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Qody Profile Joined December 2011 Germany 154 Posts #1
Total Games: 71
Radiant Win Rate: 59 %
1st Pick Win Rate: 62 %
Tier S (100 % - 90 % Pick/Ban Rate)
none
Tier 1 (90 % - 60 % Pick/Ban Rate)
Tier 2 (60 % - 30 % Pick/Ban Rate)
Tier 3 (30 % - 10 % Pick/Ban Rate)
Heroes with 0 % Pick/Ban Rate: Abyssal Underlord, Arc Warden, Bane, Beastmaster, Brewmaster, Broodmother, Chaos Knight, Chen, Leshrac, Lich, Lone Druid, Necrolyte, Pugna, Shadow Demon, Undying, Visage
Notable Newcomers: Death Prophet
Notable Absentees: Phantom Assassin, Sven, Bounty Hunter
+ Show Spoiler + The Graph shows the Top 6 Heroes of the week aswell as the Heroes with the biggest Increase and Decrease in Pick/Ban Rate.
Highest Win Rate with atleast 10 % games played:
1st: Puck 90 % (9 - 1)
2nd: Lina 82 % (9 - 2)
3rd: Terrorbalde 75 % (13 - 4)
Lowest Win Rate with atleast 10 % games played:
1st: Sand King 31 % (5 - 11)
2nd: Timbersaw 33 % (3 - 6)
3rd: Templar Assassin 35 % (7 - 13)
and: Slardar 35% (7 - 13)
Biggest Increase in Pick/Ban Rate
1st: Slardar + 39 pp
2nd: Dark Seer + 34 pp
3rd: Ursa + 33 pp
Biggest Decrease in Pick/Ban Rate
1st: Io - 36 pp
2nd: Vengeful Spirit - 34 pp
3rd: Naga Siren - 27 pp
New Meta Report! Week 18/2017 - 30 April to 06 May.7159 %62 %noneAbyssal Underlord, Arc Warden, Bane, Beastmaster, Brewmaster, Broodmother, Chaos Knight, Chen, Leshrac, Lich, Lone Druid, Necrolyte, Pugna, Shadow Demon, Undying, VisageDeath ProphetPhantom Assassin, Sven, Bounty Hunter1st: Puck 90 % (9 - 1)2nd: Lina 82 % (9 - 2)3rd: Terrorbalde 75 % (13 - 4)1st: Sand King 31 % (5 - 11)2nd: Timbersaw 33 % (3 - 6)3rd: Templar Assassin 35 % (7 - 13)and: Slardar 35% (7 - 13)1st: Slardar + 39 pp2nd: Dark Seer + 34 pp3rd: Ursa + 33 pp1st: Io - 36 pp2nd: Vengeful Spirit - 34 pp3rd: Naga Siren - 27 pp https://twitter.com/Gravigod
emperorchampion Profile Joined December 2008 Switzerland 2697 Posts #2 Only two heros in the top 10 most picked that have over 50% wr?? Strange meta lol TRUEESPORTS || your days as a respected member of team liquid are over
Faruko Profile Joined April 2013 Chile 30243 Posts #3 Lina 82% lul Ross was right // "Jesus Christ nahaz is doing shots before my eyes" (Sn0_Man, 2018) | {
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Universities could be stripped of their powers to award degrees if they do not act to stop the steep rise of "unjustifiable" first-class qualifications, the Education Secretary has warned.
Damian Hinds is calling for an end to artificial grade inflation to protect the sector's "world-class" reputation.
He says he wants institutions to take action from the next academic year to reset the proportion of firsts and 2:1s awarded.
The Government hopes to strengthen the Office for Students' (OfS) powers this year, to allow the public body to levy fines of up to £500,000 or 2% of a university's income, whichever is higher.
Universities found to be damaging students' interests could be subject to sanctions, fines or removing powers to award degrees, the Department of Education said.
Mr Hinds said: "Our universities are world-class and world-leading, with four ranked among the top 10 in the world, and attracting thousands of international students.
"At the heart of that global reputation is a trust in the quality and high standards of the education provided.
"Unjustifiable, artificial grade inflation threatens that. It cannot be right that students in one year are awarded higher grades for the same level of achievement than those in previous years.
"We owe it to the hardworking students who have earned those top grades to stamp out this unfair practice.
"I expect the Office for Students - when they have their full range of powers - to challenge those institutions that record an unjustifiable rise in the proportion of top degrees being awarded."
The intervention comes after analysis published by the OfS in December showed 27% of students obtained a first-class degree in 2016/17, compared to 16% in 2010/11.
The analysis suggested 50.1% of students at the University of Surrey were awarded a first in 2016/17 while at the University of Huddersfield 37.9% of students were awarded a first.
Professor Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK, said universities are "determined" to tackle grade inflation.
"The sector's collective will to take ownership of this challenge is strong, as we recognise it is crucial that we keep the confidence of students, employers and the public in the value of a university qualification," she said.
"It is important to draw a distinction between grade inflation and grade improvement, where increased investment in teaching and facilities, as well as students working harder than ever, are leading to legitimate increases in grades."
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said: "Students work extremely hard to earn their degrees and it is crucial that the qualifications they earn hold their value over time.
"Our own research on this issue found there has been significant and unexplained grade inflation in recent years.
"This is clearly not in the long-term interest of students and risks undermining wider public support in our higher education system." | {
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The EU needs to invest in homegrown technology.
The European Commission’s Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager has been tasked with developing a European strategy on artificial intelligence. For Europe, the crucial question is how to speed up AI uptake in the industrial sector — indeed, only 18 percent of large European companies use AI tools at scale.
So far, however, the European Union has been more interested in writing the rules of AI than in winning the game. That’s unfortunate. As a consequence, there isn’t much European AI ready to be adopted.
When European companies want to adopt AI solutions, they are almost inevitably forced to turn to vendors from the United States or China — the world’s two incontestable leaders when it comes to the technology.
The two countries dominate when it comes to innovation, with about 45 percent of AI-related patent filings made in the U.S., and another 40 perent in China. They also lead on the public research front: Two-thirds of top-filing universities and public research organizations are based in China. And they’re the major players on the commercial front: Four U.S. firms capture about a quarter of the worldwide AI market.
The EU needs to make sure that AI firms in Europe can use data to train their machine-learning algorithms.
The EU offering is comparatively poor. Of the top 30 AI-related patent applicants, only four are European. Nor is the future looking more promising. Of the 100 most promising AI startups in the world, only two are from the EU (while six are from the U.K.), and they attract well-below-average funding.
Being so dependent on foreign technology raises at least two concerns.
The first concern is geopolitical.
The adoption of AI is critical for the success of EU businesses. In the industrial sector in particular, AI solutions are becoming ever more important, as companies optimize production processes using internet of things (IoT) devices increasingly powered by 5G connectivity.
For example, car manufacturers can use AI to analyze data from IoT sensors to better predict machinery failures and save costs. AI can also help firms to better set prices of components and other products.
As the use of AI grows, so will the risks that come with depending on a technology that is produced and controlled outside of the EU. The risk that supply chains will be disrupted by economic decoupling has become very real in the current geopolitical climate.
The second concern is that giving access to data can provide long-term advantages to existing AI companies — making the development of European AI ever more difficult. While not all AI applications need large amounts of data to achieve economies of scale and scope, many do.
Only a bold strategy by Vestager and her colleague, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, can secure AI in Europe.
First, the EU needs to invest in its own AI technologies.
Of course, it makes sense for many companies in Europe to quickly adopt U.S. or Chinese AI solutions. But only if European companies can at least partly master this technology can the EU be sure to have systems that do not undermine its security. And only if the EU has the talent on the ground can AI be productively implemented in firms.
This means substantially more money for research as well as education. Lack of AI-related skills is the most important barrier to adoption in Europe, according to a recent McKinsey study. Without the U.K., the EU has an acute scarcity of data scientists and programmers, and it has difficulties retaining those it has.
Work is also needed to improve the ecosystem for innovative AI startups to strive and scale up. State aid can easily lead to waste, so continued vigilance and rigorous enforcement of competition and state aid control is needed. But conditions for entrepreneurs need to be improved, and industrial policy should be designed to support AI innovation clusters.
Second, the EU needs to make sure that AI firms in Europe can use data to train their machine-learning algorithms. Even if EU firms adopt foreign AI technologies, they should retain the rights to their own data and be ready to offer it to either in-house developers or European firms.
Europe leads the world in AI regulation, which is important but insufficient to exploit its potential.
The success of AI applications rides on access to data as much as it does on digital skills and infrastructure. The deployment of IoT in manufacturing is an opportunity for the EU to become a leader in AI if the data management can be governed by European rules.
Finally, the EU needs to create a single market for data, especially data from industrial processes. European AI firms will stand little chance of staying in the game when it comes to machine learning algorithms if they aren’t able to leverage the data of the entire EU market.
The EU regulation on the free flow of non-personal data is an important element for creating a genuine European approach to data. But there are still numerous obstacles to data-sharing across EU countries, for example due to corporate governance requirements.
Europe leads the world in AI regulation, which is important but insufficient to exploit its potential. Now, Vestager and Breton must decide if Europe wishes to become a global player, and not just a global referee.
Julia Anderson, a research assistant at Bruegel, contributed to this article. | {
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He is one mad, mad, mad, mad villain all the way from the 1960's of Great Britain. | {
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It didn’t take long for liberals to throw up their shields after a man ran over and stabbed 11 people at Ohio State University.
They would prefer you not refer to him as a Somali, a Muslim or a terrorist — because he’s all three.
Abdul Razak Ali Artan, 18, ran his car into a group of people and went on a stabbing spree on Ohio State’s campus Nov. 28 before being shot dead by OSU police officer Alan Horujko. (RELATED: Meet The Hero Who Killed OSU Attacker Abdul Razak Ali Artan)
Two days after the attack, President-elect Donald Trump said Artan “should not have been in our country.”
Slate, in an article titled “Somali Refugees Are Not A Threat,” shot back at Trump and blamed midwestern Americans for radicalizing Somali refugees:
Muslim, black, and culturally foreign, it’s hard to imagine a group of people more likely to be marginalized in a Midwestern U.S. city. Add to that the language barriers and personal traumas that many Somali refugees face, and you have what seems like the perfect recipe for poverty, alienation, and ultimately, radicalization. No one who understands the situation can be shocked that a few Somali Americans have turned to violence, or that this violence has taken a form that resembles Islamic terrorism.
Slate went further, pointing out that none of the mass killings in the U.S. have been perpetrated by Somali refugees — which is only true because Artan and St. Cloud, Minn., Somali terrorist Dahir Ahmed Adan didn’t manage to stab anyone to death. Adan stabbed eight people in a mall Sept. 9 before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. The FBI charged 10 Somali Americans in 2016 for allegedly conspiring to join Islamic State. Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab slaughtered 67 and injured upwards of 175 at Westgate mall in Kenya in 2013. Twenty died and 17 were wounded when the group attacked a restaurant in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest refused to call the OSU attack “radical Islam,” instead saying increased suspicion of a particular religion will lead to more attacks.
[dcquiz] “It is way too early to definitively link the OSU attack to terrorism,” Quartz wrote in a piece urging President Barack Obama and Trump to stay out of Somalia. “Lawmakers should instead explore whether increased US military operations in a country struggling with massive political and economic strife really is the most effective way to stamp out terrorism.”
“Think of the pain he [Artan] must have been in,” OSU diversity officer Stephanie Clemons Thompson wrote on Facebook; students are now petitioning for her removal.
Artan was a Somali refugee who fled to Pakistan in 2007 and then to the U.S. in 2014. He was a student at Ohio State and a permanent legal resident. He went on a rant on Facebook approximately three minutes before the attack, writing, “I can’t take it anymore. America! Stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah. We are not weak. We are not weak, remember that,” according to ABC News. “Sick and tired of seeing my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters being killed and tortured EVERYWHERE. Willing to kill a billion infidels in retribution for a single DISABLED Muslim.”
He called al-Qaida terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki a hero and stated that, “If you want us Muslims to stop carrying lone wolf attacks, then make peace. We will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims.” The Islamic State came out Nov. 29 to claim responsiblity for the attack, calling Artan a “soldier of the Islamic State.” ISIS also claimed responsiblity for the St. Cloud terror attack.
Ironically, Artan had previously complained to the school’s newspaper that he felt uncomfortable praying in the open because of the media’s portrayal of Muslims as violent.
“I wanted to pray in the open, but I was kind of scared with everything going on in the media,” he stated. “I’m a Muslim, it’s not what the media portrays me to be.”
Liberals attacked Trump in November for talking about the problems Minnesota faces with unvetted Somali refugees. “Trump equates Somali refugees in Minnesota to terrorists,” ThinkProgress wrote. Roughly 7 percent of the world’s Somali refugees reside in the U.S., according to the United Nations. The Somali Community Association of Ohio estimates there are at least 38,000 Somali refugees in Columbus, Ohio.
Liberal Islamic denialism means they will point at America, Trump, Republicans, racism, Islamaphobia and Christians as the culprits because it is impossible for them to admit that radical Islam exists. No matter how bad the attacks get, it appears it can never be a Muslim’s fault.
Artan’s identity was stripped away and replaced with the politically correct narrative. He was willing to kill “a billion infidels,” but that doesn’t prove the OSU attack was Islamic terrorism.
The Minnesota Somali Americans that were found guilty of trying to join ISIS were not radical, they were beaten down and crushed by a society that wasn’t welcoming enough.
Adan reportedly shouted “Allahu akbar” and asked someone at the St. Cloud mall if they were Muslim before stabbing them, but that doesn’t mean it had anything to do with Islam.
Their actions aren’t representative of the whole because they’re just a few among 1.6 billion Muslims.
It would take a miraculous act to change this: In the identity politics of the left, Islam is sacred.
Follow Katie on Twitter and Facebook | {
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In keeping with this column’s early season capacity constraints, here’s ten significant numbers that help explain the madness of the first three weeks of this year’s AFL season.
The top eight is starting to look a little more logical with 108 quarters of football in the books, but there is still some stuff that makes limited sense against pre-season expectations.
What to do when pressed for time? Boil down a column to ten interesting, unusual or suspect numbers that help explain what has happened in the first three rounds of the AFL season, and what might be coming next.
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Speaking of things that make limited sense…
30
This is how often the Melbourne Football Club is putting the ball over the goal line per inside 50 (30 per cent). The competition average through three rounds is 42 per cent. At 30 per cent, the Dees’ rate is the lowest conversion rate in the league.
Last year, Melbourne was scoring on 46 per cent of its inside 50s, ranked fourth in the league. Last year, the lowest rate of score per inside 50 was recorded by Gold Coast. Gold Coast scored on 39 per cent of its inside 50s. While plenty is wrong at Melbourne, this is a critical one. Another one is below.
52
This is how often Melbourne is conceding a score each time their opponent enters Melbourne’s defensive 50. This, too, is the worst rate in the league. In short, the Demons can’t score when they get the ball at their end of the ground, and they can’t stop their opponents scoring when the ball is at the other end of the ground.
Yep, it’s a disaster.
11
This is the number of clearances Patrick Cripps is winning for the Blues. In second place at Carlton are three gamer Sam Walsh and beanpole Zac Fisher, on 4.7 per game each.
Carlton has rapidly moved down to 18th in most projection systems, which may be a product of Gold Coast’s start more than Carlton’s play itself – which hasn’t been too bad all things considered. However, it’s clear Carlton is in a heavy development phase.
Cripps is a lone ranger. And what’s more, noting it is still early, he’s on track to break 200 clearances in the home and away season in a canter. If we extrapolate his 11 clearances per game out over a full 22 game season, Carlton’s Hercules will reach 242.
Even if he slows down a little, Cripps’ start means he only needs to average 8.8 clearances per game from this point to break the double ton, which is an ordinary season for him.
13
This is Geelong’s average adjusted contested possession differential per game through three rounds. It’s a figure which is a good way to proxy measure some of the super secret statistics captured by Champion Data – namely loose ball gets, hard ball gets, and contested knock ons – and it is also a decent predictor of the strength of teams.
The Cats have been slaughtering their opponents when the ball hits the deck, a stark turnaround from last year when they were middle of the road (+4.5 per game). Similarly, Geelong’s tackle rate (tackles per 50 minutes of opposition possession) has gone through the roof, reaching 74.1 in the first three rounds of 2019 (with a differential of +10.9), compared to 68.5 (+0.3) last year.
4468
That’s the number of points scored across the first three rounds of the 2019 season, which is 412 fewer than the first three rounds of the 2018 season. And that, folks, is despite Round 1 last year having one game (Gold Coast vs North Melbourne in Cairns) being played in a lake, where there has barely been a bit of bad weather to open this year.
It’s far too early to call the AFL’s rule change experiments a failure. However, this column has been privy to some behind-the-scenes numbers on scoring patters in the league and let me tell you, alarm bells would be ringing at AFL House if they genuinely cared about these things.
4.8
That’s the average end-of-season ladder position of the team sitting second on the ladder after three rounds of football since the turn of the century. Who is there right now? The Brisbane Lions, of course.
The Lions appear to have righted their home ground wrongs to start the year, with a dominant win over the West Coast Eagles and a stirring fourth quarter comeback in what’ll end up being one of the games of the year on the weekend. In between, they beat North Melbourne after being five goals down half way through the third quarter.
While that’s all well and good, putting up wins early in the season isn’t a guarantee of a finals spot. In that 19-season sample, a team has finished 15th (Collingwood, 2000), tenth (Adelaide, 2012), and 15th again (Gold Coast, 2016). However that is three of 19 seasons, and if you were to abstract those three seasons, the average finishing position of the team second on the ladder through three games is 3.3. So there’s that.
5, 12 and 18
Those are the picks Port Adelaide took inside the first round of the 2018 AFL draft. With those picks Port Adelaide selected Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma. Each of them have made quite astonishing starts to their AFL careers, with great poise and decision making complementing silky skills and a clear feel for the game.
I am going very early here but I have loved Rozee ever since I saw him play for the Power in the preseason. His natural position isn’t clear right now, but his kicking five goals against the Brisbane Lions over the weekend suggests he may be suited to the tricky half forward spot.
Butters and Duursma have looked great too, with the former already a favourite of Footy Twitter given his hair matches the South Park character he shares a name with.
Port is an early season surprise packet, and the play of their youngsters is one of the reasons why. An aggressive mindset and attacking back line is the other. It might not hold for the full year, but it’s a heap of fun right now.
174
That’s the number of marks Collingwood took against Richmond in their Round 2 win (it was the fifth most marks ever taken in a game). The Pies took 98 and 115 in their Round 1 and 3 losses to Geelong and West Coast, respectively.
Their average number of marks through three games is 129, which is up from 92.8 per game last year. Even subtracting that absurd outlier from Round 2, it’s clear through three weeks Nathan Buckley has his players playing a different game to last season.
Is that good? I’m not convinced it is. The Pies made it to the Grand Final last year, and bolstered their personnel group against the back half of 2018 via players coming back from injury and a couple of critical acquisitions. Last year’s Pies killed with pressure and a rabid intent to move the ball forward. This year, they’re playing at a much slower pace.
Counter: the Pies might’ve lost to the two best teams in the league, and beat a presumptive top four finisher. It’s early, but the Pies’ thirst for marking the ball is one to watch.
249
That’s how many games Richmond has played with at least one of Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance or Dustin Martin in their line up. If we include the now-departed Brett Deledio, that streak extends a further seven games to Round 17 2007.
It isn’t quite time to panic at Punt Road. However, as we discussed in the preseason, the footy gods have a way of calling in their injury luck debts all at once. So it has been for the Tigers. What’s more, two of the three key injuries afflicting the Cotchin, Riewoldt, Rance and Martin quarter are contact injuries (Rance’s knee and Riewoldt’s wrist). Injury luck: it’s a thing.
Note: this stat first came from football statistician extraordinaire @sirswampthing. It had to rip it because it’s incredible.
22, and zero
The first number is the number of contact below the knees free kicks paid this year, in totality. That is, there has been less than one contact below the knees free kick paid per game in 2019.
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The second number is the number of career-altering, and life-altering, lower leg injuries which have occurred as a result of forceful contact below the knees this year, in totality.
Please keep this in mind as we are forced to endure yet another existential crisis about “the game”, this time about this very effective and mostly harmless rule, over the next few weeks, or months, or maybe even years. | {
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According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Jeff Jarrett and officials from Anthem Entertainment are meeting with ITV in the regarding the World of Sport show. Following the announcement of TNA’s partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH, there have been rumors that TNA was looking to work with ITV & Konnan’s CRASH in Mexico. | {
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Candidate also confirms he has no intention of releasing income tax returns for years prior to 2010
In an interview with ABC News on Friday, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney insisted that he had played “no role whatsoever in the management of Bain Capital after February of 1999” and demanded that President Obama apologize for remarks by his campaign staff implying that Romney might have committed a felony by misrepresenting his status with the firm.
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“The president needs to take control of these people,” Romney stated. “It’s Chicago-style politics at its worst and the president promised something better than this when he ran the last time. And he ought to disavow it and reign in these people who are running out of control. … He sure as heck ought to say that he’s sorry for the kinds of attacks that are coming from his team. … This is simply beneath the dignity of the presidency of the United States.”
The Washington Post has copies of six SEC forms that Romney signed as Bain’s president, chief executive officer, and chairman between 1999 and 2001. According to Romney, however, he was no longer making any management decisions and signed the forms only because it took several years “to negotiate a departure and retirement program.”
In another hastily arranged interview on Friday, Romney told CNN that he has no intention of releasing more than two years of his income tax returns.
“We’ve complied with the law,” Romney stated. “The law requires us to put out a full financial disclosure. That I’ve done. I know there will always be calls for more, people always want to get more, and, you know, we’re putting out what is required plus more that is not required, and those are the two years that people are going to have. … That’s all that’s necessary for people to understand something about my finances.”
Meanwhile, President Obama continued to hammer Romney on Frida, telling an ABC affiliate, “My understanding is that Mr. Romney attested to the SEC, multiple times, that he was the chairman, CEO and president of Bain Capital, and I think most Americans figure if you are the chairman, CEO and president of a company that you are responsible for what that company does.”
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The dispute, which started off with questions about whether Romney should be held responsible for layoffs and bankruptcies at companies managed by Bain during that period, has now turned into an issue of Romney’s character. As the president went on to say, “Ultimately, Mr. Romney, I think, is going to have to answer those questions because, if he aspires to being president, one of the things you learn is you are ultimately responsible for the conduct of your operations.”
Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr
This video of Romney telling CNN that “people always want to get more” was uploaded to YouTube by Talking Points Memo on July 13, 2012. | {
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What is the origin of yakuza?
A set of hanafuda cards
The name Yakuza meaning Japanese gangsters comes from "893" (yattsu, ku, san). This name originates from a card game called oichokabu (おいちょかぶ), which is usually played with a deck of hanafuda (花札) "flower cards". (A normal deck of cards can also be used if the Kings, Queens, and Jacks are removed and the aces are regarded as 1).
A player's score in this game is decided by adding the scores on several cards and using only the smallest digit. Because 8 + 9 + 3 = 20 = 0 points, "8-9-3" means "no points". So the original meaning of yakuza (ya for yattsu, eight, ku for "nine" and za for san, "three" was "no points" or "useless". Later, this meaning changed to "useless people" or "gambling people".[1]
See also What are Japanese number puns? for how Japanese uses words as mnemonics for numbers.
Acknowledgements
Edited from posts by Jack Oatmon, KATOH Motoshi and Koji Kawakami.
References
Copyright © 1994-2020 Ben Bullock
If you have questions, corrections, or comments, please contact Ben Bullock or use the discussion forum / Privacy policy | {
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If Donald Trump chooses David Petraeus to serve as his secretary of state, the retired four star general will have to notify his probation officer about the new job.
That’s one of the conditions of a plea agreement Petraeus signed on April 29, 2015 in a case in which he was charged with the unauthorized removal and retention of classified material after he was found to have given documents to his biographer and mistress, Paula Broadwell.
Petraeus paid a $100,000 fine and received two years’ probation as part of a plea deal in the felony case.
Despite that controversy, Petraeus is on Trump’s short list to become the nation’s top diplomat. Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker are also being considered.
Petraeus’ mishandling of classified information is seen as a political roadblock to his nomination. If nominated, he would likely face intense questioning during his Senate confirmation hearing. But Petraeus’ probation agreement, which USA Today reporter Brad Heath published on Twitter, brings other non-political restraints.
“The defendant shall notify the probation officer within 72 hours of any change in residence or employment,” reads one of the conditions listed on the agreement, which is filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina.
The agreement also prohibits Petraeus from “possessing a firearm, destructive device, or other dangerous weapon.”
Petraeus must also, for the remainder of the probation stint, submit to random searches of his computers and all electronic devices.
The Daily Caller reached out to David Kendall, one of Petraeus’ lawyers in the case and the personal attorney for Hillary Clinton, for comment, but he did not respond by press time.
Follow Chuck on Twitter | {
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Sir Robert Peel, seen by some as the father of modern policing, once famously said “The police are the public, and the public are the police”. Well, now Weappy, in partnership with Team 17, have released “This is the Police”, and now the public really can have a crack at being the police, and see how they measure up to the standards they demand of the thin blue line.
So let’s dive in. First impressions of “This is the Police” are truly excellent. Just the title screen drips atmosphere and tone. A jazz soundtrack, all muted trumpets and tinkling pianos, immediately conjures images of hazy late-night city streets, of steel bridges and concrete pillars, of detectives and dames. It’s perhaps misleading, as once you start playing it quickly becomes apparent that this game is definitely not set in the 1920’s of noir-era crime fiction, but the feel is there nevertheless and evoked skilfully.
Alongside this excellent soundtrack, a bold but rather beautiful visual style renders everything as striking still images, really just colours and shapes, with almost no detailing at all. It perfectly fits a world where everything open to interpretation, nothing clear. It’s notable that you almost never see faces in this game, everyone is just blank. It makes it hard to judge intentions, deliberately so, leaving everything up to the player to decide.
The game sets up the story in a series of long, and somewhat meandering little sequences of images, accompanied by a voice-over from Jon St Jon explaining the player’s wretched circumstances: You are Jack Boyd, 60 year old chief of police. You are being forced into retirement in six months’ time. That gives you 180 days to embezzle half a million pounds into your retirement fund, your final act of revenge and defiance against a city (and more importantly, a city hall) that has rejected you.
Gameplay is simple, but effectively delivered. Each day you are greeted with a map of the city, and as time passes, police calls appear on this map. Click the call, read the description, and then decide how many, if any, of your officers you are going to dispatch to it. Some are obviously false alarms, others obviously serious, but you still need to keep your wits about you, and ideally keep one eye on what will happen next. If you send most of your force to quell the mass brawl that has broken out in the park, who will be left to send to the armed robbery that pops up a few minutes later? Do you gamble that the city will stay quiet for a few hours, or do you risk sending an undermanned team into a dangerous situation? Is that bomb threat at the elementary school a real thing, or just some kids playing a practical joke? Can you afford to send people to go and find out? Can you afford the consequences if you don’t, and it’s real?
These decisions are wonderful – exciting, tense and intriguing. Your heart really does beat faster as you let a timer tick down on a job you have chosen to ignore. You may be reasonably sure it’s a false alarm, but that “what if” scenario plagues you. It’s not too late, you could still click it, still send people to check it out…
This tension is hugely increased by some genuinely cruel consequences for failure. A bad day on the job, a few too many bodies in the morgue at the end of a shift, and you will be greeted the next morning by a message from the Mayor cutting your funding. Now you have to choose which member of staff you are going to fire. It’s merciless, perhaps unfairly so, but it certainly gives those on the job decisions a real sense of consequence.
Unfortunately, over time, this knife-edge thrill gives way to a steadily growing sense of frustration. A few too many bad days can see you undermanned to the point where it’s simply impossible to keep control of the city. One officer who doesn’t show up to work his shift, and then one bad hour in the city, and you are truly stuffed. If two large events occur simultaneously and you don’t have the staff to cover both, you can find the situation quickly runs away from you. A snowballing staffing crisis becomes an avalanche of rough days, each subsequent shift giving you less and less resources, helplessly trying to solve a now-impossible puzzle. To earn more slots for officers, you need to get some good days under your belt, but to have a good day you really need more staff on your roster already. You can ask your least-tired men to work double shifts, which alleviates the problem to some extent, but if you aren’t careful you can, and will, end up in a spiral of failure that cannot be escaped, forcing either a full restart of the campaign (which is not a small undertaking, as the full campaign weighs in at 40 hours or so) or some shameless save-scumming to salvage the situation, memorising the crimes that happen when, allowing you to distribute your officers with psychic precision.
But then there’s the other big problem with the game, and really, it’s the elephant in the room for any game about modern policing in the current climate. Issues around the use of lethal force, the way in which race plays a role in law enforcement tactics, the ongoing militarisation of police forces around the world – these are all topics that are unavoidably present in any game with this setting. This is the Police deals with these issues in a way that can best be described as “tone-deaf”, and strays quite heavily into being outright offensive.
For example, imagine that you are a game developer making a police procedural style game, right now. Perhaps you’ve been working on it for a while, but as release day approaches, so too a difficult, complex conversation starts up in the media around race and policing. The Black Lives Matter movement starts up, and the television news is suddenly awash with video footage of unarmed young black men being killed, apparently without provocation or justification.
Now imagine that the first major event in your game is the Mayor’s office instructing the player to “fire all your black police officers”. Would you change this?
I think I would, but then I found a lot of things here that I would do differently. The script in this game is oftentimes clumsy, sometimes outright poor, but also sometimes dangerously close to outright racism. The writing is peppered with ugly phrases, such as frequent use of the phrase“the blacks” to refer to a whole section of the city. That’s not overtly offensive, I suppose, but it certainly is troubling, suggesting a writer who doesn’t have enough understanding or awareness to be sailing in these treacherous waters. The crime descriptions obsessively and unfailing mention the ethnicity of every perpetrator, and this seems very odd. There’s no gameplay reason why you need to know that the burglar you arrested is black, or Chinese, or whatever, but the game makes sure you know, every single time. This kind of odd detail means that as you play, you can’t help but wonder what’s really going on in the minds of the developers. It becomes a real question of trust. How confident are you, as the player, that the developers who made this game aren’t harbouring sordid opinions that have leaked out into the game itself? It’s a question that becomes harder and harder to answer as you play, as the uncomfortable moments stack up.
At first contact, I was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt over a lot of things. I forgave the odd mis-step here and there as mere clumsy writing. A fellow writer for this site suggested that perhaps leaving that racial cleansing task in at the start of the game was brave, rather than foolhardy, and I hoped he was right, and that the game was heading somewhere, that it was going to blossom out into a bold take on a difficult question. But as time went on, as I trudged deeper into the game, I felt my trust eroding further with each in-game day that passed. Many times… Far, far too many times, I found myself looking cock-eyed at the screen and wondering what exactly I was playing.
What was the final straw for me? Was it the first (but certainly not only) time the game offered me a “hilarious” joke option for how to deal with a naked and bloodied rape victim? Was it when I chose a dialogue option labelled “Caution couldn’t hurt” at a press conference, and then listened to Jack Boyd lecture the women of the city on the safety benefits of modest dress and not wearing make-up? Perhaps it was when my character comes face to face with a man who has (indirectly) killed six women, their corpses mutilated with a power drill post-mortem, and then lets him walk away without batting an eyelid, in a narrative beat that the writer obviously meant as just another shade of grey in a murky world? Maybe it was the growing realisation that the best way to keep my officers safe on calls seemed to always be shooting first and asking questions later, to meet every situation with overwhelming force? Or was it the breathtakingly ill-judged torture mechanic that was suddenly introduced about 20 hours into the game, presenting me with a dingy basement wall covered in blood-stained tools and car batteries, alongside an on-screen prompt urging me to select the one I thought would be most effective in extracting a confession from the 17 year old boy who moments earlier had been shown on-screen cowering in the corner of his cell, curled up in the fetal position, sobbing? Oh yeah… that would be the one…
I refused to torture the boy and the game responded by telling me I had failed the case. A failure which naturally led to another cut in my funding, putting me straight back into the failure spiral I had only just escaped from.
On Facebook, the lead developer has preemptively posted a long and meandering defence of his product, in which he claims that this game is not a story about race, or religion or gender, it’s a game about humans. It’s not a game set in the US, it’s really in some vague symbolic pseudo-country. It exists outside of modern politics, so shouldn’t be held accountable to them. Frankly, reading it made me wish if I could discuss it further with him, but only if I had a dingy basement wall of tools available to me. The statement is the most cowardly, mealy-mouthed opt-out of a difficult conversation I’ve seen in a long time, a run for cover in the face of the obvious problems with his game, hiding from the issues rather than actually deal with them.
It’s also an almost entirely dishonest response. Claiming a game in which City Hall repeatedly orders the player to violently suppress political protests isn’t about politics is like claiming Mario games aren’t about jumping or collecting coins. The developer also says the game doesn’t seek to represent real world events, which seems strange given that one of the calls I dealt with in the game was a 10 year old boy named Ahmed accused of bringing a bomb into school that turned out to be a homemade clock. Best of all, the claim that the game isn’t set in America is truly beyond contempt, barely worth rebutting at all. No rational human being could look at the setting, tone and language of this game and not immediately place themselves in the United States? As defences go, I don’t think this one is going to hold up in court.
Perhaps most tellingly, This is the Police is a game filled with many metrics by which you can measure your success or failure, but crucially, one is missing. You can see how the Mayor feels about you, you can see how the Mafia feel about you, later on you can even gauge the loyalty of your own officers, but the one group of people in the game whose feelings you cannot scrutinise, whose feelings do not factor into the simulation at all, are the civilians in your city. You never hear from them, they are just bystanders, victims, potential perps, but ultimately they are wholly unimportant to your quest, rendered entirely voiceless by a game that simply does not care about them.
Over time, the game conditions you to go in hard and heavy in every situation, and take what you want by brute force It ruthlessly enforces this behaviour with the threat of a savage punishment. A cruel master, the game will dangle your 20+ hours of play up so far in front of you, threatening to destroy it if you don’t toe the line and do whatever grim task it now demands of you. It claims to offer the player a choice, but the choice it really offers is to dive headfirst into the ethical cesspit before you, or stop playing entirely as your tools to enjoy the game are steadily stripped away from you. Whether this is system is accident or design I ultimately cannot speculate, but it means that “This is the Police” has a central message that is truly unpleasant. In this game’s world, might is right, victims only have themselves to blame, the ends justify the means and the only solution to complex problems is an iron fist with an iron will. In keeping with this ideology, if you attempt to argue with these principles, if you try to carve your own path through the difficulties it presents, it crushes you ruthlessly until you either start doing what it wants, or stop entirely.
I made many choices whilst playing This is the Police, but perhaps the most sensible one I took during my time with it was to sadly shake my head, close it down, and quietly uninstall it.
This is the Police was provided to us for review via a download code for PC by Dead Good Media PR. | {
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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum decked out in Nike Adapt BB self-lacing sneakers. Photo : Elise Amendola ( AP )
Wow, technology. Papal apps. Speculative e-currency that sucks up as much energy as a small country. Shopping carts that spy on you. And now, a pair of $350, motor-and-gear-train-packed Nikes that link up with an app to control their fit... and that you can reportedly “brick” by connecting them to an Android.
No, reader, I am not here to shame you for spending $350 on self-lacing e - shoes. (Look, at least you’re splurging on fitness instead of a beer Keurig or something . ) I am merely here to inform you that the age of shoe-bricking upon us.
According to CNET, users have reported that the Android app for Nike Adapt BB shoes (though not the iOS version) is experiencing serious technical glitches following a recent firmware update. Reviews posted to the app’s download page say that it continually fails to connect to one shoe or the other , as well as that the firmware update appears to have “ bricked” the shoes. In some cases they can be manually reset through an annoying process, though the Verge reported that some users have said the shoe’s motors stopped functioning entirely no matter what they did.
CNET helpfully noted that the shoes continue to be shoes, regardless of whether the app works, and that buttons on the side continue to function:
You’re still able to wear the sneakers and walk around in them, but all the smart features from the app stopped working with the update, frustrated users said. “The first software update for the shoe threw an error while updating, bricking the right shoe,” Asa Domolky, a reviewer, wrote on the app. ... Usually bricking tend to render devices completely useless, at least the Adapt BB just turns into a regular pair of sneakers. You’re also still able to control the fit through the buttons on the side.
In one comment on the Google Play Store, a user detailed what he said was the annoying process of resetting an Adapt BB:
TO HARD-RESET SHOES: 1) For one shoe, hold both buttons at the same time for 5 seconds. You’ll see TWO RED FLASHES and then a SOLID RED BEFORE FADE. 2) After, press + hold one button THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. Once it turns WHITE, press + hold other button THREE TIMES, ONE OR TWO SECONDS EACH TIME. First time will turn RED. Second time will turn YELLOW. Third time will turn GREEN. Let buttons go for 15 seconds; it’s fully reset. Repeat for other shoe. Connection should work! Skip 2/14/19 update!
Nike did not respond to a request for comment from CNET, though it replied to an angry user on the Play Store page that “We are aware of the issue and are actively working on a solution.”
Wow, technology. Incredible. Makes you think.
[CNET/The Verge] | {
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Occupation: Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana Agent
“Thirty four years ago, a newspaper advertisement I came across, led me to being a Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana (MPKBY) agent. I had gone with a neighbour and enquired about the job possibilities. She didn’t join, but I did. The appointment is made by the Collector after a short interview. A MPKBY agent has to renew her agency every three years. Renewal is based on your performance and the deposits for the past six months are evaluated. Agents who do not have enough depositors, will have their agency reneweded only for a year. Thankfully, I have always got a three-year renewal.
When I began in 1980, things were not easy. People had not yet warmed up to the idea of small savings schemes in which the agent came home, collected money and deposited it in the post office. They probably did not have much trust in the system which was relatively new. There were often days when I walked the entire neighbourhood without winning a single depositor. Even when they joined the scheme, they would make incredibly small monthly deposits, say for Rs. 5.
But by 1986, things started changing. I moved to the Vellimadukkunnu region and since then it has not been tough. Now, of course, things are considerably better. I am now a regular feature in the lives of my depositors. On an average, depositors make a monthly contribution of Rs. 500. There are a few whose contributions are much higher. I get a commission of four per cent on each deposit. Earlier, the State Government gave us an allowance and bonus every month which was five-and-a-quarter per cent of a deposit. But that was stopped couple of years ago. Now it is given as a reward for performing additional tasks like spreading awareness about plastic disposal and rainwater harvesting. The agents are given training in spreading messages on these subjects in the households we visit. However, this money is not given on a monthly basis. We also pay tax on the commission we get.
My day usually begins close to 10 a.m. Each MPKBY agent is allotted two days a week to deposit their collection at the post office. Mine is on Tuesdays and Fridays. On these days, I reach the post office before 10. I would sit the night before and enter details of the collection made on the computer, transfer data on a pen drive and hand it over at the post office. In the past few years I had to learn the computer to master this part of my job. I did find it difficult initially, but have got used to it now. Once my work at the post office is done, I go for collection. Most of my depositors live in the area between Vellimadukkunnu and Chevarambalam. Some of the younger agents have a vehicle. But I walk. It is routine for me to walk 5-6 kms a day, rain or shine. I begin my collection by the 4 of every month and it goes on till the 25. I earmark a region and visit about 30 houses a day. After the 25, I wind up with the houses I missed out the first time. Some houses would haven been locked, others may not have the deposit money. So I make a second visit. Now I have close to 500 depositors and I deposit about Rs. 3 lakh in the post office every month.
Over the years, I have a built a warm bond with my depositors. Most of them share the developments in their household with me. They also are enthusiastic about their small saving schemes. They like the fact that they have nothing much to do. Somebody comes and collects the money, deposits it in the post office and shows them their updated pass book. Some even tell me to collect the amount when it has matured. I often have to cajole them to come to the post office and collect it. The recurring deposit is for five years and most of them take a new one after a term ends. Depositors are not unduly worried about the 8.5 per cent interest. They bank on the fact that they don’t have to endure any difficulty to make this saving. By the time I finish the collection work, it would be around 7.30 p.m. After household work, I usually sit down to jot down the day's collection. I am also a Standardised Agency System agent. But the commission on the SAS scheme is a mere 0.5 per cent. So I concentrate more on MPKBY.
My family — my husband, son and daughter—has been a great support. Whenever I am late, I give them a call and they come and pick me up. My children helped me learn the computer. I am also part of the National Savings Agents Association.
The job has made my life easier. I intend to do it as long as I have my hands and legs.”
As told to P. ANIMA
A column on men and women who make Kozhikode what it is. | {
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The beleaguered northern white rhinoceros moved closer to extinction this week after conservationists announced that the health of the only surviving male of the species was deteriorating.
The rhino, named Sudan, made headlines last year after it was dubbed “The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World” on the dating app Tinder as part of a campaign to spread awareness about rhinos and raise money to help protect them.
But now Sudan’s days appear to be numbered.
He was “starting to show signs of ailing,” according to a statement posted Wednesday on Twitter by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the preserve in Kenya where the 45-year-old rhino has lived since 2009. “His health has begun deteriorating, and his future is not looking bright.”
“We are very concerned about him — he’s extremely old for a rhino and we do not want him to suffer unnecessarily,” it said. White rhinos live until around 40 on average, though those being cared for in captivity can survive longer.
So many people have supported the northern white rhinos since they arrived on Ol Pejeta in 2009, and we feel it is important to inform you that Sudan, the last male northern white rhino on the planet, is starting to show signs of ailing. pic.twitter.com/BMNTprww57 — Ol Pejeta (@OlPejeta) March 1, 2018
Sudan developed “an uncomfortable age-related infection on his back right leg” at the end of 2017, the conservancy said. A team of veterinarians from around the world assessed the animal, which responded well to treatment and began to heal, soon resuming normal movement and foraging habits.
But recently, a secondary and much deeper infection was discovered beneath the initial one and Sudan was taking longer to recover, “despite the best efforts of his team of vets who are giving him 24-hour care,” the organization said.
There are two other white rhinos left in the world — a female named Najin and daughter Fatu, both also living at the conservancy in Kenya. Health problems or their ages — around 28 and 17, respectively — have left them unable to reproduce.
Wildlife experts and conservationists expressed deep regret over the prospect of the northern white rhino completely dying out. Technically, the species is already classified as extinct because it no longer exists in the wild, conservationists said.
“This is a distinct lineage of white rhino,” said Barbara Durrant, director of reproductive sciences at San Diego Zoo Global. “The loss of a population, especially of a mega-vertebrate like a rhino … is a significant loss in terms of genetic diversity.”
The zoo had had eight northern white rhinos in its Safari Park near Escondido over the years since 1972. The last one, a female named Nola, died in 2015.
This 1996 file photo shows northern white rhinos at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Between 1972 and 2015, when the last one died, the zoo hosted eight northern white rhinos. (Bob Grieser / Los Angeles Times )
All types of rhino are threatened. No more than 26,543 are left in Africa, and no more than 163 in Southeast Asia, along with at least 3,500 in other parts of Asia, according to Save the Rhino, a conservation charity based in Britain.
Poaching is the main cause of the decline and disappearance of rhinos from the wild. They are hunted for their horns, which are trafficked primarily in China and Vietnam for such uses as cures for illness.
More than 7,245 African rhinos have been lost to poaching over the last decade, including 1,028 last year in South Africa, according to Save the Rhino.
The poaching danger is often coupled with degradation and loss of habitat and the vulnerability the animals face living in conflict zones, said Bas Huijbregts, who leads the World Wildlife Fund’s wildlife conservation efforts in Africa.
The habitat of the northern white rhino included Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic — nations racked by war, political strife and lack of governance.
The northern white rhino “had the unfortunate characteristic of living in one of Africa’s most unstable regions,” Huijbregts said.
Various initiatives are being explored to preserve the species or possibly reintroduce it after the three remaining rhinos die. They include collecting the eggs from the ovaries of at least the younger of the two female northern white rhinos for possible in vitro fertilization.
“That hasn’t happened yet, but the technique is being optimized,” Durrant said.
San Diego’s Frozen Zoo is among at least two research facilities that already have northern white rhino semen.
Durrant said other possible options include using stem cell technology to create a northern white rhino embryo and implanting it in a surrogate female southern white rhino; creating a hybrid between the northern white rhino and the southern white rhino; or cloning the animal if that technology can be applied to the species.
“Once we create sperm and eggs from northern white rhino … we have to know how to mature those eggs in vitro, how to fertilize them in vitro, how to grow the embryos to a certain stage and then how to do embryo transfer,” Durrant said. “We have lot of work to do to develop those technologies.”
Science though is unlikely to bring back the herd, conservationists said.
“Let’s hope it will be another wake-up call for the world to understand that we have to do much more to combat the threat to rhinos,” Huijbregts said. “The key message here is that when the demand [for rhino horn] stops, the killing stops.”
[email protected]
For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter | {
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Remember the whole "lock her up" movement that wanted Hillary Clinton put away for using a private account for sending emails while she was secretary of state? It turns out that Ivanka Trump, Donald's daughter and a senior advisor to the President, is guilty of the same apparent misdeed as Clinton was.
A Washington Post investigation has found that Ivanka used her personal email to send hundreds of messages to aides in the White House, cabinet officials and assistants about White House business and was apparently unaware that she had stepped outside government guidelines.
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Clinton's use of a private email server, Trump senior has said, was a crime "bigger than Watergate" which had put America "in danger". The FBI investigation concluded that she and her team had been "extremely careless" but that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred.
Whether the emails were ever really about the emails is another question, and it'll be quite interesting (read: not at all surprising) to see which of the commentators having coronaries over the security of Clinton's emails will hold Ivanka to the same standard. The email palaver helped to coalesce the swirl of conspiracy theories about the Clintons - who had become both an extremely specific locus of hatred for the American right and a totem for the more general mistrust of what Trump weaponised as "the swamp" - into a single handy phrase: "Lock her up".
It was the most politically mainstream of the thread of half-truths, lies and demonisation which led directly through intimations that Clinton was personally responsible for the deaths of four Americans in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack (none of the many investigations around it have found Clinton or the Obama administration responsible), and on towards the wilds of the Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracies.
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Screening and Live Reenactment by the New York City Shadow Cast
Prop bags (containing newspaper, rice, confetti, playing cards, and toast) will be available for sale in the lobby. No cigarette lighters or water guns allowed.
Dir. Jim Sharman. 1975, 100 mins. DCP. With Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick. New technologies and interactive media are changing the role of the audience. But for the past four decades, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has transformed the passive screening experience into an active and participatory story about identity, sexuality, and self-awareness. In celebration of the film's 40th anniversary, Future of StoryTelling presents a special showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring a live reenactment from the official New York City Shadow Cast, followed by a Q&A with the founders of the RHPS fan club that helped spark one of the original super fan communities. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character!
This event is sold out. Standby tickets may become available at the door. Visit the Museum's admission desk after 10:30 a.m. on June 12 to secure a position in the standby line. Museum members will be given priority. Tickets: $15 ($9 for Museum members / free for members at the Silver Screen level and above).
All tickets include same-day admission to the Museum (see gallery hours). View the Museum’s ticketing policy here. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page. | {
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Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan has been honored as the 2017 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Female Player of the Year, becoming the first player - male or female - to earn the honor three times. Morgan is a back-to-back winner, taking the honor in 2016, and won for the first time in 2013.
Morgan appeared in 13 matches for the Pride during the 2017 campaign, ranking second on the team with nine goals, fifth best in the league. Morgan scored in each of the Pride five matches in the month of August, leading to her being named NWSL Player of the Month. The Cal product also added four assists on the year and helped lead the Pride to the team’s first-ever playoff appearance.
On the international stage, Morgan finished the year with seven goals in seven straight matches for the U.S. Women’s National Team, ending the year with the team lead in goals.
Prior to joining the Pride in July, Morgan opened the year with French side Olympique Lyonnais where she helped the team claim the treble - winning the French league, the French Cup and the Champions League title. Over all appearances, Morgan totaled 12 goals.
Winners for the 2017 CONCACAF awards were selected in an in an equally-weighted vote among Member Association women’s and men’s national team coaches/captains, media members and fans. Winners were announced on Sunday night during the Premios Univision Deportes.
The winners in nine additional categories for the annual CONCACAF Awards, including the Male and Female Best XIs, will be announced on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, via CONCACAF.com. | {
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“When you depart from the bitcoin or the ethereum, and you get into the tokens, the hallmarks become pretty clear.”
So said Jay Clayton, Chairman of the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) in November. Then, only a few weeks ago during a hearing, he said:
“It’s a complicated area. Because, as you said, there are different types of cryptoassets. Let me try and divide them into two areas.
A pure medium of exchange, the one that’s most often cited, is Bitcoin. As a replacement for currency, that has been determined by most people to not be a security.
Then there are tokens, which are used to finance projects. I’ve been on the record saying there are very few, there’s none that I’ve seen, tokens that aren’t securities.”
Whether tokens are securities or not, has not been decided by any court. SEC’s interpretation that they are, is just an interpretation by some lawyers. Other lawyers have different interpretations.
In the context of a criminal case, one such lawyer has put forth some strong reasons as to why some tokens are not a security.
It is a criminal case, and the judge sits in the FISCA court, and it is being heard in Wall Street’s New York, so it wouldn’t surprise us if the judge decides the token is a security.
However, as this is a new area, and the judge would in effect be making a new law by interpreting old law, it would probably, or at least hopefully, be appealed whichever way it goes up to the Supreme Court so that the most senior judges of the land give their verdict on this very important matter.
With that case in the background, cynicnodes would be faulted for thinking SEC might be playing games by recent suggestions they are to discuss tomorrow whether eth is a security.
They could be trying to “scare” us by bringing ethereum to the table and potential classification as security so that we “accept” that actual tokens are a security.
Although it may well be their discussion is following a request by a number of Silicon Valley based Venture Capitalists for “safe harbor” for tokens that then have a running network or functionality.
Generally speaking, there is no reason to accept tokens are a security without a Supreme Court judgment or by a new law from Congress.
That’s because it is not for SEC to make laws, nor interpret them. They often cite the Howey case, yet it is not for SEC to interpret that case and to apply it to very new things. It is for the court to do so.
SEC’s job is to enforce established law, not encroach upon the jurisdiction of the judiciary or Congress by making new law. If things were getting out of hand or if regulations were needed, then such regulations need to be democratically applied by debate and then a vote in Congress.
And if those arguments apply to tokens in general, where one can see the SEC’s point of view – and isn’t wholly without merit although it is misguided in applying same requirements to fundraising of $10 billion as $10 million – many more arguments apply in regards to ethereum.
The first argument is unconstitutional uncertainty of the law, which is a general argument in regards to all tokens, but in eth it is a very concrete argument.
Because Jay Clayton himself has said eth is not a security as we quoted above. So if one day it is not a security, and the next day it is, then how on earth does that law meet the constitutional requirement for clarity?
More generally, the Howey test comes from a case of that name where the Supreme Court said a security, or an investment contract, is:
“A contract, transaction or scheme whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits solely from the efforts of the promoter or a third party.”
Current ethereum obviously does not meet that definition. There is no investment in a common enterprise, there is selling or buying eth like you sell or buy gold.
There is no common enterprise at all, there’s a network of nodes and miners that run code and decide what code to run.
People might hope for profit, but price goes up or down, there is no guarantee of profits. Moreover, plenty might not care about profits at all and instead want eth only because they want to use a dapp. That’s especially relevant as 53% of transactions are to smart contracts, suggesting considerable utility.
Any profit or loss does not come from a third party. Not anymore than it does when you decide to buy or sell gold.
Moreover, as far as the current network is concerned there are practical considerations as you would in effect be regulating open source code, which is effectively impossible.
Impossible because coders are technically volunteers. There may be companies paying them to open source code, there may be non-profits doing so, they may be doing it for free in their spare time, they may decide not to work on it, others may come in or go. It’s a commons. An open space.
You could hold the Ethereum Foundation responsible, but they don’t run the network, some 24,000 nodes do and some of those nodes get paid for it.
The Ethereum Foundation, moreover, pays only some of the developers. Plenty of others pay more. Plus, the network doesn’t have to listen to the Ethereum Foundation. Anyone can just fork the code.
Much of this applies to other aspects. For example, is Brave Browser a security? Is Dai a security? Is SEC really saying Cryptokitties are a security?
The only aspect they can try to hold onto is the Ethereum pre-sale, but that was undertaken after extensive consultation and legal advice, with the eth sold not much different than miners sell them today.
In return for BTC, individuals were given eth, eth which was effectively mined before the network for mining opened to all.
So if that eth mined was a security, then btc miners are issuing securities every time they sell the btc they mine. Which shows how ludicrous SEC’s extension of its jurisdiction even in tokens like Brave Browser can be, let alone in decentralized networks like eth run by some 24,000 nodes across the globe.
Although Clayton says he hasn’t seen any utility ICO, that doesn’t mean there actually haven’t been utility ICOs. As stated previously, he is just one lawyer, with his own interpretation. He does not make law, nor does he interpret law, as far as doing so legitimately and in line with the constitution is concerned.
An investment contract is something where you give money to someone else to invest in buying things to say create a company or to buy houses to rent, with the expectation of making profits from labor.
Giving someone money for a token is not an investment contract by common sense. It is instead buying a token. Company shares are different because the only use of company shares is the hope their value increases due to good management growing the company by buying things cheaper and selling them for more or by providing services cheaper or better.
While with a token, you can actually use it for things. You can’t use company shares for things. You can’t use an investment certificate or whatever right the investment contract gives you for things. That’s why there is the securities law, because you give others money and in return you receive nothing except for a promise by others that they will do what they said.
In tokens however, if you receive a token, then you are not receiving nothing, you are instead buying a token, which you can use for things, including paying others for things, like advertising slots on trustnodes.
As such, instead of a company share, a token is not much different than buying a car. Someone produces the token, in this case instead of through raw materials, does so through intellectual work, then they sell the token which now can be used to do whatever.
It is therefore unclear why SEC should have any jurisdiction even for actual tokens, let alone for decentralized currencies like eth or bitcoin.
Arguably, if the token does not yet exist but is promised to exist, you can say there that one is relying on others to do what they promised, so there should be some enforceable responsibility.
That should be laddered, so if they raising say $5-$10 million then perhaps only basic requirements of as low as general contractual law in regards to fraud and misleading, or slightly higher by requiring disclosure of revenue figures and backgrounds.
While say $20-$100 million you can require audits of figures as well as notarization of backgrounds and perhaps detailed quarterly updates of progress until the token launches or the project is finished in line with their promises.
Then, above that amount you can require all that is currently required because at those levels there should be a much higher level of responsibility.
Another way would be to cap the amount invested to say $1,000 or $10,000 per individual. Something which could fairly easily be implemented by ICOs whitelisting as plenty of them already do.
The difficult question here would be determining when that responsibility ends. In a company it never does until the company ceases to exist because otherwise there is a management that is responsible.
In an open source token that is running, however, say something like BAT, that responsibility should arguably cease as soon as the token and the network around it is running.
That’s because there is no CEO that can be replaced, you don’t have a person who is actually responsible for much once the network is up and running. There would be the devs who raised the money in the ICO, but god forbid they all for whatever reason vanish, new devs would come in either paid by companies or voluntarily and contribute code and improve the network gradually like they contribute code to linux or other open sources systems for absolutely free or without any obligation.
In short, SEC has to think this matter a lot more thoroughly, its staff needs to do its work a lot better than it already has, and they need to take into consideration the many very real differences rather than apply a century old discriminatory law enacted at a time when only the very rich, when only white, and when only men, could vote.
For if we are to be honest, and if SEC is to be honest with itself, they have been far too hasty, a bit like a bull in a China shop, and they have done so while having no real understanding of this space as Jay Clayton himself admitted by stating SEC has no coders and no tech expertise to provide advice but only economists.
How do you regulate a code based network that runs globally in a decentralized manner solely due to some code without having any advise from tech experts?
Very badly, that’s how. So far anyway. But there are signs that may change as they gain a wider understanding. However, in the meantime they should stop playing games if they want to retain any good-will from this space.
Because we’re not children, we obviously don’t want to be defrauded, scammed or misled. Some regulation is clearly needed where promises are made, but it needs to be reasonable regulation that makes sense, otherwise it’s not really regulation and can’t really be enforced either as law does ultimately depend on consent.
Copyrights Trustnodes.com | {
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wow you guys got this done super fast >.< great job though to both of you!
(I'm doing this with her too but I haven't even had time to start yet q.q) | {
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Elizabeth Warren just destroyed Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen over JPMorgan's "living will."
In the Dodd-Frank Act, there is a provision, known as a living will, that must describe a company's strategy for, "rapid and orderly resolution in the event of material financial distress or failure of the company."
This provision comes out of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, which triggered the financial crisis and took three years to resolve.
Warren has some concerns regarding JPMorgan's living will, which she notes has been approved each of the last years.
Compared to JPMorgan, Warren said Lehman was "tiny."
Warren noted that at the time of its bankruptcy, Lehman had $639 billion in assets; today, JPMorgan has nearly $2.5 trillion in assets.
Warren also said that Lehman had 209 subsidiaries when it failed; today, JPMorgan has 3,391 subsidiaries, or more than 15 times the number Lehman had when it went under.
Before delivering the stat about how many subsidiaries JPMorgan has, Warren said, "I almost couldn't believe this when I read it."
In response, Yellen said the Fed is continuing to work with firms to give them feedback regarding their plans, a response Warren wasn't thrilled with, asking Yellen, "[Has JPMorgan] ever gotten to a plan, which you can stay with a straight face, is credible?"
Yellen's response: "I've understood this to be a process, these are extremely complex documents to produce. In our second round of submission, we're looking at plans that run into tens of thousands of pages."
This didn't really cut it with Warren either. As the most junior member of the Senate Banking Committee, Warren asked Yellen questions last, and was left to conclude with:
"I think the language in the [Dodd-Frank] statute is pretty clear. That you are required, that the Fed is required to call it every year on whether these institutions have a credible plan. And I remind you, there are vey effective tools that you can use if those plans are not credible. Including, forcing these financial institutions to simplify their structure, or forcing them to liquidate some of their assets. In other words, break them up."
Warren has long been critical of Wall Street and particularly of the size of big banks.
Following nearly two hours of questions that danced around the issues we hear all the time such as: when will the taper end, when will rates rise, what's the deal with the labor market, Warren finished the proceedings with a pointed question regarding a specific provision in Dodd-Frank.
Our guess is that Yellen wasn't too upset the hearing ended when it did.
Here's the relevant seven-minute clip from C-SPAN, which is well worth watching. | {
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CHRIS FARLEY, SWEAT POURING down his face, clutched his chest and yelled, “I’m about to have a heart attack!” It was Dec. 14, and Farley, the colossal comic with appetites as oversize as his talent, was at a party in Chicago’s hip dance club Karma, drinking heavily, doling out $50 tips and doing his usual over-the-top comedy bits for fans. The heart attack? Just another joke, another attempt to poke fun at himself and score some laughs. Still, says one partygoer, “I wondered if he really was having chest pains. He looked bad.”
Four days later no one was laughing when tragedy struck Christopher Crosby Farley for real. On Dec. 18, after a bacchanalian final week full of strippers, drugs and alcohol, Farley was found dead in his 60th-floor apartment in Chicago’s John Hancock tower. There, his brother John, 29, a Chicago actor, discovered the 5’8″, 296-lb. Farley, dressed in sweatpants and an open shirt, sprawled on his back in the foyer. No drugs were found in the apartment, and results of an autopsy were withheld pending tests.
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Yet the prevailing speculation was that the shocking—though not entirely unexpected—death of Farley, at age 33, was a senseless replay of what happened to Farley’s idol John Belushi, the comic dervish who died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in 1982, also at 33. “He was obsessed with Belushi,” says Farley’s former drug counselor Dallas Taylor, who last saw the comic in August, just before Farley was kicked out of a Malibu rehab clinic for disruptive behavior. “Chris thought he needed to be loaded to excess in order to be accepted.” A shy kid from Wisconsin who regularly attended mass, including on the last Sunday of his life, Farley recently admitted to US magazine that “lust, gluttony, booze and drugs are most of the things I confess to. I can’t help it. I want to be a good Catholic, but I’m a hedonist.”
In that sense Farley’s death seems like another sorry chapter in the long-running Hollywood morality play that has lately featured actors Robert Downey Jr. and Christian Slater, who both recently received jail time after years of substance abuse. “In Hollywood, a world without boundaries, Chris was much more vulnerable,” says Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, who hired Farley for the show. “Chris yearned for and needed structure.”
What makes Farley’s fate even more poignant is the sense that his self-esteem woes and powerful addictions fueled his comic persona, that of a self-loathing slob who crashed through windows for laughs. “He always said, ‘They come to see the fat boy fall down,’ ” says Second City producer Joyce Sloane, who helped launch Farley’s career. “But I don’t think he liked being the fat boy. He had all these demons that he just could not fight.”
In the last few months those demons snagged Farley in a downward spiral. He was heavier than ever and, at a March SNL cast reunion in Aspen, seemed dangerously out of control. “There was a hyperawareness of what was going on with Chris,” says former SNL castmate Al Franken, while another source who was at the Aspen reunion recalls Farley sweating so profusely that SNL alum Jan Hooks, sitting next to him, worried that he was staining her suit.
The last week of his life was one epic binge. On the Sunday before he died, Farley partied into the night at Karma, then, back at his condo, freebased cocaine until 9 a.m. on Monday, according to a fellow reveler. Monday night featured a holiday party followed by more late-night club hopping. “He was partying too much and had no sense of direction,” says Chicago Bulls bad boy Dennis Rodman, who ran into Farley that night and had one of his bodyguards help him home. On Tuesday Farley hired an exotic dancer to entertain him at his condo, then hit his favorite after-hours spot, the Hunt Club.
Another exotic dancer, Heidi Hauser, told the Globe that she spent most of Wednesday with a sleep-deprived Farley as he consumed large amounts of cocaine, heroin and vodka. Hauser claims she left Farley, passed out on the floor of his foyer, at 3 a.m. on Thursday. It was there that Farley’s brother John made his grisly discovery 11 hours later. “Chris played Russian roulette with drugs and alcohol, and it caught up with him,” says hairstylist Jillian Seely, a close friend who attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with Farley five days before he died. “He wanted more than anything to be sober, but his addictions overtook him.”
Accounts of Farley’s dark side are myriad yet matched by stories of his incredible gift for making people laugh. Raised in an upscale section of Madison by Thomas Farley, an oil company owner, and Mary Anne, a housewife, Chris was “always an entertainer,” says Joel Maturi, his football coach at Madison’s private Edgewood High School. “But he was never mischievous in a harmful way.” As a sophomore at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Farley signed up on a lark for a campus variety show. “He came onstage and did a pratfall,” says Pat Finn, at that time his best friend, “and the place just went berserk.”
After seeing his father roar with laughter while watching John Belushi in Animal House, Farley knew his destiny. “He wanted to follow in John’s footsteps,” says Joyce Sloane of Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe—Belushi’s old stomping grounds-for which Farley was hired in 1987. A brilliant physical comedian who was quickly promoted to Second City’s main stage, Farley was also beginning the reckless drinking and drug-taking that would plague him. “There was heavy betting that he wouldn’t make it a week on the main stage because of drugs and alcohol,” says his former teacher Del Close. “But he could always cut the gig.”
In 1990, Michaels snapped up Farley for Saturday Night Live. The following year the producer forced him to enter a drug-rehab clinic. Farley returned to the show three months later but continued indulging his runaway appetites for drugs, booze and food. “It’s not easy climbing out of that type of behavior,” says Tom Arnold, a longtime friend of Farley’s, who has been sober for eight years. In 1992, Arnold staged an intervention for Farley at the Hollywood office of Roseanne, his then wife. Not long after that meeting, Farley checked into Exodus, a rehab clinic in Marina del Rey, Calif. He stayed sober for three years.
But while Farley managed to corral his substance abuse, “he continued to binge on food and hookers,” says Dallas Taylor, the former drummer for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and now an addiction specialist. Actor Jay Mohr recalls sharing meals with Farley and their SNL cohort David Spade. “David used to tease him about putting butter on his steak,” says Mohr. “Chris would answer with his typical ‘Shut up, David!’ ” Shortly after the third anniversary of his sobriety, Farley fell off the wagon, and from that point on it was one failed rehab stint after another. Filmmaker Stu Matz recalls one SNL party at which Farley “was snorting coke like a vacuum cleaner.”
Farley left SNL in 1995—after creating memorable characters like inspirational speaker Matt Foley—and embarked on a movie career that included roles in Tommy Boy, his first starring part, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Ninja and the upcoming Almost Heroes, with Matthew Perry. Despite his wealth and fame—Farley earned around $5 million a film—the comic, says his friend Jeff Michalski, was “undeniably lonely He never thought he fit in.”
Farley combated his insecurity by always being on, priming his antic behavior with drugs and coffee (he guzzled three cappuccinos before takes on the set of Tommy Boy). Farley’s reputation worsened: He had to attend daily AA meetings while filming Almost Heroes and was put under 24-hour watch while recording a voice for the upcoming animated film Shrek. When Farley guest-hosted SNL in October, he arrived for rehearsals drunk and, says Michaels, “way out of shape.” Says his friend Seely: “The times he could stay sober were becoming limited.”
Yet there were also signs that Farley wanted to get out of the fast lane. In October he talked of getting married and having children and, in December, announced to one of his brothers that he was going to the Hazelden rehab clinic in Center City, Minn., stating, “I cannot stop drinking.” (He never followed through.) Farley even bought a Christmas tree on Dec. 12, excitedly telling a worker who helped deliver it, “You made my Christmas so special.” It was not to be.
The close-knit Farley clan—his parents, older sister Barbara (a teacher in Madison), and brothers John, Kevin (an actor in Los Angeles) and Tom (a Connecticut banker)—gathered in Madison for Farley’s funeral on Dec. 23 and dealt with it “in typical Irish fashion,” says Tom, “with a lot of laughter and a lot of tears.” On the back of a program handed out to guests like Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Dan Aykroyd was “A Clown’s Prayer,” a copy of which Farley had carried in his wallet for years. It reads, in part, “As I stumble through this life, help me create more laughter than tears, dispense more happiness than gloom, spread more cheer than despair.” That prayer, at least, was answered in Farley’s short life. Says Lorne Michaels: “The thing that made Chris beautiful was when he was making people laugh.” | {
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Zakros Span – Episode 14: Mrs. (Cave) Fisher Murders
Zakros Span 00:00 / 31:44 1X
Our heroes begin to investigate the caverns they’ve entered and wind up in a few different sticky situations. | {
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World War II was a global war fought between major countries of the world along with their allies. The war continued for 6 years and proved to be one of the deadliest ones with over 85 million deaths. In order to gain support from the general public, different types of advertisements were run by the governments as well as brands. Some of these turned out to be very popular advertisements due to the unique style of gaining public support, creating awareness and promoting the brand itself.
M & Ms Candy
M & Ms promoted itself to be the brand that was 100% at war and was supporting the soldiers. The company claimed itself to be providing 100% support because more than 200,000 pounds of M & Ms every week from which most of the chocolate was sent out to the military. Since the hard sugar coating on top prevented the chocolate from melting or expiring quickly, M & Ms became reserved for military purposes. As all soldiers had chocolate in their diet to keep themselves warm in extreme temperatures, M & Ms did the job perfectly. The advertisement by the company gained itself a fame as well as encouraged people to donate more to support M & Ms in helping out the soldiers.
Coca Cola
Coca Cola was one of those companies which paid special attention to its advertisement and catered to it according to World War II. One of the most popular advertisements was the one where a pilot was shown drinking a coca cola while on a break. It suggested that a bottle of coca cola could eliminate your thirst for a long while. The tagline for this ad was “Your Thirst Takes Wings”. Other popular ads by Coca Cola include the one where numerous soldiers were having a coke along with the generals. It depicted that the element of refreshment among the soldiers and generals was due to Coca Cola. It also gave the image of unity among the generals and soldiers. The brand was highly appreciated for such ads as it gave a sense of corporate social responsibility.
Government Ads
The World War II Ads were also in the form of governmental awareness ads. These ads had different types of themes and were regularly published in the different types of newspapers and magazines. One of the most popular advertisements included the one which urged people to provide scrap material to the collectors as it was quite useful in war. These ads urged people to donate bones, scrap metal, and paper as well. This campaign turned out to be quite successful in The Great Britain as the people actually started giving away extra scrap material. Other types of popular advertisements urged the people to not speak much or give away any important information as many countries had started using spies. The government wanted the people to not engage in any kind of useless talk so as to prevent any important information leaking out. Much of these ads went increasingly popular because of the very harsh tone that was being used in the messages. One such ad showed a picture which said “Wanted For Murder! Her Careless Talk Costs Lives”.
Some government ads asked the women at home to help and support at war by doing the different types of chores. One such advertisement asked the women at home to train and become registered nurses so that they could help out soldiers that were injured during war.
Pall Mall Cigarettes
In the year 1941, Pall Mall Cigarettes launched a war-based advertisement that showed two different soldiers comparing the different Cigarettes and the advertisement suggested that “Pall Mall’s modern design filters the smoke – lessens throat irritation”. The secondary tagline of this ad was “Wherever particular people congregate”. The ad was based on the premise that the soldiers smoking the Pall Mall Cigarettes will have a reduced irritation due to better design. The ad gave the concept that soldiers at war should use the right kind of cigarettes.
US Employment Service
The advertisement by the US Employment service urged the women and men at homes to do the jobs which were not being completed. The US Employment service wanted extra employees to work. One such as suggested “Do the job HE left behind”. Another such as suggested “We Need you to work for us”. Since most men were employed at war, the different chores needed to be completed on time. The US employment service ads were mainly targeted towards the women. An advertisement by the company said “Longing him won’t bring him back sooner! Get a War Job”. As a result of these kinds of advertisements, the US employment service saw a sudden rise in the applications by women as a way of supporting their men at war.
Conclusion
There were different types of popular advertisements that were campaigned during World War II. Many different brands not only presented a good image but were also able to cash out the opportunity. Some of the World War II ads were also considered to be unnecessary propaganda as well since they just led to extra hate rather than useful outcomes. Nonetheless, these were some of the most interesting ads of World War II. | {
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A question I hear often as of late is some variation of "What will it take to move my Sitecore implementation to the cloud?". That answer can vary wildly from implementation to implementation, but when a customer recently asked for a list of things to be aware of during their transition, I noticed there was no concise list of considerations when making that move.
In an effort to transform "unknown unknowns" to "known unknowns", I've started compiling a list of things to be aware of when migrating your instance to Azure. Not all items on this list will be applicable to all implementations, but hopefully it starts a conversation with your team to identify things that you might have missed or not considered.
Finally, this list is in no way comprehensive. If you see something I've missed, please let me know so we can make this list better! Reach out on Twitter @derekc, on the Sitecore Community Slack as "dcorreia", or in the comments below this post. Thanks!
Environment Management:
Consider your backup/restore/disaster recovery strategy for your application. Backups are different in Azure, so your IT team should practice how and when they are going to backup, and learn how to restore from backups. How this will be accomplished will vary greatly on what components of your architecture are PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS.
If utilizing IaaS resources, you will still need to manage and maintain the operating system on those resources. Make sure you develop a patching and maintenance strategy, and identify groups or resources on your team (or partner's team) responsible for managing these resources.
If utilizing IaaS resources, investigate VM redundancy options available to you in Azure when setting up your environment. Familiarize yourself with the concepts of fault domains and update domains, as well as what types of redundancy and SLAs Azure offers for VMs. This will help you deploy resources that meet your SLA.
Modules:
Check your Sitecore modules for Azure support.
Thoroughly test 3rd party modules. Sitecore does not test or certify 3rd party modules for compatibility with releases, and some module developers might not be testing in Azure.
Performance:
Profile your code extensively prior to go live. Things that may be fast on hardware may be less so in ASE. Azure tends to amplify any inefficient aspects of your application -- if it's "kind of slow" today, it could be worse in Azure.
Perform load testing on the production environment prior to go live. This will help you to identify if your resources are sized appropriately for your solution. For Sitecore 9 implementations, these guidelines from Sitecore can serve as a starting point for your sizing, but you must test to ensure these sizes are appropriate for your solution.
When load testing, try to make the test environment as indicative of production as possible. While scaled down testing will identify some possible bottlenecks, it's quite possible some aspects of the environment (xDB collection, session state, DTU's from the database) might not reveal issues until production-scale loads are put on your implementation.
Security and Networking:
Determine your strategy for securing your CM role instances. When on premise, this is less of a concern as your internal servers likely are isolated, and not externally accessible. Moving to Azure means the instance is on the public web, and you'll want to configure a firewall, jump box, or VPN to restrict access.
Review your solution to document any access to internal systems or 3rd party systems. Your solution may be integrated with authentication providers, ERPs, PIMs, and other line-of-business systems. Discuss what type of access is feasible from Azure via APIs that are externally available, or review if Azure Express Route might be an option for your application.
Ensure the Sitecore client directory and other sensitive directories are locked down on your Delivery instances. This should be done as part of deploying CD WDPs to your environment with ARM templates or the Marketplace module. You can also do this manually, and add other sensitive directories as well.
Session:
Determine what technology you'll be using to manage private and public session state data: MongoDB, SQL, or Redis. It's worth reviewing the documentation on Sitecore's site to better understand the pros and cons of the choices, and what providers are supported in your version.
If using Redis for session state, note that you cannot (as of time of writing) easily scale down a Redis instance on Azure. You should identify what size is appropriate during pre-production testing (and it is currently possible to scale up a Redis instance, just not scale it down).
Sitecore 9:
Understand all of the roles that encompass a Sitecore 9 installation, and how they can be grouped together on logical instances. Certain roles work well grouped together, and can help with cost savings when deploying. Understanding these roles will also help you easier scale the environment when growth comes.
If you are migrating to Sitecore 9, familiarize yourself with the xDB Data Migration Tool. If possible, test migrating your existing xDB data set in a lower environment to identify custom mappings needed or any connectivity issues between environments before running against your production instances.
Solution:
Check to ensure that there are no dependencies on the file system in the solution. This includes, but is not limited to, custom log files, media items, access to files outside of the webroot, or windows services. File system access is limited in Azure Web Applications, and you may have issues with ASE-based applications that extensively utilize the file system.
Ensure no custom ISAPI filters are in place in the solution.
Ensure you're not using URL Rewrite. If so you'll need to investigate other solutions.
Evaluate options for deploying your application to your environment. This could leverage your build management system, Visual Studio, or other technologies.
Consider bundling your solution into WDP packages. This will make scaling up instances of your web applications much easier.
xDB/Indexing:
Additional Resources:
Thanks
This list is compiled based on conversations I've had with teams in and out of Sitecore, and I thank and appreciate everyone who helped contribute to this list. Special thanks to Kyle Heon, Larre Ländin, Ivan Sharamok, and Jason St. Cyr.
Again, if you have additional resources or items that you think should be on this list, let me know! Reach out on Twitter @derekc, on the Sitecore Community Slack as "dcorreia", or in the comments below this post. | {
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Finally, the original Moto X 2013 has received Android 6.0 Marshmallow update with official CyanogenMod 13 ROM. The CyanogenMod team just released a first Nightly build of CyanogenMod 13 (ghost) for Moto X 2013 that update the handset to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Interested users can install the ROM and enjoy Marshmallow’s native features along with CM features.
Today’s tutorial let you know how to update Moto X 2013 to Android 6.0 with official CyanogenMod 13 Nightly ROM. Before you get start, keep in mind that CM13 for Moto X 2013 (ghost) is a nightly build, which means the ROM is not completely stable. Though most things are working well, still there are a few problems remaining.
Rooted, bootloader unlocked Moto X 2013 users can follow the CM 13 custom ROM installation instruction to update their device to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
Important: Before installing CyanogenMod 13 on Moto X 2013, Do NOT forgets to back up your phone data.
How to Update Moto X 2013 to Android 6.0.1 with Official CyanogenMod 13 ROM
WARNING: This procedure will void your device’s warranty. Follow the instruction at your own risk. We will not be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components. It is recommended for technically talented users only.
1. Download latest CyanogenMod 13 Nightly (ghost)[HERE] and Marshmallow compatible Gapps [HERE] and move both zip files to your phone’s internal memory
2. Install latest TWRP/CWM recovery on your Moto X 2013
3. Boot your Moto X 2013 into TWRP recovery mode by holding Volume (-) and Power button together for some seconds.
4. In TWRP recovery, select ‘Backup’ and backup your current ROM (recommended).
5. In TWRP recovery, select Wipe > Advanced Wipe > Clear data, Clear cache, Clear system.
6. Now, choose ‘Install’, locate the CM13 ROM zip file and swipe right to begin installing the ROM. Once done, flash the GApps zip file.
7. Now, select Wipe and wipe cache and dalvik cache to fix any bootloop issue.
8. Once installation has finished, return to the main menu and select Reboot, then System. The device will now boot into CyanogenMod 13.
The first boot will take few minutes. Once done, set up and enjoy CM13 (Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow) on your Moto X 2013. Any question? Leave it in the comment section below (Source) | {
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Sharing Is Not a Crime
A few weeks ago, we joined the global open access community in celebrating that Diego Gomez had finally been cleared of criminal charges for sharing scientific research over the Internet without permission. Unfortunately, the fight is not over yet. The ruling has been appealed to the Tribunal de Bogota, a Colombian appellate court.
Diego’s story demonstrates the urgency of open access. Since Diego was first brought to trial, thousands of people all around the globe have signed a petition demanding that open access publishing becomes the default for academic research worldwide. No one should have to risk going to prison simply for sharing research.
This case also demonstrates the dangers of severe criminal penalties for copyright infringement. In this case, the penalties in question were specifically enacted as part of a trade agreement with the United States. Sadly, U.S. efforts to export its copyright rules can also mean exporting chilling effects on freedom of expression and intellectual freedom.
The Karisma Foundation, a Colombian NGO that has been coordinating Diego’s legal defense, has now launched a campaign to raise money for this expensive next step of Diego’s defense.
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From Karisma’s announcement:
“The decision of the judge is an important step that guides Colombian criminal justice towards international standards where this measure is reserved only for piracy. This case must spark a serious debate over the necessity of Open Access. We celebrate that justice was made in an absurd case that could have set a bad precedent for access to knowledge in Colombia,” said Carolina Botero, director of Fundación Karisma, about Diego’s acquittal. Since 2014, the Fundación Karisma has provided advice to Diego and, along with several allied organizations, launches a crowdfunding campaign in order to help him in this new stage of the process. The goal is to raise USD $40,000 during 4 weeks of campaigning. With this money, Karisma expects to cover the financial costs related to the appeal process on behalf of Diego and to seek legal ways to prevent cases like Diego’s from happen again. Likewise, the production of a case study, whose aim is to tell the story of Diego, and show the need for Open Access to knowledge will be covered. Finally, we expect to cover Diego’s accommodation and transportation when needed, so that he can take part in the appeal process and a case study production. He currently works at a natural reserve in Costa Rica so traveling is expensive.
EFF is proud to stand with Karisma and Diego. | {
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A key piece of Austin’s live music scene is at a crisis point and at risk of disappearing in the coming years if dramatic action isn’t taken soon. Those are the findings included in a nearly complete report by the Urban Land Institute following its study of the economic viability of the city’s Red River Cultural District.
The report, titled “Red River Cultural District: Live Music Preservation,” was obtained by the Austin Monitor ahead of its mid-May completion date, though city officials confirmed the nature of its findings and recommendations. The so-called “technical assistance panel” gathered data and conducted interviews with music venue owners and other stakeholders in the 13 music venues clustered on Red River Street between Sixth and 12th streets in late 2016.
Painting a picture of the development pressures, safety concerns and thin profit margins facing club owners, the study’s conclusions say, “Austin is in the effective ‘11th hour’ of the endangerment of the live music scene, and taking no action in the near term and failing to sustain action over the long haul are not acceptable options.”
Calling live music venues – specifically those in the Red River Cultural District – “a vital part of Austin’s identity,” the document lists a series of short-, mid- and long-term recommendations for public officials and the business community to undertake to preserve clubs such as Mohawk, Beerland, Cheer Up Charlies and others that incubate local acts most nights.
Public officials have shown growing concern in recent years that large-scale development projects such as the Waller Creek Conservancy and creation of the Dell Medical School could invite more development or provoke rent increases that force small music venues nearby out of business.
The 20 recommendations include some that would require unorthodox actions by Austin’s public and private leaders. Among them: creation of a citywide music venue preservation program that could conceivably be paid for with some mix of “tax abatements, modification of alcohol taxes, 380 (incentive) agreements, the sharing of hotel occupancy taxes normally allocated to The Arts.”
Other suggestions – such as allowing later outdoor music on a trial basis so that clubs with outdoor stages can make more alcohol revenue, or moving forward with the “agent of change” policy meant to reduce noise level conflicts between venues and nearby residential uses – are already moving toward enactment.
Other recommendations:
– Increase safety throughout the district
– Get venues more involved in local music and other organizations
– Create a best practices cooperative among venues to increase economic efficiency
– Encourage venues to “self-police” and identify bad actors in their ranks
– Participate in CodeNEXT discussions that could streamline permitting processes for venues
– Find a leader in the private sector to push the policy and preservation agenda
– Partner with the Waller Creek Conservancy to encourage utilization of music venues by visitors to nearby parks
– Make the Red River Cultural District eligible for funding for more infrastructure and police resource improvements
– Explore public/private agreements for venue preservation, including an already speculated-about “strike fund” to purchase and protect venue properties
– Access more funds from specially structured public funding sources such as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones
– Improve the district’s streetscape to encourage daytime use
– Find a permanent solution to the growing homeless population outside the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless
– Encourage music tourism and architectural tourism of the district’s historic structures
The study, which was commissioned by the Red River Cultural District Merchants Association, was expected to be complete in a matter of weeks, and its creators are still determining how it will be rolled out and possibly utilized to create momentum on enacting solutions.
Nicole Klepadlo, project manager for the Soul-y Austin merchant association incubator program, said a series of presentations and possible creation of a task force for the district are possible next steps.
“We want the merchants to be in the lead of the discussion, and having the expertise of (the Urban Land Institute) helped us get an external lens on what’s happening there because of their experience in the private sector,” she said. “There’s a lot of energy around the music industry and the Red River Cultural District as a whole right now, and this is a big puzzle piece with respect to everything that’s going on in the eastern part of downtown.”
The health of Austin’s music scene in general has received much attention in recent years, especially following the release of the city’s 2015 music census, which found that Austin musicians are being squeezed out of the city economically. Venue health was another element of concern since many full-time music venues – and virtually all of those in the Red River Cultural District – operate only in the evenings and have a small window of time to generate revenue.
Mayor Steve Adler has worked to create discussion on those issues and to generate answers, some of which resulted in 2016’s Music & Creative Ecosystem Omnibus, which is moving in small steps toward completion.
Photo by Larry D. Moore made available through a Creative Commons license.
The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.
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Tens of thousands of people gathered in Japan's capital, Tokyo, to celebrate the enthronement of the country's Emperor Naruhito.
Dancers, musicians and flag-waving well-wishers marked the occasion during a festival on Saturday.
On Sunday, the royal couple paraded in a convertible car along a 4.6-km (2.9-mile) route from the palace to their residence in central Tokyo to mark the enthronement.
The event was originally scheduled for 22 October but postponed after more than 80 people were killed when Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan and caused widespread damage. | {
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A woman has been charged with family violence breaches after a man was hit and killed by a car in Tasmania.
The pedestrian, a 26-year-old man from the Huon Valley, died after being struck by a car at Huonville just before 1.30am on Saturday.
A 34-year-old woman from Lucaston was arrested at the scene.
She has been charged with four breaches of a police family violence order and is due to appear at Hobart Magistrates Court on Sunday.
Police say the crash investigation is continuing.
Originally published as Woman charged after man killed by car | {
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It’s past midnight. I’m in the middle of space, lost and alone. There is nothing and no one around me and I have no clue of where I am heading.
In all directions, space is populated by nebulas and stars, piercing the deep black of space. When did space become so black? When looking at the sky, there’s a tendency to forget about all that nothingness and focus on what’s there, the potential life and death, the millions of unexplored stars and planets.
So I decide to move on. Charging my frame-shift drive I jump into super cruise, planets, stars and the universe whizzing past me, interspersing the bleak black of space. The stars leave their trails as I fly, chalk etchings on the blackboard of space.
With a lurch, I arrive at my destination. A sun stares passively at me, growing ever larger in my screen until my ship’s safety protocols force me to look away, less my ship overheat. I begin to fly towards an unexplored location, until it flies past me. Sighing, I move to face another planet and just sit, watching the number tick down as I zoom towards it.
Minutes pass and numbers lessen, until I idly charge the frame shift drive, jumping the rest of the way there.
Another sun, another unexplored area. The stars all beckon to me, whispering their impossibilities as I stare, stuck in a metal vessel in space. I am overwhelmed and the impossible choice has left me stuck in indecision.
I am piloting a ship of which I have not step foot inside for months. I am staring at space whilst sitting on a comfy chair in my room, illuminated by my bedside light. Problems are ignored as I fly towards another unexplored sun, the brilliant orange slowly growing in size and detail.
This is ridiculous. This ship is no longer mine. I do not recognise it. I don’t know how to pilot it. I’m lost and confused and have no idea of what I’m aiming for. The unexplored sun grows bigger as I move closer to it. Ignoring the warnings, I let the sun grow bigger with my ship’s temperature.
My ship’s hull integrity is slowly dropping. I have to let go eventually. Nothing in this astral plane has any permanence. Orange fills my screen. 50% left.
Am I making the right decision?
Can I simply drop my problems into the sun and be done with them?
10% left.
Music comes to a halt.
My ship’s screen cracks and blisters.
I breathe.
My ship fragments, black pieces dropping into the orange, a small explosion compared to the rest of this galaxy. The Sun continues to turn, ignorant to my death, surrounded by nothingness. | {
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Still working this. Obviously I wouldn't have said anything unless it was solid info, but nailing down the specifics is always the challenge, thus the vague note above....but I always post if there's a potential impact to the launch date as not saying something and then hearing a reader just booked a hotel and flight.....anyway.What we know so far:Hot Fire was completed - that was good.A subsequent test at McGregor suffered an issue, resulting in damage to the First Stage engine hardware.We don't know if they can repair at McGregor (would assume they are evaluating that, which would explain why we don't know the plan yet).No impact to CRS-8's date at this time as they need to know the above before they can evaluate how that fits into the flow, and then ISSP need to work out the Visiting Vehicle slots if they do delay. NASA is aware.I'll add a line to this weeks article about the hot fire success and subsequent issue, but it'll be for SpaceX (and probably Elon) to say something official. My fear is some overly excited site feeds off this and makes it more dramatic. After all, you guys here understand that issues during testing are always better than issues going uphill....but TechReportAndSomeRocketNewsDramaAlert.com's (not a real site) readers probably don't. | {
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Make the Sevilla your own with your initial
Just like all other product lines under the Customized Chic brand, developing the bespoke bags was a response to a personal need.
“I wanted a nice bag that wasn’t like anybody else’s but I wasn’t willing to shell out so much for it,” proprietor Yssa Vistan explains. And so the Sevilla tote was launched, fashionably elegant with one side finely cut out to show your initial.
That was three years ago. Several models have been added to the collection since then, including a clutch bag for men. The best-seller is the Malaga which conspicuously displays your monogram and comes with an adjustable and detachable strap. The newest is the ultra feminine Marbella with a bow strap which incorporates a gold finished plate with your initial. Classic bag shapes inspire her designs, nothing unconventional.
“But we make it personal,” points out Yssa.
Personalized clutch bag for men
The material used is a leather simulant that comes in different colors, some with a little texture.
“When you feel it, it’s really like leather but it’s synthetic, it’s not made from animals. It is lightweight but durable,” describes Yssa.
The workmanship is impressive. “It’s all hand-cut and portions of it are hand-stitched. Every item is done from scratch, only as the order comes in.”
So much work goes into each piece that it takes two days to finish one. “I’m really very particular about quality,” Yssa guarantees. “My clients are my friends, not faceless strangers that I’ll never bump into again”.
And she would like to keep her market that way, just within her circle. All this time, the Facebook page that’s regularly updated with new offerings has been on private mode. She is scheduled to launch a website soon but access will be limited to friends and friends of friends, one needs a password to log in and see anything. “I really want to keep it small and exclusive because our products are mainly given as gifts. When you give a gift, it should be something that the person doesn’t have yet so we want to stay unique,” she emphasizes.
The monogrammed Malaga Duo bag comes with an adjustable and detachable long strap
There seems to be no reason for Yssa to worry about copycats because she is always steps ahead, constantly creating something novel. Being innovative is good for the business and it’s also what she enjoys the most. Her favorite part is coming up with samples, posting them on Facebook, and seeing people like them.
But what’s really driving Yssa at this point are the jobs that Customized Chic has created. She has seen how people’s lives have improved. “You hear stories of how they are able to buy this and that and how they’re living more comfortably now, it gives me such a great feeling. So I’d like the orders to keep coming in so I can keep supporting the workers”.
With clients persistently requesting for more bag designs because they’re itching to buy again, no doubt that Yssa will continue to make a difference—in more ways than one.
Customized Chic is based in Makati, to view some of their products, you may access their public Facebook page @customizedchic.
The post Bespoke bags by Customized Chic appeared first on The Manila Times Online.
This article first appeared on www.manilatimes.net | {
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It’s weird to be listening to a Dutch manager of football in 2019, let alone a former one with a win rate of 41.18%, but sometimes even Dutch managers speak the truth and Danny Blind has done it just this once. Per Danny Blind, Sadio Mané—with his speed, intelligence, and skills—is the new Ronaldo of football. Now, Blind was referring to the inferior Ronaldo (Cristiano) which seems foolish given Mané is so much better than him, so we’re going to spend this entire article pretending Blind is comparing the Liverpool forward to Ronaldo (The Original).
“Sadio Mané is the new Ronaldo in world football,” Blind told the Mirror this weekend. “As an attacking player he is absolutely fantastic. I can go through all his qualities – and he is superb in every aspect.”
‘He can score with his left foot, right foot, and with sensational headers,” Blind added, presumably taking himself up on his earlier offer to go through all of Mané’s qualities. “He can give brilliant assists, he is an incredible athlete. Mané is the super modern player. If you look at his skills, that is one great thing, but he is able to combine that with astonishing sprints right throughout the game.”
“That requires so much power. You have to be incredibly strong both physically and mentally. Sadio has it all. I don’t compare Mané to [Lionel] Messi. I think Sadio is much more like Ronaldo in his very best years.”
Isn’t that a lovely comparison to a childhood hero for so many of us? What a great comparison. We can only hope that Mané gets the recognition he deserves from everyone else in the footballing world, too. | {
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Manolo Blahnik (Spanish, b. 1942) and Damien Hirst (British, b. 1965). “Dot” Boots, 2002. White cotton canvas with polychrome polka-dot print. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Catharine Breyer Van Bomel Foundation Fund, 2003 (2003.52a, b).
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The Final Call | Technology
Information warfare: Freeing the minds of the masses
By Jesse Muhammad -Staff writer- | Last updated: Jan 4, 2012 - 11:08:26 AM
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Graphic courtesy, inlportal.inl.gov 'Social media has been invaluable because mainstream media has been co-opted and is bought and paid for by corporations intent on maintaining the status quo. People in power use the information or the lack of it to control the masses.'
—Jasiri X
(FinalCall.com) - With the widespread use of small video cameras, sophisticated smartphones and popular social networking sites like Twitter YouTube and Facebook , injustices are being exposed, global movements are growing and the people are expected to continuing rising up in 2012.
“Social media enables us to connect directly to like-minded people and get our message out quickly and without censorship. It enabled us to expose and reveal many facts that have been kept from us, and once people get the truth they demand change,” said Jasiri X, a popular hip-hop artist based in Pittsburgh, told The Final Call.
These digital tools have become weapons in the hands of the people, also called citizen journalists, seeking to spread relevant information instead the last celebrity gossip.
Coupled with on the grounds mobilizations in 2011, Twitter and Facebook served as go-to vehicles by which people stayed abreast of, supported and disseminated updates on major headlines such as the Arab Spring uprisings, Occupy Wall Street, brutal military crackdowns on protesters in foreign nations, the execution of former Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, rioting in London, police brutality in U.S. cities, earthquakes and more.
“Social media has been invaluable because mainstream media has been co-opted and is bought and paid for by corporations intent on maintaining the status quo. People in power use the information or the lack of it to control the masses,” said Jasiri X, who uses his music to address social justice issues via his YouTube page that has garnered over one million upload views.
“First and foremost, information must be viewed from a different perspective in the modern context. As the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has stated, “We are at war” and the greatest weapon in this battle is information—it is truly a battle in the sky,” said Traci C. Muhammad, a library director for a liberal arts college in Arizona, told The Final Call.
“When viewed from that stand point, then one can see that information is a strategic resource that enables the holder to remain in a position of optimum tactical advantage. It's no longer about the haves and have-nots from a wealth perspective, it is the haves and have-nots from a strategic resource management perspective,” she said.
During a commercial break in an Oct. 25 radio interview on Chicago’s WVON-AM 1690, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan chided members of press for what he called a betrayal of the American people.
"You don't have a democracy when you don't have a free press. You are all slaves and you love it, so you deserve what you get: the erosion of your democracy. You'll soon be the laughing stock of the world,” said Min. Farrakhan.
“That's why the children are occupying space in New York, in Boston, in Washington, in Chicago, in San Francisco, in other cities, because they are not looking at you as a source of information. Look how long it took you all to talk about what was going on in New York. It took you two weeks, because the same people that control the banks control the media. You all know it but you are afraid to say it.”
Min. Farrakhan added, “I thank God for the young man that invented this wonderful technology, Steve Jobs, that's the man that is freeing the whole planet where Zbigniew Brzezinski could say ‘Yesterday it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million people,’ then now he says, ‘It is easier to kill a million people than it is to control a million people,’ because the genie is out of the box, the cat is out of the bag, the people all over the world are waking up.”
According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 61 percent of Americans said they get news online and 75 percent said they hear about news via e-mail or social media sites. Fifty-four percent said they get news via radio programs and 50 percent said they read a local or national print newspaper.
This free flow of information could be under attack by the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a bill that was introduced in the House of Representatives on Oct. 26, by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill would allow the U.S. Justice Department, as well as copyright holders, to seek court orders against websites suspected of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.
“We already see Congress attempting to pass bills like SOPA which would effectively kill sites like YouTube and Facebook and the National Defense Authorization Act which could lead to Americans being able to be detained indefinitely. This oppressive legislation is a direct response to the success of the Occupy movement and the movements overseas,” said Jasiri X.
Interestingly, TIME magazine’s annual 2011 Person of the Year cover acknowledged protesters from around the world. One of those persons was New York’s Malik Rashaan, founder of Occupy the Hood, a national grassroots movement comprised of activists, organizers and community members.
“That story by TIME proves that we’re in a different world. These protestors have to be answered to and paid attention to. It’s growing and will expand further in 2012,” said Mr. Rashaan.
“I also know that a story like that can work against our movement because people may try to move in on us to shut us down. The key is not to get caught up in press coverage but to stay focused on the mission,” he said.
In order to build up Occupy the Hood, Mr. Rashaan and his team used Twitter and Facebook coupled with canvassing the streets. “The internet makes the world smaller and helps to get your message out quicker. I didn’t have the funding to market and reach all of these people. At the same time, you have to get out in the streets and not just do everything digitized. We have to marry the two together,” he advised. | {
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A fire in the West Bank suspected to have been set by Jewish extremists killed an 18-month-old Palestinian child and critically wounded a four-year-old brother and both parents on Friday, Israeli security officials said.
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The walls outside the houses were sprayed with "Long live Messiah the king" and "Revenge ". The parents and brother were evacuated to the hospital in critical condition, with burns covering up to 70 to 90 percent of their bodies. Infant Ali Dawabsheh's funeral took place in the early afternoon, and drew a crowd estimated to be 2,000 strong.
Aftermath of arson attack on Palestinian home (צילום: זכריא סדה, "רבנים לזכויות אדם")
X
The IDF set up checkpoints and beefed up searches in the Nablus area in attempts to locate the Jewish terrorists who carried out the attack in Duma. Hamas had already declared Friday a "Day of Rage" following clashes at the Temple Mount, and tensions are now sure to rise.
Ali Dawabsheh, the baby killed in the fire, and the damaged home
Husam Badran, a Hamas international spokesman, called on residents of the West Bank to take to the streets and protest the infant's death, and to demonstrate to "protect al-Aqsa". He also urged the Palestinian Authority to release all political detainees, saying: "There is no other way but resistance, in all its components, in order to halt the crimes of the occupation."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, telling his counterpart that all of Israel was disgusted by the attack in Duma.
Netanyahu also told Abbas that, "We must fight terror together, no matter what side it comes from."
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in the afternoon that the police force was at its highest alert level to prevent disturbances. He added that "a people whose children were burned in the Holocaust needs to soul-searching at a time like this."
IDF spokesman Brigadier General Moti Almoz said: "We sent four battalions as a first response. Two divisions are on alert to be sent to the area as this is an incident that may affect the security situation. The amount of forces sent out is designed to be ready for any possible local events, including at the Temple Mount."
Attack by night
At around 2am, two attached houses located at the edge of the village were set on fire. The Dawabsheh family were in one house, while the second one was empty. The Dawabsheh family were awakened by the fire and tried to save their two children, aged one and a half and four. According to a witness, the mother took the four-year-old out of the house as it caught fire, then returned for the infant. However, she was trapped in the flames and could not save him.
Ghasan Gaghlas, a Palestinian official from the area, said Jewish settlers broke the window of the house and flung a burning object inside, "causing a quick and huge fire."
Photo: Zacharia Sadeh/ Rabbis for Human Rights
A neighboring house was also badly damaged but it had been empty and there were no casualties there. The three wounded people from the first house were taken to Israeli hospitals, officials said.
Professor Yossi Haik, director of the intensive care burn unit at Sheba Medical Center, said the wounded were in severe condition. "The mother underwent initial stages of resuscitation and stabilization in the emergency trauma room. This is a very serious injury with 90 percent of third-degree burns all over her body. Her life is still in danger." Hayek added that the 4-year-old was had received resuscitation measures.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the "Price Tag" slogan used in the past by extremist Israelis was daubed on the walls of the family home that had been torched in a village near the West Bank city of Nablus.
"This is a suspected attack with nationalist motives," Samri said. It was the worst attack by Israeli extremists since Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir was torched to death in a retribution slaying for three Israelis killed by abductors a year ago.
'Revenge' (Photo: Zacharia Sadeh/ Rabbis for Human Rights)
Condemnations came swiftly, with IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner calling the incident "nothing short of a barbaric act of terrorism."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I am shocked by this horrible criminal act. This is a clear terrorist attack. Israel takes a tough stance against terrorism regardless who the perpetrators are. I have instructed the security forces to use all means at our disposal to capture the killers and bring them to justice as soon as possible. Israel is united in its opposition to such terrible and heinous acts. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I would like to commiserate with the family of Ali Dawwabshe and wish a speedy recovery to the injured family members."
IDF forces near the scene of the crime in the Nablus area (Photo: Zacharia Sadeh/ Rabbis for Human Rights)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Israel would not allow "Jewish terrorists" to carry out such acts.
"We will not allow Jewish terrorists to harm the lives of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria," he said in a statement, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name. "We will fight against them firmly and with all means and tools at our disposal." Ya'alon branded the attack "a most severe terror attack that we cannot tolerate, and we condemn it entirely. At this time, security forces – the IDF, Shin Bet, and police – are making a supreme effort to capture the killers. We will pursue them until we get our hands on them."
Evacuating the wounded (Photo: IDF Spokesman)
President Reuven Rivlin reached out to the Arab-speaking population through Arabic media, strongly denouncing the attack. "In the face of a wave of terror against the innocent, the loss of life, and the loss of law and order, the State of Israel and Israeli society must carry some soul searching," said the president.
"To my great sorrow, until now it seems we have been lax in our treatment of the phenomena of Jewish terrorism," added Rivlin. "Perhaps we did not internalize that we are faced with a determined and dangerous, ideological group, which aims to destroy the fragile bridges which we work so tirelessly to build. I believe that the more we understand this significant danger to the State of Israel, the more we will be aware to confront it, and uproot it."
Zacharia Sadeh of the Rabbis for Human Rights organization, told Ynet that the group was had always feared that an arson attack would cause deaths. "This is an extremely serious incident in which the Palestinians paid a very high price as a result of Israeli authorities' incompetence," he said. "We call on the defense minister, the police, and the Israeli army to find the criminals and bring them to justice, because the lives of the Palestinian citizens are Israel's responsibility."
Images using hashtags that blamed Israel for the attack began circulating online on Friday. One read in Arabic: "Oh Zionists! The anger of the West Bank is on its way! The child Ali Dawabsheh #Angry Friday #They burned the suckling", with another using the last hashtag as well as the hashtag "#WasBurnedAlive" in English.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas compared the crime to the 2014 murder of Abu Khdeir. "This is another crime committed by the settlers and the Israeli government," declared Abbas. "The Israeli government continues to build settlements everywhere in the West Bank, and thus encourages settlers to commit these acts. We condemn the Israeli crimes – this is a war crime and a crime against humanity. We will take this to the International Criminal Court and no one will stop us from doing so. We demand that the world act. What does the United States think of these crimes? We don't hear from it. If the Israeli government and the Israeli military wanted to prevent these incidents, they could prevent them."
The Palestinian Authority placed full responsibility on the Israeli government for the crime, calling it a heinous crime. "Were it not for the Israeli government insisting on continuing to build settlements and protecting the settlers, this crime would not been committed."
"This case will head the list of issues that the Palestinian Authority will submit to the International Court of Justice in order to bring all those involved in the crime to justice. Verbal condemnation from the international community is not acceptable. What is needed is action on the ground that will judge the criminals and end the occupation."
The Islamic Jihad organization also issued a statement. "This crime, as well as similar crimes committed by settlers, were committed with the support and protection of the Zionist military forces and advanced by the occupation's government," it said. "This crime is part of a planned escalation of the occupation in the context of the announcement of new settlements being built. We are facing an increase in aggression against residents' property and damage to holy places. The settlers' terrorism and the occupation's military will encounter Palestinian willpower, which will never agree to surrender. He who incites to kill our people, damage our property, and burn the houses and the mosques – must expect a response at any moment."
The "Price Tag" group has been blamed for a string of mosque torchings in the West Bank in the past few years, often in retribution for actions against settlements. | {
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Be sure to check out Grant’s new goblin druid and dromaeosaur TONIGHT September 7th at 8PM ET LIVE on our twitch channel! Remember if you have Amazon Prime, you get one free subscription per month on Twitch to use on your old buddies at the Glass Cannon Network! | {
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A 94-year-old Florida man was charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the shooting death of his wife, who he told police had dementia.
Wayne Juhlin told authorities his 80-year-old wife had dementia, and he decided to end her life by shooting her in their home Monday night, according to the Venice Police Department.
Wayne Juhlin was arrested after he shot and killed his 80-year-old-wife who was suffering from dementia. Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
Juhlin told police that "he intended on turning the gun on himself and taking his own life after killing his wife, but the gun malfunctioned," the department said in a statement.
He subsequently called 911 to report his wife dead, police said.
Juhlin was arrested and charged Monday. He was at the Sarasota County Jail on Wednesday. An arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 22.
It wasn't immediately clear if Juhlin has a lawyer. | {
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Former FBI Director James Comey met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein last week to request more "resources, energy and attention" for the Russian investigation, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News.
Comey then met with the two leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee -- Sens. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia -- on Monday and informed them about his request to Rosenstein.
A Justice Department spokesman said that the report about Comey requesting more resources "is totally false."
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This development comes a day after President Trump fired Comey in a shocking move. In a letter to Comey, the president said that he accepted the recommendation from the attorney general and deputy attorney general that Comey be "terminated and removed from office."
"While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau," he wrote.
One of the documents the White House released following his firing Tuesday was a memo issued by Rosenstein in which he outlined the rationale for removing Comey from his role. He pointed to the way Comey had handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as one factor.
Democrats, however, reject this reason because they say Republicans could have fired him last year. Many are suggesting Comey's ouster has more to do with the president removing the person in charge of the investigation into Russia and possible collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials.
CBS News' Nancy Cordes and Paula Reid contributed to this report. | {
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Article content continued
“No question, we’re as healthy as we’ve been all year righ now, so that’s what you’d like to be this time of year,” said head coach Jason Maas. “I don’t know how rare it is, I’ve only been here one year coaching it, but I feel really good where our team is right now.
“The more bodies you can get out here practising, the better, and particularly the calibre of guys that are here right now practising. To have most of us out here at the end of the year is something special and hopefully that means we’re going to win.”
It was a concerted effort by the Eskimos to play whatever post-season hand they were dealt once there was no longer any chance of hosting a home playoff game.
And while the goal was always to beat the Toronto Argonauts and finish the regular season with a winning record – which they did – the focus shifted to getting players as healthy as possible for a strong playoff push.
“If it was a game where you were going for second place or going to be able to seed yourself a little bit differently, we don’t look at it (like that),” Maas said ahead of Saturday’s 41-17 win. “We were either playing the semifinal out west or the semifinal out east. We’ve beaten Hamilton, we’ve beaten B.C. We’ve lost to Hamilton, we’ve lost to B.C.”
No one who has played through an entire regular season of football is 100% healthy come playoffs. But for Watkins, there wasn’t a point during the season where he ever wasn’t hurt.
A knee injury in training camp forced him to spend his entire season playing through pain, right up until he couldn’t anymore and had to sit out the last two weeks. | {
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Most people haven't heard of Professional Bank. It's a tiny outpost in Coral Gables that doesn't have a fraction of the name recognition of major Wall Street financial institutions.
But last year, Professional Bank snagged quite the client: President Donald Trump. According to records uncovered by Mother Jones this past Wednesday, Professional Bank loaned one of Trump's shell companies, 1125 South Ocean LLC, "between $5 million and $25 million" at 4.5 percent interest. Trump used the money to buy a Palm Beach mansion owned by his sister, former federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, which is located next door to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The loans are bizarre for a few big reasons. One, the New York Times this week detailed how most banks have refused to lend to the Trump Organization due to its long history of shady dealings and business failures. (Ultimately, Trump in the 1990s began relying on the German Deutsche Bank, which at the time was pretty desperate to grow its reputation on Wall Street.) The Trump Organization previously claimed Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump were behind the mansion purchase, but the president's financial disclosures show Trump Sr. still controls the property.
Making matters more interesting: Not long after Professional Bank handed Trump a bunch of money, its CEO, Abel Iglesias, was appointed in January 2019 to the board of the Miami branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. (The Atlanta branch handles business for portions of many Southern states, including all of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.) Iglesias is also the former chair of Miami Dade College's Center for Financial Training, the ex-chair of the nonprofit Friends of WLRN, and a former board member of the politically powerful Latin Builders Association.
Iglesias became the bank's CEO because of some bizarre and altogether dark circumstances. The bank's previous CEO was Raul G. Valdes-Fauli — the son of multiple-time Coral Gables Mayor Raul J. Valdes-Fauli. But the younger Valdes-Fauli died by suicide in 2016, which his friends and family said was a complete shock to all who knew him. (Raul G.'s grandfather, Raul E. Valdes-Fauli, was a powerful lawyer in pre-Castro Cuba who represented bankers and sugar barons on the island.)
Professional Bank also happens to have at least one other well-known politician on its books. In 2015, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Trump ally, reportedly took out a $604,000 mortgage with the bank. | {
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Gabriel Schoenfeld
It is not too soon to tally the damage wreaked so far by our 45th president.
Donald Trump's rampage through key institutions is an obvious place to begin. The executive branch of our federal government has never run like clockwork, but in peace or wartime it has rarely been this chaotic. In effect if not by title, the White House now has three competing chiefs of staff, each with walk-in privileges to the Oval Office and each playing our ignorant and impressionable president as if he were a piano. The disarray has radiated outward to the agencies to the nation and even to the world. The botched formulation and execution of Trump’s travel ban, and the ouster of national security adviser Michael Flynn via surprise trapdoor, are of course Exhibits A and B.
The judicial branch has suffered a blow of a different sort, with the president blasting Judge James Robart, appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate unopposed, as a “so-called judge.” Dismissal by the president of the judiciary’s role as a check and balance on his own power could derail our democracy. In a tweet, he has already, and pre-emptively, assigned blame for the next terror attack to Robart and our entire court system. We have been duly warned: Should such an attack come, it will be a moment of maximum danger not only for our safety but also foor our freedom.
Then we have the Republican Party, which, following Trump’s siren song, is committing moral-intellectual suicide. Defenders of religious liberty have turned into proponents of a backdoor Muslim ban. The banner of free trade has been dropped for protectionism. Budgetary thrift has given way to profligacy. So many things the GOP stood for a mere two years ago — good character and ethical conduct, a clear-eyed view of Russia — have been replaced by their opposite. To the party’s leaders, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, political principles are nothing. Political power is all. In their apologetics for the billionaire blockhead at America’s helm, never has hypocrisy been more perfectly distilled.
What if Trump loses his mind?: Gabriel Schoenfeld
Trump vs. 'lying, disgusting' media: Gabriel Schoenfeld
Our free press remains intact; indeed, it has been rising to the occasion as it has come under assault from a president who, even as he relentlessly castigates it, stays glued to its coverage, obsessing over every criticism and slight. But though the news media are performing their critical function, they are losing — along with our entire society — a more fundamental battle.
Here we come to damage of a different sort: The destruction of honesty, one of democracy’s most fundamental norms.
Trump and his team lie as naturally as leaves grow on trees. America is being polarized along a new axis of division. On one side are dupes, possibly numbering in the millions, who accept the president’s preposterous fabrications as gospel. On the other side are those appalled by the dawn of post-modern America in which truth is supplanted by “alternative facts,” the euphemism employed by Kellyanne Conway, the president’s most brazen flack, for the projectile falsehoods that spurt from her mouth. As every aspiring authoritarian leader grasps — and Trump is no exception — a world without truth is a world without rules, without justice and without the possibility of democratic deliberation.
Reputational damage is another yawning tear in our national fabric. The gibberish Trump regularly spouts when deprived of a teleprompter is exactly what world leaders have been doused with in one introductory telephone conversation after the next. There’s no blinking from the fact that the leader of the free world is already widely regarded by his international interlocutors as a buffoon with malign notions floating around in his head and the world’s most powerful military at his disposal. The harm to our image is compounded by the buffoon’s startling propensity to bad-mouth the very country he seeks to lead, explaining to the world that, just like President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, there are in America “a lot of killers.”
The right can't defend Trump's behavior: Jonah Goldberg
POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media
With Trump projecting his bizarre visage to the world, and with his raft of ill-thought-out actions, we are compelled to ask: Is our country safer than it was a mere four weeks ago? Allies such as Australia and neighbors such as Mexico have been subjected to Trump’s temper tantrums. Adversaries such as Russia are enjoying his tender solicitude. At the same time, the message being heard by Muslims around the world, despite the administration’s unconvincing denials and confirmed to them by chief strategist Steve Bannon’s collected ravings, is that America has declared a civilizational war against Islam. We were in danger under the feckless President Obama. Now the peril is far greater.
Our brief taste of Trumpian pandemonium should lead us to solemn reflection about the downward course on which our country is set. But we have been deprived of even that. Speaking from the pulpit of the National Prayer Breakfast this month, America’s president reached into the television trash heap from whence he came, spoke of the “total disaster” that in his absence has befallen his show, The Apprentice, and called for prayers for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ratings.
It would be a comfort if the greatest harm inflicted by Trump would be to enshrine unimaginable vulgarity in the White House. Unfortunately, his garishly unbecoming sermon was just one more indicator of how far our president is in over his head. “Our long national nightmare is over,” said President Ford when Richard Nixon finally departed the White House. A month into the Trump administration, our long national nightmare has just begun.
Gabriel Schoenfeld, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, is the author of A Bad Day on the Romney Campaign: An insider’s Account, andNecessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law. Follow him on Twitter @gabeschoenfeld.
You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to [email protected]. | {
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Though it was just a minor enemy in Final Fantasy IX, I always got a kick out of the Grimlock's design. In fact, most of the designs in FFIX were pretty fun.So, enjoy.Made with Super Sculpey and acrylic paints (with a little lighting effect that showcases my minimal skills in Photoshop). (54th out of 73)Grimlock & Final Fantasy IX are (c) Square-Enix-----------------UPDATE-----------------Did a "Special Edition" version of this one, with all the photoshoppy goodness found elsewhere in my gallery. I normally move the older versions into Scraps, but since people seem to still like this one, he'll stay in the Featured section for the time being. Here's the new version: [link] | {
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All the heartbreak and sorrow is washed away when after many decades of trying, Toyota is at last victorious in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The roads on the outskirts of Le Mans have never been friendly to the Japanese car manufacturer, but today they are. With competition only coming from team-mates Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López in the sister Toyota TS050 Hybrid who aren’t going to defend tooth and nail, Kazuki Nakajima, Sébastien Buemi and Fernando Alonso keep it clean to come out on the other side on top.
On Porsche’s 70th birthday the German sports car manufacturer adds two more Le Mans wins to its already 100-plus victories at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Wrapped in nostalgic ‘pig pink’, the number 92 Porsche 991 RSR of Laurens Vanthoor, Michael Christensen and Kévin Estre lead for much of the way in the GTE class. Behind them the sister number 91 Porsche has to work harder for its second-place trophy, culminating in a fierce battle between Fred Makowiecki in the Rothmans-coloured Porsche and Ford GT racer Sébastien Bourdais that leaves hometown hero Bourdais fuming with anger after being forcefully held back.
Photos by Rajan Jangda. | {
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The Boy Who Lived could never actually die. What does that mean? I’m glad you asked, theoretical reader.
Don’t mistake could never with should never. I’m not talking about what a terrible creative decision it would have been to murder the titular character in a children’s book series, which would ultimately render a generation of young readers horrified and forever disenchanted. What I mean is nothing but the magic of the world’s most badass wizard could possibly kill him. Everyone else? Witch, please.
Harry Potter was a Horcrux. Oh knock it off, you’ve had a good two years to see the movies and even longer to read the books.
Oh alright, fine. This post contains SPOILERS.
As I said, Harry was magically impregnated with the soul of He-Who-Must-Have-A-Deviated-Septum, also known in AOL chat rooms as Voldemort_26, and eventually shortened to Voldemort. Like most impregnations, this was purely accidental, and resulted in awkward conversations for years to come.
So here was Harry, living his confusing little life learning about magic and puberty; getting intro trouble with professors, trolls, recreational herbs and escaped convicts; running for his life while horrible people demanded his death in vaguely Latin conjugations while hurling torrents of magic murder in his general direction. And here we were, hanging on his every move, willing the plucky young wizard onward, and hoping that he would survive the increasingly perilous threats.
The truth is, we didn’t have to give such a shit because Harry was never going to die. He was imbued with some inexplicable form of magical protection just like those annoyingly elusive Horcruxes that Harry and friends spent at least five and a half on-screen hours tracking down. If you can recall, those resilient little trinkets could withstand a barrage of curses without even losing that fresh-off-the-corpse, new Horcrux shine. And those were just bits of glass and tin. Harry was the walking, talking, slightly more charismatic version of a Horcrux – Horcrux 2.0. Harry Potter essentially had a free pass to the final boss battle, because only Voldemort could unmake his own magical abomination. That means the most powerful wizards and witches on the planet could hit Harry with their combined might and do little more than ruin a perfectly good Hogwarts uniform.
Oh, there was also Basilisk venom, because for whatever reason J.K. Rowling decided that, with her godlike power of creation, she would make Basilisk venom a potent Horcruxicide. That sort of makes perfect sense, as Harry needed a means of destroying those otherwise impenetrable soul vessels, and because Rowling needed a reason for readers to draw significance from the oft-maligned Chamber of Secrets, which up until the series finale could have been considered an inconsequential one-off without any implications towards the overarching story. So yes, Harry’s weaknesses consisted of the most tyrannical spell caster in existence, and, um, snake spit.
Therefore we can conclude that save for the Basilisk mishap and odd run in with Darth Volder, Harry Potter was for all intents and purposes immortal. All those times you were worried about his well being, you were just being stupid. But don’t feel bad, everyone else was too. Now every subsequent re-read can be thoroughly enhanced with the knowledge that Harry could have played out the whole adventure with killing curses bouncing off his chest and laughing maniacally. The Boy Who Lived…to the extreme! | {
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This 60-meter-high (197 feet) smog-sucking chimney in the northern city of Xi'an cost $2 million to build and around $30,000 in annual running costs. Photo: VCG
Earlier this week, as Beijing was enveloped by one of its worst bouts of smog in recent months, China’s internet was again abuzz with questions on what policymakers were doing to ease the problem.
Meanwhile, delegates attending the country’s top annual political meetings — of the top legislature and the top political advisory body — were hammering out new proposals and ideas on how China should fine-tune its strategy to curb pollution.
One of the recurring themes at the meetings and in recent years is how innovation can be used as a weapon in China’s “war” on air pollution. Both the central authorities and local governments are looking into how scientists and clean tech startups can be turned into foot soldiers in this drawn-out campaign.
A poster-child for these innovative attempts is a 60-meter-high (197 feet) smog-sucking chimney, built in the northern Chinese city of Xi’an. Although scientists conducted their first set of tests to check its efficiency at cleaning up polluted air in January, the experiment only hit national and international headlines last week. The $2 million facility was built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has been promoted as an affordable model for “mass-scale air filtration.” Although the results from the experiment haven’t been published in any scientific journal, and therefore haven’t undergone peer review, preliminary reports determined the chimney emitted between 5 million cubic meters (176.5 million cubic feet) and 8 million cubic meters of filtered air every day. Monitoring stations located close to the chimney, across an area of 10 square kilometers (3.8 square miles), recorded 19% less particulate matter in the air compared to other parts of the city.
The chimney sits atop a large circular structure. Glass panels near the roof of the structure are heated through solar radiation, and this warms up the air and causes it to rise toward the base of the tower, where it passes through several industrial filters, before being released through the top of the chimney.
“We have submitted a proposal for another 300-meter tower in Xi’an,” the project's lead scientist, Cao Junji, said. “We are also negotiating with cities in Guangzhou, Hebei and Henan (to build similar facilities).”
Government-backed research projects have been told to accelerate their pace after the country’s top environmental watchdog last year created a national research and development (R&D) taskforce to implement the more than two dozen cutting-edge research programs.
But, there are still lingering doubts about the cost efficiency of projects like the massive smog-filtering chimney. In an interview with the scientific journal Nature, Cao suggests that arrays of around half a dozen towers might be necessary to tackle the smog in urban centers, which could be prohibitively expensive. Cao estimated the running cost for the pilot program was about $30,000 per year.
China wants to cap its carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030. The country will raise spending to curb pollution by 19% to 40.5 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) this year, according to a work report presented by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to the National People’s Congress on March 5. A significant portion of this will go into research and development of new technologies, experts said.
But skeptics have raised questions about the technical soundness of grand schemes such as the smog-filtering towers.
Neil Donahue, a professor of chemical engineering, chemistry, and engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S., told Nature that it wasn’t clear whether the environmental impact of building these structures would outweigh their benefits. “I would like to see an assessment of the power and resource use for the filtration,” he said. Turning the same amount of power into clean electricity, or not emitting the pollution in the first place, might achieve the same goal of reducing pollution, he added.
Donald Wuebbles, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is concerned that the chimney would filter only particulate matter but not sulfur dioxide gas and nitrogen oxides, which are also dangerous to human health. “So while the sky may look cleaner, the air quality can still be really awful,” he said.
The search for innovative methods to cut pollution comes as policymakers have exhausted other, simpler options such as helping rural homes to switch from coal to gas.
Delays and poor planning linked to a government program that pushed millions of households in northern China to switch from coal to natural gas, left thousands without heating last winter. | {
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Onondaga County has 5.2 million records showing where drivers have been over the past year. But if you'd like to know what the county has on your travels, you're out of luck.
Police cars throughout the county are outfitted with special cameras -- license plate readers -- that take hundreds of pictures of license plates a minute. Those records, showing the plate and where it was photographed, are warehoused in the county's database and held for a year.
Onondaga County denied a Freedom of Information Law request from me for all records they had on my license plate.
The reason: Turning over those records would "reveal criminal investigative procedures and techniques."
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office referred comment to the Onondaga County Attorney's Office. Onondaga County Attorney Gordon Cuffy declined comment. I have filed an appeal.
Earlier this year, the sheriff's office set up two ride-alongs for Syracuse.com so we could see how license plate readers were used and explain the process to our readers.
There were several stories about the license plate readers on Syracuse.com and a video of Onondaga County Sheriff's Deputy Rob Bechtel using a license plate reader.
Robert Freeman, executive director of the state Committee on Open Government, said the county's reason for denial doesn't hold up.
"It seems to me that this technique has become 'routine,'" Freeman wrote in an email. "...I would conjecture that the technique is well-known."
The use of license plate readers is both widespread and controversial. The technology, often federally funded, is banned in the state of New Hampshire. There are few states with laws that dictate how the mounds of data - collected mostly on law-abiding citizens - should be stored and used.
New York is one of the states with no law, leaving departments to come up with their own policies. The result is a patchwork of rules that makes it hard for the average citizen to know how data on them is being kept or used.
New York earlier this month announced it would dole out $550,270 for police departments across the state to purchase 27 more license plate readers.
Contact Marnie Eisenstadt at [email protected] or 315-470-2246. | {
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This article is part of David Leonhardt’s newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it each weekday.
Regular readers of this newsletter may remember my criticisms of both Robert Mueller and James Comey. I think Mueller ducked the tough decisions he faced at the end of his investigation and issued an ineffectual report that failed to come to clear conclusions. And Comey — during the 2016 investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email use — put a higher priority on preserving his own reputation for being above partisan politics than on doing the right thing.
The impeachment hearings of the last week got me thinking about this recent history, because the witnesses, like Marie Yovanovitch, have shown a strength that Mueller and Comey did not. Those witnesses have been willing to subject themselves to unfair criticism for being partisan in order to defend the country’s ideals. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.
[Listen to “The Argument” podcast every Thursday morning, with Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.] | {
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Blue-collar jobs, long a small and shrinking part of the U.S. economy, are now growing at a faster clip than those in the nation's much larger service economy. Many factors collided to produce the blue-collar boom. Some are linked to short-term boom-and-bust cycles, but others may endure.
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The rapid hiring in blue-collar sectors is delivering benefits to areas that turned out heavily for Trump in the 2016 election, according to the Brookings Institution, a shift from earlier in this expansion, when large and midsize cities experienced most of the gains.
The biggest drivers of the blue-collar hiring surge are the rebound in oil prices, the need to rebuild after disasters such as Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, and rising demand generated by a growing economy.
“I could work from sunup to sundown seven days a week," said Steve Klebenow, 30, who owns and operates Gallatin Valley Welding in Churchill, Mont., a town of fewer than 900 people that had only two roads, one of them dirt, when he was growing up.
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As wealthy families from California, Oregon and Washington flood into the area looking for mountain views and a lower cost of living, the region is transforming, and Klebenow is helping to build it.
He started welding at the tail end of the housing boom, while he was still in high school. After the recession hit, he went to North Dakota to weld pipes and build bridges in the oil fields. He figures his part of the country is a few years behind the economic cycle on the East Coast.
“All I know right now is that we’re all busy. It’s going to stay that way for a couple years, and then it’s going to go back down,” he said at the end of another 12-hour day.
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Job gains in smaller towns and rural areas accelerated last year, and continued to build in early 2018.
Rural employment grew at an annualized rate of 5.1 percent in the first quarter. Smaller metro areas grew 5 percent. That's significantly larger than the 4.1 percent growth seen in large urban areas that recovered earlier from the Great Recession, according to an analysis by the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program of a separate set of Labor Department data released Wednesday.
In the past year, the economy has added 656,000 blue-collar jobs, compared with 1.7 million added in the services sector. But the rate of growth in blue-collar jobs is speeding up, while service-sector job growth has hovered around 1.3 percent over the past year.
“Small towns and rural America are finally winning a little,” said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings, but he added: “Very little of the favorable economic shift likely owes to President Trump's erratic flailing and bluster.”
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The president and his advisers have said recent economic growth proves the success of the administration’s economic agenda, which has been headlined by tax cuts, deregulation and protectionist trade policies.
The Trump administration and many business leaders point to a jump in optimism about the economy, especially among manufacturers and blue-collar workers, and robust business investment as concrete signs of improvement.
But Muro says that "the present surge is a continuation of gradual economic improvement that not only began during the Obama years but directly continues trends in the last year of the previous administration." The economy has added fewer jobs per month, on average, than it did during President Barack Obama's second term.
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Among the industries Trump has targeted most for revival, evidence is mixed that his policies have helped. Coal mining added about a thousand jobs in the year ending in July, according to the Labor Department. Steel and aluminum production have gained only a couple thousand, while businesses that use these metals are warning of heavy layoffs if Trump's tariffs stay in place.
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The real drivers of the blue-collar boom are construction and manufacturing, which have added hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Trump era. These industries benefit most from a strong global economy.
In a sign of revitalization in an area previously hit hard by the decline of coal and steel production, the Appalachian town of Ashland, Ky., recently broke ground on a new aluminum mill. Owned by Braidy Industries, the mill will eventually employ more than 500 people.
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Hiring has already started for construction positions, and the local community college is training people for the high-tech manufacturing jobs.
“I had 24 cities and towns bid for this project. Ashland was by far the poorest of them all,” said Craig Bouchard, the chief executive of Braidy Industries. “I chose Appalachia for one reason: They have eight times more available metalworking families than any other place in the country. I’ve already got 7,000 job applications.”
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For Michael Tackett, who has lived in eastern Kentucky all his life, the factory offers an unexpected second chance.
“This is massive for us. We’ve been in an economic downturn for years, actually decades, but this could bring an economic boom to the area,” said Tackett, who is program coordinator of the Advanced Integrated Technology program at Ashland Community and Technical College.
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The good times may not last. Some economists warn that the long-term trends still favor big cities and digitally focused industries. There are signs that growth may be tapering off in some blue-collar sectors: Home sales have cooled this summer, and manufacturers fear that Trump’s trade war will erase their competitive edge.
Still, the gains in goods-producing industries over the past year are wide-ranging, with a strong increase in oil and gas extraction, machinery manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, electrical equipment manufacturing and construction.
Manufacturing output is near a record level and optimism is at an all-time high, with more than 95 percent of manufacturers reporting a “positive outlook” for their business, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Manufacturers.
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"In 2016, manufacturing was close to a recession. We've come out of that with a lot of enthusiasm," said Chad Moutray, chief economist at NAM. He thinks there's a good chance this turnaround will last, largely because manufacturers held onto cash during the recession and global head winds of 2015 and 2016. But now the "floodgates are open and you're seeing a lot more activity," he said.
An uptick in once-struggling areas could make a significant difference in voters’ perceptions of the economy, because people tend to view growth relative to their own recent pasts, and their neighbors' situations, Muro said.
Trump frequently touts manufacturing job growth since he took office as a sign that he is delivering on his promises to grow good-paying jobs.
"This election is about jobs, it's about safety and jobs," he said at a rally Thursday in Montana. On Friday, he dubbed it the "rocket ship" economy.
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Trump’s escalating trade war with China could zap momentum. Parts are often imported from China for final assembly in the United States.
And despite the recent gains for blue-collar workers, there are more than a million fewer goods-producing jobs than there were before the recession, a reminder that these industries can be very cyclical and fall fast when the economy sours.
Only 13.9 percent of workers are employed in blue-collar professions, vs, 15 percent in government and 71.1 percent in the service sector. But “muscle jobs” still play an outsize role in some communities.
“In places like Ohio and Wisconsin, manufacturing is part of the DNA. Voters there know what was lost and they see who is hiring now,” said Scott Paul, president the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which has held recent focus groups with manufacturing workers.
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It’s an ongoing debate among pollsters about whether voters are giving Trump credit for the improving economy. According to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll out last week, 58 percent of adults rate the economy as “excellent” or “good,” but Trump’s approval rating on the economy is 45 percent .
Paul describes a big generational divide in how people view the importance of a vital manufacturing sector in their community. Although some might cheer the revival of blue-collar jobs, others are trying to chart a different future.
“There are manufacturing jobs available right now, but young people have moved on. An entire generation of Americans has forgotten about manufacturing as a career path,” Paul said.
Correction: About a thousand coal-mining jobs were added in the year ending in July. An earlier version of this story gave the wrong number. | {
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AlpacaEDU — Algo Trading & Automated Investing For Students
We are excited to let you know that our student members are launching a new educational program designed for students to learn the world of algorithmic trading and automated investing called AlpacaEDU.
AlpacaEDU program is led by extremely smart and dedicated students who did the summer internship at AlpacaDB, Inc. (“Alpaca”) this past summer in San Mateo. Big shout out to Ethan and Rao for your leadership! (Alpaca Securities LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alpaca, and brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. )
What You Can Get From AlpacaEDU
The goal for the AlpacaEDU program is to empower students to learn algo trading and apply it to their personal investment strategies as well as to experience how it is like to actually run strategies in a live commission-free trading environment.
To apply, please fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/drre63XLpshbNTjG3
AlpacaEDU program is a free program with many student-only benefits!
Early access to new tools Alpaca develops
Student-only credits and discounts to Alpaca’s premium plan features
Exclusive access to AlpacaEDU Slack and Reddit where you can learn from other students interested in algo trading
Feedback from the Alpaca team on your trading algorithms
Mentorship from Alpaca’s engineers for contributing to the Open Source projects including DataFrame Server for Financial Timeseries Data MarketStore
Free Alpaca Swag (Socks!!)
Access to FinTech tutorials and educational tools
FinTech Newsletter
If you are still currently a student, we would love to have you join AlpacaEDU. To apply, please fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/drre63XLpshbNTjG3 | {
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Theresa May is "no friend of women", a Labour MP has declared.
Dawn Butler launched an attack on the Tory leader despite her holding the post of Britain's second-ever female Prime Minister.
Mrs May often claims her leadership shows how Tories promote women better than Labour, who have never had a female leader.
But Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Ms Butler said the Prime Minister had done "absolutely nothing" for women.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Theresa May's female but she's no friend of women.
"And her cuts have seen 86% of her cuts on women. So it's not just about having a female leader - it's about having people who actually care about the issues.
"Jeremy [Corbyn] cares about the issues, he cares about women and he cares about what happens to this country."
Mrs May mocked Mr Corbyn only last week when he declared "at last" a woman would hold the role of Parliament's Black Rod.
The Tory leader retorted: "I hope it will not be 650 years until the Labour party has a female leader!"
Ms Butler: "Yes, I'd love to see a female Labour Prime Minister.
"But the female Tory Prime Ministers we've had have done absolutely nothing for women." | {
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— Из 447 аппаратов УЗИ по 306 аппаратам, или 68% от общего их количества в регионе, износ составляет 100%. Их возраст свыше семи лет, что превышает нормативный срок эксплуатации, — пояснили в контрольно-счётной палате. — 49 аппаратов, или 11%, выпущены 15–29 лет назад. Числятся, но не используются и не подлежат ремонту 29 аппаратов. Ещё 16 сейчас пытаются отремонтировать.
Состояние аппаратов УЗИ влияет на качество и скорость результатов исследований.
— В 10 учреждениях из 21 проверенного не соблюдаются сроки ожидания ультразвуковых исследований в 14 дней. Они составляют от одного до 65 дней, что может влиять на своевременность установления диагноза и его лечения.
Во время аудиторской проверки было отмечено отсутствие единообразного подхода в учёте количества проведенных исследований на аппаратах УЗИ облздравом. | {
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It's been a while since I've seen evidence of the internet's obsession with Nicolas Cage. For a while he was all the rage online, as people discovered his insane performances in movies like Vampire's Kiss and The Wicker Man and turning photos and videos of him into memes left and right. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like in recent years the internet has turned its collective attention elsewhere...until now. Redditor CarlosDanger100 has brought Cage roaring back into the picture with these Photoshopped images of Cage as every character on HBO's Game of Thrones (and yes, that includes women as well).
These pretty much speak for themselves, so...enjoy. Be sure to click here to see the entire gallery. | {
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Posted 8 years ago on April 19, 2012, 6:45 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
via strikemay1st.com, a new clearing house for May 1st General Strike resources in the Bay Area:
called for by the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition
Unite in solidarity with Golden Gate Bridge workers and the international call for a general strike on May Day by blockading the flow of capital to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District on the morning of May Day!
The following resolution was passed unanimously by the Occupy Oakland General Assembly on Sunday, April 15:
If any of the unions on the Golden Gate bridge declare a strike or shutdown action on May Day, we will act in solidarity with these striking workers and the international call for a general strike on May Day, by blockading the flow of capital to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. This will be accomplished by a collaboration of pickets and direct action which will shut down all modes of transportation from Marin to San Francisco.
Time: 7am
Location: Golden Gate Bridge SF Toll Plaza
Bus pickup locations:
6am 19th and Telegraph Oakland
6am B. Manning (Justin Herman) Plaza San Francisco
Endorsed by:
Occupy Oakland
Occupy SF
Occupy San Francisco Action Council
Jobs With Justice
More Info: occupythebridge.com
Email: [email protected] | {
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Adjusting communication to take into account information available to one’s audience is routine in humans but is assumed absent in other animals, representing a recent development on the lineage leading to humans. This assumption may be premature. Recent studies show changes in primate alarm signaling to threats according to the receivers’ risk. However, a classic problem in these and other perspective-taking studies is discerning whether signalers understand the receivers’ mental states or simply are responding to their behavior. We designed experiments to exclude concurrent reading of the receivers’ behavior by simulating receivers using prerecorded calls of other group members. Specifically, we tested whether wild chimpanzees emitted differing signals in response to a snake model when simulated receivers previously emitted either snake-related calls (indicating knowledge) or acoustically similar non–snake-related calls (indicating ignorance). Signalers showed more vocal and nonvocal signaling and receiver-directed monitoring when simulated receivers had emitted non–snake-related calls. Results were not explained by signaler arousal nor by receiver identity. We conclude that chimpanzees are aware enough of another’s perspective to target information toward ignorant group members, suggesting that the integration of signaling and social cognition systems was already emerging in early hominoid lineages before the advent of more language-specific features, such as syntax.
Alert hoos are produced in response to serious threats, like snakes ( 9 ), and they direct the receivers’ attention to the general vicinity of the snake ( 28 ). However, further cues are likely required to locate these highly camouflaged snakes (see fig. S1 and video S1), such as following the gaze of signalers ( 28 ), a widespread capacity among primates ( 29 ). Chimpanzees can show sentinel-like behavior ( 9 , 10 , 28 ), sometimes appearing to wait next to a snake as if to “mark” the position of the hidden threat for others ( Fig. 1 and video S1). Marking, in addition to alert hoos, potentially assists receivers in locating camouflaged snakes. To test whether marking was influenced by receiver presence or behavior, we determined whether the onset and cessation of marking behavior were influenced by whether receivers could see the snake (H1, receiver knowledge) or by the three alternative explanations (H2, signaler habituation; H3, receiver identity; and H4, receiver behavior). We defined the receiver’s first sight of the snake as occurring when receivers had the first unobstructed view of the snake and simultaneously showed an interruption of their current behavior, such as pausing while walking. We operationalized “marking” as repositioning oneself to have direct visual access to both the snake and the receiver and as alternating gaze between the snake and the receiver. Given the dense vegetation, we deemed repositioning to be necessary for effective monitoring of receivers with respect to the snake: to enable visibility of both simultaneously (see Fig. 1 ). Marking onset was the first look toward receivers after repositioning. Marking cessation was when the signaler either left the snake model or engaged in no further gaze alternation. Gaze alternation was defined as head-turning between the receiver and the snake without intervening looks in other directions.
Most snakes are only dangerous to chimpanzees until detected ( 22 ), after which they cease to be a threat. Hence, informing group members of the presence of snakes could function to bring group members into a position of safety. Chimpanzees produce both quiet (“alert hoos”) and loud (“alarm barks”) alarm calls to snakes in ways that suggest an underlying intention to change another’s behavior [sensu Dennett ( 23 )]. When they produce such calls, they typically look back and forth between the snake and the receiver and persist in both of these behaviors until the apparent goal has been achieved ( 10 , 24 , 25 ). Gaze alternation and persistence in signaling until the goal has been met have long been used as operational definitions of intentional communication in both developmental psychology and ape research ( 25 – 27 ).
We tested the receiver knowledge hypothesis (H1) within the context of three alternative, not mutually exclusive hypotheses. The signaler habituation hypothesis (H2) predicts that, during each trial regardless of nearby receivers, signalers with, rather than without, previous exposure to the snake (seeing the snake or hearing snake-related calls) ( 14 , 15 ) will be less aroused upon seeing the stimulus and will have a shorter overall reaction due to a simple habituation effect ( 14 – 19 ). The receiver identity hypothesis (H3) predicts that alarm calling is influenced by the subjects’ relationship with the receiver, because previous studies ( 9 , 10 , 20 ) show that signalers alarm call more when receivers are bond partners. The receiver behavior hypothesis (H4) predicts that alarm call production is driven by the signaler monitoring the risk behavior of receivers, such as approaching the snake ( 10 , 21 ), rather than monitoring the information available to receivers. In this case, signalers should stop signaling once the risk to receivers is reduced, such as when they leave the snake rather than when they approach or sit in closest proximity to the snake.
Arrow thickness indicates chimpanzees’ level of attention. Speak bubbles represent number of calls and rate of calling. ( A and B ) Presentation of stimulus 1. ( C and D ) Presentation of stimulus 2. The subject walks along a path and hears a playback of either a rest hoo (A) or an alert hoo (B), simulating a receiver. The subjects hearing a threat-related call (an alert hoo) looked more to the speaker than after hearing a rest hoo, a call not associated with threats. After reacting to the speaker, the subjects then continued walking and then saw a snake model hidden behind a log, some seconds after hearing the playback of a hoo. No further receiver behavior is presented. We asked: Does the subjects’ behavior change upon seeing the snake in a way that is consistent with them monitoring in the receivers’ perspective? (C) In the rest hoo condition (receiver-ignorant), consistent with the subjects keeping track of the receivers’ perspective, the subjects persisted in monitoring the speaker and were highly likely to call and mark the position of the snake. (D) In contrast, in the alert hoo condition (receiver-knowledgeable), the subjects dropped interest in monitoring the speaker, and called and marked little. Slower calling rate in (C) compared to (D) is better explained by the receiver knowledge than the signaler habituation hypothesis. There was no change in attention given to the snake across conditions. In the absence of visual cues, it appears that the subjects not only monitored the receivers’ awareness of a threat but also changed their communication depending on the receivers’ awareness of the threat. Green line, trail; box, speaker hidden behind vegetation; snake model, gaboon or rhinoceros viper hidden behind a small log. Relative distances at the time of playback were 5 to 10 m between the subject and the speaker, the subject and the snake, and the speaker and the snake.
We placed a partially hidden snake model (fig. S1) along the anticipated travel path of a subject. We tested whether marking behavior took the visual perspective of receivers into account (whether the receiver could see a snake model). Black chimpanzee, subject’s position and orientation with respect to the snake model and receivers; gray chimpanzee, the receiver’s position and orientation. Behavior of the subjects upon seeing the snake when both arrive from the left side: ( A ) Subject’s attention is snake-focused. ( B ) Marking, strictly defined as repositioning oneself to have direct visual access to both the snake and the receiver and to alternate gaze between the snake and the receiver. Gaze alternation was defined as head-turning between the receiver and the snake without intervening looks in other directions. Receivers were defined as having seen the snake once they had an unobstructed view to the model. ( C ) The subject leaves the snake. Predictions: H1 (receiver knowledge), the subjects engage in an initial phase of (A) but rapidly switch to (B). The subjects only switch from (B) to (C) once the subjects have seen that the receivers see the snake. H2 (signaler habituation), the subjects engage in (A) and (C) only. H3 (receiver identity), the subjects are more likely to engage in (B) if at least one receiver is a bond partner. H4 (receiver behavior), the subjects are more likely to stop engaging in (B) when the subjects see that the receivers are no longer at risk, such as when leaving the snake. Green line, trail; log, hiding snake model; snake model, gaboon or rhinoceros viper.
The receiver knowledge hypothesis predicts that in the presence of threats—here, snakes—chimpanzees motivated to inform ignorant rather than knowledgeable others would invest more in signaling and monitoring receivers when receivers had not seen the snake or emitted snake-related calls. The hypothesis also predicts that the signaling effort drops once the receivers express awareness of the snake, by either looking at the snake in experiment 1 ( Fig. 1 ) or by emitting snake-related alarm calls in experiment 2 ( Fig. 2 ). Thus, each experiment required subjects to monitor the receivers’ awareness of snakes in a different modality: visually in experiment 1 and auditorily in experiment 2.
Here, we examine whether chimpanzee vocal production is influenced by another’s perspective in the context of threat. We present two studies. Experiment 1 is a new analysis of nonvocal behavior, drawn from a previous experiment that focused exclusively on vocalizations, to assess what aspects of receiver behavior signalers attend to. Experiment 2 excludes the possibility of reading the receiver’s behavior besides the vocalization presented, by using calls played back through a loud speaker to simulate receiver presence. The experiment contrasts conditions in which receivers are apparently aware or unaware of a threat, through information expressed only in the playback vocalization. Some seconds after hearing the playback, subjects then see a snake model, and without presenting further receiver behavior, we examine any subsequent changes in the subjects’ vocal output and speaker-directed attention.
Some studies have examined the influence of perspective-taking on vocal signaling in food rather than alarm contexts. In these studies, chimpanzees changed their signaling depending on whether they could be seen by a human experimenter with access to food ( 11 , 12 ). Chimpanzees called more when the human experimenter had his or her back turned or eyes closed rather than when facing chimpanzees with his or her eyes open. In contrast, chimpanzees gestured more when the human experimenter faced them or had his or her eyes open. In addition, they changed the vocalization emitted depending on whether a human might facilitate food retrieval ( 13 ). When only food was present, chimpanzees emitted food grunts. When a human stood next to the food, chimpanzees emitted attention-getting vocalizations. Together, these studies indicate that chimpanzees change their vocal production depending on the attentional state of the human receiver with respect to themselves, in contexts where they can gain a food reward. Motivation to vocalize could either take into account another’s perspective or be based on associative learning processes. Further research is required to determine the extent to which social cognition might influence vocal production.
A major question in science is when in evolutionary history did animal communication become influenced by another’s rather than one’s own perspective or knowledge ( 1 – 6 ). Some primate alarm calling is influenced by the receivers’ behavior, such that signalers appear to modify their alarm calling according to the receivers’ level of risk in the face of a threat. Harem male monkeys, for example, alarm call more when group members are close to a threat [Cercopithecus mitis ( 7 )] and stop calling only after group members have also alarm called [Presbytis thomasi ( 8 )]. Chimpanzees are more likely to call when group members have not seen the threat ( 9 , 10 ) or not heard threat-related calls ( 9 ) and are more likely to stop alarm calling after others have climbed to safety ( 10 ). Previous studies suggest that signalers may take into account the perspective of receivers with respect to a current threat when signaling. We call this the “receiver knowledge hypothesis.” However, previous studies ( 7 – 10 ) do not rule out the possibility that signalers simply change their signaling after reading the receivers’ behavior in threat contexts (approaching, climbing, or behavior associated with alarm calling) rather than because of what receivers could see or know. A classic problem in these and other perspective-taking or mind-reading studies is finding an experimental paradigm that convincingly excludes the possibility of concurrent behavioral cueing, which could enable signalers to predict the receivers’ subsequent behavior through simpler mechanisms such as associative learning rather than requiring mental state attribution ( 5 , 6 ).
Speaker-directed marking and calling were not significantly influenced by possible confounding factors, the relative dominance rank of subjects compared to simulated receivers, and the latency from playback to seeing the snake (table S4), nor whether subjects were alone or traveling with a maximum of two others when hearing the playback ( Table 2 ). The one exception was that the presence of other chimpanzees was associated with a tendency for slower rates of calling across conditions.
Against the signaler habituation (H2) hypothesis, the subjects’ rate of alert hoo production was slower, and the latency to the first call tended to be slower in the rest hoo condition rather than in the alert hoo condition ( Fig. 4 , B and C, and Table 2 ; see Materials and Methods). There was also no significant effect on the number of alert hoos played (whether one or three hoos) on the subjects’ own likelihood of emitting an alert hoo, and there was no effect across conditions on the duration that subjects looked at the snake ( Table 2 ).
Subjects’ overall responses across all tests differed significantly across conditions (permutation test correcting for multiple testing: χ² = 62.47, P = 0.004). Parentheses denote the variable level that reflects the estimate when tested against the alternative level. GLMMs: H1 (receiver knowledge), supported or tentatively supported by models (B) to (H); H2 (signaler habituation), not supported by models (B) to (H). n = 10 subjects, 21 trials, and 12 dyads. Bold: P < 0.05; italic, P < 0.1. Test predictor for all models, experimental condition (rest hoo and alert hoo). Random factors for all models include subject identity, dyad identity of subject, and call provider. Binomial, models (B), (E), and (F); Gaussian, models (A), (C), (D), and (G) to (I). Model significance versus null model, effect size (marginal R 2 ): (A) χ² = 10.31, df = 1, P = 0.006; R 2 = 0.16; (B) χ² = 6.7, df = 1, P = 0.009; (C) χ² = 3.12, df = 1, P = 0.077; R 2 = 0.30; (D) χ² = 3.96, df = 1, P = 0.046; R 2 = 0.32; (E) variable “alone” excluded due to model stability: χ² = 7.89, df = 1, P = 0.005; (F) χ² = 9.9, df = 1, P = 0.002; (G) χ² = 6.4, df = 1, P = 0.25; R 2 = 0.26; (H) χ² = 2.65, df = 1, P = 0.10; R 2 = 0.17; (I) χ² = 6.9, df = 1, P = 0.0085; R 2 = 0.41. For models (C) and (D), cases containing zeros were excluded; thus, P values are likely affected by low power (see Fig. 4 , C and D, for paired data plots, table S2 for source data, and table S4 for additional analyses of control variables).
( A to D ) Comparison of response to alert versus rest hoo stimulus. Dots joined by dashed lines, data per subject averaged across trials within conditions. Larger dots, more data points per value. *P < 0.1, **P < 0.05, ***P < 0.01. Bar plot shows mean + SD with 95% confidence interval. GLMM results are shown in Table 2 . n = 10 subjects, 21 trials, and 12 dyads. Note that sample sizes and thus statistical power in (B) and (C) are particularly small, because only cases where calling occurred could be included; x axis, experimental condition (playback stimulus played). ( E ) Speaker-directed scans after the playback before seeing the snake. ( F ) Post/prior speaker-directed scans comparing subjects’ scans after seeing the snake with those before seeing the snake.
Signaling at snakes is influenced by a simulated receiver’s previous vocalization. In a second experiment ( Fig. 2 ), as chimpanzees walked down a path, we played a call from a hidden speaker, simulating the presence of another chimpanzee. After reacting to the playback, the subjects continued to walk down the path for a further 5 to 10 m. The subjects then saw a second stimulus, a previously placed snake model hidden behind a log (fig. S1), some seconds after hearing the playback. We tested whether the subjects’ reaction to the snake changed depending on the call type they had heard some seconds earlier. No further cues representing the simulated chimpanzee (the receiver) were presented. Using a within-subjects design, we aimed to expose subjects to two trials counterbalanced for call type so that subjects were played either a “rest” hoo or one to three “alert” hoos. We tested the receiver knowledge (H1) and signaler habituation (H2) hypotheses and controlled for receiver identity (H3) and receiver behavior (H4) in the experimental design. The subjects’ vocal and nonvocal behaviors upon seeing the snake differed depending on the call type they had heard some seconds earlier [permutation test correcting for multiple testing ( 30 ): χ² = 62.47, P = 0.004, n = 10 subjects; Fig. 4 and Table 2 ]. The pattern of behaviors mainly supported H1 (receiver knowledge) but not H2 (signaler habituation). Specifically, the subjects emitted more alert hoos after hearing a rest hoo (not associated with snakes and thus indicating that the receiver is not aware of the snake) rather than an alert hoo (associated with snakes and thus indicating that the receiver is aware of the snake) ( Fig. 4A and Table 2 ). Note that, similar to the study by Crockford et al. ( 9 ), the subjects never emitted alert hoos until they had seen the snake. The subjects were also more likely to engage in speaker-directed marking and to combine marking and calling after hearing rest hoos rather than alert hoos ( Fig. 4D , Table 2 , and videos S4 and S5). Speaker-directed monitoring, after compared to before seeing the snake, dropped in the alert hoo condition but persisted in the rest hoo condition ( Fig. 4F and Table 2 ).
Receivers use alarm calling and marking behavior to locate snakes. In a third model, receiver behavior varied depending on the subjects’ signaling, with receivers being more likely to see the snake when both signals (calling and marking) were given rather than just calling or no signal (GLMM: χ² = 6.41, df = 1, P = 0.011; Fig. 3C and Table 1 C). Specifically, receivers were more likely to cautiously approach rather than avoid the snake in the 12 trials when marking by signalers co-occurred with calling (cautious approach, 10 of 12 trials; table S1 and video S2) compared to when calling occurred alone (cautious approach, 2 of 8 trials; video S3). Signaling ensured greater safety for receivers in that when subjects signaled, whether calling or marking (22 trails), receivers never passed within 1 m (biting distance) of the snake ( Fig. 3C and table S1). In contrast, in 40% (6 of 15) of trials, when subjects gave no signal, receivers passed within biting distance (1 m) of the snake, apparently unaware of the snake’s presence. Given that marking behavior showed signs of being highly receiver-sensitive, we included it as a key variable in experiment 2.
( A ) Relative duration of the subjects’ marking: before (mark 1) and after (mark 2) receivers have seen the snake. Dots joined by dashed lines, data per subject averaged across trials. Mark 1 + mark 2 = total marking time. Inspect, duration over which the subjects’ attention remains snake-focused before engaging in marking (mean ± SD, 24 ± 13 s; range, 10 to 46 s; marking defined in Fig. 1 ). Mark 1, duration from the beginning of marking until the receiver sees the snake (mean ± SD, 55 ± 42 s; range, 7 to 140 s). Mark 2, duration over which marking continues after the receiver has seen the snake until the subject leaves snake or no longer looks to the snake (mean ± SD, 15 ± 6.3 s; range, 4 to 22 s). Darker dots, more data points per value. *P < 0.05, ***P ≤ 0.001. Model significance versus the null model: χ² = 12.99, df = 2, P = 0.002, n = 8 subjects, 10 cases, and 7 events. GLMM estimates: inspect versus mark 1: β = 0.58, SE = 0.26, t = 2.25, P = 0.03; mark 2 versus mark 1: β = 1.07, SE = 0.26, t = 4.15, P = 0.0003; inspect versus mark 2: β = −0.49, SE = 0.26, t = −1.89, P = 0.067. ( B ) Marking cessation with respect to receiver behavior (first bar) or when receiver sees the snake (second bar); y axis, proportion of cases. The bars show the subjects that stopped marking after witnessing the following receiver behavior: left bar (risk-reducing behavior): white, leave the snake (not risk-reducing behavior); light gray, still approaching the snake; dark gray, closest approach to the snake; black, no movement during marking; right bar: black, subjects stop marking after receiver sees the snake; 14 cases from n = 10 subjects (8 events). ( C ) The receivers’ behavior toward the snake depends on the subjects’ signaling. n = 37 cases, 22 subjects (12 events). Table 1 C shows the test result. Three bars show the differential signaling of subjects: no signal, call or mark (calling, n = 8; marking, n = 2), and call and mark. Blocks of color indicate different receiver behaviors with respect to the snake model after the subjects’ signaling behavior. Approach, cautious approach to see a snake model; avoid, a detour of >5 m around the snake; pass 1 m, pass within the biting range of snake model—apparently unaware of the snake; passed, receiver had either already passed the snake or did not change position while the subject could see the snake model.
It should be noted that, in all cases, whether marking occurred, there was an initial period of exclusively snake-focused attention, where subjects did not look in other directions (table S1). In a second model, examining the relative duration of marking, the subjects marked significantly longer before than after the receivers saw the snake (GLMM: β = 1.07, SE = 0.26, t = 4.15, P = 0.0003; Fig. 3A : mark duration before, mean ± SD = 55 ± 42 s; mark duration after: 15 ± 6.3 s; video S2). When examining cessation of marking, in all cases in which marking occurred, the subjects stopped marking only after the receivers had seen the snake ( Fig. 3B ). In contrast, cessation in marking did not coincide with the behavior of the receivers that reduced their risk, specifically as the receivers left the snake (only 2 of 14 cases) ( Fig. 3B ). A small number of trials suggested that cessation of marking occurred more rapidly when receivers also emitted an alert hoo upon seeing the snake: Receivers emitted alert hoos in five trials in which marking occurred. In four of these five cases, signalers stopped marking rapidly, within 5.4 ± 5.7 s (mean ± SD; range, 1 to 14 s; n = 4 subjects). In sum, receivers seeing the snake influenced the occurrence or cessation of marking, rather than the subjects’ own exposure to the snake ( Table 1 A) or other aspects of receiver behavior, such as whether receivers were in the process of approaching the snake ( Fig. 3B and Table 1 B).
(A and B) The likelihood of subjects to initiate marking. (C) The impact of signal type on receiver behavior. Binomial GLMMs: Marking, reposition oneself to see both the snake and the receiver and gaze alternate between the snake and the receiver. H1, receiver has seen the snake before signaler calls or marks (yes/no); H2, subject is first to see the snake (yes/no); H3, receivers include a bond partner (yes/no); H4, subjects could see or hear receivers approaching when first to see the snake. Random factors include subject identity and event. Bold: P < 0.05. Model significance versus null model built of control predictors (for H2 to H4) and random effects: (A) χ² = 9.91, df = 1, P = 0.002; (B) χ² = 4.2, df = 1, P = 0.038. n = 37 cases, 22 subjects, and 12 snake placement events. We conducted two models instead of one due to model stability issues with four predictor variables. After running model (A), we removed the nonsignificant variable, replaced it with the remaining predictor variable, and reran the model [model (B)]. All significant variables remain significant with a Bonferroni correction [required across models (A) and (B)]. Model (C) included only receivers who had not seen the snake. n = 27 cases, 17 subjects, and 12 events: χ² = 6.41, df = 1, P = 0.011. See table S1 for the source data.
Marking is influenced by receivers’ awareness of the snake. In experiment 1 ( 9 ), we placed a snake model (fig. S2) along the anticipated travel path of chimpanzees and videoed their behavior in proximity to the snake model ( Fig. 1 ) ( 9 ). Previously, we examined the calling behavior of subjects from this data set ( 9 ), whereas we examined here the nonvocal behavior using a series of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) (see Materials and Methods). Marking occurred in 14 of 37 trials (n = 22 chimpanzees). In the first model, subjects were more likely to engage in marking (see Fig. 1 ) if receivers had not seen the snake and if receivers were bond partners ( Table 1 A). Whether subjects were the first to see the snake, or receivers were still approaching the snake and hence were approaching danger, did not show significant differences ( Table 1 , A and B).
DISCUSSION
Two different experiments have revealed that chimpanzee vocal and nonvocal responses at snakes are modified according to the receivers’ relation to a current threat. In experiment 1, in one-third of cases, usually when bond partners were present, the signalers marked the location of the snake model, alternating gaze between the receivers and the snake model (hereafter, snake). Signaling provided greater safety and more threat-related information for the receivers. When no signals were given, the receivers passed within biting distance of the snake in 40% of cases. When only alert hoos were given, the receivers avoided the snake in 75% of cases. When marking also occurred, the receivers were more likely to cautiously approach rather than avoid the snake. It seems that although alert hoos advertise the general location of a hidden threat, marking points out the precise location, enabling others within visibility of the signaler to gaze-follow and to safely detect the hidden threat (for example, videos S1 and S2).
In experiment 2, after the subjects saw a snake model, they called and marked more toward the speaker when a call not associated with threats was played back some seconds earlier. Strikingly, the subjects also showed a speaker-directed attentional shift from before to after seeing the snake model, rapidly losing interest in the speaker direction in the alert hoo condition but maintaining interest in the speaker direction in the rest hoo condition, although no further receiver behavior was presented. Rest hoos, which typically elicit least speaker-directed attention compared to alert hoos (28), elicited greater persistence in attention to the speaker after the subjects had seen the snake. The observed changes in attention within and between conditions are hard to explain in terms of the signalers’ arousal state or habituation to the stimulus or in terms of the subjects merely expressing a simultaneous interest in both the speaker and the snake (31). Experiment 1 findings also suggest that the latter explanation is unlikely to be the case, because the signalers only stopped marking after the receivers had seen the snake. In addition, in three trials in experiment 1 where the receivers were slow to see the snake, the signalers temporarily stopped attending to the snake, although they remained within sight of the snake. In each case, eventual interest or approach from the receiver toward the snake precipitated the subjects’ re-engagement with the snake, until the receiver saw the snake (see video S2 at 2 min 45 s).
In terms of calling behavior in experiment 2, against H2 (signaler habituation), calling was not more rapid in the rest hoo condition compared to the alert hoo condition. Rather, the opposite occurred—the latency to the first hoo and the average latency between calls were significantly longer in the rest hoo condition than in the alert hoo condition (Fig. 4, B and C). Given that receivers were too far away for the snake to represent an urgent threat, signalers may have invested in monitoring receiver activity (H1, receiver knowledge) as much as in calling. To effectively monitor the movements of out-of-sight chimpanzees, individuals need to remain silent and still to listen for audible cues from the other (this is a frequent pattern seen in chimpanzees in their low-visibility habitat, such as when engaged in long-distance contact call exchanges: Individuals may stop traveling to call and then listen, a pattern that may be repeated several times before continuing to travel, personal observation). A simultaneous motivation to both inform and monitor could result in the observed slower rate of calling after hearing a rest hoo rather than an alert hoo.
It should be noted that although more alert hoos were elicited in the rest hoo conditions than in the alert hoo conditions, alert hoos were nonetheless elicited in both conditions. Chimpanzees only extremely rarely emit alarm calls when they cannot see a threat (9) and do not alarm call merely in response to another’s alarm call, in contrast to forest monkeys (15). Thus, alert hoos may be associated not only with a snake but also with a signaler seeing a snake. Our results from experiment 1 suggest that alert hoos occasionally emitted by receivers may function as “confirmation” of having seen the snake. This may have motivated subjects (in the “role” of receivers) to emit an alert hoo upon seeing the snake after they heard a playback of an alert hoo, but this requires further testing.
In sum, subjects engaged in greater signaling and monitoring effort when simulated receivers had not emitted snake-related calls. This result could not have been due to signalers responding to concurrent behavior from receivers related to the playback call, given that there was no additional behavior after the initial played back call. Using a simulated receiver enabled us to keep receiver identity—and hence the relationship between signaler and receiver—constant across conditions. Although primate studies show that signaler habituation, receiver identity, and receiver behavior do affect on the subjects’ responses to predators or threats (7–10, 32), experiment 2 showed that chimpanzee signaling at snakes is also apparently driven by the subjects’ monitoring of the receivers’ current relation to a snake. This is a not a spatially driven relation because receiver proximity to the snake was held constant across conditions. The results mainly supported H1 (receiver knowledge) and not H2 (signaler habituation), suggesting that signaler arousal and habituation to the snake stimulus had a weaker influence on the subjects’ behavior than the information expressed by the receivers about a threat or the receiver’s perspective with respect to a threat.
We excluded some additional explanations. Given that alarm calls can also function as a recruitment call for predator mobbing purposes in some species, we excluded the influence of mobbing behavior in our experimental design by selecting a stimulus that rarely elicits mobbing—a nonpredatory snake (see the Supplementary Materials). In addition, subgroup size (receivers within earshot) (21) cannot explain our results, given that we kept subgroup sizes to a maximum of three individuals including the subject and controlled for the influence of these individuals on signaler response patterns in statistical models.
Bringing together the results from both experiments, the two experiments elicited consistent signaling and receiver-directed behavior from the subjects, specifically increased marking and calling at snakes when the receivers expressed less information about the snake. This was the case although the subjects had access to different receiver behaviors in each experiment. In experiment 1, calling and marking were more likely when the receivers had not seen the snake model. In experiment 2, calling and marking were more likely when the receivers had not heard a snake-related call. The subjects’ behavior was generalized irrespective of the modality in which receiver ignorance was presented, suggesting central cognitive processing (33) of the relationship between the snake, the receivers, and the receivers’ status with respect to the snake. In experiment 1, marking stopped soon after the receivers saw the snake. Unlike in previous experiments where subjects try to attain a personal gain, such as a food item (5, 34), the apparent goal of the subjects was simply that the receivers see the snake, with no immediate personal gain. A possible motivation for this was that once the receivers had seen the snake, the snake ceased to be a threat to the receivers, given the sedentary and likely nonpredatory nature of these snakes to chimpanzees, bringing receivers into a position of safety (22).
We cannot completely rule out “killjoy” explanations (35), such as that subjects could be behaving on the basis of learned associations between the presence of a snake and the behavior of others, although these experiments make this possibility less likely. For example, in experiment 2, it could be that chimpanzees behave differently when they are the first to see the snake [although here (Table 1A) and previously (9), we find little support for this]. Previously, an analysis explicitly only including subjects who were not the first to see the snake likewise found that the subjects’ calling behavior varied depending on the information available to receivers (9). In addition, previous studies (9, 10) have shown that when new receivers arrive at the snake, subjects increase their rate of calling.
Perhaps a more plausible alternative is that in the presence of a snake, subjects perceive receivers who have neither seen the snake nor emitted snake-related calls as being under threat. It may be this perception, rather than perspective-taking processes, that precipitates subjects’ informing and receiver-monitoring behavior. In this scenario, given that the threat faced by the receiver is not directly perceivable (given that there is no receiver nor further presentation of receiver behavior), we suggest that cognitive processing is still required to determine that another individual faces a threat because they have not visually or vocally “engaged” with a third entity, a snake. Here, in a situation from which subjects do not receive any apparent immediate gain (such as a food reward), they apparently invest in monitoring the threat faced by another, even when the threat is spatially (5 to 7 m) and temporarily (mean ± SD, 25.9 ± 21.1 s) separated from the simulated receiver. Together, this indicates that social-cognitive processing is influencing signaling behavior.
Overall, the results suggest that chimpanzee social cognition is not only supported by concurrent behavior reading. Bugnyar et al. (34) recently reached a similar conclusion for a playback experiment with ravens (Corvus corax). They used a playback of sounds of raven movement to indicate receiver presence in a competitive food-caching context. The results indicated that ravens took into account visual access of receivers, indicated by a peephole, even when no receivers could be seen. Bugnyar et al. (34) concluded that “reduced” theories of mind, such as a “minimal” theory of mind (36) or Whiten’s “intervening” variable (37), provided closer explanations of the subjects’ observed behavior than of concurrent behavior reading or of “full-blown” theory of mind (5). A more recent study using an anticipatory looking paradigm in chimpanzees indicates that they, like small children, use implicit theory of mind to solve false belief tasks (38). In other perspective-taking tasks, chimpanzees can infer the target of another’s attention, behave strategically depending on what another can and cannot see (39, 40), and show anticipation of another’s goal-directed action in situations where there is no direct gain from doing so (38). However, perspective-taking is a complex topic. Whether one individual understands that another seeing an object—or giving a call highly associated with an object—indicates another’s current knowledge and hence demonstrates mental state attribution is much debated (5, 6) and will not be resolved here.
Nonetheless, it seems relevant that we consider this body of work when interpreting the results of this study. Here, chimpanzee subjects’ signaling and receiver-directed monitoring in both experiments are consistent with the hypothesis that subjects were not only motivated by their own perspective but also took the receivers’ perspective with regard to the threat into account. When determining whether this constitutes mental state attribution, minimal theory of mind (36), or, more simply, an awareness of the receiver’s status with respect to the snake and associated threat level, the cross-modal nature of the receiver behavior available to the subjects in this study will need to be taken into account in further debates on this topic (6).
In addition to the social cognition involved in our two experiments, we are also interested in the impact of social cognition on signaling. Although perspective-taking has rarely been shown to influence vocal communication (3), apes are more likely to gesture when they can be seen by the receiver (11, 13, 24) and to vocalize when they cannot be seen by the receiver (11, 13). Here, subjects changed their signaling and receiver-directed behavior depending on the relationship between the snake, the receiver, and the receiver’s status with respect to the snake, which was either explicitly visible (experiment 1) or inferred from a vocalization that subjects heard before they had seen the snake (experiment 2).
Thus, it seems highly likely that vocal production depends on social-cognitive processes rather than being entirely emotionally driven (6). In a recent review, Fischer and Price (31) suggest that primate vocal communication is goal-directed rather than limited to the expression of emotional states, although it is not yet clear what social cognition this would entail. Comparative studies are required to examine other species’ signaling behavior using comparable experiments to determine the extent to which social cognition influences vocal production. These experiments would be of particular interest in primate species that have already indicated that alarm calling is influenced by a complex relationship between the threat and the receivers, such as has been shown in two primate species with a harem-male social structure (7, 8).
Our results support those of previous studies (41, 42) with captive chimpanzees, which demonstrated that chimpanzees use a gestural point more to human caregivers who are unaware compared to those who are aware of the location of an item (a tool or food) to request the item, although this pointing gesture is not typically seen in the natural gestural repertoire of this species. The pointing aided retrieval of food for the ape subjects; however, Zimmermann et al. (41) questioned whether the apes would have pointed in the absence of an immediate food reward. In our study, informing ignorant others of a snake offered no immediate benefit for signalers. Studies on language-trained apes have shown informative pointing in the absence of immediate food rewards (43). However, it has remained unclear whether these communicative abilities are natural to chimpanzees or are limited to chimpanzees trained by humans (3).
In a natural context, it seems that chimpanzees’ vocal, nonvocal, and monitoring behaviors at snake models are influenced by social-cognitive processes that are not limited to concurrent behavior reading to an extent not yet demonstrated within the natural communication of nonhuman animals. Here, we show a function of communication in nonhuman animals, which seems to go beyond expressing own current motivations, desires, or needs and suggests a motivation to inform others who have not seen a threat or emitted threat calls. Although this certainly falls short of humans’ avid capacity to share thoughts and feelings, this shows initial awareness of what information might be needed and relevant for another, relevance being a central feature of human language usage (4, 44). We demonstrate that chimpanzees likely have a key motivation for developing complex communication, previously thought to be absent in all natural nonhuman communication—to fill another’s need for information. This is despite chimpanzees apparently having a limited vocal repertoire and combinatorial capacity, which likely restricts message complexity (20, 28). For the evolution of language, this study suggests that the required cognitive capacities for honing informing in situations when others need the information were to, some extent, in place in our last common ancestor shared with chimpanzees, more than 8 million years ago (45). This capacity to integrate communication and social cognition systems is a possible foundation of language evolution, arising before the advent of more language-specific features, such as recursive syntactic structure. | {
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Ottis "O.J." Anderson -- RB, 1986-1992
Anderson revived his career in New York when he led the Giants to a victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, Anderson was solid for seven seasons in St. Louis before being plagued with injuries. As he was approaching 30, Anderson's career appeared to be over and the Cardinals were looking to trade him. The Giants decided to take a chance on him, and in 1990 he ran wild at the age of 34. Anderson put up 1,023 yards and led the Giants to their second Super Bowl in five years. His performance in Super Bowl XXV was unforgettable as he rumbled for 102 yards and a touchdown, and was named the game's most valuable player. | {
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'The Interview': Which Theaters Are Showing the Film on Christmas Day
Indie theaters around the country will screen Sony's comedy
Sony is allowing theaters to screen The Interview after all. However, since none of the major theater chains have announced plans to show the film, moviegoers will have to head to indie theaters and smaller circuits to find the movie. As of Wednesday, about 300 theaters around the country had booked the film.
The nation's biggest chains, which all decided to pull the movie after Sony allowed exhibitors to make the decision, will not show the film as Sony will also release it on a variety of VOD platforms.
Read more Sony Announces Limited Release for 'The Interview'
Below is the complete list of theaters screening The Interview on Dec. 25, organized by state:
AL ANDALUSIA - CLARK THEATRE 3
AL BIRMINGHAM - EDGE 12
AL BOAZ - BOAZ CINEMA 9
AL ENTERPRISE - CLARK CINEMA 1 & 2
AL FORT PAYNE - FORT PAYNE CINEMAS 6
AL GREENVILLE - EDGE CINEMA 8
AL HUNTSVILLE - MADISON SQUARE STADIUM 8
AL TROY - CONTINENTAL CINEMA 6
AR CABOT - SILVER SCREEN CINEMAS 8
AR EL DORADO - STARS CINEMA 6
AR HOT SPRINGS - BEHIND THE MALL CINEMA 5
AR LITTLE ROCK - RIVERDALE 10
AR SEARCY - CINEMA 8
AZ LAKE HAVASU - LAKE HAVASU CINEMA 10
AZ MARICOPA - AK-CHIN 12
AZ PAYSON - SAWMILL THEATRES
AZ SCOTTSDALE - ULTRALUXE SCOTTSDALE PAVILLIONS 11
AZ SHOW LOW - WME THEATRE
AZ SIERRA VISTA - UPTOWN 3 THEATRE
AZ TEMPE - VALLEY ART
AZ TUCSON - LOFT CINEMA 2
CA AGOURA HILLS - AGOURA HILLS EIGHT
CA ANGELS CAMP - ANGEL CINEMA SIX
CA AVENAL - AVENAL THEATRE
CA AZUSA - FOOTHILL MALL TEN
CA BAKERSFIELD - MAYA BAKERSFIELD 16 CINEMAS
CA BAKERSFIELD - EASTHILLS MALL 10
CA BARSTOW - BARSTOW STATION 6
CA BERKELEY - ELMWOOD 3 THEATRES
CA CATHEDRAL CITY - MARY PICKFORD THEATRE
CA CITY OF COMMERCE - REGENCY COMMERCE 14
CA FAIRFAX - FAIRFAX 6 THEATRES
CA FOLSOM - PALLADIO 16 CINEMAS
CA FONTANA - FONTANA EIGHT CINEMA
CA FORTUNA - FORTUNA 6
CA GARDEN GROVE - 4 STAR CINEMAS
CA GRANADA HILLS - GRANADA HILLS 9
CA HESPERIA - CIVIC PLAZA 12
CA LANCASTER - BLVD CINEMAS 3
CA LIVERMORE - LIVERMORE CINEMAS
CA LOS ANGELES - LOS FELIZ 3
CA MARTINEZ - CONTRA COSTA CINEMAS 8
CA MONTEREY - OSIO PLAZA THEATRE 6
CA MORGAN HILL - TENNANT STATION STADIUM CINEMAS
CA PALM DESERT - CINEMAS PALME D'OR
CA PALM SPRINGS - CAMELOT 3
CA PERRIS - PERRIS PLAZA 10
CA PETALUMA - BOULEVARD CINEMAS 14
CA PITTSBURG - MAYA CENTURY PLAZA 16
CA RED BLUFF - PRIME CINEMA 6
CA RIVERSIDE - UNIVERSITY VILLAGE CINEMAS
CA RIVERSIDE - JURUPA STADIUM 14
CA RIVERSIDE - MISSION GROVE 18
CA SALINAS - MAYA SALINAS 14
CA SAN BERNARDINO - STERLING CINEMA 6
CA SAN JOSE - ALMADEN SEVEN
CA SAN JOSE - CAMERA THREE CINEMAS
CA SANTA BARBARA - ARLINGTON
CA SANTA CRUZ - DEL MAR THEATRE 3
CA SANTA PAULA - SANTA PAULA SEVEN
CA SCOTTS VALLEY - SCOTTS VALLEY 10 CINEMA
CA SEBASTOPOL - SEBASTOPOL CINEMAS 9
CA SONOMA - SONOMA CINEMA 9
CA THOUSAND OAKS - JANSS MARKETPLACE 9
CA VAN NUYS - PLANT 16
CA WESTMINSTER - REGENCY WESTMINSTER 10
CA WESTWOOD - CREST
CO LITTLETON - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE LITTLETON 7
CT HARTFORD - SPOTLIGHT THEATRES FRONT STREET STADIUM
CT WATERBURY - APPLE CINEMAS WATERBURY 10
DC WASHINGTON - WEST END CINEMA
DC WASHINGTON - ANGELIKA POP-UP
DE MIDDLETOWN - WESTOWN MOVIES
DE REHOBOTH BEACH - MOVIES AT MIDWAY 14
DE WILMINGTON - PENN CINEMA RIVERFRONT IMAX 15
FL BONITA SPRINGS - PRADO STADIUM 12
FL FT LAUDERDALE - T-BIRD D/I 14
FL FT MYERS - EDISON PARK 8
FL JACKSONVILLE - SUN-RAY 5 POINTS 1
FL KEY WEST - TROPIC 4 CINEMA
FL LAKE WORTH - LAKE WORTH D/I 2
FL ORLANDO - TOUCHSTAR CINEMAS SOUTHCHASE 7
FL PALM BAY - NOVA CINEMAS OF PALM BAY
FL SHREVEPORT - ROBINSON CENTER
FL TAMPA - FUNLAN D/I 4
FL TITUSVILLE - SATELLITE CINEMA 10
FL GULF BREEZE - TREEHOUSE CINEMA
GA ATLANTA - PLAZA 2
GA CORDELE - CORDELE STADIUM 5 CINEMAS
GA GREENSBORO - PARKSIDE MAIN STADIUM 8
GA POOLER - ROYAL 13 W IMAX
GA ROSWELL - AURORA CINEPLEX 10
GA SAVANNAH - EISENHOWER CINEMA 6
IA CEDAR RAPIDS - CEDAR RAPIDS GALAXY 16 CINE
ID MERIDIAN - VILLAGE CINEMA
ID PONDERAY - BONNER MALL CINEMAS 6
ID TWIN FALLS - MAGIC VALLEY CINEMA 13
IL ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
IL BLOOMINGTON - BLOOMINGTON GALAXY 14 CINE
IL BUFFALO GROVE - BUFFALO GROVE THEATRE 5
IL O'FALLON - O FALLON 15 CINE
IL OTTAWA - ROXY CINEMAS 6
IL PEORIA - WILLOW KNOLLS 14
IL PEORIA - REYNOLDS LANDMARK 10
IL SAVOY - SAVOY 16
IL WOODRIDGE - HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD 10
IN COLUMBIA CITY - BONES THEATRE 4
IN GREENDALE - GREENDALE CINEMA 10
IN GREENSBURG - WOLF 10 THEATRES
IN INDIANAPOLIS - GEORGETOWN 14
IN JASPER - JASPER 8
IN PORTAGE - PORTAGE 16 IMAX
KS OVERLAND PARK - CINETOPIA 17
KY GEORGETOWN - THEATRES OF GEORGETOWN 7
KY LOUISVILLE - VILLAGE 8 THEATRE
KY PIKEVILLE - RIVERFILL CINEMAS 10
LA CHALMETTE - CHALMETTE CINEMA 6
LA LA PLACE - HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS 7
MA CAMBRIDGE - APPLE CINEMAS
MA DANVERS - HOLLYWOOD HITS
MA NORTH ATTLEBORO - CINEMA PUB
MA SALISBURY - CINEMA 95
MD BALTIMORE - EASTPOINT MOVIES 10
MD BRANDYWINE - XSCAPE 14 AT BRANDYWINE
MD HAGERSTOWN - LEITERSBURG CINEMAS
ME BANGOR - HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS
ME CARIBOU - CARIBOU CINEMA FOUR
MI ANN ARBOR - QUALITY 16
MI ANN ARBOR - STATE THEATRE
MI IRONWOOD - CLOVERLAND 4 CINEMA
MI KALAMAZOO - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE KALAMAZOO
MI TRAVERSE CITY - BIJOU BY THE BAY
MI WAYNE STATE - WAYNE THEATRE 4
MN CAMBRIDGE - CAMBRIDGE 5 CINEMAS
MN CLOQUET - PREMIERE THEATRE 6
MN COLD SPRING - QUARRY COLD SPRING 5 CINEMA
MN FAIRMONT - FAIRMONT 5
MN INT'L FALLS - CINE 5 THEATRE
MN MINNEAPOLIS - ST ANTHONY 5
MN NORTH BRANCH - NORTH BRANCH CINEMA 7
MN ONAMIA - GRAND MAKWA 4 CINEMA
MN ROCHESTER - ROCHESTER GALAXY 14 CINE
MN SAUK CENTRE - MAIN STREET CINEMA 6
MO ARNOLD - ARNOLD 14 CINE
MO BLUE SPRINGS - BLUE SPRINGS EIGHT
MO CAPE GIRARDEAU - CAPE WEST 14 CINE
MO CHESTERFIELD - CHESTERFIELD GALAXY 14 CINE
MO INDEPENDENCE - PHARAOH CINEMA 4
MO KANSAS CITY - ALAMO MAIN STREET 6
MO NORTH KANSAS CITY - SCREENLAND ARMOUR
MO ST LOUIS - CHASE PARK PLAZA CINEMAS 5
MO ST LOUIS (CLAYTON) - GALLERIA 6
MO ST LOUIS (DES PERS) - DES PERES 14
MO WARRENTON - WARRENTON 8 CINEMAS
MO WEST PLAINS - GLASS SWORD CINEMA SIX
MT HAMILTON - PHARAOHPLEX 6
NC DURHAM - NORTHGATE STADIUM 10
NC NEW BERN - NEUSE THEATRE
NC ROXBORO - PALACE POINTE 8
NC SMITHFIELD - SMITHFIELD 10
NC SYLVA - QUIN THEATRE 4
NC GREENSBORO - CAROUSEL CINEMAS 15
ND FARGO - FARGO THEATRE 2
ND WILLISTON - GRAND THEATRE 6
NH KEENE - KEENE CINEMAS
NJ CLIFTON - ALLWOOD CINEMAS 6
NJ JERSEY CITY - HUDSON CINEMA 7
NJ NEWARK - CITY PLEX 12 NEWARK
NJ NORTH BERGEN - COLUMBIA PARK 12
NJ OCEAN TOWNSHIP - MIDDLEBROOK CINEMA 10
NJ PATERSON - FABIAN 8 CINEMA
NM DEMING - STARMAX DEMING
NV MESQUITE - MESQUITE STADIUM 6
NV MINDEN - IRONWOOD STADIUM CINEMA 8
NY AUBURN - MOVIEPLEX 10
NY CANANDAIGUA - MOVIETIME CINEMAS 10
NY CANTON - AMERICAN 5
NY CORTLAND - CORTLAND PLAZA THEATRE
NY DUNKIRK - MOVIEPLEX 59 DUNKIRK CIN
NY FLUSHING - MAIN STREET SIX
NY HUDSON - MOVIEPLEX 8
NY KEW GARDENS - KEW GARDENS CINEMA
NY MASSENA - MASSENA MOVIEPLEX 8
NY MASTIC - ISLAND CINEMAS
NY MERRICK - MERRICK CINEMAS
NY NEW WINDSOR - NEW WINDSOR 12
NY NEW YORK - QUAD CINEMA 4
NY NEW YORK CINEMA VILLAGE
NY PAINTED POST - CRYSTAL CINEMA 8
NY SAUGERTIES - ORPHEUM TRIPLES
NY SUNNYSIDE - CENTER FIVEPLEX
NY YONKERS - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE YONKERS
OH CINCINNATI - ESQUIRE 6
OH CLEVELAND - TOWER CITY 10
OH COLUMBUS - GATEWAY THEATRE 7
OH COLUMBUS - GRANDVIEW THEATRE
OH NELSONVILLE - MOVIES 10
OK ALTUS - HERITAGE PARK 7
OK CHICKASHA - VALLEY VIEW CINEMA 6
OK JENKS - RIVERWALK MOVIES 8
OK TULSA - CIRCLE
OK WEATHERFORD - SHOWEST 4
OR BEAVERTON - CINETOPIA PROGRESS RIDGE 14
OR CORVALLIS - DARKSIDE CINEMA 4
OR EUGENE - BIJOU ART CINEMAS 2
OR PORTLAND - HOLLYWOOD THEATRE 3
PA CORAOPOLIS - DEPENDABLE D/I (4)
PA EAST STROUDSBURG - POCONO COMMUNITY THEATER
PA ELIZABETHTOWN - MOVIE TOWN CINEMAS 8
PA JOHNSTOWN - RICHLAND CINEMAS
PA LEHIGHTON - MAHONING VALLEY CINEMAS 8
PA LEWISTOWN - MILLER 6 CINEMAS
PA MARSHALLS CREEK - POCONO MOVIEPLEX
PA MATAMORAS - MAJESTIC CINEMAS 7
PA PITTSBURGH - SOUTHSIDE WORKS 10 - PITTSBURGH
RI PROVIDENCE - CABLE CAR CINEMA
SC CHARLESTON - TERRACE THEATRE 4
SC COLUMBIA - NICKELODEON THEATRE
SC LANCASTER - CROWN 2
TN ESTILL SPRINGS - MONTANA D/I 3
TN FRANKLIN - FRANKLIN THEATRE
TN MURFREESBORO - PREMIERE 6
TN NASHVILLE - BELCOURT THEATRE 2
TX ABILENE - TOWN & COUNTRY D/I 2
TX AUSTIN - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE LAKELINE
TX AUSTIN - ALAMO RITZ THEATRE 2
TX AUSTIN - ALAMO S LAMAR 9
TX AUSTIN - ALAMO SLAUGHTER LANE 8
TX CARROLLTON - VENETIAN 8 BAR & GRILL
TX CONROE - PINE HOLLOW 6
TX DALLAS - LOOK CINEMAS DALLAS
TX DALLAS - TEXAS THEATRE
TX ENNIS - GALAXY D/I 5
TX GAINESVILLE - D-MAX 6
TX GAINESVILLE - D-MAX 6
TX HOUSTON - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE VINTAGE PARK 7
TX KATY - ALAMO MASON PARK 7
TX LUBBOCK - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE LUBBOCK 8
TX MISSOURI CITY - STAR CINEMA GRILL
TX MT PLEASANT - MT PLEASANT SOUTHSIDE 6
TX NEW BRAUNFELS - MARKETPLACE CINEMA 12
TX PORTLAND - NORTH SHORE CINEMA 8
TX RICHARDSON - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE RICHARDSON
TX SAN ANTONIO - RIALTO BISTRO 9
TX SAN ANTONIO - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE 6 STONE OAKS
TX SAN ANTONIO - ALAMO PARK NORTH 8
TX SAN ANTONIO - ALAMO WESTLAKES 9 DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA
TX SAN ANTONIO - CITY BASE 12
TX SAN ANTONIO - MAYAN PALACE 13
TX TOMBALL - SILVERADO 19 W/IMAX
TX WEBSTER - STAR CINEMA 6
UT CEDAR CITY - HISTORIC CEDAR THEATRE
UT OGDEN - MOVIEGRILLE
UT Park City - Park City Film Series/Prospector Theatre
UT PERRY - WALKER CINEMA EIGHT
UT SALT LAKE CITY - BREWVIES CINEMA & PUB 2
UT SOUTH JORDAN - MEGAPLEX AT DISTRICT 20 IMAX
UT ST GEORGE - MAIN STREET CINEMA 6
VA ABINGDON - 21ST CENTURY CINEMAS 12
VA ASHBURN - ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA - ONE LOUDOUN
VA FARMVILLE - SUNCHASE CINEMA 8
VA HAYES - YORK RIVER CROSSING CINEMA
VA MANASSAS - MANASSAS 4 CINEMAS
VA MARTINSVILLE - HOLLYWOOD CINEMA
VA NORTON - CINEMA CITY STADIUM 9
WA BAINBRIDGE ISLAND - BAINBRIDGE CINEMAS 5
WA BREMERTON - OLYMPIC CINEMAS
WA ELLENSBURG - GRAND MERIDIAN
WA OAK HARBOR - PLAZA THREE CINEMAS
WA STANWOOD - STANWOOD CINEMAS 5
WA VANCOUVER - CINETOPIA 8
WA VANCOUVER - CINETOPIA VANCOUVER MALL 23 14
WA YELM - YELM CINEMAS 8
WA SEATTLE - ARK LODGE CINEMAS
WA TACOMA - GRAND TACOMA 4
WI ASHLAND - BAY 6 THEATRE
WI BELOIT - BELOIT LUXURY 10
WI EAGLE RIVER - VILAS CINEMAS 4
WI FOND DU LAC - FOND DU LAC THEATRE (8)
WI HARTFORD - HARTFORD CINEMAS 6
WI HAYWARD - HAYWARD CINEMA 4
WI JANESVILLE - MOVIES 16 THEATRE
WI NEW LONDON - GRAND THEATRE 4
WI PLATTEVILLE - MILLENNIUM 6 CINEMA
WI SHAWANO - SHAWANO THEATRES 4
WI SPARTA - SPARTA CINEMA 6
WI STURGEON BAY - STURGEON BAY CINEMAS 6
WV ELKINS - ELKINS CINEMA 8
WV FAIRMONT - TYGART VALLEY SEVEN
WY JACKSON - JACKSON HOLE CINEMA 2
WY RAWLINS - THE MOVIES 3
WY RIVERTON - GEM THEATRES
The below theaters will begin screening The Interview on January 1:
CA LEMOORE - STADIUM CINEMAS LEMOORE STADIUM CINEMAS
CA MODESTO - STATE THEATRE
CA OAKLAND - NEW PARKWAY TWIN
CA PASO ROBLES - PARK CINEMAS 9
CO DENVER - DENVER FILMCENTER/COLFAX
CO FT COLLINS - LYRIC CINEMA CAFE
KY PADUCAH - MAIDEN ALLEY CINEMA
MI FARMINGTON HILLS - WEST RIVER 9
MI HOWELL - HISTORIC HOWELL THEATER
MO COLUMBIA - RAGTAG CINEMA
NM CARLSBAD - FIESTA D/I 3 (INTERM.)
NY DEPEW - FLIX THEATRE 10
NY LAKEWOOD - LAKEWOOD CINEMA 8
SD RAPID CITY - ELKS THEATRE $
TX SHERMAN - MOVIES FIVE (MIDWAY MALL)
CA NORTH HOLLYWOOD - LAEMMLE'S NOHO 7
ID KETCHUM - THE MAGIC LANTERN 6
MI CANTON - EMAGINE 18
NJ PISCATAWAY - RUTGERS CINEMA
VT MORRISVILLE - BIJOU FOUR
VT SOUTH BURLINGTON - PALACE 9
GA ATHENS - CINE 2
MO SPRINGFIELD - MOXIE CINEMA
These theaters will begin screening The Interview on Jan. 2:
AR HARDY - HIGHLAND 2 CINEMA
AR MOUNTAIN - HOME BAXTER CINEMA 5
BS FREEPORT - CINEMAS 5
BS NASSAU - GALLERIA CINEMA 11
BS NASSAU - WEST JFK 6
CA OAKHURST - MET CINEMA 5
CO FRASER - THE FOUNDRY CINEMA & BOWL
FL TAMPA - TAMPA PITCHER SHOW
FL VERO BEACH - MAJESTIC 11
FL WEST MELBOURNE - CINEMA WORLD 16
IA DUBUQUE - MINDFRAME 6 THEATRE
IL CHAMPAIGN - ART THEATRE
IL JACKSONVILLE - ILLINOIS 5
KY CORBIN - TRI-COUNTY CINEPLEX 8
KY MURRAY - CHERI 7
MA FITCHBURG - CINEMA WORLD TEN
MA GARDNER - GARDNER CINEMA 8
MA GREENFIELD - GREENFIELD GARDEN CINEMAS
MA LEOMINSTER - CINEMA 10
MA SOMERVILLE - SOMERVILLE THEATRE 5
MA SOUTH DENNIS - ENT CINEMA SOUTH DENNIS CINEMA 10
MA SPRINGFIELD - SPRINGFIELD PLAZA 16
MD GAITHERSBURG - KENTLANDS STADIUM 10
MI DETROIT - CINEMA DETROIT
MN ALEXANDRIA - MIDWAY MALL 9 CINEMAS
NC EDEN - KINGSWAY CINEMA 4
NC FRANKLIN - RUBY CINEMA 4
NC HENDERSON - MARKET PLACE SQUARE 6
NE SCOTTSBLUFF - MIDWEST THEATRE
NH LEBANON - LEBANON CINEMAS SIX
NV LAUGHLIN - RIVERSIDE THEATRES 6
NV LAUGHLIN - RIVERSIDE CINEMAS
NY BROOKLYN - WILLIAMSBURG CINEMA
NY CARMEL - MOVIEPLEX 8
NY DOUGLASTON - MOVIEWORLD CINEMAS
NY NEWBURGH - SHOWTIME CINEMAS
OH AMELIA - PIERCE POINT CINEMA 10
OH CHILLICOTHE - DANBARRY CHILLICOTHE 10
OH ELYRIA - ATLAS CINEMAS MIDWAY MALL 8
OH MENTOR - GREAT LAKES STADIUM 16
OH MIDDLETOWN - DANBARRY CINEMAS 10
OK IDABEL - MCCURTAIN CINEMA 5
OK OKMULGEE - ORPHEUM 2
OR DALLAS - FOX THEATRE
OR FOREST GROVE - FOREST THEATRE
PA HONESDALE - HONESDALE CINEMA 6
PA WEST HAZELTON - CINEMA & DRAFTHOUSE
RI LINCOLN - CINEMAWORLD LINCOLN MALL 16
SD SPEARFISH - NORTHERN HILLS SIX
TN PARIS - PARISIAN CINEMA 6
TN SAVANNAH - SOUTHGATE CINEMA 6
TX BONHAM - MAJESTIC 6
TX GREENVILLE - MAJESTIC 12
TX TYLER - TIMES SQUARE CINEMA 6
TX VERNON - PLAZA 2
VA LURAY - PAGE THEATRE 7
WV CHARLESTON - PARK PLACE CINEMA 11
WV LOGAN - FOUNTAIN PLACE CINEMA 8
WY CASPER - FOX III THEATRE
WY CHEYENNE - LINCOLN THEATRE $
WY GILLETTE - FOOTHILLS SIX CINEMA
WY ROCK SPRINGS - STAR STADIUM 10
WY SHERIDAN - CENTENNIAL SIX
TX ALVIN - WELLBORNE CINEMAS
NC FAYETTEVILLE - CAMEO ART HOUSE
CA NEWPORT BEACH - LIDO
CA ANAHEIM - ULTRASTAR GARDENWALK
WA OAK HARBOR - BLUE FOX D/I | {
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New evidence has emerged PROVING that Donald Trump is colluding with Russian to steal the 2020 presidential election.
Trump and his domestic co-conspirators have been sharing doctored videos on social media, promoting climate change with racist MAGA straws, and soliciting funds from his online support base.
READ: It should be considered a hate crime to use plastic straws
READ: DOGGONE DEEP FAKES — Donald Trump caught sharing doctored image of a dog
While at the surface this may appear just another instance of racist rednecks rallying around the white supremacist in the White House, that conspiracy theory quickly unravels when one considers that Donald Trump’s online following consists entirely of Russian bots. This is a true fact thoroughly grounded in reality, so firmly established that is used a benchmark by non-partisan verification agencies for ascertaining factual accuracy and political bias in the news media.
“Trump supporters lack the necessary cognitive development to operate a computer, let alone figure out how to register for a public forum of rigorous intellectual debate — by which I mean Reddit or Twitter. No, Trump’s following is entirely inorganic.” Parker Molloy, Media Matters
“They acknowledge the bot situation and they may, may be eligible for a green smiley face rating or even the much-coveted DARK GREEN smiley face — that all depends upon a multitude of factors I will not be publicly disclosing at this time. But if they deny or even question the Russia connection then they’re automatically in the red.” Dustin Levitt, Journalist Excellence Worldwide
We cannot allow these foreign interlocutors to continue interfering with our democracy by regularly raining rubles and related resources into Republican reelection campaigns. Now is the time to come together, demand social media companies #BanTheBots, and vow to #VoteBlueNoMatterWho the DNC decides to nominate instead of Bernie. | {
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every car coming at you is a cop slow down car going with you: its not a cop floor it
231 shares | {
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Tiden er skruet cirka 1.300 år tilbage, lige på nippet til vikingetidens begyndelse i Danmark. Vi befinder os i Midtjylland, omtrent 15 kilometer vest for Viborg. Ådalsystemet løber lige i nærheden og forbinder området med den enormt vigtige handels- og transportrute Limfjorden.
Et sted ude i horisonten rager en bygning i vejret. Den er omkring 10 meter høj og bliver holdt oppe af store, tunge støttestolper hele vejen rundt.
»Den har kunnet ses et stykke væk. Når man kom dertil, må det have virket som et slags imponerende vartegn for pladsen og for den stormand, der boede der. Den er helt unik i sin konstruktion og har krævet utroligt meget at bygge. Jeg gad virkelig godt at vide, hvor de har fået ideen fra,« siger arkæolog Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen, som er museumsinspektør ved Viborg Museum.
Skitsetegninger af tårnområdet med indhegnet kulthus og et nordsydvendt hus. De røde piler indikerer tårnet på begge tegninger. (Tegning: Tom Lock)
Ingen pendant i dansk arkæologi
Vi skruer tiden frem til den mere umiddelbare fortid, mere præcist efteråret 2014.
Annonce:
Her står Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen og hendes kollegaer fra Viborg Museum midt i en udgravning af en boplads fra vikingetiden ved Toftum Næs og kan ikke rigtig tro deres øjne. Hvis ikke de vidste bedre, ville de sige, at de havde fundet et tårn fra vikingetiden; men det ville kræve, at der fandtes tårne i vikingetiden. Og det har man aldrig tidligere fundet tegn på i Danmark.
»Vi ser først tårnet som afgrødespor i kornet i form af en firkantet konstruktion, som vi ikke umiddelbart kender i dansk arkæologi. Og så giver vi os til at grave i den,« fortæller Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen, som også ringer til Nationalmuseet for at få ekspertøjne på det opsigtsvækkende fund.
»De ringede og spurgte, om jeg nogensinde havde set noget lignende. Det havde jeg ikke umiddelbart,« siger ph.d. og arkæolog ved Nationalmuseet Mads Dengsø Jessen, som har været med til at afdække tårnet og sammen med Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen netop har udgivet et studie om det nye fund.
Video of Danmarks første ’vikingetårn’ er dukket op nær Viborg Her kan du se billeder fra udgravningen af pladsen ved Toftum Næs i 2015. De private optagelser er venligst udlånt af truckfører Kim Kappel Christensen. (Video: Videnskab.dk / Kristian Højgaard Nielsen)
Tårnet skiller sig ud fra andre pladser
Tårnet har udgjort en del af indgangen til en stor, aristokratisk boplads fra vikingetiden, hvor der med al sandsynlighed har boet en mægtig stormand. Det peger rige fund fra pladsen på, heriblandt flere imponerende halbygninger, hvis lige kun er fundet i ganske få andre tilfælde i Jylland.
Et kulthus er en slags ceremoniel bygning, hvor der formentlig er foregået forskellige rituelle handlinger. Kulthuset har været indhegnet, ligesom det eksempelvis gør sig gældende ved den imponerende vikingetidsbebyggelse Tissø på Sjælland, muligvis for at øge mystikken.
Udenlandske mønter og smykker viser, at pladsen har haft kontakter langt ud over Danmark og Jylland og et godt stykke ned i Vesteuropa, og arkæologerne har også fundet et indhegnet kulthus – en slags ceremoniel bygning – hvor der formentlig er foregået forskellige rituelle handlinger.
Alligevel er det tårnet, der skiller sig mest afgørende ud, fortæller Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen.
»Selvom jeg helst ikke snakker om det, er hallerne ved eksempelvis Tissø og Lejre [vikingebebyggelser på Sjælland, red.] større end vores, og selvom vi har mange detektorfund, har vi ingen i Tissøskala. Pladsen ér enormt spændende i sig selv og et af de eneste eksempler på en decideret stormand i området, men vi fremhæver tårnet, fordi her kan de andre pladser altså ikke følge med.«
Møntfund fra Toftum Næs. Mønten længst til venstre er en såkaldt 'tempel-denar', en karolingisk mønt. I midten ses en mønt fra den store vikingeby Hedeby, og længst til højre en meget sjælden engelsk Ceolwulf-mønt, den eneste i Danmark. (Fotos: Pernille Rohde Sloth)
Tidsperioder Yngre jernalder starter omkring år 400 og er den periode i Danmarkshistorien, som leder lige op til vikingetiden. Arkæologerne er dog ikke helt enige om, hvornår vikingetiden reelt har sin begyndelse. I artiklen ’Vikingetiden begyndte i Ribe’ argumenterer danske arkæologer for, at den allerede starter omkring år 725, men de fleste steder er år 800 eller 850 markeret som begyndelsen. Det første officielle vikingetogt fandt sted i England i år 793. Vikingetiden slutter omkring år 1050.
Tårnet kan kun kigge indad
Tårnet fra Toftum Næs stammer fra 700-tallet og ligger dermed lige på grænsen til vikingetiden, selvom det officielt hører sig til i perioden yngre jernalder. Pladsen som helhed strækker sig dog helt frem til omkring år 1.000, hvor vikingetiden er ved at runde af i Danmark.
Fundmaterialet viser med al tydelighed, at der er tale om en aristokratisk plads, og denne opfattelse bliver kun styrket af tårnets tilstedeværelse. Det har været dyrt og omstændeligt at bygge. Derfor undrede arkæologerne sig såre meget, da de gik op for dem, at man stort set ikke har kunnet se en pind fra det; i hvert fald ikke, hvis man kigger udad.
Annonce:
Men det er formentlig heller ikke det, der har været formålet.
»Man skal ret mange meter op over jorden for at kunne se helt ind til Viborg, hvilket vi først tænkte, at man selvfølgelig havde villet. Det kan man ikke fra 10 meters højde, og det var lidt en øjenåbner,« lyder det fra Mads Dengsø Jessen.
Bopladsen ligger på et næs, hvor Mønsted og Jordbro å løber sammen og fortsætter ud i Hjarbæk fjord. (Kort: Den videnskabelige artikel)
Stormanden har overvåget sine arbejdere
Tårnet, hallerne og kulthuset ligger alle på den sydlige og højtliggende del af bopladsen. Arkæologerne har endnu ikke haft mulighed for at udgrave hele den nordlige del, hvor alle de såkaldte ’grubehuse’ – mindre bygninger, som enten har været beboelse eller værksteder – oprindeligt har ligget.
Et grubehus er en mindre bygning, delvis nedgravet i jorden, gerne forsynet med et ildsted. Bygningstypen kendes fra jernalderen frem til tidlig middelalder. Grubehuse er udgravet flere steder i landet.
De ved dog ud fra luftfoto, georadar-opmålinger og søgegrøfter – en slags stikprøve-udgravninger på større arealer – at de er der. Ved hjælp af trigonometri, har de kunnet regne sig frem til, at man fra tårnet har kunnet se hele pladsen af grubehuse samt ådalsystemet fra tårnet.
»Man har ikke kunnet se særligt langt væk, men man kan overskue og overvåge hele ådalen, og det kan man slet ikke, når man står på jorden. Så er spørgsmålet, om grubehusene har været værksteder, beboelse eller begge dele. Men man kunne forestille sig, at stormanden har haft nogle arbejdere på pladsen, som han har villet holde øje med,« siger Mads Dengsø Jessen.
Oversigtsplantegning over udgravningsfeltet fra 2014, hvor tårnet blev udgravet, og 2015, hvor resten af pladsen blev udgravet. (Fra den videnskabelige artikel)
Vikingerne handlede med trælle
Tårnkonstruktionen er formentlig sat i værk af en smart stormand, som har stået med en meget konkret udfordring – nemlig hvordan han kunne holde et vågent øje med sine arbejdere – lyder det samstemmende fra ph.d.-studerende Torben Trier Christiansen, som har arbejdet med detektorfund i hele Limfjordsområdet.
Det kan eksempelvis have været trælle, der arbejdede på pladsen, fortæller han.
»Der er tale om en periode, hvor vi ved, at trælle bliver en handelsvare. Skriftlige kilder længere nede i Europa indikerer, ligesom vikingernes bortførelse af tilfangetagne under deres mange plyndringer, at vikingerne deltog ivrigt i trællehandler, og spørgsmålet er, om ikke det har udgjort et rimelig normalt fænomen at lade trælle stå for basisproduktionen,« siger han og fortsætter:
Annonce:
»Hvis det er tilfældet, kunne der jo godt være incitament og basis for en ekstrem lokal kontrol.«
Her ses nogle af de flotteste fund fra Toftum Næs. Til højre et forgyldt, cirkulært vikingetidssmykke. Til venstre en lille sølvbjørn, som er fundet i mulden lige over tårnet og er et fragment af en større genstand, som arkæologerne ikke ved, hvad er. I midten et guldhængesmykke, som stammer fra første halvdel af 500-tallet. (Fotos: Kamilla Fiedler Terkildsen)
Andre pladser har haft samme problem
Torben Trier Christiansen forestiller sig, at tårnet ved Toftum Næs repræsenterer en meget lokal løsning på et problem, som flere andre pladser også har stået med. Han har ikke selv været med til at grave ved Toftum Næs, men har kortlagt mange af bebyggelserne i området i forbindelse med sin ph.d. og ser flere gennemgående karaktertræk.
»Derfor ser jeg det som oplagt at bore i, hvordan de andre pladser eventuelt har forsøgt at løse problemstillingen. Ved Sebbersund-pladsen har man eksempelvis også grubehuse som på Toftum Næs, men uden noget lig tårnet. Til gengæld ligger der en meget markant bakke, og hvis du placerede to vagter dér, ville du måske have haft samme funktion,« siger Torben Trier Christiansen, som arbejder ved Middelalder- og Renæssancearkæologi på Aarhus Universitet.
»En vanvittigt spændende konstruktion«
Her ses et dronefoto af tårnet (med grubehus oven i nordvæggen) samt nordsydvendt hus. Nord er mod venstre. (Foto: Andree Gothe)
»Det er en vanvittigt spændende konstruktion, som repræsenterer en massiv investering af arbejdskraft og materialer. Det er for mig at se et afsindigt vigtigt fund, for her er der fysisk bevis for en problemstilling, som man må formode, har været større end denne ene plads,« siger Torben Trier Christiansen.
Mads Dengsø Jessen mener da også, at man skal være varsom med at tænke pladserne som hver deres lille indelukke, isoleret fra resten af verden. Der har været stor samhandel og bevidsthed om resten af verden.
»Man undervurderer altid, hvor meget de vidste om deres omverden på den tid. Man tænker, at de ikke vidste så meget om hinanden, men selvfølgelig gjorde de det.« | {
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El jugador del Sevilla N’Zonzi está pasando por una delicada situación en el cuadro hispalense. Tiene dos años y medio más de contrato con una cláusula de 40 millones de euros y una de las fichas más altas del equipo. El técnico no cuenta con él y hay una gran posibilidad de que el francés se marche transferido en el mercado invernal. Eso sí, el Sevilla no está dispuesto a venderle barato.
En el último encuentro ante el Liverpool, no le sentó bien a la plantilla que se marchara bastante enfadado en el descanso, demostrando su indisciplina, no acudiendo el miércoles a entrenar, incurriendo en una falta grave. Por decisión técnica en los dos últimos partidos no ha sido convocado. El francés muestra su tristeza por la situación en cada comparecencia pública que realiza, pero no confirma su futuro. No obstante, el Arsenal parece tener acordado un traspaso por 37 millones de euros, más 3 millones más en variables, que cumplirían con las exigencias del club. | {
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Echoed by Jordanians, al Jazeera, and the UN, Palestinian strongman Mahmoud Abbas claimed he couldn’t be held responsible for escalated violence if Israel maintained the metal detectors on the Temple Mount installed to prevent a recurrence of violence directed at Jews.
The disgusting terror murders of two Israeli policemen (one shot in the back) on the Temple Mount, coupled with the indescribable terror murders of three Israelis (grandfather, father, and aunt) celebrating the birth of a baby at their Sabbath dinner, were met with howls of outrage and threats of retaliatory violence and even religious war –- not by Israelis seeking vengeance, but by Palestinians!
Nothing in the Middle East is ever what it looks like. Metal detectors may be metal detectors elsewhere, but on the Temple Mount they are an attack on “Muslim patrimony.” Turkey’s President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan made that clear. “When Israeli soldiers carelessly pollute the grounds of Al-Aqsa with their combat boots by using simple issues as a pretext and then easily spill blood there, the reason [they are able to do that] is we [Muslims] have not done enough to stake our claim over Jerusalem."
Israel, to the relief -- and kind words -- of the White House, has removed the metal detectors, but far from resolving the problem, the retreat encouraged Fatah to announce it would “intensify the struggle” because the “campaign for Jerusalem has effectively begun, and will not stop until a Palestinian victory and the release of the holy sites from Israeli occupation.”
Two important issues have to be sorted out here: first, the political and religious rights of Jews in their indigenous space; and second, the right not to be murdered for the “crime” of being Jewish, or Israeli, or non-Jewish and non-Israeli but being in Israel. Among the recent victims of Palestinian terror are Druze Muslim police officers Kamil Shnaan, 22 and Haiel Sitawe, and American Vanderbilt University student and U.S. Army veteran Taylor Force, as well as American and Israeli Jews.
Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people -- the restoration of Jewish sovereignty to even part of the historic homeland was prayed for since the end of the Second Jewish Commonwealth and celebrated since 1948. In the 20th century, Jews and Israelis accepted various suggestions and commands for borders of a reconstituted State -- everything from the lopping off of 75% of the British Mandate for a Judenrein Arab state (1917) to the split-state Peel Commission Partition Plan (1937) to the British Partition Plan (1938) to the Jewish Agency plan (1946) to the much smaller UN Partition Plan (1947).
The Arab states agreed to none of those and declined to say where Jews might then exercise sovereignty -- because there was no such place. The 1949-67 lines were unacceptable and so were the post-67 lines. Israel and the U.S. posited new lines after the Oslo Accords, and in 2008 when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed 93% of the West Bank plus political rights in Jerusalem for the Palestinians (the Gaza Strip already being 100% in Palestinian hands). Mahmoud Abbas said no.
“No” was the necessary answer because the Palestinians agree there is no legitimate place for Jews to exercise sovereign authority. This goes directly to the question of the Temple Mount and metal detectors.
Jews have prayed alongside the Western Wall since, perhaps, the 12th century, and certainly since the 16th century, when the Ottoman Sultan gave them official permission to do so, according to scholar Nadav Shragai. The Arab warning, “Al Aksa (the mosque on the Temple Mount) is in danger” –- used in this case by Abbas –- has been a call for shedding Jewish blood by Arabs for more than a century. The originator of the lie was Haj Amin al Husseini –- the Hitler acolyte Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in the earlier part of the 20th Century. Abbas and Raed Salah, leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel carry on his legacy.
In 1967, in an audacious (or there are other words) act of generosity, the Government of Israel informed the Arab Waqf that Israel would not assert sovereignty over the top of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism; that its administration would remain in the hands of the Waqf and King Hussein of Jordan. The Hashemite King is by history the “Guardian of the Mosques” (Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem).
Israel adopted the Arab position that Jews could not conduct prayer atop the Temple Mount, although visits by Jews and others were commonplace for decades after. Israel did, however, maintain security control through a negotiated series of steps with the Jordanians, the Waqf and later the PA. At various points, the Temple Mount was the scene of Palestinians throwing rocks down on worshippers at the Western Wall plaza, but at no time until last Friday were guns used on or from the Temple Mount.
To prevent further weapons use, Israel searched the mosque and installed metal detectors. It is hard to get Americans excited about that -– we’ve been taking off our shoes, agreeing to be x-rayed and patted down, and tossing our Starbucks for years, precisely because Palestinian terror (remember who started airplane hijacking) was focused on civilian rather than military objectives.
But in Palestinian eyes, if Israel assumed the right to install metal detectors without negotiation, Israel assumed control of the space. And that, like every other manifestation of Israeli sovereign decision-making, is unacceptable to the Palestinians.
Cue the howling!
“Al Aqsa is under attack!” didn’t mean Israel was shooting at the mosque, or that Israel had claimed it for Jewish prayer. It meant the sovereign Jewish state had exercised a governmental decision affecting the Temple Mount. And that was enough for Omar al-Abed to announce on his Facebook page that he would die a glorious death for al Aqsa. “All I have is a sharpened knife and it answers the call of al Aqsa.” He called Jews “pigs and monkeys,” a familiar phrase.
He put on a white shirt and black slacks -– the standard Sabbath dress of Orthodox Jewish men –- and knocked on the door of 70-year-old Yosef Salomon. The Salomons, who were expecting guests as they welcomed the birth of Yosef’s grandson, opened the door. Photos of the massacre scene show rivers of blood on the floor from Yosef, his daughter Chaya and son Elad. They can’t show the screams of Yosef’s wife Tova as she bled from stab wounds and watched her husband and children die.
As a result, Al-Abed stands to receive the standard PA “salary” for convicted terrorists –- and, happily for him, he committed his crime after Palestinian authorities announced a salary increase of 13%.
If the United States wants to help bring peace to a troubled place, it will focus on the Palestinians what territory and rights they claim, what heroes they pay and venerate, what constitutes a “crime” vs. “glory” in their lexicon, and –- most important –- what they believe are the sovereign rights of the citizens of the Third Jewish Commonwealth. If the Palestinians are honest (hmm?) the answer to the last is “none,” the conversation is over, and metal detectors are the least of the problem. | {
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To the MEDIA Protocol community.
The very successful Telegram referral bounty will end this Thursday 14th June 2018.
It has enjoyed an amazing response, with all participants helping to grow the MEDIA Protocol community to over 14,500 members. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued interest and support. It’s great to see your enthusiasm for our project.
More importantly though, we’d like to announce that there are new and exciting MEDIA Protocol bounty campaigns in the pipeline — the first of which will be an extension of the current CryptoCatnip reward bounty.
Stay tuned across all our social media channels for the updated Medium post to come.
Referral Rewards
All referrers who have met the bounty requirements by filling out the campaign form will be notified in due course, via email or telegram, as to their allocation of MPT.
Remember, there’s still time before Thursday’s deadline, so if you haven’t already, sign up now!
Naturally, we want everyone to get MPT for referring friends. However, we do reserve the right to disqualify any users who are deemed to be abusing the programme.
Thank you for your continued support.
It’s great to have such an engaged community joining us on our journey to redraw the diagram of the internet and reshape the digital content ecosystem.
All the best,
James and the MEDIA Protocol team
For more information regarding MEDIA Protocol find us on our social channels below:
Website: www.mediaprotocol.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MEDIAProtocol
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MEDIA_Protocol
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/media-protocol/
Telegram: https://t.me/Media_Protocol_Community and https://t.me/MP_Announcements
Medium: https://medium.com/@mediaprotocolsm
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MEDIAProtocol | {
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A humanoid robot named "Robovie-PC" (R) leads in a race against other robots during the world's first full-length marathon for two-legged robots, in Osaka.
The world's first full-length marathon for two-legged robots kicked off in Japan on Thursday, with the toy-sized humanoids were due to run 42.195 kilometres (26 miles) over four days.
The machines began the non-stop race on a 100-metre (109-yard) indoor track in the western city of Osaka after doing knee bends or raising their hands to greet spectators.
The bipedal robots -- the tallest of which measures 44 centimetres (17.6 inches) -- must complete 423 laps to reach their goal.
The "Robo Mara Full" race is organised by Vstone Co., a robot technology firm based in the western industrial city, in cooperation with the Osaka prefectural government.
Competitors are allowed to change batteries and the so-called servomotors which control the robots' speed and other functions.
Robovie-PC from Vstone led the race at the start. Video footage from a camera in its head can be seen at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/robovie-pc.
A wide view of the race can be seen live at here.
Explore further Humanoids run world's first robot marathon race
(c) 2011 AFP | {
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The upgraded BRDC British F3 car for 2020 has broken cover, offering a first detail glimpse at the major changes made for the new season.
The modifications, produced in conjunction with chassis builder Tatuus, means that the car will take a rather different look for the new season, while also posing a new challenge for each team and driver.
The major differences include the addition of an Advanced Frontal Protection device, new Mountune engines, and a heavily revised aerodynamic set-up including a new front wing assembly, barge boards, revised engine cover and fin and a heavily changed rear wing set-up.
Each team has now received the new upgrade package, and some squads have already commenced their pre-season testing programmes. Images of the new-look car are available below, alternatively, click here to view the car in more detail.
New front wing
The new front wing layout includes revised wing end plates.
Advanced Frontal Protection Device
The new Advanced Frontal Protection Device will help to deflect debris away from the driver, as well as acting as a secondary roll structure.
Barge Boards
The new barge boards in front of the side pod inlets will further aid the aerodynamic performance of the car.
New engine cover and fin
A slimmed down engine cover with added 'shark fin' will aid airflow to the rear wing
Mountune engine
New Mountune engines bespoke to BRDC British F3, including revised valve-train components, control systems updates, newly designed wiring looms and a pre-heater system that allows the engine to be brought up to temperature without being run in the garages beforehand.
New Rear Wing
New profiles for both the carbon fibre main plane and flap with in-mode angled back endplates, with the assembly allowing for an overall higher rear downforce setup.
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When ordering expensive items online Find a website that has no warehouses or offices in your state to avoid tax.
212 shares | {
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Editor:
Thank you for your article, "The $38 Million Label" (Oct. 11). Why would six chemical companies and their allies be willing to spend that kind of money to prevent one simple line on an ingredient label? Why are they so intent on concealment? What kind of public policy is it that withholds pertinent information from the consumer? On the basis of those questions alone, I'm persuaded to vote for Prop. 37. But there's more.
When I read the opposition's arguments, I'm struck by their purported concern over lawsuits against small mom and pop grocers. My understanding is that the entity guilty of mislabeling would be the responsible party, not the grocer who simply puts the product on the shelf. Further, Prop. 37 provides an out if a product has not been knowingly or intentionally genetically engineered. Ironically Monsanto, itself, seems to love lawsuits -- provided it's the plaintiff. Monsanto has been the biggest bully on the block when it comes to suing and bankrupting small farmers. And get this: If, for example, wind-born pollen from a neighboring GE crop contaminates your field, Monsanto's licensing agreement absolves it and your neighbor from responsibility, while you can be (and most certainly will be) sued for patent infringement! I'm not making this up; it's that crazy. So serious is the situation that a group of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations filed a preemptive lawsuit against Monsanto, (Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto) seeking protection from accusations of patent infringement should contamination occur. They lost the first round but the case is under appeal.
It seems to me we have a system that is out of control and we, the people, need to stand up and be heard. We need to know what is in our food. Yes on 37.
Kay Schaser, Eureka | {
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Tyler the Creator performs during day 3 of the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival at Randall's Island on June 8, 2014 in New York City.
Tyler, the Creator didn’t hold back his feelings about the new Shady XV album, which was executive produced by Eminem.
Listen: Eminem, 50 Cent & More Featured on Mixtape Ahead of 'Shady XV’ Album Release
The Odd Future rapper posted some not-so-positive tweets about Shady Records’ 15th anniversary comp on Friday morning (Nov. 28) and later deleted them, MTV reports.
“I love you Marshall, you are my favorite rapper, but dude ‘ShadyXV’ is f---ing ASS,” he wrote, adding, “Hahaha, why won’t someone who loves him tell him NO.”
The two-disc Shady XV comp features 12 new tracks, including songs by D12, Yelawolf, Bad Meets Evil and Big Sean. Eminem lends his rap skills to 10 new songs, including his single, "Guts Over Fear," featuring Sia.
Tyler, the Creator Not Pleased With Finding the New U2 Album on His Phone
The second disc is a 15-track collective of the label's greatest hits, including 50 Cent's "In Da Club" and Eminem's "Lose Yourself.”
This isn’t the first time Tyler, the Creator has expressed his displeasure for a new album. In mid-September, the rapper tweeted about his frustration about finding U2’s latest release, Songs of Innocence, on his phone.
“GET OFF MY F---ING PHONE. YOU COULDNT COME UP WITH AN ACTUAL MARKETING IDEA? F--- @U2 I DONT WANT YOU. F--- BONO. I DIDNT ASK FOR YOU IM MAD,” he wrote. | {
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Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work—which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. That means we rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. If you believe in this mission, we need your help. | {
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(CNN) When CNN published a report revealing widespread sexual abuse and assault in nursing homes, many people asked the same question: Why isn't more being done to stop it?
The multi-part investigation revealed disturbing cases of rape and sexual abuse by nursing assistants and found that more than 1,000 nursing homes had been cited for mishandling suspected cases of sexual abuse. It also documented the trail of one aide who is accused of being a serial abuser -- moving from facility to facility despite a history of allegations against him.
In response, the National Association of Health Care Assistants pledged to take action. The organization said it was "saddened and sickened by the CNN investigative report" and that it planned to immediately ramp up its education and training efforts. It said it especially wants to ensure that nursing assistants know how to spot potential abuse and report it promptly.
CNN also heard from family members who say they believe their loved ones were victimized, nursing home employees who say they were forced out of their jobs after reporting abuse and advocates for the elderly and industry insiders who say immediate change is needed.
How safe are your elderly loved ones? There's no way to know about abuse that goes unreported. But you can look up the name of a nursing home in federal inspection data and see whether it has been cited for sexual abuse or other issues in the past three years. Here's how: 1. Go to the federal Nursing Home Compare website to look up facilities by name or location. 2. On the first page of results, you will see a star rating for the facility based on factors such as staffing levels. A history of abuse or other inspection problems will typically be reflected in the "health inspection" rating. 3. Click on the health inspection rating to see a summary of the facility's most recent inspection. 4. From here, click on "View all health inspections." For details, go to a specific date and click "View full report." 5. From the main profile page for the facility, click on "Penalties" to see if an inspection resulted in fines or payment denials. 6. To view older citations, download archived reports here or file a public records request here. Some states may also offer detailed information. A list of state websites is here.
"We have been advocating for quality care for more than four decades, yet the findings of the CNN investigation are among the most shocking and frightening we have ever encountered," Lori Smetanka, executive director of the nonprofit group Consumer Voice, said in a public statement, one of several issued by advocacy groups in reaction to the report. "The sexual abuse of defenseless, vulnerable residents who can't remove themselves from harm, often can't communicate what has happened, and are frequently not believed even when they do, is reprehensible."
Read More | {
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Greenhouse effect is nothing but the process by which radiation from the planet’s atmosphere warms up its surface to a temperature above the atmospheric level. The thermal radiation from earth’s surface is reabsorbed by greenhouse gases and redirected in all directions. This, as a result, gives rise to a lot of negative consequences impacting the sustainability scenario of our planet earth.
In order to combat such odds and make the earth a healthier abode for the new generations to live in, you need to get the hang of the major disadvantages and advantages of greenhouse effects in details. It is only after a thorough evaluation of the negative impacts of greenhouse effects; you will be able to outline effective strategies, much requisite for a sustainable ecosystem.
The Disadvantages Of Green House Effect:
Since green house gases helps to maintain the temperature, the primary effect of the increase in greenhouse gases would be on climate. This would mean warmer summers with natural disasters. Hurricanes have become common in recent years.
Water level balance of the earth would be destroyed. Polar ice caps would melt leading to an increase in the ocean level. Floods will inundate low lying areas.
Marine life and ecosystem would be destroyed. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide thereby affecting the level of alkalinity. Many forms of marine life would be adversely affected if alkalinity increases. Polar ecosystems would be destroyed. In the Arctic, melting polar caps are threatening the habitats of polar bears and penguins.
Global warming would also affect the weather pattern. Rainfall would become erratic in many parts of the world. This might eventually lead to desertification.
The effect on human and economic life would also be tremendous. It is estimated that the rise in temperature would reduce global output by 2 to 3 percent. This cost would run into trillions of dollars. As agricultural production is affected, this might lead to frequent famines and famine related diseases.
Here are the alarming effects of greenhouse that are taking a toll on our planet for the past many years. Read through the points below and figure out the remedial measures that can keep such calamities under control.
Global Warming
Global warming is by far the greatest disadvantage of the greenhouse effect. A rise in the level of the greenhouse temperature directly contributes to the rising temperature of the planet. As the greenhouse gases tend to increase, their ability to trap the heat and radiate it back to the earth’s surface also increases. This, as a result, gives rise to the phenomenon called global warming.
Remedial Measures: Here are a few effective steps that can be followed in order to tackle the negative effects of global warming.
The government must take stronger initiatives in order to prevent deforestation by all means.
Saving rainforest should be the topmost priority for us.
Focus on recycling reusable products more with each passing day.
Use less hot water since the process takes a lot of energy to heat water.
Plant a tree every week and embrace the habit of switching off all electronic devices while not in use.
Move your thermostat down by 2 degrees during winter and up by 2 degrees in summer. This will help you save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year.
Catastrophic impact on marine life
This is yet another alarming and definitely one sad scenario we have to face these days due to the ill effect of greenhouse gases. It is a known fact that ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and maintain alkalinity level. However, in recent days, the rate at which the level of carbon dioxide is increasing due to the greenhouse effect, marine life is certainly at risk.
Remedial Measures: Take note of the following practices in order to save marine life.
We should learn how to make safe seafood choices.
People must be more responsible for the usage of plastic products.
We must also learn how to take care of beaches and make them more sustainable for marine life.
Say no to the purchase of items that includes materials exploiting marine life.
Significant increase in water levels above the safe mark
Talking of the negative impacts of greenhouse effects, this is one point that needs to be mentioned and talked about in detail. As the average temperature of the earth is steadily increasing due to the impact of greenhouse gases, the polar ice caps are rapidly melting down. This is gradually marking a significant increase in the water levels above the safe marks.
Remedial Measures: We need to abide by the suggestions below in order to take control of the increase in water levels.
Protect wetlands and take more initiatives to plant more trees.
We must also focus on constructing buildings that are above sea levels.
Tackle climate change and work collaboratively with the government in order to introduce better flood prevention system.
Now that you are aware of the major disadvantages of greenhouse effects which are taking a toll on the earth’s ecosystem and sustainable living, re-read the blog carefully. You need to sit back and think over the context of the discussion.
Why is Greenhouse Effect a Concern for Students?
Students are said to be the representatives of young and progressive generation. In a world where greenhouse effect is gradually getting the better of this planet and its climate, students should be aware of the consequences of this phenomenon and set forth their preferences accordingly. If you are wondering why greenhouse effect is a concern for students, then here’s everything you need to know.
Understanding the negative impacts of greenhouse at a young age will help students put the best foot forward in an endeavour to make this planet a better place to live in.
Youngsters are often ignorant of many things. Greenhouse effect is a concern for students due to the fact that they should know about the pros and cons of certain activities that involve heat radiation beyond the atmospheric level.
Greenhouse gases have reportedly elevated the mortality rate over the past many years. No wonder students or youngsters are mostly prone to harmful gas effects due to low immunity. This is again a clear indication of the fact why greenhouse is quite a concern for students these days.
Read more of such write-ups, stay updated with the latest journals on the environment and climate change and put your best foot forward in an endeavour to make this earth a better place for us to live in.
Good luck!
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Ariana Grande’s backstage hangout with Jungkook had fans buzzing for a collaboration between Ari and all of BTS. Well, good news — Ariana loves a particular BTS song that she’d like to do in ‘the same vein with them,’ according to our source.
Ariana Grande, 25, and BTS are arguably the two biggest names in pop, so uniting their vocals for the next “smash” only seems like a natural career move. But Arianators and the BTS Army would have to wait for such a potential collaboration. “This is a work in progress,” a source who’s close to both Ariana and the K-pop group EXCLUSIVELY tells HollywoodLife. Ariana does have an idea in mind for such a track, however, should she and BTS ever decide to make it happen.
“Ariana loves BTS’ new song ‘Boy With Luv’ and would love to do a song in the same vein with them,” our source reveals, referring to the group’s upbeat track that enlisted the help of Halsey. As for when the “7 Rings” singer and BTS could carve out the time to team up for a song, our source says, “Since both Ariana and BTS are always working on music and are in the studio, it is only a matter of time that they do something. Sometime in between their tours they will try to get something done.” Both pop forces are in the midst of global tours: Ariana’s Sweetener World Tour kicked off on March 18, while BTS’ Love Yourself: Speak Yourself tour just embarked right in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl stadium on May 4.
Ariana is so in awe of BTS, its seven members — Jungkook, 21, Jimin, 23, V, 23, Suga, 26, Jin, 26, RM, 24, and J-Hope, 25 — even remind her of another legendary boy band. “Ariana loves the group, she has a piece of her heart devoted to boy bands and BTS reminds her of everything she liked about NSYNC,” our source says of the late ’90s and early 2000s group. Our insider added, “Their music and their dance ability makes her get all the feels.”
The demand for a BTS x Ariana collab grew after Jungkook snapped a selfie with Ariana backstage of her Los Angeles concert on May 6, which she in turn made her phone lockscreen! Our source also gives more insight behind this burgeoning friendship, adding, “Jungkook is a huge fan of Ariana and looks up to her talent,” but it’s “all professional between the two.” Our source adds, “They aren’t starting any sort of relationship, it is just innocent and cute between the two, to where they can hopefully start a friendship and hopefully will have time to collaborate down the line. Jungkook would think that would be incredible.” And now, the waiting game begins. | {
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Auto Rebellion was invited by Progress Motors Imports to attend the launch of two brand new models coming to Bangladesh. The all-new Audi A3 and the Audi Q3 were announced at their showroom this past Tuesday. President of the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Omar Sadat attended the launch event along with many other media outlets.
Audi A3
The Audi A3 Sedan packaged with youthful design, visionary technology and luxurious performance has set new benchmarks in the compact luxury car segment. The Audi A3 Sedan has a sporty stance on the road, and is precise and highly expressive in every detail. Its design is a cross between the classic three-box concept and the coupé philosophy.
The all new 1.2 litre TFSI engine produces a maximum power of 109hp. This paired with the 7 Speed S-tronic transmission sets a new benchmark in fuel consumption.
Standard features in the Audi A3 include Alloy wheels, LED Headlights with signature LED DRLs, Front seats with electric adjustment and Deluxe Automatic Air Conditioner.
Prices start at BDT 48,80,000.
Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 has been a segment leader ever since its introduction. The new Audi Q3 is the benchmark with new engine options, attractive new features and an enviable list of standard equipment upping its desirability quotient immensely.
The new Audi Q3 packs in updated design cues and enhanced power trains. The design changes on the exterior include a redesigned bumper underlining the character of the Audi A3, thanks to its sharper lines and its striking shape. The new air inlets in the front bumper give the car a rugged and aggressive character.
The new 1.4 litre TFSI front wheel drive produces a maximum power of 150hp and manages 0-100 in 8.9 seconds. The engines come with a 6 Speed S-tronic transmission, which results in a dynamic mix of technology, power and efficiency. Standard features on the all new Q3 include; Panoramic Sunroof, 18“ alloy wheels, signature Audi LED DRLs, Deluxe 2 Zone Automatic Air Conditioner, leather seating, electrical seat adjustment.
Prices start at BDT 69,60,000
Editor at Auto Rebellion | {
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Only two weeks left to Double your gift
If you’ve always wanted to visit China, this … this might not be the best time. Thanks to climate change, massive numbers of Asian giant hornets (which are the size of your thumb) have been rolling through Shaanxi Province, eating honeybees, and stinging humans to death. And they could be coming to your area next.
In the hard-hit city of Ankang, the fatality toll has been twice the 2002-2005 average; so far in the province there have been 419 injuries and 28 deaths. And that’s just humans, not honeybees, which the hornets chomp on — well, except in Japan, where the bees have developed a pretty metal defense mechanism.
Japanese honey bees have figured out how to fight back, by cooking hornets. After surrounding a hornet in a spherical formation, Japanese honey bees engage their flight muscles, raising their collective temperature beyond what hornets can withstand.
Bees in Europe can’t do that, though, and guess what? That’s probably where the hornets are heading. A smaller species, the Chinese hornet, has already appeared in France, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium, and experts say Italy and the U.K. are next on the itinerary. So far, the Asian giant hornet hasn’t spread outside Asia, but its population is exploding in China because of the recent average temperature increase of nearly 2 degrees F in a couple of years. That increase is happening everywhere, although not always so fast. There’s no reason the Asian giant hornet wouldn’t want to feast on the tasty beehives of Europe or even North America, and if it does, here’s the sort of thing you could be in for:
Here’s a chilling scene that Chen Changlin, an Ankang farmer, witnessed one evening a few days ago. As he harvested rice on evening, hornets swarmed a woman and child working nearby. When they reached Chen, they stung him for three minutes straight. Chen made it; the other two died. “The more you run, the more they want to chase you,” said another victim, whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom. When he was admitted to the hospital, his urine was the color of soy sauce.
You know, or it won’t leave Asia and everything will be fine, so long as you don’t live in Asia, in which case, uh, sorry. At any rate, let’s all practice huddling around a hornet in a spherical formation and then engaging our flight muscles, OK? It could save your life. | {
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Ramin Djawadi's original score teased a hopeful future for Jaime and Brienne that never happened.
“Game of Thrones” composer Ramin Djawadi has revealed to Insider a musical easter egg he hid in the HBO fantasy series’ final episode involving Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). The moment occurred when Brienne sat down and wrote all of Jaime’s heroic accomplishments into the White Book, which put down in words that Jaime meant a lot more to history than just being the notorious Kingslayer. Djawadi set the scene to a musical composition titled “The White Book.” The score begins with the same melody Djawadi used for Robb Stark and Talisa Maegyr’s wedding in the show’s second season. That music was titled “I Am Hers, She Is Mine.”
“I just threw that in there because I thought it would be a subtle nod to their relationship,” Djawadi said. “When she sits there and she thinks about him and writes down all the things he had done, the second half is the ‘Honor’ theme, but yeah a big chunk of that [song] is the wedding theme.”
Djawadi continued, “It’s just a hint of what their relationship — if they had stayed together, if he was still alive — what it could have been. What they could have become. That’s why I put that in there.”
The easter egg is a heartbreaking one, as Jaime abandoned Brienne at Winterfell to return to Cersei in King’s Landing shortly after consummating their relationship. Jaime arrived in King’s Landing as Daenerys Targaryen burned the city to the ground. Jaime died alongside his sister, Cersei, in the cellars of the Red Keep as the building collapsed on them. Jaime’s decision to choose Cersei over Brienne was a polarizing one, but Djawadi’s music suggests that despite his choice Jaime’s love for Brienne remained authentic.
“I was amazed some people picked up on it,” Djawadi said. “I was hoping people would go, ‘Wait a minute, that’s from season two.’ And that was exactly my intent. I thought it would be very appropriate.” Djawadi concluded, “It shows the power of music. There were no words spoken, but by putting that in there your imagination goes [into] where this could have gone. I wanted people to have that emotion, and have those thoughts. I’m glad it was picked up.” “Game of Thrones” may be over on HBO, but Djawadi will keep the series alive with his “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience.” The music tour will travel around North America later this year. “Thrones” fans can listen to “The White Book” on Spotify
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | {
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Pa. — A Dauphin County teen is in prison after police say he killed his brother over a dispute about a girl. Officials say this is a unique ...
WILLIAMSTOWN, Pa. -- A Dauphin County teen is in prison after police say he killed his brother over a dispute about a girl.
Dakota Thornton, 15, is in jail for allegedly shooting his 18-year-old brother, Dominick with a shotgun over his brother's girlfriend.
"The brothers were having a dispute over a young lady." Said Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico. "Both of them apparently were romantically interested in this young girl and that's what lead ultimately to the killing"
Nicole Davis says she's surprised, "because I know all of them I just wouldn't imagine Dakota doing something like that."
Davis lives a few doors down from where state police say the shooting happened.
It was in apartment 3, around 2:00AM Wednesday morning when police confronted Dakota and he put his hands up and said, "I shot my brother," according to court documents. The coroner arrived and pronounced Dominick Thornton dead at the scene.
Marsico says, "It's certainly unusual to have a case where a brother shoots and kills his brother especially the ages of these individuals."
All Dauphin County homicides are handled in the adult court system. Dakota faces charges of first degree murder and possession of a weapon. | {
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Clean fuels come in many forms, but burning iron or aluminum seems to be stretching the definition – unless you ask a team of scientists led by McGill University, who see a low-carbon future that runs on metal. The team is studying the combustion characteristics of metal powders to determine whether such powders could provide a cleaner, more viable alternative to fossil fuels than hydrogen, biofuels, or electric batteries.
Metals may seem about as unburnable as it's possible to be, but when ground into extremely fine powder like flour or icing sugar, it's a different story. The simile is an apt one because the metal powders are similar to flour or sugar in more than particle size. Almost anything ground so fine will burn or even explode under the right conditions.
Grinding a powder so fine vastly increases the ratio between the surface area and the volume of the grains, so they burn very readily. In fact, they burn so readily that it's the reason why flour mills are so well ventilated. The slightest spark in floury air and a mill can blow up like a munitions dump. The same goes for sugar, metals, or even some types of rock.
This fact is already employed in a number of areas. Iron or aluminum, for example, can be ground up and turned into colorants for fireworks, solid rocket fuel powerful enough to lift a payload into orbit, or thermite that can burn hot enough to cut steel rails. What the McGill team hopes to do is harness this principle and turn it into a practical power source for everyday use.
The McGill team explains that metal powders aren't a primary energy source, like petroleum, but a storage medium for energy sources, such as nuclear or hydroelectric, which would be used to refine the metals into a pure, flammable form. The metal powders would be used for external combustion or heat engines, such as steam engines.
Under laboratory conditions, the team found that the flames produced from metal powders were quite similar to those of hydrocarbon fuels and they calculated that the energy and power densities of a metal-burning engine would be comparable to those of a conventional internal combustion engine.
The trick is to get the powders to burn in an even, steady flame. The team have mapped out a possible burner design that works by blowing air through a stream of metal powder. These combine and are injected into a combustion chamber. A cyclonic chamber separates the resulting metal ash out afterwards and clean nitrogen gas forms the exhaust, while the heat is used to run the engine.
The McGill team sees a number of advantages to using metal powders as fuel. Such powders would be transportable without the need for special tanks or cryogenic cooling. They are also much less bulky than hydrogen, and have higher energy density than batteries. Since they run heat engines, the technology can be scaled to be small enough for use in vehicles or large enough to run power plants.
Another plus is that metal powders are recyclable. As they burn, metal powders create stable, non-toxic solid-oxides that can be collected, refined back to pure metals, and used again with a minimum of carbon dioxide or other emissions.
If a metal powder engine does become practical, the McGill team says that iron will be the most likely candidate. Not only is it relatively cheap, but iron powders are already manufactured in the millions of tons for the metallurgy, chemical, and electronic industries. The main difficulty would be to ensure that iron refining is as carbon-neutral as possible.
The team is currently working on building a prototype burner that can be hooked up to a heat engine, as well as developing carbon dioxide-free recycling processes.
"We are very interested in this technology because it opens the door to new propulsion systems that can be used in space and on earth," says team-member David Jarvis, who is head of strategic and emerging technologies at the European Space Agency. "The shift away from fossil fuels for vehicle propulsion is a clear trend for the future. While not perfected and commercialized today, the use of low-cost metallic fuels, like iron powder, is a worthy alternative to petrol and diesel fuels. If we can demonstrate, for the first time, an iron-fueled engine with almost zero CO 2 emissions, we believe this would then trigger even more innovation and cost reduction in the near future."
The team's research was published this month in in Applied Energy.
Source: McGill University | {
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The midfielder has been used sparingly over the past two seasons due to injuries
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manager Jurgen Klopp insisted Adam Lallana still has a role to play for the Premier League leaders despite the midfielder's injury woes.
Lallana, 30, only made three starts in all competitions last season, and he has managed that same number so far this campaign.
He missed Liverpool's defeat at on Monday after another injury, although he may be back available later this month.
Amid speculation Lallana could be set for an Anfield exit, Klopp said the 34-time international was still needed at Liverpool.
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"It's brilliant to have him around as he can cool games down, he can be creative between the lines, he still has speed and all these things," he said, via the Liverpool Echo.
"It's not cool to lose him in a session, we didn't have many training injuries this season. He stretched to get the ball and it happened. Nothing else to say about it.
Show Player
"Could he be in a better place mentally? Yes, if he was playing and had scored 20 goals in the last 10 games.
"But everything is fine. Adam knows that we need him."
Ahead of a trip to and Hove Albion on Saturday, Liverpool are four points clear at the top, although they are coming off back-to-back defeats. | {
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Der Millionär John Hammond (R. Attenborough) errichtet auf einer einsamen Insel heimlich einen Erlebnispark, der für seine Gäste sensationelle Attraktionen bereithält: Es ist gelungen, aus einer urzeitlichen DNA leibhaftige Dinosaurier ins Leben zu rufen! Bevor der Park für das Publikum geöffnet wird, lädt Hammond einen führenden Paläontologen (Sam Neill), dessen Freundin, weitere Forscher und seine beiden wissegierigen Enkel ein, um den Park zu testen. Aber der Besuch seiner ersten Gäste verläuft alles andere als nach Plan. Die urzeitlichen Monster brechen aus, entziehen sich jeder Kontrolle und starten mit unglaublicher Intelligenz eine mörderische Jagd auf ihre Schöpfer... | {
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California High Court OKs Law License For Undocumented Immigrant
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nick Ut/AP Nick Ut/AP
California's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an undocumented immigrant from Mexico should receive a license to practice law in accordance with a new state law.
The ruling in favor of Sergio Garcia, 36, comes after California lawmakers passed a bill in October authorizing qualified applicants into the state bar, regardless of their immigration status. Garcia's case was widely seen as a test of the viability of the new law.
The Associated Press says:
"The decision means Garcia can begin practicing law despite his immigration status. "Garcia had challenged a 1996 federal law that bars people living in the country illegally from receiving professional licenses from government agencies or with the use of public funds, unless state lawmakers vote otherwise."
Reuters says:
"The U.S. Department of Justice had opposed Garcia's application, while California Attorney General Kamala Harris supported it. Neither office could immediately comment on Thursday."
In October we reported:
"Garcia was born in Mexico. His parents brought him to the U.S. when he was 17 months old. He moved back and forth between the two countries until he came to California permanently when he was 17. At that time, immigration officials approved Garcia for a green card. That was possible because his dad had a green card. Garcia himself would have to wait to get his own green card until one became available. "He's been waiting for nearly 19 years. "In the meantime, he worked his way through college, law school, and passed the state bar exam. " I am 36 years old,' he says. 'This is the home I know. This is the country I know. And this is the country I want to work for and fight for.' "
Update at 3:50 p.m. ET:
Scott Shafer of member station KQED in San Francisco reports that despite the victory for Garcia, federal law still prohibits employers, including law firms from hiring undocumented immigrants.
Garica's attorney, Jerome Fishkin says of his client: "He got no government loans, no scholarships. And this is why immigrants come to this country. So they can work and make better lives for themselves and their families." | {
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A proposed 12-mile light rail extension to the Bridgeport Village mall now faces a $400 million funding gap, TriMet officials said this week, after planners cleaved tens of millions in potential spending in an attempt to address the financial issue.
But even cutting an estimated $62 million from the preliminary budget leaves tough decisions before the elected officials and transportation leaders who sit on TriMet’s steering committee tasked with overseeing the massive project.
If the light rail project extends all the way to Bridgeport Village, a key issue for Washington County’s commission and Tualatin officials, just eliminating some aspects of the project won’t be enough to fill the yawning budget hole. The region will still need to ask for more money.
According to multiple scenarios presented to a community advisory group, the project may need to find another $200 million in cash.
TriMet has said it doesn’t believe it could receive more than $1.25 billion from the federal government. Some $850 million is expected to be included on the 2020 Metro transportation package.
Roberta Altstadt, a TriMet spokeswoman, said where the $200 million may come from “remains to be seen.”
“Other project partners are well aware of the current cost estimate and gap in funding identified thus far,” she said in an email. “More discussions will be had with jurisdictions and partners.”
As of last month, the light rail project was projected to cost $2.87 billion to build by the time it opened in 2027. The agency now says it could cut about $62 million from the total price tag by reducing the amount of stormwater infrastructure through the area, buying up fewer properties to widen the road in some spots and creating fewer special sections of track called “crossovers” where trains can switch from one set of tracks to the other.
“Partners are working together to explore potential cost reduction strategies and keep the project on schedule,” TriMet officials wrote in a document posted to the light rail project’s website this week. “The magnitude of the cost gap means the team must find significant ways to reduce the amount of infrastructure the project will build, and potentially increase funding.”
The project is more than just light rail. It includes miles of bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and sidewalks in and along Barbur Boulevard in the hilly Southwest Portland neighborhoods and beyond. Planners are banking on receiving a combined $2.525 billion from the federal government, a 2020 Metro transportation funding package and local governments like the city of Portland.
Bringing the train all the way to Bridgeport Village remains the top option, but it’s also the costliest.
According to draft plans presented to a community advisory group Thursday night, TriMet estimates it could save $200 million on Barbur by doing the following:
-Diverting the trains to run along Interstate 5 in some areas, instead of down the middle of Barbur.
-Reducing Barbur to one travel lane in either direction between Barbur Transit Center and Southwest 30th Avenue, between Southwest 30th Avenue and 19th Avenue and between Southwest Capitol Highway and Brier Place.
Tigard’s mayor last month said it was critical to retain two travel lanes on Barbur, even on areas that are within the city of Portland. Washington County officials had said they would not pay their share of the project, $75 million, if the light rail line doesn’t go all the way to Bridgeport Village.
TriMet also presented three additional options to cut costs.
The transit agency could build a light rail line that ends at the Bonita or Upper Boones Ferry station and save $200 million. Couple that option with reducing travel lanes on Barbur and routing the train along I-5 would eliminate the need to raise another $200 million from local sources.
Another option – ending the route at Bonita or Upper Boones Ferry while maintaining all current travel lanes on Barbur – would leave a $200 million funding gap.
The third option, ending the route at Southwest Hall Boulevard, would save the full $400 million. That option would mean the light rail line would open with 10 stations instead of 13. Plans indicate the project could be “phased in” down the line.
The agency plans to present a more thorough traffic analysis of what the lane changes would mean on Barbur at the upcoming Steering Committee meeting Sept. 23.
-- Andrew Theen
[email protected]
503-294-4026
@andrewtheen
Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. | {
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“There is no Social Security crisis. It can pay all benefits in-full and on-time until 2036,” Nancy Altman, co-director of Social Security Works, told the People’s World in a recent interview.
“Social Security is about preventing people from becoming poor in the first place,” Altman said. (See video below.)
As the manufactured deficit-debate crisis rages in Washington, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and other vital public services are being attacked as too expensive.
Republicans claim that these “costly entitlement programs” cannot be sustained. They want to leave senior citizens, the disabled and the poor to fend for themselves.
While unions, community groups, senior citizens and young workers acknowledge that the deficit is a real concern for many Americans, they argue that the real problem is a lack of revenue. They say we should raise taxes on corporations and the rich before discussing any benefit cuts.
Altman linked the attacks on Social Security and similar programs with the recent wave of attacks on unions and public services. It is all part of an “ideological attack” on the “role of government,” she said, adding, “We would not have any of these programs without unions.” (Text continues below video)
Altman, who has worked for 30 years in the areas of pensions and Social Security, is currently chair of the board of directors of the Pension Rights Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of beneficiary rights.
From 1983 to 1989, Altman taught courses on private pensions and Social Security at Harvard Law School. She served as Alan Greenspan’s assistant in his position as chairman of the bipartisan commission that developed the 1983 Social Security amendments. From 1977 to 1981, Altman was a legislative assistant to Senator John C. Danforth, R-Mo., advising him on Social Security related issues.
Photo: Tony Pecinovsky/PW | {
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With his hip hop drama “Empire” already renewed for a fifth season, Lee Daniels is setting his sights on a real-world musical icon for his next feature film.
Sources tell Variety that Daniels is in talks to direct the Billie Holiday biopic “Billie.” Sources also add that R&B singer Andra Day is the top choice for the title role and Lakeith Stanfield for the male role, though nothing is yet finalized for either thesp.
Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are producing, with Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks penning the script which is using “Chasing the Scream: The First & Last Days of the War on Drugs” by Johann Hari as the source material. Mark Bomback had been developing this project with Roth and Kirschenbaum since its inception and is an executive producer on it. He had helped guide the development process with Daniels and Parks.
Holiday, also known as “Lady Day,” was a legendary jazz singer whose career spanned three decades before her passing in 1959. Her iconic performing style has influenced and inspired artists and jazz musicians for years to come.
Hollywood has already shown its appreciation for Holiday with a 1972 biopic starring Diana Ross, followed by a 1986 Broadway play, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.”
With “Empire” on hiatus, Daniels had been looking for a next feature gig for some time, and it was his admiration for the legendary singer that originally drew him to the project.
The film is still looking for a studio and it is unknown when production would get under way, but with deals firming, the hope is for shooting to start before the end of the year.
Daniels hasn’t directed a film since the box office hit “The Butler,” instead putting most of his focus on his hit TV shows “Empire” and “Star.” He is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. | {
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CoinDesk sat down with Gavin Andresen, chief scientist for the Bitcoin Foundation and lead developer for the Bitcoin open source project, to talk about the current state and future of the cryptocurrency he helped bring to the world.
CoinDesk: What is it about Bitcoin that compelled you to devote your whole professional life to it at this point?
Andresen: The idea of a decentralized money really appealed to me. I think it’s great that Bitcoin lets people take back control of their money and payments. From a purely technical point of view, it’s just fascinating to me that the technical problems were solved (to make Bitcoin happen). It’s a really interesting project from a technical view. It’s a potentially world-changing idea.
CoinDesk: Recently someone online claimed they had identified Satoshi Nakamoto (creator of the Bitcoin protocol). What do you think of that claim? Does that happen a lot?
Andresen: It happens every once in awhile. I had someone write me an email and claim to be Satoshi. It was pretty obvious that it was not Satoshi. Satoshi always signed his emails with his PGP key. I wrote back to the person saying, “Why didn’t you sign your emails like you used to?” and they went away.
CoinDesk: Have you heard from Satoshi lately? Do you think he, she or they are here at Bitcoin 2013?
Andresen: Not since 2011. I do wonder that. It would be interesting if Satoshi is here. I would have no way of knowing, of course. I would like to shake his or her or their hands. I’m guessing that he’s moved on. He’s working on some other big idea.
CoinDesk: Do you have a personal financial stake in Bitcoin, and if so how much?
Andresen: I tell people, I don’t have a huge stake in Bitcoin, but my salary is paid in bitcoin and I bought a few thousand bitcoins back when they were inexpensive so … there are lots of people who have more bitcoins than me.
CoinDesk: Do you have investments in any of the Bitcoin startups?
Andresen: No. My financial life is actually pretty conservative. Despite holding some bitcoin, most of my investments are in boring mutual funds. And my advice to people is always … don’t invest your life savings in bitcoin unless you’re wiling to lose your life savings, because it is highly volatile and risky.
CoinDesk: Past attempts to create digital currencies, like Beanz and Flooz, failed. Why should Bitcoin be different?
Andresen: The previous attempts at e-money or virtual currencies had some central point of failure. So if the company issuing the currency went out of business, the currency would be worthless. It turned out that the companies issuing the currencies did all go out of business. Smart people could see that potential and that prevented them from being successful. There was this single point of failure.
Bitcoin was the first system that got around that single point of failure.
There’s no central organization that will go out of business. Bitcoin is supported by everybody who’s using it. So unless everybody using Bitcoin decides to stop for some reason, Bitcoin will continue. There’s no way to shut it down.
CoinDesk: Couldn’t world governments force them to stop?
Andresen: It’s possible that every single government in the world decides to make it illegal to transact in Bitcoin … If Bitcoin could only be used illegally, there would be a much smaller market for Bitcoin. I don’t think even then it would completely go away. You might see criminals using it. But I have trouble imagining that every single government in the world will decide to try to make it illegal. It doesn’t seem likely to me. I can imagine some governments deciding they don’t like Bitcoin and trying to make it illegal, but i can (also) imagine some governments saying they really like Bitcoin.
CoinDesk: What do you think of the fact that CCTV in China recently ran a documentary about Bitcoin? That seems to imply government approval.
Andresen: I’m not expert on global politics, so I can only guess what governments might be thinking. But if I was the government of China and saw the dollar was the dominant world reserve currency, maybe something like Bitcoin wouldn’t really scare me.
CoinDesk: How likely is it that Bitcoin really takes off?
Andresen: There’s a small chance that Bitcoin will get really, really big. When I say a small chance, maybe there’s a one-in-20 chance that Bitcoin will replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency in 50 years. I think there’s a much better chance that Bitcoin will be a widely used currency, not rivaling the euro or the dollar, but respectable in the list of worldwide currencies.
Last year, I gave a talk, and one of my talking points was going to be that Bitcoin is smaller than any world national currency. I decided to fact-check myself and I (found) that Bitcoin was actually larger than some national currencies … We’ve been moving up the list, if you look at the total value of all the bitcoins in circulation versus the total value of other currencies, we’re up to 20 or 40 national currencies that are smaller than Bitcoin. As Bitcoin gets bigger and we move up that list, we’re on the path to Bitcoin being a serious world currency.
CoinDesk: What would success for Bitcoin look like in your view?
Andresen: The goal for Bitcoin is being a stable, commonly used currency like any other currency you find in the world.
CoinDesk: Bitcoin has the reputation of being mainly for buying drugs and guns. Is that really a major portion of the transactions?
Andresen: The first markets for Bitcoin were black markets, gray markets, where there was no other choice — that was the only currency that would work. One of the big early markets for Bitcoin is online gambling. A lot of poker sites operate where online gambling is perfectly legal, but they can’t get US customers because there’s no way for US customers to transfer money, because the US government has told the credit-card companies that they may not transfer money to these companies. Bitcoin is the only solution for them if they want a worldwide audience, so those were early adopters.
The benefits of Bitcoin are now being seen by mainstream places. I bought cupcakes for bitcoins (at Cups and Cakes on 9th in San Francisco). They have an iPad that’s their cash register, they have a “buy with bitcoin button that they press … The whole process took 20 seconds.
We can’t tell what bitcoins are being used for. (So it’s impossible to know what percent of transactions are for black market goods.)
CoinDesk: Once all the bitcoins are mined, won’t the miners quit running the Bitcoin ledger system?
Andresen: The miners will still do the work, because you can attach a transaction fee to every transaction, and the transaction fee goes to the miner who validates the (block of) transactions. As mining fees go down, transactions fees are going up … Transaction fees are voluntary, but if you don’t include a transaction fee … you may have trouble finding a miner that will validate your transaction. (The current average is .001 of a Bitcoin.)
According to our calculations, as Bitcoin scales up, you’ll have such a high volume of transactions, the tiny fees will add up to a significant amount of money and it will still be worthwhile for people to do that work.
CoinDesk: How did you feel about the US government action against Mutum Sigillum? Did it surprise you?
Andresen: I wasn’t terribly surprised. The legal and regulatory situation with Bitcoin has been murky, and it’s getting more clear … In the grand scheme of things, anything that makes it more clear how Bitcoin businesses can abide by the rules is in the long term a good thing.
CoinDesk: Why didn’t the value of the bitcoin crash when it happened?
Andresen: It was one particular way of transferring money to Mt. Gox, which is a Japanese company. There are lots of other exchanges, and there are lots of other ways of transferring money to Mt. Gox. And, it only affected US customers, and a lot of Mt. Gox customers are not in the US. In the grand scheme, it was a small piece of the Bitcoin infrastructure. Once people realized that, you saw the price rebound almost immediately.
CoinDesk: Is there any role at all for government when it comes to regulating Bitcoin?
Andresen: I’m a little controversial in the Bitcoin world because I do think there’s a role for government: Consumer protection makes sense. I think where Bitcoins are exchanged for national currencies, it certainly makes sense that whoever controls those national currencies might want to regulate that. While over-regulation doesn’t make sense, there is a role for regulation. | {
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Klokken er 12. Det er mandag. Og om en time kører bussen mod Lyngby Stadion.
Alt i mens resten af Danmark arbejder for føden, har en mindre klike af AaB fans taget tidligt fri, så de kan nå til Superligakampen, der spilles i Lyngby. Hele 421 kilometer fra Vestbyens vante rammer.
Læs også: Kære tv-fodboldfan: Du er kun et tal
I forrige runde blev FC Nordsjællands fremmøde på Århus Stadion latterliggjort i diverse medier, fordi der ikke var nok fremmødte FCN-fans til at få åbnet udebaneafsnittet. Kigges der på tilslutningen til dagens bustur, kunne det nemt frygtes, at samme scenarie ville udspille sig i Lyngby.
Men hvad kan man forvente med afgang fra Aalborg 13.00 på en mandag og en forventet hjemkomst 02.30 den efterfølgende tirsdag? Ikke just noget der passer ind i gennemsnittets arbejdsuge.
TV-aftaler der udvander produktet
Det er ingen hemmelighed, at TV-aftalerne bliver større og større. Klubberne og Divisionsforeningen blærer sig endda med de enorme summer, der er tale om. Efter den seneste TV-aftale var i hus, udtalte frontfiguren for Divisionsforeningen og klubberne, Claus Thomsen, at den nye aftale ville ”…sikre seer og tilskueropbakning til dansk klubfodbold”.
Men med den nye TV-aftale ønsker TV-stationerne naturligvis at udnytte deres produkt til fulde. Det betyder, at runderne spænder fra fredag til mandag. Enkelte runder spilles sågar også kun i hverdage. Ikke at dette er noget nyt, men det harmonerer ikke just med Claus Thomsens udsagn om at TV-aftalen vil sikre tilskueropbakning til dansk klubfodbold.
Med de kommercielle kræfter, der er på spil i dagens fodbolddanmark, vil det være utopi at tro at vi kan gå tilbage til kun at spille weekendkampe. TV-stationerne har tilrettelagt spilletidspunkterne efter hvornår de har flest seere. Fredag skubbes en af kampene ind i et tætpakket tv-program før diverse underholdningsprogrammer på hovedkanalerne, og den mindst favorable kamp spilles lige efter, klokken 20.15. Om lørdagen fylder den engelske Premier League næsten det hele. Det er dog lykkedes at få presset en enkelt Superligakamp ind. Når vi kommer til søndag sendes der Superligakampe fra 12.00 til 20.00, og sidst men ikke mindst har vi den obligatoriske mandagskamp, som sendes lige efter aftensmaden.
De mange forskellige kamptidspunkter betyder selvfølgelig, at ikke alle kampe er lige gode for de fans, der ønsker at rejse land og rige rundt for at støtte deres hold. Nu hvor det er TV-stationerne der (næsten) suverænt bestemmer, hvornår de forskellige kampe skal spilles, sidder vi fans magtesløse tilbage, og er nødsaget til at tage fri fra arbejde at nå til udekampene landet rundt.
Som det er nu er mandagskampene fjerdevalget for TV-stationerne. Fredagskampene er henholdsvis sidste og næstsidste valg. Det medfører vha. TV-stationernes valg og prioriteringer ganske ofte, at nogle af de mindst favorable kampe for TV-stationerne også er de kampe, hvor spilletidspunkterne hindrer udeholdets fans i at overvære kampen på stadion. Det kan man simpelthen tælle sammen på, ved at sammenholde afstanden, udeholdet skal køre, med afstanden mellem klubberne. Det er da om noget en negativ spiral, og på ingen måde noget, der er gavnligt for dansk fodbold. Det må vel være i TV-stationernes (og klubbernes) interesse at udvikle på det gode produkt, der er betalt i dyre domme for, fremfor at afvikle på det.
Men det er bare ikke det, der sker. For som det er nu betyder TV-stationers magt, at der har været (og udfra det planlagte program også fremover vil være) en markant, skæv fordeling af hvilke hold, der tildeles de mindre favorable spilletidspunkter. Ser vi på sidste sæson spillede vi (AaB) 18 hverdagskampe, mens Brøndby og FC København tilsammen spillede 11 hverdagskampe.
En god kamp for udeholdets fans
De nuværende spilletidspunkter betyder at minimum 2 kampe per runde spilles i hverdagene. Hverdagskampene kan betyde, at udeholdets fans er nødsaget til at tage fri fra arbejde, såfremt de ønsker at tage til kampen. Ofte ikke kun på selve dagen, men ved mandagskampe (og til de helt sene søndagskampe) kommer udeholdets fans så sent hjem, at de desuden kan være tvunget til at tage en halv fridag den efterfølgende dag, for at kunne møde udhvilet op på arbejde.
Det mest optimale for udeholdets fans ville helt naturligt være, at de ikke var tvunget til at tage fri fra deres arbejde hverken på kampdagen eller dagen efter som følge af de tidlige afgange og sene hjemkomster.
Tilskuerfjendtlige kampe
For bedre at forstå hvilke kampe der kan klassificeres om værende decideret fjendtlige for udeholdets fans har vi opsat et par parametre.
En Superligakamp bør aldrig føre til at udeholdets fans skal:
* Køre fra hjemmestadion tidligere end 16.00 på en arbejdsdag.
* Være hjemme på hjemmestadionet senere end ved midnat, når der er arbejdsdag dagen efter kampdagen.
Ud fra ovenstående parametre var der hele 59 (!) tilskuerfjendtlige kampe i sidste sæson. Alle disse kampe lå i runder, hvor der nemt kunne være flyttet rundt på andre kampe, hvor der havde været kortere afstand mellem de to hold. (Dog undtaget runde 32, hvor alle kampe af sportslige hensyn blev spillet samtidig). Hvis kampene var fordelt med afstanden i mente, havde det betydet at udeholdets fans ikke havde været tvunget til at tage fri fra arbejde for at se kampene på stadion.
Runde 32 lå sidste sæson i øvrigt på en torsdag. En torsdag, hvor fans af 3 hold skulle køre mere end 300 kilometer for at nå til en kamp, der blev spillet 20.00. På en arbejdsdag.
Kigges der på de 21 planlagte runder i indeværende sæson er der 43 tilskuerfjendtlige kampe, hvilket er en stigning på 4 kampe sammenlignet med forrige sæson. Den nye TV-aftale har altså ikke sikret tilskueropbakning til dansk klubfodbold. I hvert fald ikke i henhold til udeholdets mulighed for at få fans med på udebane.
Kan kampprogrammet ændres så der skabes bedre vilkår udeholdets fans?
Det korte svar i denne sammenhæng er: Ja.
Det eneste det vil kræve ved det nuværende setup er, at TV-stationerne ligger de potentielt tilskuerfjendtlige kampe i weekenden, så udeholdets tilskuere kan tage til kampen uden at bekymre sig om at skulle tage fri for at deltage.
Lægger man kampene med den korteste distance mellem de to klubber i hverdagene, vil det medføre at de potentielle tilskuerfjendtlige kampe så spilles i weekenden, hvor udeholdets fans har tid til at sætte en hel dag af til at støtte deres hold på udebane.
Hvor langt burde der maksimalt køres?
For at komme de tilskuerfjendtlige kampe til livs kunne klubberne og TV-selskaberne fremover benytte sig af følgende parametre, for at sikre størst mulig andel af udefans til en given kamp:
* Til en fredagskamp, der spilles kl. 18.00, burde udeholdets fans ikke køre mere end 100 kilometer til hjemmeholdets stadion.
* Til den sene fredagskamp, der spilles kl. 20.15, burde udeholdets fans ikke køre mere end 250 kilometer til hjemmeholdets stadion.
* Til den sene søndagskampe, der spilles kl. 18.00, burde udeholdets fans ikke køre mere end 270 kilometer til hjemmeholdets stadion.
* Til en mandagskamp, der spilles kl. 19.00, burde udeholdets fans ikke køre mere end 195 kilometer til hjemmeholdets stadion.
Helt konkret vil det eksempelvis for AaB-fans betyde, at vi kun burde møde følgende hold de angivne dage:
Ved at anvende ovenstående parametre, når der planlægges kampe i fremtiden, ville man kunne gøre det nemmere for udeholdets tilskuere at nå til kampene. Ved at gøre det nemmere for udeholdets fans at nå til kampen vil man samtidig sikre tilskueropbakning til dansk klubfodbold.
Vores håb er at klubberne og ikke mindst TV-stationerne hører vores bøn, så vi i fremtiden kan eliminere de tilskuerfjendtlige kampe.
For det kan simpelthen ikke passe at fans er nødsaget til at tage fri fra arbejdet alene fordi en TV-station har bestemt at deres lokale fodboldhold skal spille i den modsatte ende af landet, på en hverdag.
Ses der på antallet af tilskuerfjendtlige kampe, så er der mere end to tilskuerfjendtlige kampe per runde i denne sæson, hvilket er en stigning i forhold til sidste sæson. Vi er nødt til at gøre det nemmere at støtte sit hold på udebane hvis dansk fodbold skal overleve i fremtiden.
Så kære klubber og TV-stationer; vi er nødt til at stå sammen om at finde løsninger der sikrer tilskueropbakningen til dansk klubfodbold. Vi har her givet jer et løsningforslag. Nu er det op til jer at gøre brug af det.
Blogindlægget er skrevet af Christian Kokholm Rothmann og Rasmus Trenskow, der er formand i organisationen Danske Fodbold Fanklubber.
Blogindlægget er tidligere blevet bragt på aabsupportclub.dk. | {
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President Donald Trump is misrepresenting the circumstances of a 7-year-old migrant girl's death as he seeks to steer any potential blame for it away from his administration.
Trump, after mockingly painting asylum seekers as a "con job" in a rally the previous night, asserted on Friday that Jakelin Caal Maquin was given no water by her father during their trek to a remote border area and that the dad acknowledged blame for his daughter's death on Dec. 8. Those assertions are not supported by the record.
TRUMP: "I think that it's been very well stated that we've done a fantastic job. ... The father gave the child no water for a long period of time - he actually admitted blame." — to reporters Friday.
THE FACTS: An autopsy report released Friday found that Guatemalan girl died of a bacterial infection just more than a day after being apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's office said traces of streptococcus bacteria were found in Jakelin's lungs, adrenal gland, liver, and spleen, and she experienced a "rapidly progressive infection" that led to the failure of multiple organs.
Neither the autopsy report, nor accounts at the time by Customs and Border Protection , spoke of dehydration. And through family lawyers, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz said after his girl's death that he made sure she had food and water as they traveled through Mexico.
Moreover, the Border Protection timeline on her case said she was checked for medical problems upon her apprehension and: "The initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues."
The girl and her father were caught at 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 6 in a group of more than 100 people trying to cross the border, less than a mile or kilometer from the Antelope Wells entry port in New Mexico. The father claimed upon their apprehension that she was in good health. In any event, no health problems were observed.
Her first distress was reported at 5 a.m. the next day, when her father said she was vomiting on a bus waiting to take them to a Border Patrol station at Lordsburg, New Mexico. When the bus arrived close to 6:30 a.m., the father said Jakelin was not breathing. A Border Patrol emergency technician revived her twice. She had a temperature of 105.7 degrees. At 7:45 a.m., a helicopter flew her to the nearest trauma center, in El Paso, Texas, where she went into cardiac arrest late that morning and was revived once more.
By then breathing by machine, with brain swelling and liver failure, she died on Dec. 8 at 12:35 a.m., her father with her.
Afterward, Trump insisted in tweets that the girl and another Guatemalan child who died in custody, Felipe Gomez Alonzo , were "were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol."
But the boy also did not arouse any concern in initial screenings. He was in U.S. custody for five days before suddenly falling ill.
In his Michigan rally Thursday night, Trump entertained his supporters with an apocryphal story of a "heavyweight champion of the world" pleading a hardship case while seeking asylum. "It's a big fat con job, folks. It's a big fat con job."
He said "you have people coming up here" who are coached by lawyers to "say the following phrase: 'I am very afraid for my life. I am afraid for my life.' OK."
On Friday, he said of the children's deaths when asked about them: "It's a horrible situation. But Mexico could stop it."
___
Associated Press writer Nomaan Merchant in Houston contributed to this report.
___
Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd
Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck | {
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Most social media users began spotting (or employing) images of a safety pin after the 8 November 2016 election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, a meme that purportedly aimed to subtly signal solidarity among those who had not supported his candidacy.
Like most semi-ambiguous social issue fads, the sudden appearance of safety pins proved both tremendously popular and confusing. On 11 November 2016, NY Mag reported on the phenomenon, saying:
Now that we’ve established that something as bad as Brexit could happen here, Americans are adopting strategies learned from their British peers in coping with its aftermath. As stories of post-election violence and hate speech circulate online, some people have begun wearing safety pins to identify themselves as allies in the fight against intolerance, and to show solidarity with women, LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color feeling frightened by Trump’s presidency and the vitriol that some of his supporters display. The safety pin was adopted in England after the Brexit vote, as immigrants and people of color found themselves increasingly subject to racist attacks, serving as a visual symbol indicating that the wearer supports tolerance and stands in solidarity with marginalized groups. In the words of @cheeahs, the Twitter user who launched the trend, the idea was “that anyone against the sort of nationalistic, racist violence we’ve been seeing could identify themselves as a ‘safe ally.’”
The safety pin meme got a boost from some popular Twitter accounts:
Wearing a Safety pin- as a sign that you are a safe haven for those who don’t feel safe post-Election. Moving gesture pic.twitter.com/BpIuaw0oim — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 11, 2016
In roughly the same timeframe as the American election, Brexit (the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016) inspired a seemingly organic movement covered at the time by the BBC:
There have been reports of racist abuse in the UK since the referendum result. One woman has found a simple way to show solidarity against racism – wear a safety pin. @Cheeahs has started the hashtag #SafetyPin which has been shared nearly 30,000 times. Angered by the stories of racism, she used Twitter to find a way of showing her frustration. She decided that a safety pin was the simplest solution.
An interesting parallel between the UK and U.S. articles was that the safety pin symbol emerged in response to reports of hate speech and violence reported online, but whether or those stories were rooted in real-life events was not addressed, and the word “anecdotal” peppered pieces on both sides of the pond.
Another compelling tidbit of the safety pin lore was that it was not necessarily invented after Brexit. An Internet post from July 2011 asserted that safety pins were adopted as a secret signal of Dutch resistance against Nazis during World War II:
Dutch resistance collapsed under the weight of the German war machine but her people never gave up their loyalty to Queen Wilhelmina…. That is where the “Safety Pin” comes in… Open rebellion was a sure way to find yourself hauled up on a gallows or simply shot outright. But the Dutch people found a much more subtle way to express their solitary…. with the common ordinary “Safety Pin”… Worn so it lay hidden under a collar or the hem of a skirt, then only brought out, quickly flashed as a means to identify each other. Quickly the “Safety Pin” was adopted by the Dutch underground as their unofficial insignia. But it wasn’t just limited to the fighting resistance… Children, grandmothers, nursing mothers, everyone who struggled for their freedom wore the “Safety Pin” not just as an act of defiance but a symbol of hope and freedom. So there you have the story of the common Safety Pin… A story that has faded into obscurity…. relatively few of us know this story… now you do as well… Still there are lessons from history that should not be forgotten and this is one of those….
That claim had popped more than once prior to Brexit, as exemplified by a February 2016 blog post:
The symbolic significance of the safety pin can be dated back to the Netherlands during World War II. When Dutch resistance collapsed against the German army, open rebellion would have ended in execution and so the Dutch people had to find a more discreet way of showing solidarity. A safety pin was worn under the collar or hem of the skirt and shown as a means to identify one another. Dutch people of all ages donned the safety pin as a form of resistance and symbol of freedom. It was not until the emergence of punk in the 1970’s that this symbol synonymous with rebellion, became integrated into popular punk culture.
We were unable to find any references to such a use of safety pins by the Dutch during WWII aside from recent Internet chatter, and the claim bears some resemblance to a legend about Danes‘ supposedly donning yellow stars during World War II:
The legend of Denmark’s King Christian X and his wearing of the yellow star is our most stirring example of non-violent opposition to evil: ordinary citizens (following the example of a courageous leader) defy their military overlords by selflessly putting themselves in harm’s way to prevent the persecution of a defenseless minority. If only more people exhibited such moral fortitude nowadays, we reason, the world would be a much better place. Perhaps if more people had exhibited such moral courage back then, we think, the Holocaust might never have happened. Although the Danes did undertake heroic efforts to shelter their Jews and help them escape from the Nazis, there is no real-life example of the actions described by this legend. Danish citizens never wore the yellow badge, nor did King Christian ever threaten to don it himself. In fact, Danish Jews never wore the yellow badge either (except for the few who were finally deported to concentration camps), nor did German officials Star ever issue an order requiring Danish Jews to display it.
As noted in that earlier page, one undercurrent of the legend was the practical usefulness of action over symbolic gestures:
Although this legend may not be true in its specifics, it was certainly true enough in spirit. The rescue of several thousand Danish Jews was accomplished through the efforts of “thousands of policemen, government officials, physicians, and persons of all walks of life.” The efforts to save Danish Jews may not have had the flair of the “yellow star” legend, and they may not have required quite so many citizens to visibly oppose an occupying army, but those who were rescued undoubtedly preferred substance to style.
Whether or not the safety pin originated with Brexit (the idea was certainly in circulation prior to June 2016), post-referendum coverage of the trend described it as a “simple” way to “fight racism” after the vote, a concept that has been criticized by others as an example of slacktivism:
Slacktivism is the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society’s rescue without actually getting one’s hands dirty, volunteering any of one’s time, or opening one’s wallet. It’s slacktivism that prompts us to forward appeals for business cards on behalf of a dying child intent upon having his name recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records or exhortations to others to continue circulating a particular e-mail because some big company has supposedly promised that every forward will generate monies for the care of a languishing tot. Likewise, it’s slacktivism that prompts us to want to join a boycott of designated gas companies or eschew buying gasoline on a particular day rather than reduce our personal consumption of fossil fuels by driving less and taking the bus more often. Slacktivism comes in many forms, but its defining characteristic is its central theme of doing good with little or no effort on the part of the person inspired to participate, through the mechanisms of forwarding, exhorting, collecting, or e-signing.
The Huffington Post published wide-ranging opinions about the safety pin trend, first lauding the “incredible reason you might start seeing safety pins everywhere” on 11 November 2016, then in a separate article deeming the trend “embarrassing” and designed to “make white people feel better”:
And make no mistake, that’s what the safety pins are for. Making White people feel better. They’ll do little or nothing to reassure the marginalized populations they are allegedly there to reassure; marginalized people know full well the long history of white people calling themselves allies while doing nothing to help, or even inflicting harm on, non-white Americans.
The Huffington Post also hosted an article featuring twelve of the trendiest ways folks could assert their solidarity in style, with safety pin baubles
ranging up to nearly $1,000 in price (funds that arguably could be better spent supporting a charity than virtue signaling):
If you are looking to show your solidarity and want something a bit more permanent than a safety pin, here are 12 lovely pieces of jewelry to consider.
Some people of color were not fond of the safety pin movement as a whole, finding it a mostly-white “effort” and an affront to what they asserted were more action-worthy concerns. One writer was disheartened to find that concerns about a largely symbolic act’s diluting support were lambasted by “mostly white” people:
So after taking a day or so to cry and drink and hug my grieving kids after the election of Donald Trump, I got to work on coming up with ideas of what people can do to help make sure that we never ever do this again. I took a little bit of hope in the thought that maybe now more people were paying attention to the racist, sexist, Islamophobic, ableist society that we live in. Maybe we could mobilize this grief, anger, and fear into action. But what I got were safety pins. Suddenly everywhere I looked, (mostly) white people were talking about safety pins. What a great idea! Something we can all do! I couldn’t tell people on social media apart anymore as their pictures were all replaced with pins. All that energy that I had hoped would go toward real-life action in support of marginalized populations who have been fighting this system alone for far too long was diverted to a symbol that most people wouldn’t even notice. So I questioned this. I questioned why the most popular act of solidarity would be silent, why marginalized people would have to look for it. I questioned why, in times like this, people weren’t shouting. I questioned why so many people who would never wear a Black Lives Matter shirt are jumping to put on a safety pin. And to those questions, I received hundreds of replies. Within hours, hundreds of white people had flooded my Facebook page and Twitter feed in defense of their safety pins. I was told that I was part of the problem. I was told that I was being divisive. I was told that my skepticism was making people sad. None of the commenters seemed to be aware that telling a black woman that she was wrong to question white people is kind of the opposite of racial solidarity in a country where the majority of white voters just elected Trump.
The Daily Dot combined those concerns with ancillary reports of the symbol’s being touted as one of white supremacy, concluding that action was more effective than signaling:
However, many say that [safety pins are] a form of passive support, putting the onus on the abused to seek out someone wearing a safety pin rather than making allies take direct action. We don’t need you to wear a #safetypin. We need you to do the work and educate yourself and your loved ones on white supremacy. Now, there may be another reason why the safety pin movement is questionable, however. White supremacists might be co-opting it. A tweet by Zoé Samudzi began circulating this weekend with screenshots, one from a 4chan board, calling for white supremacists to wear safety pins as a way to trick people looking for a safe space, or as a symbol of their racist beliefs, thus confusing the safety pin’s meaning. On Reddit, Trump supporters have started multiple threads about wearing safety pins on their “Make America Great Again” hats or on their guns. The safety pin movement spread on social media, so there are plenty of marginalized people and allies who aren’t glued to Twitter who probably don’t know what it means. And perhaps that niche is why it’s so easy to co-opt. All this confusion regarding the meaning and efficacy of the pin is another reason to take active measures to step in when you see injustices happening. That will mean more than a safety pin ever could.
So while safety pins (like many other vacant gestures for causes such as breast cancer or child abuse) emerged first in the UK after Brexit and again in the U.S. after Donald Trump’s election as “solidarity symbols,” the value of the signal is both subjective and questionable. Like the “Black Dot campaign” before it, the symbol’s actual usefulness to those it aims to shield is negligible, and critics have suggested that the measure exists solely as a means for non-marginalized persons to assert they are “helping” individuals at some sort of risk. That interpretation illustrated further how the notion of solidarity, in essence, subtly painted a number of Americans as inherently dangerous, or America as a place full of ambient hate. | {
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BALTIMORE — The damage was done. The Baltimore Ravens had already handed the Buffalo Bills a 47-3 drubbing. Standing at his stall in a jubilant Ravens locker room, Justin Tucker — the kicker — smiled and shouted in his best high-pitched voice.
“NOBODY CIRCLES THE WAGONS LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS,” the kicker yelled.
Circling the wagons is a western myth that refers to when cowboys would draw their wagons into a circle to provide cover when under attack. That’s about all the Bills could do on Sunday after a first half in which they were unable to muster a single first down on offense. The Bills were left in the fetal position while the Ravens filled a pillowcase with bars of soap and beat them with it for four quarters.
By the time the starters were watching from the sideline, Bills starting quarterback Nathan Peterman was 5-for-18 passing for 24 yards and two interceptions. Sean McDermott named Peterman the starting... | {
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I love my gift. Thank you so much. I received an awesome chopstick with crane rest set and some fun toys for the kitty. She loves her catnip mice and I had to wrestle them from her to even get a picture and take tags off. She loves the kitty wand and it may have snapped her kitty mind haha. The crinkle tube is wonderful as well. She likes to hide in it and try to kill me by shooting out of it and attacking things. | {
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The British Columbia Supreme Court has effectively thrown out a key provision of Canada's drug law. The Court's decision supports the Insite safe injection facility in Vancouver.
The National Post reported on May 28, 2008 ( "BC drug injection site legal, court rules" ) that "The B. C. Supreme Court has thrown the country's drug law into limbo with a ruling that says it conflicts with health concerns that constitutionally are a provincial responsibility, as well as conflicting with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a surprise ruling yesterday, the court supported Vancouver's experimental supervised injection clinic and halted federal attempts to close the facility. Judge Ian Pitfield said Insite should be allowed to remain open for a year even without a federal exemption from current drug laws. The judge declared a key section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) of no force and gave Ottawa until June 30, 2009, to rectify the law because it appears to interfere with medical treatment. Judge Pitfield said the current law governing illicit substances puts "unfettered discretion in the hands of the Minister" and violates the Constitution."
According to the National Post, "In a 59-page decision that reviewed more than a decade's worth of social work on the Downtown Eastside, the judge said drug addicts deserved the same kind of health care as those in the thralls of alcohol or tobacco addiction. Insite was established in September, 2003, as a pilot project to reduce disease, reduce overdose deaths and foster better health care for addicts. More than one million injections have occurred. However, an exemption granted by the federal government for the clinic to operate expired, and the facility has been operating on temporary permits since. The ruling was greeted with near disbelief and euphoria by advocates, who have lobbied for years, first to open the site and then to keep it open."
The National Post reported that "Judge Pitfield concluded the national law blocked addicts from a health care facility that could reduce or eliminate their risk of death from an overdose or from contracting an infectious disease, thereby violating their right to life and security. 'While users do not use Insite to directly treat their addiction, they receive services and assistance at Insite which reduce the risk of overdose that is a feature of their illness, they avoid the risk of being infected or of infecting others by injection, and they gain access to counselling and consultation that may lead to abstinence and rehabilitation,' he said. 'All of this is health care.' Judge Pitfield went on to say the federal law 'forces the user who is ill from addiction to resort to unhealthy and unsafe injection in an environment where there is a significant and measurable risk of morbidity or death.'" | {
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Where the women are superhuman and the men are at their mercy. | {
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKAJsZJvMI0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BFS9D3x_sY]
Scott Harden’s DIY electrocardiogram (ECG) uses a LED shining light through his finger into a photo transistor, with the resulting signal amplified with a LM324 quad op amp.
The goal of this project is to generate an extremely cheap, functional ECG machine made from common parts, most of which can be found around your house. This do-it-yourself (DIY) ECG project is different than many others on the internet in that it greatly simplifies the circuitry by eliminating noise reduction components, accomplishing this via software-based data post-processing. Additionally, this writeup is intended for those without any computer, electrical, or biomedical experience, and should be far less convoluted than the suspiciously-cryptic write-ups currently available online. In short, I want to give everybody the power to visualize and analyze their own heartbeat!
In the first YouTube video above, Scott shows how to build the detector. The second one he shows how to plug the detector into a computer sound card. | {
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BY JIM DOOLEY – The FBI will become the first federal agency to be headquartered in the Kapolei area of Oahu and groundbreaking for the agency’s new $65 million home was held today.
Frank Montoya Jr., Special Agent In Charge of the FBI Honolulu field office, said the bureau has grown from 15 Honolulu agents in 1971 to 115 now. The office also includes another 120 support personnel, he said.
Agents will move from their present quarters in the downtown federal building to the new offices when construction is completed in August 2012.
The four-story, 152,000 square-foot structure will be leased by the FBI from the private developer, Penrose/Walsh FBI LLC, for $8.2 million per year over the life of a 20-year lease, said FBI Special Agent Tom Simon.
Chris Penrose, managing partner of the development firm, has built similar FBI buildings in several other cities around the country under contracts awarded by the U.S. General Services Administration.
GSA official Jeffrey Neely said the FBI’s departure from the federal building will free up space for new tenants and clear the way “much-needed renovations” in the downtown facility.
FBI agents have been present in Hawaii since 1931 but the bureau became a very active law enforcement presence in the Islands in the early 1970’s, said Montoya, a foreign counterterrorism expert who was assigned here in January.
The jurisdiction of the Honolulu office includes Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.
The new structure will include a 20,000 square foot annex for automotive and electronic repairs and a secure car parking structure and lot to accommodate 350 cars.
The site is at 91-1300 Enterprise Street on former Barber’s Point Naval Air Station property.
The building was designed by Architects Hawaii and Charles Pankow is the general contractor.
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Tarmac Driveways Leicester
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Our male protag wants to know his GF’s phone password. But why would she ever give up such useful information to the likes of him?
Read it directly: Here!
Download and Discuss: Here!
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Environmental groups and dolphin experts have been left feeling underwhelmed by Friday's announcement that cameras will be placed on fishing boats to protect critically endangered Māui dolphins.
Photo: Supplied.
The dolphins are on the brink of extinction with estimates there are just 63 adults left in the waters off the North Island's west coast.
Some say capturing footage of them being caught will not halt their decline and there needs to be an extension of an existing ban on set nets and trawling.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in Auckland that 28 trawlers and vessels using set nets would have cameras installed by year's end to monitor their impact on Māui dolphins.
"This system will ensure that we have that coverage much, much more broadly."
Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash talked up the benefits of a more transparent industry.
"For me this isn't just about compliance in any way shape and form. It is about going to the world with a global brand and saying to the world when you buy fish from New Zealand, you are buying from a fishery which is sustainably managed."
Today's announcement covers a modest 28 boats.
Mr Nash said the long-delayed introduction of cameras on the rest of the fleet, consisting of 1000 vessels, was still on the government's to do list, with a proposal going out for consultation in the near future.
He said he wanted to take his time and build trust and confidence amongst fishers before committing to a wider roll out of cameras.
Friday's announcement had the industry buy in he was looking for with Sanford boss, Volker Kuntzsch, on hand to talk up its benefits.
"Public perception that the industry is still responsible for killing dolphins out there persists.
"So, what better way to ensure that there's a greater understanding of what's really happening at sea, than cameras on board fishing vessels."
However, Forest and Bird's Anton van Heldon said the fishing fleet in the part of the North Island where Māui dolphins live, already had a high number of fisheries observers on board.
He said it was perverse to be placing cameras on these boats when the other 1000 vessels in the fleet had few or no observers and were free to lay waste to other threatened species.
"This is a major backdown by the government, who seem to have buckled to the pressure from industry to not introduce cameras across the whole of the inshore fishing fleet as they said they would."
The $17 million the government was spending on cameras for these boats should instead be spent on transitioning fishers towards dolphin friendly fishing methods such as long lining or purse seine nets, he said.
"This is not the answer to save Māui's dolphins. They are in crisis.
Photo: RNZ / Chris Gilbert
"We can't afford to have more dead dolphins, so we need to move beyond just counting dead dolphins as they come aboard."
Sea Shepherd said putting cameras on commercial fishing boats would not save the lives of Māui dolphins.
Managing director Michael Lawry said the cameras won't remove the threats of trawling and gill-nets.
"Jacinda Ardern and Sanford can stand around the North Wharf and wear hi-viz vests, but that's not going to save the Māui dophin. You have to actually remove the threat."
Stephen Dawson of Otago University's marine science department also said cameras aren't what the dolphins need. He said targeting the threats posed by gillnetting and trawling would be better.
Dolphin expert Liz Slooten said the International Whaling Commission had made it clear to the government that it needed to lift its game when it came to Māui dolphins.
"So far New Zealand has responded only with more research rather than more protection action. So, the International Whaling Commission is getting more and more impatient about that."
Prof Slooten said cameras were no replacement for observers as overseas experience showed fishers being monitored solely by cameras could sometimes release dead dolphins back to the sea, claiming they were still alive.
The only thing standing between the Māui's and total extinction were 15 breeding age females.
"If we leave it until next year they will be gone. We absolutely need to act right now."
The Department of Conservation is due this month to release its updated Threat Management Plan outlining how Hector's and Māui's dolphins would be protected in future.
After the public had been consulted, a recommendation will go to the government, with a decision due later this year. | {
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One of the disadvantages to buying an Apple system is that it generally means less upgradeability and flexibility than a system from a traditional PC OEM. Over the last few years, Apple has introduced features and adopted standards that made upgrading or using third-party hardware progressively more difficult. Now, with OS X 10.10 Yosemite, the company has taken another step down the path towards total vendor lock-in and effectively disabled support for third-party SSDs.We say "effectively" because while third-party SSDs will still work, they'll no longer perform the TRIM garbage collection command. Being able to perform TRIM and clean the SSD when its sitting idle is vital to keeping the drive at maximum performance -- without it, an SSD's real world performance will steadily degrade over time. Exactly how far depends a great deal on workloads, available free space, and how much idle garbage collection the drive controller performs independently of the OS TRIM command.TRIM support has been baked into Windows and OS X for long enough that new SSDs aren't typically tested to evaluate the impact of not running TRIM has on the drive. Tests from 2010-2011 show that performance could degrade by 30-50% between a tortured SSD without TRIM and a drive where TRIM had run. Letting the drive perform its own garbage collection without running TRIM typically improved performance, but rarely back to baseline.The first thing to know is that Apple has long had a history of only enabling TRIM for Apple drives by default. If you installed a third-party SSD, you had to use a third-party tool to enable TRIM functionality. This was relatively easy to do, and there are a number of guides dedicated to showing users how to install an SSD of their own choosing while still enabling TRIM support.What Apple did with OS X 10.10 is introduce kext (Kernel EXTension) driver signing. Kext signing means that at boot, the OS checks to ensure that all drivers are approved and enabled by Apple. It's conceptually similar to the device driver checks that Windows performs at boot. If a third-party SSD is detected, the OS will detect that a non-approved SSD is in use, and Yosemite will refuse to load the appropriate driver.Attempt to boot a third-party SSD with Yosemite installed, and at least some users are apparently being met with a grey stop sign, as shown below:If you're feeling generous, Apple likely made this change to improve device security under OS X. If you're feeling not-so-generous, Apple made this change to protect its profit margins. Apple charges $800 to upgrade a $1999 MacBook Pro from 256GB to 1TB of PCIe storage; our price checks suggest that drive should cost $800 if purchased separately. A 256GB SSD upgrade to a Mac Mini costs $200 -- more than you'd pay for a 256GB SSD separately.There's a way to disable the driver signing that causes this problem, but here's the kicker -- it's an all-or-nothing procedure that requires you shut off the entire security system. You can either have TRIM support, or you can have driver security, but you can't have both.Here's why this is such a bad idea. Apple is now guaranteeing that a subset of its users -- typically its power users and biggest spenders -- are going to be forced to disable important security systems to make full use of their hardware. This comes as more iPhone attacks that use OS X as a vector are hitting the wild.Microsoft, for all its many and numerous faults, always did one thing right when it came to protecting its users: Even if you're a Windows pirate, you get full access to security updates. The company didn't make this decision out of the goodness of its heart -- it recognized that the herd immunity is as valuable online as it is in real life. Every user running with kext signing disabled is a potential attack vector.Barring a change to Apple's own policies, there's little that third-party software vendors can do. There are more details here, but the bottom line is that users now have to choose -- you can have better security, or you can have better SSD performance at a reasonable price, but you can't have both on an Apple system. | {
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The incident happened just before 1 a.m. at a home on the 700 block of Baucom Road in Monroe. Deputies say the 38-year-old victim and his wife were in a domestic situation when the victim's father intervened. | {
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If 3 out of 10 patients suffer from diarrhea, Do the other 7 enjoy it?
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