text
stringlengths 14
100k
| meta
dict |
|---|---|
Students at an Illinois college received an email on Tuesday offering “extra support and resources” for those struggling to “process” the 2018 midterm election results.
Three Elmhurst College offices informed students that there would be increased support on campus during the “stressful time” of midterm elections, according to an email obtained by Campus Reform.
“Our staff will have open office hours to provide a space to process the outcomes of the elections."
“Our staff will have open office hours to provide a space to process the outcomes of the elections,” Elmhurst’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Office of Student Involvement, and Office of the Chaplain said in the email.
“We will also have coffee, cider, hot chocolate, and some treats to offer you,” they continued. “We hope that you will join us if you need some extra support and resources throughout the day.”
[RELATED: University announces ‘White Awake’ safe space for white students]
The school invited those unable to make the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. office hour window to a separate “space to process election results” held by the Elmhurst’s Spiritual Life Council at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“I think it’s pretty cool that the school gives people a place to go and get information on the election,” Elmhurst student Tramaine Franklin told Campus Reform.
Following the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, students at the University of California-Irvine gathered for a “group cry” where they proclaimed their “solidarity” with “marginalized communities” in response to Trump’s win.
More recently, professors at Mississippi State University went as far as to cancel classes for a “moment of silence” to honor the women who accused then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. At least one of Kavanaugh's accusers has since admitted that it was "just a ploy," USA Today reported.
[RELATED: University offers ‘safe space’ for ‘fixing’ masculinity]
Campus Reform reached out to Elmhurst and the offices involved for comment but did not receive one in time for publication.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @celinedryan | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The Wash and Shop Laundromat (center). The real Jade Helm: Berkeley PD show citizens what police militarization looks like during manhunt for laundromat robber The BPD thanked them for their cooperation, but look at those cops -- what choice did people have?
Emilie Raguso's coverage of a police manhunt wasn't extraordinary because the of who the suspect was or what crime he committed -- a young black male with "silver teeth" who robbed a laundromat at gunpoint -- or because it ended in any particularly compelling fashion -- the police never found him -- it was extraordinary because of how casually Raguso reported what the accompanying images strongly suggested was a full-scale military invasion of a Berkeley, California neighborhood.
Everything conspiracy mongers mistakenly think is being done across seven southwestern states by highly trained special forces units in Operation Jade Helm 15 is, in fact, being done -- only it's being done by poorly trained police officers dressed up like soldiers in cities across America. The situation in Berkeley on Monday is merely emblematic.
Advertisement:
Raguso's prose is measured, conveying the idea that nothing out of the ordinary was happening. The police statements she reproduced -- "We are currently searching the area for the suspect who may be in the block" -- are equally innocuous, suggesting that the situation is being professionally managed by a police force that deals with armed suspects like this one on a daily basis.
But the art accompanying that measured prose is something else entirely. Instead of the police cruisers and uniformed officers one would expect to see in photographs accompanying an article about a manhunt for a laundromat robber, readers are greeted with images of heavily armed soldiers emerging from military-grade armored vehicles.
The caption assures readers that these are, in fact, members of the Berkeley Police Department searching for a petty thief armed with a single handgun -- but that assurance isn't all that reassuring. What warranted this response? Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said "cash was taken during the robbery, but there were no injuries reported to the victim." Had Berkeleyside not chosen to include those photographs, the events of the day would have seemed so mundane as to barely warrant mention on the local news.
Advertisement:
The story here isn't that the police have become militarized -- that's beyond dispute at this point -- nor is that a reporter elected to capture the events as they unfolded in a style designed to flatten affect. The story is that police using military-grade equipment can invade a neighborhood for hours on end and release a statement that describes the them as having "arrived on the scene and quickly established a perimeter."
That's technically true, but it's a technical truth deliberately designed to obscure the reality of what happened in Berkeley yesterday -- a way to convince the public that, in fact, nothing out of the ordinary happened at all. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
It was only a few years ago that a local official in Louisiana drew national ire, and threats of dismissal from Gov. Bobby Jindal, for refusing to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple because he held the personal conviction that such marriages are wrong and undermine the wellbeing of children. Now, however, many Republicans are rallying around local officials who refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, similarly citing their personal convictions that such marriages are wrong.
One of these officials is Casey Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky who has boasted that he will defy the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage and deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Davis appeared on the Family Research Council’s “Washington Watch” program yesterday, where he tried to portray himself as the latest victim of anti-Christian persecution in America.
Davis told host Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council and recently praised Davis, that his rights are “being violated” by being asked to perform his job responsibilities.
“It’s not just me being violated but it’s both side of the coin, both sides of this issue that’s at stake here, and that is our First Amendment rights,” Davis said. “We have religious freedom in this country and if we lose that we’ve lost everything.” | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
[ 2017.11.01 17:09:24 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > selling paps still
[ 2017.11.01 17:27:44 ] Regulus Augustus > lmao
[ 2017.11.01 17:28:26 ] Glazed Nutz > I have paps for sale too will uncut CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles offer
[ 2017.11.01 17:31:58 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > Glazed Nutz hey pap sales is my turf, get off! :p
[ 2017.11.01 17:32:40 ] Glazed Nutz > lol
[ 2017.11.01 17:32:59 ] Captain J2T3 > He did get off, hense the name
[ 2017.11.01 17:33:27 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > has any1 solved the travelling papsman problem
[ 2017.11.01 17:33:42 ] Captain J2T3 > nope
[ 2017.11.01 17:36:10 ] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL MAX NUMBERS GET IN PLS
[ 2017.11.01 17:37:26 ] Captain J2T3 > But...I don't wanna and can't really
[ 2017.11.01 17:38:33 ] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL MAX FORM GUYS, don't you want supercarrier kill? I need 50 more people in bombers or recons or pvp blops, CMON!
[ 2017.11.01 17:39:08 ] Captain J2T3 > I don't trust your ability to fc, and I am jf my corps shit
[ 2017.11.01 17:40:23 ] XxJaNxX > Okay, thank you. Go jump freight
[ 2017.11.01 17:40:32 ] Captain J2T3 > O7 yessir
[ 2017.11.01 17:47:44 ] Captain J2T3 > or ma'am...
[ 2017.11.01 17:47:57 ] XxJaNxX > ANYONE HAS FALCON FOR SALE IN 4-GB?
[ 2017.11.01 17:48:19 ] Captain J2T3 > Does anyone have a*
[ 2017.11.01 17:51:01 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > did you just say failcon
[ 2017.11.01 17:51:10 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > this isn't reddit :(
[ 2017.11.01 17:51:45 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > bah mt falcon is in o8
[ 2017.11.01 17:52:01 ] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL please im beggign you coalition. 20 more people and we drop the nyx
[ 2017.11.01 17:52:57 ] Captain J2T3 > You realize people have no reason to trust your fc skills when we have seen how your fleets go, and you are worse with Blops type things
[ 2017.11.01 17:54:13 ] XxJaNxX > can you please shut the fuck up?
[ 2017.11.01 17:54:45 ] Captain J2T3 > Can you learn to FC?
[ 2017.11.01 17:54:48 ] Jules Spiritdream > wow someone is super salty Captain J2T3
[ 2017.11.01 17:54:54 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > :o
[ 2017.11.01 17:55:02 ] Captain J2T3 > Salty like Utah
[ 2017.11.01 17:55:14 ] Jules Spiritdream > have you FC'd?
[ 2017.11.01 17:55:35 ] Captain J2T3 > Yes I have and even I didn't fuck it up this bad
[ 2017.11.01 17:56:05 ] Jules Spiritdream > if you dont like the FC drop fleet tyhere is NO need to be like that are you 5?
[ 2017.11.01 17:56:26 ] Captain J2T3 > SMA lost yes, but not because our FCs...we lost because we were the meat shield for Goons, and I am not even in fleet
[ 2017.11.01 17:57:19 ] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL f you don't have bomber, bring ceptor or small shit
[ 2017.11.01 17:58:50 ] Captain J2T3 > HE could also just block me, so there is that.
[ 2017.11.01 17:59:25 ] David Bassham > Get me a competent FC and ill consider it
[ 2017.11.01 18:00:14 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i like potatos
[ 2017.11.01 18:00:21 ] Artaka Chanlin > I still don't know if it's harder to not be an asshole or to ignore an asshole
[ 2017.11.01 18:00:45 ] Captain J2T3 > Harder to be, because other try to out asshole you
[ 2017.11.01 18:00:45 ] David Bassham > Giving criticism? thats not being an asshole
[ 2017.11.01 18:01:02 ] David Bassham > Having someone thats totally incompetent and letting them keep their post ? now THATS being an asshole
[ 2017.11.01 18:01:19 ] Artaka Chanlin > Criticism is usually a bit more than "u sux!11!1"
[ 2017.11.01 18:01:50 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > blueberry muffins can be so moist inside,, i like them when they are fresh from the oven
[ 2017.11.01 18:01:52 ] Captain J2T3 > I said I have no confidance in his fc ability, I was a polite asshole
[ 2017.11.01 18:01:58 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > and the blueberries are like little scalding balls of juice
[ 2017.11.01 18:02:04 ] Artaka Chanlin > Love those moist muffins!
[ 2017.11.01 18:02:23 ] Bigy > Listen to all of you fucktards. I don't give a shit if im not bad okay? If you think there's no good FC's, leave. And stop shittalking cause all you bring is negativity for n oreason
[ 2017.11.01 18:02:52 ] Captain J2T3 > Is this Jan?
[ 2017.11.01 18:03:19 ] Artaka Chanlin > Though you should never wear white when having a blueberry muffin
[ 2017.11.01 18:03:24 ] Captain J2T3 > True
[ 2017.11.01 18:03:35 ] Davos Seegard > True Story
[ 2017.11.01 18:03:55 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i never thought about that
[ 2017.11.01 18:04:06 ] Artaka Chanlin > see, glad I could help :)
[ 2017.11.01 18:04:11 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i just focus on getting the blueberry juices in my mouth
[ 2017.11.01 18:04:12 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > seems to work
[ 2017.11.01 18:04:27 ] David Bassham > Giving a bad student an F on his report card isnt shittalking
[ 2017.11.01 18:04:32 ] David Bassham > anyway back to moving shit
[ 2017.11.01 18:06:57 ] Captain J2T3 > Also I would joined fleets if I felt the fc wasn't going to get me killed the moment we landed...
[ 2017.11.01 18:08:11 ] Captain J2T3 > Also the whole Nyx kill> freindly sov didn't help
[ 2017.11.01 18:08:28 ] Captain J2T3 > but fuck me right
[ 2017.11.01 18:08:57 ] Davos Seegard > its Helps the Nyx Pilot Fresh Killmarks o his ship :-P
[ 2017.11.01 18:09:05 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > :o
[ 2017.11.01 18:09:11 ] Captain J2T3 > Fair enough
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:06 ] Davos Seegard > Perheps we kann Whelp enogh on Tri ships that there Sships Overloaded with Killmarks and Therer PC's Creshs
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:19 ] Captain J2T3 > Maybe
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:39 ] David Bassham > ive received no less than 30 notifications of our systems being reinforced and captured today :D
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:44 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > a want a keepstar named 'A Keepstar Named Desire'
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:51 ] David Bassham > they rollin at a rate of roughly 1 every 2-5 minutes
[ 2017.11.01 18:10:55 ] David Bassham > please shut up :D
[ 2017.11.01 18:12:25 ] David Bassham > OH! theres another one !
[ 2017.11.01 18:12:44 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > ding fries are done
[ 2017.11.01 18:13:11 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i think there's a rikki martin song about that david
[ 2017.11.01 18:16:18 ] David Potts > *watchs while eatting popcorn*
[ 2017.11.01 18:16:45 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > wow i got rick rolled by your bio
[ 2017.11.01 18:33:52 ] Captain J2T3 > lol
[ 2017.11.01 18:48:35 ] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL Fleet up again, another thing to kill This time we get it.
[ 2017.11.01 18:51:46 ] Captain J2T3 > You didn't get the last target?
[ 2017.11.01 18:52:11 ] Captain J2T3 > I was honestly hoping you'd prove me wrong
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:27 ] Captain J2T3 > Where's the nyx you promised?
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:33 ] XxJaNxX > I didn't promise did I?
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:49 ] XxJaNxX > Go get a doctor check please. Ask him if he can get your autism removed.
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:51 ] David Bassham > hey jan?
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:52 ] David Potts > But Jan, You try to bomb rats but you did not killed any of the rats and wasted bombs on them.
[ 2017.11.01 18:53:57 ] David Bassham > how about defending our fucking space ?
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:14 ] Tamika Hemanseh > [17:38:33] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL MAX FORM GUYS, don't you want supercarrier kill? I need 50 more people in bombers or recons or pvp blops, CMON!
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:16 ] XxJaNxX > How about no... if we're leaving anyway? We don't have any orders to defend space.
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:27 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Not specificaly a nyx, but a supercarrier
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:31 ] Captain J2T3 > You said,"[17:38:33] XxJaNxX > BIG STUFF KILL MAX FORM GUYS, don't you want supercarrier kill? I need 50 more people in bombers or recons or pvp blops, CMON!"
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:42 ] XxJaNxX > So? I didn't promise. AND I didn't get 50 people
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:55 ] David Bassham > Of course you didnt get 50 people
[ 2017.11.01 18:54:56 ] XxJaNxX > If I had 50 people at the time I could just drop on him at that same second.
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:03 ] Captain J2T3 > Oh well excuse me, sorry, still I saw no super on that list mate
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:07 ] David Bassham > why is that what i always hear from shit FCs?
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:08 ] XxJaNxX > Well, see? Then stop bitching that I promised.
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:14 ] David Bassham > "if i had _____________________"
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:19 ] XxJaNxX > You hear shit? Dude you're the ones fucking complaining.
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:27 ] David Bassham > dude
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:29 ] XxJaNxX > Don't say I fucking promised.
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:39 ] David Bassham > the ONLY reason you are still an FC here is because we are leaving and NO ONE gives a FUCK anymore
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:42 ] XxJaNxX > I didn't promise shit. I still got content with the numbers I had.
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:44 ] Tamika Hemanseh > you implied it
[ 2017.11.01 18:55:56 ] XxJaNxX > Dude fuck you seriously. I am an FC, beacause I want to be one and beacause im an FC for 5 years.
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:07 ] Captain J2T3 > You got less than offered content, woooo go Jan big boy in fcon
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:07 ] David Bassham > well ive got to give you something
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:08 ] XxJaNxX > If you think im an bad FC, okay. Fine, shut the fuck up and leave.
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:11 ] David Bassham > youve been consistent
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:14 ] David Bassham > consistently SHIT
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:35 ] XxJaNxX > Damn, glad you guys are disbanding, fucking autistic retards. Get some brain for real
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:43 ] David Bassham > LOL
[ 2017.11.01 18:56:48 ] Captain J2T3 > Maybe if you had learned to be decent fc I wouldnt have to move
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:05 ] David Bassham > man jan... its fucks like you that are the root cause of the cancer that destroys alliances from within
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:07 ] XxJaNxX > Tell that to skyteam that made me tier 2.
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:09 ] Bellandra > David Bassham I'll be honest, i like you, but i've not seen any of your boys in fleets
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:20 ] Bellandra > this was nodifferent when i ws in your corp
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:23 ] Captain J2T3 > Tier 2 shit mongler
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:27 ] Tamika Hemanseh > David Potts not in any fleets?
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:46 ] David Potts > Dude, even I after a bit of training that I will get soon, so I can and will be a better FC then you, and I will make sure to do my best to show that even I can be a better FC then you.
[ 2017.11.01 18:57:59 ] David Bassham > Bellandra nice :D quoting shit from 10 months ago where we werent even IN pf
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:00 ] Bellandra > and to call other people shit after the shit storm that went through yoru corp some months ago, is just wrong
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:20 ] Bellandra > arm chair quarterbacking is just pathetic
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:37 ] David Bassham > its an industry corporation dumbass
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:39 ] Bellandra > XxJaNxX thank you for your services
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:39 ] David Bassham > INDUSTRY
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:44 ] Captain J2T3 > So is have my alliance have been voted in to No Confidance
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:49 ] Bellandra > industry does not give dps
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:51 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Considering the shit happening to the entire coalition atm i doubt one corps past drama means much
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:52 ] Bellandra > dps wins wars
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:54 ] David Bassham > i am so sorry that your tiny mind was incapable of understanding that 10 months ago
[ 2017.11.01 18:58:59 ] David Bassham > and incapable of understanding that today
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:09 ] Bellandra > awfull
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:11 ] Mirepoix Alduin > hey asshole back the fuck off jan
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:13 ] David Bassham > hey but lets drop the BS
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:22 ] David Bassham > at least MY alliance wasnt subject to a vote of No confidence
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:37 ] Bellandra > because no one knew you were here
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:44 ] David Bassham > ORB?
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:50 ] Bellandra > you've been all over
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:50 ] Mirepoix Alduin > you guys have no idea how much effort he has put in
[ 2017.11.01 18:59:54 ] David Bassham > ORB has some of the highest stats in the coalition you fucking retard :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:10 ] Captain J2T3 > Effort means nothing if you can show progress you liberal
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:11 ] Bellandra > you have been in what, 5 aliances in 6 months?
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:12 ] XxJaNxX > Yes, and corps like you make ORB seem like autists becaause of your shit talk.
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:12 ] Mirepoix Alduin > David Bassham dude you joined orb like two weeks ago stfu
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:23 ] XxJaNxX > Seriously if you think im bad FC, just shut the fuck up and mind your own business like other people.
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:23 ] Bellandra > you guys are sad
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:27 ] Bellandra > go back to highsec and mine
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:35 ] David Bassham > oh bellandra :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:36 ] Bellandra > how can he know, he doesn't do fleets
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:37 ] Mirepoix Alduin > XxJaNxX thank you for all the fleets and ignore those guys
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:54 ] Bellandra > we build stuff. we are exempt
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:58 ] Bellandra > tehf uck is that
[ 2017.11.01 19:00:59 ] David Bassham > OH MY GOD ! what a concept ! *GASP*
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:06 ] David Bassham > PEOPLE IN EVE EXIST THAT ARENT PVPERS!
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:08 ] David Bassham > what a shock!
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:14 ] Bellandra > you have to pvp to keep space
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:19 ] Captain J2T3 > We build shit that you can get blown up or blow up other shit
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:23 ] Bellandra > 20 people in fleet, 50 people mining
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:31 ] David Bassham > no industry = no ships = no ships = no pvp
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:32 ] Tamika Hemanseh > you need to have an industry backbone to help pvp win wars
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:34 ] Tamika Hemanseh > thats why we exist :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:41 ] Captain J2T3 > Not one of my people has mined since joining orb
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:44 ] Bellandra > if we have no pilots, we dont' need ships
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:52 ] David Bassham > you HAVE pilots
[ 2017.11.01 19:01:57 ] Captain J2T3 > Had*
[ 2017.11.01 19:02:01 ] Bellandra > had
[ 2017.11.01 19:02:06 ] David Bassham > its just that those pilots dont feel like throwing their ISK away with terrible FCs
[ 2017.11.01 19:02:15 ] Captain J2T3 > and fcs like jan fucked that up
[ 2017.11.01 19:02:40 ] Moonlight Mernher > go and do better.
[ 2017.11.01 19:02:40 ] David Bassham > i LOVE pf, tis why i came back, but this is just sad
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:02 ] David Bassham > LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS OF SMA !
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:12 ] Tamika Hemanseh > LONG LIVE SMA
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:17 ] Captain J2T3 > LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS OF SMA
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:27 ] Calinla Caderu > LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS OF SMA
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:40 ] Jundro Beoulve > is sma space monkey allliance?
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:44 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Yes
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:47 ] Jundro Beoulve > ah, kk
[ 2017.11.01 19:03:53 ] Lemon Verbena > fucking scrubs
[ 2017.11.01 19:04:28 ] Captain J2T3 > Without whom FCON would have been kicked out of the north faster
[ 2017.11.01 19:04:44 ] Tamika Hemanseh > At least SMA went down fighting instead of running to the south
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:11 ] Shizoku Tian > how about you stfu...you dont have to like or join jans fleet,,,,but let him lead his fleets...at least hes getting people content right now....so go to your corner, get your stuff out and let people have some fun without your terrible sperg
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:31 ] David Bassham > no
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:37 ] Giribaldi > ╭∩╮(Ο_Ο)╭∩╮
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:48 ] David Bassham > he is feeding zkillboard entries to the enemy
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:51 ] David Bassham > o7
[ 2017.11.01 19:05:56 ] Captain J2T3 > Or I can voice my fucking opinion and engage in discorce and talk about the fucking issue with the fcs
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:01 ] Shizoku Tian > who cares about killboards
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:03 ] David Bassham > YA CIYA MUADHA!
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:08 ] Cmd Ileana > WTS Popcorn for front row cheap cheap ^^
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:09 ] David Bassham > MUAD'DIB!
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:18 ] David Bassham > LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS OF SMA!
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:23 ] David Bassham > learn to spell you dumb fuck :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:37 ] Bellandra > so terrible at eve
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:39 ] Shizoku Tian > youre not dicussing youre sperging and giving him shit he doesnt deserve
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:44 ] Bellandra > mad because they can't mine so they yell at fc's
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:51 ] David Bassham > no
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:54 ] Bellandra > fucking pathetic
[ 2017.11.01 19:06:58 ] Bellandra > go back to highsec
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:03 ] Bellandra > go deal with code.
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:05 ] David Bassham > mad because a great coalition and a great alliance died because of people like you
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:12 ] blackdog2 > lots of salty people here today
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:14 ] Bellandra > i was in fleets you coward
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:15 ] Shizoku Tian > yip our fault
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:19 ] Bellandra > i actualy hit f1
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:21 ] David Bassham > hey man
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:24 ] Bellandra > not docked up like a tosser
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:26 ] Captain J2T3 > No I yell at jan, not anyother fc right now, if baylin was fucking up like jan does I would yell at him
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:27 ] David Bassham > sometimes you just gotta vent some steam
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:31 ] Bellandra > you fucking coward
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:38 ] XxJaNxX > Captain J2T3 how do I fuck up
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:44 ] XxJaNxX > please, you didn't state single thing I fucked up.
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:46 ] Bellandra > XxJaNxX don't even entertain it
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:47 ] XxJaNxX > tell me you fucking autist
[ 2017.11.01 19:07:58 ] Bellandra > let em go to tri
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:11 ] Bellandra > fucking renters
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:11 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX No super kill
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:16 ] Captain J2T3 > You can't use bombers properly, that much I saw
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:19 ] XxJaNxX > Oh, im sorry.
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:35 ] XxJaNxX > Can't use bombers properly? I didn't get a kill that we could get
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:37 ] Shizoku Tian > Tamika Hemanseh youre blaming him because he didnt get the super ? are you fuckn serious?
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:39 ] Bellandra > and i'm done venting
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:42 ] Bellandra > have a good day boys
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:44 ] XxJaNxX > OH IM SORRY ASSHOLE THAT I DIDNT DROP 20 BOMBERS ON A NYX
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:44 ] Captain J2T3 > At least my autism is focused...unlike you
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:44 ] Bellandra > :0
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:48 ] Bellandra > o7
[ 2017.11.01 19:08:55 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Shizoku Tian he did use it as a selling point for the fleet
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:00 ] Shizoku Tian > yes
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:03 ] Bellandra > focused on staying docked
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:06 ] Shizoku Tian > because there was a fucking nyx
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:09 ] XxJaNxX > If I had more people, we could actually drop it.
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:12 ] Shizoku Tian > and the possibility to drop it
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:26 ] Bellandra > what are we fighting about anyway
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:28 ] Bellandra > lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:35 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Should have been less chicken and called for T1 dreads instead of bombers
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:39 ] Tamika Hemanseh > got no idea
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:42 ] Tamika Hemanseh > I just like drama
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:42 ] Shizoku Tian > lol youre dumb
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:49 ] XxJaNxX > Oh.... call dreads.
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:50 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > Bellandra you gotta fight. for your right. to paaaaaartay :)
[ 2017.11.01 19:09:52 ] Shizoku Tian > have fun jumping dreads into an incustion const?
[ 2017.11.01 19:10:08 ] Bellandra > cuddly, am going to miss you
[ 2017.11.01 19:10:21 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > you too belly :(
[ 2017.11.01 19:10:51 ] Malaficles > im to blame, whatever it is- its my fault.
[ 2017.11.01 19:11:10 ] Bellandra > i blame fecal fingers
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:08 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Maybe the FCs should learn some mechanics too. Far too many FCs have repeatedly made the same mistakes and consistently poorly-led fleets and failed to meet any objectives. This was would have been lost months ago were it not for the 2-3 that were any
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:09 ] Tyanir Ellecon > good
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:30 ] Tyanir Ellecon > That more than anything kills fleet numbers and morale. For good reason too
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:46 ] Bellandra > so much hate and rage
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:58 ] Bellandra > colation of hate and blame
[ 2017.11.01 19:13:59 ] David Potts > I can say from being in Jan's fleet that he rush to get anything done, Like rushing and telling us to help "HIM" to get a Black OP bridger and I think that he need to plan ahead of time and have one line up ready to bridge the fleet that he was making.
[ 2017.11.01 19:14:04 ] XxJaNxX > Are you mentally retarded? I know mechanics
[ 2017.11.01 19:14:28 ] Shizoku Tian > jan stop
[ 2017.11.01 19:14:34 ] Shizoku Tian > and evveryone else too
[ 2017.11.01 19:14:38 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Jan? Rush? I have been on fleets with Jan that have taken 20mins to go 4 jumps in T3Ds
[ 2017.11.01 19:14:54 ] XxJaNxX > you don't know behind the scenes dumbass.
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:00 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Brings a whole new meaning to dithering
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:03 ] Shizoku Tian > this is pathetic and unneededeveryone go to your conrer and be happy with your salt
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:05 ] Captain J2T3 > I am sure Ty does
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:28 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX Nor do the rest of the line members, it doesnt help moral when you just claim "You dont understand the behind the scenes"
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:34 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Bad FCs consistently have blamed "behind the scenes" stuff.
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:38 ] Malaficles > lol this is hysterical.
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:44 ] Malaficles > where was this passion when the war was on?
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:49 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > Malaficles help
[ 2017.11.01 19:15:50 ] Tyanir Ellecon > The good FCs try to at least explain what is happening and keep people engaged.
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:03 ] Bellandra > that happens after
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:05 ] Bellandra > not during
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:09 ] Bellandra > spies
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:10 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > malaficles and fecal gave me passion when i needed it most
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:10 ] Malaficles > cuddly- just keep your head down, lest you get hit in the face with fecal fingers throws.
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:23 ] Malaficles > anyon seen risky jenkins?
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:23 ] Bellandra > true true
[ 2017.11.01 19:16:32 ] Captain J2T3 > When you are LOSING a war spies should be the least of your concern
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:01 ] Malaficles > thats like stealing the identity of a person in bankruptcy.
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:03 ] Malaficles > why bother lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:05 ] Tyanir Ellecon > The good FCs also get results and good fights more conistently. Over several months it doesn't take a genius to work out which FCs are simply crap.
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:15 ] Krysenth > Malaficles this isnt passion, this is people being so salty they could run their own salt mines and getting unhinged at the slightest thing going wrong "since the war's lost already"
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:21 ] Bellandra > can't get results when everyone is docked and hiding
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:29 ] Bellandra > i see the same faces in fleets over and over again
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:37 ] Bellandra > and it just isn't enough
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:41 ] Captain J2T3 > Can't get results when fcs are bad either
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:45 ] Malaficles > did you say feces, or faces?
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:47 ] Bellandra > 20 in fleet, 300 in chat
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:52 ] Bellandra > feces over and over
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:53 ] XxJaNxX > How about you shut teh fuck up and step up as an FC yourself then?
[ 2017.11.01 19:17:54 ] XxJaNxX > Hmm?
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:05 ] XxJaNxX > Apply for FC, let's see you do.
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:08 ] Malaficles > cause some of us realize our limitations lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:11 ] Shizoku Tian > jan stop its not worth your time
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:12 ] Captain J2T3 > Because no one joins a sinking ship jan...
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:17 ] Malaficles > you think you can welp fleets? youve never seen me FC
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:23 ] XxJaNxX > Then why the fuck are you here Captain J2T3?
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:25 ] David Potts > Stop blaming other stuff and step up and take the responsibility, and make sure to better the next time and Not just blame this or blame that, that just the coward way, If I fuck up then I will step up and face the music and take the heat.
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:30 ] Tyanir Ellecon > I agree plenty of carebears have just not participated. I know for a fact that there are many PvPers who have joined hundreds of fleets over the last few months who simply got fed up of the shit.
[ 2017.11.01 19:18:36 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX geting his shit out
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:11 ] Krysenth > Bellandra i considered it, but opted out of joining the fleet to continue collecting stray assets so i'm not burning asset safety from 9821736598273465982374659823765921387456 different places =.=
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:19 ] blackdog2 > if anyone wants to know why what failed.. all they must do is watch this chat for 5 min smh
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:32 ] Shizoku Tian > ^
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:38 ] XxJaNxX > Crayven Corp. You guys are the most, mentally retarded fucking corp ever I swear. All of you just talk shit, step up as an FC if you think it's that easy. God damn autists, leave this coalition already, go to highsec fucking.
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:41 ] XxJaNxX > im out of this channel
[ 2017.11.01 19:19:41 ] Bellandra > Krysenth i was generalizing
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:00 ] Bellandra > Krysenth i completely understand, i was refurring to the last 4 weeks or so
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:04 ] Captain J2T3 > I guess I have bigger responcabilities than jan, as someone who has to run a corp, a household, school, and all that, but hey I'm not 16...so i can live with it
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:23 ] Captain J2T3 > responsablilities*
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:37 ] Bellandra > although ya'll piss me off
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:43 ] Bellandra > i have enjoyed my time with you
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:57 ] Malaficles > same.
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:58 ] Krysenth > and yet you'd rather be here in a chat channel going all unhinged rather than focus on your responsibilities \o/
[ 2017.11.01 19:20:59 ] Bellandra > i will have fond memories of you turds
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:01 ] Malaficles > except fecal, that guys a jerk.
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:05 ] Malaficles > anyon seen Risky Jenkins?
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:12 ] Bellandra > yeah, he sucks
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:17 ] Bellandra > David Bassham will miss you
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:20 ] Bellandra > good luck too you
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:25 ] Captain J2T3 > If you look at this and can't even get a smile from this shit show, then you are part of the problem
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:35 ] Bellandra > you were my favorit on comms
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:38 ] Malaficles > lol, i find it entertaining....its like a family fight at a funeral.
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:45 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Captain J2T3 True true
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:47 ] Malaficles > Aunt Bessie never liked you anyway.
[ 2017.11.01 19:21:51 ] Krysenth > Malaficles he was on the first blops fleet iirc, not sure where else he might've wandered off to
[ 2017.11.01 19:22:04 ] Malaficles > okay ill get in touch with him
[ 2017.11.01 19:22:31 ] Davos Seegard > Captain J2T3 give this Man a Drink !
[ 2017.11.01 19:23:17 ] David Potts > *sends a can of plain water to captain* Ok Drink on the way.
[ 2017.11.01 19:23:23 ] Captain J2T3 > Also this is not me unhinged, this is me being fed up with people running the coalitions and alliances i am in, straight into the ground at solid mach 6
[ 2017.11.01 19:23:41 ] Bellandra > jsut so ya'll are aware, there are fc's that took time off work to do fleets to try to save this
[ 2017.11.01 19:23:49 ] Bellandra > good or bad, a huge effort was made
[ 2017.11.01 19:23:56 ] Bellandra > ot shit on them now after the fact, is in poor taste
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:02 ] Bellandra > just my opnion
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:10 ] Bellandra > thank you
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:12 ] Shizoku Tian > im not smiling,...because dealing with bs like this every day/every minute rather than focusing on organising the coalition ruined it....and it ruined the fun
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:12 ] Bellandra > -bellandra
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:15 ] Captain J2T3 > A huge effort wasted on a dieing creature
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:21 ] Shizoku Tian > +1 bellandra
[ 2017.11.01 19:24:42 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Some of them did a really good job. Most didn't. The good ones were consistently driven off by the FC/Skyteam and complete lack of any sort of strategy.
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:08 ] Shizoku Tian > yip totally
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:18 ] Malaficles > yea, the internal politics of skyteam cost of some good FCs...that was a major concern of mine- not that it matters now, There is plenty of blame to go around.
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:18 ] Bellandra > hey, you can be the best coach in the world, but if you are handed a buch of autistic, special olympians for a team, you can only do so much
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:20 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Many good FCs simply didn't step up because it was so well known what a shitfest it was
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:29 ] Captain J2T3 > I was forming my "Resume" that pfed wanted to be an fc when the fc shit was leaked, and that's when I said fuck it
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:31 ] Bellandra > my point is, there is blame enough to spread all around
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:42 ] Malaficles > ^^
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:42 ] Bellandra > fc's, you, me
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:44 ] Bellandra > plenty to blame
[ 2017.11.01 19:25:57 ] Bellandra > trying to pin it on a few, is just not cool
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:02 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Shit starts at the top
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:05 ] Malaficles > its time for self-examination, and to figure out where we went wrong, as an alliance, a coalition, corps and individuals.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:10 ] Bellandra > but i do blame cuddly for most of it
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:22 ] Tyanir Ellecon > Solutions also start at the top.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:22 ] Malaficles > I too blame cuddly, but i am a forgiving f1 monkey.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:24 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:33 ] Malaficles > solutions start when two liquids are mixed together.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:34 ] Bellandra > mistakes were made
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:38 ] Bellandra > better decisoins could have been made
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:39 ] Malaficles > generally captain and coke.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:39 ] Shizoku Tian > Tyanir Ellecon if you think shit only starts at the top you havent seen my "evescedule" for the past 4 weeks
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:40 ] Captain J2T3 > Oh no shit, i agree, but these people were supposed to have held on longer, and pushed back.
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:42 ] Bellandra > more peolecould have joined fleets
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:44 ] Bellandra > et
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:45 ] Bellandra > etc
[ 2017.11.01 19:26:58 ] Bellandra > there is plenty of autism to go around
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:00 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i have 14 caracals left to sell
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:01 ] Bellandra > we all had a hand in it
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:05 ] Bellandra > why sell
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:06 ] Bellandra > use
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:11 ] Malaficles > I'll take htem all from 10 million total cuddly.
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:12 ] Bellandra > blow that shit up in 4-g
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:17 ] Bellandra > it's what we are doing
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:25 ] Malaficles > yep, welping like a mother dragon this week.
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:38 ] Bellandra > kiling tri gorrilla style
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:42 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > had a corpmate yolo a battle orca into the gatecamp a few days ago
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:51 ] Bellandra > see, that's awesome
[ 2017.11.01 19:27:55 ] Bellandra > we are getting kills
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:04 ] Bellandra > we killed a rev last night
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:04 ] David Bassham > whats the beef with fecal ?
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:09 ] David Bassham > he rolled with us a while ago
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:09 ] Bellandra > he's my alt
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:12 ] David Bassham > decent guy
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:14 ] David Bassham > funny in comms
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:18 ] Bellandra > yeah, that's me
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:23 ] Bellandra > that's why we hate him
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:37 ] Malaficles > fecal sucks shit.
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:40 ] Malaficles > rofl
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:40 ] Bellandra > he does
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:41 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:28:53 ] David Bassham > hmm intredasting
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:01 ] Bellandra > David Bassham hey, no hard feelings
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:05 ] MAXIMUS MAXMILLIANUS > [Multiple Items] (Item Exchange) cheap minerals
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:06 ] Bellandra > you were the most bad ass on comms ever
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:12 ] Bellandra > love our rap battles
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:19 ] MAXIMUS MAXMILLIANUS > [Multiple Items] (Item Exchange)
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:22 ] Tamika Hemanseh > David raps?
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:27 ] Commander Garibaldi > lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:29 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > in german.. i think
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:42 ] Bellandra > i even sent folks to yoru corp as late as a last month
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:45 ] Bellandra > ja
[ 2017.11.01 19:29:52 ] Bellandra > dis is ver ve bookie
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:01 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > oh.... rooon
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:08 ] David Bassham > JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:13 ] David Bassham > ich rappe AUF DEUTSCH!
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:17 ] David Bassham > HOUSE MUSIC !
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:18 ] Malaficles > jawohl.
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:21 ] David Bassham > DEEP FROM ZE UNDERGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ 2017.11.01 19:30:38 ] Fecal Fingers > some one talking shit about me?
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:11 ] Bellandra > lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:16 ] Bellandra > ' Anden Schmitt that's good shit
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:20 ] David Bassham > Fecal Fingers hey dude
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:20 ] Captain J2T3 > Am I hard on fcs, yes, especially ones who claim to be expirienced and have pretty much be voted that no one has confidance in them, that is why I am so hard on people like jan.
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:23 ] David Bassham > long time no see
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:36 ] David Potts > MAXIMUS MAXMILLIANUS Them not cheap... You just selling at jita cost.
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:46 ] Fecal Fingers > sup SUP in ze house
[ 2017.11.01 19:31:47 ] Jeon Ji-yoon > i have a hardon for FCs too
[ 2017.11.01 19:32:02 ] MAXIMUS MAXMILLIANUS > David Potts jita price 239m buy
[ 2017.11.01 19:32:17 ] MAXIMUS MAXMILLIANUS > yoo look again
[ 2017.11.01 19:32:19 ] XxJaNxX > Captain J2T3 Listen dumbfuck, go talk and complain privately to Coalition leadership, but for you known, I'm actually an FC since 2012. Oh he's young, he sucks.
[ 2017.11.01 19:32:31 ] Malaficles > damn, dont take it so personally janx.
[ 2017.11.01 19:32:32 ] XxJaNxX > Right, just shut the fuck up. My stats since im in PFed are amazing.
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:04 ] XxJaNxX > Im one of the most active FC's, I tried really really fucking hard and my stats approve that. I barely whelp a fleet so you can go shove your words up your fucking anus.
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:11 ] Pokedswen > Are we going even to try to kill TRI iHub in 4-GB14 ?
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:27 ] Jeon Ji-yoon > lol no
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:35 ] Captain J2T3 > I dont give a fly fuck if you are young, you little shit, the fact you welp fleets like its going out of style is what i give a shit about
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:47 ] XxJaNxX > Really?
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:52 ] Malaficles > lol, do you guys want to get a private room and cyber there?
[ 2017.11.01 19:33:53 ] XxJaNxX > How many fleets did I whelp you braindead autist.
[ 2017.11.01 19:34:06 ] Jeon Ji-yoon > i give fuck for young boys i like young boys
[ 2017.11.01 19:34:10 ] XxJaNxX > Tell me, how many? It's not going out of style cause I didn't even whelp 10 fleets....
[ 2017.11.01 19:34:11 ] Davos Seegard > take the Popcorn !
[ 2017.11.01 19:34:15 ] Malaficles > the butt hurt is strong with this one.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:11 ] Tamika Hemanseh > /emote grabs popcorn
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:15 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Anyone got any salt?
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:16 ] Tamika Hemanseh > hehe
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:16 ] Captain J2T3 > When I hear my main autist in my corp, says, this mother fucker sucks, I have to wonder just how 1337 you are. and if you truely have the exp you claim.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:19 ] XxJaNxX > Fucking shithole, go check stats, give me killboard proof that I whelped fleets. Cause in total I didn't even whelp 10. And my stats are really fucking good, so please. Just shut the fuck up and barry yourself in grave.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:33 ] Captain J2T3 > Bury
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:36 ] Malaficles > barry, there's a new verb.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:36 ] XxJaNxX > Okay, I don't care if you don't like me.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:44 ] Captain J2T3 > Barry is a name
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:47 ] XxJaNxX > And yes, english isn't my first language so im not perfect.
[ 2017.11.01 19:35:55 ] Megalo Maniacx > c'mon guys its just a game
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:10 ] senshi Annages > eve is real!
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:12 ] Fecal Fingers > yes, teh BLAME GAME!!!!
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:12 ] Jeon Ji-yoon > EVE IS REAL
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:22 ] Fecal Fingers > hit f1 to point finger
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:24 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Eve is life
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:33 ] Davos Seegard > It's like PUBG at The Starting with local comms :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:38 ] Malaficles > REPORTED ALL OF YOU TO DIPLOS! YOU"RE ALL IN BIGGGGG TROUBLE
[ 2017.11.01 19:36:53 ] Captain J2T3 > One more thing I had dropped the issue, then you came in with you big boy shoes and started yelling again, eat bag of dicks
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:12 ] Regulus Augustus > Fecal Fingers ooouuww
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:15 ] XxJaNxX > Man I don't give a fuck about diplos cause I will probably leave beacause of retarded people without brain like Captain J2T3 that cannot complain privately to leadership, but no... he has to say it loud
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:37 ] Fecal Fingers > Regulus Augustus love me
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:47 ] Giribaldi > CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:49 ] Regulus Augustus > I do {loving intensifies]
[ 2017.11.01 19:37:55 ] Fecal Fingers > take me down like kevin spacey
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:06 ] Regulus Augustus > Fecal Fingers god dammit :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:13 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > people on the streets
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:14 ] Fecal Fingers > hehe
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:14 ] David Bassham > XxJaNxX are you german dude ?
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:17 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > da da de da da
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:29 ] David Bassham > please say no...
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:34 ] Captain J2T3 > When the leadership is put to a No CONFIDENCE VOTE, and is losing the member like flies to honey, I wont go to leadership about it
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:40 ] David Bassham > i dont need another fucktard bringing shame to my fucking country
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:48 ] David Bassham > enough of those around nowadays
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:51 ] XxJaNxX > Captain J2T3 Well then just shut the fuck up and mind your own business.
[ 2017.11.01 19:38:59 ] Malaficles > lol for shame Germany! how could you?!
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:26 ] Fecal Fingers > ja ich ben ien berliner
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:35 ] Captain J2T3 > When will you learn to ignore people who offend you
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:35 ] Malaficles > i like jelly donuts.
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:41 ] Captain J2T3 > You snowflake
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:47 ] Malaficles > after high school probably.
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:50 ] Malaficles > it comes with age.
[ 2017.11.01 19:39:53 ] David Bassham > with dudes like you i UNDERSTAND why Merkel keeps telling us that the rapefugees are "hard working educated people" cause compared to them your like einstein!
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:14 ] XxJaNxX > You and your corp are really mentally retarded people.
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:15 ] Fecal Fingers > oh shit, here comes the judge
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:15 ] Malaficles > educated in goat fucking.
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:18 ] Davos Seegard > für eine schönes Deutschland in dem wir gerne Leben !
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:23 ] Davos Seegard > ein
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:25 ] Captain J2T3 > No..saddly look at America...it never goes away until you actively fight it
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:26 ] XxJaNxX > God knows what the fuck ORB was thinking recruiting a fucktard corp like you.
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:38 ] Malaficles > janx is salty salty salty today.
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:44 ] Malaficles > did you welp a fleet?
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:46 ] David Bassham > oh!
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:47 ] Malaficles > lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:40:47 ] David Bassham > simple !
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:03 ] Fecal Fingers > well, he has been hit in the head wiht a salt shaker by pfed members, he's going to be somewhat salty
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:08 ] Fecal Fingers > not fair realy
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:10 ] Captain J2T3 > No he didnt get the "DANK KILL" he wanted
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:21 ] Malaficles > he's not gonna make it better by raging at whole corps in pfed lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:25 ] David Bassham > gonna quote you something from the "this is REALLY eve" video that applies to you
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:26 ] Fecal Fingers > jan, how many were in your fleet?
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:28 ] Jeon Ji-yoon > bro at least he tried
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:31 ] XxJaNxX > Im not salty about that, im salty about yo uand your shit ass.
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:35 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i think we can repair this
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:38 ] Malaficles > me?
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:40 ] Malaficles > whatd i do janx?
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:40 ] XxJaNxX > I had 30 people and 25 bombers of that.
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:41 ] Fecal Fingers > i think so too
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:44 ] Fecal Fingers > someone pull my finger
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:44 ] Captain J2T3 > There is no try, that is our enemy
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:44 ] David Bassham > " shut the fuck you, you are literally the cancer that rots alliances from within, you should drop roles and get out "
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:46 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Only 4 members of a corp of 48 are here, and hes blaming the entire corp?
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:46 ] XxJaNxX > Not you Malaficles
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:53 ] Malaficles > ah okay :)
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:53 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > jan, out of all of the fc's i've met, you have some of the best probing skills out there
[ 2017.11.01 19:41:55 ] brosha > FCON LEADERSHIP
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:01 ] XxJaNxX > Well you portray your corpy as fucktards.
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:10 ] Captain J2T3 > And you a discrace to fcs
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:16 ] Captain J2T3 > disgrace*
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:17 ] XxJaNxX > why?
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:22 ] David Bassham > i have a person in my corp with ACTUAL autism
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:24 ] XxJaNxX > You still didn't give me proofs.
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:28 ] David Bassham > and he makes more sense than you as an FC
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:32 ] Captain J2T3 > You lose you cool like a reactor in meltdown
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:34 ] Captain J2T3 > for one
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:38 ] XxJaNxX > I am one of the most active FC's with the best stats.
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:47 ] XxJaNxX > Yes, beacause of retards like you.
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:54 ] Giribaldi > Inertial Stabilizers II WTB 4-GB14 - Phoenix Sky Harbor
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:55 ] Giribaldi > x 2
[ 2017.11.01 19:42:59 ] David Potts > Captain, If I get that bad as a FC then shot me, then train me more so i can be do fucking better.
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:00 ] Fecal Fingers > i think my autism filter needs to be replaced
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:02 ] Fecal Fingers > i'll be back
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:09 ] Captain J2T3 > You can't fc if you can't keep a cool head
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:13 ] Malaficles > i feel like im watching rainman.
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:13 ] Regulus Augustus > WTB 'How to aim Boson 101'
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:18 ] XxJaNxX > I can keep a cool head, without dumbfucks.
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:23 ] David Bassham > NOW i know who you are
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:28 ] David Bassham > your that guy from 4chan
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:33 ] David Bassham > that taking orders... mache alles dude
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:44 ] Giribaldi > TY XXjan
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:46 ] Captain J2T3 > No you have to be clevel, methoiodical, and actually be able to get the dank kills you want
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:53 ] Giribaldi > \THANSK GUYS
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:53 ] David Bassham > theres a website here somewhere
[ 2017.11.01 19:43:54 ] Giribaldi > i love u!
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:01 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX You cant keep your cool with dumbfucks?
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:02 ] David Bassham > isnt it jan?
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:03 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Great leader
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:18 ] Shizoku Tian > Captain J2T3 so you would have gotten the nyxkill? cool....ill join your fleets if you always get the target youre after
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:40 ] XxJaNxX > so im not a good FC if I can't keep my cool beacause of retards talking shit?
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:45 ] Fecal Fingers > i hope to see ya'll at teh keepstar party
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:48 ] XxJaNxX > Hmm... usualy I would just kick you out the mumble.
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:53 ] Fecal Fingers > will be a good time
[ 2017.11.01 19:44:59 ] XxJaNxX > But i can't kick you from here, otherwise I would already.
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:00 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX Good fc's can still fc retards
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:08 ] XxJaNxX > Yes, ofcourse. I can.
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:08 ] Fecal Fingers > jan, can you imagine if raulph was still here?
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:19 ] XxJaNxX > yes, he would do good to these guys...
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:23 ] Mr clearbright > David Bassham my eyes , I can't unsee it :(
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:27 ] David Bassham > :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:28 ] Captain J2T3 > Lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:31 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XD
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:35 ] Looser Madeveda > Now i know why you are called Failcon
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:44 ] Giribaldi > 4-GB14 - Phoenix Sky Harbor
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:56 ] Malaficles > i failed to pull out when i knocked up your mother Looser. my bad.
[ 2017.11.01 19:45:58 ] Mr clearbright > I NEED 1 BILL ,
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:10 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > Mr clearbright send me 1 bil i double
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:18 ] Malaficles > i triple ISK.
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:19 ] David Potts > well Jan, when I do become a FC, and If i fuck shit up then I will step up and take the responsibility and take the heat and learn to do better.
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:27 ] Malaficles > dont waste your time with Cuddly's doubling, when you can TRIPLE!
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:37 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > damnit mal
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:44 ] Malaficles > =)
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:44 ] Captain J2T3 > At least my Autist knows RESPONSABILITY
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:56 ] Malaficles > jesus, are we still talking about who has more autism?
[ 2017.11.01 19:46:57 ] Mr clearbright > CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles I will when I get it
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:06 ] XxJaNxX > David Potts How did I fuck shit up.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:07 ] XxJaNxX > Tell me.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:14 ] XxJaNxX > PLEASE I REALLY WANNA KNOW HOW I FUCKED SHIT UP.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:16 ] David Potts > Ok.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:16 ] Cmd Ileana > Malaficles and spelling mistakes ^^
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:17 ] XxJaNxX > TELLLLLL ME IM DIEING TO KNOW
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:28 ] XxJaNxX > Oh shit you're right..
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:31 ] XxJaNxX > I didn't kill the nyx.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:31 ] IllusiveWeasel > youre doing it right now
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:33 ] XxJaNxX > OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:37 ] XxJaNxX > I DIDN'T KILL THE NYX.
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:38 ] IllusiveWeasel > nobody follows a raging moron
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:43 ] David Bassham > by being a triggered fucking crybaby bitch
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:52 ] David Bassham > you are so low, even sean hannity wont touch you
[ 2017.11.01 19:47:56 ] Captain J2T3 > I can see you veins popping out jan, cool it down mate no need for an aneurysm
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:16 ] XxJaNxX > David Bassham Jesus fuck, please get a life and do something for real. Stop eating waffles with sirup and being fat, move yourself and stop criticizing.
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:17 ] Malaficles > well, this has been informative and fun.
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:29 ] XxJaNxX > You still have no proofs of me fucking shit up, all you do is shit tlak.
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:49 ] Malaficles > i could show you a sov map....
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:51 ] Malaficles > lolol
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:53 ] Malaficles > too soon?
[ 2017.11.01 19:48:57 ] Krysenth > at any rate, i've got more important things to take care of rather than continue watching a shitshow of unhinged people who want to trot out their pet autistic members for show and tell.
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:06 ] David Potts > One, You did not have a Black op bridger ready and it taken like 20 mins to get one. 2 You Try to bomb fucking rats! and failed at that and did not kill any rats. 3. Your orders were bad sometimes, and hell you even got the fleet to killa friendly.
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:07 ] Captain J2T3 > Have you ever once concidered getting nuetered, this level of rage is unhealthy for the gene pool
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:07 ] David Bassham > waffles with syrup ?
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:11 ] David Bassham > motherfucker i am american !
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:13 ] David Bassham > you forgot the bacon
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:16 ] Fecal Fingers > bbl
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:16 ] David Bassham > and the loaded gun!
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:19 ] Fecal Fingers > have to go do some work
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:22 ] XxJaNxX > David Potts I had it ready, my fleet was on bridger whole time.
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:30 ] XxJaNxX > You know when my fleet tried to bomb rats, that was a joke right?
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:39 ] David Bassham > excuses
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:42 ] XxJaNxX > You really are an atusit if you think I tried hard to bomb rats.
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:43 ] David Bassham > be a real man bitch
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:53 ] Mr clearbright > guys are funny
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:54 ] David Bassham > just say "mistakes were made, i am sorry"
[ 2017.11.01 19:49:55 ] XxJaNxX > Dude, be a normal person and use logic, stop shit talking.
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:04 ] XxJaNxX > There wasn't any mistakes dumb fuck.
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:18 ] Captain J2T3 > bombing blues wasnt a mistake?
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:22 ] Tamika Hemanseh > XxJaNxX Cmon we all make mistakes
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:24 ] XxJaNxX > I didn't bomb blues.
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:26 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Afterall we are all dumbfucks
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:30 ] Malaficles > is this the part where someone talks about cutting off someone else's hands?
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:33 ] David Potts > You did really try to have the fleet bomb rat by fleet warping us all to you and your alt, and I did not join in as i taken my self off the fleet warp list.
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:36 ] Malaficles > or maybe how they could wreck the other in real life?
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:45 ] Malaficles > i mean, how big are our epeens going to get in here today?
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:48 ] Davos Seegard > #FreeGigix !
[ 2017.11.01 19:50:58 ] Inlogi Dieiing > ,
[ 2017.11.01 19:51:04 ] David Potts > #feeltheburn
[ 2017.11.01 19:51:06 ] Cmd Ileana > -------------------------> this long
[ 2017.11.01 19:51:13 ] Malaficles > #thatscalledGonorhea.
[ 2017.11.01 19:51:42 ] Captain J2T3 > #JanforVicroy
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:08 ] Davos Seegard > #giveFCOnAwizardhut
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:11 ] David Bassham > Jan is like hitler near the end, pistol always close to his mouth so he can end it before the russians breach the bunker
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:22 ] Captain J2T3 > Oh shit
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:32 ] David Potts > now thats saying something
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:34 ] Davos Seegard > My Leader its Over ! NONONONO
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:45 ] Captain J2T3 > ....meaning he'll move to south america and life a long life?
[ 2017.11.01 19:52:51 ] David Bassham > exactly
[ 2017.11.01 19:53:00 ] David Bassham > under the tender supervision of Dr.Sigmund Freud
[ 2017.11.01 19:53:30 ] David Bassham > now... as for the rest of you
[ 2017.11.01 19:53:39 ] David Bassham > love you guys, seriously great people, stay safe out there
[ 2017.11.01 19:53:43 ] David Bassham > hope to see all of you again
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:21 ] Davos Seegard > as Tri Renters ?
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:36 ] Malaficles > i dont bend the knee.
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:38 ] XxJaNxX > David Bassham Hope you get cancer and leave the coalition ASAP.
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:43 ] Malaficles > wow, dick.
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:44 ] Captain J2T3 > Nah I'd sooner tell jan he was a great fc than rent from tri
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:46 ] Saikha Laduko > lmao
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:56 ] Alpha Cave > WTS Naglfar and Moros - 1.25 bil each !!! @4-GB with fuel
[ 2017.11.01 19:54:59 ] Tamika Hemanseh > at least tri defends there coalition
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:01 ] Malaficles > XxJaNxX karma's a bitch bro, enjoy that terminal diagnosis.
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:28 ] XxJaNxX > I don't even know what that fucking means
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:35 ] Captain J2T3 > Fuck nut
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:43 ] Captain J2T3 > get the fuck out of eve
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:46 ] XxJaNxX > Oh. Well I sure will enjoy taht fuck nut.
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:48 ] XxJaNxX > Make me.
[ 2017.11.01 19:55:56 ] Malaficles > it means that wishing cancer on someone is likely to bring some bad joo-joo on you, and you'll end up getting cancer.
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:03 ] XxJaNxX > I will leave coalition if autist like you and your corp will stay in this coalition, thats for sure.
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:23 ] XxJaNxX > So you the best FC here can make fleets :)
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:26 ] Friedrich Birkhahn > [Multiple Items] Abaddon
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:28 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Enjoy not having an industry to make your ships
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:30 ] Giribaldi > Kill: Giribaldi (Capsule) RIP
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:31 ] Captain J2T3 > Even I have limits of what I will hope or wish on someone, and I fucking troll like a motherfucker at times
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:31 ] Friedrich Birkhahn > [Multiple Items] Ferox
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:31 ] Giribaldi > owell
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:33 ] David Bassham > XxJaNxX PLEASE DO
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:36 ] Friedrich Birkhahn > Both very cheap
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:41 ] David Bassham > for fucks sake Biomass and get out
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:43 ] David Bassham > PLEASE
[ 2017.11.01 19:56:45 ] David Bassham > end our suffering
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:03 ] Captain J2T3 > #JanfornextWinet
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:07 ] Shizoku Tian > SHUT THE FUCK UP.....you all are grown ups and should be ashamed of how you behave here
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:09 ] XxJaNxX > Don't worry. If you come to ER and if you're in this coalition, im leaveing.
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:14 ] XxJaNxX > leaving*
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:16 ] Tamika Hemanseh > Im not a grownup
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:17 ] Giribaldi > hey shiz
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:18 ] David Bassham > then leave
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:20 ] Giribaldi > i love you
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:31 ] XxJaNxX > David Bassham We aren't in ER yet, are we.
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:32 ] David Bassham > we are all joining SERIN and will be in ER within 10 days
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:35 ] David Bassham > pack your shit
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:36 ] David Bassham > and go
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:40 ] David Bassham > i want a screenshot for proof
[ 2017.11.01 19:57:42 ] David Potts > XxJaNxX Not even I will wish that on my worst foes, you just a salt mining that being worked over time. https://marlimillerphoto.com/images/Res-38.jpg
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:05 ] XxJaNxX > Oh im sorry cause im being triggered by an autist corp.
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:14 ] David Bassham > HE ADMITTED IT !
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:16 ] Captain J2T3 > Wait...you are...triggered?
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:17 ] David Bassham > HES TRIGGERED !
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:21 ] David Bassham > SJW DETECTED !
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:31 ] David Potts > HIT THE HILLS!!! HE ABOUT TO BLOW!
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:38 ] Giribaldi > CANT WE ALL JUST GET A LONG
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:47 ] Giribaldi > lets all sing kumbiya my lord
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:54 ] Giribaldi > hold hands
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:56 ] Giribaldi > and be friends
[ 2017.11.01 19:58:58 ] Pokedswen > wuzar
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:00 ] Captain J2T3 > fuck no lol
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:04 ] Saragossa > guys
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:06 ] Tamika Hemanseh > I like fighting people
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:09 ] Tamika Hemanseh > its why i play eve
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:29 ] Captain J2T3 > yes?
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:31 ] Saragossa > please dont start eating own own.... we have had a lot of ups and down and made alot of friends out here
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:43 ] Giribaldi > Saragossa agreed
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:47 ] Giribaldi > i hope to see you again
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:49 ] Giribaldi > :D
[ 2017.11.01 19:59:51 ] Saragossa > shit sucks but eve is fluid
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:02 ] Saragossa > we will see each other again
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:14 ] Saragossa > Giribaldi ♥
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:16 ] Captain J2T3 > Jan is a facist and I must fight it though boss
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:24 ] TorrinDeCaptor > when will i see you againnnnn
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:30 ] Shizoku Tian > if you mute jan mute this shitheads too pls
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:36 ] Malaficles > when will we share precious moments?
[ 2017.11.01 20:00:43 ] Saragossa > then step back and breath.... stop talking
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:03 ] Ivorcya Yvormes > this chat feels like Jita local today ...
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:04 ] Saragossa > you may not wear a serin tag yet but that doesnt mean I wont treat you that way
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:13 ] Giribaldi > Saragossa <3
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:27 ] Malaficles > Saragossa gonna kick some ass.
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:35 ] Malaficles > better behave yourselves. i aint even in serin, and she scares me.
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:35 ] Saragossa > Malaficles ♥
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:56 ] Saragossa > will miss this chat and your comments so much
[ 2017.11.01 20:01:57 ] TorrinDeCaptor > i am in SERIN and even i behave
[ 2017.11.01 20:02:05 ] David Deltori > pfffft
[ 2017.11.01 20:02:08 ] TorrinDeCaptor > shes the only person in eve that has been able to mkake me behave
[ 2017.11.01 20:02:17 ] Malaficles > :) thank you my dear, you fly safe whatever y'all do.
[ 2017.11.01 20:02:31 ] Shizoku Tian > TorrinDeCaptor i hope i could make you behave at least once too =D
[ 2017.11.01 20:03:04 ] Malaficles > so, we gonna sell the keepstar and use it to pay for asset safety for everyone? thats the rumor I heard.
[ 2017.11.01 20:03:19 ] Malaficles > I mean, I kind of started that rumor- just now...but yea.
[ 2017.11.01 20:03:33 ] Tingerz > Shizoku Tian I muted Jan for his own good and for the good of this channel - people reacted to Jan and Jan was taking the bait. I asked him to take 10mins to chill out. The problem solved
[ 2017.11.01 20:03:48 ] Tingerz > It was nothing personal
[ 2017.11.01 20:03:55 ] Shizoku Tian > well mute everyone was what i was asking for =D
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:05 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i volunteer to be muted!
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:14 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > pick meeeeeee
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:21 ] Malaficles > Shutup cuddly, before I cut your hands off (in game, from your capsuleer, not from your actual IRL person.)
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:26 ] TorrinDeCaptor > Shizoku Tian i behaved for you because sara told me to calm down lol
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:36 ] Shizoku Tian > thats fine for me
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:42 ] Tingerz > Cuddly asked for it...... literally lol
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:45 ] Shizoku Tian > <3 sara
[ 2017.11.01 20:04:53 ] Malaficles > #freecuddly(fromhisdigitalhands)
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:08 ] Saragossa > will miss you too Shizoku Tian
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:32 ] Malaficles > sara is it public where y'all are headed? or still op sec?
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:38 ] Malaficles > or are you not leaving?
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:42 ] Saragossa > I'd like to think we are all friends...we sperge alot but should yall need anything ever...just convo
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:53 ] Saragossa > not public
[ 2017.11.01 20:05:58 ] Shizoku Tian > yeah sara....ill miss the good people this coalition had too =(
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:13 ] Fecal Fingers > did i miss anytying?
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:25 ] Makenzie Calhoun > na
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:26 ] Malaficles > yea, someone just gave away 100 billion isk.
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:37 ] Malaficles > you totally missed out- he wanted to give it to someone with a poopy name.
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:38 ] Fecal Fingers > damn it
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:45 ] Fecal Fingers > that is my name
[ 2017.11.01 20:07:48 ] Fecal Fingers > poo poo mcgoo
[ 2017.11.01 20:08:01 ] Malaficles > ;)
[ 2017.11.01 20:08:31 ] Malaficles > afk for 10, please resume blaming each other at your leisure.
[ 2017.11.01 20:08:46 ] Fecal Fingers > oh yes
[ 2017.11.01 20:08:49 ] Fecal Fingers > the blame game
[ 2017.11.01 20:08:54 ] Fecal Fingers > i have blame skilled to 5
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:08 ] Fecal Fingers > which turns it from a focused to permiter weapon
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:15 ] Malaficles > i have Avoid Responsibility 5, it was worse than JDC 5
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:34 ] Malaficles > but blame smartbombs are OP.
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:40 ] Malaficles > i shouldve trained blame 5 first.
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:46 ] Fecal Fingers > I have "nah ah, wasn't me" trained to 6
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:48 ] Perkelor > suddenly I realise how nice it would be if the Ship Maintenance Bay on the carrier was bigger :D
[ 2017.11.01 20:09:58 ] Fecal Fingers > yeah, like twice the size
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:08 ] Malaficles > should be able to fit my rorq in side.
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:20 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > Fecal Fingers I think you could have decorated the living room a lot better. Those curtains are the wrong pattern and color! What will our guests things?
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:38 ] Fecal Fingers > i wish we still had captains quarters
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:46 ] Fecal Fingers > and we could decorate them
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:47 ] Malaficles > buying all Female Exotic Dancers in 4-gb.
[ 2017.11.01 20:10:49 ] Malaficles > contract to me.
[ 2017.11.01 20:11:19 ] Malaficles > gonna have a party.
[ 2017.11.01 20:11:35 ] Cmd Ileana > Malaficles all of those logged off 5 minutes ago, no more exotic dancers online ^^
[ 2017.11.01 20:11:47 ] Fecal Fingers > i can't wait for the keepstar party
[ 2017.11.01 20:11:49 ] Fecal Fingers > gonna be a hoot
[ 2017.11.01 20:11:53 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > i have lots of l5 locators. i can help find them
[ 2017.11.01 20:12:13 ] CuddlyTardigrade Cuddles > can we invite Kruul to the party?
[ 2017.11.01 20:12:34 ] Fecal Fingers > :)
[ 2017.11.01 20:26:29 ] XxJaNxX > IF YOU'RE A JF OR FREIGHTER, DON'T WARP TO KEEPSTAR NOW!!!! ITS BUBBLED
[ 2017.11.01 20:28:15 ] Fecal Fingers > kill them with fire
[ 2017.11.01 20:32:28 ] XxJaNxX > RAGE
[ 2017.11.01 20:35:00 ] XxJaNxX > RAGE feroxes, form feroxes guys
[ 2017.11.01 20:47:59 ] XxJaNxX > CARRIER TACKLED IN REB on 4-GB GATE
[ 2017.11.01 20:50:21 ] XxJaNxX > RAGE MORE PEOPLE
[ 2017.11.01 20:50:25 ] XxJaNxX > CARRIED TACKLED IN 4-GB
[ 2017.11.01 20:50:34 ] Fecal Fingers > i spread the word in corp
[ 2017.11.01 20:52:55 ] Rakan Fury > red or blue carrier tackled?
[ 2017.11.01 20:53:01 ] Captain J2T3 > Purp
[ 2017.11.01 20:53:57 ] David Potts > yellow
[ 2017.11.01 20:54:21 ] Captain J2T3 > Black
[ 2017.11.01 20:54:56 ] David Potts > Indigo
[ 2017.11.01 20:55:11 ] Vickie Fine > magenta
[ 2017.11.01 20:55:36 ] David Potts > brown
[ 2017.11.01 20:56:18 ] Regulus Augustus > lmao
[ 2017.11.01 20:56:53 ] Mr clearbright > carrot
[ 2017.11.01 20:57:06 ] Captain J2T3 > Green
[ 2017.11.01 20:57:11 ] David Potts > orange
[ 2017.11.01 20:57:21 ] Captain J2T3 > Pewter
[ 2017.11.01 20:57:48 ] David Potts > rust brown
[ 2017.11.01 20:58:04 ] Captain J2T3 > Exoplanet colored
[ 2017.11.01 20:58:26 ] David Potts > ruby
[ 2017.11.01 20:58:47 ] Captain J2T3 > Saphire
[ 2017.11.01 20:59:10 ] David Potts > Emerald
[ 2017.11.01 21:04:09 ] Papa Vanu > all excellent pokemon games
[ 2017.11.01 21:04:17 ] Captain J2T3 > Is it dead?
[ 2017.11.01 21:04:36 ] Papa Vanu > carrot version was me favorite.
[ 2017.11.01 21:05:06 ] Papa Vanu > is what dead shivalry?
[ 2017.11.01 21:05:23 ] Captain J2T3 > The carrier JaN had tackled
[ 2017.11.01 21:05:31 ] Papa Vanu > chivalry*
[ 2017.11.01 21:05:39 ] Papa Vanu > oh idk maybe who is JaN
[ 2017.11.01 21:05:53 ] Papa Vanu > ohhh XxJaNxX
[ 2017.11.01 21:06:11 ] Captain J2T3 > yes that's the one
[ 2017.11.01 21:06:14 ] Papa Vanu > Kill: Zurugon Cesaille (Ares)
[ 2017.11.01 21:06:18 ] Papa Vanu > that carrier?
[ 2017.11.01 21:07:07 ] Captain J2T3 > probably but idk
[ 2017.11.01 21:09:34 ] Zurugon Cesaille > Ye, taht on.e
[ 2017.11.01 21:09:41 ] Zurugon Cesaille > nevermind
[ 2017.11.01 22:07:37 ] Ku Kanix > pew pew To Death, To Honor! | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Editor’s note: This article has been changed to clarify that Amy Silverman was a reviewer and not one of the book’s authors. We also highlighted three LGBTQ authors of the book.
A gay man who was mutilated in a 2011 attack has taken the tragedy that left him blind and turned it into an invaluable opportunity for others. Meet Belo Miguel Cipriani.
The life-altering incident occurred when Cipriani was just 26 years old. The San Francisco resident was bashed while walking through the Castro District. The attack was never designated a hate crime. In fact, it’s not clear even now what exactly happened and why, but one thing was crystal clear: his eyes were nearly kicked out of his head.
While searching for insight, Cipriani decided to write a memoir about his experience in that moment – and also in finding his voice as a gay blind man in a new dark world.
In Blind: A Memoir, Cipriani recalled his lessons as he navigated the tasks of walking, cooking, reading, and writing through a place of pure darkness. Through it all, he chose the light.
“I think the attack took the longest to write as it brought me back to that moment each time,” the writer shared in an email to Windy City Times. “Some consider the attack scene the most dramatic part of the book – it was definitely the most intense for me to write.”
Still, there was something more than met the eye with his experience.
“Other parts of the book helped me to recognize my physical and spiritual growth,” he recalled.
Now, Cipriani is funneling that same drive and grit toward helping other people with special needs and different abilities. His Minneapolis based company, Oleb Books, seeks to empower the disenfranchised and expand representation of disability in literature by publishing disability stories by writers with disabilities.
The company’s first literary release is titled Firsts: Coming of Age Stories by People with Disabilities and will be released October 2018.
There are three LGBTQ authors in Firsts: Coming of Age Stories by People with Disabilities.
David-Elijah Nahmod wrote “Star Worlds,” which is about the PTSD he suffered as a result of being committed to a psych ward in a New York hospital as a child on the advice of an Orthodox Jewish rabbi who said that was the thing to do with a hyperactive child.
Caitlin Hernandez wrote “Landmines,” which is about how as a blind gay woman she yearned for something more from a man who had become a good friend over the years.
Andrew Gurza wrote “Baring It All,” which is about his struggles as a gay man bound to a wheelchair, and his yearning for a relationship with someone who sees past his disability.
One of the book’s reviewers, Amy Silverman, said she felt like “I was given a ring of keys, and that each one allowed me to enter a different world.”
Silverman is a commentator at KJZZ, the NPR member station in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also the author of My Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome.
“Each narrator is unique, each world fascinating – at turns heartbreaking, funny and hopeful – and yes, disability is center stage, but it’s not the only thing that makes these characters jump off the page.”
In addition to being the founder of publishing house Oleb Books, Cipriani is also the CEO and founder of Oleb Media – an ADA compliance firm. Cipriani has served as an accessibility and recruiting consultant for Fortune 100 companies, including Apple, Google, Toyota, Facebook, and Wells Fargo.
“People with disabilities, at the end of the day, are just like everybody else,” Cipirani told Queerty in an exclusive interview. “We have desires, dreams and goals. We also have fears. The only difference is we negotiate life differently, but that doesn’t mean that our lives are any less valid.” | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Rapist tag has not let me move on, it pushed me into crime, says Shakti Mills gangrape convict
mumbai
Updated: Jun 11, 2018 12:47 IST
Even as the Mumbai police externed Shakti Mills gangrape convict Akash Jadhav from the city for his involvement in various criminal activities, the 22-year-old claims the label of ‘rapist’ has pushed him deeper into crime.
“I wanted to live a peaceful life, but some people have taken advantage of my criminal past to involve my name in their illegal plans. The Shakti Mills gangrape label on my head has pushed me deep in the world of crime,” said Jadhav, who was a minor at time of the incident in 2013.
Jadhav was 17 when he and four others sexually assaulted an 18-year-old call centre employee inside the abandoned mills complex, on July 31, 2013.
In July 2014, the Juvenile Justice Board (Mumbai city) ordered Jadhav and another minor to be sent to Nashik Borstal School for three years — the maximum period permissible under the then Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
In July 2017, Jadhav and another minor accused (both adults now) were released from the juvenile detention centre.
By this time, Jadhav’s family, who lived in Mahalaxmi’s Dhobi Ghat area at the time of the crime, had shifted to Kanjurmarg. Later, the family moved to Dombivli. Jadhav, however, has chosen to stay in Saat Rasta in Mahalaxmi, close to his old locality.
READ: Shakti Mills gang rape: Man convicted as minor externed from Mumbai for two years
Between July 2017 and March 2018, he has been involved allegedly in multiple criminal cases — two registered at Agripada police station and two at NM Joshi Marg. These are cases of attempted murder, kidnapping, extortion, assault and blackmail. As of now, there are five FIRs registered against him, and there have been subsequent arrests.
In three of the five cases, the complainants belongs to one group which is on bad terms with the group Jadhav is associated with.
“These people want to target their enemy by targeting me as I belong to that group. And since I have a gangrape case on my head, it makes their work easy to convince the police that my friends and I are criminals,” Jadhav said, offering an explanation for his name coming up in these crimes. “Now and then they lodge false police complaints against me. As I am convicted in a serious crime, the police also have this perception that I must have committed some crime.”
“I had hoped to restart my life but they (enemy group) always tease me, taunt me, provoke me. They lodged a false complaint against me. This angered me, so I attacked a person out of anger. Following this, an attempted murder case was lodged against me. They were anyway going to register false cases against me, so I decided, why not teach them a lesson,” Jadhav said.
“The entire world is against me and has discarded me from society, all except my family. I have served punishment for my crime, but some people in society keep linking me with my past again and again and don’t allow me to move on with my life,” he said.
Jadhav said society’s judgement affects not only him but also his family. “My sister is not getting married because of the shame I have brought to my family. They cannot live with respect and dignity,” he said. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
We'd like to welcome the Dodgers to the cathedral of belief. It seems the L.A. fans haven't quite taken to new ownership or the radically revamped roster, and for a team with such fabulous potential, it was a bit disappointing to see so many empty seats during the Dodgers' recent seven-game homestand.
"Too often Dodger Stadium still looks like a Frank McCourt crowd," wrote Steve Dilbeck in the Los Angeles Times, "where every other season seat appears empty. Maybe too many believed this team was not for real."
The Giants might not win anything this year, and their lineup is prone to maddening spells of futility, but they're an easy sell to a passionate fan base in a ridiculously fun ballpark. As a telling three-game series opens Friday night at AT&T Park, the Dodgers once again will find themselves immersed in raucous noise, the most consistently vibrant atmosphere in either league.
Should either team sweep this series, the consequences will be titanic. The Giants can send L.A. eight games back in the loss column, basically ending the race for the division title. The Dodgers could get themselves 1 1/2 games back and, assuming they rough up the San Francisco pitching staff in the process, turn manager Bruce Bochy's concern into a full-blown crisis.
A few key story lines to watch along the way:
Hanley Ramirez: He has been by far the most productive of the Dodgers' recent acquisitions, cranking out 10 homers and 37 RBIs in his 40 games with the team. This man exudes confidence when he's on (check out that sweeping follow-through, essentially a tribute to his wonderfulness), and he already owns two homers against Sergio Romo - one in each park.
Hunter Pence: He has yet to see a pitch he doesn't like. Pence comes to the plate with such boundless energy, and such a desire to please, he just can't help himself. But he's hurting the club, in a big way, with such a reckless approach. Remember, Giants fans: This is a highly respected player with a handsome track record and big-time power to all fields. Prince of a guy, as well. Mix in just a bit of patience with all that enthusiasm, and he'll make a huge difference.
Powerless: The Dodgers are 5-7 since the deal with Boston and Adrian Gonzalez has been a .260 hitter (13-for-50) in his new uniform, going homerless since that dramatic first at-bat at Dodger Stadium. Matt Kemp is 3-for-25 since his brutal collision with an outfield wall in Colorado. As a result, the Dodgers have played a series of high-tension games, not a blowout in sight. The Giants can only hope this continues through the weekend, because it's not going to last.
Brandon Belt: This is a rough time for the Giants to be undermanned in left field. Xavier Nady is out (hamstring) and Gregor Blanco looks to be most effective off the bench, but Belt doesn't need to be shifting positions. His defense is a godsend at first base, and he has his average up to .275. That's the direct result of a clear mind and no surprises.
Josh Beckett: As much as the Giants have riding on Tim Lincecum's outing Friday night, it's a bigger start for Beckett. The Dodgers are running out of breathing space, and it was announced this week that Chad Billingsley, who had been 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last seven starts before going on the disabled list, will be out for the year and might need Tommy John surgery.
Patience: The Dodgers revealed their sense of urgency by adjusting Clayton Kershaw's routine so he can pitch Sunday night's game (against Barry Zito, who stays on schedule). They're showing a lot more caution with closer Kenley Jansen, he of the 100-mph fastball. In the wake of his second career episode with an irregular heartbeat, Jansen will remain on blood thinners and won't pitch until Sept. 17 at the earliest. (However his month unfolds, he'll undergo surgery in the offseason to correct his heart arrhythmia.)
Win that division: You wouldn't say the Giants have a comfortable lead in the NL West, but they're not much concerned with the wild-card race, either - and that's a blessing they share with the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds. The new postseason setup makes it imperative to win a division and let the wild-card contenders wallow in desperation.
In past years, there was virtually no penalty for wild-card status. It meant an automatic trip into a best-of-five Division Series, and five wild-card teams (including last year's Cardinals and the 2002 Angels, against the Giants) have gone all the way to the World Series title.
This year? Sheer October chaos. An extra wild-card team has been added in each league, but the Dodgers are in a tight race with Atlanta, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, with Arizona and Milwaukee on the outside.
Picture this contrast:
Giants win the division so comfortably, they're not even worried about the final regular-season series that ends in Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 3. They enjoy the ensuing two days off, assemble a totally healthy pitching staff and get ready for the Division Series opener Saturday.
The Dodgers throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into that Giants series. They crawl into the second wild-card slot, but wait - they're tied with the Cardinals. They'll need a one-game playoff in St. Louis on Thursday to see which team qualifies. Then it's a one-game, winner-take-all game against the other wild-card team Friday.
Listen, it could get even worse for a wild-card team. What if three teams are tied, and need two days to settle it? Just win the division, case closed. It's the road to glory. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board members have announced their resignation from their posts and accepted the resignation of the Egyptian national team technical staff headed by Mexican coach Javier Aguirre after the Pharaohs' elimination from the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Pharaoh's suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa in the knockout stage of the 2019 AFCON on Saturday when Thembinkosi Lorch netted the decisive goal five minutes from time after finishing off a neatly-worked breakaway, with Egypt paying the price for their defensive frailties as they poured forward en masse to settle the tie before extra time.
"This decision comes as a moral obligation, although the football association had given the national team full support," EFA president Hany Abo Rida said in a statement early Sunday.
"All the technical staff are sacked after destroying the hopes of Egyptian football fans,” he added. Abo Rida confirmed he will remain in his post as head of the AFCON 2019 organising committee.
EFA board members announced their resignations separately in the early hours of Sunday.
Egypt coach Aguirre took responsibly for the shock elimination from AFCON. "I am the one responsible [for Egypt's exit]," Aguirre told the post-match news conference.
The elimination marked Egypt's worst-ever performance as AFCON hosts. They twice won the tournament as hosts in 1986 and 2006, losing in the final in 1959 and the semi-finals in 1974.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Польская Gazeta Wyborcza закрывает свой корпункт в Москве. Об этом «Интерфаксу» сообщил корреспондент издания Вацлав Радзивинович.
Он также выразил надежду, что корпункт будет закрыт временно, однако точных сроков возобновления работы он не назвал. «Это под большим вопросом, может, пошлем корреспондента в Пекин», — отметил Радзивинович.
Сам журналист в настоящий момент готовится в отъезду из России. «Я уже собираю вещи, надеюсь, что успею в срок», — сказал он.
В пятницу Радзивиновичу объявили о высылке из России: его вызвали в МИД, лишили аккредитации и предписали покинуть страну в течение месяца. Корреспондент Gazeta Wyborcza ранее отмечал, что действия МИДа будет оспаривать через суд. По словам шеф-редактора Gazeta Wyborcza Романа Имельского, решение было принято в ответ на высылку Польшей журналиста МИА «Россия сегодня», российского гражданина Леонида Свиридова.
В свою очередь, официальный представитель МИД России Мария Захарова подтвердила, что лишение Радзивиновича аккредитации в России стало симметричным ответом на высылку Свиридова из Варшавы (у российского журналиста лицензия была отозвана в октябре, 13 декабря он вернулся в Россию). | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Since Buenos Aires has been traditionally regarded as a socially integrated city, gated communities have been the object of research by sociologists. Gated communities are an important way through which people – particularly middle and upper classes – cope with the high levels of violent criminal activity in Greater Buenos Aires.[9]
This is one of those recurrent topics and I receive email asking about this very often.Where will I fare better? What’s the safest place to be in as everything goes down?Those of you that have been reading my blog for a while know where I stand. I don’t think an isolated homestead or farm is the best place to be in, and it certainly isn’t when crime becomes a real problem all across the country. In people’s minds, in their novels and fantasies thing may always work out just the way they want. It also helps that none of the things speculated in these fictional scenarios have ever occurred, at least not yet. A person can be so easily fooled into thinking that his retreat or homestead in any given US state is safe from looters and criminals because this or that “expert” claims so, the real reason why it´s been working well for any given period of time is that you’ve never actually had it put to test by your environment. Argentina puts you to test and that’s where suppositions, theories and wishful thinking crash against the cold hard reality.The reason I’m revising this topic is because a friend of mine suffered an attack to his farm in just a couple days ago. He’s smart, successful, experienced, and a true survivalist in my opinion. You might remember the home invasion attempt my dentist suffered a while back. This friend of mine wasn’t that lucky. During the afternoon five men approached the housekeeper’s home and took the family hostage. Dogs barked but they moved fast. They used ski masks and gloves, armed of course, communicated with radio and were very professional. Right after reducing the housekeepers they quickly moved to the main building and took control of the main house. My friend wasn’t there with his wife and kids, it was occupied by other family members that where visiting. Being the smart person he is, that’s not his main residence and prefers to live in a gated community. As found on Wikipedia:The home invaders went after the usual, money and jewelry. They also took his guns, gear, Bug out Bag among other items. On the bright side no one was hurt and that’s at least some good news. He wasn’t there at the time this happened and given the level of professionalism, I’d say they studied his movements for some time and waited until he left.Guys, we’re talking about a place that had people living in it, a family dedicated to keeping an eye on the place, and a dozen workers doing various jobs all across the estate. Unless you have dedicated security, all day long, all year long, its impossible to defend such a place. I’m not talking about your friend Joe coming over “when SHTF” or the guy next door pulling security. The guy next door will have to travel to Denver next week because of his job and uncle Joe will get bored of doing this after a couple weeks, or his wife will divorce him, moving to California with her new boyfriend and Joe following so as to at least be able to see his kids on weekends. That’s life. Counting on less than professional hired security for this on a long term basis is as serious as playing fort with your kid, shooting at each other with Nerf guns.Please do your research. Moving your family to a retreat in the sticks because its safer than cities would be a huge mistake, especially if that decision if ever put to test by real widespread high crime or anarchy events. Its not only Argentina. Look at Mexican retreats in druglord land across the American border, look at most South American countries with high levels of violent crime. Study South Africa’s white farmers and how they fared, even with hardened homes and hiring round the clock armed guards. Look at Bosnian farms and isolated houses during the beginning of the war, there’s lessons to be learned in all these scenarios and its historic, so you’re not basing your family’s well being on someone’s suppositions or fantasies, but on experience. Whatever decision you make regarding where you live, at least be honest with yourself and do it for the right reasons.A quick Pro and Con list for rural vs city would be:Pro:*Healthier lifestyle, fresh air, contact with nature. The calm, low stress lifestyle is one of the greatest advantages in my opinion.*More space for your projects, gardening and raising live stock.*Less likely to suffer opportunistic theft or vandalism incidents.*Having your own firearm shooting range in your back yard means you can practice more, though defensive training should be done with other people in a more competitive environment so as to increase the stress factor and be objective regarding your skills in comparison to others.*In a pandemic scenario, you’re safer if the disease is spread by contact with humans.Cons:*Unless you’re self-employed in a line of work that makes no difference where you’re located, you’ll have less job opportunities. In many cases, job offers may be non-existent.*Greater distance from hospitals. When needing immediate medical attention every second counts. The further away you are from advanced medical assistance your chances of survival are likewise reduced. This is an important factor, especially as you grow older.*You are further away from schools. While some people homeschool, during an economic down turn every family member will have to bring an income so as to sustain the family and homeschool may not be viable. Though some may not admit it to themselves, not all parents are skilled teachers either.*In a pandemic scenario, you’re much more exposed to diseases transmitted by animals (dengue, for example) since the fumigation and pest control efforts will be concentrated on the most populated areas.*If you have a job in a nearby city, chances are your commuting distance is now greater and you are more exposed to fluctuation of gas prices.*In terms of security, while you avoid certain types of crime, your isolation and lack of neighbors also means criminals can be more bold, spend more time during home invasions without fear of being detected and help arriving any time soon. The homestead will also have more appealing loot than an average downtown or suburban home, and the risk of getting caught while perpetrating the crime is also less, with less witnesses and cameras compromising the operation.FerFAL | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Remember last month when many people were mad about the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act? Remember the war between politicians who said these bills would repel online piracy and opponents who said it might break the internet and/or kill free speech online?
Gamers' biggest target for their ire about those bills was the Entertainment Software Association, the lobbying group funded by the biggest video game publishers in the world. The ESA—which also hosts the massive trade show E3 each year—was for those bills and, like any lobbying group, spent money trying to get their position turned into law.
Lobbyists are required to file reports about their activities every three months. That's why we were able to report that the ESA spent as much as $190,000 paying people to lobby for PIPA, the Senate's now-shelved anti-online-piracy bill, through the spring and summer.
As the anger over SOPA and PIPA reached a boil last month, we were still in the dark about how much money the ESA was spending to try to support those bills this fall (they declined to tell us). But on the same day, Jan 20, that they finally disavowed the bills, they filed their required fourth-quarter lobbying report.
Here it is:
The document lists lobbying about SOPA and PIPA among the group's causes that they spent $1,082,167.00 on between October 1 and December 31. (That's basically what they spend every three months.) They also lobbied about tax policy, immigration and other issues tied to the business of making video games.
In that period, the group did spend $50,000 for the Smith-Free Group to lobby for PIPA and a handful of other issues and $50,000 for the Monument Policy Group to push for SOPA and lobby on several other issues.
The filings don't consistently state the ESA's positions on the bills, but the group had expressed clear support for the anti-piracy issues until the 20th, a day after both bills were essentially abandoned in the Senate and House.
(Top photo: Shutterstock) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Not that we’re clamoring for the end of Game of Thrones per se, but the chance to hang out with Emilia Clarke at the Season 8 red-carpet premiere? That’s something we can all hope for.
Online fundraising platform Omaze, which raffles off “once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive merchandise” in support of critical causes, is offering the chance to one lucky winner and a friend to attend the Season 8 premiere in New York City as Clarke’s “Hand of the Queen” VIP guests. Omaze has previously offered prizes including a tour of the Thrones set, a chance to be Nikolaj Coster-Waldau‘s VIP (also to the Season 8 premiere) and meeting the cast.
Clarke announced the contest in a charming YouTube video in which she details what being her guest means — in addition to flights and hotel accommodations, the winners get to walk the red carpet with her and share a toast at the official HBO after-party, which she promises will be “lit AF.”
She also said that the final season feels sentimental, “like a graduation,” and proceeded to award the Thrones cast with “yearbook-style superlatives,” including:
Best Reaction to Finding Out Their Character Was Being Killed Off: Jason Momoa (the reaction to his death took “days” to recover from)
Most Likely to be a Stark in the Streets and a Wildling in the Sheets: Alfie Allen (yes, really!)
Best Eyebrows: Herself (“Is that even a question?”)
Biggest Prankster: David Benioff and Dan Weiss (who apparently wrote a fake storyline for Kit in which his whole face got scarred “because they knew it would really mess him up”)
Best Instagram Account: Tie between Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams (the latter makes Clarke feel “about 92” years old)
Most Likely to Have Insisted on Doing A Nude Scene: Kit Harington (“The abs!”)
Most Likely to Cry At the Final Game of Thrones Premiere: “All of us!”
Clarke’s charity is Charities Aid Foundation of America, which helps young adults recover from the impact of major medical trauma. Details and rules for entry are available here. Best of luck! | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
This is the 13th installment of my weekly poker column in the Economic Times, Range Rover.
In a local poker room where I sometimes play, there is an inscription on the wall that says: ‘It’s unlucky to be superstitious.’ As this is the 13th installment of Range Rover, it’s an auspicious time to take on this subject. Sportspeople tend to be notoriously superstitious: cricketers, for example, often have particular rituals they do not deviate from before going out on the field, such as wearing the left shoe first, or looking back up at the pavilion before going out to bat. When a crucial partnership is going well, the players in the dressing room may be stuck to their seats while it’s on so as not to disturb the fragile equilibrium of the universe. It’s quaint and sweet and does no harm – not in cricket, at least.
In poker, beliefs lead to actions, and actions lead to money won or lost. An irrational belief, thus, can have expensive consequences. I play a local cash game sometimes with a group of builders, and one of them believes that 23 is his lucky hand, and that it will never let him down. He has lost a minor fortune because of his faith in that hand, and it is worth asking, how did he arrive at this belief, and why does he persist with it even when it’s obviously counterproductive?
At the risk of simplifying, I’d say that there are two key cognitive biases that lead to the birth and nourishment of superstitions. The first is a tendency to mistake correlation for causation. A man walks under a ladder in olden times, is attacked by a horse a little later, and boom, walking under ladders becomes a no-no. Black cat crosses path, wife runs off with neighbour; break a mirror accidentally, relative dies; call someone from behind as they’re leaving their house, they lose their job. We are pattern-seeking creatures, which is an important reason for our being the dominant species on this planet, but we often tend to go overboard, and ascribe causation where there is none. This is how superstitions are born.
Superstitions are sustained by another cognitive bias called the confirmation bias. Basically, we ignore all evidence against whatever irrational belief we have, and pounce on anything that seems to confirm it. If you believe a black cat crossing your path is bad luck, you’ll ignore all the times it happens and you have a good day, but pounce on the one time it is followed by some unfortunate event as evidence for your belief. My builder friend probably arrived at his superstition about 23 when he won a big pot early on with that hand. (Correlation-causation.) Since then, he shrugs off all the money he loses while playing that hand, but cites the pots he wins with it as evidence in its favour. (Confirmation bias.)
Poker players might have superstitions like having a favourite hand, or a particular seat ‘running hot’ during a game. But the flawed thought processes that lead to superstitions apply to every aspect of poker. For example, I used to overplay small suited connectors out of position until recently, a tendency that surely began when I cracked aces with it at some point. So I started overestimating the implied odds, considering the big pots I won with them as validation, and ignoring all the times I bled money getting into difficult marginal spots with them out of position. My mistaken belief had the same anatomical structure as a superstition, and I could only eliminate the leak when I came to terms with the cognitive frailties that gave birth to it.
To excel in poker, we have to draw conclusions from limited information, and put our opponents on ranges based on patterns of past behaviour. This is perilous, and it’s important not to get lazy, to constantly revisit our assumptions, and to think of the game in probabilistic terms, with few certainties. As for black cats, them kitties should not be feared, but cuddled.
*
Previously on Range Rover:
Beast vs Human
Unlikely is Inevitable
The Colors of Money
Finding Your Edge
Raking Bad
Om Namah Volume
Make No Mistake…
Kitne Big Blind The
Sweet Dopamine
The Balancing Act
The Numbers Game
The Bookshop Romeo | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Select the "start for free" option and sign up. No credit card details required.
In response to the novel Coronavirus outbreak, we are making all of our courses completely free until 15 April. Be safe. Stay at home. Learn data science. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
WOW!
After less then 24h we reached the goal. Now all the money related to the travel has been collected. We can now get our flighttickets in order, set up the hotel and pay for the visas.
We still need more money to really not loose on the trip - but now its final - we are going. Every coin from now on will cover costs for food, transport in Shanghai and other things related to us and the stream .
Thank you so much for your help. It has been amazing!
Shanghai here we come!!
| {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has always been a difficult player to evaluate since his breakout season as a 23-year-old in 2009. He had a big first half that year to make his first All-Star team -- .303, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs -- and would win his first Gold Glove even though injuries limited him to just 119 games. That seemed to cement his reputation as world-class center fielder, and he won another Gold Glove last season. The defensive metrics have never loved him, however, and Defensive Runs Saved tracked him at -16 runs last season, and -14 now for his career. Orioles fans seem to have a mixed review of his defense; some love him, others mention his frequent bad routes, especially on balls over his head.
Adam Jones' lack of walks keep him from being special offensively. Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports
At the plate, he's been a steady contributor, never hitting .300 but owning a .279 career average and good power that has increased through the years, from nine home runs his first full season, to two seasons of 19 home runs, to 25, to 32 in 2012. He doesn't strike out excessively, but he's never walked much, leading to mediocre on-base percentages. Last year's .334 OBP was the first season in his career he beat the league-average OBP (.322).
The statistical knocks against him mean his reputation probably exceeds his actual value. He's a good player, but I'm not sure he's a great player. Fans like him -- especially Orioles fans -- and he's going to start for the American League in the All-Star Game.
But Jones has taken the "don't walk" approach to a new level this year. He drew 34 walks last year, with a walk rate of 4.9 percent; he's drawn eight this year, for a walk rate of 2.2 percent. He's played every game for the Orioles, and is on pace for 15 walks; Joey Votto had 15 walks by the 11th game of the season. Jones' walk rate is the lowest among qualified regulars, with Erick Aybar and Alfonso Soriano the only others below 3 percent.
Yet, he's having a productive year at the plate. He's on pace for 29 home runs, 42 doubles, a career-best .291 average. His OPS+ is 114 and his wRC+ is 113, which ranks 71st out of 158 regulars.
Anyway, it's pretty hard to have a good season while rarely walking. Since 1950, only 17 players with at least 500 plate appearances have posted an OPS+ of 110 or higher while drawing 20 or fewer walks. Here are the eight who matched Jones' 114 mark:
Robinson Cano, 2006 Yankees: 508 PA, 18 BB, 126 OPS+
In Cano's second season, he hit .342 with 15 home runs and 41 doubles, although his walk of 3.5 percent towers over Jones' 2.2 percent.
Vic Power, 1958 A's/Indians: 620 PA, 20 BB, 124 OPS+
Power was a Gold Glove first baseman who rarely walked and rarely struck out -- he had 20 walks and just just 14 K's that year. He hit .312, fifth in the AL, added 63 extra-base hits, and ranked ninth among AL position players in WAR.
Mickey Rivers, 1976 Yankees: 612 PA, 13 BB, 123 OPS+
1976 was a bad year for offense, and Mick the Quick hit .312 with 31 doubles, eight triples and eight home runs. Modest numbers, but he finished 10th in the AL in total bases. Throw in 43 steals in 50 attempts and solid defense in center field, and he was worth 6.3 WAR and finished third in the MVP vote. Not bad for a guy who walked 13 times.
Dave Roberts, 1973 Padres: 503 PA, 17 BB, 123 OPS+
Roberts hit .286 with 21 home runs in a tough park, but would never again bat 400 times in a season.
Mickey Rivers, 1980 Rangers: 661 PA, 20 BB, 119 OPS+
Rivers hit .333 and had 210 hits, including 32 doubles, giving him a respectable on-base percentage despite the 3 percent walk rate.
Manny Sanguillen, 1971 Pirates: 559 PA, 19 BB, 116 OPS+
Sanguillen hit .319 and had a little power. Throw in that he was an All-Star catcher for the division-winning (and World Series champion) Pirates, and he finished eighth in the MVP vote. By the way, if you're thinking, "It was easier to hit for a high average in the 1970s with a low walk rate because it was easier to not strike out because the pitching probably wasn't as good," I think you're right.
Mickey Rivers, 1977 Yankees: 594 PA, 18 BB, 115 OPS+
Hit .326 with 12 home runs and was again a pretty valuable player, worth 5.3 WAR. "It was so cold today that I saw a dog chasing a cat and the dog was walking," Mick once said. That has nothing to do with his propensity to swing at any pitch, but Rivers was known for his off-the-wall quotes.
Frank White, 1982 Royals: 554 PA, 16 BB, 114 OPS+
This was White's best year at the plate, hitting .298 with 45 doubles and 11 home runs. Known for his defense, he had just three seasons with an OPS+ higher than league average
In looking just at walk rate, since 1950 only 38 players have had a walk rate of 2.5 percent or lower (including Jones). The only eight who had a wRC+ of 100 or higher, and the only two with a better mark than Jones' 114 were Rivers in 1976 (123) and Carlos Baerga in 1994 (116), when he drew 10 walks in 469 PAs but hit .314 and slugged .525.
Anyway, it's a strange line for Jones. Any time you can be compared to Mickey Rivers you're having a unique season. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Arizona GOP Gov. Jan Brewer reprimanded the media on Thursday for pushing the "ugly" and "ridiculous" story of her incorrectly claiming her father died in combat.
Brewer was caught Wednesday claiming that her father had "died fighting the Nazi regime in Germany" by the Arizona Guardian, which correctly pointed out her father died in 1955 in California.
Brewer issued a statement Thursday correcting the record but did not apologize for the misstatement. And later that night, Brewer trashed the paper for reporting the story during an interview with Fox News's Greta Van Susteren.
"It's pathetic that they want to spin something to the fact that I have said this or I have said that in respect to what he did for his country, a very patriotic man," Brewer said. "For them to embellish and pathetically try to twist that into something ugly is ridiculous."
Brewer then incorrectly asserted that she "never" said her father died fighting, despite having been quoted by both the Guardian and the Arizona Republic as saying so, and strung her statement to mean that her father died from the exposure to chemicals while working in a munitions factory during the Second World War.
"My father died fighting the German regiments of Hitler," she said. "And he did. He was building the bombs."
"I never said he was overseas," she contended, though her initial statement seemed to indicate otherwise. "I never once said he was in the military."
"He was working on a military base in Hawthorne, Nev., making bombs and ammunition to send, as were many people," the governor added. "They were all fighting the Nazi regiments in Germany to keep America free. And it's as simple as that."
The Arizona Republic is a member of the Politico Network. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's "existence" a problem in an interview with CBS' Face the Nation program.
"I certainly hope that the people of Israel make a different decision. And my hope is that they recognize that his existence, his policies, his rhetoric really is contradictory to the peace that we are all hoping that that region receives and receives soon," Omar told host Margaret Brennan.
The congresswoman then reiterated her support for the anti-Israel BDS movement. "Just right now if you look at the annexation that's taking place, for many of us in Congress, there has been long standing support for its two-state solution, and this annexation now is going to make sure that that peace process does not happen, and we will not get to a two-state solution. I think what is really important is for people to understand that you have to give people the opportunity to seek the kind of justice they want in a peaceful way. And I think the opportunity to boycott, divest, sanction is the kind of pressure that leads to that peaceful process."
Last month, Israel barred Omar and fellow Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from visiting the country.
Omar came under fire after she suggested on Twitter that Republicans were attacking her at the behest of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. She subsequently issued a half-hearted apology before ultimately deleting the controversial tweets.
Omar later caused another uproar when, at a public event, she appeared to refer to domestic support for Israel as “allegiance to a foreign country”.
Her controversial remarks led the Democrats in the House of Representatives to work on a new resolution condemning anti-Semitism. However, the resolution was watered down to include condemnation of all forms of bigotry after objections from some Democrats. The watered-down version was ultimately approved by an overwhelming majority. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
We have found an excellent guide to the Bybit exchange made by blockonomi and we have decided to share it with you, with our improved version and using some audiovisual resources so that you can easily learn to use it.
We want them to learn to use this platform because in an official statement we have decided to stop with Bitmex support.
What Is Bybit?
Bybit is an emerging Peer to Peer (P2P) cryptocurrency derivatives exchange that is looking to establish itself in the growing crypto margin/leverage trading sector. Despite only being founded in March 2018, Bybit is proving to be popular with the cryptocurrency trading community and is onboarding customers at an impressive rate.
The exchange allows traders around the world to engage in leveraged margin trading in a select range of crypto products, and digital assets such as BTC, ETH, EOS, and XRP can be traded using up to 100x leverage.
With its headquarters in Singapore, Bybit operates as a strictly crypto to crypto exchange, doesn’t require its users to perform stringent KYC verification, and currently generates close to $1B worth of daily trading.
Bybit also incorporates cutting edge tech, solid security protocols, and a dedicated customer support service that is aimed at helping the exchange rival the market’s leading derivatives trading service providers.
Who Is Behind ByBit?
Bybit was founded in March 2018 by Ben Zhou, and he previously established himself in the world of Fintech by working as XM’s China District General Manager for seven years.
XM is a leading provider of brokering services and Bybit’s core team come from investment banking, and the Forex industry, as well as being early blockchain adopters.
The exchange is registered in the British Virgin Islands, and has its headquarters in Singapore alongside supplementary offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
While Bybit goes by the official company name of Bybit Fintech Limited its registration number and incorporation details are not currently publically available, however, the team maintain a central address at 6 Shenton Way, #12–11/11A, Singapore, Singapore 068809, SG.
The team also provide the details of their publicly available LinkedIn page and in addition to Ben Zhou prominent members include Latica Qiu who also has experience of working for XM, while the tech team includes individuals with experience of working at leading companies such as Morgan Stanley, Tencent, Ping’an Bank, and Nuoya Fortune.
There are approximately 50 Bybit employees with public profiles on LinkedIn and anyone can go through the team profiles to get a better understanding of the people behind the exchange.
Bybit’s Main Features
As a P2P crypto to crypto derivatives trading platform, Bybit allows traders from various countries to participate in trading using up to 100x leverage.
Traders from a wide variety of countries (excluding the US) are catered for and Bybit incorporates a number of key features in order to provide its users with an efficient and responsive crypto trading experience.
These include a customer support service that includes a live chat function, and a Grey release feature which ensures that platform maintenance is conducted “on the go” which results in minimum downtime, and maintains around the clock access to live trading.
The P2P service also makes use of a pricing mechanism aimed to ensure a fair and transparent trading environment, and Bybit also integrates with TradingView, provides comprehensive API tools, and can be accessed via fully functional IOS and Android mobile apps.
Other key features include:
1 Click Coin Swaps — Users can easily swap between supported cryptocurrencies from within their accounts
— Users can easily swap between supported cryptocurrencies from within their accounts 100,000 TPS per contract — Which is 10x the industry average and results in no overloads
— Which is 10x the industry average and results in no overloads Up to 100x leverage — Bybit’s generous leverage system allows for increased profit potential
— Bybit’s generous leverage system allows for increased profit potential Cold Wallet Storage/Manual Withdrawals — Bybit employs cold storage and conducts three daily manual withdrawals to strengthen security
— Bybit employs cold storage and conducts three daily manual withdrawals to strengthen security Unlimited Withdrawals — Users of the platform are allowed to make virtually unlimited trades and withdrawals
— Users of the platform are allowed to make virtually unlimited trades and withdrawals No KYC– Accounts can be opened and maintained with just an email address and username
ByBit currently specialises in leveraged trading and perpetual contracts, and allows traders to take up both long and short positions in a select number of cryptocurrencies.
Contracts have no set expiry date at which they will be automatically settled, and most importantly, it’s key to remember that as a derivatives trading platform, there are no physical transfers of Bitcoin taking place between buyers and sellers on ByBit.
Contracts are settled in each underlying asset, with prices/quantities quoted in a range of leading fiat currencies.
Bybit Account Types And Limits
Bybit users all gain access to the same range of features after opening accounts and can trade in perpetual crypto derivative contracts in Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS, and Ripple in relation to USD.
All users conduct trades by entering into an agreement with the seller for the future price of a given asset in a P2P fashion.
Bybit supports the following leveraged trading pairs:
BTC/USD: 1:100
ETH/USD: 1:50
EOS/USD: 1:50
XRP/USD: 1:50
As a purely crypto to crypto exchange, Bybit is one of the easier platforms to get started with and you can create an account using only an email address.
There is an option to register with a mobile number and this requires you to fill in your country, and phone number, as well your password.
How To Open An Account On Bybit
You can get started by clicking on the “Register” tab at the top right of the page. From here you can select either Email or Mobile Registration and enter the necessary details.
When choosing to register with an email address, you will be sent a unique verification code number which will allow you to gain access to your new account.
Currently anyone signing up can earn a bonus of $5 for making a first deposit of ≥0.05BTC while a first deposit of 0.5BTC or more earns a $50 bonus.
From here you can navigate to your “Account & Security” settings in order to set up your account username in addition to two factor authentication (2FA).
When you have finished configuring your account settings you can begin to deposit one of the supported currencies by clicking on “Assets/My Assets”.
You already have full access to the platform and can begin to trade once you have deposited funds and converted them into the asset that you would like to trade.
Bybit Trading Arena
When we tested the trading arena out for ourselves, our initial impression was that the layout is extremely clean. The platform utilizes a dark background in a somewhat minimalist look, with each segment of the trading screen organized clearly and neatly.
This includes the main chart area that displays green and pink candles, with the order book and recent trade segments listed just to the right. On the very right hand hand side you have the ability to set your trading parameters, which you can do across limit, market, and conditional orders.
Before your trade is executed, Bybit presents a full breakdown of your order. This is especially useful considering the complexities associated with derivative contracts.
In terms of chart analysis, Bybit allows you to fully customized your trading screen. Chart candle movements can be adjusted between 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes, all the way up to 1 month.
You can also make changes to the scale of the chart. For example, you can include metrics such as left and right axis, percentages, indicator labels, and log scales. You can also customize the layout of the chart, including the colours and your preferred time zone.
All-in-all, while the trading arena offers a user-friendly platform to trade derivatives, Bybit have ensured that it is suitable for both novice and highly experienced traders.
So now that we’ve covered the main trading screen, in the next part of our Bybit review we are going to look at deposits and withdrawals.
Supported Currencies
Bybit currently only accepts a limited number of digital currencies including BTC, ETH, EOS, XRP, and USDT. Each currency can be both deposited and withdrawn but Bybit does not support any fiat currencies at this time.
However, funds are able to be displayed in the following currencies: GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, CNY, CHF, HKD, JPY and KRW.
Deposits/Withdrawals
There are no minimum deposit requirements; however, Bybit does enforce the following minimum withdrawal amounts.
Bybit processes withdrawals manually three times a day at 0800, 1600, and 2400 (UTC), and the cut-off time for withdrawals is 30 minutes before the scheduled withdrawal processing time. All withdrawals are credited to your wallet 1 to 2 hours after a review.
ByBit Fees And Charges
Bybit does not charge any deposit or withdrawal fees, although a miner’s fee applies to all transfers. You can adjust fees when making a deposit, however, with withdrawals; the following fixed miners’ fees are applied regardless of the withdrawal amount.
Every executed order on Bybit incurs a trading fee which is deducted from the account balance, although it does not affect the initial margin of the order. Furthermore, market makers who provide liquidity and increase the market depth of order book receive an incentive in the form of a negative trading fee, while market takers who do the opposite are charged a positive trading fee.
Trading Fee = Position Value x Trading Fee Rate
If for example, Trader A buys 10,000 BTC/USD contracts via market order and Trader B sells 10,000 BTC/USD contracts using limit order, if the execution price is 8,000 USD, then the following is true:
Taker fee for Trader A = 10,000/8,000 x 0.075% = 0.0009375 BTC
Maker rebate for Trader B = 10,000/8,000 x -0.025% = -0.0003125 BTC
Therefore, upon execution, Trader A will pay 0.0009375 BTC of the Taker fee and Trader B will receive 0.0003125 BTC of the Maker rebate.
Funding Fee
A position funding fee is also applied on the platform which is exchanged between the long positions and the short positions.
The funding fee works to ensure that exchange prices stay anchored to the global spot price, and funding is exchanged directly between buyers and sellers every 8 hours.
A positive funding rate sees long positions pay short positions and when it becomes negative, the short position holders pay the long position holders. You are not charged when you close your position before the funding interval.
The funding fee is calculated as follows: funding fee = position value*funding rate. Position value = quantity of contract/mark price. If, for example, at 8:00 UTC you hold a long position of 10,000 BTC/USD contracts, and the mark price is 4,000 USD.
Supposing that the funding rate is 0.02%, the position value will be 10,000/4,000=2.5 BTC, and the the funding fee is 2.5 BTC *0.02%=0.0005BTC.
Bybit Order Types
Bybit incorporates a number of order types including standard market orders which allow you to process trades as soon as you hit the button at the going market rate.
Limit orders allow you select the price at which you want your order to execute at and give you more flexibility. You can “Buy /Long” or “Sell/Short” using either order type on Bybit.
Conditional Orders
Conditional orders are fulfilled once a pre-specified event occurs, which can include reaching a particular price level, and when configuring a conditional order, Bybit provides the following additional order options.
Post-Only- You will only pay a maker fee here as even if your limit price takes liquidity from the books, it will still be processed as a maker order.
Close On Trigger — This option ensures that your stop loss reduces your position regardless of any other open orders.
GoodTillCancelled –Results in your order remaining open until it gets filled or you cancel it.
ImmediateOrCancel — This option allows your order to go through immediately, and if not, get cancelled automatically.
FillOrKill — Your order will be cancelled if it is not filled with one trade.
The conditional orders can all be set up from the Conditional Orders tab and selecting from the options at the bottom if the box.
Bybit Leverage
If you have a slightly higher appetite for risk, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Bybit platform supports leverage trading. The amount of leverage on offer will depend on the derivative contract you plan to trade.
For example, if trading BTC/USD or ETH/USD, then you’ll be permitted to trade at up to 100x. On the other hand, EOS/USD and XRP/USD is capped at 25x, albeit, this is still a considerable amount of leverage to be trading with.
As such, make sure that you have a firm grasp of how leverage works before you use it, as the reality is — you could lose your entire balance.
Moreover, Bybit has also installed risk limit levels on each of its four derivative contracts. However, this shouldn’t really have an impact on you unless you are an institutional grade investor, as you can trade up to 100 BTC or 300 ETH at the 100x level before your limits are reduced.
In terms of financing costs, this is charged on two main fronts. Notably, this includes the interest rate and any respective premium/discount factors. Funding takes place every eight hours.
Supported Countries
Bybit currently accepts users from the following countries: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, Brazil, China, Japan, India, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Peru, Argentina, Ukraine, Ireland, Romania, Poland and Belgium.
At this moment in time, the platform is not available to inhabitants of the following locations: United States of America, Québec, Singapore, Cuba, Crimea, Sevastopol, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Sudan.
How Suitable is Bybit for Beginners?
Right off the bat it’s important to note that Bybit isn’t suited to beginners. The practice of leveraged trading can result in higher losses than first expected, and the volatile nature of futures markets makes them a part of the crypto sector best left to more experienced traders to navigate.
Having said that, Bybit provides a number of resources that allow experienced traders to continue to brush up their skills and improve their trading knowledge. These include the Bybit testnet and demo trading feature, and a Support Center which includes an extensive FAQ section which covers common questions that users may have.
Quite importantly, ByBit also offers live chat functionality and dedicated emails for customer/IT support. The team also make sure to maintain a wide range of social media channels including a Telegram group and Facebook page which helps to keep them easily accessible.
Other handy features include comprehensive trading charts via integration with TradingView, the mobile app available for both IOS and Android devices, and the API tools which allow you connect trading bots or any other apps which require data from Bybit.
In addition, the lack of trading limits, high liquidity levels, and the incorporation of a wide range of order types suit more experienced practitioners and the platform has been designed to be able to service the requirements of high frequency traders.
More active traders may also be interested in the Bybit Referral Program which sees a $10 bonus payment being given to anyone who refers a friend to the platform who goes on to deposit at least 0.02 BTC.
Bybit’s Referral Program
As a final note, it is also worth mentioning that Bybit offers users the chance to earn referral bonuses. For every new member that you are able to refer, you will receive the Bitcoin equilievent of 10 USD.
The user that you refer does need to deposit at least 0.02 BTC. At the time of writing, the referral bonus is only available for those funding their account with BTC, meaning that ETH, XRP and EOS deposits will not allow you to claim the bonus.
How Secure is Bybit?
The exchange has managed to remain resilient with regards to any potential hacks, but this is to be expected given its relative youth. The team behind Bybit make use of a range of security protocols which include full SSL encryption on the website to protect all your personal information.
User accounts are also protected via two-factor authentication (2FA), which can take the form of email, SMS, or external app verification.
Bybit also maintains that 100% of clients’ funds are stored using a Deterministic Cold Wallet System, and only small amounts of funds are kept in hot wallets to allow for immediate withdrawals.
Using a multi-signature cold wallet system enhances the platform’s security and the team also process withdrawals manually three times a day in order to limit the possibility of hackers gaining access to funds.
The team have also developed their Grey release update system which sees platform maintenance conducted “on the go” which results in minimum downtime, and provides traders which continuous access to live trading, thus limiting the possibility of “lost” trades.
In order to ensure smooth and efficient trading Bybit derives its index prices by taking data from three exchanges, namely Coinbase Pro, Bitstamp, and Kraken (33.3% each) and also makes use of an insurance fund that keeps users’ funds protected even if a number of adverse situations were to occur.
Insurance Fund
The fund is designed to decrease the possibility of Auto-Deleveraging, and when a liquidated order is closed at a price worse than bankrupt price, Bybit uses the balance of the Insurance Fund to cover the gap. Here, Auto-Deleveraging is only triggered when the Insurance Fund is insufficient.
During liquidations the balance of the Insurance Fund increases and decreases depending on the price difference between the final Liquidation Price and the Bankruptcy Price of each liquidated position. As a result:
When liquidations can be executed in the market at a price better than the Bankruptcy Price, the remaining margin will be added to the Insurance Fund.
Conversely, when the final execution price is worse than the Bankruptcy Price, the contract loss will be covered by the Insurance Fund.
As an example, a trader having a long position on BTC/USD with the liquidation price at 7,000 USD and Bankruptcy price at 6,950 USD will have this position liquidated once the Mark Price hits 7,000 USD.
If this position can be liquidated at any price higher than 6,950 USD, then the remaining margin in BTC will be donated to the Insurance Fund. Also, if the final execution price is lower than 6,950 USD, then the Insurance Fund will be used to cover the contract loss.
In the event that the Insurance Fund is insufficient to cover the gap between the final execution price and Bankruptcy Price, the entire liquidation gets taken over by an Auto-Deleveraging System. Bybit users can keep a track of the current balance of the Insurance Fund by checking the Daily Insurance Fund Balance.
Conclusion
Having been founded in March 2018, Bybit is still a relatively new operator in terms of cryptocurrency derivatives trading but has emerged as serious alternative to more established platforms such as BitMEX.
While it’s suitable for a wide range of traders and provides valuable resources such as the testnet which allows extensive demo trading to take place, Bybit shines with regards to catering for more experienced high volume/frequency traders.
The lack of KYC requirements in addition to no real trading or deposit/withdrawal limits being implemented on the platform suit anyone looking to trade in large amounts anonymously, and the consistently high liquidity levels also suit anyone looking to take advantage of sudden market swings by making swift deposits onto the platform.
Despite still developing as a platform, Bybit incorporates a solid range of technical, security, and trading features that will enable it to establish itself in the midst of a growing amount of competition as an increasing number of crypto exchanges throw their hats into the futures trading ring.
All in all, Bybit suits anyone engaged in crypto margin trading, and provides a viable alternative to the services already being offered by exchanges such as BitMEX, PrimeXBT, Huobi, and Deribit.
Once again, as margin trading isn’t really suited to less experienced traders or anyone near the beginning their trading journey, it’s probably a good idea to create a testnet account and spend a considerable amount of time conducting demo trades with testnet funds in order to determine if margin trading and/or Bybit is the solution that you are looking for.
See you in the next story! With love 💛 Rubika Ventures Team!
If you really liked this article or you have a personal opinion, don’t forget to like it, share it with your friends, leave your tip, vote or clap so that we can continue producing more content as that one.
Join in our community on telegram https://t.me/rubikaventures — https://t.me/rubikaventurescommunity, where we share every day the best news, technical analysis and trading signals for Bybit, Derebit, Binance and Binance Futures with Cornix Auto Trading Bot and more.
Check the last trading results here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CTNqcToBgng6Dl-VEac0yL_gVaOqXwAE/view?usp=sharing
Follow us too on Twitter, Minds, TradingView, Coinigy, Youtube, lbry.tv, Facebook, Uptrennd, Medium, Publish0x, & Instagram.
Remember, investment in cryptocurrencies or other assets has a moderate risk, so it is important to have a detailed study of the possible scenarios before placing your money at risk. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Lochs across Scotland are speckled with small, flat islets, known as crannogs. These may be rocky, or peaty, or studded with trees, and at first glance, "some people would think they are natural," says Duncan Garrow, an associate professor of archaeology at the University of Reading. "However, in some cases they have obvious walls and causeways, which show they are man-made." These little bits of land have long intrigued archaeologists, because in addition to being surrounded by water, they’re immersed in mystery. Researchers are still working to pinpoint precisely when humans lugged stones to build them, and why.
While the vast majority of Scotland’s several hundred crannogs haven’t yet been studied in great detail, researchers once believed that the first examples dated back to the Iron Age. Now, in a new paper published in the journal Antiquity, Garrow and his co-author, the University of Southampton archaeologist Fraser Sturt, report that some of these crannogs in the Outer Hebrides—islands beyond the west coast of mainland Scotland—are several thousand years older. Some of these islets seem to have been built during the Neolithic era—even before Stonehenge’s rocks were nudged into place over in England.
As Garrow and Sturt tell it, the notion that Neolithic crannogs might exist in Scotland first took shape during the 1980s, when researchers excavating Eilean Domhnuill came across some Neolithic pottery. For a while, that site seemed to be an anomaly. Then, in 2012, Chris Murray, a former Royal Navy diver, descended into the water near Lewis, the largest landmass in the Outer Hebrides, and came across some Neolithic pottery strewn nearby. He looped in local conservation officials, and, using Google Earth, they identified other islets where they could go see what they could rustle up. Several of these subsequent dives also turned up other well-preserved fragments of similarly prehistoric pottery—sometimes just a single vessel, other times, several dozen.
In 2016 and 2017, with Murray’s help, Garrow and Sturt set out to learn more about the islets around Lewis. They used combinations of sonar, underwater diver surveys, aerial photography, GPS, coring, and excavation to learn more about what the places were made out of, and when they were built. To approximate the age of the crannogs, the team radiocarbon dated some of the objects found nearby. Fragments from the islets of Arnish, Bhorgastail, Duna (Ranish), and Langabhat all point to people first building and visiting them during the Neolithic period, between 3640–3360 B.C.
Many crannog mysteries remain, and the largest of those is pretty fundamental: What the heck were they used for? Garrow and Sturt aren’t the only ones wondering.
The team behind the Living on Water project—a collaborative effort funded by Historic Environment Scotland to document an Iron Age crannog in Loch Tay—has noted that the reason people built and used these places "remains stubbornly unclear." Chances are good that they varied across time and place. "We now have people building and doing things on artificial islands in Lewis in the Neolithic, and then there is a 2,000-year gap and people begin doing it again, and this time across all of Scotland, in the Early Iron Age, sometime between 800-400 B.C." writes Michael Stratigos, a maritime archaeologist who studies crannogs and is working on the Living on Water project at Loch Tay, via email. "I am very wary to suggest Neolithic crannogs and Iron Age and later crannogs are part of the same tradition," Stratigos adds. "We call them all crannogs, which is fine, but they are no doubt built by very different communities for very different purposes."
Hauling and heaping 500-pound stones was no small feat, and Garrow and Sturt suggest that "such islets may well have represented substantial symbols for, and of, the communities that constructed them." The authors note that each of the sites, isolated and monumental, "could also have been perceived as special places, their watery surroundings creating separation from everyday life."
To pin down more details about what was going on at the Neolithic sites, and how they differ from later crannogs, Garrow and Sturt hope to find more examples. Stratigos isn’t so sure that they’ll turn up beyond Lewis, especially where researchers have already radiocarbon dated other sites to confirm that they sprung up during the Iron Age. But "it is definitely worth still looking," Stratigos adds, and he suggests combing other places with similar geographies in the Outer Hebrides, as well as the Shetland Islands, farther north. For now, at least, we know that whatever Neolithic Scots were up to on some of those islets, it started much earlier than we thought.
0 Like - 0 Dislike
Follow Post
Recommend | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Boston College has been solid for most of this century. This year, the Eagles will play in their 16th bowl in the last 20 years. They’ve finished five of those years ranked, and they even got all the way up to No. 2 at one point during the Matt Ryan era. In general, they’ve been one of the country’s most reliable bets to win seven or so games.
But when BC was down earlier this decade, it was a laughingstock.
A lot of us talked about the Eagles the same way we know talk about Rutgers and Kansas. BC was only bad for three years between 2011 and 2015, and it was only 2-10 bad in one of those. But the team became a punchline anyway because of how bad its offense was. Years of scoring fewer than 20 points per game made it funny when BC couldn’t even score a touchdown in its 2016 spring game.
Now, though, BC’s just plain solid.
It’s gotten back into the AP Poll for the first time since 2008. It was 22nd in the first Playoff committee ranking of the year. It’s 38th in S&P+, after finishing 66th last year and well below that in some lean years prior.
The program’s getting more validation this weekend, as it hosts both College GameDay and ABC’s primetime telecast for a game against No. 2 Clemson.
What’s happened? Sorting out exactly when BC fixed things is hard, because Steve Addazio’s sandwiched four 7-6 seasons around a 3-9 mark in 2015. But here are some keys:
1. They hired an offensive-minded head coach.
Former coach Frank Spaziani had a defensive coaching background. True to that form, Spaziani’s teams were regularly good at defense. But they were often terrible on offense. After years of mediocrity, the offense fell into a ditch in 2010, when it dropped from 90th to 105th in yards per play. It stayed terrible for years. BC’s offense has improved after Addazio’s hiring for 2013, with one notable hiccup in 2015, when the unit was horrific.
Meanwhile, the defense has maintained a solid level of play. More on that shortly.
2. They found a quarterback who could chuck the rock in a spread scheme.
Sophomore QB Anthony Brown is not going to win the Heisman. But his 141 passer rating is the best of any BC starting QB since Glenn Foley in 1993. Brown’s been more efficient than either of the two famous Matts who played QB in Chestnut Hill since then: Hasslebeck and Ryan. Top receivers Kobay White and Jeff Smith — yeah, a converted QB — are both really explosive when they get the ball. Brown’s one of the three or four best QBs in the ACC, especially when you factor in his running ability at 6 yards per non-sack carry.
Brown’s a field-stretcher in a way previous BC QBs have not been. As Eagles blog BC Interruption put it after a win over Wake Forest in September:
I think the thing that stood out the most was how Anthony Brown made Wake pay the price for stacking eight in the box to stop AJ Dillon. In years past we’ve seen opponents stack the box to stop the BC running game and for whatever reason the offense couldn’t make them pay for it. It was impressive watching Brown connect on explosive passing plays at will.
BC’s widely thought of as a grunting MANBALL team that lines up in power formations and pounds the ball into the line. That’s not right, though. The Eagles use the same spread concepts that are en vogue all over the country, and they’re fourth in FBS in Adjusted Pace.
3. They got way more talented at running back, too.
Not surprisingly, the run game was egregious when BC’s offense was at its worst. The 2012 team ran for 3.2 yards per carry. The 2015 team ran for 3.9, which was 96th in FBS. That year, QB Jeff Smith was the leading rusher. The featured back was a former two-star recruit, Tyler Rouse, who had no other listed Division I offers.
Now, they have more talent. 130-yard-a-game back AJ Dillon was a high-three-star recruit, but a lot of evaluators thought the former Michigan commit deserved a fourth star in the class of 2017. Dillon’s not the type of player who usually signs with BC, which is regularly one of the Power 5’s lowest teams in recruiting rankings.
If there was one turning point where the whole offense clicked, it was Dillon’s elevation midway through 2017. The Eagles were sitting 125th in Offensive S&P+.
Then, as Bill Connelly wrote in his 2018 team preview:
Addazio and coordinator Scot Loeffler had already handed the offense over to a freshman quarterback in Anthony Brown. But midway through 2017, they officially moved another freshman to the top of the RB depth chart. And Andre Williams-sized AJ Dillon, a high-three-star 245-pounder, erupted. He carried 39 times for 272 yards in a 45-42 road upset win over Louisville. Virginia sold out to stop the run the next week, and Brown completed 19 of 24 passes in a 41-10 win. They welcomed Florida State to Alumni Stadium, forced three turnovers, and rode Dillon again (33 carries for 149 yards) to a 35-3 win.
Dillon’s been injured. Hopefully he’ll be able to go against the Tigers.
4. Staffing’s been key. Addazio’s hired good defensive coordinators to run the side of the ball that isn’t his strength. He’s also replaced them.
The flip side of hiring an offensive head coach? You need a great defensive coordinator. Brown is one of the two or three best DCs anywhere. He left Boston College for Michigan after 2015, as anyone in his position would have.
Losing a coordinator like Brown could tank a lot of defenses. But successor Jim Reid, who’d been working as linebackers coach at Iowa, has maintained a top-30 S&P+ unit. The 2018 defense’s strength is a ball-hawking, pass-breaking-up secondary.
5. The Eagles won one game they could’ve easily lost and have avoided dropping any games they should’ve won.
BC could easily be 6-3 instead of 7-2, and there’d be a little less fuss around the team. But they beat Temple by 10 in Week 5 despite the Owls gashing them on the ground and out-gaining them by 1.4 yards per play. BC’s postgame win expectancy that day was 23 percent, per S&P+, but winning the turnover margin helped flip the result.
6. BC’s improved while the rest of the ACC’s stood still or gone backward.
The Eagles are definitely better, but think about their league. Clemson’s great, and the rest of the conference is loaded with disappointments and mediocrities, save for upstart Syracuse and arguably NC State. BC’s league wins have included:
Most years, those teams beat Boston College. They’re varying degrees of bad right now, and that’s helped. It’s not a knock on BC as much as it’s a key component of any dream season for a program that’s not used to contending for New Year’s bowls. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
It’s been a truly momentous year for PlayStation. 2016 has offered one of the most diverse 12 months in PlayStation history, whether you’re exploring exotic locales, screaming at friends in an overstressed kitchen, becoming an iconic dark knight, or punching the air after scoring Play of the Game.
With so much choice, it’s impossible to pick an easy Top 10 from this year. Instead, we asked those who’ve transported us to worlds beyond our imagination for their personal favorites. These are the best PlayStation game moments of 2016, as chosen by developers the world over.
Batman: Arkham VR
As chosen by…
“Its use of the Move controllers for accessing gadgets, navigating and interacting with items and scenery, really set the standard for an intuitive and compelling experience in VR. The game is full of memorable moments, but the standout for me took place in the latter part of the game in a prison cell. Without saying too much, it made me feel completely absorbed into Batman’s world where I felt anxious, vulnerable, and overwhelmed, but all in a good way — and gave me an experience that could only be had in VR.”
-Phil Nightingale // Senior Designer on Tethered, Secret Sorcery
Battlefield 1
As chosen by…
“There are a lot of speedy shooters out there these days, where you’re rushing around killing everything, but Battlefield 1 is a little slower — in a good way. It sort of matches the era that’s depicted in the game, so it was a fresh perspective on recent shooters and that’s why I really enjoyed it.”
-Yosuke Hayashi // Game Director on Nioh, Team Ninja
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
As chosen by…
“My new guilty pleasure: COD’s zombie mode. It’s strangely relaxing to kill zombies while flowing through the map. I’ve skipped the franchise for many years and so this is my first time trying this out. I always enjoyed co-op survival modes since Unreal Tournament 2004 Invasion Mod!”
-Dominic Guay // Senior Producer on Watch Dogs 2 , Ubisoft Montreal
Darkest Dungeon
As chosen by…
“There are so many reasons to love this game: the narrator, the gameplay, the punishing, brutal failure, the tense exploration, the whole theme… Yeah. I love this game. I come back to it again, and again, and again… and again. (I worry about that, though. It is brutally unforgiving. Is there something wrong with me?)”
-Jason Vandenberghe // Creative Director on For Honor, Ubisoft Montreal
Dark Souls 3
As chosen by…
“It’s a no-brainer: Dark Souls 3 has the fullest game experience, a universe that’s both rich and consistent, an unparalleled depth in all game aspects — definitely my champion in 2016.”
-David Guillaume // Artistic Director on The Crew, Ivory Tower
“I watched one of our animators take part in a Dark Souls 3 speed challenge at EGX Rezzed and it piqued my interest to finally take the plunge and give the series a go. The sense of threat, trepidation, and subtle world building sucked me in utterly. Sure, it’s punishing, but the sense of achievement after cracking a tricky section or boss is unparalleled. It’s a strange compulsion, like eating chilli. I was hooked.”
-Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou // Art Director on Rigs, Guerrilla Cambridge
“There’s a lot of opinions in our company which one is the best [game in the franchise], but in terms of what’s the best series out there, I think that’s one of the clear winners. There are a lot of odd titles here and there that improved what gameplay can be in games. There’s a few spotlights out there, but I think the Dark Souls series has really been the shining light for that. And in 2016, that was really cool point to see that.”
-Mikael Haveri // Head of Publishing, Nex Machina, Housemarque
Dishonored 2
As chosen by…
“My personal favorite gaming moment of 2016 was finding and eliminating the Crown Killer in Dishonored 2. The entire Addermire Institute environment was soaked in history and atmosphere, and the act of non-lethally dispatching the Crown Killer (with all of the surrounding circumstance, which I don’t want to spoil here) was an awesome sequence of events.”
-Matthias Worch // Design Director on Mafia III, Hangar 13
“I had already spent a good amount of time in the game already, and was loving it, when I came upon the fourth mission: The Clockwork Mansion. Not going to lie, entering a level that involves a lot of puzzles and a constantly shifting landscape made me nervous. However, it quickly became my favorite level as I felt constantly challenged and when I figured something it out was very emotionally rewarding. Just talking about it gets me hyped up to play again, so off I go for a second playthrough!”
-Lilith Newman // FX/Tech Art Producer on Borderlands, Gearbox Software
Doom
As chosen by…
“Doom was a delight to play, and a tour de force of genius level design. The whole game was a nonstop barrage of enjoyment, but it really reached its peaks during the forays into hell. What an homage to and leap beyond the original.
-John Watson // Technical Director on The Banner Saga, Stoic
“I really enjoyed it. I thought it had a great balance of risk and reward, and the game design encouraged you to engage with the opponent.”
-Gavin McCarthy // Art Director, Household Games Inc
“I’ve had a lot of fun with it — it’s not trying to be more than what it is. At the beginning of the game you have a sequence where a guy pops up on a monitor and tries to explain what’s going on, and your character just smashes it: there’s no time for story. You just take a gun and start killing demons. No nonsense.”
-Andrew Kephalidis // Gameplay Animator on Watch Dogs 2, Ubisoft
Dragon Quest Builders
As chosen by…
“I’ve played several games, but the one I’ve spent the most time playing was Dragon Quest Builders. There’s a bit more guidance than in Minecraft, and it made me understand the appeal of the phenomena.”
-Fumito Ueda // Game Designer on The Last Guardian
Eve Valkyrie
As chosen by…
“For me it was the first ‘real’ space battle I had in VR. I’m a big fan of films like Top Gun and Star Wars, especially for the epic dogfights, whether that be in fighter jets or starships. Playing a game like Eve Valkyrie for the first time in VR was incredible, you really feel like you are actually sitting in that starship cockpit. Whether you are pulling a ‘fly-by’ up close to a massive carrier ship or dodging in between gaps in asteroid fields to chase down and take out other players in multiplayer, it feels unlike anything else you’ve played. All this with the added bonus of being able to look around 360 degrees with 3D audio is an incredible feeling.”
-Mark Lintott // Technical Director on PS VR Worlds, London Studio
Far Cry Primal
As chosen by…
“To me, Far Cry Primal is without a doubt the best player experience of 2016. Being in full immersion into the wild, alone is this hostile environment got me through some nerve-racking moments — and some long distressing nights listening to the wolves’ howling!”
-Stéphane “Fergus” Beley // Game Director on The Crew, Ivory Tower
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
As chosen by…
“Catching up to endgame content in FFXIV. Being able to play with my wife and friends from work and getting the sense of accomplishment of defeating brutal bosses with friends is hard to match.”
-Jason Schroeder // Senior Producer on South Park, Ubisoft San Francisco
Final Fantasy XV
As chosen by…
“My favorite moment of 2016 has to be the title sequence of Final Fantasy XV. At the surface, it is just the user holding a button to push a car. But in the context of the game’s interminable development, the moment when the strains of ‘Stand By Me’ plays over what sounded like the Final Fantasy arpeggio was sublime. It felt like a huge weight was lifted from the chests of fans and devs alike, and I was happy to be a part of it. I can’t imagine a song better suited in keeping with the theme of brotherhood and thanking fans for their dedication.”
-Ken Chua // Assoc. Sft. Engineer, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics
“Definitely the introduction of Final Fantasy XV! I am a big fan of the franchise and I’ve been waiting for this game for literally ten years. When I finally launched it, it was nothing like what I expected… only better! The feeling of freedom, the sense of friendship, and Noctis’ weight of duty. All over one of my favorite songs Stand By Me interpreted by Florence + The Machine. A pure delight, totally worth the wait!”
-Anthony Solaire // Intr. Product Manager on Just Dance, Ubisoft Paris
“Finally getting to play Final Fantasy XV! It’s been a long time coming, but Tabata-san and all of the development team made it worth the wait.”
-Spencer Yip // Director on Fallen Legion
Firewatch
As chosen by…
“The entire game kept me hooked from start to finish. The intrigue and the characters are so well fleshed out. The beginning of the game, where you make some text choices over a black screen while ambient music plays, gave me more emotions than all the blockbuster games out there. It’s a testimony to the developers’ sensitivity when it comes to crafting a very human, very profound narrative experience. Definitely one of my highlights of 2016.”
-Jean-François Dugas // Exec. Game Director on Deus Ex, Eidos Montreal
“My favorite gaming moment of 2016 was the very opening of Firewatch. You’re presented with the back story of Henry, the protagonist, and the events that have led to him taking a job in the wilderness at Two Forks Lookout. The back story is told through lines of text, but the writing is so brilliant and the narrative so compelling that you can’t help but be completely sucked in. The simplicity of the presentation makes you pay attention to every word, making the writing hit home hard, setting you up perfectly to feel and think as Henry throughout the game.”
-Dominic Matthews // Product Development on Hellblade, Ninja Theory
“For a moment, I’d have to say the start to Firewatch. The opening hits me with an emotional gut punch similar to what I felt while watching the beginning of Pixar’s Up. The artistry of the forest vistas following that incredible introductory story led me to want to visit Wyoming. That desire was a first for me. Campo Santo did an amazing job, and Olly Moss is a master at creating a memorable aesthetic. It’s rare when a video game can incite transference to inhabit a certain place in real life just using its pixels and rendered scenes.”
-Eric Monacelli // Director of Communications, Infinity Ward
Hyper Light Drifter
As chosen by…
“It’s got to be Hyper Light Drifter. I absolutely love this game, it has so much style. I knew from the moment I saw it on Kickstarter I would play the heck out of it. I’ve recommended Hyper Light to nearly everyone I’ve spoken with. You can really see the meticulous care and passion the Heart Machine team put into it. The world design, visual storytelling, and ethereal music by Disasterpeace, all comes together to create an atmosphere that I want to replace my eyes and ears with. If you haven’t played it yet, you are missing something special.
-Jeff Shaw // Game Designer on Plants v Zombies: Garden Warfare, PopCap
Inside
As chosen by…
“Getting chased by creepy humans and rabid dogs during the intro of Inside was one of our most intense gaming moments this year. It reminded us of the intensity of a normal day at E3. Joking aside, the emotion and anxiety communicated through that sequence greatly inspired us. This is one example showing how indie developers are able to push new experiences and new gameplay for the players to discover!”
-Guillaume Voghel // Producer on Mordheim, Rogue Factor
“I was amazed by Playdead’s Inside. The art direction was just brilliant, and the gaming experience was pleasant and frictionless. This game is full of very interesting, moving moments, and the last part is just totally mind-blowing. If you think that games with horizontal scrolling are dead, play Inside and you will be surprised at how talented people can take an old concept and make something original and meaningful with it.”
-David Cage // Founder, Detroit: Become Human, Quantic Dream
The Last Guardian
As chosen by…
“It has to be The Last Guardian. Mainly because it’s now seen the light of day. But also because it’s a very personal story. We haven’t learned too much about the game. It’s about the relationship that you, playing as a boy, make with Trico. So it’s going to be something that’s very unique to everyone who plays it. And my experience playing it has been phenomenal, very personal, and it literally made me cry at the very end.”
-Dave Thatch // Senior Director, ISD, Worldwide Studios America
NBA 2K17
As chosen by…
“In 2016 I’ve had a great time with NBA 2K17. How you enjoy games is also linked to who you play them with. This social aspect is very important for the games I work on. And this year I was able to play NBA 2K17 with my seven year old son; for the first time he is getting better than his dad!”
-Nouredine Abboud // Sr. Producer on Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Ubisoft Paris
No Man’s Sky
As chosen by…
“I think for me it was waiting for No Man’s Sky to come out; that was definitely the most memorable moment for me this year, I couldn’t wait for it to come out.
“The game made me feel really happy. The pacing was just what I needed. It was calm, ambient. I could explore and take on whatever it had to throw at me at my own pace and in my own time. There was no pressure and that was really refreshing. It reminded me a little of Animal Crossing New Leaf. That sounds like an absurd comparison, but I love those sorts of games where you can plod along and do things how you want to but with no time pressure or no big bosses to deal with — I can make the game my own and imprint my own stories on to it.
“It was really exciting and is still really exciting to play and to watch others play. I love the sci-fi genre in the way it makes you question existence and being and No Man’s Sky really ticks those boxes for me. I’ve particularly enjoyed watching my partner play it; there’s something calming and peaceful about watching someone else play and discover and commentate along the way. You sort of feel like you’re going on a journey together, but in the safety of your home, on your sofa.”
-Michelle Ducker // Producer on Dreams, Media Molecule
Overcooked
As chosen by…
“Realizing how Overcooked, the most fun party game this year and my Game of the Year, is also a huge test on friendship and relationships! Come on, I get shouted at for not cutting the onion fast enough! Love it!”
-Audrey Leprince // Co-founder, Furi, The Game Bakers
Overwatch
As chosen by…
“Pulling off 10 victories in a row using an all Mercy team in Overwatch was pretty epic and chaotic at the same time. Trying to fill the niche roles using only a support character was a fun and challenging experience. The coordination of keeping each other healed and powered up was something to behold, especially when the opposing team focused their efforts on one individual.”
-Matt Grise // Assoc. Producer on Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics
“It’s been a while since I played a shooter, and it was really interesting as a developer to play a game where you don’t really notice any flaws. The last game that had that was Journey. You play Overwatch and ask “where are the edges, where are the cracks, where can I see there’s been a shoddy job?” But it’s just so polished. And the sound is amazing. You can hear who’s coming after you based on the footsteps. It’s so expressive. It’s a joy to play.”
-Martin Kvale // Audio Lead on Mosaic, Krillbite
PlayStation VR
As chosen by…
“It’s not a particular title, but the PS VR release was definitely my best PlayStation moment of 2016. It’s been awhile since I have seen gamers get so excited about something, and seeing everyone scrambling to get their hands on one felt good. It was the first time in a while I had seen such long lines outside of stores for gaming, and it was quite exciting to see.”
-Katsuhiro Harada // Project Director on Tekken, Bandai Namco
The Playroom VR
As chosen by…
“My favorite gaming moment of 2016 was playing the VR Playroom with my family for the first time in a home environment. After spending so much time working in VR as part of my studio life, it was an incredible moment to share in their shock, wonder, and amazement of what this new technology can deliver. We must have played Monster Escape about 20 times in a row, swapping the VR headset and screaming with excitement as the monster gets launched into the sky at the end of the level. Amazing.”
-Andrew Wilans // Lead Designer on Eve: Valkyrie, CCP Games
Rez Infinite
As chosen by…
“I was a massive Rez fan when it first came out years ago, and bringing it to VR has ignited that for me again. This is the best that the game has ever been, and has completely immersed me visually and aurally for weeks now. I play it after a long day of developing MEA.”
-Michael Gamble // Producer on Mass Effect Andromeda, BioWare
“A sensory rush greater than getting your pants stuck in the doors of a Tokyo subway train. Crashing through a nightclub. In The Matrix.”
-Andy Robinson // Writer on Yooka-Laylee, Playtonic Games
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
As chosen by…
“The big bear battle/chase encounter in the Siberian wilderness. Brought back classic memories of the original bear baddies from the original Tomb Raider (which I actually worked on 20 years ago at Eidos). It was a truly great, action-packed sequence with shades of inspiration drawn from The Revenant!”
-Mike Schmitt // Marketing Director on Killing Floor 2, Tripwire Interactive
Titanfall 2
As chosen by…
“I was rodeo-ing an enemy Titan and the pilot ejected sending us both flying sky-high. Then he grapple-hooked me out of mid-air and melee drop-kicked me for the kill. Yeah, my favorite moment was one where I died. I don’t know if that happens all the time with awesome players, but it’s only happened to me once. Either way, I was honored to play my part in such a glorious moment.”
-Brian Hayes // Creative Director on EA Sports UFC 2, EA Canada
“The time travel section of Titanfall 2 is the most fun I’ve had with a game all year. Looking down through a glass floor at a room full of bad dudes and realizing that I needed to hop time once to fall in, then again to avoid falling into a pit of fire only to be stuck in the room with the enemies, was very, very cool. Honestly that entire game is nothing short of brilliant from start to finish — a masterpiece of level design.
-Dave Crooks // Game Designer on Enter the Gungeon, Dodge Roll
“I really enjoyed the Titanfall 2 campaign mode. The gunplay is very satisfying, the environments look amazing on PS4, and the setting brings back memories of one of my all-time-favorites, Silent Bomber (PS1, 1999).”
-Mathijs de Jonge // Game Director on Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
As chosen by…
“Offroading with my jeep in Uncharted 4. It was fun to take a moment and relax in an otherwise intense game, and enjoy the incredible craft of what the Naughty Dog team put together.”
-Jake Solomon // Creative Director on XCOM 2, Firaxis Games
“It’s just such a great game. I loved every moment.”
-Masachika Kawata // Producer on Resident Evil VII, Capcom
“Definitely Uncharted 4, particularly the Madagascar chase scene. Such a well put together and dynamic set piece!”
-Chris Davis // Founder, The Escapists, Mouldy Toof Studios
“The intro sequence with the toy gun really made me laugh.”
-Sébastien Arnoult // Producer on Steep, Ubisoft Annecy
“It’s been a great year for gaming, but for me, the standout moment has to come from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End tale. Towards the end of the tower collapse level on Liberteria, there’s an action scene featuring Drake, Sam, and Nadine where you get to experience what is for me, is one of the best looking, most fun, and expertly choreographed sequences in recent video game history. I must have played this section a dozen times and it still leaves me coming back for more.”
-Tim Wileman // Producer on Lego Star Wars, TT Games
“Apart from launching Batman: Arkham VR, the biggest moment of 2016 for me has to be the Madagascar section in Uncharted 4. Naughty Dog’s accomplishments here are spectacular: gorgeous views, great character interaction, and a wonderful sense of freedom. It all adds up to a hugely memorable section in an already incredible game.”
-Gaz Deaves // Social Marketing Manager on Arkham Knight, Rocksteady
“I had a great time playing Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End this year. The environments are amazing and the gameplay is a blast from start to finish.”
-Sarah Hebbler // Executive Producer on Rocket League, Psynoix
“My best gaming moment for 2016 is Uncharted 4. Having had the opportunity to work on the franchise with Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PS Vita, Nathan Drake has a special place in my heart. The series has redefined storytelling with video games, and Uncharted 4 was an incredible send off for the characters and the journey that they took us on.”
-Eric Jensen // Sr. Game Designer on Days Gone, Bend Studio
“It was one of those things were I had to take a couple of days off work just to play it. The scene that I remember the most, and honestly it’s perhaps everyone’s favorite scene, it was going from the church where things were falling, and then there was the chase scene all the way through the downtown of the city. You get on a truck, then you’re knocking people off it, then you’re on the dirt bike, then there’s a tank chasing you… That entire sequence was really memorable to me, because my wife — she’s not so much of a gamer — walked in just as I got to that part and just sat there awestruck as I was going through a 15 minute series of amazing events. And it was like ‘Oh my god, is this a movie?’ ‘No, I’m playing right now!'”
-Scott Campbell // Creative Director on Starblood Arena, WhiteMoon Dreams
“I beat Uncharted 4 and loved that. I play a lot of games of all types of genres, but the sheer production values of something like Uncharted again raised the benchmark.”
-Hermen Hulst // Co-founder, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games
“I played and loved a lot of games this year. Uncharted 4 was everything I hoped for and expected in an Uncharted game, and when I was playing it I couldn’t believe the production values. I mean, look at the leaves, alone! Goddamn those leaves — as a developer the standard for leaves was just raised to a crazy point. I really enjoyed the game. ”
-Tim Schafer // Co-Founder and Designer on Grim Fandango, Double Fine
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
As chosen by…
“I’m torn between the [Uncharted: Nathan Drake Collection] and 4. I’ve only just started Thief’s End, and I’d forgotten how good [the originals] were. I don’t have a lot of time to play games, and certainly games of 10, 15 hours. So to get back into it was quite an effort, just in terms of carving out a bit of time, making sure I was in the zone to play games. It was nice on a personal level to connect back with them and get ready for Uncharted 4.”
-Mark O’Connor // Producer on Wipeout Omega Collection, Sony XDev
The Witness
As chosen by…
“My best PlayStation gaming moment of 2016 was the several times in The Witness that I thought my brain would crack and fail. A few times I would start in on a puzzle, thinking at first, “What is this? There’s no way to do this!”, only to break through the preconceptions I had about how a puzzle worked and have the impossible turn into common sense.”
-Ian Milham // Game Director on Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics
“I thought it was cool, thought it was interesting. It wasn’t a regurgitation of something else.”
-James Austin // Director on Boundless, Wonderstruck | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Jordan is protesting Israeli plans to expand the Western Wall plaza as part of a landmark agreement that will open the plaza to pluralistic prayer, saying the move will damage ruins of a 7th-century palace that once stood at the site.
A Jordanian minister on Saturday expressed the Hashemite kingdom’s displeasure with Israel’s announcement that it will allocate an area of the Western Wall plaza for mixed-gender prayer.
Jordanian Media Affairs and Communications Minister Muhammad Momani urged Israel “not to meddle” with the Umayyad Palaces area, using an alternate term for an area south of the Western Wall, adjacent to the Temple Mount.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
In a landmark decision last week, Israel’s cabinet voted to push ahead with a plan to expand the Western Wall plaza into that area to allow for pluralistic, mixed-gender and non-Orthodox services at the site, the holiest place where Jews may pray.
Momani called on Israel to return jurisdiction of the area to the Jordanian Waqf, which administers the Temple Mount, known as the Al-Aqsa compound to Muslims, under an arrangement in place since 1967.
Palestinians have also come out in opposition to the plan to expand the plaza. Disputes over control of the flashpoint holy site and charges of violations have often devolved into periods of increased Israeli-Palestinian tensions and spiraling violence.
The area is already home to a small wooden platform set up recently to accommodate non-Orthodox prayer
The official Petra news agency called the small platform and new plan part of “continued Israeli violations against Islamic sites and heritage in occupied Jerusalem.”
The Umayyad Palaces were two large buildings constructed in the late 7th and early 8th century that some researchers believe were once palaces for the Umayyads, who ruled Jerusalem from 660 to 750 and built the Dome of the Rock and a number of other Jerusalem landmarks.
The buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 749 and were excavated by Israel in the 1970s. Today they are part of an archaeological park adjacent to the southwest corner of the Temple Mount that is open to the public.
Jordan has protested the excavations, accusing Israel of destroying Islamic heritage, and last week Jerusalem Waqf head Azzam Khatib Tamimi sent a letter urging Israel to stop work at the site.
While the Jordanian-run Waqf governs the top of the Temple Mount — the site of the biblical Jewish temples that is known as the al-Aqsa compound to Muslims and is home to the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque — Israel maintains control over access to the site as well as areas below the Mount, as part of a status quo agreement in place since 1967. Israel does not allow Jews to pray atop the mount.
Last week, Palestinian Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs Youssef Ideiss said the planned Israeli plaza was “another Israeli attempt to change the status quo at the Temple Mount.”
Israel will use the expansion of the non-Orthodox section to carry out archaeological digs and “Judaicize the holy site,” he claimed.
Ideiss claimed the Western Wall was a part of the Temple Mount compound and “a holy Islamic site expropriated by Israel in 1967.” According to Muslim tradition, the Western Wall is where the prophet Mohammad tied the winged animal Buraq, which he rode on the night he ascended to heaven. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
One of the guests most requested by our listeners, Steve Maisch is a Salt Lake City climber/coach/economics professor who, much like myself, uses himself as a guinea pig to test new approaches to training. As such, we decided to nerd out on a couple of topics. For this one, we discuss the different hangboard protocols, when and why to use them, what they can do for you, and where they can go wrong. I'm sure we forgot a few, which is ok, because we can always record more... | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
North Korea attempted to launch an intermediate-range ballistic missile off the country's east coast on Friday but the launch failed, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
The US military detected and tracked the missile launch at 5:33am Korea time, or 20:33GMT on Thursday, a defence department spokesman said in a statement. The missile did not pose a threat to North America, it added.
"We call again on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps towards fulfilling its international commitments and obligations," the official said.
An official at the South Korean defence ministry said North Korea attempted a missile launch early on Friday but it appeared to have failed. The official could not confirm the type of missile.
Yonhap, citing a number of South Korean government sources, reported a mobile launcher was spotted carrying up to two Musudan missiles on Thursday following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the next month, which led to fresh UN sanctions.
Defiant North Korea 'fires ballistic missiles into sea'
Analysts speculated the North would fire the Musudan missile with a design range of more than 3,000km. It is not known to have been flight-tested previously by Pyongyang.
Some analysts said North Korea may choose to test-fire the Musudan in the near future as it tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to put the mainland United States within range.
US intelligence estimates say North Korea's ability to reach the United States is low, but its capabilities will increase, making continued investment in missile defence essential.
READ MORE: Holiday in North Korea?
The US, which has 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, said it was aware of reports that North Korea was preparing to test intermediate-range missiles and was closely monitoring the Korean peninsula
Admiral Bill Gortney, the officer responsible for defending American airspace, told a US Senate hearing on Wednesday that he agreed with a South Korean assessment that North Korea was capable of putting a nuclear warhead on a medium-range missile that would reach all of South Korea and most of Japan.
READ MORE: South Korea and US forces storm mock North Korea beach
The US and South Korea began talks on the possible deployment of a new missile-defence system, the Terminal High Altitude Area defence (THAAD), after the latest North Korea nuclear and rocket tests.
North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and the US, often fires missiles during periods of tension in the region or when it comes under pressure to curb its defiance and abandon its weapons programmes.
In March, the North Korean government released a video depicting a nuclear attack on the US. The four-minute state media video - entitled "Last Chance" - showed a digitally created scene of a missile being fired from a North Korean submarine and wiping out the US capital
South Korean analysts have said North Korea may choose to display a show of force before a major ruling-party congress in May, where it is expected to declare itself a nuclear power, or around the April 15 anniversary of the birth of Kim's grandfather, Kim Il-sung. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Wallets are such a bother. They flop around your pocket or purse, swelling as they munch on rarely-used loyalty cards and superfluous receipts.
But we’re living in the freakin’ future now. Why do we still have to lug around several different credit cards, or keys for irritating doors to the car and the office, when technology has far surpassed the need for any of them?
Lots of people are moving to store these sorts of things in their smartphones, of course, using services like Apple Pay and smart locks. But phones can be lost and hacked. So a growing number of people — including, for whatever reason, about 3,000 Swedes — are opting for something even more invasive, and arguably practical: a surgically inserted microchip, according to the Associated French Press.
The chip itself essentially acts as a digital keychain. NFC (near-field communication) is a way of sending information wirelessly from a passive chip to a reader, but only when they are about 4 cm (1.6 in) apart (you might have heard of radio frequency identification, or RFID — NFC is a more sophisticated form of it). A chip in the hand can help people do things like sign into the gym, unlock doors to cars and offices, and make credit card payments. Over time, as the technology progresses, the implant will be able to do even more.
The technology itself is not new. In fact, Swedes (and others) have been using microchips this way since at least 2015. Even before then, groups of people have been meeting at “implant parties,” often organized by larger companies, to hook themselves up. And the chips are similar to the ones veterinarians implant in dogs and cats so that their owners can find them in case they run away again.
But now, people who get the implant aren’t counterculture biohackers — they’re the everyman. This is especially true in Sweden, where these chips are so mainstream that, since June 2017, people have been able to buy train tickets with their microchips.
More bodies equipped with microchips doesn’t necessary sound like good news to everybody, however. NFC chips right below the skin give corporations a fair amount of control over you — they could track where you are, how long you take for lunch every day, or how many times you went to the bathroom, if the chip were scanned by a reader. And since most chips are offered through big companies, it’s just a matter of time until this happens. And opting out of this kind of data collection is a lot more convoluted when you’ve got a chip implanted in your bodily tissues. If you want to go off the grid in even the smallest way, you can leave your wallet at home, but removing a microchip requires bit more, uh, effort.
And then there’s the obvious data security concerns. No internet-connected data, no matter how secure it may seem, is safe — even NFC can be hacked with the use of a specialized reader and a lot of coding skills. Smartphones have tackled this security problem by combining NFC technology with biometric readings, like your fingerprint. But microchips like these don’t have such security, which could make your personal info more vulnerable to hacking.
So, we get it, Sweden — you’re populated by futuristic cyberpunk badasses while most of us are still stuck with humdrum brass keys and overstuffed wallets that bulges like a recently-fed snake. But without additional safeguards, and guarantees of online privacy, the microchipping fad may quickly become a digital security nightmare. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
In early August in a press release, Alexander & Baldwin announced that they will preserve bowling in Kailua. But what does that mean to them?
The current lease at Pali Lanes will expire on Jan. 3. Then starting in February Pali Lanes will be operated on a month-to-month lease. That means (speaking in hypothetical terms) Pali Lanes could be open in February and then told in March that they would have to shut down.
With this new lease, Team #SavePaliLanes and the two Pali Lanes owners will not be able to pursue our plan to completely renovate Pali Lanes.
Over the past year Team #SavePaliLanes has been working with the Hamakua Group to produce a completely new Pali Lanes. With the help of the Hamakua Group, Pali Lanes drew up plans for a new Pali Lanes. If we are able to renovate Pali Lanes, it will be the nicest and newest bowling alley in the state. It will have all the newest advances in the “bowling world.”
Our plans for renovations call for “modernizing and refinishing, continuing the earned local heritage, continue to be the proven community (gathering) activity center (of Kailua), add a second floor above the Hale Kealoha restaurant for office spaces and other uses, an outdoor performance stage, and Kailua Town’s requested Central Green Community Space.”
The two biggest changes would be 1) the parking lot and 2) the second story.
The parking lot at Pali Lanes in the new plan would not exist. The current parking would be transformed into a grassy area, that would also have a stage for various uses. This would allow the Pali Lanes parking lot to be a gathering center for all of Windward Oahu (specifically Kailua residents).
Christian Arakawa
There could be daily or weekly farmer’s markets, talk story events, hula events. Anything event that the public wants can be held at Pali Lanes. For people coming to bowl at Pali Lanes, they can park in the parking lot and the parking structure right next to the bowling alley.
The second story would go right on top of the current restaurant (Hale Kealoha’s). The upstairs would have space for eight offices and one room for the community to use.
The purpose of the second floor would be for “governmental, civic and local consumer services such as a Satellite City Hall, Jobs Training Center, convenient office/meeting space(s) for community service groups such as Neighborhood Boards, Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola, Kailua Urban Design Task Force, ‘Ahahui Mālama i ka Lōhaki, Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, garden club, kids groups, etc.”
Christian Arakawa
The upstairs would benefit local businesses, not mainland companies. To see more pictures and a virtual flythrough of our plans please visit our website.
While all of this would be a huge benefit to Kailua, A&B seems to have other ideas. In their press release, they are looking at “other potential bowling operators” to possibly come in and run Pali Lanes. Windward Oahu, Kailua, and Oahu needs Pali Lanes to stay open and be run locally.
We need A&B to preserve Pali Lanes. A poll done by Rep. Cynthia Thielen found that over 70% of Kailua residents want to save Pali Lanes.
To A&B, I challenge you to hold a public forum to explain to the community your current position on Pali Lanes. I challenge you to hold a public forum to listen to the hundreds of people who love Pali Lanes and want it to stay. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The Empire Strikes Back
There has been a lot of exciting Star Wars news over the last few days, but this might be the most exciting thing yet: irrefutable proof that Yoda existed in medieval France. Julian Harrison, a curator for the British Library, made the shocking discovery—as reported by The Telegraph—when he was examining a manuscript that dates back to the 14th century for his Medieval Manuscripts blog. Ostensibly depicting the biblical story of Samson, the document in question shows a robed man with greenish skin, big ears, long hair, and claw-like hands. It is, without a doubt, Yoda.
Alright, so that’s pretty far from irrefutable, but Harrison himself isn’t sure who or what the character is supposed to be. He says it’s obviously not Yoda, just a thing that looks like Yoda, but we think he’s just covering up for the fact that Yoda’s existence in medieval France throws everything we know about history into disarray. This proves that Star Wars is real, and that there were Jedi walking around in France a few hundred years ago. That’s a pretty monumental revelation, and the impact it will have on how we think about the world around us is almost impossible to overstate.
For example, does this mean that midi-chlorians are also real? Is Harrison Ford a distant descendant of the real Han Solo, and if so, how does Indiana Jones play into that? Also, was the real Jar Jar as goofy as the one in the movies, or did George Lucas just make him into more of a caricature for the sake of comic relief? Hopefully, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will answer some of these questions, and if you want to see what other fictional characters really existed in medieval France, the entire Yoda manuscript is viewable online. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Send this page to someone via email
An Edmonton woman, her fiancé and their newborn baby are spending their first Canada Day together after the federal government changed course and granted her partner a visa to visit.
Kuen Tang, who is 39 and a quadriplegic, gave birth to their son Alexander Thor on June 5, but her fiancé Ren Dong Fang, also known as Jack, was not able to be by her side; Immigration Canada had denied him a temporary resident’s visa on several occasions.
READ MORE: Quadriplegic woman with newborn pleads with Immigration Canada for temporary visa for fiancé
After Tang shared the couple’s story and her hardships being a quadriplegic and new mother with Global News, she said her fiancé got a call from immigration authorities and he was able to secure a visa to come to Canada.
He arrived in Edmonton this past Tuesday, where he was greeted by Tang at the airport.
Story continues below advertisement
Kuen Tang and fiance Jack reunite at the Edmonton International Airport. Courtesy/Kuen Tang
“The moment he came in, [I] was overjoyed with excitement and mostly I just wanted Alexander to meet his daddy,” she said.
She said the couple rushed back to her house so he could meet the baby for the very first time.
“He dropped the suitcase, picked up the baby and I think he had a [few] tears in his eyes when he saw him,” she said.
Jack holds the couple’s baby. Courtesy/Kuen Tang
“Just seeing them together for the very first moment… he’s so good with the baby. We’ve been waiting for that moment this whole time. When it finally happens, it’s just a little overwhelming.”
Story continues below advertisement
Tang said Jack’s presence has made the learning curve of having their first child a lot easier.
“I finally got sleep for the very first time since we came home. Jack has literally taken over all the night care for the baby,” she said. Tweet This
She said the extra set of hands has been extremely helpful.
“Being a quadriplegic, I don’t have any trunk or hand muscles so trying to turn [the baby] and not injure him has been quite a big fear,” she said.
“[Jack being here gives me] peace of mind for me to really try a lot of things with Alexander that I probably wouldn’t dare to try on my own.” Tweet This
Jack is in Canada on a temporary resident’s visa, which allows him to stay until December; he plans to return to China before then, and the couple expects to apply for his permanent residency in the future.
Story continues below advertisement
READ MORE: ‘This is not what someone in a wheelchair should do’: Edmonton woman wheels Great Wall of China
Tang, for now, is enjoying the time the family of three has together and is preparing for life when she returns to solo parenting.
“With the progress we made in the last few days, I’m pretty confident that I can care for Alexander, at least to the best of my abilities, while [Jack] is gone,” she said.
She said the family’s story is a good example of what Canada, and Canada Day, is all about; Tang said she is grateful for the support from the community as well as the change of heart from Immigration Canada.
“I’ve been telling him Happy Canada Day since we woke up this morning. He’s really glad to be here,” she said. Tweet This
“We are a compassionate country and we care for our citizens, when one person is in need, the whole country rallies.”
-with files from Negar Mojtahedi and Sarah Kraus | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
10 arrests made during #Trump protest in #SantaAna. Range from failure to disperse to assault on officer w/ deadly weapon. 4 cars damaged. pic.twitter.com/W1wcBRPMxm — Greg Lee (@abc7greg) November 10, 2016
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities in Santa Ana on Wednesday evening fired rubber bullets into a crowd of anti-Donald Trump protesters, ten of whom were arrested after demonstrating against the president-elect.The crowd numbered between 200 and 300 people, some of whom damaged four patrol vehicles during the incident, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. One car's windshield was shattered after being hit with a large rock.At least one demonstrator ignited fireworks in the middle of a street while being confronted at a distance by police and sheriff's deputies in riot gear."He's for the wealthy, he's not for the people," one man at the scene said of Trump. "He's for the money."The protest took place amid similar marches and rallies in downtown Los Angeles , Chicago, Seattle and New York."The way he's talking to the same stuff, it's not right," a man in Santa Ana said. "It seems like he has something against Hispanic people." | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Beginning video is a 1930s all African-American segregated school in Kansas.The salute was officially replaced by the hand-over-heart salute when Congress amended the Flag Code on 22 December 1942.(American Nazi Salute/Socialist Salute/Bellamy etc) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
brace yourself for the worst images possible of that disease.
141 shares | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
SANFORD, FL: Dash cam and helicopter footage released by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office shows a fatal crash that happened after a speeding SUV containing five suspected burglars hit stop sticks and rolled over on State Road 417 on November 10th, 2015.Investigators said that the five men had been suspected of burglarizing four homes in Lake Mary and one in Sandford when the police caught up to them. A pursuit began after police followed two of the men in a stolen Corvette; the men got out of the car and fled to a waiting Acura SUV, which hit a motorcyclist as it sped to State Route 417. The SUV was then tracked by helicopter before it hit the stop sticks past the Lake Jesup Bridge and rolled multiple times. The full footage of the rollover, in which two of the suspects were ejected from the SUV, was not shown by the Sheriff's Department.Adarius Brown, 19, and Antonio Henry, 22, died in the crash. Eric Fairclough, 18; Spencer Thompson, 18; and Sonny Thorton, 19, were taken to the hospital. There were 79 charges between the five suspects prior to the incident; Brown had previously been charged with first-degree murder but had the charges dropped.Those wanting the rollover without the rest of the chase can go to the end of the clip | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has denied that Spider-Man will have a cameo in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Speculation has run rampant about the next appearance of the web-slinger since Marvel reached a deal with Sony to integrate the character into its films.
Captain America: Civil War was previously tipped as the most likely entrance point for Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although recently rumours have arisen about a possible Avengers: Age of Ultron cameo.
When Feige was asked directly if there would be a specially-filmed cameo for Spider-Man in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he simply told Collider: "No."
The producer nodded his head to seemingly deny the suggestion when it was asked a second time by the interviewer, but commented no further.
Feige has previously confirmed that the new Spider-Man will be high school age, but stressed that there will not be a third retelling of his origin story on the big screen.
"In Spider-Man's very specific case, where there have been two retellings of that origin in the last whatever it's been - [13] years - for us, we are going to take it for granted that people know that, and the specifics," he explained.
"It will not be an origin story, but with great power comes great responsibility. It is inherent to who his character is. But we want to reveal it in different ways and spend much more time focusing on this young high school kid in the MCU dealing with his powers."
Freddie Highmore, Dylan O'Brien, Donald Glover and Ansel Elgort are among the actors who have been linked to the role of Peter Parker.
The next solo Spider-Man movie has been scheduled for July 28, 2017.
Watch Digital Spy reveal the top Easter Eggs from Marvel movies below:
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Even Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) former chief strategist thinks it might be time to hang up the campaign boots after former Vice President Joe Biden had another strong night, including winning the coveted Michigan primary Tuesday, The Atlantic reports.
Tad Devine, who is unaffiliated with the Sanders campaign this year, but served as a senior strategist for the senator's 2016 bid, said "there is no path to victory," especially considering Biden's base is turning out at higher rates. "It's just that simple," Devine said.
Sanders continued his ultimately unsuccessful run against Hillary Clinton in 2016 until June, but Devine believes sticking around that long again would be bad news for Democrats and Biden, who he says probably needs "the spring and the summer without Bernie." But Devine thinks the "smart" and "reasonable" Sanders will recognize that it's "irrational" to keep the campaign going precisely for that reason.
Sanders' chances are certainly dwindling, The Atlantic reports, but some folks do want him to stick around for the next debate against Biden on Sunday, where he may still have an opportunity to prove he's better suited to take on President Trump head-to-head. "The stampede toward Biden was remarkably fast," said Robert Reich, a liberal economist and former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton. "That shows that his support is not absolutely steadfast, so it's at least possible that if his debate performance is very bad on Sunday, Bernie Sanders could have a renaissance." Read more at The Atlantic. Tim O'Donnell | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
レオパレス21のサブリース契約をめぐって昨年11月以降、数十人～129人規模の集団訴訟が相次いで起こされている。「損しないビジネス」「相続税対策」といった甘い言葉に乗ったものの、家賃の減額を半ば強制されるなど、トラブルになっているのだ。その裏には業者だけでなく銀行との結託も見えてきた。
今年2月には、愛知県の男性がレオパレス21を相手取り、訴訟を起こした。
訴状によると、05年にレオパレス21とサブリース契約を結んだ際、30年間は賃料が減少しないとの説明があったのに、リーマンショックによる経営悪化を理由に、10年未満で家賃を減額されたというのだ。
同じように10年未満で減額されたオーナー約50人が代理人弁護士を通じて、レオパレス側に9月上旬、家賃増額を請求する内容証明郵便を発送。うち2人は9月7日に提訴、残りも返還請求訴訟に踏み切る予定という。
レオパレス21の一部オーナーによって14年に設立された「LPオーナー会」の前田和彦代表はこう言う。
「11年以降、レオパレス側に減額されたオーナーは全国で推定1万人以上います。これから集団訴訟が次々と全国で起こる可能性があります」
国民生活センターには、業者とサブリース契約を結んでアパート経営を始め、首が回らなくなった家主からの相談が相次いでいる。
山陽地方に住む70代の女性Cさんは00年に不動産管理会社からしつこい営業をかけられ、アパート経営を始めた。銀行から借金をして購入したアパートは徐々に空室が目立つようになり、入居者は8部屋中3部屋まで減った。
当初の契約は30年間の家賃保証があったが、契約更新の際、担当者から一方的に賃料を下げると言われた。さらに10年後のリフォームにかかる費用負担の説明が一切なかった。最終的に銀行への返済金が家賃収入を上回り赤字になった。
国民生活センターには、▽しつこい勧誘▽リスクを明示する重要事項の説明がない▽相続税など節税対策と思って契約したが、契約更新の際、不利な条件がつきつけられた──という相談が並ぶ。
1
2
3
4
次のページ
トップにもどる 週刊朝日記事一覧 | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Having had bantams for three years now, I’ve found a lot of positives and negatives to choosing mini chickens over big ones. There’s been times where I’ve wished I had gone with large chickens, and times when I’m said I’m so glad I didn’t. Like whenever I get crapped on. I am always glad for mini chickens then.
When choosing the types of chickens you want you have lots of size options, ranging from less than 1 pound to upwards of 13 pounds (yes, seriously). They’re generally broken down into two size categories though: Bantams and large fowl. Large fowl fall into light, medium, and heavy while bantams technically fit into two types: True bantams and miniatures. True bantams have more or less always been small and have no larger counterpart, while miniatures have been bred down from large chickens. Miniatures are generally slightly larger than true bantams. Bantams can range anywhere from the tiniest Class A Seramas (a true bantam) to the Orpington bantams (a miniature) and Silkies (a true bantam), which are nearly the size of small large fowl chicken.
Miniaturizing isn’t really a taboo thing in chickens like it is in dogs. I’m guessing that’s because it’s not really socially frowned upon to eat them if you change your mind. Eat the chickens that is, not the people who get all nitpicky about miniaturizing. I mean the American Poultry Association even recognizes bantam Jersey Giants as a breed, which is kind of an oxymoron.
Just like with large fowl chickens, the egg-laying abilities of bantams vary a great deal so it’s hard to say which size make better layers. As with all chickens they are their most productive until 2 years old, then productivity slows down with age. The egg-laying abilities of chickens could almost be its own post, but I’ll try to summarize everything in one paragraph. Just skip down to the bold lettering if egg numbers don’t interest you. I promise it won’t hurt my feelings.
Commercial hybrids are, in my opinion, in a separate class. Nothing, neither large fowl nor bantam, can compete with them for total eggs laid during the first two years, but the hybrids’ production drops off so rapidly after two years they’re not necessarily the best choice for backyard pets with benefits (harr harr). Heritage breeds will lay less eggs per week, but generally lay better over the years so they are a better choice for someone who plans on keeping their chickens for their entire natural lifespan while still wanting a few eggs. Bantams miniaturized from large fowl breeds that are exceptional (eggs-ceptional?) layers are likely to lay lots of eggs as well while the bantams from lower production large fowl will also likely be lower production. Still following? Awesome. Many of the true bantams will lay in the ballpark of 3-4 eggs per week, although some can be as low as 2-3 per week and some will lay 5-6. Then there are Silkies, which while technically not bad layers are so prone to going broody that many of them they hardly lay any eggs at all. As with anything it’s important to research your breeds, and the individual lines within a breed, to ensure you’re getting the best fit for your needs.
But this post is about bantams vs. large fowl. So why would you choose bantams over large chickens?
1. Their eggs are deliciously adorable
They make the cutest little two-bite shoyu eggs and deviled eggs. And because unwashed eggs can be stored at room temperature, they’re the ultimate edible decor. They almost don’t look real.
2. Their eggs are just plain delicious
Assuming the chickens have a similar diet, the higher yolk:white ratio gives bantam eggs more flavour than large eggs. Whisked for scrambled eggs or omelets they just feel thicker, smoother, and more luxurious. In a blind taste test I did of cookie dough the bantam egg dough was always chosen as the winner for richness of flavour.
Aaaand now I’m hungry…
3. They’re so dang cute
I mean seriously. Yes there’s something adorable about a big, squishy Faverolles but I mean come on. This is full grown Belgian d’Anvers.
4. They poop less than standard chickens (no seriously)
It’s not just the difference in size, their poops are smaller proportionately to their body weight and happen less frequently. Their poops are also, anecdotally, firmer and less smelly than standards. So if they crap on you their poop is more likely to roll off instead of splattering all over your jeans. Unless it’s cecal poop. Then nothing can save you.
I will spare you poop photos. No need to thank me, it’s just my good deed for the day.
5. They take up less space
I don’t have a garage, so if one of them is sick or needs a bath I have to bring them into the house. Any time this happens I instantly remember why I have bantams and not standards. Also see #4 again.
In the event of an emergency I can transport my entire flock in a large Rubbermaid bin. They are less likely to destroy the grass in a backyard (unless you have, like, ten of them in a little urban yard. Let’s be realistic here). My coop and run that would be cramped with 4 standard chickens can very comfortably house my bantams.
Well, mostly. Which brings us to the reasons you might not want to own bantams.
1. They are very active
While there are variations within each size class, I’ve found on average that my banties need more exercise and mental enrichment to be happy than standard chickens. Entire tree limbs to climb on, a big rock, a twisty log, and freeze-dried grubs aren’t enough to keep my girls happy. Fake foraging isn’t enough for them, they want out of their pen to find and dig up their own bugs. And unhappy chickens scream at the top of their lungs until they get what they want. And while bantam voices are quieter in overall volume than large fowl, they’re still pretty freaking loud. Definitely loud enough to annoy any close neighbours, and probably grouchy far away neighbours too. This can be tricky, because…
2. They’re prey to even more creatures than standard chickens
While standard chickens are generally safe from smaller birds of prey, a bantam is small enough to be seen as a potential meal. I had to stop free-ranging my bantams because of a persistent resident peregrine (that thankfully had bad aim!) while, as far as I know anyway, my neighbour’s chickens were all fine. If you have to deal with larger raptors like eagles or red-tailed hawks though then no chicken is safe. Almost everything eats chicken. Everything eats bantams.
3. You can only buy the chicks unsexed
This point is moot if you intend to only buy from small hobby or show breeders (not a bad idea, by the way), but if you’re looking at commercial breeders like Ideal or McMurray then only standard chickens come with a choice of gender. One way around this is to search out hobby breeders selling pullets that are at least 8 weeks old or more, when gender is easier to tell. Failed show/breeding prospects still make great backyard pets. If you want itty bitty freshly hatched banties though you’ll have to deal with roughly 50% of them being male. And as anyone who hatches eggs will tell you, it’s generally more than 50%. Sometimes it works out, like how I ended up with Gueuze, but it’s why last year I purchased Brulot and Beignet as older pullets. Well that and I didn’t really want to brood chicks again. Apparently I even find babies of the chicken variety kind of overrated. Is something wrong with me?
Although smaller, you can still eat your surplus bantam cockerels. But only if you can butcher them, or let someone else butcher them for you. If you’re soft you’ll end up with a second coop full of angry bachelor roosters. Keep that in mind before you go out and buy a bunch of chicks.
4. The eggs don’t always convert 2:1 in recipes
While the whole eggs can be used two bantam for every one standard, because of the higher yolk:white ratio in bantam eggs, if a recipe calls for only egg whites then you’ll need more than two bantam whites to equal one standard white (and slightly less than 2 yolks for every 1 standard yolk). Sometimes this can be frustrating.
5. There is less egg colour selection.
While you can get white, brown, blue, and green(ish) egg-laying bantams, they haven’t been selectively bred for the rich colour tones that many standard breeds have. You’ll never get the deep olive green eggs of an Olive Egger (Marans or Welsummer cross Ameraucana or Easter Egger), because there are no bantams that lay chocolate brown eggs. Or even copper brown eggs. White laying breeds tend to range from porcelain to lightly tinted, while blue eggs are generally a pastel tone, and brown eggs are generally varying shades of tan. The darkest bantam eggs I’ve seen were from a Marans bantam project, and they were about as dark as a grocery store brown egg.
So lots of fun colours, but not exactly the rainbow you get with large chickens.
Fun trivia fact: Eating bantam eggs is nothing new. Did you know that Dutch Bantams were originally kept for their eggs? The Dutch serfs were required to turn over all large eggs to the land owners, and so they kept a personal flock of bantams for their own egg consumption.
Every once in a while you’ll also encounter a grommet-head that just can’t wrap their mind around the idea that you can, in fact, eat bantam eggs or that there are reasons someone might choose bantams over large fowl. Or maybe they just think they’re being funny. Then again these are the same people that don’t feel whole unless they’re driving a giant lifted truck with an 80+ pound dog loose in the back, so maybe it doesn’t matter | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Wrestlers who violate NCAA weight certification protocols, use prohibited weight-loss practices or commit a severe weigh-in or medical examination violation will face stiffer penalties in the 2017-18 season.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a penalty change that requires a wrestler to miss eight consecutive competitions for a first offense in those areas and to sit out a year for a second offense.
Wrestlers found to be in violation also would be required to recertify their weight at some point during the suspension period. Examples of violations covered under this rule include urine manipulation during weight assessments; use of rubber suits, saunas, diuretics or intravenous rehydration; and skin check forgery or deception.
Additionally, the team’s coach and the director of athletics will receive private reprimands for the first offense. If a second offense occurs, additional institutional penalties will be determined by the rules committee.
The weight management rules were established to protect the health and safety of the participants in the sport. Wrestlers can lose up to 1.5 percent of their body weight per week. The rules are in place to ensure student-athletes maintain a slow descent toward their competition weight classification.
Weight allowance
The panel also approved a rule pertinent to weight allowance: When back-to-back dual meet competitions occur, all competitors will receive a 1-pound weight allowance on the second day of competition.
Facial hair
Wrestlers will be allowed to have facial hair of up to a half-inch in length — as long as the skin of the wrestler is visible so that a proper medical examination can be performed. If the medical professional rules the beard is too long or thick and a medical examination cannot be performed, the wrestler will be required to immediately trim the facial hair to within the guidelines.
A wrestler with facial hair exceeding a half-inch that successfully clears medical exams can compete using a nonabrasive facial covering or a face mask.
Previously, wrestlers were not allowed to compete with facial hair unless they filed for a waiver.
Third-party video review
The panel approved an optional rule to allow a third-party registered official to be hired to conduct video reviews on coaches’ challenges in dual meets and tournaments.
Other rules changes:
· When in the neutral position, the referee will verbally announce a danger signal to wrestlers who expose their shoulders to the mat at any angle less than 90 degrees. The verbal announcement will be followed by an audible three-count. If the referee reaches the third count and the wrestler is still in the danger zone, the opposing wrestler is awarded a takedown.
· Wrestlers will be limited to a maximum of six matches per day.
· The Feb. 15 deadline for a wrestler to reach his lowest allowable weight class was eliminated. The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee believes, since all student-athletes must adhere to the 1.5 percent weight-loss guidelines, there is no sound rationale for maintaining the arbitrary Feb. 15 deadline.
· Wrestlers will be allowed to certify at their weight classifications until the first date of competition. Even though the certification timeline is being extended, the 1.5 percent weight-loss descent requirement would remain unchanged.
· Coaches will indicate the intent to use a video review by throwing a red or green foam brick into the competition circle. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Aleppo Province:
It rose to at least 15, including 6 children at least, the number of people who were killed in 2 massacres carried out by regime’s helicopters when they targeted areas in neighborhoods of al-Mashhad and al-Salhin in Aleppo city, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation, and due to presence of missing people, also the bombing resulted in the destruction of the property of citizens. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
NEW DELHI — Days after a man-eating tiger was shot dead in central India, a backlash is underway, with politicians and animal rights advocates denouncing the killing and a senior government minister threatening legal action against people involved in the hunt.
The female tiger, called T-1 by forest rangers, was believed to have killed at least 13 villagers over the last two years, and to have partially eaten several. A military-style operation aimed at tranquilizing and capturing the animal, which had two cubs, ended instead with the tiger’s death on Friday night.
India’s Supreme Court had ruled in September that the hunters could shoot the tigress if they were left with no other choice. According to forest officials, that is what happened when it was spotted near the village of Borati, in the state of Maharashtra.
After a group of rangers identified the tigress as T-1, one of them shot her with a tranquilizer dart, officials said. But then she lunged at their open vehicle, and another hunter raised his gun and fired. T-1 died on the spot. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Lots of people sample classic drum kits which make familiar sounds. This is very different. Every drum in this kit is a snare. There's a relatively normal 14” snare, a deep 13” snare converted from a tom, and a giant 22” snare we constructed specifically for the purposes of sampling. Even the kick is a 20” marching band bass drum with two sets of microsnare wires under the reso head. We put this kit together specifically for the purposes of sampling it, starting with making the 22” snare and then looking for pieces to match it.
It's sampled with sticks and brushes, including stirs and flutters on every snare. There's also a hi-hat with six degrees of openness sampled with stick tips, stick shanks and brushes, crash and ride cymbals with multiple articulations, a woodblock, and even noises of sitting down and turning on the stool. It all adds up to over 5600 samples and 2 GB.
So what is it for? Well, for any music which needs unusual drums with a lot of character and dirt, though they're not being hit hard enough for extreme metal. We think they're most suitable for indie pop and organic hip-hop, though it would not surprise us if most owners end up using them in ways we never imagined.
Walkthrough videos:
The list of kit pieces and articulations:
20” bass drum:
pedal: kick (all snares on), kick (snare off, snares on on other drums),
kick (all snares off), pedal click noise, pedal spring noise, pedal return noise
stick: rim click with shank, rim click with tip
pedal: kick (all snares on), kick (snare off, snares on on other drums), kick (all snares off), pedal click noise, pedal spring noise, pedal return noise stick: rim click with shank, rim click with tip 22” snare:
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off), edge hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), edge hit (all snares off)
brush: center hit, edge hit, dig, stir, flutter
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off), edge hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), edge hit (all snares off) brush: center hit, edge hit, dig, stir, flutter 14” snare:
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rimshot, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off)
brush: center hit, dig, rimshot, stir, flutter
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rimshot, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off) brush: center hit, dig, rimshot, stir, flutter 13” snare:
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rimshot, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off)
brush: center hit, dig, rimshot, stir, flutter
stick: sidestick, center hit, edge hit, rimshot, rim click with shank, rim click with tip, center hit (snare off, snares on on other drums), center hit (all snares off) brush: center hit, dig, rimshot, stir, flutter 14” hi-hat:
pedal: chik, splash, return noise, pedal noise, pedal return noise
stick: tip hit (six degrees of openness), shank hit (six degrees of openness)
brush: hit (six degrees of openness)
pedal: chik, splash, return noise, pedal noise, pedal return noise stick: tip hit (six degrees of openness), shank hit (six degrees of openness) brush: hit (six degrees of openness) 16” crash:
stick: edge, bow
brush: bow
edge choke
stick: edge, bow brush: bow edge choke 20” ride
stick: bow, bell, edge
brush: bow
edge choke
stick: bow, bell, edge brush: bow edge choke woodblock:
low, high
low, high incidental noises:
sit down, turn
And a bit more about the kit itself:
Plogue Sforzando version 1.951 or newer is required, and can be downloaded from Plogue's website. All the samples are also included as unlocked WAV files, so you can also use them as one-shot samples etc. if desired. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
If forced to use just one word to describe President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, it would have to be “rich.” The incoming administration will feature several billionaires in high-level government positions, along with a more pedestrian collection of multimillionaires, hedge fund managers, and tycoons of various flavors. The combined net worth of Trump’s cabinet picks comes out to more than$13 billion.
For the average person who believes that the interests of the wealthy are already absurdly privileged by government policy, an executive branch managed almost entirely by the ultra-rich feels like an accelerated descent into oligarchy. But for Larry Kudlow, the cable news pundit and pseudo-economist whom Trump is reportedly considering to chair the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a cabinet full of rich people is good because the wealthy, by virtue of their wealth, are honest people.
Advertisement:
Here’s what Kudlow wrote in a National Review piece a few days ago:
Since the election, I have argued that the Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton war against business will come to an end, and that America will once again reward success, not punish it. And while the Left has demonized Trump’s cabinet appointees as a terrible group of successful business people, free-market capitalists such as myself regard this group as very good indeed. Why shouldn’t the president surround himself with successful people? Wealthy folks have no need to steal or engage in corruption. Their business success demonstrates that they know how to achieve goals and convince skeptics that good deals can be made to the benefit of both sides. Isn’t this just what America needs?
“Wealthy folks have no need to steal or engage in corruption” is a ludicrous assertion on many levels. The first thing to point out is that this is a real-world expression of a satirical concept known as Worthington’s Law, which determines human worth according to a simple formula: More money = better than. It’s a joke that’s meant to expose the shallowness of valuing a person based on their personal wealth, but Kudlow is putting it out there as the unofficial motto of the incoming administration.
And, of course, the entirety of human history is studded with people who have amassed wealth through corruption and theft. Among the most prominent people in this category is the incoming president himself, who just recently agreed to an eight-figure settlement in a fraud lawsuit related to the fake university he founded in order to scam vulnerable people out of their life savings. The fabulously wealthy president-elect also admitted to violating self-dealing rules related to his charitable foundation, which is under investigation by the New York attorney general’s office amid allegations of corruption. Trump himself boasted on the campaign trail of throwing money at politicians so that they would do favors for him whenever he asked.
Advertisement:
That gets to the faulty, childish logic at the heart of Kudlow’s argument. Of course rich people don’t “need” to steal or be corrupt. It isn’t a question of “need” at all. They steal and engage in graft out of greed, or simply because they feel (often rightly) that they can get away with it. By Kudlow’s ridiculous reasoning, a person who steals millions of dollars has done society a favor by making himself rich, thus curing himself of the “need” to steal.
The real problem here, however, is that this absurd argument carries a good deal of weight with non-rich supporters of the president-elect. When I talked to Trump voters during the campaign and asked them why they supported him, they would often respond with some version of “He’s not in this for the money; he’s already rich.” It’s a total non sequitur, yet you still see it popping up when reporters get reactions from Trump voters to the fabulous wealth of his cabinet nominees. “The guys he's putting in there, they don't need to do this. They're independently wealthy,” one Trump voter told the Associated Press earlier this month. “They don't need any more money. The motivation is to make pragmatic, rational business decisions. What could be wrong about that?”
The tragedy here is the misguided conflation of “he’s already rich” with “he’s looking out for my interests.” There is absolutely no reason to connect a person’s existing wealth with their desire to do what’s best for anyone but themselves. But the Trump orbit is invested heavily in this perverted form of populism that stipulates that wealthy elites are the only people who can be trusted to govern without the influence of greed. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
hears a crying baby outside of her front door at night assumes it is a serial killer
169 shares | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
After installing the 2" lift and the 31" tires, it was time to trim the fender flares and wheel well arches.
The technique for cutting the sheet metal is an old, tried-and-tested process in the Jeep XJ community. Just search youtube or any jeep forum and you'll see the same method each and every time. Trim the sheet metal up front, and "cut and fold" the sheet metal for the rear fenders. So I won't go into too much detail about this process.
So the process of how to cut the sheet metal doesn't change much, but WHERE you cut and how high up is all up to you.
What I did was I tried to trim off just a enough so that there would still be a little tiny metal fender flare left. This meant cutting right along a bend in the sheet metal - which also meant the shape/profile of the fender arches would remain mostly stock - or, in the case of the rear, cutting up to that bend and folding the sheet metal over at that point. This also allowed me to keep the windshield wiper fluid reservoir hidden between the outer fender and the inner fender.
Here, on the front, the vertical cuts are relief cuts for the horizontal cuts:
Here, on the rear fenders, the vertical cuts are made and then a rubber mallet was used to fold them back,
You can see I also had to cut the bumper caps a little. I used a sharp razor blade and it sliced right through it on the hot sunny day.
This will be just right for 31" tires and 2" lift. Larger tires will require more cutting probably.
What I did differently than every other XJ fender trim job I've seen is, instead of ripping out the plastic inner-fender liners, I left them in place and used zip ties to secure them. The problem with removing them is mud and stuff can get flung into the cavities in the wheel well, quickly harming the car horn speakers located there and - in my case for a 97 XJ - the windshield wiper reservoir.
To attach the inner fender plastic to the plastic bumper caps, I used an old trick for repairing torn ATV fenders. I drilled holes in them and "stitched" them together with zip ties, like so:
So far it's held up very well.
Next, I covered the wheel well arches with truck bed liner paint.
I placed painters tape along the exact line where the old plastic fender flares met the body. This ensured that it wouldn't look odd. I also went ahead and painted the
Everything bellow the painters tape got the truck bed liner treatment.
I used Monstaliner brand paint and I really like it. When first applied, it's a really deep gloss black. However, after a few weeks, the sun will fade it and it will be much duller. I'm actually looking forward to that though because it will provide needed contrast between the dark green paint and the black truck bed paint.
There was one last thing to do. I felt that the jeep may never be this clean ever again, so I bought a bottle of Meguares Ultimate Compound and used my dual-action buffer tool to put some much needed shine back into the old faded paint.
Hood Vents
While I had the angle grinder out, I got to work on the hood vents. I ordered some GenRight hood louvers from Quadratec and they came in the mail just in time before my Colorado excursion.
Only thing I did different than the way most people do it is I opened the hood and then took a vent and held it up to the UNDERSIDE of the hood so that I could get it in the perfect location that doesn't interfere with the bracing. Then marked the location of one of the holes in the vent and drilled a 1/8" hole through it. Made sure both sides where identical and symmetrical. This allowed me to lay the hood back down, place the vent on top of the hood where it belongs, line up the hole in the vent with the hole in the hood and that was how I found it's location.
With the bottom right hole in the vent lined up with the hole I just drilled through the hood, I used a sharpie to draw the outline.
Then I measured a 1/2 inch on the inside. This is the line that needs to be cut.
Before cutting, I drill 1/2 inch holes in the corners.
Then it's just a game of connect the dots...
And used a rivet gun to fasten the hood louvers to the hood.
Done!
Fenders trimmed and painted! Hood vents installed! Now I'm ready for my epic Colorado expedition!! | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Of all the assorted fights and squabbles in the atheist/ humanist/ freethinker/ secular/ godless/ whatever movement, I’ve tended to stay away from the one about which of these “whatever”s we should call ourselves. A lot of this has to do with my own personal and philosophical views on naming and language — and a lot of it has to do with my experience in the LGBT community, and my experience with the squabbles we went through about what to call ourselves.
I recently got an email about this question from Kaylie Johnson, who’s working on a project about secular self-identification for the Secular Student Alliance and the new Openly Secular project. Here’s what she said:
My hope is that I can produce a resource to help people understand that is important for individuals to be able to identify and label themselves as they see fit. I also will probably end up making a list/glossary of possible labels within the secular community. It would be awesome to have your input on things like: -Why is it important to be able to define yourself/choose your own label?
-Why should you allow others to choose their own label?
-How does self identification within the secular community help people feel more comfortable? These are just some topics off the top of my head. I know you like to relate things to the LGBT community, so that may be a good way for me to help others understand the importance of self identity.
Here’s my reply.
*****
The answer to all these questions is the same. The power to name ourselves is hugely important for anyone. It’s especially important for marginalized people. I’ll use LGBT culture in my examples — but these translate to other marginalizations as well, including non-belief.
Throughout history, other people have gotten to name us. For decades and indeed centuries, straight people were the ones who chose the language commonly used for LGBT people. Because being out was dangerous, we couldn’t speak up publicly and use our own language, so outside of our private conversations with one another, we had to accept straight people’s words for us. And to this day, homophobic or transphobic slurs being hurled at us are often among our earliest experiences of forming our understanding of our identity.
Throughout history, other people have not just gotten to name us — they have gotten to define our names. For decades, straight people were the ones to define what exactly it meant to be homosexual, bisexual, transgender, transvestite, etc. — and they typically insisted that they knew what those words meant better than we did ourselves.
And throughout history, other people have gotten to decide which names were the polite ones, and which were the insulting ones. A classic example of this is the word “homosexual.” Most LGBT people don’t like it: we find it too clinical, and it has connections with an ugly history of our sexual orientation being medicalized. But for decades, this was the “polite” word many straight people continued to use, especially in medical or other scientific contexts.
When marginalized people begin to push back against our marginalization, part of that process involves saying, “We are not who you say we are. We are who we say we are.” Naming is a big part of that. That’s true on a larger community level, and it’s true for individuals.
And when people respect this — when people with privilege stop to think, “What is the polite word?” and work to remember which the current polite words are — it’s a sign of respect. It shows that they recognize the reality of our marginalization; it shows that they understand that we know ourselves better than they do; and it shows that they care enough about all this to undergo the slight inconvenience of keeping track of the language. (Conversely, when people don’t do this, it’s a sign that they either don’t understand any of this, or don’t care. Or both.)
Because of all this, it’s important to be able to name ourselves. It’s important to choose our own names, and to decide what those names mean. Example: “Bisexual” means somewhat different things to different self-identified bisexuals. How many partners of both sexes we’ve had, or how recently we had those experiences, or how important those experiences were to us, or whether those experiences were romantic or simply sexual, or how many people of both sexes we’re attracted to and how important that is to us regardless of who we’ve had sex with… all of these get weighed differently by different people when we’re deciding whether we’re bisexual, gay or lesbian, straight, pansexual, or some other words.
And because of all this, it’s important to support other people in naming themselves. Example: When gay men and lesbians insist that they know better than bisexuals do what it means to be bisexual, and tell other people that they’re “really” bisexual or “really” gay or lesbian or straight, it just perpetuates that same disempowerment we resist when we get it from straight culture.
Yes, this can lead to some confusion — especially in the earlier days of a community coming into its own, when a rough consensus about language is still being formed. It means that not everyone uses the language exactly the same way: that’s sometimes confusing, and it sometimes means we have to clarify and define our terms. (Not to mention the whole thing about how “we get to decide for ourselves which slurs we’re reclaiming and which ones we aren’t, and we get to use our reclaimed slurs but you don’t,” which outsiders can find very confusing.) But the power to name ourselves is too important. It far outweighs any inconvenience we might experience when we have to take ten seconds to spell out what exactly we mean.
So, similarly, non-believers shouldn’t insist that we all call ourselves atheists, or humanists, or agnostics, or whatever. And we shouldn’t insist that other non-believers define these words exactly the way we ourselves do. Example: I’m personally a little puzzled by self-identified agnostics, since most of them have about the same level of disbelief in God that they do about unicorns or leprechauns, and they don’t usually say they’re agnostic about those myths. But if that .0001% of doubt they have about God is important to them, so important that they feel “agnostic” describes them more accurately than “atheist” — or if they have other reasons to use the word “agnostic,” such as it going over better with family — I’m not going to press them to give the word up. I might debate with them over the actual epistemological question of whether religion should be in a different knowledge category than other things — but I’m not going to insist that they’re “really” an atheist. And I’ll ask them to extend the same respect to me, and not insist that my .0001% of doubt means I’m “really” an agnostic.
The power to name ourselves is too important. We shouldn’t try to take it away from each other. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Click here to request download link
info icon Be sure you have ad blocking plugins disabled to download. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Muhammad Asif Khattak clears up after his north Belfast home was targeted by racists
A Pakistani man has vowed to flee Northern Ireland after he and a friend were injured in two racially motivated attacks — carried out within a matter of hours.
Less than 24 hours after attending an anti-racism rally in Belfast, friends Muhammad Khattak and Haroon Khan were assaulted and had their north Belfast home set upon by thugs yesterday.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Khattak blamed the atmosphere stirred up by the fallout of an anti-Islamic sermon given by Pastor James McConnell, who was later backed by First Minister Peter Robinson.
In the six months since they moved into their home in Parkmount Street in the north of the city, they said they have suffered constant racial abuse.
Mr Khattak (24) said Peter Robinson's remarks about not trusting Muslim terrorists “cast suspicion over every Muslim”.
And he said the controversial words of Pastor McConnell gave his attackers “the licence” to do what they did.
“They have lit the fire in the forest and it is not going to stop,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
The two men — one a university graduate, the other a trained lawyer — were first attacked in the early hours of yesterday morning when a bottle was hurled through a window. They were clearing up the remnants of the smashed window yesterday afternoon when they were attacked yet again.
This time they were approached by three men who racially taunted them before setting on them.
Both victims tried to escape into the house. However, the men chased them and Muhammad, who tried to lock himself into the bathroom for safety, was badly beaten with a bottle.
The 24-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment to a suspected broken foot and minor cuts and bruises. Haroon (38), was also injured, but did not require hospital treatment.
A 57-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were last night arrested by police investigating the incidents.
The woman has been charged with disorderly behaviour and is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on June 27.
The man has been released on bail pending further police enquiries.
Police were maintaining a presence in the area late last night as some people remained in the street.
The double attack came days after the police were called to their home after receiving reports of “suspicious illegal activity”, something the men said the police found no proof of. The friends also said they have been subjected to constant racist abuse from people in the community and wanted to leave the country “as fast as they could”.
Mr Khattak said: “The people don't trust us to live here, they don't want us in the area and it's all because of our religion. The pastor has motivated the people to think Muslims are terrorists. The people know we are Muslims and they have targeted us. We are so scared, we just want out.”
He said Mr Robinson's recent comments about Muslims left him feeling feel “degraded”.
“Trusting someone to go to the shops — that's what a slave does,” said Mr Khattak.
“Those are not the comments of a leader, they made us feel like third-class citizens.”
Mr Robinson has condemned racist attacks and privately apologised to Belfast’s Muslim leaders.
However, Muhammad joined calls for the DUP leader to make his apology public.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, last night condemned the attacks. He said: “There is no justification for any attack on an individual or their home whatever the religion, lifestyle, or ethnicity of the person concerned. The perpetrators of such attacks are cowardly and I would urge anyone with any information about this attack to contact the police so that they can be brought to justice.”
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly also condemned the incident and called for political leaders to unite to help fight racism.
Taunts from residents relentless
Dark clouds were descending on Parkmount Street as Muhammad Khattak talked about the experiences he had faced after an attack on his home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Photographers and television journalists have the ability to bring people out into the street, and this loyalist community in north Belfast was no different.
But other than the heavy rain clouds, there was a weight in the air, that soon became all the more apparent the longer we stayed.
Since moving in, Muhammad had been subjected to racist abuse in the street. Taunts of “Paki B******” and “dirty Arabs” were thrown out constantly he said in the past six months as he made his way to and from the house.
As our photographer documented the scene one person began the taunting once again with the same vile insults.
“Tell him he should pay his rent and this won’t happen again,” was the shout from across the street, referring to a rumour being circulated to put the air of suspicion on Muhammad and his friend Haroon.
After a visit from the police about the false accusations, officers warned both men to be aware of their safety and to lock doors and windows.
“Ask him where he gets his electric,” was another taunt from the same man.
Muhammad said these claims are invented by residents to try and avoid accusations of hatred and racism. “What business is it of theirs?” was his response.
But the atmosphere was toxic and when asked if stealing electricity was justification for attacks, there was no response from the person who had been jeering earlier.
Belfast Telegraph | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Check out our new site Makeup Addiction
And that's why You don't procrastinate | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Eric Swalwell promoted his appearance on “The Daily Show” Monday night, which, in retrospect, may not have been the best idea:
Trevor Noah basically ended the Swalwell 2020 campaign when he got the California Dem to admit that he couldn’t even get his parents to vote against Donald Trump:
Trevor Noah to @ericswalwell: "If you could not convince your parents to vote for Hillary Clinton, how do you think you would convince other Americans to not vote for Donald Trump?" pic.twitter.com/0dTHTa0OVY — Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) June 4, 2019
And, yes, this was particularly clownish, too:
This was a really interesting interview. I like when Swalwell talks about southern Indiana like it's El Dorado or Atlantis. Red counties aren't a myth! I've seen them! — Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) June 4, 2019
Also, it was great to hear that he goes on Fox News so his parents can see him on TV. ? — Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) June 4, 2019
Is it any wonder he’s polling at 0%?
New @CNN poll: Biden 32%
Sanders 18%
Harris 8%
Warren 7%
Buttigieg 5%
O’Rourke 5%
Booker 3%
Castro 2%
Klobuchar 2%
Bennet 1%
Gabbard 1%
Gillibrand 1%
Inslee 1%
Ryan 1%
Yang 1%
de Blasio <1%
Delaney <1%
Hickenlooper <1%
Williamson <1%
Bullock 0%
Messam 0%
Moulton 0%
Swalwell 0% — Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) June 4, 2019
***
Related:
OOF: Dem 2020 poll in California is bad news for Kamala Harris (and WORSE news for Eric Swalwell) https://t.co/0RfhTUBMd4 — Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 31, 2019
‘Talk about a SH*T SHOW!’ Just when you thought Eric Swalwell couldn’t get any MORE desperate he shares this doozy of an ad https://t.co/Ml09qBD7hP — Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 3, 2019 | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
BOCA RATON, FL—Saying that the high-value target represented a major threat to their most vital objectives, Obama administration officials confirmed tonight that former governor Mitt Romney was killed by a predator drone while attending a presidential debate at Lynn University.
Sources said the drone attack, which occurred at approximately 10:10 p.m. Monday night, obliterated Romney in the middle of a statement on Chinese-purchased U.S. securities, sending his dismembered limbs and internal organs into the audience and leaving a smoking pile of charred flesh and bone in his seat.
“The information we have received from military personnel in the field indicate that tonight’s drone strike took out Mitt Romney, a former businessman the Obama administration has long considered a serious danger, especially in past few weeks,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney, describing the operation as “an unmitigated success.” “The president personally authorized the strike earlier this evening, and as soon as we had visual confirmation that the target in the drone’s sights was, in fact, Mitt Romney, we eliminated him.”
“We can all rest a little easier tonight knowing we have rid the world of a man who has been a continual menace to us,” Carney added. “I know I will.”
Pentagon officials confirmed that tactical teams were able to pinpoint the former Republican presidential candidate’s location with intelligence gathered through surveillance, reported sightings of the target, a campaign calendar posted on the Romney 2012 website, and testimony from confidential informants.
According to eyewitness reports, when Romney saw the unmanned combat vehicle enter the college auditorium, he promptly stood up and shrieked in terror before the device launched an AGM-114 Hellfire missile that “took him apart.”
“Our information indicated that the target, who had been recently spotted in Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado, was traveling all around America and had access to a fortune consisting of hundreds of millions of dollars,” a military spokesperson said of the mission to “find and kill” the Detroit-born politician “no matter what the cost.” “When we received credible evidence that Romney was going to be in the vicinity of Lynn University the evening of Oct. 22, we realized our opportunity had arisen.”
The drone strike, which killed three of Romney’s sons sitting near the debate stage, reportedly also took the lives of at least 45 civilians, including 12 Lynn University students, nine Secret Service agents, first daughter Malia Obama, and two cameramen.
“Military operations of this ilk are dangerous, and occasionally a few innocent civilians get caught in the crossfire,” said Carney, describing the lost arm and severe second-degree facial burns inflicted on debate moderator Bob Schieffer as “necessary collateral damage.” “However, we must realize that this is a price we pay when we face our greatest challenges.”
At press time, President Obama was reportedly wiping his face clean of Romney’s blood and had removed his late opponent’s severed head from his lap to begin his closing remarks. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shoptalk – An analysis by Boomerang Commerce, creators of the first guidedanalytics suite for modern retailers, reveals Target and Walmart’s beverage and breakfast product pricing is approximately half that offered by Amazon. Given the scale of the price difference, the findings suggest Target and Walmart could lure customers away from Amazon by expanding their assortments of pantry goods — such as canned food, snacks and other non-perishables — while maintaining competitive pricing.
Key findings from the sample set of data analyzed by Boomerang:
For the top 100 beverage items on Target, the identical products on Amazon were 97 percent more expensive and 93 percent more expensive on average among Target’s top 100 breakfast items.
For the top 100 beverage items on Walmart, the identical products on Amazon were 105 percent more expensive and 73 percent more expensive on average among Walmart’s top 100 breakfast items.
The average retail price for an item in Amazon’s top 100 beverage items is $23.28. In contrast, the average retail price for an item in Target’s top 100 is $4.13, while the average retail price for an item in Walmart’s top 100 is $6.06. Though the items are not identical across each retailer’s top 100, the findings show that consumers buy higher-end items at Amazon and also pay a higher margin for these grocery goods across the board. Average prices for the respective top 100 breakfast items at Amazon are $13.64, at Target are $7.95 and at Walmart are $6.55.
“Amazon has cultivated a reputation for being a low-price leader, but Boomerang Commerce’s analysis exposes key opportunities for other retailers to retain their existing customer base and pull new shoppers away from Amazon,” says Boomerang’s CEO Guru Hariharan. “This is a significant vulnerability that Amazon’s competitors can exploit right now, particularly in markets where Amazon does not yet have same-day or one-day delivery.”
These findings, as well as information on the Boomerang Commerce Retail Analytics Suite, are available at Shoptalk, the next-gen commerce event taking place this week at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Attendees can connect with Boomerang Commerce by appointment or see CEO Guru Hariharan speak on the Intelligent Pricing and Merchandising panel on Wednesday, May 18, from 10:45 to 11:25 a.m. For all others, online demos are available here.
About Boomerang Commerce
Founded in 2012, Boomerang Commerce offers the first guided-analytics suite for modern retailers. This Retail Analytics Suite comprises price optimization, price intelligence with actionable recommendations, assortment optimization in near-realtime and more. Nine of Internet Retailer’s Top 50 already rely on Boomerang’s solutions. Built by a team from Amazon, Google and Walmart.com, Boomerang applies machine learning and big data analytics to massive data quantities across digital and brickand-mortar channels. Boomerang’s technology derives superior insights and actionable recommendations to transform business decision makers into retail ninjas. For more detail, please visit www.boomerangcommerce.com. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Amy Anonby survived more than 24 hours lost in the woods of the Cariboo, coming back with a remarkable survival story involving a unicycle, a bear, a helicopter, and dozens of searchers.
The 22-year-old woman had been headed alone to Mahood Lake on Aug. 25 to meet friends at a cabin, but the directions from Google Maps sent her down a decommissioned logging road, where an errant baseball-sized rock shattered her oil pan, leaving her unable to drive her car without overheating it. She was stranded in an area no one expected her to be.
“I had no cell service,” Anonby told CTV News in an exclusive interview at her Surrey home. “I realized no one knows where I am and only a few people saw me.”
She had packed her belongings in Vernon, where she’d interned for the summer, so she had camping gear, scrapbooking paper and calligraphy pens to make signs, and plastic packaging and duct tape she tried to fashion into a makeshift oil pan; it failed.
She spent a chilly night in the car where it was, startled by a massive bear that approached her car the next morning, coming within a few metres and refusing to leave until she “just hit the window until he left.” With only a bag of marshmallows, some microwave popcorn and half a bag of salted pumpkin seeds, she knew she’d have to be smart.
“I had noticed the tire tracks on the road were undefined and shallow, so it was clear no one had been here for a long time,” she said. “I pushed my car into the middle of the road and put the side mirrors on top to reflect any light and surrounded it with signs so the helicopter search could find me but they passed by at least seven times, some close and some far, and I was waving my red sweater and towels but they never saw me.”
Discouraged and fearing she’d be stranded for days, Anonby packed her backpack, camp stove, and cardboard and hopped aboard her unicycle, which she’d stashed alongside the household supplies in her distinctive yellow 2000 VW Beetle, as she went looking for loggers or back country hikers.
“I unicycled 5 kilometres to the end of the road at the junction because I thought that would be faster, which was because tire versus legs,” she explained. “At every roadway I would yell and say ‘SOS, help’ and wait for a few seconds to see if I could hear anything and do it again."
As she left arrows marked in the dirt and left piles of rocks and written signs to lead back to her car, a massive search was mobilized by South Cariboo Search and Rescue and RCMP from 100 Mile House, which was closest to her friends, and the Clearwater detachment, which was closer to her.
“We went to search for her on the main route from 100 Mile to the lake," said friend Daphne John, who grew worried and called Anonby’s mom when she didn’t show up as expected. “We called the RCMP and explained this isn't like her, something is wrong and we need to start searching right away."
Lori Anonby and her husband, Steve, were alarmed and immediately left Surrey to drive north as they feared the worst.
“That piece, for me, was horrifying,” said Lori. “the idea that she could be stuck in the dark somewhere, if she was injured.”
Social media spread the missing young woman’s description, as volunteers combed a large area searching for any sign of her or the yellow car. Her parents were unsettled at the focus on ditches, where rescuers theorized she could’ve driven off the road and been too hurt to get to help.
Ultimately, luck and a strong hunch led a pair of unexpected rescuers to Anonby, who friends had been expecting from the western approach to the lake from 100 Mile House. But two of the few travelers she’d seen on the road far to the east near Clearwater suspected she might’ve run into trouble on the old road: when Dusty and Colin went to search that area, they found her signs and arrows and made a beeline for the Beetle.
"I had fallen asleep and heard tires on gravel and they turned the corner and were smiling so big and they were like, we've been looking for you!" she said. “I was so overwhelmed, I was crying, I hugged them both."
Lori was elated, feeling like her prayers were answered after hours spent scouring gravel roads with her husband and RCMP Const. Clint Lange.
“Those helicopters were there first thing in the morning, those search and rescue workers and volunteers – I didn’t realize how many people were helping because we were deep in the woods,” she said. “I just can’t thank people with big hearts enough.”
Her parents are struck by their daughter’s ingenuity and ability to stay calm in such a difficult situation. When asked how Anonby managed to tackle each obstacle so thoughtfully, she said it came down to a combination of factors.
"It’s probably just the way I think: I try not to react to things emotionally, I'm very much someone who tries to think things through before reacting so I think it was just an extension of that,” said the college student.
“I'm also obsessed with [survival and nature] documentaries and I love hiking … I didn’t realized how much I’d absorbed." | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Five-team parlay anyone? I doubt any bookmaker would ever allow you to parlay all of these money lines, but if he/she does, it's free cash. The only shocking thing that could possibly come out of this group of games is if one of these teams keeps it within 21 points .. in the first half. Illinois, a Big Ten school, is a 41-POINT UNDERDOG to Ohio State. 41! This is Lovie Smith's team we are talking about, a coach who led an NFL team to a damn Super Bowl. Now his squad is the biggest underdog in Big Ten Conference play history. Ouch. Mercer will probably keep it within 41 against 'Bama for goodness sake. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
It’s easy to sneer at Hollywood’s obsession with sequels and reboots, but eventually, the dice rolls in your direction. One person’s cynicism is another’s nostalgia. For me, it’s The X-Files, a show that defined my childhood. Last night was a big deal—The X-Files was back. It kinda sucked, and I definitely don’t care.
Now nearly 31-years-old, I’ve both moved on from The X-Files and never moved on from The X-Files. I’ll still watch the occasional episode—from the early seasons, mind you—and whenever I hear the Mark Snow’s theme song, my heart flutters. If I’m at a bar with a jukebox, I’ll search around for it and, every once and a while, there’s a bad MIDI cover hidden away. Apologies, bar goers.
(I’m not really sorry.)
Whispers of The X-Files returning have swirled for years, culminating in 2008's utterly disastrous movie X-Files: I Want to Believe, which should have permanently buried the franchise. J.J. Abrams tried to recapture the magic of Mulder and Scully with the sci-fi procedural Fringe, but it didn’t really work.
The X-Files itself lost the magic in the last few seasons, as it creatively sputtered towards an unsatisfying finish line after nine years. I don’t remember much about the final moments—something about a missile fired in a canyon?—and even when I’ve rewatched the series, I’ve never made it that far ever again.
So when it was announced The X-Files would return, it came with mixed emotions. One, I’d love to see Mulder and Scully on new adventures! Two, this almost never goes well! It’s rare for an old show to find its mojo after decades in the wilderness, and I had little faith The X-Files would be able to buck the trend.
As it turns out, it didn’t—the episode barely worked.
Last night’s premiere was a disaster, a nonsensical script given no help by wooden acting from the two people you figured might be into this, Mulder and Scully. Few plot motivations make sense, almost everything about the mythology has been tossed out the window, and after spending nine seasons respecting the series’ defining characters, they’ve become bumbling idiots.
And yet, I could not give less of a shit, and I don’t care if it gets better. I’m going to watch—and relish—every episode with a glass of whiskey and a toast to what used to be. If The X-Files ship UFO is going down, I’m going down with it.
It’s all about me, which is why they keep bringing these back. With The X-Files, it’s my turn on the nostalgia-go-round, and I intend to milk it for all its worth. Revisiting the past isn’t about feeling exactly how you were, it’s extracting a slice, fully knowing there’ll be less the next time you try.
Not too get all serious on you, but in the past few years, I’ve lost a few people. A while ago, I wrote a piece about what it’s like to watch their memories fade:
It’s natural. We don’t see them anymore. We don’t make new memories, we mine old ones. But I don’t like knowing it’s getting easier because there’s less of them. The burden of memories weighs heavy.
Losing a TV show is not equivalent to losing a loved one, but memories works similarly. It’s fun to walk down memory lane, but also a little sad, a little tragic—it’s not the same as walking into the future together. It’s a bittersweet pill.
Moments like are an opportunity recapture an old time, an old feeling, an old friend. If that’s overdramatic, I’m okay with it. Like I said, it’s about me.
The whole reason I wanted The X-Files to come back was to smile as Mulder and Scully banter off one another again. I don’t care what happened to Scully’s kid. I don’t care if they resolve the alien invasion story. I don’t care if the monsters they’re after can’t hold up to flukeman. My desire for new The X-Files is to selfishly to live in the past and feel new memories cut from nostalgia’s cloth.
So, when are they rebooting LOST? | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
W HATEVER YOU think about recent events in Britain, you cannot deny that they qualify as historic. The country is trying to make a fundamental change in its relationship with the continent. The Conservative Party is in danger of splitting asunder and handing power to a far-left Labour Party. All this is taking place against the backdrop of a fracturing of the Western alliance and a resurgence of authoritarian populism.
Yet even as history’s chariot thunders at a furious pace, the study of history in British universities is in trouble. The subject used to hold a central position in national life. A scholarship to read history at one of the ancient universities was both a rite of passage for established members of the elite and a ticket into the elite for clever provincial boys, as Alan Bennett documented so touchingly in his play “The History Boys”. Prominent historians such as A.J.P. Taylor and Hugh Trevor-Roper were public figures who spoke to the nation about both historical and contemporary events. The Sunday Times had Trevor-Roper on retainer to write special reports on big news stories and Taylor’s televised lectures attracted millions of viewers.
This was as it should be. Britain is a small island with a gigantic history, and history connects it with the wisdom of the ages. But something has gone badly wrong of late. Even as history itself has become more dramatic, the study of history has shrivelled. The number reading it at university has declined by about a tenth in the past decade. The number studying languages, which often have a historical component, has fallen by a fifth—hardly an auspicious start for “global Britain”. Students have instead been stampeding into overtly practical subjects such as medicine, veterinary sciences and business studies.
At the same time, the historical profession has turned in on itself. Historians spend their lives learning more and more about less and less, producing narrow P h D s and turning them into monographs and academic articles, in the hamster-wheel pursuit of tenure and promotion. The need to fill endless forms to access government funding adds the nightmare of official bureaucracy to the nightmare of hyper-specialisation. And historians increasingly devote themselves to subjects other than great matters of state: the history of the marginal rather than the powerful, the poor rather than the rich, everyday life rather than Parliament. These fashions were a valuable corrective to an old-school history that focused almost exclusively on the deeds of white men, particularly politicians. But they have gone too far. Indeed, some historians almost seem to be engaged in a race to discover the most marginalised subject imaginable. What were once lively new ideas have degenerated into tired orthodoxies, while vital areas of the past, such as constitutional and military affairs, are all but ignored.
The people who pay the heaviest price for this are the students who choose to spend several years of their lives, and many thousands of pounds, studying history. Under the old dispensation, students at least acquired a general sense of the history of their own country. Today, they often study a mish-mash of special subjects that don’t have much to hold them together, let alone provide a sense of broad historical development. The general public is also short-changed. Senior historians used to think that their job included talking to the nation and setting current events in their historical context. For the most part today’s historians remain isolated in their professional cocoons, spending more time fiddling with their footnotes than bringing the past to light for a broader audience. Who outside academia has heard of Lyndal Roper, the current Regius professor of history at Oxford?
The obvious reason to worry about this is that there is more than a little truth in the old adage that those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it. The world seems to be determined to copy the mistakes of the 1930s and ’40s, with Donald Trump recycling the isolationist rhetoric of America Firsters and Jeremy Corbyn embracing a failed socialist ideology. History is a safeguard against this kind of Utopianism. One of the reasons the world is in such a mess is that neoliberals became carried away with their own ideology. They made all sorts of unrealistic promises, about abolishing the boom-bust cycle or bringing democracy to the Middle East, that a moment’s reflection on history would have exploded.
The study of history is also a safeguard against myopia. Modernity shrinks time as well as space; people live in an eternal present of short-term stimuli and instant gratification. History teaches them to broaden their horizons and shift their perspectives. On a more mundane level, history can be a safeguard against outright idiocy. The Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, might not have expressed surprise that Protestants and Catholics in the province vote along sectarian lines if she had spent, say, an hour studying the history of the province over which she presides.
What’s past is prologue
There are glimmers of hope. Britain still has historians with a genius for bringing their subject alive, such as Tom Holland, Sir Simon Schama and Dame Mary Beard. History festivals are booming. The decline in the number of students reading the subject has not been as precipitous as in America. But these are no more than glimmers. A striking number of Britain’s bestselling historians either don’t have academic jobs (like Mr Holland) or face brickbats and backbiting from their fellow professionals (as Dame Mary does). The public’s voracious appetite for military history, so clearly demonstrated during the D- day celebrations, is catered for almost entirely by non-academics such as Sir Max Hastings and Sir Antony Beevor. Historians need to escape from their intellectual caves and start paying more attention to big subjects such as the history of politics, power and nation-states. The extraordinary times that we are living through demand nothing less. ■
Vacancy: The Economist is looking to hire a staff writer to cover British economics. Journalistic experience is not necessary; the ability to write clearly and entertainingly is. For details of how to apply, visit economist.com/britainjob2019. The deadline is August 4th. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld an earlier verdict of a single bench that had declared as “unconstitutional” the new law that compelled owners of non-Karnataka vehicles to pay lifetime tax if they use such vehicles in Karnataka beyond 30 days.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Jayant M. Patel and Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the order while dismissing the State government’s appeal against the single bench’s March 11 verdict.
This order has reaffirmed the rights of the owners of non-Karnataka registered vehicles to use their vehicles in the State for 12 months without paying lifetime tax in Karnataka but such vehicles will have to be re-registered in Karnataka along with requisite lifetime tax if such vehicles are used beyond 12 months.
“The Explanation-2 to Section 3 of Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1957 as inserted in KMVT (Amendment) Act, 2014 is unconstitutional and ultra vires,” the single judge bench had declared, while also quashing the notices issued by the Regional Transport Offices asking out-of-Karnataka vehicle owners to pay lifetime tax on their vehicles registered outside Karnataka. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
A man has been taken to Foothills Hospital following an officer-involved shooting in the southwest Calgary community of Kingsland on Saturday evening.
At approximately 9 p.m., police were called out to an apartment building near 608 68 Avenue S.W. for a disturbance.
They arrived to find a man in his 40s who was agitated and shouting and who may have been armed, police said.
Police were called to a home in the 600 block of 68th Avenue S.W. on Saturday evening. (Anis Heydari/CBC)
Police attempted to speak with the resident, and after 30 minutes of negotiating, the man jumped from a second-story balcony and confronted the officers.
At 9:30, CPS said, in a release, that an officer-involved shooting occurred.
No officers were injured.
Police said the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was notified and will be investigating.
Police said at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday there was an officer-involved shooting outside this residence in Kingsland. (Anis Heydari/CBC)
The street where the incident occurred is known to the Calgary Police Service.
In 2016, police raided a residence on the 600 block of 68 Avenue S.W. as part of a months-long drug trafficking probe that prompted two suspects to take off on foot, discarding drugs as they ran, CPS said at the time.
And in 2012, CPS was called to the same home to investigate a suspicious death. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Sit down, Michigan-Ohio State.
Take a back seat, Alabama-Auburn. Not so fast, Florida-Florida State. Try a little harder, Notre Dame-USC. Better luck next time, Oklahoma-Texas.
Although you're all amazing rivalry games, you just don't currently compare to the new rivalry in town: Alabama-LSU.
No, this game doesn't have the hatred that comes with the Iron Bowl or the storied tradition that Michigan-Ohio State possesses. But when it comes to the national championship, no other game holds the importance of Alabama-LSU. In the past few years, this game has been the game of the season.
On Saturday, when No. 1 Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) hosts No. 13 LSU (7-2, 3-2), it will mark the eighth consecutive time these two have met as ranked opponents, and it will yet again have major SEC West Division championship and national championship implications in the balance.
There's always a lot on the line when Nick Saban and Les Miles clash. Jamie Squire/Getty Images for ESPN The Magazine
The past three games in this series have all dealt with the phrase "Game of the Century." And when the SEC West and the national championships have all been on the line, it's hard to argue against the hyperbole.
Since the 2006 season, these teams have delivered a few gems together. Four times, both have been ranked in the top 10, and twice they've met as No. 1 and No. 2. Oh, and once was in the national championship back in 2011.
"Every year -- past the first year we've been here [2007] -- it's [been a big game]," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
"We have a tremendous amount of respect for them, being one of the most challenging opponents that we have in this league. The fact that they've been really, really good and we've been pretty good makes this game -- more than it has -- a tremendous amount of significance for both teams. ... It's a great game, and it's a game that players on both sides probably look forward to, but it's a tremendous challenge."
It certainly has become quite the challenge for both teams. Since 2006, Alabama has a 4-3 advantage over the Tigers but has lost at home twice. The winner of this game -- and the loser in 2011 -- has played in the national championship four times and won the SEC West five times. The average margin of victory in the six regular-season meetings between these two during that span has been 6.3 points. Alabama blanked LSU 21-0 in the BCS National Championship at the end of the 2011 season.
Two months earlier, the teams played their first "Game of the Century" when No. 1 LSU went to Tuscaloosa and left with a draining, 9-6 overtime victory over No. 2 Alabama. People poked at the offenses, but the story of that game was just how good both defenses were, as neither team gained 300 yards of offense and both defenses grabbed two takeaways.
Two freight trains smashed into each other in the middle of Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the one coated in purple and gold emerged still on the tracks.
Things were even more entertaining last fall, when No. 1 Alabama won 21-17 in thrilling, comeback style in Baton Rouge, La. While the 2011 game in Tuscaloosa had special-teams blunders and beautiful defensive stops, this one had a high-flying LSU passing game and a screen pass from AJ McCarron to T.J. Yeldon with 51 seconds remaining that put McCarron in tears and etched its place in the college football highlights hall of fame.
We also saw a classic in 2010, which featured two LSU fourth-down conversions and Les Miles introducing us to his appetite for eating grass. The 2009 game had that wonderful 73-yard Julio Jones touchdown and an interception that wasn't for LSU corner Patrick Peterson.
You want talent? There have been 31 players selected in the NFL draft who were on the Alabama or LSU rosters in the 2011 BCS title game.
Outside of the tremendous play on the field, you have the sideshow of Saban versus Miles. Saban is the ultimate perfectionist, and Miles' quirkiness can get the best of both him and his opponents. It truly is a match made in heaven, just like this game.
The animosity and disdain that seeps into every major rivalry isn't really there for this one. Sure, there was the Saban storyline that lingered for a few years because he's coached and won a national championship at both schools, but the loathing between players and fans in other rivalries really doesn't exist here.
This game has more of a mutual respect about it because of what is on the line when the clock hits zero. There isn't a shiny trophy or in-state bragging rights to claim. No, this game's winner is looking for bigger, more important awards, such as a division title and national championship.
"If you played at Alabama or LSU, it's one of those games you measure yourself by," Peterson said. "Look at the players who've come out of both schools, how many of those guys are in the NFL. It's the game in college football." | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Mae disgwyl i aelodau’r blaid Geidwadol gynnal mwy o drafodaethau heddiw, gan ystyried y syniad o newid y rheolau o ran herio’r arweinydd, Theresa May.
Fe gynhaliwyd cyfarfod o swyddogion Pwyllgor 1922 y Torïaid yn Westminster ddoe (dydd Mawrth, Ebrill 23). Does dim datganiad swyddogol wedi dod ar ôl hwnnw.
Cyn y cyfarfod ddoe, fe fu cyfarfod rhwng cadeirydd y pwyllgor, Syr Graham Brady, a Theresa May, a’r gred ydi iddo ofyn iddi yn blwmp ac yn blaen pryd y mae hi’n bwriadu gadael ei swydd.
O dan reolau presennol y Blaid Geidwadol, ni all Aelodau Seneddol gyflwyno her i’r arweinyddiaeth am flwyddyn gyfan ar ôl yr her a fethodd â chael gwared â Theresa May ym mis Rhagfyr y llynedd.
Er hynny, mae’r oedi gyda Brexit yn creu rhwystredigaeth ymysg y Torïaid, ac mae llawer yn galw ar newid y rheolau i ganiatáu her i Theresa May ym mis Mehefin. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
"Love Wins"? No, just the will of five judicial despots and the Rainbow Mafia.
1-2-3-4-5. Five leftist lawyers, currently abusing their authority as Supreme Court Justices, unleashed their activism upon the U.S. Constitution Friday and created a non-existent right to same-sex marriage. The Fourteenth Amendment may provide equal protection under the law, but by applying it to expand the definition of marriage the Court has created a constitutional crisis in America. The First and Tenth Amendments, which respectively promise freedom of individual religion and award jurisdiction to the States of all powers not enumerated in the Constitution, have now been placed in direct conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment.
“Love Wins”? Not here it doesn’t, nor does anything but the will of five judicial despots, followed by the bullying mob rule of the Left and its Rainbow Mafia. Need proof?
In 2008, before the Saul Alinsky-ite Barack Obama and his Chicagoland gang occupied the White House and began “fundamentally transforming” our nation, there was debate, dissent and dialogue about all sorts of issues, including those issues fomented by the hard Left in order to label the response of the Christian Right as extremist.
In 2008, homosexual couples could enter into a legal, binding contract for shared property, power of attorney for making health care decisions, probate of wills, etc., and were, in most cases, receiving health care benefits from employers. These same homosexual couples were consummating their relationship in the privacy of their own domicile without harassment.
In 2008, Christians could speak their opinions and stand on their faith while understanding their voice was respected in the public square.
In 2015, however, those same Christians are in grave danger of losing legal standing because their beliefs are pitted against a brand new, heretofore undiscovered constitutional right. Tolerance is only for those who agree with the mob-rule Left.
What changed in seven years?
If you ask a moderate Republican, he or she might say, “Elections have consequences,” and shrug, since they never viewed this as meaningful anyway. If you ask the Bible-believing Democrats who voted for Ronald Reagan, they shudder at the exchange of timeless principles for sexual license. If you ask a libertarian, you might get the response that devout Christians are the “recalcitrant minority.” But if you ask someone who identifies as Christian first, American second, and is conservative politically, you’ll hear sorrow for a nation that worships the secular triune of me, myself and I rather than our Creator.
Millions of votes cast around the country to support the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman have now been nullified. How will this tyrannical disregard for the enumerated powers of the Constitution play out in the everyday lives of Christians?
In your place of worship, there’s now a government-approved theology that the God-rejecting Left expects to be preached. Whereas Bible-centric congregations stand on Holy Scripture, which does not include one single advocacy of sexual sin or perversion, the homosexual agenda demands that this view be rejected. One of the five black-robed tyrants, Justice Anthony Kennedy — considered the “swing vote” — laughingly attempted to reassure those whose lives revolve around their faith in the Judeo-Christian God by writing, “Those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned.”
Get that? We can advocate our opposition, but there is little legal standing in such a weak word. As Chief Justice John Roberts put it, “The majority graciously suggests that religious believers may continue to ‘advocate’ and ‘teach’ their views of marriage. The First Amendment guarantees, however, the freedom to ‘exercise’ religion. Ominously, that is not a word the majority uses.”
Let’s not forget the Christian bakers, florists, photographers and other business owners who have been financially ruined and litigiously challenged by the Rainbow Mafia. Already, Christians have been forced to either comply with the government-approved theology or face persecution.
What about the tax-exempt status of Christian organizations such as schools, faith-based charities, hospitals and other institutions with religious beliefs?
The Obama administration has already indicated this provision as a likely stick to enforce the mandatory bowing to the altar of government-sanctioned faith. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing conjured-up rights before the Supreme Court back in April, tipped their hand in response to an inquiry by Justice Samuel Alito. “It’s certainly going to be an issue,” Verrilli promised. “I don’t deny that. I don’t deny that, Justice Alito. It is going to be an issue.”
Chad Griffin, president of the Human (read: Homosexual) Rights Campaign, likewise said, “No question, the work is not done. … We still have a long ways to go.”
Cultural icons like Star Trek actor George Takei, who is homosexual, made the same veiled threat after the ruling. Some, he said, are “going to try to use the shroud of religious freedom” to disobey the Court’s decree. “I believe in religious freedom, and people who argue that are entitled to their freedom,” Takei said. “But” — yes, there was bound to be a “but” — “they do not have the freedom to impose their religious values on to others.”
Yet that’s exactly what the Court and the Rainbow Mafia are doing. The mob-rule Left, characteristically using its ends to justify any means, is wielding its political and legal prowess acquired over the last seven years to openly oppress Judeo-Christians.
Yet there are glimmers of hope that will endure.
Cultural and casual Christians, the ones who believe philanthropy and showing up for a holiday service is their only necessary spiritual response, will quickly self-identify and want to change the subject. Eventually, these fair-weather believers will either deepen their faith or more explicitly abandon it to avoid social stigma or name-calling.
But the greatest outcome of this conflict threatening the Liberty of the faithful and devout will be the growth of strength and community. Think of redwoods, trees that soar to heights of over 350 feet and can live thousands of years. These natural giants have roots of only five to 13 feet deep, but spread outward to 100 feet, interlocking with the roots of neighboring trees in the grove. Unseen bonds within these titans of the forest provide stability and support when the storms howl.
As Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, reminds us, “[T]he church often thrives when it is in sharp contrast to the cultures around it.”
And Congress isn’t idle. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) introduced the First Amendment Defense Act, which Lee writes “would prevent any agency from denying a federal tax exemption, grant, contract, accreditation, license, or certification to an individual or institution for acting on their religious belief that marriage is a union between one man and one woman.”
This battle has been won through activism and deception. The war, however, is not over. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
13:29h CEST
Barcelona B’s 12-0 victory over Eldense last weekend, which relegated the Alicante-based club to Tercera División, has been reported to LaLiga by the defeated side as potentially fixed. Eldense were taken over by an Italian investment group earlier in the season, with which Eldense has now severed its ties amid allegations that some of Eldense’s players may have deliberately contributed to the score line.
Eldense forward: "Four players are involved"
Eldense forward Cheikh Saad spoke to Catalan radio station RAC-1 in the aftermath of the match and claimed that some of his teammates were had worked against Eldense to affect the outcome of the game. “I know who they are but I cannot say at the moment,” the Mauritanian striker said, adding that “four players are involved.”
Cheikh went on to say that another player had been approached before the game and was told: ‘The game is fixed. Do you want to play?’
"There were almost punches thrown"
“They did not bother to ask me because they knew what the answer would be. I’d have withdrawn from the team,” Cheikh told journalist Jordi Basté on RAC-1. “Half an hour before the game I was in the team and then I wasn’t. After the game I got on the team bus and my teammates told me: ‘You should know that there are players down there [in the dressing room] who threw the match. I went back down to the dressing room and there was a row going on. There were almost punches thrown.”
"Barça B had nothing to do with it"
“There is even a leader who told the others what to do,” Cheikh added, while stressing that Barcelona B were not party to the matter. “They are not involved in any way. Barça B did nothing. They did what they had to do [on the pitch]. If it had been me I would have done the same.”
Cheikh also revealed that he had received threats after blowing the whistle on the alleged match-fix. “But I don’t care. When they let me say the names I will say them but I’m not going to go from ground to ground with people laughing at me when I always do my best on the pitch.”
Eldense bench refused to go on
Full screen Eldense striker Cheikh Saad.
One thing that was noticed immediately after the game was that Eldense made no substitutions during the 90 minutes. Cheikh claimed that he was behind the bench protest: “The coach told me I was going on but I was clear in my mind that I wasn’t going to play. I said to myself: ‘something strange is going on here.’ I told my teammates on the bench that if they didn’t want to get involved in this shit, they should refuse to go on.”
The forward also refused to be drawn on whether any of Eldense’s five Italian players were involved: “I don’t know which betting house was being talked about.”
Eldense to consider police action
The club’s chairman of the board, David Aguilar, also spoke to RAC and said that he would speak to the police to see if there was basis for a criminal investigation into a possible crime. “I’m finding out more and more every minute,” he said. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Health body fat
What is healthy your body fat percentage?
Add caption
Mentor explores what comprises a healthy body fat percentage:
Individuals' fundamental inspirations for hitting the rec center will, in general, remain quite steady: get thinner, train to show signs of improvement at a game, or fabricate an increasingly alluring body. What considers an appealing body has changed after some time, however. For example, in the past men hit the weights stay with the essential point of building up, however, today the primary wellness objective of many is to "get slender" – in particular, to strip away the fat in your body to uncover the variety of muscles underneath. Think Brad Pitt in Fight Club or Cristiano Ronaldo anytime in the previous ten years. Torn muscles, and not a sliver of abundance fat.
To accomplish this build there has been an expanded concentration among coaches and rec center goers the same on body fat percentage, with a definitive objective viewed as single digits for a destroyed body. Be that as it may, whatever your preparation points, it merits making sense of your body fat percentage since it's decent in general pointer of how healthy you are. Furthermore, the uplifting news is you don't need to be destroyed to be healthy.
"Having a healthy body fat percentage can diminish the danger of various ailments," says Dr. Luke Powles, a GP at Bupa's Crossrail Health Center in London.
"A raised body fat percentage has demonstrated connections to more elevated cholesterol levels and raised circulatory strain, which are the two factors that expand the possibility of having a stroke or experiencing coronary illness. Just as being connected to certain sorts of disease and diabetes, a higher body fat percentage can cause erectile brokenness in men.
"It is additionally significant not to have a body fat a percentage that is excessively low – being underweight is connected with various health issues too."
It's currently simpler than at any other time to screen your body fat: you can get shrewd scales, wellness trackers and handheld scanners that give the details on your body synthesis. For enthusiasts of increasingly old-school (and less expensive) methods, calipers will likewise carry out the responsibility.
What Is Body Fat Percentage?
Put essentially, fat is an assortment of unused vitality and body fat percentage is the proportion of fat to add up to body weight. Just on the off chance that you're under the feeling that fat is consistently terrible for you and ought to be annihilated no matter what, let us acquaint you with the two kinds of fat: essential and put away.
Essential fat, obviously, is essential to the ordinary and healthy working of the body. Without essential fatty acids, for example, omega-3 from slick fish, nuts, and seeds, it would be unimaginable for our bodies to process supplements like the fat-dissolvable nutrients A, K, and D, which aid resistant health, blood coagulating, and the assimilation of calcium. Fat is additionally essential for the security of our organs just as to the protection that directs our inside temperatures.
The other kind of fat, called capacity fat, is the consequence of a calorie overflow. At the point when we eat, calories that are not utilized for quick capacities, (for example, to give the vitality to breathe and to give the fuel to keep your heart ticking) are changed over into the triglycerides that make up capacity fat. An incessant overflow of calories makes fat stores amass, bringing about weight gain. On the other side, a common calorie shortfall powers the body to go through its put away fat as vitality, draining the stock and bringing about weight misfortune.
Instructions to ascertain body fat:
With regards to estimating body fat percentage, a portion of the methods utilized are genuinely costly and not exact. These include:
double vitality X-beam absorptiometry (DXA)
hydrostatic gauging
air dislodging plethysmography (Bod Pod)
3-D body scanners
Skinfold calipers:
A large portion of us doesn't approach the methods recorded previously. That is the reason for utilizing skinfold calipers for surveying body arrangement is so mainstream.
With this technique, you can quantify your own body fat or have a guaranteed coach or other prepared proficient take the measurements and ascertain your body fat percentage.
Of the two choices, having a prepared proficient handle the procedure will probably bring about a progressively precise outcome.
On the off chance that you plan on utilizing the skinfold technique more than once to gauge progress (and you should), attempt to have a similar individual take the measurements each time. This can expand the legitimacy and unwavering quality of the outcomes.
Different methods:
In the event that searching out a mentor or taking your own skinfold measurements aren't an alternative, there are a couple of ways you can follow your body fat at home.
Body boundary measurements and body fat scale that utilization bioelectrical impedance is the two methods you can do alone.
While not as exact as skinfold measurements taken by a prepared proficient, these methods do have some legitimacy and can be a useful device when the following the advancement.
Perfect body fat percentage for ladies:
Since a BMI estimation depends entirely on your stature and weight, being female or male doesn't factor into how that number is determined. All things considered, there are contrasts among people with regard to body fat percentage ranges.
Body fat percentages for ladies fall under a couple of various classes. A few graphs will isolate the percentages by classes, for example, competitors and adequate reaches, while others separate the extents by age.
What causes overabundance body fat?
The vitality – of calories – our body needs originate from what we eat and drink. With calories, our body takes a shot at a market interest framework. In the event that the nourishment you eat 'supplies' the 'request' your body has from development and action every day, every one of the calories will be changed over into the vitality you need. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you supply your body with more calories than it requests, those abundance calories that are not consumed by action, will be put away in fat cells. On the off chance that this putaway fat isn't changed over into vitality later, it makes an abundance of body fat. Healthy eating doesn't simply mean hoping to lessen put away fat if your perusing shows your lower body fat percentage is lower than the healthy range, that can likewise cause issues, for example, osteoporosis in later years, and you should converse with a wellbeing proficient about how to expand your body fat percentage steadily.
In any case, I don't look 'fat'
Fat can be put away under the skin or around inward organs, so it may not generally be unmistakable when you look in the mirror. An individual can look fit and even be a healthy load for their stature, however, could, in any case, be conveying a significant level of body fat and that could be a wellbeing hazard. Normal utilization of a Tanita screen will assist you with tracking your body fat percentage over time, you would then be able to check your body fat outcomes against the healthy body fat ranges and make changes in accordance with your diet and wellness system on the off chance that you have to.
Is a low-fat diet consequently healthy?
Fat is required in your diet, for instance, to make hormones, and for the retention of fat-dissolvable nutrients A, D, E and K. Along these lines, it is imperative to keep healthy fats inside your diet.
Not all fat is the equivalent:
While terrible fats can wreck your diet and increment your danger of specific maladies, great fats ensure your mind and heart. Actually, healthy fats, for example, omega3s, are essential to your physical and enthusiastic wellbeing. Understanding how to remember more healthy fat for your diet can help improve your temperament, support your prosperity, and even trim your waistline. However, on the off chance that you are hoping to lessen fat in your diet, you should be cautious; 'light' items on the general store racks may simply be supplanting the fat with sugar! Pay special mind to our next blog entry regarding why you should concentrate less on how much you gauge and more on how healthy you are. Then, for more data on how to get fitter and more beneficial visit Tanita.eu and let us know how you are jumping on at Facebook.
How To Measure Body Fat:
At this point, you ought to be very much persuaded of the benefits of estimating your body fat percentage and quick to discover your indispensable details. There are a couple of approaches to do this, which fluctuate in their convenience and exactness. Customer gadgets can be somewhat touchy in their exactness, so the primary concern to recall is that on the of the chance that you utilize a similar scanner at the equivalent estimated time every week, you ought to get an image of how your body fat percentage is changing regardless of whether the numbers aren't absolutely right.
Calipers are the revered strategy for estimating body fat and they remain the least expensive approach to do it without anyone else's help today. You measure the overlay after all other options have been exhausted of skin on in any event three spots on your body, at that point put those numbers into an application or online adding machine to assess your body fat percentage.
There are a few alternatives for individuals who need to get more mechanical: brilliant scales and handheld scanners. Both can give a large group of body piece details, including body fat percentage, and are unbelievably simple to utilize – most will even pillar your numbers directly to an application to assist you with following changes over time.
For the individuals who need the most extreme precision in their estimation, there are alternatives like hydrostatic gauging and double vitality X-beam absorptiometry (DEXA) to consider, however, these will hit the wallet hard and for body fat estimating intentions are commonly just utilized by proficient competitors.
Realize THE RECOMMENDED BODY FAT PERCENTILE RANGES:
To begin with, you should consider factors, for example, body type, heredity, age, movement, and sexual orientation. For example, the range for a healthy body fat percentage in ladies will, in general, be higher than that of men, as ladies need more body fat. A specific measure of fat is significant for substantial capacities. It directs your body temperature, pads organs, and tissues, and is the primary type of your body's vitality stockpiling. So it's critical to have neither a lot of nor too little body fat. On the off chance that you'd prefer to attempt to decrease your body fat percentage, consider another Yoga or Pilates class. Mayo Clinic staff, just as other wellbeing experts list the accompanying age-balanced body fat percentile proposals:
Ladies:
20-40 yrs old: Underfoot: under 21 percent, Healthy: 21-33 percent, Overweight: 33-39 percent, Obese: Over 39 percent
41-60 yrs old: Underfoot: under 23 percent, Healthy: 23-35 percent, Overweight: 35-40 percent Obese: over 40 percent
61-79 yrs old: Underfoot: under 24 percent, Healthy: 24-36 percent, Overweight: 36-42 percent, Obese: over 42 percent
Men:
20-40 yrs old: Underfoot: under 8 percent, Healthy: 8-19 percent, Overweight: 19-25 percent, Obese: over 25 percent
WEIGH YOURSELF:
Acquire as exactly a bodyweight as could be allowed. Various scales regularly give various numbers, and relying upon the hour of the day you gauge yourself, your numbers may fluctuate. Give gauging yourself a shot the same scale at roughly the same time of day over a couple of days to get a normal of your body weight.
CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
You can without much of a stretch ascertain your BMI by isolating your weight in pounds by your stature in inches squared and afterward duplicating by a change factor of 703. Utilizing the case of a 150-pound the individual who is five feet five inches (or 65 inches), the computation would resemble this: [150 ÷ (65)²] x 703 = 24.96
CALCULATE YOUR BODY FAT PERCENTAGE:
As indicated by an investigation distributed in the British Journal of Nutrition in 1991, in the event that you are a grown-up, your percentage of body fat can be evaluated as precisely likewise with skin-crease measurements and bioelectrical tests utilizing the accompanying sexual orientation-based equations related to your BMI. This computation has been appeared to marginally overestimate body fat percentage in individuals who are overweight. Make your BMI result from Stride 3 and fitting it into the suitable equation underneath to figure your body fat percentage.
Ladies:
(1.20 x BMI) + (0.23 x Age) - 5.4 = Body Fat Percentage
Men:
Contrast YOUR BODY FAT PERCENTAGE With THE PERCENTILES LISTED IN STEP :
Pause for a minute to think about the outcome you got in Step 4 to the body fat percentiles in Step 1. Contrasting your results and these numbers should give you a decent sign of how close or how far you may be from your optimal body fat percentage.
On the off chance that your BMI or body fat percentage is higher than what you need it to be, a slight change in your way of life or an exercise routine can have a major effect, and having the correct hardware improves the impacts to assist you with accomplishing the body you need.
Issues with computations:
On the off chance that you consider BMI and body fat measurements as one apparatus you have accessible to assist you with keeping tabs on your development, you may be less inclined to get focused on the results.
At the end of the day, instead of being driven by diminishing a specific number, you can be inspired to upgrade your wellbeing by energizing your body with feeding nourishments and finding a way to incorporate some type of activity into your everyday schedule.
Having this outlook can make it more obvious and acknowledge the issues and restrictions that accompany BMI and body fat percentages.
BMI restrictions:
With regards to BMI, the way that it doesn't recognize fit muscle and fat massTrusted Source regularly prompts perplexity and dissatisfaction when examining individuals who are extremely fit however have higher body weight.
For instance, a solid competitor may have a higher BMI in view of additional lean mass and, thusly, could be classified as overweight or corpulent.
Though somebody with a lower weight and a lot higher body fat to slender mass proportion could fall under the typical to the sound range.
Also, BMI doesn't represent sex, age, or ethnicity, so it may not be a similarly legitimate test for all populaces.
Body fat percentage constraints:
Body fat percentages, then again, additionally have issues and constraints. In case you're utilizing the skinfold technique, yet not having the same gifted proficient do the measurements each time, you may see shifting results.
Along those same lines, regardless of whether the same an individual does the measurements each time, on the off chance that they're off by an inch or two in where they get the skin, the results may not be solid.
When to converse with a star:
Following your body fat percentage is one approach to gauge progress when you're attempting to get in shape or increase slender bulk. Yet, it isn't the whole story of your general wellbeing. Eating well and being dynamic is the place you have to center your vitality.
On the off chance that you have any inquiries or worries about your BMI or body fat percentage, think about conversing with your PCP, a confirmed fitness coach, or enlisted dietitian. They can assist you with understanding your individual results and work with you to structure an arrangement that meets your requirements.
The most effective method to discover one:
There are a few different ways to locate an ensured fitness coach or enlisted dietitian in your general vicinity. To begin with, call around to the neighborhood rec centers and get some information about the certifications of their coaches. You need to search for coaches with affirmations, for example,
NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
Expert (American Council on Exercise)
ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine)
NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)
Reward in the event that they have higher education in practice science, kinesiology, or sports prescription. You can likewise find coaches through the sites of the confirming bodies.
For instance, ACE has a segment on their site that permits you to scan for coaches in your general vicinity.
In the event that you need to work with a dietitian, the most significant accreditation to search for after their name is RD, which represents enlisted dietitians. Numerous RDs will likewise have a few different qualifications that show further preparation and skill.
Like ACE, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a device that permits you to look for an enlisted dietitian nutritionist.
The bottom line:
BMI and body fat measurements are two methods you can use to assess your body weight and arrangement. While they can give some helpful baseline information, they shouldn't be the primary center with regards to improving your prosperity.
Eating sustaining nourishments, remaining hydrated, working out, and thinking about your psychological and otherworldly health all assume a basic job informing your excursion to better health. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Apple supplier Foxconn is planning to overhaul its management structure to get more senior executives involved in the running of its daily operations, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The move to appoint a new "operations committee" comes as Chairman and Founder Terry Gou is seeking to run in Taiwan's 2020 presidential election. He also told Reuters in April that he planned to step down from Foxconn to pave the way for younger talent to move up the ranks.
The overhaul will mark a major shift in Foxconn's corporate leadership that has seen 68-year-old Gou hold a tight grip on the firm's daily operations and strategic decisions.
"The good thing is it will no longer be a company ruled by one man and the decisions won't be as dogmatic as they used to be," the source said. "It will be a co-management model."
Investors are keen for any insight into succession plans at the world's largest contract manufacturer, whose business ranges from smartphone assembling to panel manufacturing, and what it means for plans laid out by Gou such as a $10 billion investment to create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin and an $8.8 billion display factory in southern China.
Foxconn is already under the spotlight for having failed so far to meet job-creation targets in Wisconsin, a plan cited by U.S. President Donald Trump as proof he was reviving American manufacturing. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Foxconn has moved more than 150 U.S. jobs to Mexico.
Foxconn is set to reveal next week the new "operations committee" that will give senior executives from its units greater control, according to the person, who declined to be named as the news had not yet been made public.
The committee, which would be involved in running the daily operations of various Foxconn units — from Sharp to Foxconn Interconnect Technology Ltd (FIH) — would include Sharp Chairman Tai Jeng-wu, Foxconn CFO Huang Chiu-lien, and FIH chairman Lu Sung-Ching, the source said.
Foxconn declined to comment until the conference on Tuesday. A Sharp spokesman declined to comment, saying the firm does not comment on Foxconn or its management as Sharp and Foxconn are independent companies. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Oh look, it's the half genie that kills dogs, turns people to stone and gives deadpan reactions as if she doesn't give a crap, rots her friend's eggs, and rubs salt in the wound by bringing her friend snake eggs out of complete stupidity. All created by a man with a surprisingly dark and disgusting sense of humor who also lacks the ability to tell a decent narrative. Bravo Shantae... Bravo. I just lost a lot of respect for you. Ugh... I wish I wasn't so conflicted. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Caught off guard by his sudden surge, Pete Buttigieg's rivals are scrambling to find vulnerabilities and lines of attack that can be used against him, five officials with opposing Democratic primary campaigns and Republican political groups tell NBC News.
The situation is different than with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden, Democrats who have long been on the national scene and were widely expected to run for president. Potential rivals and GOP campaign groups have spent years hunting for dirt — known in political parlance as "opposition research" — that could be deployed against them. Major political groups had entire books of "oppo" ready to go by the time those candidates entered the race. Biden is expected to enter formally this week.
In contrast, Buttigieg was on nobody's radar as a serious presidential contender until a few weeks ago. As a millennial who has never held an office higher than mayor of a midsize town, his record is largely unexamined.
Now his competitors are rushing to file a flood of Freedom of Information Act requests, according to officials, collecting everything he's ever said in public or posted on social media, and poring over years-old budgets from South Bend, Indiana, where he's served as mayor since 2012.
One official from a rival Democratic presidential campaign described Buttigieg as "a 37-year-old kid mayor, who nobody knows anything about."
"He's getting a very significant free pass on a lot of stuff that other candidates aren't getting a free pass on," the official said, citing his willingness to take money from lobbyists as an example. "There's a novelty there. People don't know anything about him, so he can kind of be whatever people want him to be. But if he sustains this, that will come down to earth."
Until the last few weeks, the only group that had kept close tabs on Buttigieg and actively pushed back on him was the Indiana Republican Party. Officials said the state party took notice when Buttigieg in 2017 ran for Democratic National Committee chair, taking it as a sign that his ambitions extended beyond South Bend, population just over 100,000.
The Indiana GOP began opposing Buttigieg more aggressively in 2018, including criticizing his move that year to block the opening of a crisis pregnancy center that discourages abortion by overruling the municipal council's zoning decision. The state party has also worked to impugn his broader record as mayor, emphasizing high rates of violence and downplaying the significance of his electoral victories in South Bend, a comparatively liberal enclave within conservative-leaning Indiana.
Yet since Buttigieg starting attracting national attention, catapulting into third place in Democratic primary polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, the state GOP has been consulting with the Republican National Committee about ways to effectively counter Buttigieg's campaign, officials said.
Officials with rival Democratic campaigns said that while they're still early in the process of digging through his record, they've already identified his likely vulnerabilities. A few issues have already worked their way into national press coverage of Buttigieg, including a re-examination of a fraught episode in which he demoted the city's black police chief, detailed in recent New York Times and NBC News reports.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics
"Our competitors can run their campaigns how they want," said Lis Smith, Buttigieg's top communications adviser. "We're less interested in politics as usual and more focused on getting Mayor Pete's hopeful message of generational change out there."
Other potential points of vulnerability include his signature project as mayor, the "1,000 homes in 1,000 days" initiative to rid South Bend of abandoned homes, and his years at McKinsey and Co., a business consulting firm that has drawn intense scrutiny from Democrats over some of its business practices. His opponents also plan to hit him on his reluctance to take definitive stances on policy issues like health care and immigration, officials said.
Colin Reed, a Republican strategist who specializes in opposition research, said any campaign competing with Buttigieg would be working expeditiously now to piece together his record as mayor, including every interview he ever gave, unpopular personnel decisions he made and any municipal correspondence in the public record. He said Buttigieg's work at McKinsey could be particularly ripe for "guilt by association" attacks given the current focus within the Democratic primary on "purity and corporate responsibility."
"In 2020 it was never going to be like 2016, where all the Republicans knew that Hillary Clinton was going to be the nominee and you essentially had four years to build a formidable opposition arsenal against her," said Reed, who constructed many of the earliest attacks on Warren as campaign manager for former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. "There was always going to be a bit of this scramble." | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
John Oliver slammed Sinclair Broadcast Group on Sunday for requiring local anchors to read media-bashing promos.
"Nothing says we value independent media like dozens of reporters forced to repeat the same message over and over again like members of a brainwashed cult," Oliver retorted in a segment about Sinclair. The host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight" previously took on Sinclair last summer. (HBO is owned by CNN's parent company, Time Warner).
Sinclair wrote promos for its network of local broadcasters. The promos describe a "troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories" and claim that "national media outlets are publishing these same fake stories without checking facts first." Sinclair told the stations it must film and run the promos "frequently."
CNNMoney first reported on the promos -- and the tensions they were creating in Sinclair newsrooms -- last month.
Oliver compared the anchors in the promos to hostages, and said one looked like "she'd rather be murdered and set on fire while celebrating her birthday" than read the script.
Related: Sinclair's new media-bashing promos rankle local anchors
The promos, which echo President Trump's anti-media talking points, went viral over the weekend after Deadspin edited dozens of them together to show how anchors across the country were reading the same script.
Related: Sinclair tells stations to air media-bashing promos - and the criticism goes viral
That led Oliver to return to Sinclair on Sunday. His piece last July on the "the most influential media company that you've never heard of" introduced millions of Americans to the network. The segment has more than seven million views on YouTube.
"When you see just how many local stations were forced to read it and you watch them together, as many have been doing online in the last couple of days, you begin to realize the true effect of Sinclair's reach and power," Oliver said Sunday.
Sinclair (SBGI) is the biggest owner of local television stations in the United States, owning or operating 173 of them.
Management's conservative politics have moved down to Sinclair's stations through "must runs" — stories local producers are told to air during their newscasts. The "Terrorism Alert Desk" is a recurring segment. Pro-President Trump commentaries from Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump campaign adviser, are another "must-run" feature.
Oliver highlighted Sinclair's "must runs" Sunday, including a story about the "Deep State," a popular conspiracy theory on the right, allegedly working to undermine President Trump.
Sinclair's political bent has been a factor in its pending acquisition of Tribune Media, which is under review by federal regulators. The deal would add dozens more stations to its portfolio.
-- CNNMoney's Brian Stelter contributed reporting | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Sede do PT é alvo de vandalismo pela 3ª vez este mês (Foto: José Dantas de Araújo/PT/Arquivo pessoal)
Vândalos arrombaram na madrugada deste sábado (19) a sede municipal do PT em Belo Horizonte. De acordo com a Polícia Militar, a porta foi quebrada e houve depredação. Um computador e um telefone foram quebrados. A perícia foi acionada. A Polícia Civil vai investigar o caso.
Segundo funcionários do local, panfletos foram espalhados pelo chão e móveis foram revirados. A ação aconteceu quando o prédio estava vazio.
De acordo com a assessoria de imprensa do PT, uma reunião foi convocada nesta manhã para discutir as ações de vandalismo.
Em nota, a assessoria de imprensa do PT em Minas informou que repudia os atentados contra a sede do partido e diz que "neste momento de instabilidade política, essa atitude marginal só nos faz acreditar que é imprescindível reforçar a luta pela democracia e o Estado de Direito.
É o terceiro ataque ao prédio neste mês. Nesta sexta-feira (18), a sede amanheceu com tinta azul e pichações na fachada.
No dia 5 de março, tinta, ovo e farinha foram jogados no local.
Móveis foram revirados na sede do PT (Foto: José Dantas de Araújo/PT/Arquivo pessoal) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
what if Americans have different date format just to celebrate 4/20
1,008 shares | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The summer is for cooling off at the beach, sipping piña coladas and for many, going to the farmers market. Over the past six years, the number of farmers markets has grown over 76 percent with a continual rise in interest for locally grown food. And, the summer season is the busiest time at the farmers markets as there is an overwhelmingly delicious array of colorful fruits and vegetables for sale.
Yet, as happy as it may be picking out all of that produce, come Friday the basil that was supposed to go in that night's dinner may be all black and the zucchini? It's covered with brown spots. But, there are ways to avoid these common farmers market conundrums. First, a couple of general tips that will make your purchases hit the dinner table instead of the trash can:
Go home right after the market. Don’t leave the produce in the car to run other errands or baking in the sun while getting breakfast. Head home and store them properly, as soon as you arrive.
Keep the produce out of sunlight once home.
Do not store fruits and vegetables together. Fruits give off high levels of ethylene gas, which ripens the fruits, causing them to change color, become softer, and sweeter. But it can quickly spoil surrounding vegetables.
There are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables at the summer market, but here are a few ways to help keep the summer's most popular produce last.
Peaches
It is best to pick out peaches that are on the firmer side unless they are to be eaten that day (and if that's the case, leave them in a bowl or basket on the kitchen counter away from sunlight.
To lengthen the life of the fruits, store them in the refrigerator in a low moisture drawer, but only with other fruits. The refrigerator does not make the fruit more or less ripe but simply stops the process in time. Take the peaches out the night before eating.
If to quicken the softening process, store them in a paper bag in a cool dark place, thereby trapping the ethylene gas. The paper bag trick is good for other fruits as well such as avocados and plantains.
Tomatoes
When choosing tomatoes, look for bruising, spotting or soft spots on the skin. If there are signs of any of these, do not buy them. Look for vibrant colors among the rainbowed assortment of tomatoes at the market. Touch is also a big indicator of a good tomato. The tomato should feel firm but still reacts to touch. Lastly, make sure the tomato smells like a tomato. If it smells funky or just not like a tomato it may be a sign that the tomato going bad.
When storing tomatoes, do not put them in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will turn that deliciously, juicy, farm fresh tomato into a meaty, tasteless, winter tomato. Refrigerating tomatoes damages the membranes in the fruit, which causes the tomatoes to lose flavor. If the refrigerator is the only option, let the tomato sit out a day before using.
Summer Squash
Summer squash includes the more known zucchini and yellow squash but also yellow zucchini, green tiger zucchini, pattypan squash and more. Summer squash is moister than winter squash and therefore has a shorter lifespan. Summer squash varieties are delicate and thin skinned, so it is important to look for bruising and blemishes before buying. Also, choose firm squash as they will quickly soften. The smaller squash tend to be sweeter and preferable when cooking.
When storing summer squash, place in a plastic bag with as much air removed as possible, then tightly wrap the bag around the squash before storing in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.
Herbs
Summertime is also herb season. And, there is nothing better and more flavorful than fresh-picked herbs at the farmers market. Basil, dill, cilantro, sage and thyme are just a few of the herbs that hit the stands during this season. But, preserving herbs to use throughout the week can be a challenge. Make sure the herbs are not wilted in any way before choosing.
Once home, treat herbs like flowers. Cut off the ends and put them in a glass of water immediately. Then put the glass of herbs in the refrigerator, except for basil. Leave the glass of basil on the counter in the kitchen away from direct sunlight. The refrigerator will spoil the flavor of basil and cause it to turn black.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a great example of a vegetable at the farmers market that may look a little different than what is commonly seen in the grocery store. The main differentiators being color and size. What is commonly found at the grocery store is large, black beauty eggplant. Though at the farmers market, you may come across, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, white, graffiti, Sicilian and if lucky, Fairy Tale eggplant.
When buying eggplant, make sure it is firm and doesn’t have any bruises. The riper and softer it is, the most likely it will taste bitter. Also, look at the calyx and stem, the greener the better. Avoid eggplants that have brown leaves.
Store eggplant in the refrigerator in the vegetable drawer. Be sure to use within a few days, as the longer the eggplant sits the more bitter it will get.
Melon
Picking out melons can seem like a difficult task compared to other fruits and vegetables that are easily felt for ripeness and defects. Melons bring a whole new challenge with their large size and thick skin. They also do not continue to ripen once picked, so it is important to find one that is already ripe for that sweet flavor. When looking for a good melon, first look for bruising, soft spots or cracks.
Color, which of course varies by melon, is important. For cantaloupes or muskmelons make sure the color is more of a golden color than green. For honeydew, a light yellow color is idea, and for watermelon, look for a yellow spot, which is developed when the melon rests on the ground after picking. A yellow spot is a easy sign for ripeness. Cantaloupe and honeydew varieties can also be smelled for ripeness.
Store ripe melons in the refrigerator. Only cut melon before eating. But if the melon is cut, it should be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator immediately.
Corn
It is not uncommon to see people shucking corn right there at the farmers market or grocery store. But, there is actually etiquette to buying corn and that means not opening the husks before buying. When corn is picked, the sugar immediately starts converting to starch. And when the husk is opened, it hastens this process, affecting the flavor of the corn. So as tempting as it is to take a little look at the corn, it's a counter-productive step that will also produce a few angry stares from the farmers. Instead, look for bright green, tightly wrapped and almost moist husks. Then investigate the husks for small brown wormholes. If all is clear, then feel the individual kernels through the husks. Make sure there are no missing kernels. The tassels should also be brown and almost sticky to the touch.
Corn is best eaten on the day that it is bought. But to store for a few days, put it in the refrigerator immediately with the husks still on. The cool temperature of the refrigerator will slow down the sugar to starch process. If the corn is already husked for some reason, then put the ears in a plastic bag before storing in the refrigerator. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
At least eight civilians killed after rebel attack, as UN offices targeted for ‘failure to act’ in eastern city of Beni.
Protesters stormed UN facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) town of Beni on Monday, angered by the failure to stop an armed group that killed eight civilians.
Dozens of people broke into the UN headquarters in the city despite gunshots fired by Congolese security forces seeking to disperse the angry crowd.
Eight people were killed on Sunday night in an attack by armed fighters in the northeastern city of Beni. At least two more were killed and several wounded after angry residents took to the streets and clashed with security forces.
Police said protesters also torched the mayor’s office in response to the overnight attack. A tweet by the police force showed flames shooting from the window and thick black smoke billowing above.
Demonstrators then marched to the offices of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), said Teddy Kataliko, a civil society leader in Beni.
“Several offices at the MONUSCO headquarters were set on fire and looted,” Kataliko said. “Residents are demanding the withdrawal of MONUSCO from Beni because of the inaction of UN forces.”
Gunfire could be heard outside the UN offices as police and peacekeepers tried to disperse the crowd that burned UN vehicles.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Beni, said the attacks on UN facilities began in the morning.
“The UN soldiers were trying to defend themselves but it was very difficult. Two people were killed around the demonstration around the UN camp, which destroyed half of the wall of the main UN building,” he said.
“The same protesters are now heading to the second military base of the UN located at the airport. This is a very, very difficult situation going on here in the town of Beni.”
‘Doing nothing’
While it was unclear who exactly carried out the assault late on Sunday, the city has repeatedly come under attack from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group that operates in DRC and neighbouring Uganda.
“We are protesting because no one is doing anything to protect us. Everyone – the government soldiers and the UN soldiers – have failed to protect us,” Tony Mumbere, a demonstrator, told Al Jazeera.
Thousands have fled Beni in raids attributed to ADF fighters. More than 60 people have been killed in the region since the Congolese army started a campaign against the armed group last month, according to officials.
On Monday, protesters continued to direct their anger at the United Nations.
“They [UN peacekeepers] should either protect us or leave our country. We have been killed while they just watch. What are they here to do?” demonstrator Jonas Kambale told Al Jazeera.
During previous military operations against the ADF its fighters retaliated by attacking civilians, according to local activists.
“We do understand the anger and frustration of the population but ask for understanding that attacking UN or local facilities … actually weakens the Congolese army’s operations against the ADF,” said Matthias Gillman, a UN spokesman.
Rights group Amnesty International said the demonstrators’ anger was understandable.
“It is scandalous that civilians are dying day in, day out while the local police and nearby UN peacekeepers stay put in their camps,” said Seif Magango.
The dense jungle terrain makes it difficult to protect every remote village, especially when the ADF tend to attack silently at night, the United Nations said.
“We can’t put a peacekeeper behind every Congolese,” Gillman said.
No ‘offensive operations’
MONUSCO said its troops were not invited by officials in the capital Kinshasa to take part in fighting against the assailants after the attack on Sunday.
“We cannot impose ourselves in an operational situation for offensive operations. We came in support to evacuate the wounded, we came in support to share information when possible,” Francois Grignon, an acting deputy special representative at MONUSCO, said in tweets posted by the mission on Monday.
The DRC-based Center for Studies of Peace and Defense of Human Rights urged calm on Monday, condemning the assault on civilians as well as the attacks on UN facilities.
“While sharing the anger felt by the youth of Beni and the revolt that these terrorist acts provoke, [the center] asks all residents of Beni to remain calm, show restraint and a sense of responsibility so as not to fall into the trap of the enemy,” it said in a statement.
Violence blamed by the government on ADF has killed hundreds of civilians since 2014. ADF is one of dozens of armed groups vying for territory and control in the mineral-rich border region.
The ADF has been operating near the Ugandan border for more than two decades. Several ADF attacks have been claimed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), but the extent of their relationship remains unclear. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
An 18-year-old Minnesota high school cheerleader allegedly prostituted her younger, cognitively delayed teammate by creating an online ad and taking her to see potential customers, pocketing $60 in one case.
Montia Marie Parke faces felony charges of sex trafficking and promoting prostitution for the acts involving her 16-year-old classmate.
Parker was a senior at Hopkins High School when she allegedly set up a Backpage.com ad for the 16-year-old, driving her to an apartment to have oral sex with a man, and taking the $60 the girl made. Authorities allege Parker and the girl drove to another home the next day, but left after the man refused oral sex.
The 16-year-old had mentioned to others that she was trying to make some money. Parker sent the girl a Facebook message and text message about how she could make money having sex, requesting that the girl send her photos of herself, the charges allege.
Parker posted the photos on Backpage.com, listing her phone number as the contact, the charges said. On March 5, the girls left school and went to an apartment building. When the younger girl returned to the car, she gave Parker the $60 and Parker deposited it into her own bank account, according to the complaint.
The next day, Parker pretended to be the girl's mother and called the school to get her excused, the charges said. The girls left school and went to a home where the girl was directed to have sex with a man. She refused.
"You'll be fine -- I didn't drive up here for nothing, and eventually you will need to have sex," Parker told the girl, according to the complaint. The girl told the man she wouldn't have intercourse with him but would give him oral sex. The man refused and Parker drove the girl back to Hopkins High School, according to the complaint.
MyFoxTwinCities.com reports the FBI received information about the alleged prostitution in March, and soon thereafter met with the alleged victim and her mother. The sophomore student's mother told investigators her daughter works with a school social worker because of a developmental cognitive delay.
The girl's mother also told police she had checked her daughter's cellphone after noticing changes in her daughter's behavior and hearing that she had an unexcused absence from school.
Minneapolis Lt. Kim Lund, president of the Minnesota Juvenile Officers' Association, said authorities have noticed more cases within the last five years involving teen girls using Backpage.com. However, Lund said, it's unusual to have a case involving a teen prostituting a fellow teen; most human trafficking cases involve adult men or women contacting teens.
Parker admitted to police that she had created the ad and told them she received "a lot of calls" related to it, according to the complaint. She's free on $50,000 bond.
Hopkins High School's last day of classes is Thursday, but school officials said they acted immediately after learning of the charges.
"In responding to this incident, we followed our discipline and safety policy, which includes permanently removing a student from campus," the district said in a statement.
Click for more from MyFoxTwinCities.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Middle East Memo, October 14, 2019
Denmark will fast-track legislation allowing people with dual citizenship who have gone abroad to fight for militant groups like Daesh to be stripped of their Danish nationality, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday, according to a report by Reuters.
European states are trying to accelerate a plan to shift thousands of foreign Daesh militants out of Syrian prison camps and into Iraq, as a fresh conflict in Syria has raised the risk of militants escaping or returning home.
“There is a risk that the Kurdish-controlled IS[Daesh]-camps in the border area will collapse and that foreign warriors with Danish citizenship will move towards Denmark,” Frederiksen said in a statement.
Authorities believe at least 158 people from Denmark have joined militant groups in Syria or Iraq since 2012, about 27 of whom remain in the conflict zone. Twelve of these are believed to be imprisoned.
All 27 are Danish nationals but it is unclear how many also have citizenship of another country.
Europeans comprise a fifth of around 10,000 Daesh fighters held captive in Syria by Kurdish militias which are now under heavy attack by Turkish forces. If the militias redeploy prison guards to the front line, there is a risk of jail-breaks.
The proposed new law, which has broad support among lawmakers of different parties, would allow the government to strip fighters abroad who also hold another nationality of their Danish citizenship without a court order.
The law would not apply to single nationality Danes who could be left stateless.
“These are people who have turned their backs on Denmark and fought with violence against our democracy and freedom. They pose a threat to our security. They are unwanted in Denmark,” Frederiksen said, adding:
“The government will therefore do everything possible, to prevent them from to Denmark.returning.”
Other European countries have also said they will strip dual nationals who joined Daesh of citizenship.
They are reluctant to try such foreign fighters at home, fearing a public backlash, difficulties in collating evidence against them, and the risk of renewed attacks by militants on European soil. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Three of the most popular Rangers podcasts are coming together to discuss the state of the New York Rangers, what's next in the rebuild and what fans can expect from the team moving forward for a special live show!
Included in each ticket purchase is your first drink! If you're going to sit around and listen to us debate what's next for the Rangers, you might as well have a cold one in front of you!
After the forum wraps up, the hosts will be hanging around to talk individually to those in attendance and answer any additional questions you may have that aren't covered during the show. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The planned Anita May Rosenstein Campus (Rendering courtesy of Los Angeles LGBT Center)
A housing campus for LGBT seniors and young adults to be built in Hollywood starting this year will be the first of its kind in the country.
The new complex, known as the Anita May Rosenstein Campus, will house over 200 seniors and youth, according to KPCC. The campus will also serve as the new headquarters for the Los Angeles LGBT Center—the organization behind the $100 million project—which has provided services to the community since 1969. The building is expected to be completed in 2019 at 1116 N. McCadden Place near Santa Monica Blvd., just around the corner from the soon-to-be-demolished Circus Disco, which long served as another hub for the LGBT community.
Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, tells KPCC that the complex aims to help "the two most vulnerable parts of our community." She says that LGBT young adults comprise a disproportionate amount of homeless youth, and the new project will offer 100 beds for the at-risk youth, as well as 35 units of permanent supportive housing for young adults, ages 18 to 24, according to the project's website. Jean also says that it will provide an alternative housing option for LGBT seniors who can sometimes face discrimination in other care facilities.
The facility will also offer opportunities for the two generations to interact more, and potentially foster mentorships and friendships.
"In the LGBT community, we talk a lot about the real tragedy that comes from the lack of connection across generations within our community," Michael Adams of the national LGBT aging group, SAGE, tells KPCC. "From younger folks what we hear over and over again is they don’t know very much about the history of their community or about the history of LGBT people."
Another view of the planned Anita May Rosenstein Campus (Rendering courtesy of Los Angeles LGBT Center)
In addition to housing, the complex will feature a commercial kitchen to offer meals to the homeless, young and old, according to Curbed LA , as well as ground floor retail space. And by relocating the organization's headquarters to the facility, it will also free up space at their McDonald/Wright building in Hollywood to offer more health and medical services to both the LGBT community and anyone in need of assistance.
The name of the new complex comes from Anita May Rosenstein, heiress to the May department store chain, who gave $7 million to the center in 2014.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the housing campus will be available for teens, instead it will be available to LGBT youth, ages 18 to 24. We apologize for the error. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
This past March, the beloved Brooklyn DIY venue Shea Stadium was forced to end its eight-year run of kick-ass shows over a series of zoning and licensing violations. As Shea seeks a new location, Exploding In Sound Records -- the New York-based indie whose bands played there countless times -- is releasing a full-length compilation to help the cause. Live at Shea Stadium is due Oct. 6, but before then, we’ve got an exclusive early sampling, featuring one of the venerable heroes from Shea’s universe.
It’s Massachusetts-bred indie rockers Speedy Ortiz. They’re currently working on their third full length, but the comp features a live cut of an OG track from their formative days. Below, hear them perform “Indoor Soccer,” off their 2012 EP Sports, recorded on Aug. 4 of that year.
Speedy frontwoman Sadie Dupuis says:
"There might never have been a Speedy Ortiz without Shea Stadium. Though I'd released some solo material under that name, Speedy Ortiz the band -- just [drummer] Mike [Falcone] and me at first -- came together the night before our first show to fill a slot at Shea on a show with Porches, who were brand new then as well. We felt so appreciated and encouraged by the Shea family after only one gig, and played there many times over the next few years of the band's history. We've seen so many of our favorite bands and Exploding in Sound friends form and grow on Shea's stage. We felt loved there whether we brought 10 people or packed the place out, and we'll always appreciate the chances Shea took on brand new bands like Speedy.”
Indeed, Shea served as a launching pad for many DIY musicians, especially those who didn't quite feel at home most anywhere else. Our recent podcast interview with Vagabon's Lætitia Tamko gives a first-hand account of this.
After Shea Stadium was initially shut down by authorities in Jan. 2017, it hoped to raise enough money to secure the proper licenses and modifications to continue operating. Its Kickstarter raised the necessary $50,000 (and a whole lot more) but in the end, its landlord decided to ditch them altogether and build a nightclub on the grounds instead. As Shea’s leaders press on and try to find a new location, the live album seeks to raise more funds and awareness for the cause.
Pre-orders for Live at Sea Stadium are available here. Find the LP's full track listing below, along with the dates each song was recorded.
Ovlov - "The Valley" - 6.19.15
Pile - "Baby Boy" - 5.24.14
Speedy Ortiz - "Indoor Soccer" - 8.4.12
Baked - "Codec" - 1.28.13
Porches - "Count The Cash" - 9.6.13
LVL UP - "Cross The Sea" - 12.5.13
Washer - "Beansy" - 5.5.15
Stove - "Stupid" - 2.24.16
Big Ups - "Contain Myself" - 3.5.16
Bueno - "Eye On The Cards" - 8.26.16
Krill - "Foot" - 5.4.14
Palehound - "Drooler" - 1.26.15
Flagland - "Liar" - 8.2.13
Fat History Month - "Bad History Month” - 6.15.12
Additionally, the cassette version of the album will also feature live songs from the following bands:
Two Inch Astronaut
Grass Is Green
Leapling
Lost Boy ?
Swings
Bethlehem Steel
Kal Marks
J&L Defer
Jackal Onasis
Geronimo!
Ex-Breathers | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
A mosaic novel, you say? What’s that when it’s at home? How’s it differ from a common or garden novel? Well, my favourite explanation is from the inimitable Jo Walton: “A normal novel tells a story by going straightforwardly at it, maybe with different points of view, maybe braided, but clearly going down one road of story. A mosaic novel builds up a picture of a world and a story obliquely, so that the whole is more than the sum of the parts.”
According to author Joe McDermott, the creation of a mosaic novel is based on a technique of fracturing one or more story elements: plot, theme, characters, and/or setting. One of these elements, however, should be kept intact to bind the various story threads together and keep the reader anchored in the tale as a whole. Each mosaic text tends to fracture differently, depending on the author’s preferences and the needs of the story. In a true mosaic the plot is always going to be fractured, with no central plotline and each story-tile following its own narrative thread that doesn’t lead to an ending that feeds in to a larger overarching story question. The links between the stories are found in recurring characters and settings, repeated story talismans, themes and motifs, and acts the consequences of which echo through subsequent tales in the mosaic.
Mosiac novels have been written by luminaries such as Nancy Kress, George R.R. Martin, Ray Bradbury, and Richard Bowes, to name but a few (I’ve even committed a few myself). But today I’m going to mention my five current favourites.
China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
China Mountain Zhang won the Tiptree, Lambda Literary, and Locus Awards, and was nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo awards. It’s the mosaic novel Walton was referring to in the quote above, and it’s one of my favourites. The main story thread follows the life of Zhang Zhong Shan, a man with secrets to hide living an America that’s been utterly changed by a proletarian revolution, the Cleansing Winds Campaign—and basically become an outpost of China. Global warming has made large chunks of the U.S. uninhabitable, and part of the solution to this problem is the settlement of Mars.
Zhang is the intersection of all the stories in this mosaic, being involved to varying degrees in with other characters’ lives. Sometimes we have Zhang’s own tale, other times we see him through the lens of another character’s life; these include Martine and Alexi, settlers trying to survive on Mars; Angel who indulges in the dangerous sport of a kite-racing above New York City; and San Xiang, the poster girl for “be careful of what you wish for or you might just get it” cautionary tales. Each character exists in a different part of the world McHugh has created for us, this strange, dangerous, disappointing Chinese-American dream, where everyone has secrets and lies to protect them—just to exist. China Mountain Zhang is a chilling, entrancing, encompassing view of a possible future.
Voice of the Fire by Alan Moore
This is a challenging book and I don’t deny it, but it is worth persevering with. The twelve story-chapters form an imagined history of Moore’s birth city of Northampton across six thousand years, where characters recur in various tales and in various forms (first person narrator in one tale, a ghosts or death mask in another). The city is the constant anchor, with each chapter shifting narrator and time period, but using historical and cultural landmarks such as the cathedral and castle, as well as local legends like shagfoals as story talismans to show the reader a Northampton that they both do and do not know.
That bit I mentioned about a challenge? It’s the opening story, “Hob’s Hog.” The tale is hard to get through because its narrator is a Neolithic, intellectually challenged boy with a way of expressing himself that’s highly idiosyncratic, but it sets the scene for all that follows and the climax is stunning and disturbing and masterful. Other stories are truly astonishing, such as “The Cremation Fields” (in which a murderous young woman tries to lay claim to an inheritance not hers) and “I Travel in Suspenders” (a tale told by insurance fraud murderer A. A. Rouse).
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer
VanderMeer’s City is a magnificent achievement because it has the feel of the kind of document you’d find after the decline of a great civilisation; the sort of archival artefact that would help reconstruct an idea or an impression of a city—but one you’re never quite sure is accurate. City of Saints and Madmen stands as a kind of compendium history of Ambergris, linked by setting and the occasional recurrence of characters in various stories, and story talismans such as the street side saints, the Borges Bookshop, and the legendary figure of Voss Bender, composer and politician.
One of the unique elements of City of Saints and Madmen is that not all the stories are stories per se: one is a false bibliography, another a history of the famous Hoegbottom & Sons trading house intertwined with an early history of the city, yet another is a series of psychiatric case notes, while others stand as appendices. City of Saints and Madmen functions as a beautiful, fascinating faux historical text and reading it makes one feel like an archaeologist, stripping away the layers of a city’s past.
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Accelerando is a mosaic saga split across three generations of one family as humanity expands beyond the stars after huge technological advancement. In telling a tale greater than the span of one human lifetime and one single location Stross is able to give a more varied and textured picture of the narrative world in which the characters play out their stories. The anchoring element is the narrator, an AI cat, Aineko, owned by successive family members, and the reader sees the various generational changes through the eyes of the animal. Accelerando won the 2006 Locus Award, as well as being nominated for the Hugo, Campbell, Clarke, and British Science Fiction Association Awards, and rightly so: it offers a vision of a world—a universe, really—vastly changed and virtually unrecognisable.
Central Station by Lavie Tidhar
What better way to tell the tale of a diaspora—a dispersal, a scattering, a fracturing—than in a mosaic novel? Tidhar explores life, both virtual and real in this astonishing book: Mars has been colonised, space colonies are inextricably linked in dangerous ways, and earth is home to data-vampires, cyborg soldiers called robotniks, and strange children. This book is peopled by humans, machines, aliens, and everything in between. The space port is the hub where all the stories meet and mingle and here, as the cover blurb says, life is cheap, and data is cheaper. Central Station is vital and vigorous, challenging and mind-expanding, which of course might be said of any of Tidhar’s work, but with each new book he throws out a new challenge to himself and his readers. Blessed be the risk-takers, for they make our reading experiences incredible.
In short, each story in a mosaic novel should be able to stand on its own, but reading them in isolation is rather like looking at one strand of a spider’s web: it won’t give you a true idea about the shape of the entire construct. The connections between these tales are often imperceptible until revealed in the light shed by another story in the mosaic, and the depth of meaning obscured until subsequent tales are read, and then the undercurrents and layers of what’s gone before become clear, making the experience richer and more textured.
Angela Slatter is the author of eight short story collections, including The Girl with No Hands and Other Tales, Sourdough and Other Stories, The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings, and A Feast of Sorrows. Angela has won a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, one Ditmar Award, and five Aurealis Awards. She has an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop. She was an inaugural Queensland Writers Fellow in 2013, and the Established Writer-in-Residence at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth in 2016. Her debut novel, Vigil, was released by Jo Fletcher Books (Quercus/Hachette) in July 2016, and the sequels, Corpselight and Restoration will follow in 2017 and 2018 respectively. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
America’s workers support Sanders; SEIU should, too
Statesman Journal
A few days ago, SEIU endorsed Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders for president of the United States. I rise in opposition to this move.
It’s hard to understand how SEIU (or any labor union for that matter) could endorse a person who has never walked the picket line. Bernie Sanders has walked the picket lines for labor in the rain more than once and not just for a few minutes while the cameras were rolling.
Clinton’s major funding this election comes from the lawyers and bankers on Wall Street working for the same entities that caused the banking crisis in 2008 in the first place, which taxpayers were obliged to bail out.
Sen. Bernie Sanders believes that the billionaire class has ruled our politics for far too long. He has consistently been on the side of labor throughout his long career. He wants to see the working class receive $15 an hour minimum wage. Clinton says that’s too high but she might support $12.
It’s easy to see why the working class in America is behind Bernie Sanders. SEIU needs to hear this message and rethink their vote.
Kathy Randall
Salem | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Den här veckan börjar samrådet om Gula linjen och från och med idag kan du se två nya filmer – en om Gula linjens stationer och en om hur tunnelbanetrafiken kommer att gå när Gula linjen och Gröna linjen i framtiden ska dela spår.
Om du bor i närheten av där Gula linjen ska byggas kan det hända att du kommer att få se de här filmerna ofta de närmaste veckorna.
- Vi vill öka kännedomen om att tunnelbanan ganska snart kommer att börja byggas ut och nå även andra grupper än de som brukar komma på våra samråd. Därför testar vi att ersätta annonseringen i lokalpress med geografiskt riktad annonsering på YouTube, säger Marianne Dunér, som är kommunikationschef för tunnelbaneutbyggnaden.
Precis som vanligt kommer alla som bor och jobbar i närheten av utbyggnaden även att få ett tryckt nyhetsbrev i lådan, med information om samrådet.
Samrådet börjar på onsdag den 26 oktober och från och med den dagen finns alla handlingar att läsa här på webben. Vi kommer även att anordna två Öppet hus – den 8 november kl. 16-19 i Vasa Reals matsal och den 10 november hela dagen på Mall of Scandinavia utanför Hemköp. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
New England Patriots superstar QB Tom Brady, has collaborated with Aston Martin’s Q by Aston Martin bespoke service to produce the Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante ‘Tom Brady Signature Edition’.
This stunning version of the Vanquish S is strictly limited to just 12 examples.
Tom Brady said: “It was an easy decision to go with the Vanquish S for the special edition – it is an incredible car to drive and is truly a work of art. Going through the process of curating a unique Aston Martin has been fascinating. We started with a blank canvas and finished with this beautiful car. It’s been great to see it all come to fruition and I’m proud to share a name with it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!”
Here’s some details via Astor Martin:
The Vanquish S is Aston Martin’s ultimate super GT. Offering 580bhp from its 6.0 liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine, the Vanquish S shows off sleek aerodynamic contours, beneath which lies a sensational throttle response, fast gearshifts and astonishing suspension performance to create Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting GT production model. This particular Vanquish S has been created by Aston Martin’s ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’, a new service revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show that invites customers to collaborate personally with Aston Martin’s design team to commission a truly bespoke sports car.Brady worked closely on this project with Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman who said: “Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ is the ultimate in bespoke, in fact it can even go as far as creating an entirely new car. Tom chose the Vanquish S as he recognises natural athletic performance when he sees it. He has curated a beautiful, tailor-made car that will excite its owners for many years to come.”
This ultra-limited run focuses on performance and this can be seen in the extensive use of carbon fiber and other performance materials. Tom has shown that he shares a passion with Aston Martin for meticulous attention to detail, choosing the California Poppy leather paddle shift tips on the One-77 colour-keyed steering wheel and each of the 12 cars is a convertible.
Each car bears Tom’s signature on the sill plates and features the ‘TB12’ logo on a fender badge, embossed on the headrests and as a pull tab in the rear of the car, highlighted again in California Poppy.
We’re hearing the limited run was 12 vehicles. The ‘Tom Brady Signature Edition’ are due for delivery in early 2018.
Aston Martin announcedthe start of a new long-term partnership with Tom Brady back in 2017.
What mid-life crisis? Just another reason why Tom is truly the | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Follow the major changes at the Nou Camp in our FREE Barca newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email
Former Barcelona and Spain boss Luis Enrique has announced the heartbreaking news that his nine-year-old daughter has died from cancer.
Enrique stepped down from his role as Spain manager earlier this year to focus on her illness.
His daughter, Xana, fought osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, for five months.
Enrique wrote on Twitter: "Our daughter Xana has died this afternoon at the age of 9, after struggling for five intense months with osteosarcoma.
"We thank you for all the love received during these months and we appreciate the discretion and understanding.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
"We would also like to give personal thanks to the hospitals Sant Joan de Deu and Sant Pau for their dedication and treatment and to all the volunteers, with a special mention to the palliative priests at Sant Joan de Deu.
"We will miss you a lot but we will think of you every day of our lives with the hope that in the future we will meet again.
"You will be the star that guides our family. Rest well little Xana."
Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez led the tributes, tweeting: "Moment of much pain and sadness. Rest in peace XANITA. A lot of strength Luis, Elena and family."
Former Barca winger Gerard Deulofeu added: "Rest in peace Xana. All the strength of the world for Luis Enrique and the family. Without words we stay."
Enrique was Barca boss between 2014 and 2017 and led them to two league titles, three Copa del Rey triumphs and the Champions League in 2015.
He replaced Fernando Hierro as Spain boss after their disastrous World Cup campaign in 2018 and managed the national team in seven matches before stepping aside due to his daughter's health. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Should Israeli officials be surprised Sweden was the only European Union country to vote for an anti-Israel UNESCO resolution denying Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem?
The question comes just days after UNESCO’s executive committee May 2 approved a resolution calling Israel an “occupying power” in Jerusalem and saying any Israeli efforts to assert sovereignty over the holy city are “null and must be rescinded forthwith.” The resolution passed in a 22-10 vote.
“It was no surprise to see that Sweden once again has aligned itself with Muslim countries, dictatorships and religious regimes against the only democracy in the Middle East,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon told JNS.org. “Unfortunately, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has made numerous anti-Israel declarations…and Sweden under the current government has voted systematically against the state of Israel [at the United Nations].”
Ahead of the May 2 UNESCO vote, Arab states backing the resolution had lobbied the EU countries, hoping that including softened language reaffirming “the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls for the three monotheistic religions” would unite Europe behind the anti-Israel measure.
Subscribe to The JNS Daily Syndicate
by email and never miss
our top stories
Israeli officials also reportedly lobbied European countries before the vote, resulting in Italy vowing to oppose the resolution, leading other EU countries to either oppose the measure or abstain from the vote.
But Sweden didn’t budge.
“This was somewhat surprising,” Svante Cornell, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, told JNS.org, “since it has not been Swedish diplomatic tradition to break the EU consensus. It singled the country out as the most negative toward Israel in the group.”
Sweden had already broken rank with Europe in October 2014, when it became the continent’s first country to recognize a Palestinian state—going beyond some other European nations whose legislatures held symbolic votes backing Palestinian statehood, without such recognition extending to their executive branches.
“Sweden is emerging, it is fair to say, as the Western European state most critical of Israel,” Cornell said.
Frayed diplomatic ties
“Swedish-Israeli relations are at an all-time low right now,” Magnus Norell, a Swedish adjunct scholar with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told JNS.org. “And I don’t see any signs of an immediate improvement.”
According to Norell, Sweden voted with the Arab bloc at the U.N. May 2 out of “sheer ignorance of the historical background and context, ineptness (poor communication between the Foreign Ministry and the governing administration) and identity politics.” The government’s “pro-Palestinian attitude often leads to supporting all kinds of initiatives, as long as it’s perceived as being against Israel,” he added.
The Swedish mindset
Norell said the Swedish mindset of “rooting for the underdog” is the reason behind its pro-Palestinian stance. It’s also the thinking behind Sweden taking in more refugees per capita than any other European country, which has led to the current Muslim migrant problem the nation is grappling with today.
Sweden, which has a population of 9.5 million, allowed in 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015 alone, double what it previously accepted in any single year. Sweden’s immigration problem is blamed for growing violent crime. While some media outlets downplay the crime, others report the situation is out of control.
The Stockholm suburbs of Tensta, Husby and Rinkeby have no-go zones where riots have broken out. Jewish-American undercover filmmaker Ami Horowitz was attacked in Husby in 2016 while investigating crime in these areas. In Sweden’s largest northern city, Umea, which has a population of 121,000, the JCC recently closed its doors after a wave of anti-Semitic vandalism and threats.
Last month’s truck-ramming terror attack in the heart of Stockholm, killing four and wounding 15 others, was perpetrated by an Uzbekistan native who was reportedly refused permanent residency in Sweden due to “sympathies for extremist groups such as the Islamic State.”
No longer the ‘underdog’
Before the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel was viewed as the underdog, fending off its warring Arab neighbors. But during the ensuing 50 years, the Palestinians have successfully shifted world sympathy in their favor, and this trend has prominently taken hold in Sweden.
“The Palestinians managed to present their struggle as one against colonialism, and against U.S. involvement in the Third World,” Norell said. “Sweden always saw herself as being a ‘moral superpower,’ taking the side of the oppressed. And Israel, being supported by the U.S., was seen as being on the side of the oppressor, lording it over the Palestinians.”
Cornell agrees, adding that Sweden’s Social Democratic Party has “a long tradition of being critical to Israel and sympathetic to the Palestinian side.” While Göran Persson, who led the Social Democrats and was Sweden’s prime minister from 1996-2006, was considerably more pro-Israel, the current government leadership has returned to embracing the Palestinian narrative.
Cornell explained that while “strongly anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and occasionally even anti-Semitic views” have become influential within Sweden’s left-leaning parties, there is “no counter-balance with a comparable pro-Israel mobilization on the right, even though many pro-Israel politicians exist right of the center” in the Scandinavian country.
“This combines with a strong leftist domination of media outlets, to provide a consistently negative coverage of Israel in Sweden,” he said. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Photo: Blend Images - ERproductions Ltd/Getty Images
Without meaning to, and without even knowing they’re doing it, elementary-school teachers may be grading their girl students differently from the boys when it comes to math tests, according to some interesting new research recently highlighted by NPR’s Shankar Vedantam.
The researchers, Edith Sand and Victor Lavy at Tel Aviv University, analyzed the math-test scores of about 3,000 Israeli sixth graders in two different ways: First, they looked at the way the kids’ teachers had graded the tests. But they also gave those tests to a separate group of teachers who did not know the children and didn’t know whether the test they were looking at had been taken by a girl or boy. The results: The kids’ actual teachers tended to give the girls lower scores on the math tests than the other group of teachers; they also gave the boys higher scores on average than did the teachers who didn’t know the kids. “Now, since the external teachers don’t know the gender of the students, this suggests the classroom teachers are biased,” Vedantam explains. “They’re giving the girls lower math scores than they deserve.”
It’s not very likely that they were giving their girl students lower scores in math on purpose — after all, many of the teachers were themselves women. Instead, it’s “more likely these biases are operating at an unconscious level,” Vedantam continues. It’s just one study, and in just one country, so let’s not go wild with the broader implications of this one piece of research. (Gender biases operate differently in different cultures, for one, and there’s always the question of whether the results will hold up if replicated.) Still, it’s a fascinating window into the potential harm that can come from biases, even (or perhaps especially) the ones people aren’t aware they have. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
(Unfortunately I do not have the direct link to the direct artist/source of this drawing, but as soon as I do I will make sure to provide it.) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Home Daily News Law school misses bond payment, seeks to…
Law Schools
Law school misses bond payment, seeks to restructure obligations
Thomas Jefferson School of Law is “engaged in constructive dialogue” to restructure its obligations to bondholders after missing a June 26 payment.
In a statement provided to Above the Law, the school says it has paid most of the June payment, and it has an interim agreement running through Oct. 16 in which bondholders won’t exercise their remedies. Thomas Jefferson School of Law is “confident that a consensual restructuring will occur,” the statement says.
“The parties have a mutual interest in restructuring the law school’s debt in a way that will allow the school to remain in operation and prosper,” the school’s statement said. “As part of the negotiations, various potential structures and restructuring alternatives have been discussed. At the core of each alternative is ensuring the school can provide the educational experience required of an ABA accredited school and ensure the school’s long term success.”
Above the Law broke the news of the default. The school opened a new campus building in 2011 and its financial obligations now total $133 million, the blog says.
Related articles:
ABAJournal.com: “One law school’s credit rating drops to junk-bond status”
ABAJournal.com: “Even at unranked Thomas Jefferson Law, some grads are glad they went” | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
A 66-year-old Edmonton man is not allowed to own a pet for at least a decade after his dog was found to be in such bad shape the veterinarian thought the animal should have been put down years earlier.
Under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta, a provincial court judge handed the man a 10-year pet ownership prohibition and fined him $1,200 March 17 for putting the animal in distress, the Edmonton Humane Society said in a press release Monday.
A woman is also facing charges and is due in court later this year.
"It was evident this animal was clearly in distress and in need of medical attention for a prolonged period of time," said Mandy Crawford, Edmonton Humane Society Manager of Animal Health and Protection.
The man dropped off the 20-year-old husky-collie cross, Sandy, to the Humane Society on May 27, 2016. The dog's fur was matted and covered with urine and feces. Her teeth were cracked and wounds under her eye, around a tooth and around a nail were infested with maggots.
Sandy was described as smelling of "death and rotting flesh." Her injuries were "beyond medical treatment" and the dog was euthanized, according to the Humane Society.
The society is urging people to report animal neglect or cruelty.
"We're putting a call out to ask for assistance in reporting cases of animal abuse and neglect."
The society said people can also contact the police. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
I like seeing handicapped people parked at the back of the lot It shows me they aren't exploiting their disability, and don't want to be treated differently
124 shares | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Closure of Taiba Mosque Hamburg Hate Preachers Lose Their Home
Islamic extremists in Germany have lost an important meeting place following Monday's move by Hamburg authorities to close the Taiba mosque and the society attached to it. Sept. 11 suicide pilot Mohammed Atta used to frequent the mosque, which investigators say has been supporting terrorism for years. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Relive the adventures of the latest canon starships from Star Trek: Discovery, but this time with YOU as the captain of these iconic new vessels. Sail the stars in historical recreations of some of the most famous (or infamous) starships involved in the Klingon conflicts of the mid-23rd Century.
The following starships will become available with the release of the Discovery Lock Box, scheduled to arrive on Xbox One and Playstation 4 starting with the 8th Anniversary Update.
Faction Restrictions
For the first time, we are allowing Romulan captains the opportunity to captain starships designed for their allied factions. Thus, a Federation-allied Romulan will be capable of commissioning the Walker-class and Crossfield-class starships, while Klingon-allied Romulans may find themselves at the helm of the intimidating Sarcophagus vessel.
When a player wins the Grand Prize from the lockbox, they will automatically be rewarded with the ship appropriate to their faction choice. The Console and Starship Trait from the opposing faction’s ship will be made available as a prize option within the Lock Box, as well.
While the Walker-class may only be purchased on the Lobi Store by Federation captains (and those allied with the Federation), KDF and KDF-allied captains will be able to purchase a package containing its Console and Starship Trait for a reduced price.
Crossfield-class Science Vanguard [T6]
While the Crossfield class was originally created to be a vessel that specialized in scientific endeavors, these starships were heavily modified in an effort to aid the war efforts that erupted between the Federation and Klingons after the Battle of the Binary Stars in the mid-23rd Century. These refits proved to be highly effective, and thus a new breed of starships - the Science Vanguard - was born.
This starship comes with a Lieutenant Universal / Temporal Operative Specialist seat, and a Lieutenant Commander Universal / Intelligence Specialist seat.
Ship Details:
Faction: Federation and Federation allies
Tier: 6
Availability: Lock Box (Federation and Federation allies)
Required Rank: Rear Admiral (Level 40)
Hull Strength: 1.3 (39,000 at level 40, 44,850 at level 50 and 52,000 at level 60)
Shield Modifier: 1.25
Fore Weapons: 4
Aft Weapons: 3
Device Slots: 3
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical, 1 Ensign Engineering, 1 Commander Science, 1 Lieutenant Universal/Temporal Operative, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal/Intelligence
Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 2 Engineering, 5 Science
Base Turn Rate: 10 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.18
Inertia: 45
+10 Weapon Power, +10 Auxiliary Power
Can Load Dual Cannons
Sensor Analysis
Subsystem Targeting
Secondary Deflector Slot
Console – Universal – Mycelium Ambush
Starship Ability Package (Science Vessel) Enhanced Particle Generators (+Exotic Damage) Advanced Shield Systems (+Shield Hit Points) Enhanced Restorative Circuitry (+Healing) Reactive Shield Technology (+Shield Regen/Hardness) Black Alert (Starship Trait)
Admiralty Ship Card
Engineering : 20
: 20 Science : 59
: 59 Tactical : 47
: 47 Special: 2.5x Critical Rating from SCI
Console – Universal - Mycelium Ambush
The Crossfield Science Vanguard comes equipped with a Console - Universal - Mycelium Ambush. When this console's power is activated, your starship's weapons will be temporarily disabled as your ship instantaneously moves forwards to a destination some distance from your current position. Upon arrival at your destination, a pulse of energy is discharged, impeding the engines of nearby ships while enhancing your own starship's weapons for a brief period. After a few seconds, multiple payloads of torpedoes are released, and your starship's weapons are briefly disabled again in order to instantaneously move backwards to your original position.
This is also referred to as the “Lorca Maneuver” in reference to the captain that first pioneered its use.
This console also provides passive bonuses to Control Expertise, Drain Expertise, Exotic Particle Generators, and Scientific Readiness.
This console may be equipped in any console slot, and on any starship, but only one may be equipped at a time.
Black Alert (Starship Trait)
After achieving level 5 in your Science Vanguard's Starship Mastery, you will unlock the Black Alert Starship Trait. While this trait is active, activating Beam: Overload, Cannon: Rapid Fire, or any Intelligence Bridge Officer Ability will allow temporally-displaced duplicates of your ship to appear near any foes that you damage over the next several seconds. Each of these duplicates will fire Torpedo Spreads at the damaged foe and other nearby targets. This trait may only activate once every 25 sec.
For 12 sec after activating Beam: Overload, Cannon: Rapid Fire, or any Intel Bridge Officer Ability: Weapon Damage to Foe creates a Spore Duplicate which attacks Foe and up to 2 other Foes, dealing Kinetic Damage to each before disappearing. (Base Damage is approximately 4,000 per target at level 60.)
Up to four total Spore Duplicates may be created, max once per 3 sec.
Walker-class Light Exploration Cruiser [T6]
The Walker class represented one of the many workhorse mid-range vessels of 23rd Century Starfleet, suited to a wide variety of missions within Federation space. It is resilient enough that even when ambushed by an armada of Klingon vessels at the Battle of the Binary Stars, the U.S.S. Shenzhou was capable of resisting destruction despite overwhelming odds.
This starship comes with an Ensign Engineering / Intelligence Specialist seat, and a Lieutenant Universal / Pilot Specialist seat.
Ship Details:
Faction: Federation and Federation allies
Tier: 6
Availability: Lobi Store (Federation and Federation allies)
Required Rank: Rear Admiral (Level 40)
Hull Strength: 1.325 (39,750 at level 40, 45,713 at level 50 and 53,000 at level 60)
Shield Modifier: 1.15
Fore Weapons: 5
Aft Weapons: 3
Device Slots: 4
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical, 1 Ensign Engineering/Intelligence, 1 Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Commander Science, 1 Lieutenant Universal/Pilot
Console Modifications: 3 Tactical, 5 Engineering, 3 Science
Base Turn Rate: 10 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.15
Inertia: 40
+5 Power to All Subsystems
Console – Universal - Obfuscation Screen
Cruiser Command Array Command – Strategic Maneuvering Command – Shield Frequency Modulation Command – Weapon System Efficiency Command – Attract Fire
Starship Mastery Package (Cruiser) Absorptive Plating (+Kinetic and Physical Damage Resistance) Rapid Repairs (+Regeneration) Enhanced Plating (+Energy and Radiation Damage Resistance) Armored Hull (+Max Hull Hit Points) Vulcan Hello (Starship Trait)
Admiralty Ship Card
Engineering : 68
: 68 Science : 29
: 29 Tactical : 29
: 29 Special: +8 SCI per TacShip or SciShip
Console – Universal – Obfuscation Screen
Light Exploration Cruisers come equipped with a Console - Universal - Obfuscation Screen. This unique suite of sensor screens succeeds in convincing nearby foes that your starship has been disabled, though it comes with the requirement of holding the ship in place and preventing all abilities from being activated. During this period of time, your ship's hull and shields will rapidly replenish. This mode may be disabled voluntarily at any time after a brief activation period, at which point the advantage gained from this ruse is translated into increased damage from all sources. The duration of this Ambush Bonus is equivalent to the amount of time your ship remained disabled (20 sec max).
This console also provides passive bonuses to Targeting Expertise, Defensive Maneuvering, Damage Control, and Engineering Readiness.
This console may be equipped in any console slot, and on any starship, but only one may be equipped at a time.
Vulcan Hello (Starship Trait)
After achieving level 5 in your Light Exploration Cruiser's Starship Mastery, you will unlock the Vulcan Hello Starship Trait. While this trait is active, your Weapons gain a Shield and Armor Penetration bonus, and Weapon Power Drain from energy weapon activation is reduced for a brief duration when you first enter Combat. Strike first, strike hard. It is only logical.
Upon entering Combat: +20 Energy Weapon Armor Penetration for 8 sec +20 Energy Weapon Shield Penetration for 8 sec -50 Weapon Power Cost for 8 sec
Sarcophagus Dreadnought Carrier [T6]
It is believed that this massive vessel dates back to the original founding of the Klingon Empire, thousands of years ago. The heritage of this "Ship of the Dead" predates all of the modern Houses, and is a symbol of great honor in Klingon culture. Continuously refit over the years to remain capable of leading Klingon fleets into combat, this ship's primary strength lies in its severe resilience and unique cloaking and tractor beam technologies.
This starship comes with an Ensign Universal / Miracle Worker Specialist seat, and a Lieutenant Commander Universal / Command Specialist seat.
Ship Details
Faction: Klingon and Klingon allies
Tier: 6
Availability: Lock Box (Klingon and Klingon allies)
Required Rank: Brigadier General (Level 40)
Hull Strength: 1.675 (50,250 at level 40, 57,788 at level 50 and 67,000 at level 60)
Shield Modifier: 1.05
Fore Weapons: 4
Aft Weapons: 3
Device Slots: 3
Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science, 1 Ensign Universal / Miracle Worker, 1 Lieutenant Commander Universal / Command
Console Modifications: 4 Tactical, 4 Engineering, 3 Science
Base Turn Rate: 4 degrees per second
Impulse Modifier: 0.13
Inertia: 20
+10 Weapon Power and +10 Auxiliary Power
Can Load Dual Cannons
Subsystem Targeting
Equipped with a Cloaking Device
Console – Universal – Multi-Target Tractor Arrays
Hangar Bays: 2
Hangar Bays loaded with Mo'kai Raiders
Starship Mastery Package (Tactical Carrier) Quick Deployment (-Hangar Pet Recharge Time) Armored Hull (+Max Hull HP) Enhanced Weapon Systems (+Weapon Damage) Advanced Shield Systems (+Max Shield HP) Honored Dead (Starship Trait)
Admiralty Ship Card
Engineering : 41
: 41 Science : 32
: 32 Tactical : 53
: 53 Special: Ignores +/- ENG from Events
Console – Universal – Multi-Target Tractor Arrays
Sarcophagus Dreadnought Cruisers come equipped with a Console - Universal - Multi-Target Tractor Arrays. These tractor arrays were initially designed to facilitate the retrieval of fallen warriors, for preparation and storage aboard the Sarcophagus, but have since been weaponized to debilitate and damage foes in close-quarters ship combat. When this console's power is activated, specially mounted Tractor Beam Arrays capable of immobilizing and debilitating nearby foes will activate over a brief period of time. A total of 12 tractor arrays will be activated by this ability, each targeting nearby foes and severely slowing them while dealing a moderate amount of Kinetic Damage directly to their hull. If any foe is caught by more than one tractor, the damage of each is increased as the Tractor beams tear the unfortunate ship in opposite directions while dragging them closer to the Sarcophagus starship.
This console also provides passive bonuses to Control Expertise, Energy Damage Resistance Rating, and Turn Rate.
This console may be equipped in any console slot, and on any starship, but only one may be equipped at a time.
Honored Dead (Starship Trait)
After achieving level 5 in your Sarcophagus Dreadnought Carrier's Starship Mastery, you will unlock the Honored Dead Starship Trait. While this trait is active, any damage received during combat will be added to the defensive capabilities of your vessel, resulting in stacking benefits to Damage Resistance and passive Hull Regeneration as certain damage thresholds are met or exceeded. Once you reach maximum stacks of this, additional damage will instead grant a small amount of Temporary Hit Points at each threshold.
After receiving 10,000 cumulative damage (post-resistance), gain a stack of Honored Dead Each stack of Honored Dead grants +20 All Damage Resistance Rating and +2% Hull Regeneration (max 20 stacks, infinite duration)
While at 20 stacks of Honored Dead, additional triggers instead grant 10,000 Temporary Hit Points for up to 40 sec.
While not in Combat, lose one stack of Honored Dead every 2 seconds unless Cloaked.
Mo’Kai Raiders
The Sarcophagus Dreadnought Carrier comes standard with 2 hangar bays of Mo'Kai Raiders. These fighter-sized craft are armed with Disruptor Beams. They are built exclusively to harry foes, and not intended to survive conflicts. Instead, their glorious deaths in battle grant Temporary Hit Points to the carrier that launches them, and their relaunch timers are far faster than other Fighters. Their warp cores are also rigged to deal additional damage in the case of the destruction of their vessels. These vessels are so dedicated to their cause that they are incapable of benefiting from any and all sources of hull restoration.
These can only be obtained if the player owns the Sarcophagus Dreadnought Carrier, but can then be used on any Klingon ship that has a hangar bay.
Note: Despite using the term "Raider" these are Fighters, not Frigates.
Weapons:
1x Fore Disruptor Beam Array
1x Fore Disruptor Dual Beam Bank
1x Aft Disruptor Beam Array
Powers:
Fly Her Apart Self-Damage Buff at expense of damage-over-time
Purposefully Destabilized Warp Core Warp Core Breach deals additional damage
Provide Shield Materials On death, grants owner Temporary Hit Points
NOTE: The above stats for all ships are subject to change.
Players may also obtain a new set of Genetic Resequencers in order to unlock access to two new Ground Traits, and two new Space Traits
Ground:
Universal Law is for Lackeys While in combat, each second, you gain bonus damage if you haven’t been damaged in the past second, or a boost to Damage Resistance Rating otherwise (stacks up to 10 times)
Brutal Impetus Nearby enemies dying increases your damage for a short duration
Space:
Context is for Kings While in combat, each second, you gain bonus damage if you haven’t been damaged in the past second, or a boost to Damage Resistance Rating otherwise (stacks up to 10 times)
Duelist’s Fervor Nearby enemies dying increases your damage and accuracy rating for a short duration
Scientists and engineers from our time have also managed to get their hands on a few examples of personal tech from the era of Star Trek: Discovery, and replicated their techniques in the form of new Universal Kit Modules:
Choose Your Pain Decreases the target’s damage resistance rating. That target picks one of their nearby allies. A portion of the damage dealt to your primary target is also dealt to the foe chosen for pain this way.
Para Bellum (Prepare for War) Anyone who shoots the marked target has their kit modules’ cooldowns reduced
Miniaturized Spore Relay Teleports you a short distance forward, leaving mines behind
Rounding out the offerings of new equipment from the Discovery Lock Box will be new unique Space Weaponry. When opened, each Special Equipment Pack - Discovery Disruptor or Phaser Weapons will offer the player a choice between Disruptor Beam Weapons, Disruptor Cannon Weapons, Phaser Beam Weapons, or Phaser Cannon Weapons.
Unlike most space weapons, these space weapons come in 3 variants, each of which grants a set of passive stats to your character while equipped. Emitter-Linked weapons give an increase to Shield Restoration and Shield Capacity, Integrity-Linked weapons give an increase to Hull Regeneration and Hull Capacity, and Sensor-Linked Weapons give an increase to Weapon Amplification and Defensive Maneuvering.
The Discovery Lock Box also features a new type of space device, Mini-Tech. Mini-Tech are consumable devices that grant one activation of an ability otherwise found on a ship console. The ones available from the Discovery Lock Box will be the following abilities:
Temporal Rift Stabilizer
Multidimensional Wave-Function Analysis Module
Enhanced Induction Coils
Shield Destabilizer
Ablative Hazard Shielding
The Discovery Lock Box will also arrive with several exciting additions to the Lobi Store. For those captains looking to catch up on how they dress, the outfit worn by Harry Mudd is also being made available on the Lobi Store.
For those looking to pack a punch on ground, there’s the all new Phaser Full Auto Rifle (Dsc). This weapon features a unique primary fire that cycles through shots at increasing speed.
And for the captains looking to catch up on mining or other activities without an atmosphere present, there’s the all new Discovery Environmental Suit, available for all Federation characters.
Last, but not least, if you’re not afraid of creepy-crawlies, there’s the all new Insect Vanity Pets being added to the Lobi Store.
Jeremy “BorticusCryptic” Randall
Lead Systems Designer
Star Trek Online | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
In the Bloomington Historical Society's early days in the 1960s, George Hopkins was one of the stalwarts. A descendant of a missionary who ministered to the Dakota Indians in the 1840s, Hopkins enthusiastically searched for artifacts for the society collection, especially those linked to Indian culture. He would call his friend and fellow society member Stan Danielson to see what he thought.
"A lot of it was not really worth much," Danielson remembered. "Then he called me and said, 'Stan, I think I found a dugout canoe by the river.'"
Danielson got in his car, picked up his friend and drove down Lyndale Avenue toward the river until Hopkins told him to stop. Sticking out horizontally from the river bank a few feet from the bluff was something that looked like the end of a charred tree stump.
They got out of the car to take a closer look.
"The hollowed-out part just didn't look normal to me," Danielson said. "It looked like a man-made thing.
"I remember saying, 'George, I think you got one.'"
The 16-foot length of cupped and carved tree trunk, dug out of the dirt in 1967, was authenticated by the Minnesota Historical Society as a dugout canoe that dated from around 1600.
For decades it sat in a bed of sand in the basement of Bloomington's Old Town Hall. This fall, the newly cleaned and restored canoe assumed a place of honor among the society's permanent displays upstairs in the renovated Town Hall.
"It is our most precious piece, our oldest antiquity," said Vonda Kelly, the society's president and executive director.
What tribe made the canoe, and what tools they used, isn't totally clear. According to the museum display, Oneota and Dakota Indians made dugout canoes from basswood, cottonwood and maple trees in the Minnesota River Valley for at least 1,000 years. They felled trees by burning the base or cutting them down, then shaped the trunk by splitting the wood lengthwise and alternately chipping away and selectively burning the wood to hollow out the logs. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Here are some "ordinary citizens" who have recently been featured in the press as people who are completely OK with the state of American healthcare and totally opposed to Medicare for All or any other project to reform America's worst-in-the-world health care system: "Mustafa Tameez, businessman, Texas" (Tameez is managing director at Texas-based Outreach Strategists, a public affairs and lobbying firm that reps Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, University of Texas Physicians, and St. Luke's Hospital).
Another health care status quo enthusiast is "Jim Corson, Montana" (Corson was a 14 year veteran of the staff of Sen Max Baucus, the former Senate Finance Committee who killed ACA's public option).
"James Rang" is just an ordinary dude who wrote a letter to the editor opposing single-payer because it was bad for the "free market" (Rang is vice president in the employee benefits department at the Friedman Group — that is, he's a health-insurance salesman).
Florida businessman "Carlos Carbonell" is one of the "influential leaders" cited in the Orlando Sentinel's piece on opposition to health-care reform (Carbonell is a Public Affairs Advisor" at Converge Strategies, a lobbyist that reps the health care industry).
"Jack A. Roy," a proud son of Massachussetts, and he "[does] understand how this could work" (Roy is the former head of the Haverhill City Republican Committee.).
In Des Moines, "Mark Havlicek" is a businessman who is adamant in his opposition to single-payer (Havlicek is a "political consultant" and "committed Republican activist" who was on Jeb Bush's Iowa leadership team).
These examples were compiled by Splinter's Libby Watson, who learned about them through press-releases from the lobbying group Partnership for America's Health Care Future (PAHCF), whose members include Pharma, the pharmaceutical industry lobby group.
In advocacy campaigns, there are grassroots—genuine, broad-based political action by real people not employed in politics day to day—and grasstops, the practice of cultivating local leaders to influence their communities. And then there's astroturfing, the practice of trying to create a false impression of broad public support or outrage on an issue when there isn't any. Big, well-funded advocacy firms in DC spend quite a lot of their time doing these sorts of things. This is the advantage of "grassroots" activities: It lends a legitimacy that, say, quotes from the people who directly stand to profit from the continuation of a private healthcare system can never achieve. It is more convincing to hear arguments about what would happen to real people from those real people than just another politics wanker in DC. But when those voices are few and far between, sometimes you have to get a little bit creative about who counts as a regular American.
Look at These Absolutely Ordinary Americans Who Hate Medicare for All [Libby Watson/Splinter]
(via Naked Capitalism) | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday accused Iran of leading attacks on Saudi oil plants that have cut the kingdom’s output roughly in half, as he ruled out Yemeni involvement and denounced Tehran for engaging in false diplomacy.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks after his meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo at the State Department in Washington, U.S., September 13, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed credit for the attacks on two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, including the world’s biggest petroleum processing facility.
Pompeo, however, said on Twitter that there was no evidence the attacks came from Yemen.
“Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy,” Pompeo said, referring to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.
“Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply,” he added. The State Department declined to provide any evidence to bolster Pompeo’s claim.
“We call on all nations to publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s attacks,” Pompeo said, warning that the Trump administration would work with its allies to make sure Iran was “held accountable for its aggression.”
The tweets signaled a more hawkish stance in Washington toward Tehran, following signs of a possible thaw in relations between the two nations after months of escalation.
Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 pact that aimed to keep a lid on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and he has imposed a series of sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
But in recent weeks, Trump has said he would be open to meeting with Rouhani, perhaps on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly in New York later this month. Pompeo has said such talks could take place without any preconditions.
Rouhani, for his part, has said that Tehran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, would not talk to the United States until Washington lifts the sanctions.
Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, a close Trump ally and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Saturday’s attacks showed Iran was not interested in peace and was instead pursuing nuclear weapons and regional dominance.
“It is now time for the U.S. to put on the table an attack on Iranian oil refineries if they continue their provocations or increase nuclear enrichment,” Graham said on Twitter.
Others cast doubt on Pompeo’s allegations.
“This is such irresponsible simplification and it’s how we get into dumb wars,” Democratic Senator and committee member Chris Murphy tweeted. “Iran is backing the Houthis and has been a bad actor, but it’s just not as simple as Houthis=Iran.”
Washington’s allies overseas will want to see solid evidence of Iran’s involvement, said Suzanne Maloney, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.
“It’s credible that the Iranians had something to do with this,” said Maloney. “We’ll have to wait and see how they’ll (the administration) marshal the evidence.”
Saturday’s attacks follow earlier cross-border attacks on Saudi oil installations and on oil tankers in Gulf waters.
Saudi Arabia, which leads a Sunni Muslim coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis, has blamed regional rival Shi’ite Iran for previous attacks. Tehran has denied the allegations. Riyadh also accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, a charge denied both by the group and Tehran.
The White House said the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of the attack and the U.S. Energy Department said the administration could release oil from strategic reserves if necessary.
The attacks on the two facilities cut Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply by around 5.7 million barrels per day or about 50% of its output. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
(CNN) The House is moving toward the next phase of its impeachment inquiry , setting up a vote later this week on procedures that could quickly lead to President Donald Trump becoming the third president in US history to be impeached.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Monday the House would vote on Thursday to formalize the procedures of the impeachment inquiry into Trump and Ukraine, in what will be the first time the House will go on the record on the proceedings.
The vote signals a move into the next stage of the investigation following several weeks of closed-door depositions , as Democrats said the resolution would establish rules for public hearings, provide due process rights for the White House and allow information to be transferred to the committee that would ultimately consider the articles of impeachment.
House Democrats are discussing a time frame that would include public impeachment hearings before Thanksgiving and votes on whether to impeach Trump by Christmas, according to multiple Democratic sources. But Pelosi did not put a time frame on it at a closed-door leadership meeting on Monday to discuss the resolution and she has been hesitant to do so, as the timing is subject to change depending on how witnesses cooperate or if additional leads come up, according to multiple Democrats.
Still, the working theory among Democrats is there will be another week or two of closed depositions, and that public hearings before the House Intelligence Committee could begin as soon as the second week in November, when Congress returns from a one-week recess.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler told CNN on Monday that it's "possible" a vote could be held in his committee on articles of impeachment before Christmas. "My preference is to do it right," the New York Democrat said, adding that the panel would have to "get reports from the other committees first" detailing their findings.
The Judiciary Committee also may hold its own public hearing before voting on articles of impeachment, but that hasn't been decided yet.
Democrats say Thursday's vote is not a formal authorization of the impeachment inquiry, but it nevertheless signals they are pushing forward with the investigation despite resistance from several witnesses inside the administration to appearing for testimony. The decision to hold a vote comes after pressure from Republicans and the White House that the chamber should do so, and it undercuts the key Trump administration talking point that the inquiry was illegitimate because it did not receive a full House vote.
At the same time, Thursday's vote could put Democrats from Republican-leaning districts in a difficult position politically: Pelosi and Democratic leaders had considered and decided against holding a formal vote to authorize the inquiry earlier this month, in part due to concerns expressed by moderates in their caucus.
Pelosi said in a letter to lawmakers Monday that the House would move forward with the vote on procedures "to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives."
"This resolution establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel," Pelosi wrote.
Democratic sources say the resolution was necessary to set forth the exact procedures to transfer evidence from the House Intelligence Committee to the House Judiciary Committee -- and to detail the procedures for holding public hearings in the impeachment inquiry.
One key detail that will be voted on this week: House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff wants to allow staff members to also participate in the questioning, according to multiple sources.
Multiple sources said the resolution this week surprised even top members and those in leadership who were unaware of these plans.
It is not officially a vote to authorize the inquiry, the Democratic sources say, although they will argue that the White House will have no grounds to resist their subpoenas after this vote establishes the procedures as they head into the next steps.
Still, Pelosi had previously said that she didn't need to hold a vote on the impeachment inquiry at all, calling it a "Republican talking point."
"There's no requirement that we have a vote so at this time we will not be having a vote and I'm very pleased with the thoughtfulness of our caucus with the path that we are on," Pelosi said on October 15. "We're not here to call bluffs. We're here to find the truth, to uphold the Constitution of the United States."
Republicans have attacked impeachment process
But the vote will help Democrats push back on the Republican argument that Democrats are running an illegitimate impeachment inquiry behind closed doors. GOP lawmakers have repeatedly attacked Democrats for failing to vote on the inquiry, while the White House has argued it does not need to cooperate as a because the investigation is illegitimate.
The White House and House Republicans criticized Democrats' plan to hold a vote, continuing their attack on the process of the impeachment investigation.
"We won't be able to comment fully until we see the actual text, but Speaker Pelosi is finally admitting what the rest of America already knew -- that Democrats were conducting an unauthorized impeachment proceeding, refusing to give the President due process, and their secret, shady, closed door depositions are completely and irreversibly illegitimate," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
But aides inside the West Wing are still privately figuring out what their strategy should be.
Until now, they have argued that Democrats were conducting an illegitimate investigation in secret — two aspects that could change with the vote to formalize it and hold public hearings.
The thinking inside the White House for the last several weeks has been that if Democrats vote to authorize an inquiry, the administration will no longer be able to argue that Democrats have no legislative purpose to their investigations. It would likely rob Republicans of the talking point that this is a sham investigation that has denied Trump his due process rights. It could force Republicans to solely focus on defending the President's actions, instead of attacking the process, which so far several key figures of his party have been hesitant to do.
But there could be some benefits for the White House. A formal floor vote could mean that the White House is able to review the evidence that is gathered, have counsel present and cross-examine witnesses during depositions on Capitol Hill.
So far, Trump's aides have been forced to learn about the developments from news reports, and are not given transcripts of what's said behind closed doors. Right now, officials say they are waiting to see what the text of the resolution says — though it's unclear where they'll go from there.
Trump's allies in Congress are still attacking the process.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted Monday that "it's been 34 days since Nancy Pelosi unilaterally declared her impeachment inquiry."
"Today's backtracking is an admission that this process has been botched from the start," McCarthy, a Republican from California, wrote in his tweet. "We will not legitimize the Schiff/Pelosi sham impeachment."
Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, said that the vote was "not the same thing" Republicans have been pushing for unless it was to formally authorize the inquiry.
"House Democrats now suddenly saying they'll vote on an impeachment resolution to 'ensure transparency' is rich—considering they've spent weeks conducting interviews in secret, leaking their own talking points while locking down any and all information that benefits the President," Meadows tweeted.
The Republican argument hadn't stopped many Trump administration officials from testifying under subpoena, but on Monday former National Security Council official Charles Kupperman defied a subpoena after he filed a lawsuit Friday asking the courts to intervene and decide whether he had to comply with the subpoena.
"Given the issue of separation of powers in this matter, it would be reasonable and appropriate to expect that all parties would want judicial clarity," Kupperman said in a statement Monday.
Courts back House inquiry
Still, Democrats appeared to be on solid legal footing without a vote -- a federal judge told the House as recently as Friday that a vote authorizing the impeachment inquiry wasn't needed.
Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the DC District Court devoted six pages exclusively to this idea in a ruling that the House should have access to former special counsel Robert Mueller's grand jury material, writing that "no House 'impeachment inquiry' resolution is required" for Congress to receive information it's seeking.
"Even in cases of presidential impeachment, a House resolution has never, in fact, been required to begin an impeachment inquiry," the judge wrote. "The reality is that DOJ and the White House have been openly stonewalling the House's efforts to get information by subpoena and by agreement."
The Justice Department on Monday appealed that ruling.
It's not clear whether Thursday's floor vote signals that the Democrats are ready to move into the public phase of the impeachment inquiry, although public hearings could begin by the middle of November.
Schiff declined to say whether the resolution meant closed-door depositions would be ending soon. The three committees leading the impeachment investigation have depositions scheduled through this week, and three more officials who have been subpoenaed are slated to appear next week, although it's unclear whether any of them will do so.
"We still have further depositions to do, and I don't want to be committed to a particular timetable, but we are moving with all expedition," Schiff told reporters.
The House impeachment resolution is being introduced by the House Rules Committee, which will mark up the measure on Wednesday before the Thursday floor vote.
"This is the right thing to do for the institution and the American people," House Rules Chairman Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement.
This story has been updated with additional developments Monday. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
At the start of the fourth season of Breaking Bad, Walter White angrily watches an inexperienced meth cook make his trademark blue meth. Walter is afraid that mob boss Gus Fring is going to kill him, so he desperately explains that Fring can’t make the “product” without him. When the amateur cook, Victor, says he knows every step of the process, Walter snarls, “So, please, tell me. Catalytic hydrogenation—is it protic or aprotic? Because I forget. And if our reduction is not stereospecific, then how can our product be enantiomerically pure?”
Walter’s scientific knowledge saves him. The ruthless Fring slits Victor’s throat with a box cutter.
Over the course of Breaking Bad, Walter unravels from a frustrated chemistry teacher to a brutal criminal. But no matter how horrible he gets, viewers can’t help but relate to and care about him. Much of this sense of connection comes from lead actor Bryan Cranston’s skillful portrayal of a troubled family man, but it was Breaking Bad creator and head writer Vince Gilligan who conceived the character. He imagined a scientist who is mad without turning him into a mad scientist.
Courtesy of AMC
Part of Walter’s appeal is he knows his science. “Vince tried to get the chemistry correct as much as he could, just to make it more believable,” says Donna Nelson, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oklahoma. As Breaking Bad’s science advisor, Nelson helped him achieve that goal. (Her favorite scene in the series is Walter’s sarcastic rejoinder to Victor.) Although they were careful to never give viewers the exact or complete recipe for meth, the chemical reactions are real, and if someone were to synthesize methamphetamine by altering other chemical’s structures, they would indeed want to make sure the end product is enantiomerically pure: The three-dimensional structure of methamphetamine works on the brain in a certain way to get you high, but the enantiomer, or mirror image, of the same molecule does not.
Scientists were smart and rational, but touched with a sense of evil and peril.
Breaking Bad is among a host of acclaimed shows in recent times with scientists as protagonists. Westworld, Orphan Black, Masters of Sex, CSI, Bones, House, The Big Bang Theory, and several others have all written scientists as diverse and complex humans who have almost nothing in common with the scientists I saw in the 1980s movies I watched as a kid. Gone is the lone genius with a shed full of goofy contraptions and bubbling liquids. Today’s fictional researchers work in realistic labs, with high-tech equipment, and in teams with others. Their dialogue is scattered with words from the latest scientific literature, and they have so much depth and personality that they carry entire shows.
The change in TV offers insight into the image and impact of scientists today, say communication scholars. Although recent headlines may have been dominated by people who bend scientific facts into the molds of their personal ideologies, surveys reveal a deep public esteem for scientists. Viewers now want and demand their scientists to be realistic, and what the viewer wants, Hollywood delivers. As a result, scientists on screen have evolved from stereotypes and villains to credible and positive characters, due in part to scientists themselves, anxious to be part of the action and the public’s education.
In the United States, the attitude toward the benefits of science has been consistently positive over the past 60 years, thanks mainly to advances in health and technology. In 2012, a survey by the National Science Foundation, a U.S. federal agency and funding group, found that 72 percent of Americans believed that science’s benefits outweighed the harm. Although Americans’ reservations about the risks and harms of science have also been almost constant during this period, there was a time during the nuclear-fear-filled ’70s and early ’80s when people were more concerned about the harm science could do. The Day After, a 1983 TV movie about the aftermath of a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, reportedly remains the highest rated TV movie ever.
In 1985, George Gerbner, a communications professor at the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, led a remarkably detailed study of scientist characters on TV and their impact on culture. Scientists were smart and rational, the report noted, but of all the occupational roles on TV, scientists were the least sociable. In fact, 1 in 6 scientists were portrayed as villains. All in all, the report stated, scientists “presented an image lacking in some respects only in comparison to doctors and other professionals than in absolute terms. But it is a somewhat foreboding image, touched with a sense of evil, trouble, and peril.” Apparently those characters had a negative impact on viewers, especially “heavy viewers,” people who watched four or more hours of TV a day, cultivating an unfavorable orientation toward science.
CBS Photo Archive / Contributor / Getty Images
But things have been looking up for unsociable TV scientists touched with evil. A 2011 study by Anthony Dudo and colleagues, published in Communication Research, takes up where Gerbner and colleagues left off. The authors compared several professions portrayed in prime-time TV shows and found that in the period from 2000 to 2008, only 3 percent of scientist characters were considered “bad,” less than any other TV profession in that period. Portrayals of TV scientists, the authors noted, are mostly positive, and what’s more, heavy viewing can “enhance attitudes toward science for people who share common experiences.”
What happened? Roslynn Haynes, an adjunct associate professor at the School of English, Media and Performing Arts of the University of New South Wales, has studied the representation of scientists in fiction. The world has changed since the 1960s, she says, when one-dimensional mad scientists or goofy side characters ruled. We have different things to worry about these days: political corruption, terrorism, climate change. “We don’t need the scientists to be the bad guys anymore,” says Haynes. “There are so many other bad guys now.” She points out that scientists are now often the ones we turn to for solutions. “We know we need scientists to fix up the mess we’re making of the planet. If there’s any hope at all, it has to come from scientists who monitor the risk and are able to find ways to overcome that risk. Whereas before, scientists were seen as part of the risk.”
Gone is the lone genius with a shed full of goofy contraptions and bubbling liquids.
Besides a general change in world events, another reason Haynes gives for the new attitude toward scientists is that we’ve had increased exposure to science through the media. Before the ’50s or ’60s, very few people would have seen a scientist. Major discoveries were mentioned in newspapers or on the radio, and there might occasionally be a public lecture or science demonstration in your town, but unless you personally knew or were a scientist, you were unlikely to come across one—certainly not on a regular basis. Television changed that.
In the period just after World War II, scientists in the United Kingdom tried to get involved with science-broadcasting decisions at the BBC. Initially the BBC resisted the attempts, says Jean-Baptiste Gouyon, a teaching fellow at the Department of Science and Technology Studies of University College London. But gradually producers came around, sensing an appetite for science in a “non-specialist audience,” Gouyon says. In 1964, the BBC aired the first broadcast of its popular science documentary program Horizon. According to its original mission statement, the show’s goal was “to provide a platform from which some of the world’s greatest scientists and philosophers can communicate their curiosity, observations and reflections and infuse into our common knowledge their changing views of the universe.”
Natural history programming was another popular way to show science on the BBC, and from 1979 onward, David Attenborough has appeared as host of several programs, taking viewers along on his travels as he describes with awe the amazing creatures he comes across. Programs like this helped change the public’s view on scientists during the ’80s and ’90s, because, as Haynes puts it, “David Attenborough is like everybody’s grandpa. Who could be frightened of him?”
Science Source / Getty Images
In the U.S., the friendly face of science TV was Carl Sagan. His show, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, which aired in 1980, became the most watched show in American public television history, since passed by The Civil War. Like Attenborough, Sagan was able to convey his own sense of wonder and excitement about science. He made an entire generation realize that “we’re made of star stuff,” and boosted the passion for space science that still lingered among Americans after the Space Race and Star Wars films of the preceding years.
Science documentaries have continued to be a regular part of TV programming, and in recent years have become even more appealing to audiences. “When you look at the history of Horizon, from the end of the ’90s until about 2001, there is a shift in the way that science is presented,” says Gouyon. “Instead of being critical or investigative about science, the episodes are now glorifying science.”
Meanwhile, the scientists and presenters on these programs are excited about their work, approachable, friendly, adventurous, often young, and sometimes female. “All of these things make people feel that scientists are hero figures, especially to younger people,” says Haynes. “They’re not quite like the heroes of science fiction in its early heyday of the 1930s, with astounding stories that inspired a whole generation of kids (mostly boys) to become rocket scientists—but nevertheless, they do present scientists as very attractive, exciting people.”
It didn’t take long for fictional on-screen scientists to catch up with this new attitude toward their profession. Eight years after Doc Emmett Brown sent his mad invention traveling through time in Back to the Future, scientists in Jurassic Park enthralled visitors with creatures from the past. But something was different now. Although Doc Brown’s chaotic goofiness was still acceptable for scientist characters in 1985, the paleontologists in Jurassic Park (1993) were held to a much higher standard. They did work that viewers recognized as having some root in reality: Dinosaurs, DNA, clean labs with professional lab notebooks. Although it’s not possible to retrieve viable DNA from dinosaur blood in a mosquito trapped in amber, the idea isn’t entirely implausible. Just this month, real paleontologists found a feathered, amber-encased dinosaur tail fragment, in which they detected traces of iron from its blood.
David Kirby, a senior lecturer in Science Communication Studies at the University of Manchester, and author of the 2011 book Lab Coats in Hollywood, points to Jurassic Park as the film that marked the start of the trend of scientific realism in movies. The film had incredible visual effects, and they brought in experts to get the scientific details in place. When the film was a box office success, other films tried to copy this attention to realistic detail. They saw that audiences liked it, so why not do the same?
It fit an ongoing trend of increased “realism” across all genres, explains Kirby. “When you’re talking about realism in the context of fiction, you’re not just talking about ‘Did they get the appropriate watch for a particular time period?’ or ‘Did they get the right equipment to do a piece of scientific work?’ The realism is all of it: the ways in which the characters act, the context in which they’re acting.” Filmmakers, Kirby says, “are paying attention to everything in terms of that realism, to try to convey the notion that this is taking place in a world that seems realistic.”
Universal Pictures / Handout / Getty Images
Kirby recounted conversations he had with producers working on forensics shows, such as CSI and Bones: “Often they would say ‘the audience expects it to be real.’ Whether or not they have any evidence, that’s certainly something they believe. Audiences are getting more sophisticated, and you can’t get away with the goofy science that you used to be able to get away with.”
For films with a scientific angle, that meant an increased interest in getting the scientific settings to be as natural as possible, and the scientists to behave like real scientists.
Similar trends toward realism started showing up on TV. And unlike movies, with which a viewer spends a few hours at most, popular TV programs can become regular weekly rituals for years at a time. Fans of Bones are heading into the twelfth season of a show about a brilliant female forensic anthropologist. CSI’s scientists solved crimes in almost 800 episodes across four different franchises of the show. The cast of scientists from The Big Bang Theory have been entertaining viewers for over nine years now. Altogether, that’s a lot of hours of fictional scientists on TV screens.
We don’t need scientists to be the bad guys anymore. There are so many other bad ones.
This sense of accountability toward a well-informed audience is perhaps even more important for TV shows than for films. “You can sit there with your laptop and Google while you’re watching,” says David Saltzberg, science consultant on The Big Bang Theory and a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles. “There’s also a lot more feedback to the writers and to the creators of the shows through media like Twitter.”
Saltzberg was approached by The Big Bang Theory when the show first started. Since then he has been the man who makes sure that the physics is as accurate as possible. He provides the very real physics equations for the whiteboards that are shown in the background of every episode, and he helps with scientific dialogue. “They often have a little story piece that needs a little bit of science to move it along. Sometimes they want it to be something that can be said in half a second, or seen in a half a second; sometimes it’s something that is a whole show. They frame the story part of it very well, and I give them five or six options to choose from.”
Also in Sociology No Country for Old People By Robert Bazell Sweden did not set out to kill thousands of its older citizens. Nor did any country as COVID-19 swept across the globe. But Sweden’s unique and closely watched approach to the pandemic has spotlighted the tragic toll the coronavirus has...READ MORE
Communication experts haven’t pinned down an educational impact of the new breed of TV scientists. The general public’s level of science knowledge hasn’t changed much in the past two decades, according to the National Science Foundation and Pew Research Center. Since 2001, Americans have gotten an average of 5.8 correct answers on a nine-question test of basic science knowledge. In their study that showed the positive representation of scientists on network TV shows between 2000 and 2008, Dudo and colleagues found that watching TV in general didn’t seem to improve scientific literacy in that time period.
There are, though, signs of a positive impact. In 2011, a representative from the Institute of Physics told The Guardian that the popularity of The Big Bang Theory was in part responsible for the increased enrollment of students in physics courses. This happened before. During the height of the popularity of the CSI shows, some universities and colleges created new forensic science courses to meet the demand of prospective students who pictured themselves solving crimes with DNA evidence, just like on TV. This “CSI effect” has started to disappear with the end of the TV program, but it illustrates how these shows can influence a young audience.
Jon Miller, the director of the International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy at the University of Michigan, has studied the public perception of science for the past 40 years. In a longitudinal study that began in 1987, he followed a cohort of students from grades 7 to 10 through their careers as adults. “Television can be very influential in introducing an idea to a child when they haven’t seen it before,” Miller says. “You may grow up in a household or neighborhood where you never met a scientist or lawyer. You may know very few people who went to college.” So television “is a great way to expose young people to potential careers.” But Miller cautions the interest doesn’t necessarily translate to a career in science. Most young men and women, he says, are not prepared for the rigorous academic steps that it takes to become a forensic scientist or a physicist.
“Vince asked me, ‘What do you think about making the meth blue?’ I said ‘I wouldn’t do it.’ ”
Social research and surveys confirm that there’s no substitute for education in enhancing the public’s knowledge and appreciation of science. But that initial spark of interest in science shouldn’t be underestimated, they say, and the fact it can now come from realistic scientists on TV is a welcome development.
That may help explain why scientists themselves have gotten involved. In 2008, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, having long taken note of the good and not-so-good portrayals of science and scientists in TV and film, set up the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a hotline that connects producers and screenwriters to scientists. “We looked around and thought, who can engage the public like no other? Who can really get people excited and interested and engaged?” says Ann Merchant, the organization’s deputy executive director for communications. “It’s Hollywood!”
Scientists say they make time to advise on these shows because they care about the representation of their fictional counterparts on TV. They know that a popular show will be seen by many more eyes than their latest research paper, and they want the audience to understand what science is like—perhaps even learn something in the process.
Of course, as much as they like being involved in promoting the public’s interest in their profession, scientists are not the ones who decide what ultimately appears on screen. Hollywood may have figured out that their audience prefers realism over distracting falsehoods, but the narrative is always more important than full scientific accuracy.
Nelson experienced this firsthand when she spoke with Breaking Bad creator Gilligan. “Vince asked me, ‘What do you think about making the meth blue?’ and I said ‘I wouldn’t do it.’ ”
Even though she didn’t have any experience of synthesizing the drug herself, she knew, based on her chemical knowledge, that it would look white—never blue. None of the chemical structures of the reagents or product reflect light in the blue part of the spectrum, so if your meth is blue, it’s probably contaminated with something else. Gilligan didn’t take her advice, but Nelson understood. “It was a plot device,” she says. “Walter White needed a trademark for his drug. And you know, when people complain to me about the blue meth, I simply point out that Breaking Bad was not a documentary!”
White’s blue meth business is also a reminder that while the overall framing of scientists on TV might have shifted toward the heroic, we can’t help but notice that Walter White is still a villain. “I’ve never known a scientist like him,” says Nelson. And yet he’s not like the classic evil fictional scientist either. Kirby describes him as a “morally ambiguous villain” and adds “It’s not that science has made him evil. His choice to do the bad things that he does is first motivated by economics, and then by hubris.” These are character flaws that anyone can have, not just scientists. Which may be the most telling sign that scientists on screen have become real people.
Eva Amsen is a writer and science communicator based in London.
Lead image credit: Photofest Digital Library | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Check out our new site Makeup Addiction
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
Phone Battery lasts for days Because no one calls me | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
On a day in which Bernie Sanders continues his presidential run in Brookyln, New York, Tyler, The Creator — a supporter of Sanders — took to social media to premiere Golf Wang’s latest T-shirt release, one that features republican candidate Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler’s signature mustache. Complete with the words “We Fucked Up” below the portrait, the limited-edition tee will go on sale at Monday, 5 p.m. PST on golfwang.com.
TOMORROW; 5PM; GOLFWANG.COM @flognawmotors A photo posted by Tyler The Creator (@feliciathegoat) on Apr 10, 2016 at 11:19am PDT | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto is a close-knit community. But can they resist the march of developers who want to build flats for tech workers?
“It’s not a big mansion,” Amanda Serrano says of her ageing off-white trailer in plot 59 of the Buena Vista mobile home park in Silicon Valley. “But I feel happy here. It’s my own trailer.”
Serrano, a 48-year-old care assistant, says the park in Palo Alto is the first place she’s lived where she feels comfortable living openly as a transgender woman, in a relationship with her boyfriend Arturo Saucedo.
But life is about to become uncomfortable for Amanda, Arturo and 400 other low-income, mostly non-native-English-speaking residents who call Buena Vista home. They are facing eviction from the 4.5-acre plot, so its owners can sell it for development into luxury apartments for young tech workers.
Its prime location on El Camino Real at the heart of Silicon Valley, just miles from the headquarters of Facebook and Google, means it could be worth as much as $55m (£36m). But if the sale goes ahead, Amanda, Arturo and the rest of the community will be forced to leave not just Buena Vista but, for many, Palo Alto, or even the US.
The influx of young tech developers with big wallets has sent rents across Silicon Valley into the stratosphere. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Palo Alto is $2,600 (£1,725), an increase of more than $1,000 (£663) over the past five years. According to US Census figures, more than 20 million people, or 6% of the population, live in trailer parks. In California alone, 393,000 families live in trailers.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Amanda Serrano feels comfortable living as a transgender woman in Buena Vista. Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer
The Buena Vista trailer park is hidden between a small shopping mall and a petrol station, and began life in the 1920s as a rest stop for those travelling along the west coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco, a 40-mile drive to the north. Residents pay between $700 (£464) and $1,000 (£663) a month in rent. Houses on neighbouring streets are selling for well in excess of $1m (£663,000).
Amanda, who earns just over the minimum wage helping local, elderly people in their homes, knows that she and Arturo, who works as a housekeeper in a neighbourhood hotel, won’t be able to find anywhere they can afford nearby. Across the street from Buena Vista, a 700 sq ft one-bed apartment in a new development is being marketed for $2,895 a month. “How would I ever be able to pay that?” she asks, as tears well up.
America's trailer parks: the residents may be poor but the owners are getting rich Read more
It’s not just the money. Amanda has made friends in Buena Vista, and says she feels relaxed among her neighbours – even if her tiny Coachman trailer is rigged with CCTV cameras that play a constant live feed on one of the two giant TVs above the bed.
“These people accept me and I get along with everybody,” she says, as her dogs, Princess and Ruby, a poodle-bichon and a corgi-chihuahua, play at her feet. “Since they have been talking about closing this place, I have been facing a lot of health issues. I have depression and anxiety.”
Amanda came to California from Nicaragua 38 years ago. “I’d rather kill myself than be homeless,” she says. “I suffered a lot a long time ago, while I was homeless. I am so scared. I have been assaulted in other cities because of this,” she says, gesturing to her face and body. “Here I work, I come home. I am safe.”
Most of Buena Vista’s residents who are able to work – many are disabled, housebound or elderly – are employed within a few minutes’ commute of the park, doing the low-paid jobs that help keep Palo Alto running. Among them is Melodie Cheney, 57, who has worked as an administrative assistant at a nearby college for the past 18 years.
“This is like my second family,” she says. “I’m a single female. I know my neighbours. We watch out for each other. This is the closest community I’ve ever come across.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Don Roberto Munoz has been unable to answer his daughter’s questions about whether she will be able to finish high school. Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer
Don Roberto Munoz, 40, affectionately nicknamed “the cowboy” because of his trademark hat, works servicing the septic tanks of nearby multimillion-dollar mansions. He lives with his wife and two daughters in a classic silver Airstream trailer, surrounded by potted plants, and has been unable to answer his daughter Jenny’s questions about whether she will be able to finish high school. Anxious, she has been unable to sleep at night. If he told her the truth, he says, he would have to say: “It’s impossible. To pay the rents around here in Palo Alto is crazy. My wife works part-time, I work full-time, but still we won’t have the money.”
Last week, Jenny, 14, told the world’s most powerful grandmother about her sleepless nights. Hillary Clinton had flown into town for a campaign fundraiser, and Jenny was invited, to help raise the plight of Buena Vista’s residents with the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. “I told her that living at Buena Vista had been a huge part of my life and I was worried that I won’t be able to stay here,” Jenny says. She reports that Clinton seemed concerned, and said she would try to take up Jenny’s invitation to visit her family’s trailer. “She said it wasn’t right that I would have to leave my education and try to fit in a different community far away.”
We stayed here so we would have enough money for my son to be the first person in the family to go to university
Munoz says he chose to come to Buena Vista not just because it was affordable, but because of the friendliness of the multiracial community in the heart of such a white and wealthy town. “When we arrived here 11 years ago, I said, ‘This is the place we are looking for.’ We have all the different cultures in here,” he adds, counting off the home countries of his neighbours on his fingers: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico, China. Across the potholed road on which children race tricycles and play in water fights, Saul Bracamontes, 30, and his wife Erika Escalante, 29, live in the most well-appointed trailer on the site, with their eight-year-old son, Andre. While some of the other mobile homes are patched up with sheet metal and corrugated iron, Saul and Erika’s trailer is double-glazed and painted a colour they call “firecracker red”. (“I know it looks pink, but it’s not,” Bracamontes says.)
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer
Escalante, the president of the Buena Vista Residents’ Association and programme coordinator at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, has lived in Buena Vista since she was 11, when her father Rene, a retired construction worker, moved into the park so he could send his children to the nearby school. Barren Park Elementary is just a 10-minute walk away, and is particularly well equipped: every student is issued with a free iPad instead of a notebook. More than 100 schoolchildren from Buena Vista are enrolled in Palo Alto’s schools.
All of Rene’s children went to university, the first generation of the family to do so. Erika, who lives a few doors down from her parents and sister, is hoping to follow her dad’s example and save enough money to send Andre to university. But the family fears this won’t happen if they have to move.
“We might be able to stay in the area,” Saul says, “but it will be living pay cheque to pay cheque; we will not be able to save. Even if we can stay, Erika’s parents will not be able to afford to stay – the family will be torn apart.” Andre will no longer be able to roam between his grandparents’, aunts’ and parents’ trailers, and Erika will have to cut down her hours to take care of him after school.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘I’ve stayed 33 years in this trailer’: Blanca Fonseca moved to Palo Alto from Mexico City. Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer
The Escalantes aren’t the only family who have lived in the park for generations. Blanca Fonseca moved with her family from Mexico City in 1981, when she was 14, and has watched its transformation from all Caucasian seniors to 90% Hispanic parents with their children. The park (total population 400) now houses 10% of all the Hispanic people living in Palo Alto.
“I stayed 33 years in this trailer,” she says of the small plot she shares with her husband, a waiter at Reposado, a high-end Mexican restaurant in downtown Palo Alto. A photo of the couple standing outside the trailer on their wedding day takes pride of place on the sideboard. “We decided to work hard and stay here to save money, so that we would have enough money for my son to be the first person in the family to go to university. I wanted him to have a better life, and he did.”
•••
Three years ago, Joe Jisser, whose family has co-owned Buena Vista since the 80s, sent letters to all residents saying he was considering selling the park to developers. Tension between the residents and Jisser, 44, has remained high ever since, and powerful Palo Altans – lawyers, publicists and academics – have thrown their weight behind the residents’ cause.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Melody Cheney: ‘This is like my second family. I’m a single female. I know my neighbours. We watch out for each other. This is the closest community I’ve ever come across.’ Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer/The Guardian
Developmental psychologist Professor Amado Padilla, of Stanford University, two miles up El Camino Real, has been working to highlight the risks to the families if their children are forced to leave their Palo Alto schools. “I don’t know where these families will go – it has become so expensive to live in Silicon Valley,” he says. “My son is a college graduate who works full time, and he can’t afford to live in Palo Alto. What hope is there for service workers? Our police force, most of our teachers, most of the professional service workers, don’t live [in or near Palo Alto],” says Padilla, who has been a resident since 1998. “If the park closes and they’re not able to stay here, these people are going to lose their jobs, their homes, and their children are going to lose one of the best school districts in the state.”
A study by Padilla and his students found that none of the 129 school-age children in the park, 90% of whom are Hispanic, had dropped out of school, compared with a 26.7% dropout rate of Hispanic students nationwide. Several Buena Vista students have made it to college in recent years, including Karen Camacho, who is currently at Stanford, the Ivy League university that has given birth to so many of the tech startups that litter Silicon Valley.
It is those companies that have made it so expensive to live in the area, and Padilla says they “probably should take some responsibility and try to accommodate the workers who need to live close to their employment. It would be nice if Facebook did, if Google did, if Apple did – if they took some responsibility to maintain affordability in Palo Alto and the surrounding communities.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Some of the 129 school-age children who live in the park. Photograph: Winni Wintermeyer
It’s not just the Palo Alto community that is suffering from the march of tech companies across California. In 2013, protesters smashed windows on the Google- and Apple-branded buses that transport workers to their Silicon Valley jobs, waving banners reading “Fuck off Google”. A University of California, Berkeley study found that rents within a short walk of a Google bus stop are rising at a rate of 20%, compared with a 5% national average. The “shuttle effect” has helped send rents in the most popular San Francisco neighbourhoods above some of the most expensive areas of Manhattan.
Ken Dauber is a Palo Alto resident and a Google software engineer. Over a lunch of kale salad, three-bean soup and shrimp fettuccine in the dappled sunshine outside his Google office, Dauber explains why this trailer park is representative of a wider problem. “For these families, getting their kids into Palo Alto schools and seeing them graduate is part of an upward-mobility project,” he says. “It is about making sure the next generation lives middle-class lives in America, so that they don’t have to make the same kind of sacrifices as their parents.”
Dauber knows that his employer is in part to blame for the “overwhelming” pressure on land values in the Valley, and said that local authorities and tech companies, including Google, should be doing more to address to help the army of low paid people who help keep the community ticking. “Losing this park would mean losing a huge amount of ethnic and income diversity.”
Losing this park would mean losing a huge amount of ethnic and income diversity
In May 2015, after a two-and-a-half-year review, Palo Alto City Council approved Jisser’s plan to sell the park, saying that landowners have a legal right to sell their property when they want. As part of the application, Jisser has pledged to compensate residents for the loss of their trailers, which in most cases cannot be moved, and pay for temporary accommodation and relocation costs. The residents say the money offered does not come close to covering their costs. Padilla, Dauber and numerous other residents of Palo Alto have helped residents file lawsuits against the city council for approving Jisser’s redevelopment plan with, they claim, insufficient consideration of the impact and relocation costs.
As the residents panicked, a potential saviour marched on to Buena Vista’s forecourt. Joe Simitian, the county supervisor of Santa Clara, the local authority that oversees Palo Alto and much of Silicon Valley, has made it his mission to end the “orderly march towards eviction” and save the park and its residents.
He is not challenging Jisser in the courts, but appealing directly to his wallet. Simitian, a 62-year-old balding anglophile, has pulled together $39m of city and county money to offer Jisser a third way: sell the park to his authority and allow the residents to stay, while making a tidy profit on his family’s original investment.
Under Simitian’s plan, the park would be transferred to Caritas Corporation, a non-profit organisation that has rescued 20 mobile home parks across California. Run by Robert Redwitz, Caritas, whose name is derived from “caring about others”, was set up in 1996 “to provide and maintain quality, affordable housing for persons of low income and means, focusing on manufactured home parks”.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Across the US, more than 20 million people live in trailer parks. Buena Vista is home to 400 of them. Photograph: Winni_Wintermeyer/Winni Wintermeyer
Simitian, the son of a teacher, concedes he is emotionally affected by the Buena Vista residents’ plight, but says he is motivated by a more practical issue. “Put aside all the values-laden issues and social issues, and just ask yourself as a practical matter: can an area like Silicon Valley survive if it doesn’t have people that can do the work the community needs?”
The right of low-income families to a good education has long been close to Simitian’s heart. His first political role was as president of the Palo Alto School Board between 1983 and 1991, before rising to become mayor of the city and then county supervisor. In 2000, he struck a deal with Stanford University that, if it wanted to expand, it would have to give a significant amount to an affordable housing fund. That fund forms a big chunk of the cash Simitian is offering to the Jisser family.
Is San Francisco losing its soul? Read more
The Jissers officially rejected Simitian and Caritas’s offer in September. Their lawyer said they did so because they can’t negotiate with Simitian and other potential buyers while the residents continue legal action against the city. “Because of the ongoing threat of legal action from the very same residents’ association, the Jisser family has not been able to honestly negotiate with other interested parties,” Jisser’s lawyer says. “The Jisser family will not be coerced into accepting a sale agreement by the use of litigation as a strong-arm tactic.”
But Simitian says he believes Jisser’s rejection is the start of the bargaining process, rather than a straight-out refusal to negotiate. Even so, Jisser, who arrives for work at Buena Vista at 5am every morning, refused to speak to me when I visited his prefab office inside the park. The family have given up trying to make their case via the media. In a snatched conversation with a reporter from USA Today earlier this year, he said, “I don’t know what to tell you. I live down in San Jose. I mean, I can’t even afford Palo Alto.”
Simitian is now on a mission to find extra funds, going through his contacts in the tech companies around the Valley for money to sweeten the deal. If that doesn’t work, he says, he’s prepared to join the residents in front of the bulldozers. He will be standing there with a bunch of new friends. Amanda, Arturo, Erika, Melodie, Roberto and the rest of the Buena Vista 400 will be there, and they’ve pledged to dig in for a fight. “I don’t plan on going anywhere,” Melodie says. “I’m going to be here until they pick me up and carry me out.” | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE saw a small bump in support following the Democratic National Convention last week, a poll released Sunday shows.
ADVERTISEMENT
The CBS News Battleground Tracker Poll found Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has 43 percent support in 11 battleground states, while GOP nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE has 41 percent support.
In the same poll last week, Trump led Clinton 42 percent to 41 percent.
Clinton's gains came from Democrats who had been undecided before the convention. Virtually no one is going back and forth between Trump and Clinton.
Forty percent of those surveyed said they liked how Democrats described the state of America today during convention speeches, according to the poll, while 45 percent disliked it.
Voters said they would have liked to have heard more about the economy, and 54 percent said they didn't hear enough about changing Washington.
The poll was conducted from July 29 to 30 among 2,211 registered voters in 11 battleground states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
The controversial, fast-growing subscription company MoviePass is joining with one of the nation’s oldest cinema services, Moviefone.
Helios & Matheson Analytics Inc., majority owner of MoviePass, has agreed to buy Moviefone from its owner, Verizon Communications Inc.’s digital division Oath, the companies said Thursday.
To buy Moviefone,... | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Check out our new site Makeup Addiction
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
add your own caption
Offers candy to children actually gives candy | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
It was April when an audio recording surfaced of Tyreek Hill threatening and arguing with his fiancee Crystal Espinal about allegations he broke their son’s arm. It rocked the NFL. The league announced on Friday that Hill would not be disciplined, but the Chiefs were prepared either way.
That preparation centered on drafting Georgia receiver Mecole Hardman in the second round this past spring. While no one can say for certain if Hardman was an insurance policy for Hill, you'd be a fool to think otherwise. One scout we spoke with compared him to DeSean Jackson, and some teams viewed the pick as one of the best of the draft.
Now, Hill is back, Hardman is around to bolster a roster already deep at the skill positions, and a team with maybe the most athletic offense in football is even more dangerous. Kansas City's attack has the potential to be so explosive that some teams' personnel men told B/R they believe the single-season scoring record of 606 points, set by the Peyton Manning-led Broncos in 2013, could fall.
Consider that last year the Chiefs scored 565 points, and this offense might be better. Just look at the ages of some of the key contributors: Mahomes, 23. Hill, 25, Sammy Watkins, 26. Hell, Travis Kelce isn't even 30 yet.
(One note before we get back to football: It's remarkable to me how a player who is on tape physically threatening a woman wasn't suspended for that act alone. If that doesn't violate the NFL's personal conduct policies, then those policies aren't worth the gigabytes they are written on. But this is a larger debate for another day.)
In other words, the Chiefs have the makings of what could be a historic offense:
Mahomes: He threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns last year. Even if those numbers fell to 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, that would still be a remarkable season.
Where things get interesting with Mahomes—and it will be the biggest factor for him—is what happens when defenses throw new defensive schemes and wrinkles at him? This is where Mahomes is fortunate to have Andy Reid as his coach. No one in the modern history of the sport is better at anticipating—and countering—what defenses will do.
Hill: Surrounded by even more receiving talent, he will be harder to stop than last season, when he caught 87 passes and had 1,843 yards all-purpose yards and scored 14 touchdowns. If defenses focus too much on him, it opens things up for Kelce and others. If defenses shift resources to the other options, Hill will find himself in single coverage.
Ed Zurga/Associated Press
Kelce: Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the deeper offensive talent pool in K.C. this season. Kelce has spent much of his career facing double-teams, and he's sure to see fewer of them. It's simple math.
Watkins: Though limited to only 10 games last season, he could still emerge as one of the most significant free-agent additions (he signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs in 2018) of the past few seasons. After five seasons, Watkins still has massive potential, and Reid is just the coach to mine it. And if you needed a reminder of just how good Watkins could be, he had four catches for 114 yards in the AFC title game.
Carlos Hyde: Hyde is part of a massively underrated backfield. Yes, Hyde has played for three different teams over the past three years, but it's his 2016 (during which he ran for 988 yards and six touchdowns) and 2017 (938 rushing yards and eight TDs) seasons that the Chiefs are after.
Again, the key is Reid. While Reid turns into a pumpkin when coaching in the playoffs, he's Cinderella on HGH in the regular season. Few coaches in the modern history of the sport have gotten more out of their players during the regular season than Reid.
Damien Williams: The starting back, and while he isn't a household name, check out what he did in the AFC title game against New England: 30 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown as well as five catches for 66 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
Add in a talented and experienced offensive line, and there may not be a team with better offensive components outside of the Saints and Rams. And neither of those teams are as explosive.
The comparison to the Broncos' record-setting 2013 team is in some ways perfect. Yes, that team had Manning, a Hall of Famer, but it wasn't full of superstars, much in the way the Chiefs are built. Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Knowshon Moreno, Julius Thomas and Wes Welker didn't make anyone turn on the game by themselves, but they comprised a team that racked up 641 more yards of offense than any other that season.
It wouldn't take much for the Chiefs to surpass that Broncos team. That's how good Hill is. That's how good Hardman could be.
That's how good this entire offense is.
Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL. | {
"pile_set_name": "OpenWebText2"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No saved queries yet
Save your SQL queries to embed, download, and access them later. Queries will appear here once saved.