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When ethical hackers such as Kevin Mitnick, Pablos Holman or Ruben van Vreeland take center stage at tech conferences and flex their cyber-talents by showcasing how easily they can infiltrate popular cloud ecosystems such Microsoft Office 365 with a few masterful keystrokes, uneasy attendees sit up and take notice.
It’s not that people are so enamored by the stealthy skills of the presenters — of course they are — but that nervous adrenaline that sweeps through the crowd is rooted in the realization that security as they know it will never be the same again.
Why I chose to be an ethical hacker | Ruben van Vreeland | TEDxEindhoven:
Recent news stories confirm that cyber attacks are on the rise for both businesses and the Managed Solution Providers (MSPs) that manage client IT systems.
Recent Cyber Attacks
According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 69% of attacks on business organizations are perpetrated by outsiders, while 34% involved internal actors.1
What type attack actions are being utilized? According to Verizon:
52% of breaches featured Hacking
33% included Social attacks
28% involved Malware (24% of which were Ransomware)
15% were Misuse by authorized users
Verizon also claims that C-level executives were 12x more likely to be the target of social incidents and 9x more likely to be the target of social engineering breaches than in years past. Social engineering includes activities such as: phishing, pretexting, baiting, whaling attacks, quid pro quo and tailgating.
Social engineering is a technique used by attackers to trick users into revealing personal information. Impersonating an accountant and then soliciting an employee to make an emergency payment by clicking a link to a bogus supply chain app is one such example. Any data sent down this path can be used to gain access to other systems such as bank accounts or accounting systems to carry out criminal actions.
Popular defenses against hacker attacks, such as firewalls, endpoint security and antivirus software rarely slow attackers down, according to a Nuix Black report.2 88% of hackers can break into their desired system and get through cyber security defenses in 12 hours or less. It only takes an additional 12 hours for 81%of hackers to find and take valuable data.
For staff gone bad, many already have user login credentials to internal systems, so unauthorized intrusions or extractions are much easy to pull of — and much harder to detect.
No business is immune from attack According to Verizon, the following industries are the most susceptible:
Healthcare
Educational Services
Financial & Insurance
Accommodation & Food Services
Retail
Public Administration
Manufacturing
Information Technology
Professional, Technical & Scientific Services
Dark Actors
To understand the importance of security and how to stay two steps ahead of attackers, it can be useful to examine “dark activities” from a different perspective —an attacker trying to find their way into your organization. Attackers come in many forms, but for today’s discussion we’ll focus on two primary culprits: unethical hackers and disgruntled employees.
Unethical hackers are primarily motivated by cash. Some are driven more by ideology. Most are dangerous if left unchecked with the keys to your kingdom; aka your business.
Austin Thompson (aka DerpTrolling) the hacker who started the DDoS attacks on Sony, EA, and Steam six years ago, only recently was sentenced to 27 months in prison.3 The hacker is said to have justified his actions based on ideology, using outlandish excuses such as “to spoil everyone’s holiday,” and “to make people spend time with their families.”
According to Penny Hoelscher, writing for Infosec, nefarious hackers wear multiple titles, from Black Hats (criminals motivated by money) to Hacktivists (driven by a cause, e.g., politics, ideology or religion) to State-Sponsored Hackers (those supported by a government agency).4
“Understanding hackers’ motivations and traits can help an organization to identify their potential enemies,” writes Penny. “Armed with this knowledge, organizations can devise realistic attack scenarios against which to arm themselves. Understanding the criminal mind behind an incident can help to analyze the magnitude of a threat and how to resolve it.”
Armed with insights into likely attacker characteristics, a business could take preventative measures such as hiring a white hat consulting firm to test the firm’s security.
Unhappy (disgruntled) current or former employees are a bit different from unethical hackers — and are usually harmless — but in some cases they can be motivated by revenge (or ignorance) to inflict damage to a company’s reputation or steel its intellectual property for sabotage or profit.
For example, 2.9 million members of Canada’s Desjardins Group, North America’s biggest federal credit union, had their credit information exposed after the data was stolen by an employee.5
According to an article in SiliconANGLE about the Desjardins attack, “The motivation of the employee — and whether the data stolen was shared with others — is not clear. What is known is that he not only used his own employee credentials to gain access to the data but also tricked others at the credit union into providing theirs, overcoming built-in safeguards that the company designed to prevent any single employee having access to all data.”6
A Ponemon Institute survey showed that over 50% of employees surveyed felt that using competitive information taken from a previous employer was not a criminal act, reasoning that ownership of such information resides in its creator rather than the former employer. 40 percent of those employees surveyed admitted they intended to use the pilfered information in a new job.7
According to the Society of Resource Management (SHRM), there are several tell-tale signs of a disgruntled employee:8
Poor on-the-job performance
Absenteeism higher than average
Poor attitude at work, such as negative co-worker conversations and attitudes
Inability to get along with the team
Early detection of disgruntled staff is possible by focusing on these common traits — and action plans geared toward damage prevention of said rogue actors can help prevent common threats such as internal IP/data theft, espionage and other harmful activities from happening
Attack Subterfuge
Now that you know a little more about two types of attackers, disgruntled staff and unethical hackers, let’s talk a bit more about the methods they’re using to infiltrate, stalk, siphon, damage, hold hostage and steal.
As businesses continue to transition to more cost efficient cloud-based solutions such as G Suite and Office 365, their emails, attachments, calendars and tasks come with them. Attackers, always looking for the easiest path to success, have fine-tuned their tactics to locate, infiltrate and control the data they desire.
According to Webroot, 94% of data breaches originate from email, so for an unethical hacker, this is the primary way many of today’s worst actors pray on unsuspecting companies.9 Phishing scams are an example.
With 48% of malicious email attachments being Microsoft Office files, it’s clear that many hackers aren’t deploying sophisticated cyber attacks against hard-to-penetrate operating systems or remote servers — they’re simply focusing on a huge soft targets such as Microsoft Outlook email.
G Suite Gmail is another email system that rogue actors have in their crosshairs. Hackers have recently been successful in bypassing common forms of Google’s two-factor authentication (2FA), causing Google to heavily promote its Account Protection Program designed to “provide even stronger protection for those at risk of targeted attacks – like journalists, activists, business leaders, and political campaign teams.”,10
Worse yet, companies take about 197 days to identify and 69 days to contain a breach according to IBM.11 This means that a wide range of rogue activities can be taking place over a long period of time, undetected.
Kevin Mitnick Live Hacking:
According to Courtney Casey, Director of Marketing for Accent Computer Solutions, Inc., another common point of entry into business systems for attackers are mobile devices.
“Mobile devices are susceptible as breach points for a couple of unique reasons,” said Courtney. “First, many people do not have a password or any other security on their mobile devices. Second, mobile devices are more likely to get lost or stolen than corporate workstations. Finally, users generally don’t consider their mobile devices to be ‘real technology’ to the same degree as their laptop or desktop. This means that they are much more likely to load the latest games and apps available to their device. This increases risk considerably since many people don’t pay much attention to the source or what information an app is requesting access to before they download it.”12
Stealing passwords and gaining access to business systems has been elevated to art form. WhatIsMyIPAddress.com put together a list of common attack methods that rogue actors use to infiltrate, pillage and steal.13
Back door: A secret pathway a hacker uses to gain entry to a computer system
Buffer overflow: A method of attack where the hacker delivers malicious commands to a system by overrunning an application buffer.
Denial-of-service attack: An attack designed to cripple the victim’s system by preventing it from handling its normal traffic, usually by flooding it with false traffic.
Email worm: A virus-laden script or mini-program sent to an unsuspecting victim through a normal-looking email message.
Root access: The highest level of access (and most desired by serious hackers) to a computer system, which can give them complete control over the system.
Root kit: A set of tools used by an intruder to expand and disguise his control of the system.
Script kiddie: A young or unsophisticated hacker who uses base hacker tools to try to act like a real hacker.
Session hijacking: When a hacker is able to insert malicious data packets right into an actual data transmission over the Internet
The list of attack methods that hackers utilize to breach business organizations is long and ever-evolving. This poses significant challenges for businesses trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.
Defense Against Dark Actors
The growing number of cyber attacks and the statistics around how and why they’re happening raises the question: What can businesses do to prevent becoming a victim? While there is no silver bullet, defensive measures against dark actors can significantly reduce actual losses.
For example, insider threats can be monitored with behavioral analysis software, which flags unusual behavioral patterns. Unfortunately, many transgressions go unnoticed by these tools, especially for employees who have legitimate access to company data.
According to Sherri Davidoff, an MIT grad and one of the first female white-hat hackers who runs LMG Security, there are many things individuals and businesses can do to safeguard their data.14
Davidoff’s Top 3 Cybercrime Protection Tips:
Think before you click Backup your data Enable two-factor authentication on every account/system
Verizon’s annual data breach report provides a plethora of stats, insights and antidotes on how to protect your business against the growing tide of dark actions. Here are six culled from their recent report.
Verizon’s Best Practices to Prevent Breaches:
Clean security hygiene Maintain integrity monitoring Two-factor authenticate (2FA) everything Be wary of inside jobs by tracking insider behavior (see Insights BI) Scrub packets for (DDoS) Be socially aware of links and executables
For Office 365, the defensive approach is a bit more nuanced. Cloud distributor Pax8 recently outlined 8 Steps to Secure Microsoft Office 365 in an infographic they published.15
8 Steps to Secure Microsoft Office 365 by Pax8
Enable built-in security features Put endpoint security in place Layer additional security on top of Office 365 Enforce data protection and compliance Implement web and network security together Begin ongoing end user security training Add mobile security Create a backup and disaster recovery plan
Approaching cyber defenses with an attacker’s mindset can help organizations think differently to spot abnormalities that might otherwise go unnoticed. The only sure way to keep corporate data safe is to make it inaccessible to bad actors. Since no one threat detection method is 100% foolproof, businesses need to deploy a variety of tactics to train, deter, identify, extract, safeguard and even restore a firm’s digital information at all times. Defense against dark actors requires constant diligence with a dash of resilience.
Sources: | {
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Standing just 8 to 10 inches tall, the African black-footed cat resembles a petite version of your average neighborhood tabby. But though the speckled feline is unequivocally adorable, a vicious, adept killer lies beneath its charming exterior.
Felis nigripes, as the black-footed feline is formally named, is, in fact, Africa’s smallest cat. To give you some perspective on that statistic, the black-footed cat, which averages 2.4 t0 4.2 pounds, weighs roughly 200 times less than your typical lion. Still, don’t be fooled by its demure stature—the species is also the deadliest of all the world’s felines, capturing more prey in a single night than a leopard does in six months.
As Live Science's Mindy Weisberger reports, the cat's skills were featured in the ongoing PBS Nature miniseries “Super Cats,” which spotlighted the tiny predator in a suitably creepy Halloween installment.
Producer Gavin Boyland tells Weisberger that the filmmakers worked with Cologne Zoo curator Alexander Sliwa to secure footage of the elusive feline. Unlike big cats, the black-footed cat tends to disappear into the tall grasses of the African savannah, making its exploits difficult to track via camera. Luckily, the zoo had previously outfitted several South African-based cats with radio collars, allowing the team to detect their nocturnal hunts with the help of an advanced light-sensitive camera.
The segment itself focuses on a female cat named Gyra. Narrator F. Murray Abraham explains the cat’s excellent night vision and hearing turns “almost anything that moves…[into] a potential meal.”
In the segment, Gyra initially stalks a locust, but she soon abandons it for heartier prey: a short-tailed gerbil. Eyes peeled and back ever-so-slightly arched, she scurries forward and pounces. To her dismay, the gerbil escapes, leaving Gyra to skulk back into look-out position. Soon enough, though, her ears perk and eyes dilate in anticipation as she detects a new meal. Back on the move, she tucks her legs in, getting as low to the ground as possible before suddenly jumping into attack mode. The camera then pulls back to reveal a glimpse of a dying bird, its wings clamped between Gyra’s powerful jaws. She meets the camera’s gaze head-on, unblinking eyes glowing in the darkness.
According to the 2016 IUCN Red List of threatened species, the black-footed cat is “vulnerable,” meaning it is at a high risk of endangerment in the wild. Currently, the species is only found in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Incredibly, previous research has shown that the black-footed cat's predation success rate is 60 percent. Comparatively, lions only succeed in catching their victims about 20 to 25 percent of the time.
Luke Hunter, Chief Conservation Officer at the feline-centered Panthera organization, tells Weisberger that the black-footed cat, which kills an average of 10 to 14 rodents or small birds every night, has an accelerated metabolism that requires it to hunt almost non-stop.
To catch their prey, the creatures draw on a bank of three different techniques: “fast hunting,” or bounding through tall grass and smoking out birds and rodents; “still hunting,” or staking out a rodent’s burrow and pouncing once it appears; and a slowed down version of fast hunting that finds the cats sneaking up on their victims.
“If you're a gazelle or a wildebeest, a black-footed cat isn't at all deadly,” Hunter concludes. “But those success rates make them the deadliest little cat on Earth." | {
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Some changes are coming in the world of beauty pageants.
According to the BBC, the town council of Chivilcoy in Argentina opted to ban "sexist" beauty competitions, saying they were dangerous to woman because they encourage bulimia, anorexia, violence towards women and more:
Argentine town bans beauty contests A town in Argentina becomes the first in the country to ban beauty queen competitions in its… Read more
The council said that from now on Chivilcoy's festivities and anniversaries would be celebrated by recognising the achievements of young people. They said the contests will be replaced with carnival mask competitions and prizes for volunteering. Correspondents say a debate has been emerging for some time in Argentina about the validity of beauty competitions.
Chivilcoy is the first town in Argentina to create such a ban. The decision is causing controversy because a great deal of women in the region have launched their professional careers in media by starting as beauty pageant winners. However, according to the BBC, the National Institute against Discrimination and Xenophobia supports banning beauty contests to protect women who participate in them from attacks.
[Mariano Anton of Argentina] said his organisation had seen a large number of cases of violence against young participants in various provinces because "they were too beautiful".
In other beauty pageant news, the Miss World pageant announced after 63 years, it was dropping the swimsuit portion of the contest.
"The organization has decided to take itself out of the swimsuit world because it isn't the path they're trying to take," Chris Wilmer, the national director of Miss World America/Miss United States organization told ABC News. "It's not just a beauty contest, it's 'beauty with a purpose'. There didn't seem to be a purpose to have the swimsuit."
Wilmer said Miss World should be a "spokesperson who can help a community. "She's more of an ambassador, not a beauty queen. It's more about the outreach and what a woman could do with a title like Miss World," he said.
But don't count out utterly bizarre pool get-ups from contestants just yet! Wilmer said contestants will still participate in a "beachwear" portion that won't feature bikinis and is meant to be more of a "fashion competition."
TL/DR expect a lot of caftans, giant hats and Bermuda shorts.
It's interesting to see this kind of news coming out of the world of beauty contests. (I honestly never expected to see, during my lifetime, a ban on swimsuit competitions at a major pageant.) So which do you think is a better solution—ditching the pageants altogether or tweaking them so they focus less on objectifying the female form? Can you truly hold a beauty pageant that isn't superficial, at least on some level?
Image via | {
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PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Francois Hollande does not want to chair the European Council when he steps down as French president in May, aides said on Thursday, denying a report that he hoped to succeed Donald Tusk in overseeing negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU.
French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech in Paris, France, January 15, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Mori/POOL
“Completely untrue,” one called the report in Le Parisien newspaper, which cited unnamed sources saying the Socialist hoped to move to Brussels to take a job that might fall vacant within weeks of Hollande leaving office after a May 7 election.
Tusk, a former Polish prime minister whose role chairing summits of European Union leaders has made him the broker for a deal to usher Britain out of the bloc, has yet to say whether he wants to stay on when his first 30-month term ends on May 31.
Hollande’s unpopularity at home - he did not even seek a second term - is no job reference for taking the helm of an EU battling eurosceptics. “It would continue the unhappy tradition of the EU bureaucracy being the dumping ground for failed and unelectable politicians,” Jacob Rees-Mogg, a British lawmaker in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative party, told Reuters.
Several Brussels diplomats and EU government officials said they had heard no talk of Hollande, 62, seeking the Council job. One Council member told Reuters it sounded like a “crazy rumor” - but that there could yet be some logic behind such a move.
European socialists complain that this week’s election of a conservative to replace the center-left speaker of the European Parliament means that either Tusk or European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker should be replaced, since center-right politicians now head all three key EU bodies.
EU officials play down the strength of that argument and note Tusk, 59, enjoys solid support in the Council. There has, however, been speculation that he might be tempted to return to Poland to challenge his right-wing opponents now in power there.
Finally, Hollande has a good relationship with conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel. And founding EU powers Paris and Berlin will want the Council’s 27 remaining members to stick together as they negotiate strict terms for Britain’s divorce.
Hollande’s tough line that Britain will suffer after Brexit has not endeared him to May’s government - Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson this week compared the French president to a World War Two camp guard administering “punishment beatings”, a remark that drew its own round of outrage from continental politicians.
The Council president is chosen by the leaders, ideally by consensus but, if not, by a majority vote that denies any veto. | {
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Twenty countries including Britain, Canada and New Zealand have joined an international alliance to phase out coal from power generation before 2030.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance was unveiled at the COP23 climate talks in Bonn, Germany, which were working out the technical details of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
"I think we can safely say that the response has been overwhelming," Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said.
"There is so much momentum, there is so much ambition in this room."
The alliance, which isn't legally binding, was launched days after a pro-coal presentation by the Trump administration jarred with many ministers who wanted the talks to focus on cleaner energy sources.
Included countries: Angola
Angola Austria
Austria Belgium
Belgium Britain
Britain Canada
Canada Costa Rica
Costa Rica Denmark
Denmark El Salvador
El Salvador Fiji
Fiji Finland
Finland France
France Italy
Italy Luxembourg
Luxembourg The Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands Mexico
Mexico The Netherlands
The Netherlands New Zealand
New Zealand Niue
Niue Portugal
Portugal Switzerland
Australia isn't part of the alliance, which also doesn't include some of the world's biggest coal users China, India, the United States, Germany and Russia.
Coal is responsible for more than 40 per cent of global emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
"Around the world we see close to a million deaths a year from air pollution created by burning coal," Ms McKenna said.
"Not only is there a human cost, there is also a huge economic cost totalling billions of dollars a year."
Since signing the Paris Agreement, several countries had already made national plans to phase out coal from their power supply mix.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance also involves sharing technology to reduce emissions, such as carbon capture and storage, and encouraging the rest of the world to cut usage.
The alliance aims to have at least 50 members by the next UN climate summit in 2018 to be held in Poland's Katowice, one of Europe's most polluted cities.
"I hope the room will have to be four times bigger in Katowice, but we are off for a good start," British Environment Minister Claire Perry said.
Meanwhile, the United States told the talks it is committed to reducing greenhouse gas even though the Trump administration still plans to pull out of the Paris Agreement.
In her closing remarks to the conference, the US State Department's Judith Garber said:
We remain open to the possibility of rejoining [the Paris Agreement] at a later date under terms more favourable to the American people."
The US states of Washington and Oregon have already signed up to the Power Past Coal Alliance.
ABC/wires | {
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Panorama Media
Related Park Sparks Anger with Its Miniskirt Offer Shanghai Daily
Boasting charming rides and themed attractions, the Merry-Land Resort Theme Park is a bit like Southern China’s answer to Disneyland — except for the hordes of miniskirt-wearing women being hosed down by their fellow patrons.
(PHOTOS: China’s Amazing, Bizarre Theme Parks)
The miniskirts are the product of a summer marketing campaign aimed at attracting more visitors. The park offers a half-price discount to all women wearing skirts shorter than 38 inches—and it takes the gimmick very seriously: Staff members wait at the park entrance armed with rulers and anything other than a miniskirt (like a short dress or hot pants) need not apply. “The stipulation aims to encourage female visitors to showcase their beauty in summer,” the park’s deputy manager, Li Wenxing, told Shanghai Daily. The park also encourages patrons to throw water on the mini-skirted women, as part of what it calls a summer “water splashing festival.”
(MORE: ‘Made in China’ U.S. Olympic Uniforms Have Politicians Hopping Mad)
Li says that visitor numbers have soared since the campaign was implemented. But nearby residents aren’t too happy about the ploy, as some believe that the campaign is encouraging women to “behave erotically” in public.
MORE: Uh oh: Zombie Cannibal Face-Chewing Comes to China | {
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The InSight probe has made touchdown and already taken its first picture from the surface of the red planet.
Astronauts from the International Space Station thanked Nasa teams on the ground.
The probe withstood temperatures of 2,700°F (1,500°C) upon entering Mars' atmosphere. | {
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U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, and Dan Sullivan, R-Ark. introduced the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act to address the national shortage of affordable, quality child care, especially in rural communities.
While many families struggle to find access to available child care, states are continuing to experience a noticeable decline in the number of child care providers, leading to the expansion of "child care deserts." In the U.S. House of Representatives, a companion bill was introduced by Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash.
"Affordable, quality child care must be available to every family. Child care shortages across the country pose a moral and financial issue for communities when parents are forced to decide between working and staying at home with their children," Klobuchar stated in a news release. "Our bipartisan Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act will help ensure that every family has good options available to them when planning for their careers and their children."
"The lack of access to affordable, quality child care in rural America hurts not only families, but also employers. Our rural communities face many challenges and this bipartisan bill takes steps to ensure that these communities have the same access to child care as the folks living in urban areas," Peterson said in the release.
According to the release, the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would:
• Help to address the shortage of affordable child care and qualified child care professionals in Minnesota, particularly greater Minnesota.
• Provide competitive grants to states to support (1) the education, training, or retention of the child care workforce or (2) building, renovating, or expanding child care facilities in areas with child care shortages.
• Require applicants to address how their projects would.
• Increase the availability and affordability of quality child care, including during nontraditional hours.
• Help workers obtain portable, stackable credentials to foster increased mobility and opportunities for advancement in child care careers.
• Enhance retention or compensation of quality child care professionals. | {
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By Matthew Mayo, KDnuggets.
There was something more troubling as I went through these, however (and this relates back to my first 2 points at the beginning of the article). Although I was learning how to use TensorFlow, I was finding it difficult to figure out when I would use it. Skimming through the rest of the tutorials, I could see that TensorFlow could be used to implement recurrent neural networks, convolutional neural networks, logistic regression, even Mandelbrot Set generation and visualization (which muddied the picture even further for me, to be honest), but there didn't seem to be any silver bullet (or anything close) as to why I would choose TensorFlow for a given project. I didn't get it . So I dug around further.Some quick Google-fu and it became evident that I was all alone. There were experts everywhere espousing the benefits of TensorFlow. Well, actually, they were talking about how good it was, but with little more substance than you could find on the TensorFlow website. But at least there were reasons given as to why we should use it... right? Well, actually, not so much. I couldn't find a single use case specifically for TensorFlow anywhere. Most "tech experts" were busy focusing on how TensorFlow would "change everything," and speaking vaguely about how AI and machine learning would now be accessible to anyone who wanted to use it (finally!), and how it can run on a plethora of hardware. Honestly, it seemed like a lot of people were doing their very best to not offend Google, without really understanding what's going on, and perhaps just having heard about deep learning for the first time last week. And no, despite my academic tendencies, I will not be citing anyone here. And I still didn't get it And what about deep learning, specifically? TensorFlow can execute in heterogeneous CPU/GPU environments, so there's that. But so can everything else in this space (see here here , and here ). The code (subjectively) isn't any easier to read than, say, Theano (from the experience I have). Also, not getting it.Then there's the (lack of) scalability issue. In its whitepaper, TensorFlow is described (in the title, mind you) as "large-scale machine learning on heterogeneous distributed systems." But the open source version executes on a single node. Self-distribution? Maybe I'm old school, but GPU acceleration does not a distributed system make. I know, I know, the proprietary version is distributed, and there's a good chance that future open source releases will be as well. But until then... that's right. Still not getting it. So, maybe it doesn't do anything that can't be done elsewhere, or elsewhere on numerous machines, but maybe it's quicker. But then again, maybe not. This benchmark report (which has not been independently verified), comparing TensorFlow and some other popular frameworks, does not bode well for the newcomer. The TensorFlow team is rumored to be working on fixing these (and really, would you need a rumor to convince you that Google is actively and continuously looking to improve its products? The Google apps on my Nexus update twice a day!), and so this may simply be a bug to be ironed out of newly-released code. If this is the case, and TensorFlow can keep up with the others, or even surpass them, well, then, we would probably be having a different conversation.If there is one thing it may have going for it already is its ability to execute on multiple devices and platforms. In all honesty, if I ever need to implement a neural network on an Android device, I'll give TensorFlow a serious (and probably first) look. Also, and this isn't a cop out ( because it is important, dammit! ), the documentation (for the Python API) is pretty great, which is more than can be said for a lot of newly open-sourced code.Look, Google is at the forefront of technological innovation, there is no denying that. As other researchers often note, Google is 5+ years ahead of everyone. In everything. All the time. And I will continue to wave my multicolored flag in their honor (but I refuse to say 'Alphabet'). Something just seems a bit... off here. It's like a new pizzeria opening on the block, except it has pretty much the same menu as other shops, doesn't taste quite as good, and costs a little more, too. You might try it out, but something tells me you and your friends end up back at your favorite spot soon enough. Incidentally, I tried for a "deep dish learning" joke here, but just couldn't work it in.I'm not saying don't use TensorFlow. I'm not even saying thatwon't use it. It's just that, well, I'm struggling to figure out when or why I would use it, to be honest. Maybe I'm missing something really obvious that someone else could point out for me. I'd be happy to be proven wrong (or less-correct, relatively speaking). Let us know what you are using TensorFlow for, and what your thoughts on it are.is a computer science graduate student currently working on his thesis parallelizing machine learning algorithms. He is also a student of data mining, a data enthusiast, and an aspiring machine learning scientist. | {
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Android co-founder Andy Rubin has been accused of cheating his wife out of millions through a prenuptial agreement obtained under false pretenses, according to documents unsealed in connection with a related case.
The documents — first unearthed by BuzzFeed’s Ryan Mac — allege that Rubin forced his wife Rie Hirabaru Rubin into the prenuptial agreement just weeks before she was scheduled to give birth to their child, negotiating specific terms until three days before the couple’s city hall wedding. The lawsuit seeks to annul that agreement, which resulted in Rie being cut out of much of the wealth Andy obtained from Google and his later Essential project.
As a complaint, the document is only an allegation and has not been confirmed by the court. Still, it echoes a number of details reported by the New York Times in October, including the allegation that Andy supported a string of mistresses, who would often be loaned to other men in what he described as “an ownership relationship.” The complaint alleges Andy had at least five such mistresses, including one (dubbed “M”) who was “complicit with Rubin in running what appeared to be a sex ring.”
The complaint also alleges that Andy diverted joint funds in order to make personal payouts to a number of women, payouts consistent with the Times’ reporting. According to the complaint, he stopped depositing his Google paychecks in the couple’s joint account in February 2014, shortly after he left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. But Andy continued to be paid by the company, subject to his severance agreement, and simply had the deposits diverted to an individual account, which made hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to other women.
Her lawyer had allegedly represented Andy in a previous divorce
The central claim of the complaint is a breach of duty by Rie’s lawyer, which could invalidate the agreement if affirmed by the court. According to the complaint, her lawyer had represented Andy in a previous divorce, presenting a significant conflict of interest that Andy allegedly concealed from Rie. As a result, Andy was allegedly able to exclude significant portions of his wealth from the prenuptial agreement, including holdings that appear to result from Microsoft’s acquisition of Sidekick manufacturer Danger, where Rubin was a co-founder. According to the plaintiffs, that conflict of interest and the broader irregularities should render the agreement invalid.
Andy Rubin’s departure from Google has been a sore point for a number of employees at the company — particularly his $90 million severance agreement, negotiated in the wake of numerous harassment complaints. News of that agreement motivated the Google walkout in November, which saw more than 20,000 employees leave company offices around the world in symbolic protest. That activism has continued in the months that followed, most recently protesting YouTube’s approach to moderation of anti-LGBTQ slurs.
Reached for comment, lawyers for Andy Rubin described the allegations as an everyday divorce proceeding. “This is a garden variety family law dispute involving a wife who regrets her decision to execute a prenuptial agreement,” a representative said. “It should be litigated in family law court in its entirety.‘’
After publication, Andy Rubin’s lawyer sent along an amended statement, specifically arguing that the legal complaint is “full of false claims”: “This is a family law dispute involving a wife who regrets her decision to execute a prenuptial agreement. It is full of false claims and we look forward to telling our side of the story.”
Update July 2nd, 6:18PM ET: Updated with comment from Andy Rubin’s legal representative.
Update, July 2nd, 7:27PM ET: Updated with second comment from Andy Rubin’s legal representative. | {
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Le roi Philippe a visité mardi après-midi l'atelier de pédagogie créative "Out of the box" à Etterbeek (Bruxelles). L'espace, qui émane d'une initiative privée, est destiné aux jeunes de 15 à 19 ans en décrochage scolaire. Le Roi a exprimé son admiration pour le projet et a admis avoir lui-même rencontré des difficultés à l'école. "Out of the box" a été mis sur pied par Diane Hennebert à l'automne 2015. Les jeunes qui fréquentent actuellement l'atelier ont montré leurs différentes réalisations au roi Philippe. Cela allait de costumes qu'ils ont confectionnés à des poèmes qu'ils ont écrits. Ils ont également fait entendre une chanson de rap qu'ils avaient enregistrée. "Je veux que mes enfants écoutent ce morceau", a commenté le Roi.
Les jeunes se sont par ailleurs confiés quant à leurs difficultés scolaires. "Quand j'étais jeune, j'avais beaucoup de difficultés à l'école", s'est épanché le souverain. "Je me sentais maltraité. Ce n'était pas simple pour moi. Il existe différents types d'intelligence et l'école semble n'être conçue que pour un seul type. Certains enfants ne sont prêts pour un telle approche que des années plus tard. Je pense que c'était mon cas, mais cet endroit est un cadeau exceptionnel pour vous."
L'initiatrice et mécène de "Out of the box", Diane Hennebert, a expliqué le fonctionnement de la résidence. "L'accueil au sein de l'atelier dure un an. Les jeunes retournent ensuite dans une école du système officiel ou passent leurs examens devant un jury central, ou encore partent à l'étranger. D'autres s'inscrivent à l'université ou entament une formation professionnelle. Quoi qu'il en soit, tout le monde part d'ici avec un projet concret. Les résultats sont bluffants."
Durant la rencontre, le Roi a posé de nombreuses questions à la trentaine de jeunes en décrochage. "Avez-vous ici repris goût à la vie? ", "Qui sait déjà ce qu'il veut faire plus tard? ", "Est-ce que vous apprenez beaucoup de choses sur vous-mêmes? ". Les jeunes ont ensuite, à leur tour, interrogé le Roi sur ce qu'il pensait notamment des réseaux sociaux. "Si nous utilisons les réseaux sociaux pour montrer quelqu'un d'autre que celui que nous sommes, pour impressionner, alors c'est mieux de s'en méfier. Vous devez faire attention. Personne n'est parfait, moi non plus", a conclu le roi Philippe. | {
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Money is pouring in to pay for the world's first head transplant, says the man who is ready to make history by becoming a human guinea pig.
Valery Spiridonov has confirmed major donations have started to arrive, allowing surgeon Sergio Canavero to continue planning the operation to remove his head and place it on another body.
However, Spiridonov - who has a muscle wasting disease - refused to confirm reports that unnamed sponsors have pledged $100million (£64million) for the pioneering surgery, dubbed 'reckless' by other medical professionals.
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Support: Valery Spiridonov (pictured) has said major donations have started to arrive by people keen to support the world's first head transplant - which will see the Russian's head put onto a healthy body
Crazy? Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero is the man behind the plan, and has said it is completely possible
The 30-year-old said: 'He [Canavero] received several offers, mainly those were people who contacted him through me, because I'm widely seen on the internet.
'They first contacted me, and then reached out to him.'
The bizarre plan to remove Spirdonov's head first came to light earlier this year, when the Italian doctor and Russia scientist decided to go public.
Since the, the two have attended a conference together in America to try and convince the medical world that the plan is more than an insane publicity stunt.
There was speculation that the entire thing was an extended publicity stunt for a video game - something which well-known surgeon Canavero has strongly denied.
Spiridonov, who suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a spinal muscular atrophy, explained: 'If I manage to replace my body and if everything goes well, it will allow me to be free of the limitations I am experiencing.'
He admitted previously: 'I am not rushing to go under the surgeon's knife, I am not shouting - come and save me here and now.
Convincing: Canavero and Spiridonov appeared at the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons to discuss the neurosurgeon's plan to transplant Spiridonov's head to get support
'Yes, I do have a disease which often leads to death, but my first role in this project is not that of a patient.
'First of all, I am a scientist, I am an engineer, and I am keen to persuade people - medical professionals - that such operation is necessary.
'I am not going crazy here and rushing to cut off my head, believe me.
'The surgery will take place only when all believe that the success is 99 per cent possible.
'In other words, the main task now is to get support for Canavero from the medical community, to let him go on with his methods and to improve them within these two coming years.'
The men hope to carry out the operation in 2017, if 'all goes according to plan'.
Full steam: The cash means the project can move ahead, and they hope to carry out the operation in 2017
Not rushing: Spiridonov says he will only consent to the surgery if it is '99 per cent' likely to succeed
But a leading Russian surgeon, Anzor Khubutia, director of the Moscow-based Sklifosovsky emergency hospital, warned that Canavero's plans were 'reckless'.
'This may be real in the future,' said Khubutia. 'But it's hard to talk about head transplantation before spine regeneration becomes possible.'
Despite doubts like these, Canavero - labelled Dr Frankenstein - insisted in June that the surgery is feasible.
'The Soviet Union was the first one to send Yuri Gagarin to space, America was the first on the moon. The country that hosts head transplant surgery for the first time will become a leader like this,' he said.
He vowed to confound doubters and doom-mongers, claiming: 'I'll prove it is totally possible.' | {
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MALIBU, Calif. — Gender-bender reality-TV star Bruce Jenner rear-ended a car Saturday, causing an accident that killed a woman motorist.
Seven other people were injured in the accident, which happened shortly after noon on the Pacific Coast Highway near its intersection with Corral Canyon Road.
Jenner’s dark blue Cadillac Escalade was towing a dune buggy in a trailer when he rear-ended a white Lexus sedan being driven by an elderly woman.
The Lexus spun into oncoming traffic and smashed head-on into a black Hummer. The impact of the horrifying collision killed the woman, sources said. The victim was identified as 69-year-old widow Kim Howe, of nearby Calabasas, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday.
Officers are investigating why the Lexus stopped or slowed in front of Jenner. They said its driver may have slowed because of the traffic signal at the nearby intersection.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators plan to get search warrants to pull Jenner’s cell phone and records, The Los Angeles Times and TMZ reported on Sunday , to see if he might have been texting just before the fatal crash.
Texting while driving in illegal in California and the celebrity gossip site published pictures of Jenner moments before impact. He appeared to be holding something in his left hand at chest level – but that object was obscured by the cars’ side-view mirror.
Just before the crash, five paparazzi were following Jenner’s car.
Sheriff’s officers denied reports that the photographers were chasing Jenner, and said the former Olympic gold medalist had been taking no evasive action to avoid them.
Moments after the crash, Jenner, wearing a black baseball cap, a blue shirt and loose, baggy pants, was photographed as he peered into the Lexus. Its driver was slumped across the front seat amid crumpled air bags.
Witnesses said the woman was traveling with a young boy, who was seen crying at the scene, near Corral Canyon Road.
The Sheriff’s Department has opened a vehicular manslaughter investigation that will focus on all the surviving drivers, sources told CNN.
Motorist Keoni Picerno, 44, told The Post he was 10 car lengths ahead of the crash and made a U-turn once he realized what had happened.
Jenner, 65, did not appear injured. “He was up walking around, and he returned to his car once he realized the severity of the accident,” Picerno told The Post.
Jenner lives about two miles from the scene. Another witness said Jenner texted his son, Brody, who showed up with his girlfriend as cops questioned his father.
The Olympic gold medalist passed a field sobriety test that required him to walk a straight line and touch his nose. He also submitted a blood sample.
“He did not appear intoxicated or under the influence of anything,” said Sgt. Philip Brooks of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The survivors’ injuries ranged from slight to moderate, sources said. A rescue helicopter took one victim to a hospital.
Three children were passengers in the Hummer, including one who is a month old. They were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Jenner’s trailor may have been a factor. “You have think all that weight from the [Jenner] SUV and the trailer — it’s going to give quite a push when it hits from the rear,” Brooks said.
“The paparazzi were following him but we have no indication he was being chased. Being a celebrity, he is used to that,” the sergeant said.
Another sheriff’s officer said that as of Saturday evening, Jenner had not been arrested or charged with anything.
Jenner is in the midst of a sex-change transition, which he’ll discuss in May with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer.
He’s had roadside run-ins with paparazzi before.
On a 2013 airing of the TV show “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” Jenner and daughter Kylie were shown being chased by paparazzi.
“It drives me nuts,” Jenner said. “I don’t get mad very often but these guys are really ticking me off. I don’t want them following my daughter. That’s just dangerous.”
Top photo by INFPhoto.com
Additional reporting by Amber Jamieson in New York. | {
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Karen and I have our shows that we watch together to unwind. One of our favorite shows is “Adam Ruins Everything“. The show, hosted by Adam Conover is a mainstay on our DVR because it shows the hidden side of many things that we just take for granted in our culture.
A recent episode entitled “Adam Ruins Housing” piqued our interest because, obviously, we’re in the business. Before we watched the episode, we saw a preview of it on Facebook, and had a conversation with some friends about some crazy statements that were made in the clip.
After the episode aired, we knew we had to do an episode to rebut the half truths, misstatements, and outright lies that were told about the real estate industry in the first 6 minutes of the show. Listen in as we share the details of the conversation we had with one of the actual sources cited on the episode. Spoiler alert: His study actually stated the opposite of what the episode said. | {
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SANTA CLARITA, Jan. 13, 2014 – Princess Cruises raised $600,000 during the line’s “Cruising for a Cause” fundraising cruise for veterans this past November. The funds have been divided equally between Operation Homefront and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, with Alan Buckelew, former president and CEO of Princess Cruises and a Vietnam veteran, today presenting a $300,000 check to Jim Knotts, CEO of Operation Homefront. Buckelew previously presented a similar check to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
This special cruise offered passengers the opportunity to honor those who have served in the military as well as active duty military personnel. A number of special guests joined the voyage, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired senior officers from each military branch, an award-winning war correspondent; and other respected speakers. Veterans representing all conflicts participated in the cruise, which also featured special performers, celebrities, panel discussions and military-themed events.
“We were so honored to have hosted this cruise to support these organizations that are doing such vital work for our veterans,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “America’s veterans and their families face immeasurable challenges, and we’re pleased to be able to honor them as well as provide funds to those organizations that assist them.”
Funds were raised by matching a portion of each passenger’s cruise fare as well as other fundraising activities during the special sailing, which took place aboard Caribbean Princess.
About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has met more than 750,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holding an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, nationally, 95 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
About Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
In 1982 the American people helped The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund complete an impossible mission to heal a nation and bring comfort and solace to a generation of veterans. Today, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is working to further this mission by building The Education Center at The Wall, the place on the National Mall where our heroes’ stories will never be forgotten. Since the dedication of The Wall, VVMF has pursued a mission of preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. Learn more at www.buildthecenter.org, or call 866-990-WALL.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company’s website at princess.com.
About Princess Cruises
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess carries 1.7 million passengers each year to destinations around the globe ranging in length from three to 111 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc. | {
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Senior White House aides have grown frustrated with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, the embattled Cabinet secretary, who has been the at the center of several controversies, sources say. | {
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In an age of information overload, we all need strategies and recommendation to navigate humanity’s vast cultural output.
Washington, DC
A presidential portrait is a fertile occasion for metaphor. And as the official portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama spread across social media yesterday, the reactions to the extraordinary paintings were freighted with emotional and historical significance.
In person, the actual paintings convey additional layers of meaning. The Obamas’ official Smithsonian portraits are striking and modern but also nod to an established rule of political portraiture: symbolism.
Celebrated portraitist Kehinde Wiley depicted the 44th US president in a pensive pose, engulfed in flowers from three places in his biography: jasmine for Hawai’i where he grew up, chrysanthemums for Chicago where his political career flourished, and African blue lilies for his late Kenyan father.
“How about that? Pretty sharp,” beamed the former president as he and Wiley pulled the cloth off the seven ft. tall painting, as a crowd of art world insiders, politicians, and Hollywood celebrities cooed in delight.
Kehinde Wiley / Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley
“In a very symbolic way, I’m charting his path on earth through those plants that weave their way,” explained Wiley. “There’s a fight going on between he and the foreground, between him and the plants trying to announce themselves underneath his feet. Who gets to be the star of the show? The story or the man who inhabits that story?”
In Michelle Obama’s portrait, a different symbolic approach
The first lady’s portraitist, Amy Sherald, is less overt with allegorical embellishments, but her subjects herself become symbols, as she presents them more as archetypes than individuals. ”My approach to portraiture is conceptual,” explains Sherald. “Once my paintings are complete, the models no longer exist as themselves. I see something bigger, more symbolic.”
In the first lady’s portrait, Sherald depicts Michelle Obama as the paradigm of a modern woman—”a human being with integrity, intellect, confidence and compassion,” as she puts it. “What you represent to this country,” she said, turning to Obama herself, “is an ideal.”
The Baltimore-based painter presents her subjects in monochromatic backgrounds, their bodies and faces depicted with a grey pallor and neutral expressions, explains Kathryn Wat, chief curator of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. ”Her work offers a much livelier take on portraiture,” says Wat. “It suggests that people are never of a singular personality and much more complex than we might ever imagine.”
Her pose, particularly the decision to show her famous arms, is also symbolic, expressing a quiet defiance, observes Quartz’s Nöel Duan: “The bare-armed portrait is a radical and defiant gesture to the critics who thought Obama was dressed too inappropriately for official state business. She looks serene, almost retreating into her billowing graphic-print gown, but her arms are bold, toned, and bare—a testament to the former First Lady’s 5:30am workouts and unwavering sense of self.”
Amy Sherald / Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery Michelle Obama by Amy Sherald
Obama’s voluminous dress bears additional symbolic weight: The gown from the Milly spring 2017 collection in fact, comes with a sewn-in political agenda. Milly’s designer, Michelle Smith, told the Washington Post that the dress is designed to evoke a populist spirit. “People have been describing the dress as couture, but the fabric is a stretch cotton poplin,” she says. “It could be called a worker’s fabric.” The beauty of the dress, she tells the Post, is that it looks “like couture but it’s made out of something spartan.”
Sherald saw yet another level of symbolism, explaining that she chose the floor-length dress printed with bold, geometric patterns in part as a nod to the legendary group of black quilters from Alabama collective known Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers.
© Pete Souza / Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery
Of course, the Obamas’ historic selection of Wiley and Sherald, both stars in an art world where black artists continue to be sidelined, is meaningful. “The ability to be the first African American painter to paint the first African American president of the United States is absolutely overwhelming,” Wiley said at the ceremony yesterday. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
And even the timing of the unveiling, on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, is deliberately symbolic. “What you may not know is that president Lincoln once credited a portrait for getting him elected,” said David Skorton, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, referring to the striking 1860 photograph taken by Mathew Brady on the day Lincoln gave his famous address at Cooper Union in New York City. Skorton also underscored the connection between Obama and Lincoln’s political paths. “It’s hard to believe that it was just eleven years ago when Barack Obama announced his candidacy in Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois,” he noted. “Eleven years ago this very week.”
The symbolic power of political portraiture
But perhaps the biggest symbolic act is the Smithsonian’s practice of having an “official portrait” made in the first place. The tradition started only in 1994, with George H. W. Bush. A US president today has two “official portraits,” one for the White House and another for the Portrait Gallery.
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool Henry VIII propaganda.
Centuries ago, political portraits were amazingly effective tools of propaganda. The classic example is Hans Holbein the Younger’s 1537 portrait of Henry VIII. A strategic act of fiction, the German painter presented the feeble 45-year-old English king as a plumply robust, formidable alpha male, to assure his subjects of his good health and authority. That painting was copied multiple times and remains the Tudor king’s lasting image.
Of course, one oil painting today cannot define a politician’s legacy, as it did before the advent of digital photography and social media. Today it’s impossible to avoid the unceasing stream of images of political leaders going about their daily business. In the age of Instagram and 24/7 news cycles, the public gets to see their elected officials from many angles, so our perceptions are a composite of official and unofficial portraits.
White House photographer Pete Souza’s genius eye, and lens, gave the public a window into the Obamas’ private lives and inner sanctum. Who’s to say that the vast catalogue of Souza’s iconic and candid Obama images aren’t the former president’s most defining image? In fact, Souza took Obama’s official White House portrait, and was even present at the unveiling to documenting the event. Obama, who has admitted he has little patience for posing for pictures or extended sittings with a painter, is the first US president to opt for a digital photograph for his official White House portrait.
An official oil painting today is largely a ceremonial gesture, its efficacy limited to those who will encounter the paintings in a museum. Wiley’s and Sherman’s thrilling portraits transmit well on social media, but their emotional might truly radiates only when you stand before them at the Portrait Gallery.
The Obama’s new portraits will be on permanent view at the Portrait Gallery starting this week. | {
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An increased intake of 'good' potassium salts could contribute significantly to improving blood pressure at the population level, according to new research. The favourable effect brought about by potassium is even estimated to be comparable with the blood pressure reduction achievable by halving the intake of 'bad' sodium salts (mostly from table salt).
Those are the conclusions drawn by Linda van Mierlo and her colleagues at Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, and Unilever in their investigation of the consumption of potassium in 21 countries. An article describing their findings appears in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases rises as blood pressure increases. In Western countries only 20-30% of the population has 'optimal' blood pressure, with the systolic (maximum) pressure being lower than 120 mm Hg and the diastolic (minimum) pressure lower than 80 mm Hg. Blood pressure increases with age in most people. Men more often have a higher blood pressure than women.
Diet and lifestyle plays an important role in managing blood pressure. High intakes of sodium and low intakes of potassium have unfavorable effects on blood pressure. Therefore, reducing the consumption of sodium and increasing the consumption of potassium are both good ways to improve blood pressure.
The study carried out by food researchers from the Human Nutrition department at Wageningen University and from the Nutrition & Health department at Unilever demonstrates that the average potassium intake in 21 countries including the US, China, New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands varies between 1.7 and 3.7 g a day. This is considerably lower than the 4.7 g a day, which has been recommended based on the positive health effects observed at this level of intake.
A hypothetical increase in the potassium intake to the recommended level would reduce the systolic blood pressure in the populations of these countries by between 1.7 and 3.2 mm Hg. This corresponds with the reduction that would occur if Western consumers were to take in 4 g of salt less per day. The intakes of both potassium and sodium are therefore of importance in preventing high blood pressure.
Earlier studies have shown that salt reduction of 3 g per day in food could reduce blood pressure and prevent 2500 deaths per year due to cardiovascular diseases in the Netherlands. In Western countries, salt consumption can be as high as 9-12 g a day whereas 5 g is the recommended amount according to WHO standards. Most household salt is to be found in processed foods such as bread, ready-made meals, soups, sauces and savoury snacks and pizzas. An effective way of increasing potassium intake is to follow the guidelines for healthy nutrition more closely, including a higher consumption of vegetables and fruit. In addition, the use of mineral salts in processed foods -- by which sodium is partly replaced by potassium -- would contribute to an improved intake of both sodium and potassium. | {
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CHICAGO -- Adam Dunn wears a wooly witness protection-style beard, but he's not going into baseball's version of an undisclosed location.
"You see him right there," Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said, waving toward the outfield. "He's 6-7. You can't miss him. He's a big boy."
Yes, you can't miss Adam Dunn, the $56 million Rob Deer Lite, but all things staying the same, we'll be seeing less of him in a batter's box, which is good news for everyone but AL Central pitchers.
I'm guessing most of his time at the park will be devoted to Words with Friends, fantasy football and looking for the Longhorn Network on the clubhouse TV.
With a month left in the season, and the Dayan Viciedo era fully underway, Guillen sat down and talked with Dunn before Monday's game to explain his new, long-awaited limited role.
Despite all the invective thrown his way, Guillen has always said that when Viciedo gets called up, he's going to play him.
A day after hitting a three-run homer in his 2011 debut, Viciedo hit fifth and was the designated hitter Monday night against the Minnesota Twins, which would placate a disgruntled fan if Alex Rios weren't hitting fourth.
While Dunn sat and Rios got booed off the field, Viciedo (2-for-3) and his Triple-A friends gave this team a little life.
Adam Dunn never shook his season-long slump after signing a big contract with the White Sox in the offseason. Tom Szczerbowski/US Presswire
Viciedo, Alejandro De Aza and Tyler Flowers were the extent of the White Sox's offense Monday night as the Sox won their fourth straight game for only the second time this season, beating the miserable Twins 3-0.
Five wins in a row equals the season's high-water mark. I'm sure there are plenty of good seats available to witness history being repeated.
De Aza doubled, stole third and scored on Flowers' sacrifice fly in the second. In the seventh, Viciedo singled and scored on Flowers' double to center. In the eighth, Viciedo's infield single scored Alexei Ramirez from second.
Flowers, starting for an injured A.J. Pierzynski, has nine RBIs in his past 13 games, including the club's first grand slam of the season on Sunday. He's getting rave reviews from the pitching staff, making Pierzynski look as expendable as Rios and Dunn.
Mark Buehrle, who could be an ace in the National League next season, pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in front of potential Cubs GM candidate Rick Hahn.
Guillen, who espouses the virtues of NL-style ball in the American League, likes the infusion of Triple-A talent. Me too. They don't make me fall asleep.
"It's the Chicago Knights right now," Guillen said before the game, riffing on the Charlotte expats. "But they play the way they played yesterday, I'll take it. I like to manage the kids. I do. Good organizations in the past, if you don't have people from your own minor leagues, then you're no good. And they don't play the game right.
"You start picking people, one guy from one organization, another guy from another organization, another guy, then they don't run the bases the same way, they don't go about their business the same way. There's a different way to teach. It's hard to put anything together. When you grow up with those kids, you're teaching from the minor leagues. You're telling them how to play the game."
I don't know if he directed that monologue as a knock on general manager Kenny Williams' free-wheeling philosophy, but he's not wrong.
Williams' recent big-money moves have been bad and the fans have noticed. Just 24,000 and change showed up on half-price night. Maybe Williams should be the one going to the Cubs.
Instead of trusting that Viciedo, who was signed to a $10 million deal before the 2009 season, could split time in right field and at designated hitter with Carlos Quentin, Williams swung for the fences by signing Dunn to a major deal to be the full-time DH that Guillen eschewed. We applauded Williams in December for his moxie, but his big cuts of late have ended in big whiffs. Just like Dunn himself.
Guillen, who in the same breath blames himself for the team's struggles and says he knows he's a great manager, knows what people have been saying about his seeming stubbornness on the Viciedo matter.
He said he laughed when Viciedo homered in Seattle, telling bench coach Joey Cora that all his critics in Chicago are going to be saying, "It's all Ozzie's fault."
In reality, Guillen has been saying the same thing all season. He'd love to have had Viciedo earlier, but who do you release to get him on the roster? Quentin going to the disabled list finally got "The Tank" rolling.
(Guillen, of course, feels justified that his roster pick, Juan Pierre, has reversed his early season troubles. But to be fair, Pierre's struggles in April helped put this team in a hole.)
Speaking of Dunn, Guillen said the erstwhile slugger took the demotion news well. Considering Dunn is hitting .163 with less pop than Brent Lillibridge, how else could he take it?
In any event, as awkward as Dunn's and Guillen's $56 million conversation was, it had to be better than Bears coach Lovie Smith and running back Chester Taylor's talk. At least Dunn didn't think he was cut.
"We had a little chat," Guillen said. "It was nice. He understands my point. I understand his point. When you have communication, people know what you have in mind. Like I say in the past -- and I keep saying it -- I did it to a few players. I'm not going to kick the guy in the [blank] when he's down. I will figure out how I will play him. I will figure out the best chance for him and the club."
Guillen said Dunn's response was, "You have to do what you have to do. I know it's my fault."
"He understood," Guillen continued. "A lot of people will make excuses or blame the manager and say, 'It's his fault, not my fault that I'm not playing anymore.' I don't say I'm not going to play him anymore. He's just going to get a chance to be down there and energize this thing. And when I see it's time for him to play, I will put him in the lineup." | {
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Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Johnston is set to travel to Moscow to get acquainted with superstar center Evgeni Malkin.
Johnston explained the rationale behind the journey to Josh Yohe of the Tribune-Review:
I want to talk with Geno (Evgeni Malkin). I want to get to know him. I think it's a good thing for a player who he gets to meet his new coach on his home turf. I think it will be comfortable for Geno. It's a chance for me to meet him, and for us to talk, and I think it's important. When training camp comes, you don't really get too much time to talk.
Some may argue it's not the best time to travel to Russia, especially in light of recent tension with Ukraine and the MH17 tragedy involving Fligh MH17.
For his part, Johnston doesn't appear too concerned: "I've been to Russia a lot, probably eight times. I was with the national team in Canada, so I'm comfortable in Moscow. I'm looking for it."
Malkin leads all active Russian players with a 1.22 career point per game average, so getting on the same page right out of the gate may indeed be worth traveling halfway across the world. | {
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Proces wyszukiwania gier na platformie Steam jest coraz mocniej napędzany przez system tagów. Najedźmy myszką na - powiedzmy - Sekiro na pierwszej stronie Steam, a zobaczymy znaczniki takie jak „Souls-like”, „Difficult” i „Action”. Gdy klikniemy jeden z tych tagów, zostaniemy przeniesieni do strony ze wszystkimi grami o tej kategorii. Ale to dopiero początek. Algorytmiczne polecenia gier przez Steam są często oparte właśnie na znacznikach, co oznacza, że możliwości użytkowników do odkrywania nowych gier są częściowo związane z tymi właśnie tagami. M.in. z tego powodu niektórzy użytkownicy Steam i twórcy gier wyrażali swoje niezadowolenie, że Steam nie ma jeszcze oficjalnego tagu LGBTQ+. Aż do wczoraj, kiedy to Valve dodało zatwierdzony tag LGBTQ+.
Na Steamie pojawił się nowy, oficjalny tag - LGBTQ+. Valve postanowiło go dodać po tym, jak jeden z deweloperów zwrócił uwagę, na brak wspomnianego oznaczenia.
Zgodnie z oficjalną dokumentacją udostępnioną portalowi Kotaku przez anonimowego programistę, Steam działa obecnie na globalnym zestawie setek zatwierdzonych tagów. 15 największych tagów gry określa, na których stronach będą wyświetlane gry. Dokumentacja mówi, że tagi informują również o zaleceniach algorytmicznych na Steamie, które skupiają się na grupowaniu gier według nakładających się tagów. Na przykład, gdy logujemy się do Steam, natychmiast zobaczymy największą karuzelę z zaleceniami platformy, która obecnie sugeruje, że powinniśmy kupić DayZ, ponieważ graliśmy w gry oznaczone tagami „Akcja”, „Otwarty świat” i „Przetrwanie”.
Mniejsze gry żyją i umierają w oparciu o tego rodzaju odkrywalność. Obecnie tagi programistów mają większą wagę niż tagi użytkowników, a programiści mają teraz możliwość usuwania tagów - co nie zawsze miało miejsce. Użytkownicy mogą nadal oznaczać gry za pomocą niezatwierdzonych tagów, ale te informacje nie są widoczne dla innych użytkowników, a Steam nie używa tych tagów w ramach sortowania algorytmicznego. Zasadniczo te niestandardowe znaczniki są więc bezużyteczne. W zeszłym roku Valve najwyraźniej usunął funkcjonalność strony centralnej z niezatwierdzonych tagów, pozornie jako część szerszego wysiłku na rzecz standaryzacji systemu tagowania. W ten sposób twórcy, którzy wcześniej oznaczyli swoje gry jako „LGBT” mocno stracili.
Jeden z twórców gier napisał na Twitterze, że skoro Steam usuwa wspomniany znacznik, jest to dobry powód, aby przenosić swoje produkcje na inne platformy. Wtedy Valve nie zareagowało na ten problem, ale teraz, rok później, na Steamie pojawił się oficjalny tag LGBTQ+. Został on dodany po tym, jak niezależny programista Yitz - twórca ręcznie rysowanego RPG Nepenthe i nadchodzącego To The Dark Tower - poruszył ten problem na forach programistów Steam. Niedawno zdał sobie sprawę, że tag LGBTQ+ będzie idealnie pasował do To The Dark Tower, po czym odkrył, że platforma takiego nie oferuje. Po dyskusjach, jakie m.in. Yitz przeprowadził na stronach forum Steama, Valve ostatecznie zdecydowało się na dodanie wspomnianego tagu.
Źródło: Kotaku, Steam | {
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So How Much?
Well, what is it worth to learn g roundbreaking wristlock secrets from a true master – someone that will show you how to tap opponents you currently don’t even dream of defeating?
This is one of the most groundbreaking programs on the market. Jamico (Jay) Elder, is one of the most advanced practitioners (if not THE most) of the wristlock on the planet and he is going to draw back the curtain and let you in on the secrets he’s perfected through the years.
We’d ask how much do you think it would cost to get a personal instructional from Jamico but we won’t bother – dude just has too much going on in his life for that.
So again, how much would you expect to pay for this kind of learning experience?
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Man Utd target Timo Werner says he'll 'definitely' be at RB Leipzig next season
The 22-year-old striker has attracted plenty of suiters with his scoring exploits for the Bundesliga side
striker Timo Werner said he'll "definitely" stay with the German club next season.
Werner has alerted plenty of top teams across Europe with his performances for club and country over the past two seasons.
The 22-year-old scored 21 goals from 31 appearances last season and has 10 in 24 so far this term.
, , and are just a few of the teams linked with a move for the international.
But, speaking to Sky after RB Leipzig drew 0-0 on Sunday, Werner committed his future to his current side, at least for the short term.
Werner was asked if he'd stay at Leipzig until the end of his contract in 2020 and he replied: "Next year, definitely."
Earlier in the week, Werner indicated he'd like to play in the Premier League at some stage in his career.
“Playing in the Premier League is a dream for me," he told FourFourTwo.
"I would like to play for two or three clubs, and Manchester United are one of those clubs. But probably not in the next few years – later, when my English is a little bit better! I’m very comfortable at RB Leipzig, though." | {
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India home ministry disowns call for gay sex ban Published duration 23 February 2012
image caption The 148-year-old colonial law was overturned in 2009
India's home ministry has disowned an apparent call from a government lawyer for a landmark ruling decriminalising gay sex to be overturned.
Additional Solicitor General PP Malhotra had told the Supreme Court that homosexuality was immoral.
But it turned out he had been reading an old statement delivered before the 2009 judgment. The home ministry said there had been a "miscommunication".
The Supreme Court is hearing challenges from groups opposing the new law.
The Delhi High Court ruling in 2009 overturned a 148-year-old colonial law which described a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".
The ruling was welcomed by India's gay community, which said the judgement would help protect them from harassment and persecution.
But political, social and religious groups want the colonial-era law reinstated.
'Highly immoral'
Eyebrows were raised when Mr Malhotra appeared to take their side, telling the Supreme Court: "Gay sex is highly immoral and against social order and there is high chance of spreading of diseases through such acts."
He said that India could not imitate Western practices.
"Our constitution is different and our moral and social values are also different from other countries, so we cannot follow them," Mr Malhotra said, adding that society's disapproval of gay sex was strong enough to criminalise it.
Within hours later, the home ministry issued a statement denying it had called for a new ban on homosexuality.
It said it "has not taken any position on homosexuality".
"After the judgement of the Delhi High Court decriminalising homosexuality was delivered, the matter was considered by the cabinet. The cabinet decided that the government may not appeal against the judgement to the Supreme Court," the statement said.
Officials later said Mr Malhotra had read out from the report the government submitted in the high court before the 2009 ruling.
'What is unnatural sex?'
Many people in India still regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate, but rights groups have long argued that the law contravened human rights.
Section 377 of the colonial Indian Penal Code defined homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and made them illegal.
But the Delhi High Court said the colonial-era law was discriminatory and gay sex between consenting adults should not be treated as a crime. Until the high court ruling, homosexual acts were punishable by a 10-year prison term.
Last week, the Supreme Court began a debate on the legality of decriminalising gay sex in private between consenting adults.
The court asked groups challenging the judgement to define "unnatural sex".
"So who is the expert to say what is 'unnatural sex'? The meaning of the word has never been constant," Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhyaya asked a petitioner who challenged the judgement. | {
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DES MOINES, Iowa—In the Democratic party’s primary-season dialogue, punctuated as it is with talk of impeachment and Medicare-for-all, something is missing.
It’s the rest of the world.
In speeches by 13 presidential contenders to thousands of cheering Democratic activists at a big party event here over the weekend, there were precious few... | {
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Book,38,Raposa,29,Ratinhos,23,Rato,4,Receitas,29,Reciclagem,19,Rei,3,Relogio,4,Rena,30,Revista,73,Riscos,57,Robo,2,Rosa,12,Rosita,1,Roupas,49,Sache,1,Sacolinhas,16,Safari,25,Sala,1,Sansao,1,Santinhas,7,Sapatinhos,29,Sapinhos,12,Sapo,11,Saquinhos,7,Saúde,1,Scrap,13,Scrapbook,10,Script,1,Sereia,16,Serie,2,Shorts,3,Show da Luna,1,Silicone,1,Slider,21,Sol,1,Sonic,2,Sorvete,2,Star wars,3,Surpresa,4,Tapete,20,Tartarugas,10,Tear,3,Tecido,175,Teia,1,Tela,1,Tema,4,Tenis,7,Terrarios,1,Thor,1,Tiara,9,Tigre,2,Tildas,4,Toalhas,6,Toalhinhas de mao,4,Toca,1,Topo de bolo,4,Torre,1,Torta,1,Torta Fake,1,Touca,5,Toy Story,2,Toys,1,Trabalhos manuais,617,Trader,2,Trança,1,Travesseiros,3,Trico,12,Tucano,1,Turma,12,Turma da Monica,5,Turma do Chaves,6,Tutorial,116,Tv,1,Unhas,1,Unicornio,83,Ursinho,111,Ursinho Pooh,7,Ursinhos,180,Urso,36,Vaca,15,Veados,3,Vegetais,2,Veiculos,3,Velcro,1,Ver e Fazer,3,Verduras,2,Vestido,20,vide,1,Video,49,Videos,669,Visual,1,Wallpaper,12,Youtube,22,Zebra,3,Zumbi,19, ltr item Como Fazer: Como fazer um Bolo Fake em Feltro Como fazer um Bolo Fake em Feltro https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEbWCgaIhBU/WrksdbAN4eI/AAAAAAAAOHY/KXQdyDnQogczpd2xdNqunPEbKFSmWi6TwCLcBGAs/s640/Moldes%2Bde%2Bbolo%2B%2Bem%2BFeltro%2Btorta%2Btutorial%2Bdicas%2Bblog%2Bartesanato%2B1.jpg https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEbWCgaIhBU/WrksdbAN4eI/AAAAAAAAOHY/KXQdyDnQogczpd2xdNqunPEbKFSmWi6TwCLcBGAs/s72-c/Moldes%2Bde%2Bbolo%2B%2Bem%2BFeltro%2Btorta%2Btutorial%2Bdicas%2Bblog%2Bartesanato%2B1.jpg Como Fazer https://www.verefazer.org/2018/03/como-fazer-um-bolo-fake-em-feltro.html https://www.verefazer.org/ https://www.verefazer.org/ https://www.verefazer.org/2018/03/como-fazer-um-bolo-fake-em-feltro.html 4084861044654339844 UTF-8
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Several of the world’s central banks have adopted negative interest rates. But why would investors go along? There are several possible reasons:
1. Security and safety: Government bonds or insured bank deposits are backed by the full faith and credit of a sovereign nation, which has the ability to issue currency to make repayments.
2. Returns are relative: In Europe, for example, purchasing bonds yielding more that the official rate at the central bank — even if it is negative — is the least worst alternative.
3. Speculation: Investors may be attracted by the opportunity for capital gains from price appreciation if they expect yields to become even more negative. Foreign investors also may be attracted by possible currency appreciation.
Wisconsin challenges election 2016 front-runners
4. Real returns: Investors may favor real return over nominal return. Bonds with nominal low- or negative return may preserve or increase purchasing power in situations where the expected deflation is greater than the negative yield, providing positive real yield.
5. Investment mandate: Fund managers may be forced to purchase negative yielding bonds, irrespective of the fact that it locks in a loss.
6. Banks’ and insurers’ mandate:Financial institutions may be forced to purchase negative yielding securities, given liquidity regulations that require these entities to hold high-quality securities.
7. Central banks’ mandate: Central banks with restricted investment choices are also buyers of negative-yielding securities.
Read: Negative interest rates put the global economy on a razor’s edge
Coping strategies
Yet large and persistent negative interest rates would meet significant resistance, triggering alternative strategies to avoid losses.
To begin with, investors can withdraw cash and hold it. In the 1990s, low interest rates and concern about bank failures drove significant withdrawals of cash in Japan, creating something of a bull market for home safes.
Nowadays, Europe and Japan are seeing record purchases of safes, presumably designed to store cash and avoid the impact of negative rates.
Second, investors may avoid negative rates by resorting to a variety of near-cash instruments. For instance, businesses could take payment by bank checks that would not be deposited until the money was needed.
Third, investors could hold savings in foreign currencies, converting into a negative-yielding currency when needed. This strategy avoids negative yields but entails foreign-exchange risk, unless this can be effectively hedged.
Fourth, real assets such as land, property, commodities — especially precious metals and collectibles — would be favored. Businesses also could stockpile inventory.
Fifth, payments would be made quickly. This strategy could be extended to prepayments of taxes, suppliers, or employees, where parties could pay for future obligations in advance. While this avoids the impact from negative yields, it does carry credit- and performance risk.
Yet while these mechanisms cope with negative yields, they are socially and economically destructive. Funds become tied up in unproductive assets. Savings do not circulate to provide essential financing of social and industrial investment, reducing growth. Capital allocation is distorted by the sole desire to avoid negative rates.
Moreover, a shift out of banking deposits would adversely affect the funding of banks. The reduction and instability of funding, as liabilities shift to certified checks or prepayments, may reduce the ability of the financial system to extend credit, further hampering economic activity.
Read:This is why you can expect another global stock market meltdown
Trashing cash
The most radical consequence of negative rates would be the abolition of cash itself.
To date, the case for banning cash has been couched in terms of deterring criminality or terrorism, eliminating tax avoidance, enhancing efficiency by faster funds-flows, reducing costs, or even improving hygiene by preventing contact with bacteria and virus-harboring notes.
In a future economic or financial crisis, current low rates would restrict the effectiveness of monetary policy. Enhancing the ability to use negative rates would provide central banks with additional flexibility and tools to deal with a slowdown. This would be an imaginative, rapid, and durable mechanism for levying negative rates to confiscate savings.
Abolishing cash would require a revolutionary change. Despite the increasing acceptance of electronic payment, cash is still extensively used throughout the world In effect, currency remains an important medium of exchange and means of payment for legitimate, legal transactions.
Cash use is especially high among both poor and older people. Accordingly, the elimination of currency would have implications for social and financial exclusion. The cost of converting these users to digital payments would be substantial.
Central banks also would lose financially, experiencing a decline in “seigniorage revenue” — the difference between the minimal cost of creating currency and the investment return on government bonds. The amounts lost are significant, reducing both the loss-absorption capacity of central banks and a source of revenue for public finances.
An exclusively digital or electronic payment system also increases security and operational risks significantly; counterfeiting, cyber-hacking, and disruptions due to technology failures would be considerable.
Of course, banishing cash would likely meet stiff resistance. People are likely to object to the loss of the anonymity and privacy that cash provides. Where the elimination of cash is linked to negative rates, it would be seen as a tax on savers and the state confiscation of savings. The intrusion of the state and authorities on such a mass scale would undoubtedly become an explosive political issue.
Satyajit Das is a former banker and author of The Age of Stagnation (Prometheus Books). | {
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Alfred Valrie of Los Angeles is a loyal AT&T customer, paying for pretty much everything the company offers: cellular service, a landline, home Internet, and TV.
But Valrie recently made the mistake of sending a polite e-mail to the CEO of AT&T, Randall Stephenson. (Stephenson's e-mail address, [email protected], and other contact information have been online for a few years.) In the e-mail, Valrie suggested that AT&T should offer unlimited data to DSL customers and cheaper, limited text messaging plans for people who don't need unlimited messages.
Valrie signed the message, "Your lifelong customer, Alfred Valrie."
What CEO wouldn't want to hear from a lifelong customer? Stephenson, apparently. Valrie wasn't expecting a response at all; he got one, but it came from an AT&T lawyer rather than the CEO.
"AT&T has a policy of not entertaining unsolicited offers to adopt, analyze, develop, license or purchase third-party intellectual property... from members of the general public," AT&T Chief Intellectual Property Counsel Thomas Restaino wrote to Valrie, according to The Los Angeles Times. "Therefore, we respectfully decline to consider your suggestion." (Restaino also thanked Valrie for being a lifelong customer.)
Times reporter David Lazarus assumed the response to Valrie was just a mistake, but it wasn't.
"In the past, we've had customers send us unsolicited ideas and then later threaten to take legal action, claiming we stole their ideas," AT&T spokesperson Georgia Taylor explained to Lazarus. "That's why our responses have been a bit formal and legalistic. It's so we can protect ourselves."
Taylor said that AT&T "will take a look at our processes to see where we can do better going forward." AT&T had no further comment when contacted by Ars today.
Something similar happened more than five years ago when an AT&T customer e-mailed Stephenson a couple of times to complain about iPhone upgrade eligibility dates and data plans. AT&T threatened to send a formal cease-and-desist letter unless he stopped contacting Stephenson but then apologized to the customer after his story was reported by various media outlets.
Lazarus pointed out that AT&T's actions seem to be inconsistent with the company's code of business conduct.
"Our customers should always know we value them," the AT&T code says. "We listen to our customers... We earn and preserve their trust by treating them with honesty and integrity and in a professional, courteous manner."
Just be extra careful about e-mailing the CEO.
UPDATE: A day after the Times story, Stephenson admitted to the newspaper that "We blew it, plain and simple, and it's something I've already corrected." | {
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DMZ – FORSCHUNG / MEDIZIN / POLITIK ¦
GASTKOMMENTAR von Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Paul Robert Vogt
Überlegungen eines besorgten Schweizer Bürgers
Vorwort: wieso nehme ich überhaupt Stellung?
Aus 5 Gründen:
1. bin ich mit meiner Stiftung «EurAsia Heart – A Swiss Medical Foundation» seit mehr als 20 Jahren in EurAsien tätig, habe fast ein Jahr in China gearbeitet und seit 20 Jahren eine kontinuierliche Verbindung zum «Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College/Huazhong University of Science and Technology» in Wuhan, wo ich eine meiner vier Gastprofessuren in China habe. Die 20-jährige Verbindung zu Wuhan habe ich auch in den jetzigen Zeiten konstant aufrechthalten können.
2. ist COVID-19 nicht nur ein Problem der mechanischen Beatmung, sondern betrifft das Herz in ähnlicher Weise. 30% aller Patienten, welche die Intensivstation nicht überleben, versterben aus kardialen Gründen.
3. ist die letzt-mögliche Therapie des Lungenversagens eine invasiv-kardiologische, respektive kardiochirurgische: die Verwendung einer «ECMO», der Methode der «extrakorporellen Membran-Oxygenation», d.h. die Verbindung des Patienten mit einer externen, künstlichen Lunge, welche bei diesem Krankheitsbild die Funktion der Lunge des Patienten so lange übernehmen kann, bis diese wieder funktioniert.
4. bin ich – ganz einfach – um meine Meinung gefragt worden.
5. sind sowohl das Niveau der medialen Berichterstattung wie auch sehr viele Leser-Kommentare nicht ohne Widerspruch hinzunehmen und zwar in Bezug auf Fakten, Moral, Rassismus und Eugenik. Sie benötigen dringend einen Widerspruch durch zuverlässige Daten und Angaben.
Die dargelegten Fakten entstammen wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten, welche ein «peer-review» durchlaufen haben und in den besten medizinischen Zeitschriften publiziert worden sind. Viele dieser Fakten waren bis Ende Februar bekannt. Hätte man diese medizinischen Fakten zur Kenntnis genommen und wäre man fähig gewesen, Ideologie, Politik und Medizin zu trennen, wäre die Schweiz heute mit grosser Wahrscheinlichkeit in einer besseren Lage: wir hätten pro Kopf nicht die zweitmeisten COVID-19-positiven Leute weltweit und eine bedeutend kleinere Zahl an Menschen, welche ihr Leben im Rahmen dieser Pandemie verloren haben. Zudem hätten wir mit grosser Wahrscheinlichkeit keinen partiellen, unvollständigen «Lock-down» unserer Wirtschaft und keine kontroversen Diskussionen, wie wir hier wieder «herauskommen».
Anmerken möchte ich noch, dass alle wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten, die ich erwähne, bei mir im Original erhältlich sind.
1. Die Zahlen in den Medien
Es ist verständlich, dass alle das Ausmass dieser Pandemie auf die eine oder andere Art erfassen möchten. Nur, die tägliche Rechnerei hilft uns nicht weiter, da wir nicht wissen, wie viele Personen lediglich folgenlos Kontakt mit dem Virus hatten und wie viele Personen tatsächlich krank geworden sind.
Die Anzahl asymptomatischer COVID-19 Träger ist wichtig, um Vermutungen über die Ausbreitung der Pandemie machen zu können. Um brauchbare Daten zu haben, hätte man jedoch zu Beginn der Pandemie breite Massentests durchführen müssen. Heute kann man nur noch vermuten, wie viele Schweizer Kontakt mit COVID-19 hatten. Eine Arbeit mit einer amerikanisch-chinesischen Autorenschaft hat schon am 16. März 2020 publiziert, dass auf 14 dokumentierte mit 86 nicht-dokumentierten Fällen von COVID-19-positiven Personen zu rechnen ist. In der Schweiz muss man deshalb damit rechnen, dass wohl 15x bis 20x mehr Personen COVID-19-positiv sind, als in den täglichen Berechnungen dargestellt wird.
Um den Schweregrad der Pandemie zu beurteilen, bräuchten wir andere Daten:
eine exakte, weltweit gültige Definition der Diagnose «an COVID-19 erkrankt»: a) positiver Labortest + Symptome; b) positiver Labortest + Symptome + entsprechender Befund im Lungen-CT; oder c) positiver Labortest, keine Symptome, aber entsprechende Befunde im Lungen-CT.
die Anzahl hospitalisierter COVID-19-Patienten auf der Allgemeinabteilung
die Anzahl COVID-19-Patienten auf der Intensivstation
die Anzahl beatmeter COVID-19-Patienten
die Anzahl von COVID-19-Patienten am ECMO
die Anzahl an COVID-19 Verstorbenen
die Anzahl infizierter Ärzte und Pflegepersonen
Nur diese Zahlen ergeben ein Bild vom Schweregrad dieser Pandemie, respektive von der Gefährlichkeit dieses Virus. Die aktuelle Anhäufung von Zahlen ist derart ungenau und hat einen Touch von «Sensations-Presse» - das letzte, was wir in dieser Situation noch brauchen.
2. «Eine gewöhnliche Grippe»
Handelt es sich hier nur um «eine gewöhnliche Grippe», die jedes Jahr vorüberzieht und gegen die wir üblicherweise «nichts» unternehmen – oder um eine gefährliche Pandemie, welche rigide Massnahmen benötigt?
Um diese Frage zu klären, muss man bestimmt keine Statistiker fragen, die noch nie einen Patienten gesehen haben. Die reine, statistische Beurteilung dieser Pandemie ist sowieso unmoralisch. Fragen muss man die Leute an der Front.
Keiner meiner Kollegen – und ich natürlich auch nicht – und niemand vom Pflegepersonal kann sich erinnern, dass in den letzten 30 oder 40 Jahren folgende Zustände herrschten, nämlich dass:
ganze Kliniken mit Patienten gefüllt sind, welche alle dieselbe Diagnose besitzen; ganze Intensivstationen mit Patienten gefüllt sind, welche alle dieselbe Diagnose aufweisen; 25% bis 30% der Pflegenden und der Ärzteschaft genau jene Krankheit auch erwerben, welche jene Patienten haben, die sie betreuen; zu wenig Beatmungsgeräte zur Verfügung standen; eine Patientenselektion durchgeführt werden musste, nicht aus medizinischen Gründen, sondern weil wegen der schieren Anzahl an Patienten schlicht das entsprechende Material gefehlt hat; die schwerer erkrankten Patienten alle dasselbe – ein uniformes – Krankheitsbild aufgewiesen haben; die Todesart jener, die auf der Intensivstationen verstorben sind, bei allen dieselbe ist; Medikamente und medizinisches Material auszugehen drohen.
Aufgrund von 1-8) ist es klar, dass es sich um einen gefährlichen Virus handelt, der dieser Pandemie zugrunde liegt.
Die Behauptungen, eine «Influenza» sei genau gleich gefährlich und koste jedes Jahr gleich viele Opfer ist falsch. Zudem ist die Behauptung, man wisse nicht, wer «an» und wer «wegen» COVID-19 sterbe, ebenso aus der Luft gegriffen.
Vergleichen wir Influenza und COVID19: hat man das Gefühl, bei Influenza seien immer alle Patienten «wegen» Influenza gestorben und nie einer «mit»? Sind wir Mediziner im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie nun alle plötzlich so verblödet, dass wir nicht mehr unterscheiden können, ob jemand «mit» oder «wegen» COVID-19 stirbt, wenn diese Patienten eine typische Klinik, typische Laborbefunde und ein typisches Lungen-CT aufweisen? Aha, bei der Diagnose «Influenza» waren natürlich alle immer hellwach und haben immer die ganze Diagnostik bemüht und waren immer sicher: nein, bei der Influenza sterben alle «wegen» und nur bei COVID-19 viele «mit».
Zudem: wenn es in einem Jahr in der Schweiz angeblich 1600 Influenza-Tote gab, so sprechen wir über 1600 Tote über 12 Monate – ohne präventive Massnahmen. Bei COVID-19 gab es jedoch 600 Tote in 1(!) Monat und das trotz massiver Gegenmassnahmen. Radikale Gegenmassnahmen können die Verbreitung von COVID-19 um 90% senken – man kann sich also vorstellen, welches Szenario ohne Gegenmassnahmen herrschen würde.
Zudem: in einem Monat wurden in der Schweiz >2200 Patienten wegen COVID-19 hospitalisiert und es wurden gleichzeitig bis zu 500 Patienten auf verschiedenen Intensivstationen hospitalisiert. Nie hat jemand von uns auch nur annähernd solche Zustände im Rahmen einer «Influenza» gesehen.
Im Rahmen einer «gewöhnlichen» Influenza erwerben ca. 8% der Betreuenden ebenfalls eine Influenza, aber niemand stirbt daran. Bei COVID-19 werden 25% bis 30% der Betreuenden infiziert und das ist mit einer signifikanten Mortalität verbunden. Dutzende von Ärzten und Pflegepersonen, die COVID-19 Patienten betreut haben, sind an derselben Infektion verstorben.
Zudem: suchen Sie einmal die harten Zahlen zu «Influenza»! Sie werden keine finden. Was sie finden, sind Schätzungen: ca. 1000 oder 1600 in der Schweiz; ca. 8000 in Italien; ca. 20'000 in Deutschland. Eine FDA-Studie (US Food and Drug Administration) hat untersucht, wie viele der 48'000 Influenza-Toten eines Jahres in den USA wirklich wegen klassischer Influenza-Pneumonie gestorben sind. Resultat: alle möglichen Krankheitsbilder wurden unter «Tod durch Pneumonie» subsummiert, so z.B. auch die Lungenentzündung eines Neugeborenen, der bei der Geburt Fruchtwasser in die Lunge aspiriert hat. Die Anzahl der effektiv «wegen Influenza verstorbenen» - Patienten sank in dieser Analyse dramatisch weit unter 10'000 ab.
Auch in der Schweiz kennen wir die genaue Anzahl von Patienten nicht, die jährlich an Influenza versterben. Und dies trotz Dutzender massiv überteuerter Datenerfassungs-Systeme; trotz sinnloser Doppel- und Triple-Erfassung der Daten durch Kliniken, Krankenkassen und Gesundheitsdirektionen; trotz eines sinnlosen und überteuerten DRG-Systems, das nur Nonsens produziert. Wir können nicht mal exakt die Zahlen von hospitalisierten Influenza-Patienten pro Monat liefern! Aber Millionen und Milliarden für überteuerte und kontraproduktive IT-Projekte verschwenden.
Aufgrund des aktuellen Wissensstandes kann man insgesamt nicht von einer «gewöhnlichen Grippe» reden. Und deshalb ist die widerstandslose Durchseuchung der Gesellschaft auch kein Rezept. Ein Rezept, notabene, welches Grossbritannien, die Niederlande und Schweden versucht und nacheinander aufgegeben haben.
Aufgrund des aktuellen, mangelhaften Wissensstandes sagen auch die Zahlen des Monats März überhaupt nichts aus. Wir können glimpflich davonkommen, oder eine Katastrophe erleben. Rigide Massnahmen bewirken, dass die Kurve der Kranken flacher verläuft. Es geht aber nicht nur um die Höhe der Kurve, es geht auch um die Fläche unter der Kurve und diese repräsentiert am Ende die Anzahl Toter.
3. «Es sterben nur alte und kranke Patienten»
Prozentzahlen – Nebendiagnosen – Moral und EUGENIK
Das Alter der in der Schweiz Verstorbenen liegt zwischen 32 und 100 Jahren. Zudem gibt es einige Studien und Berichte, welche zeigen, dass auch Kinder an COVID-19 verstorben sind.
Ob wegen COVID-19 nun 0.9% oder 1.2% oder 2.3% versterben ist sekundär und bloss Futter für Statistiker. Relevant ist die absolute Anzahl an Toten, die diese Pandemie verursacht. Sind 5000 Tote weniger schlimm, wenn sie 0.9% aller COVID-19-Träger darstellen? Oder sind 5000 Tote schlimmer, wenn sie 2.3% aller COVID-19-Träger darstellen?
Angeblich beträgt das durchschnittliche Alter der verstorbenen Patienten 83 Jahre, was von vielen – von zu vielen in unserer Gesellschaft – wohl als vernachlässigbar abgetan wird.
Die lässige Grosszügigkeit, wenn andere sterben, ist in unserer Gesellschaft nicht zu übersehen. Das andere, das sofortige Geschrei und die immediaten Schuldzuweisungen, wenn es einem selber oder nächste Angehörige trifft, kenne ich zur Genüge.
Alter ist relativ. Der eine US-Präsidentschafts-Kandidat ist heute 73 und der andere ist 77 Jahre alt. Mit guter Lebensqualität ein hohes, selbstbestimmtes Alter zu erreichen, ist ein hohes Gut, für das wir in der Schweiz ins Gesundheitswesen investiert haben. Und es ist das Resultat der Medizin, dass man auch mit drei Nebendiagnosen bei guter Lebensqualität ein hohes Alter erreichen kann. Diese positiven Errungenschaften unserer Gesellschaft sind nun plötzlich nichts mehr wert, sondern, mehr noch, nur noch eine Last?
Zudem: wenn 1000 über 65-Jährige oder 1000 über 75-Jährige untersucht werden, die bisher meinten, sie seien gesund, haben nach einem gründlichen Check wohl >80% neu 3 "Nebendiagnosen", besonders wenn es sich um die weit verbreiteten Diagnosen „hoher Blutdruck“ oder „Zucker“ handelt.
Gewisse Medien-Artikel und Leser-Kommentare – viel zu viele, meiner Meinung nach – überschreiten bei dieser Diskussion jede Grenze, haben den üblen Geruch der Eugenik und es kommen Erinnerungen an bekannte Zeiten auf. Muss ich wirklich jene Jahreszahlen nennen? Es erstaunt mich, dass unsere Medien nicht bemüht sind, in dieser Sache einmal Klartext zu schreiben. Es sind ja unsere Medien, welche diese erbärmlichen Meinungsäusserungen in ihren Kommentarspalten publizieren und so stehen lassen. Und ebenso erstaunlich ist, dass die Politiker es nicht für notwendig erachten, einmal eine klare Stellungnahme zu diesem Punkt abzugeben.
4. Diese Pandemie war angekündigt
War die Schweiz minimal auf diese Pandemie vorbereitet? NEIN.
Hat man Vorkehrungen getroffen, als COVID-19 im China ausgebrochen ist? NEIN.
Hat man wissen können, dass eine COVID-19-Pandemie über die Welt ziehen wird?
JA, SIE WAR ANGEKÜNDIGT UND DIE DATEN LAGEN BIS MÄRZ 2019 VOR.
SARS war 2003 . MERS war 2012 . 2013 hat der Deutsche Bundestag Katastrophen-Szenarien diskutiert: wie bereitet sich Deutschland auf Katastrophen, z.B. Überschwemmungen vor. In diesem Rahmen wurde auch diskutiert, wie Deutschland auf eine zukünftigen SARS-Pandemie reagieren muss! Ja, im Jahre 2013 hat der Deutsche Bundestag eine SARS-Corona-Pandemie in Europa und Deutschland simuliert! In 2015 wurde eine experimentelle Gemeinschaftsarbeit von Forschern aus drei US-Universitäten, Wuhan und einem italienischen Forscher aus Varese, der in Bellinzona ein Labor hat, publiziert. Diese produzierten synthetisch hergestellte Corona-Viren im Labor und infizierten damit Zellkulturen und Mäuse. Grund der Arbeit: man wollte einen Impfstoff respektive monoklonale Antikörper produzieren, um gegen die nächste Corona-Pandemie gewappnet zu sein. Ende 2014 hatte die US-Regierung Forschung an MERS und SARS wegen der Gefährlichkeit für Menschen für ein Jahr ausgesetzt. 2015 hielt Bill Gates eine weit beachtete Rede und meinte: die Welt sei auf die nächste Corona-Pandemie unvorbereitet. 2016 erschien erneut eine Forschungsarbeit, welche mit Corona-Viren hantierte. Das «Summary» dieser Publikation muss man sich auf der Zunge zergehen lassen, denn es handelt sich hier um die perfekte Beschreibung dessen, was aktuell abläuft:
“Focusing on SARS-like CoVs, the approach indicates that viruses using the WIV1-CoV spike protein are capable of infecting human alveolar endothelium cultures directly without further spike adaptation. Whereas in vivo data indicate attenuation relative to SARS-CoV, the augmented replication in the presence of human Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Typ 2 in vivo suggests that the virus has significant pathogenic potential not captured by current small animal models.” Im März 2019 wurde in der epidemiologischen Studie von Peng Zhou aus Wuhan gesagt, dass u.a. aufgrund der Biologie der Corona-Viren in den Fledermäusen („bat“) in China vorausgesagt werden kann, dass es in Kürze eine erneute Corona-Pandemie geben werde. Mit Sicherheit! Man könne nur nicht genau sagen wann und wo, aber China werde der hot-spot sein.
Im Prinzip waren das 8 KONKRETE, DEUTLICHE WARNUNGEN INNERHALB VON 17 JAHREN, dass so etwas kommen wird. UND DANN KOMMT ES TATSÄCHLICH! Im Dezember 2019, 9 Monate nach Peng Zhou's Warnung. Und die Chinesen informieren die WHO nachdem sie 27 Patienten mit atypischer Pneumonie ohne Todesfall gesehen haben. Noch am 31. Dezember beginnt die Reaktionskette von Taiwan, die aus insgesamt 124 Massnahmen bestand – alles bis zum 03. März 2020 publiziert. Und nein, es wurde nicht auf Taiwanesisch-chinesisch in einer Asiatischen Medizinischen Zeitschrift publiziert, sondern unter Mitarbeit der University of California im „Journal of American Medical Association“.
Das Einzige was man tun musste: ab dem 31. Dezember 2019 „bat + coronavirus“ in «PubMed», der U.S. National Library of Medicine, eingeben und alle Daten lagen vor. Und man musste nur die Publikationen bis Ende Februar 2020 verfolgen, um zu wissen, 1) was auf uns zukommt und 2) was zu tun ist.
Uzbekistan hat im Dezember ihre 82 Studenten aus Wuhan zurückbeordert und alle in Quarantäne gesteckt. Am 10. März habe ich von Uzbekistan aus, weil ich nach meiner Meinung gefragt worden war, die Schweiz gewarnt: Parlamentarier, Bundesrat, BAG, Medien.
Und was hat die Schweiz seit der Meldung China's an die WHO am 31. Dezember 2019 gemacht? Unsere Landesregierung, unser BAG, unsere Experten, unsere Pandemiekommission? Es sieht so aus, dass sie nichts mitbekommen haben. Natürlich, die Situation ist heikel. Sollte man die Bevölkerung informieren? Panik säen? Wie vorgehen? Was man wenigstens hätte tun können: die exzellenten wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten der Chinesischen und Amerikanisch-Chinesischen Wissenschaftler studieren, die in den besten Amerikanischen und Englischen Medizinischen Zeitschriften publiziert worden sind.
Man hätte wenigstens – und das wäre ohne Information an die Bevölkerung, ohne Panik zu säen, machbar gewesen – man hätte wenigstens das notwendige medizinischen Material auffüllen können. Dass die Schweiz mit ihrem 85-Milliarden-schweren Gesundheitswesen, in welchem eine durchschnittliche 4-köpfige Mittelstandsfamilie die Krankenkassen-Prämien nicht mehr bezahlen kann, nach 14 Tagen lauem Gegenwind an der Wand steht, über zu wenig Masken, zu wenig Desinfektionsmittel und zu wenig medizinischem Material verfügt, ist eine Schande. Was hat die Pandemie-Kommission gemacht? Wenn das keine PUK braucht. Aber keine, die nur mit Politkern besetzt ist.
Und so hat sich das behördliche Versagen bis heute fortgesetzt. Keine der von Singapur, Taiwan, Hongkong oder China erfolgreich eingesetzten Massnahmen wurden angewendet. Keine Grenzschliessung, keine Grenzkontrollen, jeder konnte und kann immer noch problemlos in die Schweiz immigrieren ohne überhaupt kontrolliert zu werden (habe ich am 15. März selber so erfahren).
Es waren die Österreicher, welche die Grenze zur CH geschlossen haben und es war die italienische Regierung, welche Ende März endlich die SBB gestoppt hat und so weiter und so fort. Und noch heute gibt es keine Quarantäne für Personen, die in die Schweiz einreisen.
Wurde die Forschungsgruppe von Antonio Lanzavecchia in Bellinzona konsultiert? Antonio Lanzavecchia, der an den oben erwähnten Forschungsarbeiten zu den synthetisch hergestellten Corona-Viren als Co-Autor beteiligt war? Wie kann es sein, dass Hr. Lanzavecchia am 20. März in einem kleinen Tessiner TV-Sender sagt, dass dieses Virus extrem ansteckend und extrem resistent sei – das BAG am 22. März, 2 Tage später also, von einem «Silberstreifen am Horizont» schreibt?
Wie kann es sein, dass eine gemischt Amerikanische-Chinesische Autorenschaft am 06. März im «Science» publiziert, dass nur eine kombinierte Grenzschliessung und eine lokale Ausgangssperre effektiv sind, dann aber die Verbreitung des Virus um 90% einzudämmen vermögen – das BAG und Bundesrat aber mitteilen, dass Grenzschliessungen nichts bringen, «weil sich die meisten sowieso zu Hause anstecken» würden.
Das Maskentragen wurde für nicht notwendig befunden – aber nicht, weil dessen Effektivität nicht bewiesen wäre. Nein, weil man schlicht nicht genügend Masken zur Verfügung stellen konnte. Man müsste lachen, wenn es nicht so tragisch wäre: statt die eigenen Versäumnisse einzugestehen und sie immediat zu korrigieren, hat man lieber den Deutschen Botschafter einbestellt. Was hat man ihm gesagt? Dass das 85-Milliarden-schwere Schweizer Gesundheitswesen keine Masken hat, um seine Bürger, Pflegende und Ärzte zu schützen?
Die Serie von peinlichen Pannen lässt erweitern: Hände-Desinfektion! Empfohlen, da wirksam und schon zu Zeiten der Spanischen Grippe empfohlen. Haben wir von unseren Entscheidungsträgern je gehört, welche Desinfektionsmittel denn wirksam sind und welche nicht? Haben wir nicht, obwohl am 06. Februar 2020 ein Summary von 22 Arbeiten im «Journal of Hospital Infection» publiziert worden ist, welches schon damals berichtete, dass Corona-Viren bis zu 9 Tage auf Metall, Plastik und Glas überleben können und welche drei Desinfektionsmittel das Virus innert 1(!) Minute killen und welche nicht. Natürlich konnte man das richtige Desinfektionsmittel nicht konkret empfehlen: der Bürger hätte dann gemerkt, dass gar nicht genug davon vorhanden ist, weil das Pandemie-Lager, welches Ethanol (62%iges bis 71%iges Ethanol killt Corona-Viren innerhalb einer Minute) bereithalten sollte, 2018 aufgelöst worden war.
Als die Schwierigkeiten der Pandemie auch für das BAG offensichtlich wurden, liess man verlauten, dass Patienten, welche auf die Intensivstation müssten, sowieso schlechte Chancen hätten. Dies im klaren Widerspruch zu 4 bis dahin publizierten wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten, welche übereinstimmend berichten, dass 38% bis 95% aller Patienten, die auf die Intensivstation mussten, nach Hause entlassen werden konnten.
Ich will hier keine weiteren Punkte erwähnen. Klar sind zwei Dinge: die Pandemie wurde seit 2003 mindestens 8x angekündigt. Und nachdem ihr Ausbruch am 31. Dezember 2019 der WHO gemeldet worden war, hätte man 2 Monate Zeit gehabt, die richtigen Daten zu studieren und die richtigen Konsequenzen zu ziehen. Taiwan zum Beispiel, dessen 124 Massnahmen früh publiziert worden sind, hat am wenigsten Infizierte und Todesfälle und hat keinen «Lock-down» der Wirtschaft durchführen müssen.
Die Massnahmen der Asiatischen Ländern wurden aus politischen und diffusen Gründen als für uns nicht machbar qualifiziert. Einer davon: das Tracking Infizierter. Angeblich unmöglich und das in einer Gesellschaft, die ihre privaten Daten ohne Probleme an iCloud’s und Facebook auslagert. Tracking? Wenn ich jeweils in Tashkent, Peking oder Yangon aus dem Flugzeug steige, dauert es 10 Sekunden und Swisscom heisst mich im jeweiligen Land willkommen. Tracking? Nein gibt es bei uns nicht.
Hätte man sich besser orientiert, hätte man gesehen, dass gewisse Länder ohne rigide Massnahmen ausgekommen sind. In der Schweiz hat man allenfalls semi-rigide oder gar keine Massnahmen ergriffen, sondern hat die Bevölkerung im eigentlichen Sinne durchseuchen lassen. Rigidere Massnahmen wurden zu spät ergriffen. Hätte man reagiert, hätte man vielleicht keine solchen Massnahmen ergreifen müssen – und könnte sich die aktuellen Diskussionen um einen «Ausstieg» ersparen. Von den ökonomischen Folgen will ich gar nicht reden.
5. Politische Aspekte - Propaganda
Warum hat man nicht nach Asien geschaut? Es gab genug Zeit. Oder anders: wie hat man nach Asien geschaut? Die Antwort ist klar: arrogant, ignorant und besserwisserisch. Typisch europäisch, oder sollte ich sagen, typisch schweizerisch?
Xi Jinping war noch nett, als er meinte, Europa sei wegen seines «Narzissmus» innert kürzester Zeit das weltweite Zentrum der Pandemie geworden. Ich würde hinzufügen: wegen seiner Arroganz, seiner Ignoranz und seines unsäglichen Besserwissertums.
In den Kommentarspalten haben immer mehr Leser unserer Medien bemerkt, dass wir vielleicht aufhören sollten, andere konstant zu belehren, wenn wir selber pro Kopf mit Spanien zusammen die höchste Rate an COVID-19-positiven Leuten und eine der höchsten Sterberaten haben.
Europa scheint unbelehrbar. Amerika – zumindest seine Wissenschaftler und ein Teil seiner politischen Journalisten – haben anders reagiert. Amerika hat die exzellenten wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten Chinesischer Autoren anerkannt und sie in ihren besten Medizinischen Zeitschriften publiziert. Selbst im «Foreign Affairs», der wichtigsten Essay-Zeitschrift zur internationalen Politik finden sich Arbeiten mit Überschriften wie: «Was die Welt von China lernen kann»; und «China hat eine App und der Rest der Welt braucht einen Plan»; ferner, dass die «internationale Kooperation der Wissenschaftler ein Beispiel dafür sei», wie man in anderen Bereichen «multipolar zusammenarbeiten müsse» und wie die Welt nun einmal «interconnected» sei. Selbst der oft zitierte Anthony Fauci, Trump’s Chef-Virologie, rühmte im «Foreign Affairs» die Zusammenarbeit mit den Chinesischen Kollegen.
Dass die US-Politführung das nicht umgesetzt hat, ist nicht das Problem der Wissenschaftler, welche, inklusive WHO, die exzellente Arbeit der Chinesen vor Ort lobten: «the Chinese know exactly what they do»; «and they are really, really good at it».
Dagegen veröffentlichte das Deutsche Magazin DER SPIEGEL einen Artikel mit der Überschrift «Tödliche Arroganz» und damit meinten sie nicht Amerika, sondern das überhebliche Europa.
Was sind die Fakten?
Nach der SARS-Epidemie hat China ein Überwachungsprogramm installiert, welches eine auffällige Häufung atypischer Lungenentzündungen so früh wie möglich melden sollte. Als 4 Patienten in diesem Land mit seiner gigantischen Bevölkerung in kurzer Zeit eine atypische Lungenentzündung zeigten, hat das Überwachungssystem Alarm ausgelöst Nachdem bei 27 (andere Quellen sagen: 41) Patienten in Wuhan eine atypische Pneumonie diagnostiziert worden war, aber noch kein einziger Todesfall vorlag, hat die chinesische Regierung am 31. Dezember die WHO informiert. Am 07. Januar 2020 hat dasselbe Team von Peng Zhou, welches im März 2019 vor einer Corona-Pandemie gewarnt hatte, das vollständig definierte Genom des verursachenden Virus an die Welt weitergegeben, damit so schnell wie möglich weltweit Test-Kits entwickelt, eine Impfung erforscht und monoklonale Antikörper hergestellt werden können. entgegen der Meinung der WHO haben die Chinesen Wuhan im Januar mit einem «travel ban» und einer Ausgangssperre lahmgelegt.
Ich erspare es mir, auf die anderen Massnahmen einzugehen, welche in China getroffen worden sind. Nach Meinung internationaler Forschungsteams hat China mit diesen früh und radikal einsetzenden Massnahmen Hunderttausenden von Patienten das Leben gerettet. am 31. Dezember 2019 hat Taiwan alle Flüge aus Wuhan gestoppt. Die weiteren 124 Massnahmen Taiwans sind im «Journal of American Medical Association» publiziert – rechtzeitig. Man hätte sie nur zur Kenntnis nehmen müssen.
Ohne Zweifel hat die «Command and Control»-Struktur Chinas initial zu einer Unterdrückung relevanter Informationen geführt, umgekehrt jedoch später bei der Begrenzung der Pandemie umso effektiver funktioniert. Der Umgang mit dem Augenarzt Li Wenliang ist schrecklich, passt jedoch zu solchen Ereignissen. Als 1918 der amerikanische Landarzt Loring Miner in Haskell County im US-Bundesstaat Kansas mehrere Patienten mit Grippesymptomen sah, welche an Heftigkeit alles Bisherige übertrafen, hat er sich an den „United States Public Health Service“ gewandt und um Unterstützung gebeten. Diese wurde im verweigert. Drei Patienten von Haskell County wurden zum Militärdienst eingezogen. Albert Gitchell, der Küchenunteroffizier – der Patient NULL – verbreitete das Virus in jener Kompanie, für die er kochte und die nach Europa verlegt wurde. 40 Tage später gab es in Europa 20 Millionen Infizierte und 20'000 Tote. Die 1918 Pandemie hat mehr Tote verursacht, als der 1. Weltkrieg.
Die Klagen des Westens über die «Behandlung» von Li Wenliang sind berechtigt, aber triefen von Doppelmoral, weiss man doch, welches Schicksal Whistleblower im Westen mit seinen tollen Werten widerfahren. Auch die US-Regierung versuchte, medizinische Informationen zu filtern, indem die führenden Virologen Amerikas von Trump angewiesen worden waren, jede öffentliche Aussage zuvor mit Mike Pence, dem Vize-Präsidenten, zu besprechen, was im kürzlich erschienen «Science» unter dem Titel «Do us a favor» als «unacceptable» bezeichnet und mit China verglichen worden ist.
Politik ist das eine, die wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten sind das andere. Bis Ende Februar 2020 sind derart viele, exzellente wissenschaftliche Arbeiten mit Chinesischen und gemischt Amerikanisch-Chinesischen Autoren erschienen, dass man hätte wissen können, um was es bei dieser Pandemie geht und was man vorkehren sollte.
Warum hat man alles verpasst?
Weil weder Politiker, noch Medien und die Mehrzahl der Bürger nicht fähig sind, in einer solchen Situation Ideologie, Politik und Medizin zu trennen. Eine virale Pneumonie ist ein medizinisches und kein politisches Problem. Dank des politisch-ideologisch begründeten Ignorierens medizinischer Fakten hat sich Europa in kürzester Zeit selber zum weltweiten Pandemie-Zentrum gemacht – mitten drin die Schweiz mit der zweithöchsten pro Kopf Infektionsrate.
Politik und Medien spielen hier eine besonders unrühmliche Rolle. Statt sich auf das eigene Versagen zu konzentrieren, wird die Bevölkerung durch ein fortgesetztes, dümmliches China-Bashing abgelenkt. Dazu kommen, wie immer, Russland-Bashing und Trump-Bashing. Man muss Trump keinesfalls mögen – aber bis die USA bezüglich der COVID-19-Todesfälle pro Kopf gleichauf mit der Schweiz liegt, müssen sie 30'000 Tote haben.
Wie kann man konstant andere Länder kritisieren, wenn man mit dem zweitteuersten Gesundheitswesen der Welt pro Kopf am zweitmeisten Infizierte hat und weder genügend Masken, noch genügend Desinfektionsmittel, noch genügend medizinisches Material vorweisen kann? Die Schweiz wurde von dieser Pandemie nicht überrascht – nach dem 31. Dezember 2019 hat man mindestens 2 Monate Zeit gehabt, die dringendst notwendigen Vorkehrungen zu treffen. Und zu diesem Verhalten haben die Medien beileibe genug dazu beigetragen. Die mediale Berichterstattung erschöpft sich im Schönreden, was Bundesrat und BAG veranlassen sowie im Kritisieren anderer Länder.
Beispiele von dümmlichem China-Bashing gibt es genug: «die Chinesen sind schuld»! Wer so etwas behauptet, versteht nichts von Biologie und Leben überhaupt. «Alle Pandemien kommen aus China»: die Spanische Grippe war in Tat und Wahrheit eine Amerikanische Grippe, HIV kam aus Afrika, Ebola kam aus Afrika, die Schweinegrippe aus Mexico, die Cholera-Epidemie der 60er-Jahre mit Millionen von Toten aus Indonesien und MERS aus dem Nahen Osten mit Zentrum Saudi-Arabien.
Ja, SARS kam aus China. Aber die Chinesen haben im Gegensatz zu uns gelernt, wie «Foreign Affairs» am 27. März 2020 schreibt: «Past Pandemics Exposed China’s Weakness. The Current One Highlights Its Strengths”.
Wenn konstant behauptet wird, die Zahlen, welche China zur COVID-19-Pandemie veröffentlicht, seien sowieso alle beschönigt, was heisst dann das? Heisst das, dass wir deshalb nichts unternehmen müssen? Oder heisst es nicht viel mehr, dass es sich – sind dies Zahlen wirklich beschönigt – um eine noch viel gefährlichere Pandemie handelt, für die wir in Europa Vorkehrungen treffen sollten? So viel zur Logik von sinnlosem, politischem Nach-Geplapper.
Mit konstanten Aussagen wie «die Chinesen lügen sowieso nur» «Taiwan kann man nichts glauben»; «Singapur, eine Familien-Diktatur, lügt sowieso» kommt man dieser Pandemie nicht bei. Auch hier agiert die US-Zeitschrift «Foreign Affairs» - bestimmt nicht per se China-freundlich – intelligenter, wie man am 24. März 2020 lesen kann: «The U.S. and China Could Cooperate to Defeat the Pandemic. Instead, Their Antagonism Makes Matters Worse”. Und am 21. März: “It Takes a World to End a Pandemic. Scientific Cooperation Knows No Boundaries – Fortunately”.
Ich kann die Kritik von Lukas Bärfuss nur begrüssen. Insbesondere seine Aussage:
«Warum die entsprechenden Fabriken nicht mehr in Biberist stehen. Sondern in Wuhan. Und ob dieses Allokationsproblem vielleicht nicht nur Zellulose betrifft, sondern auch Information, Bildung, Nahrung und Medikamente».
Diese Aussage trifft ins Schwarze und demaskiert unsere Arroganz und Ignoranz.
Reicht es nicht, dass der Westen zu Beginn dieser Pandemie hochnäsig und mit einer gewissen Schadenfreude nach China geschaut hat? Muss jetzt die Unterstützung der westlichen Staaten durch China auch noch bösartig diffamiert werden? China hat bis heute 3.86 Milliarden Masken, 38 Millionen Schutzanzüge, 2.4 Millionen Infrarot-Temperatur-Messgeräte und 16'000 Beatmungsgeräte geliefert. Nicht Chinas angeblicher Weltmachtsanspruch, sondern das Versagen der westlichen Länder hat dazu geführt, dass der Westen buchstäblich am medizinischen Tropf Chinas hängt.
6. Woher stammt dieses Virus?
Auf unserem Globus gibt es ungefähr 6400 Säugetier-Arten. Fledermäuse (bats) und Flughunde machen 20% der Säugetier-Population aus. Es gibt 1000 verschiedene Arten von Fledermäusen und Flughunden. Es sind die einzigen Säugetiere, die fliegen können, was ihren grossen Bewegungsradius erklärt.
Fledermäuse und Flughunde beherbergen eine Unzahl von Viren. Wahrscheinlich sind Fledermäuse und Flughunde in der Entwicklungsgeschichte die Eintrittspforte von Viren in den Stammbaum der Säugetiere gewesen.
Es gibt zahlreiche gefährliche Viren, welche von den «Bats» auf den Menschen übergesprungen sind und für viele Krankheiten verantwortlich sind: Masern, Mumps, Tollwut, Marburg-Fieber, Ebola und andere, seltenere, nicht weniger gefährliche Krankheiten. Auch bei anderen Säugetieren haben von «Bats»-stammende Viren immer wieder zu Massensterben in der Schweine-, Hühner- oder Vogelzucht geführt.
Dies sind entwicklungs-geschichtlich Jahr-Millionen alte biologische Vorgänge. Auch in der DNA gesunder Menschen finden sich Reste von viraler Gensequenzen, die über die Jahrtausende «eingebaut» worden sind.
SARS und MERS haben die Forschung an Corona-Viren intensiviert, gerade weil man mit einer baldigen, neuen Corona-Viren-Epidemie, respektive Pandemie gerechnet hat. 22 der 38 bekannten und noch lange nicht definitiv klassifizierten Corona-Viren wurden von chinesischen Forschern in extenso studiert, siehe u.a. Peng Zhou’s Publikation zur Epidemiologie der «bat coronaviruses in China» sowie die anderen, oben erwähnten Publikationen Amerikanischer Autoren. Peng Zhou hat im März 2019 eine baldige, neue Corona-Epidemie vorausgesagt und zwar aus folgenden Gründen:
hohe Biodiversität in China; hohe Anzahl an «Bats» in China; hohe Bevölkerungsdichte in China = nahes Zusammenleben zwischen Tier und Mensch; hohe genetische Variabilität der «Bats», d.h. eine hohe Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass sich das Genom einzelner Coronavirus-Typen spontan im Rahmen zufälliger Mutationen verändern kann; hohe aktive genetische Rekombination von Corona-Viren, heisst: Corona-Viren verschiedener Typen tauschen untereinander Genom-Sequenzen aus, die sie dann für den Menschen aggressiver machen können;
Die Tatsache, dass viele dieser Viren – Corona-Viren, aber auch Ebola- oder Marburg-Viren – zusammen in diesen «Bats» hausen und zufällig genetisches Material austauschen können
Obwohl nicht bewiesen, hat Peng Zhou auch die Essgewohnheiten der Chinesen angesprochen, welche die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Transmission dieser Viren von Tieren auf den Mensch erhöhen. Peng Zhou hat in seinem Artikel vom März 2019 vor einer Corona-Pandemie gewarnt. Und er schrieb, dass er nicht sagen könne, wann genau und wo diese Pandemie ausbrechen würde, aber dass China mit grosser Wahrscheinlichkeit ein «hot-spot» sein werde. So viel zur wissenschaftlichen Freiheit notabene. Peng Zhou und seine Gruppe aus Wuhan haben weitergeforscht und sie waren es, die bereits am 7. Januar das Genom von COVID-19 identifiziert und der ganzen Welt mitgeteilt hatten.
Es gibt 4 Theorien, wie dieses Virus auf den Menschen übergesprungen ist:
Das COVID-19-Virus ist von einer Fledermaus direkt auf den Menschen übertragen worden. Dasjenige Virus, welches in Frage kommt und genetisch zu 96% mit dem aktuellen «COVID-19» Virus übereinstimmt, kann jedoch von seiner Struktur her nicht an das «Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme» (ACE) Typ 2 in der Lunge andocken. Das Virus benötigt aber dieses Enzym, um in die Lungenzellen (und in die Zellen des Herzens, der Niere und des Darmes) eindringen und diese zerstören zu können. Ein COVID-19-Virus sprang vom Pangolin, einem Malaysischen Säugetier mit Schuppen, welches illegal in China eingeführt worden sei, auf den Menschen und war zunächst nicht Krankheits-erregend. Im Rahmen konsekutiver Mensch-zu-Mensch-Transmissionen hat sich dieses Virus an die beim Menschen vorliegenden Rahmenbedingungen dank Mutation oder Adaptation angepasst und konnte schliesslich an den ACE2-Rezeptor andocken und in die Zellen eindringen, womit die Pandemie «startete». Es gibt einen Elternstamm dieser beiden COVID-19-Viren, der bis anhin leider unentdeckt blieb. Es handelt sich um ein synthetisches Labor-Virus, denn genau daran wurde geforscht und der biologische Mechanismus der Krankheits-Erregung ist ja im Detail schon 2016 beschrieben worden. Die angefragten Virologen verneinen natürlich diese Möglichkeit, können sie aber auch nicht ausschliessen, nachzulesen im eben publizierten «Nature Medicine»: «The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2» von Kristian Andersen.
Das Besondere an diesen Tatsachen ist, dass Corona-Viren zusammen mit dem Ebola-Virus auf ein und demselben «Bat» leben können, ohne dass die Fledermaus erkrankt. Einerseits ist dies wissenschaftlich interessant, weil vielleicht Immunmechanismen gefunden werden können, die erklären, wieso diese Fledermäuse nicht erkranken. Diese Immunmechanismen gegenüber Corona-Viren und dem Ebola-Virus könnten Erkenntnisse liefern, die für den Homo sapiens von Bedeutung ist. Anderseits sind diese Tatsachen beunruhigend, weil man sich vorstellen kann, dass sich aufgrund der hohen, aktiven, genetischen Rekombination ein Supervirus bilden kann, welches eine längere Inkubationsdauer als das aktuelle COVID-19-Virus, aber die Letalität des Ebola-Virus aufweist.
SARS wies eine 10%ige Mortalität auf, die Mortalität von MERS betrug 36%. Es war nicht das Verdienst des Homo sapiens, dass SARS und MERS sich nicht so schnell ausgebreitet haben, wie jetzt COVID-19. Das war einfach nur Glück. Die Behauptung, dass ein Virus, welches eine hohe Mortalität habe, sich nicht ausbreiten könne, weil es ja viel zu schnell seinen Wirt umbringe, war zu den Zeiten richtig, als eine "infizierte" Kamelkarawane von X'ian Richtung Seidenstrasse losgezogen ist und wegen der hohen Mortalität in der nächsten Karawanserei gar nicht mehr ankam. Heute geht das Ruckzuck. Heute sind alle massivst vernetzt. Ein Virus, das in 3 Tagen tötet, geht trotzdem um die Welt. Alle kennen Peking und Shanghai. Ich kenne Wuhan seit 20 Jahren. Keiner meiner Kollegen und Bekannten hat je etwas von Wuhan gehört. Aber hat man gesehen, wie viele Ausländer es in Wuhan - in einer Stadt, die "niemand" kennt - gab und wie sie blitzschnell in alle Weltregionen verteilt wurden? Das ist die heutige Situation.
7. Was wissen wir? Was wissen wir nicht?
Wir wissen,
dass es sich um ein aggressives Virus handelt;
dass die mittlere Inkubationszeit 5 Tage dauert; die maximale Inkubationszeit ist noch nicht klar; dass asymptomatische COVID-19 Träger andere Personen anstecken können und dass dieses Virus „extrem ansteckend“ und „extrem resistent“ (A. Lanzavecchia) ist; wir kennen die Risiko-Populationen; dass es in den letzten 17 Jahren nicht gelungen ist, weder eine Impfung, noch einen monoklonalen Antikörper gegen Corona-Viren zu entwickeln; dass es überhaupt noch nie gelungen ist, eine Impfung gegen welches Corona-Virus auch immer zu entwickeln; dass auch die so genannte „Grippe-Impfung“ entgegen der gängigen Werbung nur einen minimalen Effekt ausweist.
Was wir nicht wissen:
ob nach durchgemachter Infektion eine Immunität vorliegt, oder nicht. Gewisse Daten weisen darauf hin, dass der Mensch ab dem 15. Tag Immunglobuline der G-Klasse entwickeln kann, welche eine erneute Infektion mit demselben Virus verhindern sollten. Aber es ist noch nicht definitiv bewiesen; wie lange eine allfällige Immunität schützen könnte; ob dieses COVID-19-Virus stabil bleibt, oder ob sich im Herbst analog der üblichen Grippe-Welle erneut ein leicht verändertes COVID-19 über ganze Welt verbreitet, gegen welches keinerlei Immunität vorliegt; ob uns die höheren Temperaturen des Sommers helfen, weil die Hülle des COVID-19 bei höheren Temperaturen instabil ist. Hier muss erwähnt werden, dass das MERS-Virus sich im Nahen Osten in den Monaten Mai bis Juli verbreitet hatte, als die Temperaturen höher waren, als sie bei uns je sind; wie lange es dauert, bis eine Population so durchseucht ist, dass der R-Wert <1 ist:
Wenn man zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt 1 Million Zürcher testet, sollen aktuell angeblich 12% bis 18% COVID-19 positiv sein. Um der Pandemie ihren Pandemie-Charakter zu nehmen, müsse der R-Wert <1 sein, d.h. circa 66% der Bevölkerung müssen mit dem Virus Kontakt gehabt und Immunität entwickelt haben. Niemand weiss, wie lange, wie viele Monate es dauern wird, bis die Durchseuchung, die aktuell 12% bis 18% betragen soll, 66% erreicht hat! Aber man kann davon ausgehen, dass die Weiterverbreitung des Virus von 12% bis 18% auf 66% der Bevölkerung weiterhin schwerkranke Patienten generieren wird. wir wissen also nicht, wie lange wir mit diesem Virus zu tun haben werden. Zwei Berichte, welche der Öffentlichkeit nicht zugänglich sein sollten (U.S.- Government COVID Response Plan sowie ein Bericht des Imperial College London) kommen unabhängig voneinander auf eine „Lock-down“-Phase von bis zu 18 Monaten; und wir wissen nicht, ob uns dieses Virus epidemisch/pandemisch oder vielleicht sogar endemisch beschäftigen wird; wir haben nach wie vor keine anerkannte und breit anwendbare, definierte Therapie; eine solche haben wir auch bei der Influenza nie präsentieren können.
Vielleicht sollten Behörden und Medien einmal die Fakten auf den Tisch legen, statt alle zwei Tage Meldungen von einer scheinbar erfolgreichen Impfung, die nicht mehr weit weg ist, zu präsentieren.
8. Was können wir aktuell tun?
Die Frage nach den besten Lösungsansätzen kann ich auch nicht beantworten. Ob die Schweiz die Pandemie überhaupt noch eindämmen kann, oder ob die Durchseuchung der Bevölkerung unbeeinflusst weiterläuft, weil man initial alle Massnahmen verschlafen hat, ist möglich.
Wenn dem so ist, kann man nur hoffen, dass wir diese „Politik“ nicht mir zu vielen Toten und Schwerkranken bezahlen. Und dass nicht zu viele Patienten an den Langzeitfolgen einer COVID-19-Infektion leiden, wie z.B. einer „dank“ COVID-19 neu erworbenen Lungenfibrose, einem gestörten Glucose-Metabolismus sowie neu auftretenden kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen. Die langfristigen Konsequenzen einer durchgemachten SARS-Infektion sind bis 12 Jahre nach angeblicher Heilung dokumentiert. Hoffen wir, dass sich COVID-19 anders verhalten wird.
Die Aufhebung des „Lock-down“, respektive die Rückkehr zur dem, was wir als normal empfinden, ist sicherlich der Wunsch eines jeden. Welche Schritte bei der Rückkehr zur Normalisierung mit nachteiligen Folgen verbunden sein werden – d.h. mit einem Wieder-Aufflammen der Infektionsrate – kann niemand voraussagen. Jeder Schritt Richtung Lockerung ist im Grunde genommen ein Schritt ins Unbekannte.
Wir können nur sagen, was nicht machbar ist: eine aktive Durchseuchung der nicht-Risiko-Gruppen mit dem COVID-19-Virus ist mit Sicherheit ein absolutes Hirngespinst. Es kann nur Leuten in den Sinn kommen, die keine Ahnung von Biologie, Medizin und Ethik haben:
kommt es mit Sicherheit nicht in Frage, Millionen von Gesunden Mitbürgern absichtlich mit einem aggressiven Virus zu infizieren, von welchem wir eigentlich überhaupt nichts wissen, weder das Ausmass der akuten Schädigung, noch die Langzeitfolgen; je grösser die Anzahl Viren pro Population, desto grösser die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer zufälligen Mutation, welche das Virus noch aggressiver machen könnte. Also sollten wir sicher nicht aktiv mithelfen, die Anzahl Viren pro Population zu erhöhen. Je mehr Leute mit COVID-19 infiziert sind, desto wahrscheinlicher wird es, dass sich dieses Virus noch „besser“ an den Menschen adaptiert und noch desaströser wird. Es wird ja angenommen, dass das bereits einmal passiert ist. bei staatlichen Reserven von angeblich 750 Milliarden, ist es ethisch und moralisch verwerflich, aus blossen wirtschaftlichen Überlegungen Millionen von gesunden Personen zu infizieren. Die gewollte Infizierung gesunder Leute mit diesem aggressiven Virus würde eines der fundamentalen Prinzipien der gesamten Medizingeschichte aus reinen, kurzfristigen ökonomischen „Bedenken“ akut aushebeln: das Prinzip des „primum nil nocere“. Ich würde mich als Mediziner weigern, an einer derartigen Impfaktion überhaupt teilzunehmen.
Die Bestimmung der COVID-19 IgM- und IgG-Antikörper-Konzentration im Blut geht scheinbar mir der Neutralisierung des COVID-19-Virus einher. Die quantitative und qualitative Diagnostik dieser Antikörper wurde bis jetzt nur in einer kleinen klinischen Studie mit 23 Patienten untersucht. Ob die Massenbestimmung der Antikörper im Blut einen kontrollierten «Lock-down» sicherer machen, indem sich vorerst nur nicht mehr ansteckende und nicht mehr ansteckbare Personen frei bewegen können, kann derzeit nicht beantwortet werden. Ebenso unklar ist, wann diese Methode klinische valide und breit anwendbar sein wird.
9. Zukunft
Diese Pandemie wirft viele politische Fragen auf. „Foreign Affairs“ mit Donald Trump und Anthony Fauci auf dem Cover schreibt am 28. März 2020 dazu: „Plagues Tell Us Who We Are. The Real Lessons of the Pandemic will be Political“.
Diese politischen Fragen werden nationaler und internationaler Art sein.
Die ersten Fragen werden ganz bestimmt unser Gesundheitswesen betreffen. Mit einem 85-Milliarden-Budget hat es die Schweiz - was die Anzahl Corona-Patienten pro 1 Million Einwohner betrifft – weltweit auf Rang 2 geschafft. Gratuliere! Was für eine Schande! Grundlegendes und billiges Material fehlt in der Schweiz nach 14 Tagen. Das kommt davon, wenn selbsternannte «Gesundheitspolitiker», «Gesundheits-Ökonomen» und IT-Experten Milliarden in Projekte wie e-Health, elektronische Gesundheitskarte, überteuerte Klinik-Informationssysteme (man frage einmal das Kantonsspital Luzern!), tonnenweise Computer und «Big Data» investieren und so vollkommen zweckentfremdet Milliarden aus dem Gesundheitswesen abziehen. Und Ärzteschaft und FMH sind buchstäblich zu blöd, endlich einmal dagegen aufzustehen. Sie lassen sich lieber jede Woche als Abzocker und Kriminelle titulieren. Die Schweiz muss endlich untersuchen, wie viel von 1 Million Kassengelder noch für medizinische Leistungen aufgewendet werden, welche direkt dem Patienten zugutekommen und wie viel Geld zweckentfremdet in Branchen-fremde Lobby-Vereinigungen fliesst, die sich schamlos am 85-Milliarden-Kuchen bereichern, ohne je einen Patienten gesehen zu haben. Und natürlich braucht es endlich eine adäquate Qualitätskontrolle medizinischer Leistungen. Auf die weiteren Massnahmen im Rahmen der Reorganisation des Schweizerischen Gesundheitswesens möchte ich hier nicht eingehen.
Die internationalen Fragen betreffen vor allem unser Verhältnis zu China und den Asiatischen Ländern überhaupt. Kritische Stellungnahmen: ja. Aber konstantes, dümmliches „Bashing“ anderer Nationen kann kein Rezept dafür sein, globale Probleme gemeinsam anzugehen – von „Lösen“ möchte ich gar nicht sprechen. Anstatt sinnlose Propaganda nachzuplappern, sollte man sich vielleicht einmal mit Autoren auseinandersetzen, die tatsächlich ausgewogen auf hohem Niveau etwas zu sagen haben, so z.B.:
Pankaj Mishra: „Aus den Ruinen des Empires“
Kishore Mahbubani: „The Asean Miracle. A Catalyst for Peace“
„Has the West lost it?“
„Can Asians think?“
Lee Kuan Yew: „One man’s view of the world“
David Engels: „Auf dem Weg ins Imperium“
Noam Chomsky: „Wer beherrscht die Welt“
Bruno Macàes: „The Dawn of Eurasia“
Joseph Stiglitz: „Reich und Arm“
Stephan Lessenich: „Neben uns die Sintflut“
Parag Khanna: „Unsere asiatische Zukunft“
Lesen heißt noch lange nicht, allen diesen Autoren in allem Recht zu geben. Aber es wäre für den Westen – inklusive die Schweiz – von grossem Wert, Besserwisserei, Ignoranz und Arroganz hier und dort durch Fakten, Verständnis und Kooperation zu ersetzen. Die Alternative besteht ja nur darin, zu versuchen, unsere vermeintlichen Konkurrenten früher oder später in einem Krieg zu eliminieren. Was man von dieser „Lösung“ halten soll, kann jeder selber entscheiden.
In diesem Sinne kann man nur darauf hoffen, dass sich die Menschheit eines Besseren besinnt. Träumen ist immer erlaubt.
Die Herausforderungen sind global. Und die nächste Pandemie steht vor der Tür. Und diese wird vielleicht durch ein Super-Virus verursacht werden und ein Ausmass annehmen, das wir uns lieber nicht vorstellen möchten.
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09.04.2020: Der Gastkommentar und die Veröffentlichung des Manuskriptes "COVID-19 - eine Zwischenbilanz oder eine Analyse der Moral, der medizinischen Fakten, sowie der aktuellen und zukünftigen politischen Entscheidungen" von Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Paul Robert Vogt vom 7.4.2020 in unserer Zeitung findet international riesige Beachtung und Zustimmung.
In den ersten beiden Tagen wurde der Artikel bereits über 350'000 mal gelesen und tausendfach geteilt. Wir haben deshalb bei Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Paul Robert Vogt nachgefragt und 10 Fragen gestellt, die aktuell im Raum stehen.
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More so than most trainers, Cesar Gracie has a penchant for making headlines. The acclaimed Californian, head coach of Pleasant Hill's Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fight team, carries with him a brash style that fits right along with his stable of fighters, infamously including both Nick and Nate Diaz, and past or present Strikeforce titleholders Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez.
With such a talented roster of students, slow times are hard to come by for Gracie, and now is no exception. The younger Diaz brother, Nate, is just weeks away from challenging for the team's first UFC title. Likewise, Melendez is eyeing his own Octagon debut, Shields is in the midst of serving a six-month suspension, and the elder Diaz brother, Nick, is preparing to return from his own suspension, posturing for blockbuster bouts against the likes of Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva.
Nonetheless Gracie found the time to join our own Ariel Helwani on this week's edition of The MMA Hour, where the 209-trainer riffed on a variety of different subjects. The following are excerpts from the conversation.
On what fight interests Nick Diaz the most:
"We're pushing for the GSP fight. That's what we're going to push for, GSP or Anderson Silva. That's the two fights that interest us the most, and that's the one's we're going for.
"[Silva's] people are into it. We're into it. The fans, I think, would be into it. We've got convince Dana [White] about it now. Obviously the fight that makes sense to them, and I don't disagree, is Anderson-GSP, and like I said, I would watch that fight. That would be great to watch. But let's get real. If GSP just absolutely says no, then what? You can't make a guy fight. That's the thing. And Anderson, if they want to promote a superfight and if the stars align, I think Nick would be into it."
On Nick Diaz's next opponent:
"They asked me, [Josh] Koscheck or Demian Maia. I said probably Koscheck, more people have heard of him at 170. They're both really tough guys though. But ultimately, we want the bigger fights. I could see, maybe, Nick and [Johny] Hendricks would be interesting. That's what I'm thinking if they don't give him GSP, maybe a fight like that."
On the possibility Nick Diaz returns to an instant title shot:
"This is a weird game. It's up to the fans, really. I really believe it. Things change, rules change. You can't come of a loss and get a title fight, blah, blah, blah. And then all of a sudden you see Chael Sonnen, not only coming off a loss which wasn't controversial, like Nick's was pretty damn controversial. I think most people think he actually won that fight. The champions did. Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell, all of these other people, the old-school guys, the new-school guys thought that Nick won that fight and they've told me that. But look, Chael Sonnen gets knocked out and he gets to go up in weight and fight for a title, and be in The Ultimate Fighter house and everything.
"What if Dana White can't make the GSP fight happen? Who knows? Fans demand Nick, and stuff happens all the time. You could see that fight happening. Don't shut the door on things."
On Nick Diaz's battles with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC):
"It's politics. These guys really don't like Nick. He doesn't kiss their butt. He speaks his mind and people don't like that. The NSAC wants to control you. They come on and they say, ‘We're doing this for the benefit of the fighters,' and that's a bunch of BS. They do everything for their benefit and they want to control fighters. They want to be in charge of the game. Nick is against that, he's not afraid to say he's against that, so they want him out. They don't want that guy fighting at all. If they could kill his career, they would."
On Nate Diaz moving out of his brother's shadow by winning a belt:
"No. 1, he's not in the shadow of Nick. It might be perceived that way by other people, we certainly don't perceive it that way here. And with Nate, he's said it before, if he was going to be in someone's shadow, what a better shadow to be under, really. Nick is a true fighter, he's a warrior that guy, and I think Nate is honored to try to live up to that kind of history, that kind of mentality."
On Diaz's opponent, Benson Henderson:
"He's very athletic. I think he has really good jiu-jitsu skills, he's unorthodox, and he gets away with a lot of stuff because of his athleticism. I don't think he's great at any one thing. I think what it is, is he's good at everything and he has the athleticism to make everything work."
On Henderson training to block out Diaz's trash talk:
"That's never a strategy of ours, it's just something that can happen. A lot of people talk trash in the cage, by the way. It's not super loud, you can't hear it. When they're up against the fence, they'll say stuff. But it's definitely not something we'll say, ‘Hey, you've got to get in his head. Talk trash to him.' It's not like that. I think if you're talking about with Nate Diaz, that just comes from his persona. He's fighting someone and he sees it as the same thing, almost, as being in a street fight."
On Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit:
"Both guys came to fight. Condit did too. I wish he would have came to fight to the [Nick] Diaz fight, but he didn't come to fight, Condit, because he knows he would have been knocked out."
If St-Pierre has a chance against Anderson Silva:
"No, I don't think [St-Pierre has a shot], and I'll tell you why. GSP, he's great at 170, I don't think he's the most durable guy as far as taking punishment. Most of his fights are not wars where he's getting hit a lot. He's such an athlete that he can really dominate people, but they're not like, ‘I hit you, you hit me,' in this back-and-forth game. He got hit that one time by Condit, and bam, he was on his butt.
"In terms of durability, Anderson Silva hits you, you're going to know it. And he's a lot bigger."
On Gilbert Melendez's UFC future if Nate Diaz is champion:
"We always have those discussions, we're a tight team and everything. Gilbert has brought up a few different things. No. 1, there's other great people he could fight at 155. The way we would do it is, hey, Nate's champ. And when he's not champ anymore, then bam, you're up there. That's how we do things. Jake and Nick had similar problems in various different organizations, and one guy would move up [a weight class] and one guy would move down, or they're just not going to fight each other.
"There's definitely a possibility he could go down to 145. He was the No. 1 guy at that weight for a long time. That's what people don't remember, back in the day when he was fighting Shooto and he was undefeated, he was just a phenomenal fighter. And that was actually at 143.9, the way the weight classes work in Japan. So I know he can make the weight. I don't think he likes making that weight, but that's the kind of commitment not to fight Nate."
On Jake Shield's mysterious failed drug test:
"Maybe he was hanging out with the Diaz's. (Laughs.)" | {
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I’ve been OBSESSED with Save the Light lately! Love the game and the style! Did some print ad inspired posters of the Playable characters! 🤩 @grumpyfaceblog | {
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Vesna Vulovic, a Serbian woman who in 1972 survived a reported six-mile fall after the plane she was on exploded over Czechoslovakia, died last week at age 66, according to several media reports.
Vulovic holds the Guinness World Record for highest fall without a parachute ― a miraculous 33,333-foot plunge to Earth.
Vulovic was found dead in her Begrade apartment, The Washington Post and BBC report, citing Serbia’s state TV. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Vesna Vulovic, stewardess who survived 30,000ft fall, dies https://t.co/JbHMTGdeuM — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 24, 2016
On Jan. 26, 1972, 23-year-old Vulovic was working as a flight attendant aboard a Yugoslav Airlines Douglas DC-9 when the plane ripped apart above the village of Srbska Kamenice. Unlike the other 27 passengers and crew, Vulovic survived, likely in part because the section of fuselage where she was trapped landed on a snowy, tree-covered hillside, the BBC reports.
Officials suspected that JAT Yugoslav Flight 364 was brought down by explosives planted in a suitcase by a Croatian terrorist group. More than three decades later, however, two investigative reporters in Prague challenged that conclusion, claiming that documents showed the aircraft may have been mistakenly shot down by the Czechoslovak air force at a far lower altitude of around 2,500 feet.
Regardless of the scenario, Vulovic survived the ordeal, despite suffering a crushed skull, snapped legs and three broken vertebrae. She eventually made a full recovery but never regained memory of the incident, as she explained in a 2002 interview with Green Light Limited.
As for people who have described her as lucky, Vulovic said they are mistaken.
“I’m not lucky,” she told Green Light. “If I were lucky I would never had this accident and my mother and father would be alive. The accident ruined their lives too.” | {
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WASHINGTON — Mark Halperin has inked a new book deal about political strategy in the Trump era and was blasted by women who accused the disgraced NBC commentator of sexual misconduct.
The political journalist — who was fired in 2017 after a dozen women made accusations against him — was aided by dozens of prominent Democrats who participated in the book.
“This is appalling and so upsetting,” journalist and author Emily Miller told The Post.
Miller was harassed by Halperin when they worked together at ABC News and she was his junior.
“Men like him don’t change. He spent decades using his position of power in the media to sexually assault women. He hasn’t even apologized to his victims!” Miller said.
“Every person who’s helping him regain power and a public platform is complicit in retraumatizing all the victims.”
Eleanor McManus — a former CNN producer, who encountered Halperin’s inappropriate behavior when first trying to get a media job — echoed Miller’s concerns.
“He leveraged his position as a prominent journalist to prey on women,” McManus told The Post via email.
“He has yet to take responsibility for his actions by apologizing to his victims or demonstrating genuine contrition. Giving him a book once again puts him in a position of authority and that is a slap to all the women that he has victimized.”
On Sunday, Politico Playbook reported that Halperin has written a book entitled “How to Beat Trump: America’s Top Political Strategists on What It Will Take” to be published by Regan Arts.
More than 75 Democratic strategists participated. They include big names like Donna Brazile, James Carville, David Axelrod, Kathleen Sebelius, Bob Shrum and Mark Mellman.
The book will be released this November – a year from the 2020 presidential election.
Publisher Judith Regan released a statement about taking on Halperin as an author.
“I do not in any way, shape, or form condone any harm done by one human being to another,” the statement read.
“I have also lived long enough to believe in the power of forgiveness, second chances, and offering a human being a path to redemption.”
She added: “ ‘How to Beat Trump’ is an important, thoughtful book, and I hope everyone has a chance to read it.”
Halperin was among a handful of powerful media men who were downed by allegations of sexual assault and harassment in 2017.
CNN initially talked to five female accusers in October of that year. One woman memorably said she had gone into his office to have a soda and he pressed his genitals against her body.
“I went up to have a soda and talk and — he just kissed me and grabbed my boobs,” the female ex-colleague of Halperin’s at ABC News said. “I just froze. I didn’t know what to do.”
Lara Setrakian, the CEO, co-founder and executive director of News Deeply came out publicly and said she was one of the five women who initially accused Halperin.
Miller, the author of “Emily Gets Her Gun,” came out and said she had been harassed by Halperin while working at ABC as well.
“I was ANOTHER junior ABC employee he attacked,” Miller tweeted. “I did not report Halperin to ABC because I thought I was the only one, and I blamed myself, and I was embarrassed and I was scared of him.”
McManus, who rose to become a senior producer at CNN’s “Larry King Live,” recalled that her first big meeting as a young journalist was with Halperin — and he tried to kiss her.
Two days after CNN’s initial report the list of accusers had grown to more than a dozen.
One woman said he masturbated in front of her in his office. Another woman recalled having lunch with him. It ended with him throwing her violently against the restaurant’s window while attempting to kiss her. After she rejected him he called her and said she had no future in media or politics.
At the time Halperin issued an apology.
“I am profoundly sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by my past actions. I apologize sincerely to the women I mistreated,” he said.
He denied masturbating in front of a co-worker and said he never physically assaulted or threatened anyone.
Due to the allegations, Halperin lost his television contract with NBC News and a book deal for a 2016 election follow-up to “Game Change” and “Double Down,” which he co-authored with John Heilemann.
HBO cancelled a movie version of “Double Down,” which would have been a sequel to the Julianne Moore-fronted “Game Change.” He also lost his hosting gig on Showtime’s “The Circus.”
But unlike Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer, Halperin indicated he didn’t plan to stay in the doghouse forever.
In June 2018, Page Six reported that the journalist had taken a number of high-profile meetings, including with Rose and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway. One source downplayed the meetings as social calls.
But in 2019 Halperin began to resurface.
Michael Smerconish put Halperin on his SiriusXM show. In April, Page Six reported that Halperin was doing work with ex-Rikers Island inmates via the Queens-based Fortune Society. He also re-engaged on Twitter.
The Daily Beast reported in May that Halperin was supposed to collaborate last fall on an online-only program in the run-up to the 2018 midterms with “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, though the network pulled the plug.
But news of the book project on Sunday was not greeted happily by beltway and media insiders.
The group Press Forward, which formed to change newsroom culture on the heels of Halperin and other high-profile men being exposed, put out a statement asking those involved in the book project to look at the bigger picture.
“Americans will continue to lose trust in the news media if a journalist who covers scandals can commit the same crimes he reports on and face no serious consequences, then continue to be a narrator of the national conversation,” pointed out Press Forward co-founder and executive director Dianna Pierce Burgess.
Carolyn McGourty Supple, the chief visionary officer of Press Forward added, “It’s in moments like this, and discussions behind the scenes with critical influencers, when those in power have the choice to stand up for what is right and for those who have been harmed, or to do what is best for their bottom lines and their friends.
“The former requires courage — something expected of public servants just as it should be of political strategists and journalists,” she said.
Twitter was quick to criticize the move.
“Glad everyone here felt cool sitting down with someone who repeatedly harassed young, female journalists. Well done, all,” tweeted Jackie Kucinich, the DC bureau chief for the Daily Beast and a CNN commentator.
Judd Legum, the author of the Popular Information newsletter wrote, “We all know who Mark Halperin is now but it’s disturbing that so many prominent Democrats have decided to rehabilitate his career.”
“It’s gross,” Legum added.
Rep. Jerry Nadler’s former press secretary Eric Schmeltzer said Democrats who didn’t participate should be cheered.
“If you are a Democratic consultant and REFUSED an interview request from Mark Halperin, for his new book, please say so, so we can thank you,” Schmeltzer tweeted Sunday.
“Dead serious. Would love to thank those who refused to help resuscitate his career, after the sexual assaults he committed.” | {
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Image copyright Reuters Image caption US warships have been conducting joint patrols with the Philippines since last month
The United States Navy is conducting joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, US officials say.
The US rarely conducts joint patrols with its partners in the region.
Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the US would also increase rotations of its forces and military support in the Philippines.
Tensions have escalated in the South China Sea in recent years, with China steadily expanding its military presence in the region.
The joint naval patrols, which began last month, "contribute to the safety and security of the region's waters," Mr Carter told reporters after a meeting with Philippines President Benigno Aquino.
US troops and combat aircraft are currently participating in joint combat exercises with Philippines forces.
The announcement comes just days after a Philippine diplomat asked the US to help persuade China not to build on a South China Sea shoal important to Filipino fishermen.
The US has expanded its support for allies in the South Pacific in recent months, following China's military build up - which includes construction of islands with airstrips.
China, which claims a wide swathe of the sea, has been reclaiming land around reefs.
The US and other countries have called for the halt of such activities, accusing it of militarisation, but China has insisted that the construction is for civilian purposes.
Last week, US military officials announced they would send $40m (£28m) in military assistance to the Philippines to increase intelligence sharing, surveillance and naval patrols.
Contested South China Sea | {
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The deputy chair of Russia’s central bank has reportedly told commercial banking representatives that they should expect their industry to embrace blockchain technology in the next two years.
Moscow-based Rambler News Service has reported that deputy chair Olga Skorobogatova, appointed in 2014, told members of the country’s banking sector that the central bank sees a major role for blockchain applications in finance as the technology gains traction among the world’s financial institutions.
According to the news outlet, Skorobogatova said:
“In 2017-2018, we will see real examples of the use of this system. As a closed system, I think, [the blockchain] is the future, and we need to prepare for it.”
The comments come as Russia inches closer to legislation regulating so-called money surrogates, a classification of non-government issued currencies that includes bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Earlier this month, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that the acceptance of bitcoin would constitute a crime.
However, questions have been raised about how the country would go about actually prohibiting activities involving the digital currency. At the same time, private businesses in Russia have begun exploring applications of the technology, with payments firm Qiwi going as far as declaring its intention to issue its own kind of cryptocurrency.
Image via Shutterstock | {
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“What’s made of stone, filled with smoke, and bleeds fire?
The best answer to that question is not to find out.”
Uyyid, Goblin Slum Lord | {
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Realistische Ziele
Wissenschaft und politische Gremien müssen ihre Aufgaben, ihre Ziele und ihre Vorgehensweisen an vier Fronten überdenken.
Wissenschaftliche Vorhersagen für die nahe Zukunft einfordern:
Die politischen Entscheidungsträger sollten das IPCC um einen weiteren Sonderbericht bitten, und zwar über das Tempo der Klimaänderung für die kommenden 25 Jahre. Der Weltklimarat sollte dabei nicht nur auf die physikalische Forschung achten, sondern auch das Tempo berücksichtigen, mit dem politische Systeme reagieren können. Es gilt, den Druck von Interessengruppen und Bürokratie zu berücksichtigen, die am Status quo festhalten wollen. Die Fachleute sollten die Klimamodelle so verbessern, dass sie die kommenden 25 Jahre detaillierter beschreiben. Dabei sollten die jüngsten Daten über den Zustand der Ozeane und der Atmosphäre ebenso berücksichtigt werden wie natürliche Klimazyklen. Außerdem sollten sie ihr Augenmerk stärker auf die Wahrscheinlichkeiten und die Folgen extremer Wetterereignisse richten. Es mag schwierig sein, hierfür Indizien zu sammeln, aber die Ergebnisse sind nützlicher, um die realen Gefahren der Klimaentwicklung und möglichen Reaktionen darauf einzuschätzen.
Politische Ziele überdenken:
Grenzen für die globale Erwärmung, wie das Ziel von 1,5 Grad Celsius, sollten als grobes Hilfsmittel für die Planung angesehen werden. Allzu häufig werden sie als physikalische Grenze angesehen, an denen sich die Politik ausrichten muss. Das übermäßige Vertrauen in »Technologien für negative Emissionen«, die Kohlendioxid aufnehmen statt abgeben, im Sonderbericht des IPCC zeigt, dass es umso schwieriger wird, realistische politische Lösungsansätze zu finden, je näher wir der gesetzten Grenze für die Erwärmung kommen. Es ist leicht, sich die Modelle auf Papier zurechtzubiegen – aber viel schwerer, Realpolitik zu betreiben, die funktioniert.
Realistische Ziele sollten sich auch an politischen und sozialen Zielkonflikten und nicht nur an geophysikalischen Parametern orientieren. Sie sollten sich aus einer Analyse der Kosten, der Nutzen und der Machbarkeit ergeben. Diese Zielkonflikte müssen ebenfalls in den Prozess des Pariser Klimaabkommens eingebettet werden. Hier ist eine bessere Überprüfung nötig, wie realistische politische Strategien die Emissionen beeinflussen. Bessere Überprüfungen können das Handeln motivieren – dürften aber politisch umstritten sein: Sie werden aufzeigen, wie groß die Lücke zwischen dem ist, was Länder zur Kontrolle der Emissionen versprechen, und dem, was kollektiv nötig ist, um die Erwärmung zu begrenzen. Informationen über etwaige Zielkonflikte müssen daher von außerhalb der offiziellen zwischenstaatlichen Prozesse kommen – von den nationalen Wissenschaftseinrichtungen, regionalen Verbänden oder Nichtregierungsorganisationen.
Anpassungsstrategien entwickeln:
Die Zeit ist reif für eine schnelle Anpassung. Die politischen Entscheidungsträger benötigen zwei Arten von Informationen von den Wissenschaftlern, um zu handeln. Erstens müssen sie die möglichen lokalen Folgen für Regionen und Städte kennen. Solche Informationen lassen sich teilweise dadurch gewinnen, dass man hoch aufgelöste Klimafolgenabschätzungen mit künstlicher Intelligenz zur Analyse großer Datenmengen über Extremwetterlagen, Gesundheit, Sachschäden und anderen Größen kombiniert. Zweitens müssen die politischen Entscheidungsträger die Unsicherheiten bei der Vorhersage von Folgen der Klimaänderungen und der getroffenen Maßnahmen verstehen. Selbst Regionen wie der US-Bundesstaat Kalifornien, die proaktiv Anpassungsmaßnahmen vorantreiben, fehlen Informationen über die sich ständig ändernden Risiken von Extremwetterlagen, Großbränden und dem steigenden Meeresspiegel. Die Forschung muss alle Arbeitsgebiete und alle Beteiligten zusammenbringen – Stadtplaner, Gesundheitswesen, Landwirtschaft und Ökosystem-Dienstleister. Die Anpassungsstrategien müssen variabel gestaltet sein und die Möglichkeit einschließen, dass sich Folgen anders entwickeln als erwartet. Und ein größerer Teil des Planungsaufwands und der finanziellen Mittel muss in die Untersuchung der schlimmstmöglichen Szenarien fließen.
Optionen für schnelle Reaktionen:
Analysen der Klimaentwicklung müssen schnelle Möglichkeiten untersuchen, wie sich Klimafolgen reduzieren lassen, etwa durch Verringerung der Emissionen von Methan, Ruß und Fluorkohlenwasserstoffen. Pro Tonne haben diese »Super-Schadstoffe« die 25- bis 1000-fache Wirkung von Kohlendioxid. Ihre atmosphärische Lebensdauer ist kurz – im Bereich von Wochen (für Ruß) bis zu Jahrzehnten (für Methan und Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe). Eine Reduzierung dieser Schadstoffe könnte den Trend der globalen Erwärmung in den kommenden 25 Jahren potenziell halbieren.
Riskante Maßnahmen
Und es gibt Fortschritte an dieser Front. Auf dem Klimagipfel im September 2018 in San Francisco stellte die United States Climate Alliance – ein Zusammenschluss von Gouverneuren der Bundesstaaten, die 40 Prozent der Bevölkerung der USA repräsentieren – einen Plan zur Reduzierung der Emissionen von Methan, Fluorkohlenwasserstoffen und Ruß um 40 bis 50 Prozent bis 2030 vor. Die 2016 beschlossenen Kigali-Änderungen zum Montreal-Protokoll, die im Januar 2019 in Kraft getreten sind, fordern eine Reduzierung der Emissionen von Fluorkohlenwasserstoffen um 80 Prozent innerhalb der kommenden 30 Jahre.
Eine Reihe von Optionen für Klima-Engineering sollte als Notfallmaßnahmen auf dem Tisch liegen. Wenn sich die globalen Bedingungen tatsächlich verschlechtern, könnte uns das dazu zwingen, große Mengen an überschüssigem Kohlendioxid direkt aus der Atmosphäre zu entziehen. Eine sogar noch schneller wirkende Notfallaktion wäre die Injektion von Aerosolen in die Atmosphäre, um so die Menge an Sonnenstrahlung zu reduzieren, die die Erde erwärmt.
Diese Option ist extrem umstritten, und eine solche Aktion könnte unerwartete Konsequenzen nach sich ziehen, etwa die Verteilung der Niederschläge so verändern, dass die Tropen austrocknen. Forschung und Planung sind daher entscheidend für den Fall, dass eine Umsetzung dieser Option nötig wird. Wenn wir nicht in entsprechende Versuche und technische Vorbereitungen investieren – und bislang gibt es nahezu keine –, dann sind die Chancen groß, dass unverantwortlich handelnde Akteure die falschen Arten von Klima-Engineering betreiben, weil sie schlecht über den Stand der Forschung informiert sind.
Seit Jahrzehnten haben Wissenschaftler und politische Entscheidungsträger die Debatte über die Klimapolitik sehr einfach geführt: Die Wissenschaftler haben langfristige Ziele analysiert, und die Politiker haben so getan, als akzeptierten sie diese Ziele. Diese Zeiten sind vorbei. Ernsthafte Klimapolitik muss sich heute auf zeitnahe Ziele und deren Durchführbarkeit konzentrieren. Sie muss die gesamte Bandbreite der Optionen berücksichtigen, selbst jene, die unbequem und mit Risiken behaftet sind. | {
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SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - May 1, 2017) - CFN Media Group, the leading creative agency and digital media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces publication of an article discussing the studies for and against marijuana impaired driving, the current state laws regarding per se limits, the challenges for state regulators and law enforcement, and upcoming solutions like Cannabix Technologies' ( OTC PINK : BLOZF ) cannabis breathalyzer.
Does Marijuana Impair Driving?
Alcohol has been shown to significantly increase the risk of accidents, but evidence of marijuana's culpability in on-road driving accidents is less certain.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites several studies showing that marijuana use significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time with a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability. On the other hand, industry advocacy groups like NORML cite studies showing that marijuana impairment doesn't appear to play a significant role in on-road traffic incidents.
The takeaway from these studies is that marijuana likely impairs driving ability compared to non-high drivers, but it's uncertain how much the impairment translates to crash risks. As a result, most experts believe that it's reasonable for state regulators and law enforcement agencies to exercise caution in the aftermath of recreational and medical marijuana legalization by setting limits on drivers until further studies are conducted.
What Are the Current State Laws?
The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has created many challenges for state regulators and law enforcement officers. In general, most states have adopted so-called per se laws -- like the 0.08 BAC for alcohol -- to effectively prosecute high drivers. Law enforcement officers receive specialized training to recognize drug impairment, make an arrest based on suspicion, and then use a blood test used to measure intoxication.
Colorado and Washington
Colorado and Washington laws say that drivers with five nanograms of active THC in their whole blood can be prosecuted for driving under the influence. Officials in the states believe that the five-nanogram limit is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.08. Washington law further states that anyone pulled over with more than five nanograms found in a blood draw by a medical professional is automatically subject to a DUI conviction.
Ohio and Nevada
Ohio and Nevada have stricter per se limits of two nanograms of THC per milliliter with law enforcement permitted to pull over anyone suspected of high driving.
Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania
Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania have zero-tolerance policies when it comes to driving under the influence of marijuana. In these states, drivers with any amount of THC at all in their blood may be prosecuted for driving under the influence.
Measurement & Other Legal Challenges
The problem with marijuana impaired driving is two-fold -- the drug is metabolized differently depending on the individual and there are no effective ways to measure THC impairment without making an arrest.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that the blood concentration of THC in the bloodstream tends to spike immediately after smoking marijuana, but drops to a baseline level after three to five hours. But, THC is stored in the body's fat cells for much longer than a few hours, which could mean a positive hair or urine test without being 'high.' There's also anecdotal evidence that THC intoxication varies based on the frequency of use.
The second problem is that there are no roadside breathalyzer tests on the market for law enforcement to easily measure impairment. If a driver is suspected of impairment, they are arrested based on the suspicion and must be taken to a facility where a medical professional can draw blood to be tested. This process may violate a driver's rights given its invasiveness and involves a significant amount of time and energy for the law enforcement officer.
New Technologies on the Horizon
The good news is that there are new technologies on the horizon that could solve many of these problems by providing immediate feedback on impairment to law enforcement.
Cannabix Technologies Inc. is developing a THC breathalyzer technology that utilizes mass spectrometry for highly-accurate real-time detection of THC and its metabolic breakdown. Recently, the company announced that preliminary testing on human subjects showed that its Beta prototype is capable of detecting THC and other psychogenic cannabinoids in real-time after subjects smoked a THC cigarette.
The company plans to further test its Beta and Beta 2.0 prototypes to calibrate decay signal intensities with a refined breath collection component. The goal is to enable the breakthrough device to zero in on impairment with 'recency of use' like no other device on the market. And, as a first mover in the space, the company could rapidly build market share in the United States, Canada, and around the world as a leading technology provider.
Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/marijuana-driving-review-studies-legal-challenges/
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Disclaimer:
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/. | {
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When Theresa May called a snap election Norwich South MP Clive Lewis was worried about more than just holding on to his seat.
The politician panicked when he realised the poll would be held just over a month before his wedding.
He was even one of just 13 MPs to vote against holding the election - presumably because of his upcoming nuptials.
When the election was called Mr Lewis said: “Theresa May has thrown a clanger into my personal life! The honeymoon has had to go. I said to my other half ‘how can I take a week off in Cornwall when there will be volunteers working their socks off for me?’ There were wails of anguish when we realised and it’s really sad, but it’s one of those things."
Mr Lewis also had to ditch his four-day stag do in the Cotswolds admitting: “I am sure it will still go ahead, but just without me! They will go and send me pictures of my stag do while I’m out knocking on doors.”
The couple had another hurdle to overcome when they realised that, since parliament had been dissolved, Mr Lewis, who had planned to tie the knot in the parliamentary chapel, would not be allowed into the official buidings.
(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
During the pre-election dissolution, sitting MPs lose their standing as Members of Parliament, meaning that they are unable to enter parliament and use the Chapel.
But fortunately for the couple, Black Rod and the Serjeant at Arms agreed to make an exception for the long-planned ceremony.
And today at 3pm Clive Lewis and actress Katy Steel tied the knot at a service in the historic Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Houses of Parliament.
Katy said “When the election was first called, Clive joked we may end up door knocking in Norwich South for our honeymoon, I laughed out loud. I’m not laughing anymore” she added.
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft is a Church of England church in the Palace of Westminster completed by Edward I in 1297.
Members of Parliament and their families can use the chapel primarily for weddings and funerals.
The body of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was kept in St Mary Undercroft on the night before her funeral in April 2013.
The honour was also accorded for the body of Tony Benn, the long serving Labour politician, before his funeral in March 2014, as well as that of PC Keith Palmer who was fatally stabbed carrying out his duties on the palace grounds during the 2017 Westminster attack.
Katy said: “We have cost the staff at the Palace so much work but they could not have been kinder. ”
Clive Lewis said: “It’s a hell of a start to married life and not quite the one we’d envisaged but Katy’s been amazingly understanding and we’re determined to make the best of it come what May.”
Because of the election the couple had to cancel their planned week long honeymoon.
But Clive and Katy will be taking a two-day ‘micro-moon’ in the South West before Clive returns to campaigning. | {
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FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019 file photo, an elderly woman is treated for suspected cholera infection at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. Cholera is surging once more in Yemen, with more than 76,000 suspected new cases and 195 deaths in March, double the number in the previous two months, according to U.N. figures. Doctors point to the difficulty in controlling epidemics in a country where infrastructure has been decimated by four years of war. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2019 file photo, an elderly woman is treated for suspected cholera infection at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. Cholera is surging once more in Yemen, with more than 76,000 suspected new cases and 195 deaths in March, double the number in the previous two months, according to U.N. figures. Doctors point to the difficulty in controlling epidemics in a country where infrastructure has been decimated by four years of war. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File)
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Cholera is surging once again in Yemen, with the U.N. reporting that the number of suspected cases has doubled in March over previous months and doctors in overwhelmed health facilities fearing it could rival a 2017 outbreak that spiraled into the world’s worst flare-up.
The surge underscores how Yemen, which has endured multiple outbreaks of cholera amid four years of civil war, still isn’t able to stop its spread.
At al-Sabeen Hospital in the capital of Sanaa, beds are full and patients sleep in tents in a courtyard. Some of them wait for treatment by lying on cardboard under trees, with IVs dangling from the branches.
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“We receive cases around the clock. Sometimes three to four cases a minute,” said Dr. Ismail al-Mansouri. “The hospital is under heavy pressure, as it receives patients from across the country.”
Even the doctors are not immune: Al-Mansouri and several other staff have caught cholera. On March 28, one of their colleagues, a well-loved pediatrician, died of the disease.
Two other outbreaks since 2016 caused more than 1.4 million suspected cases and killed more than 3,000 people. Most of those stemmed from an outbreak that began in April 2017 and grew into the world’s biggest.
The spread has slowed since late 2018, although it never stopped. Now, seasonal rains that began earlier than usual this year have caused a spike in the disease.
There were 76,152 new suspected cases and 195 deaths in March, compared to about 32,000 cases in February and 39,000 in January. The March toll brought the number of those believed to have died from cholera this year to nearly 300.
The rates last month are comparable to the first weeks of 2017, when cases jumped to 10,000 and 20,000 a week. It accelerated to 50,000 a week at its height and went on to infect more than 1 million people before waning in mid-2018.
“The outbreak this year is much worse and the situation is very dangerous,” said Adel al-Alamni, head of the cholera treatment center at al-Sabeen.
In a statement last week, the U.N.’s World Health Organization said it was “doing everything possible to avoid the 2017 scenario.” But it noted it faces restrictions on access and “bureaucratic hurdles” to bringing in supplies.
Speaking to the AP on Friday, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said rates of cholera fatality overall this year are still lower than in 2017, but the situation is exacerbated because of the early rains and because “infrastructure is more destroyed than it used to be.”
Cholera is spread primarily by water and food tainted with feces. It usually can be treated if caught early, but it can kill swiftly by dehydrating its victims through vomiting and severe diarrhea.
The destruction wreaked by Yemen’s civil war has created prime conditions for cholera’s spread. The conflict is between Shiite rebels known as Houthis who control the northern part of the country and a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognized government, based in the south.
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Fighting and airstrikes have damaged sewage systems and water stations. Most people don’t have access to clean water, particularly the more than 3 million driven from their homes by the war. The main water treatment facility outside Sanaa has broken down. Sewage water is often used to irrigate fields, potentially infecting food supplies, and it leaks into wells, the main source of water.
Health services and trash collection have further broken down because about 1 million government employees have largely gone unpaid since the Central Bank was moved in 2016 from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to the southern city of Aden. Nearly half the prewar health facilities are no longer working, often because they were damaged by airstrikes.
The cholera adds to what is already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly two thirds of Yemen’s 23 million people are in need of some sort of aid and possibly tens of thousands have died of malnutrition, preventable diseases and epidemics.
The surge in cholera has been centered in districts around Sanaa and other parts of the north. The relief agencies Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children warned last week of an “alarming spike” with 1,000 children infected with suspected cholera every day.
Most of the patients at al-Sabeen Hospital are children under 10, al-Mansouri said.
Among the most recent deaths were two pregnant women, along with their unborn babies. Among the dead was al-Mansouri’s colleague, Dr. Mohammed Abdel-Moghni, who had treated children during the recent waves of cholera.
His colleagues and family believe he was infected as he did his morning rounds, checking the dozens of patients in his care, before having breakfast at the hospital cafe. He died of kidney failure, a common complication from cholera.
Health workers dealing with cholera patients have not received vaccinations, al-Mansouri said, noting doctors are left without protection. Infection control in health facilities is almost nonexistent because of the lack of resources, making staff vulnerable, he said.
Hardly anyone in Yemen has been vaccinated against cholera. U.N. officials have said agencies largely have been unable to bring in vaccines because of the difficulty in delivering them amid the conflict. The only vaccination campaign so far took place in a few districts in 2018 and covered 400,000 people.
Parents have struggled to get cholera-stricken children to treatment. At al-Sabeen Hospital, Mohammed Hadi said he brought his 3-year-old daughter, Naama, from their eastern home of Radda, hoping to get treatment at a private facility, but it was too expensive. So they were camped out at al-Sabeen, where treatment is free, sleeping in a tent for two days and then found space on the floor in a room crammed with 19 other patients.
Naama has had the symptoms of cholera. Hadi, a farmer, said he was still trying to figure out how she was infected.
“Is it water? We know that the water is polluted. Is it the food?” he said. “Look at my daughter’s condition. It’s very hard.”
Activists have launched awareness campaigns on social media, warning against eating uncooked vegetables. Messages are sent on WhatsApp groups urging residents to sanitize water tanks, especially those next to underground sewage tanks.
The United Nations asked for $4.2 billion for humanitarian operations in Yemen this year, and it listed stemming cholera as a top goal. It set up hundreds of Diarrhea Treatment Centers and Oral Rehydration Corners across the country. But in some areas, such as the densely populated city of Taiz, several centers are not working because of delays in aid, according to a senior health official in the city. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he had not yet talked to U.N. agencies about restarting support for the centers.
Doctors say deaths can still occur from complications that the U.N. centers can’t detect. The centers, for example, are not equipped to deal with kidney failure, said Dr. Jamal Abdel-Moghni of al-Thawra Hospital, one of Sanaa’s biggest. It is one of only two facilities in Yemen that are able to treat kidney failure.
“The numbers of people who come to our hospital for cholera complications are just unimaginable,” said Abdel-Moghni, a relative of the doctor who died. “Every day there is death, and the day that passes without deaths is an exceptional day.”
___
AP correspondent Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. | {
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In July 2007, Gerry Mayr, talked with his father Otto concerning Otto's role in designing the Mod material. Gerry gave me permission to share a summary of that conversation: "I spoke to my father (he's 90 yrs old now) [recently] and showed him the photos from the [Mod Top Registry] website. He told me that his company only produced the "yellow-black" flower style for Plymouth. The other colors and styles were produced by another company. He said that if his company had produced the other styles he would have been directly involved with the design and production process. He worked for Stauffer until they closed their Plastics Division (it had then been previously relocated to Andersen, So. Carolina) back in May of 1981. Stauffer originally purchased the Plastics Division from the Toscany Company which was a privately owned company headquartered in New York City. Their specialty products were shower-curtains and vinyl table cloths. It was sold to Stauffer in the late 1960's when the owner retired. Stauffer's core business was in agri-business making fertilizer additives for the agricultural industry. In addition to the flower power design, my father also designed the "wood-grain" panels that were used by GM (Chevy, Pontiac, Buick & Olds, Cadillac Seville & Eldorado) station-wagons back in the mid to late 1970's. The auto industry wanted to get away from using actual wood due to its quick deterioration from the sun. My father assisted in the development of the production and design process that protected the "vinyl" wood grain from fading and streaking. If you ever see any of these wagons around today they still hold up very well and still have a glossy finish after over thirty years. It made him very proud because FORD's product was fading and streaking after a few years and also they were not interested in doing business with his company. He one time spent two years working with FORD on a wood-grain panel that was ultimately in the end rejected personally by, Lee Iacocca, because he "didn't like it." The ironic part is that the rejected pattern was eventually bought by NISSAN and FORD paid for all the product development. As a side note, the flower and wood-grain patterns are repetitive patterns. Meaning that if you look closely at the patterns, they repeat every three to four feet in length. To test this, just pick out one of the flowers and go along in a straight line to see where you see that exact same flower again! "
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Lionel Messi has been included in the Argentina squad for next month's friendlies with Bolivia and Mexico.
It had been reported that the Barcelona ace had asked to be left out after being upset by the criticism he received after the Copa America
There had been reports that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner had asked Gerardo Martino to be excused from the Albiceleste's next two outings and was even considering his future with the national team, after being upset by the flak he came in for after his country's loss to Chile in the final of this year's Copa America.
Indeed, even Martino admitted that he would have already walked away had he been subjected to the same level of criticism, stating: "Talk of him considering retiring from the national team is frustrating but understandable: if I were Messi, I'd have stopped playing for Argentina a long time ago."
However, the Barcelona attacker has once again been named as captain for the September 4 meeting with Bolivia and the game against Mexico four days later.
Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria has also been included, even though the winger has yet to make his first appearance for Paris Saint-Germain since joining from Manchester United earlier this summer.
Full Argentina Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchcester United), Nahuel Guzman (Club Tigres).
Defenders: Agustin Marchesin (Santos Laguna), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit), Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Milton Casco (Newell's Old Boys), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Ramiro Funes Mori (River Plate), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Pastore (PSG), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Angel Di Maria (PSG).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG). | {
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I recently wrote some code to interface with Stripe’s webhooks. After looking at the code and tests, I decided I needed to do something to make it easier to test all pricing tiers— something I wasn’t able to easily do from the start.
Dependency injection was a necessary piece of that puzzle. I’ve always been curious about the various forms of dependency injection and the effects each would have on the code. Below I explore 2 options (constructor injection and setter injection).
In the end, setter injection felt for more natural for this case and it didn’t interfere with the classes argument list and felt ancillary to the responsibility of the code. While the change in code was small, it has a huge impact on my confidence in the code and associated tests.
The Code
The class below is responsible for handling Stripe’s invoice.created webhook. Prior to a customer being billed monthly subscription, Stripe will ping your application (if configured) — giving you the opportunity to add additional line items (think metered billing…). It could be additional services, or perhaps the entire bill itself (this use case). Nevertheless, the responsibility of the class is to create an invoice item based on the customer’s usage during the previous period.
module StripeEvent class InvoiceCreated attr_reader :payload def initialize(payload) @payload = payload end def perform Stripe::InvoiceItem.create( customer: user.stripe_id, amount: additional_charges_in_cents, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) end private def additional_charges_in_cents Billing::Tier.new(usage).additional_charges_in_cents end def usage Billing::Usage.new(user).last_30_days end def user @user ||= User.find_by(stripe_id: payload["data"]["object"]["customer"]) end end end
I wrote this code pretty quickly and felt pretty good about it. The responsibility of determining the pricing tier had been broken out in to a separate class, as well as determining the customer’s actual usage. At least I thought they were…
So what about the tests?
require 'test_helper' class InvoiceCreatedTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase def setup @payload = { "data" => { "object" => { "customer" => "stripe_brandon" } } } end test 'adds invoice item based on usage' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 1900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ).returns(true) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end test 'adds next level charge for usage' do Stat.create!(user: users(:brandon), step: steps(:nav_one), impressions: 3_000, date: 5.days.ago) Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 4900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ).returns(true) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end end
The first thing I noticed with this setup was the detailed usage of Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects . I wasn’t sure if this was necessarily a bad thing because it was a third-party service and it seemed like reasonable boundary of the application.
Aside from the mock, another thing that bothered me was the difficulty simulating different pricing tiers and customer usage. You probably noticed the Stat.create!… in the last test. I could’ve duplicated Stat entries until I reached some arbitrary level of usage that bumped this user to the next pricing tier. But that felt risky and very dependent on knowing the actual value of the subsequent tier.
What if I wanted to change the ceiling of that tier next month? I’d have to come in here and adjust the stats being created until it totaled something above the adjustment. It just felt weird…
What if we had a way to easily swap in implementations of the Billing::Usage ? It would then allow me to concoct any combination of usage and mock the expected values sent to Stripe.
Setter Injection
In a few other articles, I’ve heard this termed “accessors as collaborators”. Whatever the name, it was surprising how such a little a change could produce so much flexibility in my tests. And with that additional flexibility came confidence because it allowed me to test the edge cases with minimal overhead.
module StripeEvent class InvoiceCreated attr_writer :usage_service attr_reader :payload def initialize(payload) @payload = payload end def perform if user.created_at < 14.days.ago Stripe::InvoiceItem.create( customer: user.stripe_id, amount: additional_charges_in_cents, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) end end private def additional_charges_in_cents Billing::Tier.new(usage).additional_charges_in_cents end def usage usage_service.last_30_days end def usage_service @usage_service ||= Billing::Usage.new(user) end def user @user ||= User.find_by(stripe_id: payload["data"]["object"]["customer"]) end end end
A couple things changed:
usage_service was created to extract the code to calculate customer usage The usage method now calls the last_30_days method on usage_service This is interesting because you’ll notice now that the only important idea about usage_service is the fact that is has a last_30_days method. We can now take comfort in the idea that usage_service could be anything really, as long as it implements the last_30_days method. attr_writer :usage_service was added to allow for other implementations of the usage class
This allows us to inject other forms of the usage_service to simulate more or less customer usage:
require 'test_helper' class InvoiceCreatedTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase def setup @payload = { "data" => { "object" => { "customer" => "stripe_brandon" } } } end test 'adds invoice item based on usage' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 1900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end test 'adds next level charge for usage' do Stat.create!(user: users(:brandon), step: steps(:nav_one), impressions: 3_000, date: 5.days.ago) Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 4900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end test 'adds highest tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 49900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload) inv.usage_service = Level5Usage.new inv.perform end test 'adds 2nd highest tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 24900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload) inv.usage_service = Level4Usage.new inv.perform end test 'adds middle tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 12900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload) inv.usage_service = Level3Usage.new inv.perform end test 'adds 2nd tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 4900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload) inv.usage_service = Level2Usage.new inv.perform end test 'adds 1st tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 1900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload) inv.usage_service = Level1Usage.new inv.perform end private Level5Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 2_000_000; end } Level4Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 900_000; end } Level3Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 190_000; end } Level2Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 19_000; end } Level1Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 1_900; end }
I’ve created classes for each usage tier that implement the last_30_days method. In real life, this usage service is more complex, but we can test the complexity of it alone through unit tests. The responsibility of this class is to ensure invoice items are added to Stripe correctly, so removing the complexity of Billing::Usage form this test allows us to maximize this test’s value and keep us isolated from the implementation of Billing::Usage — assuming it implements the last_30_days method.
Constructor Injection
Most dependency injection posts focus on constructor injection. The idea being that an implementation can be supplied. If not, a reasonable default will be provided. How might that change this scenario?
module StripeEvent class InvoiceCreated attr_reader :payload def initialize(payload, usage_service = Billing::Usage) @payload = payload @usage_service = usage_service end def perform if user.created_at < 14.days.ago Stripe::InvoiceItem.create( customer: user.stripe_id, amount: additional_charges_in_cents, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) end end private def additional_charges_in_cents Billing::Tier.new(usage).additional_charges_in_cents end def usage @usage_service.new(user).last_30_days end def user @user ||= User.find_by(stripe_id: payload["data"]["object"]["customer"]) end end end
Because the usage method requires instantiation from within the class, I had to update the fake test Usage classes to accept user as an argument during instantiation:
require 'test_helper' class InvoiceCreatedTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase def setup @payload = { "data" => { "object" => { "customer" => "stripe_brandon" } } } end test 'adds invoice item based on usage' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 1900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end test 'adds next level charge for usage' do Stat.create!(user: users(:brandon), step: steps(:nav_one), impressions: 3_000, date: 5.days.ago) Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 4900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload).perform end test 'adds highest tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 49900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload, Level5Usage) inv.perform end test 'adds 2nd highest tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 24900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload, Level4Usage) inv.perform end test 'adds middle tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 12900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload, Level3Usage) inv.perform end test 'adds 2nd tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 4900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload, Level2Usage) inv.perform end test 'adds 1st tier' do Stripe::InvoiceItem.expects(:create).with( customer: "stripe_brandon", amount: 1900, currency: "usd", description: "Usage charges" ) inv = StripeEvent::InvoiceCreated.new(@payload, Level1Usage) inv.perform end private Level5Usage = Struct.new(:user) { def last_30_days; 2_000_000; end } Level4Usage = Struct.new(:user) { def last_30_days; 900_000; end } Level3Usage = Struct.new(:user) { def last_30_days; 190_000; end } Level2Usage = Struct.new(:user) { def last_30_days; 19_000; end } Level1Usage = Struct.new(:user) { def last_30_days; 1_900; end }
The resulting test classes seem overly complex and sprinkled with details that aren’t particularly relevant to its responsibility. If we were to pass in an already instantiated usage class as an argument, it means we would have to already know the user before-hand, which means we’d have to parse @user ||= User.find_by(stripe_id: payload["data"]["object"]["customer”]) outside of this class. I don’t love that solution — the parent that calls this InvoiceCreated class is pretty minimal and I wanted to keep it that way.
Another option would be to provide user as an argument to the to the last_30_days method:
def usage @usage_service.new.last_30_days(user) end
We could then change our fake test usage classes back to:
Level1Usage = Class.new { def last_30_days; 1_900; end }
Notice the lack of Struct with an argument…
Summary
Of the two options, I prefer the setter injector in this case. There’s something about changing the signature of a class just for tests that didn’t feel natural.
An accessor (or writer…), in this case, provided the same flexibility without changing the signature. I like being able to quickly look at the argument list of initialize and clearly understand its roles and responsibilities within the system.
Which do you prefer? | {
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President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE on Saturday blamed Democrats for the death of two migrant children in U.S. custody.
"Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally," Trump tweeted. "They can’t. If we had a Wall, they wouldn’t even try! The two children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol."
"The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn’t given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard & getting so little credit!"
Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can’t. If we had a Wall, they wouldn’t even try! The two..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018
...children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol. The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn’t given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard & getting so little credit! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018
Two migrant children have died in American custody in recent weeks, prompting calls for investigations into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by many Democratic lawmakers.
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Jakelin Caal Maquin, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, died in federal custody earlier this month from dehydration and shock.
Emergency responders found that she “reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days," eight hours after she was detained at the border in New Mexico.
Caal's father said she actually had been given food and water and appeared to be in good health during their journey to the U.S.
Felipe Gómez Alonzo, an 8-year-old boy also from Guatemala, died in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody on Dec. 24 after being transferred to a hospital for flu-like symptoms, high fever and vomiting.
Sine his death, CBP has ordered medical checks on all children in its custody.
DHS promised earlier this week to change how the agency handles the health of migrant children.
DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE said they will adopt a “series of extraordinary protective measures,” including having the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigate an uptick in “sick children” crossing the border.
Trump is locked in a fight with Democrats over border wall funding which has led to a partial government shutdown, going into its eighth day today.
Trump is demanding $5.7 billion for a wall, which he claims will stop illegal immigration, and the "Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals" that come with it.
The House passed a bill last week with the funding, but the measure does not have the votes to pass in the upper chamber.
Democrats argue that the wall would ineffective and send a signal of division. | {
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Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2008 September 19
Companion of a Young, Sun-like Star
Credit: Gemini Observatory, D. Lafreniere, R. Jayawardhana, M. van Kerkwijk (Univ. Toronto)
Explanation: Located just 500 light-years away toward the constellation Scorpius, this star is only slightly less massive and a little cooler than the Sun. But it is much younger, a few million years old compared to the middle-aged Sun's 5 billion years. This sharp infrared image shows the young star has a likely companion positioned above and left - a hot planet with about 8 times the mass of Jupiter, orbiting a whopping 330 times the Earth-Sun distance from its parent star. The young planetary companion is still hot and relatively bright in infrared light due to the heat generated during its formation by gravitational contraction. In fact, such newborn planets are easier to detect before they age and cool, becoming much fainter. Though over 300 extrasolar planets have been found using other techniques, this picture likely represents the first direct image of a planet belonging to a star similar to the Sun. | {
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Com a fronteira fechada às vésperas da eleição para presidente , venezuelanos estão entrando e saindo do país por rotas clandestinas. Muitos fazem um percurso em meio à mata para comprar comida e remédios no Brasil.
De acordo com o Itamaraty, a fronteira da Venezuela com o Brasil foi bloqueada às 21h de sexta (18) e só será reaberta às 6h de segunda (21). O fechamento foi determinado pelo presidente Nicolás Maduro na véspera da eleição presidencial que ocorre neste domingo (20).
2 de 5 Venezuelano percorre rota clandestina na fronteira do país: 'estou levando remédios' — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR Venezuelano percorre rota clandestina na fronteira do país: 'estou levando remédios' — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR
No início da manhã deste sábado (19), apenas o tráfego de veículos estava interrompido no lado venezuelano da BR-174, que liga os dois países. No entanto, às 10h (11h de Brasília), o fluxo de pessoas a pé entrando ou saindo da Venezuela também passou a ser vetado.
Com isso, as rotas clandestinas em meio aos 2 mil quilômetros de fronteira entre Roraima e a Venezuela viram alternativa para quem foge do desabastecimento de alimentos e remédios no país governado por Maduro.
O venezuelano Carlo Quintano, de 50 anos, foi a Pacaraima, município brasileiro ao Norte de Roraima, em busca de alimentos.
Na volta para casa, uma fazenda na região da fronteira, atravessou a pé para a Venezuela. Consigo levou pacotes de farinha de trigo, arroz, garrafas de óleo e potes de margarina.
"Precisamos de comida, e se não nos deixam passar pela fronteira, vamos por aqui. Temos que recorrer ao Brasil para não morrer de fome", disse Carlo Quintano.
3 de 5 Carlo Quintano, 50, cruzou a pé a fronteira entre os dois países: 'Temos que recorrer ao Brasil para não morrer de fome' — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR Carlo Quintano, 50, cruzou a pé a fronteira entre os dois países: 'Temos que recorrer ao Brasil para não morrer de fome' — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR
Um venezuelano de 23 anos que mora em Pacaraima disse que as rotas clandestinas em meio à mata costumam ser usadas sempre que a fronteira é fechada. O percurso a pé leva em média 30 minutos, não tem postos de fiscalização e fica dentro do território venezuelano.
"A maioria das pessoas sempre vai pela rodovia, mas quando a fronteira fecha muito gente passa por aqui para entrar ou sair da Venezuela", explicou.
Em dezembro de 2016, última vez em que a fronteira tinha sido fechada por ordem de Maduro, muitos venezuelanos e até brasileiros fizeram o mesmo percurso.
4 de 5 Na fronteira, a 215 Km da capital Boa Vista, guardas venezuelanos impedem que pessoas cruzem a fronteira pela BR-174 em veículos ou a pé — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR Na fronteira, a 215 Km da capital Boa Vista, guardas venezuelanos impedem que pessoas cruzem a fronteira pela BR-174 em veículos ou a pé — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR
"Eu moro em Boa Vista e em Santa Elena de Uairén, e quando soube que a fronteira tinha sido fechada vim por aqui e irei ficar no Brasil até segunda", disse um brasileiro de 60 anos que também o fez o percurso para deixar a Venezuela.
Segundo o cônsul-adjunto da Venezuela em Roraima, José Martí Uriana, a medida de fechar a fronteira é adotada sempre que ocorrem eleições no país como forma de segurança durante o pleito.
5 de 5 Venezuelana com bebê de colo atravessa fronteira com o país por rota clandestina: 'ele [bebê] tem um mês" — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR Venezuelana com bebê de colo atravessa fronteira com o país por rota clandestina: 'ele [bebê] tem um mês" — Foto: Emily Costa/G1 RR
"A República Bolivariana da Venezuela, cada vez que tem um processo eleitoral, fecha a fronteira para resguardar a soberania territorial e também para que as Forças Armadas controlem todo território nacional, e isso inclui a fronteira", explicou.
Eleições na Venezuela
No domingo, os eleitores venezuelanos vão às urnas para eleger o presidente que vai governar o país nos próximos seis anos.
Venezuela fecha fronteira com o Brasil na véspera das eleições
Candidato à reeleição, Maduro lidera as pesquisas de opinião em uma eleição na qual os principais opositores não podem concorrer. O país vive uma grave crise econômica e humanitária, o que fez aumentar os fluxos migratórios de venezuelanos para outros países, como o Brasil.
Como a maior parte da oposição boicotará a votação de domingo e dois de seus líderes mais populares estão proibidos de concorrer, o presidente de esquerda Nicolás Maduro deve se reeleger apesar da crise econômica que devasta o país.
Em Roraima, que recebe um crescente fluxo de venezuelanos que deixam o país natal, haverá apenas um posto de votação, que será no próprio consulado, no Centro de Boa Vista. | {
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CNN’s Chris Cillizza tried to call out President Donald Trump over Mueller’s indictment of 13 Russians Friday, but quickly made clear he didn’t understand the indictment at all.
Cillizza brought up Trump’s previous assertion that email hacking could have been done by Russia, China, “guy sitting on their bed who weighs 600 pounds,” and said, “this, um, didn’t age well.”
The problem? Mueller’s indictment didn’t mention hacking at all.
Really? Which page of the indictment discusses Russian hacking? Please point it out. — Stealth Jeff (@drawandstrike) February 16, 2018
Where in the indictment did it mention hacking? Which page? I just read it and didn’t see it. — Mollie (@MZHemingway) February 16, 2018
Trump’s statement was referring to the email hack – indictment doesn’t mention the email hack, its just about internet trolls – but you knew that. So your tweet is more fake news. — LE455 (@455LE) February 16, 2018
You’re so bad at this — Mujahed Kobbe (@Moj_kobe) February 16, 2018
What the Mueller indictment does not seem to address: hacking into the DNC, hacking into Podesta’s inbox, leaking stolen emails to hostile websites. That was always the most significant actual crime we know Russians committed, so we are far from having all the answers. — Sarah Westwood (@sarahcwestwood) February 16, 2018
Follow Amber on Twitter | {
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Back in December, we took an early look at who the Maple Leafs might expose in the June expansion draft .
Now that the trade deadline has passed — with the Leafs making one move with, ostensibly, an eye towards expansion — it is a good time to revisit the draft and figure out what the Leafs might do.
For a refresher course on the rules, here’s an abbreviated version: Each team will submit a list of protected players on June 17. Teams have the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. Each team also needs to expose at minimum three players that have played either 40 games this season or 70 over the last two. All first and second-year pros are exempt from the draft.
As previously discussed, the first decision is choosing the protection scheme — the two choices are three defensemen, seven forwards and a goalie, or eight skaters and a goalie. Since the Leafs have not added a player on defense worth protecting, they should still be using the three defensemen, seven forwards and a goalie template.
That still means Toronto will protect Frederik Andersen, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, and Connor Carrick (Nikita Zaitsev is exempt).
At forward, this expansion draft could not have come at a better time for Toronto given all of these players are exempt: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Frederik Gauthier, Kasperi Kapanen, Zach Hyman, and Nikita Soshnikov.
Notable players not included on that list include Nazem Kadri, Connor Brown and JVR, as all three will surely be protected. It also appears unlikely that Toronto would be willing to lose Tyler Bozak or Leo Komarov for free considering their roles on the team and potential trade value should the club look to move them.
That would leave two protected spots for any of Matt Martin, Brendan Leipsic, Josh Leivo, Eric Fehr, Martin Marincin, Alexey Marchenko, and Kerby Rychel. It’s tough to get a read on which of the young players Toronto likes enough to keep — Leivo has looked good but is a regular healthy scratch, the same goes for Marincin, Leipsic and Rychel haven’t played in the NHL this season, and Marchenko doesn’t look like anything special. At the same time, the Leafs still need to make three players available that meet the 40/70 requirement; in this case, Martin, Fehr and Marincin all fit the bill. The other possibility is the Leafs signing Ben Smith (who needs to play one more game in order to be eligible).
From the perspective of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, it would make sense to roll the dice on a young forward who has shown potential in Leivo, or a young, cheap defenseman like Marincin. Or maybe Vegas would consider taking Martin for entertainment value on what is sure to be a very bad team for the first few years.
All of this circles us back to Eric Fehr, as the Leafs went out and traded for a player who Vegas GM George McPhee likes and has acquired on two separate occasions. In fact, speculation has already begun that Vegas will acquire Fehr from Toronto:
“Former Columbus BJ’s general manager Doug MacLean basically guaranteed the Golden Knights agreed to at least a few deals, and even went as so far as to mention one player by name. Eric Fehr. Eric Fehr, the former Capital (hint, hint), Jet, Penguin, and now Maple Leaf just so happened to play his junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings (hint, hint, hint, hint!). His contract expires at the end of the Golden Knights first season and is a reasonable $2 million for the right winger. He’s been around the league, is considered a good locker room guy, and talent wise he’s certainly going to be good enough to be on Vegas’ initial 23 man roster. The point is, the Golden Knights staff has a connection to him, he has a friendly contract, is the type of player they are looking for, and is good enough at hockey.”
That would certainly make the Fehr acquisition more palatable for the Leafs, as they wouldn’t have the additional season of his $2 million contract on their books and they would be able to keep their young players as well as Martin.
At the end of the day, the expansion draft is coming at the right time for Toronto and they are going to escape it relatively unscathed. At this point, it is more a question of whether they’re going to lose a depth player, a young player with some upside, or Eric Fehr.
Notes
– One ramification of picking up the extra contract – Steve Oleksy – in the Pittsburgh deal is the Leafs are now at 50 standard player contracts, which is the limit. That means the Leafs won’t be in the bidding to sign any undrafted free agents for the rest of the season (CHL, college, Europe).
– Eric Fehr has been used strictly in a defensive role since being acquired by Pittsburgh, with nearly 80% of his non-neutral zone faceoffs starting in the defensive zone. That has cut his production in half; he put up over 30 points in back-to-back years in Washington, totalling .43 points per game, compared to 25 points in 107 games for .23 points per game in Pittsburgh. He can take a shift on the fourth line and contribute on occasion, but it would come at the expense of a young player in the lineup.
– Since February 1, the Leafs are 5-6-5. Here’s how their forwards have been producing over that time:
Player Games Played Points Time on Ice Auston Matthews 16 16 18:03 Leo Komarov 16 7 17:29 Connor Brown 16 6 17:11 Zach Hyman 16 4 17:09 Nazem Kadri 16 12 17:03 William Nylander 16 14 16:50 Tyler Bozak 15 10 16:09 Mitch Marner 11 9 15:56 JVR 16 8 15:24 Josh Leivo 10 9 13:27 Brian Boyle 3 1 12:13 Ben Smith 11 1 11:00 Nikita Soshnikov 11 1 10:05 Frederik Gauthier 3 0 9:59 Matt Martin 16 0 8:54
There are a few things that stand out at first glance: 1) Leivo’s production and ice time for a player who has been a healthy scratch so often this season; 2) Nylander playing the sixth-most despite his production, particularly compared to Hyman and Komarov; 3) Komarov playing the second most overall, partly because he plays in all situations.
– Also of note is the continued decline of JVR’s role. He is goalless in his last 14 games, although he does have 45 shots on goal over that span. We can also assume he was one of the veterans Babcock was referencing when he said they got outplayed last week by their opponent’s veterans. Throughout the season, Bozak and JVR have been called out more than a few times publicly by Babcock.
– Frederik Andersen not playing in Anaheim continued a trend of the Leafs always starting their number-one goalie in the first game of a back-to-back no matter who the two opponents are. It looks like Toronto’s approach is to focus on the points in the first game and anything after that is gravy. In this case, both LA and Anaheim are good teams, so it’s basically a coin flip. That said, it was a little cold of the Leafs not to give Andersen the start in his return to Anaheim.
– For all the talk of blown leads by the Leafs, they are 21-1-9 when leading after two periods. It’s not as if they are blowing games completely in the third and regularly coming up empty. The bigger issue — as has been discussed here throughout the season — is that questionable overtime personnel deployment leads them to the shootout, where they are the worst team in the league.
Against LA in overtime, the Leafs actually started off with Matthews-Nylander-Rielly and they generated two good scoring chances in 18 seconds, leading to an offensive zone faceoff. Both forwards were then pulled off in exchange for Nazem Kadri and Connor Brown. Later in overtime, Matthews-Nylander-Rielly got about a ten-second shift together, with Matthews missing a rebound in front leading to another offensive zone faceoff, at which point Kadri and Brown replaced them.
Quotes
“The mistakes that I’ve made, I did just a horrible job in relation to my colleague Mike Babcock in selling our age and the mistakes. So, when they’ve lost a game it’s just a wonderful learning experience, and they win it’s a triumph of character, and we have the opposite thing going on here, right. But that’s my choice because I don’t ever want to walk into a season and say we aren’t here to win the Stanley Cup.” – Paul Maurice on his opinion of the difference between the Leafs and Jets.
I think there’s something to be said for realism when it comes to the abilities and potential of the group you are coaching.
“I told him, ‘There’s a Mario Lemieux cool to his game.’ And Mario just smiled. Not a lot of kids have the ability to not get rattled by anything. Jaromir (Jagr) was moody and temperamental when he was a kid. Sidney (Crosby) would get angry and frustrated. You’d see the same sometimes from (Evgeni) Malkin. You don’t see that from Auston. I have amazing respect for the way he carries himself as a person, the way he plays and with the consistent growth. I think we’re all a little amazed by what he’s doing. And this is just the beginning. I have been blown away and impressed by how composed he is and how he has carried himself and handled himself. He’s going to be a major award winner. He’s going to have a chance to lead his team to a lot of playoff success. He’s going to do some things with that group that are pretty amazing. The people around him understand the process of building a team. That’s going to be a special team.” – Pierre McGuire on Auston Matthews
After LA tied the game 2-2, Matthews went on a great rush where he did a 360 around the defenseman and just missed the top corner. The camera showed the replay with a close up of Matthews’ face afterwards on the bench. He was relatively calm throughout it all. I was expecting an f-bomb, or — at a minimum — a head shake, yet he was calm, zoned in, and ready to go back out there. Love it or hate it, in a fishbowl like Toronto, it helps when a star player can keep his cool and maintain an even demeanour. In many respects, Matthews seems tailor-made for the market.
“There are tough decisions, but Sosh is important on our penalty kill, plays real fast. That’s where he got the nod the last couple of games over Leivs. Now, I talked to Leivs today, he’s just got to keep [going]. Leivs played good while he was in there too, there’s no issue with that, it’s just one of those situations where that’s what we’ve decided.” – Mike Babcock on sitting Josh Leivo
Leivo has 9 points in 12 games, while Soshnikov has 7 in 49.
Video Tidbit of the Week
I
This is a good example of the kind of non-descript shift that Babcock referenced when the team acquired Boyle. Babcock sends out the fourth line for a neutral zone faceoff and the Kings — with last change at home — counter with their top line. Boyle shadows Kopitar down the ice, digs the puck out along the wall, gets it out, and then gets the puck deep. Nothing happens on this shift, and that’s a win for Toronto.
5 Things I Think I’d Do
1. I think I’d be making room in the lineup for Josh Leivo. He was producing consistently before the latest scratches and even set up the Leafs’ lone goal in San Jose prior to getting substituted out for Nikita Soshnikov. Beyond the point production, he stood out for his work in front of the net and along the walls, which is why he’s sitting at a 56.4 CF% over his 12 games this season. Bottom line: He’s one of their 12 best forwards and should be playing. Anything else is overthinking it.
2. In general, I think I would be more creative with the lines. Soshnikov’s role on the penalty kill isn’t a good enough reason to healthy scratch Leivo when Leivo is playing really well. It is also okay to hold players — and not just a few lower-roster forwards — accountable by getting their attention and lighting a fire under them (Brown, Hyman, JVR, etc.).
3. I think I’ve now seen enough to prefer Marincin in Marchenko’s spot. I am fully aware of their handedness, but Marincin has shown he can play the right side. Marincin is sitting at 50 CF% on the season compared to 46.4% from Marchenko, they are the same age, and Marincin is bigger and a better skater.
4. I think I would experiment with Boyle in front of the net on the power play instead of Komarov. Komarov is playing a huge role right now — tough matchups, top PK time, PP time — and it would be beneficial to give him some rest. Experiment with the much bigger Boyle in front and let’s see what happens.
5. With the Leafs playing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday followed by a two-day break on Sunday and Monday, I think I would start Andersen in all three games. | {
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What we learned in the Rams’ 27-20 loss to the Washington Redskins:
The Rams need work on their run defense
Washington rushed for 229 yards, with three backs gaining at least 67 yards.
The Rams appeared especially vulnerable on the left side
Linebacker Alec Ogletree said the Rams made mistakes and did not play physical enough to stop the run.
They only have a few days to fix things before playing the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
Jared Goff remains a work in progress
The Rams quarterback made several outstanding plays after he was flushed from the pocket.
His 69-yard pass to rookie tight end Gerald Everett was one.
Goff got an opportunity for his first NFL fourth-quarter comeback victory, but it went awry when his pass was intercepted by Washington linebacker Mason Foster.
Todd Gurley is starting to look like the Todd Gurley we heard about
The third-year running back rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Gurley hurdled a player while running to his right on a rushing play.
Later, he electrified the Coliseum when he caught a pass in the left side, and then hurdled a defender before stretching for the end zone pylon to complete and 18-yard scoring play.
Perhaps Gurley’s first 100-yard rushing effort since 2015 will be next.
The optics of the Coliseum crowd shots could become problematic
The Rams announced that they had distributed 56,612 tickets.
There were probably closer to 50,000 in the building.
That’s not terrible. But in the context of a 90,000-seat stadium, it does not look great on television.
After routing the Indianapolis Colts in the opener with an entertaining offense and defense, the Rams were unable to draw a larger crowd for the Redskins.
Aaron Donald is in great shape but not game shape
The star defensive lineman showed it is possible to play with only one week of practice.
Coaches and trainers, however, limited his series, and Donald said afterward that he needed to play better.
Donald did fine. He just needs more time to be comfortable.
Penalties are costly against good opponents
In their rout of the Colts, the Rams committed seven penalties for 50 yards.
No big deal: The Colts were incapable of making the Rams pay for their mistakes.
The Rams committed seven penalties for 75 yards against Washington.
Several sabotaged a fourth-quarter drive and might have been the difference between the Rams possibly scoring a go-ahead touchdown or settling for a tying field goal.
Johnny Hekker is still a two-way weapon
Punter Hekker, with the ink on last week’s contract extension still drying, had several more outstanding kicks.
But his biggest play was a pass completed to rookie receiver Josh Reynolds.
The 28-yard gain gave the Rams a first down at Washington’s 17-yard-line.
It was Hekker’s eighth career completion.
[email protected]
Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @latimesklein | {
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from ANF, shared with thanks
“Today, as people struggle against repressive rule in their own countries, they understand what the Kurdish movement long taught: that resistance is life. This international solidarity gives all our struggles hope.”
ANF – DEVRİŞ ÇİMEN
BRUSSELS
Friday, 20 Dec 2019, 13:44
Various women from Slovenia, Pakistan, Hungary, Croatia, England, USA and Poland show solidarity with the revolution in Rojava and condemn the illegal war of aggression and occupation of Turkey on Northeast Syria since 9 October. They draw parallel between the attack on Rojava and attack on the achievements of the liberation struggle of women worldwide. The revolution in Rojava was marked by the liberation of women and inspires many women in the world. In this context, the following women have spoken for the ANF.
Violeta Tomić, Member of the National Assembly Slovenia – LEVICA (Slovene: Levica = The Left, its political party), Ljubljana, Slovenia
In my hands, I hold the book: »Revolution in Rojava, Democratic autonomy and Women’s liberation in Syrian Kurdistan«, written by Anja Flach, Ercan Ayboga and Michael Knapp.
I am most fascinated about the social experiment of direct democracy, which developed in multi-ethnic and multi-religious areas of Northern Syria during
the Civil War, representing a peaceful democratic alternative for Syria and the Middle East, an alternative for Syria and the whole world.
It represents the possibility of overcoming conflicts, religious, national, and political, which maintain permanent war, and the destructive interventions of regional and foreign military.
In Rojava, you create a model of calm coexistence and self-determination for all communities of the Syrian mosaic. It is priceless that at the core of this project you recognize the liberation of women and deconstruction of patriarchal social patterns and institutions.
With great honor and pride, I accepted the invitation to join demonstrations in Budapest last October in support of revolution in Rojava and to protest against Erdogan’s visit to Orban and Hungary.
I was there because I strongly believe that it is of utmost importance to show solidarity with these rare positive projects, which are giving hope to our world.
Unfortunately, our media don’t report about Rojava, don’t give any information about your battle. They only talk about issues connected to global capitalist interests, which are dominating the world, sowing wars and harvesting death. People of Europe don’t know what is happening in Kurdistan or they are misled or wrongly informed.
But if we don’t recognize our common enemy, if we don’t become aware and learn things, we will be an easy target of manipulation again and again, and forever. That’s why we have to stand together, support each other in solidarity when the destiny of our planet and destiny of humanity is at stake. We must fearlessly reject all reactionary nationalist ideology, violence, war and suffering of innocent people. We must give hope and open the way for social and political transformation for future generations.
We must know, that we all are parts of this fragile texture, and therefore it is: ONE WORLD, ONE FIGHT!!!
Cinzia Arruzza, Italian philosopher and writer, Associate Professor of Philosophy
New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College, New York, USA
The Turkish assault on the people of Rojava, effectively authorized by the U.S., is an assault on one of the most vital ongoing projects in feminist and democratic life today. The women and men of Rojava have shown the world that principled resistance to the most brutal forces of reaction can, and must, be
undertaken in concert with ambitious collective efforts to organize our social relations justly. Rojava has offered a significant example, not just for the Middle East, but also for the rest of the world of how it is possible to democratically reorganize our social bonds in the course of struggle. For this, the Kurds have long been cynically targeted by the Turkish State’s mobilization of the discourse of ‘terrorism.’ Today, I believe that it is vital to extend our solidarity to Rojava and to condemn the attempts of Erdogan, Trump, and Daesh to extinguish the revolutionary torch that the people of Rojava have lit for all the world to see.
Dr. Nida Kirmani, Feminist sociologist working on gender and urban marginality in South Asia, Associate Professor of sociology at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan
I am deeply distressed at the reports of human rights abuses and a growing state-inflicted humanitarian crisis developing in the Rojava region. Rojava has been a symbol of hope for all progressive people around the world including myself. As a feminist, I have been particularly inspired by the leadership of
Kurdish women, who have been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy. I stand with the people of Rojava and with the People’s Democratic Party in their struggle for peace and justice in the region, and I call on the international community to stand in solidarity with them and to condemn the Turkish state and all its allies including the Trump regime. As a Pakistan-based scholar, I also call on the government of Pakistan to condemn the actions of the Turkish government and to stop supporting Erdogan’s repressive policies.
Zsófia Ádám, activist, Budapest, Hungary
“We are the mountains of Kurds.” From another aspect, the Kurds and all the people of Rojava are the mountains of us.
Rojava is our future. When we express our solidarity in Hungary, we not only reject the genocide against the communities of Rojava, but we also stand for the same vision of an ecologically sustainable and socially just system. The very base of solidarity is when we realise that our struggles are common since
oppression by the nation state, capitalism and patriarchy is global. Everywhere, but especially here in Hungary, like in other states in peripheral or semi-peripheral positions, the people of Rojava show us a way to say no to oppression and an alternative holistic answer to problems we all face like environmental destruction, sexism, and unequal participation in decision making. We have to help to defend Rojava and we should learn from them to make our countries free by let our women be free.
I’m a member of a women council built up in the Hungarian Rojava solidarity movement following the example of them. We stand with the oppressed, especially with all of our sisters who are fighting in YPJ, risking their lives as a politician, doing medical or social work in the occupied fields, or being forced to refuge as civil habitant. We express our angry dissociation against all the imperialist great powers which attack the democratic and free community of the autonomous Kurdish people; with special regard to the Turkish and Hungarian government (who hosted Erdogan last month in Budapest) and also the American and Russian governments whose (non) actions cost human lives.
We wish strength for the living and peace for the dead!
Long live the feminist ecosocialist North Syrian Democratic Federation!
Long live the revolution of women!
Rahila Gupta, writer, journalist and activist, London, UK
Ever since I visited Rojava in 2016 and discovered, to my amazement, that a women’s revolution was flowering in the most unpropitious of circumstances, behind the frontline of a vicious battle with Daesh, I have made it my business to do whatever I can to support it. Unlike the political actions that I had been involved in to-date, to improve the legal, policy, and cultural response to the violence faced by women, particularly black women in the UK, the political struggle of the Kurdish people played out at such a high level of international geo-politics that it was hard to know how and where to intervene. Spreading the word about this ethnically inclusive and ecologically sustainable, ground-up democratic experiment to counter the silence and widespread ignorance, no
doubt the result of a concerted media conspiracy, became part of my strategy of support. I would end many of my speeches with the plea that ‘Another world is not only possible, it is here but it is struggling to take breath. It is our political responsibility to ensure that the Rojava experiment does not end’. But the words felt a little hollow when, despite the attempts of the Kurdish people, their organizations, their supporters, some of them very highly placed in the political elite, we couldn’t even get them a seat at the Geneva Peace convention to discuss the future shape of Syria. The almost universal condemnation of Erdogan, President of Turkey, for having invaded and occupied parts of Rojava at the NATO meeting in London in December and the fact that the fate of Syrian Kurds was so high on their agenda is a success of sorts. I fervently hope that this represents some sort of guarantee of their future existence.
RAHILA GUPTA Rojava revolution: It’s raining women
Anita Lunic, young philosopher, University of Split, Croatia
Rojava or Autonomous Administration of North-East Syria, as a multiethnic and multireligious region with bottom-up democratic structures, self-government, and confederalism, should serve as a role model for the future organization in the region, and not as a playground for war crimes. Insisting on peaceful coexistence, cultural and social rights, ecologism and environmental
stability, woman liberation and gender equality, especially in the situation of war and terror, deserves all of our sympathies and support. We should strive to be the mountains that protect them – because of the values they represent.
If we do not raise our voices against the invasion in northeastern Syria, we will end up (once again) on the slippery ground of arbitrary value of both human lives and human rights. I hope we won’t allow that. We should strive to be the mountains that protect them – because it is about all of us.
We owe respect to Kurdish people (as well as those standing with them) due to their efforts, sacrifices, and merits in defeating Daesh and rebuilding the region. We should strive to be the mountains that protect them – because of the hope they bring.
I hope our voices against human rights violations (recorded extensively by international bodies), actions that incite and perpetuate violence, war crimes, cultural and ethnic discrimination, forced displacement as well as the usage of human lives as a currency in power games, will be heard. And that Autonomous Administration of North-East Syria will be recognized as a partner in peaceful dialogue about the future of the region.
Dr. Johanna Riha, epidemiologist and recently finished her PhD at the University of Cambridge, UK
The recent illegal and inhumane Turkish invasion in northern Syria has had catastrophic effects on so many living peacefully in the region and has led to further displacement of hundreds of thousands of people as well as numerous
human rights atrocities. The inspiring project of direct democracy and women’s liberation that has been in construction in Rojava offers a radical alternative to the worldwide dynamics of tyranny and permanent war. The assault on this Kurdish project of self determination is in actual fact an assault on all our futures. Long live the Rojava revolution. Women. Life. Freedom.
Dr. Ewa Majewska, feminist philosopher and activist, Warsaw, Poland
As I heard about the sudden military engagement of Turkish armed forces in Syria, I was devastated. There is no statement, which can express my disagreement with such actions, which will most probably lead to another genocide, my fear about Rojava and other dissenting groups and communities, which were – sometimes for years – fighting fundamentalist armies. I am appalled by the ease, with which first the US, and then also many of the European countries, tacitly accepted this invasion. This war has to end, as should the persecution of Kurds.
Janet Biehl, author, copy editor, and graphic artist, Burlington, USA
The catastrophe now being inflicted on the Kurds, Arabs, and Christians of North-East Syria is a massive historical injustice. They did nothing to deserve it. On the contrary, the SDF was the best ally the US-led coalition could have
see also> Radical Cities and Social Revolution: An Interview with Janet Biehl
dreamed of in the war against Daesh; the fighters were not only effective but acted with honor, courage, and nobility. They deserve the gratitude, respect, and honor of the rest of the world–not genocidal betrayal of them and the society they so faithfully defended…
Since 2012 the North-East had built a remarkable society, based on a new mentality of democracy in contrast to dictatorship. In only a few short years, democratic councils and communes enabled all members of society to participate in self-administration. A revolution freed women from patriarchal coercion and unleashed their power, creativity, and brilliance. And an insistence on ethnic and religious inclusiveness replaced tribal resentments with peaceful coexistence.
A YPJ volunteer helps rescue civilians from ISIS in Manbij.
The war against Daesh welded all the components together in a life-or-death struggle, as everyone understood that they would stand or fall together. Today in the region’s many martyr cemeteries, Kurds, Arabs, and Christians, men and women, lie at rest as they fought: side by side, brothers and sisters in arms. The people of the North East made their social advances quickly, almost as if they were racing against the clock, squeezing as much social progress as they could into every minute of autonomy. For seven years they experienced self-determination, and no Turkish-backed arms can destroy that experience, or reinstate a slave mentality, or tribal resentment, or patriarchy. More than ever in the past, citizens around the world recognize the achievements of the Syrian Kurds and solidarize with their ongoing resistance. Today, as people struggle against repressive rule in their own countries, they understand what the Kurdish movement long taught: that resistance is life. This international solidarity gives all our struggles hope.
from ANF, shared with thanks
Do you know the #WomenDefendRojava campaign?
In this article below, you find an introduction about:
➡ The women's revolution in #Rojava
➡ It's achievements
➡ It's self-defense from the attack of #Turkeyhttps://t.co/GZtxnCXBY3#WomenDefendRojava #RiseUp4Rojava pic.twitter.com/829JdxPBTb — Internationalist Commune of Rojava (@CommuneInt) December 1, 2019
Related | {
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“It has been an honor of a lifetime,” she said in the Oval Office, announcing her departure as Trump looked on. “Look at what has happened in two years with the United States on foreign policy. Now, the United States is respected. Countries may not like what we do, but they respect what we do.”
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump said his oldest daughter “would be incredible” as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. | {
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After citizens, it was the turn of the opposition BJP to stage a protest against the lack of intervention by the government in containing pollution in Bellandur and Varthur lakes. Images of toxic foam emanating from the two lakes, one of which even caught fire not long ago, have caught international attention in the recent past.
They took a rally from Bellandur towards Agara. As many as 70 people, including former Minister Aravind Limbavali and Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan, were detained for refusal to heed police’s calls against blocking the road. “Pollution in these lakes has reached levels where it is leading to fires. People living around these lakes are being affected simply by inhaling the toxic gases. But even today, no one from the government has come to talk to us,” said Mahendra Modi from the BJP. The protestors said that the problem would be solved simply by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visiting the lakes. | {
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Lee Bergquist
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A University of Wisconsin-Madison study shows the human toll on wolves is higher than previously estimated and that state officials have underreported wolf deaths in past analyses.
For years, wolves have been shot illegally, struck by cars and trucks or legally killed by authorities acting on reports that wolves were killing and threatening livestock and pets.
But in a study published Monday in the Journal of Mammalogy, UW researcher Adrian Treves and a group of scientists found higher levels of illegal killing of wolves in Wisconsin than reported by the Department of Natural Resources.
As part of the study, the researchers reinvestigated fatalities of a subset of wolves and found “abundant evidence” of gunshot wounds and injuries from trapping that may have been overlooked as a factor in their deaths, the authors said.
The study is likely to be controversial. As wolves have recolonized and their population has grown to an official count of nearly 900, the debate over their impact has only intensified.
Treves, for example, has been a critic of the design of the state's hunting and trapping season for wolves and its potential to damage a healthy wolf population over the long term.
In an open letter in November 2015, Treves was one of more than 70 scientists and wolf experts who said studies show citizens are more tolerant of wolves than commonly assumed. The scientists questioned whether wolves can sustain their populations under state hunting and trapping seasons.
Adrian Wydeven, a retired DNR wolf ecologist, who read an advance copy of the study, disagreed with aspects of the research, including Treves' interpretation of DNR data.
The study “seems to suggest ... intent by (the DNR) to under-report (poaching) when it really just represents use of different models or agency reporting raw data,” Wydeven said in an email to several wolf experts that was shared with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“We always tried to report exactly what we found in the field,” Wydeven said in an interview.
Wydeven retired from the DNR in 2015 and is coordinator of the Timberwolf Alliance at Northland College in Ashland.
In a statement, DNR spokesman Jim Dick said: "While the (DNR) data collected is useful in determining wolves killed, that’s not its intended purpose. The data collected is meant to determine population and such things as pack territories. Wolf mortality numbers are based on actual dead animals detected."
Treves said he and his fellow researchers examined the DNR’s methodology and are not claiming that officials are purposefully underestimating wolf deaths.
In the paper, the researchers say that failing to accurately account for wolf deaths, especially in future hunting and trapping seasons, is “risky.” Also, if officials continue to underreport poaching, it “will risk unsustainable mortality and raise the probability of a population crash,” they write.
“My argument is that scientifically you have to put your best foot forward,” said Treves, founder of the Carnivore Coexistence Lab at UW-Madison. “And when the DNR didn’t, they were doing it with an illegal activity (poaching).”
The UW study investigated the deaths of 937 gray wolves from October 1979 to April 2012 — a period that ends before Wisconsin initiated hunting seasons for wolves. Of the 937 wolves that died and whose deaths were investigated, 431 wore radio collars.
The UW researchers said that their analysis showed that the death of radio-collared wolves attributed to human causes was 64%. But the DNR calculated 55% and said an additional 18% of deaths were due to unknown causes, according to a DNR report in 2012.
Said Treves: “That’s a big number. We dug deeper and maybe it’s poaching.”
The researchers re-examined government records of necropsies and X-rays and found in some instances that gunshot wounds were a factor in the cause of death when other causes were cited.
The analysis also showed 52 wolves, or 20% of 256 animals that were X-rayed, revealed evidence of gunshots that did not kill the wolves. These cases were not added to researchers’ own estimates of higher poaching.
But the study said that figure lends credibility to the researchers' claim that more wolves have been subject to poaching than the DNR reported.
Julie Langenberg, one of the authors of the study and a former DNR veterinarian, re-examined wolf death records.
She found evidence of gunshots that in the initial analysis were either mentioned briefly or not identified. Sometimes it was her own work.
“You are not looking at alternative facts,” Langenberg said of her review of wolf mortality in the study. “You are looking at the same facts, but because you are asking different questions, you are doing a different kind of assessment.”
She said the DNR's job was to simply determine the cause of death.
Wisconsin officials reported that 528 wolves were killed during the state’s wolf hunting seasons in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
During 2013, 257 wolves were killed — nearly half of all wolves harvested during the three years. Then the wolf population dropped 18% from 809 in 2013 to 660 in 2014.
The hunts were halted in December 2014 by a federal judge who said Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan were violating the Endangered Species Act. This year, Congress, including Republicans and Democrats from Wisconsin, introduced a bill to replace federal protections with state management. | {
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The prince has always denied any sexual contact with Ms Giuffre. File Photo: Michel Euler/PA Wire
A woman who accused Prince Andrew of having sex with her when she was under age has challenged him to sue her.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was used as a sex slave by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, made her allegations about the prince on television for the first time.
She warned that she intended to seek justice by holding Epstein's associates accountable in the wake of his suicide.
The prince has always denied any sexual contact with Ms Giuffre.
"He's going to keep denying that it ever happened. But he knows the truth and I know the truth," she told the US network NBC.
Ms Giuffre (36) threw down the gauntlet for the prince to pursue legal action as she appeared alongside five other women who accused Epstein of abusing them.
She says she first met the prince in London in 2001 at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend.
She said: "Unfortunately there's this horrible law called statute of limitations.
"My lawyers said the way to get Ghislaine held accountable, the way to get Epstein held accountable, is through them calling me a liar, which I'm not. It's called a defamation suit."
The television interview is the first time Ms Giuffre has spoken in depth about the allegations since Epstein was rearrested on sex trafficking charges involving dozens of underage girls.
He was found dead in his prison cell in August.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on whether the prince would consider taking legal action.
A spokeswoman said: "It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts.
"Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation."
Irish Independent | {
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Authored by Adam Andrzejewski, Adam Andrzejewski (say: Angie-eff-ski) is the CEO and Founder of OpenTheBooks.com – one of the largest private databases of government spending in the world; first published in Forbes
Federal Agencies Admit To $1.2 Trillion In Improper Payments Since 2004
Since 2004, twenty large federal agencies admit paying out an astonishing $1.2 trillion in improper payments. That amounts to more than one-quarter of President Trump’s proposed $4.7 trillion budget for 2020. Last year, these improper payments totaled $140 billion – that’s about $12 billion per month.
But what exactly is an improper payment? Federal law defines the term as “payments made by the government to the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason.”
In other words, there’s a lack of basic in-house financial controls within the largest federal agencies. When people or companies receive money they don’t deserve, it erodes our trust in government, our economy and government’s ability to finance everything from defense to health care.
Improper payments in health care are especially troubling. In 2011, when President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, Congress vowed to help pay for it by rooting out waste, fraud, corruption and taxpayer abuse from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
It never happened.
In fact, the improper payments within these programs soared from $64 billion in 2012 to $85 billion today.
The biggest offenders across government include: Human & Human Services (HHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Social Security Administration (SSA); and the departments of Defense (DOD), Labor (DOL), and Education (ED).
What were some the ways these agencies wasted our tax dollars last year?
Dead people received $1 billion in benefits. Medicare, Medicaid, social security payments and also the federal retirement annuity payouts (pensions) kept flowing to dead recipients .
. College students were overpaid by nearly $6 billion in Pell Grants and student loans. Approximately four percent of all payments were improper, and ED forecasts a worse figure in FY2019.
Approximately four percent of all payments were improper, and ED forecasts a worse figure in FY2019. Social Security recipients were overpaid by $10 billion . Six million active Social Security numbers belong to people aged 112 and older. Here’s the problem: there are only 40 people in the entire world aged 112 and over.
. Six million active Social Security numbers belong to people aged 112 and older. Here’s the problem: there are only 40 people in the entire world aged 112 and over. $18.4 billion in Earned Income Tax Credit overpayments . Millions of low-income families who Congress designated as qualified recipients were overpaid billions of dollars. The program is rife with errors: the government overpaid $1 in every $4 to beneficiaries. (The IRS administers the program and responded to our request for comment here.)
. Millions of low-income families who Congress designated as qualified recipients were overpaid billions of dollars. The program is rife with errors: the government overpaid $1 in every $4 to beneficiaries. (The IRS administers the program and responded to our request for comment here.) Medicare & Medicaid improperly paid $85 billion in benefits with overpayments amounting to $67 billion. Administered by HHS, Medicaid admits to overpaying recipients $36 billion. Medicare admits to $31 billion in overpayments.
The examples are endless.
The government paid doctors who were stripped of their medical license. Farmers were overpaid $242 million on crop subsidies, insurance, direct payments, and loans. Unemployment insurance recipients received $3.6 billion in over payments administered by the states through the Department of Labor. The Pentagon overpaid $1.2 billion for things like civilian, military, retirement and travel pay, health benefits, and more.
Here are 10 examples of what $140 billion in improper federal payments could have purchased:
10 billion Netflix subscriptions ($13 monthly)
320 million fancy bicycles ($425 each)
140 million root canals ($1,000 each)
28 million teenagers getting braces ($5,000 each)
5 million hip replacements for seniors ($32,000 each)
700,000 additional doctors hired at VA ($200,000 each)
23 border walls with Mexico ($6 billion each)
12x updating the nuclear arsenal ($11 billion each)
7x U.S. census count ($20 billion each)
1x year of all Federal pension payouts ($130 billion)
The lack of accounting control is so bad that the $140 billion cost in bureaucratic mistakes exceeded the entire executive agency payroll. Despite this, 99.7 percent of the federal workforce is rated “highly successful,” and more than one million bureaucrats received a performance bonus last year.
The 1.3 million bureaucrats in the executive agencies earned $120 billion last year according to our data at OpenTheBooks.com. Therefore, for every $1 million in federal payroll, the agencies admitted to $1.2 million in improper payments.
So, aren’t federal agencies working to recapture these improper payments? Not exactly. In fact, outside of overpaid contractors, the Office of Management and Budget says that recapture audits don’t make financial sense. They argue that it costs too much to claw back the improper payments.
The American people need to raise our voice. It’s time to crack down. Every dollar that goes toward an improper payment is a dollar taken from a taxpayer or diverted from a critical government function. Tell Congress and the Administration to put in place better safeguards to prevent this massive waste of national resources. | {
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Die EZB muss runter vom Gas, um die wachsenden Risiken ihrer Politik zu begrenzen. Denn eine ultralockere Geldpolitik könnte den Boden für die nächste Finanzkrise bereiten. Ein Kommentar.
Zu hohe Inflation? Ein Luxusproblem sei das, spottete EZB-Präsident Mario Draghi noch Anfang dieses Jahres. Statt Inflationssorgen quälten angebliche Deflationsrisiken die Europäische Zentralbank. Mit dem Risiko einer Deflation hat sie das vor zwei Jahren gestartete Anleihekaufprogramm (Quantitative Easing) begründet. Seitdem pumpt sie eine beispiellose Geldflut in die Finanzmärkte und drückte die Zinsen immer tiefer – zum Leidwesen der Sparer und aller, die für ihr Alter vorsorgen müssen.
Nun sind die Verbraucherpreise, getrieben vom Ölpreis-Umschwung, überraschend stark angestiegen. Im Februar sprang die Inflationsrate erstmals seit viereinhalb Jahren auf 2 Prozent. Das ist mittelfristig der EZB-Zielwert. In einigen Ländern ist sie über diese Marke geklettert. Auf der EZB-Sitzung an diesem Donnerstag wird Draghi neue Inflationsprognosen bekanntgeben. Die Zentralbank wird ihre bisherige Schätzung von nur 1,3 Prozent für 2017 wohl deutlich nach oben korrigieren. Gleichzeitig scheint das Wirtschaftswachstum im Euroraum recht robust.
Damit steigt der Druck auf den EZB-Rat, eine schrittweise Verringerung (Tapering) der monatlichen Käufe und den Einstieg in den Ausstieg aus der ultralockeren Geldpolitik vorzubereiten. Auch die Tapering-Debatte bezeichnete Draghi als ein „Luxusproblem“. Doch jetzt ist sie überfällig, denn durch die überraschend kräftig gestiegene Inflation ist der reale Leitzins noch tiefer in den negativen Bereich gefallen.
Nur in Europa scheint die expansive Geldpolitik unendlich
Auf der anderen Seite des Atlantiks bereitet die amerikanische Notenbank Federal Reserve die nächste Leitzinserhöhung vermutlich in der kommenden Woche vor. Amerika bewegt sich weg vom Nullzins. Nur in Europa scheint die Phase der expansiven Geldpolitik kein Ende zu finden. Doch auch die EZB muss endlich runter vom geldpolitischen Gaspedal, sonst drohen die schädlichen Nebenwirkungen und Risiken weiter zuzunehmen. Es ist nicht mehr vermittelbar, weshalb die EZB in der jetzigen Situation – bei relativ robust wachsender Wirtschaft, sinkender Arbeitslosigkeit und steigender Kreditvergabe – eine noch expansivere Geldpolitik fährt als auf dem Höhepunkt der Finanzkrise.
Mehr zum Thema 1/
Aus Sicht der EZB-Fürsprecher ist das Anleihekaufprogramm ein großer Erfolg. Eine Deflation sei verhindert, das Wachstum der Realwirtschaft stimuliert worden. Der Haupteffekt waren aber steigende Vermögensbewertungen, seien es Börsenkurse oder Immobilienpreise. Im schlimmsten Fall wird so die nächste Finanzblase aufgepumpt. Die Bank für Internationalen Zahlungsausgleich, als Zentralbank der Zentralbanken bekannt, warnt schon seit längerem, dass mit einer zu lange betriebenen ultralockeren Geldpolitik der Boden für die nächste Finanzkrise bereitet werden kann.
Draghi weiß selbst, dass der realwirtschaftliche Nutzen seiner Geldpolitik trotz enormer Einsätze nur noch gering ist. Aufgrund politischer Fehlanreize kann sie sogar kontraproduktiv sein. In beschwörendem Ton ruft Draghi die Regierungen zu mehr Strukturreformen auf, um die Wirtschaft zu stärken. Doch die Regierungen scheuen schmerzhafte, unpopuläre Reformen. Die nötigen Anstrengungen zur Sanierung der Haushalte seien erschlafft, kritisiert Bundesbankpräsident Jens Weidmann. Daran ist die Geldpolitik nicht unschuldig. Solange die EZB stets billiges Geld nachschießt, können nicht-wettbewerbsfähige, hochverschuldete Staaten im alten Trott weitermachen.
Schädliche Nebenwirkungen der Geldflut
Inzwischen haben die Euro-Notenbanken für 1,7 Billionen Euro Papiere, hauptsächlich Staatsanleihen, gekauft. Sie sind damit Hauptgläubiger der klammen Staaten von Europa geworden. Das Kaufprogramm hat die Grenze zwischen Geld- und Fiskalpolitik verwischt, faktisch wirkt es wie eine monetäre Staatsfinanzierung. Die Zentralbanken drohen zu Gefangenen der Staaten zu werden. Ökonomen sprechen von „fiscal dominance“, wenn die Finanznöte der Staaten die Geldpolitik dominieren.
Schon die Ankündigung eines Ausstiegs aus der ultralockeren Geldpolitik ließe die langfristigen Zinsen steigen und machte die Zinslasten etwa für Italien, das mit 135 Prozent seiner Jahreswirtschaftsleistung verschuldet ist, noch drückender. Auch wenn die Zentralbanker es abstreiten: Sie sind längst Gefangene der Staaten. Daher ist das Risiko hoch, dass sie den Ausstiegszeitpunkt hinauszögern.
Die zweite schädliche Nebenwirkung der Geldflut ist die mögliche Gefahr für die Finanzstabilität. Angesichts der Nullzinsen gehen Banken und Anleger auf der Suche nach Rendite höhere Risiken ein. Einige Wackelbanken mit vielen faulen Krediten, manche Kritiker nennen sie Zombiebanken, die nur durch Billiggeld am Leben gehalten werden, würden eine Zinswende kaum überleben. Auch das könnte die EZB veranlassen, die nötigen Schritte zum Ausstieg aus der lockeren Geldpolitik hinauszuzögern.
Je länger die EZB aber wartet, desto härter und abrupter könnte der Exit werden. In jedem Fall wird es Marktturbulenzen geben. Will die EZB große Verwerfungen vermeiden, muss sie vorausschauend handeln und möglichst jetzt schon Signale geben, um die Märkte vorzubereiten. Sie muss rechtzeitig gegensteuern, bevor die Geldflut außer Kontrolle gerät. | {
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The traumatic histories of offenders stuck in the prison system should be treated as a public health issue to break cycles of offending, psychologists working with inmates have said.
But despite the often complex histories of violent offenders, in the UK's squeezed prison system there are limited resources available for rehabilitation.
Forensic psychologist Dr Naomi Murphy runs a five-year intensive psychotherapy programme for criminals at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire – one of only a handful available.
READ MORE: Justice Secretary: No crisis despite rising prison populations
Prisoners sent to the scheme have usually been convicted of murder or serious sexual violence, or both, and may have been in prison for more than 20 years and written off as "psychopaths".
Murphy said: "There's a serious public health issue around the mental health of people who are in prison – there are really, really high levels of trauma in their history."
She added: "The more severe the crime you often see a much higher level of brutality that they were subjected to themselves during childhood.
"The defining feature of people who come into our service is often they have felt their own parents hated them and wanted them dead."
Since the programme was launched in 2003, Murphy and her team have found many prisoners on the scheme have been abused by multiple perpetrators and frequently self-harm. They have witnessed inmates mutilating their body parts and hurting themselves in a variety of way.
"You're talking about people who are very distorted in their way of perceiving the world as a consequence of their own upbringing," she said.
READ MORE: MSPs criticise HMP Barlinnie for overcrowding cells
A huge part of the programme is challenging what the prisoners believe to be normal.
"There might have been a lot of criminogenic behaviour, family breakdown and so on, and perhaps they've seen other kids who were exposed to physical or sexual abuse, so to some degree they can kind of feel like that's normal," she said.
She continued: "We don't talk about sexual abuse. We ask questions like 'How old were you when you first had sex?'
"If they say they were 11 and the person they had sex with was 27, it's quite easy for them to start thinking about how normal they think that is and begin questioning their upbringing."
The majority of the violent offenders on the programme think they view the world the way everyone else does, Murphy said.
"I think there can be a bit of a relief when they realise 'there is something recognisable here that maybe I can be helped to be different'."
The scheme only takes eight men at a time and they will spend almost all their time together for the next five years.
Describing the changes they see over that time, Murphy said: "At the start, typically they are quite anti-social people – not just in the criminal sense of the word.
"They're loners, they don't seek out physical intimacy or relationships with others because they think no one is to be trusted."
She said: "By year three in treatment they're talking about feeling loved and cared for, which to be honest is quite heartbreaking – that you have to ruin someone else's life and have ruined your own life and be a 40-year-old man for the first time feeling that people love and care for you."
One of the foundation stones of treatment is getting the prisoners to take responsibility for and fully understand their crimes, which they can often reel off "like a shopping list" at the start.
"If you've murdered someone, you have to be able to accept that part of your identity – not all of it – but part of your identity will always be that of a murderer," Murphy said.
"If you don't, you are always going to put yourself at risk of re-offending."
The programme also tries to assign a therapist of the same gender as their victim.
Murphy said: "If you've got a man who has raped and murdered a woman he would have a female therapist."
Prisoners have to prove they can have a working relationship with a woman without resorting to aggression or fantasising about sexual violence before their treatment is deemed complete.
But she added: "If they've killed a woman and they're so fragile that they can't manage the intimacy of being in a therapy session every week with a woman, we might occasionally change their therapist to a male therapist."
READ MORE: Deal to buy land for new superjail ‘in final stages’
The course can be so transformative, many prisoners have admitted further, serious offences and been convicted of them even though the police haven't come looking for them.
"We've seen men convicted of abusing their own or a step child admit that they were far more prolific in terms of the children they were targeting," Murphy said.
The programme at HMP Whitemoor will not take prisoners on a whole life tariff because of the cost associated with treating a prisoner with no hope of release.
The lack of resources also means lower-level prisoners on determinate sentences can often be freed having had very little specialist help.
Consultant forensic psychologist Dr Ruth Tully has 12 years' experience working across the prison system as part of both in-house psychological teams and also providing independent assessments.
She said: "There are long waiting lists for specialist treatment, for example, one-to-one therapy for sex offender programmes.
"What can happen is that treatment doesn't get the right people at the right time, for example when they are most motivated and might benefit.
"There are too many prisoners and not enough psychologists to deliver bespoke, individualised treatment."
She continued: "There's no direct link between being abused and becoming an abuser, but you see a lot of trauma and a lot of childhood adversity and the programmes that are offered don't necessarily address trauma directly."
Therapy programmes in prison also often struggle to cater for prisoners with multi-dimensional needs – such as autism or a learning difficulty – who find it difficult to engage in a group setting.
Despite the challenges, Tully said there is a growing focus on trauma-informed treatment within the system.
Murphy also thinks there is a growing understanding about the role that trauma plays in offending, adding: "People are really starting to talk about that now."
"Before there was almost an acceptance of 'that's just the way it is' – now there's a recognition that something needs to be done to support people to change and grow," she said. | {
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photo by: AP File Photo
Say goodbye to Kansas City’s air-roasted coffee chain, and say hello to the purveyor of pumpkin spice lattes.
In July, all University of Kansas Roasterie locations will be replaced with Starbucks.
“I can’t say enough about what a good partner Roasterie was and is,” said David Mucci, director of KU Memorial Union. “However, our model has kind of deviated in some ways as the business has changed and there’s more and more emphasis on coffee in cans and bottles.”
Roasterie’s new business model has this same focus on canned and bottled coffees, Mucci said, but per KU’s partnership with Pepsi, Pepsi has all rights to canned and bottled goods on campus.
KU is switching to the Starbucks corporation because of its partnership with Pepsi. Since 1994, Pepsi and Starbucks have partnered for Starbucks’ “Ready-To-Drink” business, where they sell canned and bottled coffee.
Because the Pepsi-Starbucks partnership precludes KU from selling the Roasterie’s canned and bottled coffees, KU “can’t play to the strengths of the Roasterie in the way that we would like to,” Mucci said.
KU’s 10-year contract with the Roasterie runs through June 30, the last day of the university’s 2020 fiscal year.
Roasterie locations on campus currently exist in the Kansas Union, the DeBruce Center, Wescoe Hall, the Pharmacy Building and the Burge Union, according to the KU Memorial Union website.
Mucci said the new Starbucks locations on campus would serve drinks only.
The new Starbucks partnership, which KU is in the process of finalizing, will affect only the Lawrence campus. The KU Medical Center will continue its partnership with the Roasterie. | {
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Іран не очікує, що ОПЕК почне підтримувати ціни на нафту, а його нафтова галузь здатна функціонувати при ціні 25 доларів за барель.
Про це сказав міністр нафтової промисловості Ірану Биджан Занганех, пише Рейтер.
У коментарях, опублікованих на сайті міністерства SHANA, Занганех закликав країни ОПЕК до тіснішої співпраці.
"Іран не планує (позачергова нарада ОПЕК) і проводить консультації з іншими країнами-учасницями ОПЕК з метою запобігти різкому падінню ціни нафти, проте ці консультації поки безрезультатні", - повідомив міністр.
Іран і Венесуела закликали картель скоротити видобуток нафти на нараді в листопаді, щоб зупинити падіння світових цін, але під тиском найбільшого в організації виробника і експортера нафти Саудівської Аравії таке рішення не було прийнято.
Наступна нарада ОПЕК пройде 5 червня.
За словами Занганеха, Іран не планує скорочувати видобуток, і він не зустрічався з колегами із Саудівської Аравії після листопадової наради.
Президент Ірану Хасан Рухані минулого тижня попередив, що від низьких цін на нафту постраждають Саудівська Аравія і Кувейт.
Бюджет Ірану передбачає вартість нафти 72 долари за барель, але країна здатна пережити і більш низькі ціни, сказав Занганех.
"Навіть якщо ціна на нафту впаде до 25 долара за барель, нафтової галузі ніщо не загрожуватиме", - передало його слова інформаційне агентство Fars. | {
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In a vicious, unprovoked attack, our son, a student of Azim Premji University (APU) was brutally attacked, robbed and violated on the night of 14 January. The attack took place on a deserted stretch off Bikkanahalli Main Road leading from APU's UG2 hostel to Sarjapura Main Road in Bengaluru.
Having missed the university’s shuttle bus, 21-year-old Abhilash* (name changed) decided to walk the 2 km leafy, deserted road to join his friends for dinner at a nearby restaurant. It was only 6:35 pm, not an unearthly hour even by Bengaluru standards. Sarjapura police station stands just two kilometres away from the crime scene. | {
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Stéphane Dion led the Liberals into almost a decade of darkness. The Tories may want to take heed, ahead of what may be Maxime Bernier's coronation
The Conservative Party is about to pull a Dion.
In selecting Maxime Bernier as their next leader this weekend at the party’s leadership convention—an outcome that the pitiful withdrawal of carpetbagger Kevin O’Leary has made all but inevitable—the Conservatives risk repeating history. It just won’t be their own.
In 2006, the federal Liberals gathered in Montreal to select a new leader. Like today’s Conservatives, the party was down but not out. They too enjoyed a 100 person-strong caucus and hoped that a new leader might soon guide them back to power.
Then a sort of mass hypnosis gripped party members and they chose Stéphane Dion. For Liberals, it began a nine-year journey through dark and forbidding woods. And this weekend, Conservatives seem set to launch themselves down the same breadcrumb trail.
In fairness, it is unkind to compare Dion and Bernier—unkind to Dion, that is. Bernier lacks anything nearing the record of public service that Dion brought to his leadership run. In 2006, he was the iron-willed former minister for national unity who had helped quell separatism after the 1995 referendum. Bernier thinks, but can’t remember for sure, that he voted to break up Canada. Later, as environment minister, Dion made a bold impression both at home and abroad. Bernier, on the other hand, was dropped as Stephen Harper’s foreign affairs minister after leaving secret government documents tucked between the sheets of a Montreal-area love shack.
As national party leaders however—assuming Bernier wins—the two merit comparison in at least a couple respects.
OUR PROFILE: How Bernier went from comic relief to Tory frontrunner
First, their success says more about the peculiar, intramural psychology that can seize political parties downsized by electoral defeat than it does about their own candidacies. Dion slipped through the dime-sized space between frontrunners Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff to surprise even his followers by winning. Bernier, always the first choice of the Ayn Rand crowd, has emerged as the least unacceptable second or third choice for remaining Conservative party members.
In both cases, the particulars of the leadership selection process disproportionately reward candidates for being who they are not. As a method of picking a leader, it’s a good way to reach compromise. It is perhaps less effective at producing winners.
Most interesting is the way in which party members, caught up in the bubble universe of a leadership race, can convince themselves that their choice is outstanding. Dion’s shortcomings were not invisible. And only the quantum-physics complexity of a 14-candidate preferential ballot could make it plausible to overlook Bernier’s obvious deficiencies.
Chief among these are his ideas and, even more concerning from an electoral standpoint, his ideological attachment to them. Bernier’s opinions are marked by an inelastic obstinacy that, while very different in substance, reflect Dion’s own indifference toward pragmatic politics. Bernier is a self-professed Libertarian who seeks to lead a country that has always demanded middle-of-the road practicality. Talk of free market anti-statism will be celebrated among Friedrich Hayek disciples. The rest of the country will wonder what the hell he’s on about.
The most obvious comparison between Bernier and Dion, however, is the somewhat delicate subject of their language skills. Observers are wary of raising this impolitic subject. But that doesn’t make it unimportant. Like Dion, Bernier’s English is heavily accented and sometimes halting. With the ready memory of Jean Chrétien, questions about Dion’s language proficiency were dismissed at the time. In retrospect, it would be dishonest to conclude that it was a non-factor.
Conservatives, after all, cheered in 2008 as unflattering outtakes appeared of Dion struggling through an interview with CTV’s Steve Murphy. Wouldn’t it be delicious irony for Dion if a Bernier-led Conservative Party discovered a decade later that what goes around comes around.
The final question is how good Bernier will be at uniting his party, a chore that somewhat eluded Dion. Unable to attract headliners like Peter MacKay, Jason Kenney or John Baird, the contest to replace Stephen Harper has been a hidden-in-plain-sight calamity for self-respecting Conservatives.
In particular, O’Leary’s farcical, part-time campaign was a revelation. Fuelled by Trump-like bombast and a pronounced lack of commitment, O’Leary campaigned lazily from U.S.-based television studios and still emerged as the likely first-ballot leader. What to make of a party so eager to turn itself over to the Fuller Brush man?
Kellie Leitch’s success might be even more disturbing. Riding a nativist collection of Marine Le Pen policies, she has scraped out a discouragingly competitive campaign. One wonders what might have been if she was even slightly less ridiculous as a candidate—or what influence her followers might now claim over party policy.
Throw in a muscular group of pro-life social Conservatives, Maclean’s columnist Scott Gilmore’s breakaway movement and the lamentable retirement of Rona Ambrose, and Bernier will have his hands full long before he gets to Justin Trudeau.
None of that means the Conservatives can’t win in 2019. But, like the Liberals of 2006, they’re going out of their way to make it as hard as possible.
Scott Reid is principal at Feschuk.Reid and served as director of communications to former prime minister Paul Martin. | {
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See what we designed together.
You can still enter for a chance to win your CB2 dream room worth $5,000.
Scroll down to see who designed APT CB2.
Visit cb2.com for more
design inspiration | {
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hoplite
(hŏp`līt)
, heavy infantry
infantry,
body of soldiers who fight in an army on foot and are equipped with hand-carried weapons, in contradistinction originally to cavalry and other branches of an army.
..... Click the link for more information.
soldier in the armies of classical Greece. Hoplites were usually protected by helmets, cuirasses, and leg armor. They carried large shields, javelins, heavy swords, and sometimes battle-axes and fought in the tightly organized phalanx
phalanx,
ancient Greek formation of infantry. The soldiers were arrayed in rows (8 or 16), with arms at the ready, making a solid block that could sweep bristling through the more dispersed ranks of the enemy.
..... Click the link for more information.
formation. In classical Greece, hoplites were often citizens of city-states, who paid for their weaponry as a duty of citizenship. Among the most famous hoplites was Socrates
Socrates
, 469–399 B.C., Greek philosopher of Athens. Famous for his view of philosophy as a pursuit proper and necessary to all intelligent men, he is one of the great examples of a man who lived by his principles even though they ultimately cost him his life.
..... Click the link for more information.
, who fought for Athens during the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
, 431–404 B.C., decisive struggle in ancient Greece between Athens and Sparta. It ruined Athens, at least for a time. The rivalry between Athens' maritime domain and Sparta's land empire was of long standing. Athens under Pericles (from 445 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. | {
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The invincibility of the Afghans in their own backyard is indisputable. Whether it was the Soviets in the 1980s, or the Americans post 9/11, the myth of Afghan invincibility on their own terrain still holds its sanctity. Because no matter how strong and well equipped the enemy is, an Afghan doesn't believe in conceding ground.
Except when Hari Singh Nalwa (Nalua), one of the commanders of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army, brought them to their knees.
khalsaforce
Legend has it that Afghan mothers used to quieten their newborns by taking Nalwa's name and for young Afghans, his name was a terror spoken in hush hush. And Probably that's why even American generals used to tell Nalwa's story to motivate their troops when US-Afghan war was in its thick.
The Birth
Hari Singh Nalwa was born in Gujranwala in 1791 in the Uppal family to Sardar Gurdial Singh and Dharam Kaur. He was an only child, and his ancestors were originally from Majitha town near Amritsar. His grandfather, Sardar Hardas Singh, engaged in the service of Sukarchakia Misl (Ranjit Singh belonged to this Misl), and was killed in an expedition undertaken by the Misl in 1762. His father, Gurdial Singh, followed the profession of his father and took part in various campaigns of Sukarchakia Sardars - Charat Singh and Mahan Singh - in the capacity of Deradar. He expired in 1798 when Hari Singh was only seven years old - and the latter was thus looked after with care and caution by his maternal uncle who took him into his house.
wikimedia
Why was Hari Singh called Nalwa when he was actually an Uppal?
An incident took place in Hari Singh Nalwa's early days of service in the Khalsa army. During a hunting expedition, Hari Singh was attacked by a tiger. The attack was so subtle and unexpected that he didn't have enough time to pull out his sword. Young Hari Singh faced the crucial situation with such boldness that he managed to catch hold of the jaw of the beast with his hands, forcefully pushing it away before killing it with his sword. Noted historian Baron Charles Hugel says he was called Nalwa for 'having cloven the head of a tiger who had already seized him as its pray'.
khalsaforce
Major conquests of Afghans
1. Kasur
Hari Singh Nalwa's first significant military campaign was that of Kasur in 1807. Along with his fellow commanders, Hari Singh Nalua marched on to Kasur to subjugate its Afghani owner Kutab-ud-din Khan. Sikhs laid siege for three months after which Kutab-ud-din Khan surrendered. Hari Singh Nalua was the first to march inside the city gate of Kasur with his division Sher-Dil-Rajman.
history
2. Attock
Battle of Attock (1813) at the fort of Attock was a major replenishment point for all armies crossing the Indus. Sikhs fought and won this battle under the leadership of Dewan Mokham Chand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's general, against Azim Khan and his brother Dost Mohammad Khan, who fought on behalf of Shah Mahmud of Kabul. Besides Hari Singh Nalwa, Hukam Singh Attariwala, Shyamu Singh, Khalsa Fateh Singh Ahluwalia and Behmam Singh Malliawala actively participated in this battle. This was the first victory of the Sikhs over the Durranis and the Barakzais.
3. Peshawar
Peshawar, the summer capital of the Kingdom of Kabul became a tributary in 1818 when Shah Mahmud's son, Shah Kamran, killed their Barakzai Vazir Fateh Khan in August 1818. The Sikhs in order to take advantage of this void with their army formally forded the Indus and entered Peshawar for the first time. The Sikh army captured Peshawar and from here on Hari Singh Nalwa was asked to station himself on the Afghan-Punjab border to keep Afghan retaliation in check.
4. Battle of Mankera
In 1822, the Sindh Sagar Doab was chiefly controlled from Mankera and Mitha Tiwana. Nawab Hafiz Ahmed Khan, a relative of the Durranis, exerted considerable influence in this region. Besides Mankera, he commanded a vast area protected by 12 forts. With the weakening of Afghan rule in Kabul, the governors of Attock, Mankera, Mitha Tiwana and Khushab had declared their independence. Ranjit Singh wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and win Singh Sagar Doad from Hafiz Ahmad Khan. He summoned Hari Singh, who was the governor of Kashmir at this time, to join the Lahore Army already on its way towards the river Indus. The fort of Mankera stood in the middle of the Thal. It was built of mud with a citadel of burnt brick surrounded by a dry ditch. To make the central fortress inaccessible, no wells were permitted by the Nawab to be sunk within a radius of 15 kms. On the night of 26 November, Hari Singh Nalwa, together with other chiefs and jagirdars, established their morchas (batteries) within long gunshot range of the place. They found old wells, which their men cleared out, and fresh ones were dug. On the nights of 6–7 December, they approached closer to the ditch. The ensuing skirmish was ferocious and resulted in considerable loss of life. The siege of the fort of Mankera lasted 25 days. Finally, the Nawab accepted defeat and the last Saddozai stronghold fell to the Sikhs.
history
5. Other major battles
Battle of Nowshera (Naushehra) in 1823, battle of Sirikot in 1824, battle of Saidu in 1827 and the seizure of Peshawar in 1834 are major battles fought and won by Nalwa.
Battle of Jamrud and his death
In 1836, soon after Dussehra, Hari Singh Nalwa conquered Jamrud, a fort at the mouth of the Khyber Pass. This victory meant that the Sikhs could launch offensive against Kabul anytime. Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul was alarmed with this victory. But the marriage of Nau Nihal Singh, the Maharaja's grandson in 1837, changed the equation and troops were withdrawn from all over Punjab to put up a show of strength for the British Commander-in-chief who was invited to the wedding.
Dost Mohammed Khan was also invited to the great celebration, but he didn't go. Instead he chose to take this opportunity to seize Jamrud. Hari Singh Nalwa anticipated this and didn't go to Amritsar, stationing himself in Peshawar.
ytimg
Dost Mohammed ordered his army to march towards Jamrud together with his five sons and his chief advisors, with orders not to engage with the Sikhs. Instead, it was more of a show of strength to try and wrest the forts of Shabqadar, Jamrud and Peshawar. Hari Singh was also told not to engage with the Afghans till reinforcements arrived from Lahore.
Hari Singh's lieutenant, Mahan Singh, was in the fortress of Jamrud with 600 men and limited supplies. Hari Singh, who was in Peshawar, moved to rescue his men who were surrounded from every side by the Afghan forces, without water in the small fortress. Though the Sikhs were totally outnumbered, the sudden arrival of Hari Singh Nalwa put the Afghans in total panic. In the melee, Hari Singh Nalwa was accidentally grievously wounded.
sikharchives
Before he died, he told his lieutenant not to let the news of his death out till the arrival of reinforcements, which is what he did. While the Afghans knew that Hari Singh had been wounded, they waited for over a week doing nothing, till the news of his death was confirmed. By this time, the Lahore troops had arrived and merely witnessed the Afghans fleeing back to Kabul.
Hari Singh Nalwa had not only defended Jamrud and Peshawar, but had prevented the Afghans from ravaging the entire north-west frontier. | {
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Meet two women in different eras but both with unfailing conviction in Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould's new book, My Daughter's Legacy. Therese Jennings cannot abide the thought of owning slaves. But when trouble befalls her family, can she reconcile her obligations with her beliefs? Nicole Talbot’s life is back on track after years of substance abuse. But when facts she uncovers cast doubt on her family’s legacy, she must risk all that she’s gained—her fresh start, her family’s trust, and her growing relationship with a new man—to unlock the secrets of the past.
Celebrate the release of Mindy and Leslie's new book by entering to win the $75 Visa Cash Card Giveaway (details below) and by attending their author chat party on August 1!
—A copy of My Daughter's Legacy—A $75 Visa Cash Card The winner will be announced at the My Daughter's Legacy Facebook party . RSVP for a chance to connect with Mindy, Leslie, and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes! | {
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UPDATE: On Saturday, the Donald Trump campaign told NBC they were responsible for barring Paul Nehlen from entering the rally, not the Wisconsin GOP.
Paul Nehlen, House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Republican primary challenger, claims he was ejected by Wisconsin GOP staffers from a Donald Trump rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin Friday night.
Nehlen was able to enter the premises of the rally before being urged to leave by individuals affiliated with the state party organization, according to his campaign. A Nehlen spokesman told The Daily Caller the Trump campaign had reached out and invited the congressional candidate to attend the rally earlier Friday.
Trump went on to endorse Speaker Ryan at the rally, as well as Arizona Sen. John McCain and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte in their respective primaries. The move is seen as a reversal from Trump’s comments Tuesday in which he praised Nehlen and refused to endorse Ryan in the Wisconsin congressional primary.
While Nehlen was not allowed to remain at the event, Ryan had made it known he would not be attending the Green Bay rally earlier in the week. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ron Johnson — who’s currently in a bitter general election — also did not attend the event with Trump.
Nehlen issued a statement to The Daily Caller late Friday on his ejection from the rally, which he blames on Ryan’s campaign and Wisconsin GOP leaders.
Today I was extended an invitation by the Donald Trump campaign to join his team in the VIP room prior to Mr. Trump’s rally. I accepted the campaign’s invitation and drove to Green Bay. Just like any member of the public invited to the Trump rally, I also had a ticket I registered for online which granted me access to the rally. I was happy to attend the rally, even in the face of reports that Mr. Trump would endorse Speaker Ryan, because I believe Mr. Trump understands that we must have all hands on deck in order to roll back 8 years of Barack Obama and prevent Hillary from continuing his legacy. Sadly, it quickly became apparent that Speaker Ryan and the Wisconsin GOP are not the least bit interested in party unity, or, it seems, defeating Hillary Clinton, but rather, are focused on maintaining their iron-grip on power for power’s sake. To that point, Speaker Ryan and Wisconsin GOP leaders loudly refused to attend Mr. Trump’s rally! Upon arriving at the rally, my team and I were intercepted by a phalanx of Wisconsin GOP staffers working on behalf of Speaker Ryan and Reince Priebus. I made it through security when one of the GOP phalanx wearing loafers and a blazer chased me down and informed the police that I was not allowed into the rally. The GOP staffer then escorted me back outside the security perimeter to the lobby, where another Republican staffer told me and the officers I was to wait for one of their fellow GOP staffers to come and tell me what was going on. It quickly became clear they were never going to send another staffer to tell me what was going on. The obvious reality was that they just didn’t want Speaker Ryan’s challenger to be seen in the building supporting Mr. Trump. I was then told by the staffers that I was going to have to exit the building. My takeaway from this experience was this: The Wisconsin GOP is petrified. They are petrified that 83 percent of the vote in the presidential primary went to the two outsider candidates. They’re petrified that the people in Wisconsin have had enough of their corruption and cronyism – of the GOP selling Wisconsin’s future across the Pacific. Paul Ryan and his Wisconsin GOP henchmen don’t want the good people of Wisconsin to know they have a choice in the primary in Wisconsin’s first Congressional District, and they will do anything to hold onto their levers of power so they can continue to enrich themselves and their donor-class friends by shipping Wisconsin’s jobs overseas and inviting a constant stream of low-paid labor across the border.
Follow Scott on Twitter | {
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It’s time for the latest Famitsu‘s most wanted games chart. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 enters the top five, and Shin Megami Tensei V makes its first appearance.
Head past the break for the full chart. All votes were cast between October 26 and November 1.
1. [PS4] Monster Hunter World – 832 votes
2. [PS4] Final Fantasy VII Remake – 692 votes
3. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon – 501 votes
4. [PS4] Kingdom Hearts III – 488 votes
5. [NSW] Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – 447 votes
6. [PS4] Dynasty Warriors 9 – 437 votes
7. [PS4] Hokuto ga Gotoku – 334 votes
8. [3DS] Persona Q2 – 332 votes
9. [PSV] Romancing SaGa 3 – 263 votes
10. [PS4] Yakuza Kiwami 2 – 233 votes
11. [PS4] Death end re;Quest – 209 votes
12. [PS4] Zanki Zero – 204 votes
13. [PS4] Dragon Ball FighterZ – 186 votes
14. [NSW] Project Octopath Traveler – 178 votes
15. [NSW] Dragon Quest XI – 172 votes
16. [PS4] Secret of Mana – 164 votes
17. [NSW] Fire Emblem – 156 votes
18. [PS4] Dissidia Final Fantasy NT – 146 votes
19. [PSP] Ushiro – 137 votes
20. [PS4] Earth Defense Force 5 – 136 votes
21. [NSW] Shin Megami Tensei V – 134 votes
22. [PS4] Ace Combat 7 – 131 votes
23. [PS4] Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories – 128 votes
24. [PS4] Nobunaga no Yabou: Taishi – 111 votes
25. [PSV] Secret of Mana – 104 votes
26. [PS4] Code Vein – 89 votes
27. [PS4] Atelier Lydie & Suelle – 88 votes
28. [PS4] Red Dead Redemption 2 – 86 votes
29. [PS4] Ni no Kuni II – 83 votes
30. [PS4] Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX – 80 votes
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The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Arizona police are pushing back on claims from a veterans group that a homeless encampment uncovered in Tucson last week was the site of a child sex-trafficking operation.
The allegations from Veterans on Patrol, a group that works to assist homeless vets, have been widely circulating on social media since the living space was found off Interstate 19 on May 29.
Among the items reportedly found at the site are belts tied to trees, hair dye, a crib, pornographic material, children’s toys and a large water drum -- with a small opening -- that has a dresser and two crates inside.
"We are right there and our city is right there, our children are right there and it's not my problem if it's not in my backyard," Lewis Arthur, one of the group’s members, told KOLD-TV. "Now it's in our backyard."
Arthur says the items found at the site are signs that children have been sexually abused there.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
“This is a child sex-trafficking camp that no one wants to talk about, that no one wants to do nothing about,” he claimed in a video last week while walking through the site.
“This isn’t some horror set that some kids set up. This isn’t a normal homeless camp that you would encounter doing what we do,” he said.
But the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in a Facebook post late Monday, denied that the encampment had anything to do with child sex trafficking, linking to a local news interview with police denying the claims.
“Tucson Police Department officers, detectives and command staff conducted a thorough inspection of the site, spoke to the reporting parties, and collected evidence,” the department said Sunday. “Based on the department’s investigation to this point, there is no indication this camp is being used for any type of criminal activity, including human trafficking.”
Tucson police added they are working with the property owner and city officials to clean up the encampment and warned the public not to trespass on it.
“The Tucson Police Department takes all reports of suspected criminal activity seriously and appreciates the public’s awareness,” it said. | {
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BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that a Canadian woman is undergoing “administrative punishment” for working illegally, after Canada’s government said a third Canadian had been detained in China.
A police officer gestures at the photographer as security staff stand guard outside the Canadian embassy in Beijing, China, December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Peter - RC1E350746F0
Chinese state security agents last week detained two Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, saying they were suspected of endangering state security.
The detentions of the Canadians followed the Dec. 1 arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. [HWT.UL]. Meng was arrested at the request of the United States, which is engaged in a trade war with China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying identified the third Canadian as Sarah McIver, who was serving “administrative punishment” due to “illegal employment”. She did not elaborate.
“What I can tell you is that China and Canada are maintaining clear consular communication,” Hua told a daily news briefing.
When asked if McIver’s case was connected to that of Kovrig and Spavor, Hua pointed out that the nature of the cases were different, given the other two were accused of endangering national security.
Hua referred further questions on McIver to the Ministry of Public Security. That ministry did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
The Canadian government has not identified the third Canadian, though Canadian media has said the person is McIver and said she was an English teacher being held because of “visa complications”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged caution on Wednesday and said he would not be “stomping on a table” after China detained the third Canadian.
Trudeau said he was asking China for more information on the detentions.
He said the latest incident was “a very separate case” from the other two.
The Canadian government has said several times it saw no explicit link between the arrest of Meng, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, and the detentions of Kovrig and Spavor.
But Beijing-based Western diplomats and former Canadian diplomats have said they believed the detentions were a “tit-for-tat” reprisal by China.
China has demanded Meng’s immediate release and summoned in the Canadian and U.S. ambassadors to complain about the case.
Meng is accused by the United States of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions.
She was released on bail in Vancouver, where she owns two homes, while waiting to learn if she will be extradited to the United States. She is due in court on Feb. 6. | {
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NEW YORK — Phillies right-hander Héctor Neris kept firing warmup pitches in Citi Field’s visiting bullpen.
Neris was clearly not ready when manager Gabe Kapler needed his most reliable reliever in a key spot during the eighth inning Friday night against the Mets. Kapler wanted Neris to face Mets slugger Pete Alonso with runners on first and second with one out in a 2-2 game. But first Kapler needed to buy additional time.
From the moment Kapler was seen signaling from the dugout to catcher J.T. Realmuto to visit the mound and talk with Blake Parker to when Neris reached the mound, three full minutes passed. In an unusual scene, second-base umpire Ramon DeJesus needed to walk nearly to the warning track to force Neris to leave the bullpen and enter the game.
Neris’ splitter lacked its typical downward movement, and the Mets capitalized, scoring two eighth-inning runs against him to take the lead. The issues surrounding Neris’... | {
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Epitaxial zigzag GNR
The geometry of a SiC facet with a GNR is depicted in Fig. 1a. Density functional theory (DFT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have revealed that graphene growth is seeded at trenches close to the lower edge of the SiC facet structure, while the top of the ribbon merges into the buffer layer above the mesa19,20,21,22. For mesa structures running along the [1\({\bar{1}}\)00]-direction and with trench depths of around 20 nm, SiC(11\({\bar{2}}\)n) facets approximately 40 nm wide with an inclination of 25–30° are formed during annealing. However, it should be noted that the SiC-sidewalls easily refacet, i.e. forming smaller faceted subareas, at temperatures where Si sublimation and graphene growth sets in refs. 7,23. Recent optimization of growth conditions allows these energy-driven instabilities of the SiC(11\({\bar{2}}\)n) facets to be suppressed24 (see Supplementary Figure 1). The scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images in Fig. 1b, c show the SiC facet to be almost completely overgrown by graphene in zigzag orientation, with only the top part revealing signs of step-bunching effects (see also Supplementary Information, SI). In situ two-point probe (2pp) transport measurements were used to characterise the long-ranged quantum-transport properties in detail at room temperature in ultrahigh vacuum. The characteristic value of R = h/e2 ≈ 26 kΩ is measured when both probes are located on the ribbon with a separation of 2 μm, as shown in Fig. 1d and in full agreement with prior reports1,3,18.
Fig. 1 Ballistic transport in graphene sidewall ribbons on SiC mesa structures. Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) can be selectively grown on SiC sidewalls as sketched in a. b Sequence of STM measurements performed at room temperature show the entirely overgrown SiC facet areas (+2 V, 0.5 nA, semi-insulating SiC). c High-resolution STM showing the overgrowth of the SiC facet and zigzag orientation (inset). The scale bars indicate a length of 2 nm (blue) and 0.4 nm (green). d The IV-curves measured in a two point probe assembly (2pp) clearly reveal a resistance of h/e2 on the GNR for a probe distance of 2 μm. The GNR can be easily seen also in SEM (inset, doped-SiC, scale bar, 1 μm). By means of a 4-tip STM the ribbons are contacted for in situ transport measurements Full size image
Spatially resolved transport measurements
To gain insight into the electronic structure variations across the ribbon width, we have performed spatially-resolved in situ transport experiments using a STM/scanning electron microscopy (SEM) system with two probes in ohmic contact. One tip was blunt and covered the entire ribbon width, whereas a second, sharper tip was moved transversely across the ribbon at a fixed probe-to-probe distance (Fig. 2a, b) as small as 70 nm. The correlated microscopy with SEM and STM enabled us to measure reliably the transport with ultra-small probe spacings (see Supplementary Figure 2). Figure 2c shows a conductance of e2/h when the mobile tip connects to the lower edge of the ribbon, corresponding to transport only through the exceptional edge channel. As the tip moves from edge to the bulk, two higher conductance plateaus appear, whose values correspond closely to step sizes of 4e2/h suggesting transport through additional four-fold degenerate ballistic channels. The corresponding IV-curves taken at these three distinct sites are given in the inset of Fig. 2c. The sequential appearance and disappearance of the additional channels is robust and reproducible, as demonstrated in Fig. 2d, which shows repeated sweeps with the mobile probe in both directions. The mean free path lengths of bulk channels in confined graphene nanostructures of this kind are of the order of 100 nm (ref. 25, see Supplementary Note 1). This prevented previous studies, with probe separations greater than 100 nm, from discerning the novel ballistic characteristics of higher order channels in sidewall ribbons. We note that the sharp tip still has a radius of the order of 40 nm, so that a transverse sweep of the tip across the ribbon from the bottom edge captures a cumulative effect as first a single edge channel, and then additional bulk channels, are contacted by the tip.
Fig. 2 Spatially resolved 2pp transport measurements. a SEM image of a ballistic ribbon with an overlaid schematic showing a blunt and sharp tip with a scale bar of 300 nm. Inset: STM topography taken after transport measurements (scale bar, 100 nm). b Line scans across the ribbon, directions are indicated in the inset of a. c Conductance G measured for a fixed distance L = 70 nm, while the sharp tip was moved across the ribbon starting from the lower edge (U = 200 mV). Inset: IV-curves measured at bottom, middle and top of the GNR. d The sequence of the channels can be reversibly measured by moving the ohmically contacted tip forward and backward Full size image
The sharp onset of the single-channel conductance with first a contact between tip and ribbon unambiguously demonstrates the location of the exceptional channel at the lower edge of the GNR, consistent with the previous characterisation of nanoconstrictions18. Its degeneracy and location are also consistent with a fully spin-polarised zigzag edge state26,27,28. The 4e2/h conductance steps, on the other hand, are suggestive of transport through spin-degenerate and valley-degenerate confinement-induced sub-bands, such as those expected for pristine zigzag nanoribbons. The presence of two such steps indicates either contributions from two sub-bands, or that significant band-bending occurs to allow a single sub-band to cross the Fermi level multiple times. We further note that nanoribbon sub-bands are normally expected to be delocalised across the entire ribbon width, so that an increase of the contact area between the tip and ribbon should lead to a steady increase in conductance without significant step features. Quantised conductance plateaus are generally only expected when the electron density is varied to change the number of bands crossing the Fermi level. However, from Fig. 1b it is clear that the upper edge of the ribbon merges into a buffer layer structure present on the flat SiC(0001) parts. Significant charge transfer at this interface, analogous to the n-type doping of epitaxial graphene29, can result in an inhomogeneous potential across the ribbon width, corresponding to a strong effective transverse electric field and thus leading to band-bending effects. A similar effect has also recently been observed at lateral WSe 2 -MoS 2 heterojunctions30. We will demonstrate below that band-bending can account for both the segregation and degeneracy of the bulk transport channels observed in our measurements.
Conductive-AFM measurements
The spatial distribution of the various transport channels across the GNR, suggested by 2pp measurements, is further confirmed by conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM), which gives access to a direct real-space imaging of the transport channels. The AFM topography (Fig. 3a, b) once more uncovers a uniformly overgrown and smooth facet structure. Moreover, the simultaneously measured current image reveals multiple extended conductive channels parallel to the ribbon edge (Fig. 3a). A cross section (Fig. 3b) shows that a large local current flows at the lower edge with smaller currents across the rest of the ribbon. As evidenced by multiple IV-measurements, summarised by the histogram shown in Fig. 3d, the quantised conductance of the edge channel is once more reproduced (cf. Fig. 3c, d). The measurement of the characteristic quantum conductance value e2/h at large probe spacings under ambient conditions strongly underlines the robustness of the exceptional edge channel.
Fig. 3 Direct imaging of the current channels in ballistic GNRs. a Top: Topographic AFM image of a GNR recorded with a conductive Pt tip. Bottom: the simultaneously recorded current image (sample bias 30 mV), demonstrating that the bottom of the ribbon is significantly more conductive than the top. The scale bar corresponds to a length of 50 nm. b Current and topography cross sections measured across the GNR indicated with the white line in a. c IV-curves recorded in contact mode at the locations indicated at the inset. d The histogram of the resistance values measured on the ribbon of the inset of c. The AFM measurements were performed under ambient conditions at 300 K Full size image
Tight-binding calculations
To analyse the exceptional transport features and understand the exact origin of the various modes, we have performed full-scale quantum-transport simulations of zigzag-edged nanoribbons. Excellent agreement with experimental measurements is obtained (Fig. 4a) when these calculations account for both edge magnetism and a spatial segregation of the bulk eigenmodes induced by asymmetries between the lower and upper edges of the ribbon, which connect to SiC(0001) and the buffer layer, respectively. Previous studies support the formation of a spin-polarised state at a zigzag edge27,31 and its robustness at the graphene/SiC(0001) interface32. In our model, we restrict the presence of edge magnetism to the lower edge of the ribbon, as strong doping effects and the lack of a sharp zigzag interface are expected to quench such behaviour at the top edge. To account, in a general way, for inhomogeneous potentials that arise due to the merging of the upper edge with the buffer region, and consequent charge transfer at this interface, we include a transverse electric field term which shifts the Fermi energy of the upper edge by approximately 0.5 eV relative to the lower edge. Monolayer graphene on SiC has been shown to be n-type doped by unsaturated bonds at the SiC interface29,33. The merging of the top edge of the ribbon into the buffer layer should result in a similar local doping scenario. In addition, ab initio studies32 of narrow nanoribbons with both edges bonded to the Si-face of SiC(0001) reveal that hybridization quenches states other than the magnetic edge state, leading to secondary gap opening near the Fermi energy. Only the lower edge in our system has such a bond, so we reproduce the effect by adding a sublattice-dependent gap-opening term only at sites near this edge (see Methods).
Fig. 4 Tight-binding model of the edge and bulk channels. a Simulated two-point conductance as a function of the width of the mobile probe in contact with the ribbon, as shown schematically in the upper inset, capturing the characteristic stepwise features from experiment (see Fig. 2c). Lower inset: Band structure for spin-up (grey) and spin-down (red, dashed) electrons for a 188-ZGNR with edge magnetism and asymmetric potential terms. The dashed horizontal line shows the Fermi energy considered in the other panels, with the band crossings highlighted. b Schematic of the GNR. c Real-space projections of the states contributing to transmission (e.g. those at the corresponding crossing points in a) across the ribbon width. The blue and purple states are spin-degenerate, whereas the red state corresponds to the spin-polarised channel at the lower edge of the ribbon Full size image
The experimental three-plateau feature is accurately captured by our simulations once all the terms discussed above are included (Fig. 4a). Spin polarisation is required for an edge-localised state contributing e2/h to the conductance. The additional terms impose a spatial segregation of channels leading to step-like transitions as a function of probe position. The gap-opening term isolates the magnetic edge state from the bulk channels so that it can be resolved separately, whereas the effective electric field breaks the uniform distribution of bulk states across the ribbon width. For a small field, this term segregates valence and conduction band states towards opposite edges of the ribbon, but, for larger values, bands near the Fermi energy contain of an admixture of states with both conduction and valence band characteristics. This leads to a distinctive W-shape bending of the low-energy bands, as evidenced by the band structure in the lower inset of Fig. 4a and further analysed in Supplementary Note 3. Within this energy region, current-carrying states from the same band can be localised at opposite edges of the ribbon (Fig. 4c), belying a mix of conduction and valence band characteristics. We note that the spatial segregation and degeneracies of the bulk experimental transport channels are entirely consistent with a single bent sub-band with spin and valley degeneracies. They are however not consistent with transport through multiple sub-bands since such a scenario tends to cluster states entirely along one edge. We note that a wide-range of gap-opening and transverse field parameters give rise to spatially-separated channels such as those reported here, supporting the robustness of these transport signatures (see Supplementary Figure 5). Furthermore this behaviour persists over a wide range of Fermi energies near the Dirac point (see Supplementary Figure 4). | {
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This instantly makes me think of a girl who loved her grandparents and loved vintage items, but she hated the sun and the beach, after her grandparents died she was devastated and sometime after the apocalypse happened. After everything, she found an old box of her grandma's things, a sunhat and a sundress that were supposed to be gifted to her. Now she appreciates the summer more after the dark clouds during the apocalypse. | {
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Comienza el dia en Lago Quetrus - Parque Tagua Tagua (Patagonia - Chile)
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El Parque Tagua-Tagua es un Área Protegida Privada (APP) de aproximadamente 3.000 ha., que está ubicada en la cuenca del río Puelo, en específico, a orillas del Lago Tagua Tagua. Administrativamente, el parque pertenece a la comuna de Cochamó, Provincia de Llanquihue, Región de Los Lagos. El área corresponde a una concesión otorgada por Bienes Nacionales a la Universidad Mayor, para el desarrollo de un proyecto de conservación de la biodiversidad y de turismo en intereses especiales, donde el énfasis de la experiencia es el conocimiento y la ciencia. El Parque se encuentra bajo la administración y operación de Sociedad Miralejos Chile Adventure y abrio sus puertas al publico en el 2013.
En su interior, se encuentran ecosistemas propios del sur de Chile, destacando sus bosques prístinos dominados por especies milenarias como el alerce, y otras centenarias como el mañío y el coihue. Todas estas especies son características de los climas templados fríos de la Patagonia del sur de Chile. En el parque también existen lagunas cristalinas, ríos, cascadas y una red de humedales que albergan una rica biodiversidad de fauna y flora, entre la que destacan una gran variedad de hongos.
El parque cuenta con dos refugios de montaña para visitantes, el acceso es restringido para solo 44 personas por dia y requiere reservacion previa. Hay unos 9 kms de senderos bien demarcados y señalizados aptos para caminatas de nivel de dificultad medio. A la fecha hay solo dos areas para ser visitadas: el sector de Laguna Alerces con un refugio para 22 personas y el sector de Lago Quetrus con una cabaña privada para 12 personas. Ambos sectores con servicios basicos. Se puede visitar durante todo el año. Sin duda el mayor atractivo del parque esta en su impresionante belleza escénica y recorrer bosques intocados donde destacan gigantescos Alerces de mas de 3.000 años.
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The Tagua Tagua-Park is a Private Protected Area (APP) of approximately 3,000 ha. located near Puelo River on Lake Tagua Tagua banks. Administratively the park belongs to the Cochamó Llanquihue Province Los Lagos Region. The area corresponding to a concession granted by The National Heritage goverment department to Mayor University to develop a conservation of biodiversity and special interest tourism where the emphasis of the experience is the knowledge and science. The park is under the management and operation of Miralejos Chile Adventure Company and opened its doors to the public in 2013.
Inside are own ecosystems of southern Chile, highlighting its pristine ancient forests dominated by species such as larch, and other millenian species as mañío and coihue. All these species are characteristic of cold temperate climates of southern Chilean Patagonia. In the park there are also crystalline lagoons, rivers, waterfalls and a network of wetlands that are home to a rich biodiversity of fauna and flora, among which include a variety of fungi.
The park has two mountain lodges for visitors, access is restricted to only 44 people per day and requires prior reservation. There are about 9 kms of well-marked trails and signposted suitable for walks of medium level difficulty. To date there are only two areas to be visited: the Laguna larches a shelter for 22 people and the area of Lake quetrus with a private cabin for 12 persons. Both sectors with basic services. It can be visited throughout the year. Undoubtedly the biggest attraction of the park is in its amazing scenic beauty and go through untouched forests whith more than 3,000 years old giant larches.
Done | {
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In 1921, the Olympia Veneer Company became the first worker-owned cooperative to produce plywood. By the early 1950s, nearly all of the plywood produced in the United States was manufactured by worker-owned cooperatives. Today, however, worker-owned cooperatives seem few and far between. Say “co-op” and most people think of Park Slope foodies or strictly guarded apartment buildings. Worker ownership may seem a relic of the past, but it could actually play a significant role in reviving the union movement, bolstering the green economy, and stemming the tide of deindustrialization.
Today, there are only about 30,000 cooperatives, strictly defined, employing 856,000 workers in the United States. Most of these cooperatives are consumer cooperatives, owned by consumers, rather than workers. (Technically, cooperatives are defined by incorporation, ownership, and tax-filing status.) But about 47 percent of American workers participate in profit-sharing arrangements of some sort. Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), for instance, involve around 10 million workers and range from plans that are essentially cooperatives (in which workers have decision-making power) to plans in which workers have stock, but no ownership or decision-making power—these are essentially profit-sharing by a different name. Procter and Gamble, the twenty-seventh largest corporation in America is estimated to be 10 to 20 percent employee-owned. Among the Fortune 100, many companies have employee ownership plans, including Exxon Mobile, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, GM, Ford, Intel, UPS, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Cisco, and Morgan Stanley.
Against this backdrop, it’s not so surprising that some are making the case for co-ops. Union leaders, in particular, argue that there is significant opportunity to expand the coop model by associating it more closely with unions. This make sense: Unions are looking for new allies and methods for increasing worker control, while cooperatives can benefit from the organizational skill and scalability of unions. Associating with coops would also allow the unions to extend their reach. While the union movement is concentrated in manufacturing, a recent study by Hilary Abell finds that 58 percent of cooperatives are in the retail and service sectors. “If you go back to the beginning of the labor movement,” says activist Carl Davidson, “unions and cooperatives used to go together like bread and jelly.”
Leo Gerard, the President of United Steelworkers Union, has been vocal about the possibility of what he calls “union cooperatives.” He has even studied this: In the wake of the recession, his union allied with Mondragon, a large federation of cooperatives based in Spain, and spent three years developing ways to build a similar movement in the states. Gerard noted that even while the Spanish economy has fared poorly in recent years, Mondragon proved resilient, maintaining steady employment.
The idea is catching on in the U.S. as well. In Pittsburgh, a “union cooperative” industrial laundry called Clean and Green uses green technologies and employs 120 worker owners. The business replaces a traditionally-run laundry; if it succeeds it will be a potent proof-of-concept for the cooperative movement. Two thousand minority home health-care workers in New York City formed a cooperative that increased their wages and benefits while also giving them more control of their working conditions. They are coordinating with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU. The coop model might provide unions with just the fresh air that they need. The economist Richard Wolff tells me that, “Unions concentrated mostly on how to minimize what to give back. They very rarely think in terms of strategic alternatives.” | {
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Ben Feltwell is allergic to eggs. Which is why, on a trip to Amsterdam six years ago, he made absolutely sure there was no egg in the pastry he ordered at a French restaurant. “I placed the order and told the waiter I was allergic,” the 31-year-old digital marketer recalls. “He went off and checked with the kitchen. He spoke with the chef and came back and said it was OK. When the meal came out I said: ‘Can you guarantee this doesn’t have egg in it?’ The waiter said: ‘Of course!’”
Reassured, Feltwell bit into the pastry – and immediately had an allergic reaction. He can tell within seconds if a food item contains egg, because his lips begin to tingle.
When the chef came out of the kitchen, he was on bellicose form. “He said: ‘Well, we make the pastry with egg, but then we fry it and bake it, so there’s no egg left!’” Feltwell took a taxi back to his hotel, where he spent the next four hours vomiting. To add insult to injury, after he left, the restaurant attempted to charge his companions for his meal.
Feltwell laughs in disbelief as he remembers the incident. But it’s not the first time his egg allergy hasn’t been taken seriously, and it probably won’t be the last. “It’s treated as a dislike, rather than an allergy,” he explains. “I’ve had a few chefs and waiters tell me to my face that it’s not a real allergy, but a preference. I say: ‘I think my doctor would beg to differ.’” And it’s not just chefs that Feltwell needs to watch out for. Once, on a camping holiday, a companion slipped an egg into his curry. “He was trying to make the point that my egg allergy wasn’t real.” He sighs. “It ruined the holiday.”
For those with food allergies and intolerances, Feltwell’s experiences may seem familiar. In August, a woman wrote to the Cut website’s advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, asking how to deal with in-laws who put mushrooms in her food, even though she was severely allergic to them. Her in-laws weren’t just callously disregarding her allergy – they seemed actively set on harming her, even slipping mushroom powder into the mashed potatoes during a family meal. “What’s worse is my husband told me that mushrooms were not a common dish served by his parents before he started dating me.”
Ignoring allergies can kill. In July 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died on a British Airways flight after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette she had bought at Heathrow airport. She hadn’t realised the baguette contained sesame, to which she was severely allergic, because outlets that make food on-site aren’t required to put allergen advice on their wrappers. There have been other deaths in recent years, including that of 15-year-old Megan Lee, who died after eating a takeaway meal containing peanuts in 2016 (the takeaway’s owner and manager were convicted of manslaughter). And an inquest is considering whether 18-year-old Owen Carey, who died in his girlfriend’s arms following an allergic reaction in April 2017, was served a meal contaminated with wheat and dairy – to which he had allergies – at a London burger bar.
“People are realising that those with food allergies can die on your premises,” says Leigh George of the charity Allergy UK. She welcomes the introduction of Natasha’s law, to be implemented in 2021, which will require food businesses to publish allergen advice on all pre-packaged food. But George urges the government to go a step further and require catering outlets to list every ingredient on their menus, not just the main allergens, so consumers can make informed choices.
As a nation, we’re becoming more allergic to the food we eat. According to the Food Standards Agency, in the UK an estimated 2 million people have a food allergy, with an average of 10 food-allergy-related deaths a year. The NHS says that allergy-related hospital admissions increased by 33% between 2011-12 and 2015-16. Meanwhile, Allergy UK reports that between 6% and 8% of children have some form of food allergy. “The diversity of our diet is one of the drivers of this rise in allergies,” says Dr Isabel Skypala, a consultant allergy dietitian “as people are becoming allergic to food they haven’t eaten before – like jackfruit.”
Even if you don’t have a life-threatening allergy, having someone disregard your dietary needs can have serious health consequences. Sebastian Clark, 25, a graphic designer from London, was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder coeliac disease when he was 19. Eating even a trace of gluten will make him extremely ill. “Every time I eat gluten, I lose half a stone in weight.” Despite this, family and friends don’t always prepare his food with due care – Clark tells me about one meal at a relative’s house where she slow-cooked a joint of beef. “I said: ‘This tastes really nice, it’s so rich in flavour.’ And she said: ‘I put some craft ale in it.’” (Most beer contains gluten.) It took him three weeks to recover from that meal.
Clark isn’t the only person to struggle with family members. For Cathy Jones, a clerical officer, meals at her boyfriend’s mother’s house are always fraught with risk because she refuses to accept that Jones’s irritable bowel syndrome – which is triggered by onions, spring onions and shallots – isn’t make-believe, and keeps slipping alliums into her food. This year, the mother served Jones a sweet chilli dish – and made a point of telling her that the recipe had called for spring onions, but that she had left them out. But when they sat down to eat, the dish seemed to have chunks of onion in it. After peering suspiciously at her food, Jones asked the hostess outright – and was assured that it was only a piece of ginger. But it still looked remarkably onion-like, so her boyfriend tried a bite.
“He said, ‘Mum, this tastes like a shallot,’” Jones laughs. “She said: ‘OK – you’ve caught me!’”
Jones is remarkably good-humoured about it – she jokes that she will marry her boyfriend only when his mother accepts she can’t eat onions. But the bit that really winds her up is that the mother doesn’t eat onions herself. “They give her heartburn! She avoids them as well.”
The drive home from the mother’s house takes nearly two hours. If Jones unwittingly eats onion before she gets into the car, it’s not pretty. “We’ll need to make an emergency stop somewhere. Luckily, that hasn’t happened in years.”
What makes someone repeatedly ignore someone’s dietary needs, to the extent of compromising their health? Jones doesn’t believe it’s malicious: “I think she thinks I don’t like the taste, so if she makes it taste better, I’ll like it.” But it’s also possible that the increasing popularity of influencer-driven elimination diets has made it harder for people with legitimate medical needs to be taken seriously.
This, after all, is an age where Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop advocates an annual “detox” that cuts out caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten, corn, nightshades, soy, refined sugar, shellfish, white rice and eggs; when supermodel Elle Macpherson endorses the alkaline diet; and when “clean-eating” gurus such as Madeleine Shaw and Amelia Freer secure lucrative publishing deals. Free-from regimes are sold as the cure to all of life’s ills, boosted by a swarm of quasi-reputable nutritionists, often on beautifully photographed blogs.
Tanya Khan, 21, a student from Warwick who is lactose-, egg- and gluten-intolerant, gets frustrated when her dietary requirements are viewed as a lifestyle choice. “You can’t put someone’s health condition on a par with veganism,” she says. “It’s not fair. If they ate meat, something physically wouldn’t happen to them – but if I had ice-cream, I would be really ill.”
Meanwhile, food outlets that treat terms such as “gluten-free” as little more than buzzwords gamble with people’s health. Chloe Marvin, 23, a civil servant from London, is intolerant to gluten, and allergic to nuts, beans and sesame. She recently got into a row with a food-truck worker, after she saw him put breaded ham into her “gluten-free” crepe. “I said: ‘You’ve advertised it as a gluten-free crepe; I can’t eat gluten.’ He said: ‘Well, the crepe is gluten-free; this is how ham comes.’”
Nathalie Newman has seen the damaging effects of influencer-driven fad diets first-hand. The 38-year-old, from Buckinghamshire, runs the popular blog the Intolerant Gourmand, which she founded after her son Callum was diagnosed with 28 allergies, eight of which are life-threatening. Newman works with chefs to make their menus allergy-safe. “They tell me that patrons come in and say they’re dairy-free or gluten-free, or even coeliacs, so they take it seriously, and then a dessert will go past and they’ll say: ‘Oh, that looks amazing.’ The chef says: ‘You can’t eat that,’ and they’ll go: ‘Oh, it’s OK – a little bit won’t hurt.’ So when someone who has a true allergy comes in and says: ‘I can’t eat that,’ who do they trust and believe?” Newman is convinced this behaviour puts people at risk. “It’s quite scary.”
When restaurant staff conflate genuine allergy sufferers with fussy eaters, patrons with legitimate health conditions find themselves under scrutiny. Jenny Allen, 35, a teacher from Oldham, follows a gluten-free diet to mitigate the symptoms of her postpartum thyroiditis. (Some believe that autoimmune conditions such as thyroiditis can be managed with the help of a gluten-free diet, although the scientific evidence is not conclusive. Allen herself believes that avoiding gluten has helped.) Recently, she was in a cafe and asked for a gluten-free meal. “They said: ‘Oh, it’s all the rage at the minute, isn’t it? It’s a trendy thing to do.” The comment made her feel “silly and ridiculous”. In particular, Allen chafed at having to justify herself to a perfect stranger. “Having to explain something really complex over a baguette,” Allen sighs. “I’m like: I flipping loved bread before! I’d rather be sitting here eating a crunchy baguette, and not having to explain my backstory.”
If restaurant staff aren’t properly trained, supposedly allergen-free meals can easily be contaminated. Feltwell was made sick at an Italian restaurant that prepared his food on the same work surface as a florentine pizza, which has egg on it. Marvin had to run out of a south London restaurant recently after going into a sesame-induced anaphylactic shock from a shakshuka dish. She chose not to complain, even though she had disclosed her sesame allergy when ordering. “My friend said: ‘Do you want to say anything? I said: ‘No, not really.’ It makes me really uncomfortable. Having an argument in a restaurant is unpleasant and draining.”
It’s not only restaurant staff you need to worry about – Khan has grown used to being accidentally poisoned at home. “I get lactose-free butter and other people use it and you end up with breadcrumbs in there,” she sighs.
When you have specific dietary needs, eating out can feel like an ordeal. “It creates so much anxiety ... there’s always a huge buildup to food,” says Marvin. She tends to patronise places she has eaten at before, and knows to be safe. “Everyone else can say: ‘This looks like a nice place,’ and wander in there. But that gives me the fear. For me, eating out is a huge thing. The evening before, I need to research the restaurant, and check their allergy menu. And even when I’m out, I feel anxious beforehand and anxious when I’m eating. Your trust has been broken by all these bad experiences.”
Some people don’t think the risk is worth it – such as Mike Dancer, 53, a retired teacher from Reigate, Surrey, who follows a ketogenic diet to manage his epilepsy. (These low-carbohydrate, high-fat, controlled-protein regimes are proven to help control seizures in some people.) “I tend to travel with Tupperware boxes full of food,” Dancer says. Once, at an international conference in Italy, he was unable to eat any of the food provided – so he simply didn’t eat for five days.
Having specific dietary needs is often socially isolating. “It can rule your life,” says George. “Where the majority of us take it for granted that it’s our birthday, or a Friday night, and we can go out for dinner, imagine how you’d feel if you thought that eating that meal could kill you. It makes socialising extremely difficult and stressful.”
On work trips, Marvin tends to eat separately from her colleagues, in restaurants she knows to be safe.
Life is so much easier when everyone respects your needs. After years of carrying his lunch around with him, Dancer was recently able to enjoy a meal of barbecued fish, avocado and salad with friends at Rockfish in Brixham, Devon. “It was a very inclusive feeling, to be honest. To be part of the group that’s eating is very important. I felt at long last that I was allowed back with the group.”
Some names have been changed.
• This article was amended on 11 September 2019 because an earlier version referred to Stansted airport, when Heathrow was meant. This has been corrected. | {
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(BIVN) – In this week’s Volcano Watch article written by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and its affiliates – as well on as a recent Island Issues broadcast with Sherry Bracken – scientists discuss “what we’ve learned from Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption”.
May 3, 2019, marks the one-year anniversary of the start of Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption. Over the past year, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologists and collaborators have been closely studying the vast amount of data collected during the summer eruption. Now is a good time to explore what’s been learned, and what’s still unfolding.
The lower East Rift Zone eruption, as well as the 2018 summit collapses, are providing many new insights on Kīlauea. This week’s Volcano Watch focuses on a few aspects of the lower East Rift Zone eruption that are helping us better understand volcanic hazards in Hawaii.
First, ongoing work is telling us how the changing chemical composition of the magma erupted in 2018 controlled the lava-flow hazard. The first two weeks of the eruption (May 3-18) produced low eruption rates and relatively small flows. Chemical analyses indicated that the lava originated from pockets of older magma stored underground in the lower East Rift Zone. This cooler and less fluid magma was probably residue from earlier eruptions.
This stored magma was presumably forced out by the intruding dike of magma that originated from Puʻu ʻŌʻō. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo researcher Cheryl Gansecki says that chemical analyses indicate that the dike may have intersected two, or even three, separate stored magma bodies.
Around May 18-19, the eruption vigor changed as hotter and more fluid magma was erupted. This magma was presumably draining from the summit magma reservoir. The eruption rate increased roughly 10-20 times, and the flows became larger, faster-moving, and much more hazardous.
A similar—although less dramatic—chemical change occurred during the 1955 lower East Rift Zone eruption, but it was not recognized until long after that eruption ended. Daily tracking of lava composition during the 2018 eruption was important because it allowed us to identify the chemical change in early May, and to correctly anticipate that hotter, more fluid magma—and more hazardous lava flows—might be around the corner.
Taken together, the 2018 and 1955 eruptions point to the possibility that future rift zone eruptions can start deceptively small in the opening days as older, stored magma is erupted. But once the magma “spigot” is opened, and fresher, hotter magma arrives, rift zone eruptions can switch to large, fast-moving, and hazardous lava flows.
Magma composition also helped explain another hazard of the 2018 eruption. In mid-May, brief explosions occurred frequently from fissure 17, throwing lava bombs several hundred meters (a few hundred yards). An initial explanation was that they were driven by groundwater seeping into the fissures, causing steam blasts.
However, chemical analyses revealed that fissure 17 erupted lava with an unusual composition. Nearly all lava erupted on Kīlauea is basalt, but fissure 17 erupted Kīlauea’s first documented andesite. Andesite is higher in silica than basalt, and is, therefore, less fluid. The more viscous consistency of andesitic lava makes it easier for large gas bubbles to coalesce and burst with high pressure, which provides a likely explanation for the explosive activity at fissure 17.
The eruption also highlighted the close connection between Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone and the volcano’s summit magma reservoir. In June and July 2018, there were near-daily summit collapse events, each with the equivalent of a magnitude-5.3 earthquake.
Time-lapse cameras monitoring the fissure 8 lava channel observed that the eruption rate began to increase within minutes after a summit collapse, eventually peaking 2‒4 hours later. At least once, the increased eruption rates produced overflows from the lava channel that could have threatened adjacent residential areas.
The short delay before lower East Rift Zone eruption rates increased indicates that the “surge” in eruption vigor was driven by a pressure pulse originating from the summit collapse and transmitted down the 40-km- (25-mi-) long magma conduit to the lower East Rift Zone—akin to a hydraulic press. The 2‒4-hour delay in peak eruption rates allowed HVO and emergency managers, in at least one instance, to anticipate and prepare for the overflow hazard.
These are just a few of the new insights gained from Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption. They show how unraveling each volcanic process helps us better understand the hazard, and, in turn, to forecast and prepare for hazards in future eruptions. | {
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A tale of double cross and revenge, centered upon the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. The team-Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar -find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Working together, they must remain deep undercover while tracking the heavily-guarded Max, a ruthless man bent on embroiling the world in a new high-tech global war. Written by Warner Bros. Pictures | {
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Bia Mattar, diretora da Fundação Cultural de Balneário Camboriú, diz que já havia recebido um telefonema de um representante do prédio onde foi feito o painel pedindo para que ele fosse apagado. Segundo ela, como o acordo foi entre o condomínio e o artista, a prefeitura serviu apenas como intermediadora.
_ Expliquei que era arte, cultura popular. Que por isso tinha a figura do boi, do dragão _ comenta.
Aparentemente, a explicação não convenceu. Antes de pintar o muro todo de branco e apagar a arte, a pessoa que executou o trabalho escreveu Jesus sobre o graffiti.
A Fundação Cultural se manifestou através das redes sociais classificando o episódio como "agressão": "Uma das mais expressivas obras de arte de Balneário Camboriú acaba de sofrer uma agressão por intolerância religiosa de um cidadão com desconhecimento total da cultura e da história do nosso país. O mural tinha como tema as tradições do boi de mamão e terno de reis. Estamos muito tristes.
Intolerância
Para o professor Francisco Braun Neto, coordenador do curso de História da Univali, o episódio é mais uma mostra de intolerância religiosa.
_ É sinal de intolerância ver um boi e achar que tem uma concepção profana, pecaminosa, se ver no direito de apagar o que é uma manifestação artística e cultural que não é representação religiosa. Estamos vivendo um tempo de conservadorismo, e de leitura equivocada do próprio cristianismo _diz.
Embora a prefeitura tenha divulgado que tomará as ações necessárias em relação ao trabalho apagado, George Varela, presidente da Fundação Cultural, entende que o município não deve interferir.
_ É um espaço público, quem se sentiu lesada foi a população. O poder público só fez o financiamento. O artista ficou constrangido, chateado. Caberia a ele recorrer não pela propriedade, mas pelo patrimônio autoral. Não cabe à prefeitura entrar nessa discussão, não é o propósito da Fundação.
Diant, o artista responsável pelo mural, lamentou o ocorrido e disse que grafittis apagados têm sido cada vez mais comuns. Ele quer autorização para fazer um novo trabalho no muro.
_ Boi-de-mamão, eu não pinto mais _ conclui.
Leia mais publicações de Dagmara Spautz:
Governo federal e Porto de Itajaí discordam sobre área de ampliação
Catarinenses são vítimas de ingressos falsos para shows sw Paul Mccartney | {
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This article is from the archive of our partner .
If you're looking for ways to avoid sunburns on this very hot not-quite holiday weekend, Reuters photographer Aly Song snapped some shots of a fairly radical method employed by some beach-goers in Qingdao, China Friday: Nylon face masks. The masked bathing beauties are getting some notice here in the overheated (and somewhat news deprived) United States with Yahoo News and The Wall Street Journal among others already pointing their readers to the photos.
Reuters notes that a woman invented the masks about seven years ago and they are sold widely in swimwear stores in China. The invention isn't that surprising when you consider that (to the delight of their dermatologists) Chinese women often favor pale skin over tans. It's a country that's captured the great majority of the market for skin whitening products, China Daily notes. Still, these women all look pretty striking, and the Internet has noticed.
The masks are pretty infamous in China too. "Swimsuit Auntie" a woman depicted emerging from the ocean in a full body nylon black suit, went viral on microblogs in China in summer 2011. We might think the beach goers look funny now, but they'll be laughing at us with their curiously young looking skin in 30 years.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire. | {
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Last November it was reported that Apple was working with suppliers to "fully redesign" many of the MacBook's internal components to achieve a slimmer design. Today, DigiTimes reports one of those redesigns is a move to metal injection mold-made hinges.
Metal injection molding is a metalworking process that's used to create very small metal pieces that are typically used by Apple for the internals of products like iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple is looking to use the technology for its MacBook hinges to save space and achieve an "ultra-thin" design, according to DigiTimes.
The new hinges will be supplied by Amphenol, who claims to produce some of the thinnest sliding hinges in the world on its website. The company partners with Microsoft to produce the parts for the hinges on the Microsoft Surface 4.
While DigiTimes has a mixed track record reporting Apple's future plans, the report does corroborate an earlier report that Apple was working toward a slimmer MacBook, likely scheduled for release after WWDC 2016. However, it's unclear which MacBook lineup these reports are referring to. Apple's refreshed MacBook is expected to include faster Skylake processors and Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C. | {
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If it weren’t obvious from the various set reports and trailers, the new Evil Dead was aiming at an NC-17.
When a fan asked director Fede Alvarez about the film receiving an R-rating, he replied, “Was proud of scoring a NC17 when submitted! But we had to cut stuff out to get an R and get the film into theaters.”
It sounds as if the film is official rated “R”, but that there’s some juicy content leftover for the eventual home video release.
In the much anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film arriving April 12, “Five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.”
Starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Elizabeth Blackmore and Jessica Lucas all star. | {
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Here, an excellent example of how valuable it is for scientific literature to be read critically and thoughtfully. When reporters read, or extract, or convey only partial conclusions, it is all-too-easy for consumers to absorb an incomplete, undigested message. As consumers of journalism, the public deserves a more knowledgeable understanding. Here (http://bit.ly/2KV0jeG), Forbes (Mike Adams) conveys an unfortunate lack of deep consideration in the reporting. Thankfully, a brief quote is conveyed by Dr. Koturbash, who “was quick to point out that the CBD products coming to market may not pose this particular risk” – but this stone-throw of even-handedness falls short to appropriately balance an article already dripping with misgivings and incomplete evaluation of the material at hand.
For a more layered view of the science, the word “gavage,” as was applied to the mice in the study, describes force-feeding animals with a tube down their throats, often taped to mouths which are then kept gaping open. This is meant to simulate the biological processes of eating (different from giving meds IV, for example.) There is no regard to the stress that this process causes the animals, as they are treated as though they are biological CBD-processing machines. In the days where many people are taking 10mg pills of CBD per day, the amounts of CBD that were force-fed to these animals in this study, if translated to humans, would be 4,305mg, 12,915mg, and 43,050mg over 10 days, or 17,220mg, 51,660mg, and 172,200mg in one-shot doses.) For reference, these days, most dispensaries sell CBD in doses of 10mg, 20mg, up to 2-300mg.)
In the study, the authors suggest that they allow animals to eat “ad libitum,” as if to convey that they are treated with a buffet. And yet, the animals being stuffed with 43,050mg (human equivalent) of CBD still lost weight, while others (given 172,200mg (human equivalent) had uneven weight distribution.) To any reader considering these values critically, it must seem absurd to make conclusions about the actions of CBD as what is causing these effects, as if the fact of over-stuffing itself has no impact at all.
An analogy to this study: If you add 17,000 cars (or 172,000!) to a tunnel on the way to the airport, and stuff each car full of way too many people, there might be problematic levels of concern inside that tunnel.
Let’s hope to see more even-handed consideration and reporting from Forbes, in the future.
View this review (yellow link) or download:
This paper is also stored here: http://bit.ly/2WWNOGA inside the CED Foundation Archive
Here, another study that shows very different results. Instead of overstuffing mice w/ unrealistic amounts, if one administers CBD at sensible doses in the same population of mice, it turns out that CBD could directly reduce alcohol drinking, improve healthy processes in the liver, and alcohol-related brain damage…
“CBD reduces alcohol-related steatosis & fibrosis in the liver by reducing lipid accumulation, stimulating autophagy, modulating inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, & by inducing death of activated hepatic stellate cells” This new study:
This paper is also stored here: http://bit.ly/2IAvzOz inside the CED Foundation Archive
To explore related information, click the keywords below: | {
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It’s as if Oesterheld was telegraphing in The Eternaut the horrors that would befall him at the hands of his own repellent government.
Buenos Aires-born comics writer Héctor Germán Oesterheld was nearing his 59th birthday when heavily militarized Argentine death squads kidnapped him in the spring of 1977. The fascist dictatorship had produced a “dirty war,” which meant that a military regime had begun silencing leftist sentiment by force. Government officials found the political themes in Oesterheld’s very popular comics — among them, the graphic biography of revolutionary “Che” Guevara that Oesterheld had penned with Argentine father-and-son artists Alberto and Enrique Breccia — cause for punishment. They yanked it out of circulation and destroyed the book’s printing plates.
Oesterheld’s support of an aggressive left-wing guerrilla group called Montoneros in the 1970s — backed by the writer’s four grown daughters — angered members of the violent military campaign that had occupied Argentina’s government. When troops captured all four of the Oesterheld women, the fact that two of them were pregnant mattered little. Other than 19-year-old Beatriz, whose body was later found, none of them were ever seen again.
“My life was wonderful, and we were all very close,” Héctor’s widow, Elsa Sanchez de Oesterheld, told The Washington Post in 2012. “And then they took it all away, all of it.”
A journalist and writer of well-liked children’s stories and short books in the years before he disappeared, Oesterheld eventually prospered as a writer of comics. He worked with Alberto Breccia and Italian creator Hugo Pratt, who would go on to earn critical and popular acclaim for the internationally bestselling black-and-white Corto Maltese graphic novel series.
“Oesterheld played an important role in the development of the Argentine comic between the 1950s and the 1970s,” University of Iowa professor Ana Merino wrote in the International Journal of Comic Art in 2001. “He unknowingly opened up a bridge between fantastic and comic literature, showing that comics could be as intense as literature, and in turn, can offer alternative aesthetic possibilities.”
Comics flourished in Argentina during a “Golden Age” that began in the mid-1940s, and Oesterheld began publishing his own magazines, featuring his strips in them. With artist Francisco Solano López – another Buenos Aires native, who fled to Madrid to escape the death squads — the prolific Oesterheld scripted a black-and-white science-fiction/adventure comic called El Eternauta. Translated by writer and poet Erica Mena, a nearly 400-page oblong English adaptation collects Oesterheld and López’s serial comic, positioning it as a single chilling, taut, post-apocalyptic graphic novel.
In The Eternaut, a comics scriptwriter is visited by a mysterious man named Juan Salvo, who appears in the writer’s home office as an apparition before assuming human form. Time travel has exhausted the guest, but he shares his story, serving as the tale’s narrator.
Salvo recounts an attic card game played by a group of science enthusiasts and hobbyists that is broken up by a tabletop radio’s alarming news: American atomic bomb testing has yielded radioactive dust that he and his friends believe to be blanketing the street — and killing neighbors — below the attic window. The sloping ceilings play no small role in the cramped, constricted atmosphere that Oesterheld scripts. López’s perpetual cross-hatching darkens the attic sequence’s barren corners, while the characters’ bulky cheekbones and forehead creases are carved out with short dashes and thick black strokes.
Salvo’s pack of card players watch through narrow windows as death unfolds below. Hysteria sets in quickly. “We’re going to die like rats! Food, air, everything will run out!” says electronics aficionado Lucas Herbert, one of the panicked men at the card table.
The Eternaut isn’t without the hyperbole we typically associate with pulpy genre yarns and hallowed television anthology series. And although Salvo’s narration — rife with Cold War–era technophobia, mind-control horrors, and fear of an omnipresent enemy’s reach — is often rich and lyrical, this isn’t likely to hook those who didn’t rush out to snag the recent Barbarella volume from Humanoids or IDW’s Howard Nostrand collections. But as Oesterheld’s characters don’t stay put for long, most will at least marvel at López’s output when he’s tasked with drafting the exploration of the still streets of the neighborhood. Clad in homemade hazmat suits, the card-players leave Salvo’s wife and daughter behind in order to forage for supplies, only to discover that aliens have invaded their quiet corner of Buenos Aires, and that the deadly “snow” is just one component of the attack.
The action dazzles within The Eternaut‘s cleverly composed panels. López employs gradients and heavy blacks to set off gunpowder clouds, and each sphere is built with dense detail. Even when set pieces are relegated to the far background, a gargantuan stadium, a subway station, and the exteriors of neighbors’ manicured houses are all magnificent structures when rendered in López’s refined linework. Picket fences surround the quaint homes that line Salvo’s suburban block, and out of context, these appear to be serene landscapes, with the deadly “snowflakes” rendering nearby tall pines fluffy and cotton-topped. But the peaceful exterior is deceiving, and the truth for The Eternaut’s nerdy underdogs — who aren’t just a part of a sci-fi story but of “an exploration of the human condition,” per scholar Martin Hadis’s foreword — is anything but.
Twenty years after El Eternauta debuted in the weekly magazine Hora Cero, state-sponsored terrorists began canvassing Argentina, torturing and killing scores of suspected socialists and leftists. The United States Institute of Peace estimates the number of kidnapping victims to be between 10,000 and 30,000 people between 1976 and 1983. Taken alongside the news of his widow’s perpetual search for any semblance of closure, it’s as if Oesterheld was telegraphing in The Eternaut the horrors that would befall him at the hands of his own repellent government. And in his depiction of a persistent, insect-like army of extraterrestrials (the underlings of a far more significant enemy) — scampering about in droves, armed with high-tech weaponry and cannibalistic inclinations, disrupting all sense of human civilization in their overlord’s efforts to seize control of the planet — Oesterheld hit devastatingly close to home.
The Eternaut is published by Fantagraphics Books and available from Amazon and other online booksellers. | {
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Ryan Wood
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
GREEN BAY - Leaning against his locker Monday, Randall Cobb didn’t want to relive 2015. He knew the stats. The lack of production.
He also knew the reasons.
“I had some injuries, yes,” Cobb said, still not revealing the full breadth of medical issues that tainted his fifth NFL season.
You may remember the Green Bay Packers slot receiver sprained his shoulder’s AC joint during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned for the 2015 opener in Chicago and never missed a game. Outside the locker room, it was easy to expect Cobb would be the same game changer from 2014.
Can you top Ted?Build your own Packers roster
What nobody knew was just how long his injury lingered. Through the “majority” of the season, Cobb said, he could hardly work out his upper body. Lifting weights isn’t ideal with a bad shoulder.
Cobb’s strength waned. His weight dipped. He wasn’t the same player.
So Jordy Nelson’s return — the way Nelson stretches the field, opening space underneath — isn’t the only reason Cobb is expected to be more productive in 2016.
“I think the biggest thing with Randall Cobb,” McCarthy said, “is he’s healthy. Randall played the whole season last year injured. He was hurt, I think in the Philadelphia game, in the third preseason game last year, and he fought that all year. So he’s healthy.”
Cobb won’t make excuses, but the film showed how much his shoulder injury affected him. He regularly struggled to beat press-man coverage off the line of scrimmage, a byproduct of the injury.
Without Nelson on the field, Cobb and his fellow receivers mostly faced press-man defense.
Cobb wanted to better absorb contact with and without the football, so he added weight this offseason. When camp started, Cobb said, he was roughly 195, 196 pounds. In the past, Cobb’s ideal playing weight was around 192, 193.
Last season, he dipped below 190.
“I don’t feel like I’ve lost any speed, any quickness,” Cobb said. “I feel like I move pretty well with it. I’ve been able to go in the backfield a little more and take a little more pounding, been able to absorb some of those hits a little better. And just overall fitness.
“The more strength I can have, the better.”
He already has shown his added strength on the field. After a slow start to the exhibition season —Cobb had no catches in the first two weeks — he found his rhythm with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Friday in San Francisco.
Cobb had three catches for 30 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown when he cut upfield and ran through two defenders’ tackles for the final yard.
“I was teasing him,” Rodgers said, “that he wouldn’t have scored that touchdown if he was 190, but at 196 he’s getting up into the end zone now.”
The Packers made Cobb the NFL’s highest-paid slot receiver before last season, re-signing him to a four-year, $40 million contract, because of the variety he provides McCarthy’s offense. He’s best in the slot, but can also line up as a running back. Few receivers offer the same versatility.
It’s why Cobb’s role in the offense remains important, despite most of the offseason attention being focused on Nelson, running back Eddie Lacy and new tight end Jared Cook.
“His ability to get in space and make plays from any position on the field,” McCarthy said. “That’s really part of the Randall I know as a play caller, and when you build a game plan, that you love about him — his ability to break, and he’s just so smart with the football, too. He’s a very instinctive player, understands defenses, very detailed in his route running and really everything that you do.”
It’s worth remembering Cobb’s production when the Packers had their full complement of players. He caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, earning his first Pro Bowl bid.
A year ago, Cobb’s 79 catches only generated 829 yards and six touchdowns. Half his touchdowns came in a Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Most glaring, he averaged almost 4 yards fewer per reception.
There were factors outside his control, but Cobb doesn’t want to discuss them.
“I don’t need to say anything,” Cobb said. “My play will speak for it, hopefully. If not, then people will keep talking all they want.”
[email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood | {
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Re: [ANN][CRW] CROWN (SHA256) | Atomic | Governance | Systemnodes | Masternodes | December 29, 2017, 07:53:13 PM #4157 Quote from: mandica on December 29, 2017, 07:50:00 PM
Is the above from a CRW official dev?
Yes, I'm with Crown - check
(Please ignore the red warning - it's taken down as we speak)
Quote
Announcement:
The crown community devops team has restabilized the crown network. Trading on Bittrex is now open. We will be issuing additional information on maintenance and issues encountered to these events.
To verify your Crown environment is correctly running please issue the the following command in the console:
Code:
getblockhash 1683398
See:
https://image.ibb.co/jaGLwb/Athov7.png
Correct result: ea0daecb7a057b251cadbe97abf991b05ca1ff549298b790a63f724ba2e84ada
If your hash returns a different result than above, please proceed as follows:
Under "Tools: Wallet repair" select "Rebuild Index"
The blockchain will be downloaded from scratch - this will take a while. Once updated, please confirm again using "getblockhash 1683398".
If you have any questions or need support please contact us at mattermost (mm.crownlab.eu), telegram (t.me/crownplatform) or
Announcement:The crown community devops team has restabilized the crown network. Trading on Bittrex is now open. We will be issuing additional information on maintenance and issues encountered to these events.To verify your Crown environment is correctly running please issue the the following command in the console:Code:getblockhash 1683398See:Correct result: ea0daecb7a057b251cadbe97abf991b05ca1ff549298b790a63f724ba2e84adaIf your hash returns a different result than above, please proceed as follows:Under "Tools: Wallet repair" select "Rebuild Index"The blockchain will be downloaded from scratch - this will take a while. Once updated, please confirm again using "getblockhash 1683398".If you have any questions or need support please contact us at mattermost (mm.crownlab.eu), telegram (t.me/crownplatform) or [email protected] Yes, I'm with Crown - check https://crown.tech/team (Please ignore the red warning - it's taken down as we speak) | {
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Yesterday, outgoing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1449 — which reduces adult marijuana possession charges from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil infraction. NORML would like to thank the 2,500+ of you who took the time to write the Governor over the past week via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’, and the many more who called the Governor’s office directly in support of this historic measure.
Senate Bill 1449 amends the California Health and Safety Code so that the adult possession of up to 28.5 grams of marijuana is classified as an infraction, punishable by no more than a $100 fine — no court appearance, no court costs, and no criminal record.
Passage of this bill will save the state millions of dollars in court costs by keeping minor marijuana offenders out of court. The number of misdemeanor pot arrests has surged in recent years, reaching 61,388 in 2008.
The new law, which takes effect on Jan 1, 2011, will have an effect even if Californians vote to legalize marijuana by passing Prop 19. Proposition 19 leaves misdemeanor possession penalties in place for public use and smoking in the presence of children; under SB 1449, these offenses would be simple infractions.
“Gov. Schwarzenegger deserves credit for sparing the state’s taxpayers the cost of prosecuting minor pot offenders,” said California NORML director Dale Gieringer, “Californians increasingly recognize that the war on marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources.”
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Have you ever been outside and heard a jet aircraft taking off? Have you noticed that it makes a sound more resembling the buzz of a prop plane than the whoosh of a jet?
I used to be incredibly mystified by this. As an 11-year-old, I got Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, and went straight to the jets. All of the takeoffs that I experienced all featured high-pitch sounding jet engine noises. However, after finding myself living under the majority of Runway 33L departures from Logan, I began to hear a lot of jets — particularly those taking off or climbing out — that sounded like they were an engine being revved up so high that it made some sort of a “grinding” noise.
It turns out that this “grinding” noise actually has a name: the buzzsaw effect. When a plane takes off, it (often) has its thrust levels set high. As such, the blades in the fan of the engine are moving faster than the speed of sound. As a result, a buzzing noise occurs. Obviously, this is a high-level explanation, but now you have a basic understanding of this noise.
Hearing the Buzzsaw Effect
One generally needs to sit in front of the engines to hear the buzzsaw noise. This is why, on aircraft with fuselage-mounted engines such as the Boeing 717, most passengers can hear the buzzsaw noise generated. However, on aircraft with wing-mounted engines, this “privilege” is usually reserved for those sitting in front of the wings. Similarly, the buzzsaw can be heard by someone standing on the ground as the plane approaches. However, the effect dissipates somewhat after they are left in the plane’s wake.
Which Planes Have a Pronounced Buzzsaw?
It’s been well-established that the British Airways 747-400 is my favorite plane. Even better, its Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines have one of the most incredible buzzsaw effects in my opinion (the first 1:30 of the linked video is worth a watch). When I started seeing these planes on a regular basis, I noticed they had a unique “grinding” or “growling” sound. Other 747-400s with General Electric and Pratt-Whitney engines have buzzsaw sounds, but I prefer the Rolls-Royce engines.
Also in the four-engine category, the Airbus A340-300 has a similarly impressive buzzsaw sound, even if its CFM56 engines are about half as powerful (34,000 lbs. thrust) as the RB211-524s (60,000 lbs. thrust). Many, myself included, have derided the A340-300 and its CFM56 engines — which, for perspective, also power smaller aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 — as being like a loud poodle: strong in terms of volume, but not powerful like the Trent 500 engines that power its big brother, the A340-600.
The buzzsaw is not exclusive to those two planes, however. The Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 have buzzsaw effects that can be heard, and even smaller aircraft like the 717, 737, and A320 have noticeable buzzsaw sounds, as does the Boeing 757 shown here. Even newer, quieter aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 and A380 have audible buzzsaw noises on takeoff.
The Ears of the Beholder
While the average person might perceive the buzzsaw effect as being obnoxious, I actually find it kind of charming. For me, it illustrates the sheer power that jet engines possess. Think about it: these things can get aircraft that — in the A380’s case — can weigh over a million pounds, and get them to travel thousands of miles at rates approaching the speed of sound. That is pretty incredible.
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Terri Hallenbeck
Rep. Tom Burditt (R-West Rutland) speaks in support of a marijuana legalization bill Wednesday on the House floor.
Terri Hallenbeck
Gov. Phil Scott responds to questions about marijuana Wednesday.
Terri Hallenbeck
Rep. Maxine Grad (D-Moretown) and her House Judiciary Committee discuss marijuana legalization Wednesday in committee.
The Vermont House on Wednesday voted to legalize marijuana possession, a miraculous revival for legislation that appeared just days before to be going nowhere fast.“Vermont lawmakers made history today,” declared Matt Simon, New England political director for the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project. “There is no rational reason to continue punishing adults for consuming a substance that is safer than alcohol.” The 79-66 vote means the bill, already approved by the Senate, goes next to Gov. Phil Scott. Asked Wednesday what he would do — sign, veto or let the legislation become law without his signature — the governor declined to say.“I don’t believe this is a priority for Vermont,” the first-term Republican governor said, reiterating his concern that there is no roadside test to detect drivers impaired by marijuana. The bill, S.22, would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and home growing of up to two mature and four immature plants for adults age 21 and over. It would go into effect July 2018.Rep. Maxine Grad (D-Moretown), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, argued that legalizing possession would allow the state to direct public safety resources toward more pressing matters. “Too many Vermonters feel like criminals,” she said, terming the measure “a criminal justice bill.”The legislation would create a study commission to look at how Vermont might tax and regulate legal sales of the drug. Grad argued that Vermont must be prepared as legal pot sales take effect in neighboring Massachusetts in mid-2018. The nine-member commission would be directed to take into consideration public safety and health, she said, calling that an important factor in winning her support. “I, too, am worried about highway safety,” she said.If Scott signs the bill, Vermont would become the first state to legalize marijuana via legislation rather than a public referendum. For supporters, that’s a significant hurdle they hope will encourage other states to follow.“I think this is amazing,” said David Silberman, a Middlebury lawyer who has been lobbying for legalization. He contended that legislators tend to be more conservative than the public on social issues. “To be able to get, particularly older legislators, to lay aside decades of drug-war indoctrination and focus on what’s really going on.”Sen. Chris Pearson (P/D-Chittenden) is among the supporters who had been advocating to also legalize marijuana sales, but he considered Wednesday’s vote a significant step. “It’s been a steady succession toward treating marijuana like alcohol,” Pearson said. “I’m proud of the legislature for taking this courageous step.”Just days earlier, the legislation appeared to be dead for the 2017 legislative session, which is scheduled to end this week. The House had struggled to muster the votes earlier this year for a similar version that would have legalized possession in July 2017. That bill finally passed the House last week but came too late to meet the Senate’s deadline to consider House bills.An antsy Senate, where legalization has wider support, responded by sending over a revised version last week as an amendment to another bill. The new version delayed enactment until 2018 and added the study commission.If the session had ended last week as initially planned, the bill likely would have gone untouched. But lawmakers extended the session into this week to work out budget differences with the governor. In the meantime, the new version won more supporters in the House, passing Wednesday by a wider margin than the earlier bill did.Rep. Laura Sibilia (I-Dover) voted nay on the first bill but said yes to Wednesday’s version. She said she was swayed by its call for a commission, which she feels will help the state prepare for legal marijuana sales in neighboring Massachusetts. “I think the commission is sensible,” Sibilia said.The study almost led Rep. Tom Burditt (R-West Rutland), a supporter of the earlier version, to vote against this one. He said he initially feared the commission would force Vermont toward taxed and regulated legal marijuana. He changed his mind after reading the bill several times. “There’s a commission in there, but they can’t do anything without the legislature,” Burditt said.House Minority Leader Don Turner (R-Milton) remained a vehement opponent. As Milton fire chief, he said he has responded to several car crashes caused by impaired drivers. On the House floor Wednesday, he cited an Interstate 89 crash last fall in which a wrong-way driver killed five teenagers . Though toxicology reports have not been publicly released, Turner said “it’s well established” that marijuana was a factor in the crash.Afterward, he conceded that he shouldn’t have relied on unverified information. Much of the reporting on the toxicology reports has cited anonymous law enforcement officials.“If I had it to do over again, I might not do that,” he said. “I was cranked up. Come with me one time to an accident and see.”Rep. Patrick Brennan (R-Colchester), chair of the House Transportation Committee, said that if the bill becomes law he would work on legislation next year to help train more police officers as drug recognition experts. He would also work to supply police with saliva tests for suspected drugged drivers. “In that respect, I’m happy they put it out to 2018,” he said. | {
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O nouă gafă a guvernului Dăncilă. A oferit un prânz de lucru delegaţiei conduse de preşedintele Parlamentului European în Sala Tronului de la Palatul Regal, deşi reşedinţa are o încăpere proiectată special pentru dineuri. Se numeşte Sufrageria Regală şi este exact sub Sala Tronului unde Executivul a instalat ieri un bufet suedez, o prezentare de produse tradiţionale.
Gestul este lipsit de respect dacă ne gândim că în urmă cu doar un un an acolo a fost punctul central al funeraliilor de stat ale regelui Mihai, la al cărui catafalc au stat de strajă regi şi regine din toată Europa.
Nu există o explicaţie oficială pentru alegerea făcută în detrimentul Guvernului sau al Parlamentului unde există destule săli de protocol. | {
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The Windows Phone emulator allows iPhone and Android users to experience Microsoft's OS
Microsoft has enabled Android and iPhone users to get a taste of what life would be like on Windows Phone, with a neat browser-based demo.
The HTML5 demonstration showcases Windows Phone's Metro user-interface and allows you to follow through and experience the operating system's basic functionality.
You can view within the Phone, People, Messaging, Outlook, Calendar, Family, Local Scout and Picture tiles, while the emulator guides you through the main features.
Each of the tiles work as they would on any Windows Phone 7 handset.
Shedding the stigma
Android and iPhone users can reach the Windows Phone demo by typing http://aka.ms/wpdemo into the browser.
The demonstration is a nice idea from Microsoft, as it seeks to prize away mobile users from the big two and shed the stigma of previous Windows Mobile iterations.
Via: Engadget, Windows Phone Thoughts | {
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A Toronto mother claims she was escorted to the basement of a golf club after patrons complained about her breastfeeding at a charity event over the weekend.
Alexandra Shimo said she and her partner Lia Grimanis attended an event held at the Lambton Golf and Country Club in York on Saturday night along with their two-and-a-half month old baby, Jacob.
When she realized Jacob was hungry, Shimo said she walked over to a corner in the club’s hallway – located outside of the dining area – to nurse him.
As she sat in a chair near the service entrance, a male service manager approached her with a large tablecloth.
“I’d been happily feeding Jacob and a couple people came up and said how sweet he was and I thought that it was really quite idyllic,” she told CTV Toronto. “Then the restaurant manager came out and said a few people had complained because they ‘didn’t want to see this while they were eating,’ because we were in the sight of the restaurant.”
Shimo, who had been sitting on a chair in the corner of a hallway, was told she was still visible to patrons in a members-only dining area.
“I took Jacob off the breast and covered up and he led me downstairs to the basement,” she said. “The way it was handled, I was slightly embarrassed because he made me feel like it was a shameful thing by sort of covering me up and saying people didn’t want to see it.”
Eventually, Grimanis went looking for Shimo and found her and baby Jacob seated on a couch on the lower level of the club. That’s when Grimanis took a photo of Shimo breastfeeding and posted the photo and the incident to Facebook.
She said the whole thing quickly “exploded” online.
“We had messages from people in Denmark, from the UK, from the United States and all across Canada,” she said. “I think we’ve really tapped into that idea that we’re not going to go quietly into the basement anymore, this is our right to breastfeed.”
The post similarly prompted swift backlash from parents and patrons of the golf club on their Facebook page, Lambton Golf and C.C.
By Sunday afternoon, the page was teeming with comments from people condemning the club’s actions.
“What was done to a breastfeeding mother at this establishment is completely disgusting not to mention illegal,” Jackie Leventhal said in a comment posted to the Lambton Golf & C.C. page on Sunday.
“Any establishment that sends nursing mothers to the basement isn’t one I consider worth going to. I’m going to start golfing next week at another club that treats people with respect and dignity. I’ll be sure to never come here,” Cara Elizabeth said in a Facebook comment.
A manager at the golf club told a CTV Toronto reporter that the establishment is “well aware” of the situation but haven’t released an official response.
The club’s Facebook page has also been flooded with dozens of one-star reviews.
Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, it is illegal to discriminate against someone because of their sex, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. A website belonging to the Ontario Human Rights Commission indicates that no one can “ask you to ‘cover up’ or require you move to a more “discreet” area while breastfeeding.
Some of the discussion online pertained to whether the code applies to the club, as it is a private space that was open to a public event.
Shimo said that at the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter.
“There’s been a lot of discussion online about given that this is a private space that was open to a public event – what the law actually is,” she said. “Regardless, this is a country club that is known for its Mother’s Day brunch, so the fact they’re discriminating against mothers who are trying to feed their babies isn’t good for business and is unethical.”
The women claim they have been urged by supporters to file a complaint with the human rights tribunal against the club but Shimo said she’d rather an apology.
“What I’ve asked is that the golf club apologizes to me and give sensitivity training to their staff,” she said. “They haven’t responded to that, or what’s happening on social media. So, if they continue to ignore this event and this issue, then yes, I probably will file a complaint with the human rights tribunal.”
Shimo added that the notion breastfeeding needs to be covered up is outdated.
“This is 2016. We’re tired as women being made to feel ashamed of our bodies,” she said. “This is a natural and beautiful thing and it’s also a human right.” | {
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For a few fleeting moments, Ashley Steacy thought she had missed her chance at the Olympics in 2016
Ashley Steacy sat down gingerly, like she’d been a bar fight the night before.
Sporting a wicked black eye, a few stitches in her lip, the five-foot-two Canadian rugby sevens star was fresh off the plane from Japan.
The 29-year-old arrived back in Canada Monday night, after a heartbreaking finals’ loss in a Sevens Series event and made the trip to Red Deer Tuesday to speak to a group of high school students at RDC.
Steacy addressed the 40 or so teenagers as part of the Alberta Sport Development Centre-Central Winning Edge Seminar Speaker Series.
Her latest bumps and bruises, from a ruck in a game against Russia, were just minor compared to the half dozen or so injuries she’s suffered over her almost 15 years of competitive rugby.
Adversity has followed Steacy like a bad cold, with a fractured hand in 2010 and 2013; a 2014 shoulder surgery that kept her out six months, before an MCL injury to her left knee followed almost immediately by a ACL tear on her right. Six months before the Rio Olympics, she thought her career was over.
After an MRI and her coaches setting her up with a surgeon, the emotions completely reversed course.
While she was ready to play without an ACL, Steacy instead had a synthetic ACL surgery that allowed her to recover in only four months. After playing in a test series in the U.S. that year, she was given the nod by her coach.
“Just having gone through that much adversity, I started crying. It was such an exciting moment for me,” she recalled about being told she’d made the national team roster for the 2016 Olympics.
That all gave way to the message she hoped to pass along Tuesday, which was largely about belief, overcoming obstacles and seeing the good through the bad.
“I know it sounds cliché but don’t let anybody tell you can’t do something,” she said.
“I’m not the typical or ideal rugby player. I’m short and I’m not a big girl but that never stopped me from chasing after what I wanted.”
Among the pain, there has been plenty of triumph, too.
She was Rugby Canada’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year for 2014, won gold at the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2015 along with her bronze in Rio.
At the University of Lethbridge in 2004, she joined a strong recruiting class of eight girls, all of them played five years in the program, winning four Canada West titles, and three national championships.
She was championship MVP in 2008. That Pronghorns group was elected into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Battling through injury was certainly never the dream for the undersized, fiery Lethbridge native, who fell upon the sport of rugby, almost on a dare, but more like a blind date.
At age 15, her best friend Dani dragged her by the arm to the pitch for a practice.
She scored four tries in her first game. She was hooked.
“I had no interest in playing this weird, crazy sport that no one played,” she recalled. “practice was awesome, the coaches were so much fun and I decided to play. Scored four tries in my first game and fell in love.”
She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment where the sport became life for her, but when her high school team took in a national team match in Calgary, the dream to play at that level was born.
“Just seeing the top level of the sport, what those women were capable of, sparked an interest in me wanting to play for our country. It was a cool moment for me,” she said.
She played in the provincial stream as a teenager and worked her way to the under 19 program before playing for the Pronghorns. Along the way she was recruited for the senior national team.
In 2007, Steacy played her first game with both Canada’s Women’s Sevens and Fifteens Teams and has played on some of the biggest stages in the sport since.
Well her successes came from a dream, she spoke to the kids on Tuesday about the importance of goal setting, and not just outcome based goals but process focused.
Overall, she added there’s a simple way to get what you want – don’t stop dreaming, but take action.
“Nothing is impossible,” she said.
“If you have something that you want do to, you have this dream – go after it. Actually get after it, go chase it.”
[email protected] | {
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MUST HAVE TRAVEL EXTRAS
Travel apparel sacks: To keep the garments clean while voyaging one can utilize the apparel sacks in which the garments can be remained careful and clean. Likewise one can store their utilized garments since finding the clothing or washing one's garments is absurd on occasion.
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Power bank : On the planet where everything is done through computerized gadgets like telephones and tablets, it is critical to convey a decent power to manage an account with solid and dependable power. This will ensure that one isn't left with a released telephone in another city.
Emergency treatment unit : Continuously convey a basic and successful medical aid pack with oneself. This will assist one with treating and gauze damage if there should arise an occurrence of little wounds.
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Cardholders: Having a waterproof cardholder is significant as one can securely store and keep their credit/platinum cards, distinguish cards, and so on in it.
is delighted in by nearly everyone as everybody likes to see new places and visit new areas. Be that as it may, voyaging likewise takes up a great deal of readiness and game plan which can be feverish at specific occasions. All things considered, one wouldn't like to be stranded in another spot without the required necessities and enhancements. This is the reason one should purchase a specific number of movement embellishments that can assist one with getting by in any sort of circumstance. Voyaging can be fun just as totally astonishing now and again because one can confront any sort of circumstance and that is the reason one ought to be set up with the adornments which can assist one with making some incredible memories without taking pressure about a portion of the unimportant issues.There is constantly a rundown that an enthusiastic explorer ought to have before pressing up for a long excursion. A portion of the embellishments are:Having a couple of essential travel enhancements with oneself will ensure that one isn't going with any sort of stress. Likewise, it will help one from an inconvenience because of the absence of civilities. Picking and purchasing the correct sort of movement frill will ensure that one can make the most of their outing with no misfortunes.Get-aways and trips are fun and pleasure if one has every one of the necessities close by or else one may need to miss the genuine experience. In this manner purchasing the correct sort of movement, embellishments are significant so one can protect themselves and their possessions while voyaging. | {
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When Brexit happens, the UK will suddenly have a major land border with the EU - the frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
One road crosses the border four times in 10 minutes, but can you spot where the crossings are?
Read more - What happens to the Irish border after Brexit?
Video journalist: Peter Hamill | {
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Jurgen Klopp‘s switch to a 4-2-3-1 in Liverpool’s last two games suggests the manager could be returning to and improving on his setup at Borussia Dortmund.
During his time at Dortmund, Klopp was married to the 4-2-3-1 system.
A brief flirtation with a diamond shape didn’t lead to anything. The German tactician had made his mind up. It was a shape that allowed his team to carry out his demands.
However, the relationship between manager and formation hit rocky waters after he arrived on English shores, and he was forced to look at alternatives.
Fast-forward three years and the Stuttgart native is looking to rekindle his love of the shape. The Reds now look in a position to not just recreate that tactic but to upgrade on it.
This could be the beginning of BVB 2.0.
The 4-0 win over Red Star in the Champions League was the first time fans had seen the 4-2-3-1 from the off this term. It was an utterly dominant display and on another day the record for the most goals scored in a single game could’ve been broken.
Integral to that was the midfield pivot of Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho.
Afterwards, the manager said he’d opted to use that system to suit the £39 million summer signing, but the truth is that every single one of the starting XI appeared to be more comfortable in that setup.
The Reds kept the same shape for the match against Cardiff City and racked up another four goals in what was something of a wasteful performance for the most part.
What is encouraging, though, is the fact the team are creating chances again—something lacking in the 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
Now, some may claim Klopp is simply reacting to the players he has available to him right now and that injuries have somewhat forced his hand. But taking a step back, there is an argument to suggest he has been planning this for some time.
Biding His Time
Klopp used a variation of it last season, detailed here after the emphatic win over West Ham last November. However, in following matches the balance was lacking and he was forced to revert back to the tried-and-tested 4-3-3 shape.
His signings have pointed towards a 4-2-3-1 shape, too. Naby Keita and Fabinho both excelled in double pivots; Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have both played in 4-2-2-2/4-2-3-1 shapes previously.
Meanwhile—though not his signing—Roberto Firmino is, by trade at least, a No. 10.
In truth, the slow evolution began in the first match of the season. Against West Ham, Firmino was operating in a deeper position.
At the time there were suggestions it was to help the new-look midfield made up of Keita, Wijnaldum and James Milner, with Firmino’s work rate key to adding a bit of authority in the middle third.
The void the Brazilian left in the attack was filled by Salah, with Liverpool’s No. 11 looking to cut inside a lot more.
Some summarised the subtle tweak was to get the Egyptian hitman into central areas on a more regular basis.
Klopp used Trent Alexander-Arnold in a more advanced area when the Reds had possession, with Milner dropping deeper to cover that right flank.
It was, at times, a 4-2-3-1 shape when the Reds were building an attack.
This is not too dissimilar to the average positions the Liverpool side took up against Red Star in the Champions League, as shown below via WhoScored:
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s clear from the off he wanted to use his shape with this Liverpool side.
His first game in charge of the Reds saw his new charges deployed in the 4-2-3-1 shape many had expected to see. Lucas Leiva partnered Emre Can in midfield with Milner, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho behind Divock Origi.
They put in a decent showing in a 0-0 draw with Spurs. But Klopp didn’t have the right players at his disposal to execute his demands at the time, so he went with the 4-3-3 system with a box-to-box midfielder given the freedom to join the attack and make it a four.
Initially, It was a success, but with more teams willing to sit back and sacrifice the ball and possession now, Klopp may want more attack-minded players in his XI, and this is why there’s been a return of the 4-2-3-1 system he was famed for in Germany.
This isn’t a dramatic shift: he’s used it from time-to-time during his time on Merseyside.
The end of the 2015/16 season, when injuries piled up, saw him use a two of Milner and Can with Daniel Sturridge leading the line.
It happened again at the end of the 2016/17 season when the Reds needed points to qualify for the Champions League.
The same thing happened at the start of the 2017/18 campaign when he was trying to fit the ‘Fab Four’ into the same team while getting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain up to speed.
But now, more than ever before, Klopp has a team that can improve on what his BVB side managed.
Upgrading on a Title-Winning Team
Klopp’s assault on the Bundesliga wasn’t a quick process, but by the time he’d pieced together his team it was near impossible to stop them—and the Reds could now have a team capable of putting that side to shame.
Robert Lewandowski was well on his way to becoming one of the elite strikers in the world and Mario Gotze was the great hope of German football after a number of stunning performances in the No. 10 position.
The Reds don’t have a Lewandowski or a Gotze, but they do have a Firmino.
The No. 9 somehow manages to do a bit of both. The fact he’s so unique and can do two jobs means Klopp can use another attacker, and Liverpool are more dangerous because of it.
Ilkay Gundogan, Sven Bender and Sebastian Kehl shared centre-midfield duties with Jakub Blaszczykowski, Kevin Grosskreutz and Ivan Perisic filling in on either flank before Marco Reus arrived and made the left side his own.
Klopp has Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Keita and Milner to pick from in midfield and the latter two can also do a job in the three behind the striker along with Salah, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri.
There’s a fluidity there that BVB never truly had, and it’s why the Reds could be even more potent than Klopp’s greatest creation.
At the back, Dortmund may have had Mats Hummels, but defensively their side wasn’t the greatest in terms of personnel.
Virgil van Dijk is an upgrade on Hummels, Neven Subotic isn’t on par with Joe Gomez or Dejan Lovren while Alisson is comfortably better than Roman Weidenfeller.
It may have taken three years longer than many expected but Liverpool fans might now finally see the 4-2-3-1 they thought they’d be getting when Klopp was appointed.
If the last two performances are anything to go off then they’ll be in for a treat. | {
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In 2011, she began developing Nevermind as part of a grad school thesis project, with a concept that centered around fear and feedback. Reynolds was eager to integrate sensors for measuring physiciological functions not only to track how users were responding to the extreme situations in the game, but also to use that data to alter the action in real-time.
The successful Kickstarter campaign Reynolds launched to fund the early R&D included this bold statement: “If you let your fears get the best of you, the game becomes harder. If you’re able to calm yourself in the face of terror, the game will be more forgiving.”
And that gets at Reynolds’s commitment that Nevermind would have a positive impact on players. “It would be entertaining, but also benefit them in some way, shape, or form,” she says. Reynolds believed that by understanding their body’s response to unnerving scenarios and rewarding players for keeping their cool, they would then be able to better handle real life’s unexpected stressors and panic points.
At the time, the only consumer gear with the kind of monitoring capabilities she required were chest straps used to track heart rate during exercise. The system required gameplayers to lift their shirts up, rub a little conductive gel on their chests to ensure a clear signal, and strap on the device before starting the game. “The tech itself worked great for our purposes, but that is a lot to ask of a lot of players,” she says. So while it wasn’t entirely practical, the chest strap did provide enough of a proof of concept for Reynolds, whose timing and entry into the industry could not have been better. | {
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Sen. Ryan McDougle's Facebook page is shown. Facebook users "Sarcasm bombed" the walls of Sam Brownback and Ryan McDougle in protest of anti-abortion legislation. (Image credit:Facebook)
Facebook users took to the walls of Republican governor of Kansas Sam Brownback and Virginia state senator Ryan McDougle to post intimate details of their reproductive health in protest of anti-abortion legislation.
The Republicans' walls were filled with messages, many from women, detailing their menstrual and reproductive health and asking the politicians for advice on different health problems. One website labelled the messages "Sarcasm Bombing" for the tounge-in-cheek way the users ask the politicians for help.
"Hi Senator McDougle! I just wanted to let you know, since you're so concerned about women's health, that my period started today! Color looks good, flow not too heavy. Cramps are pretty manageable but don't worry- I'll make sure to let you know if that changes! Thanks again for caring so much about women and our bodies!"
Both McDougle and Brownback have supported measures in legislation to restrict a woman's ability to get an abortion.
Brownback has said he would sign an anti-abortion bill introduced into the Kansas legislature, while McDougle was a supporter for Virginia's mandatory transvaginal ultrasound bill. The bill was later altered before being signed into law, but McDougle advocated for a mandate in which women seeking an abortion would be required to have an invasive ultrasound to determine the fetus's gestational age. Under the passed law, women must submit to a conventional ultrasound before being granted an abortion.
The Facebook protestors mocked the politicians' involvement in female reproductive rights, asking for advice on an array of health issues.
"Senator McDougle, I am almost 49 and STILL menstruating with no sign of slowing down! Frankly, I've had enough of this inconvenience- the cost of pads and pain reliever and all the mess- well YOU know how it is. You're an expert on this lady stuff. I was going to ask my gynecologist about this issue, but since you know much about women's reproductive health, I figured I'd just stop by your Facebook page and ask you. So, when will I finally go through the change? My mister and I want to donate the money we spend on birth control to the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project to help women pay for those unfunded government mandated ultrasounds."
While neither Brownback nor McDougle responded for comment, a spokesman for the Virginia Republican caucus- - of which McDougle is chairman - deplored the actions of the Facebook posters.
"It's very sad to see the pro-abortion or pro-choice movement degenerate into these kinds of tactics," Jeff Ryer told ABC News. "As was reported by Slate Magazine in an article from an obstetrician days ago, ultrasounds are the standard prior to any abortion being conducted. To create this level of misinformation shows a recklessness on their part." | {
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Matthew Lesko, the US author who made himself a name in the 90s writing books on how to get “free money” from the United States government, claimed that cryptocurrencies are a scam and Bitcoin is a “gamble,” talking to CNET in an interview on Feb. 20.
Lesko, who runs his own website, YouTube channel and various podcasts, all dedicated to the topic of obtaining federal grants from the US government, says that “many people are interested” in Blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Lesko recommended these people to “stay away” from digital currencies unless they “have money to lose.”
The “free money guy” elaborated:
“You're playing with sharks right now. This is the beginning of something, [and] no one knows where it's going.”
Lesko argues that cryptocurrencies are actually a “scam”, since they are not backed by anything and are not regulated, unlike the US dollar. He believes that “if there's no regulation, you get screwed.”
In 2004 the New York State Consumer Protection Board criticized Lesko's commercials and books, stating that many of his readers did not get the "free money" he promised. According to Lesko himself, Blockchain experts today implement the same “exaggerations” he used in his 90s “free-money” infomercials. | {
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On Thursday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat discussed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) leading the Senate Judiciary Committee in the investigation of the origins of the Russia probe and the exposure of deep corruption at the FBI.
Watch the video below for details..
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YG Entertainment has announced that its new girl group will be unveiled on January 15th of 2013.
On December 20th, CEO Yang Hyun Suk revealed, "Everything about the new girl group that we've prepared for so long will be revealed on January 15th."
He also shared that the members of the girl group are not yet confirmed, stating, "We've recorded each member's practice sessions over a long period of time, and though it's not a survival competition, we'll be eliminating 1-2 revealed members."
Yang Hyun Suk added, "An existing member who was previously revealed to the public has already left YG's new girl group," increasing curiosity about the group's final members.
YG will be posting videos of the members on its official homepage mid-January, and afterwards, the final members and debut song will be confirmed. The CEO also revealed, "YG's new girl group will be vastly different than existing girl groups. We've decided that the members need to be acknowledged by the public before their debut, and we're planning a fresh promotional strategy."
YG Entertainment previously introduced Kim Eun Bi, one of the top six contestants on 'Superstar K2', Yuna Kim from the US auditions of 'Superstar K', Jenny Kim,�the second mysterious girl, and a 16-year-old girl of mixed heritage as part of the members of the group.
Tip: rei.a | {
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