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Artist Kate Jenkins makes elaborate crocheted food art in her studio in Brighton. Much of her art depicts the local fare—fish and chips, bangers and mash, and so on—but a recent series, “Kate’s Diner,” focused on classic American food. We previously posted about Jenkins’ crocheted anatomical hearts.
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Former 'Britain's Best Dad' admits assaulting wife Published duration 11 April 2013
A man once crowned Britain's Best Dad has been given a conditional discharge for attacking his wife.
Keith Preddie threw a washing frame and a plastic step at Emma Preddie during a row about Christmas shopping, before pinning her to the floor.
Croydon magistrates ordered Preddie, 44, who admitted one count of assault, to pay £100 compensation to his wife.
The Michael Jackson impersonator, from Stanger Road, South Norwood, was named Britain's Best Dad by GMTV in 2010.
'It's no good crying'
Croydon Magistrates' Court heard the couple's 12-year-old daughter was woken by the violence, on 18 December last year.
Preddie cried throughout the 10-minute hearing at the south London court, at one point burying his face into his chest.
As he was given a conditional discharge he burst into tears once more.
District judge Alan Baldwin told him: "It's no good crying. You have got to face up to this.
"A man of your background should have known better."
The court heard Preddie had no previous convictions and had done voluntary work to help pensioners.
He was supported in court by numerous members of the public.
Judge Baldwin said: "I have read the references and you are clearly a man of positive good character who has done a lot of good things and continue to do so.
"You have shown a great deal of remorse and understanding of what took place and taken steps to deal with it.
"I consider it a momentary lapse in an otherwise unblemished life."
Describing the assault, prosecutor Nicholas Earl-Quarcoo said Preddie pinned his wife down on the sofa by both arms.
Mr Earl-Quarcoo said after learning police were on their way, Preddie "said he knew he had been in the wrong and would accept the consequences of his actions". | {
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While content companies are pushing to diversify their businesses with subscriptions and licensing, and big tech companies draw on income from hardware sales and software sales and subscriptions, Facebook is sticking with advertising at scale for the foreseeable future.
Why it matters: Facebook created its massive business by handing out a free social network and monetizing it through ads. As it expands into other businesses like commerce, payments, and hardware, it's mostly sticking with that formula — convinced that "free and ad-supported" remains the best route to achieve massive scale and to deliver on its mission of connecting the world.
Expand chart Data: Visual Capitalist, Digiday, Microsoft's 10-K, Investopedia; Note: Microsoft's product sales share includes services from their "Productivity and Business Processes" category; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios
The big picture: Advertising as an industry has historically grown at roughly the same rate as the GDP, albeit a bit slower since the 2008 recession. In order for Facebook to maintain its revenue growth rate, especially through a possible recession, it needs to quickly expand its addressable market through free products.
It also needs to move into different types of advertising formats that help businesses reach consumers at different points during the sales process.
For now, the company is not interested in products that create friction between businesses and consumers, like paywalls or memberships , because it thinks that will limit the growth of businesses that Facebook is depending on to buy ads on Facebook.
because it thinks that will limit the growth of businesses that Facebook is depending on to buy ads on Facebook. Facebook's foray into payments, for example, isn't about the company ultimately becoming a payment processor, but about facilitating higher engagement between businesses and consumers.
"If we can serve more businesses and serve all of them well with free tools, then in time, they can grow, hire and support more communities. Some of them will advertise in time."
— Facebook Chief Revenue Officer David Fischer in an interview with Axios.
Details: Facebook's business plan is to grow its consumer experience first, and then to slowly integrate advertising into emerging products like messaging, stories, marketplace, and video, if they make sense for ads down the line.
It plans to keep its new payments feature free for users until adoption grows big enough that one day, it could make sense for the company to take a cut of transactions, similar to the way traditional payment vendors make money.
The company is willing to wait a long time before throwing up any types of barriers around consumer engagement.
For example, Facebook still has yet to meaningfully monetize many of its biggest acquisitions (Instagram is the notable exception). It's been five years since Facebook acquired WhatsApp and Oculus, but it's only just beginning to monetize messaging, and doesn't yet really monetize virtual reality.
Facebook is continuously creating new ads and tools to subsidize (and increase) the free interactions between businesses and consumers.
For example, its "Click to message ads" appear in places like the Facebook News Feed, which lead to an advertiser's Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp profile instead of its website. Facebook wants own that direct relationship as much as possible.
The company's new "tabs," like MarketPlace and Watch, have also become advertising destinations. Facebook rolled out ads in Marketplace to help performance advertisers reach consumers looking to buy a specific item, similarly to search ads on Google, while video ads in Watch help brand advertisers expand their reputation.
Between the lines: As the news feeds in Facebook's flagship app and Instagram are quickly filling up with ads, Facebook is facing growing pressure to turn up the revenue dial for new services and features.
Facebook is aggressively working to grow its ads business in emerging products like Stories and messaging, which are growing quickly in terms of user engagement, yet offer cheaper ad rates than the main news feeds in its Facebook and Instagram apps.
To do this, Facebook has created aggressive education campaigns to help businesses transition their advertising spend over to new formats, such as a "Stories school" to teach advertisers and ad-buying agencies about how to create ads for Stories specifically.
It also needs to focus on selling more ads to businesses outside of North America. Facebook makes the majority of its revenue off of selling ads to users in the U.S. and Canada, but its user growth in those countries has slowed dramatically.
By the numbers: Facebook sees plenty of room to expand its ads businesses.
Currently, the tech giant makes around $55 billion annual in ad revenue, compared to Google's $116 annual ad revenue.
Google, like Facebook, makes most of its money off of advertising on free-ad supported products, like search, news, video, directions, maps, etc.
Facebook currently estimates it has 140 million businesses operating on its platform globally, with 7 million advertisers across all of its family of apps.
Be smart: The company acknowledges that it will face challenges in growing its ads business, particularly because of regulation.
For example, Facebook's chief financial officer David Wehner warned on the company's first quarter earnings call this year that Facebook could face "headwinds" on its ad-targeting business due to privacy concerns in 2019.
The bottom line: Facebook's plan to grow its business is to make it easier to get more companies to grow their businesses on Facebook's back. If it gets them hooked on Facebook's platform for sales, the advertising market grows exponentially. | {
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(Ars Technica) -- The industry-wide struggle over e-book formats continues, despite the fact that publishers are inundated with choices over how and where to distribute their e-books.
In fact, such a wide selection is part of the reason why publishers are up in arms over the lack of a good universal option: they don't want to have to choose between Amazon, Apple, and Barnes and Noble; nor do they want to spend the extra time and resources trying to do all three. They want to choose one format and have it be available everywhere, but the industry may be standing in its own way before a widely accepted universal format becomes available.
There are already several open e-book formats out there -- ePub and MobiPocket are just a couple. The major e-book devices even support them; with a little bit of effort, you can get an ePub version of a book onto your Kindle or iPad in no time. The problem is the "effort" part -- e-book sellers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple heavily market their own stores and make it even easier for customers to simply buy the proprietary formats.
The downside, of course, is that customers are then locked into specific formats and devices. As noted in a recent Reuters piece, a Kindle book may be readable on a Kindle app on the iPad, but it's still limited to the Kindle "universe" -- other devices that lack Kindle apps won't be able to handle those formats, and vice versa.
"Our fondest wish is that all the devices become agnostic so that there isn't proprietary formats and you can read wherever you want to read," Penguin Group CEO David Shanks told Reuters. "First we have to get a standard that everybody embraces."
Getting their collective act together
Some believe the industry itself needs to get its act together before pointing fingers at Amazon or Apple. "Indeed, there are several open formats, but the problem is that they still need work," self-published author Cesar Torres told Ars. Torres believes that if publishers worked together to get behind a particular open format, the format would improve and device makers would be more motivated to offer wider support.
"The problem still lies with publishing houses and their inability to talk to one another. Everyone is doing their own thing without any regard for readers or customers," Torres said. "Apple and Amazon would be toast if publishers really got their act together."
There's another element that's holding back publishers from unifying on a more widely compatible, open format. The old guard of publishers is at odds with the more progressive ones over how to handle e-books, adding to strife within the industry. Brooklyn-based writer Edward Champion expressed frustration after attending this year's BookExpo CEO panel, noting that moderator Jonathan Galassi "maintained the old warhorse position that hardcovers would still be desired by 100 percent of book purchasers," and that Authors Guild president Scott Turow seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that customers want e-books the same day hardcover versions are released.
Both Champion and Torres seem to agree certain publishers are simply scared of the dangers of the online world. "Most publishers don't want e-books at all," Torres said. They want to keep paper around as long as possible (sound familiar?) and, in lieu of that, they insist on heavy DRM on their e-books as they are dragged kicking and screaming into the digital world.
That stance is clear when you read Penguin Group president Susan Peters Kennedy's comments to Reuters. She staunchly noted that publishers aren't keen on making the same "mistakes" as the music industry and falling into a battle over piracy. "It's always treated as if the publishers are the Luddites. The devices have not caught up with the content. Contrary to popular opinion, the book is actually so far more flexible," Kennedy said.
With that kind of attitude, it's no surprise that users are increasingly "pirating" e-books that they already own in paper format. Traditional books are indeed more flexible, but that's because of the industry's own disagreement on how to handle e-books. What's worse: a PDF of a book floating around on BitTorrent because there are no other legal ways to acquire a digital copy, or an ePub version of the same book available for purchase on the major bookstores' and publishers' websites? Some cooperation from publishers could go a long way, but they apparently don't yet realize that.
COPYRIGHT 2011 ARSTECHNICA.COM | {
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Somewhere in North Central Montana, there is a family farm with their own homemade heavy artillery capable of firing bowling balls and frozen turkeys — and they know how to use it.
The Welkers have managed the same family farm since 1912 and while they specialize in wheat, yellow peas, and lentils, they also like to set off their DIY “Farmer cannon” from time to time. Built by Scott Welker using everything from a Model T Ford frame and suspension to John Deere 7700 Combine parts, their Rube Goldberg-meets-Menno van Coehoorn ode to old fashioned artillery can launch balls “well over half a mile and into the clouds.”
And you should see what it can do to a preowned Ford Explorer. Check out the extended version below. | {
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Source: NASA/Lunar and Planetary Institute Published: January 30, 2018
NASA's Quick Guide The Planetary Astronomical Symbols The Sun: A shield with a circle inside
Mercury: The head and winged cap of Mercury
Venus: The female symbol
Earth: A globe bisected by meridian lines into four quarters
The Moon: A crescent
Mars: The shield and spear of the god of war; also the male symbol
Jupiter: A hieroglyph of the eagle, Jove's bird
Saturn: An ancient scythe or sickle
Uranus: Combined devices indicating the Sun plus the spear of Mars
Neptune: The trident of Neptune Dwarf Planet
Pluto: A monogram made up of P and L in Pluto (and also the initials of Percival Lowell, who predicted its discovery)
The symbols for the planets, dwarf planet Pluto, Moon and Sun (along with the symbols for the zodiac constellations) were developed for use in both astronomy and astrology.
The astronomical symbol for the Sun is a shield with a circle inside. Some believe this inner circle, or "boss" represents a central sun spot.
The symbol for Mercury represents the head and winged cap of Mercury, god of commerce and communication, surmounting his caduceus (staff).
The symbol for Venus is designated as the female symbol, thought to be the stylized representation of the hand mirror of this goddess of love.
The symbol for Earth shows a globe bisected by meridian lines into four quarters.
The symbol for the Moon is a crescent.
The symbol for Mars represents the shield and spear of the god of war, Mars; it is also the male or masculine symbol.
The symbol for Jupiter is said to represent a hieroglyph of the eagle, Jove's bird, or to be the initial letter of Zeus with a line drawn through it to indicate its abbreviation.
The symbol for Saturn is thought to be an ancient scythe or sickel, as Saturn was the god of seed-sowing and also of time.
The symbol for Uranus is represented by combined devices indicating the Sun plus the spear of Mars, as Uranus was the personification of heaven in Greek mythology, dominated by the light of the Sun and the power of Mars.
The symbol for Neptune is the trident (long three-pronged fork or weapon) of Neptune, god of the sea.
The symbol for dwarf planet Pluto is a monogram made up of P and L in Pluto (and also the initials of Percival Lowell, who predicted its discovery). | {
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SEAN HANNITY (HOST): Can I ask this? Because when they're saying that there's a new entitlement, when they're saying that the Obamacare mandates and taxes exist, when they're saying backstops for insurance companies exist, when they're saying there's new entitlements, when they're saying they weren't allowed opportunities to collaborate, when -- you know -- when I'm getting two different sides of the story here, I just am hopeful that maybe it would be a good idea if I come down and we could do one session, publicly, so that you guys sit in a room, very peacefully, very civilly, and that we have a discussion and let the American people in on it so they can decide, because I can tell you right now, there's more people that are so angry writing me every hour of every day, and I'm sure if I'm getting it you've got to be getting it.
[...]
But do you understand? Wouldnt it be valuable, if we're going to have this discussion lets make it public. You have my TV and radio show to do anything you want --
PAUL RYAN: We have two 24-hour-plus markups in Commerce and Ways And Means Committee --
HANNITY: I saw them.
RYAN: -- that were on TV, you probably watched them --
HANNITY: But I'm offering you one that people would actually want.
RYAN: [Laughing] What do you mean, nobody watches CSPAN?
HANNITY: Nobody watches CSPAN, it's too -- would you consider it at least? I don't want to put you on the spot --
RYAN: I don't want to get into all of that. I would rather just talk to my colleagues straight up, face-to-face, instead of doing it through some kind of media vacuum -- or media --
HANNITY: I'm not looking for a food fight or Jerry Springer Show here.
RYAN: I'd rather just keep the conversations we have.
HANNITY: Alright. | {
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Phoenix is an incredibly fast and flexible web framework built in Elixir. Vue.js is a slick front-end javascript framework designed strictly to handle your app's view layer. Together, they're all sorts of awesome.
In this article, I'm going to walk through setting up a bare-bones Phoenix/Vue.js app with nothing installed other than Nanobox. If you don't have it installed, go ahead and create a free Nanobox account and dowload the Nanobox installer.
Setup a New Project
Create a new project directory and cd into it.
mkdir phoenix-vue && cd phoenix-vue
Nanobox uses the boxfile.yml to build and configure your app's runtime both locally and in production. For Phoenix and Vue, you'll need both Elixir and Node.js available. Add a boxfile.yml to the root of your project with the following:
boxfile.yml
run.config: engine: elixir extra_packages: - nodejs dev_packages: - inotify-tools cache_dirs: - node_modules extra_path_dirs: - node_modules/.bin fs_watch: true data.db: image: nanobox/postgresql:9.5 web.site: start: mix phoenix.server
This boxfile.yml will do the following:
Provide an Elixir runtime (including mix )
) Install Node.js (including npm and yarn )
and ) Include inotify-tools for local development
for local development Cache NPM packages
Include NPM-loaded binaries in the system $PATH
Enable file-system watching
Provide a Postgres database
Provide a public webserver when deployed to production.
Start the Dev Environment
With the boxfile.yml in place, you're ready to fire up your dev environment. Before that, I recommend adding a DNS alias just to make it easier to access the running app from the browser.
# add a convenient way to access the app from the browser nanobox dns add local phoenix-vue.local # start the dev environment nanobox run
Install Phoenix
From the Nanobox console, you have everything you need to install Phoenix.
# download Phoenix mix archive.install https://github.com/phoenixframework/archives/raw/master/phoenix_new.ez # cd into a temporary directory cd /tmp # generate the phoenix app (You can use your own app name) # Select 'Y' when prompted to fetch dependencies mix phoenix.new app # cd back into the /app dir cd - # set the shell option to inlcude hidden files # copy the generated app into the project root shopt -s dotglob cp -a /tmp/app/* .
Install Vue.js
Use npm to install Vue.js in the project.
npm install --save vue
Brunch is a lean build tool that comes packaged with Phoenix and is used to compile the front-end assets. Update the brunch-config.js in the root of your project to whitelist Vue and include it in your front-end assets as well as configure Vue to use the standalone build that includes the Vue compiler. You're welcome to use the runtime-only (used by default) version, but you'll need to build in a render function.
npm: { enabled: true, whitelist: ["phoenix", "phoenix_html", "vue"], globals: { Vue: "vue/dist/vue.common.js" }, }
Run a brunch build to apply the updated settings:
brunch build
For just a bare-bones "Hello World" example, open up web/templates/page/index.html.eex and replace the entire contents of the file content with:
<div id="hello-world"> {{message}} </div>
Add the following to the bottom of your web/static/js/app.js file:
new Vue({ el: "#hello-world", data: { message: "Hello World" } });
Note: With Vue set as a global, you don't have to import it into your js files.
Configure the Database Connection
To keep your database connection secure and portable across environments, update the connection config to use environment variables. Nanobox automatically generates environment variables for required connection credentials. Update the database config in config/dev.exs , config/test.exs , and config/prod.secret.exs with the following (be sure to replace the appname).
config :app, App.Repo, adapter: Ecto.Adapters.Postgres, username: System.get_env("DATA_DB_USER"), password: System.get_env("DATA_DB_PASS"), hostname: System.get_env("DATA_DB_HOST"), database: "gonano", pool_size: 10
Configure HTTP for Production
In order for the app to function properly when deployed to a live app with Nanobox, you'll need to update the HTTP config to listen on port 8080 and set your app's url. In config/prod.exs , update the following:
config :app, App.Endpoint, http: [port: 8080], url: [host: "appname.nanoapp.io", port: 80], cache_static_manifest: "priv/static/manifest.json"
Start Phoenix
From the root of your project inside the Nanobox console, start Phoenix.
mix phoenix.server
Once everything compiles, you'll be able to access the site at phoenix-vue.local:4000. Open that up in a browser and you'll see the Phoenix banner with a Vue-generated "Hello World."
With this foundation, you're ready to start building out an awesome Phoenix/Vue.js app.
Special thanks to Brandon Richey and his article on using Phoenix and Vue.js together. It gave me the starting point for this article. | {
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Labour figures have reacted with dismay to Jeremy Corbyn’s insistence that Labour “won the argument” despite shedding 59 seats at the general election .
The party leader was under mounting pressure to quit quickly after he apologised but insisted he was "proud" that Labour's policies were popular with the public.
He also said he would "take my responsibility" for the heavy defeat which was the party's worst seat tally since 1935.
Today Mr Corbyn, who has said he'll resign after a leadership election early next year, issued an updated video that said "I take full responsibility for the result" but slammed "gutter" media attacks and added: "Our time will come."
But Labour MP Margaret Hodge, a long-term critic, branded it "denial" while colleague Harriet Harman said: "This shows no willingness to understand why Labour suffered this catastrophic defeat. Jeremy Corbyn should resign."
MP Darren Jones added: “We failed our party, our people and our country. I want to talk about the future and we’d better get to it quickly.”
He went on: “We can’t just say we’ll tax more and pay for more stuff.
"We need to stimulate growth in profits and pay. We need to invest to transform and reduce the cost of public service delivery.”
Writing in the Observer, Mr Corbyn insisted: “I am proud that on austerity, on corporate power, on inequality and on the climate emergency we have won the arguments and rewritten the terms of political debate.
"There is no doubt that our policies are popular, from public ownership of rail and key utilities to a massive house-building programme and a pay rise for millions.
"The question is how can we succeed in future where we didn’t this time?”
One furious Labour figure told the Mirror the piece was "possibly the worst-judged thing" written on the leader's behalf.
And long-time backbench critic Wes Streeting tweeted: “‘We won the argument’ is the most insulting response to the worst election result since 1935 that any of us could imagine.
"Go. Now. Every Tory policy over the next five years has been enabled by Corbynism.”
(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX)
MP Karen Buck added: "We didn’t win the election. Which means we didn’t actually win the argument. I think we had it mostly right on these issues but that’s not enough if we can’t take people with us and put policy into practice."
It came as a Labour source flat denied a claim, reported by the Sunday Times, that Mr Corbyn said "oh well" when the results rolled in on Friday morning. "He didn't say that," the source said.
Today Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell took the blame for the stunning defeat, claiming: “It’s on me. Let’s take it on the chin. I own this disaster.”
Apologising to Labour MPs who lost their seats, he said: "If anyone’s to blame it is me. Full stop."
However he added "I do blame the media" which "did a number on Jeremy for four years solid, every day", leaving him “demonised in a way no other politician on this scale has been done before.”
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Mr McDonnell denied trying to "fix" the party in his image for the coming leadership election but added "I'm not going to be going away" - saying he'd work on issues including climate change.
Unite union general secretary Len McCluskey also told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm saying that we need to reflect. But the policies of a socialist alternative, a radical alternative are popular. We need to make certain that we continue.
"All of Labour's policies were extremely popular. The problem is that, yes, when they were put together, there was a question of credulity. Could Labour really deliver all of this?
"And as regards Jeremy, there's no doubt that it became an issue on the doorstep, because, of course, for the last four years, every single day, he has been attacked massively in a way that no politicians have by the media."
He added: "If I have to say this a thousand times,. I will, do. Brexit was the reason for this defeat."
(Image: Leon Neal)
Jeremy Corbyn loyalists have mounted a campaign since Friday to ensure Labour's radical left-wing manifesto policies are not jettisoned by a future leader.
A senior figure handed internal polling to the Mirror showing members of the public backed hiking income tax on the rich, ramping up infrastructure and nationalising railways, energy and water.
The YouGov poll of 1,598 people for Labour, dated November 7-8, claimed 46% thought it was acceptable to spend more on infrastructure with 28% saying unacceptable.
Jeremy Corbyn's letter in full Dear Sunday Mirror readers, I will make no bones about it. The election result on Thursday was a body blow for everyone who so desperately needs real change in our country. To every single person who voted for the Labour Party – everyone who shared the hope that Britain could be a fairer country that works for the many, not the few – I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And to the Sunday Mirror and its readers, your support has been such a source of strength. I wanted to unite the country that I love but I’m sorry that we came up short and I take my responsibility for it. I remain proud of the campaign we fought. I’m proud that no matter how low our opponents went, we refused to join them in the gutter. And I’m proud that our message was one of hope, rather than fear. Millions of people saw in our manifesto a better future for themselves and their communities. Our policies to protect the NHS, end austerity, invest in every part of our country and tackle inequality, were popular with voters who saw through a ferocious smear and fear campaign against us. But despite our best efforts, this election was ultimately about Brexit. The Tory campaign, amplified by most of the media, managed to persuade many that only Boris Johnson could “get Brexit done.” That will soon be exposed for the falsehood it is, but in this election it overpowered our attempt to reach across the divide and bring our country together We will learn the lessons of this defeat, above all by listening to those lifelong Labour voters who we’ve lost in working class communities. This party exists to represent them. We will earn their trust back. Make no mistake: Labour is the greatest force for progressive change this country has ever known, and although this wasn’t our moment, our time will come again under new leadership. We will never give up on the commitment and determination to build a fairer and more decent society.
It said 60% support and 23% oppose higher income tax on £80,000 earners while 64% back and 20% oppose a new 50% tax rate on £123,000 earners.
Defeated candidate Caroline Flint said Mr Corbyn’s successor should not be “Corbyn with a beard” or any figure “who has had a hand in our Brexit strategy over the last few years”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon revealed he was backing Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey for leader and was considering a tilt for the deputy job himself.
Lisa Nandy was preparing to throw her hat into the ring for the leadership, saying she was “seriously thinking about it”. | {
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Chinese media has praised Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his defence of Liberal MP Gladys Liu in the face what it is calling “paranoid hysteria” driven by racism.
The Global Times – regarded as a key mouthpiece for China’s Communist Party - has published a searing opinion piece over the embattled MP’s political controversy.
It has labelled Mr Morrison’s staunch support for Ms Liu a “decent gesture” - for calling out scrutiny of the member for Chisholm as “casting a smear on Chinese Australians”.
AAP
“The target of this ferocious attack was not Gladys Liu herself, but China,” the opinion piece said.
“The actions have provoked a new wave of paranoid hysteria among China-threat conspiracy theories."
The piece, written by Professor Cheng Hong of the East China Normal University’s Australian Studies Center, labelled those who have attacked Ms Liu “bloodthirsty anti-China hawks.’
The Hong Kong-born MP has been under mounting pressure over alleged links to groups with ties to China’s communist party since an interview with Sky News host Andrew Bolt.
READ MORE Liberal MP Gladys Liu cuts China business ties
In the interview, she failed to recall her past allegiances to an organisation with ties to China’s communist party - later admitting to holding an honorary position with the Guangdong Overseas Exchange Association.
The Global Times’ opinion piece accused those who have pursued the member for Chisholm over the alleged links as being driven by “sinophobia”.
“Cold War combatants have sounded the alarm once against on China as an evil menace to Australia’s political sovereignty and national independence,” the opinion piece reads.
“Linkage with any organisation or individual with Chinese connections is misinterpreted as a threat to Australia’s interest and has created a Sinophobia among the public and inside political circles.”
Ms Liu has continued to resist calls to provide an explanation to parliament over her situation – but in a statement declared she is conducting an audit of any past ties to community groups.
"I do not wish my name to be used in any of these associations and I ask them to stop using my name," she said.
Mr Morrison has labelled calls by Labor for the MP to provide the parliamentary explanation as having “grubby undertones” - but Labor has rejected this assertion.
“Morrison justification of Liu is not without partisan motive, but for the 1.2 million Chinese Australians who have been subject to unjust suspicion and bigotry, such remarks are significant,” the opinion piece reads.
Professor Hong accused anti-Chinese attitudes in Australia of being against the country’s national interests.
“The demonisation of China, Australia’s largest economic partner, is irrational and irresponsible,” the opinion piece reads.
It said Australia should resist supporting the United States in their trade-war against China, citing Mr Morrison’s upcoming trip to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
“Will Canberra fall for the heinous trap and serve as Washington's legionnaire in the Asia-Pacific, while the Trump administration espouses its America First policy?” | {
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A simple blood test might be able to reveal whether a child has autism, according to researchers who recently launched a study to evaluate such a test.
The study, which began this week and involves 660 participants at 20 facilities around the United States, will examine whether the test can accurately distinguish between children who have autism and children who have other developmental delays, the researchers said.
While the blood test by itself cannot diagnose an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the researchers hope it will speed up the time it takes to diagnose the condition, which can be a lengthy process.
"If a blood test could indicate ASD risk, it would help families and physicians know when to refer children to an ASD expert, potentially leading to earlier treatment and better outcomes," Dr. Jeremy Veenstra VanderWeele, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University, said in a statement.
The study is being funded by SynapDx, the company that hopes to develop and market the test.
Autism spectrum disorders are a range of developmental disorders characterized by social impairment, language difficulties and repetitive behaviors. Currently, ASD is diagnosed by evaluating a person's behavior and taking into account their medical history.
The new test could provide an objective marker for autism that would be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation, the researchers said. The test looks at gene expression — whether a gene is "turned on" or not — and is aimed at distinguishing between children who have autism and those who don't.
In a 2012 study of a similar test involving 170 children with autism and 115 children without autism, the test could accurately identify autism in two-thirds of children who had the condition. That test, which looked for differences in the expression of 55 genes, was later licensed to SynapDx.
The earlier study indicates that the blood test for autism is not accurate enough to reliably distinguish between the children who had autism and those who did not, said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York.
Story continues
Additionally, researchers still need to prove that the test works in children younger than school age, which would be important if the researchers hope to use the test as an early indicator of autism, Adesman said. The average age of a child diagnosed with autism is 4.5 years, while the average age of the children in the study was 8. With time, the test will likely be refined so that it's more accurate, but won't replace a clinical diagnosis, Adesman said.
Even if the test proves accurate in identifying which children have autism, the jury is still out on whether it would really be helpful for doctors and patients, experts say.
"Autism is a very heterogeneous disorder," meaning its symptoms and severity can vary widely depending on the individual child, said Dr. Roberto Tuchman, director of the Autism and Neurodevelopment Program at Miami Children's Hospital. So a test that tells you a child has autism "doesn't mean much" in terms of how the child will develop or respond to therapies, Tuchman said.
"I don’t know that it's going to be a game changer from day-to-day practice," Tuchman said of the test.
If doctors don't find the test useful, it's possible that it could have the same fate as another blood test developed for schizophrenia in 2010. That test was 83 percent accurate in diagnosing schizophrenia, but because physicians couldn't find a use for it — doctors said they could accurately diagnose schizophrenia without the help of a blood test — it was taken off the market, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Tuchman noted that a doctor who was concerned enough about a child's development to order a blood test for autism should start early treatments anyway, because such treatments would help any child who was not developing properly, regardless of whether he or she has autism.
However, Tuchman supported the idea of an autism blood test, saying the more we know about autism genetics, the better we will be able to understand and treat the disorder.
Adesman said a blood test that indicated a child was genetically at risk for autism could help family members plan for the future, and spur doctors to evaluate the child for the condition on a more frequent basis.
Pass it on: A blood test may indicate whether a child is at risk for autism, but it likely won't replace a diagnosis based on a doctor's evaluation.
Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on MyHealthNewsDaily.
Copyright 2013 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | {
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Hoi An Acient Town was flooded
Pedestrians, motorbikes and boats-1
Pedestrians, motorbikes and boats-2
The couple were taking their wedding photos
The outside of Japanese Covered Bridge
The inside of Japanese Covered Bridge
VND 20,000
Because the roads to some attractions in Hoi An were cut off by the flood, we could just walk along Tran Phu Street, the area which was not affected by the troubled water.
Cantonese Assembly Hall in Hoi An-1 Japanese Covered Bridge was built by Japanese in 1590s for connecting the areas where Chinese and Japanese lived separately.Because the roads to some attractions in Hoi An were cut off by the flood, we could just walk along Tran Phu Street, the area which was not affected by the troubled water. Cantonese Assembly Hall in Hoi An-2
Phuoc Kien(Fujian) Assembly Hall in Hoi An-1 Phuoc Kien(Fujian) Assembly Hall in Hoi An-2
The temple of Guan Yu in Hoi An
Hainan Assembly Hall in Hoi An-1 Hainan Assembly Hall in Hoi An-2
Obviously, the area where we walked had been controlled by Chinese before. There were lots of Chinese architectures along Tran Phu Street, like the assembly halls built by Chinese from the southeast coastal provinces and the temple of Guan Yu. Obviously, the area where we walked had been controlled by Chinese before. There were lots of Chinese architectures along Tran Phu Street, like the assembly halls built by Chinese from the southeast coastal provinces and the temple of Guan Yu.
Due to the troubled water, our trip in Hoi An ended here. And The tour to My Son Sanctuary was cancelled because the road to My Son was damaged by the flood.
After one night in Hoi An, we went back to Danang by the bus No. 1. We need to mention the history of Hoi An here. Hoi An was the important and prosperous trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Portuguese, Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled. Unfortunately, Hoi An gradually lost its statue as a desirable harbour due to the natural reason, silting up of the mouth of Thu Bon River. Eventually Hoi An was replaced by Danang in the 19th century and never got back to its original importance.
(中文版本： 會安古鎮，泡在洪水裡的世界文化遺產 (越南) On Dec. 14, 2016, we took the free shuttle bus to Hoi An from the Big C Supermarket in Danang. I was looking forward to visiting the UNESCO world heritage! But after arriving there, I was shocked by the scenes I was seeing then. Over half of architectures in Hoi An Ancient Town were in the flood!Some areas were not affected by the troubled water. My friend and I could see the bizarre street views and record them for this unforgettable experience. No offense. I also hope everyone in Hoi An, Vietnam is safe and sound, and everything in Hoi An, Vietnam will go well soon!I seldom saw motorbikes and boats being so closed. But the local residents there seemed to feel not surprised at all. They only told me that the rainfall at the end of 2016 was greater than usual.Due to the flood, we could just walk along the Tran Phu, the areas which were not affected by the troubled water. Moreover, it started to rain cats and dogs again!It rained so heavily that umbrellas became helpless and useless. We went to Japanese Covered Bridge to avoid getting wet. By the way, the entry ticket was necessary for entering some attractions in Hoi An. We bought the ticket for VND 120,000, and we could enter 5 attractions in Hoi An.By the way, Japanese Covered Bridge is also on the VND 20,000 bill! | {
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In northern New England there are really five seasons. Some would say Indian summer and January thaw, too, which add to the rhythm of most years, but they’re inconsistent and ethereal. Mud season, though, is real, its own thing.
The roads around here have been posted with a six-ton limit for a few weeks now, and the logging trucks have been shut down for the season. But it was only yesterday — a couple of days before Town Meeting — that the air turned soft and the roads turned soft and we found ourselves once again sinking in mud. Coming over Goose Pond Road in the afternoon, it was impossible to keep the wheels on top of the ridges; the car kept getting thrown from one deep rut to another. It felt like riding the edge of control, like slamming a kayak through violent whitewater. Thank God we didn’t meet someone coming around a corner.
In northern New England there are really five seasons. Some would say Indian summer and January thaw, too, which add to the rhythm of most years, but they’re inconsistent and ethereal. Mud season, though, is real, its own thing. My friend Ginger Smith, who drives a FedEx delivery truck around the Monadnock region of New Hampshire, hates it. She’s a veteran driver — she keeps 400 pounds of sand in the truck during the winter, and a shovel and a couple of 2×6 boards until May. But no matter what she’s got in her truck, “they’re still dirt roads,” she says.
She’s gotten into deep trouble just once. Backing up to let a car pass on Curtis Farm Road in Wilton a few years ago, she edged over too far on the shoulder and buried her back end. “It was a Ford box truck, 600-cubic-foot, single-axle,” she says, “but the axle disappeared.”
This time of year, she worries most about the extra time the mud costs her. She loses a couple of her favorite cut-off roads entirely, and spends more time than she’d like backing up on the narrow dirt lanes to let other vehicles pass: “Every day, we get our efficiency reports from the day before, and you see you’ve averaged only seven stops an hour instead of 11, and you have a manager who drove the route with you once in the summer and can’t understand how you could be so slow. I’d like to ask for a higher reverse gear, but FedEx doesn’t believe in reverse, so that wouldn’t fly.”
There will be mornings during the coming weeks when Ginger will look at her schedule of addresses and just cringe. And long days when at the end she’ll roll back to the lot where the trucks get washed and marvel at the mud. “Sometimes it’s not even a white truck anymore,” she says. “It looks like the other guys’.”
I didn’t care much for the mud late this morning when the meter reader from New Hampshire Electric Co-op drove his pickup down to the barn to save himself a 50-foot walk — then tore the barnyard all to hell fishtailing it back up to the road.
But I take some perverse pride in the season. I like hearing my neighbor, Kelly — a small-town doctor who works across the river in Vermont — talk about an old patient of hers, a farmer who moves an ancient Farmall tractor down to the end of his road for her during mud season, because Kelly’s car won’t make it through.
I like the description that poet Leland Kinsey wrote a few years back: “In spring the freeze and thaw of each day draw the frost out, but until the last heaving layer is thawed, the melted water can’t percolate downward and must either run off or sit. In some parts of the world, water that can’t percolate forms quicksand beds; here we call them roads.”
I like the smell of the mud, of the frozen earth letting go, of the melting snow, of the boiling sap and woodsmoke that go hand in hand with the warming breeze. We’ve made it through, again. Spring is coming.
More about mud:
Mud Season Facts and Trivia | {
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New research by KIS Finance has revealed that consumers are worried the high street is going to be lost completely due to the current store closures in the news. From surveying 1,000 consumers in the UK, Brits Christmas shopping habits have also been uncovered, including:
Only 14% of Brits do their Christmas shopping in-store
64% of Brits prefer online shopping during the Christmas period as it is available at all times
If local high streets had free parking and easy accessibility, consumers would be more likely to shop in-store
61% of Brits are worried the high street will disappear due to recent store closures in the news
Only 1 in 10 get Christmas gifts during Black Friday and a mere 5% shop during Cyber Monday
It is clear that our high street is changing, but from asking consumers about their Christmas shopping habits, KIS Finance have discovered the top reasons why people tend to stay away from going to the high street:
Too many people in-store around Christmas time (50%)
Less choice in-store than is available online (37%)
The shops are too far from my home (20%)
The shops shut at the time I finish work (14%)
It’s too confusing to find what I need in store (13%)
64% of Brits prefer online shopping during the Christmas period because it is available at all times and over half think it is easier to find gifts online as well as fast delivery being a bonus for many (40%).
By partnering with James Child, Retail Analyst at EG, it is clear to see these changes are having an impact on stores, he says,
“Some of the country’s best-loved brands have been forced to consolidate space or shut entirely. Toys R Us, Maplin, Next, Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and Debenhams (amongst many others) have all fallen victim to the changing consumer trends that have churned the landscape of British high streets. In the retail sector online spend is almost breaching 20%, with 1-in-every-5 pounds spent coming through internet sales, which has effected the true value of physical retail stores.”
61% of Brits are worried that the high street might disappear due to recent store closures in the news and consumers admitted that if there was free parking options and it was easier to access, they might come in-store more. Other things that high street stores can change for shoppers to come to the high street more often include:
More staff to ensure that the experience is quicker (41%)
Clearer stock check in store (34%)
24-hour service so that you can shop at any time (27%)
Self-checkout service to avoid queues (26%)
James goes on to say,
“The growth experienced in the food and beverage sector is perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the changes on the high street, as well as the rise of trampoline parks, climbing walls and other entertainment and health offers. The high street isn’t dying – it is in state of transition.”
After asking consumers what they think the high street will look like in ten years, it seems that consumers are worried that independent stores won’t exist, the below is listed from most likely to least likely.
1. Restaurants
2. Coffee shops
3. Second-hand shops
4. Bars
5. Fast food restaurants
6. Retails chains e.g. department stores
7. Clubs
8. Cinemas
9. Banks
10. Travel agents
11. Independent retailers
Holly Andrews, Managing Director at KIS Finance says, | {
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West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is projected to win the GOP Senate primary, ending Republican fears that ex-coal executive Don Blankenship could win the nomination and blow Republican chances in November for a key Senate seat.
The Associated Press called the race at 10:19 p.m. EDT.
Morrisey defeated his leading GOP rivals, Blankenship and Rep. Evan Jenkins Evan Hollin JenkinsWest Virginia New Members 2019 Republican Carol Miller holds off Democrat in West Virginia House race Trump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report MORE, for the chance to take on Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE in November.
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The attorney general’s victory means Republicans fended off the possibility of a win by Blankenship, who served a year-long prison sentence for violating mine safety standards following a deadly mine explosion that killed 29 people.
In the final days of the primary, Republicans were growing increasingly worried that Blankenship would hurt the party’s ability to unseat Manchin, even though President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE won West Virginia more than 40 points in 2016.
The party feared a repeat of last year’s Alabama special election, when Democrats pulled off a huge upset victory in a deep-red state. Republican Roy Moore Roy Stewart MooreVulnerable Senate Democrat urges unity: 'Not about what side of the aisle we're on' Sessions hits back at Trump days ahead of Alabama Senate runoff Judge allows Roy Moore lawsuit over Sacha Baron Cohen prank to proceed MORE, a conservative firebrand, won the nomination, but ultimately lost the general election to now-Sen. Doug Jones (D) when the Washington Post reported allegations that Moore molested teenagers decades earlier.
Throughout the campaign, Blankenship repeatedly called for new leadership and sparred with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) and his allies.
Blankenship nicknamed McConnell “Cocaine Mitch” and “swamp captain.” But he has raised eyebrows for referring to McConnell’s father-in-law as a “China person,” arguing that the Kentucky Republican wants to create jobs for “China people.”
During his concession speech on Tuesday night, Blankenship defended his attacks against McConnell, saying that he believes Trump’s call for voters to reject him likely contributed to his loss.
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"I am being asked of course whether some of the things we did, whether it's 'Cocaine Mitch' or whether its some of the other criticisms of Mitch McConnell, whether its 'China People' that made the difference. I don't think so," Blankenship said.
"If there was any single factor, based on the polling of different times...it was probably President Trump's lack of endorsement...I don't know what else it would have been unless the polls were way off."
Meanwhile, Republicans celebrated Blankenship's third-place finish.
McConnell's campaign tweeted a photo of McConnell superimposed over an image of Colombian cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar from the Netflix series "Narcos," with McConnell surrounded in image by cocaine.
"Thanks for playing, @DonBlankenship. #WVSen," the campaign tweeted, referencing the "Cocaine Mitch" nickname.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) never took an official stance during the primary, but quickly congratulated Morrisey “on his hard-fought victory.”
“Unlike loyal Democrat Joe Manchin, West Virginia families know that they can count on Attorney General Morrisey to fight for conservative values, and will send him to the U.S. Senate this November,” said NRSC executive director Chris Hansen.
Morrisey also largely focused his victory speech on Manchin and the general election fight for the next six months. He railed against the Democratic senator for being aligned with the "Washington elite" instead of Trump's agenda.
“Joe Manchin has become just another rubber stamp for the Washington establishment liberal agenda, the same people who think of us as fly over country," Morrisey said Tuesdaynight.
“When President Trump needed Joe Manchin’s help on so many issues, Joe Manchin said no. When the president wanted to work with him on ObamaCare, on judicial picks, on the Trump tax cuts, Senator Manchin said no.”
Republicans view West Virginia as a top pick-up opportunity to help expand their slim 51-seat majority. And they believe Morrisey has a great shot at toppling Manchin.
When Blankenship appeared to be in a strong position a few weeks back, an outside group with ties to the national GOP dumped more than $1 million into attack ads to stymie the ex-coal baron’s momentum.
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Some polls in the final weeks showed Morrisey in first place or polling close behind in second, but internal GOP surveys over the weekend found Blankenship rebounding into the lead.
When it appeared that Blankenship was surging ahead of Tuesday’sprimary, Republicans made a last-ditch effort to counter him. Trump tweeted on Monday, calling on voters to support either Jenkins or Morrisey.
Morrisey himself waged an all-out offensive against Blankenship in the final days of the race. His campaign released a handful of press releases about why he’s unfit for office. And the day before the primary, Morrisey launched an attack ad over the 2010 explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine.
Still, the majority of Morrisey’s campaign was focused on touting his pro-Trump bona fides and highlighting his efforts as state attorney general to fight Obama administration initiatives. He also argued that he was the only candidate in the race combating the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Morrisey mostly sparred with Jenkins in a vicious, year-long campaign. The attorney general sought to cast Jenkins as a “lifelong career Democrat for 20 years.” But Morrisey also endured his fair share of attacks that will likely be used by Democrats in the general election.
Jenkins hammered Morrisey for his tri-state area roots and criticized him for working as a Washington lobbyist with ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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Following Morrisey’s victory, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) issued a statement that gave an early preview of how Democrats will likely take on the state attorney general.
“Patrick Morrisey emerges tonight badly bruised from a bizarre primary contest that focused on personal political attacks instead of West Virginians,” DSCC spokesman David Bergstein said. “Now Morrisey will be forced to defend his lobbyist past and convince West Virginians that he isn’t beholden to special interests, despite taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from them.”
A Democratic outside group only spent a small sum of money opposing Morrisey, instead spending most of it on Jenkins. Those efforts were viewed as a way to boost Blankenship. But a spokesman said the super PAC’s data showed that Jenkins or Morrisey was likely to be the nominee.
Duty and Country PAC, a Washington-based Democratic super PAC, poured in more than $1 million in an attempt to cut down the congressman, while spending only $47,000 against Morrisey.
—Ben Kamisar contributed. | {
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Clearwater Police - East
CLEARWATER POLICE. FEED ISSUES 07/14/20 Lightning hit to our antenna. New equipment already ordered 07/18/20 INTERMITTENT SERVICE WHILE THE EQUIPMENT IS UPDATED
Status: FEED ISSUES 07/14/20 Lightning hit to our antenna. New equipment already ordered 07/18/20 INTERMITTENT SERVICE WHILE THE EQUIPMENT IS UPDATED
Public Safety
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Online | {
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Yet More Evidence That Offering Good Legal Alternatives Reduces Music Piracy
from the Australia,-please-take-note dept
One of the most frustrating aspects of the copyright industry's insistence on pushing for harsher measures to reduce the number of illegal downloads is that we know it's simply unnecessary. As Techdirt has reported, there is mounting evidence that the best way to reduce piracy is to offer good legal alternatives. TorrentFreak has news of another data point supporting this idea: In 2012 the streaming service [Spotify] entered the Australian market and Spotify's own research now shows that music piracy via BitTorrent dropped significantly during the following year.
In a keynote speech at the BIGSOUND music conference today, Spotify's Director of Economics Will Page reveals that the volume of music piracy has decreased 20% between 2012 and 2013. Similarly, the number of people sharing music via BitTorrent in Australia has gone down too. Two important caveats are needed here. First, that this is research commissioned by Spotify, and therefore it might be regarded as suspect for that reason. However, it is likely that the Australian recording industry is also monitoring this kind of online activity, and so will able to challenge the findings if necessary. Secondly, there is no proof that the fall in music piracy on BitTorrent is down to Spotify's launch. However, the fact that a similar correlation has been observed in other countries around the world strongly suggests there is a link.
Finally, it's worth noting that this new research comes at an opportune moment. As Mike has pointed out, Australia is planning to tackle online copyright infringement by implementing what amounts to a Hollywood "wishlist" of measures. Maybe the government there should start paying attention to the evidence of what works and what doesn't, rather than accepting the copyright maximalist dogma without question.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and +glynmoody on Google+
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community. Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis. While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
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Filed Under: australia, copyright, innovation, piracy
Companies: spotify | {
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This happened! (photo by Katarina Hybenova for Bushwick Daily)
Lucas Walters, a co-owner of Tutu’s bar, experienced quite the unpleasant surprise when he came to work a couple of days ago. At night, somebody had hung a huge billboard just above the mural he has been co-curating with Beth Tully, famed producer of Fountain Art Fair. The mural on the Varet Street side of the Tutu’s building was created by Austrian street artist Nychos and features a whale so amazing and complex you could stare at it for hours. No wonder the mural quickly became one of the most photographed walls in Bushwick, occupying “the front pages of the Internet”- Reddit for days. “We wanted to create a Bushwick version of Bowery/Houston graffiti mural, and to bring world-class artists here ” explained Beth Tully, who was outraged about the uninvited guest to this party: a black and white rectangular photograph with a distinct Uncategorized.com sign underneath it.
The photograph of rapper Method Man hanging on Tutu’s wall is part of the Uncategorized project by Chi Modu. “Modu, who is best known for his iconic photos of major hip hop artists, was searching for a way to make his art accessible to more people,” his website explains. And so the photographer hired a billboard company to place several of his large photographs on walls in Brooklyn and Manhattan. “[It’s] like graffiti, but legal,” reads the About section on his site. “I am an artist, not a business owner,” Chi Modu told us today on the phone. “I am not connected to the billboard company. I simply hired them and did not see this location until the billboard went up,” he explained. “This is a work of art, which can be subjective. Tutu’s people may or may not like it.”
“It is everything I hate about advertising,” said Lucas Walters on the phone. “It’s tacky and untactful. And I want the neighborhood to know we have nothing to do with it,” he continued. “We were really happy nobody had messed with the mural, but this…this is called side busting in the street art world."
Lucas talked to their landlord about this only to learn that the billboard company has rented the space for six months, and that Tutu’s can’t do anything about it. We contacted the building’s co-owner Richard Guishard for a comment but so far we have not received an answer. [Correction on Oct 1, 2013: Richard Guishard doesn't own the building. The owner of the building is Andy Chau.]
“Right now the billboard displays my art but in the future it will display commercial elements,” pointed out Chi Modu. Chi Modu is not sure how long his billboard will remain in place. “It can be one month, or it can be extended,” he told us.
We attempted to contact Prince Media Co, the billboard company who rented the billboard space to find out what’s coming up next after Chi Modu photograph is gone. Unfortunately, without success.
You can have objections to the placement of Chi Modu’s art and you certainly don’t have to like his Uncategorized project. But perhaps Chi Modu’s photograph is a good option when compared to the dozens of tacky billboard options Prince Media Co could have placed there, and potentially will place in the future.
Also it should not be forgotten that it was Tutu’s landlord who leased the space above a curated mural to a billboard company, and showed absolute lack of respect to art and the project of Lucas Walters and Beth Tully. Because who cares about art if you can have a couple of hundred dollars in your pocket? Oh, how very Bushwick landlord of you, dear Tutu’s landlords… | {
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President Obama’s plan to shutter the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Tuesday, underscoring how difficult it will be for him to fulfill a major campaign promise in his final year in office.
Mere minutes after the president sent Congress his blueprint to empty the controversial facility and move detainees to the United States, Republican leaders declared it dead on arrival.
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Sen. Pat Roberts Charles (Pat) Patrick RobertsThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill GOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election Trump says he'll sign USPS funding if Democrats make concessions MORE (R-Kan.) best summed up the attitudes of his colleagues: He crumpled up the proposal and tossed it in the trash.
“This is what I think of the president’s plan to send terrorists to the United States,” he said in a video posted on Twitter.
Obama’s plan also received a lukewarm reception from Democrats facing reelection in November.
Sen. Michael Bennet Michael Farrand BennetOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Next crisis, keep people working and give them raises MORE (D-Colo.), who is running in a tough race, said he supports closing the prison but cautioned that detainees should be moved to military facilities and not civilian prisons in his home state.
Liberal Democrats came out strongly in favor of the plan, but centrists refrained from taking a stance.
“I do think closing Guantánamo would deprive jihadists of a successful recruiting tool,” said Sen. Chris Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “But there are serious legal barriers and legitimate security concerns to be dealt with. … In general, I support the closure of Guantánamo, but the details matter.”
Coons said he would decide whether to support the plan once he reviews it.
The resistance to his plan has surely left Obama exasperated.
The president made a pledge to close the Guantánamo Bay prison on his first day in office. But barring a miraculous turn of events, the facility will remain open when he leaves the White House next January.
Announcing the plan from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Obama voiced frustration at how partisan politics has consumed what was once a bipartisan national security goal.
He pointed out that former President George W. Bush and his own 2008 opponent, Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe electoral reality that the media ignores Kelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks MORE (R-Ariz.), supported closing down the prison.
Obama prodded lawmakers to give the proposal a “fair hearing” even in an election year, when concerns about terrorism are front and center in voters’ minds.
He argued the facility serves as a powerful recruiting tool for extremist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is too costly for the government to maintain and hurts relationships with U.S. allies.
But even Obama appeared to recognize that the chances of success are slim, acknowledging, “The politics of this are tough.”
“I don’t want to pass this problem on to the next president, whoever it is,” he said. “And, if as a nation, we don’t deal with this now, when will we deal with it?”
Given the widespread resistance to Obama’s plan, there has been speculation that the president could use executive actions to close down the prison.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest declined to say Tuesday whether Obama would act on his own.
“Our focus is going to be on working with Congress,” Earnest said. “And working with Congress requires presenting them a specific plan on the timeframe that they asked for. That’s exactly what we’ve done. And we’re now asking for Congress to give it fair consideration. And I’m not going to speculate at this point if Congress refuses to do that.”
Unilateral action would spark a major partisan battle and potentially open up the Obama administration to litigation.
Congress has passed defense policy bills over the last several years that ban the transfer of detainees to the U.S. mainland. Obama has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) each year, but last November, he included a statement blasting those restrictions.
The Gitmo prison currently houses 91 detainees. Under Obama’s proposal, the administration would transfer 35 who are deemed to pose a lower security risk back to their home countries or third countries over the next few months.
Another 10 are being tried by military commissions. Many of the remaining 46 detainees would be kept in a new facility on U.S. soil, designed to hold between 30 and 60 prisoners.
The cost of building a new prison would range from $290 million to $475 million, but the plan touts $65 million to $85 million in savings on operating costs compared to Guantánamo.
Republican lawmakers have long been dead set against changing the law to move detainees to the U.S. mainland, and they raised new objections to Obama’s latest plan.
Pentagon officials looked at 13 potential facilities, including military prisons in Kansas and South Carolina and a federal prison in Colorado. But the plan does not identify a specific replacement site.
“I have pledged to give the president’s plan a fair hearing, but he makes it impossible to do so when he withholds critical details,” said Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Earnest initially blamed Congress for the lack of explicit alternative, pointing to language in the NDAA that bans federal dollars from being used to “construct or modify” U.S. facilities for Guantánamo detainees.
But another section of the bill calls on the administration to submit a “specific facility or facilities” to house detainees in its proposal.
When asked about the discrepancy, the spokesman said it highlighted “yet another example of congressional dysfunction — that they have written a law that includes varying guidance.”
Republicans also seized on the arrest Tuesday of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as part of a Spanish terrorism investigation.
They argued the incident showed flaws in the administration’s strategy of transferring prisoners overseas. But Earnest called the incident the exception and not the rule, saying the recidivism rate for former detainees is in the “single digits.”
The proposal also made waves on the 2016 campaign trail. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE both support shuttering the facility, but the Vermont senator used the announcement as an opportunity to say he favored closing it before the former secretary of State.
“As I have said for years, the prison at Guantanamo must be closed as quickly as possible,” Sanders said in a statement. “Others, including my opponent, have not always agreed with me.”
Republican candidates blasted the plan. Sens. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioFlorida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas), both Cuban-Americans, even raised the possibility that Obama could turn over the entire Guantánamo Bay naval base to Cuba as part of his detente with the Castro government. The White House has previously ruled out such a move.
Despite the wall of opposition facing the plan, Obama pledged he would not shirk from the fight with his rivals.
“I’m absolutely committed to closing the detention facility at Guantánamo,” he said. “I’m going to continue to make the case for doing so as long as I hold this office.” | {
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Following a worldwide casting search, director Ava DuVernay has cast young 12 Years a Slave actress Storm Reid as the lead in A Wrinkle in Time, Mashable has exclusively learned.
The film will co-star Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit and Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who.
Jennifer Lee (Frozen) adapted Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved book, which follows young Meg Murry as she travels through time visiting strange worlds to find her missing scientist father with the help of her younger brother and a classmate.
SEE ALSO: Fun Disney content is on its way to Netflix
While “A Wrinkle in Time” is the first book in L’Engle’s “Time Quartet” series, others include “A Wind in the Door,” “Many Waters” and “A Swiftly Tilting Planet.”
Reid will soon be seen as Jacob Latimore's sister in J.D. Dillard's acclaimed sci-fi movie Sleight, which debuted earlier this year at Sundance. The rising young star also recently wrapped Judy Greer's directorial debut A Happening of Monumental Proportions.
She's represented by the Savage Agency and Principato-Young Entertainment. | {
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"When you're living in it, you can't see it. But I couldn't believe that I was really living like that," she told the website. "And it really resonated with me. Never did I wake up and ask Dre, 'Why did you hit me?'" | {
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(This story was updated Dec. 6, 2017, at 5:30 p.m.)
BURLINGTON — The former home of the venerable Bove’s Italian restaurant on Pearl Street may be torn down and a hotel and affordable housing built under a proposal from owner Richard Bove Jr.
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His plan is to make space for a roughly 76-room brand-name hotel and 20-unit apartment building by demolishing the restaurant and two nearby rental houses. Bove’s restaurant closed in 2015 but started a manufacturing facility in Milton that produces its pasta sauces and meatballs.
The city would sell Bove a 30-spot metered parking lot behind the restaurant for its market value of $500,000, according to a memo from Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Director Noelle MacKay. Bove would keep 30 parking spots for public use in the daytime, according to the memo.
The parking lot is one of a handful of underused city-owned properties, according to MacKay.
“Utilization of this surface lot continues to decline,” MacKay wrote, explaining that on average, 18 percent of the spaces are used, according to a tally by Burlington’s Department of Power and Water conducted during June and July.
Although the lot is profitable — it made about $23,000 and cost the city just over $8,000 to maintain last year — MacKay wrote that the lot would take well over 30 years to recoup the proposed sale price, if all factors stayed the same through that time.
The planned new apartments will qualify as affordable. A number of units have to be rented below market rates under Burlington’s inclusionary zoning ordinance, but the remainder will be affordable for people relying on Housing Choice vouchers, also known as Section 8 vouchers, according to MacKay’s memo.
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The hotel will be of similar quality to a Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hotel Group, according to the memo, and will be owned and operated by Bove.
As part of the deal, Bove would renovate the historic General Stannard House on the corner of Pearl and George streets. It would continue to serve as housing.
The sale and development received the recommendation of the city’s Board of Finance and will go before the full City Council soon.
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Truck driver Tim McCrory says he knew that giving away his load of plywood during Hurricane Irma would get him fired.
But he did it anyway.
Read: The Delta Flight That Raced Hurricane Irma - and Won
“I went into it knowing I was going to lose my job,” he told InsideEdition.com Thursday. “Because I was giving away something that wasn’t mine. But the people in Florida needed it to protect their homes.”
The company, Western Express, has since disputed that McCrory was fired, instead claiming that he left voluntarily.
The long-haul driver said he was ferrying 960 pieces of plywood to a Home Depot in Zephyrhills, Fla., last Friday.
He said he blew a tire in a southbound lane of Interstate 95, as seemingly everyone in the state was on the northbound side, trying to get out as Irma churned toward Florida.
It took seven hours to get the tire fixed, he said. When he pulled into the Home Depot lot, it was past 9 p.m. and the store was closed and boarded up to ride out the storm. The night manager was just leaving, McCrory said, and told him he would have to come back Tuesday.
So the driver said he called his company’s dispatcher and delivered the news. He was told to take his load to Atlanta, he said. He decided to catch a few hours’ sleep in his cab.
He was awakened about 2 a.m. Saturday by a police officer banging on his window. McCrory explained the situation, and the cop said taking the rig to Atlanta was not a good idea.
There were also a lot of people in town needing the plywood, the officer said.
"I was ready to give it up, 100 percent," McCrory said of his load. "I got kids of my own. I’m a family man. If I was in their situation, I’d want somebody to do that for me."
About 20 officers and McCrory began unloading the unwieldy sheets by hand at about 2:30 a.m., he said. Police department employees contacted residents by phone in the suburban enclave outside Tampa.
“They said, ‘If you need plywood to board up your house, come and get it. It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody. They got the word out,” McCrory said. “There was just a line of cars. The storm was coming and it was coming fast.
“The wind was starting to pick up, you could see the clouds swarming, and it was just an eerie feeling,” he said.
For nearly four hours, the plywood was handed out to residents. “Nobody took more than they needed,” McCrory said. “We protected about 150 houses.”
Read: Woman Delivers Her Own Baby During Hurricane Irma After Authorities Can't Reach Her
McCrory said he informed his superiors about giving away the wood and was told, “We’re going to have to let you go.’ I told them ‘There was a Category 5 hurricane coming. Home Depot was closed. People needed that plywood.'"
“They said it wasn’t mine to give away,” he said. “I was just being an American. And I was trying to be a good American.”
Western Express said in a statement to InsideEdition.com on Friday that McCrory was not fired as a result of his actions, but instead voluntarily left the company.
"We understand what was probably going through his mind during these extraordinary circumstances, which is why we did not fire him, and have no plans to do so,” Western Express CEO Paul Wieck said in the statement. “Ideally, he would have let us know he was giving away the plywood, but we understand he was trying to do the right thing, and we’d welcome him back on our team. I’ve personally tried to contact him several times over the last few days, but have not been able to reach him.”
InsideEdition.com's attempts to reach McCrory for further comment were unsuccessful.
Resident Tracy Dillon Drew established a GoFundMe page for McCrory when she learned he was no longer working.
“I cannot explain the sense of community I felt with those of us who were lucky enough to not just receive plywood, but [to] also receive a much more important gift... compassion.”
Drew wrote she has kept in contact with McCrory since he left Florida and started the fund to help him as he looks for a new job.
Watch: Hospital Throws Birthday Party for Toddler Diagnosed With Leukemia During Irma | {
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Demand is rising for AI and automotive, flat for mobile phones, with trade uncertainty looming over everything.
The silicon foundry business is poised for growth in 2019, although the industry faces several challenges across a number of market segments next year.
Generally, foundry vendors saw steady growth in 2018, but many are ending the year on a sour note. Weak demand for Apple’s new iPhone XR and a downturn in the cryptocurrency market have impacted several IC suppliers and foundries, causing them to reduce their year-end revenue forecasts.
In addition, supply exceeded demand at 28nm, the largest foundry segment in dollar value, in 2018. And on the geopolitical front, trade tensions between the United States and China are causing uncertainty, if not angst, in the market.
In 2019, oversupply will continue to haunt the 28nm market. The trade issues are still fluid, and it’s unclear how that will impact the semiconductor business.
On the positive side, Samsung and TSMC are ramping up 7nm with a growing number of tape-outs in the fab. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, 200mm foundry capacity remains in demand. And the specialty foundry business is thriving, thanks to 5G, automotive and other applications.
In 2018, the overall foundry business is expected to grow by 6.8% in terms of revenues, according to Semico Research. Then, for 2019, Semico expects the foundry market to grow by 5.5%.
“Foundries will do well as AI, 5G, automotive and IoT drive innovative solutions,” said Joanne Itow, managing director of manufacturing at Semico. “These markets are attracting new products as well as start-ups that are depending on the foundries to provide manufacturing solutions. The excitement surrounding AI for training and edge devices translates into new business for the foundries.”
By the numbers
In 2018, the memory market outpaced the foundry segment and drove the overall growth in the semiconductor business. “The overall IC industry is expected to exceed 15% in 2018. Memory products comprise over half of that growth,” Itow said.
It’s a different story for 2019. “The overall market is expected to hit a slowdown in 2019 as memory prices begin to stall after its impressive three-year rise,” she said.
Amid a slowdown in DRAM and NAND flash, the overall semiconductor market is expected to decline by 1.6% in 2019, according to VLSI Research. In comparison, the IC market will grow by 15.5% in 2018, according to the firm.
“If we drill down by segments, most of the decline for 2019 will be driven by the memory segment. We expect memory sales to decline almost 10%. If you go to the logic segment, we do see that logic will probably be in positive territory and growing about almost 4%. So, it will be primarily a memory driven downturn in 2019,” said Andrea Lati, an analyst at VLSI Research.
Besides the mixed picture in semiconductors, economic factors and trade issues remain a concern. “We remain cautious about the foundry market in 2019, due to the impact of an escalating trade dispute and other negative macroeconomics factors,” said Steven Liu, senior vice president of corporate marketing at UMC. “The recent escalation of trade tensions, rising global crude oil prices and continuous weakening of emerging market currencies could further increase uncertainties in the broader economy.”
Meanwhile, the IC market is changing. In the past, IC growth was driven by the smartphone, but growth in the mobile market has slowed significantly.
Still, there are several drivers that will keep the foundries busy for some time. “About three years ago, we were uncertain about the next big driver in the industry. The smartphone peaked and the market has slowed down. Growth went from 20% to 30%, to 4% to 5% — or flat,” said Bami Bastani, senior vice president at GlobalFoundries. “Today, we are at the dawn of a new gold rush for semiconductors. We see startups being funded again. We see that the appetite is insatiable for data.”
This is driving the need for faster processors and high-density memory. Then, on the application front, foundries are seeing demand for chips beyond the smartphone. The emerging applications include 5G, automotive and artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is becoming a big driver in the IC industry. “We are seeing the trend of artificial intelligence moving towards edge devices, and thus on-device intelligence will be one of the key drivers,” UMC’s Liu said. “Intelligent edge or on-device intelligence requires five key features—privacy of data, lower-power computations, high-efficiency network bandwidth, an order of magnitude lower latency, and increased reliability of the edge devices. These requirements will be driving semiconductor demand on edge devices moving forward.”
5G, the follow-on to the current 4G wireless standard, is another driver. 5G enables faster data rates in smartphones. “5G networks are already being deployed in selected markets today,” said Marco Racanelli, vice president and general manager of the RF and high-performance analog group at TowerJazz. “Early adopters and heavy data users will start using 5G technology in 2019, but the real unit growth should happen in and after 2020.”
There are other drivers as well. “Electrification and connectivity trends across industries will persist as significant drivers for the foreseeable future,” said Thomas Sonderman, president of SkyWater Technology Foundry. “We also are seeing increasing demand for specialized process R&D engineering services for quantum computing, photonics, and edge computing architectures.”
Leading-edge race
The foundry business involves a broad array markets. It’s difficult to track all those, but several segments, such as the leading edge, specialty foundry, China and 200mm, are worth watching in 2019.
The leading-edge foundry market involves processes at 16nm/14nm, 10nm/7nm and beyond. At those nodes, foundries are ramping up processes based on finFET transistors. (Intel started finFET production at 22nm.)
FinFETs are different than traditional planar transistors. In finFETs, the control of the current is accomplished by implementing a gate on each of the three sides of a fin.
Fig. 1: FinFET vs. planar. Source: Lam Research
At each node, the technical challenges and costs escalate, and there are fewer customers that can afford these nodes due to soaring IC design costs.
“Modern day circuits have become far more complex and associated fabrication costs have drastically increased,” said E.S. Jung, president of Samsung’s foundry business, during a recent presentation at IEDM. “For example, the gate counts in the state-of-the-art application processors have increased 15-fold from the 45nm technology node to the latest technology node, thus making it difficult for a single company to do all the work necessary to bring a new product to the market.”
For this reason and others, the number of leading-edge foundries has dwindled over the years. In 2018, GlobalFoundries dropped out of the 7nm race due to escalating R&D costs. It also was unable to justify the return-on-investment.
Meanwhile, Intel continues to struggle at 10nm. (Intel’s technology is roughly equivalent to 7nm from the foundries.). The company, which is a bit player in the foundry segment hopes to ship 10nm in late 2019.
Others continue to push forward and move to the next nodes. But as of today, Samsung and TSMC are the only two players ramping up 7nm finFET processes in the market.
In 2019, the 7nm foundry market is projected to reach $9.8 billion, up 96.4% from $4.98 billion in 2018, according to International Business Strategies (IBS).
“7nm revenue will increase in 2019,” said Samuel Wang, an analyst at Gartner. “Apple, the main volume user of 7nm, required a supply only in the third and fourth quarter of 2018. But they will need a full-year supply of 7nm in 2019. Plus, other fabless companies are ramping up production in 7nm.”
In early 2018, TSMC moved into production at 7nm using today’s 193nm immersion lithography and multiple patterning. Then, TSMC plans to insert extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography for its second version of 7nm, which is slated for early 2019.
And recently, Samsung became the industry’s first chipmaker to put EUV into limited production at 7nm.
EUV promises to reduce the process steps and complexity compared to traditional lithography. In an EUV scanner, a power source converts plasma into light at 13.5nm wavelengths, enabling the system to print finer features.
But the complexity of EUV has made it more difficult to put into production than previously thought, and it won’t be a smooth transition as EUV moves from R&D into the fab in 2019.
Nonetheless, TSMC sees strong demand for 7nm, whether it’s using optical lithography or EUV. The big drivers are AI and mobile. “We expect 100, or more than 100 tape-outs, in year 2019,” said C. C. Wei, chief executive and vice chairman at TSMC, in a recent conference call.
Then, by mid-2019, TSMC plans to move into risk production with 5nm. Slated for production in 2020, TSMC’s 5nm technology is based on finFETs.
TSMC and others believe 7nm will be a long-running node. 7nm provides enough performance at the right cost for most high-end applications. In comparison, 5nm provides an incremental performance boost over 7nm, but the design costs are higher.
While Intel, Samsung and TSMC pursue 10nm/7nm and beyond, there is still a sizable market for 16nm/14nm and 12nm finFETs. 12nm is a scaled down version of 16nm/14nm. GlobalFoundries, Intel, Samsung, TSMC and UMC are shipping 16nm/14nm processes.
“Not every part or process needs to migrate to 7nm,” GlobalFoundries’ Bastani said. “Because of the cost you see hybrid solutions developing, where a lot of I/O functions can stay at 14nm or 12nm. Optimizing power and performance around 12nm can provide a competitive solution.”
For that matter, not all customers require finFETs. Analog, mixed-signal and RF don’t require advanced nodes, and planar processes are suitable.
The leading-edge planar processes are 22nm and 18nm. Both 22nm and 18nm provide an option for customers that want more performance than 28nm, but which don’t require 16nm/14nm and beyond.
There are three technology options at 22nm—bulk silicon, FD-SOI and finFETs. Intel is pushing 22nm finFETs. “TSMC is the only company that has a strong position in 22nm high-k/metal-gate bulk CMOS,” said Handel Jones, chief executive of IBS. “STMicroelectronics, GlobalFoundries, and Samsung are active in FD-SOI, and the key company in design of FD-SOI products is VeriSilicon.”
22nm also represents a starting point for the introduction of various next-generation memories in the market. These memories are promising, as they combine the speed of SRAM and the non-volatility of flash with unlimited endurance. But they have taken longer to ramp up due to cost and yield issues.
Foundries are targeting the next-generation memories for the embedded market, and vendors have generally thrown their weight behind MRAM.
“Some of the new memory technologies are already out in the market,” said Gill Lee, managing director of memory technology at Applied Materials. “We see the new memories slowly coming into the market for embedded memory applications. For embedded memory, there are two different target applications.”
The first is for cache applications in processors. “Another application is replacing embedded flash memory. That’s more in the microcontroller type of application,” Lee said.
Generally, a processor is integrated with SRAM cache, which provides fast data access. But SRAM is large and takes up valuable space on the chip. And this is where a next-generation MRAM technology called STT-MRAM fits in. STT-MRAM is fast with a smaller cell size.
There is another application for next-generation memory, as well. Typically, a microcontroller integrates an embedded memory based on NOR flash, which is used for code storage. But NOR is difficult to scale beyond 28nm, prompting the need for embedded STT-MRAM. Other memories also are vying for similar applications, such as FRAM and ReRAM.
Specialty foundry boom
Not all of the action is at the leading edge. Automotive, industrial, wireless and other sectors are driving the need for various specialty processes at mature nodes.
Automotive is a small part of the foundry business, but the sector is growing. On average, the electronics content per car is expected to climb from $312 in 2013 to $460 in 2022, according to IHS.
Analog, memory, microcontrollers, sensors and other devices are used in cars. Each chip type requires various processes.
Foundry vendors are gearing up for a push toward advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technology. ADAS involves various safety features in a car, such as automatic emergency braking and lane detection.
“Automotive applications, such as ADAS and autonomous driving vehicles, are increasing the use of sensors. These are then coupled to MCUs and deployed into the in-car infotainment market,” UMC’s Liu said.
5G, meanwhile, is another big driver. Global 5G hardware revenue is expected to reach $19 billion by 2022, according to IHS.
Initially, 5G wireless networks will be deployed in the sub-6 GHz frequency ranges, with millimeter-wave technology in R&D. “In 2019, a significant amount of phones will have sub-6GHz capabilities,” GlobalFoundries’ Bastani said. “What are the emerging applications for 5G? First, it’s going to be in broadband and mobile connectivity. These are driven by much faster and higher data rates.”
5G will drive the need for more RF in smartphones and the associated infrastructure. “Specifically, for RF and high-performance analog, this means a sustained strong demand and content expansion for RF SOI and SiGe (silicon-germanium) technologies,” said Amol Kalburge, head of the automotive program at TowerJazz.
RF SOI, the RF version of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, has seen booming demand for switch and antenna chips in smartphones, causing shortages of RF SOI wafers in the market.
“On the RF side, 5G technology requirements bring more stringent requirements to RF SOI technology,” TowerJazz’s Racanelli said. “This will in turn continue to drive RF SOI content in smartphones/IoT devices, and therefore, expect the supply situation to remain tight.”
China and 200mm
For the IC industry, the wild card is China. China is the world’s largest market for chips, but trade issues are infusing uncertainty into the market.
In China, the foundry sector is divided into two camps—multinational and domestic. TSMC, UMC and other multinationals have fabs in China, while GlobalFoundries is building a plant. SMIC and HHGrace are among the domestic foundries in China.
2018 was a good year. “Most of the foundries based in China this year will have about a 10% revenue increase, a rate above the foundry industry average of about 7%,” Gartner’s Wang said. “TSMC’s revenue from Chinese customers jumped by 50% this year to $5.6 billion, contributing about 16% of the company’s revenue. This is due to demand from smartphones and cryptocurrency mining in China. UMC’s revenue from Chinese customers also will register a 10% increase this year.”
Going forward, 2019 looks promising. “The business should remain good in 2019,” Wang said. “Most new fabs in China are busy getting their process technologies and products qualified in 2019.”
In China, foundries are mainly developing 28nm and above. TSMC is ramping up 16nm finFETs in a new China fab.
The big danger is overcapacity. “Overcapacity should not be an issue till 2020,” he said.
Besides China, 200mm is a growing market. Growing demand for analog, MEMS and RF chips continues to cause acute shortages for 200mm foundry capacity.
200mm capacity was tight in 2018, and that may continue in 2019. “We do expect to see 200mm fabs, which typically service medium-volume legacy technology nodes, running at high utilization rates. Demand for analog and mixed-signal devices remains healthy across vertical markets,” SkyWater’s Sonderman said.
Both 300mm and 200mm capacity might be tight in 2019. “If the current forecasts for 2019 hold, and the political/macroeconomic headwinds do not strengthen unexpectedly, the capacity situation in 2019 is likely going to be similar to 2018 or may be tighter,” TowerJazz’ Kalburge said.
Summarizing the situation, UMC’s Liu said: “8-inch demand remains steady. However, we are cautious looking into 2019 given 8-inch to 12-inch legacy node migrations and U.S.-China trade tensions.”
All told, 2019 is a promising year for foundries. But economic and geopolitical factors could put a damper on the market. Plus, wafer demand could change overnight. All of these factors will keep the foundry industry on edge for some time.
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FuRyu has opened the official website and released the first information and screenshots of its newly announced PlayStation 4 roguelike RPG Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: Steam Dungeon, which is developed by Omega Labyrinth studio Matrix Software.
Get the details below.
■ Introduction
Story
One holiday, after hearing sounds coming from the Yuragi Inn’s warehouse, Kogarashi and the others notice it is dirty and start to tidy up. While cleaning, a basket falls over and something resembling a sealed note is torn.
Then, Kogarashi and the others hear a girl’s voice coming from a miniature garden in the basket.
“Mister, you came back…!”
Upon hearing the voice from the miniature garden, a harsh wind sweeps over them and Kogarashi turns into a doll before being sucked into the miniature garden.
Will you be able to bring back Kogarashi!?
■ Game Content
About
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: Steam Dungeon is an orthodox roguelike RPG where players become Yuuna, Sagiri, Nonko, Yaya, and Oboro, and make their way through mysterious dungeons while defeating monsters in order to save Kogarashi. Players will progress through the story via fully voiced adventure parts, while enjoying all sorts of events that can be played any number of times! The dungeons in dungeon parts are automatically generated. The game also has a completely original story! The equipment and items gathered in the dungeon can be used to strengthen the characters. Players can experience dungeons with a lot to do and all sorts of events!
Adventure
The supposed-to-be peaceful Yuragi Inn… where an incident suddenly occurs!? In order to save the kidnapped Kogarashi, Yuuna and the others will go on an unprecedented grand adventure! Fully voiced by the cast of the anime, players can enjoy the story of a new adventure featuring Yuuna and the others. Players may even see previously unseen sides of Yuuna and the others…!?
Dungeons
Explore dungeons that change appearance each time you enter while defeating monsters! If you die, all of your items will drop, so proceed with caution. Various events will occur in the dungeon as well!?
Hot Springs of Divine Response
Players can even bathe in the hot springs to heal the fatigue of their adventure. Of course, bad spirits have also gathered, so work with Koyuzu to scrub and cast away the malevolence and steam that builds up. As you clean up, the characters will transform…!?
First-Print Limited Editiion
Three special-illustrated double-sided pillow covers (Yuuna, Chisaki, Sagiri, Nonko, Yaya, Oboro)
Mini visual guide book
Special-illustrated exclusive packaging
Product code to obtain an original costume
Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-orders include a product code to download the original weapon “Body Soap” and costume “Bokorun Outfit.” | {
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I can’t believe I spent my day making Shakira a Pearlsona, I love my life choices.
Inspired by this post. | {
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Gram sale is over Congratulations to everyone who made it.
Just a little bit left, Gram will be listed on ATAIX immediately after the official release of TON.
Go to terms | {
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Lebanon will participate for the first time at the Venice Biennale of Architecture under the theme “The Place that Remains”. The Biennale will run from May 26 to November 25, 2018 and is now in its 16th edition.
Details of the project were given at a press conference held yesterday under the patronage of the Lebanese Minister of Culture and organized in cooperation with the Order of Engineers and Architects.
The press conference, which took place at the Order’s premises, was held in the presence of the Minister of Culture H.E. Dr. Ghattas Khoury, the Minister of Defense H.E. Mr. Yaacoub Sarraf, the Italian ambassador H.E. Mr. Massimo Marotti, MP Ghassan Moukhaiber, Director of the Geographic Affairs of the Lebanese Army General Moustapha Mouslimani, the President of the Order of Engineers and Architects Mr. Jad Tabet, and the Curator of the Lebanese Pavilion, architect Hala Younes, and representatives from participating universities and institutions.
In his speech, the Minister of Culture stated: “We ought to applaud this project which is the result of the joint efforts of a number of institutions. I hope that this cooperation will serve as an example to all of us – politicians, businessmen and researchers – proving that constructive support always pays off. He added: “With the Order of Engineers and Architects, we are preserving what remains of the historic buildings in Beirut and in all regions. We have studied the question of setting up committees to draw up a general inventory in all regions”. He also pointed out that the Law on the Protection of Historic Buildings promulgated by the Cabinet might be unfair to some owners, but that it was the only way to compensate them. He also hoped that the cooperation between the ministry and the Order would lead to the liberation of the non-historical and non-archaeological buildings.
He concluded by wishing success to this national project.
H.E. Ambassador Marotti said “The participation of Lebanon for the first time at the Venice Biennale of Architecture is very important and will have a double impact. It will stimulate the academic debate on urbanism and will magnify at international level the Lebanese architects’ views and contribution on the key topic of the quality of public space. He added “The 2018 edition of the Biennale focuses on “Freespace”, the art of improving the quality of the space not occupied by buildings or constructions. A real challenge for the success of the contemporary urban civilization all over the world.”
Jad Tabet said: “In a country like Lebanon, possibly the only country where urban planning is based on the hypothesis that building on any ground is possible, the paradox is reflected by the fact that this planning generates urban chaos and does not organize the lands. This creates a unified scene where the eyes move from one pattern to another identical one. No law is enforced except the law of land speculation. This unified scene, which tends to erase the diversity, specificity and character of each region, now dominates what can be described as the useful part of the Lebanese territory.”
The Lebanese Pavilion
The project has been developed by Hala Younes, curator of the Pavilion and Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Lebanese American University (LAU).
Hala Younes said: “The exhibition aims to shed light on the un-built land, their cultural characteristics and their prospects in improving the constructed environment and its living conditions as well as the architect’s role in the construction process and the resulting impact on the culture of the land.” And she added: “The purpose of the exhibition is to create knowledge and awareness on the status of the land. We are counting on developing knowledge of the territory in Lebanese society in order to become familiar with it and defend its value because our heritage is not only architectural but also geographical and landscaped”.
The Lebanese Pavilion will gather many individuals, architects, artists, researchers, and Lebanese institutions under the theme ‘The Place that Remains’. It involves a reflection on the built environment through a reflection on the unbuilt land, and the possible visions for the future of our national territory and landscape. The focus will be on Nahr Beirut (Beirut River) and its watershed.
The project explores the preconditions for architecture through assessing its bedrock and the challenges protagonists face, such as the fragile nature of territory, scarcity of resources and commodification.
In the work, the territory is rendered visible, requiring the tangible/sensitive reality to be brought back to the centre, whereby it becomes possible to identify, inventory, list and shed light on ‘The Place that Remains’ and the conditions required for its preservation.
The format chosen for the project is a combined 3D relief map, landscape photography and video surveillance, while the watershed setting allows its creators to ensure that the resources remain the key focus.
In addition, the pavilion will feature the work of six photographers. Selected by the curator and professors from Notre Dame University (NDU), the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA), and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), the photographers are: Gregory Buchakjian; Catherine Cattaruzza, Gilbert Hage, Hoda Kassatly, Ieva Sauvargaite, and Talal Khoury (video).
Historical photographs will also be on display, compiled from various collections, including: the Association pour la Protection des Sites et Anciennes Demeures au Liban (APSAD); the Fouad Debbas Collection; La Photothèque de la Bibliothèque Orientale à l’Université Saint Joseph (USJ); the Heinz Gaube Collection at Notre Dame University (NDU); and aerial photographs at the Lebanese Army.
Project contributors and supporters
This project has been drafted with the support of the Department of Urbanism at the Lebanese University (LU), the School of Architecture and Design at the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Arab Center for Architecture (ACA), and the Lebanese Landscape Association (LELA). The Department of Geography at Saint Joseph University (USJ) and the Directorate of Geographic Affairs of the Lebanese Army have also contributed significantly to help create the giant territorial 3D model.
March 2018 Conference
Within the framework of Lebanon’s participation in the biennale, a conference will be organized under the theme ‘The Place that Remains, recounting the Unbuilt Territory’ at Lebanese American University (LAU) on March 23 and 24, 2018.
The conference will explore a range of topics related to the theme, from the role of unbuilt territory as host to our dreams and means through which we can achieve our expectations to its status as a precious resource for securing quality living.
Venice Biennale of Architecture
The Venice Foundation, one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions held its first international architecture exhibition in 1980. Since then, the Venice Biennale of Architecture has evolved to become one of the most highly regarded and eagerly anticipated events of its kind.
The Artistic Directors designated by the Venice Foundation for the 2018 edition, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara (Grafton Architects), have chosen Freespace as theme for the 16th International Architecture Exhibition. They have invited participants from every national pavilion to bring to Venice their Freespace, so “together we may reveal the diversity, specificity and continuity in architecture based on people, place, time, history, to sustain the culture and relevance of architecture on this dynamic planet”.
http://lebanesepavilionvenice2018.com | {
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Een deel van het geld dat universiteiten en hogescholen hadden vrijgemaakt voor de eerste studenten die geen recht meer hadden op een studiebeurs is niet, zoals beloofd, ten goede gekomen aan de kwaliteit van hun onderwijs.
Slechts van een derde van deze 860 miljoen euro staat vast dat het inderdaad zo is besteed, blijkt uit onderzoek van de Algemene Rekenkamer.
Het hoger onderwijs had beloofd 600 miljoen euro uit te trekken om de pijn te verzachten voor de eerste studenten die onder het leenstelsel vielen.
Die kregen al geen studiebeurs meer, maar profiteerden ook nog niet van het geld dat daardoor op termijn naar het onderwijs zou vloeien. Daarom beloofden de universiteiten en hogescholen het onderwijs vanaf 2015 alvast op eigen kosten te verbeteren.
De onderwijsinstellingen beweerden uiteindelijk zelfs 860 miljoen te hebben uitgegeven. Van bijna een derde van dat bedrag weet de Rekenkamer echter zeker dat het niet goed is terechtgekomen. Van een ander derde is dat nog de vraag.
Te rooskleurig
Het kabinet nam voetstoots aan wat de universiteiten en hogescholen over de besteding van het geld meldden en schetste de Tweede Kamer daardoor een te rooskleurig beeld, stelt de Rekenkamer. Dat gaat in het vervolg anders, verzekert minister Ingrid van Engelshoven van Onderwijs. Volgens het ministerie is er wel degelijk ''substantieel geïnvesteerd'', maar waren de afspraken daarover met instellingen en studenten niet duidelijk genoeg.
De kwestie ligt gevoelig in de Kamer. Voorstanders van de afschaffing van de studiebeurs stelden als voorwaarde dat het geld dat daardoor wordt uitgespaard ten goede moet komen aan het onderwijs.
De Landelijke Studentenvakbond is verbijsterd. ''De Rekenkamer laat zien dat het totaal onduidelijk is of de beloofde miljoenen geïnvesteerd zijn. Universiteiten en hogescholen moeten zich aan de afspraken houden.''
Kwalijk
Studenten mochten meebeslissen over wat er met het geld gebeurt. ''Studenten die de afgelopen jaren zijn begonnen met studeren kregen geen basisbeurs, lopen de collegegeldkorting mis en hebben minder goed onderwijs gekregen dan hun beloofd is. Dat is enorm kwalijk'', aldus de LSVb.
De Vereniging Hogescholen zet vraagtekens bij de criteria die de Algemene Rekenkamer ''achteraf heeft geformuleerd'' om de afspraken tussen de minister en de hogescholen te toetsen. De VH benadrukt dat hogescholen fors hebben geïnvesteerd in de kwaliteit van het onderwijs door hun reserves ''stevig'' aan te spreken. | {
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Dale Bozzio: Former Playboy Bunny/Rock Icon Charged with Animal Cruelty
, former Playboy bunny and rock icon, has been charged with animal cruelty after neighbors found numerous sick and dead cats in her home.
A dozen cats were removed from the home and put down. Bozzio's lawyer stated that Bozzio was out of town at the time and that the person hired to take care of her pets never arrived. Bozzio has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and will be charged with nine more.
Bozzio, born Dale Frances Consalvi, was the lead singer for the 1980s pop/new wave band Missing Persons.
View more photos of Dale Bozzio and video of Missing Persons performing "Words" below.
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With just days to go before the country goes to the polls, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are ramping up their efforts to deliver a victory for their parties.
The Conservatives have attempted to make the campaign about the Prime Minister's approach to Brexit and to insist she is better placed than Labour to secure a good deal from the EU.
A manifesto U-turn over social care caused significant embarrassment and has led to a closer race than many expected.
Here are the policy positions and promises the Conservatives are making:
Brexit
Theresa May has made extremely clear that she would take the country out of the single market and the customs union, but will seek a new “deep and special partnership with the EU.”
Not being in the single market would allow the UK to take control of the roughly 40 per cent of overall immigration that comes from EU countries, but business groups have warned it poses a significant risk to the economy.
It is not clear what a “new deep and special partnership would mean” and Angela Merkel, among others, has been clear that non EU-members cannot have a preferential set of trading arrangements than members.
The economy
The Conservatives would seek to increase the national living wage to 60 per cent of median earnings by 2020
The manifesto promises to introduce an “energy tariff cap” to protect the most vulnerable customers, but wants to maintain a “competitive element” within the energy market
The deadline of eliminating the deficit by 2015 is, of course, long gone, but the 2025 commitment to do so is in place.
The manifesto also ditches old plans not to increase national insurance or income tax. Balancing the budget by 2025 is highly likely to require one or the other to happen, or both.
The NHS
The manifesto pledged to increase NHS spending by £8bn in real terms in the course of the next parliament, with a particular emphasis on new facilities (as opposed to more staff). £8bn is a fraction of Labour’s commitment, which is unlikely to meet the demands of an ageing population.
There is also the now notorious social care question. Theresa May has now back-tracked from her manifesto commitment, making elderly people use the value of their estate to pay for their social care after death. The policy remains in place in principle, but with a cap on the total amount any one person might pay has been added, though voters will have to go to the polls without knowing what that amount is.
Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Show all 7 1 /7 Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Brexit Theresa May has made extremely clear that she would take the country out of the single market and the customs union, but will seek a new “deep and special partnership with the EU.” Not being in the single market would allow the UK to take control of the roughly 40 per cent of overall immigration that comes from EU countries, but business groups have warned it poses a significant risk to the economy. It is not clear what a “new deep and special partnership would mean” and Angela Merkel, among others, has been clear that non EU-members cannot have a preferential set of trading arrangements than members. Getty Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Immigration Theresa May remains committed to the target of reducing immigration to the”tens of thousands” and will not remove students, who tend to go home at the end of their studies, from the figures. It will also raise the earnings threshold for immigrants who wish to sponsor visas for their partners and other family. PA Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained The Economy The Conservatives would seek to increase the national living wage to 60 per cent of median earnings by 2020 The manifesto promises to introduce an “energy tariff cap” to protect the most vulnerable customers, but wants to maintain a “competitive element” within the energy market The deadline of eliminating the deficit by 2015 is, of course, long gone, but the 2025 commitment to do so is in place. The manifesto also ditches old plans not to increase national insurance or income tax. Balancing the budget by 2025 is highly likely to require one or the other to happen, or both. Getty Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Tax The manifesto raises the tax personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate to £50,000 by 2020, meaning a large proportion of the population will pay less income tax It will also introduce legislation that would force local councils to offer a referendum before making major council tax increases. It is very hard to imagine any such referendum ever resulting in the required raise. In marked contrast to Labour, the party is committed to lowering corporation tax yet further, to 17% by 2020. This low figure is considered crucial to attracting investment to the UK in the wake of the Brexit vote. From 2020, the pensions “triple lock” would be replaced by double lock, meaning pensions would rise in line with whichever is higher of inflation or earnings, but the minimum 2.5 per cent rise would go. Getty/iStock Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Housing The manifesto commits to building 1m homes by the end of 2020 and 500,000 more by the end of 2022, but all similar targets by Labour, Conservative and coalition governments have been missed, and there is little in the way of detail on how to achieve it. New social housing would come with fixed terms for tenants, which the automatic right to buy after 10 to 15 years occupancy. Shutterstock Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Fracking The Conservative manifesto sets out clear plans to develop the fracking industry, compared to Labour who seek to ban it. PA Should I vote Tory? May's biggest policies explained Defence and foreign policy The Conservatives are committed to meeting Nato targets of 2 per cent GDP spending on defence It would retain Trident, and spent £178bn in new military equipment over the next decade, including the new Astute class of hunter-killer submarines Theresa May has placed considerable emphasis on the “special relationship” with the US, which could prove crucial in a future US/UK trade deal. But the UK’s longstanding foreign policy position, of being, in effect, America’s representative in Europe, will come to an end, arguably in symmetry with America’s standing on the global stage. PA
Education
The Conservatives want to build at least 100 new free schools a year, end the ban on selective state schools and ask universities and independent schools to help run state schools.
It will replace free school lunches with free school breakfasts.
The return of grammar schools is a significant shift in recent policy.
Immigration
Theresa May remains committed to the target of reducing immigration to the”tens of thousands” and will not remove students, who tend to go home at the end of their studies, from the figures.
It will also raise the earnings threshold for immigrants who wish to sponsor visas for their partners and other family.
Tax
The manifesto raises the tax personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate to £50,000 by 2020, meaning a large proportion of the population will pay less income tax
It will also introduce legislation that would force local councils to offer a referendum before making major council tax increases. It is very hard to imagine any such referendum ever resulting in the required raise.
In marked contrast to Labour, the party is committed to lowering corporation tax yet further, to 17% by 2020. This low figure is considered crucial to attracting investment to the UK in the wake of the Brexit vote.
From 2020, the pensions “triple lock” would be replaced by double lock, meaning pensions would rise in line with whichever is higher of inflation or earnings, but the minimum 2.5 per cent rise would go.
Housing
The manifesto commits to building 1m homes by the end of 2020 and 500,000 more by the end of 2022, but all similar targets by Labour, Conservative and coalition governments have been missed, and there is little in the way of detail on how to achieve it.
New social housing would come with fixed terms for tenants, which the automatic right to buy after 10 to 15 years occupancy.
The environment
The Conservative manifesto sets out clear plans to develop the fracking industry, compared to Labour who seek to ban it.
Defence and foreign policy
The Conservatives are committed to meeting Nato targets of 2 per cent GDP spending on defence
It would retain Trident, and spent £178bn in new military equipment over the next decade, including the new Astute class of hunter-killer submarines | {
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Experts say a "swarm" of small earthquakes off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island are part of the normal seismic activity in the area, and they could continue for several more days.
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake that struck just after midnight on Tuesday morning was the eighth small quake with a magnitude between 3.8 and 4.7 to strike the region since April 22.
Earthquakes Canada notice: There is a light swarm of earthquakes occurring offshore of Vancouver Island. The largest event was a magnitude 4.7 earthquake on Apr 22 and seven other earthquakes in the magnitude 4 range on Apr 27. These earthquakes are too far from land to be felt. Source: Natural Resources Canada
Pacific Geoscience Centre Seismologist Gary Rogers said the activity is focused along a 20-kilometre stretch along an area called the Raveer Delwood Fault, located about 200 kilometres offshore.
"In the very thin crust that we have out there off our west coast of Vancouver Island, it often fractures in a series of small earthquakes, usually about this size being the maximum."
Rogers said more small earthquakes are expected in the area over the next week.
"They often go on for days. There's been a lot of smaller ones, so eventually they'll wind down, but typically, what we've seen in the past is that most of these swarms last a few days to a week or so."
A similar but more powerful swarm that struck the same area in August 2008 included a magnitude 5.2 quake.
Experts have been warning a major earthquake hits B.C. every 500 years, and the last one was in 1700. But they said the swarm of small earthquake activity does not indicate a larger earthquake is more likely in the short term.
The last significant quake to rattle the West Coast was a magnitude 6.5 tremor centered that struck about 50 kilometres off the west coast of the island in September of 2011, swaying high-rises as far away as Vancouver, Kelowna and Seattle. | {
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A 'god' is synonymous to a 'deity'; the Titans and Titanesses were gods, they were members of the second order of divine beings - after Gaia and Uranus, and the other primordial deities.
Cronus and his fellow Titans comprised the second Ancient Greek pantheon (the first comprising of deities such as Ananke, Gaea, and Ouranos), which the younger generation of gods, including Zeus, would later usurp, as the Titans usurped the primordial gods before them. (For more information on this concept of change in dominant deities, read up on the theory of The Golden Age, particularly that of Hesiod, who also wrote the only surviving account of the Titans in his Theogony.)
As for why the Titans have their own order name as opposed to Zeus et al who are simply 'gods', there is debate as to the exact etymology of the word 'titan' but this quote from Hesiod's Theogony states:
"But these sons whom he begot himself great Heaven used to call Titans （Strainers） in reproach, for he said that they strained (τιταίνοντας) and did presumptuous a fearful deed, and that vengeance (τίσιν) for it would come afterwards." Trans. Evelyn-White, here with side-by-side Greek.
However this is not to say Hesiod was correct; he himself was writing long after the supposed Golden Age ended. | {
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DENVER, April 29 (UPI) -- The Colorado Symphony Orchestra has partnered with the state’s blossoming cannabis industry for a four-part “BYOC” concert series that will raise funds to benefit the CSO.
“Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series” will kick off with three concerts at the Space Gallery and end with a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The CSO will curate a themed program for each show and attendees are being encouraged to bring their own marijuana.
"This partnership is part of an overall effort to reach out to every segment of our community," symphony CEO Jerome Kern said in a statement to 7NEWS. "These businesses have expressed a willingness to support the Colorado Symphony’s mission. Our doors are open to any legal, legitimate business that wants to help."
The Space Gallery shows will be sponsored by a New Hampshire-based company that manufactures marijuana cultivation supplies and two local pot dispensaries.
“We see ourselves as connecting classical music with all of Colorado," Kern told the Denver Post. "Part of our goal is to bring in a younger audience and a more diverse audience, and I would suggest that the patrons of the cannabis industry are both younger and more diverse than the patrons of the symphony orchestra."
It’s unclear what the smoking situation will be like at Red Rock, as officials at Denver's Arts and Venues Office maintain that it’s illegal to smoke at the performance space.
"They will have their show, they are allowed to have sponsors associated with the show, but they have made a mistake saying its BYO-cannibis [at Red Rocks]," said Denver Arts and Venues marketing director Brian Kitts. "That’s inappropriate and not something they should be promoting." | {
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AT&T’s proposed merger with T-Mobile USA, once seen as inevitable, hit some significant speed bumps this week.
Industry observers say the headwinds do not mean the merger won’t ultimately win regulatory approval, but the company is going to have to prove to Congress and to regulators that consumers won’t suffer under the deal.
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One expert predicted that AT&T will redouble its efforts to get the merger approved.
“AT&T has a $3 billion payback to T-Mobile if this deal doesn’t go [through], so they have every motivation to make this happen,” said Rob Frieden, a professor of telecommunications and law at Penn State University. “If anything this motivates AT&T to double and redouble its outreach and its lobbying.”
The $39 billion acquisition met resistance in Congress for the first time this week when Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust subcommittee, urged regulators to block it.
“Approval of this acquisition would also reverse the historic triumph of competition policy of three decades ago — the breaking up of the AT&T phone monopoly into numerous competitors, unleashing an explosion of innovation that led to such technologies as cell phones and the Internet,” Kohl wrote in a seven-page letter laying out his opposition.
The bad news for the company continued late Wednesday when the Federal Communications Commission stopped the clock on its review of the merger. The agency is waiting on AT&T to provide additional economic and engineering analysis of the potential benefits from combining the companies.
Conventional wisdom in the Beltway had held that the merger would sail through the regulatory process. AT&T’s deep pockets and army of lobbyists — paired with the support of organized labor — seemed to make government approval a mere formality.
But AT&T’s air of invincibility is fading as questions mount about a telecom merger that would leave more than 80 percent of the nation’s wireless market in the hands of two companies.
“I don’t know how you can view [Wednesday] as anything but a terrible day for AT&T,” said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, which opposes the merger.
AT&T remains confident the government will eventually approve the transaction, but opponents have been buoyed by recent developments and point to statements from Democrats this week questioning the deal’s benefits.
Several lawmakers have invoked the breakup of the Ma Bell telephone monopoly in the 1980s in explaining their opposition to the deal, which would make AT&T and Verizon the dominant wireless players and leave Sprint a distant third.
“To replace the AT&T phone monopoly of the last century with a near-duopoly of AT&T and Verizon today would be harmful to consumers, contrary to antitrust law and not in the public interest under communications law,” Kohl wrote in his letter.
Rep. Edward Markey Edward (Ed) John MarkeyDemocrats rip Trump for not condemning white supremacists, Proud Boys at debate Senate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 Manchin opposes adding justices to the court MORE (D-Mass.) said the merger would be “an historic mistake.”
“It would turn back the clock to the early 1990s, when American ingenuity and innovation were stymied by a sluggish, analog cellular duopoly,” said Markey, arguing that subsequent legislation helped create new wireless providers and unleash a wave of innovation.
Markey joined Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) this week in a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to closely scrutinize any promised benefits of the merger. The lawmakers warned the fusion of the firms would be a “troubling backward step” for public policy.
Conyers, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the merger in Congress, said he appreciates the fact AT&T is the only unionized wireless carrier, but that he still believes the DOJ and the FCC must reject the proposal to protect consumers.
An AT&T spokesman said the firm is preparing new economic and engineering models to provide greater detail on the promised benefits of the deal, specifically on how combining the two networks will increase service and network capacity for customers while saving on costs.
“The facts also demonstrate that the consumer and public interest benefits are enormous,” said AT&T general counsel Wayne Watts. “These include better service in the form of fewer dropped calls, faster speeds and a better overall customer experience, more mobile broadband access for more Americans.”
The FCC said the new submissions are expected to be complex, so the agency has stopped the 180-day clock on the review until it has had time to look over the additional evidence. The delay is not expected to last more than a month or to slow down the review process significantly.
“Because this information, which we will submit next week, is detailed, we are not surprised that the FCC will take the time it needs to thoroughly understand our submission,” AT&T told The Hill in a statement. “We do not expect this will adversely impact the timeframe for approval of our transaction.”
The FCC and the DOJ are both reviewing the deal. Justice can sue to block it under the Clayton Antitrust Act, while the FCC can launch an administrative proceeding if it decides the merger is contrary to the public interest. The FCC can also approve the merger outright or with conditions, such as those attached to the NBC Universal-Comcast merger last year.
Opponents argue there aren’t any conditions that regulators could pin on the deal to prevent it from stifling competition in the wireless market.
Sprint spokesman John Taylor said AT&T caught most stakeholders by surprise when it announced the merger on March 20; thanks to its formidable presence in Washington, the move enabled the telecom giant to create a sense of inevitability around the transaction. But he noted the issue will be handled by law enforcement, not legislation, and said a flurry of lobbying on the merger has only served to raise more questions.
“I think what you’re seeing on Capitol Hill among staffers following telecom issues — as they have learned more about this transaction, they have more questions. As they get more answers, they like this deal less and less,” Taylor said.
Sprint has ramped up its lobbying significantly in opposition to the deal. CEO Dan Hesse admitted last month that if the merger is approved, Sprint would become ripe for a takeover.
AT&T’s aggressive push to rally support for the deal has shown results. A large number of community organizations, civil-rights groups and 26 state governors have written in support of the merger, and the firm has a team of lobbyists working to promote the deal on Capitol Hill.
But Public Knowledge Legal Director Harold Feld suggested some of AT&T’s tactics have backfired. He noted the recent controversy involving the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which endorsed the merger and then withdrew it after a shakeup in management. | {
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Freshman Texas state representative Molly White may just be getting the lay of the land at the Texas House, but she’s already sure of one thing: Muslims visiting the state capitol to learn about lobbying and the democratic process are up to no good and need to have their American credentials checked. Instead of welcoming the participants of Texas Muslim Capitol Day into her office and asking how she may better reflect their needs as a legislator, White decided to challenge their patriotism.
“I did leave an Israeli flag on the reception desk in my office with instructions to staff to ask representatives from the Muslim community to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws,” she told her 1,500 subscribers on Facebook. “We will see how long they stay in my office.”
The Council on American-Islamic relations has already requested an ethics investigation into White’s display, and specifically her decision to make them pledge allegiance. She also, inexplicably, chose to present visitors with an Israeli flag — not even an American one! — prompting Tablet writer Yair Rosenberg to speak on behalf of his people: | {
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When Trop Rouge's Christina Caradona revealed to her 131,000 Instagram followers that she doesn't show her "whole face" in selfies (which often garner upwards of 3,000 'likes') because she is "self conscious" of her "weird eyes," her disbelieving fans responded with as much amazement as they did incredulity. "What?! You're so beautiful!" and "I would give anything to look like you! Are you crazy?! What is wrong with you!?" were just some of the comments the post received.
Caradona's refreshing honesty ("We all have our insecurities and believe it or not I have A TON," she wrote in the post) got me thinking about self-perception on social media—namely, the lengths many of us go to hide flaws that are often invisible to others, in order to curate our best online selves. I have friends who retouch their blemishes, others who pose specifically to hide their "big nose" or "chubby cheeks," and some who ask other friends to untag them because they don't like the angle—or even ask to have a photo taken down because of the way that (they think) they look.
Jenny Albright, who is also one half of the popular DJ duo Daddy Likes, admitted to asking her ex-boyfriend to delete a beach picture from last summer because "I didn't like the way my body looked," she said. "I was leaning over in a way that makes your stomach roll. It just wasn't a good look." Interestingly, I was also in this picture, and only remember envying how beautiful I thought she looked—radiant and tall with perfect hair—and thinking how short I appeared next to her. Another friend, Nazy Karimi, who works as David Byrne's assistant, told me how she taught herself to smile in photos without showing her teeth because, after a bicycle accident a few years ago, she only sees them as being "different" or "off." "Friends of mine always show me pictures [of me] and say, 'You look so great in this photo!' and I'm like, 'Are you kidding me! Untag me, or take it down.' The photos they love are me with a big smile…so obvious,' she confessed, with a cheeky grin. "I love smiling and I love laughing, but when I actually see it I just think, 'Oh, does that look normal?' But I'm working on it."
Katie Friedman
Warped self-perception is nothing new, however. Last year, alongside its now famous Real Beauty Sketches, Dove published survey data which asserted that "over half (54%) of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic, which equates to a staggering 672 million women around the world." But how does this affect us when you add social media into the mix? In real life we may spend years trying to 'find ourselves;' but on social media, with 60 million images uploaded to Instagram every day, it seems we are all trying to find a version of ourselves that gets the most positive feedback—or the most 'likes.'
Research from the University of Buffalo indicates that women who base their self-worth on their appearance are likely to post more pictures of themselves on social media seeking validation. In turn, they are also more likely to have a larger number of followers. Their pictures, which, before the advent of Instagram in 2010, were probably candid snapshots posted to Facebook with little or no thought, are now taken to reflect their best body angles, their best outfits, with their best facial features placed under the most flattering light. This can lead to a feeling of dread when a photo surfaces online, say, on another friend's Instagram account, over which they had no control. "Every girl has had that moment where they jump their friend and are just like, 'Give me your phone, you're deleting that!' Nobody wants to look bad on the Internet," said Leah Kelley, who runs the lifestyle blog Thick and Toned.
Dr. Pamela B. Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center at Fielding Graduate University and author of PsychologyToday's blog Positively Media, explained that this anxiety stems from a tendency to concentrate on specific aspects of our looks rather than the bigger picture. "We focus on the things that we're most concerned with, whether that's the perception of a physical fault such as 'my lips look too thin,' or a temporary one like 'does my sunburn show underneath my makeup?' We tend to be much harder on ourselves than others are on us," she said. "Whereas others take in an image holistically, noticing expressions of emotion and mood such as a smile, we are scrutinizing the minor details."
When it comes to self-perception on social media, selfies are, there is no better way to put it, the worst. Most people fall into two groups: You are either embarrassed to participate, tentatively posting one in fear of being ridiculed by friends (at least half of the women I interviewed for this story said they belonged to this group but will post selfies anyway, only to later question the image they chose, stewing over whether it really was, in fact, a good picture of them), or they are confident enough to post one, but will often add filters, or use retouching apps to erase 'flaws.' For the young, impressionable, and unaware, this could arguably be more damaging to self-esteem than an obviously airbrushed fashion campaign.
"There are apps out there which can change everything: your eye color, the size of your eyes, slim your cheeks," said 24-year-old model Iskra Lawrence, who helped put together the un-airbrushed 2014 charity calendar Model Kind, and says she hasn't retouched any of her Instagram images—"yet." "It is so much scarier than magazines," she said. "At least most people realize that magazines and campaigns have been airbrushed. But young girls are looking at selfies on Instagram and they're not realizing that some people are using apps to totally change what they look like."
Katie Friedman
Everyone I spoke to for this story, besides Iskra, admitted to retouching photos of themselves in some way—even if a filter was all they added. New Zealand-born model Emma Sanders, 24, and Human Gallery NYC owner, Rachael Yaeger, 27, both said they use filters to change the way they look on Instagram. "I use a filter to change the light sometimes because it can change the bone structure in your face," said Emma, who now lives in New York. Yaeger, meanwhile, uses black and white filters on her selfies because it helps to smooth out her sensitive skin. "I notice [my skin] immediately, and think that's the first thing other people will see," she explained.
Kamie Crawford, a 25-year-old model from Maryland, says she retouches her social media images "all the time," however she says she is honest with her followers about it. "Ideals of beauty are so farfetched, it feels like every single moment you have to be perfect," she said. "Usually I do underneath my eyes, dark circles or creases. I also use Perfect365, an app that can give me eyelashes because mine are really short," she revealed, adding that as a plus-size model, she leaves her body alone. Mallory Blair, the 26-year-old co-founder of Small Girls PR, will retouch acne or bags under her eyes using the 'blur' tool on popular Japanese photo apps, and like Crawford, she hopes her honesty will shed some light on a phenomenon she says is simply "reality" nowadays. "I've retouched things that, honestly, if I had taken more time focusing on the angle, like where the light was hitting my face, I probably wouldn't even have to use it," she said. "But I'll be like, 'Okay I can just really quickly add blur to that spot and I'm done.'"
Mark Zuckerberg wrote in 2012 that social media will lead to "the empowerment of people." But by conditioning us to pick ourselves apart, minor detail by minor detail, is social media just sending society spinning down a rabbit hole of self-doubt? In her thesis titled "Why Don't I Look Like Her? The Impact of Social Media on Female Body Image", Claremont McKenna College graduate Kendal Klein argues that the "ubiquitous and enduring nature" of social media has a more of a "detrimental impact to the body image concerns of college aged women than advertising or the media generally." Sure, we have always cared about how we look, but David G. Schlundt, associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, explained that because people tend to be hypercritical when it comes to their own (Google-able) images, social media can lead to heightened insecurities. "What other people see as unique or interesting features, we see as flaws in our appearance," he explained. And while it is normal to want to receive positive feedback from others, which makes us feel valued and loved, he warned that using social media as a tool for validation can be dangerous. "If you put all your self esteem into looking good and having other people 'like' the way you look, this makes you vulnerable to negative feedback," he explained, adding that for most people, image dissatisfaction is manageable, but unhealthy behaviors like ineffective or yo-yo dieting—and on the extreme end, eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder—can arise when seeking social media validation turns into an obsession. "Instagram can really get into your head," observed Karimi, who is on Facebook, but doesn't yet have a personal Instagram or Twitter account (she is in charge of the latter for David Byrne, though). "You're always checking to see how many [likes] you have."
Emily Bryngelson, an associate designer at Ann Taylor who struggled with an eating disorder as a teen, admitted to deleting selfies if they don't receive enough 'likes.' "I take selfies down all the time after I've put them up. It'll be a spur of the moment thing, like 'Oh, I look cute in that picture,' and either I don't get enough likes, or it's a few hours later and I'll be like, 'Uh, I actually hate that picture,'" she explained, adding that the proliferation of social media makes her scrutinize herself in a way she otherwise wouldn't. "Instagram makes me so anxious," she said. "I'm always looking at other women thinking, 'I wish I looked like that,' or 'I should get more in shape,' or 'I should wear cooler clothes.' If Instagram had been a factor in my past, it would have definitely made [my eating disorder] worse...I mean, young girls can now follow Victoria's Secret models and see what they look like in the 'every day.' They post selfies from bed! With nothing but their underwear on. That has got to make any woman, let alone a 13-year-old girl, feel unsure of herself."
Katie Friedman
Anyone reading this might just say, well, why don't you just delete your account? Stop using Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. But we all know it's not so simple. Comscore (2011) reported that more than 90 percent of U.S. Internet users visit a social media site each month, and a high number of 'likes' is no longer just a measure of popularity. Not only is a "strong social media presence" now a prerequisite for many, if not most, jobs, but companies have begun to look at your number of followers as both a measure of monetary value and a career determiner. And according to TIME.com, employers actually consider people without Facebook suspicious. "If you boycott Instagram, you're cutting yourself off from a lot of opportunities," said Emily. "I started posting more selfies, despite being self conscious about it, because honestly—you get so many more 'likes' when you post a selfie. And you get so many more followers."
Even Karimi admitted her social media absence is holding her back. "I have been offered some pretty wonderful opportunities, but because social media is lacking in my world...I haven't been hired because of it," she said. "I beat myself up about it for about a week, and then I realize that well, even if I did start one, I would hate it because I don't have it in me." Clearly, if we want to compete in today's society, we are required to have a real-life version and an online version of ourselves—even if the two don't necessarily align, which Iskra quickly realized after moving from London to New York to pursue her modeling career. "Originally my Instagram had a lot more family stuff, more about me as a person, but I've had to really scale that back because as a model, I have to get more followers," she said. "And what gets followers is lingerie pictures. And selfies."
Curating the 'perfect' social media self extends beyond selfies, however. Instagram enables us to put an aspirational front on our lives, to create our own brand, in a sense, like a personal magazine, meticulously curated based on things we like, or more often than not, things we know other people will like—or be envious of. Instead of posting a photo of yourself because you want to share it with friends or family, it becomes more about the 'brand of you.' Last month Garance Doré touched on this subject in a post titled Instagram vs. Real Life, writing: "The thing with Instagram, it's the difference there is between our real life and the dream life we post. Ok so we're all supposed to know it and take Instagram life with a grain of salt, but let's be honest, we all forget."
Yaeger, who is also the co-founder of Topless Blading and a part-time project manager at Gin Lane, says social media gives her the ability to showcase both her work and personal pursuits, but concedes that there is a growing disconnect between what is really going on and what people post. Her best friends think her Instagram is "a little overly curated" and she has begun to wonder whether people think she is "a) not working or b) always having fun" because her feed only highlights the "greater aspects" of her life. "The other day this guy was like, 'It seems like you're always out to coffee.' So I thought, 'Okay, maybe I need to be a little more conscious of my lax photos.' But a photo of my computer screen or e-mail is not really...interesting," she said with a laugh, before adding, "My dad is sick right now and I went upstate to see him, but I'm not Instagramming him being like, 'Love you so much, pull through.' I'm Instagramming the mountain on a hike I went on that afternoon." Blair, who is listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2014, put it simply: "I think of myself as the art director of my own life on Instagram." Though she admits to being conscious of her "baby face" in pictures posted to social media, making sure to angle herself to look more her age (thus creating "higher cheekbones that might read as older"), she makes a point to be her "true self" on Instagram—and to lead by example. "If Bianca [Caampued, her business partner] and I are telling clients to be their honest, authentic selves, then, you know, we don't rearrange our desks before we take a photo, we just take a photo of it in its messy glory," she said. "If you're relatable and yourself, the right people will find you and resonate with you."
Caradona, who has nearly 10,000 Twitter followers and 25,000 'likes' on her blog's Facebook page, adheres to a similar ethos and hopes that when people look at her social media accounts, they want to be friends with her rather than feel intimidated by her. Because although the 26-year-old may come across as "confident with my shit together" on Instagram, she says she is also "this awkward scatter-brained girl trapped in an adult body, trying to figure out life without falling on my face." For this reason, she has never altered her body or her face using retouching apps because "I'm not here to make people feel bad about themselves," she said. "Flaws are beautiful."
See the full gallery of women discussing self-perception and self esteem here.
From: Elle
Olivia Fleming Olivia Fleming is the former Features Director at HarpersBAZAAR.com.
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Confederate General-Memphis Statue
In this Feb. 6, 2013 file photo, a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest sits on a concrete pedestal at a park named after the confederate cavalryman in Memphis Tenn.
(Adrian Sainz | The Associated Press)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis City Council has begun the process that could result in the removal of the body and a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest -- rebel general, slave trader and early Ku Klux Klan member -- from a park.
Multiple media outlets report that the City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday calling for the graves of Forrest and his wife to be removed from Health Sciences Park. An ordinance to remove the park's statue of Forrest received the first of three readings.
The resolution about the graves requires approval from Chancery Court and Forrest's descendants, while the ordinance regarding the statue also needs approval from the Tennessee Historical Commission.
Council chairman Myron Lowery and Mayor A C Wharton have backed both agenda items. The Sons of Confederate Veterans opposes the removals. | {
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Islamic State fighters used a sandstorm that halted US airstrikes to seize critical military advantage in the terror group's attack on the provincial Iraqi capital of Ramadi, according to a media report.
The sandstorm delayed American warplanes and kept them from launching airstrikes to help the Iraqi forces, as the Islamic State fighters evidently anticipated, The New York Times reported.
The fighters used the time to carry out a series of car bombings followed by a wave of ground attacks in and around Ramadi, the capital of the Sunni heartland province of Anbar, that eventually overwhelmed the American-backed Iraqi forces.
Once the storm subsided, Islamic State and Iraqi forces were intermingled in heavy combat in many areas, making it difficult for allied pilots to distinguish friend or foe, US officials were quoted as saying by the daily.
By that point, the militants had gained an operational momentum that could not be reversed.
"The dust storm at the very least neutralised capabilities that could have been decisive," a former senior military official was quoted as saying.
The episode showed the limitations in America's formidable aerial arsenal and also the weaknesses in the Iraqi military's ability to reinforce and resupply troops facing heavy attack, particularly in Ramadi and elsewhere in Anbar Province, where the government has struggled to recruit capable Sunni troops, the report said.
Although American military officials challenged the notion last week that bad weather hindered the effectiveness of the airstrikes, other officials in the US and Iraq said on Monday that the sandstorms played a more important role than previously acknowledged.
Islamic State fighters have used this tactic before -- in January they launched a surprise attack against Kurdish forces in Kirkuk during a sandstorm -- but not with such formidable results. | {
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Reuters
A private investigator hired by Credit Suisse acted "defensively" in a physical confrontation with former banker Iqbal Khan, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a report filed by the security firm.
Khan is moving to rival bank UBS to be co-head of wealth management. Credit Suisse was reportedly worried he'd poach other employees.
The report follows news that Khan was tailed by an unidentified individual last week and photographed the pursuing vehicle.
The pursuer attempted to take Khan's phone, according to the previous report, while the security firm's update said the investigator merely tried to block Khan when the banker tried to take a photo.
Visit the Markets Insider homepage for more stories.
Credit Suisse's private investigator acted "defensively" in a physical altercation with former star banker Iqbal Khan, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a report filed by the security firm.
Khan is moving to rival bank UBS to be co-head of wealth management. Credit Suisse was reportedly worried he'd poach other employees, which led it to hire the security business Investigo to observe his actions, the new report found. The firm was asked to not break any laws or get too close to the banker.
By Investigo's version of last week's events, one of its employees was conducting surveillance on Khan from his car when the banker approached him and shouted at the investigator. Khan tried to photograph the employee, who blocked the attempt. The investigator acted "defensively" against Khan, according to the firm's report.
Read more: 'It's going to 30,000': A CIO who oversees $4.9 billion explains why the Dow is headed for fresh record highs — and shares his top 4 stock picks for the upswing
Khan noticed he was being tailed while driving with his wife last week, and photographed the following vehicle. The pursuit led to a physical confrontation in Zurich when the investigator attempted to take Khan's phone and the photos he took, people familiar with the events told Bloomberg.
Khan served as CEO of the bank's International Wealth Management division, and has been on leave from Credit Suisse before starting his new role as UBS's co-head of wealth management on October 1.
Three men were arrested after the pursuit, and an investigation into the events is ongoing. Credit Suisse announced Monday it started an investigation into the events.
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NOW WATCH: Animated map shows where American accents came from | {
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A high official in the Israeli government says that the groups supporting BDS, or Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, are doing a “great job,” and Israel has to come up with more aggressive ways to counter them. “If you want to promote boycotts against Israel, be my guest, it’s your right. But there will be a price tag,” Ron Brummer said last week.
The new battlefield for BDS is in Europe, where companies are under growing pressure to divest from the West Bank, Brummer said. The best response is to put through anti-BDS legislation in American states (as state legislatures and governors have done in Texas, California, Maryland, New York, and other states), so that if a company boycotts the West Bank, it loses 10’s of millions in U.S. contracts.
Brummer, the executive director for operations of the Israeli Ministry for Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, said there is no distinction between boycotting West Bank settlement products and boycotting Israel. There is only one economy between the river and the sea. “If you want to divest from the West Bank– Judea and Samaria– you have to divest from Israel, which means you boycott Israel completely,” he said.
Brummer also called on American Jews to give money to Jewish groups in Europe and South American to fight BDS, because throughout history, Jews have always helped each other.
Brummer spoke at the Israeli American Council last Sunday, November 5— an organization funded by Sheldon Adelson– in a panel titled “The Real BDS: Bigotry, Discrimination and Slander.” The room was jammed with about 150 people, many young activists. The panel featured Shilo Adler, a leader from an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Eli.
Let’s go through Brummer’s points and then the points of two other pro-Israel advocates who are fighting BDS.
BDS groups are doing a “great job,” Brummer said:
The BDS organizations or the delegitimization organizations have evolved. They have improved. They are doing a great job on the other side and we have to adapt ourselves.
But BDS is really anti-Semitism:
BDS as we see it is only the symptom, the current face of something much, much, much deeper, much more established, much more ancient, and that is, the delegitimization of Israel as the Jewish state, as the homeland of the Jewish people. During history, many forces have tried to delegitimize us. Maybe through endless wars, terror, guerrilla, unilateral moves in the U.N. and other institutions. And the current face of the delegitimization campaign is the BDS.
If you support BDS, Israel will take you on:
Delegitimization is the problem we deal with, not BDS. BDS is just a symptom…. If you want to promote boycotts against Israel, be my guest, it’s your right. But there will be a price tag.
Brummer said that Israel had traditionally been too reactive. “We have to move from defense to offense.” That means being aggressive.
With BDS promoters… You always have to use the stick and carrot theory. First you hit them with the stick then you hit them with the carrot.
BDS has been contained in the U.S. but the real danger is Europe. BDS 2.0 is in the U.S. campuses and capitals.
BDS 3.0 is happening as we speak, and this is a much more severe danger to Israel…. I’m talking about the economic divestment…. What is happening now in Europe might be ground zero for the next stage of BDS. Promoting divestment from Israel based on the alleged saying that companies who operate in the West Bank, over the Green Line, are violating human rights– this is the narrative that BDS organizations are trying to implement in the U.N., in different institutions, but mainly when they encounter European companies. Think about the process. I’m CEO of a company. I’m being approached time and time, over and over again by those BDS organizations, who claim that “Because you operate in the West Bank, you are violating human rights.” If I want to react and I want to do something–and all of us don’t want to be considered as violators of human rights– I might just consider stop working in the West Bank.
But Brummer said there is no difference between the West Bank and Israel (and so no point in the Peace Now/Beinart program of boycotting just the settlements).
But you cannot stop working in the West Bank. Israel does not have two different economic ecosystems, like, Israel within the green line and Israel over the green line. If you want to divest from the West Bank, Judea and Samaria, you have to divest from Israel, which means you boycott Israel completely. This is exactly what the BDS delegitimization organizations are trying to do these days.
The European front is the reason pro-Israel groups are pushing legislation in 24 U.S. states to punish those who support BDS. The Israeli government is cheering from the sidelines:
It is extremely, super important to confront this new reality. Because eventually when a CEO of a company let’s say in Denmark, has to decide, Does he listen to any kind of UN institution or any kind of human rights report that is being published, or does he want to lose 10’s of millions of contracts in Texas or in Florida?– most of the CEOs will decide not to lose those 10’s of millions of dollars. So when we talk about … how do we try to move from defense to offense? The legislation piece, which obviously the Israeli government has nothing to do with but we look at it from the side, and we think this is a very good process.
BDS is on the verge of scoring a big success, he warned, “in the real ground zero of BDS, which is South Africa.” The African National Congress is considering a resolution to lower the country’s level of diplomatic relations with Israel. If that passes, there will no longer be an embassy in tel aviv.
If that will happen, this might be one of the biggest successes of the BDS movement ever.
Jews need to stick together. Brummer called on the wealthy and powerful American Jewish community to help Jewish communities in Europe, South Africa and Latin America to fight BDS.
That takes me to one of my bottom lines… Through history the Jewish people have always assisted and helped the weaker part or, to be more correct, the more needy parts of world Jewry. I think that in the United States, once again, due to the amazing work IAC [Israeli American Council] and other organizations are doing, and the great support of many philanthropists here, there is a good answer to BDS. What is needed now is to shift the efforts to the other side of the ocean. The Jewish communities and the pro Israel communities in Europe, in South Africa, a little bit in Latin America as well– they need the help now. They don’t have the tools, they don’t have the money, they don’t have the resources. They don’t have the political support that you have here, and you take it maybe, sometimes you take it for granted. This is the time to shift the efforts from what’s going on here which is well treated– it cannot be treated better than it is today, I think, and to shift the efforts to where it is really needed and that is in Europe and South Africa and other places of the world.
Brummer stressed the idea of Jewish cohesion. BDS is failing around the world, he asserted. But its aim was “to drive a wedge between the state of Israel and the Jewish diaspora. I think this will fail because Israel is the glue that keeps us together. In LA or Beersheva. The amazing work that you are doing, and others, will be the glue that keeps us together.”
Now let’s move on to Dillon Hosier. Hosier is a lobbyist with the Israeli American Coalition for Action, which is a partner group of IAC. He works in state capitals on anti-BDS legislation.
Hosier pointed to the pro-BDS group, Jewish Voice for Peace, and said it was “playing the game the right way” in state capitals, from Sacramento to Boston to Olympia to Austin.
Over the past few years I’ve seen something very interesting. There is one particular group– how many people have heard of Jewish Voice for Peace? [30 hands go up; about a fourth of the room] Jewish Voice for Peace, in my mind they’re smart, they’re strategic, they’re connected, and they are playing the game the right way. I’ll tell you, I was in Carson City, the capital of Nevada. And the Jewish Voice for Peace activist was following every single step of the process of passing an anti-BDS piece of legislation. At every point in the legislative process they would object and try to rally against… In Sacramento, there was a guy who lived there, retired of course, spent every single day of the session in the capital, going from office to office to office, trying to pull votes off the legislation. He would do his best to rally forces against support of the bill.
Hosier saw the same in Boston, where JVP brought out 100 people to a committee meeting to testify against the bill. While in Nevada, JVP did FOIA requests to see “any communication I had with relevant government officials in the state.” Hosier conducted himself in the most ethical manner, because if he didn’t cross every t and dot ever i, “I’ve got JVP there and ready to jump.”
Hosier said that JVP was redefining the playing field for the battle over BDS by “imbedding themselves” in local Democratic political organizations.
I was on the floor of the California Democratic Party convention earlier this year, as a delegate, and one of the most anti Israel resolutions passed at that convention. It was not because of the California Democratic Party. This resolution was not in my view representative of the California Democratic Party. But guess what, Jewish Voice for Peace, in fact that same guy who hangs out at the capital, all day– he managed to get 300 people, primarily through CAIR and other types of organizations, got 300 people to sign on to this legislation, to insure that it passed the floor immediately…
Meanwhile, our side, we were completely flatfooted, we didn’t have any organization there.
So JVP had held the party “hostage.”
This is not a college campus. We’re talking about the California Democratic Party they’re imbedded in and that they are passing this resolution. So now it looks like BDS has legitimacy from one of the biggest Democratic parties in the country. They’re basically in my view holding it hostage.
The problem is that the pro-BDS forces are in the trenches and the pro-Israel forces rely on big donors.
When it comes to political action, I see all too often– we find a member of congress, we donate the maximum amount and that’s it. We write a check and then we walk away. We expect them to vote our way. Sometimes they don’t. We can’t do that anymore. Those who are passionately opposed to Israel, are getting elected.
From the lowest level delegate seats to school boards, those opposed to Israel are getting elected. For a while a lieutenant governor candidate in Illinois was pro-BDS (till he got kicked off the ticket, that is!).
These people are actually getting involved. Writing a check is no longer sufficient. We have to actually get involved. Strategically involved.
If we don’t, Hosier said, “we’ll be completely overwhelmed.” CAIR has a political action committee, and they’re engaged at the grass-roots level. Israel supporters have to get involved at that level. “Writing a check is not enough.” Because no amount of money will dissuade the opponents of Israel to change their line. Pro-Israel forces have to go grass roots.
It’s a scary thing but we have to get involved at that level.
Finally, some quotes from Michelle Rojas-Tal, who works at Hillel International and the Jewish Agency. Rojas-Tal said that the battle on college campuses is to stop BDS as an illegitimate form of bigotry.
“It’s an issue of hate and prejudice,” she said. “If and when BDS decides to rear its ugly face on a college campus, BDS needs to be stopped.”
Israel advocates can stop it because BDS has “absolutely no place on a college campus because it goes against the values that American academic institutions stand for. That’s the language we need to start speaking.”
She urged the activists in the room to use Israel the country as a model to show young Americans that Israel “is a value in their lives.”
We have an opportunity. We’re living in a generation and a period of renaissance where we have Israel and we cannot take it for granted. Because we have Israel, we can use it as a classroom.
Nonetheless, Rojas-Tal lamented that BDS was drawing energy away from more positive engagement with Israel, to taking on the BDS narrative of Palestinian human rights.
BDS is taking up so much of our oxygen and our energy that I don’t want to lose the opportunity of creating the everlasting bond between the Jewish people and Israel.
BDS has taken up so much of our attention, she said, that pro-Israel Jews are not “able to tell the story, of what Zionism means.” (I actually think the Palestinian solidarity community would love to have that discussion.) | {
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Attorney General Loretta Lynch acknowledged Friday that her private meeting with Bill Clinton has “cast a shadow” over an FBI-led investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server and said she plans to accept investigators’ final recommendations. However she will not recuse herself from the case.
The FBI is investigating the private server Hillary Clinton used while Secretary of State and whether Clinton or her aides broke any laws in their handling of classified information. Lynch said a team of career members of the Justice Department and FBI will present her with recommendations on how to proceed once the investigation has concluded and that she plans to accept the guidance.
Lynch, who appeared Friday at the Aspen Ideas Festival, said she had decided to accept whatever recommendation she receives well before Monday’s impromptu meeting with Clinton’s husband at an airport in Phoenix, Arizona, which raised questions about the integrity of the inquiry.
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Lynch reiterated multiple times during the discussion that she will not play a role in determining the findings of the investigation and gave no indication of when it may conclude.
Lynch called it “a social meeting” with Bill Clinton, but said she “certainly wouldn’t do it again” during a question-and-answer session with the Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart.
“No matter how I viewed it, I understand how people view it,” Lynch said. “And I think that because of that, and because of the fact that it has now cast a shadow over how this case may be perceived, no matter how it is resolved, it is important to talk about how it will be resolved.”
It is rare for an attorney general to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation, but Lynch has been under fire from both sides of the aisle for holding the 30-minute meeting with the husband of the husband of a potential target of investigation
“That meeting with President Clinton does not have a bearing on how this matter is going to be reviewed, resolved and accepted by me,” Lynch said.
David Axelrod, a former chief strategist to President Obama, wrote on Twitter that he believes Lynch and Clinton didn't discuss the probe but that it was still "foolish to create such optics."
I take @LorettaLynch & @billclinton at their word that their convo in Phoenix didn't touch on probe. But foolish to create such optics. — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) June 30, 2016
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware echoed that sentiment on CNN's "New Day," saying "I don't think it sends the right signal. I think she should have steered clear even of a brief, casual social meeting with the former president." He noted the attorney general typically uses "excellent judgment."
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas tweeted on Thursday, "An attorney cannot represent two parties in a dispute and must avoid even the appearance of conflict." And presumed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump skewered the meeting, telling radio host Mike Gallagher, "I think it's so terrible. I think it's so horrible" and that it was proof the system is "rigged."
Majority Whip Steve Scalise went as far as to argue Lynch should recuse herself from the Clinton investigation and hire a special prosecutor. The Louisiana lawmaker said in a statement so "the American people can know the truth about this secret meeting and finally rest assured the criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton is being conducted fully and impartially, without even the appearance of corruption."
The White House downplayed the criticism. Spokesman Josh Earnest was grilled by reporters on Thursday about the meeting. "Both the president and the attorney general understand how important is it for the Justice Department to conduct investigations that are free of political interference," he said, adding that it has been a "bedrock principle since our country's founding." | {
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De politie registreerde afgelopen jaar 5 procent minder misdrijven dan in 2014. Het aantal woninginbraken daalde in heel Nederland met 9 procent. Desondanks werd in één op de drie gemeenten vaker ingebroken dan het jaar ervoor. Dat blijkt uit nieuwe cijfers van CBS.
In 2015 registreerde de politie 5 procent minder misdrijven dan in 2014. Vrijwel alle verschillende typen misdrijven lieten een daling zien ten opzichte van 2014. Het aantal registraties van vernieling en misdrijven tegen de openbare orde en gezag daalde met 9 procent het sterkst. Het aantal vermogensmisdrijven daalde met 3 procent.
Geregistreerde misdrijven naar type
Daling woninginbraken in 6 van de 10 gemeenten
Het aantal geregistreerde woninginbraken daalde afgelopen jaar in heel Nederland met 9 procent tot onder de 65 duizend. Niet overal in Nederland nam woninginbraak even sterk af. In 1 op de 3 gemeenten nam in 2015 het aantal woninginbraken zelfs toe. Ook in voorgaande jaren week de ontwikkeling in een deel van de gemeenten af van de landelijke trend. Dat wijst er op dat lokale omstandigheden ook een aanzienlijke rol spelen in de ontwikkeling van het aantal woninginbraken.
Bij 7,3% van alle woninginbraken in 2015 vond de politie nog in hetzelfde jaar tenminste één verdachte. Dit is lager dan in 2014 toen 7,8% van woninginbraken opgehelderd werd.
Daling woninginbraken in Amsterdam, Rotterdam en Utrecht
Het aantal woninginbraken nam in Utrecht af met 20 procent. In Rotterdam en Amsterdam was de daling respectievelijk 11 en 8 procent. Van de vier grote steden onttrok alleen Den Haag zich aan deze ontwikkeling. Het aantal inbraken in een Haagse woning waarvan bij de politie aangifte werd gedaan steeg in 2015 met 10 procent.
Geregistreerde woninginbraken in 4 grote steden en overige gemeenten
Tussen 2007 en 2012 nam het totaal aantal woninginbraken jaarlijks toe, maar vervolgens daalde het aantal woninginbraken weer met 30 procent. Ook in Den Haag werden in 2015 minder woningbraken gepleegd dan in 2012. Deze daling ligt in lijn met de extra politieaandacht die hier naar uitgaat sinds de start van de Nationale Politie in 2012. | {
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What’s at stake: A number of recent contributions accuse China of acquiring technology from abroad without respecting international rules. This blog reviews the current debate that focuses on China’s supposed push to modernise its industry and the challenges for advanced economies. By leapfrogging to high-tech manufacturing products, the strategy threatens the competitive advantage of the US and the EU. The international rules-based order is put to a test facing large-scale government support to high-value added sectors and anti-competitive behaviour.
Rob Atkinson et al. recently called for a united front led by the United States to establish a doctrine of constructive, alliance-based confrontation in reaction to Chinese innovation-mercantilist policies. The background of the paper is the Chinese government’s innovation strategy of modernising its industry and achieving global dominance in a number of high-tech industries. The authors criticise innovation-mercantilist practices which aim to domestically supply high value-added manufacturing products while maintaining access to global markets for Chinese products and effectively distort a level playing field.
Besides the violation of fundamental free market tenets, the report highlights national security implications emerging from a diminished domestic industrial base, compromising US military supply chains and reducing capability to manufacture military systems. Atkinson et al. recommend a strong stance to contest Chinese practices on the US side while reinvigorating the market- and rules-based global trading system in close collaboration with allies (possibly G19) but led by the US.
The Chinese government’s strategy has most recently been laid out in the “13th Five-Year Plan for Science and Technology” and the “Made in China 2025 Strategy”. In a synonymous report, the German think tank MERICS explores the cornerstones and context of the strategy and criticises its “techno-nationalist” aspects. The aim of “Made in China 2025” is to turn the country into a global leader in manufacturing of high-tech industries such as automotive, aviation, robotics, medical devices and information technology. It is the government that aims to improve the competitiveness of its enterprises on domestic markets and fuel global expansion. Ultimately, this would lead to technological catch-up and import substitution in sectors crucial for long-term growth.
While increased demand for high-tech manufacturing products and growing innovation capacity from China is good for the global economy, the MERICS report stresses that this is conditional on China abiding by the principles of market- and rules-based trade. The authors point out that China’s leadership systematically intervenes in domestic markets to disadvantage foreign competitors and facilitate economic dominance of Chinese enterprises. This puts pressure on countries in which high-tech industries contribute a large share to the industrial output, such as Germany or South Korea.
The authors at MERICS expect that the strategy is likely to succeed in elevating a small number of Chinese manufacturers to international frontrunners, but will fail at promoting a broad-scale technological upgrading across the Chinese economy. The strategy’s effectiveness is reduced by the mismatch between industry needs and political priorities, inefficient allocation of funding, a lack of bottom-up initiative and investment as well as the current economic downward pressure in China which might cause job losses among less skilled workforce.
Both the US Chamber of Commerce and the EU Chamber of Commerce in China have recently voiced concerns in reports on China’s strategic reorientation. Moreover, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published a joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council on Elements for a new EU strategy on China which points out a lack of reciprocity and market access and seeks an agreement with China on combatting IP theft.
Among the most reported examples of anti-competitive behaviour are government-subsidised acquisitions of technology firms. These cases seem alarming not least because of their national security dimension according to Atkinson. A Stratfor analysis piece reports that Washington has expressed concern about Chinese involvement in the high-tech sector because the US views China as a potential adversary in the Pacific Basin.
The failed attempt by Fujian Grand Chip Investment to buy German semiconductor company, Aixtron, is a recent case.
As described by the New York Times, Aixtron began looking for a new investor after the retraction of a major order from a Chinese client caused its shares to drop. Through intermediaries, the National IC Fund offered to provide a loan of 500 million EUR for the deal. The US government blocked the sale of the company’s US assets leading to the cancellation of the deal. The US administration stepped in because of an alleged national security risk relating to military application of Aixtron’s technical body of knowledge.
Germany has become the top destination for Chinese investment in high-tech industries in Europe according to G. Chazan at the FT. The article mentions the case of Kuka, one of Germany’s most innovative robotics companies, which was acquired by Chinese appliance-maker, Midea, with the goal of expanding Kuka’s presence in the Chinese market. The value of Chinese FDI in Europe has more recently been discussed in the MERICS publication “Record Flows and Growing Imbalances”:
J. Delcker at Politico writes that European officials, business leaders and lobbyists still widely welcome Chinese investment in Europe. This is despite warnings of former German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel that Germany was sacrificing “its companies on the altar of free markets”. Similar opinions have been expressed by G. Öttinger, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources. European companies will benefit in the early stages of the “Made in China 2025” strategy, but Mauro Petriccione, deputy director general in the European Commission’s trade department is sceptical of future development according to Politico.
T. Moran at the Peterson Institute quotes the German State Secretary at the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in the title of his article, “Can Europe be open but not stupid on foreign acquisitions by China?”. The EU and its member states have no mechanism to screen foreign acquisitions of EU companies unless they involve sensitive military and defense contracts. For this reason it was not possible for Germany to block the Aixtron acquisition without intervention from the US. Moran supports the idea of creating an EU body that corresponds to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This institution would be tasked with screening foreign acquisitions regardless of sector but with a narrow focus on national security.
The report “Two-Way Street: 25 Years of US-China Direct Investment” by Rhodium Group and the National Committee on US-China Relations puts FDI numbers into perspective and highlights that the US FDI footprint in China is still about four times larger than Chinese FDI presence in the US. Flows from China are at a low level. Yet, FDI from China is increasing fast and targets high-tech industry.
The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation lists further anti-competitive practices in its annual publication on “The Worst Innovation Mercantilist Policies” and Rob Atkinson’s report “Enough is Enough”. Among them are:
IP and technology transfer or local production as a condition of market access: Foreign airplane sales into China are contingent on transferring technology to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China;
theft of foreign IP;
curtailment of access to Chinese markets;
manipulation of technology standards and
special benefits for state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
In terms of economic implications, Autor et al. estimate the effect of increasing import competition from China on innovative activity in US manufacturing. The authors find that the effect of import exposure on the change in patents produced is strongly negative when accounting for pre-existing trends. Reduced profitability expectations in the affected sectors are a possible explanation they put forward.
The WTO has followed Alice to Wonderland, assesses Scott Kennedy, looking into the international dispute data since the Chinese accession to the WTO in 2001. Compared to the share in total global trade, the number of cases filed against China is smaller than against the US. China is a special case, however, regarding the focus of disputes – targeting largely abuses in advanced manufacturing – and compliance. Fear of retaliation and an opaque policy system in China challenge the international rules-based order.
In 2012, Noah Smith classified articles on Chinese innovation into three categories, those questioning China’s ability to innovate, those alarming about a wave of Chinese innovation and those calling for rapid innovation in America to stay ahead. However, the real question in his view was how much China will innovate, steal and force foreign companies to transfer technologies in exchange for market access. | {
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Amit has been featured on the front cover of Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine and has been interviewed and published.
As a professional speaker, he has shared stages with legends like Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Robert Allen and Raymond Aaron.
Amit has been named as one of the Top 100 Authorities by Influence Magazine.
Amit has co-authored books with leading industry experts -Brian Tracy, Robert Allen, and Raymond Aaron. He has been featured on Rogers TV and various podcasts. | {
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Which Launcher?
So you’ve installed Haiku from a recently nightly (or sometime soon, the R1 beta) and you’re launching applications from the Deskbar menu (the blue ‘leaf’ menu). Perfect, but there are a few more options to investigate if you want to quickly launch your favourite programs.
The first option is the simplest. In the Deskbar menu, just click on the ‘Applications’ submenu (or any of the others) to open a tracker window with shortcuts. Drag an icon with the right mouse button to the desktop and select ‘Create link here’ from the context menu. Hey presto, a shortcut icon on your desktop.
This does require you to double-click the icon and the desktop can end up a bit messy this way :) Second option - use LaunchBox.
LaunchBox can be found in ‘Desktop applets’ in the Deskbar menu and you can make it start at boot by right-clicking on its icon and ‘Create link’ to /home/config/settings/boot/launch.
You can add buttons (or clear existing ones) using the context menu and simply drag and drop the program’s icon to the empty button to create a launcher. It’s quite customisable and you can also define multiple launch ‘pads’.
Another option is LnLauncher, available in the repositories (through HaikuDepot or using pkgman on the command line). This is a very neat launcher, with some smart features. Initially, when you first run LnLauncher, a little yellow handle is stuck to the edge of the desktop. You can drag and drop program icons onto the handle to add them to the panel, reordering by dragging the icon within the panel whilst holding down the right mouse button. Similarly, you can move the panel by dragging it around the screen edge with the right mouse button. You can change the colour of the panel’s handle by dragging your desired colour from a colour picker, such as ‘Colors’ (available in the repository), onto the handle.
Finally, you can always take a different approach and use QuickLaunch (again, available in the repository). With this tool, you simply start typing and you are presented with matching program names in a list. Hit enter to open the first result, or use the cursor keys to first select another. Simple and very handy, expecially if you use the ‘Shortcuts’ preferences to assign QuickLaunch to open on a key combination.
There are other options available, like ‘DockBert’ in the repository and probably more that I don’t know about! Please feel free to point these out in the comments. | {
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In the early 3rd century B.C., after King Pyrrhus of Epirus again took brutal casualties in defeating the Romans, he told one person who offered congratulations, “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” In his more sober moments, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), about to achieve his lifelong ambition of becoming Senate majority leader, may wonder whether he, too, has achieved a pyrrhic victory.
Republicans are still crowing about the sweeping victories in 2014 that give them control of both houses of Congress. They will set the agenda, deciding what gets considered, investigated and voted on. Their ideas will drive the debate.
But Republicans have no mandate because they offered no agenda. Republicans reaped the rewards of McConnell’s scorched-earth strategy, obstructing President Obama relentlessly, helping to create the failure that voters would pin on the party in power. But the collateral damage is that the “party of ‘no’ ” has no agreement on what is yes. Instead of using the years in the wilderness to develop new ideas and a clear vision, Republicans have used them only to sharpen their tongues, grow their claws and practice their backhands.
Republicans paid no penalty for obstructing every measure that might have given the recovery more juice, blocking even the infrastructure spending that has been a bipartisan response in every downturn. They paid no penalty for shutting down the government and forcing mindless austerity that cost jobs. They paid no penalty for their perfervid hysteria on foreign policy issues – screeching about phantom terrors of pregnant immigrants helping Islamic State terrorists and Ebola victims slip in the country to kill us here at home. They never needed to fill in the magic asterisks in Rep. Paul Ryan’s risible budgets, enabling him to deny the damage to Medicare, education, food stamps and the most vulnerable that his plans would require.
The result is that McConnell leads into a power a party truly unfit and unready to govern. Indeed, the wingnuts at its base want it only to dismantle, not to govern. As Terrance Heath reported, the ever-apoplectic Rush Limbaugh announced that Republicans have a mandate to “stop Barack Obama” and “were not elected to govern.” Fox News host Megyn Kelly fantasized that Obama would “offend” Republicans into impeaching him; Phyllis Schlafly argued the first priority should be blocking all Obama’s judicial nominees. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) pledged once more to repeal Obamacare. The dyspeptic Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will use his chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee to demand more “boots on the ground” in Iraq and Syria, harsher sanctions to undermine negotiations with Iran and more macho posturing over Ukraine. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) will use his likely chairmanship of the Environment and Public Works Committee to deny the existence of catastrophic climate change even while allocating billions for cleanup in the wake of floods, droughts and storms to come.
McConnell portrays Republicans as ready to embrace a conservative Chamber of Commerce agenda, repaying the big money that helped bring them victory. This would include giving multinationals a massive tax break on money that they stashed abroad to avoid taxes, passing fast-track trade authority, pushing ahead the Keystone XL pipeline, weakening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and repealing the tax on medical devices, first of the salami-style effort to slice up Obamacare.
But the zealots in the House and Senate expect more fire and less compromise. They want Obamacare repealed. They want the scorched-earth obstruction to continue: Obama’s nominations blocked, scandals real and delusional investigated, Dodd-Frank financial regulation reversed and taxes and domestic spending slashed.
It isn’t at all apparent that McConnell and Boehner can corral Republican majorities for any measures that Obama might accept. But even if McConnell could put the Chamber of Commerce’s bills on the president’s desk, one thing is apparent: None of these will do anything to address the profound crises the country faces. There is no relief for the sinking middle class and impoverished low-wage workers, no strategy for addressing climate change, no response to the destructive excesses of banks too big to fail.
McConnell won his majority by brilliantly waging a partisan, dishonest, unrelenting policy of obstruction. But now, the absence of any ideas or of any clue will be exposed. And next time, when voters sensibly want to throw the bums out, they may have a far clearer view of just who the bums are.
Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvel’s archive or follow her on Twitter. | {
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Islanders need stable, high speed Internet to access job and education opportunities, grow businesses and connect with public services. Government is making investments to expand and improve Internet service coverage for Islanders across rural Prince Edward Island.
Bell Fibre agreement
Bell Canada will provide improved Internet service to 13 areas organized by phone exchange across PEI. Learn more about the details by area.
Xplornet agreement
Xplornet will provide fixed wireless and fibre to 20,000 civic addresses across PEI. Learn more about Xplornet agreement
PEI Broadband Fund
Through the PEI Broadband Fund, support is provided for increased service levels, improved access, and consumer choice across Prince Edward Island with a focus on rural communities. For details, visit Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many homes and businesses can expect better Internet access?
Over the next two to three years, close to 30,000 households will see improved service levels up to at least 50/10 Mbps (megabits per second).
How is this being funded?
The Province of PEI has signed multiple agreements to improve services for Islanders. Two federal-provincial agreements have been signed with Bell Canada and Xplornet.
The PEI Broadband Fund (PEIBF) provides additional finances to help Island residents access improved and expanded Internet access. The Province, through the PEIBF, is also entering into other agreements with local Internet service providers, businesses, and communities. Learn more about approved projects.
Feedback
We welcome your feedback and comments about Internet availability to your home or business, progress and investments to your area.
Email: [email protected] | {
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After pandering to Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert’s right-wing government last week, US president George W. Bush carried the Israeli/neoconservative campaign against Iran to Arab countries. Sounding as authentic as the "Filipino Monkey," Bush told the Arab countries that "Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror," and that "Iran’s actions threaten the security of nations everywhere."
To no effect. Every country in the world, except America, knows by now that the US is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and that the neoconservative drive for US hegemony over the world threatens the security of nations everywhere. But before we get into this, let’s first see what Bush means by "terrorist" and Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism.
Bush considers Iran to be the leading state sponsor of terror, because Iran is believed to fund Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian ghetto. Hezbollah and Hamas are two organizations that exist because of Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon. The two organizations are branded "terrorist" because they resist Israel’s theft of Palestine and Israel’s designs on southern Lebanon. Both organizations are resistance organizations. They resist Israel’s territorial expansion and this makes them "terrorist."
They are terrorists because they don’t receive billions in US military aid and cannot put armies in the field with tanks, fighter jets and helicopter gunships, backed up by US spy satellites and Israel’s nuclear weapons although Hezbollah, a small militia, has twice defeated the Israeli army. However, Palestine is so thoroughly under the Israeli heel that Hamas can resist only with suicide bombers and obsolete rockets. It is dishonest to damn the terrorist response but not the policies that provoke the response.
The US is at war in Iraq, because the neoconservatives want to rid Israel of the Muslim governments Iraq, Iran and Syria that are not American surrogates and, therefore, are willing to fund Palestinian and Lebanese resistance to Israeli aggression. Israel, protected by the US, has disobeyed UN resolutions for four decades and has been methodically squeezing Palestinians out of Palestine.
Americans do not think of themselves or of Israel as terrorist states, but the evidence is complete and overwhelming. Thanks to the power of the Israel Lobby, Americans only know the Israeli side of the story, which is that evil anti-semite Palestinians will not let blameless Israelis live in peace and persist in their unjustified terror attacks on an innocent Israeli state.
The facts differ remarkably from Israel Lobby propaganda. Israel illegally occupies Palestine. Israel sends bulldozers into Palestinian villages and knocks down Palestinian houses, occasionally killing an American protester in the process, and uproots Palestinian olive groves. Israel cuts Palestinian villages off from water, hospitals, farmlands, employment and schools. Israel builds special roads through Palestine on which only Israelis can travel. Israel establishes checkpoints everywhere to hinder Palestinian movement to hospitals, schools and from one enclave or ghetto to another. Many Palestinians die from the inability to get through checkpoints to medical care. Israel builds illegal settlements on Palestinian lands. Israeli Zionist "settlers" take it upon themselves to evict Palestinians from their villages and towns in order to convert them into Israeli settlements. A huge wall has been built to wall off the stolen Palestinian lands from the remaining isolated ghettoes. Israeli soldiers shoot down Palestinian children in the streets. So do Israeli Zionist "settlers."
All of this has been documented so many times by so many organizations that it is pathetic that Americans are so ignorant. For example, Israeli peace groups such as Gush Shalom or Jeff Halper’s Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions provide abundant documentation of Israel’s theft of Palestine and persecution of Palestinians. Every time the UN passes a resolution condemning Israel for its crimes, the US vetoes it.
The Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees’ film, The Iron Wall, reveals the enormity of Israel’s crimes against Palestine.
President Jimmy Carter, Israel’s friend, tried to bring peace to the Middle East but was frustrated by Israel. Carter was demonized by the Israel Lobby for calling, truthfully, the situation that Israel has created "apartheid."
Historians, including Israel’s finest, such as Ilan Pappe, have documented The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, the title of Pappe’s book published in 2006.
Israelis, such as Uri Avnery, a former member of Israel’s Knesset, are stronger critics of Israel’s policies toward Palestine than can be found in America. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz is more outspoken in its criticism of Israeli policies than any newspaper would dare to be in North America or Europe.
But it is all to no avail in brainwashed America where Israelis wear white hats and Arabs wear black hats.
The ignorance of Americans commits US foreign policy to the service of Israel. As Uri Avnery wrote recently, a visitor from another planet, attending the recent press conference in Jerusalem, would conclude that Olmert is the leader of the superpower and that Bush is his vassal.
Americans don’t know what terror is. To know terror, you have to be a Palestinian, an Iraqi, or an Afghan.
Layla Anwar, an Iraqi Internet blogger, describes what terror is like. Terror is families attending a wedding being blown to pieces by an American missile or bomb and the survivors being blown to pieces at the funeral of the newlyweds. Terror is troops breaking down your door in the middle of the night, putting guns to your heads, and carrying off brothers, sons, and husbands with bags over their heads and returning to rape the unprotected women. Terror is being waterboarded in one of America’s torture dungeons. Terror is "when you run from hospital ward to hospital ward, from prison to prison, from militia to militia looking for your loved one only to recognize them from their teeth fillings in some morgue."
For people targeted by American hegemony, terror is realizing that Americans have no moral conscience. Terror is the lack of medicines from American embargoes that led to the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children. When asked by Lesley Stahl if the American policy was worth the children’s deaths, Madeleine Albright, President Bill Clinton’s secretary of state, said "we think the price is worth it."
In the feeble minds of the White House Moron and his immoral supporters, the massive deaths for which America is responsible, including those inflicted by Israel, have nothing to do with Muslim enmity toward America. Instead, Muslims hate us for our "freedom and democracy," the real threat to which comes from Bush’s police state measures and stolen elections.
There is dispute over the number of Iraqis killed or murdered by Bush’s illegal invasion, a war crime under the Nuremberg standard, but everyone agrees the number is very large. Many deaths result from American bombing of civilian populations as the Israelis did in Lebanon and do in Gaza. There is nothing new about these bombings. President Clinton bombed civilians in Serbia in order to dictate policy to Serbia. But when Americans and Israelis bomb other peoples, it is not terror. It is only terror when the US or Israel is attacked in retaliation.
The Israeli assault from the air on Beirut apartment houses is not terror. But when a Palestinian puts on a suicide belt and blows himself up in an Israeli cafe, that’s terror. When Clinton bombs a Serbian passenger train, that’s not terror, but when a buried explosive takes out an American tank somewhere in Iraq, that’s terror.
Aggressors always have excuses for their aggression. Hitler was an expert at this. So are the US and Israel.
Unfortunately for the world, there’s little chance for change in America or Israel. The presidential candidates (Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich) who would bring change in Washington, without which there will be no change in Israel, are not in the running for their party’s nomination. As John J. Mearsheimer noted on January 12, the candidates in the running are as much under the thumb of the Israel Lobby as Bush. The candidates are Bush clones as strongly committed as Bush to hegemony, war, Israel and executive power.
The possible exception is Obama. If he is an exception, that makes him a threat to the powers that be, and, as we might have witnessed in the NH primary, the Republican-supplied, Republican-programmed Diebold electronic voting machines can easily be rigged to deny him the Democratic nomination. Hillary will not resist Israel’s wishes, and her husband’s presidency bombed at will his demonized victims.
There is no essential difference between the candidates or between the candidates and George W. Bush. Alabama Governor George Wallace, a surprisingly successful third party candidate for the presidency, said as long ago as 1968, "There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican Parties." Today, four decades later, there’s not a penny’s worth of difference, not an ounce of difference. Both parties have revealed themselves to be warmonger police state parties. The US Constitution has few friends in the capital city. | {
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For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis, the election, and more, subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily newsletter.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is no stranger to immigration controversy. The Republican’s fingerprints can be found on all sorts of immigration laws around the country, including Arizona’s controversial SB 1070. He’s one of the key cogs in the national movement of immigration hardliners and as recently as April defended his use of the phrase “self-deportation” (a phrase even Newt Gingrich called “anti-human”).
Kobach’s support of another immigration-related voter registration law could land him in court. The ACLU said Tuesday that Kobach and the state of Kansas are violating the National Voter Registration Act by preventing people from registering to vote who haven’t proved to the state’s satisfaction that they’re US citizens. About 14,000 people — about a third of the people who’ve submittted registration forms in 2013 — are in “suspense,” meaning state elections officials can’t verify that the person is actually eligible to vote. In many cases this has to do with fact that proof-of-citizenship documents aren’t being transferred to Kansas election officials from Kansas DMVs—despite a $40 million system designed to streamline the process. The ACLU also says Kansas is failing to make its election forms widely available and is generally failing to uphold its responsibilities under federal election law.
The ACLU has threatened to sue the state of Kansas if it doesn’t address its concerns.
ACLU’s main beef is with Kansas’ requirement that first-time voters in the state provide proof of citizenship. Arizona enacted a similar requirement in 2004, but the US Supreme Court struck it down earlier this summer. The federal form requires registrants to check a box affirming their lawful right to vote under penalty of perjury. The Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision written by arch liberal Justice Antonin Scalia, said that states had to accept the federal registration form unless it could convince the Election Assistance Commission (a federal body charged with making voting easier in the wake of the 2000 Florida elections debacle) to change the requirements.
Kobach, through his media office, wouldn’t answer questions about the ACLU’s allegations. But he did issue a statement:
“We are reviewing the letter submitted by the ACLU. However, the ACLU and other organizations on the Left have made clear from the start that they oppose proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting and that they will attempt to prevent the State of Kansas from ensuring that only citizens are registered to vote. This letter therefore comes as no surprise.”
Kobach added that the ACLU is misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s decision, and that the state of Kansas “takes the citizenship qualification seriously and will enforce it.” | {
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Rainforests are disappearing very quickly. Law Enforcement is one of the most immediate and effective methods of slowing deforestation rates. Enforcement from Wildlife Alliance rangers combined with teaching communities about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests is crucial to preserving vital rainforests.
While on patrol, rangers from Asian Elephant Station (Trapeang Rung) arrested one man for illegal logging. The offender was brought to Koh Kong court, prosecuted, and sentenced to jail.
Rainforests are often called the lungs of the planet for their role in absorbing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and producing oxygen, upon which all animals depend for survival. Rainforests also stabilize climate, house incredible amounts of plants and wildlife, and produce nourishing rainfall all around the planet. | {
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LONDON—Netflix has become a key resource for those forced to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, as evidence by a new report from Learnbonds.com. According to the data Learnbonds gathered, since April 2019, the number of Google searches for Netflix has shot up 142%, with a significant spike coming in March 2020.
Between April 2019 and February 2020, Netflix’s popularity as a Google search term was relatively consistent, an average score of 41, save for a surge around the Christmas holiday. As of March 8, Learnboards showed that Netflix had a popularity score of 46. By the next week, it had jumped to a score of 75 and at the end of the month it was at 89. Now, after the first week of April, Netflix’s popularity score sits at 100, a 142% increase from the previous year.
This recent boost correlates with the current coronavirus pandemic that has seen much of the world take quarantining measures to prevent the spread of the virus. In regions most impacted by coronavirus, Netflix has seen some of its biggest gains.
This increase in popularity comes even as Netflix announced it would temporarily reduce the streaming quality of its content throughout Europe to help prevent a strain on the internet.
PLUS: Nielsen: Content Consumption Will Rise 60% During Self Isolation
South America has been one of the main contributors to Netflix’s recent popularity surge. Argentina (with a score of 100) leads the way, followed by Uruguay (98), and with Colombia (93), Chile (91), Ecuador (88) and Brazil (86) all in the top 10 of countries; the top 10 is rounded out by Ireland (96), Mexico (91), New Zealand (88) and Canada (87).
Unfortunately, there was no specific data on just how many people were searching about “Tiger King.” | {
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TORRANCE, Calif. -- Urijah Faber got caught with his pants down. Literally.
The popular UFC bantamweight's shorts fell down during the first round of his title fight with Dominick Cruz at UFC 199 earlier this month in Los Angeles. Faber, to his credit, kept fighting.
While others might have been embarrassed by their bare butt being exposed to millions, Faber has basically just laughed it off.
"There's no shame in my game," Faber said with a laugh at an appearance at CrossFit South Bay. "The best things were the memes with my chin and my butt matching. It's hilarious. I actually posted it on my Instagram."
A photo posted by Urijah Faber (@urijahfaber) on Jun 11, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT
Faber was at the gym for his sponsor Steel Sports, a company that works to improve youth sports. "The California Kid" went through a CrossFit class with the members of the gym. His shorts did stay on during the circuit routine, unlike the ones from his Reebok fight kit on June 4 at The Forum in Inglewood.
"The Reebok outfits, that happened in my last fight, too," Faber said. "I was constantly pulling up my shorts. I like the material, but they need to make them so they fit better. I don't know what the deal was. My ass was hanging out."
Reebok became the UFC's apparel sponsor in July 2015 and the results have been comedic at times, with a multitude of spelling errors and other issues published on gear sold to the public.
Other times, it hasn't been so funny starting with the fact that many fighters have lost a lot of money on the deal, since they can no longer wear logos from their personal sponsors in the Octagon. In a particularly disgraceful foul-up, Reebok forgot to include Northern Ireland on a shirt depicting Ireland last year.
During a fight at UFC Fight Night 89 on June 18, Valerie Letourneau had a wardrobe malfunction against Joanne Calderwood, which led to her taking damage. UFC women's fighter Elizabeth Phillips also had a wardrobe malfunction with her sports bra last year.
"I have been practicing martial arts for 17 years, so I have no problem taking hits to the chest," Letourneau wrote on Instagram. "It is the rule, and it isn't worse than a low kick! My only problem during the fight is that my bra litterally [sic] slipped under my breasts. This is why I stared, embarrassed, at the referee, and I have no idea what Jojo told me, but I had to keep fighting."
Reebok did not respond to a request for comment regarding the Letourneau situation last week.
Unlike with Letourneau, the wardrobe malfunction Faber experienced didn't alter the course of the fight.
Actually, for the most part, Faber just ignored it, even if those watching could not. There was no full moon scheduled for Los Angeles on that night.
"The truth is, if I were on the street [fighting] and my pants were falling down, I would not stop to pick them up," Faber said. "I would continue to fight. That's how I like to approach these things." | {
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As we count down 50 days until the start of the 2014 college football season, ESPN Insider Travis Haney is answering at least one big question a day until South Carolina and Texas A&M’s kickoff on Aug. 28.
Heisman contenders, breakout freshmen, conference winners –- it will all be covered as part of Insider’s Ultimate Season Preview.
Today’s question: Who will have the most impressive statistical season in college football?
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston feels like the obvious answer, maybe too obvious, as he attempts to follow a Heisman-winning season. He’ll amass numbers, sure. Other signal-callers, such as Baylor QB Bryce Petty, will too.
But I’m going with a running back: Wisconsin junior Melvin Gordon. | {
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Having culled inspiration from 1970s rock ‘n’ roll and the Cuban capital of Havana over the previous two seasons, designer Alejandro Rodriguez returns to his SoCal roots with Beautiful Fül‘s Spring/Summer 2014 collection. A throwback to the label’s very first collection and a nod to the greaser culture that defined the California of old, the brand’s seasonal Los Angeles-set lookbook and video — shot by Karla Ticas and David Gallardo, respectively — showcase everything from Hawaiian button-downs and striped bowling shirts, to leather motorcycle jackets, distressed denim and more. The latest pieces from Beautiful Fül are now available via the brand’s online store. | {
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A 32-year-old man has been charged over a sexual assault at the Falls Music Festival in Tasmania, after being apprehended in a citizen's arrest by the alleged victim and her friend.
Key points: 32yo man charged after allegedly grabbing a woman's breast
32yo man charged after allegedly grabbing a woman's breast Members of the public delivered the man to security
Members of the public delivered the man to security Police are encouraged by victim's willingness to come forward
The man, from Carlton in Tasmania, is alleged to have grabbed a woman on the breast in the mosh pit.
The incident was the third sexual assault reported to police at the festival.
It followed a 19-year-old woman being assaulted in the mosh pit about 9:30pm on Friday night and a sexual assault in the camping area being reported on Saturday night (the complaint was withdrawn but police still followed up on elements of the incident).
Senior Sergeant Darren Latham said the man charged with Sunday night's offence had been apprehended by members of the public.
"The women involved, the person involved and her friend, actually apprehended the male, then handed them to security, who then handed them to police for the matter to be investigated," he said.
Last year, the Tasmanian Falls festival was marred by two reports of sexual assault in the mosh pit, and one of rape in the camping area.
Event organisers were criticized for not issuing a stronger condemnation of the assaults. ( Facebook: Double J )
Senior Sergeant Latham said it was good to see women reporting sexual assaults.
"It is encouraging that people are taking positive action, but we of course wish that it didn't happen at all," he said.
In a statement, Falls Festival co-producer Paul Piticco welcomed the arrest.
"These incidences have been happening at mass gatherings for years and we are encouraged by the fact that this unacceptable behaviour is being identified and people are coming forward," he said.
"It takes a lot of courage and we are happy to be seeing a cultural change where victims feel comfortable to report."
The statement also said there was still more work to do around the issue of sexual assault.
"As a society we need to continue to educate people about consent to eradicate this dreadful behaviour and provide victims with a safe space," Mr Piticco said.
Police said while they were disappointed by the behaviour of some people, the crowd was "well-behaved and in good spirit".
Festival goers hit Marion Bay beach to cool off. ( Facebook: Viridian Photos )
Falls' response 'a little disappointing'
The statement is the first comment from Falls since the assaults, and media were denied access to the festival over the weekend following the assaults.
Susan Fahey from the Women's Legal Service Tasmania said the response from Falls organisers was a "little disappointing".
"I think a stronger condemnation of the recent assaults could be really helpful," she said.
Sexual assault badges were being handed out at the festival. ( Supplied )
"That's the kind of thing that does give people confidence that if they report it they will be listened to."
But Ms Fahey said the festival should be commended for the steps it has taken following last year's assaults.
"They have actually been doing what they can to make the venue as safe as they can," she said.
Plain-clothed police were in the mosh pit this year and stickers and badges saying "Sexual assault is a crime" and "enjoy the festival, don't assault anyone" were being handed out.
Ms Fahey said the stickers could help people to rethink their behaviour, but it was sad people needed the reminder.
"I think it's a really sad thing that as a community we need stickers telling people that it's wrong to sexually assault someone and they should just go and have fun," she said.
"We shouldn't be asking what can Falls do to prevent this, what can the victim do to prevent this, it is what can we do to stop these people from offending."
The issue of sexual assaults at music events has been receiving international attention, with a number of artists calling out incidents in crowds.
Ms Fahey said it was "heartening" to see people reporting.
Police said the crowd overall was well-behaved and in good spirits. ( Facebook: Viridian Photos )
"I think from the assaults at Falls last year, along with the #MeToo campaign that people actually feel confident that if they come forward they will actually be listened to and there's the support and action there to help them," she said.
She said everyone was responsible for calling out bad behaviour and reporting incidents.
"You don't necessarily have to take them on yourself, there are always security and police there," Ms Fahey said.
"That's one of the things you see coming out of Falls, that there are other people assisting the people who have been assaulted." | {
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Slip out of the Delorean and into the colourful year that was 2007. Soundwave Festival was still in its infancy, I Killed The Prom Queen had bid us adieu, Bring Me The Horizon’s sweeping side fringes were the stuff of MySpace legend, and a promising young metalcore band known as Parkway Drive were gearing up to release their second record, Horizons. We rolled up our sleeves and dug deep into the BLUNT vault to bring you the band’s first ever cover story. Original words by Nina Bertok.
They’ve come a long way from Byron Bay, but for Aussie metalcore kings Parkway Drive, the Horizons are endless.
Few things in this life are certain… but you can bet that nothing beats a kebab after a reckless night on the piss, and that Parkway Drive are about to drop the most bludgeoning metalcore a-bomb you’re gonna hear all year – promise. With Killswitch Engage guitarist-cum-producer Adam Dutkiewicz once again in their corner, this October will see Byron Bay’s loudest residents unleash the stomping, sneering and skull-crushing Horizons, an album simply tailor-made for breaking stuff.
“We’ve tried to make it a bit heavier and a bit faster than the last one [Killing With A Smile, 2005], so the heavier bits are heavier, the faster bits are faster and the melodic bits are more melodic… as cliché as it sounds,” vocalist Winston McCall laughs.
Except there’s nothing cliché about it – the overwhelmingly positive feedback the band have received since posting new track “The Siren Song” on their MySpace page suggests McCall, guitarists Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick, bassist Jia O’Connor and drummer Ben Gordon have very little to worry about.
“The comments have been really, really encouraging for us. We are not a band that’s ever written songs specifically for other people to enjoy, but it’s always very nice when people do like the songs. When we wrote the songs we didn’t stray from the way we wrote already, which was trying to write heavy music that was interesting for us to listen to, the kind of music we’d like to hear, which is basically what Parkway sounds like.”
Considering the band never thought they would ever get as far as a second album, McCall couldn’t be happier with the results.
“Killing With A Smile really took off and this one came up a lot better than I would have expected. I’m hoping it will do well. But either way, I think Adam did a really good job on it, the songs sound good and I suppose all we can really ask for is to be happy with it ourselves,” offers McCall.
Hooking up with Dutkiewicz this time around, however, was not initially on the cards, according to the vocalist.
“We were actually thinking about recording with other people, one of the reasons being that the last thing we wanted to do was make Killing With A Smile Part 2 and have people go, ‘Oh god, that sounds exactly the same as the first album’. So we were trying to think of someone else to do it with. But then we saw Adam again when Killswitch were playing and it was so awesome to hang out with him again that we just realised we should do it with him again.”
Fun is one of the key words as far as recording goes according to McCall, and the studio shenanigans Parkway Drive shared with Dutkiewicz the last time around were not easily forgettable.
“We just remembered how much fun we had with him. When it comes to doing things we’ve always just tried to have as much fun as possible, and recording with Adam was great the first time, so seeing him kind of brought it all back. We figured we may as well enjoy ourselves while we are doing this and if we want the album to sound different then we’ll just make sure that it does.”
And if “The Siren Song” is anything to go by, Dutkiewicz was clearly the right choice, though how in the name of all that’s holy McCall and the band managed to keep a straight face is a mystery… So, let’s set the record straight – is Dutkiewicz insane, a genius, or just really baked?
“He’s not, like, insane,” McCall laughs, “But he makes out that he is when he’s onstage. He likes to try and say the most ridiculous shit possible when he’s onstage. He is also blind drunk most of the time he’s playing. Yeah, he’s pretty crazy but in a fun way. He’s awesome, he likes to have fun and he’s just like a big kid, which actually makes him really easy to work with. He doesn’t take himself too seriously but he’s not an idiot by any means,” confirms McCall.
In fact, tables were turned somewhat during the recording of Horizons, with Parkway Drive often proving a handful, as McCall explains.
“I think it was harder on him than it was on us! I mean, being cooped up together… See, we’re five stinky Australians and his playing skill is a hell of a lot higher than ours, so here he was having to put up with bad take after bad take and just us talking crap or someone fighting in the studio and that kind of stuff. By the end of the recording he was pulling his hair out. He had fun, but I think there are probably much easier bands to record with than us!”
“We are not a band that’s ever written songs specifically for other people to enjoy, but it’s always very nice when people do like the songs.”
With Horizons now done and dusted, McCall and co. are getting pumped for Parkway Drive’s upcoming national tour. Having spent a large part of the past year touring constantly throughout Europe and the USA, the singer claims he can’t even remember their last national tour.
“It’s been so long,” he says. “Either way, I know I’m gonna have fun because I love being in this band and I’m not sick of it yet. I’m looking forward to hanging out with a whole bunch of friends, then hopefully at the end of the year we’ll get some time off. We’re always about three months ahead of ourselves. As soon as we finish a tour there’s already two other tours that are booked in advance and it just keeps rolling like that. Life is kind of weird when it’s booked in three months ahead and you already know what’s going on.”
With more European touring to follow the Australian leg of the Horizons Tour, McCall explains why, despite the chance to see the world, nothing really comes close to playing on home turf.
“Overseas tours are great, but you realise how awesome Australia really is. It’s not so much homesickness as it is becoming more appreciative of what you’ve got. We’ve been to so many places over the last couple of years and it’s been great, but at the same time, all these places that people call so amazing are really not that good. We really have the best of everything – an amazing country, a very easy society to live in compared to a lot of places, and generally we have a lot of freedom that many places in the world don’t have,” explains McCall.
A case in point has been the band’s previous experience in Europe, where some of Parkway Drive’s most dedicated fanbase can be found.
“We’ve been to some amazing places that have absolutely fucked-up politics and poverty, and we’ve also seen some disgusting places that have amazing cultures. But the people have been great. You go through almost third-world areas that are just run-down and destroyed and you have kids coming to the show that can’t even speak the same language as you but they absolutely love your music and scream along to words that they probably don’t even know what they mean.”
It’s never ceased to amaze McCall and the band how massive a fanbase they have in countries some people may not even know exist.
“Actually, you’d be surprised how many people do speak English, and quite well too. Or they would have at least a basic grasp of English which would be much better than my grasp of any other language,” he laughs. “I can’t describe what it’s like to play in countries like Poland or the Czech Republic and to have reactions where kids are like, ‘I’ve wanted to see you for two years, this song means so much to me’ and that kind of stuff. You really step back and go, ‘Wow, I’m in Germany and this kid is saying this to me’. There are cultural barriers and there are language barriers, but music seems to overcome all of them which is amazing.”
America, on the other hand, has been something of a letdown. While the reaction to the band on their recent 31-date Warped Tour stint was beyond expectation, travelling across the country gave Parkway Drive an insight into the general vulgarity of a country many look up to as the leaders of the free world.
“I hate that Australia seems to want to emulate America in every way in its culture,” explains Winston. “All our TV shows are American, all the latest fashion is American, everything we see from America is portrayed as being amazing. It seems to be the benchmark but when you actually see it… I’d hate to see the day Australia and America are the same. There are some wonderful things over there but there’s also a lot of fucked up shit. I expected to like America a lot more than I did. It was just a consumer-orientated culture where everyone tries to have the biggest thing possible and every food is either dipped in sugar or deep-fried. After a couple of weeks there you just go, ‘I don’t think humans are supposed to live like this’,” he laughs.
Thanks, but no thanks, Parkway Drive couldn’t be more content with the quiet life in Byron Bay, no matter where the whirlwind may take them in the near future.
“We’re definitely not relocating anywhere. We had a discussion about it a couple of years ago, we’re not moving from Byron Bay. We’re small-town kids that like to surf and that’s it. We spend most of our time in a band seeing the rest of the world anyway, so to be quite honest, to be able to come home to Byron is absolutely amazing. I remember when we were growing up, everyone used to say, ‘Wow, I can’t wait to go to London for a year and work, everything’s gonna be so much better once I get out of this shithole’. But we’ve been to all these places… and I’ll stick with Byron, thanks.”
Featured in BLUNT #64 – October 2007. | {
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the boulder of festivities resides here this evening enjoy thyself. it is compulsory.
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The rise of identity politics in America was a tragic necessity. No one can deny the legitimacy or urgency of the need felt by women and minorities to have equality on their own terms, to reject the assumption that full participation in society required acceptance of the norms set by straight white males. Yet even as the public sphere grew more inclusive, the boundaries of permissible debate were narrowing. Critiques of concentrated power, imperial or plutocratic, became less common. Indeed, the preoccupation with racial and gender identity has hollowed out political language, the void filled by an apparently apolitical alternative – the neoliberal discourse of antiseptic intervention abroad and efficient productivity at home.
The hollowing out culminated in the Obama administration, which represents ‘the triumph of identity as content’, as Adolph Reed wrote last year in Harper’s. According to Reed, Obama embodies race as ‘an abstraction, a feel-good evocation severed from history and social relations’. And few on the left or centre-left want to spoil those good feelings by making the sharp criticisms that Obama deserves. So we are reduced, in Reed’s words, to ‘a desiccated leftism’ preoccupied with ‘making up “Just So” stories about dispossession and exploitation recast in the evocative but politically sterile language of disparity and diversity’. The chief electoral alternative to the Republicans’ free market fundamentalism and imperial grandiosity is the Democratic Party’s mixture of technocratic slogans and gestures to identity-based interest groups (gay marriage, abortion rights, immigration reform), topped off by the Democrats’ own version of imperial grandiosity.
The intellectual bankruptcy of the Democratic Party is nowhere more evident than in the looming presidential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Assumptions of the inevitability of her candidacy tend to ignore policy matters, focusing instead on her gender and her twenty years as a Washington insider. Many usually thoughtful people can find nothing more substantial to say in her favour than ‘it’s her turn.’ This points to the problem with identity politics: it suggests that this woman deserves the presidency because she has paid her dues, first by enduring public humiliation at the hands of her philandering husband, then by losing the 2008 primaries to the messianic Obama. However empty his promises proved to be, Americans can congratulate themselves on having elected a black man; now, in the feel-good world of identity politics, it’s time to elect a woman. Who else but Hillary Clinton?
Clinton’s Hard Choices is the quintessential candidate’s memoir, a 600-page doorstopper detailing her four years as secretary of state during the first Obama administration. It’s designed to show that she’s a tireless public servant, a serious person who likes a good laugh, a world citizen at home with ‘my old friend President Shimon Peres’, ‘our old friend Tony Blair’ and a host of other world leaders, but that she’s also a Midwestern Methodist and a dewy-eyed patriot. It puts the final polish on the new Hillary brand that she and her handlers have been fashioning since the debacle of the 2008 primaries, or so Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes argue in HRC, their inside-dopester account of Clinton’s ‘rebirth’. Allen and Parnes serve as a chorus, commenting portentously on the events described in Hard Choices. Together the two books constitute a vast vanilla pudding of official prose.
In slogging through it, one is reminded of why the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency is so dreary. The dreariness begins with the real possibility that Jeb Bush will be her opponent, setting up another contest between two dynasties, one of which ‘exploited its vast wealth to obtain political power, while the other exploited its political power to obtain vast wealth’, as Glenn Greenwald recently put it. Nothing could more clearly illustrate the merger of economic and political power in the oligarchy that dominates American public life. Were Clinton to win, her victory would ensure the continuation of business as usual in Washington. The only change would be the return to power of the Clinton machine, an army of loyalists who have been milling about the capital for two decades but whose command has now shifted from Bill to Hillary. Despite their differing styles, the intent is the same: rewarding friends and punishing enemies, the latter with such precision that one of her staffers fears Hillary will come to seem little different from ‘Nixon in a pantsuit’.
The sense of continuity is reinforced by the blizzard of worn buzzwords and market-researched phrases regurgitated by Clinton as she races round the globe, visiting 112 countries and logging nearly a million miles (as she repeatedly tells us). Energised by ‘a bias for action’, she pursues a frenetic agenda: promoting international economic agreements that will allow nations to ‘play by the rules’ on ‘a level playing field’, ‘creating jobs and exciting new industries’; forging alliances with social media entrepreneurs in the service of ‘21st-century statecraft’; imposing no-fly zones and sanctions that will isolate ‘extremists’ in Arab states; ‘empowering the moderates’ in ‘civil society’ who will bring those states into line with US policy.
These conventional formulas stress Clinton’s exceptionalist faith in America’s unique responsibility for ‘global leadership’. There was a time when this meant leading by example, but since the Second World War, the phrase ‘global leadership’ has served as a euphemism for military intervention – multilateral if possible, unilateral if necessary. Indeed, exceptionalism has proved a durable justification for unilateralism. Presidential candidates from both parties have long felt obliged to pay homage to the exceptionalist creed, but Clinton’s attachment to it is obsessive. She says she wrote Hard Choices ‘for anyone anywhere who wonders whether the US still has what it takes to lead’. She recalls Madeleine Albright’s threadbare interventionist slogan: the US, Clinton insists, remains ‘the indispensable nation’. As secretary of state, she acted on her faith by sponsoring the overthrow of Gaddafi in Libya and advocating US intervention in Syria, not to mention engineering the Asia Pivot towards increased US involvement in the Far East.
Since leaving government she has become an aggressive critic of Obama’s allegedly timid reluctance to arm ‘moderate’ rebels in Syria (she has backed off since he announced in August that there would be an armed response to Isis). No wonder she’s begun attracting admiring glances from Robert Kagan, Max Boot and other neoconservative ideologues. Like them, she’s given to soaring abstractions about the inevitable spread of democracy but is also careful to point out that it’s sometimes necessary to use force in the service of global good.
Clinton is often described as ‘more hawkish’ than most Democrats, and indeed, like other ambitious women in the self-parodically masculine world of Washington, she may well have concluded that bellicose posturing is the only way a woman can prove her mettle in the contest for commander-in-chief. Certainly as secretary of state, Clinton allied herself with women who embodied conventionally masculine traits, at least in the descriptions given by Allen and Parnes: Ellen Tauscher, formerly a senior Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, is ‘tall and warm – and as tough as a Trident missile’; Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s top State Department aide, is a ‘ball-buster’ and a ‘pit bull’. But Clinton’s hawkishness is a matter of moral and intellectual conviction. In Hard Choices, she tries to construct a coherent rationale for an interventionist foreign policy and to justify it with reference to her own decisions as secretary of state. The rationale is rickety: the evidence unconvincing. Recent history becomes a series of rescue missions, staged opportunities for heroism worthy of Hollywood: mobs of brown-skinned extras look up to see helicopters – we are saved! The Americans have arrived! Such are the dreams that hover unarticulated in our political unconscious, allowing our leaders to redefine war as humanitarian intervention.
The triumph of fantasy entails the failure of imagination. Exceptionalists like Clinton are unable to conceive of a multipolar world where some nations might prefer to go their own way. Clinton and other advocates of ‘smart power’ don’t acknowledge the legitimacy of other nations’ interests – a notion they view as a relic of outmoded diplomatic realism – unless those interests merge with the exceptionalist worldview. But they also refuse the label of idealism, claiming to have transcended the idealist-realist debate by asserting that ‘America’s values are the greatest source of strength and security.’ Moral imperatives and military power are intertwined.
It’s easy to see why anyone would want to get beyond the stale categories of idealism and realism. Idealistic talk of promoting democracy, however sincere, has often served to legitimate the familiar imperial aims of creating markets and investment opportunities; realistic definitions of national interest have been inflated to justify dubious imperial adventures, from carpet-bombing Hanoi to assassinating Salvador Allende – as the self-proclaimed realist Henry Kissinger made clear. But realism is a richer tradition than Kissinger’s example suggests. Stretching from Randolph Bourne and William James to George Kennan and William Fulbright, the pragmatic realist tradition in American diplomatic thought held that it was necessary to consider the consequences of ideas and had an outlook characterised by a humane, cosmopolitan restraint in foreign and military policy. It’s still the best alternative to Clinton’s exceptionalist faith.
Clinton’s outlook epitomises the bipartisan wisdom of the Washington foreign policy establishment, which claims to offer a pragmatic centrist alternative to the extremes of right and left. Yet the centrists turn out to be at least as ideologically driven as the zealots they deplore. The core of their ideology is the belief that the US has a uniquely necessary role to play in leading the world towards an inevitably democratic (and implicitly capitalist) future. The process is foreordained but can be helped along through neoliberal policy choices. This muddle of determinism and freedom is a secular residue of providentialist teleology, held with as much religious fervour and as little regard for contrary evidence as other dogmatic faiths derided by self-styled liberal pragmatists.
Only a secular providentialist could ask what it means ‘to be on the right side of history’. Clinton poses this question as if it were a guide to policy. The notion that history has a discernible direction, and that nations must align themselves with it, is a relic of the grand historical narratives of the 19th and 20th centuries. Such views are no longer held by serious historians but continue to animate the pundits and politicians in Washington. Clinton often appeals to teleology in Hard Choices: she repeatedly recalls a speech she gave in Qatar, just before the uprising in Tahrir Square, when she told the assembled Arab leaders that they must adopt political and economic reforms or their entire region would continue ‘sinking into the sand’ – the Ozymandian fate of autocrats in an irresistibly democratic age.
Inevitability can be hurried along by partnering with business to promote what Clinton calls ‘a global economy of free and fair, open and transparent trade and investment, with clear rules of the road that would benefit everyone’. Everything depends on how you define ‘everyone’. For Clinton, the business-government partnership means promoting General Electric in Algeria and Boeing in Moscow as well as enabling direct communication between ambassadors and American businessmen who want to break into emerging markets. Amazon, she notes, has already opened a customer care centre in Cape Town with five hundred employees. If conditions at other Amazon facilities are any guide, these lucky few can look forward to being worked to death, or near it. These are the jobs on offer in the emerging neoliberal utopia.
Clinton’s utopian faith depends on fantasies of a reified technology, unmoored from class and power relations and operating autonomously as a global force for good. Early in her tenure at the State Department, she decided to ‘take a page from Steve Jobs and “think different” about the role of the State Department in the 21st century’. This led to the birth of 21st-century statecraft, which aimed to address what Richard Holbrooke, then Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, identified as a fundamental anomaly in the struggle against terrorism: the most powerful nation on earth was ‘losing the communications battle to extremists who are living in caves’. As part of Clinton’s ‘smart power’ agenda, the US would reclaim online space by creating alliances with high-tech entrepreneurs.
The crucial figure in this project was Jared Cohen, a Condoleezza Rice protégé who served as a senior adviser in both the Rice and Clinton State Departments. Cohen’s chief achievement was to promote the power of social media in the Iranian elections of June 2009. Cohen privately ‘reached out’, in Clinton’s words, to Jack Dorsey of Twitter, persuading him to delay a scheduled maintenance shutdown in order to keep the Twittersphere open for the dissidents protesting against government electoral fraud. Clinton and Allen and Parnes all treat Cohen’s intervention as a mischievous caper – going outside normal channels, secretly enlisting business in the service of government – that turned out brilliantly. A few months later, Cohen and Eric Schmidt, then CEO of Google, wrote an article in Foreign Affairs that promoted the idea of ‘coalitions of the connected’ to fight alongside the military in the struggle against jihadism. In late 2010, Schmidt hired Cohen to head Google Ideas, a ‘think/do tank’ in New York. His career trajectory reflected the new intimacy of Washington and Silicon Valley.
Still the question remained: how to put the undisciplined geniuses of the tech world at the service of the sclerotic State Department (and vice versa)? According to Allen and Parnes, Clinton created an ‘innovation team’ charged with projects ‘as benign as setting up social media accounts for State in various countries and as insidious as providing tech tools and training for rebels in Middle Eastern countries’. Indeed, these journalists claim, ‘innovation … tied together her ambitions as a diplomat, her chances of running a successful campaign for the presidency, and her religion-inspired commitment to social justice.’ Once thought a Luddite, she fell in love with her iPad. ‘Use me like an app!’ she told an audience of high-tech company executives, ‘eliciting a round of laughter’. She believed that tech CEOs could collaborate with State Department officials in offering carrots and sticks to Bashar Assad: when he refused to co-operate, the State Department waived sanctions for Skype, allowing the company to operate in Syria in the hope that it could help bring the regime down.
The futility of that hope epitomised the general failure of 21st-century statecraft, at least when its practitioners tried to use technology to get round inequalities of power. The magic of social media did nothing to change the outcome of the Iranian elections; Skype didn’t bring down Assad. Technological panaceas proved inadequate elsewhere as well. In Congo, Cohen and Alec Ross, who headed Clinton’s ‘innovation team’, brought high-tech solutions to intractable bureaucratic problems: a mobile app for the military’s muddled pay system, a text-message warning system for refugee camps threatened by militias. In both cases, as in Syria and Iran, fantasies about the power of technology proved unable to overcome existing structures of political, military and legal power. This would be a pattern in the Clinton State Department: rhetoric would outstrip results.
Despite her supposed pragmatism, Clinton shows little concern for the actual consequences of ideas. Her indifference is most apparent in her attachment to the failed military policies of the recent past. While she admits she ‘got it wrong’ in voting for the invasion of Iraq, she shows no sign of having learned from her mistake. On her arrival at the State Department, she began courting General David Petraeus, the ‘architect of the successful counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq’ according to Allen and Parnes, whom she had offended in 2007 by questioning his rosy assessments of American military prospects. In early 2009, Petraeus was head of Centcom, US high command in the region including Afghanistan and Pakistan. By the end of her charm offensive, Petraeus was gallantly offering her sole occupancy of his bed on the flight back from Riyadh. ‘She had won him back,’ Allen and Parnes conclude.
Clinton’s courtship of Petraeus reveals a deeper amnesia. Like most other Washington policymakers, she has forgotten the failure of counterinsurgency in Vietnam. She praises Petraeus’s strategy for its focus on ‘winning Iraqis’ “hearts and minds”’, but she does not seem to remember the history of that phrase. It entered American public discourse in Lyndon Johnson’s admonition that ‘the ultimate victory will depend upon the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there,’ which he repeated many times. The phrase was soon appropriated by the antiwar movement as an ironic shorthand for the futility and mendacity of US policy. Eventually the filmmaker Peter Davis used the phrase as the title for his 1974 documentary which exposed the American invaders’ casual brutality and indifference towards Asian lives. Clinton was involved, however tangentially, in the antiwar counterculture. Yet, like everyone else in Washington, she uses ‘hearts and minds’ to refer to the latest version of counterinsurgency. She assumes Petraeus’s ‘clear, hold and build’ operation was a success in Iraq and the model for a further success in Afghanistan. She cites no evidence.
Clinton’s admiration for Petraeus demonstrates the irrelevance of actual military achievements in the world of the Washington consensus. Petraeus was a powerful man still on the way up and Clinton needed his support. If that meant ignoring the facts, judging his counterinsurgency strategy ‘successful’, so much the worse for the facts. Indeed, Clinton’s aims at the State Department, as Allen and Parnes describe them, were more a matter of public relations than of public policy: to rebuild morale at the department, to rebrand the US in the world and to ‘fortify her own brand’ so she could run for president.
Clinton’s exceptionalism promotes an implicit double standard that separates the US from the rest of the world. Consider the Asia Pivot: according to Clinton, ‘we needed to send a message to Asia and the world that America was back’ in its ‘traditional leadership role in Asia’ – managing competition, fostering co-operation, maintaining stability. This was ‘forward-deployed diplomacy … borrowing a term from our military colleagues’. The Chinese perception, naturally enough, was that the US was determined to block its rise. Why China shouldn’t claim a ‘leadership role’ in its own part of the world, and the US should, is one of the mysteries of the exceptionalist faith.
Nothing could be more appropriate to an emerging multipolar world (the world we actually inhabit) than the idea that nations have a more legitimate interest in what happens near their borders than in events occurring half a world away. Yet exceptionalists dismiss the concept of spheres of influence as an obstacle to the global march of democracy. This is a residue of the Cold War, when American policymakers insisted on seeing everything the Russians did as ideologically motivated. George Kennan spent years trying to convince various presidents that Stalin’s occupation of Eastern Europe was motivated less by ideology than by the desire to block invasion from the west, which had occurred three times over the previous century and a half. It didn’t excuse the Soviet occupation but did help explain it. Cold Warriors, rejecting the very idea of a Soviet sphere of influence, insisted that Stalin’s occupation of Eastern Europe was the beginning of a drive for world domination.
Clinton makes a similar mistake when she characterises Nato’s expansion as a bulwark against Putin’s aggression, rather than a provocation and a betrayal of a previous American pledge. The first Bush administration promised Gorbachev that Nato would not move ‘one inch to the east’, in the words of the then secretary of state, James Baker. But Bill Clinton ignored the Russians’ wish to keep a cordon sanitaire and his predecessor’s promise by pushing Nato expansion to the east – betraying a trust, in Russia’s view. The eastward march of Nato continues. One can only imagine the American response if the roles were reversed.
Hillary Clinton is just as intent as her husband (or her Republican rivals) on demonising Putin as a modern tsar who wants to reassert Russia’s imperial claims. Putin’s ambition is for her the only way to explain why he put pressure on Yanukovych not to form closer ties with the European Union and why, after Yanukovych’s government collapsed, he annexed Crimea. You can deplore that invasion without ignoring (as Clinton does) the complexity of the history behind it: the ethnic Russian majority in Crimea, the long-standing Russian desire to keep the region in friendly hands. She also ignores the US role in undermining the corrupt but democratically elected Yanukovych government, treating its disintegration as the work of ordinary Ukrainians who ‘dreamed of living in a prosperous European democracy’ – a formula that overlooks the right-wing nationalists among the rebels and the draconian austerity programme demanded by the EU. Putin’s Eurasian Union, she believes, was an attempt to ‘re-Sovietise’ Russia’s periphery, rather than a means of bailing out the sputtering Ukrainian economy. Ultimately, she concludes, ‘strength and resolve were the only language Putin would understand.’
Not everyone accepts the casting of Putin as ‘bad guy’, in the adolescent male idiom favoured by American journalists. Among the dissenters is Henry Kissinger, whose realism is more reliable in a European setting than in Latin American or Asian ones. ‘For the West, the demonisation of Vladimir Putin is not a policy; it is an alibi for the absence of one,’ he wrote last year. ‘Putin is a serious strategist – on the premises of Russian history. Understanding US values and psychology are not his strong suits. Nor has understanding Russian history and psychology been a strong point among US policymakers.’ Clinton seems likely to continue that tradition.
Putin fills the bad guy role vacated by Osama bin Laden, whose assassination by American Special Forces occupies an honoured place in Hard Choices. To State Department colleagues worried about offending Pakistan’s national honour by circumventing its law-enforcement procedures, Clinton replied ‘in exasperation’: ‘What about our national honour?’ Once Bin Laden has been killed and the euphoria has dissipated, she reflects that ‘violent extremism is bound up with nearly all of today’s complex global problems …That is an argument for America to be engaged in the hardest places with the toughest challenges around the world.’ The war on terror may be officially over but the pursuit of ‘violent extremism’ provides an open-ended excuse for global military intervention.
The tendency to view the Middle East through the lens of ‘violent extremism’ has predictable consequences with respect to Israel, Palestine and Iran. Careful to acknowledge that Palestinians deserve ‘the self-determination that Americans take for granted’, Clinton nevertheless blithely defends the Israeli air war on Gaza: ‘Every country has the right to defend itself.’ You cannot negotiate with Hamas or other terrorists ‘because you will never be pure enough’. So force is the only option. Clinton’s ‘staunchly pro-Israel’ stance apparently also means being anti-Iran – ‘Israel’s mortal enemy’, as Allen and Parnes call it, giving the consensus view. Despite Obama’s stated intention to initiate diplomacy with Iran, Clinton continued to fuel the fears that an Iranian nuclear weapons programme would ‘threaten Israel, their neighbours and the world’, and warned the Iranians that if they launched a nuclear strike on Israel, ‘we would be able to totally obliterate them’. Lacking an excuse to obliterate Iran, she settled for ‘crippling sanctions’ against the country. Netanyahu ‘told me he liked the phrase so much that he had adopted it as his own,’ she writes. The key aim of the sanctions, according to her aide Jim Steinberg, was to make Iran ‘feel that it had no champions, no place to turn, no out’. In this view, sanctions are a means of solitary confinement for rogue nations, which undercuts the claim that they are a humane alternative to violence. Sickness, starvation and social disintegration are their legitimate offspring. Even Clinton acknowledges the suffering sanctions inflicted, though she blames the Iranian ‘leaders’ choice to continue defying the international community’. To placate ‘pro-Israel voters’, Allen and Parnes write, she would have liked the sanctions to be even tougher.
When it comes to opportunities to demonstrate toughness, nothing sets Clinton’s pulse racing like a good humanitarian intervention. She supported US involvement in Nato operations in Libya, sharing the enthusiasm of Sarkozy, who was eager to reassert French imperial prerogatives in North Africa. The Franco-American friendship began with a mishap. Walking up the stairs of the Elysée palace, Clinton stepped out of her shoe; Sarkozy ‘gracefully took my hand and helped me regain my footing’. She sent him a photo of the incident inscribed, ‘I may not be Cinderella but you’ll always be my Prince Charming.’ Like this event, the intervention in Libya had a fairy-tale quality – the troll-like dictator Gaddafi; the West, once more into the breach, led by fantastic figures like the action intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy, who rode into Libya from the Egyptian border on a vegetable truck. Clinton describes this ubiquitous poseur as ‘a dramatic and stylish figure, with long wavy hair and his shirt open practically down to his navel’. Here was a man who embodied the Hollywood fantasies of heroism that so often energise military intervention. It was all very exciting, but not everyone was convinced that American military involvement was a good idea. The secretary of defense Robert Gates, the vice president Joseph Biden and the former Nato commander Wesley Clark were all opposed, while Clinton, the UN ambassador Susan Rice and national security council aide Samantha Power urged action. Obama was typically reluctant to commit either way.
There were good reasons for caution. The biggest problem was the ambiguity of the mission: was it the maintenance of a no-fly zone to protect civilians, as its proponents initially claimed? Or was it the toppling of Gaddafi, which is what actually happened? Clinton slides from the first rationale to the second without explaining or justifying the transition. But she does raise the unavoidable question for advocates of ‘regime change’: ‘who were these rebels we would be aiding, and were they prepared to lead Libya if Gaddafi fell?’ The question soon became more urgent. By the late summer of 2011, the rebels had captured Tripoli, and Gaddafi and his family had fled. When Gaddafi was killed, Clinton was jubilant. ‘“We came, we saw, he died,” she crowed, laughing as she clapped her hands,’ Allen and Parnes report. ‘Libya’s liberation, for better and worse, was Hillary’s War.’
Clinton is more circumspect, in retrospect, than her journalist courtiers – there are no unseemly celebrations over Gaddafi’s death in Hard Choices. ‘The revolution had succeeded, and the hard work of building a new country could begin,’ she writes, acknowledging that ‘law and order remained a real problem.’ This may be the blandest understatement in a relentlessly bland book. Libya quickly descended into civil war; the country’s infrastructure collapsed; thousands of noncombatants were left homeless, maimed or dead. The chaos was the precondition for the burning of the American compound in Benghazi when four American diplomats were killed. The upheaval in Libya made the entire Middle East more unstable. The freeing of Gaddafi’s stockpiled munitions fostered a flourishing arms trade south to Mali, west to Algeria, and east to Egypt and Syria, intensifying tensions between Islamist and secular groups throughout the region. As early as October 2013, international observers had officially dubbed Libya a ‘failed state’.
Clinton has nothing to say about this. Her reflections on Benghazi are some of the strangest passages in her book. She says she appointed Chris Stevens as ambassador to the Libyan rebels’ new government because he knew that the most dangerous places in the world were ‘the places where American interests and values were most at stake’ and seasoned diplomats were most needed. This assertion deserves some attention. Are the most dangerous places really the most crucial to US national interests merely by virtue of the danger? ‘When America is absent, extremism takes root, our interests suffer, and our security at home is threatened,’ she writes. It would be possible to rewrite the same sentence, substituting ‘present’ for ‘absent’.
Syria was the next testing ground for Clinton’s creed. She makes clear that she was behind the rebellion against Assad from the beginning, trying to unite the ‘international community, including Russia and China … behind a political transition that would go to a democratic future’. Unlike Gaddafi, Assad wasn’t a pushover. He was more deeply entrenched, and had more powerful allies. But how could the Syrian people go back to dictatorship after ‘a taste of freedom’, Clinton wonders. The exceptionalist teleology was starting to click into place: democracy was inevitable; we needed to be on the right side of history. But the situation was complicated: many of Assad’s opponents were jihadists – democrats maybe, but not the sort we wanted to take power.
So the question was how to keep the wrong rebels from winning. In 2012, Clinton started exploring ‘what it would take to stand up a carefully vetted and trained force of moderate Syrian rebels who could be trusted with American weapons’. She enlisted Petraeus, by then head of the CIA, in her campaign: encouraging the right sort of rebels, they argued, would get us in the game so we could be more effective in isolating the militants and empowering the moderates. The moderates were (or would be) mainly a creation of the CIA. The plan to arm them resembled the search for a mythic Third Force between communism and capitalism, the dream that animated Graham Greene’s Quiet American in Vietnam in the 1950s, and that has inspired counterinsurgency fantasists ever since. Obama was unpersuaded. He asked for ‘examples of instances when the US had backed an insurgency that could be considered a success’, Clinton recalls. She didn’t have an answer and Obama stood firm. It was one of the high points of his presidency: for once a pragmatic concern for consequences shaped policy. But last August Obama finally yielded to interventionist demands amid the hysteria over Isis, leaving us with the incoherent policy of opposing both the Assad regime and its main challengers (though the administration now seems to be inching towards tacit tolerance of Assad). Clinton can claim that she was urging this muddle on Obama long before he finally and reluctantly accepted it. That is cold comfort for anyone envisioning her in the White House.
The exceptionalist faith transcends evidence. We can be sure that during the run-up to the 2016 election, democracy will continue its inexorable forward march, in the rhetoric of Democrats and Republicans if not in the world at large. Among the current crop of candidates, the only challenges to exceptionalism come from Rand Paul, a Republican senator from Kentucky, and Jim Webb, a former Democratic senator from Virginia. Paul has defended civil liberties more outspokenly than any other congressman in either party; he is a consistent libertarian, as opposed to the warfare state as to the welfare state. He is a loose cannon, with many repellent views on domestic policy. Still, it would be good for democratic debate to see him take on Clinton’s foreign policy.
It will be even better to see Webb, who has already announced his candidacy, take her on. Webb is a Vietnam veteran and was secretary of the navy under Reagan; no one can tag him with the ‘isolationist’ label so often used to dismiss anti-imperialists. He was also an architect of the Asia Pivot. But he has been a forceful and consistent critic of reckless military intervention abroad. Unlike Clinton, he warned that the Iraq War was unwinnable, a ‘strategic blunder’ unmatched in recent military history. ‘There is no such thing,’ he said more recently, as ‘humanitarian war’ – the vague and self-contradictory concept promoted by Clinton, Rice, and Power. If terrorists are a direct threat, we should fight them, but only on carefully chosen terrain, never by occupying foreign territory and never by entering ‘a five-sided argument’ like the one currently raging in Syria.
Webb’s scepticism is a refreshing alternative to the sanitised abstractions of the Washington consensus. He has troubling idiosyncrasies, among them a tendency to defend Reagan and an Arlington apartment packed with military artefacts. Still, he remains a rare contemporary example of the pragmatic realist tradition, a worthy successor to Fulbright and Kennan (who also had troubling idiosyncrasies). But Webb is also a white male, with no capital to invest in the identities market. The most likely nominee remains Hillary Clinton, whose success would embody the failure of the American political imagination and the tragedy of identity politics. But after all, it’s her turn. | {
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Thursday, October 13, 2016
Ruben Vives of the Los Angeles Times tells the fascinating story of the "Korean Valley," in Southern California's high desert. Korean immigrants settled in West Cajon Valley in the San Bernardino County and it became a Korean immigrant enclave. Sadly, parts of the community suffered losses due to a recent wildfire.
KJ
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2016/10/immigrants-make-the-korean-valley-in-the-california-desert.html | {
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LISBON // Colombia striker Radamel Falcao will go to the Fifa World Cup but risks not being 100 per cent fit, the surgeon who operated on the Monaco star’s ruptured knee ligaments said on Friday.
“I believe he will go to the World Cup. But at the highest level, at the start of the competition, Falcao will not be 100 per cent,” Jose Carlos Noronha told the Lusa news agency.
Falcao, seen as key to Colombia’s hopes at the World Cup, suffered the injury in a French Cup match on January 22 and went under the knife three days later in Porto.
Meanwhile, Noronho refused to comment on the current fitness status of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal star, who has been sidelined since the start of the month with a left thigh injury.
“Ronaldo’s injury is different to that of Falcao and he is under the care of Real Madrid’s medical department,” he said.
“Therefore I am not going to speak about this.”
[email protected]
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE | {
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THE Iranian government has opened a sinister kids’ war-based theme park which instead of roller-coasters and roundabouts has military checkpoints and AK47s.
The City of Games for Revolutionary Children park lets youngsters dress up in full combat gear and pretend to be attacking Iran’s enemies like Israel and the West.
5 A young lad is surrounded by weapons in a makeshift bunker Credit: MEMRI / Raja News
5 Two youngsters scramble through a tough assault course Credit: MEMRI / Raja News
5 The park is for boys aged 8-13 and entry is free Credit: MEMRI / Raja News
They are shown how to fire plastic bullets and artillery shells at US flags and at an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Instructors have built control towers, sand-bagged check-points stuffed with replica assault rifles, grenades and land-mines and radios to rely messages to the child soldiers.
There’s also assault courses where they can learn to scale walls and crawl under ropes and through barbed wire while orders are barked at them by trainers and the sound of machine gun fire is played through speakers.
It is aimed at boys aged 8-13 and entry is free to the park near Mashad, Iran’s second largest city.
It also glorifies the Holy Defence – Iran’s bloody eight war with Iraq in the 1980s.
Related Stories 'the height of folly' Theresa May and CIA chief to warn of disaster if Donald Trump rips up Iranian nuclear arms deal 'BARGAINING CHIP' British mum jailed for 'spying' in Iran is 'being held over £500million arms debt owed by UK' BEATEN BLACK AND BLUE Horror injuries of Iranian woman, 28, sentenced to EIGHTY lashes for attending party with men and drinking alcohol NUKES FOR SALE Cash-strapped Kim Jong-un 'may flog secrets of his nuclear missile programme to Iran' LUIGI LAND Where are the Nintendo theme parks? Locations and opening dates - here's what we know
The park’s boss Hamid Sadeghi said: “At the City of Games, we are trying to convey to the children messages about fighting, the Holy Defence and current global issues, through games, amusements, and group activities."
They are also shown what it is like to fight ISIS in Syria.
And there is a mock-up of the Shrine of Zaynab mosque, located in the Syrian capital Damascus and holds the remains of Mohammed’s granddaughter, which they are ordered to defend.
The kids also play a word game which involves “finding bullets, each of which have a single letter written on it,” and using the bullets to spell out words and sentences.
5 One boy at a sand-bagged check-point with replica assault rifle Credit: MEMRI / Raja News
5 Wannabe soldiers crawl under ropes and through barbed wire Credit: MEMRI / Raja News
The final exercise of the day is meant to teach children that “the most important elements for attaining victory are wisdom and intelligence for fighting the enemy.”
Boys are blindfolded and asked to throw a ball at an Israeli flag in the form of a puzzle and knock it down, and then to assemble a puzzle of an Iranian flag. | {
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U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from Ballwin, has upended Missouri’s 2018 expected contest for the U.S. Senate by announcing Monday that she won’t challenge Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill.
Wagner instead plans to seek re-election for the House seat she has held since 2013.
She had been expected to announce her Senate candidacy in the next few weeks. A number of Republicans and Democrats already had been privately maneuvering to run for her 2nd District seat, once she declared her Senate bid.
Wagner gave no reasons for her change of heart in a statement issued Monday:
“Those who know me well know I put my family and my community first,” she wrote. “While I am grateful for the incredible support and encouragement I have received from across Missouri to run for United States Senate, I am announcing today my intention to run for re-election to the United States House of Representatives in 2018.
“The 2nd District is my home. It’s where I grew up, went to school, have worked and volunteered, raised my kids, and attend church every week – there is no greater honor than representing a place and people that I love.”
Wagner’s decision to stay put in the House likely will put more pressure on state Attorney General Josh Hawley, who has been publicly encouraged to run for Senate by leading GOP figures in the Missouri. Among those pressing him to challenge McCaskill are donor Sam Fox and former U.S. Sen. John Danforth.
Hawley has repeatedly demurred, most recently in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio a few weeks ago. He has said he is focusing on his current post.
File photo | Jason Rosenbaum | St. Louis Public Radio
A former law professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia who has never before held elective office, Hawley took office in January. But he has attracted a lot of party support because he was the state’s top vote-getter in November, attracting even more than then-Republican presidential nominee — and now president — Donald Trump, who carried the state by 18 percentage points.
Hawley is a former clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and is close to the GOP’s religious-conservative wing.
Should he decide to run, Hawley could face a financial challenge. None of his current campaign money could be used for a Senate bid because federal campaign-finance laws are stricter than Missouri's. He would need to set up a new federal committee.
McCaskill last reported having $3.05 million in campaign funds. Among her potential GOP challengers, Wagner had by far amassed the largest campaign account, with $2.77 million in the bank as of her last report, money which she could have used for a Senate bid. The next campaign-finance reports will be filed July 15.
Wagner made news in October, just weeks before the election, when she disavowed Trump’s disparaging comments about women in an old Access Hollywood video.
But since Trump’s inauguration, Wagner has sided with the president on most major issues — including his quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance package put in place by then-President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats in 2010.
Her decision to stay out of the Senate contest drew only a mild reaction from McCaskill's camp.
"One politician has taken a pass," McCaskill spokesman John LaBombard said. "We're sure another politician will take her place."
But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did not pass on an opportunity to take a partisan shot. Wagner is another example of “Republican Senate candidates [who] are refusing to run under their party’s toxic health care plan that spikes costs and strips coverage for hardworking families in order to give big insurance companies another tax break," it said in a statement. "The GOP brand is in tatters and their candidates have nothing to run on except a string of broken promises."
The DSCC then went on to praise McCaskill. "No one else would be a more effective champion for the state’s working families," the statement said.
Before running for the House seat in 2012, Wagner primarily had been a player in national and state Republican politics. She was Missouri GOP chairman in the late 1990s, and then became co-chair of the Republican National Committee shortly after George W. Bush took office in 2001. Bush later named Wagner as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, a post she held for about three years. Wagner’s husband, Ray Wagner, is an executive with Enterprise Holdings Inc.
Follow Jo on Twitter: @jmannies | {
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Don't use a plugin, unless you want a nice menu. From Vim Documentation: Starting (or :help old ):
:ol[dfiles]
Then to open one of the listed files, use: '0 , '1 , '2 , ... '9
List the files that have marks stored in the viminfo file.
:bro[wse] ol[dfiles][!] | {
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Foreword The doctrine of paticcasamuppada [dependent origination] taught by the Buddha is profound; consequently, majority of people cannot understand the law of dependent origination. Nonetheless, it is as valid today as it was when the Buddha explained the doctrine to Ven. Ananda some 2500 years ago. The doctrine of dependent origination, the core of Buddhism, is so difficult to comprehend that people commit serious errors in understanding it, and thereby distort the Buddha Dhamma. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu reveals the root of the distortions, and carefully scrutinizes and analyzes it in the book. The root of the distortions may be traced back to the primitive Buddhism period, but the earliest relevant record can be found in Buddhaghosa's essay written some 1500 years ago. The teachings of many mainstream schools are based on Buddhaghosa's essay. By treating Buddhaghosa's misinterpretation of the Buddha Dhamma as standard, they obscured the Truth. Buddhaghosa explained the doctrine of dependent origination based on the idea of three connected lifetimes (past, present, and future). According to his idea, ignorance and action in the past gave birth to the present; the consequences of past actions are thus experienced in the present. The process causes our vexation (due to Craving and Clinging) in the present life, while transmigration [the cyclical process of death and rebirth or samsara] delivers us to births and sufferings in future lives. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu examines such an interpretation and raises these critical questions: If the Buddha taught the absence of an ego (anatta), then what is migrating from one life to the next? If the cause of suffering is instilled in one lifetime and its consequence emerges in another, how do we free ourselves from suffering in our practice in this life? Proper understanding of dependent origination is essential. It allows us to know that the concept of an ego is dependent on various causal conditions. It also frees us from the erroneous belief of “an everlasting self.” The self or ego is not present. The idea of an ego is continually perpetrated by Ignorance. The ignorant citta [could mean the heart or mind depending on the context] is deceived by endless manifestations sustaining the illusion of “an everlasting self.” As Buddhadasa Bhikkhu points out, the Buddha taught the doctrine of dependent origination to help us see through the illusions. The idea of a process of dependent arising that encompasses three lifetimes implies that something is going from one life to the next. It is contrary to what the Buddha taught, and it undermines the Buddha's teachings. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has strong basis in his interpretation of the doctrine of dependent origination. He circumvents the essays, and refers directly to the original Pali suttas as source. He focuses on the practical application of the Buddha’s teachings for the benefit of practitioners who intend to free themselves from suffering in this very life. The doctrine of dependent origination is actually a comprehensive analysis of the onset and cessation of suffering. In understanding the law of dependent arising we see clearly how the practice can be carried out. By focusing on the Contact in the instant, one can develop Wisdom and prevent the onset of suffering because the contributing factors for the onset and cessation of suffering exist in that instant. If Ignorance confounds the citta, suffering occurs; but if Right Mindfulness and Wisdom can subjugate the Six Roots (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), suffering ceases. In this way the doctrine of dependent origination can be practical because the causes and consequences both exist in this life, where they are accessible. If the causes of suffering exist in the previous life, as Buddhaghosa said, then freeing oneself from suffering in this life is impossible because the cause of suffering is inaccessible. This book is very important to serious students of Buddhism. It points out the misconceptions, and leads us to the original teaching of the Buddha found in the Pali suttas. We hoped the book will clear up muddled essential religious doctrines and help everyone to understand suffering and discover everlasting peace. The Doctrine of Dependent Origination is Profound The doctrine of dependent origination, the core or essence of Buddhism, is profound. For this reason, it is bound to spawn certain issues. These issues can endanger Buddhism, and take the benefits of religious doctrines away from the Buddhists. The Ven. Ananda once told the Buddha he found the doctrine of dependent origination evident and easy to comprehend. The Buddha replied, “Ananda, do not say so. The doctrine of dependent origination is so profound that sentient beings are unable to comprehend it. They are unable to understand what I teach; likewise, they are unable to perceive the process of dependent arising. Consequently, they are perplexed just like with a ball of entangled thread, a jumble of munja grass. They cannot free themselves from sufferings, state of deprivation [apaaya-bhumi], degeneration, and transmigration.” This part of the sutta tells us not to treat the doctrine of dependent origination lightly; that one should devote his mind and intellect to the study of the doctrine. Ordinary people, however, are used to the concept of a continuing existence. They still perceive an ego; therefore, they find the doctrine of dependent origination profound and difficult to comprehend. To them the doctrine is an unfathomable and intricate philosophy similar to the ball of entangled thread. Therefore, they spend much effort debating just like the blind men arguing among themselves when they try to describe the different parts of an elephant. The knowledge of dependent arising comes naturally to an arhant. An arhant treats it as an open and proven science and a plaything. Even though he might not know the Buddha’s doctrine, he has seen through everything. An arhant does not cling anymore. He does not experience Craving and Clinging due to Contact. An arhant does not have to know the different links of dependent origination [the twelve links: Ignorance, Formation, Consciousness, Name & Form, Six Sense Bases, Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Existence/Being, Birth, and Aging & Death]. He might not know how to teach the doctrine of dependent origination or explain anything relevant, but because an arhant already possesses the perfect Right Mindfulness, he does not anymore experience suffering, because there is already the cessation of dependent arising. Even with his wisdom the Buddha spared no efforts to discover the process of dependent arising and develop a doctrine for teaching sentient beings. When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he hesitated to teach the doctrine because only a handful of people would be able to understand it. In the end, however, the Buddha bore the burden of teaching the arcane and profound Truth because of his great compassion for the sentient beings. Because only a few people could understand the doctrine, we can see how difficult a task it was for the Buddha. Everyday Language and Dharma Language The Buddha used two kinds of language to teach his doctrines. One was everyday language, which was used to teach ordinary moral lessons to people deluded by the concept of a continuing existence. These people experienced an ego. They were possessive because of their deep-rooted mental Clinging. On the other hand, the Dhamma language was used to teach people who were mildly deluded (people with sharp mind) for them to understand the Absolute Truth [paramattha-sacca], and to stop them from embracing the concept of a continuing existence. The doctrine of dependent origination is an Absolute Truth; therefore, the Dhamma language must be used to explain it. It is contrary to the teaching of morality (about worldly goodness, which supports the concept of an ego). The everyday language cannot be used to discuss the doctrine of dependent origination. If the Dhamma language were used, however, people could not understand it, and would turn to everyday language to figure things out. Ultimately, the problem will not only be about comprehension but also about misunderstanding the law of dependent arising. This is the basic difficulty in teaching the doctrine. It is also why the Buddha initially hesitated to teach upon his enlightenment. Sometimes, comprehension is not possible even after teaching, as in the case of Bikkhu Sati, the son of a fisherman. I shall talk about him later in the book. The doctrine has been taught to and discussed with people up to the present, but they are still unable to comprehend it. They are either unable to practice it or deviating from the right path in their cultivation. The teaching of morality involves the presence of a person, sentient beings, the self, and the Tathagata [a Buddha]. Even teaching people to perform meritorious deeds entails the idea of enjoying blessings after their death. In the case of Absolute Truth, however, sentient beings, the person, and the Tathagata are absent. There are only successive instants of occurrences due to interdependent conditions. The occurrences are a process of dependent arising (paticcasamuppanna dhamma). When these occurrences link together or form a chain, it is called dependent origination. Here the ego is absent in every instant; therefore, no entity is born, no entity has died, and nobody is receiving karmic ramification, which is according to the concept of a continuing existence. This is not nihilism because, at the very instant, no person has died. In every instant, there is only dependent arising. This is in accord with the Eight Noble Paths or the Middle Path, which is applicable in moral teaching. If the causal conditions of goodness exist, most ordinary people adhere to morality because of habit. They seek peace of mind through meritorious deeds. When the causal conditions change, however, they suffer because they cling and they experience impermanence. They will understand that morality is not their ultimate refuge and must seek Absolute Truth, such as the doctrine of dependent origination, to get free of suffering. When a person transcends the concept of an ego, ego possession, goodness and evil, good and bad, bitterness and pleasure, then he will no longer experience suffering. The teaching of an ego that is constantly present in the process of dependent arising not only violates the law of dependent arising but also violates the Buddha’s principle in preaching the Dhamma - that is to help people totally abandon any concept of an ego. For this reason, the doctrine of dependent origination does not involve morality, because morality, in any situation, is based on the ego. It advocates the concept of a continuing existence. At present, two kinds of teaching of the doctrine of dependent origination exist. One distorts the Buddha Dhamma, and it has existed for more than a thousand years. The other is in accord with the Buddha Dhamma, and it teaches awareness of Contacts at the sense bases to prevent Feeling from advancing to Craving. In this way, the doctrine of dependent origination can be practiced to reap the results at once. The truth is if ordinary people can practice in this manner, they can have significant achievements even without referring to the law of dependent arising. A serious practitioner should be wary of the confusion from these two kinds of teaching, and ensure that his cultivation is in accord with the Buddha Dhamma. The nature of dependent origination, as taught by the Buddha, upholds neither nihilism - for instance, encouraging people to abstain from performing meritorious deeds, be irresponsible, be troublesome and reckless - nor the concept of a continuing existence; for instance, advocating people to be extremists, to be deluded with the concept of an eternally existing ego or all forms of ego and ego possessiveness. The doctrine of dependent origination is not an exaggerated theory as generally believed. On the contrary, it entails rigorous cultivation such that when there is Contact in the sense base, Right Mindfulness is applied to subjugate Feeling, thus preventing its advance to Craving, Clinging, and Existence/Birth. In actual practice, a term such as “dependent origination” is unnecessary. The doctrine of dependent origination must not be interpreted as a theory of spirits, where the spirit of the ego is present, where the spiritual consciousness is reincarnated or stays in the body. In this age, western scholars ridicule such belief. Do not mix everyday language (or a language polluted with the concept of a continuing existence) that is used in teaching morality with the doctrine of dependent origination, because only the Dhamma language (or language from the Right View) is used to teach the doctrine. Practicing in accordance with the law of dependent arising is the true Middle Path. The suttas say that in knowing dependent origination one achieves supreme or supra-mundane Right View. Such a Right View is not prone to nihilism or the concept of a continuing existence. The doctrine of dependent origination stays in the Middle Path that is neither the substantiation of the ego (concept of a continuing existence) nor the negation of the ego (nihilism). Its law follows the principle of “this exists therefore that exists, this ceases to be therefore that ceases to be.” This principle keeps Buddhism from embracing nihilism or the concept of a continuing existence. We must be careful not to let the doctrine of dependent origination evolve into one that is not in accord with the Buddha Dhamma or become a doctrine of Hinduism or Brahmanism. The truth is it is impossible to instill the doctrine of dependent origination in the mind of one who embraces the concept of a continuing existence because the two are contradictory. Hence, teaching the doctrine of dependent origination using the concept of a continuing existence is undermining the law of dependent arising. There are two distinctions in the Buddha’s teachings in the primitive Pali suttas. One part is morality, which is taught to people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence, and the other part is Absolute Truth, which abolishes the concept of a continuing existence without nihilism. During the time when essayists were popular, a very common deviation was using the concept of a continuing existence to explain Absolute Truth and the doctrine of dependent origination. Whenever opportunity arose, the essayists interpreted the doctrine of dependent origination from a viewpoint where ego existed. The person died and was reborn. The essayists also interpreted the doctrine from a purely materialistic viewpoint. For instance, hell was explained to be under the ground, a place where people go when they died. It was not explained according to the law of dependent arising where the fearsome hell exists in every instant. Furthermore, even if hell is supposedly experienced according to the law of dependent arising, people still consider it under the ground or a place for dead people. Therefore, the primitive Pali suttas must be used as basis in studying dependent origination. Do not blindly follow the essayists or totally abide by essays and canons such as the Visuddhimagga [Way to Purity]. I believe the author of Vissuddhimagga and the one who integrated the annotations of all the Pali Buddhist canons were the same person. As a result, people's thoughts were monopolized, and they blindly followed the essays and canons all throughout. Nevertheless, we must still use the principle of the Four Criteria (mahapadesa) in the Kalama Sutta and Mahaparinibbaana Sutta to safeguard and apply our autonomy so as to protect ourselves from becoming victims of books, essays, or canons that are prone to the concept of a continuing existence. If we use the Kalama Sutta and the Four Criteria, we can strictly apply the Buddha's principle to choose the right things from layers upon layers of garbage. This is not to say that all of the essays and canons are useless, but that the Buddha's principle must be strictly applied to find the right explanations. According to the Four Criteria, anything that is not in accord with the Doctrine [dhamma] and Discipline [vinaya] should be considered as erroneous hearing, memory, speech, and teaching. The doctrine of dependent origination is primarily intended to abolish the concept of a continuing existence and nihilism. Therefore, if the teaching of the doctrine involves man’s transmigration in three lifetimes, then it is unacceptable in accordance with the Four Criteria. Principle of Dependent Origination Following are some points on the principle of dependent origination: I. In the absence of thought and wisdom for liberation, Existence/Being and Birth are developed at the instant the Six Roots come in contact with the Six Objects [sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and idea; gunas]. In other words, the process of dependent arising begins at the very instant Contact is established due to Ignorance. II. In the language of dependent origination, no “person,” “ego,” “us,” or “them” exists to experience suffering, the cessation of suffering, or transmigration. III. In the language of dependent origination, there is no so-called “joy;” there are only suffering and the cessation of suffering. “Joy” is not spoken in dependent origination because the concept of a continuing existence is based on “joy” (“joy” readily leads to the concept of a continuing existence, whereas “suffering” readily leads to nihilism). It is only in everyday language that the absence of suffering is referred to as “joy.” For instance, “nibbana is the utmost joy” is used for the convenience of teaching morality. IV. There is no transmigrating consciousness (patisandhi vinnana; that which connects this life to the next) in the language of dependent origination. Therefore, the consciousness (vinnana) in dependent arising refers to the Six Consciousness (arising from contacts between the Six Roots and Six Objects). The Buddha never explained consciousness as transmigrating consciousness because his purpose is to let us clearly see the Six Consciousness of ordinary sense organs. Transmigrating consciousness was only mentioned in essays in latter period. These essays unconsciously introduced the concept of a continuing existence into Buddhism. They have encroached Buddhism like destructive insects. The truth is we already have consciousness due to ordinary sense organs or Consciousness from Ignorance in the process of dependent arising, and no longer need a transmigrating consciousness. V. There is only the law of dependent arising in dependent origination; meaning all phenomena emerge only when mutually dependent conditions exist. Furthermore, the beginning and end of each phenomenon happen in an instant after which other phenomena continuously arise due to mutually dependent conditions. A phenomenon that arises due to mutually dependent conditions is called a dependent arising. There are two important principles here: (1) do not entertain the idea of an ego so as not to embrace the concept of a continuing existence; and (2) do not entertain the idea that nothing exists so as not to become nihilistic. As long as one stays in the Middle Path, he will not stray from the law of dependent arising. VI. From the kamma viewpoint, dependent origination is the cessation of the neither-black-nor-white kammas as well as the black and the white kammas. The meritorious kamma [punna-kamma], non-meritorious kamma, and imperturbable kamma (anenja) are all considered as suffering. One must transcend the three kinds of kamma to be totally free from suffering. In this way, the kamma will not become basis for ego clinging or the concept of a continuing existence. VII That which conforms to the “principle of direct and immediate efficacy” (sanditthika)[primarily concerned with the world and present life] is in accord with Buddhist principle. The interpretation of dependent origination that encompasses three lifetimes does not follow the “principle of direct and immediate efficacy.” The eleven states of dependent origination must all conform to the “principle of direct and immediate efficacy” to be recognized as the Buddha's teaching. VIII. There are many ways of interpreting the doctrine of dependent origination in the suttas. For instance, (1) from Ignorance to Aging & Death in forward order (anuloma); (2) from Aging & Death to Ignorance in reverse order (patiloma); the forward and reverse orders of interpretation also talk about the cessation of dependent arising; (3) from contacts between the Roots and surroundings up to emergence of Consciousness, Contact, and Feeling but without mentioning Ignorance; (4) from Feeling up to suffering in Aging & Death; and the most peculiar of all, (5) simultaneous birth and cessation in one process of dependent arising such that Formation originates from Ignorance, Consciousness originates from Formation, Name & Form originates from Consciousness, and so forth up to the stage where Craving originates from Feeling, then the cessation of Craving is explained as the cessation of Clinging thus the cessation of suffering. This peculiar interpretation seems to claim that even when the process of dependent arising has developed up to the stage of Craving, the Right Mindfulness can still be brought forth to stop Craving and reverse the process until suffering is eliminated. Nonetheless, if we discuss the different kinds of dependent arising in the suttas, we will see more clearly that the process of dependent arising does not have to encompass three lifetimes. IX. Dependent arising is a phenomenon that lasts an instant; it is impermanent. Therefore, Birth and Death must be explained as phenomena within the process of dependent arising in everyday life of ordinary people. Right Mindfulness is lost during contacts of the Roots and surroundings. Thereafter, when vexation due to greed, anger, and ignorance is experienced, the ego has already been born. It is considered as one “birth.” The “birth” that originates from the mother’s womb used in everyday language is not the “birth” meant in the doctrine of dependent origination. The meaning of birth in everyday language obstructs our understanding of the doctrine. We should instead direct our attention on possible “future births” [emergence of the ego] at the moment. This is certainly far better than not knowing in what state the “future birth” of everyday language will deliver us. X. A philosophical theory of dependent origination for discussion is not beneficial to us; therefore, it is not essential. The doctrine of dependent origination is a kind of cultivation. It can stop the manifestation of suffering by maintaining awareness in the Six Roots when they come in contact with surroundings. Applying this principle to protect the Six Roots and stop influxes (asava) ["flowing" of the citta that perpetrates samsara] is the real end to the process of dependent arising. Any same method of cultivation is correct even if it is not referred to as the doctrine of dependent origination. This manner of ending the process of dependent arising is called the Right Path (sammapatipada). The above points can be used as criteria for testing one’s understanding of the real doctrine of dependent origination. The real doctrine of dependent origination is actual cultivation that leads directly to cessation of suffering. Suffering is manifested because vexation generates a process of dependent arising (from Ignorance to Aging & Death). The process involves two rounds of birth, because once the Roots come in contact with the Objects, Consciousness emerges out of Ignorance. The first round of birth refers to the emergence of Name & Form due to Consciousness. The Six Sense Bases comes next from Name & Form. Before these happen, however, Consciousness does not seem to exist, because it is in a state of stay at the moment. Only people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence call it the transmigrating consciousness [that connects one lifetime to the next]. Feeling, originating from Contact, generates vexation that is due to Craving and Clinging. Thereafter, Existence/Being and Birth follow in succession. This is the birth of the ego and ego possessiveness, the second round of birth. At this point, suffering due to birth, aging, death, distress, sorrow, bitterness, worrying, and irritation may be experienced. They are simply called the Five Aggregates of Clinging (pancupadanakkhandha) or suffering. Therefore, each process of dependent arising involves two rounds of birth. Death or birth, in the doctrine of dependent origination, does not come when one is physically dead. The birth and death of the physical body in everyday language has nothing to do with the Buddha’s doctrine of dependent origination. The Buddha’s purpose in teaching the doctrine of dependent origination is to totally abolish the concept of an ego. It is not enough to analyze the absence of an ego using the Five Aggregates; the process of dependent arising must be perceived clearly. Each of the Aggregates appears in accordance with the law of causality “this exists therefore that exists, this ceases to be therefore that ceases to be” only when the eleven states of dependent arising have totally come about. This enables us to better perceive the absence of an ego, delusion (vexation), kamma, and karmic reaction (vipaka); or realize the absence of ego in the entire causal process. Yet, learning about the absence of ego in the Five Aggregates but not clearly perceiving dependent arising might still result in delusion. For instance, in the Pali suttas, a bhikkhu asks the Buddha, “Esteemed Buddha, if the ego is absent in the Five Aggregates, then who is the receiver of karmic repercussions due to actions of the ego that is absent?” Evidently, there is knowledge about the absence of ego in the Five Aggregates, but there is no full understanding of the concept of absence of ego. Consequently, there is the idea that an ego has to experience suffering or pleasure due to the law of kamma. That is absurd. There will be no such question if the process of dependent arising is correctly perceived. No ego can be found operating when the phenomena that last an instant according to the law of dependent arising are correctly perceived. This life and the next, the woeful realms (hell, hungry ghost, animal, and asura realms), man, heavenly gods, Brahma, the Buddha, or sangha, however, exist in the process of dependent arising. They are perpetuated by volitional action (abhisankhara) of meritorious, non-meritorious, and imperturbable kammas. If the volitional action has already generated Feeling or Birth, and the citta is afflicted by extreme vexation and anxiety, then hell is created in the moment. This is the hell of great heat (mahaparlaha) mentioned by the Buddha in the Samyutta-nikaya. It is also called the “hell where the six contact points belong” (chapassa yatanika niraya). It is real hell and more horrible than the hell under the ground that is believed by people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence. The same sutta refers to the “heaven where the six contact points belong” (chapassa yatanika deva). It is real heaven and more realistic than the heaven in the sky that is believed by people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence. When we suffer and experience terror, we are in the asura realm. When we are starving and breathless, we are in the hungry ghost realm. When we are foolish, we are in the animal realm. When we experience both suffering and pleasure, we are in the human realm. When we enjoy different temperaments and interests, we are in the realms of heavenly gods. When we experience too much pleasure and non-suffering-and-non-pleasure from meditation on the form or formless (rupa-jhana or arupa-jhana), we are in the realms of Brahma. All these are more realistic than the realms in the after-life [physical death] that is believed by people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence. The misunderstandings are caused by a distorted concept of Buddhism’s “spontaneous arising” or “spontaneous origination” (opapatika). True Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha can be immediately confirmed upon the cessation of dependent arising. Only a wise person can confirm them by personal experience. They are more realistic than the Three Jewels of Buddhism spoken by people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence. The Three Jewels spoken by such people are meaningless. The “present life” is one process of dependent arising in the instant, whereas the “next life” is another process of dependent arising in the next instant. This is a more realistic way of understanding the law of dependent arising. To people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence, however, “birth” comes from the mother’s womb and “death” is physical death. This is using everyday or children’s language and not what the Buddha taught. One must comprehend the law of dependent arising according to the Buddha’s doctrine of dependent origination and not according to latter-period essayists, who embraced the concept of a continuing existence. The dependent origination discussed by latter-period essayists was their own creation that has been passed down up to present day. The language of dependent origination or the perfect Dhamma language can help us perceive the truth in phenomena. It is different from ordinary languages that are polluted by concepts of continuing existence. For instance, in the Right View (sammaditthi), there are other worlds, parents, heaven, hell, kamma, initiator and receiver of the kamma, the present life and the next. All these are explained according to the language of ordinary people. In the Intermediate Right View, there are only suffering and cessation of suffering. A suffering entity or “person” that is ending the suffering is neither mentioned nor acceptable. In the Perfect Right View, or undistorted supra-mundane realm, dependent arising is perceived as is, neither existing (atthita) nor nonexistent (natthita). Seen from the Middle Path the process of dependent arising, which operates according to the principle “this exists therefore that exists, this ceases to be therefore that ceases to be,” is perceived as devoid of ego, person, heaven, or hell. A perception of this level is called Truthful Middle Path because it is prone neither to nihilism nor the concept of a continuing existence. In the Right View that abides by secular truth the ego is present, whereas in the Right View that perceives the Absolute Truth ego is inexistent. The Buddha always used two kinds of language to expound his doctrines. The doctrine of dependent origination is about Absolute Truth and not ethics and morality. No entity is migrating from one life to the next. Also, it is not necessary for a process of dependent arising to encompass three lifetimes. The method of explaining a process of dependent arising as encompassing three lifetimes can be traced back partly to Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga [The Path of Purification]. The rest is unclear because no other relevant materials are older than the Visuddhimagga. Therefore, I will comment on the essay and its author. Essentially, my target is not Buddhaghosa. I believe it is beneficial for us to use the proper method in studying the Buddha Dharma, practicing Buddhism, or applying the Buddha’s doctrine of dependent origination. I disagree with explanations that are not in accord with the Buddha’s teaching. Hence, my comments are not actually for personal gains. I simply use relevant theories in the Pali suttas to help everyone understand the doctrine on his own, find out the truth, and not necessarily believe me or any other person. We would violate the spirit of the Kalama Sutta if we blindly believe what people are saying. We must use the “dhamma eye” as tool for assessing issues. Buddhaghosa simply added analogies, notes, and commentaries in the then existing Vimuttimagga to produce his Visuddhimagga. It aggravated the situation. We must therefore focus our attention to the Buddha's doctrine of dependent origination. Although it is very difficult, still we must do our best to let the Buddha’s doctrine benefit sentient beings. Because Buddhaghosa’s essay does not corroborate with the tenets of the Pali suttas, such as the Kalama Sutta, I, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, like a puny insect that is trying to topple a tree or stop a moving vehicle, must depend on my intelligence to comment on Buddhaghosa. Although people will find my effort outrageous, as a Buddhist, I am quite satisfied with what I am doing because I am introducing the right theory to the teaching of the doctrine of dependent origination, the core of Buddhism. The Doctrine of Dependent Origination is the Perfect Truth Most people relate to the Four Noble Truths when the core of Buddhism is mentioned. The doctrine of dependent origination is the perfect and ultimate Truth; hence, it is called “maha-ariyasacca” [the Great Truth]. It must be discussed until it is fully understood. Dependent arising exists within us in almost every moment; yet, we are not aware of it. Anybody who is able to comprehend the doctrine of dependent origination has the capability to engage in his own cultivation and end his suffering. On the other hand, we must consider it our responsibility to understand it, and help others to understand it. Such is the Buddha’s wish. If we can do it, then the Buddha’s realization of dependent arising will not be in vain. It is just like the Four Noble Truths. If nobody understands them, then the Buddha Dharma is useless. Essentially, the doctrine of dependent origination is more important than the Four Noble Truths. It is the perfect and ultimate Truth. We must help one another to comprehend it, and promote it to all Buddhists. This is the main reason why we are discussing the “maha-ariyasacca,” the doctrine of dependent origination. Following are guide questions to help you understand the doctrine. What is dependent arising? Why do we have to know about dependent arising? What are the benefits of understanding dependent arising? What method do we use to end suffering? What is Dependent Arising? The doctrine of dependent origination explicitly points out how suffering begins and ends. It reveals that the beginning and ending of suffering are mutually dependent cyclic natural phenomena; that they are not attributable to ghosts, divinities, spiritual entities, or other things. Dependent arising is natural occurrences due to interdependent conditions. When each phase of the process comes about due to mutually supporting conditions suffering begins or stops. The “paticca” in paticcasamuppada means “mutually dependent,” while “samuppada” means “to occur simultaneously.” Dependent arising, therefore, occurs due to mutually dependent and cyclic causal conditions. The doctrine of dependent origination also explains that no “person,” “self,” or “sentient beings” exist, or no “person,” “self,” or “sentient beings” are successively transmigrating. Everything manifests, stays, and expires naturally. By comprehending the doctrine, one can see that the no “person,” “self,” or “sentient beings” with an ego exist. If people do not comprehend the doctrine, they will be dominated by ignorance, and will feel that a “person,” “self,” or “sentient beings” exist. The doctrine of dependent origination points out that how suffering begins and ends and the beginning and end of suffering are due to mutually dependent causal conditions. In this sense, the “person,” “self,” and “sentient beings” are superfluous. Furthermore, the mutually dependent cyclic phenomena start and end with great intensity and in a flash. Thoughts arise with great intensity and in a flash. Anger comes about with great intensity and in a flash. In everyday life, when a mind action occurs in a flash and generates suffering, it becomes a dependent arising instantaneously. One feels horrified if he can perceive such phenomena. If one cannot, then he will be oblivious to them. Dependent arising, to put it in ordinary language, is intense and lightning-speed mind action, which generates suffering, in our everyday life. Why Do We Have to Know About Dependent Arising? For the purpose of learning and cultivation, we must know dependent arising. Because nobody understands it, it has become a fallacy. The ordinary people’s fallacy is similar to Bhikkhu Sati’s belief: “Only the consciousness is going around in samsara.” This bhikkhu insisted that there was a “person,” “self,” or “sentient being” in the consciousness, which dwelled in samsara from one lifetime to the next. Believing that the consciousness has a “person,” “self” or “sentient being” that is perpetually going around in samsara is a fallacy resulting from ignorance of the nature of dependent arising. All the bhikkhus tried to convince Bhikkhu Sati to abandon the fallacy, but Bhikkhu Sati was adamant about his view. The bhikkhus then told the Buddha about it, and the Buddha talked to Bhikkhu Sati. The Buddha asked him, “Do you really have such a concept?” Bhikkhu Sati said, “There is only the consciousness that is going around in samsara.” The Buddha then asked, “What is this consciousness that you speak of?” Bhikkhu Sati replied, “Esteemed Buddha, the consciousness is the entity that can talk, feel, or receive all the karmic repercussions.” His was a very serious fallacy: a consciousness that facilitates talking, feeling, and receiving of all karmic repercussions. Ordinary people do not know why it is a fallacy because they believe, as Bhikkhu Sati did, that the consciousness exists perpetually. Since they are used to the idea, they do not consider it a fallacy. It is false to believe that the consciousness is perpetual, that it exists and acts on its own, and that it is not dependent arising. Consciousness, a manner of dependent arising, is devoid of ego. It manifests in an instant because of the interaction of mutually dependent conditions, and it advances to successive stages. Bhikkhu Sati maintained that there was an ego or a consciousness with an ego that went around in samsara. This consciousness did not only exist in the instant but also persisted to the next life. He called the ego that could talk, feel, or receive karmic repercussions consciousness. The common view prevents people from seeing the fallacy. Consciousness is devoid of ego. If consciousness exists, then it is dependent arising. It is a natural phenomenon manifested from successive occurrences due to mutually dependent conditions. It is not an entity. What are the Benefits of Understanding Dependent Arising? Understanding dependent arising enables us to reject fallacy and possess the Right View to be totally free from suffering. It is false to believe that a “person” is present and reincarnates into a certain sentient being due to kamma. If one erroneously believes consciousness is ego, then he will experience suffering, and will be unable to free himself from suffering. Therefore, one must know the nature of consciousness, which is dependent arising. In this way, one can totally eliminate suffering using the Right View, the right understanding. According to the Pali suttas, “Consciousness is dependent arising. It is a phenomenon arising due to mutually dependent conditions. Without these causal conditions, there is no consciousness.” If consciousness has a main body, then it can manifest on its own initiative, and does not have to depend on causal conditions. The truth is consciousness cannot exist independently. Nevertheless, it is so infinitesimal that we find ourselves thinking, feeling, and allowing the Name & Form (body and mind) to perform work. Hence, we mistakenly think that there is a main body in us, and we call it consciousness. The doctrine of dependent arising helps us abandon such a fallacy for the cessation of suffering. What Method Do We Use to End Suffering? As the ordinary principles always advocate, it is right cultivation, the proper way of living or right living. Proper way of living is using wisdom to defeat ignorance, using knowledge to stop foolish living, or maintaining mindfulness, especially with external contacts. Right living is having perfect Right Mindfulness in life. Thus, there is Wisdom or Right View not foolishness and ignorance in one’s life. Right living is a life without suffering. The Eleven States of Dependent Arising The doctrine of dependent origination taught presently is not in accord with the primitive Pali suttas. What is said in the primitive Pali suttas is different from what is being passed on today. In the Pali suttas, the dependent arising is a chain of eleven states, which make up one cycle, whereas the eleven states being explained today encompass three lifetimes: the past, present, and future lifetimes. Such a dependent arising cannot be used in our cultivation. The primitive Pali suttas state that whenever we experience vexation, the eleven states are mutually dependent and they advance successively to generate a dependent arising. For this reason, dependent arising does not have to encompass three lifetimes, a lifetime, a year, a month, or a day. A complete process of dependent arising and the suffering that ensues can possibly occur and end in an instant. If dependent arising is erroneously taught, it becomes useless and sets off senseless arguments. If it is explained in accordance to the primitive Pali suttas, however, dependent arising can provide significant benefits because it directly resolves our everyday problems. One must first know the eleven states of dependent arising to better understand the subject: Ignorance bears Volitional Action: Volitional Action emerges because Ignorance is its supporting condition. Volitional Action bears Consciousness: Consciousness emerges because Volitional Action is its supporting condition. Consciousness bears Name-and-Form: Name-and-Form emerges because Consciousness is its supporting condition. Name-and-Form bears the Six Sense Bases: Six Sense Bases emerges because Name-and-Form is its supporting condition. Six Sense Bases bears Contact: Contact emerges because the Six Sense Bases is its supporting condition. Contact bears Feeling: Feeling emerges because Contact is its supporting condition. Feeling bears Craving: Craving emerges because Feeling is its supporting condition. Craving bears Clinging: Clinging emerges because Craving is its supporting condition. Clinging bears Becoming: Becoming emerges because Clinging is its supporting condition. Becoming bears Birth: Birth emerges because Becoming is its supporting condition. Birth bears Aging & Death: Aging, sickness, death, anxiety, sorrow, vexation, and suffering emerge because Birth is their supporting condition. The eleven states are mutually dependent in a complete process of dependent arising. As stated in the Pali suttas, there is no gap between any of the states. Therefore, it is not necessary to classify the first two states as belonging to the past, the next ten states to the present, the remaining state to the future, and thereby explain a process of dependent arising as encompassing three lifetimes. If it is explained as encompassing three lifetimes, how can one take advantage of dependent arising and cultivate to end suffering, when the “cause” is in the present life and the “fruit” is in another? The doctrine of dependent origination being taught today encompasses three lifetimes, thus it is not helpful to our cultivation. If you study the Pali suttas, you will discover that dependent arising is not like this. It does not need three lifetimes to complete a process. Depending on the circumstance, only one, two, or three instants are sufficient to complete a process. Suffering Due to Dependent Arising Depends on Clinging The suffering in dependent arising requires Clinging as supporting condition. For instance, if a farmer who is working under the sun does not cling to “Oh, I feel very hot!” The “very hot” sensation will only be a natural sensation, and not a suffering due to dependent arising. Natural sensation results from external stimulation, but because the mind does not cling to it, there is no personal feeling of suffering. Suffering in dependent arising, however, is vexation experienced due to the mind’s clinging to sensation of external stimulation. Suffering due to dependent arising requires Clinging, and it leads to the emergence of ego. If the farmer becomes agitated by thinking “Because I am a farmer, it is my kamma to do this hard labor,” he will feel dejected. In thinking this way, suffering due to dependent arising emerges. If the heat generated by the sun on the farmer's body is treated as natural sensation, and there is no Clinging, then the ego will not emerge. Therefore, there is no suffering in a dependent arising. When there is Clinging, suffering develops totally. It is suffering in a dependent arising. If our hand is bleeding from a cut and we feel the pain without Clinging, it is natural sensation and not suffering in a dependent arising. Suffering in a dependent arising must come from a complete process of Ignorance, Volitional Action, Consciousness, Name-and-Form, Six Sense Bases, Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Becoming, Birth, and Aging & Death. Buddhists understand that when the Six Roots come in contact with the Six Objects, and these Objects have value or significance, then the Six Objects support the emergence of Ignorance. For instance, suffering is not experienced if one sees a tree and stone as insignificant, whereas it will be a different matter if one sees a tiger, woman, or something of significance. If a male dog sees a beautiful woman, the latter will be insignificant to the former. If a young man sees the beautiful woman, however, she will be very significant to him. Here the “seeing” of the male dog is not relevant to dependent arising, but the young man’s “seeing” is. Tree, weeds, and stones are insignificant in ordinary situation, but a diamond, stone statue of a divinity, or tree with special meaning can cause a dependent arising in the citta. Therefore, we may conclude that when the Six Roots come in contact with the Six Objects, the Six Objects must be significant to the viewer for them to bring about ignorance, foolishness, and confusion. Only in such contacts will Consciousness arise in the instant and advance towards Volitional Action. Volitional Action can generate Name-and-Form making the viewer’s normal body and mind abnormal and wild. Consequently, the body and mind experience suffering. When the Name-and-Form is transformed, the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind become the Six “abnormal and wild” Roots. The process then goes on to the “wild” Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Becoming, and finally Birth. Birth is the total emergence of ego. Furthermore, because of Clinging, Birth, Aging & Death, or different kinds of suffering can emerge at once. The above is an example of dependent arising that occurs in everyday life. It is a complete process of the eleven states of dependent arising in an instant. There can be tens or hundreds of dependent arising occurring in a day without our being aware of them. For this reason, saying that the process of dependent arising encompasses three lifetimes is false. People generally misunderstand the doctrine of dependent origination. Believing that the process of dependent arising encompasses three lifetimes is straying from the original meaning of the primitive Pali suttas. Dependent arising begins and stops with lightning speed. It generates suffering, and occurs in our everyday life. The Buddha Discovered Dependent Arising How did the doctrine of dependent origination originate? In the Samyutta-nikaya, the Buddha spoke of discovering dependent arising after six years of ascetic practice. Following are what the Buddha said in the Pali suttas: Bhikkhus, before I became enlightened and was still a bodhisattva, I had already realized that all sentient beings experienced suffering in birth, old age, death, and rebirth. If the sentient beings do not know the method for the cessation of suffering, how are they supposed to be free of suffering? Bhikkhus, I asked, “Why is there old age and death? What are the causal conditions for old age and death?” Because I skillfully endeavored on mind training, I developed Wisdom sight. Birth is condition to Aging & Death. Aging & Death comes from Birth.
Becoming is condition to Birth. Birth comes from Becoming.
Clinging is condition to Becoming. Becoming comes from Clinging.
Craving is condition to Clinging. Clinging comes from Craving.
Feeling is condition to Craving. Craving comes from Feeling.
Contact is condition to Feeling. Feeling comes from Contact.
Six Sense Bases is condition to Contact. Contact comes from Six Sense Bases.
Name-and-Form is condition to Six Sense Bases. Six Sense Bases comes from Name-and-Form.
Consciousness is condition to Name-and-Form. Name-and-Form comes from Consciousness.
Volitional Action is condition to Consciousness. Consciousness comes from Volitional Action.
Ignorance is condition to Volitional Action. Volitional Action comes from Ignorance. Thereafter, I meditated on it again in another way: Ignorance is condition to Volitional Action.
Volitional Action is condition to Consciousness.
Consciousness is condition to Name-and-Form.
Name-and-Form is condition to Six Sense Bases.
Six Sense Bases is condition to Contact.
Contact is condition to Feeling.
Feeling is condition to Craving.
Craving is condition to Clinging.
Clinging is condition to Becoming.
Becoming is condition to Birth.
Birth is condition to Aging & Death. Bhikkhus, the people have never heard of wisdom that conquers suffering. The Wisdom sight, Dhamma eye, and brilliance have all come about within me. This is the dependent arising or chain of suffering the Buddha discovered when he became enlightened. The Buddha also discovered that suffering is generated by the eleven states of dependent arising. When one who is dominated by Ignorance (absence of Right Mindfulness) comes in contact with the surrounding, Consciousness emerges in that instant. Consciousness is not a perpetual entity. It is manifested only when the Roots come in contact with the surroundings. Thereafter, Volitional Action, the motive force for creating new Name-and-Form, emerges rapidly following the manifestation of Consciousness. The new Name-and-Form will then experience suffering, and generate the Six Sense Bases that sustains suffering. Subsequently, Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Becoming, and Birth (emergence of the ego) emerge one after the other. At this point, the conditions for suffering are complete. From what we know about Buddhism and man’s history, the Buddha was the first to discover dependent arising. After he discovered it, he became enlightened. This was how the doctrine of dependent origination originated according to the Pali suttas. Becoming and Birth in the Language of Dependent Origination The language of dependent origination is expounded by the Dhamma language, which is used by people who have seen the dhamma, and not by the everyday language, which is used by people who are ignorant of the Buddha Dhamma. If we use everyday language to explain dependent origination, there will be confusion and lack of understanding. For instance, the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree was the cessation of Ignorance. With the cessation of Ignorance came the cessation of Volitional Action, Consciousness, and Name-and-Form. Why then did the Buddha not die? When the Buddha attained enlightenment, it was the cessation of Ignorance. With the cessation of Ignorance came the cessation of Volitional Action. Why then did the Buddha not die under the Bodhi tree? It is because the language of dependent of origination is the Dhamma language. Therefore, Birth and Death do not mean the birth or death of the physical body. If the terms are misunderstood, as when everyday language is used, then a process of dependent arising entails two forms of birth. One is the birth of Name-and-Form (from sexual union of the parents); another is birth in the next life. If there are two births, then dependent arising will be thought to encompass three lifetimes: past, present, and future lifetimes. At this point, a complete process of dependent arising will be disjointed, and it will not be in accord with the Buddha’s doctrine of dependent origination. The amusing part is, even if there are two forms of birth in dependent arising, there are no two forms of death. This is because two forms of death are incomprehensible. According to the doctrine, the Becoming and Birth in dependent arising do not originate from the mother’s womb but from Clinging, where the experience of an ego develops; it is called Birth. This can be proven by the Pali suttas. In the suttas, the Buddha said, “Clinging to that which brings delight.” This means when Contact brings on Feeling, no matter if that Feeling is construed as suffering, pleasure, or non-suffering-and-non-pleasure, there is “delight” in it. This is Clinging. Any form of “delight” is Clinging because “delight” sustains Clinging. When there is “delight,” there is Clinging. “Delight” here refers to satisfaction in perplexity. According to the Buddha, “delight” is Clinging. When we are satisfied with a certain thing, we are holding on to it. There is “delight” in Feeling, thus “delight” is Clinging. Therefore, when we experience Feeling, “delight” emerges at once; it is Clinging. “From Clinging comes Becoming; from Becoming comes Birth; from Birth comes Aging & Death. This is suffering.” Becoming and Birth come from Feeling, Craving, and Clinging. They do not have to wait for transmigration after physical death to emerge. Becoming and Birth can happen at any time and place. They can happen many times in a day. When Feeling in reaction to Ignorance exists, a certain kind of “delight” due to perplexity develops. This is Clinging; after which Existence/Birth and Birth develop. Therefore, Becoming and Birth emerge in an instant, and they happen many times in a day. In Dhamma language, the development of the ego and ego possessiveness, which is occurrence of Becoming and Birth, can happen many times in a day, hundreds of times in a month, thousands of times in a year. Dependent arising is a phenomenon that happens in an instant. It does not encompass three lifetimes. The process of dependent arising occurs in everyday life. Ignorance is the beginning of a process of dependent arising. When Ignorance is eliminated, the process cannot continue; then there is absence of suffering. The Ego is Not Present in Dependent Arising The erroneous interpretation of the doctrine of dependent origination is not only unfavorable to the practitioner but also harmful to Buddhism. The belief that dependent arising encompasses three lifetimes, which is not based on the principle of the Pali suttas, is false. It is false based whether on the words or on the meaning of the Pali suttas. According to the Pali suttas, the Buddha said that dependent arising is successive instants of occurrences due to interdependent conditions. The process starts with Ignorance and ends in suffering. There are no other things involved in the process. Based on the Buddha’s teaching, therefore, it is apparent that the belief of a dependent arising that encompasses three lifetimes is false. The Buddha’s purpose in teaching the doctrine of dependent origination was to eliminate fallacies, to stop the clinging to self, person, or sentient beings. Hence, the ego is not present in his explanation of the chain of eleven states of dependent arising. Now, some people explain dependent arising as having an entity that transmigrates three lifetimes. One’s vexation in his past life is said to be the cause of karmic repercussions in his present life. The karmic repercussions in his present life again become a new vexation that will cause karmic repercussions in his next life. Seen this way dependent arising involves an ego, spirit, sentient being, or person that is in transmigration. This was what the Bhikkhu Sati falsely believed. It is against the Buddha’s teachings, where the ego is not present. The Four Criteria also tell us that the viewpoint of a dependent arising with ego is false because it is contrary to what the Buddha taught. The Pali suttas explain dependent arising as successive instants of occurrences due to interdependent conditions. The ego is not present if the suttas’ original meaning is preserved. Everyday Language Cannot Be Used to Interpret the Doctrine of Dependent Origination Name-and-Form in Everyday Language and the Dhamma Language As explained before, the doctrine of dependent origination is not to be interpreted in everyday language. If the doctrine is interpreted in everyday language, then the following would have happened: After the Buddha had become enlightened, he died under the Bodhi tree immediately. This is because when Ignorance ceases so do Volitional Action, Consciousness, and Name-and-Form. Thus, the Buddha should have died when his Ignorance ceased. The Buddha did not die, however, but continued to teach his dhamma for the next 45 years. This means the doctrine of dependent origination cannot be interpreted using everyday language. The same goes for the process of dependent arising. The emergence of Name-and-Form cannot be interpreted by everyday language because the Buddha taught that Feeling sustains delight, which in turn gives rise to Craving, Clinging, Becoming, and Birth. The Birth here does not refer to birth of the physical body; likewise, the death does not refer to expiration of the physical body. They refer to Birth and Death in the mind: the Birth and Death of the ego. Therefore, the Name-and-Form in the doctrine should be interpreted using the Dhamma language. In everyday language, the Name-and-Form is the mind and physical body that continue to exist after one is born. The elaborate abhidhamma says Name-and-Form has countless births in every instant, but in the Dhamma language of the Buddha, each birth originates from contact between Ignorance and the surrounding. The birth will only stop when the contact ceases. According to everyday language, each process of dependent arising has two forms of birth. Because it is incomprehensible, it is explained as involving three lifetimes. Such an interpretation, however, embraces the concept of a continuing existence. “State of Seeking Birth” in Everyday Language and the Dhamma Language The difference of the Dhamma language and everyday language can also be found in interpreting the “state of seeking birth” (sambhavesi). In performing the Buddhist rite for dedication, we recite a portion of the sutta for dedication: “to grant all sentient beings - those that have been born or in the state of seeking birth - happiness.” This refers to two kinds of sentient beings: one that has already been born (bhuta), and one that is seeking birth. This is the interpretation of ordinary people in Thailand and other countries. The sentient beings that have been born are living now, like you and me. As for those who are still in the “state of seeking birth,” there is a consciousness that is without a physical shell moving around seeking birth. This is an interpretation entirely in everyday language, and not according to the Buddha Dhamma. Buddhism does not advocate a consciousness or entity that moves around seeking birth [or rebirth, as is usually believed]; it is a belief held by people who embrace the concept of a continuing existence. In Buddhism, consciousness emerges and expires in an instant according to the law of dependent arising. This is my opinion, Buddhism's “state of seeking birth” is interpreted in the Dhamma language; it is different from that of everyday language. Buddhism’s “state of seeking birth” refers to a state that, in the case of ordinary people, is still without vexation; a state where there is still the absence of Craving, Clinging, or holding on to self. It is normal for Craving, Clinging, and the holding on to ego and ego possessiveness to exist in everyday life, but they are inactive most of the times. For instance, those of you sitting there listening are without the ego because you do not crave or cling to anything. You do not have the illusion of an ego. You are just sitting there, listening naturally, and you are in a normal and blank state. When strong Craving and Clinging emerge, however, intense suffering follows. Ordinary people thus live in two states: where one is “born” because there is Craving, Clinging, and a suffering self, and where one is in a “state of seeking birth.” They are the objects of the Buddhist rite for dedication: those that are “born” and foolish and those that are in a “state of seeking birth” and oblivious of what is happening. The “state of seeking birth” awaits the birth of the ego and ego possessiveness. It is a sorry state because the ego and ego possessiveness are ready to emerge at any time. When one loses Right Mindfulness, and the ego and ego possessiveness develop out of contact between Ignorance and the surrounding, there is “birth.” This “birth” of the ego and ego possessiveness, caused by greed or anger, is, however, short lived. Once greed or anger disappears, the “born” [birth of the ego] expires and returns to a “state of seeking birth.” Then again, from the “state of seeking birth” comes the “birth” of the ego and ego possessiveness because of craving, anger, hatred, or fear. The process of dependent arising is thus repeated. In each process of dependent arising, “birth” is realized because of causal conditions. When these causal conditions disappear, the “born” expires and returns to a “state of seeking birth.” This interpretation of the “state of seeking birth” is useful in cultivation because the practitioner can take advantage of and benefit from it; unlike with ordinary people’s interpretation, where the consciousness leaves the body and moves around seeking birth after death. I do not believe the “state of seeking birth” should be interpreted according to everyday language. It is irrelevant to the doctrine of dependent origination, and not beneficial to us. Worse, it embraces the concept of a continuing existence. My unorthodox belief can be proven using the Pali suttas. They are found in the record of the material food (kabalinkarahara), contact food (phassahara), thought food (manosancetanahara), and consciousness food (vinnanahara) in the Samyutta-nikaya. The Buddha said the Four Foods [cattaro ahara] enable the “born” to live, and they nourish the “state of seeking birth.” In explaining the Four Foods, the Buddha also used analogy of the Four Foods in everyday events. We are sentient beings that are “born” and in a “state of seeking birth” at any day. The function of the Four Foods is to continue nourishing the “state of seeking birth,” but their special effect is continually sustaining those that are already “born” (sentient beings that are born). This example allows everyone to understand that there are two interpretations of the “born” according to everyday language and the Dhamma language. The important thing is for everyone to know which interpretation directly benefits the cultivation of the Buddha Dharma. Only the interpretation according to the Dhamma language can benefit one's cultivation. We must stop all “births” and “states of seeking birth” by properly cultivating according to the doctrine of dependent origination, and by disallowing the emergence of the ego and “state of seeking birth.” To stop “birth” or the “state of seeking birth,” the Four Foods must be totally eliminated. The Four Foods must not be allowed to become significant and initiate volitional action. With this kind of understanding, our cultivation can benefit from the doctrine of dependent origination. Suffering in the Dhamma Language Suffering has many meanings. In the Dhamma language, it refers to dependent arising. In Pali, there can be suffering, the cause and end of suffering, and the pathway to the cessation of suffering, which is the development and cessation of dependent arising. Suffering has a special meaning in dependent arising. Suffering is due to Ignorance, which bears Volitional Action. Volitional Action bears Consciousness, and the process continues until suffering comes about. This is the development of suffering according to the doctrine of dependent origination. In the Samyutta-nikaya, dependent arising is referred to as the warped path. What is warped path? It is the process of dependent arising that leads to suffering. What is the True Path? It is the cessation of dependent arising, where the different states gradually die out until suffering is totally eliminated. The True Path is the right path, whereas the warped path is the wrong path. The meaning of suffering here is different because it refers specifically to suffering after Clinging emerges. Therefore, meritorious kamma is suffering; non-meritorious kamma is suffering; imperturbable kamma is also suffering. Volitional Action in dependent arising is a causal condition for suffering. Meritorious acts [Volitional Action] can also lead to suffering, but ordinary people do not know this. They believe meritorious acts bear pleasure. The truth is meritorious acts bear meritorious kamma, non-meritorious acts bear non-meritorious kamma, and imperturbable acts bear imperturbable kamma. There is still suffering in these three kinds of act [Volitional Action] because they sustain Clinging. One holds on to meritorious kamma, non-meritorious kamma, and imperturbable kamma because of Clinging. Thus, suffering has special meaning in dependent arising. It is easy to comprehend that non-meritorious kamma is wrong and suffering, but both meritorious and imperturbable kammas are also suffering and wrong because they bear Clinging. Imperturbable kamma is not affected by meritorious or non-meritorious kamma, but the self is present in it. “Imperturbable” persons are often times called Brahman. Although they are not tainted with meritorious or non-meritorious kamma, the self is still present in them. Their mind may be “imperturbable” while in meditation, but Clinging emerges because the self holds on the ego's imperturbable acts. Therefore, it still is suffering. Ordinary people believe goodness is preferable. In the language of dependent arising, however, all is suffering. Meritorious kamma is suffering; beauty is suffering; happiness is suffering. As long as something is the result of volitional action, and it can cause successive volitional actions, then it is suffering. As long as the law of dependent arising applies, then it is suffering. Dependent Arising and the Baby Dependent arising emerges from Clinging, and not from only thought and feeling. Therefore, it is not applicable to the fetus inside the womb. This is because Ignorance, Craving, and Clinging have not yet developed in the fetus. The Majjhima-nikaya tells about the birth of the baby up to the point where dependent arising occurs. In the sutta, the Buddha explicitly describes how human life is formed. The Buddha said that when a child sees form through eye consciousness, he experiences craving for the delightful and shows disgust for the disagreeable. Because the child is without Right Mindfulness, Ignorance is present. He is dominated by habit and characteristic, and does not know deliverance through Wisdom. Hence, when he experiences the Five Sensual Desires (sight, sound, odor, taste, and touch), his mind is readily affected by contacts with the surrounding. If Right Mindfulness and Wisdom are present, however, there can be cessation of the notion of goodness and evilness. Dependent Arising Occurs and Ends in a Flash We are unaware that a process of dependent arising begins and ends in a flash. Within this very short period of time, the eleven states or twelve links of dependent arising are manifested successively. For instance, when we become angry, suffering emerges. In an instant, we already experience suffering because of anger. We are unaware that all the eleven states, from Ignorance through Birth, occur and end successively in that instant. When our eyes see the surrounding, we experience craving or anger immediately. The process happens in an instant, and it is dependent arising. The Buddha taught about the mundane world, its cause and cessation, and method for the cessation of the mundane world in the Samyutta-nikaya. Bhikkhus, how is the mundane world formed? When the eye sees things, eye consciousness is produced. The integration of the three is Contact. Contact is causal condition of Feeling. Feeling is causal condition of Craving. Craving is causal condition of Clinging. Clinging is causal condition of Becoming. Becoming is causal condition of Birth. Birth is causal condition of aging, sickness, and death. Bhikkhus, this is how the mundane world is formed. A process of dependence arising is the “volitional action of the mundane world” the Buddha spoke of. The emergence of suffering is the volitional action of the mundane world. All these occur when Consciousness emerges through contacts between the Six Sense Bases (Roots) and surrounding (Objects). It is difficult to detect how Volitional Action, Consciousness, Name-and-Form and Six Sense Bases manifest through the volitional action of Ignorance in two or more successive occurrences of a process of independent arising because they happen in a flash. What we can experience first is Feeling, the feeling of suffering, delight, joy, or melancholy. The cessation of the mundane world is similar to the cessation of suffering. With the end of Ignorance comes the end of Volitional Action; with the end of Volitional Action comes the end of Consciousness, and so on. This was how the Buddha explained it. A Dependent Arising Within Dependent Arising The basic principle of dependent arising is quite unique; it is called the “radiant wheel.” Here the process of dependent arising goes into a process of termination of itself [what others call the Transcendental Order of Dependent Origination]. The amusing thing is it shows the “meritorious effect of suffering.” The Buddha talked about the stages of ending suffering. “I will explain the cessation of influxes (asava) only to wise people or people who see truth.” The Buddha said that when one clearly sees the beginning and end of the Five Aggregates (form, feeling, thinking, volition, consciousness), the influxes within him end because of Wisdom. The Buddha was able to pronounce this Truth because he had seen and realized it. When influxes end, the Wisdom sight appears and reflects the citta that is now free of influxes. The Wisdom that initiates cessation appears when one abandons greed [becoming dispassionate]. Dispassion comes from disenchantment. Disenchantment is experienced because of ultimate Wisdom or having the Wisdom sight to see Truth. The Wisdom sight to see Truth arises from samadhi. Samadhi arises from bliss. Bliss arises from calmness. Calmness arises from rapture. Rapture arises from contentment. Contentment arises from having faith. Faith is an upshot of suffering. In the process of dependent arising, suffering comes from Birth. Birth comes from Becoming. Becoming comes from Clinging. Clinging comes from Craving. Craving comes from Feeling. Feeling comes from Contact. Contact comes from Six Sense bases. Six Sense Bases comes from Name-and-Form. Name-and-Form comes from Consciousness. Consciousness comes from Ignorance. As shown above, the cessation of influxes must proceed in the order of a process of dependent arising, which arrives at faith. If we believe in the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, and the cessation of suffering through cultivation, then it is called faith. Faith is condition to contentment.
Contentment is condition to rapture.
Rapture is condition to calmness.
Calmness is condition to bliss.
Bliss is condition to samadhi.
Samadhi is condition to Wisdom sight to see Truth.
Wisdom sight to see Truth is condition to disenchantment.
Disenchantment is condition to dispassion.
Dispassion is condition to deliverance.
Deliverance is condition to the Wisdom that initiates cessation towards nibbana. This shows that the cessation of influxes must start with faith, and faith comes from suffering. This seems paradoxical but without suffering, we would not be forced to seek the protection of the Buddha. When we are like refugees scampering towards the Buddha, we are determined and we believe in the Buddha because we have experienced the burdens of suffering. Therefore, suffering becomes a causal condition of faith. Essentially, suffering becomes a positive experience. The purpose of the Buddha in explaining that faith comes from suffering is to keep us from feeling sadness, fear, and inadequate. If we apply the doctrine of dependent origination in everyday life, suffering will be the foundation of faith. Faith supports the Buddha Dhamma, helping us to cultivate for the cessation of influxes. Suffering, seen in this light, becomes beneficial. Conclusion 1. The mundane world, its cause and cessation, and method for the cessation of the mundane world result from the beginning or end of a process of dependent arising, which is produced when the Six Roots come in touch with the Six Surroundings. All these happen to man when he is still alive. 2. The states of dependent arising do not encompass three lifetimes or extend to the next life as is understood using everyday language. The interpretation of “paticca” does not allow such extension. “Paticca” means a chain of mutual dependency. The chain is so closely linked such that nothing can be inserted into it. It is a series of occurrences that cannot be divided into three life existences or lifetimes. Dependent arising is related to the Four Noble Truths, and there is no reason to break up its eleven states. 3. Dependent arising begins when Contact is experienced by a child who is old enough to understand certain things. The Contact is not one of Wisdom but of Ignorance, an absence of Right Mindfulness. 4. The doctrine of dependent origination reveals the truth about the beginning and end of suffering. It does not tell us that man owns suffering and has to retain it over many lifetimes. The owner of suffering is not present; no receiver is present when suffering occurs. The doctrine likewise tells the practical principle of causality. Only the Buddha's doctrine of dependent origination can reveal such Truth.
When I was still a student of Buddhism, I had no choice but to study a doctrine of dependent origination that was against the Buddha’s original proclamation. Later, when I became a teacher of Buddhism, I went against the essence of the Buddha’s doctrine by teaching that the process of dependent arising encompassed three lifetimes. I accept my mistake and ask for forgiveness. I have spent decades studying the doctrine of dependent origination to discover that it is within our grasp, that we can apply it in our everyday life through Right Mindfulness. When we are able to block dependent arising at the instant of a Contact, the Buddha’s doctrine becomes beneficial and practical to us. How do we apply the doctrine of dependent origination? When there is contact with surrounding, one has to maintain Right Mindfulness to keep Ignorance from developing into suffering. I hope everyone will possess the right intelligence to correctly understand the doctrine of dependent origination. My interpretation of the doctrine of dependent origination might be criticized not only by Thai Buddhists but also by Buddhists all over the world because dependent arising is generally understood to extend over lifetimes. I was the target of severe criticisms in Thailand when I explained the concept of void and commented on the adhidhamma before. I am sure my interpretation of the doctrine of dependent origination will likewise be criticized. Nevertheless, because I am Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, I must perform my duty. I know what is right or wrong. I shall oppose to the end anything that I know is harmful to the Buddha Dhamma. I am not afraid of criticisms. An applicable doctrine of dependent origination is what the Buddha realized and taught. If we embrace it, we can be able to end our suffering. A dependent arising, where the self or a main body is not present, is one that belongs to an ideal and practical doctrine. ... I am offering this book to enthusiasts of Buddhism so that they can correctly practice the Buddha Dhamma. Buddhist calendar Year 2521 (1978) Wisakha Bucha Day [Buddha's birthday] Notes: The translation is based on my interpretation of ideas in the Chinese version of the book.
This is a continuing project, so the contents will be revised and edited from time to time. Information in brackets and word italicization are mine.
Johnson Sumpio | {
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Museumsinspektør er begejstret over fundet af en vild sjakal i Nordjylland, der ikke er set i Danmark i et år.
En vild sjakal er blevet fotograferet på spring i Nordjylland. Det er en biologisk sensation, lyder det fra biolog og museumsinspektør fra Naturhistorisk Museum i Aarhus, Thomas Secher Jensen, efter at han har set en serie fine fotos af en guldsjakal, der er blevet fotograferet i Lille Vildmose i Himmerland.
- Det er første gang, at der er fotograferet en levende guldsjakal i Danmark, og blot anden gang, at sjakalen besøger Danmark, siger Thomas Secher Jensen til Nordjyske Stiftstidende.
Jeg troede først, at der var tale om en stor ræv Carsten Clausen
Det var naturfotografen Carsten Clausen, Randers, der ganske uventet stødte ind i det usædvanlige dyr, da han besøgte vildmosen om aftenen for at fotografere fugle og dyr.
En fundet dræbt
- Det gik ret hurtigt, og da den var tydeligt sky, troede jeg først, at der var tale om en stor ræv, men jeg kunne ret hurtigt se, at det ikke var en ræv, forklarer Carsten Clausen.
Han har nu lagt en serie fotos af sjakalen ud i facebook-gruppen, "Vild med Lille Vildmose".
Første gang, der blev påvist en vild sjakal i Danmark, var i september 2015, hvor der blev fundet en trafikdræbt sjakal nær Karup i Midtjylland.
Museumsinspektør er begejstret over fundet af en vild sjaka Foto: Carsten Clausen / Privat
De to jyske fund falder i fint i tråd med, at guldsjakalen i de senere år har bredt sig hastigt fra sit hidtidige udbredelsesområde på Balka.
Her er der faste bestande i Bulgarien, Grækenland og Serbien, forklarer Thomas Secher Jensen til Nordjyske Stiftstidende.
Guldsjakalen minder af udseende om en lille spinkel ulv, men er mindre. Den har en stor busket hale. Den vejer normalt 7-15 kilo, hvilket er noget mere end en ræv, som normalt vejer 6-8 kilo, men markant mindre end en ulv, som normalt vejer 25-60 kilo. | {
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1. President Trump’s longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, secretly recorded Mr. Trump before the 2016 election discussing payments to a former Playboy model who claimed she had an affair with him.
The Justice Department is investigating Mr. Cohen’s involvement in paying women — including the model, Karen McDougal — to tamp down embarrassing news stories about Mr. Trump ahead of the election.
Prosecutors want to know whether the payment violated federal campaign finance laws.
The Trump campaign previously denied knowledge of any payments to Ms. McDougal. But Rudolph Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, called the tape “powerful exculpatory evidence.” | {
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New technology could lead humans to relinquish control over decisions to use lethal force. As artificial intelligence advances, the possibility that machines could independently select and fire on targets is fast approaching. Fully autonomous weapons, also known as “killer robots,” are quickly moving from the realm of science fiction toward reality.
These weapons, which could operate on land, in the air or at sea, threaten to revolutionize armed conflict and law enforcement in alarming ways. Proponents say these killer robots are necessary because modern combat moves so quickly, and because having robots do the fighting would keep soldiers and police officers out of harm’s way. But the threats to humanity would outweigh any military or law enforcement benefits.
Removing humans from the targeting decision would create a dangerous world. Machines would make life-and-death determinations outside of human control. The risk of disproportionate harm or erroneous targeting of civilians would increase. No person could be held responsible.
Given the moral, legal and accountability risks of fully autonomous weapons, preempting their development, production and use cannot wait. The best way to handle this threat is an international, legally binding ban on weapons that lack meaningful human control.
Preserving empathy and judgment
At least 20 countries have expressed in U.N. meetings the belief that humans should dictate the selection and engagement of targets. Many of them have echoed arguments laid out in a new report, of which I was the lead author. The report was released in April by Human Rights Watch and the Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic, two organizations that have been campaigning for a ban on fully autonomous weapons.
Retaining human control over weapons is a moral imperative. Because they possess empathy, people can feel the emotional weight of harming another individual. Their respect for human dignity can – and should – serve as a check on killing.
Robots, by contrast, lack real emotions, including compassion. In addition, inanimate machines could not truly understand the value of any human life they chose to take. Allowing them to determine when to use force would undermine human dignity.
Human control also promotes compliance with international law, which is designed to protect civilians and soldiers alike. For example, the laws of war prohibit disproportionate attacks in which expected civilian harm outweighs anticipated military advantage. Humans can apply their judgment, based on past experience and moral considerations, and make case-by-case determinations about proportionality.
It would be almost impossible, however, to replicate that judgment in fully autonomous weapons, and they could not be preprogrammed to handle all scenarios. As a result, these weapons would be unable to act as “reasonable commanders,” the traditional legal standard for handling complex and unforeseeable situations.
In addition, the loss of human control would threaten a target’s right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life. Upholding this fundamental human right is an obligation during law enforcement as well as military operations. Judgment calls are required to assess the necessity of an attack, and humans are better positioned than machines to make them.
Promoting accountability
Keeping a human in the loop on decisions to use force further ensures that accountability for unlawful acts is possible. Under international criminal law, a human operator would in most cases escape liability for the harm caused by a weapon that acted independently. Unless he or she intentionally used a fully autonomous weapon to commit a crime, it would be unfair and legally problematic to hold the operator responsible for the actions of a robot that the operator could neither prevent nor punish.
There are additional obstacles to finding programmers and manufacturers of fully autonomous weapons liable under civil law, in which a victim files a lawsuit against an alleged wrongdoer. The United States, for example, establishes immunity for most weapons manufacturers. It also has high standards for proving a product was defective in a way that would make a manufacturer legally responsible. In any case, victims from other countries would likely lack the access and money to sue a foreign entity. The gap in accountability would weaken deterrence of unlawful acts and leave victims unsatisfied that someone was punished for their suffering.
An opportunity to seize
At a U.N. meeting in Geneva in April, 94 countries recommended beginning formal discussions about “lethal autonomous weapons systems.” The talks would consider whether these systems should be restricted under the Convention on Conventional Weapons, a disarmament treaty that has regulated or banned several other types of weapons, including incendiary weapons and blinding lasers. The nations that have joined the treaty will meet in December for a review conference to set their agenda for future work. It is crucial that the members agree to start a formal process on lethal autonomous weapons systems in 2017.
Disarmament law provides precedent for requiring human control over weapons. For example, the international community adopted the widely accepted treaties banning biological weapons, chemical weapons and landmines in large part because of humans’ inability to exercise adequate control over their effects. Countries should now prohibit fully autonomous weapons, which would pose an equal or greater humanitarian risk.
At the December review conference, countries that have joined the Convention on Conventional Weapons should take concrete steps toward that goal. They should initiate negotiations of a new international agreement to address fully autonomous weapons, moving beyond general expressions of concern to specific action. They should set aside enough time in 2017 – at least several weeks – for substantive deliberations.
While the process of creating international law is notoriously slow, countries can move quickly to address the threats of fully autonomous weapons. They should seize the opportunity presented by the review conference because the alternative is unacceptable: Allowing technology to outpace diplomacy would produce dire and unparalleled humanitarian consequences. | {
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Some people call it the gig economy. Some people call it the sharing economy. Whatever you choose to call it, more and more people are participating in it either as customers or as service providers. Numerous platforms have popped up in recent years where regular individuals can effectively operate as small-time business owners with remarkably minimal barriers to entry.
For some of the service providers in the sharing economy, it may have already grown into a full-time gig that completely replaces their day job. For many more, it's a means of generating a little bit of extra income on the side, all while connecting with regular folks all around the world. This bypasses the traditional corporate structure of much larger organizations, resulting in what some call a people-to-people economy.
But it's not without its issues and that's where ShareRing hopes to provide an even better solution and system.
The Current Issues
You've likely heard of many of the world's most popular sharing economy platforms. If you're looking for a place to stay while visiting a new city, you might look up apartment rentals on Airbnb. If you want to get around that city once you get there, you might hook up with Uber or Lyft. But there are several challenges that arise from the way things work right now.
Each time you decide to try out one of these new services, you have to sign up for a new account, go through the whole verification process, grow your reputation on the platform, fund your account, and so on. There's a reason why Airbnb hosts who have zero reviews struggle to get their first customers. What's more, you might visit a country where a big player like Uber doesn't exist yet, but there is a similar type of service. Do you really want to sign up for a new service that you might only use once or twice?
Another frustration that you'll likely encounter is that these services typically operate in the local currency. If you're American and you're traveling through Japan, you'll need to pay in yen and not dollars. That means being at the mercy of foreign exchange rates, international banking fees, and all the rest of it.
And then there is the issue of trust. When you decide to use one of these platforms, either as a customer or as a service provider, how can you be certain that the other party is ethical and legitimate? And for that matter, how can you be certain that the platform itself is legitimate. These are very real concerns.
Bringing It All Together
There are several reasons why a platform like ShareRing can be so compelling in this evolving world of the sharing economy. For starters, it works to eliminate this fragmented approach to the types of products and services that are being shared in this economy. Instead of signing up for dozens of different services, each with their own hoops and conditions, you use ShareRing and access just about everything.
Unified under this one umbrella, you've got the sharing of everything from apartments to vehicles, camping equipment to meals, storage space to information services. What this means is that the kind of reputation you build on this platform spans across all of these different scenarios and situations. If you're a good host with your apartment rental, there's a good chance that you're pretty good as a ride sharer too.
This simplicity has the added benefit that you no longer have to login and share your personal details with several different corporations. It's all unified under an all-in-one login that is safe and secure. ShareRing is actively working to bring more partners onto the platform for their launch in late 2018. These include Keaz for car rental sharing, Yoogo Share, DJI and more. The ultimate goal is to offer such a broad and inclusive range that all you'll need is ShareRing. They're working to partner with big brands like Uber, Airbnb and HomeXchange too.
Secured With the Blockchain
To facilitate this kind of sharing economy ecosystem, ShareRing utilizes two tokens that operate on blockchain technology. If you're familiar with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, then you'll have some sense of how this works. The transactions are nearly instantaneously and they are all validated through the distributed ledger. This greatly helps to improve transparency, while simultaneously providing the security and trust that you want, especially when dealing with unknown entities.
The first token is called SharePay (SHRP) and it's the base currency that users will utilize in the ShareRing platform to pay for products and services. The other token is called the ShareToken (SHR) and that's the "digital utility token" that is used to drive transactions to be written to the ShareRing ledger. Together, they help to avoid price fluctuations for users of the blockchain and users can also use their credit card to access the ecosystem.
Because of the common cryptocurrency being used, this means several things for the end user and service provider. First, it means that you don't have to deal with foreign exchange and having to pay in the local currency. That whole side of it is at arm's reach, so if you're the Lithuanian traveling in Peru, the transaction is completely seamless for both parties. It also means that fees are drastically minimized, intermediaries are effectively eliminated, and everyone can feel safe and secure with the whole process.
Sharing Economy Made Easy
With a sharing token that's accepted across borders, security baked in with blockchain technology, convenient mobile apps for anywhere access, and seamless connectivity across a myriad of potential sharing services, ShareRing is striving to make it even easier and more convenient to participate in the new sharing economy. This goes beyond cars and apartments to include anything from tools to clothes.
The ShareRing token presale is currently underway if you want to get in on the ground floor. These tokens are what will help to fuel the economy within the ShareRing platform. If you're interested in digging a little deeper into the whole system, check out the whitepaper for more information. | {
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Melbourne City FC has today reached an agreement to sign one of Tottenham Hotspur’s brightest young talents, Shayon Harrison, in a loan deal set to keep the 21-year-old in Melbourne for the remainder of the 2018-19 Hyundai A-League season.
Harrison joins City on the next step in his development pathway having impressed for Spurs’ Premier League 2 side (50 appearances), Yeovil Town (15 apps) and Southend United (13 apps).
The pacey forward has also enjoyed a taste of the action at the highest level, coming on for the Spurs senior side in an English Football League Cup match against Liverpool at Anfield, as well as having trained with the England squad ahead of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
“I’ve been aware of Shayon for a few years and followed his development. He’s a young player with pace and creativity, and a bright future ahead of him,” said Melbourne City Head Coach, Warren Joyce.
“Shayon’s energy and talent will give the boys a good lift for the back half of the season, and we’re confident we have the right environment to allow him to continue his impressive development this season.”
"I'm excited to come and play for Melbourne City and gain more senior team experience," said Harrison.
“I’m looking forward to working with and learning from somebody as highly regarded as Warren. The standards he drives at the Club and shares with players and coaches will help me in my development as a footballer.”
Harrison is set to join up with the rest of the City squad – including fellow new signing and striker, Jamie Maclaren – over the coming days, in preparation for City’s next home match, versus Adelaide on Saturday 9 February.
See Shayon and Jamie at AAMI Park with our 3 and 5 match Flexi Memberships! Click here to sign up today! | {
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This article is from the archive of our partner .
The government will use any and all information at its disposal to find journalist sources, as shown in The Washington Post's report this morning on a Department of Justice investigation into Fox News chief correspondent James Rosen, who may face criminal charges for reporting government secrets.
In June 2009, Rosen reported on CIA analysis suggesting that North Korea might respond to new UN sanctions with renewed nuclear tests. In order to determine how Rosen learned of the analysis, which had been issued by the CIA only a few hours prior, FBI investigators used every tool at their disposal: analyzing Rosen's security access card to determine when he entered and left the State Department building, studying his phone records, and subpoenaing his personal email.
Ultimately, agents determined the source of the leak was likely the State Department's Stephen Jin-Woo Kim. Rosen and Kim established a high-tech version of the red-flag-in-a-planter system used by Bob Woodward during Watergate: when Kim wanted to meet, he would allegedly send an email to Rosen's Gmail account containing an asterisk. Rosen detailed the sorts of things he wanted to discuss.
He also wrote, according to the affidavit: “What I am interested in, as you might expect, is breaking news ahead of my competitors” including “what intelligence is picking up.” And: “I’d love to see some internal State Department analyses.”
According to the Post report, that's what Kim allegedly provided. And the way in which he did so appears to have been indiscreet. Their federally distributed security passes showed that Rosen and Kim left and returned to a building at the same time on the day of the leak. Kim's department phone records showed a number of calls between him and Rosen. When you work directly for Big Brother, you're likely to be caught. | {
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Bruins 1st Goal
For what it's worth, I've been a fan of Viktor Stalberg this year, but (and "my brother once told me that nothing someone says before the word "but" really counts" - Benjen Stark) his move right here was HORRIBLE. I have no idea what he was thinking. Nothing, I guess. He decided to like... step up? on Ryan Spooner. Spooner is a rookie. He's up from the Bruins' AHL team because of injuries. He walks right around Stalberg. WTF, Viktor? Soderberg and Fraser (a basically-rookie but technically not-rookie and a long-term healthy scratch who's played 12 games) see this and take the hell off down the ice to start off a lovely 3-on-2.
So Stalberg is caught way behind because of a really stupid move, but luckily Gabby and Cullen had JUST gotten on the ice and had fresh legs. Cullen, especially, got on his horse and hoofed it back up ice. He needs to get some serious props for his backchecking here, because he is quick when he needs to be. I hadn't realized. It would have been nice if Stalberg had been able to use some of his speed here, but it was the end of a shift and he was clearly worn out.
When there's a 3-on-2, the job of the first backchecker is to take the third man high - or basically whoever he is closest too. His job is to break up any potential passes and tie up any available players. Cullen is the first man back, and he's going after Soderberg, as Fraser is just too far away to be a reasonable pick up.
Klein and Ellis are splitting up the oncoming forwards, with Klein focusing on the puck carrier and Ellis focusing on the other two until Cullen gets back and/or they get far enough into the zone that he just has to make a decision (which is what ends up happening).
Now as for Gabby and Stalberg... The moment Gabby picks his head up, he gets Puck Envy. He doesn't take his eyes off Spooner for a second. This is a problem because not only is Klein already worrying about Spooner, but also Cullen is ahead of him and closer to Spooner. This is where the second break down that leads to the goal (the first was obviously Stalberg's atrocious turnover).
Stalberg is behind Gabby, so he should be telling him that he will cover Bartkowski so Gabby can look around and see who else needs cover (hint: it's Boychuk, or just generally the right side of the ice, which is wiiiide open).
Klein, Ellis, and Cullen all are in perfect position right now. Ellis has made the decision to just take Soderberg, Klein is pressuring Spooner, and Cullen (having realized that he couldn't get to Soderberg) is cutting off the passing lane between Spooner and Fraser. This means that the second man back (Gabby) now needs to cover any open Bruin (...Boychuk. It's Boychuk). But he's still staring at Spooner and the puck, so he has no idea that Boychuk is even there. All he has to do is turn his head and look around.
Spooner has been left with three choices. The first is to dump the puck. Doing that on a 3-on-2 is just stupid, so he won't do that. The second is to shoot the puck. With Klein right in front of him and Mazanec squared directly up to him, this is also stupid (though slightly less stupid), so he won't do that. The third option is to look for an open man to pass to.
That's a lotta room for Mr. Boychuk. Gabby is still entranced by the puck, which leaves his man very much uncovered. Worth noting, I suppose, is the fact that Stalberg is still wheezing his way through the neutral zone. This is why you don't make stupid turnovers when you're on the tail end of a shift. At least he didn't just go for a change, like Tits.
Spooner chooses the smartest of the three options and chuks the puck to Boychuk (yuk yuk yuk). Only then does Gabby even turn his head in that general direction and realize that there's a dude there. All alone. With the puck. Boychuk has a direct shot at the net, as Ellis has harassed Soderberg off to one side and Cullen is occupying the passing lane to Fraser.
Having watched a lot of Bruins games over the last two seasons (pretty much all of them, thanks to Boyfriend), I'll tell you right now that Johnny Boychuk has quite a decent shot. He might not score often, but his shots frequently allow his teammates to poke the puck around the crease and into the back of the net. He knows what he's doing (and where he's going) with it. This one pinged off two posts on its way into the net. | {
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Though so much is written about how to perfect your business writing skills (resumes, cover letters, thank you notes), the art of not talking is still one of the most powerful tools in your career.
Think of how important and communicative body language is: Judd Nelson raising his fist in teenage defiance at the end of The Breakfast Club, Hillary Clinton’s hands on her face as she watched Seal Team Six take down Osama on a live feed, Tommy Lee Jones unchanging grimace at the Golden Globes.
In one hand motion or raised eyebrow you can convey paragraphs. Body language can be an extremely effective tool (hello Beyonce) but it can also paint you in a very negative light. There are certain body language traps, like just a slight head tilt, that you may not even be aware that you are doing that are hurting your career. Levo talked with Dr. Carol Kinsey Gorman, author of "The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt – How You Lead," about these traps and how to avoid them.
1. Using too many head tilts
There was a great episode of Friends where Phoebe and Monica tilted their head as they asked the just divorced Dr. Richard Burke how he was. He said well you clearly heard about my divorce because they tilted their head when they asked.
The head tilt signified that they were sympathetic and really trying to be listening and involved. Carol also points out that this is a particularly feminine gesture. She said, “As such, head tilts can be very positive cues, but they are also subconsciously processed as submission signals. (Dogs tilt their heads to expose their necks, as a way to show deference to the dominant animal.)”
TIP: Use head tilts when you want to demonstrate your concern for and interest in members of your team or when you want to encourage people to expand on what they are saying. But when you need to project power and authority, you should keep your head straight up in a more neutral position.
2. Physically condensing
Carol says women tend to condense their bodies, keeping their elbows to their sides, tightly crossing their legs, stacking their materials in small, neat piles, and contracting their bodies to take up as little space as possible. She points out that high status males do the opposite. We would probably never see Donald Trump trying to make sure his work area was super neat. Men tend to expand into available space and take up room.
TIP: Carol says, “Remember that status and authority are nonverbally demonstrated through height and space. So stand tall, pull your shoulders back, widen your stance, and hold your head held high.” Goman is not saying to stretch and put your feet up but to sit up, widen your stance and take your stuff and spread it all over the table like a dog marking its turf.
3. Using girlish gestures
Raise your hand now if you ever guilty of twirling your hair, playing with your earrings or necklace or just flip-flopping your hands back and forth. If you ever want to know what absolutely not to do when it comes to making gestures that connote insecurity or public speaking or really just talking with human beings in general watch any interview or acceptance speech made by Kristen Stewart. Here is a good one:
TIP: Carol’s tip is to keep your hands on your lap or on the conference table where they can be seen and where you will be reminded to keep them still. And when you do use gestures, notice if they are reinforcing your statements. If so, you are probably showing your palms when indicating openness and inclusiveness, “steepling” (finger tips touching, palms separated) when being precise, and turning your hands palms-down when you are absolutely sure of your position.
4. Smiling excessively
A smile can get you a lot of things: compliments, improve your health, a free dental consultation but there is a point where it can get to be too much. Carol says excessive or inappropriate smiling can be confusing and a credibility robber. This is especially noticeable if you over-smile while discussing a sensitive subject, expressing anger, or giving negative feedback.
TIP: Employed at the right times (for example, during an initial meeting with a potential business client), smiling can be one of the most powerful and positive nonverbal cues, and especially potent for signaling likeability and friendliness. But when the subject turns serious, you need to sport your serious face.
5. Nodding too much
This kind of puts us back in head tilt territory. For men and women nodding means different things. When a man nods, he says he firmly agrees. When a woman does it, she is saying, ‘I am listening, I am empathizing, please keep talking.’ But this can quickly become excessive.
TIP: Carol says constant head nodding can express encouragement and engagement, but not authority and power. To project authority, especially when stating your opinion, keep your head still. You don’t want to look like a bobble head.
6. Flirtatious behavior
We’ve heard so many different things about flirting in your career but for the most part you probably want to stay away from it. Especially considering when women flirt they do those girly signals (mentioned above) that tend to connote femininity instead of power. Dr. Laura Kray studied the impact of flirting on negotiations and explained to the Daily Mail that “Although flirtation appears to be positively related to women’s likability, negotiators who flirted were judged to be less authentic than those who refrained from exercising their sexual power.”
TIP: Flirting can be fun and exciting. But in business, it’s better to come across as competent and professional, says Carol.
7. Being emotionally over-expressive
As someone who is a quarter Italian and also grew up with a drama teacher for a mother and an actress sister, talking with your hands was very much the norm in my house. I didn’t realize I was doing it until people started commenting on it. I thought this was charming but apparently it signifies a wishy-washiness. There was even an episode of Ally Mcbeal in which Ally’s co-council John Cage advised her to limit her tendency to swish her hands back and forth because it distracted the jury and made her seem less decided during her argument
Carol says while a certain amount of movement and animation adds passion and meaning to a message, women who visibly express their emotions with hand gestures that rise above their shoulders can quickly overwhelm an audience (especially if that audience is comprised primarily of males).
TIP: To engage and motivate people, an emotional presentation can be very effective. But in situations where you want to maximize your authority – you’ll need to minimize your movements, and keep your gestures about waist high. When you appear calm and contained, you look more powerful.
8. Having a delicate handshake
Helen Keller once said, “I can feel the twinkle of his eye in his handshake.” A handshake can say a lot about a person so you need to make it a good one. Women in business are judged very harshly on their handshakes. Even more than their male counterparts, women with a weak handshake are judged to be passive and less confident, Carol says.
TIP: Carol recommends taking the time to cultivate your “professional shake.” Keep your body squared off to the other person — facing him or her fully. Make sure you have palm-to-palm contact and that the web of you hand (the skin between you thumb and first finger) touches the web of the other person’s. Look your partner in the eyes, smile — this is one place where a smile is a business asset — and start to speak: “So good to meet you . . .” or whatever. Most of all, remember to shake hands firmly.
Watch Now: How To Achieve Success Under Stress
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What is aging in place – remaining in one’s home over time? Yes! Pretty simple concept. We just continue living in the homes we already are occupying – even if nothing is done to modify them or enhance them in any way. However, this very simple and straightforward concept has a way of getting complicated by those who would stretch its application.
The essential idea of people remaining in their homes long-term and aging in place has had had various interpretations and iterations. For some people, they would have it mean that people who have been living in their present home for a reasonable period of time but then deciding for various reasons to move on and transition into some type of housing at the first sign of challenges, such as a managed care facility, independent living centers, or living with adult children, are considered to be aging in place in their new quarters. For others, they would have it mean that people moving from their current home by making a conscious choice to leave that home they have been occupying and move into a congregate living arrangement that offers more social and dietary fulfillment than living on their own constitutes aging in place as much as remaining in their current home.
While the term aging in place technically encompasses a person’s current living environment, wherever that is and whatever it may look like – including the very young to the very old and all ages in between – the idea of someone abandoning their long-term homestead to search for a smaller or more updates home, to move into some type of managed care facility, or even to move in with family members, is not in keeping with the concept of aging in place. The hallmark of aging in place is remaining independent in one’s current home.
Where we live for any period of time – from quite short to much longer, and whether we own the place or just live there – is aging in place by definition. It is not, however, what we reference when we discuss aging in place. This means making a commitment – conscious or just allowing it to happen – to remain where we are and not move from it.
Except for a few cases where it is difficult to provide the type of care or supervision that a person might need to have them remain in their home due to extreme cognitive or mobility limitations, most people can live out the balance of their days where they are right now. Our challenge, therefore, is to help them do this safely, comfortably and with as much accessibility as we can provide within the parameters of their current home, the desires and needs of the occupants, and of course, their budget or funding sources we can identify for them.
There is a feeling by many observers, outsiders, and well-wishers (including younger family members of those who are remaining in their present homes with no plans to change that) that most homes simply were never built as “aging in place” homes. This is a curious statement because homes do not provide any type of aging in place criteria, features, or attributes other than some of them are easier to navigate and use than others.
Aging in place as a concept and ideal applies solely to the people doing the living in their homes and not the property or anything else inanimate. While they provide the structure, setting, or framework to allow people to age in place, it’s the people who are doing so. There are no aging in place structures, and there cannot be. Similarly, there cannot be, as much as there are various attempts to do so, any laws or regulations on the provision of aging in place features in a home because they all are individually designed. However, using visitable or universal design can help people live in their present homes more comfortably and safer than otherwise would be the case. Still, notice that the term “aging in place” has not been applied to the design – just visitable or universal design when it is used.
Let’s not be misled or sidetracked into thinking that we can create structures for aging in place. We can modify present homes to accommodate and facilitate aging in place needs, and we can focus on the provision and inclusion of universal design and visitability features. This would be a great use of our abilities. Then, people can remain where they are and not need to incur the disruption, expense, and emotional trauma of leaving their home of many years to start over again – many of them at a very late stage in life.
Aging in place is a very simple concept. People get to continue living where they have been. Usually, there is no need to change this. | {
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Più sicure le strade, meno sicure le mura di casa
Tornando ai numeri, si scopre che a essere meno sicure non sono le strade, ma le mura di casa: delle 355 vittime di omicidi commessi nel 2017, 140 sono donne. A ucciderle è sempre un familiare e, nel 75% dei casi, il partner o l’ex. Il dato purtroppo è stabile negli anni: 155 le vittime nel 2014, 143 nel 2015, 150 nel 2016. Lo dice l’ultimo rapporto sul femminicidio pubblicato dall’Eures, l’Istituto di Ricerche economiche e sociali. Analizzando il rapporto del Viminale, relativo agli anni 2014/2016, nelle Regioni dove c’è stato un aumento di omicidi, la percentuale è quasi completamente assorbita proprio dai delitti commessi in famiglia. Il dato del Trentino per esempio è impressionante: +200%. Se si guardano i numeri, però, si scopre che si è passati da 1 omicidio nel 2014 a 3 del 2016, e i 2 morti in più non sono imputabili a un fatto di ordinaria criminalità (e quindi ad una mancanza di sicurezza), ma ad un padre impazzito che ha ucciso la moglie e il figlio. Lo stesso discorso vale per l’Abruzzo (+50%), per il Veneto (+62%), Friuli Venezia Giulia (+600%): una crescita pressoché attribuibile ai femminicidi. | {
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Anul acesta, primăria comunei Ciugud se concentrează pe investiții, pentru care s-a și alocat un buget de șase ori mai mare față de anul trecut. Peste 6 mililioane de euro au fost canalizați pentru proiecte care să ajute la creșterea calității vieții cetățenilor. O grădiniță în zona de dezvoltare economică, un pod peste râul Mureș, noi piste pentru bicicliști și alte investiții vor avea loc în acest an la Ciugud, comuna campioană la capitolul atragere de fonduri europene.
„Sărbătorim 100 de ani de România modernă, modernizând cu adevărat România. Acesta este principiul pe care l-am gândit la Ciugud. Odată cu centenarul, Ciugudul va beneficia anul acesta de cel mai mare buget de investiții din istoria comunei, undeva la peste 6 milioane de euro.(…) Despre Ciugud se spune că suntem comuna cu cele mai multe fonduri atrase. Am ajuns anul acesta să trecem de 27 de milioane de euro, e mult, e puțin, pot să vă spun că am ajuns la 9 mii de euro pe locuitor, bani europeni. Pe de altă parte, pot să spun că nu ne ajungeau veniturile noastre pe următorii 100 de ani asta în condițiile în care veniurile proprii ale comunei au crescut anul trecut, față de 2006, cu 2.741%, iar față de 2000 cu 3.000% mai mult” spune primarul comunei, Gheorge Damian.
Acesta a spuns că 2018 va fi unul foarte productiv din punct de vedere al investițiilor printre care se află construcția unui pod peste râul Mureș, o investiție de 8 milioane de lei.
Pod rutier cu două benzi la Șeușa și grădiniță în zona industrială
„În locul punții pietonale de la Șeușa va fi constuit un pod rutier cu două benzi de circulație, cu iluminat, două alei pietonale, și ajunge într-un sens giratoriu în zona de dezvoltare economică” spune Damian.
Pe un proiect cu finanțare europeană în valoare de peste 5 milioane de lei se va ridica o grădiniță cu program prelungit, cu sala de mese unde părinții vor putea lua prânzul cu cei mici. Acesta va fi aplasată în zona industrială pentru ca această zonă să crească și pentru a ajuta părinții și familiile care muncesc la una din cele peste 35 de companii să fie mai aproape de copiii lor.
Grădinița va avea 180 de locuri și va fi funcțională începând cu luna septembrie a acestui an. Tot aici se dorește ca în viitor să se constriască o școală.
Investitor nou, din Belgia
Legat de zona de dezvoltare economică, care aduce cea mai mare parte din bugetul comunei, primarul spune că o va extinde cu încă 15 hectare, dat fiind faptul că cele peste 33 de hectare sunt ocupate. Un nou investitor își va face apariția în curând aici, este vorba depsre o campani din domeniul industriei auto din Belgia.
Pentru a evita accidentele în zonă se va face o nouă bandă de circulație dar și piste de biciclete pentru cei care vor să ajungă la muncă pe „două roți”.
„Anul trecut am avut o întâlnire cu investitorii de acolo și de anul acesta s-a demarat un proiect prin care aici se va construi o nouă bandă de circulație în așa fel încât aceasta să funcționeze ca o bandă de decelerare să evităm pericolul de accindete, iar de la puntea pietonă de pe râul Mureș până la podul peste Ampoi vom crea o pistă de bicicliști pentru că ne dorim să dezvoltăm și acest segment de ultilizare a mijloacelor de transport verzi” a mai spus primarul.
În derulare sunt mai sunt și proiect de asfaltare, iluminat, un nou plan urbanistic și altele.
ȘTIREA TA - Dacă ești martorul unor evenimente deosebite, fotografiază, filmează și trimite-le la Alba24 prin Facebook, WhatsApp, sau prin formularul online. | {
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The detention of LGBT people has resumed in the Russian republic of Chechnya, where dozens of gay men were reportedly tortured or killed by authorities earlier this year, according to the activist group Russia LGBT Network.
The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta first reported that around 100 people had been kidnapped in the crackdown in April, but Russian activists reported that sources in the region said the detentions had stopped following an international outcry. Igor Kochetkov of the Russia LGBT Network, which is working to evacuate people targeted in the purge from the region, now tells BuzzFeed News the organization has gotten around 10 calls reporting new detentions since Ramadan ended on June 24.
The news of further detentions comes just before President Donald Trump is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The US State Department issued a statement condemning the detentions, but Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told a congressional committee last month that he did not raise the matter with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during face-to-face talks.
Putin said he would order a federal investigation of the crackdown after being confronted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. But the Russia LGBT Network said in a statement issued in June that officials were derailing the investigation.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his government have denied that any crackdown has occurred, arguing that Chechnya had no gay men within its borders to begin with. | {
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There’s a limited supply of oil, coal and natural gas left in the world. Eventually, we will run out. Experts estimate that could happen as early as 2067, well within most of our lifetimes. The problem is, these sources currently generate over 66% of the world’s energy and we don’t have viable options to replace them.
Eventually, an economical renewable energy source will be developed and the world will rapidly transition to it. The question is, will that technology be developed in America? Or will we yet again be dependent on foreign and potentially hostile nations to fulfill our energy needs?
Regardless of where you stand on climate change, these facts should concern you. Energy independence is a completely separate issue from climate change that Democrats and Republicans can rally around to solve.
So why haven’t we already developed the next generation of energy technologies?
The Market For Renewable Energy Is Broken
In a perfect free market, businesses balance potential costs with potential revenue when making investment decisions. This directs just the right amount of investment into all the right areas that our country needs. But sometimes, costs are felt by society that the business never feels. These costs are called negative externalities, and they distort the free market and business investment.
For example, a steel mill may spend $100,000 per month to operate, but it doesn’t pay the $5,000 monthly cost of asthma medicine expenses the family down the road must buy due to pollution exposure. If the steel mill had to incur this extra $5,000 in costs from damage they caused, the smart business decision may be to operate more efficiently and omit less pollution.
This is exactly what’s happening in the real world with carbon emissions. Carbon emissions have been shown to cause negative externalities such as higher medical costs among other things. The EPA estimates that all the negative externalities of carbon emissions, not just the health-related ones, totals around $37 per metric ton of CO2 emitted.
Because the financial cost for emitting CO2 does not include the cost of these negative externalities, businesses have not felt any pressure to limit emissions that they otherwise would have felt in a perfect market. This has stunted the growth of private investment into renewable energy and green technology. The renewable energy industry would probably be flourishing today — without any reliance on government grants or tax breaks — had our markets been working more efficiently.
We’ve had a government-led renewable energy initiative for at least three decades and we still don’t have a viable source of renewable energy to show for it. We could debate why things haven’t worked out — not enough money, misallocating the money, etc — but the fact is that we just haven’t had success, and doing the same thing while expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
A Carbon Tax Is The Capitalist Solution
Capitalism works because it allocates resources better than the government, and it does that through pricing things correctly. Considering that the world is quite literally running out of energy, we need to make sure the market is pricing energy correctly if we want enough money to flow into renewable energy development.
If businesses who burn fossil fuels had to bear the true cost of their CO2 emissions, the economy would be stronger AND investment for renewable energy would grow faster than any government grant or tax break could ever achieve. For you fiscal conservatives out there, that means a revenue neutral carbon tax is pro-market and pro-business.
The typical argument against a carbon tax is that businesses can’t afford this additional tax. This is disrespectful to the ingenuity of American entrepreneurs and goes against the very idea of capitalism. When confronted with rising costs, businesses don’t just sit back and accept it– they figure out a way to overcome it fast before a competitor does and puts them out of business. Businesses will try to dodge a carbon tax just like they try to dodge other taxes– except dodging this tax is a good thing because it means they’re lowering their CO2 emissions.
Regardless, this isn’t simply raising costs, this is correcting the cost of carbon emissions up to what it would be in a perfectly functioning market.
To address the concern of adding an additional tax to the books, economists have suggested combining a carbon tax with an equally sized reduction in corporate taxes. This would make sure costs don’t rise for businesses and seems like a smart bipartisan compromise.
What A Bipartisan Carbon Tax Would Look Like
None of this matters if all we do is talk. We need real-world implementation. In order to make a carbon tax a reality, it needs to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans.
Here’s how a carbon tax could be structured to have broad bipartisan appeal while also maximizing the benefits and minimizing any negative consequences–
We need to determine the correct dollar amount
A carbon tax is only effective if we accurately price the social cost of carbon emissions. The EPA currently estimates it at $37 per metric ton, but scientists at Stanford suggest it may be as high as $220 per metric ton. If we set the price too low, the incentives to develop new technologies won’t be strong enough, and if we set it too high we’ll freeze economic growth and limit the money available to be invested in renewable energy in the first place.
One way we can limit any potential missteps is by looking to places that already implemented a carbon tax and saw positive economic results. Take British Columbia for example. They started with a $10 per metric ton carbon tax in 2008 and increased it by $5 each year until it hit $30 in 2012. Their economy grew at the same pace as rest of Canada while consuming 18.8% less fuel per person. The additional tax collected from the carbon tax also allowed British Columbia to lower their income and corporate tax rates, making their corporate tax rate the lowest in all G7 nations.
A Carbon Tax needs to be off-set by reducing taxes elsewhere
Increasing taxes is neither politically appealing nor economically stimulating. By reducing taxes elsewhere, we could keep the nation’s tax burden at the same level. Therefore it makes sense to have a carbon tax be a part of a larger corporate tax reform plan.
Ideally, we would lower the corporate tax rate from 39% to 25%. To offset the lower rate, we’d eliminate most corporate tax deductions and loopholes, and add a carbon tax.
Give businesses enough time to prepare
Businesses operate on future expectations. If they know a carbon tax is happening in the future, you better believe they will be working to avoid that extra cost as soon as possible. A carbon tax does not need to be implemented immediately in order to be effective. The carbon tax should take effect far enough into the future so companies have time to figure out how to lower their CO2 emissions efficiently, but not so long as to give them the luxury of procrastination.
British Columbia gave their businesses four months to prepare for their carbon tax and ramped up to the full tax over a four-year period. In order to maximize renewable energy investment, it may be a better idea to give businesses more than four months to prepare for a carbon tax but ramp up to the full tax rate faster once it’s in place.
We Can Do This!
Even under small-government ideology, correcting for market imbalances is an important government function in a capitalist society. Implementing a carbon tax would fall under that role.
We as a nation have faced intense challenges before, from world wars to cold wars, and the forces of capitalism saved us then. They will save us again, if we allow them. | {
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Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption A "queer individual" and a "big hairy Trump guy" meet in New Hampshire
One week after the US election race began in chaotic fashion, the contest has moved on to New Hampshire.
Voters in the north-eastern state are choosing their preferred nominees for the 2020 presidential election race in a primary contest.
For the Democrats, Bernie Sanders, a liberal firebrand, appears best placed to perform well in the state.
Results from the first Democratic contest last week, in Iowa, were held up by technical glitches.
The aim of the primaries and caucuses is to win as many delegates as possible across all states and territories, in order to be confirmed as the candidate of a party.
Because Donald Trump is all but assured to win the Republican nomination, the focus is on who the Democratic Party will pick.
Here's what to expect in New Hampshire:
One person to watch
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Biden looks for a way through in Somersworth, New Hampshire
Joe Biden might have expected to arrive in New Hampshire in more buoyant form.
He was among the frontrunners in the opening Iowa caucuses last Monday but in the end, he lagged well behind. The former vice-president claimed fewer delegates than rivals Mr Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.
Realistically, it's a competition for third place between Mr Biden and Ms Warren in New Hampshire. A poor performance there could put them both on the back foot only two states into primary season, and it's unusual (though not unprecedented) for someone to win the candidacy from such a position.
But it's not all bad news for Mr Biden - he is more popular in states that are more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire, and the next two contests are in states with large Latino and African-American populations, Nevada and South Carolina.
On Tuesday morning, the former vice-president abruptly cancelled his primary night events in New Hampshire and announced he was flying to South Carolina.
Ask me
One piece of context
New Hampshire's contest is not like Iowa's - these are primaries, not caucuses like in Iowa. The difference? Caucuses are a convoluted process, where people gather for a few hours for a party meeting and vote publicly in stages. They require quite a bit of commitment.
Primary voters, on the other hand, can just turn up at a polling booth and vote in secret. Then leave. As a result, participation will be much higher.
And because primary voters make their choice using pencil and paper, there should be none of the technical headaches we saw in Iowa.
One big question
Is Bernie Sanders electable? We asked two voters in New Hampshire - the daughter is a big Bernie fan, the father a lapsed supporter.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption A family split over Bernie Sanders
One bit of trivia
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Dixville Notch, where journalists will vastly outnumber residents on Tuesday
As you're reading this, some voters have already cast their ballot.
Quirks of the New Hampshire electoral system mean that places with a certain number of residents can vote when they like - including the middle of the night.
So the residents of three hamlets - including Dixville Notch, near the Canadian border - started casting their ballots after midnight, as is traditional.
"We take this seriously," Tom Tillotson, a Dixville Notch resident overseeing the vote, told Agence France-Presse, adding: "We were humbled and honoured to be... basically the starting gun for the primary election process."
Until recently, Dixville Notch had only four residents, which would not have been enough for it to vote early. Then one resident decided to move back, and everything was OK again.
The tiny hamlet voted on Tuesday for billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as their preferred candidate.
Mr Bloomberg, who earlier said he would skip contests in early states, received three of the five votes cast as a "write in" candidate - someone whose name was not initially on the ballot, but was added by voters.
Mr Sanders and Mr Buttigieg received one vote each.
One big number
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Michael Bennet attends a house party with a wary dog in Manchester, New Hampshire
For some of the candidates already trailing at the bottom of the pack, it could all come down to what happens in New Hampshire.
There are still 11 Democratic candidates running, and while plenty could still happen during primary season, a poor performance could spell the beginning of the end (or even the end of the end) for the likes of Deval Patrick, Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang, three weeks before 14 states vote on Super Tuesday.
One outsider who is staking a lot on New Hampshire is Michael Bennet - the Colorado senator has held 50 town hall meetings in the state in the past two months.
"We're hoping to propel Michael from New Hampshire into Super Tuesday," his spokeswoman Shannon Beckham told the Denver Post last week, citing growing crowds. But Mr Bennet, a moderate, has struggled to get his campaign off the ground in a crowded field.
One quote
"We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing."
Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar was one of many candidates to take aim at Mr Buttigieg at a debate in New Hampshire on Friday night, four days after he performed more strongly than expected in Iowa.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Amy Klobuchar: "Experience is a good thing"
His status sits somewhere between the man to beat and the new kid on the block. His rivals are now testing out lines of attack against him - one of the main ones being that his experience (as the mayor of a smallish city in Indiana) isn't enough to prepare him for the presidency.
But, as the BBC's Anthony Zurcher reports, Mayor Pete may well appeal to New Hampshire's many independent voters. A good showing there could put him in the driving seat for the Democratic nomination. | {
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By Taylor Kolste | Posted 5/23/2018
Photo via SBNation.com
Over the last decade, North Dakota State has had unparallelled success, winning six of the last seven Football Championship Subdivision national titles, with a 28-2 record in the playoffs since 2010.
Throughout its dynasty, NDSU has been known for its downhill power running game and its reliance on the "Power O" run concept. Although the NDSU offense has been considered somewhat of a throwback in today’s world of RPOs, the Bison have done a great job borrowing innovative spread offense concepts that fit within their current system.
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A great example is their use of the power read play, which is blocked like a one-back power play, but offense reads the EMLOS (end-man on the line of scrimmage) rather than kicking them out. If the EMLOS stays tight to the PST (playside tackle), the quarterback gives the ball to the running back on a sweep path. If the EMLOS widens, the backfield action effectively blocks the EMLOS, and the QB pulls the ball and follows his pulling guard on the power play.
Here's a diagram of the concept (the read-key is outlined with the red triangle):
From 2015-17, NDSU ran the power read 91 times for 848 yards (9.3-yard average) and four touchdowns. They ran the diamond power read 26 times for 265 yards (10.2-yard average) and one TD.
Here's a diagram of that concept versus a 4-3, two-high alignment from the defense:
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The playside back and the pistol back are both lead blockers on the perimeter for the backside back on his sweep path. The playside back releases wide and blocks the first-, second- or third-level defender outside the read-key (the playside safety in the diagram above). The pistol back blocks the most dangerous defender in relation to the one the playside back blocks, usually a support defender inside that one (the playisde linebacker in the diagram above). There are a few advantages to running this concept from the diamond formation:
• It's an unusual formation that defenses typically don’t see very often.
• The formation is balanced and allows for a diverse number of run schemes that can attack any gap.
• By utilizing two lead blockers for the sweep, the offense can account for the alley defender and the playside linebacker.
• In the event of a give, the offense brings three players from the box to the perimeter post-snap, which likely gives them a numbers advantage over the defense.
• Due to the balanced nature of the formation, they can bring all 3 backs to either side of the field post-snap. In order for the defense to counteract this and even the numbers, they must play very aggressively, which lends itself to some misdirection opportunities off this play.
For the defense to counteract this and even the numbers, they must play very aggressively, which lends itself to some misdirection opportunities.
Here is an example of this play versus a 4-4, single-high alignment from the defense:
Here's the play in action:
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The EMLOS stays tight to the PST’s down block, so the QB gives the ball to the backside back on the sweep path. The playside back takes a wide release to block the playside outside linebacker, and the pistol back seals the playside inside linebacker. The free safety can't get to the perimeter in time, which gives the offense a 3-on-2 advantage in the alley.
Here's another example versus a 3-4, two-high alignment from the defense. Because the EMLOS is aligned inside-shade of the PST, the tackle arcs and looks to seal the playside linebacker:
The live version:
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The playside back again takes a wide release to the playside outside linebacker. The pistol back looks to block the most dangerous defender inside the outside linebacker, which is the playside safety versus this look. The playside linebacker stays tight to the box, so the PST continues to the third level to block the most dangerous defender. The EMLOS again stays tight, so the QB gives the ball to the backside back, and the offense is again able to gain a 3-on-2 advantage in the alley over the defense.
NDSU also has success with this concept from unbalanced formations. This gives an even more unique look to the defense, and usually leaves the offense with numbers to one side of the field.
Ian Shields, the head coach at Jacksonville University, discussed the use of unbalanced formations similar to NDSU's at the 2018 NIKE COY Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Shields said they'd look at the numbers, and if the defense didn’t react enough to the unbalanced formation, they'd run to the overloaded side. If the defense matched the offense to the overloaded side, the offense then has the advantage running back to the nub side of the formation.
Here's an example of NDSU running toward the overloaded side:
Live action:
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When running to a two-receiver side, the receivers are responsible for the two defenders closest to the sideline, the two corners on this play. The playside linebacker flows hard to the alley, so the playside back takes him on, and the pistol back leads up to the third level and blocks the playside safety. The EMLOS again stays tight to the line, so the QB gives the ball to the back on the sweep path. Solid blocking on the perimeter again gives the offense the numbers edge in the alley.
Here's an example of NDSU running power read to the nub side:
Live action:
Because of the alignment of the defense, the offense knows it can gain a numbers advantage on the perimeter if the QB gets a give-read. The defense has no one aligned outside of the EMLOS, so they'd have to scrape three defenders from the box to the perimeter post-snap to match the three offensive players. The EMLOS stays tight to the line, so the QB gives the ball to the back. The playside back takes on the playside linebacker, as he's the first defender to appear on the perimeter. The pistol back then continues to lead upfield before eventually taking on the free safety.
Here's an example of the QB keeping the ball on this play:
Live action:
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Based on how the defense has aligned, there's no clear read-key for the quarterback. Because there's no unblocked defender in position to make a play on the QB, and because of all the defensive flow toward the perimeter, the QB keeps the ball. The pulling guard sees the blitzing linebacker and turns up early, rather than pulling all the way around the frontside double-team as he normally would. The backfield action helps pull five defenders away from the box, leaving a wide-open gap in the middle for the QB. There's also no secondary run support after the QB clears the second-level. Power read, especially from a three-back formation, is essentially option football, and the defense has to be disciplined with its responsibilities in order to have success. As this play shows, any mistakes can lead to wide-open gaps to run in for the offense.
NDSU can also run power read with a crack tag from the receivers to give a different look on the perimeter. Whenever they utilize a crack block, NDSU tightens the split of their receivers, making it easier to get to their blocks in time.
Here's an example of NDSU running power read from an unbalanced Diamond formation, with both receivers crack blocking:
Live action:
Both receivers crack block the first second-level defender to their inside. Because of the crack blocks, both backs lead around them, all the way to the outside. The playside back blocks the corner and the pistol back meets the safety in the alley. The offense is again able to execute their perimeter blocking, leading to another big perimeter run with the QB getting a give-read. The crack block is a nice change-up, especially if the offense expects to get a give read, and if the blocking angles work well versus the expected defensive alignment.
Although they didn’t use this concept a ton, NDSU had tremendous success with play action off its diamond power read. The Bison ran this play six times and were 4-of-6 for 124 yards and three touchdowns, with one of the incompletions being a near-miss on a would-be score.
Here's a diagram of this concept:
The playside receiver runs in a straight line toward the goal post in an attempt to pull coverage. The playside back takes his normal wide release for his lead block and then wheel up the sideline. The pistol back runs up the seam and the backside back continues to the flat as the checkdown. The QB shuffles for a step as he rides the mesh, and then steps back and looks for: 1. Seam, 2. Wheel, 3. Swing. PST, PSG and C each steps down and protects their backside gap. The BST protects the backside C-gap and the BSG pulls to protect the frontside C-gap.
As mentioned earlier, power read from the diamond formation can lend itself to some great misdirection plays, because of how hard the defense must flow to the perimeter. On this particular play, the frontside No. 1 receiver is usually able to pull at least one defender with him deep across the field. The backfield action will usually cause the second-level defenders to step up, which puts them out of position to run with the two vertical routes out of the backfield. Typically, the flat defender can carry one of the vertical routes, but the other one will likely be wide open.
Here's a cut-up of every time NDSU ran this play from a balanced diamond formation:
NDSU could also run this play from an unbalanced set:
The protection scheme and the routes out of the backfield are still the same. The only difference is there's no frontside clear route now. The QB still reads seam to wheel to swing. The advantage of running this concept from an unbalanced formation is that you can still maintain the same route integrity despite using a more run-heavy formation. Most teams, NDSU included, typically use unbalanced formations to give themselves better numbers and angles in the run game. Both times NDSU ran this play, there was one defender in position to play a vertical route. Both times, the defender ran with the wheel, leaving the pistol back open up the seam.
Here is the video of both times NDSU ran this play from unbalanced:
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Power read and its complementary play-actions have been great concepts for NDSU over the last few years, especially from the diamond formation.
Contact Taylor Kolste at [email protected], or find him on Twitter @TaylorKolste. Check out more of his work at rileykolstefootball.com/.
Want to see more content like this? Check out our Coaches Notes feature. | {
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A bumblebee’s survival depends on its ability to fly with efficiency and purpose through an obstacle course strewn with wind-blown moving targets. So you might assume that bees are precision aerialists. But if you watch them closely, you’ll see that bees are constantly bumping into things—and somehow they’re able to soldier on, unfazed. Now, scientists Stacey Combes and Andrew Mountcastle are using high-speed video to pull back the veil on bumblebee flight dynamics and wing structure. By viewing these collisions with specialized cameras, the team has discovered a hidden design feature that allows clumsy bees to thrive, despite the bumpy ride. | {
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When semi-retired artist manager Shep Gordon married a raw food chef three days before his 60th birthday, he arranged to have his honeymoon on “an extremely exclusive resort on a tiny, remote island” in Hawaii that usually plays host to just one or two couples.
When Gordon’s wife’s laptop broke, he called the front desk for assistance, and a “repairman” showed up several minutes later.
It was Steve Jobs — the resort’s other guest.
Jobs fixed the computer and, being a raw food enthusiast, joined the couple for dinner the next few nights.
For most people, this would be an outlandish, once-in-a-lifetime tale. For Gordon, it was just another day in his charmed life of random celebrity encounters, as revealed in his new memoir “They Call Me Supermensch.”
Gordon, who was born in Queens in 1945 and raised in Oceanside, L.I., went to the University of Buffalo, but rarely attended classes, and began selling marijuana in his sophomore year. Twice while in college he smuggled pot across the U.S./Mexican border, after driving there in the Mustang convertible he bought in part with his bar mitzvah money.
The first time, after meeting his connections and getting the pot, he was taken to meet a rancher, who brought out a horse.
“[They] explained to me that once it got dark, I was going to ride this horse across the Rio Grande back into the States with my bag of weed. I had never been on a horse in my life. They said, ‘That’s all right. The horse knows what to do. He’s done this plenty of times.’”
That’s exactly how it happened. The horse rode him and his bag of weed across the border to safety, he disembarked with his merchandise and went to his car, while the horse turned around (presumably) for Mexico.
By 1968, Gordon was broke, unemployed, aimless and homeless in Los Angeles. Driving one night, he saw a sign for a motel called the Landmark, and took a room.
Feeling dejected and lost, he took a hit of acid and sat on the balcony. Around midnight, he heard a woman’s scream, and thought he saw a woman being raped by the pool.
But when he went to separate the two people he saw, the woman punched him in the mouth.
“We’re f–king,” she said. “Would you please leave us alone.”
The next day, a group was hanging out by the pool, the woman among them. She told the story, getting a big laugh, then everyone introduced themselves.
“She was Janis Joplin,” Gordon writes.
“Lounging on pool chairs around her were Jimi Hendrix; Lester and Willie Chambers of the Chambers Brothers, who had the hit song ‘Time Has Come Today’ … and Paul Rothchild,” who produced albums by Joplin and The Doors. Jim Morrison was a frequent visitor.
Given the star power, groupies — including the infamous GTOs, led by Pamela Des Barres, then known as Miss Pamela — were a constant presence.
“You could sit at the pool and see these girls … moving from Hendrix’s room to Morrison’s room and so on,” he writes, noting that he lost his virginity to one of these groupies. At 22, “I was so naive I thought, Wow, this girl really likes me. And then she was two doors down the next night.”
Gordon, along with a friend, became the hotel’s LSD and marijuana dealer, and they were so successful within a few months that they bought a limo.
One day by the pool, Lester asked Gordon how he would explain owning the limo to the police if asked, and Gordon realized he needed a cover — a profession that looked legit.
“You guys are Jewish, right?” Lester said. “Well, then you should be managers.”
Gordon and his friend agreed.
As it happened, Lester had a new “band of freaks” from Phoenix staying in the basement of his home in Watts. Someone at the pool, possibly Hendrix, suggested having Gordon manage them.
The freaks were Alice Cooper and his band.
At the time, Cooper played average-at-best psychedelic music and used horror-type gimmicks, and the hippie audiences of the time couldn’t stand them.
For Gordon, this was the ideal situation.
“To me, Alice Cooper seemed like the perfect band to manage,” he writes, “because from what I could see they had no chance of ever making it, so I wouldn’t have to do any work.”
But Gordon would change this attitude soon after. He quit dealing drugs in 1969, dedicating himself to the music business, and pledging with the band that they wouldn’t stop until they became millionaires.
Inspired by acts like Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones, Gordon decided that Alice Cooper had to be the band who parents hated, and began arranging stunts to make it happen.
He hired a seamstress to create see-through plastic suits for the band. Arranging a small club gig, he had them take the stage in these suits, with nothing underneath. As the set began, he called the police, saying, “My child is in this club and the band is onstage naked. This is horrible.”
But his plan — to have them arrested for indecent exposure, garnering lots of press — was foiled when the heat in the club fogged up their plastic suits, making them opaque. The police showed up, saw the band appear fully clothed, and left.
His work paid off when the band’s 1972 album “School’s Out” reached No. 2 on Billboard, and the following year’s “Billion Dollar Babies” hit the top spot.
At the height of Cooper’s megastardom, Gordon decided that Cooper should be seen with his great inspiration, Salvador Dali. Gordon’s partner, Joe, arranged a meeting with the artist and his wife/muse, Gala.
The first time they met, at the St. Regis hotel where the couple lived, Gala “swept into the room first.”
“She was everything you’d expect Salvador Dali’s wife-manager-muse to be: A gaunt, striking, middle-aged lady in a black tuxedo, black silk scarf wrapped around her head, a black walking cane, trailing in her wake a half-dozen cherubic young boys in black silk outfits,” Gordon writes. “They never spoke, just glided around the room like shadows.”
“Gala set the ground rules. ‘He is to be addressed always as The Dali. Money is not to be discussed at any time with him. When I say it is over, you leave.”
After The Dali joined them, his wife ordered him a cup of hot water. The Dali then “very slowly and purposefully drew a small jar of honey” from his pocket, “placed it on the table, and deliberately unscrewed the top,” writes Gordon.
“It was brilliant theater — you couldn’t not watch. Then he lifted the jar six inches above the cup, tipped it slowly, and a slow-motion stream of honey poured toward the hot water. Meanwhile, with his free hand, he drew a pair of scissors from his other pocket. He used them to cut the stream of honey. Alice, Joey and I gaped.”
Dali — who, for reasons Gordon never understood, called him “Mr. Blemly” — created a hologram of Cooper that took six months, leaving time for more crazy encounters.
One time, Gordon called on Dali at his apartment, and the artist answered the door “sitting in a wheelchair, even though he could walk perfectly. He was wearing the skin of an entire bear, from head to claws to tail, and holding an open umbrella. Another living Dali painting.”
With great talent came great ego. The few times they all had dinner together, “The Dali paid the bill for us all by signing his napkin. It was how he paid for all their meals.”
“‘My friend Picasso, so silly, he had only coffee and biscuits in Paris and he signed the whole tablecloth,’ he said both times. ‘I have whole meals and I sign just the napkin.’”
One of Gordon’s more challenging assignments came when the head of Columbia Records asked him to consider managing singer Teddy Pendergrass. Gordon wasn’t interested, but met the singer as a favor, with plans to discourage Pendergrass from hiring him.
Somehow, this led to Gordon challenging Pendergrass to a drug-off to see who could handle their drugs better. A record company gave them a two-bedroom suite at the Regency Hotel, and Gordon “had a beautiful wooden briefcase made and filled it with every drug known to man.”
“Teddy and I went head-to-head there, drinking and drugging … when he collapsed after two days, I was still standing. I called a friend at Columbia, who came over and took a picture of me standing over Teddy with my foot on his chest.” When Pendergrass came to, he and Gordon shook hands, and Gordon became his manager.
The two became close, and when the singer was paralyzed in a 1982 car accident, Gordon was there with his family when they told him he’d never walk again.
But not every client was family like Cooper or Pendergrass. When Gordon managed Luther Vandross, it was strictly business, and he considered Vandross a diva. And when singer Anita Baker opened an arena tour for Vandross, it was the meeting of two divas who despised each other.
At the beginning of the tour, Gordon sensed he’d “have to keep these two apart if there were going to be any shows at all.”
His solution? He had a plywood wall built in the backstage corridor at MSG so “when Anita came out of her dressing room Luther wouldn’t have to see her.”
But this didn’t stop Baker, who simply walked another way around, stood in front of Vandross’ dressing room and “started taunting him like a little kid. ‘Hey, Luther, I’m out here!’”
So, for the rest of the tour, Gordon had an impenetrable brick wall built between their dressing rooms in every venue, at a cost of $20,000 a night.
In addition to managing musicians, Gordon went on to produce films, conceive the idea for Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo tequila brand, and help ignite the celebrity chef genre by representing the likes of Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck. The nerdy kid from Long Island was also briefly married to a Playboy Playmate, and dated Sharon Stone for several years. Mike Myers even directed a 2013 documentary, “Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon,” paying tribute to his story.
Today, the 70-year-old lives in Hawaii (he and the vegan chef who met Steve Jobs divorced), and is retired except for his continued management of Cooper. While his book is chock full of adventures, Gordon, the nebbishy kid from Long Island, still has trouble seeing himself as the adventurous type.
After Gordon first viewed the documentary on his life, Myers asked what he thought.
“Just do one thing for me,” Gordon replied. “Take me to lunch someday with this guy Shep.” | {
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The story is set in the distant mountain village of Okukozome-chou. Haruka Kazugano and his twin sister Sora have fond childhood memories of going to the village to visit their grandfather during their summer vacations. However, after losing their parents in an accident, the two must move in with their grandfather. The twins get reacquainted with their old childhood friend Nao Yorihime, their new classmate Ryouhei Nakazato, the miko (shrine maiden) Akira Amatsume, and Akira’s friend Kazuha Migiwa. All seems peaceful and familiar. However, beneath the surface is a secret promise that the twins made with each other long ago, the whereabouts of an important lost item, and the real reason they chose to come back here. | {
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METRO VANCOUVER — Commuters travelling between Vancouver and the North Shore faced heavy traffic and major delays on transit Thursday.
Early in the day, the transit authority shut down bus service on the bridge and routed its passengers to Lonsdale Quay, causing one sailing waits for the SeaBus. TransLink enlisted a third SeaBus by the afternoon commute, which appeared to help shorten the lines.
Those extra sailings are only planned until 7 p.m., according to TransLink, then the SeaBus will return to its regular schedule.
Regular bus service is expected to resume Friday, according to TransLink, but those buses will be headed straight back into the heavy traffic being blamed on a 4.5 centimetre metal bump across all three lanes at the south end of the bridge.
The bump could be in place for as much as another month while engineers work on the bridge’s expansion joints, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
Crews plan to smooth the approach to the bump overnight in time for Friday’s morning commute, according to a ministry statement.
“We regret that the design of the bump that was in place earlier in the week created issues and delays for those using the bridge and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to resolve this issue and get the traffic moving more smoothly,” read the statement.
TransLink began divert passengers to the SeaBus as early as Wednesday, but it was not until 4:20 a.m. Thursday that transit authority staff announced none of its buses would be crossing the bridge that day.
Tina Robinson, a TransLink spokeswoman, said the decision was made after seeing lengthy delays on the bridge Wednesday.
“We felt it would be faster to divert to the SeaBus than have customers stuck on the bridge in traffic,” she said.
But no extra sailings were added to handle the passengers, and transit commuters soon found themselves delayed by one sail waits.
Meanwhile, West Vancouver’s Blue Buses travelled in both directions on the bridge Thursday.
North Vancouver mayor Darrell Mussatto is fed up with the traffic woes and has been lobbying the provincial government for years to invest in more public transportation on the North Shore. He said TransLink needs to increase bus service by 40 per cent, and establish a 10-minute SeaBus service during peak travel times, like it did during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
“It’s so frustrating,” he said. “There’s some 180,000 residents on the North Shore and they’re landlocked.”
Calling recent traffic “the worst he’s ever seen,” Mussatto said vehicles have been backed up on both the Lions Gate and the Ironworkers bridges for several days during peak times because of the construction work and several accidents.
Mussatto said the only solution is better public transit, but acknowledged that since the transit referendum failed, the future for North and West Vancouver commuters looks bleak. In June, Metro Vancouverites voted No to a 0.5-per-cent sales tax increase to help pay for major transportation projects, making it uncertain how transit infrastructure will be funded in the future.
“There has been a failure of leadership, and (the provincial government) needs to find the money,” said Mussatto.
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[email protected]
With a file from North Shore News
===
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Is there more to this story? We'd like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. CLICK HERE or go to vancouversun.com/moretothestory | {
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With their arrest, the police also claimed to have solved eight cases of robbery.
Three men have been arrested from Sriniwaspuri in South East Delhi for their alleged involvement in several cases of robbery in the national capital, police said Monday.
The accused were identified as Gulshan (21), Satish Kashyap (19) and Deepak (20), all residents of Sriniwaspuri area.
With their arrest, the police also claimed to have solved eight cases of robbery.
The police also recovered a country-made pistol, two live cartridges, one scooter, one laptop and two mobile phones from them.
The three men were arrested arrested during investigation into a case of robbery lodged by an advocate.
The advocate had complained to the police that he was robbed of his cash and valuables by four or five men at gun point near Astha Kunj Park on May 16 night while returning home at Sant Nagar, said South East Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal.
He added that a case had been subsequently registered at Amar Colony police station on the lawyer's complaint.
Following investigation, the police came to know of the trio's involvement in the crime.
On a tip off that they would be meeting near Karpuri Thakur Camp in Sriniwaspuri to plot a new crime, the police laid a trap and arrested Gulshan and Kashyap from the area.
Deepak too was arrested subsequently arrested at their instance, the DCP said.
Biswal added that during interrogation, Gulshan and Satish disclosed that they have committed many robberies in Amar Colony area. | {
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Nine pedestrians, ranging from 18 to 49 years old, were struck,, including several who were stuck under the crashed car, according to officials. | {
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The bodies were found at the Robert Morris Apartments on West Bridge Street.
MORRISVILLE —A woman and her daughter are being charged in the death of five relatives, including three children, who authorities said were killed in borough apartment Monday.
The 45-year-old woman and her 19-year-old daughter were expected to be arraigned overnight, said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub. The mother, Shana S. Decree, and Dominique Decree each will be charged with five counts of homicide and one count each of conspiracy.
Weintraub said the dead included the older woman's 13-year-old son Damon Decree Jr. and her 25-year-old daughter Naa'Irah Smith Authorities said the women also killed Shana Decree's 42-year-old sister Jamilla Campbell, of Trenton and Campbell's twin 9-year-old daughters Imani and Erika Allen.
“This is a tragedy,” Weintraub said, adding that the family of the victims are heartbroken. “The people that committed these atrocious acts are in custody and we’ll make them pay for their crimes.”
Police said they initially found three females and one male in a bedroom in a first floor, two-bedroom unit at the Robert Morris Apartments on West Bridge Street. The two defendants were taken to Jefferson Bucks Hospital in Falls, authorities said. One was having seizures and another was conscious when police found them.
Police discovered the bodies while doing a welfare check shortly after 4 p.m., and spent the night investigating. Neighbors said three people lived in the apartment, but that other family members frequently visited.
The fifth body, believed to be one of the children, was found Monday night in the unit hours after the investigation began. Police confirmed the discovery around 10 p.m. Monday.
The county coroner arrived at the apartment complex Monday night.
Morrisville police Chief George McClay said there was initial concern the incident was the result of hazardous materials inside the apartment but that was ruled out quickly after a check by firefighters and the county's hazmat team.
McClay confirmed late Monday night there was no danger to the public.
Borough police and county detectives are still investigating. Authorities did not release a motive Monday night. | {
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Australian deathcore band THY ART IS MURDER, who features CJ McMahon on vocals, Lee Stanton on drums, Andy Marsh and Sean Delander on guitars and Kevin Butler on bass, is pleased to announce 2020 North American tour dates. The tour will be supported by Fit For An Autopsy, Enterprise Earth, Aversions Crown. Also, they will perform with Une Misère and Extinction A.D. on selected dates.
The 7-date tour they will play with Extinction A.D. will kick off at The Ready Room in St. Louis on April 9 and conclude at The Palladium in Worcester on April 15. You can see the full dates below.
April 9 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
April 10 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club
April 11 – Detroit, MI @ St Andrews Hall
April 12 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
April 13 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
April 14 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
April 15 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Also, the 23-date tour they will play with Une Misère can be seen below.
March 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
March 13 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
March 14 – Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
March 15 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
March 17 – West Palm Beach, FL @ The Kelsey Theater
March 18 – Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
March 19 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
March 20 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
March 21 – Houston, TX @ The Secret Group
March 22 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N Grill
March 23 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
March 25 – Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
March 26 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA Sidestage
March 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ 1720
March 28 – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
March 30 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
March 31 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
April 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
April 3 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
April 4 – Calgary, AB @ Dickens Pub
April 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Greek Station
April 7 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
April 8 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck | {
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Donald Trump called President Bill Clinton a “predator” and bashed Hillary Clinton for intimidating his victims during a campaign rally on Monday in Ambridge, Pennsylvania — less than 24 hours after holding a press conference with several women who accuse Clinton of sexual harassment and assault.
“Bill Clinton was the wors[t] abuser of women ever to sit in the Oval Office. He was a predator,” Trump jabbed, alleging that Hillary Clinton would intimidate his victims.
Trump’s statements come after he held a press conference with Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and Paula Jones, who all accuse Bill Clinton of sexual harassment and assault, as well as Kathy Shelton, who was raped as a 12-year-old. Hillary Clinton defended her alleged rapist. Trump also had the women sit in the audience at Sunday night’s presidential debate in St. Louis, Missouri.
Trump listed a handful of women who allege wrongdoing by the former president while speaking to supporters at the Ambridge Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania Monday afternoon.
Trump alleged that his opponent Hillary Clinton is a hypocrite for campaigning for women because “instead of trying to stop [her husband], she made it possible for him to take advantage of even more women.”
Trump specifically highlighted Shelton’s case in which Clinton defended the accused. “Desperate to win her case, Hillary Clinton blamed the 12-year-old victim,” the Republican nominee declared.
“As the lawyer for the rapist, Hillary Clinton said the little girl was emotionaly unstable” and would seek older men, Trump alleged, adding that Clinton “destroyed her life.”
He referenced an audio recording that surfaced showing Clinton laughing about getting the accused rapist released. “There’s nothing Hillary Clinton won’t do or say to obtain power and it’s about time people started to understand it.” | {
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It has gathered its fortune through the tools of modern finance, but now Islamic State (Isis) aims to mint its own coins.
The move is reportedly the brain child of the Isis leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has personally overseen the design of gold, silver and copper coins of the Islamic dinar to be used in his self-declared caliphate – as soon as the terror group can locate a mint and enough precious metals.
Isis has released designs of the coins and a breakdown of denominations. It claims the currency will free Muslims from a financial order that has “enslaved and impoverished” them. But it isn’t totally eschewing the mainstream economy, acknowledging that each coin’s worth will reflect the metal’s value on commodities markets.
Gold will have two denominations, silver three and copper two. With the Isis caliphate not recognised anywhere in the world, the currency will have no value outside the swath of eastern Syria, and western and central Iraq under its control. And those who dare to trade with the group would run the risk of money-laundering and terrorism charges.
Until now, oil purchases from the fields controlled by Isis have been carried out using euros, dollars and Iraqi dinars, and such dealings are unlikely to stop. The paper currency of Isis’s mortal foes has helped transform the group from the scattered remnants of the Iraq civil war to the most cashed-up and capable terrorist organisation in the world.
Iraqi intelligence officials say it looted close to $500m (£320m) in cash from Mosul’s banks alone when it overran the city in June. In addition, kidnaps for ransom payments are thought to have brought in $25m and antiquities smuggling more than $38m. Until recently, oil had been the group’s main cash cow, with daily sales of $1m to $4m for more than a year.
Isis has said it aims to revert the centre of the region to the type of lifestyle lived during the prophet Mohammed’s reign. It has been choosy, however, about which trappings of the post-industrial world and information age will have a place in its back-to-the-future world. The internet is much prized, as is electricity, advanced battlefield weapons and cars.
“Even within the believers, this [currency] will be a stunt,” said an Isis member who returned recently to Lebanon from northern Syria. “If they want people to buy eggs with new coins, then they will. But the real business will be done with real money.” | {
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PHOENIX -- Cross the Los Angeles Rams off Ndamukong Suh's list of potential suitors in free agency.
At the NFL owners meetings Tuesday, Rams general manager Les Snead said that re-signing the veteran defensive tackle is "pretty much guaranteed to be off the table."
"Based on the fact that from our budgetary constraints this year, it probably doesn't fit in his desires," Snead said.
The Rams are tight on salary-cap space given the recent additions of outside linebacker Dante Fowler, safety Eric Weddle, quarterback Blake Bortles and linebacker Clay Matthews.
The Rams signed Suh to a one-year, $14 million contract last March, and the five-time Pro Bowl selection was considered a one-season rental as the team identified a window to make a deep playoff run.
Playing alongside two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Suh did not make a significant impact throughout much of the regular season with 4.5 sacks and four tackles for loss. The Rams' defense also allowed a league-worst average of 5.1 yards per rush.
Snead noted Suh's transition from 3-technique to nose tackle as he moved from playing in 4-3 schemes to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' 3-4.
"There was an early-in-the down transition to that position change and I do think as the season went on he did improve," Snead said. "And you felt more of the Ndamukong that maybe you had gotten to know over the years."
Suh was dominant in a divisional-round win over the Dallas Cowboys and in an NFC Championship Game victory over the New Orleans Saints. | {
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A federal judge has extended a preliminary injunction blocking part of a new Wisconsin law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
The order, issued Friday by U.S. District Judge William Conley, stems from a lawsuit that Planned Parenthood and Affiliated Medical Services filed last month. The groups claim the law would shut two of the state’s four abortion clinics because providers at those facilities, in Appleton and Milwaukee, lack admitting privileges.
Conley issued a temporary restraining order July 8. This injunction blocks the requirement through a trial about the law’s constitutionality, which is set to begin Nov. 25.
Conley found that the health groups probably can show that the requirement presents a substantial obstacle to obtaining abortions.
“Given the substantial likelihood of success on the merits and of irreparable harm, the public’s interest is best serviced by imposing a preliminary injunction on enforcement of the admitting privileges requirement until this court can address its merits after trial,” he wrote in the 44-page opinion.
The judge also said he was skeptical that state attorneys could prove the mandate protects women’s health.
“Even if there were some evidence that the admitting privileges requirement would actually further women’s health, any benefit is greatly outweighed by the burdens caused by increased travel, decreased access and, at least for some women, the denial of an in-state option for abortion services.”
Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, an attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, described the law as one part of a broad attack on women’s rights to seek medical care.
Federal district courts blocked similar laws in Alabama and Mississippi this year.
This week, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law sweeping new restrictions on abortion clinics, including an admitting privileges mandate. A Texas law passed last month that requires admitting privileges for physicians who perform abortions also bans abortions at later than 20 weeks of pregnancy.
"This law is just one in an already too-long list of legislation passed this year and designed solely to interfere with a woman's private medical decisions," Kolbi-Molinas said in a statement. "We will not stand silent as extremist politicians attempt to take away women's access to safe and legal abortion care."
ALSO:
Rare Beatles photos go on display in New Mexico
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National monuments nearly clean of green paint vandalism
[email protected]
Twitter: @benjmueller | {
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Smartphones and the Android operating system have certainly come a very long way in what can be considered quite a short period of time. Of course, related technologies have also grown at an exponential pace to help us reach where we are at now. High-speed internet access on our mobile devices allows us to comfortably stream and watch HD movies, on displays that boast Quad HD resolutions and screens that may or may not be curved. Everything is backed by uber powerful processing packages that can handle anything thrown at them, while smartphone cameras have kickstarted a revolution in the self-portrait category. That is the world we live in.
As great as it is to look forward at what’s to come, its equally fun to look at what we’ve left behind. How would the Android smartphones of old fare in today’s world? What would it be like to use these devices as daily drivers now? These are some of the questions we attempt to answer in our new “Android Flashback” series, as we take a look back at some of the earliest Android smartphones available.
With that in mind, there is no better device to start with than the one with which it all started. Before diving into a more detailed review, we’ll be taking a quick look at the unboxing and initial setup of the first Android smartphone ever, the T-Mobile G1 by HTC!
Unboxing
Something that hasn’t changed over the years is the packaging our smartphones arrive in, with the HTC G1 coming with fairly standard packaging. The box includes a quick reference guide, the AC wall charger, the back cover of the phone packaged separately, and the phone itself.
When taking the phone out of its cover, the first thought to cross the mind is how a device that was considered massive back then now feels so tiny by today’s standards. Another sign of the different era is with regards to the charger, featuring a mini USB port connector, as opposed to the microUSB chargers we now have.
Initial Setup
As our phones have gotten bigger and bigger, the SIM card has shrunk significantly over the same period of time, leading to quite an interesting development when trying to add a SIM card to the G1. As you may have noticed, the T-Mobile SIM card I have is of the nanoSIM variety, while the device requires a SIM card that can only be described as full size. To solve this problem, not just one, but two adapters were needed, the first to take the nanoSIM to the microSIM size, with another required to make it a version that will fit the G1.
Powering up the device opens up the first commercially available iteration of Android in all its glory. Navigating around the UI is understandably very different, and certainly helps you appreciate the user interface for what it is today. For example, while changing the brightness on most current smartphones is just a swipe down to open the Quick Settings menu, in this case, I needed to open the settings, go into display settings, tap on brightness, and then increase or reduce it.
Five physical buttons are also available on the significant lower chin of the phone, with their being a home, back, and menu button, as well as two buttons to answer and cut a call, which makes sense for a device available in a time during which voice calling was still its primary purpose. While the look and feel are almost alien at this point, the general functionality remains intact, with an app drawer available, a swipe down from the top opening the notification center, and the app store on the homescreen, called Android Market at the time. Swiping and tapping on the touchscreen also feels quite different and not as smooth, but you could always take advantage of the trackball for all your navigation around the OS.
The T-Mobile G1/HTC Dream
Typing on the device is possible using an on-screen keyboard, something we’re now used to doing. But for those making the transition to touchscreens for the first time, the HTC G1 also featured a full QWERTY keyboard, found by sliding out the display. While this keyboard was the feature I was most envious of when this smartphone first released, years of touchscreen typing has resulted in the fact that typing on this keyboard isn’t all that quick anymore, and something that will definitely take some getting used to.
Gallery
Conclusion at a Glance
So there you have it for the first edition of the Android Flashback series! There is no better phone to kick off this series than the T-Mobile G1, the original Android smartphone. Obviously, the experience will be no where near similar to what I have with current smartphones, with the device considered ancient by current standards, but I’m still very excited to see how it goes over the next few weeks as I use this smartphone as my daily driver. | {
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Why LiveWell?
We appreciate your inquisitive mind, young health savant. At LiveWell, we possess a natural passion for our offerings and believe in natural solutions. We have a close relationship with Mama Earth and have made it our responsibility to put forth all-natural products with patented, clinically-proven ingredients. We walk a fine line of principles. | {
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Jim Burroway
John Paulk, the former ex-gay leader who last week recanted his earlier beliefs in the ex-gay movement’s message that change in sexual orientation was both possible and necessary, has followed up with a more full, formal apology for the damage those messages caused:
For the better part of ten years, I was an advocate and spokesman for what’s known as the “ex-gay movement,” where we declared that sexual orientation could be changed through a close-knit relationship with God, intensive therapy and strong determination. At the time, I truly believed that it would happen. And while many things in my life did change as a Christian, my sexual orientation did not. So in 2003, I left the public ministry and gave up my role as a spokesman for the “ex-gay movement.” I began a new journey. In the decade since, my beliefs have changed. Today, I do not consider myself “ex-gay” and I no longer support or promote the movement. Please allow me to be clear: I do not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, it does great harm to many people. I know that countless people were harmed by things I said and did in the past,
Parents, families, and their loved ones were negatively impacted by the notion of reparative therapy and the message of change. I am truly, truly sorry for the pain I have caused. From the bottom of my heart I wish I could take back my words and actions that caused anger, depression, guilt and hopelessness. In their place I want to extend love, hope, tenderness, joy and the truth that gay people are loved by God. Today, I see LGBT people for who they are–beloved, cherished children of God. I offer my most sincere and heartfelt apology to men, women, and especially children and teens who felt unlovable, unworthy, shamed or thrown away by God or the church. I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who encouraged me to take this initial step of transparency. Even while promoting “ex-gay” programs, there were those who called me on my own words and actions. I’m sure I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but they have helped me to realize this truth about who I am. This is a life transition that has been and will continue to be, challenging. Sadly, my marriage of 20 years is in the process of ending. I want to take the time to make sure my next actions come from a place of truth and authenticity. Therefore, I’m drastically limiting my public engagement until my own personal life can be settled. After that I eagerly anticipate giving back to the community. Finally, I know there are still accounts of my “ex-gay” testimony out there being publicized by various groups, including two books that I wrote about my journey. I don’t get any royalties from these publications, and haven’t since I left the ministry nearly ten years ago. I discourage anyone from purchasing and selling these books or promoting my “ex-gay” story because they do not reflect who I am now or what I believe today. John Paulk
To understand the significance of this statement, it’s important to review how deeply embedded Paulk had been, not just in the ex-gay movement in particular, but as an important spokesman for anti-gay activists broadly. Paulk first became active in the early 1990s when he appeared in the infamous 1992 video, The Gay Agenda, which was produced by the Family Research Council. That video was used with great effect by the backers of Oregon’s failed Measure 9, which would have amended the state constitution to prohibit all anti-discrimination measures or other so-called “special rights” for LGBT people. In 1993, Paulk appeared in another video, Gay Rights Special Rights, which proved highly influential as it made the rounds on Capitol Hill during the debates about gays in the military which eventually led to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays serving openly. That same year, Paul was interviewed for a Wall Street Journal article in which he described his drag-queen past and successful marriage to Anne Paulk his “ex-lesbian” wife who he married the year before.
By the late 1990s, Paulk became a principle spokesman for Focus On the Family on anti-gay issues. He headed Focus’s Gender and Homosexuality division and was elected to two terms as chairman of the most prominent ex-gay organization, Exodus International. In 1998, he helped to found Love Won Out, a traveling ex-gay roadshow and infomercial conducted jointly with Exodus International, which was staged in a half a dozen cities across North American each year for the next thirteen years. That same year, he and his ex-lesbian wife, Anne, again became the face of the ex-gay movement in a massive publicity campaign that culminated in their landing on the cover of Newsweek.
In 2000, Wayne Besen photographed Paulk as he was leaving a gay bar in Washington, D.C. After a brief hiatus due to the highly embarrasing public scandal, Paulk returned to ex-gay ministry, and continued working at Focus On the Family and speaking at Love Won Out conferences for the next four years. But the Paulks eventually left Focus On the Family and moved to Oregon, where John started a catering business, while Anne continued writing books and speaking on the ex-gay circuit. In the past year, Anne helped to form a break-away group of former Exodus ministries following Exodus president Alan Chambers’s acknowledgment that change in sexual orientation was not possible. She now serves on the board of directors of that dissident group, Restored Hope Network.
As Paulk’s latest statement indicates, he and Anne, who are the parents of three boys, appear to be going their separate ways, professionally as well as personally. | {
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Steve Nash is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers after the Phoenix Suns agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that will bring them four draft picks.
The Lakers will give Nash a three-year, $27 million contract. They used the trade exception they received from last year's Lamar Odom deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
"He's ecstatic," said Billy Duffy, Nash's agent. "He gets to be close to his children."
The Suns will get the Lakers' 2013 and '15 first-round draft picks and their 2014 and '15 second-round selections. The Lakers also paid the Suns $3 million to facilitate the trade.
Phoenix radio station KTAR 620 first broke the news of the Suns' sign-and-trade agreement with the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash talked about playing together with Lakers on Monday night, and again late Wednesday afternoon, a league source told Y! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
[Also: Deron Williams agrees to $100 million contract with Brooklyn Nets]
The New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks had all tried to sign Nash, but he turned down more money – three years and nearly $36 million from the Raptors – for an opportunity to chase a title with Bryant and the Lakers, and to be closer to his children. Nash is divorced with two daughters and a son.
"His intention, as related to the Suns, was if he left that they would get value, that he would have the ability as his career was winding down to come to a competitive situation," Duffy said. "But his most important aspect was his ability to be close to his children. He's an hour from his children. I've never seen him happier because of that fact alone."
Duffy said Nash briefly considered retiring at the end of last season.
"Everything in his mind was predicated on his children," Duffy said. "It put me in an interesting situation because I knew that dynamic. It wasn't about the most money. He turned down a lot of money and aspects of other deals for the well being of his family."
The Lakers were one of 10 teams to contact Nash on the first day of free agency, but the Knicks and Raptors appeared to be his most likely destinations. The Knicks also tried to work a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns.
"He was either going to go to New York or Toronto," Duffy said. "He was comfortable with either situation."
The Lakers stepped up their interest on Monday.
"The dynamic with his family made [the Lakers] more compelling," Duffy said. "It began, really, two days because of the Lakers' willingness to step up and [Suns owner] Robert Sarver's willingness to work with us collectively to bring him back value. [Nash] could have gone to Toronto outright and the Suns got nothing. Steve likes this because he knows the Suns are getting assets back."
Despite Nash's close ties to the Suns, Duffy said it was time for him to move on.
"They're in a rebuilding mode," Duffy said. "They need to grow away from him at this point."
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I don't always talk shit before games But when I do, I get a 28.2 passer rating
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Charles Burton is an associate professor of political science at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. and is a former counsellor at the Canadian embassy in Beijing.
On Monday, the Xinhua News Agency issued a long, unprecedented statement about directions from the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee to the National People's Congress regarding revisions to China's national constitution.
The People's Congress is now required to propose these revisions at its annual meeting next month. If there was any doubt that China's national legislature is anything but a toothless rubber stamp for the secretive machinations of the Communist Politburo, there isn't any more.
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Hidden well inside the turgid text, at the end of Section 14, is the removal of a phrase limiting China's president and vice-president to two terms in office. So it looks as if President Xi Jinping, 64 years old, and his proposed VP, Wang Qishan, 69, are in for life. (Expect an approving tweet from Donald Trump, who must feel ever more resentful of being buckled down by the United States' comparable constitutional restriction.)
China's term limit was enacted in 1982, following a reassessment of the later years of Chairman Mao Zedong, who was supreme leader from 1935 until his death in 1976. The overwhelming consensus in China is that he stayed in power 20 years too long, with things going horribly wrong from 1957 with the large-scale purge of "rightists." This was followed by the disastrous Great Leap Forward economic campaign, which led to more than 30 million people dying of starvation. Then came a decade of massive destruction, upheaval and political purges in the Cultural Revolution (1966-76).
But at least Mao's power was somewhat constrained by colleagues such as Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi, who retained their own currency as leaders from the revolutionary wars. By comparison, Mr. Xi has no such checks or balances, having already methodically purged potential rivals such as Sun Zhengcai and Bo Xilai through anti-corruption campaigns. Mr. Xi has now assumed absolute control of the party, army and state. Only violence would dislodge him from power, some sort of extreme right-wing nationalist military coup that could bring a xenophobic expansionist regime even more hostile to Canadian interests than what we face now.
Any naive hopes for a peaceful evolution to democracy are shattered against the reality that China is now a one-man dictatorship yearning to restore the archaic political norms of China's imperial past: subjects instead of citizens, the destiny of the country instead of individual or minority and collective entitlement to protection of their rights.
Moreover, another of the constitutional revisions adds "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" as the party's ideological guide. In other words, whatever Mr. Xi says or does has the authority of supreme law in China.
The problem for Canada is that Mr. Xi has a fervent commitment to a meta-ideology that threatens the current, fraying liberal world order. His "Chinese dream of national restoration" demands that Canada and all Western countries become subsidiary participants in the Chinese-dominated "community of the common destiny of humankind," linked by the massive "One Belt One Road" global infrastructure program. Under a previous empire, all roads led to Rome. Under Mr. Xi, all high-speed rail lines under heaven, shipping routes (including those via the Canadian Arctic) and air transport will pass through Beijing.
China is already aggressively rallying support from pro-mainland ethnic Chinese in Canada, as well China-friendly business lobbyists and politicians, through its United Front Work Department initiatives in Canada. If the political consensus in Canada is not to comply, expect China to retaliate. Britain, Australia and New Zealand have already refused to support the One Belt One Road plan; they will certainly incur Beijing's wrath, starting with economic punishment as the stick, and promise of trade and investment benefits for compliance with China's demands as the carrot.
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The constitutional amendments also include new language about "the great revival of the Chinese race." The threat to Chinese Canadians is that there is a much enhanced blood-and-belonging aspect to Mr. Xi's constitutionally endorsed rhetoric. This overarching vision sees all ethnic Chinese – regardless of citizenship or number of generations abroad, even including children adopted from China – as obligated to respond to Chinese embassy pressures to facilitate China's rise, through political support for Beijing and even treasonous espionage. Canadians with family in China are already feeling pressure to demonstrate their loyalty in this way. Canada must be doing much more to protect our citizens of ethnic Chinese origin from foreign interference.
Under Xi Jinping's now unchallengeable dictatorship, the world is becoming more and more Chinese. We should ensure this does not mean that Canada has to become less and less Canadian. | {
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It sounds like something dreamed up for “The Jetsons” — flying vehicles flitting through the skies, transporting everything from medical devices to Chinese food, no pilot required.
But in two years, New Jerseyans may see these airborne robots soaring above them on the Turnpike, a cause of concern for some and a source of wonder for others.
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, have been used by the United States military for years to hunt down suspected terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so much so that their use in warfare has prompted a fierce debate in Congress.
They come in all shapes and sizes: Some can fire deadly missiles from far above the clouds; others are low-flying spy planes equipped with cameras and heat sensors. They can be controlled half a world away, like a video game brought to life.
Now, federal officials are opening up the airways so U.S. businesses and government agencies can take advantage of the super-gizmos in new, nonviolent ways.
From movie studios to fisheries to police departments, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates that 30,000 drones will be hovering above the United States within seven years, ferrying products and capturing all sorts of sights and sounds.
“Robots have been a disappointment because they’re confined to the ground,” said Todd Humphreys, an associate professor at the University of Texas, Austin, who researches domestic uses for drones. “What people are starting to realize is that robots always wanted to be drones. They’re so much more beautiful when they fly.”
Supporters say drones are the next big wave in the global technological revolution. But the devices — with their capability for surveillance and destruction — have made many Americans fearful for their privacy and safety.
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A Monmouth University poll of 1,708 Americans last year found that 80 percent said they would be okay with police using drones for search-and-rescue missions, and nearly two-thirds of respondents said they could be used to pursue criminals or patrol the southern border.
But 64 percent said they would be somewhat concerned or very concerned about their privacy once drones took to the U.S. skies.
The unease has led state lawmakers to introduce a series of bills banning or severely limiting the use of drones by police and fire departments. The federal government plans to issue the first domestic drone permits after September 2015, and New Jersey legislators from both parties hope to be ready with stringent restrictions.
"Can you imagine? You're sitting in your backyard enjoying some quiet time with your family, and the government's there photographing and recording what you're saying," said Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Hunterdon), the sponsor of the toughest bill, which would ban the use of surveillance drones in every instance except for a "credible threat" of a terrorist attack.
But state Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) said drones, while scary, could be a huge boon to society. His bill would allow police and fire departments to deploy them in extreme cases where existing tools don't work — as long as the agency chief approves it first.
“Think about missing children, missing seniors,” Sacco said. “The immediacy and the ability to use drones to find them quickly is very important. Think about forest fires. Things like this are extremely important.”
A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) would strike a balance. No law enforcement agencies would be able to use drones, but the federal government could send one out in cases of suspected terrorism or the governor could in a declared emergency or natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy.
“I don’t want our skyways to look like the Garden State Parkway on a Friday night in the summertime,” said Quijano, who is chairwoman of the Assembly homeland security committee. “But you can see the value of the drones, especially after Sandy, on the Shore area. I’m sure there were areas that were not as safe for law enforcement or firemen to go into.”
And a fourth bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Robert Schroeder (R-Bergen), would allow the police to use drones only after submitting a detailed application to a court and obtaining a warrant. But it would forbid police from using them to issue speeding tickets, or in any cases involving motor-vehicle laws.
More than 30 states have introduced similar bills, and Michael Toscano, a lobbyist for the nascent industry in Washington, said he fears overregulation will stifle the industry.
Toscano's group, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, estimates that the flying robots will be an $82 billion industry in the United States after a decade, not just serving law enforcement, but for activities such as weather monitoring, volcano studies and "taco-copters" that transport food and beer to college dorms.
“If you can think of any dirty, dangerous, difficult or dull mission, these things will do very well in that regard,” he said.
Although commercial drone permits are still years away, the FAA since 2007 has issued more than 1,400 permits to select government agencies and universities, which have been testing the flying devices’ capability for research and photography. More than 300 of those permits remain in effect, the FAA said.
Princeton University is already reaping some of the benefits — and wrestling with how widely the drones’ data can be disseminated. University officials said they hired New York-based SkyCamUsa during April to fly a “DJI Spreading Wings S800” drone over its Gothic, wooded campus, snapping photos for Princeton’s admissions office that would have been impossible to take from the ground.
The hovercraft weighed just 6 pounds.
But when the company posted one of its drone videos on YouTube and its own website this month, Princeton quickly urged them to take it down, saying they had no right to post the material, a spokesman said.
“It should not have been published as it was because Princeton University is a nonprofit institution that does not allow its name or images to be used to promote specific commercial vendors,” said Martin Mbugua, a university spokesman.
Humphreys, the University of Texas professor, said that “a drone in a police force would represent a vast savings” because they cost a fraction of what a helicopter does.
Les Dorr, a spokesman for the FAA, said officials are beginning to figure out how to accommodate the drones without causing problems for airplanes and other air transports. The first step is to select six test sites around the country, and New Jersey is one of the states under consideration, he said.
“What the (new federal) legislation said is that the FAA had to develop a plan to facilitate ‘safe integration’ of unmanned aircraft into the airspace by Sept. 30, 2015,” Dorr said. “What ‘safe integration’ will look like really has not been decided yet.”
Lt. Stephen Jones, a spokesman for the State Police, said the state already has a fleet of helicopters equipped with heat sensors for use in rescue operations, the monitoring of nuclear plants, disaster assessments, and to search for fleeing people or vehicles.
For now, Jones said, drones are not being considered.
“Any use of those type of technologies we would thoroughly vet through the Attorney General’s Office and look for guidance to make sure we’re on safe grounds regarding people’s rights and privacy,” he said.
Although some of the New Jersey bills would allow the Department of Environmental Protection to monitor forest fires with a drone, Lawrence Hajna, an agency spokesman, said there is none waiting in the wings.
“We don’t use drones, no plans to, either,” Hajna said.
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Still, Peterson said, the threat is not really immediate but long-term. Without strong protections, New Jerseyans’ right to privacy will erode over time as the technology becomes more prevalent, he said.
He cited the book “1984” by George Orwell, in which the government can peer into each citizen’s private life.
“Say you have a private political conversation in your backyard — the drone can listen in,” he said. “It’s just unnecessary and I think there should be limits on the reach of government when it comes to surveillance.”
Sacco, who sponsored the bill that legalized DNA testing in 1994, said you can’t stop technology from playing a role in everyday life, and that it’s better to be ahead of the curve.
“My bill does a great deal to ensure the safety of the people,” he said. “The technology is going to exist; it’s not going away. It’s the same people who thought DNA shouldn’t be used. Back then, people said, ‘Oh my god, you’re invading my privacy.’ Look how many crimes we’ve solved, and how many innocent people have been released.”
In a matter of years, drones could revolutionize agriculture, medical-supply delivery, private surveillance, real estate and, Humphreys said, may even be used to deliver “burritos.”
After the drones “prove their worth,” people will become comfortable seeing them jetting around despite their controversial past as deadly weapons, he predicted.
As he put it, “We’ve come to be at peace with dogs, even though they’re related to wolves.” | {
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PHOTO: A new report urges changes to make intersections and roads safer for all users. Photo credit: Carl Wycoff/Flickr
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two Tennessee cities are near the top of the latest rankings of the deadliest large cities in the nation for pedestrians.
The Memphis metro area is listed as the fifth most dangerous and Nashville as the 15th in the report from the National Complete Streets Coalition.
Director Roger Millar says many of the pedestrian deaths and injuries are happening at intersections that are dangerous by design.
"They've been engineered and operated for speeding traffic with little or no provision for the safety of people walking or biking or using public transit," he explains.
Overall, Tennessee ranked as the 11th most dangerous state for pedestrians, with 800 deaths in the decade from 2003 to 2012.
Nationally, there were more than 47,000 pedestrian deaths during that time, along with nearly 700,000 injuries.
The report suggests adding sidewalks and bike lanes, reducing crossing distances and improving crosswalks to make the roads safe for all users.
The strategy is similar to what's known as universal design, which aims to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to everyone, says Sue Lowery chairwoman of STAGES for Independent Living in Chattanooga.
"There's a certain aspect of it that's planning for the future,” she says. “You may not need the single floor now, but at some point if you suddenly find yourself in a wheelchair or with a walker and unable to get up and down steps, you realize that that single-level design is so critical to that."
There is a great need for such housing that's affordable, and Lowery says her organization is currently involved with two residential projects that will use universal design.
"It's much easier to build that into it then to go back and retrofit,” she explains. “If we can put it in in the beginning and think about that from the kitchen and the way cabinets and stove tops are accessible, to the doorknobs, sink heights, everything that we try to design into a project from the get-go."
In all, there are seven principles of universal design, including low physical effort, tolerance for error and simple and intuitive use.
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