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According to the tale of Caesar’s last breath, each breath we draw probably contains a few of the molecules that escaped with his last. That assumes of course, that those 1022 molecules were more-or-less uniformly mixed with the 1044 molecules in the atmosphere. When acting blind, as with the simple inert molecules in the air, this great thermal mill only homogenizes. But if purposed with more versatile actors, it becomes the universal constructor that knits order into every cell in our bodies, molecule by molecule. When instead of gases, the molecules are snippets of DNA — barcodes if you will — they can be used to discreetly, and unambiguously, mark almost anything. With the right molecular touch, it is possible to determine where something first came from, and where it has been.
Researchers at the University of Aveiro in Portugal are developing DNA barcode tags that can be harmlessly applied to a wide variety of products, even foods or liquids. Each tag is a unique combination of DNA base pairs that attach to most surfaces, and can later be collected, amplified, and sequenced. The power of this technique lies in the uncountable micro-matings that take place in the DNA solution where the primary goal is to determine like from unlike. Every known sequencing method has some margin of error, and the chance of false positives or false negatives exists whenever the signal to noise ratio is too low.
For example, in some schemes a DNA “fog” might be used to spray violent protesters when there are not enough law enforcement personnel to immediately subdue the lot of them. That tag will be unique, and mark anyone who bears it, at least for a while. Over time however, the signal will spread and degrade. Multiple tags could be used to mark multiple events or increase reliability of a single event. Clearly though, finding a way to contain your marking agent at the outset is the cleanest option.
The general concept has been around for some time, particularly as used by biologists to track and identify species. One major project, known simply as the barcode of life, now has over 200,000 animals cataloged in a searchable database. Since things like animals already come pre-barcoded, all one need do is find some region in their DNA that tends to mutate fast enough over time so that each species can be expected to show enough variation. Usually a 600-spot region in a mitochondrial gene known as cytochrome oxidase I is used. These oxidases are essential enzymes which perform functions like degrading caffeine, and many other drugs, into products that can be removed by the body.
The most imaginative use for DNA barcodes is to trace neurons, and their activities, within the brain. The original BRAIN Initiative, before its initial aspirations were chopped back, called for something even more dramatic — growing barcodes that stored vast amounts of information in real time. In other words, molecular ticker tapes built into every neuron. DNA sequencing pioneer George Church holds the patent for a so-called nucleic acid memory device. This concept uses a specially constructed DNA polymerase (an enzyme which copies DNA) to directly transmute voltages appearing across the membranes of cells into DNA base pair patterns. By using several ticker tapes to create a sufficient level of redundancy, an arbitrary degree of accuracy can be achieved, all within the existing energy budget of the cell.
Some of these concepts will be undoubtedly be harder to implement than others. A simple DNA paint might be something we could buy at the store or make at home with little effort. DNA may be everywhere right now, but compared to what soon may come, we could literally end up swimming in the stuff.
Now read: Molecular threading: A powerful tool for DNA sequencing
Research paper: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035858 – “A Ranking System for Reference Libraries of DNA Barcodes: Application to Marine Fish Species from Portugal” | {
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Matteo Salvini, the far-right Italian interior minister who once questioned Pope Francis’s legitimacy, has met Raymond Burke, the Argentinian pontiff’s fiercest critic in the Vatican, signalling an unprecedented gulf between the leader of the Catholic church and a key figure in the new populist government.
Salvini, the leader of the League party, has long been at odds with Francis over the issue of migration, the pope’s outreach to Muslims and his calls for Europe to integrate migrant communities.
The rift seemed to take a turn for the worse late last week, when a photograph emerged of an amicable meeting between Salvini and Burke, a staunch conservative.
#CardinalBurke meets the Italy’s deputy prime minister and Interior Minister @matteosalvinimi in Rome pic.twitter.com/1VHre12zPl — Fabio M. Ragona (@FabioMRagona) June 15, 2018
It was not their first encounter. The pair have met on two other occasions, according to a Vatican watcher who is close to Burke. The US cardinal, one of four to sign an openly critical letter to Francis last year questioning guidance that allows priests to determine whether remarried Catholics could receive communion, has praised Donald Trump and adopted a far more critical stance on migrants than the pope.
The meeting was unusual because the new Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has not yet had a formal meeting with Francis. Salvini’s controversial decisions on migration have created the impression that he is setting Italy’s agenda.
Burke is seen as the ringleader of a faction of the Catholic church opposed to Francis. Like Salvini, he counts the far-right populist Steve Bannon, who is Catholic and formerly served as a White House strategist for Trump, as a confidante.
Salvini was criticised before the 4 March election when he brandished a rosary during an election event and swore to remain faithful to Italians. Salvini is Catholic and reportedly attends mass but he is divorced and lives with a partner.
Any possible alliance between Salvini and Burke, a reactionary who has blamed “radical feminism” for marginalising men and was once demoted by Francis, is noteworthy given how critical Salvini has been about the pope. When a Catholic newspaper criticised Salvini in 2016, he responded by saying: “My pope is Benedict.”
That was a reference to Francis’s conservative predecessor who resigned in 2013, an act not witnessed in the Catholic church for centuries. Francis has since been a tough critic of capitalism and the exploitation of the developing world, and has suggested it is a Christian duty to treat migrants with dignity and respect.
He has, however, steered clear of becoming involved in Italian politics, preferring instead to focus on the “global church” and seeking to decentralise power away from Rome. He appeared to have a good relationship with Matteo Renzi, the former centre-left prime minister, but did not get involved in his campaign to make civil unions legal in Italy.
The pope did, however, speak at length last week about the importance of treating migrants with respect. The fact that he made his comments as Salvini turned away the Aquarius rescue ship with 630 migrants on board and said all non-Italian ships would be barred from entering Italian ports, may not have been a coincidence.
“I would like to point out that the issue of migration is not simply one of numbers, but of persons, each with his or her own history, culture, feelings and aspirations,” Francis said. “These persons, our brothers and sisters, need ongoing protection, independently of whatever migrant status they may have,.”
His comments may not, however, carry much influence. “The church does not have the political influence it used to have,” said Giovanni Orsina, a political historian at Luiss University in Rome. “The Italian public opinion is with Salvini, and they don’t care what the church says.” | {
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NEW YORK—Touting it as a seductive and versatile new addition to their Dream Angels collection, Victoria’s Secret officials announced Tuesday the launch of a 3-square-inch patch of satin that can be placed anywhere on the body. “Our new Ultimate Angel Patches are feminine, delicate, and incredibly sexy,” said Victoria’s Secret CEO Sharen Turney, who noted that the square piece of lace-trimmed fabric can be worn in over 50 different ways and comes in 10 styles and colors, including Leopard, Sheer, Beach Orchid, and Christmas Red with White Fur Trim. “The Ultimate Angel Patch can be placed anywhere that makes you feel sexy. It’s intensely alluring on a tanned shoulder, draped over an elbow, or even worn on one ankle. Plus, your partner will absolutely love sensually taking it off of you.” Turney confirmed that the 3-inch patch of satin would retail for $88.
Advertisement | {
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RPCS3 is an experimental open-source Sony PlayStation 3 emulator and debugger written in C++ for Windows and Linux. Development began in early 2011 by a small team of programmers lead by DH and Hykem. The emulator was first able to successfully boot and run simple homebrew projects and was then later publicly released in June of 2012. Today RPCS3 is dubbed one of the most complex video game console emulators of all time with an endless goal to effectively emulate the Sony PlayStation 3 and all of its aspects.
Keep up with the latest developments and featured progress at our Blog!
Welcome to RPCS3's Wiki!
In the same way as RPCS3, this wiki is a community driven project. Anyone can edit most pages! A lot of time and work is needed to make this wiki the best source for reliable and up to date information on RPCS3. One single person isn't capable of achieving this but together with everyone's contribution, we can definitely achieve our goals. Therefore, every bit of information is welcome and appreciated.
Tutorials and guides
In this section, we've listed all useful tutorials relating to RPCS3 and its wiki. If you need help about a specific game, just go to its game page and look there. If you need additional help, hop on over to our Discord server, where our friendly members will happily work with you to help solve your problem.
Create new game page
Before creating a new game page, please read the requirements page carefully. If you're sure the this particular game does not have a game page already, you can create the page by entering the game title in the textbox below. | {
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New video on my youtube ^Massive discounts in my shop for a few days - asialadowska.comThis one *was* for sale too. | {
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Posted on: September 15, 2011
Mark Richey, Steve Swenson and Freddie Wilkinson on the summit of Saser Kangri II (7518m) formerly the second highest unclimbed peak in the world. The trio climbed the mountain over five days in August. [Photo] Freddie Wilkinson
On August 24, 2011 Mark Richey, Steve Swenson and Freddie Wilkinson made the first ascent of the Eastern Karakoram's Saser Kangri II (7518m), the world's second highest unclimbed peak. The American team started the climb from the South Shukpa Kunchang Glacier. Their climb is one of the highest first ascents of a peak in alpine style in the history of mountaineering. The Old Breed (WI4 M3, 1700m) ascends the southwest face.
Much of the Eastern Karakoram was closed to climbing up until April 2010 due to border conflict between India and Pakistan. Because of the restrictions, the eastern side of the Line of Control that divided the two countries has seen little climbing activity, though the area houses more than one hundred unclimbed summits. In the early Eighties, the Japanese made an ascent of the western summit of Saser Kangri II, while the higher east summit had remained untouched.
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The highest unclimbed summit is Gangkhar Puensum (7570m) in Bhutan on the border of Tibet. There were attempts to climb the peak in the Eighties and early Nineties. However, the government in Bhutan ruled in 1994 that no peak higher than 6000 meters was to be climbed because of the belief that the high summits were the home of spirits. With government backing of the local's beliefs it is likely that Gangkhar Puensum will remain unclimbed for some time.
Richey, Swenson and Wilkinson traveled from Leh, India along with Janet Bergman, Emily Drinkwater and Kirsten Kremer, who climbed various new routes in the valley. Drinkwater and Kremer climbed Pumo Kangri (6250m) via the north face (PD/AD WI3, 680m), then Wilkinson and Bergman climbed Saser Linga (6100m) up the south face (V 5.9+,350m). Bergman, Drinkwater, Kremer, Richey and Wilkinson climbed Stegasaurus (6660m) via the South Shukpa Kunchang Glacier to the steep snow on the peak's south ridge before traversing to the summit on August 9.
Skiing towards Saser Kangri II on the approach. [Photo] Steve Swenson
Richey first laid eyes on the mountain in 2001 on an expedition led by Chris Bonington and Harish Kapadia. This trip piqued Richey's curiosity and interest in Saser Kangri II and the region.
Richey lead an expedition to Saser Kangri II in 2009 with Swenson, Mark Wilford and Jim Louther of Britain , but were turned back by bad weather at 6,500m. Swenson reports that the attempt made a great reconnaissance for a time when they could return. "The route consisted of steep ice and surprisingly good granite, and with the work we had put into it I wanted to return to finish the job." They spent a lot of time and energy trying to find and dig out sites suitable for a bivy in 2009, and when they were weathered off they had run out of time in late season for a second try that year.
Since the attempt in 2009, Richey has been gathering a team and acquiring a permit. One of the Indian government's stipulations is that the team of climbers must have an Indian climber in the expedition. Swenson writes in his blog that they were uncomfortable climbing the peak alpine style with a teammate they did not know and who could potentially be inexperienced, so they asked for an exception, which was denied. They instead recruited a number of Indian citizens as porters on the team to help carry their loads up to their advanced base camp, and encouraged them to participate in the climbs that the Americans did in order to acclimate. Swenson writes "they were an integral part of our team and included Tinless, Dansing, Chirring, Pemba (aka King Kong, named for the massive loads he carried), Tashi and Palden. Most of them were Sherpas from Darjeeling, but also they are from Ladakh and Kaumon—all mountain areas in India where the locals are well suited to this environment." The sherpas also watched over advanced base camp to be available for help in case of an emergency.
Using the Ice Hammocks invented by Richey to make a flat ledge for a bivy. The ice hammocks are two ounces of fabric with loops. Here the team used two ice hammocks together to make the ledge just large enough for their tent. [Photo] Steve Swenson
The climbers' travels began in Leh; they left Leh on July 7 to start the drive over Kandung La Pass, a 17,000-foot pass the Indians claim is the highest motorable road in the world. On the other side of the pass lies the Nubra Valley where the team made final preparations before their three day hike to base camp beginning on July 9. Over the course of these three days, Richey, Swenson, Wilkinson and the team of women climbed from 10,000 feet to 17,000 feet over the course of ten or fifteen miles where they established base camp.
Establishing an advanced base camp on the South Shukpa Kunchang Glacier required ascending a 20,000-foot pass since approaching Saser Kangri II from the Shyok river is impassable during the summer runoff. Swenson took this route over the pass in 2009, and knew to bring skis this year for an easier trek. Once at advanced base camp, the crew would need more time to acclimate before they could attempt the peak. However, they knew from the 2009 expedition that the bivy spots are very poor on the route so their first haul to a higher altitude would serve two purposes: acclimating and chopping out a good bivouac site on what they christened the "Launch Pad." After eight pitches of climbing, they reached the Launch Pad where they "found and improved our belay/rappel anchors in the rock alongside the ice from 2009. We would save time reusing these on the several forays we would be making in the future."
While on the ledge, the climbers realized that the weather was too warm, as the mountain spewed rock and shed snow around them during the heat of the day. They would have to wait until late August to climb when the weather would be cooler and the conditions more stable. So they descended back to advanced base camp in order to find a safer route to climb in the mean time for acclimation purposes.
The team chose a striking ice line up a peak that they would name Tsok Kangri (6585). They climbed the north face (WI4+, 680m) on July 31 in a twenty-two-hour push. Swenson developed a sinus infection on the way down from the Tsok Kangri, and had to descend back to 10,000 feet in the Nubra valley and then to the town of Diskit to see a doctor and start antibiotics before the climb, while Wilkinson and Richey climbed with Bergman, Drinkwater and Kremer. Finally, the team got their weather window, and started back up to advanced base camp on the twentieth of August; Swenson was feeling better though not one hundred percent.
On August 21, Richey, Swenson and Wilkinson climbed back up to the Launch Pad, beginning what would be a five-day push to the summit without fixed camps or ropes. Swenson reported that Day 2 would be essential to the success of the climb, so the team started early and simul-climbed through a snow couloir before hitting the rock band near their second camp from 2009. Since the bivy sites were so tough in 2009, Richey invented "ice hammocks" that held snow in a fabric wall, making a flat spot on which to pitch the tent.
Freddie Wilkinson leading the Escape Hatch pitch, the most technical part of the route which led the team to easier climbing and their high camp just 500 meter below the summit. [Photo] Steve Swenson
From their second camp a ramp led to the most technical pitch of the route, which they called the Escape Hatch and led to easier climbing. They built high camp at 7000 meters with only 500 meters to go the next day for the summit push. "We only had three pitches of technical climbing from our third bivouac to get to the summit ridge, and from there we knew that it would be easy snow walking to the summit." So on August 24, the trio completed the first ascent of Saser Kangri II. They also confirmed that the Japanese team's west summit was a false summit, and that they had truly made the first ascent.
The descent took more than thirty rappels. A loose rock severed forty feet off one of their ropes, so that each person had to rappel to the knot and move their belay device over the knot for each of the rappels. The sinus infection that Swenson was still suffering took its toll at the high altitude, and his last night on the mountain was spent coughing and hacking up phlegm. He made it down, but struggled with balance problems. The next morning, Swenson's breathing was more labored. The phlegm that he coughed up obstructed his airway. The team used the satellite phone to call for a helicopter from the Indian military to evacuate Swenson to the hospital in Leh. Once he was in the hospital, Swenson recovered in a couple days. American Alpine Club partner Global Rescue helped to coordinate the rescue.
The helicopter sent by the Indian military for Steve Swenson so he could get treatment for his respiratory illness in Leh. [Photo] Steve Swenson
Sources: steveswensonsblog.blogspot.com, Mountain Hardwear, Mark Richey. | {
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Le groupe Katasa, propriétaire du CHSLD Herron à Dorval où au moins 5 résidents sont décédés de la COVID-19, détient aussi trois résidences pour aînés de Gatineau. L’entreprise familiale, basée à Gatineau, a déjà attiré l'attention des autorités par le passé.
À Gatineau, le groupe détient trois résidences, soit le Village Riviera, la Résidence de l'Île et Le District d'Aylmer.
À l’été 2019, deux coroners avaient sonné l'alarme après trois décès à la Résidence de l’île, à Gatineau. Ils avaient alors dénoncé un manque de personnel et un problème en ce qui concerne la qualification des employés.
Le groupe Katasa, qui possède sept résidences au Québec, a été fondé par son propriétaire, Sam Chowieri. Il partage maintenant les rênes de la compagnie avec ses trois filles.
Après avoir annulé une entrevue, puis promis une déclaration écrite, la compagnie a finalement fait savoir, en début de soirée samedi, qu’elle n’était pas prête à commenter la nouvelle.
Une grosse négligence
Samedi, le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé que depuis le 13 mars, 31 des 150 résidents du CHSLD Herron ont perdu la vie, dont au moins cinq de la COVID-19. Une situation qui lui était inconnue, avant vendredi soir 20 h.
Chaque matin, on a la liste complète de chaque CHSLD, avec nombre de cas. Mais ici, les informations ont été cachées. [...] Je peux vous assurer un suivi , a assuré le premier ministre François Legault, lors de sa mise à jour quotidienne.
Le premier ministre Legault a annoncé qu’une enquête sera lancée par le ministère de la Santé et a ajouté que toutes les résidences appartenant au Groupe Katasa seront visitées et surveillées de près.
Il y a eu une grosse négligence à la résidence Herron et l'enquête va démontrer ce qu'il s'est passé. Ça n'a pas de bon sens qu'on arrive dans un centre et que la majorité du personnel soit partie François Legault, premier ministre du Québec
« Inacceptable »
C’est scandaleux, c’est inacceptable qu’un opérateur privé au Québec agisse de la sorte, surtout qu'il a trois résidences en Outaouais , a dénoncé le directeur général de la Table de concertation des aînés et retraités de l'Outaouais, Marc Desjardins.
On ne peut pas jouer avec la santé et la sécurité des aînés et finalement jouer à la roulette russe avec eux. Marc Desjardins, directeur général de la Table de concertation des aînés et retraités de l'Outaouais
Compte tenu de ce que l'on sait depuis le mois de janvier-février, c’est assez ahurissant de savoir qu’on a commencé à réagir seulement la semaine passée , a commenté pour sa part Paul Brunet, président du Conseil pour la protection des malades.
Le Centre intégré de la santé et des services sociaux (CISSS) de l’Outaouais a affirmé dans un courriel adressé à Radio-Canada qu’il a effectué ce samedi des visites dans les trois résidences du groupe Katasa.
Rien de majeur n'a été soulevé lors des visites. Nous avons une bonne collaboration des exploitants , a affirmé par écrit la porte-parole Marie-Pier Després.
Elle ajoute que des visites sont faites régulièrement dans les autres résidences pour aînés de l'Outaouais dans le cadre de la pandémie de la COVID-19.
Avec les informations de Yasmine Mehdi | {
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August 9, 2010 — Mira Vogel
Jethro Tull are playing Israel. Their multi-talented musician and vocalist Ian Anderson was forced to respond to “some very hateful communication from people representing different sides of this ongoing issue – from supposed human rights supporters to individuals, bodies and groups … some pretty nasty stuff”.
Some artists seem to find threats persuasive, but Ian Anderson writes on Jethro Tull’s website that they will play Israel and moreover that he personally will be playing for its own sake, not for the money:
“Having performed concerts in the Middle East region many times over the last few years, I am well aware of the ethnic and religious tensions existing, not only in the countries concerned, but in the broader international diasporas representing the various groups and their interests.
Having long maintained the position that culture and the arts should be free of political and religious censorship and a distance kept between them, I took a decision in February of 2009 that any future concerts in Israel by me or Jethro Tull would result in charitable donations to bodies representing the development of peaceful co-existence between Muslims, Jews and Christians, and the fostering of better Palestinian/Israeli relations. A number of potential charitable beneficiaries have now been identified and are under consideration.
I speak only for my own share of concert profits here – I am not about to tell the rest of the musicians or crew what views they should hold or what to do with their remuneration. Nor do I feel pressured by human rights groups, national interests or any individuals to perform or not to perform in Israel or anywhere else. I make up my own mind in light of available facts, with my own experience and a sense of personal ethics.
To those who tell me I should “boycott” Israel (or, for that matter, Turkey or Lebanon), I can only point out that on my travels around the world I am continually reminded of atrocities carried out historically by many nations who are now our friends, and it serves to strengthen my resolve that some degree of peace and better understanding may result from my and other artists’ professional and humble efforts in such places. If I had the opportunity to perform today in Iran or North Korea, hell – I’d be there if I thought it would make a tiny positive net contribution to better relations.
It’s a long time since Pearl Harbor, Auschwitz, Hiroshima and the firestorm of Dresden and I hope that, one bright day sometime in the future, it will seem a long time since the blockading of the supply flotilla to Gaza and the bombing of Israeli citizens by Hamas and Hizbolla.
So, I decided many months ago not to profit from my work in this troubled region and hope that interested parties on all sides will understand and respect my decision and resolve. The details of recipients of my charitable donation will be posted for the benefit of the doubters, as usual, on this website later in the year.
Ian Anderson, June 2010.”
And since then, he says, nobody has uttered a peep. He’s also made it impossible for Jethro Tull to be co-opted for the Israeli governing coalition’s public relations. It’s really that straightforward – take courage, Elvis!
Next door neighbours got 14 year-old me into Jethro Tull and I love them still. | {
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Days after Tony Podesta shook Washington by stepping down as chairman of his namesake lobbying firm, the Podesta Group is laboring to remake itself as some staffers and clients eye the exits.
Podesta announced his resignation on Monday, hours after an indictment was unsealed charging Paul Manafort and his deputy, Rick Gates, with violating foreign lobbying law. The indictment said Manafort had hired the Podesta Group — identified as “Company B” — to lobby for an ostensibly independent nonprofit that “was under the ultimate direction” of the Ukrainian president, his party and the Ukrainian government.
Sources familiar with the situation at the Podesta Group said on Monday that the firm would relaunch quickly. Four days after Podesta stepped down from the firm he founded, though, that has not happened.
Eight Podesta Group staffers who spoke on condition of anonymity said the firm is hustling to hang on to as many clients as possible as it struggles to hammer out what it will look like without its founder. Two of the firm’s highest-paying clients, Oracle and Wells Fargo, are leaving, even as others wait to see how things shake out.
“It seems clear that panicky, risk-averse clients will leave,” one Podesta Group staffer said. “Those with stronger stomachs for whom the firm has long delivered will stay. It’s really that simple.”
Representatives of at least five other lobbying firms, meanwhile, acknowledged in interviews that they were reaching out to Podesta Group staff in hopes of poaching top talent.
“Any firm worth their salt is looking over their team to see who might be worth poaching,” one Republican lobbyist at a rival firm wrote in an email, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Paul Brathwaite, a Podesta Group principal whose clients include Airbnb, Samsung and T-Mobile, sent an email to clients on Wednesday saying he was leaving to start his own firm, Federal Street Strategies.
“It has been a long-term goal of mine to try my hand at running a small business, and I am looking forward to the opportunity,” Brathwaite wrote in the email.
Kimberley Fritts, the Podesta Group’s longtime chief executive who is now taking over, declined to comment on Thursday.
Lobbyists who plan to remain at Podesta Group said many staffers there are optimistic about starting fresh and that most of the firm’s clients are sticking with them — or at least waiting to see how the firm revamps. Five clients — including BAE Systems, BP and Lockheed Martin — confirmed to POLITICO that they’re staying with the firm.
“We are aware of the management changes announced this week, and once we better understand the composition and focus of the firm’s reconstituted business, we will be in a better position to assess if they can continue to meet our needs,” Brian Roehrkasse, a BAE Systems spokesman, wrote in an email.
One senior Podesta Group staffer estimated that three to five clients have said they will leave.
“We’ve been gratified by the clients that we’ve talked with that are willing to stay,” another senior member of the firm said.
The Podesta Group and another firm referenced in the indictment, Mercury Public Affairs, retroactively filed paperwork with the Justice Department earlier this year for work they had done for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine. They were hired by Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, who is under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Firms are rarely prosecuted for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and no charges have been made publicly against Podesta Group, Mercury or any of their employees. But Tony Podesta, a major Democratic fundraiser, and Mercury's Vin Weber, a Republican, are under scrutiny by Mueller's grand jury, The Associated Press reported on Thursday evening.
Top staffers had been discussing Podesta, 74, leaving the firm and Fritts taking over for months. But the Podesta Group was unprepared for the speed of its founder’s exit. Two staffers said they hadn’t seen Podesta since Tuesday, the day after he announced he’d step down.
The firm is now struggling to answer the most basic questions, from how to buy out Podesta — who owns the firm in full — to the structure of the new firm. One Podesta Group principal said he didn’t know whether Tony Podesta owned the cell phone he was talking on.
A core group of senior staffers are planning to start a new firm, rather than simply rebranding the current Podesta Group.
But it’s unclear whether all Podesta Group employees will be offered a job at the new firm. “I think that’s hard to know at this point,” said one senior staffer, adding that it depended on how many clients stick with the firm.
That’s left some of the firm’s younger members anxious about losing their jobs.
“A lot of people who have nothing to do with this, nothing to do with Tony’s mistake are worried about losing their jobs,” one staffer said.
Other Podesta Group staffers downplayed the idea that the firm would need to trim its ranks. “I haven’t seen a level of flight of clients that indicates to me there are going to have to be swift, deep cuts,” one staffer said.
The Podesta Group is one of Washington’s most prominent lobbying firms, and for years Podesta’s name has helped bring business in the door. The firm brought in $24 million in 2016, making it the No. 3 firm in town.
Staffers gave Podesta a standing ovation when he announced he’d step down on Monday. But the turmoil unleashed by his resignation has left many staffers eager to move on from the baggage now associated with the Podesta name.
“Everybody, everybody wants there to be separation from the Podesta Group and separation from Tony,” one staffer said.
Podesta launched his firm with his brother, John Podesta, in 1988 as Podesta Associates and built a reputation as one of the top lobbyists in town. He’s been an outsized presence on K Street for decades, known for his flamboyant ties and the sumptuous Democratic fundraisers he threw at his Washington home.
But several Podesta Group staffers said he hadn’t done much lobbying in recent years, focusing instead on business development — a selling point for clients wondering how the business will go on without him.
Top Podesta Group staffers said they hoped to wrap up the business of starting a new firm in the next few days. “We want to do this yesterday so we can stop answering that question,” one senior staffer said.
Perhaps the most closely guarded secret now is what the new firm will be called. One senior staffer cautioned that he didn’t know the name of the firm but said he didn’t think it would include the name of the top staffers.
“I think we’re going to be looking for something a little more eye-catching,” the senior Podesta Group staffer said.
Steven Overly contributed reporting.
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Excellent Device
I'm new to the world of vaping. Based on reviews, I chose this device to get my feet wet. I think it works great - heats up fairly quick and doesn't get too hot when using. I really like its compact size and that the temperature setting can be adjusted to the exact degree. For the price and with what you get, you can't go wrong. I am happy with this product. | {
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CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday vowed to launch an all-year-round lifestyle check of government officials in a bid to stop the “decades of corruption” in the Philippines.
“Then we have the corruption in government. Again it has to stop… [these] decades of corruption,” Duterte said in his speech at the 69th Philippine Air Force Anniversary here.
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He warned government officials and employees who would not stop their corrupt practices that they would “place themselves in jeopardy of going to prison.”
The President cited in particular customs and internal revenue executives who are engaged in corrupt activities.
“I am sure that this is the time for, you know, landing softly. Kayong nabubuhay diyan with the extra frills, ang sweldo mo per diem mo lang ‘yan kasi meron kang kinikita,” he said.
“Well, this time, we have to learn how to live frugally and toned down. We are used to buying cars for everybody in the family,” he added.
He urged his newly appointed Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to “do his thing” and stop corruption in the Bureau of Customs. He also reaffirmed his trust in the newly appointed internal revenue chief Ceasar “Billy” Dulay.
“Lahat ‘yang mga fixer, stop! I hope Faeldon would do his thing. Stop corruption sa Customs. At si Billy Dulay, I know him. He’s very good, he’s honest, I hope he can deliver,” he said.
Duterte has always named the Bureau of Customs as one of the most corrupt government agencies along with the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
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SALT LAKE CITY - The President of the United States is in Utah Monday and with that comes a full day of meetings, appearances and road closures.
Ben Winslow has a preview of what Utahns should expect for Donald Trump's day in the Beehive State.
While the Secret Service said there will be road closures, they declined to provide any specific details about times and locations for those closures. | {
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Owen Shroyer from Infowars was in Washington DC today after attending the Second Amendment Rally in Richmond, Virginia on Monday.
Shroyer came across a group of anti-Trump protesters lined up in pre-printed “Remove Trump” T-shirts.
Owen turned to his camera guy and said, “I’m going to dominate them. Let’s dominate them.”
And then Owen tore them to shreds.
In typical fashion the astro-turfed protesters had NO IDEA why President Trump was being impeached.
They were told to stand there in a T-shirt and that’s all they knew.
TRENDING: Obama Statement on Ginsburg Demands GOP Senate Honors Her Dying 'Instruction' and Put Off Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Until New President Sworn In
Via Rob Dew:
https://twitter.com/DewsNewz/status/1219707097396453376
True.
https://twitter.com/GGaryC/status/1219811826050924544 | {
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Comfortable and healthy? Make it possible, with ergonomic furniture.
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It is objective: we spend most of the time of our days sitting down. So can we make it be comfortable and healthy for us at the same time? Of course: we just need ergonomic furniture. It has been proven that maintaining the same position for many hours is not good for our posture and health. Therefore, it is not optional to make sure we can sit in a correct position, so that our back and our muscles do not suffer from sitting down for many consecutive hours. But how much do you know about ergonomic furniture? Here is a quick guide with all the answers you need, and a few tips on how to choose the designs that are more suitable for you and your lifestyle. Your health will thank you, later on.
Here an example of how ergonomics and elegance can coexist in one design. These classy chairs are a creation by Giorgetti.
What is ergonomics?
First things first: let us start from the basics. Do you know exactly what ergonomics is? From the very origin of the term, we can grasp the root of the concept: the word ergonomics derives from the combination of the Greek word “ergo”, which means work, and ”nomos”, which stands for rule. We could therefore say that ergonomics is the discipline that deals with how to design an object to work in the right way. The definition provided by IEA (International Ergonomics Association) is maybe more practical: ergonomics is the science that deals with the interaction between the elements of a system and the function for which they are designed, which in our case is between individuals and technologies.
How do you like these colorful chairs by Profin?
How do you apply ergonomics to interior design?
The concept of ergonomics translates into design through the creation of furniture elements capable of effectively responding to the needs of well-being of the body, to the physiological needs linked to a correct posture, to the possibility of keeping the body moving even when is mentally concentrated in an activity, even to sleep using supports designed to respond to habits, preferences, physical needs of each individual.
Are you curious to discover more ergonomic furniture by Baxter?
Active sitting
One of the pioneers of ergonomics combined with interior design is the Peter Opsvik, forefather of a tradition and a design method that is now renowned all over the world. This Norwegian designer theorized the concept of Active Sitting, changing the way people sit by passing them from passive to active. The seats designed by Opsvik, in fact, allow you to take many different positions following the idea that "the best position is always the next one", that is, what the body reaches if it is free to do so. The transition from a static position to a dynamic, both in the workplace and in the years of study, both in the kitchen and in the living space, allows the muscles to remain active and less tense, strengthening them and also improving blood circulation. A true revolution in the very concept of comfort.
This peculiar chair by Varier Furniture is one of the first models that put the concept of active sitting into practice.
Risks and advantages
In the absence of a correct ergonomic design for a chair or other pieces of furniture, the risks for our health are numerous, especially in the workplace, but also at home, while we sit in front of the computer or television. To avoid our back and muscles to ache and get contracted, it is important that we choose a furniture design with a certain flexibility, so that our body can still move, even though we are still sitting. Another fundamental aspect is the distance between ourselves and the computer monitor or the TV screen, since being too close or too far from it could cause us to sit in an unhealthy position.
This armchair by Saporini looks absolutely comfortable, with its sinuous ergonomic shapes.
The seats
The symbol of ergonomics in design are the seats, both for work environments and for residential interiors. Many of us spend most of the day sitting: at the table for breakfast, driving to work, at the desk in the office, in our free time on the couch, at the cinema, at the bar with friends. We can’t do much about this, but the consequences are are back pain, tension in the neck and shoulders, headaches. We have showed you the famous Varier chair, perfect for sitting at a desk, but what about leisure time? Here is a famous armchair designed by Poltrona Frau, that will make your relax hours will be as comfortable as healthy.
Poltrona Frau is a leader brand in the design and production of comfortable armchairs.
The tables
It is a more recent evolution but it applies the same concept of flexibility and movement: these are Sit-Stand tables and desks, that make us able to raise or lower them, according to our needs. After having spent some time sitting at a desk, having the possibility to change position and stand up without interrupting our work is an advanced solution, not only to allow the body to fight the excessive static and consequent disturbances, but also to improve the oxygenation of the blood and therefore the ability to concentrate. The technological systems to allow the tables to be adjustable in height go from mechanical, electrical or through specific gas pumps; all of them are relatively easy mechanism, that will significantly increase or well-being and comfort while at work.
IVM is brand constantly searching for ways to improve people's well-being in their workplace.
The beds
The importance of sleeping with an adequate supports for our back should not be underestimated. Ecological materials, natural textile fibers, creation of a correct indoor microclimate, in which the natural ventilation has been assured and the absence of mites and other harmful elements, should always be a priority, when organizing and furnishing a bedroom. Not less important is the ergonomic shape of the bed: certain mechanisms can make it flexible and adapt it to the varying needs of the state of health, especially in old age. Mechanical or electrical bed frames are a handy solution to make us comfortable and healthy, even while we sleep.
Let Simam cuddle you with their comfy beds with electrical frames.
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“I hear that beautiful turkey,” President Donald Trump mused as he entered the Rose Garden on Tuesday to kick off the annual White House Turkey pardon.
That beautiful Turkey was Drumstick, a 36-pound bird spared death during this seasonal ritual. Trump only pardoned Drumstick at the ceremony, but despite the wishes of the American people, a second turkey, Wishbone, will also be allowed to live and comfortably retire to a farm in Virginia known as “Gobbler’s Rest.”
Which turkey should be pardoned during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony?
After the pardoning, Drumstick and Wishbone will join last year’s turkeys, Tater and Tot, at Virginia Tech’s “Gobblers Rest” exhibit. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 20, 2017
Trump has made one very controversial pardon during his tenure so far, but Drumstick’s reprieve went pretty smoothly — just maybe with fewer dad jokes than during Obama’s tenure.
“In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will grant a presidential pardon to a Turkey,” Trump announced. He compared himself to Harry Truman, the first president to receive a turkey from the National Turkey Foundation, who Trump said “refused” to pardon the turkeys. (This is true — the first president to actually pardon a turkey, according to Snopes, was George H.W. Bush.)
Joined by @FLOTUS and son Barron, Pres Trump says he'll be nicer than Harry Truman, who didn't pardon the WH turkey. pic.twitter.com/wTeXbkWniM — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2017
“He was a tough cookie,” Trump said, of Truman. “Today, I’m going to be a much nicer president.”
Trump tried a few other one-liners, including a joke about a lot “strange birds” visiting the White House and the “bright future” ahead for Drumstick, unlike his turkey buddies. One quip that didn’t quite land, maybe because it was a little too on the nose: A joke that Trump would undo last year’s turkey pardons simply because Obama did it.
“As many of you know, I’ve been very active in overturning a number of executive actions by my predecessor,” Trump said. "However, I have been informed by the White House Counsel's office that Tater and Tot’s pardons cannot under any circumstances be revoked. So we’re not going to revoke them.”
(Most turkeys die within a year of their pardon, but Tater and Tot are still alive and accepting visitors at Virginia Tech.)
President Trump: "I'm pleased to report that unlike millions of other turkeys at this time of the year, Drumstick has a very, very bright future ahead of him" https://t.co/k84rw2tRGx — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 21, 2017
Trump thanked the military and law enforcement and added some additional Thanksgiving wishes before deciding Drumstick was thinking: “Enough talk, please pardon us.”
Trump walked to where Drumstick stood atop a harvest-themed bouquet and, very calmly, waited for his star moment.
“I feel so good about myself doing this,” Trump said as he stroked the turkey. Then, he finally declared: “Drumstick, you are hereby pardoned.”
"Drumstick, you are hereby pardoned," President Trump declares https://t.co/kCJChnTHBY — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 21, 2017
Overall, the event concluded more successfully than the last time Trump came face-to-face with a large bird, as Vox’s Tara Golshan noted. But a pardoning ceremony can be a bit of an awkward affair when your campaign is under federal investigation: | {
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DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling 1.6 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace potentially deadly Takata airbag inflators, completing its required recalls six months ahead of schedule, the automaker said Friday.
When the latest recall is done, Honda says it will have recalled or accounted for 22.6 million inflators in about 12.9 million vehicles.
Takata inflators can explode with too much force and blow apart a metal canister, spewing shrapnel. Twenty-four people have been killed and hundreds injured by the inflators worldwide. Honda was Takata’s largest customer.
The Japanese company, which was forced into bankruptcy by the troubles, used the volatile chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion and inflate the airbags. But the chemical deteriorates when exposed to high temperatures and humidity and can burn to fast, blowing apart the canister designed to contain the explosion.
The recalls include many Honda and Acura models from 2003 through 2015. All received replacement inflators made by Takata before February of 2017 and were scheduled to be recalled a second time to replace those with inflators made by another company.
Affected Honda models include the 2001-2012 Accord, the 2010-2015 Crosstour, the 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, the 2011-2015 CR-Z, the 2003-2011 Element, the 2007-2014 Fit, the 2010-2014 Insight, the 2002-2004 Odyssey, the 2003-2015 Pilot and the 2006-2014 Ridgeline. Acura models include the 2003 3.2CL, the 2013 ILX, the 2003-2006 MDX, the 2015 RDX, the 2005-2012 RL, the 2002-2003 3.2TL, the 2009-2014 TL, the 2009-2014 TSX, and the 2010-2013 ZDX.
Honda said it has completed repairs or accounted for 83 percent of the, among the highest in the auto industry. Some of the inflators have been found in scrap yards or the vehicles are no longer in use.
Owners will be notified by letters starting in mid-August, and Honda is urging people to schedule repairs as soon as possible.
Nineteen automakers are recalling about 70 million inflators in what has become the largest string of automotive recalls in U.S. history. The recalls are taking place on a schedule set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recalls do not include inflators that have a moisture-absorbing chemical. The government will decide by the end of this year whether those should be recalled. | {
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As everyone knows, there are many questions surrounding Scalia’s death, but none of them- in my opinion- are the right ones. I DO believe that Scalia was murdered, but it wasn’t an assassination like many people are assuming. Scalia was brought down by his own behavior- and he is definitely not going to be the only one.
Why did Scalia leave his detail of protection, fly to Texas, and go to a place that was an hour from the rest of civilization? No police, no media- and the only people who stay at the 600 dollar a night dump are rich people. I have seen pictures of the rooms, and they don’t look any better than your local Super 8 motel rooms- so why are the rich flocking to this place? And why this rush to not have an autopsy and declare that he died of natural causes? Most everyone has seen a problem with this- but they don’t understand what is happening.
Scalia liked to fuck little boys. I know this from personal experience- as he was one of my primary abusers as a child and was one of the HEADS of the cult that abused me. He was a vile man who was such an extreme sadist that I find it hard to give words to his voracious appetites. I hated this man in ways that I can’t begin to explain and he rivaled Aquino in my abuse as a child. That is why Heaven reached out and claimed him- and I can assure you- he isn’t going to be the only one.
Doing what Scalia did is exactly what OTHER pedophiles do when they drive two or three states over to have sex with children. Who goes that far- an hour away from everyone- just to stay ONE NIGHT? He wasn’t having meetings at this dump- in fact the official story is that he had dinner with people and then retired early. Why? Because he went there to fuck a 13 year old boy who, in turn, slit his throat. That is why there has been so much secrecy surrounding this situation- why the family was SO EAGER to not have an autopsy done. They don’t want anyone to know the details surrounding this pedophiles last moments- and they are doing everything they can to keep anyone from finding out- and for good reason.
This ranch- far away from everyone and everything- that only caters to the rich- is a pedophile brothel I believe. The rich are able to go fuck little children here- and because it is so remote- and so far away from police and everything else- that it has been able to remain secret. Until now that is. Scalia’s actions directly mirror every other pedophile that travels long distances just for an illicit sexual encounter with children. He figured he could go- have a night of sex with a child- and return back to his life with no one being the wiser. Obviously he was wrong. And the reason why no one around him wants an autopsy to be done is because when people discover that his throat was slit- everyone is going to want to know how and why. That is why they are so anxious to bury him and ignore his death, and that is why so much effort is going into feeding outrageous stories that keep the public ignorant and discombobulated.
The fact is- Heaven is reaching out and claiming these cult leaders and Scalia is far from the only one who is about to be claimed. In fact, I predict that in the coming days- we all are going to see Warren Buffet and George Bush Sr. claimed in horrible ways as well, as well as Michael Aquino. All of them are going to be claimed- and very soon no one is going to question why. They stood in direct opposition with Heaven- and now they are getting their just rewards. And NO ONE is going to be able to stop this.
What I was trained to do as a child is REAL and it WORKS. Unlike their little poster child Doug Mesner/ Satanist Lucien Greaves- I don’t have to wear stupid horned hats, or do ridiculous little rituals, and I certainly don’t have to publicly expose my privates- I just have to focus. And I have- FOR YEARS. The result of my efforts is that this group is going to be blessed with the very separation from God that they have demanded all of their pathetic lives. The darkness is getting ready to claim them. And they are all going to die with the same overwhelming fear that Scalia experienced right before he was claimed. I have told Aquino repeatedly that they taught the wrong person their shit- and now they are beginning to realize the truth of what I have been stating. And no little ritual, no incantation, no sacrifice- is going to stop what is coming for them.
Whether the public ever finds out the truth about Scalia’s death is totally inconsequential. Those who have been involved with this KNOW the truth concerning what I am saying. And rest assured- the darkness has them in mind and they are going to be claimed- regardless of what anyone thinks or believes. And they are WELL AWARE OF THIS. I have said this before and I will say it again- it isn’t a good day to be a devil worshiper because what is about to claim them is worse than any hell anyone can imagine. They have invoked the WRATH of Heaven- and now they are all about to get their just rewards, and Scalia is just one example of the shit that awaits them.
But again- don’t take my word for it. Just sit back and watch. Soon all of us will see the truth in what I am saying. Even now they are having a hard time understanding how Scalia could have been murdered. How did the knife get into the 13 year old boys hand- how was he able to slit Scalia’s throat? Because it was DIRECTED by Heaven and was a result of divine intervention- and it stands symbolically as what is about to happen in mass. He was murdered because Heaven WILLED it, and Scalia is not going to be the only one. Not by a LONG SHOT. | {
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Fargo's critically-acclaimed second season wrapped up last night, and the show's braintrust — FX president John Landgraf and executive producers Noah Hawley, Warren Littlefield, and John Cameron — revealed new details about the dark comedy's next batch of episodes in an associated conference call this morning. According to showrunner Noah Hawley, the show's third season is set in 2010 — four years after its first season — and focuses on what he calls "selfie-oriented culture."
"I like the idea what we're now living in a very selfie-oriented culture... it feels like a social dynamic that is very antithetical to the Lutheran pragmatism of the region," said Hawley. "So many of our crime stories are based on the difficulty that people have expressing themselves and communicating... I like the idea of setting up these pragmatic and humble people against the culture of narcissism and [seeing] what that generates for us, story-wise."
Hawley also noted that Fargo won't be back on the air until 2017, a necessary consequence of the series' winter setting. "It's a winter show, for better or worse, and... there isn't time to shoot another year before this winter is over,' said Hawley. "I've written the first hour and we're about halfway through breaking the season, and we'll be writing over the next few months... we'll be shooting in November and hopefully back on the air in the spring of 2017."
The gap between seasons two and three might seem more like a chasm at first glance, but the space between the first season and second season premieres spanned roughly a year and a half. If Fargo's third season premieres in April 2017, it'll be consistent with the show's practice. And even though Fargo's taking a year off, Hawley's still going to have a ton on his plate: he's also working on a show within the X-Men universe, a Cat's Cradle adaptation, and other projects, all for FX. | {
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All Cam Heyward wanted to do was honor his father, who died nine years ago of bone cancer. As his bosses commemorate breast cancer awareness this month, Heyward is wearing eight simple letters on his adhesive eye black. "IRON" is on one and "HEAD" is on the other, recalling the nickname of former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.
The NFL has acted swiftly. For violating its policy on personal messages in Week 5, it fined Heyward $5,787. For the repeat violation in Week 6, the fine will escalate to $11,576. Heyward said he plans to continue donning the message through the end of the month, which would mean at least one more fine and -- barring a successful appeal -- a total cost of $28,939 for a three-week, eight-letter tribute.
We all know NFL players can be fined, and eventually suspended, for malicious game fouls or violations of policies regarding personal conduct or substance abuse. What you might not be aware of, however, is the NFL's expansive list of fines for minor uniform irregularities, unapproved shoe colors and other archaic offenses.
Here, then, are 15 quirky but actual ways an NFL player can be fined -- all culled from the league's 2015 fine schedule and rulebook.
1. Want to throw a football into the stands? It'll cost you $5,787 for the first offense and $11,576 for the second.
2. Excessive profanity during a game, as deemed by an official, will cost $11,576 the first time and $23,152 the second.
3. If officials catch you without all four snaps of your chin strap in place during a play, you could lose $8,681. Again? It's $11,576.
4. Pants must be worn over the knee. If they're rolled up, with the sock covering the knee instead, you're subject to a $5,787 fine for the first offense and $11,576 for the second.
5. Socks must not be altered to move the point where the solid white and the team colors are not at the mid-point of the lower leg. (I'm not making this up.) If they are, the league has the option to fine a player $5,787. If they don't get the message, the second fine is $11,576.
6. All players on a team must wear the same primary shoe color, either black or white, along with up to three predetermined team colors to use as accents. Players can use tape and magic markers to block out or emphasize colors as necessary. Violations can incur a $5,787 fine the first time and $11,576 the second.
7. To bring a towel on the field, players must ensure it is white and licensed by the NFL. It can contain no logos, personal messages, symbols, names or illustrations. They must be six by eight inches (slightly larger for a quarterback) and tucked into the front waist. Violators could be hit with a $5,787 fine the first time and $11,576 the second.
8. Bandannas and head stockings are banned from the field. The fine is $5,787 for the first offense and $11,576 for the second.
9. Entering a fight area will cost you even if you don't actually fight. It's $2,893 the first time and $8,681 the second. The message: Stay away and let officials break it up.
10. A verbal or other nonphysical offense toward an official is expensive. It'll cost you $23,152 if you go too far and $46,305 if you do it again.
11. Gang signs, or gestures that resemble them, are prohibited and deemed so serious that the NFL Players Association agreed not to limit fines for a first or second offense. They are considered "conduct detrimental to the league" and can be punished by a combination of a suspension and/or fine.
Colin Kaepernick put tape over the logo of his headphones after he was fined $10,000 in October 2014 for wearing Beats by Dre headphones in a postgame interview. AP Photo/John Froschauer
12. The same is true if a player wears or verbally endorses a commercial logo or company name at any point during a game. Some could be approved by the league office. There is no minimum fine and a suspension is possible.
13. Wearing a tinted eye shield is prohibited unless the NFL pre-approves for medical reasons. Otherwise, the fine is $5,787 the first time and $11,576 for the second.
14. Gloves worn by interior linemen must be white, black or another official team color submitted to the league office by July 1 of each year. Otherwise, it is a uniform violation that carries a $5,787 fine for the first offense and $11,576 for the second.
15. Wristbands must be only white or black. The fine is $5,787 the first time and $11,576 for the second.
The fine values are based on negotiated base terms from the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. By agreement, they rise at an annual rate of 5 percent.
According to the NFL, about $4 million per year has been collected via player fines since the start of the 2009 season. The money is donated through the NFL Foundation to two charities that assist former NFL players, the NFL Player Care Foundation and the Gene Upshaw Player Assistance Trust.
Any questions? There will be a quiz Friday. | {
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Um estudo comparado entre a carga horária de um aluno no 1.º ano de escolaridade com um estudante a frequentar o 12.º revela que o mais novo, de seis anos, tem mais 465 minutos por semana de aulas do que o estudante mais velho, com 18 anos de idade.
O estudo foi desenvolvido por Alexandre Henriques, autor do blogue de educação ComRegras, um dos mais respeitados nesta área. Depois de comparar as matrizes curriculares do Ministério da Educação, Alexandre Henriques divulgou o estudo comparado no seu blogue, revelando que um aluno no 1.º ano de escolaridade tem 1500 horas de carga lectiva, enquanto um estudante do 12.º ano tem 1035 horas de carga horária.
O estudo revela também que os anos com maior carga lectiva em Portugal são o 3.º e 4.ºanos de escolaridade, com 1620 horas.
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No 2.º ciclo, que corresponde ao 5.º e 6.º ano, a carga horária lectiva é de 1350 horas e, no 7.º ano de escolaridade volta a aumentar para as 1530 horas, para voltar a baixar nos 8.º e 9.º anos, em que a carga horária está nas 1485 horas.
No 10.º e 11.º ano dá-se um novo aumento da carga horária para 1.530 horas, para voltar a baixar no 12.º, com as 1.035 horas.
"A carga lectiva atribuída aos alunos portugueses não tem a mínima consideração pela sua idade, não tem uma lógica progressiva, sendo vítima de múltiplos interesses excepto os dos próprios alunos", observa o autor do estudo, referindo que há situações de uma "incongruência difícil de explicar", como é o caso da actividade física praticada na escola que tem o seu "pico no ensino secundário". | {
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By @SimonCocking
How did the season go for your team?
I’m just going to talk about our Open team here, because I could go on for days about each of our club’s teams otherwise! Our season was pretty good, but yet we finished with no silverware, which is a little disappointing I guess. Our results at outdoor events were better than at indoor events, which is fair seeing as we focus more on skills improvement at our indoor sessions rather than tactics and as a result we take Indoor IVs less seriously – something which can rub other teams up the wrong way unfortunately, but there is no intentional disrespect with our approach to indoors. We finished 7th at Open Indoor IVs, so after coming 3rd the year before, it was a big step back. At Cork Open we faired all right, but tired heads and legs on Sunday, and a few injuries, saw us finish 8th. At the Siege we played really well in almost all of our games – we won all our games bar one, losing to UL, who in fairness deservingly walloped us. We came 5th overall, the highlight finishing team from outside of GB and Limerick.
Our focus was always on Open IVs though, and in years gone by we’ve had average regular seasons only to turn it on when it matters most. We had two very shaky performances in the group stages on Saturday against QUB and NUIG, but we got our heads sorted and got some revenge on UL after our loss to them at Siege. We had a relatively easy quarterfinal vs. UCC2, and then we played UCC1 in a really good dogfight. We came out on top and would face Trinity in the final. At this point we were down a few heads through injuries, but in fairness to Trinity they played to their strengths in the final and were deserved winners. It’s a real pity that we finished 2nd this year, because I think we could have done the repeat if myself, Fergie and Bermie hadn’t been injured, but it was still a brilliant year for us.
What were the team’s highlights, and your own ones too?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF1LHw2zGS4 – this could help paint a picture of our highlights!
The club highlights included our two Devs teams reaching the final of their respective divisions; the Ladies team returning to the Outdoor final for the first time since 2012; the Ladies coming third and winning spirit at Indoor Ladies IVs; having three teams at Mixed IVs the most from any college, with UCD Y winning the plate; hosting Mixed Indoors (the first tournament we’ve hosted in 3 years); having 2 teams at Open IVs, both with large squads – there were a lot of positives this year on the pitch!
Highlights for the first team include beating Ranelagh at Siege, beating UL and UCC at IVs because these are two of our top three rivals, and probably our comeback vs QUB at IVs too – those lads in the north have been doing great stuff to build up a strong club and they gave us an almighty shpookin’ in the first half! Returning to the Open IVs final again this year was great obviously too, even though we came up short.
Some of my own highlights are mainly just from a coaching point of view. It’s awesome to see teams and individual players that you train go out and boss it. The Devs team is made up entirely of lads I was coaching this year and last year with Liamo, and to see them throwing really nicely weighted hucks or “skying peasants” is pretty much the reason I gave up my Tuesday evenings for the last two years. I think everyone’s favourite highlight this year was Joey skying about 6/7 people to get an upwind break against UL at IVs.
Another highlight for the club was being awarded the IFDA College of the Year award at the 2014 IFDA Awards Ball. While this was for our 2013/14 season, it was still a great moment for the club and a great way to round out our first semester of the 2014/15 season. The college game in Ireland is forever increasing in standard across the board, so it was a great achievement for our club to win this award. On the same night, I received the College Player of the Year award. It was great to be nominated in this category to start with and then to win it was awesome too, as the other nominees all had great seasons themselves.
Anything you would have done differently, looking back?
With the players we had, we probably could have given Open Indoor IVs a good bash, but the times we’re given for training indoors don’t agree with everyone’s timetable meaning its hard to train as a team and so we just wing it! It would be nice to focus on this tournament for next year perhaps. Other than that, it’s hard to say really. We had a pretty good year across the board so I don’t think there’s much I’d change, no.
How did freshers fair go (way back when)? And did you get many players who had played previously (at school)?
We have a two-part recruitment drive: part 1 is in September. At Fresher’s Week we have 4/5 days of recruitment, which is where we get the bulk of our new recruits (and a few Americans!). Part 2 is “Refreshers Day” in semester 2 and we normally get some new bodies to practice from this too.
Generally speaking, we recruited pretty well this year and retained a good number of guys and girls. Some had played a bit before all right – a few Irish U17s & Juniors were in the ranks. The great thing about the online presence of Ultimate at the moment is that more and more clips are going viral so more and more people have at least heard that Ultimate is a sport by the time that they’ve met us. Our American counterparts are doing great things to get consistent media exposure and it’s getting well recognised over here too.
How many were still playing by the end of the year?
We had something like 30/40 beginners at our first few sessions in September/October (it’s worth noting that it’s minimum €15 to join clubs in UCD, so convincing people to join is getting more difficult as this rises – it was €10 last year). That said we retained about 15 or so beginners throughout the year – including those from Refreshers Day. The Ladies side of the club have been recruiting really well too in the last few years and I think they retained similar numbers.
Was this the usual sort of level of retention? Or did you do anything differently this year, which had more or less success in retaining/gaining new players?
This is pretty good for us to be honest. By the time we get 3 or 4 sessions with the beginners in September/October, it’s already Week 6/7 of college, so mid-terms and assignments are lurking around and a lot of people will stop coming to sessions to focus on college work (the fools!) and then some just aren’t bothered coming back, which is a shame. We try to focus on having game heavy and fun trainings for our first few sessions after teaching the basic throws and that because that seems to be what peaks people’s interest. There has been a decent focus on having more social interaction outside of training these last two years and that has proved pretty valuable too. We’re careful not to just promote ourselves as a party club though and that the sport is as important as having the craic. Getting beginners to a few beginner tournaments is great for keeping them around too; Edinburgh and Whacking Day/Trinitea Party have been the tournaments that we’ve attended most often in years gone by and those who attend these tournaments are much more likely to stick around than those who don’t.
How many of your first team players will you be losing? Are you excited/positive about 2015/16?
We’re losing a lot of our first team squad. We had about 18/20 players in our first team training squad this year, but only 13 of those are still in UCD next year, and about 4/5 of those are going to be on Erasmus or on work placement. So it will be a great chance for this year’s beginner group to push on and to get integrated into the first team.
Despite a lot of our top players and leaders leaving, we’ll still have a pretty strong core of players. I think it would be stupid enough to dismiss us as title contenders again next year, but it won’t be the same UCD as the last few years. We’ll have to re-think our game plans (as we had to do this year when Tuffy graduated), and we’ll probably come back with different structures next year too. I won’t be coaching again next year, at least not in a Head Coach role, so there is definitely scope for new ideas and I’m pretty excited to see how we deal with these new challenges. It could be totally hit and miss, or it could be exactly what we need to win IVs again.
Will many of your team be playing in the summer somewhere? (World/Summer League, etc.)
Yeah, we’ve a few players involved in national teams: Michelle Mac Lennan (a first year player) is playing on the Junior Women’s team; Conor McCarthy, Ferdia Rogers, Owen Binchy, and Stephen Jones are all playing on the U23 Open team; Lizzie O’Sullivan is playing on the Senior Women’s team; Aine Gilheany, Deirdre Kavanagh, and myself are all playing on the Senior Mixed team.
Most of our players are affiliated with different clubs too, and there seems to be a decent contingent looking to volunteer at different tournaments around Europe (Windmill, Dublin’s Golden Cup, etc.) so there will be UCD heads about the place this summer all right!
Will you follow the progress of the various Irish teams going to International tournaments this summer?
Absolutely! The social media coverage from most teams in the past has been great, and occasionally we can enjoy streamed games and live updates on Facebook or Twitter. So I imagine, there will be a few days in the office that I’ll be bashing the refresh button and sitting here like a nervous wreck.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how the U23 Open and Junior Open teams get on. Doc did great stuff with the last Junior Open team, and this one is fairly stacked with the best young talent from around the country, so I expect they’ll do quite well. The U23 Open team then is stacked with some of the best college and club players we have, so it will be really interesting to see how they fair this time around – Worlds is on in London, so it’s only a hop over on the plane if anyone can go support the Lads (and Mixed) team!
Then of course there’s EUC and I’m fairly pumped to get over there and give it a bash. There will be 3 Irish teams over there so the craic will be mighty and I think all three teams are set to have some great performances.
Anything you plan to do to improve your own game over the summer?
Stay fit. Since April 2014, I’ve been fairly riddled with injuries. If there’s one thing I can do between now and EUC (and AIUC!) it’s stay fit/not injured. If anyone has a spare hamstring or patella tendon lying around your house that you aren’t using, let me know!
As well as that, it’s going to be a case of practice my throwing. You should never stop practicing and refining your throwing, even if you’re super comfortable with how they are at the moment.
And lastly, I’ll be doing a good bit of speed work. Being injured on-and-off for a year doesn’t help with a first quick step so I think I’ll focus on getting this sorted too before Euros.
What else should we have asked you/would you like to add?
I guess you could have asked how UCD got to the point we’re at today. Since I joined in September 2010, there has been Trojan work done by a number of people to build up the club, so without these guys we wouldn’t have a hope of being where we are – the likes of Conor Casey, Emer Staunton, Liam Fletcher were all instrumental in the recent development of the club, and so too were our coaches through the years Fiona Mernagh, Ian French, Darron Costello and Kev Timoney. This is all obviously on top of what came before that in the 00s. So here’s to next year and long-live Chilli-O!
#UCD5lyf #skaty | {
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Defense Secretary Mark Esper has opened the door for athletes at the nation’s military academies to play professional sports after they graduate, and delay their active-duty service.
Esper signed a memo last Friday laying out the new guidelines, which says the athletes must get approval from the defense secretary, and it requires them to eventually fulfill their military obligation or repay the costs of their education.
The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, came at the insistence of President Donald Trump, who directed the Pentagon in June to come up with a way to allow athletes to play professional sports immediately upon graduation. Trump gave the Pentagon four months to develop the new policy.
Allowing athletes to delay service has been a hotly debated issue. The Obama administration put a policy in place allowing some athletes to go to the pros and defer their military service.
That policy allowed Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2016 draft after completing a four-year run with the Midshipmen. But the year after he went pro, the Defense Department rescinded the policy.
Then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, in an April 2017 memo, said that the service academies "exist to develop future officers," and that graduates would serve as "full-fledged military officers carrying out the normal work and career expectations" of someone who received an education at the taxpayers' expense.
Earlier this year, however, Trump said he was considering allowing athletes to get a waiver so they could play pro sports. He made the announcement during a Rose Garden ceremony in May when he presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the football team of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Army Black Knights completed an 11-2 season and earned the trophy for the second consecutive year.
He issued the order in June, saying that athletes graduating from the academies and Reserve Officers' Training Corps should be able to defer their military service obligations due to the "short window of time" they have to "take advantage of their athletic talents during which playing professional sports is realistically possible."
In the new memo, Esper says that military service secretaries can nominate an athlete for a waiver after determining there “is a strong expectation that a Military Service Academy cadet or midshipman's future professional sports employment will provide the DoD with significant favorable media exposure likely to enhance national level recruiting or public affairs missions.”
If approved by the defense secretary, the athlete must agree to return to the military and serve their enlistment time, which is usually five years. While in the pro sports job, the athlete’s waiver would be reviewed every year.
If the athletes can’t pass required medical standards when it is time to rejoin the military, then they are “encouraged” to serve in a civilian post within the department for no less than five years, according to Esper’s memo. If they choose not to do that they would be subject to repayment of their school expenses.
It wasn’t clear Thursday what impact Esper’s new policy will have on the fate of Noah Song, a pitcher from the U.S. Naval Academy. Song, 22, was the fourth-round draft pick this year of the Boston Red Sox, so he is not covered by the new memo. The right-hander was going to pitch for the minor league team in Lowell during the summer before reporting for duty to train as a flight officer.
Song is seeking a waiver but there has been no decision yet. The Navy declined to provide any other details.
Several Navy football players have gone on to have success in the NFL, most notably 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach, a quarterback for the Midshipmen from 1962-64. After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, he joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 and guided the team to a pair of Super Bowl victories.
Another Heisman Trophy winner, Glenn Davis of Army in 1946, was a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions but had to serve three years in the Army before making his NFL debut with Detroit in 1950.
In addition, receiver Phil McConkey played for Navy from 1975-78, then served for five years before the New York Giants made him a 27-year-old rookie in 1984. He caught a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl for New York and remained in the NFL through 1989. | {
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The Bethlem Royal Hospital in London became infamous in the 1600's in regards to the inhumane and cruel treatment of its patients as revealed by psychiatric historians.
Bedlam: The History of Bethlem Hospital reveals why Bedlam came to stand for the very idea of madness itself.
It was satirized for centuries as both a human zoo and a university of madness and for 100 years was one of London's leading tourist attractions, as Madame Tussauds is today.
Britain's leading psychiatric historians discuss Bedlam and its inhabitants as we reveal the incredible history of one of U.K's most notorious institutions. | {
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A tiny second moon may once have orbited Earth before catastrophically slamming into the other one, a titanic clash that could explain why the two sides of the surviving lunar satellite are so different from each other, a new study suggests.
The second moon around Earth would have been about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) wide and could have formed from the same collision between the planet and a Mars-sized object that scientists suspect helped create the moon we see in the sky today, astronomers said.
The gravitational tug of war between the Earth and moon slowed the rate at which it whirls, such that it now always shows just one side to Earth. The far side of the moon remained a mystery for centuries until 1959, when the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft first snapped photos of it. (The far side is sometimes erroneously called the dark side, even though it has days and nights just like the near side.) [Video: How the Moon Was Made]
The moon has two faces
The moon's far side is very different than its near side.
For instance, widespread plains of volcanic rock called "maria" (Latin for seas) cover much of the near hemisphere, but only a few maria are seen on the far one. In addition, while the surface of the near side is mostly low and flat, the far side is often high and mountainous, with the lunar surface elevated 1.2 miles (1.9 km) higher on average on the far side.
Now computer simulations hint a second moon essentially pancaked itself against its larger companion, broadly explaining the differences seen between the near and far sides. [10 Coolest Moon Discoveries]
Their calculations suggest this second moon would have formed at the same time as our moon. Scientists have suggested that our moon was born from massive amounts of debris left over from a giant impact Earth suffered from a Mars-size body early on in the history of the solar system. Spare rubble might also have coalesced into another companion moon, one just 4 percent its mass and about 750 miles wide, or one-third of our moon's diameter.
Earth's second moon
To imagine where this other moon once was, picture the Earth and the moon as being two points in a triangle whose sides are equal in length.
The other point of such a triangle is known as a Trojan point, or a Lagrangian point, named after the mathematician who discovered them. At such a point, the gravitational attraction of the Earth and moon essentially balances out, meaning objects there can stay relatively stably. The Earth and moon have two Trojan points, one leading ahead of the moon, known as the L-4 point of the system, and one trailing behind, its L-5 point.
The researchers computed that this second moon could have stayed at a Trojan point for tens of millions of years. Eventually, however, this Trojan moon's orbit would have destabilized once our moon's orbit expanded far enough away from Earth.
The resulting collision would have been relatively slow at 4,500 to 6,700 miles per hour (7,200 to 10,800 kph), leading its matter to splatter itself across our moon as a thick extra layer of solid crust tens of miles thick instead of forming a crater.
"It is entirely plausible for a Trojan moon to have formed in the giant impact, and for it to go unstable after 10 million to 100 million years and leave its imprint on the moon," study coauthor Erik Asphaug, a planetary scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told SPACE.com. Imagine "a ball of Gruyere colliding into a ball of cheddar."
Moon crash post mortem
The remains of this Trojan moon would make up the highlands now seen on our moon's far side. At the same time, the impact would have squished an underground ocean of magma toward the near side, explaining why phosphorus, rare-earth metals and radioactive potassium, uranium and thorium are concentrated in the crust there.
A number of explanations have been proposed for the far side's highlands, including one suggesting thatgravitational forces were the culprits rather than an impact from Francis Nimmo at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his colleagues. Nimmo said that for now there is not enough data to say which of the proposals offers the best explanation for this lunar contrast. "As further spacecraft data and, hopefully, lunar samples are obtained, which of these two hypotheses is more nearly correct will become clear," Nimmo said in a statement.
Asphaug and his colleague Martin Jutzi at the University of Bern in Switzerland detailed their findings in the August 4 issue of the journal Nature.
Follow SPACE.com contributor Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Visit SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. | {
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Chuck Norris met with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Wednesday during the actor's visit to the Holy Land.
Netanyahu told Norris in a video posted on the prime minister's Facebook page, "Listen, Israel is strong but it's indestructible now" later telling his security team to clear the building as Norris could easily handle any threats.
Norris told the prime minister he and his wife had been "looking forward to" their meeting.
"Believe me, you'll always have my support. All that was coming down, I didn't know what to do," Norris told Netanyahu. "My wife said, 'I know what to do. I'm calling over there."
Norris and his wife Gena O'Kelley are currently on a trip in Israel. The couple visited the Western Wall on Sunday met with former Foreign Ministry director-general Dore Gold on Saturday at a restaurant in Herzliya.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Norris has supported Netanyahu in the past two Israeli elections. | {
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Levin Öztunali stand im Sommer zum Verkauf. Mangels Interessenten blieb er in Mainz, wo er aktuell zur Stammelf gehört. Beim FC Augsburg gibt es für den 23-Jährigen und den FSV ein Wiedersehen mit Ex-Trainer Martin Schmidt.
Sportvorstand Rouven Schröder hatte zuletzt keinen Kontakt mehr zu Schmidt, von dem sich die Mainzer im Mai 2017 getrennt hatten. Bis April 2019 war der Fußballlehrer immer mal wieder zu Besuch in der rheinland-pfälzischen Landeshauptstadt, seitdem er beim FCA tätig ist, fehlt die Zeit. "Jeder hat den Fokus auf seine eigenen Aufgaben. Es gibt keinen Austausch", sagte Schröder vor der Reise nach Augsburg, wo der FSV am Samstag (15.30 Uhr, LIVE! bei kicker.de) gastiert.
In den vergangenen Jahren waren die Auftritte der Nullfünfer beim FCA "immer spezielle Spiele, wir würden gerne mal mit einem positiven Gefühl wegfahren", wünscht sich Schröder. Mal flog der FSV dort trotz guter Leistung aus dem DFB-Pokal, mal sorgte die neue Handregel für Verdruss. "Augsburg hat Wucht, Martin ist bekannt dafür, dass er emotional spielen lässt", so der Sportvorstand. Ein besonderes Wiedersehen wird es für Öztunali, den Schmidt 2016 von Leverkusen nach Mainz lotste. Nach einer guten Premierensaison (30 Spiele/5 Tore) nahm die Quote des Juniorennationalspielers immer mehr ab. 2017/18 und 2018/19 kam er nur noch auf 25 beziehungsweise 15 Einsätze und blieb torlos. Im Oktober 2019 gelang Öztunali der erste Bundesligatreffer seit 936 Tagen, inzwischen fügte er ein zweites Tor hinzu. Vom Verkaufskandidaten hat er sich zum Stammspieler entwickelt.
Lob vom Trainer
Unter Beierlorzer spielte der 23-Jährige zuletzt zweimal in der neuen 3-5-2-Grundordnung auf dem rechten Flügel, wo er aufgrund der Dreierabwehrkette viele Defensivaufgaben zu erledigen hat, die er erstaunlich gut löst. Beim 2:1 gegen Eintracht Frankfurt kam er auf eine Zweikampfquote von 83 Prozent und war an einer spielentscheiden Szene maßgeblich beteiligt. Kurz vor der Pause provozierte er im Laufduell mit Dominik Kohr dessen Notbremse, in Überzahl drehten die Mainzer danach die Partie. "Levin nimmt die Rolle in der Fünferkette im Mittelfeld toll an", lobt Trainer Achim Beierlorzer, der immer mehr Gefallen an der Grundordnung findet. | {
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HBO CEO Richard Plepler shared today that the premium satellite and cable network will begin offering a web-only package sometime in 2015 as it attempts to gain new paid subscribers. A web-only offering for HBO (and other popular networks) is something cable cutters have wanted for years although many argued that the economics of the cable industry wouldn’t make the option feasible for the networks.
Plepler, though, cited “the current ten million broadband-only homes” before announcing that HBO will launch “a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service” next year. Could a version of HBO unbundled from cable providers mean that Apple TV may also become less restrained by required cable subscriptions?
HBO already makes movies and TV shows available on the web and through apps for iPad and Apple TV, but HBO Go requires a paid subscription to the network which currently requires an active cable or satellite subscription.
In fact, most Apple TV channels including HBO, ESPN, Showtime and more require authenticating with an active cable subscription to unlock full content.
While Plepler’s announcement didn’t reveal exactly what content will be available through the web-only version of HBO or how much the subscription will cost, the announcement is a promising one nonetheless.
Plepler also described the future HBO offering as “over-the-top” which hopefully means the offering will include new content as it airs rather than holding it for the next day.
In his remarks, Plepler added that HBO will work with current partners and explore models with new partners to deliver the stand-alone version of HBO. This could mean that the network becomes an add-on to your existing Internet subscription.
Apple TV channels like Netflix and Hulu support monthly subscriptions directly within each channel, and a similar offering from HBO certainly push the product forward from being a second cable box with iTunes to a true cable box replacement.
An overhauled version of the Apple TV is already anticipated for release next year, but HBO could be at the beginning of a movement to unbundle networks from cable providers which could completely change the current Apple TV.
HBO Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler Announces HBO to Offer a Stand-Alone HBO Streaming Service in 2015 Speaking at the Time Warner Inc. Investor Meeting today, Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO, announced that the company will offer a stand-alone HBO streaming service in 2015. Following a portion of his presentation focused on HBO’s domestic business, during which he cited significant growth opportunities inside the pay-TV universe, Plepler then turned to the current ten million broadband-only homes, which is projected to grow. Plepler then added: “That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO. “So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.”
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Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: | {
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TOKYO (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp’s autonomous driving system is expected to be launched in commercial vehicles as early as in 2022, in a move that will likely help the Japanese company narrow its gap with rival suppliers in a highly competitive market.
FILE PHOTO: A mock-up of an autonomous car interior is shown at the Panasonic booth during the 2017 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File PIcture
Panasonic, the exclusive battery cell supplier for Tesla Inc’s mass-market Model 3, has been reinventing itself as a provider of advanced auto parts to escape the price competition of smartphones and other lower-margin consumer products.
The new autonomous driving system will enable autonomous driving at low- and medium-speed ranges including self-valet parking, Panasonic said on Tuesday.
“We know we are behind our rivals right now,” said Shoichi Goto, director in charge of vision and sensing technologies at the firm’s automotive R&D division.
“But we have developed key LSI (large-scale integration) chips for advanced image processing and sonar sensing that would give us major advantages, using expertise from television sets and cameras.”
The new chips need more testing and polishing before the commercial launch of the autonomous driving system, added Goto, previously a TV engineer.
Panasonic has been pushing to expand its range of advanced driving-related products to better compete with top suppliers such as Bosch [ROBG.UL] and Continental AG.
The firm has said it plans to nearly double its automotive business revenue to 2.5 trillion yen ($22 billion) by the year to March 2022, from 1.3 trillion yen in the year to March 2017.
Panasonic established the automotive R&D division in April, transferring about 350 engineers from TV, the company’s mainstay at the time, and other consumer electronics businesses.
To bolster its push into the automotive field, Panasonic took control of Spanish auto parts maker Ficosa International SA earlier this year.
($1 = 112.5400 yen) | {
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Despite Americans' growing interest in consensually non-monogamous relationships, the vast majority of them agree to be monogamous with their partners. However, as we all know, a lot of people don't stay true to those agreements.
Indeed, cheating is widespread, with studies reliably finding that one-quarter to one-fifth of married people admit to having engaged in sexual infidelity at some point. Rates are even higher among unmarried college students, with somewhere between one-half and one-third saying they've cheated.
So what happens when one of these cheaters enters a new relationship? Are they at greater risk of cheating again? People have long assumed that this is the case—you know, "once a cheater, always a cheater." However, believe it or not, no one has ever studied this question scientifically—at least not until now. A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that there's more than a hint of truth to this idea.
In this study, researchers examined data from a national US survey of young adults (aged 18 to 35) who answered questions about their romantic relationships at regular intervals over a five-year period. All participants were unmarried at the start of the study. Though nearly 1,300 people participated in total, the researchers focused only on the 484 adults who answered questions about at least two different relationships over the five years of the study.
During each wave of data collection, participants were asked whether they had ever had "sexual relations" with someone other than their partner since they began dating seriously. Over the course of the study 44 percent answered yes to this question at least once.
Participants were also asked whether their partners had done the same thing. In total, 30 percent knew that at least one of their partners had sex with someone else, while another 18 percent suspected this.
So did cheating in one relationship predict cheating in the next relationship? It sure did. In fact, cheaters were 3.4 times more likely to do so the next time around. However, serial cheating wasn't necessarily a forgone conclusion. Specifically, 45 percent of those who cheated in the first relationship did so in their next relationship; by contrast, among those who didn't cheat initially, 18 percent cheated with their next partner.
Interestingly, being cheated on in the first relationship predicted being cheated on in subsequent relationships, too. It's also worth noting that those who suspected their partners of cheating in one relationship were more likely to suspect their next partners of committing infidelity.
What this suggests is not only that there are serial cheaters, but also serial victims when it comes to infidelity.
While fascinating, there is an important limitation to this research, which is that the way these researchers assessed infidelity didn't distinguish between those who had sex outside of the relationship consensually vs. non-consensually. In other words, we don't know how many of these people were actually cheating and how many were in some kind of open relationship.
However, it's worth noting that the number of people involved in open relationships seems to be much lower than the number of people who engage in cheating. For example, a new nationally representative US survey found that the number of Americans in unfaithful relationships in the last year was 2.5 times higher than the number who said they were in open relationships.
So, when people in this study said they'd had sex outside of their relationship, odds are that they were cheating. As a result, even if we factored out the minority who were involved in open relationships, it probably wouldn't change the overall conclusions very much.
With that said, it's important to highlight that while about half of the supposed cheaters repeated their behavior the next time around, the other half didn't. This means that "once a cheater, always a cheater" definitely isn't true in all cases. It's a stereotype, to be sure. Consequently, it's not fair to judge someone as poor relationship material just because they've cheated in the past.
More important than whether someone cheated is why they did so. One of the most common reasons people cheat is because they aren't happy with their relationship. People who are driven to cheat by circumstance aren't necessarily bound to do it again as long as they find a partner they're more compatible with the next time around.
However, others don't necessarily cheat because of circumstance, but because of their personality. For instance, research has reliably found that infidelity is more common among those who have less care and concern for others and those who have less self-discipline (in other words, people who are low in the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness, respectively). People with these traits are probably more inclined to cheat no matter what their relationship is like.
As you can see, when it comes to cheating, the past often—but not invariably—repeats itself. Whether infidelity becomes a serial behavior ultimately hinges on one's reasons for cheating in the first place.
Justin Lehmiller is the director of the social psychology program at Ball State University, a faculty affiliate of The Kinsey Institute, and author of the blog Sex and Psychology. Follow him on Twitter @JustinLehmiller__. | {
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New data released this week from the U.S. Census Bureau reaffirm the strong linkage between educational attainment and the marital status and living arrangements of parents of minor children.
Among parents who live with a child under the age of 18, 89% of college graduates are married, compared with 64% of parents with less than a high school diploma and 70% of those with just a high school diploma.
Marriage has been on the decline for decades, particularly for those with less education. At the same time, the share of non-marital births for the less educated has risen dramatically, and the likelihood of divorce remains significantly higher among those lacking a college degree than among those who have one.
Not only is there an educational gap in the likelihood of parents living with their minor children being married, but there is a gender gap as well.
Just over half (53%) of mothers who lack a high school diploma and who live with their children are married, as compared with 78% of dads with the same educational level. These gender differences narrow considerably — but still persist — among the most educated. Some 84% of moms who have a bachelor’s degree and live with their children are married, compared with 95% of dads with a bachelor’s degree.
These gender gaps are largely driven by differences in the patterns of single parenting. While the share of single parents who are dads has risen dramatically, it’s still the case that most single parents are moms.
And since divorce and non-marital births are more prevalent among the less educated, that means single parents — particularly single moms — are more prevalent, as well. Approximately 30% of moms with less than a college degree who live with their kids are living without a spouse or partner, as compared with 7% of comparable dads. In comparison, 13% of college-educated moms who live with their kids are living without a spouse or partner, as are 3% of comparable dads.
NOTE: References to a “high school degree” have been changed to a “high school diploma.” | {
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Overall, suicide is the 15th leading global cause of death. However, it is the 2nd leading cause among 15-29 year olds
Over 800,000 people die each year from suicide
75% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries
Most common methods of suicide globally are: Pesticide ingestion (around 30%) Hanging Firearms
Suicides are preventable. Interventions to decrease suicides include:
Reduce access to means of suicide
Alcohol policies that reduce the harmful use of alcohol
Early identification and treatment of patients at risk Mental health disorders Substance use disorders Chronic pain syndromes Acute emotional distress Prior suicide attempts
Appropriate follow-up care for individuals who have attempted suicide
References | {
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Pictures of Saudi’s former deputy intelligence chief, Ahmed Asiri, have been shared on social media showing the man accused of being the mastermind of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder-free.
The picture being circulated shows Asiri with a family member who is wearing military garbs, with online users speculating if he is his son or simply a family member.
READ: Khashoggi family denies reaching settlement with Saudi authorities
Others said the picture proves one of two things: “Either that Saudi law is thuggish and honours killers and thugs. Or that Asiri is really innocent and the person who was behind Khashoggi’s murder was really Mohammed Bin Salman.”
In November 2018, Saudi authorities held Asiri and the adviser to the Royal Court Saud Al-Qahtani, responsible for Khashoggi’s death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul one month earlier. This came after a royal decree was issued removing him from his post. | {
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Joel and Ethan Coen to bring Oscar-winning film to the small screen, continuing the story of police chief Marge Gunderson
The Coen brothers are to bring their Oscar-winning film Fargo to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Joel and Ethan Coen will oversee the TV series, which will be in the one-hour episode format, as executive producers. Fargo, which was released in 1996, marked an early foray for the siblings into Academy award-winning territory: the Coens won best original screenplay and Frances McDormand was named best actress for her role as pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson. The film was also nominated in a further five categories.
The Fargo TV show is part of studio MGM's plan to adapt properties it owns for the small screen through MGM Television. A previous attempt to produce a Fargo show took place in 2003, with The Sopranos' Edie Falco starring as Gunderson. It never got beyond a Kathy Bates-directed pilot, and did not have the blessing of the Coens.
In the Coens' original crime caper the taciturn Gunderson is charged with investigating a homicide after a local car dealer with money problems (William H Macy) hires two hapless goons (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife as part of a ransom scam. The film is set mostly in Minnesota, which is populated largely by the descendants of Scandinavian and German settlers.
Gunderson is expected to once again be the main character in the TV series, which will be written and executive produced by Noah Hawley, creator of The Unusuals and My Generation.
• This article was amended on 25 September. We originally said that Fargo was largely set in North Dakota, when in fact it mostly takes place in Minnesota. This has been corrected. | {
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Not too long ago, I was spoon-feeding my nephew baby porridge, when I overheard a piece on the breakfast news about libraries. My ears perked up. Like every author, I feel a seeing-red-rage rise up inside me each time I hear about the library cuts.
I looked up. A spokesperson from the Institute of Economic Affairs began their spiel.
Jackie Morris: love for libraries – in pictures Read more
I gave my nephew another a spoonful of porridge.
I listened.
I missed my nephew’s mouth with the spoon.
I started making outrage-noises; they sounded not unlike a snorting pig mixed up with a pot of boiling water.
My nephew grabbed his porridge spoon.
I grabbed my laptop and started typing out the words that I was hearing. They seemed so ludicrous that I thought I’d heard them wrong.
Why we're occupying the Carnegie library in London Read more
Your average library doesn’t come close to having as much information as the Internet.
And coffee shops have the internet.
We don’t need libraries anymore - you can books online instead for literally pennies!
My nephew covered himself in porridge: eyebrows, nose, most of forehead, a lot of his fluffy hair too.
The breakfast news slid onto its next story, in that compartmentalizing way it has, and we were left reeling, porridge-splattered and screaming.
There has been so much written already about the power of libraries, the need for them, the magic that so many of us have found within their walls, that I won’t repeat that here. Go read what Cathy Cassidy wrote about them on National Libraries Day or any of the articles by Malorie Blackman or SF Said’s Twitter account.
Cathy Cassidy: we must all speak up for libraries Read more
But that was what I then started stuttering to my now-encrusted nephew. I told him how important they were, how they were for everyone.
EVERYONE, I annunciated. I mean that, I told him. Everyone. Just think about it, I said. That’s you, me, your parents, your grandparents, the lads that live next door who jump over the garden fence when they get home late, the staff at the post office who always smile at you, the girl with the green hair who helped us on the bus when your pushchair fell over. Everyone you have ever met. And all the people that you have not yet met. All are welcome.
I told him how, growing up, his Mum and I had spent a huge chunk of our teendom in our local one. We didn’t have any pennies back then and you know what, we didn’t need a single one either.
What libraries do for us – and me | Malorie Blackman Read more
I remember those days so clearly. My sister and I burrowing into shelves as though we were mining for gold, dreaming about the kind of life that we wanted to lead, the jobs we wanted to do, the kind of people that we wanted to be. Each book was so much more than the paper it was printed on; they were doors, possible pathways into our future, and by just being there in the library, we had all the keys.
My nephew listened silently with an air of almost solemnity, although this might have been because I had started feeding him again.
What I really wanted was something to do with this outrage but I also wanted to understand how a person really felt this. How did someone really believe that the internet and coffee shops were a replacement for libraries? Could they really believe that affording to buy books online was a good substitute? Or were they just giving an opposite view, putting on a show, a black to a white, to make an annoying bit of telly?
It made me wonder if this person had ever been into a public library or had ever needed one. It seemed that they did not. But could they not imagine someone who did? Could they not imagine someone who had not lived their life?
Libraries and schools need free author visits, so I set up YA Shot Read more
A few weeks later, visiting my nephew again, I took him to his local library and we registered for his library card, just a few weeks shy of his first birthday. It felt like the most important thing that we had done together since he arrived in the world. It was a priceless gift I was passing onto him. For now, we would enjoy reading through the various ‘That’s not my Meerkat/Squirrel/Cow’ titles but one day, when he became a teenager himself, there’s a place he can go to find himself, at a time when he’s working out who on earth he actually is.
In October 2016, I’m proud to be part of YA Shot, a festival whose existence funds a libraries-schools programme of free author events. They will all be hosted in libraries because we want to give all the young people who are part of it, the same gift that I gave my nephew that day.
And we hope that should they ever need it, they will find the doors are still open.
All this month (June 2016), I will be visiting a different library every day and writing about who I meet, what I see and what I learn. I’ll be tweeting (@bookhorse ) and instragramming about it (@iambookhorse) using #30days30libraries so hope you find me there!
Polly Ho-Yen’s The Boy In The Tower is available to buy from the Guardian bookshop.
YAShot is a one-day YA and children’s literature festival in Uxbridge, London on 22 October that hosts 72 top uk authors and 12 top book-bloggers and bloggers in a programme of over 35 panel, in conversation and workshop events. Ticket sales to the day raise the money to run a programme of up to 35 free author events at local libraries, who then invite in local schools to inspire a love of reading, a passion for creative writing and encourage aspirations to careers in the Arts. Full info and tickets are available via our website: www.yashot.co.uk | {
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About this mod This mod allows to manually select and equip six soldiers for XCOM Base Defense mission. Vanilla EW version is now available. Long War has this one included since b14g. Requirements Nexus requirements Mod name Notes UPKUtils Permissions and credits Author's instructions File credits This author has not credited anyone else in this file Donation Points system This mod is not opted-in to receive Donation Points Donations Straight donations accepted
As of b14g Long War has this mod included. The description below is for the vanilla EW version of the mod.
This mod allows to manually select and equip six soldiers for XCOM Base Defense mission. SHIVs are not allowed.
No more than six active soldiers will be available during the mission. You will get three random soldiers out of six you previously selected on the first turn. You will get one more and two random blueshirts with the first reinforcement. You will get a soldier as 2nd and 3rd reinforcement only if you lose a soldier. If you lose a bluershirt, you will get blueshirts as reinforcement. This means, that the game will try to preserve initial four plus two ratio during the whole mission.
Compatible with XCOM Enemy Within versions:
- all | {
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According to the Daily Caller, Santa Clara University student senate has turned down a petition for the formation of a Turning Point USA chapter at their college, and all because leftist students and faculty said the formation of such a group would make them feel "unsafe."
During a meeting of the Associated Student Government, a group of 50 students and school employees took up an hour to explain why such a group should not exist on their campus right after a lengthy powerpoint presentation that attempted to tie Turning Point USA to white supremacist groups.
“It was a lot of repetitive stuff,” Caleb Alleva, one of the Turning Points USA petitioners, told The Daily Caller. Opponents of the group insisted that a group promoting free trade and limited government on campus would make them feel “unsafe,” Alleva told TheDC. “They were saying they were in danger but they couldn’t cite any facts,” the junior explained. “A lot of them are lying about being afraid or they are genuinely in fear because of this false sense of danger promulgated by the media that anyone who is vaguely conservative is a Nazi or a white supremacist,” Alleva said.
According to student senator David Warne, the plan to have Turning Point USA rejected from the campus appeared to revolve around making the group appear to be a white supremacist group, linking them to the likes of Richard Spencer, the alt-right, and Project Evropa, all popular names in the white supremacy movement.
“The club itself was early on connected with white supremacists, and indeed by someone on the university payroll,” Warne told TheDC. “I believe what happened is they were told Turning Points USA is a white supremacy organization,” Alleva said. The crowd opposing a Turning Points USA chapter on the Santa Clara campus made an especially big deal about Yiannopoulos, an openly gay Breitbart News editor and Donald Trump supporter. “They kept trying to lump us together with Milo,” Alleva said. Neither Identity Evropa, nor Spencer, nor Yiannopoulos are affiliated with Turning Points USA.
Turning Point USA spokesman Matt Lamb contacted Santa Clara's assistant director of student organizations Samantha Kibbish, who told them to apply again next quarter, and that the rejection of the group stemmed from the mood after the last election.
According to Warne, the students and employees that gathered to see to it that the conservative group never saw the light of day on this campus had come from the MultiCultural Center and the Santa Clara Community Action Program. Both of these groups are funded by the university itself. | {
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Shutterstock
His name is Raul Murillo Diaz, and his crime is arson. At least, that’s according to police records uncovered by Mercury News last week. Diaz evidently has spent the last few months executing a series of attacks on Google headquarters in Mountain View including firing shots through through the windows, hurling Molotov cocktails into the parking lot, and using a squirt gun filled with gasoline to set a Google self-driving car on fire.
Diaz claims that he attacked the search giant because “Google was watching him and that made him upset.” The man claims to have kept extensive journal entries documenting instances of Google’s surveillance on him. He is currently being held without bail.
The earliest of Diaz’s attacks appears to have occurred on May 19th, when a Google employee reported that someone was throwing Molotov cocktails in a Google parking lot. Diaz escalated his attacks on June 4th by firing a gun at a Google building, breaking several windows, and later on the 10th by hosing down a Google vehicle with flammable liquid fired from a squirt gun and setting it alight.
Google has since confirmed with the Verge that no self-driving cars were harmed during Diaz’s attacks, so it’s possible the police affidavit might have misidentified a Google Street View car.
Police arrested the 30-year-old on June 30 after identifying his SUV, which was visible on CCTV footage during all attacks. Upon arrest, the components of a pipe bomb and a weapons case were found in his vehicle.
What are your thoughts regarding these wild events in Mountain View? Let us know in the comments below! | {
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We look for new talents who can excel in the art of companionship, creative lovemaking, and erotic pampering. We select our Mumbai female escorts through a complex process of screening, testing and qualifying. After that, we include the images/pictures of our qualified Mumbai girl escort according to their talent and capability. This is why you can enjoy yourself with them whom you find in our picture gallery. We keep accumulation of the images of our trained girls. This is why scroll down frequently to see the images of newly added girls along with their complete profiles. Glance finished the real images up to you find one of your sets. | {
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Memorial benches have been in the spotlight recently after the District of Sooke implemented a new policy, asking donors who already have benches to pay an additional $2,000 to keep it dedicated to their loved one. Sooke cites maintenance costs as the reason behind the change; however, bench owners have complained that they received no notice of the policy change and are upset that their original commitments aren’t being honoured.
Many municipalities are currently facing the issue of how to cover maintenance costs for memorial benches and other memorial park furniture.
Up until recently, Oak Bay didn’t have a memorial bench policy, but after spending three months annually maintaining the park furniture, it became evident that a change was necessary. They are currently implementing a policy that will see terms attached to new memorial furniture going forward, while honouring their open-ended commitment to past donors.
“The new policy will only affect donations going forward. The money for past benches was given in good faith and we will respect and honour our commitment to the families who have given these donations to the municipality,” says Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. “We realize how important it is to families who have had a loved one die, to be able to go to the special memorialized spot that is meaningful to the family.”
Getting a memorial bench requires a $3,000 donation. The new terms for memorial furniture will be 15 years, or 10 years for furniture that is located in an exposed location – while the wood has excellent longevity, the sea salt corrodes the rebar that is used in the cement for support.
Chris Hyde-Lay, Manager of Parks Services, says that Oak Bay is approaching the 300 mark for benches and notes that most of the decent locations are taken. He recommends going with one of the other available options for memorializing a loved one within the municipality: a tree (approx. $500), a picnic table ($3,200), an ornamental flower planter with seasonal rotation of flowers ($3,800), or a water fountain ($7,000). With the new policy, the memorial furniture will be assessed after the 10- or 15-year term is up and a renewal cost will be set based on the condition. There will be no renewal charge for those that already have benches, just those moving forward from today.
tag
Oak Bay News | {
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近々Appleが新しいiPadを出すと噂されている。しかしiPad miniはどうなのか？ BGRの最新記事によると、iPad miniの改訂はなさそうだ。そしてiPad miniは終末を迎えるかもしれない。
AppleはWWDCで、10.5インチ画面で外枠の細い新型iPadを発表するらしい。このiPadは現在の9.7インチiPad Proとほぼ同じ大きさなので、iPad Proラインアップでこの小型機を置き換えることになるだろう。
ローエンドでは、最近低価格の9.7インチiPadを発売した。価格はわずか320で399ドルのiPad mini 4よりも安い。
この入門レベルのiPadやiPhone 7 Plus（およびファブレット全般）がiPad miniより人気なのは明らかだ。だからAppleはiPad miniをやめようとしている。iPad miniを店頭からなくすことはAppleにとって苦渋の決断かもしれない。しかし私はAppleがまだ少しの間iPad miniを残すと思っている ―― ゆっくりとフェードアウトしていくのだろう。
2012年に登場したとき、iPad miniはホットな新製品だった。フルサイズのiPadは重量級のモンスターで、だれもがNexus 7やKindle Fireといったタブレットに興奮した。携帯電話には小さな3.5インチディスプレイしか付いていなかった。
みんなが軽くて持ち歩けるデバイスを求めていた。iPad miniはウェブを見てメールを読むなどに最適な端末だった。映画を見るには少々小さかった。私はiPad miniが大好きだった。
しかし、iPadが軽くなり、スマートフォンが大きくなるにつれ、iPad miniは以前ほど便利ではなくなった。そしてタブレット市場全体は成長していない。AppleがiPad miniをどうするつもりか、WWDCを待つことにしたい。
[原文へ]
（翻訳：Nob Takahashi / facebook） | {
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The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park dAuthority, or GBRMPA, was established in 1974 to manage the world’s largest living organism and protect it from a growing list of threats. So when it announced last Friday that it would allow 3 million cubic meters of dredge spoil to be dumped beside the Reef to expand a coal port, many environmentalists were shocked.
“This is a sad day for the Reef and anyone who cares about its future,” said Richard Leck of the World Wildlife Fund’s Great Barrier Reef campaign. “Across the board, people expect [the GBRMPA] to defend the Reef, not approve its destruction.”
Felicity Wishart of the Australian Marine Conservation Society said she laid the blame on the federal government and federal environment minister, who had already approved the dredging in December. “All of the government’s talk and all of its actions move in opposite directions,” she said. “The health of the reef is very poor and I find it terrifying because I ask myself: Where is the accountability? If the Australian government won’t stand up for the reef, then who will? I guess it’s going to have to be ordinary Australians -- and I think that’s exactly what you’re seeing now.”
GBRMPA, whose board is currently under investigation for links to the mining industry, saw its Facebook page bombarded with negative comments over the weekend as people questioned how the very association charged with protecting the Great Barrier Reef could “cave to political pressure.”
Many feared the dredge dumping could be the final straw for UNESCO, which has threatened to place the Great Barrier Reef on its “danger list” later this year unless the Australian government can prove it’s committed to protecting its most famous World Heritage Site. UNESCO said in meetings last June that one of its biggest concerns was the effect of numerous resource projects slated for the Reef’s coast. Friday’s announcement could pave the way for Abbot Point to become the world’s largest coal port.
“We find ourselves very much between a rock and a hard place,” Wishart said of the UNESCO fears. “While a reprimand from UNESCO could lead to a wake-up call, fundamentally, we feel it would damage the tourism industry and Australia’s reputation. It could also undermine the efforts to ensure the Reef is properly protected by making people fatalistic. The last thing we want is for people to believe that there is nothing they can do to save the Great Barrier Reef.”
The GBRMPA, for its part, has remained adamant that the Great Barrier Reef is not endangered by its decision. It said it approved the application by North Queensland Bulk Ports to dispose of dredge spoil at Abbot Point “after rigorous assessment” and was sure the Reef would remain a great natural wonder into the future.
“This approval is in line with the agency’s view that port development along the Great Barrier Reef coastline should be limited to existing ports,” Authority Chairman Russell Reichelt said in a statement. “As a deepwater port that has been in operation for nearly 30 years, Abbot Point is better placed than other ports along the Great Barrier Reef coastline to undertake expansion as the capital and maintenance dredging required will be significantly less than what would be required in other areas.”
The GBRMPA noted that 47 strict environmental conditions would “help protect coral reefs, fish habitat and the Catalina WWI wreck, while recognizing that the Marine Park is a multiple-use area which provides for a range of activities including tourism, fishing and shipping.”
Those conditions include a long-term water quality monitoring plan, testing of the dredge spoils before dumping, and a requirement to prevent any harm to the environmental, cultural and heritage values of any areas beyond 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the disposal site.
The GBRMPA said it was important to note that there is no hard coral or seagrass within the disposal site. But environmentalists argue that the GBRMPA’s own studies suggest dredge spoil can travel as far as 80 kilometers. Wishart said fine sediments can stay suspended in the water for days, weeks or even months, depending on the conditions, and starve corals of light.
Tourism operators in the Whitsunday Islands, a popular Australian retreat just south of the proposed dump site, have already vowed to sue the GBRMPA over fears of increased shipping (Greenpeace believes as many as 320 additional ships could cross the Reef each year, escalating the chances of a shipping accident), long-term damage to the Reef and poor visibility for divers and snorkelers, among other concerns.
“The Whitsundays is south of the dumping point they are talking about, and the main current on the Reef runs north to south. We are really, really concerned about this. The jewel in the crown of tourism is the Whitsunday Islands and here they are saying ‘let’s trash it’,” Colin McKenzie, president of the Association of Marine Park Tour Operators, said in an interview with Fairfax Radio.
“We will take it to [Environment Minister Greg] Hunt, we will appeal this to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, we will take it to court if we have to,” he added. “I think the GBRMPA is in breach of their own act and that will be how we are trying to challenge this.”
Economists estimate the Great Barrier Reef contributes $6.4 billion a year to Australia and employs more than 60,000 people. But the 2,600-kilometer (1,680-mile) network of interconnected reef systems faces increasing pressure from climate change, land-based pollution and outbreaks of the coral-gobbling crow-of-thorns starfish.
Environmentalists say the biggest irony is that the Great Barrier Reef is both one of the world’s most famous natural icons and one of its busiest coal shipping lanes -- ushering the nonrenewable energy source off to Asia to be burned, release greenhouse gasses into the air, warm the oceans and further damage a reef that some scientists fear could disappear within our lifetime. | {
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The former C.I.A. director John Brennan pulled no punches on Wednesday when he was asked why President Trump had congratulated his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for his victory in a rigged election, even after Mr. Trump’s national security staff warned him not to.
“I think he’s afraid of the president of Russia,” Mr. Brennan said, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, of the phone call on Tuesday between the two presidents. “The Russians, I think, have had long experience with Mr. Trump and may have things they could expose.”
The possibility that Mr. Putin could have some hold on the American president has lurked in the background over the past year as Mr. Trump displayed a mystifying affection for the Russian leader and ignored or excused his aggressive behavior and nefarious activities, most important, his interference in the 2016 campaign, a subject of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Some Trump defenders noted that President Barack Obama also called Mr. Putin when he was elected president in 2012. | {
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Measurements of gases in ancient ice have allowed scientists to reconstruct past ocean temperatures with unprecedented precision.
To understand the history of the global ocean, Bernhard Bereiter at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, and his colleagues turned to two noble gases, krypton and xenon. As the sea cools, the amounts of krypton and xenon dissolved in the water rise, and atmospheric levels of the gases are gradually depleted.
The team measured xenon and krypton levels in air trapped in cores of ancient Antarctic ice. The researchers extrapolated from those levels to ocean concentrations, which could then be translated into global ocean temperatures.
The team found that between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago, the global ocean warmed by an average of 2.6 degrees Celsius. The surface temperature of the Antarctic continent shows the same warming pattern over that period, suggesting an important role for the Southern Hemisphere in global climate trends, the authors say. | {
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February 25, 2009 - TF Announcer
Honestly.
Please, do take a cursory glance at the missive directly below this one. Take care to notice its author, and the dismally recent date of its posting.
Now imagine how profound my disappointment, to be called back again so soon to administer justice to the melon-headed few of you who persist in fraudulence. I'd just sat down with the two things I enjoy most in life the most recent issue of Punishment Monthly and a carton of cigarettes when the alarm sounded. I feel like a dog owner who's rubbed her pet's nose in a mess on the carpet, only to turn around and discover it setting fire to the drapes.
This time it seems a number of you used an external application to unlock all of your achievements in order to get items unfairly. Coming as a surprise to no one with the ability to retain memories of the recent past, I have taken these items from the perpetrators for one week.
Can I trust that this episode has finally taught you a lesson? I should live so long. Having watched how the sorry lot of you comport yourselves on the battlefield and in the forums, I would consider it a small miracle to trust one of you enough to lick stamps without asphyxiating.
My magazine awaits.
The Administrator | {
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Amtrak, aiming to give you a "new way to take the train," released an official app to the Play Store recently.
The (logically named) Amtrak app allows passengers to plan their entire train excursion, from buying tickets (which can be displayed right on your device) to navigating to a nearby station, changing/upgrading seat selections, checking train schedules, and using an Amtrak Guest Rewards account.
"Optimized for Android," the app carries a holo-ish interface with swiping tabs, proper navigation and scrolling, and all the visual flair you may expect from an app in line with Android's design guidelines. That being said, the app itself is also well-built and stable, and works just how potential train passengers would hope.
If you're looking to take a trip with Amtrak any time soon, this app is definitely worth your time. Plus, it's free from the Play Store. Just hit the widget below.
Thanks, Tony! | {
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[CinCV TNG] 5.1 BETA merge now available
Cinelerra 5.0 now is BETA “Cinelerra 5.1” with these changes: Merged in Operators and Methods from Adam's HV version AND Merged in User Interface Characteristics from CV WHERE POSSIBLE. Tarballs are in directory Danny set up -including a ubuntu 32-bit version: (at this time, not sure if it is beneficial to clear out .bcast5 first) https://cinelerra-cv.org/five Attempted to make the behavior of 5.1 as close to what is expected in the stable CV version, but sometimes there were conflicts and a decision had to be made to go the way CV code went or the way the HV code went. It can be changed if an incorrect decision was made. Partial listing of which CV/HV characteristics are now in and operational: Apply Masks before plugins Last Play position memory (new feature) Free movement of fragments Now there is 4 Selectable Keyframes on curve types (superset CV&HV) Label Anchor support Lock labels from moving Free Drag of Plugins (new feature) Zoom Bar enhancements Label Folder support Asset Interlace support code (not sure how to test though) Label Info Edit support XML tag closer present A toggle full selection Off as well as On (new feature) Manual GoTo support Reel Number / Timecode Support Auto interpolation methods are now superset of CV and HV Export EDL support Fade-to-black via the fade histogram (render follows the compositor) Images can be extended by dragging each edge of clip (with default duration) Length of a transition is now displayed visually on the track. Curve zoom can be set independently for different automation ranges Allow for manually setting the min/max levels via typing for curve zoom Shortcut to move tracks down and up via shift+down or shift+up Dragging an effect “onto” a clip now shows the clip existing on the track for the length of that clip (was for length of entire track previously) Ability to choose to render the whole project, selected area or in/out points (was render from the current cursor point) Also, many bug fixes and code improvements that have gone into the Stable CV version over many years, from many great developers are now in. And found some new problems that got fixed. Tested what I knew how to but NEEDS MORE TESTING because it sure helps to have multiple people and real users who know how to take advantage of all of the modifications that the Stable CV version has in it. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.cinelerra-cv.org/pipermail/cinelerra/attachments/20160321/bb92690e/attachment.html> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: brief_history_timeline.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 20601 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.cinelerra-cv.org/pipermail/cinelerra/attachments/20160321/bb92690e/attachment.pdf> | {
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by Indiator
in Travel Tips 2402
Location
Taj Mahal needs no introduction, as it is acknowledged as the most romantic building in the world. Being in the list of World’s seven wonders, Tajmahal is also known as Crown of the Palace. Tajmahal is situated on the bank of the Yamuna river in Agra city.
Other than Taj Mahal tour, Agra has many other iconic places to visit like Akbar’s Tomb, Agra Fort, Guru Ka Tal, Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb, Mehtab Bagh Gardens, Jama Mosque, Chini Ka Rauza mausoleum, Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani, Moti Mosque and the Musamman Burj.
History
Before proceeding to visit the Taj Mahal trip you must know about its history. Tajmahal was built by Shah Jahan for his third beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died after giving birth to their child. This incredible monument was constructed by the drudgery of 20,000 artisans and it took 20 years to complete, it was constructed from 1631 – 1648.
Tajmahal is made up of white marble in Persian and Mughal style of architecture. The white marble and other material were brought from different countries.
White Marble from Rajasthan, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, Sapphire from Sri Lanka, and Jade & Crystal from China. Through Taj Mahal tour you can explore the construction and unbelievable architecture of the Taj-Mahal.
How to get there?
You shall go to Taj Mahal day tour through Delhi, it will take around 4 hours to reach the Tajmahal. Tajmahal is 221 Km from Delhi Airport. You may also enjoy a Taj Mahal tour package on the same day from Mumbai, Cochin, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Chennai.
The distance to Taj Mahal from Jaipur is just 250 Km, so you may also reach to Tajmahal from Jaipur and enjoy your Taj Mahal tour. You may book Airport Transfer Services, book taxi service, or you can take an Auto – rickshaw from Agra it for your Taj Mahal day tour.
Best time to go
The best time for the Taj Mahal tour is usually during the winter season, from November to February. As Tajmahal is in open, so cool climate is comfortable for visitors. Otherwise, Tajmahal is open throughout the year and six days a week, Friday is close. The timing to visit Taj Mahal is between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and the nighttime of Taj Mahal trip is between 8:30 pm-12:30 am. Remember that, night view is available only five nights in a month during full moon week, rest of the time it is not applicable.
What to wear
There is no such dress code to visit Tajmahal, but according to the Indian culture and Society, the dress should cover your body. It covers, arm, legs, cleavage, and shoulders. It is better if you wear according to the weather.
How much are tickets?
Taj Mahal tour has different entry fees for people from different countries like:
Indian Citizens – INR 40
Citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, and Thailand – INR 530
Citizens from countries NOT listed above – INR 1000
Children below 15 years (irrespective of country) – FREE
You may purchase tickets from following places –
TajMahal Western Gate (near Saheli Burj)
TajMahal Eastern Gate (750 metres away at Shilpgram)
TajMahal Southern Gate
Best things to See
TajMahal tour offers several must see places in Taj-Mahal are-
The enchanting exterior of the Taj-Mahal.
Tajmahal Museum.
The Riverfront Terrace.
Mughal Riverfront Garden.
Lower Tomb Chamber
The Scree and Cenotaphs
The Pishtaqs and Monumental Porches
Book your Taj Mahal Tour Package gives with Indiator and enjoy the perfectly customized package and explore the Taj Mahal at its best.
Suggested tour packages:
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Vishal Thakkar, the actor who played a suicide patient in Rajkumar Hirani's 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S', has been missing for the last three years, as per a report in The Indian Express.
It was on December 31, 2015 that his mother Durga last saw him. He told her he was going to watch December 31, 2015 at a theatre. Vishal even invited her along, but she declined. He left his Mulund home at 10:30 pm after borrowing Rs 500 from his mother. The actor's last post on Facebook - a Happy New Year wish - was at 12.10 pm on the same day.
At 1am, Vishal sent a text message to his father Mahendra, saying that he was going to a party and would return the next day. However, he never came back. It has been three years since then, and his parents haven't heard from him yet.
Vishal has completely disappeared. His phone is switched off. No ransom call was made. Even his bank account has shown no activity since he went missing.
"Initially, we suspected the girlfriend. But her statement had no discrepancies," former investigating officer Mahendra Puri said. Inspector N A Kulkarni said that the police is yet to find out whether it was a murder, a kidnapping or he simply ran away.
Police revealed that Vishal was last seen on Ghodbunder Road in Thane on January 1 at 11.45am by his girlfriend, as he got into an autorickshaw to Andheri for a shoot.
Vishal had landed into trouble with law three months ago before his disappearance. His then-girlfriend, a television actress, had levelled allegations of rape and assault against him. She claimed that he came over to her friend's house, where she was staying, to apologise after a tiff. He ended up staying the night and allegedly assaulting and later raping her.
His mother revealed, "She frequented our house. One day they were together and the next day, she landed at my door with police. It was a minor fight. Later, the two of them resolved it." Though she withdrew her complaint, his standing in the industry took a hit and work suffered, leading him depressed. "He was a mumma's boy. He could not bear the insult we faced," Durga said. | {
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From the Desk of a 17-Year-Old Yeshiva Applicant
I live in Bergenfield, or for the sake of generalization, the greater Teaneck area. I understand that most young adults my age who live in this community do not think twice about choosing to learn in Israel during the year after high school graduation. The decision is often overlooked as a given. Opting in is the norm, and it is one of the most important steps to be taken in the life of a Modern Orthodox Jew. However, when I am personally confronted with the idea of being shipped off to another country to study abroad, I am skeptical. I feel that I should warn you that you will likely find my argument either offensive or compelling. Either way, I believe that you must read it, regardless of your personal reservations.
Most people I know seem to be satisfied with their lifestyle, content with their values and pretty comfortable with their hashkafos. On the surface, this seems like a good thing. Although, it begs the question: If this system is so great, then why do young adults like myself have to abandon it for a year in order to properly develop as a Jew? After all, we are repeatedly informed that learning in Israel after high school is a necessity. Not doing so would be to skip a vital step on the Jewish staircase.
Most people would agree that studying in Israel is a necessity because most people believe that yeshiva/seminary in Israel is supplementary to the Jewish lifestyle provided by the Modern Orthodox system. It does not serve to completely replace the Jewish experience they have seen in previous years. I believe that this idea is false.
For many teenagers, studying in Israel is the make-or-break decision that will determine whether or not they will be keeping Shabbos 10 years after high school. The fact that Modern Orthodox parents are so dependent on their children learning in Israel after high school demonstrates how flawed the system is. If the system was so great, or, at the very least, adequate, what would be the problem of heading straight to college immediately after high school (be it a Jewish college or a secular one)?
I understand that many people will assert that the preceding paragraph is unfounded nonsense. They will admit that yes, Israel does provide something that the Modern Orthodox world does not, but they will also insist that no, this does not prove that the Modern Orthodox system is lacking in substance.
The Modern Orthodox instead believe that they are providing their children with a Jewish experience different from what they are normally accustomed to—one that will influence their decision-making as adults, and one that will allow them to explore ideas in a new environment where they are immersed in a sea of other Jews.
This may be true, but it does not dismiss my prior claims. The Modern Orthodox system is failing its successors because it solely depends on yeshivos and seminaries to straighten out their children before college arrives and the yarmulke comes off. The yeshiva is a last resort, a pleading hope that cries, “Perhaps this will convince him that this is the right way.” So, I ask, why should I submit to this desperate “Plan B” ideology? Maybe I’ll just stay home.
Ezra Epstein is a senior at the Yeshiva University High School for Boys. He can be reached at [email protected]
By Ezra Epstein | {
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Luisa Ortega, who was fired after breaking with the Maduro government earlier this year, appeared at The Hague where she filed a complaint, based on the 8,290 deaths she says took place between 2015 and 2017 at the hands of officials who received instructions from the government.
“[They happened] under the orders of the executive branch, as part of a social cleansing plan carried out by the government,” she told reporters.
“Nicolas Maduro and his government should pay for these crimes against humanity just as they must also pay for the hunger, misery and hardship they’ve inflicted on the Venezuelan people.”
She added: “We have been forced to turn to an international organisation, because there is no justice in Venezuela.”
According to Reuters, her complaint, which included 1,000 pieces of evidence, also accuses a number of top officials, including Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino and intelligence chief Gustavo Gonzalez of being involved in the alleged abuses.
Donald Trump considers possible military action against Venezuela
Mr Ortega was associated with Mr Maduro, and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, for many years. Yet she broke with him this summer after Mr Maduro pressed ahead with a plan to create powerful legislature called the Constituent Assembly.
The new constitutional assembly can override the traditional National Assembly, which the opposition has controlled since elections in 2015.
The opposition decided to boycott the vote over the assembly, ensuring that it would be filled with allies of Mr Maduro.
In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Show all 22 1 /22 In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A girl scavanges for food in the streets of Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A man scavenges for food next to girls in the streets of Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is resisting opposition efforts to hold a vote on removing him from office. The opposition blames him for an economic crisis that has caused food shortages Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans line up to get the 'Fatherland's Card' at Bolivar Square in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela The mother of Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, feeds her grandson at their house in Petare shantytown. Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, with her two-year-old son at her house in Petare shantytown Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Members of a pro-government community organisation work in an expropriated bakery in Caracas. Supported by popular militiamen, Venezuelan government inspectors oversee bakeries as bread comes out of the oven, to undermine an alleged plot to induce scarcity of this staple food Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Forensic police stand next to the body of a man outside a supermarket, where he died of a heart attack after waiting in a long line to buy food, in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela National guard throws a tear gas canister during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporter shouts at a police officer during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A boy wearing a t-shirt with the colours of the Venezuelan national flag, during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro's government at Foreign Affairs Ministery, in Buenos Aires, Argentina AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Protesters cover themselves from tear gas fired by the Venezuelan National Guard officers during a protest in Caracas AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest -blocked by the National Guard- against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A Venezuelan national guard reacts to the effect of pepper spray during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters holding a Venezuelan flag protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with riot police during a protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuela's Supreme Court abandoned measures to seize power from the opposition-controlled legislature after the moves drew international condemnation and raised pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The president of Venezuela's National Assembly Julio Borges dismissed the court's gesture and told reporters that nothing had changed and the coup continued Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters
Indeed, the new, 545-member assembly voted to fire Ms Ortega on its first day of operation, accusing her of being a “traitor”. Since then, she has fled the country and has toured different countries denouncing the government she once worked with.
Mr Maduro, who was elected in 2013, pushed ahead with the assembly after claiming it was the only way to empower people and bring about peace. More than 120 people died in clashes this summer between protesters seeking to force Mr Maduro to quit and the security forces.
Mr Maduro has faced widespread international criticism and both the US and the EU have imposed fresh sanctions on the country. In turn, he has accused the US of trying to overthrew his government and his supporters have pointed out that some US officials backed a 2002 coup that briefly dislodged Mr Chavex.
Earlier this summer, CIA chief Mike Pompeo suggested the agency was working with other countries in the region - notably Mexico and Colombia - to bring about a change of government. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has said “we have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.”
Mr Maduro has yet to respond to Ms Ortega’s allegations. | {
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This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection suffered an extraordinary defeat in New Hampshire. A state court found that CBP broke the law by setting up “checkpoints” far from the border to ensnare marijuana users and that local law enforcement violated the state constitution by colluding with CBP officers to search vehicles for drugs. As a result, the court suppressed all evidence of drug possession gathered by police at the checkpoints. Its decision is a stinging rebuke of federal immigration agents’ invasive tactics—which have escalated dramatically under President Donald Trump—as well as an unqualified victory for those states that have refused to cooperate with Trump’s immigration dragnets.
The trouble in New Hampshire began in August and September. CBP, which has been emboldened by the Trump administration to resume controversial practices that declined under President Barack Obama, decided to set up a checkpoint in Woodstock. Although the town is 90 miles from Canada, CBP is authorized to conduct searches up to 100 miles from the nearest international border. The ostensible purpose of the checkpoint was to enforce immigration law, and officers demanded proof of citizenship from drivers who passed through. But they also brought drug-sniffing dogs, allegedly to help them “detect concealed humans.”
As the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire later exposed in court, the real purpose of these drug-sniffing dogs was, naturally, to find drugs. But the U.S. attorney for the state does not bring federal charges against those carrying small amounts of cannabis. So CBP asked the Woodstock Police Department to participate in its checkpoint. The two agencies decided to work together. CBP would stop drivers and have a dog sniff their cars. If the dog “signaled,” a CBP officer would search the car. If the officer found drugs, he would hand them off to WPD, which would press charges for drug possession.
This cooperation was a gift to the Woodstock police for two reasons. First, New Hampshire’s marijuana decriminalization law would take effect within just weeks; by working with CBP, local law enforcement could maximize its marijuana prosecutions before it lost the power to arrest cannabis users. Second, and more importantly, the New Hampshire Constitution prohibits canine searches of vehicles without a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity—unlike the federal Fourth Amendment, which permits them. Thus, by teaming up with CBP, the Woodstock police hoped to reap the rewards of searches it could not legally conduct on its own.
CBP found cannabis on several dozen people, and state prosecutors brought charges against most of them. Sixteen of those defendants—represented by the New Hampshire ACLU, along with co-counsel Buzz Scherr and Mark Sisti—decided to fight back. When New Hampshire police find contraband during an unlawful search, state courts suppress the evidence to safeguard the defendant’s rights. Although the drugs in these cases had been found by federal agents, state prosecutors brought state charges in a state court. And, under state law, the evidence was seized illegally. As a result, Sisti and the ACLU asked Judge Thomas Rappa of the Plymouth District Court to suppress all evidence gathered during the checkpoint.
Now, four months after a contentious hearing at which several CBP agents stretched the limits of the truth under oath, Rappa has agreed. In his order, the judge explained that, because “the defendants in this matter are facing prosecution in the state court for violation of state laws,” the “constitutional protections of the New Hampshire Constitution should apply.” He then held that “the evidence would be inadmissible if seized by law enforcement officials because there was no articulable reasonable suspicion that any of these defendants was involved in criminal activity prior to the initial dog search.” The “admissibility of the evidence,” he wrote, “does not change based on the fact that it was seized by federal officers then handed over the state.”
In an astonishing passage, Rappa found that CBP had attempted to deceive the court.
Rappa added that not all of the evidence had been seized by CBP: In reality, Woodstock police helped federal agents conduct the searches. CBP agents attempted to obscure this fact at trial, strenuously denying their collusion with the WPD. But their conflicting stories fell apart under Sisti’s questioning, and Rappa made clear in his decision that he did not believe them. “There were times when WPD actually seized contraband from the defendant’s vehicle,” he wrote. Local law enforcement even helped with “traffic control” and “supervision of detainees.” In sum, Rappa found that “the state and federal authorities were absolutely working in collaboration with each other.”
The judge could have stopped there; after all, this finding was sufficient to suppress all evidence collected by WPD, thwarting the state’s prosecutions. But he noted that this collusion raised the broader issue of whether CBP’s actions were legal under federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that immigration checkpoints are constitutional under the Fourth Amendment as long as their true purpose is to detect immigration violations. It has also ruled that checkpoints designed to detect drug activity are unconstitutional. The question for Rappa, then, is whether CBP lied when it alleged that its check was meant to enforce immigration law rather than to ferret out drug users.
In an astonishing passage, Rappa found that CBP had attempted to deceive the court and that the agency’s real intention was to search cars for drugs with no reasonable suspicion. “While the stated purpose of the checkpoints in this matter was screening for immigration violations,” the judge wrote, “the primary purpose of the action was detection and seizure of drugs.” CBP agents were “aware of that prior to setting up the checkpoints which is precisely why they felt the need to reach out to the state and local agencies for assistance.” Rappa pointed to emails exchanged between CBP and WPD that make it “patently clear that the primary purpose” of WPD’s presence was to seize their drugs for state prosecution. “As such,” he concluded, “the checkpoints were unconstitutional under both state and federal law.”
New Hampshire may appeal Rappa’s decision, but it’s difficult to imagine the state winning in a higher court. The facts cut sharply against both CBP and WPD, neither of which expected to have to defend their conduct under oath. Unfortunately, with the Trump administration’s encouragement, CBP officers routinely abuse their power and rarely face consequences—even for outright lawlessness. Rappa’s ruling serves as a crucial reminder that the agency can’t always use the pretext of illegal immigration to curtail civil liberties. Just ask the 16 defendants who proved this week that even under Trump, federal immigration agents may still be hauled into a court of law and held accountable for inflicting injustice. | {
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The strongest material known to mankind was first discovered with sticky tape. Today, this two-dimensional (2D) version of carbon known as graphene is the subject of intense research around the world. Many hope its unique properties could lead to breakthroughs in fields from electronics to medicine.
By 2D we mean it is made from a single layer of atoms. In graphene’s case, these are arranged in a hexagonal pattern that help make it incredibly strong. It also conducts electricity and heat at unprecedented levels, is impermeable to gases and can be both brittle and ductile.
Yet while graphene has received incredible attention and won its discoverers a Nobel Prize, it’s no longer alone in the world of 2D materials. Many other similar materials have since been predicted and isolated, each with similar structural properties to graphene but also a variety of unique individual characteristics.
In fact, there are so many 2D materials with such a wide variety of properties that we can effectively use them to design and build new 3D materials with the exact characteristics we want. This idea of an atomic-scale “Lego set” creates potentially infinite possibilities for new substances.
Andrew Beckinsale
Theoretically, almost any 3D material can have a 2D counterpart. The list so far includes: silicene (a single layer of silicon), phosphorene (a single layer of black phosphorus), and various monolayers of chemical compounds known as transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe₂). Research is ongoing into probably dozens of methods to isolate these materials. The two main methods used are mechanical exfoliation – which was the method first used to make graphene by isolating individual layers with adhesive tape – and by effectively growing a 2D layer of crystals directly onto a flat base.
In practice, however, there are many limitations to what is currently possible. Only highly thermally and chemically stable materials can be separated into monolayers, which immediately discounts many elements. And, once isolated, many metallic monolayers in particular tend to corrode or oxidise in a way that destroys their desired properties.
Heterostructure combining MoS₂, h-BN and graphene.
Once you have a 2D material, you can then layer it with other substances of very different chemical properties to create “heterostructures”. For instance we can combine semiconductors with magnets, or metals with superconductors. The list of possible combinations grows exponentially.
These can be tailored with atomic precision using scanning tunnelling microscopes. These methods involve generating an electric current between a surface and the tip of the atomically fine probe to pick up and move individual atoms. One such 2D heterostructure that has been made in the lab combines atomic monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN).
Andrew Beckinsale
Completely new functionalities
Both 2D materials and heterostructures have already found many actual and potential applications across a broad range of areas. For example, graphene has made possible the dream of “printing” circuits onto flexible plastic bases, at least in a lab. In the future, this could lead to consumer products such as flexible TVs, smartphones and more user-friendly wearable devices.
The discovery of a multitude of other 2D materials has opened up almost infinite ways of combining different properties, which could hugely improve or speed up the development of these applications. For example, using h-BN as the base for graphene electronics instead of the traditional silicon dioxide could mitigate some of the problems with the technology. Because h-BN monolayers are ultra-flat and can be isolated in the same way as graphene, it’s possible to remove atomic flaws in the base that interfere with the properties of the graphene sheet.
Furthermore, advancements in 2D materials research is enabling a new way of making computer processors even faster; something which is seen as vital to maintaining the progress of electronic technology. Computer chips make their calculations using large numbers of transistors, each of which works by moving electrons between different layers of semiconductor material. Having more than one type of 2D material means you can use them to make each of the different semiconductor layers just one atom thick. As transistors become smaller, more of them can be placed onto each computer chip, and this then naturally leads to the production of faster processors.
Andrew Beckinsale , Author provided
We could also see graphene and other 2D materials used to help generate and store energy. For example, graphene-based heterostructures can be used to help create highly efficient and flexible solar and fuel cells. These heterostructures are also being used to develop next-generation batteries and supercapacitors, which promise faster charging and extended energy output. Scientists have even managed to create 2D versions of materials that had previously been though impossible, such as a 2D version of the mineral perovskite, which could be used to improve LEDs.
With the growth of electric cars and companies such as Tesla leading us towards a future of greener energy conversion and storage solutions, there is sure to be a huge focus on this sort of technology for the foreseeable future. | {
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Here, you can see a wine bar that is beautifully powered with pallets wood. Different crafts and creation of pallets wood is accomplished to make this wine bar look attractive and warm. Pallets wood is a very good stuff to make beautiful furniture items and other decoration crafts for home and such business places. Pallets left no grounds where it cannot be practiced to make stylish things regarding furniture and other wooden items. A wine bar is completely powered with pallets like its wall and counter table is made out of pallets wood.
Pallets wood is perfect to add warm and rustic look to the environment and it is very easy to work with pallets to make beautiful wooden creations and crafting. In a wine bar, a pallets made wine bottle rack or stand can be made in different stylish designs. It is all about your creativity and imagination to mold pallets into fine and nice looking furniture and other necessary crafting. In fact, whatever you even imagine to make out of wood can be made with pallets wood. Pallets DIY ideas are such amazing and useful that people have started loving pallets to add in their homes and other commercial places like pallets powered bars and cafes. In the given picture of pallets powered bar, you can see maximum use of pallets wood to create and build this wine bar. Other bars and shops can also be powered with pallet in the same way. | {
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Ana Sofía Orellana, excandidata a Diputada Local en Puebla por el Partido Nueva Alianza (Panal), posaría con la revista Playboy.
La mujer de 24 años tomó relevancia en las pasadas campañas electorales luego de que usara Tinder para compartir sus propuestas como diputada.
En dicha red social que funge para concretar citas y ligar, Orellana también compartió varias fotos donde aparece en traje de baño o haciendo ejercicio, describiéndose como estudiante de arquitectura, madre de un hijo de 5 años, idealista, soñadora y artista.
A través de su cuenta de Instragram, Orellana informó el acercamiento de la revista para adultos, primero acompañando a la modelo paraguaya Gabi Wolscham, quien salió en la portada de julio de la revista .
"El papel de la mujer es vital en cualquier ámbito, ¡usemos los medios que nos rodean para expresar nuestro respeto a todas!", escribió en una publicación de Instagram donde subió una foto en una camioneta de Playboy.
También en su cuenta de Twitter publicó un video donde anunciaba ser la invitada de Playboy México.
Hoy soy la invitada de @PlayboyMX para recibir a @GaWolscham. Un gran equipo en compañía d https://t.co/HqIr48tkKj — Ana Sofia Orellana (@AnaSofiOrellana) 26 de julio de 2018
Actualmente, Playboy y la excandidata poblana están en pláticas para que sea la misma Ana Sofía quien protagonice una de sus próximas ediciones.
Con su participación en la revista, la joven política –dijo– busca luchar en contra del machismo que permea todas las capas sociales del país.
Para Orellana, la mujer puede expresarse como quiera en cualquier tipo de práctica, por lo que busca ser un ejemplo de empoderamiento femenino.
"Hay que aportar nuestro granito de arena para que se vayan deteniendo poco a poco los feminicidios y esto que viven a diario las mujeres. Mi intención es muy positiva, tengo planes de abrir una asociación en apoyo a mujeres jóvenes y va ligado al apoyo pro-mujer"
Con información de E-consulta
rgg
| {
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The junkstyle panel of experts say if you have ever dreamt of being a mad scientist or maybe you just need an instant labortaory, maybe you like home decorating in the beautifully macbre , then this is the collection for you!
This collection is made from approved and tested laboratory glass from England, Scotland, Chez and Berlin with brands such as Bohemia, Schott, Haldenwanser and Purex.
So feast your eyes and let your mad schememing begin with this you really could take over the world!
You are bidding on everything you see in these photos + a few extras and for the true connioisseur there are futher photos on listing number...
Collection Includes:
x7/ 700 approx. Full boxes of Micro Slides.
x5 Packets of Test Papers
x400 New Petri Dishes , with dividers
x25 Bohemis Glass Cylinders with glass lides. Made in chez
x700 approx Test tubes 100mm long
x250 approx Mid sized small screw top jar's 85mm Heigh
x350 approx small screw top jars 50mm Height
x24 Beautiful bulb-beakers . A mixture of long and short necked ranging from 250ml -1ltr. Quickfit. Made in England
x17 Cylinders with huge potential, vases, candle holders, science laboratory 150mm
x18 Clear glass Cylinders taller than above. 210mm High
x1 Glass bowl with professional repair. Made in Scotland "Moncrisff"
x21 Heavy duty 'Purex' Test Tubes 205mm
x50 'Schott' Test tubes on Racks.
x2 Discharge Tubes in Wooden Cases featuring Nitrogen, hydrogen,Mercury, Sodium,Neon valve fittings.
x4 Triangle glass Light Refractor Pieces.
x8 Rectangles as above
x7 Cat eye shaped magnified glass.
x1 Box of approx x6 light boxes and light experimentation slides and accessories.
x60 glass disks
x10 glass bricks
Beakers with valve outlets tallest from 200mm h- smallest 100mm.
h25 Generator in two amazing male-female glass tubes height= 450mm.
****..... CONTINUE BY VEIWING LISTING NO#..581850521. OR VIEW OUR OTHER LISTING.... more to come... half way there...***************
There were no answered questions or comments placed on this listing. You must have Javascript enabled to ask and answer questions Your question and answer privileges have been disabled. You must log in to view questions and answers on this listing. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases. Question submitted Note: You must log in to ask or answer questions posted. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases. Available only to approved bidders. You must be an authenticated member to ask questions Find out more about becoming authenticated Your account is in debt Your current account balance is You must credit your account to use this feature. Firearms licence #
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Public Transportation Saved 865 Million Hours Of Delay On US Roads In 2011
February 8th, 2013 by Nicholas Brown
According to the Texas Transportation Institute, public transit reduced road delays by 865 million hours in 2011, and avoided the consumption of 450 million gallons of fuel.
“This report demonstrates how important public transportation is, not only as one of the solutions to reducing traffic congestion, but also in reducing fuel use and travel delays,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Michael Melaniphy. “Mayors know that a city’s competitive position is enhanced by reducing congestion and public transportation is a key tool in minimizing congestion.”
Public transportation by bus has the potential to save fuel (if enough people use it), partially because the total amount of weight that has to be transported per person is significantly less than that of personal cars.
For example: A sedan would normally weight about 3,000 pounds, and one person driving the sedan would entail a transportation weight per person of 3,150 pounds, if the person weighs 150 pounds. If eighty-four 150-pound people drove cars instead of taking a bus, that would amount to a gross vehicle weight of 264,600 pounds.
A 84 passenger bus that weighs just 22,000 pounds can carry all 84 of these people. The combined weight of the people is 12,600 pounds plus the 22,000 pounds of the bus is 34,600 pounds, which is 230,000 pounds less than the weight of the cars mentioned above.
Of course, there are similar space and time savings. This is why public transportation is so fuel and cost efficient.
The use of public transportation annually saves Americans 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline, APTA added. As public transportation saves the population money, it also frees up income for the payment of bills, or even an improved standard of living. Also, for every $1 billion invested in public transportation, 36,000 jobs are created and supported.
Source: APTA
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BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s new right-wing government is backing an indigenous tribe that was fined under the previous administration for commercial farming practices banned on tribal land, saying they are an example to be followed as it pushes to open reservations to agriculture.
Slideshow ( 6 images )
The Parecis in western Mato Grosso state had partnered with local farmers to produce soy and were using genetically modified crops (GMO), both practices that are banned on reservation land. Environmental authority Ibama slapped the Parecis and the farmers with an unprecedented fine of 129 million reais ($34.72 million) last year.
But since far-right firebrand Jair Bolsonaro took office on Jan. 1, government officials have come out overwhelmingly in favor of the Parecis and allowing mechanized agriculture on indigenous land.
Nabhan Garcia, vice minister of land affairs at the Agriculture Ministry, praised the Parecis and said he would participate in the ceremony marking the beginning of their harvest next week.
“We’re in favor of the Indian learning to farm,” Garcia told Reuters in an interview.
“If he wants to lease the land, partner or plant it himself, it’s his right. What’s the problem? Quite the opposite, the day that the Indian starts to farm and to have his own income, it will be much better.”
Pareci tribe member Arnaldo Zunizakae, who helps manage the crop plantations on their reservation, said he was pleased to hear the government was sending representatives.
“That’s great that they are coming. With these authorities getting a first-hand look at our reality, things will improve,” Zunizakae said.
“The area we farm is 18,000 hectares (44,478 acres), but we only planted 12,000 hectares this season. But if we want to we can plant much more. The land is ours.”
Garcia said there are efforts underway in Congress to pass a law allowing partnerships and renting of land, which he believes has enough support to pass. He did not address the issue of GMO use on native reservations.
Activists say that stripping away protections on indigenous land would lead to environmental destruction and deforestation of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest.
Brazil’s Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said last month that government agencies were overstepping their bounds in the case of the Parecis and likely elsewhere in the country.
Damares Alves - minister of women, family and human rights, which includes oversight of indigenous agency Funai - has also come out in favor of opening indigenous land to agriculture, as has Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias.
($1 = 3.7155 reais) | {
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1 of 4 View Caption
Courtesy of Mormonnewsroom.org "I'm a Mormon" ads on display in New York City. Courtesy | Mormonnewsroom.com "I'm a Mormon" ads on display in New York City. Courtesy | Mormonnewsroom.org "I'm a Mormon" ads on display in New York City. Courtesy | Mormonnewsroom.org "I'm a Mormon" ads on display in New York City. | {
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Thousands of Yemenis are protesting in the port city of Aden, pushing for the southern part of the country to break away from the North.
Some southern Yemenis are angry at what they see as the monopoly of the North over power, wealth and natural resources.
South Yemen was once an independent state between 1967 and 1990 before it merged with the North. Four years later, the South tried to split away again, but was defeated after a short-lived but bloody civil war.
The current Southern movement was launched in 2007 and it includes both peaceful protesters and armed groups.
Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Aden, said that the number of protesters at the Independence Square on Sunday had grown and many were expecting the southern leader, Hassan Baoum to make an appearance.
"The problem that they face is that they are widely divided politically," he said, adding that there was no agreement among the groups as to who would be the next leader if they did split from the North.
"Today they are starting with a symbolic move to press ahead with separatist demands."
Ahelbarra said that even though Yemen's President Yemeni Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahhah were both from the South, many were still nostalgic for one of the last leaders of South Yemen, Ali Salim al-Beidh, who is currently in Germany and plans to return soon.
"It remains quite delicate. One of the problems the secessionists face is the international community is not convinced that this state could be a viable one because they know the secessionists are weak.". He said there were also fears that al-Qaeda would take over the south if it broke away. | {
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All You Need To Know For Black and White Desert In 2020 At western desert Egypt Adventures In Egypt enjoyable with our Package desert Egypt live Adventure | {
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Relatives of sailors who served in the First World War have been invited to take part in events marking the centenary of the Battle of Jutland.
A series of events will be held on May 31 2016 to commemorate the famous naval battle in which thousands of men lost their lives.
People whose ancestors served at sea during the war have been invited to attend events on the Orkney Islands, where the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet was based.
A service will be held at Britain's most northerly cathedral, St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney Mainland, followed by a commemorative event at the Royal Navy Cemetery at Lyness on the island of Hoy.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: "The Battle of Jutland was the biggest and most brutal naval battle of the First World War, claiming the lives of thousands of men.
"For Jutland's 100th anniversary next year, we want to commemorate the heroism and sacrifice of all who served.
"I am sure that their relatives, along with others from across the country, will want to attend these events in Orkney.
"It is a chance to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of so many of our countrymen."
David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said: "My own grandfather fought in the Battle of Jutland.
"It is only right that there will be the opportunity for others, like me, across the country, to remember their relatives who fought so bravely at sea during the First World War."
The Battle of Jutland was the most significant naval engagement of the war, fought in the North Sea between May 31 and June 1 1916 near the coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula.
It involved around 250 British and German ships and 100,000 sailors, of whom more than 6,000 from the Royal Navy and 2,500 from the German fleet lost their lives.
Elsewhere, events marking the battle's centenary will include a wreath-laying ceremony at sea on Jutland Bank by British and German ships, the laying of commemorative paving stones in honour of the four Victoria Cross recipients from the Battle of Jutland and commemoration of casualties buried in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
HMS Caroline, the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, will be opened as a museum in Belfast, and there will also be a series of commemorations at naval memorials around England and events in Germany.
Tickets to attend the events in Orkney are free but those attending will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
Applications are open to people whose ancestors served at sea during the Battle of Jutland or throughout the First World War, whether with the Royal Navy or other maritime organisations.
The closing date for applications is Friday January 22. | {
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Guy said she ate while other guests snapped photos with her during the hour and a half she was at Water for Chocolate. He posted a photo with the actress outside the cafe on the Water For Chocolate Facebook page Monday afternoon. | {
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site discription:
originally posted by YTMND user DaveTheRave in October 2008. Remade on Neocities for posterity in case YTMND shuts down. | {
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This story first appeared on the TomDispatch website.
Terrorism (ter-ror-ism; see also terror) n. 1. When a foreign organization kills an American for political reasons.
Justice (jus-tice) n. 1. When the United States Government uses a drone to kill an American for political reasons.
How’s that morning coffee treating you? Nice and warming? Mmmm.
While you’re savoring your cup o’ joe, imagine the president of the United States hunched over his own coffee, considering the murder of another American citizen. Now, if you were plotting to kill an American over coffee, you could end up in jail on a whole range of charges including—depending on the situation—terrorism. However, if the president’s doing the killing, it’s all nice and—let’s put those quote marks around it—”legal.” How do we know? We’re assured that the Justice Department tells him so. And that’s justice enough in post-Constitutional America.
Through what seems to have been an Obama administration leak to the Associated Press, we recently learned that the president and his top officials believe a US citizen—name unknown to us out here—probably somewhere in the tribal backlands of Pakistan, is reputedly planning attacks against Americans abroad. As a result, the White House has, for the last several months, been considering whether or not to assassinate him by drone without trial or due process.
Supposedly, the one thing that’s held up sending in the drones is the administration’s desire to make sure the kill is “legal.” (Those quotes again.)
Last May, Obama gave a speech on the subject. It was, in part, a response to growing anger in Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere over the CIA’s ongoing drone assassination campaigns with all their “collateral damage,” and to the White House’s reported “kill list.” In it, he insisted that any target of the drones must pose “a continuing and imminent threat to the American people.” At the time, the White House also issued a fact sheet that stated: “Lethal force must only be used to prevent or stop attacks against US persons, and even then, only when capture is not feasible and no other reasonable alternatives exist to address the threat effectively.” While that sounds like a pretty imposing set of hurdles to leap, all of the “legal” criteria are determined in secret by the White House with advice from the Justice Department, but with no oversight or accountability.
Even then, it turns out that the supposedly tortured deliberations of the administration are not really necessary. Despite the president’s criteria, according to an unnamed administration official quoted by the Associated Press, Obama could make an exception to his policy and authorize the CIA to strike on a one-time basis, no matter what the circumstances. One way or another, it is Obama who decides who to kill and when.
Short-Term Questions
At this point, it’s unclear just why the Obama administration leaked its plans in reference to this errant American abroad. After all, official after official has insisted that Edward Snowden’s revelations of secret NSA documents have caused terrorists to change their communication tactics, yet the one American up to no good somewhere in the terrorist world apparently has not done so in response to the leak about his potential fate, and will remain locatable whenever needed as a target. And yet giving notice of a possible attack in advance in the media would, on the face of it, seem both counterproductive and an invitation to the very barrage of criticisms leveled by key officials at Snowden. After all, under the circumstances, an American connected with al-Qaeda wouldn’t exactly have to be a Bond villain to decide to change his behavior and his location, stay indoors or outdoors more, keep off his phone for a while or trade it in for another.
Could the administration leak have been a trick to flush the bad guy out, causing him to panic and run? Was it an elaborate ruse designed to induce widespread concern in al-Qaeda about the liabilities of having American compatriots? Was it a bone thrown to Republicans otherwise eager to paint the president as weak? Could it have been some kind of geopolitical muscle tussle with once compliant but now more assertively anti-drone Pakistan? Or could the leak have been a PSYOP on the American people, an attempt to manipulate us into feeling better about government decisions to kill American citizens by revealing the deliberative and heart-wrenching process Obama goes through? Or could it simply have been an attempt to normalize such acts for us, to make them part of the understandable everyday background noise of a dangerous world?
The answer is: we don’t know. Not yet anyway.
Not the First Time
The Obama administration admits to killing four Americans as part of its war on (or is it “war of”?) terror. We’ll pause here a moment for you to contemplate whether there could have been other, undocumented killings of the same sort awaiting the revelations of some future Edward Snowden or Chelsea Manning.
On May 7, 2011, a US drone fired a missile in Yemen aimed at American citizen and key terror suspect Anwar al-Awlaki. The missile blew up a car with two other people in it, quickly labeled “al-Qaeda operatives” after we killed them.
Such collateral killings should be no surprise. The inaugural article by Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy Scahill at their new media venture notes that the National Security Agency regularly identifies targets for CIA assassinations based on metadata analysis and cell-phone tracking. Rather than confirming that target’s identity, the CIA is evidently ready and willing to blow a suspect away based on the location of a mobile phone he assumedly is using. In other words, people can be killed because they borrowed the wrong cell phone. (So much for a deliberative process.)
The US had tried to kill al-Awlaki before, including in the Bush years—and missed. In justifying one of these assassination attempts, Obama’s counterterrorism chief, Michael Leiter, claimed that al-Awlaki actually posed a bigger threat to the US “homeland” than Osama bin Laden, albeit without explanation. No matter, they finally got their man. A follow-up strike killed al-Awlaki, and another soon after obliterated his teenage son, also in Yemen. Though no one argues that the boy was in any way linked to terrorism and no administration official has bothered to explain just why he was targeted, former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs did comment that the killing was justified as he “should have had a more responsible father.”
Couldn’t Happen Here?
Though the president and his officials go to great pains to indicate that such assassinations are only going to happen abroad, there is nothing in the carefully worded distinctions made by the White House to preclude them at home. As a start, in his criteria for killing someone extrajudicially, the president claims there is no difference between an American citizen terrorist and a foreign terrorist. A careful look back at the statements of two government officials makes it clear that thought has already gone into the question of bringing the killings home.
Remember the testimony then-FBI Director Robert Mueller gave before a House subcommittee in 2012? When asked point-blank if the president could order the killing of an American in the United States, he replied “Uh, I’m not certain whether that was addressed or not…I’m going to defer that to others in the Department of Justice.” Mueller, of course, had the option of saying flat-out, “No, no, of course the president can’t order a hit on an American here in the US where the full judicial system, Constitution, and due process protections exist! Are you mad?”
The truth emerged only in 2013 when Senator Rand Paul asked point-blank whether the president could authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against an American citizen in the United States. Attorney General Eric Holder fired back that while the question was “hypothetical,” the real-world answer was yes. Holder said he could imagine “an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the president to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States.”
It’s easy enough, in fact, to imagine the sort of scenarios that might lend themselves to such an act: a ticking time bomb, a killer believed to have anthrax and on the loose, a suspected dirty-bomb maker in a desolate location, terrorists with a bus full of children on a mountain top. Imagine a slippery slope and…presto! You’re there.
They’ve thought about it. They’ve set up the legal manipulations necessary to justify it. The broad, open-ended criteria the president laid out for killing suspected terrorists exposes the post-Constitutional stance our government has already prepared for. All that’s left to do is pull the trigger.
Nostalgia for the Fifth Amendment
It’s still possible to remember, almost nostalgically, how the Fifth Amendment used to guarantee Americans due process. The key phrase was indeed that “due process.” It meant the government could not take away your property or imprison or execute you without first allowing you a chance to defend yourself. You would have your day in court with a lawyer and a jury of your peers to make the final decision. This would all be quite public and the people involved would be held accountable for their actions. The Fifth was meant by those who wrote it as a check on the ultimate in government excess: the purposeful taking of citizens’ lives. Today, it increasingly seems an artifact of a quaint past, as seemingly lost to history as the corded phone or manual typewriter.
Attorney General Eric Holder publicly rewrote the Fifth Amendment in 2012, declaring, in a veiled reference to al-Awlaki, “that a careful and thorough executive branch review of the facts in a case amounts to ‘due process’ and that the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protection against depriving a citizen of his or her life without due process of law does not mandate a ‘judicial process.'” In other words, in a pinch, skip the courts. In this way, Holder gave us a peak behind the White House curtain, making clear that the president’s personal and secret decision to kill an American, perhaps made over morning coffee, was, in his opinion, good enough to make everything legal.
The due process question Holder dismissed so casually still looms large over al-Awlaki’s murder. Prior to the killing, attorneys for his father tried to persuade a US District Court to issue an injunction preventing the government from killing him in Yemen. A judge dismissed the case, ruling that the father did not have “standing” to sue and that government officials themselves were immune from lawsuits for actions carried out as part of their official duties.
This was the first time a father had sought to sue the US government to prevent it from killing a son without trial. The judge did call the suit “unique and extraordinary,” but ultimately passed on getting involved. He wrote instead that it was up to the elected branches of government, not the courts, to determine if the United States has the authority to extrajudicially murder its own citizens.
The judge’s position was revealing of our moment. The extrajudicial killing of an American citizen seemed to him to be nothing but a political question to be argued out in Congress and the White House, not something intimately woven into the founding documents of our nation. The judge was not alone in his characterization of the problem. Mike Rogers, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, complained that the killing of more terror suspects in a similar manner has been held back by “self-imposed red tape.”
There are, however, no footnotes in the Fifth Amendment, no caveats, no secret memos, no exceptions for terrorism, mass rape, child torture, or any other horror the US has confronted in its 238 years of existence. Such addendums to the Fifth were unnecessary, because in the beautiful preciseness of Lincoln’s phrasing at Gettysburg, ours is “a government of the people, by the people, for the people,” one made up of us, beholden to us, and whose purpose is to serve us.
Such a government would be incapable of killing its own citizens without due care, debate, and open trial. Those actions would violate the sacred convent of trust between a people and their government in a democracy, the “consent of the governed,” and delegitimize the government itself.
That last point is worth a closer look, because it makes clear what murder-by-decree really represents in post-Constitutional America. The phrase “consent of the governed” first appears in the Declaration of Independence, the document by which the United States declared itself no longer under the governance of the British king. The Declaration makes clear that a government’s moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when derived from the people over which that power is exercised. Such consent is the opposite of the divine right of kings, the philosophy under which the British ruled colonial Americans. Its foundational principle was obedience to government and its edicts and decisions, even on issues of life and death, as a religious and moral obligation.
Following the more philosophical Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights was a practical exercise written to address directly the specific injustices of rule by royal decree. By turning its back on key elements of our founding, Washington, it seems, has brought us full circle.
Life in Post-Constitutional America
These days in the pseudo-debates about drone killings in the mainstream media, such changes are treated as matters of no great significance. On the day that the president’s latest plans for the murder of a fellow citizen in the distant tribal backlands of Pakistan first appeared, they caused little stir. The headlines were instead dominated by Olympic gossip and an impending ice storm in Atlanta. Killings extrajudicially mandated by the White House? The Fifth Amendment? Maybe if the target were Shaun White in Sochi, more people would have cared.
At the moment, we are threatened with a return to a pre-Constitutional situation that Americans would once have dismissed out of hand, a society in which the head of state can take a citizen’s life on his own say-so. If it’s the model for the building of post-Constitutional America, we’re in trouble. Indeed the stakes are high, whether we notice or not.
The question is: How far will post-Constitutional America stray from the nation so conceived in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights? Because in the twenty-first century, the midnight knock on the door may come not from the King’s men, but from the sky.
Peter Van Buren, a TomDispatch regular, blew the whistle on State Department waste and mismanagement during Iraqi reconstruction in his first book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. A TomDispatch regular, he writes about current events at his blog, We Meant Well. His next book is Ghosts of Tom Joad: A Story of the #99Percent. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com here.
Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook or Tumblr. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Ann Jones’s They Were Soldiers: How the Wounded Return From America’s Wars—The Untold Story. | {
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With the Giants' season slowly floundering away, there's likely not much the team can do to get things turned around this year.
At 0-5, the injury-riddled Giants basically have a zero percent chance of making the playoffs. With the 2017 season already lost, some people out there think the Giants should start building for the future, and one quick way to do that would be to trade away 36-year-old Eli Manning for a few draft picks and start the rebuilding process from there.
So what team would make the most sense as a trading partner?
Two NFL Network reporters suggested the Jaguars this week, and it makes a lot of sense. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone clearly isn't thrilled with his current quarterback situation. Back in June, Marrone said it would ideal for the Jaguars if Blake Bortles was throwing zero passes per game, so there's a good chance that Marrone would be on board with bringing in a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Also, let's not forget that the Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations is Tom Coughlin. During his 12-year run as coach of the Giants, Coughlin won two Super Bowls with Manning, so he knows exactly what he'd be getting from New York if he were to bring the veteran quarterback to Jacksonville.
The Jaguars also happen to be one of the few teams in the NFL that could afford to take on Manning's monstrous contract. Although Manning will count $22.2 million against the salary cap next season, the Jaguars currently have roughly $37 million in cap room, according to Over the Cap. The Jaguars could get out of Manning's deal after the 2018 season with only $6.2 million in dead cap space.
With a possible trade to Jacksonville actually making some sense, Manning was asked about the rumors Thursday, and let's just say he doesn't sound thrilled with the idea of leaving New York.
"I've not heard [the Jacksonville speculation], I've not felt it, not thinking about it," Manning told Newsday. "I don't want to play anywhere else. I love this team, love this organization, and I want to be here."
Manning also added that it would mean a lot to him if he were able to play his entire career with just one team.
"That's always the goal," Manning said. "You always want to come to a place and make an impact, stay in one spot, and I think that's always the mindset. I hope that will be the case."
Of course, Manning knows the NFL is a business where anything can happen, so he didn't completely shut the door on the idea of being traded one day.
"Obviously, in this league, things can change, and if we have to make decisions, we'll figure it out," Manning said.
If the Jaguars are interested in adding Manning, they have roughly two weeks to call the Giants and make an offer. The NFL's trade deadline this year is on October 31. | {
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11 and half minutes is finite.
No matter what you’re afraid of. Falling down. Running out of energy and instantly collapsing in a coma. Legs turning to dust. Failing to do something well. Every runthrough will end in no more than 11 and a half minutes. All comes to pass.
You have a greater chance of dying in a marching accident than in a plane crash. Or a shark attack.
Drum corps is ABSURDLY dangerous. You run around a field with up to 50 pounds of equipment, multitasking for 11 and half minutes with 149 other people, and your drill writer literally writes dots inches apart from one another.
If you’re in pit and don’t march, you load and unload thousands of pounds of equipment from a truck 700 times a day.
Sometimes it’s 110 degrees outside.
Also, there are thunderstorms and most of your equipment conducts electricity.
If you survive even one year of this, you have a guardian angel.
There is a lot of crying in drum corps.
You’ll injure yourself and march through the pain. You’ll fight with someone and drown in an illogical tangle of emotion. You’ll miss your dot and never hear the end of it from the staff. Something will happen at home and you’ll feel alone hundreds of miles away.
One day, you’ll throw your heart on the field one last time and know you at last have no more to give. One day, you’ll get on a bus to go home and watch your friends all leave, one by one, each of them taking a part of you away.
There is a lot of crying in drum corps, and all of it is ok.
Look at the sky. Be in awe.
Before drum corps, you used to stay inside in the summer more than not. Now you are out for the early morning sunrises, the cloudless blue of noon, the purple black thunder clouds, the evening clouds stained pink by a falling red orb. When the stadium lights go out, stars appear in their place. Let sky appreciation be your norm.
Drink water until you feel like throwing up–you’re doing it right.
You’re going to feel nauseous for the next three months anyway, might as well be nauseous because you drank a lot of water.
Just as you have the power to be the one no one wants to cross, you have the power to be the one that makes everyone feel safe.
The way you choose to address others can be so negative and grating that they learn to fear what you have to say. Before you say anything to anybody, repeat it to yourself in your own head and think long and hard over whether you would want to be spoken to in that way.
Speak kindly, act compassionately, and people will be drawn to you for support and strength. You CAN be the person whom everyone trusts, no matter what kind of person you thought you were before. Do this, and you will have many friends.
Your personal best is never enough.
Trying your best is never enough. There is no other option; you MUST succeed in what you set out to do. And you will. You’ll defy every limit you once placed on yourself, delete every instance of “I’m not good enough”. It happens when you decide it will, and no sooner.
This sport will bring out the best and worse in you.
You’ll learn that you are stronger, faster, braver, and more capable than you ever imagined.
You’ll learn that you can be selfish, annoying, aggressive, bitchy, incapable of controlling your emotions. You’ll find that what you do or say to someone out of anger and inattention causes pain that you are responsible for inflicting.
You’ll learn that you are kinder than you once thought you would ever let yourself be. You’ll discover a budding loyalty within you that builds you into the kind of amazing someone you thought you’d never meet. And no matter how hard it is, you are now able to look someone in the eye and say you are sorry for what you did wrong.
Some days will break your heart.
After practicing and perfecting a part for days, it will be cut.
You’ll have the best personal show of your season only to be told that what you have done is not good enough. You have run out of time to be good enough.
Your best friend will turn against you and you will never get them back.
There are people in this activity who have been corralled together mid-season to be told that their corps is folding and their season is no more.
Some days will break your heart.
You will be angry at almost every person in the corps at some point and you will forgive almost all of them.
Almost nothing your mind thinks or feels in the drum corps bubble will be logical by real life standards. Emotions are blown out of proportion, reason is disabled, and there is no time to piece anything back together that falls apart. It isn’t until after the end of tour that things will reach homeostasis again.
The dome will take your breath away and you must fight to take it back.
This isn’t what they told you. That your final performances would flow out of you, that you’d be on auto-pilot.
No. On the field level, the dome is silent. You’ll look up to the side and see all those people, the 10 or 10,000 that there are. They are all looking down at you, watching your every move. You won’t hear them, no matter what dull roar they make. You’ll enter the field with a ringing in your ears. The ringing won’t stop, not even when the silence is broken by shouts of your name, eerily distant and incoherent, echoing down from the 600 level.
The silence will defeat you if you let it. It will scare you. It will threaten to shrink you. And you can’t let it shrink you. If you’re scared, you have to fight back at it. You need to stand taller and project more than you ever have before. This is a battle to the very sweaty, teary-eyed, bloody end and you have no choice but to win.
Few people you meet in your life will ever be as close to you as the people you shared the field with.
You ran across 115 degree turf in Texas together, praying for water. You were stuck together on the side of the highway in the middle of the night on the bus that broke down. Finals come, thousands of people stood up for you, and you held each other and cried everything away in an Indianapolis parking lot.
The people in the real world won’t ever understand what happened to you. You will drift away from them.
Your seat partner will be the first to know when your heart is broken. Three quarters of the people in your ageout year mellophone section will come to visit you years later in your brand new house, where you’ll all have a sleepover on the floor and laugh and tell stories until long after lights out.
Your drum corps friends will never be left behind, because no matter how old and removed from your marching years you get, you will always need each other.
When you get older, the feelings may fade but don’t forget that you are more important to others than you could ever imagine.
The marching arts are a safe haven, a magical bubble where all outside problems fade away and true living blossoms. Band is Christmas. Drum corps is Christmas.
As we age and become more experienced, the initial feelings of love and joy and carefreeness we felt in the bubble begin to fade and we are not as happy marching as we once were. Our friends age out and we are left to carry on without them.
You must remember–that if and when your feelings of Christmas slip away–and marching no longer makes you forget everything that went wrong in your life–your decision to keep marching WILL make a difference. You don’t know it, but there are so many people that march because of you and everything you stand for. You have become Christmas.
The memories are yours.
They’ll come back up at you when you least expect it. You’ll relive your entire finals performance while running your cart through the grocery store, unconscious to your surroundings. The mud runthrough will make you smile while you’re bailing your friend out of jail.
Your memories of drum corps are yours to keep. They will bring you to into a fetal position of laughter. They will keep you alive.
Your memories of drum corps are part of who you are. | {
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“Angry Birds” is coming to television.
Big Fish Entertainment is partnering with Rovio Entertainment to develop the popular mobile game as a live-action game show currently titled “Angry Birds Challenge.” It will incorporate large-scale obstacle courses with classic defense zones comprised of water, wood, ice, and stone barriers, all modeled after the game. Teams also get to pick their own challenges, which will be part of the strategy for finishing the course the fastest. They must race to reach the “castle tower” and save as many eggs as possible.
Big Fish president Dan Cesareo and chief creative officer Lucilla D’Agostino serve as executive producers, as well as Jeff Bennett and Joe Lawson, head of content licensing for Rovio. No network is currently attached.
“No matter what genre Big Fish develops in, it’s part of our DNA to make sure we’re giving audiences something they haven’t seen before,” said Cesareo. “Partnering with Rovio to elevate ‘Angry Birds’ for television is something we’re excited to offer buyers, and to give fans a reimagined, interactive experience of one of their favorite games.”
The “Angry Birds” games have been downloaded more than 4 billion times. Over the past few years, the brand has found success in television animation, YouTube, consumer products, location-based entertainment, and the animated feature, “The Angry Birds Movie,” which grossed more than $352 million at the box office. A sequel is currently slated for September 2019.
“Rovio is thrilled to be partnering with Dan and Big Fish to bring ‘Angry Birds’ to life in a hilarious, adrenaline-pumping series unlike anything else on TV,” added Lawson. “To see contestants actually step into the world of the game and share the exhilaration of being launched and other jaw-dropping challenges to save the eggs will be awesome for families to watch together. And seeing them fail will be even more fun!”
Should the project move forward, it would be the latest mobile game to become a live action game show. Previously, CBS launched a live version of “Candy Crush” with host Mario Lopez last summer, though that show ended after just one season. | {
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A Medián felmérése szerint a teljes népesség 16 százaléka elgondolkodna azon, hogy az új pólus listájára szavaz, ha összeáll az LMP, a Momentum, az Együtt és a Párbeszéd. Más ellenzéki pártok szavazói, még a jobbikosok sem zárják ki, hogy átszavaznának egy ilyen listára.
Az ellenzéki oldalon már jó ideje vizsgálják, találgatják, kutatják, milyen konstrukcióban lenne érdemes elindulniuk a pártoknak 2018-ban. Jól tudjuk, Botka László egy nagy közös listát akar Gyurcsány nélkül, a DK-sok külön pártlistákat, de összefogást az egyéni választókerületekben, a kisebb pártok pedig leginkább leválasztanák magukat az MSZP-DK-ról.
Juhász Péter, az Együtt elnöke éppen az Indexnek adott interjújában vetette fel márciusban az új pólus ötletét. Vagyis hogy az Együtt közös választási listát és jelölteket szeretne az LMP-vel, a Párbeszéddel, a Momentummal és a Kétfarkú Kutya Párttal. Ugyanerről beszélt pár héttel később Karácsony Gergely, a Párbeszéd társelnöke is. Az új pólus nagy akadálya azonban, hogy az LMP és a Momentum jelezte, hallani sem akar erről az Együtt-Párbeszéddel.
A politikusokat elgondolkodásra késztetheti azonban a Medián legfrissebb felmérése, amely eljátszott a gondolattal, és felmérte, hányan szavaznának egyáltalán egy ilyen MSZP és DK nélküli új pólusra. Az a meglepő eredmény jött ki, hogy
a teljes népesség 16 százaléka hajlandó lenne rászavazni egy LMP-Momentum-Együtt-Párbeszéd listára.
Ez azért meglepő, mert eszerint sokkal-sokkal többen ikszelnének erre a listára, mint a pártok jelenlegi szavazói összesen. Az nagyjából 5-6-7 százalék, ha összeadjuk. A nagy összefogásnak azonban erőteljes szívóhatása lenne. Ez abból is látható, hogy a Medián azt is megkérdezte, hányan szavaznának a sima LMP-Momentum listára (a teljes népesség 14 százaléka), és hányan a teljes új pólusra (ez lett a 16 százalék).
Hann Endre, a Medián ügyvezető igazgatója azt mondta az Indexnek, hogy óvatosan kell kezelni ezt a 16 százalékos adatot. Ezt ugyanis nem egy direkt szavazási kérdésként tették fel, vagyis nem ennyien választották kizárólagosan az új pólus listáját. "Gondolatkísérletként" azt vizsgálták, mennyire valószínű, hogy az emberek rászavaznának az LMP-Momentum-Együtt-Párbeszéd listára. "Az adatot úgy érdemes értelmezni, hogy a teljes népesség 16 százaléka nem zárja ki, nem utasítja el ezt a listát, vagyis ha olyanok a körülmények, ennyien hajlandóak esetleg rászavazni. De ez nem azt jelenti, hogy rá is szavaznának ennyien ebben a pillanatban" - mondta Hann.
MSZP-sek, DK-sok és jobbikosok is elgondolkodnának
A Medián azt is megnézte, hogy az egyes ellenzéki pártok szavazói közül hányan lennének hajlandóak átikszelni az új pólus listájára. A Medián azt írta, hogy "az érintett kis pártok szavazói különösen díjaznák az összefogást. Persze az 1-1 százalékos szavazótáborok külön-külön nem nagyon értelmezhetők statisztikailag, de ha ettől eltekintünk, például a Momentum-szavazók szinte egytől-egyig jól fogadták a gondolatot."
Az érintett pártok szavzóinak hetede fogadná jól az új pólus listáját, de más pártok szavazói is elgondolkodnának az átszavazaáson. Az MSZP-sek 46 százaléka, a DK-sok 32 százaléka, de még a jobbikosok 8 százaléka is azt válaszolta, hajlandó lenne rászavazni egy ilyen listára. | {
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Scarlett Johansson has opted to withdraw from a film in which she was set to play a transgender man after her casting drew criticism from the LGBTQ community.
Johansson said an exclusive statement to Out.com that her decision was made "in light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting."
CNN has reached out to Johansson's representatives for further comment.
Johansson had been set to play transgender man Dante "Tex" Gill, who owned a string of massage parlors in Pittsburgh that were fronts for prostitution in the 1970s and 1980s, in a film about his life.
Johansson's casting, however, came at a moment when the LGBTQ community and allies are encouraging the casting transgender actors in transgender roles.
The recent debut of Ryan Murphy's FX drama "Pose," which featured the largest-ever cast of transgender actors in series regular roles on a television series, has been pointed to as an shining example this practice in action.
After the immediate backlash to Johannson's casting began, the actress issued a statement to Bustle that was criticized for its dismissive nature.
In her new statement, Johansson acknowledges making a misstep.
"Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I've learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive," she said. "I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues."
Johansson has found herself in the middle of a casting controversy before.
Her casting in the film "Ghost in the Shell," based on a popular Japanese manga series, prompted accusations of white-washing. The movie went ahead as planned and was released in 2017.
"While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante's story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film," Johansson added. | {
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Com lesões nos dois joelhos, Thiago Marreta vai operar e fica no mínimo oito meses parado
Exames confirmam rompimento de todos os ligamentos do joelho esquerdo e do menisco, e há suspeita de lesão e rompimento parcial no joelho direito. Cirurgia será esta semana nos EUA | {
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One of the stranger aspects of that taped phone conversation between former ball boy Bobby Davis and accused molester Bernie Fine's wife, Laurie, is the apparent revelation that Davis had a sexual relationship with Laurie. He's not the only one—and there might be a sex tape to prove it, a media source tells us.
Another source says that at least one media outlet has evidence that Laurie, now 53, had sex with players on many of Jim Boeheim's squads. This was happening as early as 1982 the 80's, a third source says. "It was a rite of passage for some to be with Bernie's wife," one of the sources says. As for the sex tape, it apparently features Laurie and another player, and it's been shopped around for years.
If any of Laurie's conquests decide to go public, it would be very bad for the Fines—and it could very well mean the end of Boeheim's time at Syracuse. After all, this stuff would've happened on his watch.
Those of you who'd like to share details about Laurie Fine's relationships can reach out to us at [email protected] with "Laurie Fine" in the subject line. Anonymity guaranteed. Unless your name is Derrick Coleman.
G/O Media may get a commission Subscribe and Get Your First Bag Free Promo Code AtlasCoffeeDay20
Image by Jim Cooke | {
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Everyone loves Teddy. But despite outplaying third-overall draft pick Sam Darnold in the first two preseason games, there has been relative silence about Teddy Bridgewater. This is not necessarily a mistake or wrong on the Jets’ part, since there’s a lot invested in Darnold and his perceived ceiling is higher, while Josh McCown is the better and more willing mentor for the rookie. However, Teddy’s recent success should not be overlooked by others around the league.
The Injury
Ugh…let’s keep this short. Coming off the successful 2015 season, in which Bridgewater led the Vikings to their first NFC North title since 2009, there were high expectations for the third-year quarterback. Unfortunately, a non-contact knee injury in August cost him the season. The gruesome injury resulted in a 19-month recovery. With his playing future in jeopardy, he continued to fight just to get back on the field. The Vikings did let him play a few snaps at the end of last season simply out of respect, but they ultimately decided to go in a different direction at quarterback this season.
Signed by the Jets
With a need at the quarterback position, the Jets reached a deal with Teddy Bridgewater in March. With no shortage of question marks around Bridgewater’s knee, the Jets gave him a one-year contract with a base value of $6 million. The contract only guaranteed a $500,000 signing bonus, but through a number of incentives linked to on-field performance, the deal could be worth up to $15 million. The Jets told Teddy that they viewed him as a number one quarterback going forward, which is why he picked New York over other offers.
The Jets switched course on Bridgewater being their top quarterback for the future. A little over a month after signing Teddy to a deal, the Jets drafted quarterback Sam Darnold with the third overall pick. This was expected, since the Jets traded up to get that pick a couple weeks before grabbing Bridgewater from free agency. Quickly, Teddy’s future in New York looked questionable at best, and he knew he must play well as an “audition” for other teams.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1030287308329824258
2018 Preseason
Teddy Bridgewater has now played two preseason games in a Jets uniform. While it’s important to note the level of competition he’s faced, he’s been terrific in his two performances. Combined, he’s hit on 17-of-23 throws for 212 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. This comes to 9.2 passing yards per attempt, which is a stat that should be utilized more often, in my opinion. His competition, Sam Darnold, has passed 21-29 for 158 yards and two touchdowns, good for 5.4 yards per attempt. In his first two games, Darnold has shown some bright flashes, but he continues to hold the ball too long and doesn’t throw receivers open. Rather, he waits until he sees them open to let it go, which also goes along with holding it too long. This was a criticism I expressed of Darnold before the draft, and it’s unfortunate that it hasn’t been addressed yet.
By comparing the two Jets quarterbacks, I am not trying to say Bridgewater is good and Darnold is bad. Rather, my point is that one player has performed a bit better, and the other has received nearly all the media praise. The future for both players seems bright. And while Teddy is considered a veteran at this point, he is just four years older than the rookie. There is a long future ahead for Teddy Bridgewater, and he has just scratched the surface of his potential.
While Teddy has certainly proved to be good enough to make an NFL roster this season, rostering three quarterbacks in week 1 only makes sense for the Jets if they continually look to shop him.
Possible Landing Spots
Miami Dolphins
Bridgewater could stay in the AFC East and join a team that doesn’t have talent at the backup position, but does have questions with their starter. Coming off of a knee injury of his own, Tannehill is in a “prove it” year. If he and the Dolphins struggle, it could mean the end of both Tannehill and coach Adam Gase’s time in Miami. Since Teddy is both young and talented, having a second guy with potential could be a smart move. Bridgewater is also from Miami, so this landing spot could interest him for many reasons. The downside for the Jets is that he stays in the division.
Denver Broncos
Could Bridgewater find himself behind Case Keenum yet again? Possibly. Despite Keenum’s terrific campaign with the Vikings, there still isn’t full confidence in him as the answer long term. It’s also no secret that the Broncos could use a quality backup. Bridgewater could fill the need as the backup, and being five years younger than Keenum, possibly he’s the long term answer John Elway has been looking for.
New York Giants
It’s not often you get to stay put AND switch teams. After deciding to pass on taking a quarterback with the second overall pick, the Giants could still invest long term at the position by bringing in Bridgewater. New head coach Pat Shurmur was in Minnesota the past couple seasons with Teddy, so he should have a pretty good idea of what he’s capable of.
New England Patriots
Much like the Dolphins, this requires the Jets to keep him in the division, something I’m not sure they’re willing to do. However, the Patriots have a stockpile of 2019 draft picks, and the Jets do not have a second-round pick, due to the trade in which they moved up to grab Darnold. The Jets are trying to rebuild, and draft picks are something they’ll want plenty of. For the Patriots, they get a smart, young, efficient passer to sit behind Brady and learn the system. The quarterback of the future that fit this description was supposed to be Jimmy G, but he didn’t want to wait on the sideline much longer. Teddy strikes me as someone who would be accepting of this role, knowing his time would be coming soon enough.
Carolina Panthers
This move would reunite Teddy with his offensive coordinator and quarterback coach from the successful Vikings 2015 season, Norv and Scott Turner. Obviously there isn’t a competition for the starting job in Carolina, but maybe Bridgewater usurps Derek Anderson to become the primary backup. With the way Cam plays, he could get banged up at any point, and Teddy could be given a chance.
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Why Samaje Perine Will be a Second-Year Breakout | {
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OS Data Overview
While the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20) resulted in slightly better than expected numbers, the market was still down year over year with visible signs of economic concerns in 2020Q2. The International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecasts worldwide smartphone shipments to decline 9.5% in 2020 to reach 1.242 billion units, down from 1.373 billion in 2019. The forecast follows the largest ever expected decline in the history. IDC expect the market to return to grow in 2021 mostly sped up by the 5G devices launches picking up from the damage of the pandemic. In the long-term forecast, IDC expects the overall smartphone market to reach 1.492 billion units in 2024.
COVID-19 uncertainties continued to stress consumer buying confidence. The consumers are being more cautious and have narrowed the spend to essentials only. This is thought to be relieved partly by 5G push expected from the smartphone value chain as 5G remains a priority for all smartphone OEMs despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges & overall lower consumer demand. Several vendors have reduced their 2020 production plans to align with the market decline, though most of the cuts focused on their 4G portfolios. However, we still believe that consumer demand for 5G is very low globally and most of the push will be led by China.
From a geographic perspective, most of the regions, including developed like Europe & North America are hit hard from the COVID-19 with double-digit decline expected in 2020 yet IDC expects the top vendors to maintain the market shares driven by rotating strategies such as higher flagship launches and forming stronger ecommerce footprints. The Chinese economy will continue to be impacted by COVID-19, though the production hurdles that appeared in the first quarter are dropping off as the market resumes operations with limited restrictions.
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President Trump’s Executive Order 13771 requires that for each new executive branch regulation proposed, two rules must be identified for repeal. On the surface this resembles an initiative begun in 2001 in the Canadian province of British Columbia that reduced regulation levels by 48 percent in 16 years. However, a closer inspection reveals significant differences between the two initiatives that could limit the effectiveness and longevity of the US effort.
James Broughel and Laura Jones consider those differences in “Effective Regulatory Reform: What the United States Can Learn from British Columbia.” While the United States has made notable changes to its current regulatory structure, the scope of its reforms has been limited to such an extent that most new regulations do not require offsets under the administration’s two-for-one policy. The authors see opportunities to improve the government’s ability to reduce red tape on a continuous basis by taking the following steps.
USE SYMMETRY TO ELIMINATE REPORTING CONFUSION
Currently, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) guidelines for implementation of Executive Order 13771 determine that the regulations to be offset should be “significant regulations,” but that the burdens of these rules can be offset with any regulations with positive cost. This asymmetry makes reporting difficult and leads to confusion and criticism. Changing this rule and making it symmetric would ensure that the same types of rules count as “ins” and “outs.”
CREATE A SIMPLE, PARALLEL REGULATORY ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that British Columbia found success by using a simple, apples-to-apples measure of regulation, applying it broadly, and establishing a clear, tangible baseline against which progress could be measured. The US reforms can be expanded to include these features. The administration’s current reforms, based on its “opportunity cost” measure of regulation, can continue largely in the same form (with the symmetry problem fixed as suggested above) for the largest federal regulations. A simple, parallel regulatory accounting system would encompass everything else.
Adopt a simple measure. Measures such as opportunity cost can make sense when analyzing the biggest regulations one at a time as part of a regulatory impact analysis, but opportunity cost is less well suited for managing a reform to reduce the overall level of regulation. In contrast, counts of regulatory requirements or restrictions can prove very useful for tracking aggregate regulation levels and setting targets for where those levels should move over time.
Use the simple measure to estimate a baseline level of federal regulation. Establishing a simple but useful baseline can help everyone more easily see what’s changing, when, where, and by how much. Having a baseline assisted British Columbia’s efforts to set a target of eliminating one-third of requirements within three years—and achieve it. The combination of a simple measure and a baseline estimate helped BC ensure focus, urgency, and accountability.
Broaden the scope of reform. The two-for-one requirement in British Columbia applied to nearly all legislation, regulation, and policy documents affecting the province. By contrast, in the United States only a small number of “significant” regulations need to be offset, with the vast majority of new regulations exempt. These represent about 8 percent of new rules in recent years, and due to various exemptions the administration may be offsetting as little as 1 percent of new rules. Armed with a simpler measure of regulation and a baseline estimate of the aggregate level of regulation, the US two-for-one requirement can be expanded to include all regulation, as well as policy documents and perhaps even legislation. The United States can also adopt clear time-bound reduction targets, such as a one-third reduction in three years.
Create more transparency through regular reporting. Regulatory agencies should submit counts of regulatory requirements or restrictions to OIRA so this information can be compiled and published on a periodic basis. The overall count should include requirements found in agency regulation and guidance documents. OIRA (or some other entity) could produce an additional tally of requirements found in legislation.
APPOINT A REFORM LEADER
The president should appoint a “regulatory quarterback” charged with implementing the reform (including the reporting and accounting systems suggested above) across the entire federal government. The closest equivalent is the OIRA administrator. However, OIRA only reviews a small subset of federal regulations, and many agencies (including independent agencies) are outside OIRA’s purview. | {
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Al-Qa'ida's long-time second in command, a doctor from a prominent Egyptian family, has succeeded Osama bin Laden as head of the terror group, it said today.
Bin Laden was killed in a US special forces raid on his Pakistan hideout last month.
Ayman al-Zawahri, who turns 60 on Sunday, has long brought ideological fire, tactics and organisational skills to al-Qa'ida.
The surgeon by training has promoted the use of suicide bombings and independent terror cells that have become the network's trademarks.
He is believed to be living somewhere near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and has appeared in dozens of videos and audiotapes in recent years, increasingly becoming the face of al-Qa'ida as bin Laden kept a lower profile.
The two terror leaders first crossed paths in the late 1980s in the caves of Afghanistan, where al-Zawahri reportedly provided medical treatment to bin Laden and other Islamic fighters battling Soviet forces.
Their alliance would develop years later into the al-Qa'ida terror network blamed for America's worst terror attack in its history.
In a videotaped eulogy released earlier this month, al-Zawahri warned that America still faces an international community of Muslims that seek to destroy it.
"Today, praise God, America is not facing an individual, a group or a faction," he said, wearing a white robe and turban with an assault rifle leaned on a wall behind him. "It is facing a nation that is in revolt, having risen from its lethargy to a renaissance of jihad."
Al-Zawahri also heaped praise on bin Laden and criticised the US for burying him at sea.
"He went to his God as a martyr, the man who terrified America while alive and terrifies it in death, so much so that they trembled at the idea of his having tomb," he said.
In a website statement, al-Qa'ida gave no details about the selection process for bin Laden's successor but said that it was the best tribute to the memory of its "martyrs".
Al-Zawahri is the son of an upper middle class Egyptian family of doctors and scholars. His father was a pharmacology professor at Cairo University's medical school and his grandfather was the grand imam of Al-Azhar University, a premier centre of religious study.
At the age of 15, he founded his first underground cell of high school students to oppose the Egyptian government. He continued his militant activities while earning his medical degree, later merging his cell with other militants to form Islamic Jihad.
Al-Zawahri later served three years in an Egyptian prison before returning to Afghanistan in 1984 to fight the Soviets, where he linked up with bin Laden. Al-Zawahri later followed bin Laden to Sudan and then back to Afghanistan, where they found a safe haven under the radical Taliban regime.
Soon after came the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Africa, followed by the 2000 suicide bombing of the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen, an attack al-Zawahri is believed to have helped organise.
In a 2001 treatise, he set down the longterm strategy for the jihadi movement - to inflict "as many casualties as possible" on the Americans.
"Pursuing the Americans and Jews is not an impossible task," he wrote. "Killing them is not impossible, whether by a bullet, a knife stab, a bomb or a strike with an iron bar."
Al-Zawahri's hatred for Americans has also become deeply personal: His wife and at least two of their six children were killed in a US airstrike following the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan after the 9-11 attacks.
He has worked in the years since to rebuild the organisation's leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Al-Qa'ida has inspired or had a direct hand in attacks in North Africa, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, the 2004 train bombings in Madrid and the 2005 tube and bus bombings in London.
The statement announcing his succession was filled with the terror network's usual rhetoric, vowing to continue the fight against what it called "conquering infidels, led by America and its stooge Israel, who attack the homes of Islam".
The al-Qa'ida statement also stated the group's support for this year's popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria and Libya. | {
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Videotapes of police officers worry HPD's chief Residents videotaping officers worries HPD's chief
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland went on the defensive Thursday during a meeting with local journalists, saying officers have made recent traffic stops in which residents leave their vehicles to take pictures or shoot video — encounters he says could endanger officers and that have increased following the release of the Chad Holley beating footage.
"Officers are telling me that they're being provoked," the chief said. "Even when they try to write a simple traffic ticket, people are jumping out with cell phone cameras scanning their badge numbers and their nametags. And I've asked them to remain calm and treat people with respect and dignity."
McClelland said he is concerned that an intensifying anti-police sentiment in the community could increase negative interactions between Houston Police Department officers and residents.
"This rhetoric can give someone a free pass to try to assault a police officer or kill a police officer, and I'm not going to allow that," he said. "My officers should be able to go out here and work in the neighborhoods and keep this city safe without fear and without hesitation."
And, the chief implored the community - naming himself, activists and journalists - to "lower the rhetoric."
But community activists who have been involved in organizing two town hall meetings this month strongly disagree with the reasons why the police chief may be receiving more reports about people documenting encounters with police.
Activist Quanell X called the chief's reaction to this increasing phenomenon "inappropriate."
"I believe citizens have a legal, constitutional right to record and film police officers in the line of duty. I don't see anything wrong with the public recording," Quanell X said. "I believe no decent police officer has anything to be afraid of. I believe the rogue cops who like to beat, kick and stomp people may have a whole lot to worry about."
The chief, who leads a force of 5,300, said the vast majority of officers do not brutalize people.
"I certainly think there has been some piling on lately, and it's unfair to the other 5,300," he said. "I don't want to give anyone a free pass to assault a police officer. And I don't want to give the police officer a free pass to overreact."
But Pastor D.Z. Cofield, president of the NAACP Houston branch, said residents are responding in the best way they can - by creating their own record of events.
"I hope Chief Charles McClelland recognizes that what his officers are now complaining about is a fear many of the citizens of Houston have lived with for decades," Cofield said. "And while it may be true that the vast majority of the 5,300 HPD officers do not brutalize citizens, far too many are complicit because they sit silently by with full knowledge of those who do brutalize citizens."
McClelland said HPD's internal affairs division has many videos that "show the violent nature of police work," but that he is prohibited by law from releasing them to the public as others have done with footage that shows police behaving badly.
"I can't cherry pick and show me a good video of the week and say look at this police officer being assaulted," he said.
As evidence that HPD is policing itself, the chief points to the figure that 70 percent of complaints lodged against officers each year come from police managers and supervisors. The rest come from the public.
"I respect the opinion of citizens, individuals, activists that are out there in the community," McClelland said. "I certainly haven't had my head stuck in the sand and I am listening to what they're saying and their complaints."
He implored residents and leaders to "be responsible" in their words and their tone.
"We can't pit the community, and especially the minority community, against the police," the chief said.
[email protected] | {
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After discussions with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Kerry left Jerusalem for Paris, where he planned to meet on Monday with Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister; William Hague, the British foreign secretary; and Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister. Mr. Kerry also was scheduled to meet here separately with Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister.
France, Britain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been vociferous critics of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and supporters of the Syrian opposition.
Many allied officials now wonder how to strengthen the Syrian opposition militarily and shift the momentum on the battlefield since the United States has pulled back from a plan for military strikes, which were intended not only to punish the regime but to “degrade” some of Mr. Assad’s forces.
France and Britain are also permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Under the Geneva pact, the terms of the accord are to be included in a resolution under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which would authorize punitive measures if Syria does not comply.
While Russia, another permanent member of the Council with veto power, would be likely to block any Security Council endorsement of a military strike, Mr. Kerry said the United States remains prepared to launch a unilateral strike if Syria fails to meet its commitments.
“This will only be as effective as its implementation will be, and President Obama has made it clear that to accomplish that, the threat of force remains,” Mr. Kerry said. “The threat of force is real.”
Speaking on TF1 channel on Sunday, President François Hollande of France made a similar point, emphasizing that the military option “should remain on the table.” | {
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Du has announced the availability of limited home internet and TV packages across the UAE, marking the beginning of full competition in the UAE’s telecoms space 11 years after the second operator first launched services.
The extension of du’s Home Plan to customers outside the operator’s traditional footprint of Dubai means that UAE customers will for the first time be able to choose from which operator to receive “triple play” services, which encompass fixed line, broadband and TV services.
“We are offering a new level of flexibility for customers to tailor their packages and selected TV channels in efforts to enhance the home experience across the UAE and meet the growing demand of tailored and customised TV/Video content,” said Fahad Al Hassawi, deputy chief executive officer of telco services at du’s holding company EITC.
_______________
Read more:
New pricing structures needed for 5G says Du CEO
Skype issues incongruous with UAE's long term plan
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Du’s TV services outside Dubai will be delivered via streaming services du View and OSN’s Wavo streaming platform, as opposed to Du’s traditional IPTV offering. Content available includes OSN’s Sports and Movies suite, together with local UAE channels.
The operator clarified that less than 300 channels will be initially available via the streaming services, compared with over 600 channels available via IPTV.
Competition between du and Etisalat in fixed and broadband services commenced in 2015, after the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) allowed the operators to “bitstream” on each other’s fixed telecoms network.
The TRA has yet to permit operators to bitstream IPTV services, which require the use of far greater bandwidth.
Etisalat did not respond to questions about whether it plans to launch similar TV service offerings in du’s home territory of Dubai. | {
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'He was dying': Rocker Lou Reed, 71, recovering after undergoing lifesaving liver transplant, wife reveals
American rocker Lou Reed is currently recovering after undergoing a lifesaving operation for a liver transplant, his wife has revealed.
The Walk On The Wild Side hitmaker, who is renowned for his previous drink and drug problems, was 'dying' early last month but is now on the mend after successfully undergoing surgery.
His wife Laurie Anderson told The Times newspaper: 'It's as serious as it gets. He was dying. You don't get it for fun. (It was) a big surgery which went very well.'
Recovering: Rocker Lou Reed was close to death last month, his wife has revealed, but he's now recovering after undergoing a lifesaving liver transplant operation
He was taken in to the Mayo Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for the surgery after opting against the 'dysfunctional' hospitals in New York he could have gone to instead.
And it seems Laurie, who has been with Reed for 21 years and married for the last five, was pleased with the service they received now he is on the road o recovery.
She added to the Times that the 'clinic is massive' ad have the 'best results for heart, liver and kidney transplants'.
Health scare: The 71-year-old mysteriously cancelled five concert dates in April, around the time of his operation
And she admits she 'awestruck' with the procedure as she watched on as Lou was taken off life support and see the donor placed in to his body.
The Velvet Underground star had cancelled five concert dates in April, which included two sets at California's infamous Coachella music festival.
The reason for the last minute cancellations was given as 'unavoidable complications' but it now appears it could have been down to health issues.
Although it seems Reed has received the treatment he needs.
Rock star: Lou Reed (far right) is pictured in his hey day in 1972 alongside David Bowie and Iggy Pop
Laurie revealed: 'This is no longer an operation that is life threatening. They put (the new liver) in immediately and it stated working immediately.'
Although she added that she didn't think he 'would ever' recover from the health scare, but he wold no doubt be back to working on some music in the next few months.
Throughout his career, Reed has catalogued all about his drink and drug demons.
He even wrote ad sang about it in depth, particularly with his 1964 Velvet Underground track, Heroin, in which he sang: 'Heroin, it's my wife and my life.'
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Many agree with him, and see this as vigilantism. It does not give an accused man the opportunity to clear his name in court. And there are the rare cases when a false accusation is made. This is a traumatic and violating crime in its own right.
But when a man is falsely accused, there are a number of avenues he can pursue to seek justice. As well as rebutting the allegations in the forum where they are raised, he can complain to the police or sue for defamation. Women can, and have been, imprisoned for making false allegations of rape, such as in two widely reported cases in Britain in the last year. But I don’t think that women who have been raped should be obliged to protect the privacy of their attackers because women who have not been raped may make false claims.
You may think suing for defamation is an inadequate response to the problem of false accusations, because it is likely to be expensive, emotionally onerous, slow and often unsuccessful. If so, I urge you to reflect on why you think these hurdles are unacceptable for men who are falsely accused, but acceptable for women who have been raped.
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Publicly accusing rapists is far from a perfect solution, but at a time when a vast majority of rapes still go unpunished by the criminal justice system despite decades of reforms aimed at making the process more hospitable to victims, it may be one of the few options that many victims have for bringing some consequences to bear on those who rape.
Besides, justice and the criminal justice system are not one and the same. It is a fiction that justice must begin and end in the courtroom. Individuals and agencies have to make calls about the likelihood of guilt all the time. Child protective services, for instance, have to decide whether to remove children from their parents even when evidence of abuse is not sufficient to result in a criminal conviction. As human beings we have to make decisions about the rapists in our lives — whom we employ, whom we invite to family dinners.
Perhaps what is needed is to formalize the practice of naming perpetrators, in a way that best protects victims and minimizes the risks of false accusations. Specifically, I would like to see a charitable body that carefully investigates and reports on sexual assault, including naming perpetrators.
If this still sounds like vigilantism, consider that all I am describing is investigative journalism, with a specific purpose and subject matter. And that investigative journalism is an important institution of democracy, playing an especially vital role when other institutions like the courts prove incapable of delivering justice.
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The organization I am proposing would survive only if it observed rigorous investigative standards and did not make the error of simply assuming that a source was telling the truth, which a journalist should never do, even in the case of rape. The consequences for failing to do this are devastating, as Rolling Stone discovered after publishing the fabricated account of a gang rape by members of a University of Virginia fraternity. Despite not naming anyone as a perpetrator, the magazine has paid out millions of dollars in damages, after an administrator and a fraternity named in the story sued.
Any investigation would have to gather sufficient evidence to defend an action for defamation. In Australia, the United States and many other countries, truth is the best defense against libel charges. A single successful defamation case would be likely to bankrupt such an investigative body, providing a strong incentive against publishing speculative or unfounded reports.
It is time to accept that the criminal justice system may never be capable of providing justice for the vast majority of sexual assaults. The problem is not that we do not take rape seriously; we take it so seriously that we demand silence about perpetrators unless we are reporting on a court case and, as a result, very few perpetrators face any consequence at all.
We do not necessarily need longer prison sentences for those convicted of rape. What we need is a higher proportion of rapists to face some kind of punishment for their actions, whether it is admonishment from their families or the loss of a job. Because it is extraordinary how few rapists now experience any disruption to their lives.
And while it is right to guard against vigilantism, I don’t think it is right to say that a woman who has been raped owes anyone a duty to be silent. | {
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The Dragonrider The silent calm of a hydra's lair is shattered by a dragon's roar as the giant beast dives toward the monster. Seated on his back, a half-orc clad in cast-off dragon scales readies his lance.
An army marches across a field, in their center a commander sits atop a great red wyrm. He barks a quick order, and the ranks of the army close around him, bristling with spears. Gnolls roll across a town destroying everything they see. An elven woman stands in front of the town chapel, gripping her sword tightly. She glances at her companion, a young silver dragon, knowing that if they fall, nothing will be left to protect the townspeople huddled inside the building. No matter what a Dragonrider fights for, they are fearsome foes. Few can equal their ferocity on the battlefield, and fewer still can claim to have such a close bond with a creature as awesome and powerful as a dragon. The Unbreakable Bond Dragonriders are heroic figures with the power to bond with dragons, gaining lifelong steeds, companions and allies. This bond is more than simply a close friendship, it is a mystic connection between dragonrider and dragon, creating a permanent link fueled by the arcane power inherent to all true dragons. The bond does not come easily. Every dragonrider recieves a dragon egg, which they hatch and raise. The dragon grows up with the rider, and over the years the bond is woven, either through a mutual trust and friendship, or through intimidation. Even before the bond is fully formed, it becomes apparent that the dragon and rider have marked each other. Though it varies from rider to rider, typically humanoids who bond with a dragon see their lifespan increase, and an unnaturally high fortitude. Random Dragonrider Quirks d6 Dragonrider Quirk 1 I can't resist the shine of gold. I love to amass wealth. 2 I love the thrill of the hunt, and the joy of killing. 3 I need to have my way. I don't like to take orders. 4 I love the sun. My free time is spent basking outside. 5 All eyes are on me. I make sure of that. 6 Conversation is my lifeblood. I love to talk. Random Physical Quirks d6 Pysical Quirk 1 My eyes have taken the color of my bonded dragon. 2 My teeth have become subtly sharper. 3 My hair is streaked or colored like my dragon. 4 I rarely blink, and my eyes are open when I sleep. 5 I don't feel cold, Even on the darkest winter nights. 6 My blood takes the properites of my dragon's element. A Life of War and Honor In many societies, Dragonriders are treated as lesser nobility, much like knights. They act with dignity and decorum, following the proud heritage of their ancestors. Many of these riders have been trained from a young age, serving as squires to more experienced knights. In other lands however, a darker reflection of the Dragonriders exists. Treated with fear rather than respect, these riders serve as elite cavalry for the darkest armies. With the might of dragons at their behest, these riders care little of others opinions, using their power to take whatever they want. Even rarer still, some Dragonriders are results of impossible circumstance. As a young child they stumble upon the lost egg of a dragon, forming an unlikely friendship with the great beast. Though their origins are humble, these riders rarely stay unnoticed for long. Their unique bond often forces them into the public eye. Riders of this type are often treated with mistrust in their homeland, where dragonriders are scarce and all dragons are treated as monsters. Creating a Dragonrider When creating a Dragonrider, consider your relationship with your bonded dragon. How did the two of you meet? Were you raised at birth to ride and was your companion chosen for you? Did a dragon offer you its services after tragedy beset your village? Secondly, consider your relationship with the rest of the world. Do the people around you fear or respect you? How do you feel about opinions of you? Do you lean into people's preconceived conceptions of you, or do you try to prove them wrong? Finally, consider the long-term goals of you and your dragon. Why did you choose a life of adventure? Do you seek fame, fortune, or power? Or is adventuring a byproduct of your relationship with the dragon? Quick Build It is possible to quickly make a dragon by following these guidelines. Firstly, make Strength your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Then take either the Noble or Folk Hero background. Finally, choose either a Gold or Red dragon as your bonded dragon. 1
The Dragonrider Level Proficiency Bonus Features Dragon Points Breath Dice 1st +2 Bonded Dragon, Focus ─ ─ 2nd +2 Dragon Points, Fighting Style 2 4d6 3rd +2 Dragon Archetype 3 4d6 4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 4 4d6 5th +3 Improved Focus 5 5d6 6th +3 Draconic Velocity, Magic Claws 6 5d6 7th +3 Dragon Archetype Feature 7 5d6 8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 8 5d6 9th +4 True Flight 9 6d6 10th +4 Dragon Archetype Feature 10 6d6 11th +4 Elemental Mastery 11 6d6 12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 12 6d6 13th +5 Altitude Acclimation 13 7d6 14th +5 Boundless Loyalty 14 7d6 15th +5 Dragon Archetype Feature 15 7d6 16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 16 7d6 17th +6 Bonded Telepathy 17 8d6 18th +6 Dragon Archetype Feature 18 8d6 19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 19 8d6 20th +6 True Dragon 20 8d6 Class Features As a Dragonrider, you gain the following class features. Hit Points Hit Dice: 1d8 per Dragonrider Level
1d8 per Dragonrider Level Hit Points at First Level: 8 + Constitution Modifier
8 + Constitution Modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (5) + Constitution Modifier Starting Proficiencies Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields Weapons: Simple and Martial Weapons
Simple and Martial Weapons Tools: None
None Saving Throws: Strength and Constitution
Strength and Constitution Skills: Pick two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Nature, Perception, and Survival Equipment You start the game with the following equipment, in addition to any equipment granted by your background: Either (a) One Martial Weapon and a Shield or (b) Two Martial Weapons
Either (a) Five Javelins or (b) A Longbow and 20 Arrows
Either (a) a Dungeoneer's Pack or (b) an Explorer's Pack
Scale Mail and an Exotic Saddle
A Draconic Trinket Alternatively, you can start out with 5d4 x 10 GP to buy your own equipment. (Excluding an exotic saddle which you should already have.) Bonded Dragon At 1st level, your dragon and you have developed a bond that goes far deeper than friendship. This causes a dragon to change size, adopting the stat block later in this document. Additionally, it loses many of the standard dragon features, as the magic that fuels them is used to facilitate the bond between rider and dragon. Additionally, you may select a color for your dragon, or have your DM determine the color for you. This choice will affect certain class abilities later on, and cannot be changed. Focus At 1st level, the bond between you and your dragon has deepened allowing you to fight as one unit in combat. The bond is limiting however, and requires effort to maintain. You and your bonded dragon share the same initiative, rolled by the player. During combat both you and the dragon share an action. For example, if you take the attack action on your turn, your companion can move, but not attack. 2
Dragon Points At 2nd level, you've begun to unlock the true arcane potential of your dragon. This potential is represented by a pool of points, and increases as you gain levels in this class (detailed on the class table). You regain all points upon completion of a long rest. Some abilities require saving throws. The DC for these saving throws is equal to 8 + your companion's Constitution modifier + its proficiency bonus.
You also gain the following Dragon Point options: Breath Weapon: As an action, your dragon can expend 2 points, expelling elemental energy. The nature of the breath weapon varies by dragon type, and the exact details of the ability are detailed in each dragon's stat block. Regardless of the type, however, a successful saving throw reduces the damage by half.
As an action, your dragon can expend 2 points, expelling elemental energy. The nature of the breath weapon varies by dragon type, and the exact details of the ability are detailed in each dragon's stat block. Regardless of the type, however, a successful saving throw reduces the damage by half. Spread Wings: As a reaction while your companion is falling, it can expend 1 point to reduce the falling damage by 200ft as its wings spread, catching the air. As part of the same reaction, the dragon can catch up to 2 creatures of Medium size or smaller, reducing the damage to them by the same amount.
As a reaction while your companion is falling, it can expend 1 point to reduce the falling damage by 200ft as its wings spread, catching the air. As part of the same reaction, the dragon can catch up to 2 creatures of Medium size or smaller, reducing the damage to them by the same amount. Peerless Athletics: Whenever you or your companion make an Athletics or Acrobatics check, you can expend 1 point, rolling the check with advantage. If the check is to make a long or high jump, your jump distance is doubled. Fighting Style At 2nd level, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can't take the same Fighting Style option more than once, even if you get to choose again. Archery You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons. Defense While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. Dueling When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon. Great Weapon Fighting When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit. Protection When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield. Dragon Archetype At 3rd level, you select one of the following options: Fell Rider or Protector, representing the specialized training you and your companion have gone through. This selection grants you special abilities at 3rd, 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th levels. Ability Score Improvement When you reach 4th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. If your DM allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat. Additionally, your dragon also gains an ability score increase when you do, and can choose to take a feat, at the DM's approval. Improved Focus When you reach 5th level, your bond with your dragon has deepened, and the two of you move and fight as one unit more easily. On your turn your dragon can act independently of you, regardless of the actions you take on your turn. Draconic Velocity At 6th level, your mystic bond has strengthened your dragon. It gains an additional movement type, determined by the dragon's color. Additionally, mounting or dismounting your dragon costs only 5ft of movement, and if you fall 15ft or less off your mount, you take no damage and land on your feet. Magic Claws At 6th level, your bonded dragon's natural weapon attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistances. True Flight At 9th level, your bond with your dragon has empowered its wings, allowing the two of you to achieve flight. Your companion gains a flying speed equal to double its walking speed. Elemental Mastery At 11th level, you've adapted to resist the primal elemental powers of your companion. Shimmering, translucent scales begin to appear on your arms and neck, mimicing the color of your dragon. You gain resistance to the damage type of your companion's breath weapon. In addition, your (and your companion's) weapon attacks deal an additional 1d6 damage of the same type you have resistance to. 3
Altitude Acclimation At 13th level, you've grown more accustomed to the highest altitudes your companion can reach. You become acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You also adapt to cold climates, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Boundless Loyalty At 14th level, the loyalty between you and your dragon is strong, and only the most powerful effects can tear you apart. While you and your companion can see each other, you have advantage on saving throws against effects that cause the charmed or frightened conditions. If either you or your companion is blinded, that creature is unable to benefit from this ability. Bonded Telepathy At 17th level, your companion taps into the bond between the two of you connecting your minds. While you are both on the same plane of existence, you can communicate telepathically. Additionally, as an action you can tap into the mind of your companion, gaining the benefits of its senses until the start of your next turn. True Dragon At 20th level, your bond with your companion is almost unbreakable, forged over years of companionship. When either you or your companion is subjected to an effect that requires you to make a saving throw and fails, you can choose to instead succeed. Once you use this ability, you must complete a long rest before you use it again. Dragon Archetypes On the surface, every dragonrider is the same. It's a dragon and its rider, with a bond fueled by arcane power. However, much like a fighter, every dragonrider chooses different areas of expertise, which are represented by the 3 Dragon Archetypes. Fell Rider Dragons are fearsome beasts, and the mere sight of a dragon is enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most resilient warriors. Fell Riders use this to their advantage, relying on the speed and power of their dragons to win them the day. Draconic Aggression Upon reaching 3rd level, you gain additional Dragon Point options, representing your commitment to the aggressive nature of your dragon. Unyielding Aggression: When you hit a creature with a weapon attack on your turn, you can expend 1 Dragon Point to grant advantage to the next attack roll against the creature. This advantage is lost at the end of your next turn.
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack on your turn, you can expend 1 Dragon Point to grant advantage to the next attack roll against the creature. This advantage is lost at the end of your next turn. Terrifying Presence: As an action you can expend 1 Dragon Point, causing your companion to let out a terrifying roar, causing all enemies within 30ft to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the target is frightened of your dragon for 1 minute. At the start of every turn, an affected creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. Fearsome Aspects At 7th level, tales of your deeds are beginning to spread, and even a passing commoner can see you're not to be trifled with. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you already had proficiency in this skill, you gain proficiency in another Charisma-based skill. In addition, you can use an action to capture the attention of any number of creatures that can see and hear you. Make an Intimidation check, contested by each affected target's Insight check. On a failure, the target has disadvantage on Wisdom checks against targets other than you and your companion. This effect lasts for 10 minutes, and ends early if you leave the target's line of sight, or if the target takes any damage. Flurry of Claw and Teeth At 10th level, your dragon taps into the animalistic savagery of its ancestors, allowing it to make two attacks whenever it takes the attack action. The second attack must be a different natural weapon than the first. Lingering Breath At 15th level, your dragon's breath weapon has become a terrible force, its effects felt even after the blast disperses. When a creature fails its saving throw on your companion’s breath weapon, the elemental energy lingers on them causing an extra 1d6 damage at the start of their turn. This damage repeats for a number of rounds equal to your companion's Constitution modifier (minimum 1), and the target can end the effect early by repeating the saving throw as an action. Apex Predator At 18th level, the ferocity of your dragon is unrivaled even among other dragons. Whenever you or your companion scores a critical hit or reduces a creature to 0 Hit Points, you regain 1 Dragon Point. 4
Protector While chromatic dragons are remembered as fearsome tyrants, metallic dragons are often seen as kind champions of the weak, protecting those who are unable to do it themselves. Dragonriders who take up this mantle seek to do the same, channeling the awesome power of their companion to shield their allies. Steel Bastions Upon reaching 3rd level, both you and your companion have trained in heavy armor, to better protect yourselves on the battlefield. You gain proficiency in heavy armor, and your companion gains proficiency in medium and heavy draconic barding, which is detailed later in this document. Unwavering Protection When you reach 3rd level, you gain additional Dragon Point options, representing your commitment to the protection of your companions. Fearless Parry: When an ally within 5ft of you or your companion is hit with an attack, either of you can expend 1 Dragon Point as a reaction, attempting to knock the blow aside. The damage of the attack is reduced by 1d10 + the Strength modifier of whoever expended their reaction.
When an ally within 5ft of you or your companion is hit with an attack, either of you can expend 1 Dragon Point as a reaction, attempting to knock the blow aside. The damage of the attack is reduced by 1d10 + the Strength modifier of whoever expended their reaction. Warning Shout: When an ally within 60ft of you is subjected to an effect that requires them to make a Dexterity saving throw, you can expend your 1 Dragon Point as a reaction, granting them advantage on the saving throw. You must be able to see the effect, and the target must be able to hear you. Calm Under Pressure At 7th level, your reliability on the battlefield has granted you composure in all aspects of life. You gain proficiency in the Insight skill. If you already had proficiency in this skill, you can choose proficiency in a different Wisdom-based skill. Vigilance At 10th level, you and your companion have committed to the protection of others, even at your own expense. When an ally you can see is targeted with an attack, you or your companion can expend its reaction to attempt to interpose youself between the attacker and the target. Your companion moves up to its speed, and either you or your dragon can become the target of the attack if you end your movement within 5ft of the target of the attack. Elemental Sanctuary At 15th level, the elemental protection afforded by your arcane bond has expanded, protecting those near you. An aura extends from your companion, and any ally within 10ft of your dragon gains the same damage resistance you gained from the Elemental Mastery class ability. True Hero At 18th level, your heroic sacrifices are unparalleled, even among the bravest warriors. Whenever you or your companion is subjected to a critical hit or takes more than 30 damage from a single attack, you regain 1 Dragon Point. Dragoon Wherever you find Dragonriders, you inevitably find war. Some dragonriders accept the life of war, turning it into a profession. These Dragoons often find themselves at the heads of armies, rallying soldiers behind thier fearsome companions. Martial Experience When you reach 3rd level, you gain additional Dragon Point options, representing your commitment to the tenets of combat. Repositioning Call - When you roll initiative you can expend one Dragon Point, you can select up to 6 willing creatures within 60ft, allowing them to move up to half their speed. This movement doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity.
- When you roll initiative you can expend one Dragon Point, you can select up to 6 willing creatures within 60ft, allowing them to move up to half their speed. This movement doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity. Maneuvering Offense - When you or your bonded dragon hits with a weapon attack, you can spend a Dragon Point to add one of the following effects: Stumbling Strike - The target must make a Strength saving throw, or be knocked prone. Disarming Attack - The target must make a Strength or Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they drop one item they are holding. Sudden Grapple - If you bonded dragon is within 10ft of the target, it can spend its reaction to immediately attempt to grapple the creature.
- When you or your bonded dragon hits with a weapon attack, you can spend a Dragon Point to add one of the following effects: Warrior’s Training At 3rd level, you’ve committed yourself to the way of the warrior, and armed yourself accordingly. Your companion gains proficiency in medium barding (detailed later in the document). Tactical Acumen At 7th level, your experience in battle has sharpened your mind and reactions. You gain advantage on Initiative rolls. In addition, if you roll initiative and are within 5ft of your bonded dragon, you can immediately move up to half your speed and mount your companion. 5
Dragon Vice At 10th level, your dragon’s grapple has become stronger, disabling even the quickest of foes. If your bonded dragon starts its turn grappling a creature, it can use its action to impose the restrained condition on the creature. When the grapple ends, so does this condition. Additionally, if your bonded dragon is grappling one creature of medium size or smaller, it’s speed is not halved while dragging it. Elemental Aura At 15th level, the elemental power of your dragon extends around you like a ward. Whenever a hostile creature starts their turn within 5ft of your mount or moves within 5ft of it, your mount can spend its reaction to deal damage to the creature equal to your proficiency bonus. The damage is the same type as the elemental resistance of your bonded dragon. Scaled Champion At 18th level, your battlefield experience has granted you increased insight, helping you press advantages and recover from devastating blows more easily. Whenever you or your mount land a critical hit or are subjected to a critical hit, you regain one Dragon Point. Losing Your Companion Death The bond between you and your dragon runs deep. It's more than a friendship, and it's deeper that a familial connection. In a sense, the bond irreperably connects the two of you, making you one entity. When the bond is finalized, the rider is given a gift by the dragon. The exact nature of the gift varies from dragon to dragon, but it typically takes the form of a phyical picece of the dragon, such as a scale or tooth. In the traditions of the dragon knights, this is often part of a grand ritual where a squire is knighted, and thier training is completed. Should the dragon fall in battle, the dragon's soul enters the gift. Many arcane scholars have theorized as to exactly how this happens, and the possibility of resurrection. It's proven difficult to study, however, because the destrution of the bond between rider and dragon leads to the rapid deterioration of the rider's mental state. When the dragon dies, the rider immediately suffers the effects of Indefinate Madness, and gains the bond, "I am hollow without my dragon. Without them I cannot continue." The toll the death takes on the rider is usually deadly. In attepts to resurrect their companion or fill the void in thier soul, dragonless riders take increasingly dangerous and desperate risks, which more often than not lead to thier deaths. Even the mighty dragons are not immune to the effects of losing a companion. Should a bonded rider be killed in battle, the dragon must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Upon failure, the dragon goes berserk, violently lashing out at any creatures within it's range. For the next hour, the dragon is unable to distinguish friend from foe, and attacks any creature it can see. At the end of the hour, the dragon gains one level of exhaustion, which cannotbe removed through normal means. The saving throw is repeated every 24 hours, until the dragon dies or the rider is resurrected. Breaking the Bond Sometimes, you lose your dragon due to more sinister circumstances. Perhaps you mistreated a chromatic dragon, and now it resents you, wishing to break the bond. Regardless of the reason, sometimes one party wishes to break the bond. Doing so requires the breaker to spend 1 hour concentrating on the bond, after which the bond is broken. Breaking the bond is an arduous task, and takes a lot out of both parties. Upon completing the breaking of the bond, both the dragon and the rider suffer two levels of exhaustion, that are removed like normal exhaustion. Additionally, both the dragon and the rider must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Upon failure, the creature is subjected to a form of Long-Term Madness (As per the DMG). After a year and a day, the bonded dragon grows to its true size once again, and regains its old statblock. The new age of the dragon is typically adult, but may vary depending on what level you were when the bond was broken. Dragons who break the bond, especially evil ones, often resent thier old riders. In such cases, the dragons often return, seeking vengeance on the rider who wronged them. 6
Dragon Stats Bonded Dragon Large Dragon, Any Alignment Armor Class 14 + Proficiency (Natural)
14 + Proficiency (Natural) Hit Dice 1d10 + Constitiution (10 on 1st Level)
1d10 + Constitiution (10 on 1st Level) Speed 30ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) Saving Throws Strength, Constitution
Strength, Constitution Skills Athletics, Intimidation, Survival
Athletics, Intimidation, Survival Condition Immunities None
None Damage Resistances determined by type
determined by type Senses passive Perception 10, Darkvision 60ft
passive Perception 10, Darkvision 60ft Languages Common, Draconic
Common, Draconic Challenge N/A Gold Eater. A dragon's second stomach is specifically designed for holding treasure. It can hold up to 5 cubic feet of material. Consuming an item requires an action, and retrieving an item requires the dragon to empty its entire stomach, which takes 1 minute. Actions Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 9 (1d10 + 3) Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 7 (1d6 + 3) Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit 8 (1d8 + 3) Rolling Your Stats The above statblock details the average stats for a bonded dragon, but is by no means the end-all of the dragon's stats. At your DM's approval, you can change the allocation of the stats, or even choose to roll the stats as if it was an actual player character. It is recommended that you create a second character sheet for the dragon, essentially treating it like an extra player for the purposes of book keeping. Dragon Options Each dragon option represents a different type of metallic or chromatic dragon. Your choice cannot be changed unless the dragon dies, and it effects your breath weapon, damage resistances, and movement options. Brass Dragon Brass dragons are the most social of all the dragons, and they are the most likely to strike up a conversation with you. They prefer warm, dry climates and bright sunlight. Brass dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Fire
Fire Breath Weapon: 60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage
60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage Movement Increase: Burrow 30ft
Burrow 30ft Fly Speed: 60ft Copper Dragon Copper dragons are habitual prankster and joke tellers. They are generally friendly, and prefer to roost in hills and rocky uplands. Copper dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Acid
Acid Breath Weapon: 60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Acid Damage
60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Acid Damage Movement Increase: Climb 30ft
Climb 30ft Fly Speed: 60ft Bronze Dragon Bronze dragons are the most militaristic of the chromatic dragons. They typically dwell in costal regions, but they'll gladly move to take up arms for a just cause. Bronze dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Lightning
Lightning Breath Weapon: 60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Lightning Damage
60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Lightning Damage Movement Increase: Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water)
Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water) Fly Speed: 60ft Silver Dragon Silver dragons are the most amicable dragons, and are defined by thier love of people. Many silver dragons live out thier lives among humanoids, polymorphed into mortal forms. They have no preferred climate, and can be found just about anywhere. Silver dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Cold
Cold Breath Weapon: 30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Cold Damage
30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Cold Damage Movement Increase: +10ft Move Speed
+10ft Move Speed Fly Speed: 80ft 7
Gold Dragon Gold dragons are solitary creatures, often preferring the silence of ancient ruins, lonely islands, and hidden caves. When provoked, however, they bring a fury that few dragons can match. Gold dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Fire
Fire Breath Weapon: 30-foot Cone, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage
30-foot Cone, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage Movement Increase: Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water)
Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water) Fly Speed: 60ft White Dragon White dragons are the least intelligent of all dragons. What they lack in mental acuity, however, they make up for in pure savagery. They prefer frigid climates, like cold tundras and icy mountains. White dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Cold
Cold Breath Weapon: 30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Cold Damage
30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Cold Damage Movement Increase: Climb 30ft, Ice Walk (Ignores icy terrain)
Climb 30ft, Ice Walk (Ignores icy terrain) Fly Speed: 60ft Black Dragon Black dragons are the vilest of all the chromatic dragons, reveling in the destruction of humanoid societies. They make their homes in fetid swamps and crumbling ruins. Black dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Acid
Acid Breath Weapon: 60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Acid Damage
60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Acid Damage Movement Increase: Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water)
Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water) Fly Speed: 60ft Green Dragon Green dragons are manipulative and treacherous, and they take great pleasure in corrupting the good-hearted. They prefer to reside in dense forests, where they can scheme unnoticed by prying eyes. Green dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Poison, Poisoned Condition
Poison, Poisoned Condition Breath Weapon: 30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Poison Damage
30-foot Cone, Constitution Saving Throw, Poison Damage Movement Increase: Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water)
Swim 30ft, Amphibious (Can breathe air and water) Fly Speed: 60ft Blue Dragon Blue dragons are vain creatures, taking insults to their appearance or power very personally. Residing in desert climates, they are patient hunters, often waiting weeks for the right time to strike. Blue dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Lightning
Lightning Breath Weapon: 60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Lightning Damage
60-foot Line, Dexterity Saving Throw, Lightning Damage Movement Increase: Burrow 30ft
Burrow 30ft Fly Speed: 60ft Red Dragon Red dragons are covetous and proud beasts, always seeking treasure to build their hoards. They prefer high mountains, and places where they can find high purchases to survey their domain from. Red dragons gain the following abilities: Damage Resistance: Fire
Fire Breath Weapon: 30-foot Cone, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage
30-foot Cone, Dexterity Saving Throw, Fire Damage Movement Increase: Climb 30ft
Climb 30ft Fly Speed: 60ft Chromatic vs Metallic When creating your dragonrider, consider the motivations behind your dragon entering into a bond with you. While the above text can give you some ideas into the personality and goals of your bonded dragon, they are by no means hard rules. While most metallic dragons are good aligned and chromatic one’s evil, it's entirely possible that a dragon can have any personality or alignment, regardless of color. Controlling the Dragon Additionally, when playing your dragonrider, keep in mind that your dragon is not a mindless beast like a ranger's animal companion. They have thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes. A dragon won't blindly follow along with your orders, especially if your actions directly contradict their ethos. For the most part, the player has control of the dragon. However, in extreme cases, such as radical personality shifts or effects that would disrupt the bond it may be prudent for the DM to set a course of action for the dragon. 8
Draconic Items Gleaming gold coins, shining gems, and magical curiosities adorn the hoards of great dragons. Most dragonriders, and by extension their dragons, do not have the luxury of large caves of treasure to hoard. What they can collect however, are magical trinkets and baubles to help aid them in their quest. Below is a short collection of magical and mundane items, geared towards Dragonriders and their companions. Mundane Items Draconic Barding For a dragon, typical armor provides little to no benefit. Their hard scales grant them plenty of protection, and most armor would simply slow them down. Draconic barding, however, is a specially designed type of barding that covers vital points on a dragon’s body without sacrificing too much mobility. Barding Types Name AC Bonus Weight Cost Light Barding +1 40 lbs 400 gp Dragon Howdah +1 75 lbs 1000 gp Medium Barding +2 60 lbs 1200 gp Oiled Barding +2 50 lbs 2000 gp Heavy Barding +3 240 lbs 6000 gp Light Barding Light barding is typically composed of hardened leather pieces that cover the dragon's legs and face, providing a +1 bonus to its AC. Dragon Howdah A dragon howdah is a special type of light barding, designed to protect both the dragon and its rider. It consists of hardened leather protecting both the saddle and the dragon itself. Ceremonial versions of this armor often include a decorative canopy over the saddle and back of the dragon. This barding provides a +1 bonus to the AC of both the companion and whoever is sitting in the saddle. Because of its large size and heavy weight, a dragon howdah imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Medium Barding Medium barding typically consists of sheets if chain mail or layers of metal scales that cover the dragon's legs and joints, typically with a metal helm. This barding provides a +2 bonus to AC, and imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Oiled Barding Oiled barding is a special type of medium barding, designed for night missions. It is made up of leather pieces with metal plates or scales attached. The armor is oiled heavily, allowing heavier protection and quiet movements. This armor provides a +2 bonus to AC, and imposes no penalty on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Heavy Barding Heavy barding is made up of heavy metal plates, layered over chain mail. The heaviest of all the barding, this armor provides a +3 bonus to the dragon's AC, and imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (stealth) checks. Dragon Weapons Many dragons would turn up their noses at the thought of using a weapon in battle. To some, it's seen as a sign of weakness and a source of shame. Practical dragonriders, however, would argue that in the heat of battle, the only thing that matters is your survival. Regardless of the controversial nature of draconic weapons, few can argue with the efficacy of these tools. Name Effect Weight Cost Tail Spike +1d4 4 lbs 100 gp Greater Tail Spike +1d10 8 lbs 1500 gp Chain Attachment Trip 8 lbs 500 gp Fell Claws +1d4 5 lbs 100 gp Greater Fell Claws +1d6 10 lbs 1000 gp Vicious Claws 19-20 Crit 4 lbs 800 gp Tail Spike A tail spike is a simple metal band that is fitted over the end of a dragon's tail, with somewhere between 1-4 spikes attached to it. Blows from a tail spike are terrible indeed, dealing an additional 1d4 damage, and changing the damage from bludgeoning to piercing. Only one attachment can be affixed to the tail at a time. Greater Tail Spike A greater tail spike is an improvement upon the standard version. Typically made with superior materials and 5-8 spikes, blows from a greater tail spike deal an additional 1d10 damage, and change the damage from bludgeoning to piercing. Only one attachment can be affixed to the tail at a time. Chain Attachment A chain attachment is a metal band with a length of chain attached to it. When the dragon's tail is swung, the chain wraps around the victim’s legs, knocking them prone. When a large or smaller target is hit by a dragon's tail attack, it must make a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + the dragon's Strength score + the dragon's proficiency bonus. 9
Fell Claws Fell claws are a set of 10 hollow metal claws, forged to fit tightly over the natural claws of a dragon. These claws add extra weight to a dragon's strikes, allowing them to tear through tough hide and puncture metal, dealing an additional 1d4 slashing damage. Greater Fell Claws Greater fell claws are a sharper and heavier version of the standard set of claws. Blows from greater fell claws deal an additional 1d6 slashing damage. Vicious Claws Vicious claws are an alternative version of the standard fell claws, designed to leave grievous wounds. Instead of focusing on weight or sharpness, fell claws are serrated or jagged, leaving huge tears in the flesh of a dragon's quarry. Vicious claws deal no additional damage, but they score a critical hit on a 19 or 20. Magic Items +1, +2, +3 Barding Any armor, rare, very rare, legendary
This magical barding provides a +1, +2, or +3 magical bonus to the dragon's AC, in addition to the standard bonus the barding provides. This armor magically resizes to fit its wearer. +1, +2, +3 Weapon Any weapon, uncommon, rare, very rare
These magical weapons proved a +1, +2, or +3 magical bonus to the dragon's attack and damage rolls with that natural attack. Damage from this attack also counts as magical for the purposes of overcoming damage resistances. Amulets of Summoning Wondrous item, uncommon (attunement)
This pair of golden amulets is etched with the image of a dragon's head in profile. When attuned by a dragon and its rider (both parties must be attuned), the face shifts to mimic that of the dragon. As an action, the rider can call his dragon's name and summon the dragon into the nearest unoccupied space. This summon automatically fails if the dragon is on a different plane of existence. The amulet can be used once, and regains its use at dawn. Armor of Basking Any armor, very rare (Requires attunement by a dragon)
Armor of basking is adorned with gold trimmings and designs of the sun. While attuned to this armor, a dragon is compelled to seek out sunlight to lay in whenever possible. If a dragon attuned to the armor is damaged while in an area of direct sunlight, the armor begins to radiate heat, and the dragon begins to regain 1 hit point at the start of every turn. Once the dragon has regained 50 hit points through this feature the armor cools down and becomes inactive once again. It gains the ability to regenerate once again when the sun sets that day. Armor of Jundrygg, the Stalwart Armor, legendary (Requires attunement by a dragon)
This set of gold-plated barding once belonged to an ancient gold dragon. Though he has been long forgotten, his armor still bears retains some of the magical essence of the long-deceased protector. Mechanically, this barding serves as +1 medium barding, and provides resistance to radiant and necrotic damage. The armor gently glows in the dark, bathing a 10ft area around it in dim light. As an action, the wearer of the armor can cast Daylight, centered on the armor. Any undead who enters the bright light of Daylight for the first time or starts its turn there take 5 radiant damage as holy light eats away at them. Once the light fades, the armor must bask in the light of the morning sun for 1 hour before it can be used again. Banner of Morale Wondrous item, uncommon (attunement)
This banner of red silk depicts a golden lion rearing on its hind legs. The banner has been dragged through many campaigns, and it's spattered with mud and blood that never seems to wash off. When the banner is hoisted as an action, up to three allies within 30ft of the user gain an additional 1d4 to one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw they make within the next minute. Once the banner has been hoisted, it cannot be used this way again until the next dawn. Deceiver’s Band Wondrous item, rare (Requires attunement by a dragon)
This band of green silk is tied around the leg of a dragon, and its black embroidery seems to constantly shift, taking new forms. When attuned to by a dragon, it allows them to cast the polymorph spell, targeting only themselves. This spell, however, can only be used to change the dragon into a humanoid, adopting the statblock of a noble (as per the Monster Manual). This spell can be cast up to 3 times, regaining all uses at midnight. 10
King's Banner Wondrous item, rare (attunement)
This banner, colored with purple dyes, depicts the seal of a long-broken kingdom. In order for the banner to function, it must be worn in a position where it can be easily seen, such as on a lance or saddle and ceases to function if the bearer falls unconscious. While the banner is hoisted, allied creatures within 30ft are immune to fear. Additionally, as an action you can lift the banner high, inspiring those around you. Up to 3 allies that can see and hear you within 60ft of you can repeat a saving throw against a spell that is currently affecting them, ending the spell on a success. Once this feature has been used, it cannot be used until the next dawn. Marching Banner Wondrous item, uncommon (attunement)
This pure-white banner bears the symbol of a bear. While the banner is affixed in a position where it can be easily seen, up to 50 creatures that can see the banner are empowered with magical endurance. While under the effects of the banner, a creature can double the normal distance while traveling, and they have advantage on Constitution saving throws against exhaustion from a forced march. Mosar's Etching Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement by a chromatic dragon)
This obsidian medallion once belonged to the ancient black dragon Mosar the Unyielding. When a chromatic dragon is attuned to the medallion, the air around them is charged with elemental energy. Whenever a creature other than the dragon's rider moves within 10ft of the dragon or starts their turn in this area, they take 1d6 damage of the type the dragon is resistant to. Necklace of Draconic Tyrants Wondrous item, rare (Requires attunement by a dragon or dragonborn)
This necklace seems to be forged from a blood-red metal of indeterminate origin. When attuned to by a dragon or dragonborn, elemental power springs up from deep within the dragon's body. The hues of their scales deepen, and elemental energy springs forth from their maw (Smoke and embers from the mouth of a red dragon, for example). This elemental energy empowers the dragon's breath weapon, allowing it to deal an additional 2d6 damage of the same type when used. In addition, the size of the dragon's breath weapon is doubled. A 30ft cone becomes a 60ft cone, and a 60ft line becomes a 120ft line. Necklace of Swiftness Wondrous item, rare (Requires attunement by a dragon)
This heavy silver chain is large, fit for only a dragon to wear. When attuned to by a dragon, it tightens comfortably around their neck, granting them blinding speed. While attuned to the necklace, a dragon's movement speeds are all increased by 30ft. Though the necklace is tight and unmoving while around the dragon's neck, it is never difficult to remove. Qindradynth's Claws Weapon (any claw weapon), very rare These metal claws have been cursed by the dracolich Qindradynth, staining them irreparably black. When a dragon attunes to these claws, the black begins creeping up the dragon’s forelegs, stopping just before the body. Weapon attacks from these claws deal an additional 1d4 necrotic damage, causing the flesh around the wounds to rot away quickly. Every time a target is hit with these claws after the first hit, the damage increases by 1d4. As an action, a creature affected by this can make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check. On a success, the damage resets to 1d4. Curse This weapon is cursed, and when the claws are fitted onto a dragon, the curse extends to it. Until the curse is broken by a Remove Curse spell or similar effect, the dragon is unwilling to part with the weapon, even to its own detrement. Whenever a dragon attuned to the item makes a death saving throw, the blackness of their legs flares up, imposing disadvantage on the saving throw. If the dragon should die because if this, the dragon will be raised as an undead creature in 7 days. Ruby of True Forms Wondrous item, artifact (Requires attunement by a dragon)
This deep crimson gemstone is said to contain the essence of an ancient dragon. If you stare deeply into the gem, you can just barely make out the shadowy, writhing form of a dragon trapped within. In order to attune to the gem, it must be placed between the dragon's eyes, where it becomes affixed until attunement ends. While attuned to the gem, a dragon can use its action to assume the form of an ancient dragon of its same color for 1 minute, as per the True Polymorph spell. Once the gem is used this way, it becomes inactive until a week passes. Most attempts to destroy the Ruby of True Forms fail, as weapons and spells simply bounce off the gem without dealing damage. The only way to truly destroy the gem is to subject it to the breath weapons of both an ancient gold and red dragon simultaneously, which cracks the gem and renders it powerless. 11 | {
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In life, Steve Jobs was lauded as a brilliant innovator who revolutionized the intersection of technology and design. In memoriam, however, the man responsible for establishing the iEmpire has often been portrayed as something less than ideal, and recent films and biographies have highlighted of the less flattering traits of the Apple pioneer.
So now, the heir to the Apple kingdom, Tim Cook, whose public persona has in many ways become the antithesis of Jobs’, has written a heartfelt email to his employees, celebrating the life of the man who, for better or for worse, is responsible for much of what our technological landscape looks like today.
Remembering Steve for who he was and what he stood for. We honor him by continuing the work he loved so much. pic.twitter.com/6UiXBjYe3l — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2015
The lengthy email, in which Jobs is described as a “brilliant person” and a “dear friend,” urges current employees to “ask what he was really like,” no doubt a direct reference to the more critical portraits painted by various media outlets as of late. “Steve was a brilliant person, and his priorities were very simple,” Cook wrote. “He loved his family above all, he loved Apple, and he loved the people with whom he worked so closely and achieved so much.”
Jobs’ own history with Apple was storied and certainly not without strife. Despite co-founding the company with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976, he was effectively stripped of his influence within the firm in 1985, and took a lengthy hiatus before returning as Apple’s CEO in 1997. In the decade that followed, Apple established itself as the industry standard in desktop and mobile computing, as well as in design. Under Jobs’ leadership, some of Apple’s most valued and storied products were introduced, including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
Highlighting his numerous achievements, Cook wrote that Jobs’ vision for Apple included producing “The greatest products on earth, beloved by customers and empowering hundreds of millions of people around the world. Soaring achievements in technology and architecture. Experiences of surprise and delight. A company that only he could have built. A company with an intense determination to change the world for the better.”
Read Cook’s full email below:
Team,
Today marks four years since Steve passed away. On that day, the world lost a visionary. We at Apple lost a leader, a mentor, and many of us lost a dear friend.
Steve was a brilliant person, and his priorities were very simple. He loved his family above all, he loved Apple, and he loved the people with whom he worked so closely and achieved so much.
Each year since his passing, I have reminded everyone in the Apple community that we share the privilege and responsibility of continuing the work Steve loved so much.
What is his legacy? I see it all around us: An incredible team that embodies his spirit of innovation and creativity. The greatest products on earth, beloved by customers and empowering hundreds of millions of people around the world. Soaring achievements in technology and architecture. Experiences of surprise and delight. A company that only he could have built. A company with an intense determination to change the world for the better.
And, of course, the joy he brought his loved ones.
He told me several times in his final years that he hoped to live long enough to see some of the milestones in his children’s lives. I was in his office over the summer with Laurene and their youngest daughter. Messages and drawings from his kids to their father are still there on Steve’s whiteboard.
If you never knew Steve, you probably work with someone who did or who was here when he led Apple. Please stop one of us today and ask what he was really like. Several of us have posted our personal remembrances on AppleWeb, and I encourage you to read them.
Thank you for honoring Steve by continuing the work he started, and for remembering both who he was and what he stood for.
Editors' Recommendations | {
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For most, getting a practical, environmentally friendly car in 2020 still means looking at a hybrid. Pair a big old battery with an internal combustion engine and presto, you've got 50 miles per gallon easy in a heavy, feature-laden car, even if your default driving style is "bat out of hell." For all the talk of coming electric vehicles, in reality most automakers are extremely careful in using the word electrified to describe future plans—that's because hybrids will be a central pillar. With that in mind, Honda recently revised its hybrid system and tucked it into the Accord and compact Insight, the latter of which re-emerged in 2018 as a conventional sedan with an unconventional powertrain. This third-generation hybrid setup is lighter, smaller, and more powerful, and eliminated the controversial use of certain rare earth metals in its production, a Honda rep told me.
Stef Schrader One Clarity on our drive came wearing California HOV lane stickers.
The so-called intelligent power unit alone—the part of the hybrid system housing its lithium-ion batteries—was made a whopping 32 percent smaller than previous generations. The batteries were repackaged to reduce the number of structural components loading the car down, and the car's DC-DC converter was relocated to the car's under-hood power control unit in a single, compact unit. That's crucial when you're trying to shoehorn two electric motors under the hood alongside the 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four cylinder engine.
Honda Drivetrain layout of the Honda Insight.
The Insight (base price: $23,860) still has a standard 12-volt car battery to power the starter and accessories, and engineers moved it to the center console to further clear space up front. That might sound like a maintenance nightmare, but the charging terminals are still located in the engine bay for an easy jump, and the tool needed for direct access is stored in the trunk. As you might expect, convenience is a huge selling point for hybrid buyers, and Honda really focused on making the driving and ownership experience feel as straightforward as possible. The interior has real buttons and a layout that's familiar and intuitive to use. Most importantly, there's no compromise in cargo space in the Civic-platform Insight, as the system's batteries are now hiding under the rear seats. There's another bonus to the new under-seat packaging. "When you fold down that rear seat, you're able to get a full pass-through and a full trunk so you don't have to sacrifice any cargo space to have a hybrid," Honda product planner Chris Hand said over the phone.
Stef Schrader Inside the Clarity's futuristic bodywork lies a familiar, easy-to-use interior. Shown with Apple CarPlay enabled. Android Auto is included as well.
At the end of the day, this is a business, and Honda is trying to woo more regular buyers into hybrids as opposed to just early adopters and the performative environmentalism set. Currently, hybrids account for seven percent of Honda sales worldwide, and the automaker would like electrified (there's that word again) sales to account for two-thirds of its annual output by 2030. That's a high goal, one it intends to reach by making good cars that just happen to incorporate an electric motor or two. Doubling down on small cars and sedans after automakers like Ford left that market behind in the U.S. is also part of the strategy. People may not even realize you're driving a hybrid Accord or Insight until they notice a small badge on the exterior or watch the car pull up silently under electric power. The Insight is even less flashier than the similarly-sized Civic, which is the point of the whole disguise: making a paradigm shift look normal.
Stef Schrader The 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, as tested.
Starting Off With a Decent Hybrid System The midsize 2020 Honda Clarity (base price: $34,355, including destination) is an exception, still using a second-generation electrified powertrain in the plug-in hybrid guise seen here. (Full electric and hydrogen fuel cell variants are also available to buyers in certain states.) The older hybrid system's inclusion was a matter of timing according to Hand, as the Clarity PHEV was released before the new system was ready for use. It's the only plug-in Honda sells, and its Franco-futuristic angular lines are also a standout in the lineup. It's got a hefty 17 kWh lithium-ion battery; fully charging it on a 120V outlet will take 12 hours, though a Level 2 charger will fill it in 2.2 hours. Though unless you're trying to be extra eco-conscious, Honda's smart hybrid setup will constantly use the gas engine to supplement and recharge the battery—but more on that in a bit. The difference between the Clarity and the other models with the newer hybrid system was noticeable, as you could still see a hump for the big battery in its otherwise cavernous trunk.
Stef Schrader You can still steal a couple e-scooters without having to put the seats down, though.
Driving the Clarity still feels like driving a normal midsize sedan—and that's the point. It won't be winning any drag races, but unlike the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in I drove recently, it actually gets out of its own way when you jump on the throttle thanks to a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The transition between all-electric power (range is 47 miles) and the 1.5-liter engine was very smooth and hardly noticeable beyond the noise. Be gentle around town and you can expend all that electric range without ever waking up the gas-powered lump. Most of my test drive was around the more congested parts of Austin, Texas, so I'll spare you the cliché of speculating how everyday handling would translate to its competence at the limit, wherever that limit might be. Steering is light but responsive. It's not impossible to outrun the low grip of the Clarity's narrow Michelin EnergySaver tires if you really push it, but in most situations the car heads wherever you point the wheel pretty directly. The ride competently absorbed most of what Austin's garbage roads threw at it, erring towards stiffness over disconcerting bounciness when I hit a big yump.
Stef Schrader The Clarity's cool fender skirts actually help it save more fuel.
My only real complaint with the Clarity's driving experience is its large turning radius. Turning around in some of Austin's smaller downtown areas required multiple-point turns, and no, there isn't a physical handbrake to make it any snappier either. If you're an over-the-shoulder reverser, the view backwards is annoyingly bisected by the spoiler, though the lower window integrated into the rear deck lid is a handy touch. As with Honda's other cars, there's also a rear-facing camera mounted on the passenger side mirror to improve blind spot visibility.
Stef Schrader The Clarity's rear view needs some technological help.
How the New Hybrid System Compares If the Clarity was a funky reminder of how hybrids used to be truly weird cars, the 2020 Honda Insight was a pleasant surprise. I still miss the tiny, futuristic first-generation Insights of yore in all their stick-shift glory, this car is still pleasing to look at—something I could never say about the "like a Prius, except dowdy" second-gen Insight. Swapping into the Insight for the rest of the day really drove home how Honda's advances in its third-generation hybrids are making the technology feel downright normal. Despite being a smaller car with an enclosed trunk, its 15.1 cubic feet and continuous flat floor were impressive to behold. While both cars I drove have 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle inline-four cylinder engines to generate power for their hybrid systems as needed, the Insight was considerably faster and nimbler to drive despite being down on power and torque (151 hp and 99 lb-ft). Credit its mechanical similarities to the excellent Civic and a big weight advantage—the Clarity is a hair over 4,000 pounds, while the base Insight LX clocks in at a paltry 2,987 pounds. That's light for a modern compact car of any kind, much less a hybrid. Honda doesn't list any 0-60 mph times on either of the cars' stat sheets. Per InsideEVs, the Clarity needs 9.5 seconds to get to 60 mph, while Motor Trend measured the Insight at 7.7 seconds. Neither are going to light the drag strip on fire without a drivetrain swap, but thankfully there's enough immediate torque to get out of their own way.
Stef Schrader The Honda Insight's interior is pretty normal, too.
Sure, comparing a midsize plug-in Clarity versus a compact non-plug-in Insight isn't exactly a fair fight, but saving weight and space was a significant part of Honda's third generation hybrid system, and the benefits were clear even if the Clarity needs a bigger battery overall as a PHEV. The Insight had a 60-cell lithium-ion battery good for an output of 96 kilowatts and 1.1 kilowatt-hours of power, whereas the Clarity's pack took up a lot more space and cut into the rear cargo area despite the model being substantially larger. I can't help but wonder how much more spacious the already roomy Clarity could be with a smaller, more efficient third-gen battery. (Honda would not comment on whether an updated Clarity was coming.)
Stef Schrader 2020 Honda Insight.
That third-generation system is simply brilliant in the Insight. It doesn't feel as though it's lugging around a giant lump of electrons somewhere amidships—it just feels like a normal small car, a quieter, more conservatively-styled Civic. It also consistently eked out over 50 mpg driving on a heavily mixed route through Austin, backing up Honda's claimed combined mileage of 52 MPG. But this is as straight a hybrid as they come, with a token electric-only mode that'll take you less than a mile on battery power. While the Clarity is more a comfy midsize tourer, the Insight handled well enough that my curmudgeonly face broke into a smile on some of the hill country's twistier backroads. I would have liked a little more acceleration to call the Insight outright fun, but it can carry enough speed through turns to elicit grins even as it rides on low rolling resistance (read: harder and less grippy) Michelin EnergySaver all-season tires. The heavier Clarity wasn't by no means a mileage slouch either, with Honda claiming a combined rating of 42 mpg that was also spot-on with what I observed during a long drive that wasn't what anyone would call a gentle cruise. What can I say—torque is torque, and it's addictive stuff.
Stef Schrader The 2019 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid's big trunk.
Honda's Biggest Hits and Misses Perhaps the most ingenious weight-saving measure is common to both the Honda Insight and Clarity: the use of a dual-motor powertrain that eliminates the need for a transmission. Most hybrids use a single electric motor in conjunction with a continuously variable transmission, but Honda has two in its cars. One powers the front wheels like you'd expect, and the other acting as a multi-purpose generator attached to the internal combustion engine, which it uses to create electric power to send to either the propulsion motor or the battery pack. In other words, the gas engine isn't directly driving the front wheels most of the time you hear and feel it running—instead, it's powering a generator that's directly feeding electricity into an AC drive motor, recharging the battery, or some combination thereof. There is a clutch to force a direct connection at higher speeds, but this setup saves weight and lowers rolling resistance compared to shoving a regular transmission between the engine and drive wheels. Driving this system feels a lot like driving a CVT insofar as it's very smooth. Throttle position determines when the gas engine kicks in for more power, meaning you can on a cloud of pure electricity when you're bumping along at slower speeds provided there's enough charge.
Stef Schrader The big smiling face of the 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid.
Speaking of, electric-only driving is somewhat of a letdown in both. These cars are really meant to seamlessly extend the life of your gas tank for as long as possible, not battery-powered runabouts with an internal combustion engine for longer trips. Even the plug-in Clarity with its usable 47-mile electric range lacks a pure EV mode; no matter what, pushing the accelerator pedal past three-quarters down will wake up the gas engine. It would be nice to be able to lock that out for leadfoots trying their best to be frugal.
Stef Schrader Drive mode selection buttons in the Clarity.
Without a transmission to control, the steering wheel shift paddles are repurposed to adjust regenerative braking strength in both cars. It's nice to be able to adjust this on the fly, especially when you're coasting down a large hill, but as someone who's accustomed to using behind-the-wheel paddles to change gears, I found it a strange adjustment that doesn't jibe with Honda's overarching goal of making hybrids feel normal to the masses.
Stef Schrader Driving the Clarity in South Austin. | {
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On Sunday, protesters clashed in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood one day after a police-involved shooting.
Joshua Beal Family photo
CPD detectives have authenticated the private cell phone video and photographs from yesterday's. incident in 22nd District. — Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 7, 2016
Detectives are thankful for all the information coming in from the community and citizens in the area. — Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 7, 2016
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Protesters clashed Sunday afternoon near the site of a deadly police shooting of a 25-year-old man in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood.Investigators said Joshua Beal, of Indianapolis, was armed when a confrontation between him and officers resulted in him being fatally shot. However, family members dispute the police narrative.Michael Beal, Joshua Beal's brother, was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a police officer, a Cook County State's Attorney spokesperson said Monday. He is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.On Sunday, Mount Greenwood residents squared off against activists demonstrating against the shooting. The clash between Black Lives Matters and Blue Lives Matters groups became tense at times as they exchanged chants such as "KKK" on one side and "CPD" on the other side."Nobody should have to sit there and witness their brother get killed by the same people who are supposed to protect the us," said Beal's sister Cordney Boxley.According to police, the shooting occurred after a vehicle leaving funeral services at a nearby cemetery stopped in traffic in front of a Chicago fire house near West 111th Street and South Troy Street. An off-duty firefighter told the driver that they were illegally blocking the fire lane. The occupants exited the vehicle and a verbal/physical altercation ensured, police said. An off-duty Chicago police officer was inside a nearby business and assisted the firefighter.A Chicago police sergeant driving to work stopped when he observed a man with a firearm in his hands. After the man "failed to drop his weapon, shots were fired striking the individual multiple times," police said."At that time, a subject displayed a weapon, an off-duty CPD sergeant was on his way to work in uniform observed the subject. At that time shots were fired, and the subject was fatally struck," said Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.The shooter was the police sergeant.According to family, an off-duty officer in an unmarked vehicle cut off one of the vehicles in the funeral procession. The family members and officer got out of their vehicles. After a verbal exchange, gunfire erupted but Beal's family said that he did not provoke the officer, and merely disclosing that he had a concealed weapon permit."Chicago police gunned my baby down like a vicious animal," said Tiffaney Boxley, Beal's mother. "They shot him twice in the back and three times in his front."The Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) is investigating.Video circulated online on Sunday that claimed to show Beal holding a gun."The problem is everybody is making their assumptions based on the little stuff they see, the picture, the video. No one knows what happened," activist Ja'Mal Green said.The video appears to capture the tense moments before the shooting, showing at least two people with their guns out. In another video, gunshots can be heard."IPRA investigators are in talks with several eye witnesses and are taking steps to authenticate the videos and images that have been widely circulated. While it is still very early in the investigation we can confirm that early ballistic evidence suggests multiple firearms were discharged. It is our hope that people will wait until all evidence is brought to light before making any conclusions about what happened yesterday evening," said IPRA spokesperson Mia Sissac.CPD Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Monday that private cell phone video and photos of the incident are authentic - they had not been doctored or altered using Photoshop.Britnie Nelson said she witnessed the incident."As I'm looking, I see the officer shoot the man. He ran around the car and he shot the man. The gun went off thirteen times," Nelson said.The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days."If they don't do something they are the bad guys. If they try to do something they are the bad guys. So what they are supposed to do?" asked one protester supporting police officers.Marist High School said it is taking action for a student's racially-charged post on social media reacting to the shooting. This statement was posted on the school's website:"This evening Marist High School was made aware of a racially charged post on social media involving Marist students. We are devastated by this situation. Disciplinary action is being taken. Marist is a diverse community, made better and stronger by that diversity. As a school community, we continually work so that each student feels welcome, valued, and safe. We have been and will continue to engage with diverse student leaders to give a voice to all students and to focus on shared values. Given the tenuous times we all are living in, and recent events nearby Marist High School, our mission to make Jesus known and loved is more pertinent than ever. As always, the safety of our students is of utmost importance." | {
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The rape of a transgender woman in the north-central province of Quang Binh has sparked a serious debate among legal professionals after judicial authorities declined to prosecute the three perpetrators.
The German Press Agency dpa quoted officials in the province as saying the victim had not reclassified her legal gender from male to female on Wednesday, August 25. Because Vietnamese law only applies to the rape of women by men, the case could not be prosecuted, they said.
"The laws don't regulate how to deal with this case, so even if the group raped her ten times, we would not be able to sentence them," Nguyen Van Thin, chief judge of the provincial People's Court, told dpa.
According to Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper, the unidentified woman was gang-raped by the three men on April 4. She reported the crime to local police the following day. After the men were arrested, they confessed to the crime in custody.
The province ran into problems when the authorities found that all of the victim's identification documents indicated her gender as male.
She said she had undergone a sex change operation overseas four years ago and now, as a woman, she insisted the rapists be punished, the newspaper said.
Some experts said, legally speaking, the victim is still a man and the case is thus not covered under the law. They said that Vietnamese law does not recognize the grievances of transgender rape victims.
Other legal professionals did not agree. They said the law only stipulates that "those who use force, threaten to use force, or abuse the defenselessness of their victims, or use other tricks in order to have sexual intercourse with the victims against their will" are guilty of rape.
Because the regulation makes no reference to the genders of either the offender or the victim, anyone who commits the crime can be prosecuted under current law.
Judge Pham Cong Hung, from the HCMC People's Supreme Court, said that what the three men did to the victim was enough to hold them guilty of rape and there should be no question about it. | {
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While it might be some time before we get to learn of a release date for Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers, Capcom are wasting no time with sharing additional information about the title, so let’s dive right in shall we?
“Way of the Hero Mode” (aka Unleash Ha-DO-Ken):
First person mode where you play as Ryu, who must take down the Shadaloo soldiers who put themselves in his path to M. Bison.
With a Joy-con in each hand, players can unleash Hadokens and Shoryukens thanks to motion controls and specific button combinations.
Stage Mode consists of defeating a set number of enemies to clear a certain stage.
Endless mode has you fighting until you run out of life and die.
Training mode is a place where you can go and practice your skills and perfect your techniques.
Growth points are rewarded, but how much you get depends on how you did.
Growth points can be used to increase Ryu’s Attack, Speed, Guts Defence, Luck and Vital stats.
High-Resolution Illustration Gallery:
In Ultra Street Fighter II there is a gallery mode that will allow you to browse through 1,400 “carefully selected illustrations” from SF20: The Art of Street Fighter.
Each image is 250 dpi high-resolution so zooming in on even the smallest text is not only possible, but doable and is something of an “irresistible new feature.”
Color Edit:
Ultra Street Fighter II also has a color edit feature that allows you to change the colours of your characters and “store them.
Up to 10 edited colours can be stored for each characters and these coloured characters can be used in Arcade mode versus and online battles.
Colours can be customized intuitively using the touch-screen.
Going by everything we’ve seen so far, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is shaping up to be one hell of an interesting title that could even give Smash a run for its money!
Source: Gematsu
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This post was written by Solid Jack | {
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There have been a lot of amazing but wrong Wheel of Fortune guesses, and now there's a guess that can go down in the record books with them, except this time, it's not a fail.
Matt Desanto appeared on Friday's Wheel of Fortune, and with just one vowel, he managed to guess this puzzle. It even made host Pat Sajak joke, "I don't want to cause trouble at home, but I think there's still a connection between you and Vanna."
Maybe "The Lone Ranger" was just a lucky guess, but he was on a roll for the entire show. He won every puzzle in the game and won $91,000 before the bonus round began.
NEWS: Pat Sajak Walks Off Set After This Guess
His $91,000 win set a new record for Wheel of Fortune as it's the most that anyone has ever won during the main portion of the show.
Congrats to Matt on being a WOF record holder!
Check out the video below to see which 6 celebs appeared on game shows before they were famous.
Follow Rosalyn on Twitter: @RosalynOsh | {
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Her parents named her Vienna.
They honeymooned there twice and loved the city so much they named their first child after it. They were telling her the story at Red Lobster during a celebration of her first real job out of college at Dennell-Olexa-Ferrin Chemical, like they had for every birthday for the last 15 years. Her mother sighed when she described the boats gliding across the blue Danube, their speakers crackling out the waltz named for the waters massaging their hulls. Her father bellowed his hoary laugh, saying the boat captain was more in love with her mother than he was. Vienna just smiled and nodded over the flounder cooked in too much butter with parmesan crust and the cheesy biscuits that always made her feel greasy.
Over desserts that were too sweet for her tastes, Vienna’s parents told her she was their smart girl, and she believed them like she always did. Vienna had majored in chemical engineering at MIT and had spent every waking moment of her college years pouring over books and online tutorials. She walked out of her graduation ceremony into her first job with barely enough time to take off her cap and gown.
She made good money at the chemical plant. Even after just a week, she was already respected and barely supervised. Her desk job didn’t require her to do any of the scary stuff-- no standing on high catwalks above the gleaming chrome vats nor donning bright yellow equipment to test tiny amounts of spectacularly corrosive compounds. Just Powerpoints about math and charts about short-chain alcohols and meeting-induced narcolepsy battled by cups upon cups of coffee. It was the most bored she had ever been. Six years of all-night study sessions and endless scientific papers had forced her to grow accustomed to 13-hour days and working weekends. With master’s degree in hand, she was suddenly working a soft 40 hours with holidays and more comprehensive leave time than she would ever be able to handle.
“We’re proud of you, sweetie,” her mother said, beaming like a Norman Rockwell painting in the bright yellow light of the restaurant booth’s fake harbor lights. Vienna loved her parents.
Vienna walked into Brady McKane’s office a month later and sat down in the uncomfortable gray chair opposite his desk. She put her hands in her lap and smiled. Brady turned his pudgy face away from his computer screen, which almost certainly displayed a hand of Internet poker he could minimize at a moment’s notice. He raised his left eyebrow until it disappeared underneath his messy blonde bangs. Brady was a boss from a cartoon; his suspenders and silk tie were loosened from his unbuttoned collar and his demeanor, like always, was generally sweaty.
“Vee?” he said nonchalantly, his syllable sidling around the unlit cigar he was chomping in his teeth. He had smoked them for years before Vienna was hired. His inbox archives were filled with a thousand corporate memos passively-aggressively telling him that no office in America would let anyone smoke inside, much less a plant that handled flammable chemicals. He would scan each email to see if they were actually threatening to can him, then move on when he was satisfied that they would not. Any threat would probably be a bluff, anyway; despite his online poker habit, Brady was a good manager. He had a rapport with his staff that perfectly balanced a friendly approachability with an authoritative edge. But, corporate lawyers figured out a way to fine him instead of fire him, so he settled for chewing his cigars instead of lighting them, and everyone seemed satisfied with that.
Vienna smiled a little sunnier and said something incredibly technical that meant, in layman’s terms, that she wanted more work. Brady’s cigar nearly fell out of his mouth.
“You want more work!” he guffawed. Like a cartoon, Vienna thought. Like Perry White in the old Fleischer Superman cartoons. She wished he’d yell “Great Caesar’s ghost!” just once.
Brady got up and walked around his desk to slap her on the back a little too hard. “Now, that’s a new one! Keep that shit up and you’ll have my job!” Corporate had warned Brady many times to not use the word “shit” when speaking to his subordinates. The lawyers hadn’t figured out a way to fine him for that, yet.
Vienna frowned. “I’m just not sure I’m being used to my full potential.”
Brady, now leaning against his desk, coughed and laughed at the same time and nearly lost his cigar again. “You’re bored? You’re telling me you’re bored.”
Brady guffawed again, then told her to always take time to double-check her work. Vienna tried to protest again, but Brady was already back in his chair behind his desk and he dismissed her from there. It must have been his turn to bet.
Vienna rolled around in bed as much as she could stand and still found, with annoyance, that it wasn’t even mid-morning. I was Saturday, and she had been determined to sleep in for once, but she had failed. She succeeded at every quantifiable task she came across—school, work, nutrition—but every subjective, the spices of life, these were the things she failed at. She sat up, her covers still draped over her legs. Her head swung lazily over to her cat, who began purring with pleasure at the day’s first attention. Vienna watched the cat knead her paws in ecstasy at the mere thought of food and a good petting and realized, with the saddest sinking feeling she had ever felt, that she had no idea how to have fun. She was a work addict with no work to do, and it was making her miserable.
A shower would kill time at least. Were showers fun? No. They were comfortable and pleasant, but not fun. At least they weren’t the nuisance that sleep was. She tried to think of something fun while the hot water cascaded down her, but nothing came. She just stood in the tub until the water turned cold, then squeaked the apartment shower’s double faucets closed. Her cat was waiting for her on the bathroom rug, as cats do. Vienna thought about shooing him away so she wouldn’t have to risk slipping on the cold tiles or, even worse, dripping on him and watching him scamper away. Instead, she did the illogical thing all cat owners do: She let him have his way and gingerly stepped onto the floor.
Vienna looked apathetically at her own reflection as her electric toothbrush buzzed along her gums. Her olive skin was dotted with dark freckles and tiny water droplets. Her features were more angular than curvy. If it were a weekday she would spend an hour on her appearance because she knew there was profit in a pretty face in the modern world. She never used her sexuality—she had none and never felt she needed it. But, she knew how to look just right by curling her mouth into a gentle smile or brightening her eyes just enough to make someone feel comfortable and feel a little better about giving her what she wanted.
In truth, though, she didn’t see it. No, that wasn’t exactly correct, she had reasoned—she clearly had the shape and symmetry the western world loved to love. She knew she was attractive. It was just that, where everyone else seemed to see faces or calves or belly buttons as pictures in an exhibition, she saw them as parts to be maintained. She was satisfied with her appearance, but not impressed.
She spat into her sink. Fine, she thought. I’ll go out. I’ll have fun. I’ll do it in broad daylight in front of everyone.
Vienna was quiet for a moment. She became marginally aware of the faintest flicker of the lights over the bathroom mirror as she stared into her own eyes.
“How do I do that?” she said out loud.
Her cat didn’t say anything.
The appeal of the art museum was that it doubled as both a social activity and a public venue and–-the clincher—she wasn’t expected to converse. Indeed, talk was almost discouraged, she thought gleefully. Vienna’s pumps and sweater half-top and classy dress that hung to her knees (an ensemble that was specifically chosen for its polarizing combination of attraction and cold, professional standoffishness) walked through the front door. She was instantly bored. Six years of using her left brain to earn a master’s degree had left her right brain shriveled and useless.
She walked through each of the museum’s mid-sized galleries. Some were filled with preposterous pieces that meant nothing. Others were filled with the opposite—boring paintings of barns and sculptures of flaccid, nude men that only could be taken at face value. Why were women always depicted in the midst of ecstasy in sculptures, but not men? She stifled several yawns. Another patron’s light cough startled her. She imagined the glass installations shattering as the cough assaulted the silence.
The last room was filled with the most disgusting animals in creation sculpted from silver. Four different people came and stood next to Vienna while she pretended to ponder a chrome-colored family of crawfish. One of them, an Asian man wearing a tank top and the hat Bob Denver wore on Gilligan’s Island flagrantly broke the museum rules by taking photographs of the crawfish. She didn’t protest.
Vienna turned her head slightly to watch as the Asian man moved to an incredibly detailed metal ibex. Her eye was drawn to a set of double doors with glass centers framed by white-painted metal. She could see something lean and pale behind the doors and her feet floated toward it involuntarily. In the center of the small vestibule stood a slender, white sculpture. She could see another set of doors behind it that led outside. The sculpture was the only thing in the vestibule besides a single electric light in the ceiling. The rest of the museum was tasteful, soft lighting and beige walls and homogenous burgundy carpet, but the vestibule had bright sunlight, a rubber floor and ugly gray walls, as if that was the original color scheme of the building and it hadn’t been bothered with during the last renovation. The museum relied on countless “do not touch” signs and an army of volunteers that shushed and motioned unruly children away from the art so that it could display its pieces in the open air. But this sculpture was locked away from sneezes and dirty fingers, which had made their mark on the thick glass embedded in the vestibule doors.
The sculpture was made of white marble with swirls of sparkling slate gray running through it. It wasn’t tall, exactly—it only came up to Vienna’s waist—but it was slender and had the illusion of being tall due to the distance Vienna had to stand from it and the slight glare on the door’s glass. The whole sculpture had a curvy quality, but the bottom had a more definite, square shape with four graceful ridges that rose and melted into a wave that ended at the top in a football-shaped point with an ovular hole in it. It was missing the small plaque with the names of the piece and artist that accompanied all of the other works in the museum.
Someone spoke suddenly from the area to her right and slightly behind her. It startled her and ruined her train of thought: “Do you like it?”
The words were coming from a scrawny boy who looked to be in his late teens or early 20s. He was wearing a museum volunteer’s jacket that was at least one size too large, more likely two. He had red hair that was parted too far to the left and kept in place with too much product. His giant ears stuck out from the side of his head, much different from the pinned-back ears Vienna saw in the mirror every day. Freckles populated the pale skin beneath his eyes and on the bridge of his nose. He was staring at her; it was unsettling, but not full-on creepy. He turned his head slightly to the side and raised his eyebrows, but kept his green eyes locked onto hers.
“Well?” he said with a hint of impatience.
Vienna realized that she had been staring at the volunteer, too. She quickly moved her eyes away from him and back to the sculpture.
“I don’t know if I like it. Is it expensive? Is that why it’s locked in here?”
There was no response from her right. She kept her eyes on the sculpture.
“If it’s so expensive, why isn’t it where everyone can see it better?” she said, trying to sound as if she barely cared.
When he was silent for too long again, she looked back at him. He had an unnerving grin spread from ear to ear. His teeth were a nightmare. They were clean, but gaps abounded and crooked incisors jutted in the wrong directions. It reminded Vienna of a mugshot of a Peeping Tom she had seen in the student newspaper in college. He had grinned for the jail’s camera, as if he was proud of what he’d been caught doing.
It was obvious he was waiting for her to turn back to him before he spoke. He lingered a moment more before answering.
“It’s cursed,” he said in a playfully matter-of-fact tone.
Her fragile condescension broke. She hated herself for thinking it was funny and managed a “what?” through a snorting laugh.
The volunteer’s grin faded to a thin-lipped smile and he turned his head to look at the sculpture before repeating himself. “It’s cursed.”
Vienna knew she was taking his bait, but she was genuinely curious about the sculpture and hoped the volunteer would tell her something real after he was done flirting with her.
“How is it ‘cursed?’” she said while cracking a smile on the side of her face that the volunteer couldn’t see. She had thickened the word “cursed” with heavy sarcasm.
He just shrugged, then fell into silence while they both stared at the sculpture. She meant to leave several times, but her feet never moved.
Vienna spoke first after a long time passed. “Then, why do you keep it here?”
The curly-headed boy smiled broadly again. This was the right question, and he gave its obvious, inarguable answer.
“Because it’s beautiful.”
Vienna’s work week was restless, distracted and, for once, unproductive. It was the best week of her life. There were days that she thought she’d forgotten how to be bored, which made her want to believe she’d forgotten how to be boring. Even Brady noticed on Wednesday as he lumbered by her office. He comically walked backwards again and backed through her door. She had never seen a man sweat so much.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you whistle.”
A flutish chuckle slipped out of Vienna. “I didn’t even know I was doing it.”
“You musta started double-checking and found something to work on.”
“Something like that.”
Despite her good mood, her patience was tested as Thursday and Friday crawled by. She strolled through the museum doors as soon as they opened on Saturday morning. Her steps quickened when she entered the galleries. Her heart pounded with fear. What if it wasn’t there anymore?
But, it was there in the vestibule, exactly where she left it. She pretended it missed her, too. Vienna didn’t know how long she stood staring at it. She didn’t care. The volunteer didn’t startle her this time, but he did still seem to materialize from thin air just outside of her peripheral vision. He didn’t say anything for a long time.
Finally, she playfully sighed and smiled without looking at him. Her knees dipped a little when she said, “yes, I’m back.” Now he would say something clever like yes you are or I see that to keep her at arm’s length like all awkward men do.
“I’m glad you are.”
It was an unremarkable sentence, but the boy’s tone made Vienna drop her act and turn towards him with cautious curiosity. His voice wasn’t flirtatious, exactly. It was a sincerity so pure that it made Vienna’s heart flutter. All she could muster in response was an “oh?”
“It means you have good taste.”
“Oh.” Vienna’s mood dipped.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” said the volunteer, apparently not noticing her disappointment in his cold compliment.
“Yes, I think we decided that last week.”
“I think you’re beautiful, too.”
She realized he’d pulled this move before. She wasn’t the first person to be captivated by the sculpture and certainly not the first attractive woman. Under normal circumstances she would grimace and walk away, but he knew from experience that wouldn’t happen, thanks to his inanimate wingman standing stalwart in the vestibule. True to the formula, Vienna stood still in her spot until the museum closed. The volunteer never left his position, either. No one asked him any questions. No one told him to get back to work.
At first, the sculpture had seemed to be one cohesive piece, but as the hours climbed she began to see it as a collection of elements. She looked at the crests in the sturdy base. She saw the roots of a petrified tree curl downward through the earth, where only she could see them. Sometimes beautiful wings lay folded against its sides, fluttering as they heaved with each restful breath. She saw fire. It jetted through the oval, then calmed and licked the air. She could smell burning wood, burning sulfur—and what must be burning flesh, though she had never smelled a human’s before. She saw black streams trickle from the oval like tears.
The sun was low in the sky and cast a deep orange onto the sculpture. A hand attached to the jacket of a museum volunteer touched her shoulder. It was a woman with a nametag that said “Susan.” The boy was gone. Susan told Vienna the museum was closing and put a hand on Vienna’s shoulder to escort her away. Vienna’s feet wouldn’t move at first, as if they had grown roots. Susan’s surprising strength eventually managed to move Vienna out the front door.
Anxiety set in as Vienna walked to her Audi. She felt sadness and anger bubble in her chest like a poison.
“I wasn’t done!” she whispered harshly to herself. She shed angry tears.
Her palms began to hurt. She was clenching her fists and shaking them so hard that she had dug her nails into the soft, lotion-cured skin of her hands, causing red marks to appear. She flexed her hands open to make the pain go away, then reached up to wipe away her tears. She rubbed until her eyes were dry, then looked at her wet hands to see if the red marks had faded.
Her palms were stained black.
Vienna stared at herself naked in the bathroom mirror. Her brow was slightly furrowed, her nostrils flared and her lips were just a little tight. She looked at her olive skin. She looked at the dark brown freckles on her shoulders. Her features were more angular than many women her own age. She had no idea if anyone actually liked them, except for that boy.
The sadness had evaporated from her chest, leaving the anger to burn twice as hot. She felt confused and betrayed, but didn’t know why. The confusion increased her frustration. The volunteer’s compliment rang through her head over and over again.
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.
Sometimes the word was deafening. Sometimes it was whispered rapidly in both of her ears. She had thought the same of the sculpture without hesitation. Why did it make her so mad to hear it said of herself?
Because nobody had ever called her that.
Her parents had used the word, of course, like any proud parents did. But, it somehow meant more coming from the curly-headed museum worker. It wasn’t a sexual thrill—she was still asexual and didn’t feel anything more for the man at the museum (who was barely more than a boy) than she had for the teenage boys in high school that offered her their attentions because of her figure and her features. All her life she’d heard your hair looks so nice today! and what a pretty smile! and boy, Vienna, that jacket sure looks good on you!
But, never beautiful.
It made her furious for reasons she couldn’t place her finger on. She threw out guilt—she didn’t feel the compliment was undeserved. She also wasn’t angry at the compliment itself, or that it was unsolicited. She appreciated it, though the appreciation was buried deep under the anger. She tossed in her bed that night. She punched her pillow. She mashed the buttons on her remote control as she through her Netflix queue. She had pulled plenty of all-nighters in college, but this was her first involuntarily sleepless night since she was an infant. The next two nights went the same. At 4 a.m. on Monday she yanked her pillows from behind her head and tore them open, scattering the feathers through the dark air of her bedroom. They settled on her bed like ruined wings.
She wore sunglasses to work on Tuesday to hide her dark-ringed eyes from the rest of the office and stumbled as quietly as she could through the hallways to her office. Her stained sweatsuit meant she couldn’t use her looks to her advantage today. But, it didn’t matter; she was beautiful. She was art now, not just a tool.
She slipped into her office and closed her door. She had seen that Brady’s office door was shut when she crept by it on her way in, so she had a few minutes before he came wallowing by with a greasy trail behind him. She sat in her black faux leather chair and took off her sunglasses. The fluorescent light burned her eyes and she shut them. Flames sparkled in the darkness and licked the inside of her eyelids.
She punched the phone number of the museum into her phone. The voice that picked up after three rings was a woman who introduced herself as Beatrice.
“Hi,” Vienna said, her voice growling with tiny bubbles. She cleared her throat.
“Hi, I was wondering if I could get some information on a particular…”
She hedged. What word should she use? Sculpture? Piece? Installation?
“…art?”
“Of course, ma’am! What’s the piece’s name?”
“I don’t know. It’s a sculpture. I don’t know the artist’s name. I’m actually trying to find that out.”
“Could you tell me about the sculpture? I might be able to tell you more information that way.”
After she finished her description, Vienna couldn’t remember what she’d said or how long she had talked. The woman on the other end was silent for a moment, then cleared her throat.
“Well, it’s nice to hear someone so passionate” --the woman hung on the word “passionate” for a moment, as if it was a polite word for something else-- “about art. I know the piece you’re asking about. It’s behind the doors in the east gallery, right?”
Vienna yelped the word “yes” into the phone before Beatrice finished the word “gallery.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know much about that piece. I haven’t been at the museum long, so I’m not even sure how long it’s been here.”
“Do you know the artist?”
“I’m sorry, no.”
“Do you know where it’s from? Did it come from another museum?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
A pause. Then, “Can I buy it?”
The woman’s voice perked up, possibly to try to hide her annoyance. “Most of our pieces are on loan from artists or other museums. I don’t have the authority to sell the pieces and it is against museum policy to act as a broker.”
“Is there a volunteer there who’s a teenage boy? Bad teeth? Curly hair and his jacket is a little too big?”
The woman giggled. “The jacket thing could describe all of us. I swear they use gorilla sizes for those things.” The woman laughed far too loudly at her own joke. Vienna didn’t make a sound. “What is his name? I’ll see if he’s on the roster for today.”
Vienna made a short strained noise from her throat. “I don’t know his name. He was working Saturday.”
“Oh, then he’s not here. The list of weekend volunteers is different from the weekday volunteers.”
Vienna struggled for another question, but all that came was dry, wheezing noises from her throat. The phone hummed to fill the gap in the conversation. Finally, the volunteer awkwardly apologized and wished Vienna a good day. Vienna practically screamed at the woman to wait, but she had already hung up. She dialed the number six more times, each time pretending to be a different person and hoping to get someone new on the other end. A volunteer named Pradeep finally asked her not to call anymore.
Vienna put on every black thing she owned and piled her darkest makeup on her face. At 2 a.m., She made sure the crowbar was in the back seat of her car. Angry tears smeared her makeshift face camouflage, but she didn’t care. They were black, anyway.
She turned her headlights off a block before she reached the museum. She parked in an alley across the street and crept toward the side of the building attached to her sculpture’s vestibule. Vienna tried to figure how heavy the sculpture would be, but it was difficult through the glass. She would need to be able to carry it on her own, but she also wondered if she would be able to stand coming back with another plan. She needed to be with the sculpture now. Every cop and muscular Susan in the world could try to pry her from it, but she would never budge. She smashed the glass with a low swing and winced in anticipation of an alarm. The echo of the thick glass shattering rang through the empty galleries, then faded into silence. If there was no audible alarm to scare off thieves, then it was safe to assume there was no silent one, either. The interior door of the vestibule was likely the only one that was connected to an alarm, which was perfect for Vienna—this was as far as she needed to go.
She put her hands on the smooth stone for the first time. For the first time in her life, she thought joyfully as the anger left her chest. She caressed the sculpture. Embraced it. She expected it to be cool to the touch, but it was warm. She expected it to be hard like stone, but it gave under her touch. It was firm, certainly, but like strong muscle that she could feel pulse with a heartbeat. As she entwined her arms within it and around it, she saw its eye.
He had called this sculpture beautiful. He had called her beautiful. He meant it both times. One boy in a coat that was too big thought they were beautiful. That would warm them forever.
The tours at the museum had picked up since the winter months rolled in and outdoor activities dried up. A red-haired, pale-faced teenage volunteer ushered his group into the east gallery, where abstract glass pieces clung to the walls and thick movie theater ropes surrounded some of the more fragile floor installations. The young man swept through the room, telling an anecdote about each piece.
The tour stopped in front of a small vestibule. The doors leading outside had newer glass than the doors the patrons stood in front of.
“Sorry, folks, I don’t have a key to this door, so we’ll have to look at this piece from here,” the tour guide said in a voice honed to be able to project across a short distance. He had a slight lisp and a nasal accent.
A woman in her early 30s was in the back row. She had perfect charcoal skin and her voluminous, curly hair sprouted gracefully out of her head. She was wearing glasses over her dark brown eyes.
She raised her hand but didn’t ask to be called on. “Why do you keep it in this little room?”
The guide turned toward the sculpture in the vestibule without looking at the woman and was silent for a moment. He looked at the olive-colored wood with dark freckles speckled in it. Some might not find the sculpture’s angular features appealing, but he did.
He turned back to the woman and met her eye. He sensed her quiver slightly. He grinned his jagged grin.
“Because it’s beautiful.” | {
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Impact Analysis of Covid-19 The complete version of the Report will include the impact of the COVID-19, and anticipated change on the future outlook of the industry, by taking into the account the political, economic, social, and technological parameters. Request Sample
Apheresis is a medical technique in which the blood of a patient or donor is extracted and separated into components such as red cells, white cells, plasma, and platelets. Depending on the reason for apheresis, one of these components is isolated and collected by the instrument, while the others are returned to the body.
The global apheresis equipment market is estimated to account for US$ 2,866.4 Mn in terms of value in 2020 and is expected to reach US$ 6,081.8 Mn by the end of 2027.
Global Apheresis Equipment Market: Drivers
Increasing prevalence of leukemia is expected to propel growth of the global apheresis equipment market over the forecast period. For instance, according to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 176,200 people in the US are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2019.
Moreover, increasing demand for blood is also expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, according to the study, “The global need and availability of blood products: a modelling study”, published in October 2019, in The Lancet, in 2017, the global blood need was 304?711?244 and the global blood supply was 272?270?243 blood product units.
North America held dominant position in the global apheresis equipment market in 2019, accounting for 43.6% share in terms of value, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe, respectively
Figure 1. Global Apheresis Equipment Market Share (%) in Terms of Value, by Region, 2019
Global Apheresis Equipment Market: Restraints
Inherent high cost of apheresis therapy is expected to hinder growth of the global apheresis equipment market.
Moreover, risks associated with apheresis are also expected to limit growth of the market. Major risks associated with apheresis are:
High risk of contracting an infection in manual apheresis procedure
Complications linked with fluid transfer
Side effects with replacement fluids: The use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) may introduce the patient to hepatitis and immunological reactions
Anticoagulant reactions: The use of large amounts of citrate may result in hypocalcemia
Global Apheresis Equipment Market: Opportunities
Multiple sclerosis relapses can be treated using apheresis procedures such as therapeutic plasma exchange and immunoadsorption. Thus, increasing prevalence of MS is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the market players. For instance, according to findings published in the journal Neurology in February 2019, the prevalence of MS in 2017 was 362 cases per 100,000, or 913,925 adults.
Moreover, application of therapeutic apheresis in pediatric treatment is also expected to aid in growth of the market. Providing therapeutic apheresis to children is a technologically challenging task. Most of the apheresis therapies are developed from studies and trials on adult patients. However, as the prevalence of diseases such as leukemia and autoimmune disorders is increasing among children, more efforts towards developing new apheresis treatment methods specifically designed for children will serve as a potential opportunity in the market.
The global apheresis equipment market was valued at US$ 2,574.3 Mn in 2019 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 6,081.8 Mn by 2027 at a CAGR of 11.3% between 2020 and 2027.
Figure 2. Global Apheresis Equipment Market Value, and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2019-2027
Market Trends/Key Takeaways
Lack of donor availability & histocompatibility is expected to limit growth of the apheresis equipment market in North America. For instance, according to American Red Cross’ June 2019 article, only 3% of people in the U.S. give blood.
Increasing cases of COVID-19 has led regulatory authorities to offer emergency approval for apheresis equipment. For instance, in April 2020, The U.S. FDA issued emergency use authorization to Terumo BCT Inc. and Marker Therapeutics AG for their Spectra Optia Apheresis System and Depuro D2000 Adsorption Cartridge devices.
Global Apheresis Equipment Market: Competitive Landscape
Major players operating in the global apheresis equipment market include, Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd., Terumo BCT, Inc., Fenwal, Inc., Haemonetics Corp., Therakos, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, and HemaCare Corporation.
Global Apheresis Equipment Market: Key Developments
Major players in the market are focused on adopting M&A strategies to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in December 2019, Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd. announced acquisition of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Major players in the market are also focused on product approval and launch to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in October 2019, Mallinckrodt plc and Terumo BCT received regulatory approval for UVADEX (methoxsalen) from Australian Therapeutic Goods. Administration for extracorporeal administration with the THERAKOS CELLEX Photopheresis System. | {
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Years ago, in a Stake Priesthood meeting, our Stake President told of being called to give a blessing to a dying woman in the hospital. He felt prompted by the spirit (and also I’m sure by the medical prognosis) to not say in his bless that she would be healed, but he blessed her to pass peacefully and quickly. Well, she didn’t, she made a full recovery, and was in fact alive at the telling of this story in the Stake meeting! This added a very human factor to our Stake President, even more so with him being a surgeon!
Contrast this to Elder Holland’s General Conference talk about feeling prompted to take the wrong fork in the road. Instead of teaching us that a future Apostle could misinterpret the spirit, and get it wrong, he taught (through twisted logic) that the Lord actually blessed him and his father by giving them wrong directions!
Recent events have again brought this inability of our church leaders to admit they make a mistakes to the forefront.
Instead of just admitting that the direction missionaries had received from leaders was wrong about challenging members to baptism in the first discussion, Elder Ballard said church leaders don’t know where this practices started.
Packer’s 1976 Oct Conference talk about little factories and how there is “no mismatching of bodies and spirits, boys are to be men, masculine and manly men….” recently disappeared from the church’s web site [1]. No apology for admitting this is wrong, or asking for forgiveness for all the pain this caused our LBGTQ members.
Then there is is the Policy of Exclusion (POX). Implemented by revelation, and then reversed (by revelation?) 3 years later.
All these errors, mistakes, or whatever you want to call them, highlight a growing problem for the church. Although church leaders have never claimed infallibility, by never admitting to a specific mistake they have fostered an aura of infallibility. They admit to being fallible, and even once admitted that they make mistakes in general terms [2], but never a specific mistake. Wouldn’t it be refreshing for one of our General Authorities to get up in Conference (like my Stake President did in Stake Priesthood meeting) and admit that they blew it on a specific policy, that they misinterpreted the spirit, and they are now correcting that mistake! This would create more realistic expectations among members for their own spiritual promptings, and also help members cope with mistakes made by their local leaders.
So where does this leave us? Do they think they are fooling us by never admitting mistakes? Are they afraid that by admitting to a mistake, we as a membership will start to question all their directions? Is there a way for them to “save face” when they make a mistake, and still admit to errors? What are your thoughts?
[1] You can see the name of the talk at lds.org (as of the day of this post) on the web site, but click it and see what happens
[2] “To be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come, Join with Us,” Oct 2013 Saturday Morning session of Conference | {
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Se você se irrita com as diversas ligações recebidas durante o dia de números desconhecidos, está na hora de olhar para elas com outra perspectiva.
Foi o que fez Lucas Vilhena, de Ananindeua, do Pará, que teve a brilhante ideia de salvar os números desconhecidos com um lembrete para cultivar hábitos saudáveis, como beber água, fazer exercícios ou comer uma fruta.
O estudante de direito de 24 anos fez um post no Facebook em que relata sua mais nova estratégia de se manter saudável e a ideia acabou viralizando.
Ao HuffPost Brasil, ele conta que cansou de ser importunado por ligações de outros estados, bancos, números desconhecidos e de sua operadora. Ele recebe, em média, 8 ligações por dia.
"Bloquear não funciona, depois de 2 ou 3 dias eles voltam a ligar", disse. Foi quando ele teve a "sacada" de criar lembretes saudáveis. "É tipo o 'se não pode vencê-lo junta se a ele'", brincou.
A cada número desconhecido que persistia telefonar diariamente para seu celular, ele salvava com algum lembrete: "Beba água", "Coma uma Fruta", "Vamos nos exercitar", "Faz Carinho no Cachorro", entre outras tarefas.
"Resolvi juntar o útil ao agradável. Ontem, por exemplo, tomei 3 copos d'água", disse no post publicado na última quarta (28), que viralizou.
Ele conta que não atende as ligações, elas só servem de lembrete. "É como se fosse um despertador", relata o estudante, que jura seguir à risca o sistema inventado. "Hoje eu já fiz carinho no cachorro duas vezes e estudei." | {
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Police are searching for a toddler who went missing from a park in Melbourne's north on Saturday morning.
Police are treating as suspicious the disappearance of Sanaya Shaib, believed to be aged 15 months, who vanished from Olympic Park about 10am on Saturday.
Sofina Nikat with her daughter Sanaya. Credit:Facebook
Victoria Police spokeswoman Lee Thomson said the search had resumed "full scale in the morning."
The mother of the missing toddler reportedly told police that a man pushed her to the ground in Heidelberg West before abducting her child and running away. | {
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ドワンゴは5月28日、企業やユーザーが動画や生放送、記事コンテンツを配信できるプラットフォーム「ニコニコチャンネル」で、月額料金を払っている会員数が100万人に達したと発表しました。年間のユーザー課金額は55億円超に上るとのことです。
ニコニコチャンネル
ニコニコチャンネルは2008年3月にサービスを開始。専門知識不要でチャンネルを開設でき、有料チャンネルでは収益を得ることが可能。人気ゲームシリーズや著名人などが月額会員に限定コンテンツを配信できるファンコミュニティーとして活用されています。
19年3月期（18年4月〜19年3月）には月額会員が過去最高の30万人増となり、成長率は前年の5倍に。19年2月に月額会員数が90万人を突破してから3カ月、4月25日に100万人に達したとのことです。
18年12月時点で8563チャンネルが開設されており、有料チャンネルは1470。19年5月時点で、上位100チャンネルの平均収益額は1億円以上、上位5チャンネルは平均4億円を超えているといいます。
今後、チャンネル生放送に、視聴者が配信者に贈れる「ギフト」機能や、生放送で利用できるゲームやツール、商品などを動画プレーヤー下部に貼り付けられる「ニコニコ新市場」を追加するなど、サービスを拡充していくとのことです。
niconicoの屋台骨だった有料会員数は19年3月末に180万人にまで落ち込み、親会社カドカワの「Webサービス事業」セグメントは19年3月期、前期に続いて営業赤字でした。今期は黒字化を掲げており、ニコニコチャンネルの成長は明るいニュースになりそうです。 | {
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Nos anos 1960, o número 36 da Rua Ribeira Nova era um estabelecimento de refrescos chamado Casa da Banana, famoso pelo seu licor do fruto. Mais tarde, ainda foi um armazém de legumes e frutas antes de albergar o Café Tati, um espaço de convívio que foi dos primeiros estabelecimentos do género a surgir num bairro ainda em mudança. O Tati, famoso pelos seus concertos de jazz e jam sessions, vai fechar as portas no final deste ano.
Instalou-se no Cais do Sodré em 2011, quando ainda nem a rua cor-de-rosa ou o Mercado da Ribeira chamavam turistas e moradores para o bairro, e desde essa altura que tem vindo a criar a fama de espaço diferente e acolhedor onde se pode ouvir ou tocar jazz. O espaço vai dar lugar a um restaurante que pagará uma renda muito superior ao que os donos do Tati pagam neste momento. “Disseram-nos que teríamos de sair no final do contrato, mas não tivemos oportunidade de negociar um eventual aumento de renda”, afirma Ramón Ibañes, um dos proprietários. As rendas em Lisboa custam o dobro do resto do país. No resto do país, no Porto, por exemplo, há locais onde as rendas subiram 10 vezes.
O Tati, que se inspirou no realizador francês Jacques Tati para a denominação, quis ser uma mistura de café e restaurante, um espaço com muita luz e música, decorado com uma colecção de móveis e objectos vintage emprestados das ruas de Lisboa, achados em lojas de velharias, “roubados” da casa de amigos ou comprados em feiras e mercados, uma mistura entre o novo e o velho. “Nós abrimos no Verão de 2011 e conhecemos um bairro que era mesmo bairro porque nessa altura não havia nada parecido no Cais do Sodré. Só depois do boom do turismo é que esta zona começou a mudar”, acrescenta Ramón.
Gonçalo Marques, responsável pela programação musical do espaço, conta que “o Tati já era conhecido pelas jam sessions que decorrem todos os domingos há largos anos e nas quais têm participado artistas nacionais e estrangeiros”.
Foto Nuno Ferreira Santos
Até há bem pouco tempo, o Tati também organizava concertos de jazz semanais que chegaram a contar com a presença de “quase todos os músicos principais de Lisboa”, conta Gonçalo Marques. O programador acrescenta que “em Lisboa só há um clube de jazz, o Hot Clube, mas depois existem outros espaços pequenos, que não são muitos, mas que tocam bom jazz. Esse é o caso do Tati”.
As jam sessions ao domingo à tarde eram também um ponto de encontro de famílias e amigos que frequentavam o café já à espera de bom ambiente e de um concerto grátis, fosse de jazz, música portuguesa, ritmos africanos ou rock espanhol. O espaço ficou também conhecido como um local de encontro da associação cultural Catalunya Presenta em Lisboa, onde portugueses e catalães residentes em Lisboa podiam desfrutar de “degustações de história, poesia, música, e cultura e de um jantar catalão com ementa e concerto à medida”, diz o co-proprietário.
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Segundo Ramón, o fecho do espaço ainda não foi anunciado oficialmente aos clientes, mas afirma que “o sentimento geral de quem já sabe é de tristeza, porque é um espaço que está há muitos anos na cidade e é para muita gente uma referência, um café que se tornou um ponto de encontro de muitas coisas, não só de café, gastronomia e música”. Quem já sabe que o Tati vai fechar lamenta que “um espaço como este” vá fechar. É o caso de Maria Almeida, que no tempo de aulas estuda nas mesas já de madeira descascada do Tati, e no Verão descontrai nos sofás já gastos. “O Tati tem tudo”, diz Maria.
O contrato do espaço termina a 31 de Dezembro, altura em que o negócio terá de sair. Até lá, estará aberto e a programação habitual vai manter-se, incluindo as jam sessions, que decorrem todos os domingos às 18h. Para o futuro, fica a promessa de abrir um espaço semelhante e com o mesmo espírito. Tudo estará “dependente do sítio que encontrarmos para nos acolher”, diz Ramón Ibañes.
Artigo corrigido às 13h45 do dia 30 de Agosto de 2018: a abertura do Café Tati deu-se em 2011 e não em 2006. | {
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A Miami-Dade judge has struck down Florida's gay marriage ban, becoming the second Florida judge in a week to find it unconstitutional.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel found that the state's ban, approved by a referendum in 2008, "offends basic human dignity" and violates the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a notice of appeal of the ruling within an hour of the ruling being issued.
“Preventing couples from marrying solely on the basis of their sexual orientation serves no governmental interest,” Judge Zabel wrote in her order. “It serves only to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same-sex couples and their families of equal dignity, to label and treat them as second-class citizens, and to deem them unworthy of participation in one of the fundamental institutions of our society.”
Florida originally enshrined a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution in 2008. Voters approved an amendment that year banning same-sex marriage. Since then, the Supreme Court has overturned the Defense of Marriage Act at a national level and lower-level courts have repeatedly overturned state laws as appeals over state bans moves towards the U.S. Supreme Court.
Same Sex Marriage Decision from Miami-Dade Court
“At its heart, this case is about the right to marry the person of one’s choice. It is about whether the right to marry can be denied to members of a particular group based upon their sexual orientation, and whether couples and families who have members that fall into that group are entitled to the respect, benefits, and protections which marriage brings,” Judge Zabel wrote.
Zabel put an immediate stay on her order pending the outcome of the expected appeals to be filed by the state of Florida.
Judge Zabel’s order came in a motion for summary judgment in the case Catherina Pareto, et al vs. Harvey Ruvin, and the State of Florida. The summary judgment was granted, giving the plaintiffs an immediate victory.
Pareto and Karla Arguello were one of five gay couples who sued in Miami to overturn Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage. The couples claimed the ban on same-sex marriage violated the equal protection and due process clause, which Judge Zabel agreed with.
Aguello and Pareto didn't know the decision was coming down on Friday.
"We got a text, 'congratulations,' from one of our friends, and we're like, 'congratulations for what? What? What happened? Did we miss something?" Aguello told NBC 6.
"While it was hard to wait for it, it was well worth the wait," Pareto said.
Judge Zabel's ruling also said that Article I, Section 27 of Florida’s Constitution is “void and unenforceable.” She also declared the Florida Statutes that prohibit the issuance of marriage licenses “unless one party is a male and the other party is a female is similarly void and unenforceable.”
The ruling also said that the Clerk of Courts should not be prosecuted for complying with the order and that the Clerk of Courts should modify marriage licenses to conform to the ruling.
"We're just like any other couple out there that wants to protect one another," Karla Aguello said.
The ruling from the Miami-Dade Court would apply only in Miami-Dade County. It comes just a week after Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia ruled that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.
Judge Garcia’s order was immediately stayed when Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a notice of appeal. Garcia later declined to lift the stay while the case is on appeal.
Stay with NBC6.com for updates on this developing story. | {
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It's been a whirlwind of news regarding Square Enix, the popular video game publisher of high-profile titles such as Deus Ex and Tomb Raider. First, there was the disappointing announcement that Square Enix would be cutting ties with IO Interactive, the development behind 2016's highly acclaimed sleeper hit Hitman.
Then an even more unexpected reveal showed up in an equally unexpected place. Straight Up, Films, the production company that last year announced it was producing a movie based on the 2014 Reboot of Thief, added more information to their website at some point that apparently reveals plans for a new Thief game. The full passage on their website can be read below:
"Thief is an action epic poised to be the next great multi-platform franchise. Originally released in 1998 by Eidos Interactive (Deus Ex) and distributed by Square Enix (Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy), the Thief series has spanned over fifteen years and four sequels continually retaining loyal audiences and attracting new fans with each iteration. Widely considered to be one of the greatest games ever created, a fifth sequel is currently in development to be released in step with this motion picture adaptation (emphasis added). Steeped in the steam-punk world created by the video game, the film will tell a new chapter in the storied world of the series' hero."
This certainly isn't proof of anything. A reveal like this echoes a similarly-discovered announcement supposedly revealing a new Metro game for 2017. The author of the Metro book series said on his website the next game, slated for 2017 would pick up right where Metro 2035 leaves off. That same day, Deep Silver confirmed that no such game exists in any capacity. So, this goes to show that people who work outside of the industry, even on the same IP, likely have very different sets of information.
IO Interactive drew up a $43 million loss. Can you really blame Square Enix for dropping them?
That being said, if Square Enix were to greenlight a new Thief game, while simultaneously ditching the studio behind Hitman, it would make perfect sense, financially speaking.
Of course, everyone is going to look at the relative reception of each of these games – Hitman being considered a GOTY candidate last year, while Thief was something of a mess – and wonder where Square Enix's head is at. "Where are their priorities?" "Why do you want to continue making mediocre games and ditch great games?"
But, as I said, financially speaking, the answer is simple. As Square Enix pointed out in their reports, IO Interactive drew up a $43 million loss. While no official numbers for Hitman have been revealed, this doesn't make it seem like it was a huge success.
And Thief? Again, Square Enix was relatively tight-lipped about its individual sales, but they did call its sales "favorable," while posting a $65 million profit for the fiscal year in which Thief released. While not specific, this makes it seem like Thief was at least a modest success.
This theme has come up before: vote with your wallets. If you want Square Enix to keep making great games like Hitman, buy those great games. If you want them to stop making mediocre games like Thief, don't buy those mediocre games. High critical reception is great. Positive reviews from gamers on Steam, Metacritic and other platforms is also great. But it doesn't pay the bills.
So, before railing against Square Enix for what you may see as jumbled priorities, remind yourself that money talks. | {
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Edit: Thank you for the feature! Props are really appreciated!
My chumhandle is questionableDemon and let's begin^^
Pesterchum is only for Android, there is no IOS pesterchum, so please do not spam the comments asking.
So....I see a bunch of people like making false links aye? WELL I GOT YOU NOW! After downloading many fake and virus filled apps pretending to be such, I have found the actual stuff right here. I know this is the right one, I have it.
If anyone is interested, I am often Rose or myself (questionableDemon).
Let's-a-go!
Link: P E S T E R C H U M
Steps for the newbies:
If you don't know what to do, first,
1. allow unknown sources to be downloaded. It's pretty sus but that is because .exe and whatnot.
Then,
2. go to the link I sent^^ (the site looks like this)
Shimmy down a lil bit till you
3. find the download button.
4. Click it!
And there you go^^
Enjoy! (The PC version is better but everyone know how to get that)
Also turn off you unknown sources after, just in case.
P.S. which makes this awesome is that the PC and mobile app are connected Computer P E S T E R C H U M
:scream:
#curatorreview
Edit: I added the link so others can get it on PC as well. | {
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