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Maliki's 'Timetable' Shakes Iraq Debate You say you expected more rhetoric than reality from Senators Obama and McCain in their speeches about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, that’s certainly what you got. Bookmark
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Printer friendly What I find nonetheless amazing is how they, and the pundits, have taken such little notice of the dramatic change in the political landscape occasioned by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bombshell on July 7 — his insistence on a “timetable” for withdrawal of U.S. troops before any accord is reached on their staying past the turn of the year.
Responding to a question at his press conference on Tuesday, President George W. Bush showed that he was vaguely aware that the timetable is, as Robert Dreyfuss says, a “big deal.” Bush even alluded haltingly to the possibility of extending the UN mandate still further.
But it is far from clear that Maliki, who is under great domestic pressure, would be able to sell that to the various factions upon which he depends for support, or to those which he must keep at bay. As Dreyfuss points out, Maliki and his Shiite allies are also under considerable pressure from Iran, which remains the chief ally of the ruling alliance of Shiites. Most important, Maliki is by no means in control of the process.
Israel
Here’s where it gets sticky. No one who knows about third rails in U.S. politics would expect the candidates or the pundits to address how those now running Israel are likely to be looking at the implications of a large U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq next year.
I am remembering how I was pilloried on June 16, 2005, immediately after Rep. John Conyers’s rump-Judiciary Committee hearing in the bowels of the Capitol, for a candid answer to a question from one of his colleagues; i. e., if the invasion of Iraq was not about WMD, and not about non-existent ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda, then why did we attack?
In answer, I used the acronym OIL. O for oil; I for Israel; and L for Logistics, meaning the military bases necessary to protect both. Neither the House members present nor the media people seemed to have any problem with oil and military bases as factors. However, the suggestion that one main motive was an attempt to make that part of the Middle East safer for Israel (yes, folks, the neocons really thought that attacking Iraq would do that) — well, that was anathema.
As it is anathema today to suggest that this is still one of the main reasons, besides oil, why Elliott Abrams and other neocons – not to mention Dick Cheney and his team – insist we must stay, Maliki and his associates be damned.
Here in Washington, we can dissect and quibble over remarks by Maliki and other Iraqi leaders. The Israelis have to take such statements seriously. No agreement on U.S. forces staying into 2009 without a timetable for withdrawal? For Tel Aviv, this is getting very serious.
My guess is the Israeli leaders are apoplectic. The fiasco in Iraq clearly has made the region much more dangerous for Israel. There are actually real “terrorists” and “extremists” now in Iraq, and the prospect of U.S. troops leaving has got to be a cause of acute concern in Tel Aviv.
Keeping the US Entangled: Iran
This dramatic change — or even just the specter of it — greatly increases the incentive of the Israeli government to ensure the kind of U.S. involvement in the area that would have to endure for several years. The Israelis need something to guarantee that Washington will stand by what Sen. Obama in his speech called “our ally” — never mind that there is no mutual U.S.-Israel defense treaty. They are painfully aware that they have only six more months of Bush and Cheney.
The legislation drafted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) being so zealously promoted in Congress calls for the equivalent of a blockade of Iran. That would be one way to entangle the United States; there are many others.
The point is that the growing danger that the Israelis perceive will probably prompt them to find a way to get the U.S. involved in hostilities with Iran. Cheney and Bush have pretty much given them that license, with the president pledging to defend “our ally” if Israel is attacked. All Israel has to do is to arrange to be attacked. Not a problem.
There are endless possibilities among which Israel can choose to catalyze such a confrontation — with or without a wink and a nod from Cheney and Abrams. The so-called “amber light" said to have been given to the Israelis is, I believe, already seen as quite sufficient; they are not likely to wait until it turns officially green.
So far, the resistance of the U.S. senior military has been the only real obstacle to the madness of hostilities with Iran. (And one need only read Scott Ritter’s article on Truthdig this week to get a sense for why they would be chary.)
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, has been described as warning the Israelis that a “Third Front” in the Middle East would be a disaster. I think, rather, he is trying more to warn anyone who might listen in Washington.
Even if the pundits are correct in suggesting that Mullen is joined by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in trying to resist the neocons and Cheney, Mullen’s tone at his press conference two weeks ago suggests he is fighting a rear-guard action — against the “crazies” in the White House. And when is the last time the crazies lost a battle with such implications for Israel?
Seatbelts On Please…
From Tel Aviv it appears an increasingly threatening situation, with more urgent need to “embed” (so to speak) the U.S. even more deeply in the region — in a confrontation involving both countries with Iran.
A perfect storm is brewing:
-- Petraeus ex Machina, with a record of doing Vice President Cheney’s bidding, takes command of CENTCOM in September;
-- Sen. McCain’s numbers are likely to be in the toilet at that point (because of the economy as much as anything else);
-- McCain will be seen by the White House as the only candidate with something to gain by a wider war (just as by another “terrorist incident”);
-- The Bush/Cheney months will be down to three;
-- And Maliki will not be able to cave in to Washington on the timeline requirement he has set.
In sum, the Israelis are likely to be preparing a September/October surprise designed to keep the U.S. bogged down in Iraq and in the wider region by provoking hostilities with Iran.
The Israeli leaders may well plead for understanding and claim that with their night-goggles, they could not distinguish amber from green.
Would they hesitate? Please tell me who … just who is likely to turn on the siren, pull them over, and give them a ticket?
Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. A former Army intelligence officer and CIA analyst, he is now on the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). To comment at Consortiumblog, click here. (To make a blog comment about this or other stories, you can use your normal e-mail address and password. Ignore the prompt for a Google account.) To comment to us by e-mail, click here. To donate so we can continue reporting and publishing stories like the one you just read, click here. Back to Home Page
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The government could do most of this for you for free, then let you fill out the rest online. The makers of TurboTax are keeping that from happening (source).
As Tax Day Nears, Extensive Report Examines Industry Capture of the Filing Process, Efforts to Block IRS Reforms
Apr 13, 2016
Bill Text, Fact Sheet
Tax Report
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2016 to simplify and decrease the costs of the tax filing process for millions of American taxpayers. This year, taxpayers will spend an average of 13 hours preparing and filing their returns, and will pay $200 for tax preparation services - a cost equal to almost 10 percent of the average federal tax refund.
The legislation introduced today would direct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to develop a free, online tax preparation and filing service that taxpayers can use to prepare and file their taxes directly with the federal government, if they choose to do so, and would prohibit the IRS from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide free online tax preparation or filing services. The Act would give all taxpayers the right to download third-party-reported tax information that the IRS already has, and would provide those with simple tax situations with a return-free option.
In conjunction with the introduction of the Tax Filing Simplification Act, Senator Warren released a staff report that describes how - for decades - the tax preparation industry has blocked the IRS from implementing laws that would make tax preparation and filing easier for taxpayers. Corporate capture of the filing process means that taxpayers have to absorb billions of dollars in costs and share their personal information with third parties just to file their taxes.
The legislation has been endorsed by dozens of law professors and economists including Austan Goolsbee of the University of Chicago, Emmanuel Saez of the University of California - Berkeley, and Joe Bankman of Stanford University. The Act was introduced with original cosponsors Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)
"Congress should be making it easier for Americans to file their taxes each year, not bowing to the interests of the tax prep industry," said Senator Warren. "The Tax Filing Simplification Act is a commonsense bill that would help taxpayers all across this country file their taxes with less stress and fewer costs, and it would push the IRS to use the authority it already has to simplify Tax Day for all Americans."
"Tax Day has become an opportunity for corporations to profit off of confusion over our complicated tax code. That is wrong. The Tax Filing Simplification Act would end the absurdity of Americans having to pay private companies hundreds of dollars to pay their taxes. We must make tax filing as easy as possible, not direct profits to private companies at the expense of working families," Senator Sanders said.
"Families with simple returns should be able to prepare and file their taxes online without paying fees to private companies," said Whitehouse. "This bill will save those families money and time and protect their private information."
"I regularly hear from New Mexico taxpayers - especially those who are self-employed - who say that the overly complicated tax filing process costs them valuable time and hard-earned money," said Senator Udall. "The commonsense changes in this bill would make Tax Day easier on millions of dutiful, taxpaying Americans, cut down on fraud and save families money by enabling them to file taxes for free. I urge Congress to act quickly on this long-overdue reform."
"Every year, Americans spend far too much time and money filing their taxes," said Senator Franken. "This bill will save Americans money by simplifying an unnecessarily complex process. The IRS should be working to make this process as easy for taxpayers as possible."
"American taxpayers are forced spend too much time and money filing taxes when it doesn't have to be that way," said Senator Baldwin. "If Congress would simply act on commonsense reforms at the IRS, we can simplify tax filing and make it less expensive for taxpayers."
...this report finds that vehement and longstanding opposition by the tax preparation industry and anti-tax groups has prevented the IRS from meeting its statutory requirement to develop procedures for return-free filing and has denied American taxpayers the many benefits of this system. [emphasis mine]
In 1998, a Republican Congress passed — and Democratic President Bill Clinton signed — the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act, which required the Treasury Department to develop, by 2008, procedures for the implementation of a “return-free” filing system that would compute an individual’s tax liability by using information already reported to the IRS each year. Such a system would save taxpayers time and money, and would result in more accurate tax returns.3 For many taxpayers, it would take minutes instead of hours to complete their taxes.
But almost a decade after the law’s required 2008 implementation date, the Treasury Department has failed to fulfill its legal obligation to establish procedures for return-free filing. Sen. Warren requested that her staff determine why. This report finds that:
Despite its legal obligations, the IRS has surrendered to industry pressure and other efforts to block access to free and accurate return-free tax filing. Instead of implementing the return-free filing requirements in the 1998 IRS Restructuring and Reform Act, the IRS has time and again acquiesced to industry demands that it avoid developing return-free filing options. The agency has repeatedly yielded to industry demands to administer the “Free File” Program — a public-private partnership between the IRS and the tax preparation industry that offers low-income taxpayers free, industry-prepared electronic tax preparation services. The tax preparation industry exerts powerful influence over the design and administration of this program; year after year, the IRS has signed Free File agreements with these tax preparation companies, in which the IRS pledges to “not compete…in providing free, online tax return preparation and filing services to taxpayers” despite the fact that current law requires the Treasury to develop programs to do exactly that.4 The tax preparation industry-run Free File program has failed. It is currently used by only 3% of eligible filers and is described as a “maze of offerings” that can trick taxpayers into purchasing unnecessary products.5 Furthermore, the IRS has failed to implement commonsense tax simplification programs, like the Real Time Tax Initiative, instead bowing to industry complaints that such efforts would be precursors to return-free filing, which the industry opposes. The tax preparation industry has vehemently opposed return-free filing. Rather than sift through a complex tax code on their own, the majority of Americans hire tax professionals, or use tax preparation software, to prepare their returns. The tax-filing burden is an essential part of the tax preparation industry’s business model, and the industry sees return-free filing as a fundamental threat to its operations. As a result, the industry has devised numerous ways to oppose a return-free filing system, spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress against return-free filing and mounting fake “grassroots” campaigns against return-free filing. While some simplification approaches would be consistent with their goals, anti-tax groups have nevertheless also opposed return-free filing. Anti-tax groups frequently raise concerns about the complexity of the tax code and the substantial burdens imposed by the current tax filing process: the mission of Americans for Tax Reform, for example, includes creating “a system in which taxes are simpler,” while the National Taxpayers Union rails against the “over 6 billion hours each year for individuals and businesses to comply with the Code.”6 A voluntary return-free filing program would address these concerns, simplifying filing, strengthening taxpayers’ right to know the information the IRS had received on them from third parties, and substantially enhancing taxpayer freedom to choose how to file their taxes. But the same anti-tax groups that champion a simpler tax system have worked closely with the tax preparation industry to oppose free filing. Return-free filing offers the chance to make tax filing for Americans significantly cheaper, faster and more accurate. But this report finds that vehement and longstanding opposition by the tax preparation industry and anti-tax groups has prevented the IRS from meeting its statutory requirement to develop procedures for return-free filing and has denied American taxpayers the many benefits of this system.
–IRS and Free File Alliance, LLC, Free On-LineIn the FDR-liberal world, the function of government is to provide services to citizens and protection from predators in the private sector. In the neo-liberal world, the function of government is to manage government services so the private sector is given the most profit opportunities possible. This is why the ACA, the brainchild of our neo-liberal president and his party, is written the way it is. It provides a public service — guaranteed (mostly) health care coverage — in a way that supports and insures the profits of the predatory health insurance industry. These cooperative agreements and policies, in which government serves up its citizens to private-sector profiteers, are often called "public-private partnerships."In the FDR-liberal world, the function of government is called "promoting the general welfare." In the neo-liberal world, the function of government is called "wealth creation."Another way to say it is this: In the neo-liberal world, citizens are the product whose money is delivered to corporations in exchange for government services. It's quite a lucrative scam.The following is another instance of the difference between neo-liberal governance and FDR-liberal governance. At present, tax filing — filling out and sending in a prepared multi-page tax return — is complicated and in most cases requires third-party software to complete. The government could do this for you, by filling in your forms with the information they have already, making those forms available online at a secureweb site and letting you add the rest of the data yourself.But under our current neo-liberal government, the IRS doesn't do that. Instead, the IRS has agreements with vendors in the software industry, including the TurboTax giant Intuit, not to cut into their profit by "competing" with them in "providing free, on-line tax return preparation and filing services to taxpayers." Even though, as you'll see below, the IRS is compelled by law to do just that.Consider that point for a moment, as you (perhaps) scramble to complete your own return for this year. What if you could go to a U.S. government website (instead of a third-party corporate website) and complete your tax filing online without filling out a complicated paper or PDF "return"? Would you prefer that? Would you mind not buying tax-filing software each year, year after year?At present, you don't have that choice. Even though, since 2002, the government has been legally required to develop and offer such a service, it won't. Capture of government by industry, including in this case the tax-preparation industry, has delayed that implementation., plus a number of senators including, has introduced legislation to change that. From Warren's eye-opening press release (my emphasis below).Simplifying the tax code and preventing companies like Intuit from soaking tax filers year after year in contravention of U.S. law would seem to be a bipartisan winner. I do expect some Republicans to balk at it. It will be interesting to see which Democrats balk as well.Reread the start of this piece about the goal of-liberal government as opposed to-liberal government. Pro-tax industry neo-liberals will identify themselves immediately by their response to this bill.Some Democrats, for example, who say they support it now , may not support it vigorously later.I want to offer a few paragraphs from the Executive Summary of Warren's report (pdf), to give some detail on what the IRS and the industry are doing to you. Warren's bottom line is at the end of the section I quote below. I'm putting it here as well so you don't miss it:That sentence appears in the following, from the report (bolding below is in the original):By the way, with the closure of IRS offices across the country, some tax forms, like 1099 and 1096, are now most easily available at ... places like Office Depot, for a price. Another public-private partnership at work.(Blue America has endorsed Bernie Sanders for president. If you'd like to help out, go here . If you'd like to "phone-bank for Bernie," go here . You can volunteer in other ways by going here . And thanks!)GP
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Whether or not humans are the only empathic beings is still under debate. In a new study, researchers directly compared the 'yawn contagion' effect between humans and bonobos (our closest evolutionary cousins). By doing so they were able to directly compare the empathic abilities of ourselves with another species, and found that a close relationship between individuals is more important to their empathic response than the fact that individuals might be from the same species.
The ability to experience others' emotions is hard to quantify in any species, and, as a result, it is difficult to measure empathy in an objective way. The transmission of a feeling from one individual to another, something known as 'emotional contagion,' is the most basic form of empathy. Feelings are disclosed by facial expressions (for example sorrow, pain, happiness or tiredness), and these feelings can travel from an "emitting face" to a "receiving face." Upon receipt, the mirroring of facial expressions evokes in the receiver an emotion similar to the emotion experienced by the sender.
Yawn contagion is one of the most pervasive and apparently trivial forms of emotional contagion. Who hasn't been infected at least once by another person's yawn (especially over dinner)? Humans and bonobos are the only two species in which it has been demonstrated that yawn contagion follows an empathic trend, being more frequent between individuals who share a strong emotional bond, such as friends, kin, and mates. Because of this similarity, researchers sought to directly compare the two species. Over the course of five years, they observed both humans and bonobos during their everyday activities and gathered data on yawn contagion by applying the same ethological approach and operational definitions. The results of their research are published today in the peer-reviewed journal PeerJ.
Two features of yawn contagion were compared: how many times the individuals responded to others' yawns and how quickly. Intriguingly, when the yawner and the responder were not friends or kin, bonobos responded to others' yawns just as frequently and promptly as humans did. This means that the assumption that emotional contagion is more prominent in humans than in other species is not necessarily the case.
However, humans did respond more frequently and more promptly than bonobos when friends and kin were involved, probably because strong relationships between humans are built upon complex and sophisticated emotional foundations linked to cognition, memory, and memories. In this case, the positive feedback linking emotional affinity and the mirroring process seems to spin faster in humans than in bonobos. In humans, such over-activation may explain the potentiated yawning response and also other kinds of unconscious mimicry response, such as happy, pained, or angry facial expressions.
In conclusion, this study suggests that differences in levels of emotional contagion between humans and bonobos are attributable to the quality of relationships shared by individuals. When the complexity of social bonds, typical of humans, is not in play, Homo sapiens climb down the tree of empathy to go back to the understory which we share with our ape cousins.
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Link to the Published Version of the article (quote this link in your story - the link will ONLY work after the embargo lifts): https:/ / peerj. com/ articles/ 519 - your readers will be able to freely access this article at this URL.
Citation to the article: Palagi et al. (2014), Yawn contagion in humans and bonobos: emotional affinity more than species matters. PeerJ 2:e519; DOI 10.7717/peerj.519
About PeerJ
PeerJ is an Open Access publisher of peer reviewed articles, which offers researchers a lifetime publication plan, for a single low price, providing them with the ability to openly publish all future articles for free. PeerJ is based in San Francisco, CA and London, UK and can be accessed at https:/ / peerj. com/ . PeerJ's mission is to help the world efficiently publish its knowledge.
All works published in PeerJ are Open Access and published using a Creative Commons license (CC-BY 4.0). Everything is immediately available--to read, download, redistribute, include in databases and otherwise use--without cost to anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original authors and source are properly attributed.
PeerJ has an Editorial Board of almost 900 respected academics, including 5 Nobel Laureates. PeerJ was the recipient of the 2013 ALPSP Award for Publishing Innovation.
PeerJ Media Resources (including logos) can be found at: https:/ / peerj. com/ about/ press/
Media Contacts
Note: If you would like to join the PeerJ Press Release list, visit: http://bit. ly/ PressList
For the authors: Elisabetta Palagi, Natural History Museum, University of Pisa, [email protected]
For PeerJ: email: [email protected] , https:/ / peerj. com/ about/ press/
Abstract (from the article):
In humans and apes, yawn contagion echoes emotional contagion, the basal layer of empathy. Hence, yawn contagion is a unique tool to compare empathy across species. If humans are the most empathic animal species, they should show the highest empathic response also at the level of emotional contagion. We gathered data on yawn contagion in humans (Homo sapiens) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) by applying the same observational paradigm and identical operational definitions. We selected a naturalistic approach because experimental management practices can produce different psychological and behavioural biases in the two species, and differential attention to artificial stimuli. Within species, yawn contagion was highest between strongly bonded subjects. Between species, sensitivity to others' yawns was higher in humans than in bonobos when involving kin and friends but was similar when considering weakly-bonded subjects. Thus, emotional contagion is not always highest in humans. The cognitive components concur in awakening and nourishing emotional affinity between individuals. Yet, when they are not in play, humans climb down from the empathic podium to return to the "understory" which our species shares with apes.
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Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley didn't mince words in attacking the change in rules put in place by Senate Republicans to push through the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, calling the move a "judicial coup."
Democratic lawmakers successfully filibustered the nomination Thursday morning, but it was a foregone conclusion. Shortly after, Republican members of the Senate invoked what has come to be known as the "nuclear option," wherein a rule change skirts the 60-vote majority formerly needed to move the nomination forward.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky defended the parliamentary maneuver saying that Democrats had forced his hand after refusing to nominate a highly qualified candidate.
"This is the latest escalation in the left's never-ending judicial war, the most audacious yet, and it cannot and will not stand," McConnell said. "This will be the first, and last, partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee."
The rule change brought swift condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike.
"I fear that someday we will regret what we are about to do. In fact, I am confident we will," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "It is imperative we have a functioning Senate where the rights of the minority are protected regardless of which party is in power at the time."
"We will sadly point to today as a turning point in the history of the Senate and the Supreme Court," said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, minority leader.
Some of the most pointed criticism, however, came from Merkley, who staged a 15-hour speechathon in the days leading up to Thursday's rule change.
Jeff Merkley holds Senate floor to block Neil Gorsuch vote The Oregon senator has been speaking for more than four hours.
"Today, Senate Republicans completed the judicial coup they launched last February. For the first time in our nation's history, a Supreme Court seat has been stolen. In doing so, they have deeply damaged the integrity of the Senate and the Supreme Court itself," Merkley said in a statement. "McConnell and his team have put a knife into the heart of our 'We the People' republic."
Merkley said Thursday's rules change just the latest in a string of Republican slights that began shortly after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
"Let's be clear: the Republicans already detonated the nuclear option when Majority Leader McConnell announced within hours of Justice Scalia's death that the Senate majority would refuse to consider any nominee put forward by President Obama. What we saw today was the continued fallout from that nuclear option, and it will only lead our nation further down the path of division and partisanship," Merkley said.
"The primary driver of the majority's decision to steal the Senate seat was to sustain the flow of dark money that is corrupting our elections," he continued. "The deed is done."
-- Kale Williams
[email protected]
503-294-4048
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When left untreated, psoriasis and rosacea can have long-term health and psychosocial implications. The purpose of this study was to estimate the percentage of Americans with psoriasis or rosacea who are not being treated. Patient data from a large claims-based database were analyzed to identify the number of patients who are treated for psoriasis or rosacea. The numbers of patients treated were compared to the estimated prevalences of these diseases in the general population, identified from previously published sources. Of the 18,632,362 patients in the database, 140,439 (0.75%) were seen for psoriasis and 165,130 (0.89%) were seen for rosacea. Based on published sources, 3.2% of Americans have psoriasis and about 5.0% have rosacea. We therefore estimated that 77% of people with psoriasis and 82% of people with rosacea are untreated. Greater awareness, resources, and community outreach projects are potential tools that could eliminate this disparity and increase the quality of life for patients with these diseases.
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Former model Natasha Prince has accused magician David Blaine of raping her in a private home in London’s Chelsea neighborhood during the summer of 2004, opening up about the alleged incident in an interview with the Daily Beast.
When contacted by Variety, a Met Police spokesperson provided the following statement, based on details from the Daily Beast report, but did not confirm the identities of either party involved: “Officers from the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command are investigating an allegation of rape. The allegation was reported to police on 17 November 2016 by a woman who alleged she was raped at an address in Chelsea in June or July 2004 when she was aged 21. There have been no arrests at this stage and enquiries continue.”
Blaine’s attorney, Marty Singer, denied the allegations to Variety in a statement.
“My client vehemently denies that he raped or sexually assaulted any woman, ever, and he specifically denies raping a woman in 2004. If, in fact, there is any police investigation, my client will fully cooperate because he has nothing to hide,” he wrote.
Prince told the Daily Beast that she met Blaine at a nightclub in Knightsbridge the night before the alleged incident. The next day, he invited her to his friend’s private home for drinks. When she got to the house, he gave Prince a vodka soda before taking her into a bedroom. The last thing she remembers is Blaine telling her to “finish her drink.”
Related Viola Davis Wants #MeToo and Time's Up to Go Beyond Hollywood #MeToo Search Engine Rotten Apples Launches Victim Donation and Activist Features
“When I woke up, I was very relaxed — very stoned,” she recalled to the Daily Beast. “The lights were on, and I was naked. He was shirtless at the end of the bed. And when I looked at him, he said, ‘You have really nice t-ts.’ … He was just folding clothes, walking around. He didn’t kiss me or anything.”
She said she waited 13 years to tell the police because she initially thought it was her fault.
“I didn’t think of it as rape,” she said. “In my head, rape was being sober — pull her in a bush, pull down her pants and just ditch her… So I blamed myself. I did like him. I was interested in him. So I didn’t think about going to the police.”
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The Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3 has been stripped of pole position for its global race debut at Albert Park following a technical infringement.
Tony D’Alberto landed pole position courtesy of a 1:54.88s set in the opening session, but the entry was excluded from the results following final qualifying.
The Vicious Rumour Racing Ferrari 488 GT3, which had qualified fourth overall, was also excluded from Qualifying 1 due to a technical infringement with the car.
Today’s GT qualifying saw combined times taken from two sessions, with 20 minutes for Driver A in the morning and a further 20 minutes for the B drivers in the afternoon.
As a result, the Jamec-Pem Audi R8 of reigning Australian GT champion Christopher Mies and Geoff Emery will start from pole following the German’s 1:54.9s effort in Q1.
Maranello Motorsport will start from the back of the grid while Vicious Rumour Racing will start from ninth after Benny Simonsen topped Q2 in the Tony De Felice owned entry.
The qualifying exclusion for Maranello Motorsport and Vicious Rumour Racing comes on top of confirmation prior to practice that Ferrari’s latest GT3 offering will not be eligible for points at this weekend’s second round of the season.
With homologation paperwork failing to be lodged before Wednesday’s deadline, both cars are running as invitational entries.
The Team SRM BMW M6 GT3 fell foul of the same issue two weeks ago preventing it from scoring points last the Clipsal 500 season opener, but has received sign-off to score points this weekend.
The Tekno McLaren 650S of Jonathon Webb and Grant Denyer will join the Jamec-Pem Audi on the front row with the Scott Taylor/Craig Baird Mercedes AMG GT3 in third.
Dean Canto and Andrew Taplin will start from fourth ahead of the Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8 of James Koundouris and Marcus Marshall.
The second outing was stopped four minutes early when the Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport run Peter Rullo/Alex Rullo Lamborghini stopped on track.
This weekend’s format will see the A drivers start Races 1 and 3, with the B drivers in for the start of Races 2 and 4.
George Miedecke (Aston Martin), Matthew Solomon (Mercedes), Cameron McConville (Ferrari) and John Martin (Porsche) complete the top 10.
Result: Australian GT Championship Qualifying, Albert Park
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CLEVELAND -- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose told ESPN's Lisa Salters before Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers that his return from a meniscectomy will "probably" be this week.
Rose, who has been out since having the procedure Feb. 27, had been noncommittal in regard to a return date until this point. Bulls general manager Gar Forman initially said after the surgery that Rose would be out four to six weeks, but the star guard did not want to be held to a specific date.
Rose told Salters that he and the Bulls were "taking it day by day, really day by day," in regard to this latest comeback.
Derrick Rose says his return from a meniscectomy will "probably" be this week. Tim Fuller/USA TODAY Sports
The former MVP wants to make sure his mental approach is ready as he makes a third comeback from knee surgery.
"If anything, I'm just trying to get my mental [approach] together so when I come back it won't be like my previous times," Rose told Salters. "I think I was away from the game too long [during] previous injuries, and with me missing five, six, seven weeks now, I think that my return is about to be [smoother]."
Rose tore the ACL in his left knee in April 2012 and the medial meniscus in his right knee in November 2013 before this latest setback in late February. He is trying not to let all the pressure -- both of his latest comeback and the Bulls' playoff push -- get to him.
"I'm playing all right," Rose told Salters. "For a guy that missed two years, coming back and just being able to be with these guys and still being on the game plan. What do you know, missed two years and still be on the game plan ... the team is preparing for you? I'm just grateful for that. I'm grateful to still be able to play this game."
The Bulls play the Orlando Magic on Wednesday and the Miami Heat on Thursday before coming home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
For their part, Bulls coaches and players continue to stand behind Rose as he makes his way back.
"Only he knows his body, and that's the big thing," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said before Sunday's game. "So he's got to continue to work through it, and I trust him. When he says, he's ready."
Thibodeau remains hopeful that Rose will be on the floor sooner than later.
"Everything's going according to plan," Thibodeau said. "He's got to keep taking the contact on, keep moving forward, and hopefully it will be soon. ... He feels good physically, mentally. We just have to be patient."
Thibodeau wants to temper expectations for Rose so that whenever he returns he won't feel as much pressure as the Bulls start what they hope will be a long push in the playoffs.
Rose said he hasn't discussed a minutes restriction with the Bulls front office and coaching staff, but Thibodeau said Rose wouldn't be playing his regular minutes when he returns.
"Just Derrick on the floor helps our team," Thibodeau said. "Just like all the other comebacks, he got better as he went along, so the same will hold true here.
"But the important thing is for him to be comfortable enough to be out there. Then once he's out there, we don't expect him to be playing 35 minutes a night or scoring a ton of points. Just go out there and give us what you have. And that's good enough because when he plays he makes the game easy for everybody."
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Jefferies analyst Mark Lipacis raised his price target for AMD (AMD) to $16 from $13 citing better visibility into the Ryzen 7 high-performance and Ryzen 5 power-performance desktop processor launch. The chipmaker closed Friday down 16c to $13.49. As AMD continues to roll out its Ryzen product offerings, incremental share gains will continue to expand in the near term, Lipacis tells investors in a research note. He believes the company's "ability to price between-the-seams" while achieving competitive performance will result in "meaningful" share gains from Intel (INTC) in the Desktop, Server, and Notebook markets starting in 2017. The analyst upped his estimates for AMD and keeps a Buy rating on the shares.
AMD
INTC AMD AMD $13.49 -0.16 (-1.17%) 02/13/17 CHLM 02/13/17
NO CHANGE Target $16
CHLM
Buy AMD new opportunities can drive $2B in incremental revenue, says Craig-Hallum Craig-Hallum analyst Christian Schwab says AMD's (AMD) Ryzen family of CPUs is expected to at least match comparable Intel (INTC) performance and be able to undercut Intel on price, in some cases by a significant margin. The analyst believes AMD's success in developing a competitive "Zen" based desktop CPU bodes well for the company's upcoming "Zen" based server CPUs, launching in Q2. Further, Schwab continues to believe AMD has the ability to drive over $2B in incremental revenue from its new opportunities, and reiterates a Buy rating and $16 price target on the shares. Craig-Hallum analyst Christian Schwab says AMD's (AMD) Ryzen family of CPUs is expected to at least match comparable Intel (INTC) performance and be able to undercut Intel on price, in some cases by a significant margin. The analyst believes AMD's success in developing a competitive "Zen" based desktop CPU bodes well for the company's upcoming "Zen" based server CPUs, launching in Q2. Further, Schwab continues to believe AMD has the ability to drive over $2B in incremental revenue from its new opportunities, and reiterates a Buy rating and $16 price target on the shares. 02/21/17 MKMP 02/21/17
INITIATION Target $13
MKMP
Neutral AMD assumed with a Neutral at MKM Partners MKM Partners assumed coverage on AMD with a Neutral and a $13 price target. MKM Partners assumed coverage on AMD with a Neutral and a $13 price target. 02/22/17 RSBL 02/22/17
INITIATION Target $16.5
RSBL
Buy AMD initiated with a Buy at Rosenblatt Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann initiated AMD with a Buy rating and $16.50 target. Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann initiated AMD with a Buy rating and $16.50 target. 03/09/17 ADAM 03/09/17
NO CHANGE Target $17
ADAM
Buy AMD price target raised to $17 from $14 at Canaccord Canaccord analyst Matthew Ramsay raised his price target on AMD (AMD) to $17 from $14 following investor meetings with CEO Lisa Su. Ramsay said the company is re-emerging as a competitive second source to Intel (INTC), its gradual GPU unit share recovery should be supplemented by the Vega launch in higher value tier markets, and the company is focused on delivering a multi-generational roadmap with the customer backing and foundry partners to do so. Ramsay reiterated his Buy rating on AMD shares. Canaccord analyst Matthew Ramsay raised his price target on AMD (AMD) to $17 from $14 following investor meetings with CEO Lisa Su. Ramsay said the company is re-emerging as a competitive second source to Intel (INTC), its gradual GPU unit share recovery should be supplemented by the Vega launch in higher value tier markets, and the company is focused on delivering a multi-generational roadmap with the customer backing and foundry partners to do so. Ramsay reiterated his Buy rating on AMD shares. INTC Intel $35.27 0.13 (0.37%) 03/14/17 NEED 03/14/17
DOWNGRADE NEED
Hold Mobileye downgraded to Hold from Buy at Needham Needham analyst Rajvindra Gill downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Hold from Buy after Intel (INTC) announced its intention to acquire all of the former's outstanding ordinary shares for $63.54 per share. The analyst believes the deal clearly validates the ADAS and fully autonomous vehicle market, and views it as a positive read-through into the entire ADAS and automotive supply chain, namely ON Semiconductor (ON), Micron (MU), Cypress Semiconductor (CY), NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), NVIDIA (NVDA), Tower Semiconductor (TSEM), and Infineon (IFNNY). Needham analyst Rajvindra Gill downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Hold from Buy after Intel (INTC) announced its intention to acquire all of the former's outstanding ordinary shares for $63.54 per share. The analyst believes the deal clearly validates the ADAS and fully autonomous vehicle market, and views it as a positive read-through into the entire ADAS and automotive supply chain, namely ON Semiconductor (ON), Micron (MU), Cypress Semiconductor (CY), NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), NVIDIA (NVDA), Tower Semiconductor (TSEM), and Infineon (IFNNY). 03/14/17 GSCO 03/14/17
DOWNGRADE GSCO
Neutral Mobileye downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Goldman Sachs analyst Alexander Duval downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Neutral following the takeover by Intel (INTC). Goldman Sachs analyst Alexander Duval downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Neutral following the takeover by Intel (INTC). 03/15/17 LEHM 03/15/17
DOWNGRADE Target $63
LEHM
Equal Weight Mobileye downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays Barclays analyst Brian Johnson downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Equal Weight on expectations the Intel (INTC) deal will go through. The analyst views Delphi (DLPH) as a key beneficiary and upped his price target for the shares to $95. Barclays analyst Brian Johnson downgraded Mobileye (MBLY) to Equal Weight on expectations the Intel (INTC) deal will go through. The analyst views Delphi (DLPH) as a key beneficiary and upped his price target for the shares to $95. 03/15/17 FBCO 03/15/17
DOWNGRADE Target $35
FBCO
Neutral Intel downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse Credit Suisse analyst John Pitzer downgraded Intel to Neutral and lowered his price target for the shares to $35 from $45. Intel is a better company than a stock, Pitzer tells investors in a research note. Credit Suisse analyst John Pitzer downgraded Intel to Neutral and lowered his price target for the shares to $35 from $45. Intel is a better company than a stock, Pitzer tells investors in a research note.
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DALLAS – Championship fight competitors and near-brawls grabbed most of the headlines at today’s “UFC Summer Kickoff” news conference in Dallas.
However, UFC lightweight Michael Johnson may have produced the most sinister comment of all during a back-and-forth with TUF 25 Finale opponent Justin Gaethje.
Johnson (17-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) meets Gaethje (17-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the July 7 event headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass. It’s a crucial fight for the careers of both athletes.
Gaethje makes his UFC debut at the event after a dominant run under the WSOF banner. Johnson, meanwhile, is coming off a second-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 and can ill afford to drop consecutive bouts.
“The Menace” was asked during the news conference whether he felt an obligation to represent the UFC with his performance against an opponent who has made his name in another organization. His answer quickly turned dark.
“I’m not a gatekeeper of the UFC, trust me,” Johnson told reporters. “I’m here to win this title and I’m not here to welcome guys from the C-league in here. But at the same time, yeah, of course I’m going to welcome him into the UFC and it’s not going to be a good night for him. I’ve got two months to get prepared to take somebody’s life in this cage. I’m not trying to beat him up, I’m not trying to win by decision or a point – I’m literally going to try to take this man’s life. And if you’re not ready to die, don’t show up.”
Although a threat on one’s life could be taken with great offense, Gaethje, No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, is the type to embrace it. If No. 13 Johnson plans to inflict serious damage, it means he would have to deliver a lot of offense, and that’s exactly the type of fight Gaethje relishes and thrives in.
“I’m a violent mother(expletive),” Gaethje said. “I’m the most violent lightweight on this planet, and I will prove that. You will find out. It’s going to be a march, a march to deep water, baby, and you’re not going to last. You can’t swim in this water.”
Both men are confident, but one thing that can’t be argued is the level of competition Johnson has faced over his 16-fight UFC career. He’s shared the octagon with some of the best and represents the highest caliber opponent Gaethje has been paired against. Experience doesn’t always have an impact in a fight, but in this instance, Johnson said it will.
“Deep water? I don’t need to swim – I do my fighting on land, player,” Gaethje said. “Listen, Justin, you had wars in (WSOF). But when you come over to the UFC, you won’t have a war with me man. We’re going to bang, don’t get it wrong, but you’re out of your league on this one, buddy.”
For more on the TUF 25 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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NEW YORK -- The 51st New York Film Festival officially kicked off on Friday night with the world premiere of Paul Greengrass' Captain Phillips at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.
The intense film, which stars Tom Hanks as the titular captain of a U.S. container ship that was hijacked off the Somali coast in 2009, was introduced with great fanfare -- highlighted by the attendance of not only Greengrass, Hanks and the film's principal Somali actors, but also Capt. Richard Phillips himself (before whom Hanks knelt to kiss his hand), a number of the men who worked alongside him on the MV Maersk Alabama and several uniformed U.S. Navy personnel who came to his rescue aboard the USS Bainbridge.
FILM REVIEW: Captain Phillips
At its conclusion, the film received a prolonged ovation -- which turned into a standing ovation once a spotlight was placed on Greengrass and the Somali actors in a box above the rest of the audience (Hanks had to leave early) -- from a crowd that included Sony Classics co-chiefs Michael Barker and Tom Bernard; the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Argo Chris Terrio, who's writing a script for Greengrass now; and the Oscar-nominated actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who starred in Greengrass' 1999 TV film The Murder of Stephen Lawrence; and writer-director James Toback.
The general sentiment among New Yorkers at the screening and the Harvard Club after-party -- at which Greengrass and particularly the Somali actors were the center of attention -- was that the film has a strong shot at scoring a best picture Oscar nomination and an even stronger shot at bringing Hanks his first acting Oscar nom in 13 years, particular for his work during the final minutes of the film, which left much of the audience in tears.
Rose Kuo, the executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, noted during her pre-screening remarks that the fest seems to have a thing for movies about men experiencing problems aboard boats: last year's edition opened with the world premiere of Life of Pi and this year's, in addition to opening with Captain Phillips, will include a screening of All Is Lost, another example of the sub-genre.
This was also the second New York Film Festival opening night screening in the last four years to come courtesy of Sony Pictures and producers Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael DeLuca, whose last collaboration was the 2010 film The Social Network, which went on to be nominated for eight Oscars and won three. Other recent openers have included About Schmidt (2002), Mystic River (2003), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and The Queen (2006), which all went on to receive major Academy recognition, as well.
This is the first New York Film Festival in 26 years that was not coordinated by Richard Pena. He was succeeded at the end of last year's fest by Kent Jones.
Twitter: @ScottFeinberg
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Barrett Brown, a sometimes spokesman for the hacker collective Anonymous, said Thursday that the Zeta Mexican cartel had freed a kidnapped member of its group, but that he would continue to battle the violent gang on his own, outside of Anonymous.
The issue has divided the hacker community, with some Anonymous members calling for Brown to be stopped lest he get someone killed. Brown was unmoved, arguing in a Thursday Pastebin note that he will not abandon the plan "simply because there is a possibility of retaliation."
Last month, Anonymous posted a video online that pledged to release data about members of Zeta, as well as those who cooperate with the cartel, unless they released a member of Anonymous who was allegedly kidnapped during a protest in Veracruz. "Give us back our #Anonymous participant or many of you die within a week," Brown tweeted recently.
Brown said Thursday night that "the Anon who had been kidnapped last month by the Zetas has been released, although it appears that the Zetas concerned did not know that the individual was the Anon whose release had been demanded by those who instigated #OpCartel. As such, no bargain has been fulfilled."
Anonymous members in Mexico reportedly have access to documents that expose those who have worked with the cartel. Brown said in an earlier YouTube video that Anons were working dilgently to verify the authenticity in order to avoid exposing innocent people to danger. On Thursday night, Brown said "those who have been in possession of the e-mails have promised to provide them to me alone, which is to say that everything that proceeds from now on is my own work, and not that of Anonymous."
Brown pledged to "announce the next step in a few days."
Detractors criticized Brown as "foolish" for taking such a public stand (he did not cover his face on that YouTube video), but he called the opposition "among the most degenerate displays I have yet seen."
"The idea that I should refrain from assisting in the naming of probable criminals operating in a foreign country without a working judicial system lest I be murdered is a cowardly sentiment," he wrote. "No individual living in the free world should refrain from working to fight injustice simply because there is a possibility of retaliation."
Not everyone was impressed. "Sorry, gentlemen. #Anonymous majority does not support your idiotic #OpCartel, & YES our opinion matters," tweeted an Anon who goes by the name @Anachrynon on Twitter.
Brown responded that @Anachrynon has "no majority support, we don't need your help, and I left Anonymous months ago."
One Anon who is supporting the #OpCartel effort is a hacker known as Sabu. "How long are we to sit here idle while people die? Idle hands prolong this situation," he tweeted.
Sabu, howver, also said that he doesn't "speak for anonymous ... Those who want to work on the op can, and will."
"No one can take anonymous down as it is an idea. I am not starting a separate group. Accept it. You can't stop me," Sabu tweeted Thursday night.
To that point, those who follow Anonymous will know that the group does not have a central command. If you say you're a member of Anonymous, you're a member of Anonymous. Therefore, while a few members might be focused on the Occupy Wall Street effort, others might be targeting what they consider to be a corrupt government, and more still will be going after violent drug cartels.
Does Anonymous have any dirt on the cartel? Will releasing that information hurt the organization or just the low-level people associated with it? Stay tuned.
For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.
For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.
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The way the Cavaliers are playing, earning the Eastern Conference's number one seed will be a nearly impossible task. John Wall thinks that the Cavs had a chance to get that top seed for last year's playoffs, but purposefully didn't to avoid having to play his Washington Wizards until the conference finals.
Wall made the claim on an appearance alongside backcourt mate Bradley Beal on ESPN's "The Jump" with Rachel Nichols.
"I think [the Cavs] understand what we can bring to the table," Wall said. "I think if you look at last year, people might say they did or didn't, but I think they didn't want the number one season for a reason because we would have played them in the second round."
Nichols then asked Wall to clarify if he thinks the Cavs avoided them to avoid playing them in the second round.
"I think so," Wall said. "I think they wanted to see us in the Eastern Conference finals, and we fell one game short of that."
The Wizards, seeded fourth in last year's playoffs, lost in seven games to the top-seeded Celtics. The Cavaliers then beat the Celtics in five games. The Wizards were 1-2 against the Cavs during last year's regular season.
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November 19th, 2012 - fistfullofpotions
Imagine being a Restorer: capable of entering a person’s memories and going on a journey to fix what is ailing them. My memories would be full of shame and certain images that would make you blush. Luckily, in Ether One, you won’t be in my mind, but you will be in Jean’s, a mysterious woman whom you have a certain connection to. As you explore and fix Jean’s mind, you’ll find out more about what the world was, who you are, and your connection to her.
Gameplay consists of you exploring memories to find out the history of the past and solving story based puzzles to unlock new portions of the the mind; portions that hold deeper or forgotten memories. In the far corners of each memory will be Marker Stones – these will help you figure out and discover your past and your own secrets. Depending on your actions, you can unlock a few different endings to the game that are based around human relationships.
Ether One is the first game in a two part series and is currently slated for an early 2013 release. They are also looking to be greenlight on Steam, so if you are interested, help them out.
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Among Seattle neighborhoods, median wages of residents are predictably rising fastest in South Lake Union. But the 10 neighborhoods showing the biggest income gains are spread all around the city, from Rainier Beach to Matthews Beach.
Stagnant wages have plagued American workers in many places — but not Seattle. As regular readers of this column are aware, we’ve experienced some of the biggest income gains among major cities in recent years.
The median wage for someone who lives in Seattle and works full-time was around $61,000 in the five-year period from 2011 to 2015 — a 13 percent increase from the 2006-to-2010 period, according to census data. That is the fourth-largest growth in earnings among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.
The median wage is midpoint of the salary spectrum — half the workforce earns more, half earns less.
But even here in Seattle, fortune smiled more brightly on some neighborhoods than others.
To find out where wealth is growing fastest in the city, I ranked Seattle census tracts by the percent change in residents’ earnings since the start of this decade. The top 10 neighborhoods, as it turns out, are not concentrated in one area — rather, they are spread throughout the city. Some are poorer parts of town experiencing gentrification. But others are already affluent neighborhoods that are getting even richer.
You can probably guess the No. 1 neighborhood.
Gentrification, revitalization — whatever you want to call it, you’d be hard pressed to find a more compelling rags-to-riches story among urban neighborhoods in the U.S. than South Lake Union/Denny Triangle.
1. South Lake Union/Denny Triangle (East)
In 2010, when Amazon moved here from Beacon Hill, this was still a low-rent area. The median wage for a full-time worker living here was estimated at $39,400, which ranked in the bottom 15 percent in the city.
Fast forward to 2015. Median earnings among residents of the neighborhood — now crammed full of luxury apartment buildings — more than doubled to $91,600. Folks living in this census tract, which runs from Westlake Avenue to Interstate 5, now rank as the seventh-highest-paid in the city, just behind the well-heeled inhabitants of Montlake.
The No. 2 tract covers the western half of the same neighborhood, and No. 3 is in downtown’s shopping hub, which is rapidly becoming an upscale address. But similar transformations are happening all over the city.
The fourth-fastest wage growth is in an area that has been among the poorest in the city: Rainier Beach/Dunlap, in the southeast corner of Seattle.
4. Rainier Beach/Dunlap
Salaries of people who live there jumped 47 percent. But in a city that is rapidly running out of affordable neighborhoods for homebuyers, it’s not surprising to see an influx of wealth in this area. And the Rainier Beach light-rail stop makes it a quick commute to downtown.
A similar, if less dramatic, transformation is under way in the No. 5 neighborhood, Beacon Hill, also in South Seattle and near light rail. And in the Hilltop section of rapidly gentrifying Capitol Hill (No. 8), wages soared from well below the city median to slightly above it.
8. Capitol Hill
Some of the areas with the sharpest increases in earnings were already quite affluent to begin with: Matthews Beach (No. 6), Madison Park (No. 7), Admiral in West Seattle (No. 9) and Bryant/View Ridge (No. 10).
9. Admiral/West Seattle
Teardowns of older and often more modest homes are increasingly common sights in these neighborhoods. And if the property lot is large enough, you’ll probably find a pair of flat-roofed modernist boxes have replaced the original home. The walkable Admiral neighborhood has also seen a boom in luxury-apartment construction around California Avenue.
10. Bryant/View Ridge
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Shannon Martinez sat on a porch in Marietta, Georgia with her friends. She stared down at her chunky Dr. Martens and picked at her shoelaces as her long chestnut bangs—the only part of her head that wasn't shaved—fell in her face.
An older African-American man walked down the street, as he did every day, passing their house on his way to work.
"Go home!" one of her friends yelled. "Go home, n-----! We don't want you here!"
For a moment, maybe two, the man stared straight at the group—and then he kept walking.
"He didn't look mad. It wasn't even a look of judgment," Martinez says. "It was a look of disappointment, like, I can't believe this is still happening."
Martinez identified as a white power skinhead for most of her teens. As she bounced around from Michigan to Georgia in the early 1990s, the one constant in her life was her hate group. And she wore the right uniform—red or white laces in her Dr. Martens shoes, a Chelsea haircut (head shaved but for a section in the front), a Fred Perry-brand shirt or sweater under a bomber jacket—so skinheads could find her wherever she moved.
Being a "skin chick" meant one thing to her back then: community.
But it also meant violence. She and her group didn't stop at spewing slurs and verbal harassment—they threw tear gas into a gay club, used slingshots and BB pellets to attack people's homes, and attended raucous Ku Klux Klan rallies, according to Martinez.
It made them feel, she says, tough and powerful.
White supremacists have gained national attention in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, with former Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard David Duke and white nationalist leader Richard Spencer voicing enthusiastic support for President-elect Donald Trump. Despite having himself retweeted messages from apparent white supremacist accounts, Trump eventually disavowed the movement (which had, by this point, celebrated him in the official Knights of the Ku Klux Klan newspaper and held a parade in honor of his presidential victory) and its online contingent, the so-called "alt-right."
But that's done nothing to darken the movement's growing spotlight, or deter the people who are drawn to its beam.
White supremacists may believe the country belongs to white men, but it's an increasing number of white women who are fighting for the cause, says Kathleen Blee, University of Pittsburgh sociology professor and author of Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Hate Movement. The movement appears to be growing overall—the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which tracks hate groups and their activity, tallied a 48% increase in membership over the last 15 years, and estimates that of the 892 hate groups in the U.S. today, most are dedicated to white supremacy.
"Some have been actively reaching out to women," says Blee, who has interviewed members of the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups, Christian Identity sects, and white power skinhead gangs across the U.S. "They're interested in women because they see them as less likely to attract police attention and less likely to be police informers. Some of the leaders tell me if you recruit women, you get their kids and husbands, too."
White supremacist groups have plagued this country for more than a century. Since the founding of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866, dozens of other destructive organizations have sprouted in its wake, including Neo-Nazis and racist skinheads gangs.
"The groups with Neo-Nazi beliefs tend to be the most violent groups out there now," says Mark Potok, senior fellow at the SPLC. "And the enemies are Jewish people, gay people, Muslims, nonwhites and on down the list."
For Martinez, the attraction to white supremacy was rage. After being raped at age 14 by two men—both white—at a party, she was compelled by what she saw as skinheads' raw and unrelenting anger.
"I believe, in retrospect, that my entrance into the white power movement came as a near-direct result of the self-loathing I felt from that assault," she told MarieClaire.com. "I had hung out with a bunch of punks and scene kids, but the skinheads were the angriest people I knew. I was like, Okay, that's my people."
She says it wasn't really about racism for her, at least not in the beginning. "It was a displacement of my feelings. Like, Me being this way can't be my fault so it must be someone else's fault. The skinheads gave me a place where I could focus the rage and anger I was experiencing," explains Martinez, who grew up in a middle-class household with a mechanical engineer dad and stay-at-home mom. "There was a lack of connectedness in my family growing up, but the skinheads gave me a sense of unconditional belonging."
This is one of the ways new members get their start, according to Blee—they "slide" in from the side, more due to camaraderie than doctrine, and don't fully confront the movement's racist beliefs until they're already bonded with the people in the group.
But somewhere along the way, the hate takes over. And it wreaks havoc. Of the 474 deaths at the hands of domestic extremists between 1996 and 2015, according to the Anti Defamation League, the majority were committed by white supremacists.
"These groups have committed murders, bombings, attacks on gay bookstores," Potok says. "Another big, incredibly dangerous piece of how they commit terror is through propaganda—by spreading lies that legitimize violence against people of other races."
In fact, propaganda about their kids and their safety is one of the ways neo-Nazi gangs like racist skinheads target women. "Things like 'Your kids are going to have to go to school with people who are racist and they're going to learn to hate the white race,'" Blee asserts. "There's a lot of propaganda about nonwhite men being more likely to be rapists—it's not true, but it's part of the propaganda—and it says that, to protect yourself, you need to be involved with the fight for the power of the white race."
There weren't many women in the various skinhead groups Martinez joined—men were the leaders and the very few women played supporting roles. While there are some notable exceptions (one Klan spokesperson is a woman), it's rare for women to have leadership roles or titles in white supremacy groups. It's much more common for women to act as recruiters, luring others into the group.
Jennifer, who asked that her name be changed for fear of retribution, was a racist skinhead in the Midwest during her teens. She didn't commit violence, but helped the cause by passing out leaflets "advocating for racial purity" and making phone calls to senior male members of the group, thanking them for their support and encouraging more involvement.
"My boyfriend was abusive—bad. I always had bruises on my legs," she says of being 14 and dating a 16-year-old skinhead. "It was like, This is how it is. There was no place for women at all. It was like, Stay in bed or in the kitchen."
When she did venture out, Jennifer knew there were risks. Riding in a car with an Asian-American friend one day, a fellow skinhead pulled up alongside them, and Jennifer quickly told her friend to duck down and hide on the floorboard. "My friend was like, 'Why, what's wrong?' and I had to say, 'If they see you with me, they're going to kill me.'"
"It's a very misogynist environment," says Christian Picciolini, the former director of the Illinois chapter of the Northern Hammer Skinheads, who recruited women simply because they would attract more male members. "Even though on the outside, we praised women as being the progenitors of white warriors—they birthed the next generation."
Martinez as a skinhead in her teens
Today, the arguably most vocal faction of white supremacy, the "alt-right," is significantly male-dominated. The neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, for example, has a recent article decrying women's right to vote, saying: "Feminism has made women unhinged. These people are on a rampage. They have become a collective bloc, intent on forcing their own agenda onto men... Modern women are completely out of control children who need discipline."
But white supremacist women have carved out their own communities online—or so we're led to believe. One site describes itself as "a group of White Nationalist Heathen women writers, artists and film makers. We write about women, parenting, homesteading, self defense, current affairs and philosophy. We aim to return to the ways of our pre Christian ancestors, secure a homeland for the White race and ensure a future for White children." The site, which is peppered with photos of smiling, young white women, includes sections about crafting, motherhood, and yoga nestled alongside sections about "controlled opposition" and "Jews." But Blee says the groups claiming to be for and by women could actually be run by men. "Online, white supremacism is a movement that is based on illusion and subterfuge," she explains. "So it's really important not to take things for what they appear to be. These may or may not really be women."
For Martinez, it was another woman who saved her from the endless cycle of hate groups; after moving to Houston with a skinhead boyfriend, his mother was the one to finally break through. "She took me in and treated me like part of the family," she recalls. "She was able to see through my gruffness. We played baseball and went camping and fishing. I got a job at Kmart. I had not done regular people stuff in so long. It was like, Oh yeah, I remember all of this."
But the thaw took time. "It was several more years of healing before I was able to move on from all of that," Martinez says. Today, the 42-year-old mother of seven works at a local restaurant in Athens, Georgia, home-schools her children, and describes herself as having "radical leftist politics."
"What the hell was I thinking?" Martinez asks now of her troubled—and troubling—past. Jennifer avoided talking about her own for years due to her intense guilt and shame. "I still feel horrible about that day in the car with my friend," she says now. "I can't believe I did that to her." Picciolini even founded a group, Life After Hate, to help people like them cope with what they've done and find a way forward.
Martinez believes it's her obligation to share her story as a cautionary tale—particularly now.
"It's terrifying to me because today I see a lot of parallels with Nazi Germany," she says of the way the white nationalist movement has rallied around Trump, thanks to his campaign promises to build a wall, require a registration for Muslims, and deport millions of immigrants. She finds those policies and their wide support by the movement "completely disturbing."
This year, Jennifer, whose former neo-Nazi gang preached paranoia about and hatred towards Jewish people, took a DNA test and learned she has significant Jewish heritage of her own. "I thought it was fantastic," she says. "And I laughed because I thought of all of those skinhead guys who wanted to sleep with me because I had blonde hair and blue eyes."
Both Martinez and Jennifer are left with permanent scars from their racist skinhead days—Jennifer has a white power cross tattoo on her ankle, which has faded beyond the point of recognition. But the white supremacist version of the Celtic Cross that Martinez got when she was 16, carved by hand with a Bic pen and a nine-volt battery, is still clearly visible on her leg.
"Most people assume it's just a cross or whatever, but if they ask me about it, I tell them what it is," she says. "It's a part of my past, yes, but it's so, so far from who I am today."
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, joined by fellow Republicans, emerges from a closed-door GOP meeting to announce that House Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow money to meet its financial obligations, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. Boehner said the measure would advance if President Barack Obama agrees to negotiate over reopening the government and to "start to deal with America's pressing problems." From left to right are Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., Budget Committe Chairman Paul Ryan, D-Wis., and House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky. The federal government remains partially shut down for a 10th day and faces a first-ever default between Oct. 17 and the end of the month. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON -- If the U.S. government shuts down again in mid-January, it won't be because House Republicans are demanding the repeal of the president's health care law, in a repeat of the standoff that occurred earlier this fall.
"There are no plans to tie a repeal vote to a government funding bill," a senior House GOP aide told The Huffington Post.
House Republican leaders made similar remarks during the run-up to the Oct. 1 deadline to fund the government, only to reverse course under pressure from conservatives in the party, so it's worth taking this statement with a grain of salt. But there have been signals that Republicans have come to believe it's better to let the Affordable Care Act encounter its own struggles than to be seen as demanding its destruction.
The talking points that House Republicans prepared for the Thanksgiving break included a conspicuously bolded line: "Republicans are still committed to full repeal." But that section was overshadowed by various suggestions of ways lawmakers could attack Obamacare and highlight its shortcomings instead.
A Democratic Senate aide familiar with current budget talks, meanwhile, said there is little evidence that Republicans plan to demand health care reform repeal as part of a final agreement. Those talks, which are geared toward funding the government once the current spending bill runs out in mid-January, have mainly focused on how to replace the spending cuts brought about by sequestration.
What this ultimately means for the repeal movement depends on whom you ask. Critics of the law insist that legislative fixes should still be considered, including bills that would give those who have had their insurance policies canceled under Obamacare the right to keep them. Those same critics also say that should Republicans regain control of the Senate in 2014 and retain control of the House, it will provide momentum behind efforts to undo the law.
But by that point, millions of individuals will likely have bought insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Republicans would therefore be more likely to tinker with the law -- while maintaining coverage for those who had purchased it, many for the first time -- than push for its complete repeal.
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Author's Note: Finally back at Arendelle! I make no apologies for any tears shed this chapter. Instead, know that I have (and will again) shed them with you. As many of you have correctly noted in the comments, the major plot points of this story have come to pass. This chapter is simply to wrap up some loose threads and provide proper closure, although I do have more planned to come, which I will elaborate on in this chapter's Afterword.
Cover Art for the story is by the incredibly talented Trixdraws from DeviantArt. Thank you again, Trix! Official art for the story is by the wonderful Giulia! Links to both artists and their works can be found on my bio here. Please see Chapter 1 for my Standard Disclaimers!
Feel, Don't Conceal
by Jo K.
Chapter 25: Saying Farewell
Let your mind rest easy
Sleep well my friend
It's only our bodies that betray us in the end
-Bruce Springsteen, "We Are Alive"
—O—
Rapunzel took the hallway at a run, her bare feet thumping softly on the carpet as she raced toward the main stairwell, nearly knocking over the startled houseboy who had just notified her of the looming storm clouds approaching Arendelle from the south.
Before the poor page could recover from the near-miss, he was flanked by two of Rapunzel's handmaidens, one racing by him on each side, their light blue silk robes brushing breezily against his bare face and hands as they tried to catch their princess. He stood completely still in the hallway of the third floor, outside the door of the princess's room, trying to will his suddenly racing heart back to something resembling a normal rate and rhythm as the padded footfalls faded from the hallway behind him.
Rapunzel took the stairs at a reckless pace—though still not close to Anna's speed growing up—knowing that her handmaidens would be behind her, catching up as quickly as their garb would permit. It had been two days since her cousins had left for the Southern Isles, and with dusk looming and night close behind, she had resigned herself into accepting another day as acting sovereign of Arendelle.
Truthfully, it hadn't been bad at all. There had been no further attempts on her life, the few prisoners from the Southern Isles who had survived their futile attempt at invading Arendelle were securely jailed, and the castle and its staff were slowly returning to a functioning state following the assassination attempt two days ago. But there were still reminders of the emotional anguish gripping the castle wherever one chose to look. The absence of Rapunzel's handmaiden Corinne, slain in her sleep by Duke Hidalgo's treacherous dagger while she posed as Rapunzel, a deception that cost the brave girl her own life but saved her princess. The look of mourning on the faces of Arendelle's castle guards, reeling from the loss of a dozen of their number to other assassin's blade the same dark night. The solemn, somber movements of the castle's staff, struck yet again by more heartache and tragedy in the place where they should feel most safe and secure. And, most prominently, the icy figures of two young women in the third floor hallway, forever captured in a frozen lovers' embrace.
As Rapunzel burst through the castle's main doors, the chill of the stones comprising the castle's front steps beneath her bare feet vaguely registered in the back of her mind. However, the massive wall of inky black clouds looming over Arendelle's harbor had forced every other thought aside. Instinctively she brought a hand to her lower abdomen as if to shield the child growing inside her, before her trained habits told her to avoid such a potentially revealing display, even among friends.
She grinned as she stopped in the castle courtyard, despite the usual negative omen such storm clouds would carry. These clouds were nearly identical to the thunderheads of the storm that Elsa and Anna rode out of Arendelle two mornings ago, and that almost certainly meant that the country's true rulers were home.
"Your Highness!" came a female voice behind her, a mix of frustration and breathlessness saturating the spoken words. "You shouldn't run off from us like that!"
"It's good to keep you sharp," Rapunzel replied breezily, the long blonde hair of her wig blowing already as the first caresses of the approaching storm's winds reached Arendelle. "And I wanted to see this for myself."
As the two closest handmaidens reached their charge and stopped just behind, flanking her on both sides, they paused briefly to let their heart rates and breathing begin to slow. "Do you think that's them?" asked Selma, hovering attentively at Rapunzel's left side, her customary place when protecting the courageous woman she had sworn her life to preserve.
"Absolutely," replied Rapunzel, near-indescribable relief flowing through her chest. They were alive.
She knew that Elsa and Anna would either both come back, or neither one would return. So as the storm seemed to halt over Arendelle's harbor, giving way to a swirling blizzard that rapidly blew in across the choppy waters, dispersing into a milder snow as it reached the shores of Arendelle, Rapunzel was certain that both of her cousins had survived, a thought that brought joy that had been sorely needed in the wake of the deaths suffered as a result of the now-deceased Hidalgo's treachery.
—O—
As the gray-black thunderheads of the storm Elsa had summoned gave way to thinner clouds of a silvery-grey hue, Anna piloted Icescale through the gusts of snow, adding one final burst of speed to their flight as well as announcing their return to Arendelle.
Elsa peered over the side of the ice dragon's body, noting the tiny dots of people swarming below them, some hurrying toward the harbor, directly toward them, while others ran in the direction of the castle, their most likely destination. Some chose to stay where they were, in the streets or fields, likely gazing up into the light snowfall and watching their Queens return home.
As they descended toward the city and castle, they were low enough to the ground to identify hair colors and a few details among the people greeting them; as such, both Anna and Elsa could make out the cheers and shouts as they flew over the city's inhabitants. A slow, rhythmic clap from the streets and buildings below them quickly grew and spread as they flew low over the city on their approach to the castle, replacing the shouts and voices with a steady beat of applause that caused both of Arendelle's queens to suffer watery eyes and tight throats at this demonstration of love and support. Elsa tightened her grip around Anna's waist, placing a kiss on Anna's right cheek before laying her head on her wife's shoulder. "Welcome home, my Queen," she whispered into Anna's ear, getting a brief shiver in response.
"Welcome home to you too, my Queen," Anna replied with a smile, turning her head to kiss Elsa on her pale forehead. "I think they're glad we're back."
"Of course," Elsa replied with a soft smile. "The whole kingdom will be brighter now that the Summer Queen has returned."
Anna smiled as Elsa gently kissed her right ear, then the soft skin just behind her ear. "The Summer Queen's going to be in charge soon, too," she said teasingly. "The equinox's almost here."
"Should I be frightened?" Elsa replied lightly, smiling and holding tightly as Anna wheeled Icescale into a banking turn as they flew over the castle, slowing the icy creature as they began to descend toward the castle courtyard below them.
"I think you'll be spared any horrible punishments," Anna replied calmly. "Since you're my favorite."
"But what if I want to be punished?" Elsa said in her breathy "damsel-in-distress" voice.
Anna turned back to meet Elsa's gaze, her blue-green eyes bright and a broad smile on her face. "Then I'll make sure to punish you with extra-special attention."
"Yay," Elsa said with a pleased smirk as Icescale began flapping his wings, slowing their descent as he stretched his powerful limbs down toward the castle grounds.
—O—
Rapunzel watched as the silvery-white beast slowly banked in the air above the castle, turning to face her direction as it rapidly fell from the sky, its broad wings flapping seemingly too slow to arrest its descent yet still doing just that until it finally stretched its powerful legs toward the ground, alighting as gracefully as a sparrow.
The dragon paced around a few steps as the soldiers and castle staff in the courtyard cautiously kept their distance. After a moment of two, the dragon settled into a crouch, allowing the two riders atop its back to slide down its glistening scales. Anna went first, turning as soon as her momentum permitted to help catch Elsa, pulling her mate close in a tight embrace.
"We're back," Anna whispered, her voice muffled against Elsa's hair. "We made it."
"We did," Elsa answered her, smiling into Anna's hair. "And I'm ready for a long bath."
"And some hot food!" Anna added gleefully as she pulled her head back to look into Elsa's eyes.
A sudden blur of movement alerted both of them in time to partially turn before a blonde bundle of excitement slammed into them, nearly toppling them against Icescale, who managed only a slight frosty huff at the reunion taking place beside him.
"Rapunzel!" squealed Anna as her cousin wrapped strong arms around both her and Elsa, hugging them fiercely.
"Thank you," Elsa spoke, her voice muffled against the shoulder of Rapunzel's dress. "For watching over the kingdom while we were gone. Any news to report?"
"Not much," Rapunzel said, her voice dropping some. "A service is being planned for the guards who died during Hidalgo's attacks, but everyone wanted to wait for the two of you to come back."
"Of course," Elsa said, offering their cousin an encouraging smile. "Did any of the Islanders survive their foolish attack?"
Rapunzel nodded twice. "Some did," she answered. "Most of them took the oath you told the guards to offer them, but a few didn't."
"What happened to them?" asked Anna.
Rapunzel turned to look at her younger cousin. "They were chained out in the open, as the guards were told." She swallowed. "None of them lasted a single night."
Elsa nodded slowly. "As they deserved," she said calmly. "The others?"
"Confined in the castle dungeon, under heavy guard. They were given dry clothes and have been fed and cared for properly."
"Then they can wait until we've buried our friends." Elsa looked sadly at Rapunzel. "Did your handmaiden..."
"Corinne."
"...Did Corinne have family in Corona?"
Rapunzel shook her head. "No. None of my handmaidens have family."
Anna took Rapunzel's hand carefully. "Have you thought about what you'd like to do? For her?"
"We would be honored to recognize her with Ygrit, Idunn and the other guards who lost their lives to Hidalgo's treachery," Elsa spoke softly. "Or if you'd prefer to take her back to Corona and perform a service for her there, we can certainly arrange that as well."
Rapunzel took a deep breath and then sighed slowly. "I have thought about that since the two of you have been gone. I had to think of something to not worry myself sick about you both." She smiled as she looked at Elsa and Anna both in turn. "I take it that things went well in the Southern Isles?"
"Oh yeah," replied Anna, grinning. "Wilhelm and his father are both dead, and the Princes who had rebelled against them are now ruling as a council. We'll tell you all about it."
Elsa smiled. "Let's get inside. The cold won't hurt us, but you're already starting to shiver."
Rapunzel nodded; while night had not entirely fallen yet, it was still winter, and the temperature had already dropped markedly from earlier in the day. The tingling on the soles of her bare feet was steadily turning into a stinging that was already uncomfortable. "I won't argue with that. Not all of us have magic running through our blood."
Elsa turned back to Icescale; she lifted her left arm, and with a slow twirl of her hand, the ice chest fastened to the dragon's harness floated up and over to the three of them, hovering in front of them patiently. "You've done very well, Icescale," Elsa said, smiling as the dragon shifted its body and stretched its broad neck toward her.
Anna stepped forward and opened the icy chest, removing the picnic baskets the castle staff had sent with her and Elsa for their flight to the Southern Isles. "I've got them, Elsa," she said pleasantly.
Elsa waggled her fingers, dispelling the chest into a flurry of snowflakes now that it was empty. "Thank you, brave one," she said softly as she affectionately rested her left hand on the bony ridges between the creature's large blue eyes, each bigger than her hand, his draconic gaze fixed squarely upon his creator.
Anna handed one basket to Rapunzel, then she stepped to where she could rub her face against the cold scales of the dragon's neck. "You deserve some rest yourself, Icey," she said proudly as she felt the beast gently rub back against her cheek, exerting only a whisper of pressure against her face despite his size and strength. "You did great, brave boy," she added with a smile as she patted his broad neck.
After a few seconds, Anna and Elsa both gave the dragon a final pat before turning and walking toward the main doors of the castle. Rapunzel stood and watched them for a few seconds before jumping with a slight start; "Oh!" she said with a soft squeak as she hurried to catch up with her cousins, the picnic basket swinging at her side as she jogged forward.
—O—
Elsa was about to ask Rapunzel how things had been in Arendelle while she and Anna were gone, but when she saw the sight before them as they entered the castle, words flew away from her like sparrows from a garden.
Stretched before the three of them, Elsa and Anna in the lead with Rapunzel a step behind them, stood two long columns of staff and servants. Few of them were in official uniforms, although a few were (mostly) properly attired. Occasional signs of dressing hurriedly, such as shirts inside out, buttons done out of sequence, dresses and hair more than slightly askew, could be seen intermittently; others were in more casual clothes, and a few were even clad in nightshirts or with wet clothes clinging to skin inadequately dried in the course of scrambling out of tubs or showers.
But despite the mix of formal and informal dress, every member of the castle staff stood proudly at attention, arrayed before the returning Queens in a show of respect and devotion.
The sight of their castle staff formally assembled before them, some neatly dressed, others still dripping from baths, brought a stinging warmth to Elsa's eyes and a tightening in her throat. She felt Anna squeeze her hand; reflexively she turned to look at her mate beside her, and in those waiting blue-green eyes she saw the same emotions and tears she was feeling reflected back at her.
Elsa smiled, a bit shakier than she would have liked, but Anna's short, awkward laugh and adorable smile she flashed in return made Elsa's heart skip a beat, not in fear but in elation. She turned back toward the servants who had become her and Anna's extended family. "Thank you, all of you," she said firmly, projecting her voice with confidence that belied how her heart was pounding at the moment. "The Southern Isles have been dealt with. The forces behind the assassination attempts on Ze—" She smiled and cleared her throat. "On Princess Rapunzel, Anna and myself... have been destroyed. Today Anna and I negotiated a peace agreement and an alliance with the Southern Isles' new Council of Princes, which all of you will most certainly hear more of in the next few days. But tonight..."
She sighed, allowing the energy that had kept both her and Anna going over the arduous last two days to finally dwindle. "Tonight, this peace won't bring back those we have lost. Tomorrow Anna and I will arrange a memorial service for those who died during the attack, after we meet with the Royal Council to update them on the activities of the last two days. If any of you have any suggestions or recommendations, please let us know tomorrow."
The occasional sniffle could be heard as Elsa paused. "We will make sure our fallen will be remembered," Elsa said, squeezing Anna's hand as she considered some of her wife's ideas they had discussed during their flight home. "Thank you, all of you, for your loyalty, your service, and your compassion."
"It means more to us than you could know," Anna added, looking up and down the two rows of servants. "We'll tell you more about what we have planned tomorrow, but tonight, I think all of us need a good night's rest."
Elsa smiled as she looked at Anna's profile, taking in the sight of each adorable freckle on her sister's left cheek, before she also turned her gaze forward once more. "Arendelle is safe again," she said confidently. "Let's all get some sleep, and we'll meet with all of you again tomorrow afternoon."
A chorus of "Yes, Your Majesties" and "Your Majesties" echoed through the great hall, followed by the castle staff quickly but gracefully making for various exits: the main stairwell, the smaller stairwell leading down to the servants' quarters, the hall leading back to the kitchen and dining areas, deeper into the great hall toward the laundries, crafting departments and guard quarters. Within less than a minute most of the staff had made their departures, leaving just a handful of people in front of Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and the Coronan princess's handmaidens.
"Captain Ewen," Elsa said as the older man stepped forward, offering another polite bow to his two queens. He wasn't in his full armor or carrying his usual spear, but he wore a padded gambeson with the crest of the Royal Guard stitched on its breast, and his sword and dagger were belted at his waist.
"Welcome back, Your Majesties," the miidle-aged soldier said as he straightened before the monarchs. "I look forward to hearing exactly what happened in the Southern Isles, if things turned out as well as they sound."
"We'll be happy to tell you," Anna replied, smiling honestly and eagerly despite the late hour and the fatigue settling into her body. "How have things been in the castle?"
"All quiet. We've added the Coronan guards into watches both around the Princess's quarters and your Royal quarters. We've also made a point to send two of their guards and two of our own with any of Her Highness's handmaidens when they leave the castle."
"Which my girls aren't particularly happy about," Rapunzel said from behind them, a slight huff just audible in her voice. "But they do understand the need for the extra precautions."
"Yes, Your Highness," Ewen replied, nodding his head to the princess where she stood just behind her cousins. "Better to be too careful than not careful enough when it comes to protecting you and your retinue."
Anna and Elsa briefly exchanged a knowing glance; Rapunzel's handmaidens could likely defend their "guards" better than the other way around, but the blue-garbed lasses' true capabilities needed to remain secret. "We appreciate your consideration of our sister and her companions, Captain," Elsa said politely. "Is there anything else we should know tonight, Sir Ewen?"
The salt-and-pepper haired guard hesitated briefly, but then he quietly said, "If it pleases Your Majesties, I'd... like to suggest something for—" He stopped, pausing briefly before swallowing once. "The men and I have been talking, you see, and we'd..."
Anna reached out and gently grasped the man's left arm, lightly holding it. "Go ahead, Sir Ewen. You're not going to offend or upset us. Not after what we've all been through in the last few days."
Ewen met Anna's eyes, revealing a distinct darkening as his pupils were overpowering his blue irises. "I realize there's no precedent for it, Your Majesties," he said, "but the men and I would like to ask you to..." His eyes danced from side to side, so quickly that it might well have been a reflex he was unaware of. "To... knight the lady Ygrit."
Elsa's eyebrows rose slightly; Anna's nearly leapt off her forehead. The two sisters-turned-spouses slowly turned their heads just enough to meet each other's eyes, Elsa's expression carefully neutral while the vaguest hint of a grin threatened to creep across Anna's lips, an unspoken I told you bubbling behind the younger Queen's pink lips but kept carefully restrained.
Not receiving a verbal response, Ewen continued, his voice gaining confidence as he spoke. "To say that I thought of her like a daughter'd be an exaggeration, but she was braver than most of the men I've commanded over the years, myself included, and she'd earned our respect with her spirit and her skills. One of the finest warriors I'd ever seen with a spear, despite her little size. And scared of absolutely nothing."
"When you've already experienced the worst the world has to offer, not much is left to be afraid of," Elsa said softly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ewen answered with a nod. "We started out viewing her like a niece, or a little cousin, but over the years she won most all of us over. And then all that with the battle happened, and her and you—" as his eyes slid to regard Anna "—Your Majesty, leading the charge against the Crusaders, and, well..."
He swallowed again, blue eyes now with a hint of moisture in them. "We lost twelve guards in the assassination attempt on the three of you, Your Majesties, Your Highness. Eleven brave lads and one brave lady, all died holding their posts, but none so much as drew blood from a single attacker. Ygrit killed three of them, losing her own life in the process of protecting the two of you. She should be recognized, officially, for her bravery and her actions."
"Anna and I will seriously consider your request, Captain Ewen," Elsa said calmly. "Get some sleep. We'll meet with you again after the Council meeting in the morning." She smiled. "And thank you."
Ewen looked slightly caught off-guard at the comment. "For what, Your Majesty?"
"For your service, and your honesty." She reached out and rested her left hand atop his shoulder, noting that the man didn't flinch. "For your heart, Sir Ewen. Thank you for all that you do, and all that you are."
"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty," he said, bowing before them. "To serve your parents before, and now to serve the two of you." He bowed once more, then turned and walked away, revealing a face most familiar to both Elsa and Anna.
"It's good to have both of you home safely," said the old, kind-hearted man who had been with Arendelle's two Queens since their births; slightly short, slightly overweight, but gazing at the young women before him as he would two daughters or granddaughters. "The gods know we've lost enough from our family here as it is."
Without another word, Elsa and Anna both rushed forward, Anna beating Elsa to Kai by a split second as they both threw their arms around the castle's head servant. The triumphs in the Southern Isles were forgotten as Arendelle's two queens let themselves be girls once more, albeit briefly, seeking solace in the arms of the man who had come the closest to filling their deceased father's role in their lives.
Nothing really needed to be said, not even when another set of arms gently encircled the three of them. Rapunzel's warm arms offered as much support as she could manage, and for several minutes the four of them just stood there, shaking lightly as tears fell and murmurs of support were exchanged.
Finally the four of them disentangled themselves, Elsa and Anna holding each other as they stood side to side while Rapunzel stood beside Elsa, holding her cousin's hand.
"All of you need sleep, but especially the two of you, Your Majesties," Kai said softly. "We can catch up in the morning." He started to turn away, but then he paused and added, "We'll all sleep better knowing you're back safely." Then he completed his turn and calmly walked away.
"He's right," Elsa said, stifling a yawn as best as she could. Which wasn't very well at all.
Anna laughed as Elsa's breath turned into a light spray of frost as she exhaled. "We all need to get in bed," she said as she gently ran her fingers across the bare skin of Elsa's chest exposed just above her sternum. The skin flushed slightly as Elsa smiled, reaching up to clasp Anna's hand against her chest. "We hate to keep you waiting, Punz," Anna said as she turned to look beside her at their cousin, "but we're both melting like snow in summer."
Rapunzel's eyes were soft as she smiled warmly. "Things have kept while you've been gone," she said calmly. "They'll keep while you both sleep." She reached forward and clutched first Anna, then Elsa to her chest in brief hugs.
"Glad you're home, Your Majesties," she said with a knowing smile and a wink as she slowly backed away from them, her handmaidens parting to allow her to walk between them. She turned to walk down the hallway toward the stairs. "Get some rest!" she called out over her shoulder as her attendants formed up behind her, silent and graceful as always while they took their positions trailing the Princess of Corona.
Elsa and Anna watched as Rapunzel and her attendants made their way past the main staircase, obviously going out of their way to take the farther set of stairs up to where she and her handmaidens were staying. Anna wordlessly slid next to Elsa as they reached the main stairwell; Elsa's arm went around her lover with a smoothness practiced many times over the last several months. They quietly climbed the wide stone steps together, their bodies keeping pace with each difficult step.
As they made the last turn up the grand staircase, two guards standing watch on the second floor raised their weapons in salute, holding the position until the two queens stepped past them and turned left, toward their rooms... and then stopped.
Holding silent vigil, commanding all attention save from the four guards stationed around the sculpture that was so much more than just a sculpture, two icy figures rested in solemn stillness on the carpeted hallway. Though from this direction the icy figures were facing away from the monarchs' approach, Anna and Elsa knew exactly how their friends were posed. One was kneeling, the other cradled in her lap as they embraced and kissed in a final expression of their love and commitment.
Neither Elsa nor Anna attempted to hide or restrain her tears as they slowly approached. The nearest guard met their sad gazes, then acknowledged them with a simple but crisp, "Your Majesties!" He thumped the butt of his spear on the floor, getting matching thumps from the other three guards as they saluted their rulers without moving away from their guard positions.
Elsa and Anna stopped beside the grim display, at once saddened at their friends' fate but proud of the respect being shown the two common-born handmaidens in the wake of their sacrifice. "Have you been guarding them this whole time?" Elsa asked quietly, looking up at the guard's blue eyes.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice quiet. "Captain told us they were to be guarded until you told us otherwise. Four guards watching them, four watching your rooms, four at Princess Rapunzel's room at all times."
Elsa smiled and resisted the urge to pat him on the head. He didn't appear to be much younger than she and Anna were, but there was a quality about him that seemed eager and enthusiastic. "Thank you," she said simply.
Anna sniffed loudly, reaching up to wipe her nose on the back of her hand. "Sorry," she said, sounding nothing of the sort, as she met Elsa's look and defiantly wiped her hand on her dress.
Elsa's right eyebrow raised slightly. "I made you that dress," she said calmly, fighting the urge to smile fiercely.
"Thank you for it," Anna said, batting her eyes slowly. "Not only is it beautiful, it's perfect for wiping my hands."
Elsa turned to face Anna, with Anna doing the same to match her stance. They looked into each other's eyes for several seconds, blue and blue-green dancing before the two women fell against each other, closing their eyes tightly as they embraced firmly.
"They gave us our lives," Anna managed to utter just above a whisper, her face against Elsa's neck. "And it cost them their own."
"And neither we nor Arendelle will ever forget them," Elsa croaked back, her throat tight despite all her self-control. "We'll make sure of that."
After several seconds Anna pulled away slightly; Elsa released her grip from her wife and watched as Anna slowly crossed between the two nearest guards, making eye contact with both of them as she did so. Carefully she stepped forward until she was in front of the icy forms of Idunn and Ygrit. She slowly knelt before them, studying their faces carefully. "Thank you both," she whispered as she reached out to cup first Idunn's face with her left hand, then Ygrit's head. Anna leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on Idunn's forehead, then she repeated the action with Ygrit's temple. She sat back on her knees, sniffing again as she wiped her eyes, then her nose once again.
As Anna turned to rise, Elsa's hand rested upon her left shoulder, causing her to stay where she was. Elsa bent over, kissing the top of Idunn's head. "Thank you for being there for Anna when I could not," she said softly, her own frozen tears plinking off of the handmaiden's icy head. She then carefully knelt down, resting her left knee on the carpeted floor as she kissed the top of Ygrit's head as well. "And thank you for guarding her when I could not," she said tenderly. She clenched her eyes shut tightly, then opened them again, letting frosted tears spill forth once again. "You're now together forever," Elsa said, her voice raspy as she felt Anna's arms encircle her. "As it should be, be it in Valhalla, Folkvangr or anywhere in the Nine Worlds."
—O—
Other than quietly whispered I love yous upon waking, Anna and Elsa readied for the new day in silence. Little Jora and ashen-haired Hilde, one of the more experienced handmaidens, assisted the two queens with bathing and dressing, although with Elsa creating shimmering gowns of white and silver for her and Anna to wear, "dressing" mostly consisted of helping Anna buckle her sword belt around her waist and brushing royal red and blonde tresses.
There were several brief moments of awkwardness, such as when Hilde bumped into Anna when taking the younger queen's towel; Idunn had always gone to Anna's left when doing so, while Hilda instead moved to Anna's right, leading a moment of embarrassment for the normally collected handmaiden.
Jora found it increasingly difficult to maintain her composure, her emotions raw from the times Idunn and Ygrit both had spent teaching the young girl the proper way to clean the queens' chambers and assist the rulers in their morning routine. What should have been a welcome return to routine instead presented a re-opening of emotional wounds for all involved... even the queens.
Elsa and Anna both repeatedly found themselves reaching for or about to speak to their missing friends, only to just catch themselves before such actions. When the two queens were ready to attend to their royal functions once more, it was a moment of relief for all concerned parties when the the royal couple left their chambers.
"Well, that was awkward," Anna mumbled as she and Elsa made their way down the hall, stopping to consider the icy figures of Ygrit and Idunn, still flanked by their guard detail. "Are you..." She swallowed, then turned to face Elsa. "Are you going to... move them... today?"
Elsa nodded, following with a verbal reply after a moment. "Probably tomorrow. For the memorial." Elsa closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. "I wish Idunn had been right. I wish I could heal them."
Anna reached out and pulled Elsa closer, wrapping her arms around her wife as she hugged her. "I know, my heart. And they know too."
"I think I can heal myself, at least a little bit, and I think my powers can heal you some too, but..." Elsa tightly closed her mouth, fighting to keep from sobbing in front of the guards in front of them.
Anna looked at the the icy features of Idunn's face, fixed entirely on her dying love below her. "They just don't work that way, Elsa, and that's not your fault," she said, resting her hand on Elsa's arm. "And Idunn and Ygrit wouldn't blame you for that." She lifted her hand from Elsa's arm, replacing the cool tingle of contact with the fabric of her ice gown with the gentle warmth of Elsa's skin as she resettled her fingertips on Elsa' cheek. "And you shouldn't blame yourself, either," Anna said softly. "They wouldn't want that."
Elsa closed her eyes and sighed quietly, relaxing into Anna's tender touch. "No, they wouldn't."
"And I don't want you blaming yourself either. You've done that enough for a dozen lifetimes. No more."
Eyes still closed, Elsa smiled and nodded slowly. "I'll... try."
Anna leaned forward, not stopping until her lips were hovering just against Elsa's other cheek. "You'll do, stubborn queen," she whispered lovingly. "No blaming yourself."
Despite her eyes beginning to sting from tears threatening to spill, Elsa smiled and nodded once more. "No blaming myself. Got it, Your Majesty."
Anna closed the hairs'-breadth distance between their lips, placing a soft, lingering kiss on Elsa's warm lips. "And don't you forget it," she teasingly threatened, her own lips curling into a smile against Elsa's lips.
—O—
Anna sighed with relief as she and Elsa watched the members of the Royal Council file out of the throne room. It had been another heavily-attended council meeting, with far too many councilors for the typical meeting room to accommodate.
"Well, that went well," Elsa said cheerily as she gently massaged Anna's right shoulder where her wife stood next to her.
"Surprisingly well," Anna agreed, nodding slowly and still not entirely sure that the two of them weren't dreaming. "Not one objection?"
Elsa gave her sister a smile and a friendly shrug of her shoulders. "What's there to complain about? We stopped an invasion, ended a war, negotiated a peace treaty and gained a valuable new ally while also removing our biggest enemy."
"All in a week's work, I guess."
Elsa playfully pushed Anna's shoulder. "Don't get a big head, Anna."
"Yeah, only room for one stuck-up Queen around here, right?" Anna replied, smiling as she looked at Elsa to further clarify the joking intent in her words.
"Exactly," Elsa said as she opened her left arm to make room for Anna to step up against her in a tight embrace. Both sisters sighed as they closed their eyes and relaxed against each other; the few remaining servants quietly left the throne room and closed the doors behind them, leaving only the half-dozen guards stationed in the hall just outside the doors.
"Alone at last," Elsa whispered, her face blissfully buried in Anna's soft copper hair.
"Yay," Anna replied softly, her face tightly pressed against Elsa's tender neck. "Wish Olaf and Kristoff and Sven were here."
"I know," Elsa said. "It would have been nice to have a few more friends to lessen the sting of loss."
Anna nodded carefully. "Yeah, it would have been. But at least they were away from here and not in any danger. Well, Kristoff at least. I'm not sure if Olaf can be in danger. Other than from a fire, anyway."
"They'll be home before much longer," said Elsa, rubbing Anna's back. "Let's go eat some lunch. I think we both deserve it. It's been a full morning."
The two descended together from the dais bearing their thrones, both stepping carefully down the raised sections. As they left the throne room and entered the hallway, Anna took Elsa's left hand in her right as they made their way down down the wide passage.
"Are we going to knight Ygrit?" Anna asked after they were appreciably far from the guards posted at the throne room.
"Of course," Elsa said, a sly smirk crossing her lips. "You already had predicted that one, anyway."
"She deserves it."
"Absolutely."
After a brief pause, Anna said, "I sent word to the docks this morning. Hopefully they'll have a longboat close by."
Elsa nodded. "If not, I'll just make one, I suppose. But I'd rather it be a true longboat, a wooden one, for the symbolism."
"Would your ice work for that?" Anna asked as they entered the smaller dining room they preferred when it was just the two of them, their place settings neatly arranged adjacent to each other across the nearest corner of the dark wood table.
"If I say so, it will," Elsa replied smugly, getting a roll of blue-green eyes in response.
—O—
Snow was beginning to swirl lightly the next morning as people began to gather in the streets of Arendelle. The weather was slightly warmer than would be expected for the month, but that was no deterrent to the softly spitting flakes as they danced through the cool air. Despite being overcast, it was still bright enough in the late morning for Elsa and Anna to see the crowds beginning to line the streets from the balcony in their parents' old chambers.
"Looks like it's going to be a good turnout despite the snow threatening," Anna said, taking another drink of the ice water she was holding as she stood at the overlook's edge. "Well, as threatening as the snow gets with you, Your Majesty," she added, turning to smile teasingly at Elsa, who was seated just a few feet away.
"I'm glad you signed the proclamation about Ygrit with me," Elsa said, reaching out to take Anna's hand and lightly pulling her lover closer as soon as her fingers closed around the redhead's hand.
"Well, why wouldn't I, silly?" Anna added with a giggle as she went with the movement, falling into Elsa's lap messily and nearly knocking both of them out of Elsa's chair and onto the floor. "And it's not the only royal proclamation we signed today, either."
Elsa closed her eyes as Anna wrapped her arms around Elsa's shoulders and tucked her warm face against Elsa's bare neck. "It is ironic that the proclamation recognizing the first female knight in the history of Arendelle is only going to be the second-most important law enacted today," she said calmly, beginning to lose herself in the warmth of Anna's love and embrace. "Are you ready to make history, Anna?"
Whatever brazen reply Elsa was expecting, it certainly wasn't for Anna to throw her head back and laugh, revealing twin trails of freckles that meandered their way down Anna's neck and onto her chest; however, since those freckles were some which Elsa utterly adored, she couldn't help but grin and admire her younger sister's beauty and spirit while Anna recovered her composure.
After a few seconds which found Elsa herself at the verge of giggling—giggling!— at Anna's mirth, the redhead brought her head forward enough to stare into the cool sapphire eyes of the woman she loved and worshiped more than anything in existence. "Elsa, my love," Anna said calmly and with a smile as she leaned forward, "we make history every day of our lives," before reclaiming Elsa's lips with her own.
—O—
By the time the royal procession was nearing the town square, the sides of the streets were lined with what had to be three times as many people as the city of Arendelle could comfortably hold. Elsa silently wondered where all of them had come from, as there had only been a day since the announcement for this memorial service had been put forth yesterday following the meeting of the Royal Council, but then she remembered that she and Anna had been gone for two days prior to their return; there was also the matter of Rapunzel's arrival the day before, topped with an assassination attempt occurring later that night, both of which had likely drawn hundreds if not thousands of visitors to the capital.
Interesting events have been at play, she considered as the dozen guards marching ahead of her and Anna parted to reveal the large square in the middle of the capital city. The two royals maintained their calm pace, holding hands as they passed the now-stationary squad of castle guards holding position behind them. As the two mates made their way to the nearest end of the town square, Elsa's fingers flicked lightly forward; frosty crystals shimmered and spiraled from her fingertips, swirling as the thin stream enlarged into a steady flow, striking the stones of the assembly grounds and forming into a platform of ice, complete with modest crystalline steps rising to the top of the platform.
The cheers and whistles of acclamation from the crowds packing their way into the town square drew silent as Anna and Elsa ascended the steps onto the platform. The two queens moved to the center of the platform, still holding hands as they slowly looked from one side of the assembly to the other.
"Today, we gather for the sad but necessary task of saying goodbye to those we have lost in the last few days," Elsa said, her voice raised enough to be heard clearly through the large space before her. "This time we were fortunate that the Southern Isles' invasion fleet failed to claim any Arendellan lives, but the assassination attempt upon Princess Rapunzel of Corona and Anna and myself resulted in the deaths of twelve castle guards and three handmaidens, one from Corona and two from Arendelle."
She paused to steel her resolve, not wanting to cry in front of her and Anna's subjects; she felt Anna release her grip on Elsa's hand, only to step closer and slip her right arm around Elsa's waist, providing support both physical and emotional during the moment they had both dreaded most.
"Here, in the center of Arendelle's capital, we will remember those who have fallen in battle these last few months defending our nation and her Crown." Squeezing Anna more tightly to her, Elsa lifted her left arm as icy sparks and white light spilled from from her outstretched hand as it pointed toward the middle of the assembly area.
The work of designing the sculptures she and Anna had previously planned had already been done yesterday. With the input of two of the castle's engineers and architects, they had already created the first monument in one of the unused castle ballrooms the day before. After deciding upon the basic design, which Elsa had brought to life with her magic, the four of them had tweaked and made adjustments until Anna and Elsa both felt the final monument did justice to those who had died in the assassination attempt. Then Elsa had turned her attention to a second monument, one to remember those who had fallen in the Glavadian invasion. A list of names of those killed in the fighting had previously been prepared for record-keeping purposes, and Anna had spent nearly two hours reading each name while Elsa inscribed every one on the large wall of ice that would form the second monument they would be installing in the center of Arendelle's capital city. They had both been exhausted when they finally fell into their bed well after midnight, but it was a fatigue buoyed by a sense of deep accomplishment. And now it was time to share not just those two memorials but their vision with the rest of their country.
As Elsa's magic fell upon the stones making up the town square, streams of ice and snow danced and splashed as they created not just one monument but two—the first monument a large wall of ice on the far side of the town square, its organic lines suggesting the outlines of a glacier while its main face remained as smooth and flat as the surface of a frozen pond, its glassy surface etched with hundreds of names, each one a man, woman or child who had been killed by either the Glavadians in their attack on Arendelle or by the pirates and saboteurs from the Southern Isles in their decimation of Arendelle's navy and merchant ships.
The second monument quickly sprang to life just feet away from the platform supporting Anna and Elsa; it was also easily the size of a small house in area, with its rectangular shape delineated by twelve icy stelae, four marking the corners and the other eight evenly spaced along its perimeter. Each stele stood waist-high and bore the name of a castle guard who had been killed by Duke Hidalgo's assassins. Behind each stele stood an icy statue of each guardsman; Elsa and Anna had insisted upon viewing the body of each fallen guard to create the individual statues before the bodies were prepared for the customary funerary rites each guard's family had requested. It had been an emotionally excruciating but necessary task the two monarchs had insisted upon.
With the stelae in place and marking the monument's perimeter, the icy streams suddenly leapt toward the center, joining together into a large column of shimmering white so intense that several onlookers found themselves reflexively shading their eyes. In just a few seconds, the column of magic dissipated, revealing a raised dais supporting an icy statue depicting a scene that was all-too-terribly familiar to Anna and Elsa: the icy figures of Idunn and Ygrit, captured in their final kiss.
For the monument itself, Anna had successfully argued that the icy sculpture of Idunn and Ygrit should be made larger in scale, both to give the memorial's centerpiece a commanding presence as well as better reveal the figures' detail. Elsa also made the statue version firmly opaque, as she did with the stelae standing guard around it, further illuminating the detail and giving the monument a more statue-like appearance overall. The two of them had wanted to include the likeness of Corinne, Rapunzel's bodyguard who had been killed in the line of duty, beside the two Arendellan handmaidens, but Rapunzel had politely declined, explaining that the need for mystery and secrecy regarding her Whispers made such a touching gesture unworkable.
As the light flickers and flakes of magic blew away from the newly completed monuments in the town square, Elsa waited for the murmurs and exclamations scattered among the crowd to die down before speaking again.
"In the darkest hours of that bleak night two days ago, there was a single moment which outshone all the pain and suffering," Elsa spoke, pausing momentarily to reinforce her self-control, which remained more unshakable than Anna's during public speaking. "It is that moment which this central statue recognizes," she continued. "A moment when two brave handmaidens of Arendelle, Ygrit and Idunn, both dying from mortal wounds, asked us to marry them."
Now the last lingering whispers fell completely, totally silent. Even the winds restrained themselves as the assemblage waited upon Elsa's next words.
"You see, these two handmaidens had fallen in love several years ago," Elsa continued, a fleeting waver in her voice manifesting for a heartbeat before falling back under the Winter Queen's control. "They had quietly built a life together, married in all but name, after each of them losing her entire family, one to sickness, the other to brigands. Despite losing all they had known while yet in childhood, they still managed to not only survive but to rediscover love in their hearts. Shown here is their last act, an act of love and devotion to each other. Despite them both dying, despite their pain and anguish, they chose to make their last moment of life... a moment of love."
Elsa heard Anna sniff beside her; she knew Anna was weeping, but she also knew that if she turned to where she could see Anna's tears, it would break her own composure, held by the barest thread at the moment. Similar sobs and noises could be heard at several points in the people gathered around them as well; Elsa swallowed and pressed on while her emotions still allowed her to do so.
"Anna and I granted their last wishes. Ygrit and Idunn died as wives, and this morning their union was recorded officially in the nation's records. While their bravery and valor in defending Anna and myself was breathtaking, with Ygrit killing three would-be assassins and Idunn slaying a fourth, their loyalty and devotion not just to Arendelle and the crown but to each other as well..."
Elsa smiled sadly as she looked across the crowd before them, first the left, then the right. "While we have recognized Ygrit's bravery and valor in combat earlier this morning by making her the first woman knighted in the history of Arendelle, it was that loyalty, that devotion, which were their most wonderful, extraordinary qualities of all. In honor of their sacrifice, Anna and I would like to recognize those other qualities in both women as well."
Elsa wiped brittle tears of ice crystals from her cheeks, helped by Anna's gentle fingers. Despite her desire to resist any possible loss of emotional control, Elsa found her head turning to regard her wife. As their gazes met, Elsa reached up and covered Anna's right hand where it rested lightly upon Elsa's right cheek. "I love you," Elsa said softly.
Anna's face trembled fleetingly as she managed to smile, her own green-blue eyes red and rimmed with tears of their own. "I love you, too," she managed to whisper despite her body shivering with emotion.
Elsa smiled wider at her wife before turning her attention back to the assemblage lining the town square. "For centuries, Arendelle has recognized that magic exists," she spoke, pausing enough for a single sharp laugh to emerge from somewhere in the crowd's ranks, followed by a few slightly uncomfortable but heartfelt laughs, Anna's among them. Elsa allowed herself to smile in acknowledgment of the humor in her words before continuing. "And that the most powerful magic of all is that of True Love." She lifted her and Anna's clasped hands, displaying that physical representation of their love and coupling.
"I regret that it took the death of two kind, sweet, wonderful girls for us to see that their True Love was just as worthy of recognition as mine and Anna's," Elsa said. "Therefore, in recognition of their love and service not just to Arendelle but to their own True Love, from this day forward the Crown of Arendelle shall recognize unions between two citizens who have freely and willingly devoted their lives to each other and demonstrate a true, abiding love for one another in all aspects of their lives—regardless of gender.
"This will not lessen or detract from existing marriages, nor do we wish this to impose discomfort or worry upon Arendelle's magistrates. Both the Summer Queen and I have faith in all of Arendelle's citizens and officials to continue to recognize love when they see it, and this is simply a way to honor that love in all freely consenting couples for which it blooms."
Anna's left arm wrapping around Elsa's waist made Elsa herself shiver with emotion. She swallowed despite the tightness of her throat, smiling as she looked briefly up to the gray skies. The clouds were full of snow begging to be released, but they were respectfully waiting for their two Queens to finish.
Elsa returned her gaze back to the crowds, this time to her right first, sweeping back to her left before speaking once more. "Should there be any magistrate who is not yet comfortable performing joining ceremonies for two men or two women, Anna and I will be willing to perform such ceremonies ourselves." Immediately a swell of hushed voices began to spread through the gathered crowds. Raising her voice to compensate for the threatening distraction, Elsa said, "However, it would not be fair for us to only perform such marriage ceremonies for... same-gender couples, if you will. Therefore, in remembrance of Ygrit and Idunn, twice a year, Anna and I will devote a day for us to perform marriage ceremonies for all couples so interested."
Gasps of surprise could be heard around the throngs of listeners, along with more than a few shouts and the occasional squeal of excitement. Elsa raised her free left hand and held it aloft until the crowds had quietened again. "Obviously, there will be some... logistics to work out, of course. And neither Anna nor I intend to put our magistrates and reeves out of work when it comes to performing marriages." Now chuckles and soft laughs could be heard around the square. "But we want to make sure all of Arendelle understands that love is the greatest magic, the most wonderful gift of all. Love is something to celebrate, to cherish, to honor and respect wherever and with whomever it blooms. And Anna and I will devote all of our power and resources to make sure that love is welcomed, honored, protected and celebrated in Arendelle."
Elsa looked once more at the icy representations of their fallen friends standing before them. "There were many names Anna and I discussed for the statue at the heart of this memorial," she said, tears again beginning to form in her eyes.
"That's for sure," Anna muttered softly, getting a soft squeeze of her hand in return that managed to be both a slight chastisement as well as a sign of affection, a expressive talent older sisters tended to be quite good with.
"In the end, though, it was much simpler to name than we had expected," Elsa said, smiling as she paused.
"Devotion."
—O—
As the sun slowly set that evening, the staff and inhabitants of Arendelle Castle gathered around the private dock reserved for the royal family. It was a place where four young women had spent several mornings and quite a few evenings over the last year talking, laughing, skipping stones and attempting—often poorly—to fish. Tonight, however, the dock and pier were host to much more than just four young women.
The pier, the dock, the walkway connecting the wooden structure to the land, the stone steps patiently winding their way up the slope to the castle itself, all were filled with workers, servants, handmaidens, dressmakers, tailors, stablehands, cooks, maids, coopers, farriers, carpenters, blacksmiths, pages and other castle workers. Royal guards held positions stretching from the stones of the castle itself down the paved pathway toward the docks, to the boarding ramp leading up and onto the only ship currently berthed at the royal dock, a small traditional longboat with dark sails already deployed.
From their place on the pier closest to the small ship, Elsa and Anna looked at the modest wooden bier in the midst of the carefully laid-out funeral pyre in the center of the ship. The flat surface of the bier lay empty atop the pyre, as the sun slowly, agonizingly made its descent. It had been nearly a century since Arendelle had seen a tradtional pyrrhic funeral at sea; designed to draw the attention of the gods and bear the spirits of the deceased directly to the afterlife upon the pillar of thick smoke from the pyre, it was a powerfully symbolic ritual reserved for royalty.
Until this day.
Finally, as less than a quarter of the now-orange orb cast its fading light upon the sad gathering, Elsa lifted her right hand and gestured toward the castle.
A scintillating, glimmering stream of white sprang forth from the castle, exiting through a window on the second floor as it wound its way through the still air to its destination. As the icy flow spilled onto the wooden bier, it reformed itself into two figures made of crystalline ice, both lying in repose and holding hands as they lay beside and against each other atop the flat wooden table in the pyre.
No words were spoken as Arendelle's queens ascended the boarding ramp to the longboat, although the only two people on the dock bearing lit torches—Captain Ewen and Admiral Kaarsten—both might have leaned those torches slightly farther away as their rulers boarded the funerary vessel to say their final goodbyes to their dearest friends.
Though Elsa had used her magic to change the positions of their icy bodies, both Idunn and Ygrit remained clearly recognizable, down to each lock of hair and each crease of fabric in their nightgowns. Only the abscence of color and movement indicated the lack of life in the two young women who had begun as simple but devoted servants yet became as much family as friends to the two young queens.
"We couldn't save you," Elsa said as she carefully held a crown of wildflowers on the tips of her fingers above Idunn's still head. The sweet blonde had braided it for Ygrit the day Rapunzel had arrived in Corona, and the dry air in the basement room she and Ygrit had called their home had kept it preserved over the last four days. Elsa leaned down and gently placed the crown of flowers atop Idunn's head. "But we can recognize you as the family which you became for us."
Anna refused to wipe her tears as she looked down at Ygrit's face, now appearing to be peacefully asleep, as Idunn's was. The hot tears dripped onto Ygrit's icy figure as Anna respectfully lay the younger girl's spear and sword atop her chest, then placed her shield over her legs. "You helped train me to protect Elsa," Anna said, trying not to sob as she spoke. "And I trusted you to guard me, and to guard her, like no one else." She shook briefly as she leaned forward and placed a kiss on Ygrit's forehead. "Thank you for all you did, for all you were, to both of us."
She looked up at Elsa, and the two of them switched places silently.
Elsa smiled as she looked down upon the young woman who had been her closest companion for over ten years, until the events of the somewhat inaccurately named Eternal Winter. "Thank you for listening to me, for being there for me when I needed someone to prove to me that I still deserved to draw breath. Thank you for being with Anna when she needed a spear and shield, not a sister. Brave, brave Ygrit. Perhaps one day Anna and I will see your smile and hear your voice again."
Anna knelt beside Idunn's still figure, mouth trembling and nose sniffling as she tried to think coherently. "Idunn, I'm sorry for every time I was ever short with you, or spoke harshly to you, or got you in trouble because I ran off or got into something I wasn't supposed to. I never did any of that because I was angry with you, or because I didn't like you." She looked up and sighed heavily, wiping tears before looking back down and continuing. "You were just the closest I had to Elsa."
She felt the ship shift slightly as Elsa moved to stand behind her; when Elsa's fingers rested atop her shoulders, Anna closed her eyes and drew as much strength as she could from Elsa's loving touch. "Thank you for putting up with me and all the trouble I caused for so many years," Anna said, her voice soft. "No matter what, you were always there for me, even when I didn't want you there. Elsa told me she turned down having you as her handmaiden because you were the most dependable one there was, and she thought I needed you more than she did."
Tears streamed down Anna's eyes as she nodded to herself. "She was right," she whispered. Carefully Anna leaned forward and placed a kiss on Idunn's forehead. "Goodbye, Idunn," she said tenderly. "More than anyone I know, you deserved a full, happy life. But knowing you, if I could ask you right now—" She stopped, jaw clenched tightly as she fought her emotions for control for long, painful seconds. "—You'd say you had one."
Anna closed her eyes and stood, turning and falling into Elsa's waiting embrace as she let herself cry without further reservation. Elsa did the same, both leaning on each other as they gave vent to their sorrow and grief for several minutes.
Finally their tears had subsided to the point that they were able to slowly, deliberately draw deep breaths. Anna looked up to Elsa, her gaze communicating all the emotions her mouth was unable to; she saw that same array of jumbled, tumumptuous emotions reflected back at her, and the love and support she saw mirrored in those cool sapphire eyes provided all the support she could ever need for anything, without requiring a single word or action in return.
"This was what they had with each other," Anna whispered against Elsa's shoulder, where her face was currently securely buried. "And there's no feeling in the world more wonderful, more amazing, than this acceptance."
"I agree," Elsa replied, basking in the same sensations as Anna at that moment. "They deserved it."
Anna nodded against the fabric of Elsa's dress. "They did," she agreed.
Eventually they were able to stand on their own once more. They took each other's hand, Anna on the right and Elsa on the left, as they made their way carefully down the platform back onto the dock;as their feet touched the wooden planks of the pier, the boarding ramp was quickly removed by pages. As the two queens turned to face the simple, old but intricately carved ship, Elsa lifted her free arm and gestured toward the vessel. Instantly winds surged forth, filling the sails with a crisp snap and sending the boat on its way out of the private harbor and on its journey toward Asgard.
As tears were quietly and not-so-quietly shed while the assembled castle watch the ship Anna had renamed Venn quickly overcome the coastal tides with the help of the winds propelling it, Rapunzel slipped forward, standing on Elsa's other side, opposite Anna. The Coronan princess's long blonde hair blew lightly in the wind as she held Elsa's other hand in support.
After long minutes of quiet goodbyes, one of the guards stepped forward, stopping just beside and behind Anna. In his left hand, protected by two thick gloves he awkwardly wore, he held Anna's bow and a single icy arrow; without any need for a command, he extended the items to the Summer Queen.
Anna nodded, taking the magical items and knocking the arrow on the bowstring. She held them up in front of her while a second guard carefully wrapped and tied a simple oil-soaked cloth around the shaft of the glistening silvery arrow just behind the arrowhead. Once he was satisfied it was secure, Anna turned to Captain Ewen.
The older man took the few steps toward her, extending his lit torch and carefully, deliberately igniting the cloth tied around the magical arrow. He met Anna's somber gaze and nodded once, then he stepped back, returning to his previous place on the edge of the pier.
Anna turned her body to face the departing ship as it continued its journey out to sea. She held her position briefly; when she felt Elsa warmly grasp her right shoulder, she smiled to herself and held her position for several more seconds, watching the shrinking sight of the Venn as it carried the remains of their two friends away.
"The ice isn't going to put out the fire, is it?" Anna quietly asked, turning abruptly to face Elsa.
Elsa shook her head patiently. "No. Pyres grow hot enough to reduce bones to ash. A little water isn't going to put it out." She smiled sadly at her partner. "And I told the ice that it was okay for it to burn, this time."
"Handy skill you have," Anna said, trying to lighten the sadness clenching both of their hearts.
"Sometimes it is," Elsa agreed. She slowly placed a tender kiss on Anna's right cheek. "Open their door to the next world, my love. They're counting on you."
Anna returned Elsa's wan but sincere smile, then she turned to face the receding longboat once more. She lifted her bow, drawing back the string and aiming as she visualized the arrow landing directly in the carefully arranged pyre, just at their friends' feet. She took a deep breath, held it patiently, then released the drawstring.
The fiery missile streaked into the quickening sky, arcing patiently and inexorably toward its target until it landed true, sinking between several carefully arranged pieces of kindling.
Within minutes the flames of the pyre were visible from shore, licking the sides of the ship as they grew ever higher, slowly, hungrily consuming all upon the vessel, fed and bolstered by the winds Elsa had sent. Thick white-grey smoke billowed forth with the rising tendrils of flame, rising on a journey from this world to the next.
Back on the private docks and on the castle grounds, several hundred stood at solemn attention and said their own silent goodbyes. Anna and Elsa once more stood holding each other, Anna's left hand still gripping her bow numbly as the two sisters watched the fire disappear into the night.
"Whatever gods there may be, grant them warm welcome," Elsa whispered, so softly as to only be audible to Anna and Rapunzel, who still stood with her left arm not only around Elsa's waist but now resting on Anna's lower back as well.
"And remember..." Anna added, her own whispered voice quiet but rigid as tempered steel. "If you don't treat them well, you'll have to answer to us."
—O—
Author's Afterword: And this brings us to what suffices as a proper ending to this story. It's not fully, completely over yet, as there will be three more epilogues, each of which I will post as chapters to this story here. I'm not flagging this story "Complete" until all three epilogues are added, as each of those epi-chapters will tell one more piece of the broader story, each step taking us into the future to fully tell the entire story I have outlined. This way I can provide an ending for everyone right now, with the ultimate Ending three more chapters away. I decided to do this as a result of the delays over the last few months, so all who have enjoyed this story can move on, satisfied with a solid stopping point and with the knowledge that there are still a few more visits to Arendelle to complete this tale of Anna and Elsa.
For those curious, Folkvangr is Freya's hall of fallen warriors, the counterpart to Odin's Valhalla. According to forklore, Freya and Odin agreed to each take half of the brave warriors who fell in battle, although Valhalla tends to be the more widely known and recognized of the two halls of dead heroes. For those of you who are curious as to what Idunn and Ygrit look like, the answer rests with a very talented artist who brought them to life a few months ago. You can find her tumblr by searching for Vienna Orlando, or her Deviant Art page under Veglia Serena. Giulia has done several commissions for me, and the last of those commissions she used to capture a picture of Elsa, Anna, Idunn and Ygrit in happier times. I used to have direct links to her works on my bio page, but FFNet isn't allowing direct links at this time. It's worth taking the minute or two it takes to find her pages, because she's quite talented and incredibly sweet.
Thank you, all of you, for making this journey with me. Thank you for putting up with the frustrating delays and my slow writing and posting. Those of you who plan to return for the epilogues, I look forward to seeing you again, hopefully with the next chapter up within a month or so. Those of you who are content with the ending as it stands here, thank you so much for spending this time with me. I hope I've been able to provide entertainment and a worthy journey for you mentally and emotionally. I hope I can see all of you again soon, as I still have my Elsanna fairy tale to write in the future, plus I have an idea for a second chapter of "Exclusive!" that refuses to leave me alone (karaoke, anyone?)
Thank you for being such wonderful readers. I love you all, and I wish you only the best in the future. See you soon!
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CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) said on Thursday it is selling $1.03 billion worth of non-core oil and gas properties in western Canada to Tourmaline Oil Corp (TOU.TO), the latest example of the global oil major trimming its operations in the region.
A logo of Shell is pictured at a gas station in the western Canakkale province, Turkey April 25, 2016. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Shell said it will sell 206,000 acres (83,365 hectares) of developed and undeveloped lands, amounting to production of about 24,850 barrels of oil equivalent per day, to Calgary-based Tourmaline.
The assets include 61,000 acres (24,685 hectares) in the Gundy area in northeast British Columbia and 145,000 acres (58,679 hectares) in the Deep Basin area of west-central Alberta.
Shell is undergoing a $30 billion asset divestment program globally and has already pulled back from some capital commitments in western Canada.
In July, the company delayed a decision on whether to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal in British Columbia, citing global industry challenges.
In October 2015, it halted its Carmon Creek oil sands project in northern Alberta because of the lack of infrastructure to move Canadian crude to market.
Shell Upstream Director Andy Brown said the company was selling to Tourmaline because the assets did not fit into Shell’s near-term development plans.
Robert Fitzmartyn, director of institutional research at GMP FirstEnergy in Calgary, said the divestitures and delays were not a good sign.
“With regards to a long-term oil and gas producer in Canada, the early signs of somebody pulling out cannot be a positive commentary for the political environment,” Fitzmartyn said.
The left-leaning NDP government in Alberta has unsettled many energy companies by raising corporate taxes and introducing carbon pricing. Elsewhere in Canada, there is staunch resistance to building new energy infrastructure like pipelines.
Shell still holds nearly 650,000 net acres (263,045 hectares) in the Montney and Duvernay shale plays and is a major oil sands producer in northern Alberta.
The Montney is considered one of Canada’s best shale plays and was expected to provide most of the gas for Canada’s west coast LNG industry. However, the LNG boom has failed to materialize given regulatory delays in approving export terminals and environmental opposition.
Shell spokesman Cameron Yost said after the sale the company would still have ample production from its Groundbirch acreage to supply the LNG terminal should the project go forward.
The deal consists of $758 million in cash and Tourmaline shares valued at $279 million, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.
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Are we seriously not gonna talk about the fact that they gave Zero Suit Samus fucking high heels?! Like what the actual fuck? You’d think after the mess Other M did to Samus’ character, Nintendo would have tried to return her to the more stoic and powerful character she was before. But no. They gave her high heels. For no reason. When the fuck did Samus ever acquire high heels?! That doesn’t make sense at all. Up next for Zero Suit Samus is a purse that acts as a shield and lipstick that stuns enemies. It’s shit like this, making a really BAMF character into just a piece of eye candy, that pisses me off. Why does Samus need to be sexualized?! WHHHHHYYYYY!? She’s an amazing character on her on right. But apparently, she needs a boob job and heels for people to care about her.
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Review Ferrari 360 Modena
A supercar for the price of an Audi estate
If you have ever wanted to own a Ferrari and don't have deep pockets the Ferrari 360 Modena is as close to a bargain Ferrari we will ever see.
I owned this car for two years and here is my review:
At 17 years old I was so confident I would own a Ferrari within a year I told all my friends to watch this space. Zoom on some 27 years and I am driving my first Ferrari. Well it's not actually all mine. I bought this car with two partners and I recommend this as a way to drive an occasional use car like this to share the purchase and maintenance costs.
This is how it started: I was on business in the city and had some time to kill. So I called into the Ferrari dealer. The staff were very nice and happily answered all my questions. They sat me in a demo model and explained the thought process behind build of a Ferrari. It's a great story. Don't confuse a Ferrari with the likes of Porsche and fast Audi's etc. I learned on this visit they are something else, they are really out on their own.
I went on a test drive and the first think I notices was that it drove just like a normal car, it was no sweat navigating the city streets and pot holed roads but obviously it prefers smooth tarmac - it copes perfectly well with our roads. The power when requested is pretty much immediate and the sound a delight. You really appreciate the build, engineering and straight forwarded engineering of this car. It felt light too which I like. This one was a 430 by the way. Anyway a lovely experience and I thought on the way home that I certainly would buy one if I could afford it. But I could not, maybe I could hock the house but I could not justify a Ferrari purchase. Used 430's are priced at about £75,000.
A week or so after relating to my brother the experience of driving a Ferrari I received a call from him saying he had found a 360 Modena for a little over £40,000 and he and his friend would go three ways on purchase and on-going costs. Shoot, I was on the spot, the line went quite. Here I am with an offer to achieve a long-time dream aged in my 40's. ...... 'Yes' I said. Some days later the Ferrari was ready to pick up for my first drive.
My first drive home was hilarious. The Ferrari just did what it wanted, changed gear when it wanted, accelerated too immediately and wandered around the road. My heart was pounding when I came to overtake slower moving traffic, my first, a heavily laden truck. Right lets see how to do this...Will she drop a gear or will she stagger past the truck. I hit the accelerator, she blips he throttle and dropped a gear, blips aging dropped another then she decided the next gear down was the optimum gear for the overtake. All load sounds and inertia in the cockpit I could see the the horizon racing towards me, my back been pushed forward, the red topped engine I could see in the rear view mirror howling. I was not in control she was, I slowed. As I settled down the sense of exhilaration filled my body. Wow what can this car do. If only I could control it.
Over the next few days I stopped using auto option and took control of the car gear selection by the paddles. Now she whistled on the straights, carved the corners and started to do as I asked when I asked. The gearbox adapts to your driving style, like a horse. I got to know her, like a horse, I began to love her like a horse. (I m not a horse guy but I understand how owners respect and enjoy getting to know their beasts - its the same with one of these).
I will always remember parked in a sleepy village after a run out, the red top engine switched off, ticking as she cooled. I sat just looking at the inside of the car, the curve of the red wings in front. Patting the aluminium centre tunnel that runs between the seats, patting it and saying; I now know what all the fuss is about. An I do. They raise your heart rate, they are beautiful, you can appreciate the design and engineering. I now understand the passion.
Running a Ferrari for two years.
Our consortium ran the Ferrari 360 Modena F1 for two years. As we split the costs three ways it was quite manageable. Our costs were this: discs skim, new front pads, two full services at £600 each, new rear tyres, MoT and an electrical job. Overall we each contributed about £500.
It's funny though that the three of us never argued as to who would have the car. In fact sometimes it sat full of fuel, all cleaned and ready to go but I could not be bothered to get it out. This is not a negative, its just nice to know you can when you want.
We achieved our money back after two years. I figured that my contribution to run this car equates to running a Ford Focus. A lifetime’s goal completed. People think you are a millionaire but you don't have to be.
Fuel
A tank full cost about £75 and you can get 30 MPG without driving like a nun.
Would I buy another one, let me think about that; yes.
The 360's were the first modern generation Ferrari, the next is the 430 which I feel are a bargain right now. So if you fancy one start looking for a 360 or 430 now. You won't go wrong. The latest generation, the Italia is over £150k. Makes these previous generations look decidedly cheap.
FINAL WORD: Mine was an F1 gearbox. It's more rated than the stick. Although I initialy wanted a manual gearbox I was very pleased with the F1 paddle shift. Dont fuss over one or the other, they both have benefits. Most new versions are specified as F1.
Reviewer would recommend Review Ferrari 360 Modena
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Gameplay Edit
Screenshot of gameplay in which the player uses a bulldozer to clear a path for the carrier. Radar and an arrow in the lower-left corner show the proximity of objects in the carrier's way. Blast Corps is a single-player action video game. The player controls vehicles to destroy buildings, farms, and other structures in the path of a runaway nuclear missile carrier. The player fails if the carrier collides with an object. The eight demolition vehicles vary in the way they clear structures: the bulldozer rams, the dump truck drifts, the lightweight buggy crashes from higher ground, the tricycle shoots missiles, another truck presses outwards from its sides, and robot mechs tumble and stomp from the land and the air. The player must transfer between vehicles and other machinery to solve puzzles. Objectives include transporting timed explosive crates and bridging gaps. The game's puzzles increase in difficulty[2] as the player progresses through its 57 levels.[3] The world is portrayed from a three-quarters overhead view. The player can adjust the game's viewable perspective with zoom and horizontal panning functions.[2] Pop-up hints will guide the player in the early stages of the game,[3] and other characters audibly encourage the player as each level wears on. The cheery soundtrack increases in tempo as the level's timer runs low.[2] After completing a level, the player can return to explore without a time limit.[4] By finding secrets and activating lights throughout the level, the player raises their score and final medal ranking. There are also secret levels hidden throughout the game, where the player completes objectives against the clock. The player can compete against a ghost copy of their previous path through a level. There are no settings to change the game's difficulty, and the game saves to both the game cartridge itself and external storage.[2]
Development Edit
Reception Edit
Legacy Edit
Wakeley, the game's designer, considered making a sequel as an action combat game, but thought the concepts behind Blast Corps had been fully exhausted.[4] After praising the game in a 2010 Rare retrospective feature, Retro Gamer's writers craved a sequel.[17] The magazine said the title was proof of the company's inventiveness. Steve Ellis, who was a programmer at Rare, thought Blast Corps to be among the company's most underrated games, and though its physics were now dated, he continued to find the game fun enough to revisit regularly.[21] Blast Corps is included in Rare Replay, a compilation of 30 Rare titles, released on the Xbox One on August 4, 2015.[22] The release's bonus features included behind-the-scenes interviews with Blast Corps's developers.[23] Blast Corps was a standout favorite among Rare Replay reviewers.[24][25][26][27][28][29] Rare's Blast Corps began a run of seven highly lauded and respected Nintendo 64 games, including GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and Jet Force Gemini. Retro Gamer wrote that Rare had doubled the number of classic Nintendo 64 games and was an important alliance for Nintendo.[4] Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002 for a record price of $377 million.[4][30] The industry had changed, Blast Corps designer Martin Wakeley reflected a decade after the game's 1997 release. In 2009, Wakeley said, a studio would rarely entrust the scope of a project like Blast Corps to a team of four recent graduates.[4] The staff of Nintendo Power (1997) and IGN (2014) both listed Blast Corps in the bottom halves of their top 100 Nintendo games of all time.[31][32]
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The most exciting play in basketball somehow happens five times a game. It’s always Russell Westbrook grabbing a rebound or an outlet pass, then deciding to dribble 70–80 feet for another defiant layup. Does he care how many opponents might be in his way? Not really. Westbrook pushes the ball quickly, skipping along the court like a gymnast building momentum for a double salto with a twist. Right around midcourt, he throws on Terminator sunglasses and calculates the remaining dangers.
Three guys left, the one nearest to the rim is tallest … hmmmm … activate warp-speed mode … split the first two … go hard at the third … veer right at the last second, avoiding the rim protector who’s a split-second late … finish hard at the backboard … don’t careen into the camera guys.
Russ solves everything in 0.034 seconds, only as he does it, he transforms from the Terminator into a Tesla. Whooooooooosh. He always beats the first two guys because they’re backpedaling, and unlike Russ, they’re actually human beings. They never had a chance. But the third guy — he’s always taller and he’s determined to avoid ending up on YouTube or Twitter. He either wants to block the shot or plow into Russ like a strong safety. Russ isn’t making him look bad.
One problem: Suddenly, Russ is coming right at him. At 75 miles per hour.
The third guy didn’t expect … this. Instinctively, he loses his balance because that’s what normal human beings do whenever a machine seems intent on pancaking them. When that happens, Russ makes one of two last-second audibles: Either he veers by the defender and finishes (lefty or righty, doesn’t matter), or he lurches into him, draws contact and tries to finish the “And-1!” layup. Every 10th time, Westbrook’s robot wiring gets double-crossed and he accidentally bowls the dude over. The other nine times lead to a layup, a foul, a three-point play, or Russ blowing the layup and scowling at an official for the next 30 seconds.
In my lifetime, I have seen only four other basketball players turn one-on-three fast breaks into layups whenever they wanted: young Barkley, young Derrick Rose, Jordan, and LeBron. Russ shares basketball DNA with all four guys. Barkley was the closest thing we’ve had to a runaway freight train. Jordan sported the best combination of footwork, body control, hang time, and zero-to-60 speed (and one of the best brains, too). Rose and Westbrook are the two fastest guards I’ve ever seen. And LeBron, for years and years, was basically a taller, stronger, just-as-relentless version of Russ. (These days, he keeps that gear in the garage and breaks it out only for special moments.)
Still, LeBron has never had Westbrook’s insatiable hunger to score and keep scoring. Young LeBron aspired to be the queen of the chessboard; he wanted to be Magic, not Jordan. LeBron’s dream game was always 27 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds … and six teammates scoring in double figures. If he wanted to score 35 a game or average a triple-double, he could have done it. LeBron cares less about numbers than any all-timer since Bird and Magic — only once, when he spent the first two months of the 2012–13 season making a genuine effort to shoot 60 percent (and taking only lower-risk shots), did LeBron allow numbers to frame the way he played. Eventually, he realized that wasn’t him.
The opposite happened with Westbrook: Freed of sharing the ball with Kevin Durant, he’s chasing numbers like nobody has since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. In fact, even Wilt never hogged the ball like Westbrook does. Statistically, Russell Westbrook is the biggest ball hog of all time. He’s taken the delicate framework of a successful basketball team — five players working together, sharing the ball, making each other better — and thrown it out the window. He’s fueling a Thunder team that’s the complete opposite of the ’77 Blazers, ’86 Celtics, ’05 Suns and ’15 Warriors. He’s an indefatigable one-man show who treats his teammates like stage props.
And he’s incredible to watch. I just want to make that clear … in all caps … I AM ENJOYING THE LIVING HELL OUT OF THIS WESTBROOK SEASON. It’s a spectacular individual achievement that ranks right up there with everything Keanu pulled off in John Wick: Chapter 2. Russ is leaving a body count and doing everything himself. Repeat: everything.
But would you want to play on his team?
Any pickup basketball junkie has dealt with a more annoying, less redeeming version of Westbrook — the ball dominator who passes only when it’s impossible to shoot, but keeps winning because he’s just better than everyone else. You might arrive at the same time as this guy, and he might ask if you want to run with him. Your ensuing split-second decision: “If I say yes, I might get to stay on the court for three hours … but it’s NOT going to be that fun.”
You’re competitive. You say yes. You spend the next two games setting picks, grabbing rebounds and playing defense. (You’re Steven Adams.) You’re definitely getting good exercise. (You’re Andre Roberson.) Every so often, he throws you a pass because he’s triple-teamed; you’re expected to make a wide-open shot even though you’re ice-cold and barely remember what a basketball feels like. (You’re Alex Abrines.) Once in a while, he feels bad and passes you the ball, so you immediately try to create a shot because you never know when you’re getting the ball back again. (You’re Victor Oladipo.) And that’s just how it goes. At some point, you start checking out everyone on the sideline waiting for the next game.
Do they need a fifth? Wait, I know that guy! Should I hand-signal him that I want in?
Do Westbrook’s teammates feel that way? They seem to enjoy him, although we’ve seen force-of-nature superstars create NBA Stockholm syndrome before. (See: Bryant, Kobe.) When Durant fled for Golden State, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan realized two things: first, that Westbrook could carry an offense in an MJ-in-1988 kind of way, and second, that OKC’s best night-to-night chance meant serving the NBA’s version of In-N-Out’s menu. You can order only Russell Westbrook. That’s it. They serve Westbrook burgers with fries, sodas, and milkshakes. You can get the Westbrook burger lettuce-wrapped, animal style, double-double, whatever. Just know you’re getting Westbrook. Don’t ask for anything else.
When Jordan hogged the ball in 1987 (37.1 points a game), that was pickup basketball personified. When Kobe hogged the ball in 2006 (35.4 points per game, including the 81-pointer), the triangle provided some movement and spacing. Meanwhile, Donovan always wants Westbrook going downhill like he’s Ezekiel Elliott. So OKC spaces the floor in a decidedly more modern way, cramming one or two shooters in the corner and using one or two of Westbrook’s trickier teammates to set a maze of picks and moving screens. Many defenders go under those screens, hoping Westbrook’s erratic outside shot betrays him. If defenders go over, they risk Westbrook exploding into the paint. That’s where he can draw defenders and (sometimes) kick it back out to a shooter. It’s like In-N-Out — it’s simple, but it works.
The smartest teams pack the paint or rush second defenders at him; they want Westbrook’s competitiveness to overpower common sense. If he goes one-on-three, great. If he passes to a rusty shooter like Roberson (always a threat to take out the shot clock), even better. Occasionally, Donovan audibles by posting Westbrook up, just so he can unleash a step-back jumper or barge into the paint and flail his arms for a call. It’s the savviest ball hog offense ever created, and when you throw in Westbrook’s superhuman ability to produce layups and 3s in transition, it’s practically impossible for him NOT to score 30–35 points a night.
Now here’s where you say, “Wait, Westbrook is averaging 10 assists a game! How can Russ be a ball hog?” Assists tend to mean someone is unselfish, right? My counter: Hogging the ball only means you always have the ball … right? In only 35 minutes per game, Westbrook doesn’t just dominate the basketball; it’s more like 50 Shades of Westbrook.
Take Tuesday night, for example. Portland 126, Oklahoma City 121. Westbrook played 36 of 48 minutes, jacked 39 shots, took 16 free throws, scored 58 points and assisted on another 24. This ESPN piece mentions that “the Thunder were outscored by 12 points with Westbrook off the court,” and that, “it’s clear he had little help from teammates, who struggled to make shots when Westbrook was not involved.” Along with his impossible triple-double quest, that’s been the MVP narrative for Westbrook: He does everything! He’s carrying a subpar team every night! It’s a chicken vs. egg thing. Maybe Westbrook’s teammates struggle because he insists on doing everything.
I watched Tuesday night’s game and charted the second half. Westbrook played 18 of 24 minutes, took 24 shots and 13 free throws, committed two turnovers, assisted on four baskets (all open looks) and made three more passes that directly led to misses. Twice, the Thunder veered away from him and ran I-feel-bad-you-take-it plays for Oladipo, who shot the ball within three seconds, like always, because he never knew if he’d see it again. Once, Semaj Christon got blocked on a non-Westbrook fast-break layup. Once, Enes Kanter turned it over on a post-up. And once, Adams rebounded a missed Westbrook free throw and drew a foul. (Does that even count as a possession?) That’s it for the non-Russ plays. When Westbrook was in the game, he single-handedly decided 39 of OKC’s 44 second-half possessions.
Oh … and they lost.
Asking your best guard to do everything has never really worked. When I was growing up, Oscar Robertson’s triple-double and Tiny Archibald’s points/assists title were two of the league’s “Wow!” records. In those seasons, their teams finished a combined 79–83. Isiah Thomas was the best pure point guard of my childhood, but his Pistons never competed for titles until Thomas scaled back his offense and involved everyone else. Thomas, Magic and Steph Curry are the only three point guards who won NBA titles when they were their team’s best player.
Playoff teams can succeed with a guard doing almost everything (like James Harden), or if he’s always deciding who gets the ball, and how, and where (like the best John Stockton/CP3 seasons). Once you activate full ball hog mode, without exception, your NBA ceiling lowers. Consider …
Basketball-Reference tracks usage rate back to 1978, with Jordan posting the highest career rate (33.3 percent); only nine other players topped 30 percent. (Bird and Magic, the two post-Russell teammates you’d have wanted over everyone else in basketball history, rank 48th and 202nd, respectively.) Only six guys logged more than 2,200 minutes in one season with a usage rate over 36 percent: Jordan in 1987 (38.3 percent), Iverson in 2002 (37.8 percent), Kobe in 2006 (38.7 percent), Wade in 2009 (36.2 percent), Westbrook in 2015 (38.4 percent) and Westbrook this season (42.3 percent — easily the record). None of them won more than 45 games or made it out of Round 1.
In the past 50 seasons, only four players averaged at least 24.5 field goal attempts and 10 free throw attempts: MJ in 1987 (27.8/11.9); Iverson in 2001 (25.5/10.1) and 2006 (25.3/11.5); Kobe in 2006 (27.2/10.2); and Westbrook (24.5/10.9). Only Iverson’s 56-win 2000–01 Sixers team did any damage — they snuck into the 2001 Finals after the league rigged it so a better Bucks team wouldn’t make it. (I’m kidding. Kind of.) The league wasn’t nearly as deep in 2001, especially in the East. And Iverson averaged a bewildering 42.0 minutes per game, so his usage rate (35.9 percent) pales in comparison with Westbrook’s record rate (42.3 percent). But that’s the only “success” story.
Only four players had per-36 minute averages of 30-plus points, 25-plus field goal attempts and 10.5-plus free throw attempts: Wilt Chamberlain in 1962 (37.4/29.3/12.6) and 1963 (33.9/26.2/10.5); Elgin Baylor in 1962 (31.0/26.9/10.7); Michael Jordan in 1987 (33.4/25.0/10.7); and Westbrook in 2017 (33.1/25.3/11.2). Not even 2006 Kobe (23.9/9.0) made the cut. (And you thought 2006 Kobe would be the signature ball hog of the 21st century! By the way, I voted for him for MVP that year. Kobe gave great ball hog.)
Assist percentage estimates one player’s percentage of his team’s assists (excluding his own points, of course). Most quality playmakers hover in the 35 percent to 45 percent range. Only six players averaged 10 points per game with an assist percentage of 50 percent or higher: John Stockton (seven times), Steve Nash (four times), Chris Paul (three times), Rajon Rondo, Harden and Westbrook. Only three topped 54 percent: CP3 in 2009 (54.5 percent); Stockton four different times (peaking at 57.5 percent in 1991); and Westbrook in 2017 (56.0 percent). I know, it’s insane. Hold this thought.
If we created a stat called “The Westbrook” and just added usage rate and assist percentage together, Westbrook’s 98.3 crushes everybody — other than Westbrook’s 2015 season (85.4), only 2017 Harden (84.7), 2009 Chris Paul (82), 2016 Westbrook (81.2), 2016 Paul (79.8), 2008 Paul (77.9), 2017 John Wall (77.7), 2009 Wade (76.5) and 2010 LeBron (75.3) come remotely close.
To recap: Westbrook plays 75 percent of every game, and when he plays, he shoots more than just about anyone ever, and assists on a higher percentage of his team’s baskets than just about anyone ever. Adding those two pieces of information together, then including usage rate, we can safely say that Westbrook dominates the basketball more than anyone else ever has.
Related Early Grades for NBA Deadline Deals
Again … is that ultimately a good thing? Since 1977, I found seven stars on contending teams (including Harden this season) who had signature seasons that hit the following benchmarks: 30-plus usage rate, 25-plus assist percentage, 25-plus PPG and a 110-plus offensive rating. (Note: I cheated and allowed the best two LeBron seasons and the best two Jordan seasons because those dudes should count twice.) Only LeBron’s epic 2010 season veered anywhere close to Westbrook in 2017.
From there, I picked memorable seasons on non-contenders that hit the following benchmarks: 30-plus usage rate, 22-plus assist percentage, 28-plus PPG, 111-plus offensive rating. 2002 Iverson falls outside those criteria, but I included him anyway. Other than 1987 Jordan, everyone’s team finished .500 or better.
Pay close attention to the usage rate and assist percentage in those charts. Westbrook stands out like Steroid Era Barry Bonds does on any power/OBP leaderboard, only his head hasn’t swelled in size and he hasn’t changed his style or intensity. (He’s just DOING more, plus Durant isn’t around.) It all makes sense. And it’s not like we didn’t see this coming.
Here’s the problem: If you want to make the Finals, or come close, there’s little chance this level of ball hoggery can actually work. I love that Harden’s season is happening concurrently because that’s about as far as you want to take a one-man show. He’s a more efficient shooter than Westbrook (a .620 true shooting percentage, as opposed to Westbrook’s .548) and our only answer to the question, “What if we created Manu Ginobili 2.0 and gave him Chris Mullin’s vision and LeBron’s staggering durability?” And he’s a more creative passer than Westbrook; I would put Harden on LeBron’s level at this point. You’d never watch a clip of Westbrook assists, but you’d definitely watch this.
Harden brings out the best of everyone, much like Nash did in Phoenix with better teammates and the same coach. His supporting cast is better than Westbrook’s group, but not by much: Patrick Beverley (splendid role player, world-class agitator); Clint Capela (rim protection, screen-and-rolls); Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson (reborn as dead-eye shooters); Lou Williams (another elite 3s-and-free-throws guy); and so on. Even if Harden hogs the ball about 70–75 percent as much as Westbrook does, the calibration feels better. It looks like a basketball team.
Oklahoma City isn’t doomed because of Westbrook’s supporting cast; it’s doomed because of how it regards his supporting cast. Like his henchmen, basically. You don’t remember them any more than you’d remember, say, the names of the bad guys in three Taken movies. Few of them are getting better; if anything, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Andre Roberson are exactly the same or getting worse. I left last year’s playoffs expecting Adams to become basketball’s best young center. This season, he’s been a glorified sidekick.
The biggest problem with ball hog basketball: Eventually, everyone else atrophies. The supporting guys stop thinking independently; when they’re asked to step up, it’s difficult to flick on that “OK, I’m good!” switch. I’m fascinated by OKC’s offense when Westbrook rests — how Domantas Sabonis says to himself, “It’s my only chance to post up and try a jump hook!”, or Kanter gets to become an instant low-post beast, or Oladipo (who’s adjusted to Westbrook about as well as you can expect) creates a little slash-and-kick on his own. Of course they’re worse without Westbrook on the floor; playing with Westbrook is like being one of the kids in that SNL sketch where the parents chew the food for their kids. Hey Steven Adams — here comes some corn!
The second problem with ball hog basketball: The ball hog’s teammates know they aren’t as good as he is. Again, Westbrook is amazing. Twice this season, he demolished my beloved Celtics with some of the best I-have-giant-balls crunch-time offense I’ve ever seen. Even longtime Boston announcer Tommy Heinsohn, who abhors one-on-one basketball, left the second game gushing about Westbrook’s brilliance and never-ending gas tank (which ranks up there with LeBron, and that’s about it). How does Russ never get tired? Does he sweat? Does he even have sweat glands? Does he sleep? Does he bleed? Has anyone ever seen what happens to Westbrook during a power blackout?
You need a mega-tank to pull off a truly stupefying feat: with a month to play, Westbrook has a strong chance to finish with a 32–10–10. (Put his insane rebounding number on the shelf — we’ll discuss it in four weeks when it’s MVP time.) I hate ball hog basketball, but I’ve also never seen a better version of it. Could OKC honestly contend for a title playing this way? They’d need Oladipo to blossom into a signature second star. They’d need two dead-eye shooters along the lines of Gordon and Anderson. And they’d need to dramatically improve the Roberson spot with an elite 3-and-D guy. (In crunch time, when he’s crammed in the corner, opponents leave him so wide open that it almost seems like he wandered off the bench.) That just-spread-the-floor-for-Russ offense COULD work. He’s that good. But he’d have to dial it back about 20 percent, if only for the sake of building teammates up.
And that’s where the dream falls apart. Night after night, Westbrook seems to be driven by points and rebounds and assists, as well as the thought of ramming every box score down Durant’s Bay Area–loving throat. His chase for numbers fully consumed him. Even in the All-Star Game, he couldn’t dial it back. It’s unclear if he can play any other way. Maybe this was Russell Westbrook all along.
In my opinion, these were the best eight postseasons of the past 40 years by someone who (a) won the title, (b) topped a 23 usage rate and a 25 assist percentage, (c) averaged more than 21 points, and (d) topped a 110 offensive rating. Anyway …
Except for MJ’s unforgettable 1993 run (including six games against Riley’s rough-and-tumble Knicks), the usage rates hover between 23 and 33. ’91 Jordan had the best and most efficient blend of everything. I can’t imagine anyone ever matching Magic’s ’87 postseason — it’s the best blend of unselfishness and scoring efficiency. Nobody approached Westbrook’s current workload or came close. Meanwhile, these are the best postseasons by non-champs who played at least 14 games, topped a 26.5 usage rate and a 29 assist percentage, averaged 23.5 points and topped a 110 offensive rating (along with LeBron’s wild 2015 postseason + Iverson’s semi-iconic, critically maligned 2001 run).
Hmmm. LeBron’s 2015 season (which happened partly because of Cleveland’s injuries), LeBron’s 2009 season (when Cleveland got derailed by a red-hot Orlando team) and Westbrook’s 2016 season come the closest. And actually, Westbrook came within a series-saving Klay Thompson mega-heat check of maybe winning the 2016 title. One problem: He had Durant. That’s not happening again.
So there’s no modern track record of a perimeter player carrying Westbrook’s offensive burden while contending for a title. OKC’s only silver lining: We’ve never seen an NBA season like this one, either. It’s the Moreyball generation of 3s and free throws, one that overvalues perimeter guys and severely undervalues centers and low-post players. Everyone wants slash-and-kick creators and shooters now, and if you glance around the league, the most important assets after our seven superstars (KD, Russ, LeBron, Harden, Curry, Anthony Davis and Kawhi) are point guards, shooters and fledgling unicorns. If you drafted rosters from scratch for a new 30-team league, the first center might not go until the 15–20 range… and it’s probably Nikola Jokic, who just became an impact guy five minutes ago.
Have we entered basketball’s version of baseball’s steroid boom? Will the new scoring/usage/shooting numbers have any correlation whatsoever to the old ones? Can we even compare eras anymore? Could a ball hog make history by ball hogging his way to an NBA title?
My gut says no. I believe Westbrook finishes with a 32–10–10, gets linked with Oscar forever … and gets bounced in Round 1. That will happen next season as well, and the season after that, and every other season until he slows down or his teammates improve. Russell Westbrook ain’t changing. And I swear, that isn’t a dig. You can’t put a price on those random League Pass nights when the Russ volcano starts bubbling over, like last week against Utah, when the Jazz were cruising to a victory before Westbrook decided, “Actually, NO” and scored every time until OKC prevailed. Unbelievable. Remarkable. Up there with Jordan, Kobe, you name it. And he’s doing it routinely.
For all the bad blood between Durant and Westbrook, and all the pain it caused Oklahoma City (and maybe each other, too), their divorce worked out beautifully if you love the NBA. Assuming Durant comes back healthy and happy for the playoffs, both guys ended up getting what they wanted — even if they never admitted as much. Kevin Durant believed there was another level of basketball out there, that he could evolve as a two-way superstar on a remarkably unselfish basketball team. And Russell Westbrook believed that he didn’t need Kevin Durant. They were both right.
Stats current through Wednesday morning.
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Maryland's insurance regulator issued a bulletin Tuesday clarifying that while insurance policies in the state do not have to cover treatments related to gender reassignment, insurance carriers cannot discriminate against transgender Marylanders based on their gender identities.
The bulletin addresses an exclusion in the plan Maryland used to define "essential benefits" that insurance in policies in Maryland are required to cover under the Affordable Care Act.
In the plan, the Maryland Insurance Administration allowed insurers to exclude "treatment leading to or in connection with transsexualism, or sex changes or modifications" including sexual reassignment surgery.
Tuesday's bulletin specifies the exclusion cannot be used to deny coverage for services or items to transgender policyholders "on the basis of [their] actual or perceived gender identity."
The Maryland Insurance Administration's bulletin is similar to a clarification issued by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2012. At the time, HHS confirmed the Affordable Care Act's anti-discrimination protections also forbid discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
According to the bulletin, the essential benefit benchmark plan's exclusion can still be applied to "items and services that are directly related to the gender reassignment process."
Currently, insurance commissioners in five other states and the District of Columbia require policies issued in their jurisdictions to cover transition-related health services if they cover those same treatments for other medical conditions.
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This article is part of our special report An Erasmus for SMEs to support the economy.
European project MobiliseSME showed the potential of a cross-border exchange program for small and medium-sized businesses in Europe. It is now important that this idea is continued with an Erasmus for SMEs, so as to help European companies make the best of the Single Market, writes Stefan Moritz.
Stefan Moritz is Managing Director of the European confederation of small and medium-sized entreprises, CEA-PME.
The European Union Single Market is the largest free trade area in the world and it hosts around 23 million small and medium-sized businesses. These businesses, in 2015 alone, generated €3.9 trillion and employed 90 million people – they are the backbone of the European economy. For the European union and its member states to thrive, SMEs must also be able to thrive.
Much has already been done in this direction as companies in Europe can access customers from every country in the European Economic Area while at the same time finding the most convenient providers for goods and services.
However, the legislative framework has only removed legal obstacles and export fees but still too many small and medium-sized companies are facing other, more practical hurdles. According to the European Commission’s Annual Report on European SMEs of 2016, only half of these firms export in the Single Market, and the absolute of majority of those still have only very little export activities.
European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME believes that one solution to overcome these hurdles would be to help SMEs connect with each other across borders more easily. Stronger connections among companies in different European countries would naturally lead to more competitive businesses able to respond to the challenges of globalisation.
There is a tested and tried method to do that: the EU has a history in successfully connecting citizens and institution in different Member States with exchange programs.
This is idea that lead to the project MobiliseSME, which aimed at exploring and evaluating the interest in and benefits of an exchange program for the employees of Micro, Small and Medium-sized businesses in Europe.
The project included a pilot exchange scheme that allowed participating companies to send one of their employees to work in another company abroad for a period between two weeks and two months. This exchange was structured around a learning plan that enabled the staff of the two companies to share knowledge and acquire new competences.
The scheme was hugely successful – enterprises felt they benefitted greatly from it as it helped them to find new business partners and develop new products and services. Employees are convinced it strengthened their professional profile (more information available at the MobiliseSME in Practice report).
MobiliseSME just explored an idea but it is clear from the results that it would be a real missed opportunity not to continue with a mobility scheme for SMEs and their employees in Europe.
Currently there is no European scheme that enables them to go cross-border, as they often do not qualify to join programs like Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. The same is true for more experienced staff members, who also have limited possibility to access international training offers via national or European programmes.
MobiliseSME showed a path to design a permanent EU programme of this kind: an “Erasmus for SMEs and their employees”. It is already possible to say what some of its key elements should be:
MobiliseSME showed that the exchange time should be flexible, allowing employees to stay abroad for a period between a few weeks and a few months. Each exchange should be structured around a learning programme devised by the two companies, with the clear goal of providing training to either the visiting or the hosting staff.
The programme should be supported by a European network of local association with strong contacts with SMEs in the local territories of each member state.
The project showed this network is necessary to make sure enough companies would be informed about it to make it a viable programme and, at the same time, to provide the necessary advice and support to make sure exchanges would develop from an intention to a fact.
An online tool for the matchmaking of companies is also necessary. The Matchmaking Platform used by MobiliseSME showed the utility of such a tool not only for companies to find partners for exchange but also for the supporting organisations to get the necessary feedback and information to provide a tailored service to registered businesses.
The Member States and the European Institutions are now debating the structure of the future multiannual financial framework. We strongly believe this is the time to design an “Erasmus for SMEs and their employees” and to make sure resources are set in place to enable SMEs to really take advantage of the potential of the Single Market. If necessary, one path for designing it could be another project scaling up the initial work of MobiliseSME.
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I don’t have time to do a review of Thomas Piketty’s magisterial work on income and wealth inequality, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, but fortunately, everyone who’s anyone has already done it for me. While I continue to slog my way through its 700 pages, here are several illuminating reviews:
Randall Holcombe’s continuing series of posts at The Beacon are generally good, but his second was the best, pointing out the most fundamental problems with Piketty’s analysis: first, capital is heterogeneous, and second, its value is contingent on its revenue stream, not vice-versa. This matters because the value of capital depends on what it is and how it is employed. There is no fixed stream of revenue attached to assets merely by virtue of their existence.
Capital does not have some value, which then earns a return to provide income to the owners of capital. Rather, capital consists of productive assets that generate a return, and the value of the stock of capital is determined by the return it generates, rather than, as Piketty depicts it, the return being determined by its value. This makes a difference because it misrepresents how capital owners earn their incomes. In fact, capital must be allocated to productive uses in order to generate a return, and the job of the capital owner is to allocate that capital as productively as possible. … This general idea that capital does not just earn a rate of return, but has to be employed in productive activity by its owner, plays no role in the way Piketty analyses his extensive data set on inequality. Piketty makes it appear that earning a return on capital is a passive activity in which, by virtue of owning capital that has some value β, capital owners receive a flow of income α.
Larry Summers ‘ review is one of the best, and I believe he fairly characterizes Piketty’s historical research on capital, income, and inequality as Nobel-prize worthy–and his doomsday prophecies about the inherent contradictions in capitalism as largely unfounded. I hesitate to summarize it here, but Summers points out some questionable assumptions in Piketty’s thesis: it assumes that the returns to capital are constant (or decline very slowly), that returns are reinvested, and that all capital is income-generating.
Economists universally believe in the law of diminishing returns. As capital accumulates, the incremental return on an additional unit of capital declines. The crucial question goes to what is technically referred to as the elasticity of substitution. With 1 percent more capital and the same amount of everything else, does the return to a unit of capital relative to a unit of labor decline by more or less than 1 percent? If, as Piketty assumes, it declines by less than 1 percent, the share of income going to capital rises. If, on the other hand, it declines by more than 1 percent, the share of capital falls. …But I think he misreads the literature by conflating gross and net returns to capital. It is plausible that as the capital stock grows, the increment of output produced declines slowly, but there can be no question that depreciation increases proportionally. And it is the return net of depreciation that is relevant for capital accumulation. I know of no study suggesting that measuring output in net terms, the elasticity of substitution is greater than 1, and I know of quite a few suggesting the contrary. … The largest single component of capital in the United States is owner-occupied housing. Its return comes in the form of the services enjoyed by the owners—what economists call “imputed rent”—which are all consumed rather than reinvested since they do not take a financial form. The phenomenon is broader. The determinants of levels of consumer spending have been much studied by macroeconomists. The general conclusion of the research is that an increase of $1 in wealth leads to an additional $.05 in spending. This is just enough to offset the accumulation of returns that is central to Piketty’s analysis.
Tyler Cowen’s review in Foreign Affairs brings up the flaws that others noted–notably, that risk determines return return, that returns are not automatic, that capital is not homogeneous–and tackles Piketty’s policy recommendation to solve rising inequality through a global wealth tax.
Furthermore, even if one overlooks Piketty’s hazy definition of the rate of return, it is difficult to share his confidence that the rate, however one defines it, is likely to be higher than the growth rate of the economy. Normally, economists think of the rate of return on capital as diminishing as investors accumulate more capital, since the most profitable investment opportunities are taken first. … The more prosaic reality is that most capital stays in its home country and also has a hard time beating randomly selected stocks. For those reasons, the future of capital income looks far less glamorous than Piketty argues. … Piketty’s focus on the capital-to-income ratio is novel and worthwhile. But his book does not convincingly establish that the ratio is important or revealing enough to serve as the key to understanding significant social change. If wealth keeps on rising relative to income, but wages also go up, most people will be happy. Of course, in the past few decades, median wages have been stagnant in many developed countries, including the United States. But the real issue, then, is wages — not wealth. … A more sensible and practicable policy agenda for reducing inequality would include calls for establishing more sovereign wealth funds, which Piketty discusses but does not embrace; for limiting the tax deductions that noncharitable nonprofits can claim; for deregulating urban development and loosening zoning laws, which would encourage more housing construction and make it easier and cheaper to live in cities such as San Francisco and, yes, Paris; for offering more opportunity grants for young people; and for improving education. Creating more value in an economy would do more than wealth redistribution to combat the harmful effects of inequality.
Martin Feldstein’s review in the Wall Street Journal argues that Piketty’s analysis of income using tax return data (which is truly a valuable contribution to the literature on inequality) ignores the fact that taxable income is not equivalent to real income and that major changes to the tax code in the 1980s accounts for much of the perceived rise income inequality by causing income earners to shift their compensation mix from different income categories, like tax-sheltered C-corporations, exempt government bonds, or health benefits, to taxable categories. Moreover, looking at pre-tax income levels excludes the effect of progressive taxes and transfer payments, which is how our system is already designed to reduce inequality. ( Jared Bernstein at the NYT dismisses this moderating effect because… well. Read it yourself.)
These changes in taxpayer behavior substantially increased the amount of income included on the returns of high-income individuals. This creates the false impression of a sharp rise in the incomes of high-income taxpayers even though there was only a change in the legal form of that income. … Mr. Piketty’s practice of comparing the incomes of top earners with total national income has another flaw. National income excludes the value of government transfer payments including Social Security, health benefits and food stamps that are a large and growing part of the personal incomes of low- and middle-income households.
Scott Winship’s review in Forbes raises many problems Piketty’s use of tax return data for incomes below the top 10% because it misses a lot of non-taxable income and non-monetary compensation, but also because it looks at individual tax returns, not households. He takes to task equality warriors who use Piketty and Saez’s tax data to argue that the bottom 90% of incomes have stagnated since the 1970s. He finds that using Census Bureau data for households and controlling for taxes, benefits, and transfers, median incomes have risen quite a bit in the last three decades.
When I incorporate these improvements using the Census Bureau data, I find that median post-tax and -transfer income rose by nearly $26,000 for a household of four ($13,000 for a household of one) between 1979 and 2012. If you don’t like the household-size adjustment, the non-adjusted increase was over $20,000 at the median. If you think that valuing health care as income is problematic, that figure drops to $10,400 under the implausible assumption that third-party health care benefits have no value to households. The income of the bottom 90 percent rose nearly $12,000 under that assumption instead of dropping by $3,000 as in the Piketty and Saez data, and it rose by nearly $21,000 if health benefits are included. For a household of four, median market income for non-elderly households (not counting employer-provided health care as income) rose $9,400.
Chris Giles in the Financial Times claims to have found serious, basic, and damning errors in Piketty’s data.
Prof Piketty, 43, provides detailed sourcing for his estimates of wealth inequality in Europe and the US over the past 200 years. In his spreadsheets, however, there are transcription errors from the original sources and incorrect formulas. It also appears that some of the data are cherry-picked or constructed without an original source. For example, once the FT cleaned up and simplified the data, the European numbers do not show any tendency towards rising wealth inequality after 1970. An independent specialist in measuring inequality shared the FT’s concerns.
I’ll continue to update this post with any other worthwhile discussions of Pikettyism.
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His Halo In Pieces is the new song by Austrian ambient / postrock act OUR CEASING VOICE. The band should is of the rising postrock acts of Europe and definitely the band of this genre in Austria – their home country. If you are into postrock, ambient and last but not least shoegaze sounds, His Halo In Pieces is a song you will fall in love with.
What about his halo? What about your halo? Find it out by listening to the exclusive premiere of OUR CEASING VOICE‘s His Halo In Pieces – an unreleased bonus track from the band’s debut EP Steadied Stars In The Morphium Sky. On Junary 18 2013 OUR CEASING VOICE will release their new album That Day Last November via Frontal Noize (CD) and Truelove & Revolvermann Records (vinyl).
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OUR CEASING VOICE
[one_half last=”no”]
postrock / ambient / shoegaze
from Innsbruck / Wien, Austria
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Bandcamp | Facebook | Homepage | Twitter
[/one_half]
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The American government has cited Chinese Internet controls as a trade barrier in a report that comes as Beijing tries to block its public from seeing news online about the finances of leaders’ families.
Chinese filters, which block access to websites including the Google search engine and social media such as Twitter, are a “significant burden” on businesses, the US Trade Representative said in an annual report on trade conditions.
It gave no indication Washington plans to take action but highlights the economic cost of pervasive Chinese censorship that also draws criticism from human rights and pro-democracy activists.
On such issues, Washington is at odds with Beijing, which sees strict control over information as essential to protecting the Communist Party’s monopoly on power.
China restricts access to online materials by requiring traffic to pass through state-controlled gateways linked to the global Internet. Controls have been tightened since President Xi Jinping became party leader in 2012.
The filters, known informally as the Great Firewall of China, are in line with Beijing’s advocacy of “Internet sovereignty,” or allowing governments to impose control on the freewheeling Internet within their borders.
Xi called in a speech in December for the creation of a global “governance system” for cyberspace.
This week, Chinese Web users have been blocked from seeing news reports about documents from a law firm in Panama that say relatives of political figures including Xi own offshore companies.
State media have carried brief reports on the revelations but with no mention of Chinese figures.
Chinese regulators block access not just to websites operated by human rights or pro-democracy activists but also to dozens of news, entertainment and social media services that operate freely in other countries.
“Outright blocking of websites appears to have worsened over the past year, with eight of the top 25 most-trafficked global sites now blocked in China,” the USTR says in its National Trade Estimate.
It said much of the blocking appears to be arbitrary, including a home improvement website in the United States.
Asked about the complaint, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing welcomes foreign investment and protects the rights of foreign companies.
“Polices aimed at attracting foreign investment will not change, nor will policies to protect their lawful rights and interests and to create a good business environment,” said Hong Lei on Friday at a regular briefing. “We hope all countries can respect another nation’s choice of the route for Internet development, Internet management and Internet public policy, as well as its right to participate in regulating the international Internet.”
Foreign and local companies in China that rely on the Internet for sales, accounting and other internal functions complain the filters hinder their operations.
Almost 80 percent of companies that responded to a survey released in January by the American Chamber of Commerce in China said they were “negatively impacted” by the controls.
More than half said they were blocked from using online tools or accessing information. Only 5 percent said they were not hindered in any way.
Chinese also complain the filters hamper their ability to interact with customers or business partners abroad or apply to foreign universities. Some get around the filters by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, that route traffic through unblocked websites, but Beijing has begun to block them as well.
“This censorship not only prevents this country’s people from getting information quickly, but it also, bit by bit, isolates China’s Internet companies internationally,” said a posting on the Sina Weibo social media service signed by Bao Beibei, an investment manager for a Beijing technology company.
US officials previously have labeled Beijing’s Internet controls a barrier to business but have yet to file a complaint in the World Trade Organization or take other action.
In 2011, the US trade envoy, Ron Kirk, asked Beijing to explain its controls, citing WTO rules that require member governments to publish details of restrictions that might affect business. Kirk said the filters create “commercial barriers” that hurt US companies.
The USTR never indicated whether Chinese authorities replied.
In 2009, a WTO panel ruled China’s censorship system for movies improperly restricted imports and Beijing promised to change it.
Chinese authorities have released few details of how they pick which online material to block.
When asked about specific incidents, government spokespeople sometimes suggest a technical problem abroad must be to blame. However, researchers have traced some blockages to servers operated by state-owned China Telecom Ltd.
The controls have allowed Chinese Internet services such as search engine Baidu to flourish by blocking or slowing access to foreign competitors such as Google that dominate other global markets.
Last Update: Friday, 8 April 2016 KSA 14:44 - GMT 11:44
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On Tuesday night, Leicester’s away days woes continued. The Foxes now have the worst away record of any Premier League champion at this stage of a title defence, having only managed one point from their eight away league matches this season. Bournemouth were the latest side to stick the knife in as they bounced back from the weekend 3-2 loss at Burnley to secure a 1-0 victory to lift them into the top half of the table and a fourth clean sheet from eight outings at the Vitality Stadium this season. Eddie Howe’s side struggled on home soil in England’s top tier last term, but with 16 points to their name in front of their fans, Bournemouth have one of the best home records in the Premier League this time around.
Adopting a recruitment plan of bringing in primarily young players over the summer was a risky approach for the Cherries, but it’s evidently having a positive effect on the team. One of those signed over the summer - abeit on loan - to impress has been Nathan Ake. His move to Bournemouth promised regular game time in a developing side under one of England’s most promising managers, but Howe’s settled defence meant the 21-year-old initially struggled to force his way into the starting XI.
Indeed, before November, Ake’s only Premier League action were two sub appearances late on against West Ham and Crystal Palace, totalling 13 minutes. Ultimately, it took a suspension to Adam Smith for the young defender to be drafted into the starting XI and he hasn’t looked back. Peripheral players at times need a stroke of luck to be handed the opportunity to impress and Ake has grabbed that chance with both hands. His first league start of the season came in the 1-0 win at Stoke City last month - a game he scored the only goal and was named WhoScored man of the match in. The defender has since started Bournemouth’s last four Premier League games following his first league start of the campaign at the Bet365 Stadium.
Howe’s decision to continue with Ake has been rewarded also, with the defender’s WhoScored rating from starts only (7.51) better than any Bournemouth player to feature from the off more than once in England’s top tier this term. That rating as a starter is also better than any Premier League player aged 21 and under to start more than one game this campaign with Ake clearly continuing his good from from last season. During his time at Watford, the on-loan defender gained a respectable WhoScored rating of 7.15, the second best of all players for the Hornets and now that he’s had his chance to impress, he’s proving just how capable a defender he is.
When factoring in his two appearances off the bench, Ake’s average of 2.1 tackles per game is second only to Harry Arter (2.5) of all Bournemouth players. Considering the team as a whole are averaging 15.8 tackles per game, the second fewest, Howe needs players who are willing to roll up their sleeves and perform the physical responsibilities within the side, which Ake is evidently doing. The proactive side to his game has also been exhibited with 6.9 clearances per match second of all Bournemouth players this season. Given his versatility, with the Dutchman able to play centre-back and left-back, Ake is showing the sort of form that could earn him a place in the current Chelsea setup.
Blues boss Antonio Conte has previous with bringing players from the outside back in, with Victor Moses now a key man following the Italian’s appointment and decision to swap to a three-man defence. With Gary Cahill now 30 and his form faltering somewhat, his spot on the left side of the back three is certainly up for grabs. Of course, Ake would face competition from the returning Kurt Zouma and fellow loanee Andreas Christensen, who is impressing with Borussia Monchengladbach, but Ake’s top-flight experience would appeal to Conte.
With the Chelsea manager favouring an approach that sees his side play out from the back, the Bournemouth man fits the bill with his pass success rate (85.8%) the third best for the Cherries. Furthermore, of the 43.4 passes per start Ake is averaging this term, 19.6 are going forward and this highlights a need to get the ball forward from defence to help attack opponents. Comparatively, of all Chelsea players, Azpilicueta tops the forward passes per start (27.5) metric, with Cahill (20.4) second. In a Chelsea side that averages more possession (53.8%) than Bournemouth (51.6%), it’s hardly a surprise to see the current Blues pair bettering Ake’s figures, but that being said; the latter’s return is incredibly respectable.
Ake’s current loan deal expires at the end of the season, but Howe would undoubtedly like to keep the youngster on beyond that. After all, three of Bournemouth’s six league wins this term have come with Ake starting, with his two goals guiding the Cherries to four additional points. However, with Chelsea yet to extend John Terry’s current deal, which expires in June, and Branislav Ivanovic widely expected to be shown the Stamford Bridge exit next summer, Conte won’t want to run the risk of being caught short at the back. With Zouma closing in on a return to full fitness with each passing week and Christensen expected to fight for a place for his parent club next term, Ake could follow suit with Conte looking to inject some youthful exuberance into his ageing backline.
“Chelsea is a big club and, at my age, it’s difficult to break through,” Ake said prior to Bournemouth’s win over Leicester on Tuesday night. His age, though, could count in his favour, while his experience in England’s top tier is a benefit to both he and his parent club. For now, though, Bournemouth are the beneficiaries of Ake’s excellent form, with the centre-back excelling having been gifted a starting berth.
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You might’ve noticed there hasn’t been much in the way of hitting lately. As always in the playoffs, the samples are small, but numbers are numbers, and I was thinking about putting together a post on the subject. Then Dave put together a post on the subject! He addressed a lot of what I wanted to address, so, go ahead and read that. Relative to the regular season, playoff hitting has so far come in surprisingly low. Or, maybe not so surprisingly low, if the image you have in your head when you think about the playoffs is the face of Andrew Miller.
When I was thinking about my original post, I envisioned a plot much like the one Dave included. What I did instead was dig a bit deeper. In reality, you can’t so easily just compare playoff teams to teams in the regular season, because the teams and players alive in October belong to subgroups. What if you just examine the subgroups? So, that’s what this is.
So much of this was made possible by the Baseball-Reference Play Index. Use it and love it. It’s great! I used the Play Index here to examine playoff players in the wild-card era, stretching back to 1995. I wanted to know about the true talent of playoff hitters, so for every playoff player in every year, I found his regular-season wRC+, and then I weighted by playoff plate appearances. Here now are the “actual” year-to-year playoff league wRC+ marks.
I don’t think I’ve done a great job of explaining this. Let’s take 2016. The line for 2016 settles on a wRC+ of 108. That means that the players who have batted so far in the playoffs averaged a regular-season wRC+ of 108, once you weight by playing time. It shouldn’t be a surprise the group is better than average, because better players than average make it to the postseason. And, yeah, I could arguably do even better than this by folding in a wRC+ projection instead of a single-year sample, but, I can’t imagine that would add very much.
What we see here is fairly stable. Playoff hitters sort of hit a trough there in 2005 – 2006, and they peaked in 2011, but there’s not so much volatility. The average over the whole era is 109. This year’s 108 is right there. Playoff hitters, overall, are about 8 – 10% better than average, as they should be. There’s not so much room for your utility or Quad-A types when the games are so important.
After I finished looking at hitters, I turned my attention to pitchers. Following pretty much the same methodology, I looked at both ERA- and FIP- for the regular seasons, this time weighting by playoff innings. You’re with me? You’re with me! Here’s the goods.
Remember that an ordinary playoff hitter is around 9% better than average. By ERA, an ordinary playoff pitcher is around 20% better than average. By FIP, an ordinary playoff pitcher is around 14% better than average. This is one of the reasons why run production is almost always down this time of year — the pitchers are simply better than the hitters, relative to what’s usual. Why the gap between ERA- and FIP-, here? Part of it’s probably just selection for lower ERAs; lower ERAs are sexy, and lower ERAs help get teams to the playoffs. There’s also the probability that playoff teams have slightly better defenses than average. Defense is the least-important team component out of the three major ones, but it should still be somewhat positively correlated with success.
Focus now on 2016 in particular. This month’s playoff pitchers averaged a weighted regular-season ERA- of 72. That’s the lowest mark in the whole era. This month’s playoff pitchers also averaged a weighted regular-season FIP- of 80. That, too, is the lowest mark in the whole era. The average playoff hitter has the same wRC+ as Gregory Polanco. The average playoff pitcher is more like Masahiro Tanaka or Max Scherzer. The pitching has gotten really good, and as Dave brought up, at least part of this presumably has to do with more aggressive bullpen use. The more teams are able to use their best relievers, the harder it’s going to be to score runs. That’s obvious, and I’m guessing it’s going to be part of a trend.
To close out, we should be able to blend the two plots above. wRC+ is on the same scale as both ERA- and FIP-, so I decided to add the marks together for each year. I’m using this as a measure of playoff-specific run environment. If the numbers were to add up to 200, that would be a perfectly average run environment. Anything below 200 would favor the pitchers. Here you are:
For 2016, wRC+ and ERA- add up to 180, which is below the era average of 189. The previous low was 184. And, wRC+ and FIP- add up to 188, which is below the era average of 195. The previous low was a very similar 189, but that came back in 1996, which is two decades into history. This year’s playoff run environment is the toughest it’s been, at least so far. So it’s not a shock that hitting has been suppressed, and I’d say some of this is because of how bullpens have been used, and some of this is simply about how the players and their talents are distributed. Perhaps the playoffs just have better pitchers than usual this time. There’s plenty of room for randomness.
But the bullpen thing — that’s probably not going away. That’s going to be a trend, because it already is a trend, and it’s going to make hitting in October all the more tough. Offense does still exist. Good hitting does still exist. It might just be wise to adjust expectations. You shouldn’t expect hitters to have the same numbers after the calendar flips. The playoffs are practically a big giant All-Star Game.
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Twenty-some years ago, I had a typical freshman year in college: studying, getting acclimated to dorm life, and training to go door-to-door to get people to “make a personal decision for Christ.” Wait, what? Didn’t you do that last one your freshman year? I guess that was unique to my experience as an Evangelical Protestant involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, a Protestant “para-church” organization that focused on evangelization. Fortunately for me (and for the poor people I harassed), I soon became Catholic and my evangelization techniques changed considerably. But at that time, few Catholics talked about – and even fewer engaged in – evangelization. Today the word “evangelization” is much more common in Catholic circles. We see lots of videos and conferences and books on Catholic evangelization and hear many calls for Catholics to evangelize. But what we don’t see is…results.
No one likes to hear this, and frankly I don’t like to write about it. But the harsh truth is that fewer and fewer Catholics are practicing their faith, and fewer and fewer people are becoming Catholic. So although we speak about evangelization, we are not really seeing much good fruit from the focus on it. Why is that? Many factors, of course, are at play: poor catechesis, lackluster and irreverent liturgies, capitulation to the culture, religious indifferentism. However, one significant reason for our failure is that we have omitted an essential ingredient of Catholic evangelization itself.
Before I reveal the missing ingredient, I want to review the generally-accepted elements of proper Catholic evangelization. Obviously, the act of evangelizing itself – telling others the Good News – is essential. Another component is prayer – having an interior life as well as praying for those who are lost. Finally, living a Catholic life and witnessing to the power of the Gospel in our actions is required. These three elements of evangelization are necessary, and most good Catholic evangelists will usually emphasize them. But almost all Catholics (including me) forget the final ingredient of evangelization – the “secret sauce” necessary to make our evangelization powerful and effective. What is it?
Voluntary mortification.
(That whooshing you hear is the sound of thousands of readers closing their tabs or clicking away to another site. But I’ll continue for the three of you who are left.)
Today’s Catholic Church places little or no emphasis on mortification (also called penance). We seem to believe that we can follow our crucified Lord and bring others to him, without having any pain, or suffering, or even discomfort in our lives. How American. Yet if we look at the saints who were successful at evangelization we quickly see that their lives consisted of pain and hardship. St. Paul, the greatest evangelist the Church has produced, described his mission as filled with suffering:
Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)
But we think we can bring souls to Christ just like this great Apostle or a St. Francis Xavier simply by posting Catholic memes on Facebook and Twitter…
The realization that the Church today is missing an essential ingredient in her evangelization efforts came to me when I read this simple sentence from Pope Pius XII:
“This is a deep mystery, and an inexhaustible subject of meditation, that the salvation of many depends on the prayers and voluntary penances which the members of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ offer for this intention.” (Mystici Corpus Christi 44, emphasis added).
What struck me so much was that we would never see included today the simple phrase “and voluntary penances” in Catholic writing on evangelization – neither in official Church documents nor in the writings of most Catholic thought leaders. I know – I’ve read most of them. We have completely forgotten the importance of the practice of voluntary mortifications.
Yet our Lord himself told us that prayer alone is often not enough. When the apostles failed to cast out a demonic spirit, they asked our Lord why. He replied: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9: 29). If “fasting” (mortification) was required to drive out that demonic spirit, does it not seem clear that mortification is necessary to drive out the spiritual darkness which envelops modern man?
Why must we suffer in order to help bring about the salvation of others? This is a mystery, and reflects the intrinsic bond between Christ and his Church. Just as Christ suffered in order to make salvation available to the world, so too must the Church suffer in order to bring salvation to each person. St. Paul wrote of the deep unity between the sufferings of Christ and the sufferings of the Church, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24). No servant is greater than his master: St. Paul knew that offering his sufferings for the salvation of others was an integral part of his apostolate for souls.
Voluntary mortification, therefore, is necessary for successful evangelization, and there are many examples of voluntary mortifications that we can practice today for the salvation of souls. Traditionally, it has been the practice of the Church to fast every Friday – from one meal, two meals, or more. Throughout the week we can also give up those things we love so much: coffee, sugary treats, Facebook, TV. Or we could perform small physical penances, such as keeping a pebble in a shoe or turning up the A/C thermostat in the summer. We all know our own limits and abilities, and the mortifications we choose should be compatible with our state in life (a nursing mother, for example, should not practice extreme fasting). Regardless of one’s state in life, however, every person can choose appropriate mortifications.
One final note about taking on penances and mortifications for the good of others – remember the words of Jesus:
“And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).
Or, as St. Josemaría Escrivá noted, “Choose mortifications that don’t mortify others” (The Way, 179). No matter the suffering we accept, we must continue to be joyful witnesses of the Gospel, leading others to Christ through our prayers, our lives, our words and our penances. With all four ingredients many souls can be won for Jesus Christ.
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HOUSTON - A child could have been hurt or even killed when he was almost struck by a Metro train when he decided to cross the rails at the last minute.
Metro officials released surveillance video of the incident to urge parents to talk to their children about the dangers of crossing train tracks.
[READ: KPRC2 investigates Metro rail push for safety]
“The video is very disheartening, it really shows you what a close call can happen when people aren’t paying attention,” said Jerome Gray, vice president and senior press officer for Metro.
In the video, a child was crossing the tracks to get to the Metro platform, and another boy ran behind him and slowed down while he was a few feet away from the moving train. The boy quickly noticed the train behind him and ran off the tracks just in time.
[VIDEO: Child nearly struck by Metro train after crossing rails]
"It's our ongoing effort to really try to educate and inform people about safety along the rails,” Gray said. “This is a reminder that we have to constantly refresh, reeducate share the information about safety on the rail lines."
Metro officials posted:
“Mom and Dads, we appreciate everything you do, and we urge you to talk to your kids about rail safety. Remember, out trains weigh about 50 tons, which is the equivalent of seven fully-grown African elephants.
"They can’t easily or quickly stop even if traveling slowly. Keep this in mind when a train is approaching platform.”
Gray said across there region that has been an increase in pedestrian-related accidents -- not just rail, but with cars and trucks. He said Metro has seen a spike in some accidents.
According to KPRC2 investigative reporter Robert Arnold, in fiscal year 2016, Houston Metro logged 108 rail accidents, and between Oct. 1 and Feb. 28, there were 49 rail accidents.
Metro said it has implemented safety measures, like adding fencing along the rail, signs, painted crosswalks and louder horns to alert people a train is coming.
Gray said there are about 60 different ideas to improve safety, ideas that are still being vetted and have to go before the City Council. He said some ideas could happen overnight, while others -- like fencing the whole rail system -- would take time. He said fencing the entire track would take time because of money, the distance of the rail and the number of workers.
Copyright 2017 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
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Many people don’t call President Trump the Tea Party President for nothing. For the first time in our lifetime President Trump’s fiscal policies, targeting growth in the economy, actually have the cumulative effect of lowering the national debt as measured by the U.S. Treasury. –SEE DATA HERE–
When President Trump took office January 20th the total national debt was $19,947,304,555,212, or nearly $20 trillion. While there are fluctuating cycles of increase and decrease the debt reached a high of $19,959,593,604,841 on February 28, 2017, stalled, and since March 14th 2017 continually dropped:
Total U.S. National Debt has now decreased by over $100 billion. *Note: That’s five times more than is needed to build the Southern Security and Border Wall.
And yes, this decrease is real and represents a long term reversal. During same 6 months in 2016 the U.S. National Debt grew by $450 billion (from $18,941,406,899,252.15 -to- $19,391,704,027,667.12). [DATA HERE] The Trump trend is not connected to a temporary lowering of debt during tax collection season. The ACTUAL ‘federal’ debt clock is now running backwards.
By instituting common sense “Main Street” economic policies of: pro business, pro investment, pro manufacturing, expanded jobs growth, lowered regulation, enhanced energy development, enlarged exports and reductions in actual federal spending, President Trump has reversed the debt clock and eliminated $100 billion in debt.
This is, yet again, affirmation of what can happen by shifting policy from focusing on Wall Street’s economic engine and emphasizing Main Street’s economic engine.
By growing the economy and creating jobs the benefits are two-fold. More workers equals more taxpayers paying into the system; simultaneously more people working means less people in need of government subsidies. You gain a dollar and have no need to spend a dollar, the federal balance sheet impact is doubled.
You might remember the second quarter GDP rate of growth also doubled the first quarter rising from 1.2% to 2.6%. Trump’s goal was 3% for 2017. Additionally, the stunning thing is President Trump is achieving these objectives DESPITE a congress that is dysfunctional and not supporting his pro-growth economic agenda.
Imagine what could happen if Washington DC actually got on the same page and agreed to get rid of the economic choking ObamaCare and delivered on pro-growth tax reform?
President Trump has decoupled the fiscal drags on the economy, he needs help from congress on decoupling the legislative drag known as ObamaCare.
Every economic pundit said Trump could never get 3% GDP growth. Heck, if Washington DC would just support the Trump-Mnuchin-Ross-Mulvaney agenda the economy might get higher than 4 or 5 percent.
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Females of the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster show an especially strong response to the odor of their most dangerous enemies, parasitic wasps of the genus Leptopilina. In nature, up to 80 percent of Drosophila larvae are parasitized by these wasps, which lay their eggs into the larvae. The wasps' larvae grow and consume the Drosophila larvae from within. However, an innate early warning system alerts female flies when wasps are near and thus increases the chance the flies' offspring will survive. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology identified the olfactory neuron in Drosophila which senses if enemies are nearby by recognizing their odors. The chemical compounds in the wasps trigger avoidance behavior in the flies. One of the compounds is the wasps' sex pheromone. For the first time scientists have described an olfactory circuit entirely dedicated to the detection of a fatal enemy.
When different organisms share the same habitat in nature, their interactions are often reduced to either eating or being eaten. In the course of evolution, organisms have evolved different adaptations in order to ensure their survival or to increase the survival rate of their offspring. Insects' highly sensitive and highly specialized sense of smell plays a crucial role in many of their complex survival strategies.
Together with international partners, scientists from the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology led by Bill Hansson and Markus Knaden found that the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster houses an olfactory neuron which is entirely dedicated to detecting the sex pheromone of parasitic wasps. A combination of gas-chromatographic and electrophysiological analyses as well as behavioral assays with flies and larvae led to the results. By applying these methods, the scientists could identify both the wasp odors and the olfactory receptors in Drosophila which detected them. Last but not least, they were able to demonstrate that the perception of these odors influenced the flies' behavior: Adult flies as well as their larvae actively avoided the smell of parasitic wasps.
Three components of the wasps' odor activate a single olfactory neuron on the antennae of adult Drosophila flies. Chemical analysis revealed that these three substances are actinidine, nepatalctol, and iridomyrmecin. Interestingly, iridomyrmecin is the sex pheromone of the female Leptopilina wasp. Although adult flies have two olfactory receptors and smell all three substances in the wasps' odor, Drosophila larvae lack one of the two receptors; they smell only the sex pheromone iridomyrmecin.
The results show again how highly specific individual olfactory receptors in Drosophila can be. In previous experiments, the researchers tested all receptors by stimulating them with different scents. However, there were a few receptors that could not be activated. Assuming that these receptors were highly specific and associated with odors that are important for the flies' survival in nature, the scientists performed behavioral assays and tested the odor of parasitic wasps.
"Until recently, scientists thought that most odors were detected by several receptors and that each receptor was stimulated by numerous different smells. The activation patterns of the different receptors would tell the fly which environmental odors were present. However, the results from our lab tell a completely different story: At least parts of the olfactory system are highly specific. Odors that are of particular importance for the fly are not detected and processed by the general system; each of these odors has its own channel. Seemingly, this has the effect that the detection of dangerous bacteria (geosmin) or the best oviposition sites (limonene) cannot be interfered with by other environmental odors," says Markus Knaden, who led the study together with Bill Hansson.
The strength of this study is that it combines several lines of evidence -- chemical and physiological analyses, and behavioral experiments with flies and larvae. The researchers suggest that vinegar flies learned to use the odor of the parasites for their own advantage in the course of evolution. This strategy, which has evolved as a means of self-protection, is astonishing, especially since avoidance of the wasp odor is innate, as experiments using flies that had never been close to parasitic wasps and did not know the scent of Leptopilina showed. Furthermore, four Drosophila species demonstrated the same avoidance behavior when they encountered the scent of Leptopilina wasps. That vinegar flies avoid their enemies by using their sex pheromone as an olfactory cue is a very clever move in a game called co-evolution. A counter-adaptation by the wasps is difficult, because the release of this pheromone is indispensable for reproduction.
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As I write this Chuck Todd is using his MSNBC show “The Daily Rundown” to spread the fabricated myth that 2.2 million Americans “enrolled” in ObamaCare. This isn’t true and if Todd doesn’t know it isn’t true he is not a tenth as smart as I think he is. Sadly, Todd’s willingness to spread government propaganda without qualification is not unique among a media that obviously don’t want to push for the release of accurate ObamaCare enrollment numbers.
You are not “enrolled” in ObamaCare or any insurance plan until you have paid your first month’s premium. Scattered reports from various insurance companies tell us that anywhere from 95% to 50% of those the White House are counting as enrolled have not paid and therefore are not really enrolled.
The numbers the White House and its mouthpiece media are using do not fall under the accepted or standard definition of “enrollee.” We are being told 2.2 million enrolled when the truth is that 2.2 million only went as far as to place a health plan in their shopping cart. How many of those 2.2 million are truly enrolled is a number the White House isn’t releasing and the media are not publicly pressuring them to release.
If the mainstream media wanted the true enrollment figure, they could easily do what they always do when they want something: coordinate a narrative throughout every media outlet that pressures the administration to release the numbers and criticizes them for not doing so.
Instead, senior White House correspondents like Chuck Todd are, without qualification, repeating the number as though it’s an accurate number.
But why would we expect the media to push for a truth that might hurt President Obama’s signature piece of legislation, and one the media championed and refused for three years to vet for fear it might derail the entire program?
This kind of sloppy reporting and parroting of Obama talking points has defined our media since the day Barack Obama became a national figure.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC
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According to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, a lot of people want to work at the tech company.
Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, Mayer said the company now gets 12,000 resumes a week -- up dramatically by a factor of five or six.
Since Mayer took the reins of the struggling company in 2012, the former Google (GOOG) executive has hired back a number of ex-Yahoo employees. Over the course of a year, Mayer said 10% of the hires have been ex-Yahoo employees, or "boomerangs," as she called them.
Mayer, who described the company as "the world's largest startup," outlined her strategy to get the company back on the road to success.
Related: Yahoo struggles to find its place online
She emphasized four major factors for the company: People, products, traffic and revenue.
"You have to get the right people before you can build the right products," Mayer stressed. Apart from hiring ex-Yahoo employees, she has also overseen more than a dozen acquisitions, and says much of Yahoo's (YHOO) focus will be on mobile growth.
According to Mayer, the company just passed 800 million monthly users, an increase of 20%. Of those, she said 350 million came from mobile.
But don't expect a quick turnaround. When asked about growth strategy, Mayer said the company is focused on investing in the long term.
Related: How Yahoo's acquisitions fit into Mayer's master plan
"When I look at the state of what we're doing inside the company, it's going to take multiple years -- three or more to see the company going in the direction we want it to go to," she said.
Mayer also said it wouldn't be an easy road.
"It's a big challenge but I've got a great group of people that are rising to the challenge."
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*This post contains affiliate links but I love and use these products! I would not share something with you that I didn’t honestly love!*
I’m here for another round of The Home Depot Gift Challenge! I’m really enjoying teaming up with some of these amazing ladies and really getting my creative juices rolling! In this challenge (if you are new here) we are to take one item from The Home Depot and create something with that item. We are not sponsored by Home Depot; we just love their products and visit them frequently!
This month’s challenge item was furniture legs. I had a whole idea planned out but then I needed to make a desk for my guest room so I changed it all last minute. I just redid my guest room for the One Room Challenge and I wanted to create an oasis for my guests as long as a work area for myself. Not only do we choose an item from The Home Depot but we also do it as a gift for a specific person. This month’s gift was for your mother in law. My mother and father in law recently visited and unfortunately I was not finished with the room but I can’t wait for them to visit again to see all of the changes. I want to be able to sit at my table and maybe do a craft with my mother in law and daughter. A family that crafts together stays together….that’s a saying, right?! Haha If you want to see the whole room transformation you can see it here.
Onto the tutorial….here are the items that you will need to complete this project:
I had an old file cabinet that needed a little TLC and I thought I could create a little crafting desk with it! The first step I did was to mod podge the wrapping decorative paper I had onto the front of the cabinet. I removed the handles and applied a thin layer of mod podge directly to the file cabinet fronts and smoothly applied the cut to size paper to the front of the cabinets. I let it dry for about an hour or so and any smaller wrinkles that were showing were gone! I love mod podge!!
The next step was to spray paint the file cabinet white. I had my husband carry it outside to the garage. We have had an unusually warm November here in Minnesota so I’m taking full advantage of spray painting while I can. You can’t typically spray paint in weather below 50 degrees so I always spray paint when I’m able to! I go quite a few months of no spray painting during the winter months! I did not spray paint the top of the cabinet as I wanted to have a clean service to adhere it to the wood. I also spray painted the original black handles gold.
I also spray painted the legs and the piece of wood for the top of the desk white to match. I really wanted a clean, crisp look for the desk. The next step was to cut the legs down to size. They were too tall so my husband stood them next to the file cabinet and drew a line across the edge of the furniture leg from the top of the file cabinet. This way it measured perfectly with the height of the file cabinet.
He went outside and cut the legs with our circular saw. Then we sanded down the edges of the leg and set the table up to how we liked it. My husband then drilled large wood screws into the top of the table top through the top of the legs to secure them. I didn’t want the screws to show so I put a layer of wood filler on top of the screws.
After the wood filler was dry I sanded it and painted over it with white paint! Now you can’t even tell there are screws there! The final step was to do a thin coat of gorilla glue to the top of the file cabinet. You may want to sand down the area a little to give it a rough area to adhere to. Once you have the gorilla glue on the top (don’t make it too thick as gorilla glue can grow) lay the table on the top where you want it to stay exactly. You can either clamp it down or just put some heavy books on top! That’s what I did. Once it’s all dry you can decorate your table and you are ready to go!
How adorable is it?! I’m super happy with how it turned out and I’m so excited to create my first craft on it! Now head on over to these talented ladies and see what they created with furniture legs. Every month I am just amazed by their talent and creativity! I feel very fortunate to be a member of this group! Thanks ladies! Happy Sunday everyone and keep your eyes peeled for two big posts I have this week! I’m SOOO excited about them and can’t wait to share them you all!
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Proof of the Existence of God
The Ingenious Numeration of Three Constants
Expanded Highlights of the Evidence Illustrated in Document Alpha
Vasilios Gardiakos
Throughout the many centuries pi ( π ) has been examined and dissected in countless ways. The fascination with pi continues to the present. To this day no one has noticed anything unusual about pi.
When I was eighteen years I noticed the 3_4_5 right at the start of pi. I thought it odd that the Pythagorean triplet would begin right at the start of pi but gave it no more thought. Years later I noticed the 1_1_2 at the start of the square root of two and thought that this discovery was strange. These two oddities both at the same position fanned my curiosity. During the many years of examining pi ( π ), √2 and S I f ound that these three constants have a very odd interwoven relationship which I illustrate in Document A .
These what I call oddities could not have been made by chance alone on pi, our most popular constant, √2 and S so therefore must been made intentionally. If these oddities are the result of chance alone then one should expect these oddities to appear on many random numbers. This is not the case.
Only one entity could manipulate these three constants to produce oddities that we can detect. Only one entity could do this specifically on these three constants and not on other numbers. It seems that God not only could but has formed the geometry of space and even defined the fundamentals of mathematics. He ingeniously manipulated the geometric fabric and the default mathematics of the universe so that we can detect and analyze the oddities and conclude that only a great intelligence can accomplish this and therefore we can know that God exists .
Note: Document A may look complicated but it is not! It is fairly simple to understand. Any one with a little knowledge of math can understand it. The many arrows on Document Alpha though they may look confusing or distracting are there to point or reference the numbers. The highlights below are discussed step by step in detail to explain the oddities. Once you understand Document Alpha you will realize its significance. 1) Pi (pi = 3.141592653...) starts with 3_4_5 which is the smallest Pythagorean Triplet possible forming the Pythagorean triangle. This triplet, 3_4_5 can be recognized as the representation of the Pythagorean Theorem . Also in pi the sequence 1_ _2_ _3. In √2
early the sequence1_2_3 and 4_ _3_ _2.
2) In pi, 31, 41 and 59 are primes (3.1 41 59...). No formula has been discovered that will produce all the prime numbers however 41 + n squared + n, 59 + 4n squared + 4n and 31 + 2n squared + 4n are three most productive formulas known to yield prime numbers. Both 41, 59 and 31 are used. See 5) bellow. Right at the start of pi there are three very productive prime number generators, 31, 41 and 59. What are the odds of this happening by chance? The great mathematician's Leonhard Euler's formula 41 + n squared + n turns out to be surprisingly good for large values of n. A computer showed that for the primes under ten million, the formula generated primes 47.5 percent of the time. The formula works even better for lower values of n. For values of n under 2,398, there's' an even chance of getting a prime. And for values under 100 the formula yields 86 primes and only 14 composite or non-prime numbers. For n=0, the formula yields the prime number 41. For n=2, the prime number 47. Indeed, as n takes on successive values from 0 to 39, Euler's formula yields nothing but primes. Stanislaw Ulam, a well known and respected mathematician and his coworkers discovered another prime generating formula that is almost as good as Euler's. The formula 59 + 4 n squared + 4n has a success rate of 43.7 percent. Steve Homewood a determined and ingenious mathematician based in the U.K. announce on March 7, 2009 that he had solved the A31 problem. He discovered the formula 31 + 2n squared + 4n generates prime numbers 43.5% of the time for all answers up to 10,000,000. So as he says “So, no, 31 has not been overlooked”. 3) In pi, 31, 41 and 59 oddly their prime order, being the 11th, 13th and 17th primes are themselves primes. More oddly 11, 13 and 17 are consecutive primes. Working with 11, 13 and 17, oddly 1+1+1+3+1+7=14 and 11+13+17= 41 (3. 141 59...). One more oddity, in 11, 13, and 17, 1+1=2, 1+3=4 and 1+7=8 a 2-4-8 progression. Also 31+ 41+ 59=131 and 3+1+4+1+5+9= 23, both sums are prime numbers. 4) Pi starts with the prime number 31 which is also a Mersenne Prime . The cube root of 31=3.141380652 which is within .00675% of pi. The first 8 digits of pi 3+1+4+1+5+9+2+6=31 also 1+4+1+5+9+2+6+3=31. There is no zero in the first 31 digits of pi. Note, 1+2+4+8+16=31 and (from 16=31) 16x31=496. The third perfect number is 496. 5) Odd that pi starts with 314159 and its mirror image
951413 are both prime numbers. About 1 in 7 primes is the reversal also a prime.
These are the four known pi forward primes:
3, 31, 314159 and 31415926535897932384626433832795028841
So in addition to 314159 being a reversible prime it is also a rare pi forward prime.
A lesser oddity, the first even number in pi, 314 divided by two equals 157 which is a prime. Also 14, an even number divided by two equals 7, a prime.
6) Pi = 3.14159265358979323... It is very odd that a group of eight small different contiguous primes: 3, 14159, 2, 653, 5, 89, 7, 9323 are right at the start of pi. Many and possibly infinite small (numbers with five or fewer digits) and large (greater than five digits) different contiguous primes may exist after 9323. As it turns out right after the 9323 prime the next contiguous prime is: 846264338327........303906979207, it is 3057 digits long. So if pi started with 8462... the first prime would be 3057 digits long. See: http://www.primepuzzles.net/problems/prob_018.htm It will be interesting to see how many digits the average contiguous prime has. Perhaps more interesting may be to find how scarce are groups consisting of eight small contiguous primes of which none of the prime numbers are duplicated.
7) Starting with the first digits in √2, 1_1_2_3; the first digits in S, 8_6_2_9 and the first digits in pi, 2_5_4_3 (3_4_5_2 inverted) are prime numbers.
8) Pi and √2 have the 2653, 3562 cross-mirroring and the 141,414 cross-symmetry at DEF/2. (see alphanumeric locators on the sides of Document A ) The mathematical block at E/3 reveals several vertical and diagonal oddities. The repeating "88" ties pi and √2 to S.
9) In √2 ( √2 = 1 .4 1 4 2 1 3 5 6 2 ...) early 1+_2+_3=_6. Not only does it equal 6, a perfect number but this is an example of how to derive the first perfect number which is 6. A gain in √2 early14+14=28, 28 being the second perfect number. Furthermore sum of the digits 1+4+1+4 = 2+8 = 10 which is the fourth triangular number .
10) √2 starts with the Fibonacci sequence 1_1_2_3 in which 11, 23 and 1123 are primes.
Also note: √2 = 1 .4 1 4 2 1 3 5 6 2 3 7 3 ...
Fibonacci sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...
In √2 the Fibonacci sequence is included: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8(6+2), 13(3+7+3). Very odd that seven numbers of the Fibonacci sequence are found at the start of the square root of 2.
11) The 1_1_2 in √2 is in an identical position right at the beginning as the 3_4_5 in pi. Both 3,4,5 and 1,1, √2 can be represented by a triangle. See Document A .
12) √2 has a strong 7 occurrence. Many consecutive numbers add up to multiples of 7. In √2 early 14-21-35 are multiples of 7. Note that 22/7 equals pi within 0.04025%. See G/1-9 on Document A.
13) S (Side= ) starts with 88. Numbers 88, 8 and 8 are prominent in 62(6+2=8) and 26(2+6=8) add up to 88 and are in a sense self-referential. At DF/12 Pi and √2 also refer to 88: 62+26=88, the 62 from √2 and the 26 from pi oddly 6226 is found in S. Pi and √2 refer to 88: 35+53=88. See more 88 oddities on Document A.
14) The 22 oddity: 11, 22 and 88 figure prominently in pi, √2 and S. Also 88 is present in so me way in all three constants and is a multiple of 11 and 22.
15) S=.886226925
886 22 6925
8+8+6=22=6+9+2+5
Also interesting: 88+6=94=69+25 also 69-25=44=2x22
16) S=.886226925, so that 886, 862, 622, 226, 692 (odd numbers are ignored):
abc-cba=d, d/x=22
886-688=198, 198/9=22
862-268=594, 594/27=22
622-226=396, 396/18=22
226-622=-396, -396/18=-22
692-296=396, 396/18=22
abcdef, abcdef/x=22
886226, 886226/40283=22
fedcba, fedcba/x=22
622688, 622688/28304=22
263538, 263538/11979=22
17) The initial consecutive digits in pi, √2 and S can add up to 41 (pi=3.1 41 ...):
pi: 1+4+1+5+9+2+6+5+3+5 = 41
√2: 4+1+4+2+1+3+5+6+2+3+7+3 = 41
S: 8+8+6+2+2+6+9 = 41
Multiply 41 by 3 (the three constants) which is equal to 123. Now 1+2+3=6 which is a perfect number.
18) Very strange the E-5 mathematical block is the result of the "1415" or 14-15 in Pi and "4142" or 41-42 at identical place relative to the decimal point on √2 . This block contains several vertical and diagonal and prime number oddities.
19) More Oddities: All the oddities are not listed here. Review Document A for additional head scratching. Click here to see your Document A - Your Questions Answered by Vas.
===========================
Conclusion
The "oddities" explained above is
the evidence that proves that God
intentionally numerated the three
constants so that we can become
aware that He exists.
Check out the criticism: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 To Page 4
===========================
And Now For The Fun Stuff
On a Humorous Note (S=88 6226 925):
It takes 62 muscles to frown
and only 26 to smile.
Conserve your energy and SMILE!
(I am pushing things a bit here)
Photo V. Gardiakos - My 1973 trip to New Orleans
On a Telephone Note:
The telephone area code of St Louis
home of The Gateway Arch is 314
and has a zip code of 6 314 1
(I am pushing things a lot here)
On a Musical Note (S= 88 6226925):
88 represents the 88 keys of a piano.
(now this is ridiculous connection so I
include it only to extract a smile from you.
Use your 26 muscles!) :-)
Notes: A. All of the underlined hyperlinks in this page are not in the typical blue but are in the color of this font. B. "_" The under score represents a digit in the sequence that is not shown. Sometimes I underscore a digit for emphasis. The underscore under a number does not indicate that it is a hyperlink. C. Pi ( π ) is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi is the most well known non-integral mathematical constant. Pi is equal to 3.141592653... which is infinitely long. Pi shows up in many equations where you don't expect it. It is the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. D. √2 = 1.414213562373... ("√2" is the mathematical representation of square root of two)
E. S=0.886226925... which is 1/2 times the square root of pi. It is gamma(3/2), and is sometimes also called (1/2)! the factorial of 1/2. Herein "S" is used for "side" for the sake of convenience. F. Mersenne Primes: 2, 3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 31, 67, 127, 257 ... They become more rare as the value increases. G. 22/7=3.142857... = pi within 0.04025%. The first theoretical calculation of a value of pi was that of Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 BCE), one of the most brilliant mathematicians of all time. Archimedes worked out that 223/71 < π < 22/7. Interestingly 22/7 is also a member of the continued-fraction series for pi. Continued fraction approximations can be used to get "optimal" rational approximations for any number. By "optimal" we mean the closest approximation that is possible with a given-size numerator and denominator. The continued fraction approximations for π are: 3/ 1 , 22/ 7 , 333/ 106 , 355/ 113 , 103993/ 33102 , 104348/ 33215 , 208341/ 66317 , 312689/ 99532 , 833719/ 265381 , 1146408/ 364913 , ... H. 7 is the smallest number whose reciprocal has a pattern of more than one repeating digits: 1/7 = 0.142857142857... It is also the smallest number for which the digit sequence is of length N-1 (the longest such a sequence can be). The next such numbers are 17, 19, 23, 29, 47, 59, 61, 97, 109, 113, ... (Sloane's integer sequence A006883) I. 7 is considered "lucky" by many people and given much spiritual significance. The early religious and cultural use of the 7-day week almost certainly arose from the fact that the moon goes through its 4 phases in a bit over 28 days, which divides nicely into 7 days per phase. These man made numeral references may be part of numerology however they are excluded as being significant or relevant in the oddities of Document A.
J. What is a prime number? A prime number is a positive integer that has exactly two positive integer factors, 1 and itself. For example, if we list the factors of 28, we have 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28. That's six factors. If we list the factors of 29, we only have 1 and 29. That's 2. So we say that 29 is a prime number, but 28 isn't. Another way of saying this is that a prime number is a whole number that is not the product of two smaller numbers. Note that the definition of a prime number doesn't allow 1 to be a prime number: 1 only has one factor, namely 1. Prime numbers have exactly two factors, not "at most two" or anything like that. When a number has more than two factors it is called a composite number. Here are the first few prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97, 101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199, etc. Prime numbers sequences are useful as they do not occur in nature. Only intelligent beings can create a prime number sequence. In the search for extra terrestrial intelligence any detection of a prime number sequence will be recognized as being created by a intelligent beings. Mirror prime or reversible prime number or emirp (prime spelled backwards) is a prime that gives you a different prime when its digits are reversed. K. A31 Prior to March 6, 2009 only Euler's (1707 - 1783) 41 + n squared + n and Ulam's (1909 - 1984) 59 + 4n squared + 4n simple polynomial formulas were known to be very productive in generating prime numbers. Since pi starts with 3.14159... and if God intentionally numerated pi with 41 and 59 as prime number generators then it is logical that 31 could also be used to do likewise. Steve Homewood a very talented mathematician based in the U.K. took up the painstaking task to solve the A31 probl em and March 6, 2009 announce that he had done so! Referring to my question "Has 31 been overlooked in the search for other productive numbers?" Homewood replied with “So, no, 31 has not been overlooked”. He discovered the formula 31 + 2n squared + 4n generates prime numbers 43.5 % of the time for all answers up to 10,000,000. There are other simple polynomial prime number generators but are not as productive as these three. Nothing to do with A31 and thus not significant but nevertheless interesting oddity: 31, 331, 3331, 33331, 333331, 3333331, and 33333331 are all prime numbers. But the pattern is broken with the next number in this sequence: 333333331 is not prime. Back to 2) L. What is the Fibonacci Sequence? Fibonacci Sequence:1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 ... The Fibonacci series is formed by starting with 0 and 1 and then adding the latest two numbers to get the next one. Each number is the sum of the previous two. Surprisingly, Fibonacci numbers can be used to calculate pi. M. What is a perfect number? A perfect number is a number that it is equal to the sum of its own divisors (other than itself). Examples:
6 = 1 + 2 + 3
28 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14
N. What is a triangular number? A triangular number or Tetraktys is the number of dots that may be arranged in an equilateral triangle: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36... In general n(n + 1)/2. O. What is the definition of "oddity" when referring to Document A? Oddity defined: abnormal unusual strange atypical extraordinary surprising amazing weird uncommon unexpected unusual unpredicted unforeseen remarkable notable noteworthy. In Document A "oddities" refers to simple unexpected occurrences that include prime numbers, Fibonacci sequence, perfect numbers, Pythagorean triplet etc. One could write countless unique equations to fit every irrational or random number and call it an oddity. This force to fit technique is not used in Document A. It is important to find simple oddities as there are limits to simplicity like counting, adding, subtracting and multiplying. Complexity has not limits. I suspect it is more difficult to numerate simple oddities as opposed to complex ones as complexity allows you an unlimited course of action. All the oddities found in Document A are of the simple type. No complex equations, complex algorithms or complex formulas are used to find the oddities. Perhaps natural rather than contrived may be a way to describe the 19 or so oddities in the webpage. Another reason simple oddities are more relevant is because they are easier to be spotted and recognized as such. If the oddities are intentional then they should be easy to spot or what would be the sense of numerating them in the first place? One oddity may be noteworthy but additional oddities make it significant. The more oddities the more noteworthy and significant it is. The 19 or more oddities in Document A is enough evidence to conclude that a powerful intelligence namely God numerated pi. By the way one equation that many mathematicians would agree is an oddity is e^(i*pi)=1. To further clarify, I use "oddity" with a similar meaning.
Comment: God herein means the Pythagorean God and not any of the Gods of the various religions.
______________________________________________________
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The name CRATLOE is derived from the gaelic CREAT-SHAILE�G, meaning the sallow wood, or the land of sallow trees. At one stage the Cratloe Woods were famous for primeval oak woods. In the ninth century the Ulstermen invaded the MacNamara territory and carried home oak timbers to roof the Royal palace of Aileach near Derry. Cratloe also supplied the oak beams for the roof of Westminster Hall, London and the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. In 1215 Geoffrey Lutterel was granted "the land of Crateluach" by King John for thirty ounces of silver. From that time the great woods of Cratloe were gradually cut away. In more recent times an 800 acre state forest has been planted on the slopes of Woodcock Hill.
Cratloe could also take its name from "CROIT-SHLIABH", the humped-back mountain. From Gallows Hill this description appears to have a certain logical aptness. Cratloe's importance stems from the fact that it was one of the major passes on highways from Munster into Connacht as the hills to the north, and the Shannon to the south, rendered these routes inaccessible.
The area of Cratloe was mentioned by the Four Masters as far back as 379 A.D. In the year 365 A.D. Eoghy, who was King of Ireland, died at Tara. His son Brian was too young to reign so Eoghy's wife's brother assumed the throne. He was Crimhthan, King of Munster. By 379 A.D. Crimhthan's sister decided that the throne should revert to her son Brian. She administered poison to her brother, Crimhthan. His career was thus ended while he was on a journey through Clare. He died in 379 A.D. near Cratloe on the mountain called "Slieve-Oighe an Righ", meaning The Hill of the King's Death. Brian, however, had to settle for the crown of Connacht while Crimhthan's son Niall, by his second wife, became King. Niall later became known as Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Cratloe is next mentioned in 1510 when an English and Irish army led by Gear�id Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare and Justice of Ireland, marched into Thomond. They were opposed by Toirdhealach, son of Tadhg O'Brien, Lord of Thomond, supported by the MacNamara, Sil-Aedha and Clanrickard, at M�in na mBr�thar, near Cratloe. "O'Briens army attacked the foreign horde and killed Baron Kent and Barnwall Kircustown and innumerable other noblemen. The foreigners escaped by flight and O'Briens forces returned with great spoil."
Some fifty years later however, the residents of this area had become somewhat disenamoured of the Earl when he made incursions into their lands in order to procure cattle to pay his gall�glaigh. "The country rose up against him on every side from Sliabh Oidheadha an Righ to Luchat and from Rinnanna to Scarriff. They overtook the Earl and slew nearly one hundred of his men at this time. (1564)."
In 1837 Cratloe rated only a brief mention in Lewis Topographical Dictionary under the heading "Killfentinan." The account tells us that "a court for the manor of Bunratty is occasionally held at Cratloe, by Lord Egremont's seneschal, in which small debts are recoverable. The Roman-Catholic parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church. The principal chapel is at Cratloe Cross. Application is about to be made to establish a school at Cratloe, under the National Board."
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New York, NY - On Monday, August 10, 2015 at approximately 11:47 a.m., eight suspects entered The Upper 90 Clothing store located at 359 Atlantic Avenue and removed numerous articles of clothing before fleeing to parts unknown.There were no injuries reported in regards to this incident.Suspect #1: Male Black in his teens, wearing a white t-shirt, black bookbag, tan jeans and black and white sneakers.Suspect #2: Male Black in his teens, wearing a red t-shirt, dark pants, black jeans and black sneakers.Suspect #3: Male Black in his teens, wearing a black t-shirt, multi-color Fisherman's cap, black pants with white line on the side and black and white sneakers.Suspect #4:Female Black in her teens, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and washed jeans.Suspect #5: Female Black in her teens with red hair.Suspect #6: Female Black in her teens with blue hair.Suspect #7: Male Black in his teens, wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.Suspect #8:Male Black in his teens, wearing a white and black t-shirt, white pants and white sneakers.Anyone with information is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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Waking Nightmares
by Jonathan "KnightMysterio" Spires
All characters copyrighted to their original owners, and used for non-profit amusement reasons. Comments, constructive criticism, and especially compliments are not only welcome, but encouraged.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Equestria...
Canterlot...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
YoU cAnNoT eScApE mE
i Am WhO yOu ReAlLy ArE
sOoN yOu WiLl Be A nIgHtMaRe AgAiN
Princess Luna twisted and turned in her sleep, horrific visions of dark shadows that chased her through steel corridors. Through windows she passed, she saw a pale, ivory-furred pony with no face in the distance. With each window she passed, the figure got closer... and closer... and closer... until finally, the dark, faceless pony was RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!
"HELP ME!"
Luna screamed in fright, shooting awake in her bed. She looked around, seeing nothing, no demonic faceless pony, no shadows trying to kill her. Shivering, she put her head under the covers and began to sob. A few moments later, Celestia trotted in, her elegant, flowing mane somewhat disheveled. "Luna? Luna what's wrong?" she asked. Luna, startled, looked up at Celestia, and began sobbing again. Celestia, concerned, went to her sister's side and hugged her tightly. "Shh, shh, it's okay... I'm here for you..."
Luna tried to speak, but could only sob. Celestia frowned, worried for her sister, whispering comforting things to her, trying to calm her down.
What could have scared her this much? she thought. When Luna finally calmed down, she managed to get her to speak.
Luna sniffled. "There were these... I guess you could call them living shadows, that were chasing me, clawing at me... I could feel them cutting into me even as I ran, but no matter how fast I went I couldn't escape... There was a voice... Nightmare Moon's voice, but distorted, monstrous... And there was this... thing, this faceless pony. It just kept getting closer and closer and closer..." She broke down sobbing again.
Celestia was more than a little stunned. To have such a graphic dream... It sounded more like a vision. And that faceless pony... Where had she heard of that before? She needed to study this... As she looked down at her sister, who was still snuggling up against her, crying, she amended her last thought.
After she's calmed down and gotten some sleep, I'll study this... Celestia thought. She looked up at the stars, and sighed. "Please... Let nothing bad happen... But if it does, let my sister be safe..."
As if in response to her wish, nine stars suddenly fell from the sky. She wondered a little about that, and then dismissed the thought immediately. Her sister was much more important...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A few days later...
A field just outside Ponyville...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A gray-furred, cross-eyed pegasus, enjoying her day off from work, was bouncing around a plush squeaky muffin that had been made for her. (She liked it because she could play with it without feeling like she was wasting food.) She would bouncing the toy off her head and rump, roll it around, make it squeak while bouncing it up and down... She blinked, and looked over at the clocktower. Nodding, she decided to keep playing with the muffin. "I still have time before I have to pick up my daughter from school," she said. "More time for old Derpy Hooves to have some fun."
She began playing with her muffin-shaped toy for a few minutes more when she started to hear some voices arguing. She listened in carefully, slowly making her way to the source of the voices. As she got closer, she began to notice details. For one, they all had odd accents. For another, there seemed to be only one female. She giggled a little, a naughty, inappropriate thought occurring to her, which she quickly dismissed. Finally, she got close enough to see them... and they were the strangest ponies she had ever laid her eyes on.
One of the ponies was HUGE, a blue-furred, hulking Earth pony stallion, bigger even than Big Macintosh, with a short, close-cropped white mane, clad in a blue shirt and a vest of some material she didn't recognize. He stood protectively near a white unicorn with glasses, his dark-black mane in a slight curl on his forehead, and a white coat with a blue cross on it. A frustrated looking unicorn with dark blue fur, wearing a yellow hard-hat, blue work vest, and goggles, stood nearby, looking like he had a headache. Fluttering nearby was a young pegasus with sky blue fur in a blue shirt and blue-green hat, an odd-looking set of headphones around his ears. He was chuckling at the two arguing ones, an Earth pony in a blue shirt and helmet and a pegasus with a blue mask of some kind that just revealed his eyes and muzzle, a suit-coat and jacket over his chest, holes in the back for his wings. He clutched a knife of some kind in his tail and judging by the furious expression on his face as he yelled at the helmeted pony, he looked to be on the verge of using it. Looking bored with the whole ordeal, an Earth pony with dark blue fur, a black mane and goatee, an eyepatch over one eye, and a cotton cap over his head just sat and grumbled. The lone mare of the group, her fiery red hair a stark contrast to her blue fur, giggled, her unicorn horn glowing every so often. The last of the nine of them, a pegasus wearing a blue shirt and vest, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat with one end turned up. He stood on a rock near the group, slowly scanning the area around them.
Derpy frowned, trying to make sense of this. The only real commonality she could sense between them was the abundance of blue and the fact that most of the stallions had short-cropped manes. Curious, she moved forward, hunkering down in the nearby tall grass, inching closer to try and get a better listen.
"...And YET AGAIN you refuse to acknowledge zat zis is YOUR FAULT. JUST like ze first time!" the masked pegasus snarled, idly flicking his knife open and closed.
The helmeted Earth pony snarled right back at him. "You can't hold me responsible for this, maggot! There wasn't even a wizard around this time!"
"Here we go again," muttered the hard-hatted unicorn
"Vhat vill this bickering accomplish?" the white unicorn asked, an irritated expression on his face.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS, YOU MISERABLE KRAUT!" the helmeted Earth pony roared, a crazed look in his eyes. "I know what I'm doing, now everyone just shut and follow orders! We are going to that settlement up ahead and we will establish HQ there! We will not be caught off guard when the inevitable attack from RED comes!"
"Oh for..." the hard-hatted unicorn, "Solly, if RED WAS here, they'd have attacked already!"
The one called Solly almost hissed his answer. "That's just want they want you to think! Those REDS are sneaky, they are..."
"Yeah, and that's why we been steamrollin' them the past few weeks," said the young pegasus in the cap, "Thanks to Engie and Spy takin' command."
The pegasus in sunglasses's eyes went wide for a moment, Derpy not noticing as he stared right at her. "Mates..." he said, trying to get their attention.
'Solly' snorted again, jutting his chest out. "BAH! Coincidence. We would have started winning against those maggots soon enough."
The young pegasus snorted laughter. "Yeah right."
'Solly' snarled at him, but shook his head, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down. "All right, all right. Even if the REDs aren't here, we can't just stay here. Ever since we got transported to this world and transformed into ponies, we've been near helpless. Only a handful of us have abilities resembling our old weapons, and it took us way too long to learn basic motor control," he said, adding with a mutter. "I'm just glad there's bathrooms in this world... We need to have a base of some kind! We can't just bumble around in the woods the whole time! We are going to that town and I AM LEADING THE CHARGE!"
"Mates..." the sunglasses-wearing pegasus tried again, frowning.
The one-eyed Earth pony sighed, standing up and putting a hoof on 'Solly's' shoulder. "Lad... Ye do tend to make a bad first impression... Engie and Spy are best at dealin' with civilians... And since we aren't even in our world now, much less our own bodies, we need te be careful about this. Engie and Spy are the best planners, ye know that."
'Solly' sputtered for a moment, trying to protest, but eventually drooped his head, nodding. "You're right... I don't like it, but you're right..."
The pegasus in sunglasses sighed. "That's great, mates. And now that you're done blabbing about, maybe you'll actually listen to me when I say there's someone here that's been watchin' us for the past few minutes."
Everyone turned to where the pegasus pointed, Derpy yelping in fright. She wanted to run, but she felt paralyzed with fear, and could only stare at the nine odd ponies with fright.
'Solly' looked like he wanted to charge, but the one-eyed pony held a leg up, holding him back and shaking his head. Visibly forcing it, 'Solly' managed to calm down. The hard-hatted unicorn had to do the same with the mare, who gained a sudden manic grin on her face at the sight of Derpy and started forward. The hard-hatted unicorn had an easier time getting her to back off, though. Afterwards, the pegasus in a suit and the hard-hatted unicorn came up to her.
"Forgive our associate," the masked pegasus said, his manner all charm and confidence. Derpy blushed despite herself and giggled, as he continued, saying, "He is overbearing at times, but he means well and is a loyal comrade."
'Solly' just snorted, sulking next to the one-eyed pony.
The hard-hatted one nodded, sighing. "Anyway, as y'all may have guessed, we ain't from around here..." he said, smiling in a warm, friendly fashion that made Derpy feel much better around the nine of them. "And as y'all can probably guess, we're a little anxious t'get home. We was wonderin' if y'all knew of any magical authority around here that mahght know of a way to send us back?"
Derpy frowned, thinking for a moment. Did she really want to expose these strangers to Princess Celestia? These two seemed nice enough, but something about the mare bothered her, especially her Cutie Mark, which was a violent flame. After a moment, though, she decided that Celestia could probably easily handle them. And if not her, then Twilight Sparkle and her friends could. After all, she had heard they defeated Nightmare Moon...
"Well... There's Equestria's ruler, Princess Celestia."
The masked pegasus blinked, and smiled, pleased to have learned something. "Equestria? This world's name is Equestria? How..." he looked around, chuckling, "...appropriate."
Derpy blinked. "Wow, you really ARE from another world..."
The hard-hatted unicorn chuckled, an amiable chuckle that made Derpy feel good. "I guess it is kinda obvious..." he admitted.
Derpy giggled. "Anyway, I don't know how to contact the Princess directly. But I do no someone who does. She was actually a student of the princess herself."
The hard-hatted one nodded. "We'd like t'meet her then, miss..."
Derpy blinked. "OH! I'm sorry. I'm Derpy Hooves. I'm one of the mail carriers for the town, but today's my day off. I was just playin' with my muffin toy and..."
The others briefly stared at her when she said her name before the youngest of them spoke up. "Izzat what dat t'ing is?" the younger pegasus said, pointing off to where Derpy had dropped her toy, "Next to the pack?"
"Yeah, that's it!" she said, smiling. The young pegasus nodded. "Eh, no problem. Lemme go get that for ya, save ya goin' outta yer way." Before Derpy could protest, the younger pegasus zipped off with surprising speed towards the toy. He picked it up and put it in the pack. He stared at the pack for a moment before nudging his nose over it and messily tossing it onto his back. "Eh, not bad," he said, flying back to her. "Here ya go, lady."
Derpy giggled. "Thank you," she said, grabbing her pack off of him and in a much smoother motion, tossing it over her shoulder.
The masked pegasus nodded. "Wonderful. And to be polite, we shall introduce ourselves. I am Spy," he said, bowing grandly, his charming manner making Derpy blush again.
"I'm Scout," the young pegasus said, "Pleased ta meetcha."
"Name's Engineer, ma'am," the hard-hatted one said.
The sunglasses-wearing pegasus nodded, his hat tipping slightly. "I'm Sniper. Pleasure's all mine, Miss."
"In name and profession, I am Medic," the white unicorn said, nodding slightly.
"I am Heavy Weapons Guy!" the big stallion said, grinning amicably, "You can call me Heavy, though! Is good to meet you, little silly-eyes pony!"
The one-eyed pony shook his head. "I'm Demoman, lass. Me grumpy associate here is Soldier."
Soldier, still looking sullen, just snorted.
"Pyro," the mare said, grinning creepily, her voice a hissing rasp.
Spy nodded. "Together, we are a zecurity force zat works for a corporation called Builder's League United. Or BLU, for short."
Derpy nodded, smiling. She felt a little better about the group, as they seemed friendly enough. And security force... that must mean they were a sort of royal guard. That was good, right? "C'mon, I'll show you around Ponyville, take you to the person you need to see."
"We'd like that, little darlin,'" Engineer said, smiling. Derpy took off, flying slowly towards the town, the others falling into step behind her, Sniper, Spy, and Scout taking to the air.
After a few minutes of walking in a somewhat awkward silence, Medic galloped up to her. "Miss... Hooves, vas it? I vas vondering... Have you talked to a doctor about your eyes?"
Derpy frowned. She wasn't really comfortable with the topic, but she could tell from Medic's tone that he didn't mean anything insulting by it. "A couple. Treatment's too expensive, though. It doesn't affect my vision that much, and barring a couple jerks who like to use my name as an insult, everyone's been nice to me, so I don't really care."
Medic frowned. It had become reflex to ask about medical conditions when he saw them, and he had guessed that she might be fine with it. Still, he felt a professional need to ask about it.
Anything to occupy his mind on the fact that he was no longer in his world or even in his own body...
Engineer, sensing Medic's discomfort, decided to strike up a conversation. "Maybe y'all can tell us about this person yer takin' us to see?"
"Oh! Okay," Derpy said. "Her name is Twilight Sparkle. She used to live in Canterlot, the capital city, and was an apprentice to Princess Celestia herself! She's really good at magic, and keeping things organized. She's got a baby dragon assistant named Spike, who's a really nice guy, and this really neat pet owl that helps her at night."
At the mention of 'dragon,' Demoman began smirking.
"Shaddup," Soldier muttered, "It doesn't count, this isn't our world."
"She sounds like a razzer interesting lady," Spy said, idly using his tail to stuff his knife in his coat pocket when Derpy was looking away.
"Heheh. She's cool. She can be a bit overly bookish at times, but she and her friends are always there for each other," Derpy said, smiling widely. She told them about what she knew of Twilight Sparkle and the adventures she and her friends had. Medic and Engineer in particular seemed fascinated by the stories.
Eventually, they got into town, making their way to a large house near the town square. To the surprise of the BLU team members though...
"Is that house... made outta gingerbread?" Scout asked, he and the other three pegusi landing.
Derpy giggled, shaking her head. "Nope. That's Sugar Cube Corner. The best pastry shop in all of Equestria and the home of the premiere party planner of Ponyville." She looked again, though, and spotted another pony she knew outside, selling cupcakes.
"Cupcakes! Getcha cupcakes here!" said the rainbow-maned pegasus, "Special discount today, only one bit!"
Ponies were coming up and purchasing the cupcakes, which had a sweet, appley smell to them, white frosting and an apple slice topping them. The pegasus smiled, nudging the paper plates that held the cupcakes on them towards people, who would take them in their mouths and walk off with them. Derpy led the nine dimensionally displaced ponies up to the table.
"Heya Rainbow Dash," Derpy said, "Helping out today?"
"Hey, what's up Derpy?" Rainbow Dash said, "Yeah, Pinkie's not feeling so hot. She had a really, really bad nightmare last night that sorta... put her off cupcakes for a while... She came to my place and was in a bad way, so I agreed to help out while she got some more sleep. The Cakes are gonna stick to using those pans for muffins for a while."
Derpy frowned. From Rainbow Dash's expression she could tell that she was holding back some details, but she decided not to press it. Pinkie Pie was their friend, while she was just an acquaintance, so she'd let them handle making her feel better. "Hnh... Hope she's okay..."
"Me too," Rainbow Dash said. She blinked, noticing the nine members of BLU behind Derpy for the first time. "Whoah!" she said, impressed by them. "Who're your new pals?"
Derpy started to explain, then giggled. "Y'know what? I'm gonna let them tell. It'd take too long, I'm not even sure I believe half of it, and I need to go pick up my daughter from school. Y'mind taking over as hostess for me?"
Rainbow Dash looked them over, and shrugged. "Sure, why not? Wanna buy some cupcakes before you go?"
Derpy nodded. "Yeah, sure, why not?" she said, putting down eleven bits. "Nine for my friends, one for Dinky, and one for me" she said, taking two of the plates and flying off. "See you around, Rainbow Dash!"
"Say hi to Dinky for me!" Rainbow Dash said, waving with a hoof. She turned to the nine BLU members, nudging some cupcake plates towards them, the last ones on the table. "Anyway..." she said to the gathered ponies, "Eat up. It's a double promo today. Another buddy of mine runs this apple farm just outside of town. Best. Apples. Ever. Makes the cupcakes even tastier."
The others looked at each other. Medic stepped forward first. "Danke, Fräulein Dash," he said, leaning in and taking a bite. "Mmm, these are quite good."
The others stepped forward after that, eating their own cupcakes. Rainbow Dash giggled as Heavy picked his up and ate it in one bite. "Moist and delicious!" he said, licking his lips. "Is quite tasty cupcake, little rainbow friend!"
Engineer nodded. "Much obliged for the hospitality," he said, "If'n y'all see Derpy Hooves again before us, would'ja let'er know we appreciate her buyin' the snacks?"
Rainbow Dash nodded. They seemed pleasant enough. "I'm Rainbow Dash," she said, "The fastest pegasus in all of Equestria."
"Izzat so?" Scout said, grinning widely. He would love to put that to the test.
Rainbow Dash twitched, and put her face right in Scout's. "Yeah, that's so," she said, grinning a little, sensing a challenge from the little pegasus in the blue shirt, "Wanna make something of it?"
"Not... at the moment, no... You'll have to forgive Scout, he's rather impulsive and that can sometimes override his better judgment. And etiquette," Spy said, glaring at Scout, who just giggled but said nothing. "We are actually here on business. We find ourselves at... something of a loss, and..."
"Just tell her," Soldier muttered.
Spy glared at Soldier. To his surprise, though, Engineer seemed to agree. "We might as well, pardner. Ain't gonna accomplish nothing by joshin' around before getting' to the point."
Spy stared at Engineer for a moment, then at the others, who seemed to agree with him. He sighed, and said, "Very well then. A few days ago, we found ourselves transported to Equestria from another world via unknown means. Upon our arrival here, we were forcibly transformed, via similar unknown means, into the forms you see before you now. We are seeking a powerful magical authority to try and return back to our world and hopefully back to our natural forms as well."
"Betcha anything she doesn't believe a word of it," Pyro muttered. "I know for a fact that it's true and I'm not sure that I believe it."
Rainbow Dash stared at them, frowning, fluttering in the air a little. She DIDN'T believe it. Sure, they dressed weird, but honestly, they were no more bizarre than some of the dresses Rarity came up with. (Fashion was WEIRD in her view.) And honestly, their outfits seem rather plain anyway. "...Whatever you say," she said, shrugging. "Cool Cutie Marks, by the way."
Heavy blinked. "What is 'Cutie Mark?'"
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. What in... How could they not know what a Cutie Mark is! That's like, Pony 101! That... Oh geez, maybe they are from another world!
Spy took note of Rainbow Dash's sudden silence. He frowned, but decided to roll with it. "I'm assuming that 'Cutie Mark' refers to the designs on our flanks?"
Rainbow Dash nodded, more than a little disturbed. "Yeah, that's... That's like GRADE SCHOOL stuff..."
Scout gagged. "Cutie marks... Can't BELIEVE some of the names for stuff here..."
The nine turned to look at their Cutie Marks. Scout's was a baseball bat with wings attached to it. Soldier's was a rocket. Pyro's was a violent flame. Demoman's was an exploding pipe bomb. Heavy's was his minigun, Sasha. Engineer's was a wrench. Medic's was a blue cross, similar to the one on his coat. Sniper's was a sniper scope. And Spy's was the upper body of a stick figure getting stabbed in the back of the head.
"Certainly interestin,' ah guess," Engineer said, turning to look at Rainbow Dash's mark. "Maybe y'all could explain what they mean to us later?"
"Yeah... sure..." Rainbow Dash said, confusion evident on her face. A lavender pegasus flew down to Rainbow Dash, startling her.
"Rainbow Dash? We lost the schedule for today... When and where was that rain supposed to be?" the pegasus asked.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. Too much was going on at once for her to focus. Fortunately, she knew what was supposed to happen. "Put the storm over the botanical gardens, the ones about five miles from Sweet Apple Acres, at Five o'clock. They've been a little dry lately ever since their irrigation system broke down." She shook her head. "That's the third time this month. Who's been handling the schedules?"
"I don't know," the lavender pegasus sighed, "It's some new supervisor I've never seen before..."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Look, just make sure that there are at least three copies of the weather schedule available at all times from now on, okay?"
The lavender pegasus nodded, flying off and pushing a cloud away. BLU watched in amazement, Rainbow Dash staring at them in shock. Weather management was another basic thing in this world. The three pegasi, at least, should be familiar with it.
"The weather is managed here?" Medic asked, his scientific curiosity piqued.
Rainbow Dash nodded numbly. "Yeah..." she said, "Pegusi keep the weather going..." This is too weird. She needed to talk to Twilight Sparkle. And FAST. "Listen, I gotta bolt for a sec. If Pinkie Pie wakes up and is looking for me, tell her I'm still fine and just went to get Twilight Sparkle."
Before the others could say anything, Rainbow Dash zipped off in a streak of color, creating a burst of wind that left the hat-wearing members of BLU holding their headgear in place.
Scout whistled, impressed. "Nice speed Dashy's got there... Wouldn't mind racing her once before going home..."
Spy cursed himself. "So much for infiltration..."
Engineer shrugged. "It may be better this way, t'just get things out in the open. This looks like a peaceful place. Even if we were natives, we wouldn't exactly belong."
As the others talked, Pyro was looking at the paper plates their cupcakes were on. She grinned wickedly, and placed them on the ground in a little stack. She knelt down, muttering, "Let's see if I remember how to do this..." She concentrated, her horn glowing, and after a moment, a burst of flame shot out, igniting the plates. She giggled happily, catching everyone's attention. Heavy yelped, and stomped out the flames, giving Pyro a disapproving look.
"Little Pyro must not set fires in public places. Is bad for businesses," he rumbled.
"Darlin,' we're trying to make a good impression here so's we can try and get an audience with the magical authority and get home..." Engineer said, sidling up to her.
"Poor little fire," Pyro said as she stared at the ashes of the plates, sniffling a little, "Snuffed out just as it was starting to grow..."
Engineer groaned softly. "Just... wait until we're not in a public place, please? And around so much potential collateral damage?"
Pyro blinked, as if noticing Engineer for the first time. It took her another moment to register his question, and she nodded, smiling a dementedly cheerful smile. "Only because YOU asked," she said.
"Very strange girlfriend ye have there, Truckie," Demoman chuckled.
Engineer sighed again.
After Heavy cleaned up the burnt plates, a bright pink Earth pony came out, with poofy hair that drooped a little, becoming straight at the ends. She looked at them curiously, yawning.
From the abundance of pink, they immediately guessed her to be the Pinkie Pie mentioned earlier in the conversation between Derpy Hooves and Rainbow Dash. Engineer smiled, nodding to her. "Ah'm sorry there, ma'am? Did we wake you?"
Pinkie Pie shook her head. "No," she said, and began looking around, her expression frantic. "Was... Was Rainbow Dash just here?"
Spy, in full Charming Mode, came up to her. "Indeed she was, my dear," he said, smiling his most dazzling smile. She went to fetch your ozzer associates, and promised to return shortly."
Pinkie Pie gave him a desperate, frightened look, one that startled him. "Was she... was she all there? Was any part of her missing?"
What sort of bad dream did she have? the nine BLU members thought.
"I saw no injuries, Fräulein. She was in good health," Medic said, stepping forward.
Pinkie Pie turned to him, saw that he looked like a doctor, and relaxed a little. "Okay... I guess... Yeah, she's okay," Pinkie said, smiling a little. "Thank y..."
Pinkie blinked, as if noticing the nine BLU members for the first time. She looked at all of them individually, her eyes going wide. Bizarrely, her hair became completely poofy, her pink coloring getting brighter.
Demoman and Soldier traded disturbed looks. "Are you all right, lassie?" Demoman said.
Pinkie Pie leaped into the air, letting out a long gasp, and zipped back inside, the door slamming shut behind her.
The BLU team members just stared, unable to figure out what to make of what just happened.
Rainbow Dash, with four other ponies and a little purple and green lizard in tow, arrived back a few moments later. The pale-yellow pegasus squeaked in fright at the sight of them and hid behind the white unicorn with the curly, elegant mane. Rainbow Dash and the lavender unicorn with the lizard-thing on her back stepped forward, Rainbow Dash zipping around and glaring at the BLU team members suspiciously.
"What happened, what went wrong?" she demanded.
"I..." Scout said, "I don't know. She came out, looking for you. Then... she acted like she didn't realize we were there at first, but when she did... Her hair got really poofy and her coat got brighter... she just leaped into the air and let out a big gasp, and then zipped right back inside! We didn't do anything other than say hi and tell her where you was!"
To BLU's surprise, the other five ponies let out a sigh of relief.
"Good, she's feeling better," the white unicorn said. "Poor dear seemed so sad after that horrible dream she had..."
"...I do not understand," Medic said.
The lavender unicorn giggled, adjusting the saddlebag she wore, which was filled with scrolls and books. "Pinkie Pie did the same 'gasp and run off thing' when I first came to Ponyville. She's planning on throwing you a party to welcome you here!."
Heavy brightened. "Party? I love parties!"
"Yeah, me too!" Scout said, jumping and doing a loop-de-loop before perching on Heavy's back, "That is so awesome, to get a party just fer showin' up!"
The other team members traded confused looks. Engineer smiled, and said, "That's right neighborly of y'all," he said, "But she really don't have to do this."
"Aw shucks," the orange pony in the cowboy hat said, Engineer sensing a kinship with her just from the accent, "That don't matter. She likes doin' nice things for people. And..." She looked back into the pastry shop. "She's kinda been in kind of a bad way lately... Ah know it's a bit much t'ask since we just met, but would y'all mind just goin' with it? It'd really cheer her up."
Soldier growled. "Don't we have something we need to do here?" he snarled, ignoring Demoman's scathing look.
"We're gonna be asking a big favor of them," Engineer said, "Ah don't see what the harm would be in repayin' them for it?"
"Besides," Spy added, agreeing with the idea, "Zere are worse zings we could do. I do not mind indulging in a celebration."
The lavender unicorn stepped forward, the lizard-thing hopping off her back and sniffing at them suspiciously.
"A favor? What do you mean?" she asked.
Rainbow Dash blinked. "OH! That's right," she said. "Guys, this is Engineer, Spy, Scout, Heavy, Pyro, Demoman, Soldier, Sniper, and Medic. They're a security team for a group called Builders League United."
"Or just BLU, for short," Spy added.
Rainbow Dash nodded, and continued, gliding over them. "They're from a whole other world entirely!"
Pinkie Pie poked her head out the window. "Another world? Like space aliens?" she said, disappearing and reappearing on top of Heavy's head, startling the large stallion. "SO COOL!" she cheered, bouncing up and down. She then paused mid-bounce, blinking. "I gotta change the theme of the party," she said, zipping back inside.
"We aren't that kinda aliens," Engineer said, "I don't think, anyway. I think we got sent over here from an alternate reality."
The lavender unicorn seemed doubtful. In an instant, Pinkie Pie was back out there, grabbing Engineer's face in her hooves. "Visitors from another dimension? Like in the fantasy books? THAT'S EVEN COOLER!" she shrieked joyfully. She paused again, looking confused. "Wait, what kind of theme can I use for that?" After a moment of thinking, she shrugged. "Eh. I'll go with the standard, then. With lots of blue. You guys like blue?"
The gathered ponies, native and otherwise, just stared her incredulously. Demoman looked over the blue garb they all wore, and chuckled. "Aye, lass, we do."
"Great!" she said, zipping back inside.
"Is she always that energetic?" Sniper asked.
The native ponies, again seeming relieved at their friend's exuberance, nodded. Rainbow Dash, still fluttering above the others, continued her introductions. "Anyway, BLU, I'd like you to meet my friends. First, this is Applejack," she said, gesturing to the orange pony with the cowboy hat.
"Pleasure t'meet y'all!" she said, smiling brightly. "Stop by Sweet Apple Acres later and I'll hook y'up with some of the finest apple treats in town!"
Engineer grinned. "Ah'd like that a lot, ma'am."
Rainbow Dash giggled, and gestured to the white unicorn. "Miss Curly here is Rarity. She runs the dress shop here in town," she said.
"It is always a pleasure to greet newcomers to our humble little town," Rarity said, bowing grandly. Spy, sensing an opportunity, turned on the charm again, gently lifting her hoof with his own and kissing it.
"Enchanté, mon cher," he said. Rarity blushed and giggled.
"My my, such a gentleman," she said.
Scout pulled his cap over his face, burying his head in his hooves to try and stifle his laughter.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the two of them, landing near the pale-yellow pegasus, nudging her forward a little. "This here's my best bud from school, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy grinned nervously. "H-Hello... It's very nice to meet you."
Heavy leaned down a little to greet her, Fluttershy yelping nervously and hiding behind Rarity again. "Little shy pony, do not be afraid! BLU is friend to all!" he boomed, smiling brightly.
She was still nervous, but the sincere smile on Heavy's face made her relax enough to smile back.
Rainbow Dash landed near the lavender unicorn and her lizard associate. "And this," the rainbow-maned pegasus said, "is Twilight Sparkle and her dragon partner, Spike."
Demoman blinked, and grinned at Spike. He had REALLY been wanting to see a dragon up close. "It's a pleasure t'meet y'both, lassie and lad," he said.
"Likewise, I'm sure," Twilight said. "What was it you wanted to ask?"
"Well," Engineer said, "We..."
"We want to go home," Sniper interjected bluntly. "We have nothing against any of you, but this isn't our world and these aren't our bodies. We'll stay for the party, but after that we really want to go home and to our families. Those of us that have them, at any rate."
Engineer sighed, and nodded in agreement. "If y'all could help us with that, or know someone who could, we'd be grateful. We don't wanna be any trouble..."
Twilight frowned. "I'm powerful, but I'm just an apprentice..." she said, thinking for a moment, "But Princess Celestia might be able to help!"
Spy smiled. "If you would be so kind as to write to her?"
Twilight thought for a moment, and nodded. "Spike, if you would?"
Spike frowned at them. "You sure, Twilight? They got a weird smell on them all. Like ash and... something else, I can't tell what..."
Twilight sighed. "No... But, I guess it's best to help them find their way home, right?"
Spike frowned, and shook his head, reaching into the saddlebag Twilight wore, pulling out a blank scroll and quill. He nodded to Twilight, who began dictating.
"Dear Princess Celestia. I hope this letter finds you and your sister in good health, and that she is feeling better after that terrible nightmare you mentioned in your last letter to me. We are all doing well here, but I have a very important request to make. Recently, my friends and I encountered nine strange new ponies that claim not only to be from another world entirely, but that the pony bodies they now have aren't their original ones. According to Rainbow Dash, they were unaware of what Cutie Marks were and the ability to control the weather that pegasus ponies have, lending credence to their claims. They seek to and are eager to return to their home and their original forms, and I was wondering if you knew of any magic that could help them. Signed, your loyal student, Twilight Sparkle."
"I cannot believe some of these names," Scout muttered.
"Hush," Spy admonished.
Spike rolled up the scroll and blew a gout of green flame that burned it up. Pyro seemed pleased by it, but she, like the others, was surprised when the ash floated off into the distance, towards a mountainside city.
"I have GOT to learn how to do that," Pyro giggled.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Canterlot...
Royal castle...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Celestia looked over her books of monster lore, trying to find anything similar to the figure that Luna had described in her dream. Luna herself was busy with an abacus, doing various calculations in her head as she looked over some figures on a chart. Merely moving the abacus beads around seemed to have a calming effect on Luna, Celestia noticed. She smiled softly, glad that her sister seemed to be feeling better, her terrible nightmare nothing more than a bad memory...
"Nightmares..." she said softly, looking out over the villages and towns below her. Specifically, towards Ponyville, where her prized student Twilight Sparkle resided. She felt a shiver of fear for her go through her, and decided to focus on her studies. She was surprised a moment later, however, when a scroll appeared before her in a flame of green flame that she recognized.
"Oh!" Celestia said, startled.
Luna turned to her, frowning. "Sis? What is it?"
"A letter from my student," she said, "A little early for one, though..." She thought about it for a moment and shrugged, her horn glowing as she opened the scroll and read it.
She frowned, a worried expression coming to her face. Luna stood up, concerned. "Sister? What is it?"
"The nine stars that fell from the sky..." Celestia said, her voice one of wonderment. She turned to Luna, a thought occurring to her. "Luna, get ready. We're going to Ponyville."
Luna blinked. "Why?"
"Something major has happened," Celestia said, "I need us both to be there, just in case it's too powerful to handle for me alone."
Luna frowned nervously. "Are... are you sure?"
Celestia sighed, smiling indulgently. "It wasn't using your magic that made you become Nightmare Moon, Luna. I still don't know what outside force it was that corrupted you, but I intend to find out. Now come."
Luna smiled, feeling a little better due to her sister's confidence. She closed her book, and joined her sister as she wrote a return letter to Twilight. Back in Ponyville, Spike belched, literally coughing up the letter. Twilight caught it with her telekinesis and opened it.
"She's coming here... With Luna, for some reason..." Twilight read.
"An audience with royalty?" Spy said, smiling, "Oh, zis will be fun."
"Why princess?" Engineer asked. "If she's in charge, wouldn't that mean she's a queen?"
Twilight shook her head. "Technically yes, but she told me she refuses to do so out of reverence for her mother, who alongside her and Luna's father gave their lives to save them. I don't really understand it myself, but she tells me she feels unworthy of the title of queen."
Spy nodded, memorizing the information for later possible use, as was his habit. But wait. I will be leaving soon. Why would I...? Unless she CAN'T... Spy's eyes widened as he gasped. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He had to hold onto the hope that Celestia could send them home.
At Twilight's suggestion, the nine members of BLU and the six ponies (Pinkie had to be convinced to temporarily abandon her party plans) gathered at Twilight Sparkle's library home. About an hour later, the royal carriage arrived, being drawn by armored pegasus ponies. (The BLU members were a little surprised to see apparently fully sentient ponies drawing the carriages. Medic, Spy, and Engineer made a mental note to ask about it later.) Twilight and her friends bowed as Luna and Celestia disembarked, thanking the two guardsponies, the BLU team bowing as well.
"Princess Celestia," Twilight said, "It's so good to see you again."
"As it is good to see you, Twilight Sparkle, and all your wonderful friends," Celestia said, radiating such benevolence that Spy, ever the ladies man no matter what his form, found himself blushing. Sniper noticed and would have teased him about it, but he was a professional and would wait until their business was concluded.
Twilight turned to Luna and bowed as well. "And Princess Luna, it is good to see you again," she said, grinning weakly, "Under... better circumstances of course."
Luna blushed, flinching. "Celestia speaks well of you, Twilight Sparkle. And... I wish to apologize to the six of you, and through you all of Equestria... Looking and actually seeing how much people appreciate my beautiful nights has made me realize that many of my... earlier decisions were drastically poor..."
"Well, sure!" Pinkie Pie chirped, meaning every word she said. "After a too hot day, a nice cool night is just the ticket!"
Luna smiled gratefully.
Celestia nodded. "And I'm assuming these gentleponies and lady behind you are the 'visitors' you mentioned?"
Twilight Sparkle nodded. "This is Scout, Soldier, Pyro, Demoman, Heavy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Spy. Derpy Hooves apparently found them about a mile away from Ponyville."
"It is an honor to be in the presence of such beauty, my ladies," Spy said, practically oozing his trademark charm.
Celestia and Luna smiled at the nine of them, but it was an uneasy one. After a moment, Celestia asked, "Do you know how you got here?"
"'Fraid not, yer Majesty," Engineer said, shaking his head, "About four days ago, we was mindin' our own business and suddenly we got pulled into the sky. Next thing we know, we're crashin' down from high up. And when we wake up, we're in bodies that ain't our own!"
"The nine falling stars..." Celestia said, mainly to herself.
"...Pardon, ma'am?" Engineer said.
Celestia shook her head. "I may have witnessed your arrival in this world without knowing..." She hesitated a moment, and asked, "Your names... They sound like job titles than actual names. What is it you do?"
Uh oh... Spy thought. Do they suspect? Deciding to try the cover story, he said, "In our homeworld, we are a private security team hired by a company called Builders League United. BLU for short. We mainly protect BLU-held buildings from infiltration and demolition by our rival company, Reliable Excavations and Demolitions. Or, simply, RED. Our employer is... somewhat eccentric, and asked us not to use our real names to refer to each other. Something about preventing information on our families from reaching our rivals, so as to prevent bribes."
"Do not lie to me," Luna said.
The other ponies save for Celestia, who had the same suspicions, seemed surprised . The BLU members just cringed, trading worried looks, realizing they had been caught.
"Princess Luna," Spy tried, "I assure that..."
"My power is based in darkness," Luna said, "It grants me the ability to see through all shrouds. Including shrouds on the truth. I can accept that you may have been pulled here against your will. But I will not accept being lied to..."
A brief memory flashed through Luna's thoughts. DrInK. dRiNk, AnD yOu WiLl At LaSt Be StRoNg...
"I will not allow any harm to come to this world because of a lie, ever again..." Luna said softly, but with conviction. Celestia smiled warmly at the declaration before turning her gaze on the gathered BLU team members.
Spy frowned, and began idly playing with his knife, his expression going icy. Soldier growled angrily. Pyro's eye twitched, a manic giggle escaping her throat. Heavy's eyes narrowed, and Medic sighed wearily, as if expecting this. Scout began shifting nervously on his hooves, as if restraining himself from taking off, as Sniper just returned Celestia's cold gaze. Engineer grumbled inwardly, and began doing calculations in his head, trying to figure a way out of this, trying to ignore the worried looks Twilight Sparkle and her friends were giving them.
Demoman, however, didn't get up from where he was sitting. A tired expression on his face, he told Spy, "Just tell her everything, lad. There's no point in trying to come up with cute stories."
Spy frowned at him. "...If I must."
Demoman nodded. "No reason to lie when someone already suspects the truth."
Applejack blinked, and rubbed her neck against a low hanging branch.
Rarity gave her a confused look. Applejack shrugged. "Neck itched for a moment," the orange pony said.
Spy sighed, his expression turning cold. "Very well... The nine of us are mercenaries and assassins. Each one of us a killer, even the doctor," he said, the other ponies gasping. Spy nodded. "BLU and RED are direct rivals to each other, because two psychopathic twins brothers named Blutarch and Redmond Mann refuse to cooperate and share ze land their father left them. We fight in constant war games against our lookalike counterparts in RED. Either zey are clones, we are, or both sides are clones. Despite the best efforts of both myself and my RED counterpart, we have been unable to discover ze truth of ze matter. It's made things... awkward in matters of our families. I was not lying about our employer wanting us to use job titles as names, although he never gave us a reason. We simply use zem out of habit now, having grown used to doing so."
Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy stared at BLU in shock. Spike, shivering, suddenly realized what the second smell was. "Blood... That was the second smell... They all smell of ash and blood..."
Engineer sighed. "We got no beef with this world, and don't wanna cause no trouble. If'n you can help us get along home, we'll gladly be on our way."
Celestia and Luna traded looks. "I... I appreciate your honesty," Celestia said hesitantly, "And can respect your desire to leave without causing problems."
The nine of them looked up at her hopefully, their expressions almost pleading. Celestia felt her heart breaking as she spoke again.
"But... I don't know if I can help you at all," Celestia said. The faces on the nine members of BLU fell. Celestia bit her lip and continues. "I truly wish I could help, but I don't know the first thing about dimensional transportation magic at all. And even if I did, even Luna and I working together wouldn't have enough power to open a gate. It requires more power than even the two of us and most of the unicorns on Equestria together have."
"Ma..." Scout said softly, his head drooping. Sniper pawed the ground, a look of intense frustration on his face. Heavy and Pyro just stared at her, their expressions a mix of disappointment and fear. Soldier began growling, Demoman taking him aside and whispering to him harshly, trying to get him to calm down. Spy sat down, a contemplative look on his face, as Medic looked away, frowning.
"I am truly sorry," Celestia said, frowning. "I can look into other means of getting you home, but it will take some time for the research to be done..."
Engineer managed to smile weakly. "It's... fine. We..."
Pinkie Pie suddenly began shivering, bouncing up and down. The five ponies and young dragon about her suddenly became worried.
"What's wrong?" Medic said, "Is something the matter?"
Twilight, even though she had accepted it long ago, really couldn't believe she was saying it. "Pinkie Pie has... this ability to sense when things are coming. It usually manifests as a twitching. A fully body twitching means that a real doozy is coming..."
"A really big BAD doozy!" Pinkie said, shivering in fear. Heavy and Scout suddenly looked around, worried.
Engineer and Medic were prepared to accept the presence of magic. The disastrous DeGroot Keep incident that made Engineer and Spy seize leadership of BLU from Soldier had proven to them that magic existed. And even if it didn't their new abilities and forcible transportation to Equestria would have forced them to accept it.
But this sounded just silly.
"You've got to be kidding me," they chorused.
And then the screaming started.
Everyone turned in the direction of the sound. It was a guttural scream, with more fear in it than any of the native ponies had ever heard. Ponies were running around in panic, fearful for their lives. And there was a strong scent of blood in the air.
"Guards!" Celestia commanded, "Go, help as many as you can! We will be along shortly!" The two guardponies ran off, and Celestia turned to the gathered members of BLU. "I have no right to ask you this after my admitting my inability to help you, but whatever this is, I may need your help. I would like to commission you to help stop whatever is doing thiAAGH!"
From the roof of a nearby building leaped a monstrous figure, slashing with dark claws. They tore into Celestia's neck and chest, blood splashing out.
"SISTER!" Luna cried. Applejack kicked the creature as it reared up for another attack. Her powerful bucking strike knocked the creature back into a nearby wall. Luna, furious, turned her magic on the creature, freezing it in place and coating it in a layer of ice.
Celestia gagged, staggering, coughing up blood. Twilight was at her side, trying to hold her up, trying to remember a healing spell. Before either she or Luna could react, Medic was at Celestia's side. A beam of blue energy emitted from his horn, blue crosses similar to his Cutie Mark bubbling from it. As the others watched, Celestia's wounds healed up rapidly, even the scars fading away.
"How...?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"On my world, in my natural form, I wielded a weapon I created called a Medigun, that could heal battlefield injuries. When I was turned into this body, I gained the ability to produce my Medigun's healing beam without need of the actual gun," Medic explained.
"It's a useful ability," Celestia said, Luna and Twilight helping her to her feet. She went over, ignoring the protests of her sister and student to rest. "What... What is this?" Celestia asked.
"This isn't native?" Demoman asked, confused.
"It... It looks like a Diamond Dog," Rarity said, "But... different somehow."
The others looked at it. It did indeed resemble the ape-like canines that had captured Rarity before, but horribly corrupted. Black liquid oozed from its mouth, its claws black and jagged. The eyes were massive pools of darkness, the scent of rot and oil on its breath.
Luna stared at it, her eyes glowing for a moment. "Whatever it was before, it's not now. This creature, and most likely the others, has been corrupted beyond recovery... Beyond that, the most I can tell from it is that its a scout, and the main force hasn't arrived yet. Its mind has long since been destroyed beyond basic instincts..." she said, Celestia nodding in agreement, getting the same sense from the creature.
Heavy snorted, rearing up and bringing his hoof down, crushing the creature's head. It exploded like a wet sack, splattering in a mass of black goop, startling the Equestria natives. "Then we will crush tiny baby monsters, and protect little ponies!" he rumbled.
"Commission accepted, Princess," Spy said, vanishing in a swirl of smoke.
"Anything to take our minds off of the situation," Sniper muttered, taking to the air.
"CHARGE!" Soldier bellowed, running back into town, the others following behind.
Celestia turned to Twilight and her friends. "You six help as many ponies and animals as you can get to safety. Luna and I will aid in the battle."
Both princesses took off, rising majestically into the air. They spotted Medic helping with the ponies that had been injured by the scout's attack. And as it turned out, they arrived just in time. The rest of the corrupted Diamond Dogs had arrived.
Snarling and slavering, they burst from underground, like demons from Hell. Thirty corrupted Diamond Dogs, turned monstrous by whatever it was that transformed them. They attacked indiscriminately, tearing into buildings and chasing down ponies. But they quickly found themselves with greater resistance than they expected.
Soldier had found a shovel somewhere and was using it as a bludgeon, holding it in his teeth as he literally tore into the corrupted Diamond Dogs. A crazed, blood-thirty expression was on his face as he fought, snarling like a beast. Demoman, who had grabbed a fallen beam and jammed a bunch of nails into it was fighting just as fiercely, bashing Diamond Dogs left and right.
Heavy bellowed as he slammed headfirst into a crowd of Diamond Dogs, the titanic stallion scattering them like bowling pins. He managed to pin one to the ground and crush its head, like he did before. He barely noticed the slashes he received, Medic, who was dashing back and forth between his teammates, healing any injuries they received. A Diamond Dog attacked Medic, its corrupted, savage mind thinking him an easy target because he was a doctor. But Medic just lunged forward, headbutting the Diamond Dog, jamming his horn in its neck, killing it instantly.
"I'm afraid your diagnosis is terminal!" Medic quipped, dashing off to help the others.
Scout was darting back and forth between Diamond Dogs, taunting them mercilessly and knocking them about with bucking kicks, luring them into Heavy, Soldier, and Demoman's reach. Spy disappeared and reappeared repeatedly, jamming his knife into the backs of the demonic Diamond Dogs, staggering them and leaving them open for Scout's kicks.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other and nodded, joining the fight themselves, their powerful magic literally tearing into the Diamond Dogs.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Engineer tried to fight, but found himself outmatched. He was thrown off of the Diamond Dog he was attacking, and ended up crashing into Rarity's shop as she was barricading the windows. The ponies that had taken refuge there screamed in fright, relaxing only a little when they noticed it was Engineer.
"Oh dear," Rarity said, rushing to his side. "Are you all right?"
Engineer winced as he pulled himself to his feet. "Just a little shook up, ma'am," he said, "And a little annoyed that I don't have m'tools or m'buildings t'work with. Fightin' direct like this is more up the alley of the others..."
He looked around, noticing the abundance of gems, including several . He did some calculations in his head, and grinned. "Ma'am?"
"Rarity, darling," the white unicorn said, smiling warmly, appreciating that he was being gentlemanly even in this situation.
Engineer nodded. "Ah need t'borrow y'gemstones for a sec. I gots me an idea," he said.
Rarity blinked. "My gems?" she asked, confused. She looked out, hearing the screams and the roars of the corrupted Diamond Dogs. She looked back, a resolute expression on her face. "If it will help stop these monsters from hurting anypony, then you may make use of anything in my shop," she said resolutely.
"Much obliged, Miss Rarity," Engineer said, his horn glowing as he telekinetically lifted up all the gems, as well as a few beams and reflective surfaces. He tore all the gems out of the rather elegant dress that was under construction, Rarity flinching as her work was torn apart.
"That hurt physically hurt y'all, didn't it?" Engineer asked, noting her reaction with mild amusement.
"Yeees..." she whimpered.
"Ah'll make it up to you, ah promise," Engineer said. A blueprint was forming in his mind as he began to build, adding, "But first, lemme get this done..."
The work went quickly, Rarity returning to boarding up windows as Engineer build his device. A shell of reflective surfaces was formed around the gems, which were clustered inside in intricate patterns which Rarity thought were quite lovely. Spare wooden beams formed a base underneath the device... whatever it was.
"Will this contraption really help?" Rarity asked.
Before Engineer could answer, a Diamond Dog burst into the store. Rarity and the hiding ponies screamed in fear as the creature bellowed...
...but Engineer just smirked. "Sentry, goin' up."
He created a ball of light and dropped it into the back of the device. It bounced around the reflective surfaces, passing through the gems and growing in strength until it passed out of the barrel, becoming a thick beam of intense heat and light that vaporized the Diamond Dog, leaving only a black smudge.
"Wow..." Rarity said.
Engineer nodded, lifting up the Sentry to move it outside. "Ma'am, ah'm truly sorry about havin' t'use up your supplies like that. Ah'll do what I can t'make it up to you," he said, before rushing out to set up his Sentry again.
Rarity nodded, left speechless by the display. But for some reason, after Engineer's promise, she felt her neck itch a little...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Rainbow Dash wasn't one to run away. She was terrified, certainly (not that she'd ever admit it out loud), but she wasn't about to back off. She would distract Diamond Dogs that were closing on people, luring them over to the fighters as Scout was, relying on her speed to keep her out of reach of the vicious claws. She wished she could do more, though.
The Sniper came up to her. "You. Sheila," he said.
"It's Rainbow Dash," she huffed.
"I don't care," Sniper said, "You said ponies control the weather?"
"Pegasus ponies, yeah," Rainbow Dash said, nodding, "But I don't see what that has to do with anything."
"Show me how to shoot lightning," Sniper said.
"What good will that do..." Rainbow Dash started. But even as she said it, she realized that she didn't have any better ideas. Glancing down at the others to see if they were all right, she nodded and led him up to a nearby gray cloud. She briefly explained how to move the clouds and trigger lightning, Sniper perching on the cloud as she spoke. He quickly wiped at the cloud, making a clear area in it.
"What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked, darting about anxiously, "Our friends our down there!"
"Patience," Sniper said, "Just because I tend to be meticulous even in the heat of battle doesn't mean I'm not thinking of me mates."
Sniper stared down through the clear area. Rainbow Dash glanced over his shoulder, realizing that there was a crosshair of sorts, and that everything was magnified. Sniper muttered to himself, slowly raising a hoof... and brought it down on the cloud.
There was a crackle of thunder, and a lightning bolt lanced down through the sky, striking a Diamond Dog demon in the head, which promptly exploded.
"...Wow," Rainbow Dash gasped, stunned.
Sniper nodded. "Slight delay before firing," he muttered, "But I can compensate for that. These blighters aren't that fast..." He moved the cloud, and took aim again, firing another lightning bolt that exploded the head of a Diamond Dog that had cornered Demoman.
"That is... REALLY disturbing and REALLY cool at the same time," Rainbow Dash said, chuckling nervously.
Sniper just smirked. "All part and parcel to the job, Sheila. No one hurts me mates while I've still got two good eyes."
Rainbow Dash giggled, appreciating the sentiment... although for some odd reason her neck itched a little for a moment...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Fluttershy was trying desperately to herd some of the animals away, whimpering to herself as BLU, the Princesses, and the Diamond Dogs fought overhead. She led them through a carriage parking area beneath the mayor's office, trying to keep them safe from the battles and get them out to the forest. But as she made her way through, gently herding the rabbits, squirrels, and mice through, whispering calming things to them and just barely keeping the fear out of her own voice, a pair of Diamond Dogs came in, drooling and roaring. Fluttershy shrieked, paralyzed by fear, as the corrupted canines came in, roaring savagely...
...only to be knocked over like bowling pins as Heavy charged in, bellowing. One was knocked into a nearby coach, knocked senseless, as Heavy tackled the other one, charging forward and slamming it into a wall, the creature's spine audibly breaking. He snorted, and turned his attention to the other one as it picked itself up. It roared at Heavy, who just bellowed back in its face.
The Diamond Dog hesitated for a moment, and then turned towards Fluttershy. Sensing easier prey, it lunged towards her, roaring. Fluttershy squeaked, and covered her head with her hooves. Heavy charged the Diamond Dog, smashing into it with a shoulder tackle and sending it sprawling.
"Get behind me, little shy pony!" Heavy bellowed. He stood protectively in front of Fluttershy and her animal friends, the little yellow pegasus looking up at Heavy in awe. The Diamond Dog picked itself up again, snarling in frustration... only to get crushed into nothingness by a gravity spell cast by Luna.
"C'mon!" she said, "The tide's turned in our favor!" She flew out of the parking lot entrance, rejoining the battle. Heavy nodded, and turned to Fluttershy.
"Little shy pony is all right?" he rumbled, smiling warmly.
Fluttershy squeaked, still intimidated by Heavy's sheer size, but she managed to smile. Heavy sighed in relief. "Little shy pony should find place to hide with tiny animal friends. Little shy pony is not suited for battle, I think..."
Fluttershy actually managed to giggle. "Oh my... I couldn't agree more."
Heavy grinned. "Find safety. BLU Team shall triumph, and then everything shall be sandviches and Dalokoh's," he rumbled, tromping out to rejoin the fray before Fluttershy could ask what a Dalokoh's was.
For someone so large, and brutal, and scary, he's really quite kind... she thought. Even as the thought passed through her head, she felt a slight itching on her neck. She dismissed it, and began to gather the animals again.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Scout was fully aware of the danger he was in at the moment. He was in an unknown place, in an unfamiliar body, without any kind of firearm, melee weapon... he didn't even have a single can of Bonk! But he was still enjoying himself, managing to keep his view on the bright side of things.
For one thing, HE WAS FLYING. So cool. It had taken him forever to master double-jumping, and now he was flying through the air. Plus, if those lightning bolts that Sniper was shooting were any indication, he could command the weather.
He hated the fact that he was stuck here. But he could see the bright sides of this place. Plus, this battle was GREAT stress relief.
"Bonk!" Scout crowed as he dive-bombed a Diamond Dog's head. The beast staggered, only to be caught by Pyro...
Scout, upon hearing the only female member of their team start laughing, decided to leave before Pyro started having her fun. He liked being able to sleep without nightmares.
He flew over the battlefield looking for more Diamond Dogs to harass, spotting a furious Celestia reminding everyone WHY she was one of the rulers of this world by immolating a Diamond Dog into ash with a solar blast. Scout shook his head and laughed, looking around again. He spotted a Diamond Dog chasing after the hyperactive pink pony from earlier... Pinkie Pie, he thought her name was...
Divebombing the Diamond Dog, he slammed into it at full speed, using its head as a surfboard. He went up to Pinkie Pie, who was catching her breath from running so hard.
"Hey, you okay there, Pinkie?" Scout asked.
"Yeah..." Pinkie managed between breaths, "This is so not my scene..."
Scout chuckled. "Eh, just gotta know how to laugh at stuff that spooks ya. You seem like the type t'do that anyways, right?"
Pinkie, to her surprise, managed a giggle. "Usually, yeah. But this is a little more extreme than I'm used to..."
A lightning bolt shot by Sniper lanced by, splattering the head of a Diamond Dog in a cloud of black goop.
Pinkie winced. "Plus, the way you guys fight is really spooky... The monsters aren't helping anything either..."
Scout snickered. "Monsters? These things? Yeah the black goopy stuff is creepy, plus what Princess Luna said about them is kinda unsettling... But jeez, look at these things! They look like the love children of gorillas and poodles!"
Pinkie Pie couldn't help it. The image she got in her head of a gorilla and a poodle out on a romantic date was just too silly. She cracked up laughing.
Scout grinned. "That's the spirit. Laugh in the face of what spooks ya, and with a little effort, everything'll turn out a-okay," he said as he flew back into battle.
Pinkie watched him go with a smile on her face, feeling a bit better. Although for some reason, she had this weird itch on her neck...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"GET AWAY!" A scream reached the battlefield, one that only Soldier and Demoman heard. It was a familiar one...
"Isn't that the pegasus that brought us here?" Demoman asked.
"...She said she was going to get her daughter from school..." Soldier said softly. For a brief moment, an old memory bubbled to the surface. The memory of an island home, and a madman, crazed from battelust and honor, crashing a plane into a house, killing all inside save for one, who came back from an errand to find everything he knew tore from him...
"Stay here," Soldier snarled, "I'll go take care of it!"
"SOLLY!" Demoman called out. But before he could follow, he was ambushed by a Diamond Dog and had to fight.
Soldier galloped off in the direction of the screaming, his shovel clenched tightly in his teeth. He found Derpy Hooves, claw marks on her face, standing in front of a small unicorn foal. Derpy was visibly terrified, but refused to move from in front of her daughter.
"You... You stay back!" Derpy cried. "I'm warning you!" Her daughter, Dinky, cowered behind her, whimpering in fear, praying her mother would be able to stop this thing.
The Diamond Dog, drooling black liquid, roared savagely, raising its claw to strike. As it came down, Soldier jumped in front of the blow, the claws digging deep into his side.
"AAAGH!" Soldier screamed, white hot agony ripping through him, dropping his shovel. Derpy gasped in fear, reflexively moving her wing to shield Dinky from the sight of the wound. The Diamond Dog laughed, seemingly pleased with this, and yanked the claws out, Soldier gushing blood from his wounds.
To both the Diamond Dog and Derpy Hooves's surprise, Soldier staggered to his feet, a snarl on his face. "You call that mauling someone, MAGGOT?" he bellowed, "I've had deeper PAPERCUTS!" He picked up his shovel and tackled the Diamond Dog, brutally beating it to death.
Derpy flinched, and kept her wing covering Dinky's face, not wanting her to see this. Once the Diamond Dog was dead, Soldier staggered to his feet again, covered in black goop and his own blood.
"You all right?" he asked, staggering a little. Derpy nodded, and Soldier grunted. "Good. Now I gotta... get back to the battle..." he said, trying to stagger back into the fight, his side bleeding badly.
Derpy quickly convinced Dinky to go inside the nearby building and wait for her, going to Soldier's side and holding him up as he started to fall. "You're hurt badly," she pleaded, "You have to wait until the medical ponies get to you! At the very least, let me..."
"I'm fine, I'm fine..." Soldier muttered, his vision swimming, "Just gotta... Ngh..."
Medic dashed over to the two of them, having heard Soldier's trademark bellowing. "Dummkopf! You can't go off on your own like that! We don't have the advantage of the Respawn this time!" He began casting his healing beam on Soldier, the wounds closing up quickly, the blood flow stopping.
"Had to... ngh... Civilian in danger..." Soldier said, starting to stand straighter as his wounds healed.
"Wow..." Derpy said softly, watching Medic's magic at work, and noticing for the first time just how STRONG Soldier looked.
Medic blinked, as if noticing Derpy for the first time. Once Soldier was healed, he cast his healing beam on her, the claw slashes on her face closing up quickly. He turned back to Soldier and said, "Come on. We're winning, but ze last ones seem to be ze strongest. We need everyone zere!'
Soldier nodded, picking up his shoulder. "You gonna be okay?" he said.
Derpy found herself blushing as she looked at Soldier, and nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, I think so."
Soldier nodded. "Go be with your daughter. I got some monsters to stomp..."
He and Medic ran back to the battlefield. The last three Diamond Dogs had been herded into the center of town, Sniper's lightning strikes and Engineer's magic Sentry keeping them from fleeing. Luna, Celestia, Demoman, and Heavy were engaging them, but these last ones were much larger than their brothers, and a bit more clever, deflecting attacks and attacking the princesses before they could cast a spell. Soldier did what came naturally to him and dove into the fight... only to get swatted aside easily.
"Dummkopf..." Medic muttered, turning to look for Twilight Sparkle. He found her fending off a small Diamond Dog that, judging by the burns, had just barely managed to escape Pyro. The little unicorn was doing moderately well, creating magical blasts to hold it off from attacking the trio of foals she was protecting, her dragon friend cowering with the foals, but the Diamond Dog was slowly figuring out the pattern of blasts she was using.
Medic charged the Diamond Dog, lowering his head and jamming his horn directly into the creature's neck. It died, gurgling as black ichor oozed from its mouth. He quickly shook it off of him and turned to Twilight Sparkle, who was watching with a mix of fear and gratitude on her face.
"You have a line with ze Princess Celestia, yes?" he demanded.
Twilight nodded. "Yes. I was her student before I moved here..."
"Zen you must be powerful enough to hold her attention... Can you cast a spell zat vill allow you to mimic my abilities?" Medic asked.
Twilight thought for a moment, and nodded. "I think so..."
"Sehr gut. Do so. We are going to finish zese Schweinhund, but I need some assistance," Medic said, looking at the battle, where the rest of BLU was gathering. "I swear, zese Dummköpfe would be helpless without me... It's a wonder zat I like zem so much..."
Twilight concentrated for a moment, her horn glowing as she aligned herself with Medic's powers. As she did, she felt a slight itching across the top of her head, dismissing it as part of the synching spell. Once she was fully synched, however, she felt an electric tingle at the tip of her horn.
Medic's grin was frightening. "An advantage I originally thought lost in zis world... Now come, Fraulein Sparkle. Let's go practice medicine..."
"W-What are we going to do?" Twilight asked as they ran back to the center of town.
"Feel ze trigger for zat tingling sensation in your head," Medic said, "And on my signal, broadcast it at ze Princess Celestia!"
"What?" Twilight almost shrieked.
"Trust me!" Medic said, "Zis is going to help!"
They reached the battlefield, where the Diamond Dogs had formed a circle to defend themselves from the princesses and the attacking BLUs. Celestia and Luna all bore claw marks from where their efforts to cast had been stopped, the fight at a stalemate.
"NOW!" Medic shouted. Twilight searched for the mental trigger, and flipped it upon finding it. Lighting crackled around both Medic and Twilight Sparkle as healing beams lanced out from them, striking the two princesses in the flank. Power surged through all four, blue metallic shells forming around them all, their eyes glowing bright red.
The two princesses gasped, their hearts beating faster and faster as the sensation of raw power being literally poured into them. For Celestia, the sensation was glorious. For Luna... it reminded her far too much of the first time she became Nightmare Moon...
The gathered BLU members began to laugh, realizing that Medic still had the ability to UberCharge. The Diamond Dogs traded worried looks and tried to attack, but their claws just bounced off of the two armored princesses.
Celestia and Luna traded excited looks, suddenly realizing what had just happened. Their horns glowing, they telekinetically lifted the Diamond Dog demons into the air, encasing them in a bubble of magic. Celestia filled the bubble with solar energy, incinerating everything inside, Luna casting a gravity spell to crush the remains into nothingness.
The ubercharge flickered out, Twilight, Medic, and the Princesses collapsing. Medic nodded to himself. "All right... Okay... My theory was correct in that equine hearts would not need the special implant our normal bodies would..." he panted, his heart pounding, "Although...
"Heart... racing..." Twilight said.
"That... will pass..." Medic said, grinning. "Anozzer successful procedure, I think..."
Twilight looked around, and smiled. It did seem that the last of the Diamond Dogs had been slain. Plus, Princesss Celestia and Princess Luna were already recovering, and her own heart rate was returning to normal.
Celestia sighed, casting a spell. The energy washed over the town, repairing damage to structures and dissolving the corrupted remains of the Diamond Dogs dissolved into nothingness, leaving not even a bloodstain. She started to say something, when Sniper swooped down from his cloud.
"I counted only 27 killed," he said, "Where are the other three?"
"...Pyro," Engineer said softly, "Where's Pyro?"
The Princesses and BLU looked around frantically, whirling in the direction of the sound of a Diamond Dog demon screaming in fear. As they watched, stunned, a Diamond Dog demon tried to crawl out the alley, only to get dragged back into with with a giant flaming hand, whimpering. A crazed giggling came from the alley.
Spy faded into view just outside the alley, an ill expression on his face, grinned nervously and said, "Pyro is fine. She has control of the last three and... is enjoying her new versatility." He gulped, looking like he was trying to avoid throwing up.
Scout flew over to see, curious, and immediately regretted it. "Oh my God..." he moaned, paling.
Soldier cringed when he saw what Pyro was doing. "Oh geez... That ain't right. Even for HER that ain't right..."
Engineer went to look, and visibly paled at the horror within. "Pyro... darlin'... yer scarin' the locals..."
Pyro poked her head out of the alley, blinking. "I am?" She looked over at the other gathered ponies, who were looking at her with varying expressions of fear.
She giggled. "Oopsie. Lemme finish up real quick," she said, ducking back into the alley. There was a huge flash of fire, and Pyro happily trotted out, as if nothing odd had happened.
Engineer whimpered inwardly. "Darlin,' do me a big favor... Don't use yer fire on anything or anyONE until ah give the okay. Please?" he asked.
Pyro blinked. "Awwww, why?"
Engineer gave her a pleading look.
Pyro huffed, and sighed. "Well... Okay," she said, kissing him, "But only because you asked me to."
Medic, forcing himself not to think about what Pyro did, turned to look at the gathered crowd of ponies. "If the injured would come to me, please? I will heal your vounds." Ponies that had been injured in the battle slowly, nervously began to file over to Medic, who used his healing beam on them all. After a moment, two nurse ponies began helping him, their fear of Medic being replaced by a need to help the wounded.
Celestia and Luna went up to the gathered members of BLU. They bowed to them, Celestia saying, "You saved a lot of lives today. While your methods were... disturbing, I cannot deny the results. If you hadn't been here, ponies would have died in this attack."
Engineer nodded. "Just doin' what we can, yer Majesty."
Luna shook her head. "You underplay your efforts. We are strong, but not fighters. And Medic... You saved my sister's life. Thank you so much..."
Medic just nodded, smiling a little, concentrating on healing the injured.
Celestia continued. "While it is to my great regret that we cannot help you get home immediately, I promise that research will be done into dimensional magic to create a gateway for you to return to your world. In the meantime..."
"...You would like us to stay here, and protect the town in case more of those corrupted things show up," Spy said, getting the idea.
"And aid the scientist ponies we send to research what happened," Luna said. "Whatever it was that corrupted the Diamond Dogs, is... familiar to me. I have to know what it is for certain..."
The BLU team members hesitated, uncertain of what to do. After a brief bout of discussion, Demoman said, "It's not like we have any better options, lads..."
No one else spoke. No one else knew what to say. After a moment, Engineer stepped forward and said. "Much obliged, yer worship. But we kinda need a place to stay..."
"I will have the royal carpenters come build a home for you as soon as they are available," Celestia promised.
Engineer hesitated for a moment, and asked, "...Y'all mind if ah help with the work? Ah tend not to trust a building that ah didn't have a hand in buildin' or modifyin.'"
Celestia nodded. "Of course. In the mean time..." she said, turning to the crowd, "Would anypony be willing to give them lodging until their home is built?"
To Celestia and Luna's surprise and BLU's lack of surprise, there was a long moment of hesitation. The gathered ponies all looked at them fearfully. The BLU warriors were unlike anypony they had ever met, brutal, savage, even reveling in battle. They were grateful to them for saving their lives, to be sure, but some were wondering if the corrupted Diamond Dogs showing up and BLU showing up wasn't just a coincidence...
Then, everyone got a big surprise.
Derpy Hooves came forward, and said, "I... I can take Soldier in."
Soldier blinked. "Why me specifically?"
Derpy Hooves blushed. "Well... You saved my daughter and nearly got killed in the process... I feel like I owe you."
Soldier frowned, fidgeting uncomfortably for a moment. "Well... Thank you... I suppose..."
Derpy's offer seemed to break an invisible barrier of fear that had been set out. Applejack stepped up and said, "Ah suppose I can take a couple of y'all in at Sweet Apple Acres. If'n y'all don't mind livin' on a farm, that is..."
Rarity stepped forward as well. "My store has an attic that I'm not really using. With a little sprucing up, I suppose I can take in one pony."
Pinkie Pie, a rare serious expression on her face, thought for a moment and said, "Well... If you don't mind working in a pastry shop, the Cakes have an extra room they'd be willing to rent out to a new employee."
Rainbow Dash, frowning, stepped forward and said, "My place is pretty big. I can take in a couple of the pegasi."
Fluttershy, still more than a little frightened by BLU, said, "I... I guess I can take in someone... I have a few extra rooms I was using to store food in..."
Twilight Sparkle was the last to speak up. "I have a spare room I can arrange for someone. I was just using it for storage anyway..."
Celestia nodded. "Then that is settled, at least. Once again, I thank you, and hope that you can enjoy your stay here, however long it may last..." she said, before realizing that last bit may not have been the best thing for their morale.
Celestia and Luna bid farewell and left, leaving the ponies and BLU to discuss housing arrangements. After some discussion, it was agreed that Demoman would live and work with Pinkie Pie, Scout and Sniper would live with Rainbow Dash, Heavy and Engineer would live with Applejack, Spy would live with Rarity, Medic would live with Twilight Sparkle and Spike, and... nobody really could tell how this happened, but Pyro ended up being booked to live at Fluttershy's house.
Twilight Sparkle had Spike hastily write a fireproofing spell. "Here," she said, telekinetically handing the spell to Fluttershy, "This should protect your whole house. Just in case..."
Fluttershy looked over at Pyro, who was staring at a butterfly flitting by her nose, her expression clearly stating that she longed to set it on fire. Fluttershy squeaked in fright.
Engineer cringed. "...Better give her a couple more'a those spells, Twilight... Just in case she forgets to hold back like ah told her too..."
Twilight nodded in agreement, writing out a couple more spells.
After saying their goodbyes, Luna and Celestia went back to the coach, the guards remounting. As they travelled back to Canterlot, Celestia asked. "What did you mean when you said it felt 'familiar?'"
Luna sighed. "What do you know about my transformation to Nightmare Moon?"
"I know a powerful evil force took over my sister's mind and body, turning her into something she wasn't," Celestia said, nuzzling her.
Luna whickered softly, and sighed again. "...You're half right," she said after a moment. "A powerful force did corrupt me... but I made the choice to let it into my body..."
The guards were well-trained enough not to show it, but Celestia could tell that they were disturbed by this revelation. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Luna shivered at the memory. "Voices... started speaking to me in my first moment of doubt. They whispered lies to me, lies about you, lies about the people of Equestria... And I began to believe them... One night..."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The past...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Luna sat in the middle of her room. Books lay about, torn to shreds. Mirrors were shattered, ink and food were spattered on the walls, and the furniture was in ruins. Luna's mane and tail were unkempt, a frantic, desperate look on her face.
"It's true... It's all true... Celestia IS against me... She's making the people hate my beautiful nights..."
She stared down at the goblet before her, a roiling, sickening indigo liquid inside it.
DrInK. dRiNk, AnD yOu WiLl At LaSt Be StRoNg... whispered a voice.
Luna swallowed hard, telekinetically lifting the cup to her lips... and drinking everything inside.
Luna began to scream in agony, guttural screams of pain squeezed bloodily from her throat, her body convulsing and contorting as she grew physically older, her fur darkening, her mane turning into a starscape...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Now...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Luna shivered, as Celestia stared at her in shock. "Everything is a blur after that... The last clear memory I have is of my last few moments as Nightmare Moon before Twilight Sparkle and her friends purified me of the evil... I just wish I could remember the name it gave me..."
Celestia nuzzled her sister. "We'll find out what it is, sister, I promise you. I won't let anything hurt you again..."
As they arrived back in Canterlot, Celestia noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
Standing on a far rooftop was a tall figure, a slender pony with ivory white fur...
...and no face.
Like in Luna's dream...Celestia thought, gasping.
Luna looked up at her sister. "Tia? What is it?" she asked, concerned at the frightened look on her face.
"On the roof..." Celestia said, gesturing with a hoof.
Luna turned, looking exactly where Celestia was looking... and saw nothing. "Tia... Tia, there's nothing there..."
"WHAT?" Celestia said, looking from Luna to the slender pony on the rooftop. "But... But he's right there!"
Luna tried to see what her sister was seeing... but couldn't. "Tia... I'm sorry..."
Celestia was confused. She looked back at the slender pony again... only to find that it was gone. She glanced about the roof, trying to spot it, only to find nothing.
Maybe... Maybe I imagined it... Celestia thought, It was a long battle, and I did nearly get killed, plus there was that invincibility spell Twilight cast on me... "It's... probably nothing..."
"If you say so..." Luna said. But still, she wondered...
TO BE CONTINUED
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Looking for a quality used fire truck? Selling one? Visit our sponsor Command Fire Apparatus
A 40-year firefighter with the Jamesport Fire Department in New York (Suffolk County on Long Island) was suspended for his part in a fight with other firefighters. The melee was caught on video during a July 3 fire in a Riverhead recreation department vehicle..
Tim Gannon, Riverhead News-Review:
Tom Brady, 65, a former chair of the Jamesport Fire District board of commissioners, says he wasn’t the aggressor in the fight, which was caught on video by a Riverhead Town employee. And he said his suspension was lifted Tuesday evening at a board of commissioners meeting.
In the video, Mr. Brady approaches fellow firefighter Joseph A. Szot from behind, places a hand on his shoulder and turns him around to speak to him. Mr. Szot’s father, Joseph Szot Jr., is a current fire commissioner with the department.
The video was turned over to Riverhead Town and made available through a Freedom of Information request. It also shows the younger Szot, 24, stepping in front of Mr. Brady as shoving begins, after which Joseph Szot Jr., 54, also jumps into the fray. Mr. Brady becomes pinned against a fire truck until other firefighters break up the scuffle. The video, apparently taken with a cell phone and somewhat shaky, shows the encounter lasting less than a minute.
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About This Game
Action-Packed Core Survival Gameplay
30+ Creatures to Tame and Ride at Early Access Start, Many more planned at full launch
Multiple game modes (1v1, 2v2, 4v4, and 6v6)
One-to-Six Player Tribes
Variable game configurations ranging from 30-minute “instant action” to three-hour long “epic wars”
Top-ranked players are listed dynamically on SurviveTheArk.com and are provided monthly prize packages!
Game-Changing Tameable Super Creatures (Dragon, Giant Ape, Brood Mother)
Random “Evolution Events”
Arsenal of Weapons, Traps, Armor, Structures and other Items from Primitive to Modern Tech Tiers
Robust Ranking, Tournament & Spectator Features
Exclusive SotF Cosmetic Items that can also be used in ARK: Survival Evolved
Custom-Painted “War Banners” enable Tribes to show off their team spirit on Flags across their army of Dinosaurs, and are also broadcast on the gigantic billboards during game events. Just don’t draw anything offensive!
A custom soundtrack written by award-winning composer Gareth Coker of Ori and the Blind Forest!
Welcome to, the first ever M.O.S.A. - a Multiplayer Online Survival Arena - that Studio Wildcard designed for the burgeoning wild west of eSports. A spin-off from the most popular open-world Early Access game on Steampits up to 72 combatants in an action-packed struggle for survival where players are ultimately pushed into an epic final showdown where only one “Tribe” will make it out alive.Survivors can form one- to six-person Tribes with the options to choose Unofficial and Official (Ranked) servers, and a variety of game-lengths and sizes in which to play. Players will start in the base forest environment introduced in the original, with new environments and creatures introduced as the game evolves. Dedicated eSport ranking, matchmaking, reward, and tournament features makereadily accessible to all players.Balanced for intense competition, contestants begin in a neutral staging area where they can communicate pre-game, strategize, or talk trash. After a count-down, they dramatically descend from the sky onto the ARK in a circular formation via beams of light. There is a cache of valuable items in the center – do survivors dash for the goods and fight it out, do they run into the forest and hide, search for Dinosaurs to rapidly build their army, or do they freeze up from the sheer terror of death? A continually shrinking “ring of death” forces contestants ever closer together over time. The hunt is on!
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Nov 8, 2017 • Uncategorized •
What set sprint car races apart from other forms of auto racing in the first half of the 20th century was the short distances they covered. In an era when going the distance was all the rage, sprint races kept the action short and sweet. These cars tore up short tracks around the world and hardly, if ever, required stops for fuel, driver changes or other maintenance during the races. If you want to own your own unique piece of sprint car racing history, check out this custom built 1947 Sprint Car found here on craigslist in Northwest, Indiana with an asking price of $5,000. Thanks to Pat L for the tip!
This car is said to have been built in 1947 by the seller’s grandfather, Floyd Kroft, who raced the vehicle through the 1960s. At that point the seller’s father took the wheel and kept it on the track through the 1970s. It is said to have been used for exhibition and shows through the 1990s before being put away. Storage issues resulted in water damage and rust, and the Ford 272 Y block will likely need to be rebuilt, though the frame is said to be solid. The seller also has numerous photo albums and a long letter regarding the car’s history, but they don’t mention much of it in the ad. Does anyone have any memories of this car?
The term sprint car became popular with auto racing media in the 1950s, but some historians state that sprint car racing developed right along side most other forms, starting in the 1890s. In 1951 AAA cited sprint car racing as, “… the class between midget and championship speedway cars” in a narrative discussion of their non-championship divisions. Some cite this as the time in which sprint car racing became its own division of open cockpit racing. While the history of sprint racing is not definitive, this car is definitively cool. Who is ready to hit the track?
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Figure 4
Cells labeled for BrdU and/or NeuN, S100β, PSA-NCAM, or pCREB in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in mice deficient in PDE4D (4DKO) with or without rolipram (Rol) treatment. (a and b) Confocal micrographs (a) and quantification (b) of BrdU-labeled cells (green) in the dentate gyrus from 4DKO or WT mice with or without rolipram. The majority of BrdU-labeled cells were located in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and hilus (H). While 4DKO and rolipram-treated WT mice displayed increases in BrdU-positive cells, rolipram did not alter BrdU-positive cells in 4DKO mice. (c and d) Phenotype of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyri of 4DKO mice. Confocal micrographs of cells double-labeled for BrdU (green; left panels) and the neuronal marker NeuN (red; middle-upper) or the glial marker S100β (blue; middle-lower). (e) Unaltered percentages of neuronal and glial cells labeled by BrdU in the dentate gyri of 4DKO mice with or without rolipram treatment. (f) Representative confocal micrographs of cells triple-labeled for BrdU, the newborn neuron marker PSA-NCAM (red), and pCREB (blue) in the dentate gyri of 4DKO mice, which indicate co-localization of PSA-NCAM and pCREB in developing BrdU-positive cells. (g) Unaltered percentages of newborn neurons labeled by PSA-NCAM in BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus from WT or 4DKO mice following rolipram or vehicle treatment. PSA-NCAM-labeled cells comprised 84.5% of BrdU-positive cells. (h) Unaltered percentages of pCREB-labeled cells in newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus from WT or 4DKO mice following rolipram or vehicle treatment. pCREB-labeled cells comprised 91.5% of cells double labeled for PSA-NCAM and BrdU. Mice were given rolipram (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle once daily for 26 d; BrdU (100 mg/kg) was injected (i.p.) once daily on days 10, 12, and 14. On day 26, 1 h after the rolipram injection, mice were perfused and frozen brain sections prepared for immunohistochemistry. Bars shown are means ± SEM; n = 4; * P < 0.05 vs. WT + Veh.
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We aim to foster reason and responsibility within the global movement for truth. We base this in the following values:
Awareness of public perception and the need for strategic and responsible promotion and presentation. A commitment to building credibility and encouraging constructive alliances with the anti-war movement and other natural allies. Adherence to the scientific method and journalistic standards, with a focus on facts, substance, and sources. A dedication to rational, respectful, and nonviolent debate and activism. Fundamental respect in discourse with all individuals, including those within the government and military, journalists, and supposed “opponents.” A faith in the honest democratic process and our ability to come to meaningful and actionable conclusions (truths). Motivations based in compassion, justice, and truth.
Conversely, we seek to counteract and minimize:
Promotion of speculative and unsubstantiated claims. Disruptive, divisive, diversionary, and aggressive behavior. Damaging and marginalizing associations. Organized and intentional sabotage. Highly partisan representations of the movement. Motivations based on ego, hatred, and belittlement.
We will engage others in the movement who break these guidelines with constructive dialog, raising awareness of these issues. Those who are unresponsive to reason, and have a clear history of disruption, combativeness, or excessively poor judgment, will not be engaged.
We recognize an important distinction between private speculation and public promotion. Speculation, hypothesis, and experimentation are the basis of the scientific method. However, the promotion of highly speculative claims is irresponsible and damaging to our credibility. Instead, verifiable fact-based research must be primary in our search for and promotion of the truth.
Guidelines
Critique destructive behavior that can harm the movement (i.e. speculative theories without evidence, prominent activists who engage in disruptive behavior, divisive incidents, etc). Challenge leaders who unreasonably continue to support and tolerate damaging behavior. Critique, marginalize, and/or ignore unnecessary and unproductive antagonism (i.e. infighting, personal attacks, gossip, etc.) that wastes time and causes divisiveness. Avoid the divisive labeling of individuals and groups (i.e. MIHOP, LIHOP, Shill, planehugger, agent, etc.) Refuse to endlessly debate debunked theories by simply referencing responsible websites, articles, and blogs which have already refuted such claims. Or cite this document itself. Be aware and vigilant concerning the presence of agent provocateurs within the movement. But do not engage in witch hunts or unsubstantiated accusations. Treat those who continually, and despite consultation, act in word and deed in the manner of agent provocateurs, as such. While these people can rarely be proven to be agents, they should be treated as counterproductive and untrustworthy. Such groups and individuals should not be engaged in unproductive ways, such as aggression, name-calling, personal attacks, etc. Instead, the substance of their destructive behavior should be detailed, after which they should be ignored as much as possible. If appropriate, exclusionary action (banning from forums, venues, etc.) or, in extreme cases, legal action, should be taken. Do not allow the proliferation of irresponsible information or damaging behavior simply because the individuals or groups in question maintain a certain reputation or notoriety within the movement. The fact that someone may “have done good work in the past” is never a valid excuse to tolerate damaging participation in the present. The movement must be about truth and justice rather than character and ego.
Unity is not achieved by ignoring divisiveness. It is achieved through civil critique and a constructive response to the disruptive behavior. Repeated and continuing behavior should result in comment moderation, temporary, long-term, and if necessary permanent bans from activist groups, removal of links from websites, cancellation of speaking engagements, etc.
Below is a list of theories and claims which do not have a convincing basis in verifiable facts. Such claims have served as a distraction for many honest activists and have ultimately damaged the credibility of the movement. This is a partial list, only meant to demonstrate some of the more prominent examples:
Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) or nuclear devices were used to demolish the towers. http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/theories/energybeam.html
A missile or something other than a 757 hit the Pentagon. http://911research.wtc7.net/essays/pentagon/index.html
“Plane pods,” on the underside of the planes shot missiles into the towers before impact. http://www.oilempire.us/pod.html
No planes hit the World Trade Center Towers http://www.questionsquestions.net/WTC/review.html
Below is a list of associations that are damaging and marginalizing to the movement. Some are offensive and baseless, others may simply be speculative or fringe. The common thread is that all of these topics/attitudes/assertions have extremely negative connotations for the general public and they should not be paired with concrete, fact-based research. This is only a partial list:
UFO and alien theories
Holocaust denial/revisionism and Jewish conspiracy theories
All forms of racism
Moon Landing “Hoax”
Anti-environmentalism (i.e. “global warming is a hoax” or “the environment is fine; humans aren’t causing significant damage”)
Conclusion
Many activists came together to make this statement possible. We have all had direct experience with behavior and information that has impeded our cause, and we hope this document will help the community to achieve greater unity and focus. We encourage activists to cite and link to the statement as a standard response to diversionary and disruptive behavior. Hopefully, this will allow us to move beyond some of our major obstacles to spreading truth and securing justice.
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For the times when we feel the most misrepresented, powerless, and alone, we need art made by outsiders. We need songs and films and performances that tell us there is something more than the status quo. That being ignored by society can be a motivating force. That we can channel our isolation into hope, and our fear into something greater than ourselves. For six decades (so far), Yoko Ono has remained among the most misunderstood artists asserting this as truth. In screams and whispers alike, her radical art, films, and music channel both fury and compassion, politics and patience.
When Ono started to record in the 1960s, she was building on an already impressive body of performance and installation work. An experimentalist in downtown New York City’s conceptual art scene of the late 1950s, she ran avant-garde art shows at her loft on Chambers Street, connecting her with Dada-inspired artists, the Fluxus movement, and the likes of John Cage and La Monte Young. Through the ’60s, she set paintings on fire, invited audiences to cut her clothing off and step on artwork, and made over a dozen short films. Ono existed in her own world: When she met John Lennon at one of her shows in the fall of 1966, she had never heard of the Beatles.
Following a massive MoMA retrospective two years ago, Ono’s contributions to music are positioned now for a re-appreciation. Starting last week and continuing throughout 2017, the Yoko Ono Reissue Project will re-release Ono’s full musical output from 1968 through 1985—11 studio albums in total. The initial installment sees her first three records back on vinyl and digitally distributed for the first time. This includes Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins, her first collaborative record with Lennon, comprised of musique concrète recorded at his home in the spring of 1968—all tape loops and found sounds, weirdo screams and love-filled background chatter. Also included is her second collaborative album with Lennon, Unfinished Music No.2: Life Without Lions, which begins with a selection of a March 1969 improv piece, swatches of distortion, and haunting wordless vocals, followed by four tracks recorded at London’s Queen Charlotte Hospital as Ono laid pregnant in a hospital bed. On “No Bed for Beatle John,” she sings sweetly and solemnly about Lennon sleeping on the hospital floor, before quickly shifting towards headlines about EMI refusing to distribute Two Virgins (because of the cover’s infamous nudity). That song is followed by “Baby’s Heartbeat” and “Two Minutes of Silence,” both literally summed up by their titles. (Ono ultimately had a miscarriage.)
These two albums provide a groundwork for understanding the rest of Ono’s musical output and influence: They are challenging but intimate, with moments of conventionally crushing beauty, experimental humor, and ugly sighs, screams, grunts. This first batch of reissues finishes with 1970’s Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, her first solo album, released simultaneously with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. Ono collaborated with Ornette Coleman and a cast of free jazz players (plus Ringo Starr) to create a groundbreaking burst of confrontational proto-punk that feels like a true extension of her conceptual art. “Greenfield Morning I Pushed an Empty Baby Carriage All Over the City” references both her miscarriage and her 1964 book Grapefruit, which included instructional pieces for artists like, “CITY PIECE, Walk all over the city with an empty baby carriage, 1961 winter.” Her “instructional work” is radical in its participatory spirit, its suggestion that everyone present for a creative exchange provides value to the work. That openness makes her music feel similarly limitless.
For all of this, Ono has been remarkably under-heard as a musician. “Were you gettin’ that?” you can hear Lennon asking at the end of “Why,” the opener of Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, on which she tears into that word with abandon: “WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?” Apparently studio personnel sometimes would turn off the equipment while Ono recorded her takes. "In those days, when I started to sing, all the engineers would just go away to the bathroom or something,” she said in a 2012 interview. It’s just one example of how Ono struggled to be taken seriously, particularly by the music world. She was routinely attacked by the racist music press (Esquire once titled a piece about her “John Rennon's Excrusive Gloupie”) and sexist Beatles fans (at her her 1971 art show “This Is Not Here,” some work was destroyed and toilets were flooded). The depth of her work has often been overlooked: Here is someone who was an early pioneer of feminism in music, of straight-up screaming in music, of the beauty in harshness.
Through it all, Ono has endured with grace, love, and artfulness. Her work often stands as a testament to art as a force for change—by making challenging work, yes, but also by funding projects like the Center for Constitutional Rights and Pussy Riot through the LennonOno Grant for Peace. And though peace remains at the center of her work, Ono never stops shifting her interests as an artist, veering more towards dance music over the last decade. She’s stayed connected to contemporary musicians through collaborative projects, ranging from her 2007 remix LPs under the name ONO, to her 2012 album with Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, to her 2013 curation of Meltdown Festival. Below, past collaborators and admirers discuss her musical influence.
Yoko in 2014. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Kim Gordon
“Yoko Ono is definitely ‘the other’ in the best sense. ‘The other’ as a term is used in sociology to refer to an outsider; it’s also used to describe any gender outside the norm, which could also include women in a male construct society. Yoko, the outsider, the interloper into pop music culture via the enormous world of ‘the Beatles,’ their fans and all their expectations. Though what position could be more natural for an artist? To be an outsider, experimenter, a risk taker, a poetess, a feminist, a survivor. Coming out of the Fluxus movement, she made art and films—performances that were already so far out of the mainstream that American mainstream audiences had no context for her music. What draws some people to the unconventional and others not—who knows? It’s kind of mind blowing to hear John Lennon playing feedback guitar on songs like ‘Cambridge 1969’ or ‘Mulberry.’ These records contain, still, some of the most radical music ever made. As someone like myself who also comes from the art world, Yoko is my mainstream, and being ‘the other’ is a way of life to celebrate!”
Merrill Garbus of tUnE__-__yArDs
“I can’t think of a better time in history to hear a woman scream-sing her head off. Leaps of faith inspire other leaps of faith. It doesn’t matter if you can’t bear listening to more than 30 seconds of ‘Cambridge 1969,’ let alone 26 minutes. (Though I expect if you want a representative soundtrack of 1969, this is the music.) What matters is the boldness of such an artful move, and what it allowed for in its wake. What a vulnerable thing it is to sing at all! Let alone sing in the unpretty, intense, often ecstatic timbres of life as a woman and mother, as a wife—this particular wife. Yet there is no hesitancy or insecurity in Yoko’s work. I hear only inventiveness, curiosity, and the brazenness of the female scream-sing.”
Anohni
“I have always looked to Yoko Ono for the deepest feminist wisdom and artistic courage. Her influence has been profound. Yoko also endured public scorn as a female artist in the way that some activists endure years of imprisonment. This experience seems only to have amplified her grace.”
Meghan Remy of U.S. Girls
“Donald ‘This Is Not A Joke’ Trump will be the 45th president of the (too powerful) United States. There could never be a more appropriate time for the widespread redistribution of Yoko Ono’s ideas. Peace, love, and ‘The Feminization of Society’ should be our only goals. While we work on these three monumental tasks, I encourage the companies involved in these reissues to stop releasing all non-Yoko records. Next, divert all available funds to the identification, reproduction, and distribution of whatever chemical magic Yoko contains that allows her to remain hopeful and driven in the face of empirical evidence that we live in a very sick (perhaps incurable?) world. I wanna bathe in that chemical every morning.”
Kathleen Hanna
“Whether harsh, angry or pleading, Yoko Ono’s music speaks back to oppression with an empathetic optimism that seems impossible to achieve. She’s considered the first punk singer by many. I once showed up at a Take Back the Night speak-out with a portable record player and played all 5 minutes and 37 seconds of Ono’s classic ‘Why.’”
Peaches
“I am always amazed at how ahead of her time Yoko is with her philosophies in art, her approach to music experimentation and lyrics. I was invited to perform with the Plastic Ono band in Berlin for Yoko’s 80th birthday. Yoko asked me to pick my favorite Yoko Ono song and sing it with her on stage. I chose ‘Yes, I’m A Witch.’ This song is a perfect example of Yoko’s unabashed incredible ability to be straightforward, political, and still speak to our hearts. In this song, she owns the lyrics. ‘I'm a witch, I'm a bitch, I don't care what you say’—a sentiment expressed in a manner so beyond its time. ‘Each time we don't say what we wanna say, we're dying/Each time we don't say how do we feel, we're dying/Each time we gotta do what we wanna do, we're living/Each time we're open our minds to what we see, we're living’—so true and important today. Yoko transcends generations, will be forward-thinking for years to come, and is the biggest badass of them all!”
Mike Watt of the Minutemen
“Fearless and forward. Looking back on Yoko Ono's journey with music, I am most inspired by her courage to wrestle with expression, and find myself big time encouraged to learn more on bass and explore with composition and words. It is an empowering fabric she weaves with her endeavor, and I am most grateful. She is a true hard-charger and will not back down! Big sonkei from Watt for Yoko Ono.”
Julianna Barwick
“I had the opportunity to play at the 2013 Meltdown Festival that Yoko curated, and two years later, to perform with her at MOMA and Central Park. I was so humbled and honored by these experiences. They were unbelievably emotional and exhilarating—my favorite things that I've ever done. When I first met her, she held my hand and stared into my eyes the whole time we had our little chat. I felt a tremendous sense of power coming from this woman I was towering over. I thought to myself, ‘Soak this up.’ Yoko has always been a pioneer in art and music. The first time I saw her “Cut Piece” film, I couldn't believe she had done it in the ’60s. I saw Peaches do ‘Cut Piece’ at Meltdown 2013 and it was so shocking, still to this day.”
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The marking of November 26 as ‘Constitution Day’ is significant: It presents the BJP with an opportunity to try and use a powerful symbol to establish control over parts of the narrative of the creation of a modern and independent India.
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By talking of Constitution Day, the ruling BJP hopes it will allow them to state, without saying so, that the makers of modern India should be separated gently from the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, whose 125th birth anniversary too concluded earlier this month, but he went largely unsung by the government. By speaking of the Constitution and only Ambedkar in that context, an attempt is made to distance Nehru further.
Symbolically appropriating dates and personalities at the forefront of the fight to liberate India from colonial rule, has been happening for some time now. Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India is a favorite of the BJP and there have been attempts to appropriate even Bhagat Singh, — a Lenin-admirer and atheist revolutionary as an inspiration for the Sangh.
Recently, there was the re-branding of Teacher’s Day as an occasion for the PM to interact with children; for Swachhta Diwas, the government used Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday as the symbol of its cleanliness initiative– analysts says that this represented attempts to use Gandhi’s emphasis on cleanliness and take away from the politics if his cleanliness symbols.
Now, to commemorate the Constitution on November 26 rather than January 26 — the day chosen for pronouncing India a Republic– is also being interpreted as a way of getting the PM to have the last word as he is set to speak last. January 26 has historical significance: the Congress’ Poorna Swaraj resolution declared January 26, 1930 as Poorna Swaraj Day. The BJP may have thought that creating ‘other’ days to celebrate the Constitution, would be another attempt at Congress-mukti.
Celebrating BR Ambedkar comes in the aftermath of the Bihar assembly elections where the RSS’ chief’s controversial desire to review the reservation policy came under fire – and has been cited as one of the reasons for the BJP’s loss.
However Ambedkar poses certain difficulties for the BJP. In his lifetime, Ambedkar was a consistent and bitter opponent of the Brahminical order. He made demands for special attention to Dalits and backed separate electorates for them. Alongwith renouncing Hinduism, and converting to Buddhism, he opposed the RSS idea of ‘uniting’ Hindus in a Brahminical framework.
A hint of the contradiction came to light when Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke in the Lok Sabha today; “He (Ambedkar) also believed in eradicating untouchability to bring equality in society. Sometimes people try to use it for political benefits for example the issue of reservation. Dr. Ambedkar introduced the concept of reservation for equality, he said it’s a socio-political necessity.”
Babasaheb’s ‘Ambedkarite’ politics has emerged as a force to reckon with in states like UP, Maharashtra and Punjab, even if not appearing to be electorally significant immediately – so the BJP is making efforts to appeal to that social base.
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The monsoon session of Parliament was washed out. By beginning the winter session with a two-day tribute to Babasaheb gives the government an opportunity to strike the right note of ‘statesmanship’ – and force the opposition to rally around.
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The ratings for NHL 16 are out, and we've compiled all the various ratings for Canadiens players. As expected, Carey Price leads the charge with a 94 overall rating, followed by P.K. Subban's 91, and Max Pacioretty's 89.
Centres:
1. Tomas Plekanec - 86 overall.
2. Alex Galchenyuk - 85 overall.
3. Lars Eller - 83 overall.
4. David Desharnais - 82 overall.
5. Torrey Mitchell - 79 overall.
Left Wingers:
1. Max Pacioretty - 89 overall.
2. Jacob de la Rose - 80 overall.
Right Wingers:
1. Brendan Gallagher - 85 overall.
2. Zack Kassian - 84 overall.
3. Alexander Semin - 83 overall.
4. Devante Smith-Pelly - 82 overall.
5. Dale Weise - 81 overall.
6. Brian Flynn - 74 overall.
Defenceman:
1. P.K. Subban - 91 overall.
2. Andrei Markov - 85 overall.
3. Jeff Petry - 84 overall.
4. Alexei Emelin - 84 overall.
5. Nathan Beaulieu - 82 overall.
6. Tom Gilbert - 82 overall.
7. Mark Barberio - 79 overall.
Goaltenders:
1. Carey Price - 94 overall.
2. Dustin Tokarski - 82 overall.
Here's the full video of all NHL player ratings.
How do you think EA did rating the Habs? Who do you think is overrated, or underrated?
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Uber pool, an option that lets you share your UberX ride and your driver with an another passenger who might also be going to the same place as you are or take the same route as you so that you may split the fare with him/her making it the cheapest ride possible.
But people may feel strange or creepy to travel with a complete stranger just because they want to cut down their traveling fare to half. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to.
So, what if you know the little details about your fellow passenger like where he went to school or where was he born or his favorite sport and you are allowed to choose the passenger with whom you have the most things in common to travel with? Which means that you don’t have to feel creepy anymore and you can also save half your money at the same time? It’s a win-win situation.
allowing you to choose between the passengers with whom you share common friends or similar interests making your travel experience less creepy. I know it sounds cool and you are excited to use it right away. But right now, UBER has only filed a patent which may be used for getting your facebook data and thenmaking your travel experience less creepy.
Basically, UBER may ask you to connect your Facebook account with the UBER app and then collect your details and then matches them with other passengers who have also connected their Facebook account with UBER and then provide you with people who have similar interests like you to travel with you. In that way, you may never have to travel with a complete stranger anymore.
You may travel with a person who attended the same school as you, or who likes the same movies as you or even worked at the same company you work, thus giving you a feeling of comfort while you travel.
And of course it’s completely up to you to share your data with UBER to travel only with people who have any link with you or you can just prefer to stay anonymous.
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The Ukraine ceasefire is looking much stronger today, as the site of the only real violations, Debaltseve, seems to be resolved, with Ukrainian soldiers conducting a coordinated withdrawal from the town.
In the days leading up to the ceasefire, the strategically located Debaltseve was surrounded by rebel forces, but the town itself remained under military control. After the ceasefire, the two sides were constantly trading fire in the town, even as calm prevailed over the rest of the frontier.
Ukraine’s military reports 22 soldiers had been killed in Debaltseve in the last several days, and over 150 others wounded. President Petro Poroshenko claimed their mission was “accomplished” in Debaltseve at any rate, and there was no reason to pull out.
US officials had been threatening Russia over the Debaltseve clashes, and US media outlets are almost universally presenting the Ukrainian withdrawal as a “bloody defeat” for the military.
Though Debaltseve’s location on the road from Donetsk to Luhansk makes it strategically valuable, however, it seems that the ceasefire is much more valuable to the Ukrainian government at this point, and agreeing to give up a single, surrounded town rather than ditch the ceasefire was likely not a difficult decision for them to make.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
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Plant-based meat company Tofurky will launch a sandwich line—in partnership with Greek vegan cheese brand Violife—in markets around the United Kingdom this year. The company introduced their prepared sandwiches at a UK Foodservice show last September after Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott identified an opportunity to penetrate the lucrative prepared sandwich industry with meatless options. “The massive growth in veganism and meat reduction in the UK, coupled with almost no vegan options in the Grab and Go market, make this a perfect time to launch a range of Tofurky sandwiches in the UK,” Tibbott tells VegNews. Prior to launch, the company is conducting a customer survey to determine the most sought-after sandwiches customers desire—choices include Tempeh Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato; Buffalo Tofurky Chik’n Baguette; and Tofurky Ham, Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato. Tofurky is currently working with a British wholesaler and several new product development teams to bring its prepared sandwiches and salads to cold cases across the United Kingdom, in addition to actively exploring retail opportunities for Tofurky’s sandwiches in the United States.
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The story of the US domestic oil patch over the past 14 years has been squarely focused on unconventionals—Barnett Shale, Fayetteville, Woodford, Haynesville, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Mississippian Lime, Niobrara. As we all know, drilling results from these plays have catapulted the US into the position of being the largest gas producer in the world and the largest oil producer in the world (if we included NGLs).
It has been a breathtaking pivot away from finding risk, ie “will I make a well?” to engineering risk, ie “how do I efficiently drill and frac while managing high cost operations?” The results speak for themselves, but have, in great part, ironically depressed the revenue model on which these unconventional plays were built.
This sea change in risk definition has, unsurprisingly, come at the cost of conventional exploration. The graph below (source: Texas RRC) shows how the number of new field discoveries (NFD) has nosedived in tandem with the increased flow of capital into unconventional operations.
Should anyone care? I mean, we have this unconventional wealth – the gift that can keep on giving – that is not yet thoroughly exploited. Joe Q Public can be forgiven that believing that we have what we need.
But Joe Q does not sit in a C-level suite answerable to Wall Street, stock holders, private equity stakeholders, and large workforces. Joe Q does not have to show improving business results, but everyone in the oil patch does.
So let’s get this on the table — conventional exploration needs to be a larger part of company exploration portfolios.
Here’s why.
They’re less costly — in obvious, and not so obvious ways
A 10,000’ vertical well to test a conventional trap will cost a whole lot less than an unconventional 16,000’ MD well with 10-40 frac stages
Acreage costs are lower—fewer acres are needed to lock down a conventional prospect
Risk capital in conventional exploration is exposed with brutal clarity. Drill high and dry on a conventional trap, you’ve condemned it and you walk away with no additional speculative economic exposure. If you make a discovery, log signatures defining oil column and contacts, pressure tests and supporting 3D provide good visibility in how many wells you need to drill and where to drill next.
Take 50,000 acres in an unconventional play and each well you drill in early development is an experiment that slowly, over time increases your knowledge store, but delays your visibility into how good – or mediocre – your operations are. The graph below of the EUR values of an Eagle Ford operator attempts to illustrate the point.
They provide more clarity about reserve base and therefore valuations
Initial test wells provide open hole logging data that help define the porosity and permeability of the reservoir. Seismic data and subsurface well mapping do a good job of defining the extent and thickness of the reservoir, and therefore the volume of oil in place. Confirmation wells will either moderately increase or moderately decrease prospect EURs, but EUR values converge to a realistic estimate reasonably quickly. This means operators can book their prospect NAV more quickly, have quicker clarity with regard to potential cash flow, and therefore better strategic planning inputs.
I would rather be making decisions about my strategic directions on this behavior (first three wells drilled in Covenant Field, UT)
than on this behavior (recognized operator in Eagle Ford wells completed 1/1/2012-12/31/2012).
How do you quickly converge on a producing model that you can attach valuations to? Overestimate and the shorts will kill you in the public markets, underestimate and The Street will be slow to reward your shareholders.
Good conventional fields have longer producing lives which help offset depletion timing risk – depleting your reserve base during times of low prices.
Conventionals can provide a much higher rate of return
Some napkin numbers are illustrative. Again, looking at a major player in the Eagle Ford and totaling up the number of wells drilled, assumed spacing per well to estimate acreage costs, and a cost to drill and complete of $7 MM/well, I estimated that this operator had exposed nearly $12.4 B in the Eagle Ford.
Using DI Desktop median EURs, a generous $70/bbl average price/bbl, and uniform 75% NRI, I estimate that this $12.4 B would generate nearly $18 B in revenues over project life.
Now let’s compare what it would cost to define , acquire, and drill 50 conventional prospects.
Assume: 4,000 acres/prospect @$500/ac, 13,000‘ average TD @ $2.5 MM/well, 80% of prospects are dry holes or not commercial. So our risk exposure is
Acreage + Seismic + 50 test wells=100,000,000+ 10,000,000 + 125,000,000=$235,000,000
Remember, 80% are dry holes so we’re left with 10 commercially viable prospects that could have about 24 development wells per 4000 acre prospect. Assuming all those wells are drilled, the development cost (to target primary pay) is $60,000,000/prospect, or a total of $835,000,000 to drill, discover, and develop the 10 viable prospects in the inventory of 50 prospects. So what reserves might we find?
DI Desktop EUR estimates for:
Wolverine’s Covenant field in the Utah hinge line : 94,000,000Bbl
Constitution/Constitution South Yegua production in Jefferson Co. TX: 26,654,000 Bbl/401 BCF
Here are the napkin numbers on revenues (assume$60/bbl,$2.25/MCF,75* NRI, 5%severance)
So even if the kinds of results shown above represented 95% of the discovered reserve base, our exploration portfolio expenditure on conventionals yielded about 1/3 of the reserve base of an unconventional portfolio, for about 1/16th the cost. And even if unconventional EUR’s are artificially depressed due to choked back production, and/or shut in status, the cost/benefit for conventionals is still compelling.
Finding Risk
It’s a great thing to be able to say – with confidence – that the wells you drill will find oil and gas. It’s one of the powerful drivers in the unconventional space, and as mentioned avoids the perceived risks of traditional exploration.
As we’ve seen, however, great advances in engineering and seismic acquisition/processing capabilities have propelled the unconventional model forward. And I would argue that these advances in seismic processing and attribute extraction greatly minimize dry hole risks going forward.
The two maps below show wildcat permits (left image) and wildcat permits which were completed as producers (from1/1/2010-7/17/2015)
Source: DI Desktop
The left hand map below shows Texas wells which made (on an allocated basis) 500,000+ BOPW. Median EUR of 774,000 BO implies that there is a good reserve base to explore and develop. The right hand map shows partial seismic coverage of just Texas. Given the constantly improving production and well log database in the US there’s ample reason to believe that targeted conventional exploration can provide excellent rates of return.
A Way Forward
An astounding amount of acreage has been put under lease to support unconventional drilling, a large number of wells have been drilled that have added to the knowledge base about uphole reservoirs, and unknown petabytes of seismic data have been acquired to support analysis of below pay objectives. Operators with large positions should seriously entertain the option of checker-boarding their acreage to stimulate conventional farm in activity and or actively begin to develop their conventional portfolio because it will probably deliver better margins.
Your Turn
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
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The world's top energy watchdog has slashed its forecast for oil demand this year as prices for crude continued to slide Tuesday.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency said in its closely watched monthly oil market report that the world will need to 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) less oil this year than it had originally thought because of weaker global growth.
Brent crude was down 0.5pc in London trading at around $88.5 per barrel following the release of the report, which comes on top of a 23pc decline in the global benchmark over the last year.
The market is now focused on the next meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) scheduled for November 27 in Vienna. The group, which controls about a third of the world's oil, is under pressure to cut output to defend prices. However, senior members of the grouping led by Saudi Arabia appear increasingly prepared to leave production set at 30m bpd unchanged in what is termed a "rollover".
The IEA also highlighted the problem with Opec producing too much crude to keep prices at current levels. The agency said that Opec output surged to a 13-month high in September "led by Libya’s continued recovery and higher Iraqi flows."
Speaking to the Telegraph yesterday, Fatih Birol, the IEA's chief economist said: “Production is for Opec to decide and I know they are very actively looking at the issues affecting the market”, adding that "almost every drop of oil produced in the world is still going to be profitable at around $80."
However, falling prices should be good for global growth. According to Capital Economics a $10 drop in the price of crude is equal to a 0.5pc of global gross domestic product. British motorists should also benefit from lower petrol prices at the pumps.
UK supermarkets have already cranked up their own petrol price war in the wake of falling oil prices. Sainsbury's and Asda are planning to cut the price of diesel by up to 2p a litre and unleaded petrol by a penny from tomorrow. Tesco, which is Britain's biggest petrol retailer with about 500 petrol stations, will cut unleaded petrol by 1p per litre, with diesel reducing by at least 1p a litre although some sites will get a 2p a litre price cut.
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Sarah Mar 26, 2010
did not like it bookshelves: things-you-can-t-unsee
's review
It's like To Kill A Mockingbird. Only, instead of a flawed but relatable protagonist, we have a protagonist vilified beyond all reason. Instead of a persecuted minority, we have a horny young man. And instead of Atticus Finch, we have...Ian McEwan. And never, in the history of literature, has anyone worked quite this hard to invalidate the accusatory gaze of young girls.
The "sinner" here is young Briony. And her sin is pride. We see her exposed to sexist and obscene language, violent sex, and a rape --all in one day! And why did she she make such a fuss?
Well, according to McEwan, it's because she's the worst thing in the world: a little girl (with little girl problems) who simply can't understand the "grownup" world. ("Grownup," in this context, refers almost exclusively to the pursuit of id impulses.) Everything the poor girl does is made to seem (somehow) insidious: the way she lines up her toys, the way she plays pretend, the way her own mind controls her own hand. (The power!)
But who are McEwan's martyrs? you query. Where there's heavy handed allegory, there are bound to be martyrs, you say.
Ah! That would be Robbie and Cecilia. You see, Robbie and Cecilia's sin is lust, the one (and only) sin that must always be defended in literature, the sin McEwan is (apparently) most defensive about. Naturally, some of that lust is projected onto the young girl--reverse moralists are so hypocritical!--but it's Robbie and Cecilia who are truly wronged. Indeed, no fictional character has been this wronged by the moral majority since Jude (the Obscure). But even Thomas Hardy had the presence of mind not to shrilly condemn young girls. McEwan undermined his point in overstating it.
In McEwan's universe, the only real sin is being too uptight (or "sheltered"). No counterpoint is offered. Nor is there any real understanding of sexual trauma and its behavioral manifestations. No sexual history is provided the characters, certainly nothing to account for the behavior in evidence! (To Kill a Mockingbird, mentioned earlier, does provide that history.) McEwan's characters are born the day we meet them...and only to serve his argument.
In short, this is a defensive book. It's nothing more than a defensive book. Chance doesn't work this way. Trauma doesn't work this way. Sexuality doesn't work this way. Nothing works this way.
One gets the distinct impression that McEwan has projected his own narcissism and guilt onto one character (the accuser) and his actual misdeeds onto another (the "unjustly" persecuted). Because his aims are self-indulgent, he doesn't accomplish much beyond this smug reversal. It never quite makes for a cohesive whole. (Nearly, though!)
In a foreshadowing of later events, everyone fusses over a cousin who says she has been badly bruised by her two brothers. When the unjustly maligned little boys run away, it's predicted that the little drama queen will somehow find a way to regain the spotlight. She does...in getting raped. We never learn her thoughts or feelings about this incident, and her rapist is given a nebulous presence, at best, in the novel.
Throughout the story, the victim is portrayed as a snob. She's so snobby, in fact, that she marries her rapist...in the name of monogamy. (Yes, Ian, we see what you did there.) Significantly, Cecilia too is portrayed as a snob...until she puts out.
To summarize:
Briony is the sort of uppity prig who accuses "good" men like Ian McEwan Robbie of being bad men.
As we can clearly see, there are far worse men. See?
Oh, the victim? Complicit. Moving on...
And Cecilia just needed a good f...
It's a shame, because the prose, itself, is good. The premise had a lot of potential for nuance and ambiguity. But McEwan forgoes any subtlety in his tireless crusade against...little girls. Little girls who tell on men. Little girls whose motives and perceptions simply can't be trusted.
And all to make some asinine declaration about "true" art?
In the end, we find that Briony is, herself, the narrator of this tale and her own literary career allows McEwan to covertly praise his own writing, so reminiscent of Woolf (in his opinion). (Um, no, Ian. Woolf was a good writer.)
Is he serious? Is he trying to be a pompous ass? Was this an Andy Kaufman bit all along?
Oh, also: War is bad. I make that an aside, because the actual causes, ramifications, and atrocities of war are clearly less important to McEwan than his own pen. But it's war that truly makes a man of you. If only I were a man and could understand the "real" world!...instead of writing fairy stories...playing with my miniatures...and stripping for the neighbor boys all day.
Something tells me McEwan has a long and studied history of reframing. But the fact remains: If it's not cohesive, it's not true.
This is cleverness. Not truth.
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The Canucks goaltending depth was one of the main issues that needed to be addressed heading into the offseason. General manager Jim Benning made quick work after sending Eddie Lack to Carolina for a 3rd and 7th round pick and losing Comets goaltender Joacim Eriksson overseas by signing 27-year-old Richard Bachman to a two-year contract.
Financial terms of the signing were not made available, per a team release from the Canucks Wednesday.
The former Edmonton Oiler and Dallas Stars goaltender spent the the majority of the 2014/15 season playing for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League. Bachman went 14-5-3 with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Bachman was an AHL All-Star and finished with a dazzling 1.55 goals against average and .953 save percentage in the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs.
An undersized goaltender listed at 5'10" and 183 lbs., the native of Salt Lake City, UT native has appeared in 43 career NHL games and was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 draft by Dallas
Bachman has experience playing under Willie Desjardins and Glen Gulutzan when they were all apart of the Dallas Stars organization.
Have learned the #Canucks are 1 of 12 teams that have called about goalie Richard Bachman. Van needs starting goalie in Utica. — NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) June 30, 2015
Bachman played for Willie Desjardins and Glen Gulutzan when all 3 were with the Dallas Stars. #Canucks — NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) June 30, 2015
Tayor Fedun
The Canucks added some depth to their defensive core inking former Oilers and Sharks defenceman Taylor Fedun. Fedun, a right-handed shot listed at 6'0" and 198 lbs, was given a one-year contract and will likely report to the Utica Comets on a two-way deal.
Fedun has 11 games of NHL experience and could see action with the big club if Adam Clendening or Frank Corrado struggle to fully adapt to the Nation Hockey League come next fall. Fedun has recored two goals and four assists in his brief NHL career.
Fedun was involved in horrific touch-icing incident that caused him to miss all of the 2011-12 season because of a broken femur. You can read about it more here.
The Edmonton, Alberta native has dressed in over 200 career AH games picking up 24 goals and 75 assists.
Fedun is a graduate of Princeton University.
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There is something nice and wonderful about the Roller Coaster Tycoon games; the third installment is not bad, it had some difficulties towards the graphic rendering due the low processors on many computers, but there is something nice about the third installment, even if the creator Chris Sawyer only acted as a consultant.
There is something magical about roller coasters, as well quite of a nightmare for many people as the simple idea of being in the top and the thrown into an out of control but controlled ride, through a series of steel mazes and loops can terrorize or delight someone.
The beauty about Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 lays that it let the user to be submerged into the theme park environment, as well to ride the rides; two elements that were completely absent in the first two installments, as well there is no more isometrically view.
The idea of the game look so ambitious but yet so enjoyable, as it can appeal perfectly to theme park enthusiast and is a game that everyone in the family can play without any inconvenience.
Watching the Rhinos
Soaked and Wild, where the player can add water park elements as well a zoo into his theme parks. The game itself, could be a nice idea to incorporate into the RCT3 has two expansion, where the player can add water park elements as well a zoo into his theme parks. The game itself, could be a nice idea to incorporate into the Oculus system as it can let the players to traverse and explore unique environments and theme parks.
ultra-violence with the exception of the occasional accidents, if you want to have an understanding of The idea of RCT3 as a virtual reality game seems to be coherent, as is one of those games that the player can interact perfectly and there are no doses ofwith the exception of the occasional accidents, if you want to have an understanding of VR systems, this entry by Cloudwards is really easy to digest and can give you a better understanding how these systems work.
The game interface is really easy to understand, and is quite intuitive, as the main screen menus are divided into a series of balloons, where the balloons can be clicked in order to access a description of the scenario as well a few images.
Each scenarios is divided into three sections: Apprentice, Entrepreneur and Tycoon; where the level of difficulty improves but is not impossible to win.
The game offers a wide variety of roller coasters and rides that you can find in actual theme parks; as well it lets the players to create their coasters.
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Take the following information into consideration before driving in Seattle area traffic this weekend.
Related: Who should pay to fix Eastside traffic?
Highway 520 between Seattle and Bellevue
First, Highway 520 will be closed in both directions between Seattle and Bellevue. This will have major impacts on Seattle area traffic throughout connecting routes.
The 520 bridge will close late Friday evening at 11 p.m. The closure will last until 5 a.m. Monday morning for final removal of old westbound off-ramp. When Highway 520 has been closed in the past, we have seen traffic heavily increase on I-90, I-5 and I-405.
Boat Show
In Seattle, we also have about 50,000 people expected to attend the Seattle Boat Show over the weekend at CenturyLink Field. And those 50,000 people will be driving into SoDo. That can create quite a bottleneck.
Mariners
Mariner’s FanFest will be happening Saturday and Sunday at Safeco Field — also in SoDo.
New Year party
On Sunday, the Lunar New Year Celebration will close down streets in Seattle’s International District. South King Street will close near Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
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Pokemon Go can be daunting for players new to the Pokemon franchise, and veteran Pokemon trainers unfamiliar with the differences from the normal Pokemon gameplay. This page highlights some of the more important Things Pokemon Go Doesn't Tell You about controls, mechanics, and other useful tips.
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PokeStops Refresh Often [ edit ]
If you happen to live, work, or just be in an area near one of the PokeStops, you'll notice that the color changes from blue to purple once interacted with. If you hang around the area for a bit, you'll find it goes back to its blue color after 5 or so minutes (times can vary), allowing you to easily stock up on Poke Balls, and gain 50 xp a pop, which is useful if you find yourself stuck someplace where Pokemon are not appearing.
Transfer Duplicate Pokemon For Candy [ edit ]
An easy way to obtain more candy is to transfer any duplicate Pokemon you catch in the wild. Find two Squirtles? Transfer one (which is the same as letting it go) and you'll be rewarded with a Squirtle candy. It's important to never pass up a Pokemon you find - even if you already have that one!
Pokemon and PokeStops in Motion [ edit ]
Whether you're on a bus, in a car, taking a train, or whatever — you'll find that you can still play Pokemon Go on the go and your avatar will faithfully run down the streets to keep up. This can be both a blessing and a curse, because you'll often pass through several potential PokeStops or Pokemon.
It's important to note that when interacting with PokeStops, if you leave the area, you won't be able to finish interacting with it — and interaction is often best saved when you're slowing down or stopped in a moving vehicle. However, any Pokemon that is encountered and engaged will stay with you, letting you catch them at your leisure (so long as they don't flee).
And of course: please don't play Pokemon and drive.
Trainer Level Influences Rarer Pokemon
[ edit ]
As exciting as exploring new and unknown places for Pokemon are, you won't have to brave the most dangerous places on Earth to find rare Pokemon - instead your personal level will dictate the rarity of Pokemon that appear. To start,you'll often encounter basic pokemon (Zubats, Charmanders, Weedles, etc) but as you gain in level, there will be a better chance of finding both Pokemon with higher Combat Power (CP), and rare Pokemon in general.
Tougher and rarer Pokemon will often be harder to catch - a green ring means an easy catch, yellow harder, and then orange and red. Difficult Pokemon may often break out of a Pokeball, or even run away. Consider using Items to make it easier before trying against these Pokemon.
Egg Hatching Distance Measuring
[ edit ]
When trying to incubate a Pokemon Egg, you'll have to travel a distance of several kilometers (varying from 2 to 5 to 10). While you might be tempted to simply drive the distance, there's more to it than distance traveled. Pokemon Go uses both your phone's pedometer as well as the GPS to calculate how far you've actually walked, and appears to limit your distance traveled if it clocks you going at high speeds. Distance traveled is still counted fairly accurately if done on a skateboard, as long as you don't go too fast.
Note: The app must be active to count your steps. This means if you go for a walk, the app must stay running and you must be logged in and playing for it to count your steps.
Get Free Items for Defending Gyms [ edit ]
Once your trainer is level 5, you can finally visit Pokemon Gyms and battle against other trainers. If you visit a Gym with your team's color - or take over one of the opposing color, you can store your Pokemon there and become a Gym Defender. Immediately thereafter you can check the Shop tab and click on the shield icon to access your Defender Bonus for free PokeCoins and Stardust. Check back every 20~ hours (so long as your pokemon have not been dethroned) and to recieve more (the amount may vary depending on how many Pokemon you have in the gym, or their CP).
Battles Are Not Turn Based
[ edit ]
Contrary to most Pokemon games, Gym Battles in Pokemon Go are not turn based - though attacks can't be literally spammed either. To attack, simply tap the screen, and your Pokemon will deal its first attack as soon as its able. To deal a special attack, you will need to hold down on the screen and release. In order to perform a special attack, you will need to charge the meter below a pokemon's health until a bar is full - different special attacks have different meters. To dodge, swipe to the sides before the attack hits.
You can tell which move is the Pokemon's basic attack and which is its special by the order the moves are listed in. For example, this Ekans will use Acid, and will only be able to attack with Sludge Bomb when one or both of the bars are filled by using Acid first.
Pokemon Close By Can Be Summoned
[ edit ]
Update: As of the
As of the August 8th Update , footprint tracking has been removed from the game, and has been replaced by a new "Sightings" and "Nearby" feature.
When on the map, in the bottom right corner you can find a tab that lists any nearby Pokemon. Most of these Pokemon should have a number of 1 to 3 footprints under them, with 1 equaling close and 3 equaling farther away. However, sometimes you may find that a Pokemon listed has no footprints - if this is the case, track that Pokemon by tapping on it, and it should pop up on the map in a few seconds.
You can also track any nearby Pokemon by tapping on it and monitoring the list of nearby Pokemon.
Note that simply seeing a patch of moving grass on the map doesn't always mean a Pokemon will immediately pop up if you're close enough - but some will often appear if you walk around the area long enough.
Make the Most of the Battery Saver
[ edit ]
Pokemon Go includes an option in the settings to initiate a Battery Saver mode, but it doesn't really explain what that does - in fact, simply turning it on won't do much of anything.
To make use of Battery Saver, once turned on, simply turn your phone upside down, and the screen will darken to display a faint Pokemon Go logo. The game will still be on, and will still track your movements - you just won't see it. However, you will still get a notification or rumble if you approach a Pokestop or a Pokemon appears, so you can quickly pull the phone out of your pocket to interact!
Update: As of the
As of the July 31st Update , the battery saver option has been removed from the game, and it is not known if they will be returning in a future update.
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Afghan King Habibullah Kalakani, known by the disparaging nickname Bacha–i-Saqao, or “water-carrier’s son,” during the 1929 civil war in Afghanistan. (Alamy Stock Photo)
In the prevailing view of Afghan history, King Habibullah Kalakani was an illiterate highway robber who toppled a reformist monarch in 1929 and spent nine despotic months on the throne, brutally uprooting all traces of modernization, before he was captured by the royal army and hanged in Kabul.
But in Afghanistan, a country with a bloody tradition of tribal warfare, fierce resistance to foreign conquerors, and warlords who reinvent themselves as statesmen, even long-dead bandit kings have fan clubs.
The case made by Kalakani’s supporters, mostly activists from his ethnic Tajik minority, is that he was a pious Muslim and social Robin Hood whose horror of rapid modernization — epitomized by photos of the previous king’s wife wearing Western clothes on a trip to Europe — was shared by many Afghans at the time.
For 87 years, Kalakani’s remains have lain in an unmarked spot below the majestic hilltop mausoleum of the country’s ethnic Pashtun dynasty, including King Nader Shah, who ordered him executed. Now, a group of Tajik leaders and scholars are demanding that he be dug up and moved to a more respectful setting in the capital.
The campaign did not spring up on a nostalgic whim. It is in part an effort to counter the reburial of Mohammed Daoud Khan, the president who was assassinated during a communist takeover in 1978. Khan’s body was discovered in a mass grave in 2008, and the following year, on orders of then-President Hamid Karzai, he was reburied and given a state funeral.
[Afghan political crisis intensifies as two-year anniversary nears]
It is also part of an ethnic struggle bedeviling the current national unity government, in which power is shared by President Ashraf Ghani, an ethnic Pashtun, and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against Ghani for president in 2014 with strong support from ethnic Tajik political groups.
Daoud Kalakani, a member of parliament, heads a group that has asked the government to allow Habibullah Kalakani’s final resting place to be upgraded like Daoud Khan’s. He said the long-dead king, known by the disparaging nickname Bacha-i-Saqao, or “water-carrier’s son,” should receive “the same degree of respect” as Daoud Khan. The group has threatened to stage mass protests if there is no official response within two weeks.
Another supporter, university scholar Omar Ahmad Parwani, said settling the matter would help bring national reconciliation and resolve a historical grudge. He complained that Ghani had given the title of “national martyr” to an ethnic Hazara militia leader who died two decades ago but was not willing to honor “a Tajik [emir] who belonged to all of Afghanistan.”
The cause is also being championed by some former Tajik militia commanders, especially in the Shomali Plain north of Kabul where Kalakani was born. In an email, supporters said they had been snubbed when they took their petition to Ghani’s office but were more sympathetically received by Abdullah.
“Dr. Abdullah said this was high on his list,” said Tahir Qadiry, a spokesman for Attah Mohammed Noor, a powerful Tajik governor whose Jamiat-i-Islami party has been putting pressure on Abdullah to bring its demands to Ghani, including the Kalakani reburial.
On Wednesday, Abdullah met with Ghani to discuss a number of issues that caused a public rupture between them this month. On Thursday, Kalakani’s portrait suddenly appeared on a wall in the Defense Ministry, where Ghani presided over a ceremony for Afghanistan’s independence day, marking a 1919 treaty with Britain. Visitors said it was hung next to a portrait of Daoud Khan.
Kalakani’s supporters exulted over this sign of his official rehabilitation, but the issue has added a new source of ethnic vitriol to Afghan social media. Some Tajik websites call Kalakani a hero and juxtapose his images with those of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the iconic Tajik anti-Taliban commander who was assassinated in 2001. Some posts on these sites mock Pashtuns with vulgar slurs.
But posts by some Pashtuns and others denounce Kalakani as a brute. “He was a misogynist and a backward criminal,” one critic tweeted, noting that he had shut down all girls’ schools during his brief reign. Others called him a “stain on our recent history” and compared him to the late Taliban leader Mohammad Omar.
[The bomb that killed 80 Hazaras in Kabul also upended their nonviolent reform effort]
On Friday, on the hilltop crowned by the royal tombs of Nader Shah and his son, King Mohammed Zahir Shah, a guard described Zahir Shah’s reign from 1933 to 1973 as a time of peace and stability, and he dismissed the movement to memorialize Kalakani as a ploy by Tajik leaders to advance their own interests. “There is no difference between Kalakani and Mohammad Omar,” he said.
Read more:
Afghan ID cards were meant to stop voter fraud but instead stoked ethnic division
American University in Kabul reopens after kidnappings, but campuses feel chill
Taliban pushes toward strategic provincial capital in Afghanistan
Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world
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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Edward Ganshirt, who shares the following:
I found this critter [a Realistic DX-440–see photo above] at a flea market. At first I pondered as to when I had my last tetanus shot before handling it, then again it had something that I see rarely in these portable radios … a BFO..!
I always said that a shortwave radio without a BFO is like a Harley-Davidson with a top speed of 25 mph, so I bought it. On the way home I could smell a barnyard aroma. I ruled out chicken and hog but I think it could have been sheep or goat. So I decided to see how well it works. It took a little bumping around with loose connections to get it working. But first since it was going to be taken apart to service the case and knobs would get a nice hot bath in a sudsy ammonia citrus cleaner with a bristle brush. Also the PCB’s would get brushed down with a mixture of denatured alcohol and acetone.
Now for the hard part: finding the rickety connections. This turned out to be simple, just inspect each wire at attachment point. I found 3 broken wires that were re soldered. Now it is together I am looking for a 9 inch antenna. The one here is not original it extends 66 inches.
As to it’s performance, This Hogg can go up to 75mph now that I have the plug wires on. The user interface speaks to me as a lab instrument more than a daily listener which I think will become its role.
Absolutely amazing transformation, Ed!
I’m especially pleased to see you’ve given this level of TLC to a Realistic DX-440. I regret having ever sold mine as it accompanied me across the ocean when I studied in Grenoble, France, for a year just after high school.
The DX-440 and I did a lot of travel and a lot DXing together! I hope your DX-440 takes you across the globe, Ed!
Related
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Story highlights The four wounded in the shooting are in intensive care, an official says
Authorities will be working through the night at the school, an official says
The gun has been traced to the shooter's father, source says
The shooter killed one person and wounded four others
Jordan Luton was finishing his lunch in the cafeteria at Washington state's Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Friday when he heard it -- a loud bang.
Then there was another. And another. And another. And another.
What he saw was freshman Jaylen Fryberg go up to a table with students, "came up from behind ... and fired about six bullets into the backs of them," Luton told CNN. "They were his friends, so it wasn't just random."
Some of the students began to run. Luton and others hit the ground, some hiding under tables.
By the time it was over, two people -- the gunman and a female student -- were dead and four were wounded, according to authorities. Those wounded were all under the age of 18, they said.
The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Marysville police spokesman Robb Lamoureux told reporters.
JUST WATCHED Student: There was blood everywhere Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Student: There was blood everywhere 01:11
JUST WATCHED Students flee after reported shooting Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Students flee after reported shooting 02:15
Two girls are in the intensive care unit at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, and two boys are in ICU at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Providence spokeswoman Erin Al-Wazan said.
Three are "very critically ill" with "very serious" injuries, she said. One is in serious condition. One of the boys, age 14, suffered a jaw injury. The other, age 15, was critically injured in the head.
Source: Gun traced to shooter's father
The gun used in the shooting has been traced to Fryberg's father, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. It is a "high capacity" weapon but did not have an extended magazine, the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source said investigators are searching the family home.
A Beretta .40-caliber handgun is believed to have been used, a federal law enforcement source told CNN.
Why did this happen? That's the question being asked as investigators combed the school late Friday for clues and interviewed students who witnessed the shooting.
Investigators were expected to work through the night at the school, which has been closed through next week.
While authorities have not detailed what occurred inside or identified the shooter, students offered up accounts that painted a terrifying, chaotic picture.
The shooting began during an early lunch break at the school of about 2,500 students that sits in the heart of Marysville, a small city bisected by the major thoroughfare connecting the region with Vancouver, British Columbia.
Authorities got a 911 phone call at 10:39 a.m. (1:39 p.m. ET) from someone inside the school, which is north of Seattle and Everett, Lamoureux said.
'People started screaming'
Luton was sitting two tables away when the shooting began.
Fryberg appeared to target one table, where there were about 10 students sitting. "I'm pretty sure he shot at specific people because they were pretty good friends with him," Luton said.
"He put some bullets in the back of the students," he said. "He turned and looked at me and my girlfriend ... and kind of gave us a smirk."
The shooter continued firing as he left the cafeteria, Luton said.
"I have no idea what his motive was because yesterday at football practice, he was all fine, talking .... having a good time," he said. "And then today, just horrible. I don't know what went through his head or what caused him to do it."
By all accounts, Fryberg was a popular student. Just a week ago, he had been named as the high school's freshman homecoming prince, according to a YouTube video of the ceremony and accounts provided by students to CNN.
Fryberg's multiple social media accounts depict him frequently hunting and using rifles. Those accounts say he was a Native American and a member of the Tulalip tribe.
Luton could not confirm reports that Fryberg had been bullied. But two weeks ago, according to Luton, Fryberg got into a fight after somebody said "something racist" to him.
'Run, get out of here'
Freshman Rachel Heichel was sitting at a table about 60 feet away from Fryberg.
When the shots started, she turned around and saw the shooter standing there.
"When I saw him, I was like 'Oh my God, that's Jaylen.' I would have never expected it would have been him, out of all people," she said.
"It was really heartbreaking for me to see that. I saw him with the a gun in his hand, shooting."
She never heard Fryberg say anything.
"All I heard was people screaming, 'Run, get out of here. Let's go,'" Heichel said.
At first, they thought it was a fire drill
A student locked down inside a classroom told CNN by phone that students initially thought it was a fire drill until teachers told everyone to run into classrooms because there was a shooting.
A student who says he was in the cafeteria when the shooting began told CNN he called the police, and then gave his phone to a teacher.
The student described a chaotic and bloody scene, saying blood was "everywhere."
Another student, identified as Austin Taylor, told CNN Seattle affiliate KING that he had just finished eating when he saw the shooter.
"He was just sitting there. Everyone was talking. All of the sudden, I see him stand up, pull something out of his pocket," he said.
"At first, I thought it was just someone making a really loud noise ...like a big loud pop ... until I heard four more after that. And I saw three kids just fall from the table."
Austin said he ducked under a table. When the shooting stopped, he said he looked out and saw the shooter was trying to reload.
"When that happened, I just ran in the opposite direction, and I was out of there as fast as I could," he said.
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Rickshaw Boy or Camel Xiangzi (Chinese: 骆驼祥子; pinyin: Luòtuo Xiángzi; literally: 'Camel Auspicious Lad") is a novel by the Chinese author Lao She about the life of a fictional Beijing rickshaw man. It is considered a classic of 20th-century Chinese literature.
History [ edit ]
Lao She began the novel in spring, 1936, and it was published in installments in the magazine Yuzhou feng ("Cosmic wind") beginning in January, 1937.[2] Lao She returned to China from the United States after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. In an afterword dated September, 1954, included in the Foreign Languages Press edition of Rickshaw Boy, Lao She said that he had edited the manuscript ("taken out some of the coarser language and some unnecessary descriptions") and he expressed regret for the lack of hope expressed in the original edition.
In 1945, Evan King published an unauthorized translation of the novel. He cut, rearranged, rewrote, invented characters, and changed the ending. The girl student and One Pock Li are King's, not Lao She's. King also added considerable embellishment to the two seduction scenes. Despite the liberties taken, the book was a bestseller in the United States and a Book-of-the-Month club selection.
Plot [ edit ]
Set in the 1920s, the novel's protagonist is an orphan peasant who leaves for Beijing to earn a living. Xiangzi is a young, hardworking, well-built rickshaw puller who dreams of owning his own rickshaw. Just when he has earned enough to buy one, it is confiscated by warlord soldiers. As he leaves, he spots some camels captured by the soldiers. He takes the camels and escapes and later sells them, earning the nickname Camel. However, the cash Xiangzi obtains from this is not enough for him to buy another new rickshaw - providence decrees that he must toil once more. A police secret agent later extorts him into paying him his savings, leaving Xiangzi impoverished again. Left with no choice, Xiangzi returns to work for Old Master Liu, the boss of a thriving rickshaw rental company.
Although he tries to be honest and down to earth, Xiangzi finds himself entangled between Old Master Liu and his stout, manipulative daughter Tiger Girl, ten years his senior. Tiger Girl, who is carrying a torch for him, insists on marrying Xiangzi after pretending to be made pregnant by him. Her father disowns her and the couple live together, progressively made poor by her spendthrift ways. Later, Tiger Girl becomes pregnant by Xiangzi and grows even fatter as she awaits her delivery due her laziness and greediness for food.
When Tiger Girl dies during childbirth and Xiangzi's infant child is stillborn, Xiangzi is distraught. He later finds meaning in life again in a female neighbour, the meek and long-suffering Little Fuzi, who is forced into prostitution by her idle father. When Xiangzi has earned enough to redeem her from the brothel, he is devastated to find she has committed suicide.
The harsh realities of life taught Xiangzi that decency and hard work have little meaning in this pragmatic, dog-eat-dog world. He becomes a lazy, degenerate and unscrupulous good-for-nothing, no different from those he looked down on early in his life, spending his days gambling, cheating and whoring.
Subject matter and themes [ edit ]
The major subject matter of Rickshaw Boy is the way in which the hero makes his living pulling a rickshaw, the options he faces and choices he makes, and especially the fundamental issues of whether to work independently or as a servant to a family, and whether to rent or own a rickshaw.
Additionally, the novel describes a series of adventures he has and his interactions with a number of other characters.
Beijing -- "filthy, beautiful, decadent, bustling, chaotic, idle, lovable"[3]:240—is important as a backdrop for the book. "The only friend he had was this ancient city." (p. 31)
The book explores the intimate relationship between man and machine (the rickshaw), and the evolution of that relationship. The relationship is both financial—requiring months and years of calculation to graduate from being a renter to being an owner—and physical. "His strength seemed to permeate every part of the rickshaw. . . . he was energetic, smooth in his motions, precise. He didn't appear to be in any hurry and yet he ran very fast . . . . " [3]:7
An important theme of the book is the economic precariousness of the hero's life. "No matter how hard you work or how ambitious you are, you must not start a family, you must not get sick, and you must not make a single mistake!" [3]:185 "If you avoid dying of starvation when young, good for you. But it was almost impossible to avoid dying of starvation when old." [3]:95
Further, the book explores personality characteristics and their relationship to economic existence, especially tolerance for risk, tolerance for hard work, and assertiveness, and personal standards of human dignity. "He had a strong body, a patient disposition, ambition, yet he allowed people to treat him like a pig or a dog and he couldn't keep a job." [3]:48
Isolation and individualism are important themes in the book. "His life might well be ruined by his own hands but he wasn't about to sacrifice anything for anybody. He who works for himself knows how to destroy himself. These are the two starting points of Individualism." [3]:237
Historical significance [ edit ]
The characterization or point of view in Rickshaw Boy reflects the influence of Russian literature in China in general, and particularly on the way that influence was transferred to China by Lu Xun in stories such as The True Story of Ah Q and "Diary of a Madman".[4]
The subject matter of Rickshaw Boy aligned with concerns of Chinese leftists and the Chinese Communist Party. For instance, the final sentences read, "Handsome, ambitious, dreamer of fine dreams, selfish, individualistic sturdy, great Hsiang Tzu. No one knows how many funerals he marched in, and no one knows when or where he was able to get himself buried, that degenerate, selfish, unlucky offspring of society's diseased womb, a ghost caught in Individualism's blind alley." [3]:249
Lao She went on to play a leading role in literary associations endorsed by the government, such as the All-China Federation of Literature and Art. According to the introductory section of the Foreign Languages Press (Beijing) English translation, "Before Liberation [Lao She] wrote many works of literature, including his best novel Camel Xiangzi (or Rickshaw Boy) to expose and denounce the old society.
While he now enjoys prestige in China and was named a "People's Artist" and "Great Master of Language", at the beginning of the cultural revolution he was severely persecuted. The Red Guards paraded him through the streets and beat him in public. Being humiliated both mentally and physically, he, according to the official record, committed suicide by drowning himself in Beijing's Taiping Lake in 1966.[5]
English translations [ edit ]
Reynal & Hitchcock (New York) published an English translation by Evan King in 1945 under the English title Rickshaw Boy ("by Lau Shaw"). According to Jean M. James ("Note on the Text and the Translation" in the James edition), "King cut, rearrange, rewrote, invented characters, and changed the ending."
The University of Hawaii Press published an English translation by Jean M. James in 1979 under the English title Rickshaw: the novel Lo-t'o Hsiang Tzu.[3] It is based on the 1949 edition.
Foreign Languages Press (Beijing) published an English translation by Shi Xiaojing (Lynette Shi) in 1988 under the English title Camel Xiangzi.
The most recent full translation is Rickshaw Boy: A Novel (New York: Harper Perennial Modern Chinese Classics, 2010) by Howard Goldblatt (ISBN 9780061436925). Goldblatt went back to the 1939 first book edition and consulted the 1941 edition while working on the translation.
Adaptations [ edit ]
The story was filmed as Rickshaw Boy (1982) directed by Zifeng Ling. Composed by Guo Wenjing to a libretto by Xu Ying, an opera based on the novel (Rickshaw Boy) was created at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) in June 2014.
Notes [ edit ]
^ How I came to write the novel "Camel Xiangzi", included in Foreign Languages Press edition. a b c d e f g h Lao She (1979). Rickshaw: the novel Lo-t'o Hsiang Tzu. Jean M. James (trans.). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ^ Douwe W. Fokkema, in "Lu Xun: The Impact of Russian Literature," in Merle Goldman, ed., Modern Chinese Literature in the May Fourth Era (Cambridge: Harvard, 1977), writes, "The heroes in these stories are all outcasts and underdogs, in varying degrees . . . . Xiangzi, the main figure in Luotuo xiangzi (Rickshaw boy [1937]), who becomes the victim of his own stubborn toiling, fits into this category." (p. 100) ^ [1] , additional text.
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1964 Schwinn Catalog
Original text and images of the 1964 Schwinn sales brochure. The text below, including the prices, are as written in 1964.
Double your fun on a new Schwinn Tandem. Share the thrill of smooth, easy cycling together with friends or family and you'll discover a new world of riding pleasure on a tandem bike.
Schwinn Tandem
Double strength construction.
"Bicycle Built For Two"
Heavy duty equipment. Hand brake in front. Coaster brake in rear. Heavy duty Schwinn tubular rims, 26" x 1 3/4" tires. Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue or White.
T10 - 26" ....... $101.50
T-10 "Bicycle built for two"
Economy priced tandem.
Schwinn quality features.
Fenders - Chrome plated... with thicker, more lustrous, longer lasting chrome finish.
Hub - Heavy duty front hub... one piece construction, heavy duty axle, handles heavy loads with ease.
Rims - Schwinn tubular... double thickness, sturdy, shock absorbent and wear resistant.
Tires - 26" x 1 3/4"... nylon, tough, resilient, wear resisting.
Chain idler - Adjustable... heavy duty, keeps tension on chain for smoother opertaion.
Brakes - Coaster and front caliper, added stopping power.
Spokes - 105 gauge... heavy duty, stronger to handle extra weight.
See the complete history of the Schwinn Tandem.
Schwinn Twinn
New frame design makes mounting and dismounting easy.
Extra strong tandem construction throughout. Two brakes for added stopping power. 26" x 1 3/4" tires. Radiant Blue or White.
T11 - 26" ....... $101.50
T-11 Schwinn Twinn
A new concept in tandem design for more family riding enjoyment.
Schwinn quality features.
Frame - Lower front bar easier mounting and dismounting.
Rims - Schwinn tubular, double thickness, sturdy, shock, absorbent and wear resistant.
Fenders - Chrome plates, with thicker, more lustrous, longer lasting chrome finish.
Tires - 26" x 1 3/4"... nylon, tough, resilient, wear resisting.
Hub - Heavy duty front hub... one piece construction, heavy duty axle, handles heavy loads with ease.
Chain idler - Adjustable... heavy duty, keeps tension on chain for smoother opertaion.
Brakes - Coaster and front caliper, added stopping power.
See the complete history of the Schwinn Twinn.
Schwinn Paramounts
The World's Finest!
The ultimate in lightweight precision-built bicycles, winners last ten years in U.S. Track Championship races -- truly the "Choice of Champions". Finest materials throughout, hand crafted in four frame sizes, with a wide choice of colors. Made to measure frames at extra cost. Write for specification sheets.
P11 - Paramount Tourist (choice of 3 speed or 10 speed).... $177.00
P12 - Paramount 10 speed Road Model .... $177.00
P13 - Deluxe Paramount 10 speed Road Model .... $228.00
P14 - Paramount Track Racer .... $177.00
Schwinn quality features for Paramount P-11, P-12, and P-13.
Frame - Schwinn diamond type frame... Reynolds 531 double butted toubing...Nervex professional cut lugs... Wide range of frame sizes - 20", 21", 22", 23", 24", 25" - for different size riders... Custom - built made to measure frame available at extra cost.
Fork - Reynolds 531 butted oval to round fork blades... Nervex professional crown and Campagnolo Gran-Sport fork tips... light weight, strong and durable.
Wheels - Weinmann Aluminum alloy rims on Campagnolo Record high flange hubs with quick release... built to run smoothly mile after mile, year after year.
Derailleur - Campagnolo rear ... Campagnolo Record front ... cable operated from bottom bar shifting levers... Regina rear sprocket - 14, 16, 18, 21 and 24 tooth... 55 to 100 gear... allows "fine tunning" to fit the ability of the rider to the demands of road and riding conditions.
Equipment - Dunlop 27" x 1 1/4" high pressure road racing tires... Weinmann Vanquer 999 center - pull brakes with quick release ... Brooks mattress saddle... Stronglight Competition 6 3/4" steel cranks... Campagnolo Gran - Sport road head set.
P11 - 10 Speed tourist
Finest quality touring style bike on the market.
P11 - Paramount Tourist (choice of 3 speed or 10 speed).... $177.00
P12 - 10 Road Racer
Top quality road racing and sports bicycle.
P12 - Paramount 10 speed Road Model .... $177.00
P13 - Deluxe Paramount
10 - Speed road racer Schwinn's finest deluxe equipped sports bike.
P13 - Deluxe Paramount 10 speed Road Model .... $228.00
P14 - Men’s Paramount
Track bike, the ultimate in precision - built track bicycles. “Choice of Champions”
See the complete history of the Schwinn Paramount.
Schwinn quality features.
Frame - Schwinn diamond type frame... Reynolds 531 double butted tubing...Nervex professional cut lugs... tapered 5/8” rear stays head and seat mast angle - 74 degrees.
Reynolds 531 round tapered fork blades… forged chrome - moly steel crown and Campagnolo record track fork tips… light weight, strong and durable.
Wheels - Weinmann Aluminum alloy rims on Campagnolo Record high flange track hubs, smoother and truer running.
Handlebar - Titan steel track bar and stem.
Crank set - Campagnolo record alloy 6 1/2” or 6 3/4” cranks with choice of 1/2” or 1” pitch sprockets. 1” 25 x 8 teeth; 1/2” 50 x 16 teeth.
Equipment - Lyotard platform pedals with Christophe toe clips and Lapize straps… Campagnolo Gran - Sport head set… Brooks competition saddle, tubular sew - up track tires… Reynolds aluminum alloy seat post.
Schwinn Sports Bikes
Drop Bars, or racing handlebars as they are often called, make an astonishing difference in riding efficiency, adding power, speed and endurance most people never knew they possessed. It is this thrilling experience, a new discovery for most of us, that has led to the great popularity of sports bikes and much of the public's renewed interest in cycling for excercise and recreation.
More power! Drop bars allow the rider to lean forward at about a 45 degree angle when his hands are on the upper part of the handlebar and a little lower when his hands are on the "drops" or lower bar. This "crouch" position cuts down wind resistance and increases the rider's leverage on the pedals so he can go faster and farther with about half the effort required in the upright or erect position.
Doctors say the leaning forward position lessens weight on the spine, expands the chest and lungs and stregthens muscles in the arms and shoulders. Try it -- it's good for you!
Schwinn 15 Speed Sierra
Good quality road bike with 15 speed derailleur, 36 to 100 gear, quick release center pull brakes, large flange quick release hubs, aluminum alloy rims, 27" x 1 1/4" high pressure road tires.
Mudguards available at extra cost.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Terra Cotta.
621 - Schwinn Sierra, 21" frame ............. $91.95
623 - Schwinn Sierra, 23" frame ............. $91.95
Schwinn quality features
Derailleur - sprint derailleur, 15 speeds extra wide 36 to 100 gear, allows "fine tuning" to fit the ability to the rider to the demands of road and riding conditions.
Hubs - alloy hubs, quick release, allows for easy removal of wheels so bike can be stored in car trunks - quickly reassembled and fast tire changes.
Brakes - center-pull, quick release, hooded brake levers and sure stopping power.
Fork - tubular chrome, sturdy and durable.
Rims - Schwinn tubular S-6 rims, shock absorbent and wear - resistant.
Equipment - Top quality 27" x 1 1/4" high pressure road tires, Maes style drop handlebar with steel stem, lycett leather racing type saddle and large spoke protector.
See the complete history of the Schwinn Sierra.
Schwinn 10 Speed Continental Sport
Good quality road bike with high speed racing wheels.
Schwinn diamond type frame, Sprint derailleur, 38 to 96 gear, quick release hubs, quick release center pull brakes, chrome tubular front fork, Schwinn tubular rims 27" x 1 1/4" high pressure road tires. Mudguards available at extra cost.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Terra Cotta.
319 - Schwinn Continental Sports, 19" frame ............. $81.95
321 - Schwinn Continental Sports, 21" frame ............. $81.95
323 - Schwinn Continental Sports, 23" frame ............. $81.95
Schwinn quality features
Derailleur - sprint derailleur, 10 speeds, wide range 38 to 96 gear, allows "fine tuning" to fit the ability of the rider to the demands of road and riding conditions.
Hubs - alloy hubs, quick release, allows for easy removal of theels so bike can be stored in car trunks - quickly reassembked and fast tire changes.
Brakes - center pull, quick release, hooded brake levers and sure stopping power.
Rims - Schwinn tubular S-6 rims, shock absorbent and wear resistant.
Fork - lightweight, chrome tubular steel, sturdy and durable.
Equipment - Top quality 27" x 1 1/4" high pressure road tires, welded on brake and derailleur fittings, Maes style drop handlebar with aluminum alloy stem. Lycett leather racing style saddle and large spoke protector.
See the complete history of the Schwinn Continental.
Schwinn 10 Speed Varsity
An outstanding value in a 10 speed derailleur bicycle.
Schwinn does it again. 38 to 96 gear (33 to 85 gear on a model 224), 27" x 1 1/4" sports touring tires, and Schwinn tubular rims (24" on model 224). Racing style handlebars and saddle, and large flange Sprint hubs. Mudguards available at extra cost.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Terra Cotta.
119 - Schwinn Varsity, 19" frame ............. $68.95
121 - Schwinn Varsity, 21" frame ............. $68.95
123 - Schwinn Varsity, 23" frame ............. $68.95
224 - Schwinn Varsity, with 24" wheels .... $68.95
Schwinn quality features
Derailleur - sprint derailleur, 10 speeds, wide range 38 to 96 gear, allows “fine tuning” to fit the ability of the rider to the demands of road and riding conditions.
Frame - Schwinn diamond type frame, made with special head, hanger and fork-end design. Special welding aligning processes, strong, true running and long lasting.
Handlebar Stem - light weight steel, sturdy and built to last.
Rims - Schwinn tubular S-6, shock absorbent and wear resistant.
Brakes - caliper brakes, quick release hooded brake levers and surer stopping power.
Equipment - Top quality 27" x 1 1/4" nylon sports touring tires, welded on brake and derailleur fittings, large spoke protector, Sprint racing saddle, rat trap pedals and forged steel fork.
See the complete history of the Schwinn Varsity.
Schwinn 10 Speed Super Sport
Everything the sports rider wants in a top quality road bike.
Light, strong hand brazed frame of chrome molybdenum steel alloy, 10 speed Sprint derailleur, 38 to 96 gear, 27" x 1 1/4" road tires.
Colors: Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Terra Cotta or Violet.
822 - Schwinn Super Sport, 22" frame ............. $96.50
624 - Schwinn Super Sport, 24" frame ............. $96.50
See the complete history of the Schwinn Sport.
Schwinn Ladies' Varsity Tourist
Ladies’ 10-speed tourist model.
Here's a bike that takes the drudgery out of pedaling, with easy to operate 10 speed, 38 to 96 gear, comfortable mattress saddle, tourist handlebars, chrome fenders.
Schwinn tubular rims, 27" x 1 1/4" tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Radiant Coppertone or Sky Blue.
169 - Schwinn Varsity Tourist ............. $66.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Varsity.
Schwinn Men's Varsity Tourist
Easy riding 10 speed model with Sprint derailleur, 38 to 96 gear, tourist handlebars and saddle, chrome plated fenders.
Schwinn tubular rims, 27" x 1 1/4" tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Terra Cotta.
919 - Schwinn Varsity Tourist, 19" frame ............. $66.95
921 - Schwinn Varsity Tourist, 21" frame ............. $66.95
923 - Schwinn Varsity Tourist, 23" frame ............. $66.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Varsity.
Schwinn Speedster
Specially designed lightweight with lower saddle position for younger riders, forged steel fork, Schwinn tubular rims, 1 3/8" wide nylon tires ( 1 1/4" tires on R30), choice of 3 speed, 2 speed or coaster.
(No 3 speed on R20.)
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue or Black. No Black on 20 inch model.
R10 - 26" Schwinn Speedster ............. Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
R20 - 24"Schwinn Speedster .............. Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
R30 - 20" Schwinn Speedster ............. Coaster - $39.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Speedster.
Schwinn 5 Speed Collegiate
New budget priced derailleur model with 5 speeds, 45 to 85 gear, Schwinn tubular rims, 26" x 1 3/8" nylon tires, tourist style handlebars and saddle.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone or Black. Also available in a Ladies model, C61, with the same color options.
C11 - Schwinn Collegiate, 19" frame .............$56.95
C12 - Schwinn Collegiate, 21" frame ............. $56.95
C13 - Schwinn Collegiate, 23" frame ............. $56.95
5-speed lightweight model.
C61 - Schwinn Collegiate (ladies) ................. $56.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Collegiate.
Schwinn Ladies' Traveler
Ladies’ deluxe equipped lightweight tourist model.
Beautiful fully equipped bike with stainless steel fenders, generator set, light, saddlebag, cushioned saddle, and nylon whitewall tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone or Black.
W61 - 26" Schwinn Traveler, American made Coaster .... $58.95
W61 - 26"Schwinn Traveler, 2 or 3 speed ... $66.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Traveler.
Schwinn Men's Traveler
Lightweight styling with a galaxy of special features. Stainless steel fenders, generator, light and saddlebag. Choice of coaster, 2 or 3 speed with 26" wheels.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone or Black.
W11 - Schwinn Traveler, 19" frame .............Coaster - $58.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $66.95
W12 - Schwinn Traveler, 21" frame ............. Coaster - $58.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $66.95
W13 - Schwinn Traveler, 23" frame ............. Coaster - $58.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $66.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Traveler.
Schwinn Racer
The best known, best selling Schwinn lightweight.
26" wheel size in three frame sizes.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, or Black.
R11 - Schwinn Racer, 19" frame ........... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
R12 - Schwinn Racer, 21" frame ........... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
R13 - Schwinn Racer, 23" frame ........... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
R21 - Schwinn Racer, 24" wheels .......... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Racer.
Schwinn Co-Ed
Girl’s budget priced lightweight.
Economy priced Schwinn lightweight. Easy to balance, easy to ride. Schwinn quality too.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Black or White on 26". No White or Black on 24" model.
R61 - Schwinn 26" Co-Ed ........... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
Girl’s budget priced lightweight.
R71 - Schwinn 24" Co-Ed ........... Coaster - $46.95 / 2 or 3 speed - $54.95
Schwinn bicycles are guaranteed against all defects in material and workmanship --- no time limit. Schwinn will replace - without charge - any original part that is returned to the factory and found to be defective under the terms of this guarantee.
Failure due to accident, abuse, neglect, normal wear or use of other than Genuine Schwinn Repair Parts is not covered. Transportation costs and dealer's labor charges are not covered by this guarantee.
Tubular Rims
Double thickness rims produced on Schwinn's special rim mill -- stronger by far than ordinary rims.
Dur-A-Roll Bearings
Smoother, harder, easier rolling. Scientifically heat-treated to last longer.
Frame Construction
No other bicycle frame is made like a Schwinn, with special head, hanger and fork end design and special welding and aligning processes that make Schwinn bicycles the strongest, truest running and longest lasting ever built.
Built-In KickStands
Stronger, rattle-proof and trouble-free for lasting satisfaction.
Extra-Strength Fender Braces
Heavy duty construction for greater strength and better support.
4-Coat Finish
The finest, must lustrous and longest lasting baked-on colors that stay on.
No matter how much you pay or how little
you pay, no matter what model you choose, Schwinn gives you more for your money... because Schwinn bikes, the quality bikes, are best!
Sold and Serviced by factory trained Schwinn Dealers.
Famous doctors agree cycling for all ages is one of the best ways to achieve and maintain physical fitness.
Help Your Heart
"I'd like to put everyone on bicycles... not once in awhile, but regularly as a routine. That's a good way to prevent heart disease."
Stimulate Respiration
"On a bicycle, the weight of the upper portion of the body is supported by the arms, relieving the weight of the chest, and lung capacity develops."
Tone Up Your Muscles
"The bicycle loosens up the muscles of the legs, the thighs, the loins, and the abdomen."
Relax Your Nerves
"The physical well being which it affords you by relaxing your nerves restores your spirit by giving it back its calm and equilibrium."
Choose The Right Bike
Bikes have changed!
Schwinn's 1964 models, like the new cars, offer many improvements over earlier years - not in engineering and performance alone, but also in the wider variety of models and fine equipment to suit every need.
Much of the fun of cycling comes from selecting the rightbike - not just from riding any bike. If you are an adult or teenager, it's no fun to ride a bike that is too small, or a heavy-pedaling delivery type bike when you want recreation. You'll get better exercise and more real enjoyment from a 10 speed bike.
Your Schwinn dealer will be glad to help you select the model that's best suited to the kind of riding you want to do and best fitted to your stature and physical ability.
Lightweight bikes
In the preceding pages, have narrow tires and triangular "diamond" frames. Sometimes called "English" or "racer" bikes, they are better described as adult bicycles, a type which has been built by Schwinn since 1895.
Our 1964 lightweights are faster and lighter to pedal because of their high pressure tires, light wheels and gearing. These bikes are strong and dependable but require sensible use and reasonable care to avoid damage by abuse.
Middleweight bikes
In the following pages, have curved bar frames, heavier wheels, wider and softer tires which require a little more pedaling effort. They are not as comfortable for most adults because of the lower riding position. They are built for durability rather than maneuverability and are offered in a wide range of children's styles and utility models.
Many Schwinn models offer a choice of coaster brake, or 2 speed or 3 speed hub at extra cost. A brief description of this equipment is given below.
Coaster brake
Most bicycles are equipped with conventional coaster brakes which allow the bike to coast when the rider stops pedaling. The brake is inside the rear coaster hub and is applied by pushing back on the pedals.
Automatic 2 Speed Coaster Brake
Similiar to regular coaster brake but has a built in lower gear for quicker starts or for climbing hills. Shifts from one gear to the other by back pedaling slightly, but not enough to apply the coaster brake which is operated by pushing back all the way on the pedals.
3 Speed Hubs
A rear hub with built-in low gear, normal gear and high gear. Gears are shifted by a lever on the handlebar. Two types of 3 speed hubs are available. The regular 3 speed has no coaster brake, so front and rear brakes are used. The TCW 3 speed has a built-in coaster brake, but a front brake is also used with the TCW on Schwinn models. TCW hubs are optional at extra cost on 3 speed models.
Derailleur Gears
Schwinn derailleur bikes have five cogs, or sprockets, of different sizes on the rear hub and, one, two or three front sprockets (depending on the model).
The chain can be "derailed" from one sprocket to another by means of a shifting mechanism, thus changing gears. A 5 speed model has five rear cogs and one front sprocket, a 10 speed has five rear cogs and two front sprockets, and a 15 speed has five rear cogs and three front sprockets. Hand brakes are used on all derailleur models.
A wonderful experience
Awaits you if you haven't already tried a bike with derailleur gears. It's the most fun anyone can experience on a bike!
Fast, yes... But that's not all!
While it is true that bike racers may reach speeds over forty miles per hour on derailleur bikes, most people ride derailleurs for another reason - to save work and add more pep to their cycling. Why strain muscles when it is easy to let the gears do the work, especially on hills and against the wind? That's the real fun of riding gears that go!
Why so many speeds?
Not just to increase speed, but to allow "fine tuning" to fit the ability of the rider to demands of the road and riding conditions. With a full range of gear ratios at his command the rider can avoid unnecessary work, conserve his energy and cover more miles in less time and with less fatigue.
Schwinn Mark V Jaguar
Something special - from the front wheel to the rear.
Shock absorbing front fork, Schwinn headlight, tank, horn, two tone saddle, carrier, and stainless steel fenders.
Colors: Radiant Coppertone and Black.
F19 - 26" Jaguar, American made coaster ........ $76.95
F19 - 26" Jaguar, Automatic 2 speed coaster ... $86.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Jaguar.
Schwinn Corvette
The bike design that sets the pace.
Clean, crisp and loaded with extras. Double hinged carrier, stainless steel fenders, whitewall tires and Schwinn light.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone and Black.
F17 - 26" Corvette, American made coaster ........ $66.95
F17 - 26" Corvette, 2 or 3 speed ........... $76.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Corvette.
Schwinn Tiger
An outstanding value in cantilever design.
Whitewall tires, chrome plated fenders, front carrier, Schwinn headlight, two tone saddle and forged steel fork.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone and Black.
F14 - 26" Tiger, American made coaster ........... $56.95
F14 - 26" Tiger, 2 or 3 speed ............................. $66.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Tiger.
Schwinn Fleet
Fully equipped, economy priced, and availble in all sizes.
Apopular bike for those who appreciate extra value.
Colors: Flamboyant Red or Black. No carrier on 20" size.
L10 - 26" Fleet ................ Coaster - $49.95 / 2-speed - $59.95
L20 -24" Fleet ................ Coaster - $47.95 / 2-speed - $57.95
L30 -20" Fleet ................ Coaster - $39.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Fleet.
Schwinn Deluxe American
100% American made and fully equipped. Lavish chrome trim.
Light, tank, horn, chrome fenders, whitewall tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue or Coppertone.
A17 - Deluxe American, Coaster brake ........... $59.95
A17 - Deluxe American, Automatic 2 speed ... $69.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn American.
Schwinn American
The all- American fully equipped middleweight.
100% American made. Offered in regular or King size with extra large cantilever frame... heavy duty model too.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue, Coppertone or Black. No Coppertone on 24" model. Kingsize model in Flamboyant Red or Black only.
A10 - American, coaster ................ $49.95 / 2-speed ... $59.95
King size American A13
Largest middleweight frame size for tall teen - agers and adults.
A13 - Kingsize American, coaster ... $49.95 / 2-speed ... $59.95
A13 - 24" American, ....................... $46.95 / 2-speed ... $56.95
Heavy-duty American A14
American - made delivery bicycle
A14 - American, Heavy Duty .......... $59.95 / 2-speed ... $69.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn American.
Schwinn Typhoon
Semi-equipped middleweight.
Genuine Schwinn craftsmanship at a popular low price. Schwinn tubular rims and 4-coat baked finish.
Colors: Flamboyant Red or Black.
L12 - 26" Typhoon, ...... coaster - $39.95 / 2 speed - $49.95
L22 - 24" Typhoon, ...... coaster - $38.95 / 2 speed - $48.95
L32 - 20" Typhoon, ...... coaster - $36.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Typhoon.
Schwinn Hornet
Low priced standard middleweight model.
Cantilever frame, built in kickstand, front carrier, light, two tone saddle, nylon tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Red or Black.
L13 - Hornet ................ Coaster - $46.95 / 2-speed - $56.95
L23 - Hornet ................ Coaster - $44.95 / 2-speed - $54.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Hornet.
Schwinn Hollywood
Low priced standard middleweight model.
For the girl who wants Schwinn quality at a budget price.
A sturdy, beautifully styled bike for day in, day out riding ... designed for compliments too.
Colors: Radiant Blue or White with Rose.
L62 - 26" Hollywood, ...... coaster - $39.95 / 2 speed - $49.95
L72 - 24" Hollywood, ...... coaster - $38.95 / 2 speed - $48.95
L82 - 20" Hollywood, ...... coaster - $36.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Hollywood.
Schwinn Fiesta
Fully equipped and economy priced.
Smooth riding, smooth looking, and fully equipped at an economy price. Just look at these features! Chrome trimmed headlight, two tone enamel finish, two tone cushioned saddle, long wearing nylon cord tires, and chrome carrier on 26" and 24" models.
Colors: Radiant Blue or White with Rose.
L60 - 26" Fiesta ................ Coaster - $49.95 / 2-speed - $59.95
L70 - 24" Fiesta ................ Coaster - $47.95 / 2-speed - $57.95
L80 - 24" Fiesta ................ Coaster - $39.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Fiesta.
Schwinn American
100% American made.
A practical and perfect bike for day to day riding to school, to visit friends, or just for pleasure.
Genuine Schwinn quality. Chrome fenders, two tone saddle, built in kick stand, nylon cord tires.
Colors: Flamboyant Red, Radiant Blue or White with Rose.
A60 - 26" American, ...... coaster - $49.95 / 2 speed - $59.95
A70 - 24" American, ...... coaster - $46.95 / 2 speed - $56.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn American.
Schwinn Deluxe American
Beutiful fully equipped American made model.
American made for American girls. The Schwinn deluxe American is styled for feminine tastes and riding ease. Quality equipped with chrome fenders, chrome rims, chrome headlight, chrome trimmed tank with a built in horn, two-tone saddle, chrome carrier, and chrome trimmed chainguard.
Colors: Radiant Blue or White with Rose. Rear carrier optional at extra cost.
A67 - 26" Deluxe American, ...... coaster - $59.95
A67 - 26" Deluxe American, ...... 2 speed - $69.95
Schwinn Starlet
Semi - equipped girl’s model.
Gracefully designed, with front carrier, headlight, built in kickstand, two tone saddle, sleek chainguard.
A sturdy bike that rides and balances with ease.
Colors: Radiant Blue or White with Rose.
L63 - 26" Starlet, ...... coaster - $46.95 / 2 speed - $56.95
L73 - 24" Starlet, ...... coaster - $44.95 / 2 speed - $54.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Starlet.
Schwinn Bantam
Perfect for boys or girls 5 to 7.
Convertible 20 inch model for boys and girls 5 to 7.
Complete with training wheels. Fully pnumatic tires, coaster brake.
Colors: Flamboyant Red only
J35 - 20" Bantam, with training wheels ... $39.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Bantam.
Schwinn Pixie
Convertible 16” bike ideal for beginning riders.
Built to last. The ideal "first" bike for tots 3 to 5. Complete with training wheels. Coaster brake. Chrome fenders.
Colors: Flamboyant Red or White with Rose.
J42 - 16" Pixie, coaster brake ...... $29.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Pixie.
Schwinn Barbie
Girl’s 20 inch economy priced coaster brake mode.
The perfect 20" coaster brake model for beginning riders 5 to 7.
Equipped with Schwinn designed wheels and tires ... quality features found on top models.
Colors: Radiant Blue only.
J84 - 20" Barbie, for girls ... $32.95
Schwinn Buddy
20 inch economy priced coaster brake model.
The ideal 20 inch economy priced coaster brake model for boys 5 to 7. Electro Forged cantilever frame. Forged steel fork, one piece crank.
Colors: Flamboyant Red only.
J34 - 20" Buddy, for boys ...... $32.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Buddy.
Schwinn Wasp
The newboy’s special.
The "newsboy special". Extra sturdy balloon tired bike for messenger work, or delivery service. Also available in a heavy duty model with a heavy duty front hub, 120 gauge spokes.
Colors: Flamboyant Red or Black.
B12 - 26" Wasp, ...... coaster - $56.95 / 2 Speed - $66.95
Extra sturdy newboy’s special.
Schwinn heavy-duty wasp
B14 - 26" Heavy Duty Wasp, ...... coaster - $66.95 / 2 Speed - $76.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Wasp.
Schwinn Cycle Truck
Heavy duty frame, special heavy duty wheels, balloon tires, 20" front and 26" rear.
Heavy 120 gauge spokes. Metal sign for identification. Large basket, 28" x 22" x 11". Small basket, 24" x 16" x 11".
Colors: Flamboyant Red only.
CT1 - Cycle Truck, small basket ...... $90.00
CT2 - Cycle Truck, large basket ...... $95.00
See the complete history of the Schwinn Cycle-Truck.
Schwinn Deluxe Sting-Ray
Schwinn’s new fully equipped fun bike for 1964.
The all new Sting_ray that's so much fun to ride you have to ride it to believe it. Fully equipped with chrome fenders, deluxe Solo-Polo saddle, nylon whitewall tires - studded rear, middleweight front. Butterfly handlebars, extra large rear reflector.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Red, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Violet.
J39 - Deluxe Sting-Ray ... $56.95
Schwinn Sting-Ray
The fun bike with the sports car look.
The bicycle with the sports car look.
Highly manuverable ... short turning radius .. quick response on starts. Equipped with 20" frame, high traction studded balloon rear tire, standard middleweight front tire, butterfly handlebars, Solo-Polo saddle.
Colors: Flamboyant Lime, Red, Radiant Coppertone, Sky Blue or Violet.
J38 - Sting-Ray ... $49.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Sting-Ray.
Schwinn Fair Lady
Ladies' deluxe equipped Sting-Ray model.
A beautiful new Sting-Ray style bike for mother, daughter or even grandmother. This sparkling model is designed with a 20" frame, standard middleweight tires, Solo_polo saddle, butterfly handlebars, rear reflector and attractive white, flower trimmed basket for purse or packages. Radiant Blue, Violet or White with Rose.
J88 - Fair Lady ... $49.95
See the complete history of the Schwinn Fair Lady.
Home / Schwinn Catalogs / 1964
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The battle for the living room (i.e, controlling the television experience) is heating up with forays from multiple vendors. As the cord-cutting trend gains momentum, the time seems to be right for disruption. Roku has been around for a long time and they continue to taste success with inexpensive and small over-the-top set-top boxes (OTT STBs). At the other end of the spectrum is the Apple TV, which, despite just being a 'hobby', has managed to move millions of units. Google had tried to make inroads into this market a few years back with the Google TV / Logitech Revue, but, it unfortunately didn't pan out as expected. Chromecast turned out to be more popular in their second attempt, but it was a limited play. In late 2014, Google launched Android TV along with the Nexus Player.
Coinciding with Google I/O, NVIDIA is releasing their previously announced SHIELD Android TV. First announed back in March at the 2015 Game Developers Conference, SHIELD Android TV is a premium 4K-capable over-the-top set-top box (OTT STB) with a powerful graphics engine. The differentiating aspects compared to the Intel Bay Trail-based Nexus Player and the Qualcomm Snapdragon-based Razer Forge TV lie in 4K support (HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2 / Netflix 4K-certification) and excellent gaming credentials.
NVIDIA SHIELD Family NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV SoC Tegra K1 (2.2 GHz 4x Cortex A15r3, Kepler 1 SMX GPU) Tegra X1 (4x Cortex A57 + 4x Cortex A53, Maxwell 2 SMM GPU) RAM 2 GB LPDDR3-1866 3 GB LPDDR4-3200 NAND 16/32GB NAND + microSD 16GB NAND + microSD + USB Display 8” 1920x1200 IPS LCD N/A, HDMI 2.0 4Kp60 Output Dimensions 221 x 126 x 9.2mm, 390 grams 210 x 130 x 25mm, 654 grams Camera 5MP rear camera, 1.4 µm pixels, 1/4" CMOS size. 5MP FFC N/A Battery 5197 mAh, 3.8V chemistry (19.75 Whr) N/A, 40W Power Adapter OS Android 5.0.1 Android TV Connectivity 2x2 802.11a/b/g/n + BT 4.0, USB2.0, GPS/GLONASS, mini HDMI 1.4a 2x2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.1/BLE, USB 3.0 + 2.0, HDMI 2.0 + HDCP 2.2, IR Receiver, Gigabit Ethernet Launch Price $299 (16GB/WiFi) + $59 (optional controller) Basic: $199, Includes 1 SHIELD Controller
Pro: $299, Adds 500GB Hard Drive
The NVIDIA SHIELD smart TV platform comprises of three distinct products, the SHIELD console, the SHIELD wireless controller and the SHIELD remote.
The SHIELD is the main console, integrating a Tegra X1 SoC along with 3 GB of LPDDR4 DRAM and 16 GB of storage. I/O ports include two full-sized USB 3.0 host ports, a USB 2.0 micro-USB device port, GbE RJ-45 port, IR for universal remotes and 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 2.1. It also includes a microSDXC slot. Video output is handled by a HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP 2.2 support.
The SHIELD Wireless Controller is the game controller bundled with the SHIELD console, and was first launched last year with the SHIELD Tablet. It uses Wi-Fi Direct for communication. A stereo headset jack and microphone are integrated. It also includes a rechargeable battery that can provide up to 40 hours of battery life.
Finally, the SHIELD Remote It is meant to be a replacement for the game controller in situations where single-handed operation is preferable. It uses Bluetooth for communication with the console. Like the game controller, a microphone and headset jack are included. The rechargeable battery is good for up to 4 weeks.
While the game controller and the console together retail in the basic package for $199, the SHIELD Remote is available separately for $50. Meanwhile after a slight snafu where it was announced back in April and then immediately pulled, NVIDIA is indeed offering a higher-end Pro SKU. SHIELD Pro model is similar to the SHIELD described above, except it adds an internal 500 GB hard drive into the mix and bundles a game - Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! The Pro model is priced at $299.
Prior to diving into the details, let us take a look at the devices that NVIDIA is positioning the SHIELD Android TV against. Note that the two tables below are direct from NVIDIA's marketing material.
As we will see further down in the review, the above table is not far from the truth. In fact, except for NVIDIA claiming that their pulldown algorithm is enhanced compared to the competition, we tend to agree with everything. For the moment at least, NVIDIA pretty much has the 4K set top box to themselves.
NVIDIA claims a 34x raw performance increase compared to other OTT STB platforms. We won't endorse that particular number, but, in general, the performance of the SHIELD is miles ahead of the competition. The only other entry we find contentious is the availability of 24-bit / 192 KHz audio output. As we will see in the local media playback evaluation section, this is something of a moot point in most scenarios since the unit doesn't have licenses for decoding lossless HD audio. In any case, the above tables give an idea of where NVIDIA is positioning the SHIELD Android TV in the market.
The NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV also happens to be the first shipping product with the Tegra X1 SoC. We will first analyze the SoC and its performance in detail before moving on to Android TV in general and the SHIELD in particular.
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HGTV’s Flip or Flop has loads of fans, but one in particular changed host Tarek El Moussa’s life entirely.
Ryan Read, 31, a registered nurse, was watching a marathon day of season one earlier this year when she noticed a lump on El Moussa’s neck.
“She didn’t want to seem like a crazy fan,” says El Moussa’s wife and co-host, Christina. “Instead of writing to us, she Googled and found the production company and sent an email saying, ‘This is not a joke. I’m a registered nurse. I’ve been watching Flip or Flop. I noticed that the host Tarek has a large nodule on his thyroid, and he needs to have it checked out.’ ”
Tarek, 32, knew something was amiss. “I was having a harder time swallowing, and this lump was getting bigger,” he tells PEOPLE. “I actually went to the doctor twice for it, and they said it’s nothing. So, once I saw [the note from Read], I was like, ‘You know what? I need to get a second opinion.’ ”
An ultrasound initially showed a 5 percent chance of the lump being cancerous. But when the doctors conducted a biopsy on June 12, they realized it was cancer, and the lump had to be removed entirely.
“They said they would remove half of it and be done in an hour,” says Tarek. “But it ended up being four hours, it was cancer, and they ended up removing my entire thyroid. When I woke up, my wife was crying and the first thing I asked was, ‘It’s cancer, isn’t it?’ And she said, ‘Yeah.’ ”
Christina El Moussa and Tarek El Moussa and their daughter Taylor Courtesy Christina El Moussa
The bad news didn’t end there. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, and he had to undergo radioactive iodine therapy, which meant he had to be isolated from his family for their protection.
“It was a nightmare,” he says. “They stay in a different bedroom, and I can’t stay with my daughter for more than a few minutes at a time. She wanted to hug me and watch TV every night and give kisses, and we couldn’t do that.”
Last Friday, Tarek did get some good news. “I was told that the cancer didn’t spread beyond my neck,” he says. “I’m hopeful now. We’re filming a bunch of episodes and going on with life as best we can.”
Tarek and Christina will discuss their battle with cancer Thursday on an episode of the syndicated talk show The Doctors.
Tarek will find out in the next week if he is cancer free, but he has already learned plenty from the experience. “I’ve always been very work, work, work,” he says. “So, I stepped back and re-evaluated what I wanted, like spending time with my family and all that good stuff.”
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Qantas to slash 5,000 jobs, posts $235m half-year loss
Updated
Qantas has posted a $235 million half-year loss and announced that 5,000 jobs will go.
The airline posted an underlying before tax loss of $252 million for the six months to the end of December, which was at the lower end of a $250-300 million loss forecast by Qantas late last year.
However, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says the result is unacceptable, and the airline will slash 5,000 full-time equivalent positions in an attempt to return to profitability.
Qantas domestic reported a profit of $57 million, slumping from $218 million in the same period a year earlier, while the international division's loss increased to $262 million from $91 million a year ago.
Jetstar also suffered, swinging to a loss of $16 million from a profit of $128 million a year ago, although Mr Joyce says the domestic component continued to be profitable.
"We have the only profitable carriers operating in the domestic operation today," the Qantas CEO said.
"We haven't added as much capacity as our competitors have over the last few years, they're absolutely employing the position of adding capacity even though they are losing a significant amount of money and their strategy is loss-making."
In another plea for Federal Government intervention, Mr Joyce attributed much of the airline's problems to "a giant wave" of extra airline seats added mainly by what he says are government-owned foreign carriers.
"Many have far lower labour and other costs, they're often spurred by national economic development goals rather than profit targets, and they have the backing of their governments to raise capital," he argued.
Qantas's frequent flyer program was by far the most profitable part of the business, reporting a record profit of $146 million.
Staff and spending cuts
The airline will accelerate its previously announced 'transformation program', targeting $2 billion in cost savings by financial year 2016/17.
This program will involve a reduction of 5,000 full-time equivalent positions out of more than 30,000 staff currently employed by Qantas.
The staff cuts come despite an acknowledgement by the airline that its labour efficiency has improved by 22 per cent since 2008.
Qantas says many of the cuts will come from management, with the airline shedding 1,500 jobs, or 30 per cent, of its office staff - the majority from its Mascot headquarters in Sydney.
The airline is cutting back on check-in staff at its airports, enabled by the rise of self-service.
It is also planning to reduce cabin crew as it shrinks its fleet size, along with a further 300 redundancies for engineering staff, 80 job losses in catering and 36 employees who will lose jobs with the closure of Qantas Courier's Australian operations.
Qantas is putting a wage freeze in place, and continuing an executive wage and bonus freeze, saying pay increases and bonuses will not be considered until the group is profitable again.
The company says it has reduced director fees and has cut Mr Joyce's take home pay by 36 per cent this financial year.
Qantas says it will also cut capital expenditure, such as on purchasing new aircraft, by $1 billion over the next two financial years.
It says there will be significant changes to fleet and network plans.
Strategically, Qantas says it will suspend new growth for Jetstar in Asia and instead support existing businesses.
Key network changes include scrapping the Perth-Singapore route early next financial year, reducing the use of wide-body aircraft for domestic flights and using them mainly for east-west coast and peak Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane routes and re-timing the services between Melbourne and Heathrow to minimise ground time in London.
Key fleet changes include retiring all Boeing 767-300 aircraft by early 2015 because of their fuel inefficiency, retiring the six oldest 747-400s by early 2016, deferring the delivery of the eight remaining Airbus A380-800 aircraft, deferring the last three of 14 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner orders and restructuring its A320-200 orders.
Qantas also announced this morning an agreement with Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) to dispose of its terminal lease.
The airline says it will receive $112 million as part of the deal, and still retain exclusive use and operational control over much of the northern end of the terminal until 2018.
BAC will assume control of the retail space, and has committed to upgrading the facilities in the terminal.
Qantas says it is in continuing discussions with Sydney and Melbourne airports over its terminals there.
Investors sell down Qantas
Invast's chief market analyst Peter Esho says, while the loss came in a little smaller than expected, losses from the international division were surprisingly high given all the restructuring that has already taken place.
"Qantas is shrinking as a business and its international success into Asia is still many years away, if ever," he wrote in a note on the result.
"We think there will be huge pressure now on Joyce and the board to respond to the massive job cuts."
Qantas has not paid a dividend to shareholders since the first-half result in 2009, in contrast to trans-Tasman rival Air New Zealand which today upped its interim dividend by 50 per cent to 4.5 New Zealand cents.
Mr Esho says, right now, most investors are waiting to see what the Federal Government does regarding a potential debt guarantee for the airline.
"The Government guaranteeing Qantas financially is the most sensitive question now in terms of market valuation," he explained.
"The share price is unlikely to rise significantly until this is announced and any rally might see sellers until this is quantified."
Shareholders seem to echo Mr Esho's sentiments, with Qantas shares falling 7.1 per cent to $1.18 by 11:22am (AEDT).
At least half the share price falls came after the start of a press conference by Alan Joyce at 10:30am.
In particular, there was a noticeable steep dip in the company's share price from $1.19 to $1.15 between 10:47am and 10:53am, when Mr Joyce replied to a question about whether there had been any internal discussions of him leaving the airline by saying that he was staying on as CEO.
Rival Virgin is not benefitting from its competitor's woes, however, with its shares easing by 0.9 per cent to 34.7 cents.
Topics: air-transport, company-news, business-economics-and-finance, australia
First posted
|
ANDY BAGGOT
Insider Related Content
Varsity Magazine
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Mike Eaves is one of the most distinguished figures in Wisconsin athletic history, which is why this moment is particularly difficult.
Eaves has been relieved of his duties as UW men's hockey coach after 14 seasons, which included an NCAA championship in 2006, a national runner-up finish in 2010 and, at last count, 26 players who've reached the NHL.
Eaves is also the all-time leading scorer in program history, a three-time captain, a two-time Most Valuable Player, an honor student and member of the UW Athletic Hall of Fame.
Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez made the decision after the six-time national champion Badgers labored through consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1995-97 and saw fan support at the Kohl Center dwindle.
"I told Mike I appreciated the work he's done here," Alvarez said. "I also told him that we have great tradition and standards here in hockey. He's the gate-keeper of hockey. I'm the gate-keeper of the department. We both have a responsibility.
"After last season, because of the success we've had in the past, we felt that Mike had earned a chance to get the ship righted. But now, after back-to-back seasons like the last two we've had, I feel we need a change."
UW won consecutive league playoff titles — one in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and one in the Big Ten Conference — and subsequently qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2013 and '14 before the operation rapidly bottomed out.
The Badgers were 4-26-5 last season — the fewest wins and the most losses in a single season in the modern era of the program — and finished 8-19-8 with a loss to Penn State in the opening-round of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"Our fans and everyone expect more," Alvarez said. "With our facilities and what we have to sell, we feel we should be at a championship level."
The fact that Eaves has such a distinctive profile — he was a two-time first-team All-America center, starred on an NCAA championship team in 1977 and received the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1978 — made the decision to terminate his contract extremely difficult.
"I like Mike and I respect Mike," Alvarez said. "All those things play into it. That's what makes it very hard.
"These are never easy decisions, but I've got a responsibility to the university, to our fans and to everyone else. It's just not acceptable at Wisconsin to have a hockey program in this state where we are right now."
Three of the last five seasons have ended with UW owning a losing record, including 17-18-2 in 2011-12.
Eaves was hired in 2002-03 and quickly rebuilt a floundering program into a force. The Badgers, 13-23-4 in his first season, reached the NCAA tournament in 2004 and '05 before winning it all with a 2-1 decision over Boston College. The stars of that decade-old club, goaltender Brian Elliott and center Joe Pavelski, remain NHL fixtures.
Four years later, UW, led by Hobey Baker Award-winning center Blake Geoffrion, reached the national championship game, where it dropped a 5-0 decision in a rematch with BC. All six defensemen from that squad have reached the NHL.
Alvarez's approach to hockey has been interpreted by some as indifference, but he made building LaBahn Arena a priority and now the $27.9 million facility, completed in 2012, gives the men's and women's programs unsurpassed accommodations.
"We felt that put us in as good a shape as anybody in the country," Alvarez said.
Prior to becoming full-time AD, Alvarez was the Hall of Fame football coach of the Badgers.
"People interpret that I give all my attention to football and that is simply not true. However, football does demand a lot of attention. It's the (financial) engine that drives the entire (athletic) program.
"But I care about hockey. I very much believe that we are a better athletic department when our men's hockey program is thriving."
Alvarez and his staff will begin to take steps to get the program back to that position with a national search for a new head coach that will begin immediately.
|
- December 23 ,2018 -
Merry Christmas with a new Daikatana 1.3 Release! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows and Linux. You can grab the latest December 2018 build from the project page.
This release brings you for the first time 64bit versions for Windows & Linux and a massive amount of updates, bugfixes and new features, like:
130+ bug fixes.
2000+ sanity checks avoiding many potential crashes.
A new "Gun FOV" CVAR to allow controlling the Gun FOV independently from your view FOV (can be controlled via the in-game menu or r_gunfov CVAR).
Map updates to e1m5b for misaligned textures on monitors, e2m5e to fix the disappearing particles and node path fixes for e2m4d.
Windows only: Ref_gl and game DLLs are merged into the binary. Making debugging a little easier and may give a small performance boost on old machines.
You can keep it up-to-date with the Windows Auto-Updater! I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build. Merry Christmas & Happy Fraggin!
- March 21 ,2018 -
Daikatana 1.3 March 2018 Release available! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows and Linux. You can grab the latest March 2018 build from the project page.
This release has over 60+ bug fixes, a new video options menu, “borderless windows” support, multisample AA controls, and some enhanced AI with the Cambots, Worker NPCs, and Harpies.
You can keep it up-to-date with the Windows Auto-Updater! I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build. Happy fraggin!
- September 11 ,2017 -
Daikatana 1.3 Language Packs and SDK available! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released Language Packs French, German, Italian and Spanish. You can download them HERE.
Also the SDK for the the Language Pack is available HERE.
- May 22 ,2017 -
Daikatana Speedrun during AGDQ 2017 ! - update by DI-MeisterM
I know this isn't exactly a news because I'm posting it that late. Never the less I think it's pretty cool that the speedrunner cubeface played Daikatana during the AGDQ 2017 event beginning of the year.
You can check out the speedrun with the category "Any % - No Sidekicks" on Youtube right HERE (the run starts at 13:40). cubeface finished the game in 51:36!
- May 5 ,2017 -
New dktools package for Win32 available! - update by DI-MeisterM
[HCI]Mara'akate send me news about a new dktools package for Win32, which is now available:
"Knightmare has been working on a new toolset for Win32 that makes it easier to compile maps (you no longer have to rely on batch files!) and helps with texture set generation.
The new dktools package includes:
* e3m1a, e1m3b, and e3m1c as example maps.
* A new version of ION Radiant which has various bug fixes, larger grid modes and support for maps with much larger coordinates (+/-16384).
* Updated BSP, VIS, RAD compilers. Including support for up to 4096 entities.
* DK Otter front end.
Click To Resize!
You can download the dktools package HERE.
- April 3 ,2017 -
What's new for Daikatana 1.3 in 2017? - update by DI-MeisterM
[HCI]Mara'akate send me news about the plans for 2017 for DK 1.3 of the dev team:
"The past few weeks I ([HCI]Mara'akate) have been working on a new build of DK that fixes some long standing bugs, closing up some memory leaks, and a more enhanced coop experience. There is an experimental server running on my local machine at marabbs.no-ip.org, but the Mara'akate servers are also running this experimental code. There needs to be a weekend where we play some DM on my servers and make sure everything is OK. It seems to be the last time we played on it. Once that's been tested and SP has gone through again there should be a new build.
Knightmare has been hard at work on a utility named DK_Otter which is a GUI utility to easily compile maps. You will no longer have to rely on fooling around with batch files in Windows to compile a map. The utility allows all sorts of customization for fine tuning bsp/vis/rad options. He is also working on fixing up the arghrad code to work on modern compilers. When this is complete a new dk_tools set will be released, including a new ION Radiant that has a few updates and bug fixes. He is also planning on merging e2m5a/e2m5b and e2m5c/e2m5d into two separate maps.
Dekonega has been working on a linux auto-update utility, ported from the dk_upd.exe code, as well as eventual GUI version of the tool that will look similar to the DK v1.2 patch GUI. He is also working on a port of the q3 version of aerowalk and a new, unique map for DKDM. He gets sidetracked on map development, so be sure to message him and encourage him to finish it!
When this stuff is complete and ready for release my next goal is to start learning what is up with the AI issues. The biggest problem right now is that the sight line/path code has problems with enemies being able to climb on top of each other, AI having problems going around 90 degree corners to get to you. They tend to want to try a 45 degree angle and slam into walls. These problems affect monsters and sidekicks. When these issues are resolved I believe some of the sillier aspects to sidekicks should be gone.
Hope to see everyone on the servers and thanks for playing DK v1.3!
[HCI]Mara'akate"
You can check out a more detailed description of the changes HERE.
- March 17 ,2017 -
Daikatana 1.3 March 2017 Release available! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows and Linux. You can grab the latest March 2017 build from the project page. You can keep it up-to-date with the Windows Auto-Updater! I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build. Happy fraggin!
- February 2 ,2017 -
PC Gamer Daikatana Story+Interview! - update by DI-MeisterM
A couple of days ago Luke Winkie a freelancer journalist, who also writes for PC Gamer, contacted Frank ' [HCI]Mara'akate ' Sapone and myself to do an interview with him. He wrote a story about us - the Daikatana community - and Daikatana 1.3. You can read the story and the interview on PC Gamer's webpage right HERE.
Special thanks from myself to Luke for telling our stories!
btw. I'm really curious about the feedback and comments!
- October 31 ,2016 -
Happy Halloween with a new DK 1.3 Linux Build! - update by DI-MeisterM
[HCI]Mara'akate from the DK 1.3 devteam sent me a message about the new DK 1.3 Linux build. It comes with all fixes the Windows Build already got and a new auto-update tool for Linux. You can download it here:
Happy Halloween and happy fraggin!
- September 19 ,2016 -
A new pak6.pak file for Daikatana 1.3 available! - update by DI-MeisterM
[HCI]Mara'akate from the DK 1.3 devteam sent me an email:
"An update is available for the Daikatana v1.3 Map Update pack (pak6.pak).
This addresses a few single player issues. Mainly the Deathspheres sometimes getting in the nitrogel pool that lowers by a valve in e1m6a and the misaligned texture on the exit gate in e3m5a. It is highly recommend to upgrade to this pak or it could affect your connectivity to coop servers."
The file is available at the official Daikatana 1.3 project page or here:
pak6.pak (containing fixed/updated Levels from 2016-09-19 )
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated.
Happy fraggin!
- July 23 ,2016 -
Daikatana 1.3 July 2016 Release available! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows, Linux, Mac and FreeBSD. You can grab the latest July 2016 build from the project page. You can keep it up-to-date with the new Windows Auto-Updater! I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
Additional stuff:
pak6.pak (containing fixed/updated Levels from 2016-09-19 )
) pak5.pa k (32-bit textures )
k ) pak9.pak (containing most user community maps (excluding some unfinished/unpolished ones)
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build. Happy fraggin!
- April 29 ,2016 -
BLACKROOM Kickstarter on hold! - update by DI-MeisterM
John Romero and Adrian Carmack decided to put the BLACKROOM Kickstarter campaign on hold:
"After listening to the gaming community since we've launched the campaign, we've decided to give you what you've asked for: a gameplay demo of BLACKROOM. The team is at work on a demo which demonstrates the kind of gameplay, look and innovative, cool features that make BLACKROOM truly unique — the things we’ve waited years to put into an FPS and which make us incredibly excited about this game.
There’s a hitch here, a hitch that’s making us do something that’s right for the game, the team, and the community: we’re pressing “PAUSE” on the fundraising campaign for BLACKROOM to complete this gameplay demo. Simply put, this will take more time than the Kickstarter has left, so we’ve decided to suspend the campaign and launch a new one when the gameplay demo is ready. We believe, however, it is the right choice. Thanks to the community feedback, we know we should have included it at launch.
Your support for our game and our vision has been incredible and valuable. You've already proved you want this campaign to succeed, and we believe a gameplay demo will get the rest of the gaming community just as excited for this game as you already are. We will, of course, honor backer achievements in the next campaign. We’ll add an extra something for those of you who continue to support us and we will be in touch to collect your information to reward your support in the next campaign.
While we're working on the first gameplay demo, we welcome you to stay in touch with us at nightworkgames.com and @nightworkgames. Sign up for our newsletter for regular updates. You’re also welcome to email us at [email protected].
Fondly,
John, Adrian, & The Night Work Games Team"
I still belive in John skills and hope he'll come back with a kick-ass new pitch on Kickstarter and awesome gameplay footage!
- April 25 ,2016 -
BLACKROOM - A FPS by John & Adrian on Kickstarter! - update by DI-MeisterM
John Romero and fellow id Software co-founder Adrian Carmack proudly announce BLACKROOM™, a visceral, varied and violent shooter that harkens back to classic FPS play with a mixture of exploration, speed, and intense, weaponized combat. Use fast, skillful movement to dodge enemy attacks, circle-strafe your foes, and rule the air as you rocket jump in the single- and multiplayer modes. BLACKROOM launches with unique multiplayer maps and robust modding support for the community to make diabolical creations of their own design - Coming Winter 2018 to PC!
Do you like this as much as I do? Pledge on the Kickstarter page of BLACKROOM!
- April 21 ,2016 -
The Return ! - update by DI-MeisterM
John Romero returns with a new First Person Shooter announcement on April 25th. You can check out the teaser video here:
More news will be available on April 25th on NightWorkGames.com!
- March 26 ,2016 -
Happy Easter with a new DK 1.3 Release ! - update by DI-MeisterM
I wish you all Happy Easter 2016! The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows, Linux and Mac. You can grab the 2016-03-26 build from the project page. I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
Windows: DK_EXE_032616_FULL.7Z
Linux: Daikatana-Linux-2016-03-26.tar.bz2
Mac: Daikatana-OSX-2016-03-26.zip
It's important to use the updated pak6.pak file which is included in the Windows build!
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build. Happy fraggin!
- March 15 ,2016 -
Another new DK 1.3 Build for Win, Linux and Mac available ! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released another new build for Windows, Linux and Mac. You can grab the 2016-03-08 build from the project page. I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
Linux -> Daikatana-Linux-2016-03-06.tar.bz2 [8,06 MB]
*new* Windows -> DK_EXE_030816_FULL.7Z [81,4 MB]
[81,4 MB] Mac -> Daikatana-OSX-2016-03-07.zip [8,58 MB]
[8,58 MB] *new* latest pak6.pak [33,22 MB]
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build, including the new pak6.pak!
Happy fraggin!
- March 7 ,2016 -
New DK 1.3 Build for Win, Linux and Mac available ! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project has released a new build for Windows, Linux and Mac. You can grab the 2016-03-06 build from the project page. I also mirrored all platform builds on my server aswell:
Linux -> Daikatana-Linux-2016-03-06.tar.bz2 [8,06 MB]
[8,06 MB] Windows -> DK_EXE_030616_FULL.7Z [81,43 MB]
[81,43 MB] Mac -> Daikatana-OSX-2016-03-07.zip [8,58 MB]
[8,58 MB] Latest pak6.pak [33,22 MB]
The DaikatanaNews Gameserver has been also successfully updated to this build.
Happy fraggin!
- January 24 ,2016 -
Classic Doom Linux Game Server available with E1M8B ! - update by DI-MeisterM
DaikatanaNews.net is now hosting a Zandronum Classic Doom Linux Server with John Romero's first created Doom map in 21 years called "Tech Gone Bad" (e1m8b):
DaikatanaNews.net :: Linux x64 :: Romero's Tech Gone Bad (e1m8b)
You can read more about John Romero's map in this article and download it HERE.
To play on my server you need the Zandronum Client and to join you can use the Doomseeker server browser. Both are available for various of platforms!
Furthermore to restart the map you can " callvote map e1m8 " in Doom's ingame console!
Happy Coop-ing! :)
- January 7 ,2016 -
Happy New Year & Daikatana 1.3 for Mac ! - update by DI-MeisterM
First off: I wish you all a happy new year and that most of your goals will be accomplished!
The developer of Daikatana 1.3 have released a first Mac build. You can download it HERE.
I tested it with a fully clean version of Daikatana 1.2. You need to extract the contents of the zip and start the Daikatana app. Then you have to point it to the DATA directory of the Daikatana 1.2 installation.
- December 26 ,2015 -
A new release of Daikatana 1.3 is available! - update by DI-MeisterM
I received this awesome news by [HCI]Mara'akate :
" There is a new version of Daikatana 1.3 for Windows Clients. This is a preliminary version of the new protocol which includes HTTP Downloading, Compressed Packets, Fixes the packet overflowing issues on connect, Map and gamemode voting, Spectator Mode and a wide range of bug fixes and features.
Currently the [HCI]Mara'akate servers are exclusively using this protocol. A Linux version is planned to follow in a few weeks. Knightmare has been busy the past year but has returned and has pushed some new udpates to further reduce packet sizes across the network so we don't want to force the upgrade over DaikatanaNews (server) until this is finalized... but rest assured the work is progressing.
We also have a little Christmas easter egg in this version. All weather effects have been replaced with snow and the Christmas song "Deadly Gentleman" from Rise of The Triad will play.
Have a great Holiday and Merry Christmas from everyone the Daikatana 1.3 team!"
As always you can grab the latest release of Daikatana 1.3 on the official project page, right HERE. Enjoy!
As described, the DaikatanaNews Gameserver can't yet been updated to the latest version. I'll have to wait for the compatible Linux server release.
- December 24 ,2015 -
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2016! - update by DI-MeisterM
I wish you all merry christmas and a good start into 2016! As promised, the first Map Rotation vote interim results are available:
Click on the image for the full results!
Thats means I activated the following map rotation on the DaikatanaNews Gameserver:
maps_dm "e1dm2a, e4dm1, e3dm2, e3dm1, e1dm1a, e3dm4, e2dm1, e1dm3"
Have great holidays, until next year!
-Martin
- December 19 ,2015 -
Vote for DaikatanaNews.net Gameserver Map Rotation! - update by DI-MeisterM
This year's holiday season is near so I thought it would be a good idea that you can vote for YOUR favorite Deathmatch Map Rotation on the DaikatanaNews Gameserver! Multiple choices are allowed, simply click on the image to get to the vote:
Click on image to vote!
I will make a check on December 24 for the interim results and based on that the first map rotation will be activated!
- December 5 ,2015 -
Replaced PAK files on DaikatanaNews Gameserver! - update by DI-MeisterM
Many players reporting issues regarding "version dismatches" of map files while trying to connect to the DaikatanaNews Gameserver, especially with map "e2m2a".
I've replaced all PAK files on the Gameserver, it uses now the PAK files from Daikatana 1.3 release "Windows pre-Beta version from 2015-01-23 FULL PACKAGE". Make sure you don't have any of these maps in your Data/Maps folder (because they're included in pak5.pak):
- July 6 ,2015 -
Daikatana Milestone 2 Release! - update by DI-MeisterM
Thanks to an anonym source and John Romero's permission, I'm glad to announce that the Daikatana Milestone 2 from September 1997 is now available for public as free download! You can find the download link and a "How To Get It Running" guide by clicking on the logo below:
- June 25 ,2015 -
Daikatana Mplayer Jacket and more stuff! - update by DI-MeisterM
Today I've received an AWESOME package by John Romero containing a Daikatana Mplayer Jacket, Mplayer Deathmatch Guide by Killcreek, a Poster and Postcard. You can check them out by clicking on the thumbnails below:
- May 20 ,2015 -
Daikatana trailer from Eidos Sampler CD 1998 available ! - update by DI-MeisterM
I've received from John Romero a Eidos Sampler CD from 1998 containing one of the first Daikatana trailers.
Click To Resize!
Thanks to the permission by John Romero you can
download the trailer HERE (20 megs).
- April 19 ,2015 -
PC Gamer explains how to run DK on Windows 7/8 ! - update by DI-MeisterM
There's an article available at PC Gamer in which they explain how to run Daikatana on a modern Windows system. The solution: with Daikatana 1.3 of course! You can check out the article and the lazy comments over HERE.
- February 1 ,2015 -
John Romero plays Doom & talks about DK 1.3 ! - update by DI-MeisterM
John Romero was invited by Double Fine, who recently released Grim Fandango Remastered, to play some Doom and talk about Doom's history. He also mentions Daikatana 1.3, you can check it out here:
The segment he talks about DK 1.3 starts around 5:30 mins.
- January 23 ,2015 -
A new Daikatana 1.3 full package is available ! - update by DI-MeisterM
The official Daikatana 1.3 project page offers a new full package for the Win32 Client version. I've mirrored the package also here:
- January 11 ,2015 -
The new year starts with a Daikatana 1.3 fix! - update by DI-MeisterM I hope that you all had a great start into the new year and that most for your goals will be accomplished!
There's a new Daikatana 1.3 fix available for the Win32 Client, which fixes disappearing wall and floor textures. You can download it HERE.
- December 24 ,2014 -
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2015! - update by DI-MeisterM I wish you all merry christmas and a good start into 2015! Don't forget to take a look at Daikatana 1.3 and visit the DaikatanaNews.net Gameserver ( dkserver.daikatananews.net:27992 ) for some deathmatching. The server is available 24/7 and can be seen in Daikatana's Ingame Serverbrowser!
Have great holidays, until next year!
-Martin
- December 13 ,2014 -
Daikatana for only $2.80 at Square Enix Online Shop! - update by DI-MeisterM The Square Enix Online Shop is currently selling Daikatana (download version) for only $2.80. If you haven't already, you can buy it HERE. Don't forget to pimp it with Daikatana 1.3 later.
- December 11 ,2014 -
Daikatana 1.3 - Weapon Models on HUD Fix available! - update by DI-MeisterM There's a new Daikatana 1.3 fix available for the Win32 Client, which fixes the Weapon Model display issues on the HUD. You can download it HERE.
- November 4 ,2014 -
Daikatana 1.3 - New Win-Client with Widescreen-Menu! - update by DI-MeisterM The Windows-Client of Daikatana 1.3 has been updated. Lots of bugs have been fixed, but it's still pre-beta! This version also features an awesome Widescreen-Menu:
Click To Resize!
You can grab it on the official Bitbucket Project Daikatana 1.3 webpage! I have also mirrored the FULL PACKAGE of the Windows-Client HERE.
- September 26 ,2014 -
Daikatana Pre-Release Archive, Wiki and more! - update by DI-MeisterM I've received a couple of emails by Teflon regarding a Daikatana Pre-Release Archive Materials collection, which includes videos, concept arts, magazine scans, screenshots and more. You can grab the collection HERE.
Teflon has also created a Daikatana Pre-Alpha Wiki page where he publishes all kind of information regarding the Pre-Alpha version of Daikatana, which John Romero released in 2004.
Last, but not least, Teflon created a tiny mod, which replaces E2 spiders with gryphons and Satyr. You can download it HERE.
- June 2 ,2014 -
Daikatana 1.3 available for public testing - update by DI-MeisterM We decided that it's time to spread the news: the current in-development version of Daikatana 1.3 is now available to download for Linux (Client+Server) and Windows (Client+Server):
Click here:
I mirrored all current version here:
Please don't forget this is a work in progress build and there are bugs and issues. If you want to support this small community you can submit bugs on the Bitbucket Daikatana 1.3 Project page. Also don't forget to read the INSTRUCTIONS.
Thanks for the support and have fun!
- May 31 ,2014 -
GameSpy Master Servers Shutdown - Workarounds for Daikatana - update by DI-MeisterM Effective May 31, 2014, GameSpy will cease providing all hosted services for all games still using GameSpy.
That means, without GameSpy's master server it won't be possible to find any Daikatana multiplayer servers in the ingame browser (or any other browser).
Thanks to Ron Mercer's Qtracker GameSpy Server Emulation there's a workaround available for you! I wrote down a detailed article which describes how to fix this issue.
Click here:
GameSpy Master Servers Shutdown - Workarounds for Daikatana
- May 26 ,2014 -
DaikatanaNews.net Gameserver Address after GameSpy Shutdown - update by DI-MeisterM The DaikatanaNews.net Deathmatch Gameserver (Version 1.2/1.3) is and will be available, even after the shutdown of GameSpy's Masterserver, at following address:
dkserver.daikatananews.net:27992
You can simply join it by opening the ingame console with this command:
connect dkserver.daikatananews.net:27992 If you want a permant availability in your Daikatana ingame server-browser you can add it also to your own config or autoexec.cfg file in the ..\Daikatana\Data folder:
set adr0 "dkserver.daikatananews.net:27992"
Happy fraggin'! :)
- October 2 ,2013 -
Daikatana is now available on Steam - update by DI-MeisterM
It looks like the big bosses of Square Enix decided to release Daikatana for $6.99 on Valve's Steam Store. There are no details available if this is a modified version of the game for modern hardware or not. The only information I know is that they don't have a single code line of the Daikatana 1.3 source code.
- July 20 ,2013 -
OpenKatana is looking for Level Designers - update by DI-MeisterM
eukos posted via Quake.de forums that he's currently looking for level designers for the OpenKatana project. If you're interested you can email eukos or hogsy.
- July 20 ,2013 -
OpenKatana News Update June 2013 - update by DI-MeisterM
Mark "hogsy" Sowden has posted a new update regarding the OpenKatana project. You can get on indieDB news about the current progress, screenshots and music of the project. Enjoy!
- July 20 ,2013 -
Technical issues - update by DI-MeisterM
There have been technical issues which prevent me to update this webpage. These issues have been fixed now! Sadly but true that means lot of "news" are a little outdated now, sorry for that!
- May 13 ,2013 -
Daikatana 1.3 shadows - update by DI-MeisterM
Jan "Knightmare" Schmidt sent some visual updates regarding Daikatana 1.3, he's currently enhancing the shadows. Enjoy these screenshots:
- February 18 ,2013 -
OpenKatana updates - update by DI-MeisterM
Mark "hogsy" Sowden has posted news about his OpenKatana project. Peter Horvath joined the development for creating ingame music. You can listen to some previews HERE and HERE. In other news, the official developer blog has been moved. The project is running better than ever and should be finished this year. Fingers crossed!
- December 22,2012 -
Merry christmas and happy new year - update by DI-MeisterM
I wish you all merry christmas and a good start into 2013! Furthermore I want to take the opportunity to thank following persons for their great Daikatana community help and work during the year 2012:
Frank Holden Sapone (for his work on DK 1.3 ) Knightmare (for his work on DK 1.3 ) Mark "hogsy" Sowden (for his work on OpenKatana)
) ) eukos (for his work on OpenKatana)
The next year will hopefully make it possible to release all the cool stuff the community been preparing and working on all these months...stay tuned!
- September 8 ,2012 -
Interceptor Entertainment likes Daikatana Multiplayer - update by DI-MeisterM
It looks like that the producers of the Rise of Triad Remake are big fans of Daikatana's multiplayer component. Well at least project leader Frederik Schreiber enjoys it:
Thanks for playing on the DaikatanaNews.net Daikatana Server guys!
- July 3 ,2012 -
OpenKatana is now on moddb - update by DI-MeisterM
Mark "hogsy" Sowden, project leader of OpenKatana, brought me the first news item for the new month: OpenKatana is now available on ModDB/IndieDB! The launch brings you a couple of screenshots and a small teaser video about the weapon models. Enjoy!
- June 26 ,2012 -
Daikatana 1.3 teasing: Widescreen - update by DI-MeisterM
Daikatana 1.3, a not so secret project anymore, got now the first teaser trailer on Youtube. There you can see how the game looks, how the main menu aspect ratio got fixed and many more, new additions. It's coming... :)
On a side note: I've updated the Daikatana Linux Server for DaikatanaNews with the lastest binaries aswell. Don't worry: it's still compatible with version 1.2!
- May 12 ,2012 -
Daikatana Linux Server Modding: Part 1: First Draft - update by DI-MeisterM
I'm currently working on a case modification for my Daikatana Linux Server. Actually, it's currently the front panel I'm working on. Here's a quicksnap of the very first draft:
(Click to enlarge!)
If you're also interested in more detailed stuff, especially about some Daikatana 1.3 (yup, it's coming!) teasing you can contact me also on Facebook. Peace!
- May 1 ,2012 -
OpenKatana Update - update by DI-MeisterM
Mark "hogsy" Sowden just emailed me the latest news regarding his project OpenKatana:
"[...]I've recently been working on quite a major overhaul of the engine which has led to a lot of the game-logic and menu system to be almost completely rewritten (and on top of that I have some other bits I'm working on such as an in-engine "editor environment"), however it's also put a lot of strain on both of us as rewriting a lot of the game-logic has taken longer than anticipated, we had originally started the rewrite at the end of last year and we're still working on it. [...] It's rather bothersome as there's a lot of fantastic things that have recently happened surrounding OpenKatana and I'd love to go into them but I'll probably save that for another time. All I can really say right now is that I hope this'll be the equivalent of Daikatana 2 ;) "
Many "in-progress" development screenshots can be found on Google Docs OpenKatana page. Enjoy!
- March 3 ,2012 -
Daikatana Multiplayer Event on upcoming Monday! - update by DI-MeisterM
Kyle Gagliardo, who's responsible for a classic gaming Facebook page called Vinticuffs! is currently organizing a multiplayer event for Daikatana. Currently it's scheduled 6 PM (US TIME) on Monday, March 5. Pre-organisation will start on Facebook & Steam around 5 PM. I got this information from John Romero, it looks like he's participating aswell!
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Welcome to the Heteronym Homepage!
This homepage is about heteronyms, a type of word. See what it's all about!
You are visitor number
Page revised on 1/1/99
Page created on 6/1/96
What are heteronyms?
Heteronyms are words that are spelled identically but have different meanings when pronounced differently. For example:
Lead, pronounced LEED, means to guide. However, lead, pronounced LED, means a metallic element.
Compare heteronyms to homographs, homophones, and homonyms.
Homographs are words that are spelled the same but differ in meaning, derivation, or pronunciation. Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation, or spelling. Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings. There is overlap among these categories.
Heteronyms are specific types of homographs in which the different pronunciations are associated with different meanings. Many heteronyms are the result of one pronunciation being a verb and another being a noun.
Well, let's see what we have!
Our lists of heteronyms are shown below. We are limiting ourselves to words commonly used in the English language. Some of our heteronyms have completely different meanings while others have somewhat related meanings. (We also list words that have nearly the same meanings.) We also are including heteronyms in which at least one of the words is a foreign word (as long as it is commonly used in English).
Not every meaning of every word is given. The numbers after the definitions indicate the source of the heteronym; see the Acknowledgments.
As of 1/1/99, we have begun listing words only, without pronunciations and meanings, and the acknowledgment immediately follows.
Affect ehFEKT - to change; AFFekt- a person's feelings or emotion (1)
Alternate ALternit - the next choice; ALternait- switch back and forth (9)
Are AHR- plural present tense of "to be"; AIR- 100 square meters (1/100th of a hectare) [although may also be pronounced AHR] (15)
Ares AIRS- 100 square meter units [plural]; AIReez- Greek god of war [capitalized] (15)
Attribute ahTRIByoot- to consider resulting from; AHtribyoot- a characteristic of someone (12)
August AUgust - month [capitalized]; auGUST- important, eminent (9)
Axes AKsiz- more than one ax or axe; AKseez- the plural of axis (13)
Bass BASE- a string instrument; (rhymes with mass)- a fish (1)
Bow BAU- to lower one's head or the front of a ship; BOH- used to shoot arrows (7)
Bowed BAU-d- to bend over; BOH-d- bent (12)
Buffet BUFFet - to pound or bump; booFAY- place where you serve yourself (9)
Close CLOZE - to shut; CLOS- near (9)
Combine komBYNE- put together; KOMbyne- a threshing machine (1)
Conduct KONduckt- behavior; kunDUCKT- to lead (see this heteronym below) (12)
Conflict kunFLIKT - to act against; KAHNflict- a fight or disagreement (1)
Console KAHNsole- an upright case; kunSOLE- to comfort (2)
Content KAHNtent- meaning; kunTENT- satisfied (1)
Contest kunTEST- to argue; KAHNtest- a match of skill (1)
Contract CONtract- an agreement; conTRACT- to shrink or to agree on a project (2)
Convert conVERT - to change one's belief; CONvert- one whose belief was changed (11)
Converse KAHNvers - the opposite; kunVERS- to talk (1c)
Convict kunVIKT- to find guilty; KAHNvikt- a prisoner (1)
Crooked KROOKt - to bend your neck; KROOK-ed- having a curve (3)
Deliberate diLIBerit- carefully considered; diLIBerATE- to consider (12)
Desert dihZURT- to leave ; DEZert- arid region (18, and below)
Digest DYEjest- collection of published material; dieJEST- absorb nutrients (6)
Do DOO- to accomplish; DOE- a musical note (1)
Does DUZ- performs; DOZE- more than one female deer (1)
Dove DUV- a bird; DOEV- jumped off (1)
Drawer DROR- the compartment you pull out from the dresser; DRAWer- one who draws (1j)
Excuse EKskyooz- to let someone off; EKskyoos- a reason or explanation (17)
House HAUS - a building that serves as living quarters; HOWZ- to provide with living quarters (10)
Incense INsens - burnt aromatic; inSENS- to make angry (9)
Intern INtern- a physician in training; inTERN- confine to prescribed area (14)
Invalid inVALLid- not valid; INvallid- an ill person (1)
Laminate LAMinate- to construct by adding layers; LAMinit [although both pronunciations are listed]- the cover itself (1)
Lather (rhymes with rather) - foam or suds; (rhymes with bath fur)- a worker who installs lath (lattice work) (15)
Lead LEED- to guide; LED- a metallic element (1)
Minute MINNit - 60 seconds; myNOOT- tiny (1)
Moderate MODerit- keeping within reason; MODerATE- to preside over (1)
Mow MOH- to cut grass; MAU- a pile of hay (17)
Multiply MULLtihPLIE - multiply two numbers; MULLtihplee- in a multiple manner (15)
Number NUMber- one, two, three ; NUMMER- more numb [many dictionaries do not list this use, which suggests that "more numb" is preferred; however, the listed use is given in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, Electronic version.] (18)
Nun NUN - women in religious order; NOON- 14th letter in Hebrew alphabet (9)
Object ubJEKT - to complain; AHBjekt- a thing (1c)
Pasty PAstee- like glue; PASStee- a meat pie (1)
Pate PAIT- a bald head; paTAY- a minced food; PAHT- a porcelain paste [diacritics in pâté and pâte don't count!](1)
Perfect PERfekt- exactly correct; perFEKT- to make correct (17)
Periodic PEEReeODDik - occasional; PUREeyeODDik- an iodine compound (15)
Permit perMIT- to allow some event to occur; PERmit [although both pronunciations are listed]- a document giving permission (8)
Polish POElish- from Poland; PAHLish- shine [capitalization doesn't count!](4)
Present PREZent - a gift; preeSENT- to give a talk (9)
Primer PRIHMer- an elementary book; PRYmer- the preparatory coat of paint (1c, 12)
Produce PROdoos- vegetables; proDOOS- bring forth (1)
Project proJEKT- to show a movie; PRAHjekt- a task (1)
Pussy PUHSee- having pus; POOHSee; a kitten (18)
Raven RAYven - black bird; RAVen- hungry (9)
Rebel REBBell- a resister; rihBELL- to resist (2)
Record RECKord- a list; reKORD- to write down (1)
Recreation rek-ree-Ashun- pastime; REEcreeAshun- remake (also, recreate) (12)
Refuse reFUSE- to deny; REFFyoos- garbage (1)
Relay reeLAY - to put it down again, such as a carpet; REElay- a race by teams; rihLAY- to pass along, such as information [One of our dictionaries gives these pronunciations, but does not distinguish meanings among the latter two. The pronunciation may vary among individuals.] (12)
Rerun reRUN- to race again or to repeat a show on television; RErun- a repeated TV show (12)
Reside: reZIDE- to stay put; RE-SYD- [Slang] to change places (change teams) [usu. hyphenated as re-side] (20) [N.B.: This is also a antagonym!] {X}
Resign reZYN- to quit; reSYN- to sign again (e.g., a contract) [usu. hyphenated as re-sign] (20) [N.B.: This word is also an antagonym!]
Resume reeZOOM- to restart; REHZoomay- a document of experience [also résumé; diacritics don't count!] (1)
Row ROH- a line; ROUW- a fight (1)
Sake SAHkey - alcoholic drink; SAYK- a purpose (5)
Secrete seeKREET - to discharge; sehKRET- an armored skullcap [secrète, diacritics don't count!]
Secreted seeKREETed - having put out; SEEkrehted- placed out of sight (9) [N.B.: This word is also an antagonym!]
Separate SEPerATE- to divide into groups; SEPret- not joined together (17)
Sewer SOwer - one who sews; SOOwer- place for human waste (9)
Slough SLUFF - the outer layer of skin of a snake; [rhymes with OW!]- a hole of deep mud or mire; SLOO- a marshy pond (19)
Sow SOUW- a pig; SO- to plant seed (1)
Subject SUBjekt- the theme; subJEKT- to force upon someone (12)
Tear TARE- to rip; TEER- fluid in eye (1)
Wind WHINEd- to coil up; WINd- the blowing air (1)
Wound WOOND- to injure; WOWND- coiled up (1)
Heteronymic Sentences
Mary & Harry Baldwin of San Diego (12) are collectors of heteronyms. When they find a word, they compose a sentence that uses the different meanings. For example:
When the brush fire was close , the authorities had to close the road.
, the authorities had to the road. I subject my friends to pain when I discuss the subject of my operation.
The Baldwins found an article in the Smithsonian Magazine (vol. 19, p. 244, November 1988) by Felicia Lamport entitled "The bass swam around the bass drum on the ocean floor" in which heteronyms are the subject. One nice example: "She wished she could desert him in the desert." Although not known for word games, the website of the Smithsonian Magazine is provided here for your convenience. (Note: The referenced article is not available through the Smithsonian website but there is a link for it here.)
Heteronyms with highly related meanings
Some heteronyms are so closely related that we have decided to give them a separate list. For example:
Live LIHV- [verb] to be alive; LIEV- [adjective] alive [The two meanings of this heteronym couldn't be much closer to each other!] (16)
Others include:
Access (some people pronounce the "a" differently for the noun and verb) (1)
Read (9,17)
Use (17)
Acknowledgments for submissions before 1/1/99
Jim Ellis started the obsession with heteronyms and Jonathan Ellis devised these web pages. Thanks to Karen Jordan for telling us that the word "heteronym" describes these words.
The first to submit the word to us was:
The Ellis family, Ann Arbor, MI (most are Jim's; c=Charlie's; j=Jonathan) Michel Dumas, London, Ontario, Canada Jon Vahsholtz and his father; see below for his page Maria Simonte, Ann Arbor, MI who works for the University of Michigan Alumni Association c/o Karen Jordan, Ann Arbor, MI Susan Goldstein, New York, NY Michael Williams, London, England Mark L. Irons Gerald Schafer, Walla Walla College, College Place, WA ([email protected]) Phyllis Hall, Nipomo, CA Bill Momsen Mary and Harry Baldwin, San Diego, CA A. David Chan, Lakewood, CA Chris Alguire Mr. V wishes to remain anonymous John R MacMillan Tim L. Crawford Dana Albert, San Francisco, CA Bruce A. Bishop Rex Stocklin, Marina del Rey, CA
Go to the heteronym list.
You may not believe this, but .
After we posted this web page, we found others on the web who also collect heteronyms! Here are the links we have found so far!
Jon Vahsholtz's The Heteronym Page
Mark Brader's Homograph list
Stephen Pickles' Heteronyms
Still with the word craze?
Check out our Antagonym Homepage!
© Ellis
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The Husqvarna VITPILEN is a new breed of small, lightweight, premium motorcycle from Husqvarna, designed at KISKA.
We came in late at night last week to shoot the 2 different bikes before they were whisked off to the EICMA motorshow in Milan, and with the press launch having just happened it’s time to share them with the world.
“With the Vit Pilen, we took the same platform and reduced the bike to its core. This model is meant to show how simple and pure a roadbike can be….
Low clip-ons are mounted to stout custom triple clamps, helping gets the riders weight forward. The riding position is reinforced by custom rearsets, giving the rider more clearence in the corners. Every detail on the bike is designed to communicate in harmony. Take for example the triple clamps…the bolts come from the front, allowing the surfaces to be as clean as possible. Even the headlight holder is integrated into the triple clamps, performing two tasks by also supporting the fully digital display. Keen eyes will notice that this is the same set up on the Svart, only that bike has the integrated lamp guard….
When we designed the details, it was important for every part to carry the same philosophy. Examples like the triple clamps and rearsets illustrate this….but look closely and you’ll soon discover its in the entire bike.
From the engine cradles to the fenders, each part has been constructed with the husqvarna ideals of simplicity, honesty, and cleaniness in mind.
Even the muffler, no crazy trapezoidal multi barreled ray gun sticking out the back here…just a clean oval section that provides good clearence in the corners.
And that is the point of the Vit, it’s what a stripped down street bike should look like, reduced, lightweight, its stance and proportion let you know right away what it’s waiting to do…
The lighting is the same in both bikes, the idea here was take a timeless idea, “the round headlight bucket” and bring it into 2014 using todays technology.” – Bjorn Shuster
A little background on the bikes:
In 1955 Husqvarna introduced a revolutionary motorycle. While other manufacturers insisted on going larger and heavier, Husqvarna went lighter, smaller and..faster. The SilverPilen or “Silver Arrow” was a special motorcycle. It was a combination of a compact high output motor in a state of the art featherweight chassis that provided the base for an icon.
Husqvarna then utilized the talents of Sixten Saxon, a legendary Swedish industrial designer, to pen the beautiful shape of the Silver Pilen. Both the chassis and the appearance went on to directly inspire the furious red and chrome bombers that later dominated the off-road racing scene.
Almost sixty years later, Husqvarna is reinventing the concept of a small lightweight premium motorcycle. Once again, a high performance engine is housed in a lightweight compact chassis. The Avant garde aesthetics are the result of a partnership with another legendary designer, Gerald Kiska. The 401 Vit Pilen “White arrow in Swedish,” and the 401 Svart pilen “ black arrow” are today’s Husqvarnas. They are not recollections of the past, but rather future interpretations of what defines a modern motorcycle.
“It wasn’t our goal to do a “retrograde” design. When we looked at the 55’ Pilen, it wasn’t so much a source of visual inspiration as it was philosophical. I wanted to “cook” so to speak, using some of the same ingredients, but I wasn’t interested in copying the recipe. Purity, simplicity of form, economy of line, all the fundamentals of Husqvarna design language, doesn’t matter if it was 60 years ago, or now…the same mentality remains,” says senior designer, Björn Shuster.
Sporting upside down WP forks, lightweight trellis frames, powerful brakes,17 in wheels with modern rubber, and a powerful 400cc engine, the 401s are anything but antiquated. The pure forms and clean design enable a degree of versatility that is not often found on contemporary motorcycles. The Contrast between the Svart Pilen and the Vit Pilen showcases not only the visual variation, but also the functional intent that can be achieved on these bikes.
“A lot of modern machinery has become so hyper focused that it is difficult for the customer to inject a little of his/her own style into the bike, we wanted to create a platform that offers you a little more freedom. You want to run tall bars and run a high pipe for some fire road fun? Or perhaps you want a little more weight over the front end at your next trackday with the clip-ons? Maybe you just prefer one stance to another, it’s up to you!” says Björn.
“I’ve always been a fan of seventies bikes, in fact my very first road bike 21 years ago was a little cb400f. And who doesn’t love the unified bodywork of classic Spanish off-road bikes like an early Cota, and there’s always gonna be something really juicy about Vetter’s Hurricane..But I’m also a big fan of today’s brakes, the levels of grip, and the amount of punch coming out of today’s engines. And of course it’s nice when bikes start ;-). I had a little 305 Superhawk that I swear was flexing by more than a couple inches every time you put it in a corner, and the rim brakes on my mountain bike were far superior…but I still loved it.
I think there are an increasing number of folks like myself, who really want to ride contemporary machinery…but at the same time we don’t want to look like extras on a Michael Bay set ;-) At the moment there are not so many affordable options, but this is about to change with these bikes”
“The concept for the color, trim and GFX on the Husqvarna 401 was to underline the features of the bike using clean, minimal GFX. The lighter colors and high contrast of the VITPILEN emphasize it’s fresh, progressive nature. The goal was to highlight the inherent quality of the components, using bronze anodizing on key elements together with a hit of yellow to call attention to some of the details” – Elvin Helias.
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Melvin R. Laird in 1973. He served as President Richard M. Nixon’s defense secretary at the height of the Vietnam War and designed policies that eventually led to the American withdrawal from combat operations. (Charles Del Vecchio/The Washington Post)
Melvin R. Laird, a former congressman who served as President Richard M. Nixon’s defense secretary at the height of the Vietnam War and designed policies that eventually led to the American withdrawal from combat operations, died Nov. 16 at a hospital in Fort Myers, Fla. He was 94.
The cause was complications from congestive heart failure, said a son, David Laird.
A shrewd and influential Wisconsin Republican, Mr. Laird became his party’s leading expert on military affairs during his 16 years in the House of Representatives.
Out of party loyalty, he reluctantly agreed to leave Congress and become defense secretary in January 1969, at a moment when U.S. troop strength in Vietnam — around 550,000 — was nearing its peak. During his four years at the Pentagon, Mr. Laird dramatically reduced U.S. troop involvement in the conflict, supported the cause of bringing home U.S. prisoners of war held under horrible conditions in North Vietnam and worked to end the deeply unpopular draft.
“Laird was not a revolutionary, seeking to change the Pentagon in fundamental ways,” military historian Charles A. Stevenson wrote in “SecDef” (2006), a history of the secretaries of defense. “Nor was he merely a manager, fulfilling his legal responsibilities and leading the Defense Department. Instead, Laird was the quintessential firefighter, preoccupied with the crises and controversies of his tenure.”
Former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, right, greets former Navy Secretary John W. Warner, who escorted Rep. Lindy Boggs, left, and presidential counselor Anne Armstrong. (The Washington Post/Linda Wheeler)
According to journalist Dale Van Atta’s 2008 biography of Mr. Laird, “With Honor,” he took over a department whose self-confidence was diminished after the seven-year tenure of Robert McNamara, who was briefly succeeded by presidential adviser Clark Clifford. The joint chiefs, micromanaged by McNamara and President Lyndon Johnson, were weary and bitter.
Congress had grown to distrust the Pentagon after McNamara painted a misleadingly optimistic picture of U.S. military success in Vietnam. In contrast, Van Atta wrote, Mr. Laird developed a reputation for being far more open with lawmakers and giving the joint chiefs more autonomy to run their respective branches.
As secretary of defense, Mr. Laird said he understood that public support for the war was waning. His goal, supported by the president, was to reduce American involvement in a conflict that was causing major divisions at home.
He oversaw the effort to withdraw U.S. troops gradually while building South Vietnam’s military into a force that could support itself, a policy he called Vietnamization. While several people, including analysts, academics and military officials, helped design the policy, it was Mr. Laird who kept the Nixon administration committed.
Vietnamization was a success on many levels, said Scott Sigmund Gartner, director of the Penn State School of International Affairs and an authority on the war. He said the policy decreased the danger U.S. troops faced because the South Vietnamese military was in the field more often.
Vietnamization also brought home American troops, and it bought time for South Vietnam’s forces to stave off North Vietnam and rebuild themselves. Ultimately, though, communist forces prevailed in 1975 because the South could not overcome internal divisions and government corruption.
During the war, Mr. Laird was a rare public voice for American military personnel held prisoner by the North Vietnamese. During the Paris peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam, Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, were muted on the subject of POWs. According to Van Atta’s biography of Mr. Laird, the State Department, which was handling negotiations with the North, did not want prisoners to become bargaining chips and thus scuttle progress.
In May 1969, after meeting the wives of POWs, Mr. Laird held a nationally televised news conference to reveal the atrocities that American prisoners faced.
“The North Vietnamese have claimed that they are treating our men humanely,” Mr. Laird said. “I am distressed by the fact that there is clear evidence that this is not the case.”
He showed photographs of beaten and emaciated military personnel, including John McCain, later a U.S. senator from Arizona and Republican presidential candidate. Mr. Laird called for North Vietnam to release the names of prisoners and immediately free the sick and injured.
After Mr. Laird’s news conference, POWs saw improvements. The changes started slowly; a few prisoners were released, torture decreased, and many were grouped in community cells rather than placed in solitary confinement. By 1973, all the POWs were home.
“There are many of us who believe that perhaps we wouldn’t have returned from the war if [it] had not been for Secretary Laird publicizing the plight of the POWs,” McCain said later. “Conditions changed dramatically afterwards. Those of us who fought in Vietnam, and those of us who were held prisoner, will always have a special place in our hearts for this marvelous man, Mel Laird.”
Opposed to secrecy
In 1969, Nixon proposed secret bombings to flush out North Vietnamese sanctuaries in neutral Cambodia, which the communists were using to circumvent U.S. forces.
Mr. Laird supported the bombings but opposed secrecy, which he thought would exacerbate public opposition to the war when the Cambodia incursion was inevitably uncovered. The bombings expanded the conflict in Southeast Asia and, amid the destabilization, led to a takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge.
When the bombings were less successful than hoped, Nixon ordered an invasion of Cambodia, something Mr. Laird opposed. On April 30, 1970, the president announced the incursion on national television. The news caused protests, some of which turned deadly. On May 4, members of the Ohio National Guard killed four students during antiwar demonstrations at Kent State University.
Mr. Laird was often the focus of protests. One protester threw a brick through his den window, and antiwar beat poet Allen Ginsberg once urinated on his house. Despite the harassment, Mr. Laird staunchly refused to move his family from their suburban Maryland home to a military post.
In 1972, the Weather Underground, a radical antiwar group, detonated a bomb inside the Pentagon. No one was injured, and Mr. Laird “put in a call to his public affairs chief directing him to treat the incident as a minor one,” Van Atta wrote.
Mr. Laird set the groundwork for the all-volunteer military. In late 1969, he instituted a draft lottery because of criticism that conscription was biased against the poor. Then he called up reserves and National Guard units, rather than draftees. On Jan. 27, 1973, just days before he left the Pentagon, Mr. Laird announced the end of the draft.
“The volunteer Army was a huge achievement by Laird,” diplomat Richard Holbrooke told Van Atta. “Ending the draft was one of the most important pieces of social legislation that the United States has had.”
Former president Gerald Ford told Van Atta that Mr. Laird should be considered the father of the all-volunteer military.
After the 1972 election, Mr. Laird left the Pentagon — he was succeeded by Elliot L. Richardson — and returned to Nixon’s White House as a domestic policy adviser. In March 1974, he received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award that a president can bestow.
A Purple Heart in WWII
Melvin Robert Laird Jr. was born in Omaha on Sept. 1, 1922, and grew up in Marshfield, Wis., where his mother’s family had deep ties to the lumber and sawmill industry. His father, a Presbyterian minister, won a seat in the Wisconsin state Senate in 1939.
The younger Laird was class president of Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., where he graduated in 1942 with a political science degree. Afterward, he served in the Pacific during World War II and survived a massive typhoon and a kamikaze attack against the destroyer on which he was serving. His decorations included the Purple Heart.
In 1945, he married Barbara Masters, a former Carleton classmate. A year after her death in 1992, he married Carole Howard. Besides his wife, of Fort Myers, survivors include three children from his first marriage, John Laird of River Falls, Wis., David Laird of Bethesda, Md., and Alison Laird-Large of Sylva, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Kimberly Dalgleish of Avon Lake, Ohio; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Laird was on shore leave in 1946 when his father died; he campaigned for his father’s state Senate seat and won. In 1952, he was elected to Congress. He sat on Appropriations subcommittees for health and defense, where he had influence over two-thirds of the federal budget. He wrote a book on military and foreign policy, “A House Divided” (1962).
Although he was a defense expert, his passion was health care. He earmarked millions for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. In 1964, he received the prestigious Albert Lasker Award for promotion of medical research.
That same year, he chaired the Republican National Convention. The party was divided by the platforms of the relatively liberal Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York and the conservative Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona. By attacking Democrats and focusing on principles rather than programs, Mr. Laird drafted a platform that seemingly pleased everyone.
After leaving the Nixon administration, Mr. Laird spent more than 30 years as a counselor for Reader’s Digest magazine, where he also wrote on the policies of the Ford and Carter administrations. He sat on the boards of Reader’s Digest and the defense contractor Martin Marietta, and was a past board chairman of the Communications Satellite Corp., a provider of satellite telecommunications.
According to Stevenson, the historian, Mr. Laird’s legacy at the Pentagon was overshadowed in large part by the Watergate scandal, which led to Nixon’s resignation in August 1974 and the loss of the Vietnam War the next year. In the aftermath, Mr. Laird was largely forgotten by the public.
Nevertheless, Stevenson said in an interview, “he was one of the most effective secretaries of defense, and he’s probably an unsung hero in that regard.”
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Jasper Byrne's survival-horror indie title Lone Survivor is coming to PlayStation 3 and Vita, the developer announced today on the Superflat Games' blog.
The game will be rebuilt from the ground up by London-based Curve Studios, the developer behind water-based physics puzzler Fluidity (Hydroventure in Europe) for WiiWare and "2.5D" platformer Explodemon on PSN and PC. The new version will be "super-smooth running," according to Byrne, and will also include language options for French and German.
"I'm greatly looking forward to this, as it's been a dream of mine since childhood to release a game on console, and especially the Sony ones as I love what they do most of all," Byrne wrote. "Lone Survivor was designed as a console game (in my head, anwyay)."
Originally published through Steam for PC and Mac earlier this year, Lone Survivor is a post-apocalyptic tale about a young man searching for survivors in a seemingly barren world, spurred on by a mysterious note suggesting others are still alive. Players must navigate the treacherous landscape with limited resources for survival and slowly-cracking mental health brought on by his lengthy time spent alone.
Byrne also announced that he has decided to cancel the "Zelda x Demon Souls"-like dungeon crawler project he announced in early September, stating it was a project too big for a single person to make.
"I reached a point where it was getting very frustrating: the game demanded a lot of animation, very detailed level design, and a huge amount of gameplay code, all of which were taking so long that it felt excruciating," Byrne explained.
"I'd like to say sorry to any fans who were looking forward to it — it's still a game I'd love to play, and should I ever have a team to work with in future, it's definitely an idea I'd like to come back to," he added.
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UPDATE: Ahmad Khan Rahami charged with attempted murder of 5 cops
LINDEN -- The man wanted in the weekend explosions in New York and New Jersey was taken into custody in Linden Monday morning after a shootout with police that left two officers injured.
Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, of Elizabeth, has been the subject of a massive manhunt after being named as a suspect by the FBI early Monday.
Two Linden police officers were wounded in the shootout that ensued with Rahami's arrest, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage said. One officer was shot in the abdomen but his vest stopped the bullet. Another officer was hit in the face by flying glass during the shootout, which happened just before 11 a.m.
Rahami and one of the officers were taken to University Hospital in Newark, according to Stacie Newton, a hospital spokeswoman.
"We have just received word that Mr. Rahami was apprehended in Linden," Bollwage said. "Two police officers were shot, one in the vest and one in the hand. Mr. Rahami is being taken away in an ambulance as we speak."
Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said Rahami was shot in the leg and was undergoing surgery.
Additional information about the officer's conditions was not immediately available.
During an afternoon press conference at the Elizabeth Fire Department, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) called the bombings "an act of terrorism" regardless of the motivations.
"Anyone who takes a bomb and ultimately puts it in a public place, to me that's the essence of terrorism," Menendez said.
The FBI and New Jersey State Police released multiple images of Rahami early Monday and warned that he was armed and dangerous. As the manhunt unfolded, authorities searched his residence and a restaurant where he worked in Elizabeth.
As investigators continued to remove boxes and towed two vehicles from the scene, the shootout with Linden officers was reported and Rahami was arrested.
Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said officers received reports Monday of a man sleeping at the front of Merdie's Tavern. The officers "immediately realized it was the suspect," Armstead said.
Rahami immediately began firing at the officers, hitting one on the abdomen, he said.
"Thank God he had his vest on," Armstead said.
Another bullet went through the window of a police cruiser, and grazed another officer's head, he said.
More officers joined in a running gun battle along the street and brought Rahami down, police Capt. James Sarnicki said.
Video shows bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami in custody in Linden, New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/NrVJCPNAkC -- Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 19, 2016
While Rahami has not been linked to the explosion early Monday in Elizabeth, there was a massive manhunt in and around the city once it was learned he lived and worked in a building at 104 Elmora Avenue in the city of 125,000.
Earlier Monday, the FBI had sent out a security advisory, alerting the public to be on the lookout for Rahami, who was described as armed and dangerous.
Bollwage said the suspect was not on the radar of local law enforcement, but his family was because of a lawsuit regarding their restaurant, which has since closed. Locals had complained about noise at the restaurant, and the city ordered it to close by 10 p.m. each night.
The mayor said he did not know the suspect's family, but he spoke with the father over the code enforcement issues.
"That was my only conversation with the father," Bollwage said.
The mayor said the issue with the family had nothing to do with "religion or anything like that."
Tim Gallagher, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark division, said the FBI gathered evidence from all sorts of sources after the explosion. He would not say if the suspect has been on a watch list.
Nor would he discuss the suspect's past. Gallagher said the FBI is looking into whether he was connected to a local terror cell.
NJ Advance Media staff writers Tom Haydon and Brent Johnson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Published online 22 October 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.1031
News
Electrolyte imbalance stops amphibians' hearts.
Frogs are suffering from a fatal fungal infection. Vance T. Vredenburg/SFSU
A fungal infection that is killing amphibians around the world acts by disrupting the flow of electrolytes across their skin, ultimately causing heart failure. The discovery is helping to raise hopes that a treatment for the infection could one day be given to amphibians in the wild.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a kind of chytrid fungus that causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians, was likely spread around the world by the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) in the 1930s and 1940s, when the frog was widely used as a pregnancy test. A pregnant woman's urine, injected under the frog's skin, would contain sufficient hormones to make the animal ovulate.
But although the South African clawed frog seems to have immunity to the disease, many other amphibians are not so lucky. According to one study led by chytrid expert Karen Lips of the University of Maryland in College Park, chytridiomycosis can kill 80% of amphibians in one year in an area with cool, moist conditions.1 Until now, no one was sure exactly how the fungus killed its victim; some researchers thought that it might secrete a poison.
Jamie Voyles, a disease ecologist at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, and colleagues exposed Australian green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea) to the fungus, and have now worked out its deadly mode of attack.
Voyles and colleagues monitored the progression of the infection, took blood and urine samples and measured electrolyte flow across skin samples. They found that levels of two ions — potassium and sodium — were greatly reduced in infected frogs, and that the ability to move these ions back and forth across the animals' skin had been greatly impaired.
"Frog skin is really unique because it is permeable to water but it must maintain proper concentrations of these [electrolyte] ions," says Voyles. In infected frogs, "the electrolyte balance is all out of whack".
The low potassium levels, in particular, were probably responsible for a breakdown of the electrical regulation of the heart, and the frogs ultimately died because their hearts stopped. The work is reported in Science2.
Rich solution
The team found that an electrolyte-rich solution, similar to sports drinks but more concentrated, delayed death in infected frogs. But it couldn't cure them. "Because the skin is damaged, we can't really keep them from dying unless we fix the problem in the skin," says Voyles.
Although captive frogs can be bathed in an antifungal medicine to rid them of their infection, there is no easy way to treat the hundreds of species of wild amphibians at risk of being wiped out by the fungus.
Voyles's work is just one piece of research that might someday lead to a treatment that could be deployed in the wild. Geneticist Erica Rosenblum of the University of Idaho in Moscow is looking at gene expression in both the fungus and the host to determine what makes the fungus so lethal — and why amphibian immune systems don't seem to be aware of the infection.3 "Jamie has found that their osmotic regulation is all screwed up, they are essentially having heart attacks," she says. "Mine is an earlier question: why don't they have an immune response?"
One possible treatment is being pursued by Reid Harris, a microbial ecologist at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He has found that at least some species of amphibians have beneficial bacteria on their skin that produce a protective antifungal agent.4 He is looking into the possibility of adding more of these bacteria to the soil in ecosystems where vulnerable amphibians live, to boost their natural defences. "People are already doing this in their gardens and larger-scale agricultural applications as well," he says.
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Harris would first like to try the technique on populations of frogs in captivity — so-called survival assurance colonies held in zoos and other institutions awaiting the day when they can be safely returned to the wild.
Despite all these advances, Lips says that she has seen too many frog populations destroyed by the fungus to retain her optimism about saving what is left. "I don't know that there is enough money going to the right labs quickly enough to make a difference," she says. "More governments and NGOs need to step up. I mean, we are losing half the amphibians on the planet. And throwing amphibians into zoos is a short-term solution. It doesn't solve any problems."
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Movie science is often a source of chagrin for actual researchers. But recent events suggest that we may be entering a new era of partnership between science and the silver screen.
CERN scientists announced today plans for a project inspired by the bold vision of sci-fi director Steve Pink. Harnessing the increased power of the Large Hadron Collider, scientists will construct the world’s first fully functional temporal displacement thermodynamic reservoir—in lay terms, a Hot Tub Time Machine.
Inspired by the collaboration between astronomer Kip Thorne and director Christopher Nolan on the film Interstellar, a group of scientists hit the theatre in search of fresh ideas. The scientists say the comedic sequel opened their eyes to the possibility of manipulating the very fabric of spacetime.
“It also gave us a strong desire to get those 93 minutes back,” says physicist W. Earl Poole.
Physicist S. Tim Baath took care of the theoretical side of things. “We find that the J/Psi mesons, when Axially Coupled Unto the Z-axis, cause significant time dilation,” he says. “For simplicity, we refer to this as the ‘JACU-Z’ effect.”
The first test of their machine will take place today, April 1.
Prospective future projects include a Theory of Everything and Jupiter Ascending anti-gravity boots.
Note: This article ran on April Fools' Day.
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Buffalo Trace’s latest experimental whiskeys are here, and this time out the focus is on barrel treatments, specifically how different heat treatments can impact the resulting spirit. In BT’s own words:
Both of these experiments study the effects of extreme heat on oak barrels and the flavor of the bourbon inside. The Hot Box Toasted Barrel Bourbon involved placing the barrel staves into a “Hot Box” at 133 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, the staves were steamed before being assembled into a barrel. The goal was to drive the flavors deep into the wood. Next the barrels were filled with Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash #2 and left to age for 16 years and 8 months. The #7 Heavy Char Barrel Bourbon Whiskey experiment used barrels which were charred for 3.5 minutes, as opposed to the normal 55 second char used by Buffalo Trace typically. The barrels were then filled with Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash #2 and left to age for 15 years and 9 months.
Both are 90 proof. Thoughts follow.
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Hot Box Toasted Barrel Bourbon – Big cherry on the nose. On the palate, super forward with that cherry fruit, with a modest side of vanilla. It’s almost pie-like in flavor, complete with crusty dough notes. The problem is the body. There’s so little bite here it tastes like it couldn’t possibly be 90 proof. In fact, the whole thing comes across as almost watery. The finish vanishes almost without a trace in seconds. An exceedingly strange, but ultimately harmless whiskey. B-
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection #7 Heavy Char Bourbon – 15 years is a long time to spend in even modestly charred oak, and at a #7 char — where the barrel is basically falling apart — it’s practically crazy. There’s fire and brimstone on the nose, but much less than I was expecting. The wood char comes on strong as you sip it, with a hot mountain of charcoal, wood embers, and tannin beneath it. Unlike the Hot Box whiskey, this is a wildly intense Bourbon, but if you can push past all the wood you’ll find some intriguing dark chocolate notes buried inside. That said, it’s not an easy thing to do. B-
$46 per 375ml bottle each / buffalotrace.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
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A number of online outlets have published reports speculating that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was involved in a gay relationship with his one-time roommate and assistant Kevin Lanflisi, and we’ve got all the details for you right here on RadarOnline.com.
Initially broken by TheFameDriven.com, the story has also been covered on sites such as queerty.com and Newnownext.
TheFameDriven’s report states that Lanflisi and Rodgers had a falling-out after Rodgers agreed — then, at the last minute, refused — to join a group of NFL stars preparing to publicly identify themselves as gay this past summer. The report goes on to say that Lanflisi subsequently moved out of Rodgers’ Wisconsin home and headed for California following the severance.
PHOTOS: Stars Who Have Come Out As Gay
The report includes a number of photos to illustrate the bombshell allegation, taken from screengrabs of Lanflisi’s Twitter page (which were subsequently removed). Among them, the images feature Lanflisi and Rodgers posing at black-tie events, on the golf course, and at casual gatherings; as well as a Lanflisi selfie wearing Rodgers’ Super Bowl ring following the Packers’ 2011 win in the big game.
Their source, referred to as a spy, noted that Lanflisi “was also the first person Aaron embraced when the Packers won the Super-bowl in 2011,” and as of late, has posted a string of “bitter subliminal” tweets … alluding to a relationship much deeper than a friendship he had.”
In one instance, Lanflisi captioned a Sept. 30 selfie, “Silence always comes with an expiration date..”
The website’s source added that Lanflisi “has NEVER once tweeted about having a girlfriend just mainly about the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, and Justin Bieber’s music and sitting front row at Bieber’s concert.” (Rodgers, 30, has been romantically linked to model, and lifelong pal, Destiny Newton.)
PHOTOS: Aaron Rodgers Girfriend Is Sizzling Hot In A Bikini
In their attempt to dig up more telling info, the site published excerpts of a year-old MilwaukeeMag interview with the ace passer, in which he said he judges the rich and famous parade of people he meets “based on how they are to people like Kevin.
“Kevin, he’s not a famous person,” Rodgers told the magazine. “I want to see if they give Kevin the time of day, or if they big-time him.”
Going back further, to 2008, Rodgers talked up Lanflisi to the Sporting News, when asked about who he lives with.
“I’ve got a roommate, a guy I met in town,” he told the outlet. “He works for the Packers now as an athletic trainer, but he was interning when I met him and we just hit it off. He’s been great for me as far as great conversations outside of football.
PHOTOS: Bikini Babes Who Play With Pro Athletes
“Our friendship goes a lot deeper than what we do.”
As we previously reported, free agent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said at an April PFLAG event that as many as four players were discussing whether to come out as a group.
“It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy,” Ayanbadejo said at the time. “It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out. It’s exciting. We’re in talks with a few guys who are considering it,” he said.
Shortly after Ayanbadejo’s announcement, athletes such as NBA journeyman Jason Collins and WWE wrestler Darren Young publicly identified themselves as gay, receiving much support and accolades from their peers for their courage in doing so.
Rodgers, who played his first game Sunday in nearly two months while recovering from a broken collarbone, has not addressed the reports on his Twitter account.
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Attack suggests need for new data safeguards.
For social scientists, the age of big data carries big promises: a chance to mine demographic, financial, medical, and other vast data sets in fine detail to learn how we lead our lives. For privacy advocates, however, the prospect is alarming. They worry that the people represented in such data may not stay anonymous for long. A study of credit card data in this week's issue of Science (p. 536) bears out those fears, showing that it takes only a tiny amount of personal information to de-anonymize people.
“The open sharing of raw data sets is not the future.” Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, MIT PHOTO: ADAM GAULT/GETTY IMAGES
The result, coming on top of earlier demonstrations that personal identities are easy to pry from anonymized data sets, indicates that such troves need new safeguards. “In light of the results, data custodians should carefully limit access to data,” says Arvind Narayanan, a computer scientist at Princeton University who was not involved with the study. Or as the study's lead author, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, an applied mathematician at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, puts it: When it comes to sensitive personal information, “the open sharing of raw data sets is not the future.”
De Montjoye's team analyzed 3 months of credit card transactions, chronicling the spending of 1.1 million people in 10,000 shops in a single country. (The team is tightlipped about the data's source—a “major bank,” de Montjoye says—and it has not disclosed which country.) The bank stripped away names, credit card numbers, shop addresses, and even the exact times of the transactions. All that remained were the metadata: amounts spent, shop type—restaurant, gym, or grocery store, for example—and a code representing each person.
But because each individual's spending pattern is unique, the data have a very high “unicity.” That makes them ripe for what de Montjoye calls a “correlation attack.” To reveal a person's identity, you just need to correlate the metadata with information about the person from an outside source.
One correlation attack became famous last year when the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission released a data set of the times, routes, and cab fares for 173 million rides. Passenger names were not included. But armed with time-stamped photos of celebrities getting in and out of taxis—there are websites devoted to celebrity spotting—bloggers, after deciphering taxi driver medallion numbers, easily figured out which celebrities paid which fares.
Stealing a page from the taxi data hack, de Montjoye's team simulated a correlation attack on the credit card metadata. They armed their computers with a collection of random observations about each individual in the data: information equivalent to a single time-stamped photo. (These clues were simulated, but people generate the real-world equivalent of this information day in and day out, for example through geolocated tweets or mobile phone apps that log location.) The computer used those clues to identify some of the anonymous spenders. The researchers then fed a different piece of outside information into the algorithm and tried again, and so on until every person was de-anonymized.
Just knowing an individual's location on four occasions was enough to fingerprint 90% of the spenders. And knowing the amount spent on those occasions—the equivalent of a few receipts from someone's trash—made it possible to de-anonymize nearly everyone and trace their entire transaction history with just three pieces of information per person. The findings echo the results of a 2013 Scientific Reports study in which de Montjoye and colleagues started with a trove of mobile phone metadata on subscribers' movements and showed that knowing a person's location on four occasions was enough to identify them.
One way to protect against correlation attacks is to blur the data by binning certain variables. For example, rather than revealing the exact day or price of a transaction, the public version of the data set might reveal only the week in which it occurred or a price range within which it fell. Binning did not thwart de Montjoye's correlation attack; instead, it only increased the amount of information needed to de-anonymize each person to the equivalent of a dozen receipts.
These studies needn't be the death knell for social science research using big data. “We need to bring the computation to the data, not the other way around,” de Montjoye says. Big data with sensitive information could live “in the cloud,” protected by gatekeeper software, he says. The gatekeeper would not allow access to individual records, thwarting correlation attacks, but would still let researchers ask statistical questions about the data.
The mathematics needed to run such a system, a set of standards and algorithms known as differential privacy, is one of the hottest topics in data science. “It works best when you have a large amount of data,” says Cynthia Dwork, a computer scientist at Microsoft Research in Mountain View, California, who is one of the pioneers of the technique. She admits that it is a stark departure from the traditional academic practice of open data sharing, and many scientists are resistant.
But without such safeguards, rich databases could remain off limits. Take, for example, the data MIT has accumulated from its massive open online courses. It's an information trove that education researchers dream of having: a record of the entire arc of the learning process for millions of students, says Salil Vadhan, a computer scientist at Harvard University. But the data are under lock and key, partly out of fears of a prospective privacy breach. “If we can provide data for research without endangering privacy,” Vadhan says, “it will do a lot of good.”
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Hyderabad: Politicians are known for hurling abuses at each other, but Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is taking the exercise to a new low altogether. He is setting a dubious benchmark when it comes to being ‘expressive’ in public meetings. When words such as ‘Satan’, ‘ghost’, ‘thief’, ‘liar’ and ‘deceiver’ become routine in public speeches along with a barrage of expletives, you know the red line is being crossed somewhere.
Take a look at the way KCR reviled Naidu a couple of days ago. “You are the worst (neechaathi neechamaina) chief minister in the country. You come across as Satan for Telangana. You are a ghost that engulfed Telangana. You are wreaking vengeance against people of the state. You are a deceiver. You are a cheat. You violated all the stipulations of AP Reorganisation Act. You are a liar… Are Srisailam and Krishnapatnam your father’s estate? (nee ayya jagir aa?) What is your bossism over those projects? You want the people and families in Telangana to wilt and the TRS government to become unpopular.”
KCR did not stop at that. He went on to say that Chandrababu Naidu was alleging that “we (the TRS government) lacked vision and farsightedness. But, we don’t have his donga choopu (a thief’s look). Telangana is suffering because of that.” Continuing his trenchant attack on Naidu, the Telangana Chief Minister said that Ashok Hinduja complained to him (KCR) that Chandrababu Naidu “threatened” him (Hinduja) not to sell power to Telangana from Hinduja Power utility. “You (Naidu) will burn yourself, if you play with fire. We are going to drag you to Supreme Court on the water/power issue,” he said.
KCR challenged that he was ready for a public debate either at Abids (in the heart of Hyderabad) or Praksam Barrage (the threshold of Vijayawada). “If I am proven wrong, I will rub my nose on the ground and apologise,” he asserted in a huffy tone.
This is not the first time KCR used opprobrious language. He held out a threat recently against those teasing women, saying he would get their eyeballs plucked. Asked if it was not unconstitutional and barbaric, he made light of the question and asserted that he would not compromise at any cost to protect the safety and security of women.
On an earlier occasion, at the birth anniversary of legendary poet Kaloji Narayana Rao in Warangal, the chief minister, who until then denied having his surreptitious hand behind the blocking the telecast of TV9 and ABN new channels in cable TVs in Telangana and that his party and government had nothing to do with that, suddenly burst out saying: “If they abuse KCR, I don’t care. But if they abuse the Telangana people and culture, we will bury them 10 km deep inside the earth.”
TRS sympathizers and leaders defend KCR’s remarks only as retorts, but not provocative. They ascribe Friday’s remarks also as a response to Chandrababu Naidu’s comments that TRS leaders and KCR might “blame me, even if their wives are not having family relation (meaning sex) with them.”
KCR is known for his vituperative remarks. Sometimes they became popular and runaway hits with the agitators and people. At other times, he drew flak. When he said long ago that his party would “drag Sonia Gandhi to bazaar”, he drew scornful remarks from all. The late YS Rajasekhara Reddy rebuked the TRS on the floor of the assembly and chided KCR by quoting his “acerbic and provocative” remarks over “seizure of property of Andhra investors and ban of Andhra educational institutions.”
A new state and chief ministership did not come to KCR just like that. He, indeed, earned both by dint of sheer effort and mobilizing enormous support to the political cause from multiple sections of society in India. But the tongue-lashing is showing him poor light. He brings no dignity to the top job.
Contextual criticism is acceptable and indeed welcome in a democracy. But crass remarks sure denigrate the dignity of anybody, especially the man making them.
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* Illustration: John Kascht * - __1. "This is where we fight! This is where they die!"
—King Leonidas__In 300, the king of Sparta uses this catchy jingle to rally his troops against the Persians. It scores big points for clarity, but it really gets a boost when 300 Spartans shout "HA-OOH!" in response.
__2. "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"
—Sergeant Major Daniel Daly__Besieged and outnumbered at the 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood, Daly egged on his men with a rhetorical question — and it actually worked. So well that Johnny Rico reused the line in Starship Troopers.
—Sergeant Major Daniel Daly__Besieged and outnumbered at the 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood, Daly egged on his men with a rhetorical question — and it actually worked. So well that Johnny Rico reused the line in Starship Troopers. __3. "By the power of Greyskull ... I have the powerrr!!!"
—He-Man__Prince Adam needs a thesaurus. His catchphrase is repetitive and vague (the power to do what, exactly?), but it's all about delivery: Props to him for managing to say it with conviction in a Speedo.
—He-Man__Prince Adam needs a thesaurus. His catchphrase is repetitive and vague (the power to do what, exactly?), but it's all about delivery: Props to him for managing to say it with conviction in a Speedo. __4. "Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over till we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
—Bluto__The Animal House call to arms transcends its historical imprecision by appealing to the brotherhood of all men and, by implication, the universal desire to get tanked wearing a bedsheet. Toga! Toga!
—Bluto__The Animal House call to arms transcends its historical imprecision by appealing to the brotherhood of all men and, by implication, the universal desire to get tanked wearing a bedsheet. Toga! Toga! __5. "From my cold, dead hands!"
—Charlton Heston__The NRA spokesperson and president didn't invent this slogan, but when he uttered the phrase in a primal, throaty growl while brandishing a musket over his head at the group's 2000 convention, it made the leap from bumper sticker to battle cry.
—Charlton Heston__The NRA spokesperson and president didn't invent this slogan, but when he uttered the phrase in a primal, throaty growl while brandishing a musket over his head at the group's 2000 convention, it made the leap from bumper sticker to battle cry. __6. "Tulta munille!" (Fire at their balls!)"
—Finnish troops__In Väinö Linna's World War II novel The Unknown Soldier, the Finnish hollered this easy-to-remember directive, masterfully exploiting castration anxiety.
—Finnish troops__In Väinö Linna's World War II novel The Unknown Soldier, the Finnish hollered this easy-to-remember directive, masterfully exploiting castration anxiety. __7. "Carthago delenda est!" (Carthage must be destroyed!)
—Cato the Elder__Back around 157 BC, the Roman statesman worked this imperative into all of his speeches on the senate floor. He also dropped it cold at toga parties and around town until the Third Punic War finally kicked off. Sound familiar?
—Cato the Elder__Back around 157 BC, the Roman statesman worked this imperative into all of his speeches on the senate floor. He also dropped it cold at toga parties and around town until the Third Punic War finally kicked off. Sound familiar? __8. "Leeeroy Jennnkins!"
—Leeroy Jenkins__This machinima avatar is immortalized among the World of Warcraft crowd for plunging into battle shouting his own nom de guerre while his comrades dawdled on the sidelines overthinking their strategy.
—Leeroy Jenkins__This machinima avatar is immortalized among the World of Warcraft crowd for plunging into battle shouting his own nom de guerre while his comrades dawdled on the sidelines overthinking their strategy. __9. "I am the Love Angel, I am Wedding Peach, and I am very angry with you!"
—Wedding Peach__In her eponymous manga and anime, the poor girl has to juggle a demanding junior high schedule while fighting an endless variety of devils. She didn't ask to be the Love Angel. It makes you wonder why her cry is so mildly worded and tempered with ambivalence.
—Wedding Peach__In her eponymous manga and anime, the poor girl has to juggle a demanding junior high schedule while fighting an endless variety of devils. She didn't ask to be the Love Angel. It makes you wonder why her cry is so mildly worded and tempered with ambivalence. __10. "Today is a good day to die!"
—Klingons__This badass race cherry-picked its maxim from the Sioux for its counterintuitive melding of both negative and positive thinking — a brand of logic sure to befuddle Spock.
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Fighting the Good Fight: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
April 21, 1878: Thinking Fast, Firefighter Slides Down a Pole
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Ohio state Sen. Bill Seitz, an ALEC board member, wants to kill his state's renewable energy standard. He says it reminds him of "Joseph Stalin's five-year plan."
After being accused of "literally lying" about climate change by one of its own high-profile business members, excoriated for being a "corporate bill mill," and losing nearly 100 company sponsors, you might expect the rabidly anti-environmental American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to tone it down a little.
Not a chance.
Emboldened by the November elections, which resulted in Republicans now controlling 31 governorships and more than two-thirds of state legislative chambers, the secretive corporate lobby group seems even more committed to its wrecking-ball agenda.
At the group's most recent conference, held earlier this month in Washington, D.C., more than 400 predominantly Republican state lawmakers and industry reps formulated sample legislation that will serve as templates for statehouses across the country. During the three-day event, they put the finishing touches on bills and resolutions that would, among other things, weaken the Endangered Species Act, thwart implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed standard for existing power plant carbon emissions, and block the EPA's new proposed standard for ground-level ozone.
If that weren't enough, they also considered a resolution urging Congress to abolish the EPA as we know it. Corporate lobbyists reportedly shot down the idea as too extreme even for ALEC, but the group can still do plenty to stymie government efforts to protect public health and the environment.
ALEC Serves Its Legislators Corporate Spin
Per usual, ALEC's dog and pony show also included one-sided policy tutorials by industry mouthpieces.
In one closed-door session, according to the Washington Post, an American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers Association official told ALEC lawmakers that the EPA's new ozone standard would harm states' economies and do little to protect residents' health. Never mind the fact that ground-level ozone -- the most pervasive pollutant nationwide -- is linked to asthma, heart disease and premature death, and the EPA estimates the proposed standard's public health benefits would be two to three times greater than the cost to industry.
Another session featured Jack Hubbard, vice president of the consulting firm Berman and Company, pitching his firm's campaign to undermine the credibility of leading environmental groups and celebrity activists. Called "Big Green Radicals," the campaign is similar to Berman and Company's attacks on labor unions, animal rights organizations and public health advocates on behalf of its anonymous corporate clients. This time around, the firm is targeting Food and Water Watch, Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, and earlier this year it placed billboard ads along the Pennsylvania Turnpike ridiculing Lady Gaga, Yoko Ono and Robert Redford for opposing hydraulic fracturing.
Finally, an ALEC conference wouldn't be complete without a climate science denier or two. At the organization's annual conference last July, Joe Bast, president of the fossil fuel industry-funded Heartland Institute, argued that the benefits of carbon emissions far outweigh their costs, while the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow denied that carbon dioxide is a primary cause of global warming in the first place.
The D.C. conference showcased two speakers who made similarly indefensible claims. Craig Idso, chairman of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change, and Richard Bezdek, president of the research firm Management Information Services, were the featured speakers at a session titled "The Greening of Planet Earth."
Idso, a Heartland Institute grantee and former environmental science director at Peabody Energy, the world's largest private sector coal company, told the gathering, according to Al Jazeera: "We are rapidly approaching a dangerous precipice -- a precipice defined by an insatiable desire by far too many policymakers to regulate the use of fossil fuels. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is not a pollutant."
Bezdek, meanwhile, likened climate science advocates to Nazis.
"Virtually everything that climate activists say is demonstrably false, whether it's wildfires, whether it's ocean climate, or whether it's hurricanes. ... That's why it's frustrating," said Bezdek, who claims the benefits of carbon dioxide exceed its costs by a 50 to 1 ratio. "It's the old Nazi theory, that if you repeat a big lie loud enough and long enough, people believe it. That's unfortunately what's happened. It's very difficult to counter with a silly thing like facts."
Psychologists would call that "projection."
ALEC 'Wields Considerable Influence'
ALEC boasts that its 1,800 legislator members introduce nearly 1,000 ALEC-inspired bills annually and that 20 percent of them, on average, become law. A 2013 report by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) indicates that ALEC's numbers are pretty much on the mark.
The CMD study identified 466 ALEC bills introduced in the 2013 legislative session across the country on topics ranging from voter identification and "stand your ground" rights to energy and the environment. Eighty-four of the 466 bills passed and became law -- an 18-percent success rate. That's a stunning accomplishment, considering that the U.S. Congress passed less than 2 percent of the bills introduced in 2012.
Molly Jackman, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University, agrees that the group's track record is impressive. "The American Legislative Exchange Council wields considerable influence in state legislatures," Jackman concluded in her 2013 analysis of 132 ALEC-sponsored bills she conducted as a fellow at the Brookings Institution. "The bills that it writes find their way into the majority of state legislatures. Moreover, the percentage of those bills that pass is strikingly high compared to the dismal rate at which all other bills are enacted into law."
State Legislators Vulnerable to ALEC's Wiles
So why does ALEC have such a good track record?
State lawmakers have limited time, limited salaries and, perhaps most important, limited resources.
"States are prime targets for corporations because it's easier to get things out of state legislatures than Congress," explained political scientist Darrell West, the Brookings Institution's director of governance studies. "The biggest problem is state legislators are understaffed."
Stella Rouse, a political scientist at the University of Maryland, seconded that assessment. "The legislative staff issue is huge," she said. "They are vital. Legislators want to introduce bills, but when they don't have a staff or it is very limited, ALEC provides them with a shortcut by providing a ready-made bill. ALEC provides the expertise that legislatures lack."
The fact that most state legislatures are part-time and consequently don't pay full-time salaries also strengthens the hand of groups like ALEC, added West, the author of Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust, which analyzes the growing political activism of the uber rich. "Many legislators have to have jobs on the side, so they don't have a lot of time to put into legislating. That makes them dependent on outside sources."
The numbers tell the story. Only 10 states have what could be considered a full-time, or nearly full-time, legislature: California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Lawmakers in those states work at least 80 percent of a full-time job on legislative work, which includes time in session, constituent services, committee work and electioneering. They currently make an average of $81,000 a year and, based on 2009 data, average nine staff members each, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan, professional-development organization that does not accept corporate money or produce sample legislation.
Lawmakers in another 24 states devote about 70 percent of a full-time job to legislative duties. On average, they make $43,000 annually and average three staff members each. Lawmakers in the remaining 16 states, meanwhile, work only 54 percent of a full-time job and make an average of only $19,000. They average one staff member each, and a number of legislators have no personal staff at all.
That's a void ALEC is only too eager to fill.
Taking Care of ALEC Legislators at Election Time
ALEC corporate sector members do much more than feed lawmakers sample legislation and break bread with them at ALEC conferences. Most of ALEC's funding comes from the more than 200 corporations, trade groups, corporate law firms and industry-funded think tanks that pay annual dues of $7,000 to $25,000, plus $25,000 to $40,000 to sponsor an ALEC conference session. And many of those corporations and trade groups ply ALEC lawmakers with generous campaign contributions.
An analysis of the campaign contributions ALEC energy sector members made to the organization's board of directors, for example, found that all but one of the 21 board members received funding over the last decade from at least one ALEC energy company, utility or trade association. In most cases, they received multiple donations, which collectively amounted to more than $290,000. Top ALEC energy sector contributors included BP North America, which donated to eight board members; Conoco Phillips, Duke Energy, ExxonMobil and Koch Industries, which each funded seven board members; American Electric Power, which backed six; and Chevron, which financed five.
All that support builds loyalty. Ohio state Sen. Bill Seitz, an ALEC board member, is a case in point. A Republican lawyer from Cincinnati, Seitz received more than $70,000 from coal, oil and gas, and utility companies in the 2008 and 2012 election cycles. Half of that money came from two Ohio-based utilities that rely heavily on coal: American Electric Power, an ALEC member headquartered in Columbus, gave him $21,500, and the Akron-based FirstEnergy contributed $15,000. Ashland Oil, BP North America, Dominion, Duke Energy, Marathon Oil and Spectra Energy -- all ALEC members -- also donated to his campaigns.
Chairman of the Senate Public Utilities Committee, Seitz has been leading the effort to gut Ohio's energy efficiency and renewable energy standards, which, compared to those in other states, are relatively modest. The Ohio efficiency standard set a target of reducing energy use by 22.5 percent by 2025, while the renewable standard requires Ohio utilities to generate 12.5 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the same year.
Modest or not, the standards have already delivered benefits. For example, according to Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, a trade group, in just four years the energy efficiency standard saved Ohio consumers more than $1 billion. Meanwhile, filings by Ohio utilities, including American Electric Power, Duke Energy and FirstEnergy, show that the standard has saved consumers two dollars for every dollar invested.
Regardless, ALEC has set its sights squarely on killing these standards across the country. In this case, Seitz failed to get ALEC-sponsored bills passed that would have repealed the standards, but he was able to push through a bill last summer that stopped the mandated annual increases in their targets for two years to allow a committee to study their impact.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a former ALEC member who received more than $200,000 in campaign contributions from utility, coal, and oil and gas companies over the last two election cycles, signed the bill into law in June.
State Innovation Exchange Enters the Fray
A day before ALEC convened its Washington, D.C., conference, more than 100 national, state and grassroots organizations issued a joint letter urging ALEC state lawmakers to reject the group's anti-environmental agenda, cancel their memberships, and encourage their colleagues to do so as well. Signatories included African American Ministers in Action, Environment America, Healthcare Without Harm, Interfaith Power and Light, the League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"ALEC is pushing to weaken or repeal state renewable energy and efficiency standards, to reduce financial incentives to adopt rooftop solar, and to undermine EPA's efforts to limit carbon pollution from power plants," the letter stated. "ALEC does not support any policies that would move toward solving the climate crisis."
Meanwhile, a week after the ALEC conference, more than 200 state lawmakers, consultants, donors and public interest advocates gathered in the nation's capital to mount their own challenge.
It was the first national meeting of the newly minted State Innovation Exchange (SIX), whose mission is to support progressive state lawmakers by providing training and technical support, as well as sample bills to protect voting rights, raise the minimum wage, and strengthen public health and environmental safeguards. The group hopes to raise $3 million to $5 million for SIX's first year and eventually establish a $10-million annual budget funded by individual donors, unions, foundations and corporations.
"Progressives are looking around to figure out where to push back, and there has not been a vehicle to do that at the state level," SIX Executive Director Nick Rathod, the White House liaison to the states during President Obama's first term, told Politico. "It's the biggest missing piece in the progressive infrastructure."
SIX has a formidable task ahead, but Rathod is banking on what it lacks in funding and experience will be made up by what he sees as a distinct advantage. As Rathod puts it, SIX -- unlike ALEC -- is promoting a "people's agenda," not a corporate one.
"It's stupid to create an organization that is mimicking something else," Rathod said during the SIX conference's opening session. "We're going to be better than that. We're different from them because we're going to be transparent. We won't go behind closed doors and vote with corporate America."
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By By Arthur Weinreb Jul 19, 2014 in Crime Toronto - A 50-year-old former employee of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) faces the numerous offences after it was alleged she helped people obtain Canadian passports and other travel documents they were not legally entitled to. Aline Rozeline Zeitoune, 50, is charged with one count of breach of trust and numerous counts of making or procuring an identity document relating to another person, forging or uttering a false passport, using or dealing with a passport knowing it is false, and using, trafficking or possession of a forged document. Zeitoune was arrested at he parents' Toronto home on Thursday. The investigation began in March 2013 when CIC began suspecting one of their employees was making and issuing false passports and notified the RCMP. It is not known exactly when these false passports were allegedly made. RCMP Sgt. Louie Casale Police are not certain of the motive for the making and issuing of the fraudulent passports. RCMP spokesman Sgt. Richard Rollings According to the RCMP, 22 people received passports alleged to have been forged. Of the 22, Police will not say how many of the remaining 18 remain in the country. The RCMP are looking for the remaining 18 with the assistance of domestic and international law enforcement officials. Zeitoune was held in custody and made her first court appearance yesterday. The Serious and Organized Crime Section of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police made the announcement of the arrest yesterday. The woman is a former employee of the CIC and worked in the Greater Toronto Area.Aline Rozeline Zeitoune, 50, is charged with one count of breach of trust and numerous counts of making or procuring an identity document relating to another person, forging or uttering a false passport, using or dealing with a passport knowing it is false, and using, trafficking or possession of a forged document.Zeitoune was arrested at he parents' Toronto home on Thursday.The investigation began in March 2013 when CIC began suspecting one of their employees was making and issuing false passports and notified the RCMP. It is not known exactly when these false passports were allegedly made.RCMP Sgt. Louie Casale said , "Criminals will go to great lengths to obtain fake or fraudulent passports to allow them the freedom to travel throughout the world. It is very important to maintain the reputation of the Canadian passport and the RCMP will diligently investigate those responsible for passport fraud."Police are not certain of the motive for the making and issuing of the fraudulent passports. RCMP spokesman Sgt. Richard Rollings said , "We suspect the accused may have been involved in the scheme for financial gain. However this is very much an ongoing investigation and the exact motivation behind the scheme is still to be determined."According to the RCMP, 22 people received passports alleged to have been forged. Of the 22, four people have been arrested . A 49-year-old Jamaican and a 54-year-old man from Uruguay have been deported from Canada. A 36-year-old man from Israel and a 38-year-old Indian national remain in Canada and are in custody.Police will not say how many of the remaining 18 remain in the country. The RCMP are looking for the remaining 18 with the assistance of domestic and international law enforcement officials.Zeitoune was held in custody and made her first court appearance yesterday. More about Passport fraud, breach of trust, citizenship and immigration canada, aline zeitoune More news from Passport fraud breach of trust citizenship and immi... aline zeitoune
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Who cares about the eternal alchemy if you could travel through the world? Reading stupid books and researching useless theoretical things he doesn't care about....nah that's for all the boring Asura out there. Phlynx isn't boring, oh no, he is quite the opposite of that.
He was meant to be a pilot! Ever since he saw an airship with his own bright eyes his greatest wish was to be the captain of such an amazing flying thing. Oh how he wished to leave Rata Sum and how much trouble he got into when he tried to build his own glider and flew into his teacher's laboratory.
Everyone kept telling him to stop dreaming about something he would never be, no one believed in him and no one took his dreams seriously.
"Look at you, you barely passed any test you really think you could just become pilot? Keep things realistic and rational! The possibility to get what you want is under 10%"- those were the words he heard quite often, words which made him angry but Phlynx never gave up.
One day he left his home town to follow his dreams. He never thought that so many adventures would await him or that there are more hidden and unknown places in Tyria that no one have ever seen.
Though the training was really hard he managed to become the smallest pilot his crew has ever seen. Everyone underestimated him but at the end he got what he wanted and he was damn good at it. Above the ground- that's where his home is now. His destiny- exploring every hidden place around the world.
Going back to Rata Sum? Never! But he enjoys sending letters to those who always doubted him!
Ohai! o/
A few days ago I created this little fella and I instantly fell in love with him. Since I had a few SAB- weaponskins in my bank I wanted to use them on something but a typical Asura look wasn't really the direction I was going to. After a few tries I decided to finally use the Aviator Cap to create a little cute pilot and I must say I like the overall look! It's not always easy to find a nice and cool armour on Asuras and I hope you can see that I put some effort in his outfit :>
Also as you can see I also have some Asura in game and more than just one male individual! :D
I know that some screens are a bit too dark it's mostly because the light wasn't really doing me a favour or maybe the dyes are a bit too dark though they are not terrible looking in game. I kinda wanted to use the new location in Lionsarch I mean it's an airship heaven and it would have been a shame not to use this place so I kinda tolerated the bad light conditions in there to get some authentic pics.
Hope you like it!
EDIT: I replaced some of the screens and decided to enter the contest in hope some of you guys like my concept :>
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This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1221 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why we’re doing this fundraiser, what we’ve accomplished in the last year, and our fifth target, more original reporting.
Yves here. Yet another example of how charter schools game the system by pruning their student body so as to produce prettier-looking test scores.
By Alan Singer, a social studies educator at Hofstra University. Originally published at Huffington Post
Hedge fund billionaires and major politicians like President Obama, Republican Presidential contender Jeb Bush, and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo love charter schools. For Obama, Bush, and Cuomo they are the miracle cure for what ails American education. Los Angeles is considering a proposal Broad Foundation to turn half of its public schools into charters by 2023. But what is the “miracle” behind claims for higher student test scores at some well-known charter schools? It may simply be “lock them out to drive them out.” Let’s look at the Success Academy Charter School Network, whose schools would more aptly be named “Suspension Academies.”
According to a report by the website Chalkbeat, in New York City charter schools suspended students at about three times the rate of traditional public schools. Chalkbeat found that “charter schools suspended at least 11 percent of their students that year, while district schools suspended 4.2 percent of their students.” Their study also concluded “The charter-school suspension rate is likely an underestimate because charter schools don’t have to report suspensions that students serve in school.”
In a PBS NewsHour interview with John Merrow, Eva Moskowitz, CEO of the Success Academy Charter Schools bragged about high test scores and parental applications for the networks entrance lottery. But she was much more defensive when questioned about the charter school network’s code of conduct and suspension policies. Merrow also interviewed Marie Chauvet-Monchik, Principal of PS-138 Brooklyn on the show. Chauvet-Monchik was adamantly opposed to suspending from school children in younger grades. According to Chauvet-Monchik, “When you send a child home, the child is missing instruction. So, I’m actually robbing the child of an education if I suspend the child.”
Merrow then turned to the Success Academy Charter Schools where discipline for their “scholars” is much more punitive. According to Merrow, “Last year, principal Monica Komery issued 44 out-of-school suspensions to her 203 kindergartners and first graders.” Her school is one of 34 Success Academies operating in New York City. The schools are publicly funded, but under private control. Komery admitted “We do have a zero-tolerance policy around certain behaviors,” but claimed “I don’t just suspend children as the first course of action” and argued “It’s well-thought-out. It’s a process, and there are systems in place.”
Moskowitz, when interviewed by Merrow, defended the suspension policy because “If you get it right in the early years, you actually have to suspend far less when the kids are older, because they understand what is expected of them.
According to Merrow, Success Academy’s “code of conduct runs six pages and identifies 65 infractions, from bullying and gambling to littering and failing to be in a ready-to-succeed position.” These policies seem more like preparation for “Walking while Black” in Stop-and-Frisk New York City than a school discipline code. A former Success Academy Upper West student, interviewed by Merrow, told how he was “ticketed” if his shirt was out of his pants or if he wore the wrong color shoes. If these Success Academy “infractions” are repeated they can trigger an “out-of-school suspension.” Because of these policies the suspension rates at Success Academy Charter schools are almost three times higher than in regular New York City K-12 public schools. The figure is even more outrageous because seventy percent of Success Academy “scholars” are elementary school students.
Moskowitz defended the networks zero-tolerance policies as a way of maximizing “freedom” and the suspension of children as young as five for “using sexually explicit language,” which she called “very upsetting.” Merrow however would not let her off the hook. It seems the code also called for suspension for “calling out the right answer twice without being called on.”
According to Success Academy critics, the suspension of young children has little to do with improving student conduct. It is really a policy designed to jack-up average standardized test scores by pushing out any potentially troubled or poorly performing youngsters. Moskowitz dismissed these charges as “just crazy talk.”
However at one Success Academy school eleven kindergarten and first grade students were suspended a total of forty-four times, including one student who was suspended twelve times until the family transferred the child to a public school. At another one of Moskowitz’s schools thirty-two students were suspended a total of 101 times. Parents told PBS reporters that ” young children were sent home multiple times for infractions like not paying attention or for getting out of their seats to look at the bulletin board.” Despite Moskowitz’s facile dismissal of Success Academy’s critics and charges that it suspends students to boost test scores, Success Academy schools have an attrition rate at least twice as high as at other major charter school networks in the city.
There are other causes for concern with the Moskowitz approach to “success.” Success Academy staff is disproportionately White and transient. In 2012 59% of teachers in the New York City public schools were White. But according to one study, at ten Success schools the teaching staff was over 70% White. Additionally, about a third of the staff leaves every year before they ever learn how to really teach. One anonymous Success Academy employee posted online “Success Academy Charter Schools has exceptionally low morale and exceptionally high employee turnover due to the utter disregard and even disdain with which the senior management treat the majority of the employees. Members of upper management have been known to throw work at employees, make culturally insensitive comments (a huge gaffe considering the diverse populations we serve), and to suggest that employees must have deep-seated personal issues if they seek encouragement or feedback from their managers.”
To compensate for the teacher turnover rate, Success’s minimally qualified teachers are often “certified” through “Success Academy” education programs and in classrooms they are expected to follow scripted lesson plans. Under these circumstances it is not clear to me how even the most enthusiastic young teachers can develop sensitivity to the needs of diverse student populations, especially students who may be from backgrounds and with experiences that are far different from their own. This may well explain the need for “lock them out to drive them out.”
I confess in kindergarten and first grade I yelled out correct answers without raising my hand more than once. I can only wonder how I would have fared as a child in a Moskowitz “Suspension Academy” school.
I welcome dissenting comments and would also like to find out how I can see the code of conduct.
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Actor Kevin Sorbo apologized last week for an angry rant that he wrote about African-American protesters in Ferguson, Mo.
On his Facebook page, Sorbo called the protesters “losers” and “animals” who blame “everybody else” for their personal failures in life. Earlier this year, Sorbo told Fox News how he blamed liberals in Hollywood for his lack of work.
This week, Sorbo claimed that atheists are "filled with anger and hatred," noted RightWingWatch.org (audio below).
During an appearance on the "End Times" radio show yesterday, Sorbo was promoting his new Christian film "God Is Not Dead."
In the film, Sorbo plays an stereotypical bitter atheist college professor who wants to destroy the faith of his Christian students.
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According to RawStory.com, Sorbo said he based his character on the stereotype of atheists that he claimed to see in the media: "I pretty much based my character [in God Is Not Dead] off of these guys that I see who are just angry, they’re just filled with anger and hatred.”
“On the one hand,” said Sorbo, “I feel sorry for them, but then I kind of laugh at them. Why would anybody spend so much time ranting and raving about something they don’t believe in?”
However, Sorbo failed to note his own preoccupation with atheism, which he doesn't "believe in."
"I know these guys must believe in something, otherwise they wouldn't get so angry about it and they don't like the fact that there is a higher power out there that is judging how they live their life," added Sorbo.
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Sources: Fox News, RightWingWatch.org, RawStory.com (Image Credit: Seanpanderson)
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Unless you are paying your bill or having connectivity issues, then you might not give much thought to your Internet service provider (ISP). Do you ever stop to think about what your ISP can actually see and knows about you? Much like Google, your ISP knows pretty much everything about you. And ISPs share your personal information for marketing and other uses.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler doesn’t believe consumers really grasp how much personal data they hand over to their ISPs, so the FCC wants ISPs to get their customers’ consent before sharing that data. Wheeler pointed out that all your network traffic goes through your ISP which can see all unencrypted traffic and even “private information such as a chronic medical condition or financial problems” when the data is encrypted.
Some high-profile ISPs were not pleased after the FCC proposed rules (pdf) to give broadband consumers more privacy. To dispute the notion that ISPs are “somehow uniquely positioned in the Internet ecosystem,” AT&T wants you read Georgia Institute of Technology professor Peter Swire’s paper titled “Online Privacy and ISPs: ISP Access to Consumer Data is Limited and Often Less than Access by Others.”
Although Swire’s paper may be used to assist the FCC as it decides how to handle broadband privacy, the same paper was criticized for technical inaccuracies by Princeton professor Nick Feamster before Feamster revised his statement to say Swire’s paper skips over “important additional facts that should be considered by policymakers.”
Technologists at Upturn, who “understand law and policy,” also believe Swire’s paper could mislead readers into believing what broadband ISPs can see. So the Upturn team provided an “alternate, technically expert assessment” of what ISPs can see; it includes four key technical clarifications.
1. Truly pervasive encryption on the Internet is still a long way off.
Of the 50 most popular websites in three areas, 86% of health and shopping sites and 90% of news sites do not encrypt. ISPs can see the site URLs and content on each page. “Many sites are small in data volume, but high in privacy sensitivity,” Upturn wrote. “They can paint a revealing picture of the user’s online and offline life, even within a short period of time.”
Even a site that uses HTTPS can throw browser warnings at users because some part of the site is not encrypted, such as third-party advertising. Then there’s IoT devices that fail to encrypt all traffic sent and received. That’s a lot of data that’s fully visible to your ISP.
2. Even with HTTPS, ISPs can still see the domains that their subscribers visit.
When a site does use HTTPS, the Upturn team explained that an “ISP cannot see the URLs and content in unencrypted form,” but it can see and monitor requests made to the Domain Name System (DNS). Swire’s paper suggests that it “appears to be impractical and cost-prohibitive” for ISPs to collect and use DNS queries, but Upturn argues that ISPs logging DNS is pretty common “to detect potential infections of malicious software on user devices;” it’s “relatively cheap” and your DNS logs can be stored for later analysis. Comcast, for example, deploys “security-focused, per-subscriber DNS monitoring functionality on its network.”
“Detailed analysis of DNS query information on a per-subscriber basis is not only technically feasible and cost-effective, but actually takes place in the field today,” Upturn wrote. If you don’t really grasp the problem, Upturn offered this example of what an ISP could determine about a person based on domains visited over a short period of time:
[2015/03/09 18:34:44] abortionfacts.com
[2015/03/09 18:35:23] plannedparenthood.org
[2015/03/09 18:42:29] dcabortionfund.org
[2015/03/09 19:02:12] maps.google.com
Now add metadata collected over a longer period of time by an ISP and it “paints a revealing picture about a subscriber’s habits and interests.”
If you’ve never checked and you are curious, you can see what DNS servers you are using; you can even setup alternative DNS servers to use as well a protocol that will stop DNS spoofing.
3. Encrypted Internet traffic itself can be surprisingly revealing.
Upturn cites numerous research studies that show how much monitoring an ISP can still pull off even if a subscriber’s Internet traffic is encrypted. Such “side channel” monitoring is a big hit in countries which censor the Internet.
While the Swire paper claims that “[w]ith encrypted content, ISPs cannot see detailed URLs and content even if they try,” Upturn technologists claim, “Web site fingerprinting is a well-known technique that allows an ISP to potentially identify the specific encrypted web page that a user is visiting.”
Even when users surf over HTTPS connections, researchers have been able to successfully infer “the medical condition of users of a personal health web site, and the annual family income and investment choices of users of a leading financial web site,” as well as “reconstruct portions of encrypted VoIP conversations.”
ISPs overall may not rely on those methods, but that can certainly change if people start using encryption more. “Policymakers should have a clear understanding of what’s possible for ISPs to learn, both now and in the future,” Upturn wrote.
4. VPNs are poorly adopted and can provide incomplete protection.
Although you can protect your privacy by using a VPN, Swire cited a survey which found a pathetic 16% of users in the US have ever used a VPN; many of those are believed to be business users. Upturn suggested, “Relative to other countries, the rate of VPN use in the US is among the lowest in the world.” The cost of a reliable VPN might be an adoption hurdle. There are free VPN services, but Upturn noted that “subscribers generally get what they pay for.”
Swire maintains that using a VPN blocks an ISP from seeing where you surf and the domains you visit, but Upturn says that’s not always true; a VPN is not a “privacy silver bullet.” It “depends entirely on the user’s VPN configuration – and it would be quite difficult for non-experts to tell whether their configuration is properly tunneling their DNS queries, let alone to know that this is a question that needs to be asked. This is particularly common for Windows users.”
It’s your data and you should care about the FCC’s proposed rules to protect your online privacy from ISPs. I highly recommend reading the Upturn post in full. Oh, and happy Pi Day! If you think about it though, every day is PII day.
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Micah Richards could get used to life here in Florence. He wakes every morning to a view of Ponte Vecchio. After training with Fiorentina he often takes a stroll down to the Piazza del Duomo.
And when his partner is too busy running her own business back home, he will jump on a train to Milan to see friends, Nigel de Jong among them. 'It's only an hour and 20 minutes,' he says.
He seems to be something of a renaissance man. He admires the architecture and he adores the food, and he shuns what might be considered the standard footballer accessories.
Micah Richards is enjoying life in Italy on loan at Fiorentina, but is planning to move on again this summer
Richards seems to be something of a renaissance man, admiring the architecture and the food in Italy
The Manchester City youth product's contract expires this summer and he could play in England or Italy
A season at Fiorentina has seen Richards in and out of the team with the coach preferring a 3-5-2 formation
Not so interested these days in driving the latest supercar, his transport of choice is an old Porsche he bought from a mate. Around 15 years old so not exactly vintage, it's probably worth about the same as a Ford Mondeo but it is still his 'baby'. 'And it's good for these narrow streets,' he says, producing a picture of said vehicle on his mobile phone.
Prior to moving here last summer on loan his life, he says, was pretty good in Manchester too. He had been at Manchester City since he was 14. He had a comfortable home in a leafy part of Cheshire. His girlfriend had quit her job as a primary school teacher to start her own cup-cake business. He was at a club winning trophies; playing Champions League football. There was even the offer of a new contract on the table.
But Richards left City to play regular first team football, and he will more than likely leave Fiorentina this summer and be available on a free transfer with the same simple ambition.
Richards is a football obsessive. 'I'll watch an MLS game if it's on,' he says. He once joined Patrick Vieira on a trip to Italy just to take in a few Serie A games, including the Milan derby. So the idea of sitting on the bench and simply counting his money is one he finds rather unpalatable. Particularly when he is now 26 and, in his view, coming to his peak.
The problem at City, in his main position at right back, was Pablo Zabaleta. 'He was number one and I had to accept that,' says Richards. 'He has been outstanding.
'But I just couldn't get my head around being second choice. I'd rather play for a lesser team. I know a lot of players would just take the money at City. But I'd rather take a pay cut and play every week. Ideally you want to be playing at the highest level, in the Champions League and so on.
Richards and Sportsmail's Matt Lawton sit down together in Florence to discuss his past and future
Richards is a rarity in terms of English players - one willing to go abroad and try playing somewhere new
Pablo Zabaleta was preferred as the first-choice right back at City and Richards admits he has been superb
'But when you're fit and you're occasionally not even getting in the 18 … it's a tough school at Manchester City. It got to the stage where it didn't matter how well I did or how fit I was, Zabaleta was playing.'
In his mind it made the meeting he had with the City hierarchy 12 months ago easy. 'I had a conversation with Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano about a year ago, and they told me they wanted me to extend my contract,' he says. 'They told me the manager wanted me to stay. I have no problem with Manuel Pellegrini.
'But I just said "look, I've been here for 12 years. I haven't caused any problems. I've always given 100 per cent. I can't sign. I can't sign for another few years." I know they need to meet their quota of English players, but for my career I felt I had to move on. I couldn't just stay second choice.'
He had seen other players make that choice, of course. 'When I was a kid I used to look at Wes Brown,' he says. 'I loved him as a player. But he was always behind players like Rio Ferdinand and Vidic.
Richards occasionally gets a train out of the city of Florence to Milan and has embraced life in Italy
First-team football in Italy might not have been as regular as Richards would have liked after his move
Despite having spent his entire career contracted to Manchester City, Richards will now move on permanently
Txiki Begiristain (left), City's director of football, and club CEO Ferran Soriano (centre) offered Richards a new contract last summer but he turned down the deal and said he needed to leave for first-team football
'Even though he played in the Champions League final, and had a great career at United, he was never number one. And that must have been hard. They would use him when they needed him and I always felt he was better than that.
'If I had stayed at City I think I would have been someone who simply filled in when I was required. I'd rather go elsewhere and play regularly. Be a bigger part of a smaller team.
'When it came to coming here, I thought "you know what, everyone talks about English players not wanting to go abroad; I'm going to give it a go". And I did.'
The move to Fiorentina has not been without its frustrations, however. Here in Italy as well first team football has not been as regular as he would have liked. He has made just nine starts and 17 appearances in total since arriving at the end of last August, his situation was not helped by Vincenzo Montella's decision to change the defensive formation to a back three.
Richards showed off a 15-year-old Porsche that he drives on his phone - not the typical footballer's car
Richards (left, marking Arjen Robben in 2006) missed out on a place in England's World Cup squad last year
'I feel I've done well when I've played but for the next two or three games I've then not been in,' he says. 'I don't know whether it's because I've been on loan and I haven't made a commitment to stay. But, and I mean no disrespect to the players here, I don't think it's been a Zabaleta situation; I feel I should have been playing.
'We had a great result away to Juventus, for instance, winning there for the first time in something like 30 years. And I was dropped for the next game. Spurs in the Europa League. Beat them 2-0. I had a solid game. And I was out of the team for the next two games again.
'I'm always very honest. As I say, Zabaleta was amazing. But when I talked to Fiorentina they told me I'd play every game, and then after I arrive they change the formation to 3-5-2. I had to wait four or five months to be given a chance in the 3-5-2 formation, and if I'd known that was going to happen I probably wouldn't have come.
'But I see that as a real shame because I have really settled here. I'm renting this great apartment on the river from Luca Toni. I love the lads, I love the training, the city is absolutely amazing.'
Richards says he has been 'treated extremely well' in Florence and he appears to enjoy his surroundings
The soon-to-be free agent is now looking forward to the next chapter of his career - with more game-time
Richards is renting an apartment on the river from Verona striker and Serie A top goalscorer Luca Toni
There have been other positives. He says he has been 'treated extremely well' and playing in Serie A, however limited those opportunities have been, has been good experience.
'I think I've learnt quite a lot, playing here,' he says. 'I think they're probably a bit more defensively organised in Italy. And it's been a good season for Italian football. Juve are in the Champions League final. Us and Napoli got to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
'I'm more tactically aware now. People forget I was 18 when I made my England debut. Two years before that I was playing academy football. You can't be tactically brilliant at 18. I was thrown in at the deep-end at Manchester City. I'd make mistakes and my pace and strength would get me out of trouble.
'I think I've improved hugely in that area. I'm much more tactically aware. I'm 26 now and I feel the next five years will be my best and I want to join a club where I'm going to play. Being out of contract this summer hopefully I'm in a good position.'
He is open-minded about his next destination; a return to the Premier League or another club somewhere in Europe.
Richards is weighing up his options and feels that he needs a good move as he comes into his peak years
While he still believes that the Premier League is fantastic he is open to a move anywhere that he can play
Richards takes on Jan Vertonghen during Fiorentina's Europa League last 32 clash with Tottenham in February
'The Premier League is fantastic but I had my best season at City under Roberto Mancini and obviously he's at Inter Milan now, so maybe that could be an option,' he says. 'I think he definitely got the best out of me. As a coach I think Mancini was really good, and had he been given more time I think he could have done something special at City. I think he has proved he is a top line manager.'
Was he not too volatile? Not least with the players? 'I think some players are too soft,' says Richards. 'I played under Stuart Pearce at City, and if you didn't do what he said you'd get called all the names under the sun. Now a manager does that and it's "you can't disrespect me like that".
'He's the manager and every player should respect that. He did go overboard occasionally. The most extreme examples were with Mario (Balotelli). But they were like a husband and wife. And Mario still provided the assist that won us the league, so there you go.'
He likes Mario. 'I love Mario,' he says. 'I still speak to him now. I think he' s a great player too. At City he was probably still a bit immature. He then came back to Italy and developed more. He impressed at the World Cup. But now he's at a club (Liverpool) where everyone seems to have an opinion. And when the team wasn't doing well, he's became a target.'
Richards sees Inter Milan, where former Man City boss Roberto Mancini is in charge, as a possible option
Mancini and Richards got on well at City despite reports that the Italian boss lost the Etihad dressing room
Richards is still friends with Mario Balotelli (centre) says the striker has been unfairly targeted at Liverpool
Richards wonders if he has become a target for criticism since declining the invitation to be on standby for England for the European Championship in 2012. He wonders if it a factor in his exclusion from the England squad since then.
When Liverpool's Martin Kelly was then called up as a replacement for the injured Kyle Walker, it did look like a mistake. But his decision to opt for the Olympics was motivated by the same desire that drives him now. He knew he would play for Pearce at the Olympics. At the Euros he thought it less likely.
'We weren't allowed to play in both so I had to make a choice,' he says. 'Be on standby with England or play for Stuart Pearce at the Olympics? In hindsight it looked like a stupid decision because there was an injury and Martin Kelly went instead of me.
Richards turned down a standby place in England's Euro 2012 squad because he was not sure he would play
Richards played as part of Stuart Pearce's Team GB side at the Olympics in London rather than Euro 2012
Now that desire to play will hopefully lead Richards back to his dream of playing for England once again
'But I chose not to go on standby because I wanted to play. The same reason I came here and the same reason I didn't sign that contract at City.
'I don't regret it but I suspect it might have counted against me with England since then. I didn't deserve to go to the World Cup in Brazil. I hadn't played enough. But I felt a little hard done by, not getting picked in the first place for the Euros. I'd played regularly in the title-winning team but that wasn't enough seemingly. That was a bit hard to take when I didn't feel there was a better English right back than me that season.
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The internet is a great place for crowdsourcing data, and according to a new research by Microsoft, online search terms could lead to identifying cancer patients before they’re diagnosed.
The research, published this week on The Journal of Oncology, claims that by analyzing search engine queries (from Bing, specifically,) the team could spot early detections of those potentially suffering pancreatic cancer. The study looked at diagnosed patients and tracked their search history backward to see if their online searches could trigger flags in the key symptoms leading to their diagnosis.
While the Microsoft team did say they found patterns of search queries, it did not release exactly what symptoms could be considered warning signs of the disease. It did say, however, that it was able to identity potential patients with about 15 percent of the cases.
The team hopes that with further research, it may be able to better identify the patients to help them seek treatment as soon as possible. The New York Times states that early screenings could boost a five-year survival rate from 3 percent to around 5 to 7 percent.
The margin is tiny given that pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate, but the team believes that with this information, it may be able to build this out to a potential Cortana health feature or share this data with scientists for further research.
“We are excited about applying this analytical pipeline to other devastating and hard-to-detect diseases,” one of the team’s researchers said.
Microsoft Finds Cancer Clues in Search Queries on The New York Times
Read next: Sketch's new licensing scheme may cause designers to take a hard look at Adobe XD
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PICHER, Okla. - Picher, Oklahoma may be the biggest environmental disaster you've never heard of, KFSM reports.
What was once a boom town is now considered one of the most toxic cities in America.
Picher was thriving around World War I.
More than half the bullets fired during the war originated from lead mined in Picher.
Eventually, the town became one of the largest exporters of lead and zinc in the world.
Extracting lead leaves behind a chalky, white grit called mine tailings or chat.
As Picher's population swelled, so did the piles of chat, some as high as 150 feet tall and four football fields wide, KFSM reports.
When the metal mining stopped in the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency declared Picher a "Superfund" hazardous waste site.
It's a name given to areas so polluted they're placed on the national priority list for clean up.
According to KFSM, many of Picher's 14,000 residents didn't mind the chat.
Some would use it to fill their driveways.
Others even used it in their children's sandboxes.
At the time, the residents were unaware of the poisoning taking place.
In the mid 1990s, a school counselor learned of a link between lead and learning disabilities.
The entire school in Picher sits in the middle of the toxic waste dump.
Officials tested the students at the school, and of the students tested, 46% had unsafe levels of lead in their blood, according to KFSM.
Lead accumulates in the body over time. It can't be removed and the effects it has on the body can last a lifetime.
In 2005, the government approved a buyout to relocate 52 of the residents.
In 2008, an EF-4 tornado cut through the town, taking out 114 homes, none of which were rebuilt.
In 2009, the police department was disbanded, the school district closed, and the population shriveled from 14,000 to three known residents who still live in Picher today, KFSM reports.
The town is even a danger to its wildlife.
In 2015, more than 1,000 migratory birds were found dead across Picher.
Officials suspected they died of zinc poisoning.
According to KFSM, today, the chat piles are surrounded by barbed wire and government signs warning against trespassing.
Picher is now a virtual ghost town.
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I was a little surprised by Obie’s Drone Speech. I had expected something more political, but what we got was the real Obama, couched in leaden Powerpointese — ‘transnational threats’, for example. A bureaucrat’s speech, a technocrat’s speech, a professor’s speech, in which all the important and interesting questions are ruled out of order and the conclusion is therefore thoroughly foregone. The Summa Stultitiae of crackpot realism.
Just about every sentence is a lie — except for Obie’s rather self-congratulatory observation that Obama bin Laden, like the great god Pan, is dead. That much, at least, I am prepared to believe — once I’ve seen the death certificate.
Little joke there.
Interestingly, Obie seemed to prefer the term ‘extremists’ to ‘terrorists’. Being an extremist myself, by any reasonable standard, this has me casting nervous glances over my shoulder and out the window. Of course I won’t see the drone coming. I know that. But it’s a reflex.
One of the reasons for this choice of words — ‘extremists’ — is to include Timothy MvVeigh and the Boston bomberini and maybe, for all I know, Ted Kaczinsky and Sacco and Vanzetti and Gavrilo Prinzip and the Defenestrators Of Prague and the Gracchi in the list. Munging several different phenomena together under one rubric is a very good way to darken counsel and promote a single solution to a ginned-up imaginary problem. Do you have cancer? Male pattern baldness? Anorexia nervosa? They’re all the same thing, and I have the answer!
Its a very dull, boring, predictable speech — though it’s also a classic exercise in the rhetoric of instutional self-justification, and perhaps worth reading on that account. Go through it and keep a tally: sentence count, X; flat-out, palpable lies, Y. In my case Y/X came out to around 0.99. Your mileage may of course vary, but I bet it won’t vary much.
Among the slight literary ornaments that Obie saw fit to hang on this crudely-fashioned artificial tree was a reference to good old Mattress Jack Kennedy: “the long, twilight struggle of the Cold War”. This is mentioned along with the Civil War and the “struggle against Fascism”(*). So presumably Obie agrees with the cold war liberal consensus on this topic, namely that the Cold War was a righteous struggle and it’s a very good thing that ‘we’ won it. (From my own point of view, life was much better as long as there was a Soviet threat, and I miss it badly.)
All of us — even those who, younger than me, weren’t around for the event — have a kind of vague brainstem memory of Jack’s oratory. Memory tends to flatter it. Here’s the original:
“Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle…”
Oh boy oh boy. For tinselly, tin-eared, grandiose rodomontade, this is hard to beat. “Arms we need”! “Embattled we are!”
One can’t help thinking of Yoda.
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(*) Other peoples’ Fascism, that is. Our own — quite another matter.
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TALKS to shape an independent Scotland would begin within two weeks of a Yes vote, Alex Salmond will say today.
In a bold statement of intent, the First Minister will tell the SNP's spring conference in Aberdeen that a vote for independence on September 18 would trigger negotiations with the UK Government by the end of the month.
An "all-party Team Scotland" panel of negotiators comprising figures from across the political spectrum and independent experts would be assembled under the SNP's plans.
Mr Salmond will stress the discussions would seek a settlement in the interests of everyone in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
He will add: "The campaigning rhetoric will be over. The real work will begin."
The announcement is designed to help build a sense of momentum behind the Yes campaign.
However, a number of experts have questioned whether complex negotiations to divide up the UK's assets and debts could be achieved by Mr Salmond's proposed "Independence Day" deadline of March 24, 2016.
The SNP insist talks would also take place about sharing the pound in a currency union, though the UK Government has ruled out the proposal.
Mr Salmond will also use his final conference address before the vote to reach out to non-SNP supporters.
He will say: "This referendum is not about this party, or this First Minister, or even the wider Yes campaign. It's about putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.
"It's a vote for a government in Scotland that the people of Scotland choose, pursuing policies the people of Scotland support. That may be the SNP. It may be Labour. It may be a coalition.
"I tell you what it won't be. It won't be a government led by a party with just a single MP in Scotland. The era of unelected Tory governments handing out punishment to the poor and the disabled will be gone, and gone for good."
His comments will echo an appeal by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for Labour voters to back Yes.
She used her conference speech yesterday to claim Labour supporters could "reclaim" their party in the event of independence.
Earlier, Mr Salmond decried the UK Government's "campaign posturing" over the currency union, saying it had proved "spectacularly counter-productive" for the Westminster parties, and rounded on former Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson, the Labour peer, who this week warned a Yes vote would be "cataclysmic" for the West and that the "forces of darkness would simply love" a move to Scottish independence.
The First Minister said: "The sort of apocalyptic nonsense that Lord George Robertson was spouting in Washington over the last few days is an indication that the pressure seems to be getting to the No campaign as the Yes vote steadily increases month by month."
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Upcoming #msleg Special Elections Put Supermajority in Question by Frank Corder
As a result of the municipal elections last week, a total of three special elections are likely in the House over the next few months. A loss in one could send the Republican supermajority into the history books in Mississippi.
Special elections are non-partisan, however, candidates usually let it be known as to where they align on policy matters and what side of the aisle they plan to caucus with once elected. Plus, if you follow the money and endorsements it's not that difficult to figure out.
In Pearl River County, the House District 108 seat has a July 25 date set for its special election to replace Mark Formby, a 24 year member of the lower chamber who was appointed to serve on the Worker’s Compensation Commission by Gov. Phil Bryant.
Formby soundly won reelection over Democrat Leavern Guy 77% to 23% in 2015.
The
Two other vacancies will set up special elections this fall following last Tuesday's municipal election results.
The PineBelt's House District 102 seat currently held by Hattiesburg Mayor-Elect Toby Barker is one to watch.
Barker has been able to hold this seat amid shifting demographics, meaning that while he has won the last two legislative elections by 65% or higher over Democrat challengers,
In Warren County, the House District 54 seat will be vacated after Alex Monsour's South Ward Alderman win in Vicksburg.
Given the
As disjointed as Democrats have been on a statewide level, Republicans should be well aware that there will be a fight. Recruiting good candidates who are adequately funded and well staffed will mean everything to both sides.
And if HD 102 does somehow go blue, expect a push by House leadership to bring a sitting Democrat over into the fold so Republicans can remain with the coveted 74 seats.
Regardless, this should be a wakeup call for Republicans in the Mississippi legislature that nothing lasts forever. Supermajorities are indeed perishable and kicking the can down the road on major items can come back to bite you.
Posted June 12, 2017 - 8:32 am
The Mississippi GOP could be a victim of its own success in local races.As a result of the municipal elections last week, a total of three special elections are likely in the House over the next few months. A loss in one could send the Republican supermajority into the history books in Mississippi.Special elections are non-partisan, however, candidates usually let it be known as to where they align on policy matters and what side of the aisle they plan to caucus with once elected. Plus, if you follow the money and endorsements it's not that difficult to figure out.In Pearl River County, the House District 108 seat has a July 25 date set for its special election to replace Mark Formby, a 24 year member of the lower chamber who was appointed to serve on the Worker’s Compensation Commission by Gov. Phil Bryant.Formby soundly won reelection over Democrat Leavern Guy 77% to 23% in 2015.The population make up in HD 108 tends to be tailor-made for conservatives, leaving no reason to believe Republicans will not hold on to this seat.Two other vacancies will set up special elections this fall following last Tuesday's municipal election results.The PineBelt's House District 102 seat currently held by Hattiesburg Mayor-Elect Toby Barker is one to watch.Barker has been able to hold this seat amid shifting demographics, meaning that while he has won the last two legislative elections by 65% or higher over Democrat challengers, HD 102 has a population that could give a Democrat a decent shot with Barker not on the ballot.In Warren County, the House District 54 seat will be vacated after Alex Monsour's South Ward Alderman win in Vicksburg.Given the population of the district and that Monsour has largely been unopposed during his terms (2 out of 3 times), Republicans should feel confident in keeping HD 54 but they cannot phone this one in and expect to win.As disjointed as Democrats have been on a statewide level, Republicans should be well aware that there will be a fight. Recruiting good candidates who are adequately funded and well staffed will mean everything to both sides.And if HD 102 does somehow go blue, expect a push by House leadership to bring a sitting Democrat over into the fold so Republicans can remain with the coveted 74 seats.Regardless, this should be a wakeup call for Republicans in the Mississippi legislature that nothing lasts forever. Supermajorities are indeed perishable and kicking the can down the road on major items can come back to bite you. YallPolitics.Com now uses Facebook for comments. Log into Facebook to comment here.
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Scientists in India have named a new species of spider after famed (fictitious) wizard Godric Gryffindor from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels due to its resemblance of Hogwarts’ magical Sorting Hat.
The new species, which measures just 7mm, has been named Eriovixia Gryffindori, after Gryffindor, one of the founding wizards of Hogwarts, and original owner of the hat used by the wizarding school to sort students into their houses.
"We are very excited to have found this new spider whose shape is very similar to the magical sorting hat worn by the wizard (Gryffindor) in Harry Potter,” lead author Javed Ahmed told the Times of India.
"As a youngster, I was very fond of reading the Harry Potter books. So, when I encountered this tiny spider, I thought of the magical hat," he said.
The new “fantastic beast” was discovered in the Kans forest area of Western Ghats, Karnataka by a team already responsible for discovering five new spider species in the last two years. Their study is published in the Indian Journal of Arachnology.
The tiny creature has a magical power of its own, too: camouflage. Its unusually shaped sub-triangular abdomen allows it to look like a dried leaf, which it hides amongst to avoid predators when it sleeps during the day as it is nocturnal.
Ahmed even shared his exciting discovery with JK Rowling on Twitter. With typical enthusiasm, Rowling tweeted in response “I'm truly honoured! Congratulations on discovering another #FantasticBeast!"
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Discussing the name choice on Twitter with other Harry Potter fans, Ahmed suggested the possibility of naming another discovery after Aragog. For those of you who know what that means, we’re not sure whether we should be excited, or terrified.
[H/T: Mashable]
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How to Say, “No” In Difficult Situations
and build better personal boundaries.
George Halachev Blocked Unblock Follow Following Apr 11, 2017
The problems we have with productivity are not always due to lack of organization or time management. Sometimes it’s just because we commit to more things that we can handle. We end up spread out too thin, like butter scraped over too much bread, and lacking focus to finish what we started.
Often we don’t even make the conscious decision to commit to that many things, it just happens because we can’t say, “No.”
Here are some scenarios in which that happens often.
Your friend asks you for a favor that you hate doing, but you can’t say, “No” because he will think you’re a bad friend.
Your boss asks you to do a task you hate doing, but you can’t say, “No” because you’re afraid you’ll get fired.
Your partner asks you to do something that you hate doing, but you can’t say, “No” because you don’t want them to get mad and start an argument.
The two problems we’ll focus on here is when you should say “No” and how to say it to get the best possible outcome.
When you should say, “No.”
There are 3 types of situations where we should consider saying, “No”.
We want to do it but we don’t have time for it. We don’t want to do it and there are no better alternatives We don’t want to do it but we’re afraid of the outcome.
1) Know Your Availability
The first case where you should say “No” is when you’re already overcommitted and taking on more responsibility will make things even worse. The typical fear is that we’re going to miss on a good opportunity.
While this is true, think of what you might lose if you take on the challenge and you fail. Even worse, what if you fail not only the new responsibility but also the ones you’ve had before because you’re spread out too thin.
A great concept, in this case, is the opportunity cost. Most newbie investors think only about the gain. If there’s a high chance of success, they make the investment. They don’t consider the cost of the time and resources they’re putting in or the other available opportunities they can do instead.
So if you’re already booked a 100% think of the opportunity cost before saying “Yes” to something new. A good way to do that is to keep an always up to date calendar, to-do list, and budget. That way with one glance you can see if you can fit in the new opportunity without having to compromise something else.
2) No Better Alternative
These are the cases where you just don’t have a better choice and all other options seem worse. For example, when your boss says, “You either do this or you’re fired” and you don’t have another source of income.
These are the extreme cases where saying, “Yes” and sucking it up is fine. However, you shouldn’t leave it at that and accept the same thing over and over again. Work on coming up with an alternative solution the next time it happens.
Next time your boss goes into, “My way or the highway” mode, maybe you will have an alternative source of income and you’ll be fine with being fired.
3) Fear of the Outcome
This one is an emotional problem. We intellectually know that saying “Yes” in some cases is bad for us, but we just can’t bear the pain of saying “No”.
Those are the cases where you know you’re not going to get anything good out of it. You’re doing it just so you don’t hurt somebody else’s feelings or avoid a conflict.
Why is it so hard to say, “No”?
A big part of the problem is delaying the emotional pain. Even though we know that saying, “Yes” to something we don’t want is bad long term, sometimes we can’t bare the pain so we delay it. We rather suck it up, do something unpleasant to avoid the pain of disappointing someone.
As a result, we get to deal with more pain for doing something unpleasant, but it’s delayed. Since we’re not going to experience it in the moment it doesn’t seem so bad than saying, “No” right now.
None of this is conscious of course, that’s just how our subconscious mind works in the background. It does anything it can to avoid and delay the immediate pain.
So how do we deal with it?
Make the Decision In Advance
Be proactive about it. Don’t wait until the moment you have to say, “No” to make the decision. A lot of the things that we have to decide are recurring and happen over and over again.
If it’s something your boss is making you do, it’s probably not for the first time. If it’s your partner making you take out the trash, it’s probably not for the first time. So you can do some preparation in advance and figure out a good solution for when it happens next time.
How about figuring out an alternative way for the work to get done and offering that solution to your boss? Or trading the responsibility with one of your colleagues for something that you like more? How about hiring someone to help with the cleaning in the house so you don’t have to take out the trash?
These are just simple examples, but the point is that you can come up with a more intelligent solution when you’re thinking about it in advance. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself just because you don’t want to offend the person asking.
Building Healthy Boundaries
You know those people that seemingly have “come take advantage of me” written all over them? We tend to call them pushovers and people pleasers. That happens if a person doesn’t have healthy boundaries.
Having boundaries means being clear what you’re willing to do for other people and what you’re not. It also means you have to clearly define it in advance. It’s not really a boundary if you start building it when someone asks.
A good principle to use for the boundaries is to make sure it’s a win-win. If you help somebody out you should also be a winner. That doesn’t necessarily mean always wanting something in return, but making sure that what you give is worth it.
Doing something for a friend that you hate doing is a lose-win. Working on tasks that you hate doing is a lose-win.
Make sure you set boundaries to automatically reject all requests that are a lose-win. If you don’t let everybody know what your boundaries are, they will try to take advantage of you.
Rejecting other people seems harsh at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Make sure you communicate your motives well. Let the person you’re rejecting why you’re doing it. Help them find a better option and let them know what you are willing to help them with instead.
That way it won’t look like you’re throwing a hissy fit or you’re just in a bad mood. People will learn that you have strong boundaries and will respect you more for it.
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Barry Thew “paraded” through his home town in a white T-shirt bearing the handwritten slogans "One less pig; perfect justice" and "Killacopforfun.com haha".
He made the statement just three hours after PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone died in a gun and grenade attack less than 20 miles away on the other side of Manchester.
Police welcomed the prison term handed down to Thew, a serial offender who was given a further four months for breaching the terms of an earlier sentence.
Inspector Bryn Williams, of the Radcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “While officers on the ground were just learning of and trying to come to terms with the devastating news that two colleagues had been murdered, Thew thought nothing of going out in public with a T-shirt daubed with appalling handwritten comments on.
“Thankfully the overwhelming response from the public - who have inundated us with messages of support and condolence - prove that Thew is the exception and not the rule and our communities were right behind us at our darkest hour.
“To mock or joke about the tragic events of that morning is morally reprehensible and Thew has rightly been convicted and sentenced for his actions.”
But civil liberties campaigners said merely wearing an offensive T-shirt should not be an imprisonable offence, and pointed out that it followed similarly tough sentences given to internet users who made tasteless comments, rather than threats, on Facebook and Twitter.
Peter Tatchell, who is campaigning for reform of public order offences, said: “Barry Thew’s t-shirt was offensive but in a free society the public should have the right to criticise - and even insult - the police. His four month jail sentence is disproportionate. No one should be jailed for a mere insult.
“Mr Thew sounds an unpleasant character, with a long criminal history. It was insensitive and distressing for him to wear his anti-police t-shirt on that day. I empathise with the loved ones of the officers who were killed. However, four months in prison is excessive for a few poisonous words.
“The price of free speech is that we sometimes have to put up with views we find offensive."
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Thew was arrested at 2.15pm on September 18th as he walked through the streets of Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, while wearing the Reebok T-shirt on which the anti-police slogans had been daubed in black pen.
He had been spotted by members of the public who had only just heard about the killing of the female officers on an estate in Mottram, with one witness telling police: “I just caught sight out of his shirt out of the corner of my eye. I literally have no words to describe what I thought of it.”
But Thew, 39, told police: “I'm not bothered.”
He claimed he had been wearing the T-shirt in response to the death of a policeman who was accidentally shot dead in a training exercise in 2008.
Thew later admitted displaying or writing on offensive message with intention of causing harassment, alarm or distress.
The court heard he had 77 previous convictions dating back to 1983 and was in breach of a suspended jail term for cultivating cannabis.
His barrister said Thew had a grudge against the police because he partly blamed them for the death of his young son.
Judge Peter Lakin sentenced him to four months in jail for the public order offence, and another four months for the breach of the earlier sentence.
The judge told him: “On September 18 of this year two young, female police officers going lawfully about their duties were tragically murdered in the most appalling of set of circumstances.
"Their deaths have left their families distressed and have caused enormous upset to every level of the police and to the general public at large.
"Your response to the shocking events of that was to parade round in a T-shirt in the centre of Radcliffe which had on it the most disgusting slogans.
"Your mindless behaviour has added to the pain of everyone touched by the deaths of those young officers. You have shown no remorse - even when you were arrested your response was that you weren't bothered.
"Whatever thoughts you have about the police of whatever personal animosity towards them, gave you no excuse whatsoever to behave in the way that you did."
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Studies on race are a dime a dozen: researchers examine its relationship to everything from elementary school test scores to who's most likely to develop diabetes to which groups are overrepresented in ethnic militias to who Americans vote for, and we read about the results in news stories that are supposed to help us makes sense of the world.
But two Ivy League scholars say race is actually much more complicated than decades of social science research has acknowledged, and they're working to change that.
In their paper, "Race a Bundle of Sticks: Designs that Estimate Effects of Seemingly Immutable Characteristics," which will be published in the Annual Review of Political Science, Harvard's Maya Sen and Princeton's Omar Wasow explain that people who do quantitative research on race typically treat it as a single, fixed trait — what scientists call an "immutable characteristic."
Instead, they argue, quantitative researchers should acknowledge that any one person's racial identity is more like a collection of many different factors — from skin color, to neighborhood, to language, to socioeconomic status. With this insight, it becomes possible to study race not as a single, unchanging variable, but rather as a "a bundle of sticks" that can be pulled apart and carefully examined one by one.
The problem with oversimplifying race
Political science and other social science researchers often treat race as an "immutable characteristic" —something that we're born with and keep throughout life. That's how a lot of people do think about it. But this view makes studying the impact of racial categories on our lives really hard.
Why? First, it means race can't really be manipulated the way other variables can: you can't assign some people to be white, or black, or Latino for the purpose of a controlled experiment.
Second, because race is assigned at birth, it's tied up with a lot of other things in our lives. It can affect how a person is raised, how they're educated, the opportunities they have, and their outlook. This means that when researchers say they're looking at race, they're also getting all the stuff that goes hand in hand with it, making it impossible to tell whether they're seeing the effects of race itself or something that's a side effect of race or corollated with race.
Finally, racial labels can mean different things to different people. "Latino" can refer to a first-generation Mexican American from Los Angeles and a fourth-generation Puerto Rican from the Bronx. So research based on a racial category can capture broad swaths of people who have little in common except the way they choose to describe themselves, creating messy results.
How oversimplifying race makes for unhelpful research
When researchers ignore all the individual "sticks" and treat race as an immutable characteristic, it "misses a lot of the story," Wasow says.
Imagine a study that measures racial disparities in test scores by simply comparing results for black kids and white kids. It might tell us that there's a gap between these two groups. But it says very little about why. The lives of African American and white children tend to differ in so many ways that observing such a gap raises more questions than it answers.
"In a lot of traditional social science, by using a simple measure of race, we are often smoothing over all of this complexity and ignoring all of the ways that what we're calling race might be class, it might be neighborhood, it might be the experiences of our forbearers — it is really the composition of many, many experiences," Wasow says.
Worse, he says, these studies that simply point to race as a cause of different life outcomes miss the chance for policy interventions. For example, you can point to a black-white test score gap, but that doesn't tell you anything about what you might fix to close it. However, if you were to look at race in more detail and identified one "stick" that was responsible for black kids having lower test scores — say, access to better nutrition — that might provide something to work with in terms of solutions.
Here's another example: imagine a study that measures the impact of a campaign ad in which racial cues are being manipulated to change voting behavior. Wasow says this type of research can produce confusing results, too, if it doesn't look deeper into what exactly about race is being triggered by the ad and causing people to vote differently. Is it possible that it's a signal related to just one or two sticks, like socioeconomic status, or language? In the paper, he and Sen argue that researchers need to be precise about what type of cues are at work in their studies on bias, what "sticks" they relate to, and how these sticks are associated with race as a whole.
Why it makes sense to think of race as a "bundle of sticks"
"The core idea in the paper is that it is possible to study effects of race if we move away from a simple, fixed, biologically-determined model to a more complicated, fluid and socially-determined model," says Wasow.
The proposal is to take the idea that race is a social construct — which is gaining a cultural foothold as more people realize how complicated racial identity can be — and translate it to research.
Wasow and Sen propose that the "bundle of sticks" that make up racial categories includes things like societal values, status hierarchies, culture traits, physical attributes, diet, religion, ancestry, institutional power relationships, and education. Many of those traits are tightly linked to what we think of as race, but the key is that they can also be manipulated in the context of an experiment.
We could get better information on how race affects our lives, they argue, if researchers who study race would acknowledge this and carefully examine just one "stick" at a time: "Thinking about race as having constituent parts can clarify what precisely is being estimated when scholars attempt to understand how race and ethnicity operate in the world."
Here's a chart from their paper that contrasts the popular framework of looking at race with the constructivist/"bundle of sticks" one they embrace:
Which stick in the racial bundle is really affecting our lives?
Wasow and Sen write that, by focusing their studies on a single element (or stick), researchers can get much better information on the particular ways in which race as shapes life outcomes.
Remember when polls showed that African-Americans in California voted against the legalization of same-sex marriage at higher rates than whites? Wasow said examining the impact of the individual sticks that make up race helps revealed the actual factors that influenced opinions on the issue. In this case, religiosity was much more strongly associated with being against gay marriage than was race. Understanding the role that one stick played gives us much more accurate and richer information about voting behavior than simply saying, "black voters oppose gay marriage."
This "bundle of sticks approach" can also be useful when researchers are trying to determine how racial bias affects public opinion, political behavior, and hiring choices. Using signals of race — such as by varying a dialect over the phone when inquiring about housing or by varying the apparent ethnicity of a name on a resume when applying for jobs — they can measure levels of racial discrimination without needing to expose someone to the whole bundle that is race.
Wasow acknowledges that there are many important questions that are beyond the scope of this approach. "The framework we outline is particularly useful for scholars attempting to measure effects of race in experiments or studies that are like experiments. To study the role of race in historical processes or institutional bias where it may not be possible to run experiments, other methods may be more appropriate."
Either way, says Wasow, the key is recognizing that race is comprised of many parts, and that opens up the possibility of studying some individual "sticks" in isolation. This, he said, "helps us see what's actually doing the work," when it comes to how race affects our lives - which after all, is really what most of us want to understand.
Further reading: 11 ways race isn't real
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Monsanto's growing monopoly What the Supreme Court got wrong: Patents on self-replicating seed are unethical, dangerous and anti-competitive
When the Supreme Court unanimously sided with Monsanto recently, it upheld the company’s right to prohibit the replanting of patented seed – handing the biotech giant a major victory. The court ruled that the doctrine of “patent exhaustion,” which an Indiana farmer argued should apply after the first sale of patented seed, “does not permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder’s permission.”
It’s not surprising the court ruled in Monsanto’s favor. Still, the case had merit: The farmer, Vernon Hugh Bowman, wasn’t challenging Monsanto’s claims that he knowingly planted seed with its protected genetics. Instead, he challenged the way patent law is currently applied to self-replicating products – a worthy effort, considering the injustices patents on seed have sown across America.
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It’s relatively well understood that simply using seed with patented genetics – especially widely planted genetically engineered varieties, such as Roundup Ready soybeans – enters the user into a restrictive licensing agreement. Farmers sign these agreements at the time of sale, which includes a prohibition on planting more than one crop. The seed packaging also states that simply opening the bag binds the user to the agreement.
But Bowman thought that by purchasing soybean seed from a grain elevator he had found a legal way to plant seed from subsequent generations. He assumed the seed contained patented genetics but argued that the patent exhaustion doctrine allowed him to plant them anyway. Nevertheless, the Federal Circuit Court ruled, and the Supreme Court agreed, that Mr. Bowman must pay Monsanto more than $80,000.
Needless to say, Bowman is not alone in his desire to use seed from subsequent generations. More than 150 farmers have been targets of patent infringement lawsuits filed by Monsanto. And legislative initiatives at the federal level also highlight the demand. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, of Ohio, introduced legislation in 2004 and again this year to establish a registration and fee system that would allow farmers to legally save patented seed. “Companies deserve a fair return, not an exorbitant return,” Kaptur has said.
She’s right. Should developers of new seed varieties earn returns on their research and development investments? Yes, absolutely. But patents on self-replicating seed – and any living organism, for that matter – are unethical and dangerous.
The law needs to change. In the meantime, there is an important role for the judicial system to play in teasing out the injustices of the current patent system. Indeed, the outcome of another Supreme Court case that challenges patents on human genes will be telling.
Whether the recent ruling leaves a door open to further challenge how patents are applied to seed remains to be seen. Justice Elena Kagan’s comments suggest it does. “Our holding today is limited – addressing the situation before us, rather than every one involving a self-replicating product,” she wrote. “We recognize that such inventions are becoming ever more prevalent, complex and diverse.”
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Bowman’s case reflected that complexity. He was not only trying to save money, but challenging a relatively new paradigm in agriculture. It is only since another Supreme Court decision in 2001 that patent law – that is, the U.S. Patent Act governing utility patents, or “patents for inventions” – has applied to living organisms.
Think about it. In less than 15 years, many commodity crop farmers went from saving and replanting a portion of their harvest to largely buying new seed each year. This has increased farmers’ dependence on a highly consolidated and narrowly focused seed industry. The transition has also eroded farmers’ self-sufficiency and financial security. And the trend is spreading across the globe.
Congress long opposed the inclusion of plants under the Patent Act. A 1966 congressional committee report states that while its members “acknowledge the valuable contribution of plant and seed breeders, it does not consider the patent system the proper vehicle for the protection of such subject matter.”
Soon after, Congress passed the Plant Variety Protection Act. The law, passed in 1970, represented a compromise between their hesitance to patent seed and mounting pressure to provide seed developers stronger intellectual property protections. Before the 2001 ruling, seed developers largely relied on protections afforded through “Certificates of Protection” under the PVPA, providing seed developers exclusive marketing rights of their new varieties for 20 years (like a patent). But the law includes two critical exemptions: Farmers can save seed and breeders can use protected varieties to innovate, including the development of new varieties. The Patent Act provides no such exemptions, with devastating consequences.
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Owners of utility patents enjoy far-reaching control over access and use of their protected products. A single patent, for example, can cover a plant, tissue cultures, seed, future generations, crosses with other varieties, and the methods used to produce it. Such broad claims are not possible under the PVPA. And, even more troubling, these broad patents cover traits that can also exist in nature, such as “heat tolerant broccoli” and “pleasant taste” in melons.
Patents have grave impacts on innovation, despite Monsanto’s assertion to the contrary. Public researchers note the constraints of patents and the restrictive licensing agreements tied to them. These onerous agreements dictate what kind of research on patented seed can be conducted and published. The result is that patents effectively remove valuable seed varieties from the pool breeders rely on for improving our food crops.
That’s why it was disconcerting to read the court’s belief that if it didn’t protect how patents on seed are applied, the result would be “less incentive for innovation than Congress wanted” under the Patent Act. It’s clear that the oligopolies fostered by patent law have hindered innovation and competition in the marketplace.
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The profits earned from the exclusive ownership and licensing of patented seed products – bolstered by the right to restrict research and seed saving – has led to numerous buyouts. The Independent Professional Seed Association estimates the U.S. has lost at least 200 independent seed companies in the last 15 years. The seed industry is now one of the most concentrated in agriculture, where two chemical firms command more than 60 percent of the retail markets for both corn and soybeans. This level of concentration has left farmers with fewer choices and paying higher prices, and less control over what they plant.
The growing evidence that patents on seed are detrimental to the public good should raise eyebrows at the U.S. Department of Justice. And at the agency’s first of five public hearings “to explore competition issues” affecting agriculture, held in Ankeny, Iowa, it appeared that it had. Assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Antitrust Division Christine Varney highlighted the problem of patents in her opening remarks: “Patents have in the past been used to maintain or extend monopolies, and that’s illegal, and you can be sure, Secretary, that we are going to be looking very closely at any attempt to maintain or extend a monopoly through an abuse of patent laws.”
But hope that meaningful action would follow was short-lived. Neither the DOJ, nor its investigative partner, USDA, have provided a meaningful response to the 18,000 public comments they received.
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The agencies’ inaction, combined with the court ruling, creates a situation in which our government protects corporate control over seed.
Make no mistake: While the DOJ may have focused its investigation on the GMO marketplace, patent and competition concerns in seed are much broader. Conventional (non-GMO) varieties of seed are also increasingly being patented. And with Monsanto’s 2005 acquisition of the largest vegetable seed company, Seminis, the same contract that Mr. Bowman violated now appears on seed packets of vegetable varieties that are popular among backyard gardeners and farmers alike, including ‘Big Beef’ tomato, a variety that, as far as we know, doesn’t contain patented genetics.
And so we’re left with another important question: If our regulatory agencies are unwilling to confront the misuse of patent law in the context of seed, then what recourse do we, the people, have to ensure access to, and innovation in, seed?
For starters, despite a lack of acknowledgement in the Supreme Court ruling, there are appropriate intellectual property protections already available, including the PVPA. Congress could amend the PVPA to clarify its purpose to provide an exclusive means of intellectual property protection for self-replicating plant varieties.
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Organic Seed Alliance (where I work) is also exploring contracts, along with its partners, that adhere to principles of an “open-source” seed model. We believe it is possible to receive fair returns on investments while fostering new research that addresses our most pressing agricultural needs. We also believe farmers have the right to save seed from their harvest.
The seed patent issue is not just about GMOs or Monsanto. It is a seed issue that impacts us all, regardless of our decisions on the farm or in the grocery store. Seed is as fundamental to life as the food and fiber it produces. By way of order, then, seed is more fundamental. And it belongs in the hands of the people, not the patent holder.
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