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This week, the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) took the historic step of expressing concern about “conversion therapy,” also known as “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapy. But while much of the Western world is taking steps to eradicate the barbaric practice, U.S. conservatives are doing everything they can to spread the anti-LGBTQ practice in Africa.
PRA’s senior researcher for religion and sexuality, Rev. Dr. Kapya Kaoma, wrote an article last month documenting how these U.S. culture war-exporters are increasingly turning to “ex-gay therapy” in African countries as a strategy to advance their propaganda that being gay is a choice—a critical component for them in their message to falsely portray Western LGBTQ people as predators invading local communities to recruit children.
Sadly, the so-called “ex-gay movement” has found a home in global evangelicalism. In October, 2010, in Cape Town, South Africa, 4,000 global evangelical leaders from 198 countries convened for the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization—the biggest gathering of global evangelical leaders in modern history. Among the attendees were members of Exodus Global Alliance (EGA), a network of “ex-gay” groups. The Alliance was tasked with leading a discussion on “Sexuality, Truth, and Grace.” In its presentations, EGA argued that “compassionate” conversion therapy and prayers for LGBTQ people were the best approaches to homosexuality.
Human rights groups lauded CAT’s advancement of the discussion. The National Center for Lesbian Rights’ (NCLR) #BornPerfect campaign sent survivors of the dangerous conversion practices to testify before the committee. “Today, for the first time, a United Nations committee recognized that conversion therapy is an issue of international human rights,” said Samantha Ames, NCLR’s #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator. “We are incredibly grateful to the Committee Against Torture for raising up the voices of conversion therapy survivors, and ensuring their suffering is finally being vindicated.”
Dr. Mike Davidson, director of a UK-based conversion therapy group called Core Issues Trust, responded to the U.N. advancement saying “This is a stark reminder of the determination of a certain lobby, driven by a radical ideological agenda, to close down options for those facing unwanted same-sex attraction.”
Despite no cases of ex-gay therapy ever having successfully been proven to alter sexual orientation, andDavidson added “Science and experience demonstrate that help with unwanted same-sex attraction can be effective and is far from harmful.”
But while major success against the practice of attempting to alter and change a person’s innate sexual orientation have been piling up over the past few years—the prominent ex-gay therapy group Exodus International shut down in 2013 after apologizing for promoting the debunked practice, and several U.S. states have now banned the “therapy” from being performed on minors—those successes have not translated to non-Western nations.
Kaoma continues:
The plea to “help gays escape” homosexuality is perhaps the most commonly repeated mantra across the African continent. From vicious anti-LGBTQ figures such as Martin Ssempa of Uganda, to ostensibly more respectable evangelical leaders such as Rev. Pukuta Mwanza (Executive Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia), religious leaders endorse prayers and counseling as an answer to homosexuality. Despite the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion) telling Zambians that homosexuality is a global and human rights issue, Rev. Mwanza (who spoke afterwards) asked LGBTQ persons to seek “spiritual help and prayers” from the Church. In his judgment, the church is the hospital for African gays—if they accept to be “cured.” This characterization of LGBTQ people as “sick” and in need of healing is also used to jail those who are perceived to be “against the cure.” Anti-LGBTQ leaders argue that allowing sexual minorities to live among the public will not only pollute the social life of communities, but also pose a risk to public health and must be forced into therapy, locked up, and/or forced to live in exile. “The choice is theirs!” Worse still, based on the conviction of the validity of reparative therapy bolstered by U.S. conservative evangelical talking points, some advocate policies that outlaw homosexuality and even allow forced therapy.
To learn more about how U.S. conservative Evangelicals are exporting the culture wars to Uganda, Nigeria, and other African nations—and what you can do to stop it—read American Culture Warriors in Africa: A Guide to the Exporters of Homophobia and Sexism. |
Girih tiles
Patterned Girih tiles
Construction lines are usually hidden: geometric tiles on left, girih pattern on right.
Girih tiles are a set of five tiles that were used in the creation of Islamic geometric patterns using strapwork (girih) for decoration of buildings in Islamic architecture. They have been used since about the year 1200 and their arrangements found significant improvement starting with the Darb-i Imam shrine in Isfahan in Iran built in 1453.
Five tiles [ edit ]
The five shapes of the tiles are:
a regular decagon with ten interior angles of 144°;
an elongated (irregular convex) hexagon with interior angles of 72°, 144°, 144°, 72°, 144°, 144°;
a bow tie (non-convex hexagon) with interior angles of 72°, 72°, 216°, 72°, 72°, 216°;
a rhombus with interior angles of 72°, 108°, 72°, 108°; and
a regular pentagon with five interior angles of 108°.
These modules have their own specific Persian names: The quadrilateral tile is called Torange, the pentagonal tile is called Pange, the concave octagonal tile is called Shesh Band , the bow tie tile is called Sormeh Dan, decagram tile is called Tabl. [1]All sides of these figures have the same length; and all their angles are multiples of 36° (π/5 radians). All of them, except the pentagon, have bilateral (reflection) symmetry through two perpendicular lines. Some have additional symmetries. Specifically, the decagon has tenfold rotational symmetry (rotation by 36°); and the pentagon has fivefold rotational symmetry (rotation by 72°).
The Emergence of Girih Tiles [ edit ]
By the late 11th century, the Islamic artists in North Africa start to use “tile mosaic”, which is the predecessor of tessellation.[2] By 13th century, the Islamic discovered a new way to construct the “tile mosaic” due to the development of arithmetic calculation and geometry—the girih tiles.[3]
Girih [ edit ]
Girih are lines (strapwork) that decorate the tiles. The tiles are used to form girih patterns, from the Persian word گره, meaning "knot".[4] In most cases, only the girih (and other minor decorations like flowers) are visible rather than the boundaries of the tiles themselves. The girih are piece-wise straight lines that cross the boundaries of the tiles at the center of an edge at 54° (3π/10) to the edge. Two intersecting girih cross each edge of a tile. Most tiles have a unique pattern of girih inside the tile that are continuous and follow the symmetry of the tile. However, the decagon has two possible girih patterns one of which has only fivefold rather than tenfold rotational symmetry.
Mathematics of girih tilings [ edit ]
In 2007, the physicists Peter J. Lu and Paul J. Steinhardt suggested that girih tilings possessed properties consistent with self-similar fractal quasicrystalline tilings such as Penrose tilings, predating them by five centuries.[5][6]
This finding was supported both by analysis of patterns on surviving structures, and by examination of 15th-century Persian scrolls. However, we have no indication of how much more the architects may have known about the mathematics involved. It is generally believed that such designs were constructed by drafting zigzag outlines with only a straightedge and a compass. Templates found on scrolls such as the 97-foot- (29.5 metres) long Topkapi Scroll may have been consulted. Found in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and believed to date from the late 15th century, the scroll shows a succession of two- and three- dimensional geometric patterns. There is no text, but there is a grid pattern and color-coding used to highlight symmetries and distinguish three-dimensional projections. Drawings such as shown on this scroll would have served as pattern-books for the artisans who fabricated the tiles, and the shapes of the girih tiles dictated how they could be combined into large patterns. In this way, craftsmen could make highly complex designs without resorting to mathematics and without necessarily understanding their underlying principles.[7]
This use of repeating patterns created from a limited number of geometric shapes available to craftsmen of the day is similar to the practice of contemporary European Gothic artisans. Designers of both styles were concerned with using their inventories of geometrical shapes to create the maximum diversity of forms. This demanded a skill and practice very different from mathematics.[7]
Geometric construction of an interlocking decagram-polygon mosaic design [ edit ]
Firstly, divide the right angle A into five parts with same degree by creating four rays that start from A. Find an arbitrary point C on the second ray and drop perpendiculars from C to the sides of angle A counter-clockwise. This step creates the rectangle ABCD along with four segments that each has an endpoint at A and other endpoints are the intersections of the four rays with the two sides of BC and DC of rectangle ABCD. Then, find the midpoint of the fourth segment created from the fourth ray point E. Construct an arc with center A and radius AE to intersect AB at point F and the second ray at point G. The second segment is now a part of the rectangle's diagonal. Make a line, parallel to AD and passing through point G, that intersects the first ray at point H and the third ray at point I. The line HF passes through point E and intersects the third ray at L and line AD at J. Construct a line, passing through J which is parallel to the third ray. Also construct line EI and find M which is the intersection of this line with AD. From the point F make a parallel line to the third ray to meet the first ray at K. Construct segments GK, GL, and EM. Find the point N such that GI = IN by constructing a circle with center I and radius IG. Construct the line DN which is parallel to GK, to intersect the line emanate from J, to find P to complete the regular pentagon EINPJ. Line DN meets the perpendicular bisector of AB at Q. From Q construct a line parallel to FK to intersect ray MI at R. As shown in the figure, using O which is the center of the rectangle ABCD, as a center of rotation for 180°, one can make the fundamental region for the tiling.[1]
An interlocking decagram-polygon mosaic design
An interlocking decagram-polygon mosaic design
An interlocking decagram-polygon mosaic design
An interlocking decagram-polygon mosaic design
Geometric construction of a tessellation from Mirza Akbar architectural scrolls [ edit ]
First, divide the right angle into five congruent angles, a arbitrary point P was selected on the first ray counterclockwise. For the radius of the circle inscribed in the decagram one half of the segment created from the third ray, segment AM, was selected. The following figure illustrates a step-by-step compass-straightedge visual solution to the problem by the author.[1]Note that the way to divide a right angle into five congruent angles is not a part of the instructions provided, because it is considered an elementary step for designers.
Step-by-step compass-straightedge construction of the tessellation
Examples [ edit ]
Different patterns
Complex girih patterns with 16-, 10- and 8-point stars at different scales in ceiling of the Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz, 1935
A window of the crown prince's apartment in the Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Turkey, with 6-point stars; the surrounds have floral arabesque tiling
Interior archway at the opening of the Sultan's Lodge in the Ottoman Green Mosque in Bursa, Turkey (1424), with 10-point stars and pentagons
The girih has been widely applied on the architecture. To begin with, girih on the Persian geometric windows meet the need of the Persian architecture. “The specific types of embellishments utilized in orosi typically linked the windows to the patron's social and political eminence.”The more ornate a window is, the higher social and economic status the owner is more likely to have. A good example for this would be Azad Koliji. The Azad Koliji is a Dowlatabad Garden in Iran. With the girih patterns on its window, the architects successfully demonstrate multiple layers. The first layer would be the actual garden which people can have a glimpse at when they open the window. In addition to this natural layer, the first girih pattern on the outside of the window (the carved pattern. Another artificial layer would be the colorful glasses on the window. The multi-color layer create a sense of a mass of flowers. This layer is abstract which forms a clear contradiction with the real layer outside the window, and gives the audience enough space to imagine.[8]
See also [ edit ] |
Paul Nuttall MEP the UKIP Deputy Leader has written to Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite the Union, calling on him to treat his members with fairness and decency and open the union's political fund out beyond the confines of the Labour party.
The letter:
Mr Len McCluskey
General Secretary
Unite the Union
Unite House
128 Theobald's Road
Holborn
London
WC1X 8TN
United Kingdom
25th July 2013
Dear Mr McCluskey
I read with interest the recent poll of Unite's members by Lord Ashcroft, who found that 12% of your membership would individually choose to join the Labour Party (if contributions to the political fund were no longer attributed automatically).
In the same survey we noticed that 12% also happens to be the percentage of Unite members who would vote UKIP.
Given that there is such significant support for UKIP within the union we expect that (in the interests of transparency, equality and the democratic process in general) Unite will be adding UKIP to the list of political parties that your members are invited to donate to via the political fund.
In the spirit of comradeship we write to confirm our consent for you to add UKIP to the list of mainstream parties to which Unite members can direct their political donations via the political fund.
We look forward to such parity, and to the deepening friendship between UKIP and the labour movement that it will foster. In contrast to the Labour Party, UKIP is already
"a party that offers real hope, that stands up for the poor and vulnerable, that puts growth at the heart of its agenda, that confronts privilege… [and will give the electorate] a real and vivid choice as to the future of our country, not one that leaves the electorate indifferent."
Unfortunately, unless you knowingly become a full member of UKIP in your own right, we can't offer you any influence over our choice of candidates but at least you'll know that UKIP will actually protect the wages and livelihoods of the working class of the United Kingdom, rather than swamping the labour market with immigrants prepared to work for less than the minimum wage.
Yours sincerely
Paul Nuttall MEP
UKIP Deputy Leader
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AP China-based hackers stole plans for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system in 2011 and 2012, according to an investigation by a Maryland-based cyber security firm first reported by independent journalist Brian Krebs.
The hackers also stole plans related to other missile interceptors, including the Arrow 3, which was designed by Boeing and other U.S.-based companies.
According to Krebs, "the attacks bore all of the hallmarks of the 'Comment Crew,' a prolific and state-sponsored hacking group associated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and credited with stealing terabytes of data from defense contractors and U.S. corporations." The hackers gained access to the systems of three Israeli companies working on missile defense. Maryland-based Cyber Engineering Services could prove that 700 documents were stolen in the breach although it's likely that the actual number is higher.
Krebs reported that some of these documents bore "markings indicating that their access and sharing is restricted by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) — U.S. State Department controls that regulate the defense industry."
The breach is reminiscent of the repeated state-sponsored Chinese cyber-attacks reported in The New York Times in February of 2013 — a sustained effort against American government targets that resulted in the federal indictment of five members of the People's Liberation Army this past May.
Elements of the Chinese state are willing to gain any potential intelligence or technological advantage regardless of the possible diplomatic consequences.
"The Chinese style of espionage is more like a vacuum cleaner than a closely-directed telescope," Jon Lindsay, a research scientist at the University of California's Global Institute on Conflict and Cooperation, explained to Business Insider. "They go after a lot of different kinds of targets — the leaders in any particular industry."
But this breach could also indicate a particular Chinese interest in granular and difficult-to-master military technologies. As Lindsay notes, missile defense is a technological puzzle, with high-profile systems like the U.S.'s Patriot missile battery often showing disappointing results in the field, as during the first Gulf War.
Israel has a highly developed domestic arms industry that seems to have mastered a difficult niche ability. With the Iron Dome's apparent success after Israel's 2012 conflict with Hamas, it must have seemed like an irresistible target to the Chinese — despite improving relations with Israel.
As it turns out, Iron Dome is of limited applicability outside of an Israeli context. It was made to pick off relatively unsophisticated short and mid-range missiles of a kind that threaten almost no other developed country or military.
And in the years since the apparent hack China and Israel have grown closer, with the exchange of high-level delegations and a major Chinese donation to Israel's top technological university according to a 2013 New York Times report.
Still, Lindsay notes that Chinese hacking isn't always a reflection of what the country's leadership wants — for instance, China still enjoys close economic ties with the U.S. even in spite of state-sanctioned Chinese cyber-attacks on American targets. And it isn't always clear how high up the chain of command cyber-attacks go.
"The party is in charge but there's a sprawling state council with several executive ministries," Lindsay explains of China's often-compartmentalized authority structure. "Everybody is looking up and very few people are looking across." |
Copyright by WHTM - All rights reserved
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - Gov. Tom Wolf has signed legislation that allows motorcyclists and other drivers to proceed through an intersection with a malfunctioning red light.
Signed into law as part of Act 101, the new law takes effect in 60 days.
The legislation authored by Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) allows drivers to proceed with caution when a traffic signal is unresponsive.
"If the vehicle detection system fails to recognize the vehicle and the driver has come to a complete stop, the driver must then make sure it is safe to continue, and only then would they be able to lawfully proceed with caution through the intersection," Bloom said in a statement.
Bloom's "Ride on Red" proposal originally was intended for motorcycles, which often fail to trigger traffic lights. The measure was later expanded to apply to all vehicles.
"This law does not give drivers a free pass, but ensures a safe and legal option to avoid the danger and inconvenience of being trapped in perpetuity at a locked red light," Bloom said. "This issue is more common than many people realize, especially on rural roads or during late hours when long periods often elapse before a heavier vehicle comes along to finally trip the unresponsive light." |
E. M. Black (April 9, 1921 – February 3, 1975) was a Polish-born American businessman. He controlled the United Brands Company.[1] His son Leon Black is a founding member of private equity firm Apollo Management.
Early life and education [ edit ]
Born Elihu Menashe Blachowitz in Poland, he immigrated to the United States as a child. He attended Yeshiva University, and graduated at the top of his class in 1940.[1] He also received training to be an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and served as the rabbi of a congregation in Woodmere, New York for three and a half years prior to entering business.[2]
Business career [ edit ]
His business career began in investment banking with Lehman Brothers, and then the American Securities Corporation, where he worked on financing for the American Seal-Kap Company, a company that made caps for milk bottles. He was hired to be their chairman and chief executive officer in 1954. Black renamed the company AMK, after its ticker symbol, and turned it into a vehicle for acquisitions; joining the conglomerate bandwagon of the 1960s.[1] Among his many takeovers was the John Morrell & Co. meatpacking company.[1] AMK joined the nation's top 500 companies in 1967. In September 1968, he was hired to take a run at[clarification needed] United Fruit by the brokerage firm of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
In 1970 AMK merged with United Fruit Company, and adopted the name United Brands. Black became chairman, president, and CEO. At that time, United Fruit was importing about a third of all the bananas sold in the US and owned the Chiquita banana brand. But Black soon discovered that United Fruit had far less capital than he had believed. The company soon became crippled with debt. The company's losses were exacerbated by Hurricane Fifi in 1974, which destroyed many of its banana plantations in Honduras. In 1974, United Brands reported losses of $40 million for the first three quarters of the year. Black struggled to keep the company solvent, and in December United Brands announced that it was selling its interest in Foster Grant, Inc. for $70 million.
Personal life and death [ edit ]
Black was married to artist Shirley Lubell. They had two children: daughter Judy Black Nadler and son Leon Black,[2] founding member of private equity firm Apollo Management.
In 1975, the Securities and Exchange Commission uncovered a $1.25 million bribe that United Brands paid to Honduran president Oswaldo López Arellano under authorization by Black in order to obtain a reduction of taxes on banana exports.[3] A few weeks before the scandal broke, on February 3, 1975, Black went to his office on the forty-fourth floor of the Pan Am Building in Manhattan. At about 8:00 a.m., he broke the window with his briefcase and jumped to his death, landing on the northbound ramp of Park Avenue beside motorists.[4]
He was remembered favorably by a number of prominent people, including Senator Abraham Ribicoff and Amyas Ames, the chairman of Lincoln Center. United Farm Workers president Cesar Chavez said that his career was proof that management could work with farm labor "for the betterment of all." Black served as a trustee of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The American Jewish Committee, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Babson College, the Jewish Guild for the Blind, and the Jewish Museum. He had also served as chairman of the Commentary Magazine publication committee.[4]
After Black's death, Seymour Milstein and Paul Milstein bought into United Fruit.[5]
Cultural references [ edit ]
Black's suicide was the inspiration for a scene in the 1994 screwball comedy film The Hudsucker Proxy.[6]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ] |
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney smiles as he arrives at a campaign rally outside the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio October 9, 2012. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will stop telling the story of a former U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Libya after the man’s mother complained his death was being politicized.
Romney on the campaign trail on Tuesday began telling the story of Glen Doherty, who he met at a Christmas party a few years ago and learned last week that he had been killed in the assault on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11.
“Governor Romney was inspired by the memory of meeting Glen Doherty and shared his story and that memory, but we respect the wishes of Mrs. Doherty,” the Romney campaign said in a statement on Wednesday.
Doherty’s mother complained about Romney, who faces President Barack Obama on November 6, using the story of her son’s death.
“I don’t trust Romney. He shouldn’t make my son’s death part of his political agenda. It’s wrong to use these brave young men, who wanted freedom for all, to degrade Obama,” Barbara Doherty told 7News in Boston.
Romney had said in Iowa that Glen Doherty and a second former SEAL providing security in Libya did not run from the attack, but ran toward it, and used the story as a metaphor for what he said was the need for Republicans to take over the White House from Obama in the election.
“They didn’t hunker down where they were in safety. They rushed there to go help. This is the American way. We go where there’s trouble. We go where we’re needed. And right now we’re needed. Right now the American people need us,” Romney had said.
A Romney campaign official said Romney would stop telling the story. He told it twice on Tuesday and once on Wednesday. |
Mike Rowe, most famous for his work on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs, posted on Facebook his firsthand experiences with the minimum wage. Growing up, he worked as an usher at a multiplex, earning a minimum wage of only $2.90. After doing numerous unpleasant tasks for three months, he received a raise and worked behind the concession stand. He soon received another raise and became a cashier. Another increase in pay came three months later when he was put in charge of the projector. He eventually worked his way up to $10/hr and was offered an assistant manager position, which he declined.
Rowe went on to reflect upon what would have happened to him back then if the minimum wage had been $10 instead of $2.90. More than likely, as an inexperienced 17-year-old, he would have been passed over for someone with more skills. Accordingly, he would have never gained the experience that he did, and maybe never would have become as successful as he is today. Indeed, Rowe states that during a recent trip to the movies, he asked an employee how much a projectionist makes, only to find out that such a position no longer exists. Employers have chosen mechanization over paying non-skilled workers the minimum wage.
Rowe’s statements and observations are not news to most economists. It has long been accepted that raising the minimum wage cuts out of the labor market those who are least able to afford it. By creating an artificial basement for labor, wage standards do not do anything to increase income. They are merely a form of control that prohibits free exchange below a rate deemed reasonable by the government.
In fact, it seems ironic that politicians stumping for minimum wage hikes so often cite the belief that every citizen should earn a living wage. As Rowe points out, the minimum wage actually harms the least skilled and takes away from them the opportunity to prove themselves as workers.
Younger Americans and minorities are in particular hit the hardest by minimum age, perhaps contributing to the current unemployment rate of 14.2% among workers between 16 and 24, as well as 21.4% for black Americans in that same age bracket.
In the modern era, with minimum wage so much higher than the rate of inflation, a premium is placed on tangible skills. This often puts unskilled laborers in limbo: they must have experience to get a job, but they first need to get a job to earn such experience. Rowe explains with a specific example that modern-day business owners are all too keen upon cutting costs to preserve resources. With technology advancing at a higher rate than ever, it is far too easy for executives to mechanize and make changes earlier than they perhaps were waiting to enact at a later time.
Minimum wage increases also lead to inflation. If entry-level workers are paid a certain rate higher than they currently do, employees who have spent years acquiring skills to earn their keep at their company will certainly want a raise as well. In addition, if the wage differences between lower and higher tiers in a particular company are not distant enough, employees may become complacent in the lower job, knowing that the small increase in pay is not worthy of the extra effort.
If it were true that minimum wage were an effective tool in solving the issue of poverty, it would be easy to enact reforms in inner-cities across the city, simply by raising the minimum wage as high as possible. Luckily, even some of the most optimistic progressives are able to detect the issues that occur once the wage is raised too high. If we can apply those same concerns to a minimum wage rate, we can see that we are doing a disservice to the very same people who we are trying to help. |
In the same way that Sigmund Freud created a way of making sense of the dynamics and passions of the human psyche, the pioneering French sociologist, Emile Durkheim, created a language for understanding our collective moral passions.
Like Freud, Durkheim was a secular Jew, committed to what he understood to be scientific methods of enquiry. Like Freud as well, Durkheim's "science" of moral life was intended not merely to generate abstract knowledge but had a broadly therapeutic intent. For Durkheim, the sociology of moral life played an important role in diagnosing social life, which for him carried over into his influential work in developing a curriculum for a secular moral education across the French school system. Working in the spirit of this Durkheimian project, the Yale cultural sociologist Jeffrey Alexander has referred to this as a "cultural psychoanalysis" through which we might become more aware of the myths and values that move our lives, for good and for ill.
Durkheim's first key move in analysing moral life was to locate it not in the private inner conscience of the superego, but in collective life. He understood the fundamental beliefs which shaped human life as essentially social phenomena. In his classic study, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, published 100 years ago this year, Durkheim wrote that individuals who make up a social group "'feel bound to one another because of their common beliefs". Belief, as he argued, was not a matter of personal opinion or private religious experience, but "belongs to the group and unites it". For our highly individualised, post-reformation culture, in which we naturally think of belief in terms of deep inner conviction, Durkheim's perspective can be challenging. It draws us away from thinking about the inner authenticity of a person's beliefs to thinking about belief as a form of social practice. It opens up the possibility that, rather than being like a piece of software code that runs consistently in the mind of the individual, belief may be an intense but sporadic social experience dependent on particular kinds of group activity.
The second key move in his analysis of moral life was to argue that the most fundamental structure for human belief was the distinction between the sacred and the profane. A decade before completing The Elementary Forms, Durkheim had published a short book on Primitive Classification with his nephew, Marcel Mauss. In the conclusion, they argued that all early attempts by human cultures to categorise the world were ultimately organised in relation to a fundamental category of sacred things. Moreover, this human tendency to regard particular things as sacred persisted, albeit often in less obvious ways, in modern, scientific modes of thinking.
In The Elementary Forms, Durkheim developed this understanding of the sacred much further. Rather than simply being a particular way of making sense of the world, the sacred was something that evoked deep emotions in people, giving them a deep sense of moral energy and conviction. It was something experienced through special forms of collective action that drew groups together around a sacred object in ways that deepened people's sense of group identity and morality. Durkheim's sacred was not some kind of abstract reference to God, or a universal mystical presence. It was a living social reality, dependent on social interaction to charge it up as a powerful force, but which when energised could release a powerful, structuring influence on social life.
Why does this matter? Arguably, it is because Durkheim's work on the sacred offers the starting point for a public language for thinking about that which people take to be fundamental moral realities which exert an unquestionable claim over society. The concept of the profane can similarly help us to think about the role of symbolic representations of evil in social life. But to think about moral realities, such as deep convictions that one should not abuse a child or violate fundamental human rights, as norms produced through social practice can induce a particular kind of moral nausea. It seems to leave us prey to an empty moral relativism in which our deepest moral sentiments are reduced to transient social constructions.
Durkheim was no postmodern ironist, though, overturning the tapestry of social life simply to see how it had been threaded together. As we shall see in later posts in this series, he was a committed social and political activist, who believed that it was necessary to understand the deep moral forces of social life precisely so that these could be harnessed in constructive ways. The past century has given ample testimony of the power of these forces, inspiring not only civil rights protests and the global humanitarian movement, but also being used to legitimise totalitarian government and systematic genocide. By taking up Durkheim's intellectual project, we may begin to develop clearer ways of understanding the roots and forms of these powerful moral forces, as well as their enduring power in our lives today. |
A Japanese man and woman, who met through a suicide website, have apparently killed themselves after forming a death pact.
The 46-year-old dentist and the 25-year-old woman got to know each other through a chat room on the suicide website about a month ago.
They met for the first time a few days before taking their lives at the dentist's home in Fukui prefecture, central Japan, according to reports.
Japanese newspapers said the pair had exchanged numerous e-mails in which they asked for the support of the other in committing suicide.
"If we have a common purpose, we have nothing to fear," the national daily Yomiuri Shimbun quoted one e-mail saying.
Autopsies showed they had died after swallowing lethal quantities of sleeping pills. Reports said suicide notes were found at the scene.
Websites
The dentist, who was separated from his wife, had serious health problems and family trouble, according to news agencies.
The woman, who had recently resigned from her job, was also thought to be worried about family problems.
Reports said they were found by the dentist's wife on Wednesday, but details of the case have only just emerged.
The website where they met provides information on different ways to commit suicide and a bulletin board with messages from people wishing kill themselves.
Police said there were several such sites in Japan.
Cyanide
In December 1998, a young Tokyo woman died after swallowing potassium cyanide acquired from an internet suicide service.
Investigations showed the poison packs, on offer for between $258 and $430, had been ordered by eight people.
Reports said the man who provided the cyanide had stocked enough to kill 3,000 people. He has since killed himself.
Last year another Japanese woman was found unconscious in a hotel room after she posted a message on the internet requesting a suicide drug.
A suspect was later arrested for allegedly sending her 100 sleeping pills.
One of the most popular recent films at the Japanese box office uses a plot twist about a suicide website. |
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (Move your mouse to reveal the content) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (open) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (close)
iad>
j.lk>cr.lk
j.lk>j.hk(fastfall)>cr.lk (can crossup)
j.lk>j.hp>j.hk(fastfall)>cr.lk
j.lk>land>neutral jump j.hp>adc>j.lk>j.hp (first j.lk is for the sake of tricking someone into blocking low in anticipation of a cr.lk)
j.lk>whiff j.mp on crossup>cr.lk (this one can usually only be done on shorter characters, but it’s basically the same as j.lk>j.hk(fastfall)>cr.lk)
For all you people that can't read (video version) (Move your mouse to reveal the content) For all you people that can't read (video version) (open) For all you people that can't read (video version) (close)
j.hp>adc>j.lk>j.hp
iad>j.lk>j.hp
cr.lk>cr.mp(1-2)
cr.mp(1-2)
Rejump airgrab
Not my favorite reset because it’s predictable for two reasons. 1: a lot of people use it so it’s easy to tech against once you see her air dash animation, 2: if you commit to this reset, there is no 50/50; you will either land a grab or they’ll tech it. You’ve already used your airdash, so your only option is to grab or throw out a move that will get YOU grabbed from the opponent’s attempt to tech a grab they were expecting. Use this one sparingly or just when you’re deep in your opponent’s head)
The same as the previous one but way faster and more effective. Your opponent will have an extremely small window to react, meaning it'll be harder to tech the grab or mash a reversal.
a basic vortex that can go a long way, but loses to reversals so don't get predictable with it
can cross up or not depending on how you time j.lp rising
ridiculous reset potential with adc>j.lk>j.hp added to the end
l.sehkmet call>lp/lk(1)>hp/hk>return call
m.sehkmet call>hp/hk>return call
delayed j.grab
cr.mp(1-2)
cr.lk>cr.mk(1-2) (basic crossunder reset, prevents chickenblocking)
iad>j.lk>j.hp
neutral jump>j.hp>adc>j.lk>j.hp
grab(better as a tick throw with cr.lk/cr.lp before)
cr.lp(1-2)>cr.mk/cr.mp(1-2) (crossunder reset that doesn’t hit low, but is easier to hitconfirm off of and can hit sooner)
st.mp>Horus (riskier than previous, but better damage on followup combo. also very punishable and probably the worst option in this vortex)
Just do the same high/low/grab mixups like from j.mk reset simple points, it's really that simple (tick setups are the best here, don't underestimate them)
Low altitude j.qcb.mp>hp/hk on the way down from an air string |
Nearly 3m drivers in Pakistan who opted for alternative to petrol face rationing and likely end of government-subsidised fuel
When Pakistan first started promoting compressed natural gas to the nation's motorists in the 1990s, the alternative to petrol seemed like a wonder fuel.
Getting motorists to convert their cars to run on cleaner, cheaper gas would cure urban pollution and lower demand for the imported oil that was gobbling the country's foreign currency reserves.
Car owners loved it and today 80% of all cars in Pakistan run off compressed natural gas (CNG), according to the Natural and Bio Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA), a European lobby group. Only Iran has more gas cars running on the road.
But as the country struggles with a chronic gas shortage, Pakistan's 20-year CNG experiment seems to have been thrown into reverse gear.
The government has introduced strict rationing. And there have even been discussions about shutting down thousands of gas stations for the whole of thewinter. "CNG is finished in Pakistan," said Owais Qureshi, the owner of a handful of once lucrative gas stations in Rawalpindi. "I'm not going to invest any more money in it."
It has been years since he has been legally allowed to sell and install CNG conversion "kits": essentially large gas cylinders that are placed in the boot of a car to feed the engine. The system allows for cars to still be able to use petrol instead, if required.
Although CNG is popular with an estimated 2.8m motorists in Pakistan, according to the NGVA, the increasingly scarce resource is also in demand from other sectors – including the country's factories and for domestic use.
"The government has been left with little choice but to put a lid on it because there simply isn't much gas left," said Farrukh Saleem, an economist. "It has been a massive policy failure because the government actively promoted CNG knowing full well that natural gas reserves would not last beyond 25 years."
Successive governments heavily subsided CNG, ran schemes to encourage car conversions and dished out licences to political allies to build gas stations.
But abandoned stations are now a common sight around the country. So too are queues of hundreds of motorists waiting to fill their cars on Wednesdays – the last remaining day of the week in many places on which CNG is legally allowed to be sold.
This weekly ordeal for CNG users is compounded by a chronic lack of electricity, the other aspect of Pakistan's energy crisis. And because electricity is needed to run the gas compressors used by CNG stations car re-filling grinds to a halt during the many power cuts.
But cash-strapped motorists are usually prepared to queue for many hours for the gas to be turned back on, with many saying they cannot afford the higher price of petrol.
"All over the world countries are promoting CNG but in Pakistan they are killing it off," said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, chairman of All Pakistan CNG Association.
"If we don't have enough gas we should import LNG [liquid natural gas]."
Pakistan, however, has failed to build the infrastructure needed to import large amounts of gas from overseas. A legal challenge by Pakistan's activist supreme court killed off one scheme to build a massive LNG terminal in Karachi.
The other lifeline for Pakistan's CNG supply is a controversial, multi-billion dollar pipeline to import natural gas from Iran. But Pakistan lacks the cash to build its half of the pipeline and the US has warned that completing the project would be in breach of US economic sanctions imposed on Iran.
Even as natural gas is being touted elsewhere in the world as a great alternative to petrol, soon it may be a mere memory in Pakistan.
Paracha fondly recalls the grand opening of the first CNG station in Karachi, which was built with foreign aid money. "It was the start of a revolution," he said. "Before CNG came you could not see the sky in the cities because the air was so polluted." |
Howdy readers! Long time no see. First off, I’d like to apologize for having not made a new post in over a month. My wife recently gave birth to our first child – a boy – born on July 2nd. As I’m sure you can understand, all of my attention and time has been devoted to learning how to take care of the little guy since he arrived. It’s been a wild ride so far, and we’re only just getting started! Things are starting to calm down now though, and because of that I can finally return to Complete Keto to share more recipes with you.
We’re in the middle of summer right now (the temperature is a hot and humid 90 degrees in Minneapolis today), so I thought I would share one of my favorite summer recipes. When I think of summer food, I think of grilling. A few days ago, I decided to forgo steak and chicken and opted to grill up some pork chops instead. Pork chops are often cheaper than steak and can also offer a great fat content as well. As a note, I always prefer to grill bone-in pork chops. I find great joy in channeling my inner-caveman and chewing meat right off of the bone.
For a side dish, I went with one my favorite vegetables – brussels sprouts. But not just plain old boring brussels sprouts. After all, this is Keto food that we’re talking about here. No, I went with bacon brussels sprouts. I mean, what goes better with pork chops than bacon?
My dinner, prepared:
Let us waste no more time. Here’s the recipe.
What you’ll need:
2 pork chops (I prefer bone-in, but boneless chops work great as well)
1 bag of shredded brussels sprouts
4 slices of bacon
Salt & Pepper
Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice (optional)
For the pork chops:
Step 1: Lay the pork chops down on a large plate and dash a couple of tablespoons of worcestershire sauce on them. Be sure to turn the chops over and dash the sauce on both sides. Let the sauce rest on the meat for 10-15 minutes. Then, sprinkle the pork chops with your desired amount of salt and pepper.
Step 2: Heat up your grill. Aim for medium/high heat. I heated to about 350 degrees F on my gas grill.
Step 3: Toss the pork chops on the grill. Cook on one side for roughly 5 minutes. Then, turn them over and cook on the other side for about 4 minutes. When grilling pork chops, be sure to cook them until the center is no longer pink. The center should be cooked to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). I took mine off of the grill when they looked like this:
Look at those beautiful grill marks!
Step 4: Set the pork chops to the side for at least 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute while the meat cools.
For the Bacon Brussels Sprouts:
Step 1: Heat a large pan over medium heat.
Step 2: Slice the bacon strips into one-inch “bite size” pieces. Toss the bacon strips into the pan.
Step 3: Cook the bacon until it is lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 4: Add the bag of shredded brussels sprouts to the pan. Stir the brussels sprouts with the bacon, allowing for the bacon grease to cover the sprouts:
Step 5: Cook the bacon and brussels sprouts together for another 3-4 minutes or until the bacon in the pan is crispy.
Step 6 (OPTIONAL): Squeeze a light amount of lemon juice over the pan. Sprinkle pepper if desired. The bacon will naturally add saltiness to the dish, but feel free to sprinkle additional salt if desired.
Enjoy! |
The National Insurance number is a number used in the United Kingdom in the administration of the National Insurance or social security system. It is also used for some purposes in the UK tax system. The number is described by the United Kingdom government as a "personal account number".[1] The number is sometimes referred to as a NI No or NINO.[2] Contents
Allocation of number Edit
People born and resident in the UK are assigned a Child Reference Number shortly after birth when a claim is made for Child Benefit.[3] At age 15 years 9 months HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) notifies each child of their NI number.[4] In 1993, a one-off mass allocation of NI numbers was made to all children under the age of 16 whose parents were in receipt of Child Benefit. As a result of this, siblings who met the criteria above were allocated NI numbers sequentially.[5] Persons from abroad who wish to work in the UK, or those to whom a number was not initially allocated as children, must apply for a number through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).[6] The prefixes used are typically different from those used in the normal run.[6][not in citation given]
Format Edit
The format of the number is two prefix letters, six digits and one suffix letter.[7] The example used is typically QQ123456C. Often, the number is printed with spaces to pair off the digits, like this: QQ 12 34 56 C. Neither of the first two letters can be D, F, I, Q, U or V. The second letter also cannot be O. The prefixes BG, GB, NK, KN, TN, NT and ZZ are not allocated.[8] Validation lists of issued two-letter prefixes are published from time to time.[9][10] After the two prefix letters, the six digits are issued sequentially from 00 00 00 to 99 99 99. The last two digits determine the day of the week on which various social security benefits are payable and when unemployed claimants need to attend their Jobcentre to sign on (renew their claims): 00 to 19 for Monday, 20 to 39 for Tuesday, 40 to 59 for Wednesday, 60 to 79 for Thursday and 80 to 99 for Friday.[11][12] The suffix letter is either A, B, C, or D.[7] (although F, M, and P have been used for temporary numbers in the past). The NI number is unique without the suffix letter[citation needed], so, for example, if AB 12 34 56 C exists, then there will be no other numbers beginning with AB 12 34 56 (although temporary numbers were not necessarily unique, because two people with the same date of birth would have had the same number). In official electronic submissions, the final letter may be represented by a space if not known.[13] Until 1975, the suffixes A, B, C and D at the end of the NI number signified the period of validity of the National Insurance cards originally used to collect National Insurance contributions (NICs). Cards were exchanged every twelve months and because of the very large numbers of cards issued the exchange was staggered. Suffix A cards ran from March of one year until March of the next when they were exchanged for a new one. Stagger B suffix cards ran from June until the following June, stagger C from September until the following September and stagger D from December until the following December. For example, a B stagger card issued in 1955 might have run from the first Monday in June that year until the first Sunday in June the following year. This staggered system operated from 5 July 1948 until 1975, at which time the A stagger cards were extended to run an extra five weeks, until 5 April 1975, in line with the end of the tax year. The B, C and D stagger NI Cards had a shorter period of validity in their final year, and ran from June, September and December respectively in 1974 until 6 April 1975. From 6 April 1975 onwards, a computerised National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) was used to allocate all NICs by tax years. In Great Britain, expired NI cards were sorted into one hundred separate groups corresponding to the final two numbers of the NI number and were posted to the individual insured person's NI account (the RF1) by the corresponding one hundred ledger sections at the Records Branch of the Central Office of the Ministry of Labour and its successors—the Ministry of National Insurance (from 1945), Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (1953), the Department of Health and Social Security (1968), Department of Social Security (1988), and Department for Work and Pensions (since 2001). These 100 sections dealt not only with the recording of NI contributions but with requests for information about qualifying contributions necessary to pay sickness, unemployment, widows, and other benefits and also with any correspondence arising from those NI accounts and NI cards. Within each of the 100 sections, NI numbers were allocated among 16 splits with one clerk administering each split. To trace unknown NI numbers, a general index contained millions of small RF2 index slips, filed in order of surname and listing the name(s), date of birth, and NI number for every person within the National Insurance scheme. The Northern Ireland National Insurance scheme is funded and administered separately from the scheme in Great Britain but operates identically so that, in practice, the same rules apply throughout the United Kingdom.
Temporary numbers Edit
Until April 2001, employers sometimes allocated their employees a temporary insurance number, which followed the format "TN dd mm yy x", where 'TN' stands for temporary number and is static and x is M for male, F for female, or P for pensioner and the numbers in the midsection were the employee's date of birth.[8] In the case of a woman born on 31 December 1958, for example, the temporary NI number would have been TN 31 12 58 F. Temporary NI numbers could not be used to trace back any NI credits or personal details. Since 2001 the National Insurance number must be obtained – the temporary code must not now be used.[14] Another type of temporary NI number is the Revenue-issued "temporary reference" used when HMRC is unable to trace a taxpayer's original NI number. It follows the format 63T12345.
Administrative numbers Edit
Reference numbers similar in format to NI numbers are sometimes allocated for tax or benefit purposes with special prefix letters. Special prefixes used in the past include the letters OO (for Tax Credit claims), CR (for investigations), FY (formerly for Attendance Allowance claims, named after the Fylde social security office where claims were processed), MW (used from 1980 to 1987 for migrant workers), NC (formerly for Stakeholder Pensions, PP (for use by pension schemes as PP999999P), and PY or PZ (both used for tax-only accounts created prior to 2003).[7]
Numbercards Edit
From 1984 until 2011, when a person was allocated an NI number they also received a plastic 'numbercard' of similar proportions to a credit card with the number raised on the front. Prior to 1984, a manila notification card was issued instead. The card is only used as a reminder of the number and the card itself is not needed to start work, and is not considered a valid identity card. Numbercards were phased out from September 2010, and the issue of numbercards ceased completely in October 2011. NI numbers are now notified by letter.[15]
Crown dependencies Edit
National Insurance numbers issued in the Isle of Man hold the prefix MA.[16] Similarly, those issued in Jersey start with JY, and those issued in Guernsey hold the prefix GY. Only Channel Island NINOs issued prior to 1975 are validated, and recognised for UK use by HMRC.[17]
Use for tax purposes Edit
The National Insurance number is used as a reference number in the Pay As You Earn system, and also by the self-employed. It is also used in applications for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), to check that an individual has opened only one ISA in a tax year. However, the NI number is not used universally as a tax identification number. Taxpayers who need to file a tax return are given a different number, a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), which is used as a reference number in the self-assessment tax system.[18]
Use for identification Edit
NI numbers are sometimes used for identification purposes in other contexts which have nothing to do with their original National Insurance purpose – such as forming part of evidence of right to work in the UK.[19] The NI card, however, is not proof of identity. |
Someone said on Twitter that we write about booze too much so here’s another way to catch a buzz. You know vibrators? Those formerly embarrassing personal massagers that you can now just wear as a necklace or toss into your basket at Walgreens, no prob? Trojan wants everyone to think they’re household appliances like electric toothbrushes (which you can now use to actually brush your teeth), so the company is giving away 10,000 vibrators at two specially marked hot dog stands parked in as-yet-unannounced locations in Manhattan, according to The Times. One model, the TriPhoria, is pictured above. The other model, the Pulse, is after the jump. Follow Trojan Vibrations on Facebook (at your own peril) to find the giveaway locations tomorrow TODAY and Thursday. UPDATE: Trojan just announced the locations for today (Weds): Meatpacking (teehee) — 14th Street and 10th Avenue; East Village – 3rd Avenue between 12th and 14th St; Flatiron – 5th Avenue between 23rd and 22nd Streets; Financial District – Pearl and Broad Streets.
And for Thursday: Murray Hill – 3rd Avenue between 33rd and 38th Streets. Meatpacking – 14th Street and 10th Avenue; Union Square – 17th Street and Broadway; Soho – Lafayette between Broom and Spring Streets.
Hmmm… would a free vibrator giveaway be the best place ever to meet someone or the absolute most awkward? Maybe just tell everyone you met at a hot dog stand. [via New York Times]
To find out, you have to check Trojan Vibrations on Facebook tomorrow.
Of course.
You know, vibrators are all mainstream these days
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3 Comments |
There is so much more to these NBA playoffs for the Raptors than just the post-season. There are messages to be delivered and notices to be served.
Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has a heated talk with referee Ed Malloy during the game. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 94-87 at the Air Canada Centre April 19, 2014. ( David Cooper / Toronto Star )
If general manager Masai Ujiri might have been a bit intemperate with his “Eff Brooklyn” statement before Game 1 of the series with the Nets, he was simply standing up for an organization that needs to command respect from a league that hasn’t shown much of it in the past half decade. There is more public fight to this group, more feistiness, more standing up for itself than it’s shown, more “We’re fed up and we’re not going to take it any more.” From front office personnel to players, coaches and support staff, it’s as if they’ve finally had enough of being slighted. The first post-season appearance since 2008 is a perfect avenue to get that out.
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It is at so many levels: Ujiri’s “F--- Brooklyn” line was a barb aimed at the Nets who basically threw games to assure a first-round matchup with the Raptors.
It’s the fact a division championship team got the worst possible start time for its playoff opener; 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday is the worst TV time, the worst tip-off time for the internal body clocks of players.
It’s Ed Malloy — considered by many to be one of the worst referees in the NBA — getting the Game 1 officiating assignment on a crew that might have been the weakest overall in the eight weekend playoff openers. It’s all that and more from history that has created this new atmosphere around the team.
All those admissions from the league for blown calls that cost them chances to win games, all the horrible regular-season scheduling like the four-games-in-five-nights-on-the-west-coast-season-killing November trips, the bad calls that have made the organization feel in some way like the redheaded stepchildren of the NBA. It’s not so much disrespect as it is disregard and if there’s one thing Ujiri, Dwane Casey and players want out of this one shot in the spotlight, it’s for the league to take notice and make some changes.
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It’s not that anyone will go on the record to voice the obvious concerns — the possibility of hefty fines tends to dissuade them from doing that — but it is palpable. DeMar DeRozan spoke of it in the abstract last week when he talked about wanting to ensure the Raptors aren’t seen as pushovers by anyone in the league; Casey has talked about the need for respect from the league and officials incessantly over the past three seasons and the post-season has galvanized it and made casual fans sit up and take notice. Ujiri has been the driving force since he arrived as the team’s president and general manager. Fans can be sure the message he delivers to them publicly is being made privately to top NBA officials often. What he wants more than anything is a fair shake, he doesn’t want the franchise to just be known as one the one that’s outside the continental U.S. by agents, fans, rival teams and the league. He and the team have a pulpit now to make some noise and make themselves relevant: They are in a playoff series against a team that comes from the biggest media market in North America. Playing the Nets is a perfect platform to stand up and say, “hey, look at us, we’re here and we’re not going away.”
Raptor coach Dwane Casey talks about Raptor fans
For the first time in a long time, casual NBA observers are taking notice of Toronto and Ujiri wants them to understand the Raptors aren’t just glad to be in their consciousness, he wants them to remain there and if it takes slagging another organization well, that’s what it takes. All they want — particularly in this series against a far more experienced opponent — is a fair whistle and a fair shake and for the league and the other teams to know this is the start of something, not the finish. For the first time in a long time, the Raptors are publicly standing up for themselves, they are using this post-season appearance to demand that the league, the officials, the other teams notice them. It is a new era and they hope the start of a long and good one. In the long run, it probably doesn’t matter too much whether they win or lose the series; what matters is this is a significant first step to letting everyone know the Raptors are finished with slights. RELATED: Raptors rebrand and embrace The North Raptors in the NBA playoffs: An oral history
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The Olympic Weightlifting Squat
The squat is foundational to the Olympic lifts as a position, a movement and a strength exercise. Without a well-developed and consistent squat, neither pulling technique nor pulling power will produce entirely successful Olympic weightlifting. The great natural physical variation among athletes dictates that there will never be a universally perfect prescription for body positioning, but irrespective of this variation, the fundamental principles remain consistent. Continued reliance on them will ensure that modifications from the strict prescription are rational and sound instead of haphazard and likely improper.Because the squat, more so than any other element of the lifts, will be affected by temporary impediments such as limited flexibility, a greater deal of modification will be necessary and allowable during an athlete’s advancement. However, even in the cases of lifters for whom the strictest positioning prescription is initially impossible, this prescription will remain the ultimate goal, and continued efforts toward that end should be made.Be cautious of defying the underlying principles with the excuse of individual variation—often this is inappropriately cited when the actual cause of an athlete's inability to adhere to these prescriptions is entirely correctable over time, such as flexibility-related limitations or simply stubborn habits. It's necessary to critically evaluate each athlete individually to make accurate determinations—avoid allowing an athlete to continue poor habits due simply to laziness or frustration with slow progress and, more importantly, increase the risk of injury.The depth of an Olympic squat should not even be a topic of discussion, but because there has been and continues to be discussion among coaches and athletes in sports outside of weightlifting, it warrants at least clarification: proper depth is full depth; full depth means full depth. That is, full depth is not parallel, nor is it breaking parallel—it is squatting to the lowest position possible without surgical alteration of body parts while maintaining correct posture. To simplify, we want to close the knee joint maximally while maintaining a correctly arched back.Depth is measured by the position of the hips, and the depth of the hips is governed by the position of the knees, the degree of dorsiflexion of the ankles, the absolute and relative lengths of the upper and lower leg, the horizontal position of the hips relative to the feet, the width and degree of external rotation of the feet, and the mass of the upper and lower legs. These factors are largely interdependent, and a change in one will typically effect change in others.If the knees are prevented from moving forward over the feet, as is taught by many coaches and trainers, the hips must travel farther back behind the feet. With the hips behind the athlete’s base, the torso must be inclined forward to a greater degree in order for the athlete’s center of mass to remain balanced over the feet. If the hips are lowered from this position, flexibility will restrict the spine’s ability to remain correctly arched, forcing the athlete to curl forward, again to remain balanced. For what should be fairly obvious reasons, neither of these positions will allow the safe and effective support of a barbell in the positions it must be received in the snatch and clean. (Note that very short-legged athletes will be able to achieve a proper squat depth and position without the knees passing significantly forward of the toes.) Moving the knees in front of the toes is not a goal itself, but something that must be allowed to happen in order to achieve the depth and trunk orientation we need.Inadequate ankle flexibility can also result in the knees remaining too far back—if the ankles are unable to dorsiflex to a great enough degree, the lower leg cannot reach an angle sufficient to bring the knees into a position that allows the hips to reach their intended placement. This is the reason for the lifted heel of weightlifting shoes—elevation of the heel effectively increases the ankles’ range of motion.Femur length will affect the depth of each athlete’s squat simply by dictating how far away from the knees the hips will be. Athletes with great flexibility and long femurs will display extraordinarily deep squat positions, while their shorter-femured counterparts will appear higher even when at their maximal depth. For some athletes, femur length will exceed what can be compensated for through ankle flexibility in the basic squat position, and adjustments will need to be made to allow a better bottom position.For individuals with largely muscled legs and who are capable of very upright torso positions in the bottom of the squat, the hips may not be particularly low relative to the knees even when the knees are closed completely.As the base from which all movement and positioning originates, the placement of the feet will dramatically influence the squat. The width of the stance and degree of external rotation will affect the movement and position of the hips and back, and will often be the deciding factor in whether a squat is successful or failed, mechanically sound or injurious. Individual variation notwithstanding, the feet must be positioned in a manner that allows and encourages proper biomechanics of the legs, hips and back, while allowing the greatest possible range of motion and supporting the unique positional and movement characteristics of the Olympic lifts.Anthropometrics—in particular relative leg segment lengths—and hip anatomy will dictate appropriate width and rotation of the feet. Flexibility limitations and similar impediments may prevent an athlete from immediately achieving this ultimately proper positioning, but again, these are temporary obstacles that should be corrected.The starting foot placement will be slightly outside hip-width at the heels with the toes turned out comfortably—generally between approximately 20-35 degrees from center. With the athlete sitting at the bottom of the squat in this basic position, adjustments can be quickly made according to leg segment and trunk lengths, hip anatomy, and ankle and knee alignment to place him or her in the proper position.From here, there are two basic criteria with which we’re concerned: When viewed from directly above, the foot and thigh are approximately parallel with each other; when viewed from the front of the toe, the foot is approximately underneath the knee. The hips should sit in between the heels somewhat; in other words, the heel will not be directly under the thigh, but slightly outside of its centerline. This positioning will keep the knees and ankles aligned well, but will also allow for slightly improved depth, and, more importantly, a more absorptive bottom position—that is, the final position will be structurally sound without having an abrupt and jarring stop.With these relationships established—assuming the hips are at full possible depth—the remaining positional relationships will be unavoidably correct. This allows for a wide range of potential external rotation—athletes will in general naturally find what is most comfortable for them. That said, some athletes will need to be told explicitly to spread the knees farther than they wish; occasionally athletes will prefer a stance that prevents the hips from reaching adequate depth between the thighs due to the structures of the upper thighs being pushed into the forward edges of the pelvis. If the athlete is unable to achieve adequate depth and back extension, particularly if he or she is also feeling pressure near the front of the hips, a more externally rotated stance is more than likely needed.What this positioning achieves is simple but important— biomechanically sound alignment of the involved joints , optimizing performance and reducing the risk of injury.These relationships of the feet and leg segments should be maintained for the duration of the movement—in other words, the knees should follow the line described by the angle of the feet as the athlete descends and recovers. For many athletes, this will, at least initially, require they consciously make an effort to push the knees out to the sides as the tendency will be for the knees to collapse inward From this basic position, there will be a degree of adjustment possible without considerable violation of these relationships. That is, once in this starting position, the athlete will find he or she can move the feet in and out and turn the toes in and out slightly and continue to meet the criteria fairly well. This small range will allow some latitude for personal preference, and the lifter is encouraged to experiment within this range until the most comfortable position is found.The effect of hip width on foot placement should be self-explanatory—this is the origin of the legs and consequently the starting point for the stance. Relative leg segment length affects how far back the foot travels relative to the thigh as the knee flexes. The longer the lower leg is relative to the upper leg, the farther toward the hip the foot will be when the knee is closed—this means that the longer the lower leg is relative to the upper leg, the closer the feet will be in a sound squat position. In other words, the overall length of the legs is not enough to determine squat stance—how that length is created is what matters.The foot position should be identical for all squat variations—back squat, front squat, overhead squat—and all receiving positions except the split in the jerk—snatch, clean, power snatch, power clean, power jerk, squat jerk. Many athletes will assume different foot positions for each type of squat—this is an indicator that the athlete has not learned and developed a correct squat position, and is likely in need of improved flexibility.Read more about the Olympic squat in Olympic Weightlifting: A Complete Guide for Athletes & Coaches by Greg Everett |
The majority of federal politicians who have announced their retirement this year will be paid annual pensions of at least $118,000 - and in some cases much more - adding more than $2 million to the annual bill.
Of the 22 MPs and senators who have already announced they will not re-contest the upcoming election, 16 are believed to be eligible for the controversial Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme.
Former ministers Warren Truss and Ian Macfarlane are among 16 retiring MPs who will benefit from a generous six-figure parliamentary pension. Credit:Andrew Meares
Only available to politicians elected before 2004, the defined benefits scheme already costs taxpayers more than $40 million a year.
Eight Coalition and eight Labor MPs are set to qualify this time and most will be paid a minimum of $118,125 – or 75 per cent of a current MPs base salary for superannuation purposes of $157,500. |
On Nov. 18, 1993, Nirvana took a trip to New York City and taped their iconic 'Unplugged' set for MTV. The special aired less than a month later on Dec. 14, adding yet another immortal moment to Nirvana's vast list of achievements. However, 20 years later, MTV has revealed that at the insistence of Kurt Cobain , drummer Dave Grohl almost didn't perform at the 'Unplugged' set.
To celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Nirvana's 'MTV Unplugged in New York' concert, the TV channel released some special behind-the-scenes footage along with testimonies from those who made the event possible. MTV writes that "there isn't one thing you'd change" about the concert, which legions of Nirvana fanatics certainly agree with, but according to MTV, Dave Grohl almost didn't make the cut.
"What I didn't know was up until the day [of the 'Unplugged performance], there was talk of Dave [Grohl] not playing at all in the show," Alex Coletti, who produced 'Unplugged,' remembers. "Kurt wasn't happy with the way rehearsals were going; he didn't like the way Dave sounded playing drums with sticks … He's a heavy hitter, and the thing about 'Unplugged,' especially with rock bands, is if the drummer doesn't really, really get it under control and tries to play a rock show on a smaller kit, then it brings the show to a bad-sounding electric show instead of a good-sounding acoustic show."
Coletti handled the situation by sending a production assistant to Sam Ash to buy Grohl some new gear, including wire brushes and sizzle sticks. As a strong suggestions disguised as an early Christmas present, Grohl accepted the gear and went on to perform with his new gifts during 'Unplugged.'
Though Grohl knocked it out of the park during the intimate concert, Cobain chose to play 'Pennyroyal Tea' alone, which was completely undecided until mid-performance. "Am I gonna do this by myself?" Cobain asks onstage. Looking a bit frustrated, Grohl responds, "Do it by yourself." "I think that song meant a lot to him," says 'Unplugged' director Beth McCarthy-Miller." I think it was very personal and I think he wanted it to feel simple and raw and just him singing his heart out. And I think any of the other instruments were getting in the way of the emotion of the song for him."
Watch MTV's retrospective of Nirvana's 'Unplugged' show in the videos above and below.
'Nirvana's 'Unplugged' Turns 20: A Look Back' |
A new Gallup poll finds 42% of Americans, on average, identified as political independents in 2013, the highest measured in 25 years. Meanwhile, Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years but down from 36% in 2008.
The percentage of Americans identifying as independents grew over the course of 2013, surging to 46% in the fourth quarter. That coincided with the partial government shutdown in October and the problematic rollout of major provisions of the healthcare law, commonly known as "Obamacare."
Image from: Gallup
Democrats maintain their six-point edge in party identification when independents' "partisan leanings" are taken into account. In addition to the 31% of Americans who identify as Democrats, another 16% initially say they are independents but when probed say they lean to the Democratic Party. An equivalent percentage, 16%, say they are independent but lean to the Republican Party, on top of the 25% of Americans identifying as Republicans. All told, then, 47% of Americans identify as Democrats or lean to the Democratic Party, and 41% identify as Republicans or lean to the Republican Party.
Image from: Gallup
The rise in political independence is likely an outgrowth of Americans' record or near-record negative views of the two major U.S. parties, of Congress, and their low level of trust in government in general. |
There is no excuse for working-class and poor people to participate in the cultural depravity that is, Black Friday. Others have argued differently, such as Luke O’Neil, a writer from Boston who recently penned an article in the Washington Post, entitled “Black Friday Brawl Videos are How Rich People Shame the Poor.”
In the article, Luke concludes, “And we, the advantaged, sit at home in front of our computers and tablets and phones, all of which we’ve already purchased at non-bargain prices, and delight in the spectacle.” How are the people whose lives are filled with electronic distractions, “advantaged?” To me, this is a sad understanding of what privilege truly is. Surely it’s not the ability to become addicted to electronic devices.
Undoubtedly, whites own a privileged status in US society, as do males, the rich, etc. In light of events in Ferguson, some whites are beginning to understand that their chances of being arrested, jailed, killed, robbed or unemployed, are far less than their black or brown counterparts. There are those who still disagree, to be sure. But the numbers are dwindling as the baby-boomers die.
Yet, conceptually, we’re stuck in an awkward position. On the one hand, whites are privileged, as mentioned above. On the other hand, many whites in US society have been fully metabolized into the capitalist system, gorging themselves on consumer products, racking-up gigantic portions of debt and surrendering their senses to mass-media garbage and suburban-hell. Indeed, this can’t be considered a privileged position.
In like manner, the same dynamic is at play when people speak about gays in the military, or women in the infantry. Are straight males really privileged to be able to serve in the world’s most violent empire? To be clear, I’m not arguing that gays or women can’t kill as efficiently and masterfully as men; I’m asking why would they want to?
Is military service truly progress for the gay community? Does allowing women to serve in the infantry, 33% of whom already report military sexual assault during their time in the service, honestly represent feminist thought, activism and ideals? I don’t think so, and neither do my female friends.
Many who live and organize in black and brown communities are terribly disgusted when they see people from those same communities assaulting each other for a flat screen TV or video game system. My friends who organize in poor white communities feel the same way when they see images of impoverished whites battling over objects. Mindless acts are not inherently justified simply because the working-class, poor, or disadvantaged engage in them.
This is where the nuance is important in one’s political analysis and activism. Do progressive activists really think Ella Baker, Malcolm X, Frida Kahlo or Emma Goldman would apologize for Black Friday shoppers? Would the Black Panthers, SNCC, or the Wobblies apologize for Black Friday madness?
At a time when working-class and poor communities around the world are being attacked, killed, imprisoned, tortured and impoverished, decent-minded people are looking for answers, as opposed to easy scape goats such as the poor. I think that’s a great thing. However, we must always remain critical of one another, even if that means occasionally getting into heated discussions or disagreements.
Dr. King significantly challenged the white community, but also the black community; Malcolm X and Ella Baker did the same. Today, our leadersencourage us to shop, compromise, forget and consume. It is an obvious sign of moral decay and cultural bankruptcy that Thanksgiving is a holiday, let alone a shopping extravaganza.
From a different angle, but with the same logic, the left has already played this game with Obama. Since there’s a powerful right-wing that continues to defame the President, many liberals and leftists have kept their mouths shut about Obama’s crimes, hoping to quell some of the illegitimate attacks. This has resulted in disastrous policies being swept under the rug for fear of being perceived a racist.
It’s important for the left to distance itself from liberal-ideology while simultaneously providing alternatives to the right-wing and centrism. To put it differently, just because FoxNews and Rush Limbaugh badger Black Friday shoppers, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a kernel of truth in their denunciations. While leftists won’t do so with racist terms or reactionary messaging, we must still denounce materialism, consumerism and capitalist culture.
Sometimes, it’s true that the right-wing’s commentary should be ignored, as in the case of Ferguson or Climate Change. On the other hand, when it comes to Obama, Democrats or Black Friday, the left should pay closer attention. There’s a reason people gravitate toward these messages, and it’s not simply due to their simplicity.
Obama has failed poor-black communities. The Democrats do not provide an alternative to GOP insanity. And Black Friday is the symbol of a morally bankrupt and banal culture. It makes no sense for leftists to apologize for the unforgivable. But it makes plenty of sense for leftists to provide alternatives to the status quo.
As Gail Dines reminds us, just because the right-wing opposes pornography, that doesn’t make it a wonderful thing. The left also needs to apply critical analysis to the porno-industry, or, as Gail says, “Industrialized Sex.” There’s nothing liberating about long-term psychological and physical damage, economic exploitation and social alienation. In a lot of ways, the left needs to stop gravitating toward easy-to-digest answers.
Britain recently banned several “sexual acts” in their pornography film industry. Leftists and liberals throughout the US went nuts on Twitter and Facebook, posting quotes from “New Atheists” and a slew of uninspiring diatribes aimed at the right-wing. Obviously, these people didn’t realize that a good portion of the coalition that led the fight against these acts were women who had been abused while formerly working in the industry.
With regard to Black Friday, I think a lot of these misunderstandings stem from an oversimplification and glorification of the “working-class” and “poor.” Sure, we should always err on the side of the oppressed. Nevertheless when oppressed communities participate in behavior that reinforces their own oppression and alienation, we must reject such acts and simultaneously provide real-world alternatives.
For example, just because my union friends are in unions doesn’t make them progressives. Plenty of people I know leave union meetings only to bad-mouth blacks and immigrants at the local pub. How is this progressive? On the contrary, I’ve been in Latin American communities where I’ve heard Muslims discussed in a negative manner. In both cases, I offer my reflections and judgements.
All in all, these issues are extremely complex. Simply saying, ‘Black Friday is an activity working-class and poor people disproportionately participate in, so let’s not criticize it,’ is morally inadequate and intellectually lazy. We shouldn’t diminish our potential allies, but we also shouldn’t apologize for terrible behavior.
We should be educating people and informing them that the very objects they’re purchasing have been made by women and children of color in sweatshops throughout the Global South. I don’t find that sort of criticism offensive, and neither should those in the US who are interested in creating a less hierarchical, oppressive and exploitative world.
Yes, we should try and better understand and engage people who camp outside big-box stores in order to purchase consumer goods with debt-laden credit cards. Meanwhile, organizers and activists should offer free community-entertainment, handmade crafts, pot luck dinners or neighborhood concerts on Black Friday. Alternative cultural activities would greatly help, as many people feel lonely and isolated during the holiday season.
Now, more than ever, we need working-class and poor people to be critical of not only the institutions of power, but of ourselves. We need more people to stand up and ask each other: Why should we continue to consume? Why should we continue to be slaves to objects? Is there not more to life than shopping, buying and having?
Shopping might fill a momentary void, but it ultimately leads to more despair, debt, anguish and alienation. To me, there’s nothing radical, moral or reasonable about allowing our fellow brothers and sisters to participate in such toxic behaviors. Again, I agree that we should reserve the vast majority of our vitriol for those in power. Yet we must remain critical of each other—always with respect and in solidarity. |
What's become of Arrow Season 4?
What’s become of Arrow Season 4?
I’d considered opening this piece with one of those cloying “Is it just me or…” rhetorical questions, but let’s just go straight to the declaration: Arrow seems thoroughly bored with itself.
The fourth season of the CW hit didn’t start out that way.
In fact, after what’s generally viewed as a lackluster year in Season 3, the show bolted out of the bow with renewed vigor. A new, lighter approach, a focus on the fantastical world of magic, and a blast of a villain giving Neal McDonough five-course meals of scenery to chew gave the show a seeming fresh start. Incorporating more explicit elements from the Green Arrow comic books, including the name; an expanded focus on the team; and a more mature manner of involving the divisive romantic relationship between Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak, which frequently devloved into groan-worthy teen melodrama the year before, all propped up a series that seemed to find its legs again.
Even the flashbacks, often cited by viewers as bothersome distractions from an episode’s main story — Season 2 aside — seemed better connected and far more interesting this year.
Yet, it was all a bit deceptive.
Both Arrow and The Flash were charged this season with helping establish and instigate another spinoff of this shared universe, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. While The Flash mostly relegated Kendra Saunders’ appearances to cameo work while it set up its Zoom and Earth-2 stories, Arrow did the heavier lifting by having to bring back both Sara Lance and Ray Palmer. Sure, The Flash spent an episode on giving us Leonard Snart backstory, as well as setting up Jax Jackson as Ronnie Raymond’s replacement for Firestorm, but these were primarily single episodes that didn’t feel like they hung over or detracted from the main season story arc the series was setting up.
Sara’s resurrection hung heavily over the first run of episodes of Arrow this year, as did Ray’s disappearance and eventual discovery and return. These were good threads that kept the audience engaged and paid off in the annual crossover that served as the backdoor pilot for Legends. Their resolutions also revealed a problem: there was less of a concise motivation for this season than originally thought.
What is Genesis, the seeming world-altering H.I.V.E. plan that we know nothing about except the field of grain underground that would appear to be tied to the biochem gas agent that Darhk tried to use on Team Arrow to exterminate them? (Everyone remembers back to that episode, right?)
What about magic? Darhk’s powers have been taken from him since his talisman was destroyed by Mari McCabe. They’ve hinted at Baron Reiter being around in the present with his connections to Shadowspire, the group that infiltrated A.R.G.U.S. and killed Amanda Waller. Mostly, he’s been relegated to increasingly awful and terminally boring flashback scenes about his search for magic ability on Lian Yu that feel like Oliver and Taiana are protagonists in a Z-grade adventure horror movie. What seemed to be such a game (and world) changing force all but peaked in the episode where John Constantine helps reconstitute Sara’s soul with her reborn body.
What about Anarky? We get an interesting origin for the chaotic bugger, only to trot him out for a kidnapping plot that buys tentative peace between Team Arrow and Darhk. I’m sure he’ll put in another appearance or two before the season’s out, but his entire approach and participation seem far more controlled than anarchic.
There’s Malcolm, who is once again just kind of there, getting to leer from the shadows with a slinged appendage now. There’s Andy Diggle, a wildcard who is not really so wild, but now seems to serve as yet another superfluous wedge to pit Team Arrow against one another. We broke up the Olicity relationship to stir the drama pot, so why not the whole team yet again?
And there’s little William, Oliver’s son, forced to be the wedge to split Oliver and Felicity, and then quickly shunted off to parts unknown in a convenient way to not have to deal with real story ramifications of father and son being in each other’s lives. William’s use was very writerly in the facacta visitation plan between Oliver and Samantha that all but stamped drama on everything with a metal press, and very writerly in the inelegant way in which they hooked him off the stage.
The one new lasting element seemed to be the one they hoped would sustain interest throughout the year: Who is in the grave?
Yet, even that supposedly tantalizing trope quickly lost its luster. Having your creative team parade through interviews early on saying that even they didn’t know who was in the grave to that point didn’t percolate the mystery in the ways intended. Instead, it inadvertently established a baseline for a seeming inability to break a compelling season story and arc that recalled the issues with plotting that plagued Season 3.
Rumors have surfaced about the character that supposedly meets their demise. (We aren’t going to share them here for those who would like to remain spoiler free, and we’d ask you to respect that in the comments. Though, we’ll certainly be removing any comments that directly reference those rumors. Guess all you want, but don’t ruin things for others with any specifics if it turns out to be true.) Others have since been ruled out. Yet, I hardly see much of any buzz going about this core question that’s supposed to be driving the season.
More important, the show really seems to care very little. Usually around this time, we’ll get a string of three or four episodes that really re-establish the main threat for the season, building to that final run of episodes to close out the year. Yet, this season, nothing so far.
In its place, we get drivel like this past week’s “Beacon of Hope,” where the most exciting thing about the episode was if you played a drinking game about the number of times people said the episode’s title. The alcohol poisoning potential was high. There are almost always one or two things to enjoy in any episode of the show — in this case, Curtis was fun, if bordering a tad on shrill — but an hour that reduced Emily Bett Rickards, Charlotte Ross, and Willa Holland to B-movie theatrics (no pun intended), set Oliver’s progression back 15 paces (yet again), and tried to bring the funny with awful puns feels more like an M.O. than an anomaly right now.
The show simply seems bored with itself. Even much of the action feels perfunctory and choreographed to within millimeters of its life rather than fierce, visceral, spontaneous, and explosive. Sure, things pick up in the final third of the season, like every year, but too much feels like going through the motions now. Last year, some of this sluggishness seemed to be a result of the creative team being split to get The Flash off the ground. This year, there were two new shows, Legends and CBS’ Supergirl, that divided the cabal. One can’t pin it solely on the shifted efforts, but it’s hard to deny at least some effect on both of the elder CW shows.
One can’t help but feel bad for the performers. We know they are game for lots of things, but after being handed the umpteenth version of the same dramatic beats and tropes each year, it’s got be hard to push through what’s sure to be some natural disinterest and work to keep things fresh.
Arrow doesn’t feel lost like it did last year, trying to make anything work. It feels more like a victim of its success, and a slave to a formula that really only worked well for a single season. Rather than being desperate to make that formula work this year, though, it seems merely content to just be on the air. I’m sure we’re in store for shocks aplenty in the final six episodes in that way Arrow does to try to make it seem like the whole season was a pressure cooker. Yet, shocks are as good as a handful of candy. It’s good in the moment, but too often not something long-lasting or memorable.
We’re still left with two questions: where is Arrow going this year, and where is it going for the future?
I can’t speak for others, though I’ve certainly heard similar comments, but I just don’t find either question to be particularly pressing. More, the series just doesn’t seem to have the gas any longer to press them.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the staff and site management of GreenArrowTV as a whole. |
Labour politician Andy Burnham is becoming “a paler version of Nigel Farage”, a leading Tory MP has claimed.
Ken Clarke made the comments amid growing backlash to Mr Burnham’s recent criticism of immigration. The former Labour leadership candidate said in a House of Commons speech last week that Labour’s position of supporting free movement of people is “undermining the cohesion of the UK”.
Mr Burnham told MPs that places such as Greater Manchester “continue to take in the vast majority of the country’s asylum seekers and refugees and largely they do so without any strife or difficulty. I don’t want to hear anyone claim that people in places like Leigh that voted to leave are in any way xenophobic or racist.
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“They are welcoming, generous people but they also want fairness and they don’t think it’s fair that the country’s least well-off communities should experience pressure on wages, on housing, on public services… without any help to manage it.”
Mr Burnham, who is MP for Leigh, stood by his comments, today telling Sky News: “I believe we’ve got to have a system that is more linked to people coming to fill a specific job in the labour market rather than speculative free movement, which has actually caused some difficult challenges in parts of Greater Manchester. We’ve seen downward pressure on wages.”
Appearing in an interview on Sky News after Mr Burnham, Mr Clarke expressed distaste at the Labour MP’s comments, saying he did not understand immigration unlike Foreign Secretary Boris Johson.
Mr Clarke said: “Unlike Andy, going on about free movement of labour, sounding a bit like a paler version of Nigel Farage, Boris has never been anti-immigrant. Boris does realise that the economic interests of Britain are helped if we have free access to the biggest open market in the world.”
Mr Burnham’s comments have also provoked a backlash from within his own party, with Lord Spencer Livermore warning Labour politicians should not indulge “the dangerous fantasy” that the UK is besieged by immigration through “extreme” pronouncements. He told The Guardian: “It just feels like the direction of travel at the moment is all in one direction, and Labour is lurching too far towards an anti-immigration position that hasn’t necessarily been thought through.”
An apparent move towards anti-immigration rhetoric by some in the left has been linked to the recent surge in support for Ukip and anti-EU sentiment.
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott appeared to later contradict Mr Burnham’s comments, expressing her support for freedom of movement as part of Brexit negotiations. She said: “Access to the single market and freedom of movement are inextricably linked and it would be wrong, and the Labour party has said this over and over again, it would be wrong to put the economy anything other than first.
“There’s going to be negotiation, but it’s misleading to suggest to people, as some people do, that we can access to the single market and just dump freedom of movement.”
Shape Created with Sketch. Nobel winner slates Britain's 'stupid' immigration reforms Show all 8 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Nobel winner slates Britain's 'stupid' immigration reforms 1/8 04-nobelwinner1-gt.jpg Prof Sir Andre Geim: Russian-born, he now holds dual British and Dutch nationality. In 2005, he and his team isolated graphene, a one-atom-thick carbon material which is 200 times stronger than steel and several times tougher than diamond, winning him the Nobel Prize for Physics. It can hold a charge similar to a battery – when charged for two to three seconds it powers a small light for five minutes. Getty Images 2/8 04-nobelwinner2.jpg Nadir Lalani: A Tanzania-born Pakistani who came to the UK in 1973 with very little money to his name. He opened a convenience store before founding the chain of 99p stores in 2001, the first in Holloway, north London, which has now expanded to 200 shops across the country. 3/8 04-nobelwinner3.jpg Levi Roots: Born Keith Graham, he came to the UK with his Jamaican parents at the age of five. Roots, 54, secured £50,000 investment for his Reggae Reggae Sauce from TV’s Dragons’ Den reality show. The sauce, and other lines, are now in supermarkets and Roots has made a £30m fortune. 4/8 04-nobelwinner4-gt.jpg Margaret Hodge: Born in Egypt to Jewish émigré parents, she arrived in the UK at the age of five. Despite having little money, her father started a steel company, Stemcor, which is now the sixth-largest UK company in private ownership. She is the Labour MP for Barking, a former minister, and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Getty Images 5/8 04-nobelwinner5-bbc.jpg James Caan: Born in Pakistan in 1960, the son of Bangladeshi parents, he came to the UK when he was aged two. His father had little money and no job but started a clothing company. The young Caan started his own recruitment company and later founded the venture capitalist firm. Best known from BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den. BBC 6/8 04-nobelwinner6-AFPgt.jpg Sir Partha Dasgupta: Born in Bangladesh, Sir Partha was educated at Cambridge in the 1960s but earned less than the minimum pay requirement (in today’s prices) after graduating. He is now emeritus professor of economics at Cambridge and a fellow of the Royal Society. Knighted in 2002 for services to economics. AFP/Getty Images 7/8 04-nobelwinner7.jpg Rajesh Agrawal: Born in India, he was earning £65 a month before coming to the UK in 2001 at the age of 24 with £200 in his back pocket. He founded the independent foreign exchange firm RationalFX in a small office in Brighton. The company had a turnover last year of £474m. 8/8 04-nobelwinner8-AFPgt.jpg Prof Richard Portes: US-born academic who was appointed a fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, in the 1960s, earning £22,000 in today’s terms. Founded the Centre for Economic Policy Research in 1983, is now professor of Economics at London Business School and a fellow of the British Academy. AFP/Getty Images 1/8 04-nobelwinner1-gt.jpg Prof Sir Andre Geim: Russian-born, he now holds dual British and Dutch nationality. In 2005, he and his team isolated graphene, a one-atom-thick carbon material which is 200 times stronger than steel and several times tougher than diamond, winning him the Nobel Prize for Physics. It can hold a charge similar to a battery – when charged for two to three seconds it powers a small light for five minutes. Getty Images 2/8 04-nobelwinner2.jpg Nadir Lalani: A Tanzania-born Pakistani who came to the UK in 1973 with very little money to his name. He opened a convenience store before founding the chain of 99p stores in 2001, the first in Holloway, north London, which has now expanded to 200 shops across the country. 3/8 04-nobelwinner3.jpg Levi Roots: Born Keith Graham, he came to the UK with his Jamaican parents at the age of five. Roots, 54, secured £50,000 investment for his Reggae Reggae Sauce from TV’s Dragons’ Den reality show. The sauce, and other lines, are now in supermarkets and Roots has made a £30m fortune. 4/8 04-nobelwinner4-gt.jpg Margaret Hodge: Born in Egypt to Jewish émigré parents, she arrived in the UK at the age of five. Despite having little money, her father started a steel company, Stemcor, which is now the sixth-largest UK company in private ownership. She is the Labour MP for Barking, a former minister, and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Getty Images 5/8 04-nobelwinner5-bbc.jpg James Caan: Born in Pakistan in 1960, the son of Bangladeshi parents, he came to the UK when he was aged two. His father had little money and no job but started a clothing company. The young Caan started his own recruitment company and later founded the venture capitalist firm. Best known from BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den. BBC 6/8 04-nobelwinner6-AFPgt.jpg Sir Partha Dasgupta: Born in Bangladesh, Sir Partha was educated at Cambridge in the 1960s but earned less than the minimum pay requirement (in today’s prices) after graduating. He is now emeritus professor of economics at Cambridge and a fellow of the Royal Society. Knighted in 2002 for services to economics. AFP/Getty Images 7/8 04-nobelwinner7.jpg Rajesh Agrawal: Born in India, he was earning £65 a month before coming to the UK in 2001 at the age of 24 with £200 in his back pocket. He founded the independent foreign exchange firm RationalFX in a small office in Brighton. The company had a turnover last year of £474m. 8/8 04-nobelwinner8-AFPgt.jpg Prof Richard Portes: US-born academic who was appointed a fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, in the 1960s, earning £22,000 in today’s terms. Founded the Centre for Economic Policy Research in 1983, is now professor of Economics at London Business School and a fellow of the British Academy. AFP/Getty Images
Following his election as new Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall has said the party’s strategy is to “replace Labour” by appealing to working-class voters, especially in the north of England who would have traditionally supported the party. Addressing supporters during a victory speech, Mr Nuttall said: “My ambition is not insignificant – I want to replace the Labour Party and make Ukip the patriotic voice of working people.”
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The minister for the national capital region endorsed the chosen location for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism Wednesday, saying downtown Ottawa doesn’t need another government building.
Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre said he saw no need to move the memorial away from its planned site on Wellington Street near the Supreme Court of Canada, despite objections from architectural groups, Mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa-area MPs, who have asked the government to find another home for the project.
The memorial will occupy about half the 5,000-square-metre site on Confederation Boulevard between the Supreme Court and Library and Archives Canada.
“I think we’ve established a site and at this point I don’t see any need to change that,” Poilievre said.
The spot for the memorial is the same location government planning documents cite as the location of a new Federal Court building named for former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The previous Liberal government put the project on hold in 2005, and nothing has happened since.
“All that I’m hearing as an alternative is that we have yet another government building in downtown Ottawa and I haven’t had anybody call my office saying Ottawa needs more government buildings,” Poilievre said in an interview with the Citizen. “We want to have this tribute in a place where people will actually see it and that is the case with the planned site.”
The size and scope of the memorial have raised concerns from some architects and critics that it would overshadow the 75-year-old Supreme Court building, while an expert panel six years ago warned the National Capital Commission that the memorial didn’t meet NCC criteria for commemorations. The NCC’s External Committee of Experts on Commemorations said the theme for the memorial was “not sufficiently a Canadian story,” according to the minutes of its Feb. 19, 2009 meeting obtained by the Citizen.
“There are eight million Canadians who trace their roots back to countries that were, or are, oppressed by communism. Our soldiers fought in the Korean War to push back communism. As a result of their effort and the effort of our allies, South Korea is free today,” Poilievre told reporters at an event in Sandy Hill.
“This is one of the most murderous and odious ideologies in the history of humanity. It’s appropriate that we remember it and Canada’s contribution to defeating it.”
The government promised in the 2013 throne speech to complete the memorial, which now is set to cost $5.5 million with the federal government providing about $3 million. Tribute to Liberty, the group behind the memorial, must raise the remainder.
Poilievre said he hasn’t received any requests for extra cash, but wouldn’t say what the government’s plan is should fundraising efforts fall short.
“I don’t want to speculate on hypotheticals,” Poilievre said. “They have a budget and the project should work within those confines.”
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Please feel free to light a candle or share a memory. ♥
“He took my heart and ran with it, and he’s running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his, forever.”
In April of 2005 my sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and I, along with my sister's dog, Zoe, were in a car accident. We couldn't take Zoe with us as we were being transported to the hospital to be examined, so dog control held on to Zoe. She escaped from them, and despite our searching, we found that she had been hit by a car a few days later.
It was three days after that when my sister went to the SPCA to adopt another dog, with the idea that it would help her to cope with the loss of Zoe. We found a scared, seven month old Rottweiler mix there, "Emerald". He'd been a stray transferred to our area's SPCA from the city nearby. We brought the family dog, Brutus, to meet him. Old Brutus approved. My sister and her (now) husband adopted "Emerald" there and then.
I still remember the car ride home. The poor puppy was terrified. He didn't want to get in the car, so my brother-in-law had to carry him in the truck. He rode the whole way home in the front passenger seat, over his shoulder.
"Emerald" was quickly renamed Khloe, as my sister wanted it to rhyme with Zoe. A girly name, but it fit him somehow - though we joked from time to time about how no one had thought of a 'boy' name like Joey!
My sister now says that adopting this dog was the wrong decision for her … But it was one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Khloe was my dog from the start. I was about 10 or 11 years old when he joined my life, and from the start we were connected. Khloe, when left without me at my sister's apartment, would pace and search for me and refuse to eat. And I … well, being young and loving this dog so much already, threw a fit about him not living with me. Eventually he became mine. Somehow, I think he knew I needed him.
I've suffered from depression for a long time. At the worst of times, Khloe was there for me. I wasn't always the best "mother" to him … I didn't walk him as often as I should have, and fed him poor quality food (along with lots of human food that wasn't too good for him - not that he'd have complained about that!). But he was there, always at my side.
I was molested a few years ago. Khloe stopped the man - he bit him. I'm sure things would've been worse if Khloe hadn't been there. I was so scared I didn't tell anyone what happened for years, but he was my hero from then on (I was so happy when I finally did tell my family what happened and they called him "our hero"…).
Eventually, I started caring for Khloe better. I took him for walks - when I realized how happy it made him to get out, it encouraged me to get out more. We took bike rides together, and long walks, and even started going to the dog park. I started training him - he learned to stay and roll over and speak and jump and crawl under things on command, we even started getting compliments at the store on how well behaved he was. Khloe was so happy - and along the way, this was helping me to feel better … I learned to cope with depression better because of him. I don't know if I'd still be here if it weren't for him.
He was an odd dog. He was so, so protective of me (and women in general, but mostly me). I couldn't hug anyone or sit too close to someone without him getting jealous. Playfighting was a huge no-no around him - he'd even get upset when the other dogs in the family would play too rough.
Khloe's best friend was his doggy cousin, Sasha the Basset Hound. Sasha was a few weeks old when my sister adopted her ... Khloe wasn't quite sure what to do with her, she was so small! They became friends quickly, though. He taught her lots of things ... How to chase the four wheeler at the cabin, and chasing chipmunks, how to wrestle (Such a weird dog! Khloe was allowed to play rough, but he'd get upset if anyone else did). Khloe always used her long basset ears against her in their playfighting. They were "attacted at the butt": they often could be seen together laying with their backsides against one anothers. They went on adventures together in the woods and loved to run together.
He liked to think that he was a big, tough dog ... But he was really a big baby! At the dog park, he liked to run up to the other dogs with his head raised and his tail up like "I'm the boss!" but as soon as he got to them, he'd turn and look to me like "oh no, Momma, what did I do?" Fireworks terrified him (poor guy would hide under tables!), as did little kids. When we had a litter of kittens running around and they climbed all over him, he stayed absolutely still and cried until I moved them away from him. And, as he was a 75 pound, strong dog, he was fully capable of winning a game of tug-o'-war with his doggy cousin, Lucky, a 15 pound Parson Russel Terrier ... But he'd always let her win.
We learned one day as the family was sitting in the backyard and someone was blowing bubbles in the next yard over that Khloe HATED bubbles - he smashed right into the back of the garage jumping up to pop one. And balloons? My seventeenth birthday, an aunt brought me some … I don't think she'll ever do that again. We had to put them away because Khloe was so upset, barking and trying to get to them to pop them.
He hated water, too - he'd literally attack it. He'd dig and scoop at it with his mouth. He wasn't much help when I was trying to fish! On our morning walks at the river he'd get scared sometimes of the sound of the waves, but at the same time he always insisted on walking across a dock over the water. He hated rain, and would refuse to go outside in it.
There are lots of birds that hang around the river where we walked - pigeons and ducks. Khloe never really minded them. However, if he saw a heron, he'd go CRAZY.
He had a special brand of balls that he loved. At the dog park, he'd carry one around and make sure everyone knew it was his … He didn't like to let anyone throw it for him. If he had his ball when someone would hug me or get too close, he'd still get mad, but he wouldn't bark - just chew the ball really hard and stare.
He loved to run. Anywhere he could be off leash was paradise for him. The first time he went to the family cabin, he ran around so much he made me scared that he was going to take off and not come back! I came to find out that he'd never go far, though. Even when we came across deer in the woods that he wanted to chase, he wouldn't leave me.
He taught me so much in the short time he was here with me. I've loved dogs my entire life, but I never knew how strong a connection one can have with them before Khloe. I never knew how much one could change a person's life. I learned a lot about how to care for a dog, and he taught me a lot about caring for myself.
He was, and always will be, my best friend.
"The first time I laid eyes on you
I knew right from the start
That you were meant for me alone...
You put your paw print on my heart.
You taught me unconditional love,
You made me laugh and smile.
A little clown of angel white,
With all your grace and style.
Uncanny how you seem to know,
All my feelings deep inside.
Whether happy, sad or in-between,
There’s nothing from you I can hide.
Intelligence in those deep dark eyes
How could one be so smart
You knew just how to capture me
You put your paw print on my heart
A kiss, a whine, a growl, a bark
A language all your own
I understand your every word
With knowledge I’ve never known
I know that I am hooked for life
I will let nothing keep us apart
My friend, my pal, my soulmate
You put your paw print on my heart."
- Lori Lengen
Khloe became sick in October, 2011 - he went off his food suddenly (still eating treats and we could get him to eat with yogurt or wet food mixed in his kibble) and started drinking excessively. He had a blood test and urinalysis done at the vet, which came back showing that he was hypercalcemic,no other problems. We went home with a diuretic and a steroid to help flush the excess calcium from his system. He did well on those - they made him SO hungry though - poor guy never stole food off the table until he was on those medications.
We took him back the next week to redo the bloodwork and had x-rays done at that time. His calcium was back to normal, nothing abnormal on the x-rays. So we started to ween him off the medication ...
He became sick again a short while after. This time it was much worse: he wouldn't eat at all (except a few baby carrots), he was stumbling & lethargic. He spent the night at the emergency vet.
They said his calcium was continuing to rise despite the medications and it had gotten so high the machine couldn't read it, & his kidney levels were elevated and they didn't know if it was because he was dehydrated or if it was failing. He stayed at the e-vet until late the next day receiving fluids and having other tests done - we sent one out to check his parathyroid levels, as at this point we had narrowed the causes down to either hyperparathyroidism or cancer.
When we took him home he ate some chicken and rice and was okay with that for a day or two before he stopped eating again. He managed to go to the dog park one more time, it was only a short while, but he had fun as much as he could in his condition. He became tired very quickly, but he had fun walking around the park with his favorite ball. We took some pictures together. He was going downhill that last week. He was so weak I had to help him to bed and into the car for rides, I'd never had to do that before. I force fed him, and he hated it. We spent most of that week laying on the couch or in bed together.
His last couple of days he was so exhausted, but he couldn't seem to get comfortable... You could hear him cry very softly as he breathed. The vet finally got back to me about his test results. His parathyroid levels were normal, which left the only other cause to cancer. She said we could pursue it and try to find the cancer (we had absolutely no idea where it was or anything like that) ... I don't think he was strong enough, even if we were to find the cancer, to undergo treatments or surgery at that point. He was shutting down. He had lost weight, the muscles on his shoulders were sunken in ... Being at the vet made him miserable anyway - his poor nose was rubbed raw from his stay at the emergency vet and I was told he wouldn't stop barking. I felt that would be cruel to put him through that. I couldn't let him suffer any more.
I helped him to cross the Rainbow Bridge the morning of November 12th, 2011.
Rest in peace, Bah-Bah, Momma loves you, and always will. Thank you for everything.
"So this is where we part, my friend,
and you'll run on, around the bend,
gone from sight, but not from mind,
new pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
but they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
take with you this... I loved you best."
- Jim Willis |
NEW YORK -- A training document released in response to a civil liberties organization's lawsuit and obtained by The Huffington Post reveals that the government considers an "analyst's wisdom" the ultimate arbiter of whether data on American citizens can be classified as "terrorist information" and retained forever.
"Only a CT (counter-terrorism) analyst can determine whether data constitutes terrorism information," the electronic training course for new National Counterterrorism Center analysts states. "There is no requirement that the analyst's wisdom be rock solid or infallible."
The document, identified by its introduction as a "rules of the road" course on data access and use, is marked "SECRET." But it was released in a significantly redacted form to the Electronic Privacy Information Center under a Freedom of Information Act request on Tuesday, in response to a lawsuit filed in August 2012.
The training course is a novel window into the thought processes of analysts for the NCTC, which was created by President George W. Bush in 2003 in response to recommendations from 9/11 Commission. The NCTC is supposed to connect the dots on potential terrorist threats to the United States by combining information from other agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security.
The NCTC saw its powers to legally examine and retain data on American citizens and other people in the country vastly expanded under rules approved by the Justice Department in March 2012. As the Wall Street Journal reported in December, the agency can now copy entire databases -- such as citizens' flight records -- and retain that information for up to five years.
The public affairs department of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a written comment that the training document was created in 2012 and is still in use.
Since deeming data "terrorist information" makes it eligible to be saved in the NCTC's database forever, the document's fuzzy definition of terrorist information is a source for concern, said Ginger McCall of EPIC.
"This is high stakes, because you're talking about potentially being classified in connection with terrorism information," she said. "The data can be retained indefinitely then. We don't know all the parties that this data is shared with, or all the uses that are made of this data."
The NCTC guidelines say that data can be retained indefinitely where there is a "reasonable and articulable suspicion" that it has something to do with terrorism. The training course provides for the first time an explanation of how analysts come to that conclusion:
The analyst must be able to explain the "math" (logic) on their analysis and how they arrived at their conclusion. This is the articulable portion of the standard.
The "math" or analysis must be prudent to the average counterterrorism analyst. This is the reasonable portion of the standard.
"They try to boil it down to math, as if this is an exact science," said McCall. "It's not an exact science, as they acknowledge below."
Further down on the same slide, the course states that "The totality of the facts -- even if the facts individually appear innocent in nature" can be used to classify data as terrorist information. And it also states the line about there being "no requirement that the analyst's wisdom be rock solid or infallible," adding, "In fact, it is expected to change as new information comes to light."
The document does not specify what kind of access the NCTC has to Americans' private information. Before the center's new guidelines went into effect, a Department of Homeland Security privacy official warned that they represented a "sea change" in how the government treated its citizens' privacy.
An information paper released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in January claimed that the new guidelines improved on old ones by "adding specificity on how data is obtained, retained, and disseminated, and providing for enhanced safeguards and oversight mechanisms to protect important privacy and civil liberties."
EPIC's ultimate goal with its Freedom Of Information Act request is to find out which government agencies are sharing information with the NCTC, and under what terms they are allowing the center to make wholesale copies of databases. So far, however, the government has refused to provide the memorandums of understanding between the NCTC and other government agencies. The government claimed to EPIC that it couldn't find any such memoranda, even though they are referenced and linked in the training guide. The ODNI public affairs office declined to comment on the missing memoranda, citing EPIC's ongoing lawsuit.
Until the interagency agreements are released, McCall said, the public will remain in the dark.
"If we're going to be using these sorts of mechanisms where it's wholesale retention of information … we should have a real conversation about that," she said. "We should have a real debate about what these protections for privacy and civil liberties are."
Read the full document: |
WASHINGTON (AP) - Conventional wisdom dictates that David Catania is an underdog in the race for mayor of Washington. He is white, a former Republican and openly gay in a city that has only elected African-American Democrats to its top local office.
But Catania, who has never lost an election in the District of Columbia, doesn't see his matchup with Democratic nominee Muriel Bowser that way.
"I've never considered myself an underdog. I've always considered myself very lucky," Catania, an independent who has served on the D.C. Council since 1997, said in an interview Wednesday with Associated Press reporters and editors. "I know if I get up every day and do my best and communicate my message, I know I'll win."
Catania, 46, believes his quest to make history comes down to the contrast between his record and Bowser's, and he doesn't believe voters will define him based on his race, sexual orientation or former party affiliation. Catania left the GOP in 2004 over then-President George W. Bush's opposition to gay marriage, and since then he has championed a number of progressive issues.
Three out of four registered voters in the city are Democrats, and party leaders have pledged to unify behind Bowser following a bruising primary in which she defeated scandal-plagued incumbent Vincent Gray amid historically low turnout. Many voters said they supported Bowser primarily because they believed she was best positioned to oust the mayor, whose 2010 campaign remains the subject of a federal corruption probe. Five people who worked on the campaign have pleaded guilty to felonies.
Before the primary, polls showed Catania roughly even with Gray in a hypothetical matchup but trailing Bowser by huge margins. Still, Catania said he was undaunted by the city's Democratic machine.
"I think it's a paper tiger," he said. "If I ask a voter on the street if they can name one thing my opponent has done, they get a real stumped look because she has a (party) label but she has no record."
Bo Shuff, Bowser's campaign manager, declined to respond to any of Catania's comments.
Becoming the city's first openly gay mayor, Catania said, would be more significant nationally than locally, and he doesn't think his sexual orientation will influence the election.
"Having an LGBT mayor of our nation's capital sends an important message to our entire country about what America is. America is a place where there is equal opportunity, where there is fairness, and it is a place where if you play by the rules, you can succeed," Catania said. "... Having yet another group achieve success through fidelity to those values is an affirmation of what's great about this country. But that's it. We're not going to have fabulous parties."
Catania, who chairs the council's education committee, has made improving the city's public schools his top priority, with an emphasis on narrowing the achievement gap and improving outcomes for poor students. Bowser has refused to yield on the topic, saying that no one will move faster than her on education reform. Neither candidate has committed to retain schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, who has maintained and fine-tuned the standardized testing policies and rigorous teacher-evaluation system established by her more famous predecessor, Michelle Rhee.
In a city with mayoral control of schools, Catania said the job of the chancellor, whoever it is, would be to execute his vision.
"As mayor, I will be, as the law permits, responsible for schools," he said. "They're not voting for staff. They're voting for leaders."
Throughout the hour-long interview, Catania steered the conversation back to a contrast between his record and Bowser's. He accused her of failing to use her chairmanship of the council's economic development committee to address the city's homeless crisis. Meanwhile, he has pushed through several ambitions education bills - including a costly college scholarship program - with unanimous votes.
Catania is eager to debate Bowser, but her campaign said it would agree to debates only after the general-election ballot is finalized in September.
"There is a reason why Ms. Bowser refuses to debate me: because she has nothing to say," he said. |
I’ve recently finished an in-depth re-read of The Dragonbone Chair, the first book in Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy (or tetralogy because when the series was put out in paperback, the third door stopper had to be split in two). I’m re-reading it for two main reasons: Williams has announced a new three book series, placed in the same world, called THE LAST KING OF OSTEN ARD; and though I remember liking it when I read it when it was first released, I cannot remember through the years the details. My Dad used to call this “CRS Syndrome” (Can’t Remember S___).
I’m happy to report that The Dragonbone Chair stands up to the test of time, at least in my re-read of it. Published in 1988. it has an obvious place in the fantasy timeline after Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (LOTR) published in the mid 50’s, and before George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) (known as Game of Thrones by HBO viewers) published from 1996 through hopefully-not-too-many-years-from-now. Like many other fantasy epics of its time, it is influenced by Tolkien. But unlike many published around the same time, it not a Tolkien imitator (though there are some similarities). GRRM cites the series as an influence on his own A Song of Ice and Fire series. (Read Daniel Kaszor’s article in the National Post that talks about Williams’ series as an inspiration for the A Song of Ice and Fire series and as starting the wave of American fantasy; also, if interested, there is an article about a Tad Williams’ hosted book signing of Martin where Martin discussed this series as inspiration.)
Place in Fantasy History
After the publishing of The Lord of the Rings (published in 1954 and 1955), there were a great many Tolkien imitators released (Terry Brooks Shannara series in 1977 is an example). But there were many great fantasy series that attempted to either build on The Lord of the Rings and/or take epic fantasy in a new direction: Michael Moorcock’s Law vs. Chaos cycle of books but especially Elric, (which first appeared in 1972), Corum (gotta love the silver hand), and the others in the Eternal Champion meme; David Edding’s Belgariad series (started in 1982); Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber series; and Stephen R. Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant series. Robert Jordan (w/ Brandon Sanderson)’s Wheel of Time series (nominated en masse for the 2014 Hugo) should be mentioned as a contemporary series of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Some of these series certainly aren’t as well known as more recent series (except for the wonders that epic movies or HBO TV series will do for a fantasy series mind share!) such as Patrick Rothfuss’ Name of the Wind series, or either of Brandon Sanderson’s series, but they’ve had a part in influencing fantasy authors.
For perspective on publishing dates, I was going to put in a timeline, but could only build a table…so let’s just call it a time-table. (Rimshot!) This is not meant to be an exhaustive list by any means, but a timeline to show where Memory, Sorrow & Thorn‘s publication dates sit relative to the other series discussed and relative to the first books of other fantasy series. Since this timeline starts with the 1950s (with the LOTR publications), it does leave out titles such as The Hobbit (1937) and the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake (starting with Titus Groan – 1946, Gormenghast – 1950 and Titus Alone – 1950) which Tad Williams sites as an influence.
1950s LOTR Book 1 (1954) LOTR Book 2 (1954) LOTR Book 3 (1955) 1960s Earthsea Cycle Book 1 (1968) Dragonriders of Pern Book 1 (1968) 1970s Chronicles of Amber Book 1 (1970) First Elric novel (1972) Thomas Covenant Book 1 (1977) Shannara Book 1 (1977) 1980s Belgariad Book 1 (1982) The Dark Tower Book 1 (1982) First Dragonlance Novel (1984) MS&T Book 1 (1988) 1990s MS&T Book 2 (1990) Wheel of Time Book 1 (1990) MS&T Book 3 (1993) ASOIAF Book 1 (1996) Malazan Book of the Fallen Book 1 (1999) 2000s Shadowmarch Book 1 (2004) Codex Alera Book 1 (2004) Mistborn Book 1 (2006) Kingkiller Chronicles Book 1 (2007) Night Angel Trilogy Book 1 (2008)
There are, of course, many other series that could be mentioned here. On all of the sites that try such feats as rating the most popular fantasy series, the more recent the series (or the more recent the TV or movie adaptation), the higher the rating. This table is not meant to be such a rating but rather to show a progression juxtaposed against time. A true timeline would match these series against the events of the world around them: World War II; the Vietnam War; the spread of the Internet; Al Gore’s invention of the Internet (which should surely show on any fantasy timeline); 9/11; and other historical and social events that would influence writers, not just of epic fantasy but of all genres.
Tolkien to Tad to GRRM
Amidst all of the other books and series released since LOTR, there seems to be an obvious progression from Tolkien’s series to Williams’ to Martin’s. The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series is less well-known these days, most likely due to the success of the LOTR movies and Game of Thrones HBO series.
From a certain perspective, Williams’ MS&T is at once an homage to LOTR and a commentary on those parts that seem a bit “black and white” (and a bit too puppy dogs and sunshine, IMHO).
For example, in LOTR as men are usurping the elves as the dominant “species” in that world, the elves seem to be willing allies. But in The Dragonbone Chair (TDC), the Sitha (who were in Osten Ard before men) are un-willing to help men, and in some instances begrudge them their right to the land (since men killed many Sitha and took their cities, a grudge is most likely in order).
“Then know this,” Jiriki said stiffly. “Though the years that have passed since we were sundered from the Hikeda’ya – those you call the Norns – are as numerous as snowflakes, still we are one blood. How could we take the side of upstart men against our kin? Why should we, when once we walked together beneath the sun, coming out of the ultimate East? What allegiance could we possibly owe to mortals, who have destroyed us as eagerly as they destroy all else…even themselves?” None of the humans but Binabik could meet his cold gaze. Jiriki lifted a long finger before him. “And the one you whisperingly call the Storm King…he whose name was Ineluki…” He smiled bitterly as the companions stirred and shivered. “Ah, even his name is fearsome. He was the best of us once – beautiful to see, wise far beyond the understanding of mortals, bright-burning as a flame! – if he is now a thing of dark horror, cold and hateful, whose is the fault? If now, bodiless and vengeful, he schemes to brush mankind from the face of his land like dust from a page – why should we not rejoice? It was not Ineluki who drove us into exile, so that we must always hide among Aldheorte’s dark trees like deer, wary always of discovery. We strode Osten Ard in the sunlight before men came, and the works of our hands were beautiful beneath the stars. What have mortals ever brought to us but suffering?” (pg 686-687)
In LOTR, the only good orc or goblin is a dead orc or goblin. In TDC it is not that black and white; the Sitha (who are potential allies to men but not sure they want to be allied with them) and the Norns (who are the big baddies) are the same species, with some existing familial relationships between them.
Since they were written in different times and in different countries, the social norms had changed. LOTR is a quite chaste book, with perhaps the description of a kiss or two. In The Dragonbone Chair, as Simon grows up his hormonal imagination provides commentary on females, human and Sitha. There is even hints of somewhat forced sex in the next book (Stone of Farewell), but certainly nothing on the scale of the sexual escapades in Martin’s series, written 20 years later (and over emphasized for ratings on HBO).
The three books in the LOTR trilogy were written while victory in World War II was fresh in the minds of all (except those that lost!) and that feeling of hope and of overcoming all odds (“we shall never surrender!”) permeates those novels. Propaganda in both World War I and World War II was aimed at making the opposing side viewed to be “evil”, so the strong “good vs. evil” (with no in-between) theme in LOTR reflects those times. Tolkien himself was an officer in World War I and experienced the nastiness of trench warfare. While Tolkien has stated that LOTR is not based on his experiences in war, there are several interesting articles that point out the similarities. The Dead Marshes and WWI trench warfare are particularly telling.
Williams grew up during the Vietnam era; one would assume that the non-“black and white”, “all is not what it seems” nature of the times influenced that tone in the MS&T series.
It is also interesting that while magic is in-your-face in LOTR — especially with Gandalf and Saruman front-and-center — it is more subtle in both MS&F and ASOIAF. (Although, all three have dragons, if you include The Hobbit! All worlds need more dragons, including our own. At least the latter two series have wolves: Binabik the troll’s Qantaqa and the Stark’s Direwolves).
Some of this may be oversimplification, but the progression from a good vs. evil from LOTR, to MS&T where there are some grey areas, to ASOIAF where there seem to be no dominant good vs. evil themes (but certainly fire vs. ice themes!) tracks along with the evolution of epic fantasy.
There are some obvious similarities in LOTR and MS&T. When The Storm King was first described in The Dragonbone Chair, I must admit my mind’s eye saw Sauron…with antlers. (Sorry, Tad.) There are, of course, many parallels between the Elves and the Sithi. And there is a long journey or quest with two main protagonists (Frodo and Sam; Simon and Binabik) who build a unique bond.
Both series also feature fully imagined deep worlds with long histories. But in The Dragonbone Chair the truth of past histories is not always as wonderful as the legends and stories are remembered to be, one of the issues I believe Williams was trying to bring forth about LOTR. The past in LOTR is usually remembered as being a wonderful time; an occasional war, but other than that lots of puppy dogs and sunshine; in MS&T, the veil of past legends is slowly pulled back to reveal something a bit more unseemly than written or remembered.
The similarities between The Dragonbone Chair and A Game of Thrones (the novel, not the TV show) are many, with some being tips of the hat from Martin to Williams. In addition to the aforementioned dragons and wolves/direwolves:
Both feature unique and strange thrones;
Both feature a red-robed advisor to a king (Pryrates/Milisandre) with questionable motives;
Both have a King’s Hand
Both have a handless relative to a king.
There are many more listed on this article on the OstenArd.com website.
The Dragonbone Chair
Unlike the latter two books in the series, The Dragonbone Chair is all Simon, the young hero of the series; out of the 44 chapters in this first book, Simon makes an appearance in all but three of them. (Yes, I am a semi-OCD Math, Physics and CompSci major…but I’ve gotten better.) This is in sharp contrast to the latter books in the series which bounces back and forth between several groups of characters as the conflict spreads throughout the world.
Simon/Seoman is 14 years old at the start of this book, at that not-a-kid/not-an-adult age, driven by dreams and sometimes hormones. Whether he is accidentally thrust into this worldwide adventure or whether it was his destiny or birthright is a secret Williams keeps for many pages. (I’m at the beginning of the third book, and I still don’t know and can’t remember.) Simon, normally a kitchen scullion, is apprenticed to Morgenes, a type of professor/magician, who points Simon to books when Simon asks to learn magic.
“Books,” Morgenes said grandly, leaning back on his precarious stool, “-books are magic. That is the simple answer. And books are traps as well.” “Magic? Traps?” “Books are a form of magic-” the doctor lifted the volume he had just laid on the stack, “- because they span time and distance more surely than any spell or charm. What did so-and-so think about such-and-such two hundred years agone? Can you fly back through the ages and ask him? No, or at least, probably not. “But, ah, if he wrote down his thoughts, if somewhere there exists a scroll or a book of his logical discourses…he speaks to you! Across centuries! And if you wish to visit far Nascandu or lost Kkandia, you have also but to open a book…” “Yes, yes, I suppose I understand all that.” Simon did not try to hide his disappointment. This was not what he had meant by the word magic. “What about traps, the? Why traps?” Morgenes leaned forward, waggling the leather-bound volume under Simon’s nose. “A piece of writing is a trap,” he said cheerily, “and the best kind. A book you see is the only kind of trap that keeps its captive – which is knowledge – alive forever. The more books you have,” the doctor waved an all-encompassing hand around the room, “the more traps, then the better the chance of capturing some particular elusive, shining beast – one that might otherwise die unseen.” Morganes finished with a grand flourish, dropping the book back on the pile with a loud thump. A tiny cloud of dust leaped up, the flecks milling in the banded sunlight leaking past the window bars. Simon stared at the shimmering dust for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Following the doctor’s words was like trying to catch mice while wearing mittens. “But what about real magic?” he said at last, a stubborn crease between his brows. “Magic like they say Pryrates does up in the tower?” For a brief instant a look of anger – or was it fear – crossed the Doctor’s face. “No, Simon,” he said quietly. “Do not throw Pryrates up at me. He is a dangerous, foolish man.”(pg 93)
Quite a bit of foreshadowing in this passage, as Morgenes’ own book/scroll on the life and history of the current king becomes a source of elusive knowledge to Simon and his companions, as they oppose Pryrates. Or Morgenes could have been describing my study and its currently overflowing to-be-read stacks.
King John Prester, he who united the world of men, dies, and the world falls into chaos. The Norns, like their brethren the Sitha so long lived that they seem immortal, have been plotting vengeance for quite some time, and put their plan into motion. They make an alliance with King John’s heir, Elias, through an evil priest named Pryrates and the country soon feels the wrath of that alliance with changing weather patterns, the appearance of things previously unseen and Elias’ heavy handedness.
Through all this Simon moves from clueless youth to wanderer to adventurer. The three sections of the book are aptly named “Simon Mooncalf”, “Simon Pilgrim” and “Simon Snowlock”. If you have not already read this book, spoilers are next in this brief summary (for more detail, links to the re-reads are included).
In Part One – Simon Mooncalf (my re-read is post here), Simon has a relatively normal life (thinking about girls, dreaming about battles, trying to sneak off to join the army) until being apprenticed to Morgenes. Reference is made to Simon’s birth to an unknown father, and a promise made by Morgenes to keep the boy safe.
When King John dies, the kingdom slowly slides into disrepair – bad weather, taxes, the new King Elias (son of John) having a heavy hand. Elias is counseled by Pryrates, the prototypical evil dude. King Elias’ brother Josua goes missing, and when Simon finds Josua held captive apparently by Pryrates, things spin out of control. Morgenes and Simon help Josua escape, but Pryrates attacks Morgenes, who pushed Simon into the same secret passage under the castle before burning himself and trying to burn their assailants.
Simon wanders underneath, hearing the voices of long ago Sithi, the former inhabitants of the castle, who were driven into hiding by men. Simon eventually escapes and sees King Elias and Pryrates in a ceremony with the Norns, who are like the Sithi, and Simon witnesses some kind of pact between the King and one of the Red Hand, undead minions of Ineluki, the Storm King, who died long ago.
In Part Two – Simon Pilgrim (re-read post here), Simon has runaway, and is outside of the castle and alone for the first time in his life. Once Simon escapes/ventures outside of the castle, he meets trolls, Sithi and other humans from far away lands.
Simon frees a Sithi from a trap, who gives him a White Arrow in return. He meets Binabik (and Qantaqa the wolf) and journeys along with them. They head for the rest and safe haven of an abbey in the forest, only to find the abbey burning, its inhabitants mostly killed. Simon is briefly captured by a band from the Hayholt (but not King Elias men) then escapes when creatures from legend called Bukken attack the band. Simon and Binabik head back into the woods, and find themselves hunted by men and dogs, sent by Pryrates to track down Simon (who saw too much). They rescue two girls, one of whom is Marya, who Simon knew as a boy Malachias, from the castle. Together, all journey to the house of the witch woman Geloë. Here, Binabik and Simon travel the dream road with the witch woman, and discover some of the forces that are allied with King Elias and Pryrates. The huntsman and his dogs come at them again, and they run toward an ancient Sithi city, where the huntsman shoots an arrow through Binabik. Simon saves his friend, and with Marya they are eventually rescued by Josua outside of the castle Naglimund.
In Part Three – Simon Snowlock (re-read post here), Simon comes into his own on a quest to find the sword Thorn to the far north where few have ever ventured. The sword Thorn is part of three swords (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn) which legend (and Morgenes final manuscript) says must come together to defeat the un-dead king Ineluki. Much of this knowledge is researched through the League of the Scroll, which Morgenes and Binabik’s master were a part of.
Simon also finds that Marya is actually Miriamele, King Elias’ daughter and a princess.
Simon and Binabik travel north with others. The same huntsman with his dogs falls upon them, but they are saved by Sithi, one of whom is Jiriki, the Sitha that Simon saved from the trap. The Sithi join with Simon’s quest. Together, they find the sword Thorn and awaken an ancient dragon which was guarding it. Simon wields Thorn and hits the dragon, showering himself with dragon’s blood and causing the dragon’s retreat.
The rest, under Prince Josua, prepare for King Elias’ assault on the castle Naglimund. There is much politicking trying to sway Nabban and Hernystir (other kingdoms under Elias) to join one side or the other; but King Elias wins these kingdoms through treachery. The castle is eventually brought down by the forces of the Norns, the Red Hand and the Bukken, those whom Elias has made alliance with. Josua and some few others escape the castle into the forest.
Thus, for the next book, Elias, Pryrates and the Storm King certainly seem to have the upper hand. But Simon has the sword Thorn, and has smote a dragon down…and has a piece of his hair burned white to show for it.
There are many questions that are setup through this book:
Who is Simon, and who are his parents?
How can they stop Elias and the Storm King? What was the bargain that Elias made with the Storm King?
What are the three swords supposed to do with they come together?
Will the Sithi help man/mortals against their former brethren, the Norns?
Who/What is the third original race (along with Sithi and Norns)?
Will Simon ever get the girl?
If you’ve read it before, The Dragonbone Chair is one of those few books worth the re-read. If not, you still have time to read it before the release of the next trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats waived seldom-used guard Ben Gordon on Sunday, leaving their roster at 14 players.
Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said in a statement that "with the recent acquisition of additional backcourt depth to our roster, we believe this is in the best interests of both parties."
Gordon won't be eligible to play for another team in the postseason since he wasn't waived by the March 1 deadline.
Charlotte got Gordon from the Detroit Pistons with a future first-round draft pick in June of 2012 for Corey Maggette. The Bobcats will get Detroit's pick this year if it is outside the top eight.
Gordon is making $13.2 million this season.
Gordon never saw significant playing time in Charlotte. He played in only 19 games this season, averaging 5.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.7 minutes. |
Donald Trrump appears to have clinched the crucial Patton Oswalt vote.
Or maybe Oswalt is just doing what he so often does: Comically provoking people through social media.
The famous funny man put his Twitter account into overdrive on Wednesday, hitting up GOP presidential candidate Trump with a barrage of tweets begging him to stay in the race, after reports suggested that Republican officials think he might drop out of the running.
Also Read: Samantha Bee Apologizes for Eric Trump Tweet
Amid speculation that the GOP isn’t exactly happy to have Trump as their poster boy, Oswalt also encouraged Donald to emphasize that he speaks for all Republican politicians who are up for election this year.
“Do NOT drop out of the 2016 race, @realDonaldTrump,” Oswalt tweeted. “Under NO circumstance. Stay right where you are. Until. The. End.”
Oswalt further encouraged Trump not to censor himself, though that doesn’t seem to have been a problem so far for the reality TV personality turned politician.
Also Read: Rudy Giuliani, GOP Leaders Plot Donald Trump Intervention
“Also, @realDonaldTrump? Keep speaking your mind,” Oswalt enthused. “Whatever pops into it. Always. No editing. Do NOT stop. Keep going.”
Another plea from the comedian requested, “Also, @realDonaldTrump? Really hammer that you speak for all GOP Senators, governors & congresspeople also running. ALWAYS. Hit that hard.”
According to a report earlier Wednesday, senior Republican party officials are looking into a contingency plan, should Trump decide to bow out of the race.
Also Read: Patton Oswalt Mourns His Wife, Compares Grief to Jason Statham
ABC News said that party leaders think that Trump might exit stage ultra-right due to recent controversies, such as his attack on the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed during the Iraq War who criticized Trump during the Democratic National Convention.
But with Patton Oswalt‘s supporting wind behind him, perhaps Trump will find the strength to carry on.
Read below for Oswalt’s one-man campaign to keep Trump in the running.
On second thought? Do NOT drop out of the 2016 race, @realDonaldTrump. Under NO circumstance. Stay right where you are. Until. The. End. – Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 3, 2016
Dear @SpeakerRyan: If there’s literally ANYTHING I can do to make sure @realDonaldTrump stays in this race ’til the end, let me know. – Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 3, 2016
Also, @realDonaldTrump? Really hammer that you speak for all GOP Senators, governors & congresspeople also running. ALWAYS. Hit that hard. – Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 3, 2016
Donald Trump vs The Khans: A Timeline (Photos)
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How the Republican candidate came to criticize parents of fallen Muslim-American soldier
Here's a timeline of Donald Trump's fight with Muslim-American immigrants Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who have criticized his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States.
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Rudy Giuliani, GOP Leaders Plot Donald Trump Intervention |
The melanoma-treating drug, selumetinib (red) bound to its protein target MEK1 (blue). (Image by Dr. Lucky Tran.)
NEW YORK, NY (June 19, 2014) — For the first time, a therapy has been found that can delay progression of metastatic uveal melanoma, a rare and deadly form of melanoma of the eye. Results from a multicenter clinical trial show that a new drug called selumetinib increases progression-free survival, the length of time during and after treatment that a patient with metastases lives with the disease without its progressing. The findings were published in the online edition of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“Although the effects of the drug were modest, we now know that we can influence the course of the disease, and we expect to build on this success with other drugs, including some already in development,” said senior author, Gary K. Schwartz, MD, professor of medicine and chief of hematology/oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and associate director of its Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. (At the time of the trial, Dr. Schwartz was chief of the melanoma and sarcoma service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.)
Uveal melanoma is a cancer of the iris, ciliary body, or choroid—structures in the eye collectively known as the uvea. Uveal melanoma (which is biologically distinct from skin melanoma) arises from the uvea’s melanocytes, the pigment cells that give the eye its color. Once the disease has spread—most metastases appear in the liver—existing treatments are largely ineffective. About 1,500 cases of uveal melanoma occur in the United States each year, usually among older adults. The median survival rate for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma is 12 months.
Several years ago, researchers found that 80 percent of patients with uveal melanoma had mutations to GNAQ or GNA11, genes that activate signals in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Dr. Schwartz and others subsequently demonstrated that inhibition of MEK, a key enzyme in the MAPK pathway, can inhibit the growth of uveal melanoma cells in the laboratory. Dr. Schwartz’s laboratory was the first to show this with selumetinib.
In 2013, Dr. Schwartz and his colleagues launched the first large-scale, Phase II, randomized trial of selumetinib. One hundred and one patients with metastatic uveal melanoma at 15 centers in the United States and Canada were randomized to receive either selumetinib or standard chemotherapy. Those in the chemotherapy group could receive selumetinib at any time if they showed signs of disease progression.
Median progression-free survival among patients receiving selumetinib was more than double that of patients receiving chemotherapy (15.9 weeks vs. 7 weeks). Forty-nine percent of patients treated with selumetinib exhibited tumor regression, compared with none in the chemotherapy group.
Median overall survival for patients on selumetinib was 11.8 months, compared with 9.1 months for those on chemotherapy, but the difference was not statistically significant. “We suspect that there may have been improvement in survival in the selumetinib group, but it was unclear, because patients who didn’t respond to chemotherapy were allowed to cross over to selumetinib,” said Dr. Schwartz. “That’s something we hope to clarify in a follow-up study that is now under way.”
The vast majority of patients taking selumetinib experienced side effects, including rash, swelling, and visual changes. Most of the side effects were considered manageable, although 37 percent of patients required at least one dose reduction and 6 percent discontinued therapy.
Dr. Schwartz thinks that treatment of uveal melanoma will ultimately involve rational drug design and a combination of drugs, similar to the approach used to combat HIV infection. “In preclinical studies, we’ve shown that when a MEK inhibitor was combined with an Akt inhibitor, which affects another cancer-related pathway, the results were better than when using MEK alone,” he said.
“Overall,” Dr. Schwartz added, “the study underscores the importance of rational drug design, in which drugs are designed to interact with specific molecular pathways involved in a particular disease. This is a huge improvement over chemotherapy, which is basically a blanket approach to cancer that does not directly address the underlying biology.”
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Indeed, in recent years cartels have used an extensive portfolio of rackets and scams to diversify their income. For example, they used to kidnap rivals, informants and incompetent subordinates to punish, exact revenge or send a message. Now that they have seen that people are willing to pay heavy ransoms, kidnapping has become their second-most-lucrative venture, with the targets ranging from businessmen to migrants.
Another new source of cartel revenue is oil theft, long a problem for the Mexican government. The national oil company, Pemex, loses hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of petroleum every year to bandits and criminal gangs who tap into pipelines and siphon it off. Now the cartels are getting involved in this business, working with associates north of the border to sell the oil to American companies at huge markups.
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In 2009 a federal court convicted an American businessman of helping to funnel $2 million in petroleum products stolen from Pemex by a Mexican cartel, eventually selling it to a Texas chemical plant owned by the German chemical company BASF. The chemical company claims never to have known where the products came from.
Cartels are also moving into the market in pirated goods in Latin America. The market used to be dominated by terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, who operated in the triborder area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Now the field is being overtaken by Mexican cartels, which already have so much control over the sale of pirated CDs, DVDs and software that many legitimate companies no longer even bother to distribute their full-price products in parts of Mexico.
Taking another page from traditional organized crime, cartels are also moving into extortion. A cartel representative will approach the owner of a business — whether a pharmacy or a taco stand — demanding a monthly stipend for “protection.” If those payments aren’t made on time, the business is often burned to the ground, or the owner is threatened, kidnapped or killed.
A popular cartel racket involves branded products. For example, a cartel member — most often from Los Zetas and La Familia Michoacana, two of the largest and most diversified cartels — will tell a music-store owner that he has to sell CDs with the Zetas logo stamped on them, with the cartel taking a 25 percent cut of the profits. Noncompliance isn’t an option.
With so many lines of business, it’s unlikely that Mexican cartels would close up shop in the event of legalization, even if it meant a serious drop in profits from their most successful product. Cartels are economic entities, and like any legitimate company the best are able to adapt in the face of a changing market.
This is not to say that drug legalization shouldn’t be considered for other reasons. We need to stop viewing casual users as criminals, and we need to treat addicts as people with health and emotional problems. Doing so would free up a significant amount of jail space, court time and law enforcement resources. What it won’t do, though, is stop the violence in Mexico. |
Bottle
Set the carboy on a sturdy table and the 12 two-liter bottles on the floor, with newspaper underneath to catch drips or overflows. Using a funnel, put two level teaspoons of sugar in each bottle.
Siphon the beer into the bottles, trying not to disturb the sediment on the bottom of the carboy. (One method is to tape a plastic straw alongside the bottom end of the siphon hose with 1″ projecting beyond the end. The tip of the straw can touch the bottom of the carboy without the siphon drawing up sediment.) Tip the carboy as you near the bottom.
It is important to not splash or agitate the beer too much when bottling as any oxygen introduced can lead to oxidation and a “cardboard” taste.
As you fill the bottles, keep the end of the siphon tube near the bottom of the bottle to avoid frothing. It is essential that the bottles are not completely filled: leave an airspace. Screw the caps on tightly. Invert each bottle and shake to dissolve sugar on the bottom. Set bottles in a warm area for the first few days, then store in a dark, cool spot. You can drink the beer within a few days of bottling, but it will improve with age. |
Thank you Europe for an incredible run. We’re excited to return to the U.S. for some headline shows. Deathbat Nation fan club pre-sale starts 3/14 and public on-sale starts 3/17. An announcement is coming soon for Milan.
June 19 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino Resort** (General on-sale coming soon)
July 10 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center***
July 18 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion***
July 28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre+++
July 31 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center+++
August 3 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater+++
August 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre+++
August 12 – Nampa (Boise), ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater+++
*** Volbeat opening
+++ A Day To Remember opening |
I absolutely cannot be the only one who started pining for more footy from the second the Western Bulldogs hoisted the 2016 Premiership Cup last year.
The dreaded footy-barren blast furnace, aka “summer,” has its claws deeply entrenched in Australia for the time being. But this year, unlike other years, we are in for an early reprieve.
Though the AFL pre-season efforts don’t start until February 16th, footy is delving even further into summer with the launch of the historic inaugural AFLW season on February 3rd.
The first-ever national women’s league is set to run through the summer months, culminating in a Grand Final that’ll coincide with Round 1 of the AFL fixture, meaning from the start of February there’s non-stop footy right through the year until October, and nothing about that could ever be a bad thing.
Unfortunately for fans, however, a combination of factors are conspiring to make attending the first-ever AFLW game something of a roll of the dice.
The kickoff match, between Carlton and Collingwood, is set to go down on Friday night, February 3rd, at the Olympic Park precinct in Melbourne’s stadium district.
The decision to play all AFLW games at small suburban grounds is one of timing and strategy by the AFL; most major grounds are dual-purpose and are set aside for cricket at that time of year, but returning the game to its suburban roots gives the new teams a chance to develop stronger geographical bond with their home turf.
That’s all well and good, but the Olympic Park ground at Collingwood’s Holden Centre training base only has a reported safe capacity of 5,000 people. That number isn’t official, either, and the AFL has sent in contractors to assess the ground’s true capacity, given it isn’t ordinarily set up to be a spectator venue.
It’s expected that Collingwood and league officials will erect a temporary fence around the ground for the game, meaning there’s a very real chance fans could be locked out of catching a slice of history.
What’s more, owing to the fact that all tickets for the AFLW’s first season will be free-of-charge, there will be no pre-booking admission, meaning punters are simply going to have to chance the arm on the day in the hopes of getting in to the ground.
Around 6,500 fans showed up to the Whitten Oval in Footscray late last season for an exhibition game between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. But for a game that’s not only for premiership points, but is the first-ever game in the first-ever season, you’d expect interest in it to be quite high.
Throw in the fact that it’s between two traditional powerhouse rivals in Carlton and Collingwood, and on a Friday night in the middle of summer, AND tickets are free… Honestly, how the AFL looks at all that and doesn’t expect 20,000 to turn up is somewhat baffling.
If you’re keen to attend the Blues/Pies clash on Feb 3rd, you might wanna head down to Olympic Park and start lining up now.
If all else fails, Channel 7 and Fox Footy will be broadcasting the game live and in prime-time.
Shit. Yes. Footy.
Source: Herald Sun.
Photo: Michael Wilson, AFL Media/Getty. |
Four days after charging $14,000 on my credit card for egg freezing surgery, I was jolted awake at 6 AM with an agonizing throb in my right ovary. At 28 and in pretty stellar physical health, I knew dry heaving in pain wasn't normal. It felt like someone had rammed a rusty hunting blade in my right side and was slowly twisting it deeper—within minutes, I had blacked out. I came to feeling paralyzed and knew I was in trouble when I didn't have the strength to grab the Percocet bottle a mere two feet away. Why the hell did I do this to myself? I thought, laying drenched in a cold sweat on the floor, replaying all the reasons why I happily chose to freeze my eggs just a few days prior, at the ripe age of 28.
It started innocuously enough. On the cusp of my 28th birthday, I had a frank conversation with my gynecologist where I explained my situation. A rising media career and newfound happiness with my singledom, coupled with an insatiable desire to travel, meant that I didn't envision getting married anytime soon, and couldn't imagine having kids before 35. She was eager to help and suggested I go to NYU, known for pioneering the technology since 2004. A month later, I walked into my consultation hoping egg freezing would buy me more time, but I walked out with a new epiphany: egg freezing would use genetic testing on embryos to ensure only the healthiest, pre-screened egg would be implanted. The doctor told me about a 33-year-old woman who froze her eggs and, upon testing 13 embryos, found that 12 of the 13 had chromosomal abnormalities. They were able to isolate and implant the one fully healthy embryo. The argument for egg freezing seemed overwhelmingly convincing to me, and I booked my surgery a few weeks later.
The doctors I spoke with were impressed by my pragmatism and told me I was ahead of the curve in choosing to do this now, at 28, when my eggs were the healthiest they would ever be. But not everyone was as supportive: An old coworker nearly spit up her salad as I casually mentioned I was freezing my eggs over lunch. "But you're so young, successful, and beautiful. You'll definitely get married! Why would you do this?" she cried, without quite realizing how insulting her tone was. Her response only re-affirmed why I was doing this: not for a man, or a ticking clock, but for me, and the ability to live out my dreams on my own schedule.
Egg freezing is having its moment in the public eye. Celebrities like Sofia Vergara and Kim Kardashian have come out with their own tales of egg freezing, and despite some backlash, America is beginning to embrace the marriage between technology and fertility. Recently, Maria Menunos told Good Morning America that she'd frozen her eggs at age 33, describing the decision as "a bit of an insurance policy." While statistics are hard to come by—egg freezing is bucketed an experimental procedure by the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine), making standardization of collecting data near impossible—it seems Menunos is in good company: egg freezing is now a mainstream topic, so much so that companies like Facebook and Apple have made headlines for covering the cost of egg freezing for their employees.
The long process of freezing my eggs was daunting, emotional, and took over my life for a month. A week after my initial consult, I found myself the youngest by a mile in a room full of women over 35, at a two hour '101 of Egg Freezing' class at NYU. I was used to the older women's stares—most assumed I faced major fertility issues or was sick with some life-threatening disease. I openly explained that I was just being pragmatic. The overwhelming response was, 'I wish I had done it at your age. This is too much to handle physically and emotionally now.' The nurse overseeing the class showed us how to inject the various hormones ( HCG, Estrogen,ect) in our thighs. Egg Freezing 101 barely covered risks in a slide show. I'm sure it was in the fine print somewhere.
Less than .025% of women who freeze their eggs end up with ovarian torsions. (Lucky me, finally reaching the 1% at something.)
On Day 1 of injections, I sat at the edge of my bed, teary and trembling, holding 50ccs of Menopur hormones. You never truly feel quite as single—and somehow empowered—as the day you have to stab yourself with a syringe full of hormones, knowing you're suddenly in charge of your whole future. It was powerful and it was terrifying. In an effort to stay positive I started a tradition: with every injection I set intentions for the qualities I hoped my kids would have, then blasted Florence and the Machines and danced like a 7 year old to distract myself from the burn and sting of the needle. I also started meditating twice a day. Those small traditions were what kept me sane.
The schedule was grueling. I stabbed myself with various hormone injections every morning and night, and every 24 – 48 hours I had a 7 AM blood test and ultrasound at NYU. There's nothing like starting off your day in stirrups. I was advised not to date—I would have been a wreck under the hormones, and sex was strictly verboten—or have client outings. Drinking and smoking were off-limits for the duration as well. My estrogen count started at 61 and shot up to over 1,900 in just two weeks. By day 13, I was overwhelmed, crying in public and at work. My mother flew in to help. I've never felt more loved by her than when she, a former nurse, injected me with hormones and pulled me up by the hand, the two of us dancing wildly in my tiny living room.
On the 16th day, I went in for surgery under general anesthetic. The actual surgery is fairly simple and takes less than 30 minutes: my eggs were removed with a large needle placed strategically through ultrasound guidance. I emerged from surgery an hour later, woozy but otherwise happy the 19 eggs were retrieved (10 – 15 is considered a success I was told). My stomach was noticeably swollen to the size of melon. When I insisted that my belly felt abnormally enlarged, the nurse simply gave me a one-sheeter on 'Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)' and told me to call if I worsened. For the next three days, I waddled around. A waitress mistook me for pregnant, and on Monday, I showed up to work looking 6 months pregnant. I was so uncomfortable I went home early. I was planning to call NYU on Tuesday when, mid-slumber Monday night, the excruciating pains hit.
I was rushed to the ER. Upon my arrival, I was diagnosed with ovarian torsions. With torsions, your ovary twists on itself, occluding blood supply. Ultimately, this can lead to the death of the ovary. Ovarian torsions account for less than 3% of gynecological emergencies. Less than .025% of women who freeze their eggs end up with this condition. (Lucky me, finally reaching the 1% at something.) Normally, a woman's ovaries are the size of walnuts. Due to the sudden blast of hormones, mine had ballooned to the size of grapefruits. Despite the morphine drip, the irony of the situation wasn't wasted on me and I had a good chuckle: I froze my eggs so that I could have babies, and in doing so I had almost lost an ovary forever.
The nurses explained the needle would have to go in inter-vaginally. When I asked about morphine or drugs, they said they couldn't help.
The ER doctor (who, as fate would have it, was my high school crush, whom I hadn't seen in 13 years) explained I was spared from surgery because my ovary had "untwisted" on its own. But he was concerned that my swollen belly was too big. I had over 2 liters of fluid built up from the original surgery and it kept getting worse. We decided to drain the fluid, but no one explained how this was going to happen. I was wheeled to the NYU Fertility Center a few hours later, surrounded by seven women in a room, and put on stirrups. Dread washed over me at the sight of a needle the length and width of a shish kebab and a long plastic draining tube attached to a giant liter plastic bottle. "You're going through my belly, right?" I asked innocuously, almost sure this was a mistake. The nurses explained the needle would have to go in inter-vaginally. When I asked about morphine or anesthetic drugs they said they couldn't help.
A girl my age with shaky hands inserted the needle over and over again as I clutched a nurse's hand with all my might and screamed out in pain so loudly they gave me a gauze for my mouth. I felt it all. The needle would pierce its way through me, and then she'd swivel it in a circle. I'd scream as the needle hit my insides. The image of my own blood and mixed with fluid filling up a full liter bottle was oddly comforting, and after 20 minutes of excruciating attempts to remove more fluid, I wailed one last time in total agony after the last stab failed to procure more fluid out of me. The women left, and I doubled over in fetal position, crying and wanting my mom more then than ever before.
I barely made it through the first night. My best friend Alexandra slept over and told me that every 15 minutes until morning I'd awake drenched in a cold sweat, screaming for Percocet. I had to switch to Oxycodone the next day to manage the pain. She stayed with me that whole week, as I was physically unable to even roll out of bed on my own, much less standing up. Walking to the bathroom 16 feet away was a team effort and took a solid 10 minutes. Mandatory bed rest ensued as I was at high risk to have a repeat ovarian torsion: My ovaries were still the size of grapefruits. I couldn't leave my apartment for two weeks and wasn't allowed to workout for a month following the ER trip.
Last weekend—a month later—I finally went to yoga, had a glass of wine on a first date, and wore my favorite dress. On my date, I nonchalantly explained that I'd frozen my eggs and was pleased to receive a progressive, supportive reply. While I'm still not back to the old me, I have a newfound appreciation for my body as a vessel for life, not just something to starve into a bikini.
I'm often asked if I had known the risks, would I have still gone through with freezing my eggs. My answer is a whole-hearted "Hell yes." What happened to me was terrifying, but incredibly rare. For me, the benefits of egg freezing still far outweigh the small risk. I can live out my dreams, on my timeline – and that's priceless for me. After the ER I decided to share my story on social media so that another 28-year-old woman won't have to think she's crazy for planning her future before age 35. Dozens of young women have reached out to me for advice since, and I've finally been able to do the one thing no one could do for me: give an honest perspective about what freezing your eggs at 28 means, and what sometimes goes wrong.
Follow Vicki Rox on Twitter. |
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“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” ~Thomas Jefferson
In this fantastic mini-documentary by Truthstream Media, Melissa Dykes dissects the “fake news” propaganda being force-fed to any America still believing in the last grasping tendrils of what was once mainstream media. In her typical concise yet satirically witty fashion, Dykes very clearly breaks down the absurdity of this entire joint operation underway by the government and its loyal forth branch: mainstream media.
It is encouraging that a vast majority of Americans were awakened by the parody that was the 2016 (s)election process, and many more are now beginning to see past the propaganda due to this quickly spreading citizen investigation poorly named: PizzaGate. Yet, there remains a strong loyalist faction of Americans who are simply terrified of the prospect of these investigations being true, as that would call into question a lifetime of choices under this false paradigm. Which is why it is now of the utmost importance that videos such as these find their way into the hands of those reeling from this divide, yet still holding firmly onto the comforting lies of the State.
Source: www.truthstreammedia.com
Help Us Be The Change We Wish To See In The World. |
Mets CF Juan Lagares Wears His Own Face on His Arm
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Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares hit what turned out to be the game-winning three-run homer in the sixth inning of yesterday’s game against the Braves. As you can see in the video above (if it’s not embedding properly for you, look here), after Lagares crossed home plate he was greeted by teammate Curtis Granderson, who’d been on base, and Granderson made a big show of pointing to the orange wristband on Lagares’s left arm. He did it again when they were back in the dugout.
As it turns out, that’s because Lagares has started wearing one of those “Say No to Drugs”-style bands featuring his own likness. Here are some close-ups (click to enlarge):
It doesn’t really look much like Lagares, but that’s part of the charm of these things, right? According to this NJ.com item, “[The wristbands] work for him. He began wearing them recently and has gone on a hot streak since. His teammates say it’s the cause of his success. His performance Sunday — 3-for-5 with a go-ahead three-run home run — certainly won’t make him stop.”
(Big thanks to Eli Ganias and @SheaDugout for bringing this one to my attention, and to Mike Peters and Mark Carig for the close-up photos.)
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One last time ”” calling all “Collect ’em all”-ers: In case you missed it last week, I’m taking a show of hands to see how many of you have purchased all seven of the UnI Watch T-Shirt Club’s designs so far. Knowing how many people are eligible for the year-end prize will help me determine what the prize will be. So if you’ve collected ’em all so far (and didn’t already check in last week), please use this link to shoot me a note. Thanks.
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Membership update: I put a batch of membership cards in the mail on Saturday (including Mike O’Connor’s early-2000s Blue Jays treatment, shown at right), so recent enrollees should watch their mailboxes. This makes us fully caught up on membership orders.
As always, you can order your own custom-designed membership card here, you can see all the cards we’ve designed so far here, and you can see how we make the cards here.
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Father’s Day reminder: In case you missed it yesterday, Phil has put out the call for pictures of your dads and/or granddads in uniform (any uniform, whether it be sports, military, delivery, etc.), which he’ll as a Father’s Day feature this Sunday. Further details here. Email your photos, along with short descriptions (50 to 100 words) to [email protected] by this Thursday, midnight Eastern.
In a related item, reader Kelly Levy is searching for photos of her dad, Harold Levy (although he sometimes went by Edward, his middle name), who was an all-city basketball player in NYC around 1956-58 and also briefly played for St. John’s and for a Rheingold brewery team. Harold passed away earlier this month and Kelly can’t find any photos of him in uniform. If anyone can help, contact Kelly here.
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Boston Beefsteak reminder: For you carnivorous folks in Beantown, the Brooklyn Beefsteak is coming to Boston this Saturday, June 20, with two seatings — 1pm and 5pm — at the Cambridge Masonic Hall in Porter Square. Further info and tickets are available here.
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Baseball News : I think we’ve seen this before, but once more won’t hurt: Check out this video footage from a 1977 Royals/Brewers game in Milwaukee in which the Royals had to wear Brewers road uniforms because their own unis had been stolen (from Kevin Clark). ”¦ I like the double-striped turtleneck collar in this old shot of Eddie Murray (from Tyler Kepner). ”¦ Yonder Alonso of the Padres was moved from first base to third base the other day and wore one of his brother-in-law Manny Machado’s gloves (from Andrew Cosentino). ”¦ The Red Sox put their helmet numbers on the side without the earflap. ”¦ The San Diego GOP gave presidential candidate Rand Paul a FNOB Padres jersey (from Stephen Scheffel). ”¦ An American pitcher playing in Korea has been fined for wearing a wrong-colored undershirt (from @MyKBO).
Pro and High School Football News : Not sure I’ve ever heard of an athlete saying he doesn’t want his number to be retired, but that’s the case in Dallas, where former Cowboys star Michael Irvin wants his No. 88 to stay in circulation (thanks, Phil). ”¦ The Packers played a charity softball game with pinstriped jerseys yesterday. Lots of photos here (from Nick Haering). … Here’s a ranking of the high school football uniforms in the Mineral Wells, Texas region.
Hockey News : Never seen this early Lightning wordmark before. Reminds me a bit of the old Zenith logo. ”¦ Whoa, check out the Caps player in the background of this photo — looks like he’s wearing a lacrosse helmet/mask! Anyone know who that was? (Good find by Steven Schapansky.) ”¦ Chris Creamer has created a sensational infographic showing the jersey worn by each Stanley Cup-winning team. Several great little nuances in the design, but I’ll let you discover those for yourself. Chris says he wants to make this into a poster, and he should definitely do that.
NBA News : Reader Jeff Sorensen was at a Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball game the other day and spotted someone wearing a 1990s-style Jazz jersey with the famous Hot Rod Hundley saying, “Gotta love it baby!,” as the NOB. |
Nearly two weeks ago, ESPN President John Skipper shocked the media world by suddenly resigning from his position at the “Worldwide Leader.”
At the time, Skipper said he needed to resign to deal with substance abuse issues.
In a statement, Skipper said:
I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem. I have disclosed that decision to the company, and we mutually agreed that it was appropriate that I resign. I will always appreciate the human understanding and warmth that Bob (Iger) displayed here and always. I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down. As I deal with this issue and what it means to me and my family, I ask for appropriate privacy and a little understanding. To my colleagues at ESPN, it has been a privilege. I take great pride in your accomplishments and have complete confidence in your collective ability to continue ESPN’s success.
This explanation seemed rather suspicious. Since Skipper had just signed a major contract extension the month before his resignation.
At the time, Breitbart Sports noted:
The timing of Skipper’s resignation seems a bit of a mystery. Skipper had just signed a multi-year contract extension in November. How does one develop a long-term substance problem in a month? Perhaps ESPN just became aware of Skipper’s issue in the last month, though, that too would seem unlikely. Moreover, it’s likely that ESPN would at least attempt to offer some kind of counseling as opposed to compelling Skipper to resign, if they just found out about Skipper’s issue after signing him to a brand new deal. Could there be something another, bigger story behind this announcement?
Well, Clay Travis of Fox Sports Radio and Outkick the Coverage reports that there is something bigger indeed, behind Skipper’s resignation. Travis reports that in the days following Skipper’s announcement, several reports came to him offering a much different explanation for Skipper’s immediate departure.
“In the next couple of days I was told by multiple sources I trust inside ESPN that the reason for Skipper’s “resignation” was because of sexual harassment issues inside the company. In the wake of the Boston Globe story about sexual harassment I was told Skipper’s own issues suddenly emerged and that was why the resignation happened so abruptly.
And ESPN decided to blame substance abuse issues instead.”
Travis also poked a hole in Skipper/ESPN’s “substance abuse” claim by tweeting photos from a tipster, which appear to show Skipper and ESPN radio host Dan LeBatard at a bar in North Carolina:
As Travis writes:
A trip out to have a couple of drinks with your friend would all be perfectly normal and a total non-story except for the fact that Skipper just resigned from ESPN 11 days ago citing his struggles with substance addiction and his desire to get help for that addiction. Now maybe Skipper wasn’t addicted to alcohol — and it was some other drug instead — but if you have such an issue with substance addiction that you need to immediately resign from ESPN should you really be out drinking 11 days later with one of the most prominent employees at your former company? And if you’re Skipper’s good friend, Dan LeBatard, would you let your friend go out drinking with you if you knew he had a true issue with substance abuse and you were crying about it on your radio show 11 days ago? That seems highly unlikely.
That does indeed seem unlikely. ESPN wouldn’t be unique among major media and entertainment organizations, for forcing out high-profile executives or performers over sexual harassment charges. After all, the last few months have seen dozens of actors, journalists, comedians, politicians, and others, face removal for some form of sexual misconduct.
So why lie about it? If in fact, ESPN is lying about the reasons for Skipper’s resignation?
The answer may be found higher up the food chain. Disney CEO Bob Iger is a rumored 2020 Democrat presidential candidate. Considering how crucial the female vote is, especially in a Democratic primary, one would think that Iger would move aggressively to quash any potentially damaging sexual harassment scandal at one of his larger networks.
Would Iger engage in that type of politically-calculated micromanagement?
Well, he’s done it before.
In the weeks after Jemele Hill called President Trump a “white supremacist” on Twitter, Iger personally intervened to prevent Hill’s suspension. Now, why would Iger do that?
Could it be because of Iger’s concern that the optics of suspending Hill, who is black, for criticizing President Trump; could be interpreted as Iger siding with Trump against a black female employee? Which would leave his Democrat primary opponents with a strong and heavy argument that he’s not the right candidate to protect black people from the “cruel and racist” Republicans?
That seems like an extremely plausible theory.
And if that seems like a plausible theory, is it so far-fetched that Iger would concoct a story about substance abuse to conceal a high-profile sexual harassment scandal, which may or may not extend far beyond John Skipper?
Doesn’t seem like that big of a stretch at all, does it? |
We know we’re not famous actors who earn a living playing make-believe, but would it be OK if just for today we pretended all of this righteous outrage was inspired by the Kermit Gosnell trial?
Senate rejects gun background checks. Mentally ill people rejoice. — Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) April 17, 2013
NRA to now devote attention to first amendment. Trying to make it okay to yell fire in a crowded theater. — Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) April 17, 2013
If, like 90% of Americans, u support expanded background checks for guns, & your senator voted against them, then vote against your senator. — Steve Levitan (@SteveLevitan) April 17, 2013
Our Congress is officially owned but not by us. 90% of us wanted gun reforms. We got shot. That's NRA. And that is representative govt. now. — jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/Elizbethperkins/status/324641802034479104
My mom used to say "why did you only get a 90% on your math test, Jason, why not 100?!" so I totally get it you guys. — Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) April 17, 2013
Many in the Senate and the Congress care more about their jobs on a watered-down bill over potential mass murders and suicides with guns. — Richard Lewis (@TheRichardLewis) April 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/324639997619748865
90%, you defensive, party protective morons. NRfuckingAandGOfuckingP — christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 17, 2013
Today, the US SENATE VOTED AGAINST 91% OF THE COUNTRY THAT WANTS BACKGROUND CHECKS. WE ARE TAKING NAMES, MOTHERFUCKERS!! — Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) April 18, 2013
DEMOCRATS – Mark Pryor -Arkansas, Max Baucus -Montana, and Mark Begich –Alaska and Heidi Heitkamp -North Dakota ( MOTHER OF 2) voted NO — Rosie (@Rosie) April 18, 2013
A MUST READ op-Ed from Gabby Giffords in the wake of the Senate vote.
She's a voice that must be heard. http://t.co/79nOIHpXxY — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) April 18, 2013
Fuck it. I guess the NRA is right. — Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) April 18, 2013
From now on I'm just going to agree with whoever wins. #NRA #frommycolddeadhands — Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) April 18, 2013
90% of Americans favor expanded background checks for gun buyers. Our senate failed. Our system is colossally broken. — RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) April 18, 2013
If 90% of senators wanted a double non fat vanilla cappuccino & we decided they should have a black coffee instead, they would be pissed. — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) April 18, 2013
sad day that we didn't pass background checks in U.S. Every responsible gun owner i know (and i know a lot) supported it. — Rob Thomas (@ThisIsRobThomas) April 17, 2013
Here are the Twitter handles of the senators who voted against background checks http://t.co/sAGVheZ8do /via @HuffingtonPost — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 17, 2013
The Senate voted against background checks, ignoring the will of the American people. We will not stop until our voices are heard. #myvoice — Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) April 17, 2013
background checks for gun control defeated by senate? REALLY? Argh!!! — Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) April 17, 2013
@IJasonAlexander agreed Jason. What would it have HURT!? Only helped! #dontgetit — Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) April 17, 2013
After innocent people were victims of yet another type of random violence, these Senators weren't the least bit swayed & they're Christians. — Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 18, 2013
What's wrong with background checks? No one is trying to take away their stupid guns. I swear. — Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 18, 2013
i would like to smack Rand Paul dead in his mouth. — Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 18, 2013
Senate couldn't pass background check amendment for gun sales. So, maybe after the next gun massacre? — Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) April 17, 2013
New low, congress. Unbelievable. I wish I could fire every senator who voted no. — Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) April 17, 2013
And for all the gun enthusiasts, you know you didn't win anything today either. — Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) April 17, 2013
Breaking News: Senate votes to change name of country to USNRA. — Elliott Kalan (@ElliottKalan) April 17, 2013
You'll have to pry my misfired gun from my cold dead half-hand — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) April 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/NancyLeeGrahn/status/324646278971678720
https://twitter.com/NancyLeeGrahn/status/324647881938198530
Senate blocks background checks for guns today. Shame on them. Disgusting. — Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) April 17, 2013
I am so disappointed n those senators that Blocked the "Gun Control Background✔s"Every single1of those senators should NOT be voted back in — Tawny Kitaen (@Tawny_Kitaen) April 17, 2013
The"R"s have lost my vote until this congress gets their act2gether I dont care ie Taxs Roe V Wade ANYTHING until R children R safe Im PISST — Tawny Kitaen (@Tawny_Kitaen) April 17, 2013
Related:
Meltdown: Model Chrissy Teigen curses ‘f*cking GOP’ over Senate gun vote
Wil Wheaton: ‘F*ck the NRA’; Throws hissy fit after Manchin-Toomey gun control legislation failure
‘Hear this, gun nuts’: Michael Moore, Bette Midler not done with gun grab effort, taking names |
If your New Year's Resolutions include going to the gym and losing weight, you are a selfish, entitled, hateful piece of garbage. Why bother trying to "get healthy" and "improve yourself" when you can just be angry and bitter about your body on the Internet??
This is Thin Privilege is a Tumblr blog that asks people to submit examples of the preferential treatment thin people take for granted, and the tyranny they wield over fat people ("fat" is their word of choice, as "overweight" and "obese" are deemed problematic slurs). Any talk of weight loss is affixed with a trigger warning, because it could be considered offensive or traumatic. And don't even think about mentioning R*ch*rd S*mm*ns.
The site's aggressive moderators, one of whom is named "Fatanarchy," actively encourage people not to trust their doctors, because who are those eggheads to tell us what is and isn't "healthy"???
In my opinion the modern conception of 'health' is bullshit. It's an ever-changing, largely arbitrary definition that seems to serve a single purpose: to blame modern ills on so-called 'unhealthy' people then define so-called 'unhealthy' people as unpopular social 'deviants' like fat people, poor people, and the disabled. The philosophy of vaunting the modern notion of 'health' to some kind of societal/moral imperative is called healthism.
Alas, the scourge of "healthism" is but a small part of the discrimination fat people must grapple with every day. This is Thin Privilege will open your eyes to the prejudice of physics, the bigotry of dogs, and the shame of being personally insulted by the online equivalent of a fortune cookie.
These negative nelllies blame fatness for every evil that has ever besieged them, no matter how petty. Conversely, being thin is assumed to be a magical state of being that gets you into all the cool clubs, makes boys like you and gets you straight A's on all your homework. Wow, sounds like a good deal!
So, what is thin privilege?
Thin privilege is not, when finding out that one of your friends recently had her drink spiked at a nightclub, being told that it's something you'll never have to worry about, because "who'd want to spike a fat, ugly bitch's drink?" After all, fat girls aren't at risk of sexual assault.
Yup, somehow the fat person is the victim here, not the friend who's been roofied. Fat people just want to feel included, is all.
– Adam "rubber cat" Jameson (@robbercat) |
Image copyright MOD Image caption Cpl James Dunsby and two others died after overheating on an SAS recruitment march in 2013
Recruitment tests to join the SAS will be "softened" in response to the deaths of three reservists during a selection march, the Times has claimed.
The newspaper says test marches in the Brecon Beacons could be postponed in the case of extreme temperatures, humidity and winds.
The decision has angered SAS insiders and their US counterparts who fear it may lower standards, the paper claimed.
The Ministry of Defence has not commented on the story.
At an inquest last month, the Ministry of Defence was severely criticised for the planning and conduct of a 16-mile march which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers.
L/Cpl Craig Roberts, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby all collapsed and died after overheating on a Brecon Beacons exercise on one of the hottest days of 2013.
Changes 'under way'
The MoD apologised and said changes to the SAS recruitment test were under way.
Image caption The SAS selection test includes a 16-mile march in the Brecon Beacons mountain range in Wales
Changes will include more water stations along the route and a "weather test" which would allow the hike to be postponed if conditions are too hot, the Times reported.
It also said would-be SAS members would be allowed practice sessions allowing them to become accustomed to the terrain.
It claims there is a fear within the SAS of a lowering of standards, and quotes a former officer who says there is a feeling that selection is being made "softer and easier".
Professor George Havenith, a specialist in environmental physiology and ergonomics who gave evidence at the inquest, told the BBC the special forces needed a "culture change" so existing rules were followed, rather than new guidelines. |
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of supporters of Turkey’s ruling and main opposition parties, usually bitter foes, rallied together on Sunday in support of democracy following a failed military coup as President Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on the country.
Demonstrators held a cross-party “Republic and Democracy” rally in Istanbul’s central Taksim Square in a spirit of unity following the failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured.
In a rare move, pro-government channels broadcast a live speech from the podium by main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
“This is a day to unite, a day to stand up against coups and dictatorial regimes, a day to let the voice of the people be heard,” he said at the rally, organised by his secularist opposition CHP but also backed by the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party and by other opposition groups.
“We are all together in Taksim today. Today is a day we made history all together.”
Erdogan will probably try to capitalise on the large size of the crowd of all political persuasions to try and reassert full control over the country, a NATO ally and an important partner in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State.
In another demonstration of unity after the coup, which was staged by a faction within the armed forces, the head of Turkey’s air force issued a rare statement stressing “absolute obedience” to the chief of the military General Staff. Some members of the air force were involved in the coup.
The chief of the military General Staff, Hulusi Akar, who was held hostage by the plotters on the night of July 15, condemned the plotters on Sunday as “cowards in uniform” who had greatly harmed the nation and the army.
Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the attempted coup, has declared a state of emergency, allowing him to sign laws without prior parliamentary approval in a drive to root out supporters of the coup.
His critics fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday authorities had taken around 13,000 people into custody over the coup attempt, including 8,831 soldiers. He pledged they would have a fair trial.
Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt.
Supporters of various political parties gather in Istanbul's Taksim Square and wave Turkey's national flags before the Republic and Democracy Rally organised by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey, July 24, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
“It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held,” said Amnesty’s Europe director John Dalhuisen in a statement.
Erdogan has extended the maximum period of detention for suspects from four days to 30, a move Amnesty said increased the risk of torture or other maltreatment of detainees.
But for now, the crackdown appears to be broadly popular.
“The state of emergency is a good thing and it’s good that many people have been arrested and that the length of detentions has been extended,” said demonstrator Harun Kalyancu, 34, a furniture designer and supporter of the ruling party. “If people lost their jobs they must be guilty.”
Zuhal Tolbert, 56, who is retired, said the government should be more inclusive.
“The government has to think about the mistakes they have made they have to think about the other half of the population. (who did not vote for them),” she said. “We all have to come together.”
SHOW OF UNITY
Erdogan has accused U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey, of masterminding the abortive coup. In his first decree Erdogan ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and foundations with suspected links to Gulen, who denies involvement in the coup.
The CHP and other political parties swiftly joined the ruling Islamist-rooted AKP in condemning the coup attempt, mindful of four other military interventions in Turkey in the past 60 years. The last full-scale coup in 1980 led to mass arrests of politicians and others, torture and executions.
Taksim Square, like much of Istanbul and other cities, is awash with Turkish flags and CHP supporters were also carrying pictures of their hero Kemal Ataturk, the soldier who founded the secular republic on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.
Supporters of Erdogan’s AKP, which has ruled Turkey since 2002, have generally tended to use religious symbols and rhetoric. But the coup has united both sides in a blaze of nationalist fervour. Istanbul’s AKP mayor, Kadir Toptas, has provided free public transport for the rally.
Opposition parties have mixed backing for purging coup supporters with calls for reconciliation and restraint.
Slideshow (4 Images)
“Turkey should completely be purified from the rule of the putsch,” said a “Taksim Declaration” issued by the CHP’s Kilicdaroglu. “The state should not be governed by anger and revenge. The culprits of the putsch should be tried lawfully with the understanding of abiding by the rule of law,” it added.
Turkey’s Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan’s supervision on July 28. Erdogan told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in “fresh blood”.
After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, but have also expressed concern over the scale of subsequent purges of state institutions. |
This IS the umbrella you've been looking for. Hold on to the Lightsaber hilt and protect yourself from the rain.
Anodized shaft in the appropriate color of the saber blade.
Carrying sheath (with shoulder strap) included.
Beyond the Outer Rim, spins a stormy planet. Long, long ago, climate change led to all the continents being submerged - forcing the inhabitants to build cities on stilts. The planet is, of course, known (by the few who know) as Kamino. Apart from always being rainy, it's a place famous for two exports: clones and Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas. While we can't sell you any clones (against Republic Law), we sure can sell you the 'brellas!
These Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas are just freaking awesome. The hilts have been scaled down a bit, so they are very comfortable to hold. And while the shafts don't light up, they are anodized (and a little sparkly) in the proper blade color. The canopy part even has the saber owner's affiliation insignia (Jedi or Imperial) silk-screened on it. These Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas are ready to turn heads while keeping yours dry! If you don't use one of these Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas, you will get wet when it rains. And then Vader will sadly bellow, "Nooooooooo!"
Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas |
We're not alone – but the universe may be less crowded than we think
There may be far fewer galaxies further out in the universe then might be expected, according to a new study led by Michigan State University.
Over the years, the Hubble Space Telescope has allowed astronomers to look deep into the universe. The long view stirred theories of untold thousands of distant, faint galaxies. The new research, appearing in the current issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters, however, offers a theory that reduces the estimated number of the most distant galaxies by 10 to 100 times.
“Our work suggests that there are far fewer faint galaxies than we once previously thought,” said Brian O’Shea, MSU associate professor of physics and astronomy. “Earlier estimates placed the number of faint galaxies in the early universe to be hundreds or thousands of times larger than the few bright galaxies that we can actually see with the Hubble Space Telescope. We now think that number could be closer to ten times larger.
O’Shea and his team used the National Science Foundation’s Blue Waters supercomputer to run simulations to examine the formation of galaxies in the early universe. The team simulated thousands of galaxies at a time, including the galaxies’ interactions through gravity or radiation.
The simulated galaxies were consistent with observed distant galaxies at the bright end of the distribution – in other words, those that have been discovered and confirmed. The simulations didn’t, however, reveal an exponentially growing number of faint galaxies, as has been previously predicted. The number of those at the lower end of the brightness distribution was flat rather than increasing sharply, O’Shea added.
These simulations will be tested further when the much-anticipated James Webb Space Telescope comes online in late 2018. The improved technology will afford astronomers even more-detailed views of space than the amazing images that the Hubble has produced in recent years.
The Hubble Space Telescope can see the tip of the iceberg of the most-distant galaxies, said Michael Norman, co-author of the paper and director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California, San Diego.
While the James Webb telescope will improve views of distant galaxies, the telescope has a relatively small field of view. As a result, the observations must take into account cosmic variance – the statistical variation in the number of galaxies from place to place.
That’s what makes these simulations pertinent even as improved technology becomes available, O’Shea said.
“A deeper understanding based on theory may be necessary to correctly interpret what’s being seen, such as high redshift survey results,” he said.
In addition to O’Shea and Norman, the research team also included John Wise, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Hao Xu, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of California, San Diego.
The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. |
Thou who seek solitude.
We breathe gently. We watch the unexpected;
We smile cleverly, We kindle the most intended.
Then what does the prophecy proclaim?
Our thoughts are haunted,
Our actions are wounded.
We live with no freedom. We move with permission;
We cry with no reason, We bonded with discretion.
One run away from memory. Other mocked on his grave;
Millions follow the decree, Solitude is all thou crave.
The Star of Hope then shines in the sky,
Thou shall not live with fear,
Thou shall not believe what thy hear.
Decades have withered away,
Now cast yourself from the most desired clay.
Walk into the realm of oneself. Its awaiting;
Learn to know more of your self. Its still awaiting.
Thou who seek solitude. Shall seek happiness;
Nothing could be more happier than to know oneself.
Breathe-in closed doors. Let your mind explore;
Awaken your guilt. Awaken your fear,
Awaken the memory you ignore to hear.
Thou shall then seek the answers to all,
What prophecy had proclaimed, you shall have it all.
Your thoughts will not stale,
Your actions will harmlessly inhale.
Thou who seek solitude. Shall always seek freedom;
(and) Nothing could be more free-er than to cherish your own wisdom.
Gravity-Shatters now has its own Facebook page.Join our community for Inspired Living! facebook.com/gravityshatters. |
People protest against then–President-elect Donald Trump in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 19. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Update, Jan. 26, 2017, at 10 a.m.: If you’re interested in marching on Tax Day, check out TaxMarch.org.
It turns out there are only two certainties in life: death and Donald Trump not releasing his taxes.
Before he ran for president, Trump promised he’d release his tax returns if he indeed ran for office. When he ran, he said he’d release them after the Internal Revenue Service finished its “audit.” Now that he’s president, his adviser Kellyanne Conway announced he won’t ever release them because “people didn’t care.” Conway then reversed course to say maybe he will release them after the audit after all, and she’s probably one more TV interview away from claiming he already released them and “every tax expert said they were tremendous.”
At this point, it’s clear that Trump isn’t going to show us his tax records unless he feels like he has no other choice. And without those tax returns, we won’t have the basic information we need to unravel Trump’s entanglements with foreign governments, to discern whether he used illegal tax shelters, or to figure out if he’s actually as rich as he claims to be.
Plus, in the wake of Trump’s comment that less than 200,000 inaugural attendees was actually 1.5 million, maybe someone needs to double-check his math.
The Women’s March on Washington and its sister marches around the nation inspired and empowered millions of Americans. Everyone who took to the streets this past weekend is now asking two big questions: “What email list did I just end up on?” and “What’s next?”
On Sunday evening, I offered up a possible answer to that latter question, sending out the following tweet while sipping on my arugula latte. (They’re delicious—ask any member of the coastal elite.)
Trump claims no one cares about his taxes. The next mass protest should be on Tax Day to prove him wrong. — Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) January 22, 2017
Before I knew it, the idea had spread like the STDs Trump claims he avoided during his “personal Vietnam.”
While I wasn’t the first person to come up with the idea for a Tax Day march, I now find myself the clearly unprepared leader of a nationwide movement fueled by Twitter-based rage. In a sense, I am now exactly like Trump. But this movement isn’t about me! I am just your voice, your angry voice, commanding you to—whoa. Sorry. Those retweets really go to your head.
The march took a step closer to reality when comedian Patton Oswalt suggested the hashtag #TrumpTaxesMarch and added his own urgent message:
I ENDORSE THIS 100%. This is the next march. This is the next demonstration. Please RT, everyone. Every city. https://t.co/lgVLknPnnG — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 23, 2017
Beau Willimon, the showrunner of House of Cards, spelled out additional steps and messaging, and did it more eloquently and succinctly than I ever could. Plus, it’s more fun to read about politics if you do it in Frank Underwood’s creepy Southern drawl.
Somebody file for the Sat 4/15 permit: WH ellipse or IRS HQ. We need to show up on his doorstep with our tax filings, demanding his returns. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
1. Let's get to work on a Tax Day Protest in DC and at local IRS offices around the country to demand that Trump release his returns.. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
2. Rules for event permit in DC. Must meet with special events task force at least 60 days out (2/15 for 4/15) https://t.co/hJgzZb6419… — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
3. You can also organize in your local area, in front of or near your local IRS office. Contact local PD for permit rules and details. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
4. Show up with your tax filings. Send the message that if you are paying taxes then the President (whom YOU pay) should release his returns — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
5. If he has nothing to hide, then there should be no harm in proving that to his constituents, the taxpayers of America. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017
Although that plan sounds perfect to me, I do want to add a few more thoughts about what I hope this march can accomplish. I’d also like to suggest the one thing every modern political movement needs: a dumb hat.
The Trump Taxes March should be part of a larger protest about income inequality and Trump’s tax cuts for the rich—or more accurately, Trump’s tax cuts for his children. (The so-called death tax, which only affects the portion of an inheritance that exceeds $5.45 million, should be renamed “the Ivanka tax.”) We follow in the footsteps of the Occupy movement and the elderly shuffles of Bernie Sanders.
But the Trump Taxes March also has a simple, achievable goal: to get President Trump to release his tax returns, something every other president has done for the past 40 years. His administration is already being sued by “constitutional scholars, Supreme Court litigators, and former White House ethics lawyers” over payments from foreign governments that might violate the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, so we know his hands aren’t clean—which is surprising because it should only take seconds to wash them, given that they’re so tiny.
To be clear, we don’t want to see his tax returns because we’re the financial equivalent of a lecherous pervert who barges into underage girls’ dressing rooms while they’re changing. We’re not trying to find out how much money he spent taking a married woman furniture-shopping before he “moved on her like a bitch.” We want to show President Trump that, no matter what his advisers may say, the American people do care. We care if our president has unseemly ties to foreign or domestic interests. We care if our president says he’ll do something and then straight up doesn’t do it. That’s why the official White House petition requesting Trump to release his tax returns already has more than 270,000 signatures. Using Trump math, that’s more than 1.75 million. Huge!
If you don’t care that we care about this—if you agree with Conway’s claim that “Most Americans are very focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his look like”—we will show you that “most Americans” don’t agree. And we’ll continue to show you by marching from Inauguration Day through Tax Day until Election Day.
So show us your tax returns, President Trump. We might even be willing to give you an extension if you need more time to convert the rubles to dollars. |
CHENNAI: In what could have serious ramifications over the future of the Edappadi K Palaniswami government in Tamil Nadu, a sting investigation carried out by Times Now and Moon TV has exposed that AIADMK legislators were paid bribes by party general secretary V K Sasikala , in return for supporting Palaniswami during the trust vote held on February 18.The sting investigation also jeopardises the fate of O Panneerselvam (OPS) camp as an OPS sympathiser is caught on camera discussing money that was paid by the former chief minister's camp in a bid to get MLAs to switch sides.Palaniswami won the trust vote held in the state assembly on the back of support offered by 122 AIADMK legislators.The sting tapes – released by Times Now on Tuesday – shows South Madurai legislator S S Saravanan, who reportedly switched to the OPS camp in a sensational fashion by escaping the Koovathur resort.Long time AIADMK party man and Sulur MLA R Kanagaraj, who voted in favour of Palaniswami, is the other person caught on record, in the first of a four-part expose aired by the news channel."If they had given what was promised in that second, many wouldn't have switched camps. All this was not needed...if they had asked us to go home and come back again, we would have gone there like a herd. That's how we are. Have you seen anyone raising question in the AIADMK?" said Saravanan.Despite the cash restriction, three MLAs allegedly hit the jackpot, according to Saravanan. In the sting video, he named Kangeyam legislator U Thaniyarasu, Nagapattinam constituency representative M Thamimun Ansari and actor/politician S Karunaas, who is the Tiruvadanai MLA, as having accepted Rs 10 crore as bribe. "They got Rs 10 crore. Others have not even received Rs 1 crore," he said.Saravanan was speaking to Shahnawaz Khan, managing director of Moon TV, when he revealed the party atmosphere prevalent at the Golden Bay resort."There was nothing wrong (in Koovathur). There was liquor...Karunaas will drink. It was not like how it was reported in TV and news that MLAs were threatened," Saravanan said. Saravanan’s words contradicted with what he had said after he "escaped" from Koovathur resort. Then he had alleged that the MLAs lodged in the resort had been threatened.Saravanan then spilled the beans on the OPS camp saying that those who were sidelined by late former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had reorganised to form a rival faction. "Those who were sidelined by Amma (Jayalalithaa) are a team now. Dr Maitreyan, KP Munusamy, PH Pandian, Natham Viswanathan and OPS. They all fell out of Amma's favour," he said.He then explained the rationale behind switching to OPS camp. "If I was with EPS (Palaniswami), I would have been one among the crowd. Since I am here (with OPS) I am being identified...I would have been one among them after receiving Rs 2 crore. Now, there is a name for me and I have started to do politics," he said.Sulur MLA Kangaraj acknowledged that the Sasikala camp had promised bribe for votes. "Yes, they promised us money and gold...some of them have received it and some of them haven't and the process is going on," he said in the sting video recorded after the trust vote.The situation unfolded at the Golden Bay Beach Resort in Koovathur after OPS drew battle lines against Sasikala resulted in a split in the AIADMK. Explaining the extended stay at the resort, Kanagaraj said,"...we were in Koovathur to save the government. We thought it was for a day and it got extended due to governor's non-availability. If he had arrived that day (February 9), we would have wrapped it up in a day or two."After her election as legislative party leader on February 5, OPS who stepped down as chief minister revolted against Sasikala on the night of February 8. An emergency meeting convened the next day ended with the Sasikala camp herding more than 120 MLAs into buses and eventually taking them to the Koovathur resort.The state administration entered a limbo as the MLAs remained incommunicado with high drama unfolding on a daily basis leading up to the trust vote on February 18, when Palaniswami proved his majority. |
Apollo Nida Engaged In Prison!!!
Apollo Nida Engaged In Prison!
EXCLUSIVE
Apollo Nida will appear on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' from prison and he's bringing his new mystery fiancée along for the ride too ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to production tell us Apollo started dating the woman 2 years ago ... before he started his prison sentence, and they got engaged a couple months ago. We're told the woman lives in NJ, not far from the the federal prison where he's serving his sentence ... and she visits twice a week.
She and Apollo have both shot scenes for the upcoming 'RHOA' season -- he's on by phone -- and we're told producers want to keep her identity under wraps until the episode airs.
The 2 big questions: NO, the fiancée did not shoot scenes with Apollo's ex, but Phaedra Parks' reaction to the relationship was captured -- and NO ... the fiancée doesn't have a ring.
Diamonds are frowned upon in federal lockup. |
Image caption Much social housing, like these 1970s flats in Cumbernauld, was build for larger households
The Scottish parliament has been asked to change the law to prevent tenants being evicted because of changes to housing benefit.
Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre said that people could be homeless because of the UK government reforms.
He said Holyrood should act to minimise the consequences of the change.
But, speaking on Sunday Politics Scotland, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani claimed little could be done until the Scottish parliament has more powers.
The changes to housing benefit are intended to encourage mobility by discouraging tenants from staying in homes deemed too large for their needs.
Mr Dailly said: "This is the new poll tax in Scotland. It's a vicious attack on the low paid and poor.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Many tenants are worried about the changes to housing benefit
"The Scottish government can do a lot to prevent people from being evicted."
The law on benefits is a reserved matter, controlled by the UK parliament at Westminster, but Mr Dailly said Holyrood could change the law in areas that it does control.
"What we are calling on is for the Scottish government to change housing law so that if you incur 'bedroom tax' arrears that should be treated as an ordinary debt but not allow you to be evicted," he suggested.
Costs
Speaking on the same programme, Ms Fabiani said the Scottish parliament's powers were limited.
"I'm actually not convinced by this proposal because I don't think it'll particularly help the people who have the problem," she said.
"I also think it makes it very difficult for social landlords who have to pass on that cost to the remaining tenants.
"For me, the answer is that this (change to housing benefit) should not be happening."
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie insisted that cuts to the benefit bill are essential.
"No change is not an option," he said.
"We've got a combination of a housing crisis, with about 187,000 people on waiting lists, and a financial crisis." |
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Jordy Nelson’s season is likely over, and the same looks to be true for Davante Adams.
The Green Bay Packers’ starting receivers are unlikely to play in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Detroit, leaving both of their futures in doubt.
Nelson suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s shutout loss to Minnesota, and coach Mike McCarthy said the 32-year-old is a long shot to play against the Lions. Adams remained in the concussion protocol on Wednesday and hasn’t played since he suffered his second head injury of the season on Dec. 17 at Carolina.
The Packers could be staring at a future without Davante Adams or Jordy Nelson ... or both. Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports
“It’ll be tough for him to make this week,” McCarthy said Wednesday.
Nelson’s production has slipped this season, and even the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from his broken collarbone for the Panthers game didn’t jump-start the receiver. Nelson was leading the league with six touchdown receptions when Rodgers got hurt in Week 6 but hasn’t caught one since. He has 53 catches (his fewest since 2010) for 482 yards (his fewest since 2009). Nelson has one year left on his contract and is scheduled to make $10.25 million in salary and bonuses next season.
2018 NFL DRAFT Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App
Rounds 4-7: Sat., noon, ESPN/ABC/ESPN App
Where: Arlington, Texas
NFL draft coverage » | Full order: 1-256 » • Kiper's final Mock Draft: 1-32 »
• McShay's final Mock Draft: 1-32 »
• Kiper and McShay's draft reset »
• Draft predictions for all 32 teams »
• Draft Herbies: Kirk's best of the best »
• McShay's draft buzz: What I'm hearing »
• McShay's top five needs for every team »
The Packers might have to consider cutting Nelson or asking him to take a pay cut if they re-sign Adams, who would be a free agent in March if a new deal isn’t worked out by then. Adams has a team-high 74 catches for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 25-year-old’s production didn’t change much with Brett Hundley at quarterback. Of Adams’ 10 touchdowns, five came from Rodgers and five from Hundley.
McCarthy wouldn’t say whether the Packers have intentionally shut down Adams for the season because they’re out of the playoffs. “He hasn’t been cleared; that’s Davante’s status,” McCarthy said.
Without Adams or Nelson, expect rookie Michael Clark to see more action. The 6-foot-6 former college basketball player caught three passes for 36 yards on Saturday against the Vikings in his first career snaps in a regular-season game.
The Packers also are expected to be without running back Aaron Jones, who suffered a knee injury against the Vikings. |
tennydr10confidential:
The way he smiles that it seems to brighten up your day.
The way he laughs in a way that is very contagious.
The way he cries so you want you to cry with him.
The way he does that cute little chipmunk giggle(if only gifs had sound)
The way he looks in glasses with them on and while taking them off.
The way he does that cute winky eye tongue thing that is just too cute and sexy for words.
The way he can laugh and joke about embarrassing things such as his face being on panties.
The way he gets frustrated after repeating himself over and over again.
The way he dances and isn’t afraid to be silly and foolish while doing so.
The way he is so humble and appreciative when receiving awards or other acknowledgements.
The way he pours his heart into helping others by working with various charities.
The way he licks his lip when he is listening or thinking about what to say.
The way his left eyebrow seems to raise up and have a mind of it’s own.
The way his cute little suck you in dimple shows sometimes when he sucks in cheeks.
The way he can be such a lovable obsessive geeky dork just like us and knows it.
The way he interacts with his fans to make sure they have special moment even it means ruffling his hair.
The way he gets all excited when he knows or remembers things all of a sudden.
The way that he still loves things like Doctor Who and fanboys over them.
The way he treats kids like they are his equals and no lesser than he is.
The way he does voice acting or recording and actually acts out what his character is doing.
The way he sings even when he just lip syncs is just purely mesmerizing.
The way he kisses gently and passionately, so you desire to be kissed by him.
The way he hugs with warmth and love, so you feel like your getting a hug from him too.
The way he can make you feel smart and special even through an educational app.
The way he shakes one’s hand. (this I know from actually meeting him, it’s really firm, but nice and inviting, can’t really explain it)
The way he acts all silly,cute, and childish sometimes, which is really really sweet.
The way he genuinely seems pleased when he has done something.
The way he tries to protect the feelings and the well-being of his friends and coworkers.
The way he says goodnight to make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
The way he expresses his love for playing or giving roles complex darker characters.
Finally the way he was he was genuinely shocked and surprised when he found out he won NTA Special Recognition Award.
I could make more ways as to why I love David Tennant because there are just so many, but I think this will suffice for now. I love this man from the bottom of my hearts. He is not only really handsome and a great actor, but he has good heart and a soul, and is the kindest most generous person you could ever hope to meet. He is wonderful and brilliant, and I am beyond proud to be a fan of his.
-tennydr10confidential aka Katie |
Quotes on Cycling and Society
"Integrated cycling means putting safety, not ridership, first." - me.
"When a cow follows the herd, it ends up at a slaughterhouse. When cyclists use bike facilities, they end up at an intersection, often with the same unhappy result as the cow. Use the road - it's safer!" - me again.
"Vehicular cycling techniques have not been tried and found difficult. They have been presumed difficult and not tried." - P.M. Summer, paraphrasing G.K. Chesterton
"If American bicycle advocacy leaders had championed the civil rights movement, the 'Dream' would have been reserved seating in the back of the bus." - Jack R. Taylor
"The task of the 'protected' bicycle facility is to hide collision participants from each other right up to the point of impact." - John Schubert
"Stress, obesity, heart disease, traffic congestion, pollution, peak oil, global climate change. If only there were a simple solution." - unknown
"Position on the road is by far the most important influence that a cyclist has over his safety. Indeed, the loss of this ability to influence the actions of others is one reason why road-side cycle tracks and shared footways increase danger at junctions. Many cyclists fail to position themselves properly because of their fear of traffic, yet it is this very fear that puts them most at risk. Encouraging unsafe behaviour by directing cyclists to more hazardous positions does nobody
any favours." - John Franklin
" It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so " - Mark Twain |
Glenfiddich Distillery
Wooden barrels stacked outside the main reception.
The Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15-year single malt scotch whisky.
Glenfiddich is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky owned and produced by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland. Glenfiddich means "valley of the deer" in Scottish Gaelic, which is why the Glenfiddich logo is a stag.[1][2]
Glenfiddich is the world's best-selling single-malt whisky[3] and also the most awarded at the International Spirits Challenge.[4]
History [ edit ]
The Glenfiddich Distillery was founded in 1886 by William Grant in Dufftown, Scotland, in the glen of the River Fiddich.[5] The Glenfiddich single malt whisky first ran from the stills on Christmas Day, 1887.[6]
In the 1920s, with prohibition in force in the USA, Glenfiddich was one of a very small number of distilleries to increase production. This put them in a strong position to meet the sudden rise in demand for fine aged whiskies that came with the repeal of prohibition.[7][8]
In the 1950s, the Grant family built up an onsite infrastructure that included coppersmiths to maintain the copper stills, and a dedicated cooperage that is now one of the very few remaining in distilleries.[9] In 1956 the Grant's brand launched the now-iconic triangular bottle, designed by Hans Schleger.[10]
Following difficult times in the 1960s and '70s, many small, independent distillers were bought up or went out of business. In order to survive, W. Grant & Sons expanded their production of the drink, and introduced advertising campaigns and a visitors' centre.[11] In this period they also took the decision to begin marketing single malt as a premium brand in its own right, effectively creating the modern single malt whisky category.[4]
Later, W. Grant & Sons was one of the first distilleries to package its bottles in tubes and gift tins, as well as recognising the importance of the duty-free market for spirits. This marketing strategy was successful, and Glenfiddich has now become the world's best-selling single malt.[12] It is sold in 180 countries,[6] and accounts for about 35% of single malt sales.[13]
Glenfiddich is currently managed by the fifth generation of William Grant's descendants.[14]
In September 2014, William Grant & Sons agreed to acquire Drambuie for an undisclosed price rumoured to be in the region of £100 million.[15]
Production [ edit ]
Glenfiddich whisky is produced at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Moray.
Glenfiddich is a single malt Scotch whisky, this means the whisky was distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and must be made from a mash of malted grain.
Onsite there are 32 distinctively-shaped "swan neck" copper pot stills. These stills are smaller than those now in use at most other major distilleries. All stills are handmade and Glenfiddich employs a dedicated team of craftsmen and coppersmiths to maintain them.[16] These stills have a capacity of around 13,000,000 litres of spirit.
The water source for Glenfiddich Whisky is The Robbie Dhu springs nearby to the distillery.
Glenfiddich is matured in many different casks such as:
Rum casks from the Caribbean Bourbon whiskey barrels from America Sherry butts from Jerez in Spain
Once the spirit has matured, the casks are emptied and the whisky is "cut" with pure Robbie Dhu spring water.
Glenfiddich has a dedicated bottling hall onsite along with a large bottling plant in Bellshill.
Whiskies [ edit ]
Glenfiddich Age-Statement Whiskies, by years of production, since 1992 Age 1992–1994 1994–1996 1996–1998 1998–2000 2000–2002 2002–2004 2004–2006 2006–2008 2008–2010 2010–2012 2012— 12 Year Old Caoran Reserve Glenfiddich
12 Year Old 14 Year Old Glenfiddich
Rich Oak 15 Year Old Classic Solera Reserve Glenfiddich
15 Year Old 15 Year Old 15 Year Old Cask Strength
(renamed Distillery Edition) 18 Year Old Excellence Ancient Reserve Glenfiddich
18 Year Old 21 Year Old Millennium Reserve Havana Reserve Gran Reserva Glenfiddich
21 Year Old 30 Year Old Glenfiddich
30 Year Old 38 Year Old Glenfiddich
Ultimate 38 40 Year Old Glenfiddich
40 Year Old 50 Year Old Glenfiddich
50 Year Old 64 Year Old 1937 Rare Collection
Core Range [ edit ]
Glenfiddich 12 year old
Glenfiddich 15 year old
Glenfiddich 18 year old
Glenfiddich 21 year old
Liqueur [ edit ]
Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Liqueur - Until 2011 Glenfiddich produced a liqueur that was 40% alcohol by volume, and sold in 50 cl (500 ml) bottles. Swan necked copper stills in the distillery.
Critical acclaim [ edit ]
Glenfiddich's whiskies have performed well at international spirits ratings competitions. The 12, 15, 18, and 21-year offerings have all rated well in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Beverage Testing Institutes' reviews.[17] On balance, the 15-year whisky has performed the best, receiving three double-gold medals (in four years) at the 2007–2010 San Francisco competitions and a score of 91 with the Beverage Testing Institute.[18]
Glenfiddich Awards [ edit ]
Started in 1970, Glenfiddich promoted the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards to honour distinguished writing and broadcasting in the fields of food and drink in the UK. In 2008, Glenfiddich decided to discontinue distributing Food and Drink Awards, reviewing their "strategy, scope and potential application in some of Glenfiddich’s key markets outside the UK."
Started in 1998, Glenfiddich promoted the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards. The Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards were annual awards given to notable Scottish people. Glenfiddich sponsored the event, in association with The Scotsman newspaper. Nine awards were distributed for art, business, environment, food, music, screen, sport, writing and "Top Scot". A consulting panel nominated four people in each category, with the winner decided by a public vote. The "Top Scot" is an open award, with the public able to nominate anyone. The awards haven't been hosted since 2014.
In popular culture [ edit ]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Coordinates: |
Hello again fair and fanciful friends! It is I The Plaid Avenger, coming at you live from Nigeria where I have been partying all day with my main man Manmohan Singh….that would be Prime Minister Singh to you! But he ain’t no politician from Nigeria my brothers and sisters; he is the leader of India . So what’s this Indian brother doin’ hanging in western Africa ? I’m glad you asked! It’s got everything to do with India’s thirst for energy…two different types of energy to be exact, combining two different issues with two different Indian allies…but all the shit is going down at once! Dig it:
Indian prime minister seeks more trade with oil-rich Nigeria
India’s ties with Nigeria, Africa enter new era
India eyes Nigeria energy
PM moots strategic ties with Nigeria
Manmohan To Bush: Difficulties In Implementing N-deal
Singh’s Nuclear-Energy U-Turn Lets India Down
Difficulties in n-deal operationalisation, Singh tells Bush
Our main man from New Delhi has been meeting with the Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua today to firm up a whole shitload of commitments between the two countries. India and Nigeria want to work together to increase trade between the states; to form a united front to counter the current international financial systems which are not very ‘developing-country friendly’; and even to work together to ensure that India gets a primo spot on the UN Permanent Security Council…should that group ever get around to expanding. But mostly they talked about cash! Oops, I mean economic ties…that’s the more politically correct term for politicians…
But dudes, we all know its about the dollars man! These two world leader cats were cementing trade deals and promising investment packages and doing everything they can to work together better. Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner on the planet, and the Nigerians are anxious about getting more basic manufactures and cheap shit from India , in return for some resources that the Nigerians hook up the Indians with. Africa as a continent is just loaded with resources that rich and poor countries alike are hungry for. Lots of resources!
Dollars and resources! And the one resource in particular that India gets is…can you possibly even guess?….it’s oil! Nigeria is the world’s 8th largest exporter of oil on the planet right now, and India is the 6th largest user of oil on the planet….and here is the kicker: India ain’t got none of their own! None! They’ve got to import it all baby! So Singh and his boys from Bollywood can claim that they are hooking up with the Nigerians for a million and one different reasons…but we all know that it’s really all about that petroleum! India has got to have the oil, man!
Oh BTW, when countries talk about getting oil nowadays, they refer to it as ‘energy security talks’ Ha! I got something you can secure! What the hell ever! You guys are talking about buying and selling oil, and the Avenger knows this!
And Singh knows this too. India must have energy to continue on their path of development. They must have the go-go juice in order to build and operate all those new factories and industries which will be supplying the world with lots of cheap labor trinkets. India also has serious development in the high-end computer and software sectors too…and you need energy to keep those screens on as well. And there is the small matter of a billion people in the country that would like to have lights and TVs and microwave ovens and all that shit. Therefore, India must import more and more energy in order to keep their economy running….ergo, they import a fuck-ton of oil from Nigeria .
But wait…I thought the world was trying to get away from oil dependence? Why don’t the Indians just use some other type of energy? Well, as stated above, India ain’t got no oil. They do have some coal, but that is awfully polluting fuel for a billion people to use. As is wood. Or dried cow dung. So India simply doesn’t have a lot of energy options. Oh! Oh….wait! Oh….Oh….Oh…I got it! Call on me teacher! I’ve got the answer! Call on me! My hand is up!…How about nuclear energy? Yeah! Damn I’m good. See , India already has nuclear technology; hell, it has a nuclear program and nuclear bombs! So they can just start making nuclear energy….right?
Wrong! Check the other stories above for the ‘no to nukes’ bomb that Singh dropped today. Pun intended. US President Bush had to call back Indian Prime Minister Singh while he was in Nigeria today to hear the bad news that a proposed Indian-US nuke deal was going to get shot down in the Indian Congress. How bizarre is that story? US calls India in Nigeria . Confused enough yet? Let me clarify quickly…
Almost all the major world powers which possess nuclear weapons have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which basically states that they won’t proliferate or distribute nuke technology to anybody else. However, I did say almost all. India , Pakistan and Israel are three states known to possess nuke technology, but who have not signed this treaty—and all for very, very different reasons too, which I won’t get into here. As you can imagine, this treaty is mostly to ensure that nobody is making nuke weapons, but nuke power technology is allowed by the NPT, which makes enforcement of it tricky…i.e. see IRAN in current events.
Just know this for now: if you aren’t signed up for the treaty, then you are not allowed to access civilian nuke technology or buy fuel for nuke energy production either. Which is why India is stuck. But the US likes India ! The UN likes India ! Hell, everybody likes India ! Okay, maybe not Pakistan . But most of the world sees India as a multi-cultural society and stable democracy that is developing rapidly in the modern world. And since they already have the nuke technology, most think they can handle nuke energy. But that pesky NPT! What to do about that?
Well, US President George Bush thought of what to do a few years back: bend it a little. In an effort to strengthen US-Indian ties, Georgie has been working tirelessly (okay, someone who works for Georgie has been working tirelessly) to make India the exception to this NPT rule. The United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006 is the legal framework for a bilateral pact between the US and India under which the US will provide access to civilian nuclear tech stuff and access to nuke fuel in exchange for IAEA-safeguards on civilian Indian reactors.
In other words, the US will personally work with India to get them the goods (nuke energy technologies and fuel) and in return India promises to abide by all the major rules of the NPT (especially the ‘no proliferating’ part) and the IAEA—International Atomic Energy Agency—would also be participating to do inspections and enforce the rules.
Everybody was all about this shit man! Mohammad El Baradei of the IAEA thought it was a good idea. Prime Minister Singh thought it was sweet that India would be getting all kinds of cheap fuel for his economy. Sweet!
And the Bush Administration? Holy shit! They were tickled pink! Not only would the US get to make tons of money on selling India nuke secrets and fuel, but US corporations were going to be getting a hefty share of building the nuke plants to boot! And the US really wants the growing Indian economy to produce its own fuel….thereby lessening its demand for world oil…lower Indian demand means more left over for us! At cheaper prices too! President Bush whipped up this agreement overnight, got it passed by Congress and signed it into law in a hot shit minute. The IAEA was working out the details, and all that was left to do was have the Indians formally sign the treaty. Let’s get this game on! Win-win-win baby!
Oops. Unfortunately it lost-lost-lost. That’s what the sad phone call from Nigeria to Air Force One was about earlier today. The Indian political system is one of those kind of freaky parliamentary systems where there is no clear cut political party in power. Like in the US right now, the Democrats control the House, the Republicans control the White House, etc. But in India , there is like 50 different parties in Congress, and for a Prime Minister to get any piece of legislation passed, he has to have a whole shitload of parties working together. He has to form a coalition government to get things done.
You dig what I’m saying? The coalition is comprised of a bunch of different political parties that together form a majority. On top of that, this coalition that forms has the responsibility of electing the Prime Minister himself. Which means if enough folks in the coalition get pissed, they can actually crash the whole government by declaring a stalemate…in which new elections would be called for and a new Prime Minister picked.
Long story short, that is where our main man Manmohan Singh found himself over this Indian-US nuke deal. A main party named BJP declared that India ‘s entering this agreement with the US would compromise their national security by limiting their weapons program. Worse yet, a bunch of Commie/Marxist parties declared their boycott of the nuke deal on the grounds that it made India a subservient pawn to the ‘imperialist policies of the U.S.A. ’. Dudes, did anyone tell those Indian commies that the Cold War is over? Read the papers man!
Anyway, this rant is over. End game: Prime Minister Singh had to throw in the towel this weekend. If he would have pushed harder, there was a threat that the BJP and the commies could have gone for the government crash, so Singh let it drop. Singh has egg all over his face, because he swore this deal was going to go thru, and now he kind of looks like a dork. The Bush administration/The US takes a serious hit too because this was one of the only bright spots of foreign policy they have been able to muster for 7 years. They were really fired up to be making India a stronger ally. Oh well, that may still come to pass. But for now: no nukes in India , India is tied to oil dependence, and the US will have to figure out some new ways for people around the word to stop using all the oil that we want for ourselves. Go get’em fellas!
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Disrespect to China endangering trade: Stokes
Updated
Billionaire Kerry Stokes has warned that Australia's trade with China is at risk because of Australia's poor attitude towards the country.
The Seven Network chairman has criticised Australian politicians for calling for political change during visits to China, describing them as disrespectful.
He says Australia's attitude towards the sale of Cubbie Station to Chinese interests has been deemed as racist by influential Chinese bloggers.
Mr Stokes, who was speaking at a conference on Australia-China relations in Sydney, says Australia needs to build a strong relationship with China to secure future trade.
"In the future there'll be other nations around the world who will challenge us by providing what we offer at far more competitive prices," he said.
"We want to be in a position then that prices are not the only reason that we trade with China, because in the future, [if] price is the only reason we trade with China, we will lose.
"Make no mistake, we will lose."
Mr Stokes says forging closer ties outside of mining is key to Australia's future prosperity.
"Resources are finite, so build services like education, business and tourism; the most renewable resource we have and we can share with them.
"University exchange is the best way of us being close.
"China still wants Australia to invest in China and they desire a partnership and they desire it to be built on respect and mutually beneficial outcomes."
'Xenophobic claptrap'
The comments were echoed by Treasurer Wayne Swan, who has called for an end to what he termed "xenophobic claptrap" about foreign investment from China.
Speaking at the same conference, he said Australia must stop fear-mongering about foreign investment from China because, for the first time in history, Australia will not share a language or history with the world's largest economy.
Mr Swan said the rise of China was one of the two defining economic events of our lifetime along with the global financial crisis.
He said the resources boom would endure despite commodity prices having peaked last year.
"While this transition will be difficult for some, we also need to understand that the resources boom will endure well beyond the boom in prices alone," he said.
Topics: world-politics, business-economics-and-finance, international-aid-and-trade, trade, agricultural-policy, australia, china
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We applaud women who are able to make it through school while raising a child, but at the same time there are not a lot of resources available for moms in this situation. All colleges don’t exactly offer day care. One mom who clearly had no other options decided to bring her child to class. And her teacher responded in the most amazing way.
According to EntertainmentWise, the following photo was snapped at a small college in Jerusalem:
It was shared on Imgur, and has been viewed over a million times in the last two days. The caption reads: “So one of the students came with her kid, because she didn’t have a babysitter. The kid starts to cry in the middle of the class, so his mom, all embarrassed gets up to leave, and the professor took the kid from her, calmed him and continued teaching.”
This is a professor who truly cares about the education of his students. Seriously. If only we could all behave that way to each other. Care for each other and treat each other with respect and kindness. That professor knows that the mother is doing everything she can to better her and her child’s future. I can’t even begin to imagine how much that probably meant to her – knowing that someone valued her education and supported her that much.
Wow. In the middle of his lecture, instead of defaulting to being confused and annoyed that a child was in his class, he helped. He helped. Is this image worthy of over a million views and probably a ton of shares? Yes. Why? Because we so crave compassion that when we see it — it’s almost like an image from a fairy tale. Comments on the photo prove just how much it touched some people — even on the notoriously snarky Imgur site:
Sure, you could argue that the student was being insensitive to her classmates, disruptive, and whatever other annoyed adjectives one could drum up. But instead, let’s turn our focus to a professor who proved that a simple gesture of kindness and compassion could really help one person — and really inspire millions of others. He could have told her to hurry up as she was gathering her child and her stuff. He could have rolled his eyes. He could have done nothing.
There are always opportunities to make someone feel seen — like they matter. Good for you, professor. This photo just made our morning.
Related post: Dropping Your Child Off At College |
Bad news for Toyota Venza owners — the 2009 edition of the crossover SUV is the new hot target for Canadian car thieves.
The Toyota model tops the Insurance Bureau of Canada's top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in Canada.
The 2009 Venza replaces the 2000 Honda Civic SiR, which was last year's No. 1 stolen vehicle and drops to third place this year.
In at second this year among car thieves is the 1999 Honda Civic SiR two-door.
Top 10 most stolen cars 2009 Toyota Venza 4-door 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door 2006 Ford F350 Pickup Truck 4WD 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-door AWD 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS 4-door 4WD 2007 Ford F350 Pickup Truck 4WD 2001 Pontiac Aztek 4-door AWD 1998 Acura Integra 2-door 1999 Acura Integra 2-door
The insurance bureau says high-end vehicles are often targeted by criminal organizations that strip them for parts or resell them to unsuspecting consumers.
"Consumers need to be aware when they're in the market for used vehicles or parts," said Rick Dubin of the insurance bureau.
"Generally, Quebec stolen vehicles — like the Venza — are ending up in the Port of Montreal, as thieves appear to be seeking a quick distribution of the vehicles," Dubin said.
While auto theft is a big business, Dubin said the numbers are dropping.
"The good news is that statistics show that in 2010, the number of stolen vehicles in Canada — approximately 93,000 — was down 15 per cent from 2009," Dubin said.
"The bad news is that recovery rates for stolen vehicles are continuing to decline," he added. |
Ah, Disney World — a collection of whimsically themed structures built on top of a swamp, in which fully-grown adults gambol about in rodent costumes cooing at the assembled youth of America. While this magical bog may seem to be a factory of simple, innocent fun, it hides a darker underbelly: Disney World is a veritable hellscape for Manhattan families who are just too rich to wait on line.
Thank the Disney Gods (which probably look like a hat with a glove attached to it and a white lady in a wig) that Manhattan's elite are so plucky and inventive. They've figured out a way to cut the massive lines at the resort — by hiring a tour guides with a disabilities to pose as their family members so that their own children can bypass everyone else! Woohoo! Capitalism!
According to The New York Post, these "black market Disney guides" allegedly can be hired through a (not Disney affiliated) service called Dream Tours. The company, which states on its homepage that its specializes in wheelchair accesible travel, charges $130 an hour — or $1,040 for an eight-hour day. According to the "black market Disney" customers, it's an awesome and great plan to hire a wheelchair-bound guide, because each guest with a wheelchair or motorized scooter is allowed to bring six other people with him/her to a "more convenient entrance."
Disney Tours does officially offer a VIP guide service, complete with line-cutting fast passes, for $310 - $380 an hour, but, like, what's the point in using your wealth to wield advantages over others if you're not being as exploitative as humanly possible? Furthermore, according to social anthropologist Dr. Wednesday Martin, this service also functions as a status symbol amongst certain circles. You must be referred by someone in-the-know in order to use the wheelchair tour service as an able-bodied client, so Dream Tours has become a means of "affirming that you are one of the privileged insiders who has and shares this information."
It goes without saying that all of this is truly gross. To think it's in any way appropriate, as an able-bodied person, to take advantage of systems that have been put in place to make life easier for those with physical disabilities is disgusting; to do so in order to assert your extreme privilege is despicable. It's wonderful (and necessary!) that there's a Disney tour service out there catering to those with special needs; to co-opt it as a means of further spoiling advantaged rich kids is shameful, oblivious, and demeaning.
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Four relatives were indicted Monday in the forced abortion of a Dallas teen in 2013 who police say was raped by a family member.
Police say the relatives beat and kicked the girl for six hours, leading her to give birth to a stillborn baby, which they then tried to burn on a charcoal grill to cover up their crime.
Cedric Jones, 27, Sharon Lee Jones, 45, Lonnell McDonald, 27, and Cecila McDonald, 25, are all charged with engaging in organized crime. The underlying crime is aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, alleged to be the defendants’ hands and feet, according to the grand jury indictments.
They are accused of beating a then-14-year-old girl who was eight months pregnant at their home in the 1200 block of North Master’s Drive. At the time of the rape, the girl was a virgin, police said.
According to a police affidavit, the relatives pinned the girl’s arms down while Lonnell McDonald sat on her stomach, “repeatedly bouncing up and down.” The family members kicked and punched her stomach as well.
Cecila McDonald told the girl, “You ain’t about to get my kids taken away from me,” as Lonnell McDonald laughed, according to the affidavit.
The girl was in extreme pain, and Sharon Jones told her to “shut up” and cry into a pillow, police said.
The girl said the attack didn’t stop until she began to bleed heavily. Her baby was stillborn about two hours later, police said.
The rape suspect, Robert Joseph Cayald, 22, has not been indicted, though he was arrested on a charge of aggravated sexual assault.
All five defendants remain in Dallas County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail each.
The girl, who is now 16, came forward to police in May, three years after the rape and two years after the forced abortion. She said she stayed quiet because she was embarrassed. She’s now in the custody of Child Protective Services, along with six other children from the family, ages 15, 14, 9, 7, 6 and 3. |
According to new research, we can now add the world's freshwater lakes to the ever-growing list of at-risk environmental entities.
A ferry crosses Lake Albert, Uganda, one of the Great Lakes of Africa. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Fill in the blank: "Climate change is the biggest threat to ____" There are so many correct answers to choose from—coral reefs, polar bear survival, national security, or public health not least among them—the remark is starting to sound like a bit of a broken record. And now, according to a new study funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation, we can add the world's freshwater lakes to the ever-growing list of at-risk environmental entities.
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The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, examined more than half of the world's freshwater across six continents. The researchers found that, between 1985 and 2009, lake surface water temperatures "rose rapidly," according to satellite temperature data and ground measurements taken from more than 230 lakes worldwide. On average, the world's lakes are warming around 0.61 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0.34 degrees Celsius each decade—rates of warming faster than both the ocean and the atmosphere.
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"The widespread warming suggests large changes in Earth's freshwater resources and their processes are not only imminent but already under way."
Warming patterns aren't uniform. Lakes with the highest rates of warming are also experiencing less cloud cover in the summer, including the Great Lakes and lakes throughout Northern Europe, which are warming "significantly faster" than the global average, researchers found. Ice-covered lakes happen to be warming faster than ambient air temperatures, and even the world's deepest ice-covered lakes are warming twice as fast as the air around them.
The consequences of warmer lakes are profound—from threatened water security as water levels evaporate and decline, to economic stress among communities who depend on fisheries for revenue, like the Great Lakes of Africa, which supports Uganda's economy as one of world's largest producers of freshwater fish.
Although lakes in southeastern North America are warming significantly slower than the global average, the most minute of temperature changes can be detrimental on a lake's ecosystem. Scientists predict algae blooms—which can leave lake water devoid of oxygen—will increase by 20 percent thanks to warming waters. Algae blooms, which are toxic to fish and other sea creatures, are projected to increase by five percent. Methane—25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide when studied across 100-year time scales, according to NASA—could increase by four percent throughout the next decade as well.
"The widespread warming reported here suggests that large changes in Earth's freshwater resources and their processes are not only imminent but already under way," the researchers write.
And not a moment too soon to start assessing adaptation and mitigation efforts to save them.
"Catastrophic Consequences of Climate Change" is Pacific Standard's year-long investigation into the devastating effects of climate change—and how scholars, legislators, and citizen-activists can help stave off its most dire consequences. |
(Reuters) - Law enforcement said they were making progress on Saturday ending a disturbance at a federal correctional facility in southern Texas were as many as 2,000 inmates were protesting medical services, according to a published report.
The disturbance began early Friday at the Willacy County Correctional Center, which primarily holds immigrants who entered the United States illegally, and is run by the private company Management & Training Corp, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
The prison facility in Raymondville is about 40 miles (64 km) from the Mexican border.
The unrest, which prison officials said was not a riot, began when prisoners refused to come to breakfast or report for work to protest medical services at the facility, the Express-News and local broadcaster KGBT-TV reported.
The inmates broke out of their housing structures and converged in the recreation yard, setting fire to several kevlar domes, or tents, that serve as prison housing, the newspaper said.
Management & Training Corp could not immediately be reached for comment about the standoff.
By Saturday afternoon, the disturbance was almost under control, the newspaper said, citing the Willacy County sheriff and a prison spokesman.
Authorities said there had been no serious injuries during the 36-hour standoff.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Highway Patrol troopers, Texas Rangers, and other agencies remained at the facility, the newspaper said. |
Aziz Ansari poses on arrival for the GQ Men of the Year Party at Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd., in Hollywood, California, on November 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
Aziz Ansari, the noted food-loving standup comic and star of 'Parks and Recreation" has never had a shortage of good things to say about his favorite eats.
On Sunday, Ansari -- apparently running late for his flight out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport -- took to Twitter to frantically find someone who could help him secure a torta from celebrity chef Rick Bayless' Torta Frontera.
The comedian was apparently in Chicago over the weekend and forgot about the two airport locations until it was too late; Ansari told his more than 2.4 million Twitter followers he would reimburse someone and offer them free tickets to his next Chicago show if a few tortas could be secured before takeoff. The hungry funnyman even tried to leverage his Executive Platinum status with American Airlines to get the pre-flight meal.
(See the slideshow below to learn if Aziz got his torta.)
HuffPost took a look back at some of Ansari's favorite moments with Chicago food and it's pretty clear that while many options aren't budget-friendly, the guy has good taste. |
The creep accused of getting an 11-year-old pregnant wants a court to believe he thought it was his wife the whole time.
And if you don't think this story could get worse -- or more bizarre -- just wait.
The girl was a friend of Michael Lacy's daughter. She was in the house for a sleepover.
West Virginia TV station WSAZ says 36-year-old Lacy -- whose dental hygiene leaves something to be desired by the looks of him -- told police he'd taken Lortab and Xanax the night of the sleepover.
Then he tells the cops he woke up to someone kissing his neck, and figuring it was his wife, he kissed back. Of course he doesn't remember anything else here -- he took all those painkillers.
The girl -- who was a virgin at the time -- is now nine weeks pregnant, and Lacy is facing sexual assault charges.
The horror of the story leads to a host of questions, from where was the mother at this time? Who takes serious narcotics when they're supposed to be in charge of a group of pre-teens? And how did an 11-year-old become pregnant?
Four years ago Britain announced its first official "youngest mother" was a girl who was the same age -- 11.
The world's youngest ever seems to be a 5-year-old Peruvian girl.
Now with puberty striking kids as young as 4 -- and more and more of them -- these sad stories are becoming more common according to researchers.
Girls are being compelled to act the age they look rather than the age they are, and they're often coerced into sexually mature relationships that don't meet their emotional age. Whether it's by a boy their own age closer to their age or an adult, they're being victimized.
Add to it the fact that the presence of a menstrual cycle enables the body to become pregnant, and it's compounding the tragedy of sexual assault with the stigma of being pregnant at such a young age.
Image via WSAZ |
17 Year old Girl Invents Web App that detects Breast Cancer, Makes Everyone Else Feel Inadequate
If you feel like you’ve accomplished something great today, then you should probably ignore this story about a 17 year old girl who invented a web app to help detect breast cancer.
Brittany Wenger, a student at Florida high school, was disappointed in the number of non-invasive procedures used to detect breast cancer, along with their relatively inconclusive results. As you do when you’re faced with a problem, you find a solution, and boy did she ever do that.
“I taught the computer how to diagnose breast cancer,” she says. Talk about an understated statement of fact.
Brittany took first place in this year’s Google Science Fair for this achievement. At the age of 17, she has achieved something no ordinary physician, scientist, or computer engineer could have done.
The web app utilizes artificial neural networks, which are basically coded computer programs that are trained to think like the human brain. What sets them apart from the human brain though is that they can detect patterns that are “too complex for mere humans,” Brittany says. The more and more data these networks process, the better and more accurate they get.
While the inner workings of how this process is done are highly confusing to most of us, people are recognizing Brittany for the incredible job she’s done with this project. With so many doctors utilizing iPads and iPhones in the hospital, this development could prove to be a boon for a number of patients in early detection, which is so crucial when it comes to any types of cancer.
If you’d like to check out the web app yourself, called Cloud4Cancer Breast Cancer Detection, please do so yourself. In the meantime, let’s hope that Brittany continues her work, and that she inspires a multitude of young minds to carry on in her footsteps.
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Alexander Kristoff could ride two Grand Tours in 2016 as he targets the sprints, Classics and the end of season world road race championships, Norwegian website Procycling.no has reported. Related Articles Kristoff wins GP Ouest France Plouay
Kristoff narrowly misses Worlds podium and defends team tactics
2016 Giro d'Italia race route officially unveiled in Milan
Kristoff ready to face down all comers in Spring Classics
The 28 year-old Katusha sprinter won 20 races in 2015, including the Tour of Flanders, but missed out on victory at the Tour de France and was fourth in the world championships in Richmond behind Peter Sagan. A heavy race programme meant he was in action for 81 days in 2015 and he also became a father in the summer.
His coach and Katusha consultant Stein Ørn told Procycling.no that Kristoff will follow a similar programme in 2016, with the world championships in Qatar the biggest objective of the year. He will chose between riding the Giro d’Italia and the Tour of California depending on if the Katusha team finalises a US-sponsor for 2016. The spring Classics will also be major objectives, with Ørn struggling to find sufficient time for rest and recover periods during the long 2016 season.
As in 2015, Kristoff will begin his 2016 at the Tour of Qatar in February and stay in the Gulf for the hillier Tour of Oman. He will get a taste of the cobbles by riding Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Paris-Nice will be the Norwegian sprinters final stage race before Milan-San Remo, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Three days of De Panne, the Tour of Flanders, Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix.
Kristoff will take a break in late April before heading to California or Italy. If he does ride the Giro d’Italia, he is expected to focus on the expected sprint stages in the first two weeks before leaving the race before the mountain stages as so many other sprinters often do. Kristoff last rode the Giro d’Italia in 2012 –his first season with Katusha. He finished second in a sprint behind Mark Cavendish in Cervere and the team was second in the Verona team time trial.
Kristoff is set to return to the Tour de France but will not ride the Vuelta a Espana because the Spanish Grand Tour ends a month before the 2016 world road race championships in Qatar (October 9-16). Instead he will ride the Arctic Race of Norway (Aug 10-14), the Tour des Fjords (Aug 31-Sept 4) and the Eneco Tour (Sept 19-25).
The Norwegian sprinter’s lead out train of Marco Haller, Jacopo Guarnieri and new signing Michael Mørkøv (from Tinkoff-Saxo) are all expected to follow a very similar race programme.
Final details and confirmation of Kristoff’s goals for 2016 are expected to be confirmed at the team first training camp in Spain in December. |
Back in 2004, Jim Gilchrist, a retired Marine and the founder of the California Minutemen Project, emailed a few dozen friends and family suggesting that concerned civilians personally combat illegal immigration by traveling to the Arizona border with him. Gilchrist lives in Orange County, Calif., but the Arizona border was the most heavily trafficked and sparsely patrolled. That email reached thousands of people and touched a nerve. Hundreds showed up in April 2005 to patrol the border. Some of them brought floppy hats, lawn chairs, binoculars and American flags. Others toted guns and protest signs. The group banned neo-Nazis from attending, though some came anyway. A movement was born.
Gilchrist estimates he did 4,000 radio and TV interviews over the next five years as his group's membership swelled and the media attention exploded. "It was just literally overwhelming," he said.
But today, the once-thriving Minutemen anti-illegal immigration fraternity has all but died out. No one knows exactly why the groups fizzled so quickly, but researchers and former border-watching leaders say infighting and bad press have taken a toll. At the same time, the tea party movement started to rise, which usurped members and stole the groups' thunder.
Still, the movement's message and popularity have left an indelible mark on the Republican Party, whose leaders underestimated the anger in their base over illegal immigration. The GOP, which at the time was considering legislation to legalize undocumented immigrants in a version of Ronald Reagan's 1986 immigration reform law, rejected the popular movement at first. President George W. Bush dismissed the Minutemen as "vigilantes," while Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner said he worried the volunteers would get hurt or hurt illegal immigrants.
Seven years later, Gilchrist tells Yahoo News that the Minutemen Project has petered out amid expensive legal battles over control of the group. Some of his former comrades attempted to fire him as president, alleging that he was using the group's funds inappropriately. He countersued for defamation and lost, but eventually won back control of the group in court. Outspoken activists mainly interested in money and fame infiltrated the ranks and tried to take over, says Gilchrist, distracting from the original goal of border watching. "There are bad apples," he said. "There are some in any group."
Meanwhile, the tea party emerged and absorbed the groups' concerns about illegal immigration and many of their leaders.
"You see an endless amount of splintered groups that range from a membership of one to a membership of 20," Gilchrist said. "No longer will you have a Minutemen organization going to the border with thousands of people." Last year, he began organizing a border rally planned for this May, but dropped the idea due to lack of interest and continued infighting. "I just decided it wasn't a good idea," he said. "There was just too many negative feelings." The last Minutemen Project outing to the border was in May 2011.
The downward trend is reflected in all the local Minutemen groups that sprouted up from 2005 to 2010 and then tapered off.
According to an analysis by Leonard Zeskind, who researches and advocates against what he calls far-right, racist or anti-Semitic groups, the number of Minutemen organizations dropped by more than half from 2010 to 2011. Only 53 Minutemen groups showed signs of activity last year—down from a high of 115 in 2010—and none of them are currently patrolling the border. Zeskind blames the tea party for absorbing a good chunk of the movement. The widely publicized murders perpetrated by a former Minutemen leader against a Hispanic child and her father also contributed to the groups' decline. Heidi Bierich, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project, says that the only organized volunteers patrolling the border right now are the ones originally not welcome: neo-Nazis.
But it's not all bad news for border activists that the tea party has effectively absorbed them and their mission. More than 100 leaders of local anti-illegal immigration groups have now joined tea party chapters, according to Zeskind, giving their message a bigger platform. And even as their movement dissipates, their message grows louder. "The Minutemen put immigration on the map big-time," Bierich says. One example of the tea party-Minutemen melding is the Rally for Arizona in Phoenix in 2010, which tea partyers organized and attended. Its mission: to support Gov. Jan Brewer's state-level crackdown on illegal immigrants. Then there was the Mississippi Tea Party's push for that state's anti-illegal immigration law, which is modeled after the laws in Alabama and Arizona. |
It was hardly a secret that Herman D. Farrell Jr. had planned to retire from the New York State Legislature. The governor feted him at a goodbye breakfast in June. Colleagues sent the 85-year-old assemblyman off to shouts of “for he’s a jolly good fellow.” They even named a state park after him.
But Mr. Farrell, known to most as Denny, did not retire when all these festivities occurred. He called it quits earlier this month, saying it marked the anniversary of his first government job.
The timing ensured that Mr. Farrell could essentially handpick his Democratic successor, sidelining voters in his Upper Manhattan district after four decades of his incumbency. Stepping down in June would have cleared the way for an open Democratic primary in September. Instead, with the deadline passed for filing election petitions, party insiders gathered this weekend to formalize the choice of Mr. Farrell’s chief of staff.
For decades, seats in the New York State Legislature have traded hands this way in what amounts to one of the last, most powerful vestiges of Tammany Hall-style politics in the state. Election laws here grant politicians and local party bosses and county committees vast sway in picking candidates when legislators leave office in the middle of their term — whether they retire early, pass away, depart for another job or are carted away in handcuffs. |
An Open Letter to People Who Think They Have Found the Artifact that Will Change Archaeology As We Know It
Dear People Who Think They Have Found the Artifact that Will Change Archaeology As We Know It,
I am currently in the 25th grade. If you ask me to identify your artifact please do not call me “little lady” or turn to face the undergraduate male standing beside me to answer the question I just asked you. It is also bad form to send me an email with a subject line THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WITH MY PHALLUS PENIS HAMMER . I realize that you are appreciative of the long and uncomfortable half hour we spent together as I explained why your stone maul could not be both “nipple topped” and “phallic” at the same time. I am, however, a state employee, the university reads my emails, and my boss is getting the wrong impression.
If you are planning to contact me to identify your artifacts perhaps you could consider the following advice:
If your only description over the phone is that “it fits nicely in your hand,” it is not an artifact. If it was an artifact you would say it looks like an axe, or an arrowhead, or a stone phallus and then I would know I was in for another uncomfortable half hour (see above).
If you found a dinosaur egg in a stream bed it is not an artifact, it is a fossil. Please contact the Paleontology Department. If that stream bed is full of similarly shaped rocks, if there are in fact “hundreds of ’em,” you have not discovered the lost dinosaur egg graveyard. My attempts to talk you through the scientific reasoning behind why this is not the case have obviously been a complete failure.
If you found a petrified heart or eyeball or any other organ see reference to dinosaur eggs above. Also, expect some laughter if you reach a paleontologist by phone.
If you have found a footprint preserved in stone that belonged to Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti or any other scientifically unconfirmed beast, please write to the Mammalogy Department.
If you found a tool made by one of the aforementioned creatures, we are still debating whether or not you have contacted the right department. And it is not an artifact.
Similarly, do not contact me about finding pieces of UFO’s. Archaeologists study artifacts made by humans, not extraterrestrials.
If you insist upon believing that “the man” is for some reason controlling the publication of archaeological discoveries, why are you writing to the employee of a state owned institution to unveil your unprecedented find? I really do not appreciate being accused of being owned by the aforementioned “man,” being a liberal and slightly socialist leaning scientist. If you already believe that I am going to cover up your discovery, why call?
If a crystal is speaking to you please get help. Similarly, if you have found mud people in your backyard I suggest you call a specialist. I am happy to hear that your sister is concerned about you crawling around on your hands and knees looking for their tiny coffins that hang from tiny ropes. I also can do nothing about Taiwan Satellites (although you enclosed an excellent sketch) and the Blackhawk helicopters circling the YMCA .
As the museum where my office is located for some reason does not sort our mail according to the new 9-11 commission recommendations, please include a return address on your package. Otherwise I will be forced to open your letter/tin foil wrapped package with tweezers and a scalpel while wearing gloves and a protective mask. Although this is highly entertaining for the undergraduates who work in my lab it is unlikely that I will take your request seriously.
Please do not call me if you are drunk, or if you wish to fly me to an undisclosed location in the desert on your private jet to view a large stone circle. If it is such an important find, why will you not tell me where it is? I can only assume that it is because “the man” was listening in on our conversation and thus please refer to the discussion above.
Don’t get me wrong, I really do want to see your cool artifacts. However, I must tell you, that more than half of the people who come to see me actually just have plain old boring rocks. That’s not a judgment. I am sure the Geology Department will be interested in seeing your rocks. At least that is what I will tell your adorable 8-year-old son when you bring him to my office to identify the “artifact” he found that “fits so nicely in his hand.”
Really, why do you torture me so?
Sincerely,
Stephanie Evans |
New Delhi: Capping years of negotiations, India and Japan on Friday signed a bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement seen as crucial for energy-starved India to access sensitive technologies to generate clean electricity.
The pact is a major achievement for India as it is Japan’s first civilian nuclear cooperation pact with a country that has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
It was inked in Tokyo in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese host Shinzo Abe. Modi is on a three-day visit to Japan for the annual summit between the two prime ministers.
That it was signed with Abe at the helm of affairs in Japan is also key, given that he has been keen to forge close links with India to counter the rise of China. Ties between India and Japan have warmed considerably since Abe returned to office in 2012.
The deal has been many years in the making because India was reluctant to limit its option to carry out more atomic weapons’ tests—in addition to the ones carried out in 1998—in case the need arose. And Japan—being the only country in the world to have suffered the impact of nuclear weapons being dropped on it—was uncomfortable with India having a nuclear weapons programme outside the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Also read: Why India is courting Japan
“A landmark deal for a cleaner, greener world! PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo witness exchange of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup in a Twitter post.
Modi later described the signing of the pact as “a historic step".
The ‘Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy’ pact provides for “the development of nuclear power projects in India and thus strengthening of energy security of the country," an Indian foreign ministry statement said. “The present agreement would open up the door for collaboration between Indian and Japanese industries in our Civil Nuclear programme," it said.
Former joint secretary (disarmament) and ex-Indian ambassador to France Rakesh Sood said the pact “enables us to obtain high-quality components for nuclear reactors, especially ones that we are negotiating for with Westinghouse (Electric Co.) and (French) Areva SA."
Westinghouse Electric Company is a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corp. Areva, too, accesses key reactor components from Japanese firms.
India signed a landmark nuclear deal with the US in 2008, clearing the path for the country to source nuclear power plants and technology from international markets. But with Japanese companies in possession of critical technologies, such as steel shields covering a nuclear reactor core, an accord with Japan was pivotal for India.
During the last prime ministerial summit in New Delhi in December, India and Japan announced that they had reached a basic agreement on the pact.
India currently has 5.7 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power generation capacity. This accounts for 2% of the total power capacity, but this is expected to change with a sharp increase in power generation from atomic plants over the next 16 years as Asia’s third largest economy moves away from fossil fuels for its energy needs.
India’s Department of Atomic Energy’s target is to have 63GW of nuclear power capacity by 2032.
Among the other agreements signed was one to skill “30,000 Indian youth in the Japanese styled manufacturing in the next 10 years", a government statement said.
“This would be achieved through the programmes of Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) and the Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) in select Engineering colleges," it said.
Pacts on cooperation in space, earth sciences, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, transport and urban development and sports were the others signed.
Earlier in the day, in a meeting with Japanese business leaders, Modi said his government was pursuing a new direction of economic reforms. He said his government was resolved to make India the most open economy in the world.
Modi started his schedule on Friday with an audience with Japanese emperor Akihito. |
A POLICE officer at the centre of a false arrest case has been suspended from duty as a result of a judge accusing him of ‘freestyle lying’.
Valerie Cadman-Khan was awarded £20,000 in damages after she sued Cleveland Police after being handcuffed in front of her then 12-year-old daughter Aimee, who has Down’s Syndrome.
The 55-year-old mother-of-five, from Stainton, near Middlesbrough, won her case at Teesside County Court after the judge branded arresting officer Detective Sergeant Colin Helyer a ‘liar’.
Today, a Cleveland Police spokesperson confirmed an officer had been suspended from duty but would not confirm their identity.
“We can confirm that a serving officer has been suspended from duty while an internal investigation continues," she said. "The Force will also be making a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission regarding this matter.”
Mrs Cadman-Khan was arrested after allegedly leaving her daughter unsupervised in a garden for 45 minutes but, during the hearing, the judge heard DS Helyer, “provided false information to Middlesbrough Council’s child abuse investigation unit” and then tried to mislead a court with what a judge branded “freestyle lying”.
Her arrest came during a dispute with bailiffs over an unpaid council-tax bill which led police to be called to the Middlesbrough home of her ex-husband on the morning of November 13, 2008.
In her award judgement, Judge Gillian Matthews QC said Sgt Helyer’s actions that day “were completely disproportionate”.
“I completely understand that policing can be a difficult and dangerous job,” she said. “This however was not one of those days.
“If Sgt Helyer could not cope with this lady, who was clearly rushing out to attend upon her child as he had requested, without applying handcuffs, I do not know how he would deal with a crowd of drunks on Saturday night.”
She added that Sgt Helyer’s actions that day were “not just ill advised and disproportionate but, arbitrary, high handed, intimidating and oppressive.”
Last week, Mrs Cadman-Khan said: “All I ever wanted was to clear my name. I would not give up until that was done.
“Aimee was traumatised by this, she slept in our room for two years after that and still sleeps with the light on. As I was led away that day all I could hear was her screaming ‘I want my mum, I want my mum’. He tried to put a case against me that I was an unfit mother, but if I’m good at anything I’m a good mother. This child is my life.” |
Via Think Progress
Tom Smith is a Republican running for Senate in Pennsylvania. Mark Scolforo of the Associated Press interviewed him yesterday afternoon.
MARK SCOLFORO: How would you tell a daughter or a granddaughter who, God forbid, would be the victim of a rape, to keep the child against her own will? Do you have a way to explain that?
SMITH: I lived something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn’t have to.. she chose they way I thought. No don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t rape.
SCOLFORO: Similar how?
SMITH: Uh, having a baby out of wedlock.
SCOLFORO: That’s similar to rape?
SMITH: No, no, no, but… put yourself in a father’s situation, yes. It is similar. But, back to the original, I’m pro-life, period. |
Developers today build and test ASP.NET sites and applications using one of two web-servers:
The ASP.NET Development Server that comes built-into Visual Studio
The IIS Web Server that comes built-into Windows
Both of the above options have their pros and cons, and many ASP.NET developers have told us: “I wish I could have the ease of use of the ASP.NET Development Server, but still have all the power and features of IIS”. Today I’m happy to announce a new, free option that we are enabling – IIS Express - that combines the best characteristics of both, and which will make it easier to build and run ASP.NET sites and applications.
IIS Express will work with VS 2010 and Visual Web Developer 2010 Express, will run on Windows XP and higher systems, does not require an administrator account, and does not require any code changes to use. You will be able to take advantage of it with all types of ASP.NET applications, and it enables you to develop using a full IIS 7.x feature-set.
How Things Work Today
Before I get into the details of IIS Express, let’s first quickly review how the ASP.NET Development Server and IIS options work today.
ASP.NET Development Server
Visual Studio’s built-in ASP.NET Development Server (also known as “Cassini”) has the benefit of being light-weight and easy to quickly run. It doesn’t listen on remote ports (which makes it easier to get approved for many corporate security environments), works even when you are running under a non-administrator account, and doesn’t require a separate installation step.
The fact that it is so easy to get running is a huge positive of it – and the reason it is the default web-server used by ASP.NET projects in Visual Studio when you press F5 to run them:
The downside with the ASP.NET Developer Server, though, is that it does not support a full set of web-server features. For example, it doesn’t support SSL, URL Rewriting Rules (like the SEO URL Rewrite Rules I blogged about here), Custom Security Settings, and other richer features now offered with IIS 7.
IIS Web Server
IIS is the other option developers use when running and testing their applications with Visual Studio. You can configure a web project within Visual Studio to use IIS by right-clicking on the project and pulling up its properties (and then by clicking on the “Web” tab within the properties window)":
Using IIS as your development server allows you to take full advantage of all web-server features (SSL, URL Rewrite Rules, etc). IIS is a full-fledged web-server – which means you’ll get an experience closer to what it will work like when you deploy the application on a production server.
The downside with using the IIS option today, though, is that some companies don’t allow full web-servers to be installed on developer machines. IIS also requires administrator account access to setup and debug projects. Different versions of Windows also support different versions of IIS. For example, if you are running on Windows XP you have to use the IIS 5.1 web-server that comes with it – which doesn’t support all the new features of IIS 7.x. Configuring a web project within VS to use IIS also requires some extra installation and configuration steps.
IIS Express – The Best of Both Options
We have been working on a new flavor of IIS 7.x that is optimized for developer scenarios that we are calling “IIS Express”. We think it combines the ease of use of the ASP.NET Web Server with the full power of IIS. Specifically:
It’s lightweight and easy to install (less than 10Mb download and a super quick install)
It does not require an administrator account to run/debug applications from Visual Studio
require an administrator account to run/debug applications from Visual Studio It enables a full web-server feature set – including SSL, URL Rewrite, Media Support, and all other IIS 7.x modules
– including SSL, URL Rewrite, Media Support, and all other IIS 7.x modules It supports and enables the same extensibility model and web.config file settings that IIS 7.x support
It can be installed side-by-side with the full IIS web server as well as the ASP.NET Development Server (they do not conflict at all)
It works on Windows XP and higher operating systems – giving you a full IIS 7.x developer feature-set on all OS platforms
IIS Express (like the ASP.NET Development Server) can be quickly launched to run a site from a directory on disk. It does not require any registration/configuration steps. This makes it really easy to launch and run for development scenarios.
VS 2010 Integration
We are enabling IIS Express so that it can be easily used with Visual Studio 2010. You’ll be able to configure VS 2010 to use it instead of the ASP.NET Web Server as the default web-server on ASP.NET Projects. Like the ASP.NET Development Server today, you won’t need to register a site or virtual directory to use IIS Express. It will support the same usage-model as the ASP.NET Development Server today – just with more feature support.
When you press F5 to run an ASP.NET project, Visual Studio can automatically launch IIS Express and use it to run/debug the application (no extra configuration required). Like the ASP.NET Web Server, IIS Express will show up in your task-bar tray when running:
You can right-click and click “exit” on the icon above to quickly shutdown IIS Express. You can also right-click and pull up a list of all sites running with it, as well as the directory location and .NET versions they are running under:
Two cool things to notice above:
1) The “Test Site” we are running, as well as IIS Express itself, live under the c:\users\[username] folder on disk. This enables non-administrator usage of IIS Express and sites – and enables a bunch of scenarios not possible with the full IIS today (including the ability to run IIS Express in both a locked-down enterprise environment as well as a locked-down school shared computer environment).
2) The “Test Site” we are running above using IIS Express supports both HTTP and HTTPS access. IIS Express automatically installs a “self-signed certificate” and enables URL ACLs and SSL Certificates for ports so that developers (running as non-administrators on a machine) can use SSL without needing to elevate their accounts or setup any additional configuration. This enables you to configure secure pages within your applications (like Logon forms) for SSL and run/test them at development time just like they’ll work on your real web-server.
IIS 7.x Feature Set
IIS Express is as easy to run and use as the ASP.NET Web Server you are familiar with today. But because IIS Express is based on the IIS 7x codebase, you have a full web-server feature-set that you can use. This means you can build and run your applications just they’ll work on a real production web-server. In addition to scenarios like SSL, you can take advantage of the IIS 7.x URL Rewriter module, Media Extensions, Dynamic Compression, Advanced Logging, Custom Security and other rich modules now available.
In addition to supporting ASP.NET, IIS Express also supports Classic ASP and other file-types and extensions supported by IIS – which also makes it ideal for sites that combine a variety of different technologies.
Summary
We think IIS Express makes it even easier to build, run and test web applications. It works with all versions of ASP.NET and supports all ASP.NET application types (including obviously ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC applications). Best of all – you do not need to change any code to take advantage of it. You’ll be able to optionally use it with all your current projects today.
We’ll be releasing the first public beta of IIS Express shortly. With the beta you’ll be able to right-click on a file-system folder and have IIS Express launch a web-site based on that file-system location. We’ll also be releasing a patch for VS 2010 and Visual Web Developer 2010 Express later this year that will enable you to automatically launch and use IIS Express in place of VS’s built-in ASP.NET Developer Server. Future versions of Visual Studio will then ship with this functionality built-in.
Hope this helps,
Scott
P.S. In addition to blogging, I am also now using Twitter for quick updates and to share links. Follow me at: twitter.com/scottgu |
Cassini’s Latest Dive Through Saturn's Rings Reveals Spectacular Detail
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has now successfully completed its 12th ring crossing at Saturn, and is now well past the halfway point of the Grand Finale phase of its mission. Each ring crossing, with now only 10 left, brings Cassini closer to its inevitable end in September, when the spacecraft will plunge into Saturn’s turbulent atmosphere to meet its fiery fate.
So far, everything has been going to plan. “It’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do,” said Julie Webster, Cassini’s manager of spacecraft operations. “The spacecraft is executing every command that’s asked of it.”
The Grand Finale phase began last April and will conclude on Sept. 15, when the mission will end after about 13 years. During that time, Cassini has revealed Saturn and its moons to human eyes as never before, providing unprecedented views of these enigmatic worlds.
“No spacecraft has ever gone through the unique region that we’ll attempt to boldly cross 22 times,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “What we learn from Cassini’s daring final orbits will further our understanding of how giant planets, and planetary systems everywhere, form and evolve. This is truly discovery in action to the very end.”
During the ring crossings, Cassini “dives” between the innermost rings and the planet itself, a space of about 1,500 miles (2,000 kilometers), something that no spacecraft has done before. Needless to say, the views have been spectacular, with incredible details seen in both the rings and the atmosphere.
During each ring crossing, the spacecraft has specific observational tasks; for this one, these include:
Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) stares at the star Kappa Canis Majoris, as parts of the C ring and A ring pass between the spacecraft and the star. The spacecraft’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes the occultation as well.
Cassini’s imaging cameras, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), observes some of Saturn’s known ring propeller features, then targets the border region of the F ring and A ring to study ring dynamics there.
Cassini’s UVIS instrument also studies small-scale structures in the rings.
During this orbit’s ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called “HGA to RAM”) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles.
Also during ring-plane crossing, in the brief period in which impacts are most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument “listens” for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna and so still detects impacts.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,320 miles (3,730 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,470 miles (3,980 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
All of Cassini’s raw images can be seen here on the mission website.
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A major discussion point for the Labour party at present is the thorny issue of electability – or their lack thereof. The contemporary charge is that Jeremy Corbyn, whilst apparently on course to prove that he is eminently electable as leader, is not deemed electable as a prospective prime minister. The Labour party is currently locked in the most divisive of internal debates as it attempts to navigate itself into a position of perceived electability by 2020. There are a series of core challenges to be addressed. One is the status of Corbyn as political champion of a re-awakened Left, and whether this enthusiastic constituency is reflective of a broader trend within society. Another is concerned with the wider ambitions of the Labour party itself, and how it should locate itself on the political spectrum. With regards to this latter problem, Tony Blair’s electoral successes between 1997 and 2005 shed light on the potential pitfalls of various electoral strategies.
The Labour party is divided over the issue of where exactly they will find the ‘missing millions’ of voters that could prove the source future electoral success. Corbynistas advocate a view of their politics that is regenerative and reinvigorating, believing that their man has the capacity to capture voters that have simply disengaged with politics entirely. Their most vigorous opponents will offer a diametrically opposed opinion that portrays it as aggressive, uninhibited and self-marginalising. The Corbynite stance diverges, pivotally, from those that remain adherents of a Blairism that potentially remains valid in the post-Iraq War era. This politics views the centre ground as the critical vehicle of electability. At present, it remains unclear as to which side is more in sync with the trends that are yet to fully crystallise within British politics. There is evident uncertainty surrounding any identifiable resurgence of moderate left wing viewpoints (outside of the Corbyn bubble). This uncertainty leads people to defer simply to 'using what we currently know': supposedly, that centrist appeal wins elections. This buttresses the arguments of centrists in the short term. However, historic election results present some fascinating statistical variances that it is worth becoming reacquainted with.
Uncertainty leads people to defer simply to 'using what we currently know': supposedly, that centrist appeal wins elections
Firstly, are there ‘missing millions’ out there? New Labour’s stunning initial electoral success, which was followed by dramatic drops in voters and falling turnout, suggests that there are: in 1997, the project secured endorsement from 13.52 million voters. Blairites frequently venture the mantra ‘played three, won three’ to emphasise the success of the electoral machine that Blair oversaw. But what escapes in such a simplistic summary is the fact that New Labour, when subsequent elections came around, was actually losing significant support throughout its entire period in office. It is the middle election (alas, like a middle child, so often forgotten) that is the most instructive. By 2001, with New Labour in its pomp (benefiting from the experience of governing and with Iraq, at that time, merely a generic foreign policy consideration), Blair managed the incredible feat of losing 2.8 million voters. By 2005, when New Labour won its third consecutive election, an additional 1.17 million voters had been lost – leaving only 9.55 million voters that were still on board. Granted, electoral performance would subside further with Gordon Brown at the helm (reaching a low of 8.61 million voters in 2010) resulting in the forfeiture of office before a small recovery by 2015 with Ed Miliband adding back in just under a million voters to secure an overall total of 9.35 million. Comparing the total number of Labour voters in 1997 against that of 2015 results in a net loss of 4.17 million. Lazier, or more politicised commentators, promulgate the view that New Labour’s electoral success was the result of a magic formula comprised of force of personality, political nous and the fabled spectrum shift away from the murky waters of the Left. This thesis doesn't sit comfortably with the factual reality that, in its prime (the 2001 election), New Labour was seeing voters desert it in the millions – a scenario that would be largely replicated in 2005 and 2010. Data indicates that not all of these voters could have been moderate Conservatives swayed in 1997 by Blair only to begin the slow march back to their more natural home over the course of subsequent elections. In fact, with regard to 1997, it is intriguing to observe the spectacular collapse in Conservative party votes from 14.09 million in 1992 to 9.6 million just five years later – a net loss of 4.49 million voters. It is a statistical impossibility for New Labour to have absorbed this total – given that their net increase in votes between 1992 and 1997 was ‘just’ 1.96 million voters (even in 1992, they had a surprisingly strong base of 11.56 million voters). At best, should centrists wish to claim that, in 1997, Blair was the architect of a decisive switch in traditional Conservative voting mindset and attribute all 1.96 million additional voters won to this, it would still leave 2.53 million Conservative voters (from 1992) unaccounted for. Where did they go?
Blair managed the incredible feat of losing 2.8 million voters
The answer, potentially, to the curious case of the missing Conservative voters in 1997 could lie within the vagaries of turnout figures. This could also prove instructive when probing other electoral conundrums, such as why voting support for both of the UK’s most established parties has seen notable periods of decline since then. The turnout figure in 1992 (an election that incumbent prime minister John Major was widely expected to lose to Neil Kinnock’s Labour party) was an astonishing 77.7%. For context, this figure was only surpassed on four other occasions – 1950, 1951, 1959 and February 1974 (with the latter two by just a small margin). Was 1992 the last modern hurrah of such widespread voter engagement? By 1997, and the arrival of New Labour in a blaze of publicity that heralded this new wave of political engagement, turnout actually fell 6.3% to 71.4%. Could this fall be translated into the unaccounted Conservative voters that disappeared between 1992 and 1997? It is a tricky conclusion to draw but it at least merits consideration Remarkably, the Conservative party continued to haemorrhage support throughout the same period that Blair’s New Labour was forfeiting millions of voters. The Conservative nadir was prolonged across the 2001 and 2005 elections (where they secured just 8.34 million and 8.78 million voters respectively). Given the travails of both major traditional parties in this era (despite presentation of the Blair era to the contrary), it is no surprise to identify that turnout was lamentable – recorded at 59.4% in 2001 GE and 61.4% in 2005. There has been an element of improvement in the two subsequent elections – the net result being an improvement to 66.2% by 2015. One outcome, which enabled a decisive electoral victory rather than another prospective coalition government, was the increase in Conservative voters to a total of 11.3 million. This confirmed the party’s return to a semblance of political dominance but it must be noted that their 2015 total voters still fell short of their 1992 peak by 2.79 million voters. It appears that the most notable beneficiaries of the increase in turnout in 2015 were actually “other” parties (most notably UKIP) whose total number of voters increased by 3.12 million. Exactly where UKIP voters will feature either on the political spectrum by 2020, and whether large numbers of them would re-align with a more established party, is a huge unknown.
the most notable beneficiaries of the increase in turnout in 2015 were actually “other” parties (most notably UKIP)
It is evident that politics is undergoing a process of transformation – and it may be proven true that traditional assumptions no longer apply. In the short term, it would be unwise to definitely claim that a revolutionary new era of politics has arrived. Nonetheless, there are missing voters out there – exactly what colour their political hue is, or could become, remains more difficult to analyse. We have to go back to 1992 to witness the last occasion that UK voters turned out in earnest (when 33.61 million people voted). The most recent effort in the 3015 general election (and bear in mind this took place with an increased overall population) only mustered 30.7 million voters. In short, and reducing an article entirely focused on statistical analysis to the most pertinent numbers, it is evident that there is much to play for – which is why the debate for the soul of the Labour party is particularly pivotal. The complexity inherent within the electorate is such that the Labour Party must identify a brand of politics that harnesses the emergent trend of popular left-wing attitudes meshed with a consideration for the forgotten constituencies that have not recently participated in electoral processes. They also need to remain aware that there are traditional 'small c' conservative mindsets out there that also need to be harnessed as part of any attempt to build a platform of electability (and head off any potential continued resurgence of Conservative voting numbers) indicates the scale of the challenge. The most productive next step that post-New Labour could engage in is reasoned and constructive debate with regard to arriving at a clear and decisive understanding of the 1997 results. I am a staunch critic of Blair (for reasons directly related to the Iraq War); however, the electoral performance he oversaw at the start of his tenure proved that Labour was capable of winning the support of 13.52 million people. Blairites would benefit from a dash of humility and, rather than blandly trot out the ‘played three, won three’ argument, promote a more nuanced discussion of electoral appeal. Corbynistas would be wise to focus on identifying, in detailed fashion, just what brand of politics the ‘missing millions’ might be motivated by as opposed to relying on the internal momentum they seem to have built for themselves.
Summary extract of relevant election statistics:
Votes (m) CON LAB LD PC/SNP Other Total
1992 14.09 11.56 6.00 0.78 1.18 33.61 1997 9.60 13.52 5.24 0.78 2.14 31.29 2001 8.34 10.72 4.81 0.46 2.03 26.37 2005 8.78 9.55 5.99 0.59 2.24 27.15 2010 10.70 8.61 6.84 0.66 2.88 29.69 2015 11.30 9.35 2.42 1.64 6.00 30.70
% share CON LAB LD PC/SNP Other Total
1992 41.9% 34.4% 17.8% 2.3% 3.5% 100% 1997 30.7% 43.2% 16.8% 2.5% 6.8% 100% 2001 31.6% 40.7% 18.3% 1.8% 7.7% 100% 2005 32.4% 35.2% 22.0% 2.2% 8.2% 100% 2010 36.1% 29.0% 23.0% 2.2% 9.7% 100% 2015 36.8% 30.4% 7.9% 5.3% 19.6% 100%
Turnout Eng Wal Sco NI UK
1992 78.0% 79.7% 75.5% 69.8% 77.7% 1997 71.4% 73.5% 71.3% 67.1% 71.4% 2001 59.2% 61.6% 58.2% 68.0% 59.4% 2005 61.3% 62.6% 60.8% 62.9% 61.4% 2010 65.5% 64.8% 63.8% 57.6% 65.1% 2015 66.0% 65.7% 71.0% 58.1% 66.2%
Online source for election statistics (including extract above):
http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7529 |
Expedition by Balmis and his collaborators to America
Detail of expedition's routes in The Philippines
The Balmis Expedition (1803–1806) was a three-year mission to Spanish America and Asia led by Dr. Francisco Javier de Balmis with the aim of vaccinating millions against smallpox. Vaccination, a much safer way to prevent smallpox than older methods such as inoculation, had been introduced by the English physician Edward Jenner in 1798.
The Balmis expedition, officially called Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna (Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition), set off from A Coruña on 30 November 1803. It may be considered the first international healthcare expedition in history.[1][2] Jenner himself wrote, "I don't imagine the annals of history furnish an example of philanthropy so noble, so extensive as this."
King Charles IV of Spain supported his royal doctor Balmis since his Infanta Maria Teresa, his daughter, had died from the illness. The expedition sailed on Maria Pita and carried 22 orphan boys (aged 8 to 10) as successive carriers of the virus; Balmis, a deputy surgeon, two assistants, two first-aid practitioners, three nurses, and Isabel Zendal Gómez, the rectoress of Casa de Expósitos, an A Coruña orphanage.[3]
The mission took the vaccine to the Canary Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, the Philippines and China.[4] The ship carried also scientific instruments and translations of the Historical and Practical Treatise on the Vaccine by Moreau de Sarthe to be distributed to the local vaccine commissions to be founded.
In Puerto Rico, the local population had already been inoculated from the Danish colony of Saint Thomas. In Venezuela, the expedition divided at La Guayra. José Salvany, the deputy surgeon, went toward today's Colombia and the Viceroyalty of Peru (Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia). They took seven years and the toils of the voyage brought death to Salvany (Cochabamba, 1810). Balmis went to Caracas and later to Havana. The local poet Andrés Bello wrote an ode to Balmis. In New Spain, Balmis took 25 orphans to maintain the infection during the crossing of the Pacific. In the Philippines, they received help from the Catholic church, which was initially reluctant until Governor-General Rafael Aguilar made an example by vaccinating his five children.[5] Balmis sent most of the expedition back to New Spain while he went on to China, where he visited Macau and Canton. On his way back to Spain, Balmis convinced the British authorities of Saint Helena (1806) to be vaccinated.
Julia Alvarez wrote a fictional account of the expedition from the perspective of its only female member in Saving the World (2006). |
Meanwhile in Russia …
Dmitry Klokov sat down for his own “On Par” interview with Alexander Zakharov. Thank him for doing this interview and subscribe to his channel for more weightlifting videos.
If you (like me at first) thought that after the many interviews Dmitry gave in the recent past, there wasn’t anything new we could learn about him, then you were wrong.
Thanks again to Sergiy Turchyn for translating. More “On Par” Interviews by Dmitry Klokov here.
Update: Beginning of Part 3 added below.
Part 1
At first, Klokov talked about his business. He is going to produce pretty much everything for weightlifting and crossfit: bars, t-shirts, straps, shoes, etc. He also said that he has a very big project in mind but it is too early to hear about it.
He said how many weightlifters don’t know the price of themselves and agree to be underpaid in sponsorship contracts etc. For example, he mentioned that Apti was offered $1000 for a seminar and was very happy. Klokov replied that Apti should have raised it to $3000-$5000.
As for his training, he is always ready to lift 195+220. Why he doesn’t need the Olympic gold:
He earns like 10 times more than he used to as a weightlifter. All of his current business connections may fail if he disappears for 1.5 years in training camps. He likes to lift and he does it every day. He doesn’t have to push himself to the limits to train for fun.
But he also mentioned April as the date for the final decision. Because going for the Olympics may be reasonable if all his sponsors agree on it and support him. In this case he will lift in Russian Cup and qualify for the national team.
He was saying bad things about sports authorities. They told him that he can compete in nationals and qualify for worlds/Olympics. He knows that this has never worked ever and there are many more shady things. But he is ready to stand against because he has reputation and fame, so they will have to listen to him.
He mentioned how after London they said a lot of horrible and false things about him to the higher authorities, so that they hate him now.
Overall, he just sounds like a businessman who knows his price.
He still cares about quality though. In a discussion about barbells he said that companies like Eleiko don’t need to prove anything because they already have reputation. But new companies often have cheaper price and better quality to get their place in the market.
In the same manner, everything he does now he is trying to do in the best way possible. He mentioned how his seminars were planned to last 6.5 hours but actually lasted 10-12 because he wanted each client to be satisfied.
Part 2
About Sharing Contact Info
I share all my contact information including the phone number and email. People from another countries message me every day, but Russians don’t. Some wonder why I share all this info. I do because I am an open person.
There are numerous invites to commercial competitions coming to the Russian Weightlifting Federation. Many of them have no drug testing. Russians could just go, lift, and get like $5000. Unfortunately, such invitations often don’t reach athletes because of one person who handles the paperwork. That’s why athletes should give out their contact information.
Because of being open, I get many offers. Every single big company related to weightlifting has made some kind of offer to me. I was an athlete for so many years and nobody wrote to me. Now, when I sort of finished my career, they write me every day.
About the Seminars
We were sitting and drinking beer. All of the national team. Vasya Polovnikov says: “Dima, I was in America and they all want you to come. You, Akkaev, Apti and Ilyin. Will you go there?”. “Sure.” We said that as a joke, but in a few days they wrote to me from Italy and invited for a seminar. I agreed, so before the USA trip I already had some experience. Then our American friends planned the whole trip and we did it. After it I was working alone, without Vasiliy.
– Why without him?
It is business. We didn’t really earn a lot in the US. There were 5 of us. We got the same money I get alone, but had to share it. It’s just more effective to do it alone. It’s not like I let him down. We are just working separately. If, say, Apti wants to do a seminar, he can go ahead and do it. If they need help with contacts, I will help them. I have connections with the whole world.
I travelled across 26 countries in 8 months. I am so tired of sleeping in airports like a bum. Flights are often delayed. Right now it took me 36 hours to get here from Brazil. It was supposed to take 23 hours. Where did I sleep? Airports.
It is very hard. Yes, it is a lot of money. Really a lot. But it is hard. Sometimes there is no time to take a shower. There is no time to eat or sleep. I slept 4 hours a day. I came home after a seminar and took care of other business, such as my online training with 8 guys. Just this takes me about 2 hours a day. There is a lot of work.
Nobody of the current athletes could do the same I am doing. Vasya Polovnikov can do it. Oxana Slivenko can also handle that. I just know how hard they work.
I can’t really tell how long I will be doing seminars. It is a business and each business has an expiration date. One day it will transform into a different thing that we are preparing right now.
About the Olympics, Once More
You mentioned your plans for the Olympics. What if you get injured like the media told before London? What if you don’t show good enough results? Can you lose the interest of all the sponsors?
That can happen. This is why the question about the Olympics is so hard. My team and I have to consider every possibility to make the final decision.
About Travelling and Language
Why do I want to travel around the whole world? Sometimes I travel to countries that pay less if I have never been there. When you travel to a new country, people will talk to you, share the pictures in the social networks. You get more popular. That increases my price. Sponsors pay me more.
Why am I starting to talk in English? Because 90% of my viewers are not Russian. I don’t have subtitles because my videos are like a reality show. If I post a video, it was filmed either today or yesterday. There is just no time to make subtitles.
I have people who could do that.
Many athletes create their own websites. Do you plan to do it?
Why? I think social networks are enough. Want video? Go on Youtube. Want photos? Go on Instagram, VK, etc. Want to write to me? Use the same websites.
About his Company
I want to work hard People want me to do a seminar in Russia. Well, take care of it. Nobody wants to. I don’t have time. My wife is also busy [In the part 1 he mentioned that the core of his Winner company is his dad and wife]. I don’t want to recruit random people. I want to work with those I can trust. Guys from the national team all want to be directors and I don’t need a director.
I offered Dima Lapikov to be a part of my company. He doesn’t want it. Others are the same. Vasya Polovnikov wanted to sell supplements. I told him: “Here is an office, here is a warehouse. Go ahead and use it.” He didn’t want to.
Akkaev once told me that he likes me for always doing what I tell I will do. It’s pointless to sit and talk about millions. You need to get up and work your ass off for it. That’s why so many people want to be directors and authorities: you just sit there with paperwork, do nothing and get paid. Nobody wants to create anything. All athletes want to win something and then do nothing. I am not like that. I want to work hard.
About Crossfit Haters in Russia
I don’t differentiate between weightlifting and Crossfit. All those haters do. Powerlifting and bodybuilding used to be like that – a foreign sport in Russia. How did they start? Everybody denied them. A while ago you could get in prison for owning a bodybuilding gym… Now they are popular. Crossfit is following the exact same path.
It is a new foreign sport. Some people think that we should not develop it and develop our own weightlifting sport. Crossfit will become popular. You can’t hide from it. Why hate it if Crossfit can really help weightlifting? Look at America and Australia. There are much more weightlifters now thanks to Crossfit. The same will happen in Russia. Why do you hate it? Are you idiots?
About Crossfit Coaches in the USA
You know, there are many things I don’t like in Crossfit. I talk about them. The more popular you are, the more people listen to you. For example, these Level 1 seminars that make you a coach in 2 days. 2 days!!! In just 2 days you learn gymnastics, rowing, weightlifting, and everything else.
I attended one of such courses. The instructor knew me, so I could see the shame in his eyes when he was talking about weightlifting. He knew that it was their problem. According to Igor Zaripov, the same can be said about gymnastics. Crossfit is not a sport. It is business. Well, it is sport for athletes, but it is business for businessmen.
There are many injuries in Crossfit. They don’t have a gym culture. They throw plates everywhere. Look at our weightlifting gym and their Crossfit gym.
How can American coaches teach others if they know nothing themselves? They don’t have weightlifting in America. And they come to Russia to teach us weightlifting on Crossfit certifications!
About Gyms
There are only a few of weightlifting gyms in America. But really Crossfit and weightlifting gyms are the same thing. That is why I am trying to promote Crossfit. In Moscow there are 7-8 weightlifting gyms and 7-8 Crossfit gyms. However, Crossfit gyms have Eleiko equipment, new bars, platforms… And you can do the same exercises in there.
Berestov was saying that he couldn’t get the government fund weightlifting equipment for children … This is Russia, forget about it! Nobody will give anything to you for free.
It is business. Open your own gym; call it Crossfit if you need to. But this will be a place where one can Snatch, Clean and Jerk. And this person must pay for the gym. You must pay for weightlifting too, or you will have this old equipment that will cause more injuries! The authorities will not give money to maintain the gym.
You can go another way and attract sponsors. In America each gym has sponsors who pay the most money to maintain the gym: supplement, clothing, equipment companies that have their products in the gym. Just do the same! Stop dreaming about new weightlifting gyms being opened.
About Making Money as a Weightlifter
The problem is that everyone tries to market weightlifting as a sport. This is not right. You should promote each athlete individually. Just like I am doing right now.
Young guys don’t want to be weightlifters You love weightlifting, but the general public does not know how it is different from powerlifting and bodybuilding. The general public will not like weightlifting, but they can like a person who is a weightlifter.
Young guys don’t want to be weightlifters. They want to be like Klokov, like Apti … People wanted to watch Rigert and Alexeev. They did not come for weightlifting, they came for Rigert and Alexeev. In light weight classes there was much smaller audience.
Suppose you are a company that sells supplements. You come to Chingiz Mogushkov and offer to be his sponsor. Where will he show your products? Nowhere. But if he is active in social networks and TV, then there are ways to market the product. You will pay him more or less depending on how popular he is in social networks.
Who is doing all of this? Nobody. When I come and tell them, they start but then slowly stop.
Just like this program “On Par”. I created it and someone can just copy me, or improve and make it better and get better audience. There are many issues here. You could film it in different locations, add videos about athletes, their photos, put in more video editing. I know how to make it perfect; I just don’t have time because I am doing it myself.
I am doing it myself because I don’t like to rely on others. I have nobody to blame for my problems. That’s why I don’t have a coach. This way if I screw up I can only blame myself. I don’t trust other people.
About his Future Plans
Next year I will organize a competition in weightlifting and Crossfit. Well, not really weightlifting. It will be a mix of all iron sports and will let all kinds of athletes compete among themselves. I have an idea, you will see it next year. I will start working on this when my equipment arrives.
About the Interview
Many will say that I am an egoistic moron. I already know what they will write in comments. However, I don’t care. We will see in 2-3 years. I will be laughing at people who hate Crossfit now. Because in 3 years my goal is to make Crossfit popular in Russia. And it will make weightlifting more popular. You can go into any Crossfit gym and do your Snatches, Cleans, and Jerks. Nobody would let you do them in a commercial gym. Stop hating.
Part 3
First 20 minutes from commenter “wat”. (Come on guys, chose normal names please.)
Why do you put crossfit hashtag in everything you post?
First, because the term crossfit is googled so much more than term weightlifting. Second, many crossfit athletes understand they have no technique. Many crossfit coaches understand they have no technique. They watch pro weightlifters to pick it up! They understand crossfit is a cult and they know it does not provide relevant weightlifting knowledge.
You seem to curse a lot lately.
You can hear me cursing only if I do something serious! Complexes I post are VERY hard, and I cannot cut it out, and I cannot really control what I say. After the 140kg Barbell Frog Jumps I could not sit for two weeks. I could not even Squat with 140 kg!
Why did you open your channel?
Last july I understood I should treat myself as a show business person. I brought myself to sponsors. You need to do that, or nobody will ever know you exist. Our first Polovnikov-Ilyin-Klokov Videos were written before we shot them. The jokes we told were scripted beforehand tried to make them as entertaining as we could.
You moved from weightlifting videos to crossfit videos. Aren’t you afraid of losing the weightlifting audience? I personally stopped watching them cause I knew there will be more crossfit stuff.
There are more crossfit viewers than weightlifting viewers. I don’t really care. Obviously some weightlifters can lose interest. But there is time for everything. We are making a e-book about how to train, how to eat etc. It will be in English. I can give a lot of information, but I won’t give it for free. I can make a free seminar, but guess what, I don’t want to spend my weekends on free seminars, and people don’t come to seminars on weekdays.
I thought I was going to speak with a sportsman, but now I realize I am speaking with a businessman, a commersant.
Yes. 100% sure. My ego tells me “go back to the weightlifting, go back, take a title”. But I am very spontaneous and I follow what I decide. If I announce: “I’m going to be the best, I’m going to beat Akkaev and Ilyin, I gotta do my best to fulfill that. I am a man my word. But that is not good for me. So I’m going think ten times before I decide in April.
Right now I don’t want. I try to suppress the desire to compete. I am a 32 years old.
If I knew I got to be first, goddamn, if I knew I’m going to be SECOND, I would easily go. It is just too much work, too much competition, too many people don’t want me to go.
The rest is really boring, they mostly chat about nothing. Notable moments:
The video where I lifted girls on the beach actually became somewhat viral in Mexico and USA. Several TV channels asked my permission to publish it (not only in the context weightlifting: “how to pick up girls on the beach” etc).
“On par” is a “rip off” from a popular russian business TV show (‘business secrets’). I like business from childhood – I collected empty bottles when I was a kid and recorded music tapes for my friends for money.
What do you do to be able to sit so low in the squat position?
Nothing, I could do that from the beginning. Judo made me very flexible. I happened to touch the ground with my ass during the snatch.
He admires bodybuilders and says real pro bodybuilders know how to gain muscle/remove fat at least as good as weightlifters. Still he notes that “A lot of bodybuilding tips are simply nonsense.”
More Dmitry Klokov Interviews: |
I am currently chowing down on my new recipe. I’m excited to share it, so let’s get the tally over with.
Breakfast
Granny Apple, sliced, with almond butter
Lunch
Finished off Gina’s kind-of goulash
Strawberry lemonade
Dinner
Gina’s Fridge Leftover Surprise! (see below)
I am quickly running out of food in my kitchen. I try to make my grocery store runs last two weeks, so I “can’t” go to the store till Wednesday. So it was up to me to use the art of throwing sh*t together to make myself a dish that would last me a couple of days.
I was actually halfway through making chicken, tomato, garlic and onion (a typical feature for me) when I decided I was going to be inventive.
How did I do that? Bacon fat! Without further ado, here is the recipe:
Gina’s Fridge Leftover Surprise!
Ingredients:
1 large yellow onion, diced/chopped
1 head garlic (yes, a whole head), chopped
1lb chicken
leftover bacon lard (depends on how much you need to grease the pan)
The basic theory of this recipe is to use the bacon grease in the stead of something like olive oil or coconut oil to provide lubrication for the pan. That way, the much-stronger flavor of the bacon grease soaks into your food. With that said:
Directions:
.5. Season raw chicken to taste — I used garlic powder, salt, and seasoned pepper
1. Melt bacon grease in a frying pan
2. Add BOTH garlic and onion. Sautee until the onion is a light golden brown
3. Add chicken and brown*
What’s the surprise? This concoction really highlights the taste of the onion. I was not expecting it at all. If you like onions, I would recommend this dish.
*As a note, the chicken will cook MUCH faster in the veggie concoction than it would if you cooked it in butter or some other form of oil. I think this is because bacon gets MUCH hotter than other greases. If you’ve ever been splattered with bacon grease, you can attest to this first-hand.
Here are some pics of the process:
That’s my food tally for today! Peace y’all!
Gina |
Photo credit: Wanlaya Parathan | Dreamstime.com
North Korea appealed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for support in its conflict with the United States, instead the Southeast Asian countries are expected to express grave concern over North Korea's nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches.
ASEAN is set to release its statement at the end of foreign ministers meeting in Manila on Friday, local time. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho in a rare move wrote to the ASEAN regional bloc's secretary general requesting for the regional bloc's support with its row with the U.S. to prevent what it warned about a possible "nuclear holocaust". But the ASEAN is expected to criticize North Korea for its two atomic weapons tests last year and subsequent launch of ballistic missiles.
The statement is expected to declare that ASEAN is mindful that instability in the Korean Peninsula will have a serious impact in the region and beyond. The ministers will strongly urge North Korea to "fully comply" with UN Security Council resolutions and international laws.
ASEAN despite rejecting Pyongyang appeal for backing will also be expected to strike a more balanced appeal as it is also anticipated to call on "all parties concerned" to stop all provocative actions and to exercise self-restraint to de-escalate the tension and avoid action that may aggravate the situation.
Diplomats in Manila said the other parties refer to the U.S. and regional powers China, Japan, and South Korea - all three being key strategic players in the region.ASEAN will meet again on April 29, Saturday where they are expected to discuss the situation on the Korean peninsula.Pyongyang's foreign minister warned in his letter to the ASEAN that the situation in the Korean Peninsula was "reaching the brink of war" and blamed "Washington's actions". Ri also criticized US-South Korea military exercises.
Tensions rose in the region the past weeks amidst a series of North Korean missile tests and the tough responses from Washington. Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean peninsula in the midst of worrying signs that the North could be preparing for a 6th nuclear test, and U.S. officials have said all options were on the table.
ASEAN members include Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei, some countries are close U.S. allies. The Philippines for one has a defense pact with the U.S. where it is expected to support Washington in the event of war.
Source:
https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/168235-asean-express-grave-concern-north-korea-tests |
Gov. Rick Snyder said getting clean water to Flint residents remained the top priority for state officials, but there are no current plans to replace the corroded lead pipes.
Carlos Osorio / AP
Michigan officials on Wednesday wouldn’t estimate whether it would take weeks, months, or longer before Flint residents’ water would be safe to drink, and there are no current plans to replace the corroded lead pipes at the heart of the crisis.
“It’s not based on chronology. It’s based on having good test results that show it’s safe,” Gov. Rick Snyder said at a press conference. Water testing by experts earlier in the crisis was questioned by state regulators, who maintained Flint’s water was safe more than a year after lead contamination began. On Wednesday, the state’s new interim environmental quality director said no longer would his department ignore the work of outside experts. “We are on the same page, and we’ll make sure we’re on the same page,” said Director Keith Creagh. “There is no excuse...We’ll make sure the data is accurate, vetted, and transparent.” Officials gathered Wednesday to lay out short-term plans for addressing the lead contamination crisis as well as talk of their commitment for longer term fixes. Among the short-term actions would be continuing to supply bottled water and filters to residents, as well as asking the federal government to extend Medicaid eligibility to all children under the age of 21. Water testing would also continue, and a team of experts will be working with state and local officials to determine its safety.
Carlos Osorio / AP
“This is about working together to address the issue,” Snyder said. Lead from old pipes began leaching into water after the city’s water source was switched from Detroit to the more corrosive Flint River in 2014. Residents complained of their water’s brownish color, taste, and smell, and testing by outside experts confirmed a high presence of lead. For months, however, officials questioned the accuracy of the tests. Emails showed blame being shifted between state and local leaders, and residents concerns being dismissed. A task force later found fault with state environmental regulators, and earlier this month, Snyder apologized for the state response and declared a state of emergency. The regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency also resigned. The acknowledgements came far too late, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union also on Wednesday. “Public trust has been eroded by government officials’ efforts to evade responsibility in this crisis,” the suit said. “The damage done to city pipes from the Flint River water means that lead will continue to contaminate Flint’s drinking water. This contamination poses an ongoing health risk to the city’s residents, especially young children, who are most vulnerable to the effects of lead.” Snyder said the state’s first priority remained getting clean water to Flint. “Our goal is to get the water coming out of the tap safe as soon as possible,” Snyder said Wednesday. To do that most quickly, Snyder said officials would be working to recoat the interior of Flint’s lead pipes. Clean water is again coming into the city from Detroit, but the corroded lead pipes remain beneath Flint’s surface. Conversations about replacing lead pipes — and even identifying their location — is a longer term issue, Snyder said. “Where they are, we’re still mapping all that,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done there.”
AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File |
About 10 million bank clients are potentially easy victims of fraudulent charges to their debit and credit accounts because they are using the vulnerable magnetic stripe cards. Customers can lose their personal data and money because their banks have not bothered to adopt chip-embedded cards despite several warnings from the Bangladesh Bank.
Shahreen Haq was put through one such stressful event recently. She has a debit card from a reputed foreign bank and last week she got two text messages within 20 minutes notifying that her card was used to make purchases worth over Tk 62,000. She was at home at the time and had not used the card. A shocked Shahreen instantly got in touch with the bank and the police and managed to block the payment. Others were not so lucky.
Making fraudulent transactions like these are easy for criminals because most banks are still issuing magnetic stripe cards that are too easy to copy. The magnetic stripe on the back of the cards store the cardholder account information and can easily be copied with an inexpensive card reader.
According to banks, most such fraudulent charges originate at different shops where buyers have used their cards at some point of time.
One foreign bank recently received 40 reports of fraudulent charges made in one boutique shop in Gulshan. As the cards were swiped at the cash registers, customer data were secretly copied and stored to be used later to make fraudulent purchases.
City Bank alone had to reimburse its clients around Tk 3 crore for similar unauthorised charges at some POS terminals in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Uttara.
Cards are also being copied at ATM booths where criminals install skimming devices. It was revealed last month that fraudsters had withdrawn Tk 1 crore by cloning cards with the skimming devices from four ATMs in the city. City Bank, Eastern Bank (EBL) and United Commercial Bank (UCB) lost over Tk 25 lakh from this type of fraud. Bangladesh Bank has information that more banks have been affected. The latest addition to the list is Premier Bank from where criminals pocketed Tk 40 lakh by cloning credit cards issued by Al Rajhi Bank of Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh Bank had asked the banks to convert to chip cards, also known as EMV cards, at least four times since September 2013. The last circular was issued on 8 March. Only Dutch Bangla Bank has adopted EMV cards.
The BB also directed the banks to get certified by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which is a proprietary information security standard for organisations that handle branded credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB etc. But no bank has done it so far except Q Cash, according to BB.
EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard, Visa (Europay is now part of MasterCard). Established in 1994 by those three founding members, now EMVCo is an international alliance for payment standard by six card networks: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Japan JCB, Discover, and China UnionPay.
Each time a user inserts an EMV chip card into a chip-enabled terminal, a unique security code is generated. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to reuse the card information and card users are protected.
Europe has gone for chip cards since 2000. China has done it in 2002. By the end of 2004, almost all credit cards issued in Malaysia had been replaced with chip cards, and POS terminals have also been upgraded to accept chip cards. According to Bank Negara Malaysia (central bank), for the first half of the year 2005, statistics on credit card fraud showed that the number of cases and losses have declined by 43.2 percent and 33.5 percent respectively, compared with the same period in 2004. The US was compelled to start using this technology when credit card information stolen from Target, a large chain retailer, in 2013 brought the issue of the vulnerability of credit card information to the front. Thailand and India which were once havens for card frauds, have mostly introduced EMV-enabled debit cards by 2015.
“Global cyber criminals target non-chip cards and they have found Bangladesh a perfect hunting ground,” said Abul Kashem Mohammad Shirin, deputy managing director of Dutch-Bangla Bank, the first bank to introduce EMV debit card in Bangladesh.
“EMV protected cards are almost impossible to hack,” said Kazi Saifuddin Munir, managing director of IT Consultants that run the country's biggest private payments switch Q Cash with around 3,000 ATMs.
Munir finds it surprising that even a big foreign bank, in business here for long, that introduced cards before any other bank, is yet to issue chip cards. “These banks take a lot of fee for issuing a card, but are not taking any measures to protect their customers,” he said.
Munir also blamed the BB for its lax attitude towards the banks. BB's circulars asking all banks to issue chip cards have been mostly ignored and nothing significant has happened yet, he said.
Some bankers say the transition from magnetic stripe to EMV is costly. It requires upgrading all payment terminals and ATMs in the country needing huge resources, money and time. That's why some countries, including Bangladesh, are avoiding the change, they said.
But others disagree.
“A bank needs to develop its infrastructure including upgrade of software to make it EMV enabled. Card production system has to be changed to go for chip card,” said Shirin of DBBL.
But Munir of Q Cash finds no additional cost except buying chip card that costs hardly Tk 70-80 apiece. A non EMV card costs around Tk 25.
“As Q Cash is EMV certified, its 33 member banks do not need to invest anything to upgrade its system. These banks have to pay for EMV cards only,” he said adding that as there is a national payments switch, banks do not need to spend for a separate switch. “cost is a lame excuse,” he added.
Bangladesh is a late comer in plastic money market. A few banks have introduced cards in early 2000s, but it gained momentum after 2005. Now 52 banks out of 56 in the country have cards as their products. According to BB, there are nearly 7,500 ATMs where around 3.5 lakh transactions take place per day. The amount transacted through ATMs is Tk 250 crore daily.
Presently, there are 32,000 POS terminals where over 35,000 transactions take place per day. Nearly Tk 30 crore is transacted through these POSes daily. BB statistics also show that the number of debit cards and transactions doubled in the last four years reflecting the customers' growing dependence on plastic money. Yet banks have failed to take adequate security measures to protect customers.
Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of corporate affairs of Standard Chartered Bank, said, “We have already initiated the process of introducing EMV cards; our customers will be able to use these chip based cards soon.” She, however, did not specify a timeframe.
Toufiq Hassan, head of cards of BRAC Bank, said they have started to upgrade their system for EMV cards. “We will start issuing EMV cards next year,” said Hassan.
Ziaul Karim, head of communications of Eastern Bank, said they have already started the project and 60 percent of their 4 lakh cards have been made EMV enabled.
On flouting the central bank orders in introducing chip cards, Shubhankar Saha, spokesman of the BB, said he is seeking updates from banks.
“We have to work more and as part of that move we will sit soon with the managing directors of all banks,” he told The Daily Star.
Can only EMV cards ensure foolproof security to the card users in Bangladesh?
According to Munir of Q Cash, the answer is “no,” as many things will depend on the bank officials who maintain the customer information.
“If bankers get involved into the frauds, EMV card cannot protect customers. Bankers have customers' data and they can clone cards by stealing those data easily,” he noted. |
In a recent op-ed piece titled “When Liberals Blew It," New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof—himself an outspoken progressive, especially on women’s and girls’ issues worldwide—wrote of the among liberals generated by a report written for the Department of Labor by Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1965. In this report (which became famous), Moynihan stated that a major impediment to black advancement in America was the breakdown of the family. Kristof wrote, “He argued presciently and powerfully that the rise of single-parent households would make poverty more intractable.”
It’s that word “presciently” that stands out to me. If you are ahead of your time and you go against the prevailing view—which for liberals was that institutional alone was responsible for poverty in the black community—you are going to get hammered for it, as Moynihan was. But while no person could then or now deny the continuing effects of institutional racism, it’s hard to argue that widespread father absence is good for any subculture.
I write of this as an analogy to another situation—though a closely related one—the importance of which may finally be on the cusp of mainstream acceptance: It’s the fact that on most measures American boys and young men today are not doing as well as girls and young women. Actually, this is not just true in our country, but throughout the developed world.
This is not a problem that just started, nor is it one that no one noticed until this year. In 2000 Christina Hoff Sommers’ book, The War Against Boys, presented data showing undeniably that on many key measures of success boys were struggling much more than girls.
Sommers’ conservative politics probably stood in the way of greater acceptance of what she was saying. She had already alienated many feminists with her previous book (Who Stole Feminism: How Women Betray Women), and the subtitle of Boys (“How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men”) didn’t help. But the message is more important than the messenger, and the last 15 years have shown Sommers to be right about how boys were and are doing (even if her explanations were controversial and politically polarizing). And in those years, there have been flurries of to the needs of boys and young men. Cover stories in magazines and books (including Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax and Why Boys Fail by Richard Whitmire) published in the ’00s, along with some national television stories, all talked about the problems boys were having.
But even today, with women still feeling quite justifiably that they have not reached anything near equity in , boardroom, and , the needs of males, of any age, have yet to fully penetrate popular consciousness.
One day last year at my local bakery, a great meeting spot in my very interesting and progressive college town, I was reading Hanna Rosin’s book The End of Men: And the Rise of Women. A feminist saw me reading it, and I said, “As the grandfather of (then) three boys, this book makes me concerned.”
She replied, “Well, when Congress is half women, then I’ll be concerned about boys.” A statement like this about children, any children, but especially those who need our help and encouragement, distresses me. Also, of daughters—and my friend has one daughter in her 20s—should be concerned about young males not keeping pace. Women typically prefer partners who are at least at their level of and achievement, and with approximately 130 women enrolled in college for every 100 men, this creates a problem.
Five years ago I wrote that I couldn’t “see myself joining people with whom I disagree sharply on almost all other social issues, so I can't see somehow becoming a conservative to help my sons, my grandsons, and young males across the country. But I can't stand feeling so alone either; so all I can do is urge my fellow liberals to make this part of their agenda too. Maybe boys haven't been the victims of laws and obvious -isms, but, as a group, they have been the victims of, at very least, neglect, and they need help from across the political spectrum.”
I am happy to say that this is finally happening. For several years now a bipartisan group, which includes experts in the area of boys’ issues and fatherhood—and many of these are women, some of whom strongly identify as feminists—has been pushing for a White House Council on Boys and Men, which would parallel the one that President Obama established for women and girls shortly after he took office in 2009. Lately, there is more in the media about the boys’ issue. And along with this, there are members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who are aware of the proposal to create a White House Council on Boys and Men and are ready to be supportive.
Some people feel that the problems of boys and young men are only significant in the minority community—and indeed the President has established My Brother’s Keeper, whose focus is these young males. There is no question that young males of color fare worse than any other group in our country, and thus I am a big supporter of the President’s action. But I have long believed that one of the reasons boys and young men of color have so mightily struggled is because the attention given to all girls and young women over the last 25 years has ignored them along with all the other boys.
Certainly this is not to say that girls and young women of color have had it easy. But whether you look at issues like homicides, incarceration rates, or less dramatic ones like school performance, young black women are doing better than young black males. For example, the ratio of enrollments in college for African-American women vs. men is two-to-one.
The fact is that the situation for young males transcends For the moment, at least, it is not politically popular to push for the needs of males of any age in our country. But there was nothing politically popular about what Pat Moynihan was saying in 1965 either.
Is institutional racism a problem? Absolutely. But quite possibly there is also a certain amount of institutional sexism—at least in schools and government—that favors girls over boys. And when race meets , then we have the situation of the young black American male, who on nearly every measure you can find, is at the lowest rung in America.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Women of color benefited from a women’s movement which did not exclude them, perhaps not as much as white women did, but more than black men did. A cover story in Newsweek way back in March 2003, was titled “From Schools to Jobs: Black Women Are Rising Much Faster Than Black Men. What It Means for Work, Family and Race Relations.” There is still a large gap today. A movement toward helping American boys and young men will help boys of color, especially if, as should be the case, they do get extra attention from such a movement.
Is there anything in this for today’s young women? Absolutely. A plethora of undereducated and underachieving young men will not make for a happy future for any of us. As Nicholas Kristof himself wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece in 2010, titled “The Boys Have Fallen Behind," “At a time when men are still hugely overrepresented in Congress, on executive boards, and in the corridors of power, does it matter that boys are struggling in schools? Of course it does: our future depends on making the best use of human capital we can, whether it belongs to girls or boys.” |
The Story of Bob and Mike, or How You Might Get Hacked By Sub Domain Brute Forcing!
Something that I’ve been really interested in is sub domain brute forcing, but what is it any why does it matter?
So, where to start? Let’s tell the story of a company system administrator and his journey.
So Bob (the sysadmin for a very important tech company) is put in charge of managing the DNS servers for H.U.E Inc among other things.
(For this story we’ll be using a 127.x.x.x format but we’ll pretend that these aren’t all loopback IP addresses)
Bob starts off by registering the domain name www.hueinc.com and points it to a server that hosts the company’s main website. So now whenever people go to www.hueinc.com it directs them to their web-server that serves up some static website detailing what the company is all about. We’ll say the IP address of this server is 127.0.2.1 just for example’s sake.
So, for those keeping track at home:
DOMAIN IP www.hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 hueinc.com 127.0.2.1
Great, but soon Bob is contacted by the developer department for H.U.E and they want a sub domain for their FTP server they setup. Easy enough, we’ll just set it to something easy to remember – after all this is what domains are for right? Bob decides that “ftp.hueinc.com” and “files.hueinc.com” seems like pretty easy-to-remember domains and set’s them to point twords the FTP server at the IP “127.0.2.8”.</p>
Cool, so now the company’s domain map looks like this:
DOMAIN IP www.hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 ftp.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8 files.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8
Bob is now very confident with his ability to assign sub domains to things and starts assigning every department their own sub domains to make everything easier to use. He even sets up personal sub domains so he doesn’t have to remember all the annoying IP addresses of the server’s that he sometimes manages. The cPanel page that he uses to manage everything? Why that’s “cpanel.hueinc.com” of course! The company’s employee login page? “employees.hueinc.com”. The IP cameras for the building? “surveillance.hueinc.com”. The toaster in the lounge that tweets when bread is full toasted? “toasted.hueinc.com”!
Bob is very excited about how much easier he has made things!
So lets see, what’s the map look like now?
DOMAIN IP www.hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 ftp.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8 files.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8 cpanel.hueinc.com 127.0.3.1 employees.hueinc.com 127.0.3.2 surveillance.hueinc.com 127.0.3.3 toasted.hueinc.com 127.0.2.9 secret.hueinc.com 127.1.3.1 earth.hueinc.com 127.2.1.2 fire.hueinc.com 127.2.1.3 hercules.hueinc.com 127.3.2.1
Etc, etc.
Wow, Bob certainly has been busy, what could possible go wrong here?
Meet Mike, he’s a Red Bull powered, not-so-ethical, insomniac. To top it all off he’s quite the computer security enthusiast and spends his time hacking at networks that he’s found an interest in. Sadly that system today turns out to be H.U.E. Inc.’s network.
Mike does a quick Whois on the domain name “hueinc.com” to start with and finds Bob’s contact details and the company’s phone number. Neat, so his opponent today is named Bob – let the games begin!
Mike now wants to know if they have any other systems than this static web server that shows the company’s details. After all, he is doubtful that he will have any luck hacking this server as most of the pages are just HTML files.
Perhaps this admin is new and has global DNS zone transfers enabled?
__A quick visit to https://tools.digitalpoint.com/zone-transfer and he discovers that they do not have global zone transfers allowed. (Mike prefers using this website as it won’t show his IP address for the query) A quick Google search reveals that only the company’s main website is indexed.
Oh well, I guess we’re doing this the fun way then!
Mike loads up one of his favorite tools for this type of thing called “DNS Discovery“. He loves this tool because it’s multi-threaded and can be installed on many embed devices because of it being written completely in C.
He has a word list for sub domains that he’s been building up overtime and is quite happy with it, the game of profiling administrators is something he enjoys very much.
The interface for this tool looks something like this:
He lets the tool run it’s course, he finds that Bob is quite the sub domain wizard and has assigned quite a few sub domains to systems that should not be touched by people who aren’t employees!
Mike’s map of H.U.E. Inc. now looks something like this:
DOMAIN IP www.hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 hueinc.com 127.0.2.1 ftp.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8 files.hueinc.com 127.0.2.8 cpanel.hueinc.com 127.0.3.1 employees.hueinc.com 127.0.3.2 secret.hueinc.com 127.1.3.1 fire.hueinc.com 127.2.1.3 hercules.hueinc.com 127.8.2.2
His picture isn’t a very complete one but it reveals quite a few domains that he’s interested in.
Ah, sweet! Jackpot!
Mike isn’t quite done yet with his assessment yet however.
fire.hueinc.com? Does that mean the other “elements” are included as well?
Mike checks for “water.hueinc.com” and finds nothing, he then tries “earth.hueinc.com” and finds Bob’s other server as well!
Mike finds that many other sub domains all follow this sort of scheme, he discovers the “hercules.hueinc.com” sub domain as well and quickly scrapes a list of all of the greek gods for his word list. Sure enough, he enumerates ten more sub domains this way! He also now has an idea of some IP ranges the company might own and checks neighboring IPs for more systems. He finds a few more this way as well!
Mike has gone from having one static web server to attack to having tons of machines that he can mess with. Some of these systems were thought to be private and they probably haven’t been patched against the latest exploits.
What do _you _think Mike’s chances of success are now?
Is Bob and Mike’s story a unique one? This is probably not a common thing…right?
Sadly this isn’t a unique scenario at all, many (if not the majority) of system administrators will act exactly like Bob did. It isn’t that Bob didn’t know about the possibility of sub domain brute forcing but more that he never considered that anyone who do this. Heck, Bob even found the task of coming up with new sub domain names a fun job!
To close, here is a screenshot of this tool running against Cisco’s main domain name Cisco.com for five seconds (if this doesn’t get you a little freaked out I don’t know what would):
That’s a LOT of sub domains, I don’t even want to know what a full “scan” would yield…
EDIT: Just to clarify I’m not saying that companies shouldn’t use sub domains. My point was that this would be an effective way to enumerate systems that are scattered across different hosts (which is very possible, maybe you outsource you FTP etc.) A better point would be to just be cautious of how sub domains are assigned and not to depend on the obscurity of a system for security. This is well pointed out with the Cisco sub domains as many of those domains are _not _supposed to be globally accessible. I was hoping this post would get a few people to think about just what kinds of systems they consider “secret” that could be enumerated and attacked like this. Thanks for all the constructive comments so far – I believe I’ve fixed any errors in the post as pointed out by readers!
JUST FOR THE RECORD: I’m not endorsing the hacking of any of Cisco’s systems, I am merely pointing out the fact that this type of a thing happens all the time in real world networks. Cisco sadly has had a bad record when it comes to naming domains (they were vulnerable to zone-transfers for quite a while!). Please don’t attack any systems that do not belong to you! Jail time is not worth the adrenaline boost. Nuff said? |
OKLAHOMA (WITI) — An Oklahoma woman’s choice of headwear in her driver’s license photo has prompted a review by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
FOX6’s sister station, KFOR in Oklahoma City reports Shawna Hammond says her decision to wear a colander on her head for her driver’s license photo is due to her religious beliefs.
Hammond says she’s a Pastafarian. She says she views the strainer as a symbol of her religious freedom.
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety says religious headpieces cannot create shadows on a face, and a driver’s license photo must present a clear view of a face.
“I asked if I could wear my religious headwear and he said, yes — it just couldn’t have any logos, or any type of writing. I told him it didn’t, and I went out to my car and got my colander. It doesn’t cover my face. I mean, you can still see my face. We have to take off our glasses, so I took off my glasses,” Hammond said.
Pastafarianism is a religion where there are “no strict rules and regulations, there are no rote rituals and prayers and other nonsense,” according to the church’s website.
“It came about in 2005. A man named Bobby Henderson wrote an open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education. It was actually about teaching creationism in school and he came up with the flying spaghetti monster and it had just as much merit,” Hammond said.
KFOR reports the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will do a thorough review of Hammond’s driver’s license photo to ensure it doesn’t violate any rules.
If it doesn’t violate any rules, the Highway Patrol says it may consider changing the rule regarding religious headwear becuase it is more than 10 years old.
CLICK HERE for more on this story via KFOR.com. |
New American citizens pose for photos in the Great Hall on Ellis Island after a naturalization ceremony on Friday in New York. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Applications for U.S. citizenship soared in the first three months of the year compared with 2015, appearing to confirm the predictions of several Democratic-leaning groups that the numbers would climb in response to the presidential campaign of Republican Donald Trump.
If the trends continue, activists now expect there to be nearly 1 million new citizens this year — roughly 200,000 more than the average in most years. That uptick would be just the latest signal of how Trump's campaign has fundamentally reshaped the American electorate.
Figures released this week by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show 249,730 new citizenship applications were submitted from January to March, a 28 percent jump from last year and a 34 percent increase from last quarter.
Historically, citizenship applications usually climb at the start of a presidential campaign cycle. Compared with the same three-month period in 2012, applications jumped by at least 6 percent.
The official quarterly statistics do not break down applicants by ethnicity, race or gender. But the release comes just days after several immigrants rights and voter registration organizations predicted the figures would grow, citing an increased turnout at citizenship workshops and calls to hotlines or congressional offices for more information.
[Trump’s candidacy sparking ‘a surge’ in citizenship, voter applications]
Many would-be applicants have told activists that they are primarily motivated to become citizens because of Trump, who has proposed deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants and building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Applying for citizenship doesn't guarantee acceptance — 19,564 applications were denied by USCIS during the quarter, with 442,219 still pending review, the agency said. Also, just because people apply to be U.S. citizens doesn't mean they'll automatically register to vote and show up to do so in November, something activists acknowledged on Friday.
"Our next step is to continue registering every eligible Latino to vote," Ben Monterroso, executive director of the Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, said in a statement touting the official statistics. "The Latino community will speak loud and clearly come November, we will help elect candidates who are willing to work and fight for the issues that affect our families, communities, and our country."
Cristóbal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Foundation, said that citizenship "is the first step toward the voting booth, and seeing those naturalization application figures jump means that we will see a higher Latino voter turnout."
Mi Familia Vota and the Latino Victory Foundation are two of dozens of organizations — including the Obama administration and both political parties — that are promoting citizenship or voter registration during the presidential campaign year.
Univision, the nation’s dominant Spanish-language broadcaster, has drawn more than 100,000 people to hundreds of voter registration and citizenship drives aimed at urging Latinos to vote. The network is hoping to register 3 million new Latino voters this year as part of a company-wide effort to boost its political influence.
[Univision draws 100,000 to voter registration drives in move to increase its political clout]
Across the country, several states are reporting higher voter registration numbers. In California, the number of Hispanics registering to vote doubled in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2012, according to state data. In Texas, naturalization ceremonies have swelled while most of those becoming citizens are also registering to vote at higher rates.
Meanwhile, Trump's campaign has done little to assuage the concerns of the nation's Hispanic voters. Trump sent a video greeting to an annual conference of Hispanic evangelical pastors last weekend in California — seen as one of his first attempts to reach out to any large group of Latinos. But this week he also strongly attacked one of the country's most prominent Latina political figures, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, telling rally-goers in Albuquerque that "she's got to do a better job."
The attack was considered far out of bounds by many GOP leaders, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). Not only is Martinez head of the Republican Governors Association and the only Latina governor, but many party leaders once touted her as a potential presidential or vice-presidential candidate.
One of Trump's top campaign aides, Paul Manafort, said in an interview this week that the candidate was unlikely to pick a woman or a member of a minority to serve as his running mate, because “that would be viewed as pandering, I think.”
For his part, Trump batted away concerns about his outreach to Hispanic voters. In an interview this week with Mario Lopez of the entertainment news show "Extra," Trump said: "I know all about your heritage and respect it greatly. My relationship with Hispanics is fantastic."
Polls suggest otherwise: 81 percent of Hispanics have an unfavorable view of Trump, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll. |
Among my least favorite clichés is that one about “speaking truth to power.” It’s easy to speak truth to powerful people. There aren’t many of them and they don’t care what you say.
What really takes nerve is to speak truth to knuckleheads. There are tens of millions of them. And they get to vote.
That is the charm of Ron Paul. I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that no politician in recent history has irritated so many knuckleheads in so few words.
The high point had to be last week at that tea party debate in Florida. A questioner asked whether the candidates favor cutting defense spending to balance the budget. Given the fact that every candidate opposes tax hikes, the only intelligent response had to be, “Of course.”
But when the Texas congressman said exactly that, he set off a sort of knucklehead revolt. Paul started with an assertion that the armed forces should be used solely for defensive purposes. Many Republicans would agree with that. But Paul felt a need to needle the knuckleheads:
“The purpose of al Qaeda was to attack us, invite us over there, where they can target us and they have been doing it,” said Paul. “They have more attacks against us and the American interests per month than occurred in all the years before 9/11, but we’re there occupying their land.”
After Paul went on to ask how we’d feel if we were invaded by China, the No. 1 knucklehead in the race, Rick Santorum, got a chance to reply. He’d been standing there with his jaw open like a flounder and he rose to the bait like it was a chunk of fresh squid.
“We stand for American exceptionalism,” (Note: This term was coined by a communist; see here.) ) the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania proclaimed. “We stand for freedom and opportunity for everyone around the world.”
This got the predictable round of applause from the knuckleheads. But Paul went right back at them: “As long as this country follows that idea, we’re going to be under a lot of danger,” he said. He proceeded to point out the harsh reality that armed occupation leads to armed resistance.
All of this earned Paul a hearty round of boos, but it’s the accepted view among those who understand terrorism. The statistics Paul cited come from Robert Pape, a University of Chicago political scientist who has studied suicide terrorism extensively. Pape notes that before 9/11, only about 10 percent of suicide attacks were aimed at Americans. Now, it’s more than 90 percent.
Perhaps the leading American expert on suicide terrorism is Bob Baer, a former CIA agent who spent most of the ’80s and ’90s running around the Mideast. When I called Baer to ask his opinion of Paul’s parallel to a foreign invasion of the United States, he brought up the 1984 movie “Red Dawn.”
In it, a small town in Colorado is invaded by Russian paratroopers. The local high school kids get guns and take to the hills.
“We don’t want to be occupied,” said Baer, who’s from Colorado. “The movie was about high school kids essentially committing suicide.”
In making the documentary “The Cult of the Suicide Bomber,” Baer interviewed several would-be suicide bombers who had been captured before killing themselves, as well as the relatives of many successful suicide bombers.
“There was a guy whose cousin blew herself up in a restaurant,” he recalled. “And he said, ‘Because they’re killing us, we have to blow ourselves up. We don’t have F-16s and tanks, so we have to use suicide belts.’”
The ultimate irony here, Baer said, is that Islamic radicals may not be needing those suicide belts much longer. Thanks to the insistence by the neoconservatives — which is the polite way of saying “knucklehead” — that everyone should be freed from dictatorial rule, Islamic fundamentalists are now in a position to control much of the Mideast.
Once freed from the horrible Hosni Mubarak, Baer noted, the Egyptians promptly sacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo. If the dictatorship in Syria falls, he said, Israel will be surrounded on all sides by angry Muslims. All of them will have the freedom and opportunity Santorum and his fellow neocons wanted them to have.
“We really do have to wake up,” Baer said. “We do not have the money to play out our fantasies.”
That’s the truth. And at least one candidate is pointing it out to the knuckleheads.
BEFORE COMMENTING, please read my comments policy. Pay particular attention to the following rule:
4. I can’t stand commenters who embrace the good, old-fashioned Moron Perspective, the idea that anyone who criticizes a politician from the right must be a member of the left. If I say, for example, Sarah Palin has no positions that show evidence of any concept of conservatism, don’t call me a liberal. Only a dolt would say that. Don’t be that dolt. |
5 years ago
(CNN) - President Barack Obama tops the list of the worst presidents since World War Two, according to a new national poll.
And the survey, released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University, also indicates that a plurality of voters nationwide say in hindsight that the country would be better off if Mitt Romney had won the 2012 presidential election.
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Obama at 41% approval in new CNN Poll of Polls; Congress at 14%
Thirty-three percent of people questioned in the poll say that Obama is the worst president since the Second World War, with 28% saying George W. Bush was the worst. Thirteen percent picked Richard Nixon, with 8% naming Jimmy Carter.
"Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W. Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
It's important to note that Obama and Bush, his predecessor in the White House, are more in the public conscious than previous presidents, and that both have governed during a time of bitter partisanship that's made compromise between the two major political parties extremely difficult. When Quinnipiac last asked the question, in 2006, Bush topped the list, with 34% saying he was the nation's worst president.
According to the poll, Ronald Reagan (at 35%) tops the list of the best president since WWII, with 18% saying Bill Clinton was best, followed by John F. Kennedy at 15% and Obama at 8%.
Voters are divided on whether Obama's been a better president than his predecessor, with 39% saying he's better than Bush and 40% saying he's worse. No surprise, there's a wide partisan divide on this question.
Bush left office in January 2009 with very low poll numbers. But according to a recent CNN/ORC International survey, his favorable rating now stands at 46%, up 11 percentage points over the past five and a half years. His favorable rating, according to the CNN poll, is now on par with Obama.
Better off if Romney had won?
Forty-five percent of those questioned say that America would be better off if Romney had won the 2012 election, with 38% saying the country would be worse off. Again, it's no surprise that 84% of Republicans say that America would be better if Romney had won and nearly three quarters of Democrats saying things would be worse.
For Romney, this endorsement's close to home
An adviser close to the former Massachusetts governor told CNN that he received a bunch of calls Wednesday, following the release of the poll, from donors who contributed to the 2012 Romney presidential campaign.
Spencer Zwick, the campaign finance chairman for Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, said that he thinks the poll "creates a hope and interest from a lot of those donors who would have loved to seen Romney become president but are hopeful there may be a shot in the future."
"It started a few months ago with donors saying 'do you think there's any shot,' to donors now saying 'how do we convince him to do it.' Which is kind of interesting because they have heard Gov. Romney say 'I'm not planning on doing this again' and I think some of these donors don't want to take no for an answer," added Zwick.
Romney has said over and over that he won't run for the White House a third time.
"I'm not running," Romney last month on NBC's "Meet the Press," a line Romney's used in interviews every time he's asked about 2016. Romney's wife, Ann, has also been adamant against another run.
How many ways can Romney say no to 2016
Obama's job running the government
By a 54%-44% margin, the survey indicates that the Obama administration is not competent in running the government.
The poll's Wednesday release comes as the scandal rocking the Department of Veterans Affairs dominated headlines recently. It's the latest controversy of the past year, following the NSA snooping scandal, the controversy over the IRS targeting of some conservative non-profit groups, and the rough rollout of the new federal health care law.
The President has also faced numerous international challenges, including the new bloodshed in Iraq, the civil war in Syria, and the fighting in Ukraine, as well as the controversial swapping of five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay for the release of a U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan.
"This poll gives a window into the sentiment of Americans at the moment," said CNN Chief National Correspondent John King, who said he suspects the numbers could change dramatically in four or five years.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted June 24-30, with 1,446 registered voters nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. |
Throwing Out The Master’s Tools And Building A Better House
By Rebecca Solnit
13 November, 2011
Zcommunications.org
Violence Is Conventional
Violence is what the police use. It’s what the state uses. If we want a revolution, it’s because we want a better world, because we think we have a bigger imagination, a more beautiful vision. So we’re not violent; we’re not like them in crucial ways. When I see a New York City policeman pepper-spray already captive young women in the face, I am disgusted; I want things to be different. And that pepper-spraying incident, terrible though it was for the individuals, did not succeed in any larger way.
In fact, seen on Youtube (704,737 times for one posted version) and widely spread, it helped make Occupy Wall Street visible and sympathetic to mainstream viewers. The movement grew tremendously after that. The incident demonstrated the moral failure of the police and demonstrated that violence is also weak. It can injure, damage, destroy, kill, but it can’t coerce the will of the people, whether it’s a policeman assaulting unarmed young women or the US Army in Vietnam or Iraq.
Imagine that some Occupy activists had then beaten up the cop. That would have seemed to justify him in the eyes of many; it would’ve undermined the moral standing of our side. And then what? Moral authority was also that young Marine veteran, Shamar Thomas, chewing out thirty or so New York cops in what became a Youtube clip viewed 2,652,037 times so far. He didn’t fight them; he told them that what they were doing is wrong and dishonorable. And brought the nation along with him. Which violence wouldn’t do.
Violence Is Weak
As Jonathan Schell points out in his magnificent book The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People, violence is what the state uses when its other powers have failed, when it is already losing. In using violence the state often loses its moral authority and its popular support. That’s why sometimes their visible violence feeds our victory, tragic though the impact may be. It’s also telling that when the FBI or other government agencies infiltrate a movement or an activist group, they seek to undermine it by egging it on to more violence.
The state would like us to be violent. Violence as cooptation tries to make us more like them, and if we’re like them they win twice—once because being unlike them is our goal and again because then we’re then easier to imprison, brutalize, marginalize, etc. We have another kind of power, though the term nonviolence only defines what it is not; some call our power people power. It works. It’s powerful. It’s changed and it’s changing the world.
The government and mainstream-to-right media often create fictions of our violence, from the myth that protesters were violent (beyond property damage) in Seattle in 1999 to the myth of spitting in returning soldiers’ faces in the Vietnam era to generally smearing us as terrorists. If we were violent, we’d be conventionally dangerous and the authorities could justify repressing us. In fact, we’re unconventionally dangerous, because we’re not threatening physical violence but the transformation of the system (and its violence). That is so much more dangerous to them, which is why they have to lie about (or just cannot comprehend) the nature of our danger.
So when episodes of violence break out as part of our side in a demonstration, an uprising, a movement, I think of it as a sabotage, a corruption, a coercion, a misunderstanding, or a mistake, whether it’s a paid infiltrator or a clueless dude. Here I want to be clear that property damage is not necessarily violence. The firefighter breaks the door to get the people out of the building. But the husband breaks the dishes to demonstrate to his wife that he can and may also break her. It’s violence displaced onto the inanimate as a threat to the animate.
Quietly eradicating experimental GMO crops or pulling up mining claim stakes is generally like the firefighter. Breaking windows during a big demonstration is more like the husband. I saw the windows of a Starbucks and a Niketown broken in downtown Seattle after nonviolent direct action had shut the central city and the World Trade Organization ministerial down. I saw scared-looking workers and knew that the CEOs and shareholders were not going to face that turbulence and they sure were not going to be the ones to clean it up. Economically it meant nothing to them.
We Are Already Winning
The powers that be are already scared of the Occupy movement and not because of tiny acts of violence. They are scared because right now we speak pretty well for the 99%. And because we set out to change the world and it’s working. The president of Russia warmed at the G20 Summit a week or so ago, ?"The reward system of shareholders and managers of financial institution should be changed step by step. Otherwise the 'Occupy Wall street' slogan will become fashionable in all developed countries." That’s fear. And capitulation. And New York Times columnist Paul Krugman opened a recent column thus: “Inequality is back in the news, largely thanks to Occupy Wall Street….” We have set the agenda and framed the terms, and that’s already a huge victory.
This movement is winning. It’s winning by being broad and inclusive, by emphasizing what we have in common and bridging differences between the homeless, the poor, those in freefall, the fiscally thriving but outraged, between generations, races and nationalities and between longtime activists and never-demonstrated-before newcomers. It’s winning by keeping its eyes on the prize, which is economic justice and direct democracy, and by living out that direct democracy through assemblies and other means right now.
It’s winning through people power direct-action tactics, from global marches to blockades to many hundreds of Occupations. It’s winning through the creativity of the young, from the 22-year-old who launched Move Your Money Day to the 26-year-old who started the We Are the 99% website. And by tactics learned from Argentina’s 2001 revolution of general assemblies and politica afectiva, the politics of affection. It’s winning by becoming the space in which we are civil society: of human beings in the aggegate, living in public and with trust and love for one another. Violence is not going to be one of the tools that works in this movement.
Violence Is Authoritarian
Bodily violence is a means of coercing others against their will by causing pain, injury, or death. It steals another’s bodily integrity or very life as property to dispose of as the violator wishes. Since the majority in our movement would never consent to violent actions, such actions are also imposed on our body politic against our will. This is the very antithesis of anarchy as an ideal in which no one is coerced. If you wish to do something the great majority of us oppose, do it on your own. But these small violent bands attach themselves to large nonviolent movements, perhaps because there aren’t any large violent movements around.
As Peter Marshall writes in his history of anarchism, Demanding the Impossible, “Indeed the word violence comes from the Latin violareand etymologically means violation. Strictly speaking, to act violently means to treat others without respect…. A violent revolution is therefore unlikely to bring about any fundamental change in human relations. Given the anarchists’ respect for the sovereignty of the individual, in the long run it is non-violence and not violence which is implied by anarchist values.” Many of us anarchists are not ideological pacifists; I’m more than fine with the ways the Zapatistas rebels in southern Mexico have defended themselves and notice how sadly necessary it sometimes is, and I sure wouldn’t dictate what Syrians or Tibetans may or may not do. But petty violence in public in this country doesn’t achieve anything useful.
Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
In downtown Oakland, late on the evening of November 2 after a triumphant and mostly nonviolent day of mass actions, a building near Occupy Oakland’s encampment was seized, debris was piled up as if to make barricades that were only show barricades to set afire, not defend, trash cans were set on fire, windows broken, rocks thrown, and then there were altercations with the police. If the goal was to seize a building, one witness pointed out, then seize it secretly, not flamboyantly. The activity around the seizure seemed intended to bait the police into action. Which worked; police are not hard to bait. Activists and police were injured. What was achieved?
Many other activists yelled at the brawlers because they felt that the violence-tinged actions did not represent them or the Occupy movement and put them in danger. It was appalling that the city of Oakland began, a week earlier, by sending in stormtrooper police before dawn rather than negotiating about the fate of the Occupy Oakland encampment. But it was ridiculous that some people tried to get the police to be violent all over again. And it was tragic that others bore the brunt of that foray, including the grievously injured veteran Kayvan Sabeghi—another veteran, a week after Scott Olson.
Earlier this fall, the publishing group Crimethinc issued a screed in justification of violence that’s circulated widely in the Occupy movement. It’s titled “Dear Occupiers: A Letter from Anarchists,” though most anarchists I know would disagree with almost everything that follows. Midway through it declares, “Not everyone is resigned to legalistic pacifism; some people still remember how to stand up for themselves. Assuming that those at the front of clashes with the authorities are somehow in league with the authorities is not only illogical…. It is typical of privileged people who have been taught to trust the authorities and fear everyone who disobeys them.”
If nonviolence/people power is privilege, explain this eyewitness account from Oakland last Wednesday, posted on the Occupy Oakland site by Kallista Patridge: “By the time we got to the University building, a brave man was blocking the door screaming "Peaceful Protest! This is my city, and I don't want to destroy it!" He cracked his knuckles, ready to take on an attack, his face splattered in paint from the Whole Foods fiasco [in which downtown Oakland’s branch of the chain store was spraypainted and smashed up based on a rumor that workers were told they’d be fired if they took the day off for the General Strike]. Behind the doors were men in badges. I was now watching a black man shield cops from a protest. The black flag group began pointing out those attempting to stop them, chanting ‘The peace police must be stopped,’ and I was, personally, rather disgusted by the strategy of comparing peacefully pissed people to police….”
This account is by a protestor who also noted in downtown Oakland that day a couple of men with military-style haircuts and brand new clothes put bandannas over their faces and began to smash stuff. She thinks that infiltrators were part of the property destruction and maybe instigated it, and Copwatch’s posted video seems to document police infiltrators at Occupy Oakland. One way to be impossible to sabotage is to be clearly committed to tactics that the state can’t coopt. If an infiltrator wants to nonviolently blockade or march or take out the garbage, well, that’s one more of us. If an infiltrator sabotages us by recruiting for mayhem, that’s a comment on what those tactics are good for.
What Actually Works
The language of Crimethinc is empty machismo peppered with insults. And just in this tiny snippet, incoherent. People who don’t like violence are not necessarily fearful or obedient; people power and nonviolence are strategies that are not the same as the ideology pacifism. To shut down the whole central city of Seattle and the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting on November 30, 1999, or the business district of San Francisco for three days in March of 2003, or the Port of Oakland on November 2, 2011—through people power—is one hell of a great way to stand up. It works. And it brings great joy and sense of power to those who do it. It’s how the world gets changed these days.
Crimethinc, whose logo is its name inside a bullet, doesn’t actually cite examples of violence achieving anything in our recent history. Can you name any? The anonymous writers don’t seem prepared to act, just tell others to (as do the two most high-profile advocates of violence on the left). And despite the smear quoted above that privileged people oppose them, theirs is the language of privilege. White kids can do crazy shit and get slapped on the wrist or maybe slapped around for it; I have for a quarter century walked through police lines like they were tall grass; people of color face far more dire consequences. When white youth try to bring the police down on a racially diverse movement—well, it’s not exactly what the word solidarity means to most of us.
Another Occupy Oakland witness, a female street medic, wrote of the ill-conceived November 2 late-night antics, “watching black bloc-ers run from the cops and not protect the camp their actions had endangered, an action which ultimately left behind many mentally ill people, sick people, street kids, and homeless folks to defend themselves against the police onslaught was disturbing and disgusting in ways I can't even articulate because I am still so angry at the empty bravado and cowardice that I saw.” She adds, “I want those kids to be held accountable to the damage that they did, damage made possible by their class and race privilege.” And physical fitness; Occupy Oakland’s camp includes children, older people, wheelchair users and a lot of other people less ready to run.
As Oakland Occupier Sunaura Taylor put it, “A few people making decisions that affect everyone else is not what revolution looks like; it's what capitalism looks like.”
How We Defeated the Police
The euphemism for violence is “diversity of tactics,” perhaps because diversity has been a liberal-progressive buzzword these past decades. But diversity does not mean that anything goes and that democratic decisionmaking doesn’t apply. If you want to be part of a movement, treat the others with respect; don’t spring unwanted surprises on them, particularly surprises that sabotage their own tactics—and chase away the real diversity of the movement. Most of us don’t want to be part of an action that includes those tactics. If you want to fight the police, look at who’s succeeded in changing their behavior: lawyers, lawmakers, police watchdog groups like Copwatch, investigative journalists (including a friend of mine whose work just put several New Orleans policemen in prison for decades), neighborhood patrols, community organizers, grassroots movements, often two or more players working together. You have to build.
The night after the raid on Oakland, the police were massed to raid Occupy San Francisco. About two thousand of us stood in and around the Occupy encampment as helicoptors hovered. Nonviolence trainers helped people prepare to blockade. Because we had a little political revolt against the Democratic money machine ten years ago and began to elect progressives who actually represent us pretty well, five of our city supervisors, the public defender, and a state senator—all people of color, incidentally-- stood with us all night, vowing they would not let this happen.
We stood up. We fought a nonviolent battle against four hundred riot police that was so effective the police didn’t even dare show up. That’s people power. The same day Occupy Oakland took its campsite back, with people power, and the black bloc kids were reportedly part of the whole: they dismantled the cyclone fencing panels and stacked them up neatly. That’s how Occupy San Francisco won. And that’s how Occupy Oakland won.
State troopers and city police police refused to break up the Occupy Albany (New York) encampment, despite the governor’s and mayor’s orders. Sometimes the police can be swayed. Not by violence, though. The master’s tools won’t dismantle the master’s house. And they sure won’t build a better house.
People Power Shapes the World
Left violence failed miserably in the 1970s: the squalid and futile violence in Germany and Italy, the delusional Symbionese Liberation Army murdering Marcus Foster, Oakland’s first black school superintendent, and later gunning down a bystander mother of four in a bank, the bumbling Weather Underground accidentally blowing three of its members up and turning the rest into fugitives for a decade; all of them giving us a bad name we’ve worked hard to escape.
Think of that excruciating footage in Sam Green’s Weather Underground documentary of the “days of rage,” when a handful of delusions-of-grandeur young white radicals thought they’d do literal battle with the Chicago police and thus inspire the working class to rise up. The police clobbered them; the working class was so not impressed. If you want to address a larger issue, getting overly entangled with local police is a great way to lose focus and support.
In fact, the powerful and effective movements of the past sixty years have been almost entirely nonviolent. The Civil Rights Movement included the Deacons for Defense, but the focus of that smaller group was actually defense—the prevention of violence against nonviolent activists and the movement, not offensive forays. Schell points out that even the French and Russian Revolutions were largely nonviolent when it came to overthrowing the old regime; seizing a monopoly of power to form a new regime is when the blood really began to flow.
I think of the Sandinista Revolution of 1979 as the last great armed revolution, and it succeeded because the guerrillas with guns who came down from the mountains had wide popular support. People power. People power overthrew the Shah of Iran that year, in a revolution that was hijacked by authoritarians fond of violence. In 1986 the Marcos regime of the Philippines was overthrown by nonviolent means, means so compelling the army switched sides and refused to support the Marcos regime.
Armies don’t do that if you shoot at them, generally (and if you really defeated the police in battle—all the police, nationwide?--you’d face the army). Since then dozens of regimes, from South Africa to Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland to Nepal to Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Tunisia have been profoundly changed through largely nonviolent means. There was self-defense in the Deacons for Defense mode in the Egyptian uprising this year, but people power was the grand strategy that brought out the millions and changed the country. Armed struggle was part of the ongoing resistance in South Africa, but in the end people power and international solidarity were the fulcrom of change. The Zapatistas used violence sparingly as a last resort, but “our word is our weapon,” they say, and they used other tools in preference, often and exquisitely.
The powerful and effective movements of the past sixty years have used the strategy of people power. It works. It changes the world. It’s changing the world now. Join us. Or don’t join us. But please don’t try to have it both ways.
Rebecca Solnit is the author of 13 books, including A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disasters and Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas.
Copyright 2011 Rebecca Solnit |
A planned expansion of the Portland Art Museum will (PAM) come at a cost of $50 million in new construction — and it would also come at the cost of public access to our city streets.
As part of their plans to build the “Rothko Pavillion,” PAM has asked the City of Portland for permission to close an existing public right-of-way through a plaza between two of their buildings that connects SW 10th and Park at Madison Street. The proposal would add a significant new structure to the museum’s footprint and it has architects and cultural backers very excited. But some advocates are concerned that the new plans will further limit walking and rolling in a part of town where street connections are invaluable.
Places where it’s easy and attractive to walk and roll have small blocks with lots of connections between them. The tighter the grid, the thinking goes, the better walkability a place has. As city blocks become “superblocks,” human-powered trip times increase, which makes walking and biking less attractive.
PAM’s latest plans are just the latest in a long history of limiting access to this block.
Madison used to connect between 10th and Park, but at PAM’s request in 1968 City Council passed an ordinance to “vacate” the street so the museum could complete a major renovation. That ordinance held PAM to three promises: a permanent, eight-foot wide public easement would be provided; the easement should be free of obstructions and well-lit; and that the area be only used as open mall. After several incidents of vandalism in 1984, PAM requested — and was granted — an amendment to the easement to close the right-of-way between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am. Then in late 2012, PAM requested to further limit the hours of public access. They wanted the public to only be able to use the plaza during museum hours. This time however, the City of Portland’s Planning & Sustainability Commission shot down the request. According to a briefing on the issue created by PBOT Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s office, the museum than unsuccessfully appealed to former Mayor Sam Adams with a threat close public access if hours weren’t further limited.
PAM’s latest request would allow them to expand their programs between two existing buildings by covering the pavilion. The enclosed space would be free to enter and is being billed by the museum as a “cultural commons” between the buildings.
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While the new structure has many benefits for our city, the requested easement change would, according to briefing papers prepared by the City of Portland, “Potentially exclude users of the space that are not utilizing it as pedestrian access between SW 10th Avenue and SW Park Avenue, patronizing Museum offerings (e.g., gift shop, café, etc.), or attending the Museum, as well as and/or including bicycles and animals.” Public access would also be reduced by four to eight hours per day.
“More than likely we will request that access be maintained and provided for those who are walking and biking.”
— Rithy Khut, Chair of Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee
If the easement is approved it would make bicycle connections to and from SW Madison more difficult and inconvenient. Madison is a major city bikeway east of the museum because of its relatively low-volume traffic and direct connection to the Hawthorne Bridge — the most heavily used bike route across the Willamette River with a peak-season daily average of over 6,000 trips. SW Columbia has no bike lanes and isn’t considered a bike-friendly street. Salmon would be comparable, but it would mean a four-block detour.
These concerns, as well as potential impacts to walking, have already surfaced.
Local urban planner Mary Vogel wrote in an op-ed published on January 17th in the Portland Tribune that the closure of the plaza would go agaist Portland’s values of reducing demand for fossil fuels. The City should, “Insist on a revision of the Portland Art Museum Rothko Pavilion plan,” Vogel wrote, and instead, “focus on strengthening downtown walkability and resilience — e.g. negotiate a Madison Walkway between Southwest 11th and 12th Avenues to break up this superblock.”
And a December 2016 article about the project in The Oregonian highlighted concerns of people who live across the street from the museum who worry about losing access:
Neighbors worry that means they won’t be able to use it for commutes or to reach places like the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the Oregon Historical Society. Ferriso [with PAM] said he recognizes the neighbors’ concerns, but whatever’s lost by closing the walkway an additional 25 to 30 hours is outweighed by the community benefits of improved educational and cultural opportunities at the museum. Wendy Rahm, an Eliot resident who is a museum patron and a member of the board of directors of the Architectural Heritage Center, worries the museum isn’t listening to stakeholders in her building. “I think it’s gorgeous,” Rahm said after attending a presentation about the proposed expansion. “My problem with this is that plaza is a pedestrian-oriented oasis in our very increasingly dense city. It is an asset to this part of town.”
PAM’s proposal to limit access on this block was also discussed briefly at a joint meeting of the City of Portland’s bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees on March 14th. A large majority of committee members raised their hands in opposition to the idea. PBAC Chair Rithy Khut confirmed with us this week that they plan to submit a letter to Commissioner Saltzman and, “More than likely we will request that access be maintained and provided for those who are walking and biking.”
This ordinance is scheduled to be heard at City Council on April 20th.
Perhaps Council will consider other options. While in Amsterdam in 2013 I marveled at how that city created a promenade for walking and a path for bicycling through a major museum.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and [email protected]
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A boy cries at a camp for internally displaced people near Sanaa, Yemen, August 10, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at the kingdom by Yemen’s armed Houthi movement on Wednesday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported.
The attack follows renewed air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition on the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Thirteen civilians were killed when bombs a snack food factory.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the missile attack. In the past, they have boasted of launching around a dozen Scud missiles at the south of the kingdom during more than a year of war.
A senior Houthi official did say that he held the United Nations responsible for the stepped-up combat, which followed the collapse over the weekend of U.N.-backed peace talks.
“The silence of the U.N. towards this dangerous escalation and mass extermination against the Yemeni people ... makes it a partner in the aggression,” Saleh al-Samad, the chief of a new Houthi-backed political council, told state news agency Saba.
Saudi Arabia and an alliance of mostly Gulf Arab allies have launched thousands of air strikes against the Houthis and their allies in Yemen’s army since they intervened in Yemen’s civil war on behalf of the exiled government.
The Saudis are backing an offensive by pro-government fighters aiming to advance on Sanaa from the north and east. |
The Department of Justice is now facing 4,000 more cases than the 10,000 backlog Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II inherited when he assumed office 14 months ago.
This means the DOJ failed to resolve 333 cases every month, or 14 cases for each of 293 working days, since June 30, 2016.
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Aguirre, a private lawyer before becoming justice secretary, blamed the increasing backlog on the lack of government prosecutors.
“We urgently need prosecutors here. We have more than 1,000 vacancies,” Aguirre said, adding the vacancies are double the number of vacancies a year ago.
“We need as much help as we can get to resolve this backlog of 14,000 cases,” he added.
Shortly after he assumed office in June, Aguirre complained that the DOJ needed 509 additional prosecutors and the processing of appointment papers was too slow for the pile up of cases.
In addition to the case backlog, Aguirre also has to address the legal matters that crop up from day to day, like the case of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Andres Bautista.
Aguirre has ordered the PCGG and the National Bureau of Investigation, two agencies under his supervision, to investigate PCGG transactions during Bautista’s term from 2010 to 2015.
But he admitted any adverse finding can only be filed as an administrative or criminal complaint after Bautista, who heads a constitutional agency, is impeached or resigns.
“He’s still an impeachable officer and immune from suit. The only suit that can be filed against him is an impeachment suit,” Aguirre told reporters.
He ordered the PCGG last week to probe the Commission on Audit’s report on unliquidated cash disbursements of more than P100 million from the PCGG’s dollar escrow account.
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He also wanted an inquiry into reported abuse of sequestered and surrendered assets, including millions of pesos worth of gift checks and gift cards given to members of the media.
He also wants an investigation of kickbacks Bautista may have received from the alleged payment of excessive billings made to law firms connected to him.
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Iran to send 4,000 troops to fight alongside Syrian regime: report
Updated
Iran will send 4,000 of its troops to Syria to aid president Bashar al-Assad's forces in its fight against rebels, according to the UK's Independent newspaper.
The "military decision" means that Iran is now "fully committed to preserving Assad's regime," wrote journalist Robert Fisk, citing pro-Iranian sources.
Key points Iran will send 4,000 troops to fight alongside Assad's forces
Iran's Shiite rulers are staunch allies of Mr Assad, who belongs to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam
The rebellion in Syria is largely Sunni
Shiite Hezbollah fighters are already joining forces with Assad's troops
Leaders of Britain and Russia met overnight for talks on Syria
As well as sending Revolutionary Guards, Iran has reportedly proposed to open a "Syrian front" against Israel in the Golan Heights.
The decision was reportedly made before Iran's presidential election, and came as the US approved a move to arm the Syrian opposition.
It compounds fears that the Syrian conflict is taking on broader regional and sectarian dimensions.
Iran is a predominantly Shiite Muslim country and a staunch ally of Mr Assad, who belongs to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
The rebellion in Syria is largely Sunni.
The Assad regime has also received recent support from fighters loyal to the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
The rebels, meanwhile, are reportedly getting military support from Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, which plans to supply them with anti-aircraft missiles to counter the regime's air force.
Britain and Russia at odds over Syria
British prime minister David Cameron and Russian president Vladimir Putin acknowledged their differences over Syria after talks in London overnight.
Russia, a long time backer of the Syrian regime, is sceptical about US accusations that the Syrian military has used chemical weapons against the rebels.
After the meeting in London, Mr Putin said Russia wanted to create the conditions for a resolution and urged Western countries to abandon their plans to arm the rebels fighting against the Assad regime.
"One does not really need to support the people who not only kill their enemies, but open up their bodies, eat their intestines in front of the public and cameras," he said.
"Are these the people you want to support? Are they the ones you want to supply with weapons? Then this probably has little relation to the humanitarian values preached in Europe for hundreds of years."
Sorry, this video has expired Video: David Cameron and Vladimir Putin meet in London (ABC News)
The incident Mr Putin referred to was most likely that of a rebel commander filmed last month cutting into the torso of a dead soldier and biting into a piece of one of his organs.
Mr Cameron says he blames the Assad regime and not its ally Russia for the ongoing violence, despite the supply of arms from Moscow.
He says the UK has still made no decision on whether to supply weapons to the rebels.
Mr Cameron also says he and Mr Putin are working to find common ground on Syria ahead of the upcoming G8 summit and a planned international peace conference
"What I take from our conversation today is that we can overcome these differences if we recognise that we share some fundamental aims: to end the conflict, to stop Syria breaking apart, to let the Syrian people choose who governs them and to take the fight to the extremists and defeat them," he said.
Now that the US is taking moves to arm the Syrian opposition and Mr Cameron himself insisting that more must be done to help them, Moscow might now go ahead with its plans to provide sophisticated new air defences to the Syrian regime.
Mixed response to new Iranian president
There has been a cautious international response to the election of moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani as the next president of Iran.
Mr Rowhani has pledged greater engagement with the West, a move which has been welcomed by the United States, Russia and Britain.
Mr Putin has also urged closer ties with Iran following Mr Rowhani's win.
Australia has also welcomed the new president and urged him to return to constructive talks on the country's nuclear program.
But Israel has voiced its ongoing concern.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyhu wants continued international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program.
His intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz was even less optimistic about Mr Rowhani, telling Israeli media he is not a moderate figure at all.
He said the international community must not be deluded and there was no reason to alleviate pressure on Iran, but rather sanctions should be tightened.
Several Iranian newspapers described the victory of the reformist-backed candidate as the return of hope.
Tens of thousands of people celebrated on the streets of the capital Tehran throughout the night after hearing the election result.
The past eight years under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have seen Iran isolated on the international stage and engulfed in an economic crisis, mainly the result of international sanctions.
Syria's main opposition group has called on Mr Rowhani to end his country's alliance with President Bashar al-Assad.
ABC/wires
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, syrian-arab-republic, iran-islamic-republic-of
First posted |
Square Enix and Media. Vision's Chaos Rings roleplaying game series is now mostly available in English for the PlayStation Vita in a bundled download. Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong announced an update for the Chaos Rings III: Prequel Trilogy PS Vita game pack that adds English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), and Korean text for Chaos Rings, Chaos Rings Omega, and Chaos Rings II . Chaos Rings III is included in the game bundle, but does not have an English translation.
Square Enix previously released Chaos Rings for mobile devices in North America in 2010 and PlayStation Vita via the mobile store in 2013. Chaos Rings Omega and Chaos Rings II were released in English for mobile devices in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Square Enix released Chaos Rings III in Japan for PS Vita and mobile devices in October.
[Via Siliconera] |
The revolution will definitely be tweeted. On Wednesday morning—a day after the official Twitter account for Badlands National Park went rogue and started dropping actual scientific facts—it seems that Death Valley National Park has joined the resistance.
At 7:09 a.m. this morning, the national park's account started talking about World War II-era internment camps:
They followed that tweet up with a Dorothea Lange photo of influential former Rafu Shimpo newspaper editor Togo Tanaka, who helped chronicle Japanese-American internment. The photo was paired with a quote from Tanaka that ran in a March 13, 1942 Rafu Shimpo editorial.
We presume the tweets won't last long, so we've included them all as screenshots, as opposed to embedded tweets.
A quick refresher for anyone who hasn't been paying attention: back in November a high-profile surrogate for President Donald Trump actually said that World War II-era Japanese-American internment camps could be seen as a “precedent” for the potential creation of a Muslim immigrant registry. This is despite the, um, slightly awkward fact that the U.S.'s Japanese-American internment camps are pretty much universally considered a black mark on our country's history. In fact, it was no less a conservative icon than Ronald Reagan who signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which issued a formal apology to the more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent who were incarcerated, and paid out $20,000 in compensation to all surviving victims. |
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For as long as there has been college, there has been the study of religion. The study of atheism, however, has fought an uphill battle. Thanks to a hefty donation in late April, establishing the nation’s first academic chair “for the study of atheism, humanism, and secular ethics,” the University of Miami seeks to lead the way in this novel collegiate field.
Retired businessman, Louis J. Appignani, and former president and chairman of the modeling school Barbizon International donated $2.2 million to aid the school in its secular causes. While this donation to the University of Miami is not his first grant of its kind by Mr. Appignani to humanist and secular causes, it is the largest.
“I’m trying to eliminate discrimination against atheists,” said the 83-year-old Appignani in an interview with the NY Times. “So this is a step in that direction, to make atheism legitimate.”
“I think it’s a very bold step of the University of Miami, and I hope there will be others,” said Richard Dawkins to the Times. Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and atheist luminary who is the author of “The God Delusion.”
“It’s enormously important to shake off the shackles of religion from the study of morality,” Mr. Dawkins said.
The college atmosphere is supposed to be a place for the open exchange of ideas to promote the notion of higher learning. However, as history has shown, this is not often the case.
American history, at large, is riddled with the persecution of individuals and groups whose spiritual views varied from the status quo. For the past two centuries, groups like the National Liberal League and the American Secular Union advocated for a secular republic in which religious freedom applied to the irreligious as well as the religious.
In the early 20th century, people were arrested for blasphemy if they dared challenge the establishment of religion.
Chapters for the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism operated on college campuses across the US, with “The Damned Souls” at the University of Rochester being one of the most noteworthy. The founder of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism, Charles Lee Smith, gained the public’s attention in 1928 when he opened a storefront in Little Rock, Arkansas and distributed what Time Magazine called “godless propaganda.” Practicing his first amendment right would eventually lead to his arrest for blasphemy after mailing literature to local clergy.
This momentum has carried over into modern day America as secular societies have begun to organize themselves politically. According to the Times, next month, nonbelievers are headed to Washington to lobby Congress and hold a “Reason Rally” at the Lincoln Memorial to showcase their numbers and promote the separation of church and state.
Even today, however, there is a stigma associated with those who choose not to believe in God. The University of Miami even took some persuading to create the chair with the word “atheism” in the title, according to Harvey Siegel, a professor of philosophy at the University, who helped broker the arrangement.
“There was great reluctance on the part of the university to have an endowed chair with the word ‘atheism’ in the name, and that was a deal-breaker for Lou,” Mr. Siegel told the Times. “He wasn’t going to do it unless it had the word atheism in it.”
Executive vice president of the University, Thomas J. LeBlanc noted that this chair is not one of advocation for atheism, but rather education.
“We didn’t want anyone to misunderstand and think that this was to be an advocacy position for someone who is an atheist,” he said. “Our religion department isn’t taking an advocacy position when it teaches about Catholicism or Islam. Similarly, we’re not taking an advocacy position when we teach about atheism or secular ethics.”
As the Times reports, Appignani wanted the college to follow his specific protocol:
Mr. Appignani said he rejected a last-minute proposal from a dean to call it a chair in “philosophical naturalism.” Instead, he and the university leaders worked out the title, broadening the scope by including humanism and secular ethics. Mr. Appignani was raised a Roman Catholic in the Bronx by Italian immigrant parents. His father was a clothing presser in the garment district. He attended Catholic schools and said he became a nonbeliever at the City College of New York when he discovered the work of Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher and Nobel Prize winner. With the money he made from the Barbizon school, he said, he created the foundation that has given grants to groups like the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America, and the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.
This move by the University of Miami is nothing short of historic. Broadening the scope of spiritual and secular studies offered to students will only lead to a lesser ignorance and freer minds.
It is important, however, to note that even atheists can exhibit the same obstinate and militant traits of the most dogmatic religious zealots.
An individual’s peaceful beliefs should be of no concern to others. If atheists truly want the freedom to believe what they want to believe, then that same freedom must be afforded to others without fear of persecution.
Spirituality comes in many forms and those who attempt to force their version of it, or even lack thereof, onto others, have no place in the expansion of human consciousness. |
South China Sea: Vietnam prepares for dangerous days ahead as the country's fisheries clash with Chinese authorities
Updated
Provocative activity in the South China Sea is clearly visible in the fiercely contested Spratly Islands, satellite pictures released today show.
Dredging work appears to be underway on a reef that is covered with water at high tide, but is an important stake in the hotspot, with a Vietnamese flag, lighthouse and soldiers stationed there.
"We can see that, in this environment Vietnam's strategic mistrust is total … and they are rapidly improving their defences," retired British navy intelligence analyst, Trevor Hollingsbee said.
The dredging risks provoking the anger of Vietnam's main rival in the sea — China.
The whole South China Sea was once a region of uncontested traditional fishing waters, but as billions of dollars of gas and oil have been discovered, countries are vying for control.
A trip to the more northern Paracel Islands exposes the rawness of national sensitivities.
Sparkling on the horizon as our boat navigates the swell and leaving Vietnam behind us, the Paracels are one of the world's most contentious flashpoints.
'My ancestors have always fished here'
Captain Bui Ngoc Thanh and his crew of 18 are heading north. He risks harassment in these forays, but there is the lure of abundant fish and giant clams.
The fishermen also have a defiant attitude-fuelled by their country's own historic claims on the area.
The latest attack was only two weeks ago, Captain Bui said.
The Chinese Coastguard stopped them near Woody Island. Officials boarded the boat and beat the crew using clubs and electric cattle prods.
"They climbed on my roof and cut the Vietnamese flag, cut our radio antennae and stole all our fish and equipment," Captain Bui said.
"They forced us to lie down on the front deck until they had taken everything."
"They yelled at us and their translator told us that we were fishing illegally in Chinese waters. But I know these are Vietnamese waters because my ancestors have always fished here," he said.
China justifies its claims of sovereignty over much of the South China Sea because of ancient trade routes.
As his men haul in their nets, Captain Bui says fish stocks are down because the subsidised Chinese fishing fleet is expanding.
"In the past we could get the same amount of fish in one week that we get now in one month," he says.
Soon Captain Bui and his crew head back with their catch to Ly Son Island, just off Vietnam's coast.
Vietnam building strategic partnerships
Ly Son sits between Vietnam's two main two hotspots - the Paracels in the north claimed by Vietnam and China, and the Spratleys in the south, with overlapping claims by a cluster of different countries.
Ly Son is Vietnam's historic gateway for its military and fishermen to their "East Sea". It is the most northerly island Vietnam still controls.
At a diplomatic level, Vietnam and China seem eager to defuse tensions.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's six-day visit to China in September culminated in reassurances: "China and Vietnam can … promote maritime cooperation through friendly negotiations," proclaimed China's President Xi Jinping.
But its build-up of military installations on artificial islands continues unabated, with hangars being built to house jet fighters.
Vietnam is making strident moves to counter Chinese domination.
Earlier satellite pictures show an airstrip on Vietnam's Spratly Island recently extended to accommodate most planes in its air force, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
In August, Reuters reported Vietnam had discretely fortified five Spratly Islands with rocket launchers within range of China's newly-built airstrips. Chinese state-run media described the move as "a terrible mistake".
"It is within out legitimate right to self-defence to move any of our weapons to any area at any time within our sovereign territory," Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh said.
Vietnam is building strategic partnerships, with India extending a $US500 million line of credit for defence equipment, and Japan has supplied coast guard vessels and joined in naval exercises.
"We share similar strategic concerns and maybe we trust India and Japan more to be longer term allies," said noted authority on the South China Sea, Professor Tran Duc Anh Son.
Back on Ly Son, I am shown a museum dedicated to Vietnam's claims to the sea.
The legal argument derives from 1836 when the king of Hue began dispatching soldiers once a year to the islands, hunting for pearls, giant clams and salvaged treasure from boats which sank on treacherous reefs. This regal connection is significant.
"Vietnam is the rightful owner of the Paracels and Spratlys," argues Nguyen Lan Anh, Deputy Director of East Sea policy.
"Sovereignty cannot be claimed by fishermen, but it can be claimed through edicts of a king."
Pham Thoai Tuyen, 72, is an 11th-generation descendant of one of the six original families who settled the island in 1609. His forebears placed stone markers on a few Paracel islands, which they named after themselves.
"These islands have been part of Vietnam for a long time," Mr Pham says.
He is angered when he hears of the increasing harassment by Chinese Coast Guard ships and fishermen.
At least 18 boats out of the 250-strong Ly Son fleet have been sunk by the Chinese in the past three or four years, while many others have been rammed and attacked, says Nguyen Quoi Chinh, president of the local fishermen's association.
Some fishermen have been killed.
There is some evidence regional tensions have calmed over the Spratlys since Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte softened his country's stance towards China's claims in August.
Almost alone, Vietnam is firming its stand and the Coast Guard reports increasing hostilities.
So far, this is a slow-burning war between rival Coast Guards and fishermen, as the competing nations deploy coast guards instead of navies to avoid escalation.
At Coast Guard headquarters in Ky Ha harbour, Colonel Tran Van Dung escorts me onto the bridge of one of his newest ships, and explains the challenges.
His fleet of 20 ships must cover 175,000 square kilometres, including the Paracels and northern Spratlys.
"In recent years we have rescued many fishermen and protected them in their traditional fishing areas," he says.
"We need to double our fleet and personnel — and this is happening."
Fishermen are encouraged to operate in the claimed waters as they play an important role in the continuation of sovereignty and provide useful information.
Vietnam cannot win a war against China, but it can hold its ground and repel them, as it has done in battles before — the last was two years ago when China provocatively hauled an oil rig into the contentious waters.
Violent riots in Vietnam saw a number of ethnic Chinese people killed and thousands flee the country, before the rig was moved.
While China resists addressing the basis of the competing claims, underlying problems are not being resolved. Dangerous days are looming, as frictions increase.
Back on his new coast guard cutter, Colonel Tran remains confident.
"We will always be the winner in war because we have the support of our people," he says, evoking past victories Vietnam has won against great powers like the US and France.
He is clearly thinking now of a rising power to the north as he descends the gangway again.
Topics: world-politics, vietnam, china
First posted |
Eric Mindich's $8.5 billion hedge fund, Eton Park Capital Management, is now ready to pick through the debt of beaten-up energy companies, an area it avoided last year as the price of oil tumbled.
"We have completely avoided exposure to the high yield debt of energy companies and to energy-impacted emerging markets, but as the price of these bonds trade down, we are spending increasing amounts of time researching opportunities in this space," Eton Park wrote in a letter to clients dated Jan. 16 and seen by Reuters.
Sidestepping falling oil prices that hit six year lows is just one of several bullets the prominent manager said he dodged last year. Eton Park gained 6.4 percent in 2014 after rising 22 percent in 2013 and 13 percent in 2012. For the last three years, the fund returned an average 13.3 percent annually.
Eton Park dropped mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a big profit before a U.S. judge threw out a lawsuit filed by shareholders to prevent the government from seizing most of the companies' profits.
It also got out of pharmaceutical company Shire Plc amid signs the government would crack down on mergers seeking tax advantages. And it sold Shire short before its planned merger with AbbVie Inc was called off, netting a profit.
For most hedge funds, 2014 was another year of lackluster returns, with the average fund gaining only about 4 percent and some managers nursing losses in the wake of heavy declines in Fannie and Freddie, as well as Shire stock prices.
"In 2014, we managed to avoid most of the major pitfalls, while at the same time build large exposures at the right times to the key winners," the letter said.
One of those winners was pharmaceutical company Allergan Inc , which fought hard against being bought by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Ltd, and later signed a deal with Actavis Plc. Short bets against offshore drillers and Europe's Euro currency as the U.S. dollar was rising also helped.
On the other hand, bets on Marathon Petroleum Corp and Tullow Oil Plc (TUWLF) ranked as some of the fund's biggest losers last year.
Mindich has been a huge success story in the $2.5 trillion hedge fund industry after drumming up so much demand when he set up his fund in 2004 that he raised $3.5 billion at the start. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss. Editing by Andre Grenon) |
The Baggies could be in foreign ownership by the start of next season as he is already fielding inquiries from groups from America, the Far East and Australia.
But he is ready to shelve the hunt for a buyer if a deal is not done by the start of pre-season training in early July.
Peace has held preliminary talks with a series of potential overseas investors with at least one consortium given a tour of The Hawthorns and the Baggies training ground near Walsall.
Hawthorns sources have confirmed several groups are interested but none are British-based and no firm offers have been lodged. A sale would put the club in foreign hands for the first time in its 137-year history and net Peace a huge profit after he bought his majority stake for just a few million pounds a decade ago.
John Homer, chairman of West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Club, said: "It's a sign of the times and we can all see the number of foreign owners in the English game now.
"But the key phrase now must be 'due diligence' to make sure that any potential owners are fit and proper people to run the club.
"That's no disrespect to any of the people who have shown an interest but there are a number of cautionary tales around the country at the moment where foreign owners are concerned and I'm sure a lot of fans would feel a little uncomfortable at first.
"In my heart of hearts, as a proud Black Country man, I would love a businessman from the Black Country to step in and take over but I suppose how possible that is depends on the price, and that's not to say a foreign owner would be wrong because they could be good people. It's just important that the correct due diligence is done."
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An asking price of between £150m and £200m has been discussed with potential buyers, valuing the Baggies much higher than was originally expected when Peace invited offers earlier this year. The increase is due to the new three-year, £5bn Premier League broadcast rights deal, which is expected to increase to around £7bn when overseas rights are sold in the next few weeks.
But Peace wants a sale concluded before the Baggies players return for pre-season training at the start of July to avoid compromising head coach Tony Pulis's summer transfer dealings and is prepared to put any deal on hold if it is not completed in time. That would mean identifying a preferred buyer by May to allow time for agreements to be reached.
Pulis has been kept informed of developments and his presence as the reigning Premier League Manager of the Year is one of Albion's key selling points.
However, Mr Homer still believes finding a buyer to make a firm bid could be difficult. He said: "For a club of our size, the stadium and the training ground is second to none, but at the end of the day we are only a 'town team' and there is only so far we can go in our catchment area.
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"That's not being disrespectful, because I and many others are proud that we are a town team and proud of what we achieve." Peace, who owns 77 per cent of Baggies shares, confirmed in mid-February that he was willing to sell to a suitable investor, although he stressed he is keen to ensure the club's future is protected. In the statement he said: "I stated in 2008 that I was open to proposals regarding investment in the club.
"I will not stand in the way of a new owner, providing they convinced me their intentions for the club were in keeping with its traditions and values and their ability to deliver on them was realistic. Nothing has changed in that regard. The announcement of a new and record media rights deal for the Premier League from season 2016-17 is sure to mean that there is once again huge interest in the brand.
"It was only right and prudent, that at such a moment we should present the club to the investment market. I believe it is a sound company – an extremely solid football club with no debt, significant assets, a developing infrastructure and reasons to be confident." |
Trigger warning: For eating disorders and misogynistic language.
Most of you are probably familiar with Adam Richman, the dude from "Man Vs. Food," a show on the Travel Channel. (The gist is he goes on eating challenges across the country and eats vomit-inducing portions at local restaurants. That’s it.)
He was a chubby dude the whole time the show was going on, but recently he’s lost a bunch of weight. Celebrities losing a lot of weight isn’t really a big story. Being famous means there’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way. If that’s what he wanted, if it makes him feel better, good for him. I’m all for body autonomy and what another person chooses to do with their body isn’t any of my business. However, it was brought to my attention that he posted this photo:
It's a picture of Adam Richman taking a mirror selfie in too-big pants to show off his weight-loss with the caption: “Had ordered this suit from a Saville Row tailor over a year ago. Think I’m gonna need to take it in a little…. #Victory #EyesOnThePrize #AnythingIsPossible #fitness #transformation #thinspiration”
Just seems like another boring self-congratulatory weight loss photo...until we get to the last tag.
Thinspiration?
Oh really? Now for those of you not hip to the lingo, thinspiration is very popular in pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia circles, generally consisting of pictures of emaciated bodies, mantras like "What’s more important, that slice of pizza or a thigh gap?" and suggestions, tips, and motivation to either starve or purge. (Regardless of whether or not you agree with dieting, starving or purging are things that should never be encouraged.) Without context, thinspiration may not seem like a bad word, but a simple Google search proves that it was created by a community of people with eating disorders to inspire each other to continue and celebrate their illnesses.
I want to stop and add that if you look up the "thinspiration" tag on Instagram, this user warning comes up, which means that even Instagram knows that it’s a problematic term:
A friend of mine who followed Adam saw his post, and figured that maybe he was not aware of the negative connotations of the word "thinspiration." So she decided to explain it to him politely. This was his response:
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(DILLIGAF, aka, "do i look like I give a f--k?")
Now look, we’ve all used words by mistake, we’ve all stumbled and said something offensive and didn’t realize it. It happens to the best of us, and it’s totally understandable. But when you’re called out for saying something that does active harm, especially if you’re somewhat of a public figure, you listen, you apologize, and you don’t do it again. A perfect example would be when Jonah Hill was recently demonized for throwing a homophobic slur at a paparazzo. His apology was perfect. As a public figure, even if you have a personal Instagram (Adam has 92k followers) you need to understand that the things you say will be scrutinized, and the words you use have meaning. You need to be extra careful to think about not what you mean when you say things, but how other people will interpret them. And in a society where eating disorders are at an all-time high, thinspiration is a loaded word.
I also posted a comment on Adam’s Instagram about how the term was problematic, but it was ignored, so I made a post about Adam’s "DILLIGAF" comment on my personal Instagram, and asked my followers to "tell him that eating disorders are not a joke and nothing to take lightly." My followers did just that, but I didn’t for one second predict the vitriol that followed.
There was apparently a point where he referred to me specifically as a "c--t," but he ended up deleting it before anyone got a screenshot. But yes. He told a friend of mine to kill herself, told another to eat a bag of sh-t, and completely went on the attack, lacking any modicum of class or decorum. He then blocked anyone who called him out (myself included) regardless of whether their comment was rude or polite.
You know what? It doesn’t feel good to be called out publicly when you do something wrong, especially by multiple people. It’s uncomfortable. But these responses are completely unacceptable.
He then went on to "apologize." But this apology was completely invalidated in the comment section, where he waxed poetic about people being oversensitive and pandered to his fans instead. I for one am extremely disappointed by the fact that he’s obviously not learned anything from this incident.
*** |
Tom Sullivan and his wife Terry hold hands as they visit the grave site of their son Alex Sullivan on Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Alex was killed along with 11 others in the Aurora theater shooting last July on his 27th birthday. Saturday is the anniversary of the shooting. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
DENVER (AP) — Gun-rights advocates are planning a rally at the same park where a group will read the names of gun violence victims on the anniversary of the Colorado theater shootings, prompting a state lawmaker to call the move "a slap in the face."
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners scheduled a rally for Friday to coincide with a remembrance ceremony planned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns at Cherry Creek State Park in the Denver suburb of Aurora.
Both start at noon. State Parks spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said the groups were issued permits for locations that are within sight of each other, but she didn't know the distance. She said park rangers and law officers would be present to keep the peace.
"I think it's a slap in the face of the people who are suffering the loss of a loved one," said state Rep. Rhonda Fields, a Democrat from Aurora. Fields' district includes the theater where 12 people were killed and 70 injured one year ago Saturday, and she plans to participate in the remembrance ceremony.
Fields' son was shot and killed in 2005 to keep him from testifying in a murder trial.
Dudley Brown, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, denied his group was being insensitive and said his members would be respectful.
He accused Mayors Against Illegal Guns and its founder, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, of politicizing the Aurora massacre to promote gun control.
"Mayor Bloomberg is using this tragedy and walking all over graves to get to the microphone," Brown said.
Bloomberg's organization respects the gun group's constitutional rights to protest and to own firearms, spokesman Kelly Steele said.
"But this is a memorial for Americans murdered with guns, not a pep rally," Steele said. "Their rights aren't in question, but their judgment certainly is."
Brown said other memorials to the Aurora victims have been "wholly appropriate" and his group didn't stage simultaneous rallies.
"But when Mayors Against (Illegal) Guns had decided to dive in and make this a political issue, which they have since the beginning, we decided to dive in," he said.
Brown declined to say whether his group's rally would include speakers but added, "I have no intention to get in a shouting match."
On its website, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners calls itself "Colorado's only no-compromise gun rights organization." Brown declined to say how many members it has.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns said its ceremony will start with a news conference, after which participants will begin reading the names of about 2,500 people who have been killed by gunfire since Dec. 14, when a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The names will be read until 12:38 a.m. on Saturday, the moment that the shootings began in the Aurora theater a year earlier.
Scheduled participants include a wounded survivor of the Aurora shootings, parents whose adult children were killed in the theater and a woman whose sister was killed in Newtown.
___
Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP |
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