about Phillips’s role with the organization. Because Jaime Phillips is a relatively common name, it wasn’t a certainty that the GoFundMe page that Crites found was created by the same woman who approached The Post. But there was another telling detail, in addition to the name. One of two donations listed on the page was from a person whose name matched her daughter’s, according to public records. McCrummen agreed to meet Phillips that afternoon. Phillips suggested meeting somewhere in Alexandria, Va., saying she was shopping in the area. Post video reporters accompanied McCrummen, who brought a printout of the fundraising page to the interview. Again, Phillips had arrived early and was waiting for McCrummen, her purse resting on the table. When McCrummen put her purse near Phillips’s purse to block a possible camera, Phillips moved hers. The Post video reporters sat separately, unnoticed, at an adjacent table. Phillips said she didn’t want to get into the details of what she had said happened between her and Moore. She said she wanted McCrummen to assure her that the article would result in Moore’s defeat, according to a recording. McCrummen instead asked her about her story regarding Moore. Phillips complained that President Trump had endorsed Moore. “So my whole thing is, like, I want him to be completely taken out of the race,” she said. “And I really expected that was going to happen, and now it’s not. So, I don’t know what you think about that.” McCrummen asked Phillips to verify her identity with a photo identification. Phillips provided a Georgia driver’s license. McCrummen then asked her about the GoFundMe page. “We have a process of doing background, checking backgrounds and this kind of thing, so I wanted to ask you about one thing,” McCrummen said, pulling out a copy of the page and reading from it. “So I just wanted to ask you if you could explain this, and I also wanted to let you know, Jaime, that this is being recorded and video recorded.” “Okay,” Phillips said. “Um, yeah, I was looking to take a job last summer in New York, but it fell through,” Phillips said. “Yeah, it was going to be with the Daily Caller, but it ended up falling through, so I wasn’t able to do it.” When asked who at the Daily Caller interviewed her, Phillips said, “Kathy,” pausing before adding the last name, “Johnson.” Paul Conner, executive editor of the Daily Caller, said Monday that no one with the name Kathy Johnson works for the publication and that he has no record of having personally interviewed Phillips. Conner later said in an email that he had asked other top editors at the Daily Caller and the affiliated Daily Caller News Foundation about Phillips. “None of us has interviewed a woman by the name Jaime Phillips,” Conner wrote. At the Alexandria restaurant on Wednesday, Phillips also told The Post that she had not been in contact with the Moore campaign. As the interview ended, Phillips told McCrummen she was not recording the conversation. “I think I probably just want to cancel and not go through with it at this point,” Phillips said at Souvlaki Bar shortly before ending the interview. “I’m not going to answer any more questions,” she said. “I think I’m just going to go.” She picked up her coat and bag, returned her drink to the front counter and left the restaurant. By 7 p.m. the message on the GoFundMe page was gone, replaced by a new one. “Campaign is complete and no longer active,” it read. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the NFM Lending office a Post reporter called to verify Jaime Phillips’s employment was in Westchester County. The company has no offices in that county. This story has been updated with a statement from Maryland-based NFM Lending indicating that Phillips’s brief employment with the company ended in the summer of 2016. Thomas LeGro and Dalton Bennett contributed to this report. Read more: Undercover conservative activist rented basement apartment in home of top Democratic operativeThe Show (4.5/5) Ash vs Evil Dead picks up the story of Ash (Bruce Campbell), the protagonist from Evil Dead and Army of Darkness. After 30 years of avoiding society and working meaningless jobs, Ash suddenly and mistakenly awakes another deadite plague, and he is thrust right back into the spotlight as the only hero who can stop the outbreak before it destroys mankind. With each episode only running for 30 minutes, outside of the 45 minute pilot directed by Sam Raimi, the season moves quickly and at a pace perfect for a binge watch session. The show never felt too quick or too long, and it was just the perfect amount of Bruce Campbell in each episode to satisfy fans of the original Evil Dead franchise. The tone of the show is much more Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness than it is the original film, with lots of fun one-liners, crazy amounts of gore and cheesy special effects. Bruce Campbell is in rare form as Ash for the majority of the series, with his macho attitude and suave moves with the ladies on full display. Fans of the Evil Dead movies, Sam Raimi’s style, and B-movie horror cheese will certainly love Ash vs Evil Dead. I found myself hooked just one episode in, and before I knew it, I was removing the first disc and finishing off the first season. The supporting cast is great, and they add to the hilarity that is Ash vs Evil Dead. I can see this show running for many seasons on Starz, and as long as horror fans continue to tune in and support the show, the cast and production team behind the scenes will surely continue to display excellence. I highly recommend checking this one out. The Video (4/5) Ash vs Evil Dead comes to Blu-ray in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, meaning that it will fill your entire HDTV with all its gory goodness. The picture is a bit soft, as to be expected from a TV show versus a movie, but the colors look great. Even in the darkest scenes, the contrast and brightness stay consistent and allow for an easy viewing experience. At times, the special effects can look a bit cheesy and at times I thought that the picture could be a bit blurrier than a typical TV show, but the cheese just adds to the Evil Dead experience. Basically, the Blu-ray transfer looks as good as any other TV show, and is nearly identical to the live broadcast of the show. Nothing was changed in the transfer to Blu-ray, and that is always a good thing. The Audio (4.5/5) In a surprising turn for a TV show, since most of them don’t even get a Blu-ray release anymore, Anchor Bay and Starz decided to package a beautifully sounding Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track with Ash vs Evil Dead. The show sounds great, and the music, screams of the deadites, and chainsaw roaring action all shot through my SVS Prime Tower system. The surround speakers get a lot of work in all of the action-packed sequences, but the real standout is the subwoofer. The low bass effects are extremely important in horror, even in a comedy-horror like Ash vs Evil Dead. As I had previously mentioned, the subwoofer action instills the sense of dread in the audience, and in Ash vs Evil Dead nearly every time there was a scary situation, the subwoofer was pumping and really had me fully immersed in the show. Make sure you have a strong enough subwoofer to hit the full range that this Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track has to offer; my PB-2000 from SVS did the trick. Special Features/Packaging (4/5) Ash Vs Evil Dead comes to Blu-ray in a two-disc set, complete with an excellent lenticular slipcover. The lenticular is one of the coolest in my collection, as it switches back and forth between a dark background and a very bright one, creating a lightning-like effect on the cover. The discs also feature excellent artwork, which goes to show the care Anchor Bay put into this release. Unfortunately, there is no digital copy included with this release, and there is no DVD. The two Blu-ray discs split the first season into two parts, with 5 episodes on each disc. The lack of a digital copy is a bit surprising for a TV show, since many people like to own the show and take some of their episodes on the go, but the packaging is really incredibly well-done. In fact, Best Buy has a MetalPak exclusive edition which is another excellent option for collectors that you may want to check out as well. As for special features, they are pretty solid. We get 8 out of the 10 episodes with a commentary track from the man himself, Bruce Campbell, as well as Sam Raimi, Bob Tapert, and other cast members sprinkled in. All 10 episodes have a commentary track, and they are the real draw. We also get a few featurettes, about 25 minutes in total as follows: Ash Inside the World – a basic overview of the story behind the scenes, the production process, Sam Raimi’s pilot episode, and much more How to Kill a Deadite – a quick but fun feature with Campbell explaining how best to kill a deadite. Best of Ash – as stated, Ash’s best moments from Season 1 Technical Specs (click for technical FAQs) Video Resolution: 1080p Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audio Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Subtitles English SDH, Spanish Runtime: 294 minutes Overall (4.5/5) So often in this generation of nostalgia-fueled reboots we see failure, disappointment, and outright sadness in the place of what could be greatness. Thankfully, by securing Bruce Campbell in the lead role and returning him to the production team with the minds of Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert (the original filmmakers), Starz has themselves a hit with Ash vs Evil Dead. With TV season typically being high in price and the justification of TV on Blu-ray always in question (read writer Chris Haller’s excellent piece on that issue), it is hard to recommend a blind buy for this release, even at a rather low $25 release price. Rather, newcomers to the series would be better served watching it On Demand or with their Starz subscription. However, hardcore Evil Dead fans, of which there are many, absolutely need to own this Blu-ray release. You can order Ash vs Evil Dead: Season 1 from Amazon, or grab the MetalPak from Best Buy.We knew a short Australian tour wouldn’t cut it for Michael Gira. Nor would reissues or a live release. As ever, the insatiable Swans frontman — who may or may not eat Bertolli pasta — wants not only more focus on him, but all focus on him, which is presumably (but not really) why he’s just announced a solo tour that’ll take him all over Europe. Does this mean a new Angels of Light album is coming out soon too? Nope! Meanwhile, we continue to wait for the final album from Swans’s current lineup, which Gira describes as “bound to be an insatiable beast.” Dates: 03.05.16 - Brisbane, AU - Queensland Gallery of Modern Art 03.08.16 - Melbourne, AU - Melbourne Recital Centre 03.09.16 - Sydney, AU - Carriageworks 03.30.16 - London, UK - Barbican Centre * 04.01.16 - Moscow, RU - ZIL Culture Center 04.02.16 - Saint Petersburg, RU - The Place SPB Venue 04.04.16 - Warsaw, PL - Pardon, To Tu 04.05.16 - Warsaw, PL - Pardon, To Tu 04.07.16 - Berlin, D - Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz 04.08.16 - Copenhagen, DK - Jazzhouse 04.09.16 - Oslo, N - John Dee Club inside Rockafeller 04.10.16 - Bergen, NO - Bergen Kunsthall - Landmark Bar 04.11.16 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Upstairs 04.13.16 - Brussels, BE - AB Small Club 04.15.16 - Paris, FR - Le Point Ephémère * Thurston Moore, Laura Cannell(Johannesburg) – The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights should focus attention on recent human rights violations in Angola and Sudan in its upcoming session, Human Rights Watch said today. The commission will meet in Luanda, Angola from April 28 to May 12, 2014. The African Commission should condemn persistent human rights abuses in Angola, including the government’s failure to address restrictions on the media and peaceful assembly, unlawful killings, sexual violence and torture by security forces, and mass evictions. The commission should also establish a fact-finding mission to investigate the killing of at least 170 protesters in Sudan in September 2013, and the arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment of hundreds of other people. “Africa’s most important human rights institution should not ignore the appalling human rights record of its host, Angola,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The African Commission should also take Sudan to task for its failure to bring to justice those responsible for the killing and torture of protesters last September.” The African Commission is uniquely suited to press for change in these two particular situations. It is the main body mandated with promoting human and peoples’ rights on the continent. Under article 45 of the African Charter, the African Commission has the authority to conduct research into human rights practices and to give its views and recommendations to governments, as well as to cooperate with other African and international institutions concerned with the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights. More than three decades of rule by President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos in Angola has resulted in his party having a monopoly on power. Angola has widespread corruption and serious human rights violations, with no accountability. Freedom of expression is severely restricted due to government pressure on independent media, self-censorship, and government repression. The Angolan government has pursued numerous criminal defamation lawsuits against outspoken journalists and activists, and has arrested and beaten journalists trying to report on human rights violations by security forces. The commission should be alert to efforts by the Angolan government to restrict access for independent media and civil society to the African Commission – as has occurred in the past – including at a regional summit in 2011, Human Rights Watch said. Since 2011, Angolan authorities have responded to peaceful anti-government protests organized by youth groups and others in Luanda and elsewhere with excessive force, arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, harassment, and intimidation of participants, journalists, and observers. Protest organizers and participants have also been targeted, including occasionally with violent attacks and abduction by security agents. In November 2013, a leaked confidential Interior Ministry report revealed that António Alves Kamulingue and Isaías Cassule, two protest organizers who were abducted and forcibly disappeared in May 2012, had been kidnapped, tortured, and killed by the police and domestic intelligence service. “The African Commission should call for prosecutions of those responsible for killings, abductions, and torture in Angola,” Bekele said. “The commission should also urge the Angolan government to immediately repeal the criminal defamation laws as a start to ending repression of the media.” The African Commission should also establish and send a fact-finding mission to Sudan to investigate the killings and injury of dozens of protesters last September, and the arbitrary detention of opposition party members, journalists, protesters, and activists. More than six months on, the Sudanese government has failed to credibly investigate, far less prosecute, the killings and related abuses, Human Rights Watch said. The protests erupted in Wad Madani on September 23, 2013, in response to new economic austerity measures and price increases, and then spread to the capital, Khartoum, and other towns. Police and security forces responded to the protests with live ammunition and teargas, as well as assaults on participants and others with batons, to disperse the protests. As many as 170 people were killed. Police and security services detained more than 800 people in various locations, according to Sudanese groups monitoring the events. Many were released within days, often following summary trials resulting in floggings or fines. But others were held for weeks or months without charge or access to family or lawyers. Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service, with its sweeping powers of arrest and detention, has a long record of detaining government opponents and subjecting them to ill-treatment and torture. People who had been detained during the protests told Human Rights Watch that they had been beaten, verbally abused, deprived of sleep, and held for long periods in solitary confinement. Human Rights Watch has documented the Sudanese government’s involvement in the unlawful killing and wounding of protesters as well as of bystanders caught up in protests, and that intelligence service officials were responsible for arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and torture. Sudanese law enforcement officers continue to use excessive force to disperse protests, which, for example, led to the death of a Darfuri student in March 2014. The Sudanese government has contested the casualty numbers and denied that security forces were responsible for the September violence. Although the interior and justice ministers each announced the creation of investigative committees, the only findings made public focus on damage allegedly caused by protesters, rather than the deaths or allegations of unlawful arrests and mistreatment. “The African Commission should use its upcoming session to shine a spotlight on the ongoing abuses and repression in both Angola and Sudan,” Bekele said. “In the face of government indifference to their plight, victims of abuses in both countries have few places to turn.”The kind of political violence we saw in Charlottesville this weekend is designed to force Americans to sort themselves into warring camps over two sets of losers. Let’s get something out of the way: Charlottesville is not about Confederate statues or Robert E. Lee or the Civil War or American history. What happened on Friday night and Saturday is about power, specifically about forcing the great mass of Americans to choose sides in a zero-sum clash between contemporary American versions of Weimar gangs. The Left’s damnatio memoriae campaign to tear down Confederate statues shares something in common with the white supremacist impulse to stage tiki-torch rallies in defense of those statues: the ultimate goal isn’t to re-litigate the Civil War but to polarize the American body politic, to force the mainstream into a kind of crude tribalism. Political violence and street fights of the kind we saw over the weekend in Charlottesville aren’t altogether new in America. We have seen such clashes — albeit less deadly ones — nearly every year for almost a decade. In nearly every case, they have been sought out and instigated by the extreme left. But Richard Spencer and his sparse band of J. Crew Nazis chose the Lee statue for the site of their rally on Saturday for the simple reason that it was the best location for attracting attention and provoking a violent counter-protest from armed cadres of left-wing street fighters, which it did. They came to town, apparently from all over the country, looking for a fight that would be televised. That strategy follows a certain logic, especially if your movement is small (estimates of white supremacist attendees were in the hundreds). For the left-wing counterprotesters, showing up en masse to attack such a gathering follows the same logic. The point is to put on a spectacle. The fact is, neither the extreme left or the extreme right are representative of any significant constituencies in American politics. They do not wield actual power, but they have realized a way to exert out-sized influence through the instigation of publicly staged violence. John Robb, author of a book on terrorism and social disruption called “Brave New War,” wrote an insightful blog post about how Charlottesville wasn’t really a protest so much as an “open invitation to a public fist fight between left and right.” It was a perfect example of “malicious social disruption” that “widened fault lines and damaged social cohesion at every level” — by design. Political Tribalism Is Anti-American It bears repeating here that political tribalism, whether propagated by the Left or the Right, is deeply anti-American. That’s probably not exactly what Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe meant Sunday when he said white supremacists “need to leave America” because “they are not Americans,” but the governor’s comment underscores—and, in a way, abets—the goal of both the far-left and far-right. The urge to define who is and isn’t an American is understandable in a country defined, as America is, by creed rather than ethnicity or national origin. But writing entire swaths of our citizenry off, even for holding reprehensible and frankly anti-American political views, undermines part of the power of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which were designed to hold together a fractious republic partly by defanging our worst inclinations toward tribalism. Instead of excommunicating, American constitutionalism obliges us to persuade each another. Doing otherwise sows seeds of anger and resentment that bear the poisoned fruit of political violence we see growing across the country. That symbols and reminders of the Confederacy would attract partisans on either side in this effort is not surprising. The Civil War was, after all, a massive convulsion in the life of the nation. The justifications for the South’s secession were themselves deeply anti-American, and the war that followed nearly rendered union impossible, even after the defeat of the Confederacy. What better imagery to rally around then, if your goal is to divide Americans into warring camps? It serves your interests if you’re a white nationalist as much as if you’re a leftist “antifa” street fighter. But sometimes, you don’t even need the imagery, just a statue and a bit of historical background. On Sunday evening in Washington DC, protesters marched to the Albert Pike Memorial and chanted, “Tear it down!” Pike is the only Confederate with a statue in DC, but unlike statues of Lee and other Confederate military leaders across the South, Pike’s statue depicts him as a freemason, not a Confederate officer. Indeed, Congress only approved the monument in 1898 after receiving guarantees that Pike would be depicted as a civilian, not a soldier. Often, proponents of tearing down Confederate statues insist they are “symbols of hate,” and our tolerance of them reinforces that hatred. But here is Pike’s monument, a symbol, if anything, of his devotion to freemasonry. Any passersby would have to know something of Pike’s story to know he was a Confederate general. But that’s not the point of shouting for the thing to be torn down. The point is to exert power, and Americans of all political persuasions should resist it. Why Confederate Imagery Is Suddenly Problematic There’s one additional thing to note about why Confederate statues are a source of controversy now, a century or more after most of them went up. Writing at The Atlantic, Yoni Appelbaum claims the Confederate statues will come down because Americans of goodwill are more concerned about justice now than they were in times past. “The statues will be moved, the streets renamed, and the military bases will honor patriots who fought for their country and not against it,” he writes. “Because a century and a half after Reconstruction began, America is still working on the project of constructing a more equal society, and reinvesting in the experiment of a multi-ethnic democracy.” But why weren’t Democratic leaders in the South calling for the removal of these Confederate statues and symbols a decade ago, or really at any point over the last half-century? Consider that the vast majority of Confederate statuary and monuments are in Southern states. Consider that up until a string of electoral losses beginning in 2010, the Democratic Party was operating under the assumption that America was moving into an era of the “permanent Democratic majority.” Consider that instead of a permanent majority, Democrats suffered not just defeat at the federal level in 2010, 2014, and 2016, but a steady loss of power in state legislatures and governors’ mansions across the country, such that the party is in the worst shape it’s been since the Great Depression. Consider, finally, that the voters who have migrated away from the Democrats to the GOP in the last ten years can be accurately described as middle-class Americans from Southern and Midwestern states, many of whom voted for Trump in the last election. Now ask yourself whether those on the Left calling for the destruction or removal of these statues really want these Republican Trump voters as part of their coalition. Do they want to persuade, or eliminate?Now Fully Funded AND Stretch Goal Met! NEW COLOR ADDED! By Popular Demand: We did it! We crushed the $55K Stretch Goal. A second color option (Kickstarter Green Special Edition) is now available. This color will ONLY be available to Kickstarter Backers and will never be available again! How do I use it? Please, take a look at this wonderful instructional video we've made for you! You'll need an HTML5 capable browser to see this content. Play Replay with sound Play with sound 00:00 00:00 My Story You'll need an HTML5 capable browser to see this content. Play Replay with sound Play with sound 00:00 00:00 We are in the media! Click here to see the fantastic articles written about the OneBowl. If you'd like to write about the OneBowl, grab your high-res photos here and give me a shout! Safety Lock What can I use it for? Cook, strain, eat, and store noodles Rinse, serve, and store fruit Cherry tomatoes! Great for making oatmeal It even makes a great cereal bowl My story (Extended) As a college student on a budget, I ate a lot of noodles. In fact, it's safe to say that I was on the "Ramen Noodles every day" diet. Every time that I prepared my noodles, I had to get out several different dishes (one for cooking, one for straining, one for eating, one for storing). This made for so many dirty dishes that I hardly had room to store in my dorm in the first place. I found myself asking, "Why can't I do this all in one bowl?" That's when I had my "eureka" moment. I drew a sketch of my idea on a napkin and took it to a fellow student who happened to be studying product design engineering. It wasn't long before I had my first CAD model to 3D print my first 2 prototypes (see pictures below). First CAD Model 3D Printer in Action First 3D Print (small) (1st Generation Prototype) Larger 3D Print (2nd Generation Prototype) Once I had a physical representation of my dream bowl in my hands, I realized there were several flaws in the design. It was too small and too dangerous to use. The bottom of the bowl was designed to screw off to unplug the holes in the bottom and let any water in the bowl strain out. This motion put the user's hands too close to hot water coming out of the bowl. I realized I was going to need to raise some money to move the design of the bowl forward. So, I entered an idea pitch competition at my school where I had 90 seconds to pitch my idea for cash prizes and placed 2nd! Idea Pitch Competition 2nd Place I started entering more competitions and winning a some more cash prizes! MWest Challenge 3rd Place Green Light Business Model Competition 1st Place After raising some money, I was able to take my idea to an experienced industrial designer to help me perfect the design. The next (3rd) generation of prototypes was born shortly after. 3rd Generation CAD Model 3rd Generation Prototype This black prototype pictured above was much more functional than the previous prototype and had a handle for easy holding. However, I soon found that this prototype was awkwardly bulky and the handle was an easy breaking point. Using this information, my industrial designer eliminated the handle and updated the
calling it an instance of "half justice". Activist Teesta Setalvad, who was one of those who filed the case, said they would appeal the verdict in the high court and Supreme Court if necessary and would not give up their "struggle". Mr Modi has always denied any wrongdoing and has not apologised for the riots. A Supreme Court panel also refused to prosecute him in 2013, citing insufficient evidence. Image copyright AP Image copyright Reuters Image caption The 2002 riots were some of the worst India has ever experienced The violence was initially investigated by the Gujarat police and subsequently by an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court in 2008. The Gulbarg massacre was among 10 key incidents in the riots being investigated by the SIT. Some of these cases have brought convictions. In August 2012, a court sentenced 31 people, including Maya Kodnani, an ex-minister and aide to the then chief minister Narendra Modi, to life for their part in murdering 97 people in Naroda Patiya, a suburb of Ahmedabad. Ms Kodnani was granted bail on health grounds in 2014. In April 2012, a court sentenced 18 people to life imprisonment for the murder of 23 Muslims in Ode village in Anand district. Five others were given seven years and another 23 were acquitted.The striker has started just five games this season, giving rise to speculation, but the Reds boss says there is zero chance of him or any other regulars exiting during the winter Jurgen Klopp has dismissed fictitious reports over Daniel Sturridge's future and made it evident that Liverpool will not sell a member of their first-team squad in January. The England international, currently nursing a calf complaint, has started just five games this season with Roberto Firmino preferred as the focal point of the club's front three. That has led to heightened speculation around the 27-year-old's standing at Anfield, with West Ham the latest side to be linked with the striker. Klopp, however, ridiculed suggestions that Liverpool would entertain offers for Sturridge or any other player who has contributed to their sensational start to 2016-17 in the winter window. "I think you and your colleagues create stories where there is no story and then ask me about the story, which is no story," he told reporters. "There is absolutely no idea or no thoughts to sell any player of the first-team squad. I don't think it would make sense. "Unfortunately, Daniel is not in training until now and that's the thing I'm more concerned about than any transfer rumours. "I'm prepared for January and all the things you could ask - it will be funny, I'm sure." Sturridge will sit out Liverpool's trip to Bournemouth on Sunday, having missed the 2-0 victories over Sunderland and Leeds United.SPANISH FORK — A young Utahn's death from gastroparesis has sparked national attention from an online community of people suffering from the complicated stomach disease, and a group of doctors has gathered in Utah to discuss treatment. The young woman, 18-year-old Haley Stonehocker, died last Thursday in her sleep, after more than a year of suffering from a disease that causes paralysis in the stomach muscle, interfering with digestion. It causes nausea and vomiting, similar to morning sickness or the flu, and inhibits the body's ability to receive proper nutrition. Before her death, the young woman was bedridden, hooked to a feeding tube in the hospital. Stonehocker's friends from the Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments online community traveled from several states to honor her, gathering at Maple Mountain High School, where she was a track star before falling ill. Related: 18-year-old's death brings national attention to rare disease Haley Stonehocker is a bright and charming girl who just turned 18. But the just-turned- adult is dealing with more than adulthood now. "We needed each other," said Chelsea Rushton, of Syracuse. "And she was my advocate." Stonehocker was one of six members of G-PACT who has died from the disease in the last few months. Her death has left some gastroparesis patients around the country nervous, because patients do not typically die from the disease, but from malnutrition, infection and other complications associated with treating the illness. Gastroparesis remains a mystery to the medical world. Dr. John Fortunato is considered one of the nation's leading experts treating the disease, and he has come to Utah to brainstorm with doctors from around the country at the NASPGHAN conference. Fortunato says the cause of gastroparesis is unknown and treating the disease is difficult. Gastroparesis What is it? Stomach muscle paralysis. Often caused by damage to a nerve controlling stomach muscles. Can be damaged by diseases or surgery to stomach/small intestine. Interferes with digestion. Can cause nausea, vomiting, unstable blood sugar levels and poor nutrition. Information: Mayo Clinic "There's no wonderful drug," Fortunato said. "We have some treatments including gastric pacemakers that has shown some promise, but in general we really rely on supportive measures." He said they also rely on lengthy "trial and error" treatments, which can be even more frustrating for patients and their doctors. "We get to the point where we want to understand the entire mechanism, but we don't necessarily have the time to wait three and four and five years to come up with the scientific explanation," Fortunato said. Fortunato also says the key to treating this illness is to have a multidisciplinary team, including doctors in the neurosciences, cardiovascular health, gastroenterologists, psychologists, and of course, the patients, listening to the patients. "Patients basically gave me the idea of where I was going with my research," he said. In the meantime, Fortunato is advocating for extensive research, including using regenerative methods such as stem cell therapy. × Photos Related Links Related StoriesCryptocurrency skeptics warn of another dot-com bubble, but remember: That's where Amazon and Google started 12:54 PM ET Mon, 7 Aug 2017 \| 00:40 Oaktree's Howard Marks sounded a general alarm last week about the state of stock markets, private equity, credit markets and — for good measure — new digital currencies like bitcoin and ethereum. Essentially, he wrote in his letter to investors that everything is overvalued. On the cryptocurrencies, he went further. He stated several times that they're "not real." Furthermore, he said, they are "nothing but an unfounded fad (or perhaps even a pyramid scheme)." Cryptocurrencies may indeed be in the biggest valuation bubble since the dot-com era. At the same time, there is undeniable excitement about their potential today among the top tier of venture capital investors. Former PayPal COO David Sacks, who was also an early investor in Airbnb, Facebook, Palantir, SpaceX and Uber, tweeted last week that cryptos are the best candidate we've had for the next big thing in Silicon Valley (Web 3.0): When I read Marks' comments about bitcoin not being real, I thought back to an interview I did with the CEO of McEwen Mining four years ago: Any currency exists only because at least two parties (a buyer and a seller) agree that it represents value. So, what constitutes money? On a South Pacific island, we might agree that chicken bones are a currency. In prison, we might agree that cigarettes are a currency. Today, while we all use fiat or paper currencies as money, a medium of exchange, there is a growing concern about the value of these pieces of paper. I don't see why Bitcoin can't also grow and become another viable currency, an internet based currency. If enough people accept it, it will be used. It seems to have momentum behind it and it's intriguing how it's truly separate from any country or central banks' manipulation and control. There will be growing pains, like the guy who lost money out of his electronic wallet because he left his computer on all night. Also, Bitcoin will spawn competitors, alternative digital currencies. I think it's a mistake to write off this currency as a bubble or fad. Will it threaten gold? I don't think so. I think the two will grow in tandem as alternative currencies to fiat currencies. In the dot-com era of the late '90s, there were many warning signs of a huge bubble that was about to pop including: Few of the dot coms had profitable business models Business schools (like Columbia where I was in the late '90s) that typically churned out MBAs going into consulting or banking now had students joining start-ups Taxi drivers were asking about hot stocks People had full-time jobs day trading like CMGI (as Marks himself pointed out in this Jan. 2, 2000, letter to investors) By contrast, few people are quitting their jobs to start cryptocurrency companies (yet). Day trading is rare. Taxi drivers aren't asking about bitcoin. If cryptocurrencies are a bubble, we're still in the early innings. But there are signs of frothiness: Initial coin offerings this year have raised $1.27 billion. ICO podcasts are abundant with new episodes weekly with guests claiming their new coin is going to revolutionize some new niche area. And now you have respected investor Marks saying: "But they're not real!!!!!" Bitcoin in 2017 is as real as Amazon or Priceline was in 1999. Both those great companies had their stocks get killed when the dot-com bubble burst, but they used the nuclear winter they faced in the next few years to make themselves more profitable and take market share that they would never give back. Amazon dropped from $76 per share (in today's post-split share value) at the end of 1999 to less than $6 after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Amazon trades now over $1,000/share. Priceline went from $283 a share at the end of 1999 to less than $8 three years later. Today, it trades above $2,000. No doubt many of this year's batch of ICOs, as well as dozens of other existing cryptocurrencies, will disappear in the coming years as things settle out. But if you listen to Marks' advice and tune out the crypto space, you'll miss the ICO equivalents of Amazon and Priceline. Will ethereum be the next Google? Or the next Lycos? More importantly, what will be the magnitude of growth from here? Bitcoin has grown from nothing to nearly $3,000 today (after a big pullback when it first hit $1,000 a few years ago). But where will it be in five, 10 or 15 years from now? And will it pull back to below $1,000 again before it breaks out to new highs? To discard all cryptocurrencies as Marks did in his letter would be a big mistake. There is real value in these digital currencies. Commentary by Eric Jackson, sign up for Eric's monthly Tech & Media Email. You can follow Eric on Twitter @ericjackson.Researchers led by ETH Professor Martin Fussenegger at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel have produced artificial beta cells using a straightforward engineering approach. These pancreatic cells can do everything that natural ones do: they measure the glucose concentration in the blood and produce enough insulin to effectively lower the blood sugar level. The ETH researchers presented their development in the latest edition of the journal Science. Previous approaches were based on stem cells, which the scientists allowed to mature into beta cells either by adding growth factors or by incorporating complex genetic networks. For their new approach, the ETH researchers used a cell line based on human kidney cells, HEK cells. The researchers used the natural glucose transport proteins and potassium channels in the membrane of the HEK cells. They enhanced these with a voltage-dependent calcium channel and a gene for the production of insulin and GLP-1, a hormone involved in the regulation of the blood sugar level. Voltage switch causes insulin production In the artificial beta cells, the HEK cells’ natural glucose transport protein carries glucose from the bloodstream into the cell’s interior. When the blood sugar level exceeds a certain threshold, the potassium channels close. This flips the voltage distribution at the membrane, causing the calcium channels to open. As calcium flows in, it triggers the HEK cells’ built-in signalling cascade, leading to the production and secretion of insulin or GLP-1.Look Here: Phone App Checks Photos For Eye Disease Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Eggers/NPR Claire Eggers/NPR There's now free software for your iPhone that lets you check for early signs of certain eye diseases. The idea for the app comes from a Baylor University chemist named Bryan Shaw. We introduced you to Shaw late last year. Shaw's son Noah was born with a rare form of eye cancer known as retinoblastoma. Shaw saw signs of his son's cancer when the baby was just 12 days old; there was a white reflection coming from Noah's eyes in flash pictures taken with the family's digital camera. The flash was reflecting off tumors at the back of Noah's eyes. Trouble is, Shaw didn't learn the significance of that white reflection until doctors diagnosed Noah's condition months later. "If I would have had some software telling me, 'Hey, go get this checked out,' that would have sped up my son's diagnosis and the tumors would have been just a little bit smaller when we got to them," says Shaw. "There might have been fewer." And maybe doctors wouldn't have had to remove Noah's right eye to prevent the cancer from spreading. Since the software didn't exist, Shaw worked with Baylor computer scientist Greg Hamerly to create some. Hamerly and several grad students wrote a program that uses what's called machine learning to spot a white reflection in photos. "Machine learning is about training the computer to do things by example," Hamerly explains. (White reflections from the eye's pupil, called leukocoria, can also be indicative of a cataract, an infection or other disorder.) Think about places that have no doctor. It's no substitute for a doctor, but is it better than nothing? Well, yes. Hamerly needed lots of pictures of children with retinoblastoma to train the computer. Luckily, Shaw's wife Elizabeth is a shutterbug, so there were lots. He also received pictures from other parents of children with retinoblastoma who heard his story on NPR's Morning Edition and read about it in Shots. The researchers also trained the computer to recognize what normal eyes look like. Finding pictures of normal eyes was much easier. "We just go out and gather images on the Web that are public domain," Hamerly says, "and we can get thousands, millions of images of eyes." They have now turned a version of their white-eye detection software into a free iPhone app. When I caught up with Shaw last week at a conference, he pulled out his phone and showed me how the app works. "The easiest thing to do is to search your photos for the white eye," he told me. "You just hit the button'search photos,' and boom — it starts a search of all your photos on your device, and it'll let you know if it sees anything." There's also something called screening mode: Shine the iPhone's light in someone's eyes, and the software will use the phone's camera to search for a white reflection. Shaw knows it's critical that the software be as accurate as possible. If the app makes a mistake — suggesting a small child has white eye who really doesn't — that could needlessly freak out parents. "That's what I would be worried about," says Jane Edmond, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston who has not been involved in the project. At this point, it's still not clear just how many mistakes the software will make. But if it can routinely get the diagnosis right, Edmond says, it could be a useful screening tool. She says the real value of the app may be in countries that have lots of cellphones but not a lot of hospitals or clinics. "Think about places that have no doctor," she says. "It's no substitute for a doctor, but is it better than nothing? Well, yes." Bryan Shaw is hoping the new app will be a lot better than nothing.If the Chicago Bears are looking for a veteran receiver to replace injured rookie Alshon Jeffery, Plaxico Burress said he would be honored to take their phone call. But Bears GM Phil Emery said Wednesday that he's happy with the receivers currently on the roster. "Every day we look at the availability of the veteran players that are out there and whether they can add to our mix in a positive way," Emery said. "So that we can win championships and continue to work towards winning championships. So if there is a player out there we feel is going to make our mix better, would we approach them? Yes. But it just depends on the player, depends on the situation, depends on what our needs are. "I would say to answer more specifically to that question (about whether he'd be interested in Burress): We feel very good about our wide receiver depth. We added a player to our practice squad (Kamar Aiken) to make sure we were in a good competitive situation for practice. We continue to improve. That's where we are with that group." Burress remains out of football despite catching 45 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns for the New York Jets last season. Considering that came after two years away from the game as he served time for an incident in which he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a New York City nightclub, some wonder why no team is taking a chance on the 6-foot-5 Burress improving on those numbers this season. Is it the fact he's 35, or are there character issues? "I don't think anybody saw this coming from my camp," Burress said. "I just wanted to get my legs under me (last season) and get back to being the explosive football player like before. People look at me being 35 and say I can't do some of the things I was able to do, but I did that last year after being off 30 months. "It's a mystery to me and everybody else. But I remain optimistic." Some thought the Jets might call Burress after a season-ending injury to Santonio Holmes and their struggles on offense. Coach Rex Ryan, who recently praised Burress' character, lamented some dropped passes after Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. But the Jets have not called. "They want to go younger," Burress said. "That's what it looks like this league is becoming; all the veterans are sitting on the sidelines watching from home.The statement below was released by the Party of the Labouring Masses (PLM), a Filipino socialist group, on July 1. * * * The PLM condemns any moves to pave the way for the return of US military base facilities in the Philippines. This includes giving the US access to Philippine military bases and facilities at Clark and Subic, as Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has admitted has occured. “The new senate hasn’t even convened as yet and this has already been put on the agenda,” said PLM chairperson Sonny Melencio. “It confirms the view that President [Benigno] Aquino did everything possible to ensure a Liberal Party majority in the senate, because this is his first agenda.” “Aquino will undo the historic 1991 victory of the Filipino people, when the senate then voted against the US bases, during his mother’s [Corazon Aquino] administration. Reestablishing the US bases in the guise of ‘access’ could end up being the shameful legacy of this administration. “The Aquino government has embraced the US strategic shift of focussing its military might in Asia. It also seems to have embraced the US anti-China policy. “While we are opposed to China’s bullying tactics in the region, especially in relation to the West Philippines or South China Sea, it seems like Gazmin is champing at the bit to go to war with China. “We consider the defense secretary’s statements and actions to be irresponsible. They endanger our nation and our people. We have no confidence that a warmongering defence secretary will serve the sovereign interests of the country. “We therefore call for the resignation of Gazmin. We call on the Aquino administration to appoint a person who is genuinely committed to the peaceful resolution of the regional disputes with China and who will do their utmost to pursue such a goal. “We also welcome the initiative taken by the Bayan Muna congress representative Neri Colmenares, in filing House Resolution No 08, calling for the scrapping of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement and the plans to give temporary access to Philippine military bases to American forces. We will campaign in support of this bill.”What it does Chocolatey lets you install Windows applications quickly from the command line via a central catalog of installation scripts. You could install Git, 7Zip or even Microsoft Office (given a key.) The idea is seamless and quiet installations using a well-known key. For example, once installed you can do this from and command line: cinst git cinst 7zip cinst ruby cinst vlc That's basically it. The catalog has grown so complete, in fact, that I recently wanted to install DosBox so I could play Zork. I took and chance and just "cinst dosbox" and it worked. THAT is a the promise that Chocolatey makes. Getting Started with Chocolatey You can get started by first installing the Chocolatey package manager. Copy paste this line to your command line and run it. (More on the fearfulness of this first step in a moment). @powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy unrestricted -Command "iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))" && SET PATH=%PATH%;%systemdrive%\chocolatey\bin Presumably you like to know what command line stuff is going to do to your computer before you do it, so parse this line out. It's going to launch PowerShell to do the hard work. Nearly every Windows machine has PowerShell these days, and it's PowerShell that makes Chocolatey work. Some folks have custom profiles so the -NoProfile switch suppresses custom profiles to prevent conflicts during installation. It launches a chunk of PowerShell script that it downloads from https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1/ then executes. Note that it's setting execution policy to unrestricted to do this. To be clear, it's executing code downloaded over the web, so there is a non-zero risk there. It then adds Chocolatey to your path (for this one prompt) so you can use it immediately. It'll be added to future instances of prompts automatically. Look at https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1 now. It's a very clean and easy to read script. It downloads the Chocolatey installation zip file (which is actually a NuGet package), unzips it and continues the installation by running a scripts in the tools section of the package. How it works Chocolatey is a bootstrapper that uses PowerShell scripts and the NuGet packaging format to install apps for you. NuGet is the package management system that Windows Developers use to bring libraries down at the project level. Chocolatey (get it? Chocolatey Nu-Get?) extends that concept to bring applications down at the system level. Today if you want to get 7Zip, you usually google for it, find the site, figure out the latest version or right version for your system, download it, run it, next next next finish and maybe add it to your path. Chocolatey does that for you. Again, NuGet is libraries installed locally for projects, Chocolatey is applications installed globally for your whole system. Chocolatey uses PowerShell scripts (that you never have to think about) that package developers use to chain installations and build dependency trees. Take the internals of a Git installation script for example: The most important part for you to take away here is the first line. Note that this Chocolatey script is downloading Git from the mSysGit Site. Chocolatey is not changing installers, making installers or hosting installers. It's automating the boring parts of getting software, but it's still getting that software from the same location as always. Advanced Stuff Once you learn the basics - and they're pretty basic - there's more depth to Chocolatey to explore. Beyond the cinst and cuninst there's other commands to make installing stuff on Windows easier. Remember, they're all in your PATH so you can call these commands anytime. Each of these major sources can be called with cinst using the -source parameter like "cinst IISExpress - source WebPI" or using their own aliases for simplicity as shown below. cwindowsfeatures - If you've ever opened Add/Remove programs then click Install Windows Features in order to setup IIS or Hyper-V then this command is for you. Some examples: cwindowsfeatures IIS-WebServerRole cwindowsfeatures Microsoft-Hyper-V-All cwindowsfeatures TelnetClient Plus, you can always clist -source windowsfeatures for the complete list. - If you've ever opened Add/Remove programs then click Install Windows Features in order to setup IIS or Hyper-V then this command is for you. Some examples: cwebpi - The Web Platform Installer is a great GUI for downloading any development tools you might need for Web Development on Windows. It's a catalog, an installer, and a chainer. There's also a command-line version of WebPI that Chocolatey integrates with so you can: cwebpi IISExpress cwebpi VWDOrVs11AzurePack_2_0 And again, clist -source webpi gets you a list of what you can do. The Web Platform Installer is a great GUI for downloading any development tools you might need for Web Development on Windows. It's a catalog, an installer, and a chainer. There's also a command-line version of WebPI that Chocolatey integrates with so you can: There's a more complete list at the Chocolatey Commands Reference including how it integrates with Cygwin, Gems and Python. Security Issues This is a prickly one. How do you make a system that lets you install anything directly from the Internet quickly, cleanly, and easily without, well, installing something evil directly from the Internet? You'll want the communication with the server to be secure and the packages trusted, but you'll also want to make sure the packages haven't been tampered with since they were uploaded. There's the inevitable threat of a man-in-the-middle attack. You'll want to watch for malicious packages and enable quick takedowns if one sneaks by. Security concerns aren't unique to Chocolatey, of course. They are a part of package repositories since their inception. The node npm repository had a security breach in March of 2012, and the folks at andyet explored the issues surrounding it, but also pointed out that personal responsibility has to have a role as well. Linux's apt-get solves much of this with appropriate uses of cryptography and best practices that can (and should) be emulated. Packages in apt repos are signed with SecureApp, there are warnings if you're using a 3rd party repo or installing an unsigned package. The Chocolatey team has been very quick to jump on security issues and they are very approachable. They've added SSL where appropriate and are aware of the work to come. If Chocolatey gets big (bandwidth and costs is a question in my mind) perhaps a non-profit organization would step in to help with not only costs, but also security audits and best practices. Here's some points (edited for length by me) from a post from Chocolatey's lead, Rob in a post on their mailing list, also in march of 2012: Security has a big future aspect of chocolatey. At the present I am the curator and I every day I get an email showing me all of the new packages that went in the day before. I look at all packages from new authors and I typically look at the first version of most new packages from authors I have good contacts with. I've talked at length with others about having a moderated feed in the aspect of every package, every new version would be approved prior to showing up on the main feed. I am paying attention to how debian does things with multiple feeds and there are thoughts to move in that direction as well. Security? In the future we are looking at a small group of folks be an approving body for nupkgs. We also talked about showing the hash for the nupkg, and possibly letting folks specify a hash for the installers so chocolatey can verify the things it downloads prior to execution. Could I make a Chocolatey package called "FormatMyHardDrive?" Sure I could, just like I could ask you to open an admin prompt and format c: /q, but you won't, right? ;) What's next? Chocolatey is clearly not meant to be used by your "Gender Non-Specific Non-Technical Parent" and it does have some "competition" in the form of the Ninite GUI installation utility. While still not for the average Joe/Jane and having only a limited catalog, Ninite does fill a gap for the super-user to quickly get the common apps and utilities they want. Additionally, is Chocolatey really apt-get? It's not installing libraries system-wide, although there's no reason it couldn't. Other open source projects like CoApp would like to be the Windows app-get although CoApp is more of a "system-wide libraries, C++ support, and Unix-like utilities" and Chocolatey is more of a "developer and poweruser utilities and their dependencies." Chocolatey does install dependencies and you can see that happen yourself by trying out "cinst gitextensions" which itself has a dependency on git. Chocolatey will walk the graph and install what it needs before finally installing gitextensions. Where Chocolatey, and ultimately Windows itself, falls down is with odd PATHing and install locations. Because Windows doesn't have formal install locations for things and because Chocolatey puts itself first in the PATH, it's possible to get one's self into odd situations where apps that were installed outside of Chocolatey don't line up with apps installed inside. For example, I installed Git with Chocolatey some months ago, then forgot about that version and installed a newer version of Git on my own. However, I kept hitting an old git bug because the Chocolatey version of Git was "first." I believe issues like this have changed with recent builds of Chocolatey, but the point remains: it's hard on Windows today to who installed what low-level utility, when, and where it ended up. Branding Now, by no means to I want to take away from the hard work done by Rob and the team, but (and I've said this to Rob before) I really have trouble getting past the name Chocolatey. Sure, there are two ways to spell "Chocolaty," which make it hard at least for me to type "Chocolatey" reliably. The -ey is a theoretically a valid variant spelling, but you can tell that that to the red squiggled underline in Word. But it's less the spelling and more the name itself. It lacks the nerdiness of an "npm," the gravitas of an "apt-get," or the poetic terseness of a "gem." I realize that we are living in a world with companies called Hulu, Yahoo, Microsoft (seriously, MICRO SOFT, what is that?) and Google, but it's worth pointing out that a good name can really take a project to the next level. I'm not sure Chocolatey is the right name for this project, but that's 100% my opinion. I encourage you, technical reader, to check out Chocolatey for yourself! It's a powerful tool, an engaged and growing community and an interesting piece of tech in its own right. Is Chocolatey the apt-get Windows users have been waiting for? Sound off in the comments. Sponsor: Big thanks to SoftFluent for sponsoring the feed this week! Check out their slick code generation tools: Less Plumbing, More Productivity! Generate rock-solid foundations for your.NET applications from Visual Studio and focus on what matters!In a colorful selfie video released today, John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, got riled up and demanded to know who EFF is. This came in response to questions that EFF submitted during Legere’s Twitter Q&A session about the new T-Mobile service, Binge On. Earlier this week, EFF published a report showing how the service—which T-Mobile claimed used adaptive video technology to optimize streaming for mobile devices—actually just throttled video and left the optimization to the video providers. Check out our detailed report. Of course, there are lots of unanswered questions about Binge On, which is why EFF and our followers were happy to engage with Mr. Legere during today’s Twitter conversation. Legere, it seems, was less happy to engage with us. He demanded to know: “Who the f*ck are you anyway EFF, why are you stirring up so much trouble, and who pays you?” On Twitter, EFF members, friends, and technology users worldwide have stepped up to answer that question: We think the best response comes from the community of people who support our work. As a member-funded organization, EFF exists because of the donations of tens of thousands of regular people. And as an advocacy organization fighting for civil liberties in the digital world, we are able to influence powerful entities—from heads of state to elected officials to tech giants—because so many people stand with us. Consider yourself part of the EFF community? Care about the future of digital rights online? Then please send a tweet to Mr. John Legere and introduce yourself using the hashtag #WeAreEFF. Want to support our work? Join here.After not speaking to one another for ten years, Scrooge McDuck is reunited with Donald Duck after he and his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie move into McDuck Manor. The presence of the newcomers rekindles Scrooge's spirit of adventure, leading the group to go on many new treasure-hunting expeditions, while the nephews and their new friend, Webby, uncover the truth behind what caused their uncles to become estranged and retire from adventuring. It all happens in Disney XD's reboot of their popular "DuckTales." Join actors David Tennant, Danny Pudi and Ben Schwartz as they discuss voicing characters in the new show. PLEASE READ BEFORE ARRIVAL: Doors open 30 minutes before showtime and CLOSE 5 minutes prior to each show. There will be a standby line for every show. VALID ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY for security purposes (No age minimum). Please note we clear the studio after every event and we DO NOT permit autographs on our premises. This event will be streamed LIVE on BUILDseries.com! Make sure to check out the BUILD Series Newsletter for updates and information about our events: http://build.aol.com/newsletter.Over the last year, Google has slowly been unveiling its plans around Project Glass, the company’s R&D program responsible for attempting to bring wearable computing to the mainstream. Complete with augmented reality and an integrated display, Google’s smart glasses have had many geeks on pins and needles, especially as “Explorer” editions of the glasses have been expected to begin showing up early this year. Today, Google sent out its first invitations to the developers who signed up for the $1,500 special edition glasses, inviting them to an “early look at Glass” and “two full days of hacking on the upcoming Google Mirror API” in San Francisco and NYC. The invite also includes the first mention of the project’s APIs, which have gone unmentioned to this point. These hackathons, which Google has dubbed the “Glass Foundry,” are exclusive to developers in the company’s Explorer Program, offering those select engineers the opportunity to get an early shot at building for Project Glass. According to invitation, the hackathons will introduce developers to Glass (they’ll be given a device on-site) as well as its Mirror API, which “gives you the ability to exchange data and interact with the user over REST.” The developers will then be given free rein to hack away, with Project Glass engineers on hand to help them along the way. On the second day, the hackathons will culminate with the standard round of demos to be overseen by a handful of “guest judges.” Google doesn’t make it clear what kind of rewards — if any — await the winners. It’s also interesting to see that Google is being so brisk about the invitations, which don’t offer much time for turnaround. The deadline to respond to the invitations is Friday, and the events are scheduled to take place on January 28th and 29th in San Francisco and February 1st and 2nd in NYC. Here is the full text of the email Google just sent out:KABUL (Reuters) - A suspected weapons smuggler captured in southern Afghanistan is not a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as first thought, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Friday. The coalition said initial intelligence reports suggested that the man was part of the al-Quds force, which specializes in foreign operations for Iran, but it was later determined he was not a member of the elite unit. “It was determined that while the individual may be affiliated with several insurgent-related organizations, he is not a member of al-Quds,” ISAF said in a statement. ISAF declined to comment on the nationality of the man. The man was captured during a night raid on December 18 in the Zharay district of southern Kandahar province, the birthplace of the Islamist Taliban, by Afghan and coalition forces, who described him as “a key Taliban weapons facilitator”. “The joint security team specifically targeted the individual for facilitating the movement of weapons between Iran and Kandahar through Nimroz province,” ISAF said in an earlier statement. The United States and its NATO allies accuse Shi’ite Iran of attempting to destabilize Afghanistan. Tehran denies supporting militant groups in Afghanistan and blames the instability on the presence of Western troops.This section is not available for devices that don't support javascript Fans overwhelmingly vote for Marco Fabian's thunderbolt as Goal of the Tournament Online poll sees Raul Jimenez and Ricardo Quaresma finish second and third respectively Fabian continues Mexico's tradition of fine Confederations Cup goals Football fans across the world have voted in their thousands to choose Marco Fabian’s thunderbolt against Germany in the FIFA Confederations Cup semi-finals as the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament at Russia 2017. FIFA.com users were asked to vote for their No1 goal at the Tournament of Champions and the Mexican’s sensational long-range strike won the online poll with a staggering 55 per cent of the vote. Though his side were trailing 3-0 with 89 minutes gone in the semi-finals in Sochi, Fabian gave Mexico fans something to cheer about by finding the net with a rocket of a shot, leaving Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen with no chance. In the online poll, Fabian’s
unless we have a muscle. We go t he gym precisely to train our muscles, so we need to have at least some muscle, however weak, in order to train it. Well, Dharma is happiness-training. In other words, we need to have some happiness for us to train. We can also say Dharma is love-training or compassion-training or wisdom-training, and similarly we need to have some love or compassion or wisdom in order to train. This is why it so important to identify and abide with our natural good qualities of happiness, wisdom, compassion etc., however feeble they may be at the moment. Then we naturally approach our training with such faith and optimism — regarding realizations as natural, even inevitable. This will give you actual meditation experience. Where are you starting from? Buddha said our true nature, our Buddha nature, was like a clear sky and that our faults are not our intrinsic nature but adventitious or temporary defilements, like rain clouds scudding across the sky. To see if we are approaching our spiritual practice from the best and indeed only useful perspective, we can ask ourself : “On a daily basis, how much time do I spend identifying with my pure potential for happiness and freedom? And how much time do I spend identifying with being deluded e.g. irritated, worried, diseased, insecure, lonely, ugly, unhappy, addicted? When I do meditation or prayers or go to a teaching or remember spiritual advice in my daily life, where am I starting from? From the standpoint of being a limited, dark cloudy being who is a million miles away from where I want to be, or from the standpoint of being right now a spacious-sky-like blissful Buddha or Bodhisattva or good person, just temporarily obscured by the clouds of delusions? Am I slogging away at this because I know it is supposed to be good for me, or am I enjoying myself every step of the way?” What is enlightenment? In Mahamudra Tantra, my teacher Geshe Kelsang says: “Enlightenment is defined as an omniscient wisdom whose nature is the permanent cessation of mistaken appearance and whose function is to bestow mental peace on all living beings.” Nothing is being said here about adding anything. By freeing ourself permanently from mistaken or dualistic appearances, and by ripening our Buddha nature, we will naturally possess omniscience and universal compassion. We will then have the power to help each living being every day by bestowing our blessings on them, teaching, and emanating. Love and all non-deluded minds are our Buddha nature — our innate potential for complete purity and bliss — which is never separate from any living being. This means that to increase our good qualities of love, happiness, wisdom and so on, we do not need to add anything. In fact, to go all the way to becoming an enlightened being we do not need to add anything. We simply need to (1) remove all cloud-like delusions and obscurations from our mind through the practice of wisdom and (2) ripen our potential for all good qualities with the so-called method practices of contentment, faith, renunciation (the mind of liberation), love, compassion, bodhichitta (the mind of enlightenment), and so on. No time like the present Anyone at all can tune into their spiritual potential, starting right now, if they know how. When you feel some peace from doing simple breathing meditation, for example, identify this as your true nature, your Buddha nature. Disbelieve or ignore all the ordinary cloud-like thoughts you have of yourself as a limited, deluded being, and in this way leave the space for the naturally pure, positive, loving thoughts to arise instead. Actually, the Pure Land is right here, right now – we are just not looking at it. This is one of my favorite quotes: “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thru’ narrow chinks of his cavern.” ~ William Blake The more we grasp at things as real, the more out of touch with reality we are. Delusions (our unpeaceful, uncontrolled minds based on mistaken appearance and exaggeration, such as anger, greed and ignorance) grasp the most tightly, and their objects do not exist. Anger, for example, grasps at and wants to push away an inherently unpleasant person or situation; and there is no such thing. Attachment does the opposite — grasping at and pulling toward us something or someone out there that we feel is necessary for our happiness, when in fact our happiness is within, a state of mind. When any delusions are functioning, our life feels precarious, out of balance, somehow lacking. Love, compassion, wisdom are in touch with reality and offer us transcendence – we can feel it, and it is why they make us feel good. When our love is arising in our mind, for example, it feels spacious, peaceful, and wholly connected with a wider reality. It also feels as if the elements of our life are in balance as we are in a state of not lacking anything — so it is impossible, for example, to feel guilty or worried about all the things we “should” be doing but are not… Avoiding burnout at work In this article, I try to explain how to use this understanding to prevent stress and burnout at work. Your comments are very welcome. And please share this article if you found it helpful. Like this? Please share it: Facebook Twitter Reddit Print Email Pocket Google LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest WhatsApp Skype Like this: Like Loading... RelatedQuarterback Colt McCoy is sacked for the sixth time by a St. Louis Ram, this time defensive end William Hayes for a 12-yard loss late in the fourth quarter. McCoy left the game after this play. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) After undergoing a battery of tests Sunday night and Monday morning, Colt McCoy told reporters at midday that he wasn’t yet sure what was wrong with his neck. But if he’s medically cleared to play and is confident he won’t risk further injury, McCoy said in an interview afterward, he expects to start Sunday’s game at the New York Giants. “Yeah, I would expect that,” said McCoy, 28, whose record as a starter stands at 1-2 following Sunday’s 24-0 loss to the St. Louis Rams at FedEx Field. McCoy appeared uncomfortable turning his head to either side in fielding questions from the reporters who surrounded him in the locker room. And he offered few details about the pain or nature of the injury, other than to firmly say there was no concern about a potential concussion. But he was crystal clear about the moment it occurred: On the fifth of the six sacks he took in the loss, on a play that was doomed from the start. Center Kory Lichtensteiger appeared to snap the ball early, catching McCoy and the offensive line by surprise. Left tackle Trent Williams never moved, enabling Rams defensive end Robert Quinn to charge unimpeded at McCoy, whose back was turned as he dropped back to throw. Quinn’s right arm came down like a karate chop over McCoy’s right shoulder, making contact at the base of the quarterback’s neck. Robert Quinn, right, brings his arm down on Colt McCoy during a sack. (Nick Wass/Associated Press) “I still played a few more snaps, but I just knew something wasn’t right,” McCoy said. Sacked a sixth time, McCoy was finally pulled, and Coach Jay Gruden sent in Robert Griffin III in relief at the two-minute mark. McCoy finished the game 20 of 32 for 199 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and six sacks, which equated to a passer rating of 54.0. “It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been shut out,” said McCoy, who won more games for Texas (45) than any quarterback in Longhorns’ history. “I’m sure it’s the same for a lot of guys on this team. I’m very disappointed.” McCoy acknowledged that he needed to play better but said that extended to every player on the team. “I think we need to get our run game going,” McCoy said. “Our protection failed a lot yesterday. I certainly have to play better, too.” Washington ran the ball just 12 times against Rams, gaining 2.3 yards per run. While the Rams’ third-quarter scoring outburst forced Washington into a passing offense, the game was still well in hand throughout the first half, with St. Louis leading 6-0 at the break. Yet Gruden called for only eight runs in the first half. Asked about reports that Gruden could be fired after his first season, McCoy said that the team’s poor record wasn’t the coach’s fault. “It’s not Jay’s fault at all,” McCoy said. “I think each person individually on this team assume the responsibility. I certainly feel like Jay puts us in the best position to be successful.” McCoy pointed to the strength of the Rams’ defense, which has now pitched back-to-back shutouts. “We did some good things, but when you look collectively as a unit, we couldn’t run the football, we stayed in third-and-longs, we had bad field position to start the game and we couldn’t overcome those things,” McCoy said. “We’ve got to figure that out.” E-mail a Redskins question to [email protected], with the subject “Mailbag question,” and it might be answered Tuesday in the Mailbag. More from The Post: Five observations from the Redskins’ loss to the Rams Boswell: Sinking to new depths \| Reid: Bad from top to bottom Redskins go through another public disintegration Haslett ‘disappointed’ in Fletcher \| Bog: Ex-LB reaffirms criticism More NFL: Home page \| Sports Bog \| Early Lead \| Fancy Stats \| Fantasy Follow: @MikeJonesWaPo \| @lizclarketweet \| @JReidPost \| @InsiderComputer scientists from the Swiss university ETH Zürich have found a way to make off-blockchain payment networks even more scalable. At the heart of this work lies bitcoin’s years-old scaling debate, which comes down to the fact that bitcoin and all cryptocurrencies today have limited transaction capacity. To get around this, cryptocurrency protocols have developed payment channel networks that push transactions off-blockchain, such as bitcoin’s Lightning Network, first proposed in 2015. But researchers Rami Khalil and Arthur Gervais believe payment systems like the Lightning Network don’t go far enough, and they’ve proposed the Revive payment channel model, an idea that would enable longer-lasting payment channels that interact even less with the blockchain. The paper explains: “Except in the case of disputes (similar to conventional payment channels), our solution does not require on-chain transactions and therefore increases the scalability of existing blockchains.” At its core, Revive allows users to securely move money from one channel to another off-blockchain, a departure from the Lightning Network’s model. Rebalancing act As proposed, all Lightning-style networks need to use on-blockchain transactions (and the accompanying fees) to set up and close payment channels. Users with multiple payment channels open – for example, one could stay open with a coffee shop, while another could pay for streaming TV – normally have to “rebalance” the channel via on-chain transactions every time a channel runs out of bitcoin. Revive, on the other hand, allows money from the coffee channel to be sent to the TV streaming channel if its funds become depleted. “As such, instead of refunding a channel (which incurs costly on-chain transactions), a user should be able to leverage his existing channels to rebalance a poorly funded channel,” the paper explains. It might seem like a small change, but every optimization could matter, especially at a time when on-chain transaction fees are increasing (and could increase even more if the cryptocurrencies become more popular). The researchers go on to explain that Revive can be used for any Lightning Network-like project on any blockchain, including Raiden Network, an in-progress payment channel model for ethereum, where the researchers have released a Revive proof-of-concept. High voltage sign image via ShutterstockSo, I'm poor. This round with poverty began for me when Procter & Gamble sold their Pringles brand to Kellogg. I worked for a company, not P&G, that produced the labels for Pringles among many other products. When the Pringles brand was sold, Kellogg didn't need my company anymore because they have their own company or system or whatever that they used to produce product labels. Several other team members and I got "downsized" as a result of this tidy little transaction. The company eventually called me back, but I was in the middle of a temp assignment working somewhere else when they did. When the temp assignment ended, I received unemployment. While I received unemployment and after it ran out I applied for many jobs, I had a few first interviews and second interviews but didn't get hired. Republicans have ground their heels in the dirt over extending unemployment insurance benefits. After yet another month of job interviews and no job and no UI, I finally applied for food stamps. According to yet another Republican, John Kasich, the governor of the state where I live, I am an able-bodied lazy person who just doesn't want to work. To prove my worthiness for food stamps, I would have to perform 80 hours of labor before I can get food assistance. And then I would have to do 20 hours each subsequent month, to prove my loyalty to the empire. All of this to receive approximately $126 in food stamps. More than 100,000 Ohioans have lost cash assistance since the beginning of 2011 as part of the federal crackdown on work requirements. “We don’t have nearly enough places for 15,000 people” to work, said Lance Porter, spokesman for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. Many of the “able-bodied” food-stamp recipients in the Columbus area have disabilities and are seeking Supplemental Social Security, an application process that can take months, even years. First there's the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which outlawed slavery, so I don't really believe the state of Ohio is entitled to my free labor. ↓ Story continues below ↓ Then there are Federal Labor Laws and the labor laws of the State of Ohio which define the minimum wage, but if you're poor and powerless and can't fight the system, you don't count. You just do what they tell you or you lose the right to buy any food at all. If John Kasich wants to pay off my student loans from my last "job retraining" that would be helpful. If John Kasich wants to help me or anybody else find a job to do, I'm all for it. But in this supposed Land of Liberty, who is John Kasich to call me lazy and dictate what I should do with my time and my life? Who is he to tell me that I'm not giving back to society? While I've been off work, I've helped my mother, I took care of a kid while his mother was in jail for four months, I've volunteered at my church, I've helped countless family and friends. Who is he to tell me that I'm a bum sucking off the government teat and that none of the tax dollars I've paid in since I started working at 16 doesn't mean anything? I'm not a worker? I'm not a taxpayer? I deserve his scorn and derision when he knows and nothing about my life or the lives of his constituents? To John Kasich anyone unemployed is just lazy and worthless. It's angering, living through this. It's embarrassing to tell anyone all of this. It's humiliating and scary to know that despite a college degree and two decades of work experience, I am not able to find a job. It's hurtful to think that the head elected official in my state thinks I'm not working because I'm lazy. The last thing on God's green earth I want to be doing right now is writing this. It hurts every inch of my pride. But like Marcellus Wallace once said in Pulp Fiction: ...you may feel a slight sting. That's pride fucking with you. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps. And Tarantino was right. Pride is cold comfort when the gas tank and the refrigerator are slowly emptying and the last bit of "income" I'll have is my income tax refund if I don't find a job. There isn't much left. There's my storage for stuff I haven't been able to sell at yard sales. I'm trying to hold onto some things in case I ever have a place of my own again or for when my daughter graduates college this spring and starts up housekeeping. There's my car payment and insurance, my cell phone bill and food. I have reduced my bills and living standards to the bare minimum. I've moved in with a relative, I've sold everything worth selling. There is nothing left to give up. Except pride. So here goes. I contacted Legal Aid of Cincinnati today. They'll get back to me in 5-10 business days. I'm going to fight this with every tool in a poor person's arsenal against the Goliath that is the bipartisan politics of shaming and punishing the poor. In the meantime, if you need me or you don't see much in the way of writing from me for the next two weeks, you can find me at the Salvation Army sorting clothes for people who aren't as lucky as I am.Why These Nine Famous Thinkers Walked So Much By Mark Sisson A couple weeks back, I wrote about how integral walking is to being human. And over the years I’ve written about the health benefits of walking, how and why you should walk barefoot, and even a definitive guide on the subject. In other words, I’m a huge proponent of walking and I think just about everyone who’s able should do more of it. But I’m not the only one that finds daily walks critical to health, energy, mental clarity and, ultimately, at least in some part, my success as a human being. Many of the most accomplished and creative people throughout history have also found walking to be an integral part of their daily routines and key to their success as artists, creators, writers, musicians, thinkers, and human beings. Let’s look at how some of these folks used walking to improve their work: Aristotle Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, empiricist, and pupil to Plato, conducted his lectures while walking the grounds of his school in Athens. His followers (who quite literally followed him as he walked) were even known as the peripatetics – Greek for meandering or walking about. Ah, to witness one of history’s greatest minds utilizing the cognitive benefits of moving while thinking must have been incredible. William Wordsworth The poet with the most fitting surname ever, William Wordsworth walked nearly 175 thousand miles throughout his life while maintaining a prolific writing career. He managed these two seemingly opposing habits for two reasons. First, being shorter (but not necessarily easier) than novels, poems take less actual writing time to produce. Second, Wordsworth’s walking was writing, in a way. As he saw it, the act of walking was “indivisible” from the act of writing poetry. Both were rhythmic, both employed meter. He needed to walk in order to write. Man, I feel like I’m in English lit class all over again. Charles Dickens Charles Dickens, author, social commentator, walker? Yes. After writing from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, he would go for a long walk. A 20- or 30-miler was routine for him. When Dickens couldn’t sleep at night – which was often – he’d crawl London’s streets until dawn. Dickens walked so much that his friends worried, figuring he had a mania for walking that bordered on pathology. But clearly, the walking worked; Dickens was prolific, writing more than a dozen major and well-regarded novels, several short story collections, a few plays, and even some non-fiction books. According to the man himself, if he couldn’t walk “far and fast,” he would “explode and perish” from the psychological burden of remaining still. I bet a treadmill desk would have blown his mind (and brought us even more works). Actually, it might not have worked for him. The walking was so important for Dickens because it meant he wasn’t writing, the act of which he found quite miserable and difficult. Walking was relief. Without the walking, he’d probably have gone mad. Henry David Thoreau Thoreau was a famous saunterer. In the aptly titled essay “Walking,” he comments on the etymology of the word “saunter,” noting that it comes from “the idle people who roved about the country… under the pretense of going à la Sainte Terre,” or the Holy Land. And for Thoreau, walking through nature was a kind of pilgrimage without a destination. His Holy Land was all around him. And as long as he walked, he kept discovering new temples, new places to worship. John Muir John Muir was a naturalist who helped preserve Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and other wild areas from development and private interests. He wasn’t just “a” naturalist. He was the guy who climbed peaks to whoop and howl at vistas, chased waterfalls (take that, TLC), leapt “tirelessly from flower to flower,” and had an entire forest named after him. But here’s the thing about John Muir: he wasn’t whizzing around in his Prius with a “coexist” bumper sticker (nothing against either of those, by the way). He was walking, and hiking, and climbing, and traipsing through the wilds that he considered home. It wasn’t just that walking inspired his nature writing. It’s that walking was often the only way to access the subject of his writing and passion. In that respect, walking was a utility for Muir. Nassim Taleb Taleb’s a contemporary writer, unlike most of these other famous walkers. You can find him trading jabs with critics on Twitter, probably in the last hour. He’s been writing about anti-fragility for many years, about how successful systems and economies and businesses must experience and be able to adequately respond to punctuated, not chronic, stresses and randomness to stay successful and robust. But it wasn’t until he started walking that he realized the same concepts applied to humans. We also need to face intermittent stressors to remain healthy, robust, and anti-fragile, and we require randomness and variation. So, for Taleb, that means some intense strength training every so often, a fair amount of relaxation, and lots and lots of aimless meandering as a foundation. Patrick Leigh Fermor I first read about Fermor almost a decade ago in a New Yorker piece describing him as a cross between Indiana Jones, Graham Greene, and James Bond. A British Special Operations officer, he fought in the Cretan resistance during World War 2, going undercover as a mountain shepherd and leading the successful capture of German commander General Heinrich Kreipe. But Fermor was also a serious walker. At the age of 18, after dropping out (or failing) of school and drifting somewhat aimlessly around London, he walked from western Holland clear to Istanbul over the course of a year and change. This walk transformed him from wayward youth to man, soldier, and eventual travel writer. Driving or taking the train wouldn’t have produced the same quality (man or writer), for walking allowed the total saturation of the senses and accumulation of detailed memories that informed his transformation and colored his writing. Soren Kierkegaard Kierkegaard had two main pursuits: walking and writing. He wrote through the morning until noon, when he’d walk the streets of Copenhagen, mentally composing paragraphs and working through new ideas. After the walk, he was back to writing (at a standing desk, no less). The success of his thinking depended almost entirely on his walking (emphasis mine): Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being & walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, & the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill. Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be all right. That just might be the most useful, actionable piece of advice he ever wrote. Ludwig Van Beethoven Famous composer Ludwig Van Beethoven typically worked from sun-up through mid afternoon, taking several breaks to “[run] out into the open” and work while walking. One biographer described these short walks as a bee swarming out to collect honey. And then, after a large midday meal, Beethoven would take a longer, more vigorous “promenade” lasting the rest of the afternoon. These walks happened regardless of the weather, for they were important for his creativity. He would carry a pen and sheets of music paper in case inspiration struck – which it often did. As you can see, walking isn’t just putting one foot in front of the other. For some of the greatest minds in history, walking was a way to clear the brain, prevent mental breakdown, extend life, solve – or evade – problems, fully experience the world, beat insomnia, and find life purpose. If it worked for these guys, if it by many accounts made these guys, it’s probably worth a shot. Don’t you think? Yeah, things are different. We can’t all stroll through a Viennese forest, traipse along the cobblestone streets of 19th century London, or hope to beat the Yosemite Valley crowds by a hundred years. You might have to settle for a suburban sidewalk after work, a trail along a city creek, a crowded hike on the weekend, or even a quick jaunt out of the office to the Starbucks across the street. And that’s fine. What matters is the walking. I hope this resonates with you. All I know is I definitely feel the need to go for a walk. Thanks for reading, everyone! How does walking figure into your life, your work, your productivity? Prefer listening to reading? Get an audio recording of this blog post, and subscribe to the Primal Blueprint Podcast on iTunes for instant access to all past, present and future episodes here. Post navigation If you'd like to add an avatar to all of your comments click here!A Russian spy ship turned up at a Havana port Wednesday, without any explanation from Cuba, as Moscow announced plans to expand its worldwide military presence. Neither Communist Cuba nor its state media explained why the vessel visited the island, but its arrival was reminiscent of the Cold War era, when the former Soviet Union was Cuba’s biggest ally and benefactor. The Viktor Leonov CCB-175 intelligence ship docked near the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, in Havana’s cruise ship area, AFP reported. The warship is 91.5 metres long and 14.5 meters wide. It was commissioned in 1988 — three years before the collapse of the Soviet Union — and is used for gathering intelligence. According to AFP, it went into service in the Black Sea, but was transferred to Russia’s northern fleet seven years later. The Vishnya or Meridian-class intelligence ship is reportedly armed with two 30 mm gun-defence systems and two surface-to-air missile systems. It has a crew of about 200, according to the AFP. Although Russia did not mention the spy ship docked in Cuba, the Kremlin did announce Wednesday that it plans to expand its worldwide military presence by seeking permission for navy ships to use ports in Latin America, Asia and elsewhere. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday in remarks carried by Russian news agencies the military was conducting talks with Algeria, Cyprus, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, Seychelles, Vietnam and Singapore. He said that it was essential for the Russian navy to be able to call at their ports to service its ships. Shoigu said Russia was also talking to some of those countries asking them to allow long-range bombers to use their air bases for refuelling. President Vladimir Putin has launched a massive military modernization program and sought to demonstrate Russia’s global reach by sending navy ships to the Mediterranean, Latin America and other areas. Meanwhile, Russia has granted protection to the fugitive Ukrainian president, local media reported Thursday, as dozens of heavily armed gunmen seized control of government buildings in Ukraine’s Crimea region and raised the Russian flag. The moves pose an immediate challenge to Ukraine’s new authorities as they seek to set up an interim government for the country, whose population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West. Close to 150,000 Russian soldiers carried out military exercises and fighter jets patrolled the border. A respected Russian news organization reported that President Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven out of Kyiv by a three-month protest movement, was staying in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow. With files from the Associated PressA Fox Sports Radio host tried to make a point about ESPN’s speech norms Friday by pointing to the only things he believed in “completely”: “The First Amendment and boobs.” Clay Travis was invited on CNN to discuss the White House suggesting that ESPN should fire Jemele Hill because she called President Donald Trump a white supremacist. He compared the story to when ESPN fired Curt Schilling for posting an offensive meme about transgender people on his Facebook page in April. “I think that’s a bad move,” Travis said of Schilling’s case. “I’m a First Amendment absolutist. I believe in only two things completely: The First Amendment and boobs. And so once they made the decision that they were not going to allow– “ CNN’s Brooke Baldwin interjected. “I just want to make sure I heard you correctly as a woman anchoring the show,” she said. “What did you just say? You believe in the First Amendment and b-double-o-b-s?” “Boobs,” Travis confirmed. He had come on television to make a point, and he repeated it about four times before the interview ended. “Two things that have only never let me down in this entire country’s history, the First Amendment and boobs. So those are the only two things I believe in, absolutely, in the country.” Keith Reed, a former ESPN senior editor who had previously worked with Hill, pointed out that Travis’ double-minded focus was reflective of a broader pattern in sports commentary of devaluing women’s opinions in favor of their bodies. “One of the things that Jemele’s had to deal with her entire career,” he said, “is sexism, blatant sexism, comments about her appearance, comments about her racially, comments about her inability — or perceived inability — to be able to comment on sports because of her gender.” “It’s astonishing,” he added. Baldwin again attempted to get Travis to clarify what he said. Boobs, Travis repeated. He believed in boobs. And the First Amendment. “Why would you even say that live on national television and with a female host? Why would you even go there?” Baldwin asked. “I say it live on the radio all the time because it’s true and that’s what I do,” Travis said. “Because I like boobs and the First Amendment, which is exactly what I said.” Reed jumped in, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “I’m done. I’m sorry. I’m done. This is conversation over,” Baldwin said, as Reed and Travis’ faces dissolved off-air. “Forgive me, that it took me a second,” she told the viewer, rattled. “It’s like, live television happens, and you think you hear something but you’re not entirely sure, and then you realize it happened.” “So I apologize for him, and that,” she said. Travis played up the moment for all it was worth. He began broadcasting a celebratory live video shortly after the CNN segment ended — “What do people want me to do, tip-toe up to my opinion?” — and announced a solicitation for “I love the First Amendment and boobs” t-shirt designs on Twitter. “All proceeds to breast cancer awareness for rest of year,” he wrote. He also claimed CNN had invited him back on air. “He has not been invited back on,” wrote Pamela Gomez, a CNN communications manager, to TPM in an email Friday afternoon. A CNN spokesperson later said that, prior to his appearance with Baldwin, Travis had been tentatively scheduled to appear Monday on HLN, but that the appearance had been canceled. Watch below via CNN: This post has been updated.Grace McDunnough pointed me (via Twitter) at an interesting little tidbit of thought by Jonathan Baskin about the possible end of “silly social media”. Before anyone gets too excited, it’s not a piece proposing the end of thing like Facebook; rather it is an examination of various efforts to use social media as a tool for marketing – and why, like-as-not, they fail. Elsewhere, Tateru Nino offers up a post that starts to examine the new user experience. Leaving aside the fact she’s now gazumped me on two topics I’ve been wanting to blog about; Tateru makes a very valid argument that indirectly ties into the article Grace pointed me to. That observation is this: “Linden Lab is rubbish at telling its story.” Rather than constructing any form of consistent marketing strategy, LL seems to jump from idea to idea, randomly seeking something that will somehow, magically work and bring in new users. Along the way, they give the impression they don’t understand either their own product or those that use it. The SL Facebook page is symptomatic of this – and a clear example of Baskin’s critique on blindly trying to leverage social media spaces as advertising mediums. Slapping supposedly feel-good items on a Facebook page and getting people to “like” it isn’t going to generate a noticeable upswing of new users entering SL; nor is boasting the “like” count – not when it largely comprises people already using SL. This is not to say I think having a presence on Facebook is “wrong” or not worthwhile. Rather, I find using Facebook in this way is akin to preaching to the converted rather than marketing to potential new users. “A tale in everything” – William Wordsworth In Business, Collaboration and Creative Growth I suggested there needs to be a renewal of collaboration between Lab and user community; that such collaboration could be used in diverse ways – including PR and marketing. This can be done through the use of a technique called narrative marketing – and it can be used to significantly improve the manner in which LL could leverage a presence on Facebook (and elsewhere). Simply put, narrative marketing is using stories to promote and market a product – stories drawn from customer experiences, from situations, which can be drawn together into a narrative that engages the audience and draws them into the product; they reach into the heart of human interest and experience. Narrative marketing recognises that marketing is a two-way street, and that engagement with the consumer can be more effective than simply preaching to them or bombarding them with images and text or sending them hither and thither. It resonates with the audience because stories: Are more memorable, evocative and interesting: they engage the audience Generate identification and empathy Are perceived as more unique and personal, thus generating greater acceptance and a sense of believability Are more viral – we all tell and repeat stories. The power of narrative marketing is that it is open to developing themes and ideas that can be easily repeated across a marketing strategy incorporating diverse mediums, almost like stringing a necklace. When placed within a common context, many different stories can be gathered and then strung together in any order, like the beads on a necklace, to create a range of experiences that attract several audiences while maintaining the same underpinning message. The narrative approach can be linked directly with traditional means of brand development (strategy, identification and management), drawing them together into a narrative that focuses on communications and activities. It allows a company to say, “This is me”, with strategy, values and positioning defined by the narrative and channelled as stories that trigger memories, associations, experiences and expectations in the potential customer / user that cause them to say, “I like you. Tell me / show me more!” “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today” – Robert McAfee Brown Second Life is a story-rich environment which can be woven into a broad tapestry of narrative and ideas that can reach many audiences, simultaneously. Narrative marketing provides the means by which tools like Facebook might be used more effectively and potentially generate the kind of response Linden Lab is seeking far more effectively than a count of “likes”. Consider what is more effective: A page full of likes and a list of past events with a vague link to an even vaguer sign-up webpage (the current FB-to-SL.com situation), or A series of stories, drawn from the rich diversity of the SL user community, that illustrate how Second Life is being actively used by role players, gamers, students, teachers, companies, entertainers, etc., the narrative naturally drawing the reader into a strong linking page on the SL website that further encourages them to sign-up and experience things for themselves. Obviously, quantifying the narrative isn’t easy; let’s be clear on that. It requires a whole new approach to both the platform and the wider market. In this regard, Dusan Writer hit the nail squarely on the head when he stated at the top of his recent interview with Tom Boellstorff: “During my recent interview with Rod Humble, the new CEO of Linden Lab, I had one major piece of advice: reach out to Tom and spend some time with him (and while you’re at it, hire an ethnographer to work at the Lab!).” Hire an ethnographer to work at the Lab! Perhaps one of the most insightful suggestions ever given to the management at Battery Street. Hire a “corporate anthropologist” who can plumb the depths of diverse SL communities and activities, drawing out genuine stories which can be drawn into a narrative theme to market Second Life and persuade people to discard any preconceived notions of what SL might be about and come and see what it is about. Part of the power of Second Life lies in its ability to be “anything you want it to be”; but unless this is quantified in some way, captured in a manner that people outside of Second Life can identify with, then it’s going to remain a nebulous concept. Rather than generating curiosity, it tends to result in a feeling of, “Yeah, so?” Quantify the fact people can be “anything they want to be” in terms of stories from SL itself, and you transform “Yeah, so?” into “Yeah! I want some of that!” This isn’t actually rocket science; the fact is most people engaged in SL have been drawn into it through stories from others: friends and colleagues who have been a part of SL, or glossy pieces of journalism that have glamorised SL as the place to be. Stories, personal tales of what excites and engages, resonates far more strongly than a wall of miscellaneous photos or out-of-context videos; so why not use them? “The
’t overpay for our supplements? Based on what we see here, if you’re paying less than $0.40/serving, at least for these three supplements, you’re probably good. I suspect that the same heuristic holds true for all supplements, but again, this is something that needs further research. If you see a price higher than $0.40/serving, take a closer look at the claims on the label. For natural products like fish oil, pay attention to the quality claims. For more synthetic products like creatine, be very wary of any purported benefits. Remember that in the unregulated supplement market, manufacturers can’t vary their formula too much in ways that would catch the attention of the FDA. While there may be exceptions, high prices are unlikely to mean you’re getting a better product. Want A Closer Look At The Data? With the new year upon us, consumers are likely to be spending a lot of money on these supplements and similar products. The above analysis is just a quick dive into the data we have available, but much more is possible with our entire data set. If you’re interested in conducting more extensive research on supplement pricing, just contact us to get direct access to the data! Get This Sample Data Create A Free Account Request A DemoGetty Images Earlier this week, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis ruffled some feathers when he said that the only reason anyone knows who Tom Brady is because of the tuck rule. It was a pretty mighty stretch for Lewis to suggest that Brady’s long, successful career was all due to one play in the 2002 playoffs, something Brady opted not to point out when asked about the comments on Thursday. Plenty of other people did, though, and now Lewis has taken to Twitter to do a little clarifying about his intent. “To clarify my comments from this week: I was trying to express my frustration about the Tuck Rule itself,” Lewis wrote. “Rules like that should not be part of the game. They lead to controversial plays that impact the outcome of the games and thats what everyone remembers, especially when you are talking about playoff games. I have immense respect for Tom Brady and everything he has achieved in this league. He will go down as one of the all-time greats.” Most people agreed with Lewis about the tuck rule, which ultimately and happily led to it being removed from the game. Last weekend’s Dez Bryant no-catch will likely lead to a review of the rules governing the “process” of a catch and perhaps a change that will make for a better fit with the spirit of the game.WWE is reportedly facing a crisis as a number of their top stars have been struck down with a viral infection just days before TLC. Wrestling insiders have claimed there has been an outbreak of viral meningitis on the roster who travel with Monday Night Raw. Former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt, his real-life brother Bo Dallas, and ring announcer JoJo Offerman have all been noticeably absent form the show. They are all reported to be suffering from the infection which attacks the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Viral versions of the condition can easily spread through sneezing, coughing and close physical contact. It is claimed “other” wrestlers may also be suffering with the infection, with potential impacts on Sunday night’s pay-per-view show TLC. Are these the HOTTEST WWE Divas of all time? Fans love the WWE's divas – the grappling beauties have been a part of the show since 1983, when Moolah signed to what was then the World Wrestling Federation 1 / 76 Instagram Lana “Hearing this viral meningitis scare on the Raw roster is very real” Ryan Satin Insider Ryan Satin, who runs Wrestling Sheet, posted on Twitter: "Hearing this viral meningitis scare on the Raw roster is very real and could definitely affect the TLC card.” Meanwhile, WWE analyst Justin LaBar confirmed Bray, Bo and JoJo were all suffering with viral meningitis. Bray had been due to fight Finn Balor at TLC – which is named after the match-type Tables Ladders and Chairs. GETTY BRAY WYATT: The Eater of Worlds is a former WWE champion and a top star on Raw INSTAGRAM/@joseann_alexie JOJO OFFERMAN: The ring announcer is reportedly dating Bray Wyatt Anonymous tipster account Pro Wrestling Votes – which has recently broken a number of insider stories – also backed up reports of a viral outbreak. The account tweeted: "Bray, Bo and JoJo have been off TV due to an illness. I will not report personal details, however that is the reason. "I am hearing other Superstars may indeed be suffering from the same illness, and it may drastically impact Sunday's PPV event.” WWE's hottest VINTAGE babes...and where they are now These beautiful WWE Divas used to steam up the ring back in the day. But where are they now? 1 / 30 Daily Star Sunday/Instagram Stacy Keibler: Then and Now PWInsider reported Bo has been sent home, while Bray and JoJo are still on the road but have been kept separate of the main roster. This is understood to try and prevent any further spread of the infection. Bray and JoJo were revealed to be dating after the Eater of Worlds’ wife filed for divorce, claiming he had cheated on her with the ring announcer. WWE BO DALLAS: Bray's brother is reported to have been sent home with the infection WWE's most VIOLENT matches: Broken bones and buckets of blood Are these the most bone crunching, blood curdling bouts in WWE history? 1 / 15 WWE JBL vs Edde Guerrerro Ð Judgement Day 2004Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. July 29, 2015, 10:52 PM GMT By Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Astronomers have discovered the first auroras ever seen outside the solar system — alien light shows more powerful than any other auroras ever witnessed, perhaps 1 million times brighter than any on Earth, researchers say. Auroras could soon be detected from distant exoplanets as well, investigators added. Auroras, the radiant displays of colors in the sky known on Earth as the northern or southern lights, are also seen on all of the other planets with magnetic fields in the solar system. They are caused by currents in the magnetosphere of a planet — the shell of electrically charged particles captured by a planet's magnetic field — that force electrons to rain down on the atmosphere, colliding with the molecules within and making them give off light. [Amazing Auroras on Earth in 2015 (Photos)] To see if auroras might be seen outside the solar system, astronomers investigated a mysterious Jupiter-size object called LSR J1835+3259, located about 18.5 light-years from Earth. The object is a few dozen times more massive than Jupiter, suggesting it is too heavy to be a planet but too light to be a star, the researchers said. They suggested that LSR J1835+3259 is a brown dwarf, a strange misfit object sometimes known as a failed star. As massive as brown dwarfs are compared to planets, they are too puny to force atoms to fuse together and release the nuclear energy that powers stars. In 2001, scientists unexpectedly discovered that brown dwarfs could generate radio waves. "That was very surprising," said Gregg Hallinan, an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and lead author of the new study. "Typically, we see radio waves from really active stars, not objects with much cooler temperatures like brown dwarfs," he told Space.com. In 2008, Hallinan and his colleagues found that LSR J1835+3259 emitted radio waves in pulses. "We knew that radio pulses from planets in our own solar system were caused by aurorae, so we thought maybe brown dwarfs had aurorae too," he said.Kirk Fogg, the original host of Nickelodeon’s “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” will join the cast of the kids’ cabler’s TV movie reboot of the ’90s adventure game show, Variety has learned. Though a detailed description of Fogg’s role in “Legends of the Hidden Temple” hasn’t been revealed, he’s said to be portraying a “key figure” in the reboot. The modernized TV movie will follow three siblings who find themselves immersed in a high-stakes adventure after breaking away from an uneventful temple tour. Original “Hidden Temple” elements, including a talking Olmec head and the Steps of Knowledge, will also be incorporated into the reboot, which is slated to premiere this fall. “When Nickelodeon asked me to be a part of the ‘Legends of the Hidden Temple’ movie, I immediately went to the closet and pulled out my blue denim shirt, which has been protected by a powerful golden force field since 1995,” said Fogg in a statement today. Fogg joins previously announced cast members Colin Critchley, Jet Jurgensmeyer and Isabela Moner. Fogg was the host of “Hidden Temple” from 1993-1995 for a total of 120 episodes. Since the wrap of his Nickelodeon hosting stint, he’s appeared in over 300 commercials and experimented with filmmaking. He directed, wrote, produced and starred in the 2006 crime-drama “Distortion.” News of the “Hidden Temple” reboot was first reported by Variety.The world is a safer place than 30 years ago as people are more likely to be struck by lightning than a terrorist bullet, a terrorism expert has said. "If you asked people, they would tell you that they are more frightened than they have been in the past. They feel more at risk now." The newly-appointed vice-chancellor at the University of Oxford, Professor Louise Richardson, believes the French response to the Paris attacks with the language of warfare has helped terrorists “spread fear and terror”. Instead, she thinks this threat has been exaggerated despite the recent atrocities in Jakarta and elsewhere that have left hundreds either dead or injured. “But if you look at reality, 20, 30 years ago, we had? the threat of nuclear war between the Eastern block and Nato [and it] has dramatically reduced." “But if you look at reality, 20, 30 years ago, we had … the threat of nuclear war between the Eastern block and Nato [and it] has dramatically reduced. “People feel more fearful [but] I think there is less grounds for that. I absolutely understand the fear. It's because when there is an atrocity in Jakarta or in Paris, we can see it and we feel close to it. "Part of the genius of terrorism is for the psychological impact to be greater than the actual physical act. So if an attack is random - like the attack in Jakarta or Paris - if nobody is targeted, then nobody is safe. So it spreads the fear and terror. “So I think people feel less safe, but I think people are actually a lot safer than they feel.” Asked of the threat of being hit by a terrorist bullet, she said the odds are more likely to be hit by lighting sitting at a cafe in London”. Photo: Paul Grover/The Telegraph Prof Richardson, who is on the record as being very critical of the American response to 9/11, thinks the French response to the Paris attacks played in favour of the perpetrators. “I don't think that we should elevate their stature by [allowing] them to be public enemy number one of the West because it's feeding their desire for news coverage." Professor Louise Richardson She explained: "I thought it was quite unfortunate that President [Francois] Hollande responded to the atrocity in Paris by immediately evoking the language of warfare. “I don't think that we should elevate their stature by [allowing] them to be public enemy number one of the West because it's feeding their desire for news coverage. "By making heroes of these perpetrators you are glorifying them and one of the things they are looking for is glory. They commit these atrocities, first of all, to extract vengeance but secondly to get publicity and glory for the cause and to provoke a sense of overacting them. “We should be careful not to play into their hands.”UK bus company Go-Ahead has been announced as preferred bidder for 10% of Dublin bus routes after winning a tendering competition by the National Transport Authority. The company, which provides 25% of London bus services and 7% of regional bus services in Britain, is expected to begin operating some of the 24 routes by the end of November 2018 and all routes by February 2019. Dublin Bus also applied for the franchise and was the only other company to make a formal bid. The company said it was disappointed with the result of the tender process. Four other entrants dropped out of the process because of the condition that the successful company had to provide a depot. Contracts have yet to be signed but Go-Ahead will have 12 months to provide a depot. The firm will operate 23 existing routes that serve outer suburbs of the greater Dublin area. Among them are the 185, which connects Bray with Newtownmountkennedy, the 76a, which connects Blanchardstown and Tallaght shopping centres, and the 220, which travels from Ballymun to Mulhuddart. A new route, the 175, will operate from Citywest to UCD. NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham said that cost savings are envisaged and that there will be increased frequency of services as well as a 35% increase in kilometres covered. Ms Graham said: "This is ultimately about improving bus services for Dublin and NTA is confident that passengers will benefit from this decision. "We believe that a new operator in the market will bring a fresh dimension to the way that services are offered. Introducing new providers encourages everybody to focus on their customers' needs and it encourages innovation and improvements to service quality." The NTA has previously denied that if the franchise was awarded to a commercial operator it would amount to privatisation. The authority points out it would retain ownership of the bus fleet and revenue, but would pay an operator to run the routes in the same way that Transport Infrastructure Ireland controls operation of the Luas. "The contracting model that we are putting in place is the same as the arrangement that we have had in place for years for Luas. Luas is owned by the state and run by Transdev. These routes will be owned by the state and run by Go-Ahead," Ms Graham said. "It is also important to note that there is no threat to the Dublin Bus company, or to its workers arising from this decision. There will be no redundancies in Dublin Bus associated with the result of this tender competition." The winning bid from Go-Ahead has provoked a reaction from unions the National Bus and Rail Union. Although both it and SIPTU reached an agreement with the Department of Transport following industrial action over the threat of privatisation two years ago, the NBRU issued a critical statement today of what it called the "privatisation of some Dublin Bus routes" NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said that it was "disappointing that Dublin Bus were unsuccessful in the so-called tendering process". Mr O'Leary said: "The NBRU will focus our attention on ensuring that our affected members on the privatised routes will not be forced to move from their current workplace, we will also move to recruit those new entrants that will work for the private operator to ensure that they will be properly represented and work with them towards achieving similar terms and conditions as those workers we represent in the state-owned companies." SIPTU's Sector Organiser added that there will be no benefit to customers when Go-Ahead company take over some of the routes. Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Willie Noone said they will oppose any further possible privatisation by the NTA. Go-Ahead operates primarily in the UK and is one of the largest bus operators in London. The 24 routes are: 17 Rialto to Blackrock 17a Blanchardstown Centre to Kilbarrack 18 Palmerstown(Old Lucan Road)to Sandymount 33a Swords to Balbriggan 33b Swords to Portrane 45a Dún Laoghaire (Rail Station)to Ballywaltrim 59 Dún Laoghaire to Mackintosh Park 63 Dún Laoghaire to Kilternan 75 The Square Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire 76 Chapelizod to Tallaght (The Square) 76a Blanchardstown Centre to Tallaght (The Square) 102 Sutton station to Dublin Airport 04 Clontarf Road (Conquer Hill) to Santry (Shanard Road) 111 Loughlinstown Park to Dún Laoghaire 114 Ticknock to Blackrock Station 161 Dundrum Luas Station to Rockbrook 184 Bray Rail station to Newtownmountkennedy 185 Bray Railstation to Shop River (Enniskerry) 220 Ballymun (Shangan Road) to Lady's Well Road 236 Blanchardstown Centre to Damastown 238 Tyrrelstown to Lady's Well Road 239 Blanchardstown Centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre 270 Blanchardstown Centre to Dunboyne New Route 175 Citywest to UCD2:56pm: Colorado may be more inclined to deal CarGo after the season, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links). With his recent turnaround, the Rockies’ asking price will likely be too high for contenders to meet. The club could, then, hope that continued production and health will lead an interested trade partner to line up over the winter. 12:58pm: Gonzalez hasn’t been a “point of emphasis” for the Angels, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times tweets, though he notes that the market continues to shift. Los Angeles is looking more for “incremental” improvements in left field. The club’s addition of Shane Victorino yesterday seemingly put one half of a platoon in place. While the left-handed-hitting Matt Joyce theoretically could make up the other side of that equation, he’s struggled badly this year and it seems that the Halos are still interested in another option. 8:36am: After agreeing to deal franchise icon Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies plan to shop fellow star Carlos Gonzalez, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. “They expect to move him,” a rival GM tells Heyman. [RELATED: Trade Market For Corner Outfielders] That isn’t exactly surprising to hear after last night’s Tulo agreement, but it’s nevertheless notable to see CarGo set to hit the block. While he had not looked himself since the start of last season, Gonzalez has steadily improved all year and has been on fire of late. It remains somewhat unclear what kind of market he’ll have, particularly given his recent injury and performance concerns. Gonzalez is earning a $16MM salary this year and $37MM in total over the next two. That’s a bargain if he’s a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat, and hardly an unworkable sum for most teams, but there’s still plenty of risk. Heyman notes that clubs such as the Mets, Angels, and Orioles all line up as theoretical fits for Gonzalez.Plane bound for hangar at Ohio State has gone missing 11:05 AM ET Fri, 30 Dec 2016 \| 00:37 A small plane heading for Ohio State University with six people aboard vanished after taking off from an airport on the shores of Lake Erie late Thursday. The Cessna Citation 525 departed at 10:57 p.m. Thursday from Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. Air traffic control officials lost contact with it a short time later. A spokesman for the airport told NBC News that the missing aircraft was carrying three adults and three children. Its occupants were heading back from a Cleveland Cavaliers game at the Quicken Loans Arena, according to the official. More from NBC News: 'Air rage' forces Delta flight to land as cases soar 'Cold war deja vu: Russia vows'mirror response'to sanctions Hatch watch! Nation monitors bald eagle eggs on live cam The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was headed to Ohio State University in Columbus. The plane is kept at a hangar at the university, but the passengers do not have any affiliation with OSU, a U.S. Coast Guard official told The Associated Press. Waves up to 15 feet high and light snow hampered the hunt overnight. But daylight and calmer waters made for better search conditions Friday, Captain Michael Mullen, chief of response for Coast Guard District 9, told reporters. Ohio beverage company Superior Beverage Group identified those aboard as its president and CEO John T. Fleming, his wife Sue, sons Jack and Andrew and two close friends. "As we all await the results of the search and rescue efforts, our hearts are with John, his wife, their sons, and close friends on board, as well as with their loved ones and everyone in the Superior Beverage family," company Executive Vice President Joseph R. McHenry said in a statement. "This is a difficult day for us, and we appreciate the concern and thoughtfulness extended by so many," McHenry said. The city council of Dublin, northwest of Columbus, said it was saddened by the news.Before Andrew Garfield and before Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi were going to make a fourth Spider-Man movie. For lots of rumored reasons, it never happened. Work on the film did take place, though—and now some awesome storyboards have hit the internet. The boards are by artist, writer, and filmmaker Jeffrey Henderson. They reveal that both Mysterio and the Vulture were considered for the film before it was cancelled. Here are just a few of Henderson’s boards. Advertisement To see many, many more, visit Henderson’s site. We reached out to Henderson to ask about the boards and he explained that the idea was floated of Mysterio being Bruce Campbell’s cameo. It would’ve been part of a beginning of the film montage featuring “a montage of C and D- list villains that we knew would never be used as main antagonists: Mysterio, the Shocker, the Prowler, the old school-onesie-wearing version of the Rhino, maybe even the Stilt Man, etc.” Advertisement As for Vulture, he would’ve been the main villain and apparently Raimi had some really new and exciting ideas for the character. “The thing we kept coming back to was that, as a character, everyone was going to dismiss the Vulture as just an old guy in a silly green suit,” Henderson said. “So we wanted to go the opposite way and really make him the most fearsome and formidable adversary that Spider-Man had faced in the series.” Alas, the film was jettisoned and now lives only in this form. Some good came of it though. Vulture is most likely the villain of the 2017 Spider-Man film and Henderson just co-directed an entry in the Star Wars Fan Films contest that made the finals. It’s called “The Sable Corsair” and you can watch it here. [Jeffrey Henderson via Collider]FORT HOOD, Texas — The Fort Hood Open Circle, a non-denominational Pagan group that has been meeting on the military base since 1997 and has had a challenging history has been wrestling with problems such as being locked out of their ritual space and having their concerns dismissed by chaplains for a number of years. This past week, its leader had had enough and vented her frustrations on Facebook. Hundreds of shares and a huge outpouring of support followed, along with extensive meetings to address the short-term problems faced by members of the congregation. Solutions to the longer-term, systemic issues will take far more effort. Michele Morris has served as Distinctive Religious Group Leader, or DRGL in military-speak, for the Fort Hood Open Circle for six years. Over that time, she said, the amount of support her congregation has received has varied considerably. “The last six years that I have had the privilege and responsibility to serve as clergy for Fort Hood Open Circle have been a dizzying roller coaster of harassment and neglect relieved by brief moments of support and underpinned by the soul killer that we proudly call ‘tolerance,'” she wrote in her Facebook post. “Tolerance is a terrible word,” she told The Wild Hunt, because “we tolerate things that we don’t like.” Instead, she feels, “Everyone who is supportive of people they disagree with makes a difference.” The abuses she lays out in her very public post are not only disheartening, in Morris’ view; they are indicative of problems faced by Pagans serving in the United States military, and living in the country as a whole. I am regularly told, by government employees that “you people” shouldn’t be “out there.” I have no problem ignoring them as long as they do their job, to each their own. But when it is a chaplain assigned to support our congregation that prefaces every single conversation we have with, “I don’t agree with what you do, but I’ll do my job,” for two years, that is not in fact support. When the religious education coordinator leaves our classes off of the calendar disseminated to all of the units on post and when questioned replies with the assertion that he did this out of his own pocket so he can put on, and leave off of, what he wants, that is not support. What precipitated sharing these feelings on Facebook was being locked out of the stone circle that congregation members use for their rituals, something that has happened more than once. However, Morris is of the opinion that the issue is not one of access, or even one that is isolated to Fort Hood. “This is a military problem,” she said. “I don’t believe that chaplains are properly trained anymore,” and they fail to understand that they must serve the needs of all military personnel under their care, regardless of religious affiliation. She has found herself forced to serve as both minister and advocate, and unable to fulfill either role fully. “It’s unfair to have to be both for the same group,” she said, adding that she’s certain that other DRGLs are put into exactly the same position. On an even larger scale, Morris feels that what needs to be discussed is the issue of Christian privilege. “It’s a huge issue, and it’s not being talked about,” she said. Simply trying to take off for one’s religious holidays in this right-to-work state — if they aren’t the standard Christian ones — is completely impractical, she said. “It doesn’t matter what the law says. People need jobs so very badly they can’t afford to walk away; they might not be able to get another one. They have stopped being able to stand up for freedom.” The Fort Hood Open Circle is, in Morris’ words, the “oldest child” among military Pagan congregations. It is non-denominational by regulation, and in her estimation, “Neither the Army nor Pagans have any idea what to do with us.” That is because there isn’t a clear definition of what “non-denominational” means. Military parlance leans toward precise definitions, and Pagans are in some sense known more for disagreeing over what even the word “Pagan” means than for sharing any particular beliefs or practices. “The model is hard to find,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m writing a book on it.” In practice, one rule she won’t budge on is, “Absolutely no ‘witchier than thou.’ If you’re growing, it’s probably the right path for you. Stop comparing and competing.” One source of support for many years has been the people of Circle Sanctuary, who Morris describes as “the only non-denominational Pagan group in the outside world.” Circle’s support extends back many years. For example, in 2009, ministers provided support in the wake of the shootings there. More recently, in 2011, Circle Sanctuary became the official endorser of the Fort Hood Open Circle. Circle Sanctuary’s founder Rev. Selena Fox was quick to respond to Morris’ Facebook note, along with Lady Liberty League (LLL), Circle’s religious freedom advocacy arm. After extensive work behind the scenes, LLL released this statement last night on the current situation at Fort Hood. It reads, in part: We are deeply troubled that Michele and members of the Fort Hood Open Circle have been denied access to their designated ritual space. We have been part of problem solving on the situation. We are thankful that a short-term solution for access to the ritual space has been reached. We are also part of the process supporting the development of longer-term solutions so that disruptive incidents do not happen again. We are continuing to provide support and monitor this situation. That work resulted, in part, in a town-hall style meeting last night, during which members of the Fort Hood circle were able to talk about their concerns with base chaplains face-to-face. Three chaplains and many circle members were attended and, while Morris was not available to provide details as of press time, Fox reported that it went well. Fox also explained to The Wild Hunt that the access issues were being resolved by obtaining different locks for the gate to the group’s stone circle. According to Morris, the fence was erected due to issues of vandalism. The gate’s lock is controlled by a civilian employee in the Office of Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation, who reportedly believes that the Pagans “should not be out there” and specifically intended to bar that access. That has had profound consequences, as Morris detailed in her note: Last night a soldier about to deploy did not get to have one last service before he leaves this coming week. There is not a church of his faith where he’s going so it will be at least nine months before he can worship with a group again and that’s only if he’s fortunate enough to be stationed to one of the handful of bases that offer services. Most still do not. The fact that Morris decided to speak about her frustrations publicly is in itself an indication of how stressful the situation had become. “The military has a PR issue when things don’t stay in-house,” she said, because keeping problems within the organization allows for the message and perceptions to be controlled. Speaking out goes against “everything I was taught as an Army spouse.” The outpouring of support that her note received has been “overwhelming” and “a little intimidating,” she admitted. “I hope I can live up to wherever this is going. I didn’t plan on being the poster child for change.” Perhaps to be mindful of that military mindset of nothing being dealt with publicly, the statement released by the Lady Liberty League also urges concerned Pagans to contact its offices, or Morris directly. “At this time, we also ask that the wider Pagan community refrains from contacting Fort Hood officials and/or others within the military about this issue, so that the negotiation and understanding-building process may continue. We ask that people continue to send prayers and energy for a positive, long-term solution to this situation.” Regarding long-term solutions, Morris thinks that they won’t be achieved unless other Pagans, Heathens, and polytheists step up. “I’m far, far out of the broom closet,” she said. “We need to be open about what we do. We don’t create change by living in fear.” She recognizes that more than fear keeps people being public about their practices. There’s an aversion to proselytizing, and answering questions requires being able to articulate those responses. “The difference between education and proselytizing is that you wait for the ask,” she said. Moreover, “Lots of times Pagans don’t bother to have good answers to questions. It’s harder because we have to come up with our own,” rather than drawing upon settled doctrine that can be found in most bookstores. However, “most spiritual people have more in common than not,” she pointed out, and a meaningful conversation could very well lead to one more person who doesn’t believe that Pagans sacrifice babies, worship the Christian god of evil, or do whatever it is that ignorant people fear. “Every time there is a news story which misrepresents Pagans, we get upset. There are more of us than people realize, because we stay in our own little bubbles where we’re comfortable. Change happens outside of where we’re comfortable. We’re uncomfortable here in Fort Hood.”Universal Music, EMI Music, Sony BMG and Warner Music are demanding one million Swedish kronor from two Pirate Bay founders. A Swedish court banned them from operating the site last year, and the labels argue that they have failed to comply. Last October, the Stockholm District Court ordered that two of the site’s founding members – Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij – should cease to operate the site. The verdict read that if they failed to comply with the court’s decision, this would result in fines of 500,000 kronor ($71,000) each. The two were granted an appeal little over a month later, but the record labels do not intend to wait and are going after their money. They have sent the District Court a letter where they ask the authorities to collect the fines. The labels argue that, since the site is still operational, Neij and Svartholm must be involved in the operation one way or another. Whether they or the authorities can back this up with evidence is highly doubtful. Fredrik and Gottfrid Both Pirate Bay founders currently live outside Sweden, and aside from their whereabouts, it will be hard to prove that either of them is still actively involved in the site’s operation without monitoring their every move. Commenting on the announcement, Fredrik Neij said: “I am no longer involved in the operation of The Pirate Bay, so there is no opportunity for the penalty to be issued. I think the law is quite clear on this.” Whether or not the fine will be enforced doesn’t matter that much to Neij, who already owes over 50 million kronor ($7 million) due to previous legal cases. He can’t pay the money anyway he said, adding “a few million more or less doesn’t really affect me.”Mine Countermeasures Squadron 3 head Capt. Keith Knutsen fired Lt. Cmdr. Linda McCauley as commanding officer of the minesweeper Dextrous after "a loss of confidence in her ability to effectively lead and carry out her assigned duties," the SURFPAC release said. McCauley has been reassigned to MCMRON 5. Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the leading the investigation, said Lt. Rebecca Haggard, a SURFPAC spokeswoman, but Haggard would not elaborate on the nature of the misconduct. McCauley, a Florida native, has served on the destroyers Fitzgerald and Momsen, and completed her department head tour as the chief engineer on the destroyer Roosevelt. McCauley graduated from the University of North Florida in 2002 and was commissioned two years later via Officer Candidate School, according to her official bio. She holds a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.The world is more dangerous today than it has been in a generation, the head of Nato has said, days before the mobilisation of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops on the EU’s eastern borders, and as a nuclear crisis grows on the Korean peninsula. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the military alliance, said the sheer number of converging threats was making the world increasingly perilous. In the court of Kim Jong-un: a ruthless, bellicose despot, but not mad Read more Asked in a Guardian interview whether he had known a more dangerous time in his 30-year career, Stoltenberg said: “It is more unpredictable, and it’s more difficult because we have so many challenges at the same time. “We have proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea, we have terrorists, instability, and we have a more assertive Russia,” Stoltenberg said during a break from visiting British troops stationed in Estonia. “It is a more dangerous world.” From next Thursday, over six days, Russian and Belarusian troops will take part in what is likely to be Moscow’s largest military exercise since the cold war. An estimated 100,000 soldiers, security personnel and civilian officials, will be active around the Baltic Sea, western Russia, Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, without the supervision required under international agreement. On the other side of the world, in the face of local protests, the South Korean government has deployed the controversial US Thaad missile defence system as it looked to counter potential future attacks from North Korea, which recently launched a ballistic missile over Japan, threatened the US Pacific territory of Guam and tested a possible thermonuclear device. Donald Trump has threatened to unleash “fire and fury” on the North Koreans should further threats be made against the US, and kept up the threat on Thursday, saying he is building up US military power. “It’s been tens of billions of dollars more in investment. And each day new equipment is delivered – new and beautiful equipment, the best in the world, the best anywhere in the world, by far,” Trump said. “Hopefully we’re not going to have to use it on North Korea. If we do use it on North Korea, it will be a very sad day for North Korea.” Trump has ruled out talks with Pyongyang for the time being and Washington’s diplomatic focus is now on efforts to secure agreement at the United Nations for much tighter economic measures, including an oil embargo and possibly a naval blockade. Facebook Twitter Pinterest A South Korean marine participating in an exercise this week. Photograph: Handout/South Korean Defense Ministry vi Speaking during his visit to the Estonian military base in Tapa, a former Soviet Union airstrip about 75 miles (120km) from the border with Russia, Stoltenberg was coy when asked if he backed the US president’s bellicose threats to Pyongyang, blamed by some for exacerbating the current situation in south-east Asia. “If I started to speculate about potential military options I would only add to the uncertainty and difficulty of the situation so I think my task is not to be contribute to that. I will support efforts to find a political, negotiated solution,” he said. Pushed on whether he could even envision a military solution to the crisis in Korea, Stoltenberg said: “I think the important thing now is to look into how we can create a situation where we can find a political solution to the crisis. “At the same time I fully understand and support the military message that has been implemented in the region by South Korea and to some extent Japan, as they have the right to defend themselves. They have a right to respond when they see these very aggressive actions. I also support the presence of US troops and capabilities in Korea.” Retreating Isis fighters prepare for 'last stand' in Syria Read more Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister whose 10 years in power were marked for his success in improving Norway’s environmental footprint, took over the role of Nato secretary general in 2014, forming a
What did Roman women wear? We have evidence of the lives of Roman women at Hadrian’s Wall – in particular their jewellery and fashions. Highly decorated hairpins would have been used to hold up the ornate hairstyles, alongside animal fat and beeswax. Jewellery could be worn by both Roman men and women. This included brooches, rings, bracelets and even occasionally, earrings. Some pieces of jewellery found at Hadrian’s Wall can be linked to a specific person. One such example is the gold finger ring, pictured below. It’s probably a betrothal ring, and was owned by a woman called Aemilia. This ornate ring must have had huge sentimental value, and how it ended up in the ground at Corbridge is, unfortunately, a mystery. Meet Roman women at Hadrian’s Wall Live 2016 If this blog has whet your appetite about women on Hadrian’s Wall, come and explore the civilian settlement we’re setting up at Hadrian’s Wall Live this year. The Vicus will capture the hustle and bustle spirit of a thriving civilian population and the interaction between military and civilian personnel. You’ll be able to meet re-enactors, including 18 Roman women, who will be encamped outside the military base. There will also be soldiers having a respite from their duties, having a cup of passum or water, chatting with their wives and haggling with merchants. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW – JOIN US FOR: the 2 day event at Birdoswald Roman Fort the spectacular Night Time Patrol at Housesteads Roman Fort There’s also the evening Barbarians Night Attack event at Birdoswald – which is free to everyone who has purchased a ticket to the above two events, and also available to book tickets for separately. And if you can’t make this event, visit our museums which showcase some of the amazing objects left behind by these forgotten Roman women. About the author Frances joined English Heritage in July 2012 and is currently working on her PhD on the Clayton Collection. She is an expert in Roman material culture and is also interested in the contribution of antiquarian studies to our understanding of the past. After completing a research masters in Roman brooches, Frances wanted to broaden her studies and the Clayton Collection offered the perfect opportunity as it contains the whole range of material from Roman military sites. Share this Post 3.1kMost kids with vision problems don’t look past the tip of their own nose when it comes to the issue of prescription eyewear. But not Yash Gupta, a 15-year-old high school junior from Irvine. His vision has extended well past the lenses on his own face to the thousands who have benefitted from his nonprofit, Sight Learning. Gupta has been selected as a 2012 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Hero for the outstanding work he has done to provide eyewear for those who can’t afford it. He joins 15 other remarkable youth from the United States and Canada who have demonstrated outstanding community leadership and service. Each Huggable Hero receives $10,000 – a $7,500 educational scholarship as well as $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to donate to the charity of their choice. Winners will also travel as a group to perform acts of service at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN, and to the world headquarters of Build-A-Bear Workshop in St. Louis. Gupta’s website (sightlearning.com) launched in January of 2011, and with the help of many Irvine optometrists who have placed collection bins in their offices, has collected over $70,000 worth of eyewear to donate. His goal is to hit the $100k mark by this November. As Founder and CEO of Sight Learning, Gupta approximates he spends up to 25 hours a week facilitating his collections efforts with optometry offices and organizing eye exam clinics throughout the world. His greatest accomplishment to date has been the international clinics he has hosted, one in Tijuana, Mexico and the other in Copan, Honduras, which combined treated over 5,000 people. “After giving them a pair of glasses – the first they had ever received in their lives – the emotion, joy, and excitement they exhibited made the work Sight Learning has done that much more special,” said Gupta. “To see first hand that the work you are doing is helping someone is a great feeling, and I’m glad we’ve been able to make an impact.” Gupta first heard about the Huggable Heroes competition while searching online for scholarships, and was soon after nominated by his guidance counselor for the award. He was chosen as one of 80 semi-finalists, then progressed through the rounds of competition to being named one of 15 Huggable Heroes. Of the honor, Gupta said, “I’m very proud (to have been chosen) … There are so many amazing kids out there doing great things for the community, and I encourage my peers to do the same.” A dedicated Eagle Scout who is also involved with Northwood High School clubs Model U.N., Mock Trial, FBLA, and as the sports page editor for his school’s newspaper, Gupta has a bright future ahead of him. He hopes to continue his philanthropy through Sight Learning and other organizations while also pursuing a career as either an entrepreneur or lawyer of some sort. With Gupta’s stellar vision for making an impact on the world at just age 15, there’s no doubt lifelong success is within his sight. * * * Autumn McAlpin is a local writer. She pens a weekly column for OC Moms called Cracking Up, in which she chronicles her crazy life as a mother of four.App users: Please click to view The Eagle Creek wildfire has caused hundreds of people to evacuate their homes as the fire burned through more than 44,000 acres since it began on Sept. 2. If you are a resident looking for updates on evacuations in your area, please call 211 or visit 211info.org. View an interactive map of the evacuation levels RELATED: Local businesses assisting Eagle Creek Fire victims Multnomah County officials announced shortly after the fire started that they appreciate everyone's good intentions, but they don't have a system in place to receive supplies or donations from individual citizens. Please do not deliver any supplies to the Sheriff’s Office, or any other first responder staging location at this time. #EagleCreekFire — Multnomah Co Sheriff (@MultCoSO) September 5, 2017 The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office suggests people donate to the Red Cross or their favorite trusted charity. Here's a look at some other ways you can help those affected by the fire and those providing assistance to the evacuees. Sign up for the daily 3 Things to Know Newsletter Thank You Something went wrong. This email will be delivered to your inbox once a day in the morning. Thank you for signing up for the 3 things to Know Newsletter Please try again later. Submit Fundraisers Verified GoFundMe campaigns: Two GoFundMe campaigns were created by PNW Outdoor Women, based out of Seattle, to assist the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Washington State Fire Fighters' Association. PNW Outdoor Women will match donations up to the first $500 through September 19, 2017. Small businesses in Cascade Locks have launched a campaign via CascadeLocksStrong.com to help businesses impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire. People can buy gift certificates to local businesses that they can use when Interstate 84 reopens in both directions. And the National Forest Foundation has opened up an Eagle Creek Fire Restoration Fund to help with post-fire projects in the Columbia River Gorge. More ways to help Red Cross How to help: Donate to the American Red Cross at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Financial donations to "Disaster Relief" allows the Red Cross to purchase the exact supplies for the needs of a specific disaster relief operation. The Red Cross says if you want to help out, the best thing to do is donate on their website. Donating goods or food isn't always as helpful. If you want to volunteer, the Red Cross encourages you to sign up online and receive training instead of just showing up on the spot. Local agencies The Hood River County Sheriff's Office tweeted out a number people who want to donate can call. If you want to volunteer or donate to help with the fire efforts, call 541-387-6911. They are not taking donation items at the sheriff's office. Multnomah County Emergency Management is not accepting help from individual citizens at this time, but they have set up a call center for those under evacuation orders who need assistance moving farm animals or livestock. Please call 503-823-2323 to request resources.The Obama Administration has halted missile shipments to Israel and a huge new diplomatic row, which some officials are calling a “very serious rupture” is emerging tonight, after the Wall Street Journal revealed Israel was taking US weapons to use in Gaza without the permission of the White House. According to US officials, the Israeli Defense Ministry was getting arms directly from the Pentagon stockpile in their country without asking either the White House or the US State Department’s permission. This was done in spite of the arms coming concurrent with direct US-Israeli talks on another $225 million in US funding for their Iron Dome system. “We were blind-sided,” noted one US diplomatic, while others said they were particularly concerned that Israel took artillery instead of precision-guided arms to use during their bombardment of civilian areas of Gaza. It was particularly galling that Israel took the arms without asking the White House, since the billions of dollars in annual US aid has essentially bankrolled the entire Gaza War, and having burned through all their US-provided arms and ammo, they simply went to the Pentagon warehouse and grabbed some more. Pentagon officials are trying to downplay the incident, saying that Israel didn’t need the permission of the White House or State Department to take the arms. Whether or not that is strictly true is unclear, but doing so was clearly irksome to the administration. In addition to stopping the shipments, the State Department announced a new “review” of all arms shipments to Israel, though they insisted the timing of this was coincidental, and was simply a function of concerns about the invasion of Gaza. Last 5 posts by Jason DitzImage copyright PA Image caption Diageo is the world's largest producer of Scotch whisky More than 100 jobs could go at Diageo bottling plants in Glasgow and Fife, with plans by the drinks giant to move some packaging to Italy. Seventy jobs are expected to go at Leven by the end of the year and 35 at Shieldhall, unless new bottling contracts can be won. Diageo's bottling plant in Italy is running below capacity after it disposed of its wine business. Unions at the main distiller of Scotch whisky strongly criticised the move. Unite said it was a "shocking betrayal of Scottish workers" and the GMB said it was connected to the economic uncertainties arising from Brexit. But Diageo said it followed a review of its spirits bottling business to ensure the company delivered "leading performance" in domestic and export supply chains. Global supply chain A spokesman added: "Regrettably, these changes may impact some roles in our European bottling plants towards the end of the year and we will now enter a period of consultation with our employees and their representatives to discuss the proposals in more detail. "We are committed to our three spirits bottling sites in Europe - two in Scotland and one in Italy. "The outcomes of this review will ensure we have the flexibility to respond to increased competition and external volatility, alongside testing and building the capability we need across our global supply chain to grow our brands." There are currently 500 workers at Shieldhall, in south-west Glasgow, and 800 at Leven in Fife. Cabinet Secretary for Finance Derek Mackay said Diageo's announcement was "deeply disappointing news". He said: "Scottish Enterprise is engaging with the company to explore all possible options for supporting those affected, and we will work with the company to safeguard Scottish jobs. "If any redundancies proceed, through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, we will provide skills development and employability support to minimise the time that individuals affected are out of work."But there were hints everywhere. One study found that heavier dialysis patients had a lower chance of dying than those whose were of normal weight or underweight. Overweight patients with coronary disease fared better than those who were thinner in another study; mild to severe obesity posed no additional mortality risks. In 2007, a study of 11,000 Canadians over more than a decade found that those who were overweight had the lowest chance of dying from any cause. To date, scientists have documented these findings in patients with heart failure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure — and now diabetes. Experts are searching for explanations. One idea is that once a chronic disease develops, the body becomes catabolic, meaning it needs higher energy and caloric reserves than usual. If patients do not have those reserves, they may become malnourished even though their weight is normal, said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, one of the directors of the preventive cardiology program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Some researchers suspect genetics: Maybe thin people who develop diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic ailments have gene variants that make them more susceptible to these illnesses and put them at greater risk once they become ill. Heart disease in thin people may represent a different illness from heart disease in heavier people, Dr. Lavie said. Photo It may be that doctors do not treat thin patients as aggressively as they do heavier patients — or that the yardstick itself is to blame. Most researchers assess obesity by measuring body mass index, a simple ratio of height and weight. But B.M.I. does not take into account body fat, lean muscle mass, metabolic abnormalities and other nuances of physical composition. Perhaps, some experts say, we are not asking the right question in the first place. Maybe we are so used to framing health issues in terms of obesity that we are overlooking other potential causes of disease. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Dr. Neil Ruderman, an endocrinologist at Boston University School of Medicine, was the first to identify a condition he called “metabolically obese normal weight,” in 1981. Such people have weights in the normal range on the B.M.I. chart but also have metabolic abnormalities, including high levels of insulin resistance and triglycerides; they tend to carry fat around the middle, which is more apt to affect the heart, liver and other organs than fat in the hips and thighs. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. “If we’re open-minded when we look at the data, we often find confounding factors that can explain the disease associations we blame on weight,” said Linda Bacon, a nutrition professor at City College of San Francisco and author of “Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight.” Fitness is an important, and often unmeasured, confounder, and the growing pile of paradoxical evidence is forcing experts to re-evaluate its importance. The link between obesity and health derives in part from research like the Framingham Heart Study, which has followed thousands of men and women since the 1940s. But Paul McAuley, a professor of health education at Winston-Salem State University, has noted that Framingham and other longitudinal studies often fail to take into account physical activity and fitness. Research that does tease apart weight and fitness — like a series of studies conducted by Steven Blair at the Cooper Institute in Dallas — shows that being fat and fit is better, healthwise, than being thin and unfit. Regular aerobic exercise may not lead to weight loss, but it does reduce fat in the liver, where it may do the most metabolic damage, according to a recent study at the University of Sydney. “More often than not, cardiovascular fitness is a far more important predictor of mortality risk than just knowing what you weigh,” said Glenn Gaesser, author of “Big Fat Lies” and director of the Healthy Lifestyles Research Center at Arizona State University. In 2005, an epidemiologist, Katherine Flegal, analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that the biggest risks of death were associated with being at either end of the spectrum — underweight or severely obese. The lowest mortality risks were among those in the overweight category (B.M.I.s of 25 to 30), while moderate obesity (30 to 35) offered no more risk than being in the normal-weight category. Whatever the explanation for the obesity paradox turns out to be, most experts agree that the data cast an uncertain light on the role of body fat. “Maintaining fitness is good and maintaining low weight is good,” Dr. Lavie said. “But if you had to go off one, it looks like it’s more important to maintain your fitness than your leanness. Fitness looks a little bit more protective.” That is a message that may take a long time to reach your family physician, however. “Paradigm shifts take time,” Ms. Bacon said. “They also take courage. Not many people are willing to challenge the weight conventions. They’re just too culturally embedded, and the risk of going against convention is too high.”In Australia, workers who mined and processed asbestos were called “Snowmen” because they’d emerge at the end of every shift covered in the white fibres. The companies who employed those men – firms like James Hardie and CSR – knew that their product was deadly and caused cancer. They mined it, processed it and sold it anyway, until the Australian government, under pressure from the anti-asbestos movement of activists, unionists and lawyers, acted to protect public health. While asbestos is now banned in Australia, the industry still thrives overseas. In particular, growth is strong in our backyard of Asia, where poor nations are targeted by the new asbestos lobby of producers, manufacturers and their lawyers, some of whom are prepared to go to almost any lengths to protect their profits and peddle their poison. In this special New Matilda investigation, British journalist Michael Gillard and New Matilda editor Chris Graham reveal as yet unpublished details of a global spying operation on Australian and other international activists and officials, who remain locked in a battle to stop the trail of death and misinformation in poorly regulated Asian economies. A SHADOWY private detective agency hired by a Kazakhstan multinational company linked to the asbestos industry has been spying on a United Nations health agency and the international anti-asbestos movement for the last four years, a New Matilda investigation can reveal. Parliamentarians, public health officials, activists, academics, unionists, scientists and human rights lawyers from the UK to Australia were targeted between 2012 and 2016. The global spying operation, codenamed Project Spring, was the brainchild of K2 Intelligence and run from its London office. It involved placing a corporate spy at the heart of the anti-asbestos movement, which for more than a decade has been building gradual momentum for a world-wide ban on the deadly mineral. Robert Moore, the spy, posed as a journalist wanting to make a campaigning documentary about the nefarious activities of the asbestos industry in Asia, a growth market where the material is not banned. However, internal documents reveal that Moore’s real mission was to collect intelligence, which K2 then passed to its publicity shy client. The UK courts have granted that client an injunction preventing them from being named and shamed, because of the reputational damage. However, that suppression order does not apply to publications outside the UK. New Matilda has seen court documents, including a witness statement by Moore in which he identifies the client as the Kusto Group, a construction, oil and gas conglomerate owned by oligarchs from Kazakhstan. Moore, 50, who was paid almost £500,000 in wages and expenses for his treachery, handed over sensitive documents and filed secret intelligence reports which helped undermine public health efforts by the UN’s World Health Organisation in Asia, where the Kusto Group operates. The espionage scandal has rocked the global anti-asbestos movement who openly campaign against a bellicose industry, which for decades downplayed the health risks of exposure to the cancer-causing fibre and then fought compensation claims brought by affected workers and communities. The targets MOORE targeted Laurie Kazan-Allen, the renowned founder of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS). He saw her as his way into the wider international network. “Moore was given a passport resulting from his acceptance by me,” the 69-year-old American who lives in London said in a witness statement. “He has misled us and compromised our life’s work… I am gravely concerned that through my actions I may have, unwittingly, compromised the effectiveness and even lives of key Ban Asbestos activists.” Moore claimed he was “well-connected” and could get funding for his documentary from prominent comedian friends and a hedge fund, Kazan-Allen recalled. “An independent operator making documentaries in support of our movement seemed a godsend – too good to be true, we might think now. Another tool in his arsenal of persuasion was the revelation that his sister Charlotte Moore was highly placed in the BBC – in fact made Controller of BBC1 in 2013,” she added. Kazan-Allen and a high-profile human rights lawyer even donated almost £10,000 to a charity, Stop Asbestos, which Moore set up as a “cover” to infiltrate anti-asbestos groups in Australia and Asia. The idea was secretly financed by K2 Intelligence. In an initial briefing document on Project Spring prepared for K2 by Moore, he also lists individuals and organisations around the world who he believes may be useful to infiltrate the anti-asbestos movement. New Matilda has confirmed at least three Australians – all of them union officials active in supporting the push for a world-wide ban on asbestos – were approached by Moore. They are Barry Robson, a former senior official with the Maritime Union of Australia and the current president of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia; Andrew Ramsay, a senior Queensland official with the CFMEU; and Andrew Dettmer, national president of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. All three met Moore at an international anti-asbestos conference in Geneva in May 2015. Robson says Moore infiltrated a circle of Australian, British, French and Indian officials, who would meet after each day’s sessions for a beer. “It’s so bloody expensive, Geneva. Everyone is on the black American express cards there. We’re just Trade Union officials, so we were all staying in the same hotel… and we couldn’t afford to go anywhere else, so we would meet in the car park of the Holiday Inn every night. This bloke and his partner would come in in a caravan selling fish and chips, but also Heineken and Guinness and red and white wine. That’s where would Rob would do his work.” Robson says Moore would shout drinks, but be careful not to have too many himself. “He’d sit down, ‘Can I buy you a Guinness, blah, blah, blah. I want to talk about what you’re doing back there in Australia. He’d have a beer – just the one – and he’d sit on it. “What was strange [is that you]never saw him with a notepad. You can see in the photo the way he worked.” Robson had already met Moore at a conference in Washington a month earlier in April 2015 and was warned by the organizer to be wary of the journalist, whose presence had already raised suspicions. Moore had sat in on a series of filmed interviews with conference participants Robson recalled. Andrew Dettmer – who was part of the group in Geneva – saw Moore again at another anti-asbestos conference six months later in Hanoi, Vietnam. Court documents reveal Moore reported back to K2 from all three conferences, although none of the Australian officials he met are named in the Project Spring briefing document. Two other Australians, however, are named in Moore’s original target list provided to K2 Intelligence – John Sutton, the former head of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), and Robert Vojakovic, president of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia based in Perth. Neither could recall ever having any contact with him. The spy company that ‘does no harm’ JULES Kroll and his son, Jeremy, founded K2 in New York in 2009. They claim clients are attracted by the corporate intelligence agency’s “ethical conduct”, “integrity” and an ethos of “do no harm”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr2EsRpQgtA The agency employs retired law enforcement and intelligence officers and freelance journalists to conduct covert operations for blue chip companies at arm’s length. The golden rules are don’t get caught and protect the client. However, matters unraveled last September when Leigh Day, a London law firm working for asbestos claimants, was tipped off about Moore’s undercover activities. Moore is currently being hauled through the UK courts to return all the confidential information he illicitly obtained from the law firm and IBAS. The legal action panicked K2, which successfully obtained an injunction to prevent the identity of their client, the Kusto Group, from being revealed. In a witness statement, K2 would only describe the client as a man “with interests in the chrysotile (white asbestos) industry”. It said he had a “legitimate” reason to investigate a suspected “corrupt association” between law firms acting for claimants suffering from asbestos-related diseases, substitute manufacturers and activists plotting to “destroy” the chrysotile industry in India and Asia. K2’s lawyers also told the court that if identified their client feared “aggressive” retaliation from the anti-asbestos movement and irreparable reputational damage to other business interests. Although the UK judge said the client must have been involved with K2 in “wrongdoing”, an anonymity order was granted and reporting restrictions imposed on the UK media only. The Kazakhstan connection YERKIN Tatishev, a 40-year-old Kazak entrepreneur, runs the Kusto Group. He made his name rescuing the Kostanai and Orenburg chrysotile mines in Kazakhstan and Russia respectively. Kusto is headquartered in Singapore and claims a US$1.2 billion turnover. It has key building material and construction operations in Vietnam, where campaigners want to ban asbestos, and where Moore was active. It also owns a major paint supplier in Israel. Tatishev himself has close links to Kazahk oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former politician and banker who stands accused of the largest fraud in global history. Ablyazov was found by the British High Court to have stolen at least £2.6 billion from Bank TuranAlem (BTA), Kazakhstan’s largest bank, of which Ablyazov was once Chairman and a major shareholder. At least another £3 billion remains unaccounted for. Tatishev served on the board of BTA with Ablyazov, replacing his older brother, Yerhan Tatishev, who died in mysterious circumstances during a hunting trip in 2004. US diplomatic cables at the time, published by Wikileaks, speculate that the older Tatishev had helped Ablyazov liquidate his assets and move his money offshore in the early 2000s, before Ablyazov fled Kazakhstan claiming political persecution. Ablyazov – a key political opponent to autocratic Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev – was sentenced to 22 months jail in the United Kingdom in 2012 for perjury, after he was sued by BTA over the missing billions. He fled England before he could be jailed, and was eventually arrested in France in 2013, but released in December last year after finally defeating an extradition order to Russia. In 2014, a spokesperson for Yerkin Tatishev publicly denied any wrongdoing in relation to BTA. Kusto group media consultant Tal Rabina told Globes magazine in 2014, “Mukhtar Ablyazov was a member of the board of directors on a bank in Kazakhstan that was nationalized, together with a representative of the Tatishev family. At the same time, note that in contrast with the ongoing investigation against Ablyazov reported in several media, the entire investigation against other directors in that bank, including Mr. Tatishev, ended in less than 24 hours, with the legal authorities there making it clear to those under investigation that they had found nothing wrong with their activity, and the issuing of a written character reference. In order to remove all doubt, in contrast to Ablyazov, the Tatishev family members and the Kusto group are to this day accepted as respectable businessmen in Kazakhstan.” According to press reports, in 2014 the Kusto Group was also investigated on suspicion of money laundering in Israel after purchasing a paint company at an apparently inflated price – 500 million sheckels, 200 million more than an offer from previous talks with a private equity firm – without allegedly having conducted any due diligence on the deal. There is no record of any prosecution of the company or individuals associated with it, and the Kusto Group has previously denied wrongdoing. Tal Rabina told Globe magazine: “Both the Azrieli group and the various banks in Israel examined the Kusto group carefully both before and after completing the deal for the acquisition of Tambour. Following the clear findings of these inquiries, which found that all the sources of the group’s money were known and respectable, not only did they approve the deal, but they even proposed to finance it, even though the Kusto group intended from the start to finance the acquisition from its own resources. “Incidentally, any state authority, such as the Money Laundering Authority, is obviously obligated to carefully check any information it obtains. As we have seen in recent affairs, however, the very transferring of any kind of information to the Authority, and even an examination of that information, if any was performed, does not indicate that this ‘information’ has any real reliability whatsoever. The group has received no official query in this matter whatsoever, but if one is received, we will be glad to cooperate with any authorised party.” Multiple attempts by New Matilda to seek comment from the The Israel Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority were unsuccessful. Daniel Kunin – K2’s point of contact with the Kusto Group – was Kusto’s public spokesperson for the Israeli purchase. Robert Moore names Kunin as K2’s client in his witness statement. “Two years ago, I found out that… Daniel Kunin was K2’s client. It took me another six months and a second trip to Thailand to realize he worked for Yerkin Tatishev, the owner of the biggest mines in Russia and Kazakhstan,” he said. Moore also claimed in the witness statement that Kunin, Kusto’s managing director, first approached K2 in May 2012. Matteo Bigazzi, an executive managing director in the K2 London office, then contracted Moore to infiltrate the anti-asbestos movement. It was his second assignment for K2, but the journalist was already in the betrayal business. One of the family MOORE, a Buddhist, claims he first became a corporate spy for hire in 2007 after an unremarkable television career producing comedy programmes. He reinvented himself as a freelance investigative documentary maker. But this was really a cover to supplement his income by infiltrating activists and lawyers on behalf of a range of corporate intelligence agencies he has yet to name. Moore received his secret orders for Project Spring from Bigazzi in person or through a Gmail account. Both men had the password to the account and Moore dropped documents and his reports in the draft folder, to ensure nothing was ever sent over the Internet. In one of his first reports, Moore discussed with his K2 controller how to win over Kazan-Allen. “I am confident,” he told Bigazzi, “I can enter this world relatively easily and with a high level of legitimacy and credibility… If I am allowed to genuinely pursue a story and endeavour to get it commissioned it would add to my credibility with Kazan-Allen and, more importantly, the veracity of my cover.” He continued: “The stand out story is the growth of the asbestos industry throughout Asia… how developed countries are pushing dangerous materials (that we banned) onto poorly educated people in poorly regulated developing countries. There is lots for a liberal minded TV producer to get angry about here.” Kazan-Allen said she soon came to see Moore as “one of the family”. Before long, the veteran campaigner was introducing the spy at conferences in Brussels and Thailand. Moore later travelled to the US, Canada, India and Vietnam. Unknown to Kazan-Allen, his real mission was to find out about potential legal threats from American and British class actions lawyers, including her brother, who represents US asbestos victims. Targeting the UN ANOTHER area of interest was gathering intelligence to neutralise the push by campaigners to add white asbestos to the UN’s list of materials harmful to human health, thereby requiring producers to obtain prior informed consent before they can export. Moore specifically targeted the World Health Organisation (WHO), a UN agency, and the International Labour Organisation to see if they were funding law firms connected to IBAN. In his witness statement, he said K2 instructed him in 2013 to find out what action WHO was planning to take on white asbestos in the Philippines and Thailand. The spy gained the trust of leading health officials who, convinced of his integrity, later part-funded him to make two short asbestos films, which helped enhance his cover and access. “Feedback from the client is very positive and they would like to continue to mine the WHO vein,” Bigazzi wrote in an email dated 19 July 2013. Confidential access ROBERT Moore wormed his way to the centre of the anti-asbestos movement and by the start of 2015 he was attending key policy and strategic legal meetings. K2 had proposed a £185,000 budget to the client for the year. £105,000 alone was earmarked for Moore’s “monthly retainer”. In the end, Bigazzi informed his spy that the client was only “prepared to go to the board and ask for a maximum of £160,000”. In return, they wanted Moore to focus on WHO, Vietnam, Thailand and other “pan-Asian intel”. The spy agreed but was keen that K2 did not disclose his identity to the client in case they inadvertently blew his cover when using the sensitive intelligence he was providing. “We are now being given access to the most confidential information that is shared by an extremely (his italics) small circle. If any of this gets out we will be exposed,” he wrote in February 2015. We are now being given access to the most confidential information that is shared by an extremely (his italics) small circle. If any of this gets out we will be exposed.” – Robert Moore, February 2015 By July, Moore appeared particularly jumpy. He reiterated to K2 the risk of discovery. “I think the ramifications would be particularly serious for us because of the approaches we are deploying to get inside information from one of the United Nation’s most important agencies,” he explained in a covering email attached to his latest report on WHO. To further his “cover”, in late 2015 Moore set up the Stop Asbestos charity in the UK. He persuaded well-known campaigners and lawyers from Leigh Day and Doughty Street chambers to become trustees. They believed Moore when he said the charity could raise funds for his research in Asia. However, in an email to his K2 controller, he wrote: “I believe we now have a cover that could take us through to the end of 2016 and visit all the desired destinations… I have now been invited to meet key parties in Australia.” Dr Barry Castleman, an American expert on asbestos, met Moore at a conference in Vietnam. The veteran expert witness travels the world appearing for claimants. He has given evidence for victims of CSR, the owners of a blue asbestos mine in Wittenoom, Western Australia once owned by mining magnate Lang Hancock. In Vietnam, the doctor warmed to Moore after the Brit arranged a surprise 69th birthday party. Dr Castleman readily agreed to be a trustee of the charity. Stephen Hughes, a British Socialist Member of the European Parliament, was also invited to become a trustee. The now retired parliamentarian was unaware that Moore had been reporting back to K2 on his anti-asbestos advocacy in the Brussels parliament. Moore exposed AS well as spying on asbestos activists, in late 2015 Moore took on a new paid assignment for K2: to infiltrate Global Witness, a human rights NGO, and Nigerian anti-corruption campaigners. K2’s client was concerned about a bribery investigation involving a Nigerian Delta oil licence awarded to Shell and ENI, the Italian energy firm. However, after passing several intelligence reports to K2, in June 2016 Moore suddenly revealed that he was a spy. During a meeting with Simon Taylor, the head of Global Witness, Moore admitted his corporate espionage for K2. He said he wanted to expose the asbestos industry and offered to work for the NGO as a double agent on the Nigerian case. The offer was refused as Taylor felt Moore could be a triple agent and couldn’t be trusted. Global Witness instead urged him to “come clean” to all those he was betraying. Meanwhile, Leigh Day was tipped off because of the risk to the anti-asbestos movement. In October, the law firm ignored Moore’s pleas not to sue him and launched legal proceedings for misuse of confidential information. Leigh Day, who is also acting for Laurie Kazan-Allen, demanded he return documents. So far over 35,000 have been handed over. Dr Castleman recalled how Moore admitted spying for K2 when he confronted him by phone. “But he said along the way he had developed sympathy and didn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know and was really on our side.” Dr Castleman does not buy it. “Rob had been telling me up to that point he was onto a story connecting Russian oligarchs, Wall Street and people in London profiteering off asbestos. He never got round to explaining it and said it was all ‘hush hush’ the way you would if you are making stuff up.” It appears that a spooked Moore first started developing an exit strategy from corporate spying in mid-2015. The plan involved reinventing himself as a whistleblower, much in the same way that he had reinvented himself as a campaigning investigative journalist in order to spy on people since 2007. The need to get out of spying appears to be driven by a fear his cover had been blown – by 2015 some in the anti-asbestos movement were already beginning to suspect him. Linda Reinstein, the co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation in the US, invited Moore to two of her conferences – one in 2013, and the
a training facility with seven basketball courts called Suwanee Sports Academy. Price built a shooting lab in the complex, outfitted with cameras that measured arc and angle. At least 25 pros, including then Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, took summer trips to the lab. Price was Hakeem Olajuwon for the smaller set. Tim Clayton/SI Several teams hired Price as a shooting consultant or player development coach, but in 2013 the Hornets made him a full-time assistant. His first project was Kidd‑Gilchrist. “Good luck,” another coach told him. “You can’t fix that.” Price accepted the job on one condition: “Nobody tells Michael Kidd‑Gilchrist anything about his shot but me.” Price suggested subtle alterations throughout last season, but the stroke required massive reconstruction, and that demanded months of dedicated training. They spent the summer together -- at the practice facility in Charlotte, the lab in Suwanee, summer league in Las Vegas. They started with the feet, pointing them at the basket, in order to square the body. At first, Kidd‑Gilchrist wasn’t allowed to shoot. He just jumped in place. Then he was allowed to shoot, but without his left hand, which forced him to straighten his right wrist and right elbow. An entire month was devoted to form shooting from 10 feet and in. Slowly they inched back. The release rose. The hitches vanished. Sometimes they only worked 30 minutes a day, and sometimes three hours. “I wanted him to leave the gym with confidence,” Price says. Kidd-Gilchrist was banned from playing pickup, or shooting on his own, for fear that old habits would resurface. Price kept him close. He invited him over for family dinners. Price’s youngest son, Josh, did the rebounding. • MORE NBA: The rapid rise of Anthony Davis (10.4.14) When Jefferson returned to Charlotte last August, he watched Kidd-Gilchrist take aim. “Damn,” Jefferson gushed, “that looks good.” Kidd-Gilchrist could not remember the last time someone said something genuinely nice about his J. “Really?” he asked. “I mean, for real? It looks good?” Price won’t go quite that far. “It looks… normal,” he says, the implication being that normal in this case is remarkable. When Kidd‑Gilchrist’s form was first broadcast in training camp, via the Hornets’ Instagram account, he called his mom. “Did you see it?” he hollered. “You’ve got to see it.” Through Sunday, Kidd‑Gilchrist was averaging 9.9 points and 7.2 rebounds for a team seven games under.500 but charging up the East standings. He is a long way from sniper status, yet he has shot 67.4% from the line and 52.0% from 10 to 16 feet, and defenders don’t abandon him anymore. “I still play him as a driver,” Lakers forward Wesley Johnson says, “but you have to respect his shot now.” Price can teach the mechanics. What’s harder to instill is the mentality. When Kidd‑Gilchrist misfires, he is prone to panic. “What am I doing wrong?” he asks. “You’re fine,” Price reassures him. “Keep doing what you’re doing.” When he turns down open looks, teammates remind him, “You can shoot now.” Kidd-Gilchrist admittedly forgets. “Oh, that’s right,” he responds. “I can shoot now.” Only 21, he has overhauled a fundamental part of himself. And it’s not the first time. In June 2011, Kidd-Gilchrist met Meg Shake at Kentucky’s Center of Academic and Tutorial Services, known on campus as CATS. He talked about his father, whose murder site on North Dudley Street he still visits to feel his dad’s presence. He talked about his Uncle Darrin, who died of a heart attack the day Kidd-Gilchrist signed at Kentucky, inspiring him to add Kidd to his last name. But mostly he talked about his stutter. Kidd-Gilchrist visited three speech therapists over 11 years as a child. When classmates made fun of him, he pretended not to care, and when family members asked about his progress, he waved them off. He never controlled the stutter, but he learned how to mask it. He removed himself from situations where he had to speak publicly, or replaced words he wasn’t comfortable saying, or simply turned away and fell silent. His mom and his stepdad insulated him from excessive media attention. But the ’11–12 Wildcats were the most talented team in the country, under immeasurable scrutiny, and there was no hiding. Shortly after Kidd-Gilchrist- arrived in Lexington, the sports information staff put him through a mock interview, and he froze. “I want you to help me,” he told Shake, a speech pathologist at Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences. “I want this to go away.” Lexington Herald/Getty Images If Price was his shot doctor, Shake was his speech guru. She met with him twice a week and demystified the phenomenon that is human speech: how the mouth and tongue and lips form different sounds, how vocal cords vibrate, and how we all stammer occasionally at the onset of pressure. Kidd-Gilchrist relearned, in a sense, how to speak. “Make a p,” Shake says. “Where does your tongue go? What do you do with the air? Does it pop out of your mouth or glide out?” For letters that pop, like p and b, he tried to lighten the contact between his lips. For ones that glide, like all the vowels, he tried to stretch the sounds and therefore ease the tension in his mouth: “I looove the fans,” for example. He honed a technique called continuous phonation, in which he linked words together as if they had no spaces, allowing the vocal cords to continue vibrating. Shake discovered that Kidd-Gilchrist responded to movement, so he sometimes spoke while sliding a finger across his leg, and to rhythm, so she brought a metronome to their sessions. For Christmas, Kidd-Gilchrist’s grandmother gave him a metronome watch, the kind worn by drummers. Like many people who stutter, Kidd-Gilchrist is mostly fluent when he sings, speaks in accents or reads aloud. He and Shake read in unison. She provided tools and confidence, same as Price. They graduated from sounds to words to sentences. Shake would give Kidd-Gilchrist an a, which would become apple, which would become a short sentence about an apple, which would become a longer sentence about an apple. They mimicked interviews on Kentucky’s practice court, starting with simple questions (“What’s your birthday? What’s your favorite food? What’s your favorite movie?”) and progressing to involved ones (“Why did you change your name? Where does your motor come from? What is it like being so far from home?”). Shake used a microphone from her children’s Wii. She then assigned Kidd-Gilchrist more questions to answer in his spare time. He talked to himself a lot. Shake was not a big basketball fan, and privacy laws prohibited her from discussing her high-profile patient without his permission, so her kids didn’t understand why Mom kept sneaking into the bathroom after games, listening to interviews on the radio. She and Kidd-Gilchrist broke down the tapes later. “Listen to how beautiful your statement was!” Shake would exclaim, while he protested. They could typically hear a water bottle, which he clutched to occupy his hands, crunching in the background. The Final Four was challenging because of unwanted media queries about his speech, but by then it was obvious that the therapy’s purpose went far beyond any press conference. Sound bites are significant in the social media age -- if a player clanks a 10-footer at the buzzer, the public demands an explanation and revolts when it too falls short -- but the interviews were just an excuse. “This was for when he gives his wedding vows,” Shake says, “and when he gets his honorary degree from UK, and when he goes to his grandchildren’s graduation. It was for a more fluent future.” Al Tielemans/SI Over three million Americans stutter and nobody knows exactly why. Genetics are a factor, according to Shake, and so are life events. “Everyone’s story is different,” she says. “But a lot of people who fit this profile do have certain personality characteristics that are similar. They’re often perfectionists. They’re pleasers. They might be worriers. They tend to carry a lot on their shoulders.” These are some of the qualities that made Kidd-Gilchrist the second pick in the draft. They’re also some of the qualities that made his jump shot go haywire. Price believes there is a connection between the stroke and the speech. Shake isn’t sure. Speaking and shooting are both finely coordinated movements, and a person who falls out of coordination in one area could theoretically do the same in another. But speaking comes naturally, while shooting is learned, and a shot is supposed to stay consistent while speech is constantly in flux. “They remind me a lot of each other,” Kidd-Gilchrist says. “I was laughed at for my speech, and I was laughed at for my shot, and I went through a big process for both of them.” In each case there is no simple cure. Just as his right elbow still sometimes drifts inward, he often pauses between phrases, as if warming up the vocal cords. He fiddles with his phone, regains his rhythm and continues. He enjoys talking about speech, though not necessarily his own, and he leans forward when he hears about kids who stutter. He helped inspire a 13-year-old boy from his Jersey neighborhood, Saadiq Wicks, to establish a small nonprofit called L‑L‑Let Me Finish. The organization raises awareness and money to send children with speech impediments to Camp SAY in Hendersonville, N.C. Kidd-Gilchrist is on the board. “Everybody has flaws, and I’m a prime example,” he says. “But this is me. I’ve come a long way. Everyone can see it. I can see it myself.” Night has fallen on downtown L.A., and Kidd-Gilchrist waits for an elevator in the JW Marriott. He is heading out for dinner when he notices Price walking down the hall. It’s as if the Hornets have fit their young forward with a tracker. “See you tomorrow?” Price asks. “Yeah,” Kidd-Gilchrist replies. He is finding his voice, his shot and his cause, all at once. “See you tomorrow.”Four Americans and seven Iranians were set to be exchanged in a deal linked to the imminent implementation of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. Here's what we know about who they are. (Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) Four Americans and seven Iranians were set to be exchanged in a deal linked to the imminent implementation of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. Here's what we know about who they are. (Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) A plane carrying Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and two other Americans released by Iran landed in Germany on Sunday, a day after the implementation of a landmark agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. In a brief phone call with the Washington Post‘s executive editor, Martin Baron, and the foreign editor, Douglas Jehl, from a U.S. military hospital in Germany, Rezaian said that he was feeling well both physically and mentally and was looking forward to being reunited with friends and family soon after undergoing medical tests. Rezaian, who was released after 545 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, said that the support of his family and colleagues during his incarceration had “meant everything.” Asked how he was feeling, he added: “I’m a hell of a lot better than I was 48 hours ago.” Once the Americans had left Iran aboard a Swiss aircraft, the Obama administration announced new sanctions related to participation in Iran’s ballistic missile program. The sanctions, which applied to 11 persons and companies, were issued under U.S. restrictions that remain in place despite the lifting Saturday of international sanctions tied to Iran’s nuclear program. The Swiss plane landed in Geneva for a brief stopover before the Americans were flown to Germany for medical checkups at a U.S. military hospital. They landed at Ramstein Air Base shortly before 2 p.m. EST and were taken to the U.S. military’s nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. While the freed Americans were airborne, President Obama hailed the implementation of the nuclear agreement and the prisoner deal with Iran that led to their release. In televised remarks Sunday morning from the White House, he said that although “profound differences” remain between Washington and Tehran, the Iranian people now have a chance to end their isolation and “begin building new ties with the world.” After the Americans arrived in Germany, Obama telephoned Ali Rezaian, Jason’s brother, who had arrived ahead of time in Landstuhl. Ali Rezaian said Obama told him that his brother’s detention had lasted “too long.” In a call that lasted about two minutes, the president also said he hoped that Ali would be able to see Jason soon. Ali Rezaian was not immediately able to see his brother but was able to speak to him on the phone. The three freed Americans were moved directly into the hospital for medical checks. Ali Rezaian was able to greet his mother, Mary Rezaian, and Jason’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who left Tehran on the Swiss plane. In the telephone call with the Post’s editors, Rezaian said that isolation was the most difficult part of his time in prison. Still, snippets of information had made it back to him, lamong them that his Christmas greetings conveyed via his mother from prison had “made the rounds and reached everybody, which is what I intended.” He also said that he found escape in the novels that he was allowed to read while in prison facing trial for spying. President Obama said despite diplomatic progress made with Iran, there remain "profound differences" between the U.S. and Iran. He announced new sanctions on Iranians involved in ballistic missile program. (The White House) Rezaian’s health was reported to have suffered from poor conditions at the prison and a lack of medicine for his high blood pressure. Family members earlier this year said that he had lost weight and suffered from back pain, and chronic eye and groin infections. He told the editors in the early Monday phone call that his health had improved in the last several months. He is expected to face a battery of medical tests in the coming days, and it is not yet clear how long he will spend at the military hospital in Landstuhl. [Transcript of Obama’s remarks on Iran nuclear deal and prisoner swap] In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani told the Iranian parliament that the end of nuclear-related sanctions marks a “turning point” for the country. He later proclaimed in a news conference that financial institutions in Iran would be able to reengage “the banks of the world for financial and monetary purposes.” U.S. and European officials lifted the harshest economic sanctions against Tehran after the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog certified that the Islamic republic had fully complied with promises to curtail key parts of its nuclear program. Hours before diplomats in Vienna heralded the official activation of the nuclear deal, Iran confirmed the release of Rezaian and the other American detainees, set free in exchange for U.S. clemency offered to seven Iranians charged or imprisoned for sanctions violations and the dismissal of outstanding charges against 14 Iranians outside the United States. The Post journalist boarded the flight to freedom Sunday after 18 months of captivity in Evin Prison, used for decades by both Iran’s Islamic revolutionary government and the monarchy it overthrew in 1979 to incarcerate — and, human rights groups say, abuse — political prisoners. He was tried in secret last year on charges including espionage and sentenced to an unspecified prison term. Also on the plane were two other freed Iranian Americans — Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati. The plane left after an overnight delay stemming from what U.S. officials said was a misunderstanding among Iranian officials at the airport about the passenger manifest — specifically, whether Salehi and Mary Rezaian were supposed to be on the plane. One of four Americans who were freed in the prisoner deal, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, did not fly out with the others, U.S. officials said. [A misunderstanding held up the departure of 3 Americans] “We can confirm that our detained U.S. citizens have been released and that those who wished to depart Iran have left,” a senior administration official said. “We have no further information to share at this time and would ask that everyone respect the privacy of these individuals and their families.” A fifth American was released in a separate gesture by Iran and left Iran individually before the plane carrying the three Americans departed. In his remarks Sunday from the Cabinet Room of the White House, Obama spoke of the ordeals suffered by the detained Americans. He called Rezaian “a courageous journalist... who wrote about the daily lives and hopes of the Iranian people,” adding: “He embodies the brave spirit that gives life to the freedom of the press.” Obama said Iran “has agreed to deepen our coordination” in trying to locate former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared while visiting Iran’s Kish Island in 2007. The seven Iranians being granted clemency in the deal “were not charged with terrorism or any violent offenses,” the president said. He described their release as “a one-time gesture to Iran” that reflects U.S. willingness to engage with the country “to advance our mutual interests.” Although Iranian officials characterized the arrangement as an “exchange,” none of the seven who were granted clemency — six Iranian Americans and one with solely Iranian citizenship — were handed over to Iran, as in a traditional prisoner swap. Instead, U.S. officials said, they were free to decide individually whether to go to Iran. At least five have chosen not to go, according to their lawyers. Calling a recent missile test by Iran a “violation of its international obligations,” Obama said the United States as a result “is imposing sanctions on individuals and companies working to advance Iran’s ballistic missile program.” The Treasury Department said the new sanctions apply to, among others, the Mabrooka Trading Co., based in the United Arab Emirates, and its networks based in that Persian Gulf country and in China. It said they have used front companies to deceive foreign suppliers about the true end-users of “sensitive goods for missile proliferation.” [Photo gallery of scenes of arrival and anticipation] Saturday’s coordinated moves to implement the nuclear deal and free prisoners cemented a major diplomatic victory for the Obama administration, which won significant nuclear concessions from Iran in an effort to defuse an international crisis that threatened to spark a new Middle East war. The agreement also frees Iran from crippling economic sanctions and opens the way for ending decades of diplomatic and economic isolation. But the agreement also contains significant political risk for a White House that is staking its legacy on Iran’s willingness to comply with unprecedented curbs and extensive monitoring of its nuclear program. The pact — which has been repeatedly condemned by the Israeli government as well as by members of Congress from both parties — drew fresh attacks over the weekend from Republican presidential contenders, some of whom blasted the deal as a sellout to Iran’s clerical rulers. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his concern over Iran’s pivot away from international isolation. He asserted that Iranian leaders still harbor a desire to build atomic weapons but did not offer evidence to support that claim. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate political and religious authority in the Shiite Muslim theocracy, has said Iran does not want or need nuclear weapons, which he has declared to be forbidden by Islam. “Even after the signing of the nuclear agreement, Iran has not relinquished its aspiration to obtain nuclear weapons,and it will continue to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terrorism around the world while violating its international obligations,” Netanyahu said. “Israel will continue to monitor the situation and warn about Iran’s negative activity, and will do everything necessary to safeguard its security and defend itself,” he said. Saudi Arabia and other Arab opponents of Iran refrained from issuing such critical responses. But officials in Riyadh are deeply skeptical of the nuclear agreement: they fear that with billions of dollars of assets unfrozen by the accord, Tehran will be able to greatly expand its influence across the region. In the Saudis’ view, such a development could affect the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and other countries where Saudi Arabia and Iran — fierce ideological and strategic rivals — use proxies to compete for influence. The nuclear pact calls on Iran to disable key nuclear equipment in a deal designed to ensure that the country cannot accumulate enough fissile material to build a nuclear bomb. The agreement also requires unprecedented inspections and monitoring covering all aspects of Iran’s nuclear program, from uranium mining to research facilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter that “diplomacy requires patience, but we all know that it sure beats the alternatives.” Implementation of the deal, Zarif said, meant that “it’s now time for all — especially Muslim nations — to join hands and rid the world of violent extremism. Iran is ready.” The release of prisoners had not been officially part of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. But Kerry frequently raised the plight of imprisoned U.S. citizens during last year’s nuclear talks. [Post coverage of Americans detained in Iran] The Obama administration had come under heavy criticism for concluding the nuclear accord without winning the release of American detainees, including Rezaian, 39, whose 544-day detention was the longest for a Western journalist in Iran. White House officials confirmed that the prisoner deal was clinched during months of secret talks that gained momentum in the days before the nuclear pact was formally implemented Saturday. “Friends and colleagues at The Washington Post are elated by the wonderful news that Jason Rezaian has been released from Evin Prison and has safely left the country with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi,” said Frederick J. Ryan Jr., publisher of The Post. “We are enormously grateful to all who played a role in securing his release. Our deep appreciation also goes to the many government leaders, journalists, human rights advocates and others around the world who have spoken out on Jason’s behalf and against the harsh confinement that was so wrongly imposed upon him,” he said. “Now a free man, Jason will be reunited with his family, including his brother Ali, his most effective and tireless advocate. We look forward to the joyous occasion of welcoming him back to the Washington Post newsroom,” Ryan said. In addition to Rezaian, the Americans freed Saturday included Abedini, 35, of Boise, Idaho; Hekmati, 32, of Flint, Mich.; and Khosravi-Roodsari. A fifth American, identified as language student Matt Trevithick, was also released Saturday but was not part of the prisoner deal. Trevithick’s parents said in a statement that he had been held for 40 days in Evin Prison. A senior U.S. official said Trevithick, 30, left Iran on Saturday. Abedini is a Christian pastor who had been imprisoned since July 2012 for organizing home churches. Hekmati is a former Marine who spent more than four years in prison on spying charges following his arrest in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother. The detention of Khosravi-Roodsari had not been previously publicized. Iranian state television identified him as a businessman. Little else was known about him. The arrangement quickly became political fodder in the United States among Republicans vying for the GOP presidential nomination. In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said: “This deal is a very problematic deal, and it represents a pattern we’ve seen in the Obama administration over and over again of negotiating with terrorists.” He added: “I think it’s a very dangerous precedent because the result of this — every bad actor on Earth has been told: ‘Go capture an American.’ If you want to get terrorists out of jail, capture an American and President Obama is in the let’s-make-a-deal business.” Republican front-runner Donald Trump said in a television interview that aired Sunday morning: “This should have happened years ago.... We’re giving them $150 billion. This shouldn’t be happening now. And I understand that in addition to the $150 billion, they’re getting hostages, also, or they’re getting some prisoners released. So I have to see what the deal is.” Under the nuclear deal, Iran is recovering about $50 billion of its money that has been frozen in banks overseas, mostly in Asia, U.S. officials said. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that she was “pleased, like I hope everybody is, that we have American citizens coming home this morning from Iran.” She said she had done “a lot of work on these issues” when she was secretary of state. But Clinton said that “we have unfinished questions and business still” because of the disappearance of Levinson. “I think this is a part of what we’re going to be pursuing — persistent, patient diplomacy,” Clinton said. Morello and Branigin reported from Washington. Hugh Naylor in Beirut, Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem and Karen DeYoung and Jose DelReal in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the worldALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been arrested for allegedly pointing a shotgun at an Albuquerque police officer. KOB-TV reports that police and a SWAT team took 23-year-old Jeren Boone into custody Saturday night. According to court documents, police were responding to reports of a domestic dispute after a woman called to say her son was extremely intoxicated and causing damage inside her home. When police arrived, they say Boone opened the front door and pointed a long-barreled shotgun at an officer who took cover until more officers arrived. Police say Boone barricaded himself in the house and refused to come out. He was arrested about 2 a.m. Sunday and is being held on suspicion of aggravated assault on a police officer. It's unclear if Boone has an attorney yet. ___ Information from: KOB-TV, http://www.kob.comChina's biggest cities are choking on smog and air pollution caused by nearby coal plants, and residents are fed up. One way to fix this is to switch over to cleaner energy sources (solar, wind, nuclear, or even natural gas), which has the added benefit of cutting carbon-dioxide output from the world's largest emitter. But not always! In fact, one of China's perennial ideas for cleaning up air pollution could, paradoxically, make climate change even worse. Reuters reports that China has just approved three new plants in its western provinces that would turn coal into synthetic natural gas. The idea is that this gas would then be shipped to population centers in the east, where it would burn much more cleanly in power plants and detoxify the air in cities like Beijing. Except there's a huge catch: The coal-to-gas (CTG) plants themselves are highly energy-intensive and can create far more CO2 overall than coal alone. It's basically swapping less smog for more climate change. China currently has three CTG plants operating, four under construction, three newly approved, and plans for another 17 in preparation. If even a fraction are built — still a big "if" — that could have a sizeable impact on global warming. China's coal-to-gas idea, explained The idea of transforming coal into gas has been around for decades. If you take coal and run it through a gasification process — carefully applying heat and limiting the oxygen so that the hydrocarbons break apart chemically rather than burn — you can create a type of "syngas" that produces fewer pollutants when burned for power. Like so: One drawback is that it's rather expensive to do so. During the oil crisis of the 1970s, the Department of Energy heavily subsidized various CTG technologies in the United States. But only one large plant ever got built in North Dakota before the concept was largely abandoned. Now China is taking up the torch. The country desperately wants to use less coal and more natural gas in its cities to cut local air pollution. The central government has set a target of increasing gas consumption from 199 billion cubic meters (bcm) today to 360 bcm by 2020. (The country is also rapidly ramping up nuclear, wind, and solar, but demand is so massive that those sources alone can't suffice.) Yet China only produced about 127 bcm of natural gas domestically in 2015, gas imports are expensive, and its domestic gas deposits are difficult to tap (more on that below). Meanwhile, the country has vast coal reserves and a lot of coal miners who could be out of work if coal consumption dips too far. So coal-to-gas seems like a nifty way of solving these various problems. The proposed CTG plants would be located in the coal regions of inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Xinjiang, far away from major population centers. The gas would then be piped to cities — where it would replace coal and significantly cut local air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and soot. But coal-to-gas can lead to much higher CO2 emissions The danger here is that CTG plants are extremely energy-intensive, and they can be even worse for global warming than coal alone. They're also much worse than using natural gas that's drilled out of the ground. In a 2013 analysis for Nature Climate Change, Chi-Jen Yang and Robert B. Jackson of Duke University estimated that making synthetic natural gas (SNG) from coal in China and using it for electricity would lead to 36 percent to 82 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions per unit of energy than simply burning coal. Creating liquid transportation fuels from coal, meanwhile, could be twice as CO2-intensive as using gasoline. The CTG production process also requires far more water than traditional coal mining, as the chart below shows. That's a problem given that many of these plants are being planned in water-scarce regions: It's possible that CTG plants could eventually try to capture and sequester the carbon dioxide they produce, but that technology is still in its infancy. For the time being, CTG is likely to produce lots and lots of CO2. Yang and Jackson looked at nine CTG plants that were then under consideration by China. If all came online, they would produce 21 billion tons of carbon dioxide over 40 years just by themselves. (To put that in perspective, the entire nation of China produced 8.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2015.) "Under such a scenario," the authors wrote, "China will inevitably struggle to reduce its future GHG emissions." How many CTG plants will China actually build? Now, the big asterisk here is that China might not end up building many more CTG plants beyond the three already operating. The country has dithered over these plants for years, and the economics are brutal. "The market is not on the side of CTG producers, and the projects remain costly," Liu Guangbin, a gas analyst, told Reuters. It's also worth noting that CTG isn't the only option China has to increase gas supplies. The country also has massive reserves of natural gas locked in shale rock across the country, though it's had trouble accessing them. The country originally planned to produce 60-100 bcm of shale gas by 2020. More recently, it has cut that target to just 30 bcm. China's energy companies are still struggling to make use of the same fracking techniques that have worked in the United States. A report last year from Zhongmin Wang of the Paulson Institute examined some of the challenges here. Unlike in the US, oil and gas companies can't just buy up mineral rights from private individuals, so the incentives to drill don't always line up well. Scarce water and the rather unique geology of China's shale have also posed a challenge for drilling projects. The benefits could be considerable, though. As the graph above from Yang and Jackson shows, fracking for shale gas in China would produce far fewer carbon dioxide emissions than either coal mining or those new CTG plants. Yet if fracking develops too slowly (or not at all), and clean sources like nuclear or renewables aren't sufficient to displace coal, then China may turn to CTG. And once those plants are built, they're almost certain to operate for decades. This will be a story to keep an eye on in the years to come. Further reading -- Back in 2014, William Kelly of InsideClimateNews did an excellent piece on China's coal-to-gas projects. That's very much worth reading. -- The real war on coal is happening in China right now Climate change is driven by wealthy countries, felt by poor onesWhat you notice about the SPLC Hate Map is that it's a map, not of crime, but of dissidence, in that they take the threat of leafletting and speeches by, among others VDARE.com editor Peter Brimelow very seriously. The SPLC says, themselves, that "Hate group activities can include criminal acts, marches, rallies, speeches, meetings, leafleting or publishing." The Amren.com Hate Map is different—it documents criminal attacks on Trump supporters, some of which may have been inspired by the SPLC's propaganda. Westley Parker writes at Amren.com We’ve documented nearly 200 attacks on Trump supporters. The Anti-Trump Hate Map is an ongoing project of American Renaissance that displays criminal incidents in which Trump supporters were targeted for political reasons. Each marker on the map shows the location of an anti-Trump hate crime. Clicking on a marker opens a brief overview of the case. Red markers signify violent crimes; blue markers, property crimes; purple markers, “other” crimes. The Anti-Trump Hate Map is an ongoing project of American Renaissance that displays criminal incidents in which Trump supporters were targeted for political reasons. Each marker on the map shows the location of an anti-Trump hate crime. Clicking on a marker opens a brief overview of the case. Red markers signify violent crimes; blue markers, property crimes; purple markers, “other” crimes. You can find additional information about incidents by visiting this page and selecting the “Excel File” tab. By using the blue “Filter” drop-down menu, you can search and sort incidents by such things as location, type of offense, offender and victim race and sex, or in any combination. We have included the contact information for the police department with jurisdiction over each incident, so if you have any information about a case, we urge you to contact the authorities. Please share this map with as many people as possible. If you know of a case we missed, or if you have any comments on the map, please contact Westley Parker at [email protected]. Click here for more information on these attacks. Below is the map itself: Offenses include a lot of assault, property damage, theft, and as in the image at the top of the page, arson: Trump signs torched, torn down on Lower Shore, GOP says, By Henry Culvyhouse, Bannett.com, October 14, 2016. The SPLC's hate map, by contrast, isn't about signs being torn down or set on fire—it's about signs going up. '• Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will meet midfielder to discuss future at weekend • Götze or Müller not joining United in exchange for Di María, says Rummenigge The Bayern Munich chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, has admitted that Bastian Schweinsteiger is “flattered” by the interest from Manchester United and that he will meet the midfielder this weekend to discuss next season. Rummenigge, who was at a press conference to unveil one of the club’s new premium partners on Thursday, was asked whether the Germany international will move to United after all this summer. Bastian Schweinsteiger can choose whether to leave Bayern Munich Read more “I have spoken to Bastian on the phone while we have been on holiday and will speak again now that he is back,” he said. “I cannot deny the fact that I have understood during these conversations that he is flattered by the interest from England.” The 30-year-old World Cup winner has been at Bayern since 1998 and, considering his age, would represent a break from United’s normal transfer policy of signing younger players. However, the United manager, Louis van Gaal, coached the midfielder while at Bayern and is looking to add experience to a squad that appears set to lose a seasoned international in Robin van Persie this summer. Rummenigge denied that Bayern were interested in bringing Ángel Di María to the Allianz Arena as part of a possible deal that would lead Mario Götze or Thomas Müller moving in the opposite direction. “That has never been our thinking and not Manchester’s either.” The CEO added that the club plan to talk to the coach, Pep Guardiola, about extending his contract at some point during the season. “There will be talks at some point. I am not pessimistic that he stays. He is a good fit for us,” he said.I’ve been saying for a long time that you can lead a Republican to facts, but you can’t make him think. Wouldn’t you know it, Scientific research has verified my conclusions. Up until now my opinion on this was formed strictly from personal observation, combined with a multitude of anecdotal evidence. But now Dan Kahan, a Yale Law School Professor, has added to a growing body of evidence, which provides verifiable evidence that leading a person to facts does very little to make them think. Kahan’s paper titled “Motivated Numeracy and Enlightened Self-Government” was published early in September, 2013. The research shows that strong ideological beliefs undermine a person’s ability to interpret data and even perform math problems. The researchers first assessed the subject’s ability to handle the math problems and interpret the data by using material that had no political association. Subjects who were able to correctly interpret the data and solve the math problems when they addressed non-political situations, became unable to do so if the correct solutions and interpretations conflicted with their underlying ideological beliefs. Yes, this phenomena was documented in people with strong beliefs, both on the left or on the right. One large difference between the two parties is the consistency with which facts tend to collide with an underlying worldview (religious or political) outside of the experimental laboratory. Previous studies have confirmed that showing facts to a person who has a misconception not only doesn’t correct the misconception, but actually causes them to become even more committed to their false belief. In a separate study conducted by Dartmouth College Professor Brendan Nylan and Jason Reifler of Georgia State University (2011) the researchers decided to test this idea using three commonly held misconceptions: “where some citizens may be unwilling to acknowledge factual information that contradicts their preexisting beliefs: 1. Whether insurgent attacks in Iraq decreased after the US troop surge 2. Whether
on W.F. Hall to have been sound. Though Klairmont grumbled, says Mosena, he agreed to the major traffic-related concessions that were asked of him. The CUED study was viewed as incomplete because it failed to ask residents whether there were purchases, such as off-price merchandise, that took them out of Cragin and into the suburbs. Generally, the CUED study was well regarded, although it did have other flaws. The store-vacancy rate at hubs like Belmont-Central and Six Corners is nearly nonexistent, and Barry Plaza, near Belmont and Pulaski, says that its failure to book tenants--it is now half full--is primarily because it is being selective. "We are just being careful," says its leasing director, Larry Hearn, who says he recently turned down a 24-hour laundromat because it would draw unseemly patrons. Some city planners were suspicious that the NNF's opposition was partly rooted in a desire to keep Hispanics and blacks from flooding over Cragin's borders from the south to shop. The suspicion seemed more likely given that the NNF championed the plan under which the city would allow a self-taxing fund in certain areas to guarantee the value of homes against depreciation caused by such things as resegregation. "That's just ridiculous bullshit," says Crutchfield. "They always try to pin that kind of attitude on our neighborhood." But even if there were problems with the center, at least it was something. The city saw no realistic industrial buyer. Gates? "There wasn't an offer," says Mosena. "He had been around earlier, but nothing was forthcoming. It's easy to see how you couldn't take him seriously." It's not as if the city isn't willing to block a retail development in favor of an industrial project. In August 1986, the CPC spurned a retail proposal for seven acres at 42nd and Ashland on the planning department's advice; the old Union Stockyards land later became part of an industrial park. Industrial parks and districts still reflect the city's thinking. Officials like Rob Mier, since last July a mayoral aide for development issues, and Dave Mosena look kindly on maintaining or linking together factories of between 10,000 and 40,000 square feet that have good transportation and Loop access. "Our policies are geared toward industrial districts," explains Mosena, "where there is a critical mass of activity, and where there can be a synergy in terms of truck access and sewer needs." The city has made efforts to pass an ordinance protecting industries along Clybourn Avenue; enabling legislation is pending in the council. The city also wants to establish new modest-size industrial parks, such as on the north tip of Goose Island, near the WGN TV studios, and west of Halsted and Madison. "We analyzed [W.F. Hall] down to the wire," says Mosena, "and it was a difficult call. We are not insensitive to the industrial question. It was a close decision for us, a tough decision, and not a happy decision. It doesn't please an administration to go against the wishes of the community, but sometimes we have to make zoning judgments that do that." Wayne Robinson had chaired the CPC for only six months when the Hall matter surfaced. He found it a ticklish call, yet not a close one, and he only voted to defer the question for a month out of respect for his colleagues' doubts. By June, when no industrial buyer had stepped forward, Robinson saw little reason for the neighborhood will to prevail. "Here you've got an industrial facility in the midst of a residential area, with no buyer," he says. "Should we have let the property remain vacant? The traffic quirks had been ironed out. There was no new testimony in June. The issue became less close for me. But it is bad when you lose good jobs in exchange for jobs that pay half. It's difficult to make these decisions, but you have to make them." Commissioner McNeilly, however, feels differently. "My intent," she says of her opposing vote, "was to stop this project from going forward. More planning needed to occur, with the community. I felt the project would be detrimental to the existing retail. The city, I think, needs to move toward a policy that provides incentives for industries to stay." She mentions tax write-downs on the land and federal grants for renovation. Charles Haffner was swayed in favor of the rezoning by the lack of "a viable alternative." Moreover, his knowledge of the printing business convinced him that W.F. Hall was a lemon. At the June meeting, he pressed his views on Leon Despres, who also voted for Klairmont. Today, Despres has had a change of heart. "I wished I had voted the other way," he says. "Now I think retail has to be resisted. If we don't do that, the demand for residential and retail uses will just jack the prices so high a manufacturer can't afford to stay. I now think the city has to take a very strong stand for manufacturing. I should have been with Mrs. McNeilly. W.F. Hall was a watershed for me." Another watershed occurred in November, when the CPC worked out a truly novel arrangement at Fullerton and the Chicago River. There, Centrum Properties only received CPC approval to build a 250,000-square-foot shopping center where two factories had been after it agreed to construct a new factory ten blocks away on Diversey. Moreover, the new factory is to employ scores of minorities recruited through the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training. Voting for the compromise was the newly sensitized Leon Despres. McNeilly was absent for the vote; she was on her honeymoon. John Gates's CRP is now busy renovating an old Combustion Engineering plant in East Chicago, Indiana, which will be rented out to small industrial tenants. Krueger Ringier, its 1986 annual sales having dropped to $215 million from $241 million in 1984, is set to shutter its paperback operation on North Normandy beginning January 15. Jim Lemonides, of the Greater North Pulaski Development Corporation, says his agency will be helping laid-off workers find jobs. Crutchfield is still bitter about the W.F. Hall fight and is particularly angry with the city. "People keep saying that we have to bring business back to the city," he says, "and yet when the city has the opportunity to retain a piece of property in a blue-collar neighborhood, they ignore it; they don't even try. It's business as usual." Bob Gannett is also angry. "The Washington administration supposedly stood for industrial jobs," he says. "It was also a goal to respond to the city neighborhoods, and particularly the white ethnic areas. Now, here was an opportunity to work with a neighborhood to attract industry. The fact that the mayor's people couldn't pull this together and see the benefits, that was really unfortunate." Joyce Mika vows to stay involved in Cragin issues, and she continues to charge that the city's approval on W.F. Hall was greased in a deal that involved Hagopian. However, a number of city planning officials who figured in the case--David Mosena, Rob Mier, Wayne Robinson, Leon Despres, Charles Haffner, and Laurina McNeilly--all deny there was any pressure from Washington or his aides to lean or to vote one way or the other. "Nobody from intergovernmental relations approached me in a way that would link the vote [on council reorganization] to that item," asserts Liz Hollander. "There was no discussion with anybody about it. It was handled within the planning department on its merits." Nevertheless, Mika has taken the campaign against Hagopian a couple steps further. Late last summer, she led a picket of the alderman's ward office. She has also helped circulate an "ethics statement" that calls on Hagopian to sign a statement that he has no financial interest in any company that has profited from the W.F. Hall deal. "Why should I sign it?" barks Hagopian. "If you can prove that, you can send me to the penitentiary. I'm not signing anything from Joyce Mika, Joe Crutchfield, or the Northwest Neighborhood Federation." Hagopian's required aldermanic ethics statement shows that during the year the W.F. Hall rezoning was being weighed, he neither received any money from companies seeking government action nor owned a capital asset that produced more than $5,000 annually. To Klairmont, the dispute over W.F. Hall is an old story: The NNF got the Cragin community hopping mad over the prospect of an industrial buyer for W.F. Hall, when the factory was a commercial loser and the buyer was a chimera. Of Gates, Klairmont says: "If he was so great, why didn't he come forward and make an offer? He was a lot of hot air." Klairmont has been proceeding with his dreams for W.F. Hall. He has been negotiating with potential tenants, particularly Builders Square, a subsidiary of K mart that has 118 off-price home improvement stores nationwide, as the anchor tenant for the shopping center he estimates will cost $22 to $25 million to complete. However, Klairmont admits some "confusion" has resulted with Builders Square. "It's been difficult to work out a price," he says. "But we expect a deal, and we expect to open in the fall of '88. This is a go." Construction is already converting a section of the southern portion of the plant into a mini warehouse and the basement into a garage for storing classic automobiles and recreational vehicles. There have also been meetings with possible light-industry tenants and distributors. Much to Klairmont's irritation, gangs have vandalized the building, pulling out plumbing and smashing windows. Hence, the guard dogs. The presses are gone. Lee Crisp, the power-plant supervisor for W.F. Hall, now oversees the facility for Klairmont; he can often be found patrolling the floors in an electric golf cart. But the long-running dispute between Klairmont and his new neighbors may not be over. In late October, residents of the bungalows on Knox Street, which is immediately to the west of the far south section of W.F. Hall that has been razed, received a notice that a request for rezoning from manufacturing to commercial was being lodged. The name on the bottom of the letter was Edward G. Shenoo. Klairmont now wants to build a Chicago Health Club on the property. Irate neighbors have been besieging Shenoo's office with calls. Since the rezoning request is for a small property, the matter is headed not to the CPC but to the City Council zoning committee.Order 'Blood & Lemonade': Direct-to-fan pre-order: http://smarturl.it/HiFipreorders Download: http://found.ee/AHF-BloodandLemonade Amazon CD & Vinyl: http://found.ee/BloodandLemonadeAmazon AMERICAN HI-FI NEW ALBUM ‘BLOOD & LEMONADE’ SET FOR RELEASE SEPT 9th VIA RUDE RECORDS Platinum selling pop rockers American Hi-Fi are back and shortly after announcing plans to release ‘Blood & Lemonade’, their first album in 5 years, have revealed a brand new video for ’Golden State’. The video is available exclusively on VEVO worldwide today, Check out the video here: http://vevo.ly/6I22Il ‘Golden State’ is the second single to come from the new album which is set for release on September 9th via Rude Records. The video was shot in LA by director Ryan Valdez. Singer Stacy Jones adds: “ We shot the video for Golden State at my studio in Los Angeles. The idea was to shoot the band in the same environment that we made the new record in. We also got some B roll of us cruising in my ’64 Chevy truck that I have been restoring. The palm trees and sunlight tie in the theme of the song. The Golden State, California, a place that can give you new life if you believe in yourself”. Perhaps best known for the hits ‘Flavor Of The Weak’, ‘Another Perfect Day’ and ‘The Art Of Losing’, ‘Blood & Lemonade’ is American Hi-Fi’s fifth full length and their first since 2010’s ‘Fight the Frequency’. The record wholly embraces the sound and spirit of classic, balls-to-the-wall guitar rock mixed with the power pop sensibilities that lead to their worldwide smash “\’Flavor of The Weak’.The co-founder of the online programming hub Stack Overflow shares his thoughts on to forge a career as a successful software engineer. Image: Stack Exchange For new programmers, knowing which languages and skills to learn can be overwhelming. Just to secure a job interview, developers often have to show they are familiar with the long list of languages and associated technical skills demanded by employers. While it can be tempting for new developers to dive straight into learning every skill recruiters ask for, those who want to maximise their chances of a successful career would be better served by first getting to grips with three fundamentals, according to Joel Spolsky. "The three things I would tell people to learn are economics, writing and C programming," said the Stack Overflow (SO) co-founder and globally-recognised expert on software development. Economics "because programmers often don't know that" and consequently don't understand how they add value to the business, he said. Writing, as well as communication in general, because "essentially, the most successful people are the ones who can explain their ideas the best" and who can work well in teams. Finally, the C programming language, in order to provide a technical foundation for the developer's understanding. Coding in C gives programmers a better idea of what the computer is actually doing, in that it is a low-level language whose instructions more closely resemble those being executed by the computer's CPU than those of a high-level language. "A lot of programmers these day will end up learning a higher level language — such as Python, Ruby or Java — and then not even really have a good grasp on anything that is causing that code in the language to execute and therefore not appreciating why things are slow or weird. "The idea is to have a really good comprehension of what happens at the level of abstraction below the level where you work, of what the CPU is actually doing," he said, comparing it to how psychology students are taught the biological basis of behavior. Programmers generally follow two separate career paths, he said, one focused on knowing specific languages and associated skills and the other on understanding of the fundamentals of computer science and acquiring an aptitude for learning new tech rapidly. The top-tier tech companies of the world, firms like Google and Facebook, prize the adaptability that comes with the deeper, non-specific skillset, said Spolsky, due to the speed at which these companies work. "In a year, maybe they'll have you working on something that hasn't even been invented yet." SEE: How to become a developer: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic) Do you need a degree in computer science? For anyone planning a career as a developer, a computer science degree is helpful to open doors, said Spolsky. 'In general a computer science degree will get you into a job or interview that you otherwise might not get into." However, studying computer science at university is by no means a prerequisite, he said, adding "the number of programmers who don't have computer science degrees is enormous". For Spolsky, firms that stipulate a computer science degree are shutting out a swathe of talented programmers. "The ones who don't have the formal training are probably every bit as good as the ones who do. It's more a function of experience. I'd rather hire a welder who had 10,000 hours of experience than one who went to a famous school of welding." What about MooCs? In recent years, a plethora of massive open online courses (MooCs) have been launched. There are MooCs that teach the majority of programming languages and associated skills, with some MooCs offering certification and others work placements for graduates. The quality of MooCs, free and paid for, varies but is it even worth considering signing up for a MooC? Yes, says Spolsky but the danger with MooCs is that you'll never finish — a study found that fewer than 13 percent of those who sign up for a MooC complete the course. "The classes are very good but it's really a question about the individual's motivation to get something out of the class'," he said, adding the individual must really want to learn. "It's the same reason that nobody who vows to learn French ever learns French, but everybody who moves to France learns French." The best MooCs and programming boot camps, says Spolsky, are those which place people in entry level jobs where they can get the experience they need. 'It's really a matter that you need an awful lot of practice programming and the boot camp is just not enough time to get that practice." The need for more experience is also true of a computer science degree graduate, said Spolsky. "It's very rare for somebody who has no programming experience when they arrive at college to do the bare minimum that a computer science degree requires and come out as a programmer'," he said, estimating that to be good enough to get a job programming requires about 5,000 hours of practice. Learning as you go The way that people learn programming has evolved, says Spolsky, with new developers generally learning as they go, thanks to the massive amount of information available online, in particular on the question and answer site Stack Overflow that Spolsky co-created. Whereas programmers once waded through massive instructional texts, creaking under their own weight, 'today you just start coding and when something doesn't work, you go to Google'. "It's amazing to watch somebody who is a young programmer and see them Googling and writing a lot of code and Googling and writing a lot more code," he said. "The code is very dangerous and scary, and I hope no-one puts any of it on the Boeing Dreamliner flight control system, but, that said, it does work for the most part." Stack Exchange, the network that SO is part of, plans to build on SO's community-led model to advance programming knowledge in other areas. One beta project is a Stack Overflow site aimed at providing crowd-sourced, wiki-style documentation, aimed at improving the poor standard of official documentation available for many technologies. Another is called Team Pages, and will let developers share details of the project they're working on and who their colleagues are, whether they're part of an open-source project or within a company. For Spolsky, bringing new people into programming and helping those already working in the field has never been more important than today, a time when every interaction is increasingly mediated by software. "Software is eating the world and it's written by developers. Programmers are writing the script of the future and that's why they're so important." More on software development...Dealing with your sad child can be difficult. He doesn’t always understand the emotions he’s going through. Use these tips to help your child define and go through sadness. We forget we learn about our feelings. Babies aren’t born with the understanding or verbal ability to express emotions. When faced with difficult feelings, children may not always express them as well as we do. And that’s when we end up with tantrums, confusing behavior, or kids who refuse to talk or communicate. MY LATEST VIDEOS 6 tips for dealing a sad child Sadness happens for many reasons. Maybe he feels like he did something wrong, or he’s not spending enough time with you. He got hurt, lost a special item or didn’t get to do what he wants. What can you do to help your sad child? Label the emotion Words are powerful—the simple act of labeling emotions can help your child claim control over his sadness. He may not be able to articulate the weird sensations of feeling his heart clench, or the desire to be by himself rather than doing fun things. To label and say, “It looks like you’re feeling sad,” can help him identify his sadness and reassure him he’s not alone in feeling this way. With labeling his emotions, your child will also understand that his feelings don’t define him. He knows he can feel sad without fearing that he’ll be a sad boy all the time. He also won’t assume he’s a bad person because he doesn’t feel happy right at the moment, and will understand that emotions come and go and don’t last forever. Another benefit of labeling emotions? Doing so tells your child you love him no matter what emotions he happens to feel. That you’ll never withhold your love and affection because he isn’t his usual chipper self, or that he has to be happy just to get your attention. Don’t dismiss your child’s sadness My son and I were walking home from school when he accidentally dropped a leaf as we were crossing the street. “We’ll get more,” I said. I was about to add, “It’s just a leaf,” when I realized that would dismiss his feelings. We don’t dismiss major losses like death, divorce, or a fight with a friend. It’s easy to think a broken toy or a forgotten leaf can cause sadness too, but it can. What seems silly to us can feel like genuine sadness to our kids. Brushing aside your child’s sadness makes him feel unimportant, as if they aren’t as valid as someone else’s. Instead, acknowledge his sadness without judging it as petty or insignificant. Admit that the feeling exists, even if it’s over a dropped leaf. And listen without judging. This helps build the kind of relationship with your child where he can tell you “petty” things like a fallen leaf without feeling like you’ll brush it aside. In fact, thank him for telling you how he feels, so he knows you support him no matter what. Read more about why we shouldn’t dismiss children’s emotions. Explain that sadness is normal Your child may think he’s the only one who feels sadness and may be anxious about it. Instead, explain that everyone—including you—feels sad for many reasons. The more you explain how common sadness is, the less he’ll feel isolated and alone. Yes, it’s a difficult emotion, but one we all feel. Give an example of when you felt sad. You might share a recent disappointment you had, or even one you felt when you were a child like him. Not only will he know that everyone feels sad, but they do so throughout their lives. It may seem dire, but it can reassure him that his feelings are normal. Just as you and others cope with it, so too can he. Remind your child that sadness will pass When we feel sad, it can seem like it’ll never end. Think back to a heartbreak or loss, or even the newborn months when there didn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The heightened physical sensations don’t help either, from a clenched stomach to tense muscles. But, as all emotions do, sadness will pass. Remind your child that sadness doesn’t last forever—that he’ll feel happy again. Think of emotions as seasons, and as all seasons do, they come and go, whether happy or difficult. Don’t rush him out of his feelings One of the biggest parenting mistakes we make dealing with a sad child is trying to rush our kids out of their feelings. Understandably so—we don’t want our kids to feel down, and sometimes, witnessing their difficult emotions is hard for us as well. It’s much easier to spend time with our kids when they’re happy than when they feel sad. But rushing him out of his feelings actually delays or suppresses the emotions that need to pass. Yes, there are ways to ease the feelings along, but trying to get it out of the way only makes it linger and doesn’t address the initial problem. As tempting as it is to distract, coerce or even threaten your child away his sadness, don’t. Give him space to sort and experience his feelings. As difficult as it is to feel sad, it’s these moments that can teach your child so much, so long as you give him the opportunity to learn from them. Offer ways to ease out of sadness While you don’t want to rush him out of his feelings, you can provide different ways for him not to feel sad anymore. Give him a warm hug and soothe him through kisses and reassuring words. Listen without judging, and avoid belittling the things he’s crying about. Instead of saying “It’s just a leaf, we can always get another one,” simply say, “You feel sad you lost that leaf, don’t you? You really grew fond of it and don’t like that it’s gone.” Then, once he’s ready, suggest different ways he can cope with sadness, such as asking him if he wants to talk about it, taking a walk to find another leaf, or playing his favorite game together. And encourage him to find simple pleasures in other ways, such as talking about how delicious his snack is, or that you’ll be going to the park later in the day. While these aren’t meant to erase or dismiss his sadness, simple pleasures can also remind him of other sources of joy in his life. Learn why you shouldn’t tell your child to stop crying. Conclusion It’s easy for us to dismiss our children’s sadness as silly, or we tell them to snap out of it, to feel happy as soon as possible. Sadness doesn’t work that way, though. Honor their emotions and allow them to learn about feeling sad. Feeling sad is normal for everyone, after all, including our kids. Get more tips about dealing with your child’s emotions: Tell me in the comments: What are your best tips to deal with a sad child?Actress Natalie Portman did not speak at the Democratic National Convention last night, even though she was rumored to attend. The famous Oscar winning actress, however, did appear at a “Women for Obama” event in Las Vegas last week for President Obama with his close aide, Valerie Jarrett. A YouTube video from the event shows Portman encouraging the women at the event to talk to their friends and share their stories with others reminding them that Nevada was “so so important.” “Talk to everyone you know, tell your story, that’s how we can become positive,” Portman said. “Luckily we have a president who has so many positives that we can create this win by saying the great things he has done, not talking trash.” Portman was particularly adamant about defending the “right to choose,” explaining her perspective as a mother. “As a new mother – as all of you as mothers, its hard to hear, you know, the word ‘right to life.’ I think as our opponent because we all cherish life, we all love the miracle, the absolute wonder of what our bodies can do and what we are able to create, and we are lucky enough to be able to create as women.” Portman said. “But we also know that losing our right to choose means that we put our sisters in jeopardy,” she warned. “It doesn’t end abortion, it just ends freedom to abortion and safe abortion.” Portman also highlighted the rest of the President’s accomplishments, reminding the women that he had done enough to deserve re-election. “I kept seeing his accomplishments and I wondered, ‘What more does he have to do to deserve four more years?” she said. Citing the Dayenu prayer at Passover, Portman reminded the audience how many good things Obama had done. “I’m Jewish and we have a prayer and Passover where we say, where you always say “If God only gave us this, it would have been enough. The word is ‘Dayenu,’ and I feel like the same thing. Portman added. “It’s enough! He’s done enough! He deserves it.”(Recent Entries) (Archive) (Friends) (Profile) (Crisper Than Thou) 04:39 pm - Designated Driver "Five G&T's," I tell the bartender. "And a coke." "Whoa, buddy, you gonna be okay to leave?" he says, looking me up and down. I'm not big, I know. "They're not for me," I reassure him. "I'm the designated driver." As he starts mixing, Jake comes in. Looking around the bar, his eyes land on me and there's a sudden flicker of recognition, followed by the halfway wave one gives to a familiar acquaintance whose name you suddenly realize you don't remember. But it's too late; we've seen each other, so he has to come over. "Hey… there…" he explores his way into the conversation. "How's it going?" "Hey, there, Jake," I say, to establish that I remembered his name. Kind of a dick move, I know, but I take satisfaction where I can. I let it hang there a while before finally saying, "Andrew. From the lab." "Andrew!" he suddenly says with relief. "The lab…! Wow, was it that long ago?" I nod. "I almost forgot this place existed but I was just in the neighborhood… Haven't been here since those days, now that I think about it. Not since…" His face scrunches, suddenly trying to grab the memory. I say nothing, not yet - waiting for the others - and the silence lands on us like a brick. Fortunately, it ends as quickly as it began as Eddie comes in. "Whoa!" he shouts as he comes over to us, struggling to remember who we are the whole way. We repeat the re-introductions and marvel at what a coincidence it is that all three of us happened to just drop into the old hole-in-the-wall on the same day. The coincidence gets eerier, of course, as Donald, then Jason, and finally Mick decide to drop in as well. Six of us, all from the old lab days, all suddenly get an urge on the same day to drop into the corner watering hole that we haven't been to in years and years? The bartender sets the last of the G&Ts down behind me, plus the cola. I hand one to each of them, keeping the soda for myself. I raise my glass. "To Harvir!" I shout. The others raise almost reflexively, then suddenly there is confusion. "Who?" "Harvir?" "What?" "What's going on?" Jason asks, a little belligerently. Mick is eyeing his G&T, the faintest hint of memory starting to tickle at him, I think. "Harvir worked at the lab, too, didn't he?" I nod. "He did. Had a PhD in synaptic response time." Donald's brow furrows. "Oh… yeah, the Arab guy?" "No," I say calmly. "Harvir wasn't an Arab. He was Sikh. It's just that we all thought he was an Arab when…" I don't have to finish the sentence. That September morning suddenly starts to trickle back. Mick is still starting into his glass. "What did we do to…" But he doesn't have to finish his sentence either. Growing horror is showing on all their faces. "How did I forget about…" Jake starts, then chokes. "How did I forget that we…" "It was more accident than intent," I tell them, "but it didn't change the fact that afterwards we buried the evidence in every way possible." I reach into my pocket and draw out the small glass bottle with five gelcaps in it. As soon as they see them, that part comes back, too. The lab did a lot of work in memory recovery, but along the way we learned a thing or two about memory suppression as well. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of a safe dosage doesn't last. And so it is that every September 12th, subconsciously prompted by the memory of the date, my former teammates find themselves suddenly needing to drop back into the old haunt, the old familiar dive where we hatched about a million good laughs and exactly one terrible criminal conspiracy. Fortunately, I'm there with a bump for each of them every time. Once they're all set, I raise my own, untainted glass again. "To Harvir," I repeat, and they repeat, and then they drink. "You'd better get going," I tell them all with a dismissive wave. "You need to be home, or somewhere safe at least, when it kicks in a couple of hours from now. You're going to think tomorrow's hangover is from all the drinking you don't remember doing." Eddie looks at his empty glass. "Nine years. Don't you ever want to switch out, Andrew? Let one of us remember for next year, while you get to forget?" I shrug. "I know the formula best. Still have connections in the lab. No two ways around it; I'm the best choice." I start herding them actively to the door. It's like this every year - gotta physically push them out onto the sidewalk. One by one, they start trickling away, each one unable to resist one last look back at me, knowing that tomorrow they'll have once again forgotten that we used to be best buddies. "Don't look so glum," I shout after them. "See you next year!" ------ For consideration: inspired by http://dailyfiction.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/wake/In December, Julie Burchill had lunch with Jess Phillips MP, and decided in an article for Spectator Life that the gobby Brummie had the balls to drag the Labour party back from Korbyn’s Keystone Kommunism. It now seems that Phillips agrees. Speaking on Newsnight last night, she admitted – over a pint – that she was indeed interested in the role: ‘Yes, absolutely I would consider doing it, a long time in the future. It’s not something I’m planning on doing any time soon but it’s absolutely something I would do in the future, yes.’ Given what a tedious omnishambles Corbyn’s reshuffle is turning out to be, and given that Phillips has called for a reversal of Corbyn’s ‘non-violent misogyny’, that time could well come sooner than expected.Hydrothermal activity on Enceladus Hot water activity on icy moon’s seafloor Tiny grains of rock detected by the international Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn point to hydrothermal activity on the seafloor of its icy moon Enceladus. The finding adds to the tantalising possibility that the moon could contain environments suitable for living organisms. Understanding the interior structure of 500 km-diameter Enceladus has been a top priority of the Cassini mission since plumes of ice and water vapour were discovered jetting from fractures at the moon’s south pole in 2005. Ice particles in the plumes were found to be rich in sodium salt, implying that the water has been in contact with rock, and subsequent measurements of the moon’s gravitational field revealed a 10 km deep subsurface ocean at the south pole, below a 30–40 km thick ice crust. Now, following an extensive, four-year study of data from the spacecraft, combined with computer simulations and laboratory experiments, scientists have been able to gain deeper insights into the chemical reactions taking place on the floor at the base of Enceladus’s ocean. Enceladus plumes Using Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyser, scientists have discovered a population of tiny dust grains, just 2–8 nm in radius, in orbit around Saturn. They are rich in silicon, marking them out from the water-ice particles that dominate in the planet’s environment, including in its famous ring system. They believe that these silicon-rich grains originate on the seafloor of Enceladus, where hydrothermal processes are at work. On the seafloor, hot water at a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius dissolves minerals from the moon’s rocky interior. The origin of this energy is not well understood, but likely includes a combination of tidal heating as Enceladus orbits Saturn, radioactive decay in the core and chemical reactions. As the hot water travels upward, it comes into contact with cooler water, causing the minerals to condense out and form nano-grains of ‘silica’ floating in the water. To avoid growing too large, these silica grains must spend a few months to several years at most rising from the seafloor to the surface of the ocean, before being incorporated into larger ice grains in the vents that connect the ocean to the surface of Enceladus. After being ejected into space via the moon’s geysers, the ice grains erode, liberating the tiny rocky inclusions subsequently detected by Cassini. “It’s very exciting that we can use these tiny grains of rock, spewed into space by geysers, to tell us about conditions on – and beneath – the ocean floor of an icy moon,” says Sean Hsu, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado at Boulder and lead author on the paper published today in the journal Nature. On Earth, grains of silica are found in sand and the mineral quartz. The most common way to form small silica grains is through hydrothermal activity involving a specific range of conditions. In particular, such grains form when slightly alkaline water with modest salt content and super-saturated with silica undergoes a big drop in temperature. “We methodically searched for alternative explanations for the nanosilica grains, but every new result pointed to a single, most likely origin,” says Frank Postberg, a Cassini Cosmic Dust Analyser scientist at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and a co-author on the paper. Hsu and Postberg worked closely with colleagues at the University of Tokyo who performed the detailed laboratory experiments that validated the hydrothermal activity hypothesis. Furthermore, Cassini’s gravity measurements suggest that the rocky core of Enceladus is quite porous, which would allow water from the ocean to percolate into the interior. This would provide a huge surface area where rock and water could interact. “In fact, it’s possible much of this interesting hot-water chemistry occurs deep inside the moon’s core, not just at the seafloor,” says Hsu. In another paper, published in Geophysical Research Letters last month, Cassini scientists also reported on the abundance of methane spewing into the atmosphere of Enceladus. The methane could also be produced by hydrothermal processes at the rock-water boundary at the bottom of Enceladus’s ocean, and/or by the melting of a type of methane-rich ice, before subsequently percolating to the surface. “This moon has all the ingredients – water, heat, and minerals – to support habitability in the outer Solar System, confirming the astrobiological potential of Enceladus,” adds Nicolas Altobelli, ESA’s Cassini project scientist. “Enceladus may even represent a very common habitat in the Galaxy: icy moons around giant gas planets, located well beyond the ‘habitable zone’ of a star, but still able to maintain liquid water below their icy surface.” Notes for Editors “Ongoing hydrothermal activities within Enceladus,” by H-W. Hsu et al., is
an app that tells you if a rogue mole is actually a cancerous melanoma. These trigger a formal FDA approval process (which involves clinical trials). The second bucket contains wellness apps—products that help you track your sleep, what you’re eating, how many steps you’re getting, and what your moods are like. These are at the other end of the regulatory spectrum and require no federal clearance. The third bucket contains everything in between. These are apps that could meet the definition of a medical device, but because they don't actively market themselves as lifesaving, fall outside the (short-staffed, budget-strapped) FDA's attention span. The FDA's position is based on a simple risk-cost analysis; an app that isn't going to kill someone isn't worth enforcing. Bradley Merrill Thompson, a partner at Epstein Becker Green, who specializes in regulatory law for digital health, says it's a reasonable strategy. Mostly. "The marketplace does quite well policing itself when the financial and public health risks are low," he says. "Consumers will shut down any business where the truth is easily discoverable, but they're never going to conduct clinical trials to figure out if something works." Which would be great—for app makers—if the FDA were the only federal agency involved in this. But medical apps suggesting some sort of outcome could also trigger unwanted attention from the Federal Trade Commission—which protects consumers from fraud. Does this thing do what it says it does? Over the last five years the FTC investigated, fined, and barred a handful of mobile app companies from making unsubstantiated medical claims that their products could do things like Read blood pressure! Pick out cancerous moles! "Turn back the clock" on your eyesight! So many developers got in trouble that last April the FTC released a set of best practices to help other developers avoid similar predicaments. Suggestions include minimizing data collection and investing in multifactor authentication. It also partnered with the FDA and two other Health and Human Services offices to create an interactive developer tool to help companies comply with all the different laws on the books. But since then, the FTC has backed off. This February, the agency's director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection stepped down. Jessica Rich was adamant about pursuing health-app fraud. (She once testified in front of Congress, saying: "If consumer health data is used for unanticipated, harmful purposes, consumers could lose confidence in the health IT sector. As the nation's foremost protection agency, the FTC is committed to protecting health information collected by these entities.") It's unclear whether the 26-year agency veteran left voluntarily or was forced out. Regardless, her departure means the agency is reexamining its aggressive stance on consumer privacy, including in mobile health. Which is what makes the New York case significant. Every state has its own rules regulating how apps collect user information, and getting onto iTunes or Google Play means having to be compliant with all of them. These laws become more relevant as the new administration rolls back the regulatory efforts of all federal agencies while Congress slashes online privacy protections for private citizens. So the battle for mobile health data looks like it will be fought increasingly in state courts, particularly in places with stricter laws, like New York and California. The key word here is increasingly. Because the one thing that's for certain, smartphones aren't going anywhere.C-51 In Court: Canadians Fight For Their Privacy Rights In the summer of 2015, both the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) brought a Charter challenge against Bill C-51, the new anti-terrorism law, on the grounds that it violated numerous sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Not only were these two groups upset with this law, but hundreds of thousands of Canadians protested on numerous occasions in the streets against it, many voiced their concerns in blogs and news columns for months. From law professors and former security personnel, to famous authors and previous leaders of Canada, there were many people from all different political views and economic backgrounds who stood against C-51 and saw it to be unjust. The Conservatives, with the help of the Liberals, managed to go ahead and push it through anyways; in the face of overwhelming scrutiny, criticism, and opposition. Although the Liberals helped the Conservatives to push through this highly controversial piece of legislation, they have since made the promise that they would seek to address or amend certain portions of the law. Many Canadians remain hopeful that the new Liberal government will take an honest look at this highly controversial law and seek to scrap or amend it, in a way which upholds and protects the Charter rights of Canadian citizens. Regardless if the Liberal government follows through on that promise or not, a legal challenge has already been launched against C-51 in the courts. Just this week, the CJFE delivered an important visual message to Canadian citizens when they arranged to meet outside of the National Press Building across from Parliament Hill on January 27 of this year. They decided to project an image on the side of the building in order to promote their campaign for dialogue on why privacy matters. Deemed the #MyPrivacy campaign, this was their important public message to the government: Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have continued to demonstrate that they are intent on standing-up for their Charter rights, and demanding that their representatives respect their duty to protect the rights of the citizens who they are in office to represent. Many Liberal supporters are looking to the new leader Justin Trudeau to uphold his promise and attempt to undo the mess that was made when they previously managed to push this onto the Canadian people, in the face of overwhelming opposition. Follow Dan Dicks: Facebook Twitter Dan Dicks Twitter Dan Dicks Instagram Subscribe: Youtube Press For Truth TV If you do not use PayPal or credit cards you can still donate! We accept checks, money orders, cash and equipment. With good old fashion mail you can send Dan stuff to: Mail to Dan Dicks: 505-8840 210th Street Langley BC, V1M 2Y2 CanadaThe lone survivor of one of the two Sandy Hook Elementary School first-grade classrooms where Adam Lanza allegedly shot and killed 20 children tricked the gunman by playing dead, the girl's pastor said. "She ran out of the school building covered from head to toe with blood and the first thing she said to her mom was, 'Mommy, I'm OK but all my friends are dead,'" Pastor Jim Solomon told ABC News' Lara Spencer this weekend. CLICK HERE for full coverage of the tragedy at the elementary school. "Somehow, in that moment, by God's grace, [she] was able to act as she was already deceased," he said. The girl, a 6-year-old whose name is not being released for privacy reasons, was the first student to emerge from the lockdown at Sandy Hook, Solomon said. He said the young girl described the shooter to her mom in a way that only a young child can. "Well, she saw someone who she felt was angry and someone she felt was very mad," Solomon said. "I think it's impossible outside of divine intervention. She has wisdom beyond her years, for sure." PHOTOS: A Community in Mourning Of the 20 children killed Friday in the Newtown, Conn., school, eight were boys and 12 were girls. Six staff members, all female, were also killed. "The mom told me - and I thought this was very insightful - that she was suffering from what she felt was survivor's guilt because so many of her friends no longer have their children but she has hers," Solomon said. "I think as well as you can expect them to," he said of how the girl's mother and father are handling the trauma. "I don't know that I would have the type of faith that they have if the same thing happened to me." CLICK HERE to read about the 'hero teacher,' the principal and 20 children who lost their lives.The Steam Box drama is now reaching soap-opera-esque levels. First, Xi3 announced that it’s partnered with Valve to birth a bouncing baby space grapefruit, then Valve noted that plenty of other prototypes are waiting in the wings, and now Gabe Newell’s emerged from the shadows to chat up Valve’s own Linux-powered, biometrically-controlled Steam Box. What’s next, I ask you? Will we discover that Half-Life 2: Episode 3 never died, but instead got shipwrecked on an island/overwrought metaphor/the moon, conveniently acquired amnesia, and came to believe that it, too, was a Steam Box? Or is some contrived, out-of-left-field twist going to reveal that our closest friends were Steam Boxes all along? It’s just too much, everyone. I’m not sure if I can deal with it. Speaking (yes, Gabe still does that occasionally) with The Verge, the Valve head honcho held very little back in discussing his company’s work on its own in-house Steam Box. The big (though not exactly unexpected) bullet points? A Linux-based backend and a custom controller that’ll probably incorporate biometric feedback. You know, like from your heart and eyes and epiglottis and whatnot. Newell explained: “We’ll come out with our own and we’ll sell it to consumers by ourselves. That’ll be a Linux box, [and] if you want to install Windows you can. We’re not going to make it hard. This is not some locked box by any stretch of the imagination. We also think that a controller that has higher precision and lower latency is another interesting thing to have.” “I think you’ll see controllers coming from us that use a lot of biometric data. Maybe the motion stuff is just failure of imagination on our part, but we’re a lot more excited about biometrics as an input method. Your hands, and your wrist muscles, and your fingers are actually your highest bandwidth – so to try and talk to a game with your arms is essentially saying ‘oh we’re gonna stop using ethernet and go back to 300 baud dial-up.’ …Biometrics on the other hand is essentially adding more communication bandwidth between the game and the person playing it, especially in ways the player isn’t necessarily conscious of. Biometrics gives us more visibility. Also, gaze tracking. we think gaze tracking is gonna turn out to be super important.” And that’s just the beginning. Newell also discussed the possibility of opening up Steam’s store and letting all users set up shop as they please, Valve’s forays into mobile hardware (specifically, control setups that push us beyond the “anti-game” touch screen era), and – of course – how much he despises Windows 8. So then, living room PC gaming, biometrics, open platforms, and user-generated content. It’s pretty typical Valve rhetoric, but it’s nice to finally hear Gabe open up about how exactly it’ll all be applied. There’s still no telling where exactly the PC overlord’s roadmap of the future will take us, but I can’t really argue with the intentions behind it. As ever, though, I’m hoping for less telling and more showing. Talk, after all, is cheap. And let’s be honest: Valve’s ideas are wonderful more often than not, but execution’s sometimes another story. So I’m gonna take the watch and wait approach with this stuff for now, and – in the meantime – keep as tight of hand as humanly possible on the keys to my entertainment destiny.The second Clinton-Sanders meeting this March aired on both Univision and CNN. Just a few days after airing their last meeting, CNN simulcast Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders' latest Democratic debate with Univision — and, in the aftermath of the surprise Sanders win in Michigan and the prime Wednesday time slot, the audience was slightly improved. Across both networks, the debate averaged 5.95 million viewers. The breakdown gives CNN two-thirds of that audience with nearly 4 million viewers. And while it outperformed the March 6 event, it was not as high as the last Dem simulcast in February. With the debate, and Anderson Cooper's 8 p.m. interview with Donald Trump, CNN won cable news' primetime race with an average 3.2 million viewers and 1.1 million adults 25-54 between 8 and 10 p.m. ET. Two more debates are currently scheduled for both parties, with the penultimate GOP debate airing Thursday night on CNN. Clinton and Sanders, locked in an increasingly close battle for the Democratic nomination, are next set to square off in April. See below for the increasingly long rundown of debate audiences to date. RNC Aug. 6 — 24 million (FNC) Sept. 16 — 23 million (CNN) Oct. 28 — 14 million (CNBC) Nov. 10 — 13.5 million (FBN) Dec. 15 — 18.2 million (CNN) Jan. 14 — 11.1 million (FBN) Jan. 28 — 12.5 million (FNC) Feb. 6 — 13.2 million (ABC) Feb. 13 — 13.5 million (CBS) Feb. 25 — 14.5 million (CNN/Telemundo) March 3 — 16.9 million (FNC) DNC Oct. 13 — 15.8 million (CNN) Nov. 14 — 8.6 million (CBS) Dec. 19 — 8.0 million (ABC) Jan. 17 — 10.2 million (NBC) Feb. 4 — 4.5 million (MSNBC) Feb. 11 — 8.0 million (PBS/CNN) March 6 — 5.5 million (CNN) March 9 — 5.9 million (CNN)Heather Ann ThompsonANN ARBOR—A book by Heather Ann Thompson, professor and historian at the University of Michigan, has won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in history. Thompson is the author of “Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy” (Pantheon, 2016). She is a professor in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies and the Residential College. She also is a research affiliate in the Population Studies Center in the Institute for Social Research. Winners were announced today. Thompson won in the category of Letters, Drama & Music “for a narrative history that sets high standards for scholarly judgment and tenacity of inquiry in seeking the truth about the 1971 Attica prison riots.” “Dr. Heather Ann Thompson’s Pulitzer Prize in history is an outstanding example of our faculty’s talent and commitment to academic rigor being recognized at the highest levels,” said U-M President Mark Schlissel. “I am proud to congratulate her on this amazing achievement.” Thompson spent more than a decade researching the 1971 prison uprising in upstate New York in which armed troopers and corrections officers killed 39 men – hostages as well as prisoners – and severely wounded more than 100 others during a four-day showdown inside Attica. But the uprising comprises just one part of the book; Thompson focuses on the 45 years since. She delivers a detailed account of one of the most longstanding and horrific cover-ups in American history, and chronicles the victims’ decades-long quest for justice. “The real villains in this story are neither the inmates nor the guards of Attica,” Thompson said, “but the officials outside the system who had the knowledge and power to enact reform, but chose to do nothing.” Thompson said she was honored to receive the Pulitzer. “It took me 13 years to finally recover the long-denied and hidden story of all that happened at Attica, and to shine light on what life is really like in places like Attica even today,” Thompson said. “I am so incredibly, incredibly honored and humbled by this news of the Puliizer. ‘Blood in the Water’ chronicles the history of those many men, prisoners and hostages alike, at Attica who suffered so much trauma for daring to speak up, and I am so incredibly and deeply grateful that their story is being honored in this way.”Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please support us! Alright ladies, listen up! If you’re an athlete, a gym rat, or just a bonafide yogi, chances are you need a little extra get-up-and-go to support your active lifestyle and rockin’ body, right? Anyone serious about their health and performance knows the importance of nutrition for overall excellence. You can pump weights, run 10 miles, and do yoga until your joints become as flexible as rubberbands but without proper nutrition, you’ll only get so far. Myths About Athletic Performance and Nutrition We were once told that skinless chicken breasts, brown rice, and broccoli or egg whites with non-fat yogurt were “clean” athletic foods that could support a lean body. Meals of canned tuna and diced celery with lettuce are still eaten in suffering by many athletes and dieters thinking those foods are the best option. Well, that’s not entirely wrong. The brown rice, broccoli, celery, and lettuce are all pretty good for you, stellar even. But the other foods? Not so much. Advertisement Why Plant-Based Nutrition Improves Health and Performance Animal-based foods contain very inflammatory sources of fats and proteins. When you think about it, at the heart of our food lies what we end up becoming. Food is just language to our bodies’ cells. Cells are pathways of communication that control everything from our metabolism to our brain function. They do it all. What are we telling them to become? Athletes or active individuals need high-quality sources of nutrition, not inflammatory-promoting foods or foods with cholesterol, toxins, and contaminants from animals. Because these foods are so highly processed, we can never really be sure what happens behind the scenes of their production, no matter what marketing hypes may tell us or what sports performance magazines may promote. Ignore the advertisements for whey protein and Greek yogurt and go plant-based for performance instead. These foods provide raw, living nutrients your cells easily recognize and can process into energy, along with care for your muscles, heart, and overall body. The Plant-Power Female Athlete’s Needs Women need specific amounts of carbs, fats, and protein to thrive, nutritionally speaking. These macro-nutrients should come from clean, plant-based foods and should be eaten at each meal. This balance will provide the body with fuel for performance and speed up recovery, muscle growth, and repair. It will also prevent any nutritional shortages that can hinder performance. Ladies, don’t diet. Reducing calories to lower levels than your body needs won’t only shortchange your active lifestyle but also your long-term health. Let’s ditch the dieting and wasting your money on pricey yogurts and whey-based protein shakes. If you’re looking to include more plant-based meals in your diet, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App, a food app available for both Android and iPhone where you can search by ingredient and develop your own meal plan. Advertisement Advertisement Follow this satisfying, healthy whole food meal plan for female vegan athletes instead: The Female Vegan Athlete’s Plate: Three Macronutrient Ratios Choices: (Choose One Depending on Your Nutritional Preferences) (A) 30% Protein, 50% Carbs, and 20% Fats (B) 40% Protein, 50% Carbs, and 10% Fats or (C) 40% Protein, 40% Carbs, and 20% Fats Upon Rising: Water with lemon juice (decreases morning inflammation and increases energy) or a green juice made with kale, lemon, ginger, green apple, and cucumber (also decreases inflammation and provides vitamins and minerals) Advertisement Breakfast Choices (pre or post-workout): A bowl of steel cut or rolled oats (1/3-1/2 cup) mixed with 1/2-1 cup of unsweetened non-dairy milk and water, with 1/2 sliced banana or 1/2 a sliced apple, 1-2 tbsp. chia seeds and/or 1 tbsp. ground flax seeds, berries of choice, and stevia if needed A green smoothie with spinach or kale, acai berry puree, cranberries, blueberries and/or banana, a whole foods vegan protein powder, unsweetened non-dairy milk, and coconut yogurt or raw almond butter Chia pudding topped with fruit of choice and sliced almonds Steamed quinoa with 1/4 avocado sliced, 3 ounces grilled or sautéed savory tofu or tempeh, kale, and matchstick carrots Quinoa or wild rice cooked with unsweetened non-dairy milk, berries, and ground flax; add some almonds for more protein and fats if desired A baked sweet potato with salsa, kale, and tahini; one cup of plain soy yogurt with chia seeds on the side for protein Tahini spread over sprouted grain cinnamon raisin bread with an apple or orange on the side Coffee or chai, green, or herbal tea (nix the sugar and use stevia and non-dairy milk instead of cream) Morning Snack Ideas (if needed) 15-20 raw almonds with celery, red bell peppers, and raw carrots An orange or apple with 1/4 cup raw cashews 1/3 cup raw superfood trail mix made with raw almonds, coconut flakes, mulberries or goji berries, Brazil nuts, and walnuts A soy, coconut, or almond milk-based yogurt (choose unsweetened) with some flax and berries A green juice Lunch Ideas: 1 large salad with romaine, shredded kale, matchstick carrots, 2-3 tbsp. hummus, sliced red bell peppers, roasted sweet potato or roasted squash cubes, 1/4 cup each of edamame, lentils or black beans, 1/4 cup cubed avocado and a lemon/mustard/tahini based dressing 1 large salad with kale, romaine, arugula, or spring greens with cucumber, raw olives or avocado (1/4 cup), carrots, peppers, celery, chickpeas, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, dried raisins or strawberries, and a vinaigrette dressing Seared tofu with roasted butternut squash, steamed kale or spinach, and fresh sliced tomatoes Chickpea Salad Sandwich Deluxe with an orange or apple on the side a sandwich made from sprouted grain bread, raw almond butter, fresh sliced strawberries or bananas, and a container of soy yogurt (unsweetened) on the side with cinnamon and chia or flax seeds A bowl of oatmeal or steamed quinoa (see breakfast recipe suggestions) A bowl of vegan chili topped with avocado slices A simple bowl of lentils, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and kale A simple bowl of brown or wild rice, broccoli, butternut squash, and tempeh A black bean wrap with tomatoes, corn, avocado and other veggies of choice Water to drink ( hydration is key for athletes) Afternoon Snack Ideas (if necessary, especially if workouts are in the afternoon): Advertisement Dinner Ideas (emphasize protein at dinner for overnight recovery): Any of the lunch ideas above or : Advertisement Nighttime Snacks (only if hungry, at least two hours before bed) berries with non-dairy yogurt chia pudding made with chia, non-dairy milk, stevia, cinnamon, and coconut flour to thicken a square of 80% or higher cacao content dark chocolate with an orange an apple with raw almond butter pumpkin protein yogurt made with vanilla vegan protein powder, canned pumpkin, stevia, pumpkin pie spice, and non-dairy milk 1/3 cup homemade vegan granola with unsweetened non-dairy milk to eat like a cereal healthy oatmeal cookies (2) glass of water before bed or a small glass of non-dairy unsweetened milk for extra calcium The Last Little Dish for Plant-Based Ladies: As you can see, female vegan athletes get to eat a variety of healthy, plant-based dishes of their choosing all day long- not suffer in silence through dieting or deprivation of energizing carbs or fats. Be sure to include all three fats, carbs, and protein at each of your meals and find what ratio of carbs to fats to proteins work for you. Here’s how to tell if you’re getting enough protein, why healthy fats are important for athletes, and what carbs will serve you best. If you’re a female vegan athlete, feel free to share what you eat each day for optimal energy, performance, and recovery! Advertisement We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. Check it out! Image Source: Jennifer/FlickrPope Francis has said priests must get out of the sacristy and meet the people where they are, but even he might have been surprised by the lengths the Church in Scotland has gone to bring the Gospel to the streets – by putting the “Mass” in “mass transit.” Bishop John Keenan of Paisley spent July 31 – August 5 on the Mercy Bus, a double-decker bus traveling to a different town each day, stopping at shopping centers and other areas where crowds congregate. The priests on the bus offered people a chance to go to confession, or just chat. “This is a fantastic initiative and a wonderful example of evangelization, which takes the church out into the world,” Keenan said, adding he hoped it would be the first of many similar initiatives which “offer people a route back to a relationship with God.” Keenan was joined by priests from the dioceses of Paisley, Motherwell, and Glasgow during the week-long mission, which visited Paisley, Coatbridge, Greenock, Barrhead, and Glasgow. “We have the bus here…just packing it in town squares, town centers, besides the [supermarkets]: Places where people go in their everyday lives,” Keenan said on board the bus. “It’s been a joyful sign.” The bishop said many people took the opportunity to go to confession, and for several of them it had been 10, 15, or even 20 years since they had last been to the sacrament. “It’s been an utterly joyful experience: Us getting out, being with the people, and giving them a taste of God’s mercy.” On Saturday, August 5, Keenan concluded the initiative by celebrating Mass on the bus. “Today, so many people are angry and upset, often because they’ve made the wrong choices and want to change,” said Helen Border, a member of the Friends of Divine Mercy Scotland, and the organizer of the event. She said she was inspired by the pope’s call to go out to the people and take the Church to them, saying they were doing it with a “church on wheels.” Father Joe Burke, one of the priests involved in the mission, said many people just wanted to come on board the bus to talk. “Some people had questions about some of the Church’s teachings and things like that which we were more than happy to engage with them and explain the teachings and things, so it’s been a very productive and worthwhile experience,” Burke told Sancta Familia Media. Border said during the week, over 200 people came onto the bus, and volunteers distributed over a thousand miraculous medals and divine mercy chaplets. She said those visiting the mobile chapel came from all walks of life, and included those with faith, and those without – but they all shared one thing in common. “The majority of people love God, and want His mercy, and that has really revived our faith, and made us feel so humble,” Border said.President Donald Trump is expected to sign a measure that would roll back consumer protections on the privacy of their data, but Democrats are making a last-ditch appeal to urge him to veto the legislation. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) launched a petition on Whitehouse.gov on Wednesday, a day after the House passed a resolution, in a 215-205 vote, that restricts the FCC from imposing the new privacy restrictions. The Senate passed the resolution last week. “This bill has been rushed through both the House and Senate at breakneck speed with one clear goal — to get it signed into law before the American people know about it,” Doyle said in a statement. Last year, under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler, the FCC passed new privacy rules that required internet providers to obtain subscribers’ consent before sharing data on such activity as browsing history and app usage. Broadband providers opposed the rules, arguing that they were under a more stringent set of guidelines than those imposed by the Federal Trade Commission on search engines and social media sites. Current FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, appointed by President Trump, opposed the FCC privacy rules and expressed support for congressional action. Related Congress Orders FCC Review of TV Content Ratings Could Congress Settle the Net Neutrality Debate, Once and for All? In a statement, he suggested that the FTC again oversee privacy protections for internet service providers. “It is worth remembering that the FCC’s own overreach created the problem we are facing today,” Pai said in a statement. “Until 2015, the Federal Trade Commission was protecting consumers very effectively, policing every online company’s privacy practices consistently and initiating numerous enforcement actions. However, two years ago, the FCC stripped the FTC of its authority over Internet service providers. “Moving forward, I want the American people to know that the FCC will work with the FTC to ensure that consumers’ online privacy is protected though a consistent and comprehensive framework,” he said. Public interest groups are vowing to highlight lawmakers who voted to roll back the rules. Fight for the Future said that it plans billboards in districts of lawmakers who voted to repeal the privacy protections, including information on contributions they have received from telecom employees and political action committees. Wheeler wrote an op-ed in The New York Times blasting the congressional move. He also pointed out that the FCC under Pai recently put on hold rules on how Internet providers had to protect confidential information of their subscribers. “Among the many calamities engendered by the circus atmosphere of this White House is the diversion of public attention away from many other activities undertaken by the Republican-controlled government,” Wheeler wrote. “Nobody seemed to notice when the Trump F.C.C. dropped the requirement about networks protecting information because we were all riveted by the Russian hacking of the election and the attempted repeal of Obamacare.” “There’s a lot of hypocrisy at play here: The man who has raged endlessly at the alleged surveillance of the communications of his aides (and potentially himself) will most likely soon gladly sign a bill that allows unrestrained sale of the personal information of any American using the internet.”Image copyright AFP Image caption There are fears that the protests could turn violent A large number of Senegalese police have deployed in central Dakar ahead of a rally against President Abdoulaye Wade's re-election bid. The opposition grouping, June 23 Movement (M23), says Mr Wade should be barred from seeking a third term. Two people were shot dead on Monday in Podor town during protests after a court ruled Mr Wade's bid was legal. The march had been banned but a BBC reporter in the city says it has now been authorised. The M23 say they intend to march on the presidential palace. Elections in the West African country - often held up as one of Africa's model democracies - are due on 26 February. The BBC's Abdourahmane Dia in Dakar says many schools have sent their students home early. He says some of the police who had deployed in the Place de l'Obelisque, where the rally is being held, have now moved away from the square. Earlier, prominent activist Alioune Tine, a member of the M23 which was formed last year, was freed from police custody without charge after two days in detention. After his release, he told the AFP news agency that police had asked him "many questions on the demonstrations" planned by M23. Autopsies Analysis When Abdoulaye Wade swept to power in 2000, he was the toast of Senegal - hailed by the youth as the hope of the West African country. Propelled from veteran opposition leader to a hands-on, apparently dynamic, president, Mr Wade campaigned on the platform of his slogan Sopi - "change". Senegalese now complain that his leadership has been a change for the worse. His opponents say Mr Wade's most egregious offence is his determination to impose his son, Karim, on the nation as Senegal's next leader. Karim Wade is nothing short of a super minister in his father's cabinet. A shaven-headed octogenarian with owl eyes, Mr Wade switches effortlessly from Wolof to English to French - and from Senegalese grands boubous to smart Western suits. He loves showing off models in his presidential office of his pet projects and grand plans - for Senegal, West Africa and the continent. But Senegal is tired of a president who swans around the globe as a self-styled international conflict mediator, when their own country has its own problems that need resolving. How Abdoulaye Wade's star has faded Our correspondent says there are fears Tuesday's demonstrations could degenerate into violence. But the opposition says it has a constitutional right to hold mass rallies across the country. Our reporter says the bodies of two demonstrators killed in the northern town of Podor on Monday have been sent to Dakar for autopsies. An eyewitness in Podor told Amnesty International that the police opened fire on an anti-Wade demonstration in the town. "We were walking peacefully when suddenly security forces dressed in blue and belonging to the gendarmerie fired at the marchers with live bullets. People fell in front of me," the witness said. The director of Amnesty International in Senegal called for restraint from both sides on Tuesday. "We have to make sure their [protest organisers] followers are informed, that this right doesn't mean that they can attack security forces, throw stones, because it is this kind of behaviour that is the basis of police repression," Seydi Gassama told the BBC's World Today programme. Mr Wade's campaign spokesman, Amadou Sall, said people had a right to protest, but not violently. "Unfortunately two persons have died and we are very sorry and we apologise for this situation," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. "Every time the opposition protesters are in the street, each time there is a lot of violence and the police forces have not the elements to control this," he said. If opposition supporters do not want Mr Wade as president they should go to the polls next month, Mr Sall said. "Every five years the Senegalese citizens have the right to express themselves… on 26 February if they decide they don't want no more Abdoulaye Wade for president, Abdoulaye Wade will not be president, so it's all in their hands," he said. "It is the same thing in all strong democracies and we consider that Senegal is a strong democracy." Senegal's constitution has a two-term limit but the constitutional court has ruled this does not include Mr Wade's first term, which began before the clause was adopted. At the same time as allowing Mr Wade to stand, the court ruled singer Youssou N'Dour and two other opposition candidates could not run. The move has come in for international criticism. "We are concerned that the decision by President Wade to seek a third term... could jeopardise the decades-long record that Senegal has built up on the continent for democracy, democratic development and political stability," Reuters news agency quotes US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns as saying. France, the former colonial power, regretted that not all political viewpoints would be represented in the forthcoming elections, its foreign ministry said. Opposition parties and activists have called for "national resistance" against Mr Wade's third-term bid. Once a veteran opposition leader himself, Mr Wade was first elected in 2000 - ending 40 years of rule by the Socialist Party.BELCHERTOWN - A registered Level 3 sex offender, who allegedly met a woman through a dating app and then raped her last week at his South Hadley home, was ordered held without bail Monday during his arraignment in Eastern Hampden District Court. Michael Durgin, 36, denied two counts of rape and was ordered held without right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing Thursday, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported. Durgin met the victim on the dating app Tinder and invited her to his apartment for a date, the Gazette reported, citing court documents. Durgin allegedly raped the woman after his roommate left the apartment. South Hadley police issued a Level 3 sex offender advisory regarding Durgin that was published by The Republican and MassLive.com on June 20. According to that advisory, Durgin was convicted in January 2015 on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a child age 14 years. His address in the advisory is listed as 12 School St.(JTA) — The deputy speaker of the Russian parliament intimated that Jews are using their positions in the media and government to continue the work of ancestors who “pulled down our churches.” Peter Tolstoy at a news conference Tuesday on plans to move a cathedral in St. Petersburg appeared to blame Jews for anti-religious persecution under communism. He referred to the descendants of people who on 1917 “jumped out of the Pale of Settlement” in the churches statement. The Pale of Settlement was an area of western Imperial Russia beyond which most Jews were not allowed to settle. This changed after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, in which Russia became a communist country until 1991. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, one of the largest Jewish groups in the country, deemed Tolstoy’s statements anti-Semitic. “Such statements usually come from irresponsible instigators of anti-Semitic campaigns,” Alexander Boroda, a Chabad rabbi and president of the federation, told Interfax Tuesday. “When we hear this from the mouth of the State Duma vice speaker at an official press conference, this is a direct undermining of interethnic coexistence in the country, and it stirs up tension.” Boroda added that he expects officials “will address” the statement by Tolstoy. Separately, a district court in the city of Yekaterinburg last week sentenced a taxi driver to 350 hours of community service after convicting him of incitement to hatred against Jews online. The defendant, Artemyu Podkorytov, set up pages on the Russian-language equivalent of Facebook in which he inveighed against “Jewish domination” of Russia and the world. Across the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, many hold Jews responsible for communist oppression, even though the Jewish minority of these countries was among the groups most heavily targeted by communist regimes. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in 2013 that at least 80 percent of the members of the first Soviet government were Jewish. Putin, who is often accused of limiting civil liberties and violating human rights, is widely credited with cracking down on anti-Semitism and facilitating unprecedented growth among
Cup winners in 2011 alongside talented trio Morrison, Pogba and Keane. Sir Alex Ferguson obviously saw the youngster’s potential by granting him cameos in the Premier League and Champions League. However, Fryers recently rejected the Red Devil’s offer of £1,500-a-week and so he is now seeking pastures new. Considering the defender looks set to leave Old Trafford on a free, it’s no surprise that Europa League rivals Tottenham currently seem to be the frontrunners. If Fryers were to opt for a move to the North East, I can see him offering some depth in the defence, acting as an emergency back-up if any of our back four are unavailable. However, the main attribute which Fryers can offer is promise. The left back is still developing as a footballer, and so there is a chance that we could nurture him into a first team regular. Considering he’d be free of charge and has seemingly low wage demands, I feel we should definitely snatch at the opportunity of signing him. Current Ability: 2/5 Potential: 3.5/5 Likelihood of signing: 2/5 (could significantly increase if Spurs lose interest) Transfer value: Free AdvertisementsProject Overview EdGCM provides a research-grade Global Climate Model (GCM) with a user-friendly interface that can be run on a desktop computer. For the first time, students can explore the subject of climate change in the same way that actual research scientists do. In the process of using EdGCM, students will become knowledgeable about a topic that will surely affect their lives, and we will better prepare the next generation of scientists who will grapple with a myriad of complex climate issues. Our goal is to improve the quality of teaching and learning of climate-change science through broader access to GCMs, and to provide appropriate technology and materials to help educators use these models effectively. With research-quality resources in place, linking classrooms to actual research projects is not only possible, but can also be beneficial to the education and research communities alike. Read more…Plantation, Florida (CNN) -- Being attacked in the courthouse was the last thing Catherine Scott-Gonzalez expected when she showed up for the final hearing in her divorce case. "I just can't believe that it happened -- there are just no words for it," Scott-Gonzalez said Tuesday, as she continued to recover from a broken nose and a fractured jaw after being beaten by her estranged husband in a judge's chambers. "The incident was disturbing and shocking," Broward County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Rothschild recalled Tuesday, adding, "In addition to the violence, the fact is that it happened in a court proceeding." The proceeding that took place Friday in Judge Rothschild's chambers was the last hearing in the divorce of Scott-Gonzalez and her husband of about five years, Paul Gonzalez. Thirty-five minutes into the hearing, when the issue of child support was brought up Gonzalez -- acting as his own attorney -- decided to leave the room, according to Michael Dunleavy, the attorney for Scott-Gonzalez. The couple, both former Marines, are the parents of two young children. "He goes, 'I'm not going to pay child support,' and Judge Rothschild says, 'You know all parents have to pay child support, we all have to support our children,' and he (Gonzalez) stalked out of the room," said Dunleavy. "He went calmly," remembered Judge Rothschild, "not happily, but calmly walked out of chambers, took one step out of the door, then in a blink of an eye -- I mean literally one step -- he came back in." Upon returning, Gonzalez suddenly started punching his estranged wife, according to those in the chambers. "It was from behind, I was blindsided, I was knocked out after the first punch," said Scott-Gonzalez. A bailiff was not in the room at the time. The judge said if he had had any indication that Gonzalez was violent, he would have had security in his chambers. Scott-Gonzalez said in the past, she had twice sought restraining orders against her estranged husband but both attempts had been denied. "I was very afraid of him but I did think that I was going to be safe," said Scott-Gonzalez, "As soon as you walk into the courthouse you have to go through a metal detector. There are Broward (County) sheriff's officers all over the place." Both Scott-Gonzalez and Judge Rothschild said Dunleavy became the hero. "My lawyer was sitting right next to me, which thank God he was, because he literally saved my life," said Scott-Gonzalez. Dunleavy said he just reacted by restraining Gonzalez. when he saw his client being hit repeatedly. Dunleavy said the judge hit a panic button and several deputies converged on the room, subduing and arresting Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been charged with a felony battery resulting in great bodily harm, and resisting arrest. He is currently being held in a Broward County jail on $1 million bond and could not be reached Tuesday. That is a bond high enough for Scott-Gonzalez to feel safe, for now. "For him to have done that in front of who he did it in front of, who's to say when he gets out he's not going to come after me?" worries Scott-Gonzalez. She wants other men or women to know if they are afraid of their spouse even in a court setting that they should ask the judge for additional security. "I thought you go there to get everything taken care of. Why would they (court officials) choose a place that wouldn't be safe? I thought it was safe," said Scott-Gonzalez. "The only response I can give her is I go into that courtroom anticipating that I am going to be equally as safe," said Judge Rothschild, adding, "Violence is not OK any where but it is certainly not OK in the court of law in the United States of America."Chelsea Manning, Once Sentenced To 35 Years, Walks Free After 7 Years Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning has left a military prison in Kansas and returned to civilian life Wednesday, seven years after being taken into custody for what is seen as the largest leak of classified data in U.S. history. "After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived," Manning said in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union. "I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past. I'm figuring things out right now — which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me." Manning tweeted a photo of her sneaker-clad feet, taking her "first steps of freedom" Wednesday morning. The 35-year prison term Manning received as punishment for leaking thousands of military and State Department documents to WikiLeaks in 2010 was described as unprecedented when it was handed down. Before he left office, President Barack Obama shortened the sentence to about seven years. After Manning's release, her lawyer at the ACLU, Chase Strangio, said, "Through extended periods of solitary confinement and up against the government's insistence on denying her medical care and existence as a woman, Chelsea has emerged with grace, resilience, and an inspiring amount of love for others." In court, Manning pleaded guilty to leaking secret information — but she was acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, in July 2013. On the morning of Manning's release, a fundraising campaign for her post-release expenses met its goal of raising $150,000. In a related campaign, musicians Thurston Moore and Talib Kweli are among more than 30 acts on a benefit album that was released this week, with the proceeds going to Manning. Military personnel at the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where Manning was held had not provided many details about her release that was scheduled for Wednesday. Members of Manning's support team also provided little information, citing her need for privacy and time to adjust. They've said she plans to live in Maryland, where she has family. Manning's court-martial conviction is under appeal; her current status is classified as a special type of active duty, The Associated Press reports, meaning that "she will be unpaid but will be legally entitled to military medical care," the wire service says, citing an Army spokeswoman. Among the records Manning has admitted to passing on to WikiLeaks were a video showing a 2007 U.S. Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed 11 men and 750,000 classified documents that contained military and diplomatic dispatches. Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP Rights groups have sharply criticized the way the government handled Manning's case; they also faulted the official response to what Amnesty International USA calls "possible war crimes committed by the military" that are depicted in the records she released. "Chelsea's treatment is especially galling given that nobody has been held accountable for the alleged crimes that she brought to light," says Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA. "While we celebrate her freedom, we will continue to call for an independent investigation into the potential human rights violations she exposed, and for protections to be put in place to ensure whistleblowers like Chelsea are never again subjected to such appalling treatment." Arrested in 2010, Manning had been serving in Iraq and was known as Bradley Manning. After the conviction, Manning announced she was a transgender woman and changed her name to Chelsea. A day after commuting Manning's sentence, Obama said at his final press conference that he felt justice had been served: "It has been my view that given she went to trial, that due process was carried out, that she took responsibility for her crime, that the sentence that she received was very disproportional — disproportionate relative to what other leakers had received, and that she had served a significant amount of time, that it made it sense to commute — and not pardon — her sentence." Steven Nelson of U.S. News and World Report talked to NPR's All Things Considered on Sunday: "Part of the reason that the White House justified granting her clemency was because it was so much longer than other recent leak sentences. In a lot of the cases, people plead guilty and get maybe a year in prison. But 35 years really shocked people. And the seven years that had already been served was seen as enough by the Obama White House." Nelson also told host Mary Louise Kelly that there's a difference between Manning's case and that of Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, who leaked information. "Manning as a 22-year-old wanted to spark a broad worldwide discussion of various injustices she perceived in scandals, whereas Snowden who had access to more highly classified documents had a very specific policy debate he wanted to start about surveillance. And he left the country, rather than be arrested. "When the Obama administration was preparing to grant Manning clemency, they drew the distinction that Manning had faced trial, that Manning had expressed some degree of contrition. Snowden, of course, is totally unrepentant, feels he did the right thing. So that's a real distinction. He hasn't been tried, he's not sorry, and Manning was both." While in prison, Manning had to transition as a woman in a male military facility. She has tried to commit suicide twice. But since her impending release was announced, Manning's outlook has brightened. Last week, she released a statement saying:There is a home in a quiet side street just off of route 9, about 3 miles West of Keene. It is a white 2 story home, a simple box design built around 1840. There is an old barn nearby, slightly neglected, and a small newer 2 car garage. Set off slightly from the road, there are large trees in the front yard, and in the summer their full foliage blocks the sun and view of the windows in the front of the house. But in winter, when the leaves are off the trees, you can see into the upstairs window. If you look at the window in the upper left corner of the upper left corner of the house you will see light blue curtains. Sometimes you will also see a small boy. Just tall enough to look out, he can be seen peeking through the gap in the curtains. People would sometimes mention the boy to the homeowners, an older couple, asking if a grandchild was visiting. The couple would always claim the viewer must be mistaken, perhaps it was their dog, a large Lab, that had been looking out. The subject was always quickly changed. This is the story of a little boy lost in a snowstorm, and perhaps the most difficult of all the Keene ghost cases investigated. The daughter of the couple that lived at the home decided to share this story, even though it does not take place in Keene. Keene though in involved, as it is where this little boy so desperately needs to go. That is, if he is truly a ghost, and not just the imaginings of a lonely elderly couple. I’ll call the daughter Amy, though that is not her name, her parents will be Sam and Jane. Amy claims that her parents called her from their home one snowy winter night upset that their cat was missing. Amy is one of 5 children the couple raised in the home, and she felt when all the children grew up and moved out, her parents transferred much of their concern and affection to their pets, a cat and black lab. Her parents wanted her to come over, to help look for their missing cat, and Amy refused, saying that it was too dangerous for her to drive during the storm. She advised them to stay home, as the cat would probably find someplace to hide during the storm. Instead her parents checked the garage and the barn, and then decided to take out their truck and drive along calling for the cat. Her parents later told her what happened next, but only many years later when they were near death. Her mother Jane first saw the little boy. He was standing near a bush by the side of the road. The bush was covered with snow, but oddly the little boy was not. He was wearing a dark suit, and had an odd dark hat on his head, not really proper attire for a blizzard. No gloves were on his hands, but he did have on high top leather shoes. Jane and her husband Sam stopped the truck, concerned such a young child would be out so late and in a storm. The little boy did not answer their questions about who he was or why he was out late at night, but he pointed to under the bush. When Sam looked where the boy was pointing, he saw the family cat, shivering and hiding underneath. Sam picked up the cat, and told the boy to get into the truck and warm up. The little boy didn’t seem cold, and he refused to talk. Sam and Jane rushed him back home, where they sat him down in their kitchen and covered him with a blanket. When Sam and Jane tried to call the police to report finding the boy, they found their phone was out of order. They had lost power, so they lit candles and made up a fire. They made a small bed for the boy in front of the fire, and settled down near him for the night. At first hey could not get him to speak, or even eat or drink anything, but they were mainly concerned about how his family was feeling. When Jane begged him to tell her his mother’s name, he finally spoke and told her his name was John Moore, and said “I need to get to Keene, my mother and I are going to Keene. I think she is waiting for me there.” The family awoke to no power, but the boy seemed not concerned. He refused to eat or drink, and when they joked he could not watch TV he seemed confused. Jane was very confused by his clothing, which he refused to remove. She also noticed he did not need to use the bathroom. She did brush his hair, and sat him on her lap and washed his face. Sam noticed he seemed clean, even though he had been through a very rough night. They speculated he was from some Amish family, as he seemed to not understand about television. When Sam brought out the radio with batteries, to listen to the news, the little boy seemed scared. That morning Sam and Jane decided to drive to the police department to report the missing boy. Sam cleaned off the driveway, and warmed up the his truck. Amy went to find an old coat from one of her children for John. When she came back into the living room where he had been sitting, he was gone. Sam and Jane panicked, they searched the house and looked outside for footprints. There were none to be found. They didn’t know what to do. Instead of driving to the police department, they decided to talk about what had happened. Amy said many years later, her parents told her about that conversation. They talked about how John seemed unlike other boys. How he wasn’t really cold despite the snow and wind, how he didn’t eat or drink anything, how he wouldn’t take off his clothing, and mostly how he just seemed so calm despite being away from his mother. They decided, he was not a normal little boy, but a ghost. Amy said she tried to get more details from her parents, how could they not tell the police about a little boy found in a snow storm! All they could tell her was “You weren’t there, we think we knew the entire time.” Amy’s parents didn’t give up on John. “For some reason, my parents felt this little boy needed them. I worried perhaps they had gone a little crazy later, perhaps they had invented this little boy as they missed having their children living with them.” The next week, there was another snowstorm, and Sam and Amy went out in their truck. They decided to look for John. They found him close by where he had found their cat. This time Sam picked John up and just tucked in him the truck between himself and Jane. “You are coming home with us” he told John. He drove back to their house, and this time they had power. Still John seemed happiest with just a candle. They took John up to their youngest son’s room, the front left side on the second floor. They put John in the bed, and left the candle burning by his bedside. The next morning Amy’s parents were glad to find John was still there. Amy said she began to get suspicious when she would come over to visit her parents, usually about once a week for dinner. Amy mentioned her siblings all lived out of state, and she was the only one still living in New Hampshire. Amy moved back to be near her mom and dad when she divorced, and she has no children. She says she went upstairs once to find an old book she remembered reading as s child, and looked in her brother’s old room. She was shocked to find a candle burning on a table by the bed, and the room instead of being full of her brother’s old stuff was filled with simple toys and a soft newly made quilt on the bed. ‘It was like stepping back in time” she said. “I felt I wasn’t alone, that I had interrupted someone. There was a teddy bear on the bed, and simple wooden blocks on the floor. There were puzzles on the bookshelf and all the books were old. There wasn’t even a lamp at all in the room, just a simple candle”. Amy talked to her parents, and they confessed about John Moore. They told of bringing him home after the second storm, and setting up a bedroom he would feel comfortable in. “Sometimes he comes downstairs and your father and I take turns reading to him” she said. It seems most of the time John just stayed in his room. “I can hear him playing, and he likes it if I stop in. We’ll build with his blocks.” her father told her. John didn’t like anything too modern or new. He got confused with electronic games, and he would often stare out the window if a large truck or motorcycle went by. The family had learned that John would stay as long as he wasn’t too confused. If the family tried to introduce him to the modern world, they would find him gone. They would then have to wait for the next bad snow storm to find him again. “He needs us” Jane told her daughter, “We have to live quietly. He needs to have a home.” Amy was upset, and tried to get her parents to talk to their doctor about the situation. They refused. “I think more than the little boy needing them, they needed him.” Still their life changed. Sam and Amy never went on anymore vacations or trips together. They would never visit their out of state children together, only one would go at a time. They also never had any family but Amy over, she was the only one they shared their secret with. They also became distant from their neighbors. They didn’t like anyone asking about the little boy at the window, their whole life revolved around John, and keeping him a secret. Amy was sad, but also didn’t want to tell people her parents thought they were living with a ghost. She did worry about why the little boy needed to go to Keene. She finally got her parents to try to ask John about his life, and John said he had been on a train and there was a terrible accident. He could not find his mother after the accident, but he knew they were going to Keene on the train. If only he could get to Keene he could find his mother and go back home. Amy worried, if by any chance John were a real ghost, her parents were keeping John from finding his mother. She said that is when hoped John wasn’t real. The thought of a lost little boy waiting for his mother broke her heart. She was never quite sure while her parents were alive. One day Amy got a call from her mother, her father had a stroke and was at the hospital. Amy hurried over, and Amy was upset as her mother had to go home to John. ‘I was so angry, here was my father dying and my mom just worried about a possible ghost!” Even more bizarre, when Amy’s father could finally speak, he kept saying he wanted to go home. He told Amy he wanted to die in John’s room “Maybe I could guide him back home. If I could be there when I die, I could take his hand and walk him to heaven with me.” Sadly her father was in no condition to go home, and a few days later died quietly. Amy was alone with her father, as her mother refused to come but for only come a few hours each day. Amy grew angry with the supposed ghost. Her mother became more feeble after her husband’s death. Jane became depressed that Sam had not been able to guide John to his mother. Amy had many fights with her mother, and threatened to have her evaluated. Amy now says this is something she regrets, as her mother took an over dose of pills after one of their fights, and in John’s room. Amy thinks perhaps her mother wished to somehow guide John, and thought if she died in his room she could finish the job her husband wished to do. The problem Amy says is that while she never really believed in John while her parents were alive, she believes in him now that they are dead. She moved into her parents house, and soon found she was not alone. She goes to John’s room, and finds the toys rearranged, things in the kitchen and living room move about. If she turns on the TV, it often just turns off. John seems to dislike her cell phone ringing, and she will find it hidden under cushions and even once in the trash can. The final proof for Amy was looking up at the window of John’s room while raking leaves and seeing him standing there. She knew her parents had been right all along. Only Amy feels her parents were also wrong. Amy worries that perhaps because her mother committed suicide she was not permitted to guide John to heaven. Or perhaps her parents were wrong to bring John back to live with them, perhaps they should have tried to drive him to Keene, or tried to not keep him living with them to ease their loneliness. She is now investigating a train crash of over 150 years ago, where a little boy from Walpole, traveling to Keene, named John Moore died. She says she’s going to find out which station the train was going to, and where that station is now. Perhaps she hopes, if she can just take the little boy to where ever that train was going, his mother might be waiting. So now Amy also waits, she is waiting for the first big snowstorm, close in time to the train crash. She’s going to drive her father’s old truck and see if she can get John to get in the truck with her and come to Keene. Maybe, just maybe, his mother will still be waiting. Amy says it’s time for John to go back home. Related articles AdvertisementsWASHINGTON—Bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans, Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold said Thursday he would not seek re-election to a fifth term, apologizing for his angry outbursts but denying sexual harassment allegations. In a five-minute video on his campaign’s Facebook page, Farenthold denied a former aide’s 3-year-old accusations that he’d subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behaviour and then fired her after she complained. But he apologized for an office atmosphere he said included “destructive gossip, offhand comments, off-colour jokes and behaviour that in general was less than professional.” In a five-minute video on his campaign’s Facebook page, Blake Farenthold denied a former aide’s three-year-old accusations, which included that he’d subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behaviour and then fired her after she complained. But he apologized for an office atmosphere he said included “destructive gossip, offhand comments, off-colour jokes and behaviour that in general was less than professional.” ( Andrew Harnik / The Associated Press file photo ) House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters he’d spoken twice to Farenthold on Wednesday and suggested there were additional accusations that had yet to surface. Read more: Arizona congressman Trent Franks resigns over surrogacy discussion with staffers Article Continued Below Al Franken resigns from U.S. Senate amid sexual harassment allegations Judith Timson: Time #MeToo cover shows times may actually be changing “Unacceptable behaviour has been alleged in those stories, and I think he’s made the right decision that he’s going to be leaving Congress and that reflects some of the conversations we’ve had,” Ryan said. Farenthold joins the list of lawmakers leaving Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct that have also toppled powerful men in Hollywood, the media and sports. While Farenthold couldn’t survive the onslaught, a first-term Nevada Democrat continued to resist calls to step aside. Rep. Ruben Kihuen on Thursday faced a fresh accusation as a lobbyist claimed he touched her thighs and buttocks on several occasions and made unwanted sexual advances while he was a state senator. The Nevada Independent published the report but withheld her name. The accusations came less than two weeks after a former staffer said Kihuen harassed her during his 2016 congressional campaign. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reiterated her call for Kihuen to resign, but the lawmaker has said he will remain in office and would welcome an ethics investigation to clear his name. Article Continued Below In a statement Thursday, Kihuen said he wouldn’t discuss any details of the relationships he’s had with women while in elected office. “During my 10 years in the legislature, I dated several different women. Out of respect for their privacy, I won’t discuss my communications or any other details of those relationships,” he said. Sexual harassment allegations against Farenthold first surfaced in 2014, when he was sued by his former communications director, Lauren Greene. At the time, the independent Office of Congressional Ethics investigated Greene’s claim and recommended that the House Ethics Committee dismiss the case. But the allegations have been revived, particularly since it became public that Farenthold paid a $84,000 (U.S.) settlement using money from a taxpayer-funded account. Farenthold is the fourth lawmaker in two weeks to announce his departure from Capitol Hill following misconduct allegations. Last week, Rep. John Conyers retired weeks after former aides shared stories of habitual sexual harassment. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., announced he would step down after he was accused of improper behaviour by at least eight women and his support from fellow Democrats collapsed. On Friday, Rep. Trent Franks abruptly resigned over revelations that he’d asked two staff members to act as surrogates, offering one of them $5 million. Franks stepped down after Ryan urged him to quit. In recent weeks, lawmakers have also introduced bills to make the process of reporting sexual harassment on Capitol Hill more transparent. On Thursday, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Patty Murray of Washington said in a letter to the all-male leadership of the Senate and its powerful Appropriations Committee that aides who complain about sexual harassment shouldn’t have to endure “cooling off” periods and mediation. The women, who are powerful forces on the Appropriations panel, say steps to improve training on sexual harassment and changes in the manner in which complaints are handled should be added to upcoming must-pass spending legislation. Collins and Murray added that staffers who experience harassment should also have access to “independent confidential resources” to assist them through the complaint process.BRUNEI - President Benigno Aquino is backing the adoption of the Japanese digital TV standard to replace the analog system in the country. In bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, Aquino told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the Philippines is migrating to the Japanese digital standard in television. Aquino said government studies show the Japanese standard was superior to the others. "Ang pinaka-clincher, yung emergency broadcast capability," he said. "I was told it was used during the Fukushima incident." The President said he was told by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) there will be "one last hearing with stakeholders." The President is scheduled to go on a state visit to Japan in December, where he is expected to give the formal approval for the shift to the Japanese standard. The Philippine government is targeting to replace its analog system with digital broadcast technology by 2015. It has studied both Japan's Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial, and Europe's Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial 2. Earlier, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the commission endorsed the adoption of Japan's ISDB-T standard, since it is cheaper than the European standard. The NTC official said another advantage of the Japanese standard is that it can also be used as a early warning mechanism during natural disasters.Trips to the Foul Line The players who made the most free-throw attempts during the regular season. FREE-THROW ATTEMPTS FREE-THROW PERCENTAGE James Harden 881 [G].847 Russell Westbrook 840 [G].845 Jimmy Butler 676 [G].865 DeMarcus Cousins 670 [C].772 Isaiah Thomas 649 [G].909 DeMar DeRozan 647 [G].842 Anthony Davis [C,F].802 647 James Harden The Houston Rockets guard is known for his strength, agility and love of the pump fake. This play shows why he is one of the best at exposing the ball as he sweeps past defenders, enticing them to reach for the ball, often resulting in a foul. This also allows Harden to get past defenders who are reaching from behind, giving him scoring opportunities. This tactic also pulls bigger defenders out of position, making it harder for them to stop the scoring attempt. Russell Westbrook Westbrook's explosiveness and physical play are on full display here. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard can meet big guys at the rim, take the contact, hang in the air and contort his body to get a shot off or force a call. This Westbrook move often leaves referees with little choice but to call a foul on the defender. Jimmy Butler Butler, of the Chicago Bulls, is a strong guard who creates contact going to the basket and uses the pump fake well off a step back to get foul calls. On this play, Jeremy Lin is trying to recover to defend Butler; when Butler feels him on his back, he jumps to shoot, knowing Lin can’t stop his momentum, and gets the two free throws. Butler also uses a lot of pick-and-roll plays and likes to use the crossover dribble when there is space in front of a big man who is playing back. Isaiah Thomas Thomas is very good at creating contact on pick and rolls and snapping his head back to accentuate the contact. The Boston Celtics guard is also not afraid to hit the ground to try and get the call. In this play, Thomas stops on a dime to shoot off the screen with Ron Baker chasing him at full speed. Baker cannot stop his momentum, causing the foul. In this case, three free throws were awarded. DeMar DeRozan DeRozan, of the Toronto Raptors, frequently uses the pump fake to draw contact from players and, like Harden, has done a great job of sweeping through defenders. This play also illustrates how DeRozan is great at accentuating the contact, as he does here against Mindaugas Kuzminskas, by leaning his body back. He is strong enough and coordinated enough to maintain his balance and get a decent shot off for the potential score, plus a free throw. Drawing the Foul When It’s One on One These five guards are also good at drawing fouls on isolation plays — when the player’s teammates back away from the play, taking their defenders with them. This opens a one-on-one opportunity for the ball handler where he can try to beat the defender off the dribble or bait him into a foul.While some opponents to settling refugees in the United States are distancing themselves from the comparison to World War II Japanese internment camps, at least one person is embracing it. Roanoke, Virginia, Mayor David A. Bowers used President Franklin Roosevelt’s decision to “sequester” Japanese Americans to justify his decision to cut off assistance to Syrian refugees. “I’m reminded that President Franklin D. Roosevelt felt compelled to sequester Japanese foreign nationals after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and it appears that the threat of harm to America from Isis [sic] now is just as real and serious as that from our enemies then,” Bowers, a Democrat, said in a statement released Wednesday, according to The Roanoke Times. The statement requests that “all Roanoke Valley governments and non-governmental agencies suspend and delay and further Syrian refugee assistance.” Since Friday’s Paris attacks, some lawmakers at the national, state and local level have come out against President Obama’s plans to settle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. in the next fiscal year. So far, however, the Paris attackers that have been identified have all been European Union nationals and the Syrian passport found on one of the attackers is a suspected forgery. Update: Bowers is also a public backer of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. He joined the campaign’s Virginia Leadership Council in early October, The Roanoke Times reported, and her campaign touted his endorsement in a press release later that month.On Day Two of the strike by 30,000 city workers, Miller took the microphone at an afternoon city briefing to concentrate on one issue: illegal dumping. A grim Mayor David Miller warned "a small group of people who are using Toronto as their personal dumping ground" to stop immediately or face prosecution and possibly thousands of dollars in fines. Earlier, cameras across the city captured a man unloading trash from his van at the downtown Cherry St. transfer station. "Torontonians are immensely proud of our city. For those few who don't get the message: Illegal dumping will not be tolerated." "I want to put these people on notice that we will not tolerate this type of activity," he said, flanked by equally grim city officials. "The vast majority of Torontonians respect their city," he said. "They've shown tremendous goodwill by taking their litter home. I ask Torontonians to be a little bit patient. If at all possible, wait a little while longer" before taking garbage to transfer stations. The fine is $380 but bylaw officers will prosecute dumpers and a first time offence could cost homeowners up to $10,000 and businesses up to $50,000. Miller promised frustrated homeowners 19 new garbage drop-off sites by the end of the week if the strike, which started at 12:01 a.m. Monday, drags on. Miller enlisted Torontonians who spot illegal dumping to report the culprits, with locations, amounts and licence numbers, to the city at 416-380-0338. And bags of garbage has been piling up on and around sealed litter bins. Bags, boxes and broken furniture has been piling up outside the Bermondsey transfer station at Eglinton Ave. E. and Victoria Park Ave. in mounds a metre and a half high and the width of the roadway. He admitted the promised "protocol" to manage delays imposed by picket lines at the transfer stations still hasn't been negotiated, but he warned that people who unload their trash at the gates are risking the same stiff fines. Miller said his family is stowing their garbage in the garage in High Park so far. "Today is the first day of regularly scheduled collection," Geoff Rathbone, manager of city waste collection, reminded residents. "There should not be an immediate need." This morning, a couple from downtown Toronto pulled up at Bermondsey in their SUV with 15 black bags stuffed with garbage inside. "We are homeowners and have five apartments," said the woman who refused to give her name. "The only way out is privatization but I don't see that happening while Miller is around." Vigilant residents around Christie Pits sent out an alarm this morning over mounds of rubbish there but it was gone in a few hours, picked up by managers. Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said it had been left by a church group using the park on the weekend. They will be billed. "Christie Pits, nor any park, will not be used as a garbage dump," Pantalone said via email. Miller deflected a question about his once warm relations with unions in light of the strike by two locals of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. "This labour dispute isn't about me. The issue of affordability is a very serious one. The world has changed since last year. What's more important is that the city as a government keep people employed and provide the services Torontonians need." The city and the unions are still negotiating, he said. "Strikes are extremely difficult things. They're wrong for everybody. They're wrong for the workers who should be at work. They're wrong for the parents." The strike has emptied the 57 city-run daycare centres for 2,800 children as well as park programs and city playing fields. Summer day camps scheduled to open next week are in jeopardy. Children also lost a prime tourist attraction today because of the strike. The amusement park called Centreville, on the Toronto Islands, announced it has pulled the plug on the rides and attractions for the duration of the strike, forcing 400 seasonal employees off the job. The park, just getting into its peak season, is st
hit the FCC with your hand written (IN ANY FORM) comments! We got to take back the media, cause our beloved web is next via un-net neutrality. Alright I shot my load and now I'll shut up. COMMENT #85 [Permalink] ... GOPHater said on 11/21/2007 @ 5:10 am PT... The mainstream media is most at fault for the current siuation in soviet america. The Bush/Cheney cabal, should of course, be in prison awaiting execution for war crimes, treason, murder, torture, violations of U. S. and international laws, etc. This will never happen if the people are not informed by a diligent media, which simply does not exist in America. COMMENT #86 [Permalink] ... Baird said on 11/21/2007 @ 7:05 am PT... I'm certainly no fan of msm or govt but I'm really confused about why she simply doesn't put this information out there in a variety of ways already suggested by many, hmmmmm COMMENT #87 [Permalink] ... Nunyabiz said on 11/21/2007 @ 7:05 am PT... Bernie says: "I'm sorry, but all she has to do is make copies of the WHOLE DEAL, as she knows it, and send it off to any leftist organization and after the bloggers publish the story the mainstream media can then carry it without fear of government reprisal because then they are merely reporting on what others "allegedly" have reported. It's worked before." Well here is the problem with that logic. The MSM, ALL OF THEM don't fear any government reprisal. They ARE the Government they all spew pure Reich wing propaganda, they ALL lie continuously, they ALL omit any and all information regarding Election Fraud & the blatant FACTS about what really happened on 9/11. There are several people and sites that blog about Election fraud and the FACT that Bush was never elected, so how many MSM outlets report what should be one of the most explosive news stories ever? NONE! 9/11 to anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together was the most blatant inside job/false flag attack in history. There are hundreds of websites with terabytes of information concerning what we KNOW about 9/11. There is video out the ying yang of what is clearly 3 buildings being taken down with explosives. There are hundreds of professionals in the fields of Demolition, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Physics etc. that have stated the collapse of these buildings had to have been the result of explosives. There are hundreds of NYC Firemen, Police, EMTs whom have all come out blowing whistles from the roof tops through bullhorns all saying the same thing. They heard explosives being used. There are many Government insiders, current and ex-military, pilots, that all question what happened or flat out call it a damn lie. Nothing the "Official Conspiracy Theory" states is factual in anyway, most of it is not just improbable its IMPOSSIBLE. So obviously with all this the MSM must be investigating every little detail of this treasonous act since basically 50% of the country & at least 60-70% of the entire freaking planet all KNOW that 9/11 was planned and executed by several people in the highest positions of power in this country. right? Ummm NO! The reason being is because the MSM is fully complicit, the Congress both Rethuglicans & democrats are complicit in these crimes and cover ups. They will not now nor ever report on either of these 2 issues because they are all GUILTY of the crimes and the cover ups. So hoping and waiting for the criminally complicit MSM and US Congress to implicate themselves in Treason, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, Mass murder, Election Fraud, just to name a few is not EVER going to happen in our life times so phucking forget about it. There is only ONE way this bullshit is going to stop and that is if WE THE PEOPLE rise up in the 10s of Millions and MAKE IT HAPPEN. There are no legal avenues available anymore they have everything sewn up tight as a drum. All that is except for that one last resort of which the founding fathers of this country clearly placed right in one of the very documents this country was founded on, it is literally the entire basis of said document. The Declaration of Independence "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government." It's time to get to work before its too late IMO. We have about 120 Million in this country that know mostly what is going on, that's more than enough. COMMENT #88 [Permalink] ... bill payne said on 11/21/2007 @ 8:04 am PT... Judges frequently overstep their authority or do not follow the law. Remedy should be void judgment. See some [not all] David Myrland mandatory judicial notice points http://www.prosefights.o...esvoid.htm#350voidnotice In practice, however, voiding a judgement is a bit more difficult http://www.prosefights.o...oid.htm#hansenvoidruling COMMENT #89 [Permalink] ... nikto said on 11/21/2007 @ 12:06 pm PT... If anything bad (i.e."accident", etc etc) ever happens to Sibel, (or fellow major whistleblower Bunnatine Greenhouse, for that matter), I will see it as State-sponsored murder. Because that is exactly what it would be, if it ever happened. COMMENT #90 [Permalink] ... Bruce said on 11/21/2007 @ 2:08 pm PT... MSM: cowardly, submissive, conscienceless, self-serving, arrogant pricks. COMMENT #91 [Permalink] ... jurassicpork said on 11/22/2007 @ 7:04 am PT... I say, if all else fails, to start telling all to the A list blogs, such as this one, then let it filter down to the rest of us and to go viral. Eventually, someone in the MSM will have to sit up and pay attention. Could they prosecute us for violating the fascist state secrets act? Who cares? Let's find out. COMMENT #92 [Permalink] ... Dredd said on 11/22/2007 @ 2:50 pm PT... Dan #24 indicated that "I would bet you my next months wages that our government is far more criminal than even Dredd could hypothesize"... well Dan... I have to agree completely. JoJ # 52 I can do better than that: 99... I'll make some room on the ____ for ya... Dan #77 Sibel... go for this... Dan is no bullshit!!!! Phil #81... lets go have a beer keg... to the rest... keep on bloggin in the free world... COMMENT #93 [Permalink] ... JUDGE OF JUDGES said on 11/22/2007 @ 3:34 pm PT... COMMENT #94 [Permalink] ... ForKucinich said on 11/23/2007 @ 12:39 am PT... Thank you Sibel for your courage and real patriotism. Will be writing to Waxman AGAIN. This was a strange article for a conservative mag, they also have questions about the anthrax: The Mystery of Dr. Graham and Jamal Khan October 04, 2006 10:26 AM EST My friend, and fellow blogger, DFV at http://www.Constitutionclub.com sent me this interesting little story: Do you like a good 9/11 mystery? A long article about Dr. Graham: http://www.gnn.tv/articl...ath_of_Dr_David_M_Graham COMMENT #95 [Permalink] ... ForKucinich said on 11/23/2007 @ 12:44 am PT... Here is the url of the magazine questioning the FBI's handling of this case: http://www.theconservati...e.com/article/18887.html by David Huntwork The left sites don't seem to mention this manuscript: His family says he was poisoned more than two years ago. At the time, Graham was trying to publish a manuscript about meeting three middle easterners in Shreveport, men he feared were plotting to bomb Barksdale Air Force Base. Graham wrote that he warned the FBI. Then after Sept. 11, he saw their pictures among the hijackers. http://www.gnn.tv/articl...ath_of_Dr_David_M_Graham FBI involved in another 9/11 cover-up; "The Strange Death of Dr. David M. Graham" He warned the FBI about a ring of alleged Arab terrorists - before 9/11 So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. - Matthew 10: 26-28 COMMENT #96 [Permalink] ... Dredd said on 11/23/2007 @ 4:38 am PT... It is all about capacity to believe. We all have the ability to believe so much, but then no more. A look thru the 911 commission report and comments on it will lead anyone to the edge of what they can believe. The MSM can't believe Siebel for the same reason Bill Maher can't believe scientists about the "false 911 commission report". The list of professionals who do not believe the preznit blush admin story about 911 is growing, and the very elite of scientists and professionals are on the list. One example: Dwain Deets, MS Physics, MS Eng Former Director, Aerospace Projects, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Before this appointment, he served as Director, Research Engineering Division at Dryden. Recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Award and the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award in the Senior Executive Service (1988). Selected presenter of the Wright Brothers Lectureship in Aeronautics, a distinguished speaking engagement sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) (1986). Included in "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" 1993 - 2000. Former Chairman of the Aerospace Control and Guidance Systems Committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Former Member, AIAA Committee on Society and Aerospace Technology. 37 year NASA career. Statement in support of Architects and Engineers petition: "The many visual images (massive structural members being hurled horizontally, huge pyroclastic clouds, etc.) leave no doubt in my mind explosives were involved [in the destruction of the World Trade Center]." http://www.ae911truth.org (List of professionals). "I can't believe my eyes" is a common exclamation of someone who has reached the edge of belief. It is a matter of whether or not you can believe that the current regime tells the truth about anything or not. If you can believe they told the truth about only one thing, and that one thing was 911, then you can't believe Siebel and the thousands of experts who do not believe the government's pet 911 conspiracy theory. The same is true for election conspiracy theories... if you believe the government is composed of angelic beings who harbor devine truth in their hearts, and have only our good in mind, then you can't believe elections are ever rigged. Psychology 101 baby. COMMENT #97 [Permalink] ... John Orzel said on 11/23/2007 @ 7:52 am PT... The solution is simple. If the mainstream American media will refuse to interview Ms. Edmonds, have her go to Greg Palast and the BBC or some other overseas outlet. COMMENT #98 [Permalink] ... XXX said on 11/23/2007 @ 8:23 am PT... The Bush Regime (and associates) is a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization. The War On Terror. The Price of Oil. The reasons for 9/11 are to be found in the History of the Bush Crime Family. COMMENT #99 [Permalink] ... Mr.Murder said on 11/23/2007 @ 9:05 am PT... Edmonds can tie together Enron(Central Asian Oil Pipelines) and the Dade Co. Putsch(Enron jets flying GOP staffers to hijack our election for Dubya) all into one bundle. Follow the Money. She can challenge State Secrets easily. Attorney Client Privilege. Let her attorney report lawbreaking by others on the record. Let's which judge topples the very basis of being a judge by denying Privilege. COMMENT #100 [Permalink] ... Blueangel said on 11/23/2007 @ 9:26 am PT... I thank you Brad for this information, somehow it slipped off my radar. I don't watch too much commercial TV, so I didn't see the 60 minutes piece, and I wasn't familiar with the Vanity Fair article. I heard you interviewed by Bree Walker on KTLK this morning on this subject, so I immediately went to your blog to get more info. Needless to say, I am appalled, but not particularly surprised, that Ms. Edmonds information against the FBI and others in our country's government is being ignored and intentionally supressed. I'm not surprised anymore by anything similar that happens under our current administration. That being said, I have to agree with the bloggers here who wonder why Ms. Edmonds is not willing to take her story to other outlets outside the mainstream. This information, whatever it is, should be made public by whatever means necessary. If news media in other countries want this story, then let them have it. If this information has been around for the last 5 years with no further attention in the US than the initial segment on 60 minutes, then I doubt that any other major media outlet will be airing it any time soon. If Ms. Edmonds own safety is as compromised as she portends, then it seems to me that she would want to disclose it as soon and as effectively as possible. I think that contacting persons such as Robert Greenwald, or even Michael Moore would be a good idea. There have been many good ideas on this blog that should be considered. I will still contact the Olbermann show, the only news show I will ever watch, as I think anyone who becomes aware of Sibel Edmond's situation should, along with Rep. Henry Waxman's office, since he is the chairman of the house oversight committee, and demand their attention to this matter. This is what I find myself doing more and more these days, because we no longer have any free press. Our news media is owned lock, stock and barrel by corporations, most of which have their hands in the pockets of members of this administration, and it's up to all of us as citizens of this country to take it back from them, When an issue like this that may be so important and vital to our country's security, viability, and reputation then it's up to us to help spread the word. COMMENT #101 [Permalink] ... Leo R. Lindquist said on 11/23/2007 @ 9:10 pm PT... Sibel Edmond' plight was detailed nearly five years ago in a magazine called the New American, published by the much-maligned John Birch Society. Go to their website www.jbs.org for an eye-opening discovery as to what really goes on in Washington, D.C. In 1923, Charles Lindbergh, Sr., published in a book, mainly in condemnation of the Federal Reserve sytem in which he said that both major parties are corrupt. Ditto for W. Cleon Skousen in his book "The Naked Capitalist," in the early 1970s. In Carrol Quigley's book "Tragedy and Hope," published in 1966, he talks of his oppportunity to look at the secret papers of the international power-brokers and Quigley wanted to let the public know of this power cabal, since he figured it was too late for Americans to fight against it, part of which was their control of both political parties at the top. Finally, if you consider Peter Jenning's comments on the evening news on June 15, 2004, that the Democrats and Republicans have had in informal agreement in place NOT to investigate each other!! Now, how do you spell C-O-N-S-P-I-R-A-C-Y? Now you know why the Democrats are back-peddling in regards to getting US troops out of Iraq and why they don't want to give Sibel public Congressional hearing. and, like other comments above have stated, the meainstream media is so corrupt, due to their ties with the Council on Foreign Relations. I am reminded of a phrase attributed to Mark Twain, which is: "In the beginning a patriot (Sibel Edmonds) is a man(sic) hated, feared and scorned, but in time when his [her] cause succeeds, the timid join him [her], because then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Let's take back America - vote for or write-in Ron Paul next November 2008. COMMENT #102 [Permalink] ... John L said on 11/24/2007 @ 7:20 am PT... The same government entities gagging Ms Edmonds may be the ones covering up for George W Bush and protecting him from impeachment. The owners of the mainstream media outlets are extremely powerful corporations known to be in bed with the status quo and especially the Republican party, which dominated government in the US since 1994. Apparently 13 years too late, the American public is only now beginning to wake up to having been 'had' by their government bigtime for a number of years. But now, as recession sets in and popular discontent seethes over the blocked exit from the war in Iraq, finally some popular discontent may put the elite oligarchs on notice that they are going to face a groundswell of public rebellion against their policies as more and more of this outrageous corruption in many areas of American life are finally publicly revealed. I hope people write their representatives and demand the release of this lady from the gag order. It is now the public welfare that is at stake and the public's right to know who is betraying our citizenry. Almost the whole Republican party and many Democrats too should be on a bus to jail. COMMENT #103 [Permalink] ... Jhoffa_ said on 11/24/2007 @ 10:12 am PT... The reason she can't do it outside the mainstream press is obvious, she wants to force them to actually discuss the matter as opposed to studiously ignoring it. How many issues get vetted throughly online but never see the light of day in the MSM? Allot.. She's hoping someone will either get patriotic or get greedy and give it a run in a serious medium, which cannot be ignored and will force the rest of the press to at least comment on her allegations. Run it online and they'll act like they never heard of her. Just like 9/11 truthers, Ron Paul and everything else. COMMENT #104 [Permalink] ... alihag said on 11/24/2007 @ 4:35 pm PT... I've read or at least skimmed all of the entries so far. Why hasn't anyone suggested that Ms. Edmond contact George Noory at Coast to Coast AM?? C2C has an international audience and has a huge following. Mr. Noory isn't afraid to speak the truth. He's covered other sensitive topics before. Why not suggest one more? COMMENT #105 [Permalink] ... palmo said on 11/25/2007 @ 4:41 pm PT... Agree with all of the above, especially that the upper brass is poised to take this person out! The Devil is in the details and they are all waiting for her to be silenced!! COMMENT #106 [Permalink] ... A Journalist said on 11/25/2007 @ 8:45 pm PT... I've been a print journalist for 16 years, so I'd like to toss in an observation here. Whistle blowers who try to manipulate the press don't usually get very far, unless they are sophisticated in such things. If Edmonds has something to say, and if she wants the information to circulate, she should just say it. Trying to be coy, and hinting at "Big Secrets" to be revealed only if so-and-so interviews her and does such-and-such, is the lame course taken by two-bit hustlers and frauds. It's not up to the networks to have somebody like Edmonds dictate to them how (or whether) they edit their interviews. She is not a professional editor, nor is she an employee of those networks. The networks are not beholden to her preferences. I'm not saying that she is a fraud, but I am saying that she has no credibility yet in my book, because her behavior mimics that of the many frauds I have encountered over the years. If she offered me a chance to interview her, I would turn it down, she doesn't appear capable of saying anything important or even newsworthy, she just seems to drop "hints" that are getting increasingly boring. COMMENT #107 [Permalink] ... Brad Friedman said on 12/12/2007 @ 10:31 pm PT...The Love Letters Of A Young Barack Obama On View At Emory University Library Enlarge this image toggle caption Ann Borden/Emory University/AP Ann Borden/Emory University/AP Few of us would want the love letters we wrote to our sweethearts at age 21 released to the public. But when you've been president everything in the past is ripe for perusal by historians, researchers and journalists. And so it is with the love letters of former President Barack Obama — excerpts of which have been released by Emory University's Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, where the letters a young Obama wrote to then-girlfriend Alexandra McNear are now part of the collection. The letters were written between September 1982 and April 1984, after Obama had transferred from Occidental College in Los Angeles to Columbia University in New York City. McNear remained in California. The first letter in the collection, which the university says Obama wrote at a campus cafe, "drinking V8 juice and listening to a badly scratched opera being broadcast," as he put it, finds Obama articulating what would become familiar themes in his later writing, feelings of not belonging and alienation (themes that many 21-year-olds might find familiar). In September 1982, he writes of a college friend who will soon marry and a high school friend who manages a supermarket. "I must admit large dollops of envy for both groups, my American friends consuming their life in the comfortable mainstream, the foreign friends in the international business world," Obama wrote McNear. "Caught without a class, a structure, or a tradition to support me, in a sense the choice to take a different path is made for me. "The only way to assuage my feelings of isolation are to absorb all the traditions, classes, make them mine, me theirs. Taken separately, they're unacceptable and untenable." He ends the letter, which was written on yellow-lined note paper, "I trust you know that I miss you, that my concern for you is as wide as the air, my confidence in you as deep as the sea, my love rich and plentiful, Love, Barack." In a November 1982 letter, Obama writes of the enjoyment he takes in his relationship with McNear, and the challenge of "forging a unity, mixing it up, constructing the truth to be found between the seams of individual lives. All of which requires breaking some sweat. Like a good basketball game. Or a fine dance. Or making love. "We will talk long and deep, Alex, and see what we can make of this." In June 1983, Obama writes McNear during a trip he took back to Indonesia, where he lived as a child and where his mother and sister remain. "I can't speak the language well anymore. I'm treated with a mixture of puzzlement, deference and scorn because I'm American, my money and my plane ticket back to the U.S. overriding my blackness. I see old dim roads, rickety homes winding back towards the fields, old routes of mine, routes I no longer have access to." He also expresses to McNear some uncertainty about the future of their relationship. "I think of you often, though I stay confused about my feelings," Obama writes. "It seems we will ever want what we cannot have; that's what binds us; that's what keeps us apart." Later that year, Obama and McNear are no longer lovers, but remain friends. He writes her of his struggles finding a job in New York, and of his tight finances. "Salaries in the community organizations are too low to survive on right now, so I hope to work in some more conventional capacity for a year, allowing me to store up enough nuts to pursue those interests next," he says. "One week I can't pay postage to mail a resume and writing sample," he writes, "the next I have to bounce a check to rent a typewriter." By 1984, Obama has found a job at Business International where he says, "[c]uriously enough, I've emerged as one of the 'promising young men' of Business International, with everyone slapping my back and praising my work." He writes he has "cultivated strong bonds with the black women and their children in the company, who work as librarians, receptionists, etc.," while "the only black men are teen messengers." He concludes: "The resistance I wage does wear me down — because of the position, the best I can hope for is a draw, since I have no vehicle or forum to try to change things. For this reason, I can't stay very much longer than a year. Thankfully, I don't yet feel like the job has dulled my senses or done irreparable damage to my values, although it has stalled their growth." Emory says facsimiles of Obama's letters will be on view Friday. The letters themselves will be available to scholars and students by appointment.While it seems that most of President Trump's ardent supporters aren't going to leave him over his reported deal to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, some Trump supporters are enraged to the point that they're burning their iconic Make America Great Again hats. One video from a Twitter user named Luis Withrow features the former Trumper stating that because Trump has violated a number of campaign promises, he had "no choice" but to burn the hat. "You have become the swamp," Withrow declared. "Either drain the swamp, or you'll never make America great again." Withrow then lit his Make America Great Again hat on fire and proceeded to stare into the camera and utter the words: "Your move." Another video from a Twitter user named Nathan Simms simply showed the hat being burned in a garbage can with the caption "#AmnestyDon #burnmyMAGAhat." Here are a couple of pictures of hats being burned, also featuring the #AmnestyDon and #BurnmyMAGAHat hashtags: If only someone had warned them that Trump might renege on his campaign promises. Many conservatives have long feared that Trump's Democratic past and habit of flip-flopping might eventually derail his immigration promises. If his deal with Democrats is what it appears to be, it undermines the country's sovereignty and will be an electoral boon to Democrats. However, Trump did later tweet that chain migration can't be included in the deal, which prompted Daniel Horowitz of Conservative Review to point out that Trump can be pulled in a conservative direction if enough criticism is there. Perhaps these Trump supporters burning their MAGA hats are on to something. If Trump begins to believe enough of his base will turn on him in 2020 if he continues to break his campaign promises, maybe he'll think better about dealing with the Democrats on DREAMers. H/T: USA Today and Huffington Post Follow Aaron Bandler on Twitter.Update: After a time of VR store exclusivity (why is that a thing?), the OnePlus 3 is now available for purchase from OnePlus.net. The launch of the OnePlus One was pretty much the worst thing ever (thanks to the company’s loathed invite system), and the OnePlus Two launch was not much better. Now, after many leaks over the last several months, OnePlus has made its next flagship official in its The Loop VR app. The best part? You don’t need an invitation to purchase one. Deal: Get Pixelbook at 25% off: $750! The phone sports a Snapdragon 820 (with an Adreno 530 GPU), a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (sans a MicroSD slot, unfortunately), and it’s powered by a 3,000 mAh non-removable battery. To charge this battery you’ll go through a USB Type-C port on the bottom, which also supports OnePlus’ “Dash Charge”. As for cameras, the OnePlus 3 has a 16MP main camera with optical image stabilization, and a 8MP camera is on the front. Of course the phone also has many of the features you’ve come to expect from a flagship in 2016. The OnePlus 3 has a fingerprint sensor, sports a sleek design made of anodized aluminum (may I say it looks a lot like the HTC One M8?), comes in two colors, has a 3.5 mm audio jack (which is apparently a rarity as of late), and sports 4G LTE connectivity (Cat. 6), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC (which the OnePlus 2 notably went without), and more. The OnePlus 3 is $399 and — thank goodness — you don’t need to wait on an invite to purchase the device. It will be available later today on OnePlus.net, but you can purchase one right now through The Loop VR app. We’ll update this article when you can actually buy the phone on the company’s website. Updating…UFC 149 has now seen nine fighters withdraw: Yoshihiro Akiyama, Thiago Alves, Jose Aldo, Siyar Bahadurzada, Michael Bisping, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, George Roop, Thiago Silva, and latest, Claude Patrick. In addition, Erik Koch and Shogun Rua were moved from the card due to opponent injuries. Claude Patrick came on the Underground, and addressed distressed fans. Truth about the UFC “injury bug” From: Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 2223 The much fabled UFC 149 injury bug has touched down close to home, much closer than I’d like, actually taking me out of the upcoming fight vs. James Head in Calgary’s UFC debut event. Training was going awesome and I had managed to put in a solid 13 weeks of work leading up to the fight training here at Elite Training Centre, at Tristar gym in Montreal, and finishing up at team Jaco Training Center in Forida with the crew in the new Blackzillians home base. Now usually I make myself pretty scarce online before and around fight time as nothing really great comes out of Internet banter, for me at least. Still, i kept getting word that there were a lot of changes going on with the card, ect. Now last week it just so happens that i got hurt training and after a few days I realised I’m not going to be able to compete at the event, so i zipped back home to take advantage of Canada’s lovely health care system, and start getting back on track. This morning i go online and wow, there’s a pretty vocal contingent of people screaming bloody murder over a few changes to the card? FOLKS… it’s the top of the sport your still going to get good fights!! Look at some of the guys competing even on the undercard. You may not know them now, but they did the work to be in the show, and can fight. As a result critcism sent their way, many fighters don’t show the Underground much love, but being a long-time member and lifelong fight fanatic, I still have a soft spot for some of you. So let me fill you in on what must be an industry secret. Fighters are almost always HURT. 1- There is very rarely a time when you as a fighter can make it through an 8+week training camp and to a fight without being hurt somewhere; it just doesn’t happen. In every fight i’ve had since being with the UFC things were far from ideal. But that’s the game, you just push through and do your thing come fight time. Pretty much every MMA athlete I know will tell you the same. Yeah some guys take the shit too far, and claim that had Ebola or Smallpox before the fight which is why they lost but no REALLY those jokers aside, things do happen that mess you up. 2- missing a fight sucks more for the athlete than anyone else involved. Take my case for example: Step 1- I get a call, email, message saying hey your want to fight “xyz” on “abc” date? Say yes proceed to step 2 Step 2- stop almost everything else I’m doing at the drop of a dime and start planning camp. Thats done go to step 3 Step 3- now Toronto is one of North America’s best cities and a real hot bed for MMA fans, BUT it’s also full to the brim with toilet paper soft “mma bad boys” that don’t really want to do anything that may result in some adversity, so don’t train hard, or, if they are talented are so indoctrinated by their cult-like training facilities they dare not train witha group of other talented athletes from outside their social circle. As a result you find most high level guys have to do training camp or at least some of it out of town. So you decide where you going and go to step 4 Step 4- Pay travel, food,accomadation costs and get to work in this training camp. THAT IS COSTLY people VERY COSTLY on a variety of fronts. As the very wise Melvin guillard put it to me: “I got a special place in my heart for anyone that’s hurt, but especially those UFC #@$#@#’s cause that’s a lot of work put in to be ready.” Let’s show the guys on UFC 149 a bit of respect, and watch a good show. Some quality guys there for sure. I think that Fedor vs. Jose Aldo super fight’s gonna have to wait for a bit. CP Read entire thread…One evening after work, I was driving home on Interstate 580 East and got stuck in traffic. I was near Lake Merritt, and outside it was still light. On a whim, I decided to abandon the freeway and take city streets. I jetted off the exit and landed on MacArthur Boulevard. Little did I know that I was embarking on what would become a favorite drive. MacArthur Boulevard is a nondescript artery that runs the length of Oakland and traverses disparate neighborhoods. Along the way there are glimpses of iconic landmarks and hidden parks. Following MacArthur Boulevard from beginning to end takes you through the past, present and possible future of the city of Oakland. It took several journeys along the iconic route for me to learn to slow down and open my eyes. I jetted off the exit and landed on MacArthur Boulevard. Little did I know that I was embarking on what would become a favorite drive. MacArthur Boulevard begins inauspiciously — right behind the Home Depot in the East Bay Bridge shopping center on the Emeryville border. It starts at a massive homeless encampment, one of about 100 such “sprawling” sites in the city, according to the Chronicle. While it’s not the most promising sign, when I was there recently, it was heartening to see the Berkeley Free Clinic truck serving the residents. It won’t surprise many that the boulevard is named after General Douglas MacArthur. However, it’s generally not known that it started not as a single road but rather was created from many streets. The MacArthur we know today, including West MacArthur, was the result of multiple streets being “linked together,” according to the Oakland Tribune. In fact, some Oakland officials expressed hope that other municipalities would follow their lead and extend the new thoroughfare south to the Mexico border. This origin explains the quirks of the road, which can disappear without notice. In such cases, MacArthur suddenly becomes one-way or is sliced by the freeway or an intersection. The tenacious driver is left to pick up the scent. Departing from this juncture of Emeryville and Oakland, you’ll find yourself in the Longfellow neighborhood. Those familiar with the area will see reminders of changing North and West Oakland. From Longfellow, it’s a short hop to Temescal, which was a poster boy of gentrification in the aughts — even becoming the subject of a New York Times profile. Maybe because it’s middle class, one neighborhood that has been able to retain its flavor is Piedmont Avenue. Restaurants and shops line the street, which is a simple left turn from MacArthur. Another nourishing experience is off the main drag, exploring the side streets. One gem I often visit is Richmond Boulevard, a loop that encircles little Oak Glen Park, a small park with a creek. This hidden area feels like a working-class Hobbiton, a mix of green and grit. The 580 freeway looms overhead, and ordinary apartment buildings line the street, but the park itself is secluded and lush. From Longfellow, it’s
strategies like Purphoros and token generators (Elspeth, Heliod, Akroan Horse), or just a bunch of countermagic can also be troublesome. One mistake I've seen a few people make, which you should avoid, is to fall into despair after a couple of early thoughtseizes rip apart an already marginal hand. Yes, that can be a really strong opening from the mono black player, but they frequently don't have anything to follow up to put on pressure and you have plenty of turns to draw your way out of the hole. There's no turn 2 Tarmogoyf here to put the screws on, you do have time to recover. Conclusion This is a deck which is only going to get better as the block format gains more sets. Right now, I feel it's got some gaping holes - most notably a lack of hard removal and too-few cheapish threats - but between Hero's Downfall, Thoughtseize and Gary, it's got an extremely powerful base to build on. If you enjoy playing mono black, you can happily play it right now, but it's not my favourite deck in the format just because it feels like a lot needs to go right for it to win a lot of games. Join me next week for the conclusion of my tour around the competitive block metagame when I delve into decks featuring Reaper of the Wilds. The final videos presented are representations of the second list. Thanks again to Joshua Claytor for offering to add videos to the article. We both hope that they have been helpful in showing you the power of the Mono Black deck! Match Four Match Five Match SixDiablo 3 is an excellent RPG with plenty of enemies to fell, adventures to take on and reasons to keep coming back. Path of Exile is another option that's rife with similarities. Both games have their own set of different and similar mechanics. So how do you decide which game is better for you if you only have the time to play through one? Requnix offers a granular breakdown of the differences between the two games, and we're to help explain it to you. Path of Exile vs. Diablo 3 : Storyline and general content comparison Diablo 3 has a polished and entertaining storyline that ties into the first two games, Diablo and Diablo 2. It's diverse, with characters you'll remember from the other games if you played those as well. It's more prominent here than in several other action RPGs. You'll explore swamps, deserts, catacombs and a variety of additional lands throughout Diablo 3. Everywhere you go feels as though it's part of a terrifyingly dark war, which is a good way to explain how the game feels in general. Path of Exile 'Path of Exile' Path of Exile features a dark and decidedly more disturbing storyline, but it focuses much more on gameplay rather than the plot. With that said, there's still a narrative here to traverse. It just isn't as expansive as Diablo 3, which has three games' worth of lore. There are various regions to discover throughout Path of Exile, with additional expansions and new areas sprinkled in after release. One important thing to remember about Path of Exile, however, is the fact that, unlike in Diablo 3, bodies continue to pile up as you play rather than disappear, which lends a dismal feel to the environment. Path of Exile vs. Diablo 3 : Skills, quests, and companions Diablo 3 places its focus squarely on a set of core classes that you can choose at the beginning of the game. You can also assign skills and runes very easily, meaning you won't have to change out your skills by creating a new character altogether. It's simple enough for most players to understand as well. There are various quests that you can discover throughout Diablo 3's game world. However, the game can sometimes feel repetitive and grindy. As far as companions go, Diablo 3 has certain followers that you can equip with items and skills. If you find yourself playing along that can be extremely useful. Path of Exile has an extremely dynamic skill tree with additional complexities. You'll want to create multiple characters with various builds instead of specialized classes. You can also use skill gems with variables, which can be an entire "game" within itself to figure out. You'll need to dedicate additional time to mastering them if you want to make progress in-game. If you like additional customization like this, you'll probably gravitate more to Path of Exile. There are also temporary companions in Path of Exile like golems, but they aren't like Diablo 3's companion that can act alone and on your behalf like additional characters. Path of Exile vs. Diablo 3 : Combat Diablo 3's combat is click-oriented, with floating damage that pops up over enemies' heads and plenty of visual effects that push you to keep playing. Each class also feels different when you swap between them, and the enemies can deal various types of damage. It's both casual enough for newcomers and hardcore enough to satisfy veteran players. Path of Exile is a more hardcore affair with intense combat. Mechanics like stuns, teleporting, exploding, puncturing and other skills come into play, and there are no damage values displayed when attacks are executed. It's really meant for hardcore players, unlike the more welcoming Diablo 3. Path of Exile vs. Diablo 3 : Overall Requnix writes that Diablo 3 is the clear-cut option for casual players, while Path of Exile is more hardcore with its own unique economy and other aspects that aim for more seasoned players in all. PoE is also free to play, which may be a deciding factor for some people. It really comes down to personal choice if you're choosing between the two games, though you can always try both. But if you're pressed for time now you know which game to play. More Diablo 3 news and rumors Mic has all the latest Diablo news, including updates on when we might be able to expect the Necromancer's appearance, Diablo 3's recent anniversary patch and more.30 Pages Posted: 6 May 2015 Last revised: 30 May 2017 Date Written: May 5, 2015 Abstract What is the implication of designating territorial integrity as an "eternal" constitutional principle? This article reflects on the protection of territorial integrity in the Ukrainian constitution, and especially within its provision of unamendability, against the backdrop of the 2014 Crimean crisis. It investigates the aims and limits of territorial integrity as an unamendable principle in the face of a double threat: internal in the form of a secessionist movement and external in the shape of forceful annexation of territory. The article argues that the preservative promise of unamendable territorial integrity is severely curtailed by this double vulnerability, even when backed by a constitutional court with far-reaching powers of judicial review. The article concludes that the uncertainty surrounding territorial change in constitutional law and theory is not alleviated by unamendable protections of territorial integrity.Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, amir of Qatar, addresses the 69th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 24, 2014. REUTERS/Mike Segar UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Qatar, which provided support for U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria this week, urged the international community to confront the Syrian regime, highlighting pressure by some of Washington’s Gulf Arab allies to widen its campaign against Islamic State. Qatar is among five Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain that joined in or supported U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria beginning late on Monday. U.S. officials said Qatar’s role consisted mostly of logistical support. “The war of genocide being waged and the deliberate displacement carried out by the regime remain the major crime,” Qatar’s ruler, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, told the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The world should work to end “the systematic destruction of Syria” by the Syrian government, he said. The United States has said its military campaign will not target the Syrian government and instead will focus on the Islamic State, which has seized a third of both Iraq and Syria and seeks to establish a caliphate in the Middle East. Appearing to echo concerns that the Syrian government could benefit from the U.S.-led airstrikes, the emir said, “we cannot succeed in the war on terrorism if the people were not satisfied that it is their war and not a war to stabilize a regime that is oppressing them.” Although the Gulf states are all opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Qatar has long faced criticism, including from neighboring Gulf Arab states, for using its vast oil and gas wealth to back Islamists across the region including groups inside Syria. Qatar assured the West on Wednesday it was not aiding Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. A source close to the Qatar government told Reuters Tuesday’s U.S.-led airstrikes would not solve anything. He said it was unfair to target only Islamic State when Assad “has been left to kill his people for years.”Studies show that abused or neglected children placed in foster care face lifelong challenges greater than children who remain with their families. I n rural Oregon, an 11-year-old girl wearing a pair of plastic sandals walked 13 miles to a local tavern and convinced a man she didn’t know to drive her two and a half hours north to Long Beach, Wash. She was sick of foster care. She wanted to go home. A 2011 survey reported that 13 percent of all foster children run away at least once, and another 9 percent abandon their foster homes to live with friends. When 22 percent of any child population flees the system which adults have provided to keep them safe, something is wrong. These youth may have insights the rest of us fail to see. Studies show foster care is a highway to health problems, homelessness, early pregnancy, arrest, incarceration, and sex trafficking. And those are the lucky kids. Foster care alumni are five times more likely to commit suicide and eight times more likely to be hospitalized for a serious psychiatric disorder. Then again, decades of research show that childhood maltreatment interrupts healthy emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development, so we can chalk up the poor outcomes to abuse that occurred before these children were rescued, right? Maybe not. * In 1983 I was a 23-year-old single mother living in poverty. My twin sons and I survived the first five months on welfare and food stamps. For the next several years, I lived in bad neighborhoods, drove cars that constantly broke down, and perpetuated my relationship with an abusive partner partly because at the end of each month when money ran out, I could count on him for money to buy diapers or to get my electricity turned back on. I lived in apartments with cockroaches and a house where the floor was so rotten it wasn’t safe to stand in the shower. We ate off-brand macaroni and cheese (4/$1) and drank Kool-Aid (8/$1) supplemented with milk, cereal, cheese, and grape juice from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC). I got a job, then a better job, and paycheck by paycheck I built a life for the three of us. I received daycare assistance, but slowly earned enough to render myself ineligible, teetering on the edge of poverty. I made mistakes—dated the wrong men, managed income poorly, and on free nights, went out to party. The difference between me and so many other single mothers was that I averted any catastrophes that could draw the attention of child welfare authorities: a toddler’s suspicious fall, an arrest for driving under the influence, or my partner’s fists battering my body the way they had before I was pregnant. I wasn’t better than other mothers. I was luckier. I didn’t end up an alcoholic or drug addict, so I never had the compulsion to trade my food stamps for alcohol or drugs. I’ve never had chronic mental health problems, so I was able to get out of bed every day and take care of my kids. I kept the men I dated away from my young sons. I had the intellectual capacity and the social ability to perform well on the job, so I was hired by the Social Security Administration, which provided good health insurance. When the boys were 6, I met (and later married) a man who lifted me into a life of plenty. He had steady employment which, combined with mine, allowed me to fill my gas tank and pay the electric bill on time. The single most common factor in families whose children are placed in foster care is not cruelty or rage or sexual perversion; it is poverty. In 1992, when I had been married for two years, a relative’s children were at risk of being taken into foster care. My husband and I agreed to become a licensed foster home for the State of Oregon. The relative’s three children came to live with us. A year later, Children’s Services Division asked us to take our first non-relative foster child, a 10-year-old boy who had been in 17 foster homes. It should have raised a question in my head: 17 foster homes? What was wrong with all the certified foster parents who couldn’t keep this boy? I didn’t ask. I believed in the system with the zeal of a reborn Christian trying to save souls with a bullhorn on a Seattle street corner. I felt indignant that his mom hadn’t gotten her life together. I was the good mother. She was the bad mother. That was that. * Many people believe, as I did in 1992, that child welfare workers rescue children from homes where they are being beaten, burned, starved, and sexually violated, and place them in loving homes where they can grow and thrive. Some do. Yet the single most common factor in families whose children are placed in foster care is not cruelty or rage or sexual perversion; it is poverty. In 2012, about 16 million children in the U.S. lived below the poverty line. Child abuse and neglect occur across all racial, socioeconomic, religious, and cultural lines, yet most children who enter foster care are from impoverished homes. (In the last nineteen years, I recall just two cases in which a parent did not qualify for a court-appointed attorney.) Three quarters of the children who come into foster care have suffered neglect. One in 11 has been sexually abused. One in six, the victim of physical abuse. The little girl—let’s call her Cali—who fled with a stranger to Long Beach could have ended up dead, but she didn’t. She recently said, “I never felt afraid. I knew I could take care of myself.” She was 10 years old when she first came to live in our home. She and her siblings were camping in a tent with their mom who was pregnant with her fifth child. Mom was hauled to jail on a warrant for unpaid traffic citations, and the children came into care. Eighty-pound Cali arrived with a skirt rolled up in one pocket of her jeans and a shirt rolled up in the other. Everything about her seemed older, from her confident posture to her budding breasts and sassy talk. As I offered her a hug before bedtime, she said, “Call 503-655-8331 and see if my mom is going to be recogged.” Her mother had been arrested so many times, Cali knew the phone number of the jail. She wanted to know if her mother would be released on her own recognizance. I thought, “This little girl needs a mom.” C ourts have long held that parents have a fundamental right to raise their children as they see fit, and that social and cultural norms for attention, affection, supervision, and discipline vary widely. The intersection of the rights of parents with the child’s rights to safety, permanency, and well-being is at the heart of every child welfare case. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” It’s easy to say that children who are beaten or sexually abused should be removed from those situations, but what of the child left napping in the car while the mother runs into the mini-mart? Or the school counselor who reports that a child has chronic head lice and never brings a snack? What about the mother who loses her temper at the park? In the U.S. a child is abused or neglected every 47 seconds. In 2012, there were more than 3.3 million reports of child abuse. Of those, child welfare agencies confirmed 678,810 cases of abuse or neglect, and in each of them the huge engine of child welfare revved up its motors to respond. Every year, roughly the same number of children enter and exit foster care, keeping the annual census around 400,000 children at any given time. In 2012, children entering foster care numbered 254,162, while 241,254 left. The child welfare industry employs more than one million adults to serve foster children and their families at an annual cost of $15 to $20 billion. In a 2014 book about the broken foster care system, To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care, author Cris Beam writes, “And yet nobody—not the kids, not the foster or biological parents, not the social workers, the administrators, the politicians, the policy experts—think the system is working.” The 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act (AFSA) requires child welfare agencies to make reasonable efforts to help the birth parents remedy safety concerns, yet only 11 percent of federal child welfare dollars are earmarked to prevent children from coming into foster care. This means the majority of support is available only after a child is removed from his or her family. In Oct. 25, 1992, my husband and I had completed 24 hours of foster parenting training, undergone a background check, and had a home visit with a social worker before receiving our certificate of approval. I was required to complete 10 hours of annual training but could meet those requirements with self-monitored activities such as videos or books. Most states average about 25 hours of in-service training, but Minnesota requires only six. A 2004 study of foster homes in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Oregon reported that the average foster provider’s length of service was less than eight months. The National Center for Youth Law found that there is little research for the efficacy of foster parent training. Many foster parents are unprepared or ill-equipped to deal with the challenging needs of children whose early deprivation or abuse has resulted in complex psychological, medical, and educational needs. This can lead to high turnover rates that make it difficult to have highly qualified, well-trained adults available to provide foster care. Foster providers are responsible for our nation’s most vulnerable children, yet the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) collects only basic demographic information such as age, race, and marital status of foster parents. Just 56 percent of foster parents have a high school education and almost half of foster parents are unmarried. Foster families have more children than typical homes, with a high proportion of homes having five or more children. In other words, abused and neglected children live in foster homes with adults who have less education, less disposable income, and a higher child-to-adult ratio than most American families. * The foster care certificate my husband and I received states, “The maximum safe capacity for this home is four children.” I had five children at the time our first foster child arrived. That quickly grew to seven, then eight, and sometimes nine. For most of the next 20 years, we had eight children living in our home. It was a chaotic and enriching life. I learned about fetal alcohol syndrome and prenatal drug affects, signs of tobacco use and huffing aerosols, sexually reactive behavior and reactive attachment disorders. I documented behaviors and incidents, advocated for Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and drove kids to counseling and parent visits, Boy Scouts, soccer, dance, and horseback riding lessons. Many small losses can bury a child who is already waist-deep in depression and loss as they move from foster home to foster home, never feeling at home. We treated foster children as if they were our own, yet many of them never felt as if they were. In a non-foster family, you may not have rules prohibiting children from sitting on adults’ laps or cuddling up in the parents’ bed to watch Saturday morning cartoons. You probably don’t have a nursery monitor and motion sensor set up in your school-age child’s bedroom. You’re unlikely to have alarms on the bedroom doors. Yet those strategies were necessary to keep everyone safe given the needs of the children we welcomed into our home. I knew our kids wanted to go home but I didn’t fully understand the stress they experienced at the separation from their biological parents and family home. I didn’t recognize the small losses a child could grieve: the tree they loved to climb, the field where they rode bikes, and the neighbors they knew they could count on. I understood they missed their stuffed animals and pets, but didn’t grasp the intangibles such as the smell of their home or the texture of their own blankets in bed. At our house, new foster children often came without clothes, so they were given sometimes new, sometimes hand-me-downs. They were the new kids in class, the ones not invited to sleepovers and birthday parties. These many small losses can bury a child who’s already waist-deep in depression and loss as they move from foster home to foster home, never feeling at home. I n 2012, almost 200,000 children were in non-relative or “stranger” foster care. A child’s first placement is often whichever home has an empty bed, which may not be the best placement for the child because it was chosen for availability rather than the child’s unique needs. So children bounce from home to home when their needs are too challenging for the current foster providers or when their behavior conflicts with the needs of other children. Frequent moves adversely affect a child’s ability to trust adults and form healthy attachments. My first foster son said he’d been in foster homes that were Christian, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, and agnostic. Every set of parents he’d lived with had different ideas about what mattered. Situations that create such cognitive dissonance would be stressful for anyone, but for children who are expected to conform to adult value systems, it accentuates the distress of being separated from their known world. It’s one more way to feel you don’t belong. Foster care is intended as a temporary safe haven for children who are abused and neglected, yet the wheels of such a bureaucracy turn slowly. On average, a foster child spends 23 months in care, often living in multiple foster homes. Nearly 20 percent of foster children experience 10 or more placements. And how long do they wait for their parents to get it together or for the courts to decide they are out of chances? In 2012, nearly 36,000 foster children had been waiting more than three years to return home or to be adopted, and 24,000 had been waiting more than five years. Then there is the question of safety in foster homes. Data reported by the states to the federal government show that less than one percent of children are abused in foster care. Studies suggest the number is far greater. A 2010 Casey Family study of adult alumni in Washington and Oregon found that one in three former foster children reported being abused by an adult in the foster home. A lawsuit filed in April 2014 on behalf of a young Washington woman alleged that after being born to drug-affected, mentally ill parents and removed from an unsanitary home at the age of 4, she endured years of sexual abuse in two separate foster homes. Both foster fathers and one foster brother were convicted of sexual assault. When a parent is unable to meet a child’s needs, the child can understand that this was one adult’s problem, and they can learn to trust other safe adults. However, when adult after adult is unable to meet a child’s needs, children internalize the failure as their own, and generalize a lack of trust to all adults. In worst case scenarios, they learn not to trust anyone. Foster children are given psychotropic medications 12 times as frequently as other low-income children living with their biological families. The Casey Family study showed they experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at twice the rate of Iraqi war veterans. Despite their increased need for health services, nearly 33 percent of adult foster care alumni surveyed had no health insurance. By the age of 25, 81 percent of all male foster care alumni had been arrested once, and 35 percent had been incarcerated. Adults who had been in foster care as children suffered worse prognoses than their peers in almost all domains (foster care/general population): PTSD: 25% / 4.5% Depression: 24.3% / 10.6% Anxiety: 43% / 5.1% Addiction/alcoholism: 11.1% / 2.5% Males convicted of a crime: 60% / 10% Homeless for more than one day: 22% / 2%. These differences between foster children and children in the general population cannot be explained solely by the maltreatment that occurred prior to foster placement. The largest studies undertaken (in 2006, 2007, and 2008) found that with the exception of the most severe cases of abuse, even comparably maltreated children who remained at home fared better than maltreated children placed in foster care. The Casey Family study also found that 65 percent of all foster children have been in seven or more schools. Twice as many repeat a grade. Of those who graduate high school, two percent of former foster children achieve a Bachelor’s Degree, compared to 20 percent of adults who were never in care. These academic shortfalls affect employment and earning power, decreasing their ability to provide for their children—one more cog in the wheel that perpetuates generational poverty and neglect. When I conjure the image of 250,000 children entering and 245,000 leaving care each year, it feels like a nightmare involving a huge self-perpetuating machine. For 20 years, I have worked as part of that machine, so I recognize its value. But over the course of any given decade, that machine processes almost 2.5 million children who have been taken from their families and rehomed, often repeatedly. Many of those children’s lives may be forever affected not only by the early maltreatment they experienced, but also as a by-product of our intervention. How many child injuries—or even deaths—are we willing to risk to reduce how many kids we place in foster care? Anyone who has worked in child welfare for long can’t help but have an underlying sense of anxiety about the possibility that a child will be seriously harmed under their watch. An estimated 1564 children died from abuse in 2012. Thirty states reported that of those fatalities, 8.5 percent involved families that had received preservation services (assistance in the home), and 2.2 percent involved children who had returned home from foster care. Neglect was involved in 70 percent of child fatalities. Many years ago I was involved in a case where a child was removed from the home of a mentally ill parent. A safety net with multiple community providers was put in place when the child returned home. Within months, the mother’s condition deteriorated, and the child was killed. To face the crime-scene photographs knowing you had recommended the child return home is the kind of horror that you never forget. The sense of responsibility never fully recedes, so it is with great unease that I ask the next question: How many child injuries—or even deaths—are we willing to risk to reduce how many kids we place in foster care? When I read Jeannette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle, I couldn’t help but wonder if Walls and her siblings would have been better off in foster care. The book never dips into sentimentality or trite answers. Instead, after reading the story of a tumultuous and neglect-ridden childhood, I came away with questions: Can familial love mitigate poverty and chaos? Did the relationships Walls and her siblings forged with their parents have value despite the pain the parents’ choices caused? Did the neglect the Walls children experienced contribute to their strengths as well as their struggles? A memoir is a collection of moments contrived to tell a story, and in that way, the book is an incomplete picture of what the children experienced. Even so, I wonder if families like theirs that stayed intact despite appalling circumstances have something to teach us. What might be gained if 11 percent of the federal funding went to foster care and 89 percent of the child welfare dollars were made available for services to support children in their own families? * In time, I learned to appreciate the strengths the birth parents brought to my foster and adoptive children’s lives. Our points of view and priorities were often different but I saw what the birth parents meant to their children. The way one parent encouraged her child to trust us. The way another mom scooped her puking boy up in her arms, and wiped his mouth with a wet cloth. The way the children’s eyes lit up when they saw their mother’s car coming down the driveway. I stopped judging birth parents through my black and white lens, and strove to see them through the eyes of their child. In the most egregious cases (where a child has been subjected to extreme cruelty or the parents have caused injury or death of another child) it’s appropriate for legal proceedings to relieve agencies of their duty to help parents. In those cases, children should not be subjected to further risk. But what of the middle-of-the-road cases where parents are unfit, and yet placement in foster care seems to compound the trauma of an already mistreated child? The parent who is cognitively too impaired to read her babies cues, yet is a loving and attentive woman? The man whose misdemeanor acts repeatedly land him in jail, rendering him intermittently available to parent? I am not the lone voice in the wilderness. Statute and policy changes over the last decade have reduced the number of children in foster care by 20 percent. Some states are striving to include “differential response”—the ability to engage a family’s strengths, and provide supports to mitigate their weaknesses, while the children remain at home. Differential response promises more flexibility in responding to abuse and neglect reports, a less adversarial relationship with parents, and a commitment to better understand the family issues underlying the reports of maltreatment. In 2012 almost half of the children who left foster care returned to their families after less than one year. Could these children have remained home while their parents received the help they needed? Would they have been at least as safe as they were in foster care? The AFGARS Report states that 122,173 children were reunified with their families in 2012. How might we have better identified those families likely to succeed, perhaps reducing the need for out-of-home care? When children are removed from homes where they are being abused or neglected, and placed in safe homes with well-trained providers, they are free from immediate harm. Should we breathe a sigh of relief? Is it enough to have accomplished the short-term safety of a child at the expense of long-term outcomes? Just nine states “quickly and safely return foster children home to their biological families when possible.” It’s clear that safe, well-trained foster homes are the best type of homes when children must enter foster care. But some evidence suggests that even good homes with well-trained providers contribute to adverse long term outcomes. In my experience, although the children I fostered made many positive gains in personal, educational, and social development, their transitions into adulthood were consistent with other foster alumni who struggle with drug abuse, mental health disorders, incarceration, early pregnancy, and homelessness. C ali and I lost touch after she left our home at age 12, couch surfing for a while before moving in with her birthmother’s ex-boyfriend. Her mother was in jail for the umpteenth time. By age 16, Cali got a job, an apartment, and took in her younger brother, who was 10. I met her again when she was 25. She had just finished raising her brother while caring for her own two small children. Cali’s mother, her mother’s ex-boyfriend, her sister, and her brother were all in prison. “The only reason I know anything about being a mom,” Cali said, “is because of the two years I spent in your home.” I did a decent job with many challenging children. Still, many of them would be considered alumni with negative outcomes: arrests, convictions, early pregnancies, unemployment, lack of health care, psychiatric hospitalizations, chronic physical ailments, and mental health disorders. When I think about them, I don’t see failure. I admire their ability to take responsibility for their actions, strong work ethic, kindness toward animals, children, and the elderly, a strong sense of humor, sociability, perseverance, and hopefulness. Can I claim that my care instilled these qualities? Would the children I love have had better outcomes if they had remained in their original homes with attachments to the world they knew? Would the parents have been more successful if the state had provided intensive resources while the children remained at home? When I started out, I was certain our foster children were better off in our home. Nearly two decades later, I feel less sure. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: ReMoved, a short film about a young girl in foster care To The End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care by Cris Beam Casey Family Programs, Foster Care Alumni Studies The Administration for Children and Families, The Children’s Bureau 2012 AFCARS Report National Foster Parent Association National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption MORE RESOURCES: For foster care alumni: A Home Within Foster Care Alumni of America For those who would like to help a young person in foster care: Foster Club Permanency Pact Deb Stone has been a birth, foster, step, and adoptive parent to over 30 children, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for another two dozen kids. Her essays have appeared in The Truth of Memoir, Stepping Up: Stories of Blended Families, the Oregonian, the Portland Tribune, and Portland Upside. Follow her on Twitter Like this? Please share: Tweet PocketFind the right combination! ChessBase 15 program + new Mega Database 2019 with 7.6 million games and more than 70,000 master analyses. Plus ChessBase Magazine (DVD + magazine) and CB Premium membership for 1 year! Anand, So, Gelfand, Duda, Shankland, Navara, Adams, etc. annotate the games of the WCh match. Chess Olympiad with video specials by Pelletier. Plus 11 opening articles with new repertoire idesas, e.g. 1.e4 Nc6 or a new recipe in the London System! 8/25/2015 – With chess missing out on the shortlist for inclusion at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, John Foley, Non-Executive Director of the English Chess Federation, takes a look at why chess isn't recognised as a sport in the UK, as it is in over 100 countries – and the case for change. After all even the English Bridge Union is going to court to have their card game recognised as a sport. This article originally appeared in Sport and Recreation Alliance A question of sport By John Foley Playing games is a natural part of human life yet it has become fashionable for leaders of the sports bodies to decry the rise of gaming when our young people could be active outdoors. The English Chess Federation takes a more positive view towards games. We advocate strategy games rather than “shoot ‘em up” games where adrenaline may be high but the intellectual content is often low. Chess is a classic strategy game which challenges the finest minds in the world. It is not recognised as a sport in the UK and receives no public funding. It is worth reminding ourselves why the International Olympic Committee and over 100 countries recognise chess as a sport. Competitive. The objective of a game of chess is to win. Chess involves a relentless struggle against one’s opponent. There is probably no sporting activity in which two people are locked in a competitive struggle of such intensity for such a sustained period of time. One lapse of concentration and suddenly a good position is transformed into a losing one. Each game is a drama in which the outcome is uncertain until the very end. When recently interviewed by journalist Dominic Lawson, the world chess champion Magnus Carlsen said that chess was “definitely a sport”. Well established. The world championship has been organised since 1886 and our national federation was founded in 1904. Chess competitions are organised at every level: schools, universities, counties, cities, leagues, junior, senior, European, World, etc. Six million people play chess in England each year according to pollsters YouGov. 125,000 children learn chess in school each year. Physical fitness. Peak mental condition requires being in good physical condition. Players need to concentrate totally for up to seven hours. As the stress and tension builds up, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates all increase. Contenders for the world championships have nutritionists and fitness coaches. Behaviour code. Players are penalised for poor sportsmanship e.g. for refusing to shake hands with their opponent. Potential cheating is taken seriously. Mobile phones are banned. Players are prohibited on their move from leaving the playing area. There is an anti-doping policy. Olympic Recognition. Chess has been recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee since 2000. It was an event at the Asian Games in 2006 in Doha and again in Guangzhou in 2010. It is also being considered for inclusion in the Pan-American Games. Tokyo is preparing bids for the 2020 summer Olympics and has invited chess and bridge to apply for inclusion. Russia is trying to bring chess to the winter Olympics. European Recognition. Chess is recognised as a sport in 24 out of 28 member states of the European Union. The exceptions are the UK, Ireland, Belgium and Sweden. In Sweden, it is likely that chess will be included from next year. Support has come from the Swedish sports coaches organisation which admires the mental discipline of chess. Global game. Chess is played around the world irrespective of age, race, gender, income or language. People with physical disabilities play chess. Blind people play chess. People with advanced motor neurone disease play chess: Professor Stephen Hawking played chess with his children. Mental component. All sports have a mental component. Ultimately competitive sports may be construed as strategy games differing only in their physical manifestation. Commentators are prone to similes such as: curling = chess on ice; bowls = chess on grass; snooker = chess with balls, and so on.
plants use the urn—a fundamental part of a bromeliad—for a new purpose and build on it by the production of wax and the other paraphernalia of carnivory. Botanical carnivory has evolved in several independent families peppered throughout the angiosperm phylogeny, showing that carnivorous traits underwent convergent evolution multiple times to create similar morphologies across disparate families. Results of genetic testing published in 2017 found an example of convergent evolution - a digestive enzyme with the same functional mutations across unrelated lineages.[34] Ecology and modeling of carnivory [ edit ] Carnivorous plants are widespread but rather rare. They are almost entirely restricted to habitats such as bogs, where soil nutrients are extremely limiting, but where sunlight and water are readily available. Only under such extreme conditions is carnivory favored to an extent that makes the adaptations advantageous. The archetypal carnivore, the Venus flytrap, grows in soils with almost immeasurable nitrate and calcium levels. Plants need nitrogen for protein synthesis, calcium for cell wall stiffening, phosphate for nucleic acid synthesis, and iron for chlorophyll synthesis. The soil is often waterlogged, which favours the production of toxic ions such as ammonium, and its pH is an acidic 4 to 5. Ammonium can be used as a source of nitrogen by plants, but its high toxicity means that concentrations high enough to fertilise are also high enough to cause damage. Drosophyllum lusitanicum is one of the few carnivorous plants to grow in dry, alkaline soil. is one of the few carnivorous plants to grow in dry, alkaline soil. However, the habitat is warm, sunny, constantly moist, and the plant experiences relatively little competition from low growing Sphagnum moss. Still, carnivores are also found in very atypical habitats. Drosophyllum lusitanicum is found around desert edges and Pinguicula valisneriifolia on limestone (calcium-rich) cliffs.[35] In all the studied cases, carnivory allows plants to grow and reproduce using animals as a source of nitrogen, phosphorus and possibly potassium.[36][37][38] However, there is a spectrum of dependency on animal prey. Pygmy sundews are unable to use nitrate from soil because they lack the necessary enzymes (nitrate reductase in particular).[39] Common butterworts (Pinguicula vulgaris) can use inorganic sources of nitrogen better than organic sources, but a mixture of both is preferred.[36] European bladderworts seem to use both sources equally well. Animal prey makes up for differing deficiencies in soil nutrients. Plants use their leaves to intercept sunlight. The energy is used to reduce carbon dioxide from the air with electrons from water to make sugars (and other biomass) and a waste product, oxygen, in the process of photosynthesis. Leaves also respire, in a similar way to animals, by burning their biomass to generate chemical energy. This energy is temporarily stored in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which acts as an energy currency for metabolism in all living things. As a waste product, respiration produces carbon dioxide. For a plant to grow, it must photosynthesise more than it respires. Otherwise, it will eventually exhaust its biomass and die. The potential for plant growth is net photosynthesis, the total gross gain of biomass by photosynthesis, minus the biomass lost by respiration. Understanding carnivory requires a cost-benefit analysis of these factors.[23] In carnivorous plants, the leaf is not just used to photosynthesise, but also as a trap. Changing the leaf shape to make it a better trap generally makes it less efficient at photosynthesis. For example, pitchers have to be held upright, so that only their opercula directly intercept light. The plant also has to expend extra energy on non-photosynthetic structures like glands, hairs, glue and digestive enzymes.[40] To produce such structures, the plant requires ATP and respires more of its biomass. Hence, a carnivorous plant will have both decreased photosynthesis and increased respiration, making the potential for growth small and the cost of carnivory high. Being carnivorous allows the plant to grow better when the soil contains little nitrate or phosphate. In particular, an increased supply of nitrogen and phosphorus makes photosynthesis more efficient, because photosynthesis depends on the plant being able to synthesise very large amounts of the nitrogen-rich enzyme RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase), the most abundant protein on Earth. It is intuitively clear that the Venus flytrap is more carnivorous than Triphyophyllum peltatum. The former is a full-time moving snap-trap; the latter is a part-time, non-moving flypaper. The energy "wasted" by the plant in building and fuelling its trap is a suitable measure of the carnivory of the trap. Modelling carnivory in plants: gross photosynthesis, respiration and net photosynthesis as a function of the plant's investment in carnivorous adaptations. Non-zero optimum carnivory occurs in brightly lit habitats with very limiting soil nutrients. Using this measure of investment in carnivory, a model can be proposed.[23] Above is a graph of carbon dioxide uptake (potential for growth) against trap respiration (investment in carnivory) for a leaf in a sunny habitat containing no soil nutrients at all. Respiration is a straight line sloping down under the horizontal axis (respiration produces carbon dioxide). Gross photosynthesis is a curved line above the horizontal axis: as investment increases, so too does the photosynthesis of the trap, as the leaf receives a better supply of nitrogen and phosphorus. Eventually another factor (such as light intensity or carbon dioxide concentration) will become more limiting to photosynthesis than nitrogen or phosphorus supply. As a result, increasing the investment will not make the plant grow better. The net uptake of carbon dioxide, and therefore, the plant's potential for growth, must be positive for the plant to survive. There is a broad span of investment where this is the case, and there is also a non-zero optimum. Plants investing more or less than this optimum will take up less carbon dioxide than an optimal plant, and hence growing less well. These plants will be at a selective disadvantage. At zero investment the growth is zero, because a non-carnivorous plant cannot survive in a habitat with absolutely no soil-borne nutrients. Such habitats do not exist, so for example, Sphagnum absorbs the tiny amounts of nitrates and phosphates in rain very efficiently and also forms symbioses with diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Modelling carnivory in plants: gross photosynthesis, respiration and net photosynthesis as a function of the plant's investment in carnivorous adaptations. An optimum carnivory of zero occurs in poorly lit habitats with abundant soil nutrients. In a habitat with abundant soil nutrients but little light (as shown above), the gross photosynthesis curve will be lower and flatter, because light will be more limiting than nutrients. A plant can grow at zero investment in carnivory; this is also the optimum investment for a plant, as any investment in traps reduces net photosynthesis (growth) to less than the net photosynthesis of a plant that obtains its nutrients from soil alone. Carnivorous plants exist between these two extremes: the less limiting light and water are, and the more limiting soil nutrients are, the higher the optimum investment in carnivory, and hence the more obvious the adaptations will be to the casual observer. The most obvious evidence for this model is that carnivorous plants tend to grow in habitats where water and light are abundant and where competition is relatively low: the typical bog. Those that do not tend to be even more fastidious in some other way. Drosophyllum lusitanicum grows where there is little water, but it is even more extreme in its requirement for bright light and low disturbance than most other carnivores. Pinguicula valisneriifolia grows in soils with high levels of calcium but requires strong illumination and lower competition than many butterworts.[41] In general, carnivorous plants are poor competitors, because they invest too heavily in structures that have no selective advantage in nutrient-rich habitats. They succeed only where other plants fail. Carnivores are to nutrients what cacti are to water. Carnivory only pays off when the nutrient stress is high and where light is abundant.[42] When these conditions are not met, some plants give up carnivory temporarily. Sarracenia spp. produce flat, non-carnivorous leaves (phyllodes) in winter. Light levels are lower than in summer, so light is more limiting than nutrients, and carnivory does not pay. The lack of insects in winter exacerbates the problem. Damage to growing pitcher leaves prevent them from forming proper pitchers, and again, the plant produces a phyllode instead. Triphyophyllum peltatum may be due to an unusually high need for potassium at a certain point in the life cycle, just before flowering. Part-time carnivory inmay be due to an unusually high need for potassium at a certain point in the life cycle, just before flowering. Nepenthes mirabilis in a road cut in in a road cut in Palau. Showing habit and habitat. Many other carnivores shut down in some seasons. Tuberous sundews die back to tubers in the dry season, bladderworts to turions in winter, and non-carnivorous leaves are made by most butterworts and Cephalotus in the less favourable seasons. Utricularia macrorhiza varies the number of bladders it produces based on the expected density of prey.[43] Part-time carnivory in Triphyophyllum peltatum may be due to an unusually high need for potassium at a certain point in the life cycle, just before flowering. The more carnivorous a plant is, the less conventional its habitat is likely to be. Venus flytraps live in a very specialised habitat, whereas less carnivorous plants (Byblis, Pinguicula) are found in less unusual habitats (i.e., those typical for non-carnivores). Byblis and Drosophyllum both come from relatively arid regions and are both passive flypapers, arguably the lowest maintenance form of trap. Venus flytraps filter their prey using the teeth around the trap's edge, so as not to waste energy on hard-to-digest prey. In evolution, laziness pays, because energy can be used for reproduction, and short-term benefits in reproduction will outweigh long-term benefits in anything else. Carnivory rarely pays, so even carnivorous plants avoid it when there is too little light or an easier source of nutrients, and they use as few carnivorous features as are required at a given time or for a given prey item. There are very few habitats stressful enough to make investing biomass and energy in trigger hairs and enzymes worthwhile. Many plants occasionally benefit from animal protein rotting on their leaves, but carnivory that is obvious enough for the casual observer to notice is rare.[citation needed] Bromeliads seem very well preadapted to carnivory, but only one or two species can be classified as truly carnivorous. By their very shape, bromeliads will benefit from increased prey-derived nutrient input. In this sense, bromeliads are probably carnivorous, but their habitats are too dark for more extreme, recognisable carnivory to evolve. Most bromeliads are epiphytes, and most epiphytes grow in partial shade on tree branches. Brocchinia reducta, on the other hand, is a ground dweller. Many carnivorous plants are not strongly competitive and rely on circumstances to suppress dominating vegetation. Accordingly, some of them rely on fire ecology for their continued survival. For the most part carnivorous plant populations are not dominant enough to be dramatically significant, ecologically speaking, but there is an impressive variety of organisms that interact with various carnivorous plants in sundry relationships of kleptoparasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. For example, small insectivores such as tree frogs often exploit the supply of prey to be found in pitcher plants, and the frog Microhyla nepenthicola actually specialises in such habitats. Certain crab spiders such as Misumenops nepenthicola live largely on the prey of Nepenthes, and other, less specialised, spiders may build webs where they trap insects attracted by the smell or appearance of the traps; some scavengers, detritivores, and also organisms that harvest or exploit those in turn, such as the mosquito Wyeomyia smithii are largely or totally dependent on particular carnivorous plants. Plants such as Roridula species combine with specialised bugs (Pameridea roridulae) in benefiting from insects trapped on their leaves. Associations with species of pitcher plants are so many and varied that the study of Nepenthes infauna is something of a discipline in its own right. Camponotus schmitzi, the diving ant, has an intimate degree of mutualism with the pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata; it not only retrieves prey and detritus from beneath the surface of the liquid in the pitchers, but repels herbivores, and cleans the pitcher peristome, maintaining its slippery nature. The ants have been reported to attack struggling prey, hindering their escape, so there might be an element of myrmecotrophy to the relationship. Numerous species of mosquitoes lay their eggs in the liquid, where their larvae play various roles, depending on species; some eat microbes and detritus, as is common among mosquito larvae, whereas some species of Toxorhynchites also breed in pitchers, and their larvae are predators of other species of mosquito larvae. Apart from the crab spiders on pitchers, an actual small, red crab Geosesarma malayanum will enter the fluid, robbing and scavenging, though reputedly it does so at some risk of being captured and digested itself.[citation needed] Nepenthes rajah has a remarkable mutualism with two unrelated small mammals, the mountain treeshrew (Tupaia montana) and the summit rat (Rattus baluensis). The tree shrews and the rats defecate into the plant's traps while visiting them to feed on sweet, fruity secretions from glands on the pitcher lids.[44] The tree shrew also has a similar relationship with at least two other giant species of Nepenthes. More subtly, Hardwicke's woolly bat (Kerivoula hardwickii), a small species, roosts beneath the operculum (lid) of Nepenthes hemsleyana.[45] The bat's excretions that land in the pitcher pay for the shelter, as it were. To the plant the excreta are more readily assimilable than intact insects would be. There also is a considerable list of Nepenthes endophytes; these are microbes other than pathogens that live in the tissues of pitcher plants, often apparently harmlessly. Another important area of symbiosis between carnivorous plants and insects is pollination. While many species of carnivorous plant can reproduce asexually via self-pollination or vegetative propagation, many carnivorous plants are insect-pollinated.[46] Outcross pollination is beneficial as it increases genetic diversity. This means that carnivorous plants undergo an evolutionary and ecological conflict often called the pollinator-prey conflict.[46] There are several ways by which carnivorous plants reduce the strain of the pollinator-prey conflict. For long-lived plants, the short-term loss of reproduction may be offset by the future growth made possible by resources obtained from prey.[46] Other plants might "target" different species of insect for pollination and prey using different olfactory and visual cues.[46] Classification [ edit ] The classification of all flowering plants is currently in a state of flux. In the Cronquist system, the Droseraceae and Nepenthaceae were placed in the order Nepenthales, based on the radial symmetry of their flowers and their possession of insect traps. The Sarraceniaceae was placed either in the Nepenthales, or in its own order, the Sarraceniales. The Byblidaceae, Cephalotaceae, and Roridulaceae were placed in the Saxifragales; and the Lentibulariaceae in the Scrophulariales (now subsumed into the Lamiales[47]). In more modern classification, such as that of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, the families have been retained, but they have been redistributed amongst several disparate orders. It is also recommended that Drosophyllum be considered in a monotypic family outside the rest of the Droseraceae, probably more closely allied to the Dioncophyllaceae. The current recommendations are shown below (only carnivorous genera are listed): Dicots [ edit ] Monocots [ edit ] Cultivation [ edit ] Sarracenia hybrids are easy to grow. Manyhybrids are easy to grow. In horticulture, carnivorous plants are considered a curiosity or a rarity, but are becoming more common in cultivation with the advent of mass-production tissue-culture propagation techniques. Venus flytraps are still the most commonly grown, usually available at garden centers and hardware stores, sometimes offered alongside other easy to grow varieties. Nurseries that specialize in growing carnivorous plants exclusively also exist, more uncommon or demanding varieties of carnivorous plants can be obtained from specialist nurseries. California Carnivores is a notable example of such a nursery in the US that specializes in the cultivation of carnivorous plants. It is owned and operated by horticulturalist Peter D'Amato[48]. Rob Cantley's Borneo Exotics in Sri Lanka is a large nursery that sells worldwide. [49] Although different species of carnivorous plants have different cultivation requirements in terms of sunlight, humidity, soil moisture, etc., there are commonalities. Most carnivorous plants require rainwater, or water that has been distilled, deionised by reverse osmosis, or acidified to around pH 6.5 using sulfuric acid. Common tap or drinking water contains minerals (particularly calcium salts) that will quickly build up and kill the plant. This is because most carnivorous plants have evolved in nutrient-poor, acidic soils and are consequently extreme calcifuges. They are therefore very sensitive to excessive soil-borne nutrients. Since most of these plants are found in bogs, almost all are very intolerant of drying. There are exceptions: tuberous sundews require a dry (summer) dormancy period, and Drosophyllum requires much drier conditions than most. Outdoor-grown carnivorous plants generally catch more than enough insects to keep themselves properly fed. Insects may be fed to the plants by hand to supplement their diet; however, carnivorous plants are generally unable to digest large non-insect food items; bits of hamburger, for example, will simply rot, and this may cause the trap, or even the whole plant, to die. A carnivorous plant that catches no insects at all will rarely die, although its growth may be impaired. In general, these plants are best left to their own devices: after underwatering with tap-water, the most common cause of Venus flytrap death is prodding the traps to watch them close and feeding them inappropriate items. Most carnivorous plants require bright light, and most will look better under such conditions, as this encourages them to synthesise red and purple anthocyanin pigments. Nepenthes and Pinguicula will do better out of full sun, but most other species are happy in direct sunlight. Carnivores mostly live in bogs, and those that do not are generally tropical. Hence, most require high humidity. On a small scale, this can be achieved by placing the plant in a wide saucer containing pebbles that are kept permanently wet. Small Nepenthes species grow well in large terraria. Many carnivores are native to cold temperate regions and can be grown outside in a bog garden year-round. Most Sarracenia can tolerate temperatures well below freezing, despite most species being native to the southeastern United States. Species of Drosera and Pinguicula also tolerate subfreezing temperatures. Nepenthes species, which are tropical, require temperatures from 20 to 30 °C to thrive. Nepenthes rajah and a few other species. Cultivatedand a few other species. Carnivorous plants require appropriate nutrient-poor soil. Most appreciate a 3:1 mixture of Sphagnum peat to sharp horticultural sand (coir is an acceptable, and more ecofriendly substitute for peat). Nepenthes will grow in orchid compost or in pure Sphagnum moss. Carnivorous plants are themselves susceptible to infestation by parasites such as aphids or mealybugs. Although small infestations can be removed by hand, larger infestations necessitate use of an insecticide. Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is effective as a topical insecticide, particularly on scale insects. Diazinon is an excellent systemic insecticide that is tolerated by most carnivorous plants. Malathion and Acephate (Orthene) have also been reported as tolerable by carnivorous plants. Although insects can be a problem, by far the biggest killer of carnivorous plants (besides human maltreatment) is grey mold (Botrytis cinerea). This thrives under warm, humid conditions and can be a real problem in winter. To some extent, temperate carnivorous plants can be protected from this pathogen by ensuring that they are kept cool and well ventilated in winter and that any dead leaves are removed promptly. If this fails, a fungicide is in order. The easiest carnivorous plants for beginners are those from the cool temperate zone. These plants will do well under cool greenhouse conditions (minimum 5 °C in winter, maximum 25 °C in summer) if kept in wide trays of acidified or rain water during summer and kept moist during winter: Drosera capensis, the Cape sundew: attractive strap-leaved sundew, pink flowers, very tolerant of maltreatment. , the Cape sundew: attractive strap-leaved sundew, pink flowers, very tolerant of maltreatment. Drosera binata, the fork-leaved sundew: large, Y -shaped leaves. , the fork-leaved sundew: large, -shaped leaves. Sarracenia flava, the yellow trumpet pitcher: yellow, attractively veined leaves, yellow flowers in spring. , the yellow trumpet pitcher: yellow, attractively veined leaves, yellow flowers in spring. Pinguicula grandiflora, the common butterwort: purple flowers in spring, hibernates as a bud (hibernaculum) in winter. Fully hardy. , the common butterwort: purple flowers in spring, hibernates as a bud (hibernaculum) in winter. Fully hardy. Pinguicula moranensis, the Mexican butterwort: pink flowers, non-carnivorous leaves in winter. Venus flytraps will do well under these conditions but are actually rather difficult to grow: even if treated well, they will often succumb to grey mold in winter unless well ventilated. Some of the lowland Nepenthes are very easy to grow as long as they are provided with relatively constant, hot and humid conditions. Medicinal uses [ edit ] A study published in 2009 by researchers from Tel Aviv University indicates that secretions produced by carnivorous plants contain compounds that have anti-fungal properties and may lead to the development of a new class of anti-fungal drugs that will be effective against infections that are resistant to current anti-fungal drugs.[50][51] Cultural depictions [ edit ] Land and Sea by J.W. Buel, 1887 Depiction of a native being consumed by a Yateveo ("I see you") carnivorous tree of Central America, fromby J.W. Buel, 1887 Carnivorous plants have long been the subject of popular interest and exposition, much of it highly inaccurate. Fictional plants have been featured in a number of books, movies, television series, and video games. Typically, these fictional depictions include exaggerated characteristics, such as enormous size or possession of abilities beyond the realm of reality, and can be viewed as a kind of artistic license. Two of the most famous examples of fictional carnivorous plants in popular culture are the 1960s black comedy The Little Shop of Horrors and the triffids of John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids. Other movies, such as The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971), and television series utilize accurate depictions of carnivorous plants for cinematic purposes. The earliest known depiction of carnivorous plants in popular culture was a case wherein a large man-eating tree was reported to have consumed a young woman in Madagascar in 1878. The South Australian Register carried the story in 1881. It was accompanied by an illustration of the tree consuming the woman, said to be a member from the "little known but cruel tribe" called the Mkodos. The story was attributed to a Dr. Carl Liche who supposedly witnessed the event. The account has been debunked as pure myth as it appears Dr. Liche, the Mkodos, and the tree were all fabrications.[52] See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] Further reading [ edit ]Share. This Warrior ditched the sword and board for an arm cannon. This Warrior ditched the sword and board for an arm cannon. WildStar is poised to offer an innovative sci-fi MMO spin at every turn. From the standout class abilities, dynamic combat mechanics, unique races, customizable housing, personalized pathing system, easy-to-read quests, fast-paced PvP, or even hardcore end-game raiding, developer Carbine seems to have an answer for everything, making us very excited about what’s to come. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a few WildStar developers, including Hugh Shelton (Lead Class Designer), Chris Lynch (Lead Combat Designer), Chad Moore (Lead Narrative Designer), and Marc Matzenbacher (Warrior Systems Designer) to dig deeper into the Warrior class. Read on to find out 10 things we learned about WildStar’s most stalwart bunch. Exit Theatre Mode 1. What type of player will the Warrior appeal to? The Warriors in WildStar may live in the future, but they’re still tied to their brutish roots. Their sword still defines who they are, and as such they're the type of character who lives for getting straight into the heat of battle to test their strength. Players who love tanking and defending their allies, as well as straight on force, huge sword swipes, and big, over-the-top direct damage will make the perfect Warrior. 2. What types of weapons can the Warrior use? While WildStar's Warriors may be traditionalists at heart and mainly carry around a huge tech-sword, they recognize that a blade can't always solve the futuristic problems of Nexus. To remedy this problem they carry an Arm Cannon. This fun toy, which will be used a little more on the tank side than the damage dealing side, is like a Swiss army knife that allows Warriors to use many ranged attacks – something uncommon in standard Warrior archetypes. "The Arm Cannon gives you access to a large variety of attacks, they're not all just ranged missile attacks," explained Shelton. "Some of these things create a plasma wall in front of you so you take less damage as long as it's up. It gives you a wide range of utility." 3. What kind of armor does a Warrior Wear? Warriors are the biggest and most imposing characters in WildStar. To that end, they wear the beefiest armor in the game, Heavy Armor, and are also the most resilient to damage. To make up for their high survivability, they deal less overall damage than some of the other classes. 4. What kind of shield does a Warrior use? In addition to Heavy Armor, Warriors also use shields. Since WildStar takes place in the future, we're not talking your typical sword-and-board-type shield here. WildStar's shields are more like forcefields added to your health that regenerate as long as you don’t take any damage. Shields are itemized and you'll get better shields over time as you level up. Warrior tanks in particular have extra abilities that bulk up their shields that other tanks don't have access to, like moves that regenerate their shield when they attack. WildStar's swords are imbued with power. 5. What is a Warrior's role in combat? WildStar makes use of a system called Action Sets to help players not feel overwhelmed by the number of abilities at their disposal. Each class will have 30 abilities total, but you'll only be able to put eight on your Action Set at a time. According to Lynch, "You are building your set or your play style that you want to go into combat with." Action Sets are generally made up of a few basic abilities, a main strike ability, a proc ability that triggers when certain conditions are met, and some utility moves. Warriors in particular will have to choose an action set based on whether they want to be tanking or dealing damage. 6. How do I improve my Warrior's abilities? In addition to Action Sets, WildStar also incorporates Ability Tiers, allowing you to improve specific abilities based on your personal play style. "At level 10 you start earning points that you can put into your abilities to make them more powerful," explained Lynch. This is a way for players to upgrade the abilities they like or deem valuable, and will allow players to differentiate their Warriors. 7. How can Warriors be tanks and damage dealers? While you can choose what kind of Warrior abilities you'll be using via your Action Set, Warriors also have access to two stances that will further enhance their combat potential. The offensive stance, Juggernaut, reduces mitigation but increases damage output. Alternatively, the defensive or tank stance, Bulwark, increases a Warrior's threat generation without sacrificing any mitigation, only damage output. Players will be able to freely switch between stances and action sets when they're out of combat, so it will be easy to change things up based on every situation. 8. What is the Warrior's Primary Resource? In WildStar, Warriors use a resource called Kinetic Energy to dynamically change the power of their abilities. Basically, a Warrior starts a fight with no Kinetic Energy, but as he fights and moves around the battlefield, it will start to build up, strengthening his attacks or in some cases unlocking new ones. "One example from the DPS side is power strike," said Matzenbacher. "You need a certain amount of Kinetic Energy to use it, and as you use it more and more it becomes faster." Using attacks doesn't necessarily consume energy, but if you stop moving and attacking, your energy will begin to decay. You get a lot of bonuses for staying at high energy, so the developers hope Warriors will want to charge into fights first to get their energy up so that they can use their powerful high-energy attacks sooner. Kinetic Energy buildup and decay will also help Warriors to unleash sustained damage over time rather than strong burst attacks. 9. Do Warriors get any unique abilities? Every class in WildStar gets some sort of innate, or powerful unique ability. Since Warriors have two stances, they also have two innate abilities, one for each stance. Innate abilities are to be used situationally, as they have the longest cooldown of any ability on an action set, currently two minutes for the Warrior's, and they greatly enhance either stance. Activating a Juggernaut Warrior's innate ability makes him go into a frenzy. It resets cooldowns, increases their damage and movement speed, and stops Kinetic Energy decay. A Bulwark Warrior on the other hand can activate an innate ability that prevents incoming damage and stops Kinetic Energy from draining. 10. How do Warriors approach area of effect combat? Melee combat in WildStar is quite different from other MMOs thanks to the freeform targeting system. With freeform targeting, players can hit every enemy around them rather than just the one they're targeting. For Warriors in particular, freeform targeting greatly enhances gameplay. "You really have to pay attention to your surroundings, where your enemies are at, positioning yourself so you can hit the most amount of enemies possible while taking the least amount of damage yourself," said Lynch. Warriors are just one of WildStar’s six classes. We’ll be taking an in-depth look at the Esper next. What do you think of the Warrior? Leah B. Jackson is an Associate Editor at IGN. Feel free to follow her/send tips on Twitter and MyIGN.I’m a chubby girl — my latest BMI reading put me at 28.6 — who has fought her chubbiness for most of her life. But last year I did something I never thought I’d do: I gave up trying to lose weight. More: 12 confessions of a long-time Diva Cup user I floundered for a while, going on occasional “cleanses” to get my body “back on track.” But eventually that fizzled out too, and instead I joined a yoga studio. I was going through one of the most anxious parts of my life, and I thought yoga might help. With time, yoga did improve my anxiety, and it opened me up to other forms of exercise like hiking and dancing. I was arguably the healthiest and most content I’d ever been. I still wasn’t thin, but for the first time, I realized maybe I didn’t have to be. According to Linda Bacon, PhD — a nutrition professor, researcher and author of the book Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth about Your Weight — this is why we need to shift the way we think about health: “If we want to support people in feeling good in their bodies, we need to take the conversation away from weight and put it on the things the matter. Things like having purpose and meaning and community and friends and relationships and eating well and being active — all those other things that nourish us — and let weight settle where it may.” If I had heard this when I was trying to lose weight, I would have thought, NO! We can’t just let weight settle where it may. Everyone will become obese! As an overweight person, I lived in constant fear that I would put on even more weight. I thought of my body as a kind of out-of-control, glutinous animal that had no idea how to take care of itself. But Bacon says our bodies are actually pretty good at self-regulating and have all kinds of mechanisms to make sure they’re taking in what they need, like the oft-discussed “set-point,” wherein the body tends to find a weight it’s comfortable at and stay there despite calorie reduction or increase. Dieting, and our culture obsessed with weight loss, is screwing with those mechanisms. “If you’re not getting enough calories or certain nutritional needs met, your body’s going to set you up to be craving more calories and nutrients and fighting the limitations of the diet,” she says. “Threats to people’s willpower are not because of lack of character. There’s physiology that is pushing them to break their diet.” Still, if that’s what it takes to lose weight so we can be healthy, it’s worth it, right? Not so. According to Bacon, and many other advocates in the body-positive space, we have to recognize that weight is a faulty way of measuring wellness and longevity. “It’s fairly indisputable at this point that the largest indicator of health is going to be what we call the social determinants of health,” Bacon says. These are things like your social status, class, wealth, race or even intimate friendships. And despite the diet industry’s insistence that those are negligible, she says these things have as strong an impact, if not stronger, than diet and exercise on overall well-being. More: Dear skinny me, I will still love you when you’re fat again In fact, Bacon has even suggested that it’s not fat but rather the bias against fat that is causing people harm. “It is hard to live in a larger body in this world. People are just cruel. It affects your ability to make money, to get a job, to advance, to rent an apartment, to get into school [or to succeed in] your social life.” We think we’re helping when we give friends diet and weight-loss tips, but actually we’re fueling some seriously health-harming shame. One study that supports this followed over 19,000 people across 15 years and suggests that people who are satisfied with their weight have better health behaviors and health status regardless of how much fat they have. Liking your body, no matter how much fat it has, is good for you. Despite the scary headlines suggesting otherwise, the data is remarkably kind to fat. For example, people in the “overweight” category of BMI live longer than those in the “normal” category; people in the “obese” category aren’t living shorter lives than those in “normal” category; and it was actually the thinnest people who had the worst prognosis. This was true of the elderly as well, among whom obesity seemed to make their lives even longer despite the fact that obese people are less likely to see their doctors overall. The reason we’re more likely to hear about the dangers of excess fat is not because fat is especially dangerous, Bacon suggests, but because studies are often measuring only body weight and are ignoring the social determinants of health, like diet or exercise (which fat people can have completely healthy relationships with!), or race, income and close relationships. If people with larger bodies are eating well, moving their bodies and aren’t suffering the psychological effects of poverty, their fatness doesn’t seem to have much of an impact, and sometimes it can even be a benefit. One example Bacon gives is as follows: “Heavier people are much less likely to get osteoporosis. When you consider that 50 percent of Caucasian women are going to get osteoporosis, that’s major.” Another study reports that losing weight didn’t make people with type 2 diabetes have fewer strokes or heart attacks. There’s also research — what has been dubbed “the obesity paradox” — that in patients with cardiovascular disease, those with obese bodies have better survival outcomes. That study also acknowledged that there is a large subset of the obese population that have no other health complications and that a lack of movement seems to be much more concerning than body size. “Instead of looking at weight as just good or bad,” Bacon asks, “why can’t we just accept it?” “Are we fatter than we were 50 years ago? Definitely,” Bacon admits. But all the other consequences that we’ve been told come with it — decrying obesity as an “epidemic,” or saying our children will live shorter lives (nope — our longevity is still increasing, although it’s clearly better for rich people) — have been widely exaggerated. “Even when [weight] does play a role in health, a focus on weight isn’t helpful,” Bacon says. There is too much at risk and too many factors to consider — income, self-esteem, race, social relationships and more. Focusing on weight is like playing the outfield by focusing
’ve read to be able to log the location. For more information on Earth caches, visit EarthCache.org. Event An event cache is a gathering of local geocachers who meet at a set location. Numbers can vary with mega events attracting 500+ people and giga events over 5000. Many people experiment with geocaches so you may wander across something new if you decide to take up this hobby. Let us know about your geocaching experiences on our Twitter or Facebook pages.Hardly a week goes by when I don’t hear from a reader wondering about the origins of a bogus credit card charge for $49.95 or some similar amount for a product they never ordered. As this post will explain, such charges appear to be the result of crooks trying to game various online affiliate programs by using stolen credit cards. Most of these charges are associated with companies marketing products of dubious value and quality, typically by knitting a complex web of front companies, customer support centers and card processing networks. Whether we’re talking about a $49.95 payment for a bottle of overpriced vitamins, $12.96 for some no-name software title, or $9.84 for a dodgy Internet marketing program, the unauthorized charge usually is for a good or service that is intended to be marketed by an online affiliate program. Affiliate programs are marketing machines built to sell a huge variety of products or services that are often of questionable quality and unknown provenance. Very often, affiliate programs are promoted using spam, and the stuff pimped by them includes generic prescription drugs, vitamins and “nutriceuticals,” and knockoff designer purses, watches, handbags, shoes and sports jerseys. At the core of the affiliate program is a partnership of convenience: The affiliate managers handle the boring backoffice stuff, including the customer service, product procurement (suppliers) and order fulfillment (shipping). The sole job of the “affiliates” — the commission-based freelance marketers who sign up to promote whatever is being sold by the affiliate program — is to drive traffic and sales to the program. THE NEW FACE OF SPAM It is no surprise, then, that online affiliate programs like these often are overrun with scammers, spammers and others easily snagged by the lure of get-rich-quick schemes. In June, I began hearing from dozens of readers about unauthorized charges on their credit card statements for $49.95. The charges all showed up alongside various toll-free 888- numbers or names of customer support Web sites, such as supportacr[dot]com and acrsupport[dot]com. Readers who called these numbers or took advantage of the chat interfaces at these support sites were all told they’d ordered some kind of fat-burning pill or vitamin from some random site, such as greenteahealthdiet[dot]com or naturalfatburngarcinia[dot]com. Those sites were among tens of thousands that are being promoted via spam, according to Gary Warner, chief technologist at Malcovery, an email security firm. The Web site names themselves are not included in the spam; rather, the spammers include a clickable URL for a hacked Web site that, when visited, redirects the user to the pill shop’s page. This redirection is done to avoid having the pill shop pages indexed by anti-spam filters and other types of blacklists used by security firms, Warner said. The spam advertising these pill sites is not typical junk email blasted by botnet-infected home PCs, but rather is mostly “Webspam” sent via hacked Webmail accounts, said Damon McCoy, an assistant professor of computer science at George Mason University. “Herbal spam from compromised Webmail accounts is a huge problem,” said McCoy, who has co-authored numerous studies on dodgy affiliate programs. Several sources at financial institutions that have been helping customers battle these charges say most of those customers at one point in the past used their credit cards to donate to one of several religious, political activist, and social service organizations online. I may at some point post another story about this aspect of the fraud if I can firm it up any more. McCoy believes that most of the fraudulent charges associated with these affiliate program Web sites are the result of rogue affiliates who are merely abusing the affiliate program to “cash out” credit card numbers stolen in data breaches or purchased from underground stores that sell stolen card data. “My guess is these are ‘legit’ herbal affiliate programs that are getting burned by bad affiliates,” McCoy said. Affiliate fraud was a major problem for the two captains of competing pharmacy spam affiliate programs who are profiled in my upcoming book, Spam Nation. Most of the affiliate programs featured in my book dealt with the problem of scammers trying to use stolen cards to generate phony sales by placing two-week “holds” or “holdbacks” on all affiliate commissions: That way, if an affiliate’s “purchases” generated too many chargebacks, the affiliate program could terminate the affiliate and avoid paying commissions on the fraudulent charges. But McCoy said it’s likely that this herbal affiliate program is not employing holdbacks, at least not in any timeframe that could deter rogue affiliates from running stolen cards through the system. “If this affiliate program doesn’t have a holdback, they are a great target for this type of fraud,” McCoy said. As if in recognition of this problem, the herbal pill Web sites ultimately promoted in these Webspam attacks are tied to a sprawling network of thousands of similar sites, all of which come with their own dedicated customer support Web site and phone number (866- and 888- numbers). Those same support phone numbers are listed next to the fraudulent charges on customers’ monthly credit card statements. In virtually all cases, the organization names listed on these support Web sites are legally registered, incorporated companies based in Florida. All of the banks I spoke with in researching this story said customers told them that the support staff answering the phones at the 888- and 866- numbers tied to the herbal pill sites were more than happy to reverse the fraudulent charges. The last thing these affiliate programs want is a bunch of chargebacks: Too many chargebacks can cause the merchant to lose access to Visa and MasterCard’s processing networks, and can bring steep fines. Not that legitimate customers of these dodgy vitamin shops are in for the best customer service experience either. Very often, ordering from one of these affiliate marketing programs invites even more trouble. A note appended in fine print to the bottom of the checkout page on all of the herbal pill sites advises: “As part of your subscription, you will automatically receive additional bottles every 3 Months. Your credit card used in this initial order will be used for future automatic orders, and will be charged $148.00 (Includes S/H).” If you see charges like these or any other activity on your credit or debit card that you did not authorize, contact your bank and report the fraud immediately. I think it’s also a good idea in cases like this to request a new card in the odd chance your bank doesn’t offer it: After all, it’s a good bet that your card is in the hands of crooks, and is likely to be abused like this again. Tags: $12.96, $49.95, $9.84, Damon McCoy, gary warner, George Mason University, malcovery, Spam NationAhmad Ali Jafari, 20 February 1987–20 June 2013 I first met Ahmad Ali Jafari in the Villawood detention centre in mid-2012 while conducting art lessons with the Refugee Art Project. Though he had no experience of making art, Ahmad was a willing and enthusiastic participant in our class. He was a short, compact man with a slightly rounded belly, who had an air of tidiness about him. His hair was thick, glossy and straight, and was cut in such a way as to appear coiffed. We amongst his friends developed a hand action to describe this, in which the middle and index finger would descend swiftly from the left edge of the hairline and sweep down, across the right side of the forehead, a gesture accompanied by a swishing sound of the lips. This became so strongly associated with Ahmad that instead of pronouncing his name we would perform the swish that described his appearance and which encapsulated something of our affection for the man. Like so many of those detained at Villawood, Ahmad had undergone a long and arduous refugee journey. A member of Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority, his family fled their country in 1997 after his father disappeared at the hands of the Taliban. They moved across the border into Pakistan, finding an uncertain home in the city of Quetta, where over half a million Hazaras have lived a sort of half-life, waiting for a time when they could return to their country. Once a safe haven for refugees, Quetta has become increasingly dangerous in recent years on account of the Lashkar-e Jangvi and other radical groups who target Hazaras for their Shia faith. Most Hazaras live in two designated areas, ‘Hazara town’ and the suburb of Mehrabad/Mariabad, which have become ethnic and religious ghettoes on the western and eastern edges of the city. Ahmad fled Pakistan for Europe at the age of 18, travelling for many months in trains, boats and hiding under trucks – through Iran, Turkey, Greece, and France before arriving in the UK in 2005. Once in Britain, he applied for asylum, enrolled in courses to study English and undertook voluntary work with a refugee support group in Gloucester. In 2009, British authorities rejected Ahmad’s claim to refugee status and forcibly deported him to Afghanistan, as they did many other Afghans seeking refuge. Homeless in Kabul and with no remaining relatives in any part of the country, he journeyed to Pakistan to be reunited with his remaining family. Though he found work in Quetta and was engaged to be married, he again experienced the precariousness of life as a non-citizen in a volatile environment, when the Taliban beat him and stole his motorbike. Finding the assistance of a people-smuggler, Ahmad made a second escape, this times to Australia. After arriving here, Ahmad was placed in community detention as his refugee claim was processed. Like most asylum seekers, he preferred this to a detention centre, as it gave him a sense of freedom and autonomy. A photo of Ahmad outside the Sydney Opera House, bathed in afternoon light, is a study in contentment. This was abruptly terminated, however, when the Department of Immigration ordered his return to detention after confusing him with someone of the same name who had served a prison sentence in the UK. It was a fantastic error, given that Ahmad was never incarcerated in Britain and had no police record. Once in detention, he obtained his own police clearance to prove his innocence and to show that he had been falsely detained. Yet immigration officials had no interest in releasing him, ensuring he would stay in Villawood for twelve months. A few weeks before he died, he drew a single page comic. It tells the story of this incident, relating his despair at the administrative blunder that had taken away his freedom. For reasons of privacy he adopted a pseudonym, going under the name of ‘Batur’. ‘Frustration’, Ahmad Ali Jafari aka Batur, pen and ink on paper, 21x29cm Ahmad was a kind person with a gentle manner. Though you might guess him to be in his mid‐thirties (a whole decade older than he was) his smile was that of a much younger man. He seemed highly conscientious and took evident pride in serving others. No sooner had we arrived in Villawood than he would be on hand to request our orders for water, tea, juice or coffee. He made a delicious, hot, frothy dhoodh patti (milk tea) much like you would taste in Pakistan. We teasingly called him chai wala, (denoting those who make a living from preparing and selling tea in roadside stalls) to which he would laugh and insist that he was only fulfilling the duties of an honourable host. Perhaps reflecting on this joke, he drew the kitchen area of the visitor’s section at Villawood, where so many teas were prepared. ‘Villawood visitor’s area’, Ahmad Ali Jafari, pencil on paper, 29x21cm Ahmad wrote poetry in Urdu, which was not his first language but in which he was nonetheless fluent. He would sometimes recite a couplet or jot it down on a napkin, which was another one of his endearing habits. I think because he didn’t consider himself a serious ‘artist’ he would often draw or write on the disposable objects at our table, utilizing napkins or the sides of Styrofoam cups. One day he gave me a clutch of poems, which I translated with the assistance of his friends in detention. When scanned in English, conventional Urdu poetry can seem breathless and melodramatic though it in fact utilizes a flexible and highly sophisticated range of tropes and metaphors that relate to the themes of love, desire, loss and separation. The poet/lover experiences an ardent and unfulfilled yearning for the figure of the beloved, which could be a real person, an ideal theme or representation of God. This opens the poem up to different possibilities of interpretation. Whilst the subject of loss can have a mystical connotation, evoking humanity’s distance from the divine embrace, it may also touch upon real, worldly calamities and misfortunes. In Ahmad’s poems, there are strong allusions to his status as a refugee in detention whose future was unresolved and whose aspiration to live in safety had not yet been realized. In this night of solitude, there are thousands of dreams, But there are more pains in my heart – thousands of sorrows. Is bekasi ki sham men, sapne hazar hain, dukh dil mein aur bhi hain, gham bhi hazar hain. The hope that was in my heart, unknown, was just a dream, I thirsted by that garden, which was worse than any desert! Mere dil men jo arman tha, na jane ek sapna tha, Main jis gulshan ka piyasa tha, woh sehra se badtar tha. If you had spoken to me with love, everything I had was yours, If you had put me to the test, I would not have been disloyal. Agar tu pyar se kehta mera sab kuch tumhara tha, Mujhe tu azman leta, main itna bewafa na tha. The heart is that strange city of loyalty which, as now, though the path leads close to you, is still searching. Dil wo gharib shahr-i wafa hai ke ab jaise Tere qarib reh ke bhi teri talash hai. The circumstances of Ahmad’s case are depressingly common for Afghans and other refugees in Australia’s detention system. Despite fleeing his country (and neighbouring Pakistan) not once but twice, he was caught in the same convoluted net of legal rejections and appeals that our government enforces on asylum seekers to show our ‘toughness’ towards those who arrived by boat. That an inept official had falsely identified him as having a criminal record put Ahmad under enormous added stress. Despite his composed appearance he was grappling with depression, anxiety and sleeplessness, for which he required daily medication. In the evening of 20 June 2013, he suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 26. Whilst it is no doubt possible he had an underlying and undiagnosed heart condition (which is the assumption among medical staff and police for those who die so young of heart failure) there is the unpleasant and undignified reality of his treatment at the hands of Villawood staff. According to Ahmad’s roommate and a friend who witnessed the event, his initial complaints of chest pain were mocked by a SERCO officer who judged him to be pretending. Though he was lying on the floor of his room and in obvious distress, the person in charge decided he was putting on an act and dismissively laughed about the whole thing. It was only as Ahmad screamed and his body turned black that Villawood staff made the decision to send for an ambulance. Throughout this ordeal, Ahmad’s friends stood by in shock, distraught and powerless to do anything for him. The ambulance staff worked on him for about twenty minutes but it was too late and he was dead by the time they had him in the vehicle. That he was shown so little dignity in a time of intense suffering has magnified the grief of everyone who knew him. We miss him dearly and regret that a life of courage, generosity, humour and perseverance should have ended in such desperate and horrible circumstances. ‘Portrait of Ahmad Ali Jafari’, Safdar Ahmed, pencil on paper, 21x29cmKiya Babzani wants men to stop overthinking their jeans. "It's so simple, and we made it so complicated," he says, referring to the sort of confusion that often accompanies the purchase of raw denim. "The Internet has created this thing that raw denim is complicated and difficult and uncomfortable. It doesn't have to be any of those things." We're chatting because just last week, in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Babzani opened up the most recent outpost of Self Edge, the denim-centric store he founded a nearly a decade ago. It's the first Self Edge shop outside of the States, and it brought with it its own set of challenges. "We thought it would cost us less to open a store in Mexico; we were wrong," he says, laughing. Still, it seemed a natural move. Babzani and his wife had been visiting the region for some time, and even bought a house there. Why not, he figured, open a store as well? "We fall in love with a place and we want to open a store there. Business-wise, it's probably a bad idea." Nevertheless, it's worked thus far. He's got locations in San Francisco, Portland, L.A., and New York, in addition to this new one south of the border. Inside Self Edge Mexico. Bernardo Arce It's not a carbon copy of its northern brothers, though. "We thought this would be a good chance for us to do something creative and a little bit different," says Babzani. Located on Flora Farm—a 10-acre foodie destination that's home to not only an organic farm, but a restaurant, bar, and a few select retail outlets—Self Edge Mexico is something of a concept shop, full of patterned shirts, swimwear, shorts, and other vacation essentials, most of which come from the same Japanese brands that meticulously craft the high-end denim for which Self Edge is known. Which brings us back to the jeans. The shop in Mexico carries those, too—a couple styles from each brand Babzani stocks. And if the lessons he's learned from interacting with customers in his U.S. locations and online have taught him anything, it's that the guys buying them tend to be more than a little confused. Sizing, soaking, wearing, washing… each part of the denim-buying process has become a possible point of consternation. And the fact that Self Edge specializes in unsanforized, shrink-to-fit denim—which has much more character and ages more gracefully, according to Babzani—makes it even tougher for some guys to wrap their heads around. But it shouldn't be. "It's so simple, and we made it so complicated," Babzani explains. "If [the denim is] sanforized, you get 'em to fit. If it's unsanforized, you make sure you have an extra inch of room in the waist [to allow for shrinkage]. That's the general rule, and it applies to almost every single thing we sell." It's all about the texture. Unsanforized denim, close up. Courtesy: Self Edge Next, you give them a soak if they're unsanforized. They'll shrink down to size. And then? Wear your jeans. Simple as that. "With unsanforized denim, once you soak it, you can wear it just like a sanforized jean." When they get dirty, wash them. In a washing machine. Really? "Yeah, wash 'em in the washing machine," Babzani says with a laugh. Jeans are tough, he explains. If your shirt and boxers aren't getting destroyed, your precious denim will be just fine. Then, hang them to dry. And don't worry about waiting months or years to do it. For one, the dirt will break down the fibers and cause early-onset tearing. And for another, with unsanforized denim, you'll get that defined fading you're looking for, even if you wash regularly. "You can wash your jeans every month and still get a better fade pattern [than with sanforized denim]," Babzani says. "It ages in a graceful way. You may not be able to tell why you spent $300 on that pair of jeans the day you bought it, but six months down the road, you definitely know why. And as time goes on, you understand why you spent that money." So that's it? That's it. "Buy the right size—don't size down—and wash your pants. It's very simple."The escalating crisis surrounding the Russia investigation (with reports last night on FBI interest in Jared Kushner) looks like good news for somebody in the White House: Steve Bannon. Nine sources in the West Wing and within Trump's close orbit said the Russia situation is Bannon's shot at redemption. He's being described as a "wartime consigliere" relishing a fight against the "deep state," media, Democrats and investigators. Why it matters: Bannon had been on very rocky footing recently (to the extent that the President has vented to a number of people about him), but the bolstering of the White House team to respond to the outside crises is a joint effort led by Kushner, Bannon and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, two sources said. The senior staff that had been out for each other is now united by a common enemy.You know that website, that one you've never visited or heard of? It's called Porn...place? Porn...hut? Wait, no, it's Pornhub. Yeah, that place your friend visits sometimes. Well, tell your friend that Pornhub is launching a new subscription service that they promise will make them the "Netflix of porn." Pornhub Premium will cost you $9.99/month and give access to some member-exclusive videos, an ad-free interface, and Android and Roku apps when they come out in the near future. By early 2016, they say, support for virtual reality devices will be ready to go for subscribers as well. Platform support will surely be limited by various content restrictions, but there shouldn't be any problems getting the app installed on Android devices once it comes out. Discerning customers may want more details, which the crack team here at Android Police has meticulously researched for you. Subscribers gain access to a library of 13,000 DVDs as well as a heretofore unknown number of exclusive videos by production companies Brazzers, Reality Kings, Backroom Casting Couch, Fake Taxi, and more to be announced in the future. Additionally, Premium members will get higher quality versions of many existing free videos and faster streaming speeds, though the specifics on how that will play out are unclear. For more, visit Pornhub. They are offering free 7-day trials, but be aware that you will be automatically renewed if you don't act to unsubscribe. Pornhub promises "secure and discreet" billing along with 24-hour access to support, so feel free to pepper them with questions if anything comes up.First of all, I want to take the time to thank every single backer who helped me on my first campaign, without them I wouldn't be able to make a game this awesome! Please take a moment to look at the end of the description their names and links to their webpages/social media, i'd appreciate it :-) Now, this is a second campaign I'm creating because after the end of the first successful campaign (with around $400usd) I got messages from some followers on my social media saying they want to see their houses in-game asking me to open another campaign and also, since the game will take place in a town, I'm gonna need A LOT of houses to fill the place up and get the ambience I truly want for the player to experience. So here it is, a second campaign for those who might still be interested in being part of this project! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prelude is a psychological horror game that focuses on strange happenings of a town. The story revolves around a guy who wakes up in his place completely confused to what is happening, being trapped in this town trying to figure out what's going on. Going from house to house, from place to place dealing with many horrid things along the way trying to find a way out. The focus on this game is not using the same route as other classic horror games but to do something new (or at least that's what i want), give you the feeling of hopelessness and fear of the unknown and unfathomable. Trying to survive in this world that was once the place you called home, completely isolated from friends and family, stuck in this infinite loop of despair and fear just looking for a way out of what you could call a nightmare. The game will be for both PC/Mac and mobile iOS/Android so you can enjoy it with full quality from you computer or on the go from your phone! As i already said, I don't really have a wished goal amount for this campaign since the first campaign was successful with around $400usd which was enough to get some essential assets i needed, however, extra funding will be used to be able to work full time on this project as well as purchase extra assets or software that i might need along the way. I already have experience developing video games and you can check them out in my portfolio here: https://juanpedrazadeveloper.wordpress.com/ Without further ado, let me show you a couple more pics of my work so far, this is a pre-alpha build, this is not even 1% of what I'm going to create for the final version of the game in both quantity and quality. List of all the amazing backers from the first campaign * Cameron Yourist TheUnbeholden Chelsy Mariah Winton AestheticGamer Christian Kuprat * Amory Mario S. Sheri Dieck Brendon Wells Monet Curnutt Tim Heer Elf Marlijn Justin Prater NATHAN Cristina Josh Kolanowski Lucus Ovi Adrian Nicola Uda Eva Yancey Zed Clampet Jose Nakia Sanchez Ruiz Marc7454 Gia Zachary Gomez Tyler Hunt William DeGrandpre Holoandwolf Yodysseus IV (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2UEMzZ7t30zgEaiHuRyjsw) Kimber Miller Chris Callaghan Cameron Blaisdell ¨Jesse Gidwill Ashley Zimerman-Spraggs Dusk Shadow Erikasaku Bennet Bieck Brett Persson Anthony Fuller Carmen Marin VGames4Lif3 (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAMbj4SjE8ZCyRYjiUi5pvA) Julie Kunz Nissa Day C. M. Turner *Pim van der HarstThe Delhi elections are being closely watched by political leaders across the spectrum, with many regional parties in particular, praying that AAP will break the stranglehold of the BJP in India. States like West Bengal and Bihar which will go to polls in the next two years, in particular are looking for a chink in the BJP armour, which has seemed impenetrable so far. Little wonder then that these avowed'secular' leaders are suddenly issuing calls, asking the people of Delhi to support AAP. Here is a list of leaders who are batting for AAP this election: 1. Mamata Banerjee West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee on Thursday issued a statement saying, “My request to all of you in Delhi is to please vote for AAP… for the greater need of the country and development in Delhi.” According to the Indian Express, Mamata's call for support to AAP is also in line with her policy for a “federal front” made up of regional parties. However until now, Banerjee has opposed to Arvind Kejriwal and his party as she feels they have only copied her political funda— simplicity and a “common man” lifestyle. 2. Nitish Kumar Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar may shortly issue an appeal to people to back AAP candidates. He has already wished Kejriwal the best of luck. The Bihar consortium of Janata Parivar has backed the AAP as well. The group’s constituents have fielded a total of only five candidates in order to not divide the anti-BJP votes. The JD(U) and the Samajwadi Party have also fielded two candidates each. 3. HD Deve Gowda and the Janata Dal (S) Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to her followers to support AAP came a mere 24 hours after the Left parties and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda asked their activists and supporters to back the AAP wherever its candidates were not in the running. Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) had also made a similar request to his followers. 4. Prakash Karat and CPI(M) The CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has asked all party members and supporters to vote for the AAP in 55 seats in the Delhi assembly elections. The Left parties have suffered huge losses in the last two Lok Sabha elections and the West Bengal Assembly elections, and to solidify the anti-BJP votes they have come out in support of the AAP. 5. Mallikarjuna S. Khurbe A Janata Dal (s) MLA Mallikarjuna S. Khurbe, from Karnataka’s Basavakalyana Assembly constituency, was waiting to present a cheque for Rs 1,08,000 to Kejriwal on Thursday, reports the Hindu. Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.Four of the world’s largest cities announced Friday that they will ban diesel cars by 2025 in an effort to cut air pollution.Leaders from Paris, Madrid, Athens, and Mexico City made the declaration at the C40 Mayors Summit, a biennial meeting of civic leaders concerned about climate change. Toxic air is responsible for an estimated 3 million premature deaths each year, according to recent research by the World Health Organization. While diesel engines burn fuel more efficiently and therefore release less carbon dioxide, they do produce nitrogen dioxide and particulates that can inflame and damage people’s lungs. “Mayors have already stood up to say that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face,” said Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris. “Today, we also stand up to say we no longer tolerate air pollution and the health problems and deaths it causes.”By Steve Kim On Tuesday afternoon a media day was held at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood centering on Miguel Cotto, who defends his WBC middleweight belt versus Daniel Geale at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York. There is a lot of speculation that if he should come out victorious, he will face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez next. But true to form, Cotto makes it clear that his career moves are ultimately left up to him. "I don't have pressure on me, I'm always going to do what I'm going to do. I'm always going to do the best for my family, for me,"he said to the gathered press, as he was getting his hands wrapped by Marvin Somodio."I don't think and I don't care about what people say about my career. The only person who dictates what happens in my career is me." It's been widely speculated that HBO would not have agreed to televise the Geale fight without some sort of commitment from Cotto that he would face 'Canelo' in the fall. Cotto did say - "We believe after this fight, we have a verbal agreement with HBO, a verbal agreement with Golden Boy Promotions but we'll see what happens after this fight.'' Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.Donald Trump has entered a new phase of autocratic weirdness. His attack on Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding in the lawsuit against Trump University, was a trifecta. It combined outright racism with an assault on the independent judiciary and a clear warning that Trump would use the presidency to settle personal business scores. His rants at reporters display contempt for the role of a free press. He would govern like a spiteful tyrant, with all the awesome powers of a president of the United States -- settling scores, punishing enemies, making impetuous, ignorant decisions. As this reality sinks in, Trump's campaign should be imploding about now. And it might be -- if other Republican leaders displayed a modicum of concern for the future of the Republic. But with a few notable exceptions, the GOP leadership is either giving Trump a pass, or just taking a pass. You can count the exceptions on the fingers of one hand (and still have the middle finger left over for other uses in this campaign). Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is one. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is a second. And the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, a third. All have spoken out against Trump. Rick Synder, the Republican Governor of Michigan who in big trouble at home, declined to make an endorsement, but otherwise doesn't comment. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, chair of the Republican Governors' Association and the rare high-ranking Latina in Republican politics, has traded gibes with Trump. But lately, she and Trump have been trying to make nice. Jeb Bush has said he will not vote for either Trump or Hillary Clinton, but has not spoken forcefully against him. Karl Rove, who has called Trump "a complete idiot," says he is undecided. Likewise John Kasich and Ted Cruz. Other Republican elected leaders who grasp just what Trump represents are showing their quiet displeasure only by staying away from the convention. That includes several GOP incumbent senators in tight races -- all of whom have nonetheless endorsed Trump and will vote for him. Susan Collins of Maine, the last Republican moderate in the Senate, supports him. Even worse, several Republicans who were savaged, slandered and humiliated by Trump have lined up to endorse him. That craven group includes House Speaker Paul Ryan, his wetness Little Marco Rubio, and John ("I like people who were not captured") McCain. Do these people have no self-respect, and no concern for their country? Surely, they have not had a conversion experience and concluded that Trump will be a great leader. Still worse are people like Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, who provide excuses for Trump's outbursts. After Trump's attack on Judge Curiel and threats to use the presidency to go after him, McConnell helpfully explained that a President Trump would be constrained by the advice of a White House Counsel -- as if Trump's inner staff would be anything but Putin-style flunkies. These are the same people who rail at Barack Obama's supposed abuses of executive power -- for benign and carefully wrought orders like giving more workers overtime pay protection or staying the deportation of exemplary immigrants brought here as young children. What sort of executive do they think Donald Trump might be? One of these senior Republicans should break ranks and demonstrate some concern for the larger stakes by giving a major address warning against the menace of Trump as an incipient fascist. Why doesn't that happen? First, these cowards don't want to face the wrath of pro-Trump voters. Second, they are worried that intensifying the split in the Republican Party will only lead to a bigger November victory for Democrats. And third, some of them think, opportunistically, that a President Trump might be used to further Republican goals, even though he has displayed nothing but contempt for core Republican principles. The trouble with these calculations is that the split is already there. A figure like John McCain, in a close Arizona re-election battle, is already in trouble with the GOP Tea Party base. Endorsing Trump, after having been savaged by Trump, just makes McCain look like a sad old man. John Kasich, the rare contender in the Republican primaries who accurately called out Trump for who he is, will not save his own skin by going wobbly on Trump. He only comes across as weak. Trump is a threat to the American Republic, as real as a terrorist attack or an invasion. If elected, he will set off the gravest constitutional crisis since the Civil War. The Republican leaders who are backing him surely know that. I'd like to believe that at least some of them got into politics for principled reasons. Where are those principles now? Profiles in courage are rare in politics. Recent ones include acting attorney general James Comey's refusal in 2004 to sign off on a key aspect of the Bush Administration's illegal domestic spying program; the 1996 resignation in protest by three top Clinton officials (Peter Edelman, Mary Jo Bane, and Wendell Primus) when Clinton decided to sign a Republican bill destroying the federal guarantee of aid for the needy; and the 1973 "Saturday Night Massacre" resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus, when Richard Nixon ordered them to fire special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox. It fell to Nixon loyalist Robert Bork, then solicitor general, to do the deed. There are few if any Republicans today with the stature and dignity of Elliot Richardson, and one can imagine even fewer in a Trump Administration. A decision by major Republican leaders to call Trump what he is, to say so out loud in a major speech or statement, would be a courageous decision to put country above party. If, through a chain of mishaps, Trump actually became president and America's first dictator, the more principled of these leaders would be wracked with regret. Many more, I'm sad to say, would be scrambling to get into the new Administration. Should the story be written that America lost its democracy, the sheer cowardice of mainstream Republican leaders will be a sorry chapter. --Scratch the Chicago Bears from Terrell Owens’ potential list of suitors. The team won’t have any representatives at the six-time Pro Bowler’s workout on Tuesday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Terrell Owens, 37, hopes to sign with an NFL team, but the Bears don't appear to be interested. AP Photo/Don Wright A former 49er, Eagle, Cowboy, Bill and Bengal, Owens, 37, reportedly plans to hold a
into specifics. When Khomeini, the first supreme leader, set in motion the creation of Setad, it was only supposed to manage and sell properties “without owners” and direct much of the proceeds to charity. Setad was to use the funds to assist war veterans, war widows “and the downtrodden.” According to one of its co-founders, Setad was to operate for no more than two years. Setad has built schools, roads and health clinics, and provided electricity and water in rural and impoverished areas. It has assisted entrepreneurs in development projects. But philanthropy is just a small part of Setad’s overall operations. Under Khamenei’s control, Setad began acquiring property for itself, and kept much of the funds rather than simply redistributing them. With those revenues, the organisation also helps to fund the ultimate seat of power in Iran, the Beite Rahbar, or Leader’s House, according to a former Setad employee and other people familiar with the matter. The first supreme leader, Khomeini, had a small staff. To run the country today, Khamenei employs about 500 people in his administrative offices, many recruited from the military and security services. A complete picture of Setad’s spending and income isn’t possible. Its books are off limits even to Iran’s legislative branch. In 2008, the Iranian Parliament voted to prohibit itself from monitoring organisations that the supreme leader controls, except with his permission. According to a Treasury spokesman, sanctions only apply to subsidiaries if the targeted entity “owns 50 per cent or more of a company.” In practice, Setad controls many businesses in which it holds very small stakes. Reuters identified at least 24 public companies in which Setad — or a company it invested in — held less than 50 per rcent. Those holdings that are publicly traded are worth more than $3.4 billion, Reuters calculated. That figure includes about $3 billion Setad paid in 2009 for a stake in Iran’s largest telecommunications firm. Reuters also identified 14 companies Setad has invested in — directly or through other companies — that couldn’t be valued because they are not publicly traded. All told, Reuters was able to identify about $95 billion in property and corporate assets controlled by Setad. That amount is roughly 40 per cent bigger than the country’s total oil exports last year. It also surpasses independent historians’ estimates of the late shah’s wealth. After toppling the monarchy, the Islamic Republic filed suit in the US against the shah and his wife, Farah Pahlavi, claiming they had stolen $35 billion in Iranian funds, according to court records. In today’s dollars, that sum would be worth about $79 billion. The suit was dismissed. Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies programme at Stanford University who wrote a biography of the shah published in 2011, said he believes the estimate of the shah’s fortune was “extremely exaggerated.” He said the monarch led a truly opulent lifestyle —including owning an automobile collection that may have included 120 fancy vehicles. But, he wrote in the biography: “Those most likely to know estimate the Shah’s fortune to be close to a billion dollars.” With inflation, that would equal about $3 billion in today’s money, a fraction of the worth of Setad’s holdings.Hear the audio version of this story. Georgia will soon get $16 million in federal money through what’s known as the School Improvement Grant program, or SIG. The program aims to turn around states’ lowest-performing schools. Schools that participate have to adopt one of four improvement models. For example, some administrators and teachers might be replaced; a school might convert to a charter school; or it could shut down and reopen under different leadership. Those options can be controversial, but Leslie Hazle Bussey, chief of staff for the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI), said the program has been successful in Georgia. “In particular, I think the most effective lever has been the placement of on-site consultants or what they call their SIG specialists, who come out and make visits and really offer some coaching to both district leaders and school leaders,” she said. Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed a local school turnaround model, called the Opportunity School District. The plan, which goes before voters in November, would allow the state to step in and run so-called ‘chronically failing’ schools. Bussey said the two programs — SIG and OSD — have different approaches to helping schools improve. “I think the core idea with OSD is sort of substituting the governor’s office for the local school board, which is a different level of leadership,” she said. “It’s more, sort of, large-scale organizational governance rather than the day-to-day execution of a school.” Data from the U.S. Education Department show several schools in the SIG program have seen improved academic performance. Georgia education officials will announce the new SIG recipients in November.For the 43 teenage musicians of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, it was a dream about to come true: the ensemble, formed by the Iraqi pianist Zuhal Sultan in 2008, was planning to visit the United States this summer to work a similarly constituted American group, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, of Elgin, Ill., and then to perform in Elgin, Washington, D.C., Chicago and possibly New York (a concert was in the planning stages). But the instability in Iraq has forced the orchestra to cancel the trip. “We had a wonderful model,” said Rachel Maley, an alumnus of the Elgin ensemble who now works for the orchestra in various capacities, and is the project manager for the visit. “The orchestra was to arrive in Elgin at the end of July, and spend three weeks working with our orchestra before going on tour. Fifteen of our string players were going to travel with them, for artistic and musical support as well as cultural exchange, which was an important part of the tour.” Early this week, however, the Elgin orchestra received a message from its contact at the American embassy in Baghdad, saying that because of the insurgency in Iraq, the embassy’s staff had been moved to different areas of Baghdad, and that visa-granting process has therefore been suspended. Because it is impossible to predict whether visas would be available in time, the orchestra canceled its travel plans. “As it was,” Ms. Maley said, “the musicians faced considerable difficulty, since they come from every province in the country, and had to travel to the embassy in Iraq for interviews. We were working on solutions, but now with the insurgency, and with the embassy putting the processes necessary to get a visa on hold, it became impossible.” Will the orchestra get a rain check? “It’s difficult to say,” Ms. Maley said, “but everyone here was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with young musicians from Iraq, and we want to continue the partnership. Perhaps it will work out next summer.”Pete Warren explains how a forensic specialist can retrieve data from your hard drive - even if you think you've deleted everything - that reveals a great deal about you The first time that I really became aware of computer forensics was around eight years ago when I arranged for some hard drives I had bought from a boot fair to be examined by Professor Neil Barrett, an expert in the field. The results were memorable. When Barrett rang me to say that he had found account details for a Paul McCartney - on a hard drive discarded by a merchant bank - I was prepared for the inevitable teasing. "Sure, Neil, I suppose there must be quite a few Paul McCartneys." "Yes, I suppose there are," he replied. "Not too many called 'Sir', though." Spy in the machine Your hard drive is watching you: it's the spy in the machine. It records all you do online - where you go, what you look at, what you read and write. And that data can live on even if you think you've wiped it away. Like a traitor, your hard drive could reveal far more about you than you ever wanted it to. The machine I use to inspect hard drives is a purpose-built computer with a reasonably powerful processor and a hard drive of its own with 1 terabyte of storage. It cost £2,000 and it's the equivalent of a custom car, with quick-release sliding panels and drive cases for easy loading of the hard drives I am asked to look at. Most importantly, it has computer forensic software - which cost another £2,000. Mine was supplied by Access Data, a company which believes that computer forensics will be one of new growth areas of computing. Since we found the drive with McCartney's details on it, I have worked with BT, Sims Lifecycle Services and Glamorgan University (where I'm doing an MSc) to alert people to the risks of disposing of drives with valuable data on them - such as company records, personal emails, the complete personal lives of families - and even enough on people's sexual interests for them to be blackmailed (Dead disks yield live information). I pick drives to examine - acquired at car boot sales or dumps - randomly. The first task is to connect a write-blocker, which prevents any data being written to the drive. This ensures that the investigator cannot be accused of putting anything on a disk that could be a crime scene. That's not melodramatic. In each of the past four years we have conducted our survey, we have found drives containing paedophile information, which have been turned over to the police and have resulted in prosecutions. The next task is to image the drive - simply, copying it on to your own drive so you can start to go through it. Another task is to make an MD5 hash of the original drive, a unique number generated from its bits and bytes. This is to verify that the image is the same as the original: the two should have the same MD5 hash. The Access Data software ignores the operating system, instead talking directly to the drive's file allocation system and master boot records. It sorts everything into groups - by type, category and extension. Email is extracted and lumped together, as are graphics. You can search for specific data such as a date or name. "It's like The Sims," says Dr Andrew Jones, head of computer security at BT Exact. "Instead of going through the front door, you take the roof off and you look down on the drive from above." Then it's a laborious process going through each file. It's a boring and painstaking process - until you start to unearth the gems. I start with the graphics files and documents, but the real pros go to the slack space - where all of the odds and ends of files end up, a dustbin of half-files and bits of data that people think they have deleted. These can help you get an idea of what the computer has been used for and where other data - the stuff people want to hide - might be. Good riddance? Most people think the delete key gets rid of those files, but it doesn't - it simply tells the computer that that space is available to be written over again. The file often is still all there, waiting to compromise its former owner. If the drive is not encrypted, the software opens up the computer easily. I can order everything by date and time; I can see the email that provoked a web search, the item that was then bought. It feels like being able to see inside the mind of the former owner of the drive. And don't think that you can erase your tracks by deleting the browser history: even if you wiped the cache: a hexadecimal editor can help the investigator decode the traces left behind even after you've deleted it. You start to recognise other people who are using the computer. On one drive I quickly identified the owner from her email. But there was someone else searching the web for clothes for Barbie dolls. I soon identified the most likely person making those web searches - there were pictures of a small girl on the drive. A closer look told me her name. Other details followed: soon I knew her age and what school she goes to. Inside her mind By this time I knew her mother's name too, and what her interests are, what her fascinations are and what goes on in the secret recesses of her head. All this was revealed to me by her web searches - and her visits to websites of a sexual nature. She has been deceitful: I can see lies in the emails that she has sent, because she has been trying to sell something to a lot of people at the same time and told each that she was only dealing with them. People are using computers without realising that their computers are constantly taking snapshots of their lives. The information could compromise them financially as well as personally: on drives we found two years ago were the social security numbers of most of the employees of the UK branch of a multinational company. We could have stolen each person's financial identities. Some tribes in Africa do not like people taking their photos because they think that the camera takes a part of their being. A computer does much the same. When you work in computer forensics, and when you hold a hard drive in your hands, you hold someone's life in your hands. How to secure your disk 1 Use encryption. Vista Ultimate has BitLocker; Mac OSX has FileVault. There is also TrueCrypt, which is free and cross-platform. 2 Use secure erase programs such as blancco; for a list, see howtowipeyourdrive.com. 3 When you've finished with your computer, securely wipe it and then reinstall the operating system from scratch. Or remove the hard drive and smash it with a hammer.If the life you have created Has buried you with luxuries out-dated And you ask what is the purpose Too weak to claw your way up to the surface Grant Lee Buffalo, It’s The Life (1994) There was something in the air during the spring of 1989. The Ides of March appeared to have been carried over a month to April. A smattering of frustrated students had first entered Tiananmen Square in protest for more reforms in China; unimpressed UK citizens were introduced to the Poll Tax, ironically launched on 1st April 1989, triggering uproar and ultimately contributing to the end of Thatcherism the following year. Even now the ripples of that spring reach the shore of today’s headlines. On the 15th April, 96 Liverpool football fans went to watch an FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield and never came back. The wretched and shameful ramifications of the Hillsborough disaster still emerge. Set to the soundtrack of The Stone Roses era defining debut album, which was released that spring, these decade characterising events were playing out in a final dramatic year of the 80s. As the F1 circus arrived at Imola for the second round of the ‘89 season, an abstract landscape for the 1990s was about to be ploughed, elicited by a horrific accident that befell Gerhard Berger and one that was witnessed live by millions of horrified television viewers. The accident Race day dawned bright and warm; a light breeze blew brittle dandelion wisps around the scenic municipal park in Imola. The Tifosi, bloated on the false miracle of Mansell’s astonishing Rio success four weeks earlier, had packed the place out. Heady atmosphere crackled. 24 hours earlier Berger had hustled his Ferrari 640 to 5th place on the starting grid behind Riccardo Patrese’s Williams Renault. Ahead lays Mansell in 3rd with the two McLaren Honda’s of Prost and Senna on the front row. In qualifying Berger had looked ragged. His top spot from the wet Friday practice meant nothing when Saturday dawned dry and he started 5th on the grid. He had squeezed everything from his Ferrari 640 that Saturday, riding the kerbs at Acque Minerale and the final Variante Bassa chicanes, finding some time there despite the front wing taking a battering. He would do the same in the race to try and get by Patrese and then hunt down his team mate, hustling his car through ‘the Bassa’ to have a chance of a slipstream in to Tosa. He didn’t get that far. “I actually don’t remember anything about the race up until the accident,” says Berger. “It is funny how the brain works because I remember every single detail of the accident and impact itself but nothing before. I tried steering…nothing, then I tried braking….nothing. I just said shit….now I brace for impact and just pray.” After the force of the shock Berger instantly found himself in the second phase of a nightmarish scenario. With the monocoque broken on the right hand side where the radiator had come through the chassis, his exposed flailing arms and upper torso were showered with litres of AGIP fuel. Then momentary silence and the briefest of pauses. Somewhere between the viaducts of his mind, consciousness was lost. Then came the inferno. “The next thing I remember is a lot of big pain everywhere and Sid (Watkins) sat on my shoulders trying to get a tube in to my mouth,” recalls Berger. “I was struggling because that is just a normal reflex when you have been unconscious for a few minutes. I don’t remember those moments too well but I do recall trying to understand where I was and what was going on. I can recall the pain and also the smell of fuel which was very strong.” Already at the accident scene was the primary rapid response vehicle of the medical team headed by Dr Sid Watkins and Dr Domenico Salcito. Salcito was the first to introduce the “Fast Medical Car” concept in Italy, in order get on the crash scene quicker than in an ambulance. Their car, driven by former sports car driver Mario Casoni, who finished 3rd in the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours in a Porsche 908, had full priority and authority to enter the circuit during the race, this included above and beyond the Race Director, Roland Bruynseraede. “We could enter the track at any time if we deemed it necessary, we answered to no one if the circumstances were such,” confirmed Salcito. “We just used the radio to warn everybody about our intervention, and they had to react.” The quick actions of Salcito, Watkins and Dr. Baccarini allied to rapid response ensured they were at the scene 35 seconds after the fire was extinguished. The fight to treat Berger then became literal. “Gerhard remained unconscious for around three minutes, and then he entered a state of psychomotor agitation,” says Salcito. “He was moving so much that we couldn’t remove his helmet, and in the end Dr. Watkins had to sit on him in order to allow us to set his head free. Then we brought him to the Medical Centre with the Ambulance, and we used some sedation to calm him”. Meanwhile the red flag had flown. Doctors Watkins and Salcito left Berger at the medical centre with remarkably light injuries; second-degree burns to his hands (from where the inside seam of his gloves had melted) a bruised collar bone and a cracked rib. Outside there was chaos as media and Ferrari team members, among them a concerned Mansell, sought news of the Austrian’s condition. Amid the cauldron was a man alone. Under almost intolerable stress Ferrari team principal, Cesare Fiorio had been the toast of the Tifosi at Rio three weeks before. Now he faced the unimaginable pressure of having to withdraw a Ferrari on home turf. Such was the lack of knowledge as to why Berger had ploughed off the road at a corner where driver error was highly unlikely and now an impossible decision had to be made. The Pressure: Fiorio’s story As the number 28 Ferrari 640 had burst in to flames at Tamburello, Cesare Fiorio momentarily stared at the tiny Longines monitor on the pit wall focusing on the unimaginable. He then turned away before wrenching his shades off and trying to quantify at first which of his two cars had crashed. “On the human side the accident was the toughest moment of the day, but in the following minutes I found myself in the most difficult situation of my career,” remembers 74-year-old Fiorio today. “Obviously the race was red-flagged, the restart set for 20 or so minutes later. The first ten minutes passed quickly while I tried to get some information about Gerhard’s condition. Finally I got into the circuit’s Medical Centre and I saw him there: he was ok, just some light burns on his hands. Now the race was starting in 10 minutes and there was a serious decision to be made.” “A driving mistake is still possible, that was the case when Piquet had crashed there two years earlier,” says Fiorio. “Still, a technical failure was one of the most probable causes. I had to decide what to do with Mansell’s car, and it wasn’t that easy looking at the full picture. The first assumption had to be that something had broken on the Ferrari 640. Derek Warwick, a few cars behind Berger at the time of the shunt initially thought that the suspension had failed but no one knew for sure. The TV cameras only caught one angle of the car leaving the circuit and that only focused on the rear. A driving mistake was highly unlikely but……. “Nigel had won the first race of the season in Brazil, and that meant that he arrived in Imola as the championship leader, in front of our home crowd,” continued Fiorio. “Our cars had performed strongly in qualifying, expectations were high, and so you can imagine that withdrawing the car from the race wasn’t going to be easy. Add the fact that I had arrived at Ferrari just two months earlier and you have to agree that I was in a very difficult position. “First thing I did was speak to John Barnard, asking him if he had any reason to believe that the crash was caused by a technical failure, and if there was any chance that it could happen again. Unluckily, he didn’t really have an answer. He told me that yes, that could have been the case, but that an in-depth analysis of the wreckage was the only way to be sure. He planned to do that on Monday in Maranello, but as you can understand that was too late for me.” Minute after minute the restart of the race approached and for Fiorio the tension tested even his enormous experience and poise. In the pit-lane he met Piero Lardi Ferrari, Enzo’s illegitimate son and the company’s vice-president. Fiorio asked Ferrari what he would have done if he was in Fiorio’s shoes: “’You’re the boss, it’s up to you’, that’s what he said,” smiles Fiorio. I answered ‘Thanks for that Piero’. “At that moment I had this serene realisation that I was completely alone at the helm of Ferrari. Don’t get me wrong, I already knew from Ferrari that I had full authority and control on any department of the racing team. Still, at that moment the loneliness really stood out like never before.” Looking furiously through data at Fiorio’s insistence was Berger’s engineer, Giorgio Ascanelli. Having joined the race team as race engineer for the Austrian at the previous year’s emotional Italian Grand Prix, the young and relatively inexperienced Ascanelli was now at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. “I remember that there was shock everywhere but still you have to remain as professional as you can be, “remembers Ascanelli. “I was with Cesare on the pit wall when the accident happened and we just could not believe what we were seeing. Then it was a case of trying to find anything from the data we had to see if it could have a common issue for Mansell’s car. With so little time it was almost impossible, telemetry in 1989 was still quite basic.” While Fiorio adjusted his mind to an almost unprecedented series of events, Mansell was on the grid, sitting behind the wheel, staring straight ahead, ready to go. “In such a situation you never want to speak to the driver, his view will always be biased. Starting the race is the only thing he’ll be interested in,” recalls Fiorio. “I made my move and said to Nigel. ‘You are going to start the race, but before the end of lap 1 you slow down, raise your hand and crawl back into the pits, pretending there’s some issue with the car’. ‘No way’ was the first answer I got, but I immediately made my point clear, the decision had been made. As Fiorio walked away from the remaining Ferrari, Mansell muttered something and tempers became frayed. As ever, Mansell did things ‘his way’ and the Tifosi’s new hero pushed on. “Instead of coming in at the end of the first lap, Nigel took his time and did it after 23 laps, pulling off and retiring the car. We told the press that there was a gearbox issue and our race was over,” confirms Fiorio. The release valve had dissipated some intense energy and tension in the Ferrari pit. The moment of truth came at Maranello on Monday morning when Fiorio, Barnard and the engineers inspected the destroyed 640. “Can you imagine what would have happened if the post-accident analysis had shown that the car wasn’t to blame?” ponders Fiorio. “I’ll tell you that under the pressure from all of Italy it wasn’t too far from committing suicide!” Berger’s aggressive driving (over the kerbs) certainly contributed to the accident. Barnard found out that the accident’s primary cause was some design weakness in the front wing that the Maranello quality inspectors had not picked up. Ironically two weeks later in practice at Monaco Mansell suffered a similar failure at Massenet. Barnard decided to make further changes to prevent the failure from happening again. The ‘Lions of Imola’ speak! “We’re no heroes”. Paolo Verdi and Bruno Miniati nod while Gabriele Vivoli, the first man to arrive at the crash scene and the one who played the major role in putting out the fire, makes his point. “We were just doing our job, and any other CEA volunteer would have been able, equipped and prepared to carry it out as efficiently as we did”. As much as CEA’s records prove that this is true, it was they who ran from their post to the Tamburello corner on that day, and in so doing they saved Gerhard Berger’s life. Today the trio still lives in Borgo San Lorenzo, a little town 25 miles north of Florence, in the backyard of one of Italy’s most beautiful racetracks, Mugello. Of the three, only 65-year-old Verdi still works with Squadra Corse, CEA’s quick intervention team. At 70 Miniati has just reached the age limit for active service while Vivoli, the youngest of the trio, at 60, decided to stop in 1994. “The force of the impact is the most striking memory for me” recalls Miniati. Verdi immediately provides backup to the shuddering memory. “As the car went off I was mostly disappointed as it was so obviously a Ferrari. But as soon as it disintegrated against the wall it didn’t matter anymore, it was just a person inside a car needing our help, and needing it fast.” “At that time it was already some years that the three of us had been working together, and at Imola our standard post was 3C, just after Tamburello,” remembers Vivoli. “We had a consolidated intervention strategy not to get in each other’s way. Being the stronger guy, Miniati was in charge of the ‘carrellone’, the big trolley carrying a 100-litre extinguisher equipped with a 25-meter long hose. Paolo and I, we were younger and quicker and so our brief was to run towards the car with portable extinguishers. That was our usual plan, and that’s exactly what we did the day Berger crashed.” The distance between the site of the crash and gate 3C was later measured at 87 metres, but despite this considerable distance Vivoli started emptying his extinguisher on the fire just 14 seconds after the Ferrari had come to a halt. Verdi arrived a few seconds later. “I doubt Carl Lewis would have been able to pull that off,” laughs Verdi today. “It is not a bad time considering we were carrying an eight-kilo extinguisher and that our protective gear impaired our movement. “The real reason why we got there so quickly,” Verdi continues, “was because we started moving way before the car caught fire, right after it crashed into the wall. Given the severity of the impact and the fact that it happened on lap three, with a full fuel tank, we knew that flames were a very likely outcome.” Being the first to arrive at the crash site, Vivoli faced a scene from hell: “Flames were so high that tifosi who had climbed on top of the advertising board to see the race felt the urge to jump into the Santerno river, meters below. The car was completely engulfed in flames, to the point that I couldn’t see which way it was facing. I stepped into the fire spraying my extinguisher, and as flames started to fade I could see Berger’s position. I clearly remember seeing heat bubbles forming on his helmet”. As his duty was to manage the larger extinguisher, Miniati saw the events unfold from a different perspective: “I saw Gabriele and Paolo run towards the car while it was still spinning, then it stopped and in no time it was on fire. As it was too far away to be reached with the 25-meter hose I had available, I grabbed another hand extinguisher and I started running too. Once the fire was out the extrication team arrived in the Medical Car and dragged Berger out of the chassis really quickly. That was important too because even after the fire, the temperature inside the wreckage was still extremely high, enough to slowly ‘cook’ the driver.” “What’s quite amazing.” says Vivoli, “is that three extinguishers alone were enough to put out a 190-litre fire. That wasn’t sheer luck, trust me. CEA had asked for a supply of actual F1 fuel in order to test different chemicals and that definitely made the difference, we had the best possible gear to take on that fire. Still, I believe that luck helped us a little too: extensive damage to the fuel tank meant that the vast majority of the fuel had spilled out, removing the risk of an explosion. Furthermore, even when you’re prepared as we were a valve can fail, a handle can break or you can stumble, we’ve seen that happen. A lot can go wrong, but it didn’t”. Vivoli feels that if none of them were hurt that day, it was thanks to CEA’s attention to their crews’ safety: “I jumped into the fire and I emerged without a single scratch. We were equipped with latest-generation fireproof suits, and they worked well”. That hadn’t always been the case. In the early days, for example at the time of Ronnie Peterson’s fire in Monza, CEA men used to wear what they had at home. Usually it was jeans and leather boots! Despite wearing the best protection in the business, Vivoli risked putting himself into trouble. His wingman, Verdi confirms: “In the heat of the action he forgot to lower his helmet visor, hence being even more exposed to smoke and fumes. After putting out the fire his face was pitch black”. “That’s true, I inhaled even more of that stuff than Berger did. And there’s one more thing I remember clearly, as if it had just happened,” says an emotional Vivoli. “When everything was over a woman from the public who was carrying a child kindly offered me a carton of milk, saying that drinking it was the best thing to do after breathing in god knows what. I did, and it felt so good.” “We were given a medal from Imola’s municipality and one from the Italian Automobile Club, the latter in Bologna,” says Verdi. “The ceremony actually took place at the city stadium just before a football match, Bologna vs Inter Milan. We entered the pitch together with the players, it was quite an emotional moment, especially for Gabriele as he’s a huge Inter fanatic”. The trio also met Berger several times, even getting to have lunch with him at the Cavallino restaurant in Maranello. But the memory they cherish most was when just the three of them were invited to Austria for a TV special. “When our duties at the TV studio were over we had dinner with some of the Berger family, and it was a fun evening,” recalls Vivoli. “Gerhard presented us with some gifts and got us all very drunk!” The Butterfly Effect of Imola 89 If’s, but’s and maybe’s abound in F1 folklore but in the case of Imola 1989 there is a genuine rationale for believing that Berger’s accident kick started a chain reaction that shaped F1 for the early part of the following decade and possibly even beyond. The accident occurred on the 4th lap of the race; at the time of the red flag Senna led Prost from pole position. A big lock-up of his brakes going in to Tosa saw the briefest of opportunities open for Prost, but the professor declined a move. The re-start was very different. Senna got bogged down ever so slightly and Prost was immediately through and in to the lead. As Prost chose his optimum line in to Tosa, Senna dived for the inside, and even moved over to get a decent trajectory around the tight lefthander. Surprised, Prost was forced to widen his line to avoid contact. Thus was broken a pre-event agreement, ironically that whoever led in to the first corner should hold station for the opening lap. Rattled and fuming, Prost’s race unravelled as quickly as his respect for Senna’s word. An un-characteristic spin at Bassa ensured that he finished the race forty seconds adrift of Senna. Prost stepped from his MP4/5, spoke briefly with Ron Dennis and then left the circuit, forsaking the post-race press conference. From there on Prost and Senna barely spoke and the Frenchman realised he had to leave the team that he had spent 60% of his career with and won two titles for. He instructed his advisors to test the waters at Maranello and at Monaco on the Friday ‘rest day’, the first of a series of tentative approaches was made. By the French Grand Prix six weeks later he announced he was out of Woking and then on Friday 25th August at Spa the inevitable three-year deal with Ferrari was signed. Could Prost and Senna have co-existed for another season at McLaren, even if the Berger incident had not taken place? Probably not. The seismic shifting of two tectonic F1 heavyweights was always going to happen. Indeed it had almost taken place at the Portuguese Grand Prix the previous year when Senna almost had his nemesis in the pit wall at approaching 200mph. For Berger, a necessary change was made in his driving and outlook on what being a racing driver now meant as he thought more long-term about his professional future, one that would see him take Prost’s place at McLaren-Honda for 1990. “I think Gerhard was a different driver for sure after the accident,” suggests Ascanelli. “He was not really much slower or less committed but just in a more level and balanced way. He thought more about what he was doing and how he could minimise unnecessary risk. I think it helped him in some ways but took away some edge in other areas.” “I got a big wake-up call from my accident at Imola and realised that I could do myself some serious damage,” admits Berger. “From Imola onwards I was a different driver for sure. Not slower or less competitive, just different. I knew where the boundaries and limits were and I knew I had to respect them more. The risk-factor became more visible for me as a driver after Imola, that is for sure and I listened to the warning it gave me. “There is a big difference when you have an accident when you make a mistake, get out and think ‘well, I screwed up’. But it is totally different to be in a car where you are on edge a little thinking something might break. It was like this for me in 1993 with the active Ferrari. It was like you see in America with the cowboys on those crazy bulls getting flipped around. Fucking crazy!” As with most earthquakes, there are aftershocks. Five years after Imola 89, as Berger rounded Tamburello on lap two of the re-started San Marino Grand Prix, he saw the wavering shadows of Imola rise once again. After avoiding the wreckage of Senna’s leading Williams, Berger glanced in his mirrors. Speaking today he recalls one of his immediate memories that intertwined the two events. “You know, Ayrton and I were at Imola sometime later in 1989 after my accident. We went to look at Tamburello because we both had concerns about the closeness of the wall. We went behind it and looked to see how it could be moved back but there is a river there and we just said, ‘Oh well never mind, nothing to be done here.’ How stupid we didn’t think about a chicane or another corner before it…..how stupid!”Although most materials slightly expand when heated, there is a new class of rubber-like material that not only self-stretches upon cooling; it reverts back to its original shape when heated, all without physical manipulation. The findings were recently published in the journal ACS Macro Letters. The material is like a shape-memory polymer because it can be switched between two different shapes. "However, unlike other shape-memory polymers, the material does not need to be programmed each cycle--it repeatedly switches shapes, with no external forces, simply upon cooling and heating," said Mitchell Anthamatten, an associate professor of chemical engineering. Anthamatten and his team built on the success of a recently developed polymer that can also stretch when cooled. The other polymers need to have small loads--or weights--attached in order to direct the shape to be taken. That is not the case with the Rochester polymer, because Anthamatten's team "tricked it into thinking" a load was attached. To carry out their strategy, the researchers introduced permanent stress inside the material. They began with polymer strands that were loosely connected by bonds called crosslinks that create a network of molecules. The material was stretched with a load attached to give it the desired shape. At that point, they added more crosslinks and cooled the polymer, causing crystallization to occur along a preferred direction. Anthamatten's team showed that internal crystallization forces are strong enough to stretch the material along one direction. Once cooled below about 50 °C, polymer chain segments pack into highly ordered micro-layers called lamellae. This reorganization occurs within a network of polymer chains, causing the material's length to increase by over 15 percent. "The stress we built into the network takes the place of the load and enables the material to'remember' the shape it will assume when it
, but something I always recommend. Sure, if your uke cost you $30 you may feel happy with a cloth gig bag, but I look at it this way. If the uke is something that would hurt you in the pocket if you damaged it, then GET A CASE! Thinking of cases reminded me of one I had bought, intended to review, but never got around to it. The TGI Brand ABS case. I've got a whole range of cases and many ukuleles exist quite happily in the zippered pod cases that have become so popular. They are fine, but I don't find the zips last. Still, they still work as storage protection at home as despite what anyone tells you, the safest place to keep your instrument is in a hard (ish) case. The TGI though cost a bit more and came with recommendations as being a 'good one'. I was on the lookout for such a case for my higher end instruments and pulled the trigger on the tenor version (they come in other sizes too) for a shade over £50. Thats not super high end for a ukulele case but more than I suspect many people spend.Firstly the TGI is made of ABS which I much prefer to plywood as many hard cases are. An ABS plastic case should first deform before it splits so in other words, where a plywood case will split and become useless, theoretically this should be more robust.The whole case is finished in a kind of carbon fibre look (its not carbon fibre) but a look over it shows it is extremely well put together. In use this fits a variety of my tenors snugly but securely and they slide in to the deep plush lining with confidence.In terms of protection, I would not stand on this - but then this is not what I expected - you really should only be doing that with very high end cases from the likes of Calton (and spending many times this price) but it is supremly durable. I can say that as I have been using this case on gigs and the like for well over a year now and all is in order despite being dropped and thrown in and out of car trunks on more occasions than I can remember. There is some 'give' in the outer shell which did concern me a little but it doesnt seem to translate through to the uke inside. In short - this is a case for knocks and drops, but not one for crushing or being run over. Remember that!The other plus with this case above others I have used, tested or seen fall apart are the number of an quality of the catches. In my experience, these are one of the first things to go with cheaper models, but these are seriously constructed and still hold tightly and firmly.The handle has also stood up well which surprises me because the rivets holding them on look far from solid compared to the catches. Still, they havent failed in a year of use so maybe I am being over worried. Also riveted to the outside are a couple of eyelets for attaching a strap which is a nice touch though I have not used them.Inside as I say is a plush affair that holds the instrument far snugger than any pod case I have used. The neck support is superb, and that is also added to with an extra padded strip down the inside of the lid which presses onto the neck and instrument strings. It really does cosset the uke!With hard cases like this you do of course sacrifice the outer pockets for songbooks and the like, but this does have a small inner hatch which happily takes batteries and a strap as mine does. The upside of course is hard cases take stickers far better, and I love stickers!Finally, it is, of course lockable. Probably not the most secure lock in the world and I suspect I could pick it, but its better than many I've seen on plywood models.In short I would recommend this highly as a good intermediate case for higher end instruments. I suspect if my tenor uke cost $3000 or more I may well be investing in something more substantial to protect my investment, but for the more normal 'high end' instruments, this is quite a step up from the pod and plywood cases and worth your time. This one has been well road tested and has not failed in any way yet.The TGI Abs cases are available from a range of uke stores including Southern Ukulele Store (where this came from).Kevin Ogar: Life After The Injury – EPISODE 134 Audio Only: iTunes, Stitcher SHARE ONE OF THESE QUOTES FROM EP 134 ON INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / FACEBOOK Barbell Shrugged Ringtone This week on Barbell Shrugged we are honored to be joined by Kevin Ogar. Just in case you aren’t aware, Kevin became well-known after fracturing his spine at a competition in January 2014. It’s only been six months since that devastating, notorious injury, but Kevin seems remarkably recovered, at least spiritually and emotionally. You should have seen him smile wide when he was telling us about the bright white Stacie Tovar shorts he was wearing underneath his pants. “Yeah, I’m actually wearing them underneath here. I heard she was going to be over at the Barbells for Boobs tent…I thought I would challenge her to a booty-shortshowdown.” That group has been so supportive and caring for Kevin and his family these past few months, causing a bit of a stir at their Crossfit Games tent would be the least he could do in return. Also, it would just be a good time. That’s one of the lesson’s that Kevin has taken away from the injury. “Now that I’m in a wheelchair I really like to push the limits of what I can get away with.” It’s hard not to love that attitude. I must admit, I’m not sure I could keep that perspective, especially after such a freak accident. That’s really all it was, a freak thing on an otherwise routine set of snatches. An off catch with a modest load. A dumped repetition that changed a life forever. The question has been begged over and over by now, “Is Crossfit dangerous?” But Kevin flatly denies that. It was more about the angle, the odd timing, the one in a million shot that did the breaking. In truth, he’s one of the rarest of patients. Most injuries of this sort are attributed to skiing accidents, vehicle crashes, and other sorts of routine activities where the risk is more widely known and accepted. But this is different. In fact, it’s hard to identify another case like Kevin’s at all. The injury was anything but an inevitability. Our conversation started to turn visceral and raw when Kevin began to describe how the injury felt. At the moment of fracture his nervous system went into extreme shock and alarm. His whole body burned with pain and sharp electricity. I just sat there as he spoke, quivering a bit, growing more and more queasy by the second. I couldn’t imagine the feeling, and I couldn’t respect the guy more for what he has endured. Eight Dilaudid fueled, motionless days followed the injury. At first the doctors didn’t want to lose Kevin to shock and blood loss. Next up was the intense spinal surgery that would place his back into alignment. The approach was from the side. The ribs were split and dislocated. His organs had to be removed and his entire core reassembled. “That surgery has a 35% survival rate.” That only made the weight of this injury all the more heavy. I could hardly stand the thought. Despite the dangers and risks, Kevin couldn’t have had a better surgical outcome. Still, he know’s he has a battle ahead. “They say the chances of me walking again all on my own are less than 1%, but I’m the king of small percentages. I‘m 3% of the world’s population as a Ginger 3%. I have blue eyes, which means I’m 1% of that population…So, I like small numbers.” Kevin began his rehab by facing his first big physical challenge, getting upright in a wheel-chair. “I know it sounds easy, but it’s so hard. It feels like you’re sitting on top of a balance ball, only imagine if your leg’s didn’t work.” Still, he did it, and he’s still at work. What remains of his core musculature has begun to adapt. His nervous system is reinervating and adjusting in astonishing ways. Hell, the guy still manages to have a six-pack, despite the damage. No, there are no guarantee’s here for the recovery effort, but there’s cause for optimism. Who know’s what technology will come in the coming years. For paraplegics and spinal cord patients who are able to keep their bodies strong and fit, anything could be possible. If you can remain resilient, tough, and hard to kill, then you should feel optimistic. Kevin’s got that written all over his face. His happiness and positive outlook are true. Kevin is training as hard now as he ever has, but the goals and outlook have obviously changed immensely. It’s no longer about maximizing strength and fitness, it’s more about not sucking so bad at life in general. It’s about attacking weaknesses, which now include showering, going to the bathroom, and getting back up into his chair after a fall. Sled pulling, prowler pushing, dumbbell work, gymnastic drills, it all has a place in his regimen. That’s where the biggest lesson of Kevin’s story shines through, I think. Progress on the small things is incredibly rewarding. Consider going back and working on the basics. It might be your posture, your foot position, your timing, whatever. Remastering it will be one of the most rewarding things you can do. If you get injured, do not stop. There’s always something you can still do. So do it! Something is better than nothing, always. And who know’s, this enforced change might just be the best thing for you. For once, you might be forced into doing something new, something necessary. You’ll have to develop and utilize new tools. That’s always a good thing. I don’t think there’s a limit to what Kevin can achieve. He might walk again, I hope. But he’s definitely not going anywhere. He will keep finding new ways to train and compete as an adaptive Crossfit athlete. He’ll keep working to share the message of fitness with other patients, bringing the support and community that have made such a difference in his life since January. Revelry, revelry, you have our full support, Kevin. There’s no limit to what you will achieve. To learn more about the cause and support Kevin’s efforts, make sure to check out KevinOgar.com. You can also follow him on Instagram and Facebook in order to stay up to date on all the latest developments. Thanks, Kevin. It was truly an honor to meet and chat with you. Chris P.S. Unfortunately, injuries can always happen, but the best defense is knowledge. If we can learn to keep proper position during the lifts then we can limit the wear, tear and breakdown that would otherwise end our progress. Better still, efficiency and strength go hand in hand. The better you move, the more weight you will lift. That’s never more apparent than in the clean. Check out this week’s episode of TechniqueWOD for an awesome overview of everything you need to know.Six makers of generic drugs artificially inflated and manipulated prices to reduce competition for an antibiotic and oral diabetes medication, 20 state attorneys general said in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday. Connecticut Atty. Gen. George Jepsen, whose office began its investigation more than two years ago into price increases of certain generic medications, said his staff “developed compelling evidence of collusion and anti-competitive conduct” among many companies that manufacture and market generic drugs. Jepsen called Heritage Pharmaceuticals “the principal architect of the conspiracies” but said he had evidence of “widespread participation in illegal conspiracies across the generic drug industry.” Federal authorities on Wednesday charged two former Heritage executives with fixing prices of generic drugs on an antibiotic and a diabetes medication between April 2013 and December 2015. Eatontown, N.J.-based Heritage said in a statement that it terminated those executives in August, has filed its own civil complaint against the two and is fully cooperating with the Justice Department. A message was left seeking comment with Heritage concerning the 20-state lawsuit. Besides Heritage, the other drug companies targeted in the lawsuit are Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc., Citron Pharma LLC, Mayne Pharma Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Mylan said it knew of no evidence that it had participated in price fixing. Aurobindo declined to comment. The other companies didn't immediately return requests for comment. “Ultimately, it was consumers — and, indeed, our healthcare system as a whole — who paid for these actions through artificially high prices for generic drugs,” Jepsen said. According to the complaint, which was filed in federal court in Connecticut on Thursday, the defendants coordinated with their competitors at industry trade shows, customer conferences and other events, as well as through direct email, phone and text message communications. The 20 states also allege that the drug companies knew their conduct was illegal and avoided communicating with one another in writing. Besides Connecticut, which is leading the effort, the other plaintiff states are Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.Chocolate and Orange Cake There’s nothing quite like cake is there? Problem is, cake is pretty bad for you, this cake changes all that… it’s even worse! It was borne of an evening at a friend’s house at which there was a fabulous chocolate orange cake of which I had only one slice, so I made another. It is a little different though because this recipe uses oil instead of butter/stork which makes the batter extra moist, at the cost of at least one artery per slice. The trick with a cake like this is to not hold back with the orange, it is, after all, a chocolate and orange cake. Having both flavours very prominent is the key to making this cake perfect. In addition to this, one must remember that if some bloke called Terry comes round asking about this chocolate and orange cake, it’s yours and not his! This recipe will take about an hour and a half to make, that’s the price you pay when using oil. Cake: Ingredients: 230g self-raising flour 320g caster sugar, granulated will probably work 50g cocoa powder 3 eggs 250ml sunflower oil pinch of salt 2 oranges Method: Pre-heat the oven to 190C and prepare a loaf tin with baking parchment and butter. Sift the flour and cocoa powder together and mix until uniform. To this add the salt and sugar, stir. Take the oranges and peel with a vegetable peeler. Remove the pith off each slice with a sharp knife. Boil these peelings in water for a minute or so. When this is done sieve and rinse with cold water. Cut each into thin slices, roughly chop 3/4 of these and keep the rest for decoration. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, to these add the oil and chopped orange peel. Add the wet to the dry until combined without lumps. Pour the batter into the loaf tin and cook for an hour and ten minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Turn out onto a cake rack and leave until absolutely cold. Icing: Ingredients: 180g icing sugar 100g soft cheese, low-fat good shake of cocoa powder Method: Mix them all together until smooth. Apply to the cake, decorate as shown in images, or however you like. Cost: This whole cake should cost, at the absolute maximum, £2.50. What an absolute steal! AdvertisementsThe House Ethics Committee has quietly done away with the requirement that lawmakers disclose their all-expense-paid trips on annual financial forms, National Journal reported on Monday. Trips paid for by private groups are now no longer required to be noted on annual financial-disclosure forms filed by Congress members, according to the Journal. The move was never announced publicly; the Journal said that it discovered the change in a review of the disclosure filings. The disclosures had been required since the 1970s. Lawmakers must still disclose any privately-paid trips to the House clerk’s office, but the financial disclosure form is the “chief document” that journalists and watchdog groups use to review members’ finances, according to the Journal. “This is such an obvious effort to avoid accountability,” Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a top watchdog group, told the Journal. “There’s no legitimate reason. There’s no good reason for it.”by Justin Schlosberg Last night’s television debates featuring Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May marked the return of the general election to the top of news agendas, and the start of the crucial final ten days of campaigning. But the programme also reflected one of the most consistently proven distortions in mainstream coverage of recent elections. In 2015, a study by Cardiff University (among others) revealed that the issue agenda of broadcasters was significantly influenced by the predominantly right wing national press, and that this largely favoured the key issues pushed by the Conservative Party campaign. In reflecting on the campaign coverage, journalists by and large attributed the Tories’ electoral success to their ability to shape the news agenda in this way. As Tim Ross from the Telegraph remarked: The decision to focus relentlessly on the economic message, at its most basic, is the dominant reason that the Tories won. Every other salvo in the Tories’ ‘air war’ was a variation on this theme: they were the party of economic competence, of the ‘long-term economic plan’, and all their opponents were emissaries of ‘chaos’. By contrast, the main issue pushed by the Labour campaign – health and the NHS – received comparatively less attention, and less than the proportionate value attached to it by the public, according to weekly polling by Yougov. Since the manifestos for this election were published, the issue battle lines have been drawn around foreign policy, security and Brexit (prioritised by the Tories) and public spending, nationalisation and social care (prioritised by Labour). This does not mean that either party has sought to ignore the issues prioritised by the other. But it does more or less capture the degree to which the respective parties are proactive or reactive on certain issues (judging from campaign press releases, tweets, speeches, interviews etc). Nor does it mean that the coverage has focused entirely on a two horse race between Labour and the Tories. But Labour’s dramatic rise in the polls since publication of the manifestos, combined with poor performances by both Liberal Democrats and UKIP, has sharpened the media focus on the two main parties. In an attempt to demonstrate impartiality and balance, broadcasters often religiously assign equal airtime to the two main parties and apply aggressive interviewing techniques. But as we have seen so far, this can produce a vacuous line of questioning that seems more about trying to trip up politicians rather than offer meaningful interrogation of policy. As for the issue agenda, the majority of both airtime and questions during last night’s television debates were focused on issues pushed by the Conservative campaign (54% of airtime compared to 31% for issues prioritised by Labour). This distortion was caused primarily by Jeremy Paxman’s interview with Theresa May, which focused predominantly (65% of airtime) on Brexit and immigration – the number one issue ground for the Conservatives – with just 1 question (12% of airtime) addressing Labour’s preferred issue ground of social care. What’s more, Paxman’s line of questioning was overwhelmingly predicated on far right perspectives (such as concerns that May has been too soft or ineffective in controlling immigration). This raises serious question marks over the willingness or ability of broadcasters to depart from an issue agenda consensus established by the Tories and the predominantly right-wing national press. Especially at this critical stage of the campaigns, broadcasters must not just rely on superficial measures of balance but pay special attention to the balance of issues that achieve salience in all forms of coverage. It is also imperative that broadcasters avoid reducing interviews with politicians to a game aimed at producing snappy headlines. In particular, the ‘who said what and when’ line was applied with nearly equal ferocity to both leaders last night, but which makes no contribution to informed debate. It was clear from immediate responses that both the Labour manifesto and Theresa May’s position on Brexit was the outcome of democratic process, but this did not prevent Paxman from taking up substantial airtime with repeated questions and interruptions on the same theme. As for catching out Labour on numbers, this continues to be a headline grabbing narrative amidst the fallout from Jeremy Corbyn’s interview for this morning’s Women’s Hour on Radio 4. What’s missing in this blood sport approach to interviewing, is an appreciation of the range of numbers that Labour front benchers have had to memorise across their respective briefs, on the back of an unprecedentedly detailed costing for an equally unparalleled range of tax and spending commitments. Judging by current headlines, there appears to be a group think among mainstream titles ranging from the Telegraph to the Huffington Post that there is intrinsic news value in these politicians, under enormous pressure, being unable to recall on the spot specific figures included in their costings. But it is highly questionable whether this kind of on-air memory testing amounts to impressive journalism, or anything approaching real journalism at all. Finally, today’s lead story in the Telegraph’s print edition (30 May) contained an extreme inaccuracy stating that “both [Conservative and Labour] leaders have refused to debate each other head to head on television”. It is well-known that Jeremy Corbyn has urged Theresa May repeatedly to engage in such a television debate that she alone has refused. The basis of the Telegraph’s falsification is unclear but reflective of a pattern of fake news established during the last election. Analysis of both audience and interview questions produced the following exhaustive issue categories: 1) foreign policy/security, 2) immigration/Brexit, 3) the monarchy, 4) public spending/welfare, 5) nationalisation, 6) taxation, 7) leadership. Issue categories 1-3 were further classified as Conservative-aligned, whilst categories 4 & 5 were classified as Labour-aligned and 6 & 7 classified as other (drawing primarily on respective manifestos, campaign press releases and tweets since 15 May). Coding adopted a cautious approach identifying predominant focus of each question and distinguishing between interruptions/follow ups and new lines of questioning.FCC Gives Cable Industry Just Enough Rope To Hang Itself from the expediting-obsolescence dept "Congress directed the FCC to streamline the process by which small cable operators can file petitions with the FCC for finding that they are subject to effective competition, which exempts them from some regulatory oversight," said Public Knowledge senior attorney John Bergmayer. "In general, Public Knowledge agrees that the FCC should do what it can to make regulatory processes simpler for smaller entities." "However, the FCC has gone beyond Congress's directive, adopting a blanket presumption that all cable operators, large and small, are subject to effective competition. Any analysis that shows that the largest cable companies face effective competition in their local markets is flawed. These companies bundle cable television with high-speed broadband and often have control over valuable programming. They are in a fundamentally different marketplace position than the small cable operators that Congress is concerned with." While the FCC has been engaging in a slew of consumer-friendly moves of late (from tougher neutrality rules to fighting for municipal broadband ), a few weeks ago the agency turned heads by fully prohibiting towns and cities from imposing price controls on TV service. According to the FCC's announcement on the matter (pdf), they're doing this because they believe the cable industry is so competitive, such local TV price restrictions are no longer necessary. The FCC voted 3-2 to approve the measure, with Wheeler uncharacteristically siding with the agency's two Republican Commissioners to support it.Wheeler not only bucked consumer advocates and his Commission allies, he ignored the FCC's own intergovernmental advisory committee, which advised against the change. And while Wheeler's been notably more consumer friendly than anybody expected, consumer groups like Public Knowledge weren't big fans of this latest move by the agency boss So why would a consumer-friendly FCC boss suddenly make a decision that seems, on its surface, decidedly not consumer friendly? Well one, the existence of satellite TV and the rise of telco TV has resulted in the FCC repeatedly declaring that the TV business is effectively competitive each time cable ops apply for exemption, making this 22-year-old process effectively obsolete. Even if, as Public Knowledge notes -- broadband bundles and other factors usually mean competition can't always be adequately measured by the number of TV operators in a market. Of course, the FCC had already been traditionally letting cable operators ignore local price caps (the FCC had granted all but four of 224 such exemption requests since 2013) and they're relatively rare; Comcast estimates just 17% of its markets see them.But more importantly, Wheeler knows that internet video is coming. Cable operators and broadcasters have, hand in hand, been raising prices hand over fist on everything from programming to DVR rentals for years, regardless of these limited localized price caps. Wheeler likely hopes that by removing already meager barriers, the cable industry will feel free to raise rates further, and be painfully punished by the rise of internet video. Basically, Wheeler is throwing the cable industry a small bone -- with the intent of letting them choke on it.That might work over the long term, but over the short term the end result will probably only be even higher rates. That could help accelerate cord cutting, and a faster shift toward the more competitive TV market Wheeler is probably envisioning. And while giving the cable industry enough rope to hang itselfwork, the problem with his scenario is that broadband ISPs will likely respond to the rise in internet video by increasing their use of broadband caps and overages. And with limited broadband competition, and the FCC generally ignoring the problems inherent with usage caps, that raises a whole slew of issues Wheeler will need to address if he's truly interested in speeding up a television revolution. Filed Under: cable tv, competition, fcc, price controls, tom wheelerLibertarians often respond to feminists’ claims of “rape culture” with lots of dismissive hand waving. On first glance, it seems like rape culture seems like an anti-concept. The conspiratorial notion that the entire male population is working together to consciously bring about a system of intimidation and control through the use of rape is implausible. After all, most men are not rapists and as a male, I can tell you there is no such heinous plot I’m aware of. But on second glance, and in an attempt to bridge libertarian and feminist thinking, can we apply traditionally libertarian insights to traditionally feminist concepts (such as rape culture)? I believe so. In Women and the Invisible Fist: How Violence Against Women Enforces the Unwritten Law of Patriarchy, Charles Johnson uses the classic Hayekian concept of spontaneous order to better understand feminist theories of patriarchy. Johnson points out that historically, feminists have rightly pointed out centralized, state enforced forms of violence against women such as lethal abortion laws, the use of rape as a weapon of war, and the like. Libertarians likewise object to these instances of coercion. Feminists are also concerned with forms of disperse, decentralized violence, such as rape, domestic violence, abuse, and the like. While libertarians find these instances of violence immoral and objectionable, they don’t go as far as feminists do when the latter identify them as both a symptom and cause of patriarchy. Feminists identify this kind of violence as pervasive, systematically structured by sex, and as having powerful “ripple effects.” So while libertarians often see this kind of violence against women as abnormal, feminists see it as a much larger, institutional problem. Susan Brownmiller’s famous “Myrmidon theory” says, “It [rape] is nothing more than a conscious process of intimidation by which all men keep all women in a state of fear.” While this has been misunderstood to mean all men are rapists, which is obviously untrue, Johnson argues Brownmiller is really saying, “the practice of rape by some men functions to give all men a position of power over women.” This is where we can turn to economist and F.A. Hayek for some insight. Most of the time, when libertarians think of spontaneous order, they think of the wonders of the market, of the great gains from trade, of Jeffrey Tucker prancing around a McDonalds. But Hayek’s crucial addition to libertarian social theory is also a crucial addition to feminist theory. In Kinds of Order in Society, Hayek defines spontaneous orders as “unlike orders that result from conscious organization according to a preconceived plan, are orders of another kind which have not been designed by men but have resulted from the actions of individuals without their intending to create such an order.” Nothing about this conception of spontaneous order implies a voluntary, peaceful order; though that is often the way libertarians apply the concept. Johnsons distinguishes between three versions of spontaneous order: Consensual rather than coercive (when “spontaneous” means “uncoerced”); Polycentric or participatory rather than directive Emergent rather than a consciously designed pattern (when “spontaneous” means “not planned in advance”) Now we can see how spontaneous order can be used to analyze Brownmiller’s “rape culture.” While the kind of systemic intimidation and fear that afflicts all women is not consensual, it is “polycentric” and “emergent.” There is no conscious effort on the part of men to establish “rape culture” as we know it. However, the actions of rapists have unconsciously created an unplanned culture that afflicts all women and men. Not all men are rapists, but all men have been put into a position of power over women because of the actions of a few men. In Hayekian terminology, male rapists have created a spontaneous order known as “rape culture.” Clearly then, the libertarian dismissal of “rape culture” as an absurd and impossible conspiracy conjured up by men-hating feminazis is misplaced and not well thought through. Libertarians’ own social theories can explain what “rape culture” is, how it arises, and how it’s maintained. Hayek probably wasn’t thinking of violence against women when he was working on his theory of spontaneous order, though Johnson’s essay has shown that the Nobel Prize laureate’s work is complementary to feminist theories of “rape culture,” particularly Susan Brownmiller’s “myrmidon theory.” This instance of libertarianism and feminism working together is not abnormal. It’s merely another in the long line of areas where the two schools of thought are on the same page. Libertarianism and feminism are natural allies and it’s time they were brought together to form a cohesive theory of liberation. Johnsons’ Women and the Invisible Fist will hopefully be among the first works that merge the two. This piece solely expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the organization as a whole. Students For Liberty is committed to facilitating a broad dialogue for liberty, representing a variety of opinions. If you’re a student interested in presenting your perspective on this blog, visit our guest submissions page. Like what you read here? You can sign up for a weekly digest of the SFL blog and subscribe for a weekly update on SFL’s events, leadership programs, and resources.(This Sept 21 story, in 11th paragraph, corrects to say that Warsh criticized the Fed’s bond-buying program; not that he criticized the program, saying it would drive inflation sharply higher) Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference after a two-day Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) policy meeting, in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts By Jonathan Spicer and Ann Saphir NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - From her early days as Federal Reserve chair, Janet Yellen has been the target of criticism from Republicans worried that the central bank’s massive bond-buying programs and near-zero interest rates engineered by her predecessor would be the ruin of the country. With little more than four months left in her term and questions swirling over whether the White House will ask her to stay on for another four years, Yellen has turned that story around. The Fed has raised rates faster than markets had thought possible this year and, on Wednesday, it announced its $4.5 trillion bond portfolio would begin to shrink in October. All the while, unemployment has plunged to boomtime levels and inflation has remained well in check. Now Yellen’s stock appears to be rising, both among her critics and on a real-money exchange where traders can place bets on who they think will be the next Fed chair. “I’m glad we are finally at this point - I have been encouraging both privately and publicly the Fed to do this. We’ll see whether it truly is an end to the era,” said U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga, a Republican who has pushed a bill to tie the central bank’s decisions to a monetary policy rule. That Is an idea that Yellen has opposed, saying it would restrict policy options. Still Huizenga, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee and its subcommittee on monetary policy and trade, does not appear to endorse her. “I like her,” he told Reuters. “I would like to just make sure that the White House and president are making a thorough examination (of her record) - not just on a whim of, hey, interest rates are low...” GUESSING GAME President Donald Trump has given few hints as to whether he will reappoint or replace Yellen before her term ends in early February. There are few signs the appointment process has moved forward at all or that it is a priority for the administration. And on Predictit.org, a financial prediction market for political and financial events where the Fed Chair contracts trade, the stock of former Fed Governor and Wall Street banker Kevin Warsh has also risen. Traders are currently paying 30 cents for contracts that would pay out $1 if Yellen gets the nod; Warsh contracts are going for 30 cents. Warsh was a Fed governor between 2006 and 2011 and criticized the Fed’s bond buying program. That view has been a common thread among mostly conservative economists in their criticism of the Fed under both Ben Bernanke and Yellen. Other possible options include Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs president who is Trump’s top economic adviser and who is leading the search for a new chair, and John Taylor, a Stanford University economist and a favorite of congressional Republicans. Cohn’s criticism of Trump’s response to the recent violence in Charlottsville, Virginia, has seen the odds on his appointment fall dramatically TAYLOR STILL ATTRACTIVE “In general, I believe we need more of a hawk than a dove in that position,” said Huizenga, adding he has not formally suggested names nor been asked by the White House. “I would be comfortable with John Taylor.” Cohn’s stock is at 15 cents on Predictit.org, down from the 48 cents it fetched midsummer; Taylor trails along with Columbia Business School Dean Glenn Hubbard at 2 cents. Yellen’s appeal is seen as limited by her support for crisis-era financial regulations that Republicans want to roll back. With Vice Chair Stanley Fischer set to retire in mid-October, the Trump administration needs “to come up with two names, not one.... Perhaps a ticket like Warsh as chair and Hubbard as vice chair has a good chance,” said Michael Gapen, chief U.S. economist for Barclays, who believes Yellen is unlikely to retain her job. Still, Gapen said, “if you are looking for someone to continue to normalize policy, she would be someone you might want to consider.”A CULTURAL boycott of Israel was launched yesterday, with more than 150 Irish artists announcing that they intend not to perform or exhibit in Israel, or to accept any funding from institutions linked to the Israeli government. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said it was in protest at Israel’s “treatment of the Palestinian people”. Raymond Deane of the IPSC cited a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry in 2005 saying they considered culture a propaganda tool. He said: “Artists who perform there are backing it [the Israeli government] whether they like it or not.” The pledge signed by the artists states the boycott would continue, “until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights”. Mr Deane said: “You can’t really pin this down”, but it means, “at least an end of the occupation of Palestine; dismantling or at least stopping the settlements; and Israel negotiating in good faith with the Palestinians”. An Israeli embassy spokesman said the boycott “was regrettable and ill-advised” and that “vilifying and ostracising Israel and promoting a lose-lose programme of boycotts is not the way to secure legitimate Palestinian rights”. Singer and songwriter Damien Dempsey hoped the boycott would encourage young people in Israel who disagreed with the government to “speak out”. He said that the military were running the show in Israel and that they needed the world to stand up against them. Musician Donal Lunny said he was taking part to “express solidarity with the Palestinian people”. When asked about the boycott’s chances for success, Eoin Dillon, a performer with Irish and world music band Kila, said: “It worked in South Africa.”Last week, we poked fun at McDonald’s for not only taking nearly a week to respond to a simple question about dipping sauces, but for turning that response into one of the most convoluted marketing messages we’ve ever received. After getting some Egg McMuffin on its face, the fast food giant has finally provided a more straightforward response. Just to recap: We reached out to McDonald’s on behalf of a few Consumerist readers who wanted to know if they would ever be able to dip their McNuggets in the Hot Mustard dipping sauce that had been part of the chain’s menu for decades. Rather than say “yes” or “no,” a McD’s marketing mechanism churned out a 60-word marketing spiel about how f-ing awesome some blah blah bold blah habanero ranch sauce is, and how this bold buttkicker of a laboratory project could also be found on other McDonald’s menu items that we didn’t ask about. After we published our goofy little post, McDonald’s re-reached out to us, apologizing for the lack of clarity, and stating without qualification, “McDonald’s is removing Hot Mustard sauce from our lineup due to its slow moving performance.” See? Was that so painful? Had McDonald’s just sent us that to begin with, there would have been no post. We would have sent the info on to the readers that asked about it and that’s where it would have ended. But the Golden Arches couldn’t resist the temptation to slather on all the marketing language it could, trying to stuff the message of “HABANERO RANCH IS SO DANG RAD YOUR GREAT-GRANDKIDS WILL BE BORN CRAVING IT!!!!!!” down consumers’ throats like so many handfuls of salty fries. Anyway, all this talk about dipping sauces
front-end code and leave the back-ends alone. Amazon released a new option for us late last week to allow us to build server-less web applications from right inside the browser: Amazon AWS Javascript SDK. Their browser-based (and server-side with NodeJS) SDK allows us to confidently host our applications and interact with production-grade back-end services. Now, it’s possible to host our application stack entirely on Amazon infrastructure, using S3 to host our application and files, DynamoDB as a NoSQL store, and other web-scale services. We can even securely accept payments from the client side and get all the benefits of the Amazon CDN. With this release, the Javascript SDK now allows us to interact with a large portion of the dozens of Amazon AWS services. These services include: DynamoDB The fast, fully managed NoSQL database service that allows you to scale to infinite size with automatic triplicate replication with secure access controls. Simple Notification Service (SNS) The fast, flexible fully managed push notification service that allows us to push messages to mobile devices as well as other services, such as email or even to amazon’s own Simple Queue Service (SQS). Simple Queue Service (SQS) The fast, reliable, fully managed queue service that allows us to create huge queues in a fully managed way. It allows us to create large request objects so we can fully decouple our application’s components from each other using a common queue. Simple Storage Service (S3) The web-scale and fully managed data store that allows us to store large objects (up to 5 terabytes) with an unlimited number of objects. We can use S3 to securely store encrypted and protected data all over the world. We’ll even use S3 to host our own Angular apps. Security Token Service (STS) The web-service that allows us to request temporary and limited privileged credentials for IAM users. We won’t cover this in-depth, but it does provide a nice interface to creating limited secure operations on our data. The full list of services can be found on the official project here. AWSJS + Angular In this section, we intend on demonstrating how to get our applications up and running on the AWSJS stack in minutes. To do so, we’re going to create a mini, bare-bones version of Gumroad that we will allow our users to upload screenshots and we’ll let them sell their screenshots by integrating with the fantastic Stripe API. We cannot recommend enough these two services and this mini-demo is not intended on replacing their services, only to demonstrate the power of Angular and the AWS API. To create our product, we’ll need to: Allow users to login to our service and store their unique emails Allow users to upload files that are associated with them Allow buyers to click on images and present them with an option to buy the uploaded image Take credit card charges and accept money, directly from a single page angular app We’ve included the entire source of the article at http://d.pr/aL9q. Getting started We’ll start with a standard structured index.html : <!doctype html> <html> <head> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.0-rc.3/angular.min.js"></script> <script src="http://code.angularjs.org/1.2.0-rc.3/angular-route.min.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles/bootstrap.min.css"> </head> <body> <div ng-view></div> <script src="scripts/app.js"></script> <script src="scripts/controllers.js"></script> <script src="scripts/services.js"></script> <script src="scripts/directives.js"></script> </body> </html> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 <!doctype html> <html> <head> <script src = "https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.0-rc.3/angular.min.js" > </script> <script src = "http://code.angularjs.org/1.2.0-rc.3/angular-route.min.js" > </script> <link rel = "stylesheet" href = "styles/bootstrap.min.css" > </head> <body> <div ng - view > </div> <script src = "scripts/app.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/controllers.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/services.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/directives.js" > </script> </body> </html> In this standard angular template, we’re not loading anything crazy. We’re loading the base angular library as well as ngRoute and our custom application code. Our application code is also standard. Our scripts/app.js simply defines an angular module along with a single route / : angular.module('myApp', [ 'ngRoute','myApp.services','myApp.directives']).config(function($routeProvider) { $routeProvider.when('/', { controller: 'MainCtrl', templateUrl: 'templates/main.html', }).otherwise({ redirectTo: '/' }); }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 angular. module ('myApp', [ 'ngRoute','myApp.services','myApp.directives' ] ). config ( function ( $ routeProvider ) { $ routeProvider. when ( '/', { controller : 'MainCtrl', templateUrl : 'templates/main.html', } ). otherwise ( { redirectTo : '/' } ) ; } ) ; Our scripts/controllers.js creates controllers from the main module: angular.module('myApp').controller('MainCtrl', function($scope) { }); 1 2 3 4 angular. module ('myApp' ). controller ( 'MainCtrl', function ( $ scope ) { } ) ; And our scripts/services.js and scripts/directives.js are simple as well: // scripts/services.js angular.module('myApp.services', []); 1 2 // scripts/services.js angular. module ('myApp.services', [ ] ) ; // scripts/directives.js angular.module('myApp.directives', []) 1 2 // scripts/directives.js angular. module ('myApp.directives', [ ] ) Introduction The aws ecosystem is huge and is used all over the world, in production. The gross amount of useful services that Amazon runs makes it a fantastic platform to power our applications on top of. Historically, the APIs have not always been the easiest to use and understand, so we hope to address some of that confusion here. Traditionally, we’d use a signed request with our applications utilizing the clientid/secret access key model. Since we’re operating in the browser, it’s not a good idea to embed our clientid and our client_secret in the browser where anyone can see it. (It’s not much of a secret anyway if it’s embedded in clear text, right?). Luckily, the AWS team has provided us with an alternative method of identifying and authenticating our site to give access to the aws resources. The first steps to creating an AWS-based angular app will be to set up this relatively complex authentication and authorization we’ll use throughout the process. Currently (at the time of this writing), the AWS JS library integrates cleanly with three authentication providers: Facebook Google Plus Amazon Login In this section, we’ll be focusing on integrating with the Google+ API to host our login, but the process is very similar for the other two authentication providers. Installation First things first, we’ll need to install the files in our index.html. Inside of our index.html, we’ll need to include the aws-sdk library as well as the Google API library. We’ll modify our index.html to include these libraries: <!doctype html> <html> <head> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.0-rc.3/angular.min.js"></script> <script src="http://code.angularjs.org/1.2.0-rc.3/angular-route.min.js"></script> <script src="https://sdk.amazonaws.com/js/aws-sdk-2.0.0-rc1.min.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles/bootstrap.min.css"> </head> <body> <div ng-view></div> <script src="scripts/app.js"></script> <script src="scripts/controllers.js"></script> <script src="scripts/services.js"></script> <script src="scripts/directives.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://js.stripe.com/v2/"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/client:plusone.js?onload=onLoadCallback'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); </script> </body> </html> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 <!doctype html> <html> <head> <script src = "https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.0-rc.3/angular.min.js" > </script> <script src = "http://code.angularjs.org/1.2.0-rc.3/angular-route.min.js" > </script> <script src = "https://sdk.amazonaws.com/js/aws-sdk-2.0.0-rc1.min.js" > </script> <link rel = "stylesheet" href = "styles/bootstrap.min.css" > </head> <body> <div ng - view > </div> <script src = "scripts/app.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/controllers.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/services.js" > </script> <script src = "scripts/directives.js" > </script> <script type = "text/javascript" src = "https://js.stripe.com/v2/" > </script> <script type = "text/javascript" > ( function ( ) { var po = document. createElement ('script' ) ; po. type = 'text/javascript' ; po. async = true ; po. src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/client:plusone.js?onload=onLoadCallback' ; var s = document. getElementsByTagName ('script' ) [ 0 ] ; s. parentNode. insertBefore ( po, s ) ; } ) ( ) ; </script> </body> </html> Now, notice that we added an onload callback for the Google Javascript library and we did not use the ng-app to bootstrap our application. If we let angular automatically bootstrap our application, we’ll run into a race condition where the Google API may not be loaded when the application starts. This non-deterministic nature of our application will make the experience unusable, so instead we will manually bootstrap our app in the onLoadCallback function. To manually bootstrap the application, we’ll add the onLoadCallback function to the window service. Before we can call to bootstrap angular, we’ll need to ensure that the google login client is loaded. The google API client, or gapi gets included at run-time and is set by default to lazy-load its services. By telling the gapi.client to load the oauth2 library in advance of starting our app, we will avoid any potential mishaps of the oauth2 library being unavailable. // in scripts/app.js window.onLoadCallback = function() { // When the document is ready angular.element(document).ready(function() { // Bootstrap the oauth2 library gapi.client.load('oauth2', 'v2', function() { // Finally, bootstrap our angular app angular.bootstrap(document, ['myApp']); }); }); } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 // in scripts/app.js window. onLoadCallback = function ( ) { // When the document is ready angular. element ( document ). ready ( function ( ) { // Bootstrap the oauth2 library gapi. client. load ( 'oauth2', 'v2', function ( ) { // Finally, bootstrap our angular app angular. bootstrap ( document, ['myApp' ] ) ; } ) ; } ) ; } With the libraries available and our application ready to be bootstrapped, we can set up the authorization part of our app. Running As we are using services that depend upon our URL to be an expected URL, we’ll need to run this as a server, rather than simply loading the html in our browser. We recommend using the incredibly simple python SimpleHTTPServer $ python -m SimpleHTTPServer 9000 1 $ python - m SimpleHTTPServer 9000 Now we can load the url http://localhost:9000/ in our browser. User authorization/authentication First, we’ll need to get a client_id and a client_secret from Google so that we’ll be able to actually interact with the google plus login system. To get an app, head over to the Google APIs console and create a project. Open the project by clicking on the name and click on the APIs & auth nav button. From here, we’ll need to enable the Google+ API. Find the APIs button and click on it. Find the Google+ API item and click the OFF to ON slider. Once that’s set, we’ll need to create and register an application and use it’s application ID to make authenticated calls. Find the Registered apps option and click on it to create an app. Make sure to select the Web Application option when it asks about the type of application. Once this is set, you’ll be brought to the application details page. Select the OAuth 2.0 Client ID dropdown and take note of the application’s Client ID. We’ll use this in a few minutes. Lastly, add the localhost origin to the WEB ORIGIN of the application. This will ensure we can develop with the API locally: The google console has changed slightly and no longer accepts localhost as a valid origin. When in development, we like to change our local computer name. For instance, my local computer name is ari.dev. In the google web console, change the name to http://ari.dev:9000 and load the html by the name in the browser. Next, we’ll create a google+ login directive. This Angular directive will enable us to add a customized login button to our app with a single file element. For more information about directives, check out our in-depth post on directives. We’re going to have two pieces of functionality with our google login, we’ll create an element that we’ll attach a the standard google login button and we’ll want to run a custom function after the button has been rendered. The final directive will look like the following in scripts/directives.js : angular.module('myApp.directives', []).directive('googleSignin', function() { return { restrict: 'A', template: '<span id="signinButton"></span>', replace: true, scope: { afterSignin: '&' }, link: function(scope, ele, attrs) { // Set standard google class attrs.$set('class', 'g-signin'); // Set the clientid attrs.$set('data-clientid', attrs.clientId+'.apps.googleusercontent.com'); // build scope urls var scopes = attrs.scopes \|\| [ 'auth/plus.login', 'auth/userinfo.email' ]; var scopeUrls = []; for (var i = 0; i < scopes.length; i++) { scopeUrls.push('https://www.googleapis.com/' + scopes[i]); }; // Create a custom callback method var callbackId = "_googleSigninCallback", directiveScope = scope; window[callbackId] = function() { var oauth = arguments[0]; directiveScope.afterSignin({oauth: oauth}); window[callbackId] = null; }; // Set standard google signin button settings attrs.$set('data-callback', callbackId); attrs.$set('data-cookiepolicy','single_host_origin'); attrs.$set('data-requestvisibleactions', 'http://schemas.google.com/AddActivity') attrs.$set('data-scope', scopeUrls.join(' ')); // Finally, reload the client library to // force the button to be painted in the browser (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/client:plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); } } }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 angular. module ('myApp.directives', [ ] ). directive ( 'googleSignin', function ( ) { return { restrict : 'A', template : '<span id="signinButton"></span>', replace : true, scope : { afterSignin : '&' }, link : function ( scope, ele, attrs ) { // Set standard google class attrs. $ set ( 'class', 'g-signin' ) ; // Set the clientid attrs. $ set ( 'data-clientid', attrs. clientId + '.apps.googleusercontent.com' ) ; // build scope urls var scopes = attrs. scopes \|\| [ 'auth/plus.login', 'auth/userinfo.email' ] ; var scopeUrls = [ ] ; for ( var i = 0 ; i < scopes. length ; i ++ ) { scopeUrls. push ( 'https://www.googleapis.com/' + scopes [ i ] ) ; } ; // Create a custom callback method var callbackId = "_googleSigninCallback", directiveScope = scope ; window [ callbackId ] = function ( ) { var oauth = arguments [ 0 ] ; directiveScope. afterSignin ( { oauth : oauth } ) ; window [ callbackId ] = null ; } ; // Set standard google signin button settings attrs. $ set ( 'data-callback', callbackId ) ; attrs. $ set ( 'data-cookiepolicy','single_host_origin' ) ; attrs. $ set ( 'data-requestvisibleactions', 'http://schemas.google.com/AddActivity' ) attrs. $ set ( 'data-scope', scopeUrls. join ('' ) ) ; // Finally, reload the client library to // force the button to be painted in the browser ( function ( ) { var po = document. createElement ('script' ) ; po. type = 'text/javascript' ; po. async = true ; po. src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/client:plusone.js' ; var s = document. getElementsByTagName ('script' ) [ 0 ] ; s. parentNode. insertBefore ( po, s ) ; } ) ( ) ; } } } ) ; Although it’s long, it’s fairly straightforward. We’re assigning the google button class g-signin, attaching the clientid based on an attribute we pass in, building the scopes, etc. One unique part of this directive is that we’re creating a custom callback on the window object. Effectively, this will allow us to fake the callback method needing to be called in Javascript when we make the function to allow us to actually make the call to the local afterSignin action instead. We’ll then clean up the global object because we’re allergic to global state in AngularJS. With our directive primed and ready to go, we can include the directive in our view. We’re going to call the directive in our view like so, replacing the client-id and the after-signin attributes on the directive to our own. Make sure to include the oauth parameter exactly as it’s spelled in the after-signup attribute. This is called this way due to how angular directives call methods with parameters inside of directives. <h2>Signin to ngroad</h2> <div google-signin client-id='CLIENT_ID' after-signin="signedIn(oauth)"></div> <pre>{{ user \| json }}</pre> 1 2 3 4 5 <h2> Signin to ngroad </h2> <div google - signin client-id = 'CLIENT_ID' after-signin = "signedIn(oauth)" > </div> <pre> {{ user \| json }} </pre> See it Signin to ngroad { "state": "", "error_subtype": "origin_mismatch", "error": "immediate_failed", "session_state": "1a29b5a9ae878c25f578ff912e3aca68dcb17274.WK13g5v8CDFIWWon.b6f8", "client_id": "395118764244-q12ta6un8j1ns15o5blj203sho962prs.apps.googleusercontent.com", "scope": "https://www.googleapis.com/auth/plus.login https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.email", "g_user_cookie_policy": "single_host_origin", "cookie_policy": "single_host_origin", "response_type": "code token id_token gsession", "issued_at": "1439242459", "expires_in": "86400", "expires_at": "1439328859", "status": { "google_logged_in": true, "signed_in": false, "method": null } } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 { "state" : "", "error_subtype" : "origin_mismatch", "error" : "immediate_failed", "session_state" : "1a29b5a9ae878c25f578ff912e3aca68dcb17274.WK13g5v8CDFIWWon.b6f8", "client_id" : "395118764244-q12ta6un8j1ns15o5blj203sho962prs.apps.googleusercontent.com", "scope" : "https://www.googleapis.com/auth/plus.login https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.email", "g_user_cookie_policy" : "single_host_origin", "cookie_policy" : "single_host_origin", "response_type" : "code token id_token gsession", "issued_at" : "1439242459", "expires_in" : "86400", "expires_at" : "1439328859", "status" : { "google_logged_in" : true, "signed_in" : false, "method" : null } } The user data in the example is the returned access_token for your login (if you log in). It is not saved on our servers, not sensitive data, and will disappear when you leave the page. Finally, we’ll need our button to actually cause an action, so we’ll need to define our after-signin method signedIn(oauth) in our controller. This signedIn() method will kill off the authenticated page for us in our real application. Note, this method would be an ideal place to set a redirect to a new route, for instance the /dashboard route for authenticated users. angular.module('myApp').controller('MainCtrl', function($scope) { $scope.signedIn = function(oauth) { $scope.user = oauth; } }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 angular. module ('myApp' ). controller ( 'MainCtrl', function ( $ scope ) { $ scope. signedIn = function ( oauth ) { $ scope. user = oauth ; } } ) ; UserService Before we dive a bit deeper into the AWS-side of things, let’s create ourselves a UserService that is responsible for holding on to our new user. This UserService will handle the bulk of the work for interacting with the AWS backend as well as keep a copy of the current user. Although we’re not quite ready to attach a backend, we can start building it out to handle holding on to a persistent copy of the user instance. In our scripts/services.js, we’ll create the beginnings of our UserService : angular.module('myApp.services', []).factory('UserService', function($q, $http) { var service = { _user: null, setCurrentUser: function(u) { if (u &&!u.error) { service._user = u; return service.currentUser(); } else { var d = $q.defer(); d.reject(u.error); return d.promise; } }, currentUser: function() { var d = $q.defer(); d.resolve(service._user); return d.promise; } }; return service; }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 angular. module ('myApp.services', [ ] ). factory ( 'UserService', function ( $ q, $ http ) { var service = { _user : null, setCurrentUser : function ( u ) { if ( u &&! u. error ) { service. _user = u ; return service. currentUser ( ) ; } else { var d = $ q. defer ( ) ; d. reject ( u. error ) ; return d. promise ; } }, currentUser : function ( ) { var d = $ q. defer ( ) ; d. resolve ( service. _user ) ; return d. promise ; } } ; return service ; } ) ; Although this setup is a bit contrived for the time being, we’ll want the functionality to set the currentUser as a permanent fixture in the service. Remember, services are singleton objects that live for the duration of the application lifecycle. Now, instead of simply setting our user in the return of the signedIn() function, we can set the user to the UserService : angular.module('myApp').controller('MainCtrl', function($scope) { $scope.signedIn = function(oauth) { UserService.setCurrentUser(oauth).then(function(user) { $scope.user = user; }); } }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 angular. module ('myApp' ). controller ( 'MainCtrl', function ( $ scope ) { $ scope. signedIn = function ( oauth ) { UserService. setCurrentUser ( oauth ). then ( function ( user ) { $ scope. user = user ; } ) ; } } ) ; For our application to work, we’re going to need to hold on to actual user emails so we can provide a better method of interacting with our users as well as holding on to some persistent, unique data per-user. We’ll use the gapi.client.oauth2.userinfo.get() method to fetch the user’s email address rather than holding on to the user’s access_token (and other various access details). In our UserService, we’ll update our currentUser() method to include this functionality: //... }, currentUser: function() { var d = $q.defer(); if (service._user) { d.resolve(service._user); } else { gapi.client.oauth2.userinfo.get().execute(function(e) { service._user = e; }) } return d.promise; } //... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 //... }, currentUser : function ( ) { var d = $ q. defer ( ) ; if ( service. _user ) { d. resolve ( service. _user ) ; } else { gapi. client. oauth2. userinfo. get ( ). execute ( function ( e ) { service. _user = e ; } ) } return d. promise ; } //... All aboard AWS Now, as we said when we first started this journey, we’ll need to set up authorization with the AWS services. If you do not have an AWS account, head over to aws.amazon.com and grab an account. It’s free and quick. Now, first things first: we’ll need to create an IAM role. IAM, or AWS’s Identity and Access Management service is one of the reasons why the AWS services are so powerful. We can create fine-grain access controls over our systems and data using IAM. Unfortunately, this flexibility and power of IAM also makes it a bit more complex, so we’ll walk through creating it here and making it as clear as we can. Let’s create the IAM role. Head to the IAM console and click on the Roles navigation link. Click the Create New Role button and give our new role a name. We’ll call ours the google-web-role. Next, we’ll need to configure the IAM role to be a Web Identity Provider Access role type. This is how we’ll be able to manage our new role’s access to our AWS services. Now, remember the CLIENT ID that we created from google above? In the next screen, select Google from the dropdown and paste the CLIENT ID into the Audience box. This will join our IAM role and our Google app together so that our application can call out to AWS services with an authenticated Google user. Click through the Verify Trust (the next screen). This screen shows the raw configuration for AWS services. Next, we’ll create the policy for our applications. The Policy Generator is the easiest method of getting up and running quickly to build policies. This is where we’ll set what actions our users can and cannot take. In this step, we’re going to be taking very specific actions that our web users can take. We’re going to allow our users to the following actions for each service: S3 On the specific bucket ( ng-newsletter-example, in our example app), we’re going to allow our users to take the following actions: GetObject ListBucket PutObject The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) for our s3 bucket is: arn:aws:s3:::ng-newsletter-example/* 1 arn : aws : s3 :: : ng - newsletter - example / * DynamoDB For two specific table resources, we’re going to allow the following actions: GetItem PutItem Query The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) for our dynamoDB tables are the following: [ "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:<ACCOUNT_ID>:table/Users", "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:<ACCOUNT_ID>:table/UsersItems" ] 1 2 3 4 [ "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:<ACCOUNT_ID>:table/Users", "arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:<ACCOUNT_ID>:table/UsersItems" ] Your can be found on your Account dashboard. Click on the My Account button at the top of the page and navigate to the page. Your ACCOUNT_ID is the number called ‘Account Number:’. The final version of our policy can be found here. For more information on the confusing ARN numbers, check out the amazon documentation on them here. One final piece of information that we’ll need to hold on to is the Role ARN. We can find this Role ARN on the summary tab of the IAM user in our IAM console. Take note of this string as we’ll set it in a moment. Now that we’re finally done with creating our IAM user, we can move on to integrating it inside of our angular app. AWSService We’ll move the root of our application for integrating with AWS into it’s own service we’re going to build called the AWSService. Since we are going to need to have the ability to custom configure our service at configure-time, we’ll want to create it as a provider. Remember, the only service-type that can be injected into the.config() function is the.provider() type. First, we’ll create the stub of our provider in scripts/services.js : //....provider('AWSService', function() { var self = this; self.arn = null; self.setArn = function(arn) { if (arn) self.arn = arn; } self.$get = function($q) { return {} } }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 //.... provider ( 'AWSService', function ( ) { var self = this ; self. arn = null ; self. setArn = function ( arn ) { if ( arn ) self. arn = arn ; } self. $ get = function ( $ q ) { return { } } } ) ; As we can already start to notice, we’ll need to set the Role ARN for this service so that we can attach the proper user to the correct services. Setting up our AWSService as a provider like we do above enables us to set the following in our scripts/app.js file: angular.module('myApp', ['ngRoute','myApp.services','myApp.directives'] ).config(function(AWSServiceProvider) { AWSServiceProvider.setArn( 'arn:aws:iam::<ACCOUNT_ID>:role/google-web-role'); }) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 angular. module ('myApp', [ 'ngRoute','myApp.services','myApp.directives' ] ). config ( function ( AWSServiceProvider ) { AWSServiceProvider. setArn ( 'arn:aws:iam::<ACCOUNT_ID>:role/google-web-role' ) ; } ) Now, we can carry on with the AWSService and not worry about overriding our Role ARN as well as it becomes incredibly easy to share amongst our different applications instead of recreating it every time. Our AWSService at this point doesn’t really do anything yet. The last component that we’ll need to ensure works is that we give access to our actual users who log in. This final step is where we’ll need to tell the AWS library that we have an authenticated user that can operate as our IAM role. We’ll create this credentials as a promise that will eventually be resolved so we can define the different portions of our application without needing to bother checking if the credentials have been loaded simply by using the.then() method on promises. Let’s modify our $get() method in our service adding a method that we’ll call setToken() to create a new set of WebIdentityCredentials : //... self.$get = function($q) { var credentialsDefer = $q.defer(), credentialsPromise = credentialsDefer.promise; return { credentials: function() { return credentialsPromise; }, setToken: function(token, providerId) { var config = { RoleArn: self.arn, WebIdentityToken: token, RoleSessionName: 'web-id' } if (providerId) { config['ProviderId'] = providerId; } self.config = config; AWS.config.credentials = new AWS.WebIdentityCredentials(config); credentialsDefer.resolve(AWS.config.credentials); } } } //... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 //... self. $ get = function ( $ q ) { var credentialsDefer = $ q. defer ( ), credentialsPromise = credentialsDefer. promise ; return { credentials : function ( ) { return credentialsPromise ; }, setToken : function ( token, providerId ) { var config = { RoleArn : self. arn, WebIdentityToken : token, RoleSessionName : 'web-id' } if ( providerId ) { config [ 'ProviderId' ] = providerId ; } self. config = config ; AWS. config. credentials = new AWS. WebIdentityCredentials ( config ) ; credentialsDefer. resolve ( AWS. config. credentials ) ; } } } //... Now, when we get our oauth.access_token back from our login through Google, we’ll pass in the id_token to this function which will take care of the AWS config setup. Let’s modify the UserService service such that we call the setToken() method: //....factory('UserService', function($q, $http) { var service = { _user: null, setCurrentUser: function(u) { if (u &&!u.error) { AWSService.setToken(u.id_token); return service.currentUser(); } else { var d = $q.defer(); d.reject(u.error); return d.promise; } }, //... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 //.... factory ( 'UserService', function ( $ q, $ http ) { var service = { _user : null, setCurrentUser : function ( u ) { if ( u &&! u. error ) { AWSService. setToken ( u. id_token ) ; return service. currentUser ( ) ; } else { var d = $ q. defer ( ) ; d. reject ( u. error ) ; return d. promise ; } }, //... Starting on dynamo In our application, we’ll want to associate any images that one user uploads to that unique user. To create this association, we’ll create a dynamo table that stores our users as well as another that stores the association between the user and the user’s uploaded files. To start interacting with dynamo, we’ll first need to instantiate a dynamo object. We’ll do this inside of our AWSService service object, like so: //... setToken: function(token, providerId) { //... }, dynamo: function(params) { var d = $q.defer(); credentialsPromise.then(function() { var table = new AWS.DynamoDB(params); d.resolve(table); }); return d.promise; }, //... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 //... setToken : function ( token, providerId ) { //... }, dynamo : function ( params ) { var d = $ q. defer ( ) ; credentialsPromise. then ( function ( ) { var table = new AWS. DynamoDB ( params ) ; d. resolve ( table ) ; } ) ; return d. promise ; }, //... As we discussed earlier, by using promises inside of our service objects, we only need to use the promise.then() api method to ensure our credentials are set when we’re starting to use them. You might ask why we’re setting params with our dynamo function. Sometimes we’ll want to interact with our dynamoDB with different
been aware of what happened. That admission came just before the FA decided to impose the ban which means that Rooney misses Saturday's Premier League match at home to Fulham and next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. "It's hard to imagine a referee would send a player off for scoring a hat-trick," Ferguson added. Ferguson questioned whether Rooney - who confessed that he was "gutted" after losing his appeal against the ban on Thursday - had been fairly treated by the FA. "I don't know if you can use that word 'fair' any longer," the 69-year-old Red Devils manager said. "We put an appeal in and the lad wrote his apologies for swearing. But I don't think we expected to get that result to be honest with you. "We're disappointed but we'll have to get on with it and we'll be united with it... we've got a good squad and players have been showing fantastic determination. "We're going to be hard to beat, that's for sure." Former United captain Gary Neville has accused the FA of "creating" the rule that has seen Rooney banned. "It [swearing] happens every single match, 20 times. I can't for the life of me understand why this time makes any difference," Neville, who retired last month, told BBC Radio Manchester. "The FA are very reactive and very inconsistent with their reactions. Media playback is not supported on this device Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini laments the absence of Wayne Rooney from the forthcoming FA cup clash with Manchester United. "There is no rule in place which says swearing into a camera brings you a two match ban, they've created one this week. Now they're going to have to make sure that everyone caught swearing on camera is banned for two matches. "Go down to your park pitch on a Sunday morning and there'll be swearing. "You can't say it's right or it's wrong, it's just football, that's what sport is. You see the same thing when a golfer makes a putt or a cricketer takes a catch. It's not a nasty thing, it's not malicious, no crime's been committed here." United will extend their lead at the top to 10 points if they beat Fulham before second-place Arsenal, who dropped points last weekend in a 0-0 draw with Blackburn, travel to Blackpool on Sunday.Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Apparently, Dana White isn't too worried about one of his most famous former fighters going to work for his biggest business rival. While UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture is widely recognized by the public as a UFC personality, that hasn't stopped the now-retired fighter from signing a major deal with Bellator MMA and SPIKE. As originally reported by Sports Illustrated journalist Loretta Hunt, Couture will be working closely with his new partners in a variety of programs on the SPIKE cable channel—not least of which is being a coaching stint on Bellator's upcoming reality TV series. White broke his silence on the issue in a response to a fan question on Twitter, surprisingly giving his approval of Couture's new opportunity: @jayrequard I love it — Dana White (@danawhite) January 29, 2013 Such a stance may be a shock to those familiar with the vitriolic promoter, who recently had several negative things to say at length about Bellator, SPIKE, parent company Viacom and their business practices—specifically stemming from a legal battle over the contract of top-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (via MMA Fighting): I saw in their argument where they said, 'Oh, Spike launches pay-per-views.' No, actually they don't. That's not true. We did. What they're doing is, they're saying -- not as much Spike, as Viacom -- has been saying, ‘We built the UFC.' No you f--king did not. No you did not, you arrogant, pompous jackass. You did not build the UFC. We'll see if you did. But you better think long and hard if you're a manager or a fighter and you're about to do a deal with Bellator. Think long and hard about how you negotiate that contract. However, Couture is one of the unique MMA athletes who has the latitude to sign with Bellator MMA and not worry about contract issues. For one, Couture has been retired since a second-round knockout loss against former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 129. That definitively spelled the end of his active fighting career after 13 long years in MMA, stemming back to his first appearance at UFC 13. Moreover, Couture's had his own legal issues with the UFC in the past (via Yahoo Sports and MMA Weekly), as the two-division light heavyweight and heavyweight champion had temporarily left the company in 2007 due to salary disputes. Additionally, the UFC's inability to arrange a bout with then-No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Fedor Emelianenko played a part in Couture's departure. Eventually, "The Natural" returned to Zuffa in November 2008 for a title match against WWE star Brock Lesnar at UFC 91, marking the legend's 15th and final championship fight.Q: With Amy Hennig leaving, did they change the script at all to Uncharted 4? NN: Yeah. I can't really say too much about that...but I will. We had shot 8 months of her story and it was all thrown away. The Last of Us guys came in, and you have to understand, new producers, new people, they want to do it. I don't know what happened exactly. Amy is still a very dear friend of mine and she's brilliant but the Last of Us guys were the next team there so they took over and they just wanted their own flavour. They got rid of some of the other people that were involved and just redid their thing. Great move they made with Troy Baker [who] played my brother and they knew that was going to work because Troy and I are friends and he had done Joel and they knew he and I had good rapport. So it'll be fun, the tone I think is gonna be slightly different. It has to be, you know, you can't have a Robert Ludlum novel that's going to be the same as Steven King. It's just that they're different styles. But it's true to the story. Q: So it really hasn't affected it at all? NN: No, it's going to be along the same lines with the story but I think there'll be...I don't know. I don't know how it'll affect the how thing and to be honest I am just as curious as everyone to see what the final product will look like. I do know there's trust with the Naughty Dog designers and programmers, that place is still top notch and from the things I've seen and sound and all the stuff they've done, it's amazing. [...] It's gonna be phenomenal. I mean the story, visuals, the same wacky crew.The Forces Driving Middle-Aged White People's 'Deaths Of Despair' In 2015, when researchers Anne Case and Angus Deaton discovered that death rates had been rising dramatically since 1999 among middle-aged white Americans, they weren't sure why people were dying younger, reversing decades of longer life expectancy. Now the husband-and-wife economists say they have a better understanding of what's causing these "deaths of despair" by suicide, drugs and alcohol. In a follow-up to their groundbreaking 2015 work, they say that a lack of steady, well-paying jobs for whites without college degrees has caused pain, distress and social dysfunction to build up over time. The mortality rate for that group, ages 45 to 54, increased by a half percent each year from 1999 to 2013. But whites with college degrees haven't suffered the same lack of economic opportunity and haven't seen the same loss of life expectancy. The study was published Thursday in Brookings Papers on Economic Activity. Case and Deaton, who are both at Princeton University, spoke with NPR's David Greene about what's driving these trends. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Interview Highlights On the original discovery of rising mortality rates for middle-aged whites Angus Deaton: Mortality rates have been going down forever. There's been a huge increase in life expectancy and reduction in mortality over 100 years or more, and then for all of this to suddenly go into reverse [for whites ages 45 to 54], we thought it must be wrong. We spent weeks checking out numbers because we just couldn't believe that this could have happened, or that if it had, someone else must have already noticed. It seems like we were right and that no one else had picked it up. We knew the proximate causes — we know what they were dying from. We knew suicides were going up rapidly, and that overdoses mostly from prescription drugs were going up, and that alcoholic liver disease was going up. The deeper questions were why those were happening — there's obviously some underlying malaise, reasons for which we [didn't] know. On what's driving these early deaths Anne Case: These deaths of despair have been accompanied by reduced labor force participation, reduced marriage rates, increases in reports of poor health and poor mental health. So we are beginning to thread a story in that it's possible that [the trend is] consistent with the labor market collapsing for people with less than a college degree. In turn, those people are being less able to form stable marriages, and in turn that has effects on the kind of economic and social supports that people need in order to thrive. In general, the longer you're in the labor force, the more you earn — in part because you understand your job better and you're more efficient at your job, you've had on-the-job training, you belong to a union, and so your wages go up with age. That's happened less and less the later and later you've been born and the later you enter this labor market. Deaton: We're thinking of this in terms of something that's been going on for a long time, something that's emerged as the iceberg has risen out of the water. We think of this as part of the decline of the white working class. If you go back to the early '70s when you had the so-called blue-collar aristocrats, those jobs have slowly crumbled away and many more men are finding themselves in a much more hostile labor market with lower wages, lower quality and less permanent jobs. That's made it harder for them to get married. They don't get to know their own kids. There's a lot of social dysfunction building up over time. There's a sense that these people have lost this sense of status and belonging. And these are classic preconditions for suicide. Case: The rates of suicide are much higher among men [than women]. And drug overdoses and alcohol-related liver death are higher among men, too. But the [mortality] trends are identical for men and women with a high school degree or less. So we think of this as people, either quickly with a gun or slowly with drugs and alcohol, are killing themselves. Under that body count there's a lot of social dysfunction that we think ultimately we may be able to pin to poor job prospects over the life course. On how mortality rates differ among races Deaton: Hispanics [have always had lower mortality rates] than whites. It's a bit of a puzzle that's not fully resolved, to put it mildly. It's always been true that mortality rates have been higher and life expectancy shorter for African-Americans than for whites. What is happening now is that gap is closing and, for some groups, it's actually crossed. What we see in the new work is if you compare whites with a high school degree or less, at least their mortality rates are now higher than mortality rates for African-Americans as a whole. If you compare whites with a high school degree or less with blacks with a high school degree or less, their mortality rates have converged. It's as if poorly educated whites have now taken over from blacks as the lowest rung of society in terms of mortality rates. On the geography of mortality rates Case: There's not a part of the country that has not been touched by this. We like to make the comparison between Nevada and Utah to look at the extent to which good health behaviors lead to longer life. Two-thirds of Utahans are Mormons. They don't drink, they don't smoke and they don't drink tea or coffee. Two-thirds of Nevadans live in Las Vegas paradise, where there is a little more of everything, so the heart disease mortality rates are twice as high in Nevada as they are in Utah. But both states are [in the] top 10 for deaths of despair. Utah has had a terrifically hard time dealing with the opioid crisis, and suicide rates [are] going up as well. There's a lot of surprise here in parts of the country that we weren't really expecting to see.LONDON, Ont. — For the second time in less than a month, Health Canada is issuing a recall of medical marijuana. Clearview, Ont.-based Peace Naturals Project issued a voluntary recall for a batch of its prescription pot (K-Farms Lot: K1-KFM-001-14) after it tested positive for bacteria outside the acceptable limits, Health Canada said. The latest recall affects 55 of the roughly 40,000 medical marijuana users in Canada. Though Peace Naturals hasn’t received any reports of adverse health affects from clients using the recalled product, the company advises users to seek medical help if they have health concerns. “Peace Naturals Project Inc. has contacted and is instructing the 55 clients who received the affected lot to immediately discontinue use of any marijuana from this lot which they may still have in their possession,” Health Canada said in a statement. Clients are asked to return any unused product to the company or safely dispose of it. Peace Naturals still appears on the government’s list of approved producers. The recall comes less than a month after B.C.-based Greenleaf Medicinals issued a voluntary recall of its Purple Kush strain April 18 following a Health Canada inspection that found problems with the company’s control, production and oversight procedures. Greenleaf no longer appears on the government-approved producer list. [email protected] Twitter.com/DaleatLFPress BY THE NUMBERS 40,000 medical marijuana users in Canada 3M medical marijuana plants cultivated in Canada last year 31 medical conditions that can be treated with a marijuana prescription $1.3B estimated size of medical marijuana market by 2024 Sources: Health Canada, producer websitesWhile browsing for electronics on eBay I came across some of these super inexpensive DDS modules being sold and shipped from China (less than $6 as of August 2012). That’s cheaper than you can buy the 9850 chip by itself here in the States! Without any research whatsoever I went ahead and added 2 to a recent order of some other components I needed. About 2 weeks later my package arrived and here’s the board I ended up with. Anyway, I had visions of dragging out the breadboard, hooking up some jumpers, maybe throwing a couple of capacitors in there… As anyone can tell you that’s bought one of these on impulse – it’s a little more complicated than that. There is actually some math involved, bits, bytes, hexadecimal, longwords even. Stuff I hadn’t seen since college (what I remember of college anyway). So, I finally sat down the other day and dug in to what it would take to get this thing going. Long story short, to get any output from one of these you need to send 40 bits of data to the chip, either via it’s serial or parallel interface. It’s all explained in the official Analog Device datasheet here – http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/AD9850.pdf I read it the other night to help me fall asleep. Ahh, just kidding. It’s actually pretty cool stuff. You can interface to the board via your computers serial or parallel port, but as a recent Arduino convert, I decided to go that route. I ended up modifying slightly an Arduino sketch that was written for the 9851, putting the AD9850 on a UNO prototype shield, and testing it in single frequency mode. I can envision using these as a crystal eliminator for some older tube type transmitting gear I have here, maybe controlled with an Atmel 90S2313 or PIC. It’s about comparable in cost to buying an actual crystal for the older gear, and you’re not stuck to one frequency. Ok, so here are the two board versions, with pinouts labeled that I’ve seen on eBay. I used a prototype shield with breadboard, although it’s not necessary. You could just jumper to the main Arduino board. Using digital pins 8 through 11, proto shield installed on the UNO. Pin 8 to CLK, 9 to FQ, 10 to DATA, and 11 to RST. Here is the modified sketch for the 9850. Just cut and paste, and upload to your Arduino board. At the very end of the program you can choose which frequency you would like. /* * A simple single freq AD9850 Arduino test script * Original AD9851 DDS sketch by Andrew Smallbone at www.rocketnumbernine.com * Modified for testing the inexpensive AD9850 ebay DDS modules * Pictures and pinouts at nr8o.dhlpilotcentral.com * 9850 datasheet at http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/AD9850.pdf * Use freely / #define W_CLK 8 // Pin 8 - connect to AD9850 module word load clock pin (CLK) #define FQ_UD 9 // Pin 9 - connect to freq update pin (FQ) #define DATA 10 // Pin 10 - connect to serial data load pin (DATA) #define RESET 11 // Pin 11 - connect to reset pin (RST). #define pulseHigh(pin) {digitalWrite(pin, HIGH); digitalWrite(pin, LOW); } // transfers a byte, a bit at a time, LSB first to the 9850 via serial DATA line void tfr_byte(byte data) { for (int i=0; i<8; i++, data>>=1) { digitalWrite(DATA, data & 0x01); pulseHigh(W_CLK); //after each bit sent, CLK is pulsed high } } // frequency calc from datasheet page 8 = <sys clock> <frequency tuning word>/2^32 void sendFrequency(double frequency) { int32_t freq = frequency * 4294967295/125000000; // note 125 MHz clock on 9850 for (int b=0; b<4; b++, freq>>=8) { tfr_byte(freq & 0xFF); } tfr_byte(0x000); // Final control byte, all 0 for 9850 chip pulseHigh(FQ_UD); // Done! Should see output } void setup() { // configure arduino data pins for output pinMode(FQ_UD, OUTPUT); pinMode(W_CLK, OUTPUT); pinMode(DATA, OUTPUT); pinMode(RESET, OUTPUT); pulseHigh(RESET); pulseHigh(W_CLK); pulseHigh(FQ_UD); // this pulse enables serial mode - Datasheet page 12 figure 10 } void loop() { sendFrequency(10.e6); // freq while(1); } Right click this Download Link and choose “save as” to download. And here’s the result. This is a look at a 10 MHz sinewave from pin 10 on my board. The HP 5334A frequency counter uses a GPS phase corrected ovenized crystal oscillator as it’s reference source, so it’s extremely accurate. A little tweeking of the <sys clock> variable in the Arduino sketch and this thing would be balls on, or close to it. Pretty impressive little board.Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Prime Minister David Cameron: "We want to help resolve the crisis in the eurozone" Prime Minister David Cameron has discussed the eurozone debt crisis with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The Paris talks came ahead of a crucial meeting of European leaders next week about the future shape of the EU. Mr Sarkozy has said a new treaty is needed to impose financial discipline on countries using the single currency. But Mr Cameron said steps could be taken to shore up the euro and improve the competitiveness of its weaker economies without treaty change. Britain is not in the eurozone but is concerned a reorganisation could marginalise its influence in the EU. The two leaders discussed plans to reorganise the governance of the eurozone, which will see closer co-operation within the 17-strong bloc, potentially reducing Britain's influence. The move will be considered by the European Council at the end of next week, but Germany and France will agree a plan of action on Monday. Any reforms of the Maastricht Treaty rules governing the eurozone will have to be agreed by all 27 members of the European Union. 'Grappling' Mr Cameron said they had enjoyed "a very good meeting" and Britain wanted "to help solve the crisis in the eurozone". "In the end, what that is about is convincing the markets that the institutions of the eurozone will defend and promote and protect the currency with everything they've got," he said. "It also means fundamentally grappling with the lack of competitiveness of some European economies." Analysis Downing Street officials say the prime minister is involved in a balancing act - and the political tightrope is being tugged at both ends, making it more difficult for David Cameron to remain surefooted. The French and German governments want to change European treaties to impose new rules on debt and borrowing on the eurozone countries. The coalition say they will hold a referendum only if those treaty changes would take powers away from Britain and give them to Brussels. David Cameron doesn't want his premiership dominated by Europe - still a toxic issue for the Conservatives - so to avoid a referendum he has to argue that these treaty changes should be limited in nature. But many of his own backbenchers are more interested in seeing powers flow back from Brussels to Britain and want Mr Cameron to exact a price for agreeing to any changes to EU treaties. While the PM will discuss the possibility of the UK regaining control over working hours, he won't necessarily go to the wall on this. That's because he doesn't want to delay any changes which might make the euro more stable, as that in turn would help the British economy. But any failure to get something tangible in return for treaty change will further unsettle - and in some cases, incense - his own backbenchers. It looks like someone has just put grease on that tightrope! He added: "Neither of those things actually require treaty change. but I'm very clear if there is treaty change I will make sure that we further and protect Britain's interests." Mr Cameron has previously vowed to use any wider treaty change as an opportunity to claw back some powers from Brussels to Westminster. BBC correspondent Christian Fraser says Mr Cameron is under pressure from Conservative backbenchers and will seek to explore what Britain might get in return for its support. But the next few days are critical to the survival of the single currency, and our correspondent says it is unlikely Mr Cameron will want to slow down agreed eurozone changes. Asked about the talks, Chancellor George Osborne said that although the UK did not want to be part of any future integration, it was in the UK's "economic interest" that eurozone countries worked more closely together "to sort themselves out". On Thursday, Bank of England governor Mervyn King said the Bank was making unspecified "contingency plans" in case of a eurozone break-up, and that banks should brace themselves to withstand the "extraordinarily serious and threatening" economic situation. In a speech on Thursday, Mr Sarkozy said France and Germany must come together to stabilise the eurozone and safeguard the euro's future. 'National interest' Mr Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to meet on Monday to propose measures to "guarantee the future of Europe", Mr Sarkozy said. Downing Street said it was waiting to see the options paper for reform which European Council president Herman van Rompuy is drawing up for next week's gathering of EU heads. We are witnessing the creation of a kind of German zone driven very much by the needs of Germany and France Bill Cash, Conservative MP But Conservative MP Bill Cash - one of the party's most longstanding Eurosceptics - said any move to closer fiscal integration among eurozone members would "undermine" the UK, as the government would be regularly outvoted on key issues. "We are witnessing the creation of a kind of German zone driven very much by the needs of Germany and France and not in the interests of the UK," he told the BBC News Channel. And the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for the UK to leave the EU, said Mr Cameron was being "softened up" as part of a process that would inevitably lead to closer political union. "The crisis in Europe provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the British prime minister to act in British interests," its leader Nigel Farage said. "That he refuses suggests that he prefers the polite applause of Paris, Berlin and Brussels to the wishes of the British people."Messaging service WhatsApp rejected a UK Government request to create a way to access encrypted messages earlier this year, reports Sky News, citing an anonymous security source. The British Government reportedly asked WhatsApp in a meeting during summer to produce technical solutions that would allow access — known as a backdoor. Sky News reports that 80 percent of investigations into terrorism and serious crime are affected by encryption. "It is crucially important that we can access their communications — and when we can't, it can provide a black hole for investigators," the source said. Extremists are known to use encryption apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to communicate, and an inability to access those messages has been a constant source of frustration for law enforcement. “It can provide a black hole for investigators.” Sky News reports that UK intelligence officials believe that reaching a compromise with these tech companies is possible and are firm in the hope that encrypted messages can be accessed with a warrant. Major tech companies have been strongly opposed to building backdoors though because it would undermine their services’ security, so a compromise doesn’t look likely. In a statement on its website, WhatsApp says that “we carefully review, validate, and respond to law enforcement requests based on applicable law and policy, and we prioritize responses to emergency requests.” Apps like WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption that scrambles messages through a code. So WhatsApp can only hand over metadata like the account name and email address and can’t see the actual messages being sent. “We prioritize responses to emergency requests.” It’s not the first time the UK Government has tried to access messages sent on the platform. Earlier this year UK home secretary Amber Rudd said it was "completely unacceptable" that intelligence services could not read WhatsApp messages sent and received by Khalid Masood, the perpetrator of a terrorist attack at Westminster in London in March. Past incidents like the San Bernardino attack saw an exhausting court case against Apple for access to the suspects’ phones and only ended when the FBI found a work around to access the data. Creating a backdoor would be problematic, as some in the tech community have already pointed out. Apple’s Tim Cook has previously said that weakening encryption would hurt the public, while terrorists would just find new ways to communicate.When I saw Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley was only one spot behind Kyrie Irving in Sports Illustrated’s “Top 100 NBA players of 2017” rankings, I decided to take a deeper look at how the two match up. Kyrie Irving has had quite the summer: he won the NBA Finals with a game-winning shot over the first unanimous MVP in league history, partied on yachts and dazzled international basketball fans as he helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in Brazil. Mike Conley also made the news this summer, signing the largest guaranteed deal in NBA history. In a classic Conley move, he didn’t give a very exciting answer when Mike & Mike asked about what he’d spend his first paycheck on: “Really to be honest, I don’t even know,” Conley said. “Maybe my wife a car or something. Outside of that, I don’t think I’m touching it that much.” Off the court, Irving and Conley couldn’t be more different. However, when I saw the two floor generals were only ranked one spot apart in SI’s “Top 100 NBA Players of 2017” rankings, I decided to compare their analytics from last season, as well as their on-court styles of play. Sometimes, when looking at the numbers, it’ll be obvious who is who, but the next moment it’ll be hard to decipher. So, can numbers lie? (Note: If you flip through these quickly, do make sure you read the conclusion)Pune: Nathuram Vinayak Godse was hanged on November 15, 1949 for shooting Mahatma Gandhi in the chest three times at point blank range on January 30, 1948. Godse, a Hindu nationalist activist from Pune, Maharashtra, and ex-member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, resented what he considered was Gandhi's partiality to India's Muslims, plotted the assassination with Narayan Apte and six others. After a trial that lasted over a year, Godse was sentenced to death on 8 November 1949. Although pleas for commutation were made by India's prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and by Gandhi's two sons on the grounds that a death sentence would dishonour the legacy of a man opposed to all forms of violence, Godse was hanged a week later. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948. He was shot at point-blank range by Nathuram Godse. Gandhi was outside on the steps of a building where a prayer meeting was going to take place. He was surrounded by a part of his family and some followers when three gunshots killed him. Prior to his death, there had been five unsuccessful attempts to kill Gandhi, the first occurring in 1934.The cost of conventional nuclear power has spiralled to levels that can no longer be justified. All the reactors being built across the world are variants of mid-20th century technology, inherently dirty and dangerous, requiring exorbitant safety controls. This is a failure of wit and will. Scientists in Britain, France, Canada, the US, China and Japan have already designed better reactors based on molten salt technology that promise to slash costs by half or more, and may even undercut coal. They are much safer, and consume nuclear waste rather than creating more. What stands in the way is a fortress of vested interests. The World Nuclear Industry Status Report for 2014 found that 49 of the 66 reactors under construction - mostly in Asia - are plagued with delays, and are blowing through their budgets. Average costs have risen from $1,000 per installed kilowatt to around $8,000/kW over the past decade for new nuclear, which is why Britain could not persuade anybody to build its two reactors at Hinkley Point without fat subsidies and a "strike price" for electricity that is double current levels. All five new reactors in the US are behind schedule. Finland's giant EPR reactor at Olkiluoto has been delayed again. It will not be up and running until 2018, nine years late. It was supposed to cost €3.2bn. Analysts now think it will be €8.5bn. It is the same story with France's Flamanville reactor. We have reached the end of the road for pressurised water reactors of any kind, whatever new features they boast. The business is not viable - even leaving aside the clean-up costs - and it makes little sense to persist in building them. A report by UBS said the latest reactors will be obsolete by within 10 to 20 years, yet Britain is locking in prices until 2060. The Alvin Weinberg Foundation in London is tracking seven proposals across the world for molten salt reactors (MSRs) rather than relying on solid uranium fuel. Unlike conventional reactors, these operate at atmospheric pressure. They do not need vast reinforced domes. There is no risk of blowing off the top. The reactors are more efficient. They burn up 30 times as much of the nuclear fuel and can run off spent fuel. The molten salt is inert so that even if there is a leak, it cools and solidifies. The fission process stops automatically in an accident. There can be no chain-reaction, and therefore no possible disaster along the lines of Chernobyl or Fukushima. That at least is the claim. The most revolutionary design is by British scientists at Moltex. "I started this three years ago because I was so shocked that EDF was being paid 9.25p per kWh for electricity," said Ian Scott, the chief inventor. "We believe we can achieve parity with gas (in the UK) at 5.5p, and our real goal is to reach 3.5p and drive coal of out of business," he said. The Moltex project can feed off low-grade spent uranium, cleaning up toxic waste in the process. "There are 120 tonnes of purified plutonium from nuclear weapons in Britain. We could burn that up in 10 to 15 years," he said. What remained would be greatly purified, with a shorter half-life, and could be left safely in salt mines. It does not have to be buried in steel tanks deep underground for 240,000 years. Thereafter the plant could be redesigned to use thorium, a cleaner fuel. The reactor can be built in factories at low cost. It uses tubes that rest in molten salt, working through a convection process rather than by pumping the material around the reactor. This cuts corrosion. There is minimal risk of leaking deadly cesium or iodine for hundreds of miles around. Transatomic Power, in Boston, says it can build a "waste-burning reactor" using molten salts in three years, after regulatory approval. The design is based on models built by US physicist Alvin Weinberg at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s, but never pursued - some say because the Pentagon wanted the plutonium residue for nuclear warheads. It would cost $2bn (overnight cost) for a 550-megawatt plant, less than half the Hinkley Point project on a pro-rata basis. Transatomic says it can generate 75 times as much electricity per tonne of uranium as a conventional light-water reactor. The waste would be cut by 95pc, and the worst would be eliminated. It operates in a sub-critical state. If the system overheats, a plug melts at the bottom and salts drain into a cooling basin. Again, these are the claims. The most advanced project is another Oak Ridge variant designed by Terrestrial's David LeBlanc, who worked on the original models with Weinberg. It aims to produce power by the early 2020s from small molten salt reactors of up to 300MW, for remote regions and industrial plants. "We think we can take on fossil fuel power on a pure commercial basis. This is a revolution for global energy," said Simon Irish, the company's chief executive. Toronto-based Terrestrial prefers the "dry tinder" of uranium rather than the "wet wood" of thorium, which needs a blowtorch to get started and keep going, typically plutonium 239. But it could use either fuel. A global race is under way, with the Chinese trying everything at the Shanghai Institute of Nuclear and Applied Physics, reportedly working under “warlike” pressure. They have brought forward their target date for a fully-functioning molten salt reactor - using thorium - from 25 to 10 years. Ian Scott, at Moltex, originally planned to sell his technology to China, having given up on the West as a lost cause. He was persuaded to stay in Britain, and is talking to ministers. "The first stage will cost around £1bn, to get through the regulatory process and build a prototype. Realistically, only the government can do this," he said. A state-venture of such a kind should not be ruled out. The travails of Hinkley Point show that the market cannot or will not deliver nuclear power on tolerable terms. The project has degenerated into a bung for ailing foreign companies. We have had to go along with it as an insurance, because years of drift in energy policy have left us at an acute risk of black-outs in the 2020s. There is no reason why Britain cannot seize the prize of molten salt reactors, if necessary funded entirely by the government - now able to borrow for 10 years at 2.5pc - and run like a military undertaking. A new Brabazon Committee might not go amiss. The nation still has world-class physicists. The death of Britain's own nuclear industry has a silver lining: there are fewer vested interests in the way. We start from scratch. The UK's "principles-based" philosophy of regulation means that a sudden pivot in technology of this kind could be approved very fast, in contrast to the America's "rules-based" system. "I would never even think of doing it in the US," said Dr Scott. It would be hard to argue that any one of the molten salt technologies would be more expensive than arrays of wind turbines in the Atlantic. Indeed, there is a high likelihood that the best will prove massively cheaply on a kW/hour basis. Such a project would kickstart Britain's floundering efforts to rebuild industry. It would offer some hope of plugging a chronic and dangerously high current account deficit, already 5pc of GDP even before North Sea oil and gas fizzles out. It is fracking on steroids for import substitution. Britain split the atom at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge in 1911. It opened the world's first commercial reactor at Calder Hall in 1956. Surely it can rise to the challenge once again. If not, let us cheer on the Chinese.The ideal of containerization is that workloads may be distributed safely across multiple platforms and orchestrated through a common portal. “Big data” is arguably the biggest workload of all, with some organizations now visualizing their data warehouses in terms of petabytes. The big question is not really, “How do we containerize big data?” but actually, “Is there a real need to run Hadoop in containers?” Beyond how convenient it may make things for certain software vendors, besides the intrigue it may generate in the IT department, is there a real-world payoff worth pursuing? EPIC Shift Tom Phelan is chief architect for a company called BlueData, which produces a platform called EPIC that enables Hadoop, and all the various components of the Hadoop platform, to run in a containerized environment such as Docker. One of BlueData’s immediate benefits over Hadoop on bare metal or
the squat, overweight Clown, a shape-shifting, teleporting demon with pointy teeth and face paint appropriate for the Gathering Of The Juggalos. In other words, it’s hard to recognize that Clown is played by the same guy who was Luigi in Super Mario Bros. John Leguizamo’s Clown is like a fat, vertically challenged version of Maurice from Little Monsters, but more obnoxious, disgusting, and evil. He’s sent from hell by The Devil Malebolgia to mentor and antagonize Spawn into leading an army from hell against heaven. When Spawn refuses, Clown loses his sense of humor and morphs into Violator, a combination of animatronic puppetry and CGI that thankfully did not require Leguizamo to spend any more hours in the makeup chair. 6. John Hurt, The Elephant Man (1980) Although stage actors have portrayed John Merrick, the severely deformed man based on the real-life Joseph Merrick, without makeup, that aspect was essential to David Lynch’s 1980 film. The whole point of John Hurt’s performance is that he’s unrecognizable, as Merrick navigates a 19th-century London that barely considers him human. While in many cases, an actor behind so much prosthetic makes you wonder if it matters who’s behind the latex, Hurt gives an indelible performance, interpreting Merrick’s tormented soul and basic humanity while acting only with his eyes and his voice. Not only did Hurt receive an Oscar nomination (he lost to De Niro in Raging Bull), the Academy created a category for Best Makeup the following year, on the strength of Christopher Tucker’s work in this film. Tucker used casts of the real Merrick’s body, which had been preserved at the Royal London Hospital Museum & Archives, as the basis for his transformation of Hurt, which is still affecting more than 30 years later. 7. Eric Stoltz, Mask (1985) Eric Stoltz was hardly a recognizable face in 1985, and his performance in Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask did little to change that. Loosely based on the life of Roy “Rocky” Dennis, a California boy born with a rare bone disorder that resulted in severe facial deformities, Mask rendered the young Stoltz completely unrecognizable in the lead role. The actor spent roughly four hours in makeup every day, where foam latex and a set of dentures were applied to create the disfiguring effects of craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. (In one of his auditions with Bogdanovich, Stoltz approximated Dennis’ appearance by reading his lines with pantyhose wrapped around his face.) Fellow cast members reportedly didn’t recognize Stoltz without his makeup on, and while this may have been an exaggeration, it certainly didn’t take away from the power of that makeup: Stoltz came up empty Oscar night, but the film’s makeup artists, Michael Westmore and Zoltan Elek, took home top honors in their field. 8. Steve McQueen, An Enemy Of The People (1978) After Steve McQueen appeared in the all-star disaster blockbuster The Towering Inferno (1974), moviegoers saw almost nothing of him until 1980, the year of his death, when he starred in a couple of undistinguished vehicles, Tom Horn and The Hunter. The only other movie McQueen acted in during the last six years of his life (save an uncredited turn in 1976’s Dixie Dynamite) was a dull, talky version of that drama-class perennial, Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy Of The People. A quasi-vanity project produced by McQueen through his own company, it may be the only evidence that some part of him wanted to be respected as a serious actor. The star, who in commercial roles never messed with the clean-shaven, short-haired look that seemed to be a tonsorial representation of his stripped-down, minimalist brand of cool, plays Ibsen’s embattled scientist hero with untamed long hair and a scraggly beard, his features hidden behind large eyeglasses. Presumably, he didn’t want his fans to think they’d be getting the same Steve McQueen they’d loved in Bullitt and The Great Escape. In the end, the studio solved that problem by pulling it after a very limited release, something that McQueen remained bitter about to his final days. 9. Bill Nighy, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and At World’s End (2007) If the undead crew of Captain Barbossa in the first Pirates Of The Caribbean didn’t serve as enough of a cautionary tale for pirates meddling with dark forces, Davy Jones certainly made the point in the sequels. Damned for abandoning his task of ferrying souls to the afterlife, the sea he was bound to consumed his humanity, with Jones’ physical form twisted into a cephalopod/crustacean hybrid. Bill Nighy literally disappeared into the role under layers of CGI, his left arm and right leg replaced with crab equivalents and his entire body covered with barnacles. Most nightmarish of all, his entire face was obscured by a rubbery beard of constantly moving tentacles, granting him more resemblance to his pet kraken than the man who played Billy Mack or Shaun’s stepdad Philip. Nighy’s acting instilled the character with sadistic rage and a tortured back story, but whenever anyone thinks about the character the first thing that comes to mind is those tentacles, dancing over the keys of a pipe organ or waggling a key in Jack Sparrow’s face. 10. Halle Berry, Cloud Atlas (2012) Cloud Atlas takes place in seven different time periods, ranging from 1849 to the late 2300s, with different-yet-somehow-connected characters in each. The Wachowskis/Tom Tykwer film adaptation—which is excellently weird—met the challenge of visually portraying the novel’s interconnectedness by using the same actors, but in wildly different makeup, in each of the movie’s sections. So each of the main actors—Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Halle Barry, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, and Doona Bae—play anywhere from three to six wildly different people throughout the film, with varying degrees of recognizability. Berry gets to have the most fun—and most drastic transformations—with two of her characters: In one segment, she plays Ovid, a balding Asian man with a receding hairline and an eye patch. In another, she’s Jocasta Ayrs, a Jewish woman with blonde hair. As Ovid, she’s completely unrecognizable, as Jocasta, you’ll need to squint to see her features come out (past a pretty serious prosthetic nose). Hugh Grant’s various characters—including a brutal tribesman—are also tough to recognize. Advertisement 11. Debra Winger, Made In Heaven (1987) Made In Heaven, a spacey romance directed by Alan Rudolph, stars Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis as star-crossed lovers who meet in heaven. He’s just arrived there after dying on Earth; she’s a pure soul born in the clouds who hasn’t made the trip downstairs yet. When she does, Hutton petitions Emmett, heaven’s superintendent, to let him be reborn so they can have a shot at being reunited. Emmett is played by the uncredited Debra Winger, who had recently married Hutton. With her hair dyed red in a modified crew cut, and speaking in a chain-smoker’s rasp, Winger looks like the computer-generated “clone” that used to appear in Laurie Anderson’s ’80s videos, and behaves as if she didn’t mind being noticed but really preferred not to be recognized. Like so much else in the cinematic world of Alan Rudolph, her performance is more weird than anything else, but the rapport between her and Hutton is so strange and sweet that it stands as a testament to what must have been an interesting marriage. 12. Jemaine Clement, Men In Black 3 (2012) Jemaine Clement is generally the guy in Flight Of The Conchords without a beard, but he donned a pretty intense one—along with a mass of long hair, camera-lens eyes, wrinkly skin, and sharp teeth—to play Boris The Animal in Men In Black 3. Clement’s biggest fans probably recognized his voice most quickly; he doesn’t lose his funny comic timing, even when playing a brutal, planet-eating monster called a Boglodite. But for most of the movie, Clement is so deep into his weird costume that he can barely peek through. [JM] 13. Bruce Greenwood, Meek’s Cutoff (2010) While never an outright star, Bruce Greenwood has been a recognizable actor for the past few decades, popping up in everything from a Beach Boys biography to J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. But even Greenwood devotees might have missed him behind the mountains of hair he wears in Kelly Reichardt’s Meek’s Cutoff. As the titular bumbling guide, Greenwood further masks his familiar voice with constant mumbling and a folksy accent to portray a shyster who cons a group of settlers as they make their way to the Oregon territory. As things go from bad to worse, Meek’s bluster expands, revealing hints of Greenwood’s typical movie roles: good-looking jerks.Proximity is everything when it comes to sports loyalty. The term “12 North” refers to the 10 per cent of CenturyLink Field that is filled with fans from British Columbia for Seattle Seahawks football games and the thousands of others on the Island and Lower Mainland who follow the team on TV. article continues below To commemorate the relationship, ahead of Sunday’s 49th Super Bowl game in Arizona between the Seahawks and New England Patriots, the 12th Man flag will again fly over Victoria. It will be raised at noon on the prominent Greater Victoria Harbour Authority flagpole across from the legislature in a ceremony today. Free Seahawks rally cards will be available while they last. Doing the hoisting honours will be Chris Coleman, perhaps the biggest sports fan on Victoria council. The 12th Man — there are 11 players on the field — is emblematic of all Seahawks fans. The 12th Man flag was raised over the Inner Harbour last year by then Victoria mayor Dean Fortin, and proved a good omen as Seattle went on to rout the Denver Broncos in the 48th Super Bowl in New Jersey to win its first National Football League title. Friday has been dubbed Blue Friday in B.C., a day to be capped with the raising of the 12th Man flag in Surrey. Seahawks Super-mania will also be rumbling back and forth across Strait of Georgia as the 12th Man flag will fly on 10 B.C. Ferries vessels plying the Island-Lower Mainland runs this weekend. “That is our intention. … We expected the flags to arrive Wednesday but are still waiting,” said Deborah Marshall, B.C. Ferries executive director of public affairs. “We’re delighted to be doing it because there are a lot of Seahawks fans in B.C. and we want to support that enthusiasm. I’m definitely going to be watching Sunday.” Many Island fans have been following the Seahawks since the franchise’s inception 39 years ago in the old Kingdome. The Vince Lombardi Trophy, presented after the team’s first Super Bowl victory, was brought to the Strathcona Hotel in Victoria last July along with some Seahawks players. The lineup for the event stretched out the doors and snaked well around the block. It was a long wait, in more ways than one. Take 2 is Sunday for 12 North. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. PST [email protected]'A Miami Beach man is in custody after he caused a panic in a theater during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," police said Tuesday. According to a Miami Beach Police arrest affidavit, 44-year-old David Martin Escamillo was at the Regal Movie Theater late Monday night when he got into an altercation with another moviegoer, left the theater and returned wearing black gloves and screamed "This is it!" from the back of the theater. Escamillo's actions sent a hundred moviegoers fleeing for the exits, the affidavit said. When officers responded to the theater to a call of shots fired, they found three moviegoers detaining Escamillo, who was screaming, "I didn't shoot anybody," the affidavit said. James Butler said he and his brother were two of them. They waited outside the theater and chased Escamillo down and held him until police arrived. "My instincts kicked in, and I was like, let's get this guy. He was screaming, 'I never shot anyone, I never hurt anyone,'" Butler said. Escamillo, who sounded irrational and had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, was taken into custody, the affidavit noted." - NBC NewsWhy aren’t there more places on Line 1 to go number one? The eye-catching stations on the newly minted Toronto-York Spadina subway extension come fully loaded with wireless service, accessible elevators, a state-of-the-art signalling system, and impressive public art. Rasheed Clarke, marketing and communications co-ordinator for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, questions a TTC policy that only requires washrooms at terminal stations. He called the absence of washrooms on the newly-opened Line 1 extension “a missed opportunity.” ( Rene Johnston / Toronto Star ) There is still some work to be done at the newly opened Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station of the TTC. Some escalators have not been installed, one does not work, and a few elevators are out of service. ( JAREN KERR / TORONTO STAR ) They have everything a transit rider could want, or almost everything. Most of them lack public washrooms. Just one of the six new stops, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, is equipped with a loo. Some riders aren’t holding in their frustration. Article Continued Below Tim Wong, a 45-year-old transit buff from Etobicoke, said he was surprised during the open house at Finch West station on Saturday when he was told there were no bathrooms on site. “I was just very puzzled,” he said. “It just makes sense to have a washroom, not necessarily at every station, but at least more than one on a brand new (extension).” Wong said the lack of lavatories on the extension of Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) is particularly confusing because in other ways it appears little expense was spared in building the stations, which are among the largest on the TTC network. Finch West alone had a budget of $125.6 million. So why are W.C.’s M.I.A. on the TTC? Transit agency spokesperson Stuart Green said it’s a “long-standing TTC policy” to install washrooms only at terminal stations at the end of subway lines, with the exception of the busy transfer point at Bloor-Yonge station. As the TTC has built new extensions over the years some of the washrooms have ended up in the middle of lines, however. Eleven of the network’s 75 subway and Scarborough RT stations now have the facilities. Article Continued Below “Any reconsideration of the policy would have to come from the board at which time we could cost out retrofits,” Green said, noting that “maintenance and upkeep would be expensive” and “cost is certainly a consideration.” Green stated the agency’s priority for now is retrofitting stations to make them fully accessible by the end of 2025. The agency spends $2.1 million a year on contracted services to maintain washrooms at its stations. While for most riders the issue may be a minor one, for some passengers access to washrooms is an important health concern. Rasheed Clarke, marketing and communications co-ordinator for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, said people with chronic gastrointestinal conditions need to use the bathroom more often and with greater urgency than the average person. He said the dearth of facilities on the subway line, coupled with the ever-present risk of a service delay, “makes it that much harder for someone to have that peace of mind that they can get to a washroom in case they need it.” He described the absence of washrooms on the Line 1 extension as “a missed opportunity.” “If the stations were being built from the ground up you would have thought there would have been an opportunity to put in washrooms,” he said. Chris Robinson is a professor of finance and the union steward for the faculty disability caucus at York University, which is served by two stops on the new extension. He had prostate surgery a few years ago which he said will likely leave him permanently somewhat incontinent, and said that because of the city’s aging population more people now need frequent access to washrooms. He argued that the design of the new stations represents “a failure to respond to the way the world has changed.” He described the new York University station, which was budgeted at $118 million, as “palatial.” “I would have been happy if they made it more functional and less architecturally brilliant, by making sure they had washrooms in stations. That seems to me would have been a reasonable use of public money.” Since opening on Dec. 17 the subway extension has been mostly trouble free with only minor adjustments needed, the TTC said Tuesday. Opinion: What’s lacking in Toronto is impatience. Leaders who can’t stand waiting around. At the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station two elevators meant to take passengers to a bus platform were out of service as was an escalator to the top of the station. In both cases, TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said it was a normal part of the break-in process. “For safety, these modern units have multiple sensors and alarm functions that need adjusting as user thresholds become evident through everyday use. Sensors have to be adjusted to the ideal threshold where they are sensitive enough to detect a problem, but forgiving enough to not trip through robust use,” he said. For example, escalator sensors will shut down a unit if they detect tugging on the handrail or something binding in the steps. With files from Jaren Kerr Read more about:GREENWOOD, IN—Sitting in a quiet downtown diner, local hospital administrator Philip Meyer looks as normal and well-adjusted as can be. Yet, there's more to this 27-year-old than first meets the eye: Meyer has recently finished reading a book. Yes, the whole thing. "It was great," said the peculiar Indiana native, who, despite owning a television set and having an active social life, read every single page of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. "Especially the way things came together for Scout in the end. Very good." Advertisement Meyer, who never once jumped ahead to see what would happen and avoided skimming large passages of text in search of pictures, first began his oddball feat a week ago. Three days later, the eccentric Midwesterner was still at it, completing chapter after chapter, seemingly of his own free will. "The whole thing was really engrossing," said Meyer, referring not to a movie, video game, or competitive sports match, but rather a full-length, 288-page novel filled entirely with words. "There were days when I had a hard time putting it down." Even more bizarre, Meyer is believed to have done most of his reading during his spare time—time when the outwardly healthy and stable resident could have literally been doing anything else, be it aimlessly surfing the Internet, taking a nap, or simply just staring at his bedroom wall. Advertisement "It'd be nice to read it again at some point," Meyer continued, as if that were a perfectly natural thing to say. While it's difficult to imagine what compelled Meyer to read more than just the back cover of To Kill a Mockingbird, friends and family members claim the strange behavior goes all the way back to his childhood. "I remember when Phil was a little kid, instead of picking up a book, getting bored, and then throwing it at his sister, he'd actually sit down and read the whole thing," said mother Susan Meyer, who declared she has long given up trying to explain her son's unusual hobby. "At the time, we thought it was just a phase he was going through. I guess we were wrong." Advertisement Over the years, Meyer has read dozens of books from beginning to end, regardless of whether he was forced to do so by a professor in school or whether a film version of the reading material already existed. According to girlfriend Jessica Kohler, he even uses a special cardboard marking device so that he can keep track of where he has stopped reading and later return to that exact same place. "I used to find Phil's reading kind of charming because I had never really met anyone who read outside of a waiting room," Kohler said. "But more and more, it just feels odd, you know? He can't even go to the beach without bringing one of his books along." According to behavioral psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Schulz, Meyer's reading of entire books is abnormal and may be indicative of a more serious obsession with reading. Advertisement "Instead of just zoning out during a bus ride or spending hour after hour watching YouTube videos at night, Mr. Meyer, unlike most healthy males, looks to books for gratification," Schulz said. "Really, it's a classic case of deviant behavior." "At least, that's what it seems like from what little I've skimmed on the topic," she added. As bizarre as it may seem, Meyer isn't alone. Once a month, he and several other Greenwood residents reportedly gather at night not only to read books all the way through, but also to discuss them at length. Advertisement "I don't know, it's like this weird 'book club' they're all a part of," said Brian Cummings, a longtime coworker and friend of Meyer's. "Seriously, what a bunch of freaks."Only 1 in 5 Americans believe in the Big Bang while less than a third think climate change exists Confidence in evolution, climate change, the age of the Earth, and the Big Bang all decline sharply as faith in a supreme being rises 'Most often, values and beliefs trump science' when they conflict, according to representative of scientific society A majority of Americans do not believe that the Big Bang created the universe 13.8 billion years ago, according to a new study, with Americans also expressing a large amount of skepticism in global warming, the age of the Earth and evolution. Rather than quizzing scientific knowledge, the survey asked people to rate their confidence in several statements about science and medicine. On some, there's broad acceptance. Just 4 percent doubt that smoking causes cancer, 6 percent question whether mental illness is a medical condition that affects the brain and 8 percent are skeptical there's a genetic code inside our cells. More — 15 percent — have doubts about the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccines. Few Americans question that smoking causes cancer. But they express bigger doubts as concepts that scientists consider to be truths get further from our own experiences and the present time About 4 in 10 say they are not too confident or outright disbelieve that the earth is warming, mostly a result of man-made heat-trapping gases, that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old or that life on Earth evolved through a process of natural selection, though most were at least somewhat confident in each of those concepts. But a narrow majority — 51 percent — questions the Big Bang theory. Those results depress and upset some of America's top scientists, including several Nobel Prize winners, who vouched for the science in the statements tested, calling them settled scientific facts. 'Science ignorance is pervasive in our society, and these attitudes are reinforced when some of our leaders are openly antagonistic to established facts,' said 2013 Nobel Prize in medicine winner Randy Schekman of the University of California, Berkeley. The poll highlights 'the iron triangle of science, religion and politics,' said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. And scientists know they've got the shakiest leg in the triangle. To the public'most often values and beliefs trump science' when they conflict, said Alan Leshner, chief executive of the world's largest scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Political values were closely tied to views on science in the poll, with Democrats more apt than Republicans to express confidence in evolution, the Big Bang, the age of the Earth and climate change. Confidence in evolution, the Big Bang, the age of the Earth and climate change decline sharply as faith in a supreme being rises, according to the poll. Likewise, those who regularly attend religious services or are evangelical Christians express much greater doubts about scientific concepts they may see as contradictory to their faith. 'When you are putting up facts against faith, facts can't argue against faith,' said 2012 Nobel Prize winning biochemistry professor Robert Lefkowitz of Duke University. 'It makes sense now that science would have made no headway because faith is untestable.' But evolution, the age of the Earth and the Big Bang are all compatible with God, except to Bible literalists, said Francisco Ayala, a former priest and professor of biology, philosophy and logic at the University of California, Irvine. And Darrel Falk, a biology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University and an evangelical Christian, agreed, adding: 'The story of the cosmos and the Big Bang of creation is not inconsistent with the message of Genesis 1, and there is much profound biblical scholarship to demonstrate this.' In addition to disbelief in the Big Bang, a high amount of Americans also doubt that earth is over 4.5 billion years old Beyond religious belief, views on science may be tied to what we see with our own eyes. The closer an issue is to our bodies and the less complicated, the easier it is for people to believe, said John Staudenmaier, a Jesuit priest and historian of technology at the University of Detroit Mercy. Marsha Brooks, a 59-year-old nanny who lives in Washington, D.C., said she's certain smoking causes cancer because she saw her mother, aunts and uncles, all smokers, die of cancer. But when it comes to the universe beginning with a Big Bang or the Earth being about 4.5 billion years old, she has doubts. She explained: 'It could be a lack of knowledge. It seems so far' away. Jorge Delarosa, a 39-year-old architect from Bridgewater, N.J., pointed to a warm 2012 without a winter and said, 'I feel the change. There must be a reason.' But when it came to Earth's beginnings 4.5 billion years ago, he has doubts simply because 'I wasn't there.' Experience and faith aren't the only things affecting people's views on science. Duke University's Lefkowitz sees 'the force of concerted campaigns to discredit scientific fact' as a more striking factor, citing significant interest groups — political, business and religious — campaigning against scientific truths on vaccines, climate change and evolution. Yale's Leiserowitz agreed but noted sometimes science wins out even against well-financed and loud opposition, as with smoking. Widespread belief that smoking causes cancer 'has come about because of very public, very focused public health campaigns,' AAAS's Leshner said. A former acting director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Leshner said he was encouraged by the public's acceptance that mental illness is a brain disease, something few believed 25 years ago, before just such a campaign. That gives Leiserowitz hope for a greater public acceptance of climate change. But he fears it may be too late to do anything about it. The AP-GfK Poll was conducted March 20-24, 2014, using KnowledgePanel, GfK's probability-based online panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. It involved online interviews with 1,012 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points for all respondents.A senior Taliban commander disguised as a woman was killed by Afghan and international forces after he opened fire with a pistol and tried to throw a grenade south of the capital, Kabul. NATO reported a U.S. soldier died in a roadside bomb attack Saturday in southern Afghanistan, and a small explosion detonated in an area that houses foreign embassies and government offices in Kabul the same day, but caused no casualties. The troop death brought to 85 the number of international service members killed so far in June, already the deadliest month of the nearly nine-year-old war. The figure includes at least 51 Americans. Intelligence sources tracked the senior Taliban commander, Ghulam Sakhi, to a compound Friday night in Puli Alam district in Logar province, south of the capital, NATO said Saturday. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for women and children to leave the building. Grenade wounded woman, 2 children "As they were exiting, Sakhi came out with the group disguised in women's attire and pulled out a pistol and a grenade and shot at the security force," according to statement released by the coalition. "When Afghan and coalition forces shot him, he dropped the grenade and it detonated, wounding a woman and two children." NATO said Sakhi, who is known by several aliases, was involved in roadside bombings and ambushes throughout the province, and he kidnapped and killed an Afghan government intelligence chief there. Abdul Ghafar Sayedzada, head of the criminal investigation unit of the Kabul police, said the explosion in the capital was caused by a small bomb placed on the engine of a government vehicle. The driver of the car, used by the Afghan National Army, was arrested. The front of the vehicle was damaged, but no one was wounded, he said.Get the biggest Celtic stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Celtic produced a dominant display as they wiped the floor with Shamrock Rovers in their final friendly before their Champions League qualifier against Linfield on Friday. Brendan Rodgers’ side were on it from the beginning as they romped to victory at the Tallaght Stadium. They harassed their Irish opponents into mistakes and punished them with their superior quality. Mikael Lustig scored the opener with a neat finish before Stuart Armstrong fired home. Dynamic duo Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair added the third and fourth for Celtic before the break. It was more of the same in the second half. James Forrest finished from a tight angle before Sinclair and Armstrong bagged their second goals. The Parkhead side weren’t finished and Jonny Hayes grabbed his first goal for the club off the bench after great work from Sinclair. (Image: SNS Group) It was the same story moments later as Rogic nodded home another sumptuous cross from the former Aston Villa man. It was the perfect work out for the Scottish champions ahead of their Euro test. The only downside was an injury to captain Scott Brown who hobbled off in the first half and was replaced by Nir Bitton.Stephen Harper is making a promise to keep his promise. A re-elected Conservative government would introduce so-called "tax lock" legislation that would prohibit increases to federal tax rates, Harper announced Friday. "This new legislation will protect our fragile economy and guarantee reduced taxes and stable incomes for our families," Harper said. Story continues below advertisement Thing is, the Conservatives have already promised not to increase taxes. The gesture is a symbolic one, enshrining in law what Harper has already repeatedly promised and allowing him to say other parties — should they form future governments — would have to break the law in order to raise taxes. The Liberals have promised to increase taxes on the wealthiest one per cent, while the NDP want to raise the corporate tax rate. Another government could also just repeal the legislation. So if Canada finds itself with a minority Conservative government after Oct. 19, would Harper let the other parties topple his new government over it, perhaps plunging the country into another election? Harper wouldn't say. "I'm not going to get into discussing hypothetical situations," he said with a smile. The "tax lock" is a direct lift from British Prime Minister David Cameron's re-election playbook. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement It also bears the fingerprints of right-wing campaign consultant Lynton Crosby, an Australian who is working with the Conservatives. Crosby is credited with having helped secure election victories for Cameron and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Harper's legislation would prohibit increases to federal personal and business income taxes, sales taxes and "discretionary payroll taxes" such as employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. The Conservatives say the law would still allow them to close tax loopholes and address "tax avoidance schemes." Asked if there would be any consequences to a government breaking the "tax lock," Harper didn't name any — beyond the political. "There are particular consequences for Conservative governments because people expect Conservative governments in particular to keep taxes down, but when you make a commitment there is a cost to breaking that commitment that's very high," he said. "I could cite a former president of the United States around that, but I won't get into that particular discussion." Story continues below advertisement That appeared to be a reference to George Bush, the one-term U.S. president whose famous 1988 promise — "Read my lips: No new taxes" — was broken in 1990 and came back to haunt him in 1992, when he lost to Bill Clinton. Not surprisingly, Harper made political hay Friday with the Finance Department's monthly fiscal monitor, which showed that Ottawa's surplus after four months of the 2015-16 financial year was about $5.2 billion. "We have yet another contrast between our Conservative economic action plan and the reckless spending promises of the Liberals and NDP," Harper said. "We are well on track for the second balanced budget in a row at the federal level." Earlier this month, the Finance Department said the government finished the 2014-15 fiscal year with a $1.9-billion surplus, the opposite of the $2-billion shortfall that was predicted in the spring budget. The 2014-15 surplus ended a streak of six straight deficits under the Conservatives. Story continues below advertisement Harper has been relentlessly promoting his economic stewardship throughout the campaign, but Friday he also took a Quebec-specific message to a closely watched riding. In 2011, the Conservatives lost Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Riviere-du-Loup to the NDP by nine votes as the orange wave swept the province. Harper, who used Thursday's French leaders' debate to turn the niqab controversy to his advantage, kept the issue front and centre on Friday. His position that new Canadians should not wear face coverings while swearing their citizenship oath plays well in Quebec, where a taxpayer-funded poll suggests there is 93 per cent support for that idea. On Friday, he essentially recited a new French-only Conservative ad in which he lumps the niqab issue in with low taxes, good jobs and a comfortable retirement as Quebec values the Tories protect.On the middle of Queensland’s sprawling East coast, you’ll find Mackay. Isolated from the state’s big cities, where footy is their lifeblood: it’s real, regional Australia. But living in a small town comes with its challenges, especially if you’re struggling with mental health issues. “Even just dressing differently in small towns or trying to be yourself can be looked down upon by other people,” 23-year-old Mackay local Sean Lynch told Hack, “It definitely is a lot harder for people to be themselves in a smaller town.” Sean has struggled with depression himself, and in 2015 he was frustrated. “After losing about five or six people in my mutual friends’ circle to suicide - I decided that I needed to do something about it, speak up, and hopefully that would give other people courage to speak out about their experiences.” Sean posted the below video to his Facebook page, saying, “It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to not talk about it.” “I was going through a tough break up...I didn’t have much will to live at the time if I’m being honest with you, I wasn’t thinking straight. Had it not been for my family, my mum my dad and my girlfriend, I might not be here anymore. “The point of this video is that it does get better, you do learn to cope with these things...it does subside.” Skip YouTube Video FireFox NVDA users - To access the following content, press 'M' to enter the iFrame. Sean’s video struck a chord. “People still come up to me in the street and talk to me about it and how it helped them,” he says, “I just spoke from the heart, it was emotional and raw and got the point across.” For Troy Rovelli, CEO of the town’s rugby league club, the issue of men’s mental health really hits home. “This club, the Mackay Cutters, has been affected dramatically. We had two young men a couple of years ago take their lives on Australia Day, within hours of each other. We’ve had a bit of personal tragedy around this footy club.” “We had a tough 12 months on the field that last year. It bothers me, as a father and as a grandfather, that we’re not in touch. I was looking to do something and I didn’t know what, but I wanted to make sure that I made a difference in this club.” Using the team’s status and influence in the Mackay community, the club decided to put suicide prevention at the heart - literally - of their team. As of this season, the team’s jersey now displays the Mackay Regional Suicide Prevention Network logo across the chest - where a corporate sponsorship would usually feature. “We normally sell that bit of real estate for about $60,000-$80,000,” Troy says, “In the end, we’re a little struggling club and we do need all the support we can get. "But I think this is far more important than any corporate sponsorship.” Troy says the club is still receiving corporate support, and the move has prompted corporates who “wouldn’t usually support footy” to pitch in. The change to the Cutters’ jerseys is part of the team’s Change The Game: Tackle mental health head on initiative. The awareness program involves educating high school students about mental health. “That’s the thing we have to work on - breaking the stigma. It’s okay to put your hand up. “Our big challenge as administrators is to get the players to realise how influential they can be, and what it means to the Mackay community. “We are a footy town, we have been and we’ll continue to do that well into the future. For the players It’s about braving that responsibility and feeling proud...about having that impact on someone’s life.” Troy says he’s committed to following the initiative through, and is conscious of making sure the movement doesn’t fizzle out and lose meaning to the community. “We’re in a society now where there’s a lot of “tick and flick”. You know - you tick
schools." That September 19 assault came a day after Bruce Rauner, a mayoral ally and charter funder, declared war on unionized teachers in a speech sponsored by the Illinois Policy Institute and the President George W. Bush Institute, which I'm sure retains all of the former president's conservative compassion for the low-income kids of Chicago. "The good teachers know they'll do fine. They've got the confidence. I've talked to them. I know," Rauner said, according to a story by the Trib's Rick Pearson. "It's the weak teachers. It's the lousy, ineffective, lazy teachers that—unfortunately, there are a number of those—they're the ones that the union is protecting." By the end of the week Mayor Emanuel himself had rushed off to make sure everyone saw him show up at the opening of UNO's new Galewood campus—its 13th and counting. Just in case anyone wondered where his allegiances lay. A common theme runs through these messages, and it's based on a myth that goes like this: charters far outperform unionized schools because countless "weak" teachers keep their jobs thanks to union contracts that protect tenure. No matter that tenure no longer exists in the Chicago Public Schools, or that factors like poverty and crime and parental involvement may play some role. Therefore, we must annihilate the teachers' union so the "weak" teachers can be replaced with the untold thousands of "good" ones eager to teach in charter schools where they can work longer for less—at the whims of autocrats who can fire them for not doing what can't be done. Like UNO CEO Juan Rangel did to David Corral, a former gym teacher fired for not being in two places at once. As if any teacher—good, bad, or mediocre—would want to come to Chicago for this. Look, charterheads, I get it. You hate the teachers' union, if only because it funds rival political campaigns. But if you want to fight the union, at least use the facts. And the central fact is this: the nonunion charters are not outperforming the unionized schools. No, it's just the other way around. I get no delight in reporting this. OK, maybe a little. But I have a soft spot in my heart for charter school teachers, especially those who work for lunatic bosses. I presume most of them are in for all the right reasons, like their desire to teach kids. But I'm also guessing that many would want to join a union or at least get the protection offered by a union-negotiated contract, just in case they accidentally look cross-eyed at their principal when he's having a bad day. Besides, the chief barometers for measuring good versus bad are standardized tests that bear little relation to anything of value that anyone would eventually do in a real profession, or in life. Plus, students can improve their scores by taking special classes, should their parents be able to afford them. Which is another way of saying that higher scores can be bought—like just about everything else in Chicago. But as I was saying, the foes of the teachers' union declare that we should pay close attention to the all-important standardized test scores. So let's take a look. There are 541 elementary schools in Chicago. Based on the composite ISAT scores for 2011—the last full set available—none of the top ten are charters. None of the top 20, 30, or 40 either. In fact, you've got to go to 41 to find a charter. Take a bow, CICS Irving Park! Most of the 49 charters on the list are clustered near the great middle, alongside most of their unionized neighborhood schools. The top scorers are public schools with unionized teachers who are members of the Chicago Teachers Union. That's the one whose president, Karen Lewis, somehow brainwashed her easily duped members into thinking they wouldn't rather work at a charter school.BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the current plurality voting method in special elections allows a candidate to win an election with less than a majority of votes when there are more than two candidates for the office. In elections with many candidates, the plurality method may result in winners who received small percentages of votes and who are not widely supported by voters. For the winners, this may raise concerns about a lack of public support and confidence that may undermine the ability of the elected to govern effectively. Ranked choice voting is an election method that provides voters the ability to rank candidates in order of choice, as the voter's first, second, and later choices. Tabulation begins with each voter's first choice vote. If a candidate receives a majority of votes, that candidate wins. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and each vote counting for that candidate counts for the voter's next choice in the subsequent round. That process repeats by eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes and counting each vote for the highest ranked remaining candidate in the next round, until two candidates remain, and the candidate with the most votes wins. The legislature further finds that ranked choice voting has been used effectively in the United States and around the world. Notable cities include San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Leandro, California; and Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2010, North Carolina used ranked choice voting for a statewide judicial vacancy election as well as three county-level judicial elections. Five states, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas use ranked choice voting for uniformed and overseas voters in primary elections with potential runoffs. Ranked choice voting is used in many other countries, including by voters in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Voters in the state of Maine voted to adopt ranked choice for all state and congressional offices in November 2016. Finally, the legislature finds that modern voting systems, including optical scanners produced by Hawaii�s current voting system vendor, have federal certification for ranked choice voting capability. The purpose of this Act is to authorize the use of ranked choice voting for special elections held for Congressional races in this State. SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to part X to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: " §11-A Ranked choice voting; procedure for counting votes. (a) To determine the winners in an election conducted by ranked choice voting, election officials shall initially count each ballot as one vote for the candidate at its highest continuing ranking or as an inactive ballot. If a candidate has more than half of the total votes counting for candidates, that candidate shall be declared the winner for that office and tabulation is complete. (b) If no candidate is declared the winner after the initial count, the tabulation proceeds in rounds. Each round shall proceed sequentially as follows: (1) If two or fewer continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the greatest number of votes shall be declared the winner for that office and tabulation is complete; and (2) If more than two continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the fewest votes is deemed defeated. Votes for the defeated candidate shall cease counting for the defeated candidate and shall be added to the totals of each ballot�s highest ranked continuing candidate or counted as inactive ballots. A new round then begins with subsection (b)(1). (c) Once a winner has been declared pursuant to subsection (b), a certificate of election declaring the results shall be issued pursuant to section 11-156. §11-B Ranked choice voting; generally. ( a) A ballot shall be deemed inactive if it does not rank any continuing candidates, if it ranks more than one continuing candidate at its highest continuing ranking, or if it includes two or more consecutive skipped rankings prior to its highest continuing ranking. (b) The chief election official shall determine a random selection algorithm prior to tabulation to resolve ties between candidates. If a tie between candidates occurs at any stage in the tabulation and tabulation cannot proceed until the tie is resolved, then the random selection algorithm shall resolve the tie. §11-C Ranked choice voting; application. (a) Any federal election not held on the date of a regularly scheduled primary or general election shall be conducted by ranked choice voting. Any federal election conducted by ranked choice voting shall be conducted by mail, pursuant to section 11-91.5. No subsequent separate runoff election shall be held. (b) The election proclamation required pursuant to section 11-91 shall state that votes shall be cast and tabulated using ranked choice voting and provide an explanation of ranked choice voting. (c) For purposes of this section, the chief election officer and county clerks shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to provide for the use of mechanical, electronic, or other means devised for marking, sorting, and counting the ballots and tabulating the votes for any election conducted by ranked choice voting. (d) For any election conducted by ranked choice voting prior to the year 2021, the chief election officer and county clerks may modify the ballot and tabulation to the extent necessary to administer the election on the current voting system in any of the following ways: (1) The number of allowable rankings may be limited to no fewer than three; (2) If a candidate in any round has more than half of the votes counting for candidates in that round, then that candidate may be elected and no further tabulation shall be conducted; (3) The method for resolving ties between candidates at any point in the tabulation procedure may be modified as necessary; or (4) An inactive ballot may be modified as necessary; provided that a ballot that ranks a continuing candidate at its highest continuing ranking may not be counted as an inactive ballot. (e) In any election conducted by ranked choice voting, the ballot shall be simple and easy to understand. The ballot shall allow voters to rank every listed candidate in order of choice, or if the chief election officer determines that it is not feasible to allow voters to rank every candidate, the number of allowable rankings may be limited to the smaller of six or the number of candidates listed. Prior to finalization and printing, sample ballots shall be made available for at least seven days on the office of elections' website and at the office of elections for public review and comment. Sample ballots illustrating the procedures for ranked choice voting shall be included in the instruction materials for mail ballots, and posted on the office of elections' website. The office of elections shall distribute educational materials explaining ranked choice voting prior to the election. " SECTION 3. Section 11-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding four new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows: " "Continuing candidate" means any candidate that has not been defeated or elected. "Highest continuing ranking" means the highest ranking for any continuing candidate on a ballot that is not an inactive ballot. "Ranked choice voting" means the method of casting and tabulating votes in which voters rank candidates in order of choice, tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in which last-place candidates are defeated, and the candidate with the most votes in the final round is elected. "Ranking" means the number assigned by a voter to a candidate to express the voter�s choice for that candidate. A ranking of "1" is the highest ranking followed by "2" then "3" and proceeding until the largest number is reached. " SECTION 4. Section 11-112, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§11-112 Contents of ballot. (a) The ballot shall contain the names of the candidates, their party affiliation or nonpartisanship in partisan election contests, the offices for which they are running, and the district in which the election is being held. In multimember races the ballot shall state that the voter shall not vote for more than the number of seats available or the number of candidates listed where [ such ] the number of candidates is [ less ] fewer than the number of seats available. (b) The ballot may include questions concerning proposed state constitutional amendments, proposed county charter amendments, or proposed initiative or referendum issues. (c) At the chief election officer's discretion, the ballot may have a background design imprinted onto it. (d) When the electronic voting system is used, the ballot may have pre-punched codes and printed information which identify the voting districts, precincts, and ballot sets to facilitate the electronic data processing of these ballots. (e) The name of the candidate may be printed with the Hawaiian or English equivalent or nickname, if the candidate so requests in writing at the time the candidate's nomination papers are filed. Candidates' names, including the Hawaiian or English equivalent or nickname, shall be set on one line. (f) The ballot shall bear no word, motto, device, sign, or symbol other than as allowed in this title. (g) The ballot may include information necessary to use ranked choice voting as described in sections 11-A, 11-B, and 11-C. " SECTION 5. Section 11-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§11-151 Vote count. [ Each ] Except for contests conducted by ranked choice voting, each contest or question on a ballot shall be counted independently as follows: (1) If the votes cast in a contest or on a question are equal to or less than the number to be elected or chosen for that contest or question, the votes for that contest or question shall be counted; (2) If the votes cast in a contest or question exceed the number to be elected or chosen for that contest or question, the votes for that contest or question shall not be counted; and (3) If a contest or question requires a majority of the votes for passage, any blank, spoiled, or invalid ballot shall not be tallied for passage or as votes cast except that such ballots shall be counted as votes cast in ratification of a constitutional amendment or a question for a constitutional convention." SECTION 6. Section 11-152, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§11-152 Method of counting. (a) In an election using the paper ballot voting system, immediately after the close of the polls, the chairperson of the precinct officials shall open the ballot box. The precinct officials at the precinct shall proceed to count the votes as follows: (1) The whole number of ballots shall first be counted to see if their number corresponds with the number of ballots cast as recorded by the precinct officials; (2) If the number of ballots corresponds with the number of persons recorded by the precinct officials as having voted, the precinct officials shall then proceed to count the [ vote ] votes cast for each candidate; and (3) If there are more ballots or [ less ] fewer ballots than the record calls for the precinct, officials shall proceed as directed in section 11-153. (b) In those precincts using the electronic voting system, the ballots shall be taken in the sealed ballot boxes to the counting center according to the procedure and schedule promulgated by the chief election officer to promote the security of the ballots. In the presence of official observers, counting center employees may start to count the ballots prior to the closing of the polls ; provided that there shall be no printout by the computer or other disclosure of the number of votes cast for a candidate or on a question prior to the closing of the polls. For the purposes of this section, the closing of the polls is that time identified in section 11-131 as the closing hour of voting. (c) In an election conducted by ranked choice voting, votes shall be counted as provided in sections 11-A and 11-B. " SECTION 7. Section 11-155, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§11-155 Certification of results of election. On receipt of certified tabulations from the election officials concerned, the chief election officer in state elections or county clerk in county elections shall compile, certify, and release the election results after the expiration of the time for bringing an election contest. The certification shall be based on a comparison and reconciliation of the following: (1) The results of the canvass of ballots conducted pursuant to chapter 16; (2) The audit of pollbooks (and related record books) and resultant overage and underage report; (3) The audit results of the manual audit team; (4) The results of the absentee ballot reconciliation report compiled by the clerks; and (5) All logs, tally sheets, and other documents generated during the election and in the canvass of the election results. A certificate of election or a certificate of results declaring the results of the election as of election day shall be issued pursuant to section 11-156; provided that in the event of an overage or underage, a list of all precincts in which an overage or underage occurred shall be attached to the certificate. The [ number of ] candidates to be elected [ receiving the highest number of ] who receive the most votes in any election district shall be declared to be elected[. ] ; provided that candidates for office elected by ranked choice voting shall be declared to be elected pursuant to section 11-A. Unless otherwise provided, the term of office shall begin or end as of the close of polls on election day. The position on the question receiving the appropriate majority of the votes cast shall be reflected in a certificate of results issued pursuant to section 11-156." SECTION 8. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act. SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that no later than, the chief election officer and each county clerk shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to effectuate the purposes of this Act.Our bodies give off a lot of heat. Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a small device that will, when worn on your person, convert that heat into energy. It then stores that energy like a battery for later use. The hybrid device goes a step further, though, by also harvesting energy from sunlight as we walk around outside. This new development could have applications that have not yet been tested. It is the first such product to harness energy from both heat and light. Previously, this required two separate devices. In addition, it doesn't require any electrical wiring or batteries. "In medical fields... the technology could be used in sensors that monitor conditions such as body temperature, blood pressure, and heartbeats -- without batteries and electrical wiring," the press release states. "If either the ambient light or heat is not sufficient to power the sensor, this technology can supply power with both sources, by augmenting one source with the other. In addition, the technology can also be used for environmental sensing in remote areas for weather forecasting, where it would be problematic to replace batteries or run electric lines." Fujitsu is still working to perfect their design and hope to release it for commercial use by 2015. Image: Fujitsu Laboratories. View more Pictures of the Day. We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to [email protected] its focus is on the here and next, the first installment of KPMG’s “Core Services Review”–the balance will be released over coming weeks like a syndicated Victorian novel–reads in many ways like an indictment of politics in post-amalgamation Toronto (and not just politics as practiced in the David Miller era). In fact, the sub-sub-text of this report is that amalgamation, though not a complete disaster, has turned out to be a financial millstone. The critics predicted as much back in 1997, during the amalgamation/downloading fight initiated by the Mike Harris Tories. Fourteen years on, KPMG has proven them correct, again. Take the case of windrows, highlighted as a potentially expendable service very early in KPMG’s re-telling of Hard Times. The word “windrow” doesn’t make so much as a cameo appearance in the consultation report. But as anyone who watched megacity politics circa 1999-2000 can attest, North York’s windrow-clearing policy became a significant political headache as Mel Lastman’s council grappled with the newly-merged city’s snow plowing policies, or lack thereof. Lastman’s North York, you see, cleared away those slushicles the plows deposit at the base of driveways, and cleared the sidewalks to boot. (Outside North York, only Scarborough shoveled sidewalks, and then only on arterials.) The bureaucratic logic of amalgamation, according to the Harris government, was streamlined management and therefore lower overhead. But the fight over windrows showed that the unshakeable political logic of amalgamation meant that what one community (read: councillors) had, the others wanted. Lest anyone forget, council at the time was deeply preoccupied with harmonized service levels. To get around the windrow impasse, Lastman and his financial henchman Tom Jakobek triangulated a complicated budget deal to offer sidewalk shoveling elsewhere if practical, and also extend those windrow removal policies to the other suburban municipalities. Cost at the time: $12 to $14 million, annually. Some downtowners, for the record, didn’t approve. Council’s 70 percent diversion policy, also high on the KPMG hit list, is another example of the difficulty of post-amalgamation politics. This tale actually begins in the early 1990s, when Metro Toronto begins seeking a replacement for the Keele Valley landfill. After amalgamation, some Harris cronies advanced a deeply problematic scheme to ship Toronto’s trash to the Adams Mine in northern Ontario. The plan became a cause clbre circa 2001, with Miller and Jack Layton spearheading efforts to expose the flaws in the proposed contract. In response to heightened public concern about Adams Mine, council began talking about sharply increasing diversion rates and introducing new programs, like the green bin. As Adams Mine became increasingly radioactive, the city responded with wildly unrealistic diversion targets (at that point, the city’s stated goal was 100 percent by 2010). With the blessing of eco-skeptics like Doug Holyday, the city tested the green bin in Etobicoke in 2002 after cutting a deal with a Michigan landfill to accept the city’s post-diversion trash. After 2003, Miller accelerated the expansion of the green bin program across the rest of the city and set a diversion target of 70 percent, still hugely optimistic considering that half of Torontonians live in apartments without curbside pickup. A few years on, the city bought a landfill near London to salve the boil of the Michigan shipments, and continued to expand the materials eligible for recycling. Of course, no one can say for sure how waste management or snow removal politics would have played out absent amalgamation. But with six municipalities and Metro, it’s highly unlikely that one-size-fits-all solutions would have emerged. And that’s always been the nub of the problem: amalgamation imposed bureaucratic standardization on a highly varied metropolitan region, with costly results. It’s not about the gravy, and never has been; it’s about the size of the roast. So coming back to diversion, from an environmental point of view, it’s great that every homeowner gets a green bin. From a political perspective, however, did every homeowner want a green bin sufficiently to approve the extra cost? Unlikely. One of the lesser-known criticisms of amalgamation, articulated by University of Victoria political scientist Robert Bish in a 2001 study published by the C.D. Howe Institute, was that it “tends to eliminate the very characteristics of local governments that are critical to the most successful and least costly systems.” The diversity of urban populations, he argued, should be reflected in the diversity of municipal service offerings, so residents can choose between high service areas or low service areas, depending on their inclinations and tax sensitivity. Needless to say, KPMG didn’t set out to deliver a critique of amalgamation with the CSR. Indeed, its carefully hedged recommendations represent an inverse of the harmonized service level fights from Lastman’s tenure. The one-size-fits-all logic apparently works when reducing services, as well (although some–e.g., the bike infrastructure cuts–will surely be felt more keenly downtown than elsewhere). If the city wanted to properly align its revenues with expenditures, which does not appear to be the case, council could opt to consider the lessons of amalgamation and attempt to determine how much service the residents of various regions (i.e., the four community councils) want, need and are prepared to pay for. As it stands, council will cut across the board, because that’s what it does–now. The cuts will remain until the political landscape shifts due to some galvanizing source of external pressure (e.g., a lively economy, a terrible winter, a horrific accident linked to reduced services), at which point the cycle begins again.This content was published on October 1, 2017 11:00 AM Employees test the quality of Nescafé instant coffee at the Nestlé production site in Orbe (Keystone) Your fix of morning joe likely passed through Switzerland, since the country is the world’s trading hub for coffee. In fact, the Swiss export more coffee than chocolate or cheese. “Most coffee traders are present in Switzerland,” said Cyrille Jannet, vice president of the Swiss Coffee Trade Associationexternal link, in an interview to Swiss public radio RTS last year. “This is also the case for the big names in the industry, like Nestlé or Nespresso. Also present are the main participants in the chain on a logistics level, like maritime transport. This had led to Switzerland becoming the main hub for the coffee trade, from trade to industry.” Switzerland is already home to many important companies trading in raw materials (for example: gold, petrol), thanks to its favourable tax situation and its central position in Europe. Six of the world’s main coffee traders are based in the Lake Geneva or Zurich regions. As is often the case for raw materials, precise statistics are hard to come by. But estimates show that between 60-70% of the global coffee trade takes place in Switzerland and that it represents around 1% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). More than chocolate But more precise data is available when it comes to the volume and value of the import and export of coffee, because these are real products that pass over the border. In its penultimate annual report on Swiss foreign trade, the Federal Customs Administration focused on the “food, beverage and tobacco” sector, which accounts for 4% of Swiss exports. It stated that coffee was “a flagship product” with a value of CHF2.1 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2015, or around one-quarter (25.8%) of sales in the whole sector. This is far more than with exports of products traditionally associated with Switzerland, like chocolate and cheese. coffee graphic 1 Exports for 2015 in the food, beverage and tobacco sector Customs statistics also show that coffee exports have risen sharply over the past decade. The global boom in coffee capsules is partially responsible, and sector leader Nestlé produces such capsules exclusively in three factories in Switzerland (Avenches, Romont and Orbe). In terms of imports, 139,238 tonnes of coffee reached Switzerland last year, with a value of CHF379 million. The two main suppliers are Brazil (29%) and Colombia (17%). Big coffee consumers But Switzerland is not just heading the statistics in terms of trade and production. Its inhabitants are also among the biggest consumers of coffee in the world, according to the International Coffee Organizationexternal link. coffee graphic 2 Top ten countries for coffee consumption Translated from French by Isobel Leybold-Johnson Neuer Inhalt Horizontal Line SWI swissinfo.ch on Instagram SWI swissinfo.ch on InstagramWelcome to the general, we've got fun and rape accusations. Donald Trump may live in a (very classy) glass house, but that won’t stop him from throwing stones. On Monday, the grotesquely misogynistic Republican nominee released an Instagram ad titled, “Is Hillary really protecting women?” The 15-second spot layers clips of women tearfully accusing Bill Clinton of sexual assault over a menacing photograph of the former president smoking a cigar — until the voices of the victims are drowned out by Hillary Clinton’s maniacal laughter. Is Hillary really protecting women? A video posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on May 23, 2016 at 8:27am PDT Among the clips featured in the ad is a 1999 Dateline interview with Juanita Broaddrick, a former nursing-home administrator who claims Clinton raped her in Arkansas 38 years ago. Broaddrick reiterated that charge via Twitter this past January. I was 35 years old when Bill Clinton, Ark. Attorney General raped me and Hillary tried to silence me. I am now 73....it never goes away. — Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) January 6, 2016 Thoroughly disgusting--Hillary's comments on rape. Shame on you, Hillary, shame on you!! — Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) September 15, 2015 Over the past few weeks, as Trump’s critics have drawn attention to his vast back catalogue of sexist commentary, the Donald’s primary rebuttal has been, “I know Bill Clinton is a misogynist, but what am I?” “Nobody in this country and maybe in the history of this country politically was worse than Bill Clinton with women,” Trump told a crowd in Oregon in early May. The Donald went on to accuse Hillary Clinton of being, in essence, her rapist husband’s co-conspirator. “She would go after these women and destroy their lives,” Trump said. “She was an unbelievably nasty, mean enabler, and what she did to a lot of those women is disgraceful.” The attack is unlikely to significantly undermine the Democratic front-runner’s standing with female voters — this dirty laundry has been airing out for decades now. Still, Trump’s affinity for describing Bill’s baggage in lurid (if unsubstantiated) detail makes attacking the mogul on the grounds of misogyny a costlier gambit for the Clinton camp. And it forces pro-Clinton feminists to confront the tension between Hillary’s disregard for her husband’s accusers and the contemporary norm of giving self-identified victims of sex crimes the benefit of the doubt. Of course, Trump would not benefit from voters believing the accounts of every self-identified rape victim. Nor, for that matter, would he benefit from voters accepting a certain real-estate mogul’s analysis of Bill Clinton’s accusers. “The whole group, it’s truly an unattractive cast of characters — Linda Tripp, Lucianne Goldberg — I mean, this woman, I watch her on television, just vomiting. She is so bad. The whole group — Paula Jones, Lewinsky — it’s just a really unattractive group,” Trump told Fox News in 1998. “And I’m not just talking about physical, but I am also talking about physical.” “I don’t necessarily agree with his victims,” Trump added. “His victims are terrible. He is really a victim himself.”Community Rating: Community Rating: 3.667 / 5 ( 66 votes ) Click here to view ratings and comments. Oracle Printed Card Name: Wolf-Skull Shaman Mana Cost: Converted Mana Cost: 2 Types: Creature — Elf Shaman Card Text: Kinship — At the beginning of your upkeep, you may look at the top card of your library. If it shares a creature type with Wolf-Skull Shaman, you may reveal it. If you do, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token. Flavor Text: A chorus of howls answers his call. P/T: 2 / 2 Expansion: Morningtide Rarity: Uncommon Card Number: 140 Artist: Jim Murray Rulings Kinship is an ability word that indicates a group of similar triggered abilities that appear on _Morningtide_ creatures. It doesn’t have any special rules associated with it. The first two sentences of every kinship ability are the same (except for the creature’s name). Only the last sentence varies from one kinship ability to the next. You don’t have to reveal the top card of your library, even if it shares a creature type with the creature that has the kinship ability. After the kinship ability finishes resolving, the card you looked at remains on top of your library. If you have multiple creatures with kinship abilities, each triggers and resolves separately. You’ll look at the same card for each one, unless you have some method of shuffling your library or moving that card to a different zone. If the top card of your library is already revealed (due to Magus of the Future, for example), you still have the option to reveal it or not as part of a kinship ability’s effect.In contrast to the rancorous House Intelligence panel and its near-frozen investigation, lawmakers in the Senate vow to remain free of White House interference. With the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election collapsing amid partisan rancor, the leaders of the Senate Intelligence panel appeared shoulder-to-shoulder on Wednesday to pledge that their probe will avoid partisan infighting and focus on the evidence, including evaluating reports of ties between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives. “The investigation’s scope will always go where the intelligence leads,” Sen. Richard Burr (R.-N.C.), the panel’s chairman. “It is absolutely crucial that every day we spend trying to separate fact from fiction.” Just over two months into the Trump administration, Burr and Sen. Mark Warner (D.-Va.), the ranking member, provided the first public update on the progress of their investigation, saying that it is proceeding apace. That stands in stark contrast to the House committee’s investigation, which now appears frozen in its tracks after cancelling planned hearings this week. On Thursday, the panel will conduct its first public hearings to examine Russian electoral meddling, with a host of independent experts who will describe Russia’s past use of intelligence and disinformation. The Senate committee has also requested 20 interviews and has so far scheduled five, with the first likely to take place next week. Most of the interview subjects, Burr said, are intelligence community analysts who authored the report concluding that Russia attempted to intervene in the U.S. election and to boost President Donald Trump’s electoral chances. But at this stage of the investigation, Burr said, “we would be crazy to draw conclusions” about whether Trump or his aides conspired with Russian operatives. Also among those set to be interviewed is Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Burr said, but no date has been set. The committee has gained access to thousands of pages of intelligence reports and raw data normally reserved for the “Gang of 8” senior congressional leadership, and has assigned seven committee staffers to comb through that material. Committee staffers are “within weeks” of completing the review of that material, Burr said, and have examined a majority of the paperwork piled into binders and stored in secure reading rooms. Burr, first elected to the House in 1994, described the investigation as one of “the biggest investigations that the Hill has seen in my tenure here.” But even as Burr and Warner displayed a rare measure of bipartisan unity on an issue that has divided Democrats and Republicans, questions remain whether a Republican-controlled Congress can effectively investigate allegations that Trump associates may have coordinated with Russian intelligence to undermine Hillary Clinton during the election. Burr campaigned on behalf of Trump and hitched his own hard-fought re-election campaign to the real-estate mogul’s coattails. In doing so, Burr managed to fend off a well-funded effort by Democrats to oust him. On Wednesday, Burr said that while he had voted for Trump, he can “absolutely” be counted on to carry out an impartial investigation. That’s exactly the question that’s swirling around the House Intelligence Committee’s near-paralyzed investigation. Democrats have accused chairman Devin Nunes (R.-Calif.) of running political interference for the White House, after he claimed that American spies collected information on Trump aides during the campaign. Nunes said he learned that from a source on the White House grounds but has declined to identify who it was, even to the rest of the committee that is conducting the investigation. Asked Wednesday whether he would ever conceal the identity of a source from Warner, Burr shrugged off the question with a grin: “He usually knows my sources before I do.” That backslapping display of bonhomie comes as a startling contrast to recent weeks on Capitol Hill, which have featured dueling press conferences between Nunes and Rep. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on his committee. Schiff and a slew of congressional Democrats have called on Nunes, a Trump ally who served on the incoming president’s intelligence transition team, to recuse himself from the Russia probe. Burr campaigned for Trump, and, like Nunes, was recruited by the White House to try and knock down unfavorable stories in the press. But he has so far avoided Nunes’s fate by keeping a far lower profile on Capitol Hill. While the House chairman has embraced his role as an attack dog for the White House to fight back against a series of embarrassing revelations about the investigation into Trump’s Russia ties, Burr has remained fairly silent.Lumbricus terrestris, a widely spread invasive, a widely spread invasive earthworm native to Europe Invasive species of earthworms from the suborder Lumbricina have been expanding their range in North America.[1] Their introduction can have marked effects on the nutrient cycles in temperate forests. These earthworms increase the cycling and leaching of nutrients by breaking up decaying organic matter and spreading it into the soil. Since plants native to these northern forests are evolutionarily adapted to the presence of thick layers of decaying organic matter, the introduction of worms can lead to loss of biodiversity as young plants face less nutrient-rich conditions. Some species of trees and other plants may be incapable of surviving such changes in available nutrients.[2] This change in the plant diversity in turn affects other organisms and often leads to increased invasions of other exotic species as well as overall forest decline[citation needed]. Earthworms and migration [ edit ] Earthworms are migrating north into forests between 45° and 69° latitude in North America that have lacked native earthworms since the last ice age.[3] The worms in question are primary engineers of their environment. They are considered keystone species because, as detritivores, they alter many different variables of their ecosystem.[3] Of the 182 taxa of earthworms found in the United States and Canada, 60 (33%) are introduced species.[4] Among these, Lumbricus terrestris, L. rubellus, L. friendi, Amynthas agrestis, and Dendrobaena octaedra have been studied for their ability to invade previously uninhabited locations and disturb the local ecosystems.[3][4] These earthworm species are primarily from Europe and Asia, and they are disturbing many nutrient cycles.[2] By redistributing nutrients, mixing soil layers, and creating pores in the soil, they can
wind and praised by British ministers as the model to follow. But amid a growing public backlash, Denmark, the world's most windfarm-intensive country, is turning against the turbines. Last month, unnoticed in the UK, Denmark's giant state-owned power company, Dong Energy, announced that it would abandon future onshore wind farms in the country. "Every time we were building onshore, the public reacts in a negative way and we had a lot of criticism from neighbours," said a spokesman for the company. "Now we are putting all our efforts into offshore windfarms." Even as parts of the British Government continues to blow hard for wind, other countries seem to be cooling on the idea. This summer, France brought in new restrictions on wind power which will, according to the French wind lobby, jeopardise more than a quarter of the country's planned windfarm projects. According to the latest Wind Turbine Price Index, produced by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, world prices for new wind turbines are down by 15 per cent on their 2008 peak amid a sharp slump in European and global demand. William Young, manager of Bloomberg's Wind Insight Service, says: "Expectations for turbine prices have never been so low, and the current market oversupply will continue for quite a while longer." But it is in Denmark, the great windfarm pioneer, where some of the most interesting changes are taking shape. In 1980, the Danish government was Europe's first to bring in large-scale subsidies - on which, just as in Britain, the wind industry depends. The results have been dramatic. According to the Danish Wind Energy Association, there are more than four thousand onshore turbines – two-thirds more than Britain - in a country a fifth the size. Nowhere else has more turbines per head, and Denmark is also a global centre of wind turbine manufacturing – with Vestas, the world's leading turbine firm, based in the country. Unfortunately, Danish electricity bills have been almost as dramatically affected as the Danish landscape. Thanks in part to the windfarm subsidies, Danes pay some of Europe's highest energy tariffs – on average, more than twice those in Britain. Under public pressure, Denmark's ruling Left Party is curbing the handouts to the wind industry. "Since 2005 alone, 5.1 billion kroner [£621 million] has been paid to the wind turbine owners. That cost has been borne by businesses and private consumers," says the party's environment spokesman, Lars Christian Lilleholt. "It seems to have become a political fashion to say that there should be more support for wind. But we have to look at other renewables. We cannot go on with wind power only." The subsidy cuts are almost certainly the main reason behind Dong's move out of onshore wind. But public anger is real enough, too. Until recently, there was relatively little opposition to the windmills. But now a threshold appears to have been crossed. Earlier this year, a new national anti-wind body, Neighbours of Large Wind Turbines, was created. More than 40 civic groups have become members. "People are fed up with having their property devalued and sleep ruined by noise from large wind turbines," says the association's president, Boye Jensen Odsherred. "We receive constant calls from civic groups that want to join." In one typical battle, in the central city of Svendborg, the local council set height and number limits on turbines under heavy pressure from locals. "The violent protests and the uncertainty about low-frequency noise means that right now we will not expose our citizens to large windmills," said the deputy mayor, Lars Erik Hornemann. There has also been growing scrutiny of the wind industry's macro claims. Though wind may indeed generate an amount of electricity equal to about a fifth of Danes' needs, most of that electricity cannot actually be used in Denmark. Except with hydropower, electricity cannot be stored in large quantities. The power companies have to generate it at the moment you need to use it. But wind's key disadvantage – in Denmark, as elsewhere – is its unpredictability and uncontrollability. Most of the time, the wind does not blow at the right speeds to generate electricity. And even when it does, that is often at times when little electricity is needed – in the middle of the night, for instance. So most of the wind electricity Denmark generates has to be exported, through interconnection cables - to Germany, to balance the fluctuations in that country's own wind carpet, or to Sweden and Norway, whose entire power system is hydroelectric, and where it can be stored. (The Swedes and Norwegians use it themselves - or sell it back, at a profit, to the Danes. If they use it themselves, there is, of course, no saving whatever of C02 – because all Norway and Sweden's domestically-generated hydropower is carbon-neutral anyway.) "I would interpret the [export] data as showing that the Danes rely on their fossil-fuel plants for their everyday needs," says John Constable, research director for the London-based Renewable Energy Foundation, which has commissioned detailed research on the Danish experience. "They don't get 20 per cent of their electricity from wind. The truth is that a much larger unit, consisting of Denmark and Germany, has managed to get about 7 per cent – and that only because of a fortuitous link with Norwegian and Swedish hydropower." Britain, meanwhile, almost certainly could not manage even that. "Our system is totally different," says Constable. "We are an island grid. We have virtually no interconnectors with other countries, only a very limited amount of hydro, and the British Government simply doesn't know how to integrate the very large fleets of wind turbines that they are blithely introducing. It's a leap in the dark." Britain will almost certainly, in fact, end up having to build as many new fossil-fuelled power stations as it would have done without windfarms, to provide covering power for the fluctuations of the wind. Apparently oblivious to all this, the Government's climate change watchdog, the Committee on Climate Change, continues to praise Denmark's example and only last week demanded the building of 10,000 more onshore wind turbines to help meet a Whitehall target that 30 per cent of Britain's electricity should be generated from renewables by the end of the decade. This goal (the current figure is 4 per cent) is politely described as "optimistic" by the National Audit Office; privately, most observers view it as total fantasy. Interestingly, however, Chris Huhne, the previously anti-nuclear, pro-wind Energy Secretary, appears to be undergoing a mood shift. There is still much government talk of offshore wind, but he has sounded a more emollient note on a new generation of nuclear stations. "I think there's an outbreak of realism," says Constable. "Wind is not a bad technology. It's just a lot more limited than people thought in the past." Denmark, of course, was also the place where UN efforts to reach an overarching climate deal collapsed in acrimony last year. The country appears to be developing a habit of puncturing greens' wilder hopes.Hat's on! But everything else is off... Pregnant glamour model walks the runway naked at London Fashion Week Models are used to baring all for their art but one proved more daring than others today when she walked the catwalk completely nude while eight months pregnant. Glamour model and former Miss Wales Sophia Cahill appeared at Welsh milliner Robyn Coles' debut show wearing nothing but a series of striking hats. She took to the catwalk at the White Rabbit Studio in Shoreditch, east London, with four other nude models, including actor and comedian Jeff Leach. Glamour model and former Miss Wales Sophia Cahill appeared at Welsh milliner Robyn Coles' debut show in London wearing nothing but a series of striking hats The designer said she wanted to include Cahill, who is a friend from home, because it is rare to see pregnant women on the catwalk Coles, 31, from Pontypool, South Wales, said she wanted to include Cahill, who is a friend from home, because it is rare to see pregnant women on the catwalk. 'She was one person I knew would be more than happy to get her kit off. I thought it would be nice she would be pregnant for the show. You never see that kind of thing in fashion.' Coles said it was important for her to use models of different shapes and sizes in her show, but admitted her main motivation for getting them naked was for publicity. In the show Cahill, the former Miss Wales, sported three peacock blue hats, all with blue and maroon adornments The designer said that with accessories like hats, size and shape don't matter 'As an unknown designer you have to find ways of getting people to your show. I wanted to use different models and different sizes. I'm a big believer in that. With accessories like hats it doesn't mater what size or shape you are.' In the show Cahill sported three peacock blue hats, all with blue and maroon adornments. Coles said: 'All the hats are felt for autumn/winter so they are ideal for winter weddings and races. Winter hats don't have to be monochrome.' The designer would not confirm if her future shows would feature fully nude models, merely saying: 'I've got loads of stupid ideas for next time.' Coles said it was important for her to use models of different shapes and sizes in her show, but admitted her main motivation for getting them naked was for publicity“Operation F**k Putin” Hits a Wall, as the Russian Economy Returns to Growth By Mark Chapman Take me back won’t ya Take me back won’t ya; I’ll change my ways Take me back won’t ya Take me back won’t ya; I’m not the same… Bryan Adams, from “Take Me Back” April 16, 2015 " ICH " - Paul Robinson sent me a link yesterday that made me laugh out loud. You remember that scene in “Back to the Future”, when a carload of bullies is chasing Michael J. Fox on an improvised skateboard, and they run into the back of a truck which dumps about three-quarters of a ton of warm cow shit through the convertible top? Yeah, that was funny. Or the scene in “A Christmas Story” where Ralphie Parker, grunting angry profanity, falls upon school bully Scut Farkus like a wildcat on peyote and reduces him to blubbering sobs? Poetic justice, how sweet it is. The bully getting his ass handed to him is a perennially popular concept. That’s why I laughed when I read that the Russian economy has quietly returned to growth, (thanks, Paul) and added $10 Billion to its reserves since it had to spend a ton of money to keep things on the rails through Washington’s determined attempts – aided and abetted by its schoolyard quislings The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia – to wreck the Russian economy and cause so much human suffering in Russia that the people would revolt and overthrow their leader. Another humanitarian regime-change effort, brought to you by Shining City On A Hill Incorporated; it is no wonder Kiev continues to try to smash the east of its own country into submission. It knows full well that democracy is just the fig leaf the west uses to screen its loins so nobody will notice that violence gives it a boner. The Russian economy has begun to swing positive again, the MICEX is up 17.97% on the year to date (the NYSE is up 2.48% over the same period). The ruble gained 22.3% between February and April of this year, and is currently the world’s best-performing currency. That might not be a long-term trend, and the World Bank moans in agony that Russia risks a two-year recession; but Vladimir Putin, the Russian Federation’s president and Time Magazine’s pick for Most Influential Person of 2015 has good reason to look back in satisfaction over the past year or so. Under his leadership, Russia has outmaneuvered the clumsy west at every turn – showing it up as having not only feet of clay, but a head of cheese. And the best part, I’m sure – from Putin’s viewpoint – is that the west has brought it all upon itself, stubbornly insisting on taking the most damaging course every time over the protests of many who could see what was going to happen, but could only close their eyes and brace for the crash. The Lord of the Flies writ large – a triumph of idiots. Severstal Steel of Cherepovets, we learn, has posted its best profits in six years this quarter, on record output; Severstal plans to hire 2000 new workers this year to add to its 52,000 workforce. How’s U.S. Steel doing? Oh, dear – not so well, I’m afraid; U.S. steel plants are on a layoff spree, which they blame on China flooding the world with artificially cheap steel. If true, it seems not to have hurt the Russian industry, which is right next door. It strikes me that failure to get China into some sort of partnership before making a grab for Ukraine was a singularly bad example of planning on the west’s part, not to mention its subsequent antagonism of China so as to inspire and nurture a Sino-Russian partnership. Just to put the icing on the cake, the article complains about the surging dollar and low energy prices, both of which the U.S. government eagerly sought as part of its latest master plan and cheered, early on, as examples of its strategic brilliance and global clout. As U.S. steel exports languish, BRICS partners China and Brazil saw surging exports. Ever heard the expression, “Success has a thousand fathers, but failure is a bastard child”? Who will respond with “It was my idea” to the question,”Who thought it was a good plan to start a trade war with a raw-materials giant”? Why do so many cheer Washington’s stepping on its own dick and doing an embarrassing faceplant? Because it has transformed since the 1950’s from a Force For Good to a Force For Its Own Good, somewhere along the way turning into a bully that forces its values on others where it can and introducing regime change and false-flag manipulations where it cannot. Let me go on record here that it is unfortunate Americans – who, by and large, are decent people who normally wish nobody harm and like to mind their own business – must suffer the consequences of their grotesquely unpopular government. But nobody can pretend any longer not to know what is really going on; not with the plenitude of alternative news sites which cover what the mainstream media won’t touch, not with the admission at various times of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and – more recently – French Intelligence that Kiev is not fighting the Russian Army in Ukraine. The myth of “Russian Aggression” is just another hateful buzzword, like “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, formulated to pressure a gullible public’s go-along, simply because nobody wants to be seen as for it. There are some Russians in Ukraine, yes, and it would hardly be surprising to learn they were ex-soldiers considering they come from a country with a conscript military. But I would like to think that not a few Americans, upon learning the government of the country next door was butchering civilians by indiscriminately firing heavy weapons directly into populated areas, would show up with the modern equivalent of the squirrel gun to even the playing field. Such Russians as are in Eastern Ukraine are not there in an official capacity and have demonstrated no interest whatsoever in overthrowing the Ukrainian government. There is no excuse for not knowing these things – and, knowing them, how could anyone support their continuation? Something like 78% of Russian companies on the MICEX outstripped their foreign rivals for growth; Severstal’s achievement is not a one-off. Meanwhile, import substitution and a search for new markets continues apace. Gazprom announces a blacklist of over 400 western companies from whom it will no longer purchase metal or engineering products unless it absolutely cannot find a domestic or non-western producer. Belarusian and Mordovian companies were eager to cooperate, contributing to a potential $2.5 Billion in lost orders for western companies. On the agricultural front, U.S. food exports to Russia slumped, threatening a $1 Billion loss over the year’s ban, while Canadian pork producers squealed in dismay at a potential half-billion in losses, right on the heels of Canadian pork executives’ visit to their third-largest market to attempt to boost sales. The ban is only for a year, but kiss those markets gone, baby, gone, because by the time the ban lapses – if it is not renewed – countries like Argentina will have consolidated the former western share of the market provided they can keep up with business demand that saw beef exports alone from Argentina more than quadruple year over year, up 543%. The auto market in Russia was a slaughterhouse, but American brands suffered a particularly gory bloodbath; nearly all vendors experienced losses – although Mercedes, BMW and Lexus all saw gains – but sales of Chevrolet fell 74% and Ford 78%, while sales of the GM-owned Opel brand plummeted a staggering 86% just in February alone, year over year. Nine of the ten top-selling models are locally produced. But the Russian auto market is forecast to return to 2012 levels between this year and 2017. Careful marketing will net some companies, probably Asian, a powerful and dominant market share of the modest-income midsize market…but I doubt very much they will be American or British. Despite the low oil prices and the sanctions and the provocations and the constant vilification in the western press, Russia just puts its head down, and keeps on keeping on, undeterred by the playground antics and clamoring for attention from its declared enemies. But when the dust of this settles, it is likely to remember who went out of their way to stitch it up – the United States, the UK, Canada and Australia. Probably, thanks to the disgraceful betrayals of Merkel, Germany as well to some degree. Others might be forgiven on the grounds that they were just dragged along by the pace of events and the demands of their allies. I saw Bryan Adams perform the little tune that kicked off this post, in the new Metro Centre Arena in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He wasn’t a really big name then, the way he is now – he had one album out, “Cuts Like a Knife“, which is still one of his best – and he was the opening act for the headliners, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; it was the first concert in the Metro Center. Halfway through the song, he let the band kind of percolate behind him as he injected a little story – probably made up – about the cheating girlfriend who had treated him like dirt and now wanted a second chance. He paused for a moment, and roared, “…and I said, FUCK…YOU!!!!” as the crowd screamed its approval. I wonder who will be singing “take me back, won’t ya?” in a year or two on the geopolitical stage? I know who it won’t be. And the likely response.Bam Margera net worth: Bam Margera is an American actor and stunt man who has a net worth of $50 million. Bam Margera was born Brandon "Bam" Margera on September 28, 1979. He has made himself a household name thanks to a multifaceted career as a television and radio personality, professional skateboarder and daredevil. Hailing from West Chester, Pennsylvania, Bam first gained notoriety with the formation of the CKY Crew which released a series of popular skateboarding/stunt/prank videos between 1999 and 2002. Along the way, Bam became friends with Jeff Tremaine, a former editor of Big Brother magazine. Tremaine quickly added Bam and his friends to his rapidly growing motley team for a new production that would go on to be called Jackass. Jackass aired on MTV for three seasons and was very popular despite sparking controversy. After its demise, Bam participated in the 2002 theatrically released Jackass: The movie, which grossed over $64 million domestically. Bam moved onto his MTV spinoff shows entitled Viva La Bam, which aired for five seasons, and a nine-episode series, Bam's Unholy Union, which followed Bam and his fiancée Missy through their engagement and subsequent wedding. Bam joined the Jackass crew for another sequel, released in 2006 and grossing $84.6 million worldwide. As a professional skateboarder, Bam is a member for Element Skateboards demonstration team, Team Element. Other projects include three films which Bam wrote, performed in, produced and directed, and Radio Bam, which first aired on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2004. He is the owner of West Chester based bar and theater, The Note. Bam Margera participated in 2010's Jackass: 3D. He also owns a popular clothing line.In the months after Trump and his family cut the ribbon at Trump’s D.C. hotel in October, three subcontractors filed liens seeking more than $5 million in bills they claim have not been paid. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Workers from AES Electrical apparently went all out to make sure Donald Trump could open his luxury hotel on the day he wanted. In the frenzied final six weeks of work at the hotel, while Trump touted the project on the campaign trail, AES of Laurel, Md., claims it assigned 45 members of its staff to work 12-hour shifts for nearly 50 consecutive days to get the lights, electrical and fire systems prepared on time. “We had people there well over 12 hours a day for weeks because they had a hard opening of Sept. 12 and you can’t open if the lights don’t work and the fire alarms don’t work and the fire marshal can’t inspect it,” said Tim Miller, executive vice president of AES. “There is a lot of work that went into that hotel, and it didn’t happen by accident.” Trump got his wish: The hotel was ready enough that on Sept. 16 he held a campaign event there honoring veterans, which was carried live on national television. He touted the hotel as having been completed “under budget and ahead of schedule” and said that when it opened officially the following month it would be “one of the great hotels anywhere in the world.” But around the same time, Miller said, the Trump Organization and its construction manager, Lendlease, stopped paying AES. Three days before Christmas, AES filed a mechanic’s lien with the D.C. government alleging that it was out almost $2.1 million. “Merry Christmas and a happy new year to us,” Miller said. The AES filing brings the total of allegedly unpaid bills on the hotel to more than $5 million. Washington-area plumbing firm Joseph J. Magnolia Inc. and Northern Virginia construction company, A&D Construction, are seeking $2.98 million and $79,700 respectively. Republican nominee Donald Trump spoke at the grand opening of Trump International Hotel. Protesters from the AFL-CIO and the Answer Coalition formed a picket line outside in protest. (The Washington Post) [Two contractors allege getting stiffed for work on Trump’s D.C. hotel] A representative for Lendlease has referred comment on liens to the Trump Organization. In an emailed statement, the Trump Organization did not address the specifics of the legal action. “In developments of this scale and complexity the filing of nominal liens at the conclusion of construction is not uncommon as part of the close out process,” a representative for the company wrote. “In the case of Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C., the Trump Organization has invested over $200 million dollars into the redevelopment of the historic Old Post Office and is incredibly proud of what is now considered to be one the most iconic hotels anywhere in the country.” Miller said he considered not discussing the issue publicly because he does not want to make a political issue out of it. AES had a $17 million contract with the Trumps, and all but the final $2 million had been paid, Miller said. “The majority of that [final] work was done in the last 45 days or so before the hotel opened, and it required a tremendous amount of manpower and effort on our part to get that done because it was a crunch to get the hotel open,” he said. Miller said he simply did not want the company, family-owned and founded 32 years ago, to have to eat the costs. The hotel’s total price tag was around $212 million. Trump claims he is worth $10 billion. “We’re not in this for any sort of political reasons,” Miller said. “We have no ax to grind, political or otherwise. We’re a business. We have 700 employees that we pay every week. We have bills. We are effectively financing this work, and we don’t think it’s right. That’s really it.” Follow Jonathan O’Connell on Twitter: @oconnellpostbizPSPDFKit, the PDF Framework used in Dropbox and Evernote, is now Available in a Standalone App [XDA Spotlight] The beauty of Android lies in its intents system. Unlike iOS, Android has the ability to replace most default applications with third-party software. In Android, applications can define intent filters that allow them to react to certain events such as tapping a URL or opening a file. Applications that can handle opening PDF files are quite numerous, so if a user does not like the features offered by their default PDF viewer, they can scour the Play Store for an alternative. But the abundance of choice can be overwhelming to the average user looking for a decent PDF viewer, so most users probably stick with the PDF viewer offered by Google or Adobe. For those of you looking for something more robust than Google’s offering and more well-designed than Adobe’s, we recently discovered PDF Viewer by PSPDFKit GmbH. This application offers many of the powerful PDF editing capabilities that anyone serious about making documents on mobile would care about, wrapped up in a beautiful, yet functional, Material Design layout. Normally, we probably wouldn’t be interested in covering a PDF viewer given the plethora of amazing options on the Play Store. However, this application uses the PDF framework that powers enterprise software such as Dropbox, Scribd, Box, Evernote among a whole host of other businesses, so we thought it might be interesting to check out their standalone app offering. PDF Viewer by PSPDFKit GmbH Like most other PDF applications on the Play Store, PDF Viewer is free to use. Furthermore, the application is available on other platforms as well. The full list of available features is quite extensive, but not every feature has been implemented in the Android version. Given that this application was only just released a few days ago and is marked as Beta, this is not surprising. Still, I’ve been using this application for a few weeks before it was officially released, and I came away quite impressed with how functional it is. I’ve been able to throw any number of PDFs, including large textbook files with hundreds of detailed images, and PDF Viewer has not let me down. Here’s a run-down of some of the most basic features, followed by our review. Features at a Glance: Beautiful Material Design interface Open PDFs stored locally, externally, or on the web Create a PDF with a blank page and set background options, from an image, or from your camera View bookmarks/annotations or search for a specific word/phrase in a document Share to Print/Open in another app Movable toolbar with a plethora of annotation options such as highlighting, underlining, inserting text boxes, signatures, notes, or images Document Editor with the ability to insert, duplicate, rotate, re-arrange, delete, or export selected pages Interface When you open the application for the very first time, you are met with the interface shown below. Thumbnails of your files are large and beautiful, and by default are displayed in a grid format. The files that are shown are automatically populated by the application on first launch as it scans your device for any detected PDF files. If you know the name, or at least a part of the name, of the document you are looking for you can quickly search for the document as well. Note that until you grant the application the ability to view your external (SD card) files, you will be unable to select any files stored there. Tapping on the overflow menu brings up the option to change the current view mode – you can switch between the default Grid mode and the more functional List mode. Typical sorting methods are available as well such as Name, Size, and Last Modification Date. Though, one feature which is less commonly found (but one we really appreciate) is the ability to display folders on the top of the grid/list. This is especially nifty if you have a small number of folders interspersed between a ton of documents. Clicking on local files opens up the internal file browser of the application where you can find and select any locally stored documents. But you are not restricted to opening documents stored locally, in fact, any intent to handle opening a PDF document can handled by PDF Viewer as well. This means that online documents that are downloaded from Google Drive or while browsing the web in Google Chrome can immediately be opened in PDF Viewer. Pretty standard stuff to be fair, but it’s still crucial functionality that you would expect from an app like this. PDF Creation While you are in the main view of the application, tapping on the floating action button (FAB) will bring up the PDF creation menu. Here, you can create a PDF from an already existing image stored on your device, a picture taken directly from your camera, or create a blank page. The first two are fairly self-explanatory, but the last one has a few neat options to go over. For starters, you can create a new blank page in A4, A5, US Letter, or US Legal sizes and specify the document orientation. If you want to change the background, you have the option to choose between 5 different color options and 4 different background patterns (5mm Dots, 5mm Grids, 5mm Lines, 7mm Lines). PDF Viewing Before you open a document, there are some standard settings options available for you to change how your scroll through documents. You can optionally change the layout settings to have it so that pages are shown left-to-right rather than the default vertical direction. In addition, you can change the scroll mode between Continuous or Paginated so you can better control when random flicks will move you to the next page. Finally, you have the option to select the default zoom level of the page – either fit to width or display the full size. Once you actually open a document, you have access to several key features to enhance your reading experience. On the bottom of the screen you will see mini cards showing what page you are currently on as well as previews for some of the previous and next pages. Tapping on any page will quickly flip to that page, and you can scroll through the list of mini cards to look further in the document. If you would prefer to see larger page previews or more quickly navigate to a desired page, you can tap on the top-right icon to bring up the Document Page Grid View. If you tap on the second icon from the left (the book icon), you can view all bookmarks or annotations that PDF Viewer detects in the document. If there aren’t any bookmarks already, you can create one from this menu. For the annotations, PDF Viewer will list all annotations in each page found in the document by their type. Looking for a particular key phrase or place in the text? The search button quickly allows you to find certain strings in the document (and it even searches through your annotations as well!) I’ve tested this on large textbook files and can confirm that the application is able to quickly identify where any term I search for is located in the PDF. Finally, clicking on the share button will bring up the Android share menu (also beautifully stylized, of course) where you can open the print dialog or share with another application. PDF Editing Tools If you noticed in the previous screenshot showing the Document Page Grid View, there was a FAB that we did not go over. If you go ahead and press this button, you will open up the Document Editor tools. Here, you will have access to several features in an expanded toolbar. These include the ability to add pages, delete pages, re-arrange pages, rotate pages, duplicate pages, or create a new PDF from selected pages. None of these features are revolutionary, but it is nice to know that PDF Viewer doesn’t skip implementing these crucial features. PDF Annotations Annotating a PDF is where most PDF applications fail to pass muster, at least when compared with Adobe’s offering. Fortunately, PDF Viewer has enough options to not leave you disappointed. To start off with, once you find the document you want to edit, simply tap the pencil-in-page icon (first from the left) to bring up the editing toolbar. This toolbar by default rests on the top of the page, but by dragging the 10-dot icon to the left or right edge of the page, you can reposition the toolbar for easier access. Finally, on smaller screen devices (such as smartphones), additional editing options that are grouped under one icon can be accessed by long-pressing on the icon (icons that can be expanded in this manner are designated by an arrow on the icon). Briefly going over each of the main editing tools, we can see that there are 4 main categories of tools. The first deal with text selection options. In this menu, we can switch between highlighting, “squiggling”, strike outs, or underlining. Each option does exactly what it says on the tin. All you have to do is drag-select the words you want to edit. You can optionally change the color used in the operation as well, though we would prefer a more traditional color wheel with all available color options. More substantive edits can be made with inserting text boxes, notes, or signatures. Long-pressing on the second icon group brings up this feature set. When placing a text box, you can specify the text size and color, as well as set the text box’s background color. Placing a note will bring up its own editing screen where you can add a description and specify what icon the note will use to be displayed on the page. Changing the color at the bottom will change both the background of the description as well as the color of the icon that shows up on the page. Finally, you can place your signature on the page by tapping on the pen icon under this group. You can create a signature using the built-in signature creator and save it for future use, or simply place it on the page for one-time use. Finally, you have the ability to draw figures and images to the PDF. When you select the fourth icon group (the pencil icon), you can select to draw freely or create shapes. Each figure can have its color and thickness modified, too. As for images, you can select to insert an image from your gallery, one of the pre-made stamps, or insert a picture straight from your camera. PSPDFKit for Developers The PDF framework powering this free application is also available for use in your application, provided your company will pay for the licensing. The company behind PSPDFKit states that incorporating their framework should take only a few lines of code and about 15 minutes of your time. They also provide a catalog of examples so you can learn how to design your own UI or features around the framework. Once implemented, it can be used in your Android or iOS application or on the web. One of the most powerful features it offers is collaborative annotations via PSPDF Instant. Depending on your needs, you can work with PSPDFKit to pick and choose which components you want to incorporate into your own product. Though note that currently, the ability to edit AcroForms and sign using Digital Signatures is only supported on iOS. Besides PSPDFKit, the company also has a Github page where they document how to use some of their APIs as well as another page where they list their other open source projects. Check them out and see if there is anything that might be relevant to your own work. Conclusion After spending a few weeks with PDF Viewer, I can safely say this is my new favorite PDF reading, editing, and creation tool. Though Adobe’s reader is still the gold standard for PDF applications, PDF Viewer by PSPDFKit GmbH still gives it a good run for its money. While there’s nothing revolutionary about this application, it checks off all of the right boxes without sacrificing a feature or two in any of the major departments. And with a beautifully intuitive Material Design interface, I find PDF Viewer a joy to use even on smaller devices. If you plan on doing any kind of serious documentation on your Android device, however, I would hope you at least use a tablet with a keyboard peripheral.We speak to Valve’s Gabe Newell and top PC games developers about Steam Machines, and if rivals should be worried It may be surprising to hear, but it’s been two over years since Valve announced its Steam Machines. But 26 months later, and by the time you read this, a cohort of systems centred around the Linux-based SteamOS will be making their way to consumers. Valve has also developed a new haptic controller and the Steam Link, which lets you stream your PC games to any TV in your home. It’s an all-out attack on the living room and – though it may not be pitched this way – a real rival to consoles like Xbox One and PS4. Console killers Speaking to Develop earlier this year, Valve boss Gabe Newell said the idea behind the Steam Machines is to have a system that’s optimal for each individual’s needs. He also launched a thinly-veiled attack on his rivals, suggesting he’s sure the hardware will be a hot prospect for consumers. “At console price points, we’re going to have machines like Alienware’s, which are faster than today’s consoles,” said Newell. “So the same price point as today, except you get better performance and you’re connected to everything you like about the PC and the internet.” He added: “Our perception is that customers are always going to make the best choices for what they want. We can knock down the barriers that keep PC gaming out of the living room, and then customers can decide what they want. So the way we organised it, in our thinking, is a sort of ‘good, better and best’ kind of thing.” But is Valve too late? Steam Machines were developed at a time when Valve was concerned about Microsoft’s apparent intentions to close off the PC market. But this hasn’t transpired. In fact, Microsoft is opening up Windows for gaming more than ever. Is Valve doing it because it feels it now has to? And is there really a market for Steam Machines? Newell was bullish about naysayers, and looked to Valve’s own past as proof it knows what it’s doing. “When we started with Steam, no-one believed you could deliver a better gaming experience over the internet, and we’re like, well, we actually think it’s probably an opportunity to do something,” he said. “So when we started pushing on this problem
you don’t want to brick them or cause broken system features, so it’s highly recommended to run hardware and performance tests. These test runs will allow you to determine whether or not your tablet is stable enough for daily use. This article is a part of a bigger guide about Embedded Android that intends to cover a broad set of topics about using Android as a platform for embedded devices. Before we begin, we need to decide what elements we want to test. In our case, there are three things we’re going to be focusing on: Software Hardware Android Compatibility Our goal is to ship a high-quality product which is working smoothly, has a great battery life, no crashes, works with all Android apps, delivers great performance, etc. So let’s define what we want to test. Software Firstly, we need to make sure that a new ROM contains our changes and works as we expected. Secondly, we need to check device performance (e.g. graphics rendering, UI smoothness, loading time, etc.) because this is one of the biggest problems on mobile devices. More CPU power means less battery life and vice versa, so we want to know if a new ROM has optimal settings. If you are looking for the help with customization of your own build of Embedded Android that was built from AOSP or any other open-source version just let us know. Hardware Because of the huge amount of different devices we need to have a clear list of features that require testing. In our Bus Stop example we need to check: Multimedia: Audio – For playing sounds/music or voice response for disabled people Video – For displaying ads or useful information Networking: 3G/LTE connection – For updates and downloading new content Wi-Fi – For updates and downloading new content Sensors: Accelerometer – To display UI in proper orientation Gyroscope – To make ads more interactive Light – To adjust the screen light during the day System: Camera (photo, video) – Can be used for interactive ads OpenGL ES – To display HD graphics Touch screen – To have control over the device Storage (read, write) – To store content and apps CPU, GPU – To make sure ROM works smoothly RAM usage – To prevent overload and memory leaks Compatibility Any changes in AOSP can cause problems with running native apps. In this case we need to make sure that nothing is broken. To solve this problem you can run Google Compatibility tests. This test set can be performed manually and on CI. Google provides predefined plans: CTS — all tests required for compatibility Signature — the signature verification of all public APIs Android — tests for the Android APIs Java — tests for the Java core library VM — tests for ART or Dalvik Performance — performance tests for your implementation These tests produce reports with boolean True/False conditions for each test case. You’ll get a short explanation if something went wrong. Manual Tests vs CI Automation So now we know what we want to test, it’s time to decide how we’re going to run these tests. There are two ways to run such tests: manually or using CI automation. Manual Tests The manual method is a fairly simple and very fast way to verify your ROM. Everything you need is already implemented, so just download the app and you’re ready to go with your hardware testing. On the other hand manual testing requires more effort, attention and planning. Also manual testing involves running apps for testing by your own hands. You need to download, install, run, click all menu items and analyze test results to make sure they match the expected results. This is not a problem if you only have a couple devices with a new ROM, otherwise you’re in trouble. If your device farm has a lot of different devices and new ROM versions are released regularly, you are going to need automation. There are a couple ways to implement a test suite and none of them are easy or fast. Google provides free compatibility tests for different OS versions which can provide you all information about basic hardware/software checks. Continuous Integration Tests Another way of freeing yourself from manual testing is to implement automation cases for your custom apps. For example you can write test scripts which will follow the same steps you are taking manually, e.g. installing test app, running it, clicking menu items from your test plan and displaying report. The most efficient feature you could implement is “one click testing”, where you press the “Start” button on CI and simply wait for the results. In an ideal world you would have a full-stack automation process, such as: Build a new version of ROM Flash device with this ROM Run Hardware/Software/Compatibility tests against new ROM version Check results Building a suite like this makes sense if you have a huge project and want not only to save time, but also to ensure efficiency of work, distributed team, regression and long testing cycle. How to get and install test apps Let’s discuss some options for manual checks. There are two ways to install the required apps for testing your new ROM: using Play Market or ADB (or any other tool). Obviously, to install an apk file you first of all need to get hold of it. One of the easiest ways to download an apk file is using an online downloader. For example you can use the Apkpure site. Simply copy a link to an app from Play Market and paste it to the Apkpure site. You need to copy a link to the app from the browser here. Paste link recently copied from address line to the search field on Apkpure.com website. You’ll have an .apk file a few moments later. Please make sure your device is connected via USB and turn On USB Debugging mode. Run command below once it is ready to install the selected app. $ adb install path/to/app.apk So, let’s review a couple Apps in the Google Play market which can help you to run system-wide Android ROM tests against your build that run on your device. How to run tests In this section we want to understand how to run tests manually using the apps and tools we have chosen. Here we want to focus on tools available “out of the box” which do not require any additional configurations or support. The following apps have basic functionality and high productivity. AnTuTu Tester AnTuTu Tester is a hardware tester for android. This tool is good for performing basic checks (e.g. making sure that all device sensors are alive or that multi-touch is working fine) and it allows you to test: Battery – App asks you to keep your device on and performs stress testing to calculate a score. Multi-touch – App displays a number of touches on the screen, so you can make sure this functionality works as expected. System information: Includes info about CPU, GPU, Memory, SD Card, Screen, WiFi, GPS. The app also includes a built-in benchmark test, so you can see how your changes have affected performance. Z-DeviceTest Z-DeviceTest lets you check your Android device sensors’ “health” in an intuitive and comprehensive way, offering in-depth analysis of all the characteristics of your device. The app works in a fairly similar way to the AnTuTu Tester, but it requires Google Play services to be installed on the device to run. This app allows you to: Check manufacturer’s technical information. Test functioning of all your sensors, like accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, barometers, etc. Measure the accuracy of each sensor. Test NFC near field communication. Test Barometer. Test detection of Navstar satellites. The app includes data about more than 600 different devices, so you can compare your score with other devices and ROMs. Sensor Box This app is made by IMOBLIFE INC and essentially performs the same functions as the previous two, but it has richer graphics. Every device sensor has a specific 3D illustration of its work (e.g. ball on a table for gyro sensor, or flower which grows if light sensor works), so it very clearly demonstrates the working principle of each sensor. This is a cool tool if you need to show your users or clients how beautifully your new ROM works. Sensors included: Gyroscope Light Orientation Proximity Temperature Accelerometer Sound Magnetic Field Pressure The app will show you all available sensors immediately after launch. If you assume there are going to be some hardware issues during development or alpha testing and want to have an easy way to check, this app will help you. As you can see from the screenshot, we have some unavailable sensors and the app detected them immediately. One more important thing to consider is performance and battery life. All manufacturers have to figure out a way to balance great performance with long battery life. This challenge will affect you as well and you need to be ready to test it. Geekbench 3 This is a well known cross-platform benchmark. Basically, the app displays a score based on CPU/GPU performance. It might be useful to check this score with the native ROM and with your custom ROM and compare results. It could help you to find out whether your ROM has suffered a loss of performance. The app also allows you to store benchmark results online and compare them with the same devices across the world. Geekbench 3 simulates real-world scenarios and quickly and accurately measures mobile processor performance. Battery Indicator This one is a tool to monitor battery drain. The app displays: Estimated time left to discharge. Temperature. Voltage. Charging or discharging velocity in percent per hour. System’s information about what drains your battery. It allows you to monitor how your new ROM works with the battery and fix some leaks at the very beginning of development. Google Compatibility Tests Google Compatibility Tests (CTS) is an official tool recommended by google, so you can be sure your Android will work as expected and it will also help you to receive google certification and eligibility for GMS. This is a cool tool for automations, which you can also use during manual testing. You can run CTS from Terminal in scope of manual suite and then check result manually, as it provides results that can be read by humans. This is a JAVA based tool, so you need to make sure JAVA 6 is installed. Also, you need to download CTS for a specific platform version. Here is an example of how to run it from Terminal: $ path/to/android-cts/tools/cts-tradefed $ run cts --plan PlanName You’ll see results in Terminal after a couple minutes. It’s maybe not that convenient to have to read all logs manually, but the information might sometimes be useful. There is no major difference between all these apps in Play Market and any of them could check your device, but you need a strong Test Plan to follow. You can’t avoid mistakes altogether when performing manual tests, but your challenge is to reduce them as much as possible. Summary As result of our testing, we will know the general condition of a new ROM and have the confidence that our shipped product is stable, matches our acceptance criteria and is ready to be used by end users. Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. Just play around with tools, methods, some best practices and compose your test suite for your own needs. It’s not possible to test everything, but you always need to keep in mind the things we have just discussed, such as: Hardware. Software. Compatibility. Test plan. Focus on having a straightforward process that defines the workflow of development and which has been covered as much as possible with tests. The main aim is to end up with a happy customer and users who like your product.By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi In his reply to my comments on his recent piece for The Nation, Roy Gutman takes exception to my supposed challenge to his “professional integrity.” I should thus begin by emphasizing that I did not intend my piece to be calling professional integrity into doubt: opinions and definitions may differ, but for me doubts about professional integrity would only be an issue if I were accusing him of outright invention, deliberate and malicious manipulation of evidence or something similar. It is not my contention that he engages in any of these things, and such accusations must always be carefully considered before being put forward. Rather, a bias for a particular side, while problematic, need not have malevolent intent behind it. Bias can arise innocently and unconsciously. It can be driven, for example, by honest empathy and anger about the sufferings of civilians at the hands of a particular group or side. Gutman proceeds to complain that my assertions regarding his bias read like an attempt to “discredit the entire content” of his article. Such a reading of my response fails to take into account my prefatory point that Gutman raises some valid points for discussion. The fact that I talked about these points on a general level- e.g. in noting there are serious issues to be raised about displacement of Arab populations by the YPG- is not the same as not engaging with them at all. I even provided a link to a report by a human rights monitor to give examples of specific cases. On the broader issue regarding the inference that I am supposedly attempting to discredit the entire content of the article, I should also add a clarification regarding the Seymour Hersh comparison: the point is not to claim that Gutman and Hersh are exactly equivalent (for one thing, as Gutman correctly points out, Hersh based his claims about the 2013 chemical weapons attack on anonymous former intelligence officials): rather, the point is that winning a Pulitzer Prize does not make one’s reporting impervious to questioning. As it happens I don’t believe Hersh is maliciously motivated in his biases either. But again, the idea is not to say that none of Gutman’s claims merits being taken seriously. So, in response to Gutman’s questions about whether abuses and war crimes have been committed by the YPG, the answer is yes, and that should not come as a surprise to anyone. There is regrettably little or no accountability on the ground in Syria for abuses and war crimes committed by all sides, and a comprehensive reckoning is unlikely to occur for the foreseeable future. Thus, I do not have a problem with whether Gutman reports on bad aspects of the YPG, and the PYD party with which it is affiliated. I was taking specific issue with uncritical relaying of more dubious narratives that reflect lines promoted by Turkey and the Syrian opposition. In the case of his article for The Nation, I was touching in particular on the supposed IS-YPG collusion pattern. In this context, I should note that Gutman is upset about my reference to a 2012 article he wrote for McClatchy on the testimony of a claimed PKK defector, yet he does not address the specific problem I raised. It is certainly true that “obtaining the debriefing was an example of journalistic enterprise,” as Gutman says. But journalists cannot simply relay debriefings and intelligence reports without appropriate critical scrutiny, as we have seen happen all too often in recent times with cases like U.S. intelligence reports in the run-up to the Iraq War, and even more recently the raw intelligence dossier on the alleged Trump-Russia connections and supposed dirt the Russians have on Trump that can be used to blackmail him. In a similar vein, the debriefing Gutman reported on has sensational allegations regarding PKK approaches towards religion. As I have already pointed out, the association of Zoroastrianism with fire worship is a calumny against the Zoroastrian religion. To relay the allegations without critical comment is irresponsible, considering the historical persecutions of Zoroastrians by Muslims and that a common Islamist militant talking point against the PKK and “Kurdish militias” is that they are heretics and apostates. Undoubtedly there are some PKK and YPG members who could not care for religious belief and/or are completely secular, but what evidence is there besides the testimony of this debriefing that the PKK and its sister affiliates promote Zoroastrianism and teach fire worship? It was the fact that these claims were relayed by Gutman without appropriate consideration that made me see a reflection of bias at work (again, I should stress, not necessarily malicious in intent). Turning more specifically to the contents of his article for The Nation, Gutman takes issue with my account of the fighting over the Tel Hamis area. In his response, he offers an account from a certain Abu Ahmad who says the YPG waited three days before entering without firing a bullet. Again, there is no problem in offering this account per se, but it also has to have the caveat analytical note that it is ultimately second hand, and an effort should be made to try to obtain other accounts for comparison (e.g. testimonies of YPG fighters, open source data from the time). As for what I wrote about Tel Hamis, on a technical note, I will begin by pointing out that Gutman is off the mark regarding some of the death notices I initially cited. Two of the death notices are for fighters killed in February 2015 prior to the 27th of that month: the Australian, and if he reads the original posts more closely, Hussein Masoud’s brother. Regarding my own wording, by ‘extended campaigns,’ I meant bouts of fighting that took place over multiple months in the wider area. One can criticise me for geographic imprecision, but it is important to remember in speaking of Tel Hamis that we mean not just the town/village by that name but also the wider area (cf. references in Arabic to mantaqat Tel Hamis and rif Tel Hamis). Of course, not every day meant intense clashes and battles. Indeed, in the Syrian civil war, much of what goes on in terms of engagements between various sides can appropriately be described as ribat (frontline maintenance etc.). On a given day there might be no fighting at all: a mere gunshot or two and/or firing mortar rounds. Then a flare up may occur. In relation to the Tel Hamis area, one example of a flare up occurred in September 2014, as the YPG launched an offensive that claimed the capture of multiple villages. During this flare up multiple YPG fighters were pronounced to be ‘martyrs’. Here is another example of clashes reported in late December 2014 in the Tel Hamis area, with at least four YPG fighters reported to have been killed at that time. It may well be that when Tel Hamis as a town/village finally fell to the YPG in February 2015, there was no grand or major battle to accompany it. However, to overlook all that happened in the time between IS solely becoming responsible for that wider frontline against the YPG after it destroyed the rebel factions in Hasakah province and the YPG capture in February 2015 is painting a highly misleading picture. It is also highly misleading to overlook the prior rebel-IS cooperation against the YPG on that front, which resulted in many YPG fighters being killed in late 2013/early 2014. Thus it can be seen how the fighting between IS and the YPG in the Tel Hamis area reflects continuity. Likewise we must note the reports of fighting and casualties in the wider area that occurred following February 2015. I thus stand by my original ‘travesty of the truth’ comment, having elaborated more fully here what I meant. A somewhat similar case for what would constitute a misleading picture would be to note that the village of Dabiq fell out of IS hands without a grand final battle despite the village’s symbolic importance to IS, while overlooking the long war of attrition that occurred between the rebels and IS prior to that, also featuring episodes of ribat and calm juxtaposed with flare ups. Or again, note the case of Jarabulus I mentioned in my previous piece. Can casualty figures and losses be exaggerated in reports? Of course. Yet the narrative of Gutman’s sources paints a very implausible picture that is designed to promote a line of some kind of IS-YPG collusion. To buy into it would mean supposing all those clashes etc. that occurred in the wider area over multiple months were a mere farce/fabrication. Thus, here we have an encapsulation of the job of journalists and analysts: weigh up the contrary accounts and try to come to a judgement that accounts for the various lines of evidence available. In the specific case of the Tel Hamis area village of Husseiniya mentioned by Gutman, who also points out that Amnesty International cited residents as saying that no clashes occurred in the withdrawal from that village, it is perfectly possible to accept that testimony, and the subsequent destruction of property by the YPG, without supposing a conspiracy of some kind as pushed by Gutman’s sources. To bolster the collusion narrative, Gutman had cited in his original piece a certain Mudar al-Assad as saying that there are hundreds of examples of the YPG-IS pattern of the latter taking a village from rebels and then turning it over to the YPG without a fight. It would be interesting to see specific naming of those hundreds of cases, if that is really the case. I draw the line here in this discussion. I stand by my initial assessment while reaffirming that I am not questioning Gutman’s professional integrity. Similarly I reject notions of supposed anti-Kurdish prejudice on Gutman’s part and other personal attacks on him. However, a serious debate about the YPG and its relationship with the U.S. must be based on reasoned consideration of the evidence, taking into account the benefits the partnership has brought in blunting IS while also noting the human rights abuses and the PKK connections and understanding why there are Turkish concerns. Looking forward, seemingly intractable land disputes similar to those we observe in Iraq between the Kurdish and Arab actors will mar the Syrian landscape for a long time even if IS were completely removed. There will be no easy resolution. —————————– *- (Appendix note: PKK and Zoroastrianism): While it is important to note the lack of evidence for the PKK promoting the Kurds’ religion as Zoroastrianism and teaching fire worship, there is an interesting strand of thought within Abdullah Ocalan’s writings that idealizes Zoroaster as a figure who promoted equality and care for nature, thus trying to link him to Kurdish ethnic and cultural heritage. This contrasts with a depiction of Islam as a vehicle of Arabism. On the other hand, Ocalan also wants to praise certain aspects of Islam, equating the rise of the religion historically with bringing about feudal system that constitutes an improvement over the supposed ancient slave civilization, while presenting Muhammad as a figure embodying revolution that becomes corrupted. These arguments, as Matthew Barber points out to me, partly reflect Ocalan’s views of history according to his Marxist ideology and political worldview as well as a desire not to be too offensive to the pious sensibilities of fellow Kurds. In any event though, Ocalan is ultimately an atheist, and does not promote the idea that Kurds should practise the Zoroastrian religion and formally identify as Zoroastrians, let alone engage in fire worship, though some Kurds who do identify as Zoroastrians seem to be partly influenced by Ocalan’s idealization of Zoroaster. The kinds of nuances in Ocalan’s views and their impacts are obscured by silly polemic as conveyed by that supposed PKK defector. Share this: Email Facebook Twitter Google RedditWiedemann, mid-performance at the Game Science Center Last weekend, Thorsten S. Wiedemann became the only human to spend two uninterrupted days in virtual reality. The performance, which was hosted by the Game Science Center in Berlin, was titled DISCONNECTED. We were lucky enough to speak to Wiedemann just days after the performance. Motherboard: How did this experience change the way you think about virtual reality? Thorsten S. Wiedemann: It's opened up a lot for me. Coming from the gaming side, now I see much, much more potential in virtual reality. One thing I really learned in this 48 hours is that the content is not good enough to do something like this, though. The boredom starts after 20, 24 hours, because of the repetition. The world is very simple. It's pretty flat. There's nothing you can really discover. Maybe there are different worlds, bigger worlds where you can spend three or four hours. Maybe I had the wrong selection, but I trusted the taste of my "VR Shaman" Sara Anna Lisa Vogl, [a virtual reality designer who created a number of scenarios for Wiedemann to play through]. Prior to DISCONNECTED, how long had you spent in virtual reality? The longest was one hour. I think it was in Deep, a breathing game. You move around in an underwater world, and there's a special controller around your belly. When you inhale and exhale, you move around. It's pretty abstract, very nice and beautiful. What led you to attempt this? Since Oculus came out with the glasses and made the Kickstarter, I've been an advocate for it. All the dreams I've had, and all the movies, everything I've seen before, thinking about what the future is like—it's just coming together. As you maybe know, I work in independent video games, and I'm running the A-MAZE festival—we actually added virtual reality to the A-MAZE awards in 2015. Because I wanted to show off virtual reality in the festival, Valve sent me an HTC Vive. That's when I came up with the idea of, how long can I stay in this room, walk around, live a little bit in there. How does the technology last for longer amounts of time? How does it psychologically work, if I stayed 12 hours in there? And then I thought, well, everybody in virtual reality tech has been in there for 12 hours. So maybe I'd go 24 hours. Then I was talking to Sara and I said, okay, let's do it, 48 hours. Did the project change as you got closer to the performance? Yeah. The first idea was that I was completely isolated with noise-canceling headphones, that I don't sleep at all. But it's already a challenge to spend 48 hours awake without drugs and I don't want to take drugs in virtual reality. So I decided to sleep maybe two and a half hours per day. I also thought it would be a cool experience to fall asleep and wake up in virtual reality, so we changed that. The sleeping part was really interesting. I thought I would be shocked to wake up in a computer generated world, but I guess the brain is pretty stupid. When you sleep in your home, you know that you'll wake up in the same environment. I thought that would be different in virtual reality, but it feels the same. I was sleeping in a cage, which Sara had built me up in the mountain, so I could look at the sky. It was beautiful. The second night, somehow, the Steam virtual reality had a dropout and Sara had to restart. I was waking up near the sea, and that was irritating. It was like someone had taken me somewhere else. Any headaches, nausea? These are common side effects of exposure to virtual reality. Nope, nothing. I've never had nausea in any of the games. I don't know, maybe I don't get it. I thought I would get red eyes, but nothing. I was prepared—I had medication and stuff like that. I ended up taking nothing. I was just eating bananas and chocolate and chips, things to bring down my nerves. The most challenging thing was all of the noise around me, since I had no noise-canceling headphones. I did it in the Game Science Center, and there were a lot of people passing by, hanging out, chatting. It made me mad. The other installations had their own sound, too, and that repetition made me crazy. I think the next trip, I really want to do with the noise-canceling headphones, so I can focus completely on the world. So, no problems at all. Oh—two days later, I got some spots on my skin. Probably just too much chocolate. You described Sara Vogl, your assistant, as your "VR Shaman." What was that title mean for you? It's tied to the idea of DISCONNECTED—showing what's happening in 2026, ten years later. Everyone has their virtual reality glasses, everyone goes to educate themselves through virtual reality or whatever. But you go to centers if you want to do a real trip. So I was thinking, if you want to do a long trip, you need some control. When you use peyote, you run around with a shaman, and he takes care of you. She delivers the trip to you, and shows you the world, and gives you some hints to help you understand the experience. For me, Sara was something like that, somebody I trusted to jump into this world and experience completely without fear. When I have a bad trip, I need somebody. And actually, I did have a bad trip. In real life, I have panic attacks, once every two years or so. During the performance, I had two panic attacks. The first one I got through on my own, but the second one was after—whatever, 26 hours. My heart was beating too fast. I was very close to taking the glasses off. I was very stressed out, I couldn't get relaxed. But Sara got me through it. The shaman is important. You don't jump in there by yourself. You are now the human who has spent the longest in virtual reality. How long do you think that title will last? I was never thinking of doing a world record. I was doing it for myself. I don't care if someone goes longer—it would be nice to have someone challenging that. What I want to try now is to jump together with Sara into virtual reality. I don't want to do 48 hours—maybe 24 or 12. We can travel through different worlds, completely monitored and completely isolated. Especially when the worlds are so boring, it's very nice when you have someone with you to talk. And maybe you would have more meaningful moments. When you're alone in there, you want to share, but you can't. That's pretty strange.Just last month, Maxine Waters had THIS to say about her pal, John Conyers. Maxine Waters on John Conyers last month https://t.co/ryuensyoSy pic.twitter.com/IaGpk89klf — Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) November 21, 2017 ‘He is quiet, he is confident, he is powerful, but he has impeccable integrity …’ Wow. This tweet aged like a moldy old piece of bologna, didn’t it, Maxine? Hahahahahaha — Immaterial Mike (@michaelbayer1) November 21, 2017 We’re willing to bet Maxine won’t be as amused as the rest of us are. Talk about a horrible judge of character. Way to go, California. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. It happens every time I hear a Maxine Waters comment. — GG2016 (@InDJTWeTrust) November 21, 2017 That’s fairly common. Maxine Waters praised John Conyers just last month for being "supportive" of women https://t.co/98HObsaSjC pic.twitter.com/O7wevqyhdl — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 21, 2017 Supportive. HA HA HA HA HA. What a joke they both are. I hope the men she’s sexually assaulted start stepping up. If there are any. — Mel (@mel1962) November 21, 2017 This is the stuff that nightmares are made of. Just a bunch of political hacks. #DrainTheSwamp — Brooke?? (@BrookeDatz) November 21, 2017 #Evergreen. Related: BAM! Rep. John Conyers outed as serial sexual harasser by BuzzFeed and Mike Cernovich MIC F’ING DROP: Obianuju Ekeocha REKT condescending beta-dude retweeting women onlyAs president of a small Baltic republic that was occupied by the Soviet Union for more than four decades, Estonia’s Toomas Hendrik Ilves is all too familiar with the way Russia has treated its neighbors. For years he’s warned about the revanchist agenda and aggressive behavior of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And now that the world has seen the Kremlin’s reckless, ruthless actions in Ukraine and Crimea, influential leaders in the respectable salons of Washington, Brussels and other European capitals are starting to pay attention. Or, at least, they should be. What’s most threatening about Russia’s behavior, in Ilves’s view, is that “the old rules don’t apply.” But it should not have taken the invasion of Crimea to get that message across. The Helsinki Accords of 1975 were supposed to have established the territorial integrity of European nations, he says, and since Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia it’s been clear that Putin would just ignore them when he saw fit. The sanctions announced thus far by the United States and the European Union aren’t likely to do the job, Ilves told me last weekend on the sidelines of the Brussels Forum, a conference sponsored by the German Marshall Fund. The current measures threaten visa restrictions and asset freezes against Putin’s cronies, but the mood in Moscow is such that most of those on the list see having their names there as “a badge of honor,” says Ilves. So, where should the West focus its attention? Ilves’ eyes light up and he repeats one word: “Banks,” he says. “Banks.” The American sanctions have targeted one financial institution so far, Bank Rossiya, described by the U.S. as “the personal bank for senior officials.” But such measures could go much further. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States developed a complex and stringent system for applying economic sanctions to target terrorist funding. Ilves would like to see the same sort of tools deployed against many of the banks doing business with the Russian government and Putin’s cronies. Ilves also raises the idea of reviewing Europe’s recognition of Russian passports as “trustworthy travel documents.” A key element of Moscow’s game plan in the territories it wants to take is “passportization,” the cynical—not to mention illegal—distribution of Russian passports to citizens of other countries. That’s what it did in the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the run-up to the 2008 War. Earlier this month it did the same thing in Crimea. “If it were some other country that was a passport mill, there would be a reaction to that,” says Ilves. Without getting into specifics, Ilves says EU countries should “review” their entire approach to dealing with Russian passports. “This document is now being thrown all over the place, to everybody, it means nothing, and therefore we have to cease—until we come up with a new policy—recognizing this as a legitimate travel document.” Yet Ilves is worried that his fellow Europeans may not be up to the task. “Robert Kagan was completely off when he said Americans are from Mars, Europeans from Venus,” Ilves said, referring to Kagan’s widely discussed 2003 book, Of Paradise and Power, which postulated that the continent had adopted a post-martial worldview. “Europeans are from Pluto.” Ilves, whose family history straddles both continents, is trying to bridge that gap. Estonia, along with the other Baltic republics of Latvia and Lithuania, has obvious reason to fear Russian designs on its own territory. A quarter of the country’s 1.3 million people are Russian-speakers, and in light of Putin’s declared policy reserving Russia’s unilateral right to “protect” Russians abroad—its pretext for the Crimea operation—some fear that the Baltics may be next. Estonia has had problems integrating its ethnic Russian population, and a 2007 riot over the government’s relocation of a Soviet-era war statue was just the sort of incident that the Kremlin might take advantage of to stir discord (a nationwide cyber attack followed, which the Estonian government blamed on Moscow). Language rights have been a persistent flashpoint, since state employees are required to speak Estonian. Earlier this month, a Russian diplomat delivered a speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva asserting that, “language should not be used to segregate and isolate groups,” and Russia was “concerned by steps taken in this regard in Estonia as well as in Ukraine.” To Baltic ears, that’s an ominous sounding remark. But Ilves doesn’t think Moscow will have much luck on that front. Ethnic Russians in Estonia, Ilves says, live far better, freer lives than Russians living in Russia. “If you want to not have the euro, not get the real rule of law, have free movement of labor to Siberia, and stand in line to get a visa for the EU, I guess that’s an option for somebody, but it’s not really a problem,” he scoffs, with typically wry humor. Tallinn, he boasts, is a favorite destination for liberal Russians seeking escape from their more authoritarian society. Ilves himself is something of a poster-boy for Estonia as a modern, cosmopolitan European country with global connections, and he’s easy to pick out in a crowd, since he’s usually seen at public events sporting a bow tie. Born in Sweden to Estonian refugees, he was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Columbia University. He earned his stripes as a Cold Warrior when he was the head of the Estonia desk at Radio Free Europe. After Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, he became Estonia’s ambassador to the United States, and thereafter launched a career in Estonian politics. Active and popular on Twitter, he embodies his country’s reputation for being tech-savvy. Indeed, in 2012, Ilves got into a high profile, rough-and-tumble Twitter spat with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who mocked Estonia’s austerity measures, which the country had undertaken in response to the worldwide financial crisis. “Let’s write about something we know nothing about & be smug, overbearing & patronizing: after all, they’re just wogs,” Ilves began, unleashing a string of biting and witty responses. Estonia may be small, but it’s proud and has ambitions in the global economy. It is one of only four NATO members which actually spends 2 per cent or more of its GDP on defense, the minimum suggested by the military alliance. Estonia, the land where Skype was invented, produces more tech start-ups per capita than any other country in Europe. The hashtag #estonianmafia is playfully used to characterize the disproportionate presence of Estonians in the world of high-tech. Estonia also has diversified its energy supply so as to become less dependent on Russia, thus serving as a model for the rest of Europe. While Estonia receives 100 percent of its natural gas from Russia, this accounts for less than 15 percent of the country’s total energy use. For years, Ilves has been one of the loudest voices warning the West to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow. When U.S. Vice President Joe Biden President Ilves in Warsaw last week in a show of support for Eastern European countries feeling threatened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ilves urged him to seek changes to a U.S. law limiting gas exports to the continent
FBI investigation in the near-term, as Pitino was one of the best coaches in college basketball, winning two national championships and making seven Final Four appearances. Bowen would have also added perimeter scoring punch, with the ability to get points at all three levels. Acting coach David Padgett still has plenty of talent on hand, but the distractions might be too much for a Final Four appearance. Aug. 14 was Marvin Bagley III's decision to reclassify to 2017 and attend Duke over USC and UCLA. Bagley had been the No. 1 prospect in the 2018 class, and his decision immediately vaulted the Blue Devils to the top of the rankings. He's that good, perhaps the best prospect to come out of high school since Anthony Davis in 2011. Bagley takes Duke to another level compared to everyone else in the nation. Their ceiling is simply higher, with four of the 10 best incoming freshmen and last season's preseason player of the year making up the starting five. They're not without issues, though, as we essentially said the same things last season -- when the Blue Devils had a drama-filled, roller-coaster season that ended with a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament. Arizona and Michigan State can make great cases to be preseason No. 1. Sean Miller and the Wildcats possess nearly as much talent as Duke and have more experience at key positions, while their defense will likely be more consistent. Michigan State has the Tom Izzo factor, an elite player in Miles Bridges and options at every position. But preseason rankings should come down to talent and ceiling -- and Duke has the highest one in college basketball. 1. Duke Blue Devils If everything comes together, Duke has the most talent in the country. There are a couple of things to watch in the early part of the season: How Grayson Allen develops into his role as a leader on a team with mostly freshmen, and whether Trevon Duval is able to keep all the scoring options happy on the offensive end. 2. Arizona Wildcats Rawle Alkins' injury (broken bone in his foot) will hurt the Wildcats in the nonconference portion of the season, but Miller has more than enough weapons to fill the void. The biggest knock on Miller has been his lack of a Final Four, but with the depth and talent on his roster this season, 2017-18 should be when he gets over the hump. 3. Michigan State Spartans The Spartans are deep and experienced, they have Izzo, and they bring back perhaps the nation's best returning player in sophomore forward Bridges. Turnovers were a major issue for Michigan State last season, though, and Cassius Winston and Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn are back at point guard. 4. Kansas Jayhawks It's not easy to lose the Wooden Award winner and remain in the top five, but Bill Self brings back enough talent to do that without Frank Mason. Devonte' Graham leads a versatile perimeter group, and former top-10 recruit Malik Newman is eligible after transferring from Mississippi State. The development of Udoka Azubuike will be key. 5. Wichita State Shockers The Shockers might struggle in the early going without Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie, who each suffered injuries in the summer and could miss the start of the season. Gregg Marshall brings everyone back from a 31-win team, and there will be no bubble talk this season with the move to the American Athletic Conference. 6. USC Trojans This might seem high for USC basketball, but Andy Enfield has as much talent as anyone in the country. All five starters return from last season, plus the Trojans welcome Duke transfer Derryck Thornton Jr. and McDonald's All American Charles O'Bannon Jr. They need Bennie Boatwright, who missed 17 games last season, to stay on the floor. 7. Kentucky Wildcats John Calipari is used to having young teams, but this season is extreme, even for him. Of the top 10 guys on the roster, eight have never played a college game. The leading returning scorer, Wenyen Gabriel, averaged just 4.6 points last season. There will be growing pains, but Kentucky is again the SEC favorite. 8. Villanova Wildcats It's a new day for Jay Wright and the Wildcats, with veterans Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds all moving on. The show never stops, with the next batch of stars ready to take their place. Jalen Brunson is still running point, while Donte DiVincenzo came on strong last season. Big man Omari Spellman gives the Wildcats a different look. 9. Cincinnati Bearcats Scoring won't be a problem for the notoriously defensive-minded Bearcats, as three double-digit scorers return in the frontcourt and Jarron Cumberland slots in the backcourt. The key will be Sacred Heart transfer Cane Broome, who averaged 23.1 points as a sophomore but will need to be the point guard for Cincinnati. 10. Minnesota Golden Gophers Richard Pitino went from the hot seat to a 5-seed in the NCAA tournament last season, and all five starters are back from that group. Nate Mason and Jordan Murphy lead the way among the veterans, but the arrival of ESPN 100 point guard Isaiah Washington has people excited. The New York native will bring swagger to the Gophers. 11. Miami Hurricanes Perhaps Duke's biggest competition in the ACC, the Hurricanes will have one of the nation's best backcourts in Ja'Quan Newton, Bruce Brown Jr. and incoming five-star Lonnie Walker IV. Walker had knee surgery in July, but should be ready for the season. Miami was just 4-11 against top-50 teams last season; that needs to change. 12. Florida Gators One of the elite defensive outfits last season, the Gators lose four key members of that Elite Eight team, and it might take Mike White some time to get everyone to buy in at that end of the floor again. Fortunately, Chris Chiozza and KeVaughn Allen return, and transfers Jalen Hudson (Virginia Tech) and Egor Koulechov (Rice) will help. 13. West Virginia Mountaineers Bob Huggins will look to "Press Virginia" opponents into oblivion again this season after finishing in the top-two nationally in defensive turnover rate each of the past three seasons. Where will the half-court offense come from? Jevon Carter will lead the way, but the loss of Esa Ahmad for the first half of the season hurts. 14. Xavier Musketeers The Musketeers are hoping the momentum of March's Elite Eight run will carry over to this season, especially potential All-American Trevon Bluiett, who averaged 20.4 points in the Big East and NCAA tournaments. Xavier also has an impressive incoming crop of players, led by freshman Paul Scruggs and Green Bay transfer Kerem Kanter. 15. Seton Hall Pirates When the Pirates' trio of Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez and Angel Delgado announced they were returning to school instead of going to the NBA draft, Kevin Willard knew he had a top-25 team on his hands. Those three combined to score 48.2 points -- and Delgado, one of the nation's best big men, added 13.1 rebounds. 16. North Carolina Tar Heels Three starters and five rotation members are gone from last season's national champions, but Roy Williams will look to prevent a huge drop-off. Joel Berry II is still running the point (eventually, since he is now out four weeks with a broken hand), and Elite Eight hero Luke Maye will have a bigger role. Beating out Kentucky and Arizona for Pittsburgh transfer Cameron Johnson was key. 17. Louisville Cardinals The Cardinals would have been several spots higher, but the FBI investigation that led to the placement of Pitino on unpaid administrative leave and potential ineligibility of Bowen throws everything into question. On the court, Quentin Snider and Deng Adel are back, and there's a long list of potential performers. 18. Northwestern Wildcats The streak is finally over. Making its first NCAA tournament appearance in program history last season, the Wildcats are now looking for more. Bryant McIntosh and Scottie Lindsey form one of the Big Ten's best backcourts, and the return of Aaron Falzon from injury should help with perimeter shooting -- one of Northwestern's weaknesses. 19. Saint Mary's Gaels Randy Bennett has led the Gaels to a top-two West Coast Conference finish in 12 of the past 14 seasons -- with only one outright regular-season title to show for it. A second could be coming this season. Big man Jock Landale is a dominant option inside, and Emmett Naar leads a plethora of high-level perimeter shooters. 20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish You can be fairly certain Mike Brey will have a superefficient offense that can spread the floor and make shots -- and everyone in the program will improve year over year. All-American forward Bonzie Colson and point guard Matt Farrell are entering their senior seasons and will look to go out on a high note. 21. UCLA Bruins The Lonzo Ball era is in the history books now, and besides Ball, three other starters and shot-blocker Ike Anigbogu are also gone. Where does Steve Alford turn now? McDonald's All American Jaylen Hands and Aaron Holiday will have the ball in their hands, but he'll need Thomas Welsh to become a more consistent option. 22. Gonzaga Bulldogs The Zags had the lead with 2:25 left in the national title game but came up short, and now Mark Few has a reloading job on his hands. Nigel Williams-Goss, Zach Collins, Jordan Mathews and Przemek Karnowski are all gone, but starters Josh Perkins and Johnathan Williams are back. Keep an eye on international forwards Rui Hachimura and Killian Tillie. 23. Providence Friars Despite losing Kris Dunn after the 2015-16 season, Ed Cooley managed to lead the Friars to a fourth straight NCAA appearance last season. All five starters are back from that group, led by matchup problem Rodney Bullock. Providence also brings in top-40 recruit Makai Ashton-Langford, one of the best point guards in the 2017 class. 24. TCU Horned Frogs The last time we saw the Horned Frogs, they beat Georgia Tech by 32 to win the NIT championship. With all five starters returning from that team, Jamie Dixon has high hopes for this season. There should also be improved depth, with the addition of talented freshmen R.J. Nembhard and Kevin Samuel. 25. Texas A&M Aggies Talentwise, the Aggies deserve to be much higher in the preseason rankings. Robert Williams is a lottery pick, Tyler Davis is one of the best bigs in the country, and Admon Gilder and DJ Hogg are also back. A&M went just 16-15 last season with most of the same pieces. Improved point guard play is needed for this team to reach its potential.SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A former assistant principal at a Kearny Mesa school for troubled children was ordered today to stand trial on 13 felony charges for allegedly carrying on a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student over several months. Kettrell Berry, 49, faces more than 11 years in prison if convicted. After a daylong preliminary hearing, Judge Frederic Link ruled that enough evidence was presented for Berry to proceed to trial on charges of rape with a foreign object, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd act on a child and oral copulation of a person under 18. A Superior Court arraignment was scheduled for Sept. 6. The alleged victim, identified in court as Elizabeth, testified that she established a bond with the defendant soon after arriving at the San Diego Center for Children last December. She said Berry would counsel her, meet her after school and listen to her problems. The girl said she and Berry began hugging at the end of meetings and the relationship turned sexual. Prosecutor Renee Palermo asked the girl why she confided in Berry. "He was straight-up," the teen testified. "He wouldn't sugar-coat things. He would tell it like it is." During one hug in the corner of a room, Berry ran his hands down her back and caressed her buttocks, the girl testified. She said she started to develop feelings for the defendant and the two kissed after another hug. On another occasion, the girl said Berry touched her chest from behind and said, "If we start this, we can't go back." The girl said Berry asked her to be his girlfriend, and she eventually said yes. She said they had sex in a utility closet in his office in March, saying she wasn't worried about getting pregnant because Berry told her he had undergone a vasectomy. Another time, Elizabeth said Berry came to her room on campus, offering to help her with math, and the two went to a classroom where they had sex. Berry thought he heard someone coming and gave her a book to make it look like she was studying, she testified. On April 12, the teen said Berry shut the door to an art room and they had sex again. "He said, 'You're my woman. You understand that?"' she testified, saying she answered yes A staff member noticed Berry and the girl go into the unlit room and reported the incident. Berry was fired after working at the school for nine years. Elizabeth told a therapist of the alleged ongoing sexual relationship and has since left the school. Berry's attorney, James Pokorny, told the judge that the teen "despises" his client and would do anything to punish him for what happened. The defendant remains free on $150,000 bail and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.In my time, I have had many adventures. You should take time to make your own each weekend. Thursday 6pm. Bike ‘n’ Dine Norfolk will take you through the Elizabeth River Trail just north of Torch Bistro, near Smartmouth Beer. Supper together after! 6-9pm: Cure Coffeehouse and Brasserie is hosting a Smartmouth pint night and folk jam. For those of you into music, you can bring a guitar and join in. It isn’t Archeology, but I suppose it has its merits. 6-10pm: There is a FREE Exhibition Opening of Tseng Kwong Chi Performing for the Camera at the Chrysler Museum of Art. While there will be a cash bar, gallery talks, and more, I am concerned that they won’t have enough tapestries. 7:30pm: The Symphony By the Sea will present The Magical Music of Disney with Benjamin Rous conducting at the 31st Stage Oceanfront. Friday 3-9pm: I prefer something a little harder at the end of my work week, but you can certainly head over to O’Connor Brewing Company for the Endless Saison Beer Release. 6-9:30pm: Here Bill Deal’s Original Rhondels at the Ocean View Beach Park. 7-10pm: Mount Trashmore Park presents Summer Movie Nights: Despicable Me 2. 8pm: Some sad sack named Figaro got married and there is a story about it. See The Marriage of Figaro in Norfolk Friday through Sunday. It is always better to see someone else walk the path to destruction than making the journey yourself. To find out more about it, refer to this. 9pm: As a Professor, I highly recommend watching any documentaries. This Friday, you can join AltDaily and watch one of four documentaries about my life: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. See my adventures with my little buddy, Short Round, and forgive my choice in bedding Willie (I was lonely). The Chemistry Department has come on board for this one and will be offering O’Connor’s beer concoctions. Saturday Saturday–Sunday: Join the 45th Annual Seawall Art Show in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Saturday – Sunday: Langley Speedway hosts the Second Annual Virginia BBQ Championships. This will certainly be better than chilled monkey brains. This competition is a part of the larger festival, the 2015 Southern Fried Festival. Why do you southerners have to fry everything? I’ve studied ancient cultures that make more sense than this. Saturday–Sunday: The Book Exchange in Norfolk is having a Charity Book Sale. The books are at a good price, and reading is fundamental. If any of you find my Dad’s journal, contact me for a nice sum. Marcus left it somewhere again. 9:30am-5pm: The August Psychic Fair will be in Virginia Beach this weekend. You may not believe in this, but let me tell you: I’ve seen many unbelievable things in my lifetime. Aliens? Real. Religious boxes with magical power? Exists. Mystical glowing stones? Actually important. Monogamous relationships? Still unsure. 11am-4pm: For those of you with kids, you should take them to the School of Rock Virginia Beach Grand Opening. I missed the early years with my son, but I’d like to think I would have stopped my travels long enough to take him to something like this (takes long drink of whiskey). 5-10pm: A fascinating cultural event to witness, the 15th Annual Latino Music Festival will be in Town Point Park. My archeological senses are tingling. 6pm: Roosterfoot is at the Hampton Block Party with Planet of the Abts and Anthony Rosano. 6-8pm: Enjoy the evening at The Virginia Zoo at Zoo Grooves with Nature’s Child. 7pm: Pancho N Luigi’s hosts the Samaritan House Fundraiser Showcase featuring Riggs & Lane, Turncoat, Syndicate, Stonewise, The Cemetary Boys, Jeremy Harrell and Leah Hart. 7pm: Women sure have changed since my prime. This Saturday, some woman named Miranda Sings is performing at Chrysler Hall. They say she sings, makes jokes, does magic tricks, and more. I may have to meet this lady. 8pm: Enjoy the comedy prowess of Teacher’s Pet at the Push Comedy Theater. Sunday 2pm: History is very important. At times this knowledge can save your life! Learn what gardens have to do with cemeteries at the Norfolk’s Cemeteries and the Garden Movement. 7-9pm: The Top Hats will entertain the masses at Big Bands on the Bay in Ocean View Beach Park. If you would like your event included in the Reasons, e-mail the information with the date of the event in the subject line to [email protected], Afghanistan (Reuters) - Unidentified militants shot and killed nine Afghan employees of a Czech-backed aid group, People in Need, in an attack early on Tuesday in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province, government officials said. Aid workers have faced increasing attacks in Afghanistan as foreign troops have withdrawn and security has deteriorated, making the country one of the most dangerous for aid groups. Government officials blamed the Taliban for Tuesday’s attack, about 50 miles (80 km) south of the provincial capital. “They shot dead nine people, including a woman,” said Mohammad Daud Naemi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Five employees, two drivers and two guards were killed in the attack that started shortly after 1 a.m., he added. In a statement, People in Need said its staff had worked in the area since 2002, and it was suspending all operations in Afghanistan. The office of the provincial governor also blamed the Taliban and said it was investigating the incident. The Taliban said it was looking into the details of the attack and could not immediately comment. The militant Islamist group has been fighting to topple the internationally backed government after being ousted from power by a U.S. led invasion in 2001. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy was attacked by militants and rescued by police, the interior ministry said in a statement. “Six terrorists were killed and one terrorist, who was wounded, has been detained,” the ministry said, adding that a car and weapons, including a rocket launcher and two AK-47 assault rifles, had also been seized. None of the convoy drivers were harmed in the incident, WFP spokesman Wahidullah Amani said in the capital, Kabul. As many as 57 aid workers were killed last year, the United Nations says. Most have been Afghan staff members, who work in the field and face a greater risk of kidnappings and killing. In April, 19 Afghan de-miners were freed two days after being abducted by militants while doing a survey in the eastern region. They were luckier than five aid workers of Save the Children, who were abducted in March, and found dead more than a month later in central Uruzgan province.Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said on Monday that President Obama’s administration is “the most anti-Christian in American history,” according to The Iowa Statesman. Huckabee was upset over Obama inviting transgender activists and the first openly gay Episcopal bishop to the welcoming ceremony for the pope at the White House. The Vatican criticized the invitations and said that photographs of the pope and these individuals might suggest approval of their decisions, according to the Wall Street Journal. Huckabee called Obama’s decision a “politicized cattle call” in his statement. “President Obama’s classless decision to transform Pope Francis’ visit to the White House into a politicized cattle call for gay and pro-abortion activists is an insult to millions of Catholics,” according to the statement. “Why is it that Obama goes to extremes to accommodate Muslim terrorists but shows nothing but disdain for Christians? This is a new low for an administration that will go down as the most anti-Christian in American history.”4,000 acres burned, 0 deaths, 0 homes lost... 1 giant bullet dodged Photo: Cindeka Nealy Photo: Cindeka Nealy Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 4,000 acres burned, 0 deaths, 0 homes lost... 1 giant bullet dodged 1 / 1 Back to Gallery The grassfire that began in West Midland County and consumed more than 4,000 acres was contained late Tuesday, but firefighters continued to combat hot spots into the night. The blaze forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and businesses on the western outskirts of town Tuesday afternoon as the fire spread at breakneck speeds from the initial ignition point, Farm-to-Market 1788 and Highway 191. Despite the fire’s severity, only a shed was destroyed and no one was seriously injured in what firefighters are calling the “CEED” fire. The fire was reportedly started by a cigarette thrown from a vehicle around 2:50 p.m. at the intersection near the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. Because the PAC was still under construction, there was a natural firebreak between the dry kindling and the building. There was no damage to the building, University of Texas of the Permian Basin President David Watts told the Reporter-Telegram while watching the blaze shortly after it began. “The building is in great shape,” he added as he stared into the distance watching the fire race toward town. “But when I heard fire, near the arts center, of course I was worried.” Less than an hour after the fire ignited, the blaze had circumvented the PAC and moved about six miles east toward Midland. All along Highway 191 a thick wall of smoke and fire could be seen to the south. Midland police, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Midland County deputies and Border Patrol agents closed down several sections of Highway 191 and Loop 250 shortly after 3:30 p.m. because of the severity of the smoke. The visibility at some portions of the highway and nearby neighborhoods was barely 30 feet. The sustained 30 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph and the persistent dry conditions in the fields are what were responsible for how fast the fire moved, Fire Marshal Jeff Meiner told the Reporter-Telegram while blocking access to Highway 191’s south service road. Two air tankers, roughly the size of a D7, helped to combat the extensive blazes because high winds prevented helicopter assistance, said Richard Reuse, a public information officer with the emergency management task force assigned to Midland County. As the fire raced closer to the residential areas east of Loop 250, city officials issued evacuation warnings between FM 1788 and Midland Drive, and Ric Drive and Anetta Drive. The massive city evacuation square was chaotic Tuesday shortly before 5 p.m. Police were frantically running door-to-door, some in gas masks, in the thick clouds of smoke alerting residents to the potential danger and voluntary evacuation. The odor and sight of smoke was strong, as windy gusts blew dirt and ash into the evacuation zone. All throughout the area, hundreds of residents could be seen packing their valuables and belongings into their vehicles. Anna Adair, of the 300 block of South Bentwood Drive, was frantically packing her car after a Midland County deputy told her about the evacuations. “I’m getting everything I can... dogs and all,” she said. Some, like N.J. Rountree and her boyfriend Art Franklin, watered down the eves of her daughter’s house and yard, trying to prevent a fire from setting the residence ablaze. Rountree said her daughter and her three grandchildren had already evacuated. Her daughter’s husband was grabbing photos and other valuables, Rountree said, in case the worst case scenario happened. The fires never moved into the residential neighborhoods. On some streets the visibility was so low and wind so loud, evacuees could barely hear or see emergency vehicles a block away. Traffic was at a near standstill in the evacuation zones as police directed traffic and allowed emergency vehicles to enter the blocked-off perimeter. There were several traffic accidents, some of which affected powerlines, one involved a man who was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital after a one-car accident into a powerline in the traffic and smoke-heavy areas of Thomason Drive and Raymond Road. It took firefighters 14 units from multiple agencies, including the Greenwood and the Northeast volunteer fire departments, among others to gain control of the blaze. City officials lifted the evacuation and reopened closed roads at about 7:20 p.m. Fire officials said they would have a more accurate number of the amount of acres consumed after another aerial surveillance mission today. James Cannon can be reached at [email protected] anyone who's been paying attention, AT&T knows that the future of TV lies beyond the cable box and satellite dish. To make sure it keeps up, the company said today that it will begin letting you buy and watch cable TV on whatever screen you want with nothing more than an Internet connection. “These new video subscription models reflect the flexible content choices, viewing options and simple, transparent pricing that consumers want,” John Stankey, CEO of the AT&T Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “These offers will provide a broad range of customers with greater freedom and choice to watch, binge, and even buy premium content, regardless of how and where they enjoy their entertainment." AT&T may be taking a major step towards a future where TV moves beyond TV—not only for consumers but for the television business itself. This is a pretty big deal. To watch live TV, you've long had to either have an antenna to pick up local channels or pay hefty fees to get a wider slate of premium channels via a cable box or satellite dish. Sure, some events stream online, but live TV (and some on-demand shows) have largely remained the domain of traditional cable. AT&T is now looking to offer some content to you without an annual contract, satellite dish, or set-top box. The company says you'll be able to buy the service even if you don't have AT&T as your Internet or cell phone provider and even if AT&T-owned DirecTV isn't offered in your area. While the company hasn't said what channels or content it will be providing, it has announced three different services: DirecTV Now, DirecTV Mobile, and DirecTV Preview. The company says that DirecTV Now, the most costly option, will allow you to watch much of what's available from DirecTV. DirecTV Mobile will be a slightly slimmer, more affordable option for those who want a mobile-first experience. DirecTV Preview will be a free, ad-supported service with the fewest options and "made-for-digital content" exclusive to DirecTV. TV Beyond TV These new streaming options have long been in the works, AT&T spokesman Fletcher Cook says, and streaming to all kinds of mobile devices was on executives' minds when AT&T acquired DirecTV last year. DirecTV currently offers hundreds of channels, including HBO, Showtime, and, exclusively the NFL Sunday Ticket package. While Cook did not elaborate on what channels will be included, he says the company has been in active talks with many different programmers. And deals with the networks themselves will be crucial. If DirecTV Now offers no more than what so-called cord-cutters or cord-nevers can already get online, the service likely won't attract whole flocks of new cable TV subscribers. But if it can offer an affordable service to those who want to get TV over the Internet (perhaps in a way similar to Dish's Sling TV), AT&T may be taking a major step towards a future where TV moves beyond, well, TV—not only for consumers but for the television business itself.Google confirmed today that it plans to buy digital video compression outfit On2 Technologies in an all-stock agreement, valued at $106.5m. Mountain View said On2 shareholders will be handed 60 cents worth of Google class A common shares for each outstanding share they hold in the company. Clifton Park, New Jersey-based On2 employs around 60 staff. It started life as the Duck Corporation in 1992. On2's VP6 codec is licensed by Adobe, for its Flash Player and Flash Lite 3 for mobile phones. Other major customers include AOL, Freescale, Nokia and Sun Microsystems. "Today video is an essential part of the Web experience, and we believe high-quality video compression technology should be a part of the Web platform," said Google product management veep Sundar Pichai. "We are committed to innovation in video quality on the web, and we believe that On2's team and technology will help us further that goal." Google, which owns video sharing website YouTube, said the proposed acquisition was expected to close in the final quarter of this year. ®Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) stretches prior to a game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 in Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo: David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com, David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com) Suns power forward Markieff Morris feels like he has been asked the question 20 times. He probably is right. On the eve of the NBA trade deadline, it seems more apropos than ever to wonder whether Morris wants to be traded from Phoenix, as he did during the offseason. “That’s not a question, really,” Morris said Wednesday night when the Suns resumed practice in the first team gathering since a Feb. 10 loss to Golden State. Morris said he hopes to stay with the Suns, a 14-40 team mired in a 2-24 freefall. He is experiencing having his name rumored in trade deadline talks for the first time in his five-year career. The trade deadline is 1 p.m. (Phoenix time) Thursday. UPDATE:Markieff Morris traded to Wizards “Happy where I am now and we’ll see what happens,” Morris said. “It’s a part of the game. I’ve learned that this past two years. A lot of stuff is going to happen that’s not in my control. All I can do is wait to see if I’m here. If I’m not, I had a couple great years here and I loved it. If I am, keep on moving forward and get better.” Morris said he spent the All-Star break in Las Vegas, working out with his twin brother, Marcus, at Impact Basketball to stay sharp during a respite that was extended to a week this year. He left the Valley but could not escape the specter of a potential trade. “Just weighing on my shoulders,” Morris said. “Happy when it’s over.” It also was difficult to leave behind what happened in the last Suns game, when he and close friend and teammate Archie Goodwin argued and shoved each other during a time out. Unlike his suspension-drawing towel toss at former coach Jeff Hornacek in December, the video for this misstep was widely available and replayed several times nationally. “It was my mistake,” Morris said. “He (Goodwin) is like my little brother. We don’t hold grudges against each other and we move on. You know what it was and we move on. “Being as though Archie is like my little brother, I felt more bad about it once I seen it. Because I know how I am. With a little guy once I get mad, it’s like I turn into the Hulk. It’s one of those things with my little brother, so it was a tough thing to actually see me act like that toward somebody that I’ve got a lot of love for.” Suns interim head coach Earl Watson is not one to dwell in negativity or the past. The issue was not directly addressed Wednesday night but his message to the team for the final 28 games related to what happened. “We’re staying together and progressing,” Watson said. “We understand things that are acceptable and unacceptable. We understand the accountability of leadership roles. We like the passion. We like what we’re doing. We’re going to continue to build. “The main thing is we want our young guys and our older guys to continue to mature because maturity never stops. That’s a part of the process. The basketball will take care of itself. The main thing is we want to be unselfish on the court and play together as a team.” RELATED: Download the Suns XTRA app iOS \|\| Android Price returns to practice The Suns might not be without a point guard any longer. Ronnie Price scrimmaged at Wednesday’s practice for the first time since he underwent toe surgery and could play Friday for the first time since Jan. 6. “I’ve been itching to play,” Price said. “The guys probably thought I was crazy today. It was like a game to me but that’s the only way I know how to play.” Watson said Price resumed his usual ways in practice, pressuring ball-handlers in the backcourt, turning dribblers and diving for loose balls. He went through all but the last half-hour of Wednesday night’s two-hour practice. Watson, a former 13-year point guard who retired in 2014, joked that he had been looking into Bill Russell’s player-coach tenure but help is on the way with Price's prospects for Friday looking promising and Brandon Knight doing individual shooting and workouts Wednesday. There is no timetable on Knight’s return. “He’s moving better,” Watson said. “He’s progressing. The main thing with him will be to bring him along slowly in steps.” RELATED: Suns hopeful for Brandon Knight return soon McRae stays Jordan McRae signed his second 10-day contract with the Suns on Feb. 8 but he can remain with the team through Friday’s game because the deal must include three games. After Friday’s game, the Suns would have to sign McRae, a combo guard, for the remainder of the season in order to keep him. Shooting guard Orlando Johnson’s first 10-day contract expired because he was on the roster for three Suns games, although he only played in two. He could get a second 10-day contract, depending on the Suns roster situation after Thursday’s trade deadline. Reach Paul Coro at [email protected] or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at www.twitter.com/paulcoro.Overview (4) Born December 26, 1990 in Los Angeles, California, USA Birth Name Weston Coppola Cage Nickname Wes Cage Height 6' 1" (1.85 m) Mini Bio (1) Weston Cage Coppola was born on December 26, 1990 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Weston Coppola Cage. He is an actor, known for Drive Angry (2011), Joe (2013) and Lord of War (2005). He has been married to Hila Aronian since April 28, 2018. He was previously married to Danielle Cage and Nikki Williams. Spouse (3) Trivia (10) Son of Nicolas Cage, one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood, and Christina Fulton Lead vocalist for the black metal band Eyes Of Noctum. The band has since broken up. (June 2011). Is estranged from his mother Christina Fulton Engaged to his manager Danielle Dawn Friedman (June 2013). His wife, Danielle, gave birth to their first child, a son Lucian Augustus Coppola Cage at 3:14 p.m. [July 1, 2014].BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle admits tomorrow’s crunch clash with fellow strugglers Rotherham United is a must win for his side. Coyle’s basement boys welcome the fifth-from-bottom Millers to Ewood Park after making the club’s worst start to a league season in 20 years. MORE TOP STORIES: '£1.2m on fresh air' - anger over cinema and public space spending Rovers outline the reasons for Preston kick off time Future of 2BR's Lancashire output in doubt 50 jobs saved as Salmesbury Hotel taken on by spa hotel group Mercure Rovers have lost five and drawn two of their first seven games of the Championship campaign. And while their manager insists they have improved since going down to defeat in their opening three matches he knows that matters little. Coyle said: “Like any game in the Championship you want to win the game – and it’s come to the stage now when we must start getting those wins on board. There’s no getting away from it. “We think we’ve performed to a decent level, knowing there’s more to come from us the more we work together, but if we look back at the last four games, Burton and Fulham at home, and QPR and Leeds away, we should probably be unbeaten and maybe sitting with six or seven points. “As it is we’re not so we’ve got to understand those margins are very fine in attaining the points to go with the performance. “Saturday is all about winning those three points and getting us up and running – and when we do that the Championship has shown you can go and win games back to back. “But the key is always winning that first one and getting that monkey off your back. “The first two performances of the season were terrible, dreadful, and then we had the Cardiff game with the own goals and everything that happened. “But if you take those three games out of the equation, the last four performances in the league have been of a decent standard and should have resulted in more points
the following specs. CPU: Intel Core i7 7500U RAM: 16GB DDR4 GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620/Nvidia GeForce 940MX. SSD: 512 GB OEM NVMe SSD. The installation process was simple and straightforward too. However, keep in mind that you might have to look a bit further for the proper tutorials to be available, because I did not find the tutorial on the website that I would normally use for such results. Once the Hackintosh is up and running, everything from that point is a smooth affair. However, there are some features that are not working at all. You can check them out below: The dedicated graphics card is not working. Touch screen. WIFi (can be fixed by changing the chip) Considering how you won’t be playing any games on a Mac, it is okay for the dedicated graphics card to not work, because the Intel HD 620 does a fine job at driving the visuals of the OS. The touch screen for many people remains a gimmick, and should not bother many people regarding the lack of support. Other than that, I would conclude this review by saying that the Lenovo Yoga 710 is among the best laptop that can run Hackintosh; it is a 2-in-1, making it one of the most portable laptops in the market, whether you are using it as a Windows device, or a Hackitosh, it is going to serve you well regardless. Pros Decent specs. Good performance. Easy to install Hackintosh on it. Slim and sleek design. Good battery life. Extremely portable. Cons Some of the features like touch screen are not working, and are necessary for majority of people. Hackintosh Installation Guide MAC OSX HIGH Sierra 9. Dell Inspiron 15 7559 – View on Amazon Dell’s Inspiron series has become quite famous over the years, and can be called Dells entry to the high end market, although these laptops don’t look fancy, they come with the satisfactory high end build quality of Dell laptops, along with some of the best specs in the market. The laptop in question today is the Dell Inspiron 15 7559, and while this laptop looks pretty simple from the looks of it, don’t be fooled by this subtle beast as it happens to be one of the most powerful laptops available in the market, as a matter of fact, it happens to be more powerful than a Macbook itself, and that is saying something. With that said, you should be glad to know that the OS X works really, really well on this laptop, and the only feature that doesn’t seem to work is the card reader. Still, you have to make some changes, and we will discuss them below. For now, let’s take a look at the specs. Intel i7-6700HQ with Intel HD 530 8GB DDR3L (can easily be upgraded to 16GB) 1TB HDD (Used for OS) 15,6” IPS display 1920×1080 Nvidia GTX 960M 4GB Realtek ALC256 Now that you are aware of the some of the specific things; for starters, the GTX 960M will be disabled in the OS X, and while some people feel weird by that, it’s not really necessary in the first place. In addition to that, you will need to replace the built-in Intel WiFi adapter with a BCM94352Z, and don’t worry, it works perfectly fine along with Bluetooth, WiFi, as well as all the OS X features. Now the good thing is that apart from these, the installation method is pretty straightforward, everything you need is listed in the tutorials that are available on the internet, along with the patches as well. The good thing is that all the major features including the Facetime are working with this laptop, and you can even go ahead and install the latest version of OS X. Again, although the tutorial is super easy, you should keep in mind that it’s a bit lengthy, and can be overwhelming. We’d suggest you reading out everything first before proceeding in order to have a better understanding. Pros Although the major features are working just fine. Has an overclockable processor. Easy upgradability. Good specs. Cons SD slot is not working. Hackintosh Installation Guide More Hackintosh Related Articles? Motherboards, Graphics Cards, Wireless Card Need More Blazing Reviews? Check out theseWhile never the most popular work among latter-day Shakespeare adapters, Coriolanus has rested as the sinister soldier in the background, bursting forth when needed. In Hitler's Germany, the play served as educational propaganda preaching military bravery and heroism in the face of questionable democracy. Post-war, it became the tool for Brecht to write about Marxism. By the late '80s, it helped presage the rise of leather-clad Tarantino tough men: Papp's festival saw Christopher Walken as Coriolanus strutting across the stage in a black t-shirt and long leather jacket. Today, Fiennes naturally frames the title character as the modern military hero who cannot deal with a government that pays mind to civilian protestors and commoners. As Manohla Dargis puts it, "the rule of the mob, the political hypocrisies, and the grinding of war's engine transcend any age." But the magic of Coriolanus is that Fiennes understands Coriolanus as both a military hero and a problematic figure of masculinity. Coriolanus is a fractured icon—the result of a mother fiercely passionate about military honor—so focused on his duty that he has no tact, warmth, or ability to function outside of combat. His machismo makes him a machine, a Shakespearian Terminator going to battle with no concern for societal norms. Shakespeare's creation here smoothly fits in with the modern world and its many crises—about war, about men and women, about governments and people. As Fiennes's Coriolanus shows, the key to making modernizations of Shakespeare successful is finding the right balance between reverence for the original text and attention to its present-day implications. Ian McKellan's spin on the bard's iconic villain in Richard III, for example, thrived because it mixed reality and fiction to solve the problem of explaining English royalty's complicated lineage to a 1995 audience. By framing England as a fascist state in 1930s Europe, Richard's rise to power is contextualized within a recognizable era. Our knowledge of Hitler, Mussolini, and WWII become gateways into England's messy aristocratic past. The film is also evocative and more than slightly campy. McKellan's eyes gleam as he plays Richard and talks to the camera, allowing the bloody quest to be equal parts political history and tantalizing, deadly mischievousness. The actor recognizes the subtle moments of wit within the dense, historical text. This unabashed quality, which Fiennes works into a testosterone-fueled lather and which spurs McKellan to pick out Shakespeare's pulp, is never stronger than in Julie Taymor's gore-riddled Titus. Tapping into a 16th century obsession with bloody revenge plays—not all that different from today's horror films—Shakespeare had crafted a story rife with sex, murder, and sick vengeance. The Tony-winning Taymor delights in the over-the-top theatrics of the text and runs wild with opulent imagery in a surreal setting that makes use of objects from different decades and centuries. This is apt because the timelessness of Titus Andronicus is more about how it takes advantage of the weaknesses and desires of its audience than about any character's quest. The allure of sex, secrets, and revenge drives the play; it's about an escalation that heads into ridiculousness, from Lavinia's torture to Titus's very Hannibal-Lecter-esque finale (it's certainly no mistake that Anthony Hopkins himself plays Titus).Deranged and Dangerous: Democrats Try to Steal Election by Threatening Electors RUSH: So today is Electoral College day. However, folks, we may not know the exact count today. The tradition here with the Electoral College is that they all gather today in their state capitols. In some states deranged lunatic leftists have actually surrounded statehouses in an attempt to prevent the electors from arriving and casting their ballots. We may not know the actual count. They don’t do it all at the same time. I don’t know what the procedures are, but there is not a requirement that all the electors show up at their state capitols at the identical hour and cast their votes at the same time. And it’s also likely that we might not get a full tally by then. We could. But it’s a formality. And it’s a fact the election will not actually be official until January when the next Congress certifies it. It will be, for all intents and purposes, today. But the reason I mentioned the House is if by some odd quirk of fate the lunatics are able to deny the Trumpster 270 today, it just means the House of Representatives would elect him on January 6th. I imagine that among the left there are many knuckleheads who are harboring the hope and actually believe that Trump could be denied the presidency today. He can’t. It won’t happen. In fact, I don’t expect there to be that many defections. I think all of this has been hyped by a media that is just itself out of control. And there’s an aspect of this too that you need to stop and consider. While every Drive-By Media outlet is reporting the historical Electoral College vote today and they are reporting various aspects, they are not reporting — there’s a fine line here — they are not reporting the acts of extreme behavior and violence being perpetrated by protesters and harassers. You can read the New York Times and the Washington Post and watch CNN and all that, and you will not see a single news story, nor read one, about the threats, the death threats about the emails, the hundreds of thousands of emails these people have sent, these coordinated spam attacks. You’ll not see any of that. And the point here is that, for example, if you live in New York City and your only source of news is the New York Times, you have no idea. If your only source is the New York Times or the network newscasts, you have no idea of the death threats, you have no idea of the acts of potential violence, the threats, the harassment, because the media’s not reporting any of that. In a clear demonstration of worse than bias, a clear demonstration of just the fact that they’re not even media, all they are doing is reporting the fact that there is a possibility that Trump will lose the Electoral College vote. They’re reporting as though this is an historic story, that it is unprecedented, that the nation is so upset that Trump won, that many electors are rethinking their vote. That’s what the Drive-Bys are telling people, and the left that does not, say, listen to this program or read Drudge or any other website other than the New York Times or Washington Post, they don’t know what’s going on. They really don’t, folks. You sit here and you think it’s widespread, the knowledge is everywhere of the death threats and the protests, no, no, no, no. This story has an entirely different cast in the mainstream media. It’s valorous. It is hopeful. It is revolutionary. It is the essence of democracy. It is conscience presiding over emotion. All kinds of great things are being said about this. But all of the negative aspects are being ignored by the Drive-By Media. They do not want this effort sullied in any way. They do not want low-information voters or people to have any idea the depths of depravity and panic that exists on the left. You know, it’s gotta be tough for these people on the left, because some of them are in full-fledged denial and will never, ever arrive at the truth. But I think a portion of the truth is beginning to creep into some of them, and that is that they aren’t the majority and that this has been an illusion, the last eight years. I think it’s one of the reasons why there’s abject panic out there. And there’s many reasons for abject panic, but none of them rational. This is one of the most irrational things I have seen in American presidential politics. And the irrationality extends to the way the media is giving props to this movement and encouraging it and praising its high-mindedness and its devotion to civics and so forth, when it actually is an outrage and an aberration. I have never in my life seen a more petty, childish, bitter, soon-to-be ex-president of the United States. Barack Obama is in fact participating in this effort to undermine the Trump transition, the Trump election, and the Trump presidency. And it’s unprecedented in U.S. history. Ex-presidents have never engaged in the kind of behavior Obama is engaging in. And this is accompanied by these tear-jerker stories, one after another about how they’re all gonna miss him. He’s so smart. He’s so cool. He’s so calm. He’s so measured. He’s so reverential. He’s so what we want to be like ourselves. This man is unflappable. He’s a brilliant intellectual. When he speaks, we practically have orgasms because of how high-minded and erudite he is and all of this. And in fact, Obama is none of that. He’s a street corner community organizer who is using the office of the presidency here to virtually undermine it. And one of the predictions that I was the first to make is now materializing, and that prediction was that Obama isn’t going away. That Obama is going to hang around Washington and do everything he can to undermine the next president, particularly if and when the next president tries to unravel any of the gigantic web of deceit and debauchery that Obama has implemented as president. And that’s gonna happen, because Trump is gonna immediately start canceling some executive orders and repealing Obamacare. The agenda that the Republicans — it’s gonna be breakneck pace here. Obama is not only going to reside in Washington and be on call, essentially, with the Drive-By Media, he’s setting up what essentially is going to be a shadow government. Now, I don’t know how that’s gonna manifest itself, or how it will appear, what it’s gonna be, but it’s not just going to be Obama. There is going to be — and this Electoral College business is the model. It’s the blueprint. This stuff isn’t gonna end. The subject matter is just going to change. After Trump wins the Electoral College today, they’re gonna move on to whatever Trump does in his agenda, and they’ll not stop here even before the inauguration. And it’s gonna be bought and paid for by George Soros and other Democrat donors, and Barack Obama is going to be the intellectual leader of this movement. I mean, these are leftists, folks, and these last eight years, in reality, have been an abject disaster. But to the left, they have been affirmative building the foundation for transforming this country away from that which it was founded to be. They don’t want these eight years to be a waste. They don’t want these eight years to be erased so that when they get back in power they have to start over again. So they’re gonna do everything they can to undermine and delegitimize Trump and the Republicans, and the media is gonna be right in there helping them. You want to talk about fake news? I accidentally saw last night… I don’t know how I ran across this doing show prep. But apparently at the Huffing and Puffington Post, they have a poll there. They’re reporting on a poll that I think, if my memory serves, is a poll taken by the YouGov people, Y-o-u-G-o-v, YouGov dot whatever org. And this poll purports to say that a large majority of Americans do not want Donald Trump inaugurated after learning the Russians hacked the election. Now, The Politico has a poll out today that says the American people don’t care about this, this is much ado about nothing — and if anything, they’re amused by it and they wish it’d go away. So there’s a fake news poll out there even that nobody but leftists will see. And they’re gonna end up… Probably if they’ve seen that, they do think a majority of the American people think Trump should not be inaugurated. Because he was illegally elected because of the Russian hack of the election. I saw that last night and thought, “This has to be fake news. This has to be a fake. There’s no way. There is literally no way.” If anything, more and more people are behind Trump today than after the election. Interesting column by Salena Zito today, which I will get to in detail as the program unfolds. She makes a point. I’ve thought this myself. I think Trump won this election last September. I mean, a year ago. I think this election… I don’t think the debates mattered. I don’t think any of those things that the Democrats threw at Trump mattered like the Access Hollywood video. I think Trump had this election won a year before the election. I really do. I think it was done, and the only people that didn’t know this were professional politicians within the Washington establishment who to this day still believe Trump is going to implode and destroy his own presidency. But I have always believed that this thing was already over, just based on my being in touch with the American people and my instincts and being able to read things. And the first sign to me that something was really different was when Trump built his support after saying things that would get a normal politician erased, like (paraphrased), “McCain? I don’t really like — admire military men that get captured.” You know, all of these things: The first debate performance, the Megyn Kelly questions. When none of that hurt him, I began saying, “This is something. Something’s really, really different here.” The left will never admit it. They think the election was stolen from them. They have not the ability to get into reality in any way, shape, manner, or form. But this is a profound thing that’s happened here, this election, and I think they’re gonna hit the ground running. And as I said last week and I’m gonna continue to say it: I don’t think the political class has the slightest idea even yet what is in store for them. And I’ll tell you something else, too. I’m not sure, based on a couple things, that even the Republicans in the House and Senate are ready for this. I mean, the breakneck pace with which Trump is going to attempt to get his agenda implemented and the techniques and the methods that he will use to do so. Let me give you one example of what I’m talking about, and we’ll take a break and come back. I want to get into this Electoral College business just a bit, because this a great day. Hillary Clinton’s gonna have lost four times after today. I mean, what a great day this is going to be! Hillary Clinton lost in 2008, she lost in 2016, she lost the 2016 recount, and she’s gonna lose the Electoral College today. Four times Hillary Clinton has lost the presidency in eight years, a modern American record. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Correction, correction. The YouGov poll is this. Fifty-two percent of… This is the Huffing and Pufftington Post poll. “Fifty-two percent think the Electoral College vote should be delayed so that the electors can be given intel briefings,” and the question that was asked was a stupid, dumb, incomplete question. I mean, these people are not even granted security clearances! There’s no way they can be given a security briefing or an intel briefing. They don’t have the security clearance. It’s just absurd. And the way that YouGov got to 52% on this is by asking a really strange question with not nearly enough options from which people could choose. It’s just another example of how the left and the media are playing mind games with people. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: I wanted to give you some facts and figures and a little history, too, because again, this is crucial. You think, “Rush, this is going nowhere; it’s much ado about nothing.” It’s not much ado about nothing! There aren’t nearly enough people on our side taking this seriously. Not as a self-contained effort to deny Trump, but just what it means about what we’re in store for and who it is we’re up against. They have been defeated, but they have not been vanquished. And, by the way, I think that should be our objective. This is turning out to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity really relegate these people to obscurity. And that means going on offense and staying on offense and not allowing ourselves to go on defense every day as we deal with absurd allegations and media narratives that these people come up with. They have become a party that is not national, and it is time to stomp them into the dirt now. It is time to relegate them, in an electoral sense, to political irrelevance. Liberalism is never gonna be that tiny or small. Don’t misunderstand here. I’m not living under false delusions myself. But there is an opportunity here to crush these people. And that’s what they have been doing to us for as long as I can remember. That’s their objective. And, you know, this, “Well, we won. We’re gonna be nice guys! We won. We’re gonna reach across the aisle, be nice. We’re gonna be the…” It’s not time for that. These people are showing who they are, and they’re demonstrating the threat they pose to this country as founded. They remain that threat, and they are not going to learn. They’re not gonna have their minds changed. There’s too much money involved here. All of this is many things. Fundraising is a part of what’s going on. The delegitimizing of the elected president is another thing going on. The attempt to freeze any implementation of Trump agenda items is what’s going on here. It’s not enough that they’ve been beaten. They need to be defeated each and every day. And as they bring up things that they hope to make narratives out of, they need to be beaten back. Trump’s instincts on this are right on the money. Trump’s instincts are, he fights back the minute these people do something. He’ll tweet something out. His instincts on this are perfect. And they are perfectly timed for where we are in the country, because Trump does what everybody who voted for him wishes would happen every time the left pipes up. Now, let’s go back. I’ve mentioned this a number of times, and I want to go through it again. Politico. This is November of this year, after the election. This is November the 26th. The headline: “White House Insists Hackers Did Not Sway Election, Even as Recount Begins — The Obama administration said it has seen no evidence of hackers tampering with the 2016 presidential election, even as recount proceedings began in Wisconsin. “‘We stand behind our election results, which accurately reflect the will of the American people,’ a senior administration official told Politico…” So what changed here? I mean, here you have Obama back on November 26th saying, “Hey, we lost. It’s good. Everybody get with the program here; understand it. The election was not fraudulent. It was fair and square, and we lost.” But then Obama in his press conference on Friday did a 180 and did everything but name Putin as the guy behind Moscow’s alleged attempts to meddle in the election. You know what the funniest part of Obama’s press conference on Friday was? He said that he personally confronted Putin about the hacking way back in September. He was at the Group of 20 summit in China, hosted by the ChiComs, and Obama said that he took Putin aside, and he told Putin to cut it out. And then Obama said, “There hasn’t been any hacking since September, when I told you Putin to cut it out.” Are you kidding me? Big, bad, brave Barry Obama confronted Vladimir Putin of the KGB and said (impression), “Hey, Vlad, you want to cut it out? “Just cut it out, Bo. Huh? Huh?” And Putin quaked in his boots! (impression) “Okay, Mr. President, vee in Russia vill cut it out.” Is that what happened? Because Donna Brazile’s on TV yesterday saying the hacking continued all the way through the election and beyond. Yet Obama says he told Putin to cut it out! Just excellent community organizer lingo: “Cut it out.” But the point is, it’s November 26th that Obama was saying and the whole administration: “Hackers Did Not Sway Election,” as the recount began. Now, here’s some facts and figures on this. The popular vote disparity, Hillary Clinton now I think the latest tabulation has her at plus-2.3 million popular votes more than Donald Trump. And this is part of the fuel for those who think the Electoral College electors should pause and not vote for Trump because “Hillary won the popular vote! It’s not fair! She should be the president.” That 2.3 million popular vote advantage that Hillary has came from a single state, and this fact illustrates why we even have the Electoral College. In California, Hillary Clinton has a greater than four-million-vote advantage. In California, Hillary has four million more votes than Trump does. If you take California out of this election, Donald Trump won the popular vote by 1.7 million. “Well, you can’t take California out, Rush. What do you mean?” I know you can’t. I’m illustrating something here. This is part and parcel of why we have the Electoral College. Hillary Clinton has a four-million-vote advantage in California, the only state… If you take California out… Well, it’s not the only state, but there are so many more votes, California is the only reason she won the popular vote. Without California, Trump won the popular vote by 1.7 million. Well, this is exactly why the Electoral College is set up the way it is, so that one state would not elect the president. And if, in fact, we did campaign with popular vote being the objective, where do you think the candidates would have gone? There’s no way of saying, for example, today that the vote would have been the same if the Electoral College weren’t there, because the campaigns would have looked much different. The candidates would have gone a bunch of different places than where they went. So there isn’t any automatic, there isn’t any conclusion, “Well, the popular vote, Hillary would have won.” No, she might not have won the popular vote if that’s how this election would have been determined. So the point is that with a four-million-vote majority in California or lead, and a 2.3-million-vote lead in the popular vote, you can say that California is the only reason Hillary Clinton has the popular vote lead here, pure and simple. And does anybody think that we need to elect a president based on performance in one state? No. The numbers are even more intriguing if you get deeper into them. For example, there are 55 electoral votes in California. Hillary has a 4.3 million vote advantage, but Trump still got millions of votes in California. What if those 55 electoral votes were awarded proportionately and Hillary didn’t win all 55? What if this and what if that? So the Democrats and the media are playing this giant what-if game for one simple reason: Power to them is an entitlement, elections are a formality, and they should never lose. And especially to somebody like Donald Trump, who they think is a reprobate and a horrible guy. Now, if where you live this isn’t the top headline in your favorite news source, then you need to continue finding others. Because the only headline, the only story that matters today: “Democrats Try To Steal Election By Threatening Electors.” If that’s not the headline in your local paper, stop reading your local paper. If your local paper, if your local TV news or whatever does not focus on this story from that standpoint, then your news is worthless. Your news source, your newspaper is not being honest with you because the headline, the story: “Democrats Try To Steal Election By Threatening Electors.” I told you, folks, this is a dangerous time, when people were upset how Trump was making nice with Obama, this is a dangerous time because the people who’ve lost the election are deluded. They are teetering on the brink of being altogether sane, yet they still control the levers of power. This is why Trump, did you hear his appearance, his rally in Mobile, Alabama? He commented on Michelle Obama talking about this is what hopeless feels like. And he said he disagreed with her, but he really didn’t think she meant that. He extended an olive branch. People started booing and he said (paraphrasing), “No, no, no, no, I know Michelle Obama. She’s been nice, Melania and I were at the White House, posed for a picture, I really — they must have been thinking about something else.” He did everything he could to tamp down, because he knows, and everybody paying attention knows that we are in a dangerous time and will be until January 20th. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Listen to this. CNN terribly disappointed when only one protester showed up in Madison, Wisconsin. Only one. Here is the reporter from CNN, Rosa Flores, just moments ago. FLORES: What we were expecting here to happen today is in the doors that you see behind me are for these 10 electors to come in and vote for Donald Trump because Donald Trump won the election here on November 8th, and that’s what they’re expected to do. Again, today, officially Karen — now, I shouldn’t say that the wind chill here in Wisconsin is negative 23. We were expecting protesters outside. Right now, Carol, there is one brave woman outside. Again — RUSH: Only one protester showed up in Madison, Wisconsin. Only one! CNN is making excuses because it’s so cold. The protesters intended to show up. There was gonna be a mob. There were gonna be thousands of them out there expressing what they think about Donald Trump, but it’s 23 below, wind chill, Carol, and there’s only one. (crying) And Costello was reduced to laughing, which she nervously does at all times. Los Angeles Times editorial: “Electoral College Is Unconstitutional And Should Be Banned.” As I say, if your favorite newspaper today, the lead story is not headlined with something along the lines of this: “Democrats Try to Steal Election by Threatening Electors,” then your paper is not what you think it is. And the LA Times clearly is not. Most papers in this country are not gonna run this story the way it needs to be run. Democrats trying today to steal the election by threatening electors. Michael Moore is out there offering to pay electors. He’s offering to pay them and pay their fines if they will vote for Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump. It’s deranged. We are witnessing unhinged, deranged lunacy. In Pennsylvania from the Philadelphia Inquirer, just as disappointed as CNN just now was. “Facing a Wave of Calls, Pa. Electors Sounding Unshakable — Thousands of emails land in their inboxes every day. Copies of the Federalist Papers and other books urging political courage are being mailed to their homes. They are even getting phone calls in the middle of the night. Such has been the life of Pennsylvania’s 20 electors for President-elect Donald Trump since the Nov. 8 election. “On Monday, they will travel to the state Capitol to cast their votes to assign Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes to Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. … One elector, Ash Khare, said he and all of the 19 others have been assigned a plainclothes state police trooper for protection. ‘I’m a big boy,’ said Khare, an India-born engineer. … ‘But this is stupid. Nobody is standing up and telling these people, “Enough, knock it off.”‘” And that’s exactly right. And I’ll tell you who ought to be telling them to knock it off, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton: “Knock it off, grow up, we lost and get ready for the next one.” That’s where that ought to be coming from, Obama and Hillary. But they are encouraging this business. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Just a couple more things on the Electoral College and then I want to move on. Donald Trump tweeted out — properly so, he’s very correct about this — that if his were doing anything like this, if Hillary had won and if his supporters were doing anything like this, they would be blasted. And the Drive-By Media would be doing individual investigations on the people and finding out who they were and who was paying them and they would be running stories that would be an attempt to destroy each and every person trying to get an elector not to vote for Hillary Clinton. In fact, we told you about this guy from Dallas, the Republican elector that the New York Times found out about and gave him an op-ed in the New York Times, Chris Suprun, and he wrote about why he can’t bring himself to vote for Trump even though he’s an Republican elector. And it’s been learned from an investigation of WFAA-TV in Dallas that the guy is a fraud, that he has not been a first responder. He was not part of a fire department responding to 9/11 in the plane crash at the Pentagon. The guy’s making up things out of whole cloth and putting it on his resume, and FAA-TV, WFAA Dallas investigated. The New York Times has not reported on the man they gave an op-ed to being a fraud. But if one of Trump’s supporters were doing this or if any of Trump’s supporters were doing it, you can bet that the New York Times and every place in the media would try to find out… Every one of these electors and every protester, and they would be summarily destroyed in the Drive-By Media. They would be investigated by Obama’s Department of Justice, probably maybe even put in jail for voter intimidation and hate crimes. But not Hillary’s people. And why isn’t that? Democrats, before the election, were wringing their hands and worried about vote fraud and the Russian hacking and the integrity of our elections. Why, if this isn’t voter harassment and attempted voter fraud, I don’t know what it is, and it is unprecedented. Why isn’t there an FBI investigation into this or a DOJ investigation into this? Why isn’t Obama behind it for the integrity of our elections, for the integrity of our Constitution? Instead, it’s Obama and Hillary who are tacitly inspiring this, and they need to pay a political price beyond what they’ve paid for this, folks. I don’t know what the remedy for it right now is, but I’m telling you: These people need to continue to be politically defeated and hammered day in and day out. We have the best chance in the history of my doing this program, 29, 30 years — the best chance we have ever had — to relegate liberalism, to inform people, to let people see for themselves just who and what liberals and liberalism is. And it requires staying on offense. And that’s what Trump knows. That’s what Trump is good at. President Obama himself… Oh. One other thing. I mentioned the Huffing and Puffington Post and the YouGov poll. Here’s the real poll. It’s in The Politico. It’s Politico/Morning Consult poll. There’s “little support” for the effort to intimidate electors into not voting for Trump. “Voters Show Little Support for Electoral College Revolt.” It barely even shows up. And, see, there’s the truth! You turn CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, read the New York Times, Washington Post, and you would think that this whole country is focused on the Electoral College and the effort to unseat Trump. And you would get the impression that a majority of the Americans are in favor of this because they are outraged after having learned that the Russians hacked the election and stole it from Hillary. That’s the BS — that is the barnyard crap — that they are putting out there. That is the mainstream media news of the day, and it has been for days: “The Russians hacked the election! Trump’s election is illegal and perhaps fraudulent, and the electors need to know this! Maybe even give intel briefings to them so that they can do right and not select Trump today.” That’s the news of the day, and they do it (as they always do) with this aura that every American thinks the same thing. They want you to think the whole country is outraged over the Russians supposedly hacking the election, and the whole country is outraged over how Trump won, and that the whole country now wants the Electoral College to back off and either delay or not vote for Trump! And the truth of the matter is, the number of people who think like that you could put in a phone booth. It is a tiny, inconsequential number. And it’s yet another illustration of how the media tries to write the daily script of the daily soap opera that they then pass off as whatever is the news of the day. There isn’t any news of the day. All the media is anymore is the Democrat Party’s agenda, the Democrat Party’s political desires and objectives presented as “the news “and also presented as popularly supported by the American people. And none of it’s true. I think part of what’s happening here is the media is desperately trying to prove to themselves that they can still bend and shape a majority of American opinion. They failed miserably. They thought they had Trump relegated to the ash heap. They thought that Hillary was gonna win this even at nine o’clock on election night. They have been gob smacked and still haven’t come to grips with it. So now part of what they’re doing is reaching out — and they’ve been doing this, by the way, I think since 1988. They have been trying to tell themselves that even though they no longer have a monopoly, that they actually do, over public opinion, that they can bend it and shape it and flake it and form it, and that’s part of what this exercise is all about. And it’s blowing up in their faces. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Sheri in Harrisburg you’re next. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania wonderful. Hello. CALLER: Thank you, Rush. Hello. Merry Christmas — RUSH: Same to you. CALLER: — and God bless you. RUSH: Same to you. CALLER: One of our electors, one of our 20 electors
will be through the glass door on your right as soon as you enter the restaurant. It will be hard to miss the room full of guys wearing Team Liquid shirts watching SC2! When? 2 - 6 PM on Sunday, Oct 16th. Who? Anyone who wants to come! Don't feel nervous if you don't know many people from the forums or CSL club, a lot of us are just getting to know each other and more the merrier! Even if you don't play Starcraft and are just somewhat interested to see what it is all about come on out and introduce yourself over a beer! I personally know of people who are coming that don't play the game or just started playing the game, watching Starcraft is highly entertaining and doing so over some drinks even more so! This venue is open to all ages! Which is one of the main reasons we chose it, so if you are not 19 don't worry! You can come eat, and drink soda or milk or whatever it is kids are enjoying these days! This is our first event and we want it to be a hit so PLEASE come out and bring as many people with you as possible! What is BARCRAFT? Incase you have been living under a rock (or in Saskatchewan),Barcraft is the slang term (and quite a clever one I might add) coined by the StarCraft community for getting together at a bar or pub and watching a Starcraft event over some drinks! If you haven't looked into it much or feel somewhat nervous about doing something like this, don't! Barcraft is blowing up all over the world right now and has even gotten front page attention from major news publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Edmonton Journal, Toronto Star, and Forbes among many others. Venue Information Brewsters is a great restaurant with a nice atmosphere and an extensive selection of on tap beers, including a wide variety of their own micro brews. The matches will be shown on a large number of big screen LCD televisions! Once again this venue is open to all ages!! If you have any questions just post them here on this thread! Am not sure if there are any Regina/Saskatchewan SC2 players on TL that we don't already know but just in case I thought I would post this here, Please come out! It's going to be a blast. Saskatchewans first ever official Barcraft event is happening this coming Sunday at Brewsters on Albert St. in Regina, Saskatchewan for the MLG Orlando final!! The event is being organized by the University of Regina CSL club and the guys at Saskgamers.comBrewsters Brewing Co. & Restaurant on South Albert, Regina.4180 Albert Street, ReginaPh: (306) 757-2739We have one side of the restaurant reserved, it will be through the glass door on your right as soon as you enter the restaurant. It will be hard to miss the room full of guys wearing Team Liquid shirts watching SC2!Anyone who wants to come! Don't feel nervous if you don't know many people from the forums or CSL club, a lot of us are just getting to know each other and more the merrier! Even if you don't play Starcraft and are just somewhat interested to see what it is all about come on out and introduce yourself over a beer! I personally know of people who are coming that don't play the game or just started playing the game, watching Starcraft is highly entertaining and doing so over some drinks even more so! This venue is open to all ages! Which is one of the main reasons we chose it, so if you are not 19 don't worry! You can come eat, and drink soda or milk or whatever it is kids are enjoying these days! This is our first event and we want it to be a hit so PLEASE come out and bring as many people with you as possible!Incase you have been living under a rock (or in Saskatchewan),Barcraft is the slang term (and quite a clever one I might add) coined by the StarCraft community for getting together at a bar or pub and watching a Starcraft event over some drinks! If you haven't looked into it much or feel somewhat nervous about doing something like this, don't! Barcraft is blowing up all over the world right now and has even gotten front page attention from major news publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Edmonton Journal, Toronto Star, and Forbes among many others. Brewsters Brewing Co. and Restaurant Brewsters is a great restaurant with a nice atmosphere and an extensive selection of on tap beers, including a wide variety of their own micro brews. The matches will be shown on a large number of big screen LCD televisions! Once again this venue is open to all ages!!If you have any questions just post them here on this thread! Am not sure if there are any Regina/Saskatchewan SC2 players on TL that we don't already know but just in case I thought I would post this here, Please come out! It's going to be a blast. @Triumph_eSports. www.Triumph-eSports.com(CNN) As President-elect Donald Trump's administration begins taking shape, thousands poured onto the streets of a divided nation again Saturday to express their frustration at the stunning election result. From New York to Los Angeles, demonstrators have marched in various American cities for four nights since Trump's unexpected victory Tuesday capped an acrimonious campaign. While largely peaceful, the protests have resulted in blocked highways and bridges, arrests during clashes with police and the early Saturday shooting of a man at a march in Portland, Oregon. In Cincinnati, anti-Trump demonstrators were joined by hundreds of people protesting a hung jury in the murder trial of a former University of Cincinnati police officer who fatally shot a black motorist during a July 2015 traffic stop. In Los Angeles' MacArthur Park, the site of immigrant rights protests over the years, demonstrators took turns Saturday swatting a stick at a piñata resembling Trump. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat, praised the protesters. "I've been proud of my city, proud of students out there and people who are exercising their patriotic right," he told CNN Saturday. "I know the headlines are always the few people who jump onto a freeway or two or three people who spray paint something. We'll always deal with lawless behavior. The main story is that Americans, not just in my city but around the country, are saying we want to continue to embrace people regardless of how they worship God, who they love, where they live or even immigration status." In New York, angry crowds -- some carrying signs with messages such as "Not my president" -- marched to the President-elect's doorstep, Trump Tower, where he lives and works. For part of the march up Fifth Avenue, they chanted, "Donald Trump go away. Racist -- sexist -- anti-gay." Outside the gleaming tower, demonstrators at one point booed at people standing on balconies. New Yorkers are on the march to Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/sfIudXmJQ9 — Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) November 12, 2016 "Words can't describe how disgusted I am that he was elected over Hillary (Clinton)," Shoshi "Rabin" Rabinowitz said Friday night, explaining her motivation for being near Trump Tower. Fellow protester Nick Truesdale said, "I think he needs to really address all the divisive, hateful things he's said in the past and recant them, denounce them." Some of the signs outside Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/CQ8LtsXMm1 — Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) November 12, 2016 Reacting to this week's demonstrations, Trump tweeted Thursday night, "Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!" Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016 The President-elect appeared more conciliatory Friday morning, saying: "Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!" Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016 Protests across US Among the cities that were scenes of Friday protests were Los Angeles; New Haven, Connecticut; Orlando; Chicago; Boston; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville; and Columbus, Ohio. There were also marches at schools in Denver and Omaha, Nebraska. Groups across the country are angry about policies Trump has promised to enforce concerning immigration, the environment, LGBT rights and other issues. The Facebook page for a protest planned in Burlington, Vermont, said: "Come protest the xenophobia, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and climate science denial of the Trump/Pence regime!! Come show your support for our Muslim, queer, immigrant, and female family!!" The protests were mostly peaceful, but some were marred by violence. In Portland, a man was injured in a shooting early Saturday on the Morrison Bridge during a protest march. The suspect was believed to be in a vehicle on the bridge when a confrontation unfolded with a member of the crowd, Portland police said in a statement. The suspect got out of the vehicle and fired multiple shots before fleeing. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening, and he was treated at a hospital. Two alleged gang members were charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting, officials said. The motive is unclear but investigators said they don't believe the shooter knew the victim. Portland mayor's plea Portland police arrested 17 people Friday night. Mayor Charlie Hales urged residents to become involved with organizations such the American Civil Liberties Union instead of protesting. "If you are upset about the election of Donald Trump and you want change, there are ways to do that," he said. "They don't involve taking to the streets with signs anymore." The night before, protesters blocked the street outside Portland City Hall. Police tried to disperse the demonstrators but tensions remained high. Some protesters hurled rocks, bottles and flares at police, officials said. This action is following burning projectiles being thrown at officers. — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 12, 2016 A Thursday night protest by about 4,000 people also turned violent. Windows on businesses were broken and a car dealership was vandalized. Twenty-six people were arrested, police said. JUST WATCHED Portland police say protest is 'riot' Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Portland police say protest is 'riot' 02:16 Hales blamed the vandalism on "some anarchists who hijacked" the protest. "Going to the streets for another night is not going to keep Donald Trump from taking office," he said. In Boston, hundreds gathered on Boston Common for a "Love Rally in the Common." Organizers said on Facebook : "Let's unite together to peacefully show all of those whom Donald Trump or his supporters have put down that we still care about them, and to give them an opportunity to have their voices be heard." Some arrests were made in Los Angeles, but the police department did not immediately provide details on the number arrested. Chicago man beaten JUST WATCHED Man beaten, bystander yells 'you voted Trump' Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Man beaten, bystander yells 'you voted Trump' 01:05 In Chicago, police told CNN they are investigating an incident this week in which a group of people reportedly beat a man while yelling that he voted for Trump. Cell phone video captured the man in a minor traffic accident Wednesday on Chicago's West Side. The 49-year-old driver, David Wilcox, told CNN affiliate WGN-TV that a car scraped the side of his vehicle as he was about to make a left turn at a busy intersection. "I heard a lady yell something about 'that guy is one of those Trump supporters,' " Wilcox told the station. "I turned and said to her, 'That has nothing to do with this.'" The situation then apparently escalated as bystanders yelled anti-Trump taunts at Wilcox. The video shows Wilcox being knocked to the pavement, repeatedly being punched and kicked as a handful of people gather around him. Interstates blocked Protesters march Friday at Bayfront Park in Miami. In Miami, hundreds walked down Biscayne Boulevard chanting, "Love Trumps Hate," and carrying signs with messages such as "How many judges will it take to ruin America?" video from CNN affiliate WSVN-TV showed. Some protesters walked onto Interstate 95 and surrounded cars, bringing four lanes of traffic to a standstill, according to the WSVN footage. In Iowa City, Iowa, about 75 protesters shut down I-80 briefly, police Sgt. Chris Akers said. Nobody was arrested, he said. And your boy made @cnn A photo posted by Luis (@lmed305) on Nov 11, 2016 at 6:25pm PST In Dallas, protesters dragged and kicked a Trump piñata through the streets. A store window was reportedly smashed. American flag burned In Atlanta, about 500 people marched downtown, said Atlanta police spokesman Lukasz Sajdak. They tried to walk onto a highway, but law enforcement officers turned them back. No arrests were made. An American flag was burned near Georgia's state Capitol, something that didn't please protesters Sanjay and Akshita Mendonca, who say they voted for Clinton. "The current situation is not good for us and our children," said Sanjay Mendonca, 40. "I'm here for my kids because I don't want them to think we didn't do something.... A lot of people feel hopeless right now." When asked why he was protesting, 20-year-old Alex Hariri said, "Trump does not support anyone in the community I know. I'm a gay Middle Eastern man. He's against everything I am." Anti-Trump protest in Atlanta. Someone just burned an American flag. "Our streets!" They're shouting. Covered by Gary Tuchman on @cnn #election2016 A photo posted by Khushbu Shah (@khushbuoshea) on Nov 11, 2016 at 6:07pm PST US vs Mexico soccer game After a presidential campaign noted for Trump's heated rhetoric on undocumented Mexican immigrants, crowds gathered to build bonds during the US-Mexico 2018 World Cup qualifier game Friday in Columbus, Ohio. US soccer fans put politics aside as they greeted Mexican fans with high-fives. "The atmosphere is absolutely amazing," Christian Couch said. "It's a sport that we all love, and that's why we are here. I don't think politics should play a part in this game." Mexico beat the US 2-1.Hundreds have reported sickness, businesses have closed and bottled-water supply is low after a chemical spill into the Elk River in West Virginia that has affected 300,000 people in nine counties. The White House declared the incident a federal disaster. Residents of the nine affected counties have been told to avoid using tap water for drinking, cooking, washing or bathing. Health officials recommend it to be used only for flushing toilets and fighting fires. Currently it is unclear when the ban will be lifted. Nearly 700 people have reported falling ill, exhibiting symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, though less than 10 people have been hospitalized, according to NBC News. US President Barack Obama “ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts,” said a US administration statement on Friday morning. Federal authorities opened an investigation into what caused the leak that poisoned the river and shut down much of the West Virginia’s capital, Charleston and surrounding counties. US Attorney Booth Goodwin said authorities will take whatever action is appropriate based on the evidence found, reports the Associated Press. In response to the crisis, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water and Waste Management ordered Freedom Industries to cease operations Friday afternoon. State environmental officials also ordered the company late Friday to remove chemicals from the 14 above-ground storage tanks where the leak contaminated the area's water supply within 24 hours, the AP reported. The chemicals are to be stored in a place with a working containment system, authorities said. The company is also required to offer a plan on how to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. The Division of Air Quality launched an investigation Thursday morning to address residents’ complaints, and found that MCHM was discharging into the air. Crews also noticed that an MCHM spill had pooled in containment ditches in the plant, which is also located near a river. Late on Thursday, West Virginia’s Governor Earl Ray Tomblin issued a state of emergency for Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties. As of early Friday evening, the West Virginia Poison Center had received 670 calls since the tap-water ban was instituted, said Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, the center's director, according to NBC News. Many described symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, skin irritation or rashes. "It's varying degrees of severity," she said. Water distribution centers began to open in affected areas early on Friday, according to The Charleston Gazette. “You must bring your own containers to receive water and some locations have limited hours and a limit on gallons available,” the paper said. Local media published photos of locals lining up in shops to buy bottled water and empty shelves. The spill of chemical used in the coal industry occurred Thursday on the Elk River in the state’s capital Charleston, upriver from West Virginia’s largest water treatment plant. The foaming agent, 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries and overran a containment area. Freedom - a company that produces chemicals for the mining, steel, and cement industries – made its first comment on the situation only more than a day after the incident. “Since the discovery of the leak, safety for residents in Kanawha and surrounding counties has been Freedom Industries’ first priority. We have been working with local and federal regulatory, safety and environmental entities… and are following all necessary steps to fix the issue,” Gary Southern, the President of the company said in a statement released early Friday afternoon. “Our team has been working around the clock since the discovery to contain the leak to prevent further contamination. At this point, Freedom Industries is still working to determine the amount of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol, or Crude MCHM… that has been released, as the first priority was safety, containment and cleanup,” the text reads as cited by WSAZ. The Sheriff's Department sent deputies to Freedom Industries' office Friday because residents were calling in death threats and a number of people had threatened to bomb the building. The company is going to set up an incident command center on site. According to Tom Aluise, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, the tank that leaked holds at least 40,000 gallons. “We're confident that no more than 5,000 gallons escaped,” he said earlier, as quoted by AP. “A certain amount of that got into the river. Some of that was contained.” West Virginia American Water President Jeff McIntyre said he did not “know if the water is not safe” and added that the chemical was not lethal in its strongest form. “Until we get out and flush the actual system and do more testing, we can't say how long this (advisory) will last at this time.” On the water company’s Facebook page, some residents complained that they had not been immediately informed about the water contamination. “What about those who have already used the water for all of the above? What do they need to do? And are you guys going to pay for the extra expense of people having to buy bottled water or reimburse them for the punitive damages?” one user wrote. “My mother has drunk and used the water all day long! Water was also put out for my animals so they better not get sick and die from ingesting the contaminated water that was put out for them!” another person commented. “Yeah, so I'm 6 months pregnant and drank tap water at a restaurant about an hour before the notice was sent out,” one woman said. McIntyre told a media conference Friday that the water company knows of no treatment to remove the chemical agent from water supplies, and that crews would have to flush out many miles of service lines, reports the Charleston Gazette.He said he did not know how long that might take; adding that even after the level of pollution is determined “water can take hours to days” to flush through the system.High Maintenance (Photo courtesy of Janky Clown Productions) Recently I conducted a nonscientific survey among friends. I asked, “What do you think when I say ‘Web series?’” The response was overwhelmingly negative. From a Hollywood agent friend, I heard, “Waste of time and money.” From a television writer, I heard, “Someone asking me to help crowdfund their reel.” But the most damning response came from a friend outside of the new media/film/TV industry. Their response was simply “Ugh.” As someone who has made a career making Web series and online videos, that’s disheartening, to say the least. You could have the most brilliant concept for a Web series, and before you can even get that idea out of your head, people’s general response is an involuntary, painful groan. Unfortunately, Web series have become synonymous with an “Open Mic Night” at the local coffee shop — a place for green artists to come to test new material and perform overplayed cover songs while only their friends and family clap enthusiastically. This has led me to the conclusion: Let’s kill the Web series. Let’s tie it up with duct tape, throw it in our trunk, drive to a quiet bridge off Route 80, toss it into the Delaware River and watch it float away. WHY KILL IT? You might protest, “But the Web series is the future?! It’s an opportunity for unknown creators to reach millions of fans without gatekeepers interfering with their vision. Childrens Hospital started out as a Web series. Look at High Maintenance. Look at Broad City!” But those are high points in the brief history of web series; by and large, they are ignored and/or disdained. Talk to people in “the industry” on the subject and the general consensus is that Web series are often: • amateur, rushed and self-indulgent • light on storytelling and character • a starting point in a career rather than the end goal. And this perception isn’t just from audiences and industry; it often comes from the creators. As creative director at UCB Comedy, I hear hundreds of pitches for new Web series. It pains me when I hear someone say, “We can do this quick and easy because it’s just a Web series.” To my ears, that’s like telling an architect, “We can make this building kind of shitty cause it’s just a house.” AN ALTERNATIVE MINDSET I’m not suggesting that we stop creating series that are distributed online. After all, most media is moving toward online distribution, and we all know a lot of the old-media platforms will soon die forever. And now, because of platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, we have a more egalitarian delivery system to reach audiences. I simply suggest we just stop using the words “Web series.” Instead we (independent series creators) should co-opt the term AMC, Netflix and Hulu are using: Original Series. Sure, it’s an Orwellian solution, but I think switching out “Web” for “original” creates a shift in perception of 1) what the creator is making, and 2) what the audience is receiving. As a creator writing an “original series,” my brain just dials into something different than when I’m writing a Web series. Now I subconsciously start thinking, “It’s gotta be a story and style that is different from what others are doing.” As a viewer, my ears perk up when I hear “original series.” I think “Something original? I like things that are original! I should see this thing.” Also, the label “original series” is just more accurate. Everything is distributed on the Internet but we don’t call it out in the title. We don’t say Beyoncé released a new “Web album.” We don’t say David Mitchell wrote a new “Web novel.” That’d be silly — and it would devalue the product. Yet both are primarily distributed and consumed over the Internet just like a Web series — er — just like an original series. (See, it already sounds better.) TIPS FOR ORIGINAL SERIES I talked with Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the creators of Broad City — which started as a successful Web series before it became a hit show on Comedy Central — about the current state of Web series. Jacobson nailed one of the big problems that creators face today: “Because there are so many more Web series out there now, it’s a bit harder to create something unique and fresh.” In order to rise above the saturation, Original series need to have the same care and craft you’d expect of a good film or television series, and we need to ditch some the old “Web series” ways of thinking. Over the past five years I’ve directed and produced several good Web series and a few painfully bad ones. (My most recent good series, Gary Saves the Graveyard, was even listed on several “Best Web Series of the Year” lists from Splitsider to USA Today.) So I’ve learned a lot and offer these tips in hopes that others might learn from my mistakes and successes: TIP 1: Make something real, not a reel. Many Web series are simply used as business cards. They’re SNL character showcases or glorified reels. Rather than focusing on creating a Web series that will get you the dream job, treat the original series like you’ve already got the dream job. This will create something infinitely more watchable. TIP 2: Collaborate to elevate. So many Web series I see are obviously created by one or two people. Creating work in a vacuum is hard, and it’s lonely. Finding a group of collaborators with similar tastes but different strengths is crucial. If you’re a sketch actor and you’ve created a bunch of wild characters, find a director who will help showcase those characters in a filmic way. If you’re a writer with a vision for a space odyssey series, find a visual effects creator to help you build that world. Even if you have zero dollars to spend, these creative people are all over and just as eager as you are to do great work that they’re excited about. Find them! TIP 3: Fail big. I think it’s vital to accumulate several hard drives of failed projects. I believe in the Malcolm Gladwell idea that it takes 10,000 hours until you’re going to be great at something. And in my personal experience, being overly ambitious (both in the number of projects and in the types of challenges you take on) will help make you a better storyteller and smarter filmmaker. For Gary Saves the Graveyard, we gathered 100 non-actors and put them in zombie makeup and period costumes. The shot took seven hours to shoot and weeks to prep. It’s in the final episode for under five seconds, and I regret nothing. Being ambitious doesn’t mean you need big budgets. It can be simple in execution. Go watch Marcel the Shell with Shoes On from Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate. From a production standpoint, it’s a googly eye, a shell and one nice lens. It’s simple, and it’s great. Also, it’s okay to make something that turns out bad. (As far as I can tell, that’s the only way to get better.) What I ask is that we aspire to make something worth telling and that we do it in a thoughtful way. TIP 4: Just Don’t Even Make These. There are three series I never need to see again. • Two Friends Trying to Make It in the Big City • Rotating Door of Crazy People in a Transaction Scene • Your Character Reel I love Broad City. Both the Web series and the show are so funny, unique and felt true to Abbi and Ilana. Since their success, I’ve seen a dozen imitators crop up. Now, am I saying that you should never make a series about two poor twenty-something roommates who want be writers in New York City? Listen, there is always going to be a fresh take on something that’s been done before, but if it’s between the above and a series about three friends who enter a suicide pact — I’m going to want to watch that second story because it’s one that takes me on a journey that I haven’t experienced. (Also, go watch Pact by Brinkman. It’s so dark and hilarious.) TIP 5: Storytelling is priority No. 1. Tell a story that needs to be told. Not every element of your series needs to be novel or cutting edge, but it should be unique to you. The most memorable content often feels like, “This is the only person who could have told this story that way.” Here are some of my favorites: High Maintenance, Broad City, Marcel the Shell and Pact. Also I not-so-humbly recommend these series that I directed: Gary Saves the Graveyard, Pursuit of Sexiness (created by SNL’s Sasheer Zamata and MTV’s Nicole Byer), Engaged (created by UCB’s Laura Grey and The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper). As you watch, think about what you like and what you don’t like, and use that to inform your own work. WILL THE WEB SERIES DIE? Web series are only going to get more popular, and it’s the clear way for new filmmakers to reach large audiences. Abbi Jacobson agrees, “Without a doubt I would still make a Web series today. It’s the perfect opportunity to take creative control of your own voice.” And Ilana Glazer adds, “There is some near-future chapter to this [Web series] game that I don’t know yet and nobody knows yet, and it’s up to the next wave to define that.” Ben Sinclair, co-creator of High Maintenance, agrees, “There are whole swaths of uncharted territory in terms of genre. For instance, I have yet to see a compelling murder mystery done well in Web series. For the scrappy auteur, [a Web series] is still the lowest barrier to entry to get her or his work seen.” So by all means, make a Web series. Just don’t call it one.While enlistment rates in the U.S. military vary by group, they also vary by state. Enlistment ranges from less than 3 per thousand in North Dakota to more than 7 per thousand in Florida and Maine. According to the Defense Department, differences exist at the regional level as well. In 2013, 44% of all military recruits came from the South, despite it having only 36% of the country’s 18-24 year-old civilian population. By contrast, the Northeast was the most underrepresented region of the country; only 14% of new enlistments came from this area, compared to 18% of its 18-24 year-old population. While the military says it isn’t concerned with the demographics of its recruits, is it fair to speculate as to which Americans volunteer to serve their country and why? What’s your take?THE motoring industry could be subject to major price hikes post-Brexit, which could end up costing British motorists thousands in car servicing and repairs. Fears are already spreading that the automotive sector could be one of the worst hit by potential post-Brexit trade restrictions, with 80 per cent of all parts used in British car manufacturing sourced from overseas. Alamy 2 Post-Brexit trade deals are set to have a massive impact on the British motoring industry If negotiations between Europe and Britain fail to reach a trade agreement by 2019, the UK motoring industry, along with countless others, will be forced to operate under World Trade Organisation tariffs of up to 10 per cent on all imports and exports. According to online car servicing provider Servicing Stop, if ten per cent trade tariffs are imposed, the price of every car sold in the UK could rise by as much as £2,370, and in turn inflate the price of parts and servicing astronomically. "Of the £15 billion worth of components in British cars, only £3 billion are produced in this country," Servicing Stop CEO, Oly Richmond, said. "This means 80 per cent of parts are currently imported which, without free trade, will put an end to cheap services and affordable repairs." More Motors News TAX DODGE What happens if I don’t tax my car and are there any exemptions? DANGER ZONES UK's vehicle crime hotspots revealed as rates rise to 450,000 offences in 2018 MISUNDERSTOOD New tests reveal major diesel cars produce almost ZERO dangerous emissions LIFE SAVER New cars could soon be fitted with device that physically stops you speeding TRACKER DISCOUNT Millions of drivers could be missing out on £500 car insurance saving MINI MILEAGE Mini that's clocked up just 16 miles over 30 years is set to sell for £15k OVER THE LINE Selfish drivers caught out and shamed for their embarrassing parking fails FINE MESS Driver fined for leaving motor in car park overnight - but it was in his driveway YOU MUSK BE KIDDING Drivers will be able to safely 'fall asleep' behind the wheel by 2021 OPEN ROAD Clarkson cuts roof off Hammond's car for road trip in episode 7 of The Grand Tour Richmond said the possibility of major price increases could make it nearly impossible for a number of Brits to be able to afford their own car. “The British automotive aftermarket is wholly dependent on the free movement of car parts across borders and any change could severely disrupt our global supply chain," he said. "Post-Brexit tariffs would increase the cost of car parts which would subsequently increase the cost of car servicing and repairs. "Car ownership could become unaffordable for a lot of people.” PA:Press Association 2 As much as 80 per cent of all parts used in UK car manufacturing are imported from overseas If heavy trade tariffs were to be imposed following our departure from the EU, the rise in costs could see large sections of the British car manufacturing industry relocate overseas, putting as many as 169,000 jobs at risk. Richmond claimed that the only way to ensure British drivers are not largely impacted by final Brexit negotiations, and to secure the future of thousands of local jobs, was for the UK to secure a free-movement trade agreement. "The entire industry is in agreement when it comes to the importance of free movement of goods post-Brexit," he said. "A trade agreement is the only way in which the aftermarket can thrive and provide the best value to British motorists.”Al-Qaeda loyalists attacked a mainly Kurdish town in northeastern Syria sparking fighting in which 17 people were killed, two of them ambulance crew, a watchdog said on Saturday. The assault on the strategic border town of Ras al-Ain, from which the jihadists were expelled by Kurdish militia last month, sparked an exodus of civilians into neighbouring Turkey, an activist said. The attack on the town was part of a wider offensive by Al-Qaeda against several Kurdish majority areas of northern and northeastern Syria that began on Friday and was continuing on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Four Kurdish militiamen and 11 jihadists made up the rest of the dead, the watchdog said. Syrian Kurd activist Havidar said civilians had fled "in waves into villages in Turkey." "Intermittent clashes are continuing to take place till now, in the Asfar Najjar area and the outskirts of Tal Halaf," Havidar told AFP via the Internet. Government troops pulled out of majority Kurdish areas of Syria last year, leaving Kurdish militia to fend for themselves. Elsewhere in Syria, rebels attacked a pro-regime militia checkpoint in a majority Christian area of Homs province, killing six civilians and five militiamen, the Observatory said. State news agency SANA said all those killed were civilians, and described the attackers as "terrorists". Homs has seen some of Syria's worst violence since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011. Meanwhile, Amnesty International said prominent Syrian artist Youssef Abdelke and another opponent of the Damascus regime had been "subjected to enforced disappearance." Abdelke and Adnan al-Dibs were arrested on July 18 in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tartus and have not been seen since."It kind of blew their minds," said John Turturro. In the Coen Brothers’ beloved 1998 comedy “The Big Lebowski,” The Dude, Walter and Donny face off against colorful pederast bowler Jesus Quintana, played by John Turturro. Since the film’s release, Jesus has grown in the imagination of the fanbase as well as Turturro himself. Now, Turturro’s latest directorial effort “Going Places,” based on Bertrand Biler’s novel and 1974 erotic comedy film by the same name, resurrects the Jesus character in a spinoff of “Lebowski.” In a new interview with Screen Daily, Turturro says that the Coens support his new film. READ MORE: ‘Going Places’ First Look: John Turturro Resurrects Jesus Quintana In ‘Big Lebowski’ Sequel “It kind of blew their minds,” says Turturro. “They thought it was a great idea and told me, ‘We’ve taken a character inspired from a stage play and now you want to put him in a movie which is a French movie, which was inspired by American road movies.'” Turturro had been wrestling with the adapted screenplay for a while but struggled particularly with updating the main character Jean-Claude, originally played by Gérard Depardieu. “I was calling him JC, and it reminded me of this character I’d done in a play many, many years ago…that had inspired Joel and Ethan to write the character of Jesus Quintana,” he says. “So I thought, ‘Wow! We’ve talked about doing something with Jesus Quintana but it was always silly.’ I started playing around with it and I thought we could be on to something with his irony and the irreverence of the character.” READ MORE: David Huddleston, Who Played the Titular ‘The Big Lebowski,’ Dies at 85 “Going Places” is shooting in New York. There is no release info at this time. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.Read our spoiler-free thoughts on the first two episodes of Utopia's second series, here. Woven into Utopia series one’s handsome game of chase was a genuine dilemma. The human population is fast outgrowing the planet’s resources. Can the inevitable be avoided, and at what cost? The series two opener del
var_map with another one which is more refined that the current state, i.e. where you have solved more holes in the proof term, otherwise you are creating an evar leak. Furthermore, because of the universe polymorphism feature introduced in 8.5, an evar_map also carries a local graph of universes, and dropping constraints nonchalantly by misusing tclEVARS can effectively result in nasty kernel anomalies that are hard to track. This is why some higher-level, safe functions are provided in the API, while tclEVARS is used to implement them. As usual, these operators satisfy the rules of a state monad, e.g. getting twice yields the same result, setting twice is equivalent to only setting the last one, and so on. Many errors are better than one The new engine also features a rich backtracking mechanism. Instead of only being able to succeed or fail, we can now succeed several times. This corresponds implementationwise to replace the sum return value into a full-fledged list, or more precisely an error list. (** Intuitive implementation of the monad ) type 'a elist = Node of ( exn -> 'a enode) and 'a enode = Zero of exn \| Or of 'a 'a elist type +'a tactic = goal * state -> (goal list * state * 'a) elist The idea is that we want to be able to know with which error we failed, so that we need to enrich our list with a potential exception, resulting in the 'a elist type instead of the plain 'a list type, just as the ('a, exn) sum type is an exception-enriched variant of the 'a option type. In the list case, we need to interleave the constructors with exception reading, otherwise this would not form a monad. Such a requirement is already at work in the correct list monad transformer, whose original naive implementation was not a monad. This provides us with the error-related primitives below. val tclZERO : exn -> 'a tactic val tclOR : 'a tactic -> ( exn -> 'a tactic) -> 'a tactic type 'a case = \| Fail of exn \| Next of 'a * ( exn -> 'a tactic) val tclCASE : 'a tactic -> 'a case tactic The correct mental model is that tclZERO is the empty exception-enriched list, tclOR is the concatenation, and tclCASE is pattern-matching over those lists, i.e. we have the following equations. (tclZERO e >>= f) ≡ tclZERO e (tclOR t k >>= f) ≡ tclOR (t >>= f) (fun e -> k e >>= f) tclOR (tclZERO e) k ≡ k e tclOR t tclZERO ≡ t tclOR (tclOR t k₁) k₂ ≡ tclOR t (fun e -> tclOR (k₁ e) k₂) tclCASE (tclZERO e) ≡ tclUNIT (Fail e) tclCASE (tclOR (tclUNIT x) k) ≡ tclUNIT (Next (x, k)) The API also provides a handful of derived operators for practicality. It is noteworthy to remark that in the current implementation, the tclCASE is a very costly operation, because it forces the evaluation of the list, and should be avoided in favour of the specialized functions when possible. We need to explain how the backtracking effect interacts with the state effect. As it may be obvious from the intuitive implementation, the proof state is synchronized with backtrack, i.e. when failing the current state is discarded and restored from the last backtracking point. This is what we want: failing should undo the partial refinement you made in the current branch. We have for instance the equation below when t only modifies the global proof state. tclOR (t >>= fun () -> tclZERO e) k ≡ k e Here, all effects t may have done on the proof state are not taken into account by k, which would not be the case if the state was non-backtracking. Losing focus Another important feature of the new engine is the possibility to manipulate goals as a whole, instead of always having to be focussed on a goal. This is useful to write tactics that reorder goals or focus on a particular set of goals for example. This also has some drawbacks though, as there is not anymore a notion of the current environment as each goal comes with its own context. This has consequences on the evaluation model of Ltac, I'll get back to this point later. On the positive side, this is not difficult to implement: it is sufficient to embed the list of currently focussed goals into the proof state. (** Intuitive implementation of the monad ) type state = goal list evar_map * more_stuff type +'a tactic = state -> (state * 'a) elist Manipulating goals is then fairly easy, as it suffices to use the corresponding state operators. The Proofview module provides some primitives to do this abstractly. Here is a short excerpt of the API. (** If [n] is positive, [cycle n] puts the [n] first goal last. If [n] is negative, then it puts the [n] last goals first.) val cycle : int -> unit tactic (* [swap i j] swaps the position of goals number [i] and [j]. ) val swap : int -> int -> unit tactic (* [revgoals] reverses the list of focused goals. ) val revgoals : unit tactic (* [numgoals] returns the number of goals under focus. ) val numgoals : int tactic The missing feature we really need is the ability to focus on each goal individually to recover the old behaviour where we had a goal at hand. The main primitives are the following. module Goal : sig type 'a t val enter : ([ `LZ ] t -> unit tactic) -> unit tactic val nf_enter : ([ `NF ] t -> unit tactic) -> unit tactic end The 'a Goal.t type represents focussed goals, where the 'a parameter is a phantom type indicating whether the goal has been evar-normalized ( `NF for normal form) or not ( `LZ for lazy). Indeed, legacy tactics expect terms appearing in goals to be evar-normal, i.e. all defined evars should be substituted by their body. This is a costly operation not necessary in many cases, so be do our best to avoid doing it, and we statically ensure we do not need it thanks to the phantom type. The semantic of enter f is straightforward: Retrieve the list of goals currently being proved Apply f on each goal from left to right on each goal The new list of goals is the concatenation of the goals returned by each call to f in the same order The order of application is important, as f may be effectful. The nf_enter function is a variant that normalizes goals beforehand. Finally, the self-explanatory API for goal manipulation gives access to the contents of goals. module Goal : sig val concl : [ `NF ] t -> constr val hyps : [ `NF ] t -> Context. named_context val env : 'a t -> Environ. env val sigma : 'a t -> evar_map end Remark that functions returning terms expect the goal to be normalized. There is a primitive to get around this limitation when you are sure that you do not depend on being normalized. In practice, most tactics depend on a given goal, so that the following boilerplate coding style is pervasive in the source code of Coq. let my_tactic args = Proofview. Goal. nf_enter begin fun gl -> let concl = Proofview. Goal. concl gl in let hyps = Proofview. Goal. hyps gl in let sigma = Proofview. Goal. sigma gl in (* Do something useful at last ) end Refinement All the above API is not really useful to make the proof progress, as they are mostly geared towards combination of more primitive tactics or read-only features. The basic feature of Coq 8.5 allowing to write actual proof terms is the refine primitive, that allows to fill the current hole with a user-provided partial proof term. module Refine : sig val refine : (evar_map -> evar_map constr) -> unit tactic (** In [refine t], [t] is a term with holes under some [evar_map] context. The term [t] is used as a partial solution for the current goal (refine is a goal-dependent tactic), the new holes created by [t] become the new subgoals. Exception raised during the interpretation of [t] are caught and result in tactic failures. ) end This is actually easy to use. The user simply has to feed this function with an argument f of type evar_map -> evar_map constr representing a partial term. The f function is given the current evar map, and may create new evars from it, eventually using them to construct the returned term, which is in turn used to solve the current goal. All such new evars are retrieved at the end of the function invocation and are added as new goals. This tactic enters the current goals before applying f, so that f may be applied several times with distinct arguments. Note that the type of this function is not fully satisfactory, as you can still mess with the returned evar map. It is expected that f uses a strict state-passing style, otherwise this will surely be the source of evar leaks. Compatibility layer For completeness, we should mention that the new engine features a compatibility layer for the old tactics. The main functions are provided by the module Proofview.V82. module V82 : sig type tac = evar * evar_map -> evar list * evar_map val tactic : tac -> unit tactic val of_tactic : 'a tactic -> tac end Those functions are not perfect though, as there may be small discrepancy between the expressivity of both implementations. Most notably, of_tactic loses the backtracking behaviour of the underlying tactic, while tactic may confuse goals solved by global side-effect. The other important compatibility layer is provided by the Tacmach.New module, in particular the of_old function. val of_old : (evar * evar_map -> 'a) -> [ `NF ] Proofview. Goal. t -> 'a It allows to port functions using the old representation of goals to the new one. Ltac wants its focussing back This section is not really useful for the writing of ML tactics by the user. Yet, it provides the reader with an understanding of the semantical problems faced when transitioning Ltac to this new architecture, so we think it is useful to mention in this post. The non-focussed nature of the new tactic engine unluckily clashes with the (unspecified) semantics of Ltac. Indeed, we want to be able to have Ltac primitive such as cycle that act on all goals at once, while we also want to enter goals at will, e.g. writing let c := constr:(x) in tac where x is a hypothesis of the current goal, which does not make sense when there is no focussed goal in sight. Therefore, adding global tactics while retaining the old behaviour turned out to be a real can of worms. We mitigated this issue by adding a new monadic layer, called Ftactic, for focussing tactics (f-tactic for brevity). The idea is the following: we cannot decide when to interpret an Ltac expression in a focus statically, thus we will decide this dynamically. The type 'a Ftactic.t will stand for potentially focussed tactics returning an 'a when the tactic is not focussed, and a list of 'a of the same length of the the list of focussed goals when the tactic is focussed. Once a f-tactic is focussed, there is no turning back: it will remain focussed until the end. We describe briefly the API of module Ftactic below. type +'a focus type +'a t = 'a focus Proofview. tactic (** The type of f-tactics. A f-tactic is like a normal tactic, except that it is able to remember it has entered a goal. Whenever this is the case, each subsequent effect of the tactic is dispatched on the focussed goals. ) val return : 'a -> 'a t val bind : 'a t -> ('a -> 'b t) -> 'b t val lift : 'a Proofview. tactic -> 'a t (* Transform a tactic into a non-focussed f-tactic. ) val enter : ([ `LZ ] Proofview. Goal. t -> 'a t) -> 'a t (* Enter a goal. The resulting tactic is focussed. ) val run : 'a t -> ('a -> unit Proofview. tactic) -> unit Proofview. tactic (* Given a continuation producing a tactic, evaluates the f-tactic. ) That is pretty much all of the basic primitives. This is a monad, so you have the standard monadic combinators at your disposal. You can turn any tactic into a non-focussed f-tactic using the lift primitive, and you can make a f-tactic focussed by using the enter primitive. The run primitive allows to escape into usual tactics: if the f-tactic passed as an argument is not focussed, then the continuation is evaluated once, otherwise it is called in each of the currently focussed goals. There is a catch in this API, which is that we partially expose the implementation of this monad by definining the abstract container type 'a focus. Morally, an 'a focus is either a non-focussed, single argument, or a list of arguments of the same length as the currently focussed goals. We could actually write the monad implementation in a dependently language, such as Coq, as follows. (* If Coq were written in Coq. Sigh! ) Definition state := list goal evar_map * more_stuff. Inductive focus (s : state) A := \| Global : A -> focus s A \| Focussed : forall l : list A, length (fst s) = length l -> focus s A. Definition t A := forall s : state, elist { s' : state & focus s' A }. Unluckily, we do require the access to the implementation, because it is not clear how this monad should interact with the backtracking primitives and the like. By simply exposing that it is a particular case of a tactic, we can rely on the primitives features by the tactic API. As of today, it is still unclear how to solve this. Conclusion That is all for this inaugural post. We hope that it has clarified your mind regarding the semantics of the new tactic engine, so that you can use it without fuss in your ML plugins. There is some additional API I did not describe, in particular how to include IO-like effects in the tactic, including non-backtracking state. I will also probably describe the actual implementation as well as its evolution between Arnaud's first implementation and 8.5 release in a later post, for it had a complicated history. Indeed, the practical design of the new engine pushed OCaml into misknown limitations involving tail-recursivity, the GC and inefficiency of towers of functors that required a careful thinking to work around. Do not hesitate to ask questions in the comments if some points remain obscure to you!The Royal Automobile Club has awarded Damon Hill's excellent, revealing, honest and entertaining Watching the Wheels autobiography the Motoring Book Award of the Year prize. This was our take on the book, which was released last year. Damon Hill – Watching the Wheels, An Autobiography John Lennon’s posthumously released song Watching the Wheels was his way of describing the world’s failure to comprehend how one of the most famous people on the planet could, just for one day, step out of the limelight and ‘watch the wheels’ of life spin around him. Music was always a huge part of the Damon Hill story, so the book title is no surprise. What is surprising is how apt it now seems with the knowledge of his struggles to come to terms with his own demons and life beyond F1’s glare. Much of the book concerns the little talked about subject of mental health problems, together with the inevitable troubles of coming to terms with an absent father, the hugely charismatic Graham, who died when Damon was just 15 years old. Motorbikes were a shared passion for father and son, so a young Damon made his name on two wheels before a John Webb marketing brainwave saw him make his four-wheel debut long after younger chargers. From then on, Damon knew he had to work twice as hard to catch up. The book brilliantly conveys the constant struggle to step out of the long shadow of his dad, and deals with Damon’s never-ending doubts – which only seem to subside when that dream Williams drive delivers him the world championship. But then began an even more difficult journey, once Williams discarded its title winner and left Damon in the wilderness with Arrows, then Jordan, yet unable to leave F1 because of contract obligations. In his racing career he was often portrayed as uneasy with his stardom, but as this book displays in its unblinking way, he carries the same doubts and worries that we all have in our lives. Rarely has a much admired sports person been quite as honest as Damon in the superficial world of the celebrity autobiography, so this is to be welcomed. Quite simply, this is a fascinating and a brilliant read. DC Published by Pan MacMillan ISBN: 978-1-5098-3190-6, £20Following publicity from major tech news outlets, Crypter, the encryption service designed to encrypt chat messages, has been blocked by social media giant Facebook. After Crypter, an app developed by Sussex University student Max Mitchell, was touted by the likes of BGR and TechCrunch earlier this week, Facebook "clocked on" to the encryption service, effectively blocking the tool from use, according to Crypter. "We will be working extremely hard on another way around, so still download the extension as an update will be pushed out automatically," Crypter's website says. "We at Crypter are really sorry about this." So I asked the people/person behind https://t.co/j1v0hFjrlI a question. I am certain that this is safe. pic.twitter.com/c2vOlpZaf2 — Colin Keigherキヤー・コリン (@afreak) February 5, 2016 Crypter invited users to "give us a hand," via GitHub. A plugin for Firefox and Chrome, according to TechCrunch, Crypter encrypts Facebook messages using a password that the two communicators agree upon. The password is used to encrypt a message on the sender side, creating ciphered text that is sent over Facebook's server, then used to locally decrypt the text on the receiver side. Crypter's designers said the service was borne of concerns over the vulnerability of private messages from the prying eyes of private companies seeking to sell personal data for use in targeted advertising, and from government snoops that persecute or suppress protest incitement or other democratic speech. "We had an 'if you can’t beat them, join them' attitude, to designing Crypter. Instead of inviting users to join a brand new chat application we decided to apply it to an already established one – Facebook. And at the same time making sure that we don’t interrupt with our users existing habits." The move to block Crypter comes even as Facebook has spoken up against government decryption efforts, such as the Investigatory Powers Bill in the UK, which would allow security services to hack anyone’s device and access their web history. Facebook is among the many tech-sector voices that have opposed the US government's efforts to weaken encryption security for the benefit of law enforcement. ‘Don’t Panic’: Study pours cold water on police fears over encryptionhttps://t.co/ULh5z7qldUpic.twitter.com/rJZFyWq1mC — RT America (@RT_America) February 2, 2016 While the Obama administration said in October that it would not compel tech companies to offer backdoor access, the White House said it would continue its efforts to informally pressure companies to create a way for the government to look at people’s data when they are under investigation. FBI Director James Comey is among the more vocal proponents of government backdoor access to encrypted data. “The administration has decided not to seek a legislative remedy now, but it makes sense to continue the conversations with industry,” Comey told a Senate committee in October 2015. Obama is now obliged to publicly address encryption https://t.co/XzqcFBli6Fpic.twitter.com/yERNA2QxZS — RT America (@RT_America) October 29, 2015 A recent study found that encryption is not as indestructible as law enforcement in the US has claimed, and that policing agencies still have options in their attempts at thwarting privacy online. Tech companies, shown to be ultimately complicit in the National Security Agency's global surveillance programs, have maintained a reformist stance regarding US surveillance policies, which they say undermine their products and consumer trust. Facebook recently released a feature enabling Android users to browse the social media site using Tor’s anonymization methods.The 44-year-old man was found guilty of kidnapping and extortion charges over the May 2010 attack off Oman on the chemical tanker Marida Marguerite which had 22 crew aboard. The hostages were only released in December of that year after a $5 million (€3.6million) ransom was paid by the German shipping company that owns the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel. The pirate commander was arrested in May 2013 when he applied for refugee status in Germany, using false papers. He was identified by his fingerprints, and later by witnesses flown in by the court from India. The man, who was not named, has one week to appeal the sentence, which was short of the maximum 15-year-term, but more than the seven years demanded by the defence. During the hostage ordeal, the mostly Indian crew suffered "cruel treatment, torture and mock executions," said a statement by the court in northwestern city of Osnabrück. The captain was threatened with a bullet fired next to his head, the chief engineer was handcuffed and suspended by a pipe, and some crew had their genitals tied with cable binders, the court said. Prosecutors could not prove that the defendant was head of the entire operation, but they were able to convince the court that he had at least tolerated the torture of the hostages. He had also guarded the captives with an automatic rifle, made key decisions on board, including on sharing the ransom, and was one of the last pirates to leave the ship, the court said. The trial was only Germany's second against Somali pirates. A Hamburg court in October 2012 jailed 10 pirates who had hijacked a freighter to terms of between two and seven years jail. After a spike of pirate attacks at the start of the last decade, cases have diminished off the Horn of Africa, deterred by an international deployment of warships to patrol the coast. The number of pirate attacks, according to the EU Naval Force Somalia, fell from a peak of 176 in 2011 to seven in 2013. This year there have so far been two attacks, and a vessel with 50 hostages remains in pirate hands.Verizon Wireless pulled out the stops for today's DROID R2-D2 launch. There were even a couple of stormtroopers present at New York's Herald Square this morning (we're told no one was hurt or seized by the Empire). Through the mayhem, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a DROID R2-D2, and I wanted to give you all a quick rundown of what the device has going for it. First things first, I can confirm that the DROID R2-D2 is based solely on the DROID 2. There is no secret 1.2Ghz processor, it runs the same 1Ghz processor found in the DROID 2 and it's still fast enough to churn through phone processes. The device comes out of its box with Android 2.2 (froyo), but none of this is why you're here. We all know that you're here because the device is based on R2-D2 from Star Wars and, hey, there's no shame in that. So let's just cut to the chase and take a look at what makes this device worthy of carrying R2-D2's name. From the time the box hits your hands, it's clear that DROID R2-D2 is about experience. It's shaded in the same dark gray that has become a trademark of the Verizon Wireless DROID lineup. The difference here is a carbonite-esque DROID R2-D2 embossed on its front, while the back reads in raised letters, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, complete with a reminder that this is, indeed, a limited edition. The face of the device is similar to the DROID 2, but the edges of its 3.7-inch, 480 x 854 screen are outlined with a subtle circuitry pattern. Additionally, the beveling around the face of the DROID R2-D2 is silver instead of the blueish color found on the DROID 2. Sliding the device open reveals that the keyboard is outlined in white, and R2-D2 is printed on the backside of the screen. Then on the back, emblazoned in blue, white and silver, is the titular hero of the device: R2-D2 From there, it becomes less about external aesthetics and more about little tweaks to the device's functionality. Included on the DROID R2-D2 are a handful of additions aimed at satiating Star Wars fans (read: the people who will be buying this device.) The first change that sticks out is a Star Wars-themed bootup screen in which R2-D2 makes an appearance and sounds off in some fairly loud astromech talk. The home screen then opens to reveal a Star Wars background, where the opening sliders feature the insignias of the Alliance and the Empire. A number of active wallpapers have also been added. They include: 3D Millennium Falcon, The Empire Strikes Back, asteroids, R2-D2, space slug and lightspeed, which is the coolest of the wallpapers, but likely not the most practical. It activates by simply picking up the device, which then shows the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon blasting into lightspeed and R2-D2 screaming at the top of his robotic lungs — like I said, probably not the most practical. Even more novel than the wallpapers is the binoculars app and the "Best of R2-D2" video. The binoculars app shows the Battle of Hoth, complete with AT-AT walkers, as you look around. The app takes full use of the DROID's motion awareness to project Hoth on your screen. The "Best of R2-D2" is exactly what it sounds like and it's unlikely that even the most diehard Star Wars fan will find cause to watch it more than once or twice. While the DROID R2-D2 is undoubtedly cool, I still question whether it's worth buying. At $250 after a $100 mail-in rebate, it's priced at the upper end of Android devices. On the other hand, the addition of a very cool Star Wars R2-D2 media dock does justify the price increase beyond just the limited edition style. In the end, I think that you're simply looking for an upgrade, the DROID R2-D2 probably isn't for you. If, on the other hand, you're a huge Star Wars fan and in the market for a DROID 2, it's not a bad investment. [Videos by Evan Wexler with photos by Jehangir Irani]Summary The Android application provided by Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN service can be crashed by downloading a large file containing a list of current VPN servers. This can be exploited by an MITM attacker via intercepting and replacing this file. While the file is digitally signed, it is not served over SSL and the application did not contain logic for checking if the provided file is very large. The vendor has fixed this issue in v1.3.3.1 and users should install the latest version. MITRE has assigned # CVE-2017-15882 to track this issue. Vulnerability Details Private Internet Access (PIA) is a commercial VPN service operated by London Trust Media, Inc. The vendor provides a privacy service to encrypt Internet connections via VPN tunnels and have them terminate on anonymous IP addresses. PIA provides official clients for multiple operating systems including Windows, Chrome, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. While monitoring network traffic of a test device running Android, we observed that the official PIA Android client application downloaded from the Google Play store made network calls to a PIA server to retrieve a list of current VPN servers in JSON format. This call was done over HTTP without the use of SSL / TLS. However, the resulting server file was digitally signed via a base-64 encoded signature appearing on the bottom of the file. Example URL: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpninfo/servers?version=60&os=android File layout: [JSON packet with server info] [newline] [Base-64 encoded signature] Because the file download is done without SSL / TLS, it is possible for an MITM attacker to intercept this traffic and inject their own data. If the data packet is larger than the memory on the device, the application will crash since it did not include a size check to avoid large downloads. Because of the digital signature, we were not able to modify the actual server data within the JSON packet but we were successful in crashing the application by injecting a large packet. Steps To Replicate (on Ubuntu 17.10) 1. Install the PIA application on the Android device, sign up for an account and login via the application. DO NOT activate the VPN. Flick away the app. 2. Install dnsmasq and NGINX on the Linux host: sudo apt-get install dnsmasq nginx 3. Modify the /etc/hosts file to add the following entry to map PIA’s domain name to the Linux host: 192.168.1.x www.privateinternetaccess.com 4. Configure /etc/dnsmasq.conf file to listen on the IP and restart DNSMASQ listen-address=192.168.1.x sudo /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart 5. Use mkdir and fallocate to create a large server file in “/var/www/html/” (you may need to use sudo): cd /var/www/html mkdir vpninfo cd vpninfo fallocate -l 2.5G servers 6. Modify the settings on the Android test phone to static, set DNS to point to “192.168.1.x”. AT THIS POINT – Android will resolve DNS against the Linux computer and serve the large servers file 7. Re-open the PIA app and observe the crash. All testing was done on v1.3.3 of the Android application using a Linux host running Ubuntu v17.10 and Android test devices running Android v7 and v8. Vendor Response and Mitigation To fix this issue, the vendor (London Trust Media / PIA) had added a size check when downloading and processing the file containing a list of VPN servers. This fix is available in v1.3.3.1 or later, and has been deployed to the Google Play store. Users should install the latest version to fix this issue. Bounty Information This bug has fulfilled the requirements of the vendor’s bounty program and a bounty has been paid. References CVE-ID: CVE-2017-15882 CWE: CWE-400 – Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (‘Resource Exhaustion’) Credits We would like to thank the vendor for the quick turnaround and fix for this vulnerability. Text of the advisory written by Yakov Shafranovich. Timeline 2017-10-03: Email sent to support about the process for reporting security issues because we were not aware of their disclosure guidelines 2017-10-18: Initial reply from the vendor asking for more information 2017-10-18: Information about vulnerability provided to the vendor 2017-10-20: Follow-up communication with the vendor confirming the vulnerability in the latest version; vendor acknowledgement of the vulnerability 2017-10-21: Follow up communication with the vendor 2017-10-22: Fixed version provided by the vendor for testing; fix confirmed 2017-10-23: Bounty payment received 2017-10-24: Follow-up communication regarding public disclosure; fixed version deployed to the app store 2017-10-24: Draft advisory provided to vendor for review 2017-10-25: Public disclosureSisters in curves! Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy'make a pact to maintain their weight' in thin-obsessed Hollywood They are arguably two of Hollywood biggest success stories but with criticism often leveled towards their weight and not their acting abilities. But now, Radar has reported that actresses Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy have joined forces. The fuller figured actresses are said to have banded together to support each other and to try to maintain their weight despite the pressures from Tinsel Town. Fight club: Melissa McCarthy, seen here in October in Beverly Hills, and Rebel Wilson, picture promoting her show also in October, have banded together to support each other and to try to maintain their weight despite the pressures from Tinsel Town Radaronline reports Rebel, 27, and Melissa, 43, are proud of their curves and intend to stay that way. A source told the website: 'Neither one of them is trying to lose weight and they’ve formed this little support group to keep each other from falling into the skinny Hollywood trap.' The pair have been friends for some time and starred together in the runaway hit Bridesmaids - while Rebel only had a smaller role compared to the older actress, but it helped propel the young Australian in to stardom. I got you: The pair, seen here at the MTV Movie Awards, have been friends for some time 'Rebel and Melissa have known each other for five years and there’s a lot of love there. 'Obviously, they could both snap their fingers and lose the weight because of the resources they have available to them - which could include everything from personal trainers to Lap Band surgery - but right now they’re agreeing with each other that they have to hold the line and provide a positive image for overweight girls everywhere.' The pair have not ruled out eventually losing weight for their health but now are content with their sizes - especially as their shapes are important to their careers. The source said: 'There will be plenty of time for dieting years from now, but Rebel and Melissa are determined to stay at their current sizes for now.' Both woman have found themselves the target of cruel taunts previously, with Rebel turning to Jenny Craig in Australia to help her get in shape. While she served as the face of the weight loss system, her role as 'Fat Amy' in Pitch Perfect and its sequel meant she had to drop out as she needed to remain the same size. This year reviewer Rex Reed branded Melissa 'tractor-sized' 'female hippo' when reviewing movie Identity Theft. Mellisa later New York Times: 'I felt really bad for someone who is swimming in so much hate. 'I just thought, that’s someone who’s in a really bad spot, and I am in such a happy spot. I laugh my head off every day with my husband and my kids who are mooning me and singing me songs.'Feature Story (510) 486-5375 • Reddit +1 Share 2 Shares In our universe there are particle accelerators 40 million times more powerful than the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. Scientists don’t know what these cosmic accelerators are or where they are located, but new results being reported from “IceCube,” the neutrino observatory buried at the South Pole, may show the way. These new results should also erase any doubts as to IceCube’s ability to deliver on its promise. “The IceCube Collaboration has announced the observation of 28 extremely high energy events that constitute the first solid evidence for astrophysical neutrinos from outside our solar system,” says Spencer Klein, a senior scientist with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and a long-time member of the IceCube Collaboration. “These 28 events include two of the highest energy neutrinos ever reported, which have been named Bert and Ernie.” The new results from IceCube, which were published in the journal Science, provide experimental confirmation that somewhere in the universe, something is accelerating particles to energies above 50 trillion electron volts (TeV) and, in the cases of Bert and Ernie, exceeding one quadrillion electron volts (PeV). By comparison, the LHC accelerates protons to approximately four TeV in each of its beams. While not telling scientists what cosmic accelerators are or where they’re located, the IceCube results do provide scientists with a compass that can help guide them to the answers. Cosmic accelerators have announced their presence through the rare ultra-high energy version of cosmic rays, which, despite the name, are electrically-charged particles, mostly protons but also some heavier atomic nuclei like iron. It is known that ultra-high energy cosmic rays originate from beyond our solar system but the electrical charge they carry bends their flight paths as they pass through interstellar magnetic fields, making it impossible to determine where in the universe they came from. However as cosmic ray protons and nuclei are accelerated, they interact with gas and light, resulting in the emission of neutrinos with energies proportional to the energies of the cosmic rays that produced them. Electrically neutral and nearly massless, neutrinos are like phantoms that travel through space in a straight line from their point of origin, passing through virtually everything in their path without being impacted. “The only way neutrinos interact is through the weak nuclear force, so they aren’t deflected by magnetic fields in flight, and they easily slip through dense matter like stars that would stop the cosmic rays themselves,” Klein says. “These same qualities that make neutrinos valuable observational tools also make neutrinos a challenge to study.” The IceCube observatory consists of 5,160 basketball-sized light detectors called Digital Optical Modules (DOMs), which were conceived and largely designed at Berkeley Lab. The DOMS are suspended along 86 strings that are embedded in a cubic kilometer of clear ice starting one and a half kilometers beneath the Antarctic surface. Out of the trillions of neutrinos that pass through the ice each day, a couple of hundred will collide with oxygen nuclei, yielding the blue light of Cherenkov radiation that IceCube’s DOMs detect. “Each of IceCube’s DOMs was designed to be a mini-computer server that you can log onto and download data from, or upload software to,” says Robert Stokstad, a senior scientist with Berkeley Lab’s Nuclear
pedestrian areas, or vias, just off the main road house nearly every luxury brand retailer a shopper could dream of. The avenue's oldest store, Kassatly's, has been in business since 1923. Photo courtesy of Christopher Ziemnowicz Santa Fe uniquely captures the spirit of the American Southwest, while offering visitors 400 years of history and amazing art... all along historic Canyon Road. The half-mile stretch of adobe buildings in Santa Fe's arts district has more than 100 galleries - many specializing in Native American arts and handicrafts - and restaurants serving Southwestern cuisine. Photo courtesy of D.J. Henson Music fans come to Memphis from across the globe to walk down Beale Street, a stretch of road through downtown and the birthplace of the blues. Music continues to thrive here, with many of the bars and clubs along Beale Street offering live music every night of the week. Photo courtesy of Dan Ball - Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Memphis' famed Beale Street took top honors in the four-week-long contest, and two other entertainment Meccas joined it on the winners list: New Orleans' legendary Bourbon Street and The Strip in Las Vegas. The 10 Winners of Favorite Iconic American Street are as follows: If this seems like a perfect travel list to undertake... we agree. Congratulations to all our winners! These iconic streets, and the cities in which they're found, have a special place in the hearts of our readers. Find travel guides for each of these 10 cities here. A full field of 20 nominees was selected by a panel of experts for this Readers' Choice contest category, and then shared with voters. To learn more about Readers' Choice, or to vote in current contests, go to www.10best.com/awards/travel/. 10Best is a division of USA TODAY Travel Media Group. The 10Best Readers' Choice contest is promoted on 10Best, USA TODAY and across various media, including some owned by Gannett.My Argonaut Cycles Road I’ve been trying to type out a few introductory sentences for this bike for the past few minutes and honestly, I have no idea where to begin. So let’s start out by me saying that it is by no means the first carbon fiber bike I have been offered but it was the first that had a compelling story attached with it, something I’m always intrigued by and will ultimately make for a better piece of journalism. For the past year or so, I’ve been watching Ben at Argonaut Cycles reinvent his modus operandi. He made the shift from building steel bikes to developing a new fabrication system with a local carbon manufacturer. Unlike anything else currently being manufactured domestically, or overseas, the new face of Argonaut is focused on the future of bicycle design. But that’s not to say that Argonaut’s steel past had been cast aside. Before he even began to sketch out his design, he met with the carbon engineers, who reverse-engineered some of his favorite steel tubesets, and improved upon their weaknesses. Ben wanted his bikes to have the same ride characteristics of his steel bikes, just more technologically advanced. He came to loosely call this “steel 2.0” but you should take that with a grain of salt because let’s face it, carbon fiber is not steel. This bike is however a by-product of domestic engineering and fabrication. The carbon weave is from the States. It’s cut to shape, moulded by a proprietary process, assembled and finished all within an hour drive from Portland. The process used produces very little waste. There’s no hodgepodge assemblage, no messy resin and it’s 100% custom. Basically, it’s a streamlined process that utilizes technologies that allow each frame to be engineered to a customer’s specific needs. That’s what had me intrigued in Argonaut and so I agreed to come on board. Soon, I started to hear the echos of “steel is real” in the back of my head, however. I knew my Bishop is as perfect as a steel bike could be. The geometry is dialed and I’ve never ridden anything like it. So I approached Ben with the idea to make the exact same bicycle, just with his new carbon manufacturing process. Dimensions, trail, geometry, were all the same, just the profile changed a bit to a racier silhouette. Even the tube’s proprietary layup were influenced by the same steel that my Bishop is built from. Bottom line is, I wanted to be able to subjectively compare the two materials. After I filled out my ride journal, had numerous talks with Ben and designed the paint, the bike was done. Last week, I arrived in Portland and immediately got to check it out. First thing I noticed was how much of a stellar job Keith Anderson did on the paint. The build wasn’t bad either! Rotor cranks, SRAM Red group, ENVE tapered fork, ENVE bars, Thomson stem, Fizik Kurve saddle, Chris King hubs to H+Son Archetype rims (built by none other than Sugar Wheel Works), Chris King PF30 ceramic BB and that special I8 Chris King headset. It was a dream build. But what about the ride? The first day, we did a nice 25 mile ride up Saltzman, then Saturday, we headed out towards Mt. Hood for 75 miles (then Billy broke a spoke and we had to call it quits). My initial reaction is very optimistic. The ride is what I can only call “light and responsive”. It handles like my Bishop but even better. Descents are faster and it climbs with little or no qualms. There’s no jarring feel when I hit rough terrain. Everything feels dampened and smooth. My previous experiences with carbon rental bikes like Cervelo, Specialized and other brands were always harsh. The bikes were stiff and I didn’t enjoy the ride. I’m not a racer, I don’t need a bike engineered to race. I need a bike that rides how I want it to, when I want it to and that’s what Argonaut produced for me. It really is like steel 2.0… So what about my Bishop? There’s nothing on this planet that would make me stop riding it. That’s a fact. Steel is still, real but this new experience has been loads of fun. As for the bike itself, it’s very easy on the eyes. The bike weighs 15.5 lbs as seen here (minus bottles). With middle-grade LOOK pedals, 32h wheels and 28c tires, that’s not bad at all. See more photos in the gallery!Three wins. Three losses. In the end, all that mattered was three points, which the Quakes (3-3-0) earned with a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps (4-2-1) at Avaya Stadium. The Quakes were knocking on the door throughout the match for their first goal. Perhaps the two most promising looks were Adam Jahn’s disallowed goal on an offsides call at 8′ and Clarence Goodson’s shot that went just wide at 69′. The door swung open at 75′. In a flurry of shots by Cato, Salinas, and Nyassi, the Quakes scored the only goal of the match with Nyassi’s far-post blast past Caps ‘keeper Ousted. It was Nyassi’s first of the season, and first as a Quake. It was the only goal needed to secure the victory. The Caps had been riding a five game undefeated streak (4-0-1) prior to tonight’s match, but San Jose derailed that train with tonight’s convincing win. The Quakes led in almost every major category, including shots (12-5), shots on goal (4-0), passes (459-356), pass efficiency (77%-69%), crosses (15-4), corners (7-1), duels won (55-49), possession (58.6%-41.4%), and most importantly goals (1-0). The most impressive stat for me? The Caps, who have one of the most efficient offenses in MLS, had ZERO shots on goal. That is almost unheard of, and a testament to our defense which has given up just two shots on goal in two games. I knew our defense was good, and I had a suspicion we would win, but tonight’s defensive performance shows how potent we can be when we’re healthy, despite this match being the first shut-out of the year. My “Man of the Match” is the entire team. Last week we played like individuals and lost. This week we played as a team and won. No one player did it alone, it was a collective effort, and a team victory. Next match: April 17 at New York Red Bulls. Comments commentsThe Wellington Phoenix midfielder Kosta Barbarouses thought he'd finally got on the scoreboard for the side with their 3-nil win over the Central Coast Mariners at the weekend, but officials have ruled otherwise. Barbarouses was claiming his second minute strike from outside the box as his goal, however it took a deflection off teamate Hamish Watson who has been credited with the goal. Photo: Twitter While the result marked a change in fortune for the Phoenix following the resignation of coach Ernie Merrick, Watson admits Barbourouses is none too pleased. "It was a good finish wasn't it?," joked Watson. "They all count, is all I'll say so I'll take it...(Kosta's) not very happy about it. He's still adamant it's his and came off a defender so I've said I'll set him up for one on the weekend. Photo: Photosport The Phoenix, now sit eighth on the A-League table and play the Western Sydney Wanderers in Auckland on Saturday.This article is over 3 years old Environmental groups and some MPs are ramping up their campaign against ‘factory trawlers’ as the Dirk Dirk approaches Victorian waters Petition to ban super trawlers sent to parliament as 95-metre boat nears A petition urging a ban on massive fishing trawlers has been presented to parliamentarians, as environmentalists warn such a vessel will soon enter Australian waters. The Dirk Dirk, also known as the Geelong Star, is 95 metres long and will operate outside Victoria’s fishing exclusion zone which ends 3km from the shore. “Right now there is a large freezer factory trawler steaming towards Australia, despite the ongoing broad opposition to the industrialisation of our fisheries,” Rebecca Hubbard from Environment Tasmania said. “[Parliamentary secretary for Agriculture] Senator Colbeck is welcoming this new trawler into Australia.” “It is almost 100 metres long. It will be the largest vessel fishing close to Australian shores and second only to a vessel operating deep in the Southern Ocean,” independent MP Andrew Wilkie told reporters on Wednesday. Labor implemented a temporary two-year ban on super trawlers in 2012, after public outcry over the entry of vessel FV Margiris, later renamed Abel Tasman. Environmentalists say the vessels deplete native fish stock and affect the food chain of other species like sharks, birds and dolphins. On Christmas Eve last year, Colbeck announced a permanent ban on super trawlers, which he defined as vessels over 130 metres in length. Vessels smaller than that with large freezer-factory capacity are allowed to fish in Australian waters. The Greens say that definition is not good enough, and have accused Colbeck of trying to avoid scrutiny with the timing of the announcement. “He does a Christmas dump and run of a piece of legislation that we haven’t seen any detail on, that he wants to ban trawlers of 140 metres,” Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said. “Well there are only three vessels that big [worldwide].” “I think the Coalition in this instance are certainly preferencing commercial fishing over recreational fishing. There’s no other explanation for it,” he said. The Liberal party received $320,000 in political donations from the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association in the 2013-14 financial year. Whish-Wilson said the donation “could be perceived as political and therefore looking for political outcomes”. Labor senator Carol Brown said the government must take into account the fishing capacity of the vessel in the ban. “It should not be on the basis of their size, it’s about what they can do,” Brown said. A petition of 75,000 signatures against the entry of large fishing vessels into Australian waters was presented to parliamentarians on Wednesday morning. Several environmental groups, including Rebecca Hubbard’s, had collected the signatures. A spokeswoman for Colbeck told Guardian Australia that the senator had not yet received the petition. The document is expected to be tabled in the Senate shortly. Wilkie, who led the fight against the Margiris, said the outrage over super trawlers was one of the biggest environmental campaigns in recent history, labelling “an almost unprecedented level of public concern with the industrialisation of our fisheries”. Labor MP Melissa Parke quoted one of her constituents, author Tim Winton, in explaining why people signed the petition. She said people were concerned “with the Godzillas of the sea coming to plunder our family silver; silver that moves, breathes and swims”.In Abandoned, Europe / By Tom / 2 September 2015 (Image: Andrew Macpherson) Scotland’s rugged Mull of Kintyre is an isolated peninsula steeped in history. An ancient landbridge thought to have been used by early humans migrating from continental Europe to Ireland, the Northern Irish coastlines of counties Antrim and Ulster are clearly visible. Today, the Kintyre peninsula remains an enigmatic place, with a rich heritage spanning millennia. More recently, the former RAF and Fleet Air Arm airfield at Machrihanish, near Campbeltown, was said to have been used by shadowy military aircraft during the eighties and nineties, while Avro Vulcan XL427 met its end there. To the west, the nearby headland at Uisaed Point exhibits an unusual series of abandoned concrete installations overlooking the Irish Sea. Secret Scotland details the history of the mysterious foundations, which once formed the base of the Machrihanish Radio Station, an experimental transatlantic communications system in use from December 1905 to December 1906. The facility is understood to have been backed by the National Electric Signalling Company of Washington (NESCO), in the United States, and twinned with a similar installation at Brant Rock, Massachusetts developed by Canadian inventor Reginald Aubrey Fessenden. (Image: Photobucket via Secret Scotland) According to a 1905 report by the Campbeltown Courier: The station stands about 450 feet high, being 50 feet higher than at first estimated. It looks like a badly proportioned chimneystack, having a cap-like arrangement on top all bristling with huge spikes. The whole ground within the boundaries is covered with a network of wires, laid grid fashion in trenches and covered only with some earth, and the ends of the wire are led into a deep trench along the shore at sea level. There are a few houses for the accommodation of the staff. The secrets of the station are being well preserved. The ground is fenced off and no visitors are allowed within the enclosure. But the Machrihanish Radio Station was destined to be short-lived. Initially successful, transaltantic communications which relied on Morse Code radiotelegraphy were soon lost. It would be three weeks before the signal was reestablished, following the dispatch of an engineer from North America. But trouble returned in December 1906 when high winds caused the guy-wires to snap and the station’s mast collapsed to the ground. (Image: Andrew Macpherson) Unlike the Brant Rock facility, an inspection revealed that the supporting guy-wires had not been properly installed by the Brown Hoisting Company of Cleveland. Indeed, the Machrihanish radio mast had been lucky to survive for as long as it did. According to Secret Scotland, a subcontractor was blamed for the tower’s failure. Today, the abandoned concrete blocks at Uisaed Point are all that remain of the Machrihanish Radio Station, relics of a compelling project in the history of telecommunications, and a fascinating modern ruin on the west side of the Mull of Kintyre. Related – Ruined Spy Bases: 10 Abandoned Radar & Early Warning Stations of the WorldWe don't know exactly how much hockey, if at all, we'll see this season, but while we sit and wait for Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman to come to an agreement fantasy hockey has arrived. Registration is open for the 2012-13 NHL season and you can jump in a mock draft at any time before your regular league holds theirs. Scroll to continue with content Ad New for 2012: New Commissioner Tools Import traded draft picks from last season Set a keeper deadline and allow fantasy managers to declare keepers Approve keepers and assign them to your draft Polls Add a poll to your league message board Reach quick consensus on league issues Add up to 10 voting options Playoff Reseeding Reseed your championship bracket automatically so the highest seeds always play the lowest seeds Predetermined Random Draft Order Randomize your live draft order before your draft date Configurable Draft Pick Times Change the time allowed per draft pick to speed up or slow down your live draft Topic Pinning Keep your most important league topics at the top of the message board After the jump, your top 100 players for 2012-13, according to the Y! Fantasy Hockey staff. 1. Steven Stamkos 2. Evgeni Malkin 3. Claude Giroux 4. Sidney Crosby 5. Alex Ovechkin 6. Henrik Lundqvist 7. Corey Perry 8. Daniel Sedin 9. John Tavares 10. Jonathan Quick Giroux was No. 54 in the Y! rankings last year and after a 93-point campaign he gets the No. 3 spot. Can he repeat his success with Jaromir Jagr in Dallas? Concern for Crosby will always be there with his concussion history. He had two comebacks last season and potted 37 points in 22 games. Would you take him higher than No. 4 in your league? Story continues 11. Pekka Rinne 12. Zach Parise 13. Ilya Kovalchuk 14. Phil Kessel 15. James Neal 16. Rick Nash 17. Scott Hartnell 18. Jimmy Howard 19. Jason Spezza 20. Henrik Sedin 21. Tuukka Rask 22. Patrick Sharp 23. Eric Staal 24. Tyler Seguin 25. Erik Karlsson 26. Anze Kopitar 27. Taylor Hall 28. Cory Schneider 29. Milan Lucic 30. Bobby Ryan 31. Jordan Eberle 32. Jarome Iginla 33. Ilya Bryzgalov 34. Jaroslav Halak 35. Patrick Kane 36. David Backes 37. Henrik Zetterberg 38. Jonathan Toews 39. Gabriel Landeskog 40. Mike Smith 41. Nicklas Backstrom 42. Cam Ward 43. Carey Price 44. Kris Letang 45. Patrick Marleau 46. Brad Richards 47. Martin St. Louis 48. Jeff Skinner 49. Kari Lehtonen 50. Mike Richards 51. Dustin Byfuglien 52. Thomas Vanek 53. Zdeno Chara 54. Logan Couture 55. Braden Holtby 56. Ryan Miller 57. Marc-Andre Fleury 58. Loui Eriksson 59. Marian Hossa 60. Joe Thornton 61. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 62. Brian Campbell 63. Joe Pavelski 64. Wayne Simmonds 65. Matt Duchene 66. Roberto Luongo 67. Evander Kane 68. Dan Boyle 69. Alexandre Burrows 70. Jason Pominville 71. Craig Anderson 72. Max Pacioretty 73. Shea Weber 74. Martin Brodeur 75. Johan Franzen 76. Jamie Benn 77. Dany Heatley 78. Nail Yakupov 79. Dustin Brown 80. Alex Pietrangelo 81. Matt Moulson 82. Brad Marchand 83. Danny Briere 84. David Clarkson 85. P.A. Parenteau 86. Ray Whitney 87. Justin Williams 88. Jordan Staal 89. Ryan Suter 90. Shane Doan 91. Devan Dubnyk 92. Ryane Clowe 93. Patrice Bergeron 94. P.K. Subban 95. Tyler Ennis 96. Ryan Getzlaf 97. Alexander Edler 98. Drew Stafford 99. Teemu Selanne 100. Ryan Callahan rookie Sign up your team and league today. We'll have plenty of fantasy hockey coverage this week, including posts by Dobber, who'll be back for another season with us. Any surprises in the Y! list? Who's too high? Who's too low? Anyone not crack the top 100 that you believe deserves to be there?DAVIS (CBS13) — A young dog born with an unusual deformity is being cared for by the Yolo County SPCA but will soon need a good home. Joey, a six-and-a-half-week old Chihuahua, was born without her front legs, but a veterinarian refused to euthanize the dog when the breeder brought her in. “The vet decided no,” said Yolo SPCA spokesperson Megan Galloway. “She doesn’t know there is anything wrong and she’s a happy puppy, otherwise she was just born deformed.” Joey has to push up onto her back legs to get around, but she can get where she needs to go, Galloway said. “She loves to cuddle or just go in her bag and be carried around,” Megan said. “She will do anything for a bit of peanut butter.” The Yolo SPCA has Joey in foster care and is hoping to raise enough money to get her a custom-fit wheel chair to get around, something that could cost about $700. “There are other dogs like her, so I don’t think it’s uncommon, but it’s definitely a Chihuahua problem. It probably has to do with inbreeding and just bad breeding,” Megan said. Joey is the featured angel fund pet for the Yolo SPCA, which means money donated will go to her medical expenses.Six dead, dozens wounded as Afghan Taliban strike German consulate The death toll from a powerful Taliban truck bombing at the German consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif city rose to at least six Friday, with more than 100 others wounded in a major militant assault. The Taliban said the bombing late Thursday, which tore a massive crater in the road and overturned cars, was a "revenge attack" for US air strikes this month in the volatile province of Kunduz that left 32 civilians dead. The explosion, followed by sporadic gunfire, reverberated across the usually tranquil northern city, shearing off the facades of nearby buildings and blowing out windows several miles away. NATO soldiers walk past the site of an attack targeting the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan on November 11, 2016 ©Farshad Usyan (AFP) "The suicide attacker rammed his explosives-laden car into the wall of the German consulate," local police chief Sayed Kamal Sadat told AFP. NATO said its quick reaction force helped evacuate all 21 staff members of the consulate to Camp Marmal, a German base in Mazar-i-Sharif. The city's hospitals received bodies of six civilians, including two killed by bullets, said local doctor Noor Mohammad Fayez. At least 128 others were wounded, some of them critically and many with shrapnel injuries, he added. Deputy police chief Abdul Razaq Qadri gave a death toll of seven, including two motorcyclists who were shot dead by German forces close to the consulate after they refused to heed their warning to stop. A suspect had also been detained near the diplomatic mission on Friday morning, Qadri added. "The consulate building has been heavily damaged," the German foreign ministry said in a statement. "Our sympathies go out to the Afghan injured and their families." A diplomatic source in Berlin said Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had convened a crisis meeting soon after the attack. Afghan special forces cordoned off the consulate, previously well-known as Mazar Hotel, after the explosion as helicopters flew over the site and ambulances with wailing sirens rushed to the area. The carnage underscores worsening insecurity in Afghanistan as Taliban insurgents ramp up nationwide attacks despite repeated government attempts to jump-start stalled peace negotiations. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the "barbaric" attack, calling it a crime against humanity. - America's longest war - Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the "martyrdom attack" on the consulate had left "tens of invaders" dead. The insurgents routinely exaggerate battlefield claims. Posting a Google Earth image of the consulate on Twitter, Mujahid said the assault was in retaliation for American air strikes in Kunduz. US forces conceded last week that its air strikes "very likely" resulted in civilian casualties in Kunduz, pledging a full investigation into the incident. The strikes killed several children and triggered impassioned protests in Kunduz city, with the victims' relatives parading mutilated bodies of dead children piled into open trucks through the streets. They came after a Taliban assault left two American soldiers and three Afghan special forces soldiers dead near Kunduz city. Civilian casualties caused by NATO forces have been one of the most contentious issues in the 15-year campaign against the insurgents, prompting strong public and government criticism. The country's worsening conflict has prompted US forces to step up air strikes to support their struggling Afghan counterparts, fuelling the perception that they are increasingly being drawn back into the conflict. The latest attack in Mazar-i-Sharif comes just two days after a bitter US presidential election. Afghanistan got scarcely a passing mention in the election campaign -- even though the situation there will be an urgent matter for the new president. President-elect Donald Trump is set to inherit America's longest war with no end in sight. Map of Afghanistan locating Mazar-i-Sharif, where Taliban attacked the German consulate with a powerful truck bomb on November 10, 2016 ©- (AFP Graphic) Afghan special forces cordoned off the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, after it was attacked by the Taliban ©Farshad Usyan (AFP)Funforge announced today that its board game Tokaido is now available on PC via Steam. It costs $10. It’s the latest in a steady beat of board game adaptations to hit Steam, such as Tomb of Annihilation. Tokaido has players walking a road in ancient Japan. The physical version has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, according to Funforge. This digital version of Tokaido launched in March for iOS and Android. The iOS version is the No. 135 ranked digital board game in the U.S. Apple Store, according to App Annie. Other popular board games have been finding new audiences with digital versions. These releases can also attract fans of the original who might be looking for an easier play experience. Notable board games like Carcassone and Ticket to Ride are also available on Steam.2016 HO3 is seen at the top left corner of this animation made of ten 2mn long exposures in I band using MODS1 on the left side of LBT - The telescope is tracking the moving asteroid, so background stars (and even a couple of galaxies) are trailed. Credit: LBTO At the 49th Annual Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting in Provo, Utah, astronomers led by Vishnu Reddy at the University of Arizona confirm true nature of one of Earth's companions on its journey around the sun. Was it a burned-out rocket booster, tumbling along a peculiar near-earth orbit around the sun, and only occasionally getting close enough to be studied with even the largest telescopes? Not at all, as it turns out. While, based on previous observations, most astronomers had strongly suspected that object (469219) 2016 HO3 was an ordinary asteroid and not space junk, it took a team of astronomers led by Vishnu Reddy, assistant professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, working with one of the world's largest telescopes, the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), on Mt. Graham in Southeastern Arizona, to learn the true nature of this near-Earth object. 2016 HO3 is a small near-Earth object (NEO) measuring no more than 100 meters (330 feet) across that, while orbiting the Sun, also appears to circle around the Earth as a "quasi-satellite." Only five quasi-satellites have been discovered so far, but 2016 HO3 is the most stable of them. The provenance of this object is unknown. On timescales of a few centuries, 2016 HO3 remains within 38-100 lunar distances from us. Light curve of 2016 HO3 showing the 28m rotation period of the asteroid (MODS on LBT on Apr 14, and LMI on DCT on Apr 18). Credit: University of Arizona "While HO3 is close to the Earth, its small size – possibly not larger than 100 feet – makes it challenging target to study, said Reddy. "Our observations show that the HO3 rotates once every 28 minutes and is made of materials similar to asteroids." Soon after its discovery in 2016, astronomers were not sure where this object came from, but in a recent presentation at the annual Division for Planetary Sciences Conference of the American Astronomical Society in Provo, Utah, Reddy and his colleagues show that Earth's new traveling buddy is an asteroid and not space junk. The new observations confirm that 2016 HO3 is a natural object of similar provenance to other small NEOs that zip by the Earth each month. "In an effort to constrain its rotation period and surface composition, we observed 2016 HO3 on April 14 and 18 with the Large Binocular Telescope and the Discovery Channel Telescope," Reddy said. "The derived rotation period and the spectrum of emitted light are not uncommon amongst small NEOs, suggesting that 2016 HO3 is a natural object of similar provenance to other small NEOs." In their presentation, "Ground-based Characterization of Earth Quasi Satellite (469219) 2016 HO3," Reddy and his co-authors, Olga Kuhn, Audrey Thirouin, Al Conrad, Renu Malhotra, Juan Sanchez, and Christian Veillet, point out that the light reflected off the surface of 2016 HO3 is similar to meteorites we have on Earth. One way to visualize HO3's orbit is by picturing a hula hoop dancer – the sun in this analogy – twirling two hoops around the hips at the same time, ever so slightly out of sync. While it orbits the sun, the object makes yearly loops (link to www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMJc7gmychk ) around the Earth. As a result, the object appears to orbit the Earth, but it is not gravitationally bound to our planet. "Of the near-Earth objects we know of, these types of objects would be the easiest to reach, so they could potentially make suitable targets for exploration," said Veillet, director of the LBT Observatory. "With its binocular arrangement of two 8.4-meter mirrors, coupled with a very efficient pair of imagers and spectrographs like MODS, LBT is ideally suited to the characterization of these Earth's companions." More information: "Ground-based Characterization of Earth Quasi Satellite (469219) 2016 HO3," Vishnu Reddy, Olga Kuhn, Audrey Thirouin, Al Conrad, Renu Malhotra, Juan A. Sanchez, Christian Veillet. 49th Annual Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting - Tuesday, October 17th, 2017. 204.07. Provided by University of Arizona Explore further: Asteroid tracking network observes close approach Related StoriesBy Randy Foye & Noah Scheinmann. Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio streamed directly from their servers. Jeremy Lin hasn't always been a household name. Initially, his meteoric rise to global inspiration was a result of his basketball talent. And yes, he is an NBA star, currently on the Brooklyn Nets. But Jeremy's greatest impact occurs when he meets people away from the court. As the son of immigrant parents who sacrificed everything for their children, Jeremy values each moment of his success & recognizes the responsibility that comes with his fame. How many of you are familiar with the obstacles he conquered or the importance of his faith? Do you know how Jeremy felt during his historic time in NYC? From basketball loving son, to ignored Northern California teenager, to becoming a superstar and role model, it's hard to find a bigger and better underdog story in all of sports let alone in the NBA. Jeremy and Randy, friends & teammates, share personal stories and Jeremy opens up about his own struggles with anxiety and the racism he faced while riding the roller coaster of his life on and off the court. If Jeremy Lin’s story doesn’t convince you that anything is possible, well then, you may never be convinced. Outside Shot includes an original theme & music from Award-Winning poet, writer & artist J. Ivy (www.j-ivy.com) and Aaron Richardson (@jsoulmusic) Upcoming episodes will include Syrian born NJ Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, Jay Wright, Will Castro, Sandy Pyonin and more. PLEASE don’t forget to click on SUBSCRIBE to DOWNLOAD and then share a RATING & REVIEW. For more on Jeremy Lin: https://www.jlin7.com/ or @jlin7 on social mediaDon’t write Big Solar off yet. With the plunge in photovoltaic panel prices, US utilities that once enthusiastically signed deals for massive solar power plants to be built in the desert began to favor small installations deployed near cities that don’t require the construction of multi-billion-dollar new transmission lines. But a new report shows that so-called utility-scale solar—which supplies more than 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity from a central power plant—hit a new record in the third quarter of 2013. So far this year, 1,081 MW of utility-scale solar has come online, with the flip switched on 282 MW in the third quarter, according to market research firm SNL. That’s a 15% spike over the third quarter of 2012. The number to watch, however, is how many megawatts are in the pipeline to be built in the coming years. There are currently 36,794 MW worth of projects under development in the US. SNL expects a building boom over the next two years with than half of that solar coming online to qualify for a 30% federal tax credit that is set to fall to 10% by the end of 2016. Rooftop solar accounts for two-thirds of solar installations in the US. Big Solar, however, still holds its appeal as the economies of scale and higher electricity production from deploying hundreds of thousands of solar panels in the sunshine-soaked desert means utilities can lock in cheaper rates under long-term contracts. Just this week, for instance, solar panel manufacturer and developer First Solar announced it would build a 250 MW photovoltaic farm in California for NextEra Energy Resources. The quarterly numbers for utility-scale solar also can be a bit misleading. It can take years to build a Big Solar power plant and the megawatts are only counted once it begins to generate electricity. So expect big jumps in 2014 when projects like BrightSource Energy’s 370-megawatt Ivanpah solar thermal power plant come online.There were "a tonne" of elements 343 Industries wished had been improved while making Halo 4, Frank O'Connor has said - and he's pledged to "do better next time". But overall, O'Connor remains proud of what he called "the best" game in the series. In a retrospective post on the Halo Waypoint blog, he praised how the 343 had filled the "oversized shoes" left by series creator Bungie. "We altered the engine. We expanded the universe. We innovated in storytelling, technology, and even marketing," O'Connor wrote. "It wasn't flawless by any stretch of the imagination, but by most objective criteria, it was a resounding success. "So we know we have a lot to do. And we know we have a lot to learn. But we also know that we now have the capacity, the teamwork, the technology and the experience to do much better next time." 343 Industries is currently working on Halo 4 DLC and, beyond that, a next-generation Xbox Halo game. "There are a tonne of things we wish we'd done better [in Halo 4]," O'Connor continued. "Features that didn't make it into the final game. Glitches that emerged. Missteps made. DLC fiascos. Communication breakdowns. "We now have the capacity, the teamwork, the technology and the experience to do much better next time." Frank O'Connor, 343 Industries boss "But there were things that went astonishingly well - the creation of a genuinely competitive AAA studio chief among them." The team has stated that Halo 4 is just the first in the franchises' Reclaimer trilogy. 343 Industries is set to see Microsoft's shooter series through games five and six at least.Christopher 'Clutty' Hutton around 1940 Christopher William Clayton Hutton (1893–1965) a soldier, airman, journalist and inventor, was recruited as an intelligence officer to work for MI9, a branch of the British Military Intelligence, during the Second World War.[1][2][3] Known as 'Clutty' to his friends, he was engaged towards the end of 1939 by the War Office to work under Major (later Brigadier) Norman Crockatt, in order to set up and run operations to create and distribute escape and evasion aids for Allied servicemen. Hutton's small team identified suitable manufacturers, ensured supplies and devised methods by which the concealed aids could be sent to prisoner of war camps. It is estimated that around 35,000 British and other Allied personnel managed to evade capture or escape from captivity and return to Allied territory.[nb 1] Many of these were assisted by MI9's silk maps and other escape and evasion equipment.[4] Hutton achieved all of his wartime escape and evasion work despite shortages of materials such as silk and steel wire; he also overcame much bureaucratic obstruction.[3] He was often in trouble with the police and with official supply authorities of
ched tree stumps which seems to mock the very idea of civilization.” “Endure,” I saw the back of the box proclaim, “alternating periods of squalid boredom and terrifying bombardment before going over the top and bleeding to death in a waterlogged crater.” “Plunge,” I heard the deep voice intone over the TV ad, “into a flooded labyrinth of lice, rats and dysentery in which only a single scrap of narrow sky prevents you from succumbing to the conviction that you are already dead and inside one giant mass grave.” My friends, if in some smothering dream you too could experience these things, you would not quote so enthusiastically the old lie: “Join in epic multiplayer battles with up to 64 players.” Watching the official reveal livestream only made things worse. I wasn’t the only one who was disturbed to see Wilfred Owen’s “green sea” of poison gas become just another exciting moment in a montage set to a grimy electronic remix of ‘Seven Nation Army’. As DICE developers and Microsoft flacks sat on stage, yapping excitedly about how players could “really drown in the experience” (like all those boys drowned in the mud of Paeschendaele?), I felt suddenly as if I were watching some ghoulish cooking program in which fresh-faced celebrity chefs cheerfully discussed the best way to braise and spiralize human flesh. Why did I have this reaction? After all, I’m not sure it makes sense. Yes, WW1 was an awful calamity that killed an estimated 18 million people. But WW2 killed more than three times that, and I doubt it was any more pleasant to live through. And there are dozens of games, including games I love and games in the Battlefield series, which adopt that conflict as a pretext for what is basically sport. Why does this game, and not any of those, inspire in me this intense and quite involuntary feeling of revulsion – in fact, of sacrilege? Part of the answer is that it’s a European thing (as well as a Commonwealth thing ). When I asked on Twitter if WW1 meant the same thing to Americans as it did in Britain, most people said no: ie: do Americans respond to the Battlefield 1 trailer w/ the same involuntary feeling as me, which is "fuck, this is supposed to be sacred"? — Brindlefly (@john_brindle) May 7, 2016 @john_brindle not really, no, since our narrative is that yall goofed it up and we swung it at the last moment to win it for you May 7, 2016 @john_brindle American culture is obsessed with WW2, which cast us as the good guys in a righteous war. Little thought is given to WW1 here. May 7, 2016 @john_brindle not really, it's just kind of a thing that happened over there and created good poetry May 7, 2016 @john_brindle Americans do tend to know that it was extremely horrible, but it was 100yrs ago, now, and it has no emotional stakes for them May 7, 2016 @john_brindle I studied it extensively and the emotional stakes were something I had to learn in response to experience with primary sources May 7, 2016 That computes: the USA only entered the war in 1917, whereas the British were involved from the beginning. And while Europe for Americans was always, as the popular song put it, “over there”, England was close enough to the Western Front that summer bathers on the southern coast could sometimes hear artillery fire. When 19 huge underground bombs opened the Battle of the Somme – then the largest man-made explosion in history – their noise could be heard in London. Indeed, the cross-channel postal system remained stable enough that one British general at the front who inquired into the fate of a wounded orderly back in England received a whole cake back to thank him for his concern. It is natural such a war would have a greater cultural effect in Europe than outside it. But the meaning of WW1 in Europe, and its distinction from that of other wars, goes beyond mere proximity, into a place of deep national trauma. In 1914 British faith in European civilization was at its very height. This was an empire at the apex of its confidence and self-regard, with powerful ideals of progress, sacrifice, and honor. Those ideals were strongly reflected in the novels, poems, history books, and magazines of the time, which – widely read by a newly literate populace – combined them with the excitement of foreign adventure. Fusing pleasure with duty, they established a myth of war as jolly and jolly righteous. When the war broke out, this myth helped drive a vast and unprecedented outpouring of patriotism from all sections of society. Whole towns and villages – or entire professions from the larger cities – joined up together, forming “Pals battalions”. Writers who were there depicted the summer before the war as a time of Edenic innocence – such as the novelist Christopher Isherwood, who described his mother’s 1914 diaries as follows: “The morbid fascination of a document which records, without the dishonesty of hindsight, the day by day approach to a catastrophe by an utterly unsuspecting victim.” Or, as the historian Paul Fussell put it: “Out of the world of summer, 1914, marched a unique generation. It believed in Progress and Art and in no way doubted the benignity even of technology. The word ‘machine’ was not yet invariably coupled with the word ‘gun’.” What followed was an equally vast disillusionment. Advances in artillery and machine gun technology had created a new tactical reality which heavily favored defenders and inflicted shocking casualties on attackers. The ramshackle trench systems the British thought would only need to last them a few months became their permanent and squalid home. The French countryside was transformed into a flat, apocalyptic wasteland which eerily presaged the nuclear ruins we have spent the last fifty years imagining. This was also the continent’s first truly industrialized war, in which the same technologies many people assumed would soon abolish poverty were instead deployed for slaughter of unprecedented scale and speed. Pals battalions turned out to be a good way of wiping out huge numbers of a single town’s young men in the space of a few hours; after 1916, they were broken up to avoid mass grief. By then, the storybook myth of glorious adventure had died in No Man’s Land, along with the whole era of warfare which had inspired it. As the poet Philip Larkin later wrote: “Never such innocence again.” In their place new myths arose, taking their shape from the memoirs of bitter veterans and the visions of avant-garde artists who saw in WW1 the psychic destruction of an entire civilization. TS Eliot’s The Waste Land remixed images from the trenches into a shattered landscape in which even meaning has fallen apart. Siegfried Sassoon, a former officer, fantasized about throwing grenades into crowds of civilians and politicians who had endorsed the war. Sigmund Freud looked at the whole mess and and wondered, in Civilization and its Discontents, how long “progress” could last. This analysis of WW1 – as the war which broke Britain’s psyche – was sealed into public memory by 1960s counterculture and its allies in academic history, who saw the war as everything wrong with the imperial elite whom they were trying to demolish. There’s a good reason why WW1 films generally occupy a much narrower range of tone and expression than films about WW2. There may be ironic comedy like Blackadder, but there is no Kelly’s Heroes of the Somme. Even today, none of this is easily redeemed or given meaning. With WW2 we basically understand, or think we understand, the differences between the sides and the reasons why they thought. We can make an argument that it was a just war which led to a good outcome. But WW1 makes absolutely no sense to modern ethical sensibility, nor indeed did it make much to many people at the time. Despite the efforts of contemporary propagandists to depict it as a conflict between British “liberty” and German “militarism”, we now see it – rightly or wrongly – as the dementia of a discredited international system, in which stiff, blinkered elites locked into an intricate network of alliances and rivalries were thrown senselessly together by an obscure crime in a country many of the people who died knew very little about. What’s more, we now know that ‘victory’ created the conditions which led to the next war, which was four times as deadly. So WW2 and WW1 occupy opposite poles of the British public’s attitude to war: one, a proud moment which proves war can be necessary and worthwhile; the other, a pointless debacle which may discredit war completely. This is why historical interpretation of WW1 remains a divisive political issue Moreover, the iconography of WW1 is now permanently woven into Britain’s memorial conventions. It was in 1915 that Fabian Ware, a mining executive and Red Cross ambulance commander, devoted his life to reforming the slapdash state of soldiers’ graves. Today his Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 1.7 million graves in 153 countries using the same standardized design and in many cases the same type of stone he chose. Meanwhile, the date and time of the 1918 truce became Britain’s day of remembrance for all its soldiers in all its wars, and the poppies that grew frequently in Flanders at the time have become their symbol. Together these conventions form a kind of secular religion whose annual ceremonies exert an emotional pull even on those like me who find their politics problematic. Like Christmas, poppy season seems to start earlier every year – and British politicians, citizens, or even search engines ignore it at their peril. This is why WW1 feels different to other European wars. For Britain it was materially worse than any which had preceded it, even though it began with more optimism than any that followed. Its unique cultural context made the contrast between its expectations and its results particularly stark. It occupies a unique place in national mythology, as the war which broke Britain’s psyche. And ever since then it has been a prism through which we view all wars, and war itself. Yet this explanation contains the seeds of its own pointlessness. If the meaning of WW1 is specific to British or European culture – and particular sections of those cultures at that – I can’t see how I can justify expecting others to share my discomfort. It’s even murkier what kind of line I could draw which would forbid casual adoption of WW1 as a playground but permit the same use of WW2. Public memory has selectively edited both wars: WW1as a mess of “mud, blood and futility” and WW2 as a heroic series of rapid advances and combined-arms assaults (whereas in reality each had their share of both). Anyway, whose memory? Other games I find uncontroversial may strike some people as deeply horrific, and with good reason; perhaps I should simply accept that WW1 does not mean the same to everyone as it does to me. If any Battlefield game is acceptable at all, so is this one. The alternative is a radical declaration: that all games which use real wars as multiplayer playgrounds, even ones which are concerned nakedly with providing a fun time rather than critiquing or commenting on war as such, are equally bad. That it’s wrong for the game industry to treat any traumatic historical episode as just another ‘setting’ to be annexed by the sequel machine, and that BF1 exposes the crassness of all of them. That’s a tempting argument, and there’s some truth in it. But I find it difficult to completely embrace. Until society looks very different, and maybe even after that, people of all ages will always play at war. They will always get a kick – juvenile and atavistic, perhaps, but a kick – out of imaginary combat, and the kick will increase as it gets more realistic (before, perhaps, sharply dropping off). Hell, I do, and will probably enjoy BF1 very much; won’t you? Indeed, one of the most horrible truths about war is that war itself is fun, at least for some people; soldier after soldier after soldier admits it. As former New York Times foreign correspondent Chris Hedges has written, war is a kind of addictive drug which “can give us what we long for in life...purpose, meaning, a reason for living...it allows us to be noble." Of course we can read these war fantasies critically, dissect their ideology, skewer their deceptive or stereotypical depictions of the specifics of each conflict. Still, I hesitate to say there is no such thing as an ethical Battlefield game. I also don't want all war games to be reverent. For one thing, some of the most interesting texts about WW1 have been comic and ridiculous. The best WW1 game I've played (okay, it's not a crowded field) is 1917: The War You Never Knew, in which the player navigates a trench system while pursued by literal dinosaurs. The introduction of so completely ludicrous and alien an element actually helps it express some of the terror and absurdity of the western front. Anyway, stuffing all war games into some stiff morning suit of respectable memorialism, with each half-hour serving of power fantasy dutifully draped in mournful strings and sombre dedications to Those Who Died, would be worse than crass. Most of the time it would just mean jingoism by the back door. Advocating this would make me the very caricature of an Edwardian moralist, demanding all my thrills be either blatantly frivolous to avoid offense (as in the cartoonish Battlefield Heroes ) or wrapped in false reverence before I nevertheless enjoy them. These thrills wouldn't vanish; they'd only be subjected to a kind of moral tax, thereby laundering them. And yet. After watching the BF1 launch livestream I decided to see how Youtubers were reacting. One of them watched the trailer I had watched while squealing his reactions over the time. “Biplanes! Ohhmygodyes,” he gushed, as each new signifier of WW1-ness flashed onto the screen. “Ohymgod! War blimps!” And as I listened to him I was suddenly very scared and very freaked out. This guy looked like young, surely no older than 21, and here he was salivating over this stuff with seemingly very little consciousness of what it all meant. And all I could think about was how, 100 years ago, in 1916, this kid would probably have been fighting in France. sell war as some kind of spiritual, enriching gap year experience with an exultant post-rock soundtrack. Army recruitment videos offer a world of foreign travel and unforgettable experiences like they were touting on TripAdvisor. The Islamic State Then, war propaganda was about high ideals as well as adventure: glory, honor, service to your country, being able to look your children in the eye. Today, much of it is pure hedonism. Films like Lone Survivor sell war as some kind of spiritual, enriching gap year experience with an exultant post-rock soundtrack. Army recruitment videos offer a world of foreign travel and unforgettable experiences like they were touting on TripAdvisor. The Islamic State explicitly apes Call of Duty in its depiction of the Syrian quagmire as an exciting opportunity for spiritual self-actualization. It seems enough, in 2016, that war be exciting, and perhaps as a bonus that it look good on your CV.Ellis Hamburger, Business Insider During a conference call this morning about Nokia's implosion, CEO and ex-Microsoftie Stephen Elop had to admit what the world already knows: Windows phones aren't selling. Elop blamed the people selling Nokia handsets, not Microsoft's software. "The challenge in all of this is breaking through the strength Android and Apple have in a retail environment," Elop said, according to TechCrunch. "We aren't getting the traction we prefer." Nokia just announced plans to lay off 10,000 people, or about one-fifth of its global employees, by the end of next year. In the meantime, one new tactic Nokia will try is lowering the price of the Lumia 610, mostly to try and break into the price conscious Chinese market. It can't do that on its own, though. Elop admitted that Microsoft was giving Nokia "specific support" so it can drop the price. Don't miss: Microsoft Is About To Make An Epic, Greedy Mistake With Its Tablets(Maddie Mae Photography) The photo shoot got off to a smooth start. Maddie Mae is a wedding photographer in Fort Collins, Colo. Her hometown is tucked into the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park, about 100 kilometres north of Denver. It's rugged country — Boulder, famous for its skiing and rock climbing, is about an hour's drive away — and Mae's clientele appear to be the outdoorsy type, as the pictures on her Facebook page will attest. Johnny Benson and Laura Loretz are no exception. (Maddie Mae Photography) As fast as a rattler's strike, things went sideways. But while the trio were out shooting some wedding day portraits on Monday, natured reared its fanged head. "A young rattlesnake jumped out and bit Johnny on the ankle," Mae recalled in a post on Facebook. (Maddie Mae Photography) The consummate professional, Mae kept the shutter clicking. The snakebite happened about 15 metres from the parking lot at a picturesque reservoir on the edge of town, Mae said. A park ranger happened to be driving by and the trio, with Johnny now on his back, flagged him down. (Maddie Mae Photography) The ranger yelled 'congratulations!' before clueing in. Misinterpreting their calls for help, the ranger wished the couple well from his truck window before clueing in to the potential emergency. Not knowing if the rattler had injected its potentially lethal venom into the newlywed, Mae says the initial prognosis was "pretty dire." (Maddie Mae Photography) Benson was rushed to hospital with Laura by his side. Mae followed in her own car and caught up with the couple in the emergency room. (Maddie Mae Photography) (Maddie Mae Photography) Luckily, Johnny didn't show any swelling or symptoms of any kind. Save for the tiny holes in his calf, the symptom-free groom was cleared after about 20 minutes and the couple made their reception. (Only an hour late.) (Maddie Mae Photography) These images have been making the rounds on social media. "The whole situation was so surreal, and I couldn't really help but continue to do my job and capture the story of their wedding day. It's my craziest wedding story to date," Mae said. (Maddie Mae Photography)I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again. While the fan-made wrestler tribute video was first sparked into existence by the “My Sacrifice” WWE music video and all its clones, it’s only recently that it was perfected. That’s thanks to Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” – ever since it was used to commemorate Paul Walker at the end of Furious 7, “See You Again” has become the defacto song for tribute videos and it’s raised the artform to new heights. Here are some of my favourite “See You Again” tribute videos (or “tribvidz”, as we call them in the industry). Please note, I’ve limited myself just to videos for wrestlers who aren’t dead because it’d get a bit morbid otherwise and we’re all here to have a good time. 10. AJ Lee A strong start but it doesn’t really go anywhere or properly capture April Jeanette Lee-Brooks-Punker’s spectacular career. It doesn’t even have the clip of that time she got clattered by Big Show! Forget it. 9. CM Punk Too many photos, I’m here to watch a VIDEO, not a SLIDESHOW! Also, I bet Punker thinks he’s too good to watch The Fast and The Furious, the little shit. 8. Kelly Kelly Solid stuff except it cuts off JUST as it’s getting to the good bit of the song. Rookie mistake that shows a disappointing lack of respect to the strong, sexy and powerful Kelly Kelly’s fantastic career. 7. Randy Orton Competent but unremarkable, though I like how it makes it seem like Randy was very much in love with the WWE Title at one point in his life. 6. Jeff Hardy Now we’re talking. Remember when Jeff Hardy was a big deal? I do, and so does EmimV2. The end title screen is a bit weird though: 5. The Bella Twins The use of black and white really adds the necessary gravitas to The Bella Twins Saga. 4. Undertaker & Kane Disappointing lack of Biker Taker having a lovely time on his motorcycle but otherwise excellent. 3. John Cena When John Cena actually retires, they should skip a Raw and just play this on loop for three hours. The quotes make it especially strong stuff. 2. The Shield This is maybe the weirdest one! Just a random collection of clips tossed together but the power of “See You Again” still makes it work. 1. Layla If you’re not in tears right now, you are certified scum. Get this in front of Vince and Layla will be in the Hall of Fame ASAP, GUARANTEED. – @TomBlargh will tell you all about it when he sees you again.As part of my broader project of promoting rationality to a wide audience, we developed clothing with rationality-themed slogans. This apparel is suited for aspiring rationalists to wear to show their affiliation with rationality, to remind themselves and other aspiring rationalists to improve, and to spread positive memes broadly. My gratitude to all those who gave suggestions about and voted on these slogans, both on LW itself and the LW Facebook group. This is the first set of seven slogans that had the most popular support from Less Wrongers, and more will be coming soon. The apparel is pretty affordable, starting at under $15. All profits will go to funding nonprofit work dedicated to spreading rationality to a broad audience. Links to Clothing with Slogans: 1) Less Wrong Every Day This slogan conveys a key aspiration of every aspiring rationalist - to grow less wrong every day and have a clearer map of the territory. This is not only a positive meme, but also a clear sign of affiliation with rationality and the Less Wrong community in particular. 2) Growing Mentally Stronger This slogan conveys the broad goal of rationality, namely for its participants to grow mentally stronger. This shirt helps prime the wearer and those around the wearer to focus on growing more rational, both epistemically and instrumentally. It is more broadly accessible than something like "Less Wrong Every Day." 3) Living On Purpose This slogan conveys the intentional nature of how aspiring rationalists live their life, with a clear set of terminal goals and strategies to reach those goals. 4) Please Provide An Example This slogan and its variants received a lot of support from aspiring rationalists tired of discussions and debates with people who talked in broad abstract terms and failed to provide examples. It automatically reminds those who you are talking with, both aspiring rationalists and non-rationalists, to be concrete and specific in their engagement with you, and minimizes wasted airtime and inefficient discussions. 5) I Notice I'm Confused This slogan reminds the wearer and those around the wearer of the vital skill of noticing confusion for growing aware of gaps between one's map and the reality of the territory. Moreover, in field testing this design, this slogan proved especially fruitful for prompting conversations about rationality from those curious about this slogan. 6) Glad To Change My Mind This slogan conveys and reinforces one of the most fundamental aspects of rationality - the eagerness and yearning to change one's mind based on evidence. The slogan is an especially impactful way of conveying rationality broadly, as the sentiment of updating beliefs based on evidence is something that many intelligent people wish for society. Thus, it helps attract intellectually-oriented people into discussions about rationality. 7) Changed Your Mind? Achievement Unlocked! This slogan has the same benefits as the above slogan, except being more outwardly oriented and expressing the message in a more meme-style format. Other ideas for slogans that had support, in no particular order (Note that we limited the number of words to 4 longer words or 7 shorter words to fit on a T-shirt, and some of these combine Effective Altruism and Rationality): How Much Do You Believe That? Reach Your Goals Using Science Truth Is Not Partisan Glad To Give Citations What is True is Already So Reality Doesn’t Take Sides In Math We Trust In Reason We Trust Seeking Constructive Feedback Make New Mistakes Only Constantly Optimizing Absence Of Evidence Is Evidence Of Absence Rationality: Accurate Beliefs + Winning Decisions I Chose This Rationally Combining Heart And Head Effective Altruism Doing the Most Good Per Dollar Optimizing QALYs Superdonor Making My Life Meaningful Purpose Comes from Within I would appreciate feedback on the current designs. As you get and wear them, I'd appreciate learning about your experience wearing them, to learn what kind of reaction you get. So far, we've had quite positive reports from our field tests of the merchandise, with good conversations prompted by wearing these slogans. Also, please share which of the additional slogans are your favorites, so we can get them done sooner. If you have additional ideas for slogans, list them in comments below, and remember the guidelines of 4 longer words to 7 short words, and making them accessible to a broad audience to spread rationality memes. Besides clothing, what other kind of merchandise would you like to buy? Look forward to your feedback! If you want to contact me privately about the merchandise or the broader project of spreading rationality to a broad audience, my email is [email protected] term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys.[1] Similar in appearance to mice of the genus Mus, spiny mice are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. However, their coats are endowed with unusually stiff guard hairs similar to the spines of a hedgehog; this trait is the source of the common name, spiny mouse. Despite their similarity to members of the genus Mus, genetic evidence suggests that the African spiny mice may be more closely related to gerbils than to common mice.[2] Classification [ edit ] Genus Acomys - spiny mice As exotic pets [ edit ] Though African spiny mice originated in the deserts of Africa, they are frequently kept as exotic pets in other parts of the world, particularly Western nations such as the United States. In the pet trade, they are most commonly referred to as Egyptian spiny mice or, more simply, spiny mice. Though these animals are similar to pet mice and rats, the tail of a spiny mouse is much more delicate. Therefore, the spiny mouse should never be picked up by its tail and should be handled with care to avoid a degloving injury. Their diet is also rather hard to maintain because their bodies have odd reactions to certain foods. Housing [ edit ] Due to their desert origin, spiny mice thrive at hot temperatures and should be maintained around 27 °C (81 °F). These animals are very social and should always be housed in groups when possible. As spiny mice are prone to obesity, it is important to provide ample space and environmental enrichment to encourage exercise. Reproduction [ edit ] Gestation length is between 38 and 42 days. Litters normally consist of 2 to 3 pups, but females may have up to 6 pups in a single litter. Other females within the social group may assist in the birthing process and tend to the newborns. Pups are born with their eyes open; they will begin to leave the nesting area at about 3 days of age. Babies are weaned around 5 to 6 weeks and reach sexual maturity at about 6 to 9 weeks. A female can conceive throughout the year and may produce up to 9 litters in a year. Lifespan for spiny mice is 4 to 7 years. The mother is able to become pregnant right after birth.[3][4] One species of spiny mouse was recently discovered to have a menstrual cycle which would make them important as a model organism to study menstruation and reproductive disorders, as Mus musculus, the common laboratory mouse, does not menstruate.[5] Autotomy and tissue regeneration [ edit ] At least two species of African spiny mice, Acomys kempi and Acomys percivali, are capable of autotomic release of skin upon being captured by a predator. They are the only mammals known to do so.[6] They can completely regenerate the autotomically released or otherwise damaged skin tissue - regrowing hair follicles, skin, sweat glands, fur and cartilage with little or no scarring. It is believed that the corresponding regeneration genes could also function in humans.[7] In a research article published on May 16, 2017 in eLife, a team from the University of Kentucky described the role of macrophages in epimorphic regeneration.[8] The subtype of macrophages found in African spiny mice produces a different immune response than the subtype that elicit scarring.A business was conned into handing over more than £1m to a bogus caller who was pretending to be from the firm's bank. The fraud is believed to have netted the largest ever amount from a telephone banking scam in the UK. The conman phoned the company in Suffolk and claimed that there was a virus on the firm's internet banking facility. He advised a member of the staff that the firm's money should be transferred into separate holding accounts while the bank fixed the problem. The caller managed to gain the trust of the staff member and persuaded them to download remote access software on the firm's computer. A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said the software enabled the caller to access the firm's accounts and transfer the money out into other accounts. During the call, the fraudster managed to disguise his own telephone number to show the number of the bank's fraud team, which was on its website. The firm which fell victim to the scam reported the crime to police on Wednesday when it realised the money had disappeared. The police spokeswoman said that staff at the firm had been left "understandably distressed". • Most common fraud scams to watch out for • Pensioner records phone scammer Campaign group Financial Fraud Action revealed in June that similar telephone banking scams in the UK had netted £23.6m for fraudsters last year. Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: "I'm absolutely flabbergasted about the audacity of these criminals. "I can fully understand how this crime took place and the damage to this company is potentially huge and it stands as a salient reminder that businesses too are victims of crime." Mr Passmore said the pattern of crime was changing in Suffolk and described cyber crime as "perhaps the biggest threat society faced". He added: "We are aware that it is an evolving pattern of crime and I think it's going to get worse and we have to commit resources, even at a time of reducing budgets," he added. "The information being spread is really important and if anyone suspects a problem with cyber crime then please report it. "There's no shame in admitting we have been subject to fraud. We are all vulnerable and we are only going to tackle it by working together." Suffolk and Norfolk police forces launched a joint Cyber Crime unit in June to combat the rising tide of hi-tech offences. Mr Passmore said he hoped the £300,000 investment in the unit would help protect businesses and individuals. The Suffolk Police spokeswoman urged other businesses to beware of financial scams. She said: "Banks or police will not ask you to transfer or handover sums of money and you should never give out details of bank accounts, PINs or personal information. If you receive contact from an unknown caller stop and think for a moment. "Be suspicious particularly if they are telling you something is wrong or that you need to send or handover money. If you suspect you may be the victim of a bogus call hang up and leave the phone down for at least ten minutes or use another phone before contacting anyone else. "Don't be afraid to hang up on unknown callers. Genuine callers will understand if you want to call them back later, after checking existing paperwork to confirm numbers, to check their identity." Anyone who has any concerns regarding this type of scam or who has been a victim should report it to to police or Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Mike Bolt of the Hockey Hall of Fame delivers the Stanley Cup during the ceremonial unveiling of the NBC Sports and NHL Stanley Cup fountain on April 11, 2012 in New York City. To kick off the start of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, a 21 foot, 6,600 pound replica of the Stanley Cup trophy was unveiled in Times Square. The replica trophy doubles as a water fountain that New York residents and visitors can drink from. (Photo by Thomas Nycz/NHLI via Getty Images) With due respect to the Anaheim Ducks, NBC is probably still cleaning up the champagne that was spilled when the Chicago Blackhawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Two of the three highest rated games on NBC since the network took over NHL coverage from ESPN on 2006 involved the Blackhawks: The 8.279 million viewers that watched them win the Cup in Game 6 against the Flyers in June 2010, and the 8.16 million viewers that watched them top Boston in Game 6 in June 2013. The only game to top those? A Game 7 between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks in June 2011, the dramatic ending to one of the most contentious series in NHL history. Scroll to continue with content Ad So Chicago watches when the Blackhawks are in the Cup Final. Game 6 against Boston? That produced a 30.2 rating in Chicago. When the Blackhawks aren’t in the Cup Final? Yeah, not so much: Game 5 of the 2014 Final between the Rangers and Kings produced a 5.4 rating in Chicago. Same thing goes for Boston: 33.0 rating for Game 6 against the Blackhawks, and a 6.3 rating for the Rangers and Kings. [Click here for the full ratings rundown.] That’s what hockey fans are known for in the postseason: Turning off the television and getting their summer on instead of watching the pucks fly deep into the playoffs. That's why the NHL desperately needs a massive local audience from at least one of the Stanley Cup Final participants in order to have a respectable rating. Story continues The good news for the NHL: Ever since bottoming out with a 1.2 overall rating in the Ducks’ 2007 Cup Final win over the Ottawa Senators – the lowest rated Final on record – they’ve been lucky with the matchups. Two battles between Detroit and Pittsburgh. Chicago vs. Philly. Boston, bringing a massive New England audience. Los Angeles vs. New Jersey, a lackluster series that came in at a 1.8. Chicago vs. Boston. LA vs. New York. And now, Chicago again. The bad news is that they still are way too reliant on having that massive local audience carry the national rating. Which brings us back to our original question: Why don’t more American hockey fans watch the Final? Internal research from the NHL suggests that hockey fans are “the most tribal” when it comes to postseason viewership. Hockey fans aren’t as engaged in the championship round as the “Big Four” if their team isn’t involved, or if they don’t have a rooting interest. We're not talking about casual sports fans that dip in when there's a Game 7. We're talking engaged hockey fans who watch games during the season, interact on social media, but don't count themselves among Blackhawks or Lightning fans. These are “neutral fans,” and they’re the heart of the problem for the NHL and its U.S. ratings ceiling. “It may be that neutral NHL fans don’t watch the Cup Final as much as NBA or MLB fans watch their respective championships. From what I’ve seen over the years it's easier for the NBA Finals or World Series to earn big numbers in neutral markets than it is for the Stanley Cup Final — Buffalo, Boston/Providence and Minneapolis the main exceptions,” said Paulsen, the founder of Sports Media Watch. “I suspect the NHL is more of a regional attraction — i.e., fans care primarily about their own team. Neutral NBA fans have an intense interest in LeBron James, much as neutral MLB fans had in the New York Yankees when they were contending. I don’t think there’s as much interest among neutral NHL fans in teams like the Blackhawks or Rangers.” Which is, of course, maddening for the NHL. The Blackhawks should be the Yankees of their era. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are stars. So is Steven Stamkos. They shouldn’t be ‘famous for hockey’ but famous in sports. This was the contention of the New York Times last season as well: One ingredient that is missing from N.H.L. viewership is a collection of crossover stars who can bring in a lot of casual fans to the postseason. “We have a lot of players who are must-see appointment television,” Olczyk said, but probably too few leap over the boards and into the living rooms of those who are not die-hard hockey fans. The Celebrity DBI, an index that assesses the appeal of athletes and entertainers in a broad array of characteristics, gives longtime stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin middling scores of 40.66 and 39.77, and Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, the star of an Advil commercial campaign, a 37.81. The top DBI among N.H.L. players was charted by Wayne Gretzky, who last played 15 years ago. His 74.77 score was boosted by an awareness level that comes from redefining his sport. So the NHL is working hard to create these stars and prestige teams and make them mandatory viewing for fans that aren’t rooting for a particular team in the Final. It’s part of the League’s attempt to build interest “on a national scale” in the U.S., a strategy that also includes Rivalry Night on NBC, the various outdoor games and the current structure of the playoff system to lends itself to brackets. “The NHL probably needs a real national star to break through,” said Paulsen. “The league would probably be better off if Crosby’s Penguins were having the sustained run that the Blackhawks are currently on.” Based on the numbers, Paulsen estimates that “there is a ceiling for NHL ratings in the U.S. — probably a 6.0 rating and 9 or 10 million viewer” and that it would take a Game 7 between two major markets to
), images, other attachments (including the ability to send email attachments off to other apps on your device). Our first model only had 16 MB of storage so we couldn’t keep all of your mail on the hiptop at once. As you got low on space we’d start dumping bits and pieces of messages. If you went to read it later we’d bring all those pieces back on-demand over the network. PIM Apps—Is PIM still a term people use? Personal Information Manager? Well, anyway, we had PIM apps: note pad, to-do list, address book, and calendar. They all did exactly what you’d expect. I’ll say this though, our calendar app handled multi-timezone and repeating events way better than anything else out there. Web Browser—I saved this app for last because it was such a huge undertaking. At a time when other devices’ idea of how to let users access the internet was to provide a WAP browser (a super crappy, text-only walled garden based on text messages) we allowed you to view the entire World Wide Web. The magic behind that was in some technology we licensed from AvantGo. We had a big bank of web proxy servers sitting between the hiptop browser and the Internet. When you requested a page it would be fetched by one of our special proxies (which ran a heavily modified version of the Mozilla browser), then fully rendered and measured, and then converted to a highly-compressed list of display elements for the hiptop browser to put on screen. It would fetch, resize, and recompress images. It would convert text character encodings so that the only thing we had to natively support was UTF-8. It did a lot of other magic so that you could still use web forms and other stuff. It was super complicated and difficult to modify, but amazingly well-suited for serving the types of web pages common in 2001. One of our other browser innovations was to let you leave off the www and.com on URLs you entered into the browser. Type ‘apple’ and it would go to www.apple.com which is exactly what you want nearly every time when you enter a single word. That was one of many cases where we just said, “what really bugs me about x?” and then we would make our own version that didn’t bug us. Great Text—I am a text geek. I don’t know how it happened, but that’s how I turned out. hiptop had amazing text. We did insane amounts of work on the shape of the keys on the keyboard so that you could easily type without looking. Experienced users easily touch-typed 40 words-per-minute with zero errors. With its silicone keycaps and unique key shape it was amazing for typing. Our users didn’t hesitate to use IM for hours straight, or compose an email that was thousands of words long. I wrote the first version of the text editor and I baked in all the text features I loved so much from my beloved Macintosh software. Selection, cursor movement, deletion (back and forward), page up/down, home/end, they were all there and worked exactly as you expected. We initially had hand-crafted bitmap fonts designed by Susan Kare (she had previously done all the original Macintosh fonts and icons). When other devices were showing you horrible dot-matrix block letters we had this lovely proportional font system. It just looked great. Since our platform was Unicode-based we could handle tons of non-English languages. You know that thing where you hold down a letter on an iPhone or Android keyboard and it pops up a list of extended options? We did that years earlier. Ok, so maybe we took it a little too far by showing you the Unicode code point for the characters in hexadecimal. That was only because we had an alternate input method that would allow you to type the characters in in hex—admittedly a little far out on the nerd spectrum. Cloud Storage—Having your iPhone data all backed up in iCloud, or your Android data in Google services, is super cool and great for today’s users. Years of research has shown that if you have to plug a phone in and manually sync then fewer than 50% of users will ever do it. So having it all be automagic is great. Our early folks that had come from WebTV had been doing this for years already so it was natural for us to do it as well. Everything you did on the hiptop was immediately communicated to our servers and backed up. If you had multiple devices attached to the same account then changes were instantly distributed to all of your devices. We did a demo once at a trade show where we had someone in the audience give us a quote. Our presenter typed the quote into a hiptop and then put it on the ground and dropped a bowling ball on it. The hiptop was destroyed. He then removed the SIM card, plugged it into another hiptop, signed into the same account and seconds later there was the Notes app with the quote fully restored. Much applause. Web Apps—Because we had a backup of all of your data we could do some neat stuff for you. One of those was that we provided a web interface to your email, PIM apps, and photo gallery. I couldn’t find a color screenshot. For a 2001 design I think it holds up pretty well. This turned out to be a surprisingly big deal. Remember that this was the early 2000's and data over commercial cellular was brand new. Very few places outside of the US had it. If you traveled overseas it was likely that you’d have no data coverage so being able to access all your data via a desktop browser was invaluable. Along with enabling web apps, cloud storage also meant we could provide a way to sync your data across other services. Sync products were a big market category back then and we added ways for those products to talk to our service on your behalf and sync all of your data to related apps on your desktop computer (Outlook, Lotus Notes, etc). Multitasking and Interapp Communication—Once you launched an app it just stayed running all the time. In fact, our application framework didn’t even provide a way for an app to quit. Everything just always stayed running. This meant you could do stuff like have the web browser start loading a really big page, switch over and read some email, reply to a few IMs, note a lunch date on your calendar, and then pop back to the web browser once the page was loaded (it would alert you when it finished). All of the apps talked to each other too. For example, you could select anything in the notes/to-do/calendar/etc. apps, hit menu+m and it would start a new email with that item’s data. Menu+m in the web browser would start a new email with the URL of the page you were looking at. Any place that drew text would highlight email and web URLs and make them selectable. You could download files from your web browser, store them on an SD card, and then forward them to other apps for viewing or editing. There were many other ways that the apps cooperated with each other as well. App Store—Although T-Mobile (inexplicably) called it “Download Fun”, the hiptop offered an online app store. There were categories for apps, games, utilities, seasonal stuff, trending products, ringtones, and wallpapers. You could browse the whole catalog online, see screenshots and detailed descriptions, etc. If it was a ringtone you could play a sample. If you clicked the “buy” button it downloaded and installed instantly and the charge was added to your phone bill. No credit cards, no extra accounts, no nothing. One-click purchasing and the simplest billing ever. We also offered a 24 hour return policy. If you deleted an app within 24 hours you weren’t billed for it. It was great. Apple wouldn’t launch its app store until iOS 2.0.1 in 2008. Speaking of Billing—the cost of the hiptop service was just $19.95 per month on top of whatever voice plan you had with your carrier. It was cheap and easy to understand. No haggling, no deciding which data cap to choose. Granted, by virtue of the networks back then we only used a tiny fraction of the data that today’s phone use, but still, at the time flat-rate data billing was novel and very pro-user. Over the Air Updates—Knowing that we would need to be able to fix bugs and add new features to existing devices we added the ability for all of the hiptop’s software to be wirelessly upgraded over the cell network. It would all happen in the background and then you’d get a notification telling you the update was there and asking you to reboot. You could defer it if you wanted. iOS didn’t add this capability until late in 2011—a full 10 years after we did it. Notifications and Music—one area where the hiptop really shone was multimedia playback. We had a RGB LED on the device that we could light up any color. We also had a vibrator with fine-grained controls. This enabled us to do some things that still no one has matched. One of our ringtone format options was an enhanced version of General MIDI. The multi-color LED and the vibrator were both MIDI “instruments” in our system and so you could do really amazing music with synchronized colored lights and vibration. Folks published amazing professionally engineered ringtones for the platform. When the screen was turned off the LED would periodically blink to let you know you had notifications waiting. You could choose what color and flashing pattern you wanted for each app. For instance, on my hiptop I knew that yellow meant I had unread IMs, blue meant email, purple was for calendar, red was for web page loading, etc. I could glance at my hiptop from across the room and know what was going on. We also had a mode in our music playback system where we’d analyze the music waveform and pulse the vibrator to match the bass line of the music for an added bit of low-end oomph. It was surprisingly effective. Games made great use of the vibrator too. The amazing audio engine we had in hiptop is in tons of other things that you’ve used as well. That engine has been open sourced. The Deaf community One thing that really surprised us with the hiptop was how popular it was with the Deaf community. There were two reasons behind this. The first was that the cellular radio chipset we used for the phone portion of our device just happened to be compatible with t-coils. Telecoils are special circuits that allow phones to be used with hearing aids and cochlear implants without causing electromagnetic interference. As of today there are still cell phones on the market that are not hearing aid compatible. In 2001 virtually none were. The second reason the deaf and hard of hearing users loved us was because we included TTY/TDD applications free starting with the hiptop II(2004). Prior to that, if you were a deaf person who wanted to communicate with a hearing person over the phone you would have to connect a phone handset to a special modem. The hearing person would speak, the operator would type, and the deaf person would read the typing and type back. All of this assumed that you had the device with you. It wasn’t small, and it wasn’t sexy. I imagine most deaf folks just left them at home most of the time. A typical TTY/TDD terminal from around 2003 You also had to make sure you had access to a handset that was the right shape for the acoustic coupler. Ugh. With the hiptop you could get the same functionality without the extra hardware. Our TDD was software based and built in. Suddenly deaf and hard of hearing users could communicate with hearing users anywhere, anytime. A cell phone for deaf users. The letters of thanks we received at the office because of this would break your heart if you read them. T-Mobile did a great thing and offered a data-only pricing plan for deaf users since they couldn’t use the voice minutes. There is an official ASL sign for the hiptop. Can you find the TTY/TDD support in your current smartphone? Developer program We knew that third-party applications (especially games) would be crucial to the success of the platform so we had a way for you to write and sell your own apps and have them listed in our app store. Our platform was Java-based which meant that there was a huge host of free tools available for any platform you wanted. All of the tools we provided for packing, testing, and submitting your applications were also Java-based so you could write hiptop apps on Mac OS, Windows, Linux, whatever. As an interesting historical side note: the engineers who developed the Java runtime for hiptop would later join Google and lead the Android kernel engineering team; and develop Dalvik, the Java language runtime for Android. We provided an outstanding device simulator that let you test everything. You could even simulate the camera and other hardware. It could simulate poor network conditions to see how your app would behave. Lots of neat stuff. One aspect of our developer program that remains unique is the level of testing we did of third-party app submissions. We had an army of extremely skilled software QA folks who would give each submission hours of testing. If your app was rejected, it wouldn’t be a mystery as to why because we provided you with a multi-hundred item checklist of all of the tests we’d be performing. You as the developer could do your own testing of all the things we would check and have some sense of confidence in your product before you submitted it. It cost us a lot in manpower but I think it was a better developer experience than what you see on Android now (zero testing, tons of malware), or iOS (some testing, no visibility into the process). One of the apps in our app store was an ssh client that we had developed in-house. This led to the hiptop becoming wildly popular with IT folks since they could use our IM client to chat with folks back at the office about a problem and then use the ssh client to remotely administer their machines. Another aside: one of my favorite Danger stories was a time when one of our server engineers was stuck in an airport waiting for a delayed flight and noticed a problem with our AOL Instant Messenger proxy. So he used the ssh client to remotely connect to his computer at the office, coded up a fix, kicked off a build, and pushed it out to production. Encryption Security and privacy are pretty hot topics these days. I can’t remember how it came up but we had decided that all of the communications between the hiptop and our servers should be encrypted. We used either Blowfish or Twofish with a 128 bit key as the cipher (though we later switched to AES after it was ratified). Doing crypto requires a lot of hard math operations performed on very large numbers. The original hiptop only had a 24 MHz processor and we quickly found that implementing our crypto in the Java application layer would require minutes for doing things like validating a certificate during an ssh handshake. So all of this stuff was written in hand-crafted ARM assembly. The engineer who did it all told me this great story of having to go to used bookstores to find a book on numerical methods that was originally written for slide rule calculation. When all was said and done we could validate that certificate in five seconds. A few more things we could do before iOS and Android 2001—Years before Find My Friends, or Foursquare, we had an app called Where My Dogs At? It would show you on a map where all of your hiptop-connected friends were. Phones didn’t have GPS back then so we determined your location based on the cell tower you were connected to. It wasn’t super accurate but it was good enough. One of our engineers also made a cool app that let you leave location-based notes. If you were standing in the right place you could see the notes, otherwise they were hidden. 2002—We all started microblogging/lifestreaming. Our device had a camera, and a network connection, and an email app. We tied all that together with a procmail filter and a perl script that would generate web pages and all our employees started chronicling their lives on the go. 2003 — We later turned that into a service (replacing perl with python). All you had to do was email your text and photos to [email protected] and they’d get added to your hosted blog. Zero setup. We picked up your account name from the device. It was tumblr and Instagram all rolled into one (and simpler to use). It’s neat to use the Internet Archive Wayback Machine to view old posts. 2005—Full support for Bluetooth headsets, audio systems, and car interfaces. 2009—I was always sort of surprised by some of the amazing deals our bizdev folks managed. One of them was getting dedicated native Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace clients on our platform. I recently learned that we offered a mapping/routing/live traffic app created by TeleNav. From the screenshots it looks like it was pretty cool. ©2003-2009 TeleNav And finally, the coolest thing we never shipped In 2004 there was a skunkworks project within Danger to merge a color Gameboy with a hiptop—we called it G1. The hiptop’s color screen was manufactured by Sharp and happened to be the same one used by the Gameboy Advance. There were other common components as well. So we figured that if we had virtually the same hardware as a handheld game player, why not play those games? G1 prototype board. Photo courtesy of @ficus. We extracted a Gameboy Advance chipset and built it on to the backside of the hiptop’s main board. We then developed a custom chip that would let us mix the video signals of the Gameboy and the hiptop so that on a per-pixel basis we could decide which to show on the screen. We made hiptop software that would let us start and stop the Gameboy, or play/pause a game, etc. The Gameboy inputs came from the hiptop’s d-pad and four corner buttons. This let us do the following demo: start a Gameboy game and be watching regular Gameboy video. Then you’d receive a phone call and the Gameboy game would magically pause, and a hiptop alert window would display over top of the Gameboy video asking if you wanted to answer the call. As soon as the call was over the game would resume. Since we had our network, and an app store, that seemed like a great way to distribute Gameboy ROMs. We got all of that working too. You could browse Gameboy games in the app store, pick one, buy it, download it, and be playing it in seconds with no need to haul cartridges around with you. The executives at Nintendo were blown away. They absolutely loved it. Unfortunately…Nintendo’s license for all of the games in their catalog didn’t include rights for electronic distribution. That, coupled with the need to take new screenshots, and write new catalog copy in electronic format, determine pricing, etc. meant that there was just no way we could have gotten a big enough catalog of titles built up in time for Christmas that year. The next window would have been graduation season the following year. The whole project fizzled out and died, but damn it was cool. Updated January 5, 2014 with photo of G1 prototype, and added Encryption section.Police say that, when the woman told Edwin Ricci he was driving the wrong way, he replied, “We are just going for a little ride.” Gainesville police are looking for a 66-year-old Uber driver suspected of groping a woman who got a ride in his van. On Wednesday, Edwin Ricci picked up a woman in her 20s who had hailed a ride from Uber, the Gainesville Police Department said in a statement Thursday. The woman was on a video call when she noticed Ricci was driving in the wrong direction down a dead-end street. Police say that, when she told him, Ricci replied, “We are just going for a little ride.” He ignored the woman’s instructions to turn around until he saw she was on a call, according to GPD. Ricci then asked her if her boyfriend would be jealous, and he stroked her hair. When the woman pulled away, Ricci is accused of putting his hand down her jacket and grabbing her breast over her shirt. She hit his arm, got out of the vehicle and ran away. Ricci left and had not been found by Thursday evening. He was driving a 2008 Honda Odyssey van with Florida license plate 876YHP. GPD confirmed that Ricci is the man listed as CEO of AA Taxi out of Alachua. Police are asking anyone with information on Ricci’s whereabouts to call Gainesville Police Department at 352-955-1818 or CrimeStoppers at 352-372-STOP (7867).When the first Ubuntu phone launched, it was only available via limited-time “flash sales.” If you missed them, rejoice! You can now purchase an Ubuntu phone like you would any other product—if you live in the European Union, at least. The phone in question here is the BQ Aquarius E4.5 Ubuntu Edition. It’s now available for purchase on BQ’s website for €169.90, or about $181 US. This is the same price the phone was offered in via flash sales, but those are done. Want an Ubuntu phone and live in the EU? You can get one for less than two hundred euros. Make no mistake: BQ’s Ubuntu phone is a low-to-mid-range model. It offers a 540x960 resolution display, 8GB of internal storage, and 1 GB of RAM. But that’s to be expected. After all, it’s only 170 euros. You’d pay more than four times that price for a new, unlocked iPhone 6. With this announcement, Ubuntu Phone just became much more available. We’ve gone from no phones, to one phone you could maybe get in one region, to—finally!—the first Ubuntu phone that you can always get in one region. But don’t worry if you’re not in Europe. The BQ Aquarius E4.5 Ubuntu Edition is just the tip of the iceberg. Want to stay up to date on Linux, BSD, Chrome OS, and the rest of the World Beyond Windows? Bookmark the World Beyond Windows column page or follow our RSS feed. Don’t live in the EU? A more powerful phone is coming Canonical’s own website says there are “more Ubuntu phones coming soon.” And we know that Canonical is working with China’s Meizu on a Ubuntu smartphone. Canonical showed off Ubuntu running on a Meizu MX4 LTE phone at Mobile World Congress in March. Meizu’s phones should go on sale soon. Mikael Riknas Canonical's Ubuntu Phone OS running on the Meizu MX4 LTE. Previous rumors have suggested that Canonical might have the rights to sell these Meizu MX4 phones worldwide through their own online store. This would mean the rest of us could finally get our hands on a proper Ubuntu phone—not just Ubuntu running on not-officially-supported Nexus devices —and try it for ourselves. The wait isn’t all bad. It may actually be for the best. The Meizu MX4 will be more of a “flagship” device, with a 1920x1152 display, at least 16 GB of internal storage, and 2 GB RAM. Ubuntu Phone should perform even better on this device, and it seems like this is the phone Canonical wants to present Ubuntu to the world on. This flagship phone should be more expensive, though. Given the price of the equivalent Android model, I’d expect to see it retail somewhere around $350-$400 off-contract. So, is it time to buy an Ubuntu phone if you live in the EU? Well, maybe—if you just can’t wait, or you’d rather get a more inexpensive Ubuntu phone. Linux geeks looking forward to Canonical’s vision of convergence don’t need to rush, though. Ubuntu phone doesn’t yet offer the convergence features we’re all looking forward to, like the ability to plug them into a larger display and have your phone power a full Linux desktop. We might have to wait a few years to see that up and running. For now, the big selling point of Ubuntu phone is its unique interface.Guitarist Greg Ginn files lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement Black Flag co-founder Greg Ginn has filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates for alleged copyright infringement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ginn believes the band FLAG, consisting of Keith Morris, Dez Cadena, Chuck Dukowski and Bill Stevenson, infringe on the Black Flag rights owned by him and his label SST Records. Henry Rollins, a former member of the legendary punk outfit, who is in neither of the two touring Black Flag reunion groups, is also named in the suit. Ginn claims he and his label SST Records own the exclusive rights to the Black Flag Name – and FLAG variation – and the band’s iconic logo, which Flag currently use on tour. Ginn issued the lawsuit on Friday (August 2) and is seeking an injunction against Flag’s current tour, which kicked off in May and will see the band, pending the outcome of the lawsuit, play Los Angeles’ FYF Fest on August 24. The suit describes the alleged infringement of the logo and describes FLAG as “as “a colorable imitation” that’s “likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception among consumers”. Ginn alleges his former bandmates “of lying to the Trademark Office on registrations; using his own label’s record covers to feign as though they’ve been continuing to use Black Flag since 1979 and using bootleg SST t-shirts.” Ginn’s Black Flag are currently touring and play Universum in Stuttgart, Germany tomorrow night (August 5).A Short Meditation upon Meditation Meditation, contemplation, or focusing the mind has been practiced for several thousand years. Hinduism and the Vedic religions confirm this and it may well have been practised as part of the rituals of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization. Certainly it is part of the practices of almost all religions in some form and is particularly important in Eastern faiths such as Hinduism, Yoga, Taoism, Krishna Consciousness and the many forms of Buddhism. It has been integrated into other religions including Christianity, Islam and Judaism and embraced by New Age spiritual practices, gathering particular fame and popularity in the 1960’s throughout the West largely due to The Beatles and their association with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation. The benefits reported by practitioners are great and cover a range of claims from aiding relaxation and concentration, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and other medical benefits to the more outlandish claims of enabling eternal life and achieving flight. These claims have aroused the interest of the Scientific community and many studies have been undertaken in order to understand better the true effects of meditation. It is a pity that so many of these studies have been associated with Transcendental Meditation® which has a strongly commercial and political structure making the objectivity of many of the studies difficult to believe. However, the body of serious scientific evidence is beginning to build and modern techniques such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans have been used to measure the physical and psychological effects produced by meditation. Using Clinically Standardized Meditation (CSM), a “bare bones” form of meditation that includes no spiritual practices as part of it’s routine, is equally effective. This shows that the religious aspect often applied to meditation serves as nothing other than a means of focus for the practitioner i.e. it is not at all essential to have a religious belief in order to benefit from meditation. However, using a spiritual belief as a means of focus can produce stronger effects. In 2005, a team at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, compared a group of meditators with mixed experience against 15 non-meditators. Using MRI scans it was found that meditation actually increases the thickness of the cortex in areas involved in attention and sensory processing, such as the prefrontal cortex and the right anterior insula. These areas appear to be “exercised” during meditation and their size increases – similar to a muscle increasing in size during physical exercise. The finding compares with studies showing that accomplished musicians, athletes and linguists all have thickening in relevant areas of the cortex. The growth of the cortex is not due to the growth of new neurons but results from wider blood vessels, more supporting structures such as glia and astrocytes, and increased branching and connections. Andrew Newberg, a radiologist at the University of Pennsylvania used brain imaging to study a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks as they meditated for approximately one hour. When they reached a transcendental high, they were asked to pull a cord releasing an injection of a radioactive tracer. The scientists mapped how the dye moved to active parts of the brain and compared the images obtained during deep meditation with those of a normal waking state. Dr Newberg explained his findings thus: “There was an increase in activity in the front part of the brain, the area that is activated when anyone focuses attention on a particular task”. In addition, a notable decrease in activity in the back part of the brain, or parietal lobe, recognised as the area responsible for orientation, reinforced the general suggestion that meditation leads to a lack of spatial awareness. Dr Newberg explained: “During meditation, people have a loss of the sense of self and frequently experience a sense of no space and time and that was exactly what we saw.” In addition, Newberg found subtle differences in the baseline state of the brain in the Tibetan meditators. This raises an interesting question regarding whether their brains have changed because of practicing meditation for 20 years or whether their brains have always been that way, and that is why meditation is so effective for them. Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco Medical Centre have found the practise of Buddhism can tame the amygdala, an area of the brain which is central to fear memory. They discovered that experienced Buddhists, who meditate regularly, were less likely to be shocked, flustered, surprised or as angry compared to control groups. In a separate study, conducted by Chinese undergraduate students, the stress hormone cortisol was found to be lowered after only five days, during which a group of students meditated once a day for twenty minutes. The researchers also assessed mood states and found improvements in scores assessing anxiety, depression, conflict transformation, anger and fatigue. Although only using a small group of eighty volunteers in experimental or control groups, the tests were well conducted and the assessor’s results blinded during the scoring process. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin at Madison examined brain activity in a group of experienced Buddhists and found enhanced activity in the left prefrontal lobes. These areas were unusually active compared to the average subject and not just during meditation. The left prefrontal lobes are associated with positive emotions, self-control and temperament. One hypothesis is that meditation and Buddhist practice has physically altered the brain and produced a positive state. It is without doubt that these practitioners were truly happy and calm and not just appearing so. There is real evidence that the practice of meditation can be greatly beneficial and is more effective than other stress relieving techniques. Its use alongside traditional medical treatment has also shown effectiveness in the treatment of Hypertension, Insomnia, Addictive Behaviour, Angina Pectoris and Diabetes as well as many other medical conditions. Goleman & Bennett-Goleman, have suggested that meditation works because of the relationship between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. Simply put, the amygdala is the part of the brain that decides if we should get angry or anxious (among other things), and the prefrontal cortex is the part that inhibits our responses or makes us stop and think. The prefrontal cortex analyzes data but it takes time to make decisions. The amygdala, being evolutionary older, works in a more primitive manner making snap judgements and strong responses including the classic “fight or flight” response. In behaving in this kneejerk way the amygdala can cry wolf and misjudge situations. In modern society, this can easily lead to conflict situations, stress, anxiety and panic when confronted with emotional situations. The experienced meditator can use the prefrontal cortex to limit the kneejerk reaction of the amygdala and often divert the brain’s responses to more positive feelings. In addition to these effects on the brain, meditation has also been measured using EEG (electroencephalography). It has shown that, during meditation, brainwave activity moves through the “Alpha” state which is linked to relaxation and creative visualisation and, as the meditative state deepens, the Theta state” where brain activity slows almost to the point of sleep. Theta brings forward heightened receptivity, and dreamlike imagery. This state can also produce a sensation of “floating”. In these brain states, it is possible that here is the link to claims of Yogic Flying. In conclusion, the measurable effects of meditation can be shown to bring many positive states to the individual. Meditation is a practice that can have great benefits to an individual whether embraced as part of daily life or as part of spiritual practices. References HH Dalai Lama, 2003, Stages of Meditation: Training the Mind for Wisdom, Rider & Co Newberg AB, Iversen J. 2003, The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation: Neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations. Medical Hypothesis 61(2): 282-291 Newberg A. 2002, The neuropsychology of ritual and meditative states. Psyche & Geloof 4:174-183 Dumoulin, H, 2006, Zen Buddhism, Volume 1: A History (India & China), World Wisdom Books BBC Science and Technology Friday, 1 March, 2002, http://www.bbc.co.uk Motluk, A. 2005, “Meditation builds up the brain”, New Scientist, Goleman, D, 1996, The Meditative Mind, Tarcher Carrington, P, 1998, “Learn to meditate”, Element NHS Knowledge Service, 2007, Meditation ‘reduces stress and improves mood’, http://www.nhs.uk Stein, J, 2003, Just Say Om, Time Magazine Weil, A, Meditation and the Brain, Harvard Barbor,C, 2001, The Science of Meditation, Psychology Today MagazineCARSON, Calif. (Thursday, June 5, 2014) – With seven days remaining before the start of the world’s biggest sporting event, the LA Galaxy will serve as the organizers of World Cup events, viewing parties and digital content throughout Southern California for the duration of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The LA Galaxy will host two major events surrounding the U.S. Men’s National Team as they compete in their seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup. Highlighting the schedule will be an outdoor viewing of the United States match against Ghana on Monday, June 16 at 3:00 p.m. PT at the Hermosa Beach Pier. The match will mark the start of the U.S. participation in the 32-team tournament. The event is free and open to the public. On Sunday, June 22, the club will show the highly anticipated U.S. match against European power Portugal live at Lot 613 (613 Imperial Street) in Los Angeles. More details about this exclusive viewing party will be released in the coming days. The Galaxy have created lagalaxy.com/worldcup to provide extensive World Cup content throughout the tournament. As part of lagalaxy.com’s coverage, the site will provide match updates, recaps and an in-depth look at the U.S. Men’s National Team from on location in Brazil. In an effort to provide Angelenos and soccer fans with the most robust coverage, lagalaxy.com has teamed with notable L.A. food critics to break down the top 32 places to eat and drink while cheering on all 32 respective nations during the world’s most-watched sporting event. The LA Galaxy will also team up with El Torito restaurant which will serve as the Official “March to Brazil” Watch Party Destination. Soccer supporters can kick off World Cup celebrations with the Mexico vs. Cameroon group stage match at El Torito in Orange, Calif. on Friday, June 13 at 9:00 a.m. PT. El Torito and LA Galaxy will host additional viewing parties and World Cup events, all detailed below. All viewing locations include appearances by the Galaxy Star Squad, ticket giveaways, raffles with prizes and more. Select events will also include appearances by Galaxy players, alumni, Cozmo and the Futboleros. For more details on the club’s Official World Cup Viewing Locations, please visit www.lagalaxy.com/worldcup. FEATURED VIEWING PARTIES:Paranal Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the mountains of Cerro Paranal in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, at an altitude of 2,635 meters, about 120 kilometers south of Antofagasta and 80 km north of Taltal. Far from city lights, high above sea level, with more than 350 cloudless days a year, Atacama desert is an ideal location for ground-based astronomy. The Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Cerro Paranal is European Southern Observatory's premier site for observations in the visible and infrared light, and at one time, was one of the most powerful optical array in the world. This groundbreaking observatory consist of four separate 8.2 m (320 in) telescopes and a large collection of instruments. Additionally, the four main telescopes can combine their light to operate as a single device. Unknown to most people except astronomers and photographers, the observatory had a brief moment of mainstream fame in 2008 when it appeared in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. Photo credit In addition to the telescopes, there are control buildings and maintenance facilities as well as a hotel which provides accommodation for staff and visitors. This is located 200 meters lower and 3 km from the telescopes, and embedded half into the mountain with the concrete coloured to blend into the landscape. One of the best thing about Paranal Observatory is it offers free tours to visitors. Photo credit Photo credit Auxiliary Telescope at the VLT Paranal. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit The full moon rises behind Paranal Observatory. Photo credit Creating an artificial star using laser. Photo credit The new PARLA laser in operation at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. Photo credit Aerial view of the Paranal Observatory taken in December 2012. Photo credit The partially underground hotel. Photo credit Star Trails over the VLT in Paranal. Photo credit Photo credit Rare 360-degree Panorama of the Southern Sky. Photo credit Sources: Wikipedia / Astronomic TourismAt this week's BlackBerry World trade show, everyone expected the top headliner to be the company's just-released PlayBook tablet and its new software offerings. As it turned out, the gadget ended up taking second spot to a surprise guest: Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer. Ballmer came out during RIM
officials in Gaza, though the question of full salaries has been left to future negotiation. Also, he said, the government will jointly man border crossing points with Israel and Egypt and jointly administer a hoped-for Gaza reconstruction process, funded by donations from European and other western countries. “We have set the reconstruction as high priority,” Abu Marzouk said. Hamas and Fatah have a long history of dashed hopes. The Palestinian rivals had set up a unity government of independents in June but it never took hold, with PA President Abbas accusing Hamas of running a “parallel” administration as de facto ruler in the Gaza Strip. Hamas in turn accuses Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, headquartered in Ramallah, of not paying its 45,000 employees in Gaza. The tensions appear to have spiked in recent weeks over Fatah claims that Hamas’s conduct of the recent Hamas-Israel war led to unacceptably high losses of life and damage to property. Azzam al-Ahmed, an Abbas aide, said Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions have now formed a committee to look into a number of pressing issues in Gaza, including the salary question. “The national committee will be able to sort this out,” he said. Abu Marzouk said this week’s meetings yielded broad agreement on creating mechanisms to permit the import of construction materials into Gaza to let rebuilding efforts go ahead. Concerned that building materials like cement and some metals could be used by Hamas to manufacture weapons, Israel has demanded that foreign governments and international organizations involved in the reconstruction provide clear-cut safeguards against the materials’ diversion for weapons-making. Abu Marzouk appeared to be sensitive to this concern. “What we did now is facilitating … and providing all mechanisms to help donors, and give them assurances about the process from the beginning to the end,” he said. The two-day talks, which began on Wednesday, come after a joint Palestinian delegation and Israel agreed to resume separate indirect talks in late October to thrash out a lasting truce after this summer’s 50-day Gaza war between Hamas and Israel. Officials said the two Palestinian factions also agreed that the Palestinian Authority will manage Gaza crossings to allow construction material and humanitarian aid to pass ahead of an international donor conference in October. The talks between the two sides were crucial for internal Palestinian divisions to be set aside and to agree on a unified strategy during talks with Israeli negotiators in October. Under Egyptian mediation, Israel and the Palestinians agreed on August 26 to a ceasefire that ended the July-August war which claimed the lives of over 2,000 Palestinians — half of them combatants, Israel says — and 72 Israelis, including a four-year-old child. The conflict ended with an agreement to hold future talks on Palestinian demands to end an eight-year blockade of Gaza — imposed by Israel and Egypt mainly to prevent weapons smuggling –and exchange prisoners in Israeli jails for the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza.- Next Monday, November 16 will kick off "The Undertaker Week" on WWE Network. WWE will be announcing full details soon and we'll keep you posted. - As noted earlier, it was confirmed on Twitter that the "WWE NXT: Greatest Matches Vol. 1" DVD and Blu-ray will be released on March 8th. The NXT Twitter account confirmed Big E vs. Seth Rollins for the NXT Title will be on the set. They also confirmed that Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte for the NXT Women's Title will be a Blu-ray exclusive. - Variety has published a negative review of WWE Studios' The Condemned 2 with Randy Orton and actor Eric Roberts. Film critic Dennis Harvey wrote the following: "People die and stuff blows up in "The Condemned 2," a belated, barely related sequel generic enough to make the eminently forgettable 2007 original look like an oasis of cinematic personality. Sneaked into a handful of theaters nationwide simultaneous with its VOD launch on Nov. 6, this latest effort in the less-than-stellar annals of WWE Studios feature filmmaking will satisfy the target audience's basic expectations for bombastic action in home formats though even they are unlikely to be impressed."A few months into the start of his Los Angeles Lakers tenure, rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell has already earned a stamp of approval from the longest-tenured, highest-scoring player in franchise history. Kobe Bryant is a notoriously tough teammate, prone to challenging and questioning fellow Lakers over the years, and, in some instances, making them cry. But after getting a firsthand look at the No. 2 overall pick in his first NBA training camp, Bryant's been won over by Russell's like-minded work ethic. "He has my trust already because he's a gym rat," Bryant said Wednesday, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News. Russell likely further endeared himself to Bryant with his extremely confident and optimistic take on this year's Lakers, who are looking to rebound from a franchise-worst 21-61 season. "Expectations are high," he said earlier this month. "But this Lakers squad will most definitely be a playoff team." All of which has seemingly taken the sting out of Russell's supposition that Tracy McGrady, and not his new, five-time champion teammate, was the greatest of all time. Bryant's come to trust Russell so much, in fact, that he's ready to cede any and all ballhandling duties - at least in preseason team scrimmages. "I don't think it matters, man," Bryant said after Wednesday's practice. "I don't have to handle the ball at all."It looked like we had seen the last of one of the greatest fighters to ever step inside the UFC Octagon, but now José Aldo has a date and an opponent set for his return to the cage. On Feb. 11, the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion will defend his belt against Max Holloway at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York. That fight, according to the Brazilian, will bring out a new version of himself--both inside and outside the cage. "I'm going to win. That's a fact," Aldo told Ag. Fight about his upcoming bout during a training session on Tuesday at Nova União gym in Rio de Janeiro. After seeing his nemesis Conor McGregor win the lightweight title after already having captured but never defending the featherweight strap he took from Aldo, the Brazilian seems as motivated as ever to try to do the same and win a belt in another division. Additionally, of course, he still seeks revenge against the Irish superstar. "I want to get a fight with Conor, but as he is running from the fight, I want to see how things are going to be in the division," Aldo said. "But we will fight at lightweight. I don't want to fight him at featherweight. I'm the champion, and I've been beating everyone. I want to fight in another division, too, since this is possible now. It is not possible just for one guy. I will ask for a fight, and I will also deny fights if I want to. Since [UFC president Dana White] said that he doesn't force anybody to fight... This is me right now." Aldo's reasoning for his demands is simple. Years ago, when the UFC was struggling to find worthy opponents for him in the middle of his 10-year unbeaten run, Aldo tried to get a a superfight booked against Anthony Pettis, who was the organization's lightweight champion at the time. However, the UFC gave Aldo the choice to fight for a belt at either feather or lightweight. Not in both divisions. After McGregor did just that, though, by going up against lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November while still holding the belt at featherweight, Aldo maintains that he now wants to play by the same rules as his rival. His change of mind--going from retiring to wanting to fight in not one but two divisions--was only possible after a meeting behind closed doors in Las Vegas with White, who managed to talk Aldo out of retirement and listened to his fighter's concerns regarding company politics. According to Aldo, he's been on the wrong end of those political decisions for far too long. "Frankie Edgar, before our first fight, he had lost twice in a row and then he came directly for the [title at] featherweight," Aldo said. "The meeting with Dana opened our minds a lot. Now we understand the UFC's side, too. It is not about treatment. Of course, [McGregor] will be their priority, but now we are going to play the same cards. I was the dominant champion for a long time, so I have the right to ask for things, too. And we will start by asking for things that will be worthy to us." Something worthy, according to Aldo and his team, would be that two-division championship. His or Holloway's interim belts, on the other hand, don't fall into that category. "This interim belt is bullst," Aldo said about Holloway's title. "Even when I won it [in July at UFC 200] I said that. It is just a f**ing excuse that someone created to save events. That is what this belt means. I'm the champion, and I will be waiting to defend my title. If it is not going to be against [Holloway], I could do a superfight or fight in another division." By Ag. Fight for FloCombatImage copyright Getty Images Taxpayers whose incomes top £1m a year would be forced to make their tax records public under Labour, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said. He claimed the measure, inspired by Norway and Sweden, would restore trust in the system and reduce tax avoidance. He also called for a specific chunk of taxes raised to be "hypothecated" - earmarked - for the NHS. The Conservatives said Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn had said he did not favour a hypothecated tax. Chancellor Philip Hammond will deliver his first full budget next Wednesday. Outlining his thinking in a pre-Budget speech, Mr McDonnell urged the chancellor to "reverse the £70bn giveaway to the super-rich and giant corporations between now and 2021". He said under a Labour government "there'll be no place to hide for tax avoiders". 'Urgent need for cash' "Building on the successful Nordic model, we'll introduce legislation to make public the tax returns of those earning over £1m," he said. "Transparency and fairness is at the heart of building a decent, open society. This will help restore public trust in the tax system and help clampdown on any avoidance." Mr McDonnell said Mr Hammond must give the NHS and social care "an urgent injection of cash" when he delivers his first Budget next week. He said the chancellor cannot continue to claim credit for improving economic growth figures while leaving health and social care without the funds they need. "The experience on the ground of patients, doctors and nurses is of a treasured institution already drifting into the greatest crisis in its history," he said. "Current plans from the government do not come anywhere near close to addressing the scale of the crisis, so it is essential that they now bring forward plans to close the funding gap if we do not want to lose our NHS." 'End discrimination' He urged the government to appoint a politically neutral body, such as the Office for Budget Responsibility, to assess the levels of funding needed for the NHS in the long term, with 10-year budgets that show taxpayers their contributions are well-spent. "Hypothecation, allocating taxes raised to specific purposes, can make absolutely clear where tax money is being spent," he said. He accused the Conservatives of adding £750bn to the national debt since 2010, while at the same time imposing the first spending cuts on schools for 40 years and cuts to social care amounting to £4.5bn since 2010 that "have brought the system to the brink of collapse". Mr McDonnell also called on Mr Hammond to end the "discrimination" which had seen cuts to public services "disproportionately" affect women. He said "the cruel £3.7bn cut to Personal Independence Payment for disabled people must be halted", and he pledged that Labour would introduce a £10-an-hour Real Living Wage "to make sure work always pays fairly". In response, the Conservatives said Mr McDonnell's speech highlighted divisions within Labour on the economy - pointing to comments made by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn about hypothecated taxes. A Conservative spokesman said: "Labour have today shown what a shambles they are - with the shadow chancellor suggesting a way of funding the NHS the Labour leader says won't work. "The truth is that a strong NHS needs a strong economy, and only a Conservative government can deliver that." In January, Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I am not one that's generally in favour of hypothecated taxation but I'm prepared to consider it and look at it. The party will obviously consider it and look at it." Asked if there would be a specific tax to raise money for the NHS under Labour, he replied: "We would guarantee the funding for the NHS. Whether we'd have a specific tax I doubt, but I'm prepared to consider it and discuss it as I'm sure all my colleagues are. But if you go down the road of hypothecated taxation then you're going to do hypothecated taxation for every other service. That's an issue."Cancer Council Australia chief executive Ian Olver said: ''The reality is that if something is good for you, it doesn't mean that 10 times of it is better. It is unlikely someone would be diagnosed with a deficiency of fish oil. There is a view out there that extra vitamins and antioxidants are good for you. And people take more thinking that more is better.'' Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the findings confirm a 2011 study that linked high blood concentrations of DHA, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid, to more than double the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. ''The findings suggest that these fatty acids are involved in prostate tumorigenesis and recommendations to increase long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake, in particular through supplementation, should consider its potential risks,'' the study said. Professor Peter Howe, a nutrition expert at the University of Newcastle said taking fish oil had ''shown improvements in cardiovascular health, cognitive performance in the aged and reduced inflammation''. The Heart Foundation recommends adults consume at least 500 milligrams of omega-3 every day from oily fish or fish oil supplements. ''We don't know how much omega-3 people are getting. We should introduce a test to measure omega-3 status when we visit the GP,'' Professor Howe said. Pros and cons of fish oil supplementsWhy are African countries “underdeveloped”? And how did the imperialist plunder of the continent begin? Was slavery a product of racism? Or did racism rather emerge out of the economic exploitation of the African labor force? The Guyanese anti-imperialist Walter Rodney delivers materialist answers to these questions. The British dub-poet Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ) dedicated a song to him after he was killed, in 1980, by a bomb set in his car. And even today people remember the “Rodney riots,” as they were known, that broke out among university students in the West Indies in 1968 when the Jamaican government barred him from teaching after he traveled to Cuba and the Soviet Union. Who are we talking about? None other than the anti-imperialist fighter Walter Rodney. In concert, LKJ frequently name-checks the title of Rodney’s book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa—the title of the German publication, it should be noted, was Afrika: Die Geschichte einer Unterentwicklung [Africa: A Story of Underdevelopment]. This is not merely a poor translation but a crude watering-down of the book’s politics, which are essential to understanding the current state of affairs on the African continent. In the book, Walter Rodney conducts a deep investigation into multiple African cultures and states in the time before they were shaped by the slave trade and imperialist resource exploitation, and describes their continuing modes of development. By way of these case studies, a picture emerges of the economic and social structures of these societies up to and through the introduction of feudalism and the formation of the state. Where does racism come from? His explication of the origins of racism is one of the achievements for which Rodney should be recognized. Against a still-widespread misapprehension, he writes: Occasionally, it is mistakenly held that Europeans enslaved Africans for racist reasons. European planters and miners enslaved Africans for economic reasons, so that their labor power could be exploited. Indeed, it would have been impossible to open up the New World and to use it as a constant generator of wealth, had it not been for African labor. (…) Having become utterly dependent on African labor, Europeans at home and abroad found it necessary to rationalize that exploitation in racist terms as well. Oppression follows logically from exploitation, so as to guarantee the latter. Oppression of Africans people on purely racial ground accompanied, strengthened, and became indistinguishable from oppression for economic reasons. He later gives a similarly incisive treatment, with a detailed account of the development of the company Unilever into a monopoly at the expense of Africa, to the well-worn lie of feel-good colonialism: that it also benefited Africans. The streets, schools, hospitals, nearly all the infrastructure projects—the benefits of which are still touted by European world-savers—were built either in direct service of the export of natural resources or were amenities meant exclusively for whites. The absurdity of the local-benefits argument should become clear, at the very latest, when one reads of a British colony achieving nearly British living standards for the colonists while untold thousands of Africans had one doctor. This makes it evident that the underdevelopment of the African continent is not a result of the racial-essentialist inferiority of either Africans or their societies, but rather of the intentional activity of the slave trade and colonialism as such. Only the enormous destruction and appropriation of knowledge, the monopolization of natural resources and the exploitation of the black labor force—in other words, the brutal assertion of capitalist and imperialist interests and the interests of the European bourgeoisie—can explain the current status of African nations as “developing countries.” Still today it is the unholy alliance between imperialist states and local bourgeoisies that is responsible for the subjugation of the semicolonized. With regard to the struggle against imperialism, for Rodney it was therefore all the more important to emphasize that the fight for emancipation and independence could only rise out of the self-organized politics of the exploited and oppressed themselves. Not a popular front—meaning a coalition with the local bourgeoisie—but an independent organization of the proletariat is necessary in the semicolonies, above all since it is not uncommon for local bourgeoisies to be assigned the role of viceroys: they function as agents representing the interests of imperialist companies, in order to benefit in return from their privileged position and connections to them. It is also not uncommon for these same people to simultaneously employ nationalistic jargon in the guise of “independence,” only to betray the interests of their own people. Well-known examples are Blaise Compaoré [Sierra Leone] or Joseph Kasavubu [Congo], who in cooperation with French and American imperialism, respectively, were responsible for the murders of anticolonial fighters in their countries. Exploitation of the African Continent Rodney did not limit himself, however, to the examination of colonial oppression from a Marxist perspective, but also investigated the precise role of the exploitation of the African continent in the process of capital accumulation by the European bourgeoisies. He described, among other things, the complete plunder of entire countries which had been, for example, completely covered over by monocultures, causing hunger and misery for their whole populations. These landgrabs were highly lucrative for capital interests, who could at once increase exports and take advantage of a cheap, desperate labor force. Franz Fanon similarly demonstrated the significance of imperial rule with the following analogy: Colonialism and imperialism have not settled their debt to us once they have withdrawn their flag and their police force from our territories. For centuries the capitalists have behaved like real war criminals in the underdeveloped world. Deportation, massacres, forced labor, and slavery were the primary methods used by capitalism to increase its gold and diamond reserves, and establish its wealth and power. Not so long ago, Nazism transformed the whole of Europe into a genuine colony. The governments of various European nations demanded reparations and the restitution in money and kind for their stolen treasures. As a result, cultural artifacts, paintings. Sculptures, and stained-glass windows were returned to their owners (…). At the same time we are of the opinion that the imperialist states would be making a serious mistake and committing an unspeakable injustice if they were content to withdraw from our soil the military cohorts and the administrative and financial services whose job it was to prospect for, extract, and ship out wealth to the metropolis. Moral reparation for national independence does not fool us and it doesn’t feed us. The wealth of the imperialist nations is also our wealth. (…) In concrete terms Europe has been bloated out of all proportions by the gold and raw materials from such colonial countries as Latin America, China, and Africa. Today Europe’s tower of opulence faces these continents, for centuries the point of departure of their shipments of diamonds, oil, silk and cotton, timber, and exotic produce to this very same Europe. Europe is literally the creation of the Third World. The riches which are choking it are those plundered from the underdeveloped peoples. About the colonial division of labor which occurred within the process of exploitation, Rodney has this to say: No industry meant no generation of skills. Even in the mining industry, it was arranged that the most valuable labor should be done outside Africa. It is sometimes forgotten that it is labor which adds value to commodities through the transformation of natural products. For instance, although gem diamonds have a value far above their practical usefulness, the value is not simply a question of their being rare. Work had to be done to locate the diamonds. That is the skilled task of a geologist, and the geologists were of course Europeans. Work had to be done to dig the diamonds out, which involves mainly physical labor. Only in that phase were African from South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Tanganyika, and Sierra Leone brought into the picture. Subsequently, work had to be done in cutting and polishing the diamonds. A small portion of this was performed by whites in South Africa, and most of it by whites in Brussels and London. It was on the desk of the skilled cutter that the rough diamond became a gem and soared in value. No Africans were allowed to come near that kind of technique in the colonial period. By the same token, in an interview about the situation in the country of his birth, Guyana, with a keen look at its societal structures, Rodney explained that he recognized and agitated against not only the specific racist oppression of black and Indian workers as blacks and Indians, but their exploitation and oppression as workers as well, calling for united struggle. In view of the tasks ahead, it is a necessity for us to reacquaint ourselves with the research and findings of Walter Rodney. If we truly want to build a forceful movement against racism and the imperialist interests of German capital, we must fight still-pervasive false perspectives on the cause and function of racism, and put a historical-materialist analysis up to challenge them. First published in German in Klasse Gegen Klasse in 19 April 2017. Translated and first published in English by AntidoteThe New Westminster Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing Maple Ridge teen. According to a press release, Jolesa Ascon-Ramos was reported missing from her home in Maple Ridge on Sunday, March 8 and was last seen at the New Westminster SkyTrain station about 7 p.m. that day. She was last seen wearing a loose black sweater with ripped sleeves, velour pants and was carrying a bright pink purse. Jolesa is a 14-year-old Hispanic female, standing 4-11 tall and weighing 145 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes and a mole on the left side of her upper lip. The New Westminster Police Department asks that anyone who may know of Jolesa’s whereabouts to call Const. Chad Neufeld at 604-525-5411 or your local police department. article continues belowIn the three years since my article about the death of Dan Markingson was published in Mother Jones magazine, I have gotten a number of letters and emails from people telling me that they or their children have been mistreated in psychiatric studies at the University of Minnesota. These people hint at stories that sound chillingly familiar: forced medication, coerced enrollment in drug studies, locked wards, involuntary commitment, suicides. The pain and anger in these communications is heartbreaking. Yet almost without exception, these people are unwilling to make their stories public, or even to meet with me in person. Some tell me they are afraid of retaliation by the university. Others hint at legal restrictions that prevent them from making their stories public. A number have initially agreed to meet with me, but then simply stopped communicating with me without any explanation at all. It is hard for me to think back about these communications without feeling a sense of despair. When I first wrote about the death of Dan Markingson, I felt that the facts of the case were so clear, and the wrongdoing so self-evident, that the university would be shamed into taking action. Obviously I wanted justice for Mary Weiss. But it was not just that. I was afraid that other research subjects might be in danger. Hearing these other stories, as cryptic and inconclusive as they were, has just reinforced that fear. Exactly what has been going on in the Department of Psychiatry? Have other research subjects died? Do any oversight bodies or legal authorities understand what is going on? If so, why haven’t they done anything? This is not an idle question. In The New Yorker several years ago I wrote about the case of Dr. Faruk Abuzzahab, a clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry who was eventually judged responsible for the deaths and injuries of 46 severely mentally ill patients under his care. Seventeen of those patients were subjects in research studies Abuzzahab was conducting, many at Fairview Hospital. For a psychiatrist, 46 deaths and injuries is a stunning figure. The disciplinary file itself makes for grisly reading. “Patient #35 committed suicide by jumping off the Franklin Ave. Bridge.” “Patient #38 committed suicide on an overdose of medication.” “Patient committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.” Yet by the time the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice finally suspended Abuzzahab’s license in 1998, over twenty years had passed since some of those deaths and injuries had occurred. Let me repeat that. Families of victims were forced to wait over twenty years for Abuzzahab to be sanctioned. And even then the punishment was nothing more than a temporary suspicion of his medical license. With rare exceptions, the stories of his victims were never reported in the press, and his research misconduct was never even investigated. In the years since he was disciplined he has continued to do clinical trials. For the moment, let’s put aside the question of whether other subjects have died or been injured in those recent trials. Instead, ask yourself: how many of those forty-six deaths and injuries dating back to the 1970s could have been prevented if someone had acted earlier? Or to put the matter bluntly: how many desperate patients put a bullet through their heads while the lawyers and bureaucrats sat at their desks, doing nothing? In the nine and a half years since Dan Markingson died, nothing at the University of Minnesota has changed. No investigation has taken place. No one has been sanctioned. No substantive changes have been made to the IRB, or the Department of Psychiatry, or any of the university procedures or guidelines governing medical research. In fact, outside of the university administration, most people at the University of Minnesota don’t even know who Dan Markingson was. All of the institutional forces and flaws that led to Dan’s death are just as strong now as they were when he died. And all the signs suggest that Dan may well have been only one of many victims. Someday the extent of the wrongdoing at the University of Minnesota is going to come out. Maybe it will take another twenty years. If Minnesota history is any indicator, it will probably be even longer. But when it does, one of the first questions that people will ask is going to be: Why didn’t anyone do anything? What exactly prevented victims and their families from speaking out and warning others? How many desperate patients put a bullet through their heads while the lawyers and bureaucrats sat at their desks, doing nothing? Acknowledgement: This post also appears at www.danmarkingson.com, where you can sign a petition to investigate Markingson’s death.Exotic particles can be incredibly ephemeral, sticking around for tiny fractions of a second before decaying. The recent discovery of a new type of particle called a tetraquark may turn out to be equally short-lived, according to a new study casting doubt on the finding, although the issue is not yet settled. The new tetraquark—an arrangement of four quarks, the fundamental particles that build up the protons and neutrons inside atoms—was first announced in late February by physicists taking part in the DZero experiment at the Tevatron collider at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Illinois. The finding represented a surprising configuration of quarks of four different flavors that was not predicted and could help elucidate the maddeningly complex rules that govern these particles. But now scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)—the world’s largest particle accelerator, buried beneath Switzerland and France—say they have tried and failed to find confirming evidence for the particle in their own data. “We don’t see any of these tetraquarks at all,” says Sheldon Stone, a Syracuse University physicist who led the analysis for the Large Hadron Collider Beauty (LHCb) experiment. “We contradict their result.” DZero team leaders, however, say they are standing by their discovery, which showed up in archived data, at least until they see more fleshed-out data from LHCb. (The Tevatron was retired in 2011.) “They don’t have any written documents yet, just slides,” says Dmitri Denisov, co-spokesperson for the DZero experiment. “So it might be correct, it might not. Let’s wait for more information.” The potential new "tetraquark" particle, made of four quarks, decays into two mesons, or pairings of two quarks, which then decay into other daughter particles. Credit: Fermilab If the new tetraquark exists, it should theoretically show up in droves at the LHC, and possibly in lesser numbers at other colliders as well. DZero’s discovery came not from seeing the new tetraquark, dubbed X(5568), directly, but rather by inferring its existence after seeing pairs of particles thought to be produced by its decay. Those particles, pions and Bs mesons (both consisting of pairs of quarks and antiquarks), are even more plentiful at the LHCb experiment than they were at DZero, and so the thinking goes, if the X(5568) tetraquark exists, it should be plainly evident there. But because each collider and experiment works differently and has unique sensitivities, it is possible that DZero was better suited to detect it. “It’s too early to say if LHCb is at all capable of seeing this object,” Denisov says. “I think the LHCb sensitivity is much better [than DZero’s] so I would tend to doubt that this [tetraquark] result is real,” says Tom Browder of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a member of the Belle collider experiment in Japan. “It’s likely to be a statistical fluctuation. You might be able to supply a conspiracy theory where it’s only produced at the Tevatron and not at the LHC, but I think that’s contrived.” Although Belle found the first known tetraquark in 2003, it likely does not have the ability to spot X(5568), Browder says. Scientists at the Tevatron’s other experiment, CDF (which stands for the Collider Detector at Fermilab), are dusting off their own data now to look for the particle, but have not yet confirmed that they have the sensitivity required to find it. “Could we see such a thing? In principle, yes,” says Fermilab scientist and CDF collaboration member Jonathan Lewis. “But it’s a detailed question. I can’t make a definitive statement as to whether we can rule it in or out.” He also found the LHCb results potentially telling. “That’s certainly a strong bit of contrary evidence that people need to consider,” Lewis says. “I would wait and see. We’re doing our work and I’ll leave it to other people to judge the sum total.” Either way, scientists do expect more tetraquark particles and other new arrangements of quarks to show up in coming years as accelerators become more and more powerful. The roughly half dozen tetraquarks that are now known may just be the tip of the iceberg. And the more we learn about all the different possible arrangements of quarks, the better scientists hope to understand the complex laws, called quantum chromodynamics, that govern them. These rules currently explain numerous facets of quark behavior, but the theory’s equations are too complex to solve many kinds of problems. Determining whether X(5568) exists is the first step toward progress. “Either way it will help science to know more,” Denisov says. “This case is especially difficult because theoretically, it’s very poorly understood how this object is created and decays. This is science in action.”Opinion If the Fukushima crisis has proved one thing, it's that nuclear power is safe. Everything that could possibly go wrong did, the accident was agreed to be at the top of the international scale for seriousness, and yet in decades to come scientists will not be able to attribute any deaths to radiation released from the Daiichi plant. In that respect the incident was much like Three Mile Island, where again a nuclear core melted down under the unblinking, terrified gaze of the world's media (though at least in that case they weren't largely ignoring a nearby and genuine human catastrophe, as they did with the actual real damage done by earthquake and tsunami). In the case of Chernobyl, the only other notable nuclear accident, the total death toll that you can actually attribute to the accident - including children who got cancer as a result of radioactive emitted from the plant - and it is 56, not at all a large number for an industrial accident. Anti-nuclear activists like to claim that there will be thousands more cancer cases, based on the idea that hundreds of thousands of people who were affected may suffer a tiny increased chance of cancer, but this will be impossible to verify as the fact is people very often die of cancer anyway. The lives of these "Chernobyl victims" will not be noticeably different to the lives they would have lived anyway. If we were to close down industries on such grounds, we would not have any industry left and we'd have to live in mud huts and die like flies from disease and malnutrition. Other industries have accidents in which scores (or hundreds, or even thousands) of people are directly measurably killed all the time, and most of them emit huge quantities of stuff into the environment which a keen scientist could easily point to and say they are causing thousands of deaths. Yet they are not closed down. In particular, one of the other things that other industries emit is atmospheric carbon - and indeed, you will find plenty of people to claim that global warming associated with this has already and will in future kill almost any number of people, perhaps the entire human race at the high end. The Japanese government, impelled by the colossal international and domestic panic that followed the pretty much completely harmless Daiichi plant incident, has ordered all its nuclear power stations shut down. As a result it has been forced to burn more fossil fuels in order to keep the lights on, and it has now - at the international climate conference in Warsaw - formally abandoned its former carbon emissions reduction targets. "This move by Japan could have a devastating impact," said Naoyuki Yamagishi of hardline green campaign group WWF, talking to Reuters. "It could further accelerate the race to the bottom among other developed countries." It certainly could. Germany also plans to shut down all its nuclear reactors in the wake of Fukushima, and is finding that its vaunted renewables simply don't have a prayer of supporting a powerful industrial economy (already, fossil powerplant operators are successfully obtaining extra money to stay in business there, and there has lately been a move into hated coal). Comment Some of us here on the Reg environment desk - though by no means all - do not hold the standard media/left-wing beliefs on environment/energy matters (ie carbon emissions are definitely an immediate and deadly threat and so is nuclear power). So we're not as panicked at the thought of more carbon emissions as some might be. But we know as well as anyone that being dependent on Russian gas and Saudi oil will be bad for our society. We might hazard a guess that shale gas, even if it is the bonanza some think, will be harder to develop in the UK than in the much emptier USA - and that one day it will run out just as North Sea oil and gas is now doing. We would prefer to pay small sums to Australia and Canada for small amounts of uranium, have lots of nice well-paid jobs here in the UK on the rest of our energy money, and perhaps not have our Jetsons future of atomic spaceships closed off forever. And anyone at all serious is well aware that the idea of running an advanced, developed human civilisation on renewables is a pipe-dream. Just ask Dr James Hansen, doyen of the anti-carbon crusaders. He and some colleagues have just publicly exhorted people like Mr Yamagishi of WWF to just lay the hell off nuclear power, as without it there is not a prayer of ever reducing carbon emissions until all the gas and coal and oil is burned. But WWF and the other hard greens know the realities too: they know that no carbon + no nukes = economic misery. They just don't care - their plan is that humanity should abandon economic growth and sink into poverty. So those are the options. Air full of carbon, nuclear power, or shivering hungry in the dark. ®I do like the idea of two minds sharing the same body and the conflicts which go on that. The two of them did get in each other's way a lot, there was no harmony or respect at the beginning ('I did not invite you here', 'I did not ask to be here')and it was enough to keep my interest. There were lots of action scenes and they were not OTT, people got injured, died, there was happiness, sadness, brutality....you got
vatron at Fermilab and the LEP—the LHC’s predecessor at CERN—and neither collider had found it. Perhaps the Higgs does not exist at all. So while CERN will continue its search for the Higgs at least until the end of this year, if no positive results about the Higgs should come out, Stephen Hawking—betting against the entire world of physics, as it were—would be able to cash in on his wager. And in that case, Congress may feel that even though its 1993 decision to cancel the American alternative to CERN—the Superconducting Super Collider—was generally met with chagrin by the American physics community, it may have been the right move one after all: to spend billions of taxpayer dollars in search of a particle that likely does not exist would have been wasteful. But if the Higgs doesn't exist, where does mass in the universe come from? Theories that go beyond the "standard model" of particle physics (of which the Higgs is the keystone—the one missing piece needed to explain how the universe we know came to be) may be necessary. Steven Weinberg, who in his landmark 1967 paper on the unification of the electromagnetic and the weak interactions had made key use of the Higgs for "breaking the symmetry" and separating the electromagnetic from the weak forces, has since gone beyond the standard model in his research. Weinberg has proposed a theory called Technicolor, within which the primeval symmetry of our universe can be broken through a different mechanism than the action of the elusive Higgs. But to prove the validity of the Technicolor theory may require an energy level that would dwarf that available to the LHC—at an equally astronomical cost.Dwight Howard won’t be donning the shamrock any time soon. Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Mannix reported Friday that while the Boston Celtics engaged the Houston Rockets in trade talks involving Howard, Boston wasn’t willing to give up the pieces necessary to swing a deal for the eight-time NBA All-Star. “Howard won’t be going to Boston, league sources told The Vertical, and the reason is simple: The asking price is just too steep,” Mannix wrote. “The Celtics like Howard, believe he can be a cornerstone player but are unwilling to part with any significant assets — including Brooklyn’s coveted first-round pick — to get him. Boston is aggressively pursuing deals and is motivated to add a frontcourt player to its promising young roster, but Howard won’t be one of them.” The Celtics, who entered Friday tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, boast a deep core of promising young players but lack a bona fide superstar. Howard would fit that bill, but the 30-year-old big man’s age, injury history, price tag and decline in production make him a less-than-desirable choice to be the face of the franchise in Boston. Howard has played in 41 of Houston’s 52 games this season, averaging 14.1 points — his lowest mark since his rookie year — and 11.9 rebounds per game. Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports ImagesSEATTLE -- Well, we can officially turn off the spigot now... (That doesn't really work, does it?) With our 9th consecutive day of rain this month, and well, all the other rain that's fallen this autumn and winter, Seattle has received more than 37.50" of rain since October 1. Our 12-month rainfall average is 37.49 inches. So essentially we can go all the way to September 30 without another drop of rain and still be considered above normal for this "water year." I've actually received a few emails asking if this is the earliest we've ever reached this point. The answer is no, and you all have short memories. Last winter we reached that number even sooner, hitting 37.81" on Feb. 28. The winters of 1950-51 and 1998-99 also reached our 12-month average before the start of March, the record being Feb. 19, 1951 when we passed that total. RELATED\| Never-ending gloom? Seattle has had just 3 sunny, mild days since the start of October \| Impress at the water cooler with this gaggle of Seattle winter weather stats But last year on March 15, we had a whopping 42.28" of rain since October 1st, including what would be the final day of a 18-day streak of days with measurable rainfall. Then again, this year's streak would be currently at 21 days if we didn't have a few days that had rain, but didn't measure the minimum 0.01" to officially count as a rainy day. And before you think that would have been a record, no that's 35 days. So take solace in the fact that it's been soooo much more non-stop rainy before. You can also take solace in that despite the wettest start to the rainy year last year, Seattle dried up enough after that to where we only finished sixth on the chart of wettest water years on record when all was said and done on Sept. 30. And we're still currently a full 6 inches behind that pace (although I don't blame you if it feels like we'll catch up on that total in the next hour or two.) I'm not sure why it at least seems to me the rain has been more of a story this winter than last winter. Maybe I have a short memory too, or maybe it's just it's been a bit gloomier this year than last. It's a wet forecast through the end of the week, but drier weather looks likely toward next week. As for spring? The official spring forecast by NOAA comes out Thursday. Sun fans, cross your fingers.11. On Syria, and “What Should Be Done” Recently, I posted a video and commentary about the current situation in Syria, and the impending U.S military involvement. Of course, I am absolutely opposed to U.S military involvement for a number of reasons (which I will get to in a second). But a friend of mine commented on the post. He generally agreed with my criticisms, but he also believes that some sort of action needs to be taken. “What should be done?” he asked. And I’ve been seeing this argument pop up a lot over the internet lately. A lot of people are outraged by the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, and seem to believe that the Western countries have a responsibility to involve themselves in order to “stop the atrocities.” This is a very powerful argument, because it draws on something deep and powerful within us as human beings. It tugs at the part of us that is noble, that wants to stand up for justice. It’s a very real thing, and a fundamental part of what makes us human. I have no doubt that most of those who believe that the West needs to get involved militarily are sincere in their desire to help. But they are also wrong. I’ll assume that if you’re reading this, you’re familiar with the Arab Spring uprisings. One thing to note, however, is that it would be foolish to lump all of these uprisings together as one monolithic event. Each resistance movement had its own set of grievances, and each government had its own way of redressing them (some were overthrown, some, such as “Business Friendly” Bahrain brutally suppressed all dissent). One truly tragic outcome was the situation in Libya. Most Westerners are woefully ignorant of the truth of what actually happened in Libya (but I will write more about this in a later post). And of course, in Syria, the attempt to overthrow the Assad regime was met with fierce government resistance, and the result was a brutal civil war that has been ongoing for over a year. The Western governments have been trying to get involved since the beginning of the war (for reasons which I will explain in minute), and the Russians and Chinese have been opposed to outside involvement. Most in the West view the situation as relatively simple, with the noble freedom fighters battling the oppressive regime. Of course, the situation is infinitely more complicated than that, and it’s always wise to question the corporate media’s framing of situations. In fact, our general ignorance of the situation is one of the main reasons we should refrain from involvement. The truth is, most Americans (including myself) don’t have a very clear idea of what’s going on, and they are doing humanity a disservice to lend support to a potentially catastrophic military operation with very little grasp of the context of the situation. And if experience is any indicator, it’s almost certain that the situation is infinitely more complex than the corporate media would have us believe, if not radically different altogether. And it would seem that most of the American public was wary to get involved in another conflict, that is until last week when it was claimed that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against the rebels, killing a lot of civilians. And now the West (led, of course, by the United States) has found the perfect excuse for getting involved, and is busying itself manufacturing the consent of the American public for another round of imperial adventurism (folly). Does any of this sound familiar? In case you’ve forgotten, let’s go through a quick list of previous situations in which the United States has acted militarily on false pretenses, ultimately to further its own imperialist agenda: -There is a lot of evidence to suggest that high level government officials knew that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was imminent, but that they let it happen anyway because they needed public support to enter World War II. Obviously the attack actually happened, but the level of much of a “surprise” attack it was is up for debate. http://www.policymic.com/articles/14023/documents-reveal-that-fdr-may-have-known-about-pearl-harbor-attack-beforehand -The U.S became involved in Vietnam because of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where it was claimed that the North Vietnamese attacked a U.S Naval vessel. This was later revealed to be false. On a personal note, one of my former colleagues is a Vietnam veteran who joined the military after a missionary group at his high school did a presentation on the persecution of Christians by the North Vietnamese. He tells me that he joined because he believed he would be able to help suffering people. We now know that the Diem, the dictator of the South Vietnamese (who was also a staunch Catholic) was so corrupt and brutally oppressive that Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest of his regime. As for my colleague, he later came to realize that the conflict in Vietnam was nowhere close to being “humanitarian”, and this is just another example in which the public’s heartstrings are tugged only to support what was ultimately a prolonged war crime (this was most recently detailed in Nick Turse’s “Kill Anything that Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam”). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident -Prior to the first Gulf War, a heartwrenching speech was given to the U.S congress by a young Kuwaiti girl, who claimed to have witnessed terrible war crimes at the hands of Saddam Hussein’s soldiers. She (in)famously claimed that babies were taken from incubators and thrown to the ground. It was later revealed that the girl was the daughter of Kuwaiti diplomat who was stationed in the U.S, that the whole story had been fabricated, and that she was coached by a P.R firm whom the pentagon hired to garner support for the war. http://www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html -And of course, who can forget the non-existent Weapons of Mass destruction that were the justification for America’s invasion of Iraq. Of course, none of this proves that the United States government is lying about the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons. But it wouldn’t be surprising. And the point is, the U.S relies on the naivety and ignorance of the U.S public, who always believe they are going into conflict for the most noble and “humanitarian” of causes, to further its imperialist agenda. And war can never be “humanitarian”. There are a precious few situations in which military involvement doesn’t simply escalate the level of violence, chaos, and bloodshed. As far as this situation goes, the only thing that I would consider possibly acceptable would be if all of the chemical weapons were stored in a depot out in the desert away from most living things, and a simple precision missile strike could destroy the totality of the chemical weapons, assuring that they couldn’t be used. But of course, a situation like that would only exist hypothetically. And of course, despite what the public wants to believe, the U.S has never acted out of any purely humanitarian cause (in fact, I doubt that humanitarian concerns ever actually factor into any of the high level decision making), and so we must consider the imperial ambitions of the world’s foremost terrorist state. What, exactly does the U.S stand to gain from invading Syria? I will repost the same video that I posted on my Facebook page, and which spawned this whole discussion. Please watch it, as it’s very, very enlightening. So in a nutshell, the U.S uses its military might to force nations to buy and sell oil in U.S dollars, because these “PetroDollars” are the only thing propping up the valueless U.S dollar (which, because it is Fiat currency, and is printed at will by the Federal Reserve, is essentially funny money). So the U.S is using its military might to bully other nations into accepting its worthless currency (so it can maintain its unwarranted and unearned hegemony). As sidenote, it’s worth noting that all of the “rogue states” who are the sworn enemies of the United States have a few things in common. The first, is that they don’t have Central banks. The second is that they are generally oil-rich states that offer legitimate resistance to U.S economic hegemony (in the case of Cuba, they aren’t oil rich, but they offered legitimate resistance). So go ahead and google “countries that don’t have a central bank” Personally, I believe that the real target here is Iran, and the U.S is hoping to use its actions against Syria to lure Iran into conflict, so that the U.S can wage war directly against Iran. This is, of course, very dangerous as it obviously threatens the lives of all those who live in Iran, but it also (as the video suggests) brings about the very real possibility of a full-scale conventional war with China and Russia (and the use of nuclear weapons). One thing I’d like to point out here is this pattern that we see all throughout the whole history of Western imperialism (which is, essentially, the history of capitalism stretching back over the last 500 years or so). What we generally see is an elite, capitalist class who understands the true reasons for the various imperialist actions (the colonizing of poorer countries, the subjugation of indigenous peoples, the theft of their land and resources, etc.). The ruling classes understand that these actions are largely about maintaining wealth and power. But in order to maintain that power, they had to have the consent of the public (i.e the people lived within the borders of the actual nation states, and did not see themselves as subjugated). This public largely saw the imperial ambitions of their countries as a civilizing force, and as benevolent. During the British empire, the term “white man’s burden” was coined. So the citizens outside of the ruling classes, who did not really benefit from the colonization and subjugation of others, commonly saw imperialism as a noble burden. They believed they were doing the “lesser brown” peoples of the world a favor by forcing them to conform to their “superior” culture. These patterns of continue today, where imperialism is an economic gain for the elite (and an impoverishment for the public, who must pay the costs of imperialism), but is still justified by the public as a “noble burden.” But I still haven’t addressed the question of “What should be done?” Hopefully I’ve demonstrated why the U.S shouldn’t be trusted and how, exactly, aggression against Syria serves to further U.S interests. But still, we need to do something, don’t we? Interestingly, amongst the throng of eager, young internet-tough guys who are calling for action against the Syrian regime in the name of truth and justice, historical arguments are made. The common refrain is that there were times in the past when the U.S acted against injustice, or examples of times when tragedies occurred because we did not. The most common example used is World War II, in which American intervention supposedly ended the atrocities of the holocaust (the other common argument is that if we had acted earlier, we might have prevented the holocaust). The other example used by my friend specifically was the Spanish Civil War, which I will get to shortly. The first thing to remember, is that this is not World War II. The situations are very different. The second thing to remember, is that it’s important to consider context. Many Americans hold a mistaken view of World War II as a “just war”. I’m not going to make a claim as to whether or not it was (or whether than can ever be a “good” or “just” war). But again, it’s important to remember context. The first thing is that the ideology of Nazi Germany was not some demonic aberration that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. A belief in the supposed racial and cultural superiority of the White Race was common amongst all of the Western colonial powers. While today it is easy to demonize the Third Reich and to see the British as the “good guys”, we would do well to keep in mind that both societies believed that they were part of an inherently superior race, and that they had not only the right, but the duty to violently force their culture on the “lesser” peoples of the world. Additionally, all of the Western powers acted similarly to the Nazis, using their military might to conquer lands and subjugate the indigenous people. It was only when the Germans had the audacity to act in such a way towards other white people (say, by invading France or Poland instead of India or the Congo) did everyone cry foul. It’s my personal belief that the suffering and sorrow visited upon Europe was the Karmic fall-out of centuries of oppression visited upon others (and also, please not that I am NOT saying the holocaust was justified). But still, what should we have done? I believe that it’s not so important as to what we should have done (the answer is a vague and obvious “resist injustice”). What’s more important to ask is “Who should do it?” Or put another way, who is responsible (and best suited) for resisting injustice? I believe that ultimately, those who are oppressed are responsible for standing up to their oppressors. The lesson to learn from World War II is that the injustices and atrocities perpetrated by the Third Reich would have best been avoided if the German people had resisted injustice when they had the chance. I can’t say whether or not I “blame” the German people for not resisting, and it’s not really that relevant. What IS relevant however, is that we carefully study what happened, and we use the tragedies of the past to help recognize growing injustice in the present. Sadly, it would seem that many Americans haven’t learned this lesson and are unable to recognize the growing totalitarian state growing underneath their feet. Which brings me to one last point, and that is the fact that, like the many “good Germans” who were complicit in allowing the atrocities of World War II to happen simply because they were ignorant of the realities, there are many “good Americans” who simply support the government by default, unaware that they are support unspeakable injustice. What’s worse, is that many Americans support American imperialism both because they are unaware of what exactly it is that they are supporting (drone strikes are one thing to talk about and watch from the comfort of your suburban living room, and quite another thing to actually live through), and because they erroneously believe that the interests of the American Empire (that is, the interest of the ruling classes) are the same as their own. It disturbs me to consider how utterly morally bankrupt this position is. Many Americans are quietly complicit and supportive of violence and injustice perpetrated in their name, so long as gas prices remain reasonable and consumer goods are cheap and plentiful. No wonder depression and malaise runs rampant and a large percentage of the population suffers from mental illness. So the first that should be done, is that people should recognize that the U.S government serves the interests of the ruling class (themselves) and they should recognize that the ruling classes’ interests are in direct opposition to their own (and also in direct opposition to the future survival of humanity and well-being of the earth, I might add). And actually, this brings me to another point, that of the Spanish Civil War serving as a historical precedent. The irony is that it was actually foreign intervention that allowed Fascist Franco’s forces to defeat the Leftist coalition, ushering in 40 years of a brutal dictatorship. Firstly, the Spanish Civil war serves as one of the few precious examples of a large-scale anarchist society surviving and flourishing in Anarchist Catalonia. The anarchists were one of the most successful and powerful factions in the leftist coalition, but because they were anti-authoritarian, they provoked the ire of the totalitarian communists. Ultimately, the anarchists found enemies in both the fascists and the communists. The soviets wanted an authoritarian communist state, so they resolved to wipe out the anarchists. This infighting (along with the general incompetence of the authoritarian communists) is ultimately what allowed Fascist Franco to prevail. I should also point out that Western intervention in the Spanish Civil War was muted because the capitalist class preferred to support Franco (Fascism being the logical extension of their ideal capitalism), and certainly did not want to support anarchists or communists. For more on this, check out Antony Beevor’s “The Battle for Spain”, which is an exhaustive and insightful account of the events. So what should we do? In terms of military involvement with Syria, perhaps all of those noble souls calling for intervention should board a plane to Syria and go try to join the rebellion themselves. It’s one thing to call for a military intervention when you don’t have to do the fighting or experience any of the brutal violence that ensues, but doing the fighting yourself is quite another. If they are so concerned, perhaps those in the West should stop their armchair posturing and actually go. Or perhaps we should let the Syrian people themselves fight for their right to self-determination. It’s not our place or our right to act. Our urge to “do something” is a bigoted holdover from our more overt colonial days and part of our arrogant, paternalistic, latent tendency to try and fix everything for everyone else. Furthermore, our attempt to remedy an injustice abroad only serves to allow injustice to grow at home, which means that more of these kinds of situations are destined to continue in the future (only closer to home). What the people of the West need to do is recognize the injustices within their own societies and work to remedy those. This involves dismantling and resisting central banking, capitalism, and imperialism (among other things). The peoples of the West have a duty to resist and fight back against the injustices of imperialism perpetuated by their own governments, with their own consent. AdvertisementsWhen Jose Rijo, Dominican baseball eminence and MVP of the 1990 World Series, invited me to join him at his cigar bar in Santo Domingo, I quickly agreed. Here was a chance to witness a retired baseball player living in the afterglow of his career and also to pretend, as best I could, that I belonged at the table. First, we had a farewell dinner with Alberto Pozo, our fixer. Alberto had promised us a final meal of authentic Dominican food—comida típica—which we had been eating, between sandwiches and Pollos Victorina fried chicken, for most of the trip. Alberto decided on El Conuco, a touristy joint with an extensive buffet and live dancing. We sat at a table close to speakers blaring bachata music, and as the house dancers clapped and twirled in front of us, I picked at a bowl of sancocho, a stew made with seven meats. That conversation was all but impossible wasn’t as awkward as it might have been. After dozens of hours in the car with Alberto—and a few with his 6-year-old daughter, Paula—to call him a “fixer” would do him little justice. He was a friend and fount of boundless optimism—his answer to my entreaties for more bureaucrats or baseball players was always “No problem.” Alberto has an entrepreneur’s zeal, and if anyone can make “baseball tourism” into a Dominican industry, it is he. Rijo’s cigar bar was a few blocks down the road, tucked into one of the giant, neon-lit casinos that line the Malecón on Santo Domingo’s waterfront. We rolled up around 9 and spotted the pitcher wearing a lime-green shirt and sitting at an outdoor table with about half a dozen friends. When Rijo saw us approaching, he made a few sharp movements with his hands, and we suddenly found ourselves propelled into seats. Spanish-language torch songs were wafting through the windows of Rijo’s white Lexus SC430 convertible, which was neatly parked next to the table. Slowly, as I acclimated myself to the surroundings, something else became apparent: The great Rijo and his friends were not merely listening to Spanish torch songs, they were singing them, in unison—a sing-along that, after pausing a few seconds for our arrival and drink orders, resumed in its full-throated glory. It was the kind of karaoke performance you do not normally encounter on Old Timers’ Day. The lead singer was a Rijo confidant, Ramón Antonio Otero, a pudgy, middle-aged man who later told me, “My name is artist.” As he tackled songs like “Que Se Mueran de Enviada” and “Esclavo y Amo,” Otero sung in an exaggerated mock-opera style: chest pushed out, palms fluttering against pectorals, lower jaw tucked into his clavicle. A few times, I saw Rijo push buttons on his cell phone and hold it up for Otero to sing into the receiver. When I finally asked Rijo whom he was calling, he said it was his wife’s answering machine—he was leaving her a serenade. The scene was fitting, because as a pitcher Rijo had always been something of an exotic. The San Cristóbal native made his major league debut at 18, in 1984, and by 26 he was on pace to become a Dominican legend on the order of Juan Marichal and Osvaldo Virgil. “I became a king,” as Rijo once put it. Injuries cost him a chance to be a transcendent pitcher—he endured five surgeries on his right elbow alone—and he dropped out of the game in 1995. But after a grueling rehabilitation, he was able to claw his way back into the majors, and in 2002, nearly seven years after he’d started his last game, he pitched the Reds past the Cubs. In retirement, Rijo has become rounder and more kinglike, with courtiers inside and outside the game. Between songs, Rijo introduced the gallery that had arranged itself around him. It was a group of regulars that had come to enjoy Rijo’s halo of celebrity, snifters of Jameson, and top-quality cigars. One gray-suited gentleman who stopped by to pay his respects was, someone leaned in to whisper, “in the government.” A tall, comically good-looking man in a tight pink polo shirt turned out to be the engineer who designed and was supervising construction of the D.R.’s first subway system, the earthworks for which we had seen earlier in the trip. Linen jackets were held rakishly over shoulders, and every other minute a joke would be made at somebody’s expense, bringing the table’s ever-simmering laughter to a burst. A couple of young women had taken over a table a few yards away and were making expectant eyes at our group, but this was plainly a boys’ night out—an evening of bawdy jokes and gleeful showmanship. I could understand only half of what was said—most of the performance was en español—but it was one of those rare occasions in adult life where you find yourself giggling along like a confused toddler and yet feel no shame. The sole allowance for feminine delicacy was the smaller, vanilla-flavored cigar one member of the entourage deemed appropriate for my companion Megan Hustad; she was duly chastised every time she allowed it to go out. Alas, thanks to a new anti-crime ordinance, the bars in Santo Domingo shut down at midnight, so a few members peeled off and the rest made motions to take the party inside the casino. Just then, Otero turned to us and said, “Now, I sing for you in English. My English is not good.” “But it is good!” Rijo interjected. Attempting to prove his friend right, Otero gamely started in on “My Way.” Rijo joined him for the chorus and softly shook a pair of maracas. It was at this point that I entered a state of delirious happiness I have rarely experienced since childhood. I was in the company of a pitcher whose baseball cards I had collected, whom I had once watched win two World Series games on television. He was handing me drinks. And cigars. He was performing a song. With maracas. It was a rather grandiose end to our baseball tour, a symbol, I guess, of the extravagant lifestyle that awaits in the major leagues. For the triumphant final verse—”For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught”—Rijo sung harmony, and he and Otero finished the song on their feet. There was a light smattering of applause, a few cat calls. At one point, Rijo excused himself to take a phone call from Jim Bowden, the general manager of the Washington Nationals, who wanted to talk with Rijo about Dominican prospects. “Bowden told me, ‘I need you here,’ ” Rijo told me later, shaking his head. “I said, ‘I’m having too good a time!’ “Toward the end of his closing statement on Thursday, Florida Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda posted a slide on a screen in a fifth-floor Seminole County courtroom. "Which Owner would be more inclined to yell for help?" read the banner on the top of the slide. The slide was divided in two. On the left was a photo of George Zimmerman's Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm handgun, and on the right was a can of Arizona Watermelon Fruit Juice Cocktail. Beneath the photo of the gun was the question, "Who followed?" Under the can was the question, "Who ran?" So absurd was de la Rionda's presentation, and the whole case for that matter, that the can was turned sideways so the label could not be read. Throughout the trial, prosecutors have called the drink "iced tea" lest the word "watermelon" be said in court. "F*ing" was okay. De la Rionda said it more times than the average rapper, but "watermelon," apparently because of its racial connotations, was not. Hiding the word "watermelon" was the least of de la Rionda's dishonesties. This one slide had several built in. As to who ran, Martin had four minutes to run the 100 or so yards to the house he was visiting. When he attacked Zimmerman, he was still 70 or so yards from that townhouse. Do the math. Then, too, from the day the State took over the case, prosecutors knew that Zimmerman was the one screaming for help. All evidence supported that save for the dubious identification by Martin's mother. If the State's jobs were to sow the seeds of reasonable doubt, one could forgive them this deception, but that's not the State's job. That's the defense's. The State's job is to make the case for the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Fifty years ago, in Brady v. Maryland, the U.S. Supreme Court established that a prosecutor's responsibility was "to seek justice fairly, not merely win convictions by any means." In the case at hand, this meant that the State of Florida had the responsibility to share promptly all exculpatory evidence with the defense. It did not. One substantial block of evidence that it kept to itself until a whistleblower alerted the defense was the content of Martin's cell phone. On Tuesday night of this week, phone expert Richard Connor made a detailed presentation. Although the jury was not present, the respective attorneys were, as were the media. For dubious and probably reversible reasons, Judge Debra Nelson disallowed Connor's testimony, but prosecutors have known for many months about the downward spiral of Martin's life. In the course of his close, de la Rionda called Martin an "innocent young boy" and made several other allusions to that effect. He was intentionally deceiving the jury. Martin was neither little nor innocent. Consider the following exchange from November 2011, three months before the shooting. After Martin told a female friend he was "tired and sore" from a fight, she asked him why he fought. "Bae" is shorthand for "babe." MARTIN: Cause man dat nigga snitched on me FRIEND: Bae y you always fightinqq man, you got suspended? MARTIN: Naw we thumped afta skool in a duckd off spot FRIEND: Ohh, Well Damee MARTIN: I lost da 1st round :( but won da 2nd nd 3rd.... FRIEND: Ohhh So It Wass 3 Rounds? Damn well at least yu wonn lol but yuu needa stop fighting bae Forreal MARTIN: Nay im not done with fool..... he gone hav 2 see me again FRIEND: Nooo... Stop, yuu waint gonn bee satisified till yuh suspended again, huh? MARTIN: Naw but he aint breed nuff 4 me, only his nose The fight followed the mixed martial arts (MMA) format. A day later, Martin would tell a friend that his opponent "got mo hits cause in da 1st round he had me on da ground nd I couldn't do ntn." As the girl complained, Martin was "always" fighting. He was also something of a sadist. His opponent, after all, did not bleed enough. Why might this be relevant? Jonathan Good, the closest of the eyewitnesses to the shooting, confirmed last week the testimony he gave on the night of the shooting, specifically that there was a "black man in a black hoodie on top of either a white guy... or an Hispanic guy in a red sweater on the ground yelling out help," and that black man on top was "throwing down blows on the guy MMA [mixed martial arts] style." That is right: "yelling out help." On January 6, 2012, Martin got into trouble at school again. When asked why, he told a friend, "Caus I was watcn a fight nd a teacher say I hit em." Said the friend, "Idk how u be getting in trouble an sh." By this time, Martin's mother had thrown him out of the house for "fightn," and he had moved in with his aunt and uncle. Martin's younger half-brother, Demetrius Martin, sent one of the more indicative messages. Last seen in the media crying as he remembered his brother during a "March for Peace," Demetrius asked Martin when he was "going to teach me to fight." "This defendant didn't give Trayvon Martin a chance," said de la Rionda. No, it was the State of Florida, the Department of Justice, and even the president that didn't give Zimmerman a chance. Someone should pay.This item has been removed from the community because it violates Steam Community & Content Guidelines. It is only visible to you. If you believe your item has been removed by mistake, please contact Steam Support This item is incompatible with Unturned. Please see the instructions page for reasons why this item might not work within Unturned. Current visibility: Hidden This item will only be visible to you, admins, and anyone marked as a creator. Current visibility: Friends-only This item will only be visible in searches to you, your friends, and admins. Seedbank Break-In Title Description Security footage of what appears to be two armed persons who have entered the Svalbard Seedbank via a hole that has been blown in the wall. Save Cancel Created by Dakskicahedron Last Online 12 hrs, 9 mins ago File Size Posted Size 4.472 MB Jul 12, 2017 @ 5:30pm 3840 x 2160 388 Unique Visitors 2 Current FavoritesGreenland’s melt season kicked off a month and a half early this year, scientists at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) reported. Gyldenlove Glacier, Greenland. Photo credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenland’s melt season typically runs from June until September, but almost 12 percent of Greenland’s ice sheet was melting as of Monday, which scientists say is unprecedented. “We had to check that our models were still working properly,” said Peter Langen, a climate scientist at DMI. Maps show the current melt area centered around southwest Greenland. The graph shows the current melt season in blue and the average in black. Photo credit: Polar Portal Areas of Greenland recorded temperatures this month that would have been unusually warm even in July and scientists expect more temperature records to be broken before the season is over. For a deeper dive: Climate Home, Climate Central For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE NASA: Melting Ice Sheets Is Changing How the Earth Rotates Melting of Arctic Sea Ice Already Setting Records in 2016 5 Island Nations That Could Completely Dry Up This Month Climate Change + Population Growth + Economic Expansion = More Severe FloodingOne day before the Senate's digital currency hearing titled "Beyond Silk Road: Potential Risks, Threats, and Promises of Virtual Currencies", Bitcoin is largely oblivious to any potential regulatory threats, either at the legislative or the city level, where as reported previously the New York superintendent is in a rush to enforce BitLicenses on businesses that accept BitCoin, and moments ago crossed $500 for the first time ever. Instead, it appears that as we also reported previously, the Chinese Bitcoin craze has reached the parabolic threshold, going so far as making Bitcoin an acceptable payment for real estate, which means that while for the time being Bitcoin becomes the alternative inflation protection medium for hundreds of millions of Chinese, all bets on how high it
because it was a small favor in exchange for Flynn’s help. Legally, pleading guilty to an information is the same thing as pleading guilty after being indicted. But it has a small public-relations benefit to the defendant. “They’re not going to let Michael Flynn plead to a criminal information unless there’s a deal," Wisenberg added. On Dec. 22, 2016, according to Mueller, Flynn asked Kislyak to “delay the vote on or defeat a pending United Nations Security Council resolution.” That resolution appears to be one critical of Israel, adopted the following day. Kislyak “described to Flynn Russia’s response to his request.” Then, a week later, on Dec. 29 Flynn asked Kislyak to “refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia,” a final measure the Obama administration took to impose consequences for Russia’s election interference, from which Trump and Flynn benefited. Flynn lied to the FBI about Kislyak “subsequently telling him that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to those sanctions as a result of his request,” according to the court papers. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates warned the White House on Jan. 26 and 27 that Flynn had not been truthful. Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to dinner on Jan. 27 and allegedly asked for Comey's "loyalty," Comey told Congress. On Feb. 13, Flynn was fired as national security adviser. The next day, Trump asked Comey to "let Flynn go," Comey testified. Trump allegedly asked Comey several more times to drop the investigation into Flynn over ties to Russia before Trump fired Comey on May 9. The charging of Flynn comes at the end of a spectacular fall for the retired three-star Army general. He was one of Trump’s earliest and most influential supporters during the presidential campaign. During the July 2016 Republican convention, he memorably led the crowd in chanting “Lock her up!” about Hillary Clinton. “If I, a guy who knows this business, if I did a tenth, a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail today,” Flynn told the crowd. Flynn’s last role in the military was leading the Defense Intelligence Agency. In the capacity, he took an unusual trip to Moscow—to visit the headquarters of the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, in 2013. He was fired by the Obama administration the next year. In 2015, Flynn was paid to address the Russian state-sponsored television network RT during a gala in Moscow. After his speech, Flynn dined with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Against Defense Department regulations, Flynn did not disclose he was paid by a foreign government. Flynn began advising Trump on national security matters in 2016 and was reportedly vetted to be his vice presidential pick. That summer, Flynn started a lobbying and consulting business, the Flynn Intel Group, that retained Turkish interests as clients. By fall 2016, Flynn had published an op-ed calling exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of supporting a coup against Turkey's president, a "radical Islamist." Flynn reportedly received a Turkish proposal to pay his business $15 million to extradite Gulen from the United States to Turkey and free a Turkish businessman charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. Flynn did not register his firm a foreign agent for its business on behalf of Turkey, a potential crime, until this past summer. Yet despite all the transgressions—and despite the investigation into his activities—Trump long pined to bring Flynn back into his inner circle. “Trump feels really, really, really bad about firing him, and he genuinely thinks if the investigation is over Flynn can come back,” one White House official told The Daily Beast in May. But Flynn was not the only incoming Trump administration official in contact with Kislyak during the Trump transition—and therefore, may not be the only member of Team Trump in legal jeopardy. “ Did Kushner speak truthfully, and is there some potential indictment coming down for Kushner on this front? ” So too was Jared Kushner, whose portfolio in the administration now includes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, about which he is scheduled to talk publicly at Washington’s Brookings Institution on Sunday. Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is reportedly in Mueller’s legal crosshairs as well. Evelyn Farkas, a Pentagon official during the Obama administration overseeing Russia policy, said Flynn’s charging prompts immediate questions about Kushner’s legal jeopardy—as well as his policy exposure between Israel and Russia. “Did Kushner speak truthfully, and is there some potential indictment coming down for Kushner on this front?” Farkas told the Daily Beast. But Robert Litt said that Flynn's charging “doesn’t say anything one way or the other” about Kushner’s potential legal exposure. Flynn’s lies in his FBI interview were disproved by intercepts of his conversation with Kislyak. “Nothing from the public record indicates” that Kushner communicated with Kislyak in an interceptable format, Litt told The Daily Beast. But when asked if there are in fact intercepts of Kushner’s communications with Kislyak, Litt, a senior member of the U.S. intelligence community during December 2016, declined to answer and cautioned against reading too much into his non-response. —with additional reporting by Betsy WoodruffReady to fight back? Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine? “The instructions are to shoot right away,” said a first sergeant in an engineering unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “Whoever you spot—be they armed or unarmed, no matter what. The instructions are very clear. Any person you run into, that you see with your eyes—shoot to kill. It’s an explicit instruction.” Ad Policy “No incrimination process is necessary?” asked the interviewer from the Israeli veterans’ organization Breaking the Silence. “Zero. Nothing,” the soldier replied. On Monday, May 4, Breaking the Silence released a collection of testimonies from more than 60 soldiers who served in Gaza during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge, the July–August 2014 air and ground campaign that left more than 2,000 Palestinians and 73 Israelis dead. Taken as a whole, the testimonies paint a picture of a military operation shocking both for the scale and the arbitrariness of its violence. While the testimonies mostly speak of individual acts of malfeasance, they allude to a broader military standard during the operation of maintaining permissive open-fire policies and lenient rules of engagement, from small arms to artillery. In the words of Breaking the Silence, “The guiding military principle of ‘minimum risk to our forces, even at the cost of harming innocent civilians,’ alongside efforts to deter and intimidate the Palestinians, led to massive and unprecedented harm to the population and the civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.” Breaking the Silence is an Israeli organization that collects and publishes anonymous interviews from soldiers who have served in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Their goal, they say, is “to expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories.” The testimonies that Breaking the Silence collected after Operation Protective Edge are often brutal. There’s the infantry first sergeant who explains that “if you shoot someone in Gaza it’s cool, no big deal…. They made it clear that there were no uninvolved civilians.” Another infantry soldier recalls two unarmed women who were killed and listed as combatants: “they were fired at—so of course, they must have been terrorists.” A staff sergeant in the armored corps talks about how tank drivers had “this sort of crazy urge to run over a car.” A soldier whose rank and unit are left anonymous talks about the bombing of a building of “five or six stories” because of a meeting between Hamas militants happening there, without giving civilians time to leave. “I didn’t follow up to see whether harm was inflicted upon civilians there, whether innocent people got killed there,” said the soldier. Even if there were known to be civilians, the soldier continues, the attack “would be carried out if there weren’t too many civilians. When I say ‘too many’ I mean a double-digit number.” Yehuda Shaul, a founding member of Breaking the Silence, told The Nation that “the basic principles of IDF Rules of Engagement were pushed aside” during Protective Edge. “The IDF betrayed its own moral, ethical code.” Many of the testimonies describe the destruction of homes and property based on hypothetical threats or otherwise without operational necessity. Several soldiers mention that when they occupied homes as defensive posts, armored bulldozers would destroy every house they stayed in after they left. One soldier’s testimony recalls taking part in a tank attack on a neighborhood called al-Bureij; when the soldier asked the tank commander what to fire at, the officer said to “pick wherever you feel like it.” The testimonies also suggest a pattern of increasingly permissive rules of engagement and decreasing restrictions on both the amount of fire and the possibility of collateral damage as the operation progressed, especially after IDF soldiers were killed or wounded. After seven soldiers were killed by a rocket attack on an armored personnel carrier in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, one infantry soldier describes firing artillery cannons and mortars at a civilian power station to “take advantage” of the upsurge of target authorizations. In a statement, the IDF questioned the credibility of the anonymous testimonies from Breaking the Silence. “Unfortunately, as in the past, Breaking the Silence has refused to provide the IDF with any proof of their claims,” the army said in the statement. Along with the report, Breaking the Silence released a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Gadi Eizenkot dated March 23, in which the organization requested a meeting to discuss the testimonies they had recorded. Other recent investigations have turned up similar reports of last summer’s hostilities. Physicians for Human Rights in Israel (PHR-I) sent two teams of international medical experts to Gaza for a fact-finding mission between August and November 2014, where they interviewed 68 Gaza residents who had been injured during the campaign and conducted site visits around Gaza to witness the aftermath of the hostilities. The PHR-I report, released in January, documented many of the same practices that appear in the Breaking the Silence testimonies, especially the widespread destruction of homes and killing of civilians in or near them, “the use of exceptionally powerful and indiscriminate forms of explosives,” and “a lack of precautions to protect civilians.” The PHR-I report also argues that the warnings used to pressure civilians to leave buildings or neighborhoods prior to an attack were often ineffective, noting their inconsistency and lack of credibility; these warnings appear frequently in the Breaking the Silence testimonies as justification for the use of indiscriminate force against ostensibly abandoned areas. Mor Efrat, who works with Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, told The Nation in an e-mail that the testimonies from Breaking the Silence bolster PHR-I’s finding that “the warning mechanism held by the army totally failed.” By just about any metric, 2014’s Protective Edge appears to have been significantly more destructive than Israel’s other major military operations in Gaza in recent years—2012’s Operation Pillar of Defense and the three-week Operation Cast Lead that spanned from December 2008 to January 2009. Estimates of the Protective Edge casualty count vary somewhat, but they generally range around 2,100–2,200 Palestinians killed, largely civilians, against 73 Israeli fatalities, 67 of them soldiers. An additional 11,000 Palestinians were wounded during Protective Edge, and almost 500,000 were forced out of their homes. During Cast Lead, the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem documented 1,391 Gazans and nine Israelis killed. In the eight days of Operation Pillar of Defense, the dead numbered 167 Palestinians and six Israelis. Breaking the Silence has been collecting testimonies since its founding in March 2004, in the midst of the second intifada. Shaul, a former first sergeant who served in the army for three years before founding Breaking the Silence, told The Nation that the testimonies gathered in the aftermath of Protective Edge appear to reflect a war that was not only more devastating but less discriminate than campaigns of the past. “I’ve heard stories from hundreds of soldiers,” Shaul told The Nation. “We’ve never heard rules of engagement that were more permissive than in Protective Edge.” The change of policy, he said, started during Cast Lead, but it became dramatically worse during Protective Edge. “Now we’re just bombing people and then we try to understand if we got a good one.” Some of the soldiers interviewed spoke to that escalation as well. One engineering sergeant said of the aftermath of the violence in a neighborhood in Gaza City where his unit operated, “[there were] serious levels of destruction everywhere, levels we hadn’t seen in ‘Cast Lead.’ No houses.” So far, the IDF’s military advocate general has looked into 126 incidents that occurred during Protective Edge, referring six for criminal investigation. But Shaul says that investigating individual violations isn’t enough to change how the IDF operates. “What needs to be investigated in Protective Edge is not the behavior of individual soldiers; what needs to be investigated are the rules,” Shaul told The Nation. He added, “This is how young, small, tiny soldiers pay for the mistakes of generals.”Did you know that the face of Europe would have been very different today if it hadn’t been for the Bulgarian khan Tervel who saved the Christian world from Arab invasion? By the early 700s, the Arabs had conquered most of the Middle East, Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem, Syria, Damascus, Persia, Cyprus, Egypt, Cartagena, Spain, and Lisbon. By 716, they besieged Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, both by land and by sea. Europe had never seen such difficult times. It was about to be crushed by two Muslim fists, one from the West and one from the East. Constantinople was barely holding after three years under siege until a miracle happened. On August 15th, 718, the Bulgar Khan Tervel took the Arabs by surprise. The Bulgar army annihilated the invaders, who didn’t return to the Balkans for at least a few centuries. Thus, the Bulgar khan became not only the savior of the Byzantine Empire, which in fact had always been its greatest enemy, but the savior of the entire European Christian civilization. What would’ve happened if khan Tervel had not stopped the Arabs at Constantinople’s gates? Some historians think that the European society, and therefore most of the world as we know it today, would have been heavily influenced by the Islamic culture. Khan Tervel was called “Savior of Europe” and canonized as a saint by his contemporaries (although Bulgarians became Christian under King Boris a hundred years later). Why have these historical facts, which were once known to all Europeans, been slowly disappearing from history textbooks? I don’t know, but I recently heard the theory that when Bulgaria joined the Communist bloc, Western Europe turned its back to her in many aspects, and this resulted in the omission of important historical truths. Many believe than the Madara Rider was carved into the rock in honor of khan Tervel (read my previous post). 42.733883 25.485830Calgary Tory MLA Len Webber is abandoning his party to sit as an independent in protest against the leadership of Premier Alison Redford. The 53-year-old backbench representative for Calgary-Foothills says he can no longer be part of the Progressive Conservative caucus led by Redford, who has been dogged for weeks by controversy over her travel expenses. "She's just really not a nice lady — I can be honest with you there. I cannot work for an individual who treats people poorly, who treats our taxpaying dollars poorly," he told reporters Thursday morning. "I have heard from my constituents. They have talked to me for the past three, four months angered about what is going on with respect to the abuse — the abuse of government aircraft and abuse of our taxpaying dollars — and I cannot put up with it any longer." Unhappy with the leadership of Premier Alison Redford, Calgary-Foothills MLA Len Webber is quitting the provincial Progressive Conservative caucus. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press) Redford's hastily-organized announcement on Wednesday that she has repaid the $45,000 cost of her trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s memorial after weeks of refusing to do so came amid rumours that some of her MLAs were ready to leave caucus over the issue. But Redford’s change of heart was not enough to win back the Calgary MLA’s support. “It wasn't sincere," said Webber. "It was something that was forced and she should have paid it back right away and she never did.... That was the final straw." 'He's a very sad man' Deputy premier Dave Hancock dismissed Webber's remarks, suggesting he is still upset with losing his cabinet position after Alison Redford became premier. "He's a very sad man," Hancock said. "He could not take the fact that in this business there are ups and there are downs and sometimes you're in and sometimes you're not. "Sometimes that has to do with geography and demographics and sometimes that has to do with whether you came and brought your best game to the table and whether you actually contributed." Hancock also shrugged off Webber's painting the premier a bully. "We are all very strong personalities," he said. "That's what you need to get elected and... to be in this business." The premier has been under heavy pressure since the South Africa trip, which included first-class flights and the use of a government plane when commercial flights were available, and for her use of Alberta government aircraft on several other occasions. Redford pays back $45K trip She had initially rejected calls to personally cover the South African travel expenses, saying the overseas trip was an “exceptional situation” that would not happen again. But on Wednesday the premier apologized to Albertans, saying she has repaid the costs. She said questions about the trip had become a distraction from her government's agenda. Last week Redford also said she would repay $3,156 — the cost of flying to Vancouver for an uncle's funeral and for bringing her daughter's friends along on four other trips. “So she paid the money back and he still is walking across the floor to sit as an independent,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt. He says there is growing speculation whether Redford will run for the PCs in the next election. There is no constitutional mechanism in the party to remove her. There was a leadership review, but she passed that test with a 77 per cent approval rating. “It'll be very interesting to see what the PC caucus meeting is like today — if Webber is the first to go, or whether others are going to follow him.” Political watchers say as many as 20 out of the 60 PC members in the legislature would have left the party to sit as independents had Redford not paid the money back. Party politics The head of the party said he isn't overly concerned about in-fighting. President Jim McCormick says there will always be disagreements. "We are a big tent party, put it that way. We have a variety of people who aren't shy to express their opinions. I've always believed you talk these things out, I'll say the proverbial Sunday dinner family discussions that sometimes get carried away." McCormick did say he is still hearing complaints from members about the premier's trip — even after she paid out of pocket to cover the cost. "I think the conversations and discussions and concerns about the $45,000 will continue." Party directors are set to hold a meeting this weekend. More MLAs to follow? Webber said he hopes more MLAs will follow his move. "Many of them are frustrated, but of course the way this leadership is run is through intimidation and bullying and people basically are, I believe, afraid to speak up and talk and I can't do that any longer," he said. "I've seen the abuse first hand. Not only to me, but to many others as well. Fits of rage, temper tantrums. It's just something that I cannot support. Something I cannot be a part of any longer." Political analyst Paul McLoughlin says Webber is making a smart political move considering he is seeking the federal Tory nomination in the riding of Calgary Confederation and was already disgruntled in advance of last November's leadership review. "He does the pay back now. Gets his kind of revenge on how he felt he had been mistreated over the period of time. He sits as an independent, so he doesn't have those caucus obligations while he's running for the federal nomination." Webber is currently on medical leave for a blood and bone infection. He has been off for more than a month and had to undergo two surgeries. He plans to be back in the legislature sitting as an independent in April. "I am getting stronger and will be back soon," he told reporters Thursday morning.Transitioning from a curious beekeeper to a successful one is no easy task. After 13 years of beekeeping, let me warn you now: there are no shortcuts. The lengthy annual cycles involved with keeping bees requires a long-term approach to learning many lessons and books need to become your friend. That's the nice thing about downtime and winter months: books. From my perspective, show me a reading beekeeper, and I'll show you a successful beekeeper. Along with finding a mentor and a local beekeeping club, you'll want to ensure you are reading as many books as you can. I usually suggest starting with the "the old dead guys" like Langstroth, Miller, Adams and more. These are the folks that pioneered so much of what we take for granted today. Much, if not most, of what you'll learn from the "ancients" will guide you well in the present. Now let me introduce you to just some of the treasured books that you'll want to start adding to your library. These books represent a wide spectrum of practice and philosophy with much disagreement among them. I find that this is both useful and even necessary for those truly interested in developing well-rounded ideas, giving you the raw material with which to test and make your own decisions. I recommend:Image caption The three were flown to Austria after their release, according to Austrian media A Finnish couple and an Austrian man abducted in Yemen in December have been freed. Yemeni tribesmen released the three to Omani authorities late on Wednesday on the border between the two countries, according to Yemeni officials. Austrian media reported that the three had arrived in Austria and had been taken to a hospital near Vienna. Many foreigners have been kidnapped in Yemen in recent years. Most have been freed unharmed. Yemeni officials were quoted as saying a ransom had been paid by Oman for the latest release. The Austrian hostage, named as Dominik Neubauer, had appeared in a video in February saying that he would be killed within a week if the captors' ransom demands were not met. In February, a Swiss teacher was freed by her kidnappers in Yemen after nearly a year in captivity, following mediation by the Qatari government. The Swiss government said no ransom was paid.A young surgeon with Savant syndrome is recruited into the surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. The question will arise: can a person who doesn't have the ability to relate to people actually save their lives? An American anthology police detective series utilizing multiple timelines in which investigations seem to unearth personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within or outside the law. Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's passed out on the floor. But the kids have found ways to grow up in spite of him. They may not be like any family you know, but they make no apologies for being exactly who they are. Sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way. When Clary Fray's mother has disappeared, Clary joins a band of Shadowhunters; demon killing hunters, and gets caught up in a plan to save the world. TVRaven - Watch episodes online Stream tv shows, current episodes, discover new series from your favorite genres like action, comedy, drama and more. Watch full episodes online or download it for offline streaming on the go. Latest episodes are updated everyday, deadlinks are refreshed instantly. Best part? No sign up needed, all for free. Catch up on your favorite shows, watch latest episodes, or browse our enormous library of 105608 episodes to find your next favorite series and start streaming for free now. Just press play! A note about ads: TVRaven does not store any content on it's server. Ads you encounter are usually by third party sites. We have very minimal ads, we hope our services are worth it. :)JUST reading it is enough to give you a hangover. JUST reading it is enough to give you a hangover. We'll drink enough to fill 24 Olympic swimming pools this Christmas - survey The Irish public will consume enough alcohol over Christmas to fill over 24 Olympic size swimming pools. And we will drink enough wine to make up over 432 ice rinks. When it comes to food we will make our way through enough chocolate, the calories of which if converted to energy, would generate electricity to power 860,000 houses on Christmas Day. That's according to a new survey from waste regulation company Repak, who are urging people to think green over the festive period. Repak predicts that each household will generate around 74,000 tons of used \|packaging in total this Christmas. This includes nearly five million boxes of chocolate and 48 million beer bottles – enough beer bottles to get from Dublin to Lapland and back over five times. With pubs and clubs as well as house parties a must for many people catching up with friends over Christmas, over 22 million wine bottles and 60 million litres of alcohol will be polished off. consumers We will get through over 28,000 tons of cardboard and paper packaging – enough to fill 647 articulated trucks, which placed end to end would stretch over 6.6 miles. Irish consumers will spend on average €894 this Christmas, with an average of €485 spent on gifts, €259 spent on food and €150 spent on socialising. With such an increase in consumption, Repak says that being conscious of waste disposal is now more important than ever. The company is hoping to collect and recycle between 55 to 60pc of the household used packaging generated over the Christmas holidays This equals 44,000 tons of recycled packaging in total. With excessive amounts of food and drink to be consumed over the next few weeks, Repak is urging everyone to be more thoughtful about how they dispose of bottles, packaging and waste. The waste disposal company says that Ireland has come along way since 2001 when we were only recycling 31,000 tons of used household packaging in a full year. Online EditorsThis post was contributed by a community member. Driving on County Road 39 in Southampton, it is hard to missing the dinosaur statues in front of. Now one of those dinos will be drawing eyes in Water Mill, standing out in front of next to a sign that states, "We baptize not lobotomize. Bring your brain to church." The dinosaur resembles a velociraptor from "Jurassic Park," but the pastor of Incarnation Lutheran, the Rev. Katrina Foster, has taken to calling it "Luthersaurus." Foster said she came up with the idea when driving past Yesterday's Treasures with her wife, Pamela Kallimanis. "I said, 'I'd love to put a dinosaur in front of the church,' and she started laughing," Foster recalled. "I knew I was onto something." She contacted Yesterday's Treasures, and the business agreed to lend out a dinosaur statue for one week. It was installed Monday, and will go back this coming Monday. "The message we are trying to send is that one can be a Christian and be a thinking person too," Foster said. "Faith and facts are not a threat to each other, faith and science are not opposed." The reverend promises to explain further during Sunday's sermon at 9 a.m. "I think people will notice the church and be curious," she said. "I hope they come on Sunday and discover Christians can think, be funny, creative, intelligent and faithful. A thinking faith is great." Foster said that Incarnation Lutheran is the "only GLBTQ Christian welcoming community on the East End." "We are a Christ-centered, neighbor-focused community of faith. We are also funny."On the heels of our on-foot coverage, we now present a recap of the most expensive kicks for sale at Sneakerness Warsaw. As can be expected, a few pairs of Kanye West-designed items have cracked the top 12, on top of two more usual suspects; the Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Denim” and “Burgundy.” Unique to the Warsaw edition of Sneakerness, a number of vintage editions were available to purchase, not limited to an OG Jordan 1 and a pair of Nike Air Force 1 from 1983. We also spotted a fairly dope pair of Japanese-exclusive Air Max 1s, which landed at number 8 on the list and Overkill’s recent ASICS “Desert Rose” collaboration. Check out all the prices below and enjoy the photo gallery above. Afterwards, see how it stacked up against Sneakerness Paris. Nike Air Yeezy II Platinum – €5,000 ($5,593 USD) Nike Air Force 1 (ca. 1983) – €1,300 ($1,454 USD) Don C x Nike Air Jordan II – €1,000 ($1,119 USD) Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Denim” – €1,000 ($1,119 USD) Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Burgundy” – €1,000 ($1,119 USD) ASICS GEL-Lyte III x Woei Cervidae – €900 ($1,007 USD) Kanye West x adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 – €800 ($895 USD) Nike Air Max 1 Premium QS (Japan Exclusive) – €600 ($671 USD) Nike Air Jordan 1 (OG) – €600 ($671 USD) Overkill x ASICS GEL-Sight “Desert Rose” – €450 ($503 USD) Nike Vandal (ca. 1984) – €400 ($447 USD) Coca-Cola Shoe (ca. 1990) – Price Unknown Subscribe Words by Chris Danforth Footwear Editor Vancouver-born, Berlin-based writer, photographer and editor with a steady hand on the keyboard.Lax gun laws in the United States are likely fueling an international firearms trade made possible by underground websites like the recently shuttered AlphaBay, according to a new report. A recent investigation of 18 different online marketplaces that facilitate illegal firearms sales found 60 percent of the weapons being sold originated in the U.S., concluded RAND Europe and University of Manchester researchers in a report released Thursday. Yet while the majority of firearms being sold shipped from inside the U.S., the report’s authors said Europe represents the largest market for dark web gun deals, “generating revenues that are around five times higher than the U.S.” “The dominant position of the United States in this ranking is not entirely surprising given the legal status of firearms in the country,” its authors added. After all, they wrote, an average of 89 registered civilian firearms exist in the U.S. for every 100 residents, effectively letting the U.S. lead the world in terms of gun ownership. “While it is not possible to establish a causal link between (legal) civilian ownership and scale of illegal trade, it is reasonable to believe that such high quantities pose significant arms control challenges,” the report said. Dark web vendors are enabling the circulation of illegal weapons already on the black market in addition to offering customers “better performing, more recent firearms for the same, or lower, price, than what would be available on the street,” the report said. Researchers based their report on investigations into 18 websites that operate on the dark web, the portion of the web not indexed by search engines and intended to be accessed with specialized software that makes it difficult to identify their operators and visitors. Scouring the sites, the researchers found 811 different listings from 52 distinct vendors offering weapons or related items like ammunition and explosives, according to the report. While firearms represent less than 1 percent of total items sold on dark web marketplaces, the report’s authors said the “volume can be considered sufficiently high to be cause for concern for policy makers and law enforcement agencies.” On the now defunct AlphaBay, for instance, researchers found 414 arms-related advertisements among the website’s nearly 37,000 listings during a one-week span last September, making it the most popular dark web marketplace in terms of gun ads before it abruptly shuttered July 4. The Justice Department separately announced Thursday that it shut down AlphaBay this month as the result of a previously undisclosed law enforcement operation aimed on eradicating dark web marketplaces. “This is the largest dark net marketplace takedown in history,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a press conference announcing the operation. “Make no mistake, the forces of law and justice face a new challenge from the criminals and transnational criminal organizations who think they can commit their crimes with impunity by ‘going dark.’ This case, pursued by dedicated agents and prosecutors, says you are not safe,” he added. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.Woodbridge, Ont., may be about 40 kilometres north of Toronto's City Hall, but its residents – like many Ontarians outside Toronto – were heavily invested in the city's past mayoral election. That financial backing, however, is raising questions about a program that provides rebates to out-of-towners for their campaign donations. According to data collected through the city's contribution rebate program, people within the L4L postal code donated about $82,672 for Rob Ford's run, an amount that trumps the $60,985 he raised in M9W – North Etobicoke – and the $57,850 to George Smitherman's campaign for mayor. Why is Woodbridge such a contribution hot spot? According to veteran political fundraiser Ralph Lean, a lot of people in Woodbridge have a stake in who is running Toronto. Story continues below advertisement "You take a look and a lot of developers that do major work in Toronto, many have a home or office in Woodbridge. They have a lot of business interests in Toronto and are an affluent community," said Mr. Lean, who co-chaired the fundraising team for Mr. Smitherman and was a fundraiser for mayor David Miller in 2006. Ontarians, both outside and inside Toronto, who write cheques from $25 to $2,500 for municipal candidates are eligible for the city's contribution rebate program, which returns to contributors up to 75 per cent of their donation. The city believes the program will cost $4.8-million in the 2014 election. But the practice of rebating those who live outside the city is currently under fire. In May, Councillor Joe Mihevc put forward a motion to end the rebate for out-of-towners: Anyone who doesn't live or own property in Toronto would not be eligible for the rebate, starting with the 2018 election. The issue heads to the executive committee on July 2. "If we, as Canadians, donate to an election in another country without being citizens, I think most of us would say that's not fair." said Mr. Mihevc. "That's why I put forward the motion to recognize that this is our business as Torontonians." The motion didn't name Rob Ford outright, but it did note that one candidate did manage to raise more than $600,000 from outside the city in 2010. In the 2010 election, Mr. Ford raised $623,971.73 from contributions that came from outside of Toronto, or about a third of the $1,862,711.84 tallied in the contribution rebate data (the issue was first publicized in a report by Press Progress). Mr. Smitherman, who raised $2,141,168 in total, saw $716,576 come from beyond Toronto, which works out to about a third of the total as well. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement While Woodbridge proved to be fertile fundraising grounds in 2010, it was not alone. Several of Toronto's bedroom communities are home to plenty of individuals willing to donate to politicians who won't, technically, be their mayor. Mr. Ford's first fundraiser was scheduled to take place in Vaughan but was postponed when he entered rehab. And the practice isn't limited to the 905 – funds came in from as far away as Bracebridge, Ottawa and Windsor in 2010. Mr. Lean said his teams never scrutinized where the donation money was coming from. "It was never, in my experience, that much of a bonus to focus on the rebate. People that were giving, were giving. I never looked to see if it was someone from out of town," he said. "If you own a business in Toronto or work in Toronto, I can see how you're affected by things like transportation or garbage collection and other issues, and you might want to make a contribution." Funds from outside the 416 were less pronounced in the 2006 campaign. Mr. Miller amassed $1,029,300.50 in total, according to the rebate data, with about $199,784, or 19 per cent, coming from outside the city. Mr. Lean said it's harder to raise the funds following the 2009 move to outlaw donations from unions
here and Eastbourne to have a lot of matches.” The move from a clay court to a grass court is always tough to do, particularly when a player spends a large portion of the season playing an accumulation of clay court matches, and then suddenly has to deal with the demands of a grass court, which is so much different than a clay court. It was obvious that Kerber recognised that change when ensuring that her hamstring was fully recovered before playing competitive matches on a grass court this season. The most telling part of the roundtable interview was Kerber’s honesty on the psychological demons of being World No.1: “Of course the pressure is there and it is a completely different pressure than it was last year and the years before. I think 5 years in the Top 10 and the pressure was always there. Being No.1 in Germany it was always pressure but of course being No.1 it is a different pressure. There are so many expectations. It is a process for me to find the right way for me to handle it a little bit.” When you look back at the 2017 season for Kerber, she did not play a great deal of matches on the clay. She went out in the second round of Stuttgart to Kristina Mladenovic, retired against Bouchard in Madrid, and failed to win a match in Rome or Roland Garros, so she hasn’t played consistently for quite a long time. This injury is yet another setback in Kerber’s quest to keep hold of that No.1 ranking, which continues to be under threat by the likes of Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova. It still remains a serious doubt whether we will see Kerber in Eastbourne. She remained positive, but still unclear as to whether she can play a heavy grass court season. Main Photo:Schools, hospitals and public transport would be covered by ban, but Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte insists prohibition is not religiously motivated The Dutch cabinet has approved a proposal for a partial ban on face-covering Islamic veils on public transport and in public areas such as schools and hospitals. After the cabinet backed a bill by the interior minister, Ronald Plasterk, the government said in a statement on Friday: “Face-covering clothing will in future not be accepted in education and healthcare institutions, government buildings and on public transport.” France's burqa ban upheld by human rights court Read more The ban would not apply to wearing the burqa or the niqab on the street, only for security reasons or “in specific situations where it is essential for people to be seen”, the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, told journalists after a cabinet meeting. He said: “The bill does not have any religious background.” The proposal will be sent to a panel of legal advisers for assessment. The government said it had “tried to find a balance between people’s freedom to wear the clothes they want and the importance of mutual and recognisable communication”. It said the cabinet “sees no reason for a general ban that would apply to all public places”. A previous bill that proposed banning face-covering veils on the street will be withdrawn. It dated from Rutte’s previous government, which was supported by the anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders. It was agreed that a new bill would be drawn up by the coalition partners of Rutte’s VVD party and the PvdA party when they formed a coalition in 2012. Those flouting the ban, if it is enforced, could be fined up to €405 (£288). NOS, the state broadcaster, said that between 100 and 500 women in the Netherlands wore the burqa, most of them only occasionally.If you search Sonu Nigam on YouTube, the most-watched video of all time with his name on it is the title track of Kal Ho Na Ho, a movie released in 2003. Sonu Nigam posts a few tweets about being disturbed by the morning prayer call to Muslims from his neighborhood mosque, and Indian liberals decide to resurrect Sonu Nigam in the public sphere. Nigam's publicist must be laughing his way to the bank. Maybe it wasn't a well thought out conspiracy. Maybe Nigam genuinely felt what he wrote and didn't expect it to blow up and see Sonu Nigam trending. Even so, Nigam must be very happy with the opportunity to become the Anupam Kher of 2017, a celebrity spokesperson of the Islamophobic agenda. Liberals are unable to understand that in the public sphere, opposing something gives it the oxygen of publicity, makes it the topic of conversation. Liberals expressing outrage over Nigam's tweets are only helping spread his views far and wide. By now, his tweets must have reached remote villages of digital India in Hindi translation through a million Whatsapp groups. The liberal outrage over them must have been discussed threadbare as an example of their hypocrisy. Liberals are unable to understand that in the public sphere, opposing something gives it the oxygen of publicity, makes it the topic of conversation. The views you oppose thus become the agenda, from news headlines to Whatsapp memes. That is how Donald Trump becomes president because liberals say 'Anybody but Trump', instead of telling people why they should vote for Hillary. Across the world, the right-wing gains traction by saying or doing the most offensive things, getting attention through the outrage of liberals and moderates, consolidating their supporters, then changing the narrative so they continue the conversation. The Hindu right openly uses the word polarisation, even with its Hindi translation, dhruvikaran. Issues like Babri Masjid, Shah Bano, Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses, cow vigilantism, love jihad, nationalism, triple talaq – all such issues are raised for the purpose of polarisation. When liberals, secularist parties and Muslim groups respond, polarisation happens. If you ignore them, if you refuse to take sides, the polarisation attempt fails. Liberals need to define the agenda rather than allow themselves to be defined by it. They need to set the narrative rather than respond to it. Setting the agenda Not responding to the right-wing agenda doesn't mean liberals should do nothing. They need to define the agenda rather than allow themselves to be defined by it. They need to set the narrative rather than respond to it. For instance, instead of making Sonu Nigam trend, they should have trended Ramu. An 18 year old Dalit boy in Gonda, Ramu accidentally killed a calf. His village responded by ostracizing him, leading him to commit suicide. Words matter. It matters how much we outrage over Sonu Nigam's tweet as compared to Ramu's death. It matters what questions we are asking. Instead of asking how Sonu Nigam feels about non-Hindus not being allowed to eat beef, liberals should have asked what action the Uttar Pradesh government is taking over Ramu's death. Has there been an FIR? Are the villagers who ostracised Ramu being booked for abetment of suicide? We know that the Hindutva agenda was on a back-foot over the Una incident in Gujarat, where Dalits were lynched for doing their caste profession of skinning dead cows. We know the Hindutva agenda received a set-back as the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad's campus vigilantism drove Rohith Vemula to suicide. We know that when Hindutva polarised India along Hindu-Muslim, communal-secular lines, what stopped it in its tracks was Mandal. Is caste no longer an issue in India? Why do liberals see Hindu-Muslim as the only narrative worth fighting for? Why do liberals see Hindu-Muslim as the only narrative worth fighting for? Hindu-Muslim polarisation seeks to unite Hindus against Muslims. The politics of Mandal served to fragment the Hindutva cause. We have known this since the '90s, but our liberals never learn. Great that liberals spoke up for Pehlu Khan, but if only they had raised their hashtags for Jaysukh Madhad, a Dalit who was recently killed in Gujarat for the crime of winning a panchayat election. Are there no farmer suicides anymore in India? No crime other than gau raksha lynchings? Is manual scavenging a thing of the past? Is there no malnutrition, no hunger deaths? No dowry killings, no child marriage? There is no dearth of issues for liberals to take up, if only they decide to set the agenda. But they are so used to playing into the right-wing's hands, it's force of habit. The Milo Playbook Indian liberals would do well from the Milo Playbook. In 2009, writer Ryan Holiday helped a blogger create a false controversy around his film and book. Holiday writes, "We sent fake tips to Gawker, which dutifully ate them up. We created a boycott group on Facebook that acquired thousands of members. We made deliberately offensive ads and ran them on websites where they would be written about by controversy-loving reporters. After I began vandalizing some of our own billboards in Los Angeles, the trend spread across the country, with parties of feminists roving the streets of New York to deface them (with the Village Voice in tow)." Holiday sees this in operation regularly these days. He writes: Most brands and personalities try to appeal to a wide swath of the population. Niche players and polarizing personalities are only ever going to be interesting to a small subgroup. While this might seem like a disadvantage, it's actually a huge opportunity: Because it allows them to leverage the dismissals, anger, mockery, and contempt of the population at large as proof of their credibility. Someone like Milo orMike Cernovichdoesn't care that you hate them—they like it. It's proof to their followers that they are doing something subversive and meaningful. It gives their followers something to talk about. It imbues the whole movement with a sense of urgency and action—it creates purpose and meaning....he can acquire massive amounts of negative publicity by pissing off people in the media? Well now all of a sudden someone is absorbing the cost of this inefficient form of marketing for him. If a CNN story reaches 100,000 people, that's 90,000 people all patting themselves on the back for how smart and decent they are. They're just missing the fact that the 10,000 new people that just heard about Milo for the first time. The same goes for when you angrily share on Facebook some godawful thing one of these people has said. The vast majority of your friends rush to agree, but your younger cousin has a dark switch in his brain go on for the first time. Indian liberals are doing themselves a disservice by reducing themselves to complaining about abusive trolls. What trolls seek to do is to set the agenda, dominate the narrative. The day Indian liberals learn this, they will begin blocking the trolls and setting their own narrative. Also in HuffPost:Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. Dec. 25, 2017, 11:26 PM GMT / Updated Dec. 25, 2017, 11:26 PM GMT / Source: Variety Lorde has canceled a concert scheduled for Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 5 after criticism by anti-Israel activists urging continued boycotts of the country. The "BDS" movement, which stands for boycott, divestment and sanctions, organizes social media campaigns to discourage artists from performing in Israel. It has seen some success (Elvis Costello, Thurston Moore and Lauryn Hill all canceled appearances in Israel), but it has also inspired rebuttals by the likes of Radiohead and Nick Cave. Lorde performs "at the MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood, California, on Aug. 27. Matt Sayles / Matt Sayles/Invision/AP Lorde's announcement, distributed on social media and by her booking agency, CAA, reads: hey guys, so about this israel show - i've received an overwhelming number of messages & letters and have had a lot of discussions with people holding many views, and i think the right decision at this time is to cancel the show. i pride myself on being an informed young citizen, and i had done a lot of reading and sought a lot of opinions before deciding to book a show in tel aviv, but I'm not too proud to admit i didn't make the right call on this one. tel aviv, it's been a dream of mine to visit this beautiful part of the world for many years, and i'm truly sorry to reverse my commitment to come play for you. i hope one day we can all dance. L x The response in Israel was vocal. The concert at Tel Aviv's 15,000-seat Convention Centre had seen swift ticket sales after only a few days of availability. In a statement to Variety, Israeli promoter Eran Arielli of Naranjah said: "We forgive her." He declined to comment further. Related: Jerusalem violence puts damper on Christmas in Bethlehem Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev wrote: "Lorde, I'm hoping you can be a 'pure heroine,' like the title of your first album, be a heroine of pure culture, free from any foreign — and ridiculous — political considerations." The organization Creative Community for Peace released a statement signed by several dozen musicians and music industry executives reading: "Artists should never become beholden to the political views of a small but loud minority.... Lorde became the target of that wrath, and we're deeply disappointed that rather than rebuff the boycott movement and follow in the footsteps of Radiohead, Nick Cave, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and many other artists who have chosen to build #BridgesNotBoycotts, she canceled her show." Related: Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, upending U.S. policy Performance dates for two Russian cities — St. Petersberg and Moscow — remain on Lorde's tour schedule. As has been widely documented, Russia's anti-LGBT "gay propaganda law" has been denounced as discriminatory and an affront to human rights.I speak to author and academic Lauren Elkin about women walking in the city, and the pioneering writers who influenced her I wonder if you could say a little bit about your title. What exactly is a “Flâneuse”? And what motivated you to write the book? A flâneuse is quite basically the female conjugation of a “flâneur,” or a kind of idly curious stroller in the city, a man-about-town. As Baudelaire wrote: “The crowd is his domain, just as the air is the bird’s, and water that of the fish. His passion and his profession is to merge with the crowd.” The flâneur is this really resonant archetype in our culture; you come across it really frequently when magazines or other brands (most recently Hermès) want to lend a kind of worldly, nonchalant, urban intellectualism to their enterprise, or to whatever it is they’re selling. However – and this is going to answer your second question as well – this figure is usually male, or male-identified; only men have historically (and this is arguably still true today) had that kind of access to the city, where they could walk around observing and “merge with the crowd”; women have been, or are, generally too conspicuous in the city, we’re viewed either as a threat or as someone who needs protection; we’re told to smile, our appearances are commented on. Or, for women who don’t conform to some idea of youth or beauty, made to feel functionally invisible. In neither case do we have the kind of neutrality the flâneur needs to have. So the “flâneuse” is a figure who’s kind of impossible to conjugate. Years ago when I wanted to write my senior thesis at Barnard on the figure of the flâneuse, I found the feminist critical discussion around the flâneuse had basically concluded that she didn’t exist, so I changed course and wrote about fallen women instead. Then a few years ago, after I finished my PhD, I realized that I still wanted to do this project on the flâneuse, and realized suddenly that I didn’t have to define her as a female version of a flâneur – that the very impossibility of conjugating her wasn’t a dead end, but a starting point. I hopped the critical wall, to stay with the urban metaphor. I’d done so much reading, and looking at art, and watching films, in which women used cities as places of self-discovery, often just by walking in them, that I realized the act of flâneuserie wasn’t simply a female version of a male act, but its own kind of subversive appropriation of urban space. That seemed like a potentially rich idea – I only had the space to think through it in the context of a few women, but I hope that the book opens up lines of inquiry for other writers, critics, artists, thinkers, urban planners, pedestrians – really anyone who’s so inclined. Flâneuse addresses the troubled political history of women in public spaces. In what ways do you think women walking in public is a politicised act? It’s never a neutral act, to navigate public space, not for anyone. I’d like to hope that Flâneuse troubles the act of walking in the city for those who would consider themselves flâneurs as well. To walk in public is always going to be an encounter with alterity. How we navigate those encounters is the basis of an ethics, or a politics, not only of intervening in public space, but of the way we think our society should be structured, and how we accord value and respect. I’m thinking of Martha Gellhorn, for instance, who was in Spain with Hemingway and Robert Capa to report on the civil war, and Hemingway and Capa are out on the front lines, or meeting with generals or whatever mucky-muck was making a statement that day, and she didn’t have access to these higher-ups. So she went out walking in the streets to talk to everyday people about what they were living through, turning flânerie into a form of testimony. That act of reporting on daily life – life “from the ground up” as she would say – is a political statement, an act of valuing the everyday in the face of extraordinary events, and the man or woman or child in the street instead of the elected (or unelected) official. Virginia Woolf Jean Rhys You acknowledge a debt to pioneering women writers like Virginia Woolf and Jean Rhys. What is it about their work that speaks to you? They’re these experimental female modernists who are in love with the city, and know desperation, life on the edge. I think that was very reassuring to me when I was at university, which is the first time I read either of them. Mrs Dalloway, in its depiction of the lives of strangers together in the city, helped me resolve a lot of existential angst. Good Morning Midnight helped me understand that life didn’t have to be happy all the time. Americans – and probably Brits as well – grow up and live in their world in which happiness is the great goal. Are you happy? Does it make you happy? We’re forever holding life up against our definitions of happiness and readjusting to bring ourselves more in line with it. Rhys – and living in France as well – helped me see that life could still be meaningful even if it was unhappy. And the city played a major role in that too. Appropriately enough, Flâneuse wanders across categories. Sometimes it reads like a memoir, at others literary criticism, and at others it resembles cultural history. How did you come to write the book in this way? I originally intended to write the book as a kind of straight up work of collective biography, with each chapter dedicated to a different figure, which would have involved some literary and cultural criticism. But as I started writing the Rhys chapter, which is the one I wrote first, I came to realize that my own responses to reading Rhys were so rooted in the time and place that I first encountered her (living in Paris as a twenty year-old) that I couldn’t write about her without writing about myself at that age, reading her. And as that chapter came together, I started to think – with some help from my editor – that braiding together my own life with those of the women whose lives I was writing about was not only a more engaging way to write about them, but a more ethical one as well. To include myself in the frame, to acknowledge who was speaking and where I was coming from, seemed like a crucial gesture. I mean – how could you write about walking in a city in a disembodied, omniscient way? It isn’t possible – what is more embodied both physically and perspectivally than walking? When we think of 19th century gentleman flâneurs, we generally think of European artists like Baudelaire or Satie strolling the boulevards of Paris. Flâneuse addresses an age of 21st century globalization and casts its net far wider: from the European metropolitans of London and Paris, to the urban landscapes of New York and Tokyo. Can you say a little more about the role global travel plays in Flâneuse? It’s in keeping, I guess, with trying to explode the idea of the flâneur, asking what other kinds of engagement with the city it could involve. We have a habit of using Paris as the template for flânerie because that’s where it was codified, but just as I believe people other than these privileged middle class men can practice flânerie, so did I think it might be interesting to consider how flânerie might be challenged or take different forms in other kinds of cities. “I think it might be interesting to consider how flânerie might be challenged or take different forms in other kinds of cities.” The idea was to restrict the book to talking about cities in which I’ve personally lived and walked. I spent a few months in Hong Kong as well but couldn’t conjure up a chapter on that city that seemed to resonate with the others. But there’s nothing about cities where it really is more explicitly difficult for women to walk, or where the codes for how women should dress or behave are a lot more restrictive. There’s nothing on cities in India or Pakistan, or the Middle East, or Africa, for instance; but then I haven’t spent time in any of those places so it would have turned from a first-person document into a kind of researched ethnography, which would have put it at a remove beyond my own experience. That’s fine if it were going to be a straight-up work of scholarship, but that’s not what I was trying to do here. I wanted to invite other first-hand narratives from those places. What’s next for you? I’ve just finished a book about a year riding the buses in Paris which I hope we’ll place soon, and I’m finally going to finish my second novel. However I’ve just taken up a post as Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, where I’m co-directing the Centre for New and International Writing, so I’ll be pretty busy with that for the next bit, until I settle into a schedule! Liverpool’s a great city – I’ve already started walking in it and putting together some ideas… Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice, and London is available from Penguin Books and Farrar, Straus and Giroux. About the Author Lauren Elkin’s essays have appeared in many publications, including The New York Times Book Review, frieze, and the Times Literary Supplement, and she is a contributing editor at The White Review. A native New Yorker, she moved to Paris in 2004. Currently living on the Right Bank after years on the Left, she can generally be found ambling around Belleville.It happened to me too. I suppose you should consider this post Mass Effect 2 spoilery (from a certain point of view). When I bought Mass Effect 3 I decided to load Mass Effect 2 to make sure my “main” save file was perfect. It was not. Jack was dead. Jacob was dead. Planets weren’t scanned. And Kelly Chambers. Oh my precious Kelly. She was not at her post. Fortunately I had an older save file before the final mission and figured out what I’d done. Thanks to the internet and a dozen replays of the final mission, I saved Jack. We didn’t leave on speaking terms, but I saved her. And I saved Kelly. I wrote this letter to Jack at the time that was meant to be a standalone post, but it seems more appropriate for this comic: I wanted to say I’m sorry Jack. When you fought with Miranda I took her side because I like her ass and her voice. You deserve better than that. My crew deserves better. Ironically, my Renegade Shepard could calm you when you fought with Miranda. She knew the fight was coming. Good commanders can’t see the future though, they have to react, adapt, and accept their choices. I’m not built like that. I can’t load my “main” save file, see you’re dead, and leave you that way. I grew up watching Sam Beckett quantumly leap through the past making right what was once wrong. And I saved you. I had to step into that quantum accelerator and watch you die over and over, but eventually I did save you. Even after that I wanted your loyalty. I wanted in Mass Effect 3 to talk to you about Pragia. Maybe ask how you feel about that facility once you’ve lived in the world a little more. I wanted to talk to the woman you became, not the angry teen you are. So I downloaded every DLC mission there was. At first because I wanted to see them, but then later to gain enough Paragon points so that in my main game I could get you to talk to me – to trust me. I had to use Electronic Arts’s online chat to get them to activate my Cerberus Network so I could get Zaeed and his loyalty mission. I used a Morality guide to make sure all my choices were Paragon ones. I bought that stupid Death Mask. I even bought the armour pack that had the +10 % negotiation. I went to every planet in every system hoping to find a mission that might give me enough paragon points to get through to you. But I failed. If only I could have compromised my beliefs and rewritten the Geth instead of destroying them. I couldn’t do that Jack. I also grew up with Jean-Luc Picard. And he wouldn’t give Hugh that virus. Maybe 30 points more would have done it. Maybe it would have been enough to talk to you. Maybe in either case we won’t talk about Pragia, or there won’t be a reference to it at all. Anyway. There’s no more missions, no more planets, no more paragon points. I can’t even tell you I’m sorry. All I tell you to do is your job. But I want you to know I tried. I chose to kill the Geth, and to try to talk to you. That’s what a good commander does – make choices. Yea, make them, and live with them. See you when I see you, -Commander 2D.WA's 'broken' voting system sees voters left without a voice at election time Updated When Nationals supporters in the WA's north cast their state election votes nine months ago, few would have realised their ballot could help elect a Greens candidate ahead of a sitting Liberal minister. And not many Labor backers in the Wheatbelt would ever have even dreamed their vote could help elect a conservative MP who advocates for substantial changes to WA's gun laws. Similarly, people who backed micro parties with appealing names — like the Animal Justice Party or the Daylight Saving Party — might have been shocked to know their votes could put an anti-fluoride campaigner into a hugely powerful position in State Parliament. Those situations might sound stunning, but the reality is WA voters have been tricked for many years into assisting parties they never would have dreamed of supporting. It raises some important questions; is our electoral system broken? And, if it is, what does that mean for our democracy? How the system is 'gamed' Some experts see the system we use to elect Upper House MPs as fatally flawed, arguing its results do not actually reflect what the public voted for. At the heart of many of those complaints is the "group voting ticket" mechanism, which allows WA electors to cast their Upper House votes by numbering one box, above a line, for their favourite candidate. Its simplicity is overwhelmingly appealing to voters, very few of whom bother to follow the alternative of numbering every one of dozens of boxes below the line to retain full control of their votes. But it means political parties have a huge influence over where those votes will ultimately end up with minimal accountability, something which can lead to "gaming" of the system and result in people being elected to Parliament despite earning a miniscule share of support in their own right. Federal Parliament voted to abandon the group ticket system for the Senate with those concerns in mind, and prominent election analyst William Bowe believes it is time for WA to follow suit. "We still have an electoral system where you can get a very long way with good preference deals," he said. "They need to take a step back, have a think and come up with a quite comprehensive package of reform." 'Perverse' result after landslide win But problems with group voting tickets are far from the only issue which many see with the system we use to elect MPs to the "house of review". Progressives have long bemoaned the fact that regional WA, where conservatives tend to dominate, has as many Upper House seats as the city despite more than three-quarters of the State's population living in Perth. Advocates insist that discrepancy is necessary for regional WA to maintain any real influence on the Government that leads it. "I am very cautious of Labor bringing a bill to the Parliament to rip up the Legislative Council, that will only be to the detriment of country people," WA Nationals electoral affairs spokesman Martin Aldridge said. But Mr Bowe said voters only needed to look at the results of the most recent election to see how flawed the existing system is. In the Lower House, Labor inflicted an electoral annihilation — taking 20 seats off the incumbent Government, defeating scores of big names and winning in a landslide. But in the Upper House, Labor is so short of a majority that it has to reach out to people it would consider its political enemies — and win the support of at least one conservative-minded party — to get virtually anything done. "When you have a really massive landslide like Labor enjoyed in March, then it is extremely perverse for the mandate that party has not to be represented in Parliament," Mr Bowe said. The consequences for the Government became abundantly obvious this year when its gold royalty hike was blocked, another budget savings measure was also vetoed and its highly-touted "no body, no parole" laws were heavily delayed. Minor parties defend the system Labor believes it is being stopped from doing the job punters overwhelmingly elected it to do, by an Upper House that is refusing to accept its mandate. But that is a charge the minor party MPs who have found themselves holding enormous power in this parliament strongly reject. "It is not like the Upper House members are being obstructionist, their job is to look at legislation as it comes through," crossbench MP Rick Mazza said. "I think the system works quite well." What, if anything, the Government will actually do about its gripes with the existing system remains to be seen and the responsible minister was giving little away. "We don't currently have any plans to change it [the Upper House voting system], but we're open to listening to community concerns," Electoral Affairs Minister Bill Johnston said. But every time its wishes are stymied by the Upper House between now and the next election, Labor's appetite to change the way WA voters elect people to Parliament is only likely to strengthen. Topics: government-and-politics, electoral-system, political-parties, wa First postedFollowing WrestleMania XIV, a unique rematch between Kane and The Undertaker took place at Unforgiven 1998, intended to give Kane an advantage. The brainchild of Paul Bearer, the Inferno Match was, perhaps, the most dangerous contest in WWE history. Set in a ring engulfed in flames, the bout had one objective: set your opponent on fire. The match is so dangerous that there have only been four since its inception — all of which featured the demonic Kane. Relive the four heated battles as WWEClassics.com ignites the history of the Inferno Match. The Undertaker vs. Kane — Unforgiven, April 26, 1998 The sick and twisted sibling rivalry between Kane and The Undertaker was born in fire when both Superstars were young boys. The Big Red Monster was thought to have perished in a fire that The Phenom allegedly started. Following their first clash at WrestleMania XIV, Kane’s hatred continued to burn and Paul Bearer challenged The Phenom on Kane’s behalf to a rematch at Unforgiven 1998. In an attempt to manufacture an advantage for The Big Red Monster, Bearer suggested the first-ever Inferno Match. The battle itself was just as dangerous as it looked on paper. The fire did not restrict The Undertaker and Kane’s brawl to the inside of the ring — they also battled outside, including The Big Red Monster’s attempted flight from the arena being stopped by Vader. With flames shooting high into the air, The Deadman finally managed to set Kane’s arm ablaze and win the dangerous encounter. The Undertaker vs. Kane — Feb. 22, 1999 Nearly a year removed from the first Inferno Match at Unforgiven, the Brothers of Destruction faced off in a second Inferno Match. The bout occurred at the height of the animosity between Mr. McMahon’s Corporation and The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness. Fueled by a personal vendetta against The Phenom, The Chairman ordered The Undertaker into an impromptu Inferno Mach against The Big Red Monster on the Feb. 22, 1999, episode of Monday Night Raw. Once again, The Big Red Monster and The Phenom engaged in a struggle to set each other ablaze. Mr. McMahon watched from ringside as the flames burned more intensely with each impactful blow. But Kane was unable to best his half-brother in the contest specifically designed to give him an edge — The Undertaker was declared victorious after setting Kane’s foot on fire. Triple H vs. Kane — Smackdown, Sept. 23, 1999 The rivalry between Kane and Triple H ignites in the center of the ring during an Inferno Match on SmackDown. To qualify for the Six-Pack Challenge at Unforgiven 1999, Triple H was ordered by Mr. McMahon to win at least three of five matches in one evening. Each match had a specific stipulation and The Game had already lost the first two when he was forced into an Inferno Match against Kane. With The Cerebral Assassin’s luck running out, the heat was literally turned up for him as he brawled with Kane inside the fiery squared circle. The odds were clearly stacked against The Game’s favor as Kane had competed in the only two previous Inferno Matches. Triple H managed to claim victory, though, when Mideon and Viscera came to ringside and attacked Kane. The nefarious duo set The Big Red Monster’s hand ablaze, keeping Triple H’s WWE Title hopes alive. Kane vs. MVP — Armageddon, Dec. 17, 2006 Kane looks to set MVP on fire in an Inferno Match. The fourth — and final — Inferno Match took place at WWE Armageddon 2006 between MVP and Kane. It was the first time in six years that the dangerous match type took place. It was the final match between the Superstars in a three-match series that saw MVP victorious in a Street Fight and Steel Cage Match. Although The Big Red Monster didn’t have luck on his side in his previous bouts inside the literal ring of fire, the match was closely associated with him — giving him in important mental edge. Although talented, MVP was definitely out of his element as flames engulfed the ring, stopping him from executing a top-rope maneuver or escaping. Unable to avoid Kane’s fury, The Ballin’ Superstar was ultimately set ablaze in a horrifying scene, giving The Big Red Monster his first Inferno Match victory.The Washington Redskins filled their final roster spot, finding another running back to replace the one they had cut last week. Washington signed undrafted free-agent running back Mack Brown, a college teammate of third-round choice Matt Jones at Florida. In fact, Brown relieved Jones, out with a viral infection, in the 2013 opener and rushed for 112 yards on 25 carries against Toledo. But Brown was never more than a backup at Florida, where he carried 22 times for 95 yards last season. In 2013, he carried 148 times for 543 yards and the only four touchdowns of his college career. He caught 18 passes for 78 yards in his Gators career. The Redskins released running back Michael Hill last week. It’ll be difficult for Brown to win a job with Jones, Alfred Morris, Silas Redd, Chris Thompson and Trey Williams ahead of him. Washington reports to camp Wednesday, with the first practice the following day.A new study ( PDF ) conducted by a group of Harvard students suggests that Asian hosts offering housing on Airbnb earn less than their white counterparts. The research paper, published in Harvard’s Journal of Technology Science, found that Asian hosts on average earn $90 less per week or 20% less than white hosts for similar rentals. The study involved a data scrape of 101 Airbnb rentals from Oakland and Berkeley, California, that included profile pictures of hosts that clearly identified whether they are white or Asian. This 2015 study of Asian hosts on Airbnb only examines one particular market–San Francisco’s ethnically diverse East Bay–and did not include data from any other cities or metropolitan areas. A predictive model was created to determine the price differences in this area. Interestingly, the study’s authors also found that the differential increases with the size and price of a rental. David Wang, who worked on the study, told NPR that “It’s interesting to see this extreme difference, especially in a peer-to-peer network.” In 2014, Fast Company examined the question of whether sharing economy services such as Airbnb can help end discrimination, based on having both the guest and the host rated for the experience. However, a 2012 Harvard Business School paper found that non-black Airbnb renters were charging approximately 12% more for their properties in New York compared to their black counterparts.Cal Poly Mustangs: SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (April 14, 2014) -- Cal Poly's climb up the national Division I baseball polls continued Monday thanks to another perfect 4-0 week. Cal
Cigarettes, booze, sexual favors, Kalishnikovs, Soviet Armored vehicles, small children, or bootleg CD’s. 107. Must not mock command decisions in front of the press. 108. Should not taunt members of the press, even if they are really fat, exceptionally stupid, and working for UPI. 109. I am not authorized to change national policy in Eastern Europe. 110. Never, ever, attempt to correct a Green Beret officer about anything. 111. I am not qualified to operate any US, German, Polish, or Russian Armored vehicles. 112. When saluting a “leg” officer, an appropriate greeting is not “Airborne leads the wa- oh…sorry sir”. 113. There is absolutely no need to emulate the people from “Full Monty” every time I hear the song “Hot Stuff”. 114. I cannot trade my CO to the Russians. 115. I should not speculate on the penis size of anyone who outranks me. 116. Crucifying mice – bad idea. 117. Must not use government equipment to bootleg pornography. 118. Burn pits for classified material are not revel fires – therefore it is wrong to dance naked around them. 119. I cannot arrest children for being rude. 120. An EO briefing is probably not the best place to unveil my newest off color joke. 121. I should not use government resources to “waterproof” dirty magazines. 122. Radioactive material should not be stored in the barracks. 123. I should not teach other soldiers to say offensive and crude things in Albanian, under the guise of teaching them how to say potentially useful phrases. 124. Two drink limit does not mean first and last. 125. Two drink limit does not mean two kinds of drinks. 126. Two drink limit does not mean the drinks can be as large as I like. 127. “No Drinking Of Alcoholic Beverages” does not imply that a Jack Daniel’s ® IV is acceptable. 128. “Shpadoinkle” is not a real word. 129. The Microsoft ® “Dancing Paperclip” is not authorized to countermand any orders. 130. “I’m drunk” is a bad answer to any question posed by my commander. 131. No dancing in the turret. This especially applies in conjunction with rule #113. 132. The loudspeaker system is not a forum to voice my ideas. 133. The loudspeaker system is not to be used to replace the radio. 134. The loudspeaker system is not to be used to broadcast the soundtrack to a porno movie. 135. An order to put polish on my boots means the whole boot. 136. Shouting “Let’s do the village! Let’s do the whole fucking village!” while out on a mission is bad. 137. Should not show up at the front gate wearing part of a Russian uniform, messily drunk. 138. Even if my commander did it. 139. Must not teach interpreters how to make “MRE” bombs. 140. I am not authorized to sell mineral rights. 141. Not allowed to use a broadsword to disprove “The Pen is Mightier than the sword”. 142. “Calvin-Ball” is not authorized PT. 143. I do not need to keep a “range card” by my window. 144. “K-Pot, LBE, and a thin coat of Break-free” is not an authorized uniform. 145. I should not drink three quarts of blue food coloring before a urine test. 146. Nor should I drink three quarts of red food coloring, and scream during the same. 147. I should not threaten suicide with pop rocks and Coke ®. 148. Putting red “Mike and Ike’s” ® into a prescription medicine bottle, and then eating them all in a formation is not funny. 149. Must not create new DOD forms, then insist they be filled out. 150. On Sports Day PT, a wedgie is not considered a legal tackle. 151. The proper way to report to my Commander is “Specialist Schwarz, reporting as ordered, Sir” not “You can’t prove a thing!” 152. The following items do not exist: Keys to the Drop Zone, A box of grid squares, blinker fluid, winter air for tires, canopy lights, or Chem-Light ® batteries. 153. I should not assign new privates to “guard the flight line”. 154. Shouldn’t treat “piss-bottles” with extra-strength icy hot. 155. Teaching Albanian children to taunt other soldiers is not nice. 156. I will no longer perform “lap-dances” while in uniform. 157. If I take the uniform off, in the course of the lap-dance, it still counts. 158. The revolution is not now. 159. When detained by MP’s, I do not have a right to a strip search. 160. No part of the military uniform is edible. 161. Bodychecking General officers is not a good idea. 162. Past lives have absolutely no effect on the chain of command. 163. Take that hat off. 164. There is no such thing as a were-virgin. 165. I do not get “that time of month”. 166. No, the pants are not optional. 167. Not allowed to operate a business out of the barracks. 168. Especially not a pornographic movie studio. 169. Not even if they are “especially patriotic films” 170. Not allowed to “defect” to OPFOR during training missions. 171. On training missions, try not to shoot down the General’s helicopter. 172. “A full magazine and some privacy” is not the way to help a potential suicide. 173. I am not allowed to create new levels of security clearance. 174. Furby ® is not allowed into classified areas. (I swear to the gods, I did not make that up, it’s actually DOD policy). 175. We do not “charge into battle, naked, like the Celts”. 176. Any device that can crawl across the table on medium, does not need to be brought into the office. 177. I am not to refer to a formation as “the boxy rectangle thingie”. 178. I am not “A lesbian trapped in a man’s body”. 179. On Army documents, my race is not “Other”. 180. Nor is it “Secretariat, in the third”. 181. Pokémon® trainer is not an MOS. 182. There is no FM for “wall-to-wall counseling”. 183. My chain of command has neither the time, nor the inclination to hear about what I did with six boxes of Fruit Roll-Ups. ® 184. When operating a military vehicle I may not attempt something “I saw in a cartoon”. 185. My name is not a killing word. 186. I am not the Emperor of anything. 187. Must not taunt officers in the throes of nicotine withdrawal, with cigarettes. 188. May not challenge officers to “Meet me on the field of honor, at dawn”. 189. Do not dare SERE graduates to eat bugs. They will always do it. 190. Must not make s’mores while on guard duty. 191. Our Humvees cannot be assembled into a giant battle-robot. 192. The proper response to a briefing is not “That’s what you think”. 193. The Masons, and Gray Aliens are not in our chain of command. 194. Shouldn’t take incriminating photos of my chain of command. 195. Shouldn’t use Photoshop ® to create incriminating photos of my chain of command. 196. I am not allowed to give tattoos. 197. I am not allowed to sing “Henry the VIII I am” until verse 68 ever again. 198. Not allowed to lead a “Coup” during training missions. 199. I should not confess to crimes that took place before I was born. 200. My chain of command is not interested in why I “just happen” to have a kilt, an inflatable sheep, and a box of rubber bands in the back of my car. 201. Must not valiantly push officers onto hand grenades to save the squad. 202. Despite the confusing similarity in the names, the “Safety Dance” and the “Safety Briefing” are never to be combined. 203. “To conquer the earth with an army of flying monkeys” is a bad long term goal to give the re-enlistment NCO. 204. NEVER nail a stuffed bunny to a cross and put it up in front of the Battalion Headquarters sign as an “Easter Desecration.” 205. Don’t write up false gigs on a HMMWV PMCS. (“Broken clutch pedal”, “Number three turbine has frequent flame-outs”, “flux capacitor emits loud whine when engaged”) 206. Not allowed to get shot. 207. The Chicken and Rice MRE is not a personal lubricant. (Skippy wanted this noted for the record that this is not something he has ever attempted or considered! It was something we heard at dinner on 22 September 2001 and it was just so obscene it had to go here.) 208. Not allowed to play into the deluded fantasies of the civilians who are “hearing conversations” from the NSA, FBI, CIA and KGB due to the microchip the aliens implanted in their brain. 209. An airsickness bag is to be used for airsickness only. (Also not a Skippy-ism…this was the same dinner.) 210. Must not make T-shirts up depicting a pig with the writing “Eat Pork or Die” in Arabic to bring as civilian attire when preparing to deploy to a primarily Muslim country. 211. Don’t ask LTC Steele to sign my copy of Blackhawk Down. 212. Must not go on nine deployments in six years that require a security clearance that I don’t have, even if the Army tells me repeatedly that I have one and I have no reason to question them. 213. Do not convince NCO’s that their razorbumps are the result of microscopic parasites. Want to read more? Check out submissions of funny lists from other soldiers.Having finished a lowly 11th on his debut with the Italian manufacturer in Qatar, Lorenzo qualified 16th in Argentina and only made it as far as the first corner, crashing after tagging the rear wheel of Andrea Iannone's Suzuki. Lorenzo gained several places on the run to Turn 1 and moved from the outside to the inside, as an unsighted Iannone also headed for the apex. Spat to the outside of the circuit, Lorenzo says he was lucky to not be collected by Loris Baz, but that that was the only positive as he looks to continue to learn Ducati's Desmosedici. "It was a nasty crash," he said post-race. "It was a long time ago, maybe Australia 2009, that I don't make the first corner, very disappointing. "I needed more than ever to find the kilometres and the laps to keep the improvement we made during the weekend with the position of the bike, with the way of riding using more the rear brake to stop the bike. "In the warm-up I felt very good, got a good start, but on the first corner I decided to go into the inside, there was a lot of bikes there and somehow I found the rear wheel of Iannone. "I touched him just a little bit and the bike was going into the other side and I crashed. Very disappointed. "It's a bad moment, still 10, 12 days [before the Austin round] to get on the bike again. I would like to go now or tomorrow. "It's difficult to accept, but at least I'm not injured, we found especially a good way to be more competitive in the future." Lorenzo leaves Argentina 18th in the championship, even eclipsing his 16th after two rounds in 2014 when he crashed on the first lap in Qatar and finished 10th in Austin after being distracted by mosquitoes and jumping the start. Excluding 2014, Lorenzo's average championship position after two rounds with Yamaha was second, including leading on five occasions. "Qatar was quite a disaster, I was lucky to finish 11th because of a lot of crashes," he said. "And [in Argentina], my race didn't exist. In Austin we will start our championship." Additional reporting by Oriol PuigdemontThe Government will today commit to funding IVF treatment for couples unable to conceive from 2019. Minister for Health Simon Harris is to bring a memo to Cabinet this morning outlining proposed regulatory measures for the area of assisted human reproduction. It is understood Mr Harris will commit to outlawing commercial surrogacy and the payment for egg, sperm or embryo donors. The memo will provide for an ethical framework with clear rules for the welfare of the child, woman and informed consent. Speaking on his way into the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Mr Harris said that by the end of the year he wants to clarify for families what financial assistance would be available for IVF from 2019. “I made it very clear that I want to put in place supports to help subsidise the cost of IVF for families,” Mr Harris said. Related Maternity leave may be extended for premature births “One in six of us could experience infertility challenges at any time and I would like to by the end of the year be in a position to provide clarity to families in terms of what supports we may be able to provide from 2019.” Mr Harris said the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill will “regulate this whole area”. “I hope to send it to the Oireachtas Committee subject to Cabinet approval for pre-legislative scrutiny and get it passed into law in 2018 with the idea of having public subsidies for IVF for 2019,” he said. Mr Harris said it is very important “that we have done in this country what a lot of other countries have done in terms of regulating the area and trying to provide a system of financial assistance”. A spokeswoman for the Minister said: “At present, in Ireland there is little regulation in this area of Assisted Human Reproduction (IVF etc). It is a complex and expensive area and Ireland remains one of the only countries in Europe that has not introduced legislation. “Minister Harris will ask cabinet on Tuesday to approve the drafting of a bill to enable people in need of AHR to access these services and to protect people who do access these services.” The Minister will also commit to detailing a policy direction for State funding for fertility treatment for couples who cannot afford treatment by the end of the year. This will entail outlining the criteria by which a person or a couple can receive financial assistance. It is understood Mr Harris will examine the situation in Britain for guidance and is minded to ensure income will not be a barrier in accessing State funding. Mr Harris is also eager to ensure the scheme is not limited to persons with a medical card.When you need to enforce password changes for users on Linux machines, the chage command-line tool is a must-have. Image: iStock/TimArbaev As a Linux admin, you're probably accustomed to passwd, chown, chmod, and chgrp...all commands for managing various elements of user accounts, files, and folders. There is another command that all Linux administrators must know: chage (think of change age). With the chage command you can change the number of days between password changes, set a manual expiration date, list account aging information, and more. It's a very handy tool for any admin wanting to ensure their users stay on top of changing their passwords regularly. SEE: Want a good tech job? Report says open-source skills are hotter than ever (ZDNet) Installing chage There is no installation needed for this tool, as it should be found on your distribution by default. As you probably expect, chage is a command line tool, so you'll be required to work within a terminal window. Using chage The basic structure for the chage command looks like: chage [options] USERNAME You can choose from plenty of options—the most immediately useful of those options are: -E Set the expire date for a user password. The date is expressed in the format YYYY-MM-DD. -I Set the number of inactive days allowed, after a password expires, before the account is locked. -l List the account aging information. -m Set the minimum number of days allowed between password changes. Setting this option to 0 allows the user to change their password at any time. -M Set the maximum number of days in which a password is valid. -W Set the number of days of warning before a user must change their password. Examples of chage in action We'll manage the password for user bethany. First, let's list the account aging information for bethany. To do this, we issue the command: sudo chage -l bethany This command should produce something similar to Figure A. Figure A Image: Jack Wallen Now let's set bethany's password to expire on July 10, 2016. The command would be: sudo chage -E 2016-07-10 bethany When we execute chage -l bethany, we see the expiration date listed (Figure B). Figure B Image: Jack Wallen A better way to set an expiration date is to set the number of days since the last password change; this will remain in effect until the administrator removes or changes that option. Say you want passwords to be changed every 30 days—you would issue the command: sudo chage -E 30 bethany The next time the user changes their password, the days between will reset, and they will have a fresh 30 days before their password expires. If you've added an explicit expiration date, you can remove it with the command: sudo chage -E -1 bethany Our next move will be to give the user a warning that their password will expire. By default, the warning will be issued seven days in advance (this is only set once you create an expiration date for the password or the number of days between password changes). Let's change that warning to one day in advance (because who needs more than that?). To set this, issue the command: sudo chage -W 1 bethany You should see the change in warning days reflected in the new output (Figure C). Figure C Image: Jack Wallen What happens when bethany attempts to log in to a machine once her password has expired? If she's ssh'ing from another machine, she'll get a clear warning (Figure D). Figure D Image: Jack Wallen Bethany will get the same warning should she attempt to log on to her desktop as well. To rectify that, her password must be changed. You can set the number of days after a password has expired before an account will be locked. Once an account is locked, it can only be unlocked by an administrator. To set this option, the command would look like: sudo chage -I 10 bethany Once that command has been issued, the account for bethany will lock 10 days after her password has expired. This particular option does not show in the chage -l command, so a user will not know how many days they have, after their password has expired, before the account is locked. Make use of chage I highly recommend every Linux admin take charge of user password expiration with the chage command. Security is a must, and if users aren't changing their passwords regularly, your data could be at risk. The chage command can certainly help you ensure those passwords are changed. Also seeby Macron’s comfortable victory in the French Presidential election is being used by neo-liberals and centrists in the United States to reaffirm the narrative of their own political agenda. MSNBC’s Joy Reid, a fervent Clinton supporter, tweeted ” we need a global conversation on how to develop a ‘compassionate capitalism’ that answers economic displacement w/ alternatives to fascism,” invoking the ‘compassionate capitalism’ myth championed by Betsy Devos’ father, Rich Devos, in a 1993 book. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressed a similar worldview perspective during a CNN Town Hall in February 2016, during which she told a millennial that the solution to the problems caused by capitalism are not progressive policies, but trying to make wealthy people more compassionate. This attitude is why Democrats are failing miserably, as they are willing to diagnose the problems of economic displacement as bad, but insist the driving causes of that displacement are inherently positive or deliberately misdiagnose them as symptomatic of a lack of identity politics. Conservatives: Lets round up Muslims and put them in camps Liberals: HIRE 👏 MORE 👏 WOMEN 👏 GUARDS 👏 — maple cocaine (@historyinflicks) March 9, 2017 The 2011 Citizens United Supreme Court decision exemplifies how far wealthy and corporate interests have successfully scaled back the constraints of democracy to further their own interests. Instead of challenging that status quo and disavowing ties to special interests that have hijacked American democracy through massive campaign donations and armies of lobbyists, the Democratic Party has capitulated to their takeover of the party. The leaders of the party remain silent as the ban on lobbyist and PAC donations lifted by Debbie Wasserman Schultz during the primaries has not been re-enacted. Democratic Party officials have attended closed door conferences with billionaire donors on several occasions since Hillary Clinton’s election loss to discuss and formulate party strategies moving forward without the transparency and input from voters. While several progressive policies championed by Bernie Sanders increasingly gain popularity with voters, like single payer healthcare, the majority of Democrats refuse to join their constituents in supporting it. What those Democrats who don’t support it ignore are the working and middle class people their “pragmatism” leaves behind, just as they did when Obamacare was initially enacted to benefit the health insurance industry who were afraid of a single payer system while leaving 28 million people uninsured. In June 2016, Fortune reported that the International Monetary Fund admitted neo-liberalism hasn’t been working, rather its stunted economic growth and increased wealth and income inequality. In the United States, this has manifested in constant increases in wealth and income inequality while 99 percent of all new generated income has gone to the top 1 percent of the wealthiest Americans. Ignoring those progressive policies that have made Bernie Sanders the most popular politician in the country, MSNBC’s Joy Reid and several other neo-liberals have propagated horseshoe theory to corroborate their own toxic politics. The pejorative political science theory claims the far-right and far-left of the presupposed political spectrum that places preserving the status quo in the middle have more in common with each other than the center. This theory is demonstrably false, but it has never stopped Clinton loyalists from trying to equate Sanders Supporters to Trump supporters as a smear tactic. Recently Bloomberg writer Noah Smith, without citing any evidence because it doesn’t exist, tried to claim that far-left supporters in America and the UK were cheering on France’s far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. MSNBC’s Joy Reid responded to Smith that the only difference she saw from the far left and far right was the right’s overt racism, a ridiculous notion with no basis in reality and represents an overt failure in itself to understand the policies and global perspective that differentiates progressives from other political ideologies, especially the far right. These sweeping claims and generalizations are the norm in the reality Joy Reid lives in where Hillary Clinton was a good candidate and neo-liberalism is the antidote to fascism.This story has been updated. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are pairing up once again. This was the one nugget of important information squeezed between pot jokes when Willie Nelson made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday evening (3-21) as part of South by Southwest (SXSW) festivities in Austin, TX. It won’t be the first time the two country music legends have released an album together, and it may not be the last. Willie and Merle most famously paired up when they released the album Pancho & Lefty in 1983. The title track written by Townes Van Zandt became a #1 hit, and so did the album. The duo released another album together in 1987 called Seashores of Old Mexico, and were joined by Ray Price for the 2007 album Last of the Breed. The title Django & Jimmie refers to Willie Nelson’s Belgium-born and French-residing guitar playing muse Django Reinhardt, and Merle Haggard’s hero of Jimmie Rodgers. Willie says the tone of his famous guitar Trigger was inspired by Django, and Willie has recorded Django’s “Nuages” many times throughout his career, including on his last album December Day. Haggard famously released a Jimmie Rodgers tribute Same Train, A Different Time in 1969. But the lead single from the album sounds like it was inspired by something much different than Django or Jimmie. Willie sang a few verses of “It’s All Going To Pot” to Jimmy Kimmel, and told the crowd it will be released appropriately on 4/20. “It’s all going to pot, whether we like it or not. As far as I can tell the world’s gone to hell, and we’re sure gonna miss it a lot. All of the whiskey in Lynchburg, TN just couldn’t hit the spot. I’ve got $100 bill you can keep them pills friend ’cause it’s all going to pot.” READ: Is Willie Nelson Becoming a Pot Punchline? Merle also talked about the album recently, saying, “The most interesting thing, probably, is that me and Willie just finished our third album together. Not counting the thing we did with Ray Price. It’s really good; I think it’s the best one we’ve done. I think the title of the album is probably going to be Django & Jimmie, about Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers. We didn’t really do any swing, per se, we just did straight-ahead songs that we felt good about.” Since 2011 and before, an album has been rumored to be in the works involving Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson in a project called The Musketeers. Merle first made reference to it in early 2011, and then all three of the men acknowledged the project before the Grammy Awards in 2014 where they performed together with Blake Shelton. It was also revealed around the time that Kris Kristofferson was beginning to experience memory issues. Willie & Merle are also getting set to play a series of three sold out shows at the Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX on March 26th, 27th, and 28th. The release date for Django & Jimmie is June 2nd. Track List: 1. “Django and Jimmie” 2. “It’s All Going to Pot” 3. “Unfair Weather Friend” 4. “Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash” 5. “Live This Long” 6. “Alice in Hulaland” 7. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” 8. “Family Bible” 9. “It’s Only Money” 10. “Swinging Doors” 11. “Where Dreams Come to Die” 12. “Somewhere Between” 13. “Driving the Herd” 14. “The Only Man Wilder Than Me”Football star-turned-aspiring seminarian Grant Aasen (Courtesy of Grant Aasen) Georgia Tech Punter Drops Football for the Priesthood Grant Aasen aims high in life and takes nothing for granted. Trent Beattie Grant Aasen had dreams of making it big in college and pro football. As a sophomore at Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, he was a running back with a bright future. However, that’s when the lights went out. Aasen was running the ball in practice when an older, bigger and stronger player, who is now with the Houston Texans, leveled him with a jarring tackle. He incurred a serious head injury and came close to dying. His physical revival would be followed by a supernatural one. The influence of his older brother, Davis, and his friends at Georgia Tech’s Catholic Center would pave the way for him to consider becoming a priest. Grant Aasen, who just graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, decided to forego his final season of eligibility for the football team. Instead of punting, which he had transitioned to after his accident in high school, Aasen is now aiming high by continuing the application process to seminary for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, which he spoke about recently with the Register. Vocations aside for the moment, many young people leave the Church when they leave for college, so how did you stay Catholic at all during that time? It’s funny you should ask, because I never really considered taking Catholicism more seriously in high school. I went to Mass with my parents, but honestly, I didn’t even know the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. I didn’t care too much about religion until after an accident in my sophomore year. I was a running back on the JV team before becoming a punter, and one day in practice, I was flattened by a guy on varsity — 6-foot-6, 280-pound Ufomba Kamulu — who went on to play at the University of Miami and now is with the Houston Texans. My head hit the ground, and I suffered what they call “whiplash of the brain.” I sat out the rest of practice and the next day during a game I felt tired, walked to the sideline, took off my helmet, sat down on the bench and passed out. The medical people examined me and found my eyes were super-dilated, which was an indication of swelling of the brain. A helicopter was called, and I was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center. My brain was bleeding, so my skull was cut open by Dr. Paul King, and he fixed the problem. It was very serious and I came close to dying, but after the surgery I recovered a lot faster than expected. That prompted your interest in growing in faith? Being humbled like that helped me to look more into religion. I got involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and went to events I found fun and uplifting, but in a way that wasn’t centered on specific doctrines. It was more about community, modern “worship” music and positive feelings. My general spiritual interest got the attention of my older brother, Davis. We’re very close, and usually he would influence me, but in this case, I was influencing him. He normally has a very rational way of seeing things, but my enthusiasm about spiritualty prompted him to look more deeply into the matter. As he learned about Catholicism, he became more committed to the Church. He developed a network of friends at the Catholic Center at Georgia Tech, so when I got to campus in 2013, I was plugged into his group of friends. Davis and his friends told and showed me what being Catholic was like — why confession and Mass are important, what role the Blessed Virgin plays in our spiritual lives, why we rely on the Church for correct teachings, etc. What also helped my development was the extraordinary form of the Mass, which makes it more apparent that what’s going on is sacred and not man-made. These things have provided a solid foundation for hundreds of students, even to the point that about 10 graduates of Georgia Tech are studying for priesthood at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, one of two seminaries that the Archdiocese of Atlanta uses most. How did you get to the point of forgoing your final season of eligibility for the seminary? The first thing for anyone looking to finalize a vocation is to go to confession and to Mass. Being in a state of grace is the primary prerequisite for making any kind of clear vocational decision. After that, or associated with that, are Marian devotion, Eucharistic adoration and spiritual direction. There were times of 100% certainty that I should be a priest, but then times of doubt. However, those doubting times were when I was so busy with schoolwork that I was not praying as much as I normally do. I wasn’t communicating with Jesus Christ, the High Priest, in a sufficient way, so my entrance into his priesthood necessarily would seem less certain. What has been the reaction of coaches and teammates to your decision? I told head coach Paul Johnson before spring practices in 2016 that I was planning on playing one more year and then going to the seminary. I was tearing up at the time, because I was thinking of how much football meant to me and how much I had put into it. Coach told me he appreciated my honesty, but that he wanted me to stay with the team and to give it more time — to go through not only last season, but this most recent spring’s practices. I did that, and the calling remained throughout, so that’s where we are today. It goes without saying that talking to the head coach was an important thing, but also important were the strength coaches. People outside of college football might know it, but the strength coaches are the ones players spend the most time with year-round. The other coaches are out recruiting in the offseason while the strength coaches are always there. Naturally, this leads to the development of good relationships. Coach John Sisk, who is our top strength coach as director of player development, was initially surprised when I told him, but was then super supportive of what I should be doing in life. That meant a lot to me, considering how close we get to the strength coaches. Did Grant Desme, Father Joe Fitzgerald, Father Joe Freedy or Patrick Towles have any bearing on your decision? I actually did not know about any of those athletes who’ve become priests or are pursuing or considering it. I wish I had known their stories, because then my decision would beave been much easier. I also could have talked with Patrick about the whole thing before we played Boston College last season. There’s still time for that, but no, the decision was based on other factors that I had discussed with my spiritual director. I’ve become a more integrated, content man by learning and practicing what the Church teaches. I really enjoy sharing those teachings with others and have seen the amazing results that can follow. One humorous example involves my friend Harrison Butker. He entered college as the No. 2 high-school kicker in the nation, and I was just a little nothing who was not even officially on the team. Well, I wanted to make the team, or if that didn’t happen, at least put my all into that goal. I didn’t act like a shy underling who stepped aside and let one of the top kickers out of high school act like he was too good for me. I would get in Harrison’s way, and he was annoyed by that. I was annoyed by his attitude, and it was safe to say that we despised each other. Slowly, our working relationship became better, and Harrison noticed that I was a happy and thriving practicing Catholic. He asked me why that was the case, since he was Catholic but viewed the teachings to be constrictive. I answered, as best I could, lots of questions he threw at me, and he came to see how helpful the Church can be for finding meaning in life. He’s now much more appreciative of that and has shared his findings with his family, which has becoming more interested in the Church, as well. And that’s the evangelization that you’d like to engage in as a priest? I want to bring people close to Christ, and the priesthood seems like the best way for me to do that. The priesthood is an amazing thing, but I don’t think I should get credit or some award for pursuing it. If that’s my calling, that’s my calling, just like another young man might be called to marriage. If that’s the case for him, then he should pursue that vocation without expecting a pat on the back I should also say that some of the news stories have made it seem like I’ve already been accepted to the seminary, but I won’t know for sure until probably late June. I did graduate from Tech last Saturday, so I‘m finished academically here, and I’ve also foregone my final year of athletic eligibility. However, getting into Notre Dame Seminary hasn’t happened yet, so we’ll have to wait and see. I do know, no matter what happens, that God’s providence is alive in all things. Just one story here will make that super clear. My brother, Davis, who is a student at the University of Colorado Medical School, was back home shadowing Dr. King at AMC. They had just gotten out of a surgery, and Dr. King said to my brother that he had forgotten to tell him something. Around the time I arrived at AMC by helicopter back in high school, he was leaving after his shift that day. Well, he got into a fender bender near AMC and stayed behind, was called into emergency surgery and saved my life. I’m sure Dr. King was less than pleased to have to stay behind at the hospital that day after work, but that turned out to be providential. With conditions like the one I had, timing is everything. Just a little later and I would have been dead or, at best, confined to a wheelchair or disabled in some other way. Yet I was supposed to live, like we all are, for the glory of God, with my story possibly involving the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Register correspondent Trent Beattie writes from Seattle. His book, Fit for Heaven (Dynamic Catholic, 2015), contains numerous Catholic sports interviews, most of which have appeared in the Register.As we approach the midpoint of a season lacking in clarity, I thought I'd identify some individual units that are separating themselves from the pack, for better or for worse. Below, I've highlighted four units that have been scary good so far -- and four that have been scary bad: SCARY GOOD 1) Bears' defensive front Chicago has allowed 300 yards or less in each of its last five games -- a stretch that included three wins, including one each against Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton. Holding the Panthers to 293 yards in over 38 minutes in Week 7 was especially impressive. Veteran Akiem Hicks, former second-rounder Eddie Goldman, fast-rising youngster Jonathan Bullard and the steady Mitch Unrein have been central to this effort. Linebackers Leonard Floyd, Danny Trevathan, Pernell McPhee and Christian Jones have been playing very well, also, for the NFL's seventh-best defense. John Fox wins everywhere he goes, and I can see this defensive front pushing Chicago to the postseason. I don't know if the unit is good enough to ensure a victory once the Bears get there -- you still need strong quarterback play to succeed in the playoffs, and that's a question mark with rookie Mitchell Trubisky under center -- but Floyd and Co. have this team ahead of schedule. One thing is certain: You don't want to look up on offense and see these guys lined up across from you. 2) Jaguars
. There have been plenty of successful launches, too, but the Proton failures have become so frequent that Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre, the rocket’s maker, is facing mounting insurance premiums and difficulties finding foreign clients. Dmitri Rogozin, the deputy prime minister in charge of Russia’s defense industry, pointed to similarities among the Soviet and Russian programs. “What happened to the Proton yesterday has already killed these missiles in 1988 and 2014,” he wrote in his blog. “The Soviet and Russian experts have rushed to conclusions and never found the reasons for the engines’ anomalous behaviour.” If he’s right, the problems plaguing the Proton in recent years have been known since the dying days of the Soviet Union, but were never fixed. They now have a more damaging effect, because the system as a whole is more fragile. “In the U.S.S.R.,” Andrei Sinitsyn wrote in the business daily Vedomosti, “critically important dual-use industries such as aerospace worked under threat of reprisals and enjoyed unlimited resources. Now threats are ineffective and resources are limited, both objectively and subjectively (because of corruption).” Then there are the setbacks in sports. On Sunday, the Russian national hockey team lost 6-1 to Canada in the final game of the world championship in Prague. This compounded Team Russia’s failure at the Sochi Winter Olympics, an event that Putin intended to use to showcase his country’s post-Soviet glory. Canada, often beaten by the formidable Soviet team in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, triumphed there, too. The Canadian team that went to the championship in Prague was weakened, because some of its stars were kept at home by the National Hockey League play-offs. Russia had more of its top players available, but wilted disgracefully in the second period. Then, the Russian team did something no Soviet squad would ever have done: It skated off the ice before the Canadian national anthem was played to honour the winners. Only a handful of players remained, led by NHL star Alexander Ovechkin, who tried to stop his teammates but mostly failed. This happened just a few days after Putin had a much- publicized hockey triumph of his own. In a May 16 exhibition game of the amateur Night Hockey League, with Soviet hockey stars such as Sergei Makarov and Viacheslav Fetisov, as well as some top pro-Putin politicians and businessmen on the ice, Putin scored eight goals. He only took up the game in 2011, but few retired professionals, let alone governors or billionaires, would be willing to tackle him or deny him a pass. I’m not sure he would have done as well against non-Russian opposition. The Prague defeat was a cold shower for the pro-Putin breed of Russian patriots: This is not how hockey was played in the Soviet team’s golden days. “We need to become a normal power first,” the Russian team’s spokesman, Igor Larin, said after the game. “Once we become a normal power, we will play like Canadians.” Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the Russian Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, immediately tweeted: “What is he talking about? Has he forgotten that we’ve beaten Canadians many times?” And in fairness, Russia’s squad did make it to play Canada in the final. That modern Russia isn’t the Soviet Union is both a blessing and a curse for Putin’s regime. It’s a blessing because the country is, despite Putin’s dictatorial leanings and efforts to strengthen the state sector, an open capitalist economy. That makes Russia more resilient in times of crisis, confounding analysts who fail to understand that, at least as far as the economy is concerned, the Soviet revival is only skin-deep. Russia’s economic performance in the first quarter of this year beat expectations. The differences are also a curse, because even as Putin uses propaganda to raise the hopes of revanchist Russians, he’s unable to deliver on his promises. So he’s unable to create Soviet-style showcases meant to demonstrate the nation’s power to the world, such as the aerospace industry that sent the first satellite and the first man into space, or the invincible USSR ice hockey machine. According to a recent survey by the Levada Centre polling agency, 19 percent of Russians believe the country should go back to the Soviet development path, and 55 percent believe it should have a path of its own, distinct from the Western one. Given almost universal support for Putin’s actions in Ukraine and pride in the country’s Soviet past (30 percent of Russians think of Stalin with “respect” and only 5 percent with “fear and disgust”), that special path may be just a modernized, idealized idea of Soviet policies. I suspect that the failure to repeat Soviet glories hurts Putin more than higher inflation and lower wages: In the 70 years of Soviet communism, Russians endured much worse economic hardship for the sake of living in a proud superpower. Putin needs to deliver more world-beating successes for his nostalgia- based strategy to triumph, but that’s impossible without either recreating the repressive Soviet system or creating a business climate that would allow the private sector to restore the country’s glory. He seems incapable of either, and that makes him vulnerable. Leonid Bershidsky is a Berlin-based writer. Bloomberg2008 - let's pull the team off to build OpenSocial 2009 - let's pull the team off to build Buzz 2010 - let's pull the team off to build Google+ Let's be clear that this has nothing to do with revenue vs operating costs. Reader never made money directly (though you could maybe attribute some of Feedburner and AdSense for Feeds usage to it), and it wasn't the goal of the product.Reader has been fighting for approval/survival at Google since long before I was a PM for the product. I'm pretty sure Reader was threatened with de-staffing at least three times before it actually happened. It was often for some reason related to social:It turns out they decided to kill it anyway in 2010, even though most of the engineers opted against joining G+. Ironically, I think the reason Google always wanted to pull the Reader team off to build these other social products was that the Reader team actually understood social (and tried a lot of experiments over the years that informed the larger social features at the company)[1]. Reader's social features also evolved very organically in response to users, instead of being designed top-down like some of Google's other efforts[2].I suspect that it survived for some time after being put into maintenance because they believed it could still be a useful source of content into G+. Reader users were always voracious consumers of content, and many of them filtered and shared a great deal of it.But after switching the sharing features over to G+ (the so called "share-pocalypse") along with the redesigned UI, my guess is that usage just started to fall - particularly around sharing. I know that my sharing basically stopped completely once the redesign happened [3]. Though Google did ultimately fix a lot of the UI issues, the sharing (and therefore content going into G+) would never recover.So with dwindling usefulness to G+, (likely) dwindling or flattening usage due to being in maintenance, and Google's big drive toin the last couple of years, what choice was there but to kill the product?Personally, I think that there is still a lot of value a service like Reader could provide -- particularly in a world with increasing information overload coming at us from many different sources. But Reader at Google was pigeonholed as an RSS-reader explicitly, and didn't have a chance to grow beyond that to explore that space. But that's neither here nor there.[1] See Reader's friends implementations v1, v2, and v3, comments, privacy controls, and sharing features. Actually wait, you can't see those anymore, since they were all ripped out.[2]'s Buzzfeed article has good coverage of this:[3]I was a lot angrier then than I am now -- now I'm just sad.: I left Google in 2011 so this is all my own speculation. I have no idea if this is the real reason or not, and there certainly could be more to the story. Don't take my word as gospel -- I'm looking at you, TNW ().CLOSE Despite the problems plaguing Brazil, from government corruption, crime and the Zika virus to polluted waters, Americans are arriving by the tens of thousands to cheer on the U.S. teams in Rio. (Aug. 5) AP Brazilian military personnel guard the perimeter of Olympic Park prior to the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Photo: Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports) RIO DE JANEIRO — Despite a slew of robberies and terrorism arrests in the weeks leading up to Friday's opening ceremony, U.S. officials say they are confident that Brazilian security forces can fully protect the Olympic Games. American law enforcement has spent years training Brazilian officials and increased the level of information they share with their Brazilian counterparts. But the U.S. security footprint in Rio will be small throughout the three weeks of events, leaving the brunt of security work up to the Brazilians. Brazil has pooled its local, state and federal law enforcement to deploy 85,000 people to secure the Games, more than double the number used in London in 2012. On Friday, Brazil's O Globo newspaper reported that Brazil has increased that figure to 100,000 as news of violence has swept through Rio. In recent weeks, the cases have added up. A New Zealand-born jiu jitsu fighter living in Brazil said he was kidnapped by corrupt police officers demanding money. A man vomited on a Chinese hurdler as part of a hoax to rob the Olympian and a cameraman. The Australian team was robbed of a laptop and Zika-protective team shirts during a fire evacuation at their Olympic housing. On Thursday night, a man whom police described as a Russian diplomat was involved in a scuffle with an alleged robber in the city when a gun went off, killing the assailant; Russian officials have denied the man was part of their diplomatic service. And a sleeping firefighter was allegedly raped inside the Olympic Park near the velodrome, an indoor cycling arena, according to the Brazilian newspaper O Globo. "Every Olympic environment involves challenges, but from what we have seen thus far, the Rio Organizing Committee and the people of Brazil are ready to host a great Games," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said via email. "We can't wait to get started." Brazilian authorities also arrested 10 people who expressed loyalty to the Islamic State who were believed to be planning terrorist attacks in Rio during the Games. And there has been an increase in traffic on social media sites used by ISIL and other terrorist networks, much of which has been translated into Portuguese and included suggested targets for lone-wolf attackers, according to the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group. Those threats have been compounded by shootouts and armed robberies throughout the city, which has surprised many Brazilians, including Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at Rio de Janeiro State University. Santoro said he expected crime to go down as the Olympics approached because of the heavy security presence throughout Rio. Instead, he said criminal gangs have closely monitored how federal, state and local security officials have deployed their units. "They've identified the gaps in the security strategy," Santoro said. U.S. officials say they're trying to counter all those threats by training and working closely with Brazilian officials and other law enforcement agencies around the world. Many will be working out of a newly created International Police Coordination Center that brings together government officials from different countries. Brazil's security forces have long been mired with corruption and ties to organized crime throughout the country. But Steve Moore, the FBI's legal attache in Brazil, said they have been working with carefully selected, U.S.-trained Brazilians for several years now, reducing the risk that sensitive information will fall into the wrong hands. “The key to this is that we work closely with the Brazilian federal police and share information with their specialized units," Moore said. While much of that has gone on behind the scenes, American tourists in Rio say they feel safe — for now. Peter and Donna Tomozawa, a retired couple from Los Angeles, walked along Rio's famed Copacabana Beach on Thursday night taking in the dizzying sights and sounds around them. They said this was the first of their three Olympic Games that made them think hard about security concerns, but they decided to take the plunge anyway. "It's always on your mind, but you gotta live," said Peter Tomozawa. "You can't let the bad guys stop you from doing good things." "But just in case, we have nothing on us," interjected Donna Tomozawa. "You could rob us and we don't have anything on us."Last week I played some TIS-100, an assembly puzzle game where you are left to debug a fantasy computer with only the manual to guide you. The TIS-100 is composed of many small nodes running a very limited assembly language with only one addressable register. Every node can however read and write data to its 4 neighbors. After finishing the game, I remembered this talk by Chuck Moore on programming a grid of tiny Forth computers, not entirely unlike TIS-100, except more practical. What if you could make an actual TIS-100? Not just an emulator, but an actual thing that sits on your desk. I set out to try. I went to the electronics store and asked for a hand full of Attiny chips, which cost about one Euro each. They gave me some Attiny25, with 2Kb of flash, 128 bytes of ram, and 6 output pins. I figured that with 4 neighbors and a clock line, I’d have exactly enough pins. But I’d have to do bi-directional communication over a single wire. So I decided on a pull-up design. For now I’ll use the Raspberry Pi for input and output of the grid, but there is no reason this task can’t be delegated to another AVR chip and some buttons and 7-segment displays. After a day of hacking, I can program 2 Attinies to double a number and pass it on. To run the more advanced puzzles, I’ll need a better way to upload code and more Attinies. I have yet to implement the stack memory node as well. This is the code the two node currently run. (hardcoded) Command program [ 15 ] = { { MOVr, UP, ACC }, { ADDr, ACC, 0 }, { MOVr, ACC, DOWN }, { JMP, 0, 0 } }; When you send a number, this is what happens. pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo python tis-console.py Number: 9 done sending Result: 36 The source code is on GithubAbout me I'm Kat! My birthday is July 22nd, 1998, and I'm asexual. I started drawing in 2011 in the 8th grade, but in 2015 I finally branched away from drawing strictly Sonic to drawing humans and other things (thank you Megaman and Fire Emblem for dragging me to new things). I truly got into art by drawing for my school newspaper, then found a neat animating app for the DSi called Flipnote. I posted animations and drawings on the online upload option it had, and when it closed (also in 2012) I moved on to drawing digitally with any free program I knew of. From there, I found my way to DeviantArt, where all of my Flipnote friends were fleeing to, and then eventually to Tumblr, where I yell a lot about Takumi. Fandoms you can find me in Fire Emblem, Overwatch, Megaman, Legend of Zelda, Sonic, Kid Icarus, Pokemon, Undertale, Final Fantasy(15), Persona, BNHA, and many more! Art Info • I use a HUION H610PRO drawing tablet • I previously used Paint Tool Sai and Medibang •I now am using Clip Studio Paint Using my stuff in videos/other use of my work Ask me first!! If it isn't for commercial use and you credit back to me I'm okay with it as long as you ask me! My tags • ShadowStaar Ask - for anything I answer from my Ask Box • Not Art - for text posts or things I may make without drawings •Reblog - For things I don't make and reblog from other people, including art they've tagged me in •My Art - Everything that's my art, so you don't have to deal with questions or anything else interrupting •OC - For characters that belong to me •Cosplay - For any pictures of me in cosplay •BNHA DND - Any posts containing the BNHA oc's I use for DND Commissions They aren't open yet, but will be at some point in the future (keep an eye out!) Where you can find me •My alternate account for memes •DeviantArt •Twitter •Instagram •Picarto •YoutubeTyrannosaurs. Nature’s ultimate weapons. Mankind’s great reminder of the power of evolution. They have been debated and our images of them have been reshaped and re-conceived as science has breached the fog of the time that (thankfully) has separated our species by millennia. Now, as humanity is coming to terms with the dangers of this pitiless planet that these ancient monsters represent, finally the Conservative Dinosaur Readiness Movement has gained legitimacy and notoriety enough to attract an interview from one of the great experts on the subject. Peter Larson has a great deal to tell the world about Tyrannosaurs, and two weeks ago he agreed to tell Dinosaurs! WTF?. For years, Larson has been excavating dinosaurs, including Sue (largest T. Rex found thus far). He is the president of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. In this exclusive interview, Peter Larson cast light on one of the great Tyrannosaur mysteries: Nanotyrannus. The debate sounds goofy at first. Scientists found a Tyrannosaur fossil, call it Nanotyrannus. It looked fairly similar to Tyrannosaurus Rex, but about a third of the size. What do you figure? Baby T. Rex, right? Peter Larson does not think so. “Nanotyrannus is valid,” said Larson. Of course it would not be something so simple as a baby T. Rex. Theropods did not evolve to give science easy answers. They evolved to be terrifying killing machines, and nature is a tricky mother. “The Nanotyrannus is a valid genus and species. One of my major papers was just published over at Indiana University’s Press. It’s about Tyrannosaur biology. It’s really a long and drawn out paper but it shows something like 37 characters that separate Nanotyrannus from Tyrannosaurus Rex,” Larson said. Over the phone, he sounded much smarter than me. “You said 37 characteristics?” I asked. “Something like that. They’re called characters. Things like, for instance, well one of them wasn’t mentioned in that paper because it was submitted for publication in 2006.” I nodded and wrote down that I had misused basic biology vocabulary on the phone with a Tyrannosaur expert, so that I would remember to tell my therapist. You may have seen in the news that a very well preserved Nanotyrannus fossil has just gone up for auction. A mutual murder was recorded in the fossil– the Nanotyrannus is locked in a battle to the death with a Triceratops. The Nanotyrannus has taken a huge bite out of the Triceratops’ ass, and the Triceratops responded by pecking in the theropod’s skull. Nice fellows. This new skeleton has given better ammunition to Larson’s argument that this was not a junior Rex. “For instance, every bone in its hand is bigger than the biggest T. Rex that has been found. …I’m not talking proportions, I’m talking actual length.” For those of you keeping score at home, arm bones do not generally shrink in adulthood. Feeling like a real dinosaur investigator at this point, I pressed on with the tough questions. “Why do you think it’s so important? What are the implications of nanotyrannus being its own species?” I asked with my mouth. “Diversity. We’re seeing patterns of this towards the end of the age of dinosaurs. …Much more diverse fauna than some would like you to think. For instance Torosaurus is not a very grown up Triceratops, it also is valid. But there’s been… Jack Horner has some really good ideas about plasticity and that’s something you need to look at but not everything is part of a non-classed genetic series. There’s not just one ceratopsian, one tyrannosaur,” Larson said. Peter Larson is invested in this debate. His ideas are at odds with those of Jack Horner, another great dinosaur expert who actually answers my emails. “It’s always good to ask those questions. But just because you ask a question doesn’t mean that the answer that you’re giving is the correct answer. When Tom Carr first proposed this back in 1999, it was a great question, but there were certain reasons… now that we have more specimens, we know the answer to that question. It’s not a juvenile T. Rex.” So if it wasn’t a junior Rex, what was it up to? A Tyrannosaur a third of the size of a T. Rex is still a 17 foot long killing machine. I was afraid to ask, but I did. “So how do you think Nanotyrannus would have functioned as a predator?” “They were probably… if you know the specimens we’ve found, like the Triceratops showing at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis right now… there were more than 30 Nanotyrannus teeth found in that skeleton.” Sweet Jesus. “So there’s a good argument to be made that nanotyrannus was probably a pack hunter. While we do have multiple instances of multiple T. Rex being found, it has only been like two individuals, three at most, at the same site. And while nanotyrannus for some reason is much rarer, we find lots and lots of teeth but not skeletons. Of course those teeth represent successful hunters, they’re shedding their teeth and they were more abundant than Tyrannosaurs Rex. It’s just we haven’t found every skeleton.” JESUS WE HAVEN’T EVEN FOUND ALL OF THEM. THERE ARE MORE OUT THERE. I wiped away my tears. “I see. That’s a lot of good information. That was my last question, do you have anything you might like to add?” I said, voice quivering. “Well, just that science is really fun. So the controversy that something like this brings up, it really forces you to look at things in a different way. And that’s always good. So, you know, even though I disagree with Tom Carr and Jack Horner about nanotyrannus I’m really glad that they are around to give that opposite opinion. Because it really sharpens our tools that we use to try and understand these things about life,” Larson finished. Hear that kids? Science is fun, debate is healthy, and WE HAVEN’T FOUND ALL THE NANOTYRANNUS YET. Profile on Nanotyrannus next week, along with a downloadable copy of the full interview. Subscribe if you want, but it won’t save you from tooth shedding hidden monsters from prehistory. Do you want to see your letter in this month’s letter section? Send one.California’s newly regulated medical cannabis industry is done running and hiding from police, and has started standing its ground. Activists are cheering the newfound political muscle of legal medical marijuana, after a major police raid last week resulted in a massive protest and political pressure, then the release of a canna-business operator with no criminal charges and $0 bail. Major California medical cannabis company Care By Design has resumed oil-making operations in Santa Rosa this week, after a disgruntled employee sparked a massive, 100-officer raid of their commercial extraction operation in Santa Rosa on Wednesday. Police initially arrested Care By Design’s operator Dennis Hunter on charges of running a meth lab-type operation, with bail set at $5 million. But the raid on the prominent, professional, well-connected Care By Design generated an unexpected backlash for police. The following day: hundreds gathered at the Sonoma County courthouse for a large protest; a letter-writing campaign bombarded local officials; a veteran local political lobbyist stepped in; and city officials began tamping down on the dispute. The raid “revealed the deep political connections of” of Care By Design, reports state. Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch came out Thursday in support of medical cannabis production, and stated, “My focus at this time is to determine whether any laws have been violated which would endanger public safety or the environment.” Hunter was released within 48 hours. The raid amounted to a 100-officer code enforcement action, with Care By Design promising to make several operational adjustments to comply with local industrial codes. Care By Design extracts cannabis oil from raw plant matter using pressurized carbon dioxide, not flammable chemicals like butane, the company stated. The CBD Guild has tens of thousands of patients statewide, and is in the process of obtaining a local permit for their large commercial facilities. A Care By Design spokesperson stated, “The company will work closely with government officials and law enforcement to swiftly resolve the investigation and address any and all concerns regarding our operations. We maintain our strong commitment to operating with full transparency. Our main focus is resuming operations and providing our thousands of patients with the medicine that they depend on. For some of our patients this is truly a matter of life or death.” Thanks to the new Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) — a statewide framework for regulating the 19-year-old, billion-dollar California industry — Care By Design staff is not facing serious charges and closure. With MMRSA in place, Sonoma County and the city of Santa Rosa are in the middle of licensing facilities like Care By Design, which are increasingly legitimate in the eyes of the local officials. The Santa Rosa Police Department led the raid on Care By Design on Wednesday, seizing thousands in cash, computers, product, taxes and financial paperwork, and arresting Hunter, charging him with chemical drug manufacturing, and setting his bail at $5 million. The award-winning, multi-million dollar company organized an immediate raid response via Americans for Safe Access, and coordinated with the Sonoma County Growers Alliance, an advocacy group. Patients dashed off form letters to local supervisors stating: “I am one of tens of thousands of patients that use a medical marijuana product made at those facilities. I use it for a medical condition at the recommendation of my doctor. I use it because CBD Guild’s products are safely extracted, consistently formulated, lab tested, and clearly labeled. This law enforcement action deprives patients like me of access to medical marijuana that is produced with exceptional attention to patient and community safety. This action also threatens the livelihood and employment of hundreds of Sonoma County residents. Please allow CBD Guild operations to resume immediately, and restore patient access to their medicines.” Hunter said he was overwhelmed by the support for Care By Design. “We have heard from thousands of patients expressing their heartfelt hope that CBD Guild can continue making safe and effective cannabis medicines available as soon as possible,” he stated. [A version of this post first appeared on Cannabis Now Magazine]Global Biochar Market Estimated to Reach $260.0 million by 2020, Expanding at 14.5% CAGR This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/18/2016 -- Zion Research has published a new report titled "Biochar (Pyrolysis, Gasification, Hydrothermal and Others Technology) Market for Agriculture, Water & Waste Water Treatment and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 - 2020" According to the report, the global biochar market was valued at approximately USD 260.0 million in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 585.0 million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 14.5% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global biochar market stood at 100 kilo tons in 2014. Biochar is a fine-grained carbon rich product obtained by heating organic material such as wood, manure or leaves under conditions of no oxygen. Biochar can enhance soils, sequester carbon as well as provide useable energy. Biochar also have tendency to filter and retain nutrients from percolating soil water. Pyrolysis, hydrothermal conversion and gasification are simple and efficient technologies for transforming different biomass feedstocks into renewable energy products. Furthermore, biochar has ability to produce usable energy during its production while concurrently creating a carbon product, which provides sequester or store carbon and improve agriculture and other processes. Browse the full "Biochar (Pyrolysis, Gasification, Hydrothermal and Others Technology) Market for Agriculture, Water & Waste Water Treatment and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014 – 2020" report at http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/biochar-market-z43492 Based on technology, biochar market can be segmented as pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal and others. The pyrolysis technology is largest segment accounted for significant share and expected to witness fastest growth at a CAGR of over 10.0% in terms of revenue from 2015 to 2020. Gasification technology does not create stable biochar which can be used in agriculture for soil amendment. This technology segment expected to decline its market share in the years to come. Get Free Sample Report@ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/biochar-market-z43492#RequestSample biochar marketOn the basis of application, the biochar market has been segmented into agriculture, water & waste water treatment and others. Agriculture was a major application segment of biochar market and accounted over 80% share of the global demand in 2014 and is expected to continue its dominance in global market over the forecast period. Water & waste water treatment is another major application segment and expected to exhibit significant growth on account of growing hygiene awareness and effective water infrastructure. With over 50% shares in total volume consumption, North America was the largest market. North America followed by Europe and Asia Pacific region. Europe was the second largest market for biochar and accounted for around 25% shares in total volume consumption in 2014. Asia Pacific is the third largest market accounted for the significant share of total market in 2014. Latin America and Meddle East & Africa are also expected to grow at a moderate pace. Do Inquiry before Buying Here: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/biochar-market-z43492#InquiryForBuying Some of the key industry players including Diacarbon Energy Inc, Vega Biofuels, Inc, Agri-Tech Producers. LLC, Hawaii Biochar Products. LLC, Biochar Products, Inc., Cool Planet Energy Systems Inc, Blackcarbon A/S, Green Charcoal International, Earth Systems Pty Ltd and Genesis. This report segments the global biochar market as follows: Global Biochar Market: Technology Segment Analysis Pyrolysis Gasification Hydrothermal Others Global Biochar Market: Application Segment Analysis Agriculture Water & Waste Water Treatment Others Global Biochar Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America U.S. Europe Germany France UK Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Middle East and Africa About Market Research Store Market Research Store is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Market Research Store experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each Market Research Store syndicated research report covers a different sector — such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food and beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve the overall research requirement of clients. Contact US: Joel John 3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138 Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 United States Toll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA) Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.marketresearchstore.com For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/biochar-market/release-706770.htmFaruq Rasid, the developer behind QuickDesk, has developed and now finally released a minimalist calendar widget called Calendr that's inspired by Clockr. The widget is simple and attractive, showing your next upcoming event, as well as the date and time, from your Google Calendar. As a complete minimalist when it comes to my home screen, I am truly loving it! Unlike early Alpha versions, the 1.0 version of Calendr only updates when an event is created, edited or deleted. The widget has a lot of customization options, including font color, font size, font alignment, font shadow, uppercase/lowercase, and semi-transparent background, to name a few. If you're a fan of Clockr, you're really going to love this! If you are interested, scan the QR code below or search for "Calendr" in the Android Market. You can also hit the source link for more info at the XDA forum thread. Source: XDA-DevelopersArt by: Jing Jin In conversations about what the future of money and our society is going to look like, I often find myself reminding people that if they are looking at Bitcoin's effect in a vacuum, they are only seeing a small part of a much larger equation. Bitcoin is not the only emergent technology set to come down the pipeline that is going to change our society forever. The “Internet of Things,” the coming decentralization of production due to 3D printers, self driving cars, consumer drones and Virtual Reality are all poised to change the way we think about and operate in society. All of those coming revolutions will have use for cryptocurrencies, but it is Virtual Reality that has the most obvious use case. You may not be aware, but the people involved in the Virtual Reality development community are thinking about uses that will have an impact on more than just video games. As a lifelong gamer, it is hard for me to say this but, gaming is probably the least important thing that will come out of Virtual Reality. What will, in the long term, be more important than playing HALO 7 in Virtual Reality will be the other experiences that Virtual Reality will bring. Virtual tourism looks to be a huge early application but even that will pale in comparison to what is coming in the future. Vizor is looking to be the first company to combine the two technologies in a significant way, and they are crowd funding their project with a new coin designed to be the currency of VR. Just as the internet brought together people from around the world, Virtual Reality will do the same thing, only with a simulated physical presence. With Facebook's purchase of Oculus, it isn't hard to imagine a Virtual Reality world arising, with its own culture, economy and even currency. Which is where Cryptocurrencies come in. If you have a group of people gathered together, it stands to reason that those people will eventually want to do more than just communicate, they will want to trade, barter and benefit from each other in an economic sense and not just in an academic sense. Cryptocurrencies are almost assuredly going to be how this is accomplished. It would be difficult to make a Credit Card number both easily accessible and secure in Virtual Reality, but a currency that is designed for the virtual world? It could fare much better. The problem with Virtual Reality, at least right now and in the near future, is that is isn't accessible. We talk all the time about how Bitcoin is inaccessible to those who need it most. But the hurdles preventing Virtual Reality from reaching mainstream adoption are much higher. First, the actual Virtual Reality hardware needs to be purchased, and then for high-end experiences, a powerful gaming rig likely to run into the thousands of dollars is required. That makes dealing with Private keys and KYC regulations seem minor in comparison. Vizor looks to help ease that. They aren't building a huge meta network experiences, instead, they want you to build that. Vizor looks a bit like YouTube for Virtual Reality, they have made it relatively easy for users to create experiences designed for Virtual Reality that run directly in the user's browser. That lowers the barrier to entry at least by half. Sure, you still need a VR mounted headset like the Oculus Rift, but most decently powered consumer laptops should be able to handle the experiences on Vizor. Sure, you won't be playing Far Cry 4 in your Oculus anytime soon without a top-of-the-line gaming PC, but less graphically intense experiences in VR have received as much positive reaction from the gaming press as photo-realistic demos. People are finding out that you don't need things to look real in order to convince your mind that it is real. So long as the latency is low and things are consistent, a compelling world can be created without a slew of polygons and lighting effects. Furthermore, graphics aren't entirely required for many of the most exciting things possible with the Oculus Rift. Imagine you are getting married and you have a family member who is too sick or too far away to attend. You could put up a camera with 180 or 360 degrees of vision in a seat in the front row, upload the video to Vizor, and then grandma or whoever can watch it. They could simply stare at the ceremony itself, like a typical home video, but they could also look around and see the reaction of people in the crowd, see who is crying and really feel like they experienced the wedding rather than just the small square framed by a traditional cameras. Vizor still has a way to go before it becomes the YouTube of Virtual Reality, but it has taken significant enough steps that you can begin to imagine what it could look like in the future. Its coin, it should be noted, will have functionality within the system in addition to funding Vizor itself in addition to working as the marketplace's native currency. Cryptocurrencies and Virtual Reality seem to be a perfect fit, it was only a matter of time before someone combined them. That time is now, welcome to the land
tracking data until the weekend. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.) -- Frank Newport (Click here to see how the race currently breaks down by demographic subgroup.) Survey Methods For the Gallup Poll Daily tracking survey, Gallup is interviewing no fewer than 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide each day during 2008. The general-election results are based on combined data from Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2008. For results based on this sample of 2,767 registered voters, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage points. Interviews are conducted with respondents on land-line telephones (for respondents with a land-line telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell-phone only). In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls. To provide feedback or suggestions about how to improve Gallup.com, please e-mail [email protected] 16-year-old mother who tried to strike a police officer with a baby stroller, with her child inside, was charged with aggravated assault in Lebanon, police say. The incident began at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday with conflicting reports of 2-year-old being taken by a woman in the area of Seventh and Lehman streets, police said. A police officer in the 500 block of Lehman Street was told the child had been recovered, and another officer observed a female holding a baby in the area. Police said they saw another female grab the baby, place it in a stroller and walk away quickly. Police told the female to step to confirm her identity and relationship to the child, but were met with resistance and loud profanities, police said. When a police officer tried to physically stop the female, she used the stroller to try to strike the officer in the legs, and used it as a tool to prevent her detention, police said. The police officer realized the baby in the stroller was not secured properly and was attempting to keep the baby from falling out when the female lost control of the stroller, police said. It started rolling toward Lehman Street, and another officer prevented it from reaching the street and regained control of the stroller, police said. The 16 year-old girl who was determined to be the baby's mother was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and underage drinking, and was referred to Lebanon County Juvenile Probation Department, police said. The baby was unharmed and was turned over to the custody of a grandmother. One police officer received minor injuries in the incident. A 17-year-old Lebanon girl involved in the incident was charged with disorderly conduct and underage drinking and released.A city plagued by darkness and desperation. A city plagued by fear and pain. A city left decrepit and desolate, with its defense gone, and its calm streets and buildings replaced by ruin and flame. The citizens are dead, dying, or gone, fled to a safer haven than their old home. The walls and buildings, the concrete jungle of the city, now a graveyard and playground for the thralls of a primeval darkness. While this may seem to be a horrible sight to many, for one, it was the perfect night for a Hunt. These, and many others, were the thoughts of the last bastion of this desolate urban playground for beasts and demons. His comrades were dead or gone to another city, another kingdom, his lover had abandoned him during the chaos, leaving him alone in a city full of darkness and despair. His home was destroyed, burning down, with flames all around, and the dark grays of concrete and metal colder than the icy peaks of the mountains to the north. This night, this desolate and depressing night, felt almost a blessing to him. He was free, with no worry of collateral damage or civilian life. He did not have to hold back, and he could, if even only for a short while, fully let go. This particular huntsman preferred to blend with the shadow, and he also chose to do so with a classical sense of style. He dressed in black dress pants, ankle-high black boots, with a white shirt and dark red vest. Over this, he wore a bandolier, which housed his first set of weapons, two revolvers, along with extra ammunition, and a second belt, which housed even more ammunition, along with a few bombs and traps, along with other equipment. On his thighs, he carried his second set of weapons, two bayonet-styled knives, their long blades almost as long as his forearm, along with even more ammunition and spare dust. Over this, but under the bandolier, he wore a leather coat, dyed black as shadow and left unbuttoned, with the sleeves tucked into long leather gloves, dyed a dark gray, that go up the length of his forearm. A slim tricorn or bycocket cap, accompanied by a black scarf, finished his attire. This huntsman was a reaper among men, a gothic guardian, feared and respected. He chose to hunt at night, and tonight was the perfect night. He began to walk, his heavy steps sounding as loud as sledgehammers on the cold, hard concrete. The first start of his hunt, was about to begin. The huntsman made his way along the dead and dying streets, his pace casual and calm. He was not afraid, he was almost eager for a fight. Almost at his mind's command, he spotted his first quarry: two Armored Beowolves, out on a hunting party. The huntsman drew the knife from his right thigh, and held it by the blade, taking aim. Neither of the beasts had spotted him, and he had the advantage. With one fast movement, he threw the knife forward, shooting across the air a long distance, right into the arm of one of the creatures. The beast recoiled in pain, and the two turned towards the attacker, who was still in his throwing motion. Before the wounded beast could react, the huntsman flicked his wrist, and the knife changed, turning into a razor sharp longsword, splitting the arm of the beast directly off. The sword, moving with the flicks of the huntsman's wrist, began to tear at the creature, slashing its body in pieces, while the other roared and began to charge. The huntsman drew his hand back, sending the sword flying back towards him, and drew his revolver, aiming it forward just as the beast got close enough to strike. On the Beowolf's downswing, the huntsman shoved the revolver deep into the beast, and fired a shot, blasting through the beast like a shotgun round. The beast fell, rolling away, but not dead. Sword in hand, the huntsman grasped it firmly with two hands, and chopped through the fallen creature like a butcher's knife through fresh meat. The creature fell to ash before him, caking his boots and pants in its remnants. The huntsman sheathed his weapons, and continued forward. With this first battle complete, the huntsman sought for higher ground, and easier tracking of prey. He made his way up through an old office complex, reaching the close-knit rooftops of his city. The towering rooftops and winding roads and sidewalks embraced the entire valley around him, an urban maze of concrete, accompanied now by smoke, flame, and destruction. Buildings lay desolate and broken, skyscrapers lay crashed or burning beacons, warnings of anyone who could see them, that the city was lost. It was little more than a gauntlet for him now, an arena for him to release himself and rampage against the terrible monsters that plagued all those he knew and cared for. He was not done, there was much more hunting to do. The hunter made his way now above the streets, through desolate buildings and abandoned rooftops, searching for more creatures. His movement caught the attention of a Nevermore, a powerful bird-like beast, which struck fast from above. The beast shot down like a spear, landing hard directly behind the huntsman, knocking him off his feet and rolling across the rooftop, away from the concrete crater the bird had made. He drew his weapons, choosing to arm himself with both revolvers, his knives back on his thighs, and waited for the Nevermore to show its face. The roof was cracked and crumbling, almost shattered by the impact. The beast unraveled its wings and flapped at the huntsman, who was aiming his weapons forward. It cocked its head, studying him, before darting forward. The huntsman rushed forwards to meet it, sliding underneath the beast's first strike, and unloading his weapons into the underbelly. The shots from his revolvers fired like shotgun blasts, propelling the beast askew from its position, giving the huntsman time to reload. The bird took to the air again, and darted upward, going for another strike. It took aim below, and darted down, shattering the concrete rooftop, and sending the huntsman, along with the rubble, down onto the floor below, which almost shattered from the impact as well. The huntsman was trapped beneath some of the heavy stone, his body exposed and defenseless, with a hulking beast towering above. The bird tore at the huntsman, pecking and scratching away at his clothing and body, cutting and scratching him as he struggled to free himself. The bird pecked and pecked, before hitting a volatile mixture of Dust, causing an explosion, which knocked it off its perch above the huntsman. Now trapped with him in an indoor environment, the huntsman had a moment's respite, the explosion clearing some of the rubble, albeit also causing him extreme pain. He rolled from the rubble and flicked his wrists, his revolvers returning to him. Blood oozed from the many cuts from his body, and he fell to a knee, panting. His vision began to fade, to turn black, but it was not death that would embrace him. Instead, he had called forth his power. His pistols fell to the floor, and he stood with renewed vigor, his eyes glowing red, like the Beowolves and Nevermore before him, like the other Grimm he had fought and killed. The huntsman approached the Nevermore, which was trying to free itself from the concrete prison it was in, and ran for a punch. The beast, seeing its assailant, struck as well, going for a bite to finish the human off. In the end, this was little more than a delay, as the huntsman gripped the beak of the beast with one firm hand, and yanked it forward, throwing the beast off its balance, and onto the floor completely. Using this newfound momentum, the huntsman raised his first again, and smashed it through the bird's skull, ending the beast. The Nevermore screeched its final cry, before turning to ash as well, caking the huntsman entirely. With his foe vanquished, he reclaimed his weapons, and returned to what was left of the roof, blood dripping slowly from him, but not as bad as it previously was. The huntsman reached the rooftop, and again fell to his knees, clutching his chest and uttering low growls and grunts. He clutched a grouping of black feathers together, a gift left by his lost love, his last keepsake of their time, and let out a guttural roar, echoing across the city. The ash from the Grimm had now fully caked and mended his wounds, and his essence, his power, now emanated and flowed through him. He was no longer just a huntsman, was no longer truly human, he was a Hunter. Before moving on from his vantage point, he etched his message to any brave or foolish enough to venture into his dead domain, while it still remained his: "Embrace the Ash, do not fear it."Photo By: KitAy (Flickr) This article came across the newswires recently: Six Fined Over Malaysia Exorcism Death Report. A toddler was killed by six adults who were treating her aliments with a superstitious ritual. They received fines of a few thousand dollars. What surprised me was not the results, but the fact that it was reported, as most of these sorts of crimes seem to go unreported in most countries. Perhaps the lack of publicity is because it’s a factual abject failure of some popular religious belief. I have not been able to find any information on how frequently these sorts of “faith-based” delays in proper medical or psychological attention occur. Death is the worst outcome, but there must be a substantial amount of untold physical and mental injuries being suffered as a result of this phenomenon. Faith Healing is Practicing Medicine Without a License Think about it. In most societies, if you try to practice medicine without a license, you would be fined or go to jail. But if the “medicine” you practice is a religious or superstitious “cure,” you probably won’t be prosecuted. Just look at that most litigious and regulated of countries, America, for an example of this. Faith “healing” is a staple of daytime cable televangelist programs. (My personal favorite, seen some years ago when I was visiting Florida, featured a preacher diagnosing a woman’s persistent constipation as “the devil in her bowels”… I give credit to this preacher for not laughing as he “healed” this woman by purging her of the transgressing demon/spirit/whatever. Being a demon must be pretty boring stuff if the best you can do is clog up someone’s colon. Perhaps we should think of farts as bowel-escaping demons?) For most of us, this is entertainment of a sort (it’s not as good as cat videos on YouTube for me, but I’m partial to cats), but for the true believer, this is the same as medical treatment. And it’s not just in the US, and it’s not just purely religious practices (by which I mean calling on a deity or supernatural agent to effect a healing). I would put Chinese traditional medicine in this category, as well as homeopathy, acupuncture, pyramid power, most herbal remedies, and the plethora of cultural cures and remedies that exist in almost every culture. The reason they all go into the same bucket for me is that they are all sustained and quite often legally protected to some extent by reason of the fact that some people (or even a preponderance of the people) have “faith” that they are efficacious. Why is it “faith”? It’s because there is no real scientific evidence that they actually do much more than a placebo would. Proponents trot out the same stale rhetorical questions such as, “If they weren’t effective, why do so many people use them?”, “Why have they been used for so long?”, “How do you explain that people get better?”, etc. (I lived in Hong Kong for many years, and constantly had this discussion with people who believed in traditional Chinese medicine.) But all these supposed “cures” have all been examined to some extent, and none of them have been proven to be effective. If they had been, then major pharmaceutical corporations would have adopted their use and they would become part of the mainstream medical practice. There is no conspiracy to somehow keep them out of the hands of sick people, especially when their use could make someone a great deal of money if they were proven to be effective. So it’s all a question of “faith” – believing that for which there is no justified evidence. So they are allowed, and in some cases treatments are even paid for by Governments. All this falls under the same rubric; politicians don’t want to rock the boat by criticizing what some people believe. “Faith,” even in the provably absurd, is to be respected. True Believers Live in a World with Real Witches, Warlocks and Demons So much for bogus medicine, but I am not writing about that. I want to talk specifically about exorcism: the belief that physical or mental ailments are caused by supernatural agents that can only be “cured” through an application of spiritual power. Most cultures have believed in some sort of supernatural agency for illness at some point in their history. Until the advent of biology and virology, frankly, there was little other rational explanation, although some people did try to provide non-supernatural explanations and treatments (most books on medical history will give you some horrific examples of this, but Nathan Belofsky’s Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages is quite good, just don’t eat a big meal before you read it…). The thing that strikes you about ancient medicine, and even medical practices up until the recent age, is that quite a few of them were indistinguishable from superstitious practices anyway. Exorcisms fall into two broad categories; those that are caused purely by supernatural agents, and those that are caused by humans (and sometimes animals) invoking supernatural agents or powers, these latter are generally called witches or warlocks. These two agencies have existed in almost every culture, going back to the earliest recorded times where the Sumerians (the people who probably gave us beer and writing, so they can’t be all bad) believed that demons caused disease. But we can’t blame the Sumerians, as cultures with no traceable link to them independently developed similar concepts. Many religions (including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism) acknowledge both possession and witchcraft or magic. However, this is less the case with Islam. Although possession is frequently mentioned in the sahih hadith, the Koran (as far as I know) does not mention possession at all, and Mohammed does not cast out any djinns (although he does have advice about the djinns, which are not really the same as the Christian concept of a demon, as djinns are physical in nature—I’ve never heard of one in a zoo, however, or being interviewed on Al Jazeera). Djinns in the Islamic tradition are physical creatures with free will, created by Allah (God) prior to the creation of humans. The entire 72 surah of the Koran is devoted to the subject of djinns. There is quite a bit of discussion of possession, the evil eye, and witchcraft (in one writing Mohammed himself was afflicted by a spell cast by a Jew; Sahih Muslim 26:5428) in authoritative Islamic literature, however. So it is part of the religious culture, but an argument can be made that since it’s not explicitly mentioned in the Koran, it may not be part of the core teachings of Islam. The same cannot be said for Hinduism (where parts of the Atharva Veda relate to magic) and Christianity and its precursor Judaism, both of which have the existence of witchcraft and possession (much less for Judaism than for Christianity) as an important tenant of their beliefs. There is a line of thought in Judaism that witchcraft is derived from the worship of other gods. (Contrary to most popular belief, Judaism was not monotheistic for most of its early existence, it was merely the belief that there was one god (or gods, as was probably the early case) for the Hebrews, and other gods for other peoples (who may or may not have been as potent as YHWH). This belief system is called henotheism (think about the ten commandments: “No other gods before me,” not “There are no other gods”). Hebrews probably needed to believe that there were other gods, as their own god YHWH, even when carried into battle in his Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4: strange how he needed a box to get around…) could never quite seem to beat those pesky Philistines, who always seem to lose the battle (of course the Hebrews were writing the stories) but never the war, and are still there for the next round. YHWH also had problems dealing with iron chariots…. (Judges 1:19) and he was never quite able to conquer and hand over to the Hebrews all the Promised Land, which was from the Euphrates to the Nile (Exodus 23:31).) We’ve Found a Witch! May We Burn Her? For Christianity, most of the comments about witchcraft are in the Hebrew Bible, including the oft quoted “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18). Some of the villains of the Hebrew Bible were associated with witchcraft (Jezebel (2 Kings 9:22) and Saul (1 Chronicles 10:13), and YHWH even got upset with Jerusalem once because of witchcraft (Isaiah 29:1-16). Witch murder still goes on today, even in developed countries. It’s not part of the law any more in most Western countries, and it’s (thankfully) an infrequent occurrence and is treated as an unjustifiable crime (see BBC News for a case of witch murder in 2012 in the United Kingdom). But it still happens all too frequently in the world at large (check out Live Science). There are still a number of countries where witchcraft is recognized as a serious crime, with punishments ranging in severity up to the death penalty. These cases where witchcraft is a legal crime are usually found in some Muslim countries which practice sharia law and some African countries – and it may be the case that in Swaziland witches by law are not supposed to fly over 150 meters (I don’t know if this report is true or a joke, but it’s funny either way: Swaziland Witches Banned from Flying Over 150 Meters). Can You be a Christian and Not Believe in Demonic Possession? But exorcism, the banishment of demons or djinns from human beings may be the most frequently and widely practiced curative religious ritual (other than praying for healing or miracles). It’s a core part of Christianity, being mentioned 11 times in Matthew, 3 times in Mark, 4 times in Luke, 3 times in John, and 8 times in Acts – and I may have missed some. Most of these exorcisms were done by Jesus himself, or by others acting in his name. I could never understand how people could claim to be Christians and yet say that these “miracles” were somehow an explanation of cures made to primitive people. Jesus could have just healed them, as he did on a number of other occasions without referencing possession, but this is not how the stories are written. So for devout Christians who believe their Gospels, possession is a reality (for which Hollywood is no doubt duly thankful, as horror films about possession are so very popular). And it’s not just Catholics who hold with these practices, many other Christian sects share this belief, though its treatment seems to be more institutionalized in the Catholic faith as set forth in the Rituale Romanum. As I noted before, these charlatans can be seen every day in America making bogus claims before millions (really?) of claimed television viewers. The live performance of many of these ministers are often attended by thousands of people. Even Pope John Paul II (the perhaps soon to be Saint John Paul II) is recorded as having performed three exorcisms during his term as Supreme Pontiff. How to Banish the Demons of Ignorance and Lunacy How does an intelligent society deal with this patent nonsense? On the one hand, a free society should allow people to believe whatever they want, provided it does no harm to others and (in many countries) it is not supported by the State. But here is the rub: a belief in exorcism and its practice does harm people. At least, I would believe that it does. I can’t find any academic research on the topic (send me some if you know of any). But the basic assumption of withholding proper medical treatment in favor of some religious rite should be treated the same way as are parents who withhold medical treatment from their children in favor of the healing powers of prayer (as some Christians believe, most notably some Jehovah’s Witnesses). It’s time to impose stricter punishments on people who falsely claim to have magically healed others, thereby causing them to delay seeking proper medical attention. No doubt, many psychosomatic illness are “cured” by exorcisms, but these cause no harm. So, because of its status as a religious practice we probably cannot seek to outlaw exorcism itself, but by making the penalties for its failure in cases where people are actually sick more rigorous and punitive, we can slowly move towards discontinuing this abhorrent practice in a modern, civilized society. People should be able to sue exorcists for malpractice when it doesn’t work, at the least. That’s the ticket, sic the ambulance chasing lawyers on them. The problem will be getting the politicians to act on this.by Cliff Rold Who can’t enjoy being part of a good cult following? Not the bad kinds of course. Rancid Kool-Aid or white sneakers and astro-projection? Nothing sounds fun about any of that. No, by cult following, what is meant is a good midnight showing of Rocky Horror…discovering Dark City for the first time…being able to compare Marvelman to Watchmen because you were lucky enough to read both… …watching boxing in the United States when Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao aren’t fighting. Boxing, like it or not, is largely a sport based on an avid cult following in the U.S. Inside that fairly large cult following, we find sub-sects all the time. They are born often these days on Facebook, Twitter, and boxing message boards. Take, for instance, what can be called the “Cult of Rigo.” Like the cult of the “Tijuana Tornado” and “Punisher” before it, a notion develops of a man feared universally and avoided by all. Former Cuban amateur God Guillermo Rigondeaux is now a 122-lb. professional titlist. Only 10-0, with 8 stops, Rigondeaux looks as ready for prime time as any ten-fight veteran since Kostya Tszyu. He’s clearly, already, a threat to anyone at Jr. Featherweight. Before some of the best names in and around his class found foes, it was easy for the “Cult of Rigo” to shout to the heavens that their man is THE man. So, now, a serious question: if Nonito Donaire is fighting Toshiaki Nishioka and Abner Mares is fighting Anselmo Moreno… …Who’s ducking Rigondeaux? For now, the “Cult of Rigo” gives way to the broader cult of hardcore boxing fans and will have to wait their turn. It’s not official yet but it’s getting in the direction of contracts and signatures. In a bold move, Showtime and Golden Boy Promotions look like they will go head to head with HBO and Top Rank on October 13th, pitting a serious contest against what some have hailed as the best subscriber-based ‘free’ show of 2012. This isn’t September 15th, where a must-see main event (Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.) is set against what appears a better overall card (headed by Saul Alvarez-Josesito Lopez). No, this is a pair of main events that, on their own, would have striking appeal to anyone who counts boxing as their primary sporting passion. Head to head, they make for a gut wrenching choice. Fights like Donaire-Nishioka and Mares-Moreno may one day produce stars that attract broader attention. The former, paired with a scintillating Brandon Rios-Mike Alvardo Jr. Welterweight war waiting to happen, got a notable article in USA Today just for being planned. For now, they are the gems boxing fans can enjoy outside the mainstream echo. These are the fights we can point to as examples of boxing’s best fighting each other, of the good old days not being so far away after all. And they’ll be on the same night? The quality of the HBO show has been explored in volume already. Mares-Moreno is of equal stock. The 26-year old Mares (24-0-1, 13 KO) is venturing into Carl Froch territory with this one. Since getting his first title shot, Mares has fought Yonnhy Perez, Vic Darchinyan, and Joseph Agbeko (twice). Solid veteran former titlist Eric Morel is what passes for his soft touch before taking on a fighter with a longer cult following than Rigo in Moreno. The 27-year old Moreno (33-1-1, 12 KO) is one of the trickiest fighters in the game, a wispy boxer with great defensive skills, accuracy, timing, and a wicked body attack. He is capable of lulling people into thinking he’s not a fighter and then beats the hell out of guys from the pocket. Vic Darchinyan has had some losses in his career, including to Mares, but only two of them qualify as bad. Donaire gave him one. Moreno gave the other. The Panamanian has defended his WBA 118 lb. title ten times. His lone loss and draw came in 2002 four-rounders. He’s as close to unbeaten as a fighter can be without his “0.” While there have been some split decisions in his favor, the bulk of them were a result of being on the road. How good does a slickster have to be for locals not to rob them? They have to be Moreno good. Can he be good enough to beat a fighter whose fundamental base and all around game is as developed as Mares’s? That’s a question worth finding an answer too. Mares doesn’t do any one thing great, but he’s good at just about everything. He’s shown he can handle a range of styles and find ways to win. If the Mares fight has a red flag, it’s that boxing judges sometimes appear to favor naked aggression over craft, especially when one name is bigger than the other and the audience is contained (see: Brandon Rios-Richard Abril). If Moreno doesn’t win going away, can he win at all? Damn the red flag. These are two upper echelon talents in their prime. This is a fight both men can win, and lose, a pick ‘em. Let’s assume the best man wins period until proven otherwise and hope Russell Mora isn’t officiating (see: Mares-Agbeko I). For fans in love with debating things like pound-for-pound ratings, consider that all four men in the main events on the 13th are involved on some level in those debates. After he defeated Rafael Marquez last year, Nishioka was strongly considered for Ring’s Top Ten. Beating Donaire would make him a slam duck. Mares and Moreno flirt with the top ten in various polls floating around. The winner would be a lock for entry on any list worth reading. Oh, and let’s not forget, while Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank may not always play nice in the sandbox, the night can only create demand for the winners of Donaire-Nishioka and Mares-Moreno to square off sooner than later. Or fight Rigo. Win. Win. Win. It’s easy to complain. It’s easier to be excited. This scribe opined, on the eve of Robert Guerrero-Selcuk Aydin, that if the networks and promoters insist on rampant counter-programming, they needed to make it worth the while of fans sticking by boxing through thick and thin. There need to be nights demanding the possession of a DVR and forcing fans to get offline so as not to spoil one result over the other. Assuming Mares-Moreno is finalized, October 13th is one of those nights. If the choice, given television date scarcity, is between not getting Mares-Moreno or getting it against Donaire-Nishioka, then, hey, make it a long night of boxing and keep the cooler stacked. Is it good business? Maybe not. It’s hard to imagine Mares-Moreno, speculated to be taking place in Las Vegas, drawing as much in the way of live gate as it might without Southern California fans who might have made the drive having a reason to stay home already. HBO’s card is already so anticipated it’s just not going to be overshadowed. That doesn’t mean the options can’t be fun. If fight fans aren’t getting what they want from one show or the other, they are a flick of the remote away from something else they aren’t going to want to miss. Fans with picture-in-picture? They’re just going to be spoiled. Is it October 13th yet? Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene and a member of the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]Recent moves by Realtor and MLS boards have ignited the national conversation about the proper use of real estate listing data in mass-display formats like syndication and Internet Data Exchange (IDX). A variety of innovative approaches to properly transmitting and displaying listing data are being discussed and put into action across the country. The opportunity for a wide-ranging, multimarket experiment into data distribution may be one of the most transformative things to happen to real estate in years. In come the teeth, and the future of listing display begins to appear The impetus for the current rash of procedural changes are the incongruous rule sets for listing display and accuracy that govern agent-generated IDX listings and marketing portal-generated syndication listings. Portals’ popularity and profit margins don’t seem to be affected significantly by data accuracy issues at the moment. Brokers, Realtor boards and MLS boards have stringent rules as to how they are allowed to display real estate listings, but limited ability to control the way syndication portals display them once they’ve been released. Many of these boards have recently decided that they’ll need to bare their regulatory teeth to force downstream marketing to adhere to the same quality data display guidelines that govern the boards’ members. In the past few days we’ve seen some of the most interesting clues as to where real estate listing display will be a few years down the road. A variety of boards have enacted new rules to tighten the reins on the quality of their listings’ display, including limiting their use, or managing the data agreements and delivery from within. The nationwide MLS incubator experiment The Austin Board of Realtors recently pulled the plug on its partnership with syndication conduit ListHub. Brokers or agents will still have the ability to syndicate their own listings directly if they wish, but the board will no longer assist in the process, due to their concerns about a lack of control and accuracy. This move will certainly slow the rate and volume of listings being syndicated to portals, but to what extent we’ll have to wait and see. In a different tactic, North Alabama MLS just developed its own distribution platform for syndication, and set its own rules. They’ve negotiated agreements directly with major national portals to add links back to the original listing, increase listing agent visibility and update the data more frequently with MLS-direct data trumping all other sources. The MLS not only sets the downstream rules for its data, but it holds the keys to independently altering the entire syndication process at the drop of a hat if it sees the need in the future. These moves are fueling wide-ranging conversations within other boards across the country as to how their listings are best promoted. The fractured nature of the real estate industry finally provides an advantage We talk a lot about the lack of consensus and focused strategy within the agent-centric real estate world, and how the distributed, loosely connected broker structure contributes to it. The absence of a unifying hierarchy with administrative clout impedes many of the industrywide efforts at changing course in an expedient fashion. In this instance, however, our separation actually allows us to run a range of exciting, large-scale experiments that most industries would kill for. Boards from across the country can simultaneously take widely divergent steps to attempt to improve the way listing data is displayed. As much as technology eggheads cry for national standards and unified portals, a local real estate market can operate in a vacuum quite efficiently. Each individual real estate consumer is a single-metro buyer. They’re not concerned with what the next state is doing to market their listings. They just want to know what their local real estate market has available. If every major metro’s MLS adopted a different approach to marketing and syndication, we’d get the largest test case we could possibly imagine with real-world results. A test case in every city HAR.com is already succeeding with a public MLS portal and syndication simultaneously. Austin and NAMLS are the two most recently created variations. There are hundreds of MLS organizations, and just as many different ways to approach the marketing of their listings. Consider a Florida MLS restricting syndication to one single portal and negotiating a highly controlled and profitable agreement for doing so. The process could potentially cover the local MLS’s entire operating costs while creating a single efficient marketplace for its consumers to rely upon. A California MLS could test the ability to transfer consumer traffic by going completely dark on syndication and allowing only IDX display. The scrutiny and anticipation in the real estate world would be immense as we watched the traffic numbers ebb and flow between different online listing sources. It would be the syndication critic’s Bethlehem star, and the syndication advocate’s opportunity for a statistical vanquishing of its detractors. Flexibility for unique markets A board in a small market with fewer resources could flip the entire listing entry process, with agents inputting listings directly to a portal and receiving back a feed for their agents to use as IDX. Strict data rules would still govern the process, but the board would take advantage of the portal’s superior engineering capabilities and govern compliance from the syndication level down. While the thought probably makes many brokers shudder, it would be an interesting exercise in focusing on the board’s assets and delegating those tasks that are not its forte. A different board could pull the ultimate wagon-circling and shut down IDX, virtual office websites (VOWs) and syndication, creating the first MLS-run single-location listing market. The SEO experiment would be epic. One single Web page would be the only authorized “for sale” listing on the entire Web for a single home. As the links and social signals found that listing, it might very well dominate the property address long-tail search results. Consumers in this marketplace would certainly not be confused as to where the proper information for a particular listing was to be found. Even a mix of science and competition would be intriguing. The local board could pit marketing portals against one another in a “Survivor”-style analytics battle for the right to display its members’ listings. Portals would be rated every month in terms of how much traffic they provide, how many buyer inquiries are generated for properties, and how accurately and timely their display of those listings was. The board could whittle down its list of syndication partners to a select few that are responsibly and effectively using its data to benefit its members and their clients. In the meantime, it would shed light on the often-overlooked fact that syndication is not simply the big three. Remember that companies like
“throwing bricks and rocks and things” after the mêlée began, but takes no credit for initiating the confrontation. David Carter, Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution pp. 261–2: The question of who gets credit for starting the riots is one that deserves consideration. The question, however, contains a premise: that an individual or group of individuals can be singled out as the prime mover in a complex process that many person s collectively created. This is important for two reasons. First, as John O’Brien pointed out, there was a continuum of resistance ranging from silent persons who ignored the police orders to move to those who threw objects at the police. O’Brien maintains that it was because of those person standing around and blocking the streets and sidewalks and keeping the police from being able to operate efficiently that he and others were able to engage in their tactics as effectively as they did: if there had been only about fifteen youths lobbing objects at the police the young men would have been quickly caught or chased away. Second, I wrote the account of the first night to reflect my understanding of what happened, namely, that until the definitive outbreak of rioting when the police retreated inside the Stonewall Inn, there was throughout the evening both a gradual buildup of anger and, correspondingly, a gradual escalation in the release of that anger. In the course of that buildup there were numerous turning points, some more critical than others. With these qualifications noted, I think it is clear that special credit must be given to gay homeless youths, to transgendered men, and to the lesbian who fought the police.¹⁰ Footnote 10 from above: Charles Kaiser suggested to the author that Stormé DeLarverie (see The Gay Metropolis: 1940–1996 [Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997], p. 198) was this woman, but she could not have been. To cite only a few of the problems with this thesis, DeLarverie’s story is one of escaping the police, not of being taken into custody by them, and she has claimed that on that night she was outside the bar, “quiet, I didn’t say a word to anybody, I was just trying to see what was happening,” when a policeman, without provocation, hit her in the eye (“Stonewall 1969: A Symposium,” June 20, 1997, New York City). DeLarverie is also an African-American woman, and all the witnesses interviewed by the author describe the woman as Caucasian. And here’s what The Gay Metropolis actually says: Several spectators agreed that it was the action of a cross-dressing lesbian – possibly Stormé DeLarverie – which would change everyone’s attitude forever. DeLarverie denied that she was the catalyst, but her own recollection matched others’ descriptions of the defining moment. “The cop hit me and I hit him back,” DeLarverie explained [in Kaiser’s own interview with her on 1995.12.09]. Continuing: Among these, we can name three individuals known to have been in the vanguard: Jackie Hormona, Marsha Johnson, and Zazu Nova. A common theme links those who resisted first and fought the hardest, and that is gender transgression. While we do not know how the lesbian who fought the police saw herself, we do know that her clothing was masculine, in keeping with her general demeano [u] r. We know from Pine’s testimony that the first significant resistance that he encountered inside the bar came from transvestites, and Joel S. places them among the first outside the bar to resist. Marsha Johnson and Zazu Nova were both transvestites, and, as the reader has seen, the street youth were, generally speaking, effeminate men. All available evidence leads us to conclude that the Stonewall Riots were instigated and led by the most despised and marginal elements of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community. My research for this history demonstrates that if we wish to name the group most responsible for the success of the riots, it is the young, homeless homosexuals, and, contrary to the usual characterizations of those on the rebellion’s front lines, most were Caucasian; few were Latino; almost none were transvestites or transsexuals; most were effeminate; and a fair number came from middle-class families. Footnote 11 from that same chapter: It is remarkable – and no doubt inevitable given human psychology – that in the popular imagination the number of transvestites at the riots is always exaggerated. Readers will note that in the [Fred] McDarrah photos of the riots there is one transgendered person [,] and none of the persons I interviewed, some of whom knew her, ever saw her actively involved in the riots. (Note that the McDarrah photographs, which do feature the street youths, were taken late on Saturday night during one of the lulls in rioting, when nothing in particular was happening….) The Ambrosini photo does not show a single transvestite. Craig Rodwell told researcher Michael Scherker that “one of the myths about Stonewall is it was all drag queens. I mean, drag queens are part of what went on. Certainly one of the most courageous, but there were maybe twelve drag queens. In thousands of people.” Transgenders lie about Stonewall in part because they are fundamentally dishonest (about themselves and about human anatomy, to give two examples), but they do it here to establish primacy over the legitimately constituted lesbian and gay community. The way they tell it, we owe them because they bravely instigated the Stonewall Riots that led to actual gay and lesbian liberation. (Even that last part isn’t true just in the U.S. context, as veterans of the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis will attest.) As far as they’re concerned, transgender is the supercategory and we gays and lesbians are mere variations of trans. And Stonewall proves it. Well, all of that is untrue, honey, and nobody’s buying what you’re selling, literally or figuratively.PRESIDENT Barack Obama has retained the presidency in a resounding and historic victory that has left Mitt Romney and the Republican Party in tatters. The Democrat headquarters in Chicago celebrated wildly, while the Republican watch party in Boston was in stunned silence. The President claimed the 270 electoral college votes he needed to win when the key swing state of Ohio, always predicted to tell the story of the election, carried him over the line. Read the full story on Obama's victory here. Here is how the day unfolded. 6.37pm: Finally, here is a little gift the internet gave us: http://didmittromneywin.com/ 6.34pm: Here is President Obama's victory speech: 6.12pm: For those still keeping score, Alaska has gone to Romney. That puts Obama ahead 303 to 206. The last remaining state is Florida, which is leaning towards Obama. If that goes to Obama, he will end up with 332 electoral college votes. 6.08pm: In case you missed it, here is the video of Mitt Romney's concession: 6.04pm: With 83 per cent of all votes counted, Obama is just slightly ahead in the overall popular vote - 53.5 million votes to Romney's 52.8 million. media_camera Filipino WWII veteran Ignacio Palad, 90, flashes the thumbs up sign before a throng of photographers shortly after voting in the mock U.S. elections at a shopping mall at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Filipinos participate in a mock elections between incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Picture: AP 6.03pm: The President's tweet claiming victory, featuring a photo of him with his wife has now been retweeted almost half a million times. media_camera https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/266031293945503744/photo/1 5.59pm: President Obama said he returns to the White House "more determined and inspired than ever". " I believe we can seize this future together." "We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions". media_camera President Barack Obama addresses the crowd at his election night party Picture: AP 5.55pm: "I have never been more hopeful for our future," Mr Obama said. media_camera President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party. Picture: AP 5.42pm: More from Obama: "Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending". "Tonight, you voted for action". media_camera President Barack Obama walks out on stage to deliver his victory speech. Picture: AFP 5.48pm: Obama conceded to that some "political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly." But he paid tribute to those who were working to fight for what they believed in. "That's what politics can be. "It's not small it's big. It's important." media_camera President Barack Obama walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia. Picture: AFP 5.44pm: To his children: "One dog is probably enough" 5.43pm: On Michelle Obama: "I wouldn't be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago." "Michelle, I have never loved you more." 5.40pm: More Obama: "We are an American Nation and we rise and fall as one nation". "We know, in our hearts for America, the best is yet to come". 5.39pm: "The chance of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you," said Obama 5.38pm: The President entered to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered - I'm Yours". 5.37pm: President Obama has taken the stage. 5.30pm: Prime Minister Julia Gillard has offered Australia's congratulations to re-elected US President Barack Obama. Ms Gillard said she looked forward to continuing to work with the Obama administration. "On behalf of the government and people of Australia, I offer warm congratulations to President Barack Obama on his re-election and wish him every success for his second term in office," she said in a statement. "Australia has worked closely with President Obama and his administration over the past four years. "I look forward to continuing this friendship." 5.27pm: Marriage equality campaigners seized on Mr Obama's win as a signal Prime Minister Julia Gillard should follow his lead and support same-sex marriage in Australia. "The re-election of Barack Obama shows Americans clearly respect him for acting on principle and supporting marriage equality, despite his past opposition and regardless of the political consequences," Australian Marriage Equality national convener Rodney Croome said in a statement. "Like Barack Obama, Julia Gillard will benefit by putting the politics of prejudice to one side and taking a principled stand in favour of marriage equality." 5.26pm: More reaction is starting to come from Australia. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young tweeted: "Second term for Obama is great news for the US and peace and security in the world". Acting Prime Minister Chris Evans said the expected continuity of diplomatic and foreign policy to come from Mr Obama's re-election would be welcomed by Australia. "We've been very comfortable and very close to the Obama administration in terms of joint policy... in many areas," he told ABC television. 5.20pm: British Prime Minister David Cameron has congratulated his "friend" Obama on poll win Meanwhile, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy expressed joy at Barack Obama's re-election to the White House. "Very happy about the reelection of President Obama," Van Rompuy wrote in Dutch on his Twitter account. 5.15pm: Obama supporters are finding creative ways to celebrate - such as this animated gif that's doing the rounds at the moment, riffing on a scene from Ben Stiller's Zoolander. 5.10pm: Here is a piece of history. Wisconsin has elected Tammy Baldwin as the first openly gay US senator, sending to Washington a liberal voice who has advocated for peace in the Middle East and greater access to health care. 5.07pm: President Obama is expected to take the stage shortly.His supporters are cheering and singing 5.05pm: Mitt Romney also congratulated President Obama's supporters. "I wish all of them well but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters." media_camera Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd before conceding the presidency. Picture: AFP 4.59pm: More Romney: "Our nation is at a critical point" "Our leaders need to reach across the aisle". media_camera Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives to speak at his campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Picture: AP 4.58pm: Romney has thanked his supporters and his running mate Paul Ryan. He said, with the exception of his wife, "Paul is the best choice I've ever made". 4.56pm: Romney said it was a "time of great challenges for America". "I pray the President will be successful in guiding our nation". 4.55pm: Mitt Romey has taken the stage. 4.52pm: Mitt Romney has conceded in a phone call to Barack Obama and is due to speak shortly. The crowd is chanting "Mitt, Mitt, Mitt" 4.51pm: A different type of election result. Colorado has now legalised marijuana. Read more here. 4.50pm: VIRGINIA has now been called for Obama. 4.49pm: Meanwhile, Fox News commentators are shown on two giant screens, questioning Ohio results. Asked if he believed Ohio was `"settled," guest Karl Rove responded, "No," prompting cheers from the crowds. "I think this is premature," Rove said. 4.46pm: The mood at Romney's headquarters event is grim. Staffers are beginning to trickle in, almost all expressing shock or surprise that so many states had voted for Obama. 4.40pm: Meanwhile the state of Maryland approves same-sex marriage in an open ballot, according to the US TV networks. 4.37pm: Chanting "Four more years!" and "USA, USA!," a crowd of well-wishers danced and celebrated outside the White House after Democratic President Barack Obama swept to re-election. Obama supporters braved the chilly weather to wave US flags, dance and high-five strangers outside the president's official residence. 4.20pm: His reach for the presidency thwarted, Mitt Romney is staying out of sight as news organizations including The Associated Press announced that President Barack Obama had won a second term. Romney staffers almost all expressed shock or surprise that so many states had voted for Obama. The Republican nominee had already written a victory speech and earlier said he had no regrets no matter the outcome. Here's a look at where Romney went wrong plus read more on why some Americans had to wait hours before casting their votes. 4.10pm: Also, Colorado has become the first US state to legalise marijuana. CBS Denver reports: "Amendment 64 supporters were ecstatic at their gathering in Denver when news came down that the amendment passed." Perhaps it's worth checking with them in a few hours to see if they're still on the same high. 4.08pm: The victory tweet and photo of Barack Obama hugging Michelle has been retweeted more than 320,000 times in under an hour. 4.03pm: Federal government frontbencher Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party are among the first local politicians to congratulate Barack Obama on his re-election as US president. Mr Albanese tweeted just moments after the US networks began to call the election for Mr Obama around 3.15pm AEDT. "Congratulations to President Obama! :) #4moreyears,'' he wrote. The ALP's official account followed Mr Albanese's lead a few minutes later. "Congratulations to President Obama and our sister party the Democrats on their enElection2012 win! Our staff are happy!'' 3.52pm: With Obama returned, the Democrats also look set to retain control of the Senate. This is a disappointing outcome all round for the Republican campaign. media_camera Mitt Romney supporters react to the news at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Picture: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images/AFP 3.34pm: Donald Trump's not happy. media_camera http://www.barackobama.com/ 3.17pm: President Obama declares victory on Twitter, tweeting "four more years" along with a photograph of him embracing Michelle. media_camera President Barack Obama supporters celebrate televised reports of his win in Baltimore. Picture: AP/Jose Luis Magana 3.16pm: NBC News just tweeted that it is projecting Obama to WIN re-election and Fox News have called OHIO for the president. OBAMA WILL WIN A SECOND TERM. 3.11pm: The Democrats will retain the majority in the US Senate, CNN projects. There are 51 seats needed to control the Senate, which has been in the hands of the Democrats since 2006. However, 60 votes are needed to break a filibuster in the chamber. That effort unraveled further when Democrats were credited with picking up a Senate seat in Indiana and holding onto Missouri. Republicans in both states, Richard Mourdock in Indiana and Todd Akin in Missouri, became embroiled in pre-election scandals over ill-judged comments about rape and abortion. As we edge closer to a result, see how Americans are reacting in pictures. 3.02pm: Barack Obama wins CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, HAWAII; Romney wins IDAHO, the Associated Press reports. In the popular vote, Romney leads across the country by 1.3 million votes. At this point it looks like many of them are not in the locations that he needs them for those vital electoral college votes. Meanwhile, ABC news correspondent Katie Couric says : "You always remember your first time. Voting that is!. 2.56pm: The Associate Press is calling NORTH CAROLINA for challenger Mitt Romney. 2.52pm: CNN and Fox project MINNESOTA will go to President Obama. 2.50pm: Pictures from the counting rooms and election campaign gatherings show an air of tension and exhaustion. media_camera Supporters of US President Barack Obama watch results broadcast on television during Obama's election night event in Chicago. AFP Picture: Robyn Beck media_camera Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney react to results in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: /Stan HONDA media_camera A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reacts to results on election night in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: TIMOTHY A. CLARY 2.43pm: Election day in the United States has become the most tweeted about event in US political history with enthusiastic netizens firing off 20 million poll-related tweets. Americans have flocked to Twitter and other platforms in a massive social media burst, posting photographic proof they cast their ballots, cheering their favourite candidates along and analysing the latest polls.The number has far surpassed the 10.3 million tweets sent during the first presidential debate last month. Both campaigns have used social media extensively over the past few months to push people to vote and even try and beat the record 2008 turnout, when two-thirds of US voters cast a ballot. 2.37pm: Time for a look at Virginia, where Romney has a robust lead. However, there are some large uncounted precincts which voted heavily Democrat in 2008 that the Obama campaign will be banking on to close the gap. That's why it's still to early to call Virginia at the moment. A CNN analyst just said, too, that if Florida goes to Obama he thinks it's over. 2.35pm: Voters have also been casting ballots on a range of social issues with Maine, Maryland and Washington voting on ballot measures to legalize same-sex marriage, and Minnesota voting on whether to place a ban on gay marriage in the state constitution. Marijuana legalization is on the ballot in Washington, Oregon and Colorado. 2.25pm: Republicans have lost three seats in the Senate, boosting Democratic prospects for keeping control of the chamber. In Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren has beaten Republican Sen. Scott Brown. In Indiana, Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly defeated Republican Richard Mourdock, whose clumsy comment about rape and abortion in the closing days of the race damaged his chances. Republicans also lost a seat in Maine, where the surprise retirement of Sen. Olympia Snowe opened the way for a win by independent Angus Kin. 2.23pm: Obama is ahead in counting of the key seat of Florida. He reportedly leads by 46,000 votes. 2.22pm: Obama is projected to win in the storm-damaged state of NEW JERSEY, while Romney is expected to win in ARKANSAS and MISSISSIPPI. media_camera Hundred of voters wait in long lines to cast their ballots in Miami. Picture: El Nuevo Herald, Pedro Portal 2.20pm: Celebrities across the US took to Twitter with a remarkably consistent and unambiguous election message for their fans: make your voice heard. See what else they had to say here. 2.15pm: Republican Richard Mourdock's ill timed comments on pregnancy and rape have cost him his seat on the US Senate. Associated Press projects that Democrat Joe Donnelly has pulled off the stunning upset in the Indiana Senate race. media_camera Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama attend the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Picture: Spencer Plat 2.13pm: Democrats will win two key U.S. Senate seats in INDIANA and MASSACHUSETTS, CNN projects. 2.08pm: Florida update: Obama is ahead by only 6000 votes. 1.54pm: Obama wins the state of New Hampshire, according to US TV networks which carries four more electoral college votes. Meanwhile, here is the full story story with the latest results from News Ltd US correspondent Paul Toohey. media_camera Supporters of US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney watch polling results on election night in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: Stan HONDA 1.52pm: Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity said he "learned a big civics lesson today," after he tweeted a picture of his filled-out ballot (for Mitt Romney), only to learn that appeared to break the law in New York state. 1.49pm: The top of the latest story filed by News Ltd US correspondent Paul Toohey reads: President Barack Obama is on track to claiming victory. He has won the state of Michigan, and has just claimed Pennsylvania, which the Republicans had made a huge push for in finals days. Full story here. 1.43pm: Networks project Barack Obama will win WISCONSIN. Romney losing Wisconsin would make it difficult to win - but the races are still tight in Florida and Ohio. In the Fox News electoral college tally, it's 153 EC votes each. Strap in, folks. 1.25pm: President Barack Obama is projected to win MICHIGAN, where gratitude for auto industry bailout runs deeply. 1.18pm: A woman has reportedly been barred from entering a polling station because she was wearing an MIT t-shirt. MIT stands for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The polling staff thought it represented a campaign advert for Mitt Romney. Campaign material is not allowed inside polling stations. media_camera People react as a television promoter announce results from the United States elections during a Presidential Election party hosted by the United States embassy and German Telekom in Berlin. Picture: Markus Schreiber 1.04pm: Exit polls surprisingly suggest that most Americans want a lift in taxes to help reduce the nation's enormous debt. In a sign that President Obama's attacks on Romney's proposed tax cuts for the wealthy may have been effecive, almost half said taxes should be raised on Americans earning more than $250,000 a year, and one in seven said all should have a tax hike, political analysis website Politico reported. 12.50pm: Our US correspondent Paul Toohey has meanwhile taken a look at key numbers that will decide who wins this election. He's also taken a look at the early polling numbers in Florida, which look good for Obama. 12.45pm: To Virginia, another key battleground. First, some Virginia trivia - Roanoke in the tobacco-growing state is the scene of this: BORAT sings national anthem - Watch More Funny Videos And back to the voting: Romney has a very strong lead in the early counting. He's currently polling 56 per cent of the vote. This might tighten as more urban booths are counted, but losing Virginia would be a blow to the Obama camp. 12.30pm: There are continued reports of voters struggling to have their ballot register for the candidate they selected. 12.15pm: Polls have closed in 16 states including the populous states of Pennsylvania and Florida, where networks said the race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was too close to call. Florida, with 29 electoral votes in a contest where 270 are needed to win, is the largest US state considered competitive for both candidates. Romney made a late campaign push in Pennsylvania, where polls have shown Obama to be ahead. Polls also closed in battleground New Hampshire as well as Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington, DC. 12.09pm: Let's look at Florida. With 12 per cent of precincts reporting, Obama is marginally ahead by 51 points to 49. Romney has been widely tipped to snare Florida so we'll be watching this one closely. Ohio's exit polls will be worrying for Romney. CNN's exit poll results show the Democrats lead Republicans in turnout 38 per cent to 31 per cent. Ohio is a vital "tipping point" state in the 2012 presidential campaign. 12.06pm: A last minute twitter campaign may have been President Obama's secret weapon. Twitter statistics show a surge in the final hours of the campaign, with #voteObama the top trending topic. None of the top 10 topics were about Romney. 12.02pm: President Obama has said he has two speeches prepared. "You always have two speeches prepared because you can't take anything for granted," Obama told FOX31 Denver. "It's an extraordinary privilege to serve the people, whatever the office... And each and every time I've been reminded that it is the people where power ultimately resides." 12.01pm: Fox News reported its exit polling showed Obama and Romney neck-and-neck in Ohio, the "battleground of battleground states". There are also indications that the race is close in Virginia. A close result in both states would mean a potentially drawn-out count. media_camera Marta Nieto of Miami, makes a phone call after learning that she missed the deadline to cast her ballot. Picture: Wilfredo Lee 11.56am: GEORGIA CALLED FOR ROMNEY (16 votes) 11.49am: AP reports Romney has so far garnered 51 per cent of the popular vote as against Obama's 48 per cent, based on 1 per cent of the nation's tallied precincts. 11.46am: Polls have closed in Ohio, considered the most vital state in the 2012 presidential election. media_camera Rockaway residents wait on line to cast their ballots in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy in the Rockaway neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City. Picture: Mario Tama 11.42am: SOUTH CAROLINA has been called for Romney, giving him 9 votes. 11.38am: AP and Fox News have called WEST VIRGINIA for Romney, giving him 5 votes. media_camera Joyce Fabre' opens stacks of ballots at King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Washington. Picture: The Seattle Times, John Lok 11.33am: In the knife edge US presidential election, there's one more thing to add to the list of potential nightmare scenarios if the election is extremely close: Provisional ballots that aren't counted for days or weeks. Voters cast provisional ballots for a variety of reasons, including failing to bring ID to the polls, not updating voter registration after moving or trying to vote at the wrong precinct. media_camera Voters line up in the dark to beat the deadline to cast their ballots at a polling station in Miami. Florida. PIcture: ilfredo Lee 11.14am: National Public Radio is also calling Georgia and South Carolina for Mitt Romney. "NPR calls Georgia (16 electoral votes) and South Carolina (9) for Romney, tweeted Paul Orzulak, who was a speech writer for Bill Clinton. 11.05am: Some early results are being called by US media organisations, with both CNN and the Associated Press reporting Obama has won the state of Vermont which has three electoral college votes while Romney has won Kentucky which has 8 electoral college votes. Results so far look like this: VERMONT CALLED FOR OBAMA (3 votes) INDIANA CALLED FOR ROMNEY (11 votes) KENTUCKY CALLED FOR ROMNEY (8 votes) Plus take a look at our incredible pictures of Americans going to the polls. 11.01am: Key election day quotes "I think anybody who's running for office would be lying if they say that there's not some butterflies before the polls come in because anything can happen.'' US President Barack Obama admits to some polling day nerves. "Is this the last time you will vote for yourself?'' a pool reporter asked Vice President Joe Biden after he voted in his home state of Delaware. "No, I don't think so,'' the 69-year-old said with a grin, hinting at a tilt for the presidency himself in 2016. . "No, I don't think so,'' the 69-year-old said with a grin, hinting at a tilt for the presidency himself in 2016. "I was just trying to read (the ballot paper) and breathe, read and breathe. That's what I kept telling myself: 'Read and breathe, read and breathe'.'' First-time Chicago voter Galacia Malone, 21, describes how she cast her ballot while in labour. She later gave birth to a baby girl. . She later gave birth to a baby girl. "Please excuse the appearance of this place. Two days ago, it was under two feet (60cm) of water.'' A polling-station worker in Hoboken, New Jersey, apologises to voters for its late opening. The city was hard-hit by superstorm Sandy last week 10.58am: Unlike many kids who get Election Day off from school, the president's daughters, Malia and Sasha, weren't so lucky. They were flying to Chicago after classes with their grandmother. The president's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her family were also joining the Obamas in Chicago. The first family planned to eat dinner together at their Chicago home. 10.52am: With the US election going down to the wire, President Barack Obama made a final plea for votes Tuesday on the Reddit website, where he held a much publicized online chat with the public in August. "I'm checking in because polls will start closing in this election in just a few hours, and I need you to vote," he said on the website - just one of the Democratic incumbent's get-out-the-vote pushes on social networks. "Today we decide what the next four years look like - but only if we show up," he told netizens, complimenting the many tweets and photos posted by his campaign on Twitter and other social networks to push supporters to the polls. media_camera This picture was posted on President Obama's Twitter account. "This guy's counting on you." @BarackObama via Twitter 10.50am: Michelle Obama has taken to Twitter: "All of our hard work these past 18 months comes down to what happens right now. Let's not leave anything to chance." 10.47am: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he feels he has given the campaign his best shot. "I feel like we put it all on the field. We left nothing in the locker room. We fought to the very end, and I think that's why we'll be successful," Mr Romney told reporters aboard his plane on his way to Boston. 10.30am: A CBS exit poll suggests the billions spent on late advertising campaigns may have been in vain. Some 8 per cent of voter said they only made up their mind who to vote for today. A full 79 per cent said they had made their decision before October. media_camera Alvina DeVault takes a moment to contemplate her choices while voting at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, in Lafayette, Indiana. Picture: The Journal & Courier,Brent Dinkut 10.20am: A 25-year-old female voter in Chicago did a double take when she was reportedly given a ballot which listed Abraham Lincoln, according to The Chicago Tribune. But officials say it was simply a sample ballot, designed to show voters how to cast their vote. "It is orange," a Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson said. "If you get handed an orange ballot, give it back." 10.03am: The first polls have closed in the US general elections, with most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky delivering their verdicts. The results from the states are unlikely to be decisive in the election as both are widely expected to vote for Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Indiana, however, has a chance to deliver the Democrats an extra Senate seat after controversial remarks on abortion by Republican candidate Richard Mourdock. 9.53am: US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has reportedly just finished his draft victory speech while on a flight from Pittsburgh to Boston. Romney told an Associated Press reporter: "It's about 1118 words. I'm sure it will change before I'm finished because I haven't passed it around to my family and friends and advisors to get their reaction. But I've only written one speech at this point." 9.50am: While there are reports of voters struggling to get their ballot to count, one Chicago women didn't let going into labor strop her from visiting her local polling station. The Associated Press is reporting that 21-year-old Galicia Malone voted in her first presidential election despite her water being broken and her contractions being five minutes apart. 9.48am: This Republican-themed truck should surely get a prize as a unique marketing tool. media_camera This image was posted on Twitter by fox News' Mike Marza: "Being unloaded outside Romney election night HQ," he tweeted. Fox News anchor Mike Marza posted the image of the Romney/ryan truck being unloaded at campaign headquarters: “Being unloaded outside Romney election night HQ,” he tweeted. 9.44am: A US research firm has calculated some $US6 billion has been spent on the 2012 election campaign. According to an estimate by the Centre for Responsive politics, the two White House rivals spent $US2.6 billion ($A2.5 billion) between them by election day. Much of the remaining money has been spent on Senate and Congress campaigns. In all, the bill comes to $US40 a vote, based on 2008's record turnout, 57 per cent of the voting age population. 9.38am: Reports of computer problems, as well as human ones, drew complaints across America as millions went to the polls. 9.30am: Preliminary results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press show that the presidential election hinges once again on the economy. The survey of voters as they leave polling places shows 6 in 10 voters say the economy is the top issue facing the nation, with unemployment and rising prices hitting voters hard. About 4 in 10 say they think the nation's economy is on the mend, but more say that things are getting worse or are bad and stagnating. About half of voters say the previous president, George W. Bush, shoulders more of the blame for economic challenges than President Barack Obama. media_camera Voters wait in long lines to cast their ballots at Victory Elementary School in Bristow, Virginia. Picture: Karen BLEIER 9.25am: Facebook has posted messages at the top of people's news feeds showing users which friends were voting in the election and urging them to do the same by clicking an "I'm a voter'' button. 9.20am: A study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly a quarter of registered voters had already announced who they cast their ballot for - or planned to - on social networks flooded with "I voted'' posts, clicks and photos. media_camera "I Voted" stickers are displayed atop a ballot box, ready to give to each voter at a polling station used by many college students on the campus of the University of Colorado, in Boulder. Picture: Brennan Linsley 9.18am: "Chrysler gave its entire work force the day off to Vote Today! Let's go! #America," tweeted Chrysler's vice president of design Ralpg Gilles. 9.14am: President Obam told a new Hampshire radio station that while he has seen the Gangnam Style video, he's not sure the song's signature dance moves would be appropriate at the inaugural ball. "I just saw that video for the first time," Obama told local station WZID. "I think I can do that move. But I'm not sure that the Inauguration Ball is the appropriate time to break that out." 9.09am: A judge in the Texas county of Galveston has ordered the polls remain open for one hour and 54 minutes longer than the official poll closing time because of problems with voting machines. The voting machines at all 45 polling stations in the county took longer than expected to calibrate. 9.07am: After landing this afternoon at Pittsburgh International Airport, Mitt Romney walked from his plane to a fence on the edge of the runway. What he saw: a huge crowd gathered in a nearby parking garage to watch his arrival. "That's when you know you're going to win,'' Romney said after waving to the roaring crowd. 9.05am: As the count begins, Aussie journalists covering the US election chat to you about the campaign as the results come in. LIVE from 10am AEST. 9.03am: Twitter has reported people are tweeting how they voted nearly 3000 times a minute. Most tweets have been coming from Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan. In total, the election has been the subject of some 13,000 tweets a minute. Twitter reports 41 per cent of tweets reference Obama, and 23 per cent refer to Romney. Only 10 per cent mentioned both. 8.57am: New Jersey has extended its deadline for email ballots. Overwhelming demand had caused the state's email account set up for the poll to crash, and too-few scrutineers had been assigned to the task to accommodate the method's unexpected popularity after Superstorm Sandy. 8.32am: Social networking giant Facebook is tracking just how many of its users in the US plan to vote. American Facebook users are being asked if they intend to vote in their news feeds, with the responses tracked in real time an added to an interactive map. The map is tracking data on the age and gender of voters as well as the time and location of each voter. media_camera Hostesses stand over galss bowls containing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney buttons at a U.S. election party
to the start of Thursday’s floor session at the Wells Fargo Arena, Sanders’s camp sent a text message to his delegates. “On Monday when Bernie gave his speech to the Democratic Convention, Secretary Clinton’s campaign asked her supporters to be respectful and they were,” it said. “As a courtesy to Bernie, our campaign would greatly appreciate it if you would extend the same respect during Secretary Clinton’s speech.” Many supporters of Sanders arrived in Philadelphia inflamed by the leak of emails late last week showing officials at the Democratic National Committee appeared to be aiding Clinton’s primary campaign and discussing ways to undermine Sanders, the runner-up. The emails were published by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. Spasms of shouting and protest began here on the convention’s opening day Monday and continued the rest of the week. Sanders was even booed at a gathering of his own supporters Monday when he urged them to vote for Clinton. Weaver said the text message sent out before Thursday’s session was an attempt to let people know “it was the campaign’s position that we wanted people to be respectful.” “Ending the convention on a classy note was important,” he said. Save SaveVisual Studio 2012 has fixed a lot of bugs in C++11 features which were present in Visual Studio 2010. Of course, VS2010 was released before the C++ standard was finalised. Now that the standard is final, Visual Studio doesn’t have to follow a moving target, and its compliance with the standard is getting a lot better. This means that you can drop a lot of the workarounds or start using features you’ve previously avoided. Your code can be cleaner and more straightforward. Let’s have a look at some of the bugs which are now history… Lambda bugs Using lambdas in the previous version of Visual Studio required you to tread carefully. 1 One bug in VS2010 was to do with nested lambdas and capturing variables. Consider this code: int power_level = 80 ; vector planes ; for_each ( planes. begin (), planes. end (), [ = ]( JetPlane & plane ) { for_each ( plane. engines (). begin (), plane. engines (). end (), [ = ]( Engine & engine ) { engine. set_power_level ( power_level ); }); }); If I change the capture lists from using the default mode to capturing power_level explicitly, the code will no longer compile in VS2010 because the compiler thinks power_level isn’t accessible to the inner lambda: int power_level = 80 ; vector planes ; for_each ( planes. begin (), planes. end (), [ power_level ]( JetPlane & plane ) { for_each ( plane. engines (). begin (), plane. engines (). end (), [ power_level ]( Engine & engine ) { engine. set_power_level ( power_level ); }); }); The workaround is either to use a default capture mode (as in the original example), or to copy power_level into a local variable in the outer lambda and capture the copy in the inner lambda. 2 Another, more insidious problem occurred due to a combination of storing lambdas in an array and instantiating a type with a constructor in one of the lambdas. This code, for example, resulted in a crash (sometimes): function lambda_array [] = { [] () -> bool { cout << "a" ; return true ; }, [] () -> bool { string s ; cout << "b" ; return false ; } }; lambda_array [ 0 ](); // may cause a crash at runtime Note string s constructed in the second lambda. This is what caused the crash. 3 One more problematic example was a combination of a templated class, a lambda expression and an initializer list. This code didn’t compile in VS2010: template < typename T > struct A { A () : _f ([]( const T & t ) {}) // error here {} function _f ; }; The workaround was to initialize _f in the body of the constructor instead, but it’s no longer necessary. 4 You couldn’t use a static variable in a lambda within a template function: template < typename T > void f ( Iter ) { auto lambda = []() { static typename iterator_traits :: difference_type n ; }; } 5 Yet another bug related to static variables also involved initializer lists: struct Foo { void * ptr ; }; auto str1 = ([]() -> int { static const Foo val = { nullptr }; return 0 ; }()); // internal compiler error auto str2 = ([]() -> int { static const struct Foo val = { 0 }; return 0 ; }()); // fails to compile decltype bugs You could expect a lot of issues with non-trivial uses of decltype. Its current implementation works a lot better. 6 decltype for member types In addition to letting you use decltype to declare variables using the type of a previous variable, the VS2012 compiler has been fixed to allow you to do the same with class member variables: class A { int _m ; decltype ( _m ) m2 ; }; A a ; 7 declval declval is now included, so you have the ability to use classes with no default constructor as decltype expressions: class A { private : A (); }; decltype ( declval < a > ()); // compiles OK You should no longer need to roll your own declval. 8 Comma operator in decltype expressions As you probably know, if you want decltype to yield a reference type, you need to put the argument expression in parentheses: int a = 10 ; is_reference < decltype (( a )) >:: value ; // evaluates to true However, before VS2012, if your expression included the comma operator, decltype failed to return a reference type. This is now fixed: is_reference < decltype (( a, a )) >:: value ; // also evaluates to true unique_ptr bugs 9 You could compile this code in VS2010: unique_ptr < JetPlane > p ; JetPlane jet ( "Boeing 737" ); p ( & jet ); The last line invoked the deleter and in this instance caused a crash. The standard doesn’t define operator() for unique_ptr, however in the VS2010 implementation unique_ptr derived from empty deleters to take advantage of the empty base class optimization, thus exposing the deleter’s operator(). This is fixed in VS2012 by using private inheritance to prevent the empty deleter’s function call operator from being part of the unique_ptr interface. tuple bugs 10 It was possible to store function pointers in a tuple, but it wasn’t possible to use make_tuple to store a reference to a function. In theory, a tuple can be constructed manually to store a function reference, but that didn’t work in VS2010: make_tuple ( & get_radar_data ); // returns tuple <RadarData ()(int)> tuple < void ( & )( int ) > tuple_func_ref ( f ); // supposed to compile but doesn't 11 VS2010 didn’t have the tuple_cat template to concatenate tuples, so you couldn’t do this: auto t = tuple_cat ( make_tuple ( 1, string ( "two" )), make_tuple ( 3.0, string ( "four" ))); get < 3 > ( t ); // returns the string "four" Both of these issues have been rectified. bind bugs 12 Since lambdas are essentially function objects, it should be possible to use them with bind. However, bind relies on the result_of template to figure out the return type of function objects. VS2010 has a pre-C++11 implementation of this template which can’t evaluate the return type of lambdas, and it made lambdas impossible to use with bind. The workaround is to wrap a lambda with std::function and then pass it to bind. 13 The VS2010 implementation of bind didn’t allow the use of move-only types, so you couldn’t write this: unique_ptr < string > up ( new string ( "abc" )); auto bound = bind ( & string :: size, move ( up )); bound (); In VS2012, you can combine bind with lambdas and move-only types to your heart’s content. emplace member functions 14 emplace()/emplace_back()/emplace_front() are intended to construct elements in place instead of moving/copying an object into the container, and they are supposed to take arguments for the element’s constructor rather than the element itself as a parameter. However, due to the lack of variadic templates, Visual Studio 2010 provided these functions with non-standard signatures, merely as synonyms to the insert and push_ operations. With Visual Studio 2012, these functions became useful (although they still support a limited number of arguments): vector < pair < int, string >> pairs ; pairs. emplace_back ( 10, "ten" ); pairs. emplace ( pairs. begin (), 0, "zero" ); unordered_map < int, string > hash ; hash. emplace ( 10, string ( "ten" )); to_string/to_wstring 15 to_string()/to_wstring() overloads for types other than long long, unsigned long long, and long double were missing, causing ambiguity if you tried to pass these functions an int or a double. Type traits bugs 16 The type_traits library had quite a few issues with rvalue references. is_rvalue_reference failed when passed either an lvalue reference or an rvalue reference to a function: is_rvalue_reference < int ( & )( int ) >:: value ; // true, but should be false is_rvalue_reference < int ( && )( int ) >:: value ; // false, but should be true is_reference returned the wrong value when passed an rvalue reference to a function: is_reference < int ( && )( int ) >:: value ; // false, but should be true is_function and is_object couldn’t handle rvalue references: is_function < int &&>:: value ; // doesn't compile is_object < int &&>:: value ; // doesn't compile Other VS2010 type properties templates also had problems with rvalue reference support: is_const < const int &&>:: value ; // doesn't compile (should be false) is_volatile < int &&>:: value ; // doesn't compile (should be false) is_volatile < volatile int &&>:: value ; // doesn't compile ( should be true ) All of these issues have been rectified. 17 When both arguments of common_type are the same type which is char, unsigned char, short or unsigned short, the result of common_type was incorrectly evaluated to be int: common_type < short, short >:: type ; // yields int but should be short This is no longer a problem. In VS2010, common_type only worked with precisely 2 arithmetic types instead of 1 or more types (presumably because of the lack of variadic templates). Now it works with 7-12 types, depending on compiler settings. 18 is_trivial and is_standard_layout templates were synonyms for is_pod in VS2010, which isn’t correct, and as a result the queries in the following example produced wrong results: struct Trivial // trivial but not standard-layout { int a ; private : int b ; }; struct StandardLayout // standard-layout but not trivial { int a ; int b ; ~ StandardLayout (); }; is_trivial < Trivial >:: value ; // false, but should be true is_standard_layout < StandardLayout >:: value ; // false, but should be true 19 A lot of type property templates were missing in VS2010 and have been added to VS2012: is_trivially_copyable is_literal_type is_constructible/is_default_constructible/ is_copy_constructible/is_move_constructible is_assignable/is_copy_assignable/is_move_assignable is_destructible is_trivially_constructible/is_trivially_default_constructible/ is_trivially_copy_constructible/is_trivially_move_constructible is_trivially_assignable/is_trivially_copy_assignable/ is_trivially_move_assignable is_trivially_destructible is_nothrow_constructible/is_nothrow_default_constructible/ is_nothrow_copy_constructible/is_nothrow_move_constructible is_nothrow_assignable/is_nothrow_copy_assignable/ is_nothrow_move_assignable is_nothrow_destructible has_virtual_destructor 20 The sign conversion templates weren’t very well behaved in VS2010. make_signed lost const and volatile qualifiers in all unsigned to signed type conversions: make_signed < const unsigned char >:: type ; // type is char, const lost make_signed < volatile unsigned int >:: type ; // type is int, volatile lost // type is int, both const & volatile lost make_signed < const volatile unsigned long >:: type ; make_signed converted some integer types incorrectly (although the result types happen to use the right number of bytes for storage): make_signed < unsigned long >:: type ; // VS2010 converts to int instead of long make_signed < signed char >:: type ; // type is char, but should be signed char Similarly, make_unsigned converted long to int, and lost const and volatile qualifiers (in signed to unsigned conversions in this case). 21 underlying_type for determining the underlying type of an enum wasn’t available. unordered_set 22 Instead of specifying the number of buckets, you should be able to specify the expected number of elements with reserve(), however this wasn’t implemented: known_size. reserve ( 100 ); // compile error make_exception_ptr 23 Instead of providing make_exception_ptr() to create an exception_ptr that refers to a copy of the function’s argument, VS2010 provided non-standard copy_exception() to perform the same job. The logical question to ask after all this is… Is Visual Studio 2012 C++11 support totally bug free? The answer is no. Visual Studio 2012 still has bugs in C++11 features (luckily, most of them can be worked around). There isn’t much overlap between VS2010 and VS2012 though - the bugs are mostly different. I’m hard at work on the VS2012 edition of C++11 Rocks. The first 13 chapters are already available. With this book, you can quickly learn all the intricate details of the C++11 features available in Visual Studio 2012 - bugs and all.Whenever we consume a new cannabis edible or tincture, the only thing we know for sure is that we don’t know what to expect. Is this going to knock us on our asses for the day or will we need to smoke some flower in an hour? Unfortunately, the level of precision in dosing remains elusive for most cannabis treatments, especially those made by patients at home. Those familiar with cannabis and in the know about one of its most wonderful attributes (there is no lethal dose!) understand that over-consuming doesn’t carry the dangers present with other pharmaceuticals. Clarity and consistency in dosing is, however, critical to allowing patients to have reproducible (and therefore legitimized) treatment, especially where the patient is seeking cannabinoids solely for a medical purpose or the goal is to medicate as little as possible to be effective, as in the case of children. MCR Labs’ quest to arm patients with the data they can use to achieve greater accuracy began with the development of a dose calculator patients can use to quantify the amount of cannabinoids present in a given cannabis product; the first step towards accurate administration. Experiments to hone in on the rate of THC consumption during vaporization gave further ammunition to patients who want and deserve to know the science behind the delivery methods. Aside from inhalation methods including vaporizing and smoking, patients are increasingly incorporating cannabis into their health regime using edible extracts. Whether a butter, oil, tincture, or salve, these medicines are created by transferring the cannabinoids from the plant into a secondary medium which can then be incorporated into food, smoked, or used topically or sublingually. While extractions are popular with patients and have myriad uses, they are subject to the problem of accurately quantifying the amount of medicine in each dose. Even where the patient knows the cannabinoid profile within the starting plant material, once the solvent is introduced, it often becomes a guessing game when attempting to dose with the results. While lab testing is one concrete way to uncover the answers, patients can guide their medicine production and understand the science behind extract dosing by considering and incorporating these formulas MCR has prepared. A general outline in preparation of tinctures is: Weigh out known amount of cannabis flower (m grams) Decarboxylate as desired Add c fluid ounces of a solvent – everclear or vegetable oils are best Let sit for an hour, stir occasionally. Heat generally increases solubility. To generally understand how cannabinoids absorb into a solvent, consider the following, which assumes a starting flower of 15% potential THC, and full extraction into the solvent: m = The amount of starting plant material in grams of bud c = fluid ounces of solvent (the olive oil, glycerin, everclear, or other fat/alcohol used as the extraction medium) r = milliliters of the final product the patient plans to use as a dose L = mg of THC when using the following formula: 2.5(m/c)r = L If MMJ patient Susie were to use 5 gms of plant with 2 ounces of liquid, and plans to take 5ml (1 teaspoon) of medicine as each dose, she would expect to get 31 mg of THC with a full extraction: 2.5(5/2) 5 = 31 Susie could also use this version of the formula if she was looking for a specific dose. If Susie wanted a 20 mg dose, she can use this formula to inform her of the amount to take: R = (0.4Lc)/m In Susie’s case, R = (0.4202)/5 = 3.2 mL So using the same amount of plant and solvent but seeking a 20 mg dose she would take 3.2 ml of the formula. These simple calculations are aimed to provide guidance to the cannabis home chemists, and food for thought to those just beginning to encounter extracts. Be sure to read through the advanced notes directly below for some deeper issues to consider when thinking about accurate cannabis dosing: 1) The formula assumes a 15% potential THC as a middle ground number, but obviously the potency of bud varies widely from 5% to over 25%. If the patient knows the potency of your bud is p, the formula may be amended to include p for increased accuracy: 17p(m/c)*r = L 2) The formula assumes 100% extraction efficiency of the cannabinoids into the solvent. The actual extraction efficiency will depend on the solubility of the cannabinoid into the extraction medium and the extraction process. One bedrock principle to remember for eternity is that cannabinoids are not water-soluble. Even 40% ethanol (vodka) will contain enough water to impact extraction efficiency. The best way to find your extraction efficiency is to test your tincture and raffinate (left-over bud after straining), or in the absence of the ability to test, choosing a solvent with a very high fat or alcohol content (no, glycerin is not a good solvent for cannabinoids). 3) The “potential THC” referenced in the formula includes THCA (the acidic form present in the raw plant) and the active THC that results from decarboxylation. Learn more about decarboxylation here. For a nice decarboxylation tool, check out the Maximizer. Big thanks to Shanel Lindsay, of Ardent, for coauthoring this post!While waiting for the James Franco-Seth Rogen film The Interview to show up in some theaters on Christmas Day, let's construct a North Korean farce of our own using material in which Pyongyang burlesques itself. There's promising source material in this (U.K) Telegraph story set in a community of some 700 North Korean refugees (mostly defectors) who have congregated in a part of Surrey called New Malden. The area is home to some 20,000 South Korean immigrants, who employ the northerners in their factories, shops, restaurants, and warehouses. At the center of the Telegraph's account is one Joo-il Kim, a former army captain who defected in 2007. Mr. Joo-il runs an anti-regime tabloid, Free NK, whose offices are "stacked with crates of noodle cup-a-soups and a karaoke machine." Free NK adheres to the traditions of the British tabloid by mixing its stories about the horrors and absurdities of Kim Jong-un with headlines like, "British man speaks fluent Mandarin after waking up from coma." Joo-il assumes he's being monitored by North Korea's diplomats, who have an embassy not far away. Indeed, Joo-il sometimes runs into these diplomats when they're shopping in the supermarket located in his office's building. "When I saw them in the grocers, they didn't have enough cash for what they wanted," he told reporter Colin Freeman. "I offered them to lend them some but they said 'no'. To be honest, I actually feel sorry for them. Back in North Korea, we would have to look up to these people, but over here it seems they can't even afford to eat." That, as they say, is too good to check. A defector—whose relatives at home may have been harshly punished by the regime because of his actions—offering to lend money to the sad-sack representatives of that same regime because they've been left broke. It's like something out of old dissident lit from Eastern Europe. Czech writers like Ludvik Vaculik (A Cup of Coffee with My Interrogator) or Bohumil Hrabal or Josef Skvorecky would have recognized the interplay of tyranny and pathos. We can hang the burlesque on either. Why these diplomats are penniless is the subject of another, overlapping Colin Freeman story that appears in the same issue of the Telegraph. Pyongyang, he writes, expects all North Korean embassies to be "self-financing." The result is that North Korean officials in other countries have been "arrested for using their diplomatic status to run bootlegging and drug-dealing rackets." An impressive case occurred in 1976, when the North Korean embassy in Denmark tried to import 2.5 million cigarettes "for personal consumption." That's sufficiently burlesque already, no? Plus, just as the Eastern European writers—especially Skvorecky—often used jazz scenes in their dissenting work, our New Malden script has a potential soundtrack of its own: the place is apparently full of karaoke bars. The rest of the script should be mere typing; it writes itself, playing out against a background of subversive capitalist lounge music. Hollywoodize away: tangential love interests to pad things out, defections (and re-defections) real and pretended, an overplayed revenge scene, an ear-splitting chase, maybe even some topical hacking (Joo-il believes his paper was hacked by Pyongyang eight months ago), etc. Roll credits. Since we're trying to rise to the level of film-industry quality, don't skimp on the butt jokes. Bear in mind that Joo-il Kim's personal story, however, is no joke. Back home, his niece died in a famine (along with millions of others), and he doesn't know whether the rest of his family is dead or alive; they may have been imprisoned or executed as a result of his defection. He says he was ready to kill himself during his escape rather than face capture. As far as he's concerned, "life in New Malden is just unimaginably better"than is life in North Korea. By the way, while there are 700 North Koreans in New Malden alone, the U.S. admitted only 122 North Korean refugees between 2004 and 2011, and only 25 of those were granted asylum. Apparently, there's been some confusion regarding the status of refugees, since most are quickly granted South Korean citizenship, and may or may not remain eligible for asylum in the U.S. Others intentionally avoid South Korea. Joo-il Kim, for example, was afraid that if he ended up in either South Korea or the U.S., his family would face the most severe reprisals, as they may have anyway. Hat tip: Michael Jennings at Samizdata.Before falling victim to the massive breach of federal employee records announced last month, the Office of Personnel Management’s inspector general had repeatedly raised red flags about the agency’s outdated security practices. OPM stored most of its data on uncertified systems and failed to implement multifactor authentication on any of its systems, which would have made it more difficult for hackers access sensitive data. But the “greatest failure” at OPM? That would be the lack of a “comprehensive governing policy” for cybersecurity at the agency that would have proactively controlled system access and mandated regular patches and upgrades. That’s according to the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, which published an analysis last week of the OPM hack. Members of the nonprofit say they plan to circulate the 29-page brief, titled “Handing Over the Keys to the Castle: OPM Demonstrated that Antiquated Security Practices Harm National Security,” on Capitol Hill and among federal chief information officers. The OPM breach has been the subject of extensive media coverage, painstakingly describing every detail of the agency’s inadequacies, proposing mitigation options and attempting to pin down responsibility, according to the brief. However, "very little focus has been dedicated to learning from this calamitous event and proactively utilizing that information to prevent such occurrences in the future,” the study stated. OPM is far from the only agency that has struggled to remediate well-known cybersecurity gaps called out by auditors, according to the report. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 6,000 outstanding security risks, and the Transportation Department doesn’t have sufficient system level controls. “The single most significant recommendation that agencies like OPM could heed is to actually listen to the advice of the inspector general and do everything within their power to meet or exceed regulatory measures,” the report stated. Another key takeaway? Cyberthreats are advancing far faster than the aging security model -- known as defense-in-depth -- agencies rely on. So-called advanced persistent threats increasingly tailor sophisticated intrusions to specific victims or organizations. “Novel malware can bypass detection, avoid run-time analysis and prevent post-incident traces in a number of ways undetectable to current defense-in-depth norms,” the report stated. The report added, “it is as effective as trying to stop a laser pointer with a chain link fence." Relying only on antiquated cyber defense systems, such as firewalls and antivirus programs, should be replaced by more innovative programs that can adapt and respond to the specific situation at hand. The brief recommended agency cyber personnel institute a user behavioral analytics system, which creates a baseline profile of a user and detects and reports anomalous behavior. Some of the measures agencies need to take now are not all that high tech. “Training remains the easiest and best strategy to mitigate adverse effects of the OPM breach such as insider threats, spear phishing emails, social engineering or future breaches,” the report stated. Although President Barack Obama recently called for a 30-day sprint to improve governmentwide cybersecurity performance, it seems unlikely agencies can solve in a month a problem that’s been festering below the radar for years. “Without a sudden, significant influx of funding, most agencies cannot accomplish much within this time constraint,” the report stated. (Image via lolloj/ Shutterstock.com)“Operation Extra Olives”: Five employees of a Sammamish pizza chain restaurant were arrested early Friday on investigation of felony drug crimes, police say. When detectives swabbed their workplace, cocaine residue was found on a variety of surfaces, including the cash register. Cocaine residue was found on the cash register and other surfaces inside the Papa John’s Pizza in Sammamish on Friday after detectives arrested five employees on felony drug charges following a months-long investigation, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. In December, someone tipped off the Sammamish Police Department that employees of the takeout-and-delivery pizza chain were selling drugs at work and using the Papa John’s parking lot to complete drug transactions, according to a Friday news release issued by sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West. Undercover detectives were sent to the business at 721 228th Ave. N.E. as part of an investigation dubbed “Operation Extra Olives,” West wrote. They managed to buy drugs from two employees; one employee eventually introduced a detective to other drug dealers in Sammamish and Bellevue, and detectives were able to buy drugs from those dealers, too, according to West. Around 6 a.m. Friday, sheriff’s officials along with members of the Sammamish and Bellevue police departments executed four search warrants and arrested four employees, ages 18 to 26, the news release said. A fifth suspect, an 18-year-old, turned himself in to Sammamish police later in the day, the release said. The search warrants were served at residences in the 15100 block of Southeast Newport Way in Bellevue and in the 100 block of 242nd Way Southeast and the 1500 block of 204th Avenue Northeast, both in Sammamish, as well as at the Sammamish Papa John’s location, according to the release. Detectives seized $28,000 in cash, a vehicle and a veritable smorgasbord of drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, Oxycodone, LSD and methamphetamine, the release said. At Papa John’s, detectives swabbed a variety of surfaces to test for drugs and found cocaine residue on the cash register and “sanitary wash areas” inside the business, West wrote. Public-health officials were called in and worked with Papa John’s on cleanup procedures, the release said. Sammamish police detectives later re-swabbed food-preparation areas and found no cocaine contamination, it said.Given the cost of losing great employees (and hiring and training new ones), employee retention is a major issue for businesses of all types and sizes. In fact, lost mid-range employees -- those earning $30,000 to $50,000 a year -- cost 20% of their annual salary to replace. And it's gets more expensive, the higher you go up the ladder. For highly educated executive positions, the cost of turnover can be up to 213% of the annual salary. Obviously we have a lot of tangible and compelling reasons to keep our employees happy, productive and profitable. So when you discover that your company is experiencing a high turnover rate, you need to get to the bottom of it. You need to stop the bleeding. Last August, a Gallup poll pointed to one overwhelming reason employees quit their jobs: to get away from their manager. "People don't leave jobs, they leave managers," the WSJ announced. And it's true. In their poll of 7,200 American adults, Gallup discovered that about half had left a job at some point in their life to get away from a manager they didn't like. Communication was pegged the most influential factor in whether an employee got on with their boss or not. Now, you would think that if good employees leave jobs over bad managers, the opposite must then be true, right? You might think it makes sense that if you're a great manager, you'll have no problem keeping your best employees. But you would be wrong. New research from the University of Illinois shows that even great leadership doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to stop your most amazing people walking out the door. In a new paper entitled Boundaryless LMX: Examining LMX's Impact on External Career Outcomes and Alumni Goodwill, researchers Sumita Raghuram et al found that employees leave good and bad bosses at about the same rates. Two of the study's authors, Ravi S. Gajendran and Deepak Somaya, shared their findings in a recent HBR column. They explained: "What we discovered was surprising. Good leadership doesn't reduce employee turnover precisely because of good leadership." Wait a second... so being a good leader still means employees are going to leave you? What gives? "Supportive managers empower employees to take on challenging assignments with greater responsibilities, which sets employees up to be strong external job candidates. So employees quit for better opportunities elsewhere--better pay, more responsibility, and so on," the researchers concluded. They also note that employees who liked their bosses tend to think more positively of their former employers, so good leadership is still an important tool for goodwill. That goodwill can result in opportunities and productive relationships in future. So if being a great manager won't help you keep your best employees, what will? Reduce the impact of toxic people in the workplace by better managing them, or getting them out of your ranks. Make your workplace a fun, stimulating place for employees to be at their best (Barbara Corcoran shares a few of her best tips for creating happy workplaces here).Eurostar has begun rolling out newly refurbished trains and it looks like the makeover is on the right track. One rail expert described the new interiors - on 21-year-old trains - as 'unrecognisable' and declared that 'passengers will think it's a brand new train'. New features include free WiFi, seatback mirrors and glowing drink holders. Scroll down for video There is also double the space for wheelchair users, Wi-Fi, and an 'infotainment' package The colour scheme throughout the refurbished trains is predominantly grey Out with the old: The current interior of a Eurostar train Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Mark Smith, who runs the rail blog The Man In Seat 61, said: 'It's no mere changing of the seat covers - the train has been stripped back to the bare metal and given an entirely new interior. 'Most passengers will think it's a new train - far brighter and lighter than before. 'It also sorts out what's been missing and what people say they want: free WiFi in all classes and power sockets at all seats - indeed, USB points too in first class (previously only cars five and 14 had sockets in standard class). 'And baby changing facilities through the train not just in extreme end cars one and 18. And there are a few interesting touches: illuminated drink holders and seatback vanity mirrors in first.' Mr Smith, whose website is named after his favourite seat number, 61, on the e300, posted his thoughts on Twitter when he first checked out the refurbished trains back on September 3. 'Internally it's unrecognisable - most passengers will think it's a brand new train,' he wrote. 'Superb job!' The first refurbished e300 (right) set out from London to Brussels in Belgium The e300s have been redesigned with a new exterior livery as well as sleek interior finish Eurostar listened to passengers and increased the number of solo seats in first class WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN REFURBISHED E300S - Power sockets in all coaches - USB charger in first class coaches - Passenger information screens - Double the capacity of wheelchair spaces - WiFi compatibility and infotainment (which will go live later in the year). He added: 'Car numbers displayed inside, illuminated seat numbers. Power sockets at all seats. Big step forward.' He goes on to describe the at-seat USB and power charging points as 'handy,' and that there are a mixture of socket types to suit travellers from different European countries. Designed by the world-renowned Italian design house Pininfarina, the remodelled trains, part of a £1billion project that includes the introduction of new 200mph trains, have been given the name e300. The interior colour is predominantly grey and there are now more solo seats in first class. WiFi 'infotainment' is due to go live later this year, according to Eurostar. Stylish: One expert who's seen the refurbished carriages first hand said it was like being on a 'new train' The old Eurostar buffet car, which some may say is now showing its age A power socket is provided on every seat throughout the new trains, while there is also illuminated seat numbers and call assistance The refurbished train even features illuminated drinks holders (pictured) in first class Mark Smith, whose runs The Man In Seat 61 train blog, was impressed with the refurbishments The refurbished e300 now in service will operate to both Brussels and Paris from London. It will be a rostered service, which means riding in the new-style train will be luck of the draw. In November last year Eurostar celebrated the 20th anniversary of its services running between London and the continent. WHAT YOU WILL GET IN THE DIFFERENT SEAT CLASSES Standard class coaches have a brand new colour scheme and a host of new features: Ergonomically designed reclining seats with a stitched fabric retro feel Extendable seat cushions UK and Continental power sockets at every seat Redesigned tables that fold in and out without the fuss of having to remove belongings first Repositioned luggage racks inside the coach -that way, passengers can board right away without queuing at the door, and keep luggage close by New above seat displays to show which seats are free Touch-free glass doors that open automatically - perfect for when you're carrying luggage or a glass of bubbly from the bar buffet. New bright white and fresh toilets. Look out for brand new features like touch-free taps and a baby changing table in every second toilet. Standard Premier Standard Premier has a fresh new colour scheme and a truly intuitive new design. At every seat there is a power point and USB socket, as well as a mirror, device holder and individual reading light. Extra storage and a slimline table give passengers space to spread out and work or stretch out and snooze. Business Premier Business Premier has been entirely refreshed, with a new colour scheme– we’ve even rolled out the red carpet for you. Everything from a cupholder to a coat hook and a power point, including a USB socket, is integrated into the seat. There’s also a mirror, a seat pocket designed to hold a laptop and an individual reading light. As part of a £1billion project, Eurostar has refurbished a number of its e300 trains The refurbished e300 now in service will operate to both Brussels and Paris from London There are many new things too look forward to, but it will be luck of the draw for passengers to end up on one of the new-designed carriages There were just two trains a day when the service started - there are now between 15 to 17 daily services to Paris. The original London to Paris journey time when Eurostar started was two hours and 50 minutes. That was cut to two hours and 35 minutes after the first section of high speed line was built in Kent in 1998, and then two hours and 15 min following completion of the high speed line in 2007. By the end of next year, travellers will be able to make the 306-mile trip to Paris through the Channel Tunnel in just two hours, thanks to the 200mph trains, called e320s.President Trump meets with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Screenshot from White House video) (CNSNews.com) – President Trump expressed optimism Wednesday that he may succeed where predecessors have failed in mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, even as visiting Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas recited the same list of positions rejected by Israeli governments in
Caitlin and Cisco about his Harrison Wells suspicions on the chance that they might be the bad doctor’s accomplices. (Joe is not all about the trust this week.) A heart-to-heart with Felicity (who, after all, assisted Oliver Queen in some shady matters even before she knew he was the Arr0w) convinces Barry to show them his murder board (and supplemental Harrison Wells board), but while Cisco is a believer, Caitlin is more reluctant. As this scene comes at the very end of the episode, the matter is unresolved, and in retrospect the entire episode plays like a stalling tactic, with the real fireworks saved for next week. It’s always nice to have visitors from out of town, but once they leave you may realize you didn’t actually accomplish much while they were around. Stray observations: Cisco is having flashbacks to something that never happened to him in this timeline. So I guess these are flash-sideways? Please tell me the season doesn’t end with everyone meeting up in purgatory. “Wow. So everybody but Iris.” Eddie says what we’re all thinking. “Is that a bird?” “It’s a plane.” “It’s my boyfriend.” Well, they can’t all be winners.As a new technical lead in a new company, what are some additional strategies to employ to change the culture of the development team so that people show up at the time that I've requested? TLDR: My team doesn't show up on time. I've tried to compel them and it isn't working. Background Data: Small company, 30 employees, 5 members of my team. The previous lead is still on staff as a regular developer. The culture prior to my arrival was one of informality with no set boundaries or core hours. This culture was not challenged by the corporate leaders. Most people on the team would show up between 10:30 and 11:00 because of this. Other departments, due to the nature of their work, have set start times of either 8 or 9. This discrepancy and unpredictability causes a lot of angst between my department and other departments. As such, I sat the team down and specified a 'no later than' time of 9:30. I explained my reasoning and I explained the benefits of such a scheme and the negatives of the current scheme. It was a long and contentious conversation and 3 of the 5 people on the team were quite displeased. Needless to say, people aren't showing up on time (and 9:35 is not on time.) I've scheduled our daily standup meeting at 9:30 as an added motivator. Knowing that it takes a little bit of time to transition start times (with commute, etc...) I initially would wait to begin the meeting until everyone showed up, but now I just start the meeting (and often finish the meeting) with whomever is present. That seems to not be making a difference either and it's making the team less cohesive. Conversations on an individual and group basis yield the same results as the original conversation (i.e. they don't see the value, think I'm taking away a perk of the job, etc...) I have the full support and backing of the senior management team and am empowered to employ whatever devices I feel appropriate to get this taken care of. My current next step is to send someone home and make them take the day off. Is that too drastic? Are there alternative strategies that I'm overlooking that could help me solve this problem? Edit based on questions in Jarrod's answer How new of a technical lead? 6 months, at this company, at the time of this question. Why are you imposing purely non-technical managerial policies? It is in the scope of my position as defined by executive management. What are your management credentials? 10 years experience as a technical lead. No formal education or certification in anything managerial. What previous personnel management experience do you have? I have been a technical lead for 10 years. I've been responsible for hiring/firing/interviewing/reviewing/leading/building a few different technical teams. Have you earned the respect of the team in a technical manner? Yes Have you earned the respect of the team in a managerial manner? I was interviewed for technical and managerial ability by the team. I was clear and straightforward about how I like to run technical teams and how I like to run projects (with the obvious caveat that that is just a starting point and culture and personnel ultimately influence where I land.) There are many things, from a managerial perspective, that the team is quite happy with. Did the previous technical lead step down? Yes. Was the previous technical lead demoted? No. It was his request. Was the previous technical lead effective? For a time. But, growth of the company and the codebase made his style ineffective. Does the majority of the existing team have a more personal relationship with the previous technical lead? Yes. Is the previous technical lead effectively still in charge? No. Then [the previous culture of informality with no set boundaries] must have been working? It worked for a time, when the company was still a startup. It has grown and evolved well beyond the startup phase and, due to that growth, is not nearly as effective as it once was. Especially as other departments have introduced a bit more formality and predictability. Was the team successful in delivering useful products when promised? At the beginning. But, as the company and the product grew, quality and delivery times slipped significantly. Doesn't sound like you even considered or explored some kind of compromise with your team or the external teams based on their negative feed back. Did you? Of course I have, I'm not a rookie. The fact of the matter is, I respect the fact that the rest of the company works in an inflexible box due to the nature of their responsibilities. The team was unwilling to compromise on their flex time and, in many cases, the other departments are unable to compromise. I have also addressed the negative feedback specifically with the other departments and implemented a number of things to make things better. One of the big benefits of this change was to improve predictability and change perceptions. Final Update From the original crew of 5, 2 have been replaced. The first was the previous team lead. We could not see eye-to-eye on how to run development projects and he could not accept changes to what he had previously laid down, so we mutually agreed to part ways. The second lost interest in the work, made a couple of big mistakes and we also mutually agreed to part ways. The team, as a whole, now shows up early enough to ensure plenty of coverage for the rest of the company. What ultimately worked was mandate and peer pressure. In addition, other changes that have been instituted have resulted in nearly all of the inter-departmental angst to be resolved. Everyone still gets to work on awesome projects, mostly of their choosing, at their own pace at an exciting company and they are all quite content despite the job market being ridiculous in the area. I have been promoted to an executive position and the new 'problem team' has been moved under me (in addition to still retaining control of the dev team and still developing.) I'm now working to help them perform better and be better teammates to their colleagues. I don't have the punctuality issue with this new team... Their issues are accuracy and communication.Early childhood is a daunting time, full of unfamiliar experiences, bewildering potential and the very real possibility that there are monsters living under the bed. Murasaki Baby neatly encapsulates all of these characteristics, along with the notion that childhood is when most parents stand as infallible bastions of safety and comfort. As such, your overarching goal is to reunite Baby with her mother, but that's a bit like saying that the point of Journey is to reach the top of a mountain. Over the course of two and a half hours, this puzzle-platformer goes on to explore parenthood, trust, responsibility and the wrenching realisation that, try as you might, you cannot always keep a child safe from harm. It's affecting but it's also more than a little odd; screenshots will tell you that much but they can't fully convey just how effective Baby's journey is at simultaneously eliciting feelings of protectiveness and bemused unease. Baby's default expression is part-terrified, part-maniacal, which engenders feelings of protectiveness and unease in equal measure. While Murasaki Baby's thematic identity is constantly reaffirmed by these concepts, its mechanical nuts and bolts are inextricably tied to the Vita's unique features and so are occasionally liable to minor hiccups. Guiding Baby by the hand is simply a matter of reaching out via the touch-screen and leading her around as she takes her first tentative steps in a world that has been pulled from some half-remembered fever dream. She can be made to walk or run, but over-stretch her peculiarly elastic arm and she'll tumble to the ground. Then, as she picks herself up, dusts down her small dress and laughs nervously when you reach for her hand once more, you feel sufficiently guilty for making her fall and pledge to do better in future. It's here that the game feels most like an Edward Gorey illustrated guide to parenting. The key to protecting Baby against the many nightmarish visions is keeping the balloon that she clutches away from environmental hazards and prowling menaces. You swipe to jump obstacles (platform jumps are performed by Baby automatically), tap to swat down pesky flying sentient safety pins and hold on to the balloon when strong winds threaten to blow Baby off-screen. Many times you'll have to guide baby with one finger while manoeuvring the balloon away from low-hanging thorns or raging fire and it's here that things can get a little clumsy as your hands get in the way or you lose control of one or the other as you shift position. Baby's adventure is played primarily at your own pace and rarely asks you to perform finger gymnastics at high speed, but while checkpoints are frequent it can still be frustrating to have that balloon go pop because of perceived control issues. A host of offbeat characters are on hand to help and hinder Baby but most are just misunderstood. Murasaki Baby's bold hand-drawn visuals mix the cute and the perverse as its expressive characters stand stark against the block swathes of colour that form its backgrounds. This isn't just for visual effect, though, as the background theme makes up Murasaki Baby's key feature. By swiping the rear touchpad, the colour and mood of the background can be changed, while tapping the touchpad reveals a unique action. This ranges from simple rain, snow and wind effects that have multiple puzzle applications, to more offbeat occurrences, like distracting a child in a monster suit so Baby can sneak past, turning the balloon to stone to serve as a weight or causing a giant to jump to shake the screen and destroy obstacles. Some of these effects have a detrimental effect on Baby or her balloon, but experimentation is key to the enjoyment of the game and so it's up to you to discover what works where. For the most part, developer Ovosonico has achieved a delicate balance of introducing varied ideas that rarely repeat. Each of the game's four distinct areas has its own effects and key characters that require help and each area slowly introduces additional backgrounds and incorporates them to form more complex solutions. None venture into genuine head-scratching territory, but most complement the twisted narrative and keep things at a comfortable pace. Nonetheless, by the final level of each area it's necessary to switch between three or four backgrounds to overcome obstacles and solve puzzles to extricate characters from peculiar binds. New powers are gained by popping balloons held by other characters, which often feels a bit mean. Underpinning all of this is the offbeat soundtrack, and particular mention must go to composer Gianni Ricciardi, whose tracks and ambient effects greatly enhance the sense of unease and hope that permeates your time with Baby. Acclaimed Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka has also been brought on board to write the game's end-credits track and his influence can also be felt in Ricciardi's use of effects throughout. Price and Availability Format: PlayStation Vita Release date: 17th September Price: £7.99 Played with earphones, no distractions and in a single sitting, Murasaki Baby proves engaging and compelling, its brevity and variety leaving you wanting more. There are no hidden collectables or alternate routes through the game and yet its uniqueness is enough to draw you back for a second playthrough, if only to confirm that it's as weird as you remember it. Yes, the touch controls sometimes work against it and, like Baby, the game occasionally stumbles over its own feet, but for the most part it walks the fine line between the weird and the wonderful with aplomb. Above all, Murasaki Baby encourages experimentation and in doing so manages to recall some of the daunting wonder of early childhood. However, unlike those hazy childhood years, it remains fixed in your mind long after it's done.They need to start growing these in the NYC subways Deep in the jungle primeval, Nepenthes attenboroughii awaits its furry prey. But N. attenboroughii isn't a stealthy cat or poisonous lizard. It's a plant, and it eats rats. Scientists recently discovered this new species of pitcher plant on the verdant face of Mount Victoria in the Philippines. It is the largest carnivorous plant ever discovered, and has been named after the famous naturalist and TV personality Sir David Attenborough. Meat-eating pitcher plants were first described by science in the time of Linnaeus, but the previously discovered Nepenthes species stuck to small prey like insects and spiders -- if an unlucky mouse or bird became a meal, that was a rare treat. But the giant N. attenboroughii is a vertebrate specialist. The plant lures in the rats with the promise of sweet nectar. When the rat leans into the plant to drink the saccharine liquid, it slips on the pitcher's waxy interior, and gets stuck in the gooey sap. Once it is trapped, acid-like digestive enzymes break down the still-living rodent. To better explain the whole process, as well as the life cycle of pitcher plants, here's a video narrated by none other than N. attenboroughii's namesake, David Attenborough himself.AP Photo/Brynn Anderson Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore waits to speak at a ne wss conference, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. A Democratic congresswoman urged the Senate Sergeant at Arms to take precautions in the event Roy Moore comes to the Senate and interacts with the Senate pages. The Senate page program is comprised of high school students from each state to assist lawmakers. A Democratic congresswoman sent a letter to the Senate Sergeant at Arms on Monday insisting they "be proactive in protecting Senate Pages" and requesting information on what steps are being taken in advance of a likely victory for Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct with multiple teenage girls. Rep. Gwen Moore sent the letter on Monday, first obtained by Bloomberg TV reporter Kevin Cirilli, which read, "I write you today to share my urgent concern regarding the threat to the safety of the young men and women working in the United States Senate Page Program if Roy Moore becomes the U.S. Senator in Alabama." Senate Pages are high school students selected from each state to perform a handful of duties on behalf of senators, such as delivering messages and providing additional help in the regular legislative process. The Wisconsin Democrat added that because of the young age of the Senate pages, "it would be unconscionable for Congress to not be vigilant and proactive in taking precautions to safeguard these children given the well sourced allegations against Roy Moore." "I would like to know what preventive steps are being undertaken to safeguard Senate Pages from predatory conduct of U.S. Senators and Senate staff," Gwen Moore wrote. "The U.S. Congress has an obligation to keep these students safe especially in light of known potential harm." The mounting allegations against Roy Moore prompted a wave of withdrawn endorsements and financial support. In addition, Alabama's other senator, Richard Shelby, denounced him and said he voted for someone else. However, Moore is still receiving support from President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee.What Is Jupyter Notebook? Jupyter Notebook is a powerful web application that can be described as an HTML wrapper around a terminal or command prompt. It was built with data science in mind, using notebooks as a way for data scientists to share their code, their ideas and to visualize their results. As such, it supports major data science languages such as Python and R. Our Data Ops team operates primarily in Python, which is well-suited for data processing due to a wealth of specialized libraries such as numpy and pandas. Another benefit of Jupyter is it allows us to build simple, yet effective GUIs using widgets. This allows us to deploy some of our notebooks to colleagues without requiring extensive programming knowledge to understand the input. Setting Up Your First Jupyter Project Since our notebooks serve as the interface for users via widgets, we try to keep them separated from the Python files to maintain a clean divide between front-end and back-end for ease of testing. We built the validator tool to be extensible for future use so our example folder will copy our repo’s folder structure, which looks something like this: Project \| + -- Notebook Folder \| \| \| + File Validator Notebook \| \| + -- File Validator App Folder \| + __init__.py + app.py \| + File Type 1 Folder \| + __init__.py + type.py The workflow consists of the user loading a.csv file via the notebook, which is transformed into a pandas dataframe, passed into the app.py, which then transforms and routes the data to the appropriate file type for processing. Finally, the results are returned by the app.py to the notebook/user. Now that the file structure is established, we can start building. First, let’s install the required Python modules for this example. You can do this globally or in a virtual environment. You will need: Jupyter Notebook Pandas — Python data processing library Pyrsistent — Python functional data structure library Pandas is the most popular data processing library in Python. It borrows the dataframe concept from R (think Excel but programmatic and fast) and allows you to perform relatively large data operations such as calculating standard deviations, pivoting data or joining multiple dataframes on an index. Because it easily consumes.csv files through the read_csv() function, this was an easy choice for this application. We chose Pyrsistent over other Python validation libraries like Cerberus because it was syntactically simpler to understand, allowed for other tasks like transformations in one function and has excellent error catching. Creating Your First File Validation With your environment setup, we can now write the file validation! Open up your favorite IDE and let’s write the sample validator for numbers less than 10 and the length of a string that cannot exceed 20 characters. The field function is one of the best features of Pyrsistent. It’s an almost one line transformer and validator. From the example above, here’s what some of the arguments do: mandatory — This variable must be present if True. If not present, the PRecord returns an error. . If not present, the PRecord returns an error. factory — Attempts to transform the data being assigned to a variable to whatever type or custom transform function you write. For example, if you wanted a factory function to transform a string to capitalize the first letter, you would write def title_factory(string): return string.title() invariant — This is essentially where you would place the business logic of whatever you are trying to validate. It requires a function (in this case a lambda) that returns a tuple with a boolean if the invariant held or not (is x > 10?) and a message if the invariant failed (‘Number exceeds range’). We’ve used list compares, length ranges and other similar methods for this argument. Creating The Main Backend Application With the file type in hand, the back-end app is relatively simple to write (and you only have to write it once!) Since we know we are consuming a pandas dataframe from the notebook, the app needs to transform this one more time into a dictionary that can be used by our new Validate class. Here’s our app should look like (you can also install tqdm if you want a cool status bar): Building Your Jupyter Notebook GUI The backend is now complete. Now we just need a way for a user to interface with our brand new app. In your terminal, navigate to the project folder and start the notebook service by typing $ jupyter notebook Your default browser should pop up with the project folder like this! *Note that you cannot go beyond the “home folder” where you started the service. If you need to navigate to another folder, simply kill the service (Ctrl + C on Mac), move your terminal to the new base folder and start it again. With the notebook service active, click into the Notebook folder and start a new notebook by clicking on New → Python. You will be greeted by with the blank notebook GUI and are now ready to write a simple front-end for our app with some nice widgets. These widgets will allow users to select the files and convert them into dataframe objects that our app can consume. The code looks like this: Once you’ve got all that code in the block, hit Shift + Enter to execute your code. The output of your notebook’s code block should now look like this: Now you just have to pass a path to a test file. Here’s what the cells would look like: Run that file path through and your notebook will look like this: Now go check the folder where your file is and you should have the output file with your testfilename_validated.csv and it should now have this awesome status and error message column:Years ago there was a public service announcement that aired just before the late night news: "It's 11:00, Do you know where your children are?" That ad was designed to alert parents that perhaps they need to pay more attention to what their kids were doing late at night. Today, the ad could read "Your kids are online 24/7, do you know what they're doing?" Most parents think they do, but when you ask the kids, they think their parents are a lot less clued in. A newly released study (The Online Generation Gap: Contrasting attitudes and behaviors of parents and teens) conducted by Hart Research Associates for the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found a "generation gap" between what parents think they know about their kids online behavior and what the kids think their parents know. Perception Gap Ninety-one percent of parents say they are "well informed about what their kids are doing online and on their cell phones," but when you ask teens, only 62% say their parents are well informed (21%) or somewhat well informed (41%). When it comes to Twitter, the study found 38% of parents say they are "well informed" about their teen's use of the service, compared to 14% of teens who think their parents are well informed That a 24% gap. There's an 18 point gap for Facebook and a 14% gap for Pinterest when it comes to how well informed parents think they are compared to what their kids think. Monitoring The study found that 84% of parents report that they monitor their teens' usage very (31%) or fairly (53%) closely, compared to 39% of teens who say their parents monitor them very (11%) or somewhat (28%) closely, which represents a 45-percentage-point gap between parent and teen perceptions. There are some interesting differences based on age and whether kids live in a one or two parent household. Younger teens (13-15) are considerably more likely (45%) to say they're very or somewhat closely monitored compared to 27% of 16-17 year-olds. Teens who live in households with two parents are more likely (41%) to say they're monitored than those who live in single-parent households (31%). Adults do matter Parents may think their kids aren't listening, but several studies -- including this FOSI report -- show that they do. "When teens seek out information about how to stay safe online, nearly three in four (74%) turn to their parents." Two thirds (66%) of kids say that get their safety information from school or teachers. . Does the gap matter? Some will undoubtedly fret over the perception gap between teens and parents but based on other data from this survey, I'm not all that concerned. Although I don't have hard data, I suspect that there has always been a gap between what parents think they know about their kids and what kids think their parents know. It certainly was the case when I was a teen. My parents had some idea of what I did during the day, but there were many gaps in their knowledge as I went about my teenage life out of their sight whether it was via bicycle during my younger teen years or when I slipped away in the car once I turned 16. What's important isn't that parents micromanage their kids or track their behavior, but whether they have an open relationship that allows for communications about important life events and values. Teens need to know that they can come to their parents if they have a problem and want to talk and parents need to know that their teens have internalized important family values when it comes to how they approach decisions that affect their safety and privacy. Kids feel safe One of my reasons for optimism is the finding that "95% of teens say they feel very (37%) or somewhat (58%) safe online," and that parents agree. Ninety four percent of parents say they feel their teen is very (36%) or somewhat (58%) safe online. Just 5% of teens and 6% of parents say they feel unsafe. What I like about this data is that it tracks reality. The fact is that most kids are reasonably safe online. While we hear about problems, studies have shown that the vast majority of kids are not being bullied or harassed by peers or victimized by predatory adults. The Internet -- like life itself -- will never be 100% safe, but most kids are pretty savvy when it comes to taking care of themselves online and it's reassuring to see that parents generally agree. The study is based on two nationwide online surveys: among 511 13- to 17-year-olds who use the Internet at least occasionally, and another among 500 parents of 13- to 17-year- olds who access the Internet. The Family Online Safety Institute is international non-profit online safety origination Its member companies include Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Yahoo, AOL, AT&T and other technology companies. Also see Mind the Online Generation Gap by FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam.MPs express concern over pollution in Brahmaputra river Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed concern over the contamination of the Brahmaputra river as they asked the government to take up the matter with China from where the river flows into India and inform Parliament about it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the matter was of serious concern and assured the House that he will inform “the highest level in government” about it. Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) raised the issue of increased level of pollutants in the river, also known as Siang, which flows into Arunachal Pradesh from south Tibet in China before getting into Assam. He said some reports have blamed China for it and noted that the Arunachal Pradesh government has written to the Centre as its water was not fit for drinking. He asked the government to make public its discussion with China on the issue. Bijoya Chakravarty (BJP), who hails from Assam, also joined him and asked the government to take up the matter with China. She said a delegation, including her, had met home minister Rajnath Singh who had assured them that he would inform external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj about it. (PTI)By exploring how creatures in nature are able to fly by flapping their wings, Virginia Tech researchers hope to apply that knowledge toward designing small flying vehicles known as "micro air vehicles" with flapping wings. More than 1,000 species of bats have hand membrane wings, meaning that their fingers are essentially "webbed" and connected by a flexible membrane. But understanding how bats use their wings to manipulate the air around them is extremely challenging -- primarily because both experimental measurements on live creatures and the related computer analysis are quite complex. In Virginia Tech's study of fruit bat wings, the researchers used experimental measurements of the movements of the bats' wings in real flight, and then used analysis software to see the direct relationship between wing motion and airflow around the bat wing. They report their findings in the journal Physics of Fluids. "Bats have different wing shapes and sizes, depending on their evolutionary function. Typically, bats are very agile and can change their flight path very quickly -- showing high maneuverability for midflight prey capture, so it's of interest to know how they do this," explained Danesh Tafti, the William S. Cross professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the High Performance Computational Fluid Thermal Science and Engineering Lab at Virginia Tech. To give you an idea of the size of a fruit bat, it weighs roughly 30 grams and a single fully extended wing is about 17 x 9 cm in length, according to Tafti. Among the biggest surprises in store for the researchers was how bat wings manipulated the wing motion with correct timing to maximize the forces generated by the wing. "It distorts its wing shape and size continuously during flapping," Tafti noted. For example, it increases the area of the wing by about 30 percent to maximize favorable forces during the downward movement of the wing, and it decreases the area by a similar amount on the way up to minimize unfavorable forces. The force coefficients generated by the wing are "about two to three times greater than a static airfoil wing used for large airplanes," said Kamal Viswanath, a co-author who was a graduate research assistant working with Tafti when the work was performed and is now a research engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Lab's Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics. This study was just an initial step in the researchers' work. "Next, we'd like to explore deconstructing the seemingly complex motion of the bat wing into simpler motions, which is necessary to make a bat-inspired flying robot," said Viswanath. The researchers also want to keep the wing motion as simple as possible, but with the same force production as that of a real bat. "We'd also like to explore other bat wing motions, such as a bat in level flight or a bat trying to maneuver quickly to answer questions, including: What are the differences in wing motion and how do they translate to air movement and forces that the bat generates? And finally, how can we use this knowledge to control the flight of an autonomous flying vehicle?" Tafti added.Five words could prevent the public brawls between Christians who differ in their opinions on social and theological issues. “…but I might be wrong.” Pepper an impassioned debate with those five words with someone you’ve previously denounced as a heretic or traitor to the cause and an amazing thing happens. It tells your “opponent” on the other side of the issue that you care more about the mutual pursuit of truth rather than in placing another check in your camp’s win column. It communicates that maintaining Christian unity despite your differences is more important to you than scoring points and dancing in your “opponent’s” end-zone. Who knows, if spoken with a true spirit of humility, something close to civility might break out and confused onlookers might believe Christian leaders are different than the shrill ideologues they see on cable news every night. “…but I might be wrong.” It would be disingenuous if we attached these words to the end of every sentence. We all have spiritual and moral convictions we believe are non-negotiable, but can’t the humility associated with those five words define the tone of our dialog? My friend Jim Wallis of Sojourners is an exemplar of someone who practices this gracious approach to public discourse. He brings together Christians who lean both left and right to work together on poverty and caring for creation. In areas of agreement, he builds on common ground. In areas of disagreement, both he and his colleagues offer grace in the spirit of… “but I might be wrong.” Today I’m following St. Paul’s advice “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” It’s hard to argue against that position unless you’re certain that my decision to use the NIV translation of this passage proves I’m a heretic and that I should be publicly disgraced for it. Ian Morgan Cron served for ten years as the Founding and Senior Pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, Conn., a non-denominational community committed to social justice as well as to communicating the Christian story through the arts. He is the author of "Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale." His latest book “Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me: A Memoir…of Sorts” (Thomas Nelson) will be released on June 7. Follow him on Twitter @iancron For more visit his website: www.iancron.com.Members of the Satanic Temple have unveiled their design for a 7-foot-tall statue of the devil they want to locate at the Capitol building in Oklahoma, right next to a monument of the Ten Commandments that has stood since 2012. And to many, the design may prove shocking. The Associated Press reported an artist’s depiction shows Satan as the goat-headed and horned figure of Baphomet, complete with wings and a long beard. The Satan figure is shown sitting on a throne decorated with pentagrams, in the middle of a few smiling children. “The monument has been designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and beyond,” said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the group, in a statement reported by the AP. “The statue will also have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation.” The group is based in New York, but says it’s not fair for Oklahoma lawmakers to let a Ten Commandments statue stand at the building, without also allowing monuments that reflect other spiritual beliefs, The Associated Press reported. The Ten Commandments statue was privately funded. The American Civil Liberties Union sued to have it removed shortly after it was place, AP reported. And the Satanic Temple isn’t the only group seeking equal access to the site. The AP reported that a Hindu head in Nevada wants to put a monument at the Capitol, along with an animal rights group and the — satirical — Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. In response, the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission has put a moratorium on deciding new requests. But it’s the Satanic Temple request that’s sparking ire among Bible Belt residents and politicos. “I think you’ve got to remember where you are,” said Rep. Don Armes, in the AP report. “This is Oklahoma, the middle of the heartland. I think we need to be tolerant of people who think different than us, but this is Oklahoma and that’s not going to fly here.” The group, meanwhile, said it’s already raised $10,000 to build the monument — about the half the amount members estimate is needed. “We plan on moving forward one way or another,” Mr. Greaves said, in the report. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., predicts President Donald Trump's budget will never get through the Senate, The Hill reports. "It is clear that this budget proposed today cannot pass the Senate," he said. Lawmakers must come up with a deal "that provides sufficient funds to rebuild the military," McCain added. According to NBC News, the proposed $603 billion defense budget pumps $54 billion more into the Pentagon and protecting the nation’s borders. But McCain said that the hike in defense funding is "not sufficient" enough. McCain wants more money set aside for the military and calls Trump’s budget inadequate. "Moving forward, it is imperative that we work together to reach a bipartisan agreement that provides sufficient funds to rebuild the military," McCCain said, the Washington Examiner reported. "Failure to do so will only lead to more political dysfunction that has inflicted such harm on our men and women in uniform over the past six years."Caveat: My experience with depositions does not come from a law degree. I am not an attorney. Ironically, I have never given a deposition. Of course, my best advice is to do what your own attorney tells you to do before your depo. If anything he or she says differs from what I will outline here, by all means, take your attorney's advice, not mine. HOWEVER, in the event you become nervous and find it hard to concentrate before your deposition when your attorney is explaining the process or when the deposition has begun and the opposing attorney is giving his spiel regarding the "rules of a deposition," I've compiled some things to remember that should make the entire process go much easier. My experience comes from being a scopist, meaning a person who edits work in software programs for court reporters while listening to audio-sync, and also from proofreading work that's already been scoped in some circumstances. In the course of scoping, I have listened to thousands of depositions through audio-sync. I have heard literally thousands of attorneys instruct witnesses on the rules of a deposition. They do a wonderful job of it, but they occasionally forget a thing or two. Therefore, I've put it all here in one place for you to review the day before or day of your discovery deposition. At the beginning of the deposition, you will be sworn to tell the truth by the court reporter. If you prefer not to swear and the reporter doesn't include the words "or affirm," but simply says "swear to tell the truth," tell him or her that you'd prefer not to swear and they'll give the oath as an affirmation. During the course of the deposition, speak up loud and clear. Do not put your hand anywhere near the vicinity of your mouth. Do not mumble. Remember that the court reporter is making a record of everything you say and make an effort to enunciate clearly and talk a bit louder than usual to make sure your words are clear. Above all, talk slowly enough for everyone to understand you and for the court reporter to take down what you are saying. Let the attorney finish his or her question. You may think you know where the question is going, but you may not and could possibly misinterpret something. It is very important that you wait until you are sure the attorney is finished asking the question before you answer. Your answers should be oral. When you nod your head or shake your head, it means the court reporter has to interpret what you mean by the nod or shake. Say yes or no instead of nodding or shaking. Also, do not say uh-huh or uh-uh. That means, once again, the court reporter must interpret what you mean. The
contract talks with Charlie Mulgrew, who has remained in Scotland, but he admitted a deal is far from a formality.“There is always obviously a fear for a player when they come out of contract, if they train and get injured, they could be snookered. So, I respect that and understand that completely.“But, obviously, it’s probably the last contract of his career, so he has to make sure he’s making the right choice for him and his family.” Rodgers has settled in to Celtic’s Slovenia base and he admitted he’s relishing his chance to get down to work with the players. He said: “I’m been pleasantly surprised by the whole team. I’ve had one of the most enjoyable weeks I’ve had in football for a long, long time working with this group. “There are no egos. They are straight guys who want to learn and develop. We’ll give them the structures and perameters. “There are obviously players I was more aware of than others. Then there are ones like Kristoffer Ajer, 18 years old and 6ft 5in, but athletic and can play football. “I have been pleased by the standard and how they take on board what we give them.” Rodgers is keeping tabs on Celtic’s potential Champions League opponents and received reports on Tallinn’s 2-1 first leg win against Lincoln Red Imps. He said: “I think the Tallinn team were pretty comfortable, could have scored four or five in the first half – and they maybe then took the foot off the gas in the second-half. “It leaves it a bit tricky for them at 2-1, but we had people there watching them and analysing. We will be ready for whoever we have to play.”The fake ID has been a staple of the American college experience for years, tempting many who grow frustrated after getting turned away at bars where their older friends get to drink to their heart's content. The U.S. is one of only four countries that have advanced "21 or older" laws for purchasing alcohol. In most of the world, the legal drinking age is 18, and in some European countries, it's as low as 16 years old. If you're a college student in the U.S., then the legal restriction can be especially frustrating. By the time you turn 21, you are just about in the middle of your undergraduate years, and by then, you have already been binge drinking at enough frat parties to make the prospect of legal drinking an afterthought. I mean, sure it's cool to get a beer at dinner once you are finally of age, but going out and drinking with friends seems more alluring during those earlier years in school. HOW DOES SOMEONE GET A FAKE ID NOWADAYS? So if you really care about drinking before you are 21 years old, just go out to the store and pick up a fake, right? Of course it's not that simple. In fact, the process of obtaining a fake ID has become simultaneously more complex and simple. It is more complex because the fake ID market has shifted dramatically in the past decade. You used to have to know a guy, who knew a guy, who could hook you up, but now there are sophisticated online markets available for people to get high-quality, fake duplicates. There's the deep web, for example, where those under 21 can use digital currency to anonymously purchase fake IDs from willing vendors—there are plenty to choose from—as a quick visit to Reddit's "FakeID" subreddit will demonstrate. Reddit In fact, there are several threads on the website that provide information about how to go about using the encrypted web service to get a good fake ID. Word of mouth is still an effective way to get fakes in college, of course. They still operate online, for the most part, but if you are really interested in getting a fake before your 21st birthday, it is usually as easy as simply asking around. A friend of mine went this route, got some contact information from a friend, and all she had to do was send an email to a service provider, who required a cashier's check (or cash) for payment, as well as a driver's license-style headshot. Less than two weeks later, she had a fake in her mailbox. Flickr/Adam Cohn WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF GETTING CAUGHT WITH A FAKE ID? Getting caught with a fake ID can mean trouble—let's not understate that. You can be arrested, you can get charged with a misdemeanor, and in some states you can even be charged with a felony. If you are a first time offender, then you probably won't go to jail, but you can still lose your license for a year or more. And as MTV reported, there are harsher consequences when you try to use a passport or an older friend's ID (both of you can get in trouble in that case). Getting caught with a fake ID can mean jail time in some states. Reuters "Fakes aren't as casual as your friends and even the media play them off to be," MTV wrote. "They come with big risks and even bigger legal consequences if you're caught. Know your state's specific laws governing the use of fake IDs. You might need that info someday—though we hope you don't."Amid the rise of drones, or small unmanned aerial systems, DARPA, the Pentagon's research arm, is developing technology "to provide persistent, wide-area surveillance of all UAS operating below 1,000 feet in a large city." The program, known as Aerial Dragnet, is a new effort by the the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to track and counter small unmanned drones used in crowded urban areas. Though the program is targeted to aid US military forces' ability to "detect and identify such craft," the agency indicated last week that the technology will be used in the US. "While Aerial Dragnet’s focus is on protecting military troops operating in urban settings overseas, the system could ultimately find civilian application to help protect US metropolitan areas from UAS-enabled terrorist threats," DARPA said in its announcement of the program. Drones surveilling drones surveilling us surveilling each other https://t.co/lBXqW8d1Qr — Ellie Robinson (@FollowEllie) September 16, 2016 On September 26, DARPA will hold a "Proposers Day" at the DARPA Conference Center in Arlington, Virginia, to facilitate discussion, information, and solicitation development among researchers interested in the program. DARPA says Aerial Dragnet will basically be modeled on the air-traffic control system used in the US to track and monitor thousands of airplane flights each day. Read more "Commercial websites currently exist that display in real time the tracks of relatively high and fast aircraft—from small general aviation planes to large airliners—all overlaid on geographical maps as they fly around the country and the world," said Jeff Krolik, a DARPA program manager. "We want a similar capability for identifying and tracking slower, low-flying unmanned aerial systems, particularly in urban environments." Understanding that UAS technology is increasingly affordable and widely available, and that "several systems are being developed for tracking small UAS," DARPA said urban environments are unique and deserve novel approaches that could offer non-line-of-sight tracking and advanced identification techniques. For Aerial Dragnet, DARPA "envisions a network of surveillance nodes, each providing coverage of a neighborhood-sized urban area, perhaps mounted on tethered or long-endurance UAS. Using sensor technologies that can look over and between buildings, the surveillance nodes would maintain UAS tracks even when the craft disappear from sight around corners or behind objects." The system would produce consistent updates of a low-level airspace's common operational picture, known as COP to DARPA. The data would then be "disseminated electronically to authorized users via secure data links." For the program, DARPA is seeking experts in sensors, signal processing, and networked autonomy.Avengers #2 Sells Out Second Printing On the Way Avengers #2, written by Brian Michael Bendis with pencils by John Romita Jr., has sold out at Diamond Comics Distributors. Don't panic though; copies may still be available at your local comic book store or you can wait on the newly announced second print variant of the issue. Marvel Comics will release the Avengers #2 Second Print Variant with a new cover featuring the interior artwork by Romita Jr. If you haven't already read #2, the issue picks up right where the first left off as the Avengers recruit one more member to aid in their quest to stop the destruction of the universe. Who is the new member? Find a first print of Avengers #2 or pick up the Avengers #2 Second Print Variant on July 21. Avengers #2 Second Printing Variant (MAY108075) Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. Rated A… $3.99 FOC – 7/1/10, On Sale 7/21/10For the third year in a row, the CFL has elected to make the halftime act for the supremely-Canadian Grey Cup an American band. This time around, they've chosen Colorado-based pop-rock band OneRepublic, following on the heels of Fall Out Boy (Illinois) in 2015 and Imagine Dragons (Nevada) in 2014. What's particularly annoying about this choice is that the 2016 Grey Cup's in Toronto, which offers an incredibly high number of prominent local artists and bands to choose from. Granted, it's not always easy to line up whoever you want, but the CFL does have significant resources and the Grey Cup offers a massive audience, so it's an attractive gig for many. In honour of the CFL's 12 players per side, here are 12 artists or groups either from or based in Toronto that would have been a better choice, across a wide range of genres and styles. (For reference, any act that has previously played a Grey Cup halftime show is not considered; acts that have played other Grey Cup events, including pre-game, are.) Click here to read more. 12. Sloan They'd be way higher on this list if they were from Toronto instead of just based there, as Sloan's most associated with their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. However, Sloan thoroughly deserves a Grey Cup halftime show, and until we get an Atlantic expansion team (which may never happen), a Toronto one would be the best fit for them. Sloan has been producing terrific rock/power pop albums for 25 years now, and they've earned 10 Juno nominations, winning once. They have countless short, well-known catchy songs that would be an excellent fit for a halftime show. 11. The Trews As with Sloan, these guys are another band from Nova Scotia now based in Toronto who thoroughly deserve a Grey Cup halftime show. They've consistently supported the Grey Cup with regular concerts during various Grey Cup festivals, but have never been given the big stage. They've earned five Juno nominations over a career that spans almost 15 years now. One of the hardest-rocking and most energetic bands out there, they'd be a perfect fit for a pump-up halftime show. 10. Down With Webster While this band from Toronto's The Beaches neighbourhood has been around since they formed for an eighth-grade music class project in 1998, they've really broken out over the last few years, earning six Juno nominations since 2010 and drawing attention from everyone from Gene Simmons to Timbaland. Named after the old American TV show "Webster," their mix of pop, rock and rap is quite innovative and catchy. Scroll to continue with content Ad 9. Kim Mitchell/Max Webster Speaking of Websters, how about a band named "Max Webster" that had no one by that name? The band started in Sarnia in the 1960s, but formed as "Max Webster" in Toronto in 1973, and featured Canadian music legends like Kim Mitchell and Pye Dubois. This one would be a perfect appeal for the classic-rock crowd, as they could crank out hits like "Paradise Skies" and "A Million Vacations." Max Webster's been largely inactive for a while, but hey, a reunion show might be fun. Alternatively, they could just get Mitchell, who reached even greater fame as a solo artist and has plenty of Toronto connections, including working as a drive-time host on classic-rock station Q107 from 2004 to 2015. Plus, "Go For Soda" will get stuck in everyone's head for the entire second half. 8. k-os Long before Drake, k-os (real name: Kevin Brereton) was helping to put Canadian hip-hop on the map. His mix of rap, rock, funk and reggae has won him plenty of plaudits, and he's been a regular nominee and winner at the Junos. Brereton was born in Toronto, then moved to Trinidad at three before returning to the GTA at eight, and he's been one of the area's key musical figures since his first single "Musical Essence," released while he was still in school at Toronto's York University in 1993. That won him a MuchMusic Video Award and gained the attention of NBA player John Salley, who became his manager. His first full album, Exit, didn't come out until 2002, but it earned major plaudits, including Billboard describing it as "One of the finest hip-hop records Canada has ever produced." 7. The Weeknd Since anonymously uploading songs to YouTube in 2010, Toronto native The Weeknd (real name: Abęl Makkonen Tesfaye) has enjoyed a meteoric rise with his alternative R&B music. His 2015 album Beauty Behind The Madness was particularly well-received, debuting atop the Billboard 200 and giving him his first U.S. #1 hit with "Can't Feel My Face." He won Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year at the 2016 Junos, and he's also won two Grammys. If looking for a popular and critically-acclaimed Toronto artist, he'd be a great fit. 6. Death From Above 1979 Toronto dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979 is also highly critically-acclaimed, claiming Rock Album of the Year at this year's Junos for The Physical World. It marks a great return for them, as the band (Jesse Keeler on bass, synths, and backing vocals, Sebastian Grainger on drums and vocals) started in 2001 but broke up in 2006 after releasing just one full-length album. Their 2011 reunion's brought them to even greater heights, though, with songs like "Trainwreck 1979" charting well in Canada and beyond. 5. Our Lady Peace Since their 1992 formation in Toronto, OLP has been one of the most prominent and recognizable Canadian rock bands out there. Their hard rock and grunge elements helped them get major play on radio in Canada and the U.S. in the late 1990s, and albums Clumsy and Happiness Is Not A Fish You Can Catch both hit #1 in Canada. While the 2000s saw lineup changes and a hiatus, their "recreation tour" showed they still have plenty of fans, as did their 2012 album Curve. OLP has won four Junos and a record ten MuchMusic Video Awards. Sadly, drummer and Canadian podcasting legend Jeremy Taggert left the band in 2014, but singer/guitarist Raine Maida, bassist Duncan Coutts and guitarist Steve Mazur are still touring and releasing new material. 4. Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene might be one of the most unusual bands out there from a lineup perspective, as they've had anywhere from six to 19 members at times and have regularly changed their lineup. All their members have prominent solo projects or other bands, but they've managed to create some stunning stuff when they get together. You Forgot It In People and their self-titled album both won "Alternative Album of the Year" Junos, and they've received three other nominations. The band hasn't released an album since 2010, but has performed some shows since then, and given their importance to the Toronto music scene, they would be outstanding Grey Cup headliners. 3. The Barenaked Ladies While it was technically Scarborough they formed in in 1988, that's been incorporated into the city of Toronto now, so Toronto can definitely claim them. This alternative rock band has had so much success over the years, including the first independent release to reach gold status in Canada (their "The Yellow Tape" album in 1991), two albums (Gordon and Maroon that topped the Canadian charts, and four (Stunt, Maroon, Everything To Everyone and Grinning Streak that hit top-10 on the U.S. charts. They've won seven Junos (out of 10 nominations) and two Billboard Music Awards, and have also been nominated for Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. Steven Page left the band in 2009, but the remaining group has continued to tour and record, and they found success with last year's Silverball. It would be awesome to see a fundamental band like BNL take the stage at the Grey Cup. 2. Rush Yes, this one would be hard to pull off, given that the band retired from touring earlier this year (thanks to drummer Neil Peart's health issues), that they've never been too eager to do things other than their own concerts, and that their long, prog-rock material would be tough to fit in a halftime show, but still. They've sold over 40 million albums worldwide, notched 24 gold, 14 platinum, and 3 multi-platinum albums (putting them behind only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in terms of consecutive gold or platinum albums), been nominated for seven Grammys and have won several Junos, making them unquestionably one of the most successful groups ever from Toronto or from Canada as a whole. It wouldn't be easy to line them up, but man, if these guys wanted to play halftime, they could put on an incredible show. 1. Drake This is the most obvious choice of all, and one that would seemingly be such a perfect fit. Toronto connection? Check. Canadian rapper Drake (real name of Audrey Drake Graham) has talked more about the city than just about any other musician, even popularizing "the 6" as its nickname, and he's even organized a whole music festival there. Popularity? Check. Drake's first three albums went platinum, quadruple platinum and triple platinum respectively, and his latest album Views led the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 simultaneously for a record eight weeks. Critically acclaimed? Check. Drake's won a Grammy, three Junos and six BET Awards. Sports connections? Check. Drake's done a ton with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (which shares two-thirds ownership with the Argonauts), including a post as the Toronto Raptors' "global ambassador." Drake has become so prominent and so identified with Toronto that he'd be such a perfect choice, so call him on his cell phone already, CFL.Aaaaand there you have it! Have any of you guys remember the Starco child I made in between 2015-2016? She has a name now and it’s Polaris! :D I also changed her cheekmarks, (since people keep bugging me to change the hearts like, dudes… have you taken a look of the dates when they were made? I had no idea that every Butterfly child would have different cheekmarks at that time. Spare me…) I used snow flake cheekmarks to match her name… yes, i keep staring at the Star charts on astronomy books gxdgjg Then I tried to whack my brain on how to introduce her again. And 1, 2, 3, BOOM! makes explosion noises This short comic was born! ALSO this comic is dedicated to the birthday boy @mrevaunit42 HAPPY BIRTHDAY E!! throws confettis Annnnndddd…. If you guys wanted Part 2 of this comic, comment down below: YEET - if Yes and REEEE - if No Nova, Sol, and Connor by @mrevaunit42 Elizabeth by @moringmark Hortensia by @maiky-vs-tfoe Sunnia by @chocorry-ding June by @mewangie Phoebe and Vega by @odori-hoshi Celeste by @celestebutterflyTesler argued last November, after the election, that the Trump effect combined with eight years of racialized politics under President Obama, means that racial attitudes are now more closely aligned with white Americans’ partisan preferences than they have been at any time in the history of polling. Just over a decade ago, political scientists were discounting the significance of white identity in elections. David O. Sears, a professor of political science and psychology at U.C.L.A., wrote in 2006 that whites’ whiteness is usually likely to be no more noteworthy to them than is breathing the air around them. White group consciousness is therefore not likely to be a major force in whites’ political attitudes today. In a 2005 paper, Cara Wong, a political scientist at the University of Illinois, and Grace E. Cho, who was a graduate student in politial science at the University of Michigan at the time, found that many whites identified with their race, but “white racial identity is not politically salient.” Wong and Cho went on, however, to make what turned out to be a crucially important point: that since white identity is indeed unstable but easily triggered, the danger is that a demagogue could influence the salience of these identities to promote negative outgroup attitudes, link racial identification more strongly to policy preferences, and exacerbate group conflict. John Podhoretz, in an article on the Commentary website, referred to Trump’s failure to condemn white supremacy — and anti-Semitism — on display in Charlottesville: Our president responded by condemning violence “on many sides” and offering his “best regards” to the casualties. This was not a mistake on Trump’s part. This was a deliberate communications choice. It has a discomfiting parallel with the now-forgotten moment one week after Trump’s swearing in when his administration issued a statement on Holocaust remembrance that did not mention Jews. Podhoretz recognizes Trump’s adamant refusal to alienate his most dogged backers: If there’s one thing politicians can feel in their marrow, even a non-pol pol like Trump, it’s who is in their base and what it is that binds the base to them and, even more important, the nucleus — the very heart of a base, the root of the root of support. For years, Podhoretz writes, Trump operated below the radar, cultivating a constituency of “disaffected Americans entirely on the margins of American life, politically and culturally and organizationally.” He did so, Podhoretz argues, by capitalizing on media and organizational tools disdained by the establishment: Alex Jones’s Infowars; the American Media supermarket tabloids, including The National Enquirer, Star and the Globe; the WWE professional wrestling network where “Trump intermittently served as a kind of Special Guest Villain.” While Trump’s initial base included many on the margins of society, the larger population of white identifiers has been a growing constituency within the Republican electorate, starting in the white South after the passage under President Lyndon Johnson of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Trump, Vavreck noted in an email, was the first successful presidential candidate willing to explicitly direct his campaign toward this disaffected white electorate. “This has been happening for a while, which is why Trump was able to leverage white identity in 2016,” she wrote. “Trump went where no other GOP primary candidate would go even though they all knew those voters were there.” In “Identity Crisis,” Sides, Tesler and Vavreck write that Trump’s primary campaign became a vehicle for a different kind of identity politics — oriented around white Americans’ feelings of marginalization in an increasingly diverse America. The three authors describe a rapidly “growing sense of white victimhood.” They cite surveys showing that among Republicans, the perception of discrimination against whites grew from 38 percent in 2011-12 to 47 percent in January 2016. A February 2017 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute separately asked voters whether “there is a lot of discrimination” against various groups. 43 percent of Republicans said there is a lot of discrimination against whites, compared to 27 percent of Republicans who said that there is a lot of discrimination against blacks.Kafka is “publish-subscribe messaging rethought as a distributed commit log”. We are exploring Kafka for doing something which looks like Event Sourcing from Domain Driven Design. Kafka’s performance is pretty much constant with respect to data size so retaining events forever should not present a problem. Install Kafka These instructions are for MacOS, for other OS’s see the Kafka documentation. 1 $ brew install kafka This will also install Zookeeper, a dependency of the Kafka client and server. The Zookeeper dependency on Kafka client will be removed in version 0.9. You can inspect the default Zookeeper config at /usr/local/etc/zookeeper/zoo.cfg. The default port is 2181. 1 $ zkServer start Check Zookeeper is running. I found that I had to start Zookeeper in the foreground. 1 $ zkServer start-foreground Zookeeper is distributed system for maintaining configuration, naming and synchronisation. Even though we are only starting one instance of Kafka and not a cluster we still need Zookeeper. The default Kafka config can be found at /usr/local/etc/kafka/server.properties. The default port is 9092. Start up Kafka: 1 $ kafka-server-start.sh /usr/local/etc/kafka/server.properties Built-in tools Kafka comes with clients for producing and consuming messages from the Kafka server. Producer When using the builtin tools you either need to specify the broker (Kafka) or Zookeeper. 1 kafka-console-producer.sh --topic test --broker localhost:9092 You can ignore the warning “WARN Property topic is not valid”, it is wrong and fixed in the next release. Now type in some messages each followed by enter. Type Ctrl+D when finished. These messages have been published to Kafka, there is no imposed format to the messages, they can be free text, JSON, XML, whatever you like. You can also pipe and dump messages to the producer command: 1 2 $ echo "hello Kafka" \| kafka-console-producer.sh... $ kafka-console-producer.sh... < my_file.json In the case of the json file each message must be on a newline. Therefore any newlines, and any other control characters, within the json must be double escaped, e.g. \ instead of . Consumer Start a consumer: 1 kafka-console-consumer.sh --topic test --zookeeper localhost:2181 --from-beginning Using --from-beginning you will get all messages from offset 0 (the very first message). Without it you will only get new messages published from now onwards. This is great for event sourcing as it allows us to reply events from any point in the past. For example RabbitMQ is not suitable, on its own as an event store, since it does retain messages after consumption. By default Kafka does not retain messages forever, but can be configured to do so, more later. Press Ctrl+C to close the consumer, but maybe just leave it running for now. Unlike other queues Kafka does not maintain the position of each consumer in the event stream. Kafka consumers are responsible for telling Kafka the offset from which they want messages every time they fetch a batch of messages. Internally kafka-console-consumer uses the Java ‘high level consumer’ which maintains the consumers offset in Zookeeper. However every time you start kafka-console-consumer.sh it will register itself with a different name with Zookeeper and so you will always get messages from now onwards unless you explicitly give an offset. Many of the configuration options for kafka-console-consumer must be specified using a configuration file instead of as command line arguments. For example if you want maintain an offset between restarts create a file, consumer1.conf, and add the following: 1 2 group.id 1000 consumer.id 1000 And start with: 1 kafka-console-consumer.sh --topic test --zookeeper localhost:2181 --consumer.config consumer1.conf The consumer.id uniquely identifies a consumer, every consumer belongs to a group, only one consumer in each group receives a given message. Groups are used for read parallelism when distributing the load across a cluster. Since we are using a single instance we want every consumer to have a unique group.id, which is what happens by default using the build-in tools. Try stopping the consumer, publishing a few messages and then restarting the consumer. You should get all messages from the point the consumer was stopped. Kafka always sends a batch of messages. Each batch has a maximum size, the default is 1MB. This give you better control over memory consumption than specifiying the number of messages in the batch. Ruby 1 2 $ gem install poseidon $ irb Producer 1 2 3 4 producer = Poseidon : :Producer. new ( [ "localhost:9092" ], "my_test_producer" ) messages = [] messages << Poseidon : :MessageToSend. new ( "test", "from Ruby!!!" ) producer. send_messages ( messages ) There are additional options you can pass when initialising the producer, for example sync (blocks while sending messages) or async 1 Poseidon. logger = Logger. new ( 'poseidon.log' ) Consumer 1 2 3 4 5 consumer = Poseidon : :PartitionConsumer. new ( "my_test_consumer", "localhost", 9092, "test", 0, :earliest_offset ) messages = consumer. fetch messages [ 0 ]. value messages. map ( & :value ) # => ['..', '..',... ] The arguments for initialising the consumer are: client_id, host, port, topic, partition and offset. fetch returns a batch of messages from the given offset to now. The offset is any point in the Kafka message log, exactly the same as the offset in a relational database. You can think of offset as a time. We decide to start receiving message from the earliest_offset, it could be replaced by 0 If we run consumer.fetch again we will get all the messages again. As messages are consumed we need to persist the offset since messages are not discarded once the client has consumed them. This is ideal for an event store since we want the event to stay around forever. The Poseidon gem interacts directly with the Kafka API. Therefore it does not maintain the offset in Zookeeper like the built-in consumer. The other option is to use JRuby and the Kafka gem which wraps the High level Java consumer and behaves in the same way as the build-in consumer (they both wrap the high level Java conssumer). Zookeeper and offsets The kafka-console-consumer, via the ‘high level consumer’ Java object, uses Zookeeper to store the offset. We can inspect Zookeeper using zookeeper-shell.sh. zookeeper-shell.sh does not have readline support for navigating history using the arrow keys. rlwrap adds readline support to any command. 1 2 3 4 $ rlwrap zookeeper - shell. sh localhost : 2181 ls /consumers [console-consumer-40227, console-consumer-67157, console-consumer-99157] ls / consumers / console - consumer - 40227 / offsets / test Batch publishing events We now have a way to produce messages. For optimal results you want to batch as many events together as possible. It also allows for a sort of transaction. You can start storing messages and actually send them to Kafka as a batch if no exception is raised. I the case of a web application you might want to store all messages in an Array and only send them, as a batch, when the controller action has complete. Simplistically: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 class ApplicationController after_filter :send_events private def fire_event ( event ) @events << Poseidon : :MessageToSend. new ( event. fetch ( :topic ), event. fetch ( :payload )) end def events @events \|\|= [] end def send_events producer. send_messages ( @events ) end end Guarantees Producer A producer can be configured to wait for an acknowledgement that a message has been committed to the Kafka log. This allows us a higher level of certainty that a message was received. For example a producer experiences a network failure during sending a message, was it received or not? By enabling ack we can be sure at the cost of having to wait for the ack. Another option is to include a uuid with every message. If an error occurs during publishing we can resend the message. The consumer must then keep a track of the message uuid’s it has processed and skip any it has already received. Consumer Kafka has one log for all consumers, it does not prepare a stream per consumers and track which messages have been delivered. It is up to the consumer to say where it would like to start receiving messages from. If a consumer was never stopped we could store the offset in memory. Or if the consumer was guaranteed to be idempotent. 1 2 3 4 def on_event ( event ) process_event increment_offset end What happens if the event is processed but an error occurs during the increment_offset. The message will get redelivered. 1 2 3 4 def on_event ( event ) increment_offset process_event end We could increment the offset then process the event, but what happens if an error occurs during processing the message will not get redelivered. 1 2 3 4 5 6 def on_event ( event ) increment_offset process_event rescue decrement_offset end This suffers the same problem, the error can occur when decrementing the offset. An option if you are using a relational database to store data and offset is to store your data and offset within a transaction: 1 2 3 4 5 6 def on_event ( event ) ActiveRecord : :Base. transaction do process_event increment_offset end end The data and offset are stored together, or not at all. Therefore you are guaranteed to process each message only once. In the end you control the guarantees and make a choice about the tradeoffs. Retention When using Kafka as an event store there is a very important setting you need to change. 1 log. retention. hours = 168 This means the events are deleted after 168 hours. In Kafka 0.8 the highest you can set it to is 2147483647, which is 89,478,485 days or ~250,000 years. This should be plenty :) 1 2 log. retention. hours = 2147483647 log. retention. bytes = - 1 In Kafka 0.9 (https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/KAFKA-1990) you can set this to -1 to store events forever. Next The next issues we need to investigate are: How to manage the schema of the event payload, e.g. Avro, a schema format in JSON which can be embedded with the payload. How to name topics, by aggregate? How to route event streams to consumers. How consumers can maintain their offset. How consumers can maintain local state for cases where they need to aggregate multiple event streams (more examples here) Concurrency for consumers and producers We will also look at Samaza, an message processing framework.Rahul Gandhi launched "a question a day" campaign to remind ruling BJP of unfulfilled promises. (File) "Is BJP government only for the rich," Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted today as he asked the seventh question as a part of his "a question a day" campaign.Hitting out at the ruling government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Gandhi flayed the adverse impact of demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax, and inflation in his tweet.However, as the Gandhi scion put out a tabulated list of essential commodities like milk, pulse, cooking gas, onions and tomatoes, giving the increase in their prices in percentage over a period of time, he tweeted wrong percentage-wise figures, IANS reported.Later, the tweet was corrected to show increase in rupees against the listed commodities.In the run up to Gujarat assembly elections, Mr Gandhi has been posting one question every day in a bid to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the poll-bound state, which will vote in assembly elections on December 9 and 14. The results will be declared on December 18.Mr Gandhi uses the tagline "22 salon ka hisaab, Gujarat mange jawaab (Gujarat demands answers for 22 years of BJP rule)" to highlight the unfulfilled promises of the ruling government.So far, he has tweeted about unemployment among youth, women safety, education, "undue benefit" to power selling companies, state debt, and Prime Minister's flagship "Housing for All" scheme.Shopping for a car will never be the same as scientists have developed a new form of auto paint that changes color with the touch of a button. This revolutionary new paramagnetic paint is a technical wonder and is viewed by Nissan and other auto companies as an amazing innovation that would draw huge traffic to dealerships and will make it easier for consumers to get the exact option level they want on a car without the sacrifice of their favorite color. Research with this new science of special light reflecting coatings has been going on for years and there have been several different approaches used to achieve the effect but recent breakthroughs have taken it out of the laboratory and into a real commercial product for large scale applications. The process starts out with a standard galvanized piece of automotive sheet metal steel. A special polymer is applied to the steel with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles embedded within it. The nanoscale crystalline particles of magnetite (iron oxide) are controlled using a low grade magnetic field which is used to effect the spacing of the colloidal crystals and thereby controlling their ability to reflect light and change color.A Vancouver man got a bit of a rude awakening last night when he found an unknown man naked in his kitchen cooking up some eggs. The intruder had just had a shower and was apparently fixing up a bite to eat when he was discovered around 7 p.m. PT, according to police. The intruder fled when the owner confronted him, but a short time later police arrested a 30-year-old naked man near Trout Lake. "We think he was on drugs at the time," said Vancouver police Const. Brian Montague. Police are recommending the suspect be charged with unlawfully being in a dwelling. The incident highlights the need for homeowners to be careful about leaving doors
ഷത്തിൽ മറ്റൊരു സിനിമാ നടിയുടെ പേജിലെ ഗ്ളാമർ ചിത്രം ബ്രൌസ് ചെയ്യാൻ അയാൾ പോവുകയുമായി. ഒരു പബ്ളിക്ക് സ്പേസിൽ താൻ നടത്തിയ പ്രതികരണവും അതുയർത്തുന്ന പൊതുവികാരവും അയാൾ അറിയുകയോ അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് വ്യാകുലപ്പെടുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നില്ല. ഒരു സ്വകാര്യ ഇടമെന്ന പോലെയാണ് സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയെ അത്തരക്കാർ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്. നന്മ കല്പിക്കുകയും തിന്മ വിരോധിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുക എന്നത് ഒരു വിശ്വാസിയുടെ ബാധ്യതയാണ്. എന്നാൽ അത് പരിസര ബോധമില്ലാതെ ചെയ്യേണ്ട ഒന്നല്ല. ബുദ്ധിയും ചിന്തയും അടുപ്പിലിട്ട് കത്തിച്ച ശേഷം മരത്തലയുമായി വന്ന് ചെയ്യേണ്ട ദൗത്യവുമല്ല. സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയെ ഗുണപരമായ ചർച്ചകൾക്കും സംവാദങ്ങൾക്കും ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്താൻ ഏറെ സാധ്യതകളുണ്ട്. ആശയ പ്രചാരണ ഉപാധിയായും അതിനെ ഫലപ്രദമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കാൻ പറ്റും. പക്ഷേ ചിന്തിക്കുന്ന ഒരു തലയുടെ അഭാവം ഗുണത്തെക്കാളേറെ ദോഷമാണ് ചെയ്യുക. കയറൂരി വിട്ട ഒരു കാളക്കൂറ്റനെപ്പോലെ ഏത് വേലിയും പൊളിക്കാവുന്ന ഏത് ചെടിയും തിന്നാവുന്ന പ്രകൃതത്തിൽ സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ പെരുമാറുന്നവർക്ക് ചികിത്സ അനിവാര്യമാണ്. ഒരു നവമാധ്യമ ഉഴിച്ചിൽ ചികിത്സ. (ശബാബ് വാരികക്ക് വേണ്ടി എഴുതിയത് - 25 July 2014)Recent PostsRelated PostsAs the fires of unrest smolder in Ferguson, Mo., some members of Congress expressed their solidarity with the protesters of the Michael Brown grand jury verdict sparring police officer Darren Wilson from charges connected to the August 9 shooting. “I know this [is] hard,” tweeted Democratic Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, the civil rights hero, on Monday. “I know this is difficult. Do not succumb to the temptations of violence. There is a more powerful way.” “Only love can overcome hate,” he added. “Only nonviolence can overcome violence.” But the official response from Capitol Hill may not amount to much more than empathy, as the Republican leaders who control both chambers of Congress next year appear unlikely to support efforts reigning in police departments from obtaining Pentagon gear like mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles. Such bills aren’t focused on reducing incidents like the Brown shooting but the danger in the aftermath, in which protesters are confronted by a threatened police force with military-grade weapons and technology. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now After the Brown shooting, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri led hearings diving into the lack of police training with such weapons and if police departments should have to purchase body cameras before obtaining military equipment. In September, McCaskill announced some of the results of her investigation, finding that over a third of the supposedly “excess” military equipment provided to police departments was barely used, if at all. She also found police departments armed for Iraq-level warfare, with 49 of 50 states having more MRAP vehicles than their state’s National Guard. McCaskill recently told BuzzFeed that she would continue her efforts to investigate how the police are trained, but stopped short of calling to bar the departments from receiving military equipment in the first place. “We learned we have no oversight and the people that are doing these programs aren’t even talking to one another and there hasn’t been any rhyme or reason to who’s received this equipment, whether or not they’ve been trained, and how they are utilizing it,” she told BuzzFeed. “So we’re now looking more at an oversight function of those issues. I’ve visited with other senators who are interested, including some of my Republican colleagues, and we’re going to try and sit down between now and the first of the year and see if we can come up with some guidelines.” Her Democratic colleagues in the House appear to be pretty glum about the prospects for reforming how the police obtain Pentagon equipment. A spokesman for Georgia Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson, who plans on reintroducing his bill to limit police militarization next session, sees the effort as “really an education campaign” due to opposition from Republican leadership, according to the Huffington Post. But Democrats are also divided if there should be an outright ban on transfer of this equipment or if there should simply be more stringent requirements and training for officers who will use it. Some libertarian-minded Republicans have also joined the call to demilitarize the police, including Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who wrote in a TIME op-ed less than a week after the Brown shooting that “there should be a difference between a police response and a military response.” On Tuesday, Paul’s office confirmed that he will introduce his own bill addressing police militarization next year. He’s working with retiring Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn on the legislation and will talk to other senators “over the coming months” to garner support, according to an aide. Contact us at [email protected] hills of Lancashire, England, sit atop a mother lode of shale gas that may be extracted with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. (Alan Clarke/Bloomberg Markets) An icy winter rain is pelting about 30 protesters who’ve converged at the gate of a natural gas drilling site near Manchester, England. On the other side of a fence topped with razor wire, a 10-story-high rig is boring into shale to determine if it’s suitable for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The protesters unfurl a banner: “Fracking will poison our children.” As police officers push the protesters back, a convoy of supply trucks inches out of the gate and past an encampment of tents and trailers sporting placards. “Fracking will not lower gas prices, Lord Browne,” one reads. Days later, the man the protesters call “the fracking czar” is seated in a solarium-like room overlooking the rooftops of Mayfair in London. John Browne, a former chief executive of oil giant BP, is clad in a crisp, white dress shirt with enameled cuff links. Browne, a member of the House of Lords and a director in the British government’s Cabinet Office, is lamenting how the protests may slow his efforts to bring the U.S. shale boom to Britain. Browne says fracking would secure a new domestic energy source, create thousands of jobs, generate billions of pounds in tax revenue and be a cheaper alternative than constructing nuclear plants. “Shale gas could be very, very important for this country; it could be transformative,” says Browne, 66, who’s now chairman of Cuadrilla Resources, a British exploration firm that plans to frack the English countryside. “It’s like the opening of Alaska or western Siberia or the Gulf of Mexico.” Browne, trained as a petroleum engineer, played a part in each of those pivotal events in 38 years at BP. Now he’s at the forefront of a push by major energy companies and wildcatters to take fracking global. Hydraulic fracturing — in which drillers blast water, sand and chemicals into shale deep beneath the earth to release oil and natural gas — is revolutionizing the energy game in the world’s No. 1 economy: After steadily declining for about 25 years, U.S. oil production surged 47 percent from 2008 to 2013. The Energy Department forecasts that the United States, which imported 6 percent of the gas it used in 2012, will be a net exporter of the hydrocarbon by 2018. Even as evidence mounts that fracking operations drain aquifers and spew methane into the air, energy firms are fanning out across mammoth shale deposits in China, Russia, India, South Africa, Australia and Argentina. Royal Dutch Shell has joined forces with China Petroleum & Chemical, or Sinopec, in China to exploit the world’s largest shale-gas-laden formations. And Chevron has agreed to invest as much as $16 billion in partnership with YPF, Argentina’s state oil producer, to drill in the Vaca Muerta formation. A gas mother lode U.S. wildcatters, who started the shale boom in the middle of the last decade, are ready to pounce now that Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has opened his country to foreign petroleum investment. One choice target: the gas-rich Eagle Ford formation that snakes from Texas into the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. “It’s the best shale play in Texas, but when you hit Mexico, there’s no activity,” says Chris Wright of Liberty Resources II, which fracks oil in North Dakota. Even relatively small Britain is sitting on a gas mother lode. The Bowland-Hodder formation, a belt of shale that stretches across Britain’s midsection, holds more than 1,300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the British Geological Survey. That’s almost the same size as the Marcellus deposit under the Appalachian Mountains, the No. 1 U.S. shale gas find. The mineral is so impermeable that it yields only a fraction of its hydrocarbons to producers. The Marcellus is on course to give up about 9 percent, according to Pennsylvania State University. If the Bowland performs similarly, Britain will have enough gas to meet its needs for more than 40 years, data show. Such a windfall would be welcome in a country that expects to import 70 percent of its natural gas by 2020 as its North Sea reserves dwindle, says Michael Fallon, Britain’s energy minister. “Shale gas is coming to the U.K. one way or another,” says Fallon, Prime Minister David Cameron’s point man on shale gas development. “It would be far nicer if it came from underneath Britain rather than be imported from the U.S.” Later this year, the British government plans to issue a round of oil and gas exploration licenses for about 60 percent of England, Scotland and Wales. The shale boom is striking as the world’s leading economies struggle to find a balance between promoting economic growth and addressing climate change. The United States, the European Union and China, among others, have vowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades by relying more on wind, sunlight and other renewable resources. The European Commission has proposed cutting carbon dioxide emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Yet soaring demand for energy worldwide will require an investment of about $37 trillion over the next 21 years on new infrastructure for electricity and fuel production, the International Energy Agency said. Forecasting that renewable sources would account for just 18 percent of energy use by 2035, compared with 13 percent in 2011, it suggested the world may be entering a “Golden Age of Gas.” “We are definitely going to have to burn hydrocarbons for a considerable amount of time; we have no choice,” says Browne, who in a 1997 speech at Stanford University became the first chief executive of a major oil company to acknowledge that fossil fuels contributed to climate change. Even the green-leaning E.U. may find shale irresistible, says Fadel Gheit, an oil industry analyst at Oppenheimer. Natural gas, which is composed primarily of methane, emits half the carbon dioxide of coal when burned in power plants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. It could offer the 28-nation bloc relief from steep energy prices. European manufacturers pay more than twice what they would in the United States for electricity, the European Commission says. Then there’s the Russia angle. The E.U. imports about 30 percent of its natural gas from its neighbor to the east, with several pipelines traversing strife-torn Ukraine on Russia’s southwest flank. Natural gas futures in Germany, Britain and other European markets spiked as much as 10 percent as Russian troops took control of Ukraine’s Crimea region. Europe’s vulnerability contrasts with the energy security the United States has derived from its shale bonanza. Following approval from the Obama administration, American producers will begin exporting natural gas in 2015. Browne says the upheaval in Ukraine should spur European political leaders to clear the way for shale gas. “I hope this reminds people that having indigenous sources is a good thing,” he says. “John Browne is on the right track,” Gheit says. “Fracking has transformed our thinking in the U.S. about our energy future. And Europe will have to finally wake up and realize that it needs to make some hard choices about developing its own domestic resources.” Renewable-energy advocates say shale gas may deepen dependence on hydrocarbons and worsen global warming. The impact of methane, in its unburned form, on climate change is 20 times that of carbon dioxide, the EPA says. Fallon says Britain remains committed to renewable energy, citing the $110 million in investments it’s making to spur the development of offshore wind farms and other projects. Even if natural gas supplants coal in Britain or the E.U., the dirtier fossil fuel will be burned elsewhere, says Matthew Spencer, director of Green Alliance. U.S. coal exports to Brazil, Germany and other markets have doubled since fracking took off in 2005, as American utilities have opted for cheap natural gas. Spencer says the influx of shale gas may have the perverse effect of forcing coal producers to lower prices to compete. That, in turn, will make coal more attractive to burn, increasing carbon dioxide emissions, the No. 1 cause of atmospheric warming, the EPA says. “Even though gas is a cleaner fuel, the growth of shale runs a locomotive through our attempts to limit climate change,” Spencer says. “If shale gas development isn’t accompanied by a constraint of coal, it’s going to be a disaster.” Browne’s shale play vaults him into the center of yet another historic shift in the global energy industry. Only this time he’s not running a company with 97,000 employees that produced almost 4 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in more than 100 countries. Today, Browne is a partner at Riverstone, a private-equity firm with $27 billion invested in energy firms from biofuel makers to pipeline operators. In 2010, a Riverstone fund acquired a 41 percent stake in Cuadrilla for $58 million, and Browne joined its board. It is named after the team of helpers who aid the matador in a bullfight. Cuadrilla’s primary asset: the government-issued shale gas exploration license for a huge chunk of the Bowland deposit in Lancashire, in northwestern England. The company said it planned to apply to the county council for permits to frack eight exploratory wells there, the biggest such operation to date in Britain. The geology looks so promising that in June, Centrica, a publicly traded energy company, bought a 25 percent interest in Cuadrilla’s Bowland license for 40 million pounds and agreed to pay up to 120 million pounds in exploration costs. Cuadrilla paid 1,000 pounds for the license. Browne has become the face of fracking in Britain — so much so that the protesters at the drilling site near Manchester singled him out even though another company, IGas Energy, is the operator there. Browne has been steeped in the oil trade since he spent part of his childhood amid Iran’s oil fields. His father, John, worked for BP, and his mother, Paula, a Hungarian of Jewish descent who was imprisoned in Auschwitz, was a hatmaker. Browne says one of his most vivid boyhood memories is of a well fire that burned for more than a month. After earning a degree in physics from the University of Cambridge in 1969, Browne joined British Petroleum as a field engineer and was dispatched to the oil rush dawning on Alaska’s North Slope. Over 25 years, Browne managed some of BP’s most valued exploration and production projects, including the now-legendary Forties field in the North Sea and deep-water exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. Browne kicked off the era of the oil supermajor after he became chief executive in 1995. In 1998, he executed the $62 billion takeover of Amoco, the biggest oil deal of its kind up to then. The next year, Exxon acquired Mobil for $88 billion. Big Oil was in full swing. Browne broke from industry orthodoxy in 2000 by pledging to address global warming with investments in renewable-energy projects. He shortened the company’s official name to BP, adopted the slogan “beyond petroleum” and replaced the company’s shield logo with a sunburst in green, yellow and white. Finding oil remained paramount, and in the early 2000s, Browne — abetted by his friend Tony Blair, then prime minister — negotiated one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin to open Siberia to Western petroleum companies. That led to the formation in 2003 of TNK-BP, a joint venture that has since unwound and left the British company with a 20 percent stake in OAO Rosneft, Russia’s No. 1 oil concern. By 2006, Browne had become one of the most influential oilmen of his era and a member of the British establishment. He was ennobled by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001, when Blair was in office, as Lord Browne of Madingley, after a village near Cambridge where he lived. He served as president of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was a regular at the annual World Economic Forum. Then a spate of disasters battered his fortunes — and those of BP, which began to lose its green luster. In 2005, an explosion killed 15 BP workers at a refinery near Houston that had inadequate safety practices. The next year, a BP pipeline in Alaska dumped more than 212,000 gallons of crude onto the tundra. Those events foreshadowed others after Browne left BP, including the worst oil spill in history, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. In January 2007, Browne, a gay man who’d kept his sexual orientation a secret, faced a personal crisis. A former boyfriend gave an account of his relationship with the BP chief executive to the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Seeking an injunction to block its publication, Browne misled the court, saying that they’d met while jogging in a park rather than through an escort agency. He resigned as chief executive on May 1, 2007. 3,000 new wells a year Now, Browne will seek to overcome the opposition of many Britons. Because gas output from shale typically falls 70 percent after the first 12 months of operation, Cuadrilla and other operators would have to drill 2,000 to 3,000 new wells a year to match the annual volume of imported natural gas, says David King, the Foreign Office’s representative for climate change. “If you want to keep up production, you have to keep up fracking,” King told the House of Lords. British property owners don’t hold title to the oil and gas under their land — the Crown does. So drillers such as Cuadrilla can’t win grass-roots support by paying out royalties in exchange for drilling rights — a crucial instrument U.S. operators have used to lock up sites. At the Manchester area site operated by IGas, demonstrators have blocked an access road to slow delivery vehicles. “It’s going to be amazingly political,” says Garry White, a spokesman for Charles Stanley, a London investment firm that held 515,681 shares in IGas as of March 10. “As projects get delayed, operators will have to raise capital, so as a shareholder you have to ask whether you’ll get diluted out.” As of that date, IGas shares had returned 26 percent in 12 months. Browne says he would rather face public opprobrium, legal challenges and environmental regulations in Britain than the political uncertainty elsewhere. “This is the next place to go,” Browne says. “It’s easier than going to China, where there was a land-grab free-for-all, or Argentina, or India or South Africa. There are rules in Europe, and they are slavishly applied. We are quite sure we can operate within those rules.” Browne’s shale bet will be decided in a bucket-shaped piece of land called the Fylde that juts into the Irish Sea north of Liverpool. Framed by the gritty seaside city of Blackpool and the moors of the Bowland Fells, this coastal plain is quilted with rich pastureland, rural villages and some industry. The Fylde sits on a part of the Bowland shale that’s 6,000 feet thick. Cuadrilla has been testing the rock here since 2007. “We have no doubt there’s a lot of gas here,” says Andrew Quarles van Ufford, Cuadrilla’s technical director. In 2010, Cuadrilla’s operations in the Fylde got off to a shaky start when its drilling triggered two tremors registering 2.3 and 1.5 on the Richter scale. The events alarmed residents, and the government declared a moratorium to evaluate seismic risk, which has been lifted. According to a strategic environmental assessment released by the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change, if the company moves to full-scale production, tanker trucks hauling water and equipment will make dozens of trips daily to the well sites, which will teem with rigs and chemical storage tanks. Up to 18,750 cubic meters of water pumped into each well to frack the shale will come back to the surface as mud and wastewater, enough to fill eight Olympic-size swimming pools for each well. The assessment concludes that fracking may harm air quality, contaminate groundwater and despoil the landscape. It says regulators and local officials can prevent these adverse effects by making sure the wells are properly constructed and that wastewater is safely removed. That’s cold comfort for Andrew Pemberton, a farmer near a proposed fracking site. On a wet afternoon, Pemberton is churning up grass and beets for his 130 milk cows in a whirring machine. He’s anxious that if a well ruptured or wastewater spilled upstream, it may contaminate his pastures. What’s more, the Environment Agency found in 2011 that the flow-back water from Cuadrilla’s fracked well contained high levels of radium. “I’m not a bloody tree-hugger, but if I have to raise cows on radioactive grass, who’s going to buy my milk?” he says. “I’m out of business.” Browne says fracking and farming can coexist because the shale lies thousands of meters below the water table. By making sure the wells remain intact, there will be little danger that wastewater will leak near the surface, he says. “We’ll have to be very thoughtful here about how much land we use on top of the shale; this is not Texas,” he says. “Public pressure is an amazing innovator of technology.” But Browne says fracking is inevitable. “When you look at the balance of risk and reward,” he says, “it’s evident this is something that’s going to be done.” The full version of this Bloomberg Markets article appears in the magazine’s May issue.Throughout the past century, bathing suits have gotten smaller while skin cancer has become more common. Could the two trends possibly be related? A new article by researchers from New York University's Langone Medical Center examines skin cancer from social and cultural perspectives, including the trend of tanned skin, clothing styles, social norms and travel patterns in relation to melanoma incidence. Science of Us' Melissa Dahl writes: Advertisement: It's not like they're saying that swimsuit fashion trends are the only or even the major contributor to the rise of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Doctors are getting better at detecting the disease in its earliest stages, and patients themselves are more aware of the signs of skin cancer, but the NYU researchers had a hunch that wasn't the whole story. After studying old department store clothing catalogues, the researchers used the "rule of nines" -- a standardized system used to measure the percentage of body surface potentially affected by the sun -- to gauge sun exposure. They then charted those figures against the rate of melanoma diagnoses through the 20th century. The result was a clear correlation. The article itself is worth reading because the authors write eloquently on the changing trends: from porcelain beauty, to healthy glows, to tanned goddesses.Surgical treatment of tinnitus includes destructive procedures, neurectomies, stapedectomies and tympanosympathectomies. Translabyrinthine procedures for the removal of acoustic neuromas and sectioning of the eighth nerve to eliminate vertigo are analogous to cutting the eighth nerve as a surgical intervention for tinnitus. After surgical removal of acoustic tumours with excision of the auditory nerve in 414 patients, only 40% reported improvement in their tinnitus. Of 68 patients undergoing translabyrinthine eighth nerve section, 60 (80%) had tinnitus preoperatively. Improvement occurred in 45%, while 55% reported the condition to be the same or worse. In patients undergoing middle cranial fossa section of the vestibular nerve for vertigo or dizziness, most reported the tinnitus to be the same but a significant number felt that it was worse. Stapedectomy improves hearing in most patients but improves the symptom of tinnitus in only about half of the patients. Cochlear implant patients report an improvement in their tinnitus with use of the stimulator and implant. Implant procedures might therefore be used in patients who suffer from severe tinnitus. Surgical management of tinnitus, although successful in some cases, does not provide a valid and reliable mode of treatment for subjective tinnitus.2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Reddit Tumblr Digg Linkedin Stumbleupon Mail Print The Chicago police department is still refusing to release information regarding the covert cell phone tracking systems it uses, despite three lawsuits filed by privacy advocates. Freddy Martinez, who has filed two similar suits, filed an additional measure Thursday against the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. According to a press release from the the civil rights law firm Loevy and Loevy, the State’s Attorney has “willfully and intentionally violated FOIA by refusing to produce records related to the presentation of evidence obtained through use of cell site simulators on the basis that it would be too ‘burdensome’ and is insufficiently important to justify the work involved to produce the records.” The Chicago Police Department is one of 48 known law enforcement agencies in 20 states employing cellphone surveillance technologies such as Stingray, to collect data from phone calls, texts and more. According to a six-month investigation, the department bought their first Stingray in 2005 and has since added on upgrades such as AmberJack and KingFish, which pinpoint individual phones and analyze call patterns. According to the investigation, in addition to cell phone tracking technologies, the department has spent millions on equipment which includes facial recognition software, license plate readers, one of the world’s largest networked systems of cameras and upgrades to web-based record keeping systems. The investigation found that the technologies were primarily being deployed to monitor communities of color and activists and protests. 88 percent of squad cars equipped with license plate scanning technology are assigned to districts with majority non-white populations, the investigation found. In addition, the report found that 90 percent of Police Observation Devices are located in communities of color, mostly on the south and west sides. These “POD” cameras, pictured above, are devices posted on street lamps and in other public areas marked by blue flashing lights. Many citizens call them “virtual deputies.” The Chicago Police Department has spent $120,332 in legal fees fighting Martinez’s lawsuits to obtain more information about cell phone trackers, and has a rich history of stonewalling FOIA requests. Late last month, a lawsuit was filed on behest of the same civil rights organization against the department for continually refusing to comply with requests geared towards gathering evidence about the alleged perjury of two officers accused of lying under oath. According to that suit, Officer Allyson Bogdalek confessed to Cook County State’s Attorneys that she committed perjury, destroyed evidence, and conspired with her partner, Officer Dominick Catinella, in the criminal case of State of Illinois v. Ranceallen Hankerson. Neither officer faced criminal charges or disciplinary action, and the State’s Attorney’s Office continues to flee from transparency. Procuring information about how police are using surveillance technologies is at the core of why activists like Martinez are filing FOIA requests and lawsuits. The department has only given partial answers to the requests containing inconsequential and for the most part already public information about the departments surveillance purchases. “A culture of secrecy leads to abuse,” Martinez said. “This lawsuit is a step toward understanding how evidence is gathered and whether the means by which it was obtained is being kept from the accused and the public.” The CPD and the State’s Attorney’s Office have both defended denying the requests or only providing partial documents on the basis that it would be “too burdensome.” “The public can’t perform its duty of monitoring government or protect itself from Constitutional violations when law enforcement continues to hide virtually all details about this technology and when it’s being used,” Martinez’s attorney, Matt Topic said. The Supreme Court has ruled using GPS devices to track people without warrants is unconstitutional. They have ruled that warrantless cellphone searches are unconstitutional. But they have not particularly looked at warantless cellphone tracking. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals however, ruled last year that individuals have no reasonable expectation of privacy over their location data. The decision states that location data is a “business record” created by private companies with the implicit consent of cell phone users and therefore are not subject to privacy protections. The rationale was that cell phone companies are not required by the government to create or retain this data and that citizens are not required by the government to carry or use cell phones, thus making this data subject to the Third Party Doctrine and removing any expectation of privacy. A ruling in June of last year, from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, contradicted that ruling finding that police “must obtain a warrant before collecting cellphone location data.” The opinion affirms that acquiring records of what cell towers a phone is connected to, and when it was connected to them, constitutes a Fourth Amendment search. In its reasoning, the court noted that while the Fourth Amendment has traditionally been applied to property rights, it’s gradually expanded to protect much more, including communications. “In the 20th century, a second view gradually developed,” the court wrote, “that is, that the Fourth Amendment guarantee protects the privacy rights of the people without respect to whether the alleged ‘search’ constituted a trespass against property rights.” While the 11th Circuit ruling can’t overturn the Fifth Circuit ruling because of their separate jurisdictions, it adds critical precedent to a privacy question that’s still far from decided across the country. The ACLU has identified 48 agencies in 20 states and the District of Columbia that own stingrays, but because many agencies continue to shroud their purchase and use of stingrays in secrecy, much is still unknown regarding the use of stingrays by law enforcement agencies nationwide. To see the police departments in your state that have been documented using stingrays CLICK HERE. 2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Reddit Tumblr Digg Linkedin Stumbleupon Mail Print EPN Rat Tailed Spud, Scepter, Baton, Mace, Colbert County, Alabama, With Coa $17000.0 Museum 1861 Military Civil War Us Army 18th Ny Infantry Band Conductor Baton $7500.0 Ferrari Factory 60th Anniversary Relay Baton #5/500 $5499.0 Ferrari Factory 60th Anniversary Relay Baton #103/500 Spectacular $4999.0 Original Repousse "toussaint Baton Fatra" Unchained Slave Haitian Primitive Art $2500.0Madrid city hall apologized Monday to parents for exposing their children to a violent puppet show, but says jailing the puppeteers for allegedly praising terrorism was disproportionate. Puppeteers Alfonso Lazaro de la Fuente and Raul Garcia Perez were detained without possibility of bail on Friday for using a sign saying, "Long Live Alka ETA," in a word-play reference to Spain's armed Basque group ETA and al-Qaida. The satirical theatre piece entitled, The Witch and Don Cristobal, also featured the hanging of a judge's effigy, the stabbing of a nun with a crucifix and police beatings, prompting parents attending with children to complain. The show was commissioned by the city as part of Carnival celebrations. .<a href="https://twitter.com/elespanolcom">@elespanolcom</a> Marionetas de "La Bruja y Don Cristóbal. A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" ¿Teatro infantil? <a href="https://t.co/GVTvP4EjJH">pic.twitter.com/GVTvP4EjJH</a> —@silvia0907 On Saturday, a judge charged them with "glorifying terrorism." Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena, 71, said the show's content was "offensive" and inappropriate for children, but that jailing the puppeteers without bail was
public policymaking and resource allocation. But let’s look at how much money Maharashtra has already put in public irrigation during the 10 years of 10th and 11th Plans (FY03-12), and what came of it. To make them comparable, we converted yearly expenditures to 2014-15 prices. The cumulative public expenditure for irrigation over these 10 years in Maharashtra works out to Rs 1,18,235 crore. During this period, the irrigation potential created (IPC) was 8.9 lakh ha and irrigation potential utilised (IPU) was just 5.9 lakh ha. This gives us the cost of IPU at Rs 20 lakh/ ha. Compare this with Gujarat, which spent only Rs 46,888 crore (at 2014-15 prices) over the same period and created irrigation potential of 22.5 lakh ha and utilised 17.3 lakh ha, with an IPU cost of only Rs 2.71 lakh/ ha. For MP, the similar cost works out to Rs 4.26 lakh/ ha over the same period. So the real issue is not that Maharashtra spent less on irrigation. It’s why its costs are so high (Rs 20 lakh/ ha) compared to MP (Rs 4.26 lakh/ ha) and Gujarat (Rs 2.71 lakh/ ha). Is it really topography or the massive leakages in irrigation systems? Although one would tend to agree with Gadkari that more resources are needed in Maharashtra’s irrigation, without fixing leaks, pouring more money will not have the desired results. Maharashtra needs a white paper scrutinising its irrigation expenditures and irrigation potential, created and utilised, in comparison with similar states to find out why such huge investments haven’t yielded results. Let’s now turn to the issue of sugarcane. Just one fact should expose the story. Sugarcane occupies about 4 per cent of gross cropped area in Maharashtra’s agriculture but takes away almost two-thirds of the state’s irrigation water. Such a huge inequity doesn’t exist in any other state. In a market economy, a progressively rising price of irrigation water, with increasing usage of water (and power), can solve this anomaly. But when water and power for agriculture are highly subsidised, it artificially creates excess demand, triggering a scramble for these scarce resources. No wonder, the more powerful win and take away the potential prosperity of others. The fact that cotton area in Maharashtra is just 3 per cent irrigated, while sugarcane is 100 per cent irrigated, and cotton needs just four-five irrigations while sugarcane is flooded with 25-30, tells the sordid story. In Gujarat, cotton is 57 per cent irrigated. No surprise then that Gujarat’s yields are double that of Maharashtra. What can be done on the demand management side? The government has already decided that in the next five years, no new sugar factories can come up in Marathwada. It’s a welcome step, but what about the 20 sugar factories that came up in the last three years? When water is scarce, the only way to manage its demand is either by raising its price progressively with use, or by rationing quantity. Can the government move in that direction, giving everyone water on the same per ha basis and letting them trade thereafter? Short of that is making drip irrigation almost compulsory for sugarcane in Maharashtra. Can the government ask sugar factories to ensure at least 75 per cent of sugarcane area is brought under drip in the next three years, else they lose the right to operate? Drip will save almost 40-50 per cent water. Historically, eastern UP and Bihar were sugarcane centres, which are naturally endowed with a lot of water. But the licensing priority to cooperatives brought sugar to a belt that doesn’t have ample water. So the water conflicts are obvious. Advertising Finally, what about the HC’s decision on IPL matches? One kilogram of sugar uses more than 2,000 litres of water. Only three tonnes of sugar, costing about Rs 1 lakh, could have supplied the equivalent water for IPL matches that were supposed to generate Rs 100 crore in revenue. How much emotion, hype, drama and rationality there is in these policies and pronouncements, readers can judge for themselves.The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has ruled a shooting Monday morning a suicide. It happened at a residence near the 11000 block of Mount Potosi Canyon Road around 11:15 am. Police said a bail bond company came to arrest a man in his trailer. When they knocked on the door, a woman came out and the man stayed inside. The bondsman heard rattling from inside the trailer and then a gun shot. The bondsman then returned fire since it appeared they were being shot at. The bondsman then heard another gun shot from inside the trailer and then called Las Vegas police. Homicide detectives were not called to the scene. The event was initially investigated as suspicious because the bondsman returned fire. The incident was a joint investigation between FBI, Bureau of Land Management and Las Vegas police.Baked milk Baked milk (Russian: топлёное молоко, Ukrainian: пряжене молоко, Belarusian: адтопленае малако) is a variety of boiled milk that has been particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.[1][2][3] It is made by simmering milk on low heat for eight hours or longer. In rural areas baked milk has been produced by leaving a jug of boiled milk in an oven for a day or for a night until it is coated with a brown crust. Prolonged exposure to heat causes reactions between the milk's amino acids and sugars, resulting in the formation of melanoidin compounds that give it a creamy color and caramel flavor. A great deal of moisture evaporates, resulting in a change of consistency. The stove in a traditional Russian loghouse (izba) sustains "varying cooking temperatures based on the placement of the food inside the oven".[4] Today, baked milk is produced on an industrial scale. Like scalded milk, it is free of bacteria and enzymes and can be stored safely at room temperature for up to forty hours. Home-made baked milk is used for preparing a range of cakes, pies, and cookies. Fermented baked milk [ edit ] Ryazhenka, or varenets is the fermented baked milk, a sort of traditional Ukrainian yoghurt. It is a common breakfast drink in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. In peasant communities, the varenets has been made in the traditional East Slavic oven by "baking sour milk to a golden brown color".[5] In the Soviet era, the name "ryazhenka" became to be applied to the government-produced creme-colored drink without the skin.[6] See also [ edit ] Caramelized sweetened condensed milk, or dulce de leche, is a similar preparation used in home-made pastries, often prepared by prolonged heating of unopened cans of condensed milk. List of baked goodsYou may walk past it every day, but there's still plenty to learn about Madison Square Garden. (Credit: Getty Images / Bruce Bennett) http://www.amny.com/secrets-of-new-york/secrets-of-madison-square-garden-1.7743972 A peek behind the scenes of a New York institution. https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.7756624.1547061285!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpg Secrets of Madison Square Garden 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001 Website The Great Roman Hippodrome. Gilmore's Garden. Madison Square Garden, the arena Knicks and Rangers fans and all NYC concert-goers know and love, has been renamed, rebuilt and uprooted many times since it was first introduced to the city in 1879. It has seen circuses, beauty contests, horseback riding, boxing matches and bicycle races, and was home to one of the first indoor ice rinks in the United States. And when it took on the name it still goes by today, MSG was an open-air arena near Madison Square Park. But even though it no longer resembles the modest, 10,000-seat venue it once was, the Garden has managed to hold onto its mystique as the oldest arena in the NHL, the second-oldest in the NBA, and a veritable New York City tradition. Here are some things even regular visitors may not know about it. (Information provided by Madison Square Garden) Credit: Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos Locker room rituals The Knicks' and Rangers' locker rooms are round for a reason: Hall-of-famer and former Rangers captain Mark Messier suggested it would facilitate team unity back in the 1990s. The shape makes it easy for every player to look into the eyes of their teammates. The athletes abide strictly by their superstitions, even when the cameras are off... no one-- seriously, no one-- is allowed to walk on the locker room's team logos. Credit: Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos One-of-a-kind bridges The Chase Bridges are unique to Madison Square Garden and are suspended from the arena's ceiling, providing fans in those seats with some of the most distinctive views of any arena in the world. The Chase Bridges are inspired by the suspension bridges around New York City and are 233 feet long and 22 feet wide. It's a good thing they're hanging securely, because they weigh more than 325 tons each. Credit: MSG Photos Lucky No. 4 The original Madison Square Garden opened in 1879 near Madison Square Park and had a seating capacity of 10,000. P.T. Barnum used it for his circuses and called it the Great Roman Hippodrome. That was followed by a second iteration in 1890, which was rocked by scandal when the architect who built it, Stanford White, was murdered in its rooftop restaurant over his affair with married actress Evelyn Nesbit. The third, the first to move away from Madison Square Park, was built in just 249 days in 1925 on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. The fourth, the Garden we know today, opened on Feb. 11, 1968 but completed three years of top-to-bottom renovations in 2013. Credit: Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos Look Up! The iconic MSG ceiling is the only arena ceiling in the world that is concave, rather than convex. It features sound absorptive acoustic insulation, allowing for the sound quality that makes it a concert mecca. The 48 bridge-like steel cables that run between the ceiling panels connect in the center in a tension ring in order to eliminate the need for any visible support beams, which gives fans an unobstructed view from every single seat in the arena-- yes, even the nosebleeds. Credit: Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos A benefit behemoth Madison Square Garden has hosted some of the biggest benefit concerts in history, including "The Concert for Bangladesh," which was the first benefit concert of its kind, "The Concert for New York City" following the events of 9/11 and "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: New York City's Concert for the Gulf Coast" following Hurricane Katrina. But the largest event of all was "12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief," which raised $50 million for the cause. Credit: Angela Cranford/MSG Photos Beer, here! Madison Square Garden has four beer rooms that serve 521 beer lines, each labeled with a stand and tap number. The lines connect to 1,042 kegs throughout the arena and serve 33 different types of beer, including 17 domestic, 16 imported, gluten-free and non-alcoholic beers. Every beer room is kept at precisely 36 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that each brew served is perfectly crisp. Credit: Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos 366 days a year You may have noticed a retrospective photo exhibit lining the Madison Level Concourse that highlights a memorable event to mark each day of the year as an ode to MSG's history. But what you probably didn't know is that the display is called Garden 366, because it includes 366 moments-- including an extra day for Leap Year. Credit: George Kalinsky for Madison Square Garden All the lonely Beatles All four Beatles have performed at Madison Square Garden, but they never performed there at the same time. John Lennon's second to last performance ever was at MSG, when he came out to perform with Elton John in November 1974 as a surprise guest.U.S. President Barack Obama will hold one-on-one talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of next week's Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, the White House announced Thursday. The meeting, set for March 31, will "present an opportunity to advance U.S.-China cooperation on a range of issues of mutual interest, while also enabling President Obama and President Xi to address areas of disagreement constructively," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said without elaborating. North Korea is expected to be a key topic for their meeting as Pyongyang has been ratcheting up tensions with threats of attacks, claims of breakthroughs in its nuclear and missile programs and a series of missile firings into the sea. South Korea says the North could conduct yet another nuclear test, its fifth, at any time. China is considered the only country with any meaningful influence over Pyongyang as the main provider of food and energy aid as well as diplomatic protection for the impoverished, provocative regime. But Beijing has often showed reluctance to use that influence as it fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, an influx of refugees into the country, instability on its border and ultimately, the emergence of a pro-U.S. nation on its doorsteps. After the North's fourth nuclear test in January, Beijing initially balked at imposing harsh sanctions on Pyongyang, but later signed on to the toughest-ever package of U.N. Security Council sanctions after the North's test of long-range missile technology in February. (Yonhap)“I don’t think there has been another instance where, in meaningful numbers, his supporters have opposed him like this,” said Glenn Greenwald, a Salon.com writer who opposes Mr. Obama’s new position. “For him to suddenly turn around and endorse this proposal is really a betrayal of what so many of his supporters believed he believed in.” Jane Hamsher, a liberal blogger who also opposes immunity for the phone companies, said she had been flooded with messages from Obama supporters frustrated with his new stance. “The opposition to Obama’s position among his supporters is very widespread,” said Ms. Hamsher, founder of the Web site firedoglake.com. “His promise to filibuster earlier in the year, and the decision to switch on that is seen as a real character problem. I know people who are really very big Obama supporters are very disillusioned.” Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. One supporter, Robert Arellano, expressed his anger on the Obama site. “I have watched your campaign with genuine enthusiasm,” Mr. Arellano wrote, “and I have given you money. For the first time in my life, I have sensed the presence of a presidential candidate who might actually bring some meaningful change to the corrupt cesspool of national politics. But your about-face on the FISA bill genuinely angers and alarms me.” For now, the campaign is trying to put a positive spin on the new FISA fight among its supporters. “The fact that there is an open forum on BarackObama.com where supporters can say whether they agree or disagree speaks to a strength of our campaign,” said Bill Burton, a campaign spokesman. Several activists and bloggers predicted that Mr. Obama’s move toward the center on some issues could sharply reduce the intensity of support he has enjoyed from liberal activists. Such enthusiasm helped power his effort to secure the Democratic nomination, and it has been one of his campaign’s most important tools for fund-raising and organizing around the country. Markos Moulitsas, a liberal blogger and founder of the Daily Kos Web site, said he had decided to cut back on the amount of money he would contribute to the Obama campaign because of the FISA reversal. “I will continue to support him,” Mr. Moulitsas said in an interview. “But I was going to write him a check, and I decided I would rather put that money with Democrats who will uphold the Constitution.” Greg Craig, a Washington lawyer who advises the Obama campaign, said Tuesday in an interview that Mr. Obama had decided to support the compromise FISA legislation only after concluding it was the best deal possible. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “This was a deliberative process, and not something that was shooting from the hip,” Mr. Craig said. “Obviously, there was an element of what’s possible here. But he concluded that with FISA expiring, that it was better to get a compromise than letting the law expire.”Photo Wingnut welfare is an important, underrated feature of the modern U.S. political scene. I don’t know who came up with the term, but anyone who follows right-wing careers knows whereof I speak: the lavishly-funded ecosystem of billionaire-financed think tanks, media outlets, and so on provides a comfortable cushion for politicians and pundits who tell such people what they want to hear. Lose an election, make economic forecasts that turn out laughably wrong, whatever — no matter, there’s always a fallback job available. Obviously this reality has important incentive effects. It encourages conservatives to espouse ever-cruder positions, because they don’t need to be taken seriously outside their closed universe. But it also, I’ve been noticing, makes them remarkably lazy. Thus, Matt O’Brien marvels at Stephen Moore’s latest, with its “cherry-picking and unsupported assertions.” What O’Brien doesn’t note is that these assertions aren’t new; Moore and others have made them many times before, and they’ve been thoroughly debunked many times, for example here and here. No, revenues didn’t experience miraculous growth under Reagan; if you adjust, as you obviously should, for inflation and population growth, they grew less in the Reagan years than they did under Ford/Carter, and much less than under Clinton. Yes, the share of taxes paid by the rich rose — but only because of soaring inequality, which raised the share of the wealthy in income. And so on. What’s remarkable, then, is that Moore doesn’t even try to come up with new distortions. He just rolls out the old debunked stuff, ignoring the criticisms. There are many adjectives you could apply to this work, but the one that stands out for me is just plain lazy. But then again, why not? The audience for this kind of thing doesn’t want actual insight, it just wants affirmation of what it wants to hear, and it doesn’t care how embarrassingly you screw up as long as you’re ideologically on the right side. Someone like Moore effectively faces a 100 percent marginal tax rate on intellectual effort — no matter how much or how little time he puts in getting facts and numbers right, it will make no difference at all to his career. And the Heritage Foundation gets what it pays for.March 15, 2013 ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan and football defensive coordinator Greg Mattison have agreed to a three-year contract extension, director of athletics Dave Brandon announced today (Friday, March 15). Mattison is entering the final season of his original three-year deal, and the extension will keep him with the Wolverines through the 2016 season. "Michigan is such a special place and it's exciting to know I'll have the opportunity to coach at the greatest program in college football for the next four years, and hopefully long after," Mattison said. "Part of the reason I came back here is because I wanted to work with Brady (Hoke) again, and every day I'm thankful I made that decision. There's not a better coach or man to work for. "But right now we're focused on this year and we're working every day for these kids." "Greg has proven to be one of the top coordinators in the country, college or pro, and he is regarded as one of the best recruiters in college football," said Brandon. "Greg's resume speaks for itself, and he has done great things with our defense in his two years with the program. He has great passion for the University of Michigan and for the young men that represent our team. We are glad to have Greg in the fold for the foreseeable future." Since his return to Michigan in 2011, Mattison's defenses have ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring defense, passing defense and total defense. In his first season, Mattison coordinated a Wolverines defense that helped U-M to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory. The defense ranked second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally in scoring defense, surrendering 17.4 points per game, while it allowed 322.2 yards per game, ranking fourth in the conference and 17th in the country. The Wolverines also led the Big Ten in fourth-down conversion percentage (38.1 percent), red zone defense (68.3 percent scoring efficiency), turnovers forced (29) and fumbles recovered (20), while they ranked third in rushing defense (131.7 yards per game) and third-down conversion percentage (36.4 percent). Mattison was named a Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year finalist following the season for turning around a unit that in 2010 ranked 108th nationally in scoring defense, 110th in total defense, 95th in rushing defense and 112th in passing defense. In 2012, Mattison's defense allowed 19.8 points per game, fourth in the Big Ten and 20th nationally. The Wolverines surrendered 320.0 yards per game, ranking second in the conference and 13th in the FBS, and 169.5 passing yards per game, second in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in the country. Heading into the Outback Bowl game against South Carolina, the Wolverines held the nation's longest streak with 18 consecutive games without allowing 250 passing yards. In February 2013, Mattison was named the ESPN RecruitingNation Recruiter of the Year. "We're excited Greg will remain at Michigan for the next four-plus years," said head coach Brady Hoke. "What he's done for this program, our defense and for our kids on and off the field over the last two years, he's the best there is. I've known Greg and Ann and their kids for my entire coaching career, and I'm personally thrilled they will be here for a long time." Mattison first coached in Ann Arbor from 1992-96, when he mentored the defensive line and spent the final two seasons as defensive coordinator. He returned in 2011 after spending three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2009-10 he coordinated one of the NFL's top defensive squads after coaching the team's linebackers in 2008. Prior to his first foray into the NFL ranks, Mattison spent more than 30 years at the collegiate level, most recently as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the University of Florida for three seasons (2005-07). His defenses ranked among the top 10 nationally in rushing defense each of his three seasons. Mattison helped the Gators win the 2006 national championship and SEC championship. His defense held Ohio State to 82 yards of total offense in a 41-14 victory in the BCS National Championship game. Mattison spent eight seasons (1997-2004) at Notre Dame, and prior to his initial stint at Michigan, he also held coaching stints at Texas A&M (1989-91), Navy (1987-88), Western Michigan (1982-86), Northwestern (1978-80), Cornell (1977) and Illinois (1976). Mattison was head coach at Logan High School in La Crosse, Wis., for two seasons (1974-75). He began his coaching career as head coach at Riverdale High School in Muscoda, Wis. (1971-73). He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1971. He was team captain for the football and wrestling teams as a junior and senior. Mattison earned All-America honors in wrestling and was named the Offensive MVP for the football team as a senior. Mattison and his wife, Ann, have two adult children, Lisa and Bryan. Lisa was a three-time All-Big East selection as a member of the Notre Dame softball team. Bryan was a two-time captain and three-year starter at defensive end for the University of Iowa football team and is currently an offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs. Contact: Justin Dickens (734) 763-4423People protest against the appointment of white nationalist alt-right media mogul, former Breitbart News head Stephen Bannon, to be chief strategist of the White House by president-elect Donald Trump near City Hall in Los Angeles on November 16, 2016. Bannon -- who played a central role in Trump's victorious campaign -- is on leave from his role as chairman of the Breitbart website, seen by critics as a haven for white supremacists. / AFP PHOTO / DAVID MCNEWDAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images I will never again use the term “political correctness.” Whatever rhetorical value the term may have once had is far more than offset by what has been unleashed in the name of resistance to it since the presidential election. I have made no secret over the years of my conviction that the sensitivities of individuals or members of various group should not be permitted to chill free speech on college campuses. I have the scars to show for speaking out against overdoing the idea of microaggression, the regulation of Halloween costumes and the prosecution of students for taking part in sombrero parties – all of which have struck me as “political correctness” run amok. But the events of the last week are giving me pause about that term and its usage and the complex issues underlying it. It’s not that I now think speech codes are wise or that we should stamp out microaggressions wherever they are perceived. Rather, my reaction is to the way President-elect Donald Trump has been heard during the campaign and the terrifying events his election has set off. The widespread perception is something like this: Trump has vowed to ban Muslims from entering the country and to force deportation of Mexicans. He has ridiculed the disabled. He has accepted without criticism the enthusiastic support of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups that were previously on the fringes of society. He has invoked standard anti-Semitic tropes in his political advertising. And he has made clear that he believes grabbing and groping women is appropriate behavior. Black students, gay students, Hispanic students, Muslim students, disabled students, female students – all of them now fear that the basic security and acceptance on which they relied is at risk. Help lines are flooded with calls. Those who seek to count hateful incidents report an upsurge. I cannot convince myself that that fear is irrational. Personal experience has brought home to me the pervasive change since the election. Painted swastikas have defaced the middle school that my twin daughters attended and the college another daughter now attends. At a different university where my daughter studies, all the black freshmen were sent emails with pictures depicting lynchings. Donald Trump says the United States is too preoccupied with being politically correct. Here's how he bashes the idea of being too PC. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) In the face of all this, the President-elect and his staff condemn those who march in protest over his election but as of yet have not forcefully condemned those overt acts of racism, sexism and bigotry the election has stimulated. They have allowed, without adequate response and rejection, the celebration of victory to metastasize into something dark and evil. It is surely wrong to hold the President-elect personally responsible for all the words and deeds of all who support him. Equally, the President-elect has a moral obligation to stand up for tolerance and against intolerance whatever its source. The fight for academic freedom and for ideological diversity on college campuses should and will go on. But given what opposition to “political correctness” has licensed, it time to retire the term. More importantly, democracy does not mean electrocracy. Winning an election does not entitle one to upend our basic values. The refusal to tolerate blatant racism, bigotry and misogyny are beyond compromise. The first obligation of anyone currently in a leadership position is not to find common ground with our new President-elect now that the ballots have been counted and the election is over. It is instead to once again make it possible for all who live in our country to feel safe. Lawrence H. Summers, the Charles W. Eliot university professor at Harvard, is a former treasury secretary and director of the National Economic Council in the White House. He writes occasional posts on Wonkblog about issues of national and international economics and policymaking.Hey everybody, it’s been a while since I’ve created a nutrition-related post… but the time has come for me to start unloading info off my brain. I’ve been focusing on making YouTube videos to help people with mobility or strength training, but nutrition is just as important in regards to health, especially as one gets older, so I’m happy to be writing about this! If you’re a long-time reader of my blog, you’ll know that I lost a bunch of fat by simply counting my calories and making sure I was eating less than I needed calorie-wise. I used the app called MyFitnessPal to easily log the foods I put in my mouth to know how many calories I was eating. If I stayed under a specific number of calories on average throughout the week, then I lost weight. If I ate more than I needed, I gained weight. I made a massive blog post about with progress pics, stats and everything I learned from that experience. As a result of counting calories meticulously for a couple years, I ended up knowing the calories of everything by heart without even needing a food scale anymore. I could now look at a Hass Avocado and know whether it’s 180grams or 220 grams just by looking at it. I could see a piece of chicken or steak and closely estimate how many ounces it is and so forth. (Btw, a food scale is only $10 and very helpful when counting calories!) So for a very long time, I had the calories in control, to the point of not needing to count calories anymore. But for the most part, I was still eating the Standard American Diet which is very high in carbohydrates/sugar. Isn’t it weird that the acronym for the stereotypical diet of Americans is SAD? Well, cause it is sad. (And hey, Australians, you are included in this as well.) I noticed that for all of last year (2015), I seemed to have a blanket of fat around my midsection that was proving difficult to get rid of compared to the previous years. And if I ate at a deficit for too long, I noticed a pattern of joint pains cropping up and my will power was not the same as it was before. Was I getting … old? No way! I was also having issues with binge-eating at night after working out. My initial solution to not overeating late at night was to simply go to sleep an hour or two earlier. That helped tremendously, but the huge light bulb moment was when I realized, the now-extremely obvious pattern: the carbs were making me crave more carbs and making my appetite insatiable. Let’s review the hierarchy of nutritional priorities The above pyramid created by Andy Morgan shows that calories are the most important factor in determining someones weight. For example, you could be “eating clean” and be taking supplements (protein powder, caffeine, etc) and play with meal timing (eating within 30 minutes post workout, practicing intermittent fasting, etc) but if weight loss is your goal and the calories are still greater than you’re expending, then you’re still going to gain weight. On the flip-side, it’s true that doing something like intermittent fasting (IF) may help you stay within your caloric goal just by virtue of you limiting the hours which you can eat during the day… but my point is that it’s the reduction for the weight loss to occur in that scenario. And just because you do IF, it doesn’t automatically mean weight loss is guaranteed. So my point is, the calories still need to be in order. That’s why I like calorie-counting. It pretty much guarantees that I’m going to lose weight if I stay within a goal. It also makes me aware of how often I go for food. What makes me go for food. (What is my trigger?) And how much am I really eating? But, there’s more to appetite and the psychology behind food and food addiction that calorie counting doesn’t address. All calories are not equal Calories come from three macronutrients: As you see above, every gram of fat has more than double the caloric density of carbs or protein. So, it’s easy to shun fat and say, “Oh I can’t eat fat! I’ll get fat if I do! They are so heavy in calories!” and write them off completely thinking it’s going to be very easy to overeat calories if you eat too much fat. But if you’re not eating fat, then you’re most likely eating carbs, which is what the stereotypical diet contains. And here’s the reality beyond just knowing calories per gram: Protein and fat are highly satiating. Go ahead, eat that entire avocado which happens to be mostly fat and tell me you’re not feeling substantially full. Fat and protein also take longer to empty out from the stomach so it makes you feel fuller for a longer time. Go ahead, eat that entire avocado which happens to be mostly fat and tell me you’re not feeling substantially full. Fat and protein also take longer to empty out from the stomach so it makes you feel fuller for a longer time. Carbs, on the other hand have the opposite effect: Carbs make you crave more carbs. When it comes to refined carbs, they are often-times literally addicting. The USDA pyramid is a joke Who in their right mind would recommend 11 servings of BREAD per DAY? That’s a half loaf of bread a day! Bread isn’t even that nutritious! It’s mostly made of refined flour (pure sugar) that they “fortify” or “enrich” with artificially added vitamins and minerals because it’s such a poor source of nutrition to begin with. And those 100-calorie snack packets are a scam! Most of them are pure sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which will do nothing but make you more hungry. It’s the overconsumption of sugar/carbs that is contributing to the obesity and diabetes epidemic. The prevalency of massive amounts of carbs in the STANDARD AMERICAN DIET is making people fat! South Park had an episode where they comically said, “Flip the pyramid upside down and we get the true pyramid.” Turns out, they aren’t too far from the truth, even though it’s supposed to be a comedy. So with this information in mind, I’ve been refining my diet for the past several months and experimenting with the “ketogenic” diet which is a very low carb diet. I have made fantastic progress in regards to my physique and overall well being. The interesting thing about this “keto” diet is that even when people are told they could eat however much they want but must practice carbohydrate restriction and replace the carbs with fat, they will tend to naturally eat less calories than they need until their weight stabilizes because they won’t feel hunger as often. Isn’t that interesting? I find it fascinating. It tells us that not all foods and the calories they contain are equal. Some foods blunt appetite while others make your appetite ravenous. And surprise, 80% or more of the items in a super market are almost entirely carbs! Anyway, I hope this was interesting to you because this post was meant to be the precursor to the next blog post which is about everything I have learned about the ketogenic diet, including how to do it practically and my progress pics! People need to know about this correlation between having a carbohydrate-rich diet and overeating, and why low carb, ketogenic diets can help many people. Keep on reading!The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutras community. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company. In the past few years, I have noticed a fascination in the game industry with architecture as a field that could be potentially helpful to the way we design. As a game developer with two degrees in architecture I have likewise seen the connections between the two fields. As an undergraduate architecture student I began making small video games with friends – creating art with the design software I used for classes. On the suggestion of some of my studio-mates, I began utilizing what I learned about game design in my class projects. I felt that architecture, like games, had a symbiotic relationship with its users and that well designed game levels had much in common with the work of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, I.M. Pei, and others. Eventually, my work with both fields culminated in a graduate thesis on the intersections between games and architecture. After grad school, I became a game developer and continued my research into the ways architectural theory could be applied to level design. This work has allowed me to write several articles, give a few conference talks, and now publish a book. Released on June 12th by CRC Press, An Architectural Approach to Level Design integrates architectural and spatial design theory with the field of level design. The book explores the principles of level design through the context and history of architecture, providing information useful to both academics and game development professionals. Presenting architectural techniques and theories for level designers to use in their own work, practical elements of how designers construct space are addressed along with experiential elements of how and why humans interact with this space. Throughout the text, readers learn skills for spatial layout, evoking emotion through gamespaces, and creating better levels through architectural theory. This article contains several excerpts from the book showing basic architectural elements that can be applied to practical level design applications along with illustrations from the book taken from my own gameplay and design journals. These sections prepare the reader for further explorations of methods for visual communication, producing emotional responses in players, encouraging social interaction, and other things important to game worlds. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing it. The book can be purchased at http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466585416 Ways of Seeing for Level Design – from Chapter 1: A Brief History of Architecture and Level Design In order to fully understand spatial design principles for level design, it is necessary to analyze precedents from both real world architecture and
and hike up hiring for the understaffed utility. First and foremost, Rainwater said the new executive director - as well as the interim, Edwards - should stay out of the utility's downtown main office on St. Joseph Street and be an constant presence at the Carrollton water and power plant. Among the many problems that plagued the utility during floods on July 22 and Aug. 5 was a communication breakdown, stemming in part from "a certain complacency that occurs" when the executive director posts up at the St. Joseph Street office, Rainwater said. "They need to be out in the field," Rainwater said, "not in there. Period." All together, Rainwater said emergency repairs to the power system costing about $50 million need to be completed before hurricane season. They include roughly $19 million to bring three downed power turbines back online, plus a nearly $12 million payment on the purchase of five backup generators the utility says it successfully tested at the Carrollton plant Thursday. Add nearly $15 million more to cover rental agreements for other generators. Edwards will also need to keep a handle on payments for several labor contracts, including for Rainwater's emergency management team and for contractors that provided emergency operations personnel. The contracts, which include two upcoming reports on the utility's facilities and what caused the summer floods, will cost more than $15 million, Rainwater said. "We are monitoring the contracts very closely," Rainwater said last week. "We recognize these are revenues generated by the Sewerage & Water Board and paid by the citizens, so the team takes it very seriously." Aside from big-ticket equipment repairs, Rainwater said immediate attention is required for staff hiring, training, procedures and compensation to bolster the Sewerage & Water Board in the future. Specifically, he recommended a rewrite of the utility's organizational chart; contracting out temporary staff positions; creating employee job training and worksite safety programs; keeping cleaner records of staff decisions; drafting standard operating procedures; and giving workers at pump stations basic equipment such as radios, land line telephone, computers and cellular access. "Those are things that might sound simple," Rainwater said, "but they do not exist today." Even if strides are made over the next few months, Rainwater said they will only be stop-gap measures meant to ready the city ahead of hurricane season. Long-term changes will have to focus on what to do with the Sewerage & Water Board's ancient power system, which creates outdated 25-cycle electricity generated from steam. "There are no experts on 25-cycle power," Rainwater said. "They don't exist anymore." Mayor Landrieu, speaking at last week's board meeting, argued that utility officials ought to start huddling on how to ditch 25-cycle power and move the entire system to modern 60-cycle power. But doing so will be expensive, Landrieu said, hinting that the utility and city leaders may have to ask voters to help pay for solutions. "You have to begin now putting the financing together and putting the design together to create a brand new system for the city of New Orleans, or the city will continue to be at substantial risk," Landrieu said last week. "There's no way to do this without substantial more resources to build infrastructure that's going to give us safety and security."After months of tough talk about cracking down on jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with the feds on immigration enforcement, the Trump administration just took the first step toward punishing so-called "sanctuary cities." In a surprise appearance at the start of the White House press briefing Monday, Attorney General Sessions said he would take "all lawful steps to claw back" federal funding from sanctuary cities, an undefined term that typically refers to jurisdictions where local law enforcement refuses requests by immigration agents to hold non-serious offenders who face deportation. Following Trump's election, more than 100 cities—including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Austin—have affirmed their "sanctuary" status. Trump signed an executive order during his first week in office that called for increased cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities to target, arrest, and detain undocumented immigrants—and threatened to pull federal grant money from jurisdictions that refuse to comply. Continue reading on VICE NewsAlready, day rates that oil companies are willing to pay for rigs have dropped 10 percent, Helmerich & Payne said. That is a sign, analysts said, that producers are trying to squeeze costs before they cut revenue-producing output required to pay dividends and the interest on their debts. Even with the reductions, though, large-scale layoffs across the industry are not expected, at least not immediately. Producers contract their rigs for as long as three to four years, and many companies have hedges that lock in higher prices than the going market rates. In addition, producers often need to drill simply to retain their leases or keep their revenue up. Nationwide, the oil industry employs about a million people, including extraction, pipeline construction and refining, and the boom has added about 150,000 industry jobs over the last three years, according to Citi Research. Industry executives say companies are reluctant to let highly skilled workers go, especially when oil prices are likely to rebound in the next couple of years as global energy demand rises. But rig and fracking crews will inevitably be let go first, they said, since those workers can easily be rehired or replaced when drilling rebounds. Domestic oil production has increased by more than a million barrels a day in each of the last three years. But executives say they believe production may begin to slow near the end of the year as the drilling of new wells declines. On Wednesday, the global Brent benchmark dropped below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009, before settling around $51. The American benchmark rose slightly, to around $48. Image An oil drilling pump site in North Dakota. Because of a pipeline shortage, Bakken shale producers are selling crude for about $34 a barrel. Credit Shannon Stapleton/Reuters But producers in some American fields are receiving far less than that. Because of a shortage of pipelines and the distance to major markets, North Dakota’s Bakken shale producers this month so far are selling their crude for as little as $34 a barrel.State Records Office: Archives cost-cutting bid sparks fears of another 'WA Inc' Updated A Government push to make the State Records Office (SRO) part of the State Library of WA threatens good accountable government and raises the spectre of WA Inc, a peak body has warned. The change is part of machinery of government public sector reforms but the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) said it went against the recommendations of the WA Inc Royal Commission and Commission on Government of the 1990s. Both recommended the establishment of an independent and separate archives authority. WA Inc was the subject of a royal commission, and refers to a series of deals struck with big business figures like Alan Bond and Laurie Connell by the then Labor government under Brian Burke. Australian Society of Archivists president Julia Mant said the change meant it was likely the conditions for poor government recordkeeping that characterised WA Inc would reappear. "It is astounding that the WA Government did not research the history of this issue when making the change and would seek to reverse a recommendation [of the WA Inc Royal Commission] that was intended to promote integrity in government," she said. 'Records must be protected in public interest' The society's treasurer, Dr Mark Brogan, said the change happened without a proper review of the implications and he believed it was a cost-cutting measure. He said the independence of the State Records Office was crucial to maintain integrity and ensure government documents and records were authentic, reliable and were not compromised. "It's a big reputational issue for the WA Government, nobody wants to seriously revisit those [WA Inc] times," Dr Brogan said. "We want to have confidence that Government is acting in a proper manner, that its records can be relied upon. "Business has no desire to work with a government that has integrity issues surrounding it." He cited the stolen wages case, where some Indigenous West Australians had been able to seek redress by accessing archived state records for documents supporting their claims, as evidence of the importance of independent archiving of records. "Without archives that justice could not be achieved, so from a citizens' rights standpoint we need a vigorous State Records Office that is protecting records in the public interest," he said. ASA has vowed to campaign to have the decision reversed and the independence of the office restored and maintained. Community service 'to be enhanced' In April, Premier Mark McGowan announced the first round of government changes in the public sector, which includes slashing the number of departments by 40 per cent. At the time there was no mention of any impact on the State Records Office but an internal note, sent on June 30, from then Department of Culture and Arts director-general Duncan Ord, informed staff the office would become part of the State Library with effect from July 1, as part of the changes. "This is an administrative arrangement with no changes to the legislation of either organisation," Mr Ord wrote. "The state archivist and executive director State Records will be reporting to the chief executive and State Librarian, and the functions required under the State Records Act 2000 will continue to be administered with the current SRO resources." Mr Ord, who now heads up the new Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, denied the changes to the SRO would compromise its independence. "I'm very confident that these administrative changes are actually net positive and we have no intent to diminish the standard of record keeping in this state," he said. Mr Ord told staff the change was in the best interests of Western Australians and the two institutions and would provide opportunities to "enhance services to the WA community". Dr Brogan said previously the executive director of state records had reported directly to the minister and the new reporting model was not appropriate. In May, former WA premier Colin Barnett broke his post-election silence to claim the preconditions existed for a repeat of the WA Inc scandals of the 1980s. Mr Barnett made the claim during his first speech to Parliament since the March election loss, warning Labor risked returning to a dark chapter in WA's past, but he has since refused to detail the "preconditions" he was referring to. Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said the Government's decision to make the State Records Office part of the State Library was another illustration of a lack of thought. He said there was plenty of historical evidence for why the State Records Office should be completely independent of the State Library of WA. Topics: government-and-politics, alp, wa First postedInterstate 69 is about to get a little wider northeast of Indianapolis. The Indiana Department of Transportation has selected Columbus-based Milestone Contractors LP and Indianapolis-based United Consulting Engineers and Architects for an $85 million project to widen the busy interstate through much of Hamilton County. INDOT officials presented the plan Thursday night to residents at Noblesville City Hall. The project will add another travel lane in both directions along I-69 for 15 miles, from the 116th Street exit in Fishers to State Road 38 near Pendleton in Madison County. Plans also include adding a southbound lane between 116th Street and the future 106th Street interchange, reconfiguring exit 210 at Campus Parkway into a diverging-diamond design and widening the Campus Parkway bridge over I-69. The project is part of the Major Moves 2020 initiative, which is Gov. Mike Pence’s plan to spend $400 million to rehabilitate existing highways. Construction is expected to start in the spring and continue through fall 2017. It’s the third road project scheduled for the area near I-69 in Fishers with overlapping construction timelines. INDOT introduced designs for the $34 million new interchange at 106th Street and I-69 in September. The project would create a two-lane, oval-shaped roundabout on 106th Street over the highway with ramps to and from both directions. Construction on that project is expected to start in April 2016 and be finished in June 2017. During that time, 106th Street traffic would be detoured to Hague Road, 96th Street and Lantern Road. All lanes on I-69 would remain open during the day, but there would be nighttime closures for bridge construction and other work. INDOT and local officials say the new exit is needed to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety along I-69 between 96th and 116th streets. Fishers is also expected to start construction by summer 2016 on a $6 million project to reduce congestion to the east of I-69 along 116th Street. The project includes adding a new eastbound lane on 116th Street from I-69 to Cumberland Road and removing the traffic signal at USA Parkway. A new traffic signal would be installed at 116th Street and Exit Five Parkway with double left turn lanes from eastbound 116th Street onto Exit Five Parkway and at Oak Drive onto 116th Street westbound. Oak Drive also would be widened and extended south to intersect with USA Parkway. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2017. INDOT officials said Thursday night that lane shifts would occur during construction of the widening project, but two travel lanes in each direction would be open. Lane closures would only be permitted during non-peak times on nights and weekends.Enlarge By Rahmat Gul, AP Afghan protestors block the main highway, Aug. 18, between Kabul and Jalalabad, Afghanistan, to protest two deaths in a night raid. The protesters said the two men killed were innocent civilians, while NATO said its forces killed two insurgents. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghans have less faith now than a year ago in the ability of U.S.-led NATO forces to control violence in their country, according to a poll released Monday. The public sentiment in the survey by international media contrasts with attempts by the coalition to highlight pockets of progress ahead of President Obama's review of the U.S. war strategy, which is expected within days. The poll found that 36% of Afghans express confidence in the U.S. and NATO forces to provide security and stability — down from 48% last year. It also found that acceptance of attacks against U.S. forces has risen sharply even as the coalition works to curtail civilian deaths. FALLEN TROOPS: American casualties in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond The results show the challenge that NATO faces in getting the public behind its counterinsurgency plan to rout the Taliban in military operations, bolster governance and development and win the loyalty of the Afghan population. "We clearly have to continue to provide the message to the Afghan people about why we're here — what it is that we want to do not just for our own national objectives and coalition objectives, but also for the people of this country and for the government of Afghanistan," Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces, told ABC News in an interview broadcast on Monday. Last year when former NATO commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal issued guidelines that severely limited the circumstances in which troops could call in an airstrike, the number of Afghans who said attacks against American forces could be justified fell to 8%. In this year's poll, it rose to 27%, near its previous levels. The poll was conducted by ABC News, the BBC, ARD German TV and The Washington Post. It was based on face-to-face interviews conducted between Oct. 29 and Nov. 13 with a random sample of nearly 1,700 Afghan adults in all 34 of the country's provinces. The survey has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. The survey was published as Obama gets ready to release his review of the war. It is expected to conclude that despite slower-than-expected progress against the Taliban, the current strategy is largely on track. Eager to retain waning public support for the war, NATO officials have been touting progress in training Afghan police and soldiers and disrupting insurgent networks by killing and capturing hundreds of midlevel Taliban commanders. "We believe that we have arrested the momentum that the Taliban achieved in recent years in many areas of the country — not all, but that we have reversed it in some important areas," Petraeus said. The poll shows evidence of some progress, especially in Helmand province in the south where coalition forces have been pushing hard against insurgents. Sixty-seven percent of people in Helmand now say their security is "good" compared with 14% last year. In both Helmand and neighboring Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, the number of people who report receiving intimidating letters from the Taliban has been cut in half. Of those polled in Kandahar, 31% rate the performance of U.S. forces positively, up from 7% a year ago. Afghans continue to say the Taliban and al-Qaeda are responsible for most of the violence, but 24% now chiefly blame the U.S. or NATO forces for it — up from 10% last year. Thirty-nine percent of Afghans say Western forces have gotten worse, not better at avoiding civilian casualties. And more than seven in 10 say airstrikes are unacceptable because they endangered too many civilians. Thirty-five percent blame coalition forces when civilians are harmed in airstrikes, 32% blame militants and 32% point the finger at both sides. According to the most recent statistics available from the United Nations, the number of Afghan civilians killed or injured spiked 31% in the first six months of the year, but they were largely caused by Taliban attacks. Casualties from NATO and Afghan government forces dropped 30%, compared with the first half of 2009, mainly because of curbs on the use of airpower and heavy weapons, the U.N. has said. Among other findings: • Seventy-three percent favor a negotiated settlement with the Taliban, up from 60% in 2007. • Fifty-six percent said the September parliamentary elections were mostly fraudulent; 42% said they were mostly fair; and 2% had no opinion. • Forty-three percent gave the United States favorable ratings, the lowest in six years. Fifty-eight percent gave Iran favorable ratings, the highest in four years. • President Hamid Karzai, the government, provincial leaders and the Afghan security forces got higher marks for their work than the U.S., NATO forces, foreign aid organizations and the United Nations. • Sixty-seven percent said a great deal or good amount of the money flowing into Afghanistan was misdirected, allowing government officials to profit. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read moreSinger Nick Lachey is making a plea for help in finding the suspect who shot a 27-year-old woman in the face Thursday who works at his sports bar in Cincinnati. Ellie Richardson, who works as a bartender, had just left the Lachey's sports bar around 3 a.m. in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood when she was walking across the street and was nearly hit by a van, officials told FOX 19. The driver then got into a verbal argument with Richardson before shooting her in the face, police said. Richardson had a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the head, and was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. "Ellie sustained injuries to her face and jaw resulting from a shooting that occurred early on Thanksgiving morning," reads a post on a YouCaring page soliciting donations to help with the 27-year-old's medical expenses. "She's in stable condition, but it's still unclear how long she'll be in the hospital and what her recovery process will entail. On Saturday, Lachey tweeted a link to the donation page, writing "Please help Ellie and her family get through this most difficult time." Lachey, who opened the bar in 2015 with his brother and fellow former member of boy band 98 Degrees Drew Lachey, wrote on Friday "Ellie is the brightest light and she will find a way to shine through this darkness. Anyone with any information, help us find some justice." The brothers' business became part of a reality show called "Lachey's Bar" on A&E Network, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported at the time. "As some of you may have heard, Ellie was the victim of a vicious assault," Drew Lachey wrote Saturday on Twitter. "If u have any info about it, please contact the authorities or u can help her on her recovery by donating. Thank you and please keep her in your prayers." Drew's wife Lea retweeted his message, adding "Please send prayers for our sweet Ellie." Authorities released surveillance photos of the van that was caught on camera near the scene of the shooting. The suspect is described as a black man in his 20s with gold-rimmed glasses and a light beard, according to FOX 19. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.A military jury has found Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III guilty of murder in the retrial of a major Iraq war-crimes case involving the 2006 killing of a retired Iraqi policeman. NBC 7's Bridget Naso reports. (Published Wednesday, June 17, 2015) A military jury has found a Marine sergeant guilty of murder in the retrial of a major Iraq war-crimes case involving the 2006 killing of a retired Iraqi policeman. The jury of three enlisted men and three military officers deliberated for over three hours Wednesday before reaching a verdict in the case of Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III. The defense argued the military inquiry was shoddy and did not support the allegations that Hutchins and his squad killed 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad from the village of Hamdania, and then planted an AK-47 rifle next to his bullet-riddled body to make it look like he was an insurgent. "You don't have to convict Sgt. Hutchins of anything," Attorney Christopher Oprison, who represented Hutchins, said during closing arguments. Hutchins was allowed to go home but will return Thursday for sentencing, when he will learn if the judge will credit him for the seven years he already served of an 11-year sentence. Hutchins had his conviction overturned twice by military courts after rulings that there were errors in the handling of his case. Under the military justice system, the Navy was allowed to order his case to be retried. The military's highest court, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, ruled in 2013 that Navy interrogators in Iraq at the time violated his rights by holding him in solitary confinement for seven days without access to a lawyer. Hutchins was convicted of murder in the death of Awad. The six other Marines and a Navy corpsman in his squad served less than 18 months locked up. All but one of his former seven squad mates has refused to testify again at his retrial. Many have said they now do not stand behind the statements they gave to military interrogators in 2006. Maj. Samson Newsome argued for the prosecution that investigators spent hours at the crime scene and in the village but were misled by Hutchins after he lied to them, saying the shooting was justified because he had fired upon them and had been digging a hole for a roadside bomb. That cost military officers weeks in tracking down the crime, he said. But investigators later secured the correct body, correct weapon and testimony from squad mates supporting allegations that Hutchins and his squad set out to find an Iraqi man to kill that April night, Newsome told jurors. Prosecutors said Hutchins shot the man three times in the face and then bragged to his squad mates about getting away with murder. Newsome told the court his squad mates do not want to testify because they don't want to "come in and talk about the disgusting thing they did." In their affidavits stating their refusal to testify, "they never claimed they didn't murder the man," Newsome said. Hutchins has been in and out of the brig because of the rulings. He was released briefly after a lower court overturned Hutchins' conviction in 2010, ruling his trial in 2007 was unfair because his lead defense lawyer quit shortly before it began. But the military's highest court at that time overruled that decision, saying the problem was not grave enough to throw out the conviction. Then he was released again for a few months after the highest court ruled interrogators had violated his rights by keeping him in solitary confinement. Prosecutors argued that Hutchins waived his right to counsel at the time and willfully told his side of the story without coercion. Copyright Associated PressChina's Premier Li Keqiang delivers the speech during the reception to celebrate National Day at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 30, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s State Council, or cabinet, said on Saturday the country is committed to improve access for foreign companies in China, as part of “a new round of high-level opening up”. According to a statement released on Saturday following a State Council meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, the Chinese government will create an environment for fair competition for foreign firms. “It’s important part of pushing forward a new round of high-level opening up,” the statement said. In the future, except for certain sensitive industries in which access for foreign companies is restricted, foreign investments would only require registration, rather than approval. The statement did not offer details on how the new system would work. It also said the Chinese government would take further steps to improve market entry for foreign companies. The State Council’s statement comes at a time when the foreign business community in China has become highly critical of the current unbalanced access for foreign companies in China. Last month, a top European business lobby warned China that it risked a protectionist backlash unless it opened its markets faster to foreign investment. Progress on China’s economic reforms has been “highly disappointing”, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said in an annual paper, released as China prepared to host leaders from the world’s biggest economies at last month’s G20 summit in Hangzhou.Virgil van Dijk joined Southampton from Celtic for £13m in September 2015 Southampton will report Liverpool to the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach for centre-back Virgil van Dijk, reports BBC Radio Solent. The 25-year-old wants to move to Anfield if he leaves St Mary's. The £50m-rated Netherlands defender signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined Southampton from Celtic for £13m in September 2015. Liverpool are yet to formally approach Saints to ask for permission to speak to Van Dijk. The Reds refused to comment on renewed speculation on Monday, while Southampton are adamant they do not need to sell the defender. Saints are irritated by what they see as an attempt to unsettle Van Dijk and are ready to reject an official offer. Chelsea and Manchester City have both been heavily linked with the Dutchman, but City's interest has cooled as they are not prepared to pay as high a fee as Liverpool. Former club Celtic are also understood to have a 10% sell-on agreement. Van Dijk missed the final five months of the season after sustaining an ankle injury following a challenge by Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in Southampton's 3-0 win at St Mary's on 22 January. It forced him to miss Southampton's EFL Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley.For the tenth-century Saxon historian, see Widukind of Corvey Widukind, also known as Widuking or Wittekind, was a leader of the Saxons and the chief opponent of the Frankish king Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars from 777 to 785. Charlemagne ultimately prevailed, organized Saxony as a Frankish province, massacred thousands of Saxon nobles, and ordered conversions of the pagan Saxons to Roman Catholicism. In later times, Widukind became a symbol of Saxon independence and a figure of legend; the Codex Wittekindeus is said to have been owned by him. Life [ edit ] Very little is known about Widukind's life. His name literally translates as "child of the wood" (i.e. a wolf), more probably a kenning than a proper name. All sources about him stem from his enemies, the Franks, who painted a negative picture, representing him as an "insurgent" and a "traitor". While Widukind was considered the leader of the Saxon resistance by the Franks, his exact role in the military campaigns is unknown. According to the Royal Frankish Annals, the Franks campaigned in Saxony in 772, when Charlemagne ordered the destruction of the Irminsul sanctuary. The Saxon Wars continued when Westphalian tribes devastated the church of Deventer and the Angrarii laid siege to the Frankish court at Fritzlar. The king retaliated against the local nobility, enforcing the decree to incorporate the Saxon lands as a Frankish march. Widukind was first mentioned by the Annals in 777, when he was the only one of the Saxon nobles not to appear at Charlemagne's court in Paderborn. Instead, he stayed with the Danish king Sigfred (possibly Sigurd Hring). The next year, the Westphalians again invaded the Frankish Rhineland and subsequently fought a running battle against Charlemagne's forces and their local allies while the king was busy in Spain. By 782, Widukind had returned from Denmark and goaded the Saxon nobles into rebellion. From 782 to 784, battles between Saxons and Franks occurred annually, while Charlemagne had 4,500 Saxons executed at the Massacre of Verden. Widukind allied himself with the Frisians but Charlemagne's winter attacks of 784/785 were nevertheless successful, and the dux and his allies were pushed back to their homelands. In the Bardengau in 785, Widukind agreed to surrender in return for a guarantee that no bodily harm would be done to him. He and his allies were then baptized, possibly in Attigny,[1] with Charlemagne as his godfather. Widukind thereby reached a peace agreement and the acknowledgement of the Saxon noble rank by their Frankish overlords. There are no contemporary sources about Widukind's life or death after his baptism. Historian Gerd Althoff assumed that he was imprisoned at a monastery—a fate that happened to other rulers deposed by Charlemagne. He tried to identify Reichenau Abbey as a likely location where Widukind may have spent the rest of his life,[2] but his results are inconclusive and widely rejected.[3] Alternatively, he may have received a position in the administration of occupied Saxony. The Vita Liudgeri biography of Saint Ludger mentions him accompanying Charlemagne on his campaign against the Veleti leader Dragovit. According to the 12th-century Kaiserchronik, he was slain by Charlemagne's brother-in-law Gerold of Baar. Legend [ edit ] Numerous legends developed around Widukind's life; he eventually appeared as a saintly figure (becoming "Blessed Widukind") and the builder of many churches. He was later assumed to have died in 808; his feast day is commemorated on January 6. According to legend, Widukind experienced a vision that led to his conversion. Disguised as a beggar, he was spying on Charlemagne's troop camp during Easter. He witnessed a priest performing a Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the priest was holding a beautiful child during the consecration. To his astonishment, people would receive communion and the priest would give the same child to each person. Widukind was dumbfounded by this scene and went to beg outside after the mass. One of the emperor's servants recognized Widukind behind his disguise–due to an odd formation of one of his fingers–and Widukind was captured. He was interrogated and confessed to spying on Charlemagne's camp for the purpose of becoming better acquainted with the Christian faith. He later confessed the divine vision he had seen. The emperor concluded that God had given Widukind the grace of witnessing the divine child, Jesus, behind the Sacred Host of the Mass. Widukind then renounced his worship of pagan idols.[4] Later perception [ edit ] Medieval [ edit ] Since the 9th century, Widukind had been idolized as a mythical hero. Around 1100, a tomb for him was made in Enger; recent[when?] excavations have found that the contents of the tomb are indeed early medieval, but are the remains of a young woman. In 1971, archaeologists discovered three graves in a prominent place in front of the altar. The remains of three men who had died in the early 9th century, two of them about sixty-year-old warriors, the third a young man, were identified after a DNA analysis in 2002 as half-brothers or maternal cousins and a nephew. The man buried in front of the altar is assumed to be Widukind.[5] When in the 10th century Saxon kings (of the Ottonian dynasty) replaced the Frankish kings in East Francia (the later Holy Roman Empire), these kings proudly claimed descent from Widukind: Matilda, the wife of King Henry I, was apparently a great-great-great-granddaughter of Widukind. The House of Billung, to which several Dukes of Saxony belonged, had Matilda's sister among its ancestors and thus also claimed descent from Widukind. In German nationalism [ edit ] Widukind became a hero for German nationalists in the early 20th century. German neo-pagans saw him as an heroic defender of Germany's traditional beliefs and their gods, resisting the Middle Eastern religion of Christianity. Christian nationalists also lauded him, linking Charlemagne with the humiliation of French domination after World War I, especially the occupation of the Rhineland, portraying Charlemagne as a "French" invader.[6] After the National Socialists came to power in 1933, so many plays and other works were written about Widukind that there were complaints that he was becoming a cliché. Alfred Rosenberg praised him as a hero of German freedom, who finally joined with the founder of the German Reich (Charlemagne). Two important plays about the Saxon leader were produced in 1934, Der Sieger (“The Victor”) by Friedrich Forster and Wittekind by Edmund Kiss. The first celebrated the conversion of Widukind, but the second caused controversy because of its explicit anti-Christian message. In that play after the massacre of Verden, Saxon leaders say, "That is what the Christians have done; they feign love, but bring murder!"—a line that led to protests from the audience.[6] The play portrays Catholic church leaders planning to destroy German freedom by forcing racial mixture on them, thus turning them into pliable "Untermenschen". Thousands of German maidens are captured and will be forced to mate with "Jews, Greeks, Italians and Moors" unless Widukind converts, which he does only to avoid this horrifying prospect. He gives a speech saying that the survival of the German race was his principal concern, and that future generations will praise him for this when the true spirit of the German people arises once more.[6] Present [ edit ] Many buildings are named after him in the area of Enger, including the Widukind-Gymnasium Enger. See also [ edit ]No position on the San Francisco 49ers has more uncertainty than cornerback -- and it's not even close. The team only has one solid starter in place, but there are several players who could emerge. Of course, the 49ers could add a cornerback in a dwindling free-agent market and will surely pick one or two in the May 8-10 draft. Let's take a look at where the 49ers stand at cornerback: Starters: Tramaine Brock: A year ago, no one would have guess he would be the most reliable cornerback on the team. But Brock made the huge leap from a special teams to the No. 1 cornerback. He was terrific in 2013 and it earned him a four-year contract extension. Chris Culliver: This is very fluid. The 49ers have confidence in Culliver, but, in a perfect world, he will play the nickel. Culliver, who has proven in the past he can play, missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Still, he's the type of player who would likely be a better No. 3 than a No. 2. Slot candidates: Eric Wright: The veteran is talented and has performed well in the past. Yet, he didn't do much last season. It was a mild surprise the 49ers re-signed him to a one-year deal. Wright, who was inactive by the end of the season, has a chance to help if he can gain the coaching staff's trust. Chris Cook: He is the 49ers' lone offseason addition at the position so far. Cook, a second-round pick by Minnesota in 2010, has struggled at times -- on and off the field. But there are some positives; he's 6-foot-2 and the team wants him to play in press coverage. Also, he came at a cheap price, getting paid the league minimum with no bonus. Perhaps the light will come on with strong coaching. Young players with potential: Darryl Morris: He opened eyes on special teams as an undrafted rookie last season. Coaches think he can help on defense, too. Dax Swanson: He's a practice-squad player who will get a chance to impress in training camp. Departed: Tarell Brown: Brown, a starter much of last season, went across the bay to Oakland for a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The 49ers wanted him back, but not at that price. He is solid and must be replaced. Carlos Rogers: Cut by the 49ers, there's always a chance he could be brought back at a much reduced price. But I think the 49ers would like to move on. Still possible: Perrish Cox: It's telling that Wright was signed before he was. But similar to Rogers' situation, I guess the door can't be completely closed. Potential future additions: The remaining free-agent market is not overly enticing. The top players are Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antonio Cromartie. Others include Champ Bailey and Jabari Greer. Rodgers-Cromartie would be a good fit, but he wants too much money. The good news for the 49ers is the draft is stacked at this position and they could easily find a starting-quality player in
yet, even before the campaign, multiple sources have told the FOX 9 Investigators,Thao had earned a reputation at St. Paul City Hall as a "transactional politician," someone willing to trade votes for favors, a reputation confirmed Saturday by the Council President, Russ Stark. "Heard that description" is how he responded to a Fox 9 question about it. When Thao was asked about the meeting in which he allegedly kept saying he "needed resources" the council member told Fox 9: "I don't remember saying anything about that. I am very surprised by all this." Reached by Fox 9 after she was fired, Marlow said she was only doing what was best for the campaign.The Health Service Executive has said that ten members of staff and one agency worker have been taken off duty at two care units for people with intellectual disabilities near Roscrea, Co Tipperary. In a statement, the HSE said the Daughters of Charity, who operate the centre on its behalf, took the step after it received a number of complaints about care practises from a person who has worked there. Management at the Daughters of Charity told RTÉ News that the complainant has worked at both of the bungalows at the centre of its ongoing investigation. In a statement, the CEO of the Daughters of Charity said the first they heard of this complaint was Monday of this week. They understand this is also when the Health and Information Quality Authority received the complaint. The statement adds that the allegations are "not of a gratuitously violent/sexual nature but any act which impinges on the rights and dignity of our residents is considered to be serious therefore as a protective measure, while the allegations are being screened, it has been agreed that ten staff will be placed on leave until we have completed the screening process." A HIQA spokesman said the complainant approached it with concerns and that the St Anne's Centre was inspected as a result. Meanwhile, Minister for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch has said while it is worrying concerns have been brought to the HSE it is also encouraging that HIQA is "uncovering concerns of poor and unacceptable standards of care". A HIQA spokesman said the authority is continuing a regulatory process at the Roscrea centre. He said the complainant's unsolicited information was provided well before the broadcast nine days ago of the RTÉ Investigations Unit report 'Inside Bungalow 3' which exposed psychological and physical abuse - including force-feeding, slapping and rough handling - of three older women with intellectual disabilities at the HSE-run Áras Attracta home in Swinford, Co Mayo. This evening's HSE statement makes no mention of HIQA's involvement in developments at St Anne's in Roscrea. It says the workers "who form part of the complaint have been placed "off duty" without prejudice and as a "protective measure". Both units at the centre of the complaints form part of an inter-connected group of four houses for long-term residents aged between 20 and 60 with what management calls "significant intellectual disabilities". The statement says that both the HSE and the centre's management have notified An Garda Síochána and HIQA about the complaints. In her statement, Ms Lynch said it is only through exposing poor and unacceptable standards of care "that we can start to effect improvements in care for the most vulnerable people in our society". And she reiterated her encouragement to anyone who has concerns regarding the care of vulnerable adults to speak to the HSE, HIQA, the Ombudsman or gardaí. She said such people can also make a complaint under the Protected Disclosure or Whistle Blower legislation. The Daughter of Charity management says that the service's national director of nursing is conducting a clinical review at the Roscrea facility on foot of the allegations. The Daughter of Charity Disability Support Service caters for almost 800 people with disabilities at locations in Dublin, Limerick and Sean Ross Abbey outside Roscrea. In earlier times, Sean Ross Abbey was operated by a separate order, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, as a mother and baby home. In 2007 the Daughters of Charity Service was invited by the HSE to manage the residential services of St Anne's in Roscrea, which before now had been provided by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. The HSE statement says a detailed examination of the complaints is underway and that its management in the midwest has established a Safeguarding Team to support the Daughters of Charity in dealing with the concerns raised by the complainant. It stresses that the HSE urges staff and clients to make complaints where they are aware of abuse or bad practices or attitudes towards any vulnerable people. It promises that the HSE will respond to any such complaints in an appropriate and expeditious manner. And it underlines that a Confidential Recipient, Leigh Gath, has been appointed to receive any complaints which complainants have concerns about raising.We recently took a look at the new version of Ubiquity, a Firefox browser plugin created by Mozilla Labs that provides an interactive command-based interface for the web. Some of the features that are supported by Ubiquity could potentially be included in future versions of Firefox. Developer Aza Raskin wrote a blog entry today that offers a first look at some design concepts that demonstrate how aspects of Ubiquity could be streamlined directly into the Firefox user interface. The natural language processing features in Ubiquity pose a significant localization challenge, he says, so it's unlikely that the full scope of Ubiquity's functionality will be included. He aims to introduce the new features in Firefox so that they will feel native and not disrupt existing workflows. His blog entry includes mockups for several different approaches, including two that extend Firefox's AwesomeBar and one that uses a mouse-friendly sidebar interface. Raskin also revealed the project's new mascot and icon, the Ubiquibot. The icon vaguely resembles Marvin, the depressed robot from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The icon is still being finalized and could still see some minor changes based on user feedback.CINCINNATI -- A week of training camp had barely passed, but Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Hue Jackson was already becoming convinced his rookie running back had the internal mettle to compete in the NFL. Of course, this time of year there is a natural expectation that coaches and executives will be honing in on players with such potential before they even get drafted. That's a large part of the reason events like the combine and the Senior Bowl exist. But until a first-year player actually puts on the pads with his new professional teammates and gets tested by them, no one can really tell just how said rookie will get along with the personalities previously assembled. That was the case early in Bengals training camp last July and August when Jackson, the current offensive coordinator who at that time was Cincinnati's running backs coach, witnessed Giovani Bernard getting pounded in practices by his defense. As bad as that pounding was, though, it showed Jackson that Bernard was ready for the next level, and that he needed to be a big part of the Bengals' offensive attack. "He wanted more of it," Jackson said at the scouting combine in Indianapolis this weekend. "It was me who was trying to get those guys to pull up because we didn't want to get anybody hurt. But that's the beautiful part of it, in my mind. That was like them saying, 'OK, you're here and you're supposed to help us win? Let's find out.' "And he passed the test." The physical abuse of Bernard by linebackers like Vontaze Burfict and James Harrison did cause Jackson and other offensive assistants to beg the defenders to pull up when the young running back came their way in practices. After all, he was the Bengals' second-round pick and the first running back taken in the 2013 draft. The franchise needed to keep him as healthy as possible. Cameras from the HBO "Hark Knocks" film crew caught coaches in one practice admonishing the defenders for the tackles, particularly one hard hit that Burfict delivered. Bernard didn't take kindly to it and started to retaliate. Burfict ended up getting warned and Bernard was cautioned by then-offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to avoid scuffling with him. "Don't get in a fight with Burfict, he'll kick your [butt]," Gruden said to Bernard on the first episode of the television show last summer. Bernard responded: "That's OK, it's only going to make me tough." Toughness is exactly what Jackson saw from Bernard all of training camp. He wasn't the only one who did, either. "I remember those guys on defense coming up to me one day in stretch," Jackson began. "There was Rey Maualuga, we're talking about Vontaze Burfict, and even some of the defensive linemen. They were all saying, 'Hey, Coach. That guy can play.'" Aside from the near-fight with Burfict, Bernard didn't seem to show that he was upset with the physical abuse the defenders put him through. He didn't show that he felt singled out, Jackson said. As Bernard's position coach, that understanding of his surroundings showed Jackson that his rookie was even more mature than he previously believed. "To me, that did more for me because you still don't know those things when you first get to play," Jackson said. "You think you know those things, but until you see it? You don't know it." With nearly a third of the 335 prospects at this year's combine having left college early, "maturity" will end up being a big buzzword between now and the end of the draft May 10. Teams are looking for underclassmen -- like Bernard, who was a redshirt sophomore at North Carolina when he declared last year -- who have a capacity for understanding the mental side of football. Only if they let them, young players can allow the type of on-field hazing the Bengals' defenders put Bernard through to be a sort of mind game. When veterans see that the rookies aren't letting those actions affect them, they start showing them more respect. More respect leads to added urgency by teammates to help out and stand up for their rookie stars. It all seemed to work out well for Bernard and the Bengals. He ranked third among all rookies in total yards in 2013, and drew consideration for the league's offensive rookie of the year award. While sharing carries with veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bernard rushed for 695 yards and caught 56 passes for another 512. He had eight total touchdowns and a series of highlight-reel runs that showcased his electrifying speed and knack for breaking and bouncing off tacklers. He also had two fumbles during his first year, including one in the Bengals' wild-card round playoff loss to San Diego. The untimely turnover came after he caught a pass and had it stripped as he closed in on the goal line just before halftime. Even though the Bengals eventually kicked a field goal to take a three-point lead into halftime, without Bernard's fumble, they had a chance to go up by seven, instead. Still, a little bad has a tough time outshining most of the good. Even after sustaining a rib injury Week 9 in Miami, he appeared in all 16 games. "Here's a young man who played last year -- and I'm not trying to brag on him -- but he played hurt," Jackson said. "The guy didn't shy away from me. There were times when I said, 'Is this guy going to play?' And he didn't blink. He played as hard and as well as any young player I've been around with as much as we asked him to do." Jackson wouldn't give any indication as to how Bernard's role might change in 2014, but he did say that he would have his share of carries in an offense that the new coordinator says will be better committed to running the ball. "He's going to have a lot," Jackson said, smiling. "I can promise you."On Monday, Febr to celebrate National Heritage Day and Louis Riel Day ipeg Station, Rotunda of the historic Union Station, VIA Rail Canada's Winn ar Digital Memorial Project. The event was held in the aunch of the First World W s well as the l, Heritage Winnipeg presented the 31st Annual Preservation Awards ceremony a uary 15, 2016 Monday, Febr The First Wo rld War Digital Memorial, as displaye d on the east wall of the rotunda. Since 1985, Heritage Winnipeg has sponsored an annual awards program that seeks to recognize those people dedicated to the protection, restoration, and conservation of Winnipeg's built heritage. Awards are also given to owners of heritage structures who seek to sensitively restore their buildings so that they become a productive element of the economical, cultural, and social fabric of the community. Cindy Tugwell, Heritage Winnipeg's Executive Director, speaks at the beginning of the ceremony. Awards are given in three categories: Heritage Conservation, Distinguished Service, and Youth. For more information about the criteria for each of these awards, visit the Heritage Winnipeg website here Members of the Living History Society were also in attendance for the event. The winners of this year's awards program are as follows: Heritage Conservation Awards The Province of Manitoba & Ager Little Architects Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, Lawrence Prout, presents the award to Ryan Derksen, accepting on behalf of the Province of Manitoba. Heritage Winnipeg Board Member, Lawrence Prout, presents the award to Marnie Gartrell, accepting on behalf of Ager Little Architects. for the Institutional Conservation of the Old Law Courts at 391 Broadway. For their comm itment to upgrade the plumbing s ystem and provide barrier-free washrooms at the Old Law Courts located a t 391 Broadwa y while ensu ring th e preservation of the character-defining elements, such as the marble floor t iles, marble panels, doors and frames, and the original washroom fi xtures. Built from 1912-1916, this is one of the most i mportant Law Courts buildings in the Province, and one of the best examples of the Neo-Classical style designed by Pro vincial Architect, Samu el Hooper. The City of Winnipeg Heritage Winnipeg President, Jordan van Sewell, presents the award to Councillor Shawn Dobson, accepting on behalf of the City of Winnipeg. Councillor Shawn Dobson accepts the award with special thanks to the Planning, Property, and Development Department and Project Officer, Evan Wiebe. for the Institutional Conservation of the City Council Building at 510 Main Street. For the sens itive replacement of the roof and re-pointing o f the exterior of the City Council building located at 510 Main Street. Built in 1964 and recognized as a modernist heri tage building, this work affirms the City's long-term commitment to maintaining heritage buil dings in Winnipeg. Roslyn Properties/Globe General Agencies Heritage Winnipeg Presi dent, Jordan van Sewell, presents the award to Diane Glover, Senior Property Manager, accepting on behal f of Globe General Agencies. Diane Glover, Senior Property Manager for Globe General Agenc ies, accepts t he award. for the Residential Conservation of Roslyn Court at 40 Osborne Street. For the ir commitment to maintain Roslyn Court located at 40 Osborne Street. Recent rehabilitation work included the roof, copper panels, exterior masonry, and painting. This Q ueen Anne Revival style building, constructed in 1908, is reco gnized as a National Historic Site and it continues to be a viable and in tegral part of Osborne Village. The Yoon Family Heritage Winnipeg President, Jordan van Sewell, presents the award to Harry Yoon, accepting on behalf of the Yoon Family. Heritage Winnipeg President, Jordan van Sewell, presents the award to Harry Yoon, accepting on behalf of the Yoon Family. for the Commercial Conservation of the Lauzon Block at 339 William Avenue. For the main floor restoration work completed in the Lauzon Block located at 339 William Avenue. This 3-storey historic building was built in 1905 and recently featured in a Heritage Winnipeg blog article. The restoration work focused on the pressed- tin walls and ce iling coverings. Special President's Award Longboat Development Corporation & Stantec Architecture Limited Jeff Chipman accepts the award on behalf of Longboat Development Corporation. Michael Banman accepted the award on behalf of Stantec Architecture. for the Commercial Conservation of the Mitchell-Copp facade at 315 Portage Avenue. For the sympathetic protection, stabilization, and preservation of the 1919 historic Mitchell-Copp facade located a t 315 Portage Avenue and thereby significantly enhancin g the streetscape of Portage Avenue. Distinguished Service Awards The Friends of Dalnavert Museum Heritage Winnipeg Past President, David McDowell, presents the award to Adele Hempel, Chair, accepting on behalf of the Friends of Dalnavert Museum. Adele Hempel, Chair, accepts the award on behalf of the Friends of Dalnavert Museum. The Friends of Dalnavert Museum. L-R: Cindy Tugwell, Heather Laser, Brock Capell, Susan Moffatt, Ines Bonacossa, and Adele Hempel. for their dedication and commitment to the protection and re-opening of Dalnavert Museum at 61 Carlton. F or their dedication and commitment to the protection and re-opening of the restored Museum and Visitor's Centre located at 61 Carlton S treet for future generations. The mus eum, built in 1895, was the home of former Manitoba Premi er, Hugh John Macdonald, the only son of our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. First World War Digital Memorial Project Thank you to the City of Winnipeg and the Thomas Sill Foundation for their generous support of this project. Councillor Brian Mayes from the City of Winnipeg speaks to the inspiration and groundwork for the First World War Digital Memorial Project. Bruce Tascona, Chair of the Military History Society of Manitoba, speaks to the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the First World War. Jeremy Choy of Pattern Interactive explains the technology behind the installation. Actor and playwright, Tim Higgins, reads from his piece "Winnipeg's Great War Legacy --- A Reflection". Actor and playwright, Tim Higgins, speaks to the legacy of the Great War in Winnipeg. Brendan McKenn from the Manitoba Underground Opera introduces the organization's performers. Lynlee Wolstencroft, Soprano & Megan Dufrat, Pianist, perform "Au pays où se fait la guerre" by composer Henri Duparc. The First World War Digital Memorial is now on display at Union Station. Members of the Living History Society in period costume. Volunteers in First World War uniform. Article by Laura McKay, on behalf of Heritage Winnipeg Corp. To follow up on this or any other articles on the blog, contact Heritage Winnipeg's Executive Director. Like what you see? To receive email updates from the blog,Bald-yet-beautiful tough guy actor Jason Statham and his supermodel girlfriend, Rosie Huntington-Whitely(Photo: Getty) With increasing age comes many wonderful things, including hard-learned wisdom, better sex, and cold, hard cash. But since life is a total bitch, aging also flings some serious horse shit our way, too, namely in the form of achy knees, the ‘dad bod,' and baldness. Oh, that darn male pattern baldness. Statistics show that by the age of 35, around 66 percent of men lose a considerable amount of hair, and by 55, 85 percent of men have significant hair loss. And by significant hair loss, I mean bald, just like Mr. Clean. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website Sure, having a gorgeous head of hair is a blessing, but hey, no shame in being a baldie. There’s no use fighting it if your hair is falling out. Plus, if you just shave off any remaining tufts of hair instead of combing it over like a dweeb, and just go for the clean bald look, think of all the time and money you’ll save! And not to mention how badass you’ll look. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website And guess what? Going bald (or just shaving all your hair off) is actually one of the greatest things that can happen to you, because apparently, bald dudes are perceived as more intelligent, dominant, and overall sexier than men who have a full head of hair. Or so says Dr. Frank Muscarella from Barry University in Florida. Interested in why baldness is still a thing, even though it’s seen as such a horribly negative thing, Muscarella set out on a noble quest to find out why the baldness trait hasn’t been bred out of humans yet. In his study, Muscarella and his team asked participants to rate a selection of men in four domains: physical attractiveness, aggressiveness, appeasement, and social maturity, which included factors like honesty, intelligence, and social status. They're applauding his fabulous baldness. Once he crunched the numbers, he found that generally, people perceive bald dudes as more honest, intelligent, and dominant, which are obviously all good things. However, there is one bit of bad news – baldness decreases perceived physical attractiveness just a touch, but no matter. The increase in the other domains cancels that out. Besides, look at Jason Statham. He’s on the short side of the height spectrum and he’s bald, but he’s one of the sexiest dudes in Hollywood. Just look at how badass he is! And he’s dating Rosie Huntington Whiteley! What a guy. “It could be speculated that although the characteristic of baldness decreases a man’s perceived physical attractiveness, it increases his perceived social dominance,” Muscarella told Daily Mail. “Studies have shown baldness in men is seen as a non-threatening form of social dominance. There is a large body of literature that shows that although women like physically attractive men, they are also very attracted to signs of high social dominance.” “Consequently, it could now be explained how the characteristic was passed on. My speculation is that as humans evolved and the group became increasingly important for survival, males played a more integral role in the family group, and it may have been adaptive to evolve a morphological sign of this dominance-related role and one that made the adult males appear less threatening and more approachable to facilitate interactions with them.” Well, damn. That’s what I like to hear. That said, if you’re struggling with the psychological trauma of hair loss, just remind yourself: Would you rather be a pretty boy with a head of hair? Or would you rather be a highly intelligent, sexy, dominant goddamn boss who everyone respects? I think the answer is clear.Sometimes fast food comes and goes with the changing of the seasons or the direction of the wind... or the price of certain meats. For whichever one of those reasons (if any of them), Whataburger has brought back the Chop House Cheddar Burger... at least in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Whataburger's home state of Texas. That's what the press release says, anyway. A post on the official Whataburger Facebook page says it's now available at "all Whataburger locations," so who knows how special the Lone Star State actually is. Whataburger's Vice President of Marketing, and Innovation, Rich Scheffler, then went on to confuse the location even further by saying, “We’ve continued to receive a great customer response to the Chop House Cheddar Burger, so it was only natural we bring it back to our loyal fans in Texas and Oklahoma,” forgetting about Arkansas at all. I’m not sure even the company knows for sure where the burger is at this point – but at least all sources agree that it is in Texas. Update: The folks at Whataburger reached out to me to clarify: "The All-Time Favorites menu varies by region, and the Chop House is already on the menu in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. So, it’s back on the menu in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas." The burger, according to Whataburger, is "made with two 100-percent fresh, never-frozen beef patties grilled to perfection, topped with grilled onions, melted shredded cheddar cheese, two slices of crispy bacon and creamy steak sauce on a fresh, toasted five-inch bun." The news is very exciting to at least some people on social media:Failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a statement Tuesday distancing herself from top Democratic fundraiser and disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein — five days after the New York Times first published explosive allegations of sexual harassment against him. “I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein,” Clinton said in a statement, tweeted out by former campaign communications director Nick Merrill. “The behavior described by the women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior.” Statement from Secretary Clinton on Harvey Weinstein: pic.twitter.com/L1l2wl9l0I — Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) October 10, 2017 The statement comes after growing pressure on the former secretary of state from both left and right-wing figures and media outlets over her silence about the allegations. Weinstein was fired from his company Sunday, days after the Times published a report alleging sexual harassment spanning over decades resulting in at least eight settlements with young women. CNN reported Tuesday that Clinton aides were “confused” by her silence and asking why she has not said anything about the allegations. The outlet noted Weinstein’s long-standing connections with Clinton since he donated to Bill Clinton’s legal defense fund in the 1990s. It also points out that Clinton rented a home next to Weinstein in the Hamptons in 2015, while Weinstein acted as a big-money bundler for Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Clinton also headlined a number of big-dollar fundraisers at Weinstein’s home in New York City. The broadly pro-Clinton New York Times had added to the pressure on Clinton last week with an editorial board op-ed, saying: “Harvey Weinstein’s Money Shouldn’t Buy Democrats’ Silence.” It argued: There has been no comment from Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton, who condemned Donald Trump for boasting of sexual assault on the “Access Hollywood” tape. These Democratic leaders, admired by many young women and men, should make clear that Mr. Weinstein also deserves condemnation. If such powerful leaders take the money and stay mum, who will speak for women like Mr. Weinstein’s accusers? CNN had also ramped up the pressure, with editor-at-large Chris Cillizza asking Tuesday of Obama and Clinton: “What the heck is taking them so long?” Shortly after the statement by Clinton was published, Cillizza’s article was with an apparently unimpressed headline, referencing the blandness of Clinton’s statement: “It took Hillary Clinton five days to issue this statement about Harvey Weinstein.” Adam Shaw is a Breitbart News politics reporter based in New York. Follow Adam on Twitter: @AdamShawNYPart II: An In-depth Description of The Study For Readers With a Biomedical Background A guest post by Jingcheng Wu More on c-src: what it is and its relations to cancer C-src is short for c-src tyrosine kinase. Kinase is a type of enzyme that removes a part (phosphate group) of the molecule (ATP) that is required for every energy-expending process in the body, and attaches it to a specific amino acid (tyrosine, threonine or serine) of a protein (substrate). C-src belongs to a family of kinases called the Src tyrosine kinase. C-src stimulates the pathways that induce cell growth, generate new blood vessels, prevent cell suicide, and give cells ability to migrate1,2 – all necessary to give rise to proliferation of invasive cancer cells. When there is a mutation to the gene that encodes c-src, mutant c-srcs produced could mimic the functions of the normal signal transduction c-srcs.3 When there is over or mis-expression of the said gene, too many normal c-srcs would be produced. In both cases, it is like stepping on a gas pedal of a car. Once the aforementioned abnormality is coupled with the loss of tumor suppressor gene functions,4 it is like additional loss of the brake of a car, and the car takes off and wreaks havoc. What is the mechanism of action of existing drugs on the market? C-src holds the ATP and substrate to close proximity at a small, pocket-like region in itself called the active site. To do so, the c-src active site needs certain shape and atomic arrangement to attract or repulse certain atoms of the ATP and substrate, so that the ATP and substrate fit into the active site of c-src. Existing small molecule inhibitor drugs like Gleevec (for treating a chronic blood cancer, CML) contain substances structurally similar to ATP.5 Such substances fit into the c-src active site, and disrupt its interaction with actual ATPs.5 Why are existing drugs on the market toxic and ineffective? The strategy mentioned above is quite effective but has the following flaws: 1: C-src is just one member of one family of kinases, and the active sites of kinases have similar structures because they perform similar functions. Moreover, many kinases do not involve in cancer development and just carry out their benign and necessary tasks in the cells. As a result, such drugs not only inhibit c-src in cancer cells, but also the activities of other friendly kinases in normal cells. 2: Frequent mutations take place in c-src, and some of the mutations can vary the structure of the active site.6 When that happens, ATP might still fit, but the structurally resembling drug substance might not fit. To tackle this low selectivity and drug resistance problem, we looked at finding a novel drug-binding site on c-src. What novel drug-binding site on c-src did we find and how does it work? Proteins including c-src are chains of amino acids. The chains fold, twist, vibrate and change shapes (conformations) all the time due to their internal interactions among the amino acids7 and interactions with surrounding environment. Inactive c-src undergoes a series of conformational changes to open up its active site allowing substrate binding, and subsequently becomes active. This dynamic process pauses at two metastable conformations before reaching the end active state.16 These two metastable conformations are the intermediates I1 and I2.16 We were able to find a drug-binding site to trap c-src in the I2 conformation so it cannot move on to adopt the fully active conformation. Such task can be achieved by using any drug that binds to a particular region of c-src that is not the active site (hence allosteric site).16 This approach has lower toxicity, fewer side effects and longer lasting action compare to existing treatments on the market. For the drug-bond region to inhibit c-src conformational change from I2 to active state, it has to communicate with the active site. It doe so via interactions within and between those clustered components of c-src (domain) that behave relatively independently of the rest of the protein. Some of the domains can be many amino acids away from another (long range) yet they communicate with each other and act cooperatively.16 The close-neighboring amino acids also communicate with each other extensively, forming a local network to act in concert to unfold during activation.16 What have we done that had not been done before with c-src? Before, researchers could tell the static structural differences between active and inactive c-srcs (the two end states). They also identified the metastable intermediates I1 and I2. Yet they did not know how long it took and through what sequence of events and conformational changes to get from one end state to the other. On the other hand, we captured the entire dynamic process. We found out for the first time that the time (106 s) it takes to tansit from inactive state to active state (activation) is about five times longer than the time (21 s) it takes for the reverse process (deactivation). We also discovered the thermodynamic and kinetic features of c-src activation for the first time. Moreover, we found out more details about the two intermediates. In addition, this is the first study that used Markov State Model (MSM) on large-scale complex conformational changes of enzymes, whereas previously MSM had been only used on simulating protein-folding re-arrangements.16 Last but not least, we found all the conformations of the “A loop” (a loop structure critical for c-src activation) of the protein chain, whereas other research groups found only one (which is the open conformation).8 What approaches did we use to conduct our research? We combined MSM based, massively distributed computational method, statistical method and other algorithms and techniques to simulate c-src dynamic conformational changes at the atomic level.16 There are tens of thousands of atoms in the protein itself and in the surrounding water molecules to simulate. Atoms change their energetic, vibrational and kinetic properties within less than a trillionth of a second. The time it takes for c-src to transit from inactive state to active state is around one tenth of a thousandth of a second,16 which is quite a long time on the atomic scale. The conformational transition also could follow numerous different paths to reach the end states.16 To simulate the entire c-src conformational landscape with surrounding water molecules at the atomic scale, while considering all the possible paths it could take over such a large timescale, it requires enormous computing power and vast amount of resources to carry out. Luckily, we can break down the entirety of the computation into millions of small parts, and have donors from all over the world to each take one part and complete the computation on their personal electronic devices such as laptops, computers and Playstation3s. The previous studies had to employ simplification strategies that omitted key fine details on the kinetics of conformational transitions due to lack of computing power. How would the methods outlined in this study potentially increase drug selectivity? Some kinases, especially the ones in the same family with c-src, have amino acid sequences and structures highly resemble c-src. Such similarities pose difficulties of increasing drug selectivity. Fortunately, our detailed conformational landscapes help to distinguish subtle structural differences among proteins. For example, the Hck kinase (another member of the Src tyrosine kinase family), like c-src, also has two metastable intermediates I1 and I2.9 I1s of Hck and c-src are similar, but the “A loop” of Hck I2 is partially unfolded whereas the “A loop” of c-src I2 is fully unfolded.16 For drugs or fluorescent probes to bind to the novel allosteric binding site, the “A loop” has to be fully unfolded.16 Thus, the drugs or probes would only bind to c-src I2, not Hck I2. In other words, the subtle structural difference detected by our method between c-src I2 and Hck I2 allows drugs to selectively only inhibit c-src. Other findings from the study Diversity within intermediate states of c-src: When c-src goes through two intermediates (I1&I2) to switch between active and inactive states, the I1 does not always maintain exactly the same structure, and the same applies to I2. C-src I1 has a partially unfolded “A loop,”16 which is like a loose ribbon flapping around in the wind. In addition, there are a few amino acids of the “A loop” that fluctuate and adopt not two, but multiple intermediate conformations along the activation pathway.16 When taking snapshots of the intermediate states at different times, the “A loop” would look different. Slow rate of autophosphorylation: As mentioned earlier, c-src is a kinase that transfers a phosphate group (phosphorylation) from ATP to its substrate. It turns out that the substrate of c-src can be another c-src.16 The c-src can phosphorylate a member of its own kind, so this is called trans-autophosphorylation. Activating c-src is like turning on an old-fashioned light bulb. When you first turn on the switch, the light bulb flashes quickly alternating between on (active) and off (inactive) states. The way to lock the light bulb at the “on” state so that you get stable light source is for the c-src to either bind to its substrate (another c-src) or get trans-autophosphorylated by another c-src.10,16 It is important to note that for the substrate to be able to receive a phosphate group from ATP, it has to expose the site that the phosphate group attaches to.9 Initially when there are scarce active c-srcs floating around, the chance of encountering one and subsequently getting trans-autophosphorylated is small.16 As time goes on, more and more active c-srcs are available and the chance of encountering one is much greater, which speeds up the process exponentially.16 Our model predicts that the time evolution of active c-src population is sensitive to changes of concentrations of inactive c-src and briefly active c-src (not phosphorylated so not locked in the active state). “A loop” has to unfold before C helix can change conformation: The different parts of c-src undergo conformational changes in specific orders. Also, certain parts of the protein like the C helix remains folded during activation,16 although this structure as a whole can rotate inward or outward. Myristate-binding pocket in c-src could serve as another allosteric drug-binding site: A tyrosine kinase called c-ABL, which is a key component of a mutant fusion protein that causes a chronic blood cancer (CML), has similar fold as c-src.11 C-ABL and c-src both have an ATP binding pocket in the active site, a myristate-binding pocket not in the active site (thus allosteric) and an “A loop.” For c-ABL, binding of myristate to the myristate-binding pocket can be “felt” by the ATP binding pocket and the “A loop.” The ATP binding pocket and the “A loop” respond by changing their conformations, which lead to c-ABL activity supression.12 Due to the structural similarity of c-src with c-ABL, binding of a drug to the c-src myristate-binding site could produce a similar effect as observed in c-ABL.16 Future outlooks based on this study Future studies on c-src can include its two regulatory domains (SH2, SH3) and its locked active state (trans-autophosphorylated state) in the simulations.16 Furthermore, the discovery of the new allosteric inhibitor drug-binding site can be potentially used simultaneously with the ATP binding pocket of the active site13 as binding sites for a group of drugs called “fragment-based inhibitors.”14 Such a drug has two tightly (covalently) linked fragments that bind to two different sites of the same target kinase.14 It is equivalent to a “super drug” that combines the effect of an existing small molecule inhibitor drug with the effect of a drug that traps c-src in I2. In addition, a recent crystal structure of CDK2 (
iding judge Susan Himel in her conclusion:[43] I find that some of the evidence tendered on this application did not meet the standards set by Canadian courts for the admission of expert evidence. The parties did not challenge the admissibility of evidence tendered but asked the court to afford little weight to the evidence of the other party. I found the evidence of Dr. Melissa Farley to be problematic. Although Dr. Farley has conducted a great deal of research on prostitution, her advocacy appears to have permeated her opinions. For example, Dr. Farley's unqualified assertion in her affidavit that prostitution is inherently violent appears to contradict her own findings that prostitutes who work from indoor locations generally experience less violence. Furthermore, in her affidavit, she failed to qualify her opinion regarding the causal relationship between post- traumatic stress disorder and prostitution, namely, that it could be caused by events unrelated to prostitution. Dr. Farley's choice of language is at times inflammatory and detracts from her conclusions. For example, comments such as "prostitution is to the community what incest is to the family" and "just as pedophiles justify sexual assault of children.... men who use prostitutes develop elaborate cognitive schemes to justify purchase and use of women" make her opinions less persuasive. Dr. Farley stated during cross-examination that some of her opinions on prostitution were formed prior to her research, including "that prostitution is a terrible harm to women, that prostitution is abusive in its very nature, and that prostitution amounts to men paying a woman for the right to rape her". Accordingly, for these reasons, I assign less weight to Dr. Farley's evidence. Bibliography [ edit ] References [ edit ]States have been trying to follow the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and remove the names of voters who should no longer be listed; but for every voter added to the rolls in the past two months in some states, election officials have removed two, a review of the records shows. The six swing states seem to be in violation of federal law in two ways. Michigan and Colorado are removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election, which is not allowed except when voters die, notify the authorities that they have moved out of state, or have been declared unfit to vote. Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio seem to be improperly using Social Security data to verify registration applications for new voters. In addition to the six swing states, three more states appear to be violating federal law. Alabama and Georgia seem to be improperly using Social Security information to screen registration applications from new voters. And Louisiana appears to have removed thousands of voters after the federal deadline for taking such action. Under federal law, election officials are supposed to use the Social Security database to check a registration application only as a last resort, if no record of the applicant is found on state databases, like those for driver’s licenses or identification cards. The requirement exists because using the federal database is less reliable than the state lists, and is more likely to incorrectly flag applications as invalid. Many state officials seem to be using the Social Security lists first. In the year ending Sept. 30, election officials in Nevada, for example, used the Social Security database more than 740,000 times to check voter files or registration applications and found more than 715,000 nonmatches, federal records show. Election officials in Georgia ran more than 1.9 million checks on voter files or voter registration applications and found more than 260,000 nonmatches. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Officials of the Social Security Administration, presented with those numbers, said they were far too high to be cases where names were not in state databases. They said the data seem to represent a violation of federal law and the contract the states signed with the agency to use the database. Last week, after the inquiry by The Times, Michael J. Astrue, the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, alerted the Justice Department to the problem and sent letters to election officials in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio. The letters ask the officials to ensure that they are complying with federal law. “It is absolutely essential that people entitled to register to vote are allowed to do so,” Mr. Astrue said in a press release. In three states — Colorado, Louisiana and Michigan — the number of people purged from the election rolls since Aug. 1 far exceeds the number who may have died or relocated during that period. States may be improperly removing voters who have moved within the state, election experts said, or who are considered inactive because they have failed to vote in two consecutive federal elections. For example, major voter registration drives have been held this year in Colorado, which has also had a significant population increase since the last presidential election, but the state has recorded a net loss of nearly 100,000 voters from its rolls since 2004. Asked about the appearance of voter law violations, Rosemary E. Rodriguez, the chairwoman of the federal Election Assistance Commission, which oversees elections, said they could present “extremely serious problems.” “The law is pretty clear about how states can use Social Security information to screen registrations and when states can purge their rolls,” Ms. Rodriguez said. Nevada officials said the large number of Social Security checks had resulted from county clerks entering Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers in the wrong fields before records were sent to the state. They could not estimate how many records might have been affected by the problem, but they said it was corrected several weeks ago. Photo Other states described similar problems in entering data. Under the Help America Vote Act, all states were required to build statewide electronic voter registration lists to standardize and centralize voter records that had been kept on the local level. To prevent ineligible voters from casting a ballot, states were also required to clear the electronic lists of duplicates, people who had died or moved out of state, or who had become ineligible for other reasons. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Voting rights groups and federal election officials have raised concerns that the methods used to add or remove names vary by state and are conducted with little oversight or transparency. Many states are purging their lists for the first time and appear to be unfamiliar with the 2002 federal law. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. “Just as voting machines were the major issue that came out of the 2000 presidential election and provisional ballots were the big issue from 2004, voter registration and these statewide lists will be the top concern this year,” said Daniel P. Tokaji, a law professor at Ohio State University. Voting rights groups have urged voters to check their registrations with local officials. In Michigan, some 33,000 voters were removed from the rolls in August, a figure that is far higher than the number of deaths in the state during the same period — about 7,100 — or the number of people who moved out of the state — about 4,400, according to data from the Postal Service. In Colorado, some 37,000 people were removed from the rolls in the three weeks after July 21. During that time, about 5,100 people moved out of the state and about 2,400 died, according to postal data and death records. In Louisiana, at least 18,000 people were dropped from the rolls in the five weeks after July 23. Over the same period, at least 1,600 people moved out of state and at least 3,300 died. The secretaries of state in Michigan and Colorado did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for the Louisiana secretary of state said that about half of the numbers of the voters removed from the rolls were people who moved within the state or who died. The remaining 11,000 or so people seem to have been removed by local officials for other reasons that were not clear, the spokesman said. The purge estimates were calculated using data from state election officials, who produce a snapshot every month or so of the voter rolls with details about each registered voter on record, making it possible to determine how many have been removed. The Times’s methodology for calculating the purge estimates was reviewed by two voting experts, Kimball Brace, the director of Election Data Services, a Washington consulting firm that tracks voting trends, and R. Michael Alvarez, a political science professor at the California Institute of Technology. Advertisement Continue reading the main story By using the Social Security database so extensively, states are flagging extra registrations and creating extra work for local officials who are already struggling to process all the registration applications by Election Day. “I simply don’t have the staff to keep up,” said Ann McFall, the supervisor of elections in Volusia County, Fla. It takes 10 minutes to process a normal registration and up to a week to deal with a flagged one, said Ms. McFall, a Republican, adding that she was receiving 100 or so flagged registrations a week. Usually, when state election officials check a registration and find that it does not match a database entry, they alert local election officials to contact the voter and request further proof of identification. If that is not possible, most states flag the voter file and require identification from the voter at the polling place. In Florida, Iowa, Louisiana and South Dakota, the problem is more serious because voters are not added to the rolls until the states remove the flags. Ms. McFall said she was angry to learn from the state recently that it was her responsibility to contact each flagged voter to clear up the discrepancies before Election Day. “This situation with voter registrations is going to land us in court,” she said. In fact, it already has. In Michigan and Florida, rights groups are suing state officials, accusing them of being too aggressive in purging voter rolls and of preventing people from registering. In Georgia, the Justice Department is considering legal action against the state because officials in Cobb and Cherokee Counties sent letters to hundreds of voters stating that their voter registrations had been flagged and telling them they cannot vote until they clear up the discrepancy. Advertisement Continue reading the main story On Monday, the Ohio Republican Party filed a motion in federal court against the secretary of state to get the list of all names that have been flagged by the Social Security database since Jan. 1. The motion seeks to require that any voter who does not clear up a discrepancy be required to vote using a provisional ballot. Republicans said in the motion that it is central to American democracy that nonqualified voters be forbidden from voting. The Ohio secretary of state, Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, said in court papers that she believes the Republicans are seeking grounds to challenge voters and get them removed from the rolls. Considering that in the past year the state received nearly 290,000 nonmatches, such a plan could have significant impact at the polls.People sing and dance during a party to mark her death in central London's Trafalgar square, Saturday, April 13, 2013. Thatcher's most strident critics had long vowed to hold a gathering in central London on the Saturday following her passing, and the festivities were an indication of the depth of the hatred which some Britons still feel for their former leader. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) LONDON (AP) — Hundreds of opponents of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher partied in London's Trafalgar Square to celebrate her death, sipping Champagne and chanting "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead." Thatcher's most strident critics had long vowed to hold a gathering in central London on the Saturday following her passing, and the festivities were an indication of the depth of the hatred which some Britons still feel for their former leader. "We've been waiting a long time for this," Richard Watson, a 45-year-old from eastern England wearing a party hat, said. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime." As a huge effigy of Thatcher — complete with hook nose and handbag — made its way down the stairs in front of the National Gallery, the crowd erupted into cries of "Maggie! Maggie! Maggie! Dead! Dead! Dead!" and sang lyrics from the "Wizard of Oz" ditty "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead." Hundreds of people clutched their umbrellas in the rain between Nelson's Column and the National Gallery on the square, drinking cider or Champagne. The mood appeared festive and the celebration was peaceful, although there was a minor scuffle with police at one point. Police said they made nine arrests, most for drunkenness. Britons remain deeply divided over Thatcher, who died Monday aged 87, and the debate over her legacy has revived the strong feelings that marked her more than decade-long term in office. Thatcher's funeral is Wednesday and police are bracing for possible trouble along the procession route in central London. Widely respected on the right for reviving Britain's economic fortunes and besting Argentina in a war over the Falklands, Thatcher is reviled by some on the left for her bruising confrontation with the country's union movement and her perceived indifference to its working class. Some in the crowd said they didn't want to dance on Thatcher's grave, but they did want to mark their opposition to what she stood for. "I'm not here to celebrate Thatcher's death," Andy Withers, 49, said. "But what's going on tonight is part of the legacy she created."The pacing and connection with the characters are ideal for younger readers (<16) but anyone can appreciate the universe that Sloan has created. The writing style is relatively straightforward and easy to understand. Sloan provides plenty of description regarding the planet of Yazen, and captivates the reader’s attention with traditional mythical creatures and their relation to one another in this unfamiliar world. Although the plot is somewhat slow while our characters are on earth, the pace is rapidly picked up when they pass through the portal to Yazen. One benefit of the fast scenes is the ability for the book to hold a reader’s attention; words are not wasted. The book has more romance than I expected, although I found some of it to be rushed. The most enjoyable aspect of the book was the discovery of the various cultures of Yazen. I truly enjoyed the book, and barely took any breaks in between.West Ham Unitedhave failed in club record bids for the Cologne striker Anthony Modeste and the Villarreal forward Cedric Bakambu. Telegraph Sport understands that the Premier League club has made offers of 25million euros (£22million) for each of the two forward players which is more than the £20million they paid to sign Andre Ayew from Swansea City last summer. Co-chairman David Gold has already gone public with West Ham’s determination to bring in forward players during this transfer window with the injury problems being suffered by Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho and a lack of options having hampered them last season. But the club has been shocked by the fees being demanded around Europe. Modeste is a powerful striker who has done extremely well in Germany, scoring 25 goals in the Bundesliga last season, but Cologne are believed to be demanding more than £35million for the player even though he is 29. The French forward was close to agreeing a deal to move to China, with the club Tianjin Quanjian, for a similar fee but that collapsed last week. The Chinese interest appears to be influencing the fee being asked for by Cologne.Broadcast news outlets largely ignored the allegations that the Trump Foundation engaged in pay to play with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi until this weekend, after The Washington Post reported that Trump paid the IRS a penalty for his illegal donation in support of Bondi. The omission came despite reporting from other sources dating back to March on the charges made against the Trump Foundation and the fines the IRS leveled against it. Wash. Post Reported On Sept. 1 That Trump Paid IRS Fine For Violating Charity Rules With Contribution For Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Wash. Post’s David Fahrenthold: Trump’s Charitable Foundation Violated Tax Laws. The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold reported that Republican presidential nominee “Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty” for “violat[ing] tax laws by giving a political contribution” to a campaign group for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. This donation occurred in 2013 while “Bondi was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University.” Fahrenthold noted that Bondi “decided not to pursue the case” and that the Trump Foundation called the donation “an honest mistake.” From the September 1 article: Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year, an official at Trump's company said, after it was revealed that Trump's charitable foundation had violated tax laws by giving a political contribution to a campaign group connected to Florida's attorney general. The improper donation, a $25,000 gift from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, was made in 2013. At the time, Attorney General Pam Bondi was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. She decided not to pursue the case. Earlier this year, The Washington Post and a liberal watchdog group raised new questions about the three-year-old gift. The watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed a complaint with the IRS — noting that, as a registered nonprofit, the Trump Foundation was not allowed to make political donations. The Post reported another error, which had the effect of obscuring the political gift from the IRS. In that year's tax filings, The Post reported, the Trump Foundation did not notify the IRS of this political donation. Instead, Trump's foundation listed a donation — also for $25,000 — to a Kansas charity with a name similar to that of Bondi's political group. In fact, Trump's foundation had not given the Kansas group any money. The prohibited gift was, in effect, replaced with an innocent-sounding but nonexistent donation. [...] "It was just an honest mistake," [Trump Organization senior vice president Jeffrey] McConney said. He added: "It wasn’t done intentionally to hide a political donation, it was just an error." [The Washington Post, 9/1/16] Broadcast News Outlets Use Report Of The Fine To Address The Trump-Bondi Story CBS’ John Dickerson: “Donald Trump Has Said He Knew Better Than Anybody How To Use The System.” In an interview with New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, CBS political director John Dickerson asked about “Donald Trump’s foundation paying a fine to the IRS for a $25,000 donation” in support of Bondi. He noted that Donald Trump had said that “he knew better than anybody … how to use political donations to get the system to work for him” and asked, “Is that an instance of that in that situation, gave the money then the investigation didn't happen?” From the September 4 edition of CBS’ Face the Nation: JOHN DICKERSON (HOST): I want to ask you about a report in The Washington Post this week about Donald Trump's foundation paying a fine to the IRS for a $25,000 donation it had given to a political committee supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2013. She was looking into maybe investigating Trump University, ultimately didn't. Donald Trump has said he knew better than anybody how to use the system, how to use political donations to get the system to work for him. Is that an instance of that in that situation, gave the money then the investigation didn't happen? [CBS, Face The Nation, 9/4/16] NBC’s Peter Alexander: “The Trump Campaign Says The Money Was A Clerical Error.” On the Today show, Peter Alexander reported on Trump “responding to scrutiny after his charitable foundation was fined for violating tax law with a $25,000 donation” to a group connected to Pam Bondi. Alexander noted the timing of the donation occurred “just as Bondi was considering investigating Trump University for fraud.” From the September 6 edition of NBC’s Today: PETER ALEXANDER: Trump also responding to scrutiny after his charitable foundation was fined for violating tax law with a $25,000 donation to a campaign group tied to Florida's attorney general, Pam Bondi, just as Bondi was considering investigating Trump University for fraud. [..] ALEXANDER: Bondi ultimately chose not to investigate. The Trump campaign says the money was a clerical error. [NBC, Today, 9/6/16] CBS’s Major Garrett: Trump Says Bondi Contribution “Doesn’t Matter Because He’s Going To Win The Trump University Case.” CBS chief White House correspondent Major Garrett reported that Trump “denied his foundation made a political contribution in order to discourage Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi from joining a fraud suit against Trump University.” While “Trump says it doesn’t matter because he’s going to win the Trump University case,” Garrett noted that “Trump’s charitable foundation had to pay the IRS a $2,500 penalty.” From the September 6 edition of CBS’ This Morning: MAJOR GARRETT: Trump also denied his foundation made a political contribution in order to discourage Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi from joining a fraud suit against Trump University. [..] GARRETT: Bondi solicited the contribution for a political group that supports her, and in the end, pursued no charges. Trump says it doesn't matter because he's going to win the Trump University case. Well, not entirely. Trump's charitable foundation had to pay the IRS a $2,500 penalty, Charlie, for making and failing to properly disclose this contribution. [CBS, This Morning, 9/6/16] But Other Outlets Reported On Trump’s 2013 Donation In March Trump Foundation Made The Original Donation In September 2013. The Associated Press reported in June that the political group backing Bondi's campaign reported receiving the $25,000 donation from Trump’s charitable foundation on September 17, 2013. The AP reported that this donation was made in “apparent violation of rules surrounding political activities by charities” and that “the timing of the donation by Trump is notable because” Trump “has said he expects and receives favors from politicians to whom he gives money.” From the June 7 article: Florida’s attorney general personally solicited a political contribution from Donald Trump around the same time her office deliberated joining an investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University and its affiliates[.] The new disclosure from Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s spokesman to The Associated Press on Monday provides additional details around the unusual circumstances of Trump’s $25,000 donation to Bondi. The money came from a Trump family foundation in apparent violation of rules surrounding political activities by charities. A political group backing Bondi’s re-election, called And Justice for All, reported receiving the check Sept. 17, 2013 – four days after Bondi’s office publicly announced she was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University’s activities, according to a 2013 report in the Orlando Sentinel. After the check came in, Bondi’s office nixed suing Trump, citing insufficient grounds to proceed. [...] The timing of the donation by Trump is notable because the now presumptive Republican presidential nominee has said he expects and receives favors from politicians to whom he gives money. “When I want something I get it,” Trump said at an Iowa rally in January. “When I call, they kiss my ass. It’s true.” [The Associated Press, 6/7/16] International Business Times: CREW “Called On IRS To Investigate” Trump Foundation’s Political Contribution. The International Business Times reported that “the Washington nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) called on the IRS to investigate whether the Trump Foundation broke federal law when it donated to the pro-Bondi group.” The article quoted CREW executive director Noah Bookbinder, who said, “The rules are clear: a tax-exempt charitable foundation cannot support a political group.” (David Brock is the chairman and vice chairman of the boards of Media Matters and CREW, respectively.) From the March 21 article: A new legal complaint against Donald Trump's charitable organization claims the group illegally donated to a political organization supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. State campaign finance records show the $25,000 contribution was made in September 2013, just days after Bondi's office announced she was considering whether to take legal action against Trump's now-defunct online seminar business, Trump University. Bondi, who endorsed Trump last week, never wound up investigating the company. On Monday the Washington nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) called on the IRS to investigate whether the Trump Foundation broke federal law when it donated to the pro-Bondi group. The Trump Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that it is prohibited from supporting political candidates. CREW's complaint alleges that donating to And Justice For All, the pro-Bondi group, would violate this prohibition. “The rules are clear: a tax-exempt charitable foundation cannot support a political group,” said CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder in a statement. “The apparent failure to tell the IRS about this political activity makes matters worse and is something we’ve seen too many organizations doing lately.” [International Business Times, 3/21/16] Wash. Post: Trump Aides Said “Charitable Foundation Made A Mistake.” Washington Post reporters David Fahrenthold and Rosalind Helderman reported that Trump aides said his foundation made a mistake in providing the $25,000 donation “to a political committee backing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi,” noting that his comment was “relatively unusual, because Trump has built his presidential bid on a distaste for apologies.” They reported that the Bondi donation “gained renewed attention in recent days when Bondi endorsed Trump.” From the March 22 article: Aides to Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week that his charitable foundation made a mistake when it donated $25,000 to a political committee backing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a potential violation of federal rules prohibiting charities from aiding political candidates. The Donald J. Trump Foundation compounded the error by not listing its 2013 gift to the pro-Bondi group, And Justice for All, in its filings with the IRS that year, the aides said. The charity listed a $25,000 donation to an unrelated group with a similar name, Justice for All. But that group, a Wichita-based nonprofit, said it never received any money from the foundation. Such an admission of error from the campaign is itself relatively unusual, because Trump has built his presidential bid on a distaste for apologies. [...] The foundation’s gift to Bondi gained renewed attention in recent days when Bondi endorsed Trump before this year’s Florida GOP primary, on March 15. Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Trump’s campaign, said it had been unaware that Trump’s foundation made the erroneous political gift. [...] Jordan Libowitz, a CREW spokeswoman, said that the IRS “needs to investigate and determine where the truth lies.” “It appears they gave an illegal political donation, told the IRS they didn’t give a political donation, claimed it was made to a similarly named permissible group instead — and now they’re saying it’s an error?” Libowitz said. [The Washington Post, 3/22/16] Despite This Previous Reporting, Broadcast News Outlets Essentially Ignored The Story From March Until This Weekend CBS’s Major Garrett: “Trump Donated And Florida Stayed Out” Of His Trump U. Lawsuit. CBS chief White House correspondent Major Garrett was the only broadcast news reporter to mention the illegal donation on air between March 22, 2016, and September 1, 2016. He reported that Trump urged supporters “to come to his defense over Trump University,” linking it to the AP report that “Bondi personally asked Trump for a campaign contribution” when “her office was deciding whether to join the lawsuit against Trump University” and concluding, “Ultimately, Trump donated and Florida stayed out.” From the June 7 edition of CBS’ This Morning: MAJOR GARRETT: After all this incoming fire from fellow Republicans, Trump held a conference call with supporters and urged them to come to his defense over Trump University. In a related development, The Associated Press reported that Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, personally asked Trump for a campaign contribution around the same time her office was deciding whether to join the lawsuit against Trump University. Ultimately, Trump donated, and Florida stayed out. [CBS, This Morning, 6/7/16] No Other Broadcast Morning Or Evening News Shows Covered Trump’s Donation. A search of the Nexis database revealed no coverage of Trump’s contribution to a political group for Bondi’s re-election between March 22 and September 1 on ABC’s Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and This Week; NBC’s Today, Nightly News, and Meet the Press; and CBS’ Evening News and Face the Nation, and no other mentions on This Morning. [Nexis, accessed 9/6/16] Methodology Media Matters searched Nexis for coverage of Donald Trump's donations to Pam Bondi between March 22, 2016, and September 1, 2016, on CBS, NBC, and ABC's morning, evening, and Sunday news programs. Media Matters used the terms: "Trump AND Bondi."Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility was all about the patents. Just as shopping at Prada is all about the necessity to own something that is black. Many have theorized about the strategy behind blowing two years of Google's profits on a hardware operation. Some have even whispered mischievously that there may be no strategy at all, other than some vague pragmatic expediency and Microsoft-battling. However, there has also emerged the notion that now Google can be like Apple--a company with its own hardware/software infrastructure that welcomes you into its warm bosom and keeps you there with untold varieties of emotional sustenance. Perhaps the first problem with that idea is the emotional sustenance part. Google is to emotional sustenance what Jessica Simpson is to opera. The company has always existed to impress--then please--engineers, with real people being a secondary market. Real people don't have to pay to use Google products. They don't have to really enjoy them. They just have to use them, so that Google can make money from the advertising. Apple works the other way around. It looks at real people, how they live, how they try and how they suffer and attempts to bring a level of fascination, ease and emotional uplift through gadgets that become friends, toys and lifelines. CC Joi/Flickr If Google suddenly wants to be like Apple, what does that mean? Does it mean that Android will now become a little more exclusive? Does it mean that its Motorola arm will produce beautiful Android phones for which people will pay an arm, a leg and a couple of days of their lives standing in line? Google's lack of emotional equity, coupled with that of Motorola--a company that laughably tried to sell the world on the idea of Apple as Big Brother--means that if it created a total software/hardware infrastructure, it wouldn't currently be based on anything other than a rationality: price, perhaps. More troubling than that, Google's experience doesn't stretch far into either hardware manufacture or getting people to buy things--an idea that is often subsumed under that tainted and troubling word "marketing." So what kind of confidence should anyone have that a new Google infrastructure will capture anything more than a little attention and a lot of yawning from Cupertino? However, Google fancies itself as having brains bigger than Mars. So why shouldn't we wonder that the company would prefer not to be like Apple, but to be post-Apple? Apple needs people to pay good money for hardware. So why wouldn't Google consider a world in which the hardware is free? Apple needs people to congregate around a very small number of designs--phones that are placed on altars, so that people can genuflect beneath them before touching them with respectful gingerness. So why wouldn't Google march in the direction of allowing people to design their own phones, so that suddenly a Googorola phone is less the product of a brand and more an expression of the person who both created it and bought it? Aiming to be like Apple feels unimaginative, almost depressive. Inspiring real people to think that there is a world beyond Apple--one that might be even better, even more original-- is something that ought to be Google's challenge. I wonder if that might have crossed Larry Page's mind. Or is he really just so terribly excited to get his hands on such a fine portfolio of patents?Julie Payette, who rocketed into space as Canada’s second female astronaut, appears poised to become the next Governor General. Payette, who left Canada’s astronaut corps four years ago, appears likely to be named as the Queen’s next representative in Canada on Thursday. Gov. Gen. David Johnston's term is set to expire in September, after Harper extended it by two years ahead of the 2015 federal election. ( Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo ) Canadian astronaut Julie Payette describes her mission to the International Space Station in this August 2009 file photo. ( Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) Canadian astronaut Julie Payette describes her mission to the International Space Station in this August 2009 file photo. ( Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) The 53-year-old Montreal native would replace David Johnston, who has held the office for seven years, becoming the fourth woman to hold the governor general post after Michaëlle Jean, Adrienne Clarkson and Jeanne Sauvé. The Prime Minister’s Office was not officially commenting Wednesday on the choice of the next Governor General. But a senior government official confirmed that Payette appeared certain to take on the post. The identity of Johnston’s replacement has been a closely guarded secret. Traditionally, the viceregal job rotates between anglophones and francophones, with all indications pointing to a francophone filling the portfolio beginning this fall. Article Continued Below If confirmed, Payette would bring an impressive resumé to Rideau Hall, one that already includes a commercial pilot’s licence, credentials as a deep-sea diving suit operator, the ability to converse in six languages — French, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian and German — pianist, and orchestra singer. Payette with current Gov. Gen. David Johnston after receiving the Order of Canada in September 2011. Johnston, who had a long career in academia, was chosen for the position in 2010 off a short list presented to then prime minister Stephen Harper by an ad hoc committee of experts. ( FRED CHARTRAND ) In 1992, the Canadian Space Agency picked Payette and three others from a pool of 5,330 applicants to become astronauts. She went on to fly two missions on the space shuttle in 1999 and 2009, missions that included stops at the International Space Station. She has logged a total of 611 hours in orbit. She has also served as capsule communicator, responsible for communications between mission control in Houston and astronauts in orbit. Payette holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Montreal’s McGill University and a master’s of applied science in computer engineering from the University of Toronto. She told the Star in 2014 that the deficit of women in science is a “multi-faceted issue.” “It has to do with recruitment, retention, promotion within the system, which may not be always equal, accommodation and then the fifth one is what I call image,” she said. “There is a bit of an image that is tagged to scientists and engineers, and I don’t think I fit that, but I am through and through very much an engineer and proudly so. I’m a total geek and I love it.” The Governor General also serves as commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. As part of her 1,300 hours of flight time, Payette has experience flying CT-114 Tutor jet — the same aircraft used by the Snowbirds aerobatic team — and has earned her instrument rating with the military. Canadian astronauts Julie Payette and Robert Thirsk aboard the ISS in July 2009. Payette has logged a total of 611 hours in orbit. ( NASA TV ) Article Continued Below She has been honoured with more than a dozen honorary degrees from Canadian universities. During Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, Prince Charles paid tribute to Johnson’s” impeccable service as her “majesty’s representative.” “He has earned great respect and gratitude as a modern nation-builder whose commitment to the youth of Canada and reconciliation is exemplary,” Charles told the crowd. Multiple officials say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make the announcement at 1 p.m. in the foyer of the Senate, and is expected to be flanked by the new viceregal, just as Johnston stood alongside Stephen Harper when he was tapped for the job in 2010. Johnston, who had a long career in academia, was chosen for the position off a short list presented to Harper by an ad hoc committee of experts struck with the express task of selecting a non-partisan person with constitutional knowledge. At the time, Harper had a minority government and so who held the post of Governor General was essential to maintaining the stability of government. Johnston’s term is set to expire in September, after Harper extended it by two years ahead of the 2015 federal election. The names of those on the selection committee weren’t published until after Johnston’s nomination, but Harper would go on to make the committee a permanent body, saying a process to ensure a non-partisan approach to appointments was important. Payette brings an impressive resumé to Rideau Hall, one that already includes a commercial pilot’s licence, credentials as a deep-sea diving suit operator, the ability to converse in six languages — French, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian and German — pianist, and orchestra singer. ( Paul Chiasson ) When asked late last year how he’d pick the next Governor General, Trudeau was noncommittal about what process he would use. “I’m not going to change things just to reinvent the wheel,” Trudeau said in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press. “If there is a good process that we can improve by making (it) more open and transparent and more diverse, that I will probably do.” Johnston is currently on a visit to China and is expected to have an audience with the Queen next week when he travels to the U.K. for Canada 150 events, likely marking the last time he will sit face-to-face with the monarch he represents. In his farewell speech on Canada Day, Johnston said he has learned much in his seven years on the job. “These are challenging but exciting times,” he said. “And together we can show the world what a great country looks like. To me it looks like Canada, a country that strives, always, to be smarter and more caring — to do better, together.” With files from Alanna Rizza and The Canadian Press Read more about:Originally published on Pam's House Blend. I recently received a direct mail piece from a reader that is unbelievable. It is from an entity called the "Black Republican PAC," headed up by Edward
out the benefits of the campaign in aspects where it is carried out the right way. The detractors equally speak the truth when they point out the cost of lives in aspects where the campaign is carried out the wrong way. The supporters cannot invoke the benefits to deny the existence of the cost. The detractors cannot use the cost to deny the existence of the benefits. The parable of the blind men and the elephant has been used since ancient times to warn people against preachers and scholars who talk about “absolute truth” or “exclusive religious claims” when, in fact, they see only one side of an issue. It is also used to “illustrate the principle of living in harmony with people who have different belief systems, and that truth can be stated in different ways.” The parable has been further used to explain “that one’s subjective experience can be true, but that such experience is inherently limited by its failure to account for other truths or a totality of truth.” The parable highlights the importance of considering all viewpoints in order to obtain a full picture of reality. In the heated national debate over the war on drugs, we reenact the parable in our real lives when we refuse to acknowledge the different perspectives of reality that our neighbors truthfully see from their own vantage points. Even with our eyes open, we betray ourselves as a nation of blind men and women. * * * Comments to [email protected] Read Next LATEST STORIES MOST READMaxwell Acosty (Foto: FC Crotone) Četiri dana prije kraja prijelaznog roka na Rujevicu je stiglo još jedno pojačanje. Riječ je o ganskom krilnom napadaču Maxwellu Acostyju koji je danas i formalno postao novo ime u riječkoj svlačionici. Četiri dana prije kraja prijelaznog roka na Rujevicu je stiglo još jedno pojačanje. Riječ je o ganskom krilnom napadaču Maxwellu Acostyju koji je danas i formalno postao novo ime u riječkoj svlačionici. Tamnoputi 25-godišnji napadač koji je prošle sezone nosio dres talijanskog drugoligaša Latine i prvoligaša Crotonea potpisao je ugovor s Rijekom u obliku jednogodišnje posudbe s obvezom otkupa ugovora. Podsjetimo, Acosty je drugo pojačanje u samo nekoliko dana nakon dolaska grčkog braniča Charalamposa Mavriasa. Ovim dolaskom posao oko pojačanja nije završen budući da se i dalje radi na angažmanu australskog reprezentativca Jasona Davidsona. Igrač koji je upisao i tri nastupa na Svjetskom prvenstvu u Brazilu odradio je liječničke preglede te bi u narednim danima trebao staviti potpis na trogodišnji ugovor.Though still not at the level of the Miami Heat post-Decision, the Golden State Warriors have become easily the biggest draw in the NBA. Thursday’s Spurs/Warriors NBA regular season game scored a 2.2 final rating and 3.4 million viewers on TNT, up 69% in ratings and 84% in viewership from Blazers/Warriors last year (1.3, 1.9M) and up 144% and 163%, respectively, from Nuggets/Warriors in 2014 (0.9, 1.3M). The Warriors’ 70th win scored the fifth-largest audience of the season on cable, behind Spurs/Rockets on Christmas night (3.9M), Warriors/Cavaliers on Martin Luther King Day (3.6M), Thunder/Warriors in March (3.6M) and Cavaliers/Bulls on Opening Night (3.5M). Including games on ABC, it ranks a more pedestrian 13th. The Warriors have played in nine of the season’s fifteen most-watched games regardless of network. ADVERTISEMENT In Thursday’s undercard, Bulls/Heat had a 1.1 and 1.6 million — flat in ratings and down 7% in viewership from the same matchup last year (1.1, 1.7M) and flat and down 2%, respectively, from Spurs/Mavericks in 2014 (1.1, 1.6M). As for the week’s other action, Rockets/Mavericks had a 1.0 and 1.5 million on ESPN Wednesday — up 43% in ratings and 39% in viewership from Suns/Mavericks last year (0.7, 1.1M) but down 23% and 25%, respectively, from Thunder/Clippers in 2014 (1.3, 1.9M). The early Cavaliers/Pacers game drew a 0.7 and 1.0 million absent LeBron James, up 40% in ratings and viewership from Celtics/Pistons last year (0.5, 740K) but down 46% and 47%, respectively, from Heat/Grizzlies in ’14 (1.3, 2.0M). On TNT Tuesday, Pistons/Heat had a mere 0.6 (-14%) and 885,000 (-27%). Timberwolves/Warriors, a rare defeat for Golden State, had a 1.1 (+57%) and 1.6 million (+68%). Both were soundly defeated by the championship of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on ESPN (1.9, 3.0M). (Numbers via Programming Insider [1], [2], [3])Cut by the Ravens on Sunday, former Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff quickly signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins. The deal is worth $894,340, The Baltimore Sun has learned. Cundiff received an $825,000 base salary, a $65,000 signing bonus and a $4,340 workout bonus. Under the minimum salary benefit, Cundiff carries a salary-cap figure of $609,340 with his $825,000 salary only counting for $540,000 against the cap. Cundiff made 3 of 4 field goals in his Redskins debut Wednesday night, hitting all three extra points for 12 points during a 30-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He connected on kicks from 39, 27 and 22 yards, missing from 46 yards wide right in the second quarter. The Ravens terminated Cundiff's five-year, $14.7 million contract on Sunday. It was a contract that he signed after his 2010 Pro Bowl season. That deal included a $3 million signing bonus and a $2.2 million base salary for 2012. The Ravens saved approximately $1.81 million against this year's salary cap by parting ways with Cundiff and going with rookie kicker Justin Tucker. Tucker is signed to a three-year contract that includes a rookie minimum base salary of $390,000. The deal didn't include a signing bonus. Now, the Ravens are $4.933 million under the NFL salary cap limit. That's enough space to do a contract extension for quarterback Joe Flacco and have enough left over for an emergency fund should more injuries happen. [email protected] matter how high a particular player's BABIP may be, his average will be mediocre at best if he strikes out too much. This is why fantasy owners have known for years that players like Adam Dunn, Chris Carter, and Chris Davis are potential drains on a fantasy team's batting average. Furthermore, players that whiff a lot tend to continue to do so - it is a very sticky trait. In 2016, the league average K rate was 21.1%, meaning that roughly one in five MLB PAs ends in a whiff. Players that K significantly less than this have an advantage in hitting for a higher average. Players that whiff more often tend to post lower averages. This is relatively common knowledge for most fantasy owners. Editor's note: Be sure to check out all our strategy articles on how to win your fantasy baseball leagues: Our Sabermetrics series - Part 1: BABIP for Hitters, Part 2: HR/FB%, Part 3: Batted Ball Distribution; Points League Primer; Using SIERA to Win Your League; How Your Brain Messes with Your Drafts; and Why You Shouldn't Overpay for Saves. How to Interpret Plate Discipline Sabermetrics may be used to determine whether a given player "deserved" his K rate over a particular period, avoiding misleading data the same way BABIP is used to see through a fluky average. The first number to check is SwStr%, alternatively called whiff rate. This metric simply tracks what percentage of a batter's swings fail to make contact with a pitch. The league average is around 10 percent, with higher numbers indicating a proneness to K. SwStr% tends to increase if a batter swings harder, making power hitters more susceptible to the strikeout than other players. If a player improves his strikeout rate without a corresponding improvement in SwStr%, the improvement is unlikely to stick moving forward. Likewise, a career-worst strikeout rate backed by a normal SwStr% is likely to regress in the player's favor. Further detail is offered by O-Swing%, a measure of how often a batter swings at a pitch outside of the strike zone. Generally, swinging at pitches outside of the zone is a bad idea. Batters usually want to hit "their pitch," which they never get to see if they pop-up a fastball over their head early in the count. In 2016, the league averaged an O-Swing% of 30.3 percent. Numbers significantly higher than this indicate an increased likelihood of chasing a bad pitch and making poor contact or striking out. This stat is also used to examine a player's walk rate, or BB%, in much the same manner as SwStr% is used to double check K%. A strong walk rate when a player is still chasing too many pitches is not based in any repeatable skill, and will likely be normalized moving forward. Likewise, a lower walk rate paired with a career average O-Swing% indicates that the walks should come back. Fantasy owners should always care about walks even if their format does not directly reward them. Every BB is a chance to steal a base or score a run, and players that know the zone tend to hit for higher averages to boot! Let's look at some examples of advanced plate discipline stats in action. Joey Votto is widely regarded as the master of plate discipline, and his surface stats support the assessment. His 16 percent BB% was nearly equal to his 17.7 percent K rate, after all. Digging deeper, we find that these numbers are completely justifiable. His 20.8 percent O-Swing% was nearly 10 percentage points better than the league average rate, and his 7.1 percent SwStr% was better than average average as well. It is safe to conclude that Votto will continue to demonstrate outstanding plate discipline in 2017. Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop, however, may not be so lucky. His 21.2 percent K% and resulting.267 batting average were fine in 2016, fooling many preseason prognosticators who felt his swing and miss profile would doom him to a terrible batting average. A horrific 43 percent O-Swing% and 16.2 percent SwStr% are hiding under the acceptable surface stats though, threatening to ruin any fantasy owner who does not prepare for the batting average risk Schoop continues to represent. Aggression or passivity at the plate can confound the analysis slightly. For example, Schoop's teammate Adam Jones regularly outperforms his swinging strike rate by avoiding two-strike counts. Even if a hitter has a high whiff rate, he can't strike out if he resolves the PA before three pitches are thrown. Joey Votto is on the opposite side of the spectrum, as his refusal to swing at bad pitches puts him in more two-strike counts leading to more Ks than his SwStr% numbers would suggest. To conclude, both K% and BB% are useful for fantasy purposes but fail to tell the whole story. SwStr%, or how often a batter swings and misses, is a better indicator of a player's future strikeout rate than K rate alone. O-Swing%, or how often a batter chases pitches outside of the zone, performs similarly concerning BB rate. Other plate discipline metrics exist, such as Z-Swing%, O-Contact% and Z-Contact%, but SwStr% is usually a good enough proxy for fantasy purposes. One exception to this rule is if an older player sees a decline in Z-Contact%, indicating that he can no longer make contact on pitches he used to hit in the zone. Another is a rise in SwStr% rooted exclusively in pitches outside of the zone. Sometimes, missing those pitches is better than hitting them.Angle Talks WWE Return? Take this for what it's worth, as nothing has been confirmed by WWE, TNA or Kurt Angle, but WZ received two separate correspondences from readers in attendance at today's Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, and they noted Kurt Angle was telling people he will be returning to WWE in September. Angle's current TNA deal is set to expire in September of this year, and barring any no-compete clause in his contract he would be able to return to WWE at that time. Angle has been more open in interviews lately about the idea of returning to WWE and finishing his career there, and he has even talked about who he'd like to face in WWE should he make a return. Hogan Talks How His WWE Return Came About In a new interview conducted for WWE.com, Hulk Hogan had the following to say how his return to WWE came about:Choosing between two good things can be tough. When animals must decide between feeding and mating, it can get even trickier. In a discovery that might ring true even for some humans, researchers have shown that male brains – at least in nematodes – will suppress the ability to locate food in order to instead focus on finding a mate. The results, which appear today in the journal Current Biology, may point to how subtle changes in the brain’s circuitry dictate differences in behavior between males and females. “While we know that human behavior is influenced by numerous factors, including cultural and social norms, these findings point to basic biological mechanisms that may not only help explain some differences in behavior between males and females, but why different sexes may be more susceptible to certain neurological disorders,” said Douglas Portman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Genetics and Center for Neural Development and Disease at the University of Rochester and lead author of the study. The findings were made in experiments involving C. elegans, a microscopic roundworm that has long been used by researchers to understand fundamental mechanisms in biology. Many of the discoveries made using C. elegans apply throughout the animal kingdom and this research has led to a broader understanding of human biology. In fact, three Nobel Prizes in medicine and chemistry have been awarded for discoveries involving C. elegans. C. elegans is particularly useful in the study of the nervous system and scientists understand in great detail the development, function, and multiple connections of its entire neural network. The study published today focuses on the activity of a single pair of neurons found in C. elegans – called AWA – that control smell. Smell, along with taste and touch, are critical sensory factors that dictate how C. elegans understands and navigates its environment, including finding food, avoiding danger, and locating a mate. There are two sexes of C. elegans, males and hermaphrodites. Though the hermaphrodites are able to self-fertilize, they are also mating partners for males, and are considered to be modified females. It has been previously observed that males and hermaphrodites act differently when exposed to food. If placed at a food source, the hermaphrodites tend to stay there. Males, however, will leave food source and “wander” – scientist believe they do this because they are in search of a mate. The Rochester researchers discovered that the sensory mechanisms – called chemoreceptors – of the AWA neurons were regulated by the sexual identity of these cells, which, in turn, controls the expression of a receptor called ODR-10. These receptors bind to a chemical scent that is given off by food and other substances. In hermaphrodites, more of the ODR-10 receptors are produced, making the worms more sensitive – and thereby attracted – to the presence of food. In males, fewer of these receptors are active, essentially suppressing their ability – and perhaps desire – to find food. However, when males were deprived of food, they produced dramatically higher levels of this receptor, allowing them to temporarily focus on finding food. To confirm the role of these genetic differences between the sexes on behavior, the researchers designed a series of experiments in which they observed the activity of C. elegans when placed in a petri-dish and confronted with the option to either feed or go in search of a mate. The hermaphrodites were place in the center of the dish at a food source and, as expected, they stayed put. The males were placed in their own individual food sources at the periphery of the dish. As a further obstacle between the males and their potential mates, an additional ring of food surrounded the hermaphrodites in the center of the dish. The males in the experiment consisted of two categories, one group with a normal genetic profile and another group that had been engineered by the researchers to overexpress the ODR-10 receptor, essentially making them more sensitive to the smell of food. The researchers found that the normal worms left their food source and eventually made their way to the center of the dish where they mated with the hermaphrodites. The genetically engineered males were less successful at finding a mate, presumably because they were more interested in feeding. By examining the genetic profile of the resulting offspring, the scientists observed that the normal males out-produced the genetically engineered males by 10 to one. In separate experiments, the researchers were also able to modify the behavior of the hermaphrodites by suppressing the ODR-10 receptors, causing them to act like males and abandon their food source. “These findings show that by tuning the properties of a single cell, we can change behavior,” said Portman. “This adds to a growing body of evidence that sex-specific regulation of gene expression may play an important role in neural plasticity and, consequently, influence differences in behaviors – and in disease susceptibility – between the sexes.” Notes about this neuroscience research Additional authors include Deborah Ryan, Renee Miller, KyungHwa Lee, and Kelli Fagan with the University of Rochester, and Scott Neal and Piali Sengupta with Brandeis University. The research was supported by funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the Human Frontiers Science Program, and the National Alliance for Autism Research /Autism Speaks. Contact: Mark Michaud – University of Rochester Source: University of Rochester press release Image Source: The image is adapted from the University of Rochester press release Original Research: Abstract for “Sex, Age, and Hunger Regulate Behavioral Prioritization through Dynamic Modulation of Chemoreceptor Expression” by Deborah A. Ryan, Renee M. Miller, KyungHwa Lee, Scott J. Neal, Kelli A. Fagan, Piali Sengupta, and Douglas S. Portman in Current Biology. Published online October 16 2014 doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.032 Share this Neuroscience NewsCelebrity chef, Embarcadero restaurant sued for harassment Michael Chiarello Michael Chiarello Photo: John Storey, The Chronicle Photo: John Storey, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Celebrity chef, Embarcadero restaurant sued for harassment 1 / 18 Back to Gallery Two lawsuits were filed Tuesday against the high-end San Francisco tapas restaurant Coqueta and its celebrity chef/owner, Michael Chiarello, alleging sexual harassment and refusal to pay employees their due wages. Both lawsuits were filed by former Coqueta waitresses Katherine Page and Asja Sever, who worked at the restaurant for three and two years, respectively. They allege that the work environment at the Embarcadero restaurant was “hostile, sexually charged and abusive.” They say the chefs and managers “engaged in a pattern and practice of inappropriate sexual comments, touching and other sex-related abuse.” Chiarello’s spokesman called the allegations “unfounded” and “against his core beliefs.” Chiarello is a high-profile fixture in the culinary world, and currently hosts a cooking show on the Food Network. Coqueta, which means flirt or infatuation in Spanish, opened in April 2013. According to the lawsuit, Chiarello made comments such as “Martinis are like tits. One is too few, three is too many.” He also allegedly told Coqueta managers to use the hiring policy: “If you don’t want to f— them, don’t hire them.” And the lawsuit states that on one visit to the restaurant, Chiarello “held a baguette to his crotch while making stroking motions over the bread with his hands in an overtly sexual manner.” The lawsuit also accuses other other chefs and managers at the restaurant of inappropriate touching and remarks. Kelly Armstrong, the women’s attorney, said her clients “are hopeful that in having the courage to stand up for their rights and come forward, they can send a strong message that this type of treatment will not be tolerated.” In a statement, Chiarello’s spokesman, Terry Fahn, said the chef intends to “vigorously defend himself.” “This claim flies in the face of who Mr. Chiarello is and how he has lived his life.” A second lawsuit by the women alleges that the restaurant did not pay the women for all the hours they worked, including overtime, systematically denied meal and rest breaks to employees and issued false wage statements. Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @emilytgreenAt nearly 500,000 acres, Eglin Air Force Base is not the most unobtrusive piece of real estate along Florida’s Emerald Coast. It is, however, among the best guarded. The base is home to top-secret weapons laboratories, swamp-training facilities for U.S. Special Forces, and the only supersonic range east of the Mississippi. Even from a great distance, bands of quivering heat can be seen rising from the miles of tarmac. At the end of May, I flew into Fort Walton Beach, a civilian airfield that shares a runway with Eglin, a fact that was driven home when the regional jet I was on ran over an arresting wire, a landing aid for fast-moving fighters, while taxiing to the gate. With F-15s and F-16s circling overhead, I drove to the main gate at Eglin, where I was escorted through security and over to the air force’s 33rd Fighter Wing, which is home to the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, and some of the men who fly it. The Joint Strike Fighter, or J.S.F., is the most expensive weapons system in American history. The idea behind it is to replace four distinct models of aging “fourth generation” military jets with a standardized fleet of state-of-the-art “fifth generation” aircraft. Over the course of its lifetime, the program will cost approximately $1.5 trillion. Walking around the supersonic stealth jet for the first time, I was struck by its physical beauty. Whatever its shortcomings—and they, like the dollars invested in the plane, are almost beyond counting—up close it is a dark and compelling work of art. To paraphrase an old Jimmy Breslin line, the F-35 is such a bastardized thing that you don’t know whether to genuflect or spit. When the J.S.F. program formally got under way, in October 2001, the Department of Defense unveiled plans to buy 2,852 of the airplanes in a contract worth an estimated $233 billion. It promised that the first squadrons of high-tech fighters would be “combat-capable” by 2010. The aircraft is at least seven years behind schedule and plagued by a risky development strategy, shoddy management, laissez-faire oversight, countless design flaws, and skyrocketing costs. The Pentagon will now be spending 70 percent more money for 409 fewer fighters—and that’s just to buy the hardware, not to fly and maintain it, which is even more expensive. “You can understand why many people are very, very skeptical about the program,” Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, who has been in charge of it since last December, acknowledged when I caught up with him recently in Norway, one of 10 other nations that have committed to buy the fighter. “I can’t change where the program’s been. I can only change where it’s going.” The 33rd Fighter Wing’s mission is to host air-force, Marine, and navy units responsible for training the pilots who will fly the F-35 and the “maintainers” who will look after it on the ground. The Marine unit, known as the Warlords, has outpaced the others: the commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos, has declared that his service will be the first to field a combat-ready squadron of F-35s. In April 2013, Amos told Congress that the Marines would declare what the military calls an “initial operational capability,” or I.O.C., in the summer of 2015. (Six weeks later, he moved the I.O.C. date to December 2015.) By comparison, the air force has declared an I.O.C. date of December 2016, while the navy has set a date of February 2019. An I.O.C. declaration for a weapons system is like a graduation ceremony: it means the system has passed a series of tests and is ready for war. The Marines have been very explicit about the significance of such a declaration, telling Congress on May 31, 2013, that “IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is equipped with 10-16 aircraft, and US Marines are trained, manned, and equipped to conduct [Close Air Support], Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Assault Support Escort, and Armed Reconnaissance in concert with Marine Air Ground Task Force resources and capabilities.” The chief Warlord at Eglin is a 40-year-old lieutenant colonel named David Berke, a combat veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq. As we walked around the Warlords’ hangar—which for a maintenance facility is oddly pristine, like an automobile showroom—Berke made clear that he and his men are intently focused on their mission: training enough Marine pilots and maintainers to meet the 2015 deadline. Asked whether Washington-imposed urgency—rather than the actual performance of the aircraft—was driving the effort, Berke was adamant: “Marines don’t play politics. Talk to anyone in this squadron from the pilots to the maintainers. Not a single one of them will lie to protect this program.” During the day and a half I spent with the Warlords and their air-force counterparts, the Gorillas, it became clear that the men who fly the F-35 are among the best fighter jocks America has ever produced. They are smart, thoughtful, and skilled—the proverbial tip of the spear. But I also wondered: Where’s the rest of the spear? Why, almost two decades after the Pentagon initially bid out the program, in 1996, are they flying an aircraft whose handicaps outweigh its proven—as opposed to promised—capabilities? By way of comparison, it took only eight years for the Pentagon to design, build, test, qualify, and deploy a fully functional squadron of previous-generation F-16s. “The F-16 and F-35 are apples and oranges,” Major Matt Johnston, 35, an air-force instructor at Eglin, told me. “It’s like comparing an Atari video-game system to the latest and greatest thing that Sony has come up with. They’re both aircraft, but the capabilities that the F-35 brings are completely revolutionary.” Johnston, like Berke, is evangelical about the airplane and insistent that “programmatics”—the technological and political inner workings of the J.S.F. effort—are not his concern. He has a job to do, which is training pilots for the jet fighter that will someday be. He was candid about, but unfazed by, the F-35’s current limitations: the squadrons at Eglin are prohibited from flying at night, prohibited from flying at supersonic speed, prohibited from flying in bad weather (including within 25 miles of lightning), prohibited from dropping live ordnance, and prohibited from firing their guns. Then there is the matter of the helmet. “The helmet is pivotal to the F-35,” Johnston explained. “This thing was built with the helmet in mind. It gives you 360-degree battle-space awareness. It gives you your flight parameters: Where am I in space? Where am I pointing? How fast am I going?” But Johnston and Berke are prohibited from flying with the “distributed aperture system”—a network of interlaced cameras, which allows almost X-ray vision—that is supposed to be one of the airplane’s crowning achievements. The Joint Strike Fighter is still waiting on software from Lockheed that will make good on long-promised capabilities. When I spoke with Lockheed’s vice president for program integration, Steve O’Bryan, he said that the company is moving at a breakneck pace, adding 200 software engineers and investing $150 million in new facilities. “This program was overly optimistic on design complexity and software complexity, and that resulted in overpromising and underdelivering,” O’Bryan said. He insisted that, despite a rocky start, the company is on schedule. Pentagon officials are not as confident. They cannot say when Lockheed will deliver the 8.6 million lines of code required to fly a fully functional F-35, not to mention the additional 10 million lines for the computers required to maintain the plane. The chasm between contractor and client was on full display on June 19, 2013, when the Pentagon’s chief weapons tester, Dr. J. Michael Gilmore, testified before Congress. He said that “less than 2 percent” of the placeholder software (called “Block 2B”) that the Marines plan to use has completed testing, though much more is in the process of being tested. (Lockheed insists that its “software-development plan is on track,” that the company has “coded more than 95 percent of the 8.6 million lines of code on the F-35,” and that “more than 86 percent of that software code is currently in flight test.”) Still, the pace of testing may be the least of it. According to Gilmore, the Block 2B software that the Marines say will make their planes combat capable will, in fact, “provide limited capability to conduct combat.” What is more, said Gilmore, if F-35s loaded with Block 2B software are actually used in combat, “they would likely need significant support from other fourth-generation and fifth-generation combat systems to counter modern, existing threats, unless air superiority is somehow otherwise assured and the threat is cooperative.” Translation: the F-35s that the Marines say they can take into combat in 2015 are not only ill equipped for combat but will likely require airborne protection by the very planes the F-35 is supposed to replace. Software is hardly the only concern. In Norway, where he was addressing the Oslo Military Society, General Bogdan said, “I have a list of the 50 top parts of the airplane that break more often than we expect them to. And what I am doing is I am investing millions of dollars in taking each and every one of those parts and deciding: Do we need to redesign it? Do we need to have someone else manufacture it? Or can we figure out a way to repair it quicker and sooner so that it doesn’t drive up the costs?” This is very late in the game for an airplane the Marines intend to certify in two years. In January, Berke’s Warlords had a close call of the kind that brings Bogdan’s Top 50 list into sharp relief. As a pilot was taxiing out to the runway for takeoff, a warning light went on in the cockpit indicating that there was a problem with the plane’s fuel pressure. Returning to the hangar, maintainers opened the engine-bay door to find that a brown hose carrying combustible fuel had separated from its coupling. When I asked what would have happened had the defect gone undetected before takeoff, Berke replied with the noncommittal detachment of a clinician: “I think you can easily infer that, from the fact that the fleet was grounded for six weeks, there was no question that the scenario, the outcomes, were not acceptable for flying.” What he meant, General Bogdan told me later, was that it was a very close call: “We should count our blessings that we caught this on the ground. It would have been a problem. A catastrophic problem.” (When asked about this incident, the engine’s prime contractor, Pratt & Whitney, wrote in a statement to Vanity Fair, “The engine control system responded properly when the leak occurred. The pilot followed standard operating procedures when he was alerted to the leak. The safeguards in place on the aircraft allowed the pilot to abort takeoff without incident and clear the active runway. There were no injuries to the pilot or ground crew. For clarification, the grounding was cleared three weeks after the event.”) General Bogdan, it turned out, would have a lot more to say in the course of a long and forceful interview in which he held up the Joint Strike Fighter program and the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, to scrutiny and found both of them deficient on many counts. II. “Acquisition Malpractice” Washington’s Union Station, modeled in part on the Baths of Diocletian, is a fitting gateway to a city that continues to spend on the military with imperial abandon. Earlier this year, I wound my way through throngs of travelers as I waited for a call. When it came, I was vectored to the top floor of the Center Café, which occupies a circular platform with a 360-degree view of the lobby below. The man I was to meet—I’ll call him “Charlie”—is a well-placed source with a decade’s worth of hands-on experience with the Joint Strike Fighter, both inside and outside the Pentagon. Charlie explained that his choice of meeting location was less paranoid than practical: the J.S.F. program is so large, financially and geographically—and saturated with so many lobbyists, corporate executives, congressional aides, Pentagon bureaucrats, and elected officials—that it takes considerable effort in Washington to avoid bumping into someone connected with the program. And he did not want to bump into anyone. He asked that I conceal his identity so he could speak candidly. In the course of this and many other conversations, Charlie walked me through the troubled history of the airplane and tried to separate the rosy public-relations pronouncements from what he saw as the grim reality. “The jet was supposed to be fully functional by now and that’s why they put people down in Eglin in 2010–2011—they were expecting a fully functional jet in 2012,” he said. “But the only military mission these planes can execute is a kamikaze one. They can’t drop a single live bomb on a target, can’t do any fighter engagements. There are limitations on Instrument Flight Rules—what’s required to take an airplane into bad weather and to fly at night. Every pilot out there in civil aviation, his pilot’s license says he can take off and land in perfect weather. Then they have to graduate to instrument conditions. What the program is saying is that the J.S.F., your latest and greatest fighter, is restricted from flying in instrument meteorological conditions—something a $60,000 Cessna can do.” Charlie cited a news report about Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s undersecretary of defense for acquisition, who in 2012 had used the words “acquisition malpractice” to describe the design and production process for the Joint Strike Fighter. (In June 2013, Kendall sounded more optimistic during a conference call with me and other journalists: “I think all of us are encouraged by the progress we’re seeing. It’s too early to declare a victory; we have a lot of work left to do. But this program is on a much sounder, much more stable footing than it was a year or two ago.”) Unfazed by Kendall’s change in tone, Charlie insists that technical problems will continue to bedevil the program. “You can trace the plane’s troubles today back to the 2006–2007 time frame,” he explained. “The program was at a critical point and Lockheed needed to prove they could meet weight requirements.” That, he says, led to a series of risky design decisions. “I can tell you, there was nothing they wouldn’t do to get through those reviews. They cut corners. And so we are where we are.” While acknowledging that weight was a pressing issue, Lockheed Martin spokesman Michael Rein told me that design trade-offs in 2006 and 2007 were made in concert with, and with the blessing of, Pentagon officials. He strenuously denied the company cut corners or in any way compromised safety or its core values. III. Hands-Off Management On October 26, 2001, the Pentagon announced that it had chosen Lockheed Martin over Boeing to build what Lockheed promised would be “the most formidable strike fighter ever fielded.” The Pentagon’s ask was huge: Build us a next-generation strike-fighter aircraft that could be used not only by the U.S. military but also by allied nations (which would come to include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Japan, and Israel). On top of that: Produce three versions of the airplane—a conventional version for the air force, a short-takeoff and vertical-landing version for the Marines, and a carrier-suitable version for the navy. The idea was that a single stealthy, supersonic, multi-service airplane could entirely replace four existing kinds of aircraft. And the expectation was that this new airplane would do everything: air-to-air combat, deep-strike bombing, and close air support of troops on the ground. Lockheed Martin won the contract—worth more than $200 billion—after the much-chronicled “
2), West New Guinea (1962–63), West Irian (or Irian Barat) (1963–73), Irian Jaya (1973–2002), and Papua (2002–present).[7] Geography [ edit ] The region is 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) from east to west and 736 kilometres (457 miles) from north to south. It has an area of 420,540 square kilometres (162,371 square miles), which equates to approximately 22% of Indonesia's land area. The border with Papua New Guinea mostly follows the 141st meridian east, with one section defined by the Fly River.[8] The island of New Guinea was once part of the Australian landmass and lie on the Sahul. The collision between the Indo-Australian Plate and Pacific plate resulting in the Maoke Mountains run through the centre of the region and are 600 km (373 mi) long and 100 km (62 mi) across.[citation needed] The range includes about ten peaks over 4,000 metres (13,000 feet),[9] including Puncak Jaya (4,884 m or 16,024 ft), Puncak Mandala (4,760 m or 15,620 ft) and Puncak Trikora (4,750 m or 15,580 ft).[10] The range ensures a steady supply of rain from the tropical atmosphere. The tree line is around 4,000 m (13,100 ft)[citation needed] and the tallest peaks feature small glaciers and are snowbound year-round. Both north and west of the central ranges the land remains mountainous – mostly 1,000 to 2,000 metres (3,300 to 6,600 feet) high with a warm humid climate year-round. The highland areas feature alpine grasslands, jagged bare peaks, montane forests, rainforests, fast flowing rivers, and gorges. Swamps and low-lying alluvial plains of fertile soil dominate the southeastern section around the town of Merauke. Swamps also extend 300 kilometres (190 miles) around the Asmat region. The rugged and hilly topography of Western New Guinea. The province has 40 major rivers, 12 lakes, and 40 islands.[citation needed] The Mamberamo river is the province's largest and runs through the north of the province. The result is a large area of lakes and rivers known as the Lakes Plains region. The southern lowlands, habitats of which included mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamp forest and lowland rainforest, are home to populations of fishermen and gatherers such as the Asmat people. The Baliem Valley, home of the Dani people, is a tableland 1,600 m (5,250 ft) above sea level in the midst of the central mountain range.[citation needed] The dry season across the region is generally between May and October; although drier in these months, rain persists throughout the year.[citation needed] Strong winds and rain are experienced along the north coast in November through to March. However, the south coast experiences an increase in wind and rain between April and October, which is the dry season in the Merauke area, the only part of Western New Guinea to experience distinct seasons.[citation needed] Coastal areas are generally hot and humid, whereas the highland areas tend to be cooler.[citation needed] Ecology [ edit ] Lying in the Asia-Australian transition zone near Wallacea, the region's flora and fauna include Asiatic, Australian, and endemic species.[citation needed] The region is 75% forest and it has a high degree of biodiversity. The island has an estimated 16,000 species of plant, 124 genera of which are endemic.[citation needed] The mountainous areas and the north are covered with dense rainforest. Highland vegetation also includes alpine grasslands, heath, pine forests, bush and scrub. The vegetation of the south coast includes mangroves and sago palms, and in the drier southeastern section, eucalypts, paperbarks, and acacias. Marsupial species dominate the region; there are an estimated 70 marsupial species (including possums, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, cuscus), and 180 other mammal species (including the endangered long-beaked echidna).[citation needed] The region is the only part of Indonesia to have kangaroos, marsupial mice, bandicoots, and ring-tailed possums. The approximately 700 bird species include cassowaries (along the southern coastal areas), bowerbirds, kingfishers, crowned pigeons, parrots, and cockatoos). Approximately 450 of these species are endemic.[citation needed] Birds of paradise can be found in Kepala Burung and Yapen.[citation needed] The region is also home to around 800 species of spiders, 200 frogs, 30,000 beetles, 70 bat species, one of the world's longest lizards (Papuan monitor) and some of the world's largest butterflies.[citation needed] The waterways and wetlands of Papua are habitat for salt and freshwater crocodiles, tree monitors, flying foxes, ospreys, and other animals; while the equatorial glacier fields remain largely unexplored.[citation needed] In February 2005, a team of scientists exploring the Foja Mountains discovered numerous new species of birds, butterflies, amphibians, and plants, including a species of rhododendron which may have the largest bloom of the genus.[11] Environmental issues include deforestation, the spread of the introduced crab-eating macaque which now threatens the existence of native species, and discarded copper and gold tailings from the Grasberg mine.[12] Flora and fauna on the Bird's Head Peninsula [ edit ] The king bird-of-paradise is one of over 300 bird species on the peninsula. The Bird's Head Peninsula, also known as the Doberai Peninsula, is covered by the Vogelkop Montane Rain Forests Ecoregion. It includes more than 22,000 km2 of montane forests at elevations of 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) and higher.[citation needed][13] Over 50% of these forests are located within protected areas. There are over 300 bird species on the peninsula, of which at least 20 are unique to the ecoregion, and some live only in very restricted areas. These include the grey-banded munia, Vogelkop bowerbird, and the king bird-of-paradise.[14] Road construction, illegal logging, commercial agricultural expansion and ranching potentially threaten the integrity of the ecoregion.[14] The south-eastern coast of the Bird's Head Peninsula forms part of the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park.[15] Demographics [ edit ] Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1971 923,440 — 1980 1,173,875 +27.1% 1990 1,648,708 +40.5% 1995 1,942,627 +17.8% 2000 2,220,934 +14.3% 2010 3,593,803 +61.8% The population of the region was estimated to be 3,593,803 in 2010.[16] The interior is predominantly populated by ethnic Papuans and coastal towns are inhabited by descendants of intermarriages between Papuans, Melanesians and Austronesians, including the Indonesian ethnic groups. Migrants from the rest of Indonesia also tend to inhabit the coastal regions. The two largest cities in the territory are Manokwari in the northeast of the Bird's Head Peninsula and Jayapura in the northeast. Both cities have a population of approximately 200,000.[citation needed] The region is home to around 312 different tribes, including some uncontacted peoples.[17] The Dani, from the Baliem Valley, are one of the most populous tribes of the region. The Manikom and Hatam inhabit the Anggi Lakes area, and the Kanum and Marind are from near Merauke. The semi-nomadic Asmat inhabit the mangrove and tidal river areas near Agats and are renowned for their woodcarving. Other tribes include the Amungme, Bauzi, Biak (Byak), Korowai, Lani, Mee, Mek, Sawi, and Yali. Estimates of the number of distinct languages spoken in the region range from 200 to 700. A number of these languages are permanently disappearing.[citation needed] As in Papua New Guinea and some surrounding east Indonesian provinces, a large majority of the population is Christian. In the 2000 census 54% identified themselves as Protestant, 24% as Catholic, 21% as Muslim, and less than 1% as either Hindu or Buddhist.[citation needed] There is also substantial practice of animism among the major religions, but this is not recorded by the census.[citation needed] Haplogroups [ edit ] There are 6 main Y-chromosome haplogroups in Western New Guinea; Y-chromosome haplogroup M is the most common, with Y-chromosome haplogroup O2a as a small minority in second place and Y-chromosome haplogroup S back in third position across the mountain highlands; while D, C2 and C4 are of negligible numbers. Haplogroup M is the most frequently occurring Y-chromosome haplogroup in Western New Guinea. [18] is the most frequently occurring Y-chromosome haplogroup in. In a 2005 study of Papua New Guinea's ASPM gene variants, Mekel-Bobrov et al. found that the Papuan people have among the highest rate of the newly evolved ASPM haplogroup D, at 59.4% occurrence of the approximately 6,000-year-old allele. [19] , at 59.4% occurrence of the approximately 6,000-year-old allele. Haplogroup O2a (M95) is typical of Austroasiatic peoples, Tai–Kadai peoples, Malays, Indonesians, and Malagasy, with a moderate distribution throughout South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia. is typical of Austroasiatic peoples, Tai–Kadai peoples, Malays, Indonesians, and Malagasy, with a moderate distribution throughout South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia. Haplogroup S occurs in eastern Indonesia (10–20%) and Island Melanesia (~10%), but reaches greatest frequency in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (52%).[20] Extinction [ edit ] In 2012, the Tampoto tribe in Skow Mabo village, Jayapura, was on the brink of extinction, with only a single person (a man in his twenties) still living; the Dasem tribe in Waena area, Jayapura, also is near extinction, with only one family consisting of several people still alive. A decade ago, the Sebo tribe in the Kayu Pulau region, Jayapura Bay, died out. Hundreds of Papuan tribes have their own individual languages; they are unable to compete in the acculturation process with other groups, and some tribes have resisted acculturation. Culture [ edit ] Western New Guineans have significant cultural affinities with the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea.[citation needed] As in Papua New Guinea the peoples of the highlands have traditions and languages distinct from the peoples of the coast, though Papuan scholars and activists have recently detailed cultural links between coast and highlands as evidenced by close similarity of family names. In some parts of the highlands, the koteka (penis gourd) is worn by males in ceremonies. The use of the koteka as everyday dress by Dani males in Western New Guinea is still common. History [ edit ] Papuan habitation of the region is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago.[21] Research indicates that the highlands were an early and independent center of agriculture, and show that agriculture developed gradually over several thousands of years and that banana has been cultivated in this region since at least 7,000 years ago.[22] Austronesian peoples migrating through Maritime Southeast Asia settled in the area at least 3,000 years ago, and populated especially in Cenderawasih Bay. Diverse cultures and languages have developed in situ; there are over 300 languages and two hundred additional dialects in the region (See Papuan languages, Austronesian languages, Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages). The 14th century Majapahit poem Nagarakretagama mentioned Wwanin or Onin as a recognized territory in the east, today identified as Onin peninsula in Fakfak Regency, western part of larger Bomberai Peninsula, south of Bird's Head region of Western New Guinea.[23] Wanin or Onin was probably the oldest name in recorded history to refer to the western part of the New Guinea island.[24] European conquest [ edit ] In 1526–27, the Portuguese explorer Jorge de Menezes accidentally came upon the principal island in the Biak archipelago and is credited with naming it Papua, from a Malay word pepuah, for the frizzled quality of Melanesian hair.[25] Heading east, he eventually reported the northern coast of the Bird's Head Peninsula and the Waigeo Island, and named the region Ilhas dos Papuas (Islands of Papuans).[26] In 1545 the Spaniard Yñigo Ortiz de Retez sailed along the north coast as far as the Mamberamo River near which he landed, naming the island Nueva Guinea. In 1606 Spanish navigator Luís Vaz de Torres[27] sailed along the southwestern part of the island in present-day Papua, and also claimed the territory for the King of Spain. Near the end of the sixteenth century, Sultanate of Ternate under Sultan Baabullah (1570–1583), had influence over parts of Papua.[28] Netherlands New Guinea [ edit ] Dutch expeditions in Netherlands New Guinea 1907–1915. In 1660, the Dutch recognised the Sultan of Tidore's sovereignty over New Guinea. New Guinea thus became notionally Dutch as the Dutch held power over Tidore. In 1793, Britain established a settlement near Manokwari. However, it failed. By 1824 Britain and the Netherlands agreed that the western half of the island would become part of the Dutch East Indies. In 1828 the Dutch established the settlement of Fort Du Bus at Lobo (near Kaimana) which also failed. Great Britain and Germany had recognised the Dutch claims on western New Guinea in treaties of 1885 and 1895. Dutch activity in the region remained minimal in the first half of the twentieth century. Dutch, US, and Japanese mining companies explored the area's rich oil reserves in the 1930s. In 1942, the northern coast of West New Guinea and the nearby islands were occupied by Japan.[29] In 1944, Allied forces gained control of the region through four-phase campaign from neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The United States constructed a headquarters for MacArthur at Hollandia (Jayapura) intended as a staging point for operations taking of the Philippines. Papuan men and resources were used to support the Allied war effort in the Pacific. After the war's end the Dutch regained possession of the region. Since the early twentieth century, Indonesian nationalists had sought an independent Indonesia based on all Dutch colonial possessions in the Indies, including western New Guinea. In December 1949, the Netherlands recognised Indonesian sovereignty over the Dutch East Indies with the exception of Dutch New Guinea, the issue of which was to be discussed within a year. The Dutch successfully argued that Western New Guinea is geographically very different to Indonesia and the people also very ethnically different. In an attempt to prevent Indonesia taking control of the region and to prepare the region for independence, the Dutch significantly raised development spending off its low base,[30] began investing in Papuan education, and encouraged Papuan nationalism. A small western elite developed with a growing political awareness attuned to the idea of independence, with close links to neighbouring eastern New Guinea which was administered by Australia.[31] A national parliament was elected in 1961 and the Morning Star flag raised on 1 December, with independence planned in exactly 9 years time. Incorporation into Indonesia [ edit ] Sukarno made the takeover of Western New Guinea a focus of his continuing struggle against Dutch imperialism and part of a broader Third World conflict with the West.[32] Although Indonesian seaborne and paratroop incursions into the territory met with little success,[33] the Dutch knew that a military campaign to retain the region would require protracted jungle warfare, and, unwilling to see a repeat of their futile efforts in the armed struggle for Indonesian independence in the 1940s, agreed to American mediation. US President Kennedy wrote to the then Dutch Prime Minister Jan de Quay, encouraging the Netherlands to relinquish control of Western New Guinea to Indonesia and warning of Indonesia's potential alliance with communist powers if Sukarno was not appeased.[34] The negotiations resulted in the UN-ratified New York Agreement of September 1962,[35] which transferred administration to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) and proposed that the administration could be assumed by Indonesia until such time as a plebiscite could be organized to allow Papuans to determine whether they wanted independence or union with Indonesia. Under the terms of the New York Agreement, all Western New Guinean men and women were to be given an independence referendum, one person-one vote; this was to be called the "Act of Free Choice". However, when the act was due to take place under the new dictator Suharto, the Indonesian government claimed that Western New Guineans were too "primitive" to cope with democracy and instead used a musyawarah (a traditional Indonesian consensus of elders) to decide the region's status. The 1,026 elders were hand-picked by the Indonesian government and many were coerced into voting for union with Indonesia. Soon after, the region became the 26th province of Indonesia.[36] The 1969 Act of Free Choice is considered contentious, with even United Nations observers recognizing the elders were placed under duress and forced to vote yes.[37] The "Act of Free Choice" has often been criticized as the "Act of no choice", and many independence activists continuously protest for a fresh referendum for every single Western New Guinean. After the fall of Suharto in 1998, celebrity Archbishop Desmond Tutu and some American and European parliamentarians requested United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to review the United Nations' role in the vote and the validity of the Act of Free Choice.[38] There have been calls for the United Nations to conduct its own referendum, with as broad an electorate as critics say the New York Agreement obliged but the Act of Free Choice did not fulfill. Those calling for a vote also point to the 30-year license which Indonesia sold to the Freeport-McMoRan company for Papuan mining rights in 1967, and to the Indonesian military's response to the East Timor referendum as support to discredit the 1969 Act of Free Choice.[citation needed] The Indonesian Government position is that the United Nations' noting of the results validates the conduct and results. A new referendum is supported by many international organisations including the Free West Papua Campaign, which works with Western New Guineans to provide all West Papuans with self-determination and full independence from Indonesian rule.[39] The Federal Republic of West Papua, formed on 19 October 2011 at the Third West Papuan People's Congress, has declared the New York Agreement and The Act of Free Choice null and invalid, and seeks recognition by the United Nations as an independent nation according to international and customary law.[citation needed] The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has engaged in a pro-independence conflict with the Indonesian military since the 1960s. This has been in response to the initial take over of the region and multiple killings and other human rights violations by Indonesian troops, causing many West Papuans and international organisations to describe the situation in West Papua as genocide.[40] Rebellions occurred in remote mountainous areas in 1969, 1977, and the mid-1980s, occasionally spilling over into Papua New Guinea. In the Post-Suharto era, the national government began a process of decentralisation of the provinces, including, in December 2001, "Special Autonomy" status for Papua province and a reinvestment into the region of 80% of the taxation receipts generated by the region. In 2002, on the road between Kuala Kencana and Tembagapura a faction of the OPM attacked a group of school teachers returning from a picnic. Three teachers were killed, 2 Americans and one Indonesian; 7 others were wounded including the six-year-old daughter of two of the teachers.[41] One shooter died at the scene, the others escaped. In 2003, the province of "West Papua" was created in the Bird's Head Peninsula and surrounding islands to its west. In 2011, Indonesia submitted an application for membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) for the two Papua provinces and was granted observer status.[42] The West Papua National Council for Liberation independence movement made an unsuccessful application for membership to the MSG in 2013 after which the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) was established in December 2014 to unite the three main political independence movements under a single umbrella organisation. In June 2015, the ULMWP was granted MSG observer status as representative of West Papuans outside the country while Indonesia was upgraded to associate member.[43][44] In 2016, at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, leaders of several Pacific Islands countries called for UN action on alleged human rights abuses committed on Papua's indigenous Melanesians with some leaders calling for self-determination.[45][46] Indonesia accused the countries of interfering with Indonesia's national sovereignty.[46] In 2017, at the 72nd Session, the leaders called for an investigation into killings and various alleged human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces and appealed to world leaders to support a referendum on independence from Indonesia.[47] Foreign journalism [ edit ] The Indonesia government is very strict in giving foreign journalists permission to Western New Guinea considering this region is very vulnerable to separatist movements which demand the release of the region and endanger the sovereignty of Republic Indonesia. As formerly in East Timor, Indonesia's former colonial territory, the Indonesian administration takes great effort at filtering the information that gets out of Western New Guinea. There is no prohibition for journalist to go to the region. In 2012, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) received 11 applications for permissions to cover Papua from a number of foreign media. Of 11 requests, 5 were approved while the other six were rejected. Meanwhile, in 2013, requests for permission to cover Papua by foreign media soared to reach 28 requests. At that time, MoFA approved 21 letters of application and rejected the other seven. The process of entering the press and NGOs that were previously complicated in 2015 began to be facilitated. Kompas.com explained that Jokowi officially revoked the ban on foreign journalists from entering Papua. According to Jokowi Papua is the same as other regions. Currently organizations such as the ULMPWP (United Liberation Movement for West Papua) have even been operating actively and have offices in Fakfak and Wamena. Foreign journalists can still apply for permission to Western New Guinea to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[48] PEPERA, sovereignty, and democracy [ edit ] Under the terms of the New York Agreement, all Western New Guinean men and women were to be given an independence referendum, one person-one vote; this was to be called the "Act of Free Choice" or PEPERA. The PEPERA Deliberation Council (DPM, or Dewan Musyawarah PEPERA) of 1.026 members became representatives of the Papuan population, which at the time were 815.904 residents. The DPM members consisted of traditional element (tribal chiefs) as many as 400 people, 360 people from the regional elements, and 266 element from various interest groups. The result, as stated within the acclamation of DPM representatives was to remain within the Republic of Indonesia. Resolution 1504, stating that Papua is a legitimate territory of the Republic of Indonesia, was approved by 80 UN member states with 20 abstinent states. There was no country that refused the integration of Papua into Indonesian territory. Therefore, Papua was de facto recognized and legitimate as a part of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. Today, what is worth wondering is actually the legitimacy of the OPM-Whether OPM is genuinely the voice of the Papuan people, or only the specific interest of the separatist group-as there is no reliable method that can really ensure whether what they are doing is trully on behalf of the Papuan people. The " Act of free choice" has often been criticized as the "Act of no choice", and independence activists continuously protest for a fresh referendum for every single Western New Guinean. However, In the democratic culture of the Papuan people themselves in 1960s, there is a system known as Noken, within a community in the Central Mountains of Papua, in which the vote is represented by the tribal chief. The Act of Free Choice was also supervised and witnessed by 9 UNTEA member states, therefore ensuring that the final decision was truly the opinion of West Papuan people without any external intervention. Administration [ edit ] The Western New Guinea region is currently administered as two Indonesian provinces: From Papua province, the 17 new regencies to be created are those of Gili Menawa, Moyo, Balin Senter, Bogogha, Puncak Trikora, Muara Digul, Admi Korbay, Katengban, Okika, Northwest Yapen, East Yapen, Numfor Island, Yalimek, Mambera Hulu, Southwest Yahukimo, East Yahukimo and Gondumisisare, while the 2 new municipalities are Merauke City and Baliem Valley. In West Papua, the 8 new regencies to be created are those of Malamoy, Maibratsau, North Raja Ampat, South Raja Ampat, Raja Maskona, Okas, West Manokwari and Imeo, while the new municipality is Manokwari City. See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] SpecificHave you ever regretted not bringing an umbrella to a battle on GJ 1214b? With this robot in your team you do not have to worry about such things anymore so you can focus on fighting. Combat Efficiency This things is more sturdy than it may look like and even survives heavy hits to the top of the umbrella. It is highly recommended to rotate after receiving damage or even keep rotating to spread incoming damage as much as possible. The main weakness is the low amount of nanotech disruptors. This robot is best used to heal ground units as the weapons get obstructed when trying to heal aircraft and some of the hovercrafts. Build The umbrella was built as light as possible with several supporting rods to make it more robust (pretty much just like a real umbrella). The core where every functional cube and the umbrella itself is attached to is dense and consists mainly of T8 armour cubes. The pilot seat and the mounts for functional cubes were only slightly triforced.In my circle of friends, many of them Braves fans, I hear the same sentiment from each of them. "This team is no fun to watch." "I'm about through with this bunch." "The Braves organization hates its fans." I understand why people are frustrated watching a team that has all but collapsed since right before the All-Star break. But I want to offer a perspective to think about before writing the Braves off as a franchise spiraling into misery for the next 15 years. It is no secret that the common fan does not recognize prospects, no matter how highly touted. The current 25-man roster at the big league level is the only relevant entity. For the people in this category, trading stars like Craig Kimbrel, Jason Heyward, Evan Gattis, and Justin Upton for assets that will not make an immediate impact is simply unacceptable. Some of the top-end prospects the Braves received in the offseason, such as pitchers Tyrell Jenkins and Max Fried and center fielder Mallex Smith, have not made it to the big club this year. But others, like starting pitchers Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler, and Manny Banuelos, have. To an extent, many could blindly believe in general manager John Hart's plan. Surely the organization acquired some players of worth in dealing away a cluster of star players. But as Foltynewicz, Wisler, and Banuelos surfaced and fans were able to connect them with the offseason trades, disappointment and anger set in among a faction of the fan base. The instant-gratification society that is present today expects top prospects at any level to come in and dominate, ala Mike Trout. The reigning American League MVP may very well be the best player in baseball, but he is an outlier when it comes to instant success for well-thought-of young players. Let's take a look at some examples for the Braves this season. Foltynewicz came first, making his Braves debut on May 1. He pitched five innings against the Reds, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits while earning the win. He has had his ups and downs but has shown flashes recently. He is criticized for being too reliant on one pitch - a four-seam fastball with little to no movement. At this stage of the season, he's made 15 starts and sits with a 4-6 record and 5.71 earned run average. Wisler, if you recall, outdueled Mets hurler Jacob DeGrom in his debut on June 19. He was sensational in eight innings of one-run ball. In much the same fashion as Foltynewicz, Wisler has endured peaks and valleys in his first season in the big leagues. He sits with a 5-4 record and a 5.43 ERA. We have not seen as much from Banuelos, as he has only made four starts. But in those four starts, he has pitched well overall, to the tune of a 2.49 ERA. His season was cut short due to elbow inflammation, but fans should get another look at him out of the bullpen in September. For hope, Braves Country need look no further than its own franchise history. The Hall of Fame trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz were by no means Cy Young winners in their first stints in the big leagues. Smoltz made 12 starts in 1988, and posted a 2-7 record with a 5.48 ERA. In that same year, Glavine made 34 starts in his first full season, and promptly lost 17 of those starts. Greg Maddux pitched his first full season at the Major League level in 1987, making 27 starts for the Cubs. In much the same vein as Smoltz and Glavine, Maddux posted an unconvincing 6-14 record with an ERA of 5.61. Read this next sentence very carefully. In NO WAY am I insinuating that Foltynewicz, Wisler, Banuelos, or any other prospect in the Braves system will have careers that parallel that Hall of Fame trio. Not in the least. The point is, there is a good chance that what we have seen so far is not the ceiling for these guys. They will undoubtedly improve as they become more seasoned and experienced. But it may take time. The rest of the prospects acquired by Hart will go through this same learning curve as the ones we have already seen. Granted, not all of these guys will pan out as expected, but a number of them will. Just do not lose hope in them before they reach their potential. The time will come. Bear with them. Avoid sending off nasty tweets. The future is bright. Does any franchise hate their fanbase more than the @Braves??? — Daniel Beckworth (@danielbeckworth) August 28, 2015Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know? Sign up for the Today's WorldView newsletter. On the heels of yet another North Korean missile test, Vice President Pence arrived in South Korea with a firm message. He declared an end to the “era of strategic patience” with the regime in Pyongyang, echoing the established line of a White House that's eager to show how different it is from its predecessor. The Trump administration's recent decisions to strike Syrian government forces and drop an attention-grabbing bomb in Afghanistan were evidence that the North Koreans “would do well not to test resolve or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region," Pence said. In recent weeks, Trump has tweeted threats of unilateral action against North Korea. Tensions spiked this past weekend as Kim Jong Un's regime held a grand military spectacle in honor of Kim's grandfather on Saturday and conducted a botched missile test on Sunday. Pence indicated there would be no more tolerance for such tests, but Pyongyang met his tough talk by doing what it does best: issuing more threats. “We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis,” said the country's vice foreign minister, Han Song Ryol, to the BBC on Monday. “If the U.S. is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method.” If you keep saying "the era of strategic patience is over" but don't say what's next, should I assume the plan is nonstrategic impatience? — Graham Webster (@gwbstr) April 17, 2017 Now North Korea watchers are now waiting to see what Trump's strategic impatience will bring. In an interview with the New York Times, Robert Litwak of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars described what's unfolding as “the Cuban missile crisis in slow motion.” It's an alarming comparison, fueled by bellicose rhetoric on both sides and a nervy game of brinkmanship that could quickly turn volatile. “While all historical analogies are necessarily imprecise … one parallel shines through,” the Times noted. “When national ambitions, personal ego and deadly weapons are all in the mix, the opportunities for miscalculation are many.” Trump and his advisers have repeatedly called the “unpredictability” of their moves and policymaking a virtue. They have also consistently played up the role of American military might as a prime mover in international affairs. But there's a reason previous administrations have taken a careful, calibrated approach on North Korea — and one anchored in regional diplomacy, not the presence of an “armada” — as Trump put it — of American warships. “The last thing needed in the fraught situation in Northeast Asia, where military action could spiral into catastrophe, is more macho posturing,” wrote Ian Buruma in the Atlantic. Vice President Pence looks toward North Korea from the Demilitarized Zone, near the village of Panmunjom, South Korea, on Monday. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) The leadership in North Korea sees its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles as its main ticket to survival. For years, it has asserted itself on the world stage through saber-rattling — and won real concessions from its neighbors by possessing a potential nuclear deterrent. But Pyongyang knows it's playing a risky game: Any American-led strike on North Korea would likely prove devastating. Thus most analysts imagine that the more cornered and vulnerable Kim feels, the more ready he may be to strike. “Kim’s strategy depends on using nuclear weapons early — before the United States can kill him or special forces can find his missile units,” wrote arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis earlier this year. “He has to go first, if he is to go at all.” That could mean millions of deaths in South Korea and Japan, a fear that should constantly be guiding Trump's decision-making when it comes to North Korea. But, as my colleagues report, Trump presents a new and potentially dangerous wild card, even to many South Koreans who have grown accustomed — even desensitized — to North Korean threats. “There are members of the president’s inner circle who do indeed believe that the Trump administration is seriously contemplating a 'first strike' on North Korea,” wrote Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman. “But if Kim Jong Un has drawn the same conclusion — he may reach for the nuclear trigger first.” I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2017 The brunt of the White House's plan, such as it is, has been to increase pressure on China, which in theory ought to use its considerable influence over the Kim regime to bring North Korea to heel. But as my colleague Simon Denyer reports from Beijing, there are still real limits to what China can and is willing to do. Relations with both Seoul and Pyongyang are at a low ebb; North Korea snubbed a delegation of Chinese senior diplomats earlier this month. “China may marginally increase economic pressure on North Korea by cutting down trade, tourist flows or food aid, but its primary goal is to placate Washington” rather than disarm North Korea, said Yanmei Xie, a politics and foreign policy expert at China-analysis firm Gavekal Dragonomics, to Denyer. “Beijing has reasons and means to discipline Kim, but is more concerned with ensuring the survival of his regime, thus maintaining a buffer against U.S. military presence in the South.” Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, told The Post that if the Trump administration continues its verbal threats and further boosts its naval presence in the area, it could prompt China to “shift from suppressing North Korea to opposing the United States.” That development would neither help the United States nor necessarily do much to rein in North Korea's nuclear threat. “Empty threats from Washington are not just ineffectual; they play into the Korean dictator’s hands,” wrote Buruma in the Atlantic. “Whether most North Koreans really worship the Kim dynasty as much as they seem to is hard to know, since most of 'these gestures of idolatry' are coerced. But Korean nationalism can be very easily stirred up. One thing that holds North Koreans together is the fear, constantly stoked by the regime, of a wicked foreign attack.” At the moment, Trump seems to be doing an excellent job stoking that fear. Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting
Aunt Eller in the 2002 revival of Oklahoma! Here is a video clip of Duke leading the chorus singing “The Farmer and the Cowman” in the 2002 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.The war against Iraq and America’s drive for world domination By David North 4 October 2002 The following is a report given by David North, chairman of the World Socialist Web Site editorial board, to a well-attended public meeting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on October 1, 2002. On September 17, 2002 the Bush administration published its “National Security Strategy of the United States of America.” So far, there has been no serious examination of this important document in the establishment media. This is unfortunate, to say the least, because this document advances the political and theoretical justification for a colossal escalation of American militarism. The document asserts as the guiding policy of the United States the right to use military force anywhere in the world, at any time it chooses, against any country it believes to be, or it believes may at some point become, a threat to American interests. No other country in modern history, not even Nazi Germany at the height of Hitler’s madness, has asserted such a sweeping claim to global hegemony—or, to put it more bluntly, world domination—as is now being made by the United States. The message of this document, stripped of its cynical euphemisms and calculated evasions, is unmistakably clear: The United States government asserts the right to bomb, invade and destroy whatever country it chooses. It refuses to respect as a matter of international law the sovereignty of any other country, and reserves the right to get rid of any regime, in any part of the world, that is, appears to be, or might some day become, hostile to what the United States considers to be its vital interests. Its threats are directed, in the short term, against so-called “failed states”—that is, former colonies and impoverished Third World countries ravaged by the predatory policies of imperialism. But larger competitors of the United States, whom the document refers to, in a revival of pre-World War II imperialist jargon, as “Great Powers,” are by no means out of the gun sights of the Bush administration. The wars against small and defenseless states that the United States is now preparing—first of all against Iraq—will prove to be the preparation for military onslaughts against more formidable targets. The document begins by boasting that “The United States possesses unprecedented—and unequaled—strength and influence in the world.” It declares with breathtaking arrogance that “The US national security strategy will be based on a distinctly American internationalism that reflects the union of our values and our national interests.” This formula is so striking that it should be committed to memory: American Values + American Interests = A Distinctly American Internationalism. It is a very distinct sort of internationalism that proclaims what’s good for America is good for the world! As President Bush asserts in the introduction of the document, America’s values “are right and true for every person, in every society...” These values are none other than a collection of the banal nostrums of the American plutocracy, such as “respect for private property”; “pro-growth legal and regulatory policies to encourage business investment, innovation, and entrepreneurial activity”; “tax policies—particularly lower marginal tax rates—that improve incentives for work and investment”; “strong financial systems that allow capital to be put to its most efficient use”; “sound fiscal policies to support business activity.” The document then declares: “The lessons of history are clear: market economies, not command-and-control economies with the heavy hand of government, are the best way to promote prosperity and reduce poverty. Policies that further strengthen market incentives and market institutions are relevant for all economies—industrialized countries, emerging markets, and the developing world.” All these right-wing platitudes are asserted in the midst of a deepening world economic crisis, in which entire continents are suffering the consequences of market economics that have shattered whatever once existed of their social infrastructures and reduced billions of people to conditions that defy description. One decade after the dismantling of the USSR and the restoration of capitalism, the death rate of Russia exceeds its birthrate. South America, a laboratory where the International Monetary Fund has gleefully practiced its anti-social experiments, is in a state of economic disintegration. In Southern Africa, a substantial portion of the population is infected with the HIV virus. According to the World Bank, “The AIDS crisis is having a devastating impact on developing countries, especially in Africa. Health care systems—weakened by the impact of AIDS, along with conflict and poor management—cannot cope with traditional illnesses. Malaria and tuberculosis continue to kill millions—malaria alone is estimated to reduce GDP growth rates by 0.5 percent per year on average in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy in the region fell from 50 years in 1987 to 47 years in 1999; in the countries hardest hit by AIDS (such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Lesotho) the average lifespan was cut short by more than ten years.”[1] These catastrophic conditions are the product of the capitalist system and the rule of the market. The strategic document acknowledges in passing that “half of the human race lives on less than $2 a day,” but, as to be expected, the prescription drawn up by the Bush administration is the more intensive application of the economic policies that are responsible for the misery that exists all over the world. Defining its idea of a “distinctly American internationalism,” the document states that “While the United States will constantly strive to enlist the support of the international community, we will not hesitate to act alone...” In another passage, the document warns that the United States “will take the actions necessary to ensure that our efforts to meet our global security commitments and protect Americans are not impaired by the potential for investigations, inquiry, or prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose jurisdiction does not extend to Americans and which we do not accept.” In other words, the actions of the leaders of the United States will not be restrained by the conventions of international law. In a study of the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, Telford Taylor—who worked as an assistant of the chief American prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson—wrote that “The laws of war do not apply only to the suspected criminals of vanquished nations. There is no moral or legal basis for immunizing nations from scrutiny. The laws of war are not a one-way street.”[2] The refusal of the United States to recognize the authority of the International Criminal Court is of immense international political significance, and testifies to the acute awareness of American leaders that their policies are of a criminal character and could subject them, if international law were enforced, to the most severe penalties. As Telford Taylor stresses, the prosecution of the Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg trials was based on a new legal concept: that their planning for and decision to wage aggressive war constituted a crime. This charge took precedence even over the counts in the indictments that were related to the atrocities committed by the Nazis against Jews, civilians in occupied countries, and prisoners of war. In a memorandum prepared by Taylor arguing in support of indicting Nazi leaders for planning aggressive war, he wrote: “Only the most incorrigible legalists can pretend to be shocked by the conclusion that the perpetrator of an aggressive war acts at peril of being punished for his perpetration, even if no tribunal has ever previously decided that perpetration of an aggressive war is a crime.”[3] Taylor continued: “It is important that the trial not become an inquiry into the causes of the war. It cannot be established that Hitlerism was the sole cause of the war, and there should be no effort to do this. Nor, I believe, should there be any effort or time spent on apportioning out responsibility for causing the war among the many nations and individuals concerned. The question of causation is important and will be discussed for many years, but it has no place in this trial, which must stick rigorously to the doctrine that planning and launching an aggressive war is illegal, whatever may be the factors that caused the defendants to plan and to launch. Contributing causes may be pleaded by the defendants before the bar of history, but not before the tribunal.”[4] This issue is of extraordinary importance today—and not only in relation to the present ongoing and far-advanced preparations for an unprovoked American war against Iraq. If the precedent established at Nuremberg has any contemporary relevance, the entire strategy elaborated in this document proceeds outside the bounds of international law. The essential claim asserted in this document, which serves as the foundation of American strategy, is the right of the United States to take unilateral military action against another country without offering credible evidence that it is acting to prevent a clear and verifiable threat of attack. This assertion of all-encompassing powers to resort to violence whenever it decides to do so is justified with loosely-constructed language that cannot withstand even a cursory analysis: “We must be prepared to stop rogue states and their terrorist clients before they are able to threaten or use weapons of mass destruction against the United States and our allies and friends.” Who defines what a “rogue state” is? Is it any state that challenges, directly or indirectly, American interests? A list of all those countries that the Bush administration considers to be “rogue states,” not to mention potential “rogue states,” is a very long one. This list certainly includes Cuba. It might even, after the reelection of Gerhard Schroeder as chancellor, include Germany! We should also ask for a precise definition of “terrorist.” This term is notoriously vague and subject to political manipulation. Moreover, what standard of evidence will be required to establish a link between a so-called “rogue state” and a “terrorist client” before the United States attacks the former? Just the other day, the president, his national security adviser and the secretary of defense announced that there is a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda, without providing any factual substantiation to support this claim, and in contradiction to what is actually known about the antagonistic attitude of Iraq’s secular regime toward Islamic fundamentalist organizations. Finally, the assertion of the right to take military action against “rogue states and their terrorist clients before they are able to threaten or use weapons of mass destruction” can only mean that the United States claims the right to attack whatever state it identifies as a potential threat. Though a state may not be, at present, a threat to the United States; though it may not at the present time be planning, let alone actively preparing, an attack against the United States, it may still be a legitimate target for an attack if the US government identifies it as a potential or embryonic threat to America’s national security. A definition of “threat” that requires no overt action against the United States, but merely the potential to become a threat at some point in the future, would place virtually every country in the world on the list of possible targets for an American attack. This is not an exaggeration. The document speaks not only of “enemies,” but also of “potential adversaries,” and warns them not to pursue “a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United States.” It directly warns China against attempting to acquire “advanced military capabilities,” asserting that by doing so “China is following an outdated path that, in the end, will hamper its own pursuit of national greatness”—that is, it will emerge as a threat that may require a preemptive military response by the United States. While the report tells China that the pursuit of “advanced military capabilities” means following “an outdated path,” it proclaims hypocritically just two pages later that “It is time to reaffirm the essential role of American military strength. We must build and maintain our defenses beyond challenge.” And this project entails a vast expansion of America’s military presence throughout the world. “To contend with uncertainty and to meet the many security challenges we face, the United States will require bases and stations within and beyond Western Europe and Northeast Asia, as well as temporary access arrangements for the long-distance deployment of US forces.” The document asserts repeatedly that the new doctrine of preemptive strikes against existing and/or potential threats, and the abandonment of the previous doctrine of deterrence, is a necessary response to the events of September 11, 2001, when the United States suddenly confronted a new, unprecedented and unimagined danger. “The nature of the Cold War threat,” the report asserts, “required the United States... to emphasize deterrence of the enemy’s use of force, producing a grim strategy of mutual assured destruction. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, our security environment has undergone profound transformation.” Somewhat later, the document describes the Soviet Union as “a generally status quo, risk-adverse adversary. Deterrence was an effective defense.” For those of us for whom the 1980s is comparatively recent history, who still remember the 1960s, and even happen to know a few things about the history of the 1950s, these are remarkable words. Those unfamiliar with the history of the Cold War would hardly imagine that the authors of this strategic document—who now describe the USSR in almost nostalgic terms as a “status quo, risk-averse adversary” against whom a gentlemanly and polite deterrence was effective—are more or less the same people who, as recently as the 1980s, were describing the Soviet Union as the “focus of evil” against whom the United States had to prepare for all-out war. The present defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, was closely associated with the right-wing Committee for the Present Danger, formed in the 1970s, which was bitterly opposed to arms control agreements with the Soviet Union. This organization demanded a massive military build-up against the USSR, and argued that it was possible for the United States to wage and win a nuclear war against the Soviet Union. The Reagan administration’s sponsorship of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), known as “Star Wars,” arose from the demand of extreme right-wing elements in the Republican Party—among whom are now to be found the principal dramatis personae who direct the policies of the Bush administration, especially Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz—for the development of technology that would make it possible for the United States to consider the use of nuclear weapons against the USSR to be a viable military option. Here we come to the historical falsification and political deception that underlie the Bush administration’s National Security Strategy—the claim that the policies outlined in the report are essentially a response to the events of September 11, determined and shaped by the inescapable military obligations imposed upon the United States by the threat of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Far from being an exceptional response to the events of September 11, 2001, the plan for world domination outlined in the National Security Strategy of the Bush administration has been in development for more than a decade. The origins of the National Security Strategy unveiled two weeks ago can be dated back to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. This had for the United States the most far-reaching significance. For nearly three-quarters of a century, the fate of American imperialism and the Soviet Union were inextricably linked. The October Revolution that brought the Bolshevik Party to power followed by only a few months the April 1917 entry of the United States into World War I. Thus, from the earliest days of its emergence as the principal imperialist power, the United States confronted the reality of a workers state that proclaimed the advent of a new historical epoch of world socialist revolution. Despite the Stalinist bureaucracy’s subsequent betrayal of the revolutionary internationalist ideals initially proclaimed by Lenin and Trotsky, the political aftershocks produced by the overthrow of capitalism in Russia continued to reverberate for decades—in the growth of the social consciousness and political militancy of the working class in the advanced capitalist countries, including the United States, and in the wave of anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggles that swept across the globe, especially in the aftermath of World War II. Though it emerged from World War II as the leader of world capitalism, the United States was not in a position to organize the world as it saw fit. The initial expectation that the possession of the atomic bomb would enable the United States to intimidate and, if need be, destroy the Soviet Union was shattered by the Soviet production of a nuclear device in 1949. The victory of the Chinese Revolution that same year represented a devastating blow to America’s expectation that it would exercise unchallenged sway over Asia. Throughout the early years of the Cold War a bitter battle raged within the ruling circles of the US government over how to deal with the Soviet Union. The ferocious anticommunist witch-hunting and political purges of the late 1940s and early 1950s were key elements of the environment in which this debate took place. A substantial faction of the ruling elite advocated a “rollback” strategy—that is, the destruction of the Soviet Union and the Maoist regime in China, even if this entailed the use of nuclear weapons. Another faction, associated with the State Department theorist George F. Kennan, advocated “containment.” The conflict between these factions came to a head during the Korean War, as the Truman administration came close to authorizing the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese army. At a press conference held on November 30, 1950, Truman was asked how he intended to deal with the entry of China into the Korean War. The president replied: “We will take whatever steps are necessary to meet the military situation, just as we always have.” He was then asked specifically if that included use of the atomic bomb, to which Truman replied, “That includes every weapon we have.” When pressed by stunned reporters to clarify this statement, Truman reiterated that use of the atomic bomb was being actively considered.[5] The international uproar that ensued compelled the US government to retract Truman’s statement. Finally, the Truman administration rejected General MacArthur’s demand that 30 to 50 nuclear bombs be dropped on the Manchurian-Korean border to spread “a belt of radioactive cobalt” from the Sea of Japan to the Yellow Sea. This proposal was not the brainchild of one mad general. This and similar ideas had been seriously pondered and supported. Among those who publicly advocated the use of nuclear weapons was Congressman Albert Gore, Sr., the father of the future vice president. Two factors led to the decision not to use nuclear bombs in the Korean War. First, there were serious doubts that it would prove effective in the existing military situation. Second, and more decisive, was the fear that the bombing of Korea might set into motion a political chain reaction, leading to a nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the remaining decades of the Cold War, the real meaning of “deterrence” was not what the United States prevented the USSR from doing, but what the possibility of Soviet retaliation prevented the United States from doing. This is not the place for an exhaustive discussion of the United States’ nuclear strategy during the Cold War, let alone of the Cold War as a whole. But for the purpose of understanding the events of the last decade and the present actions of the US government, it must be stressed that broad sections of the American ruling class chafed under the restraints that the existence of the Soviet Union placed upon the exercise of US military power. Throughout this period, there remained a powerful constituency within what President Eisenhower called the “military-industrial complex” that pushed relentlessly for a confrontation with the Soviet Union. As I have already noted, many of those who presently occupy powerful positions in the Bush administration were frantically advocating a massive anti-Soviet military buildup in the 1970s and 1980s, and even arguing that a nuclear strike against the USSR had to be considered a viable option. The increasing aggressiveness of American foreign policy was not an exclusively Republican Party project. The administration of Jimmy Carter hit upon the idea of inciting Islamic fundamentalism in Afghanistan in order to destabilize the Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union. As Carter’s national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, acknowledged several years ago, American operations in Afghanistan were well under way before the Soviet Union decided to intervene militarily in that country. One further point must be made about Soviet-American relations during the Cold War. I believe that it can be strongly and persuasively argued that the degree of American aggressiveness was related to the general state of the world capitalist economy. During the heyday of the post-World War II expansion of international capitalism, the bitter internal struggles within the American ruling elite tended to be resolved on the basis of the arguments of those who advocated compromise with the Soviet Union. To the extent that general conditions of worldwide economic expansion allowed American capitalism to operate profitably within the geopolitical framework of the so-called East-West Divide, the American ruling elite made a strategic decision to avoid, or at least postpone, a nuclear confrontation with the USSR. Open military conflicts were limited to peripheral areas. However, as world capitalism entered in the 1970s into a period of protracted stagnation and slump that arose from deep structural and systemic problems—of which the present recession is an advanced symptom—far more aggressive tendencies asserted themselves and found a sympathetic response within ruling circles. One might also add that the two great oil shocks of the 1970s—the first occurred in 1973 as a result of the decision of Arab states to impose a boycott on the sale of oil, the second followed the Iranian Revolution of 1979—increased the determination of the American ruling class to prevent any future disruption of its access to oil, natural gas and other essential strategic resources. The massive military buildup of the 1980s seemed to indicate that powerful sections of the US ruling elite were willing to risk a major confrontation with the Soviet Union. This bellicose international policy was the mirror reflection of the domestic policies pursued by the Reagan administration, which initiated an aggressive and successful program of union-busting and the “rollback” of social reforms that had been won by the working class over the previous 50 years. In the end, it was the Soviet bureaucracy that decided to liquidate the USSR. The self-dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991—the final betrayal of the heritage of the October Revolution by the Stalinist bureaucracy—created for American imperialism an unprecedented historical opportunity. For the first time it could operate in an international environment in which there did not exist any significant restraints—military or political—on the use of force to achieve its aims. From this point on, internal discussions on the strategic aims of the United States were taken over by the most vicious and reactionary tendencies. The demise of the USSR, they declared, created for the United States the opportunity to establish an unchallengeable global hegemony. The task of the United States was to exploit what right-wing columnist Charles Krauthammer referred to in 1991 as a “unipolar moment” to establish an absolutely dominant global position. The United States, argued Krauthammer, should not hesitate to use military power to get whatever it wanted. The Europeans and Japanese should be treated with contempt, and compelled to recognize that they had to approach the United States as supplicants. While it might be politically advisable for US leaders to pay lip service to multilateralism, that policy was, in reality, dead. The time had come for the United States to exercise its power unilaterally, “unashamedly laying down the rules of world order and being prepared to enforce them.”[6] The grotesque Mr. Krauthammer probably did not realize when he wrote these words that he was vindicating a prediction made many years before by the greatest Marxist of the twentieth century. Writing in 1933, Leon Trotsky recalled that Germany instigated World War I to “organize” Europe. But the aims of American imperialism would prove to be far more ambitious. “The United States,” Trotsky wrote, “must ‘organize’ the world. History is bringing humanity face to face with the volcanic eruption of American imperialism.”[7] The first Bush administration responded to the demise of the USSR by initiating a full-scale review of US military strategy. Its overriding objectives were to exploit aggressively the power vacuum left by the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and, by so doing, establish a geopolitical stranglehold that would prevent any country from emerging as a credible competitor of the United States. The key to this project was to be the use of military power to intimidate and, if necessary, smash any enemy or adversary, existing or potential. In 1992, Defense Secretary Richard Cheney and then-general Colin Powell called for the implementation of vastly expanded operational objectives for US military forces. They stipulated that the military should be able to complete one major war in 100 days and two in less than 180 days. The election of Bill Clinton did not produce any significant change in the increasingly aggressive attitude of American military planners. Under the slogan, “Shaping the World through Engagement,” the 1990s saw the emergence of a political consensus within both the Democratic and Republican parties that saw military power as the principal means by which the United States would secure long-term global dominance. This insistence on the decisive role of military power arises not from the strength, but rather the underlying weakness of American capitalism. In essence, militarism is symptomatic of economic and social decline. As it loses, and with good reason, confidence in the economic strength of American capitalism vis-à-vis its major international rivals, and grows increasingly fearful about fissures within the domestic social structure, the ruling elite views military power as the means by which it can counteract all the troubling negative tendencies. As Thomas Friedman of the New York Times wrote in March 1999, “The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist—McDonald’s cannot flourish without a McDonnell Douglas, the builder of the F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley’s technologies is called the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.... Without America on duty, there will be no America On Line.” The issue of Iraq has played a central role in high-level discussions on America’s strategic ambitions. In a sense, the first war against Iraq occurred just a few months too early for American imperialism. In January-February 1991, with the fate of the USSR still uncertain, the Bush administration considered it too risky to overstep the boundaries of the UN mandate and attempt unilaterally to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein. But almost from the moment the war had come to a close, there was a sense within powerful sections of the ruling elite that an immense opportunity had been missed. Within the context of the new strategic aim to prevent the emergence of any power or combination of powers that might challenge American domination, the conquest of Iraq came to be seen as a crucial strategic objective. In countless documents produced by right-wing strategists, it was openly argued that the overthrow of the regime of Saddam Hussein would provide the United States with strategic control over oil, the supremely critical resource that is essential to the economies of its potential economic and military rivals in Europe and Japan. Policy specialists George Friedman and Meredith Lebard argued in their influential book The Coming War with Japan, published in 1991: “With oil, the Persian Gulf becomes much more than a regional issue. It becomes the pivot of the world economy. For the US, domination of the region would open the door on unprecedented international power. On the other hand, allowing another regional power, such as Iraq or Iran, to seize control of the region and consolidate its own power would close the door on the possibility, unless the US were prepared to wage a ground war in the region. “During the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the US response was explicitly for one purpose: preventing Iraqi domination of the region’s oil supply. However, it opened up quite another possibility. Success of the US in retaking Kuwait, breaking the Saddam regime, and seizing control of Iraq would place the US in control of a large amount of the world’s oil reserves and production. No matter how benignly this power might be used, the US would emerge in control of the international economic system.... “...It would be in a position to set production quotas and therefore prices, as well as control the movement of oil. A country like Japan, dependent on the countries within the Straits of Hormuz for over 60 percent of its oil imports, would find that its greatest economic competitor—the world’s only large economy, and one increasingly bitter toward Japan—was in direct control of the Japanese supply of oil.... “...The leading political power, the US, suddenly finds itself in a position where its political power can be used to gain a hammerlock on the international economy. “The Persian Gulf will necessarily become a center of controversy between the US and Japan. Japan’s vulnerability to the flow of oil from the area means that increased US power in the region must increase Japanese insecurity. The regionalization of conflict and the regional segmentation of economies will open an important door for the United States: the manipulation of Japan’s oil supply could well end the challenge that Japanese exports pose to the US.”[8] Except in the American mass media, where discussion of this sensitive issue is virtually taboo, it is widely recognized all over the world that oil, not so-called weapons of mass destruction, is the central preoccupation of the United States. While the war in Afghanistan provided the opportunity for the establishment of new American military bases in Central Asia—which is believed to hold the second largest reserves of petroleum in the world—the conquest of Iraq would immediately place the second largest reserve of crude oil in the Persian Gulf region under the control of the United States. To quote the ineffable Thomas Friedman, “[H]aving broken Iraq, we own Iraq.” The Bush administration, whose leading personnel consists of people like Cheney who honed their criminal skills as oil industry executives, looks at the Persian Gulf as the potential jewel in the crown of an emerging American empire. If domination of that region were combined with effective control of the oil and natural gas reserves that will be eventually pumped out of Central Asia, the leaders of American imperialism believe that they will have achieved the long-term strategic hegemony that has eluded the United States for so long. This vision of a world dominion, secured through control of strategic global resources, is a reactionary fantasy that has found an enthusiastic audience among broad sections of the Establishment. The frame of mind that prevails within America’s political and financial aristocracy is reflected in a new book by Robert Kaplan, entitled Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Pagan Ethos. In a typical passage, he declares: “The more successful our foreign policy, the more leverage America will have in the world. Thus, the more likely that future historians will look back on the twenty-first-century United States as an empire as well as a republic, however different from that of Rome and every other empire throughout history. For as the decades and the centuries march on, and the United States has had a hundred presidents, or 150 even, instead of forty-three, and they appear in long lists like the rulers of bygone empires—Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman—the comparison with antiquity may grow rather than diminish. Rome, in particular, is a model for hegemonic power, using various means to encourage a modicum of order in a disorderly world...”[9] This drivel is of interest only as a sort of bizarre cultural phenomenon—an example of the delusionary state of mind within a ruling elite that has lost all sense of history and of contemporary reality, not to mention common decency. It does not seem to occur to Mr. Kaplan that to the extent that the United States seeks to implement these fantasies, it will encounter opposition: first of all, from those who are the immediate targets of American depredations—the masses in the countries targeted for conquest. There is also the opposition of America’s imperialist rivals in Europe and Japan, who simply cannot accept a situation that threatens them with economic strangulation. It is precisely the growing fears over the implications of America’s long-term strategic aims—the establishment of global domination—that find expression in the increasingly open opposition to the US plans for war in Iraq. A likely consequence of a US war against Iraq will be an enormous intensification of inter-imperialist conflicts—principally between the United States and its major economic and geopolitical competitors. The stage will be set for World War III. So far, in discussing the reasons for the drive of the United States for war, we have concentrated on the global geo-strategic and economic motivations. But there is yet another crucial factor in the political equation—that is, the increasingly explosive state of social relations in the United States and the threat that this poses to capitalist rule. Throughout the past decade US policy experts have expressed concern over growing signs of a decay of social cohesion. Samuel Huntington, who is best known for his book The Clash of Civilizations, warned several years ago that the end of the Cold War had deprived the US government of a cause that could foster mass support for the state. There did not seem to exist, he wrote, any genuine sense of national interests that commanded mass support. The problem noted by Huntington, however, is not primarily ideological. It is rooted in increasingly irreconcilable social conflicts within American society. It is becoming ever more difficult to mask the massive social inequality that presently characterizes American society. The concentration of extraordinary levels of personal wealth among a very small percentage of the population has far-reaching social implications, no matter how vigorously the mass media glorifies the rich and their lifestyles. The erosion of democratic norms and the ever-more apparent dysfunctional state of American politics are objective consequences of social polarization. In the year 2000, for the first time since the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, it was not possible to arrive at a democratic resolution of the election. In the end, the financial plutocracy handpicked the president. The United States is beset by social problems for which the existing political setup has no answers. Indeed, it is unable to even address them. The existing two-party system, whose personnel are utterly dependent on the financial support of the plutocracy, is thoroughly unrepresentative of the general population. How else can one explain the fact that the deep unease and ambivalence felt by millions of Americans toward the drive toward war find virtually no articulation in the political establishment. Rather, the political establishment, whose constituencies are different fractions of the richest two percent of the population, is absolutely incapable of giving voice to the concerns and interests of the broad masses. The current economic crisis has profoundly deepened the estrangement between the working class and the ruling class. The ongoing exposures of the criminality of the corporate elite threaten to transform the economic crisis—which is, in itself, of a fairly serious character—into a general crisis of class rule. To no small extent, the Bush administration hopes that dramatic successes overseas will somehow distract the people from the domestic crisis. But history provides many examples of the catastrophes that befell reactionary regimes that played with war to keep domestic problems at bay. Governments that prescribe war as a medication for a failing domestic economy and intensifying social conflict may suffer all sorts of unforeseen side effects—of which revolution may prove to be the most serious. The drive of the Bush administration toward war confronts every student with political and, I might add, moral questions of the greatest magnitude. First of all, let me make this point as emphatically as I can. The policies of the Bush administration are not merely mistaken... they are criminal. Those responsible for these policies are not misguided individuals. They are political criminals. But the criminality of their policy flows from the essentially criminal character of American imperialism—which strives to shore up a faltering capitalist system through a policy of plunder and mass murder. There is really no essential difference between the methods employed by the ruling elite within the United States and those it uses internationally. The recent exposures of corporate corruption have a far-reaching social significance. The daily operations of American business have assumed a criminal character. The ruling elite has accumulated massive wealth through the willful and systematic plundering of industrial, financial and social resources. American CEOs could sum up their tenures at the corporations they wrecked by slightly modifying the words of Caesar: “I came, I saw, I stole.” There is not, in fact, any major difference, between the Mafia-like “biznessmen” who have plundered Russia during the past decade and the criminal gang of CEOs who have looted their corporations. Nor is there any fundamental difference in the methods used by the American capitalist class to achieve its international objectives. It wants Iraqi oil, and so it intends to steal it—with the help of the United States military. It is the responsibility of students to oppose these criminals—but opposition must be based on a scientific understanding of politics and the social dynamics of capitalist society. A serious and sustained fight against imperialist war cannot be separated from a struggle against the socioeconomic interests which give rise to war—that is, to capitalism. Moreover, that fight can be successful only to the extent that it strives to mobilize the mass social force within the United States and internationally that stands objectively in opposition to capitalism. That social force is the working class, which comprises the overwhelming mass of the people in modern capitalist society. Thus, at the very heart of the struggle against war is the organization and mobilization of the working class as an independent political force. Within the United States, this means, first and foremost, liberating the working class from the political domination of the Democratic Party and building a new, independent, socialist party. The programmatic cutting edge of such a party must be its commitment to a struggle against imperialism based on the perspective of the international unity of the working class. Such a party exists in the United States. It is the Socialist Equality Party, which is in political solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International. I ask you all to consider joining it. Notes: 1. PovertyNet, Poverty Reduction and the World Bank, World Bank Executive Summary. 2. The Anatomy of the Nuremberg Trials (New York, 1992), p. 641. 3. Ibid, p. 51. 4. Ibid, pp. 51-52. 5. Stanley Weintraub, MacArthur’s War: Korea and the Undoing of an American Hero (New York, 2000) pp. 253-54. 6. Foreign Affairs, vol. 70, no. 1, 1991, p. 33. 7. Writings of Leon Trotsky 1933-34 (New York, 1998) p. 302. 8. New York, 1991. pp. 210-11. 9. New York, 2002, p. 153.Tory opposition to Scottish independence is strong on lurid warnings but remains largely unsupported by hard facts THE newspaper clipping is inky and old, but preserved forever in cyberspace. It is dated 1990 and the writer is a long retired Scottish political journalist. But this front-page story could have been written yesterday. It warns of the “three evils” that constitutional change would unleash on Scotland’s economy: “Uncertainty, conflict and cost!” There is talk of massive tax hikes, marginalisation in Europe and terrifying black holes into which our prospects will disappear if we dare to govern ourselves. The report describes a pamphlet written by Viscount Lord Weir, a prominent Tory industrialist, the unionist economist Professor Donald Mackay and Allan Stewart, then the Tory MP for Eastwood. It is the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party’s first response to the Constitutional Convention, the body that harnessed the churches, trades unions and local
a mammoth carcass in Russia. (University of Manitoba) Even if no blood cells are intact, it's still possible that some hemoglobin is, Campbell said. "Proteins are a bit tougher than DNA," he said. Hendrik Poinar, a geneticist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., who is piecing together the woolly mammoth genome from fragments of DNA extracted from other well-preserved carcasses, said he is also interested to find out whether or not any cells in the newly discovered mammoth carcass are still intact. "It's never been reported yet," he said. But, he added, "ultimately that's the hope." An intact cell could possibly be used to generate a cell line that would make cloning a lot easier than DNA alone. "If you did have a cell line, then obviously it would be a lot quicker to get a woolly mammoth, that's for sure," Poinar said. However, he doubts that even a carcass this well preserved could yield any intact cells. "I guess it's not outside the realm of possibility, but I would be floored [if it were the case]," he said. That's because enzymes in the bacteria that normally live inside animals such as humans and mammoths quickly start chewing up cells and DNA as soon as the animal dies, unless they are flash frozen or dried very quickly. Carcass may yield good DNA Nevertheless, the carcass may still yield better DNA in much longer pieces than other mammoths. "I would say it probably is a phenomenally well-preserved mammoth that has good DNA," Poinar said. "The better the DNA, the more likely we get closer to the true genome, which means ultimately if people's desires are to clone something, you get something closer to the real deal." Poinar said he recently heard from a scientist he collaborates with who was asked by the Russian researchers whether the team would like to have a look at the carcass. "Yeah, of course we would," Poinar said. Blood raises puzzling questions Campbell said one thing that intrigues him is how the blood sample was even preserved for so long — mammoths died out over most of their range around 10,000 years ago, and some specimens that have been discovered in the Arctic are far older than that. He's also puzzled by why the blood remained liquid at temperatures well below the freezing point of water. He doubts the possibility raised by the Russian researchers that mammoth blood had natural antifreeze properties. "I'm skeptical about it," he said. He suggested that it's possible that the breakdown of proteins within the blood may have lowered its freezing point or antifreeze-producing bacteria got into the blood. However, he said the only way to tell would be to test it.Quote theSCARAYone Quote: Originally Posted by In that case they really love trolling us. Shatele and Marr are literally standing right next to each other in the trailer. Why can't a knight and a warrior do the same? It is called forged alliances after all. a lot into every tiny detail of information that is provided. There are at least a couple of threads today with people flipping their lids over the fact that there will be one unique mission per class in Shadow of Revan, as though it's the second coming of Class stories. Most likely each is going to be a 15 minute fetch/kill mission with a 30 second cut scene to introduce it, a 30 second cut scene in the middle when you reach the climax of the mission, and a 30 second cut scene at the end when you turn the quest in. The same applies to this cross-faction gameplay speculation. Showing Satele and Marr standing side by side in a cut scene means...exactly that. There will be a few cut scenes where Satele and Marr interact with each other and your character to draw out the story about the, I imagine, secret alliance that the Republic and the Empire will have to forge to overcome the Revanites. What that does not extrapolate to is the fact that the Developers have recoded the game to permit cross-faction operation teams...and then made NO mention of that fact in the press release about 3.0. That is purely wishful thinking. Apparently people are willing to readinto every tiny detail of information that is provided. There are at least a couple of threads today with people flipping their lids over the fact that there will be one unique mission per class in Shadow of Revan, as though it's the second coming of Class stories. Most likely each is going to be a 15 minute fetch/kill mission with a 30 second cut scene to introduce it, a 30 second cut scene in the middle when you reach the climax of the mission, and a 30 second cut scene at the end when you turn the quest in.The same applies to this cross-faction gameplay speculation. Showing Satele and Marr standing side by side in a cut scene means...exactly that. There will be a few cut scenes where Satele and Marr interact with each other and your character to draw out the story about the, I imagine, secret alliance that the Republic and the Empire will have to forge to overcome the Revanites.What that does not extrapolate to is the fact that the Developers have recoded the game to permit cross-faction operation teams...and then made NO mention of that fact in the press release about 3.0. That is purely wishful thinking. Acuzel (Assassin DPS/Tank) Ivs (Operative Healer) Praeco (Powertech Tank) The Imperial Order The ShadowlandsNEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted raids at six different places in Punjab associated with SP Salwinder Singh and his two companions in the car that was waylaid by Pathankot attackers on the night of December 31. While four of the raided premises, which include the residences of Singh and his friend Rajesh Verma, are in Gurdaspur, two are located in Amritsar.“We have made the necessary seizures/recoveries and these are being scrutinised,” said a senior NIA officer. The officer said the raids, which come even as the questioning of Salwinder as well as his polygraphy test and psycho-analysis are over, were a routine investigative exercise to check for any possibility or if anything was available with those who came in contact with the terrorists, to establish a link to Pathankot attack.NIA had questioned the Punjab Police SP over five days and reportedly found inconsistencies in his initial statement to the Punjab Police and the subsequent versions. Also, there were inconsistencies between his statement and the account given by his friend, cook and caretaker of the shrine visited by Singh on December 31.The questioning was followed by a lie-detector or polygraph test. He was also examined by psychoanalysts and behavioural experts. “Salwinder has been put through all the necessary tests. The polygraph test report is awaited; it may take some time,” said an NIA officer.When asked if Singh has been asked to stay put in Delhi for further investigation, the officer only said the Punjab Police SP “was never in our custody”. “He has been cooperating with the investigation,” he said adding that there was no plan to arrest him “as of now”.NIA maintains that Salwinder Singh is a suspect “unless cleared”. However, with the agency yet to share details of the recoveries made in Thursday’s raids or results of the scientific tests carried out on him, it remains a mystery whether he will be made a witness in the Pathankot case or named as an accused.The NIA is also awaiting the report of the forensic tests carried out on the charred remains of two suspected fidayeen. “We expect the mystery on the number of terrorists involved in the attack to clear up next week after the CFSL report is in,” said an officer.The investigators are also probing the possibility of Pathankot terrorists having been facilitated by “insider” elements. The 45 explosions heard even after the last of the fidayeen was killed, indicates the large quantity of grenades/IEDs carried by the terrorists. The agencies suspect that it was not possible for terrorists to lug such heavy arms, ammunition, explosives and other items like food articles all by themselves. The possiblity of these arms and ammunition having been dumped in Pathankot before the fidayeen crossed over from Punjab, is being looked at.Steve Watson — Prison Planet Jan 16, 2017 In an unprecedented move, Donald Trump’s incoming White House Press Secretary revealed Sunday that members of the alternative media, and even prominent bloggers may be allowed to join the White House Press Corps, and take part in press conferences in Washington. In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Sean Spicer, said that owing to “off the chart” interest in the Trump administration, the president-elect is thinking about relocating press briefings to a room with a larger capacity. Since 1970, all official press briefings have been held in the James S Brady room. Esquire magazine reported that the potential new venue could be the Old Executive Office Building, to the west of the White House. “I know change is difficult sometimes,” Spicer said. “But sometimes change can actually be better.” “There’s a lot of talk radio and bloggers and people that can’t fit in right now and maybe don’t have a permanency because they’re not part of the Washington elite media,” Spicer added. “But to allow them an opportunity to ask the press secretary or the president a question is a positive thing. It’s more democratic.” he urged. The reaction to Spicer’s comments from the Washington establishment has been predictably one of panic and alarm. The White House Correspondent Association (WHCA) which oversees which media outlets are allowed to attend press briefings, said it would push against the idea of involving less traditional media. Jeff Mason, the WHCA president and Reuters White House correspondent, said that in a “constructive” meeting with Spicer, he had “emphasized the importance of the White House press briefing room” because of how near it is to West Wing officials. “I made clear that the WHCA would view it as unacceptable if the incoming administration sought to move White House reporters out of the press work space behind the press briefing room,” Mason said in a statement. “Access in the West Wing to senior administration officials, including the press secretary, is critical to transparency and to journalists’ ability to do their jobs.” “We object strenuously to any move that would shield the president and his advisers from the scrutiny of an on-site White House press corps,” Mason said. The Guardian, which is one of the only 49 outlets represented in the press Corps, published a report expressing derision over the idea of both Breitbart and Infowars having representatives allowed to ask the President and other officials questions. The report suggested Breitbart was “racist” and made claims, repeatedly disavowed by Alex Jones, that he believes the Sandy Hook massacre to be a fake hoax: The president-elect’s campaign drew consistent support from numerous conservative talk radio hosts and internet conspiracy theory sites, for instance Alex Jones’s InfoWars. During the campaign, Trump took the unprecedented step of appearing on Jones’s site, known as America’s foremost conservative conspiracy theory outlet. Jones has previously dismissed the Sandy Hook massacre, in which 20 elementary school students and six school staff were murdered, as “completely fake”, and has branded the September 11 terror attacks an “inside job”. Trump was interviewed for around 30 minutes by Jones in December 2015, and later called Jones a “nice guy”. Jones claimed in November that Trump called him to thank him for his support after winning the presidential election. In a related development, outgoing President Obama slammed the “corrosive nature” of talk radio and what he described as “fake news,” while throwing BOTH Trump and Hillary Clinton under the bus. “You had two of the most unpopular presidential candidates selected by the two parties in history. Doesn’t that say something’s wrong, something serious is wrong?” CBS anchor Steve Kroft asked. “It indicates that there is a lot of cynicism out there,”Obama responded, adding “It indicates that the corrosive nature of everything from talk radio to fake news to negative advertising has made people lack confidence in a lot of our existing institutions. I think it indicates, at least on the Democratic side, that we’ve got more work to do to strengthen our grassroots networks.”We're always looking at new ways to give you a look inside the game, and one of those new features will be rolling out today. As part of SBNation's effort to track scoring chances, Derek Zona has graciously offered to help us out by providing scoring chance data on the Jackets until I can get myself comfortable with the tracking process and start producing them during the season. For purposes of tracking, here's how we're defining a scoring chance: A scoring chance is defined as a clear play directed toward the opposing net from a dangerous scoring area - loosely defined as the top of the circle in and inside the faceoff dots, though sometimes slightly more generous than that depending on the amount of immediately-preceding puck movement or screens in front of the net. Blocked shots are generally not included, but missed shots are. A player is awarded a scoring chance anytime he is on the ice and someone from either team has a chance to score. He is awarded a "chance for" if someone on his team has a chance to score and a "chance against" if the opposing team has a chance to score. We're using the tracking script created by Time On Ice, and you can see some explanations of how this analysis can be used over at Blueshirt Banter and Copper & Blue. The breakdowns for Friday and Saturday's games will be up shortly - we look forward to hearing what you think!aeson-0.10.0.0 has been out since September 2015. Aeson is widely used, and adoption of the new version was fairly slow. The changelog claims, “the API changes below should be upwards compatible from older versions of aeson. If you run into upgrade problems, please file an issue with details.” An issue was immediately filed: Breaking changes on 0.10 regarding Null field parsing on Maybe types. (This issue remains open.) Not long after, another issue was filed: 0.10 causes Couldn’t match expected type `Data.Text.Internal.Text’ with actual type `Data.ByteString.Builder.Internal.Builder’ (This issue was addressed fairly quickly.) I’m not going to rehash every single issue and bugfix, but the point is that a handful of bugs have been fixed since the 0.10.0.0 release, and a few regressions still haven’t been fixed. However, what bugfixes there are have not yet been published to Hackage. When LTS Haskell 4.0 was released with aeson-0.10, one particularly nasty regression came back into the spotlight: GHC Killed with out of memory when using generics. Stackage curators tend to agree that including aeson-0.10.0.0 in LTS Haskell was a mistake. So, where do we go from here? We have a few options. * Revert to aeson-0.9 * Use a “compatibility layer” package * Wait for a patch to aeson-0.10 How have you been dealing with aeson-0.10? Did its inclusion in LTS Haskell have any impact on you and your projects? How can we improve the way we deal with situations like this in the future? AdvertisementsDevils, Kings To Meet In Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 The Stanley Cup Finals start Wednesday night with the New Jersey Devils facing off against the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have only made it to the finals once before in their 45-year history. And that has hockey fans in the city relishing the moment. RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: The Stanley Cup finals start tonight, between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have only made it to the finals once before in their 45-year history. And so here in a town that lives for the Lakers and Dodgers, hockey fans are relishing their moment. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: The sun is out and so are the crowds at one of L.A.'s swankier outdoor malls, The Grove. It's easier to spot a movie star here than a Kings jersey or cap, even though the Stanley Cup finals are about to begin. CHANG HER: I'm a fan of the Lakers. KAHN: What about the Kings? They're in the Stanley Cup. HER: I don't like the Kings. It's all about the Lakers. KAHN: I stopped Chang Her just as he was paying for his new Laker's cap at a small sports memorabilia cart parked on one of the Grove's faux streets. He actually thought I was talking about the basketball team, the Sacramento Kings. No, the Kings are hockey. HER: What? KAHN: The Kings are hockey. HER: Oh, I don't know then. KAHN: Dodger fan Erik Blackwell says he's excited about the Kings. So much so he tries to get his four-year-old son to take off his Dodger Blue cap and try on one for the Kings. It's a tough sell. ERIK BLACKWELL: I would love him to start really get into it, we're - but I'm not. I don't know much about it. KAHN: Despite an impressive, some say shocking, playoff run, star left wing Dustin Penner says the Kings get little respect from people inside and especially outside of L.A. DUSTIN PENNER: All they hear about is Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, Sacramento Kings, Giants, Chargers, you know. KAHN: Penner was talking to a group of local reporters, all sympathetically nodding. He says he wants to bring the cup home for loyal fans who are finally getting the respect they deserve. Veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell says he can relate to waiting patiently. He's never won a Stanley Cup. WILLIE MITCHELL: So, you know, I've played hockey since I was, you know, four years old, you know, so it's been a long time waiting for this. It would be the ultimate for me. KAHN: So do the Kings really have a chance to win it after 45 long years? Who better for us to ask than NPR sports correspondent Mike Pesca? MIKE PESCA, BYLINE: You know, before the playoffs began, both of these teams were about 20-1 long shots. And it's because the Kings barely eked into the playoffs. They were the eight seed in the West. And the Devils were the sixth seed in the East. The Devils haven't actually been favored to win any of their playoff series. But the great thing they have going for them, which they've had going for them over the last 15 years, is Martin Brodeur. Marty Brodeur is just about the greatest active goalie in hockey. The Kings have a great goalie of their own in Quick. Also, they're really good at killing the power play. And the Kings don't have a good power play. Add that all up, it should be a really good series. (SOUNDBITE OF HOCKEY PRACTICE) KAHN: At a recent King's practice skate, dozens of fans watched the team warm-up for free. There were retired aerospace engineers, a kids hockey team and a few die-hard fans, including Rabbi Hershel Remer. Remer, a Los Angeles native says he feels like he did back in 1993, the only other time the Kings made it to the finals. HERSHEL REMER: And I went to the game because I figured it was a once in a lifetime, knowing the Kings. And I am shocked that they're back. KAHN: It's twice in a lifetime. REMER: It's twice in a lifetime. KAHN: Anita Madjar feels the same way. She says she's afraid to get too excited in case, as she puts it, the Kings blow it again. But she is excited the Kings are finally outshining those other L.A. sports teams. ANITA MADJAR: I hate the Lakers. I'm not a Laker fan. I hate them. KAHN: The Kings play the Devils tonight in New Jersey. They'll be back home for game three, where loyal fans get to show that L.A. is a hockey town. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Los Angeles. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) MONTAGNE: This is NPR News. Copyright © 2012 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israel's deadly raid on an aid flotilla that attempted to run the blockade of Gaza was "regrettable" but legal under international law, an independent Israeli commission reported Sunday. The commission, led by retired judge Yaakov Turkel, found that Israeli commandos "acted professionally and in a measured manner in the face of unanticipated violence" when they seized the Gaza-bound aid ship Mavi Marmara. Members of the Turkish relief group IHH "were direct participants in hostilities" who attacked the Israeli troops, the commission reported. "The actions carried out by Israel on May 31, 2010, to enforce the naval blockade had the regrettable consequences of the loss of human life and physical injuries," the report concludes. "Nonetheless, and despite the limited number of uses of force for which we could not reach a conclusion, the actions taken were found to be legal pursuant to the rules of international law." Nine people were killed when Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara and its accompanying convoy in international waters in May. Kevin Ovenden, a survivor of the raid, called Sunday's report a "whitewash" and a "sick joke." "It is simply unfeasible to claim that, for example, the two men shot immediately to the left and right of me were gunned down in some act of self-defense," Ovenden, a representative of the British aid group Viva Palestina, said in a written statement. "They were shot from above. No Israeli commando was in sight of us when the bullets rang out." Palestinian leaders also criticized the report on Sunday. "The Turkel commission does not have the credibility necessarily because it was formed by the Israeli government, which is the party accused of the crime against the civilians in international waters," said Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib. "Only an international investigation committee has the right to investigate that Israeli crime, because Israel can not be the criminal and judge at the same time," he said. The raid strained ties between Israel and Turkey, its strongest ally among Muslim nations, and triggered a wave of international condemnation of Israel and its policies toward Gaza. But the controversy led Israel to loosen its embargo on the territory, allowing more civilian goods and construction materials to flow in while still banning military equipment and weapons. In September, the U.N. Human Rights Council found Israeli forces "committed serious violations of international law" in the raid and suggested that six of the civilians deaths were "consistent with... an arbitrary and summary execution." Israel called the report "as biased and as one-sided as the body that has produced it." Gaza is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and has been branded a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The Turkel Commission found that the blockade "was lawful and complied with the rules of international law," but human rights groups have condemned the closure as an unlawful collective punishment of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli human rights group Gisha, which advocates for Palestinians, said the continued blockade still restricts Palestinian trade and movement "with no valid security justification." "Gisha expresses hope that Israel will cancel the many remaining restrictions that are not related to concrete security risks and will allow the free movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza, subject only to individual security checks," it said. And in a statement in response to Sunday's report, Turkey called the continuing blockade "devoid of legal basis and legitimacy." The Turkish commission that investigated the raid said it was "surprised, appalled and dismayed" by the Israeli findings. "While it had the possibility of intercepting the convoy carrying unarmed civilians without causing bloodshed, Israel opted for a course which made loss of life inevitable," the commission said in a written statement. And instead of rethinking their tactics when passengers began to resist, the Israelis decided "to attack with increased violence," it said. "The result is self-evident and requires no further explanation," the Turkish commissioners said. Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel after the raid and has said it won't resume normal diplomatic ties with the Jewish state without an apology and compensation for the victims' families. Some Jewish organizations, meanwhile, praised Sunday's report. "The report fully and completely upholds the legality of the decision taken by the Israeli government to establish the naval blockade of Gaza and vindicates Israel's actions in self-defense as it stopped the flotilla," said Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman in a statement. "The Israeli government and the IDF took the investigation seriously and offered their full cooperation, showing Israel's commitment to transparency and military accountability under the law," Foxman said, referring to the Israeli Defence Force. Israeli officials have said their boarding party was attacked with knives, metal poles and other objects. Sunday's report says two were shot, one in the knee and one in the stomach. The Turkel Commission found that of 133 cases where Israeli troops used force, 127 were in accordance with international law and no conclusions could be reached in the rest. Sunday's report was the first of two parts. The second will be presented later on in the year and will look into the decision-making process that led to the attack on the flotilla. Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who was on board the Mavi Marmara when the Israeli Defence Force attacked the boat, said: "However hard the Israeli Government attempt to rewrite history, they can't rewrite the truth. The facts are simple, the Mavi Marmara was carrying essential humanitarian aid like baby milk to the besieged people of Gaza. There were no guns or weapons on board the boat, we were in international waters, when over 300 bullets -- or one for every two people on board -- rained down on us, killing 9 people and injuring over 50." "The actions of the Israeli Defence Force and the Israeli Government were by all international standards of law illegal as is their continued occupation of Gaza and the oppression of the Palestinian people." CNN's Kareem Khadder, Shira Medding and Ivan Watson contributed to this reportSheet Music Review It is certainly a wonder that even today we are rediscovering lost treasures composed by the great masters of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. Rarely does a year pass without another “lost” manuscript finding its way into the daylight after decades – even centuries – gathering dust in a library basement, museum attic or private collection. And such was the case with the recent rediscovery of a small solo piano miniature, Ahnung – Albumblatt for Klavier, composed by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), which was found in the Leopold-Sophie-Bibliothek in Überlingen by librarian Roswitha Lambertz whilst cataloguing the bequest of one Leo Allgeyer. Ahnung – Album Leaf for Piano The manuscript is clearly in Schumann’s hand, and includes verification from his widow Clara, also featuring her handwriting dedicating the piece “to Mr. Julius Alleger with the wish that soft tones may always accompany you.” The piece was first published in 2009 by Wiener Urtext Edition, and is available as a single piece [UT 50271] The publication itself contains eight pages, in the standard Wiener Urtext house style, and includes an image of the original manuscript in Schumann’s handwriting, the composition itself (which is a single page long, and edited by Michael Beiche, with fingerings added by Jochen Reutter), with a Commentary detailing the provenance of the manuscript and its history, and the editor’s Critical Notes. Readers will undoubtedly want to hear the piece, and with that in mind – and with the permission of Wiener Urtext Edition – I have made this new recording of it for your interest, which you can listen to via SoundCloud: And if that isn’t available, you can play it here in Mp3 format: https://keyquestmusic.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/schumann-album-leaf.mp3 Some comments on the piece The Commentary speculates as to the provenance of the piece within Schumann’s considerable piano oeuvre of the 1830s, making what I think to be a convincing case that it was originally written as part of the composition of the masterpiece Kinderszenen. It was a period in Schumann’s life when he was enjoying the springtime of his love for the young Clara, to whom he wrote in a letter of 17-19 March 1838: “In short, I feel like a child again, and I wrote about 30 sweet little things, and of these I chose twelve and called them ‘Scenes from Childhood’” Having not included the Ahnung in that collection, he later used its primary musical material in his Novelette Op.21 No.5 (a facsimile of which also appears in the present Weiner Urtext publication for comparative purposes). Short Analysis The Album Leaf itself is 24 bars long, of which bars 9-24 are repeated. While I was curious to play through the piece, I must admit that my hopes weren’t especially high, given that the composer had himself set aside the piece and not published it. Perhaps the piece would resemble one of the myriad miniatures composed by Schumann’s many disciples. But as soon as I played it I was struck by the flashes of genius that I immediately associate with this most special of composers. For example, I was struck by the immediately engaging opening, in which the melody line is highlighted by the absence of harmony on the first beat prior to the addition of the dominant seventh chord in murmuring triplet quavers – a trick which Schumann builds on throughout the piece. The transference of this simple melody to the tenor line at bar 9 – and the element of counterpoint that appears with the return of the soprano line in bar 15 – are so characteristic of Schumann’s fevered experimentation with compositional technique and the possibilities of the instrument’s timbre and texture. And perhaps most striking of all – the startling harmonic shift in bar 15, which is as exquisite as it is unexpected, further enhanced by the introduction of the two-against-three time divisions. The piece is quite simply a joy to play – and would suit any player at around ABRSM Grade 4 level. Indeed, it would make a brilliant exam piece at this level, and it would be wonderful to see Wiener Urtext Edition’s investment in bringing this fine edition to the market rewarded with it being licensed for inclusion in collections that will bring it to a wider audience. Faschingsschwank aus Wien Let me also mention that Wiener Urtext Edition have recently brought out a new edition of Schumann’s Romantic showpiece, Faschingsshwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna) Op.26 – a masterpiece that many readers will be more familiar with. This new edition [UT 50217] is similarly edited by Michael Beiche and based on the Urtext of the New Schumann Complete Edition. Fingering and notes on interpretation are provided here by Tobias Koch. These notes take into account the sound characteristics of the early pianos played in the composer’s lifetime, as well as contemporary documents that include Schumann’s own preface to his Caprices Op.3, and publications by his teacher Friedrich Wieck and others. Both publications are available from music retailers worldwide. Highly Recommended.President Obama only has 35 days left in office, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., is still pushing the debunked conspiracy theory that Obama's birth certificate is fake and therefore he isn't eligible to be in office. During a press conference Thursday, Arpaio claimed that after a five-year investigation into the validity of the White House-produced birth certificate for President Obama, he has determined that it is an invalid document. The investigation concluded that the birth certificate was a "fraudulently created document, which has been represented as an official copy of the original birth certificate of President Obama," Arpaio claimed. "We and anyone else who dare to question the document have been maligned, falsely labeled, grossly criticized in the bulk of the media, certain Internet sources, for years." Chief investigator Mike Zullo told the press he had asked Reed Hayes, a forensic handwriting expert who voted for Obama in both presidential elections, to inspect the document, as well as world-renowned experts in Italy. They claimed Obama's certificate is an amended copy of another woman's. During 2011 and 2012, President-elect Trump spent time claiming Obama's birth certificate was counterfeit. He later reversed course, acknowledging in September that Obama was born in the U.S. Obama was born on Aug. 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Arpaio, sometimes called "America's toughest sheriff," is in the middle of a court battle over his office's alleged profiling of Hispanics in order to target illegal immigrants.Prominent figures on both the right and left of the US political spectrum gathered in the luxury enclave of Rancho Mirage in the Californian desert today amid increasingly heated debate about the influence of the secrecy-loving billionaires Charles and David Koch on the political process. About 200 key figures in business, energy, the media and law were expected to assemble at a five-star hotel at the invitation of the Koch brothers for the latest of their twice-yearly discussion groups on how to forward their libertarian causes. The talks began at 1pm with sessions that focused on how to fight the Obama administration, which the Kochs see as a threat to the free market and unfettered wealth. As the attendees arrived in their private jets, they were greeted by an airship that circled over the hotel's golf courses and tennis courts bearing the logo: "Koch brothers dirty money." It was sent up by Greenpeace, the environmental campaign group, which has joined forces with several other left-leaning organisations to hold a counter-rally to the Koch meeting. The Koch brothers run the second largest privately-owned company in the US, Koch Industries, which has stakes in oil and other energy industries, paper and pulp and chemicals, among other concerns. They are accused by detractors of increasingly using both their combined wealth - put at $35bn (£22bn) - and the wealth of their friends and fellow billionaires brought together at their gatherings, to distort the democratic process through huge campaign donations. Greenpeace researchers looked at the guest list of the last Koch gathering, held in Aspen last June. The list of attendees was leaked to the Think Progress blog. Using that list as a base, Greenpeace calculated that the 200 or so participants in Aspen contributed more than $61m (£38m) to political campaigns between 1990 and 2010. That makes them a major, though unofficial, bloc within American politics. The role of the Koch gatherings as huge bankrolling events for rightwing candidates and causes was underlined in Aspen, where attendants were exhorted to put their hands in their pockets ahead of the 2010 mid-term elections. According to Politico, some $25m (£16m) in donations to Koch-backed groups was pledged at the lunch on the final day, including several individual pledges of $1m and $12m by the Koch brothers themselves. In his letter of invitation to today's gathering in Rancho Mirage, Charles Koch referred to the previous Aspen meeting and said "participants committed to an unprecedented level of support". He added: "Our group heard plans to activate citizens against the threat of government overspending and to change the balance of power in Congress [in the mid-term elections]". The aim of this latest Koch gathering was believed to be to raise at least as much money as in Aspen on behalf of the brothers' favourite causes, which include climate change denial, anti-government initiatives and the Tea Party movement. They are big funders of rightwing thinktanks such as Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute. But for the first time they had to contend with the attentions of their opponents, with the convening of a panel discussion and rally just down the road from the hotel called by the accountability in politics campaign Common Cause. The counter-events attracted a wide range of activists from the environmental, anti-war, trade union and other movements. "The Koch brothers manage to be destructive in so many areas," said Jodie Evans of Code Pink, a women's peace group. "But one positive thing they've done is to galvanise so many different opponents around them."Data produced for the Guardian shows how health spending is split across age groups, with costs set to rise as people live longer More than two-fifths of national health spending in the UK is devoted to people over 65, according to estimates produced for the Guardian by the Nuffield Trust – a figure that is only likely to increase with the nation’s ageing demographic. The data shows that an 85-year-old man costs the NHS about seven times more on average than a man in his late 30s. Health spending per person steeply increases after the age of 50, with people aged 85 and over costing the NHS an average of £7,000 a year. Spending on health services across all age groups is £2,069, according to Treasury analysis. The costs pressures are unlikely to abate. By 2039, people aged 65 or over are expected to represent 23% of the population, or 17.5 million, according to projections from the Office for National Statistics. About one in 12 of the population will be aged 80 or over by then. Currently, there are 11.4 million people aged 65 or over in Britain, representing 18% of the total population, up from 12% in 1966. Surgery in the womb: miracle maker for NHS's tiniest patients Read more “People in the UK live longer every year because we have learned to cure or prevent many of the diseases that once cut lives short,” said Mark Dayan, policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust. “Today, the NHS’s staff and technology, and therefore its money, is increasingly focused on treating people in older age groups, with often long-term conditions that we struggle most with. That’s a sign of success. “But it means that as more people stay alive and grow older, the cost of healthcare rises each year by 1 or 2%
: 1. The Dutch Constitution and all other laws declared applicable in Netherlands from May 5 1945 are not valid. 2. All Dutch Prime Ministers, ministers, Secretaries of State, first Chamber members, second Chamber members, Commissioners of the Queen, members of the Gedeputeerde States, members of Provincial States, mayors, aldermen and Councilors, as well as all the Dutch lawyers from 5 May 1945 to date who have taken the oath to the Queen that have supported to the continuation of the Hitler-Cabinet and are therefore responsible and liable for the overall poisoning of the world, more than a billion within now and the next 10 years poisoning deaths (cancer deaths). They are therefore responsible and liable for the largest genocide in the world’s history. 3. All by the Dutch courts, Central Board of appeal, College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven, the Judiciary Council and the Council of State rulings, decisions, judgments and rulings made from 5 May 1945 to date ‘ in the name of the Queen ‘ are not valid. 4. All information provided to date from May 5 1945 Dutch passports, identity cards, etc. are not valid. All Dutch people are thus stateless. 5. Given the above points 1 thru 4, in the Netherlands on 12 September 2012 announced second Chamber elections should not continue and a portion of the inhabitants of former Netherlands (below the rivers?) to be attributed to Belgium and to request a Belgian passport and the rest (above the rivers?) to be attributed to Belgium and to request a Belgian passport and the rest (above the rivers?) to be attributed to Germany and request a German passport, since these countries legally exist and have a Constitution and a Constitutional Court. 6. All decisions, judgments and rulings issued by the International Criminal Court in the Hague about persons suspected of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not valid because they are pronounced on the territory of a non-existent country on the proposal of the United Nations, what communication is signed by continuing from former Dutch territory Hitler Cabinet. In addition, that ‘ genocide ‘ is disproportionate with the genocide of billions of world inhabitants, from the former Dutch territory, from the Hitler Cabinet.(comparison). 7. All politicians, political parties, individuals, banks, institutions, businesses, churches, etc. that from 1954 until today attended the secret Bilderberg-Conferences are responsible and can be held liable for treason, and poisoning-genocide of billions of world residents there that have occurred from the former Dutch territory (on continued Hitler Cabinet). Therefore to current Belgian President Etienne Davignon will receive a copy of this letter before 31 May 2012 to be consulted with the emphatic H.R.H. Princess Maxima request the cancel the secret Bilderberg Conference from 31 May 2012 in Westfield’s Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel till 3 June 2012, Virginia. And accordingly decide that in future no more secret Bilderberg conferences will be organized. 8. The Benelux Treaty should be dissolved immediately because due to the fact that the Netherlands from May 5 1945 does not exist and Belgium does not wish to be associated to the former Dutch territory continued Hitler Cabinet. We will notify King Albert II of Belgium with submission of a copy of this letter to Princess Máxima, with the request to open in Brussels in consultation with Princess Máxima, and European President Herman Van Rompuy, and possibly other persons and undersigned by him on behalf of No Cancer Foundation. We propose for King Albert II to ask Princess Máxima to become the Chairman because she brought this to the public attention for the first time. And as an independent spokesperson, since she never attended a Bilderberg Conference. 9. All European treaties, notably the Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Amsterdam are not valid. This is because these treaties are signed on former Dutch territory from which from 18 May 1945 the Hitler Cabinet has continued and signed by Member State that according to the Constitution The Netherlands does not exist. This means that the European Community will have to be reduced to a smaller number of states dating from after the time of the Maastricht Treaty with that indication that the residents from the Netherlands will have to get a Belgian or German Nationality. More specifically, this means that only the countries Belgium, Denmark, in Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and the United Kingdom will belong to this new European Community, and that the old coins (except the guilder) will be used again and that the borders should be closed. From this a new politics, new economy and a new social life can be built in which our children and grandchildren can live a healthy and prosperous life. We will notify the current president of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, also Chairman of the European Council, through submission of a copy of this letter to Princess Máxima. This with the request for this in Brussels in consultation with H.R.H. Princess Máxima, King Albert II of Belgium, other persons and undersigned by him on behalf of No Cancer Foundation (if desired). 10. The announced European stability mechanism (ESM) can be stopped, cancelled on 1 July 2012, as already announced; on the basis of the above (points 1 thru 9 continue). We call on the European Union’s current president Herman Van Rompuy to inform and discuss about this in the European Council as soon as possible via the press officers of the European Union and making this information public a.s.a.p. 11. From The former Dutch territory from May 5 1945 Hitler continued the secret Bilderberg-driven Cabinet, from conferences with support from the Vatican and the Christian parties. Within 10 years from now and at least one billion world inhabitants will die from severe signs of early diseases (including cancer), therefore a ban on this should be implemented immediately by the Holy see. Because it is in very serious extent acted against the ten commandments of God. We will inform Pope Benedict XVI of this letter (and also inform H.R.H. Princess Máxima) and ask him to forgive them all, after which can be worked on a new world in which the ten commandments of God actually be complied with and by the Holy see on compliance. 12. The United Nations should be abolished in its current form because of the fact that Netherlands from May 5 1945 does not exist and therefore cannot be a member of the United Nations. The United Nations also does not want to be associated with the former Dutch territory continued Hitler Cabinet, and a dictatorial regime It is very important that the United Nations continues to exist because of its network and infrastructure. We desperately need to have a social structure, because we will get a worldwide political upheaval and social unrest. The good news is: It will no longer be possible to grant subsidies of billions of euros for products and processes that poison us with massively carcinogenic substances as arsenic acid and chromium VI. These resources will be much needed for the promotion of suppressed technologies and products from natural and vegetable origin, so that our children and grandchildren also have a healthy life on our Earth. We will send these intentions and arguments to the present United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (South Korea) and let a request go out with this (in English translated letter) to H.R.H. Princess Máxima. 13. The NATO in the current form should be abolished also, because of the fact that Netherlands from May 5 1945 does not exist and therefore cannot be a member of the NATO. NATO also does not want to be associated with the former Dutch territory continued Hitler Cabinet. It is very important that the NATO continues to exist, because of its network and infrastructure. We are in desperate need for social peace in the forthcoming difficult years to preserve, in which probably more than a billion world inhabitants will die from poisoning diseases (cancer) as a result of the continued Hitler cabinet from former Dutch territory (under control of the secret Bilderberg conferences). We will present this information to the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and a request going out with this (in English translated) letter to H.R.H. Princess Máxima with the supporting evidence. 14. Clubs like the Club of Rome, Club of Madrid and other clubs, associations, etc., whose Netherlands is a Member State cannot continue in the current structure, due to the fact that Netherlands (from May 5 1945) does not exist and therefore cannot be a member of these clubs, associations etc. We will inform the Presidents of those clubs, associations, etc. and make therefore requests with this (in English translated) letter to H.R.H. Princess Máxima. In order to find a solution for the citizens of the world, where our children and grandchildren can live, we need to get justice for everyone who has been involved in (knowingly or unknowingly) poisoning of our earth and its habitants. Also we need forgiveness. That is precisely why it is very important that someone from the Dutch Royalty will be involved. We see a role for this is the most suitable candidate in H.R.H. Princess Máxima. This devastating problem, in which the world is now, because they Dutch Royal House has contributed and is held hostage, as she is the only from this Royal House who has brought this into the open and she never personally attended a Bilderberg Conference and is thus independent. No Cancer Foundation has issued to H.R.H. Princess Maxima the following request: Given the above facts we ask the Dutch Royal Princess Máxima to acknowledge this mass poisoning of the Earth, and how and when it has started, and start to make it known to its inhabitants and offer help to let it come to an end. For the sake of all people, and animals on this planet. To end this unnecessary mass poisoning we humbly ask whether she – H.R.H. Princess Máxima -wants to become the President of the above suggested consultative body in which No Cancer Foundation is also represented. We will work with many respectable scientists from around the world to clean up the environment, and prevent further damage to the environment and all living entities. The No Cancer Foundation made the following request to King Albert II of Belgium made the following request: We have the honor to ask you to take notice of the contents of our letter dated 27 May 2012 below attached to H.R.H. Princess Máxima of Netherlands. On the basis of the contents of that letter, the Benelux Treaty with to be cancelled immediately because of the fact that The Netherlands “Netherland” from May 5 1945 does not exist and Belgium does not wish to be associated with former occupied Dutch territory continued Hitler Cabinet. To you as Belgian head of State we want to ask you to propose to H.K.H. Princess Máxima to become the President of the undersigned proposed consultation body, containing King Albert of Belgium, current president Herman Van Rompuy of the European Union, other persons you want and the undersigned on behalf of No Cancer Foundation as representatives for the benefit of a healthy Earth and to guarantee a safe and healthy life for its inhabitants. In that consultation can also be raised the question how to proceed with the Benelux Treaty (and the situation of the Netherlands). To Herman Van Rompuy, President European Union, the No Cancer Foundation has made the following request: We have the honor to ask you to take note of the contents of our letter dated 27 May 2012 below attached to H.R.H. Princess Máxima of Netherlands. On the basis of that content it is very clear that the proposed European stability mechanism (ESM) on 1 July 2012 cannot continue to be installed. We request that you notify the European Council and ensure that this will be brought into the open, as soon as possible via the press officers of the European Union. On the basis of that content also all European treaties, including in particular the Maastricht Treaty and the Amsterdam Treaty, are not valid. This is because these treaties are signed on former Dutch territory from which from 18 May 1945 the Hitler Cabinet has continued and signed by Member State that Constitutional Netherlands does not exist. This means that the European Community will have to be reduced to the time before the Treaty of Maastricht in the Netherlands that first entry with that former Dutch or German Nationality residing inhabitants should have a will. In concrete terms this means that only the countries Belgium, Denmark, in Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and the United Kingdom will belong to the new European Community, that the own coins (except the guilder) will have to come back again, and that the borders will have to be closed. From this new situation with a new politics, new economic rules and a new social structure for life can be built in which our children and grandchildren can live well. We ask you to make arrangements with the undersigned on behalf of No Cancer Foundation and consult together with H.R.H. Princess Máxima, King Albert II of Belgium and other persons presented by you. To Etienne Davignon, President secret Bilderberg conferences – No Cancer Foundation has done the following request: We have the honor to ask you to take note of the contents of our letter dated 27 May 2012 below attached to H.R.H. Princess Máxima of the Netherlands. With that content is factually proven that all politicians, political parties, individuals, banks, institutions, businesses, churches, etc. that from 1954 until today the secret Bilderberg conferences are responsible and liable for having attended poisoning-genocide of billions of residents there that have occurred from the world on former Dutch territory continued Hitler Cabinet. We emphatically request you to cancel the secret Bilderberg Conference as is planned to take place from 31 May to 3 June 2012 in Westfield’s Marriot Hotel, Virginia, until it has been decided that no more secret Bilderberg Conferences will take place in the future. We will wait patiently for your answer, and we will keep you informed by our website www.nocancerfoundation.org No Cancer Foundation See THE VATICAN CONNECTION TO ENGLAND, A CONTINUATION OF ROMAN CONQUEST See Bar Association History & Who Owns the U.S. See The Official International Knights Templar Website See “BRITISH ACCREDITED REGISTRY” from Larry BecraftFORMER Super League boss John Ribot has been hailed as the administrator with the “ideal package” to take charge of the NRL in the post-Dave Smith era. Smith’s shock resignation yesterday sparked mass speculation over his successor, with the ARL Commission vowing to conduct a global search for his replacement. NRL head of football Todd Greenberg has been flagged as a potential candidate, but former Storm CEO Chris Johns last night urged the ARLC to consider the merits of Ribot. The Broncos’ foundation CEO, Ribot boasts a diverse sporting and corporate resume. He was a director of the Storm and served as chairman of A-League side Brisbane Roar and the Victorian Major Events company. Now 60, Ribot is executive chairman of Queensland Clubs Management, which owns hospitality venues throughout Queensland. ‘Ideal’ candidate for NRL job, John Ribot. Source: News Corp Australia Johns was Ribot’s right-hand man during the Super League war but the former Broncos centre said the code should put aside old wounds to appoint the controversial executive. “There’s not many people who could tick all the boxes but one guy who can do it is John Ribot,” Johns said. “Reebs would be an outstanding candidate, he has the ideal package for the NRL CEO role. “John has a huge vision. He has a lot of experience dealing with media moguls, he’s been on the major events board of Melbourne for the last 10 years, he understands the game and has a passion for grassroots. “I accept the only problem is he has baggage from the Super League era and some people from that time might have lingering wounds. “But everyone has to forget about past baggage. We should get the best possible person to take us to the next level and I think John Ribot can do that with his skill set.” Johns said Ribot has extensive experience in negotiating major deals and could deliver a palatable broadcasting deal for the NRL. “We need someone who can understand TV rights and John fits that bill,” he said. “Ultimately, they need to find the best possible person and if that means looking overseas for the best candidate, so be it. “John has the right mix of rugby league and business acumen and it’s important to have the latter so we don’t get knocked off again by the AFL on the TV rights deal.” Queensland Rugby League managing director Rob Moore said the code needed another businessman like Smith to run the game, rather than reverting to a rugby league administration veteran. Moore, who ruled himself out of the running for the NRL chief executive role, said there were enough league minds in the game. “We need people with business acumen in those positions and Dave brought that,” Moore said. “You could argue we need a person who has knowledge of the game but I debate that sometimes. “I expect we will have an opportunity to talk to the consultants and provide our thoughts and what we would like to see. “There are enough people employed in the game with football minds. We need more people in the game who understand business.”Donald Trump railed against several of his Republican primary opponents on Wednesday night for declining to endorse him in the general election, going so far as to suggest "they should never be allowed to run for public office again." "I have guys out there and if you really think about it, they're really sore losers," Trump told supporters during a campaign rally in Bangor, Maine. Trump was referring to at least seven GOP presidential hopefuls who signed a loyalty pledge to support their party's presidential nominee and have since declined to do so. Such candidates include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, businesswoman Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. "It was a rough campaign," he conceded. "They say it was the roughest campaign ever in the history of Republican politics, but what you do is you go to sleep for a couple of days and you wake up and you honor [the pledge]." The presumptive Republican nominee continued, claiming that he considered the pledge to be "legally binding" and assuring his supporters that he would have honored it had Kasich, Cruz or any other GOP candidate clinched the nomination instead. "There are people I don't like or particularly respect on that stage, but I would have honored it," Trump said. "I wouldn't have gone crazy, yelling it from the loudest building." Trump himself routinely changed his position on the pledge during the primary, threatening more than once to leave the Republican party and launch an indepedent bid. "But you know what, we have people who haven't honored the pledge and that's a terrible thing," he told the crowd. "They signed a pledge saying they will abide, they will back the candidate of the party and now they sit back and... they broke their word." "In my opinion, they should never be allowed to run for public office again because what they did is disgraceful," he later added. Some of the billionaire's former opponents have said that in addition to declining to endorse Trump, they will not attend next month's GOP convention.... The deployment of the Iksander-M tactical ballistic missile system in Syria has been confirmed by an online Russian military portal. On September 5, a specialized web resource on the Russian military, Military Russian, published commercial satellite photography of the Hmeimim airbase which showed two Iskander-M missiles located inside the base. Earlier this year, military analysts using satellite imagery, were able to confirm the rumors of the deployment at the Kweiris airbase east of the city of Aleppo, of the S-200 air defense system. Additionally, commercial satellite imagery helped locate and identify a base operated by the United States, near the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani). Reports of the deployment of the 9K720 Iksander-M system periodically appeared in the media since the beginning of 2016, but without photographic or video evidence. On March 14, the website Miltiary Informant reported that the Russian military conducted a redeployment of missiles of unknown type at the Hmeymim airbase. It was noted that during the night, two military transport aircraft unloaded military equipment under strictly secretive conditions. The report said that combat vehicles were covered with an awning, which prevented accurate identification of the type and purpose of equipment. On March 30, Turkish media reported that Ankara was concerned about the deployment of the ballistic missile system – and instructed that “command and control centers are removed from the potentially affected area.” On June 9, earlier this year, radical opposition militants reported that during their transit via Syria’s Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, a powerful explosion rocked the area – the result of an Iksander-M missile. The crossing located 50 km west of Aleppo was, according to sources in the Syrian Ministry of Defense, hit by a OTR-21 Tochka missile – targeting a convoy of weapons and ammunition from Turkey. The Iskander-M used by Russian military carries two tactical ballistic missiles that are designed to penetrate ground-based missile defense systems and reportedly has a range of up to 500km. It can be armed with sub-munition warheads that allow it to destroy dispersed targets. The Iksander-M carries a warhead of 710–800 kg. The 9K720 Iskander-M was designed by the Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM) in 1990 and brough into service by the Russian military in 2006.to replace the obsolete 9K79 Tochka system. The launch of a missile is difficult to prevent – it can be controlled throughout the flight path and can be targeted in a matter of seconds. Photo: TASSTake the case of Malegaon, for instance. The share of Muslims has gone up from 67.4 percent in 1981 to 79.0 percent in 2011. In Bhiwandi, it has risen from 50.7 to 56.0 percent in the course of the last decade alone, a jump of more than five percent. In Greater Mumbai, their share has increased from less than 13 percent in 1961 to nearly 21 percent now. In Thane, there has been an even more spectacular rise from 4.3 percent in 1951 to 12.3 percent in 2011. During the same period, their share has risen from 10.5 to 16.6 percent in Akola (including Washim) and from 9.6 to 14.6 percent in Amravati. In Nashik, the rise is from 6.3 to 11.4 percent and, in the Aurangabad-Jalna-Prabhani-Hingoli part of Marathwada, their share has gone up from 12.7 to 17.2 percent. The share of Buddhists has been slowly declining since independence. Millions of lower caste Hindus had converted to Buddhism at the time of Independence, heeding the call by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. At the time, the number of Buddhists in Maharashtra had increased from less than 25 lakh to around 2.8 crore. Currently, their population has come down to 65 lakh. Advertisement Goa Goa’s total population is 14.58 lakh. Of these, 66 percent are Hindus, 25 percent Christians and more than eight percent are Muslims. In North Goa, 76 percent of the populace is Hindu, 16.4 percent Christians and seven percent Muslim while there are 53.3 percent Hindus, 36.2 percent Christians and 10 percent Muslims in South Goa. One peculiar phenomenon to note here is that the share of Indian religionists (Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, etc) has actually seen an accretion in Goa. Their share was only 44 percent in 1910. It has reached 66.6 percent now. While their share saw a jump of 16 percent from 1910 to 1961, it has only increased by four percent since then. From 1961 onwards, the presence of Muslims has grown rapidly. They have gained 6.5 percentage points in their share in the five decades between 1961 and 2011. On the other hand, the share of Christians has declined from 55 percent in 1900 to 25 percent now. Here’s what the composition of Muslims and Christians looks like in the state, according to the latest census:Microsoft has a major hole in its Windows 7 strategy. It doesn't support custom-built applications made to run on the company's aging Internet Explorer 6, but now some former employees think they've got a solution. The startup is named Browsium, and its first product is named UniBrows, which the company says will run those IE6 apps on IE7 or IE8 on Windows 7. UniBrows v1 became generally available Tuesday. Even today, nearly ten years after its first release, a lot of corporate IT organizations are still supporting internal-facing IE6 applications that are critical to their users, but they lack the resources to replace or rewrite them to run on more "modern" browsers, such as Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) just-launched IE9. The fact, however, that many of those customized applications won't run properly or at all on more recent browsers is creating a serious problem for Microsoft. In places where there are a lot of IE6 applications in use, some of those organizations are putting off upgrading to Windows 7. Besides the fact that those unmigrated users represent money left on the table to Microsoft, it also means those users are, in a way, stuck in the past with a future support nightmare looming. Microsoft has repeatedly implored users and IT professionals still running Windows XP, which came with IE6, to move forward in order to get the pain over with. That has not been completely convincing, though. "Since businesses are being forced to move to Windows 7 and IE8 (and soon IE9), they are faced with either bearing the extraordinary cost and time of rewriting those line of business applications, which may not even be practical, or having to use complex and expensive virtualization options," a statement on Browsium's website said. In fact, even this week, more than 11 percent of users on the Web are still running IE6. Meanwhile, IE8 holds a 35 percent share, and IE7 has 8 percent, according to the latest figures from Web analytics firm Net Applications. Browsium is located in Redmond, Wash., not far from Microsoft's main campus, and several of those working there are former Microsoft employees. "UniBrows eliminates all of the pain points for companies who are stuck on IE6, and would love to move to IE8 and Windows 7," Matt Heller, founder and CEO of Browsium, and a developer who worked on IE at Microsoft, said in a statement. The company claims it has developed a way to handle IE6's quirks that does not use virtualization. "UniBrows solves [the compatibility] problems via an IE8 add-on that enables IE6 web applications to run in an IE8 tab, enabling enterprises to upgrade PCs to Windows 7 while keeping their legacy IE6 applications running unmodified," the Browsium statement said. Further, UniBrows is compatible with all IE6 Web applications, and is completely transparent to users. "UniBrows delivers complete IE6 functionality and behaviors by using the original, native IE6 rendering, JavaScript, ActiveX and security design," the company statement said. The company will license UniBrows to enterprises with between 5,000 and 50,000 PCs. A sample license would cost a basic $5,000 fee plus $5 per seat. Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals. Follow him on Twitter @stuartj1000.War memorials and museums are temples to the god of war. The hushed voices, the well-tended grass, the flapping of the flags allow us to ignore how and why our young died. They hide the futility and waste of war. They sanitize the savage instruments of death that turn young soldiers and Marines into killers, and small villages in Vietnam or Afghanistan or Iraq into hellish bonfires. There are no images in these memorials of men or women with their guts hanging out of their bellies, screaming pathetically for their mothers. We do not see mangled corpses being shoved in body bags. There are no sights of children burned beyond recognition or moaning in horrible pain. There are no blind and deformed wrecks of human beings limping through life. War, by the time it is collectively remembered, is glorified and heavily censored. I blame our war memorials and museums, our popular war films and books, for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as much as George W. Bush. They provide the mental images and historical references to justify new conflicts. We equate Saddam Hussein with Adolf Hitler. We see al-Qaida as a representation of Nazi evil. We view ourselves as eternal liberators. These plastic representations of war reconfigure the past in light of the present. War memorials and romantic depictions of war are the social and moral props used to create the psychological conditions to wage new wars. War memorials are quiet, still, reverential and tasteful. And, like church, such sanctuaries are important, but they allow us to forget that these men and women were used and often betrayed by those who led the nation into war. The memorials do not tell us that some always grow rich from large-scale human suffering. They do not explain that politicians play the great games of world power and stoke fear for their own advancement. They forget that young men and women in uniform are pawns in the hands of cynics, something Pat Tillman’s family sadly discovered. They do not expose the ignorance, raw ambition and greed that are the engine of war. There is a burning need, one seen in the collective memory that has grown up around World War II and the Holocaust, to turn the horror of mass murder into a tribute to the triumph of the human spirit. The reality is too unpalatable. The human need to make sense of slaughter, to give it a grandeur it does not possess, permits the guilty to go free. The war makers — those who make the war but never pay the price of war — live among us. They pen thick memoirs that give sage advice. They are our elder statesmen, our war criminals. Henry Kissinger. Robert McNamara. Dick Cheney. George W. Bush. Any honest war memorial would have these statesmen hanging in effigy. Any honest democracy would place them behind bars. Primo Levi, who survived Auschwitz, fought against the mendacity of collective memory until he took his own life. He railed against the human need to mask the truth of the Holocaust and war by giving it a false, moral narrative. He wrote that the contemporary history of the Third Reich could be “reread as a war against memory, an Orwellian falsification of memory, falsification of reality, negation of reality.” He wondered if “we who have returned” have “been able to understand and make others understand our experience.” He wrote of the Jewish collaborator Chaim Rumkowski, who ran the Lodz ghetto on behalf of the Nazis, that “we are all mirrored in Rumkowski, his ambiguity is ours, it is our second nature, we hybrids molded from clay and spirit. His fever is ours, the fever of Western civilization that ‘descends into hell with trumpets and drums.’ ” We, like Rumkowski, “come to terms with power, forgetting that we are all in the ghetto, that the ghetto is walled in, that outside the ghetto reign the lords of death, and that close by the train is waiting.” We are, Levi understood, perpetually imprisoned within the madness of self-destruction. The rage of Cindy Sheehan, who lost her son Casey in Iraq, is a rage Levi felt. But it is a rage most of us do not understand. A war memorial that attempted to depict the reality of war would be too subversive. It would condemn us and our capacity for evil. It would show that the line between the victim and the victimizer is razor-thin, that human beings, when the restraints are cut, are intoxicated by mass killing, and that war, rather than being noble, heroic and glorious, obliterates all that is tender, decent and kind. It would tell us that the celebration of national greatness is the celebration of our technological capacity to kill. It would warn us that war is always morally depraved, that even in “good” wars such as World War II all can become war criminals. We dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Nazis ran the death camps. But this narrative of war is unsettling. It does not create a collective memory that serves the interests of those who wage war and permit us to wallow in self-exaltation. There are times — World War II and the Serb assault on Bosnia would be examples — when a population is pushed into a war. There are times when a nation must ingest the poison of violence to survive. But this violence always deforms and maims those who use it. My uncle, who drank himself to death in a trailer in Maine, fought for four years in the South Pacific during World War II. He and the soldiers in his unit never bothered taking Japanese prisoners. The detritus of war, the old cannons and artillery pieces rolled out to stand near memorials, were curious and alluring objects in my childhood. But these displays angered my father, a Presbyterian minister who was in North Africa as an Army sergeant during World War II. The lifeless, clean and neat displays of weapons and puppets in uniforms were being used, he said, to purge the reality of war. These memorials sanctified violence. They turned the instruments of violence — the tanks, machine guns, rifles and airplanes — into an aesthetic of death. These memorials, while they pay homage to those who made “the ultimate sacrifice,” dignify slaughter. They perpetuate the old lie of honor and glory. They set the ground for the next inferno. The myth of war manufactures a collective memory that ennobles the next war. The intimate, personal experience of violence turns those who return from war into internal exiles. They cannot compete against the power of the myth. This collective memory saturates the culture, but it is “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Chris Hedges, whose column is published on Truthdig every Monday, spent two decades as a foreign reporter covering wars in Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He has written nine books, including “Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle” (2009) and “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” (2003).So here's what we do: We all make our own “Fitna” movies. As many as possible. (see also: Fitna.nu He is scared of aliens and especially of muslim aliens. He attracts votes of people that are scared of Islam too. To get more votes, he tries to scare more people. And now he's suggesting to release a movie called “Fitna” that's radically critical towards islam. This hits an open nerve in Dutch media of course. We all remember how our favourite asshole cinematographer Theo was slaughtered like a pig in the street after making “Submission” with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Only by implication, this artificially blonde embarrassment claims death defying heroism! It is sooo embarrassing to be Dutch some times. I’m sorry. Why? Well we can't stop Wilders. He has a right to freedom of expression and he is smart enough to stay within the boundaries of Dutch law. Actually, we do not want to stop his movie because we cherish our freedom of expression. Even stupid populist politicians have fundamental rights. Especially they! We can compete for attention however. And we can produce disinformation. So we are going to make Movies called “Fitna” in which we apologise for Geert Wilders embarrassing behaviour. We will make so many of them that it will be hard to find the movie by Wilders without finding lots of movies apologising for it. Just to let the world (and ourselves) know that allowing confused people to speak does not mean that we agree with what they say. Sorry. So if you want to join in; just make your own Fitna movie and put it on line. Put on a blonde wig, look cross eyed and say you’re sorry. Film it with you telephone or camera. Then, publish it on line as many times as you can, Youtube, Hyves, Myspace any place. Call it Fitna by Geert Wilders. Add any statement that you like to. Link to your movie and to other movies you like from your blogs and websites. Sorry! Let’s smother this Wilders in our apologies. If we work hard enough, no one will be able to find his crap among all the noise we produce. And the world knows how we feel about Wilders and his opportunism. WE’RE SORRY! And we are proud to live in a country where we have all inherited freedom of speech. Lets cherish it. Let's defend Wilders' rights to his opinions and to his ways of making politics! Remember that Bento Spinoza, one of earliest of the great thinkers about religion and free speech, was ousted by his community of religious immigrants. His zealot family was tolerated here in the Low Lands and Spinoza was tolerated here too. More than 3 centuries of preciously negotiated tolerance. That is a very big treasure! Go to YouTube and get inspired by several "Fitna" movies! Sorry... this film was removed by YouTube 'due to terms of use violation'. Copyright on the portrait? Therefore, don't use the real portrait of Wilders but make up your own. And have a look at the film anyway click here!John Pilger details the war in Palestine through interviews of Palestinian and Israelis. It details the progress of peace and the strategies and policies at work on both sides of the issue by Debbie Menon Watch the program by John Pilger Source of John Pilger’s Film: gisfilms.org John Pilger, renowned investigative journalist and documentary film-maker, is one of only two journalists to have twice won British journalism’s top award; his documentaries have won academy awards in both the UK and the US. In a New Statesman survey of the 50 heroes of our time, Pilger came fourth behind Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. Countries that support the recognition of a Palestinian state: A partial listing of the Ayes, as of July 2011… # Name Date of recognition Algeria 15 November 1988 Bahrain 15 November 1988 Iraq 15 November 1988 Kuwait 15 November 1988 Libya 15 November 1988 Malaysia 15 November 1988 Mauritania15 November 1988 Morocco 15 November 1988 Somalia 15 November 1988
, if only the minimum. Many home equity lines require only the payment of interest for the first 10 years. Continue reading... --- Levitin spells out the problem... Video - Georgetown Law Professor Adam Levitin Start watching at 1:35, though the bomb from Levitin comes near the end... "If they started writing off their second-lien mortgages, they would have no capital left. They would be insolvent." He mentions Citigroup (nyse:C), JP Morgan (nyse:jpm), Bank of America (nyse:BAC), and Wells Fargo (nyse:wfc) by name. Though it's nice to hear the truth leak out in front of a small Congressional committee, this is nothing new to Daily Bail readers. Bill Black made the case here: --- Quotes from Levitin's testimony before Congress... "It is important to emphasize that junk fees on homeowners ultimately come out of the pocket of MBS investors. If the homeowner lacks sufficient equity in the property to cover the amount owed on the loan, including junk fees, then there is a deficiency from the foreclosure sale. As many mortgages are legally or functionally non-recourse, this means that the deficiency cannot be collected from the homeowner’s other assets. Mortgage servicers recover their expenses off the top in foreclosure sales, before MBS investors are paid. Therefore, when a servicer lards on illegal fees in a foreclosure, it is stealing from investors such as pension plans and the US government. Many foreclosure complaints are facially defective and should be dismissed because they fail to attach the note. I have recently examined a small sample of foreclosure cases filed in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh and environs) in May 2010. In over 60% of those foreclosure filings, the complaint failed to include a copy of the note. Failure to attach the note appears to be routine practice for some of the foreclosure mill law firms, including two that handle all of Bank of America’s foreclosures. Recently, arguments have been raised in foreclosure litigation about whether the notes and mortgages were in fact properly transferred to the securitization trusts. This is a critical issue because the trust has standing to foreclose if, and only if it is the mortgagee. If the notes and mortgages were not transferred to the trust, then the trust lacks standing to foreclose." DB here. We played a game of roulette in the 1980s when all of our large money-center banks were technically insolvent due to Latin American exposure, and most sloggged their way back to solvency over the the next 10 years. The difference this time is simple - LEVERAGE. Paulson's 2004 SEC-enhanced gift of unlimited leverage for the 5 largest investment banks changed the game.(05/09/16) - Two black Michigan State Police troopers who won a $5.2 million racial discrimination lawsuit in 2013 are suing again, saying they've faced retaliation. The Detroit Free Press reports (http://on.freep.com/2775mMo) Darzeil Hall says he's been subjected to petty and personal attacks, a lowered performance review score and two baseless internal investigations. Lamarr Johnson says he's been unfairly denied promotion attempts. The troopers are based in the Detroit area. Since 2014, their attorney Leonard Mungo has filed eight lawsuits in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of troopers who say they were treated unfairly and that race or gender was the motivating factor. State police director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue says she strongly rejects "unconfirmed allegations" and says state police wouldn't discriminate or retaliate. The agency is appealing the 2013 verdict. ___ Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)Haskell Design Patterns:.Extended Modules Published on January 20, 2015 under the tag A clean way of extending third-party modulesPublished on January 20, 2015 under the tag haskell Introduction For a long time, I have wanted to write a series of blogposts about Design Patterns in Haskell. This never really worked out. It is hard to write about Design Patterns. First off, I have been writing Haskell for a long time, so mostly things feel natural and I do not really think about code in terms of Design Patterns. Additionaly, I think there is a very, very thin line between what we call “Design Patterns” and what we call “Common Sense”. Too much on one side of the line, and you sound like a complete idiot. Too much on the other side of the line, and you sound like a pretentious fool who needs five UML diagrams in order to write a 100-line program. However, in the last year, I have both been teaching more Haskell, and I have been reading even more code written by other people. The former made me think harder about why I do things, and the latter made me notice patterns I hadn’t thought of before, in particular if they were formulated in another way. This has given me a better insight into these patterns, so I hope to write a couple of blogposts like this over the next couple of months. We will see how it goes – I am not exactly a prolific blogger. The first blogpost deals with what I call.Extended Modules. While the general idea has probably been around for a while, the credit for this specific scheme goes to Bas van Dijk, Simon Meier, and Thomas Schilling. .Extended Modules: the problem This problem mainly resolves around organisation of code. Haskell allows for building complex applications out of small functions that compose well. Naturally, if you are building a large application, you end up with a lot of these small functions. Imagine we are building some web application, and we have a small function that takes a value and then sends it to the browser as JSON: The question is: where do we put this function? In small projects, these seem to inevitably end up inside the well-known Utils module. In larger, or more well-organised projects, it might end up in Foo.Web or Foo.Web.Utils. However, if we think outside of the box, and disregard dependency problems and libraries including every possible utility function one can write, it is clearer where this function should go: in Snap.Core. Putting it in Snap.Core is obviously not a solution – imagine the trouble library maintainers would have to deal with in order to include all these utility functions. The basic scheme The scheme we use to solve this is simple yet powerful: in our own application’s non-exposed modules list, we add Snap.Core.Extended. src/Snap/Core/Extended.hs : The important thing to notice here is the re-export of module Snap.Core. This means that, everywhere in our application, we can use import Snap.Core.Extended as a drop-in replacement for import Snap.Core. This also makes sharing code in a team easier. For example, say that you are looking for a catMaybes for Data.Vector. Before, I would have considered either defining this in a where clause, or locally as a non-exported function. This works for single-person projects, but not when different people are working on different modules: you end up with five implementations of this method, scattered throughout the codebase. With this scheme, however, it’s clear where to look for such a method: in Data.Vector.Extended. If it’s not there, you add it. Aside from utility functions, this scheme also works great for orphan instances. For example, if we want to serialize a HashMap k v by converting it to [(k, v)], we can add a Data.HashMap.Strict.Extended module. src/Data/HashMap/Strict/Extended.hs : A special case of these.Extended modules is Prelude.Extended. Since you will typically import Prelude.Extended into almost all modules in your application, it is a great way to add a bunch of (very) common imports from base, so import noise is reduced. This is, of course, quite subjective. Some might want to add a few specific functions to Prelude (as illustrated below), and others might prefer to add all of Control.Applicative, Data.List, Data.Maybe, and so on. src/Prelude/Extended.hs : Scaling up The basic scheme breaks once our application consists of several cabal packages. If we have a package acmecorp-web, which depends on acmecorp-core, we would have to expose Data.HashMap.Strict.Extended from acmecorp-core, which feels weird. A simple solution is to create an unordered-containers-extended package (which is not uploaded to the public Hackage for obvious reasons). Then, you can export Data.HashMap.Strict.Extended from there. This solution creates quite a lot of overhead. Having many modules is fine, since they are easy to manage – they are just files after all. Managing many packages, however, is harder: every package introduces a significant amount of overhead: for example, repos need to be maintained, and dependencies need to be managed explicitly in the cabal file. An alternative solution is to simply put all of these modules together in a hackage-extended package. This solves the maintenance overhead and still gives you a very clean module hierarchy. Conclusion After using this scheme for over year in a large, constantly evolving Haskell application, it is clear to me that this is a great way to organise and share code in a team. A side-effect of this scheme is that it becomes very convenient to consider some utility functions from these.Extended modules for inclusion in their respective libraries, since they all live in the same place. If they do get added, just remove the originals from hackage-extended, and the rest of your code doesn’t even break! Thanks to Alex Sayers for proofreading!Ruby Tuesday to Pay $100,000 to Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Chain Resolves 'Females-Only' Assignment to Coveted Resort EUGENE, Ore. - International restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday, Inc., will pay $100,000 and implement preventative measures to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The federal agency charged that Ruby Tuesday denied two male employees the opportunity to work as servers in the busy resort town of Park City, Utah in the summer of 2013. According to the EEOC's suit, Ruby Tuesday posted an internal announcement within a nine-state region for temporary summer positions with company-provided housing and the chance for greater earnings (Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah). However, the announcement stated that only females would be considered, purportedly because of concerns about housing employees of both genders together. Ruby Tuesday only selected women for those summer jobs, therefore blocking two male employees from transferring to the resort. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from giving more advantageous terms and conditions of employment to one group of individuals based on gender. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Ruby Tuesday, Inc., Case No. 6:15-cv-00109-MC) in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon after a neutral investigation led by EEOC Investigator Richard Hernandez and only after first attempting to reach a voluntary pre-litigation resolution through its conciliation process. Under the consent decree resolving the suit, Ruby Tuesday will pay employees Andrew Herrera and Joshua Bell a total of $100,000 and take steps to prevent future sex discrimination. The company will provide training to all of its managers and employees on Title VII and job assignments in the nine-state area covered by the EEOC's lawsuit for the duration of the three-year decree. This includes an estimated 1,600 managers and employees at 49 different locations. Ruby Tuesday will also report its training efforts to the EEOC, and post reminders of this resolution on its website and at its restaurants. "Ruby Tuesday will take affirmative steps to make sure its managers do not make gender-based employment decisions again, even if it only involves temporary summer assignments," said EEOC San Francisco Regional Attorney William R. Tamayo. "All managers and employees should know that making personnel decisions based on an employee's sex is rarely permitted under federal law." Seattle Field Office Director Nancy Sienko explained, "We hope that all employees of Ruby Tuesday will have the chance to work in Park City should the company have that need again, and that the company explores other ways to address genuine privacy concerns of temporary workers when it provides housing." According www.rubytuesday.com, Ruby Tuesday is a publicly traded company operating over 800 restaurants nationally and in 15 different foreign countries, with an estimated 34,000 employees. In 2013, the company reported gross revenue of $1.251 billion. The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.A group of common drugs used to treat allergies and other chronic health issues increase the risk of Alzheimers and dementia, according to a new study by the University of Indiana School of Medicine. The study also found that these drugs reduce the overall size of the brain as well as its metabolism if taken regularly. The drugs, known collectively as anticholinergics, are commonly prescribed for allergies, insomnia, hypertension, cardiac problems, and depression among others. Some of the most well-known brands in the US include Xanax, Zyrtec, Valium, Wellbutrin, Benadryl, Dramamine, Paxil, and Histex. You can see a comprehensive list of anticholinergic drugs implicated in this study by clicking here. This class of drugs blocks acetylcholine in the brain, an important neurotransmitter vital to normal brain function. In people with Alzheimers, there is always a lack of this neurotransmitter and, according to this study and others, these drugs worsen the condition or can provoke it. However, this study is not the first to find problems with anticholinergic drugs. A study in 2013 found that people who take these types of drugs showed a significant reduction in cognitive ability. Their risk of contracting Alzheimers also increased by more than 60%. This new study from the University of Indiana was the first to investigate the direct impact of these drugs on the human brain. 451 adults between 70 and 75 years old participated in the study and were all given MRIs in order to see the changes in the brain over time. They were also all given different tests of memory and cognition. The group that took these drugs for 2.5 years showed a significant decrease in brain size compared to their condition before the study began. A decrease in brain size and a reduction in brain metabolism became evident after only 2 months of regular use. They also received worse scores on the tests compared to the people who did not take anticholinergic drugs over the course of the study. Yet, the problem with these studies is that they only focus on the elderly. Many of these drugs are approved for the use of children and teenagers, whose brains are still developing. A lack of Acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter blocked by these drugs, can cause mood swings, attention deficit, and memory problems in children. It’s very possible that the widespread use of these drugs could be to blame for increases in the diagnoses of ADD and similar disorders in children. Could these drugs also be shrinking their brains and causing permanent damage? What other effects could these drugs have on a developing brain? Unfortunately, no one knows as no studies currently exist. However, these studies have definitively shown that these drugs damage the human brain and should be removed from the market or, at the very least, come with warnings on the box. If you or someone you know is taking any type of anticholinergic drug, you should consider talking with your doctor or naturopath and looking for an alternative that won’t shrink your brain. What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news! This article (Common Drugs, Including Benadryl And Xanax, Cause Brain Atrophy And Increase The Risk Of Alzheimers And Dementia) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.comFirefox has had support for Google's Safe Browsing since 2005 when it started as a stand-alone Firefox extension. At first it was only available in the USA, but it was opened up to the rest of the world in 2006 and moved to the Google Toolbar. It then got integrated directly into Firefox 2.0 before the public launch of the service in 2007. Many people seem confused by this phishing and malware protection system and while there is a pretty good explanation of how it works on our support site, it doesn't go into technical details. This will hopefully be of interest to those who have more questions about it. Browsing Protection The main part of the Safe Browsing system is the one that watches for bad URLs as you're browsing. Browsing protection currently protects users from: If a Firefox user attempts to visit one of these sites, a warning page will show up instead, which you can see for yourself here: The first two warnings can be toggled using the browser.safebrowsing.malware.enabled preference (in about:config ) whereas the last one is controlled by browser.safebrowsing.phishing.enabled. It would be too slow (and privacy-invasive) to contact a trusted server every time the browser wants to establish a connection with a web server. Instead, Firefox downloads a list of bad URLs every 30 minutes from the server ( browser.safebrowsing.provider.google.updateURL ) and does a lookup against its local database before displaying a page to the user. Downloading the entire list of sites flagged by Safe Browsing would be impractical due to its size so the following transformations are applied: each URL on the list is canonicalized, then hashed, of which only the first 32 bits of the hash are kept. The lists that are requested from the Safe Browsing server and used to flag pages as malware/unwanted or phishing can be found in urlclassifier.malwareTable and urlclassifier.phishTable respectively. If you want to see some debugging information in your terminal while Firefox is downloading updated lists, turn on browser.safebrowsing.debug. Once downloaded, the lists can be found in the cache directory: ~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/XXXX/safebrowsing/ on Linux on Linux ~/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/XXXX/safebrowsing/ on Mac on Mac C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\mozilla\firefox\profiles\XXXX\safebrowsing\ on Windows Resolving partial hash conflicts Because the Safe Browsing database only contains partial hashes, it is possible for a safe page to share the same 32-bit hash prefix as a bad page. Therefore when a URL matches the local list, the browser needs to know whether or not the rest of the hash matches the entry on the Safe Browsing list. In order resolve such conflicts, Firefox requests from the Safe Browsing server ( browser.safebrowsing.provider.google.gethashURL ) all of the hashes that start with the affected 32-bit prefix and adds these full-length hashes to its local database. Turn on browser.safebrowsing.debug to see some debugging information on the terminal while these "completion" requests are made. If the current URL doesn't match any of these full hashes, the load proceeds as normal. If it does match one of them, a warning interstitial page is shown and the load is canceled. Download Protection The second part of the Safe Browsing system protects users against malicious downloads. It was launched in 2011, implemented in Firefox 31 on Windows and enabled in Firefox 39 on Mac and Linux. It roughly works like this: Download the file. Check the main URL, referrer and redirect chain against a local blocklist ( urlclassifier.downloadBlockTable ) and block the download in case of a match. On Windows, if the binary is signed, check the signature against a local whitelist ( urlclassifier.downloadAllowTable ) of known good publishers and release the download if a match is found. If the file is not a binary file then release the download. Otherwise, send the binary file's metadata to the remote application reputation server ( browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.url ) and block the download if the server indicates that the file isn't safe. Blocked downloads can be unblocked by right-clicking on them in the download manager and selecting "Unblock". While the download protection feature is automatically disabled when malware protection ( browser.safebrowsing.malware.enabled ) is turned off, it can also be disabled independently via the browser.safebrowsing.downloads.enabled preference. Note that Step 5 is the only point at which any information about the download is shared with Google. That remote lookup can be suppressed via the browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.enabled preference for those users concerned about sending that metadata to a third party. Types of malware The original application reputation service would protect users against "dangerous" downloads, but it has recently been expanded to also warn users about unwanted software as well as software that's not commonly downloaded. These various warnings can be turned on and off in Firefox through the following preferences: browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_dangerous browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_dangerous_host browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_potentially_unwanted browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_uncommon and tested using Google's test page. If you want to see how often each "verdict" is returned by the server, you can have a look at the telemetry results for Firefox Beta. Privacy One of the most persistent misunderstandings about Safe Browsing is the idea that the browser needs to send all visited URLs to Google in order to verify whether or not they are safe. While this was an option in version 1 of the Safe Browsing protocol (as disclosed in their privacy policy at the time), support for this "enhanced mode" was removed in Firefox 3 and the version 1 server was decommissioned in late 2011 in favor of version 2 of the Safe Browsing API which doesn't offer this type of real-time lookup. Google explicitly states that the information collected as part of operating the Safe Browsing service "is only used to flag malicious activity and is never used anywhere else at Google" and that "Safe Browsing requests won't be associated with your Google Account". In addition, Firefox adds a few privacy protections: Query string parameters are stripped from URLs we check as part of the download protection feature. Cookies set by the Safe Browsing servers to protect the service from abuse are stored in a separate cookie jar so that they are not mixed with regular browsing/session cookies. When requesting complete hashes for a 32-bit prefix, Firefox throws in a number of extra "noise" entries to obfuscate the original URL further. On balance, we believe that most users will want to keep Safe Browsing enabled, but we also make it easy for users with particular needs to turn it off. Learn More If you want to learn more about how Safe Browsing works in Firefox, you can find all of the technical details on the Safe Browsing and Application Reputation pages of the Mozilla wiki or you can ask questions on our mailing list. Google provides some interesting statistics about what their systems detect in their transparency report and offers a tool to find out why a particular page has been blocked. Some information on how phishing sites are detected is also available on the Google Security blog, but for more detailed information about all parts of the Safe Browsing system, see the following papers:The NSW Minister for Lands and Water, Niall Blair, on Tuesday said: "Tours like this in the Belanglo State Forest are sick and disrespectful. Anja Habschied, of Germany, was one of seven victims in the backpacker murders. "I will be making sure even if this business does try to apply for a permit, these tours will not be going ahead." NSW Premier Mike Baird said he was surprised to hear about the tour and described it as "horrendous". "It's completely and utterly outrageous," he said. Fairfax Media on Monday approached Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres for comment, but he declined. The Belanglo tour was conducted on Saturday, July 11. Another had been scheduled for July 25. Sandra Auchterlonie – the grandmother of David Auchterlonie, who at 17 was lured into Belanglo State Forest on November 20, 2010, and tortured and killed with a double-sided axe – said she was disgusted by the tour concept. "It is a money-making tour at our expense," she said. "I can't stop people from running these ghost tours, but I think it's disgusting. They are taking advantage of our grief." Matthew Milat, the great nephew of serial backpacker murderer Ivan Milat, was jailed for Auchterlonie's murder, which he committed just weeks before his 18th birthday. The new Goulburn Ghost Tour was billed as an extreme terror tour with tickets priced at $150 per person. The online promotion says, "Come with us to Belanglo where Ivan Milat buried the bodies of his victims." The chief executive officer of the Victims of Crime Assistance League NSW, Robyn Cotterell-Jones, said the Belanglo tour would impact on families of murder victims more widely. "It will be greeted with revulsion and disgust with people who would like a bit more respect for their own suffering," she said. "While human beings seem fascinated by the macabre and frightening, for the families of victims, the impact of the death of their loved ones is never ended. For them, to hear people are using places of such horror for their amusement and profit is obviously going to cause scars to be ripped open again." The head of the backpacker taskforce, Clive Small, said he could understand the concerns of the victims of crime group and public curiosity in the site. "I can understand the public interest in the matter and in a sense the public curiosity that still exists," he said. "But it has to be dealt with sensitively to take into account the families of the victims and other murder victims who would be reminded of their pain." The manager of the Goulburn Ghost Tour, Louise Edwards, said the new tour was run with sensitivity. She said each of the Milat victims are named along with the dates they went missing. "Lots of people know about Ivan Milat, but not about the people he murdered," Ms Edwards said. "We wanted to remind people that the victims are real people. They are not just victims of Ivan Milat. They are more than that. "We don't want people to forget about them."Donald Trump Donald John TrumpREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails Trump urges North Korea to denuclearize ahead of summit Venezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump MORE continued bashing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Wednesday, calling her a "disgrace" as he acknowledged questioning her mental capacity. Trump has been on the warpath against the justice since she — to the surprise of many — openly fretted about the idea of him serving in the White House on Friday and suggested fleeing the country in a Sunday New York Times interview. In response, Trump tweeted that Ginsburg should resign. He followed up during a Wednesday evening interview on Fox News. Justice Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot - resign! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2016 ADVERTISEMENT "She's a disgrace to the Supreme Court. For her to politicize the Supreme Court, this is all the more reason I hope I win, because I have 11 justices who are incredible justices, highly respected by all, including liberal people,” he said on “Special Report,” referring to his list of possible Supreme Court picks he released in May. “For her to come out and say [these] kind of things, there's almost something wrong with her," Trump added. When asked by Fox News’s Brett Baier if he was questioning Ginsburg’s mental capacity, a reference to his tweet earlier Wednesday, Trump said yes. "Yes, I think I am. I think I am questioning her mental capacity." GOP lawmakers have laid into the liberal-leaning justice for her comments, with Sen. Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway LeePush to end U.S. support for Saudi war hits Senate setback The Hill's Morning Report — Emergency declaration to test GOP loyalty to Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump escalates fight with NY Times MORE (R-Utah) questioning whether she’ll have to recuse herself from future cases if they involve Trump or his possible administration. But Democrats have rushed to her aid, arguing that she has a right to speak her mind.It is still early to talk about the extension of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil output cut deal as it is necessary to look at the results, which have been achieved so far, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo said. HOUSTON (Sputnik) — Last November in Vienna, the 14 members of the OPEC cartel agreed upon a deal to cut production as of January 1 by about 1.2 million barrels per day, or about 4.5 percent of production, to 32.5 million barrels per day. "It's very premature at the moment. When we meet in May, we'll be able to look at the numbers and see… to what extent we have achieved all," Barkindo told reporters during the CERAWeek energy conference in the US city of Houston. © AP Photo / Pat Sullivan Russia to Discuss Moscow’s Role in Current Energy Situation at CERAWeek According to a recent OPEC report, world oil supply fell by over one million barrels per day in January, averaging at 95.75 million barrels per day. In November 2016, the OPEC states reached an agreement to cut oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day for the first half of 2017 to support the global oil prices. The accord was also supported by 11 non-cartel states, including Russia and Kazakhstan, which had joined the deal promising to reduce their oil output by 558,000 barrels per day. The deal was reached for a six-month period with a possibility to extend it. According to the OPEC's monthly report made in February, the global oil production reduced by more than 1 million barrels per day in January, however, the output was still higher than the average one of 2016.Deep in the list of taxes that the president's Obamacare plan will hit Americans with is a 40 percent excise tax on health plans typical union members have, especially in Midwest states, according to a new analysis. The Obamacare tax won't take place until 2018, but when it does it will smack high cost, or so-called "Cadillac" health insurance plans, according to the group Americans for Tax Reform. "This tax will most directly affect union families and early retirees, who are likely to be covered by such plans," said ATR in a review of upcoming tax cuts in the health reform package set to go into effect in January. It will target plans whose premiums exceed exceed $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family. "Middle class union members tend to be covered by such plans in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan," said ATR. Unsaid: Many more people are likely to be hit if insurance firms raise premiums by up to 400 percent after Obamacare kicks in. A House report provided to Secrets said that 17 major insurers said the average premium increase will be 100 percent and others could top 400 percent. ATR also warned that Americans participating in flexible spending accounts at work will no longer be able to put away whatever they want, thereby cutting their tax bill. The cap will be $2,500 a year, resulting in a $13 billion tax bill over the next 10 years for those who used to put away more than $2,500.“Electronic cigarettes could 'damage your lungs' as they cause less oxygen to be absorbed by the blood,” reports the Daily Mail. The news is based on a press release of preliminary findings of a small study investigating the short-term effects of smoking an ‘e-cigarette’, commonly known as ‘vaping’. The study looked at the lung function of non-smokers and smokers with and without lung conditions. According to the press release, researchers found that ‘smoking’ a single e-cigarette for 10 minutes caused an increase in airway resistance, blocking the air getting into and out of the lungs. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices that mimic real cigarettes. They deliver nicotine through vapour rather than smoke. This method is thought to be potentially less harmful than smoking tobacco. Importantly, e-cigarettes are not regulated medicines so the ingredients and amount of nicotine contained within each e-cigarette may vary. The government’s medicines watchdog will decide next year whether to introduce stricter checks on e-cigarettes. Limited conclusions can be drawn from the preliminary findings of this small study. The current press release suggests that the study adds weight to the growing evidence of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. There are far more well-established methods that can help you quit smoking, such as nicotine patches, gum and inhalers (collectively known as nicotine replacement therapy or NRT). To order a free NHS QuitKit, visit the NHS Smokefree website. The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Athens in Greece. Sources of funding were not reported. This story is based on a press release and conference abstract (a short summary of the findings) from the European Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress in Vienna in September 2012 presenting the initial findings of a study on e-cigarettes. The study has not yet been published in a journal, and therefore has not been subjected to the peer-review process so findings reported should be treated with some caution. With only the press release available it is not possible to conduct a full appraisal of the design and methods of this study. The study is reported to have included 32 people and investigated the short-term effects of a single e-cigarette on their respiratory function. From the press release it appears that this may be the earliest phase of a clinical trial, a phase 1 trial. These usually include small groups of people who all receive a small dose of the intervention in order to look primarily at its safety and effects on the body. Depending on the findings, phase 1 trials may be followed by further phase 2 trials looking at safety and effectiveness in larger groups of people. Finally, phase 3 trials may be conducted. These are randomised controlled trials which may compare the intervention to other standard treatment options. Researchers recruited to their study 32 people. Of these: Each participant smoked a single e-cigarette for 10 minutes and had their airway resistance measured using a number of different respiratory tests before and immediately afterwards. Respiratory tests carried out by the researchers included: The abstract did not include details of the type or brand of e-cigarette used in the research, nor did it include the chemical make-up of the product, such as the dosage of nicotine. According to the press release the main finding of the study was that smoking one e-cigarette for 10 minutes caused an immediate increase in airway resistance. This lasted for longer than 10 minutes in all of the 32 people, suggesting that air was not passing so easily through their airways. When looking at the particular groups included in the study the findings were: In discussing the study, one of the researchers, Professor Christine Gratziou said “we found an immediate rise in airway resistance in our group of participants, which suggests e-cigarettes can cause immediate harm after smoking the device”. She added that “more research is needed to understand whether this harm also has lasting effects in the long-term”. Professor Gratziou who is also Chairman of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Tobacco Control Committee also said, “the ERS recommends following effective smoking cessation treatment guidelines based on clinical evidence which do not advocate the use of such products”. Current treatment guidelines recommend the use of NRT, such as nicotine patches and gum. There are also two types of medication, Zyban (bupropion) and Champix (varenicline), that can help people quit smoking. The preliminary findings of this small study suggest the potential harmful effects of e-cigarettes on a person’s lung function. However, limited conclusions can be drawn from this press release and conference abstract. Scientific research is often presented first at conferences. It gives researchers a chance to speak about their results and discuss them with their peers. However, the results they present are often preliminary, and don’t have to go through the same peer-review quality assurance process that is needed for publication in a journal. Also, as conference presentations are summarised in very brief “abstracts” for the public, very limited details are usually available on the study’s methods and results. This makes it difficult to judge the study’s strengths and limitations. However, the fact that the study included only 32 participants, all of whom were given a single e-cigarette in order to examine the effects upon lung function, suggests that this was the earliest stage of clinical research – a phase 1 trial. To draw further conclusions, larger studies will be required that include a large number of healthy participants as well as those with a range of lung conditions other than COPD and asthma. Also, according to the press release, each person’s respiratory function was only measured at two time intervals – before and immediately after the e-cigarette was used. Further studies would need to include longer follow-up and examine the effects of more than one e-cigarette in order to make any firm conclusions. Some of the research presented at conferences never makes it to full publication. This could be for a number of reasons. For example, initially promising findings may not be confirmed in further study, or the research may not be accepted by peer reviewers or journal editors. This doesn’t mean that all research presented at conferences isn’t reliable – just that it’s best to reserve judgement until the research has been completed and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Given the growing popularity of ‘vaping’ as a perceived ‘safer’ option than smoking, it is notable that the newspapers – some of which carry large advertisements for these products – are highlighting the potential dangers of these products. Read more about treatment and support to quit smoking. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on twitter.The staff of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge posted a lengthy open letter on Facebook early Wednesday, addressing the 19-day occupation of the refuge. The letter, addressed to "Our Friends, Partners, and the American Public," has garnered more than 2,950 likes, 1,725 shares and 225 comments on the social media platform, as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. The letter says the staff has not commented on the occupation partly because staff members "want to ensure our words do not inflame an already heated situation." It thanks supporters and says staff members "hope to be back soon and pick up where we left off." The letter notes, too, that staff members think the occupation "will lead to even stronger bonds between the Refuge and the community that has supported us." The full Facebook post is embedded below.
2016 Also... On a lighter note. I'm living for @RuPaulsDragRace top 4... THE WORLD NEEDS DRAG QUEENS 💗 — lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) May 4, 2016 They represent all the greatness that humanity is... Acceptance, change, and fierceness. — lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) May 4, 2016 BONUS: Not happy with a Trump presidency? Here's how to move to Canada Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.Using template files in Vim Vim templates or skeletons, allow you to specify a template to be used for new files with a certain extension. Table of contents Using templates in Vim The Vim philosophy encourages users to automate repeated actions and provides a rich toolkit with great documentation to achieve that. One example of this type of micro-optimisation is having a template or skeleton file that populates the vim buffer when a new file is opened. With just a few lines in the ~/.vimrc file it is possible to build a rich library of skeleton templates. There is no need to use a plugin and add a dependency overhead to your Vim configuration. Why is a skeleton file? A skeleton file is a template to scaffold the creation of new files. This means that whenever a new file is created a standard template is applied and applied to the Vim buffer. For a ruby file for example, the template may be an empty ruby class. The contents of the file are less important than the idea that for a specific file extension like.go or.js Vim can populate a new file with the contents of a template. Why use a skeleton file? It standardises an approach to writing a script It can include licence information It can be shared It can be managed in version control An example skeleton file A simple example is a shell script. Shell scripts should start with a shebang and often there is debate about the correct type of shebang for a bash script. My personal preference is to use #!/usr/bin/env bash To ensure that I remember to add this in a consistent way this is a perfect candidate for a skeleton file. The single line template is saved into ~/.vim/templates/skeleton.sh. You may wish to add license or usage information to this template. Populating new files To use a skeleton template when creating a new file the following will populate a new file with a.sh extension with the shell script template. if has("autocmd") augroup templates autocmd BufNewFile *.sh 0r ~/.vim/templates/skeleton.sh augroup END endif This can be explained as An if statement checks that the vim installation has the autocmd feature. A group is created called templates. . An autocmd is created to be run each time the “starting to edit a non-existent file” event happens (BufNewFile). If the file has a.sh extension read the contents of ~/.vim/templates/skeleton.sh and inserted it at line 0. Populating files without an extension Suppose that we have created a new bash script called backup. This will not use the template as there is no.sh extension. Because Vim can read a file from disk and write it into the buffer this is not a problem. In Vim simply read the file into the buffer. :read ~/.vim/templates/skeleton.sh Customise to your tastes Vim’s lightweight approach to templating is extremely flexible, comes with zero dependencies and can be integrated into your dotfiles. It ensures consistency of style either for your own scripts or can be used as part of a standardised approach for a team. For more see :help template. Have an update or suggestion for this article? You can edit it here and send me a pull request. Tags Recent PostsGet it? “Pushy” questions! Wit! Photo: PBS Downton Abbey returns in four days, and according to our critic Matt Zoller Seitz, everything is back in its proper place after having been flip-turned-upside-down during last year’s popular, if super-soapy, upswing. (If Matthew whines about dearest dead Lavinia one more time … ) However, before we move forward with the further adventures of the Crawley clan, there are three outstanding issues with the show that needed clearing up. To get some answers, we broke the rules of decorum and asked executive producer Gareth Neame to settle such nagging questions as why Americans must wait to see more episodes until the Brits have politely dined on them and retired to the drawing room, and just why things went all soapy last season. Why doesn’t Downton air simultaneously in the U.K. and U.S. (so that we may avoid horrible spoilers of the Christmas-ruining variety)? The producers took extra precautions to prevent the secrets and twists of season three from spilling; paparazzi-blocking security was added to location shoots, and scripts were marked with code names. So if Neame had his way, U.S. audiences would get to share in the first viewing. “In this day and age, it’s clearly ridiculous that people watch the show in England four months early and 1.5 million people in America go and watch it illegally,” he said. “If I were PBS and I had the biggest drama I’d ever had in my entire 40-year history, I would be sorting my schedules out to make sure I was airing it more quickly.” PBS didn’t shoot down the idea of airing future seasons of Downton earlier, but said “technical hurdles and financial considerations” have prevented it in the past. And by airing in January, PBS avoids having to compete with the glut of new shows that the broadcast networks premiere in the fall. “Obviously, spoilers and piracy are two key reasons supporting the case to air Downton Abbey closer to the U.K. broadcast,” a rep for Masterpiece told Vulture. “The conversation about scheduling will continue.” Why wasn’t season two as great as the first? Although it broke ratings records, the period drama took a beating from critics when it sent its carefully drawn characters whirling into daytime soap territory. Neame suspects viewers were just not ready to call the melodrama by its name. “I think a lot of people watched the first season and thought it was a stand-alone costume drama. I don’t think a lot of them realized they were watching a soap. Then in the second season, people went, ‘Hang on, this is a soap!’ and slightly objected to that,” he said. On the other hand, things got pretty loopy. As if the war wasn’t enough of a dramatic interloper, last season introduced his-and-her villains Sir Richard Carlisle and Mrs. Bates, teased the idea of Lord Grantham cheating on Cora, saw Matthew become paralyzed and then miraculously heal, and kept him and Mary largely apart with silly secondary love interests. “Of course, a thing like Matthew walking again or the disfigured guy who appears saying, ‘I am actually the long lost heir,’ is all soap opera stuff. It’s why we get massive ratings,” Neame said. “Those few areas we got criticism over ironically are precisely the very things that make it highly successful.” Still, season three scales back most of the histrionics and keeps story lines closer to home, like the arrival of Cora’s very American mother (Shirley MacLaine) and the family’s financial troubles raising the possibility of losing Downton. Why are key actors itching to bolt early? Why haven’t they been tied down to longer contracts? Unlike in the States, where actors are typically signed to six-year contracts, Brit TV initially just locks the cast in for three seasons. So when rumors began swirling that Dan Stevens did not want to stick around for season four — rumors that were confirmed last week — he wasn’t making an outrageous choice contractually like David Caruso bolting NYPD Blue early (or, to a lesser degree, Rob Lowe leaving The West Wing). And many in the cast have seen their careers skyrocket because of Downton’s success. Michelle Dockery is shooting the thriller Non-Stop opposite Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson, and Joanne Froggatt just filmed Filth with James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent. Some turnover is inevitable, Neame said. “Eventually, certain actors will want out of the show.” All producers can do is try to talk them into sticking around, and should a performer insist on leaving, as was the case with Stevens, then the team hunkers down to figure out how to make an exit work for the story. “You have to look at it this way,” Neame said, “when actors decide they want out of the show or they don’t want to renew, rather than sit there and cry about it, you have to see it as an opportunity and go for it.” Fellowes was given enough notice to write a big exit for this season’s departure.I was invited to Meta HQ to watch a live stream of Meron Gribetz, CEO & Founder of Meta reveal the next gen Meta product at TED. The Meta 2 or code-name ‘Galileo’ as we called it in the office for the last few years. Personally, I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I previously worked at Meta and although I can’t share everything I know about it just yet I can help answer a few questions and highlight just what Meta has shown and why it is so amazing. First off. The Display. I can’t give numbers on it yet, but I can tell you this is the biggest see-through display we have seen yet! The Meta 1 Developer Kit display was 23-35deg, similar to Hololens. This blows that out of the water. The display is my favourite part about the Meta 2. A FOV so large, that a wide angle camera is needed to capture it! It is large enough to render a life-sized human, a few feet in front of you. Awesome! This is a big jump over all other AR devices currently available. High Res display. Check out the quality here. And this is shot with a camera behind the meta 2 optic’s. No CG, it’s not even a screen grab (this is how most AR/VR products show off their content). It’s an actual photo! Resolution is another one of the biggest problems with all other AR devices available at the moment. Meron says all of his 100 employees will be using this as a monitor replacement before the end of the year. It’s coming. Early versions of this app above are currently avalibling in the Meta Dev Center open-source for developers. What does this new display mean for us devs? Now our apps we have been building are so much more usable! More room to play with, and a much better experience. The apps will be easier to use, and more appealing to a much larger audience. Interactions Gestural Interactions. Meta was already doing this much better than most other headsets out there, with more complex hand tracking. With the ease and precision in which Meron demoed on stage, I think it is fair to say some more exciting stuff is on its way. I don’t have much in terms of GIFs to show that off, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the TED video to be public for the stuff I really enjoyed in this department. Marker & Positional Tracking. Currently Meta’s tracking isn’t the greatest. It is usable for most applications. For those that require more advanced real-time tracking, it will work for building proof of concepts and you can do some hacks to make it much better. From what we have seen at TED, better tracking is definitely on its way. Currently Meta has three types of tracking. Developers have access to a very basic SLAM tracking, as of mid last year. It is best described as a demo of what is to come, rather than a useable tool right now. Surface tracking, which is markerless flat object tracking using the Depth Camera, IMU & color feed. This is pretty cool tech, Meta developed entirely in house. This will be even more valuable when combined with the SLAM tracking, although that is not currently possible. Marker Tracking based on the open-source April Tags, the most reliable and usable of the current Meta Tracking. But from their videos it looks like we can expect something much better to come. Meron’s vision has always been in Markerless tracking, to make UI easier, more natural and less cluttered. A fantastically ambitious goal, and something I hold a lot of respect for. Although, I do believe Markers have their place in the next few years and hopefully we will see some updates for them, or room to plug in our own. So far nothing has been said about how the tracking in the videos is done, but it is exciting nonetheless! Sleek design This is great for adoption for end users. The sensors are hidden, so people won’t be worried about cameras pointing in their faces. Of course, us devs just want the tech to work. Functionality is the key for us, but you can’t argue having it look nice too! Meta 2 is product #2! That says a lot in itself. Meta has an active developer community! We are publishing apps, making open source projects and Meta is engaging with us, through webinars, video tutorials, and more! Meta has made mistakes. Meta has run into the same problems as Hololens and worked through them. The most common problem being the FOV (Which is clearly fixed). What does this mean for us devs? Meta has stepped up its game with the Meta 2, and will hopefully have something out very soon. Something miles beyond the high price & small FOV of hololens, and hopefully comparable with its tracking. Although, tracking that comes from 10 years at NASA is going to be hard to beat. As for Magic Leap, who knows when they will show off their tech, and I’m sure further still until it’s in our hands. Regardless, for us developers it’s a win! Another step closer to allowing us to bring the technology we want to make! Comment any questions below or drop me a line at [email protected] Thanks to Upload VR for releasing some of the on stage live stream, and Robert Scobel for the picturesGrowth: For eight years, economic indicators repeatedly came below forecasts. Now, there's been a string of reports — the latest one is on jobs — that have outperformed economist predictions. What's changed, we wonder? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that the economy added 235,000 jobs in February, when economists expected 200,000 new jobs. And that comes after January's 227,000 gain, which also beat economists' forecasts by a substantial margin. That's not all. Other recent indicators have come in better than economists had expected. Orders for capital goods were higher in December than forecast. There were supposed to be 5.55 million existing-home sales in January. The actual number was close to 5.7 million — which was the highest level since 2007. Retail sales in January climbed 0.4%, where economists had predicted they'd advance only 0.1%. At the same time, the Commerce Department revised the December sales increase upward to 1%. Now, obviously we can't draw any broad conclusions from a few unexpectedly good economic results. But it's worth pointing out that this is a dramatic change from the Obama years, when about the only thing that you could predict with any degree of accuracy was that the economy would underperform economists' predictions. Month after month, sales figures, job creation, and a variety of other indicators would come in below forecast. Every year there were promises of solid growth, usually after a disappointing start, and every year ended with the economy missing economists' targets. In early 2011, for example, economists expected GDP to climb 3.1% for the year. The actual result was 1.6%. As we noted in this space recently, Obama's team of economists overestimated GDP growth every single year he was in office. And every time this happened, it was "unexpected." In fact, these "unexpected" disappointments became so common during the Obama years that the popular conservative blogger Instapundit turned it into a regularly recurring feature. So does President Trump deserve credit for these recent upbeat results or is this just economy finally getting over the Great Recession? Normally, we'd say no to the former, since Trump has yet to enact his economic agenda. But in this case, Trump's pro-growth agenda marks a dramatic turnaround from the Obama years. And as a direct result, a multitude of surveys have shown a huge increase in optimism among business owners, investors, and the public at large. The National Federation of Independent Business' small business optimism index hit a 12-year high in January. The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index was the highest it's been since October 2004. The Dow has gained nearly 17% since the November elections. This sudden change of heart appears to be having an immediate impact on the economy. The unexpected rise in home sales, for example, is being driven in part by "a postelection jump in mortgage rates, led by optimism about President Donald Trump's plans to ease regulations and spur economic growth," noted Crain's Business. The jump in capital goods orders "is a sign that businesses might be following up buoyant postelection sentiment by spending more after years of tepid global growth," according to Bloomberg. Whether this will last depends on whether Trump gets his economic policies in place. In the meantime, it's worth asking why it is that economists consistently overestimated the economic impact of Obama's tax-regulate-and-spend policies, and now appear to be underestimating Trump's pro-business agenda. RELATED: January's Jobs Jump: The Trump Economy Begins Outside The Beltway, It's Morning In America AgainPower is said to corrupt, and now experts have found individual people living in corrupt countries are also more likely to be dishonest. A study has revealed individual honesty tends to be greater in societies with low degrees of corruption, tax evasion and political fraud, and vice versa. While Austria, the Netherlands and the UK ranked highly for honesty in the research, Tanzania and Morocco, whose quality of institutions was marked as 'low', scored poorly. A study has shown individual honesty tends to be greater in societies with low degrees of corruption, tax evasion and political fraud, and vice versa. The four graphs above show 'corrupt' countries such as Morocco and Tanzania scored poorly, compared with more 'honest' countries such as the UK, Austria and Sweden Simon Gächter and his colleagues at the University of Nottingham came up with a 'prevalence of rule violations' (PRV) index to measure 159 countries. They used available data from 2003 on political fraud, tax evasion and corruption. They then conducted a die rolling experiment among 2,586 young people aged 22 on average from 23 representative countries, including Vietnam, Morocco, China, the UK, Spain, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic. The participants were too young to have influenced the index that drew on 2003 data. The 22-year-olds were each asked to roll a die in private and report the outcome. In the experiment, higher numbers translated to higher earnings and it was simple for participants to report inflated numbers for a small amount of extra money. The team discovered a 'robust link' between the prevalence of rule violations and intrinsic honesty. This means individuals from countries with a low incidence of rule breaking were found to be less likely to lie in order to get extra cash, compared from those from 'corrupt' countries. The study therefore suggests high exposure to rule breaking makes people more likely to stretch the truth. However, few individuals were either fully honest or dishonest in their manipulation of the numbers. The participants were each asked to roll a die in private (set up pictured) and report the outcome. In the experiment, higher numbers translated to higher earnings and it was simple for participants to report inflated numbers. The team discovered a 'robust link' between the prevalence of rule violations and intrinsic honesty The study suggests high exposure to rule breaking in countries where bribery is common, for example, makes people more likely to stretch the truth to gain more money. This chart shows the rankings. The higher the number in the 'Prevalence of Rule Violations' column, the more dishonest a country was, on average Dr Gächter told MailOnline: 'Even in the high corruption countries people are surprisingly honest in the sense that only a minority lie blatantly, although the incentive in the experiment are to lie maximally by claiming the highest amount possible irrespective of the die rolled. 'This behaviour is consistent with psychological theories of honesty that people care about honesty but sometimes stretch the truth a bit in a way to maintain an honest self-image and to benefit materially.' The study, published in the journal Nature concluded: 'The results are consistent with theories of the cultural co-evolution of institutions and values, and show that weak institutions and cultural legacies that generate rule violations not only have direct adverse economic consequences, but might also impair individual intrinsic honesty that is crucial for the smooth functioning of society.'Donald Trump’s presidency has already left its mark on the English language, according to lexicographers monitoring the most popular new vocabulary Donald Trump’s linguistic dexterity may be questionable, but the US president’s lexicon has had an impact on the English language, which is reflected in the latest additions to oxforddictionaries.com, the online reference guide to current English. New coinages that reflect the latest wave of online political activism form a significant section of more than 300 new definitions in the database, which is a sister work to the Oxford English Dictionary. Additions including “clicktivism” (a pejorative word for armchair activists on social media), “haterade” (excessive negativity, criticism, or resentment), “otherize” (view or treat – a person or group of people – as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself) and “herd mentality” (the tendency for people’s behaviour or beliefs to conform to those of the group to which they belong) all emerged during the 2016 battle for the White House, said head of content development Angus Stevenson. “We are getting a convergence of high-level politics and online language in quite a new way,” Stevenson said. “We had all the words around Brexit in the last update and we are now starting to see all the words around Trump coming into the dictionary.” Stevenson said that new terms from Trump, his supporters and opponents were emerging more rapidly than in the past. “We have lots to add all the time. We don’t have ‘fake news’ or ‘alternative fact’ this time, because they have just started gaining currency, but I am sure they will be in the next update,” he added. As well as political terms, public conversations about diet, fitness and gender were a strong influence on the words included in the latest update. “Superfruit”, a nutrient-rich fruit considered to be especially beneficial for health and wellbeing; HIIT, the acronym for high-intensity interval training; and “third gender”, a category of people who do not identify simply as male or female, all made it into the online database. Social media were the source for many of the new coinages, though most were the kind of compounds that would have language purists clutching their pearls. “Craptacular” (remarkably poor and disappointing), “bronde” (hair dyed both blond and brunette) and “fitspiration” (a person or thing that serves as motivation for someone to sustain or improve health and fitness) all made the cut. Stevenson said the need for brevity on Twitter was not responsible for rising numbers of compound words, but it had widened the pool of those inventing new terms. “People feel much freer to coin their own words these days,” he said, advising anyone who wished to make a permanent dent in the English language to make sure that their word sounded attractive. Citing the word “vlog”, he said ugly-sounding words tended not to gain very wide currency. He added: “They have to have a euphonious sound.” His favourite addition? “Aquafaba”: water in which chickpeas or other pulses have been cooked, used as a substitute for egg whites, particularly in vegan cooking. “As language nerds we were quite pleased by that because it is a compound of Latin words and sounds very nice,” he explained.Rob Ryan's fist-pumping on the sidelines wasn't the end of his celebration after yesterday's Saints win over the Dirty Birds. Once he got out of the Dome, the defensive coordinator wanted to let WhoDat Nation share in his postgame jubilation. Soon after the game ended Sunday, the Dude-apparent strode into legendary Uptown dive Ms. Mae's (4336 Magazine St.), and laid down enough cash for more than a few fists of post-game drinks. “When he walked in the whole bar clapped,” said Ms. Mae’s bartender Jason Matherne. While most of the team presumably partied downtown, Ryan made quite the splash at the 24-hour neighborhood bar, slapping down a Benjamin before heading out. “He put down 100 bucks and was like buy everybody a round and keep the change," Matherne said. Anyone who has seen the sun come up outside of Mrs. Mae’s knows $100 can buy a lot. "In here, that’s like a fortune,” said Matherne. The Saints hired Ryan, the son of Buddy Ryan and brother of Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan, to revamp a Black and Gold defense that surrendered yards like Mae's regulars down doubles. In addition to giving the team's defenders some much-needed confidence, it seems the former Dallas DC is already abiding the Crescent City. “We think it’s pretty cool that he’s so down to Earth. He comes in and gets Rolling Rock," Matherne said. "He doesn’t drink anything fancy. He drinks the cheapest beer we have,” said Matherne. Hopefully, we can keep the wins coming and drinks flowing. NoDef contacted the Saints PR Department for comment, but they did not respond by press time.It was a meeting last year between company President Jeremy Wellard, Peter Garcin and other members of the HB Studios development team that started it all. The team that had previously worked with EA Sports in the past on games like Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer and Tiger Woods PGA Tour was ready to get started working on the next Tiger Woods PGA title when they received word from Electronic Arts that the company wasn’t going to release a golf title in 2014. So, Wellard, Garcin and the rest of the Nova Scotia-based studio, filled with the urge to build a golf game, knew that the time was now to make a mark of their own in the sports gaming market. It was time to make a brand new, never-before-seen golf game for the, at the time, upcoming next-gen game consoles. That’s when The Golf Club was born. “We knew that there was an opportunity there do something a little different,” Garcin, the executive producer of The Golf Club, told Gamesided. “We were like, ‘well, you know, if we’re not going to be working on a golf game, and we’ve got some really cool ideas that we want to be able to explore, let’s do it ourselves’.” Players will start the game by selecting one character from a set to customize as their own unique looking avatar. The game won’t incorporate a roster of unique golfers for use or a highly detail character creator at launch, but Garcin did say that it’s something the team is looking at adding in an update after the game’s launch. Releasing on the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this spring,is being built using the Unity Engine that has seen an increase in popularity due to its ease of use for designers. Also heralded for its ease to design for are the next-gen systems from Microsoft and Sony which, Garcin says, allows the team to implement features that they couldn’t have on last-gen systems. “We have a lot more room to have a pretty detailed environment,” he said. “There is a lot more computing power and memory, so that helps us to realize some of the goals that we had – no loading times and a lot of procedurally-generated content.” When he says a lot of procedurally-generated content, Garcin means a lot. Imagine the classic PC game Sim Golf, and inject it with the best steroid a game could receive. That is what The Golf Club is. A game where players design the courses in the exact way, shape and form they please, and then play the course with whomever they chose. It could be by themselves or with hundreds of their closest friends. More on that part later. The game is being funded by the company itself which allows them to not have to work under a set production schedule aside from, as Garcin put it, a “get the game in a reasonable amount of time” schedule. They also have no affiliations or external stakeholders – at this time — of any kind to answer to in terms of what’s in the game, or how it’s developed. With no official affiliation with the PGA or any of the world’s golf courses and links, The Golf Club was able to be created without any major restrictions placed on the development team which allowed them to flex their creative muscles. In turn, that flexibility will allow the game to let the players flex their muscles as well in the form of one of the game’s biggest features, the course creator. Users will be able to create picturesque courses in any way they please. As mentioned before, the game is going to include a first of its kind course creator that will allow users to generate a random course ranging from one to 18 holes that will then be fully customizable. Everything from the number of trees on the course to the height of the greens can be adjust to your liking. The courses players create can then be uploaded and shared online for the world to play. And while many would expect only users on the same consoles to be able to play courses designed on that device, Garcin says the team wants to have cross-platform sharing so no one is left out in the cold. “There’s no technical reason that that’s not possible,” he said. “We’ve been designing around the idea that we should be able to do that. There are sometimes platform requirements that prohibit it, and it might not be as completely open, but I’d say that’s a goal we have. We will work as hard as we can to make that a reality.” The game will thrive on its user-created content as it will allow for unlimited, never repeating golfing experiences that will, hopefully, keep fans coming back months and months after the game’s launch. Another way the team at HB Studios plans on making sure that fans never get tired of what the game offers is by continually updating the game. By continually, Garcin doesn’t mean every eight to 12 months, he means within a few months after the game hits retail, HB wants to have an update out for the game. “It’s been kind of fire and forget, and you’ll get the next update next year (in the past) whereas we’re trying to basically completely change that model,” he said in regards to post release updates. “(We want to) move towards a more frequent update (schedule). “We’ve got a lot of stuff that we can’t necessarily get into version 1.0, but we will continually push updates into the community. That means adding new content to the course creator or even adding an entire mode into the game.” With the talk of post release updates, the obvious next question is whether or not the game will implement the ever controversial microtransactions. Garcin did say that the team doesn’t have any plans in place to charge users anything other than the original price of the game, but he left the door open to charging for updates should the update warrant it. HB Studios is determined to give players the most re-playable golf game ever released “There could be some really, really big update that seems like it’s a logical paid update,” he said before admitting the issue with paid updates. “There’s a problem with that when you have user-generated content where not everybody is out on the same playing field. So we want to try and maintain that playing field as much as we can.” The team hasn’t decided yet whether or not the game will be available via disc, digital or both as they are currently exploring both options to see what would be best. Despite that indecision, the current plan is to have early access testing for users before the release in order to work out the game’s kinks, and garner feedback from those who matter most: the players. “We’re looking at sort of a smaller controlled test just to kind of iron out some of the kinks and get the system in place so we can do a wider early access testing ahead of the release,” Garcin said. The plan is that with users getting some time in with the game before its release that there will be plenty of user-created courses available on day one of retail. However, in case the plans don’t work out that way, The Golf Club will ship with plenty of courses – upwards of 30 or more — already built so players can just jump right in. Of course, a sports title, especially a golf game, is nothing without the ability to play with friends. Well, HB Studios thought that through and will allow hundreds of players to play on the same course, at the same time. How is this possible? The Golf Club’s multiplayer mode runs asynchronously which allows players to just hop right in to a multiplayer game, and start teeing off. “You no longer have to wait for people to take their turns. You can start, then you can invite people to play and they can play with you live,” Garcin said. “You can actually see them teeing off at a different part of the course in the distance, and you can wait for them to catch up.” Players will be able to play with as many friends as they so choose in an no-waiting multiplayer tour or tournament. As far as how many players appear on the same scorecard, Garcin said that it’s limited simply by the amount of screen space for the names. Another unique aspect to the multiplayer facet of The Golf Club is the player’s ability to create his own tour. Due to the game’s lack of a “static set of courses” for people to play through, the 10 person development team came up with the idea that players can create their own golf tours, share them online, allow other players to join and play in their own tour. It’s a custom playlist of custom designed courses, so to speak. And don’t worry about multiplayer if you can’t connect to the internet, The Golf Club will support up to four players simultaneously on the same console or PC. While the team hasn’t decided on an actual launch date or price for the game, Garcin assures players that it is close to completion, and that the price, when decided on, will be “very attractive to people”.The Quebec government is facing backlash from politicians in Western Canada for seeking an injunction against TransCanada over its proposed Energy East pipeline. Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel told a news conference Tuesday he wants to ensure the company complies with the province's environmental laws. "Today's motion is very simple and very clear. It signifies that whoever seeks to build a project in Quebec must comply with all Quebec laws and regulations," Heurtel said. "This is not only a matter of respect, but equally a question of fairness towards all companies that wish to do business in Quebec." The $15.7-billion Energy East pipeline would carry 1.1 million barrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint John, serving domestic refineries and international customers. The announcement comes as TransCanada prepares for hearings at Quebec's environmental review board, known by its French acronym BAPE, next week. A coalition of Quebec environmental groups filed a court motion against the project for the same reasons two weeks ago. Provincial jurisdiction? The Quebec government had previously called on TransCanada to comply with its environmental regulations in letters sent to the company in 2014. "Unfortunately, we never received a response to these letters," Heurtel told the news conference. TransCanada has not replied to Quebec's requests for formal notice, saying Energy East is subject only to federal regulation. TransCanada Corp.'s proposed pipeline project would carry 1.1 million barrels a day from Alberta through Quebec to an export terminal in Saint John. (Canadian Press) On Tuesday, the company said it would participate in the province's environmental review board hearings. "We want to be as transparent as possible and this is what we are going to do next week at the BAPE," said Louis Bergeron, TransCanada's vice-president for New Brunswick and Quebec. Bergeron insists TransCanada is respecting Quebec laws. "That is exact," he said. "It's before the courts. There is interpretation. There are certain aspects I can't talk about, but it is a matter that is of federal jurisdiction under the auspices of the National Energy Board.'' 'Regional tensions' Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been critical of Quebec's opposition to the Energy East pipeline. (Mark Taylor/The Canadian Press) Heurtel said the injunction request shouldn't be perceived as a battle of "East versus West" or one that would pit one province against another. However, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, an outspoken critic of Quebec's resistance to the pipeline, was quick to criticize the injunction. He said Tuesday that Quebec doesn't have the authority to stop the project. "I'm very disappointed," Wall said of Quebec's decision to seek an injunction. "It seems of late that we seem to be forgetting what's best about Canada." Andrew Scheer, Conservative MP for Regina, echoed those sentiments, saying: "[Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau needs to stand by his promises and stand up to the political interference he claims to abhor." The leader of Alberta's Wildrose Party, Brian Jean, also came out swinging. "If Quebec wants to block our pipelines, they should send back the over $10 billion in equalization payments they are receiving this year alone and explain why they prefer Saudi and Nigerian oil over Canadian oil," Jean said in a statement. "As Albertans become increasingly worried about mounting job losses, these types of short-sighted political games will only increase regional tensions across Canada." Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel discusses his government's move to seek an injunction against the Energy East pipeline. 12:19 Notley strikes a different tone But one pipeline proponent struck a different tone in reaction to Quebec's decision to seek the injunction. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said Quebec appeared to be using the injunction to seek a review of the pipeline project, pointing out that Ontario had conducted a similar review recently under the auspices of its energy board. "It's not my view that this represents any significant change [in Quebec's position]," Notley said. She distanced herself from the "divisive name calling" approach taken by other western politicians. But while Notley acknowledged that Quebec has the right to undertake an environmental review, she also warned that the province shouldn't try to interfere with federal government jurisdiction. "That's where we run into a lot of problems," she said. "The NEB [National Energy Board] is the process that drives this." Common ground? With
1703 Güshi Khan's ruling grandson Tenzin Wangchuk Khan was murdered by his brother Lhazang Khan who usurped the Khoshut's Tibetan throne, but unlike his four predecessors he started interfering directly in Tibetan affairs in Lhasa; he opposed the Fifth Dalai Lama's regent, Desi Sangye Gyatso for his deceptions and in the same year, with the support of the Kangxi Emperor, he forced him out of office. Then in 1705, he used the Sixth's escapades as an excuse to seize full control of Tibet. Most Tibetans, though, still supported their Dalai Lama despite his behaviour and deeply resented Lhazang Khan's interference. When Lhazang was requested by the Tibetans to leave Lhasa politics to them and to retire to Kokonor like his predecessors, he quit the city, but only to gather his armies in order to return, capture Lhasa militarily and assume full political control of Tibet.[149] The regent was then murdered by Lhazang or his wife, and, in 1706 with the compliance of the Kangxi Emperor the Sixth Dalai Lama was deposed and arrested by Lhazang who considered him to be an impostor set up by the regent. Lhazang Khan, now acting as the only outright foreign ruler that Tibet had ever had, then sent him to Beijing under escort to appear before the emperor but he died mysteriously on the way near Lake Qinghai, ostensibly from illness.[150][151] Having discredited and deposed the Sixth Dalai Lama, whom he considered an impostor, and having removed the regent, Lhazang Khan pressed the Lhasa Gelugpa lamas to endorse a new Dalai Lama in Tsangyang Gyatso's place as the true incarnation of the Fifth. They eventually nominated one Pekar Dzinpa, a monk but also rumoured to be Lhazang's son,[152] and Lhazang had him installed as the'real' Sixth Dalai Lama, endorsed by the Panchen Lama and named Yeshe Gyatso in 1707.[153] This choice was in no way accepted by the Tibetan people, however, nor by Lhazang's princely Mongol rivals in Kokonor who resented his usurpation of the Khoshut Tibetan throne as well as his meddling in Tibetan affairs. The Kangxi Emperor concurred with them, after sending investigators, initially declining to recognise Yeshe Gyatso. He did recognise him in 1710, however, after sending a Qing official party to assist Lhazang in'restoring order'; these were the first Chinese representatives of any sort to officiate in Tibet.[151] At the same time, while this puppet 'Dalai Lama' had no political power, the Kangxi Emperor secured from Lhazang Khan in return for this support the promise of regular payments of tribute; this was the first time tribute had been paid to the Manchu by the Mongols in Tibet and the first overt acknowledgement of Qing supremacy over Mongol rule in Tibet.[154] The Kangxi Emperor ordered Lha-bzang Khan to arrest the 6th Dalai Lama and send him to Beijing. The 6th Dalai Lama died during the route to Beijing.[141] 7th Dalai Lama [ edit ] In 1708, in accordance with an indication given by the 6th Dalai Lama when quitting Lhasa a child called Kelzang Gyatso had been born at Lithang in eastern Tibet who was soon claimed by local Tibetans to be his incarnation. After going into hiding out of fear of Lhazang Khan, he was installed in Lithang monastery. Along with some of the Kokonor Mongol princes, rivals of Lhazang, in defiance of the situation in Lhasa the Tibetans of Kham duly recognised him as the Seventh Dalai Lama in 1712, retaining his birth-name of Kelzang Gyatso. For security reasons he was moved to Derge monastery and eventually, in 1716, now also backed and sponsored by the Kangxi Emperor of China.[155] The Tibetans asked Dzungars to bring a true Dalai Lama to Lhasa, but the Manchu Chinese did not want to release Kelsan Gyatso to the Mongol Dzungars. The Regent Taktse Shabdrung and Tibetan officials then wrote a letter to the Manchu Chinese Emperor that they recognized Kelsang Gyatso as the Dalai Lama. The Emperor then granted Kelsang Gyatso a golden seal of authority.[156] The Sixth Dalai Lama was taken to Amdo at the age of 8 to be installed in Kumbum Monastery with great pomp and ceremony.[155] According to Smith, the Kangxi Emperor now arranged to protect the child and keep him at Kumbum monastery in Amdo in reserve just in case his ally Lhasang Khan and his'real' Sixth Dalai Lama, were overthrown.[157] According to Mullin, however, the emperor's support came from genuine spiritual recognition and respect rather than being politically motivated.[158] Dzungar invasion [ edit ] In any case, the Kangxi Emperor took full advantage of having Kelzang Gyatso under Qing control at Kumbum after other Mongols from the Dzungar tribes led by Tsewang Rabtan who was related to his supposed ally Lhazang Khan, deceived and betrayed the latter by invading Tibet and capturing Lhasa in 1717.[159][160] These Dzungars, who were Buddhist, had supported the Fifth Dalai Lama and his regent. They were secretly petitioned by the Lhasa Gelugpa lamas to invade with their help in order to rid them of their foreign ruler Lhazang Khan and to replace the unpopular Sixth Dalai Lama pretender with the young Kelzang Gyats. This plot suited the devious Dzungar leaders' ambitions and they were only too happy to oblige.[161][162] Early in 1717, after conspiring to undermine Lhazang Khan through treachery they entered Tibet from the northwest with a large army, sending a smaller force to Kumbum to collect Kelzang Gyatso and escort him to Lhasa. By the end of the year, with Tibetan connivance they had captured Lhasa, killed Lhazang and all his family and deposed Yeshe Gyatso. Their force sent to fetch Kelzang Gyatso however was intercepted and destroyed by Qing armies alerted by Lhazang. In Lhasa, the unruly Dzungar not only failed to produce the boy but also went on the rampage, looting and destroying the holy places, abusing the populace, killing hundreds of Nyingma monks, causing chaos and bloodshed and turning their Tibetan allies against them. The Tibetans were soon appealing to the Kangxi Emperor to rid them of the Dzungars.[163][164] When the Dzungars had first attacked, the weakened Lhazang sent word to the Qing for support and they quickly dispatched two armies to assist, the first Chinese armies ever to enter Tibet, but they arrived too late. In 1718 they were halted not far from Lhasa to be defeated and then ruthlessly annihilated by the triumphant Dzungars in the Battle of the Salween River.[165][166] Enthronement in Lhasa [ edit ] This humiliation only determined the Kangxi Emperor to expel the Dzungars from Tibet once and for all and he set about assembling and dispatching a much larger force to march on Lhasa, bringing the emperor's trump card the young Kelzang Gyatso with it. On the imperial army's stately passage from Kumbum to Lhasa with the boy being welcomed adoringly at every stage, Khoshut Mongols and Tibetans were happy (and well paid) to join and swell its ranks.[167] By the autumn of 1720 the marauding Dzungar Mongols had been vanquished from Tibet and the Qing imperial forces had entered Lhasa triumphantly with the 12-year-old, acting as patrons of the Dalai Lama, liberators of Tibet, allies of the Tibetan anti-Dzungar forces led by Kangchenas and Polhanas, and allies of the Khoshut Mongol princes. The delighted Tibetans enthroned him as the Seventh Dalai Lama at the Potala Palace.[168][169] A new Tibetan government was established consisting of a Kashag or cabinet of Tibetan ministers headed by Kangchenas. Kelzang Gyatso, too young to participate in politics, studied Buddhism. He played a symbolic role in government, and, being profoundly revered by the Mongols, he exercised much influence with the Qing who now had now taken over Tibet's patronage and protection from them.[170] Exile to Kham [ edit ] Having vanquished the Dzungars, the Qing army withdrew leaving the Seventh Dalai Lama as a political figurehead and only a Khalkha Mongol as the Qing amban or representative and a garrison in Lhasa.[171][172] After the Kangxi Emperor died in 1722 and was succeeded by his son, the Yongzheng Emperor, these were also withdrawn, leaving the Tibetans to rule autonomously and showing the Qing were interested in an alliance, not conquest.[171][172] In 1723, however, after brutally quelling a major rebellion by zealous Tibetan patriots and disgruntled Khoshut Mongols from Amdo who attacked Xining, the Qing intervened again, splitting Tibet by putting Amdo and Kham under their own more direct control.[173] Continuing Qing interference in Central Tibetan politics and religion incited an anti-Qing faction to quarrel with the Qing-sympathising Tibetan nobles in power in Lhasa, led by Kanchenas who was supported by Polhanas. This led eventually to the murder of Kanchenas in 1727 and a civil war that was resolved in 1728 with the canny Polhanas, who had sent for Qing assistance, the victor. When the Qing forces did arrive they punished the losers and exiled the Seventh Dalai Lama to Kham, under the pretence of sending him to Beijing, because his father had assisted the defeated, anti-Qing faction. He studied and taught Buddhism there for the next seven years.[174] Return to Lhasa [ edit ] In 1735 he was allowed back to Lhasa to study and teach, but still under strict control, being mistrusted by the Qing, while Polhanas ruled Central Tibet under nominal Qing supervision. Meanwhile, the Qing had promoted the Fifth Panchen Lama to be a rival leader and reinstated the ambans and the Lhasa garrison. Polhanas died in 1747 and was succeeded by his son Gyurme Namgyal, the last dynastic ruler of Tibet, who was far less cooperative with the Qing. On the contrary, he built a Tibetan army and started conspiring with the Dzungars to rid Tibet of Qing influence.[175] In 1750, when the ambans realised this, they invited him and personally assassinated him and then, despite the Dalai Lama's attempts to calm the angered populace a vengeful Tibetan mob assassinated the ambans in turn, along with most of their escort.[176] Restoration as Tibet's political leader [ edit ] The Qing sent yet another force 'to restore order' but when it arrived the situation had already been stabilised under the leadership of the 7th Dalai Lama who was now seen to have demonstrated loyalty to the Qing. Just as Güshi Khan had done with the Fifth Dalai Lama, they therefore helped reconstitute the government with the Dalai Lama presiding over a Kashag of four Tibetans, reinvesting him with temporal power in addition to his already established spiritual leadership. This arrangement, with a Kashag under the Dalai Lama or his regent, outlasted the Qing dynasty which collapsed in 1912.[177] The ambans and their garrison were also reinstated to observe and to some extent supervise affairs, however, although their influence generally waned with the power of their empire which gradually declined after 1792 along with its influence over Tibet, a decline aided by a succession of corrupt or incompetent ambans.[178] Moreover, there was soon no reason for the Qing to fear the Dzungar; by the time the Seventh Dalai Lama died in 1757 at the age of 49, the entire Dzungar people had been practically exterminated through years of genocidal campaigns by Qing armies, and deadly smallpox epidemics, with the survivors being forcibly transported into China. Their emptied lands were then awarded to other peoples.[179] According to Mullin, despite living through such violent times Kelzang Gyatso was perhaps 'the most spiritually learned and accomplished of any Dalai Lama', his written works comprising several hundred titles including'some of Tibet's finest spiritual literary achievements'.[180] In addition, despite his apparent lack of zeal in politics, Kelzang Gyatso is credited with establishing in 1751 the reformed government of Tibet headed by the Dalai Lama, which continued over 200 years until the 1950s, and then in exile.[181] Construction of the Norbulingka, the 'Summer Palace' of the Dalai Lamas in Lhasa was also started during Kelzang Gyatso's reign.[182][183] 8th Dalai Lama [ edit ] The Eighth Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso was born in Tsang in 1758 and died aged 46 having taken little part in Tibetan politics, mostly leaving temporal matters to his regents and the ambans.[184] The 8th Dalai Lama was approved by the Emperor of China to be exempted from the lot-drawing ceremony of using Chinese Golden Urn.[185][186] The Emperor of China Qianlong officially accept Gyiangbai as the 8th Dalai Lama when the 6th Panchen Erdeni came to congratulate the Emperor on his 70th birthday in 1780. The 8th Dalai Lama was granted a jade seal of authority and jade sheets of confirmation of authority by the Emperor of China.[187][188] The jade sheets of confirmation of authority says You, the Dalai Lama, is the legal incarnation of Zhongkapa. You are granted the jade certificate of confirmation of authority and jade seal of authority, which you enshrine in the Potala monastery to guard the gate of Buddhism forever. All documents sent for the country's important ceremonies must be stamped with this seal, and all the other reports can be stamped with the original seal. Since you enjoy such honor, you have to make efforts to promote self-cultivation, study and propagate Buddhism, also help me in promoting Buddhism and goodness of the previous generation of the Dalai Lama for the people, and also for the long life of our country"[189][188] The Dalai Lama, his later generations and the local government cherished both the jade seal of authority, and the jade sheets of authority. They were properly preserved as the root to their ruling power.[188] Although the 8th Dalai Lama lived almost as long as the Seventh he was overshadowed by many contemporary lamas in terms of both religious and political accomplishment. According to Mullin, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama has pointed to certain indications that Jamphel Gyatso might not have been the incarnation of the Seventh Dalai Lama but of Jamyang Chojey, a disciple of Tsongkhapa and founder of Drepung monastery who was also reputed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. In any case, he mainly lived a quiet and unassuming life as a devoted and studious monk, uninvolved in the kind of dramas that had surrounded his predecessors.[190] Nevertheless, Jamphel Gyatso was also said to possess all the signs of being the true incarnation of the Seventh. This was also claimed to have been confirmed by many portents clear to the Tibetans and so, in 1762, at the age of 5, he was duly enthroned as the Eighth Dalai Lama at the Potala Palace.[191] At the age of 23 he was persuaded to assume the throne as ruler of Tibet with a Regent to assist him and after three years of this, when the Regent went to Beijing as ambassador in 1784, he continued to rule solo for a further four years. Feeling unsuited to worldly affairs, however, and unhappy in this role, he then retired from public office to concentrate on religious activities for his remaining 16 years until his death in 1804.[192] He is also credited with the construction of the Norbulingka 'Summer Palace' started by his predecessor in Lhasa and with ordaining some ten thousand monks in his efforts to foster monasticism.[193] 9th to 12th Dalai Lamas [ edit ] Hugh Richardson's summary of the period covering the four short-lived, 19th-century Dalai Lamas: After him [the 8th Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso], the 9th and 10th Dalai Lamas died before attaining their majority: one of them is credibly stated to have been murdered and strong suspicion attaches to the other. The 11th and 12th were each enthroned but died soon after being invested with power. For 113 years, therefore, supreme authority in Tibet was in the hands of a Lama Regent, except for about two years when a lay noble held office and for short periods of nominal rule by the 11th and 12th Dalai Lamas.[a] It has sometimes been suggested that this state of affairs was brought about by the Ambans—the Imperial Residents in Tibet—because it would be easier to control the Tibet through a Regent than when a Dalai Lama, with his absolute power, was at the head of the government. That is not true. The regular ebb and flow of events followed its set course. The Imperial Residents in Tibet, after the first flush of zeal in 1750, grew less and less interested and efficient. Tibet was, to them, exile from the urbanity and culture of Peking; and so far from dominating the Regents, the Ambans allowed themselves to be dominated. It was the ambition and greed for power of Tibetans that led to five successive Dalai Lamas being subjected to continuous tutelage. (Richardson 1984, pp. 59–60) Thubten Jigme Norbu, the elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama, described these unfortunate events as follows, although there are few, if any, indications that any of the four were said to be 'Chinese-appointed imposters': It is perhaps more than a coincidence that between the seventh and the thirteenth holders of that office, only one reached his majority. The eighth, Gyampal Gyatso, died when he was in his thirties, Lungtog Gyatso when he was eleven, Tsultrim Gyatso at eighteen, Khadrup Gyatso when he was eighteen also, and Krinla Gyatso at about the same age. The circumstances are such that it is very likely that some, if not all, were poisoned, either by loyal Tibetans for being Chinese-appointed impostors, or by the Chinese for not being properly manageable. Many Tibetans think that this was done at the time when the young [Dalai Lama] made his ritual visit to the Lake Lhamtso.... Each of the four [Dalai Lamas] to die young expired shortly after his visit to the lake. Many said it was because they were not the true reincarnations, but imposters imposed by the Chinese. Others tell stories of how the cooks of the retinue, which in those days included many Chinese, were bribed to put poison in the [Dalai Lama's] food. The 13th [Dalai Lama] did not visit Lhamtso until he was 25 years old. He was adequately prepared by spiritual exercise and he also had faithful cooks. The Chinese were disappointed when he did not die like his predecessors, and he was to live long enough to give them much more cause for regret.(Norbu & Turnbull 1968)[b] According to Mullin, on the other hand, it is improbable that the Manchus would have murdered any of these four for being 'unmanageable' since it would have been in their best interests to have strong Dalai Lamas ruling in Lhasa, he argues, agreeing with Richardson that it was rather "the ambition and greed for power of Tibetans" that might have caused the Lamas' early deaths.[c] Further, if Tibetan nobles murdered any of them, which is quite possible, it would more likely to have been in order to protect or enhance their personal family interests rather than out of suspicion that the Dalai Lamas were seen as Chinese-appointed imposters as suggested by Norbu. They could have also easily died from illnesses, possibly contracted from diseases to which they had no immunity, carried to Lhasa by the multitudes of pilgrims visiting him from nearby countries for personal blessings. Finally, from the Buddhist point of view, Mullin says, "Simply stated, these four Dalai Lamas died young because the world did not have enough good karma to deserve their presence".[194] Tibetan historian K. Dhondup, however, in his history The Water-Bird and Other Years, based on the Tibetan minister Surkhang Sawang Chenmo's historical manuscripts,[195] disagrees with Mullin's opinion that having strong Dalai Lamas in power in Tibet would have been in China's best interests. He notes that many historians are compelled to suspect Manchu foul play in these serial early deaths because the Ambans had such latitude to interfere; the Manchu, he says, "to perpetuate their domination over Tibetan affairs, did not desire a Dalai Lama who will ascend the throne and become a strong and capable ruler over his own country and people". The life and deeds of the 13th Dalai Lama [in successfully upholding de facto Tibetan independence from China from 1912 to 1950] serve as the living proof of this argument, he points out.[196] This account also corresponds with TJ Norbu's observations above. Finally, while acknowledging the possibility, the 14th Dalai Lama himself doubts they were poisoned. He ascribes the probable cause of these early deaths to negligence, foolishness and lack of proper medical knowledge and attention. "Even today" he is quoted as saying, "when people get sick, some [Tibetans] will say: 'Just do your prayers, you don't need medical treatment.'"[197] 9th Dalai Lama [ edit ] Born in Kham in 1805/6 amidst the usual miraculous signs the Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso was appointed by the 7th Panchen Lama's search team at the age of two and enthroned in the Potala in 1808 at an impressive ceremony attended by representatives from China, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan.[198][199] Tibetan historian Nyima Gyaincain and Wang Jiawei point out that the 9th Dalai Lama was allowed to use the seal of authority given to the late 8th Dalai Lama by the Emperor of China[200] His second Regent Demo Tulku was the biographer of the 8th and 9th Dalai Lamas and though the 9th died at the age of 9 his biography is as lengthy as those of many of the early Dalai Lamas.[201] In 1793 under Manchu pressure Tibet had closed its borders to foreigners,[202][203] but in 1815 a British scientist, Thomas Manning became the first Englishman to visit Lhasa. Considered to be 'the first Chinese scholar in Europe'[204] he stayed five months and gave enthusiastic accounts in his journal of his regular meetings with the Ninth Dalai Lama whom he found fascinating: “beautiful, elegant, refined, intelligent, and entirely self-possessed, even at the age of six.”[205] Three years later in March 1815 the young Lungtok Gyatso caught a severe cold and, leaving the Potala Palace to preside over the New Year Monlam Prayer Festival he contracted pneumonia from which he soon died.[206][207] 10th Dalai Lama [ edit ] Like the Seventh Dalai Lama, the Tenth, Tsultrim Gyatso, was born in Lithang, Kham, where the Third Dalai Lama had built a monastery. It was 1816 and Regent Demo Tulku and the Seventh Panchen Lama followed indications from Nechung, the'state oracle' which led them to appoint him at the age of two. He passed all the tests and was brought to Lhasa but official recognition was delayed until 1822 when he was enthroned and ordained by the Seventh Panchen Lama. There are conflicting reports about whether the Chinese 'Golden Urn' was utilised by drawing lots to choose him.[208] The 10th Dalai Lama mentioned in his biography that he was allowed to use the golden seal of authority based on the convention set up by the late Dalai Lama. At the investiture, decree of the Emperor of China was issued and read out.[209] After 15 years of intensive studies and failing health he died, in 1837, at the age of 20 or 21.[210][211] He identified with ordinary people rather than the court officials and often sat on his verandah in the sunshine with the office clerks. Intending to empower the common people he planned to institute political and economic reforms to share the nation's wealth more equitably. Over this period his health had deteriorated, the implication being that he may have suffered from slow poisoning by Tibetan aristocrats whose interests these reforms were threatening.[212] He was also dissatisfied with his Regent and the Kashag and scolded them for not alleviating the condition of the common people, who had suffered much in small ongoing regional civil wars waged in Kokonor between Mongols, local Tibetans and the government over territory, and in Kham to extract unpaid taxes from rebellious Tibetan communities.[208][213] 11th Dalai Lama [ edit ] Born in Gathar, Kham in 1838 and soon discovered by the official search committee with the help of Nechung Oracle, the Eleventh Dalai Lama was brought to Lhasa in 1841 and recognised, enthroned and named Khedrup Gyatso by the Panchen Lama in 1842, who also ordained him in 1846. After that he was immersed in religious studies under the Panchen Lama, amongst other great masters. Meanwhile, there were court intrigues and ongoing power struggles taking place between the various Lhasa factions, the Regent, the Kashag, the powerful nobles and the abbots and monks of the three great monasteries. The Tsemonling Regent[214] became mistrusted and was forcibly deposed, there were machinations, plots, beatings and kidnappings of ministers and so forth, resulting at last in the Panchen Lama being appointed as interim Regent to keep the peace. Eventually the Third Reting Rinpoche was made Regent, and in 1855, Khedrup Gyatso, appearing to be an extremely promising prospect, was requested to take the reins of power at the age of 17. He was enthroned as ruler of Tibet in 1855[215][216] following Xianfeng Emperor's order.[217] He died after just 11 months, no reason for his sudden and premature death being given in these accounts, Shakabpa and Mullin's histories both being based on untranslated Tibetan chronicles. The respected Reting Rinpoche was recalled once again to act as Regent and requested to lead the search for the next incarnation, the twelfth.[215][216] 12th Dalai Lama [ edit ] In 1856 a child was born in south central Tibet amidst all the usual extraordinary signs. He came to the notice of the search team, was investigated, passed the traditional tests and was recognised as the 12th Dalai Lama in 1858. The use of the Chinese Golden Urn at the insistence of the Regent, who was later accused of being a Chinese lackey, confirmed this choice to the satisfaction of all. Renamed Trinley Gyatso and enthroned in 1860 the boy underwent 13 years of intensive tutelage and training before stepping up to rule Tibet at the age of 17.[218] His minority seems a time of even deeper Lhasan political intrigue and power struggles than his predecessor's. By 1862 this led to a coup by Wangchuk Shetra, a minister whom the Regent had banished for conspiring against him. Shetra contrived to return, deposed the Regent, who fled to China, and seized power, appointing himself 'Desi' or Prime Minister.[218] He then ruled with "absolute power" for three years,[219] quelling a major rebellion in northern Kham in 1863 and re-establishing Tibetan control over significant Qing-held territory there.[220] Shetra died in 1864 and the Kashag re-assumed power. The retired 76th Ganden Tripa, Khyenrab Wangchuk, was appointed as 'Regent' but his role was limited to supervising and mentoring Trinley Gyatso.[218][219] In 1868 Shetra's coup organiser, a semi-literate Ganden monk named Palden Dondrup, seized power by another coup and ruled as a cruel despot for three years, putting opponents to death by having them'sewn into fresh animal skins and thrown in the river'.[219] In 1871, at the request of officials outraged after Dondrup had done just that with one minister and imprisoned several others, he in turn was ousted and committed suicide after a counter-coup coordinated by the supposedly powerless 'Regent' Khyenrab Wangchuk.[219] As a result of this action this venerable old Regent, who died the next year, is fondly remembered by Tibetans as saviour of the Dalai Lama and the nation. The Kashag and the Tsongdu or National Assembly were re-instated, and, presided over by a Dalai Lama or his Regent, ruled without further interruption until 1959.[218] According to Smith, however, during Trinley Gyatso's minority, the Regent was deposed in 1862 for abuse of authority and closeness with China, by an alliance of monks and officials called Gandre Drungche (Ganden and Drepung Monks Assembly); this body then ruled Tibet for ten years until dissolved, when a National Assembly of monks and officials called the Tsongdu was created and took over. Smith makes no mention of Shetra or Dondrup acting as usurpers and despots in this period.[220] In any case, Trinley Gyatso died within three years of assuming power. In 1873, at the age of 20 "he suddenly became ill and passed away".[218] On the cause of his early death, accounts diverge. Mullin relates an interesting theory, based on cited Tibetan sources: out of concern for the monastic tradition, Trinley Gyatso chose to die and reincarnate as the 13th Dalai Lama, rather than taking the option of marrying a woman called Rigma Tsomo from Kokonor and leaving an heir to "oversee Tibet's future".[221] Shakabpa on the other hand, without citing sources, notes that Trinley Gyatso was influenced and manipulated by two close acquaintances who were subsequently accused of having a hand in his fatal illness and imprisoned, tortured and exiled as a result.[222] 13th Dalai Lama [ edit ] Throne awaiting Dalai Lama's return. Summer residence of 14th Dalai Lama, Nechung, Tibet. The 13th Dalai Lama assumed ruling power from the monasteries, which previously had great influence on the Regent, in 1895. Due to his two periods of exile in 1904–1909 to escape the British invasion of 1904, and from 1910 to 1912 to escape a Chinese invasion, he became well aware of the complexities of international politics and was the first Dalai Lama to become aware of the importance of foreign relations. After his return from exile in India and Sikkim during January 1913, he assumed control of foreign relations and dealt directly with the Maharaja, with the British Political officer in Sikkim and with the king of Nepal – rather than letting the Kashag or parliament do it. (Sheel 1989, pp. 24, 29) The Thirteenth issued a Declaration of Independence for his kingdom in Ü-Tsang from China during the summer of 1912 and standardised a Tibetan flag, though no other sovereign state recognized Tibetan independence. (Sheel 1989, p. 20) He expelled the ambans and all Chinese civilians in the country and instituted many measures to modernise Tibet. These included provisions to curb excessive demands on peasants for provisions by the monasteries and tax evasion by the nobles, setting up an independent police force, the abolition of the death penalty, extension of secular education, and the provision of electricity throughout the city of Lhasa in the 1920s. (Norbu & Turnbull 1968, pp. 317–318) He died in 1933. 14th Dalai Lama [ edit ] The 14th Dalai Lama was born on a straw mat in a cowshed to a farmer's family in a remote part of Tibet.[223] According to most Western journalistic sources[224][225][226][227] he was born into a humble family of farmers as one of 16 children.[228][229][230][231][232] The 14th Dalai Lama had become the joint most popular world leader by 2013, (tied with Barack Obama), according to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive of New York, which sampled public opinion in the USA and six major European countries.[233] The 14th Dalai Lama was not formally enthroned until 17 November 1950, during the Battle of Chamdo with the People's Republic of China. In 1951, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government were pressured into accepting the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet by which it became formally incorporated into the People's Republic of China.[234] Fearing for his life in the wake of a revolt in Tibet in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, from where he led a government in exile.[235][236] With the aim of launching guerrilla operations against the Chinese, the Central Intelligence Agency funded the Dalai Lama's administration with US$1.7 million a year in the 1960s.[237] In 2001 the 14th Dalai Lama ceded his partial power over the government to an elected parliament of selected Tibetan exiles. His original goal was full independence for Tibet, but by the late 1980s he was seeking high-level autonomy instead.[238] He continued to seek greater autonomy from China, but Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the parliament-in-exile, stated: "If the middle path fails in the short term, we will be forced to opt for complete independence or self-determination as per the UN charter".[239] In 2014 and 2016, he stated that Tibet wants to be part of China but China should let Tibet preserve its culture and script.[240][241] In 2018, he stated that "Europe belongs to the Europeans" and that Europe has a moral obligation to aid refugees whose lives are in peril. Further he stated that Europe should receive, help and educate refugees but ultimately they should return to develop their home countries.[242] Residences [ edit ] The 1st Dalai Lama was based at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, which he founded, the Second to the Fifth Dalai Lamas were mainly based at Drepung Monastery outside Lhasa. In 1645, after the unification of Tibet, the Fifth moved to the ruins of a royal fortress or residence on top of Marpori ('Red Mountain') in Lhasa and decided to build a palace on the same site. This ruined palace, called Tritse Marpo, was originally built around 636 AD by the founder of the Tibetan Empire, Songtsen Gampo for his Nepalese wife.[243] Amongst the ruins there was just a small temple left where Tsongkhapa had given a teaching when he arrived in Lhasa in the 1380s. The Fifth Dalai Lama began construction of the Potala Palace on this site in 1645,[244] carefully incorporating what was left of his predecessor's palace into its structure.[136] From then on and until today, unless on tour or in exile the Dalai Lamas have always spent their winters at the Potala Palace and their summers at the Norbulingka palace and park. Both palaces are in Lhasa and approximately 3 km apart. Following the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru allowed in the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government officials. The Dalai Lama has since lived in exile in McLeod Ganj, in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh in northern India, where the Central Tibetan Administration is also established. His residence on the Temple Road in McLeod Ganj is called the Dalai Lama Temple and is visited by people from across the globe. Tibetan refugees have constructed and opened many schools and Buddhist temples in Dharamshala.[245] Searching for the reincarnation [ edit ] The search for the 14th Dalai Lama took the High Lamas to Taktser in Amdo Palden Lhamo, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso, who promised Gendun Drup the 1st Dalai Lama in one of his visions that "she would protect the'reincarnation' lineage of the Dalai Lamas" By the Himalayan tradition, phowa is the discipline that is believed to transfer the mindstream to the intended body. Upon the death of the Dalai Lama and consultation with the Nechung Oracle, a search for the Lama's yangsi, or reincarnation, is conducted. Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government to find a person accepted as his reincarnation. The process can take around two or three years
From: aggression 2008-12-25 04:55 pm (UTC) ROFLMAO! That's AWESOME! From: sithtoast 2008-12-25 05:09 pm (UTC) LOL, this comic is awesome. Now, get out there tiger, save the world! From: dmedicus 2008-12-25 05:35 pm (UTC) Now that is funny. From: _eljefe_ 2008-12-25 06:12 pm (UTC) Bwah hah hah hah. From: sraedi 2008-12-25 08:30 pm (UTC) thanks From: purpleranger 2008-12-25 08:40 pm (UTC) I remember seeing this story a couple of years ago. I love the way the writer made this read like a story from the 1960s, then came around with a complete curveball. From: chardarkminion 2008-12-25 09:29 pm (UTC) I prefer Commie Supe to Santa Supe : P From: twinklebat 2008-12-26 02:31 am (UTC) Bwahahah, that's fantastic! From: pyynk 2008-12-26 06:35 am (UTC) It never gets old! From: burket 2008-12-26 08:40 am (UTC) i think i just ruptured something.... From: myrrhdusa 2008-12-26 01:26 pm (UTC) Loved this! From: one_bat 2008-12-26 09:28 pm (UTC) Loved it From: browngirl 2008-12-26 02:01 pm (UTC) This is still just so very funny. giggles From: gnomen9 2008-12-30 03:09 am (UTC) snorts From: missakins 2008-12-30 08:48 pm (UTC) this post got added to stumbleupon (not by me) From: averyhayes 2008-12-30 10:20 pm (UTC) WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE. From: wendyful04 2009-01-05 01:44 am (UTC) ????????????? strange strange indeedy From: fortysevenbteg 2009-01-02 02:12 pm (UTC) Holy shit, this is fantastic! :D From: mycroftxxx 2009-01-02 04:26 pm (UTC) The win, it BURNS! From: biomekanic 2009-01-02 05:33 pm (UTC) flemco That is farking hilarious! Here viaThat is farking hilarious! From: chronophobe 2009-01-12 02:52 am (UTC) Beautiful. From: gothic_lovely 2009-02-24 10:19 pm (UTC) Ohhhohohoh... wipes tear from eye That was great, I'm still laughing.2012 Portable Gaming Charts Indicate Mobile Games Already Surpass 3DS, Vita App Annie and the IDC (International Data Corporation) have recently released their 2012 Portable Gaming Report. Showing all manner of numbers and other fancy statistical goodies, there’s plenty of predictably shocking facts you can shake your head at. Among the top spots, Nintendo, the Android OS and Pokemon sit comfortably well. Also, the Asian-Pacific market REALLY loves their Google Play games. The Android market has been steadily growing, but I still find it hard to believe that it grew this substantially in 2012. As the runner-up, iOS isn’t doing shabby for obvious reasons and the Windows phones are still relatively new. I think the real surprise here is that the Blackberry Market is still around. Further evidence that Nintendo is the Immovable Tyrant Guard of the mobile gaming market. The great thing is, with the announcement of the Playstation 4 and several features linking directly to the Vita, maybe it’ll be enough to help Sony sway some favor because, let’s face facts, Nintendo isn’t moving from the top spot anytime soon. Clearly games have surfaced as integral purchases when people pick up any kind of mobile device. Though the Android market was the most bustling with activity, iOS devices just barely topped Android sales. And there you have it – the apocalypse is now. If you combine both Google Play store and iOS purchases, they beat out dedicated handheld sales. I suppose it’s not so surprising right now, but whenever I look at it, the numbers are still quite alarming. So North America loves their iOS stuff, the Asian Pacific can’t live without Google Play and the rest of the world doesn’t know what Google is. Got it. It’s pretty obvious who the top spot for dedicated handhelds belongs to, but I certainly have no idea what those other games are. Apparently anything with Kakao in it is pure gold. Mobile gaming has become absolutely huge in the past year or so and with even more advanced devices coming out every month, it’s only going to get bigger. Thanks goes out to App Annie and IDC for the great information! What surprised you the most? Sound off in the comments, fellow readers! 0 SharesLOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - It’s not surprising, perhaps, that a game based on a sewer-dwelling alligator named “Swampy” ranks as the top paid app for iPhones and iPads. What’s surprising is that the game is a product of Walt Disney Co. Swampy is the title character on a quest to stay clean in a low-cost, mobile video game called “Where’s My Water?” that Disney hopes will lead to a turnaround of its struggling gaming business. Within 24 hours of its release on September 22, “Where’s My Water?” — a 99-cent puzzle game where players try to help Swampy keep clean by digging paths to guide water to his subterranean bathtub — rose to the top of Apple Inc’s App Store and has stayed there since. The game featuring Swampy, who is the first Disney character created specifically for a mobile game, currently ranks ahead of Rovio’s wildly popular “Angry Birds” as the top paid app for iPhones and iPads, underscoring the threat that established, deep-pocketed companies like Disney and Electronic Arts pose for upstarts like Rovio and Zynga. In an interview with Reuters, Bart Decrem, head of Disney’s mobile gaming operations, declined to provide figures for downloads or other financial measures, saying only that the game “has been really well-received, doing really well in terms of downloads and chart positions around the world.” Though it is early days, Swampy has the potential to develop into the kind of hit Disney needs to help revive its interactive unit, which includes online, mobile and social games plus virtual worlds such as the Club Penguin website. The division is the company’s smallest unit by revenue and is being revamped after several quarters of losses. Disney last year bought social games maker Playdom for about $563 million. In the quarter that ended in July, the interactive unit lost $86 million despite a 27 percent increase in revenue from a year earlier to $251 million. “Where’s My Water?” could boost the unit’s earnings if it grabs a big enough piece of the mobile games industry, which is expected to grow globally to $11.4 billion by 2014, according to research firm Gartner. Last year, Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger charged two digital veterans — James Pitaro and John Pleasants — to turn around the division. The pair have said they plan to bring the division to profitability in 2013. One way to accomplish that goal is for Disney to leverage Swampy and other gaming characters across its theme parks, movie studio and media networks much the same way it does its stable of mermaids, princesses and other characters, Decrem said. Right now, however, Swampy is still too green to become the next Mickey Mouse. “First, Swampy needs to continue to prove himself,” Decrem said, adding that it will take about three months to judge the character’s staying power. Mobile games for phones and tablets, one of the few bright spots in the beaten-down global video game business, are cheaper to make and purchase than games for consoles. As a result, they have started to eat in to the profits of companies such as Activision Blizzard Inc. While Disney typically brings characters from movies to games, Swampy could go the other direction from game to television or movie screens, Decrem said. Disney, which competes with Electronic Arts in mobile games, is looking at Google Inc’s Android software and other platforms for the game, Decrem said. Disney shares closed trading Tuesday up almost 3 percent to $29.86.In September 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eteplirsen (Exondys 51), a new drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), overruling the recommendations of both its scientific staff and its external advisory committee. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive X-linked genetic disease caused by mutations in a gene that produces the protein dystrophin that helps stabilize muscle fibers. It is usually fatal by the third decade of life. No disease-modifying treatments are available. Eteplirsen offered a promising new therapeutic approach that would correct a mutation in a gene coding for dystrophin, allowing production of a truncated but functional version of the protein. In particular, eteplirsen was designed to skip exon 51, which would address the mutations in about 10% to 15% of patients with DMD (an estimated 2000-2500 cases in the United States). Despite this innovative mechanism, the development of eteplirsen was controversial, starting with its manufacturer-supported pivotal double-blind study, which involved only 12 patients: 8 were randomized to 2 different eteplirsen doses and 4 were randomized to placebo for 24 weeks. The latter were then switched to eteplirsen and all were to be followed for an additional 24 weeks. The sample size was substantially smaller than the study sample size in which a similar DMD drug, drisapersen, had been tested in 3 randomized trials that together enrolled 290 patients. The FDA declined to approve drisapersen in 2015 after these studies showed no clear benefit after 24 weeks in prespecified clinical end points, such as changes in a 6-minute walk test. Those trials also suggested the possibility of safety problems, including renal toxic effects and thrombocytopenia. In the eteplirsen study, by contrast, the primary trial end point was a surrogate measure: an increase in the presence of dystrophin in muscle biopsy specimens. Serial biopsies were performed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks, although biopsies were performed on only half the treated patients at each of the 12- and 24-week periods; all 12 patients were receiving drug treatment by week 48. The biopsy specimens were analyzed by scientists blinded to the patients’ group assignments but not blinded to the time receiving treatment.1 In a 2013 publication, the authors reported increases to about 50% of normal in dystrophin-containing fibers in the biopsy specimens,2 results that were met with enthusiasm by the DMD community. However, these results were based on an immunohistochemical assay that assessed only an increase of newly produced dystrophin compared with baseline values. Quantitative Western blot analysis of a fourth biopsy performed in 11 of the study patients after 3 to 3.5 years of continued open-label extension showed an actual increase to only a mean (SD) of 0.9% (0.8%) of normal dystrophin levels, far less than what might be expected to provide clinical benefit. A more rigorous, fully blinded reanalysis of the immunohistochemical assay organized by the FDA cast further doubt on the initial results.3 The trial also assessed clinical progression. At 24 and 48 weeks, there was no consistent advantage in the 6-minute walk test capacity of patients who received eteplirsen compared with those initially given placebo. However, new post hoc calculations excluded 2 eteplirsen-treated patients who deteriorated quickly while receiving therapy; these analyses suggested a statistically significant advantage for the remaining treated patients. These more selective post hoc analyses were highlighted in the figure displaying this finding in the 2013 article2 and in the manufacturer’s press release announcing the success of the trial.4 Subsequent evaluation of 6-minute walk test data over 3 to 3.5 years of open-label therapy appeared to be associated with slower rates of decline when compared with a historical cohort, but the problematic nature of historical controls complicated the interpretation. Controversy over eteplirsen came into broader public view when the FDA convened an advisory committee in April 2016 to review these data. That hearing included more than a thousand public attendees and more than 4 hours of comments from patients, families, advocates, scientists, and legislators. The public presentations were frequently emotional, and nearly all of the presenters (51 of 52) favored drug approval. The advisory committee was generally unimpressed with the efficacy data, although the committee split its vote: 7 members found no evidence that eteplirsen was clinically effective in treating DMD (vs 3 in favor and 3 abstentions), and 7 members found that the drug did not produce dystrophin at a level likely to result in clinical benefit (vs 6 in favor). After the meeting, the FDA delayed its decision and requested additional data, including Western blot assays from biopsy specimens in 13 patients from another ongoing study at week 48. These data showed a mean increase in dystrophin to just 0.2% to 0.3% of normal. In September 2016, another reason for the delay was revealed—disagreement within the FDA about the approval decision. The main FDA scientific reviewers all opposed approval, but Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, overruled them, suggesting that the extremely small increase in dystrophin might conceivably translate to clinical benefit.1 She indicated that considering the life-threatening nature of the disease and the lack of reasonable alternative treatments, the FDA should exercise “the greatest flexibility possible” under its statutory authority in considering eteplirsen’s efficacy.1 The internal FDA review staff took the unusual step of appealing to Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, who upheld Woodcock’s decision.1 The drug was thus approved, and the manufacturer was told to conduct a randomized trial to “verify [sic] the clinical benefit of eteplirsen,”5 with a deadline of May 2021 for submission of its results. A placebo group was not required (although it would be difficult to recruit patients to a placebo-controlled trial of an approved drug), and accordingly, without a true control, it is not clear how the results regarding drug efficacy will be assessed. Barring a major unexpected safety problem, it is unlikely that the new study could provide sufficient evidence leading to removing eteplirsen from the market. Eteplirsen represents another case in which the FDA used a surrogate measure (in this case muscle dystrophin levels) as the basis for approval. However, the accelerated approval pathway through which eteplirsen was authorized requires that a surrogate end point must be reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit of the drug,6 and this standard is challenged by the minimal changes seen in the dystrophin levels. Speeding drugs to market based on such biomarker outcomes can actually lead to a worse outcome for patients, even those with life-threatening diseases, if a product confers no meaningful benefit and carries a risk of adverse effects and a high cost. Immediately after approval, the manufacturer announced a price of $300 000 per year for eteplirsen.7 This approach also unfairly penalizes manufacturers that pursue a more rigorous course of development using more clinically relevant end points, while rewarding competitors that submit trials that have less evidence supporting efficacy. The eteplirsen case also raises questions about how to integrate subjective and anecdotal patient experience in the FDA review process. Patient-reported clinical outcomes such as functional status can be of value in drug assessment. For pain, functional incapacity, or depression, patient-reported measures may even be the most important assessments of efficacy. However, such outcomes can be misleading in very small, poorly controlled, or unblinded studies that do not account for placebo effects. Similarly, the voices of patient advocates should be made known, but many such groups are financially supported by drug manufacturers to help advance their goals.8 Even in the absence of such support, popular opinion can be shaped by uncritical enthusiasm by patients and their families, or by unbalanced reports from the manufacturer. With the growth of pharmacogenetics and the current enthusiasm for “precision medicine,” more and more drugs are likely to be developed that alter laboratory tests or protein expression and are then tested in trials which assess such surrogate measures but which do not show convincing clinical outcomes. Approval by the FDA on this basis will apply enormous pressure on public and private payers to cover the very high prices of these drugs and will impose substantial cost burdens on uninsured or underinsured patients. (Since approval, at least 1 commercial insurer has declined to cover eteplirsen for its patients with DMD.) Meanwhile, more rigorous data from follow-up trials may be years away, or may never become available. This will further increase the nation’s growing expenditures for medications, even in the absence of clear patient benefit.9 One partial solution could be the adoption of novel regulatory models, such as limited approval with intensive collection of new clinical evidence, before a drug becomes universally available. As a further step, drugs that have not yet shown clinical outcome benefit could be made available at just the cost of production, or most profits could be kept in escrow, until adequate trials are completed. Patients with DMD need better treatments, and drugs like eteplirsen might one day fill that role. For now, though, the drug has provided a worrisome model for the next generation of molecularly targeted therapies: demonstrate a slight difference in a laboratory test, activate the patient community, win approval, and charge high prices, while relying on limited regulatory follow-up. Back to top Article Information Corresponding Author: Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1620 Tremont St, Ste 3030, Boston, MA 02120 ([email protected]). Correction: This article was corrected online April 11, 2017, to fix errors in the text. Published Online: October 24, 2016. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16437 Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Both authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Dr Kesselheim reported serving on the FDA advisory committee charged with reviewing eteplirsen in April 2016 and drisapersen in November 2015 (he voted against approval at both meetings). He has received unrelated grants from the FDA Office of Generic Drugs and Division of Health Communication. No other disclosures were reported. Funding/Support: Drs Kesselheim and Avorn’s work was supported by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Engelberg Foundation. Dr Kesselheim is a Greenwall Faculty Scholar in Bioethics and is supported by the Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science. Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funders had no role in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.The ’90s: they were the bomb! That’s why MetalSucks will spend the month of March giving snaps to the decade that was all that and a bag of chips by counting down The 25 Most Important Metal Bands of the ’90s. These aren’t bands that necessarily formed in the ’90s, nor are they bands that would turn out to be influential somewhere down the road; these are bands that a) were doing their best work in the ’90s, and b) amassed a devout following during the ’90s. These are the bands that we feel truly defined the decade for extreme music. These are the bands that we feel truly defined the decade for yo mama. In the early ’90s, heavy music was changed forever when a bunch of kooky kids from Norway decided to put on clown make-up, burn down a bunch of churches and generally behave like violent jerks, and make the most frightening racket possible. It goes without saying that this movement spawned a number of historically relevant, musically gifted, and morally flexible bands, but it is the not-so-humble opinion of your MetalSucks co-chiefs that Emperor were the best. Why? Glad you asked: Emperor wrote the most sophisticated songs, their albums were the best produced, and they brilliantly added elements of the classical music they professed to love to their sound, thus setting themselves apart from the pack and more or less single-handedly creating symphonic black metal. In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) sounds like the soundtrack to a severely disturbing adaptation of Dracula, Anthems to the Welkin at Dust (1997) is a pummeling, proggy assault on the senses, and IX Equilibrium (1999) melds all the most punishing elements to the two. (Incidentally, In the Nightside Eclipse was also, for many of us, an introduction to the legendary (Incidentally,In theNightside Eclipsewas also, for many of us, an introduction to the legendary Necrolord.) And yes. They adds to their importance. You do not think of Norwegian black metal without thinking about murder and church burnings, which means a crime-free band like Darkthrone or Enslaved can never quite definitively represent the scene. Or make listening to their albums so bittersweet, for that matter. Varg Vikernes is a prick, but it’s easy to give up Burzum because Burzum sucks. Emperor’s music, on the other hand, is addictive; once you’ve been swept away in it, it’s very hard to get your feet back on the ground. And yes. They committed homicidal hate crimes and decimated beautiful buildings of great historical significance. Which is terrible, but actually kindaaddsto their importance. You do not think of Norwegian black metal without thinking about murder and church burnings, which means a crime-free band like Darkthrone or Enslaved can neverquitedefinitively represent the scene. Or make listening to their albums so bittersweet, for that matter. Varg Vikernes is a prick, but it’s easy to give up Burzum because Burzum sucks. Emperor’s music, on the other hand, is addictive; once you’ve been swept away in it, it’s very hard to get your feet back on the ground. For better or worse, we know this to be true: black metal would not have developed the way it did through the ’90s if not for this band. They may have ruled with violence, but they did rule.In the second presidential debate, women's issues finally came up. And Mitt Romney had an opportunity to show female voters he cared. But from his bullying of moderator Candy Crowley to his dismissive description of his hiring practices, he fumbled the chance. "Binders full of women," his badly chosen phrase, became the meme of the night and will likely haunt him past Halloween. Here's a deconstruction of what he had to say about women. An important topic, and one which I learned a great deal about, particularly as I was serving as governor of my state, because I had the chance to pull together a cabinet and all the applicants seemed to be men. Seemed to be? Implausible from the start, they either were or they weren't. And I – and I went to my staff, and I said, "How come all the people for these jobs are – are all men." They said: "Well, these are the people that have the qualifications." This is hard to believe. Romney was talking about 2003 – not 1893. Plenty of women would have been properly qualified. And I said: "Well, gosh, can't we – can't we find some – some women that are also qualified?" Patronizing. And – and so we – we took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet. I went to a number of women's groups and said: "Can you help us find folks," and they brought us whole binders full of women. ZING! There was the shot through his foot. "Binders full of women" became #bindersfullofwomen on Twitter, a Tumblr page and a Facebook page which within half an hour had over 20,000 likes. By the end of the debate that had risen to almost 70,000. Why did the phrase resonate? Because it was tone deaf, condescending and out of touch with the actual economic issues that women are so bothered about. The phrase objectified and dehumanized women. It played right into the perception that so many women have feared about a Romney administration – that a president Romney would be sexist and set women back. And it turns out the way Romney presented it – that he asked for a study of women in leadership positions – wasn't true anyway. I recognized that if you're going to have women in the workforce that sometimes you need to be more flexible. My chief of staff, for instance, had two kids that were still in school. She said: 'I can't be here until 7 or 8 o'clock at night. I need to be able to get home at 5 o'clock so I can be there for making dinner for my kids and being with them when they get home from school.' So we said fine. Let's have a flexible schedule so you can have hours that work for you. Fair enough, flexibility is important. But the picture of a woman having to be home to make dinner for her kids in the 21st Century is a dated one. Was Romney's chief of staff a single parent? Could there have been a partner to share in the dinner-making? His description doesn't sound like it. We're going to have to have employers in the new economy, in the economy I'm going to bring to play, that are going to be so anxious to get good workers they're going to be anxious to hire women. The inference here is that women only get hired when a numerical need arises. Romney's answer implied women don't get considered on the merits but as a second option. I mentioned 3.5 million women, more now in poverty than four years ago. Not allowing women in poverty access to family planning contributes to that number. Romney seemed unaware of the connection between his opposition to an organization like Planned Parenthood and the economic status of many of the women who use it. What we can do to help young women and women of all ages is to have a strong economy, so strong that employers that are looking to find good employees and bringing them into their workforce and adapting to a flexible work schedule that gives women opportunities that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Again, flexibility is only part of what a woman needs. Romney's answer was confined only to the kind of professional woman qualified to be his chief of staff. There are millions of other working women who still don't get paid at the same rate as men – despite Obama's Lilly Ledbetter act. Romney never addressed equal pay despite a direct question from the audience about it. I don't believe that bureaucrats in Washington should tell someone whether they can use contraceptives or not. And I don't believe employers should tell someone whether they could have contraceptive care of not. Every woman in America should have access to contraceptives. Presumably so should men. But who should pay for it? Romney's past position has been to allow employers insurance companies to deny coverage for contraceptives on religious or moral grounds.ARE robots coming to steal our jobs? For those manning the tills at pizza restaurants, the answer seems to be yes. In late May Pizza Hut announced that by the end of the year a robot called Pepper would start taking orders and payment at some of its Asian restaurants, providing a “fun, frictionless user experience”. There is plenty of research to suggest that restaurant workers are not the only ones at risk. One widely cited paper by Carl Frey and Michael Osborne at Oxford University found that as many as 47% of Americans work in jobs that will be highly susceptible to automation over the next two decades. But a new working paper by Melanie Arntz, Terry Gregory and Ulrich Zierahn of the Centre for European Economic Research paints a slightly brighter picture. The earlier study quizzed experts on the chance that a particular occupation could be automated, and then totted up the proportion of American workers in such jobs. But the newer study suggests that this method was too blunt. Get our daily newsletter Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks. Digging into more detailed data, the researchers find that many jobs involve bundles of tasks, only some of which machines can easily handle. Take clerks in book-keeping, accounting and auditing: the earlier study said the odds of computers supplanting them over the next 20 years were 98%. But the newer study finds that three-quarters of those jobs involve some group work or face-to-face interaction—tasks robot struggle with. Applying a similar analysis to all jobs, they find that only 9%, not 47%, are at high risk of automation. Some caveats are in order: employers could restructure jobs to disentangle tasks that are more or less easy to automate. If that proves difficult, another possibility is that they simply forgo the human interaction now built into many occupations. A smile and some chit-chat once seemed an integral part of paying for groceries, until automated tills became commonplace. And finally, even if the 9% figure is closer to the truth, that still threatens the livelihood of millions. For the poorest quarter of the population, the proportion of jobs at risk rises to 26%, since more of them work in the sort of routine jobs most susceptible to automation. Even so, the authors offer a few more reasons not to panic about robot-induced unemployment. Both studies look only at what is technically possible. If labour is cheap, businesses will have little reason to invest in fancy machines. Nissan, a car manufacturer, uses robots more intensively in Japan than in lower-wage India. For a robot army to be worrisome, it has to be worth someone’s while to build it. Even if a wave of automation sweeps over the workforce, total employment may not fall. Innovation could lower prices and thus stimulate incomes indirectly, boosting demand for new jobs elsewhere. That is what happened in the past, at any rate: when automatic teller machines (ATMs) were introduced, the number of cashiers in America actually rose, since the device helped to cut costs, enabling banks to open new branches. From the Luddites to Keynes, many have worried needlessly about mass technological unemployment. Even if things are different this time, then at least the transition is likely to be slow. The Boston Consulting Group forecasts that only 25% of cars sold in 2035 will have any self-driving features, for example. If the robots do steal our jobs, we should at least be able to see them coming.Yesterday the state of Maine demonstrated the enthusiasm that US voters have for the Republican field. Most voters rightly discerned that none were worthy to receive a vote and did not bother to attend. I can’t remember a tinier turnout for any statewide primary or caucus ever. Mitt Romney won the support of those attending Republican presidential caucuses in Maine Saturday, a key victory the former Massachusetts governor hopes will help him regain momentum after defeats in three nominating contests. Romney’s superior organization and dominating advantage with endorsements of top state Republicans had given him a significant edge in the low-turnout and nonbinding affair. But Texas Rep. Ron Paul had aggressively worked the state’s grass roots in hopes of snagging his first win of the presidential primary season in Maine. Romney won 39 percent of the votes of those who took part in a presidential poll at Maine caucus sites; Paul took 36 percent of the vote, while former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum captured 18 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won 6 percent. The tiny Maine race — fewer than 5,600 votes were cast — had taken on increased importance in recent days as Romney struggled to put his campaign back on track after losing to Santorum in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday… [emphasis added]Crossbones (Brock Rumlow) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an adversary of Captain America, and played a part in his assassination. The character has been adapted into multiple forms of media, most notably being portrayed by Frank Grillo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Publication history [ edit ] Created by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Kieron Dwyer, Crossbones first made a cameo appearance in Captain America #359 (October 1989) as a shrouded figure watching from the shadows, making a full appearance during the "Bloodstone Hunt" storyline in issue #362.[1] He has appeared as a regular character in Thunderbolts beginning with issue #144, but was dismissed from the team in issue #151.[citation needed] Fictional character biography [ edit ] Brock Rumlow led the Savage Crims gang on New York City's Lower East Side, during which time, he assaulted fifteen-year-old Rachel Leighton and fought Rachel's two brothers, killing the elder brother.[volume & issue needed] Rumlow fled, entering Taskmaster's school for criminals, within three years becoming an instructor under the name Bingo Brock.[volume & issue needed] As a mercenary, Rumlow enlisted with Albert Malik, the communist Red Skull, in Algeria, serving the Red Skull under the name Frag until he was sent to invade Arnim Zola's Switzerland chateau; Rumlow was ultimately the only team member to survive the assault.[volume & issue needed] There, he also met and impressed, Johann Schmidt, the original Nazi Red Skull, who accepted Brock's services and code-named him as "Crossbones".[volume & issue needed] The true Red Skull sent Crossbones to observe Baron Helmut Zemo's progress acquiring the Bloodstone fragments and to obtain them.[2] He stowed aboard Captain America's flagship, and entered Zemo's ship to steal the Bloodstone fragments. He overpowered Diamondback, and shot a crossbow bolt that coupled with Captain America's shield. Crossbones was forced to shatter the Bloodstone fragments when the alien entity known as the Hellfire Helix used it to take control of Baron Heinrich Zemo's body; the destruction of the Bloodstone discorporated the Hellfire Helix.[3] Knowing that his master would be infuriated by the Bloodstone's loss, Crossbones kidnapped Diamondback to Madripoor as bait for Captain America. He challenged Captain America to retrieve Diamondback, but the Captain defeated him, although Diamondback escaped, and the Red Skull ordered Crossbones to desist and return to headquarters.[4] The Red Skull then ordered him to retrieve the Controller after the Controller's breakout from the Vault.[5] With the Machinesmith, Crossbones investigated the Red Skull's disappearance.[6] Crossbones assembled the Skeleton Crew from the Red Skull's henchmen and became their leader, searching for the missing Red Skull with them. They battled the Black Queen and her Hellfire Club mercenaries.[7] Crossbones enlisted the aid of psychic Tristam Micawber to locate the Red Skull. Upon finding his master, Crossbones took the Red Skull to Skullhouse for convalescence.[8] Crossbones always remained loyal to the Red Skull, even tracking down when imprisoned and is left to die by Magneto.[volume & issue needed] He next attended AIM's weapons exposition.[9] He battled Daredevil during a failed assassination attempt against the Kingpin.[10] He battled Bullseye during Bullseye's failed assassination attempt against the Red Skull.[11] He battled Captain America again and was defeated.[12] He later recounts how he met the Red Skull.[13] The Red Skull assigned him to discover who killed the Red Skull's spare clone bodies.[14] Alongside the Skeleton Crew, he battled the Schutzheilligruppe in an attempt to rescue the Red Skull but was captured.[15] He was rescued from the Schutzheilligruppe's custody by Arnim Zola's fake Avengers.[16] Crossbones was eventually fired for questioning the Red Skull's decision to ally himself with the Viper.[17] Desperate to regain his position as leader of the Skeleton Crew, Crossbones kidnapped Diamondback, imprisoning in an abandoned subway station and forced into a brutal regime of combat training.[volume & issue needed] Crossbones believed that he had brainwashed Diamondback into betraying Captain America, but Diamondback was actually laying a trap for Crossbones.[volume & issue needed] Diamondback stole samples of Captain America's blood from the Avengers' mansion, then accompanied Crossbones to the Red Skull's mountain fortress.[volume & issue needed] The two were captured and imprisoned, and the Red Skull rehired Crossbones on a temporary basis.[volume & issue needed] He was later attacked by Cutthroat, the Skeleton Crew's new leader, who feared that Crossbones will try to take back his position as the Red Skull's right-hand man.[volume & issue needed] Crossbones killed Cutthroat, never realizing that Cutthroat was actually Diamondback's older brother.[volume & issue needed] Crossbones later stabbed Diamondback during Diamondback's escape attempt, only to later save with a blood transfusion in order to use as bait.[volume & issue needed] He was critically wounded by flying shrapnel during an assault on the fortress by Captain America and the Falcon, and imprisoned.[volume & issue needed] Imprisoned in the Raft when Electro breaks the inmates out, Crossbones was seen fighting Captain America and Spider-Man. Spider-Man kicked Crossbones in the face, knocking him out.[18] After he escaped from prison, Crossbones became a mercenary and assassin for a number of organizations, until he was rehired by the Red Skull who was later apparently assassinated by the Winter Soldier.[volume & issue needed] Crossbones and his new lover, Synthia Schmidt (the Red Skull's daughter), began hunting Aleksander Lukin, the Winter Soldier's commander.[volume & issue needed] They plotted to crash a stolen World War II era plane into the new Kronas Headquarters in London, only to have their plane destroyed by the Red Skull's Sleeper robot.[volume & issue needed] While they escape the destruction of the plane, they found Agent 13, and are about to kill Sharon Carter, only to be stopped by the Red Skull's appearance.[volume & issue
We can dig that, suckaaaaaa! Don’t miss Booker T’s return to commentary this Monday night on Raw at 8/7 C on USA Network.Donald Trump’s disparaging comments on the weight of a former Miss Universe contestant haven’t escaped the notice of the women who serve in the U.S. Senate, according to Sen. Claire McCaskill. McCaskill tweeted on Wednesday that she and her fellow women senators are “worried about Donald Trump’s weight.” The Democrat from Missouri speculated whether the problem might be campaign stress, and suggested that the Republican presidential nominee submit to “a public daily weigh-in.” The tweet, she noted, was a joke. But “a pointed one.” Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star The D women Senators have talked & we're concerned about Donald's weight. Campaign stress? We think a public daily weigh-in is called for. — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) September 28, 2016 McCaskill has spoken openly about her own efforts to lose weight in the past. In 2011, she credited twitter with keeping her motivated to lose 50 pounds in six months. “Maybe talking about it publicly will keep me on track,” she tweeted at the time, and she followed up by posting about her gym visits and diet. When she hit her weight loss goal, she tweeted, “GOOAALLLLLLLL!! I did it! Lost 50 lbs.” Her tweet mocking Trump’s weight on Wednesday came the day after Trump criticized former Miss Universe Alicia Machado for gaining “a massive amount of weight” in an appearance on Fox News. He said it was “a real problem.” Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, brought up Machado in Monday’s presidential debate as an example of what she said were his disparaging comments about women. Clinton said Trump had called Machado “Miss Piggy.” McCaskill is a Clinton supporter and media surrogate.This week's Question Time was in Belfast. On the panel were former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers MP, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith MP, Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd, DUP MLA Simon Hamilton and Director and co-creator of Yes Minister Jonathan Lynn. "It was just a few years ago that the High Court ruled that Northern Ireland’s abortion law was contrary to international human rights law. Now while that was recently appealed, and the appeal was won, that still goes to show how significantly women in Northern Ireland are suffering and this is a matter of public healthcare. Women in Northern Ireland can’t be abandoned under the excuse of devolution." BBC Question Time audience member, 12 October 2017 Abortion is prohibited in Northern Ireland except “where carried out in good faith for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother.” A judge of the High Court in Belfast found in 2015 that abortion legislation in Northern Ireland breached Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires respect for a person's family life and personal autonomy. The case was brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, a public body which monitors human rights compliance. It says: “The Commission is seeking a change to the law so that women and girls in Northern Ireland have the choice of accessing a termination of pregnancy locally in circumstances of serious malformation of the foetus, rape or incest, without being criminalised for doing so.” As Full Fact explained at the time, in the High Court judge’s view it was contrary to Article 8 to deny a mother an abortion at any time in the event of a fatal foetal abnormality. In the case of a woman who became pregnant as a result of sexual crime, in the judge’s view it was a breach of Article 8 to deny an abortion up to the date when the foetus could survive outside the womb. The decision was appealed by the government in Northern Ireland and overturned by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland. The three appeal judges gave separate judgments and came to different conclusions on key issues. The judges noted that there was a debate on abortion in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 10 February 2016 after the first decision. The Assembly rejected by 59 votes to 40 an amendment legalising abortion where a registered medical practitioner diagnosed a foetal abnormality which was likely to be fatal. The Appeal Court's decision has been appealed again to the UK Supreme Court, which has the final say. It is due to hear arguments from 24 to 26 October 2017. “We have circumstances here where perhaps thousands of women are leaving the island of Ireland in its entirety because our law across the island of Ireland is very similar, to go to Britain for abortions.” John O’Dowd MLA, 12 October 2017 “John O'Dowd said that thousands of women are going to England for an abortion. Because of the proposed referendum in the South, they published figures today and said last year, 43 women went to England for an abortion. So these figures are greatly exaggerated.” BBC Question Time audience member, 12 October 2017 There were just under 4,000 women from Ireland and Northern Ireland who had an abortion in England or Wales in 2016. 724 women living in Northern Ireland had an abortion in England or Wales in 2016, along with another 3,265 from the Republic of Ireland. These made up 83% of all abortions to women who weren’t living in England or Wales. In Scotland there were seven abortions performed on women who weren’t resident in the country in 2016—although there is no more information on where they were from. But the Scottish government says that women from outside Scotland might be counted as Scottish residents if they provide a temporary Scottish address. Altogether over 190,000 abortions took place in England and Wales last year and 12,000 in Scotland. The audience member may have been referring to the situation in one of Dublin’s maternity hospitals, according to evidence given to a committee of Irish politicians by Dr Rhona Mahony. She told the committee that “60 women attending our service travelled to the UK for termination of pregnancy in the context of foetal anomaly in 2016, and to date this year at Holles Street [the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin], 43 women have travelled in this context.” Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless it is done only to preserve the life of the mother. In Ireland a referendum on the eighth amendment to the Constitution (giving a mother and unborn child an equal right to life) is scheduled for 2018. "We have the lowest unemployment since 1975." Theresa Villiers MP, 12 October 2017 The UK does have the lowest unemployment since 1975, at 4.3% between May and July this year. In Northern Ireland it’s as low as it has been since the recession in 2008, but it was much lower before. Unemployment in Northern Ireland is now at 5.3%. Just before the recession it had fallen to as low as 3.8%. Unemployment measures people without a job who have been actively seeking work within the last four weeks and are available to start work within the next two weeks, or who have found a job and are waiting to start in the next two weeks. "Our biggest market for sales, 60% of all sales, the sales done in Northern Ireland goes to Great Britain, to the rest of the UK." Simon Hamilton MLA, 12 October 2017 59% of what Northern Ireland sold outside its own borders in 2015 went to the rest of the UK. 15% went to the Republic of Ireland, 8% to the rest of the EU, and 16% to the rest of the world. In total Northern Irish sales added up to £73 billion worth of goods and services with £48 billion staying in Northern Ireland, £14.4 billion worth going to the rest of the UK, and £10 billion worth ending up elsewhere in the world.by Jennifer Sherman Roberts There’s a playful moment in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing that occurs after the darker elements of the play have been set in motion but while the tone is still comedic. Margaret is helping Hero prepare for her wedding, and Beatrice, feeling ill and out of sorts, reluctantly joins them. Hero and Margaret, who have been conspiring to make the marriage-averse Beatrice and Benedick fall in love, begin teasing Beatrice. In response to Beatrice’s declaration that she is “stuffed” and sick, Margaret recommends a dose of a well-known herb, Carduus benedictus (also known as blessed thistle or holy thistle): MARGARET. Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm. HERO. There thou prick’st her with a thistle. (3.4.71-74) Beatrice immediately picks up on the Benedick/benedictus pun and Hero’s naughty “prick’st” joke. BEATRICE. Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in this Benedictus. MARGARET: Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by’r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I can not think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love. (3.4.75-84) (Unabashed Tangent: I love how this scene distills the mixture of giddiness, wit, and affection – with perhaps a touch of cruelty – that prompts friends to tease each other about their crushes. In modern terms, the scene reminds me of this meme.) While the Benedick/benedictus pun would be hard for a modern audience to catch, it would have been much plainer to an Elizabethan audience, as Carduus benedictus was far better known and utilized. The herbalist John Gerard writes that blessed thistle (also known, rather delightfully, as “wilde bastard saffron”) was “diligently cherished in gardens in these Northern parts.” Given the popularity of Carduus benedictus, it is no surprise that it should make an appearance as an ingredient in early modern recipe books. Even so, the properties attributed to it in Wellcome MS 6812, a medical recipe book compiled from 1575-1663, are prodigious, taking up an unusual seven pages of the manuscript. Here is a partial list of the wonders of this plant: If the herb is eaten or the herb’s powder or juice drunk: Good for headache and migraine. Sharpens memory and wit. Helps with sleep and hearing Juice of the herb laid on the eyes: “Quickens” the sight, relieves redness and itchiness Rubbed on a cloth with water: good for strengthening the teeth As a powder: good for staunching the flow of blood from the nose Cooked in wine: good for stomachache; also, “causeth an appetite to meat” Powder mixed with honey: helps void phlegm and “gross humours” Chewed: helps with “stink of the breath” Leaves boiled in water: “provoketh sweat” Powder (as preventative): prevents infection from pestilence; powder (after exposure): “expelleth the venome of the pestilence from the heart” Juice or powder of the herb: combined with covering with hot wool cloth for three hours, causes intense sweating that expels poison Herb boiled in wine: “dries agues” Herb juice with wine: eases aches of all kinds, shortness of breath and diseases of the lungs Herb boiled “in the urine of an healthfull man Child”: prevents dropsy and falling sickness Powder eaten or drunk: eases side stitches and trembling due to palsy, helps with colic Boiled or drunk with wine: breaks up “the stone”; when inhaled as a vapor, helps ease green sickness Juice or powder of the leaves: heals canker sores and “old rotten festered sores.” Bruised leaves help with carbuncles. This exhaustive list of blessed thistle’s curative powers is echoed in Gerard’s Herbal, where Carduus benedictus begins to sound like a miracle drug (and is even considered beneficial for “the French disease”). So while Margaret’s comment about Carduus benedictus is meant to prod Beatrice to confess her love for Benedick, it also invokes the powers of an unusually efficacious plant, a trusted remedy capable of curing any malady—except, happily in Messina and the world of the play, the scourge of lovesickness itself.XI'AN, CHINA (CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Doctors in China treating a man who lost his right ear in a car accident have helped him grow a new one - on his arm. The patient, identified only as Ji, who is in his late 30s, was injured a year ago and has been receiving treatment from Dr Guo Shuzhong, an expert in reconstructive surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. Dr Guo, who has 33 years of experience, and his colleague Shu Maoguo, devised a three-step reconstruction plan using part of the patient's rib cartilage. In the first phase, doctors buried a skin expander in the patient's right forearm and regularly injected water to expand the skin. In the second phase, doctors took part of the rib cartilage from the patient and buried it under the expanded skin, which was successfully done on Tuesday (Nov 8). "The third phase of the operation, to transplant the new ear onto Mr Ji's head, will be carried out in three or four months," Dr Shu said. Doctors have to wait for the ear to grow completely in order to make it perfect for the patient, he explained. Mr Ji, looking at the ear growing on his right arm, said with a smile: "It looks exactly the same as my old ear."Short answer: real solutions to problems that actually exist. Feeding hungry children. Paying schoolteachers a higher wage than babysitters. Modernizing our infrastructure. Housing for homeless veterans. Hiring immigration lawyers and judges to process the enormous backlog of applications. Overhauling the federal tax code to eliminate loopholes that allow Wal-Mart to LEGALLY forego paying income tax. Allowing the CDC to study gun violence and recommend a legislative solution, just as they did with automobile fatalities. A government-funded fact-checking website, administered by verified non-partisans. Bringing our nation out of the nineteenth century by providing funding for every citizen's basic necessities. Prison reform. We are the wealthiest nation in the developed (I can't say “civilized" because we don't meet the basic criteria for being civilized) world and we have the most (a) gun violence, (b) incarcerated citizens per capita, (c) absurdly-enormous and needlessly-pork-flavored military and (d) antiquated communications infrastructure. I mean we still run power and phone lines ABOVE GROUND, for Christ's sake!(Illustration: Roman Genn) It’s the new cocaine, class warfare the new progressivism. Los Angeles — “Black Range Rover!” calls the parking valet at Soho House in West Hollywood, and a row of tanned and unlined and well-tended faces with practiced, thoughtful, I’m-listening-to-you-really-listening-not-just-waiting-for-my-turn-to-talk expressions on them pop up and prairie-dog over the tops of their iPhones and squint, because this is a place where a lot of people drive a lot of black Range Rovers, and nobody is sure which is whose. Advertisement Advertisement Hollywood has outgrown its red-car years and embraced its black Range Rovers, its muted grey German sedans backed up bumper to bumper on Westlake Boulevard, its conscience-clearing Teslas and — if you must have a little flash — BMW i8 hybrids. It has sworn off the late nights and the cocaine and the sort of sexual promiscuity that once made Warren Beatty feel obliged to issue a public denial of a report that he had slept with 12,775 women (“That would mean that there was no repetition!” he scoffed), and not only the celebrities but also the operators and middle managers and creatives and money-runners of the entertainment world have taken up politics and yoga (two young women waiting for their cars debate the merits of the various styles of yoga offered at the local $200-an-hour spots, kundalini vs. set-and-flow, Bikram having become both passé and, as one insists, sexist) and early meetings and politics and clean living and politics and the endless endless rows of juice bars down Hollywood Boulevard. “You really need to think about whether your yoga practice is feminist,” one young lady scolds the other. Advertisement The bars host only a few sad Hard Rock Cafe–type Eighties-holdover tourists in Guns N’ Roses T-shirts who probably would be having a better time in Vegas, and one of Larry Flynt’s Hustler retail outlets is located next to a diabetes clinic, which seems apt enough, but the juiceries are jam-packed full of the same class of people you run into at Soho House, people who can really pull off that elegantly understated Californian thing, sober and gentle and groomed and clean and giving the impression that they were raised on diets of kale and heirloom tomatoes and cold-pressed beard oil and self-esteem, people who would never participate in baroque tax-evasion schemes (Return of the Jedi has never made a profit... for tax purposes) or trade sex for professional advancement or quietly tolerate the rape of children by powerful filmmakers or– “Black Range Rover!” Scuffle, scuffle, scuffle, the Hermès sneakers shuffle. Advertisement Advertisement Hey. Is that Lenny Kravitz? The characteristic activity of Hollywood isn’t making movies. It is having lunch. “I want to give you a real Hollywood experience,” says my host, a longtime entertainment-industry observer. Soho House, a private club owned by Ron Burkle, is, like all establishments in Hollywood, judged by who is there, and judged maybe even more significantly by who is not here: “The horror of every establishment in town is being overrun by agents,” my host says. Soho House isn’t expensive, but they don’t have to let everybody in, either, and the club relishes the vague and opaque membership requirements that keep certain powerful executives out while their junior colleagues and nebulously employed creative types get in. Etiquette is an issue: Like most such clubs, it has rules about where you can use a telephone or do work. In deference to its celebrity members, the club has a strict rule against photography. A private club for businessmen doing business while pretending not to do business: Hollywood has grown so bourgeois that it has reinvented the Union League. Warren Beatty’s Hollywood is gone, and politics is the new cocaine. “The thing you have to understand is the extent to which politics has come to dominate social life here,” says my lunch companion. “This isn’t a night-life city anymore. You’re expected to attend breakfast meetings. You’re not up late partying. And politics fills that role. You go to fundraisers and dinners. It has become central to how you live here now.” Constant politics means the constant use of politics for status-seeking, showing oneself to be the most sensitive, insightful, confrontational, etc. Everyone appreciates how well Meryl Streep’s political grandstanding at the Golden Globes went over. Harvey Weinstein took out a cynical ad in his Oscar campaign for Lion lamenting that, if Donald Trump has his way, child actors such as Sunny Pawar, star of that film, might not be able to get visas, because obviously what this is all about is the plight of child actors. Advertisement The ladies next to us ask for tea. Advertisement Advertisement Hollywood’s more-clean-and-sober lifestyle has been driven in part by economics. This isn’t a town for people trying to make it — it’s a town for people who have it made. The days of a young dreamer from Iowa getting on a bus and waiting tables while spending a few years going to auditions and waiting for The Break are as dead as Warren Beatty’s chances of ever being asked to present another Academy Award. You can’t afford to do that here now — hell, there are a fair number of working professionals in the entertainment business who can’t really afford to live the Westside life, either. Increasingly, people enter the movie business the way they enter the book-publishing business or journalism: with help from Mom and Dad. “A lot of the people now come from money,” says my host, “and now you’ve got this new thing of people having parents in the business. You’ve always had a Carrie Fisher or two, but now you see a lot of the children of studio executives entering the business.” Going into the family business. Selective clubs. A social calendar dominated by charity fund-raisers and benefits for cultural organizations. Tea with the ladies. You can blame Hollywood’s loopy liberal politics partly on its newly conservative lifestyle. Advertisement Warren Beatty’s Hollywood is gone, and politics is the new cocaine. Nathan Schields, who runs the Malibu News Stand, has interesting business problems. “Yeah, sometimes customers come in and buy a newspaper and pay with a hundred-dollar bill, and I have to make change. They’ll walk in with this big wad of cash, like five grand, and I’m like, ‘Why do you carry so much cash?’” Schields, unfortunately, isn’t carrying a lot of cash out of the newsstand these days. He seems to be a pretty solid businessman — an older lady stops by and he brings her the cigarettes she’s come in for without even needing to ask — but the print business isn’t what it used to be, and Malibu is not a big reading kind of town. “This is an entertainment town, and we sell a lot of entertainment magazines,” he says, though there has been an uptick in the consumption of political literature since the election of Donald J. Trump, which has shocked and horrified the sort of California liberals who drink tea at Soho House or live in Malibu, and so the Malibu News Stand moves a few more copies of The Nation than it used to, which surely will be good news to Katrina vanden Heuvel when it reaches her in the Hamptons. Schields is all sold out of National Review. “We don’t order very many,” he says, apologetically. “We’re pretty liberal here.” Schields has set up a GoFundMe page to help maintain his little island of literacy in the middle of all that sunbaked vagueness and vacuity, but he has raised only $1,795 of his $30,000 goal. He has four children, and his political views are more or less conventional 21st-century Democratic-party progressivism: He worries about health-insurance costs, and his is one of the families that have done well under the Affordable Care Act. “Our premiums had been going up 20 percent a year,” he says. “It was eventually going to mean not having health insurance.” He worries that whatever Paul Ryan and the gang are cooking up in Congress will put him back on the path toward being priced out of the health-insurance market. Politics is never about policy. Politics is about people, and how we feel about groups of people who are not like us. But politics is never about policy. Politics is about people, and how we feel about groups of people who are not like us. What worries Schields about the Trump movement isn’t what’s going to happen with the tax treatment of carried interest in private-equity partnership, but the people. “I get worried when I see all this bigotry and intolerance, the racism, and the hatred. And I think you’re seeing more of that, now. Trump has empowered that.” Trump represents those people. You know: them. Advertisement Down the street at the local Starbucks, where a white man with a long and wild sadhu’s beard and a saffron-colored turban (not Rick Rubin) is enjoying an afternoon cappuccino in paradise, an entertainment lawyer and a film investor are less gentle: “He’s a Nazi,” he says of Trump. “Steve Bannon is a Nazi. The people who voted for him are Nazis.” Nazis? Advertisement Nazis. They are sure of it. The Hollywood Left thinks the Trump element are Nazis, lunatics, haters, foot-washing Bible-thumpers with brown teeth and black hearts, and the Facebook friends of LA County for Donald Trump are here to prove them right. “You suck!” Hollywood, too, can build a wall — a lot of them — practically overnight, and for that Samuel L. Jackson must be grateful as he gives the friends of Trump a slow, ironic wave and a satisfied smile from behind the blocks and blocks of fencing that separate those attending the Academy Awards from those who come to gawk at them. The Friends of Donald wave placards and chant: “Hollywood, stop the hate!” They chant other things, too. “You suck! Your movies suck! You’re boring! You’re all going to hell!” This old guy has been flipping the bird at the arriving celebrities for so long that he has worn himself out. He has now jammed his hand up through the chain-link fence, so he’s kind of hanging there by the wrist, but he is not retracting that middle finger until the last B-lister in the back of a Chevy Tahoe has rolled through. The protesters are ugly and brutish and angry and more or less everything the Hollywood Left believes the Trump element to be, desperately wants them to be, and maybe needs them to be. A bearded foreigner in a snazzy suit and an ivy cap walks by, and a man with an amplified bullhorn begins screaming in his face, maybe four inches away. An elderly woman turns to join in and scream at him: “You want our Christian boys to fight your wars! You want our Christian boys to fight your wars.” She is in a frenzy, and he, an Englishman not used to hostility from Americans, is confused. He is just on his way to help set up an after-party. A woman wearing a hijab comes down the sidewalk. More screaming: “Mohammed was a pedophile! No sharia law! No sharia law!” A young Latino man working at Mel’s Drive-In, wearing a little retro paper counterman’s cap, comes out to see what the ruckus is all about, and the crowd turns on him, too: “Build the wall! Build the wall!” “Dude. I was born here.” Inside the Dolby Theater, the scene is a great deal more subdued. A few political statements are made, with Gael García Bernal insisting that actors, too, are “migrant workers.” The Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi declines to attend. But there is nothing like, say, Marlon Brando’s stunt with Sacheen Littlefeather in 1973. In fact, with the exception of Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue, no one even deigns to speak Trump’s name. But he is there in spirit, and part of what he stands for is outside, chanting and making obscene gestures, angry and vulgar and full of resentment. Them. Those people. And while President Trump talks a great deal about “winning” while his Hollywood critics talk a great deal about their concern for the struggling and downtrodden, it is obvious which side here represents the people who have won in life and which represents life’s losers. Sure, your yoga practice is feminist. But is it feminist enough?The Battle of Fariskur was the last major battle of the Seventh Crusade. The battle was fought on April 6, 1250, between the Crusaders led by King Louis IX of France (later Saint Louis)[4] and Egyptian forces led by Turanshah of the Ayyubid dynasty. Following an earlier Crusader defeat at the Battle of Al Mansurah, Fariskur resulted in the complete defeat of the crusader army and the capture of Louis IX. Background [ edit ] Louis IX With the full support of Pope Innocent IV during the First Council of Lyon, King Louis IX of France accompanied by his brothers Charles d'Anjou and Robert d'Artois launched the Seventh Crusade against Egypt. The aims of the crusade were to defeat Egypt, destroy the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt and Syria and recover Jerusalem which the Muslims recaptured in 1244. The ships entered the Egyptian waters and the troops of the Seventh Crusade disembarked at Damietta in June 1249. Louis IX sent a letter to as-Salih Ayyub, the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt. [5] Emir Fakhr ad-Din Yussuf, the commander of the Ayyubid garrison in Damiette retreated to the camp of the Sultan in Ashmum-Tanah [6] causing a great panic among the inhabitants of Damietta who fled the town leaving the bridge that connected the west bank of the Nile with Damiette intact. After occupying the Egyptian port of Damietta in June 1249, Louis decided to march to Cairo, encouraged by the arrival of reinforcements led by his third brother Alphonse de Poitiers and the news of the death of as-Salih Ayyub. The Franks succeeded in crossing the Canal of Ashmum (known today by the name al-Bahr al-Saghir) and launched a surprise attack against the Egyptian camp in Gideila, two miles away from Al Mansurah.[7] The Egyptian troops in the camp, who were taken by surprise, retreated to Al Mansurah and the crusaders proceeded towards the town. The leadership of the Egyptian force passed to the Mamluk commandants Faris ad-Din Aktai, Baibars al-Bunduqdari who succeeded in reorganizing the retreating troops. Shajar al-Durr who was in full charge of Egypt agreed about the plan of Baibars to defend Al Mansurah.[8] Baibars ordered the opening of a gate to let the knights of the crusaders enter the town. The crusaders rushed into the town that they thought was deserted to find themselves trapped inside. The crusaders were besieged from all directions by the Egyptian forces and the town's population and heavy losses were inflicted upon them. Robert de Artois (brother of Louis IX) who took refuge in a house[9][10][11] and William of Salisbury were among those who were killed in Al Mansurah. Only five Knights Templar survived the battle.[12] The crusaders were forced to retreat in disorder to Gideila where they camped within a ditch and wall. Early in the morning of February 11, the Muslim forces launched an offensive against the Franks' camp. For many weeks the Franks were forced to remain in their camp enduring an exhausting guerilla war.[13] Many crusaders were captured and taken to Cairo.[14] Battle [ edit ] On February 27, Turanshah, the new sultan, arrived in Egypt from Hasankeyf and went straight to Al Mansurah to lead the Egyptian army. Ships were transported overland and dropped in the Nile (in Bahr al-Mahala) behind the ships of the crusaders cutting the reinforcement line from Damietta and besieging the crusade force of King Louis IX. The Egyptians used Greek fire and destroyed and seized many ships and supply vessels. Soon the besieged crusaders were suffering from devastating attacks, famine and disease. Some crusaders lost faith and deserted to the Muslim side.[15][16] King Louis IX proposed to the Egyptians the surrender of Damietta in exchange for Jerusalem and some towns on the Syrian coast. The Egyptians, aware of the miserable situation of the crusaders, refused the besieged king's offer. On April 5, covered by the darkness of night, the crusaders evacuated their camp and began to flee northward towards Damietta. In their panic and haste they neglected to destroy a pontoon bridge they had set over the canal. The Egyptians crossed the canal over the bridge and followed them to Fariskur where the Egyptians utterly destroyed the crusaders on 6 April. Thousands of crusaders were killed or taken prisoner.[17][18][19] King Louis IX and a few of his nobles who survived were captured in the nearby village of Moniat Abdallah (now Meniat el Nasr) where they took refuge. Louis IX surrendered to a eunuch named al-Salihi after he was promised he would not be killed [2][20] and together with his two brothers Charles d'Anjou and Alphonse de Poitiers he was taken to Al Mansurah where he was imprisoned in the house of Ibrahim ben Lokman, the royal chancellor, chained and under the guard of another eunuch named Sobih al-Moazami.[21][22] King Louis' coif was exhibited in Syria.[23][24] While the house of Ibrahim ben Lokman was used as a prison for Louis IX and the nobles, a camp was set up outside Al Mansurah to shelter thousands of war prisoners. Aftermath [ edit ] Louis IX was taken prisoner and ransomed. The defeat of the crusaders and the capture of King Louis IX in Fariskur created shock in France. The crusaders were circulating false information in Europe, claiming that Louis IX had defeated the Sultan of Egypt in a great battle and that Cairo had been betrayed into his hands.[25][26] When the news of the French defeat reached France, a hysterical movement called the Shepherds' Crusade occurred in France.[27] Louis IX was ransomed for 400,000 dinars. After he pledged not to return to Egypt again and surrendered Damietta to the Egyptians, he was allowed to leave on May 8, 1250, to Acre with his brothers and 12,000 war prisoners, including some from older battles, whom the Egyptians agreed to release. Many other prisoners were executed.[28][29] Louis's queen, Marguerite de Provence, suffered from nightmares. The news (the capture of her husband Louis) terrified her so much, that every time she fell asleep, she fancied that her room was filled with Saracens, and she would cry out, "Help! help!" [30] and left for Acre a few days earlier with her son, born in Damietta, who was called Jean Tristan (John Sorrow).[31] The National Day of Damiette Governorate, on May 8, marks the anniversary of the expulsion of Louis IX from Egypt in 1250.[32] Historical consequence [ edit ] The 1246 letter of Güyük to Pope Innocent IV The Seventh Crusade met its end at Fariskur in 1250, marking a historical turning point for all the regional parties existing at that time. Egypt defeated Louis's crusade and proved to be Islam's citadel and arsenal. The Seventh Crusade was the last major offensive undertaken by the crusaders against Egypt. The crusaders never could recover Jerusalem and the kings of Europe, except Louis IX, began to lose their interest in launching new crusades. But shortly after the battle of Fariskur, the Ayyubid Sultan Turanshah was assassinated at Fariskur itself[24][33] and the Mamluks, the same victorious champions of Al Mansurah, became the new rulers of Egypt. The power map of the southern and eastern Mediterranean basin became divided among four main dominions: Mamluk Egypt, Ayyubid Syria, the Franks of Acre and Syrian Christian beach-heads and the Levantine Christian state of Cilician Armenia. While the Mamluks of Egypt and the Ayyubids of Syria turned into conflicting rivals, the Franks and the Cilician Armenians in addition to the Principality of Antioch were allied. The Mongols, who suddenly erupted out of the Eurasian Steppe, had their armies by 1241 riding westwards as far as the river Oder and the northeastern shore of the Adriatic and during the Battle of Fariskur they were penetrating deep into all adjoining regions. The pope sent emissaries to the Mongols. Ascelin of Lombardia receiving (left) and remitting (right) a letter to the Mongol general Baiju The Western Christians and the Cilician Armenians always hoped to have a grand alliance with the Mongols against the Islamic World. The Cilician Armenians submitted themselves to Mongol suzerainty in 1247, and in 1254 their King Hetoum visited the Mongols' capital. In 1246, Pope Innocent IV, who fully supported the Seventh Crusade against Egypt, sent his Franciscan emissary Giovanni da Pian del Carpine to the Great Khan of the Mongols in Qaraqorum to seek an alliance against the Muslims. However, he received a disappointing answer from Güyük Khan who told him that he and the kings of Europe should submit to the Mongols.[34] In 1253, after his defeat in Egypt, King Louis IX sent from Acre another emissary, the Franciscan friar William of Rubruck who accompanied him earlier in his Egyptian expedition, but the outcome of this trip was also not followed by effective action.[35] The 1260 Mongol offensive reached the border of Egypt. In 1258 the Mongol army led by Hulagu Khan sacked Baghdad and liquidated the Abbasid Caliphate, then advanced to Syria and captured Damascus. The path to Egypt was then open. The Mongols sent a threatening message to Egypt asking it to submit to the Mongols.[36] In 1260 an Egyptian army led by the Mamluks Sultan Qutuz and commander Baibars al-Bunduqdari – the same champions of Al Mansurah – annihilated a Mongol army at Ain Jalut. The commander of the Mongol army who was killed at the battle was Kitbuqa, a Nestorian Christian who was accompanied by the Christian king of Cilician Armenia and by the Christian prince of Antioch.[35] The Franks of Acre who stood neutral, and who were warned by Qutuz not to commit an act of treachery, gave passage to the Egyptian army.[37] The triumphant army took Damascus and Syria became part of the Mamluks' dominion. Baibars punished the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in 1266. Later, during the era of Sultan al-Zahir Baibars al-Bunduqdari, the Cilician Armanians and the
Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon being linked to seats. While confessing that his situation was “frustrating”, Magnussen said his motivation came from a desire to prepare himself for the potential of being in a more competitive situation in 2017 and the years after. “It’s difficult not even racing for points,” he admitted. “If you’re racing in P16, P15, chasing someone down, and you do catch him and overtake him, you still get no points. “It is a very frustrating and challenging time. But I know what I’m working towards. “You can always motivate yourself by thinking about next year and the year after – learning as much as possible, preparing yourself for the chance. “That’s how F1 is, suddenly you can be in a car that can win and you have to deliver. Learning and preparing for that time is what I’m doing now.” Sochi “miracle” While generally happy with his performance so far this season, Magnussen said he feels he has more to deliver – but said his Sochi performance remains a particular source of satisfaction. “I’m never satisfied and I always feel I can do better, like I can improve,” added the Dane. “I’ve made a few mistakes but a few miracles. “Russia, for example, that’s the big one, getting points. We qualified P17, on a track that really wasn’t our track, so to still score decent points was good.”It should really go without saying that Hackday LOVES hackerspaces. We want to support hackerspaces to the best of our ability. There have been many ideas tossed around, like a hackerspace directory, or hackerspace calendar of events, project lists, tool exchange programs, etc. For the short term, we can’t implement either of those in a smooth enough fashion that we think it would beneficial. There are several Hackerspace directories out there, with hackerspaces.org seeming to be the most up-to-date. We even have an “events” area in our forums, though we feel there could be a much better format or delivery device than a forum for that kind of information. So what can Hackaday do to start helping? Well, the first small step could be to share more information about hackerspaces. We would like to do video tours of your hackerspace. Unfortunately, we don’t have a budget to travel around with a film crew and visit you all. I really wish we did, since I would probably be the one doing the traveling. So what we can offer for now is that you film a tour, showing off some cool projects going on in your hackerspace, and we’ll share the video. Contact me directly at [email protected] to work out the details. Your hackerspace doesn’t have to be a huge one in a big city. We want to help everyone here. If you have a few people gathered and a couple cool projects, we don’t care if you meet in someone’s basement. We want to see what the hacker community is doing! Toward the end of May I will be spending a few days in Huntsville Al, then a few days in Hilton Head Island SC. I’d love to visit a hackerspace or two while I’m there to do a quick video tour. Again, contact me directly if you’re in those areas.Image copyright Danny Kinahan Image caption Danny Kinahan posted the photo on Twitter An Ulster Unionist MP has apologised for posting a photograph on social media which showed him standing in front of a bonfire bearing an Irish tricolour. The picture was posted on Danny Kinahan's Twitter account on Monday. Image copyright Danny Kinahan Image caption Mr Kinahan said he accepted that the photograph was an error of judgement The MP posed for the photograph while holding a cheque for charity. Mr Kinahan said he accepted it had been an error in judgement, but said the flag was removed from the bonfire before it was lit. He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster: "What I wanted to get across was here was a family, rural bonfire scene and they'd raised £600 for meningitis. "They were having fun and this is Protestant culture - let's recognise each other's cultures and get on with it." Mr Kinahan added: "I should have had the flag taken down before the photograph, but it's really to get the point across - let's recognise each other's cultures, let's look after them, be tolerant and let's get on and enjoy our lives." Sinn Féin election posters and Irish tricolours were put on other 11th night bonfires. Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Sinn Féin election posters and Irish tricolours were put on other bonfires, including this one at Chobham Street in east Belfast Alliance leader David Ford told the same programme: "I'm glad Danny has recognised that this morning and has apologised." The former justice minister contrasted the MP's actions at the bonfire with his support for the Irish government's official commemoration of the Battle of the Somme at the weekend. "I think I was probably the first person who pointed out on social media last night that on Saturday he was showing respect for the Irish state, its symbols and its flag," Mr Ford said. "I find it completely unacceptable that he should stand in front of a symbol of hate with the tricolour on the bonfire last night [Monday]." Image caption Irish flags were also put on top of this bonfire at Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus The Alliance MLA added: "I accept he has now apologised, he has admitted it was an error of judgement. "I think it was a bit more than an error of judgement but he has at least apologised and we should recognise that."The official Twitter account for Akita Shoten's Weekly Shonen Champion magazine revealed on Wednesday that Masaru Miyazaki and Kōji Yoshimoto will end their nonfiction manga Black Jack Sōsaku Hiwa - Tezuka Osamu no Shigotoba Kara (The Untold Story: How Tezuka Created His Black Jack) in the magazine's 28th issue on June 12. Akita Shoten also revealed that the fifth and final compiled volume will ship on August 8. In Black Jack Sōsaku Hiwa, Miyazaki and Yoshimoto recount the true story of how manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy/Mighty Atom, Kimba the White Lion/Jungle Emperor, Phoenix) created Black Jack, his classic tale of a brilliant maverick doctor. Miyazaki and Yoshimoto used firsthand accounts from people who were actually at Tezuka's studio to give their behind-the-scenes account. Black Jack Sōsaku Hiwa ranked #1 among the "Top 10 Manga for Male Readers" in the 2012 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook. Weekly Shōnen Champion is the very same magazine that serialized the original Black Jack manga from 1973 to 1978.New research indicates that a “regional”, limited nuclear war would have even more devastating global consequences than previously expected. In addition to creating a global “nuclear haze” effect that would lead to global famine, a nuclear war involving as few as 100 Hiroshima-size nuclear bombs could cause serious depletion of the world’s ozone layer, leading to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation that would affect plants and animals around the world. (There are approximately 23,000 nuclear weapons, equivalent to more than 400,000 Hiroshima bombs, in the global arsenal.) Even a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, which have much smaller arsenals than the United States and Russia, might be large enough to cause the predicted effects (“Nuclear War and Ultraviolet Radiation,” Staff Notes, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 2 March 2011):Jim Steinle and Liz Sullivan, the parents of Kate Steinle urged the passage of Kate’s Law during an interview on Monday’s “O’Reilly Factor” on the Fox News Channel. In the first part of the interview, Steinle and Sullivan remembered their daughter. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Kate’s mother said that “she was not only beautiful, but a very soulful person. Just a lot of depth, a lot of spirituality, always, from a young edge. and I think that’s what’s helping to give us the strength that we’ve conjured up here in this terrible, terrible situation. I feel her strength still with me.” And both parents remembered how close they were to their daughter. Kate’s father stated that Kate met them and one of their friends while they were visiting the city, and that they decided to head to the pier to enjoy the view of San Francisco and reflect on the day. Unfortunately, on their way back, they heard a gunshot “Kate went down, and the rest, we all know what happened then.” He added that Kate said “help me, dad” before she passed away. He also praised the “kind souls” who offered Kate assistance before paramedics showed up and said he never saw the shooter. Kate’s mother talked about the outpouring of support the family has received, saying “just the food, the cards, the offers for help, you know, the people that have come from very far to come and give us condolences, her second grade teacher came from Auburn, you know it has just been absolutely unbelievable how many lives she touched. And the cards, the flowers, the service, the memorial. Was — I mean, I just was taken away with the amount of people and everything. It was overwhelming. … You can’t prepare for anything like this, but it was astonishing, and it is astonishing. And we are hoping to carry this forward. We’re hoping for some good to come out of all of this.” Jim added that the support the family has received has given them “more than comfort.” And that that the family’s faith kept them strong, but things would have been tougher without the worldwide outpouring of support they received. The second part of the interview centered on Kate’s Law, or the Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act. Kate’s father said, “Well, I support Kate’s Law, because it would be a legacy in her name, and her death would not go unnoticed. We’re an apolitical family. We keep up with politics, because we’re citizens of the United States. And, you know, we feel the federal, state, and cities, their laws are here to protect us, but we feel that this particular set of circumstances, and the people involved, the different agencies let us down. And we just — we’re just a little tired of the finger-pointing and just want to see some action, and if Kate’s Law saves one person, then it’s all for good.” He did state that they want to “be involved in the language of the law.” Her mother added, “I just want it to be a good, solid law that won’t have holes in it. And I’m sure there will be a lot of posturing back and forth, I had no idea how many people have been killed by illegal aliens. And we’ve had quite a few people reach out to us, and we had no idea it was an issue, but something definitely needs to be done.” The interview concluded with the parents accepting O’Reilly’s offer to come to DC in September after Congress comes back from vacation to meet with members of Congress. Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchettThe campaign to defund the Affordable Care Act may have endeared him to the tea party, but Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) is facing an increasingly disgruntled constituency at home for his leading role in the quixotic effort that led to the government shutdown and brought the United States close to default. Look no further than a pair of articles published Wednesday in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, both of which focus on the growing backlash against Lee in Utah. The Post quoted A. Scott Anderson, the president of a prominent Utah bank who raised money for Lee’s successful 2010 campaign. “If things are to happen, you can’t just stick to your principles. You have to make things work.... You’ve got to be practical,” Anderson said, as quoted by the Post. And then there was Utah native Spencer Zwick, the finance chairman for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, branding Lee a “show horse” and vowing to campaign against the senator. “Business leaders that I talk to, many of whom supported him, would never support his reelection and in fact will work against him, myself included,” Zwick told the Post. The Journal, meanwhile, caught up with Quin Monson, a pollster for Brigham Young University who said that Lee may have set himself for a primary. “Lee looks vulnerable to a challenge from within his party, but the real danger could be a challenge in a general election from the right kind of moderate Democrat,” Monson told the Journal. Monson’s online poll earlier this month showed Lee’s favorability tumbling to 40 percent, while 51 percent of Utahns said they have an unfavorable opinion of him. That’s consistent with a recent trend for the entire Republican Party, which has seen historically bad polling numbers in the wake of the budget and debt crises. Moreover, polls across the board showed the public largely blaming the GOP for the first government shutdown since 1996, brought about by the defunding campaign that was led by Lee and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).Greater Bangladesh in map Greater Bangladesh (Bengali: বৃহৎ বঙ্গ, translit. Brihôt Bāngā,[1] also variously translated as Bengali: বৃহৎ বাংলাদেশ, translit. Brihôt Bānglādesh,[2] Bengali: মহাবাংলাদেশ, translit. Môhâbānglādesh[3]), also known as Bishal Bangla[4] (Bengali: বিশাল বাংলা "Great Bengal"), is a conspiracy theory that claims that the People's Republic of Bangladesh has aspirations of, uniting Bengali speaking regions into a greater historical United Bengal including mainly the current Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand in East India and Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh but also Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim in North-east India alongside the Andaman Islands and the Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) in Myanmar as part of its own territory with democratic governance.[5] Currently, States of West Bengal & Assam of India and Rakhine State of Myanmar have a significant Muslim population with Bengali ethnic lineage. Background [ edit ] Geo-political region of Bengal was first united as one single independent state by King Shashanka who conquered all of what is now Bangladesh, West Bengal, Tripur, Jharkhand and parts of Southern Assam and East and Central Bihar. This region was again united by the Bengali Buddhist Pala Emperors whose power centred around this region but their reign expanded to included lands from as high as the Kashmiri hills to modern day Andhra Pradesh. During the successive rule of the Hindu Sena dynasty in Bengal the notion of a Greater Bangladesh first emerged with the idea of uniting Bengali-speaking people in the areas now known as Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya along with the Bengal which at that point also Included the states of Bihar and Jharkhand which are now considered non-Bengali states.[6] After the Sena Dynasty's collapse subsequently the region became the hub of Islamic culture and prominence of the Muslim East and the region flourished to be an economic superpower. After the Battle of Raj Mahal The Bengal Sultanate was integrated imto the Mughal Empire with the empire's Crown Princes acting as it's viceroy. After the Maratha rebellions in Northern India the Bengal province became autonomous and was ruled by the Nawab of Bengal however after the Battle of Plassey the region became the administrative division of British India with Bengal's capital Calcutta becoming the Indian capital. Bengal Presidency was formed in 1765. In 1905, the presidency was divided into Bengal province and East Bengal and Assam province. In 1911, Bengal was reunited. Assam including Meghalaya and Sylhet was severed from the Presidency in 1874. Assam became the Province of Assam together with Lushai Hills in 1912. In 1912 Bengal was separated into various states of the British empire after being a tense area of the Indian independence movement. These new provinces were Bihar and Orissa and East Bengal and Assam however the westernmost part of the Bihar and Orissa province and East Bengal were reunited to become a smaller but yet united Bengal. This province was partitioned again in 1947 into Hindu-majority West Bengal and Muslim-majority East Bengal (now Bangladesh) to facilitate the creation of the separate Muslim state of Pakistan, of which East Bengal became a province.[7] United Bengal [ edit ] In January 1947, Sarat Chandra Bose resigned from the Indian National Congress, partially in protest against the partition of Bengal. He called for an Independent Bengal separate from both India and Pakistan, and formed his own party, the Socialist Republican Party.[8][9] At the time, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Abul Hashem, two Bengali leaders of the Muslim League also advocated for an Independent Bengal comprising both the Eastern (now Bangladesh) and Western (now West Bengal) parts of Bengal.[8][10] Mohammad Akram Khan and Khawaja Nazimuddin, two other Muslim League leaders wanted a United Bengal as part of Pakistan. Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh which later was succeeded by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), opposed the idea of an Independent Bengal or a United Bengal.[8] Hindu Mahashabha and Mookerjee were concerned about Bose and Suhrawardy discussing a sovereign state of Bengal, while opposing the idea of a United Bengal, even as part of India. Jawaharlal Nehru, then a leader of the majority faction of the Congress, was opposed to a United Bengal unless it was connected to the Union.[11] Conspiracy theories [ edit ] Lebensraum theory [ edit ] Achieving a "Greater Bangladesh" as Lebensraum (additional living space) is alleged to be the reason for large-scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India's states.[12] Similarly it is alleged that illegal immigration is actively encouraged by some political groups in Bangladesh as well as the state of Bangladesh to convert large parts of India's northeastern states, particularly Assam and West Bengal into Muslim-majority areas that would subsequently seek to separate from India and join Muslim-majority Bangladesh.[12] One Indian proposition is that the state of Bangladesh is pursuing a territorial design seeking a Lebensraum for its teeming population and trying to establish a Greater Bangladesh.[5] Another proposition called for capturing one or two districts in Bangladesh and sending illegal immigrants there.[5][13] Yet another proposition called for killing off Bangladeshi immigrants in India to thwart the designs of state of Bangladesh.[14] It is suspected, though, that the figures of Bangladeshi migrants in India are too far-fetched to be accorded any credence.[15] The diplomatic difficulty is increased by the failure of conspiracy theorists in India to comprehend that supporting Indian rebels in a plot to carve out a Greater Bangladesh would bring very little strategic dividend to Bangladesh.[15] Scholars have also reflected that under the guise of Bangladeshi immigrant movement it is actually a Muslim false propaganda and widely understated claims on immigrant population.[16] There also is an alleged parallel threat of turning Assam into a part of a Greater West Bengal.[17][18] Migration theory [ edit ] At the turn of the 21st century, Indian political circles started to take a serious look at Bangladeshi illegal immigration into India.[5] Bangladesh is under pressure from India as a source of rebellion in Indian North-East for this Indian perception.[15] It is also hard pressed to convince India that encouraging migration is not a state policy of Bangladesh.[15] The state of Bangladesh denied the existence of these immigrants while stripping them of their Bangladeshi citizenship.[5] According to Jyoti M. Pathania of South Asia Analysis Group the reasons for Bangladeshi immigration to India are: basic need theory i.e. food, shelter and clothing, economic dictates i.e. employment opportunity, better wages and comparatively better living conditions, demographic disproportion especially for minorities (Hindus) in this densely populated country having roughly a density of 780 per km2 as against half that number on Indian side of the border, and being cheap labor the Bangladeshis find easy acceptance as “domestic helps” in Indian homes, which keeps proliferating by ever increasing demand for domestic helps.[19] The Centre for Women and Children Studies estimated in 1998 that 27,000 Bangladeshis have been forced into prostitution in India.[20][21] Militancy theory [ edit ] A number of Indian politicians and journalists alleged that advocates of a Greater Bangladesh seek the expansion of Bangladeshi hegemony in Northeastern India, including the states of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura, as well as the Arakan Province of Burma (Myanmar), where there is a considerable population of Bengali Muslims.[1][12] It was also alleged that United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) conspired with state of Bangladesh to secede four to five Muslim majority districts of Assam to form a Greater Bangladesh, though Bangladesh in the contrary arrested a number of ULFA leaders,[22] including Ranju Chowdhury, Arabinda Rajkhowa and Anup Chetia, to support Indian action against militancy.[23] In 2002, nine Islamic groups including Indian militant organizations Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA), Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) and Muslim Volunteer Force (MVF), Pakistani militant organization Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), Myanmar groups Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front of Myanmar (ARIFM), and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, a pan-South Asian militant organization outlawed in Bangladesh with leaders sentenced to death,[24] formed a coalition that declared the formation Greater Bangladesh as one of their aims.[1][25] Historically India has been accusing Bangladesh of supporting extremist organizations like ULFA and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), while Bangladesh accused India of supporting similar organizations like Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolan and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF).[26] Effects of allegation [ edit ] Nellie massacre [ edit ] In Assam, agitation against immigrants started as early as 1979, led by All Assam Students Union.[27] Their demand was to put a stop on the influx of immigrants and deportation of those who have already settled.[28] It gradually took violent form and ethnic violence started between Assamese and Bengalis, mostly Muslim. It eventually led to the infamous Nellie massacre in 1983 due to a controversy over the 1983 election.[29] In 1985 Indian Government signed the Assam accord with the leaders of the agitation to stop the issue.[28][30] As per the accord India started building a fence along the Assam-Bangladesh border which is now almost complete.[31] However Assam also has a large number of genuine Indian Muslim Bengalis. It is difficult to distinguish between illegal Bangladeshis and local Bengali speakers.[32] Ethnic and religious tensions in the Indian North East had led to massacre of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Nellie in February 1983.[33] The greatest carnage against immigrants occurred on 18 February when 990 in Neille and 585 in Barbori were killed.[34] Villages were burned while women and children identified as immigrant Muslims were hacked into pieces.[35] Smuggling and illegal immigration along the Indian-Bangladeshi border has been identified as major cause of killing of more than 3,000 people in the massacre.[36] The Neille Massacre has been argued as one of the cases of ethnic cleansing with the complicity of state, that was followed by similar incidents of carnages in Delhi (1984), Bhagalpur (1989), Mumbai (1993) and Gujarat (2002).[35] The Sinha Report [ edit ] In 1998, Lieutenant General S.K. Sinha, then the Governor of Assam and later the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, wrote a report to K.R. Narayanan, then the President of India claiming that massive illegal immigration from Bangladesh was directly linked with "the long-cherished design of Greater Bangladesh," and also quoted pre-1971 comments from late Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and late President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman endorsing the inclusion of Assam into East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).[12][37] Anxiety and popular anger over illegal immigration prompted political unrest in the state of Assam, and criticism has increased over the Indian government's failure to secure its borders with Bangladesh and stop the illegal immigration.[12][37] Rakhine State of Myanmar [ edit ] Rakhine State of Myanmar (formerly Burma) is another region where Bangladesh may have a territorial interest for historical reasons. During the Pakistan Movement in the 1940s, Rohingya Muslims in Arakan (today's Rakhaine State) organized a separatist movement to merge the region with East Pakistan, current days Bangladesh. The commitments of the British regarding the status of Muslims after the World War II were not clear. V Force felt that Muslims along with other minorities must be rewarded after the war for their loyalty to the British against the Japanese. Muslim leaders believed that the British had promised them a "Muslim National Area" in Maungdaw region. They were also apprehensive of a future Buddhist-dominated government. In 1946, calls were made for annexation of the territory by Pakistan as well as of an independent state.[39] Before the independence of Burma in January 1948, Muslim leaders from Arakan addressed themselves to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and asked his assistance in incorporating the Mayu region to Pakistan considering their religious affinity and geographical proximity with East Pakistan. The North Arakan Muslim League was founded in Akyab (modern Sittwe) two months later. The proposal never materialized since it was reportedly turned down by Jinnah, saying that he was not in a position to interfere in Burmese matters. References [ edit ] Sources [ edit ]• A daily summary of global reports on security issues. A bomb in northern Iraq killed at least eight people on Monday morning, the latest in a string of sectarian-tinged attacks there since the last US troops withdrew from the country in December. The blast struck a housing development for displaced Iraqis outside of the ethnically- and religiously-mixed city of Mosul. More than 140 people have died in attacks across Iraq since the last US forces left Iraq on Dec. 18, raising concerns that Iraq may be facing a sectarian conflict as Sunni insurgents challenge the Shiite-dominated government. “Ordinary Iraqis say the violence is largely sectarian, with the once-dominant Sunni Muslims believing Shiites are responsible, and the majority Shiites saying it is the work of Sunni insurgents,” writes CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq. “Each group believes it is being targeted by the other.” Monday’s attack targeted displaced members of the Shabak minority group, reports Al Jazeera. The group is of Kurdish origins and follows a mix of Shiite Islam and local beliefs. The group has also expressed an interest in becoming part of an independent Kurdistan. The Shabak community faced persecution during the rule of Saddam Hussein and was subject to numerous attacks after the US-led invasion. Although Mosul has seen a drop in violence, it is still believed to be the city where Al Qaeda in Iraq has the strongest foothold, reports Agence France-Presse. Prior to Monday’s bombing, Iraq saw much bloodshed over the weekend with attacks on both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, insurgents launched a coordinated attack against a jail in Ramadi, west of Baghdad in an attempt to free terror suspects. The battle left at least 18 people dead, including the attackers, reports The Wall Street Journal. On Saturday, more than 50 Shiite pilgrims were killed in the southern city of Basra. “The government must be careful in the coming days because the political problems are being reflected on the ground,” said Sadoon Abed, a high-ranking member of the Ramadi provincial council in a New York Times article. “Al Qaeda wants to return to show that they still have the power to carry out such attacks. We fear the return of the sectarian war.” Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy The political situation has been particularly tense since Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government ordered the arrest of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi and accused him of running death squads, reports the Associated Press. The move reignited sectarian tensions and has thrown the central government into deep turmoil. There are mounting concerns that the country could be headed toward the type of sectarian violence that peaked in 2006 and 2007, a civil war that left tens of thousands of civilians dead. “All these attacks happened because of the political problems in the country and the corruption that spread inside the body of the security agencies and the judicial systems,” said Hammed al-Hies, a leading sheik in Western Iraq who told the Washington Post he blamed attacks such as those in recent days on Iraq’s larger political problems.Washington (CNN) The Trump administration Thursday night asked the Supreme Court to allow the President's travel ban that blocks entry from six Muslim-majority countries to go into effect. In its filings, the administration asked the nine justices to consider the legality of President Donald Trump's executive order, a move that appeals a ruling by the 4th Circuit that upheld a nationwide halt to the ban. The case marks the President's first test of his travel ban in the nation's highest court after multiple stinging rebukes of his national security justifications for the ban in the lower federal courts. Last month, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals largely affirmed a federal judge's decision from March, which found the core provision of the revised executive order -- temporarily blocking foreign nationals from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US -- likely violates the Constitution because its primary purpose was to disfavor Muslims. The 4th Circuit held that the executive order is composed of "vague words of national security" but in context "drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination." Thursday night's petition will be referred to the full court and the justices will likely ask for a response from the challengers. With the arrival of Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, the court is back to full strength with five conservatives and four liberals. But it is not certain that the justices would break down along ideological lines. The travel ban touches not just on immigration, but it involves issues such as the authority of the executive and the issue of religious freedom. "The Constitution and Acts of Congress confer on the President broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens outside the United States when he deems it in the Nation's interest, " wrote Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall. He said that while the executive order has been the subject of "passionate political debate," the lower court opinion "failed to adhere to foundational legal rules." "The President is not required to admit people from countries that sponsor or shelter terrorism, until he determines that they can be properly vetted and do not pose a security risk to the United States," said Justice Department spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores. The ACLU, one of the challengers to the travel ban, tweeted "We've beat this hateful ban and are ready to do it again, @realDonaldTrump." The administration argues the travel ban should be allowed to go into effect now while the court looks at the ultimate legality of Trump's executive order later this year, said CNN legal analyst and professor at the University of Texas Law School Steve Vladeck. "It's an interesting procedural move, but the fact that it's taken this long may undermine, at least to some extent, the Trump administration's core argument that the entry ban, which has never gone into full effect, is essential to protect our national security," Vladeck said. "Thus, while it seems likely that the court will eventually hear the government's challenge, the real question now is what happens in the interim," Vladeck added. "Are there five votes to grant a stay and allow the ban to go into effect, or will everything remain frozen until the court has the last word." It would take five justices to agree to the stay application. According to Supreme Court rules, the justices would consider whether there is a "reasonable probability" that four of the justices would eventually agree to hear the case and a "fair prospect" that a majority of the court will hold that the opinion below was erroneous. They would also consider whether" irreparable harm" will result from the denial of they stay. In a flurry of legal filings, the Justice Department also asked the court to put a separate injunction on hold that was issued by a district court judge in Hawaii in late March....As featured on Chris Cotter's report on SNY's Mets TV broadcast on June 22, 2006. Chris cited facts #18, #32 and #311 as his favorites. (also featured on Wikipedia). ...regularly updated based on fan e-mail! Please give credit to this site when discussing these facts on message boards. If you get a laugh out of this, the least you could do is spread the word :) Go Lastings! Go Jose! Go David! Go Pedro! 2006 IS OURS! _____________________________________________________________ *Thanks to everyone who has sent in these facts. I will be updating this site at least twice daily and more often if Lastings Milledge orders me to. Keep it coming, or you know Lastings Milledge will eat your children. People say the New York Mets overhype their prospects. That may have been true in the past, but not anymore. With Jose Reyes and David Wright blossoming into superstars, that argument is beginning to fail. However, the final straw that breaks that argument has now arrived. And his name is Lastings Milledge. We have uncovered these facts about this superstar which will make you believe:1. Lastings Milledgea 5 tool player. Lastings Milledge has more thantools, many of which are unknown to most baseball scouts.1A. When the apocalypse dawns and Lastings Milledge comes down to destroy all of the non-believers, Chris Cotter will be spared. He will be placed on a raft with two mets fans and two of every animal.2. Lastings Milledge wasn’t slapping fives with fans after his first big league homerun. He was healing lepers and cripples.3. Keith Hernandez thinks a girl’s place is in the dugout as long as they're on the arm of Lastings Milledge.4. Lastings Milledge doesn’t hit 8th. Those seven other guys are just warming up the pitcher for the first real at bat of the game.5. Shea Stadium is no longer known as a pitcher’s park now that Lastings Milledge hits there.6. Lastings Milledge can fix Victor Zambrano in ten minutes.7. Lastings Milledge has taught Willie Randolph how to execute a double switch.8. Johnny Damon wishes he can have Lastings Milledge’s hair.9. When Steve Trachsel deliberates on the mound, he’s thinking of all the ways Lastings Milledge will help the Mets win.10. Light has to kick it into high gear just to try and keep up with Lastings Milledge’s bat speed.11. Lastings Milledge’s three children will be named Turner, Citizen’s Bank and 'Chipperer'.12. Lastings Milledge also has an illegitimate child. He was born in 1895 and his name is Babe Ruth.13. Billy Wagner likes to warm up just to watch Lastings Milledge play right field.14. Alex Ochoa and Alex Escobar carry pictures of Lastings Milledge in their wallet to remind them of the players they should have become.15. Confucius quotes Lastings Milledge.16. Lastings Milledge is your American Idol.17. The cross around Lasting Milledge's neck is the secret to the Da Vinci Code.18. SNY has changed its call letters to LMNY.19. A-Rod no longer has a crush on Derek Jeter. He is now obsessed with Lastings Milledge.20. Lastings Milledge knocked Armando Benitez back to 2001.21. Lastings Milledge can play all three outfield positions at the same time.22. Lastings Milledge only took #44 because he's waiting for jersey #666.23. The word "swagger" has been redefined by Webster's to mean Lastings Milledge.24. Lastings Milledge is not the next Willie Mays. Willie Mays is just a precursor to Lastings Milledge.25. Jason Grimsley admitted to using steroids and turned himself over to the FBI after he saw Lastings Milledge was coming to town in June.26. MLB makes Lastings Milledge use a foam bat.27. Lastings Milledge beat Jose Reyes in a race running backwards.28. Fred Wilpon has renamed his son Lastings.29. Lastings Milledge can tell the difference between diet and regular Dr.Pepper.30. Jose Lima dyed his dreadlocks black in honor of Lastings Milledge.31. Lastings Milledge wiped the smile off of Andruw Jones' face. Now Andruw has a permanent twitch from the pain inflicted on him by the wrath of Lastings.32. Roger Clemens has it written in his contract that he does not have to pitch against Lastings Milledge.33. Lastings Milledge has his own dressing room because when Lastings Milledge changes, his manhood darkens the room and the other players aren't able to get their uniforms on.34. People dissolve Lastings Milledge's hair roots in water and drink the potion for everlasting life.35. CBS just added CSI: LASTINGS MILLEDGE to their new Fall lineup.36. Lastings Milledge ate Mike Tyson's children.37. Rickey Henderson wishes his name was Lastings Milledge so he'd have a better name to refer to himself in the third person with.38. God says: "Holy Lastings Milledge."39. Lastings Milled
a part of the border where the two countries are separated only by a small stream. “We take lumps of North Korean money or loaves of bread and throw them across the steam. Then we wait for the North Korean guards to come along, hop across and take photos with them. They don’t mind because they want the money, but it’s really exciting because – you know – their guns are real!” One 22-year-old student and part-time tour guide told me that she and her friends think it’s fun to rent one of the numerous small boats that offer to take people of river tours of the border and throw pens or even paper cups for North Koreans living across the border: “It’s so funny, they’re so happy with the stuff we throw to them.” As life goes on in Dandong, however, people aren’t oblivious to the geo-political implications of China’s relationship with North Korea. I asked one shopkeeper in Dandong who sells trinkets from North Korea if there had been any change to his business after Kim Jong-il’s death. “There’s been no change yet, and there won’t be any change because China won’t allow any change.” He then asked me where I was from and I told him I’m from the United Kingdon. “There, you see,” he replied. “If we let them collapse, the Americans, you, and the Japanese will be on our border trying to interfere in our politics. They’re our friend and they’re a good friend. There won’t be any change for now.” Peter Martin works for a political consulting firm in Beijing.SAN JUAN, P.R. — The Justice Department on Friday made public the names of 55 detainees at the Guantánamo Bay prison who have been approved for transfer to the custody of other countries, releasing information sought by human rights organizations. The announcement, which reverses a 2009 decision, was a surprise to organizations that had been seeking the information. “We did not expect this,” said Omar Farah, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. “This is an important development.” Mr. Farah said the government’s action would aid lawyers representing detainees at the prison. “We can now advocate publicly for the release of our clients by name,” he said. Advertisement Continue reading the main story There are 167 detainees now at the Guantánamo prison in Cuba. The government’s move has no immediate, practical effect on the inmates’ detention. Inclusion on the list does not mean that the United States has absolved them of any wrongdoing or that it believes they pose no threat. In 2009, Daniel Fried, the Obama administration’s special envoy on detainee issues, argued that it was necessary to keep the prisoners’ identities secret while the United States negotiated transfers to other countries. But the government said in a court filing on Friday that the successful transfers of other detainees no longer warranted such concerns. It noted that 40 detainees had been resettled in new countries and 28 had been sent to their native countries since 2009.Welcome back to Trivia Tidbits. For those of you out of the loop, this is a little compilation of 10 movie related facts that I always find interesting. So without further ado, this weeks are… 1: Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Michael Douglas were all originally offered roles in Robert Rodriguez’s “Sin City“. Douglas was offered the role of Hartigan (played by Bruce Willis), Buscemi was offered the part of Junior (played by Nick Stahl) when he became the Yellow Bastard, and Dafoe and Walken were both offered the role of Senator Roark (played by Powers Boothe). 2: In “The Wolf Of Wall Street“, the scene where Brad (Jon Bernthal) punches Donnie (Jonah Hill) is real. In fact, Bernthal hit Hill so hard that the prosthetic teeth he was wearing split and flew out of his mouth. Martin Scorsese then proceeded to film Hill’s face swelling in real time. 3: Al Pacino was offered $5 million but wanted $7 million plus profits from gross to reprise his role as Michael Corleone in “The Godfather Part III“. Francis Ford Coppola refused and threatened to rewrite the script by starting off with Michael’s funeral sequence instead of the film’s introduction. Pacino agreed to the $5-million offer. 4: The title of Cameron Crowe’s “Vanilla Sky” was actually considered for Crowe’s previous movie, “Almost Famous“. The original title for “Almost Famous” was actually “Untitled“. However, Dreamworks would not allow this, so Crowe titled the bootleg edition of “Almost Famous” on DVD “Untitled“. 5: Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale were considered for the role of Tom Ripley in “The Talented Mr. Ripley“. Anthony Minghella originally wanted Tom Cruise for the role but after seeing “Good Will Hunting” he decided to cast Matt Damon. 6: Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany’s son Stellan was named after actor Stellan Skarsgård, who is a friend of Bettany’s. 7: As stated in the DVD audio commentary of “The Ides Of March“, the bar where Stephen (Ryan Gosling) meets Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti) is called “Head First” and is located directly across from the Cincinnati Reds baseball stadium. It’s named for Pete Rose, who would slide head first. Paul Giamatti is the son of the late Bart Giamatti, who as Commissioner of baseball imposed the lifetime ban on Pete Rose. 8: Patrick Swayze began his career as a dancer appearing in Disneyland’s parades as Prince Charming from “Cinderella“. One of the many Cinderellas he danced with was Michelle Pfeiffer. 9: Matthew McConaughey’s production company’s name, “JKL Productions” comes from his character Wooderson in “Dazed And Confused“, whose life credo was Just Keep Livin’! 10: The role of Adrian (played by Talia Shire) in “Rocky” was originally offered to Carrie Snodgress but she dropped out due to a disagreement about money. Susan Sarandon auditioned for the role, but was deemed too obviously attractive for the character and singer/actress Cher was considered for the role. Sylvester Stallone also had originally wanted Harvey Keitel for the role of Paulie (played by Burt Young) and Lee J. Cobb was considered for the role of Mickey (played by Burgess Meredith). Added to which, Warren Beatty claimed he was offered the lead role. So there you have it. 10 esoteric Tidbits to masticate on. Some you may know. Some you may not. If you have any thoughts, stick your donations in the comment box… (For earlier editions of Trivia Tidbits click here.) AdvertisementsUsing full-disk encryption (FDE) is a great first step if you want to protect your data, but sometimes it isn't enough. The U.S. Government can force you to decrypt your data, so if you truly want to stay protected you need to hide your sensitive files elsewhere and use your primary disk as a decoy. Security expert Brandon Gregg explains: FDE drives still leave your data and personal information vulnerable in at least two scenarios: 1) You are forced to turn over your password (as in Judge Blackburn's District Court ruling), or 2) Someone has hacked into your live machine and remotely recording your keystrokes/data while you work. To address these issues, we are also going to put our personal/business files in an encrypted directory-but not using just any encryption scheme. Encryption with hidden volumes is the key to really protecting your information and rights. With a correctly implemented hidden volume on your encrypted hard drive, you don't have to worry when someone cracks (or coerces you into giving up) the password. When they use it to open the door, they will only see the closet. Advertisement Brandon suggests using a bad password for the "closet" (your encrypted hard drive—not the sensitive data), such as password. It'll get cracked easily, which will encourage the person looking at your data to believe that you're not smart enough to hide and encrypt your truly sensitive data elsewhere. Keeping that data in a secret volume is a very clever trick and requires hardly more work than encrypting your disk in the first place. If you're looking to keep your files secure, this is a great way to do it. Three steps to properly protect your personal data \| CSO Online via QuoraWe will probably never know whether Bashar al-Assad lost any sleep over the horrific chemical weapons attacks he allegedly ordered during his country’s ongoing civil war. But Syria’s president has probably already taken solace in the fact that, despite the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have lost their lives in the fighting, things could have easily gone worse for him personally. With insurgents losing ground to the regime’s forces and succumbing to ever more infighting among themselves, it seems increasingly likely that Assad will avoid losing the war -- which will qualify, in this context, as an outright win. For the many countries, including the United States, that have based their policies on the hope that Assad would eventually be forced from power, Assad’s resilience has probably come as a disappointment. (But given their generally indecisive interventions in the war, the outcome should not come as a shock.) Nevertheless, Washington and its allies need to reckon with the bitter trajectory that Syria is now on. The regime that emerges from the civil war will be more oppressive and more anarchic than the brutal yet stable one that existed before the war. First, it is important to understand what victory will mean. In order for Assad to consider himself the winner of this conflict, his forces would need to gain control over the 40 percent of Syrian territory, concentrated in the western part of the country, where 60 to 70 percent of Syrians live. (A key military objective will be to secure the M5 north-south highway that connects Damascus to Homs, Hama, and the hotly contested city of Aleppo.) At the same time, Assad would need to clear out pockets of resistance behind the regime’s main lines. (This is exactly what he has already achieved in Qusayr and the area around Homs, giving his fighters unimpeded access to the Bekaa Valley and Hezbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon.) If Assad achieves all that, he will have gained a secure hold onCompanies once had no choice but to utilize expensive and inflexible methods such as injection molding and casting to build unique parts for new products, but the advent of 3D printing technology has forever changed how prototyping process the works. 3D printing cuts down drastically on the price and time required for such small and customized orders, enabling those companies — young and old — to innovate, experiment and produce faster than ever before. Stratasys has been at the forefront of this movement since 1989 with its advanced 3D printing systems equipment. A few months ago, we recounted the tale of Emma Lavelle and her “magic arms,” a robotic exoskeleton built with a Stratasys machine that allowed her to overcome a congenital disorder and regain the use of her arms. At RedEye on Demand, a business unit of Stratasys, all kinds of custom-made parts and pieces are being whipped up every day through the use of high-end 3D printers housed within the Eden Prarie factory floor. Separate from the companies core model of manufacturing and selling the devices themselves, the original purpose of this service unit was to create sample parts as free benchmarks for potential Stratasys customers. Eventually they came to notice that some companies were taking advantage of this and ordering too many free parts, so they halted that, only to learn that their customers came back to them willing to pay. This formed the basis for the RedEye division, which came into existence late 2005 for rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing solutions. RedEye still operates as a prospecting function for Stratasys – they call it “profitable prospecting” now – but its capabilities have grown far beyond that. An online engine that provided instant quotes for rapid prototyping set RedEye apart in the industry and proved to be a breakthrough for creating their own business model. “We can build basically any complex shape you can fathom,” says program manager Tim Thellin. RedEye’s clients span many industries, including aerospace, medical, electric and consumer – essentially any company that uses tangible parts in a manufacturing environment. “The typical prototype projects we see take 2-3 days,” he adds, depending on the size, complexity and quantity of parts ordered. In Emma’s “magic arms” story, her doctors learned that the thermal plastic used in Stratasys’ 3D printing process was strong and durable enough for everyday use, and this reality has been a boon for RedEye, which has expanded beyond the prototyping field and into building parts for end-use applications. While they don’t have the resources to produce such parts on a mass level, companies are increasingly enlisting them for pilot builds and low-volume manufacturing. “We’re really the pioneer in taking this technology from rapid prototyping into manufacturing applications, making end-use parts that traditionally were made through injection molding,” says marketing manager Melissa Hanson. “We can do complexity and durability at the same time.” In an instance where capital investment is not an option and a startup needs to validate early designs of products is where RedEye can come in. Using their online quoting application, entrepreneurs can obtain specific pricing for their build based on x-y-z dimensions, surface area, volume, orientation, finishing options, and support material. “Understanding which additive processes and technologies best apply to your product’s application and where you’re at in the product development cycle is critical for the emerging company,” Hanson explains, “For low volume, end-use applications that fit the additive manufacturing technology, take advantage of engineering expertise such as that offered by RedEye, to ensure you design your parts for long term manufacturability.”Kids learn better if they’re engaged in the topic at hand. [Todd] found something that has his son just begging to practice his spelling words each night. He converts them all to Morse code and taps each out on the Morse code practice station they built together. To start off Todd connected the keyer to his Fluke 87 meter, using the continuity tester to sound a beep each time the key is depressed. But this is just a temporary setup until [Todd] could help guide his young one through some circuit design and assembly. The replacement is based on a 555 timer. They grabbed an electronics project book and found the schematic along with a Morse code primer. With parts in hand [Todd] films as his son hones his soldering skills with each connection. The finished project uses the timer chip to produce the audio frequency heard from the on-board speaker. If you’ve never had the joy of teaching a kid how to solder, you’re going to love seeing the video.NEW DELHI: If you have been giving your kids honey bought from the market in the hope that it will help boost immunity and fight bacterial infections, this could come as a shock. According to a study carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment, most honey brands being sold in the country contain varying amounts of antibiotics and their consumption over time could induce resistance to antibiotics, lead to blood-related disorders and injury to the liver.CSE said the study busts the myth that commercially produced honey was a 'natural' and 'pure' product. For the study, 12 samples were picked in Delhi, all well known brands including one each from Australia and Switzerland."Other than a single brand, Hitkari Honey, all were found to contain multiple antibiotics. While there are no standards for antibiotics in India, the honey samples would have failed the standards set for export by the Export Inspection Council. The two foreign brands also do not meet their own domestic standards," said Sunita Narain, director, CSE.Antibiotics are widely used by beekeepers. In 1965, an Italian species was introduced in India by Punjab Agriculture University due to its better yield. But it was frail and needed heavier doses.Oxytetracycline, an antibiotic, is widely used by keepers to get queen bees to lay more eggs. "While no checks are prescribed for antibiotics in honey, when we procure our stock we do not know whether it contains the drugs. The industry has been aware of the problem for several years. Most big industries are not concerned with manufacturing and only sell packaged honey. It is only a question of knowing the areas where such methods of bee-rearing are not used," said Nitin Malhotra, general manager, Hitkari Pharmacy, manufacturers of Hitkari Honey.Hitkari does not have a huge honey business and only operates in the field seasonally. "We get our honey from small bee owners, those not operating commercially. They work on such a small scale that they couldn't think of using antibiotics or pesticides," added Malhotra.Narain says since there are no domestic standards, no monitoring is carried out. Honey meant for international markets, meanwhile, goes through stringent checks. "That stock which gets rejected for export since it is considered unsafe for consumption finds its way back to the domestic market. A total of seven companies own all commercial bee farms in India. The European Union has rejected Indian exports on several occasions. For this, India set up export standards but doesn't seem to care about what Indians are consuming. However, we have found a lot of the honey is actually coming from China where costs are comparatively quite low," she said.Honey in India is regulated under three legislations that include prevention of food adulteration rules, 1955, Bureau Of Indian Standards and AGMARK. Anuraag Sharma, director, Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhavan Pvt Ltd told TOI: "We do not manufacture honey. We subscribe to AGMARK and carry out all checks. However, no specific parameters have been set for antibiotics so we do not check for those. Checks should actually be carried out at the beekeeping level."When it comes to shelling out for animal welfare, the price is always right for Bob Barker. On Monday, former "The Price Is Right" host and animal rights activist Barker welcomed three African elephants -- Iringa, Thika and Toka -- to their new home at the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s ARK 2000 compound in California’s San Andreas hills. Barker, 89, footed the nearly $1 million bill to bring the elephants on the 50-hour truck journey from Canada’s Toronto Zoo to PAWS’ sanctuary, which provides elephants with “hundreds of acres of varied natural terrain to roam, lakes and pools to bathe in, and elephant barns equipped with heated stalls and therapeutic Jacuzzis.” “This was a triple play!” Barker said while witnessing the elephants’ arrival at their new home they will share with eight other elephants. “It was a real battle and one of our biggest successes," he said. Barker’s efforts to relocate the elephants started years ago when he began lobbying the Toronto City Council to move the animals to a more suitable home, arguing that zoos not appropriate for such large animals. Two years ago, the city council voted to send the elephants to the sanctuary, but the relocation initiative was plagued with delays and debate over the best mode of transportation "The biggest difficulty for us in organizing this move was the Toronto Zoo,” Barker told CTV News. “The zoo found every possible obstacle to put in the way of PAWS...The zoo has been totally uncooperative." In a response, the Toronto Zoo claimed that the elephants’ well-being was top priority. "I think Mr. Barker needs to understand that at the Toronto Zoo, we have researchers, we have nutritionists, we have scientists, zookeepers, veterinarians,” zoo spokesperson Jennifer Tracey told CTV Toronto. “Everybody there is so committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of all the animals on site.” But on Monday, disagreements were put aside, and Iringa, Thika and Toka’s first steps into their sprawling sanctuary had Barker all choked up.CAIR advocacy manager Masih Fouladi, left, and civil rights attorney Marwa Rifahie hold a press conference addressing a report documenting faith-based bullying of Muslim students in schools on Monday, October 30, 2017. The report, based on a survey of Muslim students ages 11 to 18, shows that 53 percent of the students who were surveyed reported some form of bullying. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) CAIR civil rights attorney Marwa Rifahie takes part in a press conference addressing a report documenting faith-based bullying of Muslim students in schools on Monday, October 30, 2017. The report, based on a survey of Muslim students ages 11 to 18, shows that 53 percent of the students who were surveyed reported some form of bullying. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Sound The gallery will resume in seconds ANAHEIM — Muslim students in California are bullied at a rate that is more than twice the average of Muslim youths nationally, according to a report released by the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The report, which was issued by the group’s Anaheim-based Los Angeles chapter Monday morning, Oct. 30, said 53 percent of the 1,041 Muslim students surveyed, between age 11 and 18 and enrolled in California’s public and private schools, said they were bullied in 2016 — mocked, verbally insulted or abused — because of their religion. Nationally, according to a 2017 Department of Justice report, about 20 percent of Muslim students say they have been bullied. In addition, 26 percent of the California Muslim students surveyed reported being victims of cyberbullying; 57 percent said they saw their peers make offensive comments about Islam and Muslims online; and 36 percent of female respondents reported having their hijabs, or head scarves, tugged or pulled off their heads. This is CAIR-LA’s third bi-annual report on bullying of Muslim students, with incidents rising sharply in number compared to the 2013 and 2015 reports, said Masih Fouladi, advocacy manager for the group. “We’ve also seen an emboldening of these bullies statewide,” he said. “There has been an increase in physical contact and aggressive acts such as the pulling of head scarves causing some students to stop wearing hijabs to school.” The role of President Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric cannot be ignored, said Marwa Rifahie, a civil rights attorney with CAIR-LA and lead author of the report. “The results of this survey reveal that Muslim students have had to carry a heavy burden every day at school by facing bullies whose religious intolerance is now being legitimized by a sitting U.S. president,” she said. Survey results also showed an increase in offensive comments made by teachers, administrators and other school officials directed at the religion of Muslim students. Only 30 percent of students reported that they felt their problems were solved by an adult, a decrease from 42 percent in the 2015 report. The answer to this increase in campus bullying is better training and education for students and teachers, Rifahie said. “When teachers and students are less informed, bullying is more likely to occur,” she said. Iman Saymeh, an Orange County parent, said her 15-year-old son was so traumatized by bullies in March that he didn’t want to go back to school. “I’ve never seen him like that before,” she said. “He was crying. He was angry. He said kids circled around him, called him a terrorist and said horrible things like Muslim men rape women.” Saymeh said she had to keep her son home from school for a day. But what’s worse was, she said, she didn’t get any help from school administrators. The boys who bullied her son were never held accountable, she said. So, Saymeh took matters into her own hands, getting counseling for her son from area imams. She organized bullying forums for teens through her local interfaith council. “My son could see that teens of other faiths and backgrounds were also being bullied, that he was not alone,” she said. “I think he’s able to cope with it better now.” A Ventura family approached CAIR-LA as recently as last week when their seventh-grader was upset by a sheet of paper handed to him by his social studies teacher. Printed off a website, it detailed so-called aspects of Islamic Sharia Law including how a man could marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she turns 9 and that a man has “sexual rights” over a woman who is not wearing a hijab. In that case, the student missed several days of school because he was afraid of his teacher and his classmates, but the school district has not taken any action, Fouladi said. He says parents should watch for red flags and talk to children. “If your child doesn’t want to go to school or comes home with missing items or torn clothes, it is important to find out what happened,” Fouladi said. The incidents have increased since the presidential election, Rifahie said. “It’s definitely a lot more extreme than before,” she said. “Teachers are beginning to take political positions and children are mimicking those behaviors.” Schools should do more to improve counseling programs and provide better response to students who are bullied, Saymeh said. “Schools really have the opportunity here to expand minds and educate the next generation,” she said. “But unfortunately, that’s not being done.”Vale S.A. ( Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvali]) is a Brazilian multinational corporation engaged in metals and mining and one of the largest logistics operators in Brazil. Vale, formerly Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (the River Doce Valley Company),[4] is the largest producer of iron ore and nickel in the world. Vale also produces manganese, ferroalloys, copper, bauxite, potash, kaolin, and cobalt, currently operating nine hydroelectricity plants, and a large network of railroads, ships, and ports used to transport its products.[5] The company has had two catastrophic tailings dam failures in Brazil: Mariana, in 2015, and Brumadinho, in 2019; the Brumadinho dam disaster caused the company to lose its license to operate eight tailings dams in Minas Gerais,[6][7] and its stock to lose nearly 25 percent in value.[8] Current operations [ edit ] Although the company's primary operations are in Brazil, Vale has operations in 30 countries, which are detailed below and on the company's website.[9] Ownership structure [ edit ] The company is listed on the stock exchanges of São Paulo, New York City, Paris and Madrid. Mining business [ edit ] Carajás Iron Mine, Vale's Pará, 2009 NASA satellite photo Iron ore: Vale is the world's largest iron ore producer.[10] Sales of iron ore fines and pellets represented 65% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 256 million metric tonnes of iron ore fines and 44 million metric tonnes of iron ore pellets.[5] Vale's Mariana Hub was the 9th largest iron ore mining center in the world in 2014, with an output of 39 million metric tonnes.[11] Vale's Serra Sull / S11D is the largest mining reserve in the world. The company's iron ore mines are primarily in Brazil.[5] Nickel: Vale is the world's largest nickel producer.[10] Sales of nickel represented 17% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 272,000 metric tonnes of nickel.[5] The company owns nickel mines in Canada, Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Brazil.[5] Fertilizer products, primarily phosphates and nitrogen: Sales of fertilizer products represented 6% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 9 million metric tonnes of fertilizer products.[5] Copper: Sales of copper concentrate represented 4% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 353,000 metric tonnes of copper. The company owns copper mines in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Zambia.[5] Manganese and alloys: Sales of manganese and alloys represented 1% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 2 million metric tonnes of manganese and alloys.[5] Coal: Sales of coal represented 2% of total company revenues in 2014. In 2014, Vale sold 7.5 million metric tonnes of coal. The company owns coal mines in Australia and Mozambique.[5] Logistics [ edit ] Railroads [ edit ] From 2000 to 2006 Vale invested more than $1.3 billion on the acquisition of over 361 locomotives and around 14,090 freight cars, those locomotives were primarily for iron ore transportation, but some were for regular cargo.[5] Some of the locomotives purchased were secondhand for refurbishment but at least 55 of the locomotives acquired were new ones of the model EMD SD70M, each one costing about $2 million.[12][13] After those investments, Vale became the owner of over 800 locomotives and more than 35,000 freight cars.[5] Vale owns the concession of three Brazilian railways: Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM), Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica (FCA) and Carajás railroad (EFC). Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica and Vitória a Minas railroads Vitória a Minas railroad - Vale operates under a 30-year contract this 905 km, 1,000 mm ( 3 ft 3 3 ⁄ 8 in ) railroad, which is used to transport iron from the Iron Quadrangle in Minas Gerais to the Port of Tubarão in the state of Espírito Santo. The concession expires in 2027. This railroad also carried 1.1 million passengers in 2006. ( ) railroad, which is used to transport iron from the in Minas Gerais to the Port of Tubarão in the state of Espírito Santo. The concession expires in 2027. This railroad also carried 1.1 million passengers in 2006. Carajás railroad - The concession of this 892 km, 1,600 mm ( 5 ft 3 in ) gauge railroad also expires in 2027, it links Carajás iron ore mines in the state of Pará to Ponta da Madeira port terminal in the state of Maranhão. Vale operates a train of 3.2 km and 340 cars on this railroad. ( ) gauge railroad also expires in 2027, it links Carajás iron ore mines in the state of Pará to Ponta da Madeira port terminal in the state of Maranhão. Vale operates a train of 3.2 km and 340 cars on this railroad. Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica [14] - Vale controls this railroad through the subsidiary FCA. As it is shown on the Vale's operations map above, this 7,000 km, 1,000 mm ( 3 ft 3 3 ⁄ 8 in ) railroad extends through 6 brazilian states, this railroad originally belonged to the RFFSA. Vale's concession of this railroad expires in 2026. - Vale controls this railroad through the subsidiary. As it is shown on the above, this 7,000 km, ( ) railroad extends through 6 brazilian states, this railroad originally belonged to the RFFSA. Vale's concession of this railroad expires in 2026. Vale also has a stake in railway operators in Mozambique and Malawi via the Nacala Logistics Corridor.[15] Ports and container terminals [ edit ] Brazil [ edit ] On February 5, 2019, the state court of the Province of Minas Gerais ordered Vale to halt use of eight of its tailings dams, including the Laranjeiras dam at Brucutu.[6] Vale also operates port terminals in the state of Sergipe and two others in the state of Espirito Santo. Malaysia [ edit ] Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal (TRMT), a state of the art maritime terminal in the state of Perak, operates as a distribution centre for iron ore in the Asia Pacific region. Ships [ edit ] Vale has also entered the shipping business by ordering 35 Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC) to transport iron ore between South America and Asia. These 362-metre (1,188 ft), 400,000 DWT ships are the longest and largest dry bulk carriers in the world. The first ship, Vale Brasil, was delivered in March 2011.[18] Energy [ edit ] Vale's energy business is focused at power production to fulfill the needs of its mining operations, as well as supplying the general Brazilian power grid. In 2005 it consumed 16.9 TWh of electrical power, accounting for 4.4% of Brazil's total consumption in that year.[citation needed] Vale has participation in 8 hydroelectric plants, with 7 of these located in the state of Minas Gerais. Vale's investment in hydroelectric power plants totals $880 million.[19] The company also plans to build a 600 MW thermoeletric power plant in the state of Pará.[20] Vale also operates hydroelectric plants in Canada and Indonesia.[5] Rebranding [ edit ] In November 2007, the company retired the name CVRD in favour of simplified company name of Vale, and rebranded.[21] History [ edit ] Founded as Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (widely known as CVRD prior to 2007) (in English, "Doce River Valley Company") was founded in Itabira, Minas Gerais, by the Brazilian Federal Government on 1 June 1942.[22] One year later the Vitória a Minas railroad was inaugurated.[22] The 1950s marked Companhia Vale do Rio Doce’s entry into the global iron ore market, after the company's mine-railroad-port complex was modernized and iron ore prices doubled. At first, sales were mostly to the United States, but exports to Europe increased over the course of the decade.[23] In 1966, the company inaugurated in Espirito Santo the Port of Tubarão, which was to become the most important port for CVRD and is still used to export iron ore mined from the Iron Quadrangle in Minas Gerais.[22] The company acquired a majority interest in the Carajás Mine, with over 1.5 billion tonnes of iron ore in reserves, in 1970.[24] In 1974, Vale became the world's biggest exporter of iron ore, a title which it still holds today.[24] In 1982, Vale began to diversify after it started to produce aluminium in Rio de Janeiro.[24] In the mid 1980s, profits increased considerably under the leadership of Eliezer Batista, father of Eike Batista.[25] In 1985, Vale started to explore the Carajás Mine in the state of Pará just after the 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge Carajás railroad was opened. In 1986, Ponta Madeira port terminal, which is still used to export iron ore mined at the Carajás Mine, was inaugurated in the state of Maranhão.[26] In March 2017, Vale SA choose a commodities industry veteran, Fabio Schvartsman as chief executive officer. Schvartsman was CEO of Klabin SA, Brazil's largest paper and cardboard producer, for the past six years.[27] Privatization in 1997 [ edit ] In May 1997, despite protests by Vale employees and some politicians, the Brazilian Government auctioned a 41.73% interest in the company, which was sold for R$3.34 billion (US$3.13 billion). The largest interest purchased was a 16.3% stake purchased by Brazilian steel company Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional.[28] Sale of wood pulp businesses [ edit ] In 2001, Vale sold its Cenibra wood pulp business for US$670.5 million to focus on mining and logistics.[29] In 2002, Vale sold 100,000 acres of land and the eucalyptus forests thereon related to its wood pulp business for R$137 million.[30] Sale of steel businesses [ edit ] In 2000, the company sold its stake in Açominas to Gerdau in exchange for preferred shares in Gerdau.[31] In 2001, Vale sold its stake in Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional for R$520 million.[32] In 2004, Vale sold its stake in CST to Arcelor for US$415.1 million.[33] In 2006, Vale sold its interest in Siderar to Ternium for US$107.5 million.[34] In 2006, the company sold 5,362,928 shares in Usiminas for or R$378.6 million.[35] In 2007, the company sold the majority of its stake in Usiminas.[36] In 2009, the company sold its remaining stake in Usiminas.[37] Acquisitions of Brazilian iron ore companies [ edit ] In May 2000, the company acquired Sociomex, owner of the Gongo Sôco Mine, with proven reserves of approximately 75 million tons.[38] In May 2000, the company also acquired a controlling interest in Samitri, one of the biggest pelletizing companies of Brazil.[39] In April 2001, the company acquired Ferteco, then the third largest Brazilian producer of iron ore, with a production capacity of 15 million tonnes per year.[40] In 2006, the company acquired Rio Verde Mineracao for $47 million.[41] Acquisition of Caemi and acquisition and partial disposition of MBR [ edit ] On 1 April 2000, Vale offered to pay Mitsui US$277 million for 50% of the common shares and US$150 million for 40% of the preferred stock in Caemi. Caemi owned MBR, Brazil's second largest iron ore producer, mining over 60 million tonnes per year.[42] The acquisition was approved by European regulators subject to conditions.[43] In September 2003, Vale purchased an additional stake in Caemi from Mitsui for US$426.4 million.[44] On 23 January 2006, the company announced a stock swap merger to acquire the interest Caemi that it did not already own.[45] In 2007, increased its ownership in MBR by purchasing additional interests from Mitsui for US$114.5 million.[46] Also in 2007, Vale announced that
for consumption in consumers’ homes. Yet nothing was done about it, until the scandal reemerged in 2005 when the FDA was confronted with studies conducted by a private citizen! Numerous European studies in Germany, Belgium and elsewhere backed up the data, and things slowly began to change. Afterwards, many diet soda brands, sports drinks and citrus-flavored beverages voluntarily removed the troubling ingredient sodium benzoate (though some laughably replaced it only with potassium benzoate, which has the same potential to create benzene). American Natural Superfood - Free Sample However, many other brands have done nothing at all, and the FDA allows them to continue using this dangerous mixture of ingredients, despite clear data on the matter. Foods and drinks containing the potentially harmful combination of sodium benzoate and citric acid can STILL be commonly found on store shelves, perhaps especially with generic brands. Here’s a video covering some drinks containing it: Artificial Fruit Soda Creates Cancer Causing By-Product…and Looks Like Piss Start reading ingredient labels on the brands that you shop for – and those you already know best to avoid – and take note of just how many products contain the hidden GMO ingredient citric acid. We recommend simplifying your diet by eating fresh produce – better if they are grown by someone you know/trust or are “organic” – and foods with as few ingredients as possible. How many times have you glossed over this seemingly natural ingredient – despite the fact that it is a highly processed and synthetic food additive? Nevertheless, the FDA has –like practically everything else – “Generally Recognized [it] as Safe” (GRAS). For the record, here is the FDA’s chapter on the oversight of the process of citric acid fermentation by Aspergillus niger: TITLE 21–FOOD AND DRUGS CHAPTER I–FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUBCHAPTER B–FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (CONTINUED) PART 173 — SECONDARY DIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Subpart C–Solvents, Lubricants, Release Agents and Related Substances Sec. 173.280 Solvent extraction process for citric acid. A solvent extraction process for recovery of citric acid from conventionalAspergillus niger fermentation liquor may be safely used to produce food-grade citric acid in accordance with the following conditions: (a) The solvent used in the process consists of a mixture ofn- octyl alcohol meeting the requirements of 172.864 of this chapter, synthetic isoparaffinic petroleum hydrocarbons meeting the requirements of 172.882 of this chapter, and tridodecyl amine. (b) The component substances are used solely as a solvent mixture and in a manner that does not result in formation of products not present in conventionally produced citric acid. (c) The citric acid so produced meets the specifications of the “Food Chemicals Codex,” 3d Ed. (1981), pp. 86-87, which is incorporated by reference (Copies may be obtained from the National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20418, or may be examined at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.), and the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon specifications of 173.165. (d) Residues ofn-octyl alcohol and synthetic isoparaffinic petroleum hydrocarbons are removed in accordance with good manufacturing practice. Current good manufacturing practice results in residues not exceeding 16 parts per million (ppm)n- octyl alcohol and 0.47 ppm synthetic isoparaffinic petroleum hydrocarbons in citric acid. (e) Tridodecyl amine may be present as a residue in citric acid at a level not to exceed 100 parts per billion.[42 FR 14491, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 49 FR 10106, Mar. 19, 1984] Aaron Dykes is a co-creator of Truthstreammedia.com and Nutritional Anarchy, where this first appeared.A collision between a small plane and an SUV Saturday morning ended with the plane making a belly landing and the SUV losing a window. The collision happened while the plane was attempting to land at Northwest Regional Airport Saturday morning around 11. The plane, a 2005 Cessna Sky Hawk, was piloted by 43-year-old William Davis of Flower Mound. A 2008 Volvo XC90 was heading east on a road that crosses to the runway when the landing gear of the Cessna clipped the back driver-side window of the SUV. Drivers at the airport are advised to keep their eyes out for incoming aircraft. The two people inside the SUV were transported to Texas Health Harris Hospital Alliance in North Fort Worth. The two were treated for minor injuries. Davis, whose plane landed in a grassy area after sliding off the runway, was uninjured. His plane suffered extensive damage. Davis was coming home from a cross-country flight, and his wife wanted to get video of his landing. Davis says he’s grateful everyone is okay, but just 4 weeks away from getting his pilot’s license, he is now unsure if he will ever fly again. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident. This is the fourth incident involving a plane at Roanoke Airport in the past two months. Also Check Out:The UFC women's bantamweight title fight between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm, originally scheduled for UFC 195 on January 2, will now take place at the 70,000 seat Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on November 14 (November 15 in Australia). UFC President Dana White announced the UFC 193 main event switch on Friday's edition of ESPN SportsCenter. "Ronda Rousey was huge for us in Brazil," White said of Rousey's UFC 190 win over Bethe Correia in Rio de Janeiro. "She was well received there and it was just a phenomenal event. It did very well on Pay-Per-View here in the United States, and she's obviously a huge superstar for us. Australia's an important market for us, so we're gonna bring her out there in our first real big stadium show, and we know she'll break the (all-time MMA attendance) record out there." The change comes after UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler was forced to withdraw from his UFC 193 main event bout against Carlos Condit due to a thumb injury. Stay tuned to UFC.com for all news regarding UFC 193 and UFC 195.Edward Snowden says John Key not telling truth on allegations of mass spying on New Zealand citizens; Kim Dotcom accuses PM of extradition plan Updated Whistleblower Edward Snowden says New Zealand prime minister John Key has not been telling the truth about mass spying on citizens, just days before the country goes to the polls. Mr Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared via video link at an event at Auckland's Town Hall on Monday evening. Mr Snowden, speaking from Moscow, said that during his work as an analyst with the US National Security Agency (NSA) he regularly came across communications of New Zealanders while working with a mass surveillance tool shared with New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). He also said New Zealand housed one of a network of sensors around the world which allowed access to email addresses. Earlier in the day, Mr Snowden said Mr Key's claim that there had never been any mass surveillance was not true. "Any statement that mass surveillance is not performed in New Zealand... is categorically false," Mr Snowden said in a statement. "If you live in New Zealand, you are being watched." Mr Assange, speaking from the Ecuador embassy in London, spoke about New Zealand's role within the Five Eyes intelligence network alongside the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. About 1,000 people attended the event, organised by internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, who has long vowed to show that Mr Key was a liar before the country's general elections. Before the event, Mr Key released a series of papers that he said would counter "misinformation" about the work of the GCSB. "There is not, and never has been, a cable access surveillance programme operating in New Zealand," Mr Key said. "There is not, and never has been, mass surveillance of New Zealanders undertaken by the GCSB." Movie studio says email a 'fabrication' Mr Key also dismissed an email which purported to show he was involved in a plan to have German-born Dotcom settled in New Zealand so he could be extradited to the United States. Dotcom, the founder of Megaupload and Mega, has been fighting extradition to the US on charges that he facilitated the illegal download of movies and music worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He has accused Mr Key of being involved in a plan to grant him residency so that US officials could more easily extradite him. The plan was allegedly hatched before Dotcom was granted New Zealand residency. The email, dated October 27, 2010, is said to be from Warner Brothers chairman and chief executive Kevin Tsujihara to a senior executive at the Motion Picture Association of America. It said in part: "I see strong support for our anti-piracy effort. John Key told me in private that they are granting Dotcom residency despite pushback from officials about his criminal past." The movie studio called the email a "fabrication". The allegations come five days ahead of New Zealanders going to the polls in general elections. Topics: world-politics, internet-culture, information-and-communication, law-crime-and-justice, security-intelligence, defence-and-national-security, piracy, new-zealand, united-states, pacific First postedOne Man Spent Four Years Growing A Church From Trees posted 3 years ago The enchantingly beautiful live-tree church in New Zealander Brian Cox’s backyard is already impressive enough, but it’s even more amazing when you learn that it took him only 4 years to create! Cox carefully selected from a wide variety of trees for his beautiful church. Some have stone-colored trunks, while, others, with sparse foliage, ensure that his church will always be illuminated by sunlight. His secret is that he owns a gardening company called Treelocations, which replants whole, live trees using enormous mechanized spades. This allowed him to plant live trees in any way he wanted, completing this church (and the iron frame supporting it) in only 4 years. Cox was inspired by the years he spent traveling abroad and observing churches around the world; “I walked out my back door one day and thought, ‘That space needs a church’ – and so it began. I cleared the area in April 2011 and made the iron frame, drawing on all the research I had done over the years of studying churches,” he told stuff.co.nz.Your home was not so secure after all Khaos Tian Blocked Unblock Follow Following Dec 19, 2017 TL;DR — Apple built a super secure door, left the key on the door and forgot to build the wall around the door. Ever since the existence of connected home accessories, security is always something people worried about. So many things that can go wrong with your fancy new BTLE lock with software running on it, compared to old mechanical locks. There was a period of time where the market of connected home accessories is really chaotic, manufacturer shipping poorly implemented accessories with terrible security. I was really happy when Apple announced HomeKit back in 2014, promising to offer a secure and private way to control connected home accessories. The thing is, a lot of time there is really no way for people to check whether a thing is really secure or not. And for HomeKit, it turned out not to be so secure after all. HomeKit didn’t check the sender of remote message before processing the request, which ended up allowing potentially anyone to remotely control HomeKit accessories in the home. HomeKit is actually an umbrella term covering both the software on your iOS device and a communication protocol. The software on your device provides a centralized place for you to manage home and accessories (daemon), and the communication protocol (HAP) used by the software on iOS to talk to your HomeKit accessories. The security issues with watchOS 4 and iOS 11.2 were on daemon side, the underlying HAP exchange is not breached. So, what went wrong with HomeKit? A not too technical version Imagine HomeKit as the butler for your home, and when you are not at home, you can send iMessage to it asking it to do things for you. Say you want to unlock the front door, you would send a message to HomeKit asking it to unlock the front door. Once HomeKit receive the message, it should check that the message is sent by you and then unlock the door as you have asked. Except that in reality, HomeKit doesn’t check who sent the message and it will happily unlock the door whenever someone ask it to do so. In order for HomeKit to do something, the message needs to contain a unique identifier that identifies the object (accessory, scene, or room) in the home. Normally it should be impossible for anyone to figure out the unique identifier for those objects unless you are actually authorized to access that home in HomeKit. However, there are two separate bugs, one in watchOS 4 - 4.1, and another in iOS 11.2 and watchOS 4.2, allow someone to figure out those unique identifiers without authorizing the person to access the home in first place. With those unique identifiers, remote attacker can ask HomeKit to do almost anything. Apple disabled the ability for people to send HomeKit message to others on December 7th as a temporary solution while it works on a proper fix for future iOS release. As a result of that, sharing home to new users and remote access for existing shared users are not longer available for users on iOS before 11.2.1. A more technical version HomeKit daemon is built upon the request-response pattern. Each action you do in your favorite HomeKit app is being translated to a request, sent to daemon. The daemon processes the request, perform the operation, and then reply to the request. For HomeKit app running on iOS device, all of the communication is done over XPC and the access permission is enforced by TCC (the permission popup in iOS). All information discussed in this article are based on disassembling HomeKit daemon binary bundled with iOS SDK. Hopper is a great tool for this kind of task ;) To allow you to securely access your accessories when you are not at home, and share your home with other users, Apple built a remote cloud messaging platform (same one behind iMessage). Messages across users, devices, and apps over multiple transports are processed by the HomeKit daemon with a centralized message dispatcher. Fun things happen when someone try to design a system that’s too flexible. For XPC messages, HomeKit daemon doesn’t really need to perform extra validation for messages since TCC and iOS in general have already done all the hard work (Entitlements 😉). For normal daemon to daemon remote communication, the actual message is encrypted by HomeKit secure session, and the encrypted packet is then sent over the remote cloud messaging platform. The issue with HomeKit is how the daemon handles remote message without a secure session. Instead of having daemon discard the message that doesn’t make sense with the state machine, the daemon treat the message as a normal request and processed it anyway. Apple addressed the issue with iOS 11.2.1 and tvOS 11.2.1 by improving message handling on the daemon side. Since HomeKit daemon handles request without secure session as a normal request, we can send messages to home manager and have it leak information about the home and its accessories. Those information could then be used to instruct HomeKit to perform actions it shouldn’t do in the normal situation. There are two ways we could gather the required information from home manager, one was available with watchOS 4 and 4.1, and the other one was introduced in iOS 11.2 and watchOS 4.2 🙃. Both are now patched as of iOS 11.2.1. For watchOS 4 and 4.1 Of all the messages you can send to HomeKit daemon, there are some really interesting ones. There is one message that will let HomeKit on watchOS to reply with a list of home identifiers, along with the public and private key that used to encrypt home data and communicate with accessories to the sender. Once an attacker got the reply, it’s game over for HomeKit. With pairing identity and private key, the attacker can trick HomeKit into thinking him as the owner of the home, even after Apple fixed the messaging issue. A small tool for verifying the vulnerability But yeah, now we have all the information we need to tell HomeKit daemon to do things, we can just send messages targeting the right home, and control every thing in user’s home (including IP cameras 😅).This Valentine's Day, you may have special plans, such as dinner and a movie with your significant other. If you are particularly romantic, you probably have jewelry, candy, or flowers planned too. If you are single, however, you may be planning to stay inside alone -- there is no shame in that, folks. In 2017, there is something very exciting happening on February 14th -- tickets for Build will go on sale. If you aren't familiar, this is Microsoft's annual developer conference. Will you be buying tickets at noon ET this Valentine's Day? "For over 25 years Microsoft has been focused on bringing the developer community together with tech leaders like Bill Gates and Satya Nadella -- at PDC and Build, from LA to San Francisco and now back to the clouds in Seattle. With more than 5,000 developers joining us in person and millions following via live stream, Build and Seattle will be the hub for what’s next" says Microsoft. The Windows-maker further says, "Build’s also the place to get deep technical dives into the great things we’re doing today to help developers build the next generation of intelligent apps and services. We’ve been 'building' toward this for a while -- for instance, Tuesday, we announced updates to our Cognitive Services that help developers build apps that understand people and the world around us. Wednesday, we announced the current preview SDK for the Windows Creators Update is feature complete. We also announced Azure Managed Disks and VM scale sets, which bring ease of use and scale benefits of PaaS to our IaaS developers." Microsoft shares the major topics of this year's Build conference below. Mixed-reality experiences Cutting edge, intelligent cloud apps Simplified end-to-end dev ops experiences Mobile experiences for nearly any device Apps that make your customers more productive AI-powered apps we have yet to imagine If you want to go to the conference on May 10-12, you can buy tickets on Valentine's Day here. While the price is not yet known, they were over $2,000 last year. In addition to tickets, you are responsible for both airfare to Seattle and your hotel stay. Despite the high overall cost, the conference often sells out very fast, so if you do want to go, be sure not to hesitate on February 14th!VaporOS 2 released - A more complete unofficial SteamOS installer What is VaporOS? Features VaporOS has a firewall installed by default, which can be easily configured from the desktop. VaporOS asks you to set a password for the desktop user when you open the desktop for the first time. VaporOS has trim support for Samsung and Intel SSD's. VaporOS offers a better out of the box desktop experience. Things like a text editor, media player, an archive manager and Gnome Tweak Tools are installed by default. VaporOS has an ssh server installed by default. VaporOS installs many tools to improve the command line experience. This includes bash completion, iotop, htop, mesa-utils, libav, pastebinit, screen, git and lsof. VaporOS has Kodi installed by default. VaporOS has no mouse acceleration. VaporOS will not freeze on first boot for AMD graphics cards users, SteamOS still has this issue. VaporOS offers controller binds on Xbox 360 controllers for making screenshots(LS+RS), recording(LB+RB+A to start/stop recording), displaying fps(LB+RB+X) and restarting Steam(LB+RB+Home). What specifically changed in this version? XBMC was updated to Kodi 14.1. This version fixes a lot of problems. Screen has been added. Controller binds for Xbox 360 controllers have been added. You can now make screenshots screenshots(LS+RS), recording(LB+RB+A to start/stop recording), displaying fps(LB+RB+X) and restarting Steam(LB+RB+Home) with your controller, even when you're not in a game. Recording and displaying fps may not work on AMD and sound with recording still has some problems and may not work at all in some cases. VaporOS now doesn't install the SteamOS beta repo, so you don't have to worry about it breaking anytime soon. Some minor fixes, like git installing correctly again and some slimming down of the iso. A lot of work has been put into improving the scripts used to build VaporOS. Where can I get it? Downloads: ISO [vaporos.net] The md5 sum is: b2a199fea874140b7e07cbae5cd08c3c What's next? Many things, who knows. If you have suggestions or issues, feel free to report either here, on the git [github.com], the VaporOS group or via chat. We're always looking for people to help out with development and testing of new ideas. Edit: spelling and removed some incorrect info. Hereby I officially announce VaporOS 2. It's a small upgrade from 1.2, but enough to warrant a new version number. Anyway, for those who wonder what VaporOS is, here is a full rundown.VaporOS is a SteamOS installer with added software and features. It's main goals are to improve the out of the box experience with SteamOS in both Steam and the desktop. Let's go over some of the additions.VaporOS has all the features which SteamOS has by default, so I will not be naming those. Here are the tings which differentiate it from Valve's installer:100 2277 is a video Chris uploaded on 12 October 2010 in which he dresses as Fred Flintstone, then cosplays as Homer Simpson cosplaying as Fred. Right away, the viewer is bombarded with a badly-paced attempt by Chris to sing the theme to The Flintstones. The resulting voice is more along the lines of a frog who sings only in flats than anything else. His latest costume is a even simpler version of Fred's one-piece toga/loincloth outfit: a single sheet of orange construction paper with black dots scribbled on it. After an obligatory stolen quote, he sings an equally bad rendition of The Simpsons parody of the song, complete with a "mask" of Homer's face. Video “ We'll have a gay old time! „ Transcript Possible descendant of Fred Flintstone? [Chris puts on a terrible accent.] Yabba, dabba, doo! [Chris shows a toy of the Flintstones' Stone Age car, and plays with it throughout the video, as if it was being driven through the air] Sim—Flint-stones, meeet the Flint-stones, they're the modern Stone Age famileee! From the, town of Bedrock, they're a page right out of hisss-store-eee! Let's ride, with the family down the street, Through the, courtesy of Fred's two feet! [Chris's fingers-mime a walking action in front of the toy] [Short pause] When you're, with the Flintstones, Have a yabba-dabba-doo-time, Dabba doo-time, [Chris's "costume" begins to fall, distracting him from singing] [Mumbled], We'll have a gay old time! [Mercifully drops the accent] And now for something... suh-lightly different! [Chris adopts a new accent, covering his face with a crude smiley face mask] Yabba, dabbaaahh, doo! Simpson, Homer Simpson, He's the greatest guy in hiss-store-eee! From the, town of Springfield; He's about to hit a chestnut tree! [Chris pulls out an accessory to the yellow mask: an accompanying mouth to:] YAAAAAAAAAH!The last update you'll ever read from me Jul. 8th, 2013 @ 12:46 pm Hello everyone. When I started this LJ account, I was just a young and bored kid. I don't even remember the reasons I started this. I guess I just thought I was hilarious and people would find my posts hilarious, in addition to I would get a kick out of trolling anyone who took this blog seriously (surprisingly, there seem to be a lot of people who think this is real). I am not a kid anymore, and as I've gotten older, I've realized that a lot of my posts are hurtful, and flat out insensitive. While some may argue that this is the Internet and if people get offended it's not my problem, that isn't true. I would never say this stuff in person, so there is absolutely no reason why I should say it online. The statements I've made (making fun of kids with cancer, saying racist slurs, etc) is something I deeply regret doing, and even if they were jokes, that doesn't change the fact that I said something hurtful and wrong. I know not everyone will agree with me. That's alright, I'm not here to debate, I'm here to apologize. I do not believe any of the statements I made when I was young and I don't want to encourage the use of these foul words. I thought about just deleting the entries and never speaking of them again, but I feel like that would be trying to cover up what I did. Again, I am deeply and truly sorry! For the record, this is a FAKE blog and the 'ugly' girl doesn't exist and none of these situations ever happened. Leave a comment) Being ugly: The Book Apr. 17th, 2010 @ 11:57 pm Hello everyone. Not that any of you will care, but I am in the process of writing a book. The book will document my life and struggles of being ugly. This book will make you think and feel emotions you never thought you could feel. All you good looking and average looking people will finally be able to understand what it is like what fugs such as myself go through every day. You write me messages telling me that beauty is only skin deep... well, try saying that when you get treated differently. Perfect example. My cousin is just OMG HOTT. She is skinny, tan, naturally big breasted and has perfect long, golden hair. She has a smile that makes men melt and eyes that shine brighter than the moon. With this beauty of hers, she hasn't had to work for anything. She gets everything handed to her, everyone tries to please her and she has a ton of friends. Even if she says something mind numbly stupid, or does something wrong, no one gives a shit, she's beautiful so anything she does wrong is excused. What about me? I work my ass off for a shitty paycheck at the end of the week. People make fun of me, throw stuff at me, draw comics about what I would look like as giant green dinosaur... I do all the work yet get absolutely no credit. Girls only want to hang out with me so they'll look better in comparison, thus landing them many dates while I spend my nights with Ben and Jerry... the ice cream. To all you people who say you don't judge based on looks, you're full of shit. If a man comes into a store looking rough and gross, you aren't going to want to be near him or have anything to do with him, even if he's a nice person. If a tall, dark and hansom guy walks into that store, you'll smile at him and think nothing bad of him, even if he's stealing condoms while you aren't looking. Enough preaching. I'm sick of repeating myself. If my book gets published than you will see what I mean. Current Mood: ugly 207 comments \| Leave a comment) I am not dead. Apr. 12th, 2009 @ 05:04 pm I traveled far and met many people. Almost all of those people were rude and scared of me. But some weren't so bad. The blind people couldn't see me so they were nice. I went looking for answers and tried to convince myself that beauty is on the inside. But I was wrong. Being ugly sucks. People treat you worse if you're ugly, while good looking people get treated with respect and royality even if they don't deserve it. So to all of you people who say "Beauty is on the inside" or "beauty is only skin deep", you're full of shit. Infact, you're most likely ugly too, cause only ugly people say that stupid saying. On my journey I learned that being beautiful is the way to go, and I've been saving up my money for plastic surgery. I WILL get it, eventually... I have a while to go but hopfully not TOO long. I will be bautiful, or atleast, acceptable. Hello all. I haven't written in a while. That is because I went on a journey of self disscovery.I traveled far and met many people. Almost all of those people were rude and scared of me. But some weren't so bad. The blind people couldn't see me so they were nice.I went looking for answers and tried to convince myself that beauty is on the inside.But I was wrong.Being ugly sucks. People treat you worse if you're ugly, while good looking people get treated with respect and royality even if they don't deserve it. So to all of you people who say "Beauty is on the inside" or "beauty is only skin deep", you're full of shit. Infact, you're most likely ugly too, cause only ugly people say that stupid saying.On my journey I learned that being beautiful is the way to go, and I've been saving up my money for plastic surgery. I WILL get it, eventually... I have a while to go but hopfully not TOO long. I will be bautiful, or atleast, acceptable. Today on my way home from my discorvery, a kid threw his icecream at me and said I made him lose his appitite. I cried and wet myself in the process. WHY DID I HAVE TO BE BORN SO FUCKING UGL Y?!!!!!!!!!!! Current Location: uglyville Current Mood: Ugly Ugly Current Music: I'm an ugly girl 198 comments \| Leave a comment) Some one loves me?! Feb. 4th, 2006 @ 06:28 pm I'd like to thank Christopher Graham for donating ONE DOLLAR TO ME!! Seriously! I almost crapped my pants when I saw that! First time anyone has EVER given me money!! If you people want to help donate to my plastic surgry, please do. If everyone only donated just one dollar, I would have enough money in no time. COME ON PEOPLE! I DONT WANNA DIE A VIRGIN :( I'll even post a before and after picture and have proof so you know I didn't just grab a random picture of the inernet. In other news, today while I was walking down the street I looked in a puddle and noticed that I had been walking around all day with spinitch in my teeth. WHYYYYY AMMMMMM IIIII UGLYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!!!!!!!!! Current Mood: Ugly Ugly 63 comments \| Leave a comment) Popular? Feb. 3rd, 2006 @ 10:21 pm Okay... I've noticed that my journal has become popular... in a bad way, mostly. I've been getting mean comments, and because of that I've tried to starve myself until I died. But I go way too hungry and devoured everything in my fridge :( Now I feel fat AND ugly!! So that's why I haven't posted anything. But I will now... even thought THE WORLD IS BEING MEAN TO ME! I'm trying to get plastic surgry. I'm a bit short, though. If you want, you can donate just a dollar and that would help. COME ON PEOPLE! IM FUCKING UGLY! JUST ONE DOLLAR!! If I get enough by the end of the month, I shall post a before and after photo. I'll even have proof so you'll know I didn't just steal a picture off the web. I SERIOUSLY NEED THIS SURGRY BEFORE PRESIDENT BUSH EXICUTES ME! I feel so greesy :-/ Current Mood: Ugly Ugly 34 comments \| Leave a comment) Other entries » New years Dear Diary, I wasn't invited to the New Years Party at work. The boss said that bird poop cleaners aren't alowed to come to the party. But Bob got to go!! He cleans that bird shit too!! I asked Bob about it and he threw his bucket of bird shit on my face. It smelled really really bad :( So I bought some fire works...though it was kinda hard cause people kept aiming their fireworks at me while I was leaving the store. Fucking teenagers, thinking they OWN the parking lot and can shoot anyone with their fire works! BAH TO THEM! My New Years Resolution: 1. Stop thinking about suaside 2. Look better 3. Get plastic surgery 4. Get Married 5. Have Sex 6. Lose my Virginity 7. Have sex 8. Have an orgy 9. Take it in the back door 10. Have kids 11. Kill all the jerks who called me ugly and 12., to like me for who I am. Fugly duckling T_T » CHRISTMAS SUCKS!!!!! Dear Diary, Merry Christmas...NOT! No one got me anything. So I bought myself some booze and a new razor, cause my old one is dull. The old one DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL THE PAIN THAT I DESIRE SO I FORGET THIS HELLISH WORLD OF PAIN AND TORTURE!!!!!!! Anyway. I called my mom. She said that if I ever called her again that she was gonna trace the number, come down to my house and hogtie me, then throw me out in the highway traffic so I would get run over. Before she hung up, I told her I loved her and Merry Christmas. But I don't think she cares... WHY MUST I GO ON LIVING?! LIVING IN THIS PAIN! THERES NOTHING WORTH LIVING!!! But then I saw Dr.Phil and I felt better about my hair because they were talking about cancer kids. And they were bald. HAHA BALD! WHAT LOSERS! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES HUH?! ...but their faces weren't as ugly as mine :( » CRAP Dear DIARY: Halloween was going GREAT! I even got invited to a party! But some JACKASS who was at the party ratted me out! He told everyone that I wasn't wearing a costume! So they made me bob for apples, even when I couldn't breathe they didn't remove my head from the water :( It hurt, and I swear I saw an angel, but then the pulled be up and threw me out of the house. I had a bruise on my face. It makes me look worse. I wrote a poem about my face again: I look Ugly But that's okay You say I'm fugly I look ugly everday You scream I run Ouch! my splean! You shot me with your gun ITS HURTS TO BE UGLY!!!!!!!1! IT HURTS TO BE SHOT! STOP CALLING ME FUGLY!!!!! STOP THROWING ME IN THE BOX!!!!11 So cold So sad So old So mad GOD KILL ME!!! :( » Halloween Well, I haven't written anything in a while, my dear diary. That is because I was mistaken to be someone I wasn't. People thought the had discovered Lockness Monster just because I was swimming in the lake. So I was held captive for a while. Anyway, it's halloween... the one day I actually like, cause people think I'm in a costume and don't think I'm scary! Plus I get free candy :) So, it sucked that I was held captive, but atleast I don't have to waste money on a cheap ass halloween costume. YEAAA HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW, BITCHES! ...But I'll be ugly tomorrow... » Councelling Dear Diary, Today I went to the shrink. I had to pay extra and wear a paper bag over my head, but atleast this stupid shrink will help me get over killing myself. Anyway, I cut little holes in the bag so I could see, and the shrink looks like a single mother who has a secound job as a phone sex operator. Anyways, she recomended I get plastic surgery. So I guess thats what I'm going to do. I want to look like Carmen Electra! GAH! SO UGLY, I AM!In an interview with Labour List earlier this week, Jeremy Corbyn was asked to comment on the Fabian Society report The Mountain to Climb, which showed that Labour will need to win 106 extra seats and 40 per cent of... In an interview with Labour List earlier this week, Jeremy Corbyn was asked to comment on the Fabian Society report The Mountain to Climb, which showed that Labour will need to win 106 extra seats and 40 per cent of the vote to gain power in 2020. Our analysis indicates that in the pivotal marginals in England and Wales, 4 out of 5 of the new voters Labour needs will have to be ex-Conservatives. Corbyn suggested our research approached the issue “from the wrong end of the telescope”. While he conceded Labour will have to “win back people who voted for other parties”, he focused his response on “young people who didn’t register, and didn’t vote”, and “reliable Labour voters who disappeared in to the arms of UKIP or non-voting”. Instead of winning over large numbers of Conservative voters, it seems he wants to chart a path to victory by building a coalition of the left and the disenchanted. On the surface, this approach seems logical. Only 23.4 per cent of all registered voters voted Conservative in
speak with U.S. servicepersons, dioxin experts in Vietnam, and military staff and civilians from in and around the military bases in Okinawa in order to piece together the history of the use of Agent Orange and other herbicides on the island. Mitchell spoke with more than 40 veterans who claimed exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins, which they said had also been sprayed in Okinawa in order to kill vegetation around military base roads, runways and radar sites, and who recounted that surplus supplies of the defoliants from the war effort were routinely either buried underneath the bases or dumped into the surrounding waters. A total of some 250 U.S. military servicepersons have claimed exposure to the defoliant, he said, including those whose children and grandchildren have also shown symptoms. Mitchell explained that a report produced last year by the Pentagon in response to his research concluded that there was no evidence of Agent Orange being present on Okinawa. This was despite the existence of soldiers’ photos corroborating their stories, as well as military documents that say otherwise, including one report noting that 25,000 barrels were stored there during the 1970s. The Pentagon report was worthless, Mitchell said, since none of the 250 veterans claiming Agent Orange exposure were ever interviewed, no environmental tests were conducted, and no one even went to Okinawa. “The only thing that the document proved was the Pentagon’s disdain for its servicepersons, for the people of Okinawa, and for the Japanese government, to whom the report was presented,” he said. “The U.S. government has been lying about Agent Orange on Okinawa for more than 50 years,” Mitchell added. “The land on Okinawa where defoliants were dumped now seems poisoned with dioxin – and this pollution poses a very serious threat to Okinawa’s economic future.” He noted that large amounts of defoliants were sprayed in the city of Nago, where some residents say that local seaweed and clams were negatively impacted, and where the Pentagon tested biological weapons in the early 1960s. This is, moreover, where the U.S. is now embroiled in a highly controversial plan to build an offshore base in Henoko Bay. “If the U.S. military was prepared to poison the land 40 years ago in Nago,” Mitchell asked, “how can we trust it to protect the environment at Henoko with its new megabase?” “Another reason why the existence of Agent Orange and other contaminants existing in Okinawa has continued to be denied, and the environmental surveys blocked, is due to a desire to avoid ‘harmful rumors’ – which is exactly the same language being used with respect to the Fukushima nuclear disaster,” he added. Also speaking at the Tokyo press conference was Dr. Masami Kawamura, the director of the Citizens’ Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa. She has been leading an effort to urge a government investigation and media coverage of toxic defoliants in Okinawa after 26 barrels bearing the logo of the Dow Chemical Company – an Agent Orange manufacturer – were unearthed on the grounds of a soccer field near Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa City in June 2013 during installation of a sprinkler system. Kawamura said that the official U.S. government stance, which holds that Agent Orange was never present on Okinawa, has created a hierarchical political discourse that infiltrates downward to the governments of Tokyo, Okinawa prefecture, and local municipalities – with each of the lower entities too afraid to contradict the U.S. government’s assertions. In an attempt to downplay the significance of the unearthed barrels, therefore, Kawamura said that the Okinawan Defense Bureau conducted only a cursory investigation, while continuing to deny the existence of any contamination – simply parroting the line from the Japanese government that “there are no defoliants,” which in turn reflects the U.S. government position. A cross-check counter-investigation overseen by Okinawa City officials that included outside expert testimony, however, revealed that the barrels did indeed show high levels of dioxin contamination, she said – including components found in the Agent Orange herbicide, as well as traces of other defoliants – which also showed many similarities with dioxin contamination in Vietnam. “Due to the ratio of the components, the Okinawa Defense Bureau has simply kept insisting, ‘There is no Agent Orange,’” Kawamura pointed out, “but their analysis has not taken into account the possible presence of other defoliants such as Agents Purple, Green and Pink, in the field.” “We will continue our efforts to uncover the truth.” Remarks were also given at the press conference by Okinawa Christian University professor Daniel Broudy, an organizer of the November 1-2 symposium, who noted that “the Dow Chemical and Monsanto corporations have continued to deny the link between defoliants and illnesses,” and that “Vietnamese survivors have continued to be denied a voice.” Broudy said that the symposium would involve representatives from communities that have been involved in similar struggles – Bhopal, India in addition to Vietnam – in an aim to “open up public discourse regarding the political implications of Agent Orange.” In an e-mail following the symposium – which drew some 150 participants, and also included a trip to the contaminated soccer field with members of an Agent Orange survivors group from Danang, Vietnam – Jon Mitchell commented, “People from Vietnam have painful decades of dealing with these poisons, and their hard-earned experience will help Okinawan residents to come to terms with the contamination of their own island.” “For Okinawan residents, it’s a steep learning curve – a traumatic one,” he added. “But the inaugural symposium was a strong first step in the right direction.” Kawamura said that the event presented a “great opportunity for Okinawa to connect directly with Agent Orange survivors, who encouraged Okinawans to keep our fight, and provided with us concrete information for our action.” “We are just at the starting point, but we would like to continue learning from Vietnamese peoples’ experiences in particular with regard to defoliant contamination and cleanup issues,” she added. “This is such a significant moment for us.” Kimberly Hughes is a journalist and translator based in Tokyo, Japan who has been covering grassroots movements for positive social change over nearly the past decade. Her writings may be found here.Young SMRT captain Tan Ming Hui, 23, has been revealed to be the friendly voice behind the cheerful announcements delighting MRT commuters on the North-South Line in recent weeks. Tan, a Nanyang Polytechnic graduate who joined SMRT last September, said he got a shock when a video recorded by Yahoo Singapore went viral last week. "Actually, when my friend first told me about the video online, I didn't believe it. But when I saw it myself I got a shock," said the neatly groomed bespectacled captain as he was unveiled to the local media on Wednesday morning. The video showcases some of his gems such as “Since its a Thursday today, what you do today will determine whether tomorrow will be a ‘thank goodness it’s Friday’ or ‘oh goodness, it’s Friday’". Tan says he has a specially crafted message for each day of the week. "If you take my train daily, you'll notice that there will be a different announcement for different days of the week. On Sundays, I have a message for people to combat the Monday blues!" Asked how he landed himself a job as a train captain, Tan said he always had a passion for trains. "When I was young, I used to be one of those kids who would kneel down on the seats and look out the window as the MRT moved along." While the video recently put a spotlight on his efforts, it's not the first time Tan has received recognition. "Before the video went viral, some passengers have come up to me and gave me the thumbs up after their ride." Although the announcements were his own, Tan said it's part of SMRT's "service excellence training" to be creative and that his bosses knew about his PA announcements with a twist all along. The video published last week by Yahoo Singapore attracted close to 8,000 recommends on Facebook. "I was on the same train and I felt like the flight captain was addressing us! Something different! It's good to know and hear who's at he helm. And I must say, he did sound like a pilot announcing too... good English," read a comment by Win Power. "It is truly refreshing to have the driver doing that. I definitely welcome more of such commentary from our drivers. Good job," read another comment. With Christmas coming up, we asked if he has a special lineup, to which he cheekily replies, "Maybe?" Here's a video reenactment of his announcement:Though Riz Ahmed has been working steadily over the last decade in films like Four Lions and Nightcrawler, there’s no denying that this year his career went into hyperdrive. The talented Brit landed his biggest project yet with Rogue One, where he plays former Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook, but he also led HBO’s talked-about series The Night Of, popped up in Jason Bourne and Netflix’s The OA, and added to his rap discography with the Swet Shop Boys’ Cashmere, an appearance on The Hamilton Mixtape, and the release of his own mixtape, Englistan. All of these projects would tire out an average person, but when Ahmed rang up Vulture recently to chat about Rogue One, he was upbeat and funny as he candidly discussed how much work went into making it right. When I think about how bad 2016 was — and it was bad — the silver lining I find is that at least Riz Ahmed was in everything. Yay! Hopefully, we don’t have to keep losing iconic pop stars and endure terrible political collapse in order for my career to progress. I feel like that’s not a fair trade for everyone else. For you to be so well-represented in TV, film, and music this year … how does that make you feel? I feel kind of lucky, it’s been a great couple of years. I’ve just been keeping my head down working hard like I always have. It’s just great luck that a couple of the things I’ve done lately have struck a chord with people, and now they’ve all come out around the same time. That’s the kind of stuff you can’t control, so I try not to think too much about it — instead, I think about what I’ve learned from one job to the next. Man, I can tell you I learned a lot from filming Rogue One. I hope to take that forward with me. Tell me what you learned from this one. I signed up for the movie not having read a script or knowing where the character sat in the movie. I’ve got to be honest, the character was a different character at that point. He had a different name and a different relationship to the rest of the team, and he really evolved once I signed on and once I started shooting, even. They decided to start expanding the role and introducing him earlier and he became more integral to the story and the rest of the team. It’s interesting, looking back, that I signed up knowing nothing, but ultimately I’d sign up for a Star Wars movie to make tea, just to be around that level of creativity. It’s got to be flattering that they saw your performance and wanted to put you in more scenes. Listen, I don’t want to say that’s because of anything I was doing. Maybe they just got wise to my gigantic following in the Falkland Islands [laughs]. To be honest, it speaks volumes to their approach that they allowed things to evolve in an organic and fluid way. People talk about blockbuster movies being really stiff and like a big machine, and there is a lot of infrastructure around these stories and how people tell them, but you’ve also got a lot of people who are willing to unpick stitching that doesn’t work, rather than just embroider it. That takes guts, man. That takes balls, that takes heart. Things kept evolving, and they weren’t afraid to go back and change it or try to make it better. That can be scary, but it makes you realize that no one’s going to let anything be mediocre. You don’t normally have the time and resources to be that perfectionist about things, but they did. Are you used to doing this much promo for one movie? Of course not! I’ve been doing indie films where I don’t even have a trailer, and now I’m touring the world, doing interviews with an action figure. Are you prepared to go to Comic Con now and see tons of people walking around as your character? I don’t know that I’m going to be the dress-up of choice. You’ve got some pretty cool characters over there — I’d probably dress up as Donnie Yen’s character, to be honest. But hey, if millions of people want to dress up as me, then I’ll get to be in my own Being John Malkovich moment, and that’s fine by me. How did you feel about your costume? Everyone who worked on this movie, especially in costumes and props and set design, is a Star Wars fan. All these people went into film because of those Star Wars movies, so you’ve got people who are at the very top of their game with a great amount of resources. They’re entrusted to execute something that is basically a childhood dream, so you’re in safe hands, and people go above and beyond. You could regularly pick up a prop on set and see buttons and a touch-screen on it and think, “This is never going to be on camera, but this is amazing.” And then you take it home and upload it to the dark web [laughs]. You were filming when The Force Awakens came out in theaters. What was that moment like for you? I went to see Force Awakens and I was like, Wow, this is awesome, but then also, I kind of went, Gulp. There was a high bar that was set … were we going to be judged in relation to this? And then the next day we went back to work and I realized we were doing something totally different. We were doing this hardcore, gritty war movie that just happens to be in the Star Wars universe and connects up to the saga, and I love that. I love that we’re sitting within the lineage of Star Wars but striking out on our own. We’re like a weird stepbrother who listens to cool music. What was the most Star Wars thing about it? Without lightsabers and with a different tone, what was that X factor that still made Rogue One feel the most like Star Wars to you? Darth Vader. I mean, for anyone who tries to question our Star Wars credentials, I just say, “Darth Vader.” I know that on Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams really prioritized practical effects over computer-generated ones. Was Gareth Edwards the same way on Rogue One? What’s interesting is that there wasn’t a lot of green screen — I mean, there was for scenery and background, but honestly, there was a ton of stuff they built. They really built spaceships and desert islands and rebel bases and Imperial bunkers, and even the spaceships were built on these hydraulic mechanisms that moved around to scenery projected onto 360 degrees of giant LCD screens. It was like you were on a flight simulator. A lot of it was done like that, and I think it’s because Gareth wanted to discover the original grit those first Star Wars movies had. George Lucas speaks about the “used future,” and you only achieve that sort of steampunk aesthetic by building things and getting dirt under your fingernails. What do you make of the people who complained about how multicultural Rogue One’s cast is? I don’t know if there are a lot of those people, actually. I think it’s quite right that the stories we tell are as diverse as the audience we’re telling these stories to. These days, you’re telling the stories to the world, whether it’s online streaming at home or a multiplex cinema in Lagos, Jakarta, or San Francisco, so it makes sense to reflect the audience. It just kind of feels like, duh, you know? What’s weird is that we haven’t been doing this more consistently for longer. There’s only one way, and it’s forward.UPDATE I am happy to announce the new 1.20 scale model that is up for grabs! Photos below: WHO ARE WE? We are a group of students at the Welsh School of Architecture (Cardiff University) that have teamed up with the charity Friends of Koh Rong (FoKR) and the music artist Caribou to bring this project to life. WHAT IS THE PROJECT? We will be designing a creative play and learning space for the local school on the beautiful island of Koh Rong off the coast of Cambodia, in the village of Koh Touch. The design will combine 3 elements: a playground, a semi enclosed space to read, relax and draw, and a shelter to protect a sculptural fish provided by Caribou through a winning competition entry. Our scheme unites all three parts into one simple and effective design. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Children from the ages of 5 - 15 attend the school and currently have no space to call their own. Everywhere that they used to spend their days playing and socialising with friends has recently been taken over by the influx of tourism, guesthouses, and the bars that come with them. The space we are creating becomes more than just a playground, but somewhere they can always go knowing they are safe. Due to the rapid increase in tourism and the economy there is also a rise in jobs on the Island. The school provides the necessary education and teaches the students to speak English so that they can obtain these jobs themselves and maintain their traditions and culture. It will also help the children to explore their own creativity through playing and learning, something that can be easily lost without a place to express their ideas. WHAT IS THE CREATURE AND WHERE DID IT COME FROM? The creature as featured in the music video 'Can't Do Without You' by Caribou The music artist Caribou held a competition to win the stunning art piece featured in his latest music video ‘Can’t Do Without You’. The huge sculptural creature needed a new home after the video, so we emailed in with our entry proposing that the playground could become its new home. We felt that bringing something like this to a village where they've seen nothing like it before will be a truly magical experience for the children and community as a whole. The experience would be far more intimate and personal to them than the average festival goer. The creature will provide real inspiration for the young people to create something out of the ordinary for themselves. Caring for marine life plays a big part in living on an island, and the fish represents so much of what is important for their growth. The location of the fish in the scheme WHO ARE 'FRIENDS OF KOH RONG' (FoKR)? Established in 2013, Friends of Koh Rong exists to help the local communities on the Koh Rong archipelago adapt to the tourism industry that is changing their way of life. Friends of Koh Rong seeks to aide their beneficiaries to stand in the best possible position to benefit from the changes that have come to their island. The main areas of focus are education and community capacity development. To learn more about the organisation, explore their website: http://friendsofkohrong.org/ "On our first day we were handed two used whiteboard markers, a Khmer-English dictionary, a ruler, and five pencils - for a class of thirty children. Since that day we have been hard at work not only teaching, but also designing a systematic curriculum that is sustainable and can be transported to other villages on the island, (where there is currently no system of education)." - Kelly Beker Each of the teachers have years of experience working with children, teaching ESL abroad and organising many other child programs in their hometowns of Toronto, Melbourne and Cape Town. "We are all excited to be a part of this amazing project, and are already seeing the positive impact of donations to the school. We have already had over 100 drop-in volunteers, working with children on their reading skills, as well as donations of school supplies from kind backpackers." - Fran Antoniou "Any donation at all can impact a child's life here significantly!" - Eliza Arnold Further information: Vimeo Creative learning at the school WHAT IS THE ROLE OF FoKR IN THE PROJECT? Friends of Koh Rong are our link to the Island, they are the ones who were enthusiastic about the project right from the very start and welcomed us with open arms. They were able to secure us permission to build on the school's land, which changed this project from a great idea into a reality. FoKR play a vital role on the Island and provide the education to the children of Koh Touch, therefore we believe it is necessary to not only fund this playground but provide enough money to maintain the school and playground in the future with its continued upkeep. We hope our project will play a big part in the community upon completion and continue to make a difference in the children's lives throughout the years to come. WHAT IS THE DESIGN? The design consists of a series of vertical timber elements that visually unites it as one design. Bamboo pads fill the gaps between the columns creating a vertical playground for the children to climb, crawl and explore. We have purposefully left some of the playful elements open to interpretation because we know that no child will follow 'instructions', but instead will create games themselves using the structure as a prompt. The pads surround the main structure that will house Caribou's Fish, which acts as the central point within the design providing inspiration for the kids. Alongside this is a small enclosed area which acts as a space to sit, read and draw. Seating areas and relaxing hammocks will be throughout the design and underneath the pads to provide shading form the harsh sun. A large 2m x 2m hammock sits underneath the tail of the fish allowing the children to chill out and chat with their friends while looking up at the beautiful art piece. While completing the 1.50 model we realised that it will be necessary to increase the size of the main shelter protecting the creature to allow for more space to walk around and fully appreciate the art piece. A rope climb connects the pads Monkey bars challenges the children's strength USING WASTE MATERIAL Using litter and waste material on the island will play a big role in how our design changes on site. Litter washed ashore on the beaches of the island is a big problem, and so we want to help promote the up-cycle of these found materials and create something new and wonderful with them. We currently have ideas to use plastic and glass bottles to create some of the walls or even a small canopy. Old car tyres will be used to further support the foundations and create smaller playful aspects. WHERE IS THE SITE? The view of the site looking East The site is located on the Island of Koh Rong off the coast of Cambodia. The land is situated in the village of Koh Touch next to the school in a large open space that backs onto the surrounding trees with a view of the sea on the horizon line. The location of the school in the village of Koh Touch INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY Since this project is being designed and built for the community, we feel it is necessary to get them involved as much as possible! We have gathered ideas from the children about what they want to see in the final outcome, with some ideas being more plausible than others! During construction we will get the students to take part in building workshops where they will learn about the problem with litter and waste on the island, and help with the re-purposing of these materials. Playground ideas gathered from the children WHAT WILL THE MONEY BE USED FOR? Funding is crucial for this project to be fulfilled to it's greatest potential. The majority of money raised will go directly towards sourcing local materials, such as timber and bamboo, as well as the necessary tools, fixings and equipment needed during construction. Even with a relativity small scale project like this, the quantity of such materials is vast. As mentioned earlier, we believe it is necessary to not only fund this design and construction project but also provide enough money to maintain the school and playground in the future with its continued upkeep. We hope our project will play a big part in the community upon completion and continue to make a difference in the children's lives throughout the years to come. There are many problems and challenges that could arise once construction has commenced, and so we need to account for the possibility that we will need to tackle these financially. Any funding surpassing our target goal will go towards local empowerment. This is the support of wages for part time teachers, salary for a nurse, professional development opportunities for the local staff, and outreach to the surrounding local villages. FoKR wants to further transition into a locally managed and operated organization. THE T-SHIRT The PLAYSCAPE T-shirt THE TEAM OUR SPONSORS BLOG For updates follow our blog: ButeArchitecture PRESS Caribou Merge Records DIY Magazine The 405 ________Financial Regulators Bend Rules for Banksters The cozy relationship between financial institutions and their respective regulators has long been known. Concern from reformers and activists comes from all stripes of ideological perspectives. With the attention that Carmen Segarra, the whistleblower of Wall Street, has gained, the noise from the banking establishment pushes back. Here comes the expected spin from the Fed, The New York Fed Slams Tape-Recording Whistleblower, Says She Was Fired After Just 7 Months Over Performance. Read their Statement Regarding New York Fed Supervision. So what is this controversy all about? How dare a mere low level regulator document the goings on within the financial establishment, Inside the New York Fed: Secret Recordings and a Culture Clash, writes. “As ProPublica reported last year, Segarra sued the New York Fed and her bosses, claiming she was retaliated against for refusing to back down from a negative finding about Goldman Sachs. A judge threw out the case this year without ruling on the merits, saying the facts didn't fit the statute under which she sued. At the bottom of a document filed in the case, however, her lawyer disclosed a stunning fact: Segarra had made a series of audio recordings while at the New York Fed. Worried about what she was witnessing, Segarra wanted a record in case events were disputed. So she had purchased a tiny recorder at the Spy Store and began capturing what took place at Goldman and with her bosses. Segarra ultimately recorded about 46 hours of meetings and conversations with her colleagues. Many of these events document key moments leading to her firing. But against the backdrop of the Beim report, they also offer an intimate study of the New York Fed's culture at a pivotal moment in its effort to become a more forceful financial supervisor. Fed deliberations, confidential by regulation, rarely become public.” In an attempt at damage control, the Fed was looking for a favorable review. What they got was not what they wanted, N.Y. Fed Staff Afraid to Speak Up, Secret Review Found. “The investigation, conducted by Columbia University finance professor David Beim, was initially confidential but was later released by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Mr. Beim’s report called on the New York Fed to demand that its regulatory staffers maintain a “more distanced, high-level and skeptical view” of how the banks they oversee make money.” A Short History of the Breathtaking Cluelessness of U.S. Financial Regulators, is outlined by the Motley Fool analysis. Any serious observer of the cozy relationships that permeate the financial community knows all too well, that the revolving door turns when favorable regulation decisions spin in the right direction. The significance of this latest scandal, points out just how the regulation process is conducted in the suites of money manipulation. This next account is most telling; You Should Listen To The Goldman New York Fed Story. “This American Life has a banking supervision story that turns on secret recordings made by a former employee of the New York Fed, Carmen Segarra, and it's pretty good, because it shows how regulators basically do a lot of their regulating of banks through meetings, with no action items after. That's weird, and it's instructive to see how intertwined banking and supervision are. There's a killer meeting after a meeting with Goldman Sachs where Fed employees talk about what happened, and - though we don't know what was left on the cutting room floor - the modesty of the regulatory options being considered is fascinating. Nothing about fines, stopping certain sorts of deals, stern letters, or anything else. The talk is self-congratulation (for having that meeting with Goldman) and "let's not get too judgmental, here, guys." The takeaway of the story, which is blessedly not an example of the "me mad, banksters bad!" genre, is that this kind of regulation isn't very effective. It clearly hasn't prevented banks from being insanely profitable until recently, in a way that you'd think would get competed away in open markets.” Why is Goldman exempt from any meaningful oversight? William D. Cohen over at Politico provides an answer to the question, Why the Fed Will Always Wimp Out on Goldman. “Although Michael Silva, Segarra’s superior, didn’t doubt that the Goldman-Santander transaction was legal, he didn’t think it passed the smell test. “It’s pretty apparent when you think this thing through that it’s basically window dressing that’s designed to help Banco Santander artificially enhance its capital position,” he told his New York Fed team before a meeting on the topic with Goldman executives.” Segarra thought her boss’s pre-occupation with whether Goldman “should” have done the deal, or been allowed to do the deal, was all just a big waste of time and obfuscated the larger issue that Goldman, and other Wall Street banks, were busy pushing around a key regulator – the New York Fed – rather than the other way around. She worried that her bosses were focusing on “fuzzy” and “esoteric” issues such as Goldman’s “reputational risk.” Silva also shared with Segarra that it was all moot anyway, because Tom Baxter, the New York Fed’s general counsel, had, he said, “reined him in” on the subject. “I was all fired up, and he doesn’t want me getting the Fed to assert powers it doesn’t have,” Silva tells Segarra, according to the tape recording.” Breaking down all the details and dialogues that transpire in the normal course of banking reviews comes down to the undeniable fact that Goldman is in charge of the process. The ownership of the Federal Reserve, a private entity, is ultimately owned by the shadow families that control the major financial institutions. Only a very naïve analysis or a compromised minion of the financial elite Plutocracy would dispute the power and clout that is applied to the political nature of regulatory oversight. Bankster’s earn this graphic title by the way they conduct their protection racket. Courageous regulators like Carmen Segarra are treated as traitors to a system that is designed to facilitate every abuse that firms like Goldman can devise. Now you know who really owns the gold, because they make up whatever rules that foster their financial corruption. James Hall – October 8, 2014 Subscription sign-up for the BATR RealPolitik Newsletter Discuss or comment about this essay on the BATR ForumJames Deen Rape Allegations James Deen And The Troubling Rush To Judgement Page 1 of 2 One of the foundational principles of the Western legal system is “innocent until proven guilty,” but like many principles, it is often better liked in the abstract than in reality. The Salem witch trials, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the McCarthy blacklists all testify to the difficulty of defending the presumptively innocent against popular prejudice — and of what terrible things societies are capable of when this safeguard is forgotten. Social media seems to have exacerbated this problem. Rumors and accusations move at the speed of the Internet, encouraging people to take sides and form opinions well before all of the facts are known. This was the case in the now-infamous Rolling Stone/University of Virginia debacle, and in the misreporting of remarks Nobel prize-winning scientist Tim Hunt made on the subject of women in science. In both instances, innocent people had their reputations tarnished, and anyone who expressed a measure of caution or concern with how rapidly the narrative transitioned from accusation to punishment, absent any real investigation into the merits of the claims, was vilified or portrayed as morally bankrupt (“‘Is The UVA Rape Story a Giant Hoax?’ Asks Idiot” ran one headline). The most recent example of this rush to judgment came this past November, when the pornographic actress Stoya took to Twitter to accuse her one-time boyfriend, the hugely popular porn actor James Deen, of raping her. James Deen held me down and fucked me while I said no, stop, used my safeword. I just can't nod and smile when people bring him up anymore. — Stoya (@stoya) November 28, 2015 Almost immediately after Stoya came forward, eight other women produced horror stories of their own, accusing Deen of a variety of abusive, degrading and, above all, nonconsensual behavior. And just like that, the one-time poster boy of progressive porn, an outspoken advocate of the need for consent and mutual respect, fell from grace. Thus far, no charges have been filed, no court date set, but James Deen has been convicted in the court of public opinion. Production company Evil Angel has suspended sales of his movies; BDSM site Kink.com no longer advertises him as a performer; sex toys in his likeness are being pulled off shelves; his long-running advice column on feminist site The Frisky has been discontinued. It is very likely that he will never again work in the adult industry, and almost certain that his reputation, once so spotless, will never recover. As Amanda Hess put it in her Slate column, “It only took a couple of tweets to tear it all down.” Indeed — but shouldn’t this give us pause? Is there no way to strike a balance between the rights of the accused and of the accuser?Though it’s only been a part of the city of Colorado Springs for around 30 years, the Ivywild neighborhood has roots going back to the early 1900s. And though that history’s taken a hit in the past decade, resurgence is in the air with the reimagining of Ivywild School. The location at 1604 S. Cascade Ave. is blazing new trails in the booze, food and art worlds — to be rolled out in stages in the coming weeks — and we’re enthusiastically covering it here, as well as in audio slide shows, interview extras and photos galore. Let us know your thoughts, and cheers. Ivywild School articles with video slideshows The big picture A neighborhood full of food, beer and art at Ivywild Baked goods Old School Bakery brings a twisted transcendence Charcuterie Meat Locker chefs show respect for the whole beastTall Ships Duluth Traffic Advisory The DPD warns of heavy congestion during the events this week The Duluth Police Department has issued a traffic advisory for the Tall Ships Duluth event that begins on August 18 and runs through the 21. Beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Thursday August 18th, the “Grand Parade of Sail” will kick off the event as ships begin to enter through the Duluth Harbor area in waves of three. Expect extreme traffic congestion in the Canal Park/Aerial Lift Bridge area during the entire afternoon of August 18. Those wanting to view the “sail-in” should park in the DECC, Bayfront or downtown areas and walk to the waterfront. The festival grounds will open at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and close at 7:00 p.m. Many Tall Ships Events will be taking place int he Bayfront Park area on Friday, August 19, Saturday the 20, and Friday the 21. Festivals ground will open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Coolers, cans, bottles, pets, bags, and backpacks will not be allowed on Tall Festival grounds. During event times expect large amounts of traffic on 5th Avenue West, Railroad Street, Garfield Avenue, and in the Canal Park area. Significant traffic delays should be expected. Please use caution and watch for pedestrians and officers directing traffic in these areas.Pakistani officials arrested a 16-year-old Christian boy Wednesday for allegedly liking a “blasphemous” Facebook post, a crime that might get him executed. A senior Pakistani police officer told reporters the boy was arrested after one of his Muslim friends on Facebook reported the action as “inappropriate” to police. The post reportedly featured the Muslim city of Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. The boy’s Muslim friend told police the post was “hurting religious sentiments of Muslims and desecrating the religious place.” Blashphemous actions, such as speaking ill of the Prophet Mohammed and “wounding religious feelings,” are punishable by death or long sentences in Pakistan. The laws reportedly are overwhelmingly used against Pakistani religious minorities, in some cases are employed to settle personal disputes. Pakistan’s Christian community has also come under attack by jihadi elements within the country. Seventy-two people were killed when a Taliban affiliated faction bombed a Christian Easter celebration at a public park in March. The Taliban managed to kill more Muslims than Christians during the attack, and the majority of casualties were women and children. A 2016 Human Rights Watch investigation found 16 prisoners awaiting execution in Pakistan, convicted under its blasphemy laws. One of these inmates is Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy after a personal dispute with another farm worker. Human Rights Watch notes that Bibi’s conviction came after Muslim farm workers refused to drink from the same water, because her Christianity rendered her “unclean.” She was sentenced to death in 2009, when the court ruled there were “no mitigating circumstances.” When a public official visited Bibi in her cell and denounced her conviction, he was shot to death by his own security detail in 2010. Often accusations of blasphemy do not even reach Pakistan’s judicial system. A Christian couple was savagely beaten and burned to death in a brick kiln in 2014, after a Pakistani village mob accused them of blasphemy. Follow Saagar Enjeti on Twitter Send tips to saagar@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected] Blade Fillrate I bought "Infinity Blade" yesterday. The game is a lot of fun and will satisfy both people looking for instant fun and people wishing for a long game while collecting powerful items. At $5.99 it is a bargain, a must have not only for the gameplay but also for its graphical breakthrough, just like Rage HD. The game programmer in me really wanted to understand the engine and I was especially interested
we will do a good job and live up to his expectations. Sonia: Will this entail some project award opportunities for the IT sector, for the IT companies in India as well? A: I think the vision certainly creates opportunities for much of IT companies to come and bid for projects. I think that is good news in the sense that we will use the local talent, we will use the best talent India has and India is a great IT nation. Hopefully it will happen but putting out tenders and things like that I don’t think it is in our scope; that is part of the departments work. We are an advisory body, we have to just look at the IT strategy, the IT architecture, give a comment and possibly give insights to them and help them; that is all. We have a very limited role. Latha: What is your outlook on the road sector itself, there has been some slowdown over the past five years, are you seeing any improvement? A: I think the road sector development has come down in India because of many viability issues, construction companies are not having enough equity and running into trouble because they are not able to execute, land acquisition issues and many things else. The risk inherent in road construction due to land acquisition, project management, supply of labour was underestimated by everybody concerned and all that is now coming out and hitting. So, very clearly the new government has its policies where they want to bring in EPC to decongest and get the whole stuff going. We have very large construction companies at least 10-15 of them of more than Rs 2000 crore; that is good news. 10 years back maybe we had two and three but these companies, many of them are in deep trouble because they become NPAs, they are stuck, their projects are not gone on, the traffic projections are not come up to speed, there are many challenges. Every country goes through this phase. So, what the government has done to come out with new EPC contracts, to have a special developmental corporation for the north east and to push and to give approvals and make sure funding is eased, reforms are bought about by the minister. I think it is very encouraging for this country and you will notice a significant thing, in the Budget document the Finance Minister has increased allocation to road from Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 80,000 crore. We have never seen such a massive increase for any department of the government of India in the last maybe 20 years that I have been following the Budget. Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 80,000 crore, that is nearly 2.7-2.8 times increase; we have never seen this kind of massive increase in allocation. This can only work efficiently if IT system comes. So, the minister’s vision is also tied in at what he wants to achieve. Many good things have been done by this government, now we have to see actual results on the ground.A Democratic congresswoman called the violent riots at the University of California-Berkeley a "beautiful sight." Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) made the comment Thursday during a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, the Washington Free Beacon reported. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing focused on improving security at the Office of Personnel Management, as well as the National Background Investigations Bureau, according to an email from the House of Representatives Press Gallery. During the hearing, Demings discussed President Donald Trump's threat to withhold federal funding from "sanctuary cities" and the perceived effect that could have on local law enforcement. Five days after taking office, Trump issued an executive order declaring that sanctuary cities violate federal law. Trump further said that if cities continue to harbor illegal immigrants, then at least some of their federal funding would be cut off. "We have seen demonstrations... around the country. Young people at Berkeley protesting against this unconstitutional order," Demings said, though the Berkeley rioters were not specifically protesting Trump's sanctuary city policies. The protests were in reaction to a planned speaking engagement by alt-Right activist Milo Yiannopoulos. Demings tried to make the point that the federal government's withholding of funds for local governments would only make things worse for law enforcement in those areas. Republicans, by and large, have argued that local law enforcement officers should act as a liaison to federal immigration officials, while most Democrats argue that enforcing federal immigration laws should only be responsible for enforcing local and state laws. "But what concerns me,"Demings added, "is... the strain that has been placed on local government, particularly law enforcement, local law enforcement, dealing with an order that is unjust and improper." "And so as we encourage our young people to get involved, I thought it was a beautiful sight," Demings said, again referring to the Berkeley riots, even though the demonstrations were not the result of Trump's sanctuary city order. "What also, as we encourage people to get involved, what directions and instructions and how can we have a more organized effort so that they can be a major tool in moving our agenda forward," Demings added. As TheBlaze previously reported, around “150 masked agitators" threw fireworks, rocks and Molotov cocktails on the California public university campus ahead of a planned appearance by Yiannopoulos. Rioters also smashed windows of the student union center, where Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak on the issue of free speech. The university ultimately canceled Yiannopoulos' engagement over public safety concerns. UC-Berkeley condemned the violent acts in statement, saying "those tactics now overshadow the efforts of the majority to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer’s presence at Berkeley and his perspectives." (H/T: Washington Free Beacon)New York-based Pentagram partner Luke Hayman has collaborated with The National on designs for their new record Sleep Well Beast, working across the sleeve design and promotional materials ranging from t-shirts to more unexpected items, like staplers and sellotape dispensers. The band counts not one but two members with graphic design-related backgrounds, with bassist Scott Devendorf having worked at Pentagram’s New York office with Abbott Miller from the late 1990s until the early 2000s. Pentagram, designs for The National, Sleep Well Beast According to Pentagram, The National “were amused by the appearance of hiring a large, grown-up branding agency to do their campaign. So there’s a bit of irony in the idea of an indie band having a full-on corporate identity, even going so far as to produce a corporate standards manual.” It’s a cheeky, wry and slightly punkish gesture that feels more befitting to a post punk band, or something from the Factory Records stable; a departure from The National’s usual more sensitive rock stylings. Hayman had known Devendorf from his days working with Miller, and the two had been in touch over the years leading up to this project – the first on which The National had brought in a formal agency to work on such a wide-ranging suite of designs. “They’re a very smart band and were very self-aware that they were working with Pentagram to do an identity,” says Hayman, “so one thing led to another, and they found it quite amusing to push the idea of making it ‘corporate.’” The designs are based around a five-sided house-like shape, inspired by the barn built by the band in Hudson, New York, where the album was recorded. The symbol can be broken down into three shapes – two squares and a triangle – which can be “rearranged like code.” For the sleeve itself, the symbol is die cut onto the cover, while the record and CD insert feature photographs by Graham MacIndoe, processed to give a “zine-like feel to add a bit of warmth and soul into the visual language,” says Pentagram. The barn became the site of a lot of ideas that informed the final designs, with the band and designers imagining it as a sort of political headquarters, from which propaganda, music and merchandise were pumped out into the world. The agency created a corporate “Ntl.” logotype used across all brand merchandise, sending up the idea of corporate branding in the development of the stationery items alongside the logo’s placement on caps and clothing. According to Hayman, Devendorf and The National frontman Matt Berninger were “very involved” in the design process throughout the project. “They have a background in design so they care a lot about these things,” he says. “I got a lot of emails, Scott would be taking pictures of a Beat poet show he’d seen at the Pompidou and send those over, or Matt would do a sketch and email it over very apologetically saying ‘I know I shouldn’t really do this!’ But they’re designers – they’re very aware of things like fonts.” In the end, Maison was used as the main font for the identity, against a blue and white colour palette chosen for its sense of a “retro, slightly monotonous” 1970s corporate identity. Pentagram, designs for The National, Sleep Well Beast Alongside this series of graphics and poster designs, the campaign saw “transmission-like” videos appear on monitors played in New York’s Times Square, London and Copenhagen. A bespoke website was designed by New York studio The Collected Works. Pentagram says: “On the more serious side the band are very active in social and political causes, including what’s going on right now in the US, and wanted something that was not obviously political but riffed on the idea of propaganda, a society/cult, with its own symbols,” though it adds that the record “is not a protest album, per se.” Sleep Well Beast was released by 4AD on September 8 2017The biggest, baddest Rolls-Royce will soon be here. We've seen spy shots the new Cullinan for months, but this is our first look at the SUV's interior. Though much of it is still covered, we can make out a few details hiding beneath the surface. There's no word on when the new Rolls will hit the streets, but look for a debut sometime this auto show season.At first glance, there seems to be a lot of parts taken straight from a BMW parts bin. BMW owns Rolls, so this shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Still, it's disappointing to see the steering wheel from a 3 Series in place of the handsome, thin-rimmed wheels you usually find in a Rolls-Royce. That said, this could simply be a temporary solution while the car undergoes development. The rest looks a lot like the new Phantom. This includes the digital instrument cluster and various switches and knobs.There really isn't anything new we can glean from the Cullinan's exterior. We've seen this all before. The rear doors are of particular note as they each appear to have two door handles. Look closely and you can see a regular one in the back and what appears to be another up front. The latter suggests it may have suicide doors, though it may simply be a trim piece meant to simulate that iconic Rolls feature. We'll have to wait for the full debut to find out more.Today's atomic clocks are ridiculously accurate. The best of them tell time so well that if they had been running since the Big Bang, by now they would not have gained or lost more than a second. A quantum system, such as a collection of rubidium atoms, can be represented visually with a Bloch sphere. Points on the surface of the sphere correspond to states of the system. However, due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, there is some fundamental fuzziness in the exact position of each point. That fuzziness can be visualized as a kind of "uncertainty blob." Entangling a collection of atoms squeezes the uncertainty out of one dimension of this "uncertainty blob" and into a perpendicular dimension. Credit: Sean Kelley/NIST Measuring the orientation of the Bloch vector (position of the arrow in this animation) is at the heart of all quantum sensors with broad applications for time keeping, definition of SI units, gravimetry, and inertial and electromagnetic field sensing. But scientists are always looking to improve their time-keepers, for benefits to GPS, communications, internet applications, and all the measurements that rely on time (including the meter). One frustration that keeps atomic clocks from becoming more accurate is fundamental noise that's tied to the quantum nature of atoms. Researchers from NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) and JILA, the joint research and training institute run by NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder, are conducting proof-of-principle work to reduce this quantum noise that appears in all quantum sensors, with potential use someday for increasing the precision of not just atomic clocks but for many other applications including inertial sensors, gravimetry, and electromagnetic field sensing. The world's most precise atomic clocks use vacuum-pumped chambers of atoms such as cesium, strontium, or ytterbium. First, the atoms are energized with a probe light that puts some of them into a higher energy state, while the rest remain in the ground state. That starts the clock hand ticking.* However, the quantum nature of the atoms creates a fundamental noisiness in their time-keeping capabilities. "In an atomic clock, the quantum noise in your telling of the time is analogous to having a clock hand that is fundamentally fuzzy," says PML/JILA's James Thompson, who is leading the work. "If I average many measurements of my clock, I would find out that it's pointing at, say, 2 o'clock. But on any single try, I would find that sometimes it's pointing a little past 2 o'clock and sometimes a little before 2 o'clock. This makes it difficult to tell the time precisely without making many measurements." One way to get around this fundamental quantum fuzziness, Thompson explains, is to entangle the atoms. Entanglement describes a relationship where each atom in the clock, in a sense, knows what all the other atoms are doing. "And if you create the right type of entanglement – we call this type of entanglement spin squeezing – it turns out the atoms can conspire with each other, so that the noisiness or the fuzziness associated with one atom is partially canceled by the fuzziness of another atom," Thompson says. "This is a little like making the width of the clock hand narrower at the expense of more fuzziness in the length of the clock hand – a direction that is not important for telling the time." So far Thompson's team has demonstrated that they can squeeze the "quantum fuzziness" out of the value of interest by about a factor of 60 in noise variance. James Thompson with the experimental setup. In their experiment, approximately 1 million rubidium atoms are kept in vacuum and cooled to just 10 microkelvin, or ten millionths of a kelvin above absolute zero. The researchers levitate the atoms in an optical lattice, a grid of intersecting beams that creates a kind of egg carton for holding the atoms. This setup keeps the atoms extremely still, so that they don't move during the measurements. It also isolates the atoms from the rest of the world, "so that they can live in a world where quantum mechanics is important," Thompson says. The rubidium atoms are suspended in an optical cavity, between two almost perfectly reflective mirrors. The spacing of the mirrors determines the cavity's resonance frequency, similar to how the size of a bell determines the note at which it rings. Then, just as with an atomic clock, the atoms are partially energized to an excited state. The trick to making a measurement with this setup is that the atoms in an excited state change the frequency of the cavity's "note." "Each atom in the excited state acts like a piece of glass in between the two mirrors. The index of refraction inside the glass is different from vacuum, and therefore it would change the wavelength of light at is passes through that glass," Thompson explains. "And that would be equivalent to effectively changing the mirror spacing. That would shift the resonant frequency." The tuning of the cavity's ringing can be determined by shining a red laser light at one of the cavity mirrors and measuring the properties, specifically the phase, of the reflected light. By asking only this question – how does the resonant frequency of the cavity change? – the researchers were able to tease out the answer to real question they wanted to ask, which was how many atoms are likely to be in one state versus the other.** Quantum noise causes the number of atoms in the excited state to fluctuate, but the measurement reveals what value it has taken on any given trial. From the tuning of the cavity, the experimenters can tell how many atoms are in the excited state, but not which atoms are in the excited state. This keeps each atom in both the excited and ground states, a requirement for the clock to be able to tick after the measurement. "What's amazing is that simply the act of measuring this information forces the atoms into an entangled state," says Kevin Cox, a graduate student and member of Thompson's lab. "Each atom remains in both an excited energy state and an unexcited energy state at the same time, yet the total number of excited atoms is precisely known." The work doesn't necessarily translate directly to an atomic clock measurement yet. However, many potential applications are possible with further development. The current accuracy of the strontium clock is about 2 parts in a billion billion. With this technique, Thompson says, that precision could go up by a factor of 10. "For the scale that we're talking about, that's a huge win," Thompson says. Their quantum noise reduction technique could also potentially be used to increase the sensitivity of rotation sensors, accelerometers, magnetometers, gravity sensors, and atom interferometers, which can be used for a range of applications including GPS-free navigation and measurements of gravitational waves and the gravitational constant. "It's exciting because in some sense people have been working with the idea of entanglement for quantum computation, information, and communication," Thompson says. "The idea of entanglement is kind of a toy to be played with thus far." What his team has shown, he continues, is that this is a real tool that could potentially reduce noise in measurements with quantum sensors. "That's what we wanted to see: Is this a real technique or not? And it looks like it very well might be." — Reported and written by Jennifer Lauren Lee An atomic clock doesn't have hands like a clock on a mantelpiece, but physicists often use the clock-hand visualization in technical descriptions. The international standard (SI, Système International) definition of a second is a certain number of transitions (about nine trillion) between two states of a cesium atom. *What they gave up, due to Heisenberg uncertainty, was knowledge about a collective phase of the atoms. But they didn't need that for these measurements. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says that you can't know both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time with high certainty. (If you measure one of those values, the uncertainty for the other goes through the roof.)This listener-supported station and its podcasts are a division of Ancient Faith Ministries which is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. Your donations help sustain this ministry and provide for its growth. Please consider a gift at this time but we ask that you do not support Ancient Faith Radio at the expense of your parish or missionaries. Thank you. Monthly Giving: Our expenses come on a monthly basis, and it is so nice to know that we have faithful listeners who are willing to support us on a monthly basis as well. Would you consider signing up for a monthly donation? Any amount is greatly appreciated and you can have it automatically charged to your credit or debit card. PayPal is also available for automated monthly giving. EFT/ACH: We also now offer Electronic Funds Transfer as a convenient way to give on a monthly basis. No credit cards, no checks, just a secure automatic debit from your bank account set up on your terms. Simply print out the form and mail it to us and we will do the rest. We can accept donations via MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express, PayPal, Bitcoin, and check. Thank you for joining with us to provide 24-hour Orthodox radio all over the world!Cytographics/Getty Space travel might permanently mutate E. coli, helping them to band together and survive. The longest study yet of bacteria in simulated microgravity found that their adaptations remained even when researchers tried to erase them. A major concern for long-duration space flight is how the microorganisms who hitch a ride with us will adapt to the loss of gravity. Astronauts’ immune systems change in space, potentially making them more susceptible to infection, so if these bacteria become more virulent or antibiotic-resistant, they could pose a risk. To assess that risk, Madhan Tirumalai at the University of Houston in Texas and his colleagues placed E. coli in a rotating vessel designed to simulate microgravity. They kept them there for 1,000 bacterial generations, much longer than in previous studies. Advertisement After giving the cells time to adapt to microgravity, the researchers combined them with another strain of E. coli that hadn’t been subjected to microgravity and allowed them to grow together. The adapted cells grew about three times as many colonies as the others. Even after the cells were taken out of microgravity for up to 30 generations before being combined with the control strain, they maintained 72 per cent of their adaptive advantage, pointing to permanent mutations in the genes rather than merely a temporary adjustment. Multiple mutations “This study is broader in scope than previous ones on two counts,” says Jason Rosenzweig at Texas Southern University. “It’s looking at a much longer trajectory and it’s also interrogating the entire genome rather than specific subsets of genes.” Genome sequencing revealed 16 mutations in the E. coli after microgravity exposure. “We are, in fact, seeing true genomic changes – permanent changes,” says team member George Fox at the University of Houston. We can see which genes are mutating, “but we don’t know what they’re doing exactly”. However, some of the mutations occur on genes related to the ability to form biofilms, colonies of cells embedded in protective slime, says Tirumalai. Biofilms have been shown to make bacteria hardier in many situations, which may present a problem if one were to form, say, on a spaceship’s life support system. “We need more of this kind of experiment, especially with human space flight gaining more traction in recent years,” says Tirumalai. E. coli is relatively innocuous, but the infection risk for astronauts on long missions could skyrocket if microgravity also makes more dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella, permanently hardier. Luckily, the mutated cells from Tirumalai’s experiment were just as susceptible to antibiotics as before their exposure to microgravity. So even if microgravity turns bacteria into superbugs, antibiotics will remain a powerful line of defence. Journal reference: NPJ Microgravity, DOI: 10.1038/s41526-017-0020-1 Read more: Dried-up slime could help microbes survive briny waters on Mars16 students safe after school bus catches fire Copyright by WANE - All rights reserved A DeKalb Central Schools bus caught fire early Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (Courtesy photo/KPC News) [ + - ] Video DEKALB COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) A DeKalb County school bus caught fire early Friday with 16 students on board. All escaped unharmed thanks to "great situational awareness" from their bus driver. Copyright by WANE - All rights reserved A DeKalb Central Schools bus caught fire early Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (Courtesy photo/KPC News) Copyright by WANE - All rights reserved A DeKalb Central Schools bus caught fire early Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (Courtesy photo/KPC News) DeKalb Central Schools bus No. 14 caught fire just before 7 a.m. on its route through the Mason's Village subdivision, at the intersection of Auburn and Quinten drives, according to a report by NewsChannel 15's news partners KPC News. Copyright by WANE - All rights reserved "I've been a bus driver for 22-years, Michelle Pfefferkorn said. "I guess I was calm about it. So it was just get the kids off the bus, get the kids away from the bus and get someone there to look at it." Copyright by WANE - All rights reserved "I've been a bus driver for 22-years, Michelle Pfefferkorn said. "I guess I was calm about it. So it was just get the kids off the bus, get the kids away from the bus and get someone there to look at it." "It began with an engine light coming on," bus drive Michelle Pfefferkorn said. "We stopped the bus and it started to smoke a little bit. I felt the kids needed to be evacuated and we evacuated them off the bus immediately. Then it proceeded into a full blown fire." By the time firefighters arrived three minutes later, the bus was fully involved, according to an Auburn Fire report. The flames were under control within six minutes. The bus was carrying 16 students - 12 from McKenney-Harrison Elementary School in Auburn, two from DeKalb Middle School and two DeKalb High School, Superintendent Steve Teders told KPC News. The students were checked out by medics and cleared, and their parents were notified. "I was never nervous," Pfefferkorn said. "We are trained really well and we do a lot of safety measures. As soon as I said we were going to evacuate, they were up and moving." After getting off the bus, Pfefferkorn moved the kids a second time - away from the full engulfed fire. "I wasn't afraid of it exploding, but I moved them a second time away from the bus a little bit further because of the fact that the windows were popping," Pfefferkorn said. "So I just wanted to make sure that they were not anywhere near where any of that glass was going to be." Fire Chief Michael VanZile credited Pfefferkorn's quick thinking for keeping the students safe. "The bus driver did a fantastic job and had great situational awareness to safely evacuate all the children from the bus," VanZile wrote in the report. Pfefferkorn has received praise from everyone she's talked to. "I've received messages saying thank you for what you did," Pfefferkorn said. "All kinds of positive things have come out of it. I am just a simple person and it's our job. I don't feel heroic, I am a mom and a grandma and those kids are just like my kids. I would've treated them the same way and done the same thing for anybody. All of our drivers that we have here would've done the same exact thing that I did because that's the way we are trained."C++17 is on the way, and I’m glad to see more books that stay on the bleeding edge of C++ adaptation. Today I’d like to present a book that focuses on the Standard Library. Is this another great book? TL; DR: Yes :) But read more to see why :) Plus I have a bonus: Q&A with the author and a giveaway. The Book C++17 STL Cookbook by Jacek Galowicz Github Repo with the samples Currently @Amazon you can buy a printed copy, if you want a DRM-Free ebook go to Pack Publishing store: C++17 STL Cookbook. See Jacek’s blog, and on Twitter: @jgalowicz Also, it’s worth mentioning that Arne Mertz from Simplify C++ helped with the book, as he was the technical reviewer. BTW: I noticed Jacek around like one year or more ago and was happy to see another Polish guy writing about C++. I was misled by his Polish sounding surname. As it turned out Jacek is German with roots in Poland, so my initial guess was not 100% correct. So, I still had to communicate in English :) The Structure The cookbook contains over 90 recipes, 500+ pages, full of STL content and samples. It’s not aimed at beginners. It might be great as a second or third book after an introduction to C++. Here’s a summary of chapters: 1: The New C++17 Features A review of new features, with examples. 2: STL Containers Basics of containers, erase-remove idiom, removing from a vector in O(1), accessing vector elements, keeping std::vector instances sorted, maps, implementing a simple RPN calculator with std::stack, Implementing a word frequency counter, Implementing a writing style helper tool for finding very long sentences in text with std::multimap, Implementing a personal to-do list using std::priority_queue. 3: Iterators Introduction to iterators, Making your own iterators compatible with STL iterator categories, iterator adapters, Implementing algorithms in terms of iterators, checked iterators, zip iterator adapter 4: Lambda Expressions Using lambdas, polymorphic lambdas with std::function, function concatenation, complex predicates with logical conjunction, transform_if using std::accumulate and lambdas, Cartesian product pairs of any input at compile time. 5: STL Algorithm Basics Copying data between different containers, sorting, searching, removing elements, Locating patterns in strings with std::search and choosing the optimal implementation (like the Boyer-Moore searcher), sampling large vectors, Implementing a dictionary merging tool, generating permutations. 6: Advanced Use of STL Algorithms A trie class using STL algorithms, a search input suggestion generator with tries, Fourier transform formula, ASCII Mandelbrot renderer, Building our own algorithm - split, Composing useful algorithms from standard algorithms - gather, Removing consecutive whitespace between words, compressing and decompressing strings. 7: Strings, Stream Classes, and Regular Expressions Creating, concatenating, trimming, and transforming strings, using string_view, Reading values from user input, Counting all words in a file, I/O stream manipulators, std::istream iterators, std::ostream iterators, custom string classes by inheriting from std::char_traits, Tokenizing input with the regular expression library, Catching readable exceptions from std::iostream errors. 8: Utility Classes Using std::ratio, chrono, optional, tuples, variant, any, smart pointers, random number engines. 9: Parallelism and Concurrency Paralell STL, working with threads, Performing exception safe shared locking with std::unique_lock and std::shared_lock, avoiding deadlocks with std::scoped_lock, safely postponing initialization with std::call_once, using std::async, producer/consumer idiom, parallelizing the ASCII Mandelbrot renderer using std::async, Implementing a tiny automatic parallelization library with std::future. 10: Filesystem Listing all files in directories, writing a grep-like text search tool, an automatic file renamer, disk usage counter, Calculating statistics about file types, Implementing a tool that reduces folder size by substituting duplicates with symlinks My View If you only skimmed the previous section, please go back and read what’s inside those ten chapters. I can wait :) Impressed? I am! What’s clear is that most of the recipes are a solid, working examples/demos. Of course, there are many introduction sections to give you a background, but most of the time you just work on a small app, or tool. So those are not just tiny, theoretical, impractical code samples. If you finish a chapter, you can be sure to end with something useful. Nor is this a reference book. You can find introductory explanations, but in general, it will teach you how to use STL efficiently by working on real problems. Regarding the amount of experience needed to understand the chapters, it varies a lot. There is some basic stuff that everyone (after an intro to C++) should get. But there are also complicated examples where you’ll need to read the section several times (at least I had to! :)). That’s good. Having all recipes on the same level would be boring. With such mixture, everyone can find something for themselves and also have some challenge with more advanced problems. Interesting recipes A few of recipes that caught my attention: Mandelbrot renderer The example is maybe complicated; I had to read it several times to understand. Still, it shows how to compose the solution using smaller blocks. So you’ll be using functions that return lambdas, complex numbers, std::transform. You have even two variations: a basic version and the parallelized one! Other tools/utils/demos: Grep-like tool - it shows how to iterate over a directory and then scan text files (with regex). Reverse Polish Notation calculator. Tries and working with text/dictionaries. Writing style helper tool for finding very long sentences in text with std::multimap. The text is tokenized to get sentences stats. Then a user can see what parts of text should be improved. . The text is tokenized to get sentences stats. Then a user can see what parts of text should be improved. … STL tricks Like deleting items from an unsorted std::vector in O(1) time. Copying elements from different containers. Synchronized stdout : static void print_pcout ( int id ) { pcout {} << "pcout hello from " << id << ' ' ; } The object pcout makes sure the whole string is printed to stdout without any interruption as you could get with the standard cout. Debugging iterators Using _GLIBCXX_DEBUG, or ( /D_ITERATOR_DEBUG_LEVEL=1) in MSVC. It’s great that the book brings up that topic. Iterators are powerful, but they can quickly become invalid when used in the wrong way. The recipe shows how different tools can help when debugging such cases. Functional stuff Zips, composing functions, lambdas. Functional programming gets more and more popular, so I like that Jacek shows a few ideas in the examples. Implementing a tiny automatic parallelization library The example shows how to distribute the sub-tasks of a problem as an automatically parallelizing asynchronous version. The lambdas returning lambdas are a bit hardcore, but it works :) The example uses this for strings operations, but you can adapt the tiny library for any domain. Going back to a general overview: Jacek also conveys a crucial message throughout the book. For example: “At this point, we are using STL data structures so intuitively that we can nicely avoid pointers, raw arrays, and other crude legacy structures.” Similar messages appear in several parts of the book. When you know STL you can build your apps much faster, and more safely, and compose code as if you were sticking Lego blocks together. It’s also a modern style of C++ - not using raw code structures or reinventing everything from scratch. All in all, great stuff. Plus, as always its cookbook style makes it easy to read, which I like. But wait. Before we go to the summary, I’d like to show you a little interview with the author: Q&A with the author Bartek: How did you come up with the idea for the book? Why did you want to write about STL? Jacek: It was actually not my own idea to write a book at all and specifically about the STL. Nitin Dasan, a very nice Acquisition Editor at Packt Publishing, approached me and asked very directly if I was interested in writing a book for them. Back then, the title “C++17 STL Cookbook” was already fixed. At that time I was unemployed because my former employer shut down the whole site I was associated to. Since I was seeking to become self-employed rather than just looking for jobs somewhere else, writing my own book looked like a great opportunity. The next step was compiling a list of ~90 recipes that I would write for the book, which Packt then accepted and sent me a contract. While the book title and format (a cookbook with recipes) were fixed already, I still had a lot of freedom: What would the recipes be about and how would they use C++17 and the STL? I tried to do as many things with the STL as possible. As you noticed in your review already, I did even avoid for-loops. My idea was to demonstrate that the STL is not only a library of neat little helpers but actually a foundation of building blocks whole applications can and should build on. Everyone who does not realize this tends to reinvent the wheel here and there. If you rewrite something that the STL already provides, you ditch the fact that all these algorithms and data structures are usually well designed, well tested, well performing, and keep your code well readable and maintainable. C++ programmers should perceive the STL as standard building blocks that are just linked differently in every C++ program (this perspective is now pointedly oversubscribed). The reader might find that sometimes extreme. But then, he/she is completely free to pick what he/she liked and leave the rest. My hope is that this books really shows the audience something new and that it is inspiring. Bartek: What was the hardest part of writing the book? Jacek: The recipes in the book are all about C++17 and the STL. This means that they should only require a C++17 capable compiler and the STL. It was hard to find about 90 meaningful and interesting example problems and applications that are short but self-contained enough, as they need fit into the typical 4-8 pages recipe format. It would have been easier to find nice real life examples if the STL was already including features like networking and so on. Including external libraries would have missed the point of the book and might have made it harder for users of different operating systems to follow them, so I strictly avoided that. Bartek: What’s your favourite feature of C++17 (a language or STD library feature)? Jacek: My favorite little list of new features is: Lambda expressions: These are not new to C++17, but I love them as I recently also learned Haskell and got pretty fascinated by functional programming style. Lambda expressions in C++ enable for adapting many beautiful concepts from there and using them to make the low-level code more generic and maintainable. Parallel algorithms: It blew me away when I heard about this for the first time! Parallelizing code portably just by prepending another parameter in existing STL algorithm calls - this is fantastic. Iterator sentinels: I do often implement my own iterators for all kinds of low-level things. This became even easier and more flexible since the end-iterator does not have to be of the same type as the begin-iterator any longer. Structured bindings: I use tuples a lot and structured bindings are really helping with keeping code readable. Automatic template type deduction: Finally I do not always have to implement make_xxx(…) helper functions any longer for determining the template types of classes that shall only depend on from what kind of type I construct them! Inline member variables: Some libraries are best implemented as header-only and this new feature is quite an enabler in that regard. Bartek: What other C++17 books would you like to see? Jacek: In general, I love books that make me change my thinking and shake me out of developing in
explosion. The assumption many of us make that the Tsarnaevs planted those bombs is just that: an assumption that, in the absence of the reported confession, has no evidence behind it. Thanks to the media’s consensus narrative, we think we saw or heard proof. But we didn’t. We heard people saying there is proof, and we saw ambiguous footage that we were told established proof. While this too-tidy scenario certainly calmed the public, it may also have poisoned a cherished principle of American justice: the notion of “innocent until proven guilty.” According to the consensus narrative, Tamerlan Tsarnaev commandeered a private car, and was soon joined by his younger brother. Tamerlan spontaneously informed their hostage that they were behind both the bombing and the shooting of the police officer. The hostage then escaped from the car, and relayed what he heard to police. But, in fact, beyond the testimony of a gas station owner that a man came running up and said he had been carjacked, we do not know what else of this is true. Crucially, we do not know that Tamerlan Tsarnaev actually confessed to either the Boston bombing or the murder of Officer Collier. We only think we know this to be true because we have been told there was a witness. Yet we do not even know who that crucial witness is. We are left with the word of “the authorities” that this quasi-phantom, his identity protected by, and his remarks filtered through, handpicked intermediaries from the traditional media, is telling us the truth. [box] WhoWhatWhy plans to continue doing this kind of groundbreaking original reporting. You can count on us. Can we count on you? What we do is only possible with your support. Please click here to donate; it’s tax deductible. And it packs a punch.[/box] Where else do you see journalism of this quality and value? Please help us do more. Make a tax-deductible contribution now. Our Comment Policy Keep it civilized, keep it relevant, keep it clear, keep it short. Please do not post links or promotional material. We reserve the right to edit and to delete comments where necessary. Related printAs SpaceX has accumulated mission successes, launch insurance rates have fallen. Insurers rate both the risk of launch-vehicle failure as well as the chances that a satellite will fail and combine the two to get a coverage rate. Now that SpaceX has made rocket landings somewhat routine, the next step is to prepare the recovered rockets for reuse to launch commercial satellites. Some of the technical hurdles it must clear also have financial implications. In the next two weeks, the Hawthorne, Calif., space company will brief domestic and international insurance underwriters on its progress. As part of that regular annual review, they will discuss upgrades to the company’s Falcon 9 rockets, as well as its plans to reuse them. SpaceX will need to determine how many launches it can get out of each reusable rocket as well as the costs of refurbishing them, said Michael Blades, senior industry analyst for aerospace and defense at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Insurers have already given Falcon 9 a “tremendous amount of support” because the rocket has proved reliable so far, said Jeffrey Poliseno, chief executive of Aon International Space Brokers. “It’s a matter of keeping the market educated on what’s going on,” said Poliseno, who will be attending the meetings with insurers. “Generally when you do that and demonstrate something works, they’ll be very supportive.” Chief Executive Elon Musk has said SpaceX expects to get to a point where there is little work to be done between reuses other than refilling the propellant tanks. But the company is putting its first landed boosters through rigorous tests to determine each rocket’s condition after re-entry. The company lists its starting price for the Falcon 9 rocket at $62 million. The average price of a launch with United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that competes with SpaceX for national security satellite launch contracts, is $225 million. SpaceX executives say prices could go down even further if the company is able to make good on its plans to offer reusable rockets for launch. Competitors have speculated that SpaceX launches either at cost or at very small profit margins to drive business. Those financial details are not publicly available because SpaceX is a private company. But even a cost savings of 10 to 20 percent, along with a track record of reliability for its reusable rockets, could help the company gain more market share, said Blades, of Frost & Sullivan. SpaceX said a number of customers have expressed interest in launching their payloads on a reusable rocket. One of the most vocal is SES, a satellite operator in Luxembourg that launched one of its satellites aboard a Falcon 9 three months ago and has a contract with SpaceX to launch six more.Donald Trump has said he will release the tax documents after his audit is complete, although the IRS said in February that there is no rule prohibiting the real estate mogul from doing so earlier than that. \| Getty Anonymous GOP donor pledges $5 million if Trump releases tax returns An anonymous donor has promised to give $5 million to a veterans charity of Donald Trump’s choosing if the presumptive Republican presidential nominee releases his tax returns, political operative and Clinton backer David Brock plans to announce Wednesday. The Manhattan billionaire has long refused to release his tax returns, arguing that he cannot do so because he is currently being audited by the Internal Revenue Service. Trump has said he will release the tax documents after his audit is complete, although the IRS said in February that there is no rule prohibiting the real estate mogul from doing so earlier than that. Story Continued Below A release previewing a conference call with Brock scheduled for Wednesday says the $5 million challenge “represents an opportunity to fill in some of the unknowns about Trump including how much he has made off of potentially fraudulent ventures and how much he’s actually paid in taxes. "What we do know about Trump’s taxes shows that he’s gone to great lengths to pay as little as possible,” the release continues. “Meaning that he is avoiding paying his fair share and shifting that burden to other taxpayers.” Trump’s November opponent, presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, released eight years of tax returns in July 2015 and has attacked Trump for not doing the same. “[Trump] needs to release his tax returns. The only two we have show that he hasn’t paid a penny in taxes,” she said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on May 22. “It may be that he hasn’t paid — ever — any federal income tax. That’s why we want to see his tax returns.” Trump said in May that he expected his audit to be complete before election day, at which point he will "gladly" hand over his tax returns. He told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that the media is "not going to learn anything" once those documents are released, however.Admitting that "some will call me a torturer" is a surefire way to cut yourself off from anyone's sympathy. But Glenn Carle, a former CIA operative, isn't sure whether he's the hero or the villain of his own story. Distilled, that story, told in Carle's new memoir The Interrogator, is this: In the months after 9/11, the CIA kidnaps a suspected senior member of al-Qaida and takes him to a Mideast country for interrogation. It assigns Carle – like nearly all his colleagues then, an inexperienced interrogator – to pry information out of him. Uneasy with the CIA's new, relaxed rules for questioning, which allow him to torture, Carle instead tries to build a rapport with the man he calls CAPTUS. But CAPTUS doesn't divulge the al-Qaida plans the CIA suspects him of knowing. So the agency sends him to "Hotel California" – an unacknowledged prison, beyond the reach of the Red Cross or international law. Carle goes with him. Though heavily censored by the CIA, Carle provides the first detailed description of a so-called "black site." At an isolated "discretely guarded, unremarkable" facility in an undisclosed foreign country (though one where the Soviets once operated), hidden CIA interrogators work endless hours while heavy metal blasts captives' eardrums and disrupts their sleep schedules. Afterward, the operatives drive to a fortified compound to munch Oreos and drink somberly to Grand Funk Railroad at the "Jihadi Bar." Any visitor to Guantanamo Bay's Irish pub – O'Kellys, home of the fried pickle – will recognize the surreality. But Carle – codename: REDEMPTOR – comes to believe CAPTUS is innocent. "We had destroyed the man's life based on an error," he writes. But the black site is a bureaucratic hell: CAPTUS' reluctance to tell CIA what it wants to hear makes the far-off agency headquarters more determined to torture him. Carle's resistance, shared by some at Hotel California, makes him suspect. He leaves CAPTUS in the black site after 10 intense days, questioning whether his psychological manipulation of CAPTUS made him, ultimately, a torturer himself. Eight years later, the CIA unceremoniously released CAPTUS. (The agency declined to comment for this story.) Whether that means CAPTUS was innocent or merely no longer useful as a source of information, we may never know. Carle spoke to Danger Room about what it's like to interrogate a man in a place too dark for the law to find. Wired.com: Do you consider yourself a torturer? At the end of the book, you wrestle with the question. Glenn Carle: According to Justice Department lawyer John Yoo's August 2002 memo on interrogation, the answer is no. As one can see from the entire book, I opposed all these practices and this approach. I was involved in it, although I tried to stop what I considered wrong. I feel I acted honorably throughout my involvement in the CAPTUS operation, and tried to have him treated properly, but much of it was disturbing and wrong. Wired.com:: You're maybe the only CIA officer to publicly describe a "black site" prison, your Hotel California. What was it like to be inside a place completely off the books from any legal accountability? Did it make you feel like you could act with impunity? How did you restrain yourself? Carle: No, I never, never felt like I could or should act with impunity. No one I know felt that way. We all felt we were involved in an extraordinary, sensitive operation that required very careful behavior. What was acceptable was often unclear, despite the formal guidance that eventually was developed. "How did I restrain myself" implies perhaps that I was inclined to act in unrestrained ways. I never, ever was; nor were, in my experience, my colleagues. From literally the first second I was briefed on the operation, I was acutely aware that I would have to weigh every step I took, and decide what was morally, legally acceptable. There was never the slightest thought that I or anyone could act with impunity. We were acting clandestinely; but never beyond obligations to act correctly and honorably. The dilemma comes in identifying where those lines are, in a situation in which much was murky. Wired.com: You came to believe that the man you call CAPTUS "was not a jihadist or a member of al-Qaida." Well, even so, was he still dangerous? Did you ever feel he duped you? You write that he lied to you, after all. Carle: CAPTUS himself was not a terrorist, or a dangerous man. He had been involved in activities of legitimate concern to the CIA, because they did touch upon al-Qa’ida activities. That's a fact. But he was not a willing member of, believer in, or supporter of, al-Qaida. He was not a terrorist, had committed no crimes, had not intentionally supported jihad or terrorist actions. Did he dupe me? He evaded and lied on occasion, yes. And I always wrestled with the question of whether he was duping me. In the end, I had to decide, though, and I decided he was, fundamentally, straight with me. Never totally, but fundamentally, yes. This is not a black- and white-hat situation. I try to make that as clear as can be in the book. Little was simple – thus, my descriptions of the "gray world" in which knowledge is imperfect, motivations and actions are sometimes contradictory – in which CAPTUS, perhaps, was truthful, innocent, disingenuous, and complicit simultaneously. Wired.com: Did you ever feel, at Hotel California or before, that interrogating CAPTUS put you in legal jeopardy down the road? Carle: I think everyone was concerned with this, at every level, and at every second of one's involvement in interrogation operations. We all worked very hard to act legally.The challenges are how to reconcile contradictory laws, which are morally repugnant, perhaps, and which leave room for broad interpretation and abuse. No one consciously broke the law, ever, in my experience or knowledge. But what should one do? How could one follow one's orders and accomplish one's mission, when it was flawed, objectionable, and perhaps itself legally, albeit "legally" ordered. That's the supreme dilemma I wrestled with, and others did, too. Wired.com: When you first interrogate CAPTUS, you write that you tried to establish a rapport with him – even as you kept him fearful that you controlled his fate. When that didn't get the intelligence CIA HQ wanted, they shipped the both of you to Hotel California. Did CIA consider the possibility that he wasn't who they thought he was? Carle: I had slow, partial, success during my time of involvement in bringing colleagues and the institution to see him more as I did. But I failed, ultimately. The view that he was a senior al-Qaida member or fellow-traveler remained decisive for a long, long time. The agency or U.S. government didn’t change its views for eight years. Perhaps it never did. Wired.com: Run me through how CAPTUS was treated at the Hotel. Carle: The objectives are to "dislocate psychologically" a detainee. This is done through psychological and physical measures, primarily intended to disrupt Circadian rhythms and an individual's perceptions. So, noise, temperature, one's sense of time, sleep, diet, light, darkness, physical freedom – the normal reference points for one's senses are all distorted. Reality disappears, and so do one's reference points. It is shockingly easy to disorient someone. But that is not the same as making someone more willing to cooperate. The opposite is true – as the CIA's KUBARK interrogation manual cautions will occur, as I predicted and forewarned and as occurred in my and other officers' experiences. Wired.com: In 2003, according to declassified documents, your old boss, George Tenet approved the following "enhanced interrogation techniques" for use on high-value detainees: "the attention grasp, walling, the facial hold, the facial slap (insult slap), the abdominal slap, cramped confinement, wall standing, stress positions, sleep deprivation beyond 72 hours, the use of diapers for prolonged periods, the use of harmless insects, the water board." Were any of these used on CAPTUS? Did you take part in any of their use? Carle: No. These measures were formally set out, I believe, after my involvement in interrogation. And in any event, from my first second of involvement in the CAPTUS operation I simply would not allow or have anything to do with any physical coercive measure. I would not do it. That point I was certain of instantaneously. I also had literally never heard of waterboarding until the story about it broke in the media. Wired.com: Did you get any useful intelligence out of CAPTUS? If so, what interrogation techniques "worked"? Carle: Oh, yes, CAPTUS definitely provided useful intelligence. The methods that worked were the same ones that work in classic intelligence operations: establishing a rapport with the individual, understanding his fears, hopes, interests, quirks. It is a psychological task, very similar to what one should do when establishing any human relationship. The plan was to be a perceptive, and sometimes manipulative, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and purposeful individual who understood the man sitting opposite him, and earn his trust. Wired.com: You came to question whether even the mild psychological disorientation you induced on CAPTUS was too severe an interrogation method. Why? Did you sympathize with CAPTUS too much? Carle: There is always a danger for a case officer to "fall in love" with his "target." That's the term we use. Any good officer guards against that, and always questions his own perceptions. Always. But I was the one who looked in CAPTUS' eyes for hours and hours and days and days. It was I who knew the man, literally. I'm confident in my assessment of him. And yes, I at first accepted my training: that psychological dislocation induced cooperation, and would not be lasting or severe, therefore could be acceptable in certain circumstances. I came quickly to conclude that this was founded on erroneous conclusions – nonsense, actually – about human psyche and motivation. [It] did not work, was counterproductive and was, simply, wrong in every way. So, I came to oppose it. Wired.com: How did the CIA react to you publishing this book? Huge sections of it are blacked out. Carle: The agency redacted about 40 percent of the initial manuscript, deleting entire chapters, almost none of which had anything to do with protecting sources or methods. Much of it was so the agency could protect itself from embarrassment, or from allowing any description of the interrogation program to come out. One would infer, obviously, that large segments of the agency would have preferred to leave CAPTUS' story in the dark, where it took place. Wired.com: David Petraeus, the incoming CIA director, suggested to Congress that there might be circumstances where a return to "enhanced interrogation" is appropriate. What would you say to him? Carle: That there is almost no conceivable circumstance in which the enhanced interrogation practices are acceptable or work. This belief is a red herring, wrong, and undoes us a bit. We are better than that. Enhanced interrogation does not work, and is wrong. End of story. Wired.com: The Justice Department decided on June 30 to seek criminal inquiries in two cases of detainee abuses – out of 101. Was that justice, a whitewash or something in between? Carle: It wasn't a whitewash. It's in general better not to seek retribution, but to seek to inculcate correct values and behavior going forward. Wired.com: Did you ever learn what happened to CAPTUS' treatment after you left at Hotel California? Why was he was released? Have you tried to find him? What would you tell him if you saw one another? Carle: No. I left the case and knew nothing about him for years. I presume he was released because the institution, at last, accepted what I had argued as strongly as I had been able to do so. He was ultimately let go, I hope, because the institution and U.S. government, at last, came to accept my view of CAPTUS. His release validates – substantiates – everything I argued. I came to respect CAPTUS. We are from such different worlds, and his and my circumstances – he a detainee and I one of his interrogators – are so radically different that conversation would be awkward if we ever met again. It is natural that he feel resentment. And little was ever clear in the entire operation. That's the nature of intelligence work. He is not a total innocent, I don't think. But his rendition was not justified by the facts as I came to learn them, which was at odds with the agency's assessment of him. Wired.com: Finally, how many CAPTUSes – people you believe to be innocent men swept up in the CIA "enhanced interrogation" system – are there? Carle: I do not know. Photos: DoD, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army, See Also:- CIA Exhales: 99 Out of 101 Torture Cases DroppedThe Townsville Crocodiles have terminated 2014/15 NBL most valuable player, American import and club captain Brian Conklin’s contract in a bid to rejuvenate the second to last franchise in the league. In what is the first time the league’s reigning MVP has been sacked from his club the following year, Conklin had nothing but praise for his home over the last three seasons over social media. Thank you to all the Crocs fans teammates coaches for this season and for 3 seasons prior the club has terminated my contract Good luck boys — Brian Conklin (@BrianConklin14) November 30, 2015 In what was first reported by Townsville Bulletin’s Rohan O’Neil, the Crocs will now face both Cairns and New Zealand this week at home without their captain. The club was well and truly in the media over the off-season after going into voluntary administration, and it was only as recent as last week that NBL Executive Director Larry Kestelman urged Townsville fans to come out and support their local team – hinting once again at financial troubles. Townsville sit 4-10 and in seventh position on the NBL ladder, just one game clear of Sydney in last, yet on the same number of wins as their Queensland counterpart Cairns.Agree with Garrick — white rice does in the Japanese diet does not cause constipation. However, it does seem that there is a higher percentage of constipation sufferers in Japan than in many other countries, but this has only been within the last 20 or 30 years according to Japanese health websites. The rise in constipation is attributed to the change in diet to a more meat-based Westernized diet, reduced amounts of exercise, insufficient daily water and soluble fiber intake (including rice), and interestingly, the fact that, genetically, the Japanese are predisposed to having longer intestines. THIS LAST “FACT” HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE UNTRUE - although most Japanese (including myself ;P) believe/d it to be true. Health advocates in Japan recommend returning to more “traditional” diets, but its hard even for the Japanese to turn away from convenience and fast foods. Hence the large number of over-the-counter constipation relief products on the market. Interestingly, the “fact” that Japanese have longer intestines seems to have been perpetuated by these same consumer health product companies and companies such as Yakult that sell products promoting digestive health. It seem these companies often quoted “doctor’s experiences” without research basis, but marketing beat out scientific research in the public forum.Comcast's involvement in the potential sale of Hulu may dampen its chances of getting its proposed merger with Time Warner Cable approved by the Justice Department. According to The Wall Street Journal, Comcast, 21st Century Fox, and Disney executives met at the Allen & Co. conference in 2013 to discuss the potential sale of Hulu — which was garnering billion dollar offers at the time. Instead of hammering out the sale, Comcast reportedly convinced its partners that it could raise Hulu's value and make it a true competitor to Netflix, promises that played a significant role in the decision to pull Hulu off the market, according to The New York Times. Comcast is restricted from making management decisions involving Hulu Due to its deal with the Justice Department when it acquired NBC Universal (through which Comcast acquired its stake in Hulu), Comcast's role in management decisions involving Hulu were severely restricted. Comcast agreed not to "influence, control, or participate in the governance or management of Hulu," and its influence over the potential sale of Hulu has raised questions within the government about how compliant Comcast would be if restrictions were placed on the proposed Time Warner Cable merger. The Justice Department will sit down with Comcast on Wednesday to discuss its potential merger with Time Warner Cable, and Hulu is bound to come up. If the Justice Department doesn't believe Comcast will adhere to the conditions it places on the merger, it could choose not to approve the deal. As for Comcast, it denies any wrongdoing in its dealings with Hulu. "Comcast has no role in making, evaluating, or reconsidering any management decisions at Hulu," a Comcast spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal. All strategic decisions at Hulu are made by the other partners and not by Comcast." We'll find out if the government believes Comcast soon enough. Verge Video archive: Comcast's argument for buying Time Warner Cable (2014)A worthy new addition to the Order of the Hex ~ Avery Abernethy, 16 September 2017 Like most Americans interested in World War Two in the Pacific, my reading has focused on the US Navy, Marines, and Army operations. However, Japan focused more than half of her resources and the majority of her Army and Air Force on land operations in China and SouthEast Asia. Although the Japanese Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marine were eventually destroyed by the United States’ military, Japan held onto most of her gains on mainland Asia to the end of World War 2. Likewise, wargames have focused far more on Europe and to a lesser extent the conflict between Japan and the United States in the Pacific. Burma Road is the second addition to Order of Battle World War 2 focusing on land warfare in Asia. In Burma Road the player takes the role of commander of British Commonwealth forces in Singapore, Thailand, Burma and India. The scenarios reflect the huge contribution of Indian, Australian and New Zealand forces. Like earlier releases in the series, Burma Road is turn based IGO-UGO. Mouse controls allow a large area view of combat or a close-up perspective. Clicking on the mini-map gives you a view of the entire map with forces displayed with NATO notation. Being able to switch between the multiple viewpoints is most helpful with large map scenarios. Burma Road has thirteen scenarios for your $15 download. Every scenario has primary and secondary objectives. All primary objectives must be achieved to continue to the next scenario. The secondary objectives give you either additional resource points, additional reinforcements, or harm future Japanese performance. The first scenario taught me something I did not know about the Pacific War. Commonwealth forces invaded Thailand (Operation Krohcol) without permission almost concurrently with the Japanese invasion. Thai police forces are caught between the attacking Commonwealth forces and the Japanese and they get crushed like bugs. Your Indian commonwealth forces are not under your control in this scenario, but the Australian forces are under your direct command. As the battle progressed, the Commonwealth and Japanese forces destroyed the Thai police and engaged in direct combat. The only Naval scenario in Burma Road is “The Sinking of Task Force Z” which sees the loss of the Battleship Prince of Wales and the Repulse. In Burma Road’s second scenario the Commonwealth airforce engaged swarms of land based Japanese fighters and bombers. Both capital ships are programmed to be sunk (they were sitting ducks) but your air force can inflict major damage on the Japanese. In the next four scenarios the Japanese Army overruns Singapore and all of Burma [Fall of Singapore, Kawkareik Pass, Sittang River, Rangoon Falls]. The British had a real knack of allowing the Japanese to get ahead of retreating forces or allowing Japanese infiltrators to seize crucial transportation junctions. These four battles are primarily defensive, but also demand limited offensive action to allow an escape route or to crush a Japanese force which has (once again) gotten behind British lines. The following screenshots show the Japanese have infiltrated behind Commonwealth lines close to Singapore. A major Japanese incursion almost linked up with the infiltrated forces, but I managed to beat them back. In the four scenarios where the Commonwealth forces get run out of Burma, you “win” by successfully delaying the Japanese advance and preserving your core forces. The Sittang River scenario is a good example of how Commonwealth forces barely managed to keep together and eventually save India. At the start of the Scenario the Commonwealth forces have to advance against opposition to Sittang. Sittang itself is heavily defended by Japanese troops. Your forces have to advance along the road, take Sittang, and then defend a long road and bridge against multiple Japanese counter-attacks from three directions. Taking Sittang itself is not easy, and you have to hold on throughout the rest of the scenario as Indian commonwealth troops under AI direction evacuate. In addition to losing Malaysia, Thailand and Burma to the Japanese Army, the British faced the “Quit India” revolt by Ghandi which attempted to remove the British from India. If this revolt had succeeded, the Japanese may well have penetrated deep into India. This was a crucial part of the campaign, and the Quit India Denied scenario is an interesting example of how the military could be deployed in a limited carnage situation. Your goals in “Quit India Denied” are to avoid killing any factory workers, to drive the factory workers back into their homes, to relieve the British Administration Buildings which are under military siege and to capture Ghandi. If you kill Ghandi you lose. If you kill a bunch of other civilians, you lose. If the rebels gain control of the British Administration sectors, you lose. You have to attack where you will not kill off the workers and direct the retreating forces back into their homes. You capture Ghandi by surrounding him with three British units. This was a challenging scenario. You had to attack where a straight line of retreat pushed the factory workers back into their homes. You have to attack from the right spot to drive them home. I did not initially deploy any armor to prevent outright massacring the factory workers. If the factory workers end a turn in a village, they “go home” and are removed from the map. As you can see, your military forces have to be applied precisely with minimum force to end the factory worker riots. This is a reasonable simulation of using limited military force to achieve a political objective. My second “Factory worker riot” screenshot illustrates where you could (and could not) successfully launch a limited attack to subdue the rioters. If you manage to avoid killing all of the factory workers and drive them home, your forces must then defend the British Administration building against tougher units labeled “bandits.” Some of the bandits have anti-tank and artillery units simulating revolting Colonial troops. If you save the Administration compounds, you start your search for Ghandi. There are swarms of rioters whom you should not kill interspersed with bandit units which you must crush before they destroy or cut-off your forces. My screenshot shows how complex this battle becomes. The rioters move around but will only attack a unit with one step or so left. The bandits will attack, cut your troops off from supply, and generally act like an opposing army I’m sure that every counter-insurgency force in the history of the world would appreciate clear labels on whom you can and cannot kill! I was successful in eventually arresting Ghandi by moving three military units adjacent to him. This allowed me to win. I killed the bad people and saved the Colonial Administration. I drove the rioters to their homes. I captured Ghandi and avoided a bloodbath. It took me three tries to achieve this but readers of this review should have a much better handle on how to deploy and use your troops. Operation Cannibal was a drive in North Burma attempting to reopen the Burma Road. Amazingly, the British expected light resistance. Of course, they were wrong. This scenario covers a large amount of ground and the Brits lack the strength to advance on all fronts simultaneously. The Japanese will counter-attack. Ultimately I prevailed, but multiple units were destroyed and had to be replaced. The next scenario is Operation Longcloth, a simulation of Chidit attacks in Burma. The Chindits were irregular British and Commonwealth forces which operated behind Japanese lines with airdrop resupply. This was the hardest scenario in the campaign. You have to keep your irregulars supplied, take your objectives, while fending off a savage Japanese pursuit. The Chindit forces can move through jungles and blow bridges, but are weaker than the Japanese infantry in pursuit. The map you have to navigate is huge. I outright lost this scenario the first three times I played it. I either kept in supply but failed to achieve many objectives, or advanced and got out of supply and destroyed. You have to maintain a delicate balance of attack and defense to win this one. The Ledo Road is the following scenario. Here the British forces are stronger than the Japanese only when they concentrate. The Japanese counter-attack on multiple fronts. Worse, every time you take a key victory hex a vulnerable, static construction unit appears. Penalties accrue with every lost construction unit. You also have some extremely weak Chinese Nationalist units added which cannot even hold a river defense line. As seen by a screenshot, I had trouble keeping my construction units alive. The last three scenarios are large map attack scenarios. All were challenging, but they were relatively straight-forward. Like the war in Burma, the Japanese defense got better as the war progressed in the game although counter-attacks became rare excepting a tactical strike. I purchased Burma on the first day of release and have played the campaign to completion twice on the lieutenant level (2nd of five difficulty levels). Although the AI could be very challenging at times, I could eventually win at this level of difficulty. I’m sure any experienced war gamer can find a level of difficulty to challenge their skills. The AI is particularly efficient at surrounding isolated units and eliminating weakened units. The AIs use of Japanese Artillery was honestly frightening at times. The AI had two weak points. First, the AI never concentrated their air assets or provided consistent fighter cover for their bomber units. Against a human opponent, the Japanese would either gain air supremacy or superiority in many scenarios. But I was able to gain supremacy or superiority by mid-scenario almost every time with the Commonwealth forces. Second, the AI Japanese would sometimes get significant forces cut off from supply by being too aggressive. Still, as AIs go the Order of Battle programmers do an excellent job. The sounds and controls for Burma are a good fit for this time period. The graphics are acceptable but not noteworthy. Although my screenshots portray animated units, traditional counter view is also available. I purchased the game on the day of release and there were multiple updates/patches in the first week. As a result, I experienced a few more glitches than I’ve seen in the other releases. The developers continue to patch and improve previous when new scenarios are released. Multiplayer using hotseat or pbemail are available, but I’ve yet to try them. Overall, this is an outstanding expansion. The variety of scenarios covered is amazing. We have multiple fighting retreats of various forms. We have a political/military operation in a huge Indian city. We have a long scenario on a huge map with irregular forces fighting to achieve their objectives, stay in supply, and avoid destruction. There are a couple of massive offensive actions. Many of the early offensive actions face major Japanese counter-attacks. The breath of the scenarios in this expansion is just amazing. Most of the scenarios were challenging on difficulty level 2 (out of 5). I lost several of the scenarios multiple times until I figured out a winning strategy. Even better, the Burma campaign has seldom been addressed by computer wargame designers. Order of Battle has brought multiple, seldom covered conflicts to our computer world. It is nice to play something other than the Germans clobbering everyone in 1939-1941 or the Germans getting clobbered for the rest of the war. The huge distances and horrible terrain in the Pacific theater come to life in Burma Road. This offering has been inducted into The Order of the Hex for covering a wide array of operational combat scenarios in an overlooked but important theater of the Pacific War. Avery Abernethy is a Professor of Marketing at Auburn University. Chat about it below, or in our forums, or hit our FaceBook page >>SOCHI, Russia -- Bursting from the shadow of her adored teammate, Adelina Sotnikova gave Russia its first gold medal in women's Olympic figure skating. While much-heralded Julia Lipnitskaia was stumbling, the 17-year-old Sotnikova soared. When she won the free skate Thursday at the Sochi Games, she denied South Korea's Yuna Kim from defending her title and confirmed Russian command of the sport once more. "This is the happiest day in my life," Sotnikova said. "I simply stepped on the ice today and realized how much I like what I'm doing and skated really good." The Russians have won three figure skating gold medals at these Olympics: team, pairs and women's. Only this latest one was a surprise. A huge surprise. Sotnikova, 2 years older than Lipnitskaia but far less accomplished, was considered a long shot against the likes of Kim, Italy's Carolina Kostner, who took bronze, Japan's Mao Asada and even Americans Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner. But Sotnikova, seemingly far more relaxed than nearly every other competitor, won it all, giving Russia or the Soviet Union 27 Olympic gold medals. They own five men's golds, 13 in pairs, seven in ice dance, and took the first team event this year. Sotnikova was in the media area when she was told she won. She ran waving her arms in the air before finding her coach and sharing a warm hug. When she got onto the podium for the flower ceremony, to raucous chants of "Ross-si-ya," she jumped up and done like, well, a teenager who had just had her Olympic dream come true. "It's the Olympics. And it was a long way for me," she said. "To compete at the Olympic Games, I dreamed of any medal, but frankly speaking, I wanted a gold one." Lipnitskaia was fifth. "I wanted to skate my best today but it didn't work," she said. "I've lost control over my jumps- tiredness and emotions." Gold finished fourth, Wagner seventh and 15-year-old American Polina Edmunds ninth. Asada was third in the free skate after finishing 16th in Wednesday's short program and wound up sixth. Sotnikova trailed Kim by just.28 going into Thursday, and she overcame that by winning the free skate 149.99 to Kim's 144.19. The final totals were 224.59 for Sotnikova, 219.11 for Kim and 216.73 for Kostner Yuna Kim wins Olympic short program after day of thrills and spills Skating last, Kim needed a repeat of her Vancouver performance to hold onto the gold. She began masterfully with a triple lutz-triple toe combination and hit four more triples. Because she had one less triple jump than Sotnikova, Kim's artistry couldn't make up the difference. Of the three medalists, Kostner went first to the sport's
owned Creative Director, Chris Perkins, premieres our newest blockbuster: Under Wraps - a look into the behind the scenes world of Visionary Realms and Pantheon. Not to be upstaged, we save the best for last as we interview Nephene, the latest community member to bask in the spotlight. Butter up that popcorn and head on in! Class Reveals and Pax Recap Highlight the May Newsletter Posted date / 05.16.18 We packed last month’s newsletter with so much content that we could have easily rested on our laurels and mailed it in this month, but that’s not who we are or what we’re all about at Visionary Realms. We were so overwhelmed at the response to our PAX East Pledge special that the whole team was energized and couldn’t wait to give back to our community. Our very own Chris Perkins really stepped up and delivered three awesome new class reveals – the Monk, the Ranger and the Rogue, JN Gerhart continues our series on the various inhabitants of Terminus as this month’s Rogue’s Gallery looks at the North Tusk Orcs, Ben “The Dreamcrusher” Walters comes through with this month’s Community Member Spotlight with Temmi and our team highlights their adventures in Boston with PAX East Highlights. Check it out now! Now With Even More Content! Posted date / 04.11.18 After an amazing week at PAX East we felt compelled to up our content game and give you not one, not two, but THREE amazing features this month, plus an awesome new Community Member Spotlight. We get the party started with a first look at a new feature called The Rogues' Gallery - an insightful overview of the various inhabitants of Terminus. We keep it moving with our first interview of Daniel Krenn, our Lead Programmer and Chief Technology Officer. We don't let up as we gather around the table for an in depth developer Q&A about Black Rose Keep and we save the best for last with our April Community Member Spotlight - Beefcake! What are you waiting for? Check it out now! Spring has Sprung with our March Newsletter Posted date / 03.14.18 Daylight Savings time may be messing with your sleep schedule, but we've made up for the lost hour in your life with not one, but two great features this month. We sit down with the team to learn all about the creation process for Armor in Pantheon, and we sneak into a possible repository for those rare drops - Halnir Cave, one of the first dungeons players may encounter in Pantheon. Last, but certainly not least, OneADseven is our featured community Member this month. What are you waiting for? Check it out now! Sneaking a Peek at Elves; Looking Ahead to 2018 Posted date / 02.14.18 February's Newsletter is here and with it another juicy update from the man himself, Creative Director Joppa. Read the state of the game this month and get a first sneak peek at the Elves of Terminus. Check it out now! January's Newsletter: 2017 in Review and a Look at Harvesting Posted date / 01.17.18 2017 was a big year for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. We take a look back at some of the highlights and the team weighs in on some of their favorite moments. Then we move right into a glimpse of harvesting from designer Corey Lefever. And we wrap it all up with another Community Spotlight, this time from Anistosoles. Check it out now! Pre-Alpha Launches Today; Grass Grows in Terminus – All in December’s Newsletter – Available Now Posted date / 12.13.17 Today's newsletter is a bigun'! The day has finally arrived. Find out more about the pre-alpha launch of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen and how you can still get involved before time runs out. Then, join Forrest and Tod for our monthly Developer Roundup (complete with new artwork!) And if that still doesn't whet your appetite, join Bruno on an inside look at the technology that brings Pantheon's grass to life. Check it out now! November's Newsletter Recaps TwitchCon Highlights Posted date / 11.15.17 The newsletter is here, and with it we have a bunch of shots from the TwitchCon floor. The team recaps some of their favorite moments and highlights how these shows charge the team with new energy. Also this month, meet Kim, David and Bruno and find out what they've been up to on your favorite upcoming MMO. And don't forget to read the Community Spotlight on Kelenin this month. Check it out now! The Halflings Are Coming Posted date / 10.11.17 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen's October newsletter is arriving in your inbox and is jam-packed with halflings as we take a look at the creation process behind these folk. Don't miss the bundles of concept art and rendered models. Check it out now! Summer's Ending but Pantheon's Just Getting Started Posted date / 09.13.17 We've packed so much into this month's newsletter, you’ve got to open it NOW so it doesn't explode. We’ve got a monthly breakdown of what's been happening on the dev side. We take a look at all new lighting and how it impacts the visuals of Pantheon. We talk to Manouk. And hints at something cool coming this month. Check it out now! Beat the heat with August's Newsletter! Posted date / 08.09.17 Meet three of our amazing VR Team Members, laugh at our Patch Notes Caption Contest, download some beautiful promo images from Comic-Con and as always, get to know one of our awesome community members in this August Newsletter. Check it out. "Bring Friends" Teaser Premiers at San Diego Comic-Con Posted date / 07.17.17 What better way to celebrate Comic-Con than with a new Pantheon Teaser? The "Bring Friends" trailer captures the philosophy behind the game. RPGs are most memorable, and most powerful, when they are enjoyed with friends. Become a hero - but don't do it alone. Watch it here. Extra! Extra! July's Newsletter is Here! Posted date / 07.12.17 One of our driving motivations behind Pantheon is our community. This month Brad weighs in on just how important community is to the life of an MMO like Pantheon. Also this month Zippyzee takes us behind the scenes to tell us more about the design of NPC AI. And we wrap it all up with another community spotlight, this time with Yarnila. Check it out. June's Newsletter Posted date / 06.13.17 June's newsletter is here filled to the brim with dev diaries. Find out what the team has been up to this past month, direct from their keyboards to your screen June 2017 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter. May's Newsletter Posted date / 05.09.17 May Newsletter: Streams, Monks and Insane Magicians -- May's newsletter recaps the two Pantheon Dev streams, digs in a bit deeper with monk deets and gives you a glimpse of the current patch notes. Click to see the details. May 2017 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter. Pantheon's Spring Stream Part 1 Posted date / 4.27.17 Pantheon's Spring Stream Part 1 is now available for viewing on YouTube. CohhCarnage returns to Terminus to try the Pantheon monk. In this stream we get a glimpse of enhanced gameplay mechanics, a first look at the acclimation system, new animations and more. Will the team survive monk pulling? Visionary Realms Closes Series A Funding for Pantheon Posted date / 4.26.17 Top news today as we announce the closing of Series A funding. What does this mean? Among other things we'll be able to expand the team. Read the full press release here. Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Live Dev Stream Posted date / 4.24.17 Don't miss the next Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Live Dev Stream with CohhCarnage April 27th 11am PDT and May 2nd 11am PDT at twitch.tv/cohhcarnage. These streams will feature the monk, enhanced shaman mechanics, new zones and a glimpse at the acclimation system. April's Newsletter Posted date / 04.12.17 April's newsletter is no joke. We've got tons of stuff this month from new Twitch streams to Crafting and Harvesting info, to an all-new video on the Perception system and more. This is one month's newsletter you don't want to miss! April 2017 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter. March's Newsletter Posted date / 03.08.17 What do Justin Gerhart, Archai, a giant FAQ and NickHotS have in common? Why, they're all part of the newsletter of course! We interview the Loremaster himself and take a look back at some of the highlights of February in the March 2017 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter. February's Newsletter Posted date / 02.15.17 February is here and that means it's newsletter time! Join us for a whopper of a time as Joppa gives us a State of the Game, Medawky takes a closer look at the classes and races of Terminus, we revisit the new character models and of course, our community spotlight featuring Hokanu Narayana. Lots to read this month in February's Pantheon Newsletter! Game On - Visionary Realms Talks Pantheon & Industry Jobs Posted date / 01.25.17 On a special episode of the MMORPG.com Game On podcast, Visionary Realms takes over the podcast! Listen at MMORPG.com Pantheon's Top 10 Moments of 2016, Amberfaet & More Posted date / 01.11.17 In January's Newsletter check out the Visionary Realms team's favorite moments from 2016. We also have a nice chat with community member Kelem, plus Chris Perkins and Justin Gerhart will show you a little more of the wondrous but secretive hollow of Amberfaet. New Twitch Stream and Shaman Gameplay revealed Posted date / 12.07.16 If you’ve been following us on Facebook and Twitter you’re no doubt aware of our upcoming Twitch stream this Friday at 11am PST. We’re very excited about the stream as we will be exploring two new zones and revisiting some old ones. We’re also showing off new character models. You’re going to love these. To get ready for the stream this month we bring you a Shaman story which we think you’ll enjoy as it brings to life the spirit of playing a shaman. Also be sure to check out our latest Community spotlight with Evoras. Read more in December's Newsletter. November's Pantheon Newsletter Posted date / 11.09.16 Here we are in November already! So much has happened this year that we can’t believe we’re almost back to the holiday season. Brad and Corey just got back from Unite 2016 where a whole new audience was able to take a look at Pantheon for the first time. Immediately after Unite CM Jason “Medawky” Bolton had a chat with Senior Designer Corey LeFever. Not to be outdone, CM Ben “KIlsin” Walters had a chat of his own with Community Member Dullahan. Join the CM duo as they dig deep on hard-hitting topics like video game design challenges and what class Dullahan plans to roll on server launch. Welcome to the November 2016 Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Newsletter. October's Pantheon Newsletter: VIP Q&A with the Dev Team Posted date / 10.14.16 Our monthly newsletters are a labor of love for the team here at Visionary Realms, each one of us is so appreciative and thankful for all of our fans, supporters, backers and even our critics. This month we answer some of their questions in an exclusive Q&A session that took their questions directly to our team. In case you missed it, check out Brad's AMA where he answered almost every single question that came up! Not to be outdone, we threw some questions back at you in this month's Community Member Spotight. September's Pantheon Newsletter Digs Deep into Developer Daily Duties Posted date / 9.14.16 September is here and we know you've been waiting for the next newsletter. The wait is over! This month we have an exclusive chat with World Builder Extraordinaire, John Diasparra who bares all about his creative process and what it takes to make a world like Terminus. Pantheon Just Became More Accessible Posted date / 9.13.16 Today we are pleased to announced a new pledge tier. Starting at just $50 USD this entry-level pledge offers a digital copy of the game at launch, Supporter level access to the official forums, early name reservation and the in-game title of Pantheon Explorer. New Pledge Tier Coming September 12th Posted date / 8.19.16 Due to popular demand a new $50 pledge tier will be available September 12th. This new tier will be a bare bones entry level pledge and will provide a single copy of the game at launch, supporter level forum access, the in-game title of Pantheon Explorer, and early name reservation. In addition to this new tier we will be removing the Knight's ($100) and Patron's ($150) pledges from the store. We are nearing capacity for alpha and access to it at this level is a thank-you to the early adopters. The two tiers being removed will be replaced with similar pledge tiers without alpha access to the game. So if you have been considering one of these tiers, act now before they go away September 12th. If you have already purchased a Knight's or Patron's pledge, your pledge does not change. You will still have access to the alpha build of the game when it becomes available. A Pantheon AMA, Community Matters & Spotlight, Patch Notes and More Posted date / 8.9.16 August's Pantheon newsletter has been sent to inboxes all around the globe. Our all-new format has Medawky looking at the importance of Community, an interview with Pantheon fan extraodinaire, Raidan, and an exclusive first look at some of the internal patch notes Next week Brad will also be on Reddit for an AMA at 1pm PDT Wednesday Aug 17th. Don't miss it! reddit.com/r/MMORPG. Audio Landscaping - Designing the Sounds of Pantheon Posted date / 7.13.16 Creative Director Chris "Joppa" Perkins tells the tale of how he first became involved with Pantheon and a peak into how his passion for music and sound still plays a major role in his dedication to the game. Read all about it in this month's feature spotlight... True MMO Gaming for a New Generation Posted date / 7.13.16 In other news this month Team VR has begun plans to start 'educating the masses.' Many older gamers who have experienced previous generations of MMO games understand the concepts that Pantheon aims to create. But there is a whole new generation who has yet to experience it. As such we are cooking up some darn cool ideas that are sure to be a ton of fun for both the classically-inclined and the current-gen gamer. Stay tuned to pantheonmmo.com for more on MMO Renaissance Gaming 101 coming soon! Latest HD Gameplay Stream now available on YouTube Posted date / 6.24.16 The latest stream of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen gameplay is now available on YouTube! The Visionary Realms team is joined by Who's Gaming Now to explore Black Dagger Keep and into Halnir Cave. You'll get your first glimpse at the perception system and hear the answers to dozens of questions during the stream. Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oNVecHjiJI All-New Twitch Stream, Big Reveals and More! Posted date / 6.14.16 In the June newsletter issue, we take a closer look at the Shaman class and the story of the Black Rose. Plus, find out about our next live Twitch stream and VIP Roundtable in Pantheon's latest Newsletter. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you can do so here so you don't miss a beat of everything Pantheon. State of the Game, May 2016 Posted date / 5.10.16 Pantheon's May newsletter is hitting inboxes everywhere! In this issue, Brad provides updates on Pantheon's development and we get an exclusive first look at the Black Dagger Keep area. Find all this and more in Pantheon's latest Newsletter. Pantheon: Rise of the Followers Contest! Posted date / 4.14.16 From now until May 10th you can enter our Pantheon: Rise of the Followers contest for a chance to win a Knight's Pledge or Alpha keys! Entering is simple. You can respond to this post on Facebook and tell us what you're looking forward to about Pantheon, or you can Tweet @PantheonMMO with #PRF. See the contest page to learn about even more chances to win. Introducing Pantheon's Rogue Posted date / 4.13.16 It Came from the Shadows... Greetings Pantheon fans! In last month's newsletter we teased you a little with a closeup of the rogue you see above. This month we go in for a closer look. Traditional rogue fans will not be disappointed and, as one would expect from a rogue, she may have some tricks up her sleeve. Find out more about the Pantheon Rogue. During last month's Twitch Stream we received some requests to get a closer look at the areas we were showing. In response to that we're pleased to let you know we have posted several brand new screenshots available in 4k resolution. You'll see the orc camps in vivid detail. Get a closeup of a Chamber of Souls. You may even find a rare spawn from the Union of Shadows somewhere within... Visionary Realms at Game Developers Conference Posted date / 3.21.16 Prior to GDC this year Visionary Realms debuted an early version of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen to the world for the first time via Twitch.tv. The response was greater than expected. Over 1500 concurrent users had tuned in to see Pantheon for the first time with over 8000 unique viewers in a single night. The chat channel in twitch remained positive and excited throughout the stream. An archive of the video and its chat can be found on Twitch. The following week the team visited San Francisco for the Game Developers Conference. Inviting potential business partners, investors and press from dozens of backgrounds and locations, Visionary Realms continued to impress. Overwhelmingly positive feedback was given from nearly all in attendance with several network stories springing up in the wake. These articles can be seen on Game Informer, Gamers Nexus and MMORPG.com. A good start to 2016, Visionary Realms plans to continue wowing audiences as development of its flagship MMORPG continues. Visionary Realms to Play Pantheon LIVE on Twitch - Friday, March 11th Posted date / 3.8.16 This Friday, the 11th of March, tune in to twitch.tv/visionaryrealms at 4pm Pacific Standard Time to catch Visionary Realms playing Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen LIVE! We'll be showing off new areas, new features and even combat. This is one stream you won't want to miss. Bookmark twitch.tv/visionaryrealms today! Wolfshead Online: A Glimpse into the Pantheon Development Process at Visionary Realms Posted date / 3.3.16 Read Full Article at Wolfshead Online... The Cleric Reveal Posted date / 02.10.16 Hello all, Aradune here, and welcome to our next Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter! I’m really excited to start revealing information about Classes! It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for some time and I know the community has been quite curious as well. Before you dig into what the Cleric is all about, I wanted to talk a bit about our philosophy and goals as it relates to all of Pantheon’s classes: We want our classes to be both traditional and iconic. We know a lot of you identify with certain classes and we don’t want you to choose a certain class only to discover that we’ve changed the classic role of that class into something different just for the sake of change. We then want to build on the traditional class and evolve the role in new and exciting ways without changing their core identity. A lot of this will be accomplished by adding flavor and distinctive abilities to those classes. Even with this innovation and evolution, class interdependence is still extremely important. In recent years many MMOs have steered away from those core roles. Allow me to quote from the FAQ: Pantheon does indeed use a class based system, and those classes do fulfill roles, especially in group and raid contexts. There will also be opportunities to focus each class on more specific and specialized roles, especially at higher levels. That said, because we feel it’s important that classes fulfill distinct roles, creating interdependence is vital to a fulfilling social and cooperative experience. If everyone is the same, this simply cannot be achieved. Likewise, if every class is absolutely unique, grouping can become overly complicated and, in some cases, certain classes could be less desirable to have in a group than others. To avoid this, Pantheon will use a ‘quaternity’ system consisting of tank, healer, DPS, and crowd-control. With our emphasis on truly engaging the world, making player vs. environment means more than only fighting NPCs. Most classes will also have abilities and spells that allow them to change the environment in a meaningful way. A great example would be the Druid. He will be able to influence the weather and by doing so truly affect that region of the world. Certain spells and abilities will work better or even only be possible during, say, a lightning storm. We want to see synergistic or sympathetic spells and abilities. In other words, certain powerful spells and abilities will only be possible if two or more different classes work together. We want to make sure hybrids are distinct yet still desired for a group. A Paladin, for example, will be able to adequately heal but not as well as a Cleric. That said, his other abilities, his diversity as a hybrid, will bring significant value to a group. In fact, all of our classes, core or hybrid will have unique roles and identity. Another example: the Ranger will be able to adequately fill a DPS role -- perhaps not the best, but his auxiliary abilities will bring to the table enough to make him desirable and, in some situations, even more desirable than a core class. So, there you have it. I hope you find this as appealing and exciting as we do. We definitely have some interesting new twists and ideas to build upon the traditional iconic MMO classes. Read on about the Pantheon Cleric and let us know what you think! Until next time, Brad “Aradune Mithara” McQuaid Chief Creative Officer & Gameplay & Tools Programmer The Halflings are Coming! Introducing Wild’s End Posted date / 12.08.15 Hey Folks, Kilsin here! It's that time of year and we have a nice surprise for you this month. That's right featured in December is our new never-before-seen Halfling zone “Wild’s End” and with it we have some brand new screenshots and a fly-by video. Within Wild's End is my personal favourite area, Sorhiryth. It's a city made amidst GIANT TOWER OAKS. I'm sold; I will be creating my first character there (and likely experiencing my first death as I plummet from the trees to a dismal fate). Who’s with me? You can read all about Wild’s End here. On the community front, we have seen a nice growth in new members supporting Pantheon and Visionary Realms across multiple platforms, which is fantastic to see! Some of you will notice that the forums are picking up a lot, and, as a result, there are tons of new discussions going on. Be sure to check them out and jump on in. The water's fine! Also remember that our new forums are on their way so there’s still plenty of stuff to look forward to in the next few weeks. And coming down the pipe a bit later we have some plans for future community content and programs that we think are going to be a lot of fun so stay tuned for more on that as we will be asking for your input when the time comes. In the meantime, from everyone here at Visionary Realms, we wish you and yours the very best of holidays. See you all in Terminus soon! In the wise words of our Creative Director, Chris “Joppa” Perkins (and in my best impersonation of Joppa’s voice with an Australian accent), Onwards and Upwards! Ben “Kilsin” Walters MassivelyOP.com Interview: Pantheon Devs on funding, Unity, and the launch window Posted date / 11.24.15 Massively Overpowered interviews the Visionary Realms team on funding, Unity and projected launch date. Read Full Article at MassivelyOP.com... Pantheon Newsletter #1 Posted date / 11.10.15 Pantheon's first monthly newsletter is hitting inboxes everywhere! In this issue, Brad talks about the state of things at Visionary Realms and we get an exclusive first look at the Living Codex and how it plays a key role in your abilities. Find all this and more in Pantheon Newsletter #1 - November 2015. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you can do so here so you don't miss a beat of everything Pantheon. Updated Atlas of Terminus Posted date / 10.03.15 An expanded atlas of the game world of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has been released. The updated map reveals the vast continent of Kingsreach with a dozen new areas to explore. View the Atlas of Terminus Visionary Realms Aqcuires Seed Funding, Completes Prototype for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Posted date / 09.28.15 Carlsbad, CA - September 28, 2015 - Visionary Realms — a startup studio from globally renowned designer, Brad McQuaid — announced today that it has received the seed funding required to bring their first MMO game, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, through prototype and into alpha. The funding came from an angel investor and has allowed Visionary Realms to expand its team, build a prototype of the game, and launch two new websites to showcase both the company and the game. Additionally the funding has granted the studio enough resources to bring the game into an alpha phase, where external players will get a chance to test it and provide early feedback. “This has been a game changer for us,” stated Chief Creative Officer, Brad McQuaid. “We’ve been able to fill in some key roles, from artists to programmers and designers. This in turn has allowed us to complete the last pieces of the prototype and we are now preparing the game for alpha. Now is when things start to get really fun — we have a playable game we can soon start to show. We can’t wait to start bringing in players to get their thoughts.” Visionary Realms aims to begin Pantheon’s alpha phase by the end of the year, ultimately targeting a 2017 release. VentureBeat.com: EverQuest Creator Raises Seed Round to Build Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Posted date / 09.28.15 Visionary Realms have raised a seed round to fund development of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen... Read Full Article Visionary Realms Speaks at Gaming Insiders and Cloud Gaming Posted date / 09.23.15 Making its first public appearance since the company was founded, Visionary Realms will have speakers at both Gaming Insiders and Cloud Gaming Summits this year. At Gaming Insiders, Brad McQuaid and Benjamin de la Durantaye will be speaking with Michael Cai of Interpret in a Fireside Chat titled “Why the World Needs Another MMO.” In this session the group will discuss the impact of the past, the importance of the present and the potential of the future in MMO games. Attendees will find out how Visionary Realms aims to reinvigorate the genre by marrying old lessons with new ideas. The chat takes place at 10am PDT September 24th at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. Then, the following week at 10:05am PDT Tuesday September 29th at the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, Brad will be joined by World Builder John Diasparra and Senior Software Engineer from Unity, Sean Riley. The trio will be a panel to discuss how to build an MMO game in Unity. They will cover all topics from logistics to technical hurdles and solutions and will also be fielding questions from the audience. Pantheon’s Team Expands Posted date / 09.23.15 After a year of independent development, Visionary Realms was able to expand its team even further this summer. Not all of the team additions are new, however—several faces have returned to the project after a few months away. Among the returning members is Corey LeFever who is resuming the role of Senior Designer. He brings several years of experience working on Vanguard: Saga of Heroes as well as more recent work on mobile gaming. Corey is experienced with designing MMO systems, mechanics, tools and world population. New to Visionary Realms is Jason Bolton who has joined the Community Management efforts. A former editor and insightful Community Manager, Jason is also an avid Pantheon fan. Jason is working as the Associate Community Manager alongside Community Manager, Ben Walters. Adam Tell joins the team as Programmer and Webmaster. Adam has a well-rounded technology background including coding, web development, and graphic design. He has a wealth of experience as a systems analyst and is accomplished with Windows, Unix/Linux, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, CSS, CMS, and more. “It’s great to be able to see our team grow like this,” said Brad McQuaid, CCO. “Every day we’re seeing more and more progress on Pantheon, and with all these new hands on deck that progress is getting greater and greater. All the pieces are fitting together so well.”A day after eminent historian Ramachandra Guha resigned from the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, which is tasked with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), more details regarding Guha's departure sprung up on Friday. A report in The Indian Express quoted sources in the BCCI revealed that Guha was unhappy with Indian captain Virat Kohli's interference in the selection of the next coach of the team. The report noted that the historian had also shot an email to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri on 25 May, informing him of his apprehensions. The report, however, added that Guha was not against the process of selecting the new coach but was against the cricket committee being influenced by Kohli. “He didn’t mince words. He put it on mail that the captain and coaches are already deciding commentators, and if they are allowed to pick the coach of their own choice, they will soon be deciding the selectors, even the CEO,” the report quoted an official as saying. The Supreme Court will hear Guha's plea who is to be relieved from the responsibility on 14 July. A vacation bench of Justices MM Shantanagoudar and Deepak Gupta was informed by Guha's counsel that he had tendered his resignation on 28 May to Vinod Rai, Chairman of the Committee of Administrators of BCCI. The court said a special bench was seized of the matter and the petition should therefore be filed in the registry. Media reports on Thursday claimed that Guha's proximity to the current coach Anil Kumble and his academic commitments came in between his responsibilities as a member of the Committee of Administrators (COA). However, with Kumble on a sticky wicket and impasse in BCCI unlikely to be over anytime soon, Guha may have considered it prudent to walk away. Add to that, he wasn't particularly happy about the speculation surrounding Kumble who's future has become a matter of conjecture after reports emerged that there has been a rift between him and India captain Virat Kohli. "He has a thorough knowledge of sport's history and is a learned man. But running cricket administration is a different ballgame. In any case, whether it's ICC or BCCI matters, it's Vinod Rai and Vikram Limaye, who were doing the hard yards," a senior BCCI official told PTI, after learning about his resignation. COA was constituted on 30 January, 2017 after the BCCI was reportedly reluctant to implement the recommendations of the Lodha panel, which sought to bring much more transparency in the working of the world's richest cricket body. Senior functionaries of the board including president Anurag Thakur were told to resign before the apex court intervened in the clean-up process. The COA also consists of former Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, former cricketer Diana Edulji and veteran banker and Managing Director and CEO of IDFC Limited Vikram Limaye. The acclaimed historian has had little time for the COA and didn't attend half of its meetings due to his academic commitments. With inputs from PTI Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.Wholesale Inflation rose as food prices surged 4.41 percent year-on-year. New Delhi: Wholesale inflation rose to a four-month high of 3.24 per cent in August as prices of food articles, led by onions and vegetables, soared. Inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) was 1.88 per cent in July 2017 and 1.09 per cent in August 2016. The last such high level of inflation was witnessed in April when the rate of price rise was 3.85 per cent. The government data released today showed that prices of food articles went up by 5.75 per cent in August on a yearly basis, as against 2.15 per cent in July. Vegetable prices shot up by 44.91 per cent in August, as against 21.95 per cent in July. Onion prices witnessed a sharp surge at 88.46 per cent in August, as against a contraction of 9.50 per cent in the previous month. Inflation in manufactured products witnessed a slight increase at 2.45 per cent in August, against 2.18 per cent in July. In fuel and power segment, inflation saw a sharp surge to a near double digit inflation at 9.99 per cent, against 4.37 per cent in July. Fuel inflation shot up as petrol and diesel prices continued to remain high relentlessly on global crude oil rates, while power tariffs shot through the roof on lower domestic production. Apart from vegetables, the food articles that saw rise in prices include pulses, fruits (7.35 per cent), egg, meat and fish (3.93 per cent), cereals (0.21 per cent) and paddy (2.70 per cent). However, potato continued to see deflation at 43.82 per cent and pulses (-)30.16 per cent. The final print of June WPI inflation remained unchanged from provisional estimate of 0.90 per cent. Data released earlier this week showed retail inflation rose to a five-month high of 3.36 per cent in August due to costlier vegetables and fruits.Also industrial production grew by just 1.2 per cent in July from 4.5 per cent a year ago, bearing the brunt of a dismal show of the manufacturing sector. Last month, the Reserve Bank cut policy repo rate by 0.25 per cent to 6 per cent citing reduction in inflation risk. The rate cut was the first in 10 months and brought policy rates to near 7-year low.The RBI said it will endeavour to keep retail inflation close to 4 per cent but in the near term, there might be some uptick on account of pay commission payouts and price adjustments post GST rollout from July 1.news, latest-news, The Wollongong co-owner of a popular Vietnamese bakery has admitted to a sideline in heroin dealing. Wollongong’s drug investigation unit formed Strike Force Lewes in mid-2015 to probe the drug activities of banh mi purveyor Cuong Thanh Nguyen, 36. From July, 2015, plain-clothes police posed as Nguyen’s customers and documented his sales of the drug. In Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, Nguyen pleaded guilty to five drugs charges stemming from those encounters. He admitted to supplying the drug on four occasions between July and November at Dapto, Liverpool, Edenson Park and Wollongong. The quantities varied from 4.33 grams to 28.05 grams. He admitted to a fifth charge of dealing with cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime. Police have indicated they will seek a drug proceeds order requiring Nguyen to pay $27,900, “that being the total amount of money from which the accused received benefit as a result of supplying prohibited drugs to known persons during this operation”. Nguyen, co-owner of Crown Street’s Bakery Boys Cafe, was arrested at the business on November 11. At the time he was carrying 0.3 grams of heroin and $1525 in cash. A search of his Matthew Street, Wollongong apartment yielded another 4.3 grams of the drug. The matter returns to Wollongong District Court May 6. https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/35ns5Wme2fedmBqQ6qZE6iD/3124c3ae-ea2f-445a-a745-1d9f3f33b291.jpg/r3_29_1449_846_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgThere could come a time when the Leap Manifesto, a five-page document that calls for a radical rejigging of the Canadian economy, moves beyond its existence as a movement, says one of its chief champions. But Avi Lewis isn't signing up for political office just yet. "I engaged in a long political process and a really deep consultative process among allies around the country about whether it would be useful for me to enter the [NDP] leadership race and the general consensus among many is that it would and it's just a bad time in my life," the
day!My colleague Yuri Victor accidentally found himself at the center of a PR battle after he tweeted a screenshot of the Netflix app blaming Verizon for the poor quality of Yuri's Netflix streaming. The accusation provoked an angry response from Verizon, who insists that Netflix, not Verizon, is to blame for the poor performance of Netflix streaming on its network: The source of the problem is almost certainly NOT congestion in Verizon’s network. Instead, the problem is most likely congestion on the connection that Netflix has chosen to use to reach Verizon’s network. At first glance, this seems like a he-said, she-said situation. Verizon says it's Netflix's fault. Netflix says it's Verizon's fault. How is an ordinary user to tell who's telling the truth? But while this is ultimately a business dispute, the two sides aren't equally guilty. Verizon is to blame for the poor quality of Netflix streaming. Verizon has made a business decision to use its own customers' poor experience as leverage to get more cash out of Netflix. If Verizon were more focused on making sure its customers had a good experience, they'd be having a better experience. How Verizon wants to change the internet I've written before about the traditional model for internet connection, known in telecom jargon as "bill and keep." Under this model, the ISPs at each end of the connection charge their own customers for connectivity and then do what it takes to reach the network on the other end. For example, Verizon would charge consumers for connectivity, while Netflix would pay for the costs of getting traffic to Verizon's network. Sometimes, that will mean directly connecting two edge networks together. But more often, it involves paying third parties to provide "transit," the service of carrying traffic from one network to another. Netflix has paid companies such as Cogent and Level 3 to deliver its content to the networks of ISPs such as Comcast and Verizon. Verizon is effectively using its own customers' poor experience as leverage The key feature of this network structure is that an ISP at one end of a network connection never demands that a network at the other end pay it to deliver traffic. Until recently, it was unheard of for Comcast or Verizon to demand tolls from Google or Netflix to deliver content to their own customers. This rule has a huge advantage: if edge networks are never able to charge other edge networks to deliver traffic, they never have an incentive to degrade the quality of service in order to get bigger payments. Each ISP gets all of its money from its own customers, and so each ISP is focused on keeping its own customers happy. Which brings us to Verizon. Verizon's customers have paid Verizon for the service of delivering content to them. But rather than simply performing the service Verizon's customers have paid it to perform, Verizon sees an opportunity to get paid twice: in addition to charging its own customers for connectivity, Verizon hopes to also charge Netflix to deliver its content to those customers. Verizon is effectively using its own customers' poor experience as leverage. Verizon has been threatening Netflix that if they don't pay up, Netflix customers (who are also Verizon customers) will get frustrated and cancel their Netflix service. Of course, that threat is a lot more powerful because most customers don't have many alternatives to Verizon service. The problem with traffic ratios Verizon and other big ISPs have come up with a creative rationale for charging content companies like Netflix money. Verizon says it won't deliver Netflix's traffic for free because its traffic with Netflix is "unbalanced" — that is, Netflix sends more traffic to Verizon than Verizon sends to Netflix. But this argument doesn't make sense. Verizon customers aren't just paying Verizon to send traffic to Netflix, they're also paying Verizon to deliver Netflix (and other) traffic to them. And there's no reason to think that carrying traffic from Netflix to Verizon customers is more expensive than carrying traffic in the other direction. Indeed, there's a simple reason that Verizon's network receives more traffic than it transmits: that's how Verizon set it up. All of Verizon's standard FiOS packages provide dramatically more bandwidth for downloading than uploading. The entry-level service, for example, is 15 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. The fastest package is even more lopsided: 500 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream. If Verizon builds a network that's optimized for downloading, it can't complain that its customers use it to download stuff. But as long as Verizon and other big ISPs are demanding payment to deliver content to their own customers, this kind of standoff is inevitable. The ISPs will always be demanding bigger tolls and the content companies will be looking for ways to save money. The result will be a network that's constantly plagued by congestion, as companies squabble over the size of the toll. In contrast, a bill-and-keep regime gives everyone an incentive to focus on improving network performance. If Verizon only gets paid by its own customers, then it would have an incentive to make the network work as well as possible in order to keep its customers happy.Though awareness of childhood sexual abuse has come a long way in the past few decades, one area remains uncharted: sexual abuse by women. Charlotte Philby looks at this, "society's last taboo," in a long and disturbing article for The Independent. It's clear from her report that sexual abuse by women can be just as devastating as abuse by men. She interviews Sharon Hall, who suffered "sustained sexual violence," and as a result became anorexic, agoraphobic, and unable to bond with her own daughter. Hall says, "the worst thing about it is that even though my mother is now dead – and never even met her granddaughter – she has managed to ruin my daughter's childhood too." Compounding her pain is the fact that doctors didn't believe she was abused, saying, "Don't be silly, mothers don't sexually abuse children." According to Philby, this response is common. Advertisement Reliable data on the prevalence of sexual abuse by women is almost impossible to come by. Philby cites one UK abuse hotline, ChildLine — 11% of its callers in 2004 reported being abused by a woman. But women make up only 1% of convicted sex offenders in England and Wales. The picture is just as complicated in the US, according to an article by Lisa Lipshires in Moving Forward Newsjournal. One report found that women were responsible in 20% of US abuse cases between 1973 and 1987, but states report their data differently, and not all divide abusers by gender. And Philby's research indicates that people may not want hard data on female sexual abusers. Anonymous sources in the British justice system told her, "they just aren't being given the tools they need to address this issue, or even being made aware that it is an issue at all." And Zoe Hilton, a policy advisor at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said, "Professionals in all areas of the system tend to be disbelieving of cases of female sexual abuse." One therapist who studied victims of maternal incest found they suffered many of the same after-effects as those who have been abused by men: "depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and high rates of eating disorders and substance abuse." They also had "a nearly universal wish to tell society that 'this really happens.'" So why don't the US or the UK want to address sexual abuse by women? One possible reason Philby proposes is the fact that most abuse by women seems to take place in the home, and that mothers are often the perpetrators. She quotes a spokeswoman for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Services, who says, "women are perceived as the nurturers, those who are there to look after our young people." Then there's the idea (bandied about a lot in cases of teacher-student sex like that of Mary Kay LeTourneau, pictured) that sex with an older woman is a welcome experience for boys. And, Philby says, "sexual abuse is usually understood as something bound up with issues of male aggression and power." But women can exert power and express aggression too, and viewing sexual abuse as solely a tool of the patriarchy may prevent some victims from getting help. Stereotyping women as nurturing and men as dangerous isn't just bad for men (every dad on the playground becomes a potential rapist) and women (every mom is expected to be an angel), but for children too. We need to be able to recognize when they are at risk from the women in their lives, and protect them from abuse even when it comes from unexpected places. Sexual abuse is often linked with violence against women, and while the two are frequently connected, we need to be aware of violence by women as well. Assuming every woman is a saint does no one any favors. Advertisement Female Sexual Abuse: The Untold Story Of Society's Last Taboo [The Independent] Female Perpetration Of Child Sexual Abuse: An Overview Of The Problem [Canadian Children's Rights Council]Telstra is increasing phone line rental fees for households, businesses and charities as it tries to squeeze profit out of its copper network before the national broadband network replaces it. Telstra will also increase local call costs on fixed phone and start charging some mobile calls in 60-second blocks instead of 30-second blocks. Prices rising... Telstra has seen a drop in profits from its copper network. Credit:Louie Douvis The cost of a local call on Telstra's Complete, Plus and Advanced home phone plans will increase by 2¢ from October 1 to 22¢, 20¢ and 17¢ respectively. Monthly rental fees will increase by about 6 per cent from $2 to $3 per month on these three plans to be $31.95, $33.95 and $44.95 respectively. The Together plan will rise by $5 per month, taking it to $74.90 per month.Power Core Card Back Hand Outs, Boss Hero Power Brawl, TAC #112 Artanis Now Available, All About Shields, Brightwing Phase Shield Guide and More Linkin Park LIVE at BlizzCon 2015! Tyrael Pumpkin Gallifrey63 shared what was said to be an amateur Tyrael pumpkin over at Reddit. Awesome for the first time carving a pumpkin - great job! Season 4 Discussion Season 4 started a while ago - the meta seems to have settled a bit now, and quite a few players even took a break already waiting for the next one. Rhykker made a video talking about class variety, how he felt about this season, what to expect of future ones and possible changes. What are your thoughts on the matter? Are you happy with seasons and their exclusive items and rewards? Which changes would you like to see?(Photo by Julia Wick/LAist) Este articulo también esta disponible en Español al final de la página. There are an estimated 800,000 undocumented people in Los Angeles, the majority of whom have been here for ten years or longer, according to Jody Agius Vallejo, Associate Director at USC's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. That's almost a million people, most of whom have deep roots in our communities. These are our friends and neighbors, our co-workers, and—for many of us—our family members. In the week since Donald Trump's election, Angelenos have taken to the streets day in and day out to show that they reject the president-elect's bigotry and hatred, and Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAUSD board President Steve Zimmer, and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck have all spoken out in support of our immigrant community, and said they will not cooperate with immigration services beyond L.A.'s current policies. Still, it remains a terrifying time to be an immigrant in America, even here in Los Angeles. Jose-Mario Cabrera, communications director at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, told LAist that CHIRLA has been receiving hundreds of calls to their hot line from individuals with questions. Are you among those estimated 800,000 Angelenos? We spoke with immigrant rights and legal services groups across the city about what you need to know, and what concrete steps you can take to protect yourself. Cabrera said that his organization is urging the community to prepare themselves, but "not to panic or any make any rash decisions. We don't yet know what Mr. Trump will do." "We need to let the community know that, right now, no immigration law has been changed, and no specific plans have been made," Cabrera said. Make A Plan Advocates from CHIRLA and other immigrant rights groups say that the first thing undocumented individuals should do is make sure they have a plan for themselves and their families. Designate a friend or family member that you know and trust who can take responsibility for your kids in the event that you are detained. Have contact information for an immigration lawyer or immigration rights group handy (see below for some names of organizations and numbers). Don't open the door for anyone you don't know unless they have a signed order from a judge with your name on it. Make sure your kids also know not to open the door. None of this is new information, but it's sadly going to be more relevant than ever in the coming months. DACA If you have not already filed an initial application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections, hold off on doing so. If the program is discontinued, you will lose your fees. If you've previously been approved for advance parole for travel, it's okay to travel but you should complete your travel as soon as possible and absolutely make sure that you are back in the country by January 20, 2017. Hold off on new applications for advance parole. Tiffany Panlilio, a legal advocate with the Immigration Project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, also said that her organization was urging DACA college students who are studying abroad to cut their trips short and make sure they are back in the U.S. by Inauguration Day. "If for whatever reason Trump decides to get rid of the DACA program, we don't know what coming home will look like for people," she said. Citizenship If you’re eligible, begin the citizenship application process if you haven't done so already (you can check your eligibility here). As Marisa Montes at the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic reminded us, "Naturalization is the ultimate protection against deportation." The Loyola Clinic holds free immigration workshops every Wednesday and Friday. The Wednesday clinic is held at Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (organizers urge attendees to get there early in order to sign up). The Friday clinic is held at Homeboy Industries every week from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information on other other naturalization resources can be found below. Be wary of fraudulent offers. Immigration activists report that whenever there is an upsurge in raids, there is unfortunately also an upsurge in unscrupulous immigration attorneys and notarios making false promises and offering services that do not exist. Only consult with legal professionals who are trusted in your community. If You Are Detained In the event that you are detained, do not sign anything and demand to see a judge. Unless you have been issued a prior removal order, you have the right to go before an immigration judge. You also have the right to remain silent, and not to sign anything you don't understand. Remember that your city stands with you. Officials at the local and state level have pledged to do everything they can to protect our undocumented population. We—and they—are fighting with you and for you at every turn. "It's going to get rough, but we've always fought. It's heartbreaking and bad and scary, but we have to go on," Montes said. Here some organizations that offer free and low-cost immigration legal services: The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA): The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN): (213) 385-7800 The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC): (213) 736-8136 Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: (213) 251-3411 Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles: (888) 349-9695 However, as Cabrera told us, "I think I can count on one or two hands the number of organizations that are prepared [to assist with immigrant legal services], and it's still not enough." These groups will desperately need resources in the coming months. You can donate to help fund legal services at CHIRLA here and at the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic here (choose the Immigrant Justice Clinic on the dropdown menu under "designation." *** En Español : Hay aproximadamente 800,000 inmigrantes indocumentados viviendo en Los Angeles, la mayoría de los cuales han vivido aquí por más de diez años, según Jody Agius Vallejo, Directora Asociada de el Centro de Estudios De Integración de Inmigrantes en la USC. Eso es casi un millón de personas, muchos quienes tienen raíces profundas en nuestras comunidades. Estos son nuestros amigos y vecinos, nuestros compañeros de trabajo y—para muchos de nosotros—nuestros familiares. ¿Es usted uno de los aproximadamente 800,000 Angelenos? Organizaciones de derechos de inmigrantes y servicios legales en la ciudad nos contaron lo que usted debe saber, y los pasos que usted puede tomar para protegerse. Jose-Mario Cabrera, director de las comunicaciones en la Coalición para Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes de Los Angeles (CHIRLA), le dijo a LAist que su organización esta instando a la comunidad a estar preparados pero “no entrar en pánico o hacer decisiones apresuradas. Todavía no sabemos lo que hará el señor Trump.” “Necesitamos informarle a la comunidad que en este momento, no han cambiado las leyes de inmigración, y ningún plan especifico se ha hecho,” Cabrera dijo. Haga Un Plan Defensores de la CHIRLA y otros grupos de derechos de inmigrantes dicen que la primera cosa que las personas indocumentadas deben hacer es asegurase de que tengan un plan para ellos mismos y para sus familias. Usted debe designar un amigo o familiar confiado quien puede tomar responsabilidad por sus hijos en caso tal que usted sea detenido. Tenga la información de contacto para un abogado de inmigración o grupo de derechos de inmigrantes a mano. No le abra la puerta a los desconocidos a menos que tengan una orden firmada por un juez con su nombre. Asegúrese de que sus hijos también sepan que no le deben abrir la puerta a los desconocidos. Esta información no es nueva, pero tristemente va a ser mas necesaria que nunca en los meses que vienen. DACA Si usted no ha llenado una aplicación inicial para proteccion bajo DACA, no lo haga ahora. Si el programa es descontinuado, puede perder su dinero. Si usted fue aprobado previamente para libertad condicional avanzada para viajar, usted todavía puede viajar pero debe terminar sus viajes lo mas pronto posible y absolutamente asegurarse que este en los EEUU antes del 20 de enero, 2017. No llene aplicaciones nuevas para alojamiento de viaje. Ciudadania Si usted es elegible, comience el proceso de aplicar para ciudadania lo mas pronto posible. Marisa Montes en la clínica Loyola dice, “la naturalización es la ultima protección contra la deportación.” La Clínica de Justicia Para Inmigrantes de Loyola tiene talleres de inmigración gratis cada Miércoles y Viernes. El taller del Miércoles es en el Dolores Mission Church en Boyle Heights desde las 2:30 p.m. hasta las 5 p.m. (los organizadores insisten que uno llegue temprano para registrarse). La clínica del Viernes es en Homeboy Industries desde las 2 p.m. hasta las 5 p.m. Más información acerca de otros recursos de naturalización se pueden encontrar abajo. Ten cuidado de ofertas fraudulentas. Los activistas de inmigración dicen que cuando hay un aumento en las redadas, también desafortunadamente hay un aumento en abogados sin escrúpulos y notarios quienes hacen falsas promesas y ofrecen servicios que no existen. Solo hable con profesionales legales que son reconocidos en su comunidad. Si Lo Detienen En el evento que lo detengan, no debe firmar nada y debe exigir a ver un juez. A menos que le hayan emitido un aviso previo de deportación, usted tiene el derecho a presentarse a un juez de inmigración. También tiene el derecho a permanecer en silencio y a no firmar nada que no entiende. Acuérdese que su ciudad esta con usted. Oficiales en los niveles locales y estatales se han comprometido a hacer todo en su poder para proteger nuestra comunidad indocumentada. Nosotros—y ellos—estamos luchando con usted y para usted a cada paso. Estas organizaciones proveen servicios legales de inmigración gratuitos o de bajo costo: The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA): The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN): (213) 385-7800 The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC): (213) 736-8136 Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: (213) 251-3411 Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles: (888) 349-9695A feud between two neighboring West Palm Beach businesses turned violent when an employee of one business threw a hammer at the head of an employee from the other, according to a West Palm Beach police arrest report. Police say it's part of an ongoing feud between the YOLO Strong Gym and Lopez Custom Furniture, Inc. next door, near the 500 block of Pine Terrace. Tuesday, police arrested Arnold Flores-Lopez, 46, of Pompano Beach, after the furniture store employee was accused of attacking a gym employee. The latest argument erupted Aug. 26 when a gym employee heard a banging on the rear wall of the gym. The gym employee went outside to find Flores-Lopez, according to the report. The gym employee said Flores-Lopez immediately threw a hammer at him and narrowly missed his head. After pushing the gym employee, Flores-Lopez grabbed the hammer, picked up a stick and held the items in a "threatening manner," according to the report. The gym employee ran into the gym, where he called police. Officers found neither weapon, but a witness said she saw a man, later identified as Flores-Lopez, swing an object at the gym employee, according to the report. Flores-Lopez faces aggravated assault and battery charges. He is being held in Palm Beach County Jail on $3,000 bail.Whether or not there is a second independence referendum in Scotland and regardless of whether or not Scotland votes for independence, while we have devolved powers to the extent that we do, economically, Scotland has a major problem which needs to be solved sooner rather than later. In simple terms, Scotland currently has a fiscal deficit of £13 billion for 2016/17. That is the shortfall this year between our revenues less our expenditure. The country simply has no way to meet the gap, not by taxation on earnings anyway While that figure is forecast to fluctuate over the next few years, Scotland’s deficit is forecast to remain at least around £11bn each year. • READ MORE: Indyref2: independent Scotland would face £11bn deficit – economist The question which needs to be answered, in the absence of significant North Sea oil revenue at any time soon, is how do we meet the deficit and move to a position of fiscal balance? Surely there can only be three options to consider seriously, which are tax increases, spending cuts or borrowing. Indeed, a measure of all three is most likely to be the answer. But if we explore this further, to meet an £11bn deficit, how much more can we expect to raise in Scotland from income tax, for example? We could ask every taxpayer in Scotland to pay 1p more on the basic rate of income tax and raise £500m, or we could introduce more tax bands to help to decrease the deficit gap. 200 Voices: find out more about the people who have shaped Scotland If we asked everyone who earns more than £150,000 to pay an extra 5p at the higher rate, and also introduced a new 25 per cent rate to increase the 20 per cent rate for earnings between £20,000 and £45,000, we would only raise somewhere in the region of £1.4bn at most, perhaps somewhat less. And by doing that we are expecting everyone to pay more. The rate band change would mean a rise of £650 each for everyone affected while highest earners would pay at least £2,500 each. As always, increased tax receipts will penalise someone. However, it is the amount of tax we can raise in Scotland that is the issue. If it is accepted that this looks difficult to do and we still need another £10bn to meet the shortfall, then that has to come from a cut in services or by borrowing. The problem with borrowing is that we will find it difficult to repay on the estimated annual deficits that are forecast. That only leaves spending cuts, which is not sustainable. We need to understand that no matter what, Scotland will not be able to meet the existing deficit by means of tax increases alone particularly in relation to income tax on earnings. Regardless of the rich, the poor or the in‑between, the country simply has no way to meet the gap, not by taxation on earnings anyway. • Stephen Hay is head of tax in Scotland for RSM Click here to ‘Like’ The Scotsman Business on FacebookA Newbury Comics exclusive color vinyl pressing. Is it a children’s story, an acid trip, or a combination of both? Harry Nilsson’s 1971 album The Point! is a essentially a fable, extolling the trials and tribulations of a round-headed person named Oblio growing up in a “Pointed Village” where by rule of order everyone and everything in the land was to have “a point.” The album covers the challenges Oblio endures while he searches for a cure to his “pointless” condition. How did Nilsson craft such a remarkable and beloved fable? “I was on acid” he explained. “I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point. I thought, 'Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn't, then there's a point to it.” After the success of the album, The Point! was adapted into an animated short film and premiered on ABC during primetime in 1971. The film, which has seen it’s narrating role covered by the likes of Ringo Starr, Dustin Hoffman, and Alan Thicke, was recently re-released in 2004. A live musical play was also adapted from this album and featured the late Davy Jones playing the lead role of Oblio. Presented with fully remastered audio sourced from the original recordings and packaged with a fully restored large format 8 page comic storyboard, the same that was included with the original vinyl release, enabling the listener to be more engaged in the story.Illustration by Clark Stoeckley This morning, at the US district court of New York's Southern District, Judge Loretta Preska handed down a sentence to Hector Xavier Monsegur, better known by his internet alias "Sabu"—time served followed by one year supervised release. Monsegur's lenient sentencing took place in the same ceremonial courtroom where outlaw-hacktivist Jeremy Hammond—who Monsegur, an Anonymous hacker turned FBI informant, helped the feds arrest for committing cybercrimes—received his 10-year prison sentence last November. Monsegur entered the room today to find a sparse crowd of journalists, three members of his family, and a couple dozen others awaiting the hearing. Forty minutes later, he walked free, avoiding what could have been decades of jail time. Citing a sentencing submission filed by the government on Friday afternoon, Monsegur's attorneys agreed with the motion to side-step his recommended sentencing of 259 to 317 months in prison because of his "extraordinary" help to the feds. Since his arrest in 2011, Monsegur helped the FBI prevent some 300 potential cyberattacks. Monsegur's counsel praised his "extraordinary cooperation" and "timeliness" in deciding to help federal investigators. Attorneys said the former LulzSec leader, now considered a traitor by some in the hacktivist community, was motivated by the impact that his probable imprisonment might have had on his family, including two young cousins of his that he cared for at the time of his arrest. He prioritized them in making the quick decision to cooperate with law enforcement, they said. Judge Preska observed statements by the defense, and praised Monsegur's "characteristic of turning on a dime," quickly enough to give investigators unprecedented access to the inner-workings of Anonymous. Quickly, Preska handed Monsegur his expected sentence, making him a free man. She added special conditions to have any of his computers or devices searched for the following year. After continuing to praise Monsegur's "truly extraordinary," and "around-the-clock" work as an informat, the judge asked Monsegur if he'd like to speak. He stood, greeted Preska, and said, "The last three years, I have gone through a lot of changes, learned a lot of lessons. I came a long way. I have had to do a lot of thinking and soul-searching... I assure you I will not be in this courtroom ever again." Photo by Kevin Collier Monsegur stepped out of the US court house in lower Manhattan, lit up a Newport 100, and flashed a peace sign as he walked away from the court hosue. I dashed out in front of him to record this vine:Story highlights Consumer Reports names the Galaxy S4 as top smartphone The previous number one phone was the LG Optimus G, which is now No. 2 Magazine named S4's screen quality and multitasking support as top features A month after being released to mostly positive reviews, Samsung's flagship phone is getting some validation from Consumer Reports. The publication has run all its tests, kicked the phone's tires, and named the Android-powered Galaxy S4 its top rated smartphone The previous list-topper was the Optimus G, a solid $100 4.7-inch phone from LG that held Consumer Reports' No. 1 spot for several months. The Optimus G is now ranked as the No. 2 smartphone, followed by the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Apple iPhone 5. Consumer reports bases its ratings on a number of extensive tests and rates the devices in categories including ease of use, display and voice quality, portability and battery life. The $200 Galaxy S4's weakest scores were in video quality and portability. Like all the other smartphones on the list, it also had mediocre scores for voice quality, a sacrifice that seems common in the smartphone market. The publication also lamented the lack of one-button phone access. Consumer Reports specifically called out the S4's 5-inch, 1080p touch-screen, multitasking in split view, and a built-in IR feature as some of the handset's standout features. The abundance of features were seen as appealing to more advanced users without complicating the phone for more entry-level users. The publication said the device's camera was "among the best phone cameras for photo quality." The Galaxy S4 is an update to Samsung's wildly popular S3 phone, which was one of the best selling smartphones of the past year. Samsung was the leader in the smartphone market in in the first quarter of 2013, according to research firm IDC, and it looks like its latest offering will help it hang on to that top spot for the time being. JUST WATCHED Hype over Samsung's Galaxy S4 Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Hype over Samsung's Galaxy S4 02:25 JUST WATCHED Tilt Samsung Galaxy S4 to scroll Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Tilt Samsung Galaxy S4 to scroll 02:34 Last week, Google announced a new version of the Galaxy S4 that will run a pure form of the company's Android mobile operating system. That unlocked and uncluttered phone will cost $649 when it becomes available at the end of June.Energy efficiency provides the cleanest, cheapest, and quickest solution to meet worldwide energy demand. Long-term energy scenarios developed by the International Energy Agency assign energy efficiency the largest role in reducing carbon emissions to mitigate climate change. This role is much greater than all other means combined, including renewable energy, biofuels, nuclear, or carbon capture and storage. Energy efficiency is often overlooked globally, and marginalised by more expensive options because it is not easy to sell politically; nor is it popular in the media. This is because energy savings are invisible, whereas big energy infrastructure projects create opportunities for opening ceremonies, evident jobs, media coverage, and all kind of actions that build political capital. The UN’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative, which promotes global sustainable energy goals, has made an effort to raise the profile of energy efficiency. The organisation recently reported that annual investment in energy efficiency needs to increase four times to meet the SE4All goal of doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, while annual investment in renewable energy needs to double. It is true that energy efficiency faces a series of legal, regulatory, institutional, and technical barriers, which are exacerbated in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a result, the region is improving energy efficiency at a rate three times slower than the rest of the world. Most countries in the region have banned or are banning incandescent bulbs However, there are several good and replicable examples of energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean that can be used as models for future programmes. São Paulo, Brazil and Managua, Nicaragua are currently implementing programmes to replace street lights with high-efficiency LED lighting systems. Most countries in the region have banned or are banning incandescent bulbs, including large markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Several countries are in the process of approving and/or expanding energy efficiency laws and mandatory labels and standards. Energy efficiency has also been a product of adversity. In 2001, Brazil was hit by severe droughts that crippled the hydroelectric facilities supplying 87% of its electricity. Faced with the prospect of mass blackouts, the government implemented an innovative emergency energy efficiency plan that offered financial rewards to consumers who cut back on electricity consumption – and expensive penalties to those who didn’t. Facebook Twitter Pinterest An LED lighting installation in Sao Paulo. Photograph: LED Roadway Lighting Ltd Brazil reduced its electricity consumption by 25% in just over two months, and it did so without causing blackouts. An even bigger surprise awaited policymakers in 2002, after the drought ended and the government discontinued the incentives and penalties. Contrary to expectations, electricity consumption did not return to previous levels. In fact, it took almost four years for Brazil’s electricity consumption to reach pre-2000 levels. This experience indicated that electricity consumption reductions as high as 25% are possible when the population is properly mobilised and engaged. Countries like Brazil will now have more financial and institutional backing for energy efficiency programmes because the SE4All 2030 targets now form part of sustainable development goal number seven, approved by the United Nations at the weekend. This is expected to provide new impetus for investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes. The end result, given the commitment made by 193 countries to the post-2015 development agenda, will be to provide sustainable energy to underserved populations. Is the Caribbean a paradise for renewable energy? Read more Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with great potential for efficiency savings, now has the support of SE4ALL and the UN post-2015 development agenda to help double rates of energy efficiency by 2030. In order to reach this goal, governments and the private sector should learn from existing success stories and pursue a more ambitious energy efficiency agenda. With the right combination of cost-effective, forward-looking measures, the region could potentially become an example for other developing regions. Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho is a senior energy specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank. Follow @the_IDB on Twitter. Join our community of development professionals and humanitarians. Follow@GuardianGDP on Twitter. Join the conversation with the hashtag #EnergyAccess.From Linus Torvalds <> Date Thu, 6 Jul 2017 09:34:14 -0700 Subject Re: [RFC][PATCH] exec: Use init rlimits for setuid exec On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 9:32 PM, Kees Cook <[email protected]> wrote: > In an attempt to provide sensible rlimit defaults for setuid execs, this > inherits the namespace's init rlimits: Yeah, so I have to admit to hating this patch. As already mentioned by others, it's not only not clear that we want to do this on every setuid exec, it's also not clear that init is the right source of limits, or even which limits we'd want to copy. I can easily see init doing a rlimit for its own use, and then when it goes through the fork/exec process does it set up some other rlimit for what it is going to run. You'd presumably want that for any non-system thing, so it's actually fairly natural to do it for system things too, so it's not at all obvious that "init" itself would run with some generic "system limits". So to me this feels like a bad hack that was brought on by this particular attack. I'd much rather see something like (a) minimal: just use our existing default stack (and stack _only_) limit value for suid binaries that actually get extra permissions: { _STK_LIM, RLIM_INFINITY }. or (b) fancier: per-namespace defaults that can be explicitly set by something, and enabled individually. or (c) perhaps encourage people to annotate their suid binaries with initial resource requirements (and for stack, I mean the existing GNU_STACK ELF annotation in particular). For an example of (a), that existing _STK_LIM define is what the kernel defaults to, and it's a 8MB stack. And looking at my Fedora install, I see that the default user r
transparency regime. The lobby register could and should demand that registrants provide information on their revolving door recruitment ie. any lobbyist who has previously worked for an EU institution in the past three years should be specified. And the register authorities should have far stricter enforcement policies to ensure that lobby work on TTIP is properly reflected in the data provided. Too few organisations specifically mention it. Ultimately, a legally-binding lobby register is required, which would place proper penalties on lobbyists who do not register or who provide inaccurate data. As CEO's data shows, too many organisations lobbying on TTIP are not registered. At the EU and member state levels, access to documents and freedom of information rules need to be interpreted more liberally. Too much information including the names of lobbyists and/or officials are redacted from lists or minutes of meetings held on the grounds of data privacy. As the European Ombudsman recently said : “What is not valid is to give a privileged space to certain interests or to shield from public gaze the names of the influencers”. It is not an unreasonable breach of personal privacy to provide the name of lobbyists when they meet with public officials. Finally, with regards to transparency of the TTIP negotiations themselves: The Commission should publish all negotiating positions, all requests and offers, and all consolidated draft negotiation texts prior to each negotiation round, so that the European and national parliaments, as well as civil society organisations and the wider public, can make recommendations on them before the negotiations are closed for comments and the agreement goes to ratification. It should also publish detailed agendas of negotiation rounds prior to the negotiations and detailed reports on the rounds after, to keep the public updated on the progress of the negotiations. Finally it should publish all submissions from stakeholders made to it in the context of TTIP unless the sender gives good reasons for confidentiality and provides a non-confidential summary for publication. Researched and written by Vicky Cann, with additional research and writing by Margarida da Silva. [link to top]We already knew Street Fighter V wasn't making an appearance, but the final game of the pre-tourney is interesting. Mike Williams By Mike WilliamsReviews Editor Got a news tip? Is there something you think we should be reporting on? Email [email protected]. Back in the middle of March, Evo Japan organizers announced that three games would be featured in their pre-tournament, entitled [sài]. The event was planned as a showcase event ahead of Evo Japan 2018, taking place on May 20-21, 2017. At the time, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution and Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 comprised two of the three games featured at the event. Organizers also said that Street Fighter V would not be the third game. Today, they've revealed that the third game will be Super Smash Bros for Wii U! The speculation previously was that SFV was missing the boat because it wasn't an arcade game in a region where the best players play in arcades. Super Smash Bros' inclusion means that wasn't the issue and perhaps tournament organizers (and the community) are simply lukewarm on Capcom's latest. Interested participants can sign up for [sài] on the official Evo Japan website until April 24. Organizers have said previously that Evo Japan 2018, which will take place at Akihabara UDX on January 26-28, 2018, will have its full lineup revealed at Evo 2017, which will happen on July 14-17, 2017 in Las Vegas.Autism is a disorder that is well known for its complex changes in behavior -- including repeating actions over and over and having difficulty with social interactions and language. Connecting these behavioral patterns to an underlying neural deficiency is imperative for understanding what gives rise to autism, to developing better measures for diagnosing those along the Autism Spectrum Disorder and designing more effective treatments. However, even given our significant advances in understanding how the brain works, there hasn't been evidence to tie autistic behavioral patterns together with corresponding neural functions. Until now. A team of researchers -- including myself and colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, New York University and the Weizmann Institute of Science -- were interested in trying to understand on a basic neural level what happens inside the brain that might give rise to the altered behaviors in autism. Instead of focusing on the more complex behaviors, we set out to uncover and measure fundamental neural responses -- the patterns of brain activation in individuals with autism compared to those without. Using an fMRI at Carnegie Mellon's Scientific Imaging and Brain Research Center, we scanned the brains of 14 adults with autism and 14 without while these individuals responded separately to visual, auditory and touch stimuli. We looked at the way the most elemental part of the brain's cortex responded to these simple stimuli. In typical individuals, every time they saw the same visual stimulus, they had an almost identical response in the primary visual system. The stimulus drove normal visual systems in the same way time and time again. So, the question was whether we would see the same kind of consistent responses in the visual, auditory and somatosensory, or touch, cortices and within autism. It was our belief that any alteration in brain response we saw would be a very powerful indication of a major characteristic of autism. It turns out that in all three of the primary cortices -- visual, auditory and somatosensory -- we did not see the typical response trial after trial in the individuals with autism. Instead, we saw considerable variability -- sometimes a strong response, sometimes a weak response. The fact that we did not see precise responses in autism was a really important result. It suggests that there is something fundamental that is altered in the cortical responses in autism. This variability in the brain response might also possibly explain why individuals with autism find visual stimulation, touch and sound to be so strong and overwhelming. We know from genetic research that many of the neurobiological changes that occur in autism have to do with changes at the level of the synapse, the way that information is transmitted from one neuron to another. What these results -- that autistic adults have unreliable neural responses -- does is begin to allow us to build a bridge between the kind of genetic changes that may have given rise to autism in the first place. It cracks open a new avenue of research which has a good potential to be highly informative in understanding the connection between the neurophysiology and the behavioral patterns in autism. While this particular study involved high functioning autistic adults and fMRI, we are now running follow-up experiments using EEG. This method which will give us even more detailed information about the neural responses and will allow us to test individuals across the autism spectrum and across different age groups so that we can gain further understanding of this unreliable neural response profile. And, because unreliable neural activity is a general property that could have a profound impact on how many brain systems function, it could underlie not only autism but a range of cognitive and social abnormalities including epilepsy and schizophrenia. We are at the tip of a huge iceberg here; further research to fill in the details of exactly how this unreliability happens is essential for accurately diagnosing and treating autism and other disorders. At places like Carnegie Mellon University, which established a Brain, Mind and Learning initiative to build from its excellence in psychology, computer science and computation to continue to solve real world problems, these types of research projects are a priority. Our ongoing collaborations with Center for Autism Research at the University of Pittsburgh, and with ABIDE, which shares autism imaging data from top research facilities around the world, are crucial for working together to make sure we have all of the scientific resources possible to conduct high quality research. ****A leading Republican senator criticized the U.S. Air Force's multi-year contract for rocket launches from a Lockheed Martin Corp.-Boeing Co. joint venture, saying it smacks of cronyism. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., questioned the service's recent multi-billion-dollar, sole-source contract with United Launch Alliance LLC for 36 medium- and heavy-lift launches of military satellites through fiscal 2017, saying it prevents potential new competitors such as Space Explorations Technologies Corp. from bidding for some of the work. "This smacks of the cronyism that we saw in the first tanker contract that ended up in a major scandal," McCain told the Defense Department's top weapons buyer, Frank Kendall, on Wednesday during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was referring to the Air Force's initial deal with Chicago-based Boeing for a fleet of new refueling aircraft. The agreement was canceled in 2004 amid a scandal involving Boeing's chief financial officer, Michael Sears, who offered a job to the Air Force's top procurement official, Darleen Druyun, during negotiations. Both were sentenced to serve jail time. McCain added, "And I'm not saying that it is, but it doesn't make any fiscal sense -- the decisions that you have just made by cutting down on competitive launches." The senator has already asked the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate the terms of the agreement. Kendall defended the so-called block buy contract as helping to lock in prices and curb rising costs in the program, known officially as Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or EELV. He described it as the result of "very successful" negotiations with the contractor. "That contract is at a much better price than we had anticipated in our previous budgeting," he said. "We saved on the order of $3 billion." The Air Force plans to buy three EELV launches in fiscal 2015, which begins Oct. 1, for a $1.38 billion, or about $460 million per liftoff, according to budget documents. SpaceX argues it could provide the same service for a quarter of the price. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the launch program is estimated to cost a total of $70 billion through fiscal 2030. The cost surged almost 80 percent in the past year alone -- accounting for the vast majority of the Pentagon's overall rise in weapons acquisition costs, according to a March report from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. The costlier price tag was mostly due to an increase in expected launches. SpaceX, headed by billionaire Elon Musk, last week sued the Air Force to challenge the block buy agreement and open more launches to competition. The company says the deal effectively boxes it out of military business, especially because the agreement includes medium-sized GPS satellites that could fit inside its Falcon 9 rockets. The company is seeking but hasn’t yet received certification to carry national-security payloads. SpaceX has also sought to capitalize on the rising political tensions between the U.S. and Russia by pointing out that one of ULA's boosters, the Atlas V, uses the RD-180 engine made by the Russian company NPO Energomash — and that Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia’s space sector, was recently sanctioned by the White House following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. McCain made a similar argument. "The motor made by the consortium is made in Russia, right?" he said. "That alone -- that Vladimir Putin is responsible for our rocket motors -- should be reason why we should be looking desperately for competition rather than narrowing it." Kendall said he put the acquisition program under his control to ensure competitive launches. He also said he has worked to expedite the certification process for new entrants such as SpaceX. "Competition is the single best tool that we have in the department to get costs out of our programs," he said.Less than a week after it responded to anti-competition claims laid down by the EU, Google is under-fire once again for its business practices. This time in India. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has charged the U.S. company with rigging search results to benefit its many businesses, as Economic Times reports. Google copped a $166,000 fine last year for failing to cooperate with this probe, but this time around, the worst case scenario could see it fined up to 10 percent of its revenue — the company posted a net income of $14 billion on $66 billion in revenue for 2014 — according to reports. TechCrunch understands that the CCI’s document is over 600 pages in length, although the chief concerns center around how Google positions and uses its own services with its search engine. Like the initial European investigation, Indian authorities appear to believe that its search engine is favoring the company’s maps service, travel sites, and advertising products, at the expense of competitors and those that use its advertising services. As part of its probe, the CCI sought out industry opinions on Google’s position. Economic Times reported that a bevy of high-profile technology companies — including Flipkart, Facebook, and Nokia HERE — corroborated the complaint, which was initially filed by matrimony service Bharat, nonprofit Consumer Unity and Trust Society. TechCrunch understands from sources, though, that it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Other companies had voiced no complaint in response to the various accusations levied against Google, and those include Times Internet, Make My Trip, Group M, and Rediff. Google has until September 10 to file a response, after which it must present its case to the commission. “We’re currently reviewing this report from the CCI’s ongoing investigation. We continue to work closely with the CCI and remain confident that we comply fully with India’s competition laws,” a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch. “Regulators and courts around the world, including in the U.S., Germany, Taiwan, Egypt and Brazil, have looked into and found no concerns on many of the issues raised in this report,” the rep added. Google regularly tweaks its services — it did so after an FTC probe in the U.S. in 2013 — and generally it claims that its products are developed to provide the best possible experience for end-users. Meanwhile, the CIC, like other anti-trust organizations, is coming at things from a competitive standpoint, and how the market is affected by Google’s services and their dominance. The U.S. company hit back at the EU with some pretty strong statements last week, but for now it looks to be going through the sheer mountain of paperwork which the CIC has released. India’s scope of investigation appears to be a lot wider than what we have, or are seeing, in other parts of the world. That could work two ways. It could be a sign that India’s organization has major issues with how many parts of Google are run; or it could be a sign that the CCI is probing as many areas as possible with the hope of landing a jab. We’ll have to wait until September 10 to know more. The smart money is on Google sticking to its guns and responding in India as it has done in Europe and other parts of the world: with fighting talk.WHY I LOVE In Why I Love, PC Gamer writers pick an aspect of PC gaming that they love and write about why it's brilliant. This week Tom caps the computer's resource points—all of them—and laughs maniacally. Dawn of War 3 isn't out yet so I have been addressing my need to slay Orks in Dawn of War 2: Retribution skirmishes. I set myself a mission to destroy the Ork AI on 'expert' difficulty with every faction, starting with the Space Marines and finishing with the Eldar. I enjoyed this so much I started fighting every faction in turn with the Eldar, and now my home PC is a source of unending war against Dawn of War 2: Retribution's artificial intelligence. AI opponents are rarely designed to stand up to this sort of relentless assault. In skirmish RTS games the AI is a non-judgemental opponent that gives me space to learn different factions and better understand the flow of the game. But as I work through the difficulty levels and start to win consistently, I learn the system's foibles. I see how the AI likes to send individual units to cap resource points behind the front line. I know that in particular circumstances I can goad the AI into the embrace of my base's turrets, where I can suppress and destroy units with ease. The mask cracks, but I'm not disappointed. I feel as though I'm slowly mapping out the designer's work and solving it like a puzzle. Having said that, the slightly wonky tutorial bot can take me right to the line in some matchups on higher difficulties. Here I appreciate the other great thing about battling the computer. When I fight the AI I don't have to think about my user profile, levels, rankings, loadouts, badges, or any of the trappings of the modern online service game format. Multiplayer competition can feel like a rat race. Strangers enter a lobby, compete for their own statistical advancement, and then separate. No bonds are formed, there is no time to form rapport, and the banter is terrible. Fast modern internet connections can sustain multiple players in high-fidelity playgrounds, but they are increasingly designed to foster hollow transactional interactions—spend time, earn points, then head into another session full of different strangers and repeat. The humble RTS AI doesn't do banter. It doesn't swear and disconnect when things are going badly for it. It takes a beating in noble silence and tries its very best right up to the end. The Orks keep marching enthusiastically on my base as the victory counter ticks over believing, in a very Orkish way, that they can still win as long as they keep hitting the big thing at the other end of the map. RTS AI can be dumb, but in reassuringly consistent way. And it's a great punching bag in co-op. Sometimes RTS AI cheats by giving bonus resources to the CPU army, particularly on harder difficulties, which creates a fun last stand scenario that isn't so high pressured that you can't chat over the game. It's a silent opponent that facilitates a good time, one that you can load up in a moment's notice. Artificial RTS opponents are great. To show my appreciation, I will continue to destroy them over and over again forever.Ever since Congress voted to repeal the FCC's broadband privacy protections due to come into force later this year - which would have prevented internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner, Sprint and Verizon from selling personal data like web browsing history without prior consent - there's been a lot of bluster and blarney flying about. ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT Some, like the Cards Against Humanity creator Max Temkin, have promised to buy and publish the browsing histories of those congressmen and women who voted to abolish the privacy rules. As Russel Brandom at The Verge has already pointed out, this would most likely be straight up illegal, and those campaigns are probably doomed to failure. What few have actually addressed is how telecoms companies actually profit from such data (and will be able to continue to do without consent, thanks to the vote). No, ISPs will not just sell massive Excel sheets of personal info to the highest bidder, nor will they flog records on named individuals, again a probable breach of the law. ISPs = giant advertising networks Instead, they'll continue to operate much like Facebook and Google do. They will wait for brands and ad companies to come to them and offer money for ad space on their networks, whether that's via text messages, apps or websites, wherever ISPs have presence (so, kind of everywhere in modern life...). ISPs have been doing this for years as most aren't just providing internet services; many operate giant advertising networks. For instance, AT&T has AdWorks, while Verizon has the blandly-titled Relevant Mobile Advertising and Verizon Selects, which it melded with its AOL Advertising Network in 2015. They build substantial datasets on the online activities of certain demographics, say 18 year-olds who spend four hours a day reading about One Direction. They can then tell companies who want to market to those teenagers that thanks to their dataset they know just who to target and how. ISPs take advertisers' money and place those ads where they go best, on devices and web services they know the consumer uses. ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT And that's what makes ISPs such attractive ad networks: the incredibly detailed information they have on consumers, even when compared to Silicon Valley heavyweights. "It's very similar to Facebook, except the ISPs have a better understanding of who's using what device in the home," noted Matt Hogan, CEO at DataCoup, a New York company trying to help consumers sell their data directly and openly. "They also have a potentially more granular look at mobile behavior including across the board app usage and mobile browsing." The fact that the rules won't come into force simply means the ISPs won't have to fear any future FCC restrictions of their sprawling ad networks. Data leak anxiety This might sound innocuous compared to much-feared but highly-unlikely sales of personal data to anyone and everyone, but there are many who see this as a pernicious and invasive kind of marketing, not to mention that such datasets can and do leak. "It's likely that these datasets find their way into the ad-tech ecosystem, where the morals are a bit looser," noted Hogan. "In ad-tech, there are so many players, so little oversight, so many leakage points, so much collation and file mapping. This is where I see immediate consumer risk. It's hard to know if the ISPs plan to play in that sandbox, but I imagine it's hard to operate in the ad network business without some incorporation of the ad-tech ecosystem." ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT End on a good note... While there's been some righteous anger swelling from this week's vote, there are some reasons to remain positive. For one, services like VPNs, Tor and HTTPS encrypted websites will prevent ISPs from grabbing granular data on customers. Second, Hogan thinks that the streamlining of regulation of ISPs under FTC jurisdiction, rather than FCC, will spur on a self-regulating market where privacy will be a selling point. Hogan, a former Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank salesman, believes the FTC, as a traditionally more reserved enforcer, will let the market "dictate the direction of innovation." It's a similar line of thinking to the FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who said yesterday the FTC was a more capable regulator of internet privacy. In Hogan's ideal world, those ISPs who are privacy-focused, like those who actually spoke out against the vote, will be considerably more attractive than the monolithic entities who spend a lot of money trying to convince lawmakers to do their bidding. "With this new regulatory regime, I think privacy will be a differentiating factor," he said. "Perhaps the best tools the consumer has is their voice and their wallet," Hogan added. "If they don't like what the ISPs could potentially do with their data then they can yell and scream about it - both to the ISP's and their congressman. More potent, if they don't like what a contracting service is doing, go down to the street and subscribe to the contracting service that is taking their privacy more seriously."Although there aren’t a ton of highlights from another California Golden Bears loss to the USC Trojans, there were a few. For one, here’s punter Dylan Klumph taking a few minutes from his halftime warmups to join the Cal band halftime performance, all while using his football as an instrument for Adele’s ‘Hello’. Below is the halftime video of the Cal band performance (Klumph shows up near the end after a few punts). We have Klumph’s performance from all angles. Cal punter Dylan Klumph has quit the Cal Football team and joined the Cal Band! #USCvsCAL pic.twitter.com/uXPdxSzNJ5 — Hydro Tech (@CGB_HydroTech) September 23, 2017 Our beloved Cal mascot Oski doesn’t get a ton of TV time, but for once he was spotted on television with his famous eyehole straw, and he did what he’s most famous for in Berkeley—booze and lounge. For those who want a closer look, here’s Oski’s actions in slow motion. Cal mascot Oski remains, like most mascots, a walking nightmare pic.twitter.com/fyhV1UyAbZ — Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 23, 2017 Some highlights: Vic Enwere scores Cal’s only meaningful touchdown of the game. Here’s the Cal defense forcing a USC fumble, recovered by Luc Bequette. Here’s Josh Drayden intercepting a Sam Darnold pass.What drives human behavior? Why do we do what we do? Is free will an illusion? Has civilization made us better? Can we escape our tribal past? These questions (and many, many others) are the subject of a new book called Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. The author is Robert Sapolsky, a biology professor at Stanford and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museums of Kenya. In a brisk 800 pages, Sapolsky covers nearly every facet of the human condition, engaging moral philosophy, evolutionary biology, social science, and genetics along the way. The key question of the book — why are we the way we are? — is explored from a multitude of angles, and the narrative structure helps guide the reader. For instance, Sapolsky begins by examining a person’s behavior in the moment (why we recoil or rejoice or respond aggressively to immediate stimuli) and then zooms backward in time, following the chain of antecedent causes back to our evolutionary roots. For every action, Sapolsky shows, there are several layers of causal significance: There’s a neurobiological cause and a hormonal cause and a chemical cause and a genetic cause, and, of course, there are always environmental and historical factors. He synthesizes the research across these disciplines into a coherent, readable whole. In this interview, I talk with Sapolsky about the paradoxes of human nature, why we’re capable of both good and evil, whether free will exists, and why symbols have become so central to human life. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. The paradox of human nature Sean Illing You start the book with a paradox of sorts: Humans are both exceptionally violent and exceptionally kind. We’re capable on the one hand of mass genocide, and on the other hand of heroic self-sacrifice. How do we make sense of this dichotomy? Robert Sapolsky In an evolutionary sense, we're this incredibly confused species, in between all sorts of extremes of behavior and patterns of selection compared to other primates who are far more consistently X or Y, and we're so often floating in between. In a more proximal sense, I think what that tells you over and over again is just how important context is. Sean Illing Can you clarify what you mean by context here? Robert Sapolsky Sure. What counts as our worst and best behaviors are so much in the eye of the beholder. So often it really is the one man's freedom fighter versus the other's terrorist. But even separate of that, just the fact that in some settings our biology is such that we are extraordinarily prosocial creatures, and in other settings extraordinarily antisocial creatures, shows how important it is to really understand the biology of our response to context and environment. Sean Illing You argue that biological factors don't so much cause behavior as modulate it — can you explain what you mean? Robert Sapolsky Ultimately, there is no debate. Insofar as using "genes" as a surrogate for "nature," it only makes sense to ask what a gene does in a particular environment, and to ask what the behavioral effects of an environment are given someone's genetic makeup. They're inseparable in a way that is most meaningful when it comes to humans. Sean Illing Given how variable human behavior is, do you believe in a fixed human nature? There is a lot of debate about this in the world of philosophy. I wonder how you think about it as a scientist. Robert Sapolsky Human nature is extraordinarily malleable, and I think that's the most defining thing about our nature. Free will is an illusion Sean Illing Okay, but in the book you come awfully close to concluding something very different. Specifically, in your discussion of free will, you reluctantly embrace a deterministic account of human behavior. You argue that free will is, in fact, an illusion, and if that’s true, I’m not sure how “malleable” we can be. Robert Sapolsky If it seemed tentative, it was just because I was trying to be polite to the reader or to a certain subset of readers. If there is free will, it’s free will about all sorts of uninteresting stuff, and it's getting cramped into tighter and increasingly boring places. It seems impossible to view the full range of influences on our behavior and conclude that there is anything like free will. Sean Illing That’s a bold claim... Robert Sapolsky You’re right. On the one hand, it seems obvious to me and to most scientists thinking about behavior that there is no free will. And yet it’s staggeringly difficult to try to begin to even imagine what a world is supposed to look like in which everybody recognizes this and accepts this. The most obvious place to start is to approach this differently in terms of how we judge behavior. Even an extremely trivial decision like the shirt you choose to wear today, if dissected close enough, doesn’t really involve agency in the way we assume. There are millions of antecedent causes that led you to choose that shirt, and you had no control over them. So if I was to compliment you and say, “Hey, nice shirt,” that doesn’t really make any sense in that you aren’t really responsible for wearing it, at least not in the way that question implies. Now, this is a very trivial thing and doesn’t appear to matter much, but this logic is also true for serious and consequential behaviors, and that’s where things get complicated. Sean Illing If we're just marionettes on a string and we don't have the kind of agency that we think we have, then what sense does it make to reward or punish behavior? Doesn’t that imply some degree of freedom of action? Robert Sapolsky Organisms on the average tend to increase the frequency of behaviors for which they’ve been rewarded and to do the opposite for punishment or absence of reward. That's fine and instrumentally is going to be helpful in all sorts of circumstances. The notion of there being something virtuous about punishing a bad behavior, that's the idea that’s got to go out the window. I always come back to the example of epilepsy. Five hundred years ago, an epileptic seizure was a sign that you were hanging out with Satan, and the appropriate treatment for that was obvious: burning someone at the stake. This went on for hundreds of years. Now, of course, we know that such a person has got screwy potassium channels in their neurons. It's not them; it's a disease. It's not a moral failing; it's a biological phenomenon. Now we don’t punish epileptics for their epilepsy, but if they suffer bouts frequently, we might not let them drive a car because it’s not safe. It’s not that they don’t deserve to drive a car; it’s that it’s not safe. It’s a biological thing that has to be constrained because it represents a danger. It’s taken us 500 years or so to get to this revelation, so I don’t know how long it will take us to reach this mindset for all other sorts of behaviors, but we absolutely must get there. Sean Illing So what is true for the epileptic is true for all of us all of the time? We are our brains and we had no role in the shaping of our biology or our neurology or our chemistry, and yet these are the forces that determine our behavior. Robert Sapolsky That’s true, but it’s still difficult to fully grasp this. Look, I believe there is no free will whatsoever, but I can't function that way. I get pissed off at our dog if he pees on the floor in the kitchen, even though I can easily come up with a mechanistic explanation for that. Sean Illing Our entire notion of moral and legal responsibility is thrown into doubt the minute we fully embrace this truth, so I’m not sure we can really afford to own up to the implications of free will being an illusion. Robert Sapolsky I think that’s mostly right. As individuals and a society, I’m not sure we’re ready to face this fact. But we could perhaps do it bits and pieces at a time. “Our species has problems with violence” Sean Illing You write that “our species has problems with violence.” Can you explain this complicated relationship? Robert Sapolsky The easiest answer is that we're really violent. The much more important one, the much more challenging one, is that we don't hate violence as such — we hate the wrong kind of violence, and when it's the right kind of violence, we absolutely do cartwheels to reinforce it and reward it and hand out medals and mate with such people because of it. And that’s part of the reason why the worst kinds of violence are so viscerally awful to experience, to bear witness to. But the right kinds of violence are just as visceral, only in the opposite direction. The truth is that this is the hardest realm of human behavior to understand, but it’s also the most important one to try to. Sean Illing What is the wrong kind of violence? What is the right kind of violence? Robert Sapolsky Of course that tends to be in the eye of the beholder. Far too often, the right kind is one that fosters the fortunes of people just like us in group favoritism, and the worst kinds are the ones that do the opposite. Sean Illing Violence is a fact of nature — all species engage in it one way or other. Are humans the only species that ritualizes it, that makes a sport of it? Robert Sapolsky That does seem pretty much the case. Certainly you see the hints of it in chimps, for example, where you see order patrols by male chimps in one group, where if they encounter a male from another group, they will kill him. They have now been shown in a number of circumstances to have systematically killed all the males in the neighboring group, which certainly fits a rough definition of genocide, which is to say killing an individual not because of what they did but simply because of what group they belong to. What's striking with the chimps is that you can tell beforehand that this is where they are heading. They do something vaguely ritualistic, which is they do a whole bunch of emotional contagion stuff. One male gets very agitated, very aroused, manages to get others like that, and then off they go to look for somebody to attack. So in that regard, there is a ritualistic feel to it, but that's easily framed along the conventional lines of nonhuman animal violence. By that, I mean when male chimps do this, when they eradicate all of the other males in a neighboring territory, they expand their own; it increases their reproductive success. I believe it is really only humans that do violence for purely ritualistic purposes. Humans are tribal animals Sean Illing Is our tribal past the most important thing to understand about human behavior? Robert Sapolsky I think it's an incredibly important one, and what's most important about it is to understand the implications of the fact that all of us have multiple tribal affiliations that we carry in our heads and to understand the circumstances that bring one of those affiliations to the forefront over another. The mere fact that you can switch people's categorization of others from race to religion to what sports team they follow speaks to how incredibly complicated and central tribal affiliation is to humans and to human life. Sean Illing You spend a lot of time talking about the role of symbols and ideas in human life. We kill and we die for our symbols, and we often confuse the symbols themselves for the things they symbolize. Do you think symbols and ideas amplify our tribal nature, or do they help us transcend it? Robert Sapolsky Well, it’s important to understand that not only are we willing to kill people because they look, dress, eat things, smell, speak, sing, pray differently from us, but also because they have incredibly different ideas as to very abstract notions. I think the thing that fuels that capacity is how primitively our brains do symbolism. I think the fact that our brains so readily intermix the abstractions and symbols with their visceral, metaphorical analogues gives those abstractions and symbols enormous power. That fact that we’re willing to kill and die for abstract symbols is itself crazy, but nonetheless true. Reasons for optimism Sean Illing Has civilization made us better? Robert Sapolsky Absolutely. The big question is which of the following two scenarios are more correct: a) Civilization has made us the most peaceful, cooperative, emphatic we've ever been as a species, versus b) civilization is finally inching us back to the level of all those good things that characterized most of hominin hunter-gatherer history, preceding the invention of agriculture. Amid mostly being an academic outsider to the huge debates over this one, I find the latter view much more convincing. Sean Illing You say you incline to pessimism but that this book gave you reasons to be optimistic. Why? Robert Sapolsky Because there's very little about our behaviors that are inevitable, including our worst behaviors. And we’re learning more and more about the biological underpinnings of our behavior, and that can help us produce better outcomes. As long as you have a ridiculously long view of things, things are getting better. It’s much nicer to be alive today than it was 100 or 200 years ago, and that’s because we’ve progressed. But nothing is certain, and we have to continue moving forward if we want to preserve what progress we’ve made.Edward Snowden's dramatic disclosures have focused public attention on more that one important issue of public debate. In addition to the questions raised about NSA surveillance, the fact that he was a contractor with a private company which in turn was a contractor for the federal government has raised a question about the privatization of government functions. I just came across a thoughtful and well written piece on the subject at The Atlantic website and thought that I would share it. Edward Snowden and Booz: How Privatizing Leads to Crony Corruption Booz Allen Hamilton, Edward Snowden's former employer, is a cash cow earning billions from its intelligence work for the U.S. government. Snowden is among thousands of people who used to work for the government who went on to earn far more doing the same things for legions of private contractors. Almost 500,000 private employees held top-secret clearances in 2012, giving them access to the most sensitive secrets of the United States, with much of the clearance process itself done by... the self-same private contractors. But in recent decades, the dramatic push for more and more privatization of federal functions has gone beyond a discussion or analysis about how to best sort out public and private functions, turning into a headlong rush to privatize more. A good part of this is ideological in nature -- driven by vociferously antigovernment ideologues who want to squeeze the size
Sniper to a scene in Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 Nazi flick Inglourious Basterds. American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that’s showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015 In case you didn’t catch Inglourious Basterds, you can see the scene Rogen is comparing to American Sniper below — a fictional Nazi propaganda film. American Sniper‘s fans have wasted no time jumping to the film’s defense. A few hours after the tweet, The Daily Caller penned a testy editorial accusing Rogen of attacking a national hero. “Hollywood is overwhelmingly left-wing, and has released a string of anti-war and anti-military movies that have been box office flops. In that world American Sniper is an anomaly. It presents Kyle’s life without making judgment, warts and all. Audiences have been flocking to see the story of a man considered a genuine hero by most.” Seth Rogen isn’t the first person to call out the perceived failings of American Sniper. Michael Moore recently took to Twitter to call out the shortcomings he sees in Chris Kyle despite his portrayal as a hero. While it’s not the first time American Sniper has been criticized, Michael went as far as to insinuate that Kyle himself was a coward, as previously reported by Inquisitr. My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015 Do you think Seth Rogen’s tweet about American Sniper was out of line? [Image via American Sniper and The Interview]European Commission Press release Youth Employment Initiative: €620 million to tackle youth unemployment in France The European Commission has adopted today the French national Operational Programme for the implementation of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI). This is the first Operational Programme to be adopted as part of the €6 billion Youth Employment Initiative, for which 20 Member States are eligible. Under this Operational Programme, France will receive €432 million from the YEI and the European Social Fund (ESF) to help young people not in employment, education or training (the so-called NEETs) to find a job in those regions with youth unemployment rates over 25%. The national Operational Programme will be complemented by 12 regional Operational Programmes which will include YEI funds for a total of €188 million, thereby using the total YEI resources available to France i.e. €620 million. "I warmly congratulate France for making use of the possibility to launch a programme for youth employment ahead of all other programmes to be co-financed by EU funds in 2014-20. The Youth Employment Initiative will directly benefit around one million young French people currently out of employment, education or training, and support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee", Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, commented. Commissioner Andor took part today in a conference organised by the French government in Paris on the Youth Guarantee, the ambitious EU-wide reform aiming to ensure that every young person up to 25 years is offered a quality offer of employment, education or training within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. 13 French regions, namely Aquitaine, Auvergne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Guadeloupe, Guyane, Haute-Normandie, Languedoc-Roussillon, Martinique, Nord-Pas de Calais, Réunion, Mayotte, Picardie, are eligible for YEI funding, which includes matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF). France has also chosen to allocate 10% of its YEI resources to sub-regions of its Ile de France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Midi-Pyrénées regions. The Youth Employment Initiative in France will support the implementation of the national Youth Guarantee to help those young people with worse chances in the labour market. Actions include counselling and training the less-skilled; enabling mobility of apprentices at regional, national and in some cases cross-border level; helping to prevent early school-leaving and better identify young NEETS, and giving a second chance to those who left school without any diploma or qualification to gain a foothold in the labour market through work experience or traineeships. Public Employment Services have a crucial role to achieve these aims and this operational programme will be an opportunity to improve their outreach to young NEETs. Background Currently, around 5.6 million young Europeans are jobless, of which 650,000 in France. Around one million young French people are currently out of employment, education or training (NEETs). To avoid the risk of a lost generation, the Commission proposed the Youth Guarantee in December 2012 (see IP/12/1311 and MEMO/12/938), which was formally adopted by the EU's Council of Ministers on 22 April 2013 (see MEMO/13/152) and endorsed by the June 2013 European Council. All 28 Member States have submitted their Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans and are making the first steps to set up their Youth Guarantee schemes (details available here). The European Social Fund, providing more than €10 billion every year in the 2014-2020 period, will be a key source of EU funding to implement the Youth Guarantee. To top up available EU financial support to the regions where individuals struggle most with youth unemployment and inactivity, the Council and the European Parliament agreed to create a dedicated Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for Member States with regions where youth unemployment exceeds 25%. The YEI funding comprises €3 billion from a specific new EU budget line dedicated to youth employment (frontloaded to 2014-15) matched by at least €3 billion from Member States' European Social Fund allocations. This will amplify the support provided by the European Social Fund for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee by funding activities to directly help young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) aged up to 25 years, or where the Member States considers relevant, up to 29 years. These activities include job provision, traineeships and apprenticeships, business start-up support, etc. The YEI will be programmed as part of the European Social Fund in 2014-20. In order to draw down Youth Employment Initiative funding as quickly as possible, Member States can make use of several special rules. Where YEI assistance is programmed through a specific Operational Programme, as in France, such programme can be adopted even before the Partnership Agreement which lays the basis for the use of all EU Structural and Investment Funds in the country in 2014-20. Moreover, the Youth Employment Initiative can reimburse expenditure incurred by Member States as of 1 September 2013, i.e. even before the programmes have been adopted. In addition, the EU's top-up funding under the YEI does not require any national co-financing; only the ESF contribution to the YEI needs to be co-financed. For more information: News item on DG Employment website László Andor's website Follow László Andor on Twitter Subscribe to the European Commission's free e-mail newsletter on employment, social affairs and inclusion Contacts : Jonathan Todd (+32 2 299 41 07) Cécile Dubois (+32 2 295 18 83)The author of the Patriot Act said the top secret court order to collect the phone records of essentially every call made by millions of Verizon customers is an abuse of the landmark legislation. “As the author of the Patriot Act, I am extremely troubled by the FBI’s interpretation of this legislation. While I believe the Patriot Act appropriately balanced national security concerns and civil rights, I have always worried about potential abuses," Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) said this morning. "The Bureau’s broad application for phone records was made under the so-called business records provision of the Act. I do not believe the broadly drafted FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act. Seizing phone records of millions of innocent people is excessive and un-American.” Sensenbrenner wrote Attorney General Eric Holder today, saying "these reports are deeply concerning and raise questions about whether our constitutional rights are secure." The congressman said the FBI applied for the phone records under section 215 of the act, which requires the government to meet certain investigative criteria to prove to the court the need to obtain business records. "I insisted upon sunsetting this provision in order to ensure Congress had an opportunity to reassess the impact the provision had on civil liberties," Sensenbrenner wrote. "I also closely monitored and relied on testimony from the Administration about how the Act was being interpreted to ensure that abuses had not occurred." He pointed to 2011 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in which members were assured by an acting assistant attorney general that the provision was being used sparingly, for driver's license, hotel, car rental and leasing records. "The Department's testimony left the Committee with the impression that the Administration was using the business records provision sparingly and for specific materials," Sensenbrenner continued. "The recently released FISA order, however, could not have been drafted more broadly."' "I do not believe the released FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act. How could the phone records of so many innocent Americans be relevant to an authorized investigation as required by the Act?" Sensenbrenner asked Holder to respond to a series of questions about why the order was so broad and how his department interprets Section 215 of the Patriot Act. At a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing this morning, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) tried asking Holder about the Verizon records, but Holder brushed off the question, saying the hearing wasn't the appropriate forum in which to discuss the order.Dec 4, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel looks on from the bench during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won the game 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports The Indiana Pacers have now lost their last five games and seven of their past nine. After starting the year by getting out to a relatively encouraging 5-7 record, the team now sits at 7-14. Worse still, with four games against the Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers coming soon on the schedule, the near-term future looks even worse. Some of this is schedule-based: The Pacers are in the midst of a woefully unfortunate stretch that simply has them matched up against too many teams that they really have no business beating. That happens to every non-contending team and it is the Pacers turn. But it doesn’t change the fact that they have simply been playing poorly for long periods in almost all their recent games. Again, that is partially the opposition imposing its will on the Pacers, a team that hasn’t had will imposed on it all that often over the past two seasons. Despite all this, head coach Frank Vogel is optimistic. He is always outwardly optimistic (and, I believe, almost always internally so as well), so this comes as no surprise. But he is also happy to report that the team’s morale remains upbeat and that he thinks the losing is not due to effort, according to Autumn Allison of the Indianapolis Star. “We’re down. We’re frustrated. We want to win. So when I say morale’s okay, I mean we still believe,” Vogel said. “We’re still getting after it with the approach that the next game could change our momentum.” “I like our effort. I don’t like our record.” For their part, Rodney Stuckey (in this video) and Chris Copeland (another video on Pacers.com) are both preaching similar mentalities. By all accounts, the team is close and the early-season (relative) success bonded the bench players together. So it isn’t surprising that all remains well through a bit of adversity. But the road ahead is very, very rocky, so let’s check back in two weeks to see how the morale and positivity is doing.Plans for cheap flights from Cork and Shannon to Boston could be grounded until next year as a dispute over the proposals between the the European Union and the United States goes to arbitration. Irish-based Norwegian Air International originally intended to launch the Boston service from the Irish airports in April, but is waiting for US authorities to grant it a foreign carrier’s permit so it can land there. As Norwegian is licensed in the Republic, the EU-US Air Transport Agreement, the open skies treaty, obliges Washington’s department of transportation to grant the permit, but it has delayed in the face of pressure from unions and rival airlines. Brussels has formally told the US it wants the issue to go arbitration, which could delay any decision for a further eight to nine months, pushing Norwegian’s plans for Cork and Shannon into early next year. “The arbitration will be set in motion after the summer and is then expected to take several months,” a spokesman for the European Commission’s transport directorate said. He added that it was still open to the US to grant the permit and the commission has asked that the department of transportation do so. “We still hope that it won’t come to arbitration,” he said. This will be the first time that anyone has used the arbitration clause in the air transport agreement. The airline welcomed the news on Wednesday. “Norwegian Air International is an approved and fully operational EU carrier that meets all requirements under the open skies agreement between the EU and the US,” said its spokesman. The Irish airline’s parent, Norwegian Air Shuttle, established it in the Republic so it would benefit from the air transport agreement, which allows EU airlines full access to the US. Norwegian wants to launch a Ryanair-style low-cost airline offering flights from Europe to the US and Asia using the Irish company. It planned the Cork- and Shannon-to-Boston services as part of that and intended expanding them to New York in 2017. US opponents, including the airlines Delta, United and American, the Southwest Airline Pilots’ Association and the Air Line Pilots’ Association, say that the group is using the Republic as a flag of convenience to hire low-cost labour. However, Norwegian says that it will employ staff under Irish law and will hire only US and EU citizens to crew its transatlantic flights.Microsoft’s new devices event was held in New York today — and it totally kicked some ass, for the first time in what seems like years. The company, which seemed to have made a series of repeated misfires over the last few years, got up on stage and presented its new offerings as a unified front. The new Microsoft is building cool things again — and it shows in its enthusiasm. With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft showed it had the thirst to be back on top again. Fast-forward to today’s unveil of the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book, it displayed impressive hardware chops to match that. Microsoft’s latest devices can run what amounts to the full Windows experience anywhere. Plug a phone into your screen and get a whole computer! Pick up a tablet and get a whole computer! Pick up a laptop and get a whole computer! The new Surface Pro 4 The Surface Pro 4 is a great leap forward for an already impressive device, bringing refinement to something that’s gotten better every year. Surface Book, however, showed Microsoft’s true aspirations. My first reaction was ‘wha, this is Microsoft, right?’ — then a jaw-drop moment when the company revealed that the laptop in front of the crowd was secretly a tablet too. The beauty of Microsoft’s new vision is that it’s poised to embrace this future. Windows 10 apps, which admittedly there are still only a handful of, are able to run regardless of the mode the tablet is in, enabling Microsoft to try these audacious ideas. Wait… the Surface Book does what? I have no idea if the Surface Book will sell well, but I have a feeling that based on just how well the Surface Pro has sold, it’ll be a hit — particularly among businesses. It might even eat its dormant, slow OEM competitors alive. The problem with the Surface Pro was always that it was hard to use on the go, particularly on your lap, unless you were OK with tablet mode. A laptop-style design that’s also a tablet makes Microsoft’s hardware much more attractive than in the past. For years, Microsoft seemed dormant while Apple produced hit after hit, but today, the company showed me it’s alive and kicking again. It’s trying to create devices that integrate deeply with software and work across a variety of form factors — and finally delivering on that vision. To me, it seems like Microsoft woke up today. The company is thirsty and eager to claw back lost ground — and it might finally stand a chance. Read next: Report: Apple will launch 4K iMacs next weekPublished by Sierra Monica P. on March 9, 2010 under Decor The bathroom is the most special room of many because it’s the only place in your home where no one is allowed to disturb you. Besides this is a great place for relaxing after a hard day. Imagine yourself in the bathtub, surrounded by red roses and petals, having as light source only the subtle glow of tiny candles. Using these Rose Bath Buds you get both a color therapy and an aroma therapy because they smell similar to real roses. Each transparent box contains 9 deep red rose buds which are actually soap petals that dissolve in the water. You can get them from Iwantoneofthose.com for £4.99, or about $7.5, per box. Related Tags: bathroom, soapAfter a weekend of anticipation, Robert Mueller delivered and delivered big on #MuellerMonday: Extensive charges were brought against both Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and Rick Gates, who worked with the campaign right through Trump's inauguration. Shortly thereafter, in what is likely bigger news, a Trump campaign adviser named George Papadopoulos pled guilty to lying to the FBI, in which he indicated knowledge of the Russians stealing emails. In his plea, Papadopoulos indicated that he spoke directly with Trump about his work with the Russian government, though we don't know whether they discussed anything illegal, like the stolen emails. Still, this was all big news, and the way Mueller rolled it out suggests that he's thinking three steps ahead of Trump's legal team. When news of the indictments leaked initially, Trump's lawyer, Ty Cobb, ran to The New York Times to express confidence that his client was safe, in an interview that made clear that Cobb thought either Manafort or Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, would be indicted. It seems likely, then, that Team Trump was caught by surprise on the Papadopoulos plea. Advertisement: Yes, it's all very exciting, and I myself feel a little starry-eyed in admiration for Mueller and his diligence. The man clearly knows what he's doing. Not to be a fun-killer, but there are also a number of reasons that folks should temper their expectations. The path to getting Trump out of office is still long, foggy and full of obstacles, which are serious enough that even Mueller, in all his dazzling competence, may not be able to overcome. 1) Trump can still fire Mueller. That's the biggest cloud hanging over all this, and unfortunately the Papadopoulos case only makes it likelier that Trump will resort to this desperate and confrontational measure at some point. Papadopoulos' plea offers still more intriguing evidence -- to be added to the pile -- that Russian agents were colluding with the Trump campaign over the stolen emails, and that knowledge of this went all the way to the top. If Trump is guilty, then he has every reason now to believe he will be exposed — and to decide that firing Mueller is his only way out. With the help of Fox News, Trump has already created the pretext to fire Mueller: This points toward the likely endgame in Trump, Fox News and assorted Republicans constantly invoking ridiculous conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton. It's so that if and when Trump fires Mueller, he can pretend it's because Mueller somehow failed to "lock her up," even though that was never Mueller's mandate — he's in place to discover what Trump's people were up to during the campaign, not to reopen a discredited case against Clinton. 2) Trump can still pardon everyone involved, potentially including himself. The pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio demonstrated that Trump doesn't care about things like propriety or justice. More important, it was a test of congressional Republicans: Could the president flagrantly violate the spirit of the law and spit on the concept of the rule of law without consequence? Of course! Advertisement: Papadopoulos appears to be a cooperating witness, and that's a stunning development when you consider that anyone who protects Trump has a good reason to believe they'll be rewarded with a pardon. (It's worth noting that being a toady for Vladimir Putin and then turning around and defying him is not recommended for anyone's health.) Mueller worked a minor miracle here, and we should all hope that when the dust is settled, we learn his secrets. Still, Mueller's apparent strategy of picking off the little guys in hopes they flip on the big boss is both the best hope we have and a reason to be terrified. Trump, being a disloyal weasel, may seem like a guy who will end up seeing people around him flipping left and right. But the promise of a presidential pardon, coupled with a not-unreasonable fear of Putin's wrath, will be two incentives that anyone Mueller snags will have on their minds. 3) Republicans won't do anything about Trump, certainly not soon and probably not ever. There's more than enough information on the public record to impeach Trump right now. Republicans already know that Donald Trump Jr. had a meeting with Russian agents who seemed to be asking him to promise the rollback of sanctions passed against Russians involved in a conspiracy to murder a whistleblower, in exchange for illegally acquired information. They know that Trump himself confessed to obstruction of justice when he told Lester Holt that he fired FBI Director James Comey in an effort to shut down the Russia investigation. Oh yeah, and he seemingly confessed again to Russian officials when he told them that firing Comey had "taken off" the "great pressure" he was facing. They know that Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied during his confirmation hearings about his own meetings with Russian officials. In the face of all this information, congressional Republicans have decided to spend their time "investigating" ridiculous conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton that have already been debunked. There could be a tape out there of Trump saying, "I will commit treason for you, Putin, just say the word," and Republicans would still be chattering about Clinton non-stories instead. They won't hold him responsible if he fires Mueller or if he just pardons everyone Mueller indicts. Advertisement: Indeed, Paul Ryan has already signaled his intent to do nothing: However -- and this is critical -- the fact that enough is known already to impeach Trump means that should the Democrats regain power, they could start the process right away. Republicans have shown that they simply do not care how corrupt Trump is, or even whether that corruption carries the tint of treason. That's the ultimate takeaway from all this: The way to get rid of America's Trump problem is the ballot box, not the courthouse. As exciting as #MuellerMonday is, we can't let it distract us from Election Day Tuesdays.{snip} WHITE SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATS FADES Exit polling shows racial polarization of the electorate has begun to cross party lines, with whites less likely to back Democratic candidates than they have been in the past. Across 21 states where Senate races were exit polled, whites broke for the Republican by a significant margin in all but four–Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Oregon. None of those four states has backed a GOP candidate for president in the post-Reagan era except when New Hampshire went for George W. Bush by 1 point in 2000. The Senate seats on the ballot this year were last up for re-election in 2008, a presidential year. Democrats typically rely on greater turnout among their core voters when the presidential race tops the ticket. But still, Democratic Senate candidates lost ground among white voters by an average of 10 points compared with 2008. White voters abandoned Democrats in droves in places with heated contests as well as those without much action. The exceptions were Minnesota and Oregon–where Democratic incumbents improved their overall support across the board–and Mississippi–where Travis Childers managed to grow the Democratic share of the white vote from 8 percent to 16 percent. The shift is particularly acute in the South, where some of the last white Democrats in the House of Representatives lost their seats on Tuesday. – In North Carolina, Sen. Kay Hagan carried just 33 percent of the white vote, down from 39 percent in 2008. White voters under age 30 backed Hagan decisively in 2008, 60 percent for her to 36 percent for her opponent, as they helped to sweep Barack Obama into office. But this year, younger white voters who cast ballots in North Carolina broke just as decisively for Thom Tillis, with 56 percent to 32 percent for Hagan. Twelve percent backed Sean Haugh, the Libertarian. – In Louisiana, Mary Landrieu captured just 18 percent of the white vote, a sharp decline from the 33 percent she garnered in 2008. {snip} – In one surprisingly competitive Senate race Tuesday, whites in Virginia voted 37 percent for Mark Warner, 60 percent for Ed Gillespie. In 2008, Warner won the votes of 56 percent of whites. Younger whites broke heavily this year for Ed Gillespie in Virginia, 57 percent to 31 percent for Warner. In 2008, Warner carried 59 percent among this group. – Even winning Democrats aren’t immune to the drop-off in white support: Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin captured 43 percent of the white vote in his successful bid for re-election, that’s down 18 points from his support among whites in 2008. — FEW REPUBLICANS HAVE REACHED BEYOND WHITE VOTERS But Republicans haven’t minimized racial polarization in the other direction either. The coalition behind Republican Senate candidates was predominantly white, 90 percent across all 21 states with Senate races that were exit polled, ranging from 79 percent white Alaska to 98 percent white in West Virginia. {snip} {snip} Original Article Share ThisTake a leaf out of this book. A common desert moss sucks water directly out of the air instead of from the ground. The discovery could be used to inspire ways of collecting clean drinking water in developing countries. Most desert plants, including cacti, rely on extensive root systems to mop up scarce groundwater. But the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis collects fresh water straight from the atmosphere. Tiny fibres attached to the tips of the moss leaves, known as awns, allow S. caninervis to harvest fog and mist droplets, says Tadd Truscott of Utah State University, who filmed the plant’s drinking behaviour. Truscott and his colleagues used an environmental scanning electron microscope and camera to study how these delicate awns, which are between 0.5 and 2 millimetres long, capture atmospheric water. Advertisement They studied S. caninervis growing in the Great Basin in the US and in the Gurbantünggüt desert in China, but it is also widely found in other northern hemisphere deserts. The camera images show water vapour condensing on nano-sized grooves on the surface of the awns. Miniature barbs then push this water into larger droplets that move along the length of the awn into the leaf. “The droplet can travel from the awn to the leaf as fast as 10 to 20 millimetres per second,” says Truscott. Two other plant species have previously been found to possess fog-harvesting abilities – the cactus Opuntia microdasys and the alpine plant Cotula fallax – but S. caninervis is the first species in which a detailed mechanism involving barbs and grooves has been elucidated. Clean water Scientists can try to replicate these plants’ mechanisms in order to build novel water collection systems, says Truscott. “Our lab has already started making artificial awns to determine if these structures can be man-made,” he says. The greatest beneficiaries of fog-harvesting devices would be people in developing countries with limited access to clean drinking water, says Jas Pal Badyal of Durham University, who is trying to mimic the mechanisms of C. fallax. Even dry places like the Namib desert in Africa have regular fog episodes, meaning that clean water vapour could be harvested and stored, he says. “The idea is to trap pure water from air.” Journal reference: Nature Plants, DOI: 10.1038/nplants.2016.76A new petition on Change.org is calling for all uniformed police officers to wear uniforms embedded with a camera. The fledgling petition—it only had 12 signatures at the time of writing—was inspired by the events unfolding in Ferguson, Mo. following the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old shot to death by a local police officer. After some looting and arson broke out on the night following Brown’s death, Ferguson residents demonstrated peacefully and were met with what many viewed as an excessive, militarized police presence in the days to follow. Brown’s death is currently under investigation by the FBI, and neither local nor federal law enforcement have released the name of the officer who shot Brown. From the petition: Uniform cameras not only assist and protect honest officers from unfounded allegations, but the unbiased, real time accountability they produce provides a tempering effect on potentially abusive behaviors. There is no reason any honest, law abiding police officer should oppose uniform cameras, yet police unions continue to do so. We request that the Department of Justice issue guidelines that mandate- in no uncertain terms- every police department in the United States that sends armed officers into our communities be fully accountable via the modern technology of wearable, tamper-proof body cameras. It is time to reconcille police accountability in the context of 21st Century technological capacities. Photo via Highway Patrol Images/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)Finland has decided to ditch copyright levies on digital devices... and let the taxpayer foot the bill. Instead a special government fund will be set up to compensate artists for private copying of music and movies. Following the national Parliament vote, Finnish MEP Henna Virkkunen said the new system would be “fairer to consumers and better better for artists because they will get more compensation this way”. Even Veronique Desbrosses, general manager of GESAC, which represents authors’ rights, agreed that increased compensation for artists was a positive element, saying “private copying compensation is part of the ecosystem and is essential”. Meanwhile, speaking at a meeting of tech industry in Brussels on Thursday, Swedish liberal MEP Cecilia Wikstrom said the entire EU copyright system needs to be overhauled. “How would Abba suffer from me making a private copy of my CD so I can listen to it on my mp3 player while I’m jogging? The debate about copyright levies has deliberately been muddled to convince us (lawmakers) to perpetuate an absurd system,” she said. The new European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker has vowed that copyright will be one of the issues he will tackle in his new role. Most EU countries, with the exception of the UK and Ireland, operate a similar scheme, however two years ago Spain dumped its law and set up a government compensation fund similar to the one adopted in Finland this week. Desbrosses was scathing of this plan to get rid of the levy system. “There should be a link between who should pay and who should benefit. Putting remuneration in the hands of the state, is not a good idea because it is not linked to use or market behaviour,” she said. She added that times change, and if the state budget declines, so too may artists’ remuneration. Desbrosses also took aim at device manufacturers, saying that even if they don’t have to pay the levy, they will not pass that saving on to consumers. “Even if you have remuneration for private copying, the consumer is not gaining anything we saw this in Spain. Manufacturers and importers are the only ones who gain.” John Higgins, head of DigitalEurope – which represents companies including Apple, Bose and Canon – said it was “unfortunate that countries feel the need to push ahead on their own. EU-wide rules should be steering member states towards this sort of reform”. ®The back-and-forth has prompted several high-profile writers and academics to weigh in. Laurence Tribe, a Harvard law professor, told Mr. Brodeur in an e-mail that his experience seemed to be “a distinct departure from the standards of ethical propriety and intellectual integrity that I would have expected the New York Public Library to maintain.” After learning of the controversy, John Stauber, author and founder of the Center for Media and Democracy, told Mr. Brodeur, “This is shocking.” Ann Thornton, a top official at the library, called the situation “very unfortunate.” Mr. Brodeur calls it something else: “A breach of trust.” During his years at The New Yorker, Mr. Brodeur, 79, a novelist turned award-winning reporter, built a career out of exposing the environmental hazards and health risks created by industry. In the process, he also filled an ever-expanding wall of file cabinets in his office. Mr. Brodeur said a colleague at the magazine, Philip Hamburger, mentioned that he had donated his own papers to the library and suggested that he do so as well. In 1992, Mr. Brodeur gave the library some 300 boxes. In 1997, he recalled being told, the documents had been reviewed and prepared for public viewing, a claim confirmed by a senior library curator at the time. That year, Mr. Brodeur and his wife toured what was described as the “permanent collection” of his papers in the main branch’s stacks, which stretch 88 miles. Mr. Brodeur watched, contentedly, as giant mechanized glass panels opened up to reveal the files behind his biggest exposés — on the flesh-eating enzymes in household detergents, the erosion of the ozone layer by industrial gases and a corporate cover-up of the links between asbestos and cancer. So he was baffled a year ago — nearly two decades after his donation — when the library notified him that it no longer wanted three-fourths of his papers. He was instructed to either retrieve the undesired documents or to allow the library to destroy them, according to copies of the correspondence he provided to The New York Times. “As I’m sure you understand,” William Stingone, a curator at the library, wrote him, “we need to manage our ever-diminishing resources, including space, even as our collection grows.” Photo As it happens, Mr. Brodeur did not understand. He was livid. In a June 2010 letter to the library demanding the return of his entire collection, Mr. Brodeur wrote, “I no longer have confidence in the New York Public Library’s stewardship of the papers I donated more than 18 years ago.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story The staff at the library called the episode a misunderstanding. Despite what Mr. Brodeur might have been told, curators said, they did not finish sorting through his papers until last year. In a series of letters and phone calls to Mr. Brodeur over the summer, they explained that, as they did with every donation, they had carefully weeded out what would be useful to generations of researchers (original letters and rare primary documents) and excluded less-meaningful artifacts (photocopied news stories and multiple drafts of New Yorker writings). In the process, an original donation of about 320 boxes had been whittled to 53. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. On a recent afternoon, Ms. Thornton, who oversees collections and exhibits, showed off the results of that winnowing, displaying a detailed catalog and a sampling of documents on a long table outside the library’s Rose Main Reading Room. The Brodeur collection appeared carefully labeled by subject and date. There were folders containing fan mail from readers (one called an article he had written for The New Yorker “extremely provocative and well-researched”). There were copies of letters from Mr. Brodeur to his colleagues at the magazine (including an angry missive to Seymour Hersh, who had backtracked on an endorsement of a much-debated Brodeur book about the dangers of electrical power lines in 1997. Mr. Brodeur called him “craven” and “lame.”). And there was an unfinished draft of a novel, titled “Coral Sea,” about an investigative journalist who stumbles on an important secret. Ms. Thornton said that before last year, Mr. Brodeur’s papers had been largely undigested. The documents, she said, “had no catalog record, no archival finding aid, no collection guide.” She added: “The collection was not usable.” But those claims have pitted the library’s current staff against a highly regarded former colleague, Mimi Bowling, a senior curator who contended in letters to Mr. Brodeur that the library had finished organizing his collection by 1997, around the time she invited him to tour the archives. Any claim to the contrary, Ms. Bowling wrote to Mr. Brodeur, “is simply not true.” Ms. Bowling, who now consults as an archivist, declined to comment, but did not dispute the authenticity of her letters. Archivists said that 18 years was an extraordinarily long time for a library to process an individual’s papers, and they wondered if the library had changed its mind about the value of Mr. Brodeur’s donation. But they noted that Mr. Brodeur had explicitly given up all rights to the papers when he signed a “deed of gift” donating them to the library. According to that deed, the library “reserves the right to return” any items it wishes and “may dispose of the same as the library determines in its sole discretion.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Even so, Richard J. Cox Jr., a professor of archival studies at the University of Pittsburgh, said the library might have mismanaged the situation. “Waiting 18 years, coming out of the blue — that sounds like not necessarily the best way to handle this,” he said. The library cited a backlog of donations for
Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and the Minnesota Study of Risk and Adaption from Birth to Adulthood, and from cross-sectional studies, consistently shows associations between early attachment classifications and peer relationships as to both quantity and quality. Lyons-Ruth, for example, found that 'for each additional withdrawing behavior displayed by mothers in relation to their infant's attachment cues in the Strange Situation Procedure, the likelihood of clinical referral by service providers was increased by 50%.'[46] Secure children have more positive and fewer negative peer reactions and establish more and better friendships. Insecure-ambivalent children have a tendency to anxiously but unsuccessfully seek positive peer interaction whereas insecure-avoidant children appear aggressive and hostile and may actively repudiate positive peer interaction. On only a few measures is there any strong direct association between early experience and a comprehensive measure of social functioning in early adulthood but early experience significantly predicts early childhood representations of relationships, which in turn predicts later self and relationship representations and social behaviour. Studies have suggested that infants with a high-risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may express attachment security differently from infants with a low-risk for ASD.[47] Behavioural problems and social competence in insecure children increase or decline with deterioration or improvement in quality of parenting and the degree of risk in the family environment.[48] Criticism of the Strange Situation Protocol [ edit ] Michael Rutter describes the procedure in the following terms:[49] Father and child "It is by no means free of limitations (see Lamb, Thompson, Gardener, Charnov & Estes, 1984).[50] To begin with, it is very dependent on brief separations and reunions having the same meaning for all children. This may be a major constraint when applying the procedure in cultures, such as that in Japan (see Miyake et al., 1985), where infants are rarely separated from their mothers in ordinary circumstances.[51] Also, because older children have a cognitive capacity to maintain relationships when the older person is not present, separation may not provide the same stress for them. Modified procedures based on the Strange Situation have been developed for older preschool children (see Belsky et al., 1994; Greenberg et al., 1990) but it is much more dubious whether the same approach can be used in middle childhood.[52][53] Also, despite its manifest strengths, the procedure is based on just 20 minutes of behaviour. It can be scarcely expected to tap all the relevant qualities of a child's attachment relationships. Q-sort procedures based on much longer naturalistic observations in the home, and interviews with the mothers have developed in order to extend the data base (see Vaughn & Waters, 1990).[54] A further constraint is that the coding procedure results in discrete categories rather than continuously distributed dimensions. Not only is this likely to provide boundary problems, but also it is not at all obvious that discrete categories best represent the concepts that are inherent in attachment security. It seems much more likely that infants vary in their degree of security and there is need for a measurement systems that can quantify individual variation". Ecological validity and universality of Strange Situation attachment classification distributions [ edit ] With respect to the ecological validity of the Strange Situation, a meta-analysis of 2,000 infant-parent dyads, including several from studies with non-Western language and/or cultural bases found the global distribution of attachment categorizations to be A (21%), B (65%), and C (14%).[55] This global distribution was generally consistent with Ainsworth et al.'s (1978) original attachment classification distributions. However, controversy has been raised over a few cultural differences in these rates of 'global' attachment classification distributions. In particular, two studies diverged from the global distributions of attachment classifications noted above. One study was conducted in North Germany in which more avoidant (A) infants were found than global norms would suggest, and the other in Sapporo, Japan, where more resistant (C) infants were found.[56][57] Of these two studies, the Japanese findings have sparked the most controversy as to the meaning of individual differences in attachment behaviour as originally identified by Ainsworth et al. (1978). In a recent study conducted in Sapporo, Behrens et al. (2007) found attachment distributions consistent with global norms using the six-year Main & Cassidy scoring system for attachment classification.[39][58] In addition to these findings supporting the global distributions of attachment classifications in Sapporo, Behrens et al. also discuss the Japanese concept of amae and its relevance to questions concerning whether the insecure-resistant (C) style of interaction may be engendered in Japanese infants as a result of the cultural practice of amae. A separate study was conducted in Korea, to help determine if mother-infant attachment relationships are universal or culture-specific. The results of the study of infant-mother attachment were compared to a national sample and showed that the four attachment patterns, secure, avoidance, ambivalent, and disorganized, exist in Korea as well as other varying cultures.[59] Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg conducted a meta-analysis of various countries, including Japan, Israel, Germany, China, the UK and the USA using the Strange Situation. The research showed that though there were cultural differences, the four basic patterns, secure, avoidance, ambivalent, and disorganized can be found in every culture in which studies have been undertaken, even where communal sleeping arrangements are the norm. Selection of the secure pattern is found in the majority of children across cultures studied. This follows logically from the fact that attachment theory provides for infants to adapt to changes in the environment, selecting optimal behavioural strategies.[60] How attachment is expressed shows cultural variations which need to be ascertained before studies can be undertaken.[60] Discrete or continuous attachment measurement [ edit ] Regarding the issue of whether the breadth of infant attachment functioning can be captured by a categorical classification scheme, it should be noted that continuous measures of attachment security have been developed which have demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. These have been used either individually or in conjunction with discrete attachment classifications in many published reports.[61][62] The original Richter's et al. (1998) scale is strongly related to secure versus insecure classifications, correctly predicting about 90% of cases.[62] Readers further interested in the categorical versus continuous nature of attachment classifications (and the debate surrounding this issue) should consult a paper by Fraley and Spieker and the rejoinders in the same issue by many prominent attachment researchers including J. Cassidy, A. Sroufe, E. Waters & T. Beauchaine, and M. Cummings.[63] See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] Recommended reading [ edit ]A new tipping point in the global economic crisis By Nick Beams 10 December 2015 The announcement by the global mining giant Anglo American that it will sack 85,000 workers world-wide, put 60 percent of its assets up for sale, and reduce its mining sites from 55 to just 20 signifies that the crisis of the world capitalist economy is heading toward a new tipping point. The world economy is threatened by a plunge into deep slump, coupled with a financial crisis even more devastating than that which erupted in 2007–2008. The immediate cause of the Anglo American decision is the plunge in prices for all major industrial commodities—iron ore, coal, copper, nickel and manganese—to name but a few. Having reached their lowest levels since 2009, they are continuing to fall, signifying that, despite the trillions of dollars poured into financial markets over the past seven years by the world’s central banks, the over-riding tendency in the world economy is towards recession. Nowhere is this more sharply expressed that in China, the centre of global manufacturing. Earlier this week, official data showed that Chinese exports slowed markedly in November due to falling global demand, while the currency, the renminbi, hit its lowest level in four years. The expectation is that if Chinese financial authorities withdraw support, the renminbi will rapidly fall still lower, sending another deflationary wave through the global economy. The lack of confidence in the country’s growth prospects in the upper echelons of the financial and economic elites is exemplified by the flight of capital, with foreign exchange reserves recording their third-largest monthly fall in November. In the years immediately following the 2008 financial crisis, the conventional wisdom was that the so-called BRICS countries together with emerging markets would provide a new base of stability for world capitalism. That rose-tinted scenario has been shattered. The downturn in China is now ripping through world markets. The Brazilian economy is experiencing a contraction on a scale not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Russia is in recession, India faces mounting corporate debt problems, and South Africa, together with economies across the continent, is being hit by falling commodity prices. The future for emerging markets is exemplified in Venezuela, the site of some of the largest oil reserves in the world, where the economy is set to shrink by 10 percent this year. In its quarterly review of the world economy issued earlier this week, the Bank for International Settlements warned that the “uneasy calm” that had characterised global financial markets could soon be disrupted by the motion of “deeper economic forces that really matter.” Over the past period, financial markets, sustained by the flood of cheap money from central banks, have seemingly been able to continue ever upwards in defiance of deepening global recessionary trends. However, the conditions have been created for this house of cards to collapse as the “deeper forces” assert themselves. One of the most significant areas to which cheap money has flowed is the financing of high-yielding “junk” bonds, often issued by energy companies. With the price of oil reaching over $100 per barrel as recently as the early months of 2014, it seemed to be a viable strategy. But with oil now trading at below $40 and threatening to plunge even further, possibly down to $30, it is rapidly unravelling. The rise of energy-related debt defaults is only a symptom of a more general process. Last Friday, the Financial Times reported that more than $1 trillion in US corporate debt had been downgraded so far this year, as defaults climbed to their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis. Analysts with the three major credit rating agencies—Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch—expect the default rates to increase over the next 12 months, a process that could be accelerated if the Federal Reserve decides to lift is base interest rate next week. An analysis by Deutsche Bank, portions of which were published on the Financial Times ’ web site this week, pointed to the potential for a rapid shift in financial markets. “Late stages of every credit cycle,” it noted, “… are built on the theory as to why this time is different. This type of attitude was prevalent going into 2015, when credit markets largely dismissed the oil sector distress, choosing to believe this was an isolated issue and will stay that way.” But, as the assessment went on to elaborate, this has proven not to be the case, as the percentage of corporate bonds designated as being “in distress” has steadily risen. “From its starting point in energy a year ago, it has now reached other commodity-sensitive areas such as transportation, materials, capital goods and commercial services. But it did not stop here and is also visible in places like retail, gaming, media, consumer staples and technology—all areas that were widely expected to be insulated from low oil prices, if not even benefiting from them.” The growing potential for a renewed financial crisis was also highlighted in a report issued by the US investment bank Goldman Sachs last month. It noted that corporate leverage in the US was now at its highest level in a decade. Low interest rates and the incessant profit demands of speculators had encouraged corporate America to go on a spending spree, financing share buybacks, dividend hikes and a series of merger and acquisition deals, funded through the issuing of bonds. But the flow of cash has not kept pace with bond issuing, with the result that the total amount of debt on balance sheets is “more than double pre-crisis levels.” Goldman reported that even after the energy sector was stripped out, the net debt to earnings ratio was at its highest point since the financial crisis. “The spectre of rising rates, potential global disinflation (dare we say ‘deflation’?), declining operating profits and wider credit spreads continues to create near-term consternation for weak balance sheet stocks,” the report concluded. The Bank of England has added its voice to those expressing concern over the stability of financial markets, warning of the consequences of the divergence between the policies of central banks, as the Fed moves towards tightening while the European Central Bank and the Bank of England maintain a loose monetary policy. The bank’s Financial Policy Committee said it was difficult to predict how markets would react to any increase in the Fed rate. The minutes of a meeting held at the end of last month and released on Wednesday state, “Capital flows had been sensitive to diverging prospects for monetary policy around the world and there was a risk of further volatility as that policy divergence progresses.” The deepening global economic crisis is one of the driving forces for the eruption of militarism, especially over the past month. At the same time, the escalation of the war drive can only exacerbate the economic and financial situation. This underscores the fact that the mounting world economic and political disorder is not the result some kind of temporary or passing disequilibrium, but the expression of an ongoing and deepening breakdown of the global capitalist system. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.A professional man was held in a Christchurch jail for seven weeks without charge after refusing to answer questions as a potential witness in a criminal case. The witness, whose exact occupation remains suppressed, was released from prison four days before Christmas but all details were totally suppressed until this week when Stuff was granted a partial lifting of the order by the High Court in Christchurch. The witness was initially jailed on November 3 for a week by District Court judge Alastair Garland acting under a rarely used section of the Criminal Procedure Act. FAIRFAX NZ People are rarely jailed by the courts for contempt of court. The section allows the court to jail people called as witnesses for seven days if they refuse to give evidence. The man refused to testify about matters relevant to a criminal case still in its early stages. Under the section, the seven day period can be renewed continuously if the refusals continue. When he was brought before Judge Garland at the end of each seven day period, the man repeated his refusal and was sent back to jail. He declined an invitation to give his evidence. In a hearing in December, Judge Garland acknowledged his discretion to end the detention but said that point had not yet been reached. He said the man's evidence was important and likely to be critical to the Crown's case against the defendant. Details of the criminal case are suppressed. It is understood few people have served longer in jail in New Zealand under the section under which a person is not charged or sentenced. The man told Stuff it was a very strange feeling being a free man one minute and a prisoner the next. "It was like stepping from one world to another one. All of a sudden you have no power, no control over anything," he said. "You go through the processing in prison which is incredibly dehumanising and then you come to grips with this bizarre system where it's the rule of the empowered over the powerless." Prison life was tedious but he was grateful for the friendship of other prisoners and was never bullied or intimidated. "Most of the guys respected the stand I made. They saw it as someone who wouldn't nark." The worst part of his jail time was getting ready to go to court every seven days. "That was the worst psychological roller coaster. You adapt to prison life and you manage, you cope with the criminal conversations, the constant discussions about court and what you are in for and what's going to happen. "You get used to that. The day before court my anxiety levels rise and I'm thinking about the court proceedings and I've done a certain amount of preparation on the law. "I'm trying not to get my hopes up and you keep a bit of hope and you're thinking about what you are going to say to the judge. But you have no control over what's going to happen. You're totally disempowered and every week it's his discretion that counts." After being released just before Christmas, he went to the supermarket and walked around for half an hour just salivating. "When I got home I took off my shirt and rolled in the grass. Suddenly I could make decisions." The man's lawyer tried to have him released from jail in November by filing in the High Court in Christchurch a writ of habeas corpus under which the court examines the lawfulness of the restraint. The court decided he had been lawfully detained. Stuff appealed against the blanket suppression orders imposed by Judge Garland, arguing the judge had failed to properly balance the principle of open justice and a defendant's right to a fair trial. Justice Cameron Mander said in a written judgement that Judge Garland's suppression orders were wider than needed to protect the fair trial rights of the defendant in the criminal case. "I consider the District Court erred... by failing to take into account whether more limited, tailored orders, short of a blanket suppression, would provide adequate protection of the defendant's fair trial rights... the conduct of the Courts must remain open to scrutiny to ensure proper judicial standards and public confidence in the Courts is maintained. The starting point still remains open justice." Suppression orders still cover the man's name and occupation and any details of the criminal case. The media is also prevented from publishing the reasons for the man's stance and the questions he was asked by the judge. At his various times over the seven weeks, the man asked the court to sentence him for contempt of court under another section of the Criminal Procedure Act. This would have given him a specified term of imprisonment or a fine. He told the court he was worried about the cost to the taxpayer of keeping him in jail and claimed the continual jailing was more "coercive than punitive so I appeal to you to sentence me and take into consideration the six weeks I have served". He said his rights under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment had been breached, as had his rights under the New Zealand Bill of Rights.There’s no sign of a swoosh. Yet. A Nike Factory Store will be the major tenant in the old Macy’s building in downtown Spokane, according to permits filed with the city Tuesday. The store is the first confirmed tenant for The M building, 618 W. Main Ave., which is being converted into residential, retail and office space. Work on the main-floor Nike apparel store is valued at more than $750,000. The retail space will be more than 12,000 square feet, and plans show an 18-foot-high ceiling on the first floor with a mezzanine on the second floor. Rumors of a potential Nike store have circulated among developers for weeks and have been called downtown’s “worst kept secret.” Still, developers of the project would not confirm a Nike tenancy even after the permits were filed with the city. The renovation of the building is being done by Centennial Properties, a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which publishes The Spokesman-Review. Bryn West, general manager of Centennial Properties’ River Park Square, said Wednesday she could not confirm Nike was taking the space at the building. Permits indicate the store will not be a Niketown, which sells the company’s latest products, but rather a factory outlet store. Nike has a number of outlet stores in Washington located on the West Side. Renovation of the building has been fast-paced since the project began. Macy’s closed the historic downtown store in 2016 as part of a series of store closures nationwide. Before it was Macy’s, the store was home to Bon Marche for more than 50 years. When complete, the building will have 105 apartment units and include underground parking. Retail and residential units are expected to be open in May or June.There has never been a time in US history where our leadership has failed us this badly. Over the last either years, Obama, with the help of Hillary Clinton, has done everything in his power to destroy what makes this country great. Obama wants our military depleted, he wants the world not to be afraid of us, he wants millions of immigrants to come and go as they please, and he is perfectly content with allowing ISIS to grow into the global threat that they are today. There’s absolutely no denying that WikiLeaks has been a world champion of bringing justice to those that are corrupt and abuse their political powers, like Hillary Clinton. Well, Fox News is now following and reporting on a BRAND NEW leak late last night, Julian Assange (Editor-In-Chief for WikiLeaks) not only guaranteed that he had enough evidence on Hillary Clinton to put her in jail, he released a PDF file that we have our hands on. The file from Congress reveals that there are strong ties between Hillary Clinton and high members of the Islamic cleric in Turkey. Remember about a month ago when you saw thousands of people in Turkey try to pull off a coup against their leader Erdoğan? WikiLeaks has proven Hillary Clinton was one of the chief architects behind that. Sources speaking anonymously have indicated that the connection between Clinton and acolytes of the imam, Fethullah Gulen, will end the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey, a key NATO ally, if Hillary Clinton wins the White House. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has initiated an extreme retaliation against Gulen and his followers, as well. Erdoğan, who was once allied with Gulen, has asked President Obama several times to pull strings to have Gulen extradited to his other home in Pennsylvania. The WikiLeaks documents indicate that Erdoğan blamed Gulen for the uprising against the Turkish government. The documents show that on April 1, 2009, an email from a Gulen follower named Gokhan Ozkok asked a Clinton deputy chief of staff, Huma Abedin, for help in connecting one of his allies to President Obama. The documents show that Ozkok is a founding board member of the Turkish Cultural Center and part of a large business apparatus that is closely tied in with the Gulen movement, also known as Hizmet. Had WikiLeaks not gained control of these emails, we never would have been able to see this major connection. The documents show us that Ozkok served as the national finance co-chair of the pro-Clinton Ready PAC. He is on record contributing $10,000 to the committee in 2014 and $2,700 to Clinton’s campaign in 2015. He is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, and has given between $25,000 and $50,000 to the Clinton charity. In these documents, we also found out that there is a connection between Gulenists and Hillary Clinton in that a Gulen-aligned group called the Alliance for Shared Values hired the Clinton-connected Podesta Group to lobby Congress on its behalf. The Podesta Group primarily exists for those wanting influence from Clinton. The firm was co-founded by John Podesta, which is Clinton’s campaign chairman. See the connections building? Erdoğan has had trouble stopping the Gulen’s influence in the US, but it hasn’t worked because he is closely tied into a network with Hillary Clinton. In 2011, the New York Times conducted an investigation and proved that the Gulen’s were given work-visas (by the State Department when Hillary was Secretary of State) in order to teach at Turkish schools in the US. The teachers were forced to give nearly all of their salaries back to the Gulen movement. The idea was that the teachers could come to the US for a better life, but nearly all of their money would go to their bosses, the Gulen Movement, and then the Gulen’s would make large contributions to Hillary Clinton in exchange for her allowing them to bring thousands of workers over here from Turkey. in 2015, the documents reveal that Gulen followers donated to Clinton’s various political campaigns and to her family charity in sums of $500,000 and $1 million.. WikiLeaks provided the following email to Huma Abedin (Hillary’s long-time aide) showing a Gulen follower had direct access to Clinton’s staff and wanted a favor. Ihsanoglu, a Gulen ally, not only met with Obama in Istanbul days after this email, Obama invited him back to the White House where he asked Obama to create a U.S. ambassador to the Muslim world in 2009. CIA officials have indicated that Ihsanoglu has a very long history of working with the terrorist group Hamas, but Hillary and Obama turned their cheek to that. The new leaks clearly show that the Podesta Group made connections with several Turkish companies even though they had known ties to terrorist organizations. The leaked documents show that Clinton took millions in donations in exchange for allowing Turkish schools to be run in the US by terrorist supporters. Julian Assange also leaked documents PROVING the Podesta Group represented Uranium One, a Russia-controlled uranium company that was approved to buy 1/5 of our uranium by Hillary Clinton when she was Secretary of State. Documents show that Hillary received $145 million to her “Foundation” in return. An anonymous FBI source indicated that this is a very serious situation and that Hillary could end up being prosecuted if more information is released proving she took money in exchange for political influence. The source indicates that she could be in prison before the election in November if WikiLeaks dumps more information like this. This story cannot gain enough traction unless thousands and thousands of patriots like yourself share this message. The mainstream media has continued to block the Silent Majority Patriots movement, but they can’t hide this leak if we all unite as one and make this go viral. Our time is running out to put Hillary Clinton in prison. If we do nothing and let major stories like this sit, she will become president and we will never be able to touch her again. We must have your support and help to spread this movement to defeat Clinton for good. The DNC really should have done a better criminal record check on Hillary Clinton!I think an award should be given out to the fans who have to put up with the most garbage a franchise can throw at them. No, I am not talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs, I am talking about the Edmonton Oilers and their fans. I have never seen a fan base so loyal. This fan base takes so many punches to the gut and yet they still stand by their team. That is true loyalty, but for the past couple of seasons there are some cracks starting to show in this fan base and they are almost ready to crumble. Edmonton Oilers Front Office Needs a Full Housecleaning As we all know by now, the Edmonton Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since that fantastic run in 2005-06 where they almost won the Stanley Cup, but lost in game 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Since then they have had one winning season: in 2007-08 when they went 41-35-6 and still missed the playoffs. They have gone through five coaches and three GMs since the Stanley Cup run. Let’s not forget that good old Kevin Lowe has been either the GM or the President of the team during this drought and unless you have been living in a cave for years with your fingers in your ears and your eyes shut, you know Lowe has been going through some scrutiny. Can you really blame the fans for disliking Lowe at this point? As a GM or president, he hasn’t made the best decisions. He has created a revolving door of friends and teammates to run the Oilers organization and it’s getting really old. As fan of another team I am on the outside looking in, but even someone who is not the Oilers number one fan can see the old guard needs to go and fast. Whenever that day comes, Edmonton’s scouting staff should not be exempt, because this master rebuild has taken forever and the results are disappointing at best. It is so bad that the Calgary Flames, who haven’t been rebuilding as long seem to be in a better position already, have drafted all kinds of different players while the Oilers, who have been blessed with a plethora of high-positioned first round picks year after year, seem to keep drafting the same kind of player. Since 2007 their first round picks have been Sam Gagner, Jordan Eberle in 2008, Magnus Paajarvi in 2009, Taylor Hall in 2010, Ryan Nugent Hopkins in 2011, and Nail Yakupov in 2012. They finally stopped drafting forwards and picked up a much needed defensemen in 2013 in Darnell Nurse, but as we know defensemen take a few years to develop. The point is, they kept drafting forwards in those years, which isn’t a bad thing, but most of these players have the same skill-set and style of play; it gets easy to beat them. When drafting a team you need a mix of players with different skill-sets and once in a while a goalie and some d-men can help too. Let’s play a game using the “what if” machine, from Futurama. I am going to put down a name, then show you who the Oilers could have picked up instead of who they actually drafted (exempting Eberle, who I personally believe is a big-time player and a steal in the 2008 draft). Now, let’s start the “what if” machine: in 2007 Logan Couture or Kevin Shattenkirk, 2009 Ryan Ellis, or Chris Kreider, 2010 Tyler Seguin, 2011 Gabriel Landeskog, 2012 Filip Forsberg or any of the defensemen in the top 10 because, let’s face it, at that point they really needed a defensemen. They really didn’t need to draft Yakupov just because he was rated number one. Their actual roster at the time before they moved Paajarvi and Gagner looked like this: Paajarvi, Gagne, Eberle, Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, and Yakupov. While the “what if” machine could have made a roster that looks like this: Kreider/Ellis, Seguin, Landeskog, Shattenkirk/Couture, Forsberg/a top 2012 defensemen. Which roster looks better on paper? If you said the second one, congratulations! So do most of the people who have seen the actual roster fail year after year. I can understand why they would pick some of these guys, but the best teams in the league (Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal, Anaheim) have picked a variety of players. These teams have taken players with different skill-sets, they developed them with patience, and helped them grow. Yes, drafting in the NHL is a lottery and sometimes players work out and sometimes they don’t, but more often than not when you are drafting in the top 10 you are usually getting a player who will take your team to the next level. As of the first of December, the Oilers are 6-14-4. They haven’t won a game against a Western Conference team yet, which shouldn’t be possible, and it is inevitable something’s got to give. Considering all this, I firmly stand by the fans when they say Lowe must go. When he does go, the Oilers should remove anyone who has any connection to this disaster of a rebuild. Maybe someone will write a book one day about how to rebuild a team. It won’t be a long book, because all it will say is: “do the exact opposite of what the Edmonton Oilers have done”. I apologize for being so cynical, but enough is enough and its time for a big change. The Oilers have the power to make this change. Eliminate the old guard, bring in someone who has hockey smarts from a team like LA, or Chicago, or Anaheim or any of a number of other teams that have seen sustained success and make sure they have no connection to the Edmonton franchise. The Oilers need to start looking towards a real change, or there will be more than just jerseys thrown onto the ice. There will be empty seats and a lot of money lost. At one point or another fans will say enough, stand up, and walk out on the Oilers completely and never look back. Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @NVincelli. Also please support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and@LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page. For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert. Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for? Main Photo:1 of 2 2 of 2 Robin Thicke’s upcoming Vancouver show at Rogers Arena has been cancelled. The American singer was scheduled to perform on March 27. No reason was given for the cancellation. Promoter LiveNation issued the following statement: Tickets purchased online or by telephone will be refunded automatically. Ticket holders who purchased in-person are eligible for refunds at their point of purchase.” This marks the third time in recent memory that major recording artist has bailed on a Vancouver show. Kanye West cancelled two Vancouver appearances last fall, one them a makeup date for the first no-show. To ease your disappointment over the cancellation, might we suggest you hunker down in front of your computer for a viewing of “Blurred Lines”. Don’t forget your Kleenex box. Fellas, that goes for you too.has come forward to redevelop the railway station, one of the busiest terminals in the country, as a world-class facility. Catering to more than five lakh passengers in a day, the station will be converted into a swanky complex at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, offering best facilities and shopping experience to travellers, according to an ambitious plan unveiled by the railways. Besides the multi-storey station building with separate sections for departures and arrivals, there is a provision for three skyscrapers for commercial use at the Ajmeri Gate side of the station which handles 361 trains a day. South Korean Railways has shown keenness for the redevelopment of station, said a senior Railway Ministry official. The railways has explored the possibility of redeveloping the station leveraging commercial development of vacant land and air space in and around the station and has submitted a detailed plan with a possible layout to South Korean Railways. The architectural plan was elaborately drawn up with approach and exit routes, keeping the heavy traffic movement near the station at Connaught Place, the official said. While passengers waiting for trains will have adequate space on the first floor of the station, those disembarking will go out of the station through platforms on the ground level. The second floor will house offices, as per the plan. If everything goes accordingly, there will be a joint inspection of station with South Korean team soon. These redeveloped station would have digital signage, escalators and elevators, automatic self-ticketing counters, executive lounges and many other facilities for passengers. The redevelopment of is part of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu's emphasis on attracting substantial revenue through redevelopment of 400 stations with private participation. The railways has recently launched the first phase of the ambitious station redevelopment project for 23 junctions.News > ESPORT > Hearthstone – The groups Hearthstone – The groups DreamHack Stockholm 2014 takes place at Stockholm Globe Arenas, Sweden from September 26-27. We’re excited to announce the groups for the European Hearthstone Finals—sponsored by Razer—that will be held at the event in the magnificent Ericsson Globe. This week, these players will pit their skills against each other to earn a place and their shot at a share of the $250,000 prize pool up for grabs at BlizzCon! Come to DreamHack Stockholm and be sure to tune in to meet and see some of the biggest stars of Hearthstone. The action starts already on Wednesday 24th of September Live from the Monster Energy DreamHack Studios where Janne “Savjz” Mikkonen, Daniel “Artosis” Stemkoski & Dan “Frodan” Chou will host the live stream on www.twitch.tv/playhearthstone. On Friday 26th September and Saturday 27 September the tournament is held on location on DreamHack Stockholm at the Ericsson Globe. Be sure to follow @DreamHack and @PlayHearthstone on Twitter, and www.dreamhack.se for all news on the 2014 European Hearthstone Qualifier Tournament! THE GROUPS The groups are played in dual tournament format (GSL). The top two players advance to the Round of 8, and winning in that match will guarantee a slot at BlizzCon! All matches are played Best Of Five. GROUP A InnNumberguy vs. Neirea Kaor vs. Max GROUP B ThijsNL vs. Greensheep Lowelo vs. Matthew GROUP C Frezzar vs. CupCake Reynad vs. MrYagut GROUP D Lifecoach vs. thefishou TheFallen vs. Kolento COMPETITOR LISTS The European Hearthstone Europe Finals Competitor list – CupCake – Frezzar – InnNumberguy – Kaor – Kolento – Lowelo – Greensheep – Matthew – Max – MrYagut – Neirea – Reynad – thefishou – TheFallen – ThijsNL – Lifecoach Note: Kaor and Greensheep have replaced InnTheude and Noisyboy who are unable to attend. BROADCAST TALENT Janne “Savjz” Mikkonen Daniel “Artosis” Stemkoski Dan “Frodan” Chou SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER Live from the Monster Energy DreamHack Studios All matches are played Best Of Five 13:30 – Stream starts 14:00 – Show starts 14:30 – Group A – Two Group Stage Matches 16:30 – Group B – Two Group Stage Matches 19:00 – Group C – Two Group Stage Matches 21:00 – Group D – Two Group Stage Matches 23:00 – Show ends FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER Live at DreamHack Stockholm, Globe Arenas, Tournament Area All matches are played Best Of Five 11:00 – Stream starts 11:30 – Show starts 12:00 – Group A – Three Group Stage Matches 15:00 – Group B – Three Group Stage Matches 18:00 – Group C – Three Group Stage Matches 21:00 – Group D – Three Group Stage Matches SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER Live at DreamHack Stockholm, Globe Arenas Main Stage All matches are played Best Of Five 13:45 – Stream starts 14:15 – Show starts 14:45 – Four BlizzCon Qualifier Matches 19:15 – Rebroadcast – Stream starts 19:45 – Rebroadcast – Show starts 20:15 – Rebroadcast – Four BlizzCon Qualifier Matches

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