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Mother of the victim had contacted police in 2015, accusing Bob Coy of having forced her child to perform oral sex
Bob Coy, founder and former pastor of the Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, the biggest megachurch in Florida, has been accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl.
According to the Miami New Times, mother of the victim told police that Coy had forced her daughter to perform oral sex and “fondled her” on a regular basis until she was a teenager.
In 2015, the mother had contacted Coral Springs police accusing Coy of pedophilia and raping her daughter. However, police documents show that officials did not pursue the case and dropped it at the request of the victim.
After reporting the alleged abuse, the girl told police she had an “experience with God” and that she “found forgiveness”.
“Confessing to a moral failing”, that is, having multiple affairs and an addiction to pornography, the televangelist Coy resigned as senior pastor at the church in 2014.
Regarding the child abuse case, he declined to discuss it, but claimed he is innocent and passed a polygraph test to prove it.
“I can’t discuss it on the record. If you’re foolish enough to go through with this story… it would hurt a lot of people,” he said.
Coy, who previously worked in the entertainment industry – which included a stint at a casino and strip club – founded the megachurch in 1985.
The Evangelical megachurch now has a congregation of around 10,000.
Michael Miller, spokesperson for the church, in response to the allegations, told The Independent newspaper:
“Our church was saddened to hear of the allegations made against Bob Coy years after his resignation and departure as senior pastor. We learned of this report after it was disclosed and reported to the appropriate authorities. We take every allegation of abuse seriously and our prayers are with all those involved as they pursue redemption and healing. Because this is a personal matter, any further questions would be best addressed to Bob Coy himself.”
Mr. Coy has been out of reach since the allegations went public. |
In 1741 the Norwegian-Danish author Ludvig Holberg published Klimii Iter Subterraneum, a satirical science-fiction/fantasy novel detailing the adventures of its hero Niels Klim in a utopian society existing beneath the surface of the earth. Peter Fitting, author of Subterranean Worlds: A Critical Anthology, explores Holberg’s book in the wider context of the hollow earth theory.
In 1818 John Cleves Symmes, Jr, issued his “Circular Number 1,” sending copies to “each notable foreign government, reigning prince, legislature, city, college, and philosophical society, quite around the earth”:
I declare that the earth is hollow and habitable within; containing a number of solid concentric spheres, one within the other, and that it is open at the poles twelve or sixteen degrees. I pledge my life in support of this truth, and am ready to explore the hollow, if the world will support and aid me in the undertaking.
The fortunes of the idea that the Earth was “hollow and habitable within,” from classical references to the underworld to esoteric and New Age writers today, have been recounted elsewhere, most notably by Walter Kafton-Minkel in his Subterranean Worlds: 100,000 years of dragons, dwarfs, the dead, lost races & UFOs from inside the earth (1989). Symmes’s theories led to a number of fictional visions of the “world within”, most immediately, Adam Seaborn’s 1820 novel Symzonia – a work which has often been attributed to Symmes himself; and the novel with its diagrams and drawings was for some time cited as evidence that the world is hollow. In a somewhat different way, Symmes’s conviction that there were openings at the poles also led to the establishment of perhaps the most famous American naval scientific expedition, the “United States Exploring Expedition” which was commissioned to explore the South Pacific and led to the establishment of a national museum of natural history – the Smithsonian Institute. (The history of the expedition and its origins in Symmes’ ideas is recounted in William Stanton’s 1975 The Great United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842).
Symmes, however, was not the first to argue that the Earth was hollow; nor is Symzonia the first novel set in a hollow earth. There are of course numerous narratives – dating back to Greek and Roman texts – of descents into the underworld, but hypotheses about vast channels or chasms inside the Earth appear to be a much more recent idea advanced by some European thinkers in the 17th and 18th centuries as an explanation of volcanoes, whirlpools and the like. This period is filled with a variety of now discarded cosmological hypotheses, many inspired by the attempt to reconcile scriptural accounts of Creation with scientific observation: hypotheses about the movement of the sun, the earth and the stars, about the universality of the great Flood, about creation and the origins of life, and about the earth’s own formation. Among the proponents of now abandoned theories about the composition of our planet was Edmond Halley (better known for the comet which bears his name), who proposed (in a paper explaining the movement of the magnetic poles published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society in 1692) that the earth was hollow: “that the seemingly solid earth is actually a shell about 500 miles thick containing three smaller concentric spheres… each sphere separated from the others by about 500 miles of atmosphere.”
While it is perhaps relatively easy to follow the theories of inner cavities or of a passage between the poles (in writers like Thomas Burnet and Athanasius Kircher in the late 17th century), and to see their relationship to a text like the anonymous 1721 Relation D’Un Voyage Du Pole Arctique Au Pole Antarctique Par Le Centre Du Monde, (which describes a channel running through the Earth from pole to pole), it is much more difficult to understand how the idea of the hollow Earth emerged as part of Halley’s explanation of the motion of the magnetic poles. Even more inexplicable is the depiction of the hollow earth some fifty years earlier – complete with inner sun and earth – in Ludvig Holberg’s 1741 subterranean utopia, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground. This is a far greater imaginative leap, for instance, than Jules Verne’s well-known account of a descent into the bowels of the earth through a dormant volcano (Voyage au centre de la terre, 1865). Verne’s narrative of the discovery of a vast underworld cavern formed during an earlier geological period seems much more plausible than Holberg’s invention of two entire inner worlds – one a planet inhabited by intelligent trees, the other the underside of the earth’s crust, as vast as the outer crust on which we live, and populated with a fantastic variety of intelligent life forms.
First published in Latin in 1741, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground, with a new theory of the Earth and the History of the previously unknown Fifth Kingdom (Nicolai Klimii iter subterraneum, Novam Telluris theoriem ac Historiam Quintae Monarchiae adhuc nobis incognita exhibens) was quickly translated into a number of European languages. (The first English edition dates from 1742). As with Verne’s Voyage, the adventure begins with the descent into a cave, although here the hero falls through a hole into the subterranean world, discovering: “that the conjectures of those men are right who hold the Earth to be hollow, and that within the shell or outward crust there is another lesser globe, and another firmament adorned with lesser sun, stars, and planets”.
On the central planet, Klim discovers a happy and prosperous utopian land of intelligent, mobile trees. In his subsequent travels around the planet Klim encounters many bizarre varieties of intelligent trees, and each species forms a separate social grouping. It is these sections of the novel that have earned Klim a place in the history of utopia. But in the final sections of the work Holberg turns from utopia and social satire to fantasy: Klim is expelled from the utopian land of Potu to the underside of the earth’s crust which is inhabited by many other fantastic creatures, all of which – plant and animal species alike – are intelligent and gifted with speech; and then he discovers a race of human savages, who, of all the creatures of the subterranean world, “alone were barbarous and uncivilized”. Klim takes it upon himself to civilise them, and uses his knowledge to manufacture gunpowder and to conquer all of the countries of the firmament, becoming a tyrant – the “Alexander of the Subterranean world”. When his subjects eventually rebel, he is forced into flight and falls into the same hole through which he had previously fallen, thus returning to Norway.
The Journey of Niels Klim was widely known in the 19th century: the narrator of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” includes the “Subterranean Voyage of Nicholas Klimm” among his readings, while the poet Thomas de Quincy began a translation of Klim sometime in the mid-1820s. Giacomo Casanova (better known for his Memoirs) wrote a lengthy subterranean utopia — L’Icosameron (1788) — in which he acknowledges the importance of Holberg’s novel; while Mary Shelly mentions in her diary that she read Klim as she was writing Frankenstein. Fictional settings inside the earth can be found throughout the 19th and 20th centuries – from Edgar Allen Poe’s “Ms. found in a Bottle” (1833) and his unfinished “Narrative of A. Gordon Pym” (1837), through to Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Coming Race (1871), Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Pellucidar novels, beginning with At the Earth’s Core (1922); and more recently there are authors like Raymond Bernard and William Read who continue to argue that the Earth is hollow.
Born in Bergen, Norway at the time of the Dano-Norwegian monarchy, Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754) is probably the most European of Scandinavian writers before Ibsen and certainly the best known; he is often referred to as the “father” of Danish and Norwegian literature. He was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright who travelled extensively throughout Europe and is often credited as bringing the Enlightenment to the Nordic countries. In fact, the author of The Journey of Niels Klim was far better known for his “Introduction to Natural and International Law“ and his theatre (he has been described as the “Moliere of the North”). Like Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Klim is a combination of social satire, utopia and the fantastic. But Swift’s shipwrecked narrator is a much more familiar (and plausible) utopian narrative device than is Holberg’s imagination of a hollow earth. Holberg never explains who “those men … who hold the Earth to be hollow” are, and none of his critics have been able to identify them. As long as Holberg’s sources continue to be a mystery, The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground must be considered the first presentation of the idea of the hollow earth.
Peter Fitting is professor emeritus of French and Cinema Studies at the University of Toronto. His work has focused primarily on utopian fiction and on 20th century science fiction. In 2004 he published: Subterranean Worlds: A Critical Anthology, (Wesleyan UP).
For more information on these topics and samples of his work see: The Society for Utopian Studies and Science Fiction Studies.
Links to Works |
Megan Gleason, from St, Louis, Mo., felt powerless for over a year while she watched three-year-old Sammie (short for Samantha), live semi forgotten and alone in an backyard. Authorities couldn’t remove the pet because the pet owner legally met all minimum conditions for pet ownership, but Gleason knew the life Sammie had was a life no pet deserves. Thanks to an app, one post, and the willingness of strangers to work together, Sammie was rescued from her miserable life.
The young Boxer spend every single day in the yard. It didn’t matter how cold it was during winter or how hot it got during the summer, all Sammie new was loneliness and the only friends she had were her old plastic dog house and her water bowl.
“She was left in a pen and her water would be frozen in the winter she also had limited access to shelter and in the summer she was in the heat,” Gleason told Fox News.
The determined woman contacted the local police, The Humane Society of Missouri and Stray Rescue, but not one organization was able to remove the dog from the property.
Unwilling to give up, Gleason turn to Next Door app and asked neighbors for advice. Within hours of posting about Sammie, Gleason received hundreds of suggestions on how to work with the pet owner and get Sammie the rescue she desperately needed.
It took just a week to get the pet owner to release the dog to a rescue organization. Gleason says Sammie’s rescue was only possible thanks to the strangers that bonded on Next Door. They were the ones that gave her the tools for a successful rescue.
The once forgotten Boxer is now under the care of Needy Paws. She is currently in a foster home enjoying her new life. Samantha hopes the future will bring her a loving family that will never toss her in a back yard and force her to live alone and unprotected from the elements.
If you’re interested in adopting Sammie contact Needy Paws, you can also donate towards Sammie’s medical fund. |
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have hired Jim Caldwell as head coach, ending a two-week search during which they interviewed only four candidates.
The 58-year-old Caldwell fit a lot of the criteria Detroit had during its search. The Lions wanted someone with head-coaching experience and experience on offense, apparently preferably with quarterbacks.
"On behalf on my entire family, I want to express how thrilled we are with the appointment of Jim Caldwell as our new head coach," Lions owner and chairman William Clay Ford said. "We believe Jim is the right man to lead our team and deliver a championship to our fans."
Caldwell became the second minority candidate to land a head-coaching job this month, joining new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith.
"To be openly frank, we felt that he should be the guy," Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation chairman John Wooten said Tuesday afternoon. "We really wanted him in that particular team. Thought it was an excellent fit."
Caldwell was the first person to interview for the Detroit job, followed by former Texans coach Gary Kubiak, former Titans coach Mike Munchak and former Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.
Detroit was spurned by Whisenhunt, thought to be the top choice, on Monday when he chose the Titans job.
Jim Caldwell is the second minority candidate to land an NFL head-coaching job this month, joining Tampa Bay's Lovie Smith. Rob Carr/Getty Images
Caldwell has been a head coach at two prior stops -- from 2009 to 2011 with the Colts and from 1993 to 2000 with Wake Forest. He replaces Jim Schwartz, who was fired following Detroit's late-season collapse that resulted in a 7-9 finish.
Caldwell, who turns 59 on Thursday, posted a 26-22 record in three seasons after replacing Tony Dungy in Indianapolis. The Colts reached the Super Bowl in Caldwell's first season at the helm and went to the playoffs the following season. In fact, Caldwell has more career playoff wins (two) than the Lions organization has over the last 55 years combined. Since winning the NFL title in 1957, the Lions are 1-10 in the postseason.
After being fired by Wake Forest, Caldwell became a quarterbacks coach in the NFL, first for Tampa Bay, where he worked with Brad Johnson in 2001, and then with Indianapolis, where he was Peyton Manning's position coach from 2002 until 2008.
Fired by Indianapolis in 2011, Caldwell went to Baltimore first as the Ravens' quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator for their Super Bowl run after replacing Cam Cameron in December of last season.
Under Caldwell this season, the Ravens were 29th in total offense (307.4 yards a game) and 25th in scoring (20 points a game). Quarterback Joe Flacco, who Caldwell was brought in to mentor, threw more interceptions (22) than touchdown passes (19) this season.
Caldwell, a defensive back at Iowa from 1973 to 1976, has spent the entirety of his coaching career on offense, including at Penn State as quarterbacks coach from 1986 to 1992.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter contributed to this report. |
Invictus is headed to the CrossFit Games for the 9th year in a row! We have launched limited edition 2017 Legacy T-shirts and Tank tops to celebrate the success. Get yours before they are gone, and be a part of the Invictus family no matter where you are watching the Games this year.
Open Letter to Regionals Athletes
Written by Invictus Athlete Josh Littauer
Walking into the gym on a typical Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 5:30AM, I love that I can expect a few of the same things. I know that Vanessa will have already warmed up 30 minutes, Daniel will be telling jokes and laughing before the punchline and Leah will warm everyone’s hearts as she laughs the most recognizable laugh you’ve ever heard. There are kind welcomes and hellos, questions about work, inside jokes only 5:30AM people would know, and a generally very energetic group for that early in the morning. These are little things I have greatly come to appreciate over the past 9 months or so participating in a normal CrossFit class.
My presence in CrossFit gyms has been an interesting one since I started in 2012. When I first tried a CrossFit workout, I was told that I should compete, and that someday I could be one of the best in the world. Not knowing any better, I jumped right in began to do as much CrossFit as my body would allow. Within a few months I had competed in multiple local competitions and by the time I did my first CrossFit Open in 2013, was told the following year I should try to make the Regional Competition. From there I began training multiple times a day, doing extra skill work, more squat cycles, working with lifting coaches, and pushing myself as quickly towards progress as I could. Sure enough the following year in 2014, I qualified for my first Regional.
From here my fitness took a different turn. I definitely was no longer a normal class attendee, I had special programming, supplements, therapists, and diets to help me achieve a goal of going to the CrossFit Games. This carried on for two more years as I became increasingly isolated from the rest of the CrossFit community and most often was the only one in the gym for either of my training sessions. I was caught up in myself, my own progress, my needs, what I “needed”, often at the expense of others. This carried on through the 2016 Regional Competition, until I decided I needed a change.
The next year looked dramatically different. I decided that since I wasn’t making money as a “pro fitness person” that I would get a full time job, I changed a few of my surroundings, rearranged my priorities, and began to see life from a new perspective. In my head there wasn’t going to be any more competing, no more special programming, no supplements, or special recovery systems. Several years of competitive programming and mindset had worn on me, and I just wanted to be healthy and enjoy fitness. I can remember one of the very first actual CrossFit class I took in late summer 2016, and thinking to myself how foreign is was, how I wasn’t sure if people would make comments, or ask what I was doing.
Over the years of competing, I realized I had created a gap between myself and the rest of the gym members. To my surprise I felt very welcomed, no one made comments about me being a Regional athlete, asked about PR’s, or told me I was just going to smoke everyone in the class. For the most part, no one in class seemed to care that I had ever been good at CrossFit or what the status of my fitness was at that point in time. It was very relaxing. Being able to be a normal CrossFitter became much more fun than I expected as I was able to relax and just have fun with people.
I’m going to talk for a minute to other Regional qualifiers, or maybe just to some of you who have taken yourself out of the class setting to focus on your competitive fitness aspirations. There is a gap that has been created in the CrossFit community between those who compete and those who do not. While there is a time and place for some extra skill work to help the natural progression in CrossFit, it should not remove you from the foundation set forth in a class setting.This gap is perpetuated by the advent of special programs and social media to glorify each of your workouts, gains, and “hard work”. It is easy as a competitive CrossFitter to get into this mentality that you’re better than a “normal” member, or that your activity in the gym has more value.
What if we changed our mindset and looked at it the other way around? Not to burst any bubbles, but if you – as a competitive athlete – to think that you working out for 6 hours a day and sleeping 10 hours a night is inspiring, you’ve got it backwards. Let’s get outside ourselves a bit and look at the rest of the community. The single mom who struggles to get into the gym because of work and her role as a mother suddenly becomes the superhero. The person who is battling sickness, obesity, or perhaps past addictions becomes the one who is inspiring.
Want to close the gap? Start joining classes, even once or twice a week would help. There is some value in having a little extra skill work, but the foundational dynamics are set in class. Workout with the moms in the 8:30 class, the night shift workers in your noon class, the 9-5ers in your evening classes. Ask them about their lives, find out what’s most important to them. Just be a part of the community, isn’t that what CrossFit is about anyway?
Just because you are more fit or can Rx+ a workout does not mean you are above anyone else or need to separate yourself from class goers. No matter your experience level in CrossFit, there is always value in staying connected with the community around you. I promise if you invest in those surrounding you, you will see a change in culture. And hearsay, you may have more fun in the process.
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Volume Or Intensity? |
Although there is little case law on medical cannabis use in the Canadian workplace, there are a few cases that can guide both employees and employers on this topic.
Today we look at the case of Wilson vs. Transparent Glazing Systems. Gregory Wilson was employed as a glazier and held a medical cannabis prescription for chronic back pain and migraine headaches. His employer was aware of his back pain and that he took medication for his disability.
The Project Superintendent of the job site where Wilson was working sent a fax to his employer, Transparent Glazing Systems. The fax indicated it was suspected that he was impaired by the medication he was taking. The employer acted on the fax about the suspected impairment from the medical cannabis, terminating Wilson's employment.
The employer stated that his was fired because of his temper, lack of productivity and generally poor attitude in the workplace. Wilson filed a complaint alleging that the employer discriminated against him on the basis of physical disability and his use of medication. The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal agreed with Wilson and directed the employer to stop its discriminatory practices. Wilson was also awarded a small amount in damages. However, the Tribunal upheld the termination because it was found he would have been fired nevertheless because of his incompetence.
What went wrong?
One of the main issues is the employer used the complaint from the Project Superintendent related to Wilson's medical cannabis use to initiate his termination when its obvious there were performance issues that were a large concern for the employer. If an employer fires a disabled employee for poor performance, they need to show that the decision was based on the performance alone and not impacted by the disability.
Why? Because the employer has a duty to accommodate an employee with a disability and cannot simply fire them as a result of the disability. In this case, the employer muddied the waters by firing Wilson when the complaint about his medical cannabis use was made (which is discriminatory) and then stated they terminated him because of poor performance. If they had simply dealt with his poor performance and acted on that alone, they likely would have avoided the discrimination allegations.
The other issue here is the employer didn't talk with Wilson about his disability and medication in an attempt to understand the situation. They simply moved straight to termination when the cannabis complaint was brought forward. This shows that they didn't investigate whether Wilson's poor performance was a result of his disability or try to accommodate him, resulting in discriminatory practices.
What employers can learn about this case
An employer who is managing performance issues with an employee should document those problems exclusively and keep them separate from other issues, especially when the employee could claim discrimination. The onus is on the employer to investigate a disabled employee's poor performance and determine if its a result of the disability or not. If performance problems are directly related to the disability, then the employer has a duty to accommodate.
In Canada, employers have a duty to accommodate employees who are prescribed users of medical cannabis, to the point of undue hardship.
Alison McMahon is a workplace expert based in Alberta, Canada and the Founder of Cannabis At Work. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn where she provides overdue commentary on weed + work. |
Gregory Campbell is ready to move on. The Boston Bruins center told reporters following practice at TD Garden that it's a "realistic possibility" he could play in Thursday's preaseason game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Campbell is recovering from a broken right leg, which he suffered while blocking an Evgeni Malkin slapshot in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. He's been dealing with minor discomfort due to a surgically inserted screw in his right foot. Trainers have to stuff the right amount of foam into Campbell's skate to alleviate it.
Him and center Patrice Bergeron have been doing one-on-one battle drills while the rest of the team is doing their own drills at the other end of the ice.
Bergeron is progressing as well from his slew of injuries suffered during the Stanley Cup Final. They included a broken rib, torn cartilage, separated shoulder and punctured lung.
The 28-year-old remains optimistic that he'll see game action before the start of the regular season. Bergeron, Campbell and defenseman Zdeno Chara are the only players who have been sidelined for preaseason games.
JERSEY TUCK FORBIDDEN: The NHL has implemented a new rule, which forbids players from tucking in their jersey into the back of their pants. Rule 9.5 states that "players are not permitted to tuck their jersey into their pants in such a manner where the top padding of the pant and/or additional body protection (affixed to the pant or affixed to the Player's body) is exposed outside the jersey. The back uniform number must not be covered or obstructed in any fashion by protruding pads or other protective padding."
Players are going to have to get used to it too. A warning is issued for the first offense. If the player doesn't comply, a minor penalty will be assessed.
Bergeron, who naturally tucks in his jersey, doesn't understand the new rule.
"I don't see how that really affects other players," Bergeron told CSNNE.com. "But I'm just going to have to go with it, I guess."
SVEDBERG STRONG: Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg had a strong showing in his preseason debut Tuesday night in a 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals at Baltimore Arena.
Svedberg split time with Tuukka Rask and stopped 12 of 13 shots he faced during regulation and overtime. He was 6 for 8 in the shootout to help the Bruins improve their preseason mark to 2-0.
The Swedish netminder is competing with Chad Johnson for the backup job. Johnson has a rough outing in his preseason debut allowing three goals on eight shots in a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens Monday at the Bell Centre. |
(Twitter/Dan Scavino Jr.)
The former security guard from rural Illinois walked into a tent behind the Lincoln Memorial and gave a bear hug to the man who would soon become the most powerful leader in the world.
“Hey, Donald Trump,” said Shane Bouvet, with all the casualness of a 24-year-old.
The president-elect beamed back: “This is the greatest guy.”
The unlikely meeting occurred after Trump said he read a profile of Bouvet in The Washington Post and was impressed by his story. Bouvet, a struggling single father, had spent nights working and days volunteering on Trump’s unlikely presidential campaign.
The volunteer efforts earned Bouvet an invite to an inaugural ball. But just weeks ago he was unsure he could pay for a proper suit and shoes to wear for the festivities. A friend stepped in and bought a suit and got the shoes donated.
Now, improbably, it was the night before the swearing-in and Bouvet had picked his way past the Secret Service and was hanging out with the president-elect, top Trump advisers Reince Priebus and Stephen K. Bannon and the first-lady-to-be Melania Trump. The meeting occurred in a holding room just minutes before Trump was to take the stage for pre-inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Tears welled in Bouvet’s eyes. Trump signed an autograph for Bouvet. Then, they decided to call Bouvet’s father in Stonington, Ill.
[In donated suit and shoes, a Trump supporter comes to Washington]
“Hey, Dad,” Bouvet said with the call on speakerphone. “I’m with Donald Trump.”
“Hey, Don, you have a great name,” Trump laughed, complimenting Bouvet’s father on the name they shared. “You have a good boy.”
Donald Trump and Shane Bouvet from Illinois, in Washington on Thursday. (Justin Jouvenal/The Washington Post)
After the call, Trump signed an autograph for Bouvet’s 4-year-old son. Trump asked Bouvet if he was still with the mother of his child. Bouvet said no, and the thrice-married Trump said, “That happens.”
Then he looked at the autographs he had scribbled, and made a prediction: “After that, she’ll have you back. You’ll be a great celebrity.”
Eventually, Trump and his staff posed for photographs with Bouvet and offered him a round of applause. At the end, Trump put his hand on Bouvet’s back and told an aide, “Send him a check for $10,000.”
Bouvet broke down and cried.
With that and a round of goodbyes, an aide ushered Bouvet out of the tent. Bouvet wiped tears from his eyes as he melted back into the tens of thousands that had gathered for the concert.
“Did that just happen?” he asked out loud. |
The Partners in the Divorce
Episode Summary
A couple of homeless men stumble upon a burning corpse. As they try to figure out what it is, the brain explodes through the side of the skull.
The Jeffersonian team reports to the scene. With no blow fly eggs or larvae, Hodgins cannot estimate time of death. Brennan guesses the victim was a Caucasian male based on the nasal root and brow ridge . She notices something metallic adhering to the sixth cervical vertebra.
In the lab, Abernathy is squicked out by the gooey body. Xrays confirm the metallic object in the neck and reveal multiple fractures to the ribs, both femora, and the tibiae. Based on the serial numbers on the stents in the heart, Saroyan gets a positive ID on the victim: Richard Bartlett, a divorce attorney for wealthy couples. Hodgins and Angela figure out that the metal in the victim was a fountain pen. Abernathy realizes that the concentric microfracturing to the occipital was the result of a fall not of the brain exploding when it was heated.
Rattus norvegicus, the common brown rat. But the chef, although he had motive, had served Bartlett the same rat burger every week for two years and was waiting to see the look on his face when he told him. Angela puts Booth on the trail of Margo Sandoval, Bartlett's assistant who was also having an affair with his wife. But she was simply protecting Bartlett's wife by shredding things that documented their affair. Meanwhile, Booth and Sweets are trying to figure out who had motive to kill Bartlett. Former clients Melanie and Gavin were the last ones seen with Bartlett, but when Booth and Brennan visit them, they claim to have reconciled in anticipation of a new baby. Hodgins puts Sweets on the trail of a chef who was a former client after he finds that Bartlett's last meal was a burger made of, the common brown rat. But the chef, although he had motive, had served Bartlett the same rat burger every week for two years and was waiting to see the look on his face when he told him. Angela puts Booth on the trail of Margo Sandoval, Bartlett's assistant who was also having an affair with his wife. But she was simply protecting Bartlett's wife by shredding things that documented their affair.
After Abernathy and Angela mock up some possible scenarios that could explain Bartlett's injuries, Brennan has an a-ha moment: he was tossed down something similar to stairs, namely, the chute from Bartlett's penthouse office to the ground that the construction workers had set up. Brennan peers down into the chute and confirms there is blood and tissue stuck to it. Hodgins identifies the substance in the fissures on the squamosal suture as a solvent used by architects in modeling. This points to Gavin, and he and Melanie outdo one another in the FBI questioning room by alternately confessing to various parts of the murder.
Comments
Forensic
Nothing for you all today, other than the usual complaint that you can't tell race from just a couple facial features.
OK, fine, here's a picky one: Brennan pronounced "squamosal" funny (could be right, though; as usual, my pronunciations tend toward the Latin rather than the medical).
I could have sworn Hodgins called the rat " Radisson norvegicus, " which is not the proper taxonomic name.
" which is not the proper taxonomic name.
Nelma Bell, one of my grad students (who took forensic anthropology with the below-referenced expert on burned remains), commented, "It's been shown that skulls do not explode from fire, trauma or not! Sometimes they appear to have 'exploded' but they actually fragment and fall in on themselves." She even sent along a citation: Pope et al. 2004, Exploding skulls and other myths about how the human body burns. Fire and Arson Investigator: Journal of the International Association of Arson Investigators 55(4)23-28.
55(4)23-28. Plot
I must have missed why Margo was no longer a suspect. I mean, other than that Gavin and Melanie were clearly the murderers all along.
Even Brennan isn't stupid enough to attempt to get into a chute that goes straight to the ground. That was a ridiculous game of chicken, and if I were Booth, I'd be pissed about that passive-aggressive display.
Not specifically plot-related, but those ankle booties Brennan was wearing while examining the body at the Jeffersonian are ridiculously impractical. And kinda ugly.
Dialogue
"In Christian Byzantium, a woman could divorce her husband... for leprosy or impotence." - Brennan (Not sure what this is referring to... perhaps the Justinian Code? Where are my late Antique classics scholars?)
"I don't want to hear about any anthropological crap." - Angela
"I assure you, I'm not that good." - Sweets, on his psychologist'ing abilities
"2000 was a questionable year for merlot." - Sweets
Ratings
Forensic Mystery - C-. All parts of this mystery were telegraphed from a mile away. Not a particularly interesting case this week.
Forensic Solution - B+. I mean, they ID'ed the guy... from his stents. And I guess the injury pattern was sufficiently interesting (if implausible) to help with the cause of death.
Drama - C. The plot wasn't terribly interesting this week, since it was clear from their introduction that Gavin and Melanie did it. The character drama this week was focused on how Booth and Brennan need to rebuild their relationship. That's a good idea, and I'm glad the writers aren't just sweeping the past three months under the rug, but something about the Booth-Brennan pairing still just doesn't work for me. It's just too awkward, even when it's not supposed to be awkward.
Next week: Doppelganger!? |
The UFC won't budge on their decision to pull Conor McGregor from UFC 200 despite the Irishman's lengthy Facebook statement.
That's according to TMZ, who reported earlier today that the promotion offered to fly McGregor to every promotional location on a private jet.
"Not only did UFC offer to fly Conor to every destination on a top-of-the-line private jet ... but also offered to ship out every single piece of his gym equipment from Iceland to Vegas for this weekend's media event so there wouldn't be a kink in Conor's training. We're told McGregor was told his gym would be set up identically to his Iceland training center and it would all be ready to go the second he stepped off the plane. Still, McGregor refused to budge -- and our sources tell us Conor was "shocked" when he was told the media obligations in Vegas were mandatory."
The Notorious was expected to headline UFC 200 in a welterweight rematch with Nate Diaz, but abruptly announced his retirement on Tuesday. The retirement followed with the UFC announcing McGregor's removal from the blockbuster pay-per-view, stating that he refused to attend a Las Vegas press conference.
I have decided to retire young.
Thanks for the cheese.
Catch ya's later. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2016
Since that tweet, which sent the MMA world into a frenzy, McGregor announced that he's still training hard for Diaz in Iceland but will not fulfill the UFC's exhaustive media obligations. The former two-division Cage Warriors champion argued that the revenue he's generated with his promotional work in the past should be enough to give him some leeway for this event.
Dana White and co., however, are adamant with their conviction and expect McGregor to return against Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo to defend his featherweight title later this year.
"Dana White told Colin Cowherd he believes McGregor will fight for the UFC in the next year -- but our sources tell us it will NOT be against Nate Diaz. Instead, he'll have to fight Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo."
Bloody Elbow will provide news when the UFC release an official statement on the matter. |
DENVER — A 2-3 year old girl was left alone after the busy Civic Center Park Independence Day Eve celebration on Friday night, Denver Police reported.
After the firework festivities on July 3, a little girl was found alone in a stroller by police without her parents around 2 a.m.
Denver Police reported that the little girl’s mother was located out of state just before 9 p.m. on Saturday night.
The child was in left in the care of her grandma, according to police. Authorities were investigating why she was not reported missing.
Police said that the child will remain in the custody of Human Services.
Denver Police released a photo of the girl 12 hours after she was found.
ALERT: Does anyone recognize this child? She was found in Civic Ctr Park last night. Call 720-913-2000 pic.twitter.com/5XimQR3wld — Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) July 4, 2015 |
"Save the Blue!" We believe the Blue Sulphur Spring Pavilion was designed by the son of the architect of the US Capitol, Benjamin Latrobe, in 1834 and constructed in 1838. The pavilion and 2 acres were donated to the Greenbrier Historical Society by Mrs. Rebecca Lineberry so that they could be restored for generations to come. http://youtu.be/5TwiV1JmoWw The Friends of the Blue, the committee managing the restoration, needs to raise $25,000 to match grant funds for the restoration process. WV State Historic Preservation Development Grant funds must be matched dollar for dollar. Phase II of the restoration will create a firm foundation and restore the historic columns of this beautiful structure.
From the 1830's to the 1850's, the Blue Sulphur Spring Resort was a popular summer destination for people from all over the south who could afford to get away from the sweltering heat of the coastal areas. Dr. Alexis Martin, who had served in Napoleon's army, created the first mud baths in the United States there. Drinking the sulphur water and inhaling its vapors were popular at a time when little was known about the causes or cures for diseases. The resort was also known for its comfortable accommodations--without fleas in the beds!--and its sumptuous meals.
You can see where we started in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILVOSsf5CZk&feature=share
Tourism is the leading growth industry in the Greenbrier Valley and the restoration of the Blue will support tourism as well as remind local citizens and visitors of an important part of their past. Won't you help us?
Because the Greenbrier Historical Society is a 501 c 3 organization, your donation may be tax deductible in accordance with the applicable law where you live. |
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has expressed regret over her company’s oversight in regards to its removal of an iconic Vietnam War photo. She made the statement in a letter addressed to Norway's prime minister, who had criticized the move.
Facebook is training its top leaders and employees on how to manage their political biases, according to the social network’s COO Sheryl Sandberg.
The revelation comes less than two months after Facebook’s trending topics trending topics controversy, which saw the company fending off accusations of human bias affecting its news algorithm.
In a discussion with Arthur Brooks at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on Wednesday, Sandberg said: “We have a managing bias class that all of our leaders and a lot of our employees have taken that I was part of helping to create. And we focused on racial bias, age bias, gender bias, national bias, and we’re going to add in a scenario now on political bias.”
“So that, as part of [how] we think about helping people understand different points of view and being open to different points of view, we’re dealing with political bias as well going forward.”
Related: Facebook’s leadership talks China, Zuckerberg’s future at shareholder meeting
The media scrutiny, and backlash, that erupted in the wake of the trending topics allegations saw Facebook on the defensive. It also resulted in more transparency in regard to its algorithms that power so many different aspects of the social network. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg even met with leading conservatives in order to “build trust.”
Despite those efforts — and the fact that the company’s internal investigation concluded that there was no evidence to prove “systematic bias” — Sandberg’s comments reveal that internally Facebook is still fine-tuning its human talent alongside its AI. The COO stated that the social network decided it still needed to take steps to improve.
Sandberg was in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with politicians in order to ensure that the U.S. has the “right regulatory and policy environment” that allows tech to flourish.
Her discussion at the AEI saw her touch upon themes including immigration and Facebook’s “Lean In” campaign that encourages women to support one another in the workplace. Sandberg also participated in a virtual reality pop-up that demonstrated the social network’s Oculus Rift headset. |
The image is striking: A pale woman with white hair is grabbing a black woman by the face. The white figure looks angry and determined. The black figure looks submissive; her body all but disappears into the background of the ad itself. “PlayStation Portable,” the text says. “White is coming.”
Wait, is this real?
Yes, it is. The ad ran in the Netherlands in 2006 to advertise a white model of the PlayStation Portable, and it quickly drew controversy.
“Whilst the images used in the campaign were intended solely to highlight the contrast between the different colors available for the PSP, we recognize that the subject matter of one specific image may have caused concern in some countries not directly affected by the advertising," Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe said in a statement at the time. "As a result, we have now withdrawn the campaign."
It was a ridiculously tone-deaf advertisement then, but that was a long time ago. Why is it back on the radar?
One tweet went viral
I wish I had a better reason for all the noise around this image, but it boils down to the fact one person tweeted the ad yesterday and it blew up.
sony: literally just make the most racist thing you can imagine
designer: wait what
sony: we'll give you ten grand
designer: pic.twitter.com/02a9UJM4vA — enmet (@emmetbroaders) April 4, 2017
With nearly 20,000 retweets and over 29,000 likes, that’s a tweet with a lot of reach. A lot of people, seeing the ad for the first time, assumed it was new or still running and tweeted their own version of it next to some version of “What the hell?”
The individual who tweeted that image has also been subjected to 48 hours of “well, actually” replies where people point out the age of the advertisement, which is a fact they already knew.
glad that we're doing bad ads again
even better that it's an opportunity to drag sony once again — enmet (@emmetbroaders) April 4, 2017
The viral tweet used a rhetorical construction that’s been around for a while, mocking the idea that ad companies have no idea what they’re doing, but at least their checks don’t bounce.
Company: "We'll pay you to sponsor our food even though you're a YouTube makeup artist"
Youtuber: https://t.co/VHochp3Ymu — anna (@annathedrama) February 16, 2017
There are other bad ads out there?
I mean, there are millions of bad ads out there, but a few that have been released recently are really bad. There was an uproar over a Facebook ad for Nivea that stated “white is purity,” which was a message that resonated with white supremacists and basically no one else.
‘PR nightmare’: Nivea’s ‘White Is Purity’ ad campaign embraced by white supremacy groups https://t.co/KdvfAGrCYP pic.twitter.com/gtWsqHeThA — National Post (@nationalpost) April 5, 2017
And Pepsi released an ad last night that made the stupefyingly bad argument that racism and police brutality can be solved if models gave police soda.
Pepsi has since announced that it is pulling the ad, because holy shit, that’s bad on many, many levels. The soda company also apologized to the real victim in all of this: Kendall Jenner. Really.
These ads transcend the daily awfulness of advertising and rocket straight to the “Maybe someone should take a second to ask if our advertising is directly supporting white supremacy” area of design. It was an area that Sony entered back in 2006, and very quickly ran from.
So what did we learn from all this?
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King delivered what may be the best take on why the Pepsi was in such poor taste.
If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi. pic.twitter.com/FA6JPrY72V — Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 5, 2017
We also learned that some people still believe that Sony is advertising the PlayStation Portable in 2017 ... but above that, we have a few more examples of how advertising’s explicit goal is to sell products, while also having the implicit goal of making sure the current socially dominant group remains in power and the status quo is maintained.
Sony’s racist ad is still following it more than ten years later, proving just how large the shadow of these advertising practices remain. |
Residents of single-family homes are already required to separate out their trash
A ban on organic waste in garbage may be on the way for residents of multi-family buildings and businesses in the City of Abbotsford. But it’s likely to be some time yet before the new rules are actually enforced.
The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) expects to implement new sorting requirements this year for Abbotsford that will see such residents have to separate their food and other compostable waste from their household trash.
Residents of single-family homes are already required to separate out their trash, and the FVRD has spent the last year consulting with residents about the next phase of the program.
That consultation focused on how quickly the program will be implemented, and on grace periods for monitoring before enforcement.
Residents of multi-family homes across the region suggested they would like to see a six-month public awareness campaign followed by a six-month trial period before enforcement of the new rules begin.
Residents of single-family homes preferred a shorter timeline, but FVRD staff said a new bylaw being drafted will give more weight to the multi-family residents’ concerns, given that the changes will impact them the most.
The changes are intended to meet the FVRD’s goal of reducing its waste across the system and diverting 90 per cent of it by 2025.
A new bylaw is expected to be introduced to the FVRD board – which includes members of Abbotsford city council – this fall. But Abbotsford will undergo its own process before the food-waste program becomes a reality.
“The city is in the early stages of reviewing the requirements behind a comprehensive food-waste program in partnership with the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) to ensure that we are aligned with new regional sorting regulations,” a spokesperson for the city wrote in an email.
It is anticipated that the city will begin public consultation and engaging residents and businesses regarding a new program sometime in 2018. |
Detroit students walkout against school closures and deteriorating conditions
By Lawrence Porter
27 April 2012
Students protesting in Clark Park, across the street from Western International High School
Over 200 students at two high schools in Detroit’s southwestern neighborhood, Southwestern High and Western International, walked out of class on Wednesday to protest the closure of Southwestern, the poor conditions at Western, and the growth of charter schools.
Students from Western said they walked out of school just before 11 a.m. in sympathy with the students at Southwestern High School, which is among nine schools slated for closure next year in the Detroit Public Schools district.
“Our walkout at Western was inspired by the walkout at Southwestern and it was in solidarity with it, but it was also against the conditions in our school system,” stated Freddie Burse, one of the leaders of the walkout.
Freddie said the students organized the event themselves via Facebook after a student heard that there was going to be a walkout at Southwestern.
“The purpose of the demonstration was to make our voices heard and to speak up on our education system because we feel there are a lot problems there,” continued Burse.
“We are also opposed to the growth of charter schools. The main one here is Caesar Chavez. The privatization of schools is the death of the school system.”
Several students said they were especially upset with the announcement that Southwestern High School would be closed next year.
Natalie Rivera
“It’s about trying to save Southwestern High School,” stated Natalie Rivera, a junior at Western, as she and several hundred students gathered in Clark Park with students from her school and Southwestern. “We are tired of the closing of the schools. We want them to stop.
“Southwestern students walked out so we felt we should walk out in solidarity. We want all of the schools to join together,” continued Rivera. “We don’t even have proper books in the school. We have to learn with old stuff that is not updated. The teachers take their own money to pay for the stuff we need.”
The walkouts at Western International and Southwestern are the third student walkouts in the last month in Detroit.
Last month students at Denby High school walked out after the announcement that the school will be placed in the new statewide district for what are being billed as low-performing schools—the Education Achievement Authority (EAA). Another spontaneous protest took place at Fredrick Douglass Academy when 50 students walked out because they did not have teachers. After protesting that they wanted an education, the students were suspended for a day.
The Detroit school system has been decimated by the actions of a series of Emergency Managers—state-appointed directors that take over a school district in financial distress, that have been appointed by both Democratic and Republican governors—the systematic defunding of the system by state and federal administrations and the collapse of city property tax revenues, the archaic basis of public education funding in the US.
Avonte Latham
The present Emergency Manager, Roy Roberts, appointed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder, is implementing the closure of Southwestern. Roberts, a former General Motors executive, has outlined a plan to model a new school district dominated by charter schools similar to the New Orleans Recovery School District created after Hurricane Katrina. The charter school policy is in line with President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top educational initiative.
Avonte Latham, a junior involved in the walkout, said the government should provide more financial assistance to the Detroit school district. “I feel Michigan needs to give more money for schools. This is holding things back by closing schools,” charged Avonte.
Gabriela Alcazar
“I don’t think they should be closing schools every year. They are forcing people to leave Michigan. When they decided to close Southwestern HS we decided to take a stand. Enough is enough. They are taking the schools out of the DPS system and putting them in a new system. It’s not right.”
Several students and their supporters said the closure of Southwestern would have a major impact on the choices for schools next year. Gabriela Alcazar, a community activist who attended the protest, said the students at Southwestern have been given two choices for schools that will only make matters worse.
“If Southwestern is closed the student will either go to Western or Northwestern,” stated Alcazar. “Southwestern is already overstretched with 1,200 students. Northwestern is 15 miles away.”
The author recommends:
Detroit schools manager names schools to close this fall
[10 February 2012]
Jerry White campaigns in Detroit against school closings
[14 February 2012]
Detroit school czar targets 15 schools, 600 teachers
[21 March 2012]
School districts throughout Detroit area face cuts
[18 May 2011] |
If you wonder why so many members of Congress are in denial when it comes to climate change, follow the money. This week, Forecast the Facts and SumOfUs, two grassroots groups working to sway public opinion about global warming, took a step toward holding legislators accountable with the release of a new report exposing the companies that since 2008, according to FEC data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, have bankrolled the “Climate Denier Caucus” to the tune of $641 million in campaign contributions.
Many of these companies claim to be working to fight global warming, even as their dollars help send climate change “skeptics” to Capitol Hill. The report not only names names, but also highlights the apparent disconnect between political spending and corporate public relations efforts. Google CEO Eric Schmidt told an audience that gathered to laud the company’s efforts to build “a better web that is better for the environment” that “you can lie about the effects of climate change, but eventually you’ll be seen as a liar.” At the same time, the company whose motto is “do no evil” has kicked in almost $700,000 for Congressional climate deniers since 2008.
That was far less than the $3.3 million AT&T has showered on the science deniers in that same period, a figure that represents “more than 25 percent of its total campaign funding” during that time. The company’s Climate and Carbon Emissions Policy says that AT&T is “committed to operating in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner …[and] to working with our suppliers to limit environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions in our supply chain.” UPS promises its customers that the company “will be part of the solution to discover more opportunities for improvement with our industry partners and other thought leaders. It will take determination and collaboration…to create a sustainable transportation infrastructure that will minimize environmental impact.” But that ethos didn’t spill over into their campaign spending — since 2008, UPS has donated close to $2 million to the campaigns of climate change deniers on Capitol Hill.
Other companies that made the list despite “strong rhetorical commitments to climate action” include Microsoft, Ford and eBay.
The study doesn’t capture all of corporate America’s support for the anti-science caucus; the authors point out that the report doesn’t include “contributions from corporate-friendly advocacy groups, such as the Club for Growth, which has given $3.7 million to climate deniers since 2008.”
Many of the companies bankrolling these politicians would say donations were made because the legislators support corporate tax breaks, financial deregulation or myriad other business-friendly policies. While that may be true in a narrow sense — firms in the energy sector were only the third biggest contributors to the denial caucus — when companies support politicians along their career paths, they are ultimately responsible for what they do once in office. With new research finding that “the preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy,” and with corporations, business groups and deep-pocketed donors calling the shots, that responsibility is especially pronounced. That’s why corporate disclosure of political spending enjoys broad appeal with the American public and is vitally important for democracy.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |
My Favorite Films by Hideo Kojima
My Favorite Films
by Hideo Kojima
Translated by Marc Laidlaw
This will be the final article in my column about films that have influenced Metal Gear Solid (MGS). In the previous seven articles, I've introduced to you ones that played a part in shaping the series. Here's a recap of them.
The Great Escape, Dir. John Sturges - US (1963)
The Guns of Navarone, Dir. J. Lee Thompson - UK/US (1961)
Escape from New York, Dir. John Carpenter - US (1981)
North by Northwest, Dir. Alfred Hitchcock - US (1959)
Planet of the Apes, Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner - US (1968)
Dawn of the Dead, Dir. George A. Romero - US (1978)
The James Bond Series - various
I've said over the years in interviews throughout the world, "Just like the human body is 70% water, I'm 70% film". While this is a figure of speech, there is some truth to it. I learned, or rather was taught, much from film, including things I didn't learn in school or from my parents. Through film, I've met different races and cultures, seen the world through the eyes of other generations, and adopted ideologies. I've been to new countries and exotic lands, and gone to outer space as well. I've traveled to the distant past and far into the future. I've fought in ancient conflicts and fictional wars. I've even experienced what it's like to be something other than human. Part of my sustenance growing up was the virtual experiences I had through this medium. There's nothing unique about this. I'm sure everyone in my generation is the same, for films are no longer mere diversions. All of the films I've seen, regardless of their content, are part of my virtual life. I've been shaped by my actual experiences, but also by my virtual experiences through film. However, the seven listed above are by no means the only ones that had a hand in MGS. And many others influenced me as a person, with my current self a result of the battle they fought with my actual experiences. Even if they didn't directly contribute to MGS, they are without a doubt part of my chromosomes, DNA and memes. That's how I'd define my "favorite films".
So for this final article, I'd like to try to list my all-time top thirty (excluding the previous seven). There are some that will appear at the top of most people's favorites. There's no need for me to talk about these classics, so I've left them out. I narrowed down my choices to personal favorites I think best reflect me. (Ones that particularly shaped MGS are mentioned in bold.) If any pique your interest, why not check them out?
Omitted all-time classics
Citizen Kane, Dir. Orson Welles - US (1941)
Tokyo Story, Dir. Yasujiro Ozu - Japan (1953)
La strada (The Road), Dir. Federico Fellini - Italy (1954)
Lawrence of Arabia, Dir. David Lean - UK (1962)
The Godfather, Dir. Francis Ford Coppola - US (1972)
With that said, here are my top thirty films, in chronological order.
Favorite non-Japanese films
City Lights, Dir. Charlie Chaplin - US (1931)
Still no bigger tearjerker! Chaplin is amazing!
La belle et la bête (Beauty and the Beast), Dir. Jean Cocteau - France (1946)
This is what comes to mind when I think of Beauty and the Beast, rather than the Disney film. The surreal visuals surprised me.
The Third Man, Dir. Carol Reed - UK (1949)
The direction, visuals and music are still burned into my brain. I'd mistakenly thought until I grew up that Orson Welles directed it.
Singin' in the Rain, Dirs. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen - US (1952)
I like the Hollywood musicals of the "good old days", and this is my favorite. When I was a kid, I was in love with this period of America.
Le salaire de la peur (The Wages of Fear), Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot - France/Italy (1953)
The extreme realism shocked me. It's got its own Mario and Luigi. Yves Montand has great presence.
12 Angry Men, Dir. Sidney Lumet - US (1957)
This film made me think about just how inaccurate one's assumptions and stereotypes can be. It also was my first exposure to the American jury system.
Kanal (Sewer), Dir. Andrzej Wajda - Poland (1957)
Most people would probably pick Ashes and Diamonds as their favorite of Wajda's films, but I like this one the best. It had a big influence on MGS, too.
The Pink Panther Series , Dir. Blake Edwards - US
The Pink Panther (1963)
A Shot in the Dark (1964)
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
My favorite comedic actor is the late Peter Sellers. I like nearly all of Edwards's and Sellers's films together, though the Pink Panther films are the best (apart from the ones that don't feature Sellers). This is where MGS gets its sense of humor.
Les parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), Dir. Jacques Demy - France (1964)
A bittersweet film. Catherine Deneuve is cute. This type of love story, where circumstances keep two people apart, really gets to me. I didn't find out until much later that Deneuve's singing was dubbed.
Django , Dir. Sergio Corbucci - Italy (1966)
I also love Spaghetti Westerns. This is what led to Ocelot, among other things, and this film is my favorite out of all of them. Django's songs are good. He was the inspiration for Boktai's main character.
Fantastic Voyage, Dir. Richard Fleischer - US (1966)
This never gets old for me. I've also read Isaac Asimov's novel, which was based on the film, not the other way around. A popcorn movie, it combines science fiction and espionage to great effect. The art direction and special effects depicting the inner workings of the human body are not only amazing but scientifically accurate as well. My biology professor in college gave the movie his enthusiastic approval.
2001: A Space Odyssey, Dir. Stanley Kubrick - UK/US (1968)
There's nothing left for me to say about this one. To me, it's more than a film; it's an experience.
Profondo rosso (Deep Red), Dir. Dario Argento - Italy (1975)
This is the greatest of all Argento's films, and it's my number-one horror film. Goblin's music is cool. The revelation at the end is scary.
Taxi Driver, Dir. Martin Scorsese - US (1976)
This film was an eye-opener for me. I had no idea Americans, who seemed so cheerful, could feel lonely in the middle of a city. It resonated with me, given the loneliness that troubled me in my younger days, which is why it has a very special place in my heart. After I saw it I bought a jacket and a pair of boots to copy Robert De Niro. Needless to say, I did not get a mohawk.
Somewhere in Time, Dir. Jeannot Szwarc - US (1980)
I adore Richard Matheson's original novel and this movie, which he also wrote. Jane Seymour is really beautiful. I'm a sucker for this type of romance movie. John Barry's music is good, too.
Das Boot (The Boat), Dir. Wolfgang Petersen - Germany (1981)
This is my favorite submarine film. It's a powerful depiction of a group of men in extreme circumstances.
Mad Max 2, Dir. George Miller - Australia (1981)
The production design, the characters, the action, the violence, the suspense, the direction—it's fantastic in every way. A classic that's in my top ten!
Blade Runner, Dir. Ridley Scott - US (1982)
Its world and visuals are incredible. There's nothing else I need to say about this one, either. More than science fiction, it's a part of my generation's culture.
Streets of Fire, Dir. Walter Hill - US (1984)
A coming-of-age rock 'n' roll film with action, violence and romance. It's new wave music meets MTV. It instantly made me a fan of Diane Lane. There was a time when I would watch its ending every morning.
Mauvais sang (Bad Blood), Dir. Leos Carax - France (1986)
I really like Carax, and this is my favorite work of his. It's a cool movie.
Ying hung boon sik II (A Better Tomorrow II), Dir. John Woo - Hong Kong (1987)
This is one of my favorite John Woo films, right up there with Hard-Boiled. I still cry every time I watch it.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Cinema Paradiso), Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore - Italy (1988)
This film also makes me cry—particularly the final scene, but in a way I never expected. A must-see for movie lovers. The child is good, too.
Favorite animated films
Fantastic Planet, Dir. René Laloux - France/Czechoslovakia (1973)
The originality of its world and style left me speechless.
Yoju toshi (Wicked City), Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri - Japan (1987)
One of Mr. Kawajiri's best works. I respect him very much. It has an unrivaled speed to it! Seeing it now, it's like watching The Matrix.
Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back, Dir. Keiichi Hara - Japan (2001)
This is the most recent film on the list. A tearful, painful yet inspiring film for my generation. Anyone who writes it off as just a kids' movie is making a big mistake. It's an amazing film that a family can enjoy together, laughing, crying, cherishing.
Favorite Japanese films
Yojimbo, Dir. Akira Kurosawa - Japan (1961)
One of my favorite Kurosawa films, along with High and Low and Seven Samurai. There was a TV series called Ronin of the Wilderness starring a character named Kujuro Toge ("Sanjuro" in Yojimbo and Sanjuro).
Asobi, Dir. Yasuzo Masumura - Japan (1971)
This is based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel. It's not the best of Masumura's films, but I just like it a lot for some reason. I was a fan of Keiko Sekine when I was a kid.
Suna no tsuwa (Castle of Sand), Dir. Yoshitaro Nomura - Japan (1974)
I was a fan of Seicho Matsumoto as well; I saw this film after reading his original novel. It has incredible direction, and moved and amazed me in ways the book didn't, in ways only film can. Yasushi Akutagawa's music is wonderful, too.
Bakuretsu toshi (Burst City), Dir. Sogo Ishii - Japan (1982)
This is Sogo Ishii's greatest work!! It has fantastic energy and soul! Mr. Ishii is my mentor in spirit. When I first saw this I thought, I want to be like him some day!
Favorite documentary
Night and Fog, Dir. Alain Resnais - France (1955)
This documentary belongs in my top thirty list. It's based on Viktor Frankl's novel Man's Search for Meaning, which my father made me read as a kid as well.
At the beginning of this article I said I'd try to list my top thirty films, though in reality it's not only difficult, but close to impossible. That's why I've always declined to answer the question "What are your favorite films?" over the years. I can't pick my favorite films. I tried to do it here, and it was exceedingly hard. My choices would change depending on the day, and even my physical condition and mood. Below are some films, again in chronological order, which didn't quite make it onto the list. As above, ones that had a big impact on MGS and that I wasn't able to talk about in this series of articles are mentioned in bold. I included these particular films because they had an influence on MGS (as was the theme of these articles), rather than because they're all-time favorites.
The rest (runners-up)
Casablanca, Dir. Michael Curtiz - US (1942)
I didn't really understand what this was about when I was a kid, but the ending, the music and especially Ingrid Bergman's beauty (my mother was a big fan of her) are forever etched in my memory.
The Thing from Another World, Dir. Christian Nyby - US (1951)
Carpenter's 1982 remake The Thing had an impact on me as well, but Howard Hawks's original is also a good film. Its outstanding direction on a low budget makes it a must-watch.
Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows), Dir. Louis Malle - France (1958)
Malle's masterpiece. This left a big impression on me when I saw it on TV. I'll never forget the music. I didn't get the chance to ride on many elevators back then.
Vynález zkázy (The Fabulous World of Jules Verne), Dir. Karel Zeman - Czechoslovakia (1958)
Watching it now I'm still blown away by how its world was created. The special effects, all done by hand and accomplishing things you can't do with CG, are amazing.
Jason and the Argonauts, Dir. Don Chaffey - US/UK (1963)
This is my favorite of all Ray Harryhausen's films.
Alphaville, Dir. Jean-Luc Godard - France (1965)
I doubt many people would single out this film from Godard's works (I also like Breathless (1960)), but I'm fond of it. This is where the '80s German synthpop band Alphaville (I was a fan of them) got their name.
One Million Years B.C., Dir. Don Chaffey - UK (1966)
The dinosaurs were incredible in this, though it was really all about Raquel Welch. She had a great body in Fantastic Voyage, but in this she's wearing a bikini (made out of pieces of animal hide) for the entire thing. This film overstimulated my very young mind. Another movie from Hammer Films.
Les aventuriers (The Last Adventure), Dir. Robert Enrico - France/Italy (1967)
When I was a kid, I thought the strange relationship between the three main characters was cool. I also loved French people, like the way they can be so uninhibited.
Barbarella, Dir. Roger Vadim - France/Italy (1968)
Erotic and kitsch sci-fi humor. The young Jane Fonda is amazing. The British synthpop band Duran Duran got their name from the doctor in the movie.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Dir. George Roy Hill - US (1969)
Katharine Ross is so innocent in this. Burt Bacharach's songs are good, too. The ending really hits hard. I was sorry to hear about George Roy Hill's passing in 2002.
El topo (The Mole), Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky - US/Mexico (1970)
A two-part film that's acquired a cult following. The way the boss characters appear one-by-one and reveal their beliefs had quite an influence on MGS.
Silent Running, Dir. Douglas Trumbull - US (1972)
One of the directorial turns of Trumbull, god of the special effects world. The designs and movements of the drone robots Huey, Dewey and Louie are cute. While a little plain, it has an outstanding story.
El espíritu de la colmena (The Spirit of the Beehive), Dir. Víctor Erice - Spain (1973)
Ana Torrent is adorable as the child. I'm also a sucker for films starring children, from Chaplin's The Kid (US (1921)) to My Life as a Dog (Sweden (1985)).
Papillon , Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner - US (1973)
The cinematic adaptation of a work of non-fiction based on actual events, starring Steve McQueen. It had an influence on MGS, along with The Great Escape, because of the concept of "escape". The look on Dustin Hoffman's face at the end is great. So is Jerry Goldsmith's music.
The Towering Inferno , Dir. John Guillermin - US (1974)
A masterful disaster film produced by special effects wizard Irwin Allen. You'd be hard-pressed to gather a cast as spectacular as this today. Just like Dawn of the Dead, its closed environments influenced MGS, particularly the use of elevators, shafts, ducts and stairs.
Rollerball, Dir. Norman Jewison - US (1975)
This was the first film I went to see at a movie theater by myself, at the OS Theater in Osaka. I have a lot of memories of this film. It inspired a popular "game" at my elementary school involving bicycles and roller skates.
Shinkansen daibakuha (The Bullet Train), Dir. Junya Sato - Japan (1975)
A Japanese disaster film masterpiece. Not only does it have an interesting story and suspense, it feels real, as it features problems of the time like the noise pollution issue. It was a big hit overseas as well. Also, Ken Takakura gave the type of performance we hadn't seen from him before.
The Cassandra Crossing , Dir. George P. Cosmatos - Italy/UK/W. Germany (1976)
A classic from the peak of the disaster film era. Its all-star cast, the suspense on the train and its big set-piece at the end are its highlights. Goldsmith's music is also good. This was released at the end of '76 when a lot of other big films, like King Kong and The Spy Who Loved Me, were also playing. I was in my first year of middle school, and I went and saw King Kong without thinking twice. I ended up seeing this film quite a few years later on TV. Naturally, I was really annoyed with myself for not having gone to see it.
Alien, Dir. Ridley Scott - US (1979)
Cameron's Aliens (1986) is a classic in its own right, but I prefer the first one. When I saw it when it was released, I was shaking in my seat with dread.
The Right Stuff, Dir. Philip Kaufman - US (1983)
A must-see for anyone who's into astronauts.
Der Name der Rose (The Name of the Rose), Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud - Italy/W. Germany/France (1986)
Its 14th century world, as well as the art direction and cinematography, are incredible.
Bad Taste , Dir. Peter Jackson - New Zealand (1987)
The directorial debut of Peter Jackson, who's gone on to much bigger things like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This also inspired MGS's humor—jokes that dissolve tension—with scenes like the puking in the alien base.
Die Hard, Dir. John McTiernan - US (1988)
A classic from the height of McTiernan's career. It has great direction and camerawork, in addition to a solid story with good use of foreshadowing. This had a huge influence on '90s action films.
Nikita, Dir. Luc Besson - France/Italy (1990)
My favorite Luc Besson film.
Published in METAL GEAR SOLID naked (2004). |
Le Roulé is a hand-rolled cheese log filled with garlic, herbs, cranberry and peppers. It was originally produced in the 1980s by Fromagerie Triballat in the Center region of France. Made with pasteurised cow’s milk, the cheese is easily recognizable due to the distinctive swirl pattern. This North-East French produce has a creamy, melt-in-the-mouth texture with a combination of fresh herbs, garlic or cranberry added in for that extra zing.
The cheese has a respectable place on cheeseboard but can also be spread on a toast or used as an ingredient in cooking. Cranberry variant of Le Roulé with its unique sweetness works well for dessert or breakfast. Unveil a new flavour by adding it to mashed potatoes or risottos. Besides, one can use it as a substitute for crumbled fresh goat cheese on pizzas and salads. Red Sancerre or Champagne is recommended with a Le Roulé log. |
About
Hi! My name is Sandy Clifton. I am an artist, self employed web and graphic designer in Colorado, just south of Denver. Although, I would consider myself a novice painter I am captivated with the allure and essence of a being, and the need to creatively capture it.
Sandy
I want to bring out the darkness/light hidden within us, the seductiveness, and one's innermost desires. I want to achieve a mix of hyperrealism and creativeness with a stroke of a brush.
Even though I am fairly new at oil paints and portraits I have fallen in love which has awoken an unquenched passion within me.
About this project:
“Paint Till It Bleeds” is a project where I paint up to 25 new oil paintings to try to achieve a mix of hyperrealism and creativeness with the use of color. (Depending on the size I use may be less than 25. Paintings will be mostly of portraits and of wildlife animals.)
The work I have been doing recently
My Goal:
I want to take my painting skills to the next level and along the way develop my style and skill, and dive even further into ones true essence through paint. My goal is to create up to 25 new oil paintings that range in size from small to large in the next 10 months. A painting can take me anywhere from 20-40 hours depending on the size. I want you to be a part of this project. I want to paint you too!
Each painting created during this project will have a time lapse movie created right along with it that can be seen on YouTube or Vimeo.
Help me keep this dream of mastering oils by purchasing a painting.
What I need?
Several Boxes of Oil Primed Linen 11 x 14 - 18 x 24 and up
Paint and lots of (200 ml sizes)
Brushes
Liquin
Paint Thinner
Ink for reference photos
Kickstarter fees
Printing costs
Shipping supplies
Shipping Costs
Any amount raised above (fingers crossed) the goal will go towards photographing and documenting the project, paying dues to be accepted on an official art collaborative website to help me get that exposure (It is $400 a year), additional art materials/supplies/storage, unforeseen expenses (bills), and possibly getting Electricity/light installed in my art space. So I can see my work!
By choosing to be a subject for my paintings you also agree that I can use the image of the artwork I create of you in any way I choose - such as selling, reproducing, or publishing it on my website, facebook, printed portfolio or interviews and articles I may be featured in - and authorize and consent to such use without seeking remuneration.
Let’s talk rewards!
I have provided a wide selection of rewards to pick from. (Just on the right of your screen.) Have a custom portrait created orpick a painting I create during this project if you don't want one created. Keep track of my work in progress for this campaign on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CliftonDesigns
After the funding goal has been reached and the project funded, I will begin creating the portraits.
Every whisper dances in the wind. Please share this project.
Kickstarter's deal is All or Nothing! If the project does not get funded no one will get their rewards and everyone will be sad :(
Some of my time lapses. |
DoE funding for advanced reactor research
04 November 2014
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Five R&D projects supporting advanced reactor technologies have been selected to receive $13 million of cost-share funding from the US Department of Energy (DoE). All of the research is being carried out by public-private partnerships.
The nuclear companies leading the five projects are Areva Federal Services, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, General Atomics, NGNP Industry Alliance and Westinghouse Electric Company.
Partnered by TerraPower Company, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and Texas A&M University, Areva Federal Services will receive funding for work on modelling and simulation for longer life cores, including thermal hydraulic simulations and experimental investigation for liquid metal-cooled fast reactor fuel assemblies.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, in partnership with ANL, will receive funding for development and modernization of next-generation probabilistic risk assessment methodologies. General Atomics' partnership with the University of California at San Diego and the University of South Carolina receives funding for fabrication and testing complex silicon carbide structures pertinent to advanced reactor concepts.
The final two projects receiving the DoE funding are work on high temperature gas reactor post-accident heat removal and testing by NGNP Industry Alliance partnering with Areva, UltraSafe Nuclear Company, Westinghouse, and Texas A&M University, and the development of thermo-acoustic sensors for sodium-cooled fast reactors led by Westinghouse in partnership with ANL and the University of Pittsburg.
The funding was announced by DoE under the umbrella of President Barack Obama's "all-of-the-above" approach to energy, highlighted in successive State of the Union addresses, and US climate action plans. Energy secretary Ernest Moniz noted that such public-private research in advanced nuclear technologies would help move the USA closer to a low carbon future. "These types of investments are crucial to the continuing role of nuclear power as a significant contributor to the US energy economy," he said.
As well as research supporting advanced reactor technology, DoE is also providing funds to support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). Earlier this year, the DoE signed a contract agreement with NuScale to provide $217 million in funding over five years to develop its SMR design, with industrial partners expected at least to match the federal investment.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
Related topics |
Ajamu Baraka, who ran as Green Party nominee Jill Stein's running mate, hit President Obama for new sanctions placed on Russia over the Kremlin's suspected involvement in the computer hacking of Democratic leaders.
Writing Saturday on Twitter, Baraka linked to a report that said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not expel U.S. diplomats from the country in retaliation to the new sanctions.
"Move by Putin exposes Obama as immature hack he has always been," wrote Baraka.
Putin: Russia won't expel US diplomats @CNN https://t.co/f4wNk2mC8J
Move by Putin exposes Obama as immature hack he has always been. — Ajamu Baraka (@ajamubaraka) December 31, 2016
Last week, the Obama administration announced plans to punish Russia for the hackings, which included the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats in the U.S. and the closing of two Russian compounds, one that was in New York and the other in Maryland.
Baraka has criticized Obama's response to Putin in recent days, suggesting that the president has been too far to the "right."
"Can the democrats under Obama be even more right-wing when you are to the right of Trump on Russia. [sic] Obama please just go away after the 20th?" he said Thursday.
"Obama please just let it go and go make your money like your friend Hilary [sic]," Baraka said in another tweet. |
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Description
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Alternate Titles
"X-Wing :מלחמת הכוכבים" -- Hebrew spelling
"Star Wars: X-Wing - Space Combat Simulator" -- Tag-lined title
"Star Wars: X-Wing - Simulador de Combate Espacial" -- Spanish tag-lined title
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Topic # Posts Last Post Manual/docs 3 Indra was here (20923)
Jul 12, 2007
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Cancelled Amiga port
Christmas
Death Star
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Limited Edition
References
In the Tour of Duty I -Mission 1, You have to Identify 4 cargo containers and destroy them..The cargo containers are names Arreis, Nigiro, Ocrim and Esorp. You think LucasGames had something gunning for Sierra, Origin and MicroProse?
In one of the later missions, you have to fly to a space-probe called BFG-9000. This is the Big Fucking Gun in the iD Software game DOOM.
Awards
Computer Gaming World October 1993 (Issue #111) – Simulation Game of the Year (together with World Circuit) November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #11 Hardest Computer Game
Electronic Entertainment March 1994 – Editors' Choice Awards: Best Game
Game Informer August 2001 (Issue #100) - #42 in the "Top 100 Games of All Time" poll
GameStar (Germany) Issue 12/1999 - #19 in the "100 Most Important PC Games of the Nineties" ranking
Origin Awards 1993 - Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game
robotriot Star Wars: X-Wing (DOS) on Dec 05, 1999 (9071) added(DOS) on Dec 05, 1999
is a space combat simulation, the first in the Star Wars universe. From the cockpits of X-Wing, Y-Wing and A-Wing starfighters, players fight for the Rebel Alliance in their struggle against the evil Galactic Empire.Unlike earlier titles in the genre like Wing Commander employs a polygonal 3D engine: flat-shaded polygons are combined with bitmaps only for explosion effects.The game features a comprehensive training element. Before starting on real missions, players should navigate the pilot proving grounds, also known as 'Maze', by flying through a course of doorways set atop platforms in space, preferably without missing any, all while keeping an eye on the tight time limit. Higher levels add additional challenges like hostile laser turrets. Next to the 'Maze', there are simulated historical missions (six for each of the three fighters) that prepare for the complex missions in the rest of the game.The main part of the game consists of three separate campaigns, called Tours of Duty. The Tours can be played in any order, even though they build on each other story-wise: Tour I, 'A New Ally', tells of the Rebellion's search for political allies in their fight against the Empire, while the Emperor launches Operation Strike Fear, a major offensive against the Rebels. Tour II, 'The Great Search' chronicles the Rebels' search for the plans to the Empire's new superweapon, the Death Star. Tour III, 'The Gathering Storm', tells of their efforts to find and destroy the battle station. Animated cutscenes are featured after certain missions to continue the story.Each Tour consists of around a dozen missions, which include a wide variety of objectives. There are standard strike, escort and defense assignments, but also reconnaissance flights - just scanning ships without attacking them - or capture operations - disabling enemy ships, then protecting the transport carrying the strike team during the takeover. The game of course culminates in the famous attack on the Death Star.The three flyable fighters all handle differently and are thus more or less suitable for the different types of missions. The X-Wing is heavily armed and armored, and is usually used on strike missions. The Y-Wing is slower and less well protected, but is the only ship equipped with ion cannons, necessary for disabling ships. With its high speed and maneuverability, the A-Wing is ideal for recon and intercept missions.Next to lasers and ion cannons, the fighters are armed with limited amounts of warheads: proton torpedoes are slow and highly destructive, while concussion missiles are faster, but yield less damage.A unique feature of the game is energy management: Energy must be divided between engines, weapons and shields. At the standard settings, weapons and shields don't recharge - energy must be diverted from the engines for that, slowing the ship. On the other hand, putting more power into the engines adds speed, but drains shields and guns. Energy can also be transferred between the systems, boosting weapons power at the expense of shields or vice versa.Space is populated by many ships besides the player's, most of which are well-known from the movies. The Empire will usually launch waves of TIE Fighters, Interceptors and Bombers from Star Destroyers. The Rebels employ large Mon Calamari cruisers and Corellian Corvettes. In use by both sides are Nebulon-B escort frigates and Lambda-class shuttles. Some ships not seen in the movies include the Imperial assault gunboat, the stormtrooper transport and bulk freighters. Friendly fighters will sometimes accompany the player, and can be given specific orders.An Amiga version was announced in magazines but was never released. Perhaps a wise move since the game is almost unplayable without an analog joystick, and analog joysticks for the Amiga were rare.If you play the game on Christmas you will see Santa Claus on the floor of the Space Station after you have selected your pilot.The Death Star trench when playing with maximum detail settings (otherwise it's a bit like cheating) has a few more objects into which you can crash. Some of them look like T-shaped "bridges" and frameworks, which are absent in the originalmovie. It seems they are modeled after the Disneyland's Star Tours ride, which climaxes with the trench run. If you look closely, you can compare the differences and notice the fact that the Star Tours trench was built using bits of the second Death Star model (from), as it was constructed in mid-1980s. A minor detail, yet it adds more obstacles to dodge, which are not to be seen in the movie.The floppy install program was known to cause panic among first-time players. Instead of showing a percentage completed based on disks, it counted actual files. The problem was that half of the files were on the fifth and final disk. IE, you're installing it, it takes four disks just to reach the halfway mark, and you spend the entire last disk certain that your copy was incomplete.Theof(the original floppy disk based release) contained a companion book called. This book contained spec sheets for the various spacecraft in the game, short stories, a "who's who" for the races of theuniverse and much more. Theversions are identifiable only by a small round sticker on the front of the box. Apart from, the contents are the same as the normal version of the game. |
Play all four Company of Heroes armies (British, Panzer Elite, American, Wehrmacht)
A new game mode: Reinforcements. Which sees players coming in at different stages of the battlefield.
The ability to choose Allied/Axis attack
34 maps specifically designed for Europe in Ruins as well as the ability to play all of your old Company of Heroes favourites!
A brand new launcher
Complete persistency, All units retain vet, and continue to use it in their next battles.
A complete installer that contains the Europe in Ruins files, launcher, and maps
Basic unit unlock doctrines
A new soft capping availability system
New Advantages System
Europe in Ruins takes the fast paced, intense and surreal combat that you've come to know from Company of Heroes and combines it with persistent environment, ever changing meta-gameplay and ongoing war. The modification sees you creating and commanding your very own battalion in which you can customise with any units and upgrades you wish; Company of Heroes strategy has never had so much choice. Not only do you get to build up your battalion, but as you units battle, they will gain and retain all the experience they have earned, carrying over from battle to battle; going from green to elite! Not only do units gain veterancy, but your battalion as a whole increases in effectiveness through doctrine unlocks and other advantages. Each of these are designed so that the player can tailor their battalion to their own likes and play styles. The combinations choices are endless!Europe in Ruins: Reinforcements adds to the already ground breaking game play of Europe in Ruins by adding in the British Commonwealth, the Panzer Elite, new game mode, a bunch of new maps, the new Advantages system and a whole new back-end launcher with new innovative systems for army purchase and persistence. What is in this latest release: |
Get Ready For the Kickoff! Beyond the Sideline Football Announced Last week's Out of the Park Baseball 15 announcement wasn't all we had planned - Today, just in time for this Sunday's big game between the Seahawks and the Broncos, we're unveiling the latest addition to our excellent lineup of sports management games - Beyond the Sideline Football. BTS Football is being created by lead developer Francis Cole, who previously worked on Football Manager at Sports Interactive and joined Out of the Park Developments in October. He is a lifelong football fan and even created a football simulation as part of his college studies. "I've known Francis since my days working at Sports Interactive," says OOTP Developments co-founder Markus Heinsohn. "He is a tremendously talented programmer who knows American football as well as anyone I've ever met and he has been working on his own football gaming projects for years. I am convinced that his skills, combined with our experience creating award-winning sports management games, will result in an amazing American football game which will bolster our product lineup for years to come." "Having known Markus from our time at Sports Interactive together, and playing OOTP every year since, I was delighted at the opportunity to bring my football game to OOTP Developments," says Beyond the Sideline lead developer Francis Cole. "Beyond the Sideline will be an amazing American football GM game, thanks to technology such as FaceGen, releasing on PC/Mac/Linux, and having an existing code base that enables players to easily customize their leagues." Beyond the Sideline Football will reach Beta in about a year, with a shipping date sometime in 2015. The game will offer these features: A realistic modern day American football experience with all current rules and regulations.
All 32 real American football teams with their real players and current rosters.
A realistic 2D game engine that represents all the action on the field, with the ability to call plays and watch them unfold, complete with the roar of the crowd and other sound effects.
You dictate the action on the field: Set depth charts and develop strategies around your preferred style of play.
FaceGen support allows realistic images of all players.
A complete box score for every game played in the league during its history, so you can always look back on thrilling victories and agonizing defeats.
The ability to sim decades into the future and watch teams' fortunes rise and fall as dynasties emerge, crumble, and eventually renew themselves.
You call the shots from the front office: Participate in the draft for your team every spring; trade players; and negotiate contracts with draft picks and free agents.
All of the (non-playable) Division I colleges as well as many more, with real players, so you can draft the next crop of superstars every year.
A living, breathing world full of news articles from around the league and a message system that lets you field offers from other GMs and hear what your players have to say.
Complete histories, including stats, transactions, injuries, and contracts, for all players who have participated in a training camp during the past decade.
Nearly 50 tracked stats, allowing you to go beyond the usual numbers and dig deep into players' performance.
Each player features a Health Scan that lets you quickly assess their current situation by showing you which areas of their body are hurt, which areas are okay, and which ones are worn.
Customization options, including the ability to change team names, the number of teams, the league structure, the league's country, and a variety of settings. We know you're excited about this news, and we're ready to start receiving your questions and look forward to your feedback. Help us make the football management game you've always wanted! The official BTS Football forum is now open for business - and be sure to check out the handy FAQ!
The official BTS Football Twitter account is now live too. The Facebook page will be coming soon. Look for more information in the coming months, including additional features, screenshots, and more. And by the way, why not shorten the time to the next BTS news with some OOTP 15, which you can still pre-order (with a chance to win fantastic prizes) here: OOTP 15 pre-order details The OOTP Developments Team
Pre-Order OOTP 15 for PC & Mac
Pre-Order OOTP 15 for Linux
Purchase FHM 2014 |
Who is God? What is the nature of God? How do you understand God? Is God the great decider, who determines every aspect of your life? Or is God the one who walks with us through life, guiding us, consoling us, and empowering us? Bruce Epperly brings his second essay on Process Theology to this blog. In sharing these essays, I'm not endorsing Process thought, because I'm still working through it and probably am closer to Open Theism than Process at this moment. That said, I'm looking forward to reading these essays and Bruce's new full-length treatment of Process Theology because I think it has promise for the present day theological questions, but unfortunately many works on Process are so philosophically dense they're difficult to understand. So, I invite you to consider Bruce's vision of the liberating God of Process Theology -- even if you don't even know who Alfred North Whitehead is!
Liberating Process #2:
Liberating God- An Open System
Bruce Epperly
For the next few weeks, we will be reflecting on process theology’s understanding of God. For many people, God’s perfection is defined in terms of changelessness. God is utterly complete. God knows the past, present, and future in one all-encompassing eternal now. Since God is always active rather than passive, God’s awareness of the world is creative in nature. Accordingly, the God who knows the future also creates the future. In the spirit of Rick Warren, all of the important events of our lives – from DNA, family of origin, and critical events, both positive and negative – have been determined by God without our input.
For many people, this image of perfection is good news. They define perfection in terms of changelessness and independence. An unchanging God, who knows and determines the future, is the ultimate source of security, even if that security is bought at the price of a god who causes cancer, car accidents, childhood trauma, and planetary cataclysm. But, a God who determines everything is morally ambiguous, at least from our standpoint. Whatever God does is good, from this standpoint, even if God’s action involves malignancy and catastrophe. While some suggest that we can never judge God, surely this image of God as all-determining fails the test of good parenting, established by Jesus. It is difficult to say that a god who causes childhood cancer represents any type of positive parenting, even if we believe that such action is for our own good and creates character in the human parent and child who must endure pain, anxiety, and serious medical interventions. Is a god who has determined pain and tragedy in advance truly on our side?
The problem with unchanging perfection is simply that “it doesn’t change.” Imagine a god for whom nothing new happens, who can’t revise “his” plans, and who is locked into “his” previous decisions. This god lacks the creativity and freedom that we attribute to one another. Such a god could hardly be interesting even to godself! A god, for whom nothing new occurs, who is not occasionally “surprised” by the events of life, lives in a perpetual “Ground Hog Day,” in which – like the movie’s protagonist – God must relive the same events over and over again.
Process theology suggests another option – an open-source, open-system vision of the universe in which God and the world exist in a dynamic, growing, and evolving partnership. A god for whom new things occur is a god that is open to creativity, love, and adventure. Rather than being caught in the past, God’s mercies are new every morning. God is constantly doing new things in relationship to the world. In the dynamic call and response of God and the world, God calls, we respond, leading to more activity on God’s part. A god who is liberated from changeless perfection is able to plan new things and embody them in new ways. We matter to a god who is lively and intimate in relationship with the world. Our prayers can make a difference and so can our actions because we add something new to God’s experience of the world.
Some ask if a changing god lacks the fidelity many associate with changeless perfection. If God has not chosen the future, can God be counted on to save us when we are in distress? This is an important question, and process theology asserts that fidelity is not a matter of determinism but companionship. The process God can’t ensure a happy ending, but this God is constantly and consistently faithful in seeking our well-being. This God doesn’t cause cancer, but works within the responses of physicians, both Western and complementary, the prayers of loved ones, and the persons living with cancer to bring about healing and wholeness. God can’t guarantee a cure, but God can guarantee companionship and care.
The Living God is an open-source, open-spirit, open-relationship divinity. Liberated from unchanging perfection, God can do new things to bring healing, wholeness, and justice to the world. God is not the source of the status quo, but the gives us the prophetic vision that seeks the well-being of all creation. This divine dissatisfaction with injustice gives the vision and energy for life and liberty to those who have been oppressed and hope of healing for those who suffer. An open-spirited God for whom the future is open is truly on our side as we seek beauty, healing, and justice for ourselves and others.
******************* |
VIDEO: An Awkward Moment, As Karl Rove Objects To Fox's Ohio Call
If you were plugged into the polls, odds are nothing really surprised you about last night.
That's why one of the most dramatic moments of night had to be when GOP strategist and major fundraiser Karl Rove threw a bomb in the middle of the Fox News broadcast.
Shortly after Fox News became one of the first to call Ohio for the president, Rove chastised its "decision desk."
"This is premature," Rove said, adding later that he'd be "very cautious about intruding in this process."
Here's the video; the awkwardness begins at around 3:51:
YouTube
As NPR's David Folkenflik wrote earlier today, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly tried hard to convince Rove that the network's analysts had found no plausible way for Romney to overcome his deficit.
David reports:
"Even as more results continued streaming in, Rove did it again. At 11:40 p.m., he was still at it — reciting county after county, "and then there are cats and dogs elsewhere that add up to another 120,000 votes." Kelly and Baier sought to provide a check but listened sagely to Rove, who is not just a chief political analyst for Fox and a columnist for its sibling newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, but also a leader of one of the major outside political committees spending tens of millions to defeat Obama and other Democrats. "Having lost the argument — not to mention his call that predicted for Romney an edge over Obama in the electoral college of about 30 electoral college votes — Rove made clear that the president's victory carried little weight. "'He has blown the last two years — he's played small ball,' Rove said around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday. 'This does not bode well for the future. ... He may have won the battle but lost the war.'"
Of course, one of the big questions that will be answered in the coming months is what will become of Rove's huge influence on GOP politics. Remember Rove is the man behind American Crossroads, the most influential and well-heeled super PAC on the Republican side. After his predictions didn't come true, will his big donors shy away from him? Or will he continue his decades of influence over the party? |
Maps embody a constellation of ideas – voting patterns, boundaries and space, the allocation of natural resources or population densities – but all make visual, and perhaps make more accessible, sets of accumulated data. However, when wielded for purposes of policy, cartography can embed power and sometimes inequality. In 1939, the government-sponsored Home Owners Loan Corporation produced a map of Los Angeles that would crystalize discriminatory lending practices and reinforce racial and class bias in home ownership.
S2 E5: Coded Geographies
Few facets of American citizenship embody the national ideal more than homeownership. When Ta-Nehisi Coates penned his now-classic essay arguing for reparations in 2014, he focused on the role of homeownership – or rather its denial – in black American life. Likewise, the innovative Mapping Inequality project – a collaboration of scholars at Virginia Tech, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland and directed by Robert K. Nelson and Brent Cebul of the University of Richmond – illustrates better than ever before the highly structured nature of housing discrimination in 20th-century America. Forbes recently named it one of five GIS projects changing the way Americans understand racism, demonstrating that the project is well on its way to achieving this goal. “To the extent that you have a business publication engaging with the less-than-stellar history of business,” Cebul noted in a recent interview, “it really is amazing how putting something on a map makes it so much more accessible for people to see.”[1]
With this in mind, the 1939 Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) map of Los Angeles serves as a window into the complexities of federal housing policy and a burgeoning multiracial metropolis about to emerge from the Great Depression. As with cities across the nation, federal housing policy played a critical role in shaping Los Angeles communities in the 20th and 21st centuries.
HOLC "redlining" map of central Los Angeles, courtesy of LaDale Winling and 1939"redlining" map of central Los Angeles, courtesy ofand urbanoasis.org
First, the HOLC – a creature of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal – invented self-amortizing home loans, an innovation that made it easier for working citizens to buy homes without having to make large down payments. Between 1933 and 1936, the HOLC also issued new low-interest mortgages to one million homeowners who had defaulted or already lost their homes. Under the National Housing Act of 1934, the government also created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which sought to make homeowners of the nation’s citizenry by guaranteeing mortgages with private financing and thus encouraging bank investment. The hope was that financial institutions could then enact more liberal loaning policies. The FHA would eventually extend amortization schedules further, enabling citizens to purchase a home with a minimal down payment.[2] Though the FHA and HOLC worked with and through local actors, it would be hard to deny their influence on housing in Los Angeles. During the 1930s, FHA activity in California exceeded that of any other state.[3]
To facilitate private investment through the FHA, the HOLC, and the Federal Home Loan Board Bank (FHLBB), the federal government crafted a national set of standards for assessing mortgage risk. Through its 1935 City Survey Program, the HOLC gathered data about neighborhoods from approximately 239 cities and compiled the results into a rating system ranging from A to D. Communities with A ratings represented the best investments for homeowners and banks alike; B, neighborhoods that were still desirable, C, those in decline, and D, areas considered hazardous. To visually capture these rankings, the HOLC then turned these ratings into color-coded maps, using green for A, blue for B, yellow for C, and red for D – the origin of the term “redlining.”
The ratings purported to use objective criteria, but racism snuck in; the HOLC and FHA valued homogeneity over heterogeneity, particularly in regard to ethnicity and race. Those communities depicted in “red” usually contained minorities: African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and sometimes newly arrived immigrant groups like Slavs, Jews, and Italians. This system of redlining ultimately drew private investment away from heterogeneous communities like Boyle Heights and Watts. Working class and white ethnic communities fared better, but were also penalized, often receiving C and sometimes D ratings.
A 1940 publicity shot for the Crenshaw Park housing development, courtesy of the USC Libraries – Dick Whittington Photography Collection.
The impact of redlining cannot be overstated. Redlined communities struggled to receive federally backed home loans, making property ownership much more difficult for residents. Moreover, it made getting loans for home improvements – maintenance, upkeep and renovation – though not impossible, very unlikely. Neighborhoods fell into a vicious circle of decline: the inability to access capital lead to disrepair and the physical decline of a community’s housing stock, which in turn reinforced the redline designation. That redlining became equated with race and class led to the naturalization of segregation; white, working-class homeowners often sought to exclude those populations seen as threatening to home values. Redlined communities also sat closer to industrial areas, vice districts, and environmentally compromised settings, exposing residents to health risks and crime.
Neighborhoods fell into a vicious circle of decline: the inability to access capital lead to disrepair and the physical decline of a community’s housing stock, which in turn reinforced the redline designation.
When one examines the 1939 HOLC map for Los Angeles in conjunction with the “findings” of its appraisers and housing experts, the stark racism of the project appears undeniable. As Nelson succinctly puts it, HOLC maps were “explicitly racist . . . the racism isn’t subtext. It’s just text.”[4]
The map’s depiction of several iconic L.A. communities makes this bias even clearer. According to appraisers, Boyle Heights (D53) proved a “’melting pot’ area, literally honeycombed with diverse and subversive elements.” Watts (D61), then an ethnic and racial stew of Germans, Scots, Greeks, Italians, blacks, and Japanese, earned a “low red” grade due to its heterogeneity.[5] If “not for a scattering of Japanese and Filipino residents [Hollywood (D29) (D30)] would be entitled to a higher grade,” HOLC officials noted in justifying its D rating.[6] Central Los Angeles dismayed appraisers due to its “highly heterogeneous” population and “sprinkling of subversive racial elements,” the latter comment a reference to its “concentrations of Japanese and Negroes.”[7] Bunker Hill’s (D37) declining housing stock and nonwhite population also earned it a D rating; a brief perusal of the map reveals that nearly all the neighborhoods abutting downtown Los Angeles were redlined.
Viola Tinsley (left) with two children Orvella (top) and Alonzo Bridges, in front yard of the Tinsley home at 323 Cheesbourgh in Boyle Heights, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Shades of L.A. Collection – Los Angeles Public Library.
Finding other lines of racial demarcation are not difficult. Travel down Arlington Boulevard and one discovers one such example dividing West Jefferson Park (D50) and West Adams (C119). The sunset of deed restrictions ten years earlier in the West Jefferson Park community had resulted in the “infiltration” of blacks and Japanese into the neighborhood, which prompted white homeowners associations in West Adams to organize and prevent African and Japanese Americans from settling in their community. Though nearly half of West Adams’ population consisted of working-class Eastern European Jews, themselves victims of downgrading by assessors, the institutional racism of HOLC and FHA practices did not create solidarity between them and their African-American and Japanese-American counterparts. “This home of ours is the one big financial venture of our life, and there must be some way to protect us from this particular Japanese invasion,” one West Adams couple told the L.A. City Council in 1940. Assessors rewarded West Adams’ racial intransigence with a C rating.[8]
City Rising
The FHA and HOLC established a caste system of race and ethnicity.
Outlying areas endured similar appraisals. The HOLC assessment chided suburban, working-class South Gate for its lack of deed restrictions, which formally prevented minority homeownership, but celebrated it for its homogeneity, awarding it a low-blue rating. L.A. was hardly unique in this regard; the larger structure of New Deal housing policies as expressed through FHA policies and captured in HOLC maps codified institutional racism nationally, particularly among working-class whites whose biggest investment had been in their homes.[9]
Such policies demonstrate that the FHA and HOLC established a caste system of race and ethnicity. Racial hierarchies prevailed. Assessors in Los Angeles, historian Charlotte Brooks argues, saw Asians and Africans as the most “subversive.” In contrast, Southern and Eastern Europeans and Mexicans with the right mix of social class, occupation and skin color could “climb the ladder of whiteness.” For example, one neighborhood in the L.A. suburb of Claremont (C55, C56) received a C rather than D rating since it contained a “few better class Mexicans.” The San Gabriel Valley Wash community, more heavily Mexican-American, received no such consideration as one assessor described it as populated by “goats, rabbits, and dark skinned babies.” Most might have been native-born, but too many were still “’peon Mexicans” and constitut[ed] a distinctly subversive racial influence.”[10] In her own research, L.A. historian Laura Redford of Scripps College, notes that while Japanese and African-Americans were singled out, too, the language describing Mexican-Americans in the Los Angeles area proved particularly “painful” and “awful”.[11]
HOLC "redlining" map of south Los Angeles, courtesy of LaDale Winling and 1939"redlining" map of south Los Angeles, courtesy ofand urbanoasis.org
To be clear, historians continue to argue how much HOLC maps actually created redlining policies. In his classic 1984 work, “Crabgrass Frontier,” Kenneth Jackson suggested that the maps induced redlining as a policy. More recently, however, Amy E. Hiller and others have argued that redlining actually emerged from the intersection of FHA policies with private industry practices among local banks and real estate agents. Moreover, HOLC maps simply were not distributed widely enough to have the kind of effect Jackson suggested.[12]
Los Angeles provides a good example of redlining activity that preceded the HOLC maps. Even before the FHA, ideas about race and contagion emerged in the work of sociology graduate students at the University of Southern California. Embracing concepts that viewed ethnic and racial heterogeneity as problematic, the students drew lines conveying fear, in the words of historian Greg Hise, “of borders drawn and breached, of districts invaded, of possible even likely possible contagion” brought out by minority populations. Public health and school administrators used language to define social distance between white Angelenos and the “other.”[13] Ethnic whites, such as Russians, Jews, and Italians, risked categorization as “low class” should they fail to create distance between themselves and minorities.[14] During the 1930s, the Los Angeles Housing Authority worked with the Works Progress Administration and local surveyors to produce HOLC reports on “blighted districts.”[15] It should come as little surprise that private industry adopted or paralleled these practices.
Admittedly, the FHA played a critical role. First published in 1936, the FHA’s “Underwriting Manual” was widely publicized and distributed. While it focused more on appraisals for individual mortgages, it did incorporate “neighborhood risk.” “If a neighborhood is to retain stability,” the manual noted, “it is necessary that properties shall continued to be occupied by the same social and racial classes. A change in social or racial occupancy contributes to the instability and decline in property values.”[16]
The FHA’s original system for appraising risk used letter grades identical to the HOLC’s as ratings; those with a rating of D were rejected for insurance. The HOLC might have influenced FHA policies and appraisals, but the latter had already begun to do this before the former had enacted its City Survey Program. Moreover, banks like Los Angeles’ Security First National had enacted their own programs for neighborhood assessment prior to 1939, most of which also hinged on issues of race and class.[17]
HOLC "redlining" map of Pasadena and vicinity, courtesy of LaDale Winling and 1939"redlining" map of Pasadena and vicinity, courtesy ofand urbanoasis.org
Then again, historiographical debates of this sort, though not unimportant, are not really the point. Getting to the heart of “larger public history and public policy questions … prompting, catalyzing, and generating conversations about inequalities in American cities in the past and today” should be the central concern, the University of Richmond’s Robert K. Nelson tells me. In the end, government conveyed to private industry exactly what “best practices” would be in mortgage insurance. “I’m persuaded that [HOLC maps] helped create national standards; even if [the HOLC] doesn’t originate redlining it systematizes [the policy].” Redford agrees, noting the HOLC Maps codify “inequity that already existed in urban spaces and create[d] numerous problems going forward.”
Nor does the HOLC only map the past. Nelson points out that, in his correspondence with them, urban residents across the U.S. express amazement at how much “the old [HOLC] view corresponds to the new view.”[18] L.A. encapsulates this point. Outside of a handful of once-redlined beach communities, adds Redford, “there hasn’t been a lot of [variation] in regard to social or economic change and who was advantaged or disadvantaged and it all correlates to race and class.”[19]
Once redlining plunged a community into the vicious circle of decline, municipal and federal officials would then categorize such neighborhoods as “blighted.”
Once redlining plunged a community into the vicious circle of decline, municipal and federal officials would then categorize such neighborhoods as “blighted.” Urban renewal ensued, a process that victimized minorities at ever increasing rates. Witness Bunker Hill and after it, Chavez Ravine. The former became the site of California’s first urban renewal project, setting in motion, in Hise’s telling, a “fifty-year effort to being affluent Angelenos ‘downtown.’” The latter famously resulted in the ouster of a local Mexican-American community to clear the way, eventually, for Dodger Stadium.[20] In numerous other cases, allegedly blighted communities, like Boyle Heights, became the site for freeways, undoing and marginalizing whole communities.[21]
Are there any silver linings? Perhaps. The process of regulating housing at the federal level eventually led to fair housing acts that have benefitted minority homeowners, Nelson points out. Cebul adds that, though it came at the expense of minorities, the FHA and HOLC did establish a new form of wealth through housing policy and enabled working-class whites and, on rare occasion, nonwhites to join the middle class. Over time, though hardly equally distributed, this has also increasingly helped Asian, Latino, and black Americans to varying degrees.
"Leaving South Gate," circa 1938. Photo courtesy of the Herman J. Schultheis Collection – Los Angeles Public Library.
The suburb of South Gate serves as a useful example. Once a blue-collar town on the outskirts of L.A., the combination of expanding industry and FHA mortgages brought a middle-class sheen to South Gate. Despite residents’ and officials’ efforts to prevent minorities from settling in the suburb, by the late 1970s and early ‘80s it had become a town filled with Latino homeowners. In fact, today the larger Southeast Los Angeles area, built by FHA mortgages, is home to of tens of thousands minority homeowners.
Too often Americans think of “racial sorting” as a “natural” process of the market. Yet HOLC maps force us to see how structured the processes are.
Finally, too often Americans think of “racial sorting” as a “natural” process of the market. Yet HOLC maps force us to “see how structured the processes are,” Cebul notes. Redford adds: “It’s important to recognize lots of people were aided through the programs the federal programs instituted or underwrote, but we also need to recognize” that these same policies disadvantaged people of color.[22]
The HOLC and FHA saw risk in diversity and monetized this conceit, which ultimately devastated whole communities and naturalized a level of institutional racism from which we are still recovering. The irony, UCLA historian Eric Avila notes, is that though the New Deal “sustained the development of a heterogeneous public culture in Southern California,” FHA and HOLC policies laid the foundation for the postwar racial inequality that worked to destroy it. At a time in which “Make America Great Again” has become a ubiquitous political slogan, the 1939 HOLC map of Los Angeles reminds us how relative such an idea was and perhaps still is.
1939 HOLC "redlining" map of north Los Angeles, courtesy of LaDale Winling and urbanoasis.org.
Notes
[1] Interview Robert K. Nelson and Brent Cebul, October 28, 2016. [2] Eric Avila, Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles, (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2004), 35. [3] Charlotte Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends: Asian Americans, Housing, and the Transformation of Urban California, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009), 116. [4] Interview Robert K. Nelson and Brent Cebul, October 28, 2016. [5] Avila, Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight, 26, 35. [6] Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends, 117. [7] Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends, 117. [8] Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends, 119, 121-122. [9] See Thomas Sugrue, Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1997); Arnold Hirsch, Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978); Kevin Kruse, White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007) [10] Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends, 116. [11] Laura Redford, interview, November 3, 2016. [12] Kenneth Jackson, Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1985); Amy E. Hillier, “Redlining and the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation,” Journal of Urban History, Vol. 29. No. 4 (May 2003): 394-420. [13] Greg Hise, “Border City: Race and Social Distance in Los Angeles”, American Quarterly, Vol. 56 No. 3, (Sept. 2004): 552. [14] Brooks, Alien Neighbors, Foreign Friends, 117 [15] Hise, “Border City”, 554. [16] Avila, Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight, 35. [18] Interview Robert K. Nelson and Brent Cebul, October 28, 2016. [19] Interview, Laura Redford, November 3, 2016. [20] Hise, “Border City”, 554. [21] See Eric Avila, The Folklore of the Freeway: Race and Revolt in the Modernist City, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2014) [22] Interview, Laura Redford, November 3, 2016.
This article was originally published Jan. 19, 2017. It has been re-published in conjunction with the broadcast of Lost LA's "Coded Geographies" episode. |
Government responded
This response was given on 12 May 2014
As this e-petition has received more than 10 000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response:
The British Government firmly opposes calls to boycott Israel. We do not agree with many of Israel’s actions with respect to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and do not hesitate to express strong views whenever we feel it necessary. At the same time, we enjoy a close and productive relationship with Israel which enables us to express our views at senior levels very frankly. It is our assessment that imposing sanctions on Israel would lessen this influence, not increase it, and would not promote the urgent progress towards a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which we want to see.
The British Government has placed online guidance to raise awareness of the key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating abroad, including in Israel and the OPTs. This includes guidance on Israeli settlements. We are advising British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. This is voluntary guidance to British businesses on doing business in Israel and OPTs. Ultimately it will be the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Territories, but the British Government would neither encourage nor offer support to such activity. When approached by businesses, we set out the UK’s clear position on Israeli settlements, and share with them our online guidance.
This approach is in keeping with our policy with respect to other countries. The FCO continues to work closely with our colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and UK Trade and Investment, with respect to our advice to British businesses. Our commercial and political officers at our Posts overseas stand ready to help, to lobby host Governments, advise on issues in their local markets and direct companies to best practice guidelines that may help.
This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100 000 signature threshold. |
The pivotal ally on NATO’s eastern flank is at risk. Terrified by Russia’s extra-territorial push into Ukraine, Crimea, and the Baltic Sea, Poland now faces its own homegrown threat.
In just three months, the newly elected Law and Justice Party government has challenged and unilaterally changed Poland’s constitution, and ordered a nighttime raid on a NATO facility. It has slapped state controls on media, spurred walkouts, and quickly installed its own party loyalists to top posts. The radical turn has drawn tens of thousands of Poles to the streets in protest, and put American and European allies on alert. The 28-member European Commission meets Wednesday to conduct what it calls an internal debate on Poland’s Rule of Law.
Seizing on rising public discontent over economic and security concerns, the Law and Justice Party’s October landslide victory pushed out the European-oriented, center-right Civic Platform, after an eight-year run managing Poland’s fast-paced transformation into Europe’s sixth largest economy. The new ruling party gathered steam in recent years among groups whose only common denominator is frustration. This is especially the case among Polish youth, who make up a third of the population and are seething over poor living standards despite the GDP gains of the past decade. Many of the groups engage in hate speech, calls for violence, and espouse the virtues of Polish purity (xenophobia burns hot in the country, the most homogeneous on the European continent).
Some express shock at the new government’s brazen moves; others have long been wary of actions portending anti-democratic rule.
Like most Eastern European nations, Poland is a study in contrasts. Along Warsaw’s Vistula Riverbanks, heavy, oversized, Soviet-style architecture abut contemporary steel and glass. In Warsaw and other large cities, poor pensioners pushing carts and peddling trinkets share sidewalks with smartly dressed nouveau riche shopping for luxury brands, throwing into stark relief one of the deepest socio-economic divides on the continent.
Poland’s national consciousness is also bifurcated: an aging population that survived World War II repression and destruction followed by communism’s shortages, intrusions, and punishment gave birth to a generation that has only known Poland as an unequal member of the European Community, saddled with poor job prospects and stunted incomes. Poles under 25 make up a third of the nation’s nearly 39 million population; more than a quarter are jobless and a third of those under 18 receive some form of government aid.
Poverty is most acute in Poland’s smaller towns and villages, especially in the northeast and the northwest. Worried about border safety, floods of immigrants, and the wherewithal to defend their country, upward of 100,000 Polish youth have joined paramilitary organizations. Extreme right nationalists who are preoccupied with perceived threats from Muslims, Jews, and international treaties are all part of the mix, targeting the young and hopeless to join their ranks. And the recently elected government’s actions give credence to worries that extremist groups will gain momentum.
Young Poles “don’t remember the times of the Cold War … when the U.S. was the only force that could counter the Soviet Union,” laments Pawel Spiewak, a prominent Polish intellectual and Warsaw University sociologist. “It means that they are much more critical toward American policy than we were.”
Poland has enjoyed wide-ranging Western support since shedding its communist ties in 1989. Poles winced, then welcomed the “shock therapy” reforms necessary to move from the Moscow-imposed COMECON – the broken down command and control economy of the Soviet communist bloc—to an independent, industrialized economy with sustainable growth. With billions of dollars in commitments from the U.S. and Europe, Poland’s new democracy was also flooded with technical assistance to develop a legal framework, open its markets to investment and trade, and build its financial sector and infrastructure.
Poland’s accession into the European Union in 2004 led to even more aid and far greater access to markets. Neighboring industrial giant Germany morphed from Poland’s longtime aggressor to its No. 1 investor and trading partner. Germany became an economic lifeline to Poland, employing skilled, lower-cost Polish talent and pouring billions of dollars into Polish plants and equipment. The past 20 years of robust German investment powered Poland’s meteoric rise into an export economy (think German cars—Mercedes, BMW, and VW—chemicals, and technology) and became the consumers’ choice (German retailers and wholesalers like Rossmann and OBI DIY are among the top employers in Poland and leading purveyors of affordable goods).
European commercial interests have created a new Polish monied class with all of the trappings of success. On its tenth anniversary as an EU member a year ago, Poland’s prime minister became president of the European Union and celebrated his appointment as proof that Poland and EU’s major powers have more in common than not.
But Poles working for depressed wages with no benefits are acutely aware that they compare unfavorably to their EU neighbors. Most Poles had soaring expectations when they voted to join the EU a decade ago. Today, their contempt also cuts a broad swath: business people blame bureaucratic red tape for dampening growth while large numbers of youth emigrate for access to better healthcare, higher quality education, and more work opportunities. A Millward Brown research poll conducted in March 2015 revealed that a staggering 41% of Poles planned to emigrate (Warsaw’s Central Statistical Office estimates that two million-plus have left since EU accession).
The World Bank, the OECD, the European Union, and other global research and funding organizations warn about the deeply divided Polish economy, as stubborn poverty rates and public resentment increase.
Nationalist developments portend turbulence for the young democracy. While those looking west see their nation rooted in the EU and NATO, others are looking inward, rejecting open borders and disdainful of NATO, and have as much contempt for the U.S. as they do for Russia. And then there are the Polish fascist groups, small though vocal, that support Russia.
The instability in Ukraine presents the clearest danger. The National Bank of Poland put together a billion-dollar swap deal with the National Bank of Ukraine to help stabilize Ukraine’s financial system as it moves through economic reforms. NBP President Marek Belka described the move as a way to stave off the neighbor’s “financial turbulence” as well as to protect Poland from potential fallout, especially from job-seeking Ukrainians pushing into Poland. In the Gallup poll released last week, an overwhelming majority of Ukrainian respondents identified themselves as “struggling” or “suffering.”
Citing his own Warsaw University studies and national surveys, Spiewak said that Polish people are particularly anxious about their nation’s military preparedness and the prospect of a human wave coming from Ukraine. “How do we prepare for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who will come to Poland? It will be a very big humanitarian problem.”
Warsaw has pleaded and prodded Washington to beef up its military presence on Polish soil. This fall, the four star General Dennis Via, who leads the U.S. Army’s Army Materiel Command, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Air Force General Philip Breedlove, and the commander of U.S. Army Europe Lt. General Ben Hodges visited Poland and the Baltic region to determine the needs of the region, which exceed current U.S. defense budgets and limits on the number of American soldiers deployed to Europe.
Polish security watchers contend that NATO’s mission in Poland has become compromised in recent months, given America’s aversion to costly challenges against aggressors in far-flung places and the increasingly slim U.S. forces on the ground.
This August, NATO conducted the largest airborne military exercises since the end of the Cold War. It was a demonstration, of sorts, to show the Treaty organization’s 11-member ability to respond to Russian threats. For Poles, though, it’s simply not enough. They want a reversal to what has been a steadily shrinking U.S. military presence on the continent (troops, materiel, helicopters, tanks). But U.S. budget restraints and American fatigue with overseas operations limit Washington from doing much more than training Poles and other NATO allies.
“The No. 1 issue in American-Polish relations is security defense on our east border,” says Ryszard Schnepf, Poland’s Ambassador to Washington. “Poland has not been in such a threat … since the Cold War.” Despite the clear NATO treaty assurance to member states for mutual assistance in case of jeopardy, “we feel we are not a first-grade member.” Quite simply, he says, NATO’s design has not adjusted to today’s reality: “all of the bases, positioning, material production are distant from our area.”
Poland’s newly elected government has certainly drawn attention from its defense partners with its bizarre middle-of-the-night raid on the counter-intelligence center, a NATO affiliate, temporarily housed in Warsaw while its permanent home is constructed in Krakow. It dismissed the director appointed by the previous government and installed its own.
While Polish opposition blanched at the move and blamed the Law and Justice Party for undermining Polish credibility, the new government was on to its next mission: “reforming” the Constitutional Tribunal. As Poland’s top court, the Tribunal adjudicates on legislation, international agreements, maintains checks and balances, and makes sure that political parties act constitutionally. But last month, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda performed a late-night swearing-in ceremony of new party loyalists, in a move EU officials have condemned as tantamount to an assault on democracy. Opposition leaders, international human rights groups, and others caution the newly stacked Tribunal is no longer an independent interpreter of the rule of law.
Rafal Pankowski, a young professor of social and political studies at Collegium Civitas, focuses on reactionary groups with strong historical roots. Registering only a small fraction of minorities, Poland’s census data shows nearly 98% of the country is ethnically Polish and Catholic. Like other leading Polish intellectuals, Pankowski contends that militant hate groups have been unbridled during the country’s past 25 years as a democracy.
Polish pensioner in Warsaw Photo by Amy Kaslow
A “symbol of hostility to otherness, difference, modernity … anti-Semitism is very much present. Much more graphic and in your face with Internet and social media in particular,” Pankowski says. “One click and you have a global audience. More radical expressions are preferred. Of course, Poland has the European-type legislation against hate speech, but is the government effective in enforcing it? Not really.” There are “so many examples of government not standing up – there is a systemic failure.”
In November, protestors held an effigy burning of a Hasidic Jew holding an EU flag. Police stood by and did not intervene. Pankowski and other human rights watchers say Polish hate crimes against minorities exploded in 2015, registering more than at any time in the past 20 years.
Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, argues that the “strengthening of rightwing forces” is in part a result of the weakening of Polish trust in the EU. “There’s a big threat to the east, and a question about who’s there in the west, where the friends and neighbors are weaker than you thought, so you go back to the fundamentals.” The fundamentals mean orthodoxy, asserts Daalder, who is now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
On Wednesday, the European Commission will meet to weigh Poland’s escalating domestic assaults on its democratic institutions. So far, Washington has been silent on Warsaw’s recent political developments, despite the major political, military, and industrial stakes on both sides of the Atlantic. |
A man died after being set on fire in Queens Saturday. Now, police are trying to figure out who killed him.
Police say the flames were still burning when they found the man unconscious on 14th Street near Astoria Boulevard just before 7 a.m. Saturday.
Investigators say the man may have been shot before he was set on fire.
Neighbors were shocked.
"It's scary. It's real scary because you only see stuff like this on TV. It's horrible. They said he was like almost tortured. To set somebody on fire—that's a little extreme," one neighbor said.
"It looks weird. It looks like it's staged, I don't know," said another.
"I've been here since 1970 and nothing like this has ever happened," said a third.
They say the victim was in his 20s or 30s.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. |
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels killed at least 190 civilians and took more than 200 hostage during an offensive in Latakia province in August, Human Rights Watch said on Friday, in what it calls the first evidence of crimes against humanity by opposition forces.
A Free Syrian Army fighter and a civilian look up from a window as they stand inside a room in Deir al-Zor October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
HRW said many of the dead had been executed by militant groups, some linked to al Qaeda, who overran army positions at dawn on August 4 and then moved into 10 villages nearby where members of President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect lived.
In its first government-sanctioned trip into Syria during the 2-1/2-year conflict, New York-based HRW has documented a series of sectarian mass killings by Assad’s foes during a broader campaign in which Western-backed rebels took part.
In some cases, entire families were executed or gunned down as they fled, according to a report titled “You Can Still See Their Blood”.
HRW identified five rebel groups instrumental to funding, organizing, planning and carrying out the Latakia attacks, including the al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant groups, as well as the Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham and another unit of foreign jihadi fighters.
These groups publicized their involvement through videos and statements, some of which were used to corroborate the HRW report. The operation appeared to have been largely financed by private Gulf-based donors, HRW said.
What is less clear is the role of fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the armed wing of the main opposition coalition which is openly supported by the United States, Britain, France and Sunni Muslim Gulf states.
In a video posted on August 11 and apparently filmed in Latakia, FSA chief Salim Idriss said the body was participating in the offensive “to a great extent.”
But HRW researcher Lama Fakih, who spent several days in Latakia province in September and spoke to residents, soldiers, militiamen, doctors and officials, said she could not confirm if the FSA were present on August 4 when the atrocities took place.
Assad’s forces are also accused by rights groups of committing atrocities and using incendiary and cluster bombs in populated areas. They have carried out sectarian attacks, including killing up to 450 civilians in two massacres in mainly Sunni Muslim areas in May, according to U.N. officials.
The opposition and rights groups accuse Damascus of a chemical weapons strike in a Damascus suburb on August 21 that killed hundreds of civilians. The government blames the attack on rebels.
Reuters was unable to get comment from all 20 rebel groups mentioned in the HRW report. Syrian National Coalition spokesman Khaled Saleh said the SNC condemns all human rights abuses and if any had been committed by rebels affiliated with the coalition, they would face justice.
ISLAMIST DENIAL
A member of the Sunni Islamist Ahrar al-Sham said its fighters had killed no civilians in the offensive. “If someone uses a weapon against you, you have to fight them. If they do not, you must not kill them,” said Abu Muhammed al-Husseini, the 30-year-old head of Ahrar al-Sham’s political office in Raqqa.
In a written statement to Reuters, the SNC’s Saleh said: “We have previously committed ourselves to applying these rules on all the brigades that work for us and we will hold accountable, after investigation and fair trial, all those responsible for violations against human rights or international laws. The incidents in Latakia are not an exception and we will treat them as we treated previous cases.”
Lama Fakih, the Syria and Lebanon researcher in HRW’s Middle East and North Africa Division, told Reuters in reference to the Latakia operation by rebels: “Homes were destroyed and burned. Most villagers had not returned.”
Fakih met Hassan Shebli, an Alawite man from the village of Barouda, who fled his village at 4:30 a.m. on August 4 as rebels approached. He left his wife, who was in her 60s and needed canes to walk, and his son, 23, who was paralyzed, Fakih said.
Shebli said that they were both killed and buried behind his house. Fakih visited the house and saw bullet holes in the son’s bed frame. “I was able to see the blood splattered on the wall,” she said, showing a picture of the room.
Rebel footage posted on the Internet showed images of Shebli’s son and wife with rebel fighters during the operation.
The scale and organization of the attacks on civilians suggest premeditation and make them a crime against humanity, HRW said, rather than isolated war crimes reported during the Syrian civil war. The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 100,000 people in two-and-a-half years.
“These abuses were not the actions of rogue fighters,” said Joe Stork, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “This operation was a coordinated, planned attack on the civilian population in these Alawite villages.”
Residents who returned to the villages said they found bodies of residents on the streets, in their homes as well as in piles of burnt corpses and in mass graves, according to Fakih.
Syria’s mainly Sunni Muslim rebels are battling to overthrow Assad, whose Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam and accounts for about 12 percent of Syria’s 23 million people. The conflict erupted in 2011 when mainly peaceful protests against four decades of Assad family rule were put down with force.
The HRW report documented the involvement of over 20 rebel groups in the Latakia offensive, which started on August 4 after months of bombardment of a nearby Sunni village, and ended on August 18, when the government regained control of the area.
Rebels told Reuters in August that around 200 of Assad’s men were killed at the start of the offensive. |
Official opening of Bisdee Tier site by Governor scheduled for 23 February 2013
Five years in the making, the University of Tasmania’s new observatory at Bisdee Tier in the Midlands was officially opened by the Governor on Saturday, 23 February.
After a testing phase, the Greenhill Observatory – named after eminent physicist John Greenhill, now an Honorary Research Associate with the School of Mathematics and Physics – with its 1.27 metre optical telescope will be fully operationally by mid year. It is expected to play a starring role in major international projects aimed at detecting Earth-like planets in the universe.
When coupled with its scientific cameras, the biggest of which is due to arrive from Poland around the official opening date, the telescope will routinely observe stars up to 30,000 light years away – across the entire Milky Way galaxy. Supernovae and other galaxies out to millions of light years will be visible. It has been designed form the ground up to be remotely operable from the Sandy Bay campus, allowing UTAS astronomers and visiting collaborators from around the world to use it efficiently, safely and at a low running cost.
Bisdee Tier is 60 kilometres north of Hobart, accessible only via unsealed, gated roads across private property. Head astronomer Dr Andrew Cole estimates that the site is 100 times darker at night than Mt Canopus, which is now badly light-polluted due to encroaching suburbia.
The site includes a control room, kitchen and dormitory for visiting scientists. |
click to enlarge Young Kwak
Scroll down for a link to this week's feature on the lifesize gingerbread house now on display at Hotel RL in downtown Spokane.
click to enlarge Uptic Studios
Indaba's third location, opening in Kendall Yards sometime next year, will feature a walk-up outdoor counter.
The progress in the region’s culinary community never stops, with new and exciting developments in the form of innovative events, new restaurants and other food-related projects always popping up. Let’s round up the latest in this week's installment of "Foodie Grab Bag."Fans of Mac Daddy’s Gourmet Grub food truck — known for offering many tasty variations on the American classic of mac ’n’ cheese — can now get their fix of cheesey goodness year-round at a permanent location. The new Mac Daddy’s Gourmet Pub and Grill opened in Mead’s Fairwood Shopping Center, at 415 W. Hastings Rd., in late November. With a sports bar vibe, the new restaurant is open for lunch and through to the late night (also for breakfast on the weekends), and offers an expanded pub fare menu of burgers, sausages, appetizers and salads in addition to all that tasty mac. We’ve written about the breadmaking mastery of local baker Shaun Thompson Duffy in the pages of thebefore ( here and here ). Now, Duffy is getting ready to open a retail bakery location in the South Perry District (in a long-vacant commercial building at 1026 E. Newark), and is asking the community for a little bit of help on Kickstarter campaign for $20,000 has less than two weeks left, and currently stands at just over $7,200 pledged.“I have been trying to open this place for some time, and we finally got the zoning changed after a year and a half,” Duffy recently told theCalled, the spot is planning a soft opening in February, and will be home to a wood-fired oven and stone grain mill, the latter of which will be used to mill all the bakery's flour from grains grown on farms in the Palouse. The hyper-local operation will also share the space with a brewery called. Duffy’s partners on the project are LINC Foods and Palouse Pint co-owner Joel Williamson, brewer Teddy Benson and Palouse Heritage Farms’ Don Scheuerman. In addition to a traditional bakery and brewery, the space is also set to feature a café.“I have contracted local farmers around the area to grow certain types of grain — all landrace and heritage grains — no modern wheat, which is very rare for a bakery to do, but I have access to one of the largest grain growing regions in the world: the Palouse,” Duffy says. “Not many bakers can say the same.”This week, we also caught the latest preview of what Indaba Coffee Roasters’ newest location, currently being constructed in the west end of Kendall Yards, is going to look like . Local firm Uptic Studios recently posted images of an outdoor pop-up counter, dubbed the “Indaba Pod,” that is planned for the roasters’ new home in a building being constructed now, called Nettleton Corners . The commercial hub is set to be the home of a few other food-related businesses, including a donut shop called Hello Sugar and a restaurant calledAlso soon coming to the growing neighborhood is a new sushi restaurant called Umi Sushi , to be located in the same building as the newly-opened Maryhill Winery Tasting Room As the holiday treating and eating season gets into full swing, make sure to stop by Hotel RL in downtown Spokane to see corporate executive chef Ricky Webster and team's spectacular, open for public viewing daily through the New Year. Read all about the marvelous feat of sugary architecture in this week's issue and online Also find out when and where to treat yourself to some holiday-friendly suds, courtesy of local and regional breweries and bars, in this week's round-up of "DecemBeer" events coming up in the next few weeks. |
Shoppers walk in downtown San Francisco as they take advantage of the post-Christmas sales.
Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images
Mixing politics with commerce is usually a dicey proposition for the pretty apparent reason that if half of America votes one way and the other half the other way, you’re cutting your potential customer pool in half if you pick a side. But that hasn’t stopped companies, or their leaders, from weighing in in the past.
The clothing chain Forever 21, however, has, perhaps inadvertently, taken it one step further with the “Unstoppable Muscle Tee” emblazoned with a quote from author and philosopher Ayn Rand. Here’s the Rand quote in question: “’The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me” and a picture of the shirt itself.
While the shirt’s sentiment could just as easily be a Michael Jordan quote in a Nike commercial a decade ago, because Rand’s political theorizing is part of the conservative ideological canon, it makes the quote a potentially far more divisive one. Even still, this isn’t the first time an apparel company has peddled a Rand quote, Lululemon also sold a Rand inspired “Who is John Galt?” bag.
But, will the Forever 21 clientele recognize, much less mind, the quote’s backstory? Seems unlikely. As for the company itself, what makes the whole thing a bit awkward is that Rand was a staunch atheist and Forever 21 is most definitely not. “John 3:16” is printed on the bottom of the store’s shopping bags after all.
So was the quote an oversight? Or will it sell like gangbusters? Maybe money, and fashion, trumps religion and politics these days. But, then again, maybe not? If you were worried about beating the crowd and snapping up one of the tees online, you’re apparently too late. |
The long-standing Freda Meats factory on Front Street in Pennsport could become a a mixed-use project with 48 apartments, a ground-floor parking garage, 4 townhouses and 30,000 sq. ft of commercial space. While the concept of transforming this Pennsport block is huge in itself, the major part of the project is a 120 ft. tall LED billboard that would be placed on the roof, in replacement of the outdated and just-too-short to be seen from I-95 structure currently on top of the warehouse.
At Tuesday night’s Pennsport Civic Association meeting, the room of 50 area residents expressed concerns mainly about the massive billboard that they believe would affect the neighborhood’s view, even more so than the existing Chickie’s and Pete’s billboard. Throughout the presentation it was emphasized by the development team that without this billboard, the project will not happen.
The proposed development is a five-story structure that would take the place of the meat company’s former facility. Since there are still existing residential structures on the Howard Street-side of the facility, along with a pocket park on Reed Street, the developers plan to build around those things, with the addition of four townhouses with two car parking garages along Howard. The apartments with the ground floor parking garage would be accessible through an entrance on Front Street. The current plans include a mix of one bedroom, one bedroom with den and two bedroom, “market rate” apartments that would be between 1,000 and 1,300 sq. ft. There will be 48 parking spaces in the garage for the apartments, along with another 8 commercial parking spaces.
On the north-side of the development, there would be a separate building with 30,000 sq. ft. for commercial spaces. The 8,000 sq. ft. ground floor space could become an anchor location for a Memphis restaurant looking to come to Philadelphia (Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, could it be you?). Architect Brian Newswanger also mentioned the possibility of a gym or a grocery store for the ground floor space. The upper-level commercial spaces would be for use as offices.
The problem residents had with the project was not about the apartments, townhouses and commercial space this project would bring to the neighborhood in an attempt to “reconnect to the waterfront”, but instead was related to the “eyesore” on the rooftop. The current billboard on the Freda building is 58.5 ft. tall, so the proposed development would more than double the height to 120 ft. Instead of being just a plain billboard that is lit from the front and shines light in all directions, the proposal is for a LED, light-controlled sign. The v-shaped billboard is meant to shine light solely in the direction of I-95, but residents expressed their concerns about the brightness, the shadow cast of the billboard in the daylight and overall how this structure will be seen by most of South Philadelphia.
Why does the billboard matter so much? The owner of Keystone Outdoor Advertising also owns the building, making this project not only about the fixing of this block, but about updating the billboard and making it visible from I-95, since the highway’s sound barriers now block the sign’s visibility. If the billboard isn’t approved as part of the project, the development team stated that, “there is no Plan B” for the site. |
Despite one budding women’s division in the UFC and a second on the way, three of the most-talked-about female fighters in the sport don’t fight in the octagon. That could soon change.
On Wednesday’s new edition of “UFC Tonight,” UFC President Dana White said Gina Carano (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Holly Holm (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) are both current targets and that each of them will likely appear in the UFC very soon.
“Holly Holm and Gina Carano are all a matter of getting a deal done,” White said.
UFC officials have flirted with the idea of Carano returning from a five-year absence and a Hollywood hiatus to get an immediate shot at UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), assuming she gets by the durable and crafty Alexis Davis (16-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at UFC 175.
On paper, it Rousey vs. Carano makes little sense. Recent UFC title challenger Miesha Tate recently argued that case when she said such a booking would be a “joke” and a “mockery of women’s MMA.” But the marketability of the matchup is unquestionable.
Meanwhile, Holm appears to be a legitimate threat to Rousey’s belt, as the undefeated prospect is a former boxing world champion with knockout power. Thus far, the UFC has been unable to come to terms on a contract for Holm, as her management has pushed for a big payday in her UFC debut. Relations were so contentious between the parties that White briefly said the UFC was no longer interested in her services.
That has now changed.
And as for the third name – the woman White infamously said looks like “Wanderlei Silva in a dress” – the UFC boss said he won’t completely rule out an eventual octagon appearance for former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiano “Cyborg” Justino (12-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), even if he isn’t especially optimistic right now.
“We know all the issues we’ve had with ‘Cyborg,’ from the steroid stuff to the managers to we don’t even have that weight class, so I don’t even know when she would get into the UFC,” White said. “I used to say never. I don’t say never anymore.”
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Gina Carano) |
We need to pair migrants with particular skills to areas with labour shortages
Britain’s population is growing. New estimates out this week reveal a 0.77 per cent population increase across the UK at the mid-point of 2014, higher than the 10-year average.
The rise is down to both a higher number of births than deaths (accounting for 46 per cent of the increase) and positive net migration (accounting for 53 per cent).
Britain benefits from migration – not least because migrants support our ageing society by helping to grow the economy, reduce the deficit and finance public services.
But significant numbers are concerned that the country is overcrowded. Indeed, Britain has one of the highest population densities in Europe.
And though the latest increase is not only down to a rise in inward migration, it is clear that net migration is having a sustained impact on population levels.
Still, Britain can cope with the current increase: the OBR has said that urban Britain ‘occupies less than 10 per cent of the surface area’ and density is relatively low by historical standards.
There is enough space for more houses if we are prepared to build them: building enough homes to accommodate the expected increase in people would mean that 12 or 13 per cent of land in England – rather than around 10 per cent- would be developed.
Population growth will of course be felt in some parts of the country, but it will not be felt everywhere. Breaking down the data reveals a much more mixed picture than the aggregate figures suggest.
In parts of Wales and Northern England – such as Cumbria and North Yorkshire – population levels are falling due to relatively low birth rates and low or negative levels of net migration (both international and internal).
On the other hand, parts of the South East and the Midlands have recently experienced very high levels of population growth. Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Islington and Corby are the five local authorities that have had the greatest growth over the past ten years.
In other areas – such as Manchester and Birmingham – population levels appear relatively stable but this masks considerable churn.
The latest figures also highlight Britain’s ageing population. There has been a rise in the median age to 40 – a jump of more than 6 years since 1974.
But again the impacts of ageing are uneven across the country. In areas with growing populations like Slough, Hackney and Tower Hamlets, the median age is far lower than average, while coastal areas tend to have greater numbers of older people.
The key challenge is therefore not that there are too many people in the UK, but that there are considerable imbalances across the country.
In some places local authorities are dealing with sustained pressure on public services; in others, they are struggling to retain skilled workers.
In order to address these imbalances, we need to do two things. First, local authorities facing high levels of flux and churn need greater support in easing pressures on public services.
Before the election, the Conservatives promised they would introduce a new Migration Control Fund for local authorities. This fund should target support services and address needs in particular areas where inward migration is creating pressures.
Second, local authorities with declining or stagnating populations would benefit from a better pairing of migrants arriving with particular skills to areas with labour shortages.
Germany’s shrinking population has incentivised localities to develop creative ways to utilise migration in order to boost their economies – with different cities competing for migrant labour through advertising, better international transport links, and targeted integration policies aiming to get migrants settled into work (such as guidance given to newcomers for setting up new businesses).
Asylum seekers, many of whom arrive highly-qualified, are also being dispersed to areas with high labour demand.
In the US, cities with declining populations such as Pittsburgh and Cleveland have come up with new strategies for attracting migrants to revitalise their economies – from targeting migrant community groups with job advertisements to producing webinars to support employers with visa administration for international students.
Local authorities suffering from demographic and economic decline could draw on some of these strategies to ensure migrants fill labour gaps, in order to both facilitate local economic growth and alleviate pressures in other parts of Britain.
These steps would go some way to addressing local imbalances and helping to ease public concerns. On the other hand, it would be a mistake to think that reducing net migration dramatically would seriously tackle population worries.
Instead, it would risk accelerating population ageing and, in some areas, adding to population decline– which would amount to a much greater demographic challenge.
Marley Morris is a researcher at IPPR. Follow him on Twitter
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The Quran-Burning Coverage Conundrum
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Brooke Gladstone is the host of On The Media from WNYC.
Pastor Terry Jones was clearly on another planet when he told ABC’s Terry Moran that his plan to burn Qurans was divinely inspired. Jesus “was very nice,” he said, “so I think Jesus would not run around burning books, but I think he would burn this one.”
But the pastor had feet solidly planted on terra firma when it came to working the media.
You can read NPR's coverage of the latest developments in this story by clicking here.
We love crazies -- they pull in audiences like a tractor beam. Even the mildly aberrant -- say, a runaway bride -- can dominate news cycles for days. But there was much more to the story of Pastor Jones. He is the fun-house mirror reflection of a certain segment of Americans. To politicians accused of racism or intolerance, he provided cover -- “we would never do that.” To the world outside, he offered confirmation of what they believed they already knew.
The problem for journalists was that in this political season, the story grew like a snowball rolling down a hill, and we have to take some responsibility for pushing it. The media, awash in controversy over the so-called ground zero mosque, smelled a pungent parable in the pastor’s tale. So how should we have covered it?
“This is a desperate man seeking the attention of the better part of the world,” said Press Secretary Robert Gibb. “I think we would all be served, for the safety of ourselves and for those that protect us each day, to cover something besides him every hour on the hour.”
As the week wore on, many mainstream news outlets made public avowals of their intention to approach the story with an emphasis on context, and a minimum of visuals. Fox News said it wouldn’t cover the story at all. The AP declared that its policy is not to cover events “that are gratuitously manufactured to provoke and offend,” which obviously this was. As Jones said: “A radical message is necessary. … We expect the Muslims that are here in America to respect, honor, obey, submit to our Constitution.”
Under the Constitution, people have the right to brazenly misconstrue the Constitution.
Small wonder that America’s freedoms of speech and religion are so often misunderstood abroad -- given the muddled debate that dominates the media here. And in fact, this story was not just about politics and intolerance. It was also, at its heart, a proxy argument among a wide range of ruminating, saliva-spewing, talking heads over our Constitution.
Most journalists here are guided by what’s called a sphere of consensus. What is commonly held to be outside that sphere is rarely heard. There was a time when moral condemnation of slavery was outside that sphere. But now with so many people producing media, the contours of acceptable speech have grown indistinct. We reap the whirlwind of unbounded freedom of the press, now virtually indistinguishable from freedom of speech.
We say our enemies hate our freedom. But sometimes we seem to hate it, too.
Weeks before it caused a ripple here, reports of the pastor’s plan, carried by the Internet, reverberated across the Middle East. So did the American fracas that followed, generating much wonderment and confusion. The impact abroad is a real story -- but it wasn’t created by our media.
It is, in a sense, about our media.
You can listen to this story by tuning in to On The Media this weekend on your local NPR station. |
Jordain Carney at the Hill reports:
“There was also a consensus that anyone on the other side of the aisle who thinks that they’re just going to codify DACA in the year-end appropriations bill, it may not be very well received,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) added that senators and Trump agreed that an immigration deal would not be included in “omnibus or any other … must-pass piece of legislation in 2017.”
“Absolutely not on the omnibus under no circumstances. Sen. McConnell says the same thing,” Cotton added.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he didn’t have any announcements on spending bills and declined to discuss private conversations.
Several GOP senators, including Cotton, Tillis and Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, met with Trump at the White House to discuss immigration and their ongoing negotiations on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. |
Adia: A Week With Clojure And MongoDB
Zef Hemel Blocked Unblock Follow Following Dec 30, 2009
I spent last week with my wife and her family in Poland (my wife is Polish). Her parents do not speak English, or any other language than Polish so communication is problematic beyond the thank you, you’re welcome, yes and no thank yous. My wife also spends a lot of time meeting with her friends, so I typically spend quite some time staring at the wall among people who are speaking a language I do not know well enough yet.
So, recently I’ve been coming up with little one-week programming projects for the weeks we spend there. These projects do not have to lead to anything in particular, but give me a good amount of time to take a deep dive into something I do not ordinarily have time for.
Last week my project was building a web application and framework with Clojure and MongoDB. I already had a plan for a web application in mind before, and already read up on Clojure (through the excellent Programming Clojure book) and played with it a little bit. I have also been interested in non-relational databases for quite some time and before have played with Google AppEngine’s DataStore and CouchDB. Similar to CouchDB, MongoDB is a document-oriented database, but it has more “conventional” querying methods than CouchDB, still not SQL though.
For a week on-and-off I went to work.
There were basically two components to this project, first getting to know MongoDB and second learning to build a nice internal DSL in a functional language, specifically, a lisp (I never seriously learned a Lisp before, only supervised practical sessions for a class using Scheme). As a case study I came up with a nice not-too-complicated web application to build. I won’t go into that application in this post, it’s still secret (wooh!).
Alright. MongoDB is written in C++ and has readily compiled binaries for most platforms available and very easy to install (simply extract and run). It is known for its good performance and used by many companies, including Sourceforge and Disqus (the comment system I use on this website). After starting the server, the easiest way to start interacting with the system is the mongo javascript console.
Let me demonstrate it by simply showing you a sequence of commands (prefixed with >) and outputs:
> use people
switched to db people
> db.Person.save({name: “Zef Hemel”, age: 26})
> db.Person.save({name: “Justyna Hemel”, age: 26})
> db.Person.find()
{“_id” : ObjectId( “4b3b51c24905573d69b9bd67”) , “name” : “Zef Hemel” , “age” : 26}
{“_id” : ObjectId( “4b3b51d64905573d69b9bd68”) , “name” : “Justyna Hemel” , “age” : 26}
Note that the people database did not exist yet, and was in fact created when it was first used, similarly, the Person collection (“mongoose” ;-) for table) was automatically created when I saved a first record to it. Like other document databases, collections are schema-less. Now that we have some data, we can start querying:
> db.Person.find({name: “Zef Hemel”})
{“_id” : ObjectId( “4b3b51c24905573d69b9bd67”) , “name” : “Zef Hemel” , “age” : 26}
So querying happens by passing the find function a map of keys and values that must match in a document. This notation gets slightly weird when looking for age ranges, for instance between 20 and 30:
> db.Person.find({age: {$gt: 20, $lt: 30}})
{“_id” : ObjectId( “4b3b51c24905573d69b9bd67”) , “name” : “Zef Hemel” , “age” : 26}
{“_id” : ObjectId( “4b3b51d64905573d69b9bd68”) , “name” : “Justyna Hemel” , “age” : 26}
So there, as value of the property age, we give it another map with special operators $gt and $lt, which stand for… greater than and less than! It’s a bit odd, but it’s easy to get used to (and screaming to be wrapped in some nicer syntax on a language level).
Because no indexes have been defined on the collection yet, this lookup is still rather slow. However, indexes can easily be defined:
> db.Person.ensureIndex({name: 1})
true
This defines an index on the name property in ascending order (-1 would be descending). The index order only matters when putting indexes on multiple columns and sorting on some of them, or so the manual tells me.
So, MongoDB is fairly straight forward to play with, easily create new collections, add properties and so on. Intuitively it feels like a good match to a dynamic language, such as Clojure.
Clojure is dynamic functional language for the JVM. As mentioned, it is a Lisp. It comes with a nice interactive REPL to experiment with. The most interesting thing about Clojure from my point of view, as somebody doing research into domain-specific languages, is the ability to create domain-specific languages with it. As you will know, the syntax of Lisp is extremely simple and mostly defined by its functions and macros.
There is already a simple Clojure web framework called Compojure, which is basic but quite powerful. For my application I decided to build some layers on top of Compojure. First of all, compojure only deals with the web side of things and not with database stuff. For MongoDB there is CongoMongo, a simple Clojure interface to MongoDB. This turned out the be far from complete, however, so I branched it and added a bunch of functions to it.
I decided to call my little framework Adia, it’s available for download from github, see the Readme there for installation instructions, there’s no documentation yet, there is however a simple wiki application in the examples directory.
Although MongoDB does not enforce any schema, it seemed like a useful thing to define a simple entity language anyway, if not for the database itself, for me, as documentation and possibly for automatic form generation and data validation, later. This is what it looks like:
(defent Page
[:title :string {:unique true}]
[:author :string]
[:text :text])
As can be guessed, this defines a Page entity with three properties: title, author and text.
As you will be aware, I’m a developer of WebDSL, a DSL for building web applications, and came to appreciate its simple page and template abstractions. Although implementing actions in a WebDSL fashion would be against the functional character of the language, I did add a page abstraction, except I call them webfns, defined with defwebfn (similar to defn, to define a Clojure function):
(defwebfn say-hello [nam str]
(str “Hello, “ nam))
This defines a web function with one parameter: nam, which is coerced to a string value through the str function. Similarly, every entity definition also defines a function with the same name that can coerce the URL representation (identifier) and retrieve its value from the database, e.g.:
(Page “31108a33ee093a4bdd7b5900”)
Retrieves the page object with ID “31108a33ee093a4bdd7b5900”. This can be taken advantage of in web functions as follows:
(defwebfn show-title [p Page]
(str “Title: “ (:title p)))
These webfns are available through a URI based on their name and the last part of the namespace they were defined in. For instance, when a webfn show is defined in namespace myapp.user, it will be available through “/user/show”. Any namespace ending with .index, or webfn named index, are bound to the root, e.g. webfn index in myapp.user results in “/user” and webfn index in myapp.index is bound to “/”.
Templates are, of course, simply functions with parameters. Compojure comes with a rather nice alternative HTML representation using Clojure vectors:
[:a {:href “/”} “Link text”]
Which can be used to define a main template:
(defn main-layout [title & body]
(html
(doctype :html4)
[:html
[:head
[:title title]]
[:body
[:h1 “Header”]
[:hr]
body
[:hr]
“© Zef Hemel”]]))
Of course, vectors like these can easily be combined with regular function calls, to build pages. Here is an example of an index page with title “Wiki home”, displaying a list of current pages and a form to add a new one:
(defwebfn index []
(main-layout
“Wiki home”
[:h1 “All wiki pages”]
[:ul
(for [p (query model/Page)]
[:li (navigate [show p] (:title p))])]
(form [handle-add]
[:h1 “Add a page”]
[:div “Title: “ (input-string :title)]
[:div (input-text :text)]
(submit-button “Add page”))))
This will be rendered roughly as follows:
The actual adding happens in the handle-add function:
(defwebfn handle-add []
(let [p (databind
(model/Page
:author (get-session :username))
*form* [:title :text])]
(redirect [show (persist! p)])))
Additionally, I can define an access control rule for handle-add:
(defac handle-add (get-session :username))
Which says that only if the session key :username has a value, i.e. the user is logged in, a page can be added, resulting in the handle-add only to be available to logged in users. In addition, the form on the index page will be hidden when the user is not logged in. Similar to WebDSL’s navigates.
Lessons learned
MongoDB is a nice and simple NoSQL database system and when you’re in the right document-vs-row no-join-required mindset, it’s easy to work with. I found that it also works well with Clojure, initially I played with Clojure and MySQL a bit, which also works fine. Still, I found it a bit slower to iterate because you keep creating and dropping tables and adding, modifying and removing columns in your table as you’re developing the application. Database migration is a pain. In MongoDB this is less of a problem I have found.
Clojure is quite a nice, elegant, simple language and macros are a very powerful way of defining new “syntax” for your own little domain-specific languages. The syntax of the language is the user interface to the developer and is therefore important. Not everybody is a fan of the Lisp syntax and it definitely takes some getting used to. Lisp programmers say you should see through the parentheses and instead look at indentation to extract meaning from programs. That works, but bites you in the ass when you do some s-expression manipulation and misplace some parenthesis and do not let your editor (I used vim with vimclojure) re-indent your code. This happened to me a few times and on occasion took me quite some time to debug.
The Clojure syntax is concise, maybe too concise. Sometimes I find it hard to e.g. see what piece of code is part of the true and which is of the false branch of an if-statement, an else keyword can be useful to make code easier to read.
Homoiconicity is cool. The defwebfn macro, in addition to defining a function and doing some other stuff, also keeps the original list structure that defines the web function in memory (the source code, as it were). The access control module takes advantage of this by taking this code, wrapping an if statement around it and recompiling it at runtime. Model transformations at runtime! Potentially more advanced program transformations can happen in this way.
Are Clojure DSLs as flexible as external DSLs? Not really. First off, you’re locked into the Lisp syntax. Second, checking is rather limited and error messages not always extremely helpful, similar to DSLs in other languages, such as Ruby. Clojure does do compile-time symbol lookups which is helpful, but beyond that a lot of errors are detected at runtime. Macros are evaluated at compile time and can therefore check a few things then, but this checking is limited to the “AST” representation of its arguments. Clojure is a dynamically typed language, so checking in general is problematic. And third, you’re bound to the JVM (or with more effort CLR), you can’t target multiple platforms.
Meta-programming in Clojure is cleaner than in many other languages such as Ruby and Python. Most of it happens using macros which are fairly clean, if used well.
As I suggested before, libraries and internal DSLs like these are great ways of prototyping abstractions. They’re easy and quick to implement. Access control was added in about 20–30 lines of extra code, OpenID authentication took about 30 (through use of JOpenID). This makes Clojure a great language to try out and play with abstractions. I find that in Stratego, which we use to implement WebDSL, this is still problematic due to the fact that (1) it is a separate language, so you have to make mental jumps between Stratego and the target language, e.g. Java, and (2) long compilation times of the ever growing WebDSL compiler.
As mentioned, if you’re interested in Adia, you can download it and play with it yourself. Documentation is essentially non-existent as of yet, but the wiki example demonstrates its basic features. |
Conservative industrialist Charles Koch declined to back Donald Trump in last year's election. (Patrick T. Fallon for The Washington Post)
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Leaders of the influential Koch network on Sunday expressed opposition to President Trump's ban on refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, saying the executive order is not in keeping with their aims to build a free and open society.
“We believe it is possible to keep Americans safe without excluding people who wish to come here to contribute and pursue a better life for their families,” said Brian Hooks, the president of the Charles Koch Foundation, who is co-chairing a weekend conference of donors who help finance the Koch operation.
“The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive,” he added. “Our country has benefited tremendously from a history of welcoming people from all cultures and backgrounds. This is a hallmark of free and open societies.”
The statement represents the network's first public critique of Trump since his election victory.
President Trump signed an executive order to halt U.S. entry for refugees, migrants and foreign nationals for 120 days starting Jan. 27. Fiery protests and lawsuits made for a tumultuous weekend. Here's what you need to know. (Dalton Bennett,Erin Patrick O'Connor,Katherine Shaver,Monica Akhtar,McKenna Ewen/The Washington Post)
Last year, Charles Koch, the conservative industrialist who leads the network, was sharply critical of Trump's proposal to ban Muslim immigrants from the United States, calling the idea “antithetical to our approach.” He called the suggestion that Trump might require Muslims to register “reminiscent of Nazi Germany.”
Koch did not weigh in on the ban Saturday night as he greeted 550 wealthy donors gathered in a courtyard under stately palm trees at a desert resort here. The 81-year-old billionaire, who pointedly declined to endorse Trump in last year's presidential election, praised the network's work in helping Republicans maintain their majority in the Senate and their support for state officials around the country.
He expressed optimism about what the group will be able to accomplish in the coming year, saying, “We may not have an opportunity again like we have today.”
[Koch network to spend $300 million to $400 million on politics, policy in 2018 cycle]
In the 2018 cycle, the network aims to spend $300 million to $400 million on policy and political campaigns — up from $250 million during the 2016 elections. The money will be spread across a constellation of groups, including Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the Freedom Partners Action Fund, Concerned Veterans for America, the Libre Initiative and Generation Opportunity, which operate under the AFP banner.
This weekend's gathering is the largest since Koch began holding twice-a-year seminars with like-minded donors in 2003. Since then, he and his allies have built a political and policy operation with reach into 36 states.
No one from the Trump administration attended this weekend's conclave. However, five Republican senators made appearances: Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.), David Perdue (Ga.), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Mike Lee (Utah) and James Lankford (Okla.). So are two House members, Jason Chaffetz (Utah) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.). And three governors flew in: Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, Arizona’s Doug Ducey and Illinois’s Bruce Rauner.
[Top Republicans raise concerns that ban could harm U.S. image]
Asked by reporters Sunday whether he wanted to weigh in on Trump's refugee ban, Chaffetz quipped: “Not really, but if you want me to, I will.”
The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee expressed concerns about the specifics but said the move is generally on the right track.
“If we’re targeting based on religion, I think that’s wrong,” said Chaffetz. “I understand the need and support the idea that vetting from certain countries is needed. … A legal permanent resident I think is a different category. I don’t understand what they’re trying to do on those categories. People that have a green card supposedly have been vetted. So there needs to be some further clarification.”
The congressman withdrew his support for Trump in October after the revelation of a 2005 “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump talked about women in lewd terms.
But on Sunday, Chaffetz praised Trump for governing as he campaigned. “I support generally what he’s doing, and he’s off to a roaring start,” said Chaffetz, who might try to run for Senate in 2018. “I think he’s surprising a lot of people that he’s doing what he said he’s going to do. But there are those of us that actually support that.”
For his part, Lee ducked when asked by reporters about the executive order, saying he only wanted to talk about criminal justice reform, the subject of a panel Sunday morning
“We’re here to discuss a different issue and I’ve got to leave right now to go catch a flight,” he said.
Pressed by a group of reporters at the meeting, he added: “I wasn’t aware that I’d lose my First Amendment rights after walking out this door.”
Then Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, walked out the door. |
Robbie Dinwoodie reported in Friday’s Herald (here) that it was likely the Scotland Bill Committee at Holyrood would recommend that the Parliament withhold legislative consent unless joint commencement arrangements for the income tax provisions were agreed. It’s odd that this particular issue should seemingly be the decisive one, though less so if one looks at the conduct of the various parties.
The unease of the Holyrood committee about the bill is no wonder. The committee has an SNP majority, including three ex-ministers. The UK Government has declined to amend the bill as requested by the predecessor committee, let alone in accordance with the changes sought by the SNP Scottish Government. The bill already failed to incorporate some recommendations made by the Calman Commission (notably devolving a share of income tax arising from interest and dividend payments, air passenger duty and the aggregates levy), but included a UK Government wish-list of powers over matters like referrals to the UK Supreme Court and international relations that would increase UK power to control the use of devolved powers. None of that is conducive to helping gain support for the bill at Holyrood. There’s a long list of concerns about the bill, including those set out in my own evidence, and the evidence of Michael Moore and David Mundell last week may have been emollient but it was also unyielding.
But perhaps the key issue is the way the Scottish block grant is to be cut to allow for the new devolved power over income tax. This has been a key objection of mine to the bill’s proposals, from the time it was published just under a year ago. It ought to be fairly straightforward to calculate the first year’s reduction, and illustrative figures for that could have been prepared when the first UK Government white paper was published in November 2009 (but wasn’t). What’s more difficult is the methodology for adjusting that amount in subsequent years, so the amount by which the block grant is reduced in year 5 or year 10 after the new system is introduced is still ‘proportional’. This issue was covered in a single sentence into the Calman Commission report, but took 10 pages in the Holtham commission’s report looking at the same issue for Wales. Although the first Scotland Bill Committee made a recommendation about the approach based on the evidence of Gerald Holtham, the UK Government has still not set out its position about this vital issue – two and a half years, now, since the Calman report was published. All Moore could say about this when questioned about it before the Holyrood committee last week was that a meeting with the Scottish Government had agreed ‘principles’ for the calculation, though he did not divulge what those principles were or how far the agreement went, and that the committee – and implementation of the Act – meant he should be trusted. It was telling that many of the sharpest questions on this point came from David McLetchie, the only Conservative on the committee. They aren’t limited to the SNP, nor should they be.
The Scottish Government’s proposal for joint commencement (or, more accurately, implementation) arrangements arises principally because of this lack of clarity about the reduction in the block grant. Their position is that this is a way of ensuring that the approach taken by the UK Government does not undermine the interests of the Scottish Government. Given the importance of the point and the UK Government’s lack of clarity about it, such an approach is entirely understandable. But both Moore and, a couple of weeks earlier Lord Wallace, indicated that such a provisions would be unacceptable because the bill is ‘a package’. So joint commencement seems out, though it has become a key minimum demand for Holyrood and the circumstances mean it’s an understandable one.
That means that either the bill as a whole will fall (which is what Michael Moore has said would happen if legislative consent weren’t forthcoming), or it is imposed on Holyrood despite its rejection there. As I’ve argued HERE, the latter would seriously undermine devolution as a constitutional project. The former would show that devolution is in fact incapable of evolving, though.
In taking this position, the UK ministers seem to have overplayed their hand. It’s their bill, and one which the present Scottish Government and a majority in the Parliament don’t care for very much. To gain their support, the UK needs to make its case that it is in fact in Scotland’s interests for the bill to go forward, and they’ve shown no eagerness to revise it to make that case. The changes made to the Calman package in preparing the bill were clearly to its detriment; the changes made since introduction (the clauses relating to the UK Supreme Court) are seen in the same way. However, the pressure is on London here, not Holyrood. Failure of the bill would suggest that London is intransigent, that it doesn’t have the best interests of Scotland at heart (it certainly has failed to argue convincingly that it does), and that devolution is in fact incapable of developing to respond to changing circumstance. In practice, looking to a referendum it would mean that the options for the future would come down to independence versus the status quo. That is a very uncomfortable place for the unionist parties to be.
All this goes back to the ‘original sin’ of the Scotland bill; the fragmentation of constitutional debate that took place in the second half of 2007, between the start of the ‘National Conversation’ and the unveiling of the Calman Commission (see HERE for my detailed discussion of that). The political assumption underlying the unionist parties’ position was that they would be able to bring their proposals into effect without the need for engaging the SNP in the process, it was a mistaken one – not just with hindsight (because of the May 2011 election), but at the time, because constitution-making has to proceed in different ways to ordinary politics, and runs into serious difficulties when it excludes one of the major parties in a political system. The SNP has no stake in the Scotland bill because it was outside the process that produced it.
Where we are now means that any amendment of the bill would be an embarrassing highly visible climb-down – there’s no discreet way out of this situation. But that is probably better for unionists than the alternative, of losing the bill entirely, with all that says about devolution as a project.
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A photo taken on February 26, 2015 in Paris, shows two 7-meter high vertical axis wind turbines generating 10,000 kwh, installed on the second floor of the Eiffel tower. (JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images)
In the global effort to fight climate change, cities have some of the greatest potential– and the greatest imperative — to make a difference. With an increasing global migration into the world’s urban areas, which are expected to support at least two-thirds of the total human population by 2050, experts have argued that cities have no choice but to transition toward low-carbon systems if they’re going to remain sustainable.
Energy will need to be a primary focus of that effort. From the expansion of renewable energy sources to the adoption of cutting-edge energy efficiency and storage technologies, cities have the opportunity to drastically reduce their carbon footprints.
This is the focus of a new paper, published Thursday in the journal Science, that discusses the ways cities can integrate renewable energy, as well as energy-saving technologies, into the urban landscape. This can be a challenge, given that cities — with their closely packed buildings and dense populations — don’t always lend themselves to traditional renewable techniques. It’s not exactly practical to fit an acres-long solar panel array in the middle of Shanghai, for instance, or to place a 200-foot-tall wind turbine in downtown New York City.
But with a little creativity, researchers are developing new ideas and technologies specifically designed for city life. In the new paper, authors Daniel Kammen and Deborah Sunter of the University of California Berkeley have evaluated some of the most promising of these. Here are a few of the innovative solutions that may help cities lead the ongoing fight against climate change and the march toward a low-carbon society.
See-through solar cells
Although many forms of renewable energy may be useful for different cities around the world, solar is likely to have the most traction in the future. “In essentially every setting, solar — even in places that don’t seem as ideal as tropical sunny cities — is arguably the lead,” said Kammen, director of UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. “And that’s just because there’s now so many ways to deploy solar.”
Traditionally, solar panels have been limited to the roofs of buildings, where there’s space available and they’re likely to get the most sun. But now, researchers have developed transparent solar panels that can actually be mounted on the windows of buildings in order to capture even more sunlight. This design could allow buildings to generate even more of their own power from solar energy in the future.
Additionally, Kammen noted, researchers have developed technology that allows them to “tune” solar cells to take the best advantage of the light that’s available to them. Solar cells in places with lots of direct sunlight can be optimized for shorter wavelengths of radiation, for instance, while cells in places with lots of clouds or scattered light can be tuned to take advantage of longer wavelengths.
Transparent solar cells developed by UCLA researchers. (Courtesy of the University of California Los Angeles)
Tiny urban turbines
Wind energy — which evokes images of tall turbines with immense, rotating blades — may not seem like the most practical renewable resource for densely packed urban areas. But scientists are finding ways to optimize wind turbines for cities as well.
“What we’re seeing now is a whole new generation of small, ultra-light, highly efficient wind turbines that can be built into buildings,” Kammen said. Urban wind turbines have been experimentally introduced in various cities around the world. The World Trade Center in Bahrain, for instance, was the first set of skyscrapers to be built with integrated wind turbines, which can supply up to 15 percent of the building’s electrical energy needs. The Eiffel Tower has been fitted with two turbines.
Kammen and Sunter also point to the Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China, which incorporates wind turbines in an innovative design. “The curved glass facade of the building funnels air to the [turbines] at speeds of 1.5 to 2.5 times the ambient wind speed, allowing the turbines to generate 15 times more energy than freestanding wind turbines could,” the authors write.
New life for urban waste
People in urban areas produce about twice as much garbage as people in rural areas, Kammen and Sunter point out in their paper — and the management of municipal waste is only going to become a bigger issue as more and more people migrate into the world’s cities. By 2050, urban areas are expected to see an influx of approximately 2.5 billion people.
But it’s possible to take advantage of urban waste in smart ways that benefit a city’s energy landscape. Landfills tend to emit gas, typically methane and carbon dioxide, which can be collected and burned for energy. Additionally, solid waste itself can be incinerated and used to generate energy.
Of course, this isn’t entirely a renewable method of producing energy and comes with the side effect of producing carbon emissions. But the researchers note that carbon capture systems could be built into such incineration plants to collect excess emissions and improve the method’s sustainability.
Improved energy storage
“Storage technologies are undergoing some incredibly rapid revolutions, arguably as fast or faster than the recent incredible ramp-up we’ve seen in solar,” Kammen said. Renewable energy sources are likely to become more competitive as storage technology improves, enabling them to be useful even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t strong. A crucial step in the expansion of renewables in cities will likely involve constructing new buildings — or retrofitting old ones — to allow space for energy storage systems, Kammen said.
Batteries are a key form of storage whose future is already looking bright. Energy storage on the electric grid soared in 2015, a key step forward for the expansion of solar across the country. And home batteries are emerging as well, with Tesla making headlines last year with the announcement of its new Powerwall battery.
Kammen also pointed to a creative and competitive form of storage involving flywheels, which use spinning disks or other rotating bodies to store kinetic energy. A major advantage of flywheel storage is that it’s capable of a highly rapid response rate — often even faster than batteries, according to Kammen.
An integrated landscape
Of course, there are plenty of other strategies that cities may deploy in the future as well. Taking advantage of geothermal energy, improving clean transportation technologies, expanding mass transit and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings are other solutions that cities may continue exploring.
Depending on their locations, climates, existing infrastructures and available resources, different cities will likely end up using different approaches to tackle their energy needs and reduce their carbon footprints. But in all cases, the integration of many different technological innovations will likely be necessary for success.
“The real message of the paper is that the technological base is going to keep evolving,” Kammen said.
Read more at Energy & Environment:
Why Trump’s idea of ‘renegotiating’ the Paris climate agreement is so bizarre
As tree killing disease ravages California, scientists urge the public and leaders not to give up
Even for the fast melting Arctic, 2016 is in ‘uncharted territory’
For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here. |
But during the questioning of your own decision, it’s a dreadful, miserable period. I think about if I’ll end up regretting it. I wonder how it will look and feel. I start to question my transition as a whole. It honestly scares me whenever I have that last thought, whether or not my transition was a good thing. There’s never a lingering or strong enough feeling for me to start regretting or thinking it was a mistake, considering what’s going on the other 99% of the time during my life- optimism, clear-headed thinking, happiness, feeling freer to be myself than I ever have felt…and things like that. But I’m usually scared to mention any of these thoughts, in fear that whomever I say them to will start leading me further down a path of, “see, you weren’t trans after all!” |
Asteroid 1950 DA is hurtling toward Earth, defying gravity, and could end human life.
But current Earth dwellers need not worry. Scientists say it wouldn’t hit the planet till March 16, 2,880, according to a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature.
The odds of the asteroid hitting Earth were first estimated at one in 300, but more recent observations have lowered the risk to one in 4,000. While those odds seem low, keep in mind that you have a one in 960,000 chance of being struck by lightning in a given year. So this asteroid rightfully has scientists’ attention.
Scientists are particularly interested in 1950 DA because its particles are held together by cohesive forces strong enough to “overwhelm gravity.’’ If scientists try to find a way to divert the asteroid’s possible collision with Earth, researchers will have to take those forces into account.
Calculations suggest it could spin no faster than about once every 2.2 hours if it were held together by gravity alone, but the asteroid goes faster than that, once every 2.1 hours. The researchers calculated that cohesive forces, exerting no more pressure than a coin resting in the palm of a hand, must be at work.
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Current research shows that blasting the incredibly fast-moving asteroid into chunks could be more dangerous than trying to nudge the asteroid onto a new path in the solar system.
Ben Rozitis, a planetary scientist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and a co-author of the study, said that one appealing strategy to deflect the asteroid is a ‘gravity tractor,’ a spacecraft that would fly alongside the asteroid, using its gravitational pull to steer the rock onto a new trajectory. This would be safer than blowing it up because the direction in which fragments hurtle would be unpredictable.
Rozitis told The Independent that the asteroid, which is one kilometer in diameter, is moving at nine miles a second relative to Earth and would hit us with a force of about 44,800 megatons of TNT. The first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima was equal to 20,000 tons of TNT, to give some perspective. So this asteroid would cause a massive explosion, create tsunamis, alter Earth’s climate, and destroy human life.
Luckily, we have 35 generations for scientists to figure out a way to avoid this kind of catastrophe. |
Well, lucky for you, I still had a link on one of my LJ posts to one of the series of scans that psychousagi had posted of the story over on scans_daily (and if anyone else has the rest of this story, I'll gladly edit this post to include it).As ham-handed and cringe-worthy as this Old-School Marvel After-School Special might seem to our modern storytelling sensibilities, I have to say, there's a lot that it does right.Back in the days when most portrayals of sexual assault in the mainstream media still amounted to "stranger-in-the-bushes rape" committed by obviously creepy, often older men (and ALWAYS men, never NOT men), this simple little PSA comic showed that both men AND women, who were relatively young themselves, were capable of committing the sexual abuse of children.More importantly, it addressed the fear and pain that a child would feel, from being violated by an adult whom they'd previously liked and trusted so much, as well as the guilt that a child would feel, from sensing that they've somehow done something "wrong," to displease either the adult who violated them or the adults they've been told to "keep a secret" from.Even more importantly, it gave an iconic superhero like Spider-Man a background as a survivor of sexual abuse, but it didn'this life story to that one moment. On average, one out of every four women, and one out of every six men, suffers such an assault during his or her lifetime, and yes, that's obviously going to be a huge trauma for them to recover from, but the mistake that too many writers make is to assume that such an event will somehow exclusivelythose people's lives, like Bruce Wayne seeing his parents get shot turned him into Batman. By contrast, what Peter Parker's story shows here is that you can heal from this type of hurt, and it doesn't make you "damaged" or "broken" or "unlovable" or any other such nonsense.Most importantly, though, this PSA comic, for as clunky as its plotting and narration might seem to our more sophisticated tastes, deals with this subject in a sensitive, non-threatening way, that makes it clear to kids that |
The growing heroin epidemic is striking all regions of the United States.
While the Northeast and Appalachian regions have been hit the hardest, the St. Louis metro region has also seen the ugly side of heroin abuse and its consequences. Dr. Robert Corley, a physician at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in St Louis, can attest to the crisis. Corley sees as many as five or six patients daily that have overdosed from heroin. He is currently working in unison with the St. Charles Fire Department as its medical director. Area firefighters have the ability to treat individuals experiencing overdose with the nasal spray Naloxone, or “Narcan.” Naloxone, which can now be purchased a local pharmacies, is able to reverse the effects of overdoses if administered quickly enough to sufferers. First responders such as paramedics and police officers are also trained to administer Naloxone.
Dr. Corley has noticed that many of his patients that have overdosed had used heroin that was secretly laced with Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that has been known to be up to 50 times more potent than regular heroin. Overdoses are only the beginning of the area’s troubles, however. Many heroin addicts in St. Louis are unable to get access to quality addiction treatment due to a lack of quality insurance. Medicaid recipients are able to gain access to addiction treatment but the waitlists are often long and won’t cover the highest levels of care. Lengthy waitlists are the result.
One local hospital is able to offer 3 to 5 day detoxification with a self-pay option in the neighborhood of $4000 if the patient doesn’t have insurance coverage. However, general hospitals aren’t able to effectively treat addiction thereafter and will often refer patients to drug treatment centers.. |
Sorry, St. Louis! But the Rams are moving back to Los Angeles for the start of the 2016 football season. So you'd think that the official website for the team will change from www.stlouisrams.com to www.losangelesrams.com, right?
Not so fast. The losangelesrams.com domain is already registered ... to an owner of a used car dealership and storage facility in Rapid City, South Dakota. Is he about to cash in if the NFL wants the domain name?
Brian Busch, who owns Anytime Auto Sales and Storage, told me he didn't claim the name with visions of getting a big payout. He wasn't doing what's known as cybersquatting -- holding a domain name hostage.
Busch said he first registered the domain way back in 1997 -- two years after the Rams first moved to St. Louis from LA. He said he's probably spent about $1,000 to $2,000 over the past 19 years to keep the domain for this long.
And according to the ICANN domain registration database, Busch has the rights to the website address locked up until January 2024.
Related: How the Rams owner beat the NFL old guard to move back to LA
Busch said it was never his intention to make money from the domain name. After all, the likelihood of the Rams returning to Hollywood didn't really pick up steam until Rams owner Stanley Kroenke bought 60 acres of land in Inglewood, California in 2014.
"I'm a lifelong Rams fan. I bought it in order to set up a tribute site," Busch said. "I have a signed Roman Gabriel jersey in my office." (Gabriel was a quarterback for the Rams from 1962 through 1972 and won the NFL MVP award in 1969.)
Busch, 54, is a South Dakota native. But he said he decided to be a Rams fan in the 1970s because all his friends rooted for the Minnesota Vikings -- the closest NFL team to Rapid City. He wanted to be different.
"Many people in South Dakota are Vikings fans. I didn't want to be a Vikings fan," Busch said. "The Rams often played the Vikings in the playoffs. I loved their old helmet with the white horns. They looked cool."
Busch never wound up developing the website as an homage to those great 1970s teams as planned. It's currently just a parked Web page being hosted by domain registry GoDaddy.
"I got busy with life, had some kids and it got put on the back burner," he said.
But he's still a huge Rams fan, adding that he's thrilled to see them move back to Los Angeles. Busch even took his two daughters to Minnesota this November to watch them play the Rams.
The Vikings won that game 21-18 in overtime. Kicker Blair Walsh won it with a 40-yard field goal. (Vikings fans are probably cringing to see "Blair Walsh" and "field goal" in the same sentence after Sunday's heartbreaking playoff loss.)
So what now? Busch is expecting a call from the NFL and the Rams -- and he's willing to negotiate.
Related: NFL approves Rams return to LA
The NFL was not immediately available for comment. But other domains that the Rams could conceivably use in the City of Angels have already been scooped up as well.
The larams.com site is registered to a company called Pool.com with an address in Ottawa, according to ICANN domain. A phone call to the number listed for the registrant went to an automated message service.
But when you go to the site, there is a banner that says "this domain may be for sale."
Clicking on that brings you to a website for ParkLogic, a self-described "doman asset management firm" in Australia. ParkLogic was not immediately available for comment.
And then there's rams.com. That's a site featuring fun facts about the animal. I found out that ram is the "correct term for the male bighorn sheep" and that "a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram's horns can weigh 30 pounds."
But the NFL is going to have to change the domain for the Rams at some point before the start of next season. So Busch is probably the league's best bet to get a new relevant address.
"I hope we can work out some sort of deal," he said, adding that he had no idea what kind of price he'd ask for.
Some context for him though: Major League Baseball bought the rangers.com domain for the Texas Rangers team last year for $375,000! The NFL and Rams billionaire owner Kroenke should have no problem coming up with at least that much. |
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The word in Washington is that President Obama has, in negotiations with Congressional Republicans, offered to raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. Ad Policy
A report in the Washington Post quoted "a Democratic official familiar with the discussions," while other media outlets quoted multiple unnamed sources with knowledge of the talks the president and Congressional leaders have been engaged in with regard to raising the debt ceiling. All the reports suggest that Obama would trade the change in the eligibility age for a Republican agreement to accept some new taxes.
Obama essentially acknowledged as much Monday, when he said: “I’m prepared to take significant heat from my party to get something done."
He should take significant heat.
The president’s proposal does not resemble a plan that mainstream Democrats would suggest, let alone support. In fact, it roughly resembles a plan advanced last month by Senators Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, and Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut.
That the White House appears to be peddling proposals that parallel those of conservative senators represents an exceptionally troubling development, as even considering a hike in the Medicare eligibility age represents the worst of Washington-insider thinking.
The problem with this play is four-fold:
1. Raising the eligibility age represents a huge benefit cut for older Americans.
The average life expectancy for an American who makes it to age 65 is in the range of 82 years.
That would give an American who reaches retirement age under the current system roughly seventeen years of Medicare coverage.
That number would under Obama’s proposal drop to fifteen years.
That’s a roughly 12 percent cut in benefits.
2. Raising the eligibility age would not save the money that proponents of the cut suggest.
Raising the eligibility age creates new pressures on a healthcare system that is already dysfunctional for older workers who are laid off or under-insured. Far from saving money, a spike in the eligibility age simply shifts the problem to other accounts. For instance, if the federal government is providing aid to the uninsured under the healthcare reform plan, folks aged 65 to 67 will just have to seek that aid —as opposed to tapping into the already functional and efficient Medicare program.
Worse yet, the aid would be for the buying of insurance from the private sector, which will charge its highest prices for insuring the older and more vulnerable uninsured. Thus, more cost to the taxpayers.
3. Raising the eligibility age harms the struggle with unemployment.
The smartest move for older workers who do not have access to Medicare until they are 67 will be to keep working.
That means that jobs will not come open for younger workers who are entering the labor market or have been laid off.
4. Raising the eligibility age undermines the argument that Democrats want to preserve Medicare and helps Republicans such as Paul Ryan to define the debate.
When a Democratic president joins Republicans in advancing the largest cut in Medicare benefits in modern history, that takes the steam out of the argument that Democrats want to preserve Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security while Republicans want to make cuts.
Democrats had their most significant victory in the past two years when Kathy Hochul won the special election in New York’s 26th District. Hochul grabbed a traditionally Republican seat by campaigning as a stalwart and unyielding defender of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. She offered real alternatives for voters who were concerned about deficits and debts: arguing for fair taxation and a broad examination of waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs.
That was a powerful, winning argument. But it cannot be made by a president or a party that imposes deep and unnecessary cuts in Medicare. Accepting that so-called “entitlement” programs are the source of America’s fiscal challenges effectively endorses House Budget Committee chairman Ryan’s false premises.
The voters rejected those false premises in the New York special election, and they will continue to do so —unless Barack Obama hands the issue to Ryan and the Republicans on the silver platter of a proposal to raise the Medicare eligibility age. |
Sometimes greatness is hard to spot. Before going on to lead the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, Michael Jordan was famously cut from his high school basketball team. Scientists often face rejection of their own—in their case, the gatekeepers aren’t high school coaches, but journal editors and peers they select to review submitted papers. A study published today indicates that this system does a reasonable job of predicting the eventual interest in most papers, but it may shoot an air ball when it comes to identifying really game-changing research.
Studying peer review is difficult due to the confidential nature of the process, but sociologist Kyle Siler of the University of Toronto in Canada and colleagues were able to examine the peer-review history of 1008 articles that were submitted to three elite medical journals: Annals of Internal Medicine, The BMJ, and The Lancet. In total, just 62 of the manuscripts were accepted (6.2%), confirming just how difficult it is to be published in a top-tier journal. Editors “desk rejected” 722 of the manuscripts, meaning they never made it to the journal’s peer-review stage. However, 757 of the initially rejected articles eventually went on to be published elsewhere. This allowed Siler and his team to analyze if, like Jordan, the vetoed papers would go on to achieve greatness.
The researchers found that, by and large, the gatekeeping system was predictive of a paper’s eventual number of citations. Papers that were accepted outright by one of the three elite journals tended to garner more citations than papers that were rejected and then published elsewhere, they report online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, papers that were desk rejected went on to receive fewer citations than papers that were approved by an editor, but then rejected during the subsequent peer-review process. “It’s a sign that these editors making snap decisions really quickly still have a nose for what quality is and isn’t,” Siler says.
There is a serious chink in the armor, though: All 14 of the most highly cited papers in the study were rejected by the three elite journals, and 12 of those were bounced before they could reach peer review. The finding suggests that unconventional research that falls outside the established lines of thought may be more prone to rejection from top journals, Siler says.
Part of the disparity may also arise from using citations as a measurement of quality. Although the most influential ideas often do serve as the basis for future research, highly technical topics with more niche appeal are less likely to be cited regardless of their scientific quality. Likewise, more accessible, “down-market” papers with practical applications may receive more citations, Siler says. “The analogy I use is, ‘Is Nickelback the best band in the world?’ No, not necessarily, but they’ve got that lowest common denominator, middle-of-the-road niche. The best research, in some cases, might be more esoteric.”
The initial rejection of all 14 of the most highly cited manuscripts indicates that the gatekeeping process is far from perfect. And Siler’s study is important, according to behavioral scientist Bill Starbuck of the University of Oregon in Eugene, because “anybody who comes out with some data which deals with this stuff, I think, is useful. I’d like to see more of these cages rattled. I’d like to see people rethink what they’re doing.”
One, perhaps radical, solution that seems to be gaining traction is to eliminate prepublication peer review altogether. With the rise of online journals, preprint servers, and academic social networks such as ResearchGate, page space is no longer at a premium, allowing more results to be published than ever before. “I think we’d be a lot better off if we just published everything. That’s probably the direction the world is actually going,” Starbuck says.
Low acceptance rates in journals may foster exclusivity and prestige, Siler says, but if his sample is representative of science as a whole, journals might also be missing important research that is esoteric or unconventional. In the case of the 14 overlooked items, “what the highly prestigious journals decide doesn’t dictate the ultimate value or recognition of the article,” Starbuck notes. |
Giancarlo Stanton is not a happy camper. The star outfielder vented his frustrations over the Miami Marlins recent play following a 10-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, which dropped them to 1-5 following the All-Star break and 11 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East.
“If you can’t win a series against the worst team in the league; there’s not much going for you, right there,” Stanton told MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro after the game.
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Even after winning two of three in Miami, the Phillies hold the league’s worst record at 32-61. They’re not likely to be much of a spoiler for teams that are truly contenders, which is why Miami absolutely had to win if there were any hopes of turning it around before the July 31 trade deadline.
To Stanton’s credit he did everything he could to help Miami right the ship. He finished the three-game series with four home runs, but received very little help as the Marlins wrapped up a listless home stand.
Giancarlo Stanton is quickly losing his patience with the Marlins. (AP)
Losing two of three to baseball’s worst team was enough to push Stanton to his breaking point, but there’s no doubt these feelings have been stewing for awhile. It’s only natural when you consider the team has disappointed, and as a result Stanton’s name and several of his teammates names have been floated around in trade rumors.
As is always the case in Miami, it seems they are on the verge of a fire sale, and with the team itself set to be sold there’s not a lot of certainty for anyone currently involved in the organization.
Story continues
For Stanton in particular, this could be a key time in his career. He’s currently signed to a 13-year, $325 million contract, but he holds a lot of power over where his career will go in the next few years. He holds a full no-trade clause, and also has an opt-out following the 2020 season. If he’s not liking what he’s seeing on the field or hearing from the organization, this might be the first clear indication he’s reached the point where he’s ready to move on.
Stanton’s comments alone won’t increase the likelihood of a trade. But they add another layer to a story that was already worth watching before July 31.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! |
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Portugal is indestructible. I know this because I went there recently with the Floridians, also known as my 79-year-old dad and nearish-there-year-old stepmother.
And yes, I know they read this blog.
For a week, we revelled in Portugal’s gracious, slightly tarnished grandeur. We marvelled at the relaxed, softened elegance of Lisbon, the hilly charm of Porto and the hushed, rolling beauty of the Douro Valley.
We drank a lot of wine. We stayed in hotels, rented an apartment, and took trains, planes and automobiles. I learned to love the hop-on-hop off bus.
Portugal has a slight underdog status versus the tourism heavyweights of France, Spain and Italy. That suits just fine. Let the crowds go there.
Portugal’s natural and architectural beauty doesn’t smack you in the face. It beckons you to explore, to climb hills and turn corners. You get to know it slowly, in a process of constant discovery. And the Portuguese are there to help at every turn.
Eat Lisbon with a knife, fork, spoon and your fingers. The capital city is stuffed with great restaurants. They’re in all the guides, which is good (you can find them) and bad (so can everyone else). But if you’re after variety and want to avoid some of the crowds, go off-piste. Look for the crowded lunch joints that dot the centre of the old town and follow the hills up toward Principe Real.
Look in particular for places with a busy lunch-counter trade, a window display of fresh fish on ice, and a hint of hot oil in the air. Once the lunchtime melee dies down, slip in and explore. Order a daily special, and see what comes a few minutes later. Have wine with lunch. You’re on vacation.
When it came to accommodation, we hit the jackpot. Baixa House, part of the i-escape.com network of boutique properties, was home away from home. Actually, it was better, because I don’t get delivery of warm, fresh baked goods every morning, as we did at Baixa House. Note to self – get to know a baker.
Most importantly, Baixa House’s large, well appointed apartments come with the friendly and welcoming Sofia, who greeted us with advice, a world of recommendations, a clever cloth map and a small tin box of restaurant cards with tips on what was touristy, and what wasn’t. If you want to feel like you’re a part of central Lisbon, stay here.
If, on the other hand, you want to feel like a sardine crammed into one of those it-could-be-anywhere hotels, stay at the Sofitel Liberdade. We had to stay there at the very end of our trip for one night, as Baixa has a two-night minimum. The Sofitel is on one of Lisbon’s most elegant boulevards, and the hotel’s location is its best feature. In fact, all of the Sofitel’s best features remain outside its doors. Inside, someone decided to paint and paper the hotel’s every surface the shade of mustard closest to vomit. It was not a pleasant place to stay.
I’ve been to Portugal before, so this trip was about making sure the Floridians saw as much as possible in the short time we had. When it came to Porto, this was not easy, but we did it, aided by a double decker magic carpet called the hop-on-hop-off bus. These are the corniest things in the world, but let me tell you, they get the job done. Save a bit of time to see the Serralves Foundation up close (forget the museum, go for the gardens and the house). Lunch at Cufra – a Porto institution – is a must. Do not order the Francesinha sandwich if you are over 65, unless you have a small satchel of anti-acid tablets to take about an hour later.
Porto is all about neighbourhoods and vistas. The city is laid out on hills that gently slope into the Atlantic, setting the entire landscape on an angle. Everywhere you look, you have vistas up, down and across. Spend some time down at the Douro’s embankments, both sides.
Take a taxi along the river’s mouth out to Foz, a part of Lisbon that stands alone quite nicely as a leafy oceanfront village. Foz is home to Cafeina, one of Porto’s best restaurants. I told my stepsister to go here during her honeymoon in Portugal. It was wonderful to bring her mom here for a meal a year later. If you have the time, come back and visit Cafeina’s sister spot, Terra, across the street.
We hit the hotel jackpot again in Porto. We chose the safe option and picked a major brand – the InterContinental Palacio das Cardosas on city hall square. Defaulting to a brand paid off: the InterCon did everything a high-end hotel is meant to do. It was beautiful. It was spotless. The rooms were plush and comfortable. The staff was gracious, helpful and friendly. In all candour, I almost didn’t believe it. I kept waiting for something to go wrong. It didn’t.
We short-changed Porto, as we only spent one night on its seaside slopes. But we had a few days of very important relaxing, wine-tasting and eating ahead in Pinhão, the heart of the Douro Valley. This is one of my favourite places in the world.
One of the best things about the Douro Valley is the trip out from Porto. The two-hour journey along a regional spur is long, but once the second hour kicks in and the train starts to skim the banks of the Douro (sit right side out, left side back) the trip becomes the closest thing you can get to a river cruise on rails. The views are eye-popping.
Knowing that the senior set likes its breakfast included and a certain level of service, I went with what I know. Two years ago, I had a short stay at The Vintage House Hotel courtesy of a clued-up friend from Porto, and decided to come back.
As we sipped a glass of port at the check-in desk – this moment marking the start of a three-day, ear-to-ear grin on the faces of the Floridians – I knew I had made the right decision.
It only got better. The Vintage House could use a tiny lick of paint to cover up a scratch here and a scuff there, but this hotel and its setting overlooking a gentle bend in the Douro are luxurious and seductive. The Vintage House is unsparingly wood-beam-ceilings-and-heavy-furniture, so don’t stay here if you like minimalist chic. Breakfasts are excellent, and the hotel’s restaurant serves a highly respectable, if somewhat stuffy, dinner. Our one rainy afternoon was almost a gift, as it gave us an excuse to relax in the hotel’s opulent main room with a glass of port and a plate of nuts and sugared figs.
Here is what you need to do if you have two full days in or around Pinhão. In no particular order, just do them all:
1. Quinta do Panascal. This vineyard is small, family-owned and offers a self-guided tour through the vineyards with an audio guide. Meandering through the vineyards – the hills on each side of the Douro look like leafy corduroy – allows you to immerse yourself in the wine before it reaches the bottle. The tasting after the tour is deliciously informal.
2. Quinta do Seixo, the home of Sandeman. Slick, corporate Sandeman is the exact opposite of Panascal. It is done to an exceedingly high standard, reflecting thought, design and image. It works beautifully. The tour is educational and innovative and rewards you at the end with a warm and modern tasting room perched high above the river. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors let the view in, but kept the October chill out.
3. Restaurant DOC. Douro goes upscale at this super-modern gastro adventure about 25 minutes from Pinhão. (Make friends with a taxi driver while you’re in Pinhão, and stick with him as long as you’re there. You’ll be glad you did.) DOC’s modern take on local meats and fish turned most of our more traditional, previous meals inside out, to riotous effect. It’s the kind of meal that makes you want to put a little bit of your food on everyone’s plate, and then vigorously defend the rest. The service was outstanding – almost too much.
I get the sense the DOC is at its best in the summer. It is suspended over the water, directly on the south bank of the Douro. Its square footage outdoors is almost as big as its indoor space. Going in the off-season, though, made for a nice change. And even though it was a quiet night at DOC, every dish on the menu was available.
4. Drive, with your friendly taxi-driver companion, to the villages at the very top of the hills above Pinhão. Stand up, breathe deep, open your eyes wide, and know that there are few places in the world this beautiful.
Rinse. Repeat. |
In a week of things that only happen with guns and in America, add yet another to the list.
In Rock Hill, South Carolina, Americans’ propensity for leaving semi-hidden deadly weaponry around like it’s a Hanukkah present allowed a 2-year-old to grab a .357 revolver and shoot his grandmother in the back.
The toddler’s great-aunt was taking him for a ride in her car, and naturally there was a revolver in the back pouch of the seat in front of him, where he could reach it and shoot his grandmother, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“There could be some child neglect or some unlawful conduct towards a child charges based on the age of the child and leaving the gun within reaching distance of a young minor,” said Rock Hill Police Chief Mark Bollinger.
The operative phrase is “could be.” If the grandmother or great-aunt had put the toddler in the back without a car seat, you can bet your ass there’d be charges. If they’d put a shot of whiskey in front of him, same deal. Or if they hadn’t fed him or left him in a hot car, or perhaps, if he were five years older, just let him walk less than half a mile to a playground.
But a gun within reach, nah. Not in the America where we’re electing cast members from Buckwild to represent us in Congress. Tea Party ignoramuses think a gun fetish is just a lifestyle choice and National Rifle Association (NRA) bullshit and legalistic bribes are tantamount to Solomonic judgments.
For here again, as with the campus shootings in Oregon, Texas, and Arizona, or the execution of a reporter on live television in Roanoke, Virginia, the NRA is clearly culpable. It has lobbied against every attempt to require that guns be stored with safety locks and told parents not to use them. It fights against the requirement or even existence on the market of smart gun technology that would allow only the owner of the weapon to use it. It has fought mandated training and the kind of personal liability insurance requirement that tends to make people more careful with their deadly weaponry.
No, the NRA pushes on kids its inane Eddie the Eagle, a cartoon character who’s supposed to convince children to get an adult when they see a gun. It’s been proven to work about as well as telling Ted Nugent to bathe. There’s a reason these things don’t happen in other high-income countries, nations not saddled with this group of misanthropic, evolutionary-scale losers operating out of the congressional offices of the vast majority of members of one of our two major parties.
Speaking of this, I have been impressed by President Obama’s reaction to the recent shootings, his righteous anger at those willfully endangering our children. But using everything at your disposal really means using everything at your disposal. So why, then, would his Justice Department award a $2.4 million grant to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the gun industry’s official lobby, which in a cruel twist of irony is located in Newtown, Connecticut?
Handing out gun locks and teaching safety is an obvious good. But can’t you find people better to do it than the yahoos who exist near Sandy Hook and still lobbied against every reform that could have saved kids’ lives after a massacre in their own damn town? Is it possible to be more terrible human beings (I use that term loosely)?
There’s a battle raging. And the NRA is on the wrong side of it, and history as well. It will be demographically extinct within a decade to a decade and a half. But a lot of innocent people can die in that timespan, and it seems determined to make as many as possible pay the price for its ignorance and avarice.
Kids shooting their family members in cars is patently ridiculous, and preventable. It’s just another symptom of a society sick with the NRA virus. We’ve started to get better, as gun owners increasingly realize the NRA leadership is a bunch of batshit nutters and break away to do their own thing. But clearly it’s no time to let up now. |
This database was updated in May 2018. For the updated study, click here.
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Drones are no longer a novelty item among law enforcement and public safety departments. The same small unmanned aircraft systems that have been popular among hobbyists and commercial users are now sought after by a growing number of agencies throughout the United States.
Our research suggests that at least 347 state and local police, sheriff, fire, and emergency units have acquired drones in the past several years. More acquisitions took place in 2016 than in the previous years combined, and the pace of acquisitions shows no signs of slowing down. In a survey of open source literature and public records, we have assembled the most comprehensive, publicly-available account of law enforcement and public safety departments that are reported to have acquired drones.
Key Takeaways
At least 347 state and local police, sheriff, fire, and emergency units in the U.S. have acquired drones.
Local law enforcement departments lead public safety drone acquisitions.
Consumer drones are more common among public safety units than specialized professional drones.
Download (PDF, 372KB)
For more of the Drones at Home series, click here. |
Hong Kong-based digital currency exchange ANX has upgraded its iOS app with added functionality, after Apple recently relaxed its strict stance towards bitcoin-transmitting apps.
The ‘ANX Vault’ app now includes the all-important send and receive functions vital to any bitcoin wallet. Although always available on the Android version, these features have only now appeared for iOS.
ANX has also upgraded the Android version. Both Android and iOS editions of ANX Vault now feature the ability to send bitcoin via email to recipients who do not yet have bitcoin addresses.
Security features
Both versions of the app support optional three-factor authentication, although, to still allow fast transactions, the app allows users to set daily spending limits that bypass the security feature.
The exchange says that other security features include the ability to disable send privileges from a user’s desktop account in the event of a lost mobile device, OTP (one-time password) support for logging in and sending funds, and ‘industry standard’ encryption for all data communication.
Multi-currency platform and sending
Although based in Hong Kong, ANX aims for an international client base for both its full exchange and mobile apps. The platform supports the world’s most-traded fiat currencies (AUD, CAD, GBP, CHF, EUR, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD and USD) and some of its most popular cryptocurrencies (BTC, DOGE, LTC, NMC, and PPC).
Users set a home currency in which to view their total portfolio balance, and can view up-to-date exchange rates between cryptocurrency and fiat trading pairs. All cryptocurrency assets are viewable in a single comprehensive listing.
BTC, LTC and DOGE can be sent to any other supported cryptocoin address with conversion performed by the exchange. The Android version also allows this feature for PPC and NMC.
Standard features on any serious trading app are live updates and configurable price alerts, which ANX Vault also allows its users to set.
The apps are available from their respective outlets: Apple’s iOS App Store and the Google Play Store.
ANX exchanges
Although founded in June 2013, ANX has quickly grown to have the world’s sixth-largest trade volume, thanks to its wide selection of currencies. In Hong Kong, where it is licensed as a Money Services Operator, the exchange manages a bitcoin ATM and physical shopfront-style trading point.
The company recently launched a bitcoin debit card service, giving users another way to withdraw and spend their cryptocurrency wealth in a still fiat-dominated world.
Its founding partners come from a financial industry background and have stated that transparency and regulatory compliance are high priorities.
The company has two online exchange platforms, the consumer focused ANXBTC and the ANXPRO exchange aimed at professional traders.
Disclaimer: This article should not be viewed as an endorsement of the company or products mentioned. Please do your own extensive research before considering investing any funds in these products.
Screenshots via iOS App Store |
A Quebec judge has given his final approval regarding the terms of the $450-million settlement fund for victims and creditors of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster.
Superior Court Justice Gaétan Dumas signed off today on the final agreement between victims, creditors and about 25 companies accused of responsibility in the train derailment that killed 47 people on July 6, 2013.
Canadian Pacific Railway, the only company accused in the case to have not offered money, had requested that changes be made to the final version of the fund.
The railway sought leave to appeal the settlement fund but dropped its motions after learning all sides agreed to change some of the language of the terms.
The new terms of the fund offer certain legal assurance to CP if it is taken to court over its responsibility in the derailment.
Patrice Benoit, lawyer for the now-defunct railroad at the centre of the disaster, says the court has some procedural issues to take care of but that victims should begin receiving cheques before Christmas. |
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — Sacked Interior Secretary Mike Sueno lost his post over a piece of document which he said he never received — a claim which drew the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte during a full Cabinet meeting.
CNN Philippines got hold of a copy of this controversial letter sent by Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo, informing Sueno of the Interior legal department's opinion on firetrucks acquisition from Austria.
The legal opinion, basically, advised against releasing payment while the matter was still being heard at the Supreme Court.
Sueno had maintained he never saw this document, but a look at the letter indicates that it was received by his office on November 2 last year at 9:05 a.m.
Related: Ex-DILG Secretary Sueno: No due process in my dismissal
Attached to the letter is the legal opinion itself.
Interior Assistant Secretary Ester Aldana and Fire bureau head Chief Supt. Bobby Baruelo also received the same memorandum from Hinlo.
Photos from the Foreign Affairs website show that Baruelo and Aldana were among those with Sueno in his trip to Austria last January 11-18 to inspect the second batch of firetrucks to be shipped to the Philippines.
CNN Philippines is still trying to reach Sueno, Baruelo and Aldana to get their side on the issue.
CNN Philippines' Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report. |
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Bournemouth have been forced into an embarrassing climbdown after one of their stewards accused Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero of assaulting him.
Aguero was facing a police investigation after the claims surfaced following a melee sparked by City’s 97th-minute winner, which saw players celebrate with fans who had spilled over on to the pitch during yesterday’s 2-1 victory.
But pictures and video clearly showed Aguero approaching a steward to object to a fan being dragged to the ground by two stewards and other officials, being held around the throat and having his hands forced behind his back.
Police have taken a statement from a Bournemouth steward who says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero hit them
Aguero was celebrating Raheem Sterling's winner in the 2-1 victory at the Vitality Stadium when the incident occurred
The players celebrated with the fans, with stewards intervening as they spilled onto the pitch, which Aguero took exception to
The former Atletico Madrid forward took to Twitter to deny the claim - while also praising the narrow victory over the Cherries
With reports that a steward had then informed police Aguero had hit him, the striker tweeted: ‘I did not hit anyone, this allegation is false and the TV pictures prove it.’ City are fuming and last night Bournemouth put out a statement withdrawing the allegations.
They said in a statement: ‘The club have been advised that, due to a misunderstanding, an earlier statement alleging assault has been withdrawn and no assault took place.
‘AFC Bournemouth recognise that stewards and police were carrying out their duties in preventing encroachment on to the pitch, with the safety of players and supporters in mind. The club will make no further comment on the matter.’
The celebrations saw two City fans arrested.
Sterling was also sent off for a second yellow card after celebrating with the crowd.
He had only received his first booking in the third minute of injury time.
Footage taken by fans in the crowd appears to show the flashpoint regarding Aguero. The striker can be seen protesting with a steward who, along with a colleague and officials, has a City fan pinned to the floor.
After approaching the steward, Aguero’s arm can be seen twice being pushed away by the steward, with the pair remonstrating at each other, at which point a policeman intervenes.
He and Aguero also exchange words, with Aguero attempting to go back to the fan again before being blocked by the officer.
The Vitality Stadium steward reported the incident after the match ended, giving a full statement to Dorset Police
A City source insisted that Aguero will not have a case to answer after seeing the footage which captured what happened
Emotions were high after Pep Guardiola's side scored a second goal, having been behind to Charlie Daniels' opener
Emotions were running high after Pep Guardiola’s side scored the winner —having fallen behind to Charlie Daniels’s first-half strike — in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
The fourth official had indicated five minutes of added time and referee Mike Dean was booed roundly by Bournemouth’s supporters for allowing a total of 11 minutes.
Bournemouth led through Daniels but Gabriel Jesus equalised, before Sterling’s late winner.
When asked about the red card, Guardiola said: ‘If you can’t celebrate with the fans, the best solution is not to invite the fans.’
Sportsmail understands that Dorset Police have taken a statement from the steward, who claims Aguero struck them
The steward alleges Aguero attacked them, while the clearly angry City forward had to be restrained by police
In chaotic scenes, fans spilled onto the pitch; Aguero can be seen in the centre of this image, watching a fan being handled
Aguero had come on as a substitute with 24 minutes left after being benched by City, replaced by Raheem Sterling
Aguero was very unhappy, delaying leaving the team bus and refusing to warm up after being benched by Pep Guardiola |
It was towards the end of a long, cold, 2 month tour around Europe promoting my new album, just about to head to Portugal to finish off and enjoy a bit of sun. I got an email from a fan in Switzerland saying something like “Hey, check out this video, it’s pretty cool but the best part is the music ;-)”
I clicked the link and it lead me to a video on Eurosport/Yahoo Europe. The video was by Red Bull and was of a guy called Daniel Bodin doing an amazing 220ft jump on a snowmobile, from an Olympic ski ramp. The music behind it was my song “What Am I?” from my second album “The Rooftop Recordings.”
I was very flattered that they had used my music and so posted the video on all my social media sites etc. Then I found the same video on Youtube, which had already garnered an impressive 250,000 views and noticed people in the comments asking who the song was by.
Why didn’t they know who the song was by? Well because Red Bull hadn’t mentioned me in the credits, nor in the Youtube description box. I called my publisher and he knew nothing about them using the music and assured me they had not asked for permission.
That’s when it dawned on me…. Red Bull had stolen my music!!!
I had to do something about this. The video was getting thousands of views a day, had already been up a week and I needed to get some kind of promotion from all this. So I sent a mail to everyone my mailing list asking them for a favour, explaining what had happened. I asked them to go to the YouTube video and leave comments with my name and the name of the song, so at least someone who was interested in the music could find me and/or my albums.
Well they really came through for me and throughout that day around 25 comments appeared on the video thread, some very angry that Red Bull hadn’t given me credit nor paid anything. This seemed to work as Red Bull promptly put a link to my album on iTunes and my name in the video description.
This certainly helped things along as that song shot up to being my most played song on Spotify the day after and downloads from iTunes went up a lot too. BUT, just imagine how much promotion I lost from the beginning! Eurosport.. Yahoo… 250,000 YT views! Yes, Red Bull had really screwed me over good and proper.
My publisher is still in talks with IODA/Orchard about what, if any, legal action to take. They also put in a claim for the YouTube video to be monetised on our behalf… I’m still waiting to see what happens.
You can see the YouTube video here. Feel free to leave comments for Red Bull! ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gybe0tOyAA8
So what are the lessons to be learned from this little story?
1. Don’t be complacent. It’s easy to think “Aaah that won’t happen to me” and not bother copyrighting your music. Well it could happen to you and it could be a huge multinational company like Red Bull. Get your music copyrighted so you stand a flying chance of doing something about it if it does happen to you… these people have no scruples.
2. Build a loyal fan base and communicate with them. Gone are the days of the aloof rock star. Your fans are your best friends and the more you communicate with them the more they will be inclined to communicate with you. In this case this fan alerted me to something pretty damn important. Reply to their comments and questions of Facebook/Twitter etc, talk to them after shows, take time to be human and forget all that “hard to reach” rock star rubbish.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask your fans for help. This follows on from point 2 in that, once you have a good relationship with your fans then they will be more inclined to help out. Mine attacked Red Bull’s video thread and got me some well needed attention which resulted in downloads, Spotify plays and general attention for my music.
If you can think of any more important lessons to be learned from this, let us know in the comments and watch your back.. these people will screw you if they can… “just because you’re paranoid, don’t mean they’re not after you!” ;-)
About the author - David Philips is a singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer from Nottingham UK. His third album “December Wine” was released this February on Black and Tan Records. You can find out more at http://www.davidphilips.net |
As Dwight Chandler sipped beer and swept out the thick muck caked inside his devastated home, he worried whether Harvey's floodwaters had also washed in pollution from the old acid pit just a couple blocks away.
Long a center of the nation's petrochemical industry, the Houston metro area has more than a dozen Superfund sites, designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as being among America's most intensely contaminated places. Many are now flooded, with the risk that waters were stirring dangerous sediment.
The Highlands Acid Pit site near Chandler's home was filled in the 1950s with toxic sludge and sulfuric acid from oil and gas operations. Though 22,000 cubic yards of hazardous waste and soil were excavated from the acid pits in the 1980s, the site is still considered a potential threat to groundwater, and the EPA maintains monitoring wells there.
When he was growing up in Highlands, Chandler, now 62, said he and his friends used to swim in the by-then abandoned pit.
"My daddy talks about having bird dogs down there to run and the acid would eat the pads off their feet," he recounted on Thursday. "We didn't know any better."
The Associated Press surveyed seven Superfund sites in and around Houston during the flooding. All had been inundated with water, in some cases many feet deep.
On Saturday, hours after the AP published its first report, the EPA said it had reviewed aerial imagery confirming that 13 of the 41 Superfund sites in Texas were flooded by Harvey and were "experiencing possible damage" due to the storm.
The statement confirmed the AP's reporting that the EPA had not yet been able to physically visit the Houston-area sites, saying the sites had "not been accessible by response personnel." EPA staff had checked on two Superfund sites in Corpus Christi on Thursday and found no significant damage.
The Houston metro area has more than a dozen Superfund sites. Many are now flooded, with the risk that waters were stirring dangerous chemicals. The Houston metro area has more than a dozen Superfund sites. Many are now flooded, with the risk that waters were stirring dangerous chemicals. SEE MORE VIDEOS
AP journalists used a boat to document the condition of one flooded Houston-area Superfund site, but accessed others with a vehicle or on foot. The EPA did not respond to questions about why its personnel had not yet been able to do so.
"Teams are in place to investigate possible damage to these sites as soon flood waters recede, and personnel are able to safely access the sites," the EPA statement said.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, speaking with reporters at a news conference on Saturday after the AP report was published, said he wants the EPA "in town to address the situation."
Turner said he didn't know about the potential environmental concerns soon enough to discuss them with President Donald Trump.
"Now we're turning out attention to that," he said. "It is always a concern. The environment is very concerning, and we'll get right on top of it."
At the Highlands Acid Pit on Thursday, the Keep Out sign on the barbed-wire fence encircling the 3.3-acre site barely peeked above the churning water from the nearby San Jacinto River.
A fishing bobber was caught in the chain link, and the air smelled bitter. A rusted incinerator sat just behind the fence, poking out of the murky soup.
Across the road at what appeared to be a more recently operational plant, a pair of tall white tanks had tipped over into a heap of twisted steel. It was not immediately clear what, if anything, might have been inside them when the storm hit.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has called cleaning up Superfund sites a top priority, even as he has taken steps to roll back or delay rules aimed at preventing air and water pollution. Trump's proposed 2018 budget seeks to cut money for the Superfund program by 30 percent, though congressional Republicans are likely to approve a less severe reduction.
Like Trump, Pruitt has expressed skepticism about the predictions of climate scientists that warmer air and seas will produce stronger, more drenching storms.
Under the Obama administration, the EPA conducted a nationwide assessment of the increased threat to Superfund sites posed by climate change, including rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes. Of the more than 1,600 sites reviewed as part of the 2012 study, 521 were determined to be in 1-in-100 year and 1-in-500 year flood zones. Nearly 50 sites in coastal areas could also be vulnerable to rising sea levels.
The threats to human health and wildlife from rising waters that inundate Superfund sites vary widely depending on the specific contaminants and the concentrations involved. The EPA report specifically noted the risk that floodwaters might carry away and spread toxic materials over a wider area.
Jason Dearen / AP Dwight Chandler walks through his flood-damaged home in Highlands, Texas, on Aug. 31, 2017. Chandler, 62, said he worried whether Harvey's floodwaters had washed in pollution from the old acid pits just a couple blocks from his house that are designated as an EPA Superfund site. Dwight Chandler walks through his flood-damaged home in Highlands, Texas, on Aug. 31, 2017. Chandler, 62, said he worried whether Harvey's floodwaters had washed in pollution from the old acid pits just a couple blocks from his house that are designated as an EPA Superfund site. (Jason Dearen / AP) (Jason Dearen / AP)
The report listed two dozen Superfund sites determined to be especially vulnerable to flooding and sea-level rise. The only one in Texas, the Bailey Waste Disposal site south of Beaumont, is on a marshy island along the Neches River. The National Weather Service said the Neches was expected to crest on Saturday at more than 21 feet above flood stage — 8 feet higher than the prior record.
In Crosby, across the San Jacinto River from Houston, a small working-class neighborhood sits between two Superfund sites, French LTD and the Sikes Disposal Pits.
The area was wrecked by Harvey's floods. Only a single house from among the roughly dozen lining Hickory Lane was still standing.
After the water receded on Friday, a sinkhole the size of a swimming pool had opened up and swallowed two cars. The acrid smell of creosote filled the air.
Rafael Casas' family had owned a house there for two decades, adjacent to the French LTD site. He said he was never told about the pollution risk until it came up in an informal conversation with a police officer who grew up nearby. Most of the homes had groundwater wells, but Casas said his family had switched to bottled water.
"You never know what happens with the pollution under the ground," said Casas, 32. "It filters into the water system."
The water had receded by Saturday at Brio Refining Inc. and Dixie Oil Processors, a pair of neighboring Superfund sites about 20 miles southeast of downtown Houston in Friendswood. The road was coated in a layer of silt. Mud Gully Stream, which bisects the two sites, was full and flowing with muddy water.
Both sites were capped with a liner and soil as part of EPA-supervised cleanup efforts aimed at preventing the contamination from spreading off the low-lying sites during floods. Parts of the Brio site were elevated by 8 feet.
Jason Dearen / AP This Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 photo shows the heavily polluted Patrick Bayou in the Houston Ship Channel that was flooded during Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston. The bayou, which sits next to a chemical plant in an intensely industrial area of Houston, is polluted with pesticides, hydrocarbons, metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 photo shows the heavily polluted Patrick Bayou in the Houston Ship Channel that was flooded during Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston. The bayou, which sits next to a chemical plant in an intensely industrial area of Houston, is polluted with pesticides, hydrocarbons, metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). (Jason Dearen / AP) (Jason Dearen / AP)
John Danna, the manager hired by the companies to oversee the sites, said in a phone interview that he went there after the storm and saw no signs of erosion. He said he didn't know how high the flooding got in Harvey's wake and that no testing of the water still draining from the area had been conducted. EPA staff are expected to visit in the next week, he said. |
Outfielder Nick Markakis and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a four-year contract, major league sources told Yahoo Sports, ending the 31-year-old’s career-long association with the Baltimore Orioles and likely precipitating a further overhaul by Atlanta.
Nick Markakis is expected to replace Jason Heyward in right field. (USA TODAY)
As negotiations with Baltimore lingered for weeks, the Braves stepped in with an aggressive pursuit of Markakis that paid off with a return to his native Georgia. Markakis is expected to hit leadoff and play right field for Atlanta, replacing Jason Heyward, whom the Braves traded to St. Louis in mid-November.
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Markakis spent the first nine years of his career with Baltimore, and his return was considered something of a fait accompli across baseball, particularly because of Orioles owner Peter Angelos’ fondness for him. The Orioles had discussed a contract in the vicinity of four years and $40 million with Markakis, who hit .276/.342/.386 and won a Gold Glove last season. The Braves were believed to be offering somewhere in the neighborhood of $44 million.
After showing flashes of power in his early 20s, Markakis settled in as an on-base threat, something the Braves desperately need after posting a .305 OBP and dealing Heyward. Signing Markakis almost certainly will prompt the Braves to trade Justin Upton or Evan Gattis, their anticipated corner outfielders before Markakis’ signing.
The market for each is robust, even with Upton on the cusp of free agency and Gattis’ ultimate defensive position in question. Both boast one of the rarest talents in baseball today – right-handed power – and Atlanta is interested in cashing in like it did with Heyward, adding Shelby Miller to a rotation that already includes Julio Teheran, Mike Minor and Alex Wood.
Story continues
Markakis went to high school in Woodstock, Ga., about 30 minutes north of downtown Atlanta and 20 minutes from the Braves’ new stadium, due to open in 2017. With a new front office led by John Hart, the Braves are retooling in 2015 with plans on contending by the time the ballpark opens.
That hasn’t tamped down their aggressiveness with free agents. They were among the finalists on Cuban power hitter Yasmany Tomas, remain on the periphery of the Jon Lester sweepstakes and are expected to be aggressive once 19-year-old Cuban Yoan Moncada is declared eligible by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. |
Little Rock police investigate Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, after an officer-involved shooting at Red Lobster, 8407 W. Markham St. - Photo by Emily Nitcher
An off-duty officer was shot in the shoulder after interrupting a robbery Saturday night, Little Rock police said.
The shooting occurred at Red Lobster, 8407 W. Markham St., Little Rock police Lt. Steve McClanahan said.
Chief Kenton Buckner, who was on scene Saturday night, said that about 10 p.m., the off-duty officer interrupted a robbery and exchanged gunfire with three people.
The officer was shot in the shoulder, and one of the suspects was also shot, Buckner said. They were both taken to local hospitals with injuries described as not life-threatening.
Police were still searching Saturday night near the restaurant for the two other suspects. No one inside was injured, but people were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting, police said. It was unclear if the shooting happened inside the Red Lobster or in the parking lot.
The officer was not identified, pending notification of family members, Buckner said.
Read Sunday's Democrat-Gazette for full details. |
0. List of contents
1. Requirements
Basic knowledge about C programming
CUDA supported device (CUDA GPU list)
Installed CUDA SDK
Eclipse/nvidia nsight (nsight recommended)
2. Goal
The aim of this article is to get acquainted with bilinear interpolation technique and implement demo program which is going to scale given input image using nvidia CUDA SDK. The concept of interpolation is not explained here.
3. Optimus (hybrid graphics card)
What if I have CUDA compatibile device as a secondary graphics card (optimus)?
First of all (if you haven’t done it yet) install Bumblebee deamon.
It’s available on many popular distros, for instance:
# Archlinux pacman -S bumblebee # Ubuntu 12.04 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install bumblebee virtualgl linux-headers-generic
After reboot perform:
sudo tee /proc/acpi/bbswitch < <<ON modprobe nvidia
Turned on nvidia device will shorten your baterry life 🙂 Be aware of that and plug in.
4. Bit operations in brief
Let’s consider the situation that we have ARGB pixel located in memory and we want to get out the blue channel. How to do that?
// Declare ARGB variable Uint32 color = 0xffd5b2c4;
Ok! What is that 0xff….??? This is a ARGB color written in hexadecimal form. Hmm… So how to read this?
/* Each of channels (alpha, red, green, blue) has value from 0 to 255. 1 byte is sufficeient to store the number, so on one octet (8 bits) you can write one channel. After decomposition: */ Uint8 a = 0xff; // 255 Uint8 r = 0xd5; // 213 Uint8 g = 0xb2; // 178 Uint8 b = 0xc4; // 196 /* How many bits do we need to store all four channels? 4*8 = 32 bits. Now it's perfectly clear the idea of Uint32 "color" variable. */
Let’s pull out channels from “color” variable
printf("Blue: 0x%02x", (color && 0xff)); printf("Green: 0x%02x", ((color >> 8) && 0xff)); printf("Red: 0x%02x", ((color >> 16) && 0xff)); printf("Alpha: 0x%02x", ((color >> 24) && 0xff));
“&& 0xff” is a binary AND mask which extracts only last 2 octets.
5. Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL)
We’re gonna use SDL to read/write image from/to file. SDL is natively written in C, so I’m convinced that is good choice.
In order to have SDL working, give linker a clue where to look for libs
# Library search path -L /usr/lib/ # Library -l SDL -l SDL_image
6. Read image
With the knowlege about bit operations, we’ll make an attempt to read an image from disk using SDL library.
SDL_Surface *image = IMG_Load ("test.jpg"); if (!image){ printf ( "IMG_Load: %s
", IMG_GetError () ); return 1; }
Trivial isn’t it?
7. Prepare new image
Ok, we have successfully read the image. Let’s create the “output” sufrace where new image will be stored.
// Bit masks Uint32 amask = 0xff000000; Uint32 rmask = 0x00ff0000; Uint32 gmask = 0x0000ff00; Uint32 bmask = 0x000000ff; // New width of image int rWidth = 3000; int newWidth = image->w + (rWidth-image->w); int newHeight = image->h + (rWidth-image->w); // Create scaled image surface SDL_Surface *newImage = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(SDL_SWSURFACE, newWidth, newHeight, 32, rmask, gmask, bmask, amask);
Why BitsPerPixel == 32? In this case im 100% percent sure that the output will use an ARGB pallete of colours.
8. CUDA error handler
Before we start writting CUDA kernel function it is very convinient (and saves a lot of time for debugging) to create an error handler method for CUDA kernels.
void cudasafe(int error, char* message, char* file, int line) { if (error != cudaSuccess) { fprintf(stderr, "CUDA Error: %s : %i. In %s line %d
", message, error, file, line); exit(-1); } }
9. Memory allocation (CUDA)
It’s time to copy and prereserve some memory on CUDA device.
// Get output image size int newImageByteLength = newImage->w * newImage->h * sizeof(Uint8)*newImage->format->BytesPerPixel; // Create pointer to device and host pixels Uint8 *pixels = (Uint8*)image->pixels; Uint8 *pixels_dyn; // Copy original image cudasafe(cudaMalloc((void **) &pixels_dyn, imageByteLength),"Original image allocation ",__FILE__,__LINE__); cudasafe(cudaMemcpy(pixels_dyn, pixels, imageByteLength, cudaMemcpyHostToDevice),"Copy original image to device ",__FILE__,__LINE__); // Allocate new image on DEVICE Uint8 *newPixels_dyn; Uint8 *newPixels = (Uint8*)malloc(newImageByteLength); cudasafe(cudaMalloc((void **) &newPixels_dyn, newImageByteLength),"New image allocation ",__FILE__,__LINE__);
10. “Transform” the kernel function
Eventually, we will touch the “heart” of the program. Transform kernel function will take four corresponding pixels and based on that do specific calculations. If you want to know more about interpolation I recommend you this article
__global__ void cudaTransform(Uint8 *output, Uint8 *input, Uint16 pitchOutput, Uint16 pitchInput, Uint8 bytesPerPixelInput, Uint8 bytesPerPixelOutput, float xRatio, float yRatio){ int x = (int) (xRatio * blockIdx.x); int y = (int) (yRatio * blockIdx.y); Uint8 *a; Uint8 *b; Uint8 *c; Uint8 *d; float xDist, yDist, blue, red, green; // X and Y distance difference xDist = (xRatio * blockIdx.x) - x; yDist = (yRatio * blockIdx.y) - y; // Points a = input + y * pitchInput + x * bytesPerPixelInput; b = input + y * pitchInput + (x+1) * bytesPerPixelInput; c = input + (y+1) * pitchInput + x * bytesPerPixelInput; d = input + (y+1) * pitchInput + (x+1) * bytesPerPixelInput; // blue blue = (a[2])*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[2])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[2])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[2])*(xDist * yDist); // green green = ((a[1]))*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[1])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[1])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[1])*(xDist * yDist); // red red = (a[0])*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[0])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[0])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[0])*(xDist * yDist); Uint8 *p = output + blockIdx.y * pitchOutput + blockIdx.x * bytesPerPixelOutput; *(Uint32*)p = 0xff000000 | ((((int)red) < < 16)) | ((((int)green) << 8)) | ((int)blue); }
11. Save image
After saving an image, we would like to keep environment clean, so deallocate memory by cudaFree function.
// Copy scaled image to host cudasafe(cudaMemcpy(newPixels, newPixels_dyn, newImageByteLength, cudaMemcpyDeviceToHost),"from device to host", __FILE__, __LINE__); newImage->pixels = newPixels; // Free memory cudaFree(pixels_dyn); cudaFree(newPixels_dyn); //Save image SDL_SaveBMP(newImage, "test2.bmp"); // Free surfaces SDL_FreeSurface (image); SDL_FreeSurface (newImage); SDL_Quit();
12. Summary
All in one.
#include #include #include #include void cudasafe(int error, char* message, char* file, int line) { if (error != cudaSuccess) { fprintf(stderr, "CUDA Error: %s : %i. In %s line %d
", message, error, file, line); exit(-1); } } __global__ void cudaTransform(Uint8 *output, Uint8 *input, Uint16 pitchOutput, Uint16 pitchInput, Uint8 bytesPerPixelInput, Uint8 bytesPerPixelOutput, float xRatio, float yRatio){ int x = (int) (xRatio * blockIdx.x); int y = (int) (yRatio * blockIdx.y); Uint8 *a; Uint8 *b; Uint8 *c; Uint8 *d; float xDist, yDist, blue, red, green; // X and Y distance difference xDist = (xRatio * blockIdx.x) - x; yDist = (yRatio * blockIdx.y) - y; // Points a = input + y * pitchInput + x * bytesPerPixelInput; b = input + y * pitchInput + (x+1) * bytesPerPixelInput; c = input + (y+1) * pitchInput + x * bytesPerPixelInput; d = input + (y+1) * pitchInput + (x+1) * bytesPerPixelInput; // blue blue = (a[2])*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[2])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[2])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[2])*(xDist * yDist); // green green = ((a[1]))*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[1])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[1])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[1])*(xDist * yDist); // red red = (a[0])*(1 - xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (b[0])*(xDist)*(1 - yDist) + (c[0])*(yDist)*(1 - xDist) + (d[0])*(xDist * yDist); Uint8 *p = output + blockIdx.y * pitchOutput + blockIdx.x * bytesPerPixelOutput; *(Uint32*)p = 0xff000000 | ((((int)red) < < 16)) | ((((int)green) << 8)) | ((int)blue); } int main(void) { Uint32 amask = 0xff000000; Uint32 rmask = 0x00ff0000; Uint32 gmask = 0x0000ff00; Uint32 bmask = 0x000000ff; SDL_Surface *image = IMG_Load ("test.jpg"); int imageByteLength = image->w * image->h * sizeof(Uint8)*image->format->BytesPerPixel; if (!image){ printf ( "IMG_Load: %s
", IMG_GetError () ); return 1; } // New width of image int rWidth = 3000; int newWidth = image->w + (rWidth-image->w); int newHeight = image->h + (rWidth-image->w); dim3 grid(newWidth,newHeight); // Create scaled image surface SDL_Surface *newImage = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(SDL_SWSURFACE, newWidth, newHeight, 32, rmask, gmask, bmask, amask); int newImageByteLength = newImage->w * newImage->h * sizeof(Uint8)*newImage->format->BytesPerPixel; float xRatio = ((float)(image->w-1))/newImage->w; float yRatio = ((float)(image->h-1))/newImage->h; // Create pointer to device and host pixels Uint8 *pixels = (Uint8*)image->pixels; Uint8 *pixels_dyn; cudaEvent_t start, stop; float time; cudaEventCreate(&start); cudaEventCreate(&stop); // Copy original image cudasafe(cudaMalloc((void **) &pixels_dyn, imageByteLength),"Original image allocation ",__FILE__,__LINE__); cudasafe(cudaMemcpy(pixels_dyn, pixels, imageByteLength, cudaMemcpyHostToDevice),"Copy original image to device ",__FILE__,__LINE__); // Allocate new image on DEVICE Uint8 *newPixels_dyn; Uint8 *newPixels = (Uint8*)malloc(newImageByteLength); cudasafe(cudaMalloc((void **) &newPixels_dyn, newImageByteLength),"New image allocation ",__FILE__,__LINE__); // Start measuring time cudaEventRecord(start, 0); // Do the bilinear transform on CUDA device cudaTransform< <<grid,1>>>(newPixels_dyn, pixels_dyn, newImage->pitch, image->pitch, image->format->BytesPerPixel, newImage->format->BytesPerPixel, xRatio, yRatio); // Stop the timer cudaEventRecord(stop, 0); cudaEventSynchronize(stop); // Copy scaled image to host cudasafe(cudaMemcpy(newPixels, newPixels_dyn, newImageByteLength, cudaMemcpyDeviceToHost),"from device to host", __FILE__, __LINE__); newImage->pixels = newPixels; // Free memory cudaFree(pixels_dyn); cudaFree(newPixels_dyn); cudaEventElapsedTime(&time, start, stop); printf ("Time for the kernel: %f ms
", time); //Save image SDL_SaveBMP(newImage, "test2.bmp"); // Free surfaces SDL_FreeSurface (image); SDL_FreeSurface (newImage); SDL_Quit(); }
12. Demo
10. Downloads
Project file |
Rep. Al Green (Facebook)
A Texas Democratic congressman has formally called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Rep. Al Green (D-TX) held a news conference Monday morning urging the U.S. House of Representatives to take up impeachment proceedings against the president for firing FBI director James Comey, which he described as an obstruction of justice.
The Houston Democrat also accused Trump of witness intimidation for warning Comey by tweet that their conversations may have been recorded.
“Our country is in a state of crisis,” Green said. “Every day Donald Trump remains president puts our democracy more at risk. It’s time to take drastic, yet necessary action.”
Democratic @RepAlGreen has statement out calling for Trump impeachment pic.twitter.com/SaypAANKcA — andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) May 15, 2017
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) has suggested impeachment during TV interviews, but Green is the first member of Congress to formally call for impeachment hearings.
Green said Trump’s own public statements showed he fired Comey over the Russia investigation, which he said was grounds for impeachment. |
Altavian is introducing the all new Galaxy™ R8700 multi-rotor VTOL designed around the payload for high-precision geospatial mapping. The Galaxy R8700 is the ideal drone for small project areas and confined takeoff and landing areas. With easy assembly, effortless control, and confidence-inspiring stability, the Galaxy R8700 makes quick work of data acquisition over the toughest sites. Coupled with the Altavian Fusion™ series of payloads, the Galaxy R8700 excels in image resolution and geospatial accuracy.
Best of all, the Galaxy R8700 is a perfect complement to the Nova™ F7200 with identical autopilots, software controls, and cross-compatible payloads.
Designed with simplicity in mind, the Galaxy R8700 can effortlessly be assembled for data collection and fully dissembled for ease of travel. The payload, landing gear, and arms of the aircraft attach with quick-snap connectors so the Galaxy R8700 goes from out-of-the-box to preflight in just a few minutes. Built for power, the Galaxy R8700 is equipped with an ultra-low-resistance power distribution system, supported by harsh-environment electrical components.
The lean design of the power distribution system maximizes efficiency and reduces overall aircraft weight by eliminating the clutter of tangled wires and connectors. The power efficiency and reduced weight allows the Galaxy R8700 to utilize 32,000 mAH of li-po energy to ensure durable performance and longer flight times.
Equipped with a gyro-stabilized gimbal with quick-snap connectors, the Galaxy R8700 is capable of supporting the entire line of Fusion payloads. The Fusion series of payloads are the most advanced DSLR-based photogrammetric mapping payloads available on the market. Outfitted with built-in upward facing GPS, Ellipse-N AHRS, PPK support, and over 210 GB of total storage, Fusion payloads are designed to deliver unmatched geospatial accuracy. With advanced shutter trigger times as quick as 0.7 seconds and precise geospatial trigger measurements, Fusion payloads allow the Galaxy R8700 to fly at faster speeds and cover more acreage per flight, without sacrificing image quality or accuracy.
Both the Galaxy R8700 and Nova F7200 utilize the same Fusion payloads. Snapping the Fusion payload to the Nova F7200 will allow accurate mapping of hundreds of acres in a single flight. Likewise, snapping the exact same Fusion payload onto the Galaxy R8700 allows the ease of mapping confined areas and smaller projects.
When a project requires both the Galaxy R8700 and Nova F7200, the data can be easily combined in post-processing. Using the same Fusion payload for both collects alleviates headaches caused by multi-sensor photogrammetric processing. Best of all, both systems also utilize the same ground station software and autopilot, greatly reducing equipment cost while greatly increasing capability and efficiency.
Learn more about the Galaxy R8700 and sign up to receive the latest product catalog and price list at Altavian.com. |
Brenda Chapman was a well-known personality in the industry before she arrived at Pixar, as she was the first woman ever to direct an animated film from a major studio (The Prince of Egypt from DreamWorks Animation). She had also worked in the writing department on Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Chicken Run. Excitement was in the air when she was hired by Pixar, considered by many to be the best in the animation business. She was to be the first female lead director at the studio when she came up with the idea for Brave before she was replaced by Mark Andrews. Now, a report has emerged that she recently left Pixar.
Pixar Portal, a relatively new site focused on the Pixar scene (originated in November 2011), is reporting that Chapman exited Pixar at the end of July and is now working as a consultant for Lucasfilm. The fellow Pixar site surely had the ability to contact her, as it ran an exclusive interview with her back in December. There were rumors back when news broke on her removal as the lead on Brave that Chapman would only remain at the animation studio while the film was in development and would leave once the film arrived in theaters. However, that was never confirmed by Pixar, Disney, or Chapman.
If the report is true, it is certainly sad, as the story foundation ofthat Chapman created was intriguing and it would have been great to see more ideas from her at Pixar, for feature films as well as short films. In Brave, she set out to create a film that focused on the relationship of a mother and daughter, as well as to write a story starring a princess where no prince was necessary – in those ways, she succeeded in a big way. The relationship between Princess Merida and her mother Queen Elinor felt intensely real and was by far the greatest aspect of the film. Additionally, Merida worked against the Disney Princess cliché when she paid no attention to finding someone to settle down with.
As of now, the news is still unconfirmed (we are attempting to confirm it) so it maybe better to avoid reporting it as fact until we know it is 100% true. If it is, though, I wish Chapman the very best at Lucasfilm. She is very talented and I would love to see more of her work in the future.
UPDATE (8/8/12 1:00 PM): It is now confirmed, as Chapman has been thanking those on Twitter who are congratulating her on her new position at Lucasfilm. |
The Cygnus' path to space will take it nearly parallel to the U.S. East Coast, so the glow created by the two-stage Atlas V's engines should be visible in varying degrees along much of the Eastern Seaboard, weather permitting.
The Atlas V's first stage is powered by a single RD-180 engine, which will burn for 4 minutes and 15 seconds before shutting down. Six seconds later, the rocket's first and second stages will separate. Ten seconds after that, the second stage — the Centaur, which utilizes one RL 10C engine — will be fired, and will burn for 13 minutes and 45 seconds. The Cygnus spacecraft will separate from the upper stage 2 minutes and 49 seconds later and head into orbit.
The Atlas V first stage should create a fairly conspicuous light in the night sky, while the second stage's glow will likely be considerably dimmer.
The launch should be readily visible in much of the southeastern United States, thanks to the fiery output of the Atlas V's first-stage engine. The light emitted will be visible for the first 4 minutes and 15 seconds of the launch out to a radius of about 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Cape Canaveral — an area about three times the size of Texas.
Depending on where you are located relative to Cape Canaveral, the Atlas V might become visible just seconds after it blasts off Thursday, or up to 4 minutes or so later.
After the first stage shuts down, the Atlas V will be quite a bit dimmer. Just how much dimmer? A comparison with the glow produced by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which launches the company's Dragon capsule on cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS), might be instructive.
Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y.
This is a condensed version of a report from Space.com. Read the full report. Follow Space.com @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+.
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FISC Judge Reggie Walton Hesitantly Amends Latest Section 215 Order To Conform With Presidential Directive
from the contact-chaining-or-beer?-'less-hoppy-than-usual' dept
As was noted here in January, the non-rubber stamp FISA court rubber stamped the latest NSA bulk record request without hesitation, almost as though the previous seven months of leaks had never happened.
That order has now been amended due to the January 17th presidential directive issued in conjunction with the administration's NSA reforms. The amended order, written by outgoing FISC judge Reggie Walton, makes the changes requested (two hops instead of three, RAS selectors approved by a FISC judge) and provides some more background on the NSA's minimization techniques.
While Walton has no problem with the new two-hop contact chaining limit, he does seem concerned with the RAS approval being left to the court. He spends several paragraphs discussing this particular aspect, which seems a bit strange, considering he was the same judge who temporarily limited the NSA to seeking approval from the court to search the collection back in 2009, after uncovering years of agency abuse. (Unfortunately, Smith vs. Maryland is again mentioned in support of the notion that untargeted bulk collections don't violate the Fourth Amendment. This is a 1979 ruling on pen registers that doesn't really apply to the Section 215 collections -- and likely wouldn't except that FISC judge Kollar-Kotelly gave it a very favorable reading back in 2004/2005 [thanks for nothing, needless redactions!].)
Although the Court is satisfied that the effect of the government' proposal to require RAS approvals by the FISC would be consistent with Section 215's definition of "minimization procedures," that is not the end of the discussion. FISA contemplates that the Executive Branch, which formulates the minimization procedures and receives the tangible things from the recipient of the production order, will apply those procedures, with appropriate oversight by the FISC.
Historically, the minimization procedures proposed by the government and approved by the Court under PISA have reflected this allocation of responsibilities, which also recognizes the distinct roles of the Executive Branch and the Judiciary in our system of government. The government' proposal to require RAS determinations by the FISC as a prerequisite to NSA queries of the database would deviate from this framework by giving the Court a more prominent role not just in overseeing Executive Branch compliance with FISC-approved procedures, but in the actual application of those procedures. It could also impose substantial new burdens on the FISC that are not contemplated by FISA.
The Executive Branch, of course, cannot unilaterally compel the FISC, an Article court, to assume the RAS-approval function, and the Court would be within its discretion under FISA to reject this aspect of the Motion. fig 50 U.S.C. 1861(c)(1) (permitting the Court to grant the govemment's application "as modified").
The Court is cognizant of the fact that this program is under review by the other branches of government and that changes may result from the review. While this policymaking assessment is ongoing, the Executive Branch is asking the Court for additional assistance in reassuring the public that adequate protection is afforded to information concerning United States persons that is being acquired pursuant to a FISC order.
The Court sees nothing in the language of the Act that would preclude it from accepting the Executive Branch's invitation to assume responsibility for making RAS determinations. This role in fact parallels the core judicial function of determining whether applications for authority to conduct electronic surveillance or physical search are supported by probable cause.
Indeed, the Court has previously approved query requests in this matter, albeit under distinct circumstances and pursuant to different authority. Provided that the number of selectors used to query the metadata remains relatively close to the present level, the Court is satisfied that it will be able to undertake the additional work that will be required, at least until the expiration of the January 3 Primary Order. In consideration of the unique facts and circumstances that are now presented, the Court will approve the Executive Branch's proposal to require RAS approvals by the FISC as a prerequisite to queries of the telephony metadata acquired pursuant to the Court' orders in this matter.
Walton considers the balance of power and sees a potential tipping point, wherein the court becomes the seat of power. This power-shift could be an issue, but one that could be mitigated somewhat by the installation of a public advocate, as has been suggested by the PCLOB (Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board).Walton seems resistant to turning the court into an oversight entity, which it really isn't. That'sto be the legislative branch's role, but that has been undermined by cheerleaders masquerading as overseers who have withheld information from their fellow legislators. Walton also may not trust the agency enough at this point to feel comfortable approving RAS requests. His earlier declassified court orders pointed out that the agency deliberately misrepresented its tactics and day-to-day operations to the court for nearly a half-decade. Approving an RAS request means having some faith that the evidence being presented is true and Walton doesn't seem to have that confidence.Why this lack of confidence should mean allowing the NSA to continue to access the collection without limitation isn't discussed by Walton's statements, but that's the only alternative if the court decides it doesn't want this burden, something Walton indicates is a possibility.That being said, Walton notes the court is also not expressly forbidden from performing this function and admits the FISA court has performed this function before.As it stands right now, the NSA is back to its 2009 form, in terms of seeking court approval for collection searches. The current order will expire towards the end of March, at which point the court will revisit this requirement. As Techdirt noted earlier, Walton's term with the FISA court is ending, so this decision will possibly rest in the hands of two incoming judges or another FISA judge who may not be quite as amenable to the administration's reform demands. For the time being, the NSA will have to somehow "make do" with showing some sort of evidence before being allowed to search its bulk collections, which is a definite improvement over its previous unrestricted access.
Filed Under: bulk record collection, fisc, nsa, reggie walton, surveillance |
A good friend of mine is back in Topeka helping his family sort through some of the recently deceased brother’s stuff. Ed is from El Segundo California now, but was originally from Topeka. Ed Bauman is pretty much responsible for me racing bikes. He was interested in bicycle a few years before I got into it and worked at the new bike shop that sold European bikes when I was just a young teenager.
Ed was going through his mom’s attic and pulled some old bike stuff that he had stored there out. Most of it isn’t really that old, 1970’s. But he did have a late 1800 bicycle. It’s a Pope from the 1870’s or 80’s. It is really in pretty incredible shape considering.
Anyway, here are some photos of some of the stuff. I have a full basement full of stuff like this, but it is always fun to look at it.
The seat of the bike is pretty wild.
One of the wood rims is toast, but they are sewups and this is the original tire.
Or this. Here’s a couple pair of Binda toe straps. They aren’t Binda Extras though. This is an old Italian water bottle with a 2nd lid for spraying. |
Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the Canucks have recalled goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Utica Comets. The club has also reassigned goaltender Joacim Eriksson to Utica.
Markstrom, 25, has compiled a record of 19-7-2 including five shutouts with the Utica Comets this season. In 48 NHL games, the 6’6”, 199 pound goaltender has a record of 12-28-5 with a 3.25 goals against average. The Gavle, Sweden native was originally selected by Florida 31st overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Eriksson, 24, has a record of 17-10-5, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.61 goals against average with the Utica Comets this season. The 6’2”, 196 pound goaltender made his NHL debut on January 15, 2014 at Anaheim. The Gavle, Sweden native signed with Vancouver as a free agent on June 17, 2013. |
Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a graduation ceremony and air show marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of King Faisal Air College in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 25, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia has ordered its citizens out of Lebanon amid skyrocketing tensions between their two governments.
A brief statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency called on all Saudis living in or visiting Lebanon to depart, and warned against travel to the country.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri shocked his country Saturday when he announced in a televised statement out of Saudi Arabia that he was resigning. He has not been seen in Lebanon since.
He said his country had been taken hostage by the militant group Hezbollah, a partner in his coalition government and a major foe of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia says it considers Hezbollah's participation in the Lebanese government an "act of war" against the kingdom.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said he will not consider the premier's resignation until the two meet in person. |
Donald Trump's government published for the first time Monday a list highlighting the nationalities of immigrants who were charged or convicted of crimes but were released by local authorities.
The report puts pressure on so-called sanctuary cities, highlighting jurisdictions that release immigrants who might be subject to deportation instead of transferring them into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The report, called the " Weekly and Declined Detainer Outcome Report," lists 206 declined “detainers,” or immigrants who were marked by ICE for possible deportation but who were released by law enforcement between January 28, 2017, and February 3, 2017. That’s out of a total 3,083 detainers issued throughout the country during that same period.
ICE requests that law enforcement hold these individuals for 48 hours before being released in order “to allow DHS to assume custody for removal purposes.”
Nearly 70 percent of the immigrants on the list are from Mexico. More than 95 percent are from Latin American countries, according to a Univision analysis of the data. After Mexico, Honduras is the most frequent country of origin. The immigration status of detainers is not listed.
Most detainers have only been charged with a crime, not convicted: of the 206 on the list, 116 are pending charges.
Among common criminal charges are domestic violence, driving under the influence of alcohol, assault, robbery and sexual assault. There are also immigrants on the list charged with drug possession, resisting an officer and prostitution.
Texas appears most frequently on the list, with nearly 150 cases of denied detainers in the one-week period reported. Travis County, Texas, home of the city of Austin, accounted for 142 (nearly 70 percent) of those charged with crimes and released.
On Monday, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the report “deeply disturbing” and highlighted the “urgent need for a statewide sanctuary city ban in Texas.”
Last month, Abbott pulled state funding for Travis County programs after Sheriff Sally Hernandez, a Democrat, said that she would only honor detainer requests from ICE agents on a limited basis, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
“Texas will act to put an end to sanctuary policies that put the lives of our citizens at risk,” Abbott wrote in a statement Monday.
Other jurisdictions listed in the report are in California, Colorado, Florida, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, among others.
The list is a product of Trump’s Executive Order 13768, Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, which instructed the ICE Director to make this report public.
Lilia Velásquez, an associate professor of law at the University of California at San Diego, told Univision that the federal government is not breaking any law by publishing the list.
"It has the right to do so,” says the lawyer, who has worked in immigration law for more than 25 years. “Looking for them is a priority especially if they are people who pose a threat to public and national security.”
The risks, she adds, are when people are detained without trial, and when there is no due process.
In Los Angeles, the list’s publication set off alarm bells. "It's very bad news," said Juan José Gutiérrez, executive director of Movimiento Latino USA.
"We are confident that our state of California will not collaborate with the federal government in the search for undocumented immigrants, but we will not object in the case that an immigrant has a serious criminal record and represents a threat to the nation's security," he added.
In Seattle, Washington, concerns are similar. "The city and state authorities should prevent the government from using Program 287(g) to make deals with local police and arrest undocumented immigrants," says Mary Mora, director of communications for Latino Advocacy.
That program consists of a formal agreement between local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, on which ICE depends. Donald Trump wants to expand the program.
In photos: Here's how the border fence looks up close Cargando galería |
A sea of red washed over global financial markets on Friday after Britons' shockingly voted to Brexit the European Union. The pound fell to its lowest point in 31 years, the Canadian dollar lost more than a cent and stocks tumbled.
The Toronto Stock Exchange dumped 239.50 points to close at 13,891.88.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average had its worst day since August, dropping 610.32 points, or 3.4 per cent, to 17,400.75 in heavy trading Friday.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 75.91 points, or 3.6 per cent, to 2,037.41. The Nasdaq composite sank 202.06 points, or 4.1 per cent, to 4,707.98 for the market's the worst fall since 2011.
"The initial financial market reaction was especially sour, mostly because the market had become so convinced that Remain would win and not so much because it's a massive negative for the outlook," said Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.
"We're headed into a rough week," said Karl Schamotta, of Cambridge Global Payments.
Uncertainty over the vote results sent the British pound on a wild ride. Just after polls closed Thursday, when the Remain side was presumed to have won, it rose to its highest point of the year at $1.50 US. But as the results came in, the pound tumbled more than 10 per cent to $1.3230, its lowest level in 31 years. It later regained some lost ground to trade around $1.3679.
That swing, to its lowest level since 1985, marked the biggest one-day move in the history of the modern pound, shocking financial markets, as pollsters and forecasters had almost uniformly predicted a narrow victory for the Remain side.
Canadian-born Bank of England governor Mark Carney moved quickly to try to calm the nerves of investors.
Mark Carney assures central bank will provide 250 billion British pounds 0:53
"We are well prepared for this," Carney said. "The Bank Of England will not hesitate to take additional measures as required."
That wasn't enough to save the pound, however, as most world currencies slumped with investors rushing to the safety of the U.S. dollar.
At one point, the Canadian dollar was down by more than 1.5 cents, which would have been its worst one-day performance since 2010. The loonie ultimately finished with a loss of 1.37 cents, ending at 76.93 cents US.
The British pound sold off heavily after polls closed and it emerged that Britons had voted to leave the EU. (Joan Dymianiw/CBC)
The impact on many aspects of the economic picture is unclear. But in the short term, the referendum result is having a significant impact on just about everything.
"Clearly, there will be no rate hikes for the foreseeable future," Bank of Montreal said in a note after the votes were tallied. "In fact, rate cuts are now a distinct possibility in the U.K."
The whipsaw trading was part of broader turmoil in global financial markets sparked by the vote.
"The uncertainty, the not knowing, will not bode well for financial markets," BMO said.
A trader in Frankfurt waits for financial markets to open following the historic Brexit vote on Friday. (Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg)
The euro weakened to $1.1108 US, down 2.81 cents US.
The August contract for light sweet crude dropped $2.47 US to settle at $47.64 US a barrel in New York, after having earlier been down by as much as five per cent.
Gold, which touched its highest point in two years after results showed the Leave side had won, closed at $1,320 US an ounce, up $58.80 on the day. Gold typically rallies during times of economic uncertainty.
Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 3.1 per cent. At one point it was eight per cent lower. The German DAX index sank 6.8 per cent and France's CAC 40 index tumbled eight per cent.
Japan's Nikkei 225 finished a wild day down 7.9 per cent, its biggest loss since the global financial crisis in 2008. South Korea's Kospi sank 3.1 per cent, its worst day in four years. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index tumbled 4.4 per cent and stocks in Shanghai, Taiwan, Sydney, Mumbai and Southeast Asian countries were sharply lower. |
Cycling confusion blamed on Twitter fans: Officials say BBC's shambolic coverage of road race was because spectators used site as riders passed
Commentators repeatedly made mistakes during coverage of road race contested by British cycling stars Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins
Fans slammed BBC coverage as commentators struggled with a lack of timing information during the race
Gymnastics coverage criticised for ignoring impressive displays by British competitors
BBC insists problems are beyond its control as it relies on pictures provided by the Olympics' own broadcasting company
The BBC’s shambolic television coverage of the men’s road cycle race was yesterday blamed on spectators using Twitter as the athletes passed.
Olympic officials said this had jammed the network used to provide crucial race timing and positional updates to broadcasters from the athletes’ bikes.
One million spectators turned out to watch the race on Saturday, one of the few unticketed events in the Games.
Scroll down for video
Problems: The BBC has apologised for its coverage of the men's road cycling race, in which Mark Cavendish (left) was riding for Great Britain
Celebration: Kazakhstan rider Alexandr Vinokourov holds his arms aloft as he crosses the finish line to win gold. BBC commentators seemed unsure about which cyclists had won medals
But viewers at home were left baffled, with many criticising the BBC for confusing and ill-informed commentary by a team including British cycling greats Hugh Porter and Chris Boardman, as well as presenter Jill Douglas.
Fans were left clueless about timings and positions on the course, and even for a while after the race ended, it was unclear who had won the bronze medal.
One viewer complained on Twitter: ‘Horrible BBC coverage of the Olympic cycling road race. Erratic time splits, wrong names and inaccurate position calls. Frustrating.’
Another posted: 'The #olympics2012 cycling road race coverage contained literally the worst commentary I have ever heard. Embarrassingly bad coverage.'
Colin Lynch, an Irish Paralympic cycling world champion, tweeted: ‘If you’re watching cycling for the first time today on TV, I promise – it usually has much better coverage and commentary. Don’t be put off.’
Not our fault: Presenters Gary Lineker (left) and Jake Humphrey (right) defended the BBC, tweeting that the problems were beyond the broadcaster's control
Defence: Jake Humphrey took to Twitter to respond to complaints by viewers
Apology: Cycling commentator Chris Boardman, who won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, said he was 'gutted' about the technical problems affecting the BBC's coverage
Former Olympic gold-medal cyclist Boardman took to the social media site to apologise to fans, writing: ‘Folks, got to apologise for issues today, gutted. Tomorrow we aim to have stuff like information and a monitor we can see for commentary.’
Frustrated: Chris Boardman, a member of the BBC commentary team, apologised for the disappointing coverage
The BBC yesterday said the problems were beyond its control, as the coverage was via the Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS) supplies footage and data to all the TV networks.
BBC presenter Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter: ‘This is the Olympics. The coverage is from a pool of broadcasters from across the world. I’m afraid that’s how it is regardless of who hosts.’
Jake Humphrey also used the site, writing: ‘'For those asking about more on-screen stats, graphics and info. None of it in the BBC control, we just take pictures provided to whole world'.
The International Olympic Committee yesterday said the sending of race information from tiny GPS transmitters in competitors’ bikes had been jammed by spectators using their mobile phones to access social media sites.
Before yesterday’s women’s road race, IOC communications director Mark Adams even urged spectators to refrain from using their phones when the riders passed.
Mr Adams said: ‘From my understanding, one network was oversubscribed, and OBS are trying to spread the load to other providers. We don’t want to stop people engaging in this by social media and sending updates, but perhaps they might consider only sending urgent updates.’
The plea was partially successful, with better race information during the women’s event – although Boardman yesterday told viewers the split times shown on their screens were inaccurate, forcing him to keep a record.
A BBC spokesman said last night: ‘The pictures are provided by the host broadcaster OBS to all global rights holders, these are not BBC-produced pictures. We have raised our concerns with OBS who have explained that there were GPS problems with ... the timing graphics, which resulted in a lack of information for the commentary teams.’
Elsewhere, at the North Greenwich arena, the BBC’s coverage of the gymnastics prompted complaints as the British men’s team qualified for the final for the first time since 1924.
But viewers saidthat they missed much of the action because the broadcasting team showed pictures of other country's athletes.
Star performer: Kristian Thomas of Great Britain competes in the gymnastics event. Viewers described the BBC's coverage of the competition as 'shocking'
'Listen up': BBC sports reporter Ollie Williams sought to explain why more performances by British gymnasts were not shown
The BBC's own commentators appeared frustrated as pictures of foreign competitors were shown while British gymnasts' displays elsewhere in the arena were drawing loud cheers from the home crowd.
One viewer tweeted: 'Shocking coverage from the BBC for the GBR boys in the artistic gymnastics. After 1 hour of qualifications we've seen 2 performances.'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'Very disappointed with bbc coverage of the gymnastics so far-not seen a peep of GB&watching same person on floor twice!'
BBC sports reporter Ollie Williams, who was covering the event, tweeted: 'Listen up. This applies to all sports and to the gymnastics now.
'The BBC is NOT the host broadcaster. We do not decide the pictures shown.
'So if wondering why you can't see GB gymnasts, it's because the BBC is not in charge. |
Mitt and Ann Romney were the only guests on Fox News Sunday today. During a mostly lapdog interview, Wallace asked a few tough questions, including about those infamous “47%” remarks – which Romney said he regretted. And yet he did not apologize to anyone he may have offended. Even more telling, when asked about his remarks, shortly after the campaign, that President Obama won because he gave away “free stuff” to his “base coalition,” Romney replied, “ObamaCare was very attractive, particularly to those without health insurance.” Oh, and Romney also suggested he didn’t mean it when he said he’d turn down $10 in spending cuts if they included $1 in tax hikes
In Part One, Ann Romney said about losing the election:
It was a crushing disappointment. Not for us. Our lives are going to be fine. It’s for the country. …The dream was to make a difference. The dream was to serve.
And yet there was a certain lack of “service mentality” in Mitt Romney's reflection on the “47%” comments.
Wallace played the video in which Romney was caught saying, “There are 47 percent who are with him (Obama), who are dependent upon government, who believe they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them.” Then came the following exchange, as per the Fox News transcript:
WALLACE: George Will said you’ve got a problem when voters don’t like you. You’ve got a real problem when voters think you don’t like them. MITT ROMNEY: Yes, it was a very unfortunate statement that I made. It’s not what I meant. I didn’t express myself as I wished I would have. You know, when you speak in private, you don’t spend as much time thinking about how something could be twisted and distorted and—and it could come out wrong and be used. But, you know, I did. And it was very harmful. What I said is not what I believe. Obviously, my whole campaign—my whole life has been devoted to helping people, all of the people. I care about all the people of the country.
Here's what troubles me: Romney said it was “not what I meant,” it was “unfortunate” and “harmful” (I believe he meant “harmful” to his campaign). It was all about him. He never said he was sorry or anything to suggest he actually likes those voters he insulted. He “care(s) about all the people” and has been “devoted to helping” “all of the people” but it smacks of the same kind of imperiousness, merely cloaked in kinder, gentler words. Romney never said anything about how people less fortunate inspire him, move him or even matter other than as a group to “help.”
That impression was further validated during another exchange about Romney’s “free stuff” remarks after he lost the election.
MITT ROMNEY: It’s a proven political strategy which is, you have a bunch of money from the government to a group and, guess what, they’ll vote for you. (END AUDIO CLIP) WALLACE: To some people, it sounded like the remark you made in your campaign about 47 percent of Americans looking for handouts. MITT ROMNEY: The president had the power of incumbency. ObamaCare was very attractive, particularly to those without health insurance. And they came out in large numbers to vote. So that was part of a successful campaign.
In another exchange, Romney discussed the lengthy Republican primary and some of the “silly” questions “that end up hurting you in the general.” He cited the question in which the panel was asked if they would accept a $1 tax increase for every $10 in spending cuts.
WALLACE: But now, that’s a good question. Why not be the one who stands up there, raises your hand and said, of course, if it was 10 for one, I’d do it? MITT ROMNEY: Again, because if you’ve said that you’re not going to raise taxes, then they’d say Romney’s changed his position. He said he wouldn’t raise taxes, now he’s saying he will. He’s changed his position. This is – WALLACE: But you would have accepted $10 in spending cuts— MITT ROMNEY: Well— WALLACE: -- for $1 in revenue. MITT ROMNEY: Yes, that’s—that’s a fairy tale, because no one is going to give you $10 in spending cuts for $1 in revenue increase. You’ve got to—if you’re going into a negotiation, you’ve got to stand for your position, know they’re going to stand for theirs and then recognize that there’s going to be some compromise.
In other words, yes he would have accepted that deal but didn't because he figured it would have been politically harmful to say so at the time.
Mitt Romney: same as he ever was. |
At around noon Tuesday the Israeli Navy intercepted and took control of a boat that had set sail for the Gaza Strip with three tons of medical supplies, Palestinian sources said, adding that the Navy jammed the boat's radio signals.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office confirmed the report. Israeli military sources said there was no violence after the small ferry, sailing from Cyprus with activists from the US-based Free Gaza Movement, was intercepted off Gaza.
"The vessel, which was sailing under a Greek flag, left Larnaca, Cyprus on Monday en route to Gaza. After it was made clear that the boat was headed for Gaza's shore, it was told that Gaza was under a naval blockade. In light of this and the security hazards in the region, its entrance to Gaza was forbidden," the army said in a statement.
The army stressed that despite the warnings, the boat continued sailing toward the Strip. "The Navy vessel's crew took control of the boat and led it to the Ashdod port," said the military.
Earlier Tuesday, "Free Gaza" founder Greta Berlin told Ynet that at around 11:00 am six Navy vessels approached the boat and ordered it to stop some 50 kilometers off Gaza's coastline. Despite the order, the boat continued to sail towards the Hamas-ruled territory, said Berlin, who is currently in Cyprus.
Berlin said that the communication with the boat had been disrupted from 1:40-6:00 am, adding that its GPS and navigation systems had been blocked by the Navy, forcing the crew to navigate with the use of a compass alone.
The boat is also carrying 21 peace activists, including former US Congresswoman Cynthia Ann McKinney (D-GA) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire.
"We want to show the Palestinian people in Gaza that they are not alone, and call on the international community to take a more active role in resolving the situation," she said.
Reuters contributed to the report |
According to a YouGov poll in today's Sun, 78 per cent of people believe that David Cameron is "unlikely" to deliver his immigration promises. They're right. There is no chance of Cameron meeting his pledge to reduce net migration to "tens of thousands" a year by the end of this parliament.
As I reported last month, net migration to Britain rose by 21 per cent to 239,000 last year (see graph). The problem for Cameron is that the rise was driven by two trends - a fall in emigration and a rise in EU immigration - over which he has no control. One of the PM's biggest errors was to set a net migration target - the difference between the number of people entering and leaving Britian - as opposed to an immigration target.
Had Cameron merely promised to reduce immigration he would have had a good chance of succeeding. Contrary to the claims of the right-wing press, immigration has barely risen since 2004. Instead, by adopting an unachievable target, he set himself up for failure. |
If you already own the Animal Crossing: New Leaf game, you can download a free update that includes all of the new features and amiibo functionality from the packaged version of Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo.
The Animal Crossing™: New Leaf game has a new lease on life thanks to the addition of amiibo compatibility. This free update adds in support for all Animal Crossing series amiibo figures and cards. Tap amiibo to have the pictured villager visit your town. You can even tap select amiibo from other series to get items themed to those characters!
After installing the update, you can tap Animal Crossing series amiibo figures and cards to invite villagers for a visit—or to move in! In November, this update content will be added to the original game in a new packaged version called Animal Crossing™: New Leaf—Welcome amiibo. And on December 2nd, 50 new Animal Crossing: New Leaf amiibo cards will also become available for purchase. No matter how you play it, this is the perfect time to cozy up to the charm and creativity of this special game. New friends and discoveries await every day. Express yourself by customizing your character, home, and town as you create your ideal world. |
The arcade: the last bastion of loose change. Or so we thought.
An old-school arcade, in the retirement capital of New Zealand no less, complete with Pac-Man, pinball and teddy bear claw machines, has started using cryptocurrency.
And actually, it's not that cryptic. Gamers at the Arcadia, in Blenheim, just need the bitcoin app on their smartphones.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF An arcade in Blenheim is accepting the cyber currency bitcoin.
The amount they want is entered into the till, a unique code is scanned with their phone, they hit 'pay' and they're away.
READ MORE:
* Games arcade proves 'old school' fun still popular
* Grand Arcade undergoing 'major' refurbishment to include childcare facility
* Redevelopment fears for iconic St Kevin's Arcade
Customers are then given tokens to slot into the machines.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF Arcadia, in Blenheim, is full of racing games, shoot 'em ups, and pinball machines. It even has an old-school Pac-Man.
Arcadia owner David Scoon said it was as "easy as eftpos".
The only problem is, no-one has actually used it yet. But lots of people were asking about it, Scoon said.
Scoon thought the Arcadia was the first company in Blenheim to use bitcoin.
Stuff How bitcoin works.
He explained the concept as "a wee bit like shares", with the value of a bitcoin fluctuating daily.
Scoon's son Adam Scoon, the mastermind behind bringing bitcoin to the arcade, said he anticipated everyone would be using bitcoin in the future.
"It is getting more and more attention and more people are learning about it and getting into it which pushes its value up even more, we think that eventually everyone will be using it to pay for everything," Adam Scoon said.
University of Canterbury senior lecturer of finance Bill Rea said bitcoin was a "highly secure" form of transferring money.
"It does offer quite a secure way to do transactions," Rea said.
It did however require some technology and IT skills, he said.
More companies and individuals were starting to pick it up as a form of transaction.
"[But] your corner dairy is probably not going to be using it anytime soon," he said.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is internet money, which unlike normal money is not controlled by banks or governments.
The currency works on a cloud database called the blockchain, which houses all transactions ever made.
To use bitcoin you need to download software that lets you access the blockchain and get an online wallet. There are many apps that can help you get one.
Then you can start trading the currency, make purchases or transfer dollars into your wallet through intermediaries that convert your traditional money into cryptocurrency. |
Formula Drift announced a new series for 2014 that will be in full function for 2015. Here is the breakdown of what happens for the new year. The series is called the Pro 2 series and will work as a stepping stone between the Pro Am and Pro series currently running. Basically it’s a better version of XDC/WDrift or whatever those guys are calling their series these days.
The Pro 2 series championship will have its own prize money and events will take place on 4 Formula Drift weekends in a year. This is a growth series for Formula Drift to allow newly licensed drivers/teams adapt to the professional sport in a stronger environment. With 2014 being a split season the program will only be in full function during the 2015 season. At that time drivers will regulate/promote into the Pro 2 series from Pro Am and the top pool of Pro 2 will spill into the Formula Drift pro series. We confirmed with Formula Drift that next week we will have a ton of more details on the Pro 2 series and how things are working. |
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Growing up, I always wondered how an entire nation could go mad. I was thinking about Nazi Germany, and millions of good, decent Germans, seeming to lose their minds for Hitler and National Socialism and its repressive brutality.
I never thought I was see it for myself. It would be a long time, I told myself, before a nation would lose itself again as Germany had in the 30s.
Then came the 2008 elections and the Tea Party. It is painful and shocking to witness people you would assume to be as rational as you flip on Fox News and – as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar used to say on Wayne’s World – go “mental.”
It turns out people can absolutely believe impossible things and they can be quite fanatical about it. The facts are right there; I can see them plain as day. Why can’t they?
Fox News is absolutely part of the problem. Everywhere you go, it’s on. It’s like a national propaganda channel. Joseph Göbbels would have wet himself at having such power in his hands. People sit in restaurants all across the nation and listen to lie after lie – all unsubstantiated and invented out of whole cloth – pass the lips of Fox News commentators.
Imagine how much easier would have been Hitler’s job if he had been able to do the same, rather than standing on street corners giving speeches and passing out leaflets.
All the Tea Party represents is repackaged fascism. The message is the same: real Americans instead of real Germans and familiar enemies, like Muslims instead of Jews (they share a hatred of gays); out-of-control paranoia and conspiracy theories like stabs in the back and betrayal; the view of women (real American – aka white women) as breeders of a master race; and a mission from God to restore the nation’s greatness.
America for Americans is no different than Hitler’s Germany for Germans. They even have the same overblown sense of nationalism: Deutschland über alles and American exceptionalism share a low-brow wavelength.
Nor is it a coincidence that both National Socialists and Tea Partiers happen to be white and predominantly male.
I really thought I would get through my life time without seeing it for myself. I wish I had, because though it helps me understand how it could happen, it does not bode well for the world my children will inherit.
You have only to peruse sites like Right Wing Watch to see how bad things are. The idiocy of their claims come right out of the same adherence to 19th century pseudoscientific principles sprinkled with nods to the actual Bronze Age of 3500 years ago, give or take.
It is not so long ago that people assumed superstition would not make a comeback. But it has. Every time I hear some Republican pooh-pooh global warming – like Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA) a few days ago saying that global warming is a fraud and a plot to institute global government (remember what I said about paranoid conspiracy theories?), or Rush Limbaugh saying if you believe in God you can’t believe in global warming – I wait expectantly for the germ theory of medicine to get thrown under the bus.
After all, we have Catholics in California worshipfully claiming liquid from a tree are God’s tears when what it actually is, is lice excrement.
And that’s not all: we already have gay animal demons explaining homosexual behavior in thousands of species of wild animals, and God, not tectonics, explaining earthquakes and volcanoes, while God, not global weather patterns, explain hurricanes and typhoons.
Goodbye germs. Welcome back the demon-haunted world Carl Sagan once warned us against. I never thought I’d see a major American political party get all Nazi either, so I’m not putting good money on the germ theory. Sorry guys.
No, Hitler didn’t like science either. He wanted “German” science just as today’s conservatives want “Christian” science.
Look, you shouldn’t have to be a liberal to think fascism is a bad thing. Republicans should think so too, and once upon a time, they did. But those Republicans aren’t in power anymore. To the point they still exist at all they exist as RINOs (Republicans in name only) and like Dick Lugar – who, let’s face it, while hardly a moderate looked sane by comparison – find themselves suddenly without jobs.
There are perfectly sane Christians out there and there have been perfectly sane Christians all through history, folks who lived alongside their Pagan neighbors, and who nowadays live alongside their liberal neighbors, alongside their gay neighbors, alongside their Muslim neighbors, and alongside their feminist neighbors.
Sadly, history has shown that the moderates seldom prevail. The reason is simple: they are not ruthless zealots. They’re average folks who just want to get along and so like all those same folks in Germany of the 1930s, they get trampled underfoot in the rush to kill the constructed Other of the moment. If theocracy does not prevail, some worldly power co-opting the Church prevails.
Even Hitler, after all, said he was doing the Almighty’s work and whatever disparaging remarks he might have made about Christianity, he made those same remarks about Paganism, and he paid his tithes to the Catholic Church till the day he died.
Benjamin Franklin said of mobs, “A mob’s a monster; heads enough but no brains,” and we’ve seen that to be true of Tea Party rally after Tea Party rally. Not all of these people are ideologues just as not all Germans who cheered for Hitler were Nazis.
It turns out General George S. Patton was right in 1945 to compare the Nazi Party to the Republicans and Democrats, because there isn’t as much difference between them as we would like to believe.
Patton was reprimanded, but who knew, after all, that in just a little more than half a century, the Republicans would themselves become Nazis?
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Muir Vidler‘s admiration for individuals who are challenging the status quo first began in a popular club called Love Muscle in London. It was there that he was inspired to start a long running, charming photographic series called Rebels Without A Pause. About people (usually senior citizens) who are refusing to ‘act their age’ and are defining their life on their own terms, the series is full of wonderful spirit and charm.
This dance club was where Vidler met Adrian Delgoffe – a man in his late 60s, wearing leather pants and a leather harness, dancing by himself. The photographer remembers applauding this man, who was older than Dad, out at night, living large, instead of being dormant in front of the TV at home. Vidler reflects:
Adrian got me thinking about people who don’t let their age define who they are, what they wear, how they act – people that make the world a more interesting and fun place, a better place. I wanted to shoot some portraits that celebrated those people, the people that never grew up. (Source)
The British born photographer tracks down interesting individuals and arranges photo shoots, usually in their private homes, or at a location of their choice. He has met several young-at-heart characters, who, in their old age are proudly covered in tattoos – and are adding more still. Isobel Varley for example, holds the Guinness Book Of Records as ‘The World’s Most Tattooed Senior Woman’ and shows no sign of slowing down: since being photographed, she has acquired many new penis tattoos on her face.
Vidler has photographed circus performers, nudists, veteran rock n rollers, old bikers, die hard roadies, leather fetishists and ‘slave owners’, Elvis impersonators, and the first openly gay skinhead. You can see his full collection of portraits and other surreal experiences on his Instagram account here.
Via Feature Shoot |
When Trevor Noah started hosting The Daily Show last September, he was just some young, hilarious correspondent from South Africa given the tall order of replacing Jon Stewart. Not quite a year later, Noah is drawing millennial viewers to The Daily Show and delivering night after night of sharp political thought and satire.
With The Daily Show’s entire staff headed to Cleveland and Philadelphia for the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention, respectively, Noah is set to take his hosting abilities to an even bigger stage. While other shows have teams reporting live, The Daily Show is the only one that will actually be fully broadcasting from the conventions, making Noah and company the best sources for all your boots-on-the-ground “what the fuck is going on” needs—assuming that what you need isn’t straight news coverage. With the RNC kicking off next week in Cleveland, The A.V. Club talked to Noah about what he’s learned from the U.S. political process, and whether America is really going to hell in a handbasket.
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The A.V. Club: What’s most interesting to you about covering the conventions? Why is it important to you that The Daily Show is going?
Trevor Noah: What’s most interesting to me is just going to be seeing the chaos up close, especially on the Republican side. We’ve heard a lot about the Never Trump movement, and we’ve heard a lot about the establishment quickly planning a clandestine takeover, so it’ll be interesting to be there live and see if anything happens as it happens. It’ll also be fun to see people—I mean, Ted Cruz said that he’s going to be speaking, so it’ll be interesting to see how these people perform up close in a really scrutinized environment. So I’m excited for that.
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I think the most intriguing part of it for me is taking The Daily Show there, because we get to experience all of the material firsthand. Generally, our show is resigned to reporting on the news, whereas here we get to be there when the news is being made, which I think will be an exciting change for us.
AVC: How much access is the RNC giving you?
TN: Well, we do have our press passes, so we’ll see how far they let us go within that access. But we are allowed to be there, and we’ll see what happens. The worst that could happen is we get kicked out, but that could also be the best thing that happens. We’ll see.
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I’m not going there to try and stir anything. We just want to cover the conventions. And a lot of the Republican guys are actually quite nice, so hopefully we don’t have any issues.
AVC: How will The Daily Show’s approach this year differ from what the show has done in the past and from what other shows are doing?
TN: The big difference between what the other shows are doing and what we’re doing is the fact that we’re actually going to be there. I know that some people might be covering it on the night or might send a camera, but we’re actually going to be there. So we’re going to be doing a lot of Cleveland- and Philadelphia-specific stuff and convention-intensive stuff. Our shows are going to be dedicated to the conventions. It’s not going to be a piece of our show.
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Then I guess what’s going to make it different is that this is my first time going to the convention. This is also the show’s first time as the Daily Show With Trevor Noah. We have new correspondents, we have myself, so it’s going to be a new experience. Plus a lot of our viewers have never experienced a convention whilst also watching it. So we have to take that into account while still skewering the convention for the all-time Daily Show viewers. You also want to create an exciting experience for the new viewers who have never seen anything like it.
AVC: You said you were doing Cleveland- and Philadelphia-specific coverage. Do you mean reported stories from the cities themselves that might not be about the actual convention?
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TN: Yes. We have correspondents going out and reporting stories, so if there’s something crazy or interesting happening in either of the cities, we’ll be there ourselves.
The big difference from how the show did it before is that now there’ll be a lot of social media taking place. So we’ll be making shows within shows. We’ll have our Snapchat show, which is going to be launching for the first time. It’s going to be a three-part special, and that’s going to be us covering the convention on Snapchat. And then we’re going to have a whole bunch of different live activities as well, like The Daily Show convention sideshow, which is going to be in Cleveland for instance, and there’s going to be almost a live carnival of events that people can come and see. So those are just a few things that are going to make it different beyond just what’s on the show on TV.
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AVC: Are you expecting any surprises at the conventions? They’re usually so locked down in advance.
TN: I don’t think that the RNC has everything locked up right now. From what I’m reading and what I’m seeing, it’s still up in the air. There are a few people confirmed here and there, but it doesn’t seem like everything is cohesive right now. So the RNC is really… Nobody knows what’s going to happen. I wouldn’t be shocked if we come out the other side and Donald Trump is not the nominee. I know that’s crazy, but crazy has been the theme of this campaign.
On the DNC side, it seems like everything’s falling into place and everything’s going according to plan. Barring anything dramatic on Hillary’s side, it should be a pretty standard convention. Bernie is speaking, so maybe he’ll push Hillary a bit more, but it’ll be interesting to see on either side.
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AVC: How can you prep for something like these conventions? If Donald Trump might not even be the nominee—or if he is, and then he just drops a VP and cabinet members, how can you start thinking about all that in advance?
TN: Yeah, on Trump’s side, what do you do? On Hillary’s side we’ve gone through a bunch of the VP possibilities like Elizabeth Warren, [Tom] Perez, Xavier Becerra, and so on, but when it comes to the RNC side, nobody knows anything. And I think anyone who says they know what’s going on is lying. No one knows what’s going on with that side. No one knows what Trump is doing or planning. The last time he talked about the convention, he said he was going to do something no one has ever seen before. He said he was going to make an entertainment spectacular. We don’t know what that means. All we can do is plan as much as we can plan, but for the most part we’re there live and experiencing the thing. What we get to do is share that experience with our viewers. We get to have it happen to us while we’re there, which is what makes it really exciting.
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AVC: How many people are you sending?
TN: The whole show is going there. Every single person from the entire show. We are doing The Daily Show from Cleveland and from Philadelphia. We’re not sending people. The show is going there. Other people are sending somebody, but we’re sleeping there every single day. I will be there, every single correspondent will be there, our writers, our producers—everybody is going to be there.
AVC: Have you developed any sort of perspective on this election cycle or are you still in too deep?
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TN: I don’t know. Sometimes being too deep into it makes you lose some perspective. It makes you feel like the whole thing is normal when in fact it’s not. It’s really not a normal campaign cycle you guys have here. I’ve seldom seen an election fraught with so many lies from candidates on either side.
I actually think this whole Brexit thing in the U.K. was a welcome example of being straightforward. With the candidates pulling out quickly, there’s no stringing the people along. The whole fight with Theresa May and her counterpart, or you look what happened with Boris [Johnson] and his counterpart. It’s so refreshing to just see candidates go, “Hey, I’m out. I don’t think I can do this.” Or Nigel Farage just going, “I don’t want to do this, I’m going home.” It’s just refreshing. It doesn’t seem to be as labored.
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The American cycle is just so extreme and drawn out. And because of that, it leads you into the dark spaces where you go, “Nothing’s actually happening here other than the country being torn apart.” I don’t understand how people think you can spend this much time tearing people apart and then not expect that to still be in effect after the election is done. And that’s what people are doing. You’re spending almost two years on the road telling people from your side that the other side is wrong, and then you think that when the election ends you’re just going to go back to normal? No, you’re just sowing the seeds of divisiveness, and it’s unsustainable over time. And you see the effects of it over time. It’s just going to keep getting worse.
AVC: You might not notice it a year from now, but you’ll notice it eight years from now, or 20 years from now.
TN: Exactly.
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AVC: With everything that’s going on—Donald Trump, ISIS, the two recent filmed shootings of black men, the sniper in Dallas—do you think things are getting worse, or do you think we’re just more aware of what’s going on because of social media and the 24-hour news cycle? Are things crazier now than they were, say, 20 years ago? A hundred years ago?
TN: I don’t think things are getting more insane. I do know that the country is more divided than it’s ever been. Tensions in America are at their peak.
With regard to the shootings and so on, I think that’s just the ubiquitous nature of cell phone cameras. That’s all that happened. Now everyone has eyes, and now everyone has evidence. That’s really changed how we tell the news and what we get from it.
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But it’s an interesting place to begin where the country is completely divided into choosing sides, when the only side everyone should be choosing is the side of America, and then politicians essentially should be arguing about the best way to serve America. Whereas right now—like, for instance, let’s say Republicans and Democrats—they argue that the other side does not even want America to succeed, which is a strange thing. That’s not something you see very often in politics. Normally both sides are trying to get the same things done, but they just disagree on how to do it. Whereas here there’s a very distinct, “No, that side does not want to make this country what it needs to be. That side is totally against that.” And that’s part of a larger problem that people are starting to experience. So it’s more divisiveness, yes, but definitely also more social media that’s getting people connected to what’s happening.
AVC: Maybe some of that divisiveness could be solved if we had more than just two major political parties. Even some of the old guard Republicans are saying, “These guys are too much for me.”
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TN: That’s the price you pay for not having multiple parties. Like I always say to people, in this election season particularly, if you had multiple parties I can tell you Donald Trump would have had his, Bernie Sanders would have had his own, Hillary would’ve been with the Democrats, and then the Republicans would’ve run maybe Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. But because you force people into these two sides that don’t fully represent them, you’re going to end up in a situation where the populist few manage to somehow control the votes and the narrative of the majority. That’s what’s happening now.
AVC: How much perspective do you think you’re bringing to this election by not being originally from the U.S.? Some of us might just say, “Well, this is how it’s always been.”
TN: It brings a lot in terms of me thinking it’s not normal. I always tell people in the writing room, I tell them in every situation, “I’m not at the place where I think it’s normal, and I hope I never get to that place, because a lot of the things that are happening are not normal.”
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The biggest perspective I bring is coming from a country that has extreme racial tensions, just like America. We have a very strained situation in our relation to the British, but we handle it in different ways, obviously. But there are many parts of America that I understand because of the country that I am from.
Also, I’m coming from a place where I have seen a different way to handle it, or a slightly different way to go through what is happening, that gives me some perspective. So I think it always helps. It always helps to have someone who has traveled the world or seen a different way to do something. That helps give you perspective.
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AVC: Do you think The Daily Show has the potential to bring about social change?
TN: I think any show has the potential to bring about social change. I do not think any one show in isolation can do it. I think it is a groundswell that needs to continue to be bolstered from all ends. So when you’re talking about an issue, for instance, if you look at all the issues we’ve been experiencing over the past few weeks or months—trans rights in America, LGBT rights, the proliferation of guns, the police shootings—all of these things, they need a certain level of groundswell. One show can’t do it, but when you multiply everyone on Twitter, everyone on TV, just everyone, that begins to bring it to life. That begins to make it bigger than just what it could be without that. And so I don’t think any one show has that power or ability, which is good because that could go either way, but we have a fantastic platform to be part of something bigger than just ourselves, which I take all the time and I use. And that’s not just because it’s The Daily Show, it’s because it’s a platform, and that’s what my platform has always been in comedy and in life. Like on Twitter, you can’t do anything by yourself, but you post something and it might be retweeted and retweeted, and next thing you know it’s trending, and it all came from one person. And so that’s how I look at the show. We have to start it somewhere, so let’s get started.
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AVC: You could say that Fox News might think similarly. And they’re pushing things in a different, more conservative direction.
TN: I agree completely. We always look at gerrymandering and what it has done to voting in America, but what I realized the other day is that the news has somehow become gerrymandered and is continuing to be gerrymandered in America.
It’s very rare to find a place where news itself has a political bent. Normally, let’s say in the U.K. for instance, newspapers might explicitly support one party or the other, but television is just straight-up facts that are not influenced by any party from either side. In South Africa we try to maintain the same thing. Unfortunately, the government sometimes intervenes, but for the most part, the facts are the facts.
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In America, to have news that has explicitly taken a position is a very strange place to be in, and it’s a very dangerous place to be in. And that’s happening on Facebook, as you saw, and that’s happening online. People are just being given their news and not the news, which is really, really scary.
AVC: You can choose what you want and don’t want to see.
TN: The scariest thing is it chooses for you at some point. There are many people out there who don’t even think of themselves as being averse to facts, but the truth is, they are not getting it.
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Some guy tweeted me one of those memes that Donald Trump tweeted—about who commits crime and what percentage of black people commit crimes, and I was like, “These are false.” But the guy wasn’t being an asshole to me. He was just saying “Look, here’s the facts.” And I was like, “But these are false facts. This is not fact.” But the problem is that in his world, that has been circulated and he believes it. So how do you get that person to see the facts?
It’s also about being honest. I think it’s sometimes about realizing that a lot of that honesty can come from pointing out where your beliefs are flawed or where you’ve made mistakes. By doing that I feel like you get to a place where people are more likely to trust you. They go, “Okay, cool, you are open to us, then maybe we can be open to you.” |
Inside the April issue of Vanity Fair, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Paul Rudd spoof a 2006 cover with Tom Ford, Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson. But with bodysuits. What a cop-out.
Is it funny that the guys (and Annie Leibovitz, who shot both images) spoofed the shot? Sure. But it would have been funnier if the guys were actually naked. Who made this decision? Why bodysuits? It's understandable to try and create a "pale" skin tone for the purposes of recreating the original photograph properly, but Leibovitz is a whiz with lighting. Is the world not ready for Jonah Hill's ass? As for Jason Segel, he already did full-frontal nudity in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. We saw Seth Rogen's bare buttocks in Knocked Up. Why is it that naked woman can appear on the cover of Vanity Fair, yet none of these dudes can expose their bellies? Is it because they're not thin?
Of course, this issue just reflects the problems with nudity in our society in general. When I went to see Friday The 13th, the theater was crowded with men and women, but after the third time a female actress was shown topless, some girl behind me yelled out, "How come we can't see no huevos?" She was asking for balls, but knew that the movie wouldn't show any, because the producers didn't have any. And that's the problem with this "spoof." As any good comedian knows, you have to commit to the joke. This one was done — ahem — half-assed. |
First, begin by folding your your graph paper in half (excluding three boxes on the perforated side). Once the paper has been folded appropriately, make two marks--13 full boxes apart (allow for a further box back behind the airframe). Use a ruler to make a straight line with the length of 13 boxes directly up 1 row of boxes from the two marks you just made. Then make the stabilizers, spars and counterweight as shown.
After the fuselage is made, take another sheet of paper that is folded in half along the lines of boxes. Mark out the wing as shown (1 box of constant chord at the root; a leading edge sweep of 1 box of chord decaying every 6 boxes outward from the constant chord box; and a trailing edge sweep of 1 box of decay along the 7 boxes of wingspan). This will complete the wings.
Solid lines indicate places to cut . Dotted lines indicate fold lines.
Note: 1 box = 0.25 inches |
When Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D returns on September 29, it will have a new agent in its fold (that plural in the title has really left ABC lots of room to maneuver, casting-wise). Andrew Howard will play the “authoritative and intimidating” Agent Bates, a seemingly original character created for the show.
Howard recently appeared in The Lizzie Borden Chronicles and Hell On Wheels as various ne’er-do-wells, but his roles in feature films like Limitless and Taken 3 often see him playing a heavy. For the softer side of Howard, check out Bates Motel, where he plays adorable Emma Decody’s dad. (No word on whether Agent Bates’ name is a hat tip to that series.) His character, who’s the first new one that’s actually been announced for the upcoming season, isn’t being described as part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. squad, so we’ll have to wait and see to which acronym he belongs. But it is a recurring role, and since the introduction of the Secret Warriors is supposed to happen in the upcoming season, Howard could find himself playing an integral part in season three. |
Evols had the right idea: turn dinosaurs into dracos.
31st Duel Off, Local Tournament, 04/03/2017
—————————————————————-
1st Place: True Draco Kozmo
—————————————————————-2nd Place: Zefra Dinosaur—————————————————————-3rd Place: True Draco DinosaurDuel Night #3, Local Tournament, 04/03/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-2nd Place: Zefra Dinosaur—————————————————————-3rd Place: True Draco KozmoToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 04/02/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Blue-EyesManga Warehouse Kagoshima Shop, Local Tournament, 04/02/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco DinosaurLaccus Kashihara Shop, Local Tournament, 04/02/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco WindwitchLaccus Yonezawa Shop, Local Tournament, 04/02/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco Metal Kozmo2nd Orange CS, Domestic Tournament, 04/01/2017, 15 Teams (45 Players)—————————————————————-1st Place, Player A: True Draco Windwitch—————————————————————-1st Place, Player B: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-1st Place, Player C: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player A: True Draco—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player B: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player C: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player A: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player B: True Draco Metal Kozmo—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player C: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-4th Place, Player A: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-4th Place, Player B: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-4th Place, Player C: Demise True DracoCard Strike, Local Tournament, 03/31/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: ZoodiacToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 03/31/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Blue-EyesCard Strike, Local Tournament, 04/01/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True DracoLaccus Kashihara Shop, Local Tournament, 04/01/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True DracoCard Kingdom Tokushima Shop, Local Torunament, 04/01/2017, 5 Players—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco Dinosaur1st Hobby Stage Okayama CS, Domestic Tournament, 04/01/2017, 10 Teams (30 Players)—————————————————————-1st Place, Player A: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-1st Place, Player B: True Draco Windwitch—————————————————————-1st Place, Player C: Dinosaur Yang Zing—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player A: True Draco Windwitch—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player B: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player C: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player A: True Draco Windwitch—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player B: Invoked True Draco—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player C: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-4th Place, Player A: True Draco Windwitch—————————————————————-4th Place, Player B: True Draco Metal Kozmo—————————————————————-4th Place, Player C: Demise True Draco1st Oyama Cup, Domestic Tournament, 04/01/2017, 20 Teams (60 Players)—————————————————————-1st Place, Player A: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-1st Place, Player B: Zoodiac—————————————————————-1st Place, Player C: True Draco Metal Kozmo—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player A: True Draco Metal Kozmo—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player B: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-2nd Place, Player C: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player A: Demise True Draco—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player B: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-3rd Place, Player C: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-4th Place, Player A: Masked HERO—————————————————————-4th Place, Player B: True Draco Dinosaur—————————————————————-4th Place, Player C: Demise True DracoToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 03/29/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Blue-EyesToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 03/28/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True DracoToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 03/27/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True DracoToreca ga Ippai, Local Tournament, 03/26/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Grass NoidCard Strike, Local Tournament, 03/29/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Demise True DracoCard Strike, Local Tournament, 03/29/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: True Draco DinosaurCard Place, Local Tournament, 03/29/2017—————————————————————-1st Place: Grass NoidWCS 2017 Shop Representative Tournament, Local Tournament, 03/26/2017 (January 2017 Format)—————————————————————-1st Place: Zoodiac—————————————————————-CARD RANKING |
View Photos Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Black Friday is too hectic–who wants to sit in a line, outside in the cold at 3 a.m. for a barely discounted iPad or 50 percent off a bedspread? Bedding is boring, and sitting on the couch drinking a cold one and shaking off the Thanksgiving food coma is so much more satisfying, anyway. To help you pass the time on this lazy day, we’ve compiled these awesome photos of black cars. Enjoy!
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
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Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Charlie Magee, George Lepp, Mark Bramley, Marc Urbano, Patrick M. Hoey, Roy Ritchie, and the Manufacturer
Okay, so this particular example is not painted black, but, come on, it counts and you know it. |
Spoiler: Score: 12,125 (click to show/hide)
Cogmind - Alpha 12
Name: Kyzrati
---[ CORE DESTROYED ]---
Performance
-------------
Evolutions (6) 3000
Robots Destroyed (197) 985
Value Destroyed (7440) 7440
Prototype IDs (20) 400
Alien Tech Recovered (0) 0
Bonus (300) 300
TOTAL SCORE: 12125
Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 0/1150
Matter 290/300
Energy 78/100
System Corruption 2%
Temperature Cool (12)
Location -4/Factory
Parts
-------
Power (2)
(None)
Propulsion (4)
(None)
Utility (9)
(None)
Weapon (4)
Improved Plasma Cutter
Inventory (4)
Light Angular Momentum Engine
Neutrino Core
Light Quantum Reactor
Compact Heavy Treads
Peak State
------------
Power
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Propulsion
Improved Treads
Improved Treads
Armored Leg
Improved Hover Unit
Utility
Advanced Heat Sink
Improved Cooling System
Large Storage Unit
Large Storage Unit
Long-range Sensor Array
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Targeting Computer
Hacking Suite
Improved Hacking Suite
Weapon
Wave Gun
Heavy Phase Cannon
KE Penetrator
Precision Grenade Launcher
Inventory
Light Angular Momentum Engine
Neutrino Core
Enhanced Fission Core
Wheel
Energy Mantle
Advanced Plasma Rifle
Long-range Proton Cannon
Long-range Proton Cannon
Disruptor Cannon
Heavy Missile Launcher
Heavy Missile Launcher
Heavy Missile Launcher
Heavy Missile Launcher
Guided Missile Launcher
Phasing Sabre
[Rating: 82]
Favorites
-----------
Power Cooled Ion Engine
Engine Cooled Ion Engine
Power Core Micro Fission Core
Reactor Light Antimatter Reactor
Propulsion Carbon-fiber Leg
Treads Improved Treads
Wheel Wheel
Leg Carbon-fiber Leg
Hover Unit Improved Hover Unit
Utility Advanced Targeting Computer
Device Makeshift Transmission Jammer
Storage Large Storage Unit
Processor Advanced Targeting Computer
Hackware Improved Hacking Suite
Protection Light Armor Plating
Weapon Gauss Cannon
Energy Gun Advanced Beam Rifle
Energy Cannon Ion Cannon
Ballistic Gun Gauss Rifle
Ballistic Cannon Gauss Cannon
Launcher Precision Grenade Launcher
Slashing Weapon Phasing Sabre
Special Melee Weapon Improved Plasma Cutter
Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown 300
Met Data Miner 300
Classes Destroyed 15
Worker 3
Builder 8
Tunneler 1
Hauler 5
Recycler 10
Minesweeper 2
Operator 4
Watcher 3
Swarmer 49
Grunt 57
Brawler 2
Duelist 2
Sentry 28
Hunter 16
Programmer 7
NPCs Destroyed 0
Best Kill Streak 13
Combat Bots Only 12
Matter Collected 6050
Salvage Created 8391
Parts Attached 217
Power 20
Propulsion 63
Utility 36
Weapon 98
Parts Lost 86
Power 11
Propulsion 27
Utility 16
Weapon 32
Average Slot Usage (%) 90
Naked Turns 13
Spaces Moved 6056
Fastest Speed (%) 200
Average Speed (%) 70
Slowest Speed (%) 37
Overloaded Moves 0
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 5
Cave-ins Triggered 0
Heaviest Build 77
Greatest Support 90
Greatest Overweight (x) 22
Average Overweight (x) 1
Largest Inventory 16
Average Capacity 12
Most Carried 16
Average Carried 10
Final Capacity 4
Final Carried 4
Core Damage Taken 2107
Average Core Remaining (%) 79
Depth 11 Exit 100
Depth 10 Exit 100
Depth 9 Exit 76
Depth 8 Exit 46
Depth 7 Exit 88
Depth 6 Exit 56
Depth 5 Exit 88
Volleys Fired 447
Largest 4
Hottest 250
Shots Fired 1266
Gun 1010
Cannon 215
Launcher 41
Special 0
Kinetic 1027
Thermal 183
Explosive 41
Electromagnetic 17
Shots Hit Robots 816
Core Hits 403
Critical Hits 17
Kills 5
Parts Destroyed 12
Overload Shots 0
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 84
Impact 0
Slashing 82
Piercing 0
Damage Inflicted 23279
Projectiles 12608
Explosions 6537
Melee 4122
Ramming 12
Kinetic 9157
Thermal 4167
Explosive 5451
Electromagnetic 370
Impact 0
Slashing 4122
Piercing 0
Overflow Damage 17
Projectiles 16
Explosions 1
Melee 0
Self-Inflicted Damage 460
Shots 11
Rammed 5
Highest Temperature 452
Average Temperature 81
Received Heat Transfer 2292
Shutdowns 1
Energy Bleed 2
Interference 5
Matter Decay 0
Short Circuit 0
Damage (minor) 0
Damage (major) 0
Damage (core) 0
Highest Corruption 2
Average Corruption 1
Message Errors 6
Matter Fused 7
Heat Flow Error 1
Energy Discharge 5
Parts Rejected 4
Data loss (map) 0
Data loss (database) 5
Misfires 1
Misdirections 4
Targeting Errors 7
Weapon Failures 1
Depth 8 End 2
Depth 5 End 2
Haulers Intercepted 5
Robots Corrupted 1
Parts Fried 1
Robots Melted 0
Parts Melted 11
Heat Transferred 5901
Parts Self-Destructed 83
Prevented 6
Power Chain Reactions 1
Tactical Retreats 15
Communications Jammed 226
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 0
Drone Recoveries 0
Derelicts Assembled 0
Traps Triggered 7
Indirectly 0
Trap Hack Attempts 0
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 0
Reused 6
Traps Extracted 47
Installed 8
Triggered 8
Machines Disabled 24
Data Cores Recovered 0
Used 0
Machines Hacked 31
Terminals 22
Fabricators 2
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 2
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Total Hacks 91
Successful 50
Failed 36
Catastrophic 8
Database Lockouts 0
Manual 37
Unauthorized 24
Terminals 55
Fabricators 5
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 4
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Terminal Hacks 59
Record 12
Part Schematic 5
Robot Schematic 3
Prototype ID Bank 3
Open Door 1
Level Access Points 1
Branch Access Points 2
Alert Level 2
Unreport Threat 6
Reprogram Traps 1
Hauler Manifests 1
Hacking Detections 23
Full Trace Events 1
Feedback Events 0
Feedback Corruption 0
Feedback Part Disabled 0
Feedback Blocked 0
Trojans Installed 10
Terminals 10
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Fabricators Overloaded 0
Garrisons Disabled 0
Garrisons Compromised 0
Fab Network Shutdowns 0
Robot Schematics Acquired 3
Robots Built 0
Total Robot Build Rating 0
Robot Fabrication Matter 0
Robot Fabrication Time 0
Part Schematics Acquired 5
Parts Built 0
Total Part Build Rating 0
Part Fabrication Matter 0
Part Fabrication Time 0
Parts Repaired 0
Part Repair Time 0
Parts Recycled 0
Recycled Matter 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Retrieved Components 0
Parts Scanalyzed 0
Part Schematics Acquired 0
Parts Damaged 0
Robot Analysis Total 0
Robots Rewired 0
Robots Hacked 0
Non-combat 0
Combat 0
Robot Hack Failures 0
Allies Hacked 0
Hacks Repelled 0
Total Allies 10
Largest Group 10
Highest-Rated Group 110
Highest-Rated Ally 20
Total Orders 0
Terraforming Orders 0
Walls Built 0
Walls Tunneled 0
Ally Attacks 107
Total Damage 1376
Kills 19
Allies Corrupted 0
Allies Melted 0
Peak Influence 476
Average Influence 142
Final Influence 10
Maximum Alert Level 2
Low Security (%) 69
Level 1 26
Level 2 4
Level 3 0
Level 4 0
Level 5 0
Squads Dispatched 24
Investigation 4
Extermination 4
Reinforcement 11
Assault 0
Garrison 5
Intercept 0
Derelict Logs Recovered 8
Exploration Rate (%) 27
Regions Visited 17
Pre-discovered Areas 4
Garrisons Visited 0
Relays Disabled 0
Generators Disabled 0
Network Hubs Disabled 0
Actions Taken 7529
Turns Passed 11440
Depth 11 60
Depth 10 282
Depth 9 974
Depth 8 2271
Depth 7 1232
Depth 6 3000
Depth 5 2823
Depth 4 798
Scrapyard 60
Materials 2330
Factory 2756
Storage 1197
Lower Caves 1947
Proximity Caves 2010
Zion 994
Data Miner 146
Prototype IDs
---------------
Heavy Ion Engine
Cooled Ion Engine
Cooled Aerolev Unit
Gravity Neutralizing Apparatus
Combat Drone Bay
Heavy Particle Gun
Advanced Beam Rifle
Cooled Pulse Rifle
Storm Laser
Advanced Plasma Rifle
Heavy EM Shotgun
Advanced Beam Cannon
Compact Ion Cannon
Improved Assault Rifle
Enhanced Autogun
Guided Missile Launcher
Precision Grenade Launcher
Precision Rocket Launcher
Advanced EMP Blaster
Impact Mace
Fabricated
------------
Nothing
Alien Tech Recovered
----------------------
None
Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials
-9/Materials (discovered 3 exits: *Mat / *Min x2)
-8/Materials
-8/Storage
-7/Factory
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Lower Caves (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Dat)
-7/Data Miner
-6/Proximity Caves
-6/Factory (discovered 2 exits: Fac / [*Low])
-6/Lower Caves
-6/Lower Caves (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Zio)
-6/Zion
-5/Proximity Caves
-5/Factory (discovered 4 exits: *Fac x4)
-4/Factory
Game
------
Seed: Shadow Creature
^Manual?: 1
Play Time: 113 min
Sessions: 7
Mod: N/A
Game No.: 4
Lore%: 7
Gallery%: 24
ASCII: 1
Keyboard: 1
Movement: Numpad
Fullscreen: 2
Font: 20/SmallcapsGlow
Map View: 66x50
FOV Handling: Fade In
Okay, so as the news is making the rounds that Alpha 12 has overdone alert level nerfs and is by far the easiest release yet, I report that bad decisions are still enough to kill a good playerI was doing fine until I decided, just for fun, toI already have a good win in 12, so now I'm more willing to take risks and fool around, but from that point on it was downhill as I got picked apart in the caves. I still survived for several floors after that, but my suboptimal propulsion was always an issue, forcing me to use a combination of treads, legs, hover, and wheels...What did me in was happening upon an absolutely crazy convergence of squads (partially of my own doing because I was wreaking havoc). Just look at these guys...I did find tons of launchers in this seed, though. Quite different from my winning run this week where there were only two the whole run!The "pristine Storage grunts" escorted me through two floors early on. Here we are making our way into the caves for an immediate showdown:I got to lay traps for the first time, too! That was a lot of fun; definitely some good new strategies there. I didn't get an Extractor myself (they fizzled...), but looting the Minesweeper's inventory was enough. Being my first time I made some mistakes in trap placement, and also only later realized that because I didn't have an Extractor, once I'd put them in the wrong place I couldn't get them back again xD |
PUL, which stands for polyurethane laminate, is a waterproof fabric most often used for cloth diapers and wet bags. I started my PUL journey about 2 years ago, when I made some side-mirror covers for my father-in-law for Christmas. They were gray terry-cloth inside, PUL outside, and he uses them for every storm. They were a wild project, and they didn’t leave me in love with PUL so I stashed it away, until last summer.
I was part of the Leominster Marketplace (farmer’s market) last summer and one of the shoppers asked if I could make her a smaller version of a dinosaur bag I had with me, nothing that she wanted to use it as a snack bag. The PUL I had is food grade, so I said “Yeah, absolutely! I’ll make it and bring it with me next week!” Obviously, she never came back for it. But I got my first taste of lining a bag with it!
I don’t love working with PUL because it’s kind of slippery and I never know if I should pin it in place or just hold it so it can slip around more. But since making the dino bag, quite a few people have expressed interest in makeup bags that are not cotton lined. Makeup explodes or seeps out, gets all over the cotton, leaks through. But if I was going to make a waterproof makeup bag, I needed to stand by it’s waterproof-ness. So I made a tester and did some tests.
Test 1: Pour 4 cuts of water into the bag.
Delayed leaking but still massive leaking. The fabric is waterproof but the seams are not at all.
Test 2: Pour a cup of shampoo into the bag.
Minor seeping from seams after 2 hours. I had it set on a paper towel, propped up so the shampoo pool would sit on a side-seam interception, and you could see the small seep spot. I moved the bag after an hour and ended up with a second small spot next to the first.
Conclusion: The bag is not waterproof. But it is leak-resistant. A little water isn’t going to leak out and get everywhere. A cup of shampoo isn’t going to ooze out and sticky-up the rest of your luggage. It will stay in the bag! That’s what I was after.
After the rigorous testing, I made a few bags for the shop. I put my labels on the outside of the bags so that 1) there was one less seam for liquid to seep through and 2) I can visually differentiate between these and cotton-lined bags without having to unzip them. I’m going to start them off in their own section, called PUL-Lined Bags, and see how they do. |
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Después de 26 años, desde hoy la Plaza de la Constitución tendrá una conexión entre las calles República de Guatemala y República de Argentina con la apertura de un puente peatonal que pasa por arriba del Templo Mayor.
Se trata de un puente que dará cabida diaria a por lo menos 100 mil personas, en un horario de ocho de la mañana a ocho de la noche, el cual ayer fue inaugurado por el jefe de Gobierno, Miguel Ángel Mancera.
José Mariano Leyva, director general del Fideicomiso Centro Histórico, confirmó que para la apertura de este puente peatonal el gobierno capitalino invirtió 13 millones de pesos, monto que no incluye el costo de las ventanas arqueológicas que se ubican en la zona, de aproximadamente 18 metros de largo y 6 metros de ancho.
“Aquí tienes lo que es el encuentro entre el presente y pasado, donde el pasado hay que preservarlo y plantea qué sucede con espacios y caminos en donde la vida sigue transcurriendo a través del ingenio de armar puentes donde la gente transite y se respeten las excavaciones antiguas”, señaló.
En un recorrido previo a la inauguración, el director general aseguró que después de tres años de estudios los capitalinos tendrán la oportunidad de trasladarse de una calle a otra, además de contemplar el Templo Mayor.
Como lo había adelantado EL UNIVERSAL el año pasado, ayer fue inaugurado el puente a nivel de calle que conectará las vialidades de Guatemala y Argentina, en el Centro Histórico, que circundan los vestigios arqueológicos del Templo Mayor y las excavaciones que aún se realizan.
Mariano Leyva mencionó que después de varios estudios se logra concretar uno de los espacios peatonales más importantes en la capital del país que da desde el Zócalo capitalino a la parte nororiente.
El titular del Fideicomiso Centro Histórico dijo que este paso permanecía cerrado desde hace años debido a los trabajos de excavación, por lo que varios especialistas tuvieron que medir con anticipación si la zona aguantaría el transitar de las personas.
Resaltó la ingeniería aplicada en esta obra e indicó que los expertos analizaron incluso cuánto peso tendría este puente con el transitar de las personas para ver si era viable.
“Se fue cuidadoso en la construcción de este puente para que no se excedan las dimensiones; toda esta parte del puente se hizo con financiamiento y ejecución del Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, pero siempre de la mano del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH)”, precisó.
Detalló que en este puente no habrá escalones, ya que será una extensión de la calle, con aproximadamente unos cuatro metros por debajo del nivel del suelo.
Por el momento, por cuestiones de seguridad no permanecerá abierto por la noche y habrá tres elementos de seguridad que resguarden las dos entradas, uno permanecerá adentro.
El responsable del Fideicomiso Centro Histórico expuso que este puente era el único espacio con necesidad de construirse por arriba y que forma parte de las intervenciones ejecutadas en colaboración con el INAH en la zona del Templo Mayor.
Adelantó que en el lugar el INAH abrirá próximamente el nuevo vestíbulo que coronará todas las obras. |
Sheryl Sandberg is "disgusted and disappointed" that Facebook was helping advertisers target anti-Semitic users.
Facebook's COO weighed in on last week's revelation, announcing new tools and policies to prevent this type of behavior from occurring on the platform in the future.
Facebook had been allowing advertisers to target users using terms like "jew hater" in its education and employment fields of their personal profiles. The descriptions automatically transferred to its ad platform as categories that could be targeted by advertisers, as ProPublica reported last Thursday.
The company said Friday that it "immediately removed" the anti-Semitic advertising categories after ProPublica's report. In a Facebook post, Sandberg described the additional measures the company will take.
Related: Facebook pulls feature that helped advertisers target anti-Semitic users
Facebook will add more human reviewers as well as oversight to its automated processes, she said.
Moreover, it has manually reviewed targeting options and is reinstating the 5,000 most common ad targets. "From now on we will have more manual review of new ad targeting options to help prevent offensive terms from appearing," she said. She described the anti-Semitic categories on the platform as "totally inappropriate and a fail on our part."
In addition, Sandberg said the company has clarified its advertising policies and will toughen up its enforcement. Targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity, or disabilities or diseases, is prohibited on the platform.
Related: Mark Zuckerberg to make rare court appearance
Sandberg said the company plans to have a program where users can report potential abuses of ads.
"If we discover unintended consequences in the future, we will be unrelenting in identifying and fixing them as quickly as possible," she wrote. "Hate has no place on Facebook -- and as a Jew, as a mother, and as a human being, I know the damage that can come from hate." |
Costa Rica is known internationally as having the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle and a low level of corruption. Tourists will, unfortunately, notice that all supermarkets have very high prices. Many of the expats will be familiar with the hilariously priced $8 tiny jars of Skippy peanut butter.
The fact of the matter is that Costa Rica heavily relies on food imports and the government heavily taxes everything. The local agriculture cannot sustain the rapidly growing population but Costa Rican protectionist laws are stuck in the past. It is not just tasty luxury goods that are taxed, but basic staples are heavily taxed. Rice has tariffs of 35%, beans 30%, and milk at 65% just to name a few.
A small group elite families have deep roots within the government that allow them to take advantage of the system. The rice companies that belong to Corporación Arrocera (Conarroz) are the only entities allowed to import rice duty-free. Since rice is price controlled, these companies can only sell the rice at a maximum price. Imported rice is much lower than local rice, so these companies simply sell the cheap foreign rice at the fixed prices and pocket the rest. Since rice is such an important part of the working class’s diet, this gives Conarroz members a lot of power.
It is no secret that foreign investment in Costa Rica has increased the prices dramatically. The unfortunate thing is all construction materials are also heavily taxed. Families that want to construct a simple home on a rural plot of land will have to pay nearly double in comparison to neighboring countries. For working class folk that make $400 a month, they would be lucky to own a shack of corrugated iron.
Costa Rica is a country that has had extreme poverty for decades due to the lack of industry. The poverty has relatively remained the same since the 1990’s due to the extremely high cost of living for a developing country. Even Nicaraguans are starting to enjoy a similar standard of living even with earning less than half of the typical Tico. The promised intention of tariffs and price fixing was to take from the rich and give to the poor, but the exact opposite is happening in Costa Rica.
Interesting Links:
List of Import tariffs. Some of these percentages may shock you.
An interesting comparison of the food prices by various foreigners. By News.co.cr
A more thorough explanation of Costa Rica’s poverty. ‘Growth without Poverty Reduction: The Case of Costa Rica’. The Cato Institute |
A Secret Service agent holds the door for U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on his way to a campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Monday. ((Jason Reed/Reuters)) Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing rampage, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.
In all, the two men whom officials described as neo-Nazi "skinheads" planned to kill 88 people, including 14 by beheading, according to documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn.
The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.
The rampage, which initially targeted an unidentified predominantly African-American school, was to end with the two men driving toward Obama, "shooting at him from the windows," the court documents show.
"Both individuals stated they would dress in all-white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the court complaint states. "Both individuals further stated they knew they would, and were willing to, die during this attempt."
An Obama spokeswoman travelling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.
Arrested in Tennessee
Sheriffs' deputies in Crockett County, Tenn., arrested the two suspects — Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark. — Oct. 22 on unspecified charges.
"Once we arrested the defendants and suspected they had violated federal law, we immediately contacted federal authorities," said Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce.
The two were charged by federal authorities Monday with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer and threatening a candidate for president.
In this undated photo obtained from a MySpace webpage, Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., is shown holding a weapon. Cowart and Paul Schlesselman 18, of West Helena, Ark., are being held without bond. ((Associated Press)) Cowart and Schlesselman are being held without bond. Agents seized a rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and three pistols from the men when they were arrested. Authorities alleged the two men were preparing to break into a gun shop to steal more.
Jasper Taylor, city attorney in Bells, said Cowart was arrested Wednesday. He was held for a few days in Bells, then moved over the weekend to another facility.
"It was kept under lid until today," Taylor said.
Until his arrest, Cowart lived with his grandparents in a southern, rural part of the county, Taylor said, adding that Cowart apparently never graduated from high school. He moved away, possibly to Arkansas or Texas, then returned over the summer, Taylor said.
2 suspects met online
Lawyer Joe Byrd, hired to represent Cowart, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday. Messages left on two phone numbers listed under Cowart's name were not immediately returned.
No telephone number for Schlesselman in Helena-West Helena could be immediately found.
U.S. federal authorities alleged Monday that white supremacist Paul Schlesselman plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. ((Crockett County Sheriff Office/AP Photo)) The court documents say the two men met about a month ago on the internet and found common ground in their shared "white power" and "skinhead" philosophy.
The numbers 14 and 88 are symbols referring to a 14-word phrase attributed to an imprisoned white supremacist — "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children" — and to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H.
HH or two eights stand for "Heil Hitler."
Court records say Cowart and Schlesselman also bought nylon rope and ski masks to use in a robbery or home invasion to fund their plot, during which they allegedly planned to go from state to state and kill people.
Agents said the two did not identify the African-American school they were targeting by name.
Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville, Tenn., field office for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, said authorities took the threats very seriously.
"They said that would be their last, final act — that they would attempt to kill Senator Obama," Cavanaugh said. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."
He added: "They seemed determined to do it. Even if they were just to try it, it would be a trail of tears around the South."
An ATF affidavit filed in the case says Cowart and Schlesselman told investigators the day they were arrested they had shot at a glass window at Beech Grove Church of Christ, a congregation of about 60 black members in Brownsville, Tenn.
Nelson Bond, the church secretary and treasurer, said no one was at the church when the shot was fired. Members found the bullet had shattered the glass in the church's front door when they arrived for evening Bible study.
"We have been on this site for about 120 years and we have never had a problem like this before," said Bond, 53 and a church member for 45 years.
More charges possible
The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible, Cavanaugh said, adding that there's no evidence so far that others were willing to assist Cowart and Schlesselman with the plot.
At this point, there does not appear to be any formal assassination plan, Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said.
"Whether or not they had the capability or the wherewithal to carry out an attack remains to be seen," he said.
Zahren said the statements about the assassination came out in interviews after the men were arrested last week.
The Secret Service became involved once it was clear that an Obama assassination attempt was part of a violent, far-reaching plot.
"We don't discount anything," Zahren said, adding that it's one thing for the defendants to make statements, but it's not the same as having an organized assassination plan.
Helena-West Helena, on the Mississippi River in east Arkansas's Delta, is in one of the country's poorest regions, trailing even parts of Appalachia in its standard of living. Police Chief Fred Fielder said he had never heard of Schlesselman.
However, the reported threat of attacking a school filled with black students worried Fielder. Helena-West Helena, with a population of 12,200, is 66 per cent black. |
A man looks as the world's biggest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker, Qatari-flagged DUHAIL as she crosses through the Suez Canal April 1, 2008
Japan's JERA Co, the world's biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas, said on Monday it has been informed by Qatargas that there will be no impact on LNG supplies after several Middle East countries cut ties with Qatar.
There would be "no conceivable impact on LNG supplies" from the rift, JERA said in a statement, adding "this is also a geopolitical issue in the Middle East and there is a possibility that this could be closely related to the energy market, so we will continue to keep watch on the movements."
>> WATCH: Saudi Ban pushes Qatar flights to Africa through Europe >> Hacks, Money and Qatari Crisis: How Gulf States Entangled D.C. Think Tanks in Their Fight for Influence >> Qatar Crisis Explained: What Just Happened and Why It Messes Up Trump's Iran and ISIS Plans (And there's an Israeli connection) >> Palestinians confirm: Top Hamas officials have left Qatar at country's request
Qatar is the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, while Japan is the largest importer, taking in about one-third of global shipments.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism. The worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world, came days after a news story, which Qatar claimed was fake, showed Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim Bin-Hamad objecting to the hostile attitude adopted by Gulf States and the U.S. against Iran.
Qatar-Iran cooperation
In April 2017, Qatar lifted a self-imposed ban on developing the world's biggest natural gas field, which it is shares ownership with Iran, in an attempt to stave off an expected rise in competition.
Iranian official blasts Gulf states over Qatar: Cutting ties 'not a way to resolve crisis' | Gulf states' break with Qatar won't affect fight against ISIS, says Tillerson <<
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At the time the LNG market was undergoing huge changes as the biggest ever flood of new supply hit the market, with volumes coming mainly from the United States and Australia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also was aiming to become the world's largest LNG producer.
Qatar had declared a moratorium in 2005 on the development of the North Field to give Doha time to study the impact on the reservoir from a rapid rise in output.
The flurry of liquified natural gas production has resulted in global installed LNG capacity of over 300 million tons a year, while only around 268 million tons of LNG were traded in 2016, Thomson Reuters data shows.
As part of the diplomatic rift, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain also closed transport links with Qatar.
Iran's top priority
Iran, which suffers severe domestic gas shortages, has made a rapid increase in production from South Pars a top priority and signed a preliminary deal with France's Total in November 2016 to develop its South Pars II project.
Iran's oil minister also vowed this March to ramp up production of its part of the shared field.
"Iran's gas production in South Pars can exceed Qatar's before the end of new Iranian year [ending March 20, 2018]," Zanganeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.
Total was the first Western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions.
Qatar Petroleum's Chief Executive Saad al-Kaabi said the decision to lift the moratorium was not prompted by Iran's plan to develop its part of the shared field.
"What we are doing today is something completely new and we will in future of course ... share information on this with them [Iran]."
The economy of Qatar, a future World Cup host with a population of 2.6 million, has been pressured by the global oil slump and in 2015 QP dismissed thousands of workers and has earmarked a number of assets for divestment.
QP is merging two LNG divisions, Qatargas and RasGas, to save hundreds of millions of dollars. |
Ked.ai passes 100,000 registered users, aims to increase sales and merchants
Optimistic on future of cryptocurrencies, adds Bitcoin as a payment method
WHEN Digital News Asia (DNA) first featured Ked.ai in January of 2013, its founder Arsyan Ismail (pic) said the team’s biggest challenge would be trying to achieve critical mass.
One year on, the Malaysian online marketplace has garnered a respectable base, having passed the 100,000 mark for registered users and approaching its internal milestone target of 150,000 users.
In an interview with DNA, Arsyan claimed that the estimated monthly sales is about RM194,118 (US$59573), based on what the team can track via its backend system.
“One of our more memorable achievements was signing up some big clients such as Afdlin Shauki and Karyaneka Malaysia,” he said.
The focus for 1337 Tech, the company behind Ked.ai, for the coming year will be on merchant acquisition and increasing sales. Ked.ai ('kedai' is Malay for 'shop') is estimating an increase of 10% of total sales every month within its network.
The e-commerce space in Malaysia getting increasingly crowded, and Arsyan admitted that there are many big players the team cannot afford to compete with. That said however, he believes the market is big enough.
“If we can have a slice of the cake, then that is good enough already. There is no player that can conquer the entire market. There will be some portions for the small players to play [in] and profit. And ... if we're doing it right, we might just grow organically from there to hopefully [garner] at least half of the cake,” he said.
Arysan also said that with the right product and the right user experience, the 1337 team could make it happen.
“We can reach there slowly, but we need to continuously evolve and innovate and not be stagnant in one era. All in all, we're quite satisfied of where we are in the e-commerce space currently in Malaysia,” he said.
Betting on Bitcoin
As part of the team’s efforts to evolve and innovate, Ked.ai now accepts bitcoins as a payment option, enabling its merchants to integrate a Bitcoin wallet into their shops easily. Merchants just need to key in their wallet address and shoppers will be able to pay for their purchases with Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency introduced as open source software in 2009 by a developer or group of developers going by the pseudonym 'Satoshi Nakamoto.'
“There are numbers of growing merchants who are accepting Bitcoin as a payment method, thus following in their footsteps, we have become the first-ever marketplace in Malaysia to have integrated a Bitcoin wallet into our system,” Arsyan claimed.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) recently issued a statement on its stance regarding the digital currency, stating that bitcoins are not recognised as legal tender in Malaysia.
“The central bank (BNM) does not regulate the operations of [Bitcoin]. The public is therefore advised to be cautious of the risks associated with the usage of such digital currency,” said the statement.
In an email interview with the Wall Street Journal, Colbert Lau, a cofounder at cryptocurrency firm Bitcoin Malaysia, said that it was "worth noting that BNM, in its statement, didn't outlaw the usage of Bitcoin or state that Bitcoin was illegal."
On CoinMap, a website that tracks physical companies and vendors accepting bitcoins, only one merchant in Malaysia was listed – shared workspace Nook Malaysia located in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. In Singapore, 18 retailers currently accept the cryptocurrency
When asked for his thoughts on the controversies and debates surrounding crypto-currencies such as bitcoins, Arsyan said that everyone has their own opinion and are entitled to make their own prediction.
For him, cryptocurrency is a new thing, the kind of ‘new tech’ that will come once in our lifetime.
“And because of this, I wouldn’t want to miss the boat; I predict that this is going to be huge and the value of Bitcoin is going to skyrocket. There are so many ways to predict what the future of Bitcoin is going to be. No one can get it right, because nobody has gone through this before.
“Some economic experts might be able determine what Bitcoin’s future is going to look like, so you might want to listen to them as well. But in my opinion and understanding the inner workings of it, Bitcoin will catch on ... so either join us, or don’t join us … it’s up to you.” he added.
In line with the desire to not ‘miss the boat’ and aid the acceptance and adoption of crytocurrencies, 1337 Tech has plans to develop an exchange house for Malaysia.
That exchange house remains a work in progress but Arsyan shared that the team has done a variant of the Ked.ai website that is being used for users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies called Coins Malaysia.
“We haven’t started to promote it yet as we're still trying figure out the target audience to get the ball rolling, so there's nothing much to see there at this moment. Once we get the ball rolling then we will start to make some noise about it.
“As for the Exchange House, that remains to be discussed once all the pieces fall into place, such as regulation and higher adoption as a payment method,” he added.
Related Stories:
Ked.ai offers e-commerce easy enough for mom
Investing in Bitcoin: What does it take?
Bitcoin-mining malware on the rise in APAC: Trend Micro
The Silk Road arrests, and why users should be worried
Developing online payment systems that protect consumers
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Like us on Facebook. |
The British public wrongly believing most rapists are men ‘in a balaclava in a dark alley’ has been blamed for a slump in conviction rates for sex assaults.
The country’s top prosecutor warned that ‘out-of-date myths’ had to be tackled to persuade victims to have confidence in the criminal justice system.
New guidance will be sent to police to stress that most rapists know their victim and urge them to focus on what steps a suspect may have taken to gain consent for sex.
New guidance for police and prosecutors seeks to dispel the myth that most rapes are carried out by strangers in dark allies
The Crown Prosecution Service said its new national rape action plan will tackle the barriers that rape cases.
It has been devised by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alison Saunders and Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, the national policing lead for adult sexual offences.
Mr Hewitt chaired a taskforce to investigate a fall in the number of cases of rape referred by police to the CPS and the numbers of successful rape prosecutions.
The pair called for a renewed challenge to tackle the ‘persistent myths and stereotypes’ they believe have a negative impact on cases.
In a joint statement they said that their six-month investigation had uncovered ‘pervasive myths’ about rape that exist among not only some police and prosecutors but also among society as a whole, the Independent said.
They said: ‘Despite efforts to raise awareness, many people still believe a rapist is a man in a balaclava in a dark alley, and a victim is a woman who shows her fear through fight.
‘That is very rarely the case - most rapists know their victim, many victims do not physically fight and the trauma of being raped will affect each victim differently.
‘There is an urgent need to change the discourse on rape. Our police officers, our prosecutors, our courts and our communities must reject the out-of-date myths and acknowledge the realities of rape. We also need to debate and understand the fundamental issue of consent.’
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said the focus of cases should not be on the credibility of the victim
Last month the CPS and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed that there were 2,300 rape convictions in 2013, down from 2,433 in 2010, while 129 fewer rape suspects were convicted in 2013 than in 2012.
In the last year the number of completed prosecutions and convictions has increased, the CPS said today, but the conviction rate has dropped from 63.2 per cent in 2012-13 to 60.3 per cent in 2013-14.
But new figures show an 8 per cent rise in the volume of police referrals for 2013-14, compared with 2012-13, and the CPS charged 700 more defendants over the same period, an increase of 25 per cent from the previous year.
Among the measures announced today are steps to ensure that there is better application of laws over consent, and that police and prosecutors focus on what steps a suspect may have taken to gain consent from an alleged victim.
The plan will also see the updating of the national rape protocol that is used by the police and the CPS for investigating and prosecuting rape cases.
Decisions made by police to take no further action in rape cases will be put under closer scrutiny, including monitoring of the quality of record-keeping and the authorisation of decision making, and new practical guidance will be issued to front-line police and prosecutors.
CPS rape and serious assault units will also be reviewed, as will the appointment of appropriate lawyers for rape trials, and a national conference will be convened later this year for all police and prosecutors specialising in rape cases to discuss key issues.
Ms Saunders added: ‘The new action plan makes very clear that, as with cases of child sexual abuse, the focus of any investigation and case preparation should not be on the credibility of the victim but on the credibility of the overall allegation, including the actions of the suspect.’
Professor Liz Kelly, co-chairwoman of the End Violence Against Women coalition, welcomed the rise in the number of rape defendants being charged over the last year, but said there needed to be a corresponding rise in convictions.
She said: ‘Everyone reporting sexual violence deserves the highest standards from the criminal justice system and the National Scrutiny Panel has identified actions which, if implemented consistently across England and Wales, provide an opportunity to achieve this.’
Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: ‘The coalition government is taking significant action to support rape victims and bring perpetrators to justice. I welcome the work of the Crown Prosecution Service and the police to drive improvements in the response to this ugly and inexcusable crime.’
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was ‘very disturbing’ that despite an increase in the number of rape allegations reported to the police since 2010, convictions had been falling. |
Q&A
Why have you started yet anothertranslation topic?Because the first attempt was utter fail, the topic creator having been banned and the thread locked. In the second attempt , the topic creator went AWOL over 2 years ago (made 10 posts and disappeared forever), and there was no organization. As active members who are directly involved in the project, we wanted control of the first post so we could update the topic easily. Third time's a charm?Will this be a full translation?Absolutely.Can I help translate or edit?Can you read this image ? If yes, send a PM to Densetsu with your English translation of the image. If it's good enough, you will receive a short test designed to further assess your translating ability. If you pass, we want you on the team! The test will consist of an image containing Japanese text including kanji, so you won't be able to cheat by copy-pasting the text into a dictionary. We do not allow machine translations. We want people who actuallyand canJapanese. Experience in playing the game is a plus. We are no longer accepting additional editing help unless you know Japanese. The editing has gotten to the point where you must be able to check the translation against the original Japanese (and play the game in Japanese for context), so even our current editors can't really do much to help at this point in the project timeline.Can I be a beta-tester?Once the translations have been finished, we will be looking for people who are serious about contributing to the project, not people who "just want to try the patch." As such, the beta test will be invite-only and we will ask a handful of well-known, reputable members who are willing to test it for us. Those who beta-test will be credited in the project. When the beta-testing phase is opened, we will provide the testers with information about proper bug report format (we will require beta-testers to submit screenshots with the reports).When will you release a patch?After beta-testing is completed.Is there any way you can speed up the project? |
A full-floor aerie near the apex of the Extell Development Company’s blue-glass bastion of billionaires, One57, which offers nonpareil park, water and cityscape vistas, sold for $47,367,491.39 and was the most expensive sale of the week, according to city records.
The residence, No. 88, on the 88th floor at 157 West 57th Street, was purchased through the limited liability company Pac Wholly Own, which records show is associated with the Pacific American Corporation, a New York subsidiary of the HNA Group, one of China’s largest private airline companies. In February, Guoqing Chen, a founder along with his brother, Chen Feng, of HNA’s Hainan Airlines, paid $47,366,989.64 for a floor-through apartment on the 86th floor of the 90-story skyscraper — almost the exact amount as No. 88 when factoring in taxes and fees.
The monthly carrying charges for the recently purchased apartment, which has four bedrooms and five and a half baths over 6,231 square feet, are $12,683.
The week’s runner-up, at $20,110,437.50, which includes taxes and other fees, is another full-floor condominium — unit No. 43A in the Baccarat Hotel and Residences at 20 West 53rd Street. The new glass building, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, has interiors by Tony Ingrao, and stands opposite the Museum of Modern Art. The asking and sale price was $19,750,000. |
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