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Verizon's Tech News Website Sugarstring Quietly Dies Verizon's experiment in technology blogging appears to be over. At the tail end of October news broke that Verizon would be entering the blogging business via a new website dubbed SugarString. The effort appeared to be Verizon's attempt to target millennials by mimicking websites like The Verge and Wired.
It would have normally been dismissed as another in a long line of " me too " efforts well outside Verizon's core competency -- were it not for site editor-in-chief Cole Stryker telling outlets like The Daily Dot that site employees were forbidden from writing about NSA surveillance and net neutrality. The press and public response was unsurprisingly loud, with plenty of conversations about the semi greasy nature of a company's news venture refusing to talk about massive subjects they play a starring role in. The writing appeared to be on the wall when Verizon publicly threw Stryker under the bus in a public statement circulated to media a few days later: quote: "SugarString is a pilot project from Verizon Wireless’ marketing group, designed to address tech trends, especially those of interest to our customers. Unlike the characterization by its new editor, SugarString is open to all topics that fit its mission and elevate the conversation around technology." Shortly after its very ugly public debut, Verizon's Sugarstring website stopped posting new stories and hadn't updated content for most of November. A quick look at the Shortly after its very ugly public debut, Verizon's Sugarstring website stopped posting new stories and hadn't updated content for most of November. A quick look at the website today indicates it's no longer online. I contacted Verizon for comment and was told somewhat ambiguously that Sugarstring was a learning experience."As you know, we’ve always said this was a pilot project; and as with any pilot project, we evaluate, take our learnings, improve our execution and move forward," the company told me in an e-mail. "That’s what we’ve decided to do here."
News Jump Tuesday Morning Links Monday Morning Links TGI Friday Morning Links Thursday Morning Links Wednesday Morning Links Tuesday Morning Links Friday Morning Links Thursday Morning Links - Valentines Edition Wednesday Morning Links Tuesday Morning Links ---------------------- this week last week most discussed
Most recommended from 18 comments
newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD 5 recommendations newview Premium Member It ain't hip to be square
rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY 234.9 11.9
4 recommendations rit56 Member Corporate Idiots Being cool is a state of being that happens organically whether it's in an individual or a web site etc. Leave it to corporations to think they can create something "hip". A corporation with middle aged suits sitting in a room deciding what an 18 year old will like. Just a bunch of idiots.
If they really want kids to love them forever give them unlimited data. They will never ever switch providers. There you go Verizon, a path to being cool...
neill6705
join:2014-08-09 3 recommendations neill6705 Member Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Good riddance. That's the last thing we need - another news outlet that refuses to cover controversial and relevant topics. |
The strange tale of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the Mexican drug lord who escaped from prison via a motorcycle and an underground tunnel back in July, is about to get a lot stranger now that his son allegedly revealed his whereabouts online.
Alfredo Guzman tweeted a photo with a weird assortment of graphic overlays, a photo of himself and two obscured inviduals, and the words, “Agustooo aqui ya saben con quien apatoroo”:
Agustooo aqui ya saben con quien apatoroo pic.twitter.com/Fvlk2pHia9 — Alfredo Guzmán (@AlfreditoGuzma) August 31, 2015
Roughly translated, the tweet reads: “August here, you already know with whom.” And if you’re discerning enough, then you probably already noticed that the obscured man on the left is sporting a somewhat recognizable mustache.
Okay then, so lil’ Guzman is hanging out with his big, bad ass, recently-escaped-from-prison dad. So what’s the problem? Twitter’s geotagging feature, that’s what. For it appears that El Chapo’s son left his phone’s GPS on, and when he uploaded the photo to Twitter, the social media app tagged his location in Costa Rica.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that El Chapo is or was there with his son. For all we know, he’s not even in the photo, and if he was, then Alfredo could have taken it and uploaded it to Twitter at a later time (and place). Still, it’s winning the Best Belated Fathers’ Day Gift Award by a landslide so far.
Alfredo previously screwed things up for his dad when he use the media hype to create an “El Chapo” Twitter account and threaten Donald Trump. Trump had earlier made reference to the senior Guzman during one of his own Twitter tirades.
[h/t Death and Taxes]
[Image via Twitter]
— —
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Who knew the Pennsylvania Turnpike led to so many masterpieces? Just off the toll road, you will find an architectural wonder, Pop Art haven, papal treasures and more. The starting point on this road trip? The city of Pittsburgh and a tour of its museums.
Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (www.warhol.org) is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, kicking it off with a 24-hour opening party for a Marilyn Monroe exhibit that runs through early January. It includes photography, Pop Art and film from Warhol and others, including Richard Avedon and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Warhol (born Andrew Warhola in 1928) grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from what is now Carnegie Mellon University. Work from "The College Years" is also on display through early next year. The permanent collection of this six-floor gallery includes thousands of Warhol's paintings, drawings, films, sculptures, prints and more, plus the artist's archives. Definitely spend some time in the playful "Silver Clouds" balloon room installation.
In the city's market-filled Strip District is the Heinz History Center (www.heinzhistorycenter.org), which boasts a major exhibition of Vatican art that will only hit three cities in the US this year. The 10,000-sq-ft exhibit, the largest Vatican show to come to North America, runs through 9 January and features works by Michelangelo and Bernini, tools used to work on the Sistine Chapel, and even a reliquary with the remains of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The display of sculptures, mosaics, paintings and artifacts includes 200 pieces. Get your timed-entry tickets in advance.
Switch gears to contemporary art, housed at the unique Mattress Factory (www.mattress.org), which supports artists-in-residence and room-sized works. James Turrell's light installations toy with your sense of space and dimension, and Yayoi Kusama makes your reflection part of the art when you step inside her mirror-clad, polka dot mannequin room. Through late February, the Mattress Factory is home to an exhibit of painting, photographs, sculpture and other works by Cuban artists exploring issues of race, racism and discrimination.
Head out of the city for a 90-minute drive through rolling, wooded hills to Fallingwater (http://fallingwater.org), the residential masterpiece that resurrected the career of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1930s. Pittsburgh was very much a smoky steel mill- city when Wright designed this weekend retreat for the Kaufmann family. Today, the house is a museum and sits virtually hidden in the windy Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania. Known for his philosophy of an organic architecture that does not disrupt nature, Wright built Fallingwater on top of a waterfall, with sections of the home jutting out from the hillside and hovering over the creek below. Wright left boulders in place - your mandatory tour guide will point out one that forms part of a fireplace inside the home - and used local sandstone in the construction.
Drive another 6 miles through the countryside to another Wright house-turned-museum, Kentuck Knob (www.kentuckknob.com). Part of his Usonian series, one-floor structures for families of modest means, Kentuck Knob was designed in 1954, when Wright was in his late 80s. The hexagonal home built of honey-colored swamp wood and sandstone includes features he invented - radiant floor heating and the carport - plus Wright-made furniture. After touring the home, take a stroll through the sculpture garden, with works by Andy Goldsworthy and Claes Oldenburg, and two slabs of the Berlin Wall. Reserve tour times for both Wright homes a few weeks in advance.
If you still feel like driving, another half hour and you will hit Uniontown, where the State Theatre Center for the Arts (www.statetheatre.info), a 1922 movie and vaudeville theatre designed by architect Thomas W Lamb, puts on concerts, musicals and classic films. Or stop by Greensburg on your way back to Pittsburgh for its Westmoreland Museum of American Art (www.wmuseumaa.org), featuring works by Winslow Homer and Mary Cassatt, among others. |
What’s it like observing an entire country having a nervous breakdown? Those of us living in the now utterly divided UK know the answer. It’s like being a lodger in a house with a couple who have decided to get divorced but can’t afford to separate. It’s lying awake at night listening to bickering in the next room. It’s sitting opposite both parties at the breakfast table, smiling sympathetically at the eye-rolls each are throwing behind the other’s back. And it’s all the while silently knowing that any expression of one’s own discomfort will be dismissed with the words “Well, if you hate it here so much, why don’t you just leave?”. Totes awks.
Now imagine that one of the reasons for the divorce is that the couple could not agree on whether to take in lodgers in the future. Naturally, in that situation your mere presence becomes an acute reminder of their failure to agree. It becomes impossible for them to see you beyond the uncomfortable feelings you bring. All you are is a lower lip, quivering as you warble, “Is this is about that time I got you out of bed at 2am to let me in? Because if it is that won’t happen again. I can change, I swear.”
This is what being a migrant in Brexit Britain is like. Surrounded by wounded divorcée landlords, hoping you don’t say the wrong thing to the wrong person. You find yourself appraising everyone you meet to discern which camp they fall into and thus the ground on which you can safely tread.
Quality control The Brexiteer is the party in the dispute who admits that the income from lodgers is required to cover the mortgage on the house but who wants to be able to apply more quality control to the kind of lodgers they allow in. They also have a strong suspicion that one of the lodgers has been helping themselves to their jar of Marmite and won’t be taken for a fool.
One cannot overestimate how wretched the British feel at the poor impression this whole debacle must be giving those looking on The Remainers are the ones drilling you at length about the profile of the UK in the outside world. To fully understand their position one must remember that the British are the people who invented manners and etiquette, and so in their eyes to treat a guest badly is unforgivable. One cannot overestimate how utterly wretched they feel at the poor impression this whole debacle must be giving those looking on. I’ve had a very positive experience of the country, but I still have to reach to find enough good things to say that will quell their fear that they are now regarded internationally as complete dumbasses.
Cut-off The British government’s long refusal to make any commitments to migrants did nothing to ease the tension. Then came the hints in the media that there may be cut-off points on the number of migrants allowed to stay. The instinct here is for a migrant to wonder what they can do to cement one’s own inclusion in that group. Are my visits to the NHS being counted? Should I be wary of appearing too much like one of those benefits tourists? Maybe instead of going to the doctor I’ll see if this cough goes away on its own.
And then, 15 months later, came Theresa May’s guarantee to the Irish that she would maintain our freedom of movement under the Common Travel Agreement. Hurrah . . . I think.
Yes, it’s a relief: but to rejoice at this news seems a little bad taste when our fellow Europeans are still in the firing line. Wait. What? Did I just mention supporting my fellow Europeans? Where did that come from? Such sentiment would never have occurred to me before June 2016. What has happened in the meanwhile that could have created this newfound solidarity?
Could it be that so much prevarication on the matter of EU migrants’ rights by the British government has had the effect of galvanising those affected into a sort of cohesive group? That Brexit has succeeded where Erasmus programmes, pleas from Bono and 62 years of Eurovision song contests has failed?
By Jove, Brexit has only gone and forged for us an EU identity. How wonderful. This kind of thing could pave the way for a new era of growth and creativity. The only downside is that its creators will be restricted from enjoying the benefits of their greatest achievement. |
Helen Branswell , The Canadian Press
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have found two more people who were infected with the new coronavirus in a large cluster of cases in the eastern portion of the country.
The two new cases, reported Thursday, bring the total to date of that al Hofuf cluster to 15 infections. Seven have been fatal.
One of the newly reported cases became ill on April 6, which at this point is the earliest onset date known for any of the infections in this cluster. Though it is still not clear if these cases are all part of a chain of person-to-person spread, it does suggest the new virus has been infecting people in al Hofuf for more than a month.
The new cases were reported publicly by the country's deputy health minister, Dr. Ziad Memish, who posted a short update on the outbreak on the Internet-based disease surveillance system, ProMED.
Memish said the two people were not newly infected but rather cases that were detected by going back through records and tracing people who had been in contact with known cases. But his ProMED report did not say if these people are related to, or had contact with, any of the other cases in the cluster.
And while the official Saudi line has been that all the cases have been linked to a dialysis clinic at al-Moosa Hospital, Memish's post made no mention of these cases having had care at that facility.
He did, however, appear to suggest that there is no ongoing spread of the virus at this time, noting that it has been more than a week since the most recent case fell ill.
"Actions implemented and fully applied by 1 May 2013 have been effective to date in preventing new cases related to this cluster from emerging," Memish wrote in his ProMED posting.
But infectious diseases expert Michael Osterholm said it is too soon to conclude transmission in al Hofuf has been stopped.
"This cluster could still be continuing. I don't think we know," said Osterholm, who is the director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
"It would not surprise me in the next seven to 10 days if we find more cases have occurred in that area that have not previously been reported," he said, adding the ongoing investigation there may uncover more retrospective cases.
"I think the more of the onion we peel back here, the more difficult it gets."
The new cases are both men and are both alive. Both men were reported to have had pre-existing medical conditions.
One, a 48-year old, started to have symptoms on April 29. He is in stable condition in hospital. The other is a 58-year-old man who had symptom onset on April 6. Memish said he has recovered completely and was discharged from hospital on May 3.
The al Hofuf cluster is the largest to date with the new coronavirus and it is linked to one or more health-care facilities. That feature of the outbreak raises red flags for infectious disease experts because health-care workers and hospital patients are often the sentinel cases when a new pathogen begins to spread.
Such was the case during the SARS outbreak in 2003. The SARS virus spread poorly in the community but took off in hospitals among unprotected health-care workers and patients. This virus is from the same family as the SARS coronavirus.
Over the past 13 months, 33 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and, earlier this week, France. All cases are linked to the countries on the Arabian Peninsula. Eighteen of the cases have been fatal.
Saudi Arabia has reported the most cases, 25, with 14 fatalities.
The kingdom's officials have been reluctant to share information about the outbreak but recently invited some outside experts to travel to Saudi Arabia to consult on the situation.
Toronto SARS expert Dr. Allison McGeer is among them. The head of infection control at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, she is currently in Saudi Arabia helping with the investigation. |
Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
In the dying minutes of the victory against Manchester United today, Fernando Torres suffered a knee ligament injury that will cause him to miss several weeks of football. Torres was brought on to see out the match with his holdup play but suffered the knock in a seemingly innocuous way. The striker has been on a fine run of form and has scored in his last two matches.
Jose Mourinho confirms the injury here:
Mourinho confirms Fernando Torres has injured the lateral ligament in his knee. #CFC — Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) January 19, 2014
This injury comes at a poor time as most injuries usually do and Chelsea’s striker depth will be tested. Samuel Eto’o’s hat trick today suggests he has settled at Stamford Bridge and backup striker Demba Ba has shown he can be a useful player with the the knack for occasionally scoring spectacular goals. There is also the option of playing Andre Schurrle at the top of the formation if need be. We wish Fernando a swift recovery and we hope he can continue his fine form when he returns from injury. |
Torrance’s strict gun control laws have been loosened by two separate, but related legal cases that were resolved with so little fanfare that even lawyers who follow the issue closely were unaware of the changes.
The most far-reaching of the two court cases affected jurisdictions in nine Western states, including the city of Torrance. The other involved the repeal of antiquated municipal ordinances dating from 1950 that remained on the books even though they violated state and federal law. Those ordinances were targeted by a gun rights activist who took on the city — and won.
Significantly, the city has begun issuing carry concealed weapons licenses in the wake of a landmark 2014 court decision that struck down a requirement that members of the public needed “good cause” before receiving such a permit.
In that case, Peruta v. San Diego, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any law-abiding citizen has the right to carry a handgun for lawful protection in public.
“The Peruta opinion has persuaded many jurisdictions the appropriate policy choice is to allow people to get the CCW (licenses),” said Long Beach-based attorney Chuck Michel, who represents the National Rifle Association in the state and argued the case before the court.
Torrance is among those jurisdictions because the city required an “individualized, concrete threat” before it would issue a CCW permit. In essence, while CCW applicants still must demonstrate “good cause” before receiving one, that bar is not set so high as to require a concrete threat to personal safety.
Former Torrance Police Chief John Neu said in 2012 that he had approved just one CCW permit since becoming chief in 2006. The department had received only about a dozen CCW applications during that time, largely because the strict requirements dissuaded most from even bothering to apply.
But in an indication of how much the climate has changed, since late 2014 Torrance has issued 17 CCW permits while denying just five.
“This action puts Torrance with a number of other cities in the tip of this national discussion about the right to bear arms,” said Michel, who was unaware of the abrupt policy change in the city until he was informed by the Daily Breeze.
Presumably, the decision to keep the policy switch under the radar occurred because cities like Torrance could well be flooded with CCW applications were it more widely known, Michel theorized.
Typically, about 2 to 5 percent of people in any given jurisdiction want a CCW, permit Michel said.
After the court decision, Orange County was forced to allocate about $8 million to hire investigators to conduct background checks on CCW applicants, he said.
Yet there’s no guarantee the decision will stand.
The decision by a three-member panel is being reviewed “en banc” by the entire 15-judge appellate court and could be reversed as jurisdictions like Torrance are well aware.
“After consultation with outside counsel, we continue to review and process CCW applications and the statutory ‘good cause’ requirement through the lens of the Peruta decision,” Police Chief Mark Matsuda said in an emailed statement.
“The permits that have been issued during this time are for six-month increments and can be rescinded if the Court of Appeal reverses the three-judge panel’s decision.”
Unconstitutional city law
The second court case involved gun rights activist Mindy Costa, who grew up in the city and graduated in 1996 from Torrance High School.
After spending 11 years in the Army, including a tour of duty in Iraq, Costa returned to her hometown with the goal of taking criminal justice classes at El Camino College. She considered applying to the Torrance Police Department to become a cop.
At the same time, Costa became active in South Bay Open Carry, a movement whose members favor openly carrying firearms in public.
To avoid potential law enforcement issues, the group coordinated its activism with the likes of the Torrance Police Department.
That backfired on Costa, however, when in November 2011 she gave police a heads-up about an open-carry event at a local restaurant.
Costa and two other activists were followed by undercover Torrance officers and eventually pulled over by a Lomita sheriff’s deputy for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, even though she contended the weapon in question was in a locked container as state law required.
She eventually was charged with a misdemeanor, but Costa, arguing that the law was at best misapplied — she bluntly contends she was framed — refused a plea bargain in the case, triggering a lengthy criminal and civil legal odyssey.
“The whole thing was incredibly set up,” Costa said. “Last time I checked this is still America and I can put a gun in my car as I abide with state law.”
In the legal maneuvering that followed, Costa also was eventually charged under a pair of 1950 city ordinances that she contended effectively prohibited the carrying of firearms in Torrance — even if they were carried in accordance with state law.
In fact, her civil attorney contended the old laws not only violated state law, but were also unconstitutional because they effectively banned gun ownership in the city.
Jason Davis of Mission Viejo-based Davis & Associates, who represented Costa, said he wasn’t surprised the old laws were still on the books; government agencies often fail to perform basic housekeeping to get rid of outdated ordinances.
“What was surprising was that they were actually enforcing them,” he said. “I don’t think they were aware until we notified them that it was unconstitutional.”
Nevertheless, it took months of lawsuit threats before the City Council got around to repealing the old laws — along with a host of others including one that banned unmarried couples from living together — in August 2014.
But when it did so, there was no staff report on the council agenda and no information provided about the basis for the action.
“They do it quietly so no one knows what’s going on,” Davis said. “I don’t think anybody wants to tell folks they’ve violated the law for years.”
It’s unknown how many other people may have been convicted under the unlawful municipal statute.
In the meantime, to dispense with the criminal case, Costa reluctantly agreed to plead no contest to the state charge, paid a $600 fine and performed 60 hours of community service.
Consequently, both criminal charges were dismissed and wiped from her record as if they never occurred, which is something she had sought all along. And at the same time, Costa’s activism got rid of what her criminal defense attorney, Long Beach-based Jason Shyres, called a “stupid statute.”
“They don’t really give a crap about the constitutionality of the statute,” he said. “They basically treated her like a criminal. It was pretty harsh. I thought they should have given her a little more respect.”
Costa moved out of the state within six months of her arrest; today, she lives in Arizona, which has far more liberal gun laws than California.
And, although it was unrelated to her case, Costa said she was “gratified” to hear that Torrance also has liberalized its attitude toward CCW permits after the Ninth Circuit decision, given that her experience set her back an estimated $30,000 in legal fees.
“The city’s stepping in the right direction,” Davis said. “You’re seeing them take two steps in the right direction to benefiting citizens and guaranteeing them their constitutional rights.” |
Obama vows expanded war in Syria
By Joseph Kishore
15 December 2015
In brief remarks at the Pentagon Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama sought to counter his critics within the US political establishment by vowing to escalate the US bombing and military operations in Syria, nominally directed at the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Speaking before top military brass after meeting with his National Security Council, Obama adopted the language of a mafia hit-man. He boasted that in November, the US and its allies had dropped more bombs on ISIS targets than in any other month since the campaign began. He also listed by name various ISIS leaders whom the US had “taken out,” i.e., killed in targeted assassinations. He declared, “ISIL [ISIS] leaders cannot hide. And our next message to them is simple: You are next.”
If ISIS forces gather in any significant numbers, Obama vowed, “We’ll wipe them out.”
Obama also reported for the first time that Special Operations forces ordered into the region in late October were now active in Syria. Among those flanking Obama as he spoke was General Joseph Votel, head of the US Special Operations Command.
In an effort to justify mass casualties in the bombing of Syria, including an attack last week that killed 36 civilians (20 of them children), Obama made the standard claim that ISIS was “using defenseless men, women and children as human shields.”
Obama’s remarks follow the decisions earlier this month by the British Parliament and the German Bundestag to back their own countries’ participation in the air war in Syria. France intensified military operations last month, immediately after the Paris terrorist attacks.
The war in Syria now involves at least eight major powers, including Russia, whose interests are sharply divergent from those of Washington and its allies. US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit the Kremlin today for a round of talks ostensibly aimed at reaching some sort of accommodation on a “political transition” to end the Syrian civil war.
The US and Russia have differed on the fate of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which Russia counts as its major regional ally and which the US has insisted must go as a precondition for any agreement. The US and its allies have denounced Russia for targeting non-ISIS forces in Syria, principally Al Qaeda-linked groups such as the al-Nusra Front, which the US and the Gulf monarchies have been backing in the campaign against Assad.
According to a report by the Associated Press on Monday, “Assad’s future and his potential role in the political transition will be prime topics of Kerry’s conversation with Putin and [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov, according to US officials, who say the results of the meetings will determine whether or not a new international diplomatic conference on Syria will go ahead as planned at the United Nations on Friday.”
Obama’s remarks came just over a week after his nationally televised “address to the nation” following the December 2 attacks in San Bernardino, California. Along with the killings last month in Paris, the shootings in San Bernardino have been used as a pretext for intensifying military operations in Syria, with sections of the ruling establishment demanding much more aggressive action.
There are mounting charges that the White House lacks a credible strategy to deal with the expanding civil war, a war that has been stoked by unending military aggression led by US imperialism in the Middle East.
Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday that “it’s obvious that the president’s current strategy isn’t working.” Other Republican leaders have called for the deployment of more troops, while the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton, has proposed the creation of a “no-fly” zone in Syria that would require a massive military escalation.
Particularly significant was a commentary earlier this month by Anthony Cordesman, the leading strategist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank, which has close ties to the military and intelligence apparatus. In “More Special Forces for Iraq and Syria: Tactical Asset or Strategic Tokenism,” Cordesman complained that the addition of Special Forces in Syria and Iraq will do little, “given the overall lack of a credible US strategy and plans to create effective Iraqi and Syrian forces.”
“There is a serious risk that they will become a political tool rather than effective forces,” Cordesman wrote, “and potentially a sacrifice pawn in a game that the Administration is not really playing to win.”
He pointed to the nexus of conflicting interests in the region and potential stumbling blocks for US imperialism—including the increasingly close relations between the Iraqi government and Iran—and worried that “no official statement or report has indicated that there is a credible plan or mix of US, Arab, and Turkish efforts, or that it can create a meaningful rebel force in Syria to deal with ISIS—or the Assad forces.” The administration, he declared, seemed intent on trying to “push the problem into his successor’s lap.”
The administration has sought to resist calls for what Obama, in his San Bernardino speech, referred to as a “long and costly ground war in Iraq and Syria.” At the same time, it has continually accommodated demands from the sections of the ruling class for tougher action. This led Thomas Sanderson, a director at CSIS, to note Monday that the president is “now imbued with reluctant enthusiasm.”
A central aim of the Obama administration, and the sections of the foreign policy and security establishment for which it principally speaks, has been to shift US military resources and attention to what it considers a greater challenge to US interests: China. This is the basis for the White House’s “pivot to Asia” and is a major factor in its reluctance to commit more forces to the Middle East.
In a recent issue of Foreign Affairs magazine (“Obama’s Way”), foreign policy reporter Fred Kaplan wrote that the “tragedy of Obama’s presidency” was that it “wanted to shift away from the stagnant battlefields in and around the Middle East and devote more attention to the Asia-Pacific region, with its prospects for dynamic growth, trade, and, in the form of China, an expansionist power that needs to be at once contained militarily and lured into the global economy… He understood, and still does, that this is where the United States’ future interests [i.e., the interests of the American ruling class] lie.”
Divisions within the ruling class over policy are fueled by the deepening contradictions and crisis of American imperialism as a whole, which has the fundamental aim of controlling the entire world. In pursuit of this aim, the United States has been engaged in a quarter-century of war, centered in the Middle East and Central Asia, which has devastated entire societies, killed more than 1 million people, fostered the rise of ISIS and ignited a region-wide civil war.
This expanding war is now increasingly taking the form of a direct conflict with what the US considers its main regional competitors, including Russia in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and China in the Pacific.
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OK, enough discussion about a washed-up, past-his-prime ballplayer. Let's talk about the important news that hit baseball this week: The Chicago Cubs unveiled their first official mascot in franchise history -- Clark, a young bear cub who wears his hat backward (Tinker, Evers and Chance just rolled over in their graves).
Here's hoping Clark brings a little good luck to a Cubs team that could certainly use it. AP Photo/Courtesy of the Chicago Cubs, Steve Green
Hey, you can't blame Theo Epstein for trying. Where were the Red Sox before Wally the Green Monster made his debut in April 1997? Exactly. With Wally around, the Red Sox ended the curse and have won three World Series titles. Don't say Theo doesn't pay attention to history.
Clark was met with a lot of initial anger from Cubs fans; but so did Wally. So give it time, Cubs fans. You'll learn to love Clark (well, assuming you win three World Series titles in the next 16 years). Plus, Clark is hardly one of the worst 10 mascots of all time:
1. Crazy Crab (Giants)
First, the crab looked as though it was crying, maybe apropos since it was unveiled in 1984, a year the Giants lost 96 games. Players and fans hated it with equal pleasure. On the final day of the season, according to the Giants' web site, Wayne Doba, who wore the crab outfit, reportedly looked up into the stands and said, "I hope there's nobody up there with a gun."
2. Chief Noc-a-Homa (Braves)
Amazingly, the Chief lasted until 1986 when the Braves finally removed his teepee from the section of the outfield bleachers. The Chief would exit his teepee and perform a dance whenever the Braves hit a home run. No, seriously.
3. The original Pirate Parrot (Pirates)
The Parrot came into existence in 1979, during the heyday of the San Diego Chicken, and the Pirates immediately won the World Series! Good move, right? Well, it turned out that Kevin Koch, the man under the costume, was dealing cocaine to players from Three Rivers Stadium. How has this not been made into a movie? After the Pittsburgh drug trials, the Parrot was redesigned to look fatter and less mean.
4. Twinkie the Loon (Twins)
Hard to believe he lasted just two years. Twins fans despised Twinkie. A fan named Al Casavva wrote in to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, mocking the mascot and club: "I've heard rumors there are actually two Loons -- one right-handed and one left-handed. Gene Mauch has said in the long run his two-Loon platoon system will be better for the ball club."
5. Charlie-O (Athletics)
Owner Charlie Finley used Charlie-O as the teams' mascot in both Kansas City and Oakland from 1963 to 1976. Charlie-O was a mule. In 1965, relievers briefly rode in on Charlie-O from the bullpen when entering a game. Ahh, more innocent times. Of course, Finley also wanted to use orange baseballs -- an idea that once landed him on the cover of Time magazine.
6. Ribbie and Roobarb (White Sox)
Bruce Bursma of the Chicago Tribune once described this much-despised '80s pair like this: "One looked like the dim-witted son of Oscar the Grouch, the other like a chartreuse anteater with a genetic flaw."
Bernie Brewer is a big hit whenever a Brewers player hits a home run. AP Photo/Scott Boehm
7. Bernie Brewer (Brewers)
Sorry, never got the whole slide thing. But, hey, anything to promote drinking to excess!
8. Dandy (Yankees)
Here's a Wall Street Journal article on Dandy, who somehow survived from 1979 to 1981.
9. Junction Jack (Astros)
A rabbit dressed as a railroad engineer. No wonder the Astros went downhill.
10. Rootin' Tootin' Ranger (Rangers)
Imagine the poor sap who had to wear that costume during a day game in July. (By the way, if you want to know what's it like to be a major league mascot, order our ESPN colleague AJ Mass' new book, "Yes, It's Hot in Here: Adventures in the Weird, Woolly World of Sports Mascots.)
Anyway, I think this is good news for the Cubs. The kids can go take a picture with Clark during the game instead of watching Starlin Castro swing at another 2-2 slider 12 inches off the plate. This leaves the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels as the only three teams without a mascot. But the Angels have an unofficial mascot in the Rally Monkey and the Dodgers have the dude in the bear costume. OK, he got the boot from security, but maybe he can turn the dancing gig into a full-time mascot deal.
So, the Yankees. They could go back to using a monopoly-type guy as their mascot. Or maybe a big gummy bear.
What, too soon? |
Mr Clegg wants strict limits placed on second-home claims The Lib Dem leader has urged his fellow party leaders to back his plans for reforming MPs' second-homes allowances. Nick Clegg's proposals would see the allowance replaced with expenses for only basic utility bills, council tax and either rent or mortgage interest. He also suggests measures to stop MPs making a profit from any part of a mortgage funded by the taxpayer. Mr Clegg and David Cameron have rejected the PM's plan for a flat-rate fee based on attendance at Westminster. Mr Clegg has set out his revised proposals in a letter to the Tory leader and Gordon Brown. Public anger The moves towards reform follow criticism of MPs' and ministers' use of second-homes allowances, worth up to £24,000 a year to MPs whose constituencies are outside inner London. Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Public Standards, has begun an in-depth investigation into reforming the system, with the findings due by the end of the year. Any reforms must be durable, transparent, reduce the cost of our politics and not merely constitute an interim fix that falls apart under public scrutiny
Nick Clegg
Lib Dem leader But all the major parties want to reach agreement on an interim measure because of the scale of public anger at some MPs' allowance claims. In his letter, Mr Clegg said he had dropped one of his original reform demands to try to reach cross-party consensus quickly. He had argued MPs should be stopped from buying second homes altogether, but his proposal was rejected by Mr Brown and Mr Cameron last week. Now Mr Clegg suggests MPs should instead be prevented from making any financial gains from any part of a mortgage paid for by the taxpayer. In addition, the taxpayer should get a share of any capital appreciation in the value of the property, proportionate to the amount funded out of public funds, he argues. Transparency Outlining his plan to Mr Brown, Mr Clegg wrote: "If it is an interest-only mortgage, the taxpayer would get 100% of the capital gain; if it is a capital and interest mortgage, the taxpayer would get the capital gain in proportion to the share of total mortgage costs paid." He said this would meet the objective of allowing home ownership to continue - insisted on by Mr Brown and Mr Cameron - but would still mean MPs would not profit from using taxpayers' money to make investments in the property market. But while Mr Clegg said he was prepared to alter his proposals in this way to secure agreement, he still rejected the idea of daily allowances. "Such a system - in almost any form - means taxpayers will have almost no idea what their money is being spent on by MPs," he wrote. "Any reforms must be durable, transparent, reduce the cost of our politics and not merely constitute an interim fix that falls apart under public scrutiny." Despite lacking support from the other parties for a daily allowance, Downing Street has said the government still plans to table a vote on expenses reform next week. Tory plans The Conservative Party has published its own plans for reform, calling for the second homes allowance to be replaced by a transparent Parliamentary allowance from 1 July. In a similar way to the Lib Dem proposals, this could be used to pay only for rent, utility bills, council tax and mortgage interest - subject to a new cap. All claims would have to published, with receipts, within 28 days, with no MP living within 20 miles of London eligible for the new allowance. Sir Christopher's inquiry, set up by Mr Brown, was brought forward after newspaper revelations about the use of second-home expenses. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and work minister Tony McNulty are being investigated over their claims - but both say they acted within the rules.
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Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer wowed the Democratic National Convention four years ago with a talk that Time called a “folksy, tough, funny, home-run of a speech.” It was the kind of performance that generated enough buzz to propel talk of a presidential run in 2016.
Schweitzer’s oratorical gift earned him an invite to Ohio Democratic Party State Convention last month. It was there, during his keynote address, that Schweitzer let the Midwesterners know his true feelings about his constituents back home. Dustin Hurst at Montana Watchdog has the scoop:
Through his 30-minute speech to Ohio Democrats, Schweitzer repeatedly boasted of his gubernatorial achievements, putting special emphasis on the Indian Education for All project. Schweitzer spearheaded the program, which requires Montana school children to learn both American-Indian and U.S. history. Why did Schweitzer shepherd the innovative and groundbreaking program? Well, because Montanans are a bunch of white, racist rednecks – the governor’s words. “All over Montana, you can walk into a bar, a café or even a school or a courthouse and just listen for a while as people talk to each other,” Schweitzer explained, shortly after noting 93 percent of his state’s population is classified as Caucasian. “And you will hear somebody, before very long, say something outrageously racist about the people who’ve lived in Montana for 10,000 years.” The governor delivered the program to sway the minds and hearts of Treasure State youngsters. “So, I decided, I can’t turn the heart of a 45-year-old redneck,” Schweitzer said.
Video of the speech was posted by Lauren Michelle Kinsey on the a liberal Ohio blog called Plunderbund. Kinsey gushed about Schweitzer’s speech. “Listening to his speech brought tears to my eyes,” she wrote. Kinsey then implored her readers to view it: “This video is a half hour long, but it’s worth watching. Much more entertaining and meaningful than a TV show…”
Unfortunately, the video is currently unavailable, marked “private” on YouTube. That probably has something to do with Montana Watchdog’s scoop.
Schweitzer, who took office in 2005 and was reelected in a landslide, has a positive approval rating in his state. He’s known for clashing with the Republican-controlled legislature, often using his veto pen. He was among the top-rated governors by the Cato Institute in its 2010 report card on state chief executives. Schweitzer earned a “B,” which landed him in tie for eighth on the list. (Interestingly, that’s the same spot Cato ranked Texas Gov. Rick Perry.)
So was Schweitzer pandering to the crowd or was he sincere in his remarks?
It certainly isn’t the first time he put his foot in his mouth. Schweitzer told the Daily Beast in April that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has roots in “a polygamy commune in Mexico.” When pressed on the issue by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Schweitzer refused to apologize.
There’s no word yet from Montana how the governor will respond to the latest controversy. |
Image caption Dr Ron Hill, 76, completed the Heaton Park parkrun in under 30 minutes
Former Olympian Ron Hill has completed his ambitious goal of running at least a mile a day for 50 years.
Dr Hill, who started to log runs on 20 December 1964, finished Manchester's 5km Heaton Park parkrun earlier.
The 76 year old, who lives in Hyde but grew up in Accrington, Lancashire, has competed in three Olympic Games and has won gold at the Commonwealth Games.
The distance recorded in his log book adds up to 160,000 miles, or running around the world more than six times.
After a "disastrous" Olympics in Tokyo, he said he started running daily to "get the best out of myself".
He said: "Once you get into the habit of it, you just do it. Just get wrapped up and get out the door.
"It's [my] advice to everybody - just start running and within five minutes you're in your stride and probably enjoying it."
Dr Hill was the first British runner to win the Boston marathon. In later years he went into business, setting up a sportswear company.
Image caption Dr Hill, pictured centre, has clocked up 160,000 miles in his log book
He set several world records during his career, including a 2:09:28 time at the 1970 Commonwealth Games marathon in Edinburgh.
The organisers of the Heaton Park parkrun said they were "honoured that he has chosen to celebrate this milestone with us". |
Story highlights Saudi women are preparing to defy a ban in the kingdom on women driving
Mohammed Jamjoom, who grew up in Jeddah, recalls women dressing up as men to drive
Saudi Arabia's guardianship system means women can't legally be responsible for own affairs
October 26 Women's Driving Campaign has garnered more than 16,000 petition signatures
There's something extraordinary happening in Saudi Arabia right now. I should know -- you see, I was born there, lived there half my life, speak the language and understand the customs. Lately, I'm both amazed at and humbled by what I'm seeing: Extremely brave Saudi women, more driven than ever to change their society, despite the sad fact that they still aren't allowed to drive.
And while it's true there's no formal law that bans females from getting behind the wheel in the ultra-conservative kingdom, it is also by no means a stretch to say they are, indeed, prohibited from doing so. Unfortunately, that's just the way it's always been in a society where religious edicts are often interpreted to mean it is illegal for women to drive.
I've reported on this subject for years and must admit, it's a personal one for me. Some of my earliest memories entail trying to figure out why my American mother would always drive me around Oklahoma City, where we spent our summers, but could never take me around Jeddah, where we lived the rest of the year.
To be honest, I only began pondering that mystery at the age of four on the days when my Saudi father was out of town on business, our driver was off, and I wanted ice cream. In the U.S., it was easy for my mom and I to hop in her car and go grab a banana split. What I wanted to know was why it was such a big deal in Saudi Arabia. Now, as a new online campaign urging Saudi women to defy their country's driving ban kicks into high gear, I find myself reflecting on how much the issue has impacted my life.
Much of it goes back to one brutally hot afternoon when I was 6 years old, living in Jeddah, playing in the front yard -- completely startled seeing my 15-year-old neighbor sneaking out of her house dressed like her Saudi father. She wasn't just wearing his clothes, she'd drawn a moustache on her face and was hoisting his car keys too.
Her mission was simple but dangerous: Take her dad's car for a spin around the neighborhood as he napped. In any other country, a simple act of rebellion. In Saudi Arabia, one that can, and has, gotten women arrested.
A few days ago, as we were filming our latest report on the women's driving campaign, I asked prominent Saudi journalist Buthaina Al-Nasr if she'd ever done anything similar.
Laughing at the memory, she admitted how, once, at the age of 14, she'd borrowed her older brother's car and taken it for a spin around the farm, far from the traffic of the city and any of its police.
Buthaina went on, describing how much she and her female friends longed to drive cars. She explained how they also wanted to ride bikes, or even just simply walk around "freely" - other activities for which Saudi women can face severe disapproval. There was really only one solution.
"We'd dress up like men," explained Buthaina, "like boys, and we'd go around and it felt fun."
Her anecdote made me smile even as it struck me as terribly sad. You see, "fun" is something that many of my female Saudi relatives told me over and over again they needed a lot more of.
It was the main reason my neighbor took her dad's car for that joyride -- which she'd been able to do without getting caught. To me, seeing how absolutely exhilarating the experience had been for her, she'd become a hero. A couple of days later, I asked her when she'd do it again. A funny look appeared on her face.
"I don't know. I'm not sure what the point is," she told me. "It'll just make me want to keep driving more and more. I shouldn't want that."
It took me a long time to finally understand. She'd had a small but wonderful taste of fun and freedom, one she felt most Saudi women would never get. That made it hard to deal with, harder still for her to do it again. For her, it ended up being more bitter than sweet.
In Saudi Arabia, women aren't simply kept from obtaining drivers' licenses. No, they must contend with many more restrictions. The country's mandatory guardianship system means women cannot legally be responsible for their own affairs. As such, a growing number of voices, both male and female, are calling for those laws to be repealed.
Author Abdullah Al-Alami, one of the most prominent Saudi men supporting the women's new driving campaign, is among them.
"There is a group of ultraconservatives here who will try to do anything and everything to prevent women from exercising their rights," Al-Alami told me. "Be it driving, going to school, working, traveling for that matter, receiving medical care. Many men that I know, we feel that it is crucial for us to support women who do this."
During my formative years, I was lucky -- I got to spend lots of time with very strong, independent, assertive women. My American mother, Saudi aunts and female cousins - they discussed women's rights all the time. I listened to countless conversations where it was decided how it would be impossible for Saudi Arabia to forever bar women from driving.
They said the reasons were numerous: that it didn't make sense economically; that it was too much of a burden on families to hire drivers; that Saudi society was advancing.
And then there was the horror story recounted by my aunt about the woman who lived down the street from her -- the woman whose husband was at work, whose driver was running an errand, whose child had been injured. There was no way for her to get him to the hospital in time.
The laws will have to change, they'd say. In five to 10 years, they insisted, women would, no doubt, be allowed to drive. I first heard that refrain 33 years ago, in 1980, before my parents and I moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital.
I've been hearing it ever since. It wasn't until 1991 that I thought the time might have finally come. That's when 47 women protested the prohibition by driving through the streets of Riyadh. It was scandalous -- dozens of the women were detained, banned from travel and suspended from their workplaces.
A second ray of hope appeared in May 2011, when prominent women's rights activist Manal Al-Sharif uploaded to YouTube a video of herself driving in Saudi Arabia. As a result, she spent nine days in jail. But on June 17, dozens of women across Saudi Arabia, emboldened and inspired by her ordeal, went ahead, risked punishment and participated in the "Women2Drive" campaign -- they didn't just drive around, they also filmed and uploaded videos of themselves doing so. Still the laws did not change.
And now, the latest iteration is at hand. The October 26 Women's Driving Campaign has so far garnered more than 16,000 signatures on its online petition, but as it turns out, women aren't waiting until October 26. Many have already gone out, taken videos, posted them online. It's incredible to see.
Buthaina Al-Nasr is an active supporter of the campaign. She lives in Lebanon now but talked to me at length about why the Saudi government needs to finally lift the ban -- after all, it is the last country in the world that does not allow women to drive.
After driving her eight-year-old son Hisham to school, she told me a bit more about how much she'd love to be able to do the same in Saudi Arabia. She then shared a recurring daydream she has about being able to drive a car in her home country while wearing a dress -- not while dressed up like her father or brother.
"It's a silly daydream," she told me, "but that's a fact. It's the reality of my society."
Then she added, "I mean the daydream of a young girl should be how to get to the moon ... Not driving a car." |
MatriIt is thought that Lazio are determined to bring in a striker in the January transfer window with AC Milan’s Alessandro Matri identified as a target.
The Biancocelesti feel compelled to bring in a new goalscorer on account of the disappointing form of Miroslav Klose as the German international has only scored twice so far this season and the former Bayern Munich man is also out of contract in the summer.
According to the Rome edition of the Corriere Della Sera, Matri is now the first choice transfer target of technical coordinator Igli Tare and club president Claudio Lotitio as they seek to boost the front line.
Lazio’s current crop of strikers have been disappointing this year, with only 5 goals from 19 having been scored this season by forwards.
Matri joined the Rossoneri in the summer of 2013 from Juventus for and has since scored one goal from 12 appearances.
Milan paid Juve €12million for Matri and are unlikely to be willing to sell for less so soon after signing the 29-year-old.
Lotito is not believed to be willing to pay more than €10m for Matri and so it has been reported that Lazio may be willing to exchange goalkeeper Federico Marchetti as part of a part-exchange deal for the former Cagliari striker. |
Around the World With Street Fighter: The Elbows and Bumps of Bajiquan
Image via streetfighter.wikia.com
Praying Mantis and Bajiquan
The World Warrior Tournament introduced many of today's best fighters to the martial arts. Its characters were hilarious, and played on stereotypes almost as daft as those in Punch Out, but as an introduction to the martial arts, it was every bit as good as Enter the Dragon. In the twenty-five years since the Street Fighter franchise began everything from karate to White Crane kung fu has been represented. In more recent years the roster has grown to include MMA fighters, savate kickboxers, and even Turkish oil wrestlers.
In the first installment of our round-the-world tour we discussed how 'The Shotos' weren't all that Shotokan, and how the Kenyan capoeirista, Elena mirrors the scholarly debate which rages over the origins of capoeira, be they in Brazil or Africa. We also examined the meia lua de compasso / 'spinning scythe' is the new hotness:
But today we're going to head to Hong Kong, to talk about generic 'Chinese martial arts' through the lens of Yun and Yang. Introduced in Street Fighter III, Yun and Yang were another example of that lazy game designer favorite, the palette swap. You remember how many of your Mortal Kombat favorites were just recolored versions of Scorpion? Yeah, that's a palette swap and it's a great way to pad out your roster without the effort of creating new characters and new move sets. But as things progressed and later incarnations of Street Fighter III came out, the two were developed with disparate move sets and play styles.
The old Mortal Kombat palette swap.
Now what is clear is that Yun and Yang were designed as Chinese martial artists—they use recognizable techniques common to plenty of forms of chuan fa—but they seem to be rather a mish-mash of parts rather than a pure representation of a particular style. Officially their style is “based on bajiquan” and there's certainly plenty of that in there.
Bajiquan, is a form of chuan fa which, like many styles such as Wing Chun, is built on a belief in 'crowding power'. Bajiquan is for close range and is one of the systems of Chinese martial arts most devoted to the use of elbow strikes. Kicks are rare in Bajiquan for this reason, and much time is devoted to getting in close. The six traditional opening methods are worth reading up on if you get a minute, but all you really need to know is that it's about getting inside and elbowing the snot out of the opponent. Bajiquan apparently means Eight Extremities Fist, which is reminiscent of Muay Thai's second name, the Art of Eight Limbs. It's interesting that both have come to appreciate the elbow so deeply ahead of the other six. Presumably because of it's versatility, power, and the little commitment of weight necessary to do big damage.
One of the interesting features in Bajiquan is the use of rising and projecting elbows. Now the rising elbow can be utilized as a strike in itself—the Thai boxers, Yodsanklai and Muangthai have made exceptional use of this as a guard splitter, and in a sport where cuts on the brow can mean an instant doctor's stoppage the upward elbow is a real 'man opener'. But what is interesting is that in Bajiquan, as in many traditional martial arts forms, these upward elbows are often projected forwards more than slashing upwards. Why? Well here's a traditional application of a double rising elbow.
The elbows act as a guard and the body drives in behind them. Now you might have seen this principle in action before—boxers will put up their guard and dive in behind their elbows or forehead, hoping to cut the opponent. But in the modern world of mixed martial arts it can be used much more flagrantly. Randy Couture had tremendous success by raising his elbows and running through punches to get to the inside (check out his old instructionals for more on that, or watch his bouts with Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga). Bas Rutten even included a section in his Big Books of Combat where the top man in mount position places his palm on his forehead, projecting his elbow in front of him, and hammers down on his victim by dropping his weight through his head and elbow. But here's one application which caught my attention recently:
Conor McGregor deflects Max Holloway's blow with his guard raised, and jams his elbow forward into Holloway to halt his forward motion. He doesn't make a decent connection or hurt Holloway, but the technique's potential is certainly obvious.
Tradition has it (and martial arts tradition is about as untrustworthy as you can get) that Bajiquan was originally called Bazi quan—meaning 'rake fists' and referring to the loosely clenched hands of its practitioners. You will notice that in many classical forms from all kinds of martial arts, from Bajiquan to Uechi-ryu karate, the forward elbow is performed with an unclenched hand—freeing the hand to gouge the eyes (hence 'rake fist', I suppose) or jam the fingers into the throat.
Bajiquan
Uechi-ryu
Remove it from its wooden posture and I'm sure you could see McGregor easily finding Holloway's eyes without having to look for them if Holloway had proceeded inwards after the elbow. Not that I'd recommend going full Palhares, but it's good to know these things.
Bits and Bobs from China
Yun's Baji chops can be further seen in one of his specials, Tetsuzankou—and this also highlights an important element of many Chinese martial arts which is still under-appreciated in mixed martial arts: the act of 'bumping'. In Taijichuan this is often referred to as kao. Rather than striking with the extremities, this is a the act of off-balancing the opponent with a well placed shoulder barge, hip bump, or thigh-to-thigh bump.
How significant is bumping? Well in mixed martial arts or fighting, pretty darn significant. Watch Lyoto Machida or Fedor Emelianenko execute their takedowns in striking exchanges, it's not so much about getting perfect control and dragging the opponent down, it's about knocking them off balance with the body and capitalizing on their loss of control. Half the time, Fedor simply ran through opponents shoulder first after his right hand lead.
And sometimes he'd just knock them out and follow through with the bump anyway.
In Bajiquan, the practice of Tie Shan Kao is used to develop this bumping power. Be it against a wall, a tree, or a training partner.
The great Japanese duelist, Miyamoto Musashi only wrote about one technique which didn't rely on a sword in his Book of Five Rings. It was the shoulder bump to the solar plexus and he believed that a good swordsman should be able to kill or at least brutally wind an opponent with it alone.
As mentioned earlier, it's not all Bajiquan. There's plenty in Yun and Yang that comes from other Chinese martial arts, and plenty which doesn't fit at all. Obviously, nobody in the real world is going to barrel roll into a leaping side kick from the floor.
But the light lead leg stance is consistent with traditional Chinese martial arts which prioritize both protection of the groin and speed of the lead leg kick to the crotch.
Furthermore, the jumping crescent kick is pretty popular in Northern styles of Chinese martial arts, which for one reason or another tend to place more emphasis on kicks above the waist than Southern Chinese martial arts. The crescent kick is a weird notion because it is inferior to the round kick in every single way imaginable, it carries almost no power and a decent connection has a good chance of jarring the kicker's own knee.
The only interesting theory I've seen on the crescent kick and Chinese martial arts' preference for it is that, like all things in old timey martial arts, it was designed to close down the groin which is always under attack in traditional chuan fa. Of course, this benefit of the kick's tight line is undone by kicking high. It's pretty much a useless kick but I patiently await the first crescent kick knockout in any full contact venue.
One final lesson from Yang and Yun's style which is a significant factor in many Chinese martial arts is what Street Fighter named White Tiger Twin Palm for Yang, or Tiger Beating Child for Yun. Really, it's a shove. This is something which some time around Chinese martial arts, particularly those which practice traditional pushing hands drills, will hammer home—shoving is really, really important. In a street fight, or on an elevated platform as in the traditional Lei Tai contests, or anywhere with uneven ground—and really that's anywhere you would be fighting all out—being able to shove an opponent a few feet into or onto something is really important.
This is something that has been practiced in Chinese martial arts since the moment of their inception. Here's some Fujian Whooping Crane disciples practicing the simple pushing drill on a rudimentary heavy bag.
And how important is it today? Well, check out Giorgio Petrosyan. Considered the finest defensive artist in kickboxing, the secret of Petrosyan's success is largely in putting together a nice combination or a single power strike, and immediately pushing his opponent back from him. Could be a big shove, could be a little bump, but it immediately destroys whatever they are trying to throw back at him by removing their balance and re-establishing range without the need for fast footwork.
Hit, hit, shove.
And again, in game form.
Once again, the Street Fighter lads did their research and you have to respect that. What's more, they managed to jam in some of the least glamorous techniques in martial arts—the short range, dirty, ugly stuff—and still make it conducive to an exciting game. Keep your eyes on Fightland for more Around the World with Street Fighter.
Pick up Jack's new kindle book, Finding the Art, or find him at his blog, Fights Gone By.
Check out these related stories:
Street Fighter in the UFC: Hadoukens and Izuna Drops
Ryu vs. Lyoto: Bryan Lee's Fantasy Matchmaking |
A video making fun of socially awkward situations has racked up thousands of likes and shares on Chinese social media since it was posted last week. But some net users were quick to point out the whole skit was suspiciously similar to an episode of U.S. show Saturday Night Live.
“Listen to your heart and don’t compromise!” is the text that jumps out at the start of the 4-minute clip. Six scenarios taken from Chinese daily life follow. A young man is asked to stand up for an elderly lady on the bus, another man is urged to drink a glass of alcohol with a friend, and another is asked for money by a beggar.
A screenshot from the funny video shows a young man lifting a crutch in front of an elderly lady on the bus.
The twist is that, instead of reacting politely as one would be expected to, the protagonists bluntly speak their minds: No, I won’t stand up, I won’t drink, and I won’t give you any money. After every scene, the characters break out in song and dance. “This is the feeling of freedom,” the lyrics go.
The clip is part of an episode of web TV show “Yes Boss,” which started airing in 2013 and is coproduced by UniMedia and Youku Tudou, one of China’s biggest video websites. The show this year aired a second season, and every episode has on average been viewed some 10 million times.
The scene aims to showcase Chinese social conflicts and traditional values, Ke Da, the show’s main writer, told Sixth Tone. Respecting the old is regarded as a virtue in China, and when someone offers to drink, you drink. But in the clip the opposite happens.
Net users were quick to share and like the video on microblog platform Weibo, lamenting that they wished they dared to speak their minds in similar situations. “I was just talking about how annoying this kind of emotional blackmailing is,” wrote one user. “Now that I’ve watched this video I feel great.”
But other users pointed out they thought the clip was almost a near copy from a 2015 sketch by Saturday Night Live (SNL), a popular comedy program from the U.S. All that was changed were the language and the situations — in the SNL clip one character refuses to share her phone number with an old acquaintance, and another calls out a friend for not paying enough when splitting the bill.
A screenshot from the funny video (above) shows all the characters coming together, cheering and laughing, which shares the same scene designing concept to that of the SNL version (below).
In both shows, the blunt words are followed by slow-motion shots of the protagonists jumping from excitement and joining each other in dance, reveling in their freedom from social conventions. Both skits carry the same message. In the SNL version, the song’s lyrics go “Say what you wanna say, let the words fall out.” In the end of both videos all the characters come together, cheering and laughing.
“Yes, I have watched the show,” Ke said when asked about the similarities between “Yes Boss” and SNL. “It is the model we consulted.” He added that they had wanted to put the story in a Chinese context. “You can’t say it is a rip-off just because of some similarities in their story structure,” he explained.
Opinions on Weibo were less sanguine. One user, who pointed out where people could watch the SNL episode, wrote “I don’t even have to explain. Everyone just watch and you’ll see.”
(Header image: A screenshot from the funny video shows a man counting money in front of a beggar.) |
Graeme Souness managed eight clubs, including Galatasaray, Benfica and Torino
Former Liverpool and Rangers manager Graeme Souness has been taken to hospital in Bournemouth.
No details of the 62-year-old's condition have been made available.
Since leaving his last job in football as manager of Newcastle in 2006, Souness has worked in the media, most notably as a pundit for Sky Sports.
His colleague Jeff Stelling opened the station's Soccer Saturday broadcast by saying: "Souey, if you're watching, get well very quickly."
Souness won 54 caps for Scotland during a playing career which also saw him win five league titles and three European Cups for Liverpool and the Coppa Italia with Sampdoria.
As a manager, he led Rangers to three Scottish titles and four League Cups. He won the 1992 FA Cup with Liverpool.
He had a triple heart bypass operation in 1992, when he was 38. |
Toronto councillor Giorgio Mammoliti says he has agreed to sit down with Ontario strip club officials on Monday to recommend accommodating “enhanced services.”
In December the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s prostitution laws in a unanimous 9-0 ruling, starting a stopwatch for Parliament to reshape social policy dealing with the world’s oldest profession.
The court struck down all three prostitution-related prohibitions — against keeping a brothel, living on the avails of prostitution and street soliciting — as violations of the constitutional guarantee to life, liberty and security of the person.
Mammoliti claims the only way to protect communities and women is to have existing licensed facilities already regulated and inspected by police and paying taxes, provide it and keep it away from places like massage parlours.
“What’s important, in doing this, is to make sure that the illicit brothels that exist in those communities, including mine I have 300 of them, be abolished,” he told 680News.
Mammoliti has long been a proponent of a red light district in Toronto but says the city may not need one if the adult entertainment industry legally provides enhanced services at its establishments.
He says he’ll listen to the strip club officials and of he likes what they have to say he’ll take it back to council for consideration.
“In my opinion if they suggest, for any moment, the city start talking to them about being potential partners then I will back off of my red light district concept and even back off of the island concept immediately because it would work,” Mammoliti explained. “That to me says slam dunk.”
The meeting scheduled to take place on Monday in Niagara on the Lake.
With files from The Canadian Press |
You knew it was coming didn't you? As spotted by PCGamesN, a dig through the transcript of EA's fourth-quarter earnings report reveals nascent plans for microtransactions and map packs in Battlefield 1. Brace yourself for some top-level marketing speak:
"As relates to Battlefield 1 and extra monetization opportunity," CEO Andrew Wilson says, "taking a step back, any time we think about extra monetization inside an experience, we really think about it on two vectors: One, are we able to provide value to the gamer, in terms of extending and enhancing their experience? And two, are we able to do that in a world where we give them choice? We never want to be in a place where there's a belief that we are providing a pay to win mechanic inside of one of our games."
All well and good. EA ought to be familiar with being in a place where the world and its DLC dog believes it's providing pay-to-win mechanics. With the acknowledgement that that's not a fun position to be in, EA should be good at avoiding it. However, Wilson goes on to predict continued growth in DLC revenue (creatively branded "value through choice").
"Given that in Battlefield 1, you will see both macro monetization opportunities from us like maps and large scale content, as well as micro monetization opportunities, smaller increments of gameplay, and then over time, what you will see from us is elements of gameplay that allow gamers to engage and drive, and extend and enhance their experience, much the way people do with FIFA Ultimate Team or Madden Ultimate Team today. We feel very confident in our ability to deliver that in a way that is deemed valuable by our player, and drives increased engagement over time with them." |
Darkdwarf Profile Blog Joined December 2012 Sweden 955 Posts #1
Apparently Squirtle has decided to retire, after not receiving any offers to his liking. Apparently Squirtle has decided to retire, after not receiving any offers to his liking. Teams: IM, Jin Air, Invictus || Players: Maru, GuMiho, INnoVation, Ryung, sOs, Squirtle, NaNiwa, Has, Zoun, Life, Rogue, Dark
SC2Toastie Profile Blog Joined October 2013 Netherlands 5721 Posts #2 NOOOOOOOOOO T_T
He didn't become Mega Blastoise yet T______T Mura Ma Man, Dark Da Dude, Super Shot Sos!
MrMotionPicture Profile Joined May 2010 United States 4327 Posts #3 Good luck with whatever you're doing now! "Elvis Presley" | Ret was looking at my post in the GSL video by Artosis. | MMA told me I look like Juanfran while we shared an elevator with Scarlett
Krystal Profile Joined April 2012 New Zealand 67 Posts Last Edited: 2014-12-01 22:07:54 #4 I'm been waiting so long for him to regain his old form. It wasn't likely, but it was nice to be hopeful, now we all know he's never going to claim that GSL title he came so close to This makes me very sadI'm been waiting so long for him to regain his old form. It wasn't likely, but it was nice to be hopeful, now we all know he's never going to claim that GSL title he came so close to "There are two things in life: Things I understand and Things Wizards must have done."
CakeSauc3 Profile Joined February 2011 United States 1411 Posts #5 some of my favorite SC2 memories involve watching Squirtle. Squirtle vs Mvp forever.
Good luck with whatever you're doing. Thanks for the games Damnsome of my favorite SC2 memories involve watching Squirtle. Squirtle vs Mvp forever.Good luck with whatever you're doing. Thanks for the games sOs sOs sOs sOs sOs sOs
movac Profile Joined February 2011 Canada 492 Posts #6 so sad, both players from the greatest GSL finals ever has bitten the dust.
DinoMight Profile Blog Joined June 2012 United States 3331 Posts #7 =(
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Wtf I come back and find myself in camp DinoMight all of a sudden, feels weird man." -Wombat_NI
pure.Wasted Profile Blog Joined December 2008 Canada 4701 Posts #8 RIP Squirtle. May your unfulfilled dreams find peace in that big Archon Toilet in the sky. INna Maru-da-FanTa, Bbaby, TY Dream that I'm Flashing you
Lumi Profile Blog Joined August 2009 United States 1610 Posts #9 Makes you worry even more about our long-floating DongRaeGu and Soulkey... =\ Super sad to hear of this mainstay Protoss retiring. He might have been missing recently.. but they're a legend, imo. twitter.com/lumigaming - DongRaeGu is the One True Dong - /r/onetruedong
Flossy Profile Blog Joined August 2011 United States 865 Posts #10 Awww. I was hoping one day he'd make another gsl finals etternaonline.com
bypLy Profile Joined June 2013 742 Posts #11 so sad, i guess he wont be rememberd long
wmb Profile Joined February 2014 Sweden 277 Posts #12 squirtle gl in ur future endeavors ! Hi I'm the infamous wmb, Diamond 1 / Challenger Player.
Lazzi Profile Joined June 2011 Switzerland 1917 Posts #13 I will always remember this Mothership ... Damn... I was literally screaming in my room... You'll be missed Squirtle Parting is god
banjoetheredskin Profile Blog Joined November 2012 United States 743 Posts #14 On December 02 2014 07:12 bypLy wrote:
so sad, i guess he wont be rememberd long
really? not even for playing arguably the greatest SC2 game of all time against Mvp in arguably the greatest GSL Finals of all time? really? not even for playing arguably the greatest SC2 game of all time against Mvp in arguably the greatest GSL Finals of all time? Writer #1 CJ fan | http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/starcraft-2/508947-wcs-dreamhack-austin-interviews
partydude89 Profile Blog Joined August 2012 1835 Posts #15 this makes me insanely upset.... Squirtle #1 Official Hack Fan|#2 Bomber behind Wintex.|Curious|Life|Flash|TY|Cure|Maru|sOs|Jin Air Green Wings fighting!|SBENU Fighting!|
fruity. Profile Joined April 2012 England 1711 Posts #16 Shame to hear, too many pro-players, not enough teams Ex Zerg learning Terran. A bold move.
Apollo_Shards Profile Joined February 2011 1210 Posts #17 http://startale.ytmnd.com/
never forget never forget Jaedong, sOs, avilo, MaSa, Oprah
Big J Profile Joined March 2011 Austria 16156 Posts #18 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :'(
Sleet Profile Joined January 2011 United States 137 Posts #19 oh no @SLeetscgames
SetGuitarsToKill Profile Blog Joined December 2013 Canada 27926 Posts #20 Awww that's depressing as hell... Community News "As long as you have a warp prism you can't be bad at harassment" - Maru | @SetGuitars2Kill
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It's safe to say that any digital privacy bill written more than three years before the invention of the World Wide Web is probably due for an overhaul. But the Electronic Communications Privacy Act has persisted intact for more than three decades, including its anachronistic loophole that allows the warrantless collection of emails from US citizens. Now, in its second attempt in two years, Congress is poised to reform the most outdated elements of ECPA. With Trump's incoming Justice Department, that reform seems more urgent than ever.
On Monday evening, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Email Privacy Act, a bill that would reform ECPA were it to become law. In particular, it would newly require government agencies to obtain a warrant before seizing a criminal suspect's online communications that are more than 180 days old. Under the ECPA's existing logic, those older communications are considered abandoned, and thus not subject to a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The stakes for privacy have never been higher. Robyn Greene, OTI Policy Counsel
Think, though, of how many emails currently in your inbox are from six months ago or more. The ECPA applies to cloud technologies as well, making Dropbox files from as recently as last summer easily accessible to the feds. In an era where companies like Gmail and Yahoo store our emails for years, that law is long past due for an update. It's so patently archaic, in fact, that Obama's Justice Department had committed to avoiding the law's loophole, seeking warrants before accessing those older emails anyway.
But now that President Trump has appointed surveillance hawk Senator Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, privacy advocates are arguing that finally passing ECPA reform has taken on new importance.
"Given Trump's nominees...the stakes for privacy have never been higher," says Robyn Greene, policy counsel at the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute. "It’s crucial Congress act on ECPA reform so that Americans can feel safe in their 4th amendment rights."
ECPA reform passed the House unanimously last year as well. But when the bill came to the Senate, Sessions and fellow Republican Senator John Cornyn added controversial surveillance-friendly amendments to the bill that caused it to falter and expire. Sessions wanted to grant law enforcement the ability to demand data from internet firms without a warrant in ill-defined "emergency" cases, despite the fact that many companies already do voluntarily hand over personal data in emergency situations. Even a retired Washington, DC homicide detective of 27 years called that amendment "unwise and unsafe."
Cornyn, meanwhile, attempted to expand the power of the FBI's national security letters, which can be secretly used to demand private information from internet firms. That expansion would have allowed national security letters to be used without warrants to grab metadata, like a target's browsing history and IP addresses. Dozens of civil liberties groups and tech firms including Google and Yahoo signed a letter opposing the amendment, but it ultimately delayed the bill too long to reach a vote before the end of the Congressional session.
With the bill's reintroduction, Sessions' eventual move to the Justice Department might help clear the way for the bill to pass the Senate without those poison-pill additions. Considering that same move puts a vocal surveillance advocate in charge of the ECPA's implementation, activists argue that updated safeguards are also more needed than ever.
"We shouldn't be reliant on a particular administration policy to ensure that Americans’ fourth amendment rights are protected," says Neema Singh-Giuliani, an attorney with the ACLU. "The public wants to know that their information is protected whether the president is Donald Trump or anyone else."
In fact, the question of the privacy of stored communications has already been decided in the courts: In the 2008 case of Warshak v. USA, a sixth district appellate court found that seizing the older stored emails of a criminal suspect without a warrant violated his fourth amendment right to protection from unconstitutional searches. But that case hasn't been tested nationwide, and the passage of the Email Privacy Act would seal its result in law rather than depend on Trump's Justice Department not to fight it in court.
Despite flying through the House tonight, with Sessions not yet confirmed as Attorney General and Cornyn still in office, the Senate prognosis remains less certain. "I hope they've abandoned their their tactics of trying to create a surveillance bill out of a privacy bill," says OTI's Greene. "It’s critically important to recognize this is something both members of Congress and the American public are demanding."
This story has been updated to reflect the passage of the Email Privacy Act in the House. |
“Don’t Let Me Down,” the third platinum-selling single since 2014 by the D.J. duo the Chainsmokers, has been streamed online more than half a billion times. The song’s title and singer may not be familiar — its easily hummable vocals are performed by Daya, a mostly unknown teenager from Pittsburgh. But it’s the beat, and therefore its producers, that are the stars.
No longer relegated to the liner notes, digital composers in the genres of electronic dance music and hip-hop — both now firmly ensconced at pop music’s center — often take top billing on their tracks, even if the featured guest is Justin Bieber.
So even in this moment of dominant solo idols — Beyoncé, Drake, Rihanna — there exists a less instantly recognizable realm of rising studio superstars that have leapt from the depths of SoundCloud or the E.D.M. heap into the upper echelon of influence, dominating radio play and landing high-profile festival appearances. Acts like the Chainsmokers, along with Diplo, Disclosure, Calvin Harris and even the rap figurehead DJ Khaled have proven reliable hitmakers as lead artists, frequently employing their industry friends to carry the tune while laboring in partial obscurity.
Benefiting from the cross-pollination of regions and genres, these collaborations can introduce the featured artists to new audiences, with rappers and crooners crossing over among dance-pop aficionados. But the producers are pulling the strings and rightly taking much of the credit. |
On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, continues. This week, we look at four players we're looking forward to watching in the playoffs.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Craig Hagerman: The Washington Capitals will enter the playoffs with the best record in the NHL, and while eyes will mostly be on Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, let's not forget the team's leading scorer.
Kuznetsov is having a breakout season with the Capitals, leading the team with 53 assists and 73 points, and was named a NHL All-Star. His rookie campaign last year was rather unimpressive, seeing him manufacture just 37 points. But then the playoffs happened.
The 23-year-old shared the team lead with five goals in 14 games during the postseason while giving a sneak peak of his pure offensive skill with an incredible solo-effort goal that would hold up as the game-winner in the first round against the New York Islanders.
One year later such pretty goals have become the norm for Kuznetsov, and who can forget that deadly no-look pass he seems to have mastered.
The Capitals will be a fun team to watch this spring, and you can thank the new kid on the block for that.
Robby Fabbri
Josh Gold-Smith: It's going to be very interesting to see how St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock uses Fabbri in the playoffs.
The 20-year-old rookie has really started to produce like a pro with 11 points in his last 12 games. He's shown he belongs at the NHL level, scoring 18 goals and chipping in 19 assists, while earning his minutes on the second line and the second power-play unit.
The playoffs are a different beast, though, and the pressure is squarely on Hitchcock and the Blues, who've been ousted in the first round in each of the last three seasons.
Alex Steen should be back for the playoffs, but St. Louis' additional forward depth should continue to allow Fabbri to succeed in a supporting role. While much will be expected of the Blues, Fabbri won't be held to the same standard as his veteran teammates in his first postseason experience, and that lack of pressure could help him extend his recent success into the playoffs.
Andrew Ladd
Ben Whyte: After being traded by the Winnipeg Jets in late February, Ladd started his second stint with the Chicago Blackhawks at an impressive pace with points in four of his first five games, but his play - and the team's - has since gone sour.
Prior to his three-point night Saturday, the forward had just one point in six games, which came in the Blackhawks lone win over that stretch.
The reigning Cup champions remain at risk to drop into a wild-card position if their struggles continue. If the Blackhawks hope to defend their title, and the 30-year-old hopes to take a second drink out of Lord Stanley's Mug in the Windy City, he will need to be a key contributor come playoff time.
Phil Kessel
Ian McLaren: Kessel certainly hasn't blown up during his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Yet, at least.
While many expected him to push for 40 goals while playing wingman to either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, he's sitting on a modest 22 through 74 games, and is on pace for his lowest point total since his first year in Toronto back in 2009-10.
The potent winger leads the Penguins in total shots (242), but his shooting percentage sits below his career average and is well down from the success rate posted during his two 37-goal seasons with the Maple Leafs.
The 28-year-old has scored an impressive 13 goals in the 22 playoff games on his NHL resume, and he will be called upon to step things up in the first round especially, to make up for the absence of the injured Evgeni Malkin.
Kessel, who carries a hefty $8-million cap hit (part of which is still being paid by Toronto), broke out in a big way with a five-point game Saturday against Detroit, and can write a new story about his first year with the suddenly rolling Penguins by making an impact when it matters most. |
President Obama tells ABC's Barbara Walters that while he's not ready to support legalizing marijuana nationwide, in the wake of successful legalization referendums in Washington state and Colorado, he doesn't believe that the federal government should focus on criminal action against recreational users in those states:
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I wouldn't go that far, but what I think is that at this point in Washington and Colorado, you've seen the voters speak on this issue and as it is, the federal government has a lot to do when it comes to criminal prosecutions. It doesn't make sense from a prioritization point of view for us to focus on recreational drug users in a state that has already said that under state law that's legal.
"There are a bunch of things I did that I regret when I was a kid," Obama told Walters. "My attitude is, substance abuse generally is not good for our kids, not good for our society. "I want to discourage drug use," he added.
President Obama also told Walters that he does not want to encourage drug usage among children.Obviously, Obama's support of a hands-off approach towards Colorado and Washington is just a baby step, but when it comes to embracing a more rational approach to drugs, politicians are going to be a lagging indicator. Given the general insanity of our current approach, it's at least nice to see that the president seems to understand that the "War on Drugs" doesn't really have anything to do with fighting substance abuse. |
Celebrities took to Twitter to shower Meryl Streep in praise after she used her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award to trash President-elect Donald Trump.
Streep dubbed Hollywood the most “vilified” segment of American society following Trump’s election, and called on the media to stand up to Trump “to hold power to account, to call to the carpet for every outrage.”
In the past, Cecil B. DeMille Award recipients, including Robin Williams, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, and Denzel Washington, have avoided political rants — relatively speaking — and have accepted the award and graciously acknowledged their decades-spanning career in film.
That was the kind of speech actor James Woods had hope to hear from Streep on Sunday night.
I do wish #Meryl had shared her feelings with us about her monumental acting career. I was eager to hear that and was sad to have missed it. — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 9, 2017
But most of Hollywood was enamored by Streep’s anti-Trump tirade, and shared their glowing thoughts on social media.
Below are a few examples of how celebrities reacted to Streep’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
Meryl Streep changes the world by waking us up with a kiss on the forehead — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 9, 2017
"When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose" thank you #MerylStreep #GoldenGlobes — Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) January 9, 2017
There has never been anyone like Meryl Streep. I love her. #GoldenGlobes — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 9, 2017
find someone who looks at you the way literally everyone looks at meryl streep pic.twitter.com/ClnOwFsX02 — keely flaherty (@keelyflaherty) January 9, 2017
Do check out the Committee to Protect Journalists. We will need them. @pressfreedom — Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) January 9, 2017
We will need a lot of people as clear and brave as Meryl Streep if we are to fight the corruption, bad ideas and lies of Donald Trump. — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) January 9, 2017
A true inspiration. Meryl, you beautiful soul. Thank you for using your voice to empower. #GoldenGlobes — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 9, 2017
Meryl Streep giving an epic and powerful speech at the #GoldenGlobes. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) January 9, 2017
Everything she said. Thank you #MerylStreep for you work and everything you said tonight. #empathy #GoldenGlobes — Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) January 9, 2017
Is there anyone better? #Meryl — Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) January 9, 2017
Meryl Streep has mastered the placid reaction shot as people honor her — Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) January 9, 2017
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson |
Sharjah: A 30-year-old Ethiopian woman was arrested in Al Qasimi Hospital on Thursday after she confessed that her newborn baby is illegitimate and she is an illegal maid, an official at Sharjah Police told Gulf News on Saturday
The woman admitted to the hospital on Thursday after she went into labour, police said.
Soon after the baby’s birth, the hospital contacted police to inform them that an unmarried woman had given birth on their premises.
The police said the hospital should have informed them immediately. “They should not accept such cases of unmarried pregnant women,” police said.
“She was in labour so she was admitted immediately,” a hospital spokesman explained. He said there was no time to inform the police.
The woman was taken to Al Qasimi Hospital on Thursday and later transferred to a jail in Sharjah on Saturday. Her baby boy will be kept in the nursery of the jail and the woman will visit her baby to breastfeed him, the official said
The case has been referred to the public prosecutor for further investigation |
These hoof prints show damage done to the Catamount Trail at Silver Falls State Park. (Photo: Photo courtesy of Salem Area Trail Alliance)
Just days after the grand opening of a trail specially designed for mountain bikers at Silver Falls State Park, a group of horseback riders reportedly inflicted damage on a pathway they are prohibited from traveling.
The Catamount Trail, a 4.5-mile route in the park’s backcountry, was created in part to ease tensions between mountain bikers and equestrians in a place where the two groups are sometimes at odds.
However, on May 2, a group of seven equestrians rode the length of the trail in what Salem Area Trail Alliance coordinator Beth Dayton called “an act of intentional vandalism, carefully timed to follow the very public opening of the trail.”
The Catamount Trail was constructed and financed by volunteers of the biking group SATA. It has specially designed bike features, such as banked turns, and is only open to mountain bikes and hikers. Three signs — at the trail's west, east and main trailhead — clearly indicate horses are not allowed.
The horse riders left deep footprints and did “considerable damage” to the trail, SATA said in a Facebook post. Volunteer work will be needed to repair the damage and there is discussion of adding an offset fence to keep horses off the trail, Dayton said.
“The worst thing about this action is not so much the physical damage to the trail surface, which can be repaired in time, but the effect this might have on polarizing opinion and inflaming passions when in reality, the majority of both mountain bikers and equestrians understand that there is room on the trails for all of us,” Dayton said. “It is sad to think of the very few individuals who would like to use this as an excuse for confrontation and finger-pointing.”
According to reports, seven equestrians were seen on the trail Monday. When approached by a mountain biker, they reportedly refused to allow him to pass or leave the trail.
Cindy Ahlbrecht, chair of the Silver Falls chapter of the Oregon Equestrian Trails, condemned the action and emphasized that no one from the group was involved.
“No one from our group would intentionally do damage to a trail. We put in lots of volunteer hours working on trails and know how much work it takes,” Ahlbrecht said. “Even if we were unhappy about a bike-only trail, we would never intentionally do damage to it.”
Ahlbrecht said there was some frustration about a bike-only trail at Silver Falls and the speed with which it was created.
“The bike trail appears to have been fast-tracked,” she said. “It was originally designated to be a horse trail.
“So while there’s a little frustration, we want to work together with all the user groups.”
Dayton echoed the same sentiment.
“We all need to remember that the person on the bike and the person on the horse are just that: people,” Dayton wrote in an email. “Whether you recreate in a shiny helmet and Lycra or leather chaps and a wide-brimmed hat, we all need to look out for each other.”
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for eight years. He is the author of the book “Hiking Southern Oregon” and can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Zach Urness or @ZachsORoutdoors on Twitter.
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GRAND RAPIDS — While it is true that beer is only made of four simple ingredients: Barley, yeast, hops, and water, each beer is uniquely crafted with varying recipes and methods, and each brewery takes a different path to get there.
Founders Brewing Co. opened its brewery for public tours in 2013, and with the help of a very enthusiastic tour guide — education ambassador Gabriel Rains — I was able to get a glance into the company, from its early beginning to its hopes for the future.
Our tour group began our journey in the older part of the brewery, the quaint, 30-barrel system, geared up in close-toed shoes, footies and safety glasses. This extra precaution is absolutely essential to participate in the tour to ensure that no beer is contaminated in any way. Rains regretfully informed us that he was forced to turn down five people who showed up unprepared (so don’t make that mistake).
Gathered around in this first room, Rains began filling us in on the brewery’s operations from the very beginning, starting with the founders of Founders.
Recently out of college, Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers left their careers to pursue the world of craft beer. At first, their beer wasn’t quite cutting it, but after a threat of bankruptcy, they revolutionized their beer in hopes of at least going out with a bang.
This “bang” began selling, and soon enough, they were back on their feet and barrel rolling toward success.
Founders is now the 30th largest brewery and ranked in the top four breweries worldwide by Ratebeer.com.
After describing Founders’ climb to the top, Rains asked the question of which ingredients go into making beer. Although these four ingredients seem very simple — Founders’ ingredients all come from unique sources, and the way in which they go into making the beer is a complicated process.
The tour then led us through an expansion, the kegging, bottling and canning lines (the canning line is brand new, with a hoard of empty cans waiting), and into the final stop which will expand Founders production even further. This all was not without in-depth explanations, stories and a couple of laughs.
The $10 tour is just enough to keep out freeloaders, yet affordable enough to be enjoyed by many. At the end of the tour, each participant is given a Founders pint glass with a ticket for a free Class 1 beer and other Founders memorabilia, which is, needless to say, well worth the cost of the tour.
So whether you love Founders or beer in general, this tour gives an adequate insight into both the company and the craft. If you’re in the area, stop by; otherwise, it makes for a good kick-off to a trip to Grand Rapids and a tour of BeerCity USA. |
A monkey patch is a way for a program to extend or modify supporting system software locally (affecting only the running instance of the program).
Etymology [ edit ]
The term monkey patch seems to have come from an earlier term, guerrilla patch, which referred to changing code sneakily – and possibly incompatibly with other such patches – at runtime.[1] The word guerrilla, homophonous with gorilla (or nearly so), became monkey, possibly to make the patch sound less intimidating.[1] An alternative etymology is that it refers to “monkeying about” with the code (messing with it).
Definitions [ edit ]
The definition of the term varies depending upon the community using it. In Ruby,[2] Python,[3] and many other dynamic programming languages, the term monkey patch only refers to dynamic modifications of a class or module at runtime, motivated by the intent to patch existing third-party code as a workaround to a bug or feature which does not act as desired. Other forms of modifying classes at runtime have different names, based on their different intents. For example, in Zope and Plone, security patches are often delivered using dynamic class modification, but they are called hot fixes.[citation needed]
Applications [ edit ]
Monkey patching is used to:
Replace methods / attributes / functions at runtime, e.g. to stub out a function during testing;
Modify/extend behaviour of a third-party product without maintaining a private copy of the source code;
Apply a patch at runtime to the objects in memory, instead of the source code on disk;
Distribute security or behavioural fixes that live alongside the original source code (an example of this would be distributing the fix as a plugin for the Ruby on Rails platform).
Pitfalls [ edit ]
Carelessly written or poorly documented monkey patches can lead to problems:
They can lead to upgrade problems when the patch makes assumptions about the patched object that are no longer true; if the product you have changed changes with a new release it may very well break your patch. For this reason monkey patches are often made conditional, and only applied if appropriate. [4]
If two modules attempt to monkey patch the same method, one of them (whichever one runs last) "wins" and the other patch has no effect, unless monkey patches are written with a pattern like alias_method_chain . [5]
. They create a discrepancy between the original source code on disk and the observed behaviour that can be very confusing to anyone unaware of the patches' existence.
Examples [ edit ]
The following Python example monkey patches the value of Pi from the standard math library.
>>> import math >>> math . pi 3.141592653589793 >>> math . pi = 3 >>> math . pi 3 >>> ================================ RESTART ================================ >>> import math >>> math . pi 3.141592653589793 >>>
See also [ edit ] |
Shining Armor rides a big Spike dragon, two figures that are part of a new "My Little Pony Guardians of Harmony" line. (Photo11: Hasbro)
Pop culture’s favorite toy horsies are getting some animated inspiration.
Hasbro’s My Little Pony franchise launches a new Guardians of Harmony line this fall with figures and sets based on Discovery Family Channel’s My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated series. A first look will be available this weekend at Toy Fair in New York City.
The upcoming line comes from consumers and fans asking for more adventure and new ways to play with core Ponies such as Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, says Samantha Lomow, senior vice president of Hasbro Brands. “They just wanted the characters brought to life in a whole new way.”
Pony toys that featured accessories and hair for kids to brush have been a staple in toy aisles since the 1980s. Lomow says she feels those will continue to resonate but Hasbro also saw an opportunity to take the property in a different direction while also showcasing characters such as Queen Chrysalis and her Changelings that haven’t been as broadly represented.
Rainbow Dash comes with Wonderbolt goggles and airborne turtle. (Photo11: Hasbro)
The Guardians of Harmony toy line, for ages 3 and up, features single figures ($9.99 each) like Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Shadowbolt and Shining Armor and themed accompaniments such as party cannons, swords and armor. The “Figure and Friend” assortments ($14.99) pair two characters in the same set — for example, Princess Twilight Sparkle with Changeling and Queen Chrysalis with Spike the Dragon.
Queen Chrysalis is one of the characters getting an action figure in new "My Little Pony" line. (Photo11: Hasbro)
Princesses Celestia and Luna ($19.99 each) are available, and a giant 13-inch Spike dragon figure ($39.99) comes with removable armor, fireball projectiles and a saddle for other Pony characters to hop on for a ride.
Many of the new figures come right out of scenes from the cartoon, and according to Lomow, a new series of comic books from IDW debuts this fall extending some of the story lines from the series and new toys.
My Little Pony has long fostered a female appeal, yet Guardians of Harmony is another way for Hasbro to release products to satisfy its current large and fervent fan base of girls and boys, young and old.
The new action figures tie toys into scenes from the entertainment, Lomow says, while also “continuing to ensure we have that overall message of inclusivity in our product range where there’s something for everybody who loves Pony.”
Princesses Celestia and Luna are available for fans who want to have the royal sisters. (Photo11: Hasbro)
Pinkie Pie and her party cannon. (Photo11: Hasbro)
Changeling and Twilight Sparkle come together in a "Figure and Friend" set as part of the "My Little Pony Guardians of Harmony" line. (Photo11: Hasbro)
Shadowbolt pony with a bat-winged chicken. (Photo11: Hasbro)
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In the lead up to last weekend’s Greek referendum there was an extraordinary flurry of opinion pieces in newspapers around the World which sought to blame Greece for its own situation. Among the most ridiculous of these articles was the one which appeared in the British Independent (July 1, 2015) – Get off your high horses, lefties – Big Government, not ‘austerity’, has brought Greece to its knees . Apparently, left-wing views dominate the shelves of any mainstream bookstore in the UK and represent the mainstream economic opinion. It raises the question of which planet the writer is on! The writer also claimed that Syriza is just another leftie political party in Greece, in a long tradition of such parties, committed to “economic statism and hyperinterventionism”. And the current crisis is actually the result of decisions taken in the 1980s to build “up a huge client state” rather than surrendering the currency sovereignty in 2001. This blog explains that the Greek problem is one of insufficient spending. The fiscal deficit has to rise to stimulate growth. This problem emerged in 2008-09 and is largely due to the fiscal austerity that was imposed on the nation by the Troika. It might have crony deals and all the rest of it, but that is not what brought the economy to its depressed state. That state is all down to human intervention from outside of Greece in the form of austerity. Greece should not accept any further austerity – full stop!
To repeat myself (for the nth time, where n is a large number):
A basic rule of macroeconomics is that spending equals income, which leads to output and employment.
Someone’s spending is another person’s income. There has to be growth in spending for income and output to grow.
If there is unemployment it means that total spending is insufficient to generate enough output and hence jobs to satisfy the preferences for work of the unemployed.
The solution is always for the government to either directly increase spending to lift sales in the private sector and stimulate further income and/or to cut taxes, which might lead to higher private spending.
There was an interesting graph circulated on Twitter today showing the extent of fiscal shift in a large number of nations. Here is my version of the same graph.
It shows the percentage point change in cyclically-adjusted fiscal balance as a percent of potential GDP from 2009 to 2014. The data is available from the latest edition of the IMF Fiscal Monitor – Now Is the Time Fiscal Policies for Sustainable Growth – published April 2015.
A positive result represents cuts in the size of the fiscal deficit and a negative result means the fiscal deficit increased. This shows the changes in the fiscal balance that arise from the discretionary policy changes made by the national governments net of the cyclical situation (actual relative to potential) that the nation finds itself in.
The graph’s data is for the IMF’s measure of the cyclically-adjusted fiscal balance (aka structural fiscal balance) and is likely to overstate the true ‘structural’ balance because they typically underestimate the cyclical effects on the balance for reasons discussed below.
So in the case of Greece, there has been a massive discretionary fiscal shift of 20.1 percentage point change (that is, unprecedented and massive) in the fiscal balance as a result of the austerity inflicted on the nation by its government. Yes, its government under the bullying of the Troika.
So in 2009, Greece’s structural deficit (as measured by the IMF) as a percentage of its estimated potential GDP was 18.6 per cent. By 2014, this had changed into a surplus of 1.5 per cent.
The shift in Iceland, while dramatic, has to be understood in the context of other policy changes that the Icelandic government made during the crisis to attenuate the impact of their fiscal retreat. At least they understood that spending creates income.
To fully comprehend what the data is showing we need to understand what a cyclically-adjusted fiscal balance is and what it means. Please read my blogs – Structural deficits – the great con job! and Structural deficits and automatic stabilisers – for more discussion on this point.
By way of quick summary:
1. A national government fiscal balance is the difference between total revenue and total outlays. So if total revenue is greater than outlays, the fiscal balance is in surplus and vice versa.
2. Many think that if the fiscal position is in surplus then the fiscal impact of government policy is contractionary (withdrawing net public spending) and if the fiscal position is in deficit then the fiscal impact is expansionary (adding net public spending).
3. But the measure is impure because it conflates two quite separate influences: (a) discretionary policy choices of the government; and (b) the effects of the economic cycle which alter tax revenue and spending without any change in policy settings (the so-called automatic stabilisers). Therefore we cannot conclude that changes in the fiscal balance reflect discretionary policy changes
4. To overcome this uncertainty, economists devised what used to be called the ‘Full Employment Budget’ position but, in more recent times, this concept is now called the Structural Balance or the cyclically-adjusted fiscal balance. This measure is a hypothetical construct of the fiscal balance that would be realised if the economy was operating at potential or full employment. In other words, calibrating the fiscal position (and the underlying budget parameters) against some fixed point (full capacity) eliminates the cyclical component – the swings in activity around full employment.
5. The controversy lies in how to measure full capacity or potential output. The IMF, for example, use techniques that have the economy reaching full employment (with associated unemployment rates) well before the levels of output that I would consider to be potential. In other words, their estimates of the full employment unemployment rate are always too high.
6. The impact of that bias, is that their estimates of the cyclical component is always to small and the structural component too large.
7. As a result, they systematically understate the degree of discretionary contraction coming from fiscal austerity.
I decided to provide some further insights into this dataset by combining it with some – IMF World Economic Outlook data – showing shifts in the real economy (average Real GDP growth, Changes in Unemployment and Changes in the Investment Ratio), so see if there were any interesting patterns.
Of course given the basic rule of macroeconomics stated at the outset we expect large fiscal contractions (discretionary) measured by positive changes in the structural (cyclically-adjusted) fiscal balance to be associated with large rises in the unemployment rate, lower investment ratios and lower average real GDP rates.
We would expect the opposite to be the case.
So when the government is pursuing a discretionary stimulus (negative fiscal shifts – deficits getting larger), we expect average real GDP growth rates to be larger, unemployment to fall further and stronger private investment ratios.
Here is some cursory graphical evidence to support those contentions.
The first graph shows the shift in structural fiscal balance as a % of potential GDP on the horizontal axis and the average real GDP growth rate on the vertical axis. I divided the data into two periods: 2000-08 and 2009-14 and divided the sample into Eurozone nations and non-Eurozone nations. The solid black lines are linear trend regressions associated with the Eurozone data (for the two periods).
The results are pretty clear and more detailed modelling would not contradict what you can see with your eyes.
There is a negative relationship between discretionary fiscal contraction and average real GDP growth. When fiscal policy is in stimulus mode (a negative shift in the fiscal position), average growth rates are stronger.
Prior to the crisis, there is not much difference in the average growth rates of the Eurozone nations in the sample and the Non-Eurozone nations. Those with larger stimulative fiscal shifts enjoyed stronger growth.
After the crisis, the impacts of fiscal austerity are also fairly clear. The relationship shifts in slope, which means that for a given fiscal contraction, the negative impact on average real GDP growth is larger.
It is also clear that the Eurozone nations endured lower average real GDP growth rates over this period and dominate the negative growth observations.
Greece, is looking very lonely out there to the right of the graph.
The next graph shows the relationship between the fiscal shifts and the change in unemployment rates (vertical axis, in points) for the same two periods as above.
The solid black lines are linear trend regressions associated with the Eurozone data for the austerity period. It is very steeply upward sloping which tells us that the larger the discretionary fiscal contraction the larger the rise in the unemployment rate. It is a clear cut relationship in the Eurozone.
Those absent Ricardians
The data also allows us to graphically-speculate on whether private investment responds favourably to fiscal cutbacks as the mainstream economic theory claims.
Remember, the Monetarists – the intellectual (if you can call it that) forebears of the Eurozone neo-liberals, rejected the simple rule of macroeconomics and claimed instead that government spending and deficits were inflationary and wasteful.
As an alternative, they introduced the rather bizarre turnaround in logic that said that when there is unemployment the correct strategy for government is to cut its spending, that is, introduce what is now popularly known as ‘fiscal austerity’.
This policy view was based on an arcane theoretical notion that economic textbooks promote called ‘Ricardian Equivalence’.
It sounds scientific, but it is anything but. In simple terms it refers to the assertion that private spending is weak during a recession because households and firms form the view that the government will have to increase taxes in the future to pay back the debts it incurs due to the higher deficits.
As a consequence, the households and firms deliberately stop spending and save up to ensure they can pay the higher taxes.
Once the government starts to cut the deficit, the theory claims that a signal is sent to the private sector that future taxes will be lower and so they start spending again. Problem solved.
The only problem is that there has never been any credible empirical evidence produced by anyone to show that private households and firms behave in this way when deficits rise.
The overwhelming evidence shows that firms will not invest while consumption spending is weak and households will not spend because they are scared of becoming unemployed and try to minimise their outstanding debt obligation.
Ricardian agents only exist in the rarefied world of mainstream macroeconomic textbooks and have never been observed at large in the real world.
The following graph shows the change in the investment ratio (in points) – so the change in total private capital formation expressed as a percentage of GDP over 2000-08 and 2009-14 against the fiscal shift corresponding to those two periods.
The data shows that there is a negative relationship overall between fiscal policy contractions and the change in the investment ratio. The larger is the discretionary fiscal contraction, the larger is the fall in the investment ratio. The relationship for the Eurozone (summarised by the two trend lines) worsens after the austerity is imposed for reasons discussed above.
Presumably, the plunge is that consumer sales fell so quickly and substantially, that firms could meet demand for the foreseeable future with no increase in capacity and formed expectations that were so pessimistic about the future as austerity was ravaging growth that the incentive to invest fell sharply.
That is exactly the opposite to what we would expect if the mainstream theory was an accurate guide to socio-economic behaviour.
Alas, all those alleged ‘Ricardians’ turned out to be normal people scared of unemployment, sufficiently knowledgeable to know that deep fiscal austerity is bad for the economy and pessimistic when sales and incomes drop.
No surprise in that.
The surprise is that the economics profession continues to teach these myths.
The data shows that there is a negative relationship overall between fiscal policy contractions and the change in the investment ratio. The larger is the discretionary fiscal contraction, the larger is the fall in the investment ratio. The relationship for the Eurozone (summarised by the two trend lines) worsens after the austerity is imposed for reasons discussed above.
None of these results support the view that firms like contractions in fiscal deficits.
Conclusion
So while our columnist in the Independent would like to think the ‘lefties’ represent the mainstream, I think he should consult the economics textbooks that proliferate in undergraduate and graduate courses around the world.
Those textbooks tend to deny what you are seeing with your own eyes in these graphs and which more formal modelling would ratify.
The simple point is that the Eurozone is suffering from a dramatic shortage of total spending and the misguided fiscal austerity that was imposed on the Member States clearly undermined private investment spending and caused real GDP growth to fall and unemployment to rise.
Exactly the opposite of what the IMF was saying in 2009 when it was demanding that nations impose the austerity.
Fiscal policy rules. Greece is where it is at present because it was forced to endure the worst austerity (fiscal shift) imaginable.
There is no secret as to why its economy has contracted by at least 25 per cent and its unemployment remains stuck around 25 per cent.
What the data does emphasise, however, is the Greek government should head to Brussels today with a fiscal stimulus plan and forget about the debt relief for the time being. Its priority should be to get an agreement whereby it can run a significantly large fiscal deficit funded by the ECB through the QE program (that is, indirectly given the stupidity of the Treaty) to get the economy growing again.
The fact that the Syriza government was stating it would accept conditions that still left it to pursue primary fiscal surpluses (that is, once interest payments are made) tells me that it would be just another Greek government imposing austerity on its people.
It is not the debt relief that matters in the coming months but the ongoing austerity.
That is what the people voted NO for – to end the fiscal austerity. Syriza should demand that now and not backdown and accept some watered down austerity (at best).
Advertising: Special Discount available for my book to my blog readers
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I am able to offer a Special 35 per cent discount to readers to reduce the price of the Hard Back version of the book.
Please go to the – Elgar on-line shop and use the Discount Code VIP35.
Some relevant links to further information and availability:
1. Edward Elgar Catalogue Page
2. You can read – Chapter 1 – for free.
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4. You can buy the book in – eBook format – at Google’s Store.
It is a long book (501 pages) and the full price for the hard-back edition is not cheap. The eBook version is very affordable.
That is enough for today!
(c) Copyright 2015 William Mitchell. All Rights Reserved. |
Now Mexico wants China’s help with its new airport, source says
After ejecting Chinese construction firms from its $3.75bn high-speed rail project last year, Mexican officials are now said to be keen to involve them in building the country’s new, multi-billion-dollar airport (pictured).
They hope to soothe hurt feelings in China and attract investment for what will eventually be one of the world’s biggest airports, a source told Reuters.
“In some levels of (China’s) government there is deep disappointment and a deep lack of confidence toward Mexico,” the source said, asking not to be named. “The ball is in our court, and we have to show willingness with new projects.”
Relations between the two countries came under pressure in November last year when, without warning, the Mexican government cancelled the contract to build its planned new high-speed rail scheme, a contract it had awarded to a Chinese-led consortium only days before.
The move shocked the government in Beijing, who called on Mexico to pay the affected companies proper compensation for the cancelled deal. A consortium led by state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), which included Chinese train maker CSR and Mexican firms, had been the only bidder for the project to build a 220km line from Mexico City to the rapidly growing industrial centre of Querétaro.
The job was retendered in January but, soon after, the government suspended the project indefinitely because of falling oil prices and the need to cut public spending.
Olive branch
Now the ambitious, Foster + Partners designed airport may provide a useful olive branch for Mexico to offer China, which has a number of large companies experienced in airport construction.
The anonymous source pointed out that some will have already worked with architect Norman Foster, who designed Terminal 3 of Beijing’s airport.
It’s a massive project. The first phase will have three runways and will be able to handle 50 million passengers a year by 2020.
Subsequent phases will add three more runways and will bring eventual annual handling capacity to 120 million passengers. Its cost has been estimated at over $9bn.
Last month US firms Parsons and CH2M Hill were appointed program managers for phase 1. |
Police are being trained how to spot child abusers based on the clothes they wear and even the tattoos they have.
Durham Police has started using a technique developed in the US by the Texas rangers with the assistance of Dr Joe Sullivan.
Around 400 officers have been trained on the The Intervene to Protect a Child (IPC) programme in order to spot the tell-tale signs of a paedophile.
Certain tattoos, clothing and even books can be a good indicator if someone has a sexual interest in children. Sullivan said he does not want to reveal any further details as to what these signs could be to the general public.
Durham Police said the technique has already proven to be successful as one officer used the new knowledge to help protect a five-year-old girl from a man in his 80s following a routine call.
PCSO Adam Grundy said he noticed certain signs such as the man being "very stand offish" when he is usually talkative. He also spotted a condom and a Viagra tablet at his house. It later emerged then man was attempting to come into contact with a young girl.
Durham Constabulary's Chief Constable Mike Barton said he is delighted with how quickly the training has begun seeing results.
He said: "We are giving them the confidence to recognise, if people wear certain clothing, if people have certain tattoos, if people behave in a certain way, that might be an indication.
"When you add these things together, that should give them the confidence to a frontline member of staff to do a bit more digging."
Sullivan claims the techniques he teaches have already saved more than 150 children over the past three years in the US. He said the ability to spot behavioural signs of paedophiles came from interviewing thousands of perpetrators.
He added: "I have learned from what they have had to say, what are the key indicators that someone who may not have that level of knowledge may not pick up on.
"This training is about targeting frontline staff who are not working in the arena of child sexual exploitation.
"What has been gratifying is hearing the feedback from the audience and people saying I wish I'd had this training six months ago because I know I missed an indicator that something was going badly wrong and I didn't have the confidence to do something about it." |
“I made sure I took off when Liverpool kicked off in the FA Cup semi-final versus Everton. I couldn’t watch that,” he said. “I landed in Nice, saw the texts that they had won. I saw Andy [Carroll] had scored the winner.
“It’s not one game, good or bad, that would let me think we were right or wrong. You have to look over the length of their career.”
In his role as director of football, Comolli oversaw an estimated £110million spending spree as Liverpool aggressively pursued Champions League football. Buying time for himself – and others – proved elusive. It is eight months since he left the club, soon to be followed by former manager Kenny Dalglish. Carroll has been loaned out, Charlie Adam and Craig Bellamy have departed, Stewart Downing will leave if a buyer can be found in January, and Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson and Sebastian Coates have had doubts raised against them.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, recruited for a reputed £18m from Ajax, remains the shimmering central figure of a revolution that simply failed to revolutionise. The exodus does not reflect well on the Comolli-Dalglish era and the Frenchman is under-standably defensive. He is speaking publicly for the first time since winning an employment tribunal against the club for unfair dismissal, a case he says he did not want to bring. “First of all, you need to look at the big picture,” he said.
“We did 26 deals and to think we wouldn’t make any mistakes in such a huge number of deals in and out would be totally unrealistic.
“I do not think we made any mistakes on the players going out and whether we made mistakes on the players who came in, time will tell. I am very uncomfortable for players to be judged after six, eight or even 12 months. Sometimes it takes two or three years.
“In two or three years you can say, ‘Damien and Kenny, you were wrong’. Or you can say, ‘They just needed time’.”
Comolli supports his argument with the example of Gareth Bale, signed while he was director of football at Tottenham and for whom it took 24 games spread over three seasons before he was part of a winning side for the club. The difficulties Luka Modric initially endured at Spurs [he subsequently left for Real Madrid with his status and value drastically enhanced] are another example.
There is also the improvement both Enrique and Henderson have shown of late to consider. Yet the British-record £35m deal for Carroll remains the transfer cited to exemplify financial excesses under owner John W Henry’s Fenway Sports Group.
“If you want to talk about the Carroll deal, the situation was quite clear,” says Comolli, whose work at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and then Spurs attracted him to Liverpool’s owners.
“The way we looked at it, we were selling two players – Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel – and we were bringing two in – Suarez and Carroll – and we were making a profit and the wage bill was coming down considerably as well. It was a four-player deal.
“Chelsea kept bidding higher and higher for Torres. The difference between their first and final bid is double. They [FSG] asked me what the risks were and I said if things don’t go well you’ll lose something on Andy, but it is difficult to measure whether you will make money if things go well because Liverpool aren’t a selling club and he could be here for the next 10 years.”
Plenty of mud has been slung, but Comolli maintains progress was made during the 18 months he spent on Merseyside.
“The big turning point was the game against Arsenal the week after we won the Carling Cup,” he said. “We thought that if we could win, anything would be possible. We missed a penalty and lost in injury time. That was a summary of our season. But you were still looking at progress. Look at the academy. We signed fantastic young players, the owners said it was exactly what they wanted, but I kept saying it was a five-year plan.
“Getting a trophy in year one; getting to the final of the FA Cup; financially we were in a very good position – we managed to lower the wage bill a lot. The owners were delighted with that.”
But a remedy for the lack of goals that undermined the club’s prospects was being sought. Comolli will not divulge the names but what he says supports the informed speculation that linked the likes of Demba Ba, Olivier Giroud and Shinji Kagawa with Liverpool at the time.
The plans would remain in cold storage, however. Before he left, it was obvious to Comolli there was disquiet over Dalglish, who was eventually sacked in May.
“I went to Florida in March to stay at John Henry’s house for three days,” he said. “They weren’t happy about the fact we were not scoring enough goals. They thought we were not playing enough positive football. Tom Werner [chairman] said, ‘Do you think Kenny is the right person?’ I said, ‘Definitely’. John Henry agreed with me at the time.” |
6 Gallery: Cat burned in Philadelphia being treated in Clinton Township
LEBANON — The one-pound kitten was found, burning, at a Philadelphia intersection last Thursday.
A quick-thinking Samaritan took off a coat, and smothered the flames, saving the burning 5-week-old animal’s life.
Six days later, the kitten – now named Justin – is getting delicate medical attention, and he’s expected to mostly recover from the second- and third-degree burns on his back and head.
The tiny kitten is eating and sleeping, and undergoing a regimen of antibiotics, wound dressings, and appetite stimulants at the Crown Veterinary Specialists in Lebanon, said Anne Trinkle, the executive director of Animal Alliance.
“He’s doing remarkably well – but he’s not out of the woods yet,” said Trinkle, of Animal Alliance, a Lambertville-based animal-welfare non-profit, which got the cat the care he needed.
Most of Justin’s ears will have to be removed, and badly-burned splotches on his back will remain bald, said Trinkle. The scorched wounds extend from the top of the feline’s head down the length of his back. The scar tissue has to be carefully debrided regularly to allow the skin to continue healing, she said.
An unknown person had doused the kitten with accelerant and applied a flame – before leaving Justin to die at the intersection of F and Clearfield Streets in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, on April 25, investigators say.
“It’s just depravity,” said Trinkle, who said her group handled four animals in the area who were set on fire last year alone. “It’s just random violence – and it’s toward something tiny that can’t fight back.”
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of as much as $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the attack.
“This is the latest in a disturbing string of animals apparently being intentionally lit on fire,” said Sarah Speed, the Humane Society’s Pennsylvania state director. “This depraved act of cruelty will not be tolerated, and we hope this reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward and help bring a perpetrator to justice.”
Six days later, the veternarians are describing Justin the kitten as “spunky” and “animated” – when he’s not sleeping off the anesthesia and medications helping him to recover. The medical bills are likely to be steep – in the range of $5,000 to $6,000, Trinkle said. The all-volunteer group is seeking donations to make his full recovery possible. But they’re confident that good-intentioned people bring that to a reality.
“He’ll look like a little prize-fighter,” Trinkle said. “But we’re hoping he’s going to have a fantastic life.”
Donations are being accepted at www.animalalliancenj.org.
MORE HUNTERDON COUNTY NEWS |
1 Philip Rivers QB, San Diego Chargers
Previous Rank: 21 (+20)
Week 2 Statistics: 17-24 (70.8%), 220 yards, 4 TD’s, 0 INT’s
Week 2 Final Score: 38-14 (W)
Season Statistics: 42-60 (70%), 463 yards, 5 TD’s, 0 INT’s
Season Record: 1-1
You can’t say enough about the ability of Philip Rivers.
Honestly, I was thinking this guy would stink it up all year after he lost his best target, wide receiver Keenan Allen, to a season-ending knee injury, With Allen, Rivers had potential to really light it up this year. Without him, it seemed inevitable he would have a bad year.
Add in the fact that the Chargers do not have a legitimate wide receiver to fill in for Allen and you could see the negative thoughts creeping in. Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is good, mainly at running deep, however he isn’t a guy that you sign in free agency to be your No. 1. Though, after signing him in free agency, he is currently the Chargers No. 1 wide receiver.
With the loss of Allen, running back Danny Woodhead seems to be the guy Rivers will get the ball to. But then he too gets carted off of the field on Sunday. It has already been a rough year for the Chargers injury wise, but Rivers has been playing lights out.
With no real top target, he still threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns (yes, four touchdowns). Not only did he light up the stat sheet and scoreboard, Rivers did not throw an interception and led his team to a much-needed victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He may have been my 21st ranked quarterback in Week 1. After showing his heart and ability in Week 2, Rivers definitely earned the top spot the week in the NFL quarterback power rankings. |
By Eric Nanchen and Muriel Borgeat
In Valais, Switzerland, a network of “artificial canals” was rediscovered in the 1980s. They were “drilled and built into mountainsides, enabling the irrigation so important to land cultivation by transporting water across several kilometers,” as Auguste Vautier recounts (1942:19). Above and beyond their original purpose, the canals have become important for tourism today, contributing to the establishment of popular hiking trails, among other things. The irrigation canals are of interest in connection with the commons because of their long history of collective management.
Irrigation canals were mentioned in the Swiss Alpine canton Valais for the first time in thirteenth century documents that referred to structures that had likely been built 200 years before. Yet it was not until the fifteenth century that the Golden Age of the bisses dawned. Historically speaking, the development of the network of canals can be explained by events that left deep scars across Europe: the plague of 1349 and the epidemics that followed. The population of Valais was hit hard by these epidemics and was decimated by at least 30 to 50 percent. The decline of population density in the Alps in turn meant that land that had previously been used for growing grain was freed up for other purposes. At the same time, the demand for beef increased sharply in the cities of northern Italy. These two factors prompted the farmers of Valais to increase their herds of cattle and to convert their land into hayfields. They had to build the famed canals to transport water from the mountains to their pastureland. So the owners of the hayfields and pastures joined forces, and “collective operations [began] which often involved the entire village community,” as one researcher of the canals, Muriel Borgeat, has said.
In the nineteenth century, population pressure and the expansion of vineyards sparked a new phase of irrigation canal construction. In 1924, there were 300 irrigation canals totaling approximately 2,000 kilometers (Schnyder 1924:218). The last survey in the canton of Valais, in 1992 (unpublished), found 190 extant irrigation canals spanning a distance of at least 731 kilometers.
One of these canals is part of the Savièse irrigation system. It was built in several stages. More than a century after it was put into operation in 1430, it was expanded through an impressive wall of rock in order to increase its holding capacity. Hundreds of years later, in 1935, a tunnel through the Prabé Mountain was finally completed, making it easier to maintain the system and to pipe the water across the high plateau. The sections of the bisse built at dizzying heights were then abandoned. Only in 2005 did some enthusiasts of the Association for the Protection of Torrent-Neuf decide to reconstruct this emblematic part of the bisse with the support of the municipality of Savièse. This section bears witness to the high-wire acts undertaken by earlier generations in order to secure irrigation.
The traditional form of common management of the bisse has endured. Since the Middle Ages the feudal lords granted the rural communities water-use rights, either to the entire community or to a group of people who joined together in a community of users, a consortage. Such a consortage has always had a special statute that determines the rules for use of the system, details of construction (what, by whom, how), maintenance, financial management, and monitoring of the canal system. In the spring, the canals had to be cleaned, and sections damaged in the winter had to be repaired so they would again hold water. Women attended to sealing the wooden channels, collecting twigs and branches and stuffing holes. Today, municipal employees take care of this job, occasionally supported by passionate volunteers.
Members of the consortage were granted certain rights to use water proportional to the area of land they cultivated, and for a precisely defined period of time. Each family’s coat of arms and its allotment of water rights were carved into a wooden stick. The rights were distributed at regular intervals. “Water thieves” – people who violated the rules of distribution or disregarded the relevant time periods – were punished. “Water theft was considered a serious offense, and the community treated the thief with contempt” (Annales Valsannes 1995:348).
Managing the gates controlling the flow of water was a responsibility of great power because water supply was so fundamental to the farmers. Setting the gates was usually a task reserved for the canal guards (gardes des bisses) who saw to the proper condition of the system and guaranteed passage of the largest amount of water possible. Of course, this form of communal organization also reflected a commitment to shared values such as solidarity. Yet as historian and archivist Denis Reynard told us in an interview in July 2014, “It was first and foremost economic reasons that forced the landowners to join forces.
It was a way to keep the system going. It was always a necessity, first for farming cattle, and in the nineteenth century, for growing wine. Joint management was a good solution.” When we ask whether this management system will endure over the long term, he gets more concrete: “It works if people have a common economic interest – for example, in farming, cattle raising or growing wine. If that isn’t the case, then it has no future.”
Up to this day, the consortage of Savièse is responsible for irrigating the vines. Since common economic interests no longer connect the farmers as strongly as in the past, maintenance of the canals has become problematic. One possibility would be for the municipality to take over management of the system. The establishment of the Association for the Protection of Torrent-Neuf sparked new interest in the bisse as a piece of cultural heritage. “That made restoration possible, but it isn’t a consortage,” explained Reynard.
The Bisse de Savièse is majestic. It has been repaired, and it is located in the midst of a protected Alpine landscape. Thanks to the association, management today still functions similarly to the original system. Yet use of the system has changed. As a tourist attraction, cultural heritage and irrigation infrastructure – all at the same time – thebisse tells the story of the development of a Valais commons over the course of centuries.
References
Akten der Internationalen Kolloquien zu den Bewässerungskanälen, Sion, September 15-18, 1994, sowie 2. bis September 5, 2010, Annales valaisannes, 1995 and 2010-2011.
Reynard, Emmanuel. 2002. Histoires d’eau: bisses et irrigation en Valais au XVe siècle, Lausanner Hefte zur Geschichte des Mittelalters (Cahiers lausannois d’histoire médiévale) 30, Lausanne.ders. 2008. Les bisses du Valais, un exemple de gestion durable de l’eau?, Lémaniques, 69, Genf, S. 1-6.
Schnyder, Theo. 1924. “Das Wallis und seine Bewässerungsanlagen,” in Schweizer Landwirtschaftliche Monatshefte, S. 214-218.
Vautier, Auguste. 1942. Au pays des bisses, 2. Auflage, Lausanne.
Eric Nanchen (Switzerland) is a geographer and director of the Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (www.fddm.ch). He focuses on development policy, in particular the effects of global and climatic changes on the Alpine world.
Muriel Borgeat (Switzerland) is an historian and project director at the Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions. Her research concerns the history of Valais and Rhône.
Patterns of Commoning, edited by Silke Helfrich and David Bollier, is being serialized in the P2P Foundation blog. Visit the Patterns of Commoning and Commons Strategies Group website for more resources. |
A mother holds her 45-day-old daughter, who is suffering from microcephalia caught through an Aedes aegypti mosquito bite, at a hospital in Salvador, Brazil on January 27, 2016 (AFP Photo/Christophe Simon)
God may have created the Zika virus, but the Religious Right has turned it into a devastating epidemic of brain damage.
Zika could have been an ordinary epidemic like the ever-changing influenza that emerges each winter and spreads across the Northern Hemisphere with sad but rare complications. But the Religious Right’s antagonism to birth control and abortion (and honest conversation about sex in general) has transformed the Zika epidemic into a nightmare that will devastate lives for an entire generation.
In the absence of pregnancy, Zika isn’t usually a big deal. Only one in five people who contract Zika experience symptoms, and those who do mostly feel like they’ve gotten the flu. This is not to say Zika never does lasting harm to adults, just that—like the flu—those cases appear to be rare.
The difference, as most people now know, is that getting Zika while pregnant is really, really bad. The virus attacks the fetal nervous system, eating brain structures that have already developed and blocking development of others. As affected babies grow older, they fall farther behind. Even babies that look normal may be damaged for life. Unlike the flu, when it comes to Zika, pregnancy prevention or timing is everything.
Three Ways to Rapidly Safeguard Families
Even if Zika spreads across its potential range of 41 states, a quick and targeted response could make lasting harm rare, at least within U.S. borders. The solution is simple and relatively cheap, but it’s stuff that the sex-obsessed, patriarchy-protecting Religious Right has been opposing for decades:
Information . Launch a huge public education campaign so that all couples know how to prevent mistimed or unwanted pregnancy and can delay parenthood till the time is safe. Currently a third of pregnancies globally and almost half in the U.S. are accidents, with some of the highest rates where Zika-carrying mosquitos live.
. Launch a huge public education campaign so that all couples know how to prevent mistimed or unwanted pregnancy and can delay parenthood till the time is safe. Currently a third of pregnancies globally and almost half in the U.S. are accidents, with some of the highest rates where Zika-carrying mosquitos live. Contraception . Make state-of-the-art birth control available free of charge, including the very best IUDs and implants, which drop the accidental pregnancy rate below 1 in 500. (With the Pill that’s 1 in 11; with condoms 1 in 6; with the rhythm method its closer to 1 in 4.)
. Make state-of-the-art birth control available free of charge, including the very best IUDs and implants, which drop the accidental pregnancy rate below 1 in 500. (With the Pill that’s 1 in 11; with condoms 1 in 6; with the rhythm method its closer to 1 in 4.) Abortion. Ensure that couples who discover microcephaly and other fetal defects in utero can, if they prefer, abort a diseased pregnancy and start over. Millions of healthy children exist in this world only because their parents receive the mercy of a fresh start (like I did).
Each of these steps is easier and cheaper than trying to eradicate mosquitos or develop and distribute a vaccine–both of which are moving forward. With existing contraceptive knowledge and technologies, birth defects from Zika could drop to near zero. The problem is not a lack of means; it’s a lack of will brought on by religious teaching that generate resistance and controversy around anything that has to do with sex, gender roles, or reproduction.
You Reap What You Sow
No matter what, tragic birth defects from Zika would have hit some families as the virus spread out of Africa where it is endemic (and where most women appear to have immunity before they reach reproductive age). But without relentless promotion of ignorance andfalsehood by priests and pastors—without anti-contraception campaigning by the Vatican in particular—birth defects from Zika would be a small fraction of what humanity now faces.
Religious conservatives claim to love women and babies, especially unborn babies; but this claim is pure self-deception by biblical standards. The writer of Matthew warns of men who claim to speak for God but actually don’t. He says, “By their fruit ye shall know them.”
What are the fruits of conservative Christian hostility toward judicious, planned, intentional parenthood? For generations, humanity has been battered by preventable harms from ill-timed and unwanted pregnancy: children bearing children in hopeless poverty, education foregone, abuse and neglect, family conflict triggered by stress, armed conflict triggered by population pressures and resource depletion; starvation, illness and death . . .
If the Church hadn’t thrown its wealth and weight against family planning programs in the 1960’s and every decade since, who knows how different life on Earth might look right now. Zika merely ups the ante.
And the conservative Christian solution to it all? More prayer and less sex.
If They Actually Loved Babies
Actions speak louder than pious words. If God’s self-proclaimed messengers actually loved women and children more than they love power and tradition, they would admit they have been wrong and would do what’s best for healthy families:
Stop using the political clout of the Church to make birth control expensive and hard to get—especially for poor people and those at risk of Zika.
Stop goading conservative politicians to waste millions trying to defend bogus anti-abortion laws, and work instead to make abortion less necessary.
Stop teaching young people that they should “let go and let God” determine how many kids they have (whether infected or starving or not). Start teaching that the ability to plan our families is a precious gift.
Stop pretending that vows of abstinence work for more than a few odd individuals. Start providing real information about healthy, respectful, responsible pleasure and intimacy.
Stop forcing doctors and nurses to follow anti-contraception, anti-abortion religious directives bordering on malpractice; and instead ensure that hospitals and clinics controlled by religious institutions provide model family planning care.
The Zika wave will sweep over the Americas, and as immunity grows rates of infection will likely drop off. In that case, the suffering caused by Church hostility to sexuality education and family planning will drop back to more familiar levels. But right now Zika presents a rare opportunity for religious leaders to show that they are not, as they often appear, so busy defending dogma that they have become morally bankrupt.
Valerie Tarico is a psychologist and writer in Seattle, Washington. She is the author of Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light and Deas and Other Imaginings, and the founder of www.WisdomCommons.org. Her articles about religion, reproductive health, and the role of women in society have been featured at sites including AlterNet, Salon, the Huffington Post, Grist, and Jezebel. Subscribe at ValerieTarico.com. |
Michigan Presidential Primary Preference: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Feb 25-26
2012 Gingrich 8% Paul 15% Romney 35% Santorum 36% Other/Uncommitted * Undecided 6% Rick Santorum holds a slight lead heading into the Michigan Republican presidential primary. Santorum leads with 36% and is followed by Mitt Romney with 35%, Ron Paul with 15%, and Newt Gingrich with 8%. Santorum has lost 2 percentage points since a similar survey conducted February 21-22, 2012, while Romney has gained 1 percentage point. Romney now leads Santorum 38% to 37% among self-identified Republicans, followed by Gingrich with 11% and Paul with 9%. Among self-identified independents and Democrats, Santorum leads with 34%, followed by Romney with 30%, Paul with 25%, and Gingrich with 3%. Santorum leads Romney 36% to 35% among likely Republican primary voters saying they will definitely vote in the February 28 primary, followed by Paul with 16% and Gingrich with 7%. Romney and Santorum are tied at 35% each among those saying they will probably vote, followed by Gingrich with 14% and Paul with 9%. Santorum leads with 42% among likely Republican primary voters saying they are supporters of the Tea Party, followed by Romney with 27%, Gingrich with 13%, and Paul with 11%. Among likely primary voters saying they are not supporters of the Tea Party or are undecided about the Tea Party, Romney leads with 40%, followed by Santorum with 32%, Paul with 17%, and Gingrich with 5%. Santorum leads Romney 38% to 31% among men, followed by Paul with 18% and Gingrich with 9%. Romney leads Santorum 40% to 33% among women, followed by Paul with 11% and Gingrich with 7%. Comparisons to past surveys: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Feb 11-12
2012 Feb 15-16
2012 Feb 21-22
2012 Feb 25-26
2012 Gingrich 21% 10% 7% 8% Paul 12% 15% 12% 15% Romney 27% 32% 34% 35% Santorum 33% 37% 38% 36% Other 1% 1% 1% * Undecided 6% 5% 8% 6% Preference by party: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Republicans (63%) Independents (37%) Gingrich 11% 3% Paul 9% 25% Romney 38% 30% Santorum 37% 34% Other - 1% Undecided 5% 7% Preference by likely to vote: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Definitely - 10 (85%) Probably - 7-9 (15%) Gingrich 7% 14% Paul 16% 9% Romney 35% 35% Santorum 36% 35% Other - 2% Undecided 6% 5% Preference by Tea Party support: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Supporter (36%) Not/Undecided (64%) Gingrich 13% 5% Paul 11% 17% Romney 27% 40% Santorum 42% 32% Other - 1% Undecided 7% 5% Preference by sex: Michigan Likely Republican
Primary Voters Male (54%) Female (46%) Gingrich 9% 7% Paul 18% 11% Romney 31% 40% Santorum 38% 33% Other 1% - Undecided 3% 9% About this Survey - Survey Sponsor: American Research Group, Inc. The American Research Group has been conducting surveys of voters since 1985. Sample Size: 600 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of likely Republican primary voters living in Michigan (377 self-identified Republicans, 163 self-identified independents, and 60 self-identified Democrats). Sample Dates: February 25-26, 2012 Margin of Error: ± 4 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is evenly split. An "*" in the tables indicates responses of less than 1/2 of 1 percent. Question Wording: If the 2012 Republican presidential preference primary were being held today between (names rotated) Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum, for whom would you vote? Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not? Using a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning that you will definitely not vote in the 2012 Republican presidential primary and 10 meaning that you will definitely vote in the 2012 Republican presidential primary, what number would you give as your chance of voting in the 2012 Republican presidential primary? |
The board at News Corporation approved a proposed split into two companies on Friday, and authorized a $500 million stock buyback for investors in the soon-to-be-formed publishing business. It also announced appointments to the board for both of the companies.
The company is expected to complete its separation on June 28, with publishing assets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and HarperCollins, and a handful of Australian pay television units, forming a company that will retain the name News Corporation.
Fox Broadcasting, Fox News, FX and the Hollywood film and television studio will form an entertainment company to be called 21st Century Fox.
Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, called the board’s approval of the split a “significant step in creating two independent companies with the world’s leading portfolios of publishing and media and entertainment assets.” |
| by Jack Landau |
It was in mid-July when Burlington-based developer Adi Development Group announced plans to redevelop a site at 64 Prince Arthur Avenue—the meeting point of Toronto's Yorkville and The Annex neighbourhoods—with a new boutique luxury residential project designed by New York-based CetraRuddy Architecture, and with Toronto's Core Architects as Architects of Record. On the final day of August, an official development application was submitted to the City of Toronto providing initial details, and now, Adi is sharing renderings of the new building, which features a striking 29-storey design unlike anything ever built in Toronto.
Facing northeast at 64 Prince Arthur, image courtesy of Adi Development Group
Adi's intent to make a big splash with their first Downtown Toronto development is evident in initial renderings of the project, which features a sculptural design that incorporates a structural steel exoskeleton and undulating balconies arranged around a central core. Rising to a height of 120.4 metres plus a 10-metre mechanical penthouse (total height of 130.4 metres), 64 Prince Arthur would contain just 60 luxury condominium units across 12,251 m², at a rate of roughly two units per floor. The project would replace an existing two-storey brick office building constructed in the mid-20th century.
Facing northeast at 64 Prince Arthur, image courtesy of Adi Development Group
The project's formal submission to the City includes a proposed zoning by-law amendment required due to the site's outdated zoning. With the application in place, Adi and CetraRuddy intend to host a series of pre-application meetings later this year, where members of the community will be able to share their input and voice concerns. While there will almost certainly be obstacles in the project's planning and approvals process, these initial renderings reaffirm Adi Development Group COO Saud Adi's earlier commitment to create "an iconic legacy project."
Street level at 64 Prince Arthur, image courtesy of Adi Development Group
Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page. |
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The father of a man who was photographed being pushed away from the Boston Marathon bombing in a wheelchair says his son has had both legs amputated.
Jeff Bauman says his son, 27-year-old Jeff Bauman Jr., is the man in an Associated Press photo taken shortly after the bombing.
His father says on his Facebook page that his son had to have both lower limbs removed at Boston Medical Center because of extensive vascular and bone damage.
He says his son also had to have another surgery because of fluid in his abdomen.
Bauman says his son was there to watch his girlfriend run. She was not hurt.
He says his son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. |
Come now little black sheep, what have you done? Gave away your fleeces three and now you have none.
You gave one to the ploughing man to give to his growing son, you gave one to the ploughing man and now you have none. The ploughing man, the ploughing man, the ploughing man has one. You gave one to the ploughing man and now you have none.
You gave one to the farmers wife to make her blankets from, you gave one to the farmers wife and now you have none. The farmer’s wife, the farmer’s wife, the farmer’s wife has one. You gave one to the farmer’s wife and now you have none.
You gave one to the little boy whose life it had just begun, you gave one to the little boy and now you have none. The little boy, the little boy, the little boy has one. You gave one to the little boy and now you have none.
The coldness it is setting in, your skin it is raw and numb. The coldness it is setting in, and you are barely warm. Setting in, it’s setting in, the coldness it has come. The coldness it is setting in and you are barely warm. |
As Sony's release of the North Korea–mocking comedy The Interview falls apart in the face of terrorist threats, one movie theater has found a way to give Pyongyang the finger:
After Sony canceled the release of the North Korea assassination comedy The Interview, a Texas theater said it would swap the film with Paramount's 2004 film Team America: World Police for one free screening.
"We're just trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation," James Wallace, creative manager and programmer at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema's Dallas/Fort Worth location, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
For those of you who aren't familiar with it, here's how Team America treats the man who ruled North Korea in 2004:
Update, December 18: Paramount has now ordered theaters not to show Team America. Details here. |
Targa Tasmania competitor dies in crash
Updated
Sorry, this video has expired Video: Fatal crash rocks Targa Tasmania (7pm TV News TAS)
Organisers of Targa Tasmania have released the name of the driver who died on the first competitive stage of the six-day rally.
New South Wales driver John Mansell was killed when his Porsche ran off the road at Exton.
Police say the 71-year-old lost control and the car hit a tree on Porters Bridge Road just after 9.00am.
His co-driver Tristan Catford, 26, was seriously injured but is in a stable condition.
Other competitors say they were oblivious to the death until hours later.
But they say the decision to continue the rally after the crash was in keeping with the spirit of motor sport.
Competitor Warren Bossie says road conditions were generally good.
"There was a bit of moisture in the road in the early stages before the sun had really come up."
The rally is due to finish in Hobart on Sunday.
The Confederation of Australian Motorsport says it is deeply saddened by the death.
It is the second death in Targa Tasmania since the six-day rally began in 1992.
Melbourne navigator Ian Johnson died in 1996 during the Riana stage in the state's north-west.
There have been several deaths at Targa events interstate, including racing champion Peter Brock who died near Perth in 2006.
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has expressed condolences to the driver's family.
She says there are risks associated with all motor sport events.
"What you need to do is to minimise those risks," she said.
"Obviously today we've had a tragic accident occur as part of that rally and I'm sure the organisers will be looking very closely at what happened, how it happened and how you can try and mitigate that risk into the future."
A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
Topics: road, motor-sports, exton-7303, nsw
First posted |
Portrait of Reuter in 1869 at age 53, by Rudolf Lehmann
Caricature of Reuter in 1872
Paul Julius Freiherr von Reuter (Baron von Reuter;[1] 21 July 1816 – 25 February 1899) was a German-born, British entrepreneur who was a pioneer of telegraphy and news reporting.[2] He was a reporter and media owner, and the founder of Reuters News Agency, which became part of the Thomson Reuters conglomerate in 2008.[3]
Life and career [ edit ]
Reuter was born as Israel Beer Josaphat in Kassel, Germany. His father, Samuel Levi Josaphat, was a rabbi. His mother was Betty Sanders. In Göttingen, Reuter met Carl Friedrich Gauss, who was experimenting with the transmission of electrical signals via wire.
On 29 October 1845, he moved to London, calling himself Julius Josaphat. On 16 November 1845, he converted to Christianity in a ceremony at St. George's German Lutheran Chapel in London,[2] and changed his name to Paul Julius Reuter. One week later, in the same chapel, he married Ida Maria Elizabeth Clementine Magnus of Berlin, daughter of a German banker.
A former bank clerk, in 1847 he became a partner in Reuter and Stargardt, a Berlin book-publishing firm. The distribution of radical pamphlets by the firm at the beginning of the 1848 Revolution may have focused official scrutiny on Reuter. Later that year, he left for Paris[4] and worked in Charles-Louis Havas' news agency, Agence Havas, the future Agence France Presse.
As telegraphy evolved, Reuter founded his own news agency in Aachen, transferring messages between Brussels and Aachen using carrier pigeons and thus linking Berlin and Paris. Speedier than the post train, pigeons gave Reuter faster access to financial news from the Paris stock exchange. Eventually, pigeons were replaced by a direct telegraph link.[5]
A telegraph line was under construction between Britain and Europe, and so Reuter moved to London, renting an office near the Stock Exchange. In 1863, he privately erected a telegraph link to Crookhaven, the farthest south-west point of Ireland. On nearing Crookhaven, ships from America threw canisters containing news into the sea. These were retrieved by Reuters and telegraphed directly to London, arriving long before the ships reached Cork.
In 1872, Nasir al-Din Shah, the Shah of Iran, signed an agreement with Reuter, a concession selling him all railroads, canals, most of the mines, all the government's forests, and all future industries of Iran. George Nathaniel Curzon called it "The most complete and extraordinary surrender of the entire industrial resources of a kingdom into foreign hands that has ever been dreamed of".[6] The Reuter concession was immediately denounced by all ranks of businessmen, clergy, and nationalists of Persia, and it was quickly forced into cancellation.
On 17 March 1857, Reuter was naturalised as a British subject. On 7 September 1871, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha granted him the noble title of Freiherr (Baron).[1] In November 1891, Queen Victoria granted him (and his subsequent male-line successors) the right to use that German title (listed as "Baron von Reuter") in Britain.[1][7]
Marriage and children [ edit ]
In 1845, Reuter married Ida Maria Magnus, daughter of Friedrich Martin Magnus, a German banker in Berlin.[8][9] They had three sons: Herbert, who became the 2nd Baron (succeeded by his son Hubert as 3rd Baron), George and Alfred.[10] Clementine Maria, one of his daughters, married Count Otto Stenbock, and after Stenbock's death, Sir Herbert Chermside, a governor of Queensland.[11]
The 2nd Baron's brother George had two sons, Oliver (who became the 4th Baron) and Ronald. The last member of the family, Marguerite, Baroness de Reuter, widow of the 4th Baron and Paul Julius Reuter's granddaughter-in-law, died on 25 January 2009, at the age of 96.[7][12]
Death and commemoration [ edit ]
Reuter died in 1899 at Villa Reuter in Nice, France. He was buried in West Norwood Cemetery in south London.
Reuter was portrayed by Edward G. Robinson in the Warner Bros. biographical film A Dispatch from Reuter's (1941).
The Reuters News Agency commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of its founder by launching a university award (the Paul Julius Reuter Innovation Award) in Germany.[2]
See also [ edit ] |
Marcus Aurelius is famed for various accomplishments—his title as the last of the Five Good Emperors; his extensive study of and literary accomplishments in the field of Stoicism; and, last but not least, defeating numerous longstanding enemies of the Roman Empires: the Parthians, the Marcomanni and the Sarmatians, to name a few. Marcus Aurelius is, in fact, one of the few living examples of Plato's infamous "philosopher king" ideology—that is, a successful leader defined by his intelligence, reliability and appreciation of his people and status. Yet Marcus Aurelius' philosophical reign should also be remembered for its possible role in his one—albeit rather enormous—mistake: naming a legitimate son as heir to the Roman imperium.
The Statue of Marcus Aurelius (detail) in the Musei Capitolini in Rome ( Public Domain )
End of the Adoptive Emperors
In some scholarly circles, this decision is not as catastrophic as it may seem. Marcus Aurelius not only named his son heir, but he was also the first emperor in almost one hundred years to actually have a legitimate son to pass imperium (the power of Emperor) on to. The Five Adoptive Emperors were "adopted" not merely because there was a fear of forming dynasties (though this contributed); it was also due to the fact that the emperors from the years 96-161 AD did not have legitimate sons. As noted in a previous article regarding the Roman Empire's imperial timeline, Emperor Nerva received leadership in 96, but in his old age, he had no children and only lasted two years before his death. Trajan followed, also childless; Hadrian, though he had a wife, was a homosexual who did not spawn any sons with his wife. Antoninus Pius was adopted by Hadrian, and subsequently adopted both Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus to serve as co-emperors after his own death in 161 AD. (It should be noted that Antoninus did have two sons by his wife; however, these boys both died before he took power in 138 AD.)
Thus Marcus Aurelius, while breaking a century old "tradition" was able to break this tradition because of his familial situation. Yet, what about the side of the coin where the Adoptive Emperors' system was appreciated by the Senate, as dynasties were prevented? That is where one finds fault in Marcus' reign. Unfortunately for the Roman people, Marcus Aurelius' eldest son was Commodus who would go down in Rome's legacy as one of the most mentally unstable leaders.
Statue of Emperor Commodus as Hercules ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )
Marcus’ Progressive System of Governance
Marcus himself ruled as co-emperor with Antoninus' other chosen heir Lucius Verus until Verus' death in 169 AD. Marcus was married to Antoninus' daughter Faustina the Younger (after his first marriage was, of course, annulled by the emperor), when he was formally adopted as Antoninus' heir. However, the two men butted heads over Marcus' philosophical inclinations and Antoninus' preference for, what some might call, an overly lavish court life. Though this author believes Marcus made an unforeseeable error in choosing his own son to inherit the Empire, Marcus' philosophical education and independent studies certainly aided in this rule. He, like Emperor Hadrian, greatly admired Greek thought and rhetoric, and studied both in great depth. Most of his personal writings were recorded in Ancient Greek rather than Latin, in fact. His studiousness is likely one of the reasons he was—and still is—such a highly respected and beloved emperor.
That is not to say Marcus did not have his fair share of strife while in power and his rule was marked by almost continual war. Yet in spite of the various wars fought under his reign, Marcus' stoic reputation was never combined with one of bloodshed or violence. Marcus took on the role of leader in every sense of the word—he was a man men wanted to follow in both political and military affairs. Interestingly, scholarship asserts that it was Marcus' idea, not Antoninus', that he and Lucius Verus should rule as equal co-emperors. According to WHO, Marcus would not accept imperium otherwise. Thus, Marcus became the Augustus and Verus, the Caesar. These titles for co-emperors would resurface in the breakup of the Empire in the third and fourth centuries.
Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome ( Public Domain )
Ancient literature regarding Marcus and Lucius' early reign is littered with references of the co-emperors well-received differences from previous leaders. Famine in the city received personal responses from the emperors rather than their subordinates; literature could roast the emperors for comedic purposes without fear of punishment. (Previous emperors, Nero for instance, likely would have requested those writers' heads.) Neither man was fond of the lavishness Antonius preferred, meanwhile both heaped praise and credit on the generals who fought on the front lines of the wars against Parthia. Though Verus did enjoy a triumph on his return from the East, the value of the generals does not appear to have been overlooked. The Roman people appreciated such modesty.
Marcus Aurelius Distributing Bread to the People ( Public Domain )
Marcus’ Success and Failure
Marcus enjoyed numerous other successes during his reign as emperor. While Verus died in 169, likely of a plague caught while fighting the Parthian Wars, Marcus continued to rule until 180 AD, his son Commodus by his side starting in 177. Triumphs against the Macromanni and other tribes of Germania were added to his list of achievements, as well as the defeat of the Sarmatians near the Black Sea. In spite of Marcus' highly positive imperial reign, this author finds fault in his choice of co-emperor and successor. Commodus was named Caesar just after the Parthian defeat in 166, however historians such as Cassius Dio indicate that he was showing signs of instability long before he officially took this role in 177 AD. Dio believes Marcus' failing health might have played a role in his decision to overlook these anomalies; more recent scholarship argues that his decision might have had to do with Marcus' firm belief in duty, an extension of his Stoic studies.
Detail from the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome shows the story of his victories. ( CC BY 3.0 )
Yet it cannot be denied that Commodus' reign was the beginning of the end of the Empire. After all, Commodus was the first emperor to be assassinated since Vespasian's younger son Domitian had imperium from 81-96 AD. One wonders what might have happened had Marcus not chosen Commodus as his successor. Would the Empire have fractured, having five claimants to the throne before Septimus Severus gained power in 193? Would the Empire have been physically halved had Severus' son Caracalla not murdered and attempted to erase his own brother from history; had Caracalla not so lavishly overpaid his soldiers that coinage was devalued; or had Caracalla not (somewhat recklessly) begun new campaigns in the east for the sole purpose of gaining territory rather than responding to real threats?
Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius by Eugène Delacroix ( Public Domain )
It cannot be argued that what happened to the Roman Empire after Marcus Aurelius' death was Marcus' "fault", for lack of a better term. After all, even if Marcus Aurelius' Stoicism was part of the reason he chose his blood child as heir, that Stoicism was also what made him a valued and respected leader. Take away one and the other might suffer. What can be argued is the amount of growth that occurred under Marcus' reign, both with Antoninus and Verus. Eastern threats were largely defeated and the Roman people benefited from a true philosopher king. Marcus Aurelius' accomplishments greatly overshadow his one error; whether or not it can even be considered an error if it was in the name of "duty" the question for debate.
Top image: Marcus Aurelius Distributing Bread to the People by Joseph-Marie Vien ( Public Domain )
By Riley Winters
Bibliography
Ackeren, Marcel van (ed).2012. A Companion to Marcus Aurelius . Chichester: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd.
Birley, Anthony R. 1966. Marcus Aurelius: A Biography . New York: Routledge.
Marcus Aurelius. Meditations. (trans. Richard Haines, 1916.) Harvard: Loeb Classical Library.
McLynn, Frank. 2010. Marcus Aurelius: A Life. Da Capo Press.
Plato. The Republic of Plato . (trans. Allan Bloom and Adam Kirsch, 2016.) Basic Books.
Scarre, Chris and Brandon Shaw. 1995. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors . Thames & Hudson.
Stertz, Stephen A. 1977. "Marcus Aurelius as Ideal Emperor in Late-Antique Greek Thought." The Classical World 70.7. p. 433–39.
Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome (trans. Michael Grant, 1956.) Penguin Classics. |
Copyright 2019 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
LAS VEGAS -- Metro Police have launched an internal investigation into a YouTube video that shows one of its officers reacting angrily after rear-ending a motorcyclist.
The video has been viewed more than 130,000 times, and some people believe the officer acted inappropriately. However, police sources tell 8 News NOW, the man on the motorcycle has a history of intentionally causing accidents.
John Paul Rosario laughed long and hard when he heard what police said about him. He says that's simply not true. At any rate, Rosario says he was on his way to work at Planet Hollywood when he braked to let a car merge in front of him. That's when he was rear-ended by a Metro cruiser.
Rosario had a video camera on his helmet that recorded everything, including his conversation with the angry officer who threatened to write a "load of tickets" for Rosario.
Rosario was not ticketed. The unidentified officer eventually shook hands with him and went on his way. Rosario says he posted the video, not to get the officer in trouble, but to show how unfairly he was treated.
"Maybe they need to retrain themselves," Rosario said. "They have some officers that maybe need either to change their careers or something, it's too much for them, for them to come out so aggressive."
Rosario's motorcycle, a 600cc sport bike, was not damaged.
He didn't have to look very far for a lawyer, because several attorneys called him. Although, Rosario said he is not looking for anything from police, he has hired a lawyer. Metro confirmed Monday it has opened an internal investigation and will have no comment until it is concluded. |
There was an incredible segment on “The Last Word” last night, that was a wake up call to the MSM as to what has already happened, how it is, and what is coming in the future under the Trump administration, especially from Hair Furor. The warning was delivered by none other than the esteemed current professor, and former chair of the Journalism department of New York University, Jay Rosen. He is alarmed, and for good reason.
Not only is the MSM being played, they’ve gotten complacent. It has now been something like 155 days since President Elect Trump’s last official press conference. This has caused tremendous wailing, gnashing of teeth, and hand wringing from the media about the President to be’s standoffish attitude to the press. The press is used to regular access to the President. And it’s just beginning.
The incoming White House Press Secretary, the despicable former media mouthpiece for the RNC, Sean Spicer, signaled that this might be the sign of things to come. In a radio interview he stated that President Trump does not look at the past in order to follow precedents, he looks to set his own course. Spicer hinted that the trend will continue, with Trump continuing to take his message directly to “the people”, not just with massive rallies, but with more intimate town halls. This serves two purposes. First, it makes his message directly available to his core base, the people he really wants to keep on his side. Note that this is not the majority of the American people, who didn’t vote for him. Second, in doing this in public gatherings, it makes it difficult, if not impossible for the media to get direct access to him to ask him questions.
Professor Rosen has advised the media to throw out the old playbook. Trump is not going to play by the rules, he will eschew press conferences, mislead and ditch the press when he can, and generally freeze out “the enemy” every chance he gets. The MSM is going to have to forget decades of precedent and go back to the basics. Good old fashioned, shoe leather, hitting the phones and knocking on doors journalism. No more automatic sound bites. Time to do your job.
Professor Rosen wrote a compelling ARTICLE in pressthink.org that laid the situation into clear context. It is lengthy, and rather press oriented wonkish, and is in fact part one of at least two pieces, but it sounded a stark and clear warning and clarion call to the media in dealing with the incoming Trump administration.
That warning was clear. Forget access! Media types, especially television types tend to spend large amounts of time trying to get “exclusive” interviews with the man himself, or at least one of his top aides. Forget that shit. Trump is not going to be granting a lot of interviews, and when he does, he is going to say exactly what he wants to say and stick with it. Forget people like KellyAnne Conway and Sean Spicer, they’re paid shills, they’ll spout the Trump line and hold firm to it, regardless of what dissenting information is thrown at them. And putting empty suits like Jeffrey Lord on CNN, in the banal name of “fairness and balance” serves no purpose, they’re useless.
In his excellent article, Dr Rosen explains it better than a cheap hack like me ever could, and he does it in blunt terms for the media. He deals directly with the mindset and intentions of the Trump media operation in one devastating paragraph;
26. Don’t make it all about access to the President and his aides, or preserving the routines of White House reporting, as the press corps is currently doing— mostly out of habit. A Trump presidency is likely to be constructed on a propaganda model in which fomenting confusion is not a drag on the Administration’s agenda but a sign that it’s working. Access to such a machinery could wind up enlisting the press in a misinformation campaign. Here, I am getting ahead of the story because we don’t really know what a Trump White House will be like. And I am not saying that access to the president and his top advisors is unimportant or a dirty word. Rather, it should not be the organizing principle for journalists who are preparing to cover Trump.
There is the warning, in big red flashing letters to the media. Forget about your credentials, forget about your precious “access”, forget about your sources. We are about to embark on an administration of informational insularity that we have not seen since the time of Richard Nixon. You can’t uncover anything from inside, unless you happen to have a source who is disgruntled with the way Trump is doing things. You have to dig into what he’s saying publicly, what he’s doing, what his administration is doing. Go to ground, do the leg work and create the stories. If the fourth estate wants a chance to redeem itself, and at least try to ensure its relevance moving forward, this is the perfect place to state. As a point of reference, here is Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview with professor Rosen from earlier last night. |
photo: gabi_menashe
Market researchers Global Industry estimate that the baby durables market will reach $6.19 billion by 2015. No wonder. Baby registry provider Babies R’Us “must-haves” list includes 191 items!
Pediatric specialists regularly opine on what a new baby needs. However, the real experts are often parents who learned through experience. This list, compiled using input from real moms, is the ultimate insiders guide to determining what to buy, borrow, and skip altogether, when budgeting and buying for your new baby.
Buy
Nipples and Bottles (BUT) don’t go overboard: All nipples are not created equal and it may take several rounds of trial and error to discover what works for your baby. Resist the nesting urge to wash all bottles and nipples. Save the receipts and open them one at a time. Find what works, and return the rest. (Pricier brands like Avent cost about $7 for a bottle and $5 for a pack of nipples).
Crib Mattress: Safety and sleep are paramount to your new baby’s health; a quality crib mattress is essential. Consumer Reports advises parents to buy the firmest and heaviest mattress they can find. Skip unnecessary features like warranties and antimicrobial covers.
Convenience-Feature Sheets: Characterized by zippers versus the standard elasticized corners, convenience sheets will cost you at least two times more than what you’d pay for a basic sheet. Nevertheless, moms polled for this story swore by them for their ease of use and durability. “Clouds and Stars” zippered sheets (available online or in boutique baby stores) and “The Ultimate Crib Sheet” both came highly recommended.
Infant Car Seat/Bases: Conduct your own research to find what seats are most recognized for safety (the highest price is not always the best). While convertible seats can go the distance with their ability to fit both infants and toddlers, keep in mind that they do not fit newborns as snug as an infant-only seat. If mom and dad will share childcare drop-off and pick-up duty, buy car seat bases for each vehicle.
Jogging Stroller: Jogging strollers are pricey (you’ll pay anywhere from $100 to more than $500), but they’re essential in getting out and about, and will last for several years. (Many models support limits up to 70 pounds). Some models made by B.O.B include adapters to accommodate common infant car seat manufacturers for use starting when baby is a newborn.
Digital Ear Thermometer: Realizing your infant is sick is stressful. The clarity a digital ear thermometer can provide in your moment of “now what?” is priceless.
Baby Monitor: Like the thermometer, the piece of mind is worth every penny.
Stacy Conder, mom of two, offers this rule of thumb: “Buy anything that helps the baby sleep, or makes moms life easier.” (This includes soothing devices, and blankets that make swaddling at 3am less daunting!)
Borrow
Breast Pump. (Initially) Until you give birth, it’s impossible to know what feeding method will work for you and your baby. For that reason, borrow a breast pump until you know you’ll be breastfeeding for the long haul. (You buy the pumps and attachments new so there are no sanitation concerns). Many hospital maternity wards also rent breast pumps for prices equivalent to $1 to $3 a day.
*Note to multiples moms: Tara Schulte, mother of three (two of which are twins) advises anyone expecting multiples to get a hands-free feeding device like the Bebe Bottle Sling (whether your buy or borrow is your call!)
Boppy. It can be used to help support infants before they are able to sit independently, or as a breast-feeding pillow. They are also designed to be used with washable zippered covers; save $25 and borrow the Boppy.
Bumbo: Another device designed to help baby sit, this chair also has an attachable tray to double as a space-saving high chair. (Retail price for both is about $40). However, it’s designed for babies who have head control, but cannot sit without support, which equates to a small window of time. It is easily wiped down and sanitized.
Pack & Play: Unless you travel frequently, you will likely only use this on occasion.
Exersaucer/Jumperoo/Swings/Bouncy Chairs: While moms also swear that baby exercisers are vital to keeping your little one entertained (and your mind sane), they take a lot of valuable space. You’ll use it frequently, but the window of time before your baby moves onto the next form of exerciser is quite narrow. Brand-new, they cost anywhere from $50 to $180, depending on the model. Save your money (and the assembly-induced headache) and borrow one from a friend. If that fails, baby resellers usually have mountains of these for a fraction of the retail price.
Skip
Bottle Warmer. Warmers cost anywhere from $20 to $60. Breastfeeding moms are the warmer! Formula-feeding parents can easily warm a filled bottle by placing it into hot water for a couple of minutes. (Shake afterwards to eliminate hot spots).
Diaper Genie: Moms disagreed on this one (as Richelle Krzak, mother of two toddlers put it, her house “would smell like a farm without one.”) But, most agreed that this high-tech trashcan (which costs about $40 and requires special refill sacks) is unnecessary. Standard plastic grocery sacks or odor-reducing trash bags used in conjunction with a flip-top style trashcan will do the job.
Wipes Warmer: They waste electricity, and cost up to $20. A room temperature wipe will clean your baby just fine.
Grocery Cart Cover: Swab the handle with an antibacterial wipe, and use an old-fashioned blanket.
Glider Rocker: In the beginning, your infant may respond just as favorably to being bounced in a seat, or snuggled and walked around in your arms. Gliders of the wooden variety can also be difficult for new moms to find a comfortable position to breastfeed. Until you know what your baby’s soothing style is, pass on this purchase, which can cost upwards of $300.
Related |
"We're here to become champions," Mexico midfielder Jorge "Burrito" Hernandez declared on arrival in San Diego on Tuesday ahead of El Tri's Gold Cup opener against El Salvador on Sunday.
Mexico almost always goes into this tournament as the favorite and Hernandez's comments are standard for a side that has won three of the past four Gold Cups, but this time things aren't so cut-and-dried for the seven-time champions.
The United States, Costa Rica and Mexico all have weakened squads, but it is the Stars and Stripes and the Ticos that have more regulars for the tournament. Mexico took its strongest possible squad -- not just the starting team -- to the Confederations Cup in Russia.
Let's be very clear: If Mexico's World Cup squad was picked tomorrow, perhaps only Jesus Corona, Jesus Duenas, Luis Reyes and Orbelin Pineda of the Gold Cup squad would be included by coach Juan Carlos Osorio. Not one would be considered a starter.
This is a Mexico squad loosely showcasing Nos. 23-46 in the nation's depth chart. Only Houston Dynamo's Erick Torres is based outside of Mexico and the team has had just two friendlies to find some chemistry. Neither of those matches was coached by Osorio, because the 56-year-old was in Russia guiding the first team to a fourth-place finish at the Confederations Cup.
Only veteran goalkeepers Jesus Corona and Moises Munoz, as well as Hugo Ayala, Jesus Molina, Elias Hernandez and Jesus Duenas have more than 10 caps. Defender Alejandro Mayorga hasn't played a single first-team game for Chivas and could be a rare case of a player debuting for country before club. In comparison, Costa Rica has 17 players with more than 10 caps, while the United States has 10 and both will see an opportunity to seize the CONCACAF crown Mexico obtained in controversial fashion in this tournament two years ago.
That doesn't mean Mexico's squad doesn't possess enough quality to make a deep run and win the Gold Cup, or that the competition isn't important.
Coach Juan Carlos Osorio has only six players on his Gold Cup squad with at least 10 caps.
If you strip away the pundits' saber rattling back in Mexico and the fierce criticism Osorio has received and analyze what the Colombian is attempting to do, managing the transition to a new generation of Mexican players is absolutely vital to the side's longer-term goals.
There is a humility in Osorio's rhetoric that doesn't play up to the manufactured hullabaloo surrounding El Tri in the same way as past coach Miguel Herrera. Osorio talks of Mexico needing to "step up" to the global elite, implying there is much work to do and Mexico isn't as good as many appear to think. The former Atletico Nacional manager stresses the importance of increasing internal competition within the squad to give him better quality choices when the bigger competitions come up.
Rafa Marquez recently complained about development being "too slow" in Mexico. Matias Almeyda -- coach of all-Mexican club Chivas -- has also talked with incredulity about a 23-year-old turning up to preseason training having never played a first-team game and added he wanted the club to produce players ready for first-team action at age 18.
It is an issue that must be addressed. Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff spoke after the 4-1 semifinal win over Mexico of his federation's "10-year plan" to get where Die Mannschaft are today. The fresh crop of players at the Confederations Cup proved just how deep Germany's talents go.
Mexico's historical lack of long-term vision means it is a significant distance behind Germany in almost all respects, but the Gold Cup is the moment that a new generation can make their first tentative steps as a group onto the international scene. For Edson Alvarez, Cesar Montes, Raul Lopez, Luis Reyes, Orbelin Pineda, Erick Gutierrez, Rodolfo Pizarro, Alejandro Mayorga and Jesus Gallardo the stakes are high. That group of players has to grasp the opportunity with both hands and make a statement that they are ready for more international football.
Mexican soccer needs to gradually overhaul the base of players who have taken the nation close to disaster in World Cup qualification and been defeated in the first knockout round of an international competition outside CONCACAF three times in the past four summers.
El Tri should not be considered automatic favorites for the Gold Cup with its inexperienced squad, but that doesn't take away from how crucial the tournament is for Osorio's planning, even in the face of the crescendo of criticism ahead of the competition.
Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @MexicoWorldCup. |
Dynamic Loading of Shared Objects at Runtime
I’ve been doing a lot of tutorials about dynamic stuff. It’s because we trees rustle whenever the wind blows.
Anyway, this post comes as an addition to @_py’s Linux Internals - The Art Of Symbol Resolution.
This whole thing started when I decided that the bot in our channel (#0x00sec at irc.0x00sec.org), pinetree, needed to be able to dynamically load and unload event-driven modules at runtime.
Building a complex piece of software is very difficult. The typical, rudimentary way to do it is that every time you add a feature (or module) you recompile the entire program. This is just a waste of time. Instead, you can support dynamic modules that get loaded at runtime. This way, if I need to make a new command for pinetree or if I need to revise an existing one, I can simply unload the command from the running instance of pinetree, edit the code for the command, recompile just that code, and then reload it into the bot.
Like most things in C++, you need a few C functions to implement this behaviour.
The functions we’ll be using today are:
void *dlopen(const char *filename, int flags);
int dlclose(void *handle);
and, void *dlsym(void *handle, const char *symbol);
All of these are defined in dlfcn.h , which comes standard. These functions are only available on Linux. If the viewers want to see this done on Windoze, then pestering @dtm might be a good idea!
Details on the dlfcn API.
The dlopen function takes two parameters:
const char *filename is the path to the shared object file to load.
Note: A shared object file (usually denoted with the extension *.so) is a compiled binary with no main function. Instead, it is to be loaded by one or more other programs. The most common shared object file is… libc . That’s right! Your C program (unless static) calls upon a shared object file to get all of its standard library functionality. In C++, libc++ is the corresponding standard library.
int flags is not too important for now because most of the defaults are fine for us. I will explicitly use only one flag: RTLD_NOW which performs symbol resolution for all symbols within the shared object file right when it is first loaded. You may recall @_py’s article on lazy symbol resolution, Linux Internals - Dynamic Linking Wizardry. The flag that resolves symbols lazily, or as-needed, is RTLD_LAZY which is a default flag that would be used if RTLD_NOW were not specified. I use RTLD_NOW because I want the program to crash immediately if a symbol is unresolvable (it helps for debugging).
The return value of dlopen is handle (a void* ) to the newly-loaded shared library. If the file couldn’t be loaded or couldn’t be found, dlopen returns NULL ( nullptr in C++).
dlclose takes one parameter, a void *handle to the shared library. This is the same void* that was returned from dlopen .
Any non-zero value indicates that dlclose failed; a return of 0 means that dlclose executed successfully. Note: It’s very important to be aware of return values since many functions return the same values (e.g., 0, 1, -1) yet the values carry very difference meanings.
dlsym is the program that accesses symbols from the shared library. It returns any/all requested symbols simply as void* 's. Some casting must be done, then, to get your desired results.
The first parameter void *handle is just the handle you get from dlopen .
const char *symbol is the string representation of the symbol you want. Note: A symbol can be a function, struct, variable, or anything, really.
If the symbol is found, you get a pointer to it (that, again, you may have to cast); otherwise, the function returns NULL or nullptr .
Symbols in C++
Symbols in C++ can only be described as a giant pain. Name mangling makes it difficult to resolve symbols at runtime because there is no standard convention for how symbols are mangled (i.e., it is compiler-specific).
For example, a typical C function like do_something has the symbol do_something when compiled with a C compiler. With a C++ compiler, that function could look like AFDa_do_somethingFAK_x .
I think it’s important to briefly mention the purpose of name mangling, however: name mangling allows for function overriding (did someone say “class inheritance?”) and other really convenient things about C++ that wouldn’t work in C.
Of course, if you want your C++ compiler to not name-mangle a certain function or variable, you can use extern "C" to direct the compiler to compile the code as C. Here is an example:
// do_something.cpp extern C int do_something(void) { return 0; } int main() { return do_something(); }
If we compile the program with g++ and then run nm (a program that shows us the symbols within the binary), we can see that do_something() has this symbol:
00000000004004d6 T do_something
Let’s use g++ again but we will remove the extern "C" part:
00000000004004d6 T _Z12do_somethingv
See the difference?
The Problem with extern "C"
extern "C" will not work with things that are specific to C++ and have no corresponding C behaviour. For example, you can’t extern "C" a class because there are no classes in C!
The solution to this is to use helper functions to instantiate classes like so:
extern "C" SomeObject* factory(void) { return new SomeObject; }
A helper function that instantiates a class this way is often called a factory.
The Second Problem
So you have some class declared in some file and a factory to instantiate it. You want to compile that code as a shared library so that some main program can utilize the functionality.
The solution is Polymorphism, a programming concept that allows to to define some base functionality that all subclasses can implement differently. Because this topic is so large, I won’t go into it here.
We will define a base class with some basic functionality. In this tutorial, we will have a base class Widget that is purely abstract, meaning that descending classes must implement all of Widget 's virtual functions to even compile.
// widget.hpp #ifndef __WIDGET_H #define __WIDGET_H // ignore this line for now... extern int unique_signal; // for use in proving symbol stuff. #include <string> // pure virtual class! class Widget { public: virtual std::string message(void) = 0; // pure virtual func }; #endif
All descending classes will inherit from Widget and implement std::string message(void) . When we load the dynamic libraries, we will treat all of the instances as Widget* 's (this is the polymorphism at work).
The Main Program
// main.cpp #include <dlfcn.h> #include <iostream> #include <fstream> #include <stdexcept> #include <string> #include <vector> #include "./widget.hpp" typedef void* dynamic_lib_handle; static dynamic_lib_handle load_lib(const std::string& path); static Widget* instantiate(const dynamic_lib_handle handle); static void close_lib(dynamic_lib_handle handle); struct dynamic_lib { dynamic_lib_handle handle; std::string path; dynamic_lib(std::string p) : path(p), handle(nullptr) {} ~dynamic_lib() { if (handle != nullptr) close_lib(handle); } }; int unique_signal = 42; int main(int argc, char **argv) { if (argc < 2) return 1; std::vector<dynamic_lib> libs; try { std::cout << "Opening: " << argv[1] << std::endl; std::ifstream fs(argv[1]); std::string tmp; // read from the file. while(std::getline(fs, tmp)) libs.push_back(dynamic_lib(tmp)); } catch (std::exception& e) { std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl; return 2; } // load up all the libs for (auto& l : libs) { l.handle = load_lib(l.path); } std::vector<Widget*> widgets; // instantiate! for (auto& l : libs) widgets.push_back( instantiate(l.handle) ); // call each widget's message() func. for (Widget* w : widgets) { if (w == nullptr) continue; std::cout << w->message() << std::endl; delete w; } } static dynamic_lib_handle load_lib(const std::string& path) { std::cout << "Trying to open: " << path << std::endl; return dlopen(path.data() , RTLD_NOW); // get a handle to the lib, may be nullptr. // RTLD_NOW ensures that all the symbols are resolved immediately. This means that // if a symbol cannot be found, the program will crash now instead of later. } // ... static void close_lib(dynamic_lib_handle handle) { dlclose(handle); }
I hope the above code is fairly straight forward to you guys. Feel free to comment questions about it, though. Study it carefully first.
The really important part of code is the static Widget* instantiate(const dynamic_lib_handle handle) function. This function does the symbol resolution of the factory function, does the appropriate casting, and then returns an instance of the widget subclass defined in the shared library pointed to by the handle :
static Widget* instantiate(const dynamic_lib_handle handle) { if (handle == nullptr) return nullptr; void *maker = dlsym(handle , "factory"); if (maker == nullptr) return nullptr; typedef Widget* (*fptr)(); fptr func = reinterpret_cast<fptr>(reinterpret_cast<void*>(maker)); return func(); }
The casting part was a pain to do because C++ is very picking about casting a void* to a function pointer. I will post the StackOverflow link that helped me if I find it again.
Adding Some Widgets
Now, let’s add some widgets:
// test-widget1.cpp #include <string> #include "./widget.hpp" class TestWidget1 : public Widget { public: std::string message(void) { return "Hello. I'm Test Widget1
Oh and the unique_signal is: " + std::to_string(unique_signal); } }; extern "C" Widget* factory(void) { return static_cast<Widget*>(new TestWidget1); }
// test-widget2.cpp #include <string> #include "./widget.hpp" class TestWidget2 : public Widget { public: std::string message(void) { return "Hello. I'm Test Widget2"; } }; extern "C" Widget* factory(void) { return static_cast<Widget*>(new TestWidget2); }
The main difference between the two widgets above is that TestWidget1 uses unique_signal in its message function. This symbol is declared as extern in widget.hpp and is defined in main.cpp . TestWidget1 will crash the program if it cannot access the value of unique_signal . This means that the widgets need access to symbols in the main program. By tinkering with soem compiler flags (specifically -rdynamic ) we can make this happen.
Compiling
Let’s compile the widgets first (after all, order doesn’t matter and that’s sort of the point of this whole thing…).
$ g++ --std=c++17 -fPIC -rdynamic -shared -o ./test-widget1.so ./test-widget1.cpp $ g++ --std=c++17 -fPIC -rdynamic -shared -o ./test-widget2.so ./test-widget2.cpp
-shared tells the compiler that we intentionally didn’t put a main() in the source for these binaries. -rdynamic and -fPIC have to do with symbol access.
Compiling the main program isn’t too different:
$ g++ --std=c++17 -rdynamic -o main.out main.cpp -ldl
-rdynamic is what lets the shared libraries access the symbols in our main program. -ldl links our main program with the dlfcn code. Experienced C/C++ people know that libc and/or libc++ are automatically linked by the compiler as if llibc(++) was passed to gcc or g++ . However, -ldl must be specified.
Running
The main program expects one argument, a path to a file listing out which libraries to load. I have called this file libs.txt and it looks like this:
./test-widget1.so ./test-widget2.so $ ./main.out ./libs.txt Opening: ./libs.txt Trying to open: ./test-widget1.so Trying to open: ./test-widget2.so Hello. I'm Test Widget1 Oh and the unique_signal is: 42 Hello. I'm Test Widget2
Looks like it all worked!
Conclusion
All of the source code used here is up on the 0x00sec GitLab here.
I hope that this was straightforward and informative. |
Listen to Ken on The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima, weekday mornings on The Fan
I was working in my office on Monday afternoon, and for whatever reason I decided to click on Bill Walsh: A Football Life.
It’s a special I watch a couple times a year. Sometimes just to day dream about how things could be, or just to see if I can pick up anything from the late-great genius.
There was a new sentence though that hit me. Through 27 games, Bill Walsh was 5-22. If Bill Walsh was coaching in 2017, there’s no way he’d make it to his third season (He would finish his second year 3-2 in his last five for a 6-10 record, making him 8-24 his first two seasons. Easier to digest for a patient fanbase) .
A lot of rebuilding plans went that way in those days. Three and four, even five year rebuilds. Coaches and scouts had long term plans. Today? Three years is scoffed at, even if it is required.
It brings me to today’s Browns. Another loss to the Chargers on Sunday dropped them to 1-27 in the Hue Jackson era. They’re now officially worse during this stretch than the 1976 and ’77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s the worst stretch of losses in modern football history.
Cynicism reigns supreme. I have said, and I always will say, that the Browns will be good again someday. Even if it’s by accident, they will be. “When” though, is a different question.
This season has been most frustrating. Even the most diligent, well intended plans have backfired. Hue Jackson tried to win games in the preseason to give his team a taste of what even a fake win was like, but that feeling has long dissipated into the reality of a team that is loaded with good ideas for future drafts, but is still short on talent.
Make no mistake of what you read. Those ARE good ideas. The Browns have stockpiled future draft choices (good ideas), but they’ve done it at the cost of the most impatient, patient fan base in sports. Patient in that they’ll still talk about the Browns, they’ll still hope they win, and they’ll still carry on their rituals, but they don’t want to wait around on another rebuild.
To fans, they’ve been rebuilding. Every draft comes with a sense of optimism. That these will be the players that lay the foundation to success. Except that when the Browns have missed, the misses have been so spectacular that they’ve covered up any chance of success of the players that have actually contributed.
Myles Garrett and David Njoku for example have shown flashes of brilliance. Njoku isn’t a great blocker (YES, I’ve seen the PFF chart, but you and I have eyes) but he’s been a great pass catcher at times and is starting to come into his own physically.
Garrett, on the other hand, feels like a disappointment to much of the fan base, but for really no good reason other than that he’s been often injured, something that’s not his fault. He’s 2.5 sacks away from reaching our show’s goal of 7.5 sacks for the season, with a fumble recovery in only seven games. It’s not what Joey Bosa did last year for the Chargers, but it’s still good for the short amount of time. When you’re on a team that’s been losing though, fans still demand more. That’s not unreasonable either. They thirst for something to latch on to. Something that will show them that their team is going in the right direction. Judging by the team though, the fans have had nothing to go on.
This takes me from Bill Walsh, to Sam Hinkie, the former Team President of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. Hinkie is a thinker with a passion for sports, and a passion for the process. Hinkie refused to cut corners during a bitter multi-year tank job, that did not even net the Sixers with a non-trade first overall pick two of the three years. Philly clocked 19,18,and 10 win seasons over that stretch. Hinkie tried to realize his vision by drafting Joel Embiid, who was immediately injured then stuffed on the Injured list … to tank out more games. By 2016, Hinkie was gone. His team, though, has met a new fate.
Still bothered by inconsistency, and a few key injuries, the Sixers have a wealth of talent and cap space and are fighting their way off the mat at 13-10. Not too great, but their arena rocks every night as they watch a young team play hard and try to build.
This will happen to the Browns someday. PLEASE DON’T CLICK OUT, I SWEAR IT WILL.
I’m serious, this is the official rock bottom. Unless they’re the Bill Tobin Colts of the 90’s (I pray they’re not), they cannot have THIS many high choices in the draft, and THIS much cap space and still be THIS bad in the future. It is an absolute impossibility.
We didn’t sit through this bitter hell storm of football seasons for more bitter hell storms of football season. With six choices in the first three rounds, it’s almost foolproof. They simply … cannot … mess … this … up. Even the Browns … cannot … mess … this … up.
It’s been a horrible, long process, and this regime, just like Hinkie in Philadelphia will not get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
You can judge for yourself.
Defensively it was a team that was legitimately listed in the top 10 in the NFL. Costly turnovers (-19), and that Angel position that we’re just going to have to learn to accept for the rest of the year even factored in, it was a legitimate top 10 defense.
Now, if you followed @sportsboytony on Twitter and that’s it, you might have thought last week that I was going to continue to preach that it is still top 10. No. Not even close.
Losing Jamie Meder, Jamie Collins and Emmanuel Ogbah pulls them right out of any consideration of being a legit top 10 defense. As time goes on this season, they do not have the horses to plug in. This is on the front office. Tearing down from a three-win team in 2015 has left the defense without a middle class of steady rotational players. We can hope that the loss of these key players will create some of those middle class players, but we can’t hope that it will create wins.
Offensively, the Browns had been waiting patiently for Josh Gordon to return from a near three year absence. That’s how bad their wide receiver corps has been. When you have to wait three years for a top notch talent to come back, without any real hope of moving the football with WR’s, you’ve messed up drastically.
Duke Johnson shows some serious promise and rightfully makes Browns fans cringe of what he’ll do with a capable top end QB and offense using him. Which brings us to the QB…
It’s not all DeShone Kizer’s fault. Most of it’s not. Hue Jackson either didn’t want to start him when the Browns started him, or didn’t want him at all. Either way it’s a non-fit. You can’t take a 2nd round QB with accuracy issues who left school early and start him on the youngest most talent depleted roster in the league and expect success. That’s silly, illogical thinking, and that’s what the Browns did.
Twice, and when you add up the Wentz slop, and RG3, technically four times, have the Browns messed up on what became starting QB’s for the club.
Cody Kessler played like a third rounder during his rookie season, but regressed more than anyone I’ve ever watched over the last year. Kizer’s tenure has been doomed from the start. If the Browns acted with more common sense, they could have drafted quality position players that would help fill in this roster, and left the Quarterbacking to a veteran journeyman. It wouldn’t be exciting, but it would be right. I like DeShone Kizer. He seems like a good kid. But it feels that he should be looking for greener pastures elsewhere already.
That position alone will end this Browns’ regime, as it does with every other team in the league. It’s not just a Browns thing, it’s what the sport has become. To judge the Browns based on who they passed up at the Quarterback is hindsight, but that’s what all sports are judged on. The worst out of all this is that the fans will again be the one’s left holding the bag. The second worst though are those trying to force blame on one side and not the other when it comes to the coaching staff and front office. They both share the blame of this poor stretch of football.
The front office missed on QB’s, and they didn’t aim high. They’ll wear that forever, but it’s the reports that continue to surface about head coach Hue Jackson that make it that much more upsetting.
It seems very odd that we’ve read reports that Hue Jackson wanted Carson Wentz this week. It seems even odder that Hue Jackson once told us to “trust him” on Cody Kessler (even if he was covering for the front office pick at the time). It seems oddest that Hue Jackson was linked to a possible Cincinnati job opening by Mike Silver this weekend, and by Jason La Canfora this week, a month after trying to trade for Bengals back up AJ McCarron.
I’m sure Jackson is frustrated, and I would be too. Yet the reports read of a person trying to either stage a coup, or trying to save his reputation for the future. Both would be unnecessary distractions. And if the McCarron deal was to go through, I’ll either hug a fax machine that didn’t work, or Sashi Brown himself, because you and I didn’t sit through draft night trades to stockpile picks for AJ McCarron. If I’m going to have to be patient, it’s damn sure going to be for something better than AJ McCarron.
Through all this though, there are still four games left and it’s still not cut and dry that both sides will be relieved of their duties after the season. Remember, the Browns have had picks and salary cap space before, and even young talent, and coaches still passed up on the job because they don’t trust the Browns. Judging by the attendance though, the fans are feeling the same thing, and it’s going to be difficult to sell a team to fans that could very well be coming off 1-15 and 0-16 seasons.
There are a few things though that I absolutely believe as we stare down another December in Berea, and more than likely another January flying in possible coaches:
Hue Jackson should have had an offensive coordinator. The team is young and mistake prone, and Hue Jackson looks more tired during every press conference. If Jackson does return, it’ll be time for an offensive coordinator who calls plays.
The front office and Hue Jackson really did come in with the best of intentions. No one takes over a job thinking “I’m going to run this thing into the ground!”
This team really is in a good spot for the future. If it were any other franchise, we’d be optimistic, but since it’s the Browns, and we’ve told ourselves this before, I understand that you might be saying “you’re full of s**t, Ken.” They do have those picks though, and if it’s Rosen, or Mayfield, or Darnold or whoever in April, that quarterback will be much better equipped, and in a much better position to win early than Kessler in ’16, or Kizer this season.
There may be a day where we look back and thank them for this. We thank them for not putting a band-aid on things, and doing what might be necessary to amass choices, but it will more than likely be someone else who fills the top of the roster and drafts the quarterback.
Behind me, Bill Walsh: A Football Life is finishing up. Stories like his are great, but there’s are a reason there’s not more. Genius comes along only a few times in a generation. For the rest of us, there’s bitter frustration and hard work that we hope precedes opportunity.
We’re now just waiting for ours to come along. |
“What!? Girls aren’t supposed to be good at science!” is what someone old and dumb would likely say regarding the above headline. Yesterday, the top 15 finalists in Google’s first ever Science Fair put their projects to the test in front of 1,000 attendees and a panel of judges. Taking first place across three age categories were three extremely bright young American women: Lauren Hodge, Naomi Shah and Shree Bose (pictured above).
The event was sponsored by CERN (the organization who made that giant hadron collider thing), Lego and National Geographic. They reportedly saw “over 7,500 entries from more than 10,000 young scientists in over 90 countries around the world.”
(MORE: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem, Refuses Million Dollar Prize)
Lauren Hodge won the 13-14 age group by studying “the effect of different marinades on the level of potentially harmful carcinogens in grilled chicken.” Naomi Shah was the winner of the 15-16 age group in which she tried to prove “that making changes to indoor environments that improve indoor air quality can reduce people’s reliance on asthma medications.” Shree Bose, who won the 17-18 age group as well as the Grand Prize overall “discovered a way to improve ovarian cancer treatment for patients when they have built up a resistance to certain chemotherapy drugs.”
Bose also took home a $50,000 scholarship from CERN to go along with a coveted internship at the organization. She received a trip to the Galápagos Islands sponsored by National Geographic Explorer as well. Shah and Hodge, on the other hand, were the recipients of $25,000 scholarships and slightly less prestigious internships at some company called “Google.” Ho-hum.
(MORE: Stink At Math? Scientists Can Now Electro-Shock Your Brain to Make You More Competent)
Liz Dwyer at GOOD already beat me to the punch with a hat tip to Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” (which is a great song!); if an international contest to find the future’s best and brightest is any indication, they certainly will.
Congrats, ladies!
[via Official Google Blog]
Chris Gayomali is a writer-reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @chrigz, on Facebook, or on Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME. |
A super PAC supporting John Kasich's presidential campaign claims another super PAC affiliated with Hillary Clinton stole their lines.
New Day for America claims that Priorities USA took the slogan " John Kasich's For Us" and repurposed it for their own political gain in a new ad that ends with text reading, "Hillary Clinton. Strong. For Us."
"It's really flattering that they're stealing our material but considering all the money they've taken from liberal special interest groups, you'd think Hillary Clinton's super PAC could afford to pay someone to come up with some lines of their own," said Matt Carle, executive director of New Day for America, in a statement. "I guess, just like the candidate they support, they've got no new ideas and have resorted to simply trying to make Hillary out to be someone she's not — a candidate who won't relish in dividing America."
Related Story: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2574118/
Priorities USA communications director Justin Barasky responded to the allegation with the following statement:
"Wait, who's John Kasich?"
While it appears the Kasich and Clinton groups have gotten off on the wrong foot, some on the left would like to see the two groups work together in the long run. MSNBC's Chris Matthews has said he hopes Clinton chooses Kasich as her running mate.
"I'd like Hillary Clinton, I'd like to see her up about five or 10 points after her convention, or going into her convention, which is the second convention, and picking John Kasich and blowing everybody's mind," Matthews said in May. "That would just blow everybody's mind. McCain talked about doing it, picking Joe Lieberman."
Kasich, who ranks seventh in the Washington Examiner's most recent power rankings, does not want to be anyone's running mate and labeled Clinton disgraceful for calling Republicans her "enemies" during the first Democratic presidential debate. It appears unlikely that Kasich and Clinton can reconcile their differences and band together atop the Democratic ticket anytime soon. |
DIFFERENT jumper. Same rollercoaster ride. Brendan Fevola's first match as a Lion produced highs, lows and was never, ever dull.
Most importantly, it also produced an all-important win as Brisbane scored a 32-point victory over West Coast at the Gabba to give the Lions' off-season spending spree some bang for its buck.
Fevola finished with three goals (and seven behinds) with his partner-in-crime in the Brisbane forward line Jonathan Brown adding five imposing majors.
Their much anticipated forward line combination showed plenty of promise and went a long way towards delivering on the pre-season hype. To put it simply, they can work together. Case closed.
"Everyone wants to write us off but if he (Brown) can kick five and I can kick three then we are going to go a long way to winning games," Fevola said.
"Big Brownie was kicking them from everywhere and I was spraying them."
They had no goals between them at quarter-time but combined for four majors in the last term as Brisbane surged past the Eagles relentlessly. West Coast was powerless to stop the onslaught which was led by Brown who was sensational in the last term.
Brisbane kicked seven goals to one when it mattered most.
Fevola and Brown were important but nobody stood taller than Jared Brennan who was best-on-ground in his new midfield role.
Brennan, who racked up 31 possessions, was simply brilliant and was well supported by veteran Luke Power who added three goals of his own.
The victory could come at a cost with vice-captain Jed Adcock (ankle), new recruit Amon Buchanan (hand) and Josh Drummond (leg) all suffering injuries.
Fevola himself appeared to have written the script for the opening passage of play.
He took his first mark in Brisbane colours after just 10 seconds following a pinpoint pass from debutant Todd Banfield.
However, much to the chagrin of the Gabba faithful, the kick from the right-hand side of goal sailed wide.
Fevola dropped a chest mark just minutes later and the crowd let out a collective groan as they were desperate to see the former Blue open his account as a Lion.
Fevola and Brown finished the term with two behinds each with the unlikely figure of Josh Drummond kicking Brisbane's first goal of the night after he sliced through the centre square and thumped the Sherrin with his booming left boot.
Fevola took a tough contested mark over Eagles skipper Darren Glass and kicked truly less than a minute into the second quarter to register his first goal for his new club.
Soon after, Brown took an even tougher mark over Glass and kicked his first goal for the year. The Eagles' waterboy that gave away the 50m penalty by running through the mark only made Brown's task easier.
They were seemingly away as Brown added another major to help the Lions take the lead for the first time on the night.
However, the brilliance of Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui kept the visitors in front at the main break with a goal and a scoring assist leading a West Coast fightback.
Fevola enjoyed a mixed third term as the Eagles extended their lead with Brisbane suffering the same problem of poor disposal that haunted the home team in the opening quarter.
A booming goal was offset by another behind, a kick out on the full and a free kick conceded. It was that sort of night for Fev.
But a soccer-style goal in the fourth-quarter rampage showed how deadly he can be in front of goal. His day will come.
BRISBANE 2.6/6.10/9.12/16.18 (114)
WEST COAST 4.2/7.6/10.8/12.10 (82)
Goalkickers: Brisbane: Jonathan Brown 5, Luke Power 3, Brendan Fevola 3, Josh Drummond, Todd Banfield, Jared Brennan, Justin Sherman, Brent Staker
West Coast: Josh Kennedy 2, Quinten Lynch 2, Luke Shuey 2, Brad Ebert, Mark LeCras, Nic Naitanui, Patrick McGinnity, Andrew Embley, Dean Cox
Crowd: 29,201 |
This is an ongoing list of songs that Nine Inch Nails have never played live, ordered by album/EP. Remixes or songs appearing on scores by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are not included in this list.
Notable unplayed songs
Despite being released as standalone singles or having been nominated for an award, the following songs have never been played live:
In addition, the song "Lights In The Sky" was never played on its eponymous tour, nor was "And All That Could Have Been" played on Fragility 2.0 despite the accompanying live album and film being named for the song. Similarly, "Not Anymore", from which the I Can't Seem To Wake Up 2017 tour name is derived, was not played on said tour, or any subsequent tour dates.
All songs from this album have been played at some point.
All songs from this album have been played at some point.
All songs from this album have been played at some point.
With Teeth Rehearsal Audio
Unofficially released tour rehearsal audio for the Live: With Teeth tour was made available by Echoing The Sound user mofoboy25, which included live audio of the song "Sunspots". This means that, whilst as-live audio of this song exists, it was not played to an audience and thus doesn't strictly count as "live".
"Everything" (though video/audio footage has confirmed it has been rehearsed)
"Not Anymore" |
This year I asked my Santa if they could focus on my son. It's been a hard year for us as our family split up, his Mom prioritized drugs over him which gave me full custody by means of Child Protective services with her only being allowed supervised visits, he had to move to a new city, new place, new school and leave all of his friends behind and the entire time he handled it like a champ despite the fact that I know he's hurting inside.
He's autistic so his emotions don't always surface right away but on a couple occasions I've had to hold a little heartbroken boy who can't understand why his Mother can only see him a few times per month and why he can't live with her anymore. He doesn't cry much but it really hurts when he does.
So I asked my Santa one thing. Please send something for my son. He likes Star Wars.
Santa delivered. Holy crap did Santa ever deliver.
I don't have the words to describe how blown away I am so I'll just post all the glorious photos!! |
GRAND PRIZE: 2019 BMW M5 Competition Sedan
This year's Grand Prize is the 2019 BMW M5 Competition Sedan, which raises the bar for performance, agility and precision within its class. The 4.4-liter V8 generates 617 hp, 553 lb-ft of torque, and boasts a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 3.1 seconds. Approximate value: $115,000.
2019 BMW M5 Competition Sedan Features Special Light Alloy Wheels 0-60 sprint of 3.1 seconds 4.4-liter V8 w/ TwinPower Turbo 8-speed M Steptronic trans. 617 HP 553 lb-ft of torque Cross-bank exhaust Top Speed 189 mph
FIRST PRIZE: 2019 BMW M2 Competition The exciting new addition to the BMW M portfolio provides a distinctive M design complemented by improved dynamics and track capabilities with a 0-60 sprint time of 4.0 seconds. The heart of the new BMW M2 Competition is its new engine, based on the power unit from the BMW M3 and BMW M4. The inline 6-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Approximate value: $65,000.
MAIN PRIZES: X2 This year's Main Prizes are X2s, the newest addition to the BMW X family featuring an unmistakable design with sporty yet urban genes. The BMW roundel on the C-pillars invokes a design cue much admired on classic BMW coupes such as the 2000 CS and 3.0 CSL, and ensures the car is instantly recognizable on the road. MSRP: $44,200.
ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS! |
“It all started when I was about 11, growing up in Los Angeles,” recalls Robert Redford. “I had a mild case of polio—not enough to put me in an iron lung, but enough to keep me bedridden for weeks. As I came out of it, my mom wanted to do something for me. She realized that, growing up in the city, I’d missed out on a lot of nature. So she drove me to Yosemite. If you’re coming from Fresno, you go through a mile-long tunnel, and when we came out the other side, I was blown away. We stopped to look at the view, and when I went to the edge—well, I said to myself, ‘I don’t want to look at this. I want to be in this.’”
That was 1949, when the National Park Service was 33 years old. This year the NPS celebrates its centennial, and Redford will commemorate the occasion by narrating an Imax film, debuting on giant screens across the world on February 12. National Parks Adventure—told from the perspective of world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker and his friends—will wander from Yellowstone to the Everglades to the Redwoods. The shoot employed an aerial film crew to capture the swooping grandeur of the country’s wild areas set aside for posterity.
There’s no way for the movie to include all 409 national parks, but as Redford points out, even one is enough to open the door to a life in the outdoors. “A few years after that first visit, I applied for a job in Yosemite. I spent two summers working at Camp Curry and at Yosemite Lodge as a waiter. It gave me a chance to really be there every day—to hike up to Vernal Falls or Nevada Falls. It just took me really deep into it. Yosemite claimed me.”
Of course, Redford—who went on to preserve a gorgeous valley in the mountains above Park City, Utah, and who has been active in dozens of conservation campaigns—was not the first American to be claimed by that high granite Yosemite landscape. David Brower, who built the modern Sierra Club, was America’s great alpinist of the prewar years, pioneering dozens of routes from the valley floor (often in the company of Ansel Adams, whose still camera was the Imax of his day). Before them, there was John Muir, who in the late 1800s invented the grammar and vocabulary of wilderness during one ecstatic summer in the high Sierra. (Redford, founder of the Sundance Film Festival, is currently developing a movie about Muir for HBO, which he will direct.)
Like the great conservationists, Redford keeps an eye on the status of the parks. “Even in the ’40s and ’50s you could sense things were going to change. Development was increasing, tourism was increasing. And none of it is helped by the structure of Congress, all the partisan fighting. The right has such antiquated ideas—if they took charge, I think they’d want to close the parks, open the land up for development. It’s an ongoing battle to keep the parks strong.”
A battle, Redford insists, that’s well worth fighting: “It may be that those are the only places where new generations can see nature as it once was.” For many, he says, he hopes the Imax screen will be like the highway overlook of his boyhood: a way to make people want to be in that amazing landscape.
National Parks Adventure can be seen at Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Purchase tickets here. |
Well, I do feel a bit peckish: Don't Starve heading to iPad this week By Dave Neumann
This is why we can't have nice things.
is one of the first games that I can remember Owen actively pining for . Pining so much that he begged Pocket Tactics readers to swamp Klei Entertainment's Twitter feed with requests for a tablet version. Well, it must have worked because Klei released a trailer today showing Don't Starve on an iPad 4, and it looks marvelous. It's not all just pretty pictures, however, Don't Starve is coming to iPad and it's happening tomorrow night.If you're not aware, Don't Starve has been around on PC/Mac since 2013 and quickly became one of the most acclaimed indie games out there. Your character has been whisked away to a random world with no instructions and nothing to do but survive. It sounds easier than it is. In other words, you'll die a lot. The game involves a ton of exploration, but the fun part is the experimenting and crafting of tools to aid your survival. It's a bit like Minecraft, but with an Edward Gorey aesthetic.The version coming to the iPad tomorrow will be the full game, including the Reign of Giants expansion, and will cost $5.iPad trailer after the break. |
Terrorists with the Islamic State say that when 2015 wraps, they’ll have an estimated $250 million left over from their $2 billion budget — and that the extra money will go to help fund their war against the West and western allies.
The group’s representatives said in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that their $2 billion budget includes money for the poor, the disabled and for families of those who were killed during combat-related airstrikes from Iraqi fighters and U.S. soldiers. But plenty will be left over — and with that, the group has big plans to fund its fighting, United Press International reported.
At the same time, the Islamic State announced the opening of its own bank. Called the Islamic Bank, the operation actually makes loans, takes in deposits and exchanges, and replaces paper currencies that are no longer accepted or that are worn out, UPI said.
The Islamic State gets it money from oil, from raided weaponry sales and from taxes it imposes on various businesses and merchants, UPI said.
Fouad Ali, who studies armed resistance groups in Iraq, told the local news outlet that the projected $2 billion budget may actually be understated, but that the announcement of the bank and the budget may be little more than a propaganda tool to boost the credibility of the terrorist group.
Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission. |
France has overtook the United States, which topped the ranking last year but fell to third after Donald Trump was elected president | Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images Macron’s France takes ‘top softie’ crown from Trump’s US Brexit, Trump harmed UK, US global standing, report finds.
France is this year's top soft power, according to a report published Tuesday.
The Soft Power 30, published by PR firm Portland Communications, ranks countries on their exercise of soft power — the ability to influence others through attraction and likability rather than coercion.
France overtook the United States, which topped the ranking last year but fell to third after Donald Trump was elected president.
"Trump's 'America First' doctrine has played poorly abroad, alienating allies, and damaging links with the rest of the world," according to the report.
The U.K., which was at the top of the rankings two years ago, took a hit to its reputation and dropped to second place after its decision to leave the European Union in 2016, according to the report. It remained in second place in 2017. Germany and Canada rounded up the top five.
"France's soft power has no doubt seen a boost with the defeat of the National Front and election of its youngest ever president, Emmanuel Macron," the authors of the report stated.
According to the report, France is likely to play a greater leadership role not just in European affairs, but globally.
"The threat of terrorism has not stopped tourists flocking to France and enjoying its rich cultural offering, cuisine, and lifestyle — France’s restaurant scene is unrivalled, its film sector continues to flourish, and its museums and galleries are some of the most visited in the world," the report said. |
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/why-do-girls-date/5154ae1878c90a511200016b
As glad as I am to see George from 3rd Millenium Man grab the manopshere colors and go to the front lines, I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed with this. Roosh has predicted 2013 will be the year the manosphere goes mainstream, but my concern is less about the exposure and more about the representation. The MSM is the feminine imperative.
I understand the host here is contracted to the Huff-Po so the context begins in terms of what entertains women’s need for indignation. No indignation, no audience. George is hamstrung from the outset: we have the ubiquitous 50+, “I’m ok with the beta provider I married after fucking my spell of bad boys and learned my lesson so you gals should learn from my mistakes” woman (aka the Aunt Giggles, Kay Hymowitz archetype). Next we have the prerequisite “clinical psychologist” who looks like one of the mothers on Dance Moms, and rattles off the feel good humanist psychology truisms clichéd in the 1990’s. After that we have Nathan the self-identified White Knight who’s only purpose is to bolster both women’s feeble positions to better identify with any woman in the hopes that she might be watching and, God willing, anonymously seek him out to potentially hook up with him for being such a team player.
That’s a tough cast to work with so I will commend George on his effort, however, his dropping the ball here is less about his grasp of red-pill wisdom (I know and read his blog regularly), and more about the context that the MSM will allow the manosphere to be represented in. Learn this now red-pill literati before you venture into the MSM – the feminine imperative will gladly make you the red meat for the indignation that sells their advertising to women.
As I said, Roosh predicts that the manosphere will surface in the MSM this year, and I will concur, the manosphere will come to the attention of the greater whole of western society, but don’t think for minute it will be for the positive. With any luck it will reach out to a few blue pill men ready to realize the truth, but my trepidation is about the overall image the manosphere will be molded to by the Feminine Imperative. Men are simply not allowed to have any legitimate insight into intergender dynamics – as I’m sure George is realizing now. In girl-world, women are the sole arbiters of relationship wisdoms – men are simply foils for their legitimacy, even in the best of pretenses.
I don’t write too much specifically about the manosphere with good reason – the ‘enlightenment’ is still evolving. As I’ve been quoted many times before, unplugging guys from the Matrix is dirty work. It’s triage, and the greater majority of men aren’t ready or even in a mental position to be unplugged when you’re in a personal, one-on-one context. So when you extrapolate that to a larger context it’s easy to see how the feminine imperative will readily use men’s default lack of legitimacy for its own purpose. The greatest Threat to the Feminine Imperative is men becoming self-aware of their own sexual market value and the dissemination of information about how the imperative uses this lack of awareness to perpetuate itself.
The first recourse to prevent this is male-specific ridicule and derision for even attempting to explain the social constructs of the feminine imperative.
In a large public forum like this Huff-Po video we don’t see the underlying feminine social urgency and anxiety about men becoming aware of the mechanisms of the feminine imperative because for decades women’s unknowability has become synonymous with the feminine mystique. So it’s made laughable by default that any man would have a legitimate understanding of women – they are just unknowable, so men’s perspectives and insight about the psychology of women starts from a position of ridicule, even when it patronizingly agrees with women’s perspectives.
But underneath the Dance Mom psychological snark, underneath the accusatory tones 50+ woman uses to burn interview time, underneath the attempts at hopeful beta white knight feminine identification, even in the overall context the host uses to broach the topic, red pill men can see the nervous tension of the possibility of the rational exposure of the underpinnings of the feminine imperative.
When you’re in an isolated social setting, it’s a dangerous topic to venture into – like religion or politics – but you can make an effort without too much social repercussion. You can speak red pill truth and endure the wrath of women (who’ll likely fuck you after the fact) and white knights, but you’ll make a point. You may even open the eyes of a few men. However, the larger, meta-scale feminine narrative will use and distort your red pill awareness to make advertisers rich.
Women sustain themselves on indignation and nothing stimulates that better than a man who publicly declares he knows how women think. The Atlantic has made a very profitable business model for a dying form of media based solely upon this feminine-satisfying indignation. This host, the Huff-Po, are simply following the model. So yes, Roosh is right, the manosphere will go mainstream this year, to the overwhelming adulation of the media that’s discovered this type of feminine imperative indignation is extremely profitable.
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The New York Times · Tuesday, October 25th, 1904
Subject to Alteration After the Celebration Is Over.
JOHN B. MCDONALD TO SPEAK
Was Asked To, Anyway, Mr. Orr Says--Police Getting Ready for a Big Crush.
The schedule of trains in the rapid transit subway for the first days of operation has been arranged as follows:
LOCAL TRAINS, FIVE CARS EACH. 5:30 A.M. to 12 midnight, three-minute headway. 12 midnight to 5:30 A.M., from five to ten minute headway.
EXPRESS TRAINS, EIGHT CARS EACH. 6:30 to 7 A.M. five-minute headway. 7 to 9:30 A.M., four-minute headway. 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M., varying from five to ten minute headway, the trains running most infrequently about noon time. 2:30 to 4:30 P.M., five-minute headway. 4:80 to 8 P.M., four-minute headway. 8 P.M. to 12 midnight, five and six minute headway, 12 midnight to 6:30 A.M. no express trains at all.
This schedule is subject to alteration at any time. General Manager Frank Hedley said when he was asked about time-table plans:
"Nobody knows how many people are going to patronize the road. I wish some one would tell me, so that I might know how to fix a permanent schedule. We shall be prepared to increase the number of trains to suit the demand. If it is necessary, we'll run them on a one-minute headway."
The express stations are at the Brooklyn Bridge, Fourteenth Street and Fourth Avenue, Forty-second Street and Park Avenue, Seventy-second Street and Broadway, and Ninety-sixth Street and Broadway. The last down-town express will leave Ninety-sixth Street at 11:30 P.M., and when it has completed its round-trip the express service for the day will be at an end.
The Opening Celebration. Commissioners Alexander E. Orr, Woodbury Langdon, and John M. Starin and Deputy Controller Stevenson, representing Controller Grout, met yesterday afternoon as a Celebration Committee of the Rapid Transit Board.
After the session Mr. Orr announced that Bishop Potter had been unable to accept the invitation to say the opening prayer. and that Coadjutor Bishop David H. Greer had agreed to take his place. The formal speeches at the opening in the Aldermanic Chamber of the City Hall on Thursday will be made by Mayor McClellan, Commissioner Orr, and Commissioner Starin. The Mayor, as presiding official, will call for informal talks from John B. McDonald, the contractor; August Belmont, President of the construction and operating companies, and William Barclay Parsons, chief engineer of the commission and designer of the subway. Others may speak extemporaneously.
The exercises in the City Hall are to begin at 1 P.M. After they are ended the special guests invited to take the first train will walk to the loop station under City Hall Park. The train, seating 250 passengers, will make a return trip to One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street and Broadway. By the time it has got a good start on the upward journey other trains for holders of invitations will be started. Until 6 P.M. the road is to be operated solely for the benefit of holders of these passes, the trains running on regular schedule according to the table given above. The invitations are good at any station.
Between 6 and 7 P.M. there will be an interval during which the company's officials will see that everything is ready for regular traffic, make any schedule changes that appear necessary, see that the stations are all properly manned, and make such other finishing touches as are desired. Promptly at 7 o'clock the agents from City Hall Park to One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street and Broadway will begin to sell tickets at 5 cents each.
Invitations to the opening have been sent out, and up to date President Orr has received many acceptances but not one refusal. He has not had time to hear from President Roosevelt or the other Federal officials, who received their invitations only yesterday. It is expected that some of them will accept.
McDonald To Speak, Anyway. At the meeting of the Celebration Committee, President Orr made public a letter he had received from Contractor John B. McDonald, who contradicted the published statements that he had not been invited to speak at the opening. He explained that he had been asked, but had refused on the ground that he was no speechmaker, adding that he was on the best of terms with the commission.
"As soon as I saw this report about friction over Mr. McDonald," said Mr. Orr at his office in the Produce Exchange, "I wrote to the contractor to say I knew of no such trouble. His letter is a reply to mine. As a matter of fact, our Celebration Committee invited Mr. McDonald to attend its meeting last week, and he was there. I said to him: 'Mr. Contractor, you certainly must be one of the speakers.' The other committeemen said the same, but he replied: 'Oh, you know I can't make a speech.' Then I said: 'Well, it doesn't make any difference whether you promise to talk or not, for we're going to call on you, anyway.'
"And we surely will call on him," added Mr. Orr. "Of course, he must say something, even. if it's only a few words. Mr. Belmont and Mr. Parsons, too, are to be called on. There may be other details arranged later, but the programme as it stands includes those three gentlemen, besides the Mayor, Mr. Starin, and myself."
When Mr. McDonald was asked yesterday what he had to say about the recently disputed question, "Who built the subway?" he replied:
"I'm sure I can't say, and I'm not going to engage in any controversy on the subject. A few years ago the public regarded subway building in this city as impracticable. After I had studied the subject, I decided that the public was wrong and undertook the job. The difficulties I found were great. They have been overcome, and the tunnel problem is solved for New York. I claim no special credit, except what may attach to the completion of what has been sometimes called my contract. The public is the chief beneficiary, and it must decide who is entitled to credit."
The contractor said he had not been slighted by the Rapid Transit Board, for he had declined an offer to make a speech.
William Barclay Parsons, Chief Engineer, was asked What was his view on "who built the subway?" He was reminded that Mr. Belmont said the credit was due to the Chief Engineer.
"Glory Enough For All." "Well," answered Mr. Parsons, "I guess there's glory enough for us all. The great thing is that the subway is built."
Alderman Grifenhagen appeared before the Celebration Committee and broached anew his plan of breaking a bottle of native champagne over the front of the first subway train. Mayor McClellan, however. vetoed the plan.
After a conference between the police officials and the Interborough Company's officers yesterday, the policing of the subway line on Thursday was placed in Chief Inspector Cortright's charge.
"Every policeman in the city will be on duty that day." said Commissioner McAdoo.
He said the extra detail for guarding the stations would be about 1,500 strong. Five hundred patrolmen will be in the City Hall Park. At each stairway of every station from City Hall to One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street will be two policemen, and there will be from five to fifteen inside each station. The city has sent out 500 invitations, and the Interborough Company 5,000, each of the cards admitting three persons, so that Commissioner McAdoo calculates the number of invited guests at more than 15,000. In addition to big city crowds, he will be ready to handle many who are coming to town on excursion trains.
The trial trains continued to run in the subway yesterday, and at times they were lees than five minutes apart. There was one accident on the line. August Heldelman, twenty years old, an electrician, of 271 West Sixty-third Street, was badly burned and may lose the sight of one eye as a result of the blowing out of a fuse in the block signal apparatus south of Bleecker Street, and his assistant, Herbert Endall of 226 West Sixtieth Street, suffered slight burns and a bruised forehead. Both of them were thrown violently across the trackbed. They were taken to St. Vincent's Hospital. |
The only thing better than seeing a local boy done good is seeing him play a free concert. And that is exactly what will happen August 29 when Dashboard Confessional plays a free show at the Fillmore courtesy of Billboard and Ford.
For those unfamiliar with Dashboard Confessional, the emo-rock band got its start as a side project for Chris Carrabba when he was living in Boca Raton and singing for the group Further Seems Forever. Dashboard Confessional quickly became Carrabba's full-time focus when the band's albums began selling in the millions, with two of those records peaking at number two on the Billboard charts. Carrabba, in an interview with New Times earlier this year, credited his South Florida upbringing for his success. "My mom moving her teenage son to Florida was the luckiest break I had. I was embraced by a music scene," he said humbly. "We built a community. We would drive from Port St. Lucie to Homestead to see bands and to play music."
In the same interview Carrabba said Dashboard was hard at work on a seventh full length album, their first since 2009, but unfortunately six months later there still has been no release date announced. Their admirers have been somewhat placated by the release of a four song EP of cover songs titled appropriately Covered and Taped where they put their own spin on tracks originated by Julien Baker, The 1975, Sorority Noise, and perhaps most surprisingly. Justin Bieber. The process was so fun for Carrabba that he hinted he might make a whole series of Covered and Taped EP's. |
Chris Brown has been denied entry into Australia over his history of domestic violence.
On Friday, after mounting pressure from anti-domestic violence advocates, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton indicated that the singer might be barred from entering the country on “character grounds”.
In 2009, Brown offered a guilty plea to a charge of felony assault, after he viciously attacked then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving her with facial injuries that required hospitalisation. He was sentenced to five years’ probation in relation to the crime.
Over the weekend, the singer was issued with a notice of intent to refuse him a visa to enter Australia, in line with the Migration Act, which allows the government to bar individuals with a “substantial criminal record.”
Tickets for Brown’s Australian shows were due to go on sale tomorrow – he currently has the option to challenge the notice, or withdraw his application to come to Australia, and cancel said shows, which are scheduled for December.
Minister For Women Michaelia Cash spoke out about Brown while his application was still being considered, saying:
“People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world there are going to be countries that say to you ‘You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia’.”
via Fairfax
Photo: Moses Robinson via Getty Images |
CLOSE Sharon Helman, director of the Phoenix VA hospital, was fired Monday, six months after being suspended in connection with a scandal over mismanagement and delayed care for veterans.
Sharon Helman, medical center director, reacts to allegations during an interview at the Phoenix VA Medical Center in Phoenix April 22, 2014. (Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic) Story Highlights Congress is pressing the VA to fire or discipline incompetent and corrupt executives.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema blasted VA over suspended bosses collecting pay while "at home eating bonbons."
The chairman of the House VA Committee decries VA's "pathological aversion" to providing information.
Former Phoenix VA Health Care System Director Sharon Helman is suing in federal court to get her job back, but the Department of Veterans Affairs argues she will have to overcome a law written specifically to bar such appeals.
In a one-page petition, Helman's attorneys asked the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., to review an administrative-law judge's decision that upheld Helman's firing. Neither that filing nor follow-up materials in the court docket explain the grounds for her appeal.
However, a response filed April 27 by the VA argues that the request should be thrown out.
It says the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 was drafted by Congress in part to expedite the firing of VA executives for misconduct or negligence, and includes a provision that chief administrative judge rulings are "final and shall not be subject to any further appeal."
The VA also contends that, even if the court ignores that provision of law and accepts the case, Helman's appeal is moot because it was filed after a 60-day deadline imposed by statute.
In an e-mail statement, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, told The Arizona Republic: "I think Sharon Helman's arguments will be about as successful in a court of law as they were in the court of public opinion. Nevertheless, I still have serious concerns about the overwhelming lack of accountability at VA in the wake of the biggest scandal in the department's history."
In response to inquiries, a VA spokeswoman noted that, since last June, 91 percent of the department's medical facilities have new leaders or leadership teams.
Helman has rejected interview requests since she was suspended last May amid a nationwide VA health-care controversy. Her attorney, Debra Roth, did not respond to e-mail or phone messages Tuesday.
Helman became a central figure in the veterans' health-care crisis after physicians and patients at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center complained about delayed appointments and a fraudulent record-keeping system.
RELATED: A year later: VA struggles to improve care nationwide
INVESTIGATION: VA in crisis
Helman and two other Phoenix administrators — Associate Director Lance Robinson and Health Administration Systems chief Brad Curry — were placed on administrative leave a year ago pending investigations.
The VA Office of Inspector General ultimately found that the Phoenix VA hospital, and at least 109 other veterans health-care facilities, were providing untimely care and manipulating appointment data.
The OIG report concluded that Helman, who was paid $169,000 a year plus bonuses, knew of falsified statistics and received extra pay based on performance evaluations touting those numbers.
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The VA has sought to retrieve a $9,080 bonus received in 2014. Helman is contesting that action as well in a separate administrative case that has not concluded.
RELATED: Arizona cases among unreleased VA investigations
Meanwhile, Helman was subjected to an internal investigation and fired on Nov. 24 for lack of oversight, whistleblower retaliation and failure to report gifts.
Helman appealed that decision to the Merit Systems Protection Board, claiming her due-process rights were violated and disputing the allegations.
In December, Chief Administrative Judge Stephen Mish threw out most charges against Helman related to fraudulent wait times and whistleblower reprisal, saying they were based on unproven hearsay.
In a news release at the time, Helman's lawyers said VA officials used their client as a scapegoat.
"Sharon Helman did not kill veterans," they wrote. "Sharon Helman did not manipulate wait-time data. The VA's preferred story line has been proven a fabrication ..."
However, in that same ruling, Mish upheld Helman's termination based upon the inappropriate gifts.
According to investigative records, Helman accepted a family vacation to Disneyland, concert tickets and thousands of dollars in other perks from Dennis "Max" Lewis, a lobbyist who had previously been a VA administrator and her boss.
Those gifts were not reported as required on financial-disclosure forms.
The feud over Helman's fate is part of a larger, national controversy about the VA's ability to hold employees accountable for misconduct.
Members of Congress have hammered VA Secretary Robert McDonald for months about the failure to fire corrupt and incompetent employees.
The passage of more than a year without disciplinary decisions for Robinson and Curry also has been a key issue.
VA leaders did not launch an internal investigation of their conduct until late 2014. That inquiry was halted and restructured after revelations that at least one investigator had been discredited in Mish's Merit Systems decision.
A new panel convened weeks ago and has been conducting interviews, but the investigation apparently remains open.
Meanwhile, Robinson and Curry have been paid more than $250,000 while at home under suspension, according to federal records.
Congressional outrage was compounded early this year when McDonald claimed in a television interview that the VA had fired 60 employees for wait-time manipulations.
Subsequent analyses of VA records by Miller's committee showed only eight were disciplined in connection with the scandal, and not one was fired for falsifying data.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who last week joined Miller in sponsoring new legislation that would hold corrupt and incompetent VA employees accountable, expressed disgust with the department's failure to compel integrity and performance standards.
"It's now been over a year and these two (Robinson and Curry) are on paid administrative leave," she told The Republic. "That's ridiculous. They've been sitting at home eating bonbons getting paid — and they've done jack.
"Every time I talk to the secretary, I'm like, 'Why have you not fired more people?' ... And the secretary says, 'Well, the process is very long and there's due process, there's all these steps, blah, blah, blah.' "
Referring to the newly proposed VA Accountability Act, Sinema added, "It's bipartisan, and I feel like we're going to be able to get it through the House and I think we can get it through the Senate, too. So that's my new big VA project. We keep hearing excuses from the VA about why they haven't taken action on these cases after — for crying out loud — a year. We're going to help them along."
Miller also excoriated the department: "VA has not successfully fired any employees at all for wait-time manipulation," he wrote. "At the epicenter of the scandal in Phoenix, two facility leaders have been on paid leave since May of 2014. This is precisely the type of situation that makes the average citizen lose faith in their government ..."
Late last month, Miller's panel unanimously voted to subpoena VA records. It was only the third House committee subpoena to the department ever.
McDonald objected in a letter to Miller, claiming that the VA strives to cooperate with congressional oversight and complaining that the committee's staff has released some documents to the press.
In a blistering response, Miller noted that the subpoena was approved unanimously by Democrats and Republicans.
He cited numerous instances of "mismanagement, malfeasance and dishonesty" from the VA. Among the listed examples: McDonald's statement that 60 employees were fired, and assertions by other VA officials last year that there were no wait-time manipulations or secret appointment lists in Phoenix.
"One can only wonder what the situation at VA would be like today if we had simply believed the VA officials," Miller wrote. "... The department's continuing and pathological aversion to provide prompt, complete and accurate responses to our requests can only be judged as an attempt to cover up bad information."
Republic reporter Paul Giblin contributed to this article.
Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/1ADT4Zm |
Web Programming in Haskell, Part II Rethinking the Structure of Web Applications by Paul Callaghan
Paul continues his deep dive into the Haskell language and functional programming with a look at Web frameworks for Haskell.
Last issue, Paul began an exploration of Web programming in the Haskell language with Fay, a CoffeeScript analog for Haskell. This time out, he begins the journey into Haskell frameworks.
Rails Is Not Your Application
Before we jump into concrete details of existing Haskell web frameworks, I want to pause to consider the wider picture of how web apps can be structured and developed.
Many frameworks, like Rails, are some variation on MVC and share certain standard components. Are you happy using these? or do you have some sneaking suspicion that it can still be easier or simpler? I’m sure we can do better.
There are several motivations for wanting to explore such issues. Firstly, I think it’s fair to say there is some dissatisfaction in various communities about the maintainability of code, as reflected by the number of talks in recent conferences about different architectural approaches like hexagons and DCI. Secondly, a slight annoyance at needing to do things like check that my routes file matches my controllers etc., and having too many framework details mixed up with business logic. Thirdly, I want to see where taking a top-down functional approach gets me. It may deliver me exactly where newer frameworks are heading, but it should still be an interesting exercise and promote deeper understanding of the issues.
An important slogan for me is “Rails is not your application.” This phrase comes from Nick Henry in the middle of 2011. It began as a tweet, as many great pieces of wisdom do, and subsequently has been expanded into a blog post—and taken up by other people.
There’s no strong consensus on answers yet—we’re still exploring—though it seems clear that more separation is needed between the facilities provided by Rails and the real business logic of the app. For example, domain models shouldn’t always be subclasses of Active Record and could instead be users of services provided by Rails components. Some interesting further discussion can be found on Nick Henry’s blog page.
From a strategic aspect, I’ll be asking whether we can streamline the building of web apps, leveraging the language facilities to reduce or remove certain of the weak points in current practices.
For example, I’ve never been keen on the separation of routes from controllers: it feels like having related information distributed over different files, with the ever-present risk of getting the two out of sync, or else having to ensure that your tests are strong enough to catch any mismatches—and I don’t accept that it has to be this way. Phenomena like this represent possible failure points, and it’s a good technique in programming to try to eliminate or control such potential failures. If you want a simpler example, consider looping through a list to compute some result—do you write an explicit for-loop or do you instead use a higher order function? The latter has fewer moving parts....
In general, we’ll often ask the question: what do we actually need, and can we express it in a straightforward and safe way? There are also some elements of BDD-ish thinking here too: for example, we’ll be asking “What’s the simplest thing that would work,” without committing ourselves to an existing framework.
Let’s consider the questions in the context of a concrete application as a guard against getting too abstract, and as a source of examples. How about this: a distributed to-do list tool, which allows users to maintain a set of lists, add and remove items from a list, and mark items as completed, maybe with some advanced features like sharing a list between several users. This is something of a test application for several Javascript front-end libraries, too.
Finally, don’t expect too many answers in this article. My main goal is to ask the questions and see what your response is!
Towards a Functional Approach
We’re going to put data first, over process or tradition, and see where it leads us.
Firstly, the bits we can’t easily change—the Http protocol and how it is used by browsers. Browsers make requests to a host with a certain path string and maybe some parameters. Typically, they will also submit session information too. The expectation is that the server will return some text or Html for rendering, or possibly some javascript code to execute. (Let’s ignore static things like images for now.)
Somehow, the app on server will decode the request into something more structured, run some code, and then return a piece of text. Typewise, we can start thinking of String -> String for the type of the transaction, or being a bit more precise or informative with Request -> Response, where Request represents a path and parameters with the relevant Http verb (eg GET, DELETE etc.), and Response can contain various bits of meta-information like mime type in addition to the raw response.
Html is (or is generally intended to be) stateless, and this is reflected well in the simple type above.
However, session information can sometimes muddy the water and make the requests context dependent. For example, it could depend on whether someone is logged in or not. There will also be real-world side effects: doing a DELETE of some resource will affect the outcome of any GET of the same later. A simple way to encode this context dependency is to refine our type to (Sessionable server, Monad server) => Request -> server Response, that is, explicitly requiring the transaction (well, the generation of some response given a request) to be a monadic action and following the usual monad rules and conventions, plus supporting various session operations.
(Note that I’m not committing to a particular monad instance yet—just in vague terms signalling that I intend to use the wider general monad api or framework.)
We should also consider the component that sits between the screen and the chair, the not always perfect user. What’s their type? Ideally they would be Response -> Request, turning server responses into new requests, by processing the information returned and then deciding what to do about it. We should allow some more leeway, though, and let them be monadic too, since side-effects may influence how they act. So let’s give them a potential type of Monad b => Response -> b Request. There may be some unpredictable elements of user behavior too, but we can hide those away in a monad as well(!).
The First Big Question
From the outside, we can conceive of the complete web app as having a type of (Sessionable a, Monad a) => Request -> a Response. What’s inside this monadic function? That is, how does the web-oriented machinery link up with the underlying business app?
Following the “Rails is not your application” idea, we can ask a very important question: can the business application be entirely separated from the web details? I’m going to assume for now that the answer is yes. Does anyone think this is controversial?
It may be that we find aspects of the business app that are hard to divorce from its web presentation, but this for me is a prompt to look for new ways to structure those aspects to reduce the coupling.
Anyway, I’m going to assume that the two are separable, and furthermore that we can structure the web side of the overall application as a wrapper around the core business app.
This begs the question, what does the underlying non-web app look like? I would hope to see data types corresponding to domain concepts, and code that allows business-oriented processing of elements of those types. We could use the code in a REPL to perform certain tasks, as for the running example, to create a list for a user and manipulate the entries in the list.
What’s missing? Clearly it’s not convenient to use, so we would like to add some structure to the interaction side, and eventually to make it look nice and be pleasant to use. The first aspect is fairly independent of whether we’re aiming eventually at a web app, in the sense of it being useful for a stand-alone desktop app as well. The second part is clearly more in the web domain.
Database Aspects
Let’s get this out of the way early. It is a massive topic, where a lot of work has already been done, though one which we should try to disentangle from the business logic. Web apps typically need some kind of persistent storage, firstly to store data between processing of discrete requests, and secondly because the app will typically run as a distributed system on multiple physical servers. But what does the business app actually need? What’s the simplest thing that would work?
Mainly, what we want is a collection of ways to create new data, retrieve it, and modify or delete it. Most of the time, it doesn’t matter what is handling these operations, so that’s a dependency we should try to abstract out. We’ll also need a way to ensure that destructive updates are done in the right order, so monads might be a useful thing to use here too.
We might try something like this: a type class Storage that provides basic storage facilities for data that is serializable (or mappable to some database representation), using globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) to reference particular data. The “store” operation might also want to check for validity of the data before saving it, though an alternative way is to design the business types so that invalid data is excluded from the types (simple example: that 123 would be rejected as a String). A sub-class could provide more powerful search facilities, taking some collection of predicates on some type and returning a list of GUIDs of the objects found. (Note that GUID type has one parameter: this will help to distinguish GUIDs for one type from those of another type, and so help to prevent a GUID for one record type being used to retrieve another. In contrast, most frameworks just use unprotected integers for their GUIDs.)
class Monad s => Storage s where store :: (Serializable a, Validateable a) => a -> s (GUID a) fetch :: Serializable a => GUID a -> s a delete :: GUID a -> s () class Monad s => Searchable s where search :: [PredsOn a] -> s [GUID a]
I envisage these storage facilities being used outside of the core business app, thus being used to store data that is computed by core functions, or to retrieve data that is used in core functions. Until proved otherwise, I’d like to keep this separation strict, and hence keep the business logic as simple as possible.
Identifying the Interactions
Let’s return to the question of how to convert the types and functions on the domain objects into a recognizable application, by considering what extra we have to add to make an application. One approach is to recognize that we’re wanting to construct various user stories and common tasks out of the basic domain operations. For example, allowing a user to create a new list with a name, and to have it saved if valid.
Consider though, that there are certain stories we want to support, and some combination of actions that we do not. You might be thinking that we can use tests as a way to start distinguishing what is allowed and what isn’t, but we can be more functional here. What about representing this in types?
One possibility is to encode allowed actions as a set of values in some type, for example the simple set of actions:
data UserAction = CreateList { list_name :: String } | TickList (GUID List) | DeleteList (GUID List) | ...
Remember a key point of (modern) FP: that types are cheap—easy to create and use—so if it helps our programming to introduce a type, it’s a technique well worth considering.
Another thought is that the application interface, or the interaction that the user has with the application, is not just a random collection of stuff: there is some kind of structure there, for example indicating what is allowed and what isn’t, and we should look to exploit this structure rather than let it be implicit in the documentation or in the tests. (Notice: it’s another example of trying to use the language to lift the level of the programming, turning the implicit into explicit and so to reduce potential failure points.)
You might also consider the interaction as being carried out in some kind of “formal language” or structured game, where some sentences or moves are ok and others are invalid or highly inappropriate(!).
Once we’ve managed to encode the interaction in some concrete way, the next step is to write an “interpreter” for it that will turn the user’s requests into operations on the business concepts, that is, it will “run” the requests.
You can probably have a similar setup on the other side, namely a set of interactions that the system will need to have with the user. For example, reporting successful creation of a named list, or showing a list of results after some search query. Note also that several types will be needed to represent the interactions, such as representing certain modalities or contexts, like certain operations only being valid in certain states. You might consider it as a hierarchical structure of interactions, like the top level of the tree allowing the “big” operations like creating or selecting a list, with a structure under the latter indicating what can be done once the list has been selected.
To recap, since this might be a strange idea for some and it’s a key part in what I’m suggesting: we should attempt to capture what kind of interactions or operations the user can have with the application by representing them via various mechanisms in the language, such as new datatypes, and to link these representations to the underlying business logic via techniques like interpretation. The point is to encode structure where we can, with a view to exploiting it for clear code and to avoid failures.
Navigation and Routing
By navigation, I mean meaningful moves around the application’s interface, typically from a certain context to relevant or useful functionality. In our running example, like from the display of a given list to either back to viewing all lists or to being able to edit the list, or even to deleting it. Effectively, this means identifying which interface actions are relevant or useful to the current action, and this is easily represented in code.
This brings us nicely to the issue of routing. Traditional frameworks identify various formats of Http path and map them to calls of certain code, usually methods inside certain controllers. There are various potential points of failure here, such as the routes spec not matching up with the controllers, or mismatches between parameters extracted from the route versus those expected in the controller. It’s a bit boring having to test this if we can do better.
What do we actually need, though? Basically, we want to map a string from an Http request into an invocation of certain code. But where do these strings come from? Typically, they come from the routes spec being used in reverse, where some view or controller code references a high-level name for a certain piece of functionality. This does the job, mostly, of ensuring that the relevant functionality is called.
How about a different idea: it doesn’t really matter what string is generated, as long as it gets resolved to the right call in the end! That is, the path string just needs to contain enough information to ensure the relevant interface action is executed, and nothing else. (We could also encrypt whatever representation we use, if we want extra confidence.) What information do we need to include? One possibility is just some encoding of the actual interface operation the link represents, like some element of the UserAction type above.
We probably also need some context information too; for example, if working on a selected list then we need to know which list. Here’s a very useful FP concept that works well here: the Zipper. It’s an idea due to Gerard Huet that has been around for most of my lifetime. It helps with traversal and editing of functional data structures by representing a kind of cursor for where one is in a data structure, together with information for reconstructing the value after traversal. As a simple example, if one has traversed a binary tree from the root node by following left, right, right, then the zipper structure for the tree will contain the current subtree plus information for reconstructing the tree already traversed. The zipper concept can be applied to many types, demonstrated by my great friend Dr Conor McBride as the operation of taking the derivative of a datatype (yes: the concept from calculus). See this early draft for a good introduction.
So, the suggestion is for each “path” in the system to be some encoding of the corresponding “state” of the interface. No separate routes file required!
Controllers and Views
If we can (it seems) dispense with routes, then what happens with controllers? Mostly, they will be subsumed into the interpreters for the interface actions, and so play a lesser role than in current frameworks. I would hope that much of the code seen in controllers—particularly the boilerplate code for decoding parameters, updating models and checking the results of saves—will mostly be abstracted away, possibly replaced by calls to suitably overloaded library code.
We still need views, though. These will be the main way of rendering domain concepts into Html or related formats, though their use might change. I would like to see most of the rendering work done with visibly pure functions (obviously no side effects, so 100% cosmetic), preferably called through a single overloaded function. That is, all viewable things should implement the member functions of an interface like the following for standard rendering of their data, analogously to the Show class for rendering to strings.
(The Html type will be provided by one of Haskell’s several libraries for Html, such as Blaze. See last month’s article for some examples of the cool features of Blaze.)
class Htmlable a where to_html :: a -> Html
Sometimes more control is needed, for example rendering of some thing might be needed in two different contexts, with different rules. There are several options, including a subclass that takes additional context information, like this:
class Htmlable a => HtmlableWithContext c a where to_html_c :: c -> a -> Html
or we could wrap up our basic values into more complex types and get finer control via the more complex type’s instance definition, for (a contrived) example, to prefix the rendering of a value wrapped with strong tags with a number of stars, where we would call
to_html (Stars "foo" 3)
to get 3 stars in front of
<strong>foo</strong>
data Stars a = Stars { value :: a, num_stars :: Int } instance Htmlable a => Htmlable (Stars a) where to_html (Stars v n) = text (take n $ repeat '*') <+> strong (to_html a)
Similarly, we can control rendering of collections by wrapping them in a different type, where the type’s instance applies the relevant rendering of the container.
data Unordered a = Unordered { collection :: [a] } instance Htmlable a => Htmlable (Unordered a) where to_html (Unordered xs) = ul << map (li . to_html) xs
Notice: we’re using types again (as wrappers) to represent the concepts we want, rather than passing around some ad hoc flags, and this can help to ensure consistency and avoid silly mistakes. As a final example, we can use a similar mechanism to define table formats, perhaps storing a list of values together with a list of (column title, extraction function) pairs that control how the columns are rendered. The extraction functions could themselves return Htmlable values so that relevant rendering of links or plain data can be handled.
Forms and Updates
This is one of the parts of Rails that make me nervous, particularly when a form should only update part of an object. All that hassle with protected fields, nested attributes, etc.
In light of the previous discussion, my suggestion is to capture the relevant user story as part of the app’s interface description (that is, as a type), and generate the form and the handling code from this. So in the context of viewing a certain list, if (say) we wanted to edit its title and date, then the interface description would contain this as a possible step for a given list:
... | ChangeTitleAndDate String Date
And the interpreter for this would (depending on context) either yield a form for changing those fields, or perform the relevant update. As with routes, it may be possible to avoid the usual string encoding of fields of nested attributes and use some representation that only the form generator and results receiver need know about. (To recap: the key requirement is that the coding used by the form achieves the desired effect when the form submission is processed. The rest, like human readability, is optional, so we could use quite interesting coding schemes.)
Forms for nested data could be handled by including structured data in the interface representation and adjusting the interpreter, etc.; say the following, which could allow the collection of items attached to the current to-do list to be edited, for example only keeping ones that are ticked.
... | ChangeTitleAndDate String Date [GUID ToDoItem]
In summary, the interface description should explain precisely what should be changing for a given step, from which certain code and html can be generated exactly. Hopefully, this removes a few more potential failure points and reduces reliance on tests.
Final Thoughts
The above may have been a bit of a ramble, but hopefully you saw one or two interesting things along the way. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure when I started where I would end up, but am pretty pleased with the result and it seems to be worth further thought and experimentation.
The key idea here is to capture the possible user actions more clearly as code, in particular here as (hierarchical) types whose elements indicate what users are allowed to do and what kind of things the system will return. In Rails apps, this information is almost always buried under other details, and has to be teased out with a range of tests (with varying degrees of success). I expect other mainstream frameworks have the same issues. So my suggestion is to make these key details more visible and to get the details to work for the programmer, for example helping them to construct the code that provides the functionality. A side-benefit is to identify Huet’s zipper concept as a powerful way to represent a user’s journey through the structure of an application’s interface.
There’s also a corollary to the story, with several hints as to where and how further use of appropriate data types can help to clean up and simplify an app. A key point of these articles is about using data types more fully, and about how modern functional languages make it easier to create and use new datatypes in the service of simpler programs. So the final word is, instead of going for more complex processes, try to tease out the structure of what you are doing and see if any parts of it can be represented in a simpler form as data. It might just work. |
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DC Police Chief: “Marijuana arrests make people hate us”
Marijuana arrests do in fact make people hate cops. My second interaction with a cop ever was for simply possessing a pipe I’d used to smoke marijuana out of. (My first was shortly before that for smoking a cigarette.) I’d been stopped while with a group of friends and all of us had been illegally searched. Obviously, none of us had anything dangerous on us, but that didn’t stop the police from hauling me into the PD and charging me with “possession of drug paraphernalia.” I was 17 years old at the time and although the charge was eventually dismissed, as a 36 year old man, I’m still haunted by that “criminal record” which is easily found by searching my name in WI CCAP system. Despite a majority of US citizens preferring that police spend their time on “real crimes,” there’s too much money to let such a lucrative practice go up in smoke.
Drug Tests for Gas Station Clerks
I came across this video recently. It depicts Waukesha Alderman Aaron Perry and friends (one who appears to need his slippers and a beer) grilling a man over his employment at the local gas station. Despite the fact that selling alcohol to minors already carries substantial criminal and civil penalties and that the gas station itself has a vested interest in hiring people who they feel will comply with said law, the Aldermen decide their committee’s interrogation stands between chaos and order for those purchasing a Snickers bar and a 6 pack of Miller Lite.
On the day we as patriotic Americans commemorate our independence from tyranny, Adam C. was taking part in July 4 festivities in Whitewater, WI. Whitewater is home to UW-WW which means It’s a cash cow for the local police forces.
Adam had locked his keys in his car and at the time, apparently, believed police are here to help and would assist him in unlocking his car door. UW-WW campus officer Hanecamp jimmied opened the car door. “Thank you kind Officer, have a nice day,” Adam C. probably thought. Of course this was just the beginning of what would be a long, expensive, and arduous process for this “offense.” I can only speculate how the highly trained officer convinced Adam C. to let him search the vehicle. What I do know is that by the time Adam was handed off to City of Whitewater PD officer Shawn Reif, he was told he had to pay $1,193 for the discovery of a small amount of pot and a tin foil pipe. According to a public records request, the body cam video of this incident had been purged after 120 days in accordance with policy. (More on Whitewater, WI PD here.)
So now after nothing more than being naive as to the true role of his local police force, and after paying $1,193 in “fines,” and likely coming to terms with the fact that this arrest will effect the rest of his life, Adam is ready to move on. He moves to Waukesha and gets a position at the local Kwik Trip gas station. Little did he know that for such a position, he’d have to stand before this tribunal. It’s laughable what these Aldermen, who are on the taxpayers’ clock, ask Adam before finally signing off on his pursuit of happiness. (I will note that Waukesha Aldermen are not drug tested. Perhaps that should be discussed.)
Waukesha Alderman Aaron Perry hates your Packer Party
We’ve all run into “those people” who want nothing more than to tell you what to do. They impose their will purely because they can. They feel that their decisions, even basic ones such as where you should cross a vacant street, should be uniform and are better for you than your own. This becomes a big deal when their will is backed by a violent and robotic enforcement unit oft referred to as the Police.
As I’ve written before, Waukesha PD has been involved in numerous incidents of brutality, evidence deletion, and just plain bullying. After a recent survey I conducted of about a dozen dash cam/body mic videos I found that around 90% of WPD videos which are supposed to be available are “lost” or corrupted in some manner.
During the summer of last year, shortly after the $300,000 Schroeder settlement was paid, I mounted a campaign to fix the broken dash cam system in our fine city. As a former truck driver, I suggested in a detailed email to Alderman Aaron Perry, Police Chief Russel Jack, and my Alderman Chris Hernandez, a “pre trip/post trip” style inspection conducted by each cop to insure and document their working system. The police policies already dictate cops must make sure their system is working and this would simply put the checks on paper. I spoke for my 3 minutes at a City Council meeting and felt this was an easy fix.
Initially, Alderman Perry was receptive to my ideas, declaring “this type of thing is our job.” For some reason, possibly upon the advice of fellow Alderman Chris Hernandez, Perry later did an about face and stated that City Council can not interfere with the day to day activities of the PD.
But when it comes to the day to day activities of the people, Alderman Aaron Perry is more than happy to interfere. He’s cited here declaring that jacking up city fines will “produce all kinds of reduction in crimes” and bring in $50k in money for his friends. The police Chief supported this idea at a city council meeting, saying that with new “court fees” and “court costs” a $10 citation would magically bring in $73.60. I wonder what the current $606 pot citation would become.
On February 21 Perry rolled out his newest greatest idea of a “Social Host” ordinance. According to an article he linked on his Facebook solicitation for public comment, a special law would be made to target “(as few as) any group of 2 or more persons who have assembled or have gathered together for a social occasion or other activity.” This would apparently be used to target underage college drinking parties by nearby Carroll College students. It’d also be a great opportunity to search “groups” for “weapons (pot)” for “officer safety. It would also ensnare every single Packer Party I’ve been to.
Waukesha PD arrests alleged Domestic Abuse Victim for 1.4 grams of pot
There really is no escaping the war on pot. I’m working on an incredible story of Waukesha police department’s distinguished filth. I won’t go into detail today, as the case is ongoing and would probably take a series of articles to fully explain. In short, a neighbor calls in an “argument” between other neighbors outside. Waukesha cops show up and (after kicking in the door) determine nothing physical occurred, but arrest 1 party for domestic abuse and obstructing (for requesting a lawyer.) The charges are dropped after 14 months, but the alleged victim (listed as victim on pot tickets reports) is arrested for 1.4 grams of weed and 2 glass pipes. That individual was a trial defendant in one of the 210 trials (not plea deals but trials) conducted in Waukesha Municipal “Court” during 2013 and 2014 by Judge Joseph Cook. Every single trial defendant was found guilty in Cook’s court during those years. This persecution happened under the watchful eye of City Attorney Brian Running. The case is being appealed.
Summary
These are just a few examples of the 750,000 pot arrests each year by cops in the USA. These arrests represent just a small fraction of people who actually commit the “crime” of possessing weed. According to a recent poll, about half of Americans have smoked weed. Perhaps not every single one of these people hate cops for arresting pot smokers, but a lot of them do.
Waukesha PD Facebook Page
Alderman Aaron Perry’s Facebook Page
Feel free to check out the new local chapter: Whitewater Area CopBlock
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It’s hard to make a good movie. Many directors that normally make excellent films can sometimes miss the mark. Things happen. What you thought was an excellent script ends up not working. Actors that looked great in rehearsal have zero chemistry on set.
It’s even harder to make a great movie that both audiences and critics love. But that’s what happened when Joe and Anthony Russo made Captain America: The Winter Solider. Not only did the majority of Marvel fans rank the film as one of the best releases by the prolific studio, audiences around the world rewarded the film with their hard earned dollars by almost doubling what Captain America: The First Avenger made ($714 million versus $370 million) at the box office.
However, after seeing Captain America: Civil War, I’m absolutely certain Captain America will final break the billion dollar mark at the worldwide box office because the Russo’s have crafted an incredible movie that audiences and critics are going to love. Loaded with incredible action, a fantastic script, emotional performances, and the perfect introductions of both Spider-Man and Black Panther, Civil War is one of those special films that fans will want to see again and again. Trust me, after you see Civil War you’re going to be even more excited that the Russo’s are helming Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 and Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2.
Shortly after seeing Civil War, I sat down with Joe and Anthoy Russo for a video interview. They talked about their first cut, how they got Chad Stahelski and David Leitch (the directors of John Wick) directing some of the second unit, the editing process and maintaining the tone that manages to balance levity with the drama, the absence of Nick Fury, and more. Check out what they had to say in the video above and here’s my interview with Chris Evans if you missed it.
Anthony & Joe Russo: |
I’ve been wanting this for a while. What happened to the powerhouse Italian SMBs of the 1980s? We’ve known for quite a while that it was productivity, not wages, not hours, not savings that gapped-out between northern and southern Europe in the 2000s. I made the point back in 2011 and again that this is the responsibility of management, and perhaps of government.
Here is a great VoxEU post on productivity in Italy from Fadi Hassan and Gianmarco Ottaviano.
It is productivity that’s the problem.
It’s not the labour market. This chart shows a measure of “Strictness of overall employment protection”.
It might be the banks, or if not banks, finance. This chart compares the change in investment and the change in productivity in detailed sectors of manufacturing, between Italy and Germany.
It may also be to do with computers. This chart shows the percentage of non-residential investment made up by information and telecommunications technologies.
Hassan and Ottaviano think Italian human resources managers are at fault.
The basis of this scoring is as follows:
Italian firms promote workers primarily on tenure, rather than actively identifying and promoting top performers;
Managers tend to reward people equally, irrespective of performance level, rather than providing targets with performance-related accountability and rewards;
Poor performers are more rarely removed from their positions;
Senior managers, rather than being evaluated on the strength of talent pool they actively build, are more likely to not see attracting and developing talents as a priority
The first seems to conflict with the second chart, as does the third, and the second is arguable. The fourth, though, reminds me of Diego Gambetta on Italian professors and incompetence as a costly-signalling mechanism. I wrote about him here and here. |
* * *
In Rob Springs' home office is a display case containing two bronze stars with valor, a row of battle citations, and three purple hearts -- earned with wounds from a bayonet in close quarters combat, gunshot, and grenade -- medals awarded his father, Robert Springs Sr., during the Korean War.
On June 25, 1950, Corporal Springs sat in an airport in Japan, discharge papers in hand, waiting for the flight back home.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army rolled across South Korea.
The U.S. Army tore up Springs Sr.'s discharge papers -- literally -- and he and his unit were sent to Pusan, South Korea, to help repel the North Korean invasion. As an Army Air Corps forward observer, Springs Sr. went north with his unit all the way to the Chinese border, watched the Chinese Peoples Volunteers cross the Yalu River in support of the North Korean Army, and, under the Chinese onslaught, cut off from his unit and alone, made his way back down the Korean Peninsula to rejoin the U.N. forces.
Thirty years later, when the South Korean government invited him back to commemorate his sacrifice and contributions, the father said to his 20-year- old son, Rob, "I don't ever want to see the place again. You go."
Rob Springs had aspired to wrestle in the 1980 Olympics. An injury ended those hopes, and he was struggling. Robert Springs Sr. thought the trip to Korea might do his son some good. As it turned out, Rob Springs loved Korea and wound up staying a decade, learning the language, and later earning a doctorate in traditional Korean culture.
Springs often thinks of his father's hope -- after his bitter experience during the Korean War -- that the U.S. and North would reconcile in his lifetime.
On a wall of Springs' bedroom is a painting of Don Quixote, a nod to the mission to which the Arizona rancher has committed himself.
Some experts on the DPRK commend NGOs such as GRS for the help they've provided individuals and communities, but question whether those efforts could be a significant factor in changing the U.S.-DPRK relationship.
Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, a scholar on North Korea at the American Enterprise Institute, has supported technical assistance for the North in areas GRS works in such as education, agriculture, and health. But he said belief that NGO activities with the North could encourage reconciliation at the national level reflects "a certain naiveté." The problem, Eberstadt told me, "is that while the NGOs may have limited success in interactions with individual North Koreans, they operate under formidable constraints. And globally, U.S. assistance programs generally haven't changed opinions of the U.S. So the NGOs should keep their expectations low. They must be open to declaring their initiatives a failure."
Others aren't so sure. Dr. Norman Neureiter, vice president of Texas Instruments Asia and head of the international security program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has visited North Korea three times. Neureiter says, "What Springs has done over the last 15 years challenges the view most of us have about North Korea. Springs speaks Korean. He travels all over North Korea. He brings other Americans there. When he can get the visas, he brings North Koreans here. They don't hide the poverty from him. The people he works with, at least a lot of them, seem to be well-trained and hard-working. What I've seen of his work there leads me to conclude it is in our own interest to rethink our assumptions, what we think we know, about the place." |
Florida State QB E.J. Manuel has had his stock on the rise since winning the MVP award at the Senior Bowl. He threw for a TD and ran for another in the game and the performance might help him get some separation from a relatively underwhelming QB class.
He's also been telling almost anyone who will listen that he'd be interested in playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. Here he was speaking during Senior Bowl week.
"If I don't go to a team that runs [a zone read offense] I know I can still drop back and sit in the pocket and deliver but at the same if I go to the Eagles, I know Chip Kelly is going to bring his offense into the NFL and I know I can transition very well into that too."
While attending an EA Sports Madden party in New Orleans this week, he was asked who is dream team to get drafted by would be?
"I would be a good fit for coach Kelly's offense and the style that he has, so Philadelphia be a great suitor for myself. "
And speaking locally to 97.5 the Fanatic, he said he hopes he impressed Chip Kelly at the Senior Bowl.
"I'm just hoping that he gives me the opportunity," said Manuel. "I would love to come and play in his offense, I would love to play for him and I would love to be his guy. It's kind of starting off his tenure in the NFL, and I would love to be his first quarterback. I think it would be a great relationship."
Now, Manuel's first priority is of course to get drafted anywhere. And whoever takes him, you can be sure he'll say he's happy to be there and I'm sure he will be. But I'm also sure that prospects know where the best opportunities are and want to be in a situation where they have the best chance to be successful.
If he went to the Panthers, who are rumored to be interested, and he was Cam Newton's understudy, that certainly wouldn't be a bad situation. However, with the Eagles he obviously sees a chance to not only compete for a starting job but play with a coach that can maximize his talents.
All that said, it doesn't really matter where Manuel wants to go, it's really all about who wants him. Could that be the Eagles if he was on the board when they picked in the 3rd round? The 2nd? |
Only under the influence of a narrow and philistine Naturalism can we ask why an artist shows life at a remove and in some established genre. The transposition of an inner struggle to a duel between persons does not even need a convention to carry it: such changes are made nightly by everyone in his dreams. If one can make of one's tussles with suicidal wishes a drama of love and honor, one has given to private and chaotic material a public and recognizable form. One has made art out of fantasy and pain.
For the next twenty years I traveled aimlessly, engaged in bar fights, street fights, insulated myself from the possibility of self-examination with drugs, played in a number of rock bands, married twice without giving the matter much thought, dabbled in low-level criminality, drug-dealing, burglary, etc., and eschewed anything that smacked remotely of the cerebral.
cover illustration by J.K. Potter
We had reached a spot overlooking a strip of white beach guarded at both ends by enormous boulders. The blue sea stretched tranquil and vast to the horizon, and the cloudless sky, a lighter blue, empty of birds, echoed that tranquility. Nothing seemed to move, yet I felt a vibration in the earth and air that signaled the movement of all things, the flux of atoms and the drift of unknown spheres. An emotion swelled in my breast, nourished by that fundamental vista, and I felt, as I had not in years, capable of belief, of hope, of seeing beyond myself. Jane linked her arm through mine and rested her head against my shoulder, and whispered something that the wind bore away. And for that moment, for those minutes atop the hill, we were as happy as the unhappiness of the world permits.
—"Rose Street Attractors", the final story in Five Autobiographies and a Fiction by Lucius Shepard
I hate that this sentence must now be in the past tense:It's hard to find words, even though I've had 24 hours to search.In a review of The Dragon Griaule , I invoked Conrad and melodrama, and quoted Eric Bentley on both. Here's part of that quote again, because it gets at exactly what Lucius Shepard's stories mean to me, and why they mean so much:And now a sentence from the introduction to the final collection of stories published during Lucius Shepard's lifetime, Five Autobiographies and a Fiction , after a description of a harrowing childhood and adolescence:Luckily, he found his way out of at least some of that darkness, those difficult decades. He attended the Clarion writers' workshop and a few years later his stories began to appear in magazines and anthologies, and his first novel, Green Eyes , was published as part of the resurrected Ace Specials line that also brought outand Kim Stanley Robinson's first novel,, among others.I could try to be objective here and talk about the specific qualities of Lucius Shepard's writing that set him apart from most of his peers for me — the long, languorous sentences, of course; the precision of the imagery; the complexity of form; the rich social world implied from the texts; the fascination with the perils of machismo; the great variety of types of stories unified not by genre but by vision and even, to use a rather antiquated term, moral conviction; the sheer imaginative force the best of the work displays.Maybe another time. It feels too cold and academic. Too un-Lucius. He hated analysis that got away from the practical. His entertainingly curmudgeonly movie reviews were always based in a very personal voice, producing the sense of somebody talking to you from his own experience, hoping maybe that his experience could connect with, enlighten, enliven, enrage your own. I'm not (yet) interested in being entertainingly curmudgeonly, but I can't speak of Lucius Shepard right now without speaking about what, and how, his work meant to me.(A momentary, weird personal aside: The indefatigable researchers at the Science Fiction Encyclopedia are confident that Lucius Shepard was born in 1943, not 1947 as he often claimed. If so, that means he was one day younger than my father.)I started reading Lucius's stories when I started reading science fiction. My mother's boss subscribed toand loaned me a few issues. That first batch included the April 1986 issue . The cover story was "R&R".I don't think I read all of "R&R" then — I was too young, it was too dense — but I gave it a good shot. I was, after all, just getting over my infatuation with G.I. Joe and Rambo , and so J.K. Potter's cover and interior illustrations for the story grabbed my interest immediately. (That cover is seared into my brain.) I did start reading Shepard pretty soon, though, because once I was a confirmed sci-fi nerd, my parents let me join the Science Fiction Book Club, and one of the first books I got was Gardner Dozois's Year's Best Science Fiction: 3rd Annual Collection , which included two Lucius Shepard stories, "The Jaguar Hunter" (the first story in the book) and "A Spanish Lesson". I wanted to know what "good" science fiction was, and the presence of two stories meant this was a major writer, so I studied those stories intensively. I don't remember what I made of them. I think I thought they were slow, but there was something alluring in them, something that wouldn't let go of me (and that never let go of me).A few years later, I got a paperback copy of The Jaguar Hunter , which collected most of the best of those early stories (the paperback omitted "R&R", which had been incorporated into Life During Wartime , a book I picked up, but to this day have never completely read because some genius at Bantam Spectra decided the whole nearly-500-page book ought to be in san serif font. It's ghastly!). By that time I was in my mid-teens, had become a better reader, and followed Shepard's career closely. "The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule" and "The Scalehunter's Beautiful Daughter" were particular favorites from the early years, but many of the novellas of the 1990s also wowed me and wooed me, bringing me back to science fiction magazines even when I had claimed to move on to better things. The stories were vivid and gnarled, unpredictable, sometimes vexing in their ambiguities, their complex dance with the conventions of narrative form. They clung and haunted. "Skull City", "Barnacle Bill the Spacer", "Beast of the Heartland", "Radiant Green Star" — I still have the magazines and still remember where I was sitting when I read each story.It was in the new century, though, that Lucius Shepard got really, really good. His work deepened, darkened, thickened. In addition to The Dragon Griaule and, read Viator . Read A Handbook for American Prayer . Read Floater . Read Eternity and Other Stories , which includes "Only Partly Here" , still one of the most powerful stories I've ever read about 9/11(If you need a primer, Subterranean Press is offering the e-book of The Best of Lucius Shepard for $2.99 at the moment.)I got to know Lucius a little bit in his last years, mostly via Facebook, oddly enough — it proved to be a pretty good forum for him. I first met him in 2007 when we were the two readers at the KGB Fantastic Fiction series for that November. It felt bizarre to be reading on the same bill as Lucius. I think I was there because there wasn't really anybody else around who was willing to do a reading a couple days before Thanksgiving. Or something. I don't know. I certainly didn'tto be on a bill with Lucius Shepard! (Even I just wanted me to hurry up and finish my reading so Lucius could begin!) I was terribly intimidated and terrified of him, even though he was gracious and friendly. But he was— one of the greats! I wish I'd had more guts that night, wish I'd chatted with him more, wish I'd gotten him to sign a book. But I was too nervous. We talked a bit at dinner afterward, and then later on we corresponded some. Just as I felt like I was getting to know him, he began to have his most serious health problems, including a stroke. I had plenty of faith that he'd pull out of it, that he'd write again. He had to. How could the world not have the force of his words?I keep thinking back to a moment of childhood: visiting the Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop in Boston in the late '80s and paging through the Arkham House hardcover of, which I couldn't afford to buy. $21.95 was a fortune to me then. I looked at the book and looked at it and looked at it. But that's not why I keep thinking about it. What I keep thinking about is this: A year or two ago, I got a pristine copy of that book for pennies. A price I could have afforded even when I was a kid. A first edition, first printing of a brilliant book that ought to be a collector's item selling for a hundred times what I paid for it. I was happy to get a gift for my inner child, but also deeply angry that I could afford it — that it'sas valuable and scarce as it deserves to be just reminds me of how little valued Lucius's work is in comparison to its quality.He should have been a literary star. He should have been recognized as one of the great writers of his generation. Because he was. Sure, sometimes his need for money caused him to sell work that wasn't entirely great, but he should be judged by his best, which is as good as the work of nearly any of his contemporaries (not just in the science fiction field; his work is richer, more powerful, more vivid, more weird, and more meaningful than that of all but a couple of his contemporaries in SF, but it also makes most of the fiction written in any genre or non-genre look unambitious, minor) — and there's a lot of best. (And even the less-than-best is usually quite wonderful for a few pages at least.) His work probably doesn't have the qualities of bestsellerdom, but it should have been — should be — recognized more fully, appreciated more deeply. He won nearly every award in the SF field at least once, but I don't think it was enough, because he deserved a pile of the damn things. He deserved other awards, too, not just genre ones. But even within the genre that he ended up (imprisoned?) in, he wasn't as well known as he should have been, nor was his accomplishment recognized as fully as it deserved. The same could be said for plenty of people, yes, but I've felt for a long time that it's especially unjust in Lucius's case, because the work is so varied, so powerful, so special.So here we are, then, in a world without Lucius. We've got the words, though, the pages and the books — and we ought to do something with them — we ought to seek them out and get more of them back into print, we ought to harangue critics to write about Lucius's work with the depth and seriousness it deserves — and, too, we ought to sing songs in his honor and spend a bit too much time in a bar now and then, we ought to howl at the moon, we ought to seek out some good movies, we ought to scowl at liars while recognizing what liars we are, we ought to stand up for the weak, we ought not ever get too settled in ourselves, we ought to write long sentences, we ought to be gracious, we ought to be angry, we ought to fight against borders and pigeonholes and easy expectations, we ought to stand brave against the violence at the heart of our selves, we ought to dream and laugh and spare some time for people different from us, we ought to seek to be more and better, to escape old pasts and old resentments and, most of all, old failures — because we're what's left, and we're still here, and the words still live. |
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It started the way all of our twice-monthly trips to Target do — the 1-year-old in a backpack on my back, the 3-year-old leading the charge, yanking my hand like a sled dog with a view of the open trail.
We charged through the automatic doors, waving at ourselves on the video screen as always. We grabbed a shopping cart. We stopped at the complimentary sanitary wipes. Then I engaged in what my Big Girl calls “the wipedown”: A comprehensive (read: wildly neurotic) disinfecting of any part of the cart she possibly might touch.
About halfway through the ritual — let’s estimate nine wipes in — I noticed a middle-aged woman watching us, smiling.
“You’re a good dad,” she remarked, in a tone that implied she had just seen a Sasquatch.
I replied politely only for the benefit of my daughters; inside, her unsolicited commentary had me seething.
Put differently: I absolutely hate it when strangers call me a “good dad.”
I mean, what characterizes a “good dad,” anyway? A dude who takes the girls to buy diapers and Ziplocs while Mommy is at work? One who sanitizes a shopping cart so his kids don’t pick up E. coli or some other bacteria? An hombre who speaks gently but firmly to his kids without engaging in behavior that could be construed as child abuse? A dude who doesn’t spend his days in the local dive bar, staring into a pint of Guinness?
If this woman had seen me 10 minutes before that moment at the carts, when I gave my toddler a time-out for kicking her baby sister, would she still consider me a good guy? What if she was in our house the day I stopped a temper tantrum by spraying my child with the kitchen sink hose? (Yes, I really did. It stopped the tantrum. Case closed.)
With no context — and no real basis for interpretation — the act of labeling someone a “good dad” suggests that most dads are, by our very nature as fathers, somehow less than “good.” That we don’t care. That we’re mostly cruel.
What’s more, the phrase evinces a heinous double standard: It’s not like strangers compliment women as being “good moms” for doting, loving and doing normal mom stuff.
I know the poor woman at Target probably meant what she said as a compliment. When other people in other settings say the same thing (and believe me, they do), these poor souls probably mean no harm, either. Still, without exception, every time I hear the phrase it comes across as a condescending commentary on fatherhood, and a patronizing pot-shot at me — a work-at-home father who cares for his kids the way any self-respecting parent would.
My outrage on this issue has historical precedent. Remember the days of United States Senator Barack Obama, back before our fearless leader became a two-time POTUS, when people described him as an “eloquent” black man? Pundits hemmed. Columnists hawed. Ultimately the consensus was that the adjective is racist, since it implies that African-Americans who don’t speak as clearly are in some way fundamentally inferior, and therefore worth less.
In my opinion, calling someone a “good dad” is no different.
So enough with the “good dad” pseudo-compliments. If you spy a father doing something nice with his children, smile quietly and go about your day. If you simply can’t help yourself, peg your feedback on the kids. Note how cute they are. Comment on their good behavior. Talk about how much they clearly love their daddy.
We fathers don’t need unsolicited feedback — the majority of us, like just about all parents, don’t give a damn what strangers think of our parenting skills. Instead, we just want to be treated fairly. With kindness. And the assumption that most of us are “good” until we prove otherwise. |
New Delhi: Two days after her induction in the BJP, Kiran Bedi still evokes mixed reaction in the party. While the workers are visibly happy to have a strong candidate leading them in the assembly elections, a few leaders still have reservations about her ability to take everyone in the party with her.
The enthusiasm among the former was palpable during the visit of Bedi to the Delhi BJP headquarters on Friday. The workers who had been disappointed by the lack of energy in the party so far, looked rejuvenated. She was greeted with the slogan Delhi Ka CM Kaisa Ho, Kiran Bedi Jaisa Ho (the ideal CM for Delhi is Kiran Bedi). Their excitement was shared by other senior leaders.
“The party will gain new energy with her joining. Now, we will be able to deliver the benefits of development and the welfare schemes to the last person in Delhi,” said BJP -state president Satish Upadhyay while welcoming Bedi in the party fold.
Prabhat Jha, in charge of the party unit, said, “We are proud that the first woman IPS officer of the country is joining our family. The party workers are enthusiastic with her induction, which will strengthen the party. Realising the dream of the development of Delhi will now become easy and the women in the city will also feel safe.” Another leader said she is an acceptable face and BJP can get 38 to 40 seats in the 70-member assembly by asking her to lead.
But not everyone within the party is happy with the development. “It is true that her entry into the BJP has given a new life to the state unit. The morale of the workers, who had previously gone idle because of infighting within the party, has got a boost. But such outsourcing and so much attention to a newcomer is a little unjust for those who have spent their lives as loyal workers of the party,” a founding member of the Delhi BJP told Firstpost on the condition of anonymity.
He said though Bedi carries a celebrity status she is new in politics and not experienced to lead the party and understand its structure that has linkages with many other outfits working with a different modus operandi. “Let’s wait and watch how she works with the RSS and deals with its affiliates like VHP, Bajrang Dal, etc,” he said.
Based on her track record as a police officer, a few leaders of the party described her as someone having “dictatorial tendencies”.
“She is rude and arrogant. Her dictatorial tendencies may have an adverse impact on the party’s prospect. It will be difficult for workers to work with her. Since we work under the umbrella of the BJP, we will follow instructions of our leader as obedient foot soldiers,” another leader said.
Bedi, however, looked oblivious to such criticism. Her confidence reflected amply in her address to party workers. “The political workers should also become social reformers. If needed, we will have to work for cleaning the slum clusters with our own hands,” she added and apprised the people about the works being done by her organisation Nav Jyoti Foundation in Jhuggi Jhopri colonies in the last 26 years.
On rising crime against women in the city, she said it is necessary that all the parents provide safety to their daughters and also teach their sons to respect women and senior citizens. “We will have to inculcate spirit of service for the country among children,” she added.
Mentioning about 6Ps (parents, preachers, politicians, prevention, prison and press), she said that the parents are the first teachers, pundits (priest) or maulvis (clerics) to teach them morality.
"The political workers may become means of social experiment and provide a sense of security by community policing. Jails may also become means of reform and press a tool of change. By using these 6Ps, we shall be able to make Delhi a world class city," she said.
Stressing the need to strengthen civil defense, the former police officer said, “Civil defence will be a force under the Delhi government to provide security to the women, schools, local shopping centers and places of worship.”
Responding to a question posed by Firstpost on the demands of bringing Delhi Police under the ambit of Delhi government to control rising crimes in the national capital, she said, “I am satisfied with the current performance of the Delhi Police. It is doing a good job. It does not matter who rules it. An effective policing is needed to curb crimes.”
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It’s a common point of view that a truck project is never really done, but few go under the knife as extensively as Joey Sotomayor’s yellow and black truck, called Tatonka.
The body is easily recognizable as a 2001 Ford Ranger, but looks somehow different at first glance. That’s when you notice the FiberwerX flared fenders and Super Duty grill that has been cut, narrowed and reshaped to fit the Ranger’s front end. The custom grille is just a hint at the extensive work that has been done on this truck.
Joey and his crew are regulars at the Azusa Canyon OHV area in Southern California. They love to challenge the terrain there, but they also make a point of coming to the rescue when others get stuck.
Tatonka is capable of getting out of almost anything on its own. For others that are less fortunate, there is a PTO-driven 30,000-pound winch with 300 feet of cable mounted between the frame rails out back. The number of people Joey has helped to get unstuck and the show he puts on in Tatonka have made him somewhat of a celebrity at the OHV area. His personal best had him doing 31 recoveries, all in a single day!
Joey puts his truck to the test all of the time, so every inch of it has been built with strength in mind. The chassis started life under a 1987 F-350 and has since been gusseted, boxed, bobbed in the rear; also, several crossmembers have been added.
Careful planning has been used in the design so that the in-cab cage is mated to the frame in the same location as several of the added crossmembers. This ties the entire truck together and provides the strength needed when counting on the torque from the engine or the grunt from the winch.
The drivetrain is pure beef. Joey has had several big-block Fords under the hood in naturally aspirated, fuel-injected, and propane-injected configurations. The big blocks are gone, and in their place is a Chevy/Isuzu Duramax LBZ diesel V8. The turbocharged and intercooled diesel puts out 515 horsepower when programmed at the factory settings; 785 when cranked up to full race mode.
It has enhanced fuel flow and better breathing due to products from Pacific Performance Engineering (PPE). PPE also supplied the tuner that allows the enhanced programming to take place.
Plumbing on the – including the turbo, radiator lines, transmission plumbing, and brake lines – were all done by co-pilot and chief mechanic Andy Batestelli. The torque is transferred through an Allison six-speed transmission to a divorced NP205 gear driven transfer case with a power take off that spins the winch.
The front differential is a kingpin Dana 60 with 4:88:1 gears and a power lock electronic locker modified by Joey’s friend, Karl Knoll. Karl also helped with the custom high steer setup that handles the load when turning the 19.5/44R15 TSL Bogger tires mounted to Raceline 15×14 monster beadlock wheels.
Out back resides more of Karl’s work – a full floating 14-bolt with disc brakes and an Eaton Detroit Locker. Custom Atlas leaf springs designed by Fernando Gutierrez give a controlled ride while allowing ample articulation, and Rancho RS9000 shocks take care of the damping.
The custom features continue when you enter the cab. Occupants ride in the comfort of PRP suspension seats that are securely mounted to the roll cage and are further secured by Mastercraft five-point harnesses.
A full complement of Autometer gauges are strategically placed in the FiberwerX dash that has been narrowed to fit the cab. A Painless Performance Products roll cage mounted switch panel overhead also contains vital fuses in easy reach while strapped in.
Whoever takes this wheel in their hands is in control of a very powerful beast of a truck. Within easy reach is a Grant steering wheel and Cheetah shifter. Brice Billets is responsible for the custom wiring, which includes a hinged, drop-down panel that makes access quick and easy.
Just behind the driver’s seat is a storage box with slide-out doors made by Joey who is a cabinet maker by trade. The box used to be mounted in the bed but was moved inside the cab.
Inside and out, Tatonka has seen non-stop evolution over the years. The many hours spent playing in the mud and rocks, not to mention countless recoveries have led to a prime example of the ultimate off-road vehicle. |
We are very excited to announce a brand new Robot Virtual Worlds Competition, Mini Urban Challenge! Our new virtual simulation is based off the national competition sponsored by The Doolittle Institute, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Special Operations Command.
The purpose of this competition is to design and program a robotic vehicle that can autonomously navigate a mini-urban city, using a virtual LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robot. The robot must enter the mini-urban city from a home base, travel through the city to assigned parking lots, park in any parking space in each assigned parking lot, and then exit the city by returning to the home base and parking in the home base. The robot should use the optimal path (shortest distance) through the mini-urban city to visit the parking lots. While in the city, the robot should obey traffic rules by stopping at stop signs and following standard right-of-way rules when other vehicles are encountered. You can find the official rule here.
Our new Robot Virtual World features three modes for the Mini Urban Challenge:
1. Practice Mode allows students to develop and test their code for the challenge, without worrying about scoring, penalties, or the clock.
2. Competition Mode is the standard version of the challenge field, complete with timing and scoring to reflect the real world competition.
3. City Mode is an exciting, themed version of the challenge field, which also includes timing and scoring that reflect the real world competition.
Download and install the Mini Urban Challenge for Robot Virtual Worlds here! To submit your scores and compete with others, you will need a free account from the Computer Science Student Network! |
Earlier today, former Death bassist Scott Clendenin passed away at the age of 48. The band’s manager Eric Grief conveyed the news via Death’s Facebook page:
With a sense of shock I’m letting all of you know of the passing today of former DEATH bassist Scott Clendenin. Scott had some health challenges in the last few years but was optimistic about his prospects. Of course he was the skilled player on The Sound of Perseverance DEATH album, and recently participated in two DTA live runs, in 2012 and 2013, including the highlight of his acoustic guitar in a poignant rendition of Voice of the Soul. Our thoughts go out to Scott’s family at this difficult time. ERIC
Clendenin was in the final lineup of the seminal death metal band, from 1996 to 2001. He played on 1998’s The Sound of Perseverance along with Chuck Schildiner, Shannon Hamm and Richard Christy. He’d joined Schuldiner’s other band, Control Denied, but was replaced by Steve DiGiorgio, who had been in the band previously. Schuldiner, of course, died in 2001. |
.@PlanoPoliceDept looking for silver Silverado or Sierra truck in hit-and-run that injured this man Friday night. pic.twitter.com/F96XOIwv8I
— Allison Harris (@allisonfox4news) May 24, 2016
Plano authorities are asking for the public's help in finding the driver of a silver pickup who hospitalized a man last week in a hit-and-run crash.Ivan Schruggs, who's in the midst of multiple surgeries after the incident, said he was driving north on U.S. Highway 75 near Legacy Drive about 10 p.m. Friday when the other driver, of a Chevy Silverado or a GMC Sierra, started following him in a fit of road rage, KFDW-TV (Channel 4) reports . The silver truck hit the driver's side of Schruggs' truck, which spun out into the opposite lane of traffic before hitting another truck that caught fire. Schruggs' truck flipped and rolled three times, his wife, Latoya Schruggs, told the station.Anyone with information is asked to contact Plano police at 972-424-5678. |
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 50 lawmakers from David Cameron’s Conservative Party are to join a campaign backing Britain’s exit from the European Union unless the British prime minister achieves radical changes in the bloc, according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
The Union Flag flies next to the European Flag outside the European Commission building in central London May 25, 2014. British Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party dropped its hostile tone towards the Eurosceptic UKIP party on Saturday after it lost over 200 seats in local elections and a survey suggested it would lose a national vote next year. REUTERS/Neil Hall (BRITAIN - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)
The lawmakers will be part of a new group called Conservatives for Britain (CfB), which will support Cameron’s bid for reform while urging an end to EU membership unless significant changes are achieved, the paper said.
Cameron is attempting to persuade European leaders to back UK demands for reform before holding an in-out referendum on Britain’s EU membership. He has promised the vote by the end of 2017.
“We wish David Cameron every success, but unless senior EU officials awake to the possibility that one of the EU’s largest members is serious about a fundamental change in our relationship, our recommendation to British voters seems likely to be exit,” Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker said.
Cameron wants to restrict EU migrants’ access to British welfare, improve the single market, and win safeguards to ensure countries outside the euro zone are not put at a disadvantage by greater integration.
The Telegraph said CfB had already signed more than 50 lawmakers (MPs) and expected numbers to soon rise to about 100, including some ministers.
“I have been struck by the dozens of Tory (Conservative) MPs who would vote to quit the EU now and who will not settle for anything less than fundamental change,” Baker, who is chairing the CfB group in parliament, wrote in a separate article for the paper.
On Saturday, the leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) called for Eurosceptic politicians from rival parties to put aside “personal animosities” and begin the “No” campaign against Britain’s continued membership of the bloc.
Nigel Farage said his party, which won almost 4 million votes in last month’s national elections, would start to “fight the ground game” but warned that unless a coordinated campaign begins now, it would be too late if Cameron calls a referendum early next year.
An ICM poll indicated that 59 percent of Britons supported staying in the EU, and 41 wanted to leave, the Telegraph said.
In an interview with the Observer newspaper, Rafal Trzaskowski, Poland’s Minister for European affairs, said European leaders wanted Britain to stay in the EU, but not at any cost.
“Many people in Europe want to be accommodating,” he said, “ ... but if the demands are too extreme, they are not going to be met.” |
AP You'll hear a lot of squawking about how the businesses want to leave Illinois because of the state's budget woes, but here's a story you won't hear much in the press: According to the AP, Amazon is shutting down a Dallas distribution center because Texas is demanding the company pay sales tax collected in the state.
(Bear in mind this is a hugely controversial question: whether states will successfully be able to collect sales taxes from online retailers. So far they haven't been, but they're getting closer.)
Amazon is also nixing a plan to expand its operations in Texas.
Anyway, you won't hear about this story much because it doesn't jibe with Texas' reputation for being pro-business and anti-tax. Here they are losing a big company specifically because it's trying to extract more taxes than other states do.
Granted, we sympathize with Texas' position on this question. Internet commerce is a drain on sales tax, and the state is going through a painful budget crisis. But the fact remains, they're losing jobs over taxes, which is the exact same thing that many in the media slam other states for.
Double standard much?
Click here to see more about the Texas state budget crisis > |
Climate hawks are hopeful that the U.S. will finally take action on carbon emissions in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and the President's acceptance speech comment that "We want our children to live in an America that. . . isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet."
Unfortunately, they're trotting out the same tired old policy prescriptions that have failed in the past.
I think I have a better idea.
But first let's review why carbon policy has failed.
Why carbon policy fails
Cap-and-trade, cap-and-tax, and carbon taxes all try to clamp down on carbon emissions. This makes sense when you "do the math" on the warming potential of atmospheric carbon, as highlighted in Bill McKibben's current 350.org road tour.
These proposals have failed to gain traction politically, however, for a few reasons.
First, they are essentially Pigovian taxes -- punitive taxes intended to quash negative externalities. As such, they immediately arouse the opposition of the fossil fuel and utility industries, who object to being singled out for providing essential services that all of us demand. Those taxes would gradually rise over time, often without clear definition up front, opening the door to exaggerated claims about how much they will cost consumers.
The vogue idea of a carbon tax appears to be a non-starter. President Obama has already said that he does not intend to put a carbon tax on the agenda in his second term. Right-wing groups are already mustering their opposition to it. When the GOP's anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist suggested this week that he might be open to a carbon tax, he reversed himself one day later after being criticized by a Koch-funded energy think tank.
Second, they fail to offer an assured alternative energy supply. Vague promises that the revenues raised would be spent on renewables like wind and solar, which currently make up less than 2 percent of U.S. energy supply, don't offer much confidence that a substitute supply of energy will be able to take up the load as fossil fuel supply is phased out. Opponents can easily whip up fears about grid outages and so on without clear assurance that alternatives will be built. As long as there is demand for it, fuel will flow.
The fight over the Keystone XL pipeline is a fine example: If opponents prevent Canadian tar sands oil from flowing to U.S. refineries, it will simply go somewhere else --like Asia -- because it is still very much in demand. The net reduction in carbon emissions will be zero.
Third, because carbon emissions are a global issue, unilaterally controlling them without requiring global competitors like China to do the same raises concerns about losing our competitive edge. This has been the primary failing of decade after decade of international climate summits that produced no tangible progress.
Fourth, carbon trading schemes have demonstrably benefited the banks who underwrite their trade more than they have produced meaningful cuts in emissions. And when the market price of carbon falls, as it has in Europe, they become ineffectual.
Fifth, the natural constituencies who support climate policy are vastly outgunned by their fossil fuel opponents. As I detailed in August , the oil and gas, coal, and utility lobby outspent the wind, solar, and geothermal lobby by 50 to 1 in 2011, and if all forms of funding are taken into account, the fossil fuel, utility, automobile, trucking, road-building, and airline complex probably outspends the sustainable industries complex by 100 to 1.
We need look no further than Michigan's attempt to raise its renewable energy standard in this year's general election to see the problem. As Dave Roberts detailed in Grist, a large coalition of green groups raised what was for them an enormous amount of money in support of the ballot proposition, and poured their hearts into a ground campaign. One month before the election, voter approval was at 49 percent. Then -- whomp! -- two of the state's big utilities carpet-bombed it with negative ads, outspending proponents by two to one, and the effort failed spectacularly.
In the fight for energy transition, proponents of clean energy will never be able to win against their opponents this way. It's like a super flyweight boxer trying to stand toe-to-toe with a heavyweight and trade body blows. It will never, ever work. The incumbents will always be able to defeat ballot propositions and water down state-level renewable energy standards to the point of uselessness, as they have done in the past.
Instead, climate hawks should look to judo, where a smaller fighter can use the weight of a larger opponent against them. In that spirit, I offer the following outside-the-box proposal.
Pitch a FiT
President Obama could side-step the legislative wrangling over incentives for renewables by doing something truly audacious, which would give far more hope to the climate hawks than anything else proposed to date.
He could simply follow the model of the national Highway Trust Fund, and create a national standard for feed-in tariffs (FiTs) through the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
(FiTs, as I detailed here , have proved to be the most effective policy tools worldwide for incentivizing renewable power generation. They typically pay an above-market rate for renewably-generated power for a decade or more.)
Now, there are some important legal details here, so bear with me.
FERC has the authority to regulate wholesale electricity rates for utilities who trade electricity across state lines, and to decide if those rates are just and reasonable. Therefore, FERC does not have authority over the electricity rates of Alaska, Hawaii, or Texas, which have their own grids. FERC has similar authority over interstate transmission pipelines for natural gas.
Normally, FERC requires electricity rates to be set according to the "avoided cost" of building new generation capacity. However, under a recent ruling requested by California, FERC allows states to define for themselves what the avoided cost is. So if a state requires utilities to buy solar power under their renewable energy standards, for example, then the state can define solar power as the avoided cost basis (instead of much cheaper coal or natural gas-fired capacity) and set electricity rates accordingly.
The president could direct FERC to define national guidelines for FiTs. They could be differentiated by resource intensity, so that a FiT for wind in North Dakota wouldn't pay as much for wind in, say, Oregon. They could further differentiate by size – for example, favoring rooftop solar photovoltaics over utility-scale systems. And they could differentiate by application, to limit utility-scale systems to brownfield sites like formerly mined land. Finally, they could differentiate by the type of generation, in order to recognize the different costs for wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and marine technologies.
If the FiTs are properly defined, every state could benefit: the heartland has wind resources, the southeast has biomass, the west coast has geothermal capacity, the coastal states have wind and marine potential, and everybody can install some solar.
A parallel FiT program could be offered for building upgrades, to help pay for things like better insulation, windows, replacing inefficient furnaces, and other ways of reducing energy waste.
The states would then implement their own FiTs, according to their unique capacities and needs, under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).
In order to pay for the FiTs, an assessment would be levied on all consumers' utility bills, just like the charges we currently pay for things like nuclear decommissioning, public purpose programs, bond charges, and so on. For starters, they could be set at a low level -- say, 1 percent, or about one-tenth of a cent per kilowatt-hour, and one cent per therm of natural gas. That would give the program around a $5 billion annual budget for starters.
The revenues collected would go into a dedicated national Energy Trust Fund, just as a portion of our gasoline taxes go into the national Highway Trust Fund. And like the latter, they would then be disbursed to states who elect to implement FiTs meeting or exceeding the federal guidelines. The states would not be required to implement FiTs, but if they didn't, they wouldn't be eligible for the federal funds. The funds collected would only be used for renewable generation capacity and building efficiency upgrades.
The FiT fees would be adjusted upward over time as the market evolves and demands more funds, up to a limit defined by FERC. Then, as capacity and efficiency milestones are achieved, the incentives would be reduced. FiTs are already declining in countries that have had them in place for a decade or more. When the wholesale cost of grid power rises to the price of renewable power, the FiTs would be eliminated.
Impediments to implementation
There are a few sticky wickets in this idea, to be sure.
FERC is not accustomed to taking direction from a president in the fashion I've outlined, nor is there a great deal of precedent for FERC to assert its authority in this way. However, the legal experts I consulted think there is opportunity for FERC to interpret its regulatory authority more broadly than it has in the past, and believe that FERC might be able to find an avenue to develop such a program if it wanted to. For FERC, this is undefined, not forbidden, territory.
It might also be difficult to establish the revenue pass-through mechanism as I have defined it, from a line item on customers' bills through to a federal fund. However, fees for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository are already collected through the Department of Energy and held by the Treasury, so perhaps a similar approach could be taken for a national Energy Trust Fund. FERC could also use the carrot-and-stick approach they've taken in the past with regional transmission operators (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) to persuade utilities and state utility commissions to accommodate the national FiT. (For a detailed discussion of RTOs and ISOs, see " Why baseload power is doomed .")
The definition of a "qualifying facility" under PURPA might need some modification to adopt a national FiT, but that's well within FERC's authority to do. Alternatively, there might be other ways FERC could implement it outside of PURPA.
Some recalcitrant utilities would no doubt object to the FiT program, since distributed renewable power cuts into their profit-making generation and transmission businesses. They could exert influence on their respective states to resist the collection of fees, or to refuse to participate in the FiT program. But utility customers could also lobby their local elected officials and utilities more effectively than they have been able to do in support of statewide mandates like renewable energy standards.
Fundamentally, I think the idea is sound. It would no doubt require a good deal of working over by legal eagles who understand the ins and outs of applicable regulatory statutes better than I do. But I'm reasonably confident that if there's a will, there could be a way.
Climate judo
A national FiT would take essentially the opposite approach to carbon mitigation than has been tried to date. Carbon taxes are all stick, while a FiT is all carrot. The benefits of this approach should be obvious.
It would create an alternative supply to fossil fuels first. It would not raise fears about being left in the dark. As the price of renewable power falls, it would naturally force coal and natural gas off the grid. Incumbents would find themselves losing creditworthiness as their business models are disrupted, as is already happening in Europe. That's climate judo!
It would be a completely new angle of attack for renewables, one which the incumbents haven't spent years preparing to battle. It would be funded directly by ratepayers, not by cash-strapped green groups.
It could be executed from the top down via legal means, bypassing Congress and avoiding the state-by-state battles that have been used to stop the advance of renewable portfolio standards.
It would offer a clear value proposition to ratepayers, who could be confident that the negligible fees they pay into the program will result directly in new renewable generation capacity, not line the pockets of banks who make a market in carbon offsets, or wind up being spent on other things.
It would result in a much more rapid deployment of renewables, and accomplish far more than carbon policy has in short order. Thanks to its FiT, 25 percent of Germany's electricity now comes from solar, wind and biomass. An equivalent achievement could be made in the U.S. in perhaps 15 years' time. We've tried carbon policy for that long already and accomplished next to nothing.
Most importantly, what consumers will pay for the FiTs will be recovered over time, resulting in a long-term reduction in grid power and heating expenditures. Again, this has already been proven in countries like Germany and Denmark, but it will happen even more quickly in the future as fossil fuel prices continue to rise, and the cost of renewables continues to fall. In three or four decades, the U.S. could meet perhaps 80 percent of its grid power needs with renewables, at a far lower cost than the status quo path.
Incumbents will certainly recognize the existential threat of a FiT and resist it, accusing the federal government of "picking winners" and repeating their usual complaints. But there would be no ground lost there over the status quo. They will also surely insist that the grid can't handle higher penetration rates for renewables, despite the evidence that with proper planning, it can . That's fine. Either they'll go along with the inevitable energy transition, or they'll die.
This is President Obama's chance to show real leadership, and create a legacy on par with Eisenhower's highways and Roosevelt's Social Security. It would transform America for the long haul, leaping over Congressional gridlock and delivering true sustainability in a century that will be defined by climate and energy challenges. I hope he takes it.
My thanks to Paul Gipe, Jennifer Gleason, Scott Thomasson, Elias Hinckley, and John Farrell for their expert contributions to this article.
Photo: Wind turbines in Wyoming (paleololigo/Flickr)
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com |
Greetings Citizens!
The New Ship Matrix retains a similar format to the prior matrix with three distinct panels: Systems, Technical Overview, and Holoviewer that have been adjusted and updated to support the breadth of new data involved. In this article we’ll be discussing the expanded Technical Overview section, where you can find a variety of information not typically suited for display via icons on the Systems panel. This also has the added benefit of allowing us to present a more raw data to the reader in certain instances.
Before we begin, a few words about stats in general.
Quite often we find it said that more is automatically better with regards to ship stats, but in game design that is not always the case. With our intention to create a diverse universe, the idea that having more of one thing than another is not an automatic advantage. In many instances, it can be either boon or downside and depending on the circumstance, even lead to a significant disadvantage.
As an example, when talking Transport career ships it may seem like bigger is automatically better, but there are considerations to be made beyond simply, “How much can it carry?” For starters, the more you carry at one time the larger a target you become. A Hull-E can carry a phenomenal amount of cargo but along with that advantage it’s also an extremely large and vulnerable ship, unable to land with the cargo and slow to load, due to it’s sheer size and the fact it stores all of that cargo externally. The risk in taking one of these ships on a long trading run or outside UEE protected shipping lanes is not only sizable, but will also require considerable expense in buying that cargo to start. Then again, there’s also the additional expense of offsetting that risk by hiring an escort to protect you. With this said, should you succeed the individual payoff can be spectacular. We mention this not to dissuade you from flying a Hull-E, but to encourage you think about what considerations should be taken in each situation, be that doing the same trip, multiple times, in another smaller, more protected ship and in greater safety, or taking the high-risk, high-reward path. These choices are meant to be yours, and ship stats are the basis for beginning these thoughts, not ending or limiting them. As one starship captain would put it: “I like to believe that there are always possibilities.”
With this same regard to Combat ships, the Buccaneer may wield an impressive array of weapons allowing it to pack one hell of a punch, but it’s trade-off in game design is that it cannot absorb a wealth of firepower in return. Trade-offs like these and others are essential in both game design, and in building the immersive universe Star Citizens deserve, and can often be offset by practice with a specific ship, individual understanding of each ship’s unique characteristics, and honing your dogfighting skills in general. Those that do can put these things to great use, but for the mere Content Manager mortals amongst us, we would probably fair better in a more rugged combat ship with slightly fewer guns and more missiles.
In the final analysis, your best bet will often be in finding the right combination of pilot, ship, and situation as opposed to just picking the one with the higher number. Which spaceship, is the right spaceship for you?
With that, there’s a fair chunk of newly available information contained here so lets dig down into each area and see what they’re all about. |
Image copyright PA Image caption Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where water cannon are currently used
Approval has been given for the Metropolitan Police to purchase three water cannon for London.
Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor for policing and crime, authorised the force to buy the cannon from the German Federal Police.
The mayor's office said: "By purchasing them now we are able to save over £2.3m compared to buying new devices."
The water cannon will not be deployed until the home secretary authorises their use in England and Wales.
In a statement, the mayor's office said purchasing the cannon now for just over £218,000, before Theresa May approves them, meant they could be bought at a "considerably reduced rate".
The cannon will be purchased for £30,000 each, as opposed to the cost of a single new one at £870,000.
An additional cost of £127,000 will also be incurred to make them "fit for purpose" for use in London.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are keen to ensure that the police have the tools and powers they need to maintain order on our streets."
It said Chief Constable David Shaw, as the national policing lead, had written to the home secretary to request water cannon be authorised for use by the police in England and Wales and Ms May was considering the request.
The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) said that each cannon had a life-expectancy of five years, or longer with good maintenance, and if approval was not given by Ms May, then they could be re-sold.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Water cannon were used in Chile last year to disperse student protesters
The Metropolitan Police has welcomed the move.
A spokesman said: "Following learning from the riots of 2011, the [Met] requested that water cannon be made available to address a gap in public order tactics, allowing us to more effectively and safely tackle the most extreme disorder.
"We believe that as a tactic they would be rarely seen and rarely used on our streets."
In its briefing document MOPAC said its decision to purchase the cannon now was "driven by the enhanced risk" that they would be sold to another police authority.
It added that it also meant they could be in place for the summer, when "although there are no expectations of violence, such tools are most likely to be needed".
'No convincing argument'
The purchase is not without criticism. Joanne McCartney, Labour's London Assembly member for Police and Crime, said she was "deeply concerned".
"There is still confusion over the reasons behind the purchase of water cannon and exactly how the process of their deployment will work."
Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said a "full public debate" was needed before water cannon was deployed on the street.
"No convincing argument has been made for their deployment. For example, they would have been useless during the last period of major disorder - the riots of 2011," said Mr Lloyd.
Concerns have also been raised about the dangers of water cannon by a German man who was blinded after he was hit in the face at a protest in Stuttgart four years ago. |
Scriptio continua (Latin for "continuous script"), also known as scriptura continua or scripta continua, is a style of writing without spaces, or other marks between the words or sentences. The form also lacks punctuation, diacritics, or distinguished letter case. In the West, the oldest Greek and Latin inscriptions used word dividers to separate words in sentences; however, Classical Greek and late Classical Latin both employed scriptio continua as the norm.[1][2]
History [ edit ]
Although scriptio continua is evidenced in most Classic Greek and Classic Latin manuscripts, different writing styles are depicted in documents that date back even further. Classical Latin did often use the interpunct, especially in monuments and inscriptions.
The earliest texts in Classical Greek that used the Greek alphabet, as opposed to Linear B, were formatted in a constant string of capital letters from right to left. Later, this evolved to “boustrophedon,” which included lines written in alternating directions. It was only later on that the Romans adapted the Etruscan alphabet to write Latin and, in the process, switched from using points to divide words to the Greek practice of scriptio continua.[3]
Before the advent of the codex (book), Latin and Greek script was written on scrolls by enslaved scribes. The role of the scribe was to simply record everything he heard, in order to leave documentation. Because the free form of speech is so continuous, adding inaudible spaces to manuscripts would have been considered illogical.[citation needed] Furthermore, at a time when ink and papyrus were quite costly, adding spaces would be an unnecessary waste of such writing mediums. Typically, the reader of the text was a trained performer, who would have already memorized the content and breaks of the script. During these reading performances, the scroll acted as a cue sheet, and therefore did not require in-depth reading.
While the lack of word parsing forced the reader to distinguish elements of the script without a visual aid, it also presented him with more freedom to interpret the text. The reader had the liberty to insert pauses and dictate tone, making the act of reading a significantly more subjective activity than it is today. However, the lack of spacing also led to some ambiguity because a minor discrepancy in word parsing could give the text a different meaning. For example, a phrase written in scriptio continua as collectamexiliopubem may be interpreted as collectam ex Ilio pubem, meaning "a people gathered from Troy", or collectam exilio pubem, "a people gathered for exile". Thus, readers had to be much more cognizant of the context to which the text referred.[4]
Decline [ edit ]
Over time, the current system of rapid silent reading for information replaced the older, slower, and more dramatic performance based reading,[5] and word dividers and punctuation became more beneficial to text.[6] Though paleographers disagree about the chronological decline of scriptio continua throughout the world, it is generally accepted that the addition of spaces first appeared in Irish and Anglo-Saxon Bibles and Gospels from the seventh and eighth centuries.[7] Subsequently, an increasing number of European texts adopted conventional spacing, and within the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, all European texts were written with word separation.[8]
When word separation became the standard system, it was seen as a simplification of Roman culture because it undermined the metric and rhythmic fluency generated through scriptio continua. In contrast, paleographers today identify the extinction of scriptio continua as a critical factor in augmenting the widespread absorption of knowledge in the Pre-Modern Era. By saving the reader the taxing process of interpreting pauses and breaks, the inclusion of spaces enables the brain to comprehend written text more rapidly. Furthermore, the brain has a greater capacity to profoundly synthesize text and commit a greater portion of information to memory.[9]
Scriptio continua is still in use in Thai, other Southeast Asian abugidas, (Burmese, Khmer, Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese script), Lao, and in languages that use Chinese characters (Chinese and Japanese). However, modern vernacular Chinese differentiates itself from ancient scriptio continua through its use of punctuation, although this method of separation was borrowed from the West only about a century ago. Before this, the only forms of punctuation found in Chinese writings were marks to denote quotes, proper nouns, and emphasis. Modern Tibetic languages also employ a form of scriptio continua; while they punctuate syllables, they do not use spacing between units of meaning.
Examples [ edit ]
Latin text [ edit ]
Latin text in scriptio continua with typical capital letters, taken from Cicero's De finibus bonorum et malorum:
NEQVEPORROQVISQVAMESTQVIDOLOREMIPSVMQVIADOLORSITAMETCONSECTETVRADIPISCIVELIT
Which in modern punctuation is:
Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit…
"Nobody likes pain for its own sake, or looks for it and wants to have it, just because it is pain…"
With ancient Latin punctuation is: NEQVE•PORRO•QVISQVAM•EST•QVI•DOLOREM•IPSVM•QVIA•DOLOR•SIT•AMET•CONSECTETVR•ADIPISCI•VELIT
Greek text [ edit ]
Greek text in scriptio continua with typical capital letters, taken from Hesiod's Theogony:
ΜΟΥΣΑΩΝΕΛΙΚΩΝΙΑΔΩΝΑΡΧΩΜΕΘΑΕΙΔΕΙΝΑΙΘΕΛΙΚΩΝΟΣΕΧΟΥΣΙΝΟΡΟΣΜΕΓΑΤΕΖΑΘΕΟΝΤΕΚΑΙΠΕΡΙΚΡΗΝΗΙΟΕΙΔΕΑΠΟΣΣΑΠΑΛΟΙΣΙΝΟΡΧΕΥΝΤΑΙΚΑΙΒΩΜΟΝ
ΕΡΙΣΘΕΝΕΟΣΚΡΟΝΙΩΝΟΣ
Which in modern punctuation is:
Μουσάων Ἑλικωνιάδων ἀρχώμεθ᾽ ἀείδειν, αἵ θ᾽ Ἑλικῶνος ἔχουσιν ὄρος μέγα τε ζάθεόν τε καί τε περὶ κρήνην ἰοειδέα πόσσ᾽ ἁπαλοῖσιν ὀρχεῦνται καὶ βωμὸν ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνος· [10]
"From the Heliconian Muses let us begin to sing, who hold the great and holy mount of Helicon, and dance on soft feet about the deep-blue spring and the altar of the almighty son of Cronos,"[11]
Modern Latin script [ edit ]
A form of scriptio continua has become common in internet e-mail addresses and domain names where, because the "space" character is invalid, the address for a website for "Example Fake Website" is written as examplefakewebsite.com – without spaces between the separate words. However, the "underscore" or "dash" characters are often used as stand-ins for the "space" character when its use would be invalid and their use would not be.
Chinese language [ edit ]
The Chinese did not encounter the problem of incorporating spaces into their text because, unlike most orthographic systems, characters were written by combining a series of letters, so each already represented a word or morpheme.[12] On top of that, Chinese also lacked any form of punctuation until the 20th century as a result of interaction with Western civilizations.[13]
Example Chinese sentence written in various ways Script Text (English translation) Beijing is in Northern China; Guangzhou is in Southern China. Normal Chinese sentence 北京在中国北方；广州在中国南方。 without spaces or punctuation 北京在中国北方广州在中国南方 with spaces between words - 北京 在 中国 北方； 广州 在 中国 南方。 pinyin transcription Běijīng zài Zhōngguó běifāng; Guǎngzhōu zài Zhōngguó nánfāng.
Japanese script [ edit ]
Like Chinese, Japanese implements extensive use of Chinese characters, called kanji in Japanese. However, due to the radical differences between the Chinese and Japanese languages, writing Japanese exclusively in kanji would make it extremely difficult to read.[14] This can be seen in texts that predate the modern kana system, in which Japanese was written entirely in kanji and man'yōgana, the latter of which are characters written solely to indicate a word's pronunciation as opposed to its meaning. For that reason, different syllabary systems called kana were developed to differentiate phonetic graphemes from ideographic ones.
Modern Japanese is typically written using three different types of graphemes, the first being kanji and the latter two being kana systems, the cursive hiragana and the angular katakana. While spaces are not normally used in writing, boundaries between words are often quickly perceived by Japanese speakers since kana are usually visually distinct from kanji. Japanese speakers also know that certain words, morphemes, and parts of speech are typically written using one of the three systems. Kanji is typically used for words of Japanese and Chinese origin as well as content words (i.e. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Hiragana is typically used for native Japanese words, as well as commonly known words, phrases, and particles, as well as inflections of content words like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Katakana is typically used for loanwords from languages other than Chinese, onomatopoeia, and emphasized words.
Like Chinese, Japanese lacked any sort of punctuation until interaction with Western civilizations became more common. Punctuation was adopted during the Meiji Period.
Example Japanese sentence written in various ways Script Text (English translation) Bethany Hills and Akira Takamori are living in Tokyo. hiragana, katakana and kanji without spaces between words ベサニー・ヒルズと高森昭は東京に住んでいます。 hiragana, katakana and kanji with spaces between words ベサニー・ヒルズ と 高森 昭 は 東京 に 住んでいます。 only hiragana and katakana ベサニー・ヒルズ と たかもり あきら は とうきょう に すんでいます。 romaji Besanī Hiruzu to Takamori Akira wa Tōkyō ni sundeimasu. kanji and man'yōgana 邊三仁伊日流頭吐高森昭歯東京仁須無弟位麻須
Thai script [ edit ]
The modern Thai script, which was said to have been created by King Ram Khamhaeng in 1283, does not contain any spaces between words, but spaces only indicate the clear endings of clauses or sentences.[15]
Below is a sample sentence of Thai written first without spaces between words (with Thai romanization in parentheses), second written in Thai with spaces between words (also with Thai romanization in parentheses), then finally translated into English.
ในน้ำมีปลา ในนามีข้าว (Nın̂ảmīplā nınāmīk̄ĥāw)
ใน น้ำ มี ปลา ใน นา มี ข้าว (Nı n̂ả mī plā nı nā mī k̄ĥāw)
In the water there are fish; in the paddy fields there is rice. [16]
Javanese script [ edit ]
An example of the first line of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Javanese script,[17] and when they are divided (in some modern writings) by spaces and dash sign, which looks different.
ꦱꦧꦼꦤꦸꦮꦺꦴꦁꦏꦭꦲꦶꦫꦏꦺꦏꦟ꧀ꦛꦶꦩꦢ꧀ꦢꦶꦂꦏꦭꦤ꧀ꦢꦧ꧀ꦧꦺꦂꦩꦠ꧀ꦠꦂꦧꦠ꧀ꦭꦤ꧀ꦲꦏ꧀ꦲꦏ꧀ꦏꦁꦥꦝ – (saběnuwongkalairakekanthimardikalandarbemartabatlanhakhakkangpadha)
꧋ꦱꦧꦼꦤ꧀ ꦈꦮꦺꦴꦁ ꦏꦭꦲꦶꦫꦏꦺ ꦏꦟ꧀ꦛꦶ ꦩꦢ꧀ꦢꦶꦂꦏ ꦭꦤ꧀ ꦢꦧ꧀ꦧꦺꦂ ꦩꦠ꧀ꦠꦂꦧꦠ꧀ ꦭꦤ꧀ ꦲꦏ꧀-ꦲꦏ꧀ ꦏꦁ ꦥꦝ꧉ – (saběn uwong kalairake kanthi mardika lan darbe martabat lan hak-hak kang padha)
– All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
See also [ edit ]
Interpunct, for the word dividers used before the advent of spacing
Boustrophedon
Codex Sinaiticus
CamelCase |
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Older, second-hand smartphones are at greater risk of their "wiped" data extracted
Thousands of pictures including "naked selfies" have been extracted from factory-wiped phones by a Czech Republic-based security firm.
The firm, called Avast, used publicly available forensic security tools to extract the images from second-hand phones bought on eBay.
Other data extracted included emails, text messages and Google searches.
Experts have warned that the only way to completely delete data is to "destroy your phone".
Most smartphones come with a "factory reset" option, which is designed to wipe and reset the device, returning it to its original system state.
However, Avast has discovered that some older smartphones only erase the indexing of the data and not the data itself, which means pictures, emails and text messages can be recovered relatively easily by using standard forensic tools that anyone can buy and download.
The company claims that of 40,000 stored photos extracted from 20 phones purchased from eBay, more than 750 were of women in various stages of undress, along with 250 selfies of "what appears to be the previous owner's manhood".
There was an additional 1,500 family photos of children, 1,000 Google searches, 750 emails and text messages and 250 contact names and email addresses.
The company said: "Deleting files from your Android phone before selling it or giving it away is not enough. You need to overwrite your files, making them irretrievable."
It was not made clear by Avast whether they extracted data from all 20 phones.
Destroy the phone
Google responded that Avast used outdated smartphones and that their research did not "reflect the security protections in Android versions that are used by the vast majority of users".
It was recommended by Google that all users enable encryption on their devices before applying a factory reset to ensure files cannot be accessed.
This feature, said Google, has been available for three years, although it is not enabled by default, which could leave less tech-savvy users open to attack.
Apple has had built-in encryption for its hardware and firmware since the release of the iPhone 3GS.
The hardware encryption is permanently enabled and users cannot turn it off.
Additional file data protection is available, but must be turned on in the settings menu.
Independent computer security analyst Graham Cluley said that if a user is serious about privacy and security they should make sure their device is always "protected with a PIN or passphrase, and that the data on it is encrypted".
However, Alan Calder, founder of cybersecurity and risk management firm IT Governance, told the BBC that erasing data, even after it has been encrypted, will not be enough to completely protect your device.
"Google's recommended routine for protecting the data only makes it harder for someone to recover the data - it does not make it impossible," he said.
"If you don't want your data recovered, destroy the phone - and that has been standard security advice, in relation to telephones and computer drives, for a number of years. Any other 'solution' simply postpones the point at which someone is able to access your confidential data." |
Bikes from the monthly Velo-Retro Rose Bowl Vintage ride in Pasadena, California are profiled in this series. This feature is on a Gianni Motta Personal 2001 owned by Scott Sorbe.
Gianni Motta (born 1943) is a famous retired professional racer, best known for his victory in the 1966 Giro d’Italia. His palmares also include wins in the 1964 Giro di Lombardia, and the 1967 Tour de Suisse. Like many former professionals, he went on to manufacture and sell bicycles bearing his name following his illustrious career.
Not so widely known is that Motta backed the first American Team to enter a Grand Tour. He sponsored a team captained by 1983 US Pro Champion John Eustice, that competed in the 1984 Giro d’Italia. The team rode bikes with a paint scheme inspired by the US flag, but the patriotic paint wasn't the only harbinger of the American influence that would soon crash the old-school European party. Team General Manager Robin Morton was the first woman to manage and travel with a team at the Giro, and her presence at the race turned heads.
1984 Gianni Motta team, featuring General Manager Robin Morton (far left), US Pro Champion John Eustice (center) and Gianni Motta (far right)
Scott Sorbe appropriately brought one of these attention-getting frames to the latest Velo-Retro Monthly Rose Bowl Vintage Ride, held on July 3rd, the day before US Independence Day. Not satisfied with the general patriotic paint scheme, Scott added red and blue streamers to his handlebars, but the most inspired addition is the red, white, and blue pedal system. His MKS pedals feature red anodized cages, coupled with blue Ale toe clips and white Christophe toe straps. Motta frames are known for their unique seatstay configuration, and Sorbe's Personal 2001 embodies this characteristic design.
Patriotic eubullience extends to the handlebar-end streamers. Photo: Brian Ignatin
Distinctive parallel-then-flared seatstays were seen on all Motta framesets. Photo: Brian Ignatin
Patriotic pedals. Photo: Brian Ignatin
Please note that the chrome fork on Sorbe's bike, while it looks appropriate, is not original. Sorbe is on the lookout for a proper Motta fork to mate with his frame. He took liberties with the component selection (the team used Campy Super Record gruppos), but the project was not intended to be a team replica.
Scott Sorbe's Gianni Motta Personal 2001. Photo:Brian Ignatin
Steel Motta frames like Sorbe's Personal 2001 are now a part of history, although a Belgian company bought the rights to Gianni Motta's bicycle brand name and still produce aluminum and carbon framesets bearing the Motta name. As for Motta himself, he's a very fit 73-years young, and still participates in granfondo events throughout Italy. You can keep up with him (if you read Italian) at his personal website: www.giannimotta.it. |
Image copyright Airbus DS/Max Alexander Image caption Sentinel-5P will launch in mid-October to monitor air quality around the globe
Europe has begun the process of scoping an expansion to its Sentinel Earth observation network.
Six new satellite concepts will be studied, including a constellation of spacecraft that can monitor emissions of carbon dioxide.
Invitations to tender (ITTs) for the feasibility work will be sent out to industry in the coming weeks.
The European Space Agency hopes to put a list of satellites for implementation before ministers in late 2019.
Those platforms that are selected would launch in the mid-2020s.
Precisely how many of the six will make it to the launch pad will depend on the funds available, but Esa's Earth observation director is bullish about what can be achieved.
"I'm not thinking about down-selection at this stage," said Josef Aschbacher.
"I'm preparing six candidates and I want to offer ministers the six candidates at our meeting in 2019. I know that's a bold proposal, but that's what I want to do and then of course in the end it will be for our member states and the European Commission to decide what they want to do," he told BBC News.
The Sentinel satellites currently funded
Sentinel-1: Radar satellite that can see the Earth's surface in all weathers
Radar satellite that can see the Earth's surface in all weathers Sentinel-2 : Multi-wavelength detectors to study principally land changes
: Multi-wavelength detectors to study principally land changes Sentinel-3: Similar to S2, but tuned to observe ocean properties and behaviour
Similar to S2, but tuned to observe ocean properties and behaviour Sentinel-4: High-orbiting sensor to measure atmospheric gases
High-orbiting sensor to measure atmospheric gases Sentinel-5: Low-orbiting atmospheric sensor to help monitor air quality
Low-orbiting atmospheric sensor to help monitor air quality Sentinel-6: Future version of the long-running Jason sea-surface height series
As well as a CO2 mission, the so-called A/B1 studies will look at the potential of a thermal infrared sensor, a hyper-spectral imager, and three satellites that could have applications in polar regions - an L-band radar, a topography mission, and a passive microwave radiometer.
The topography satellite would essentially be an operational version of Cryosat, the current Esa altimeter spacecraft that has transformed knowledge about the shape and thickness of ice fields, such as Antarctic glaciers and Arctic sea-ice.
The radiometer would be an advance on ageing American and Japanese satellites that are presently used to measure the extent of marine floes.
L-band radar is effective in monitoring shipping lanes for hazards such as icebergs, among other uses.
The Sentinels are part of the European Union's ambitious Copernicus programme, which is developing a comprehensive "health check" for the planet.
The spacecraft data is also being used in member states to inform and enforce EU policies.
Five Sentinels are already flying. A sixth - a UK/Dutch-built platform to monitor air quality - will go up in a fortnight's time.
Still more spacecraft are already approved, funded and in various stages of construction.
Image copyright ESA Image caption Three of the concepts would have polar applications
The multi-billion-euro cost is shared 25-75% by Esa and the EU, with the space agency acting as the technical and procurement lead on the project.
In other words, it is an EU-owned endeavour that leans on the expertise of Esa.
The agency's Earth observation programme board green-lit the A/B1 studies last week, with an industrial policy committee then giving its own approval on Tuesday.
The release of ITTs to industry will be staggered to give companies time to make multiple submissions.
Esa and the Commission are looking for ideas that draw on some of the "new space" spirit that has recently seen several internet entrepreneurs enter the satellite business with innovative, low-cost platforms.
"As you know, I'm always on the look-out for new ideas, but it's clear also there are limits," said Dr Aschbacher.
"For CO2, for example, I don't think there is a commercial solution out there. It's unrealistic that any new space company would do the high resolution and accuracy required for the [climate negotiations] process and the Paris Agreement."
What is the Copernicus programme?
EU project that is being procured with European Space Agency help
Pulls together all Earth-monitoring data, from space and the ground
Will use a range of spacecraft - some already up there, others yet to fly
Expected to be invaluable to scientists studying climate change
Important for disaster response - earthquakes, floods, fires etc
Data will also help design and enforce EU policies: fishing quotas etc
UK companies are urged not to be hesitant in joining consortia because of Brexit uncertainty.
Britain finds itself in a position where it is the largest contributor to Esa's Earth observation budget but also about to leave the EU.
The scale of its Esa subscription - which will be unaffected by Brexit - means it can expect substantial industrial return on any R&D work for the upcoming Sentinels.
But its departure from the EU on unfavourable terms could also then see that early work come to naught when the European Commission hands down the big contracts to build recurring satellites in the 2020s.
Britain's Prime Minister, Brexit Secretary and Business Secretary have all stated that they want the UK to continue in Copernicus (PDF) beyond the country's EU withdrawal in March 2019 and any transition period that may follow.
And national space officials have said companies and scientists should plan on the basis that continued involvement will be secured.
[email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |
Microsoft is asking the Trump administration to set up a process to grant case-by-case exemptions to some people affected by the president's travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim majority countries.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said Thursday that the tech giant had submitted a formal request to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly to use their authority under last week’s executive order to grant exceptions to certain foreign visa holders and their dependents.
“There currently are law-abiding visa holders who are parents that were outside the United States last Friday and therefore cannot re-enter the country,” Smith wrote in a blog post on Microsoft's website. “These parents are stranded and separated from their children. Other individuals are confronting genuine family emergencies such as the need to visit a critically ill parent.
“At Microsoft we have seen these needs first-hand through some of our 76 employees who are impacted by last week’s order and, together with their 41 dependents, have nonimmigrant visas to live in the United States. These needs almost certainly are not unique to our employees and their families.”
Smith requested that Kelly and Tillerson look into granting exceptions to those holding student or worker visas who have not committed any crimes in the U.S.
The request clarifies that they are seeking exceptions only for those who are traveling because of business or family emergencies and notes that those traveling for business reasons aren’t transiting in any of the countries on the list.
Trump’s executive order banned nationals of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country for 90 days. The countries are Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. It also temporarily suspends refugee resettlement and indefinitely suspends Syrian refugee resettlement.
The order prompted a fierce backlash, with protests erupting last week at international airports across the country. The outcry was particularly intense in the tech community, with almost all of the major Silicon Valley leaders speaking out against the ban.
Microsoft announced this week that it was supporting a lawsuit filed by the Washington state attorney general seeking to overturn the ban, and would be willing to testify in court.
“At the outset, we recognize that this proposal will not and should not end the broader debate and deliberations regarding last week’s executive order,” Smith wrote. “Our company is one among many that has expressed its views, and we will continue to participate energetically and constructively in the public discussions that help define our democratic processes.” |
The Toronto Blue Jays are now worth $900 million US according to the latest rankings released by Forbes Wednesday.
The Blue Jays rank 22nd out of the 30 Major League Baseball teams, the same spot they occupied this time last year. Their franchise value increased by four percent compared to 2015, when Forbes valued them at $870 million.
Forbes cites the “the sharp decline of the Canadian dollar” as a reason the Blue Jays’ value didn’t increase more. Forbes also reports that the team’s revenue was $241 million in 2015, when they won the AL East title and advanced to the ALCS.
On average MLB teams are worth $1.3 billion, an increase of seven percent compared to 2015. The 30 teams combined to generate $8.4 billion in revenue, also a seven percent increase.
The New York Yankees top the rankings with a valuation of $3.4 billion. The Yankees have earned top spot every year since the first rankings were released in 1998. The World Series champion Kansas City Royals rank 25th with an $865 million valuation while the Tampa Bay Rays are last at $650 million. |
Why addressing suffering on Earth requires a hiatus on space exploration and colonization.
While science fiction fans might disagree, it seems highly unlikely that capitalist expansion into space, particularly in the form of large-scale colonization, will produce net positive effects on total suffering. By taking a position against space colonization, we can help prevent a wide-scale expansion of suffering into known space, and minimize s-risk. This paper does not address the possibility that there are other minds outside of Earth, though if we were to learn about them, we certainly would have an obligation to reduce their suffering. But, for our purposes, (known) space is morally neutral.
Over the last few years, interest in private space colonization has exploded in the US. From Elon Musk and SpaceX to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, private companies looking to profit from commercialized outer space are not only funded, but close to profitable.
However, this commercialization and colonization of space comes at a moral cost, not only to the humans who experience preventable suffering caused directly by capitalism, but also to the wild animals on Earth whose suffering goes unaddressed. And, space colonization creates a real possibility of a significant growth of suffering off-Earth.
Space colonization diminishes the capacity to reduce suffering on Earth
The primary effects of space colonization on Earth will be relatively immediate - space mining will bring resources back to Earth. There are already space mining companies developing and selling technology to extract resources from asteroids and other planets.
Of course, these companies gaining access to more resources means an expansion of their projects on Earth. Given that these companies contribute to human suffering and violence caused indirectly by capitalism, and that access to more resources likely extends the life of these companies, and of capitalism as a whole, space colonization will likely cause more of the same types of violence. Without the inevitable resource crisis that would happen were capitalism limited to Earth-based extraction, there are no major threats to capitalism (for the non-Marxists, this resource crisis can still be simply described: capitalism needs continuous growth to function. With limited resources, growth is limited. At some point, there won’t be more resources, and the crisis caused by this will be significant enough to cause global economic collapse.).
However, even more pressing is the fact that a capitalist state is unlikely to address wild animal suffering (WAS) on a broad scale. Significant reductions in WAS would likely involve systematic ecological research and management programs that are not profitable. The only entities in capitalist systems that have the capability to run such programs, governments and corporations, have no incentive to pursue strategies to reduce WAS. So, capitalism seems like a completely insufficient economic system for addressing WAS. And, even if addressing WAS was a priority of these entities, because consumerism and profit are also priorities, they will never address WAS as efficiently as some non-capitalist governments could. At best, capitalism will address these issues inefficiently. And even that seems unlikely, so capitalism must be rejected.
So, if humans were to pursue large space mining and colonization efforts, one immediate effect would be a diminished capacity to address suffering on Earth. Space colonization allows capitalism to be extended; which reduce our capacity to address WAS.
Space colonization increases suffering in known space
The largest risk of space colonization is of course, the risk of suffering spreading beyond Earth. Resource limits on Earth put a natural limit on the total number of minds that Earth can only support. Even if there are significantly more virtual minds in the near future, due to these inherent limits on resources on Earth there is likely a determinate maximum amount of suffering that can occur on Earth using those resources. While bringing new resources to Earth would obviously increase the capacity for suffering on Earth, inherent to space colonization is that minds supported by resources will spread outside of Earth. So, unless that space colonization has the immediate effect of decreasing suffering on Earth significantly, colonizing space will directly result in a significant increase in suffering.
The scope of this increase in suffering cannot be understated. For a very-similar-to-Earth planet colonized in space by organic minds, there is the potential to increase the known suffering in the universe by a factor of two. In the far future, this leads to the possibility of exponential expansion of suffering.
Of course, finding and colonizing a planet that is similar to Earth is a project that will not happen for hundreds or thousands of years. But the risks of suffering spreading to space are not limited to organic minds settling other planets - virtual minds, if they exist/will exist, require resources too, and it seems possible that the majority of minds in space would be virtual minds, at least in the near future. So any increase in access to resources seems likely to correlate with an increase in the number of virtual minds. If they are able to suffer, this directly results in an increase in suffering.
Space colonization under capitalism would be even more likely to result in an increase in suffering
A major factor in how much suffering will be produced by space colonization, and how quickly that increase in suffering will arise, is the way in which space colonization in undertaken. For-profit private space colonization (space colonization under capitalism), has significantly different motivations than public scientific space exploration. Private space exploration, because it is for-profit, will likely focus on tourism and resource extraction. Public space exploration might be focused more on research, which might have a lower impact on suffering. But publicly run space colonization is perfectly capable of resource extraction that extends suffering on Earth.
So, under capitalism, space colonization ends up focusing on profitable endeavors. Some of these endeavors directly increase suffering, such as resource extraction. All of them enable more suffering in the future simply through colonization increasing capacity for minds. And, because of the profit motive, space colonization is likely to occur more rapidly. The sooner we have widescale space colonization adding additional suffering minds to the universe, the more suffering we have over time.
Failed attempts to justify space colonization
The views expressed in this article are by no means popular opinion on human space exploration. There are several possible rebuttals to this argument, two of which I’ll address here.
Space colonization creates a capacity to reduce suffering on Earth due to new resource inputs
The thrust of this argument is that significant intervention in nature would require massive infrastructural changes on Earth that would require significantly more resources than currently available. This is a weak rebuttal—if this is the case, we can easily increase accessible resources by reducing human population to a massive degree, and making human society less resource intensive. The latter would also be a positive effect of collapsing capitalism, since resource use under capitalism / consumerism obviously has inefficient returns on utility (that is to say, more stuff doesn’t make you happier). Additionally, even if more resources were needed than available on Earth for the best welfare interventions into nature, those resources could be acquired by state-run public mining operations, and done with the intention of reducing suffering, so as not to have a negative effect on utility. But those interventions are a long way off, and don't justify resource extraction in space today or tomorrow. This argument in no way justifies for-profit space colonization, and certainly doesn’t justify it in the near future.
Space colonization increases the likelihood of humanity’s survival
While this statement seems likely to be true, humanity surviving does not correlate to a net decrease in suffering. Say that for every X humans, we have Y other minds. So we colonize a new planet, settle with X humans, and produce or allow Y other suffering minds. Even if humanity is inclined to reduce suffering, wild animal suffering is difficult to prevent, and it seems unlikely that any significant increase in the number of human minds will result in a world with less suffering. It isn’t obvious that survival of humanity results in a reduction of suffering.
At a minimum, space colonization should not occur until after a collapse of global capitalism
The greatest suffering caused by space exploration and colonization will happen when for-profit, private companies are allowed to conduct it. Because their priority is profiting, without considering animal, virtual, or often human minds, their actions will usually not only fail to provide efficient returns on utility, but often will produce significant negative results.
For example, companies that sell cigarettes provide a service that provides at most a marginal increase in perceived utility only after someone has used cigarettes for a while, but generally has a net negative effect on utility for the smoker. Yet the company is not incentivized to consider the suffering of their own clients. For-profit space colonization only needs to benefit the owners and shareholders of space colonization companies, and since that pool of people is relatively small, it is an inefficient generator of utility.
My view is that space colonization should certainly not occur under private companies, and highly likely not occur under global capitalism. And, unless the relationship between humans and wild animals changes dramatically, space colonization should not occur at all.
Note on AI
It seems possible that the vast majority of minds in space will be virtual. If these virtual minds suffer, than the argument still is sound - space exploration only increases the number of suffering minds.
Note on Existential Risk
It seems obvious that most major issues of utility in existential risk are avoided by avoiding space colonization all together. Any capacity for suffering that Earth has is multiplied significantly by space colonization, even if that suffering, in the far future, primarily takes the form of artificial intelligence. To me, existential risk isn't particularly risky (from an ethical perspective) unless humans are essential for managing suffering in ecosystems. If humans colonize space before addressing suffering on Earth, unified attempts to address suffering across the human sphere of influence seem less likely, due to the distances involved. So the impact of existential risks on suffering is low, and will likely remain low for a long time. |
India's inflation rate has slumped to the lowest level of modern times and there is much talk that the Reserve Bank of India will lower interest rates to stimulate the economy--that might take a little longer than many are predicting. We must always distinguish between general inflation, a general upward pressure on the price level, and specific price changes. This current low inflation rate looks much more like the effect of the latter, thus interest rate changes aren't so warranted.
Growth in industrial production fell to a three-month low in May while consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation declined below a stipulated floor of 2 per cent in June, providing the Reserve Bank of India leeway to cut the policy interest rate in August.
The RBI certainly has the power and the room to cut rates, yes, but that's not quite the correct policy decision here. Which is whether the RBI should cut interest rates as a result of the low inflation and that's much less certain:
Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Wednesday showed retail inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose an annual 1.5% in June, slower than previous month's 2.2%. This was the slowest pace of increase since the government unveiled the new retail inflation series in 2012. The previous lows were in 1999 and in 1978 under a different series.
My point being that CPI isn't really the correct inflation measure to be using when considering interest rate changes and inflation. The US Federal Reserve, for example, uses the PCE rate although that's not really the important point here. CPI, PCE, RPI, they all have their slight differences and are useful in slightly different manners. But there's a much more important difference we need to take account of:
Aside from the steep fall in food inflation, which has been downplayed by the RBI time and again, the steady and consistent fall in core inflation (non-food and fuel) could find favour with the central bank.
It's this difference between core and non-core inflation that matters. It does depend upon which government and which statistical system we're talking about as to whether all produce core and non-core PCE and RPI and CPI, but in general the distinction is understood between the two different types of inflation rate:
Data on Wednesday showed headline consumer price inflation fell to 1.5 percent in the year to June from an annual 2.2 percent a month ago and below forecasts for a 1.6 percent reading. That’s below the RBI’s medium term target of 4 percent and through the bottom of its 2 percent projection for the first-half. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel items, also slipped below 4 percent.
We know that both food and fuel are highly variable in price. For example, a year back Indian food prices were soaring. Then a good harvest or two and they've been falling again. A good or a bad harvest is not evidence of a rise in general inflation pressures, nor even of a fall, it's just a change in the relative price of food. Sure, this is important to all sorts of people and for all sorts of reasons. But it's not evidence about general inflationary pressures.
Thus the inflation measure we look to when thinking about interest rates is always a core inflation measure. That's, for the RBI, just about on target right now so we might wait longer than many think for a change in Indian interest rates. |
First published Fri Jun 18, 2004; substantive revision Tue Jan 14, 2014
Perhaps no aspect of mind is more familiar or more puzzling than consciousness and our conscious experience of self and world. The problem of consciousness is arguably the central issue in current theorizing about the mind. Despite the lack of any agreed upon theory of consciousness, there is a widespread, if less than universal, consensus that an adequate account of mind requires a clear understanding of it and its place in nature. We need to understand both what consciousness is and how it relates to other, nonconscious, aspects of reality.
Questions about the nature of conscious awareness have likely been asked for as long as there have been humans. Neolithic burial practices appear to express spiritual beliefs and provide early evidence for at least minimally reflective thought about the nature of human consciousness (Pearson 1999, Clark and Riel-Salvatore 2001). Preliterate cultures have similarly been found invariably to embrace some form of spiritual or at least animist view that indicates a degree of reflection about the nature of conscious awareness.
Nonetheless, some have argued that consciousness as we know it today is a relatively recent historical development that arose sometime after the Homeric era (Jaynes 1974). According to this view, earlier humans including those who fought the Trojan War did not experience themselves as unified internal subjects of their thoughts and actions, at least not in the ways we do today. Others have claimed that even during the classical period, there was no word of ancient Greek that corresponds to “consciousness” (Wilkes 1984, 1988, 1995). Though the ancients had much to say about mental matters, it is less clear whether they had any specific concepts or concerns for what we now think of as consciousness.
Although the words “conscious” and “conscience” are used quite differently today, it is likely that the Reformation emphasis on the latter as an inner source of truth played some role in the inward turn so characteristic of the modern reflective view of self. The Hamlet who walked the stage in 1600 already saw his world and self with profoundly modern eyes.
By the beginning of the early modern era in the seventeenth century, consciousness had come full center in thinking about the mind. Indeed from the mid-17th through the late 19th century, consciousness was widely regarded as essential or definitive of the mental. René Descartes defined the very notion of thought (pensée) in terms of reflexive consciousness or self-awareness. In the Principles of Philosophy (1640) he wrote,
By the word ‘thought’ (‘pensée’) I understand all that of which we are conscious as operating in us.
Later, toward the end of the 17th century, John Locke offered a similar if slightly more qualified claim in An Essay on Human Understanding (1688),
I do not say there is no soul in man because he is not sensible of it in his sleep. But I do say he can not think at any time, waking or sleeping, without being sensible of it. Our being sensible of it is not necessary to anything but our thoughts, and to them it is and to them it always will be necessary.
Locke explicitly forswore making any hypothesis about the substantial basis of consciousness and its relation to matter, but he clearly regarded it as essential to thought as well as to personal identity.
Locke's contemporary G.W. Leibniz, drawing possible inspiration from his mathematical work on differentiation and integration, offered a theory of mind in the Discourse on Metaphysics (1686) that allowed for infinitely many degrees of consciousness and perhaps even for some thoughts that were unconscious, the so called “petites perceptions”. Leibniz was the first to distinguish explicitly between perception and apperception, i.e., roughly between awareness and self-awareness. In the Monadology (1720) he also offered his famous analogy of the mill to express his belief that consciousness could not arise from mere matter. He asked his reader to imagine someone walking through an expanded brain as one would walk through a mill and observing all its mechanical operations, which for Leibniz exhausted its physical nature. Nowhere, he asserts, would such an observer see any conscious thoughts.
Despite Leibniz's recognition of the possibility of unconscious thought, for most of the next two centuries the domains of thought and consciousness were regarded as more or less the same. Associationist psychology, whether pursued by Locke or later in the eighteenth century by David Hume (1739) or in the nineteenth by James Mill (1829), aimed to discover the principles by which conscious thoughts or ideas interacted or affected each other. James Mill's son, John Stuart Mill continued his father's work on associationist psychology, but he allowed that combinations of ideas might produce resultants that went beyond their constituent mental parts, thus providing an early model of mental emergence (1865).
The purely associationist approach was critiqued in the late eighteenth century by Immanuel Kant (1787), who argued that an adequate account of experience and phenomenal consciousness required a far richer structure of mental and intentional organization. Phenomenal consciousness according to Kant could not be a mere succession of associated ideas, but at a minimum had to be the experience of a conscious self situated in an objective world structured with respect to space, time and causality.
Within the Anglo-American world, associationist approaches continued to be influential in both philosophy and psychology well into the twentieth century, while in the German and European sphere there was a greater interest in the larger structure of experience that lead in part to the study of phenomenology through the work of Edmund Husserl (1913, 1929), Martin Heidegger (1927), Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1945) and others who expanded the study of consciousness into the realm of the social, the bodily and the interpersonal.
At the outset of modern scientific psychology in the mid-nineteenth century, the mind was still largely equated with consciousness, and introspective methods dominated the field as in the work of Wilhelm Wundt (1897), Hermann von Helmholtz (1897), William James (1890) and Alfred Titchener (1901). However, the relation of consciousness to brain remained very much a mystery as expressed in T. H. Huxley's famous remark,
How it is that anything so remarkable as a state of consciousness comes about as a result of irritating nervous tissue, is just as unaccountable as the appearance of the Djin, when Aladdin rubbed his lamp (1866).
The early twentieth century saw the eclipse of consciousness from scientific psychology, especially in the United States with the rise of behaviorism (Watson 1924, Skinner 1953) though movements such as Gestalt psychology kept it a matter of ongoing scientific concern in Europe (Köhler 1929, Köffka 1935). In the 1960s, the grip of behaviorism weakened with the rise of cognitive psychology and its emphasis on information processing and the modeling of internal mental processes (Neisser 1965, Gardiner 1985). However, despite the renewed emphasis on explaining cognitive capacities such as memory, perception and language comprehension, consciousness remained a largely neglected topic for several further decades.
In the 1980s and 90s there was a major resurgence of scientific and philosophical research into the nature and basis of consciousness (Baars 1988, Dennett 1991, Penrose 1989, 1994, Crick 1994, Lycan 1987, 1996, Chalmers 1996). Once consciousness was back under discussion, there was a rapid proliferation of research with a flood of books and articles, as well as the introduction of specialty journals (The Journal of Consciousness Studies, Consciousness and Cognition, Psyche), professional societies (Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness—ASSC) and annual conferences devoted exclusively to its investigation (“The Science of Consciousness”).
The words “conscious” and “consciousness” are umbrella terms that cover a wide variety of mental phenomena. Both are used with a diversity of meanings, and the adjective “conscious” is heterogeneous in its range, being applied both to whole organisms—creature consciousness—and to particular mental states and processes—state consciousness (Rosenthal 1986, Gennaro 1995, Carruthers 2000).
An animal, person or other cognitive system may be regarded as conscious in a number of different senses.
Sentience. It may be conscious in the generic sense of simply being a sentient creature, one capable of sensing and responding to its world (Armstrong 1981). Being conscious in this sense may admit of degrees, and just what sort of sensory capacities are sufficient may not be sharply defined. Are fish conscious in the relevant respect? And what of shrimp or bees?
Wakefulness. One might further require that the organism actually be exercising such a capacity rather than merely having the ability or disposition to do so. Thus one might count it as conscious only if it were awake and normally alert. In that sense organisms would not count as conscious when asleep or in any of the deeper levels of coma. Again boundaries may be blurry, and intermediate cases may be involved. For example, is one conscious in the relevant sense when dreaming, hypnotized or in a fugue state?
Self-consciousness. A third and yet more demanding sense might define conscious creatures as those that are not only aware but also aware that they are aware, thus treating creature consciousness as a form of self-consciousness (Carruthers 2000). The self-awareness requirement might get interpreted in a variety of ways, and which creatures would qualify as conscious in the relevant sense will vary accordingly. If it is taken to involve explicit conceptual self-awareness, many non-human animals and even young children might fail to qualify, but if only more rudimentary implicit forms of self-awareness are required then a wide range of nonlinguistic creatures might count as self-conscious.
What it is like. Thomas Nagel's (1974) famous“what it is like” criterion aims to capture another and perhaps more subjective notion of being a conscious organism. According to Nagel, a being is conscious just if there is “something that it is like” to be that creature, i.e., some subjective way the world seems or appears from the creature's mental or experiential point of view. In Nagel's example, bats are conscious because there is something that it is like for a bat to experience its world through its echo-locatory senses, even though we humans from our human point of view can not emphatically understand what such a mode of consciousness is like from the bat's own point of view.
Subject of conscious states. A fifth alternative would be to define the notion of a conscious organism in terms of conscious states. That is, one might first define what makes a mental state a conscious mental state, and then define being a conscious creature in terms of having such states. One's concept of a conscious organism would then depend upon the particular account one gives of conscious states (section 2.2).
Transitive Consciousness. In addition to describing creatures as conscious in these various senses, there are also related senses in which creatures are described as being conscious of various things. The distinction is sometimes marked as that between transitive and intransitive notions of consciousness, with the former involving some object at which consciousness is directed (Rosenthal 1986).
The notion of a conscious mental state also has a variety of distinct though perhaps interrelated meanings. There are at least six major options.
States one is aware of. On one common reading, a conscious mental state is simply a mental state one is aware of being in (Rosenthal 1986, 1996). Conscious states in this sense involve a form of meta-mentality or meta-intentionality in so far as they require mental states that are themselves about mental states. To have a conscious desire for a cup of coffee is to have such a desire and also to be simultaneously and directly aware that one has such a desire. Unconscious thoughts and desires in this sense are simply those we have without being aware of having them, whether our lack of self-knowledge results from simple inattention or more deeply psychoanalytic causes.
Qualitative states. States might also be regarded as conscious in a seemingly quite different and more qualitative sense. That is, one might count a state as conscious just if it has or involves qualitative or experiential properties of the sort often referred to as “qualia” or “raw sensory feels”. (See the entry on qualia.) One's perception of the Merlot one is drinking or of the fabric one is examining counts as a conscious mental state in this sense because it involves various sensory qualia, e.g., taste qualia in the wine case and color qualia in one's visual experience of the cloth. There is considerable disagreement about the nature of such qualia (Churchland 1985, Shoemaker 1990, Clark 1993, Chalmers 1996) and even about their existence. Traditionally qualia have been regarded as intrinsic, private, ineffable monadic features of experience, but current theories of qualia often reject at least some of those commitments (Dennett 1990).
Phenomenal states. Such qualia are sometimes referred to as phenomenal properties and the associated sort of consciousness as phenomenal consciousness, but the latter term is perhaps more properly applied to the overall structure of experience and involves far more than sensory qualia. The phenomenal structure of consciousness also encompasses much of the spatial, temporal and conceptual organization of our experience of the world and of ourselves as agents in it. (See section 4.3) It is therefore probably best, at least initially, to distinguish the concept of phenomenal consciousness from that of qualitative consciousness, though they no doubt overlap.
What-it-is-like states. Consciousness in both those senses links up as well with Thomas Nagel's (1974) notion of a conscious creature, insofar as one might count a mental state as conscious in the “what it is like” sense just if there is something that it is like to be in that state. Nagel's criterion might be understood as aiming to provide a first-person or internal conception of what makes a state a phenomenal or qualitative state.
Access consciousness. States might be conscious in a seemingly quite different access sense, which has more to do with intra-mental relations. In this respect, a state's being conscious is a matter of its availability to interact with other states and of the access that one has to its content. In this more functional sense, which corresponds to what Ned Block (1995) calls access consciousness, a visual state's being conscious is not so much a matter of whether or not it has a qualitative “what it's likeness”, but of whether or not it and the visual information that it carries is generally available for use and guidance by the organism. In so far as the information in that state is richly and flexibly available to its containing organism, then it counts as a conscious state in the relevant respect, whether or not it has any qualitative or phenomenal feel in the Nagel sense.
Narrative consciousness. States might also be regarded as conscious in a narrative sense that appeals to the notion of the “stream of consciousness”, regarded as an ongoing more or less serial narrative of episodes from the perspective of an actual or merely virtual self. The idea would be to equate the person's conscious mental states with those that appear in the stream (Dennett 1991, 1992).
Although these six notions of what makes a state conscious can be independently specified, they are obviously not without potential links, nor do they exhaust the realm of possible options. Drawing connections, one might argue that states appear in the stream of consciousness only in so far as we are aware of them, and thus forge a bond between the first meta-mental notion of a conscious state and the stream or narrative concept. Or one might connect the access with the qualitative or phenomenal notions of a conscious state by trying to show that states that represent in those ways make their contents widely available in the respect required by the access notion.
Aiming to go beyond the six options, one might distinguish conscious from nonconscious states by appeal to aspects of their intra-mental dynamics and interactions other than mere access relations; e.g., conscious states might manifest a richer stock of content-sensitive interactions or a greater degree of flexible purposive guidance of the sort associated with the self-conscious control of thought. Alternatively, one might try to define conscious states in terms of conscious creatures. That is, one might give some account of what it is to be a conscious creature or perhaps even a conscious self, and then define one's notion of a conscious state in terms of being a state of such a creature or system, which would be the converse of the last option considered above for defining conscious creatures in terms of conscious mental states.
The noun “consciousness” has an equally diverse range of meanings that largely parallel those of the adjective “conscious”. Distinctions can be drawn between creature and state consciousness as well as among the varieties of each. One can refer specifically to phenomenal consciousness, access consciousness, reflexive or meta-mental consciousness, and narrative consciousness among other varieties.
Here consciousness itself is not typically treated as a substantive entity but merely the abstract reification of whatever property or aspect is attributed by the relevant use of the adjective “conscious”. Access consciousness is just the property of having the required sort of internal access relations, and qualitative consciousness is simply the property that is attributed when “conscious” is applied in the qualitative sense to mental states. How much this commits one to the ontological status of consciousness per se will depend on how much of a Platonist one is about universals in general. (See the entry on the medieval problem of universals.) It need not commit one to consciousness as a distinct entity any more than one's use of “square”, “red” or “gentle” commits one to the existence of squareness, redness or gentleness as distinct entities.
Though it is not the norm, one could nonetheless take a more robustly realist view of consciousness as a component of reality. That is one could think of consciousness as more on a par with electromagnetic fields than with life.
Since the demise of vitalism, we do not think of life per se as something distinct from living things. There are living things including organisms, states, properties and parts of organisms, communities and evolutionary lineages of organisms, but life is not itself a further thing, an additional component of reality, some vital force that gets added into living things. We apply the adjectives “living” and “alive” correctly to many things, and in doing so we might be said to be attributing life to them but with no meaning or reality other than that involved in their being living things.
Electromagnetic fields by contrast are regarded as real and independent parts of our physical world. Even though one may sometimes be able to specify the values of such a field by appeal to the behavior of particles in it, the fields themselves are regarded as concrete constituents of reality and not merely as abstractions or sets of relations among particles.
Similarly one could regard “consciousness” as referring to a component or aspect of reality that manifests itself in conscious states and creatures but is more than merely the abstract nominalization of the adjective “conscious” we apply to them. Though such strongly realist views are not very common at present, they should be included within the logical space of options.
There are thus many concepts of consciousness, and both “conscious” and “consciousness” are used in a wide range of ways with no privileged or canonical meaning. However, this may be less of an embarrassment than an embarrassment of riches. Consciousness is a complex feature of the world, and understanding it will require a diversity of conceptual tools for dealing with its many differing aspects. Conceptual plurality is thus just what one would hope for. As long as one avoids confusion by being clear about one's meanings, there is great value in having a variety of concepts by which we can access and grasp consciousness in all its rich complexity. However, one should not assume that conceptual plurality implies referential divergence. Our multiple concepts of consciousness may in fact pick out varying aspects of a single unified underlying mental phenomenon. Whether and to what extent they do so remains an open question.
The task of understanding consciousness is an equally diverse project. Not only do many different aspects of mind count as conscious in some sense, each is also open to various respects in which it might be explained or modeled. Understanding consciousness involves a multiplicity not only of explananda but also of questions that they pose and the sorts of answers they require. At the risk of oversimplifying, the relevant questions can be gathered under three crude rubrics as the What, How, and Why questions:
The Descriptive Question: What is consciousness? What are its principal features? And by what means can they be best discovered, described and modeled?
The Explanatory Question: How does consciousness of the relevant sort come to exist? Is it a primitive aspect of reality, and if not how does (or could) consciousness in the relevant respect arise from or be caused by nonconscious entities or processes?
The Functional Question: Why does consciousness of the relevant sort exist? Does it have a function, and if so what is it? Does it act causally and if so with what sorts of effects? Does it make a difference to the operation of systems in which it is present, and if so why and how?
The three questions focus respectively on describing the features of consciousness, explaining its underlying basis or cause, and explicating its role or value. The divisions among the three are of course somewhat artificial, and in practice the answers one gives to each will depend in part on what one says about the others. One can not, for example, adequately answer the what question and describe the main features of consciousness without addressing the why issue of its functional role within systems whose operations it affects. Nor could one explain how the relevant sort of consciousness might arise from nonconscious processes unless one had a clear account of just what features had to be caused or realized to count as producing it. Those caveats notwithstanding, the three-way division of questions provides a useful structure for articulating the overall explanatory project and for assessing the adequacy of particular theories or models of consciousness.
The What question asks us to describe and model the principal features of consciousness, but just which features are relevant will vary with the sort of consciousness we aim to capture. The main properties of access consciousness may be quite unlike those of qualitative or phenomenal consciousness, and those of reflexive consciousness or narrative consciousness may differ from both. However, by building up detailed theories of each type, we may hope to find important links between them and perhaps even to discover that they coincide in at least some key respects.
The general descriptive project will require a variety of investigational methods (Flanagan 1992). Though one might naively regard the facts of consciousness as too self-evident to require any systematic methods of gathering data, the epistemic task is in reality far from trivial (Husserl 1913).
First-person introspective access provides a rich and essential source of insight into our conscious mental life, but it is neither sufficient in itself nor even especially helpful unless used in a trained and disciplined way. Gathering the needed evidence about the structure of experience requires us both to become phenomenologically sophisticated self-observers and to complement our introspective results with many types of third-person data available to external observers (Searle 1992, Varela 1995, Siewert 1998)
As phenomenologists have known for more than a century, discovering the structure of conscious experience demands a rigorous inner-directed stance that is quite unlike our everyday form of self-awareness (Husserl 1929, Merleau-Ponty 1945). Skilled observation of the needed sort requires training, effort and the ability to adopt alternative perspectives on one's experience.
The need for third-person empirical data gathered by external observers is perhaps most obvious with regard to the more clearly functional types of consciousness such as access consciousness, but it is required even with regard to phenomenal and qualitative consciousness. For example, deficit studies that correlate various neural and functional sites of damage with abnormalities of conscious experience can make us aware of aspects of phenomenal structure that escape our normal introspective awareness. As such case studies show, things can come apart in experience that seem inseparably unified or singular from our normal first-person point of view (Sacks 1985, Shallice 1988, Farah 1995).
Or to pick another example, third-person data can make us aware of how our experiences of acting and our experiences of event-timing affect each other in ways that we could never discern through mere introspection (Libet 1985, Wegner 2002). Nor are the facts gathered by these third person methods merely about the causes or bases of consciousness; they often concern the very structure of phenomenal consciousness itself. First-person, third-person and perhaps even second-person (Varela 1995) interactive methods will all be needed to collect the requisite evidence.
Using all these sources of data, we will hopefully be able to construct detailed descriptive models of the various sorts of consciousness. Though the specific features of most importance may vary among the different types, our overall descriptive project will need to address at least the following seven general aspects of consciousness (sections 4.2–4.7).
Qualitative character is often equated with so called “raw feels” and illustrated by the redness one experiences when one looks at ripe tomatoes or the specific sweet savor one encounters when one tastes an equally ripe pineapple (Locke 1688). The relevant sort of qualitative character is not restricted to sensory states, but is typically taken to be present as an aspect of experiential states in general, such as experienced thoughts or desires (Siewert 1998).
The existence of such feels may seem to some to mark the threshold for states or creatures that are really conscious. If an organism senses and responds in apt ways to its world but lacks such qualia, then it might count as conscious at best in a loose and less than literal sense. Or so at least it would seem to those who take qualitative consciousness in the “what it is like” sense to be philosophically and scientifically central (Nagel 1974, Chalmers 1996).
Qualia problems in many forms—Can there be inverted qualia? (Block 1980a 1980b, Shoemaker 1981, 1982) Are qualia epiphenomenal? (Jackson 1982, Chalmers 1996) How could neural states give rise to qualia? (Levine 1983, McGinn 1991)—have loomed large in the recent past. But the What question raises a more basic problem of qualia: namely that of giving a clear and articulated description of our qualia space and the status of specific qualia within it.
Absent such a model, factual or descriptive errors are all too likely. For example, claims about the unintelligibility of the link between experienced red and any possible neural substrate of such an experience sometimes treat the relevant color quale as a simple and sui generis property (Levine 1983), but phenomenal redness in fact exists within a complex color space with multiple systematic dimensions and similarity relations (Hardin 1992). Understanding the specific color quale relative to that larger relational structure not only gives us a better descriptive grasp of its qualitative nature, it may also provide some “hooks” to which one might attach intelligible psycho-physical links.
Color may be the exception in terms of our having a specific and well developed formal understanding of the relevant qualitative space, but it is not likely an exception with regard to the importance of such spaces to our understanding of qualitative properties in general (Clark 1993, P.M. Churchland 1995). (See the entry on qualia.)
Phenomenal structure should not be conflated with qualitative structure, despite the sometimes interchangeable use of “qualia” and “phenomenal properties” in the literature. “Phenomenal organization” covers all the various kinds of order and structure found within the domain of experience, i.e., within the domain of the world as it appears to us. There are obviously important links between the phenomenal and the qualitative. Indeed qualia might be best understood as properties of phenomenal or experienced objects, but there is in fact far more to the phenomenal than raw feels. As Kant (1787), Husserl (1913), and generations of phenomenologists have shown, the phenomenal structure of experience is richly intentional and involves not only sensory ideas and qualities but complex representations of time, space, cause, body, self, world and the organized structure of lived reality in all its conceptual and nonconceptual forms.
Since many non-conscious states also have intentional and representational aspects, it may be best to consider phenomenal structure as involving a special kind of intentional and representational organization and content, the kind distinctively associated with consciousness (Siewert 1998). (See the entry on representational theories of consciousness).
Answering the What question requires a careful account of the coherent and densely organized representational framework within which particular experiences are embedded. Since most of that structure is only implicit in the organization of experience, it can not just be read off by introspection. Articulating the structure of the phenomenal domain in a clear and intelligible way is a long and difficult process of inference and model building (Husserl 1929). Introspection can aid it, but a lot of theory construction and ingenuity are also needed.
There has been recent philosophical debate about the range of properties that are phenomenally present or manifest in conscious experience, in particular with respect to cognitive states such as believing or thinking. Some have argued for a so called “thin” view according to which phenomenal properties are limited to qualia representing basic sensory properties, such as colors, shapes, tones and feels. According to such theorists, there is no distinctive “what-it-is-likeness” involved in believing that Paris is the capital of France or that 17 is a prime number (Tye, Prinz 2012). Some imagery, e.g., of the Eiffel Tower, may accompany our having such a thought, but that is incidental to it and the cognitive state itself has no phenomenal feel. On the thin view, the phenomenal aspect of perceptual states as well is limited to basic sensory features; when one sees an image of Winston Churchill, one's perceptual phenomenology is limited only to the spatial aspects of his face.
Others holds a “thick” view according to which the phenomenology of perception includes a much wider range of features and cognitive states have a distinctive phenomenology as well (Strawson 2003, Pitt 2004, Seigel 2010). On the thick view, the what-it-is-likeness of perceiving an image of Marilyn Monroe includes one's recognition of her history as part of the felt aspect of the experience, and beliefs and thoughts as well can and typically do have a distinctive nonsensory phenomenology. Both sides of the debate are well represented in the volume Cognitive Phenomenology (Bayne and Montague 2010).
Subjectivity is another notion sometimes equated with the qualitative or the phenomenal aspects of consciousness in the literature, but again there are good reason to recognize it, at least in some of its forms, as a distinct feature of consciousness—related to the qualitative and the phenomenal but different from each. In particular, the epistemic form of subjectivity concerns apparent limits on the knowability or even the understandability of various facts about conscious experience (Nagel 1974, Van Gulick 1985, Lycan 1996).
On Thomas Nagel's (1974) account, facts about what it is like to be a bat are subjective in the relevant sense because they can be fully understood only from the bat-type point of view. Only creatures capable of having or undergoing similar such experiences can understand their what-it's-likeness in the requisite empathetic sense. Facts about conscious experience can be at best incompletely understood from an outside third person point of view, such as those associated with objective physical science. A similar view about the limits of third-person theory seems to lie behind claims regarding what Frank Jackson's (1982) hypothetical Mary, the super color scientist, could not understand about experiencing red because of her own impoverished history of achromatic visual experience.
Whether facts about experience are indeed epistemically limited in this way is open to debate (Lycan 1996), but the claim that understanding consciousness requires special forms of knowing and access from the inside point of view is intuitively plausible and has a long history (Locke 1688). Thus any adequate answer to the What question must address the epistemic status of consciousness, both our abilities to understand it and their limits (Papineau 2002, Chalmers 2003). (See the entry on self-knowledge).
The perspectival structure of consciousness is one aspect of its overall phenomenal organization, but it is important enough to merit discussion in its own right. Insofar as the key perspective is that of the conscious self, the specific feature might be called self-perspectuality. Conscious experiences do not exist as isolated mental atoms, but as modes or states of a conscious self or subject (Descartes 1644, Searle 1992, though pace Hume 1739). A visual experience of a blue sphere is always a matter of there being some self or subject who is appeared to in that way. A sharp and stabbing pain is always a pain felt or experienced by some conscious subject. The self need not appear as an explicit element in our experiences, but as Kant (1787) noted the “I think” must at least potentially accompany each of them.
The self might be taken as the perspectival point from which the world of objects is present to experience (Wittgenstein 1921). It provides not only a spatial and temporal perspective for our experience of the world but one of meaning and intelligibility as well. The intentional coherence of the experiential domain relies upon the dual interdependence between self and world: the self as perspective from which objects are known and the world as the integrated structure of objects and events whose possibilities of being experienced implicitly define the nature and location of the self (Kant 1787, Husserl 1929).
Conscious organisms obviously differ in the extent to which they constitute a unified and coherent self, and they likely differ accordingly in the sort or degree of perspectival focus they embody in their respective forms of experience (Lorenz 1977). Consciousness may not require a distinct or substantial self of the traditional Cartesian sort, but at least some degree of perspectivally self-like organization seems essential for the existence of anything that might count as conscious experience. Experiences seem no more able to exist without a self or subject to undergo them than could ocean waves exist without the sea through which they move. The Descriptive question thus requires some account of the self-perspectival aspect of experience and the self-like organization of conscious minds on which it depends, even if the relevant account treats the self in a relatively deflationary and virtual way (Dennett 1991, 1992).
Unity is closely linked with the self-perspective, but it merits specific mention on its own as a key aspect of the organization of consciousness. Conscious systems and conscious mental states both involve many diverse forms of unity. Some are causal unities associated with the integration of action and control into a unified focus of agency. Others are more representational and intentional forms of unity involving the integration of diverse items of content at many scales and levels of binding (Cleeremans 2003).
Some such integrations are relatively local as when diverse features detected within a single sense modality are combined into a representation of external objects bearing those features, e.g. when one has a conscious visual experience of a moving red soup can passing above a green striped napkin (Triesman and Gelade 1980).
Other forms of intentional unity encompass a far wider range of contents. The content of one's present experience of the room in which one sits depends in part upon its location within a far larger structure associated with one's awareness of one's existence as an ongoing temporally extended observer within a world of spatially connected independently existing objects (Kant 1787, Husserl 1913). The individual experience can have the content that it does only because it resides within that larger unified structure of representation. (See the entry on unity of consciousness.)
Particular attention has been paid recently to the notion of phenomenal unity (Bayne 2010) and its relation to other forms of conscious unity such as those involving representational, functional or neural integration. Some have argued that phenomenal unity can be reduced to representational unity (Tye 2005) while others have denied the possibility of any such reduction (Bayne 2010).
Conscious mental states are typically regarded as having a representational or intentional aspect in so far as they are about things, refer to things or have satisfaction conditions. One's conscious visual experience correctly represents the world if there are lilacs in a white vase on the table (pace Travis 2004), one's conscious memory is of the attack on the World Trade Center, and one's conscious desire is for a glass of cold water. However, nonconscious states can also exhibit intentionality in such ways, and it is important to understand the ways in which the representational aspects of conscious states resemble and differ from those of nonconscious states (Carruthers 2000). Searle (1990) offers a contrary view according to which only conscious states and dispositions to have conscious states can be genuinely intentional, but most theorists regard intentionality as extending widely into the unconscious domain. (See the entry on consciousness and intentionality.)
One potentially important dimension of difference concerns so called transparency, which is an important feature of consciousness in two interrelated metaphoric senses, each of which has an intentional, an experiential and a functional aspect.
Conscious perceptual experience is often said to be transparent, or in G.E. Moore's (1922) phrase “diaphanous”. We transparently “look through” our sensory experience in so far as we seem directly aware of external objects and events present to us rather than being aware of any properties of experience by which it presents or represents such objects to us. When I look out at the wind-blown meadow, it is the undulating green grass of which I am aware not of any green property of my visual experience. (See the entry on representational theories of consciousness.) Moore himself believed we could become aware of those latter qualities with effort and redirection of attention, though some contemporary transparency advocates deny it (Harman 1990, Tye 1995, Kind 2003).
Conscious thoughts and experiences are also transparent in a semantic sense in that their meanings seem immediately known to us in the very act of thinking them (Van Gulick 1992). In that sense we might be said to ‘think right through’ them to what they mean or represent. Transparency in this semantic sense may correspond at least partly with what John Searle calls the “intrinsic intentionality” of consciousness (Searle 1992).
Our conscious mental states seem to have their meanings intrinsically or from the inside just by being what they are in themselves, by contrast with many externalist theories of mental content that ground meaning in causal, counterfactual or informational relations between bearers of intentionality and their semantic or referential objects.
The view of conscious content as intrinsically determined and internally self-evident is sometimes supported by appeals to brain in the vat intuitions, which make it seem that the envatted brain's conscious mental states would keep all their normal intentional contents despite the loss of all their normal causal and informational links to the world (Horgan and Tienson 2002). There is continued controversy about such cases and about competing internalist (Searle 1992) and externalist views (Dretske 1995) of conscious intentionality.
Though semantic transparency and intrinsic intentionality have some affinities, they should not be simply equated, since it may be possible to accommodate the former notion within a more externalist account of content and meaning. Both semantic and sensory transparency obviously concern the representational or intentional aspects of consciousness, but they are also experiential aspects of our conscious life. They are part of what it's like or how it feels phenomenally to be conscious. They also both have functional aspects, in so far as conscious experiences interact with each other in richly content-appropriate ways that manifest our transparent understanding of their contents.
The dynamics of consciousness are evident in the coherent order of its ever changing process of flow and self-transformation, what William James (1890) called the “stream of consciousness.” Some temporal sequences of experience are generated by purely internal factors as when one thinks through a puzzle, and others depend in part upon external causes as when one chases a fly ball, but even the latter sequences are shaped in large part by how consciousness transforms itself.
Whether partly in response to outer influences or entirely from within, each moment to moment sequence of experience grows coherently out of those that preceded it, constrained and enabled by the global structure of links and limits embodied in its underlying prior organization (Husserl 1913). In that respect, consciousness is an autopoietic system, i.e., a self-creating and self-organizing system (Varela and Maturana 1980).
As a conscious mental agent I can do many things such as scan my room, scan a mental image of it, review in memory the courses of a recent restaurant meal along with many of its tastes and scents, reason my way through a complex problem, or plan a grocery shopping trip and execute that plan when I arrive at the market. These are all routine and common activities, but each involves the directed generation of experiences in ways that manifest an implicit practical understanding of their intentional properties and interconnected contents (Van Gulick 2000).
Consciousness is a dynamic process, and thus an adequate descriptive answer to the What question must deal with more than just its static or momentary properties. In particular, it must give some account of the temporal dynamics of consciousness and the ways in which its self-transforming flow reflects both its intentional coherence and the semantic self-understanding embodied in the organized controls through which conscious minds continually remake themselves as autopoietic systems engaged with their worlds.
A comprehensive descriptive account of consciousness would need to deal with more than just these seven features, but having a clear account of each of them would take us a long way toward answering the “What is consciousness?” question.
The How question focuses on explanation rather than description. It asks us to explain the basic status of consciousness and its place in nature. Is it a fundamental feature of reality in its own right, or does its existence depend upon other nonconscious items, be they physical, biological, neural or computational? And if the latter, can we explain or understand how the relevant nonconscious items could cause or realize consciousness? Put simply, can we explain how to make something conscious out of things that are not conscious?
The How question is not a single question, but rather a general family of more specific questions (Van Gulick 1995). They all concern the possibility of explaining some sort or aspect of consciousness, but they vary in their particular explananda, the restrictions on their explanans, and their criteria for successful explanation. For example, one might ask whether we can explain access consciousness computationally by mimicking the requisite access relations in a computational model. Or one might be concerned instead with whether the phenomenal and qualitative properties of a conscious creature's mind can be a priori deduced from a description of the neural properties of its brain processes. Both are versions of the How question, but they ask about the prospects of very different explanatory projects, and thus may differ in their answers (Lycan 1996). It would be impractical, if not impossible, to catalog all the possible versions of the How question, but some of the main options can be listed.
Explananda. Possible explananda would include the various sorts of state and creature consciousness distinguished above, as well as the seven features of consciousness listed in response to the What question. Those two types of explananda overlap and intersect. We might for example aim to explain the dynamic aspect either of phenomenal or of access consciousness. Or we could try to explain the subjectivity of either qualitative or meta-mental consciousness. Not every feature applies to every sort of consciousness, but all apply to several. How one explains a given feature in relation to one sort of consciousness may not correspond with what is needed to explain it relative to another.
Explanans. The range of possible explanans is also diverse. In perhaps its broadest form, the How question asks how consciousness of the relevant sort could be caused or realized by nonconscious items, but we can generate a wealth of more specific questions by further restricting the range of the relevant explanans. One might seek to explain how a given feature of consciousness is caused or realized by underlying neural processes, biological structures, physical mechanisms, functional or teleofunctional relations, computational organization, or even by nonconscious mental states. The prospects for explanatory success will vary accordingly. In general the more limited and elementary the range of the explanans, the more difficult the problem of explaining how could it suffice to produce consciousness (Van Gulick 1995).
Criteria of explanation. The third key parameter is how one defines the criterion for a successful explanation. One might require that the explanandum be a priori deducible from the explanans, although it is controversial whether this is either a necessary or a sufficient criterion for explaining consciousness (Jackson 1993). Its sufficiency will depend in part on the nature of the premises from which the deduction proceeds. As a matter of logic, one will need some bridge principles to connect propositions or sentences about consciousness with those that do not mention it. If one's premises concern physical or neural facts, then one will need some bridge principles or links that connect such facts with facts about consciousness (Kim 1998). Brute links, whether nomic or merely well confirmed correlations, could provide a logically sufficient bridge to infer conclusions about consciousness. But they would probably not allow us to see how or why those connections hold, and thus they would fall short of fully explaining how consciousness exists (Levine 1983, 1993, McGinn 1991).
One could legitimately ask for more, in particular for some account that made intelligible why those links hold and perhaps why they could not fail to do so. A familiar two-stage model for explaining macro-properties in terms of micro-substrates is often invoked. In the first step, one analyzes the macro-property in terms of functional conditions, and then in the second stage one shows that the micro-structures obeying the laws of their own level nomically suffice to guarantee the satisfaction of the relevant functional conditions (Armstrong 1968, Lewis 1972).
The micro-properties of collections of H2O molecules at 20°C suffice to satisfy the conditions for the liquidity of the water they compose. Moreover, the model makes intelligible how the liquidity is produced by the micro-properties. A satisfactory explanation of how consciousness is produced might seem to require a similar two stage story. Without it, even a priori deducibility might seem explanatorily less than sufficient, though the need for such a story remains a matter of controversy (Block and Stalnaker 1999, Chalmers and Jackson 2001).
Our current inability to supply a suitably intelligible link is sometimes described, following Joseph Levine (1983), as the existence of an explanatory gap, and as indicating our incomplete understanding of how consciousness might depend upon a nonconscious substrate, especially a physical substrate. The basic gap claim admits of many variations in generality and thus in strength.
In perhaps its weakest form, it asserts a practical limit on our present explanatory abilities; given our current theories and models we can not now articulate an intelligible link. A stronger version makes an in principle claim about our human capacities and thus asserts that given our human cognitive limits we will never be able to bridge the gap. To us, or creatures cognitively like us, it must remain a residual mystery (McGinn 1991). Colin McGinn (1995) has argued that given the inherently spatial nature of both our human perceptual concepts and the scientific concepts we derive from them, we humans are not conceptually suited for understanding the nature of the psychophysical link. Facts about that link are as cognitively closed to us as are facts about multiplication or square roots to armadillos. They do not fall within our conceptual and cognitive repertoire. An even stronger version of the gap claim removes the restriction to our cognitive nature and denies in principle that the gap can be closed by any cognitive agents.
Those who assert gap claims disagree among themselves about what metaphysical conclusions, if any, follow from our supposed epistemic limits. Levine himself has been reluctant to draw any anti-physicalist ontological conclusions (Levine 1993, 2001). On the other hand some neodualists have tried to use the existence of the gap to refute physicalism (Foster 1996, Chalmers 1996). The stronger one's epistemological premise, the better the hope of deriving a metaphysical conclusion. Thus unsurprisingly, dualist conclusions are often supported by appeals to the supposed impossibility in principle of closing the gap.
If one could see on a priori grounds that there is no way in which consciousness could be intelligibly explained as arising from the physical, it would not be a big step to concluding that it in fact does not do so (Chalmers 1996). However, the very strength of such an epistemological claim makes it difficult to assume with begging the metaphysical result in question. Thus those who wish to use a strong in principle gap claim to refute physicalism must find independent grounds to support it. Some have appealed to conceivability arguments for support, such as the alleged conceivability of zombies molecularly identical with conscious humans but devoid of all phenomenal consciousness (Campbell 1970, Kirk 1974, Chalmers 1996). Other supporting arguments invoke the supposed non-functional nature of consciousness and thus its alleged resistance to the standard scientific method of explaining complex properties (e.g., genetic dominance) in terms of physically realized functional conditions (Block 1980a, Chalmers 1996). Such arguments avoid begging the anti-physicalist question, but they themselves rely upon claims and intuitions that are controversial and not completely independent of one's basic view about physicalism. Discussion on the topic remains active and ongoing.
Our present inability to see any way of closing the gap may exert some pull on our intuitions, but it may simply reflect the limits of our current theorizing rather than an unbridgeable in principle barrier (Dennett 1991). Moreover, some physicalists have argued that explanatory gaps are to be expected and are even entailed by plausible versions of ontological physicalism, ones that treat human agents as physically realized cognitive systems with inherent limits that derive from their evolutionary origin and situated contextual mode of understanding (Van Gulick 1985, 2003; McGinn 1991, Papineau 1995, 2002). On this view, rather than refuting physicalism, the existence of explanatory gaps may confirm it. Discussion and disagreement on these topics remains active and ongoing.
As the need for intelligible linkage has shown, a priori deducibility is not in itself obviously sufficient for successful explanation (Kim 1980), nor is it clearly necessary. Some weaker logical link might suffice in many explanatory contexts. We can sometimes tell enough of a story about how facts of one sort depend upon those of another to satisfy ourselves that the latter do in fact cause or realize the former even if we can not strictly deduce all the former facts from the latter.
Strict intertheoretical deduction was taken as the reductive norm by the logical empiricist account of the unity of science (Putnam and Oppenheim 1958), but in more recent decades a looser nonreductive picture of relations among the various sciences has gained favor. In particular, nonreductive materialists have argued for the so called “autonomy of the special sciences” (Fodor 1974) and for the view that understanding the natural world requires us to use a diversity of conceptual and representational systems that may not be strictly intertranslatable or capable of being put into the tight correspondence required by the older deductive paradigm of interlevel relations (Putnam 1975).
Economics is often cited as an example (Fodor 1974, Searle 1992). Economic facts may be realized by underlying physical processes, but no one seriously demands that we be able to deduce the relevant economic facts from detailed descriptions of their underlying physical bases or that we be able to put the concepts and vocabulary of economics in tight correspondence with those of the physical sciences.
Nonetheless our deductive inability is not seen as cause for ontological misgivings; there is no “money-matter” problem. All that we require is some general and less than deductive understanding of how economic properties and relations might be underlain by physical ones. Thus one might opt for a similar criterion for interpreting the How question and for what counts as explaining how consciousness might be caused or realized by nonconscious items. However, some critics, such as Kim (1987), have challenged the coherence of any view that aims to be both non-reductive and physicalist, though supporters of such views have replied in turn (Van Gulick 1993).
Others have argued that consciousness is especially resistant to explanation in physical terms because of the inherent differences between our subjective and objective modes of understanding. Thomas Nagel famously argued (1974) that there are unavoidable limits placed on our ability to understand the phenomenology of bat experience by our inability to empathetically take on an experiential perspective like that which characterizes the bat's echo-locatory auditory experience of its world. Given our inability to undergo similar experience, we can have at best partial understanding of the nature of such experience. No amount of knowledge gleaned from the external objective third-person perspective of the natural sciences will supposedly suffice to allow us to understand what the bat can understand of its own experience from its internal first-person subjective point of view.
The How question thus subdivides into a diverse family of more specific questions depending upon the specific sort or feature of consciousness one aims to explain, the specific restrictions one places on the range of the explanans and the criterion one uses to define explanatory success. Some of the resulting variants seem easier to answer than others. Progress may seem likely on some of the so called “easy problems” of consciousness, such as explaining the dynamics of access consciousness in terms of the functional or computational organization of the brain (Baars 1988). Others may seem less tractable, especially the so-called “hard problem” (Chalmers 1995) which is more or less that of giving an intelligible account that lets us see in an intuitively satisfying way how phenomenal or “what it's like” consciousness might arise from physical or neural processes in the brain.
Positive answers to some versions of the How questions seem near at hand, but others appear to remain deeply baffling. Nor should we assume that every version has a positive answer. If dualism is true, then consciousness in at least some of its types may be basic and fundamental. If so,we will not be able to explain how it arises from nonconscious items since it simply does not do so.
One's view of the prospects for explaining consciousness will typically depend upon one's perspective. Optimistic physicalists will likely see current explanatory lapses as merely the reflection of the early stage of inquiry and sure to be remedied in the not too distant future (Dennett 1991, Searle 1992, P. M.Churchland 1995). To dualists, those same impasses will signify the bankruptcy of the physicalist program and the need to recognize consciousness as a fundamental constituent of reality in its own right (Robinson 1982, Foster 1989, 1996, Chalmers 1996). What one sees depends in part on where one stands, and the ongoing project of explaining consciousness will be accompanied by continuing debate about its status and prospects for success.
The functional or Why question asks about the value or role or consciousness and thus indirectly about its origin. Does it have a function, and if so what is it? Does it make a difference to the operation of systems in which it is present, and if so why and how? If consciousness exists as a complex feature of biological systems, then its adaptive value is likely relevant to explaining its evolutionary origin, though of course its present function, if it has one, need not be the same as that it may have had when it first arose. Adaptive functions often change over biological time. Questions about the value of consciousness also have a moral dimension in at least two ways. We are inclined to regard an organism's moral status as at least partly determined by the nature and extent to which it is conscious, and conscious states, especially conscious affective states such as pleasures and pains, play a major role in many of the accounts of value that underlie moral theory (Singer 1975).
As with the What and How questions, the Why question poses a general problem that subdivides into a diversity of more specific inquiries. In so far as the various sorts of consciousness, e.g., access, phenomenal, meta-mental, are distinct and separable—which remains an open question—they likely also differ in their specific roles and values. Thus the Why question may well not have a single or uniform answer.
Perhaps the most basic issue posed by any version of the Why question is whether or not consciousness of the relevant sort has any causal impact at all. If it has no effects and makes no causal difference whatsoever, then it would seem unable to play any significant role in the systems or organisms in which it is present, thus undercutting at the outset most inquiries about its possible value. Nor can the threat of epiphenomenal irrelevance be simply dismissed as an obvious non-option, since at least some forms of consciousness have been seriously alleged in the recent literature to lack causal status. (See the entry on epiphenomenalism.) Such worries have been raised especially with regard to qualia and qualitative consciousness (Huxley 1874, Jackson 1982, Chalmers 1996), but challenges have also been leveled against the causal status of other sorts including meta-mental consciousness (Velmans 1991).
Both metaphysical and empirical arguments have been given in support of such claims. Among the former are those that appeal to intuitions about the conceivability and logical possibility of zombies, i.e., of beings whose behavior, functional organization, and physical structure down to the molecular level are identical to those of normal human agents but who lack any qualia or qualitative consciousness. Some (Kirk 1970, Chalmers 1996) assert such beings are possible in worlds that share all our physical laws, but others deny it (Dennett 1991, Levine 2001). If they are possible in such worlds, then it would seem to follow that even in our world, qualia do not affect the course of physical events including those that constitute our human behaviors. If those events unfold in the same way whether or not qualia are present, then qualia appear to be inert or epiphenomenal at least with respect to events in the physical world. However, such arguments and the zombie intuitions on which they rely are controversial and their soundness remains in dispute (Searle 1992, Yablo 1998, Balog 1999).
Arguments of a far more empirical sort have challenged the causal status of meta-mental consciousness, at least in so far as its presence can be measured by the ability to report on one's mental state. Scientific evidence is claimed to show that consciousness of that sort is neither necessary for any type of mental ability nor does it occur early enough to act as a cause of the acts or processes typically thought to be its effects (Velmans 1991). According to those who make such arguments, the sorts of mental abilities that are typically thought to require consciousness can all be realized unconsciously in the absence of the supposedly required self-awareness.
Moreover, even when conscious self-awareness is present, it allegedly occurs too late to be the cause of the relevant actions rather than their result or at best a joint effect of some shared prior cause (Libet 1985). Self-awareness or meta-mental consciousness according to these arguments turns out to be a psychological after-effect rather than an initiating cause, more like a post facto printout or the result displayed on one's computer screen than like the actual processor operations that produce both the computer's response and its display.
Once again the arguments are controversial, and both the supposed data and their interpretation are subjects of lively disagreement (see Flanagan 1992, and commentaries accompanying Velmans 1991). Though the empirical arguments, like the zombie claims, require one to consider seriously whether some forms of consciousness may be less causally potent than is typically assumed, many theorists regard the empirical data as no real threat to the causal status of consciousness.
If the epiphenomenalists are wrong and consciousness, in its various forms, is indeed causal, what sorts of effects does it have and what differences does it make? How do mental processes that involve the relevant sort of consciousness differ form those that lack it? What function(s) might consciousness play? The following six sections (6.2–6.7) discuss some of the more commonly given answers. Though the various functions overlap to some degree, each is distinct, and they differ as well in the sorts of consciousness with which each is most aptly linked.
Increased flexibility and sophistication of control. Conscious mental processes appear to provide highly flexible and adaptive forms of control. Though unconscious automatic processes can be extremely efficient and rapid, they typically operate in ways that are more fixed and predetermined than those which involve conscious self-awareness (Anderson 1983). Conscious awareness is thus of most importance when one is dealing with novel situations and previously unencountered problems or demands (Penfield 1975, Armstrong 1981).
Standard accounts of skill acquisition stress the importance of conscious awareness during the initial learning phase, which gradually gives way to more automatic processes of the sort that require little attention or conscious oversight (Schneider and Shiffrin 1977). Conscious processing allows for the construction or compilation of specifically tailored routines out of elementary units as well as for the deliberate control of their execution.
There is a familiar tradeoff between flexibility and speed; controlled conscious processes purchase their customized versatility at the price of being slow and effortful in contrast to the fluid rapidity of automatic unconscious mental operations (Anderson 1983). The relevant increases in flexibility would seem most closely connected with the meta-mental or higher-order form of consciousness in so far as the enhanced ability to control processes depends upon greater self-awareness. However, flexibility and sophisticated modes of control may be associated as well with the phenomenal and access forms of consciousness.
Enhanced capacity for social coordination. Consciousness of the meta-mental sort may well involve not only an increase in self-awareness but also an enhanced understanding of the mental states of other minded creatures, especially those of other members of one's social group (Humphreys 1982). Creatures that are conscious in the relevant meta-mental sense not only have beliefs, motives, perceptions and intentions but understand what it is to have such states and are aware of both themselves and others as having them.
This increase in mutually shared knowledge of each other's minds, enables the relevant organisms to interact, cooperate and communicate in more advanced and adaptive ways. Although meta-mental consciousness is the sort most obviously linked to such a socially coordinative role, narrative consciousness of the kind associated with the stream of consciousness is also clearly relevant in so far as it involves the application to one's own case of the interpretative abilities that derive in part from their social application (Ryle 1949, Dennett 1978, 1992).
More unified and densely integrated representation of reality. Conscious experience presents us with a world of objects independently existing in space and time. Those objects are typically present to us in a multi-modal fashion that involves the integration of information from various sensory channels as well as from background knowledge and memory. Conscious experience presents us not with isolated properties or features but with objects and events situated in an ongoing independent world, and it does so by embodying in its experiential organization and dynamics the dense network of relations and interconnections that collectively constitute the meaningful structure of a world of objects (Kant 1787, Husserl 1913, Campbell 1997).
Of course, not all sensory information need be experienced to have an adaptive effect on behavior. Adaptive non-experiential sensory-motor links can be found both in simple organisms, as well as in some of the more direct and reflexive processes of higher organisms. But when experience is present, it provides a more unified and integrated representation of reality, one that typically allows for more open-ended avenues of response (Lorenz 1977). Consider for example the representation of space in an organism whose sensory input channels are simply linked to movement or to the orientation of a few fixed mechanisms such as those for feeding or grabbing prey, and compare it with that in an organism capable of using its spatial information for flexible navigation of its environment and for whatever other spatially relevant aims or goals it may have, as when a person visually scans her office or her kitchen (Gallistel 1990).
It is representation of this latter sort that is typically made available by the integrated mode of presentation associated with conscious experience. The unity of experienced space is just one example of the sort of integration associated with our conscious awareness of an objective world. (See the entry on unity of consciousness.)
This integrative role or value is most directly associated with access consciousness, but also clearly with the larger phenomenal and intentional structure of experience. It is relevant even to the qualitative aspect of consciousness in so far as qualia play an important role in our experience of unified objects in a unified space or scene. It is intimately tied as well to the transparency of experience described in response to the What question, especially to semantic transparency (Van Gulick 1993). Integration of information plays a major role in several current neuro-cognitive theories of consciousness especially Global Workspace theories (see section 9.5) and Giulio Tononi's Integrated Information theory. (section 9.6 below).
More global informational access. The information carried in conscious mental states is typically available for use by a diversity of mental subsystems and for application to a wide range of potential situations and actions (Baars 1988). Nonconscious information is more likely to be encapsulated within particular mental modules and available for use only with respect to the applications directly connected to that subsystem's operation (Fodor 1983). Making information conscious typically widens the sphere of its influence and the range of ways it which it can be used to adaptively guide or shape both inner and outer behavior. A state's being conscious may be in part a matter of what Dennett calls “cerebral celebrity”, i.e., of its ability to have a content-appropriate impact on other mental states.
This particular role is most directly and definitionally tied to the notion of access consciousness (Block 1995), but meta-mental consciousness as well as the phenomenal and qualitative forms all seem plausibly linked to such increases in the availability of information (Armstrong 1981, Tye 1985). Diverse cognitive and neuro-cognitive theories incorporate access as a central feature of consciousness and conscious processing. Global Workspace theories, Prinz's Attendend Intermediate Representation (AIR) (Prinz 2012) and Tononi's Integrated Information Theory (IIT) all distinguish conscious states and processes at least partly in terms of enhanced wide spread access to the state's content (See section 9.6)
Increased freedom of choice or free will. The issue of free will remains a perennial philosophical problem, not only with regard to whether or not it exists but even as to what it might or should consist in (Dennett 1984, van Inwagen 1983, Hasker 1999, Wegner 2002). (See the entry on free will.) The notion of free will may itself remain too murky and contentious to shed any clear light on the role of consciousness, but there is a traditional intuition that the two are deeply linked.
Consciousness has been thought to open a realm of possibilities, a sphere of options within which the conscious self might choose or act freely. At a minimum, consciousness might seem a necessary precondition for any such freedom or self-determination (Hasker 1999). How could one engage in the requisite sort of free choice, while remaining solely within the unconscious domain? How can one determine one's own will without being conscious of it and of the options one has to shape it.
The freedom to chose one's actions and the ability to determine one's own nature and future development may admit of many interesting variations and degrees rather than being a simple all or nothing matter, and various forms or levels of consciousness might be correlated with corresponding degrees or types of freedom and self-determination (Dennett 1984, 2003). The link with freedom seems strongest for the meta-mental form of consciousness given its emphasis on self-awareness, but potential connections also seem possible for most of the other sorts as well.
Intrinsically motivating states. At least some conscious states appear to have the motive force they do intrinsically. In particular, the functional and motivational roles of conscious affective states, such as pleasures and pains, seem intrinsic to their experiential character and inseparable from their qualitative and phenomenal properties, though the view has been challenged (Nelkin 1989, Rosenthal 1991). The attractive positive motivational aspect of a pleasure seems a part of its directly experienced phenomenal feel, as does the negative affective character of a pain, at least in the case of normal non-pathological experience.
There is considerable disagreement about the extent to which the feel and motive force of pain can dissociate in abnormal cases, and some have denied the existence of such intrinsically motivating aspects altogether (Dennett 1991). However, at least in the normal case, the negative motivational force of pain seems built right into the feel of the experience itself.
Just how this might be so remains less than clear, and perhaps the appearance of intrinsic and directly experienced motivational force is illusory. But if it is real, then it may be one of the most important and evolutionarily oldest respects in which consciousness makes a difference to the mental systems and processes in which it is present (Humphreys 1992).
Other suggestions have been made about the possible roles and value of consciousness, and these six surely do not exhaust the options. Nonetheless, they are among the most prominent recent hypotheses, and they provide a fair survey of the sorts of answers that have been offered to the Why question by those who believe consciousness does indeed make a difference.
One further point requires clarification about the various respects in which the proposed functions might answer the Why question. In particular one should distinguish between constitutive cases and cases of contingent realization. In the former, fulfilling the role constitutes being conscious in the relevant sense, while in the latter case consciousness of a given sort is just one way among several in which the requisite role might be realized (Van Gulick 1993).
For example, making information globally available for use by a wide variety of subsystems and behavioral applications may constitute its being conscious in the access sense. By contrast, even if the qualitative and phenomenal forms of consciousness involve a highly unified and densely integrated representation of objective reality, it may be possible to produce representations having those functional characteristics but which are not qualitative or phenomenal in nature.
The fact that in us the modes of representation with those characteristics also have qualitative and phenomenal properties may reflect contingent historical facts about the particular design solution that happened to arise in our evolutionary ancestry. If so, there may be quite other means of achieving a comparable result without qualitative or phenomenal consciousness. Whether this is the right way to think about phenomenal and qualitative conscious is unclear; perhaps the tie to unified and densely integrated representation is in fact as intimate and constitutive as it seems to be in the case of access consciousness (Carruthers 2000). Regardless of how that issue gets resolved, it is important to not to conflate constitution accounts with contingent realization accounts when addressing the function of consciousness and answering the question of why it exists (Chalmers 1996).
In response to the What, How and Why questions many theories of consciousness have been proposed in recent years. However, not all theories of consciousness are theories of the same thing. They vary not only in the specific sorts of consciousness they take as their object, but also in their theoretical aims.
Perhaps the largest division is between general metaphysical theories that aim to locate consciousness in the overall ontological scheme of reality and more specific theories that offer detailed accounts of its nature, features and role. The line between the two sorts of theories blurs a bit, especially in so far as many specific theories carry at least some implicit commitments on the more general metaphysical issues. Nonetheless, it is useful to keep the division in mind when surveying the range of current theoretical offerings.
General metaphysical theories offer answers to the conscious version of the mind-body problem, “What is the ontological status of consciousness relative to the world of physical reality?” The available responses largely parallel the standard mind-body options including the main versions of dualism and physicalism.
Dualist theories regard at least some aspects of consciousness as falling outside the realm of the physical,but specific forms of dualism differ in just which aspects those are. (See the entry on dualism.)
Substance dualism, such as traditional Cartesian dualism (Descartes 1644), asserts the existence of both physical and non-physical substances. Such theories entail the existence of non-physical minds or selves as entities in which consciousness inheres. Though substance dualism is at present largely out of favor, it does have some contemporary proponents (Swinburne 1986, Foster 1989, 1996).
Property dualism in its several versions enjoys a greater level of current support. All such theories assert the existence of conscious properties that are neither identical with nor reducible to physical properties but which may nonetheless be instantiated by the very same things that instantiate physical properties. In that respect they might be classified as dual aspect theories. They take some parts of reality—organisms, brains, neural states or processes—to instantiate properties of two distinct and disjoint sorts: physical ones and conscious, phenomenal or qualitative ones. Dual aspect or property dualist theories can be of at least three different types.
Fundamental property dualism regards conscious mental properties as basic constituents of reality on a par with fundamental physical properties such as electromagnetic charge. They may interact in causal and law-like ways with other fundamental properties such as those of physics, but ontologically their existence is not dependent upon nor derivative from any other properties (Chalmers 1996).
Emergent property dualism treats conscious properties as arising from complex organizations of physical constituents but as doing so in a radical way such that the emergent result is something over and above its physical causes and is not a priori predictable from nor explicable in terms of their strictly physical natures. The coherence of such emergent views has been challenged (Kim 1998) but they have supporters (Hasker 1999).
Neutral monist property dualism treats both conscious mental properties and physical properties as in some way dependent upon and derivative from a more basic level of reality, that in itself is neither mental nor physical (Russell 1927, Strawson 1994). However, if one takes dualism to be a claim about there being two distinct realms of fundamental entities or properties, then perhaps neutral monism should not be classified as a version of property dualism in so far as it does not regard either mental or physical properties as ultimate or fundamental.
Panpsychism might be regarded as a fourth type of property dualism in that it regards all the constituents of reality as having some psychic, or at least proto-psychic, properties distinct from whatever physical properties they may have (Nagel 1979). Indeed neutral monism might be consistently combined with some version of panprotopsychism (Chalmers 1996) according to which the proto-mental aspects of micro-constituents can give rise under suitable conditions of combination to full blown consciousness. (See the entry on panpsychism.)
The nature of the relevant proto-psychic aspect remains unclear, and such theories face a dilemma if offered in hope of answering the Hard Problem. Either the proto-psychic properties involve the sort of qualitative phenomenal feel that generates the Hard Problem or they do not. If they do, it is difficult to understand how they could possibly occur as ubiquitous properties of reality. How could an electron or a quark have any such experiential feel? However, if the proto-psychic properties do not involve any such feel, it is not clear how they are any better able than physical properties to account for qualitative consciousness in solving the Hard Problem.
A more modest form of panpsychism has been advocated by the neuroscientist Giulio Tononi (2008) and endorsed by other neuroscientists including Christof Koch (2012). This version derives from Tononi's integrated information theory (IIT) of consciousness that identifies consciousness with integrated information which can exist in many degrees (see section 9.6 below). According to IIT, even a simple indicator device such as a single photo diode possesses some degree of integrated information and thus some limited degree of consciousness, a consequence which both Tononi and Koch embrace as a form of panpsychism.
A variety of arguments have been given in favor of dualist and other anti-physicalist theories of consciousness. Some are largelya priori in nature such as those that appeal to the supposed conceivability of zombies (Kirk 1970, Chalmers 1996) or versions of the knowledge argument (Jackson 1982, 1986) which aim to reach an anti-physicalist conclusion about the ontology of consciousness from the apparent limits on our ability to fully understand the qualitative aspects of conscious experience through third-person physical accounts of the brain processes. (See Jackson 1998, 2004 for a contrary view; see also entries on Zombies, and Qualia: The Knowledge Argument) Other arguments for dualism are made on more empirical grounds, such as those that appeal to supposed causal gaps in the chains of physical causation in the brain (Eccles and Popper 1977) or those based on alleged anomalies in the temporal order of conscious awareness (Libet 1982, 1985). Dualist arguments of both sorts have been much disputed by physicalists (P.S. Churchland 1981, Dennett and Kinsbourne 1992).
Most other metaphysical theories of consciousness are versions of physicalism of one familiar sort or another.
Eliminativist theories reductively deny the existence of consciousness or at least the existence of some of its commonly accepted sorts or features. (See the entry on eliminative materialism.) The radical eliminativists reject the very notion of consciousness as muddled or wrong headed and claim that the conscious/nonconscious distinction fails to cut mental reality at its joints (Wilkes 1984, 1988). They regard the idea of consciousness as sufficiently off target to merit elimination and replacement by other concepts and distinctions more reflective of the true nature of mind (P. S. Churchland 1983).
Most eliminativists are more qualified in their negative assessment. Rather than rejecting the notion outright, they take issue only with some of the prominent features that it is commonly thought to involve, such as qualia (Dennett 1990, Carruthers 2000), the conscious self (Dennett 1992), or the so called “Cartesian Theater” where the temporal sequence of conscious experience gets internally projected (Dennett and Kinsbourne 1992). More modest eliminativists, like Dennett, thus typically combine their qualified denials with a positive theory of those aspects of consciousness they take as real, such as the Multiple Drafts Model (section 9.3 below).
Identity theory, at least strict psycho-physical type-type identity theory, offers another strongly reductive option by identifying conscious mental properties, states and processes with physical ones, most typically of a neural or neurophysiological nature. If having a qualitative conscious experience of phenomenal red just is being in a brain state with the relevant neurophysiological properties, then such experiential properties are real but their reality is a straight forwardly physical reality.
Type-type identity theory is so called because it identifies mental and physical types or properties on a par with identifying the property of being water with the property of being composed of H 2 O molecules. After a brief period of popularity in the early days of contemporary physicalism during the 1950s and 60s (Place 1956, Smart 1959) it has been far less widely held because of problems such as the multiple realization objection according to which mental properties are more abstract and thus capable of being realized by many diverse underlying structural or chemical substrates (Fodor 1974, Hellman and Thompson 1975). If one and the same conscious property can be realized by different neurophysiological (or even non-neurophysiological) properties in different organisms, then the two properties can not be strictly identical.
Nonetheless the type-type identity theory has enjoyed a recent if modest resurgence at least with respect to qualia or qualitative conscious properties. This has been in part because treating the relevant psycho-physical link as an identity is thought by some to offer a way of dissolving the explanatory gap problem (Hill and McLaughlin 1998, Papineau 1995, 2003). They argue that if the conscious qualitative property and the neural property are identical, then there is no need to explain how the latter causes or gives rise to the former. It does not cause it, it is it. And thus there is no gap to bridge, and no further explanation is needed. Identities are not the sort of thing that can be explained, since nothing is identical with anything but itself, and it makes no sense to ask why something is identical with itself.
However, others contend that the appeal to type-type identity does not so obviously void the need for explanation (Levine 2001). Even if two descriptions or concepts in fact refer to one and the same property, one may still reasonably expect some explanation of that convergence, some account of how they pick out one and the same thing despite not initially or intuitively seeming to do so. In other cases of empirically discovered property identities, such as that of heat and kinetic energy, there is a story to be told that explains the co-referential convergence, and it seems fair to expect the same in the psycho-physical case. Thus appealing to type-type identities may not in itself suffice to dissolve the explanatory gap problem.
Most physicalist theories of consciousness are neither eliminativist nor based on strict type-type identities. They acknowledge the reality of consciousness but aim to locate it within the physical world on the basis of some psycho-physical relation short of strict property identity.
Among the common variants are those that take conscious reality to supervene on the physical, be composed of the physical, or be realized by the physical.
Functionalist theories in particular rely heavily on the notion of realization to explicate the relation between consciousness and the physical. According to functionalism, a state or process counts as being of a given mental or conscious type in virtue of the functional role it plays within a suitably organized system (Block 1980a). A given physical state realizes the relevant conscious mental type by playing the appropriate role within the larger physical system that contains it. (See the entry on functionalism.) The functionalist often appeals to analogies with other inter-level relations, as between the biological and biochemical or the chemical and the atomic. In each case properties or facts at one level are realized by complex interactions between items at an underlying level.
Critics of functionalism often deny that consciousness can be adequately explicated in functional terms (Block 1980a, 1980b, Levine 1983, Chalmers 1996). According to such critics, consciousness may have interesting functional characteristics but its nature is not essentially functional. Such claims are sometimes supported by appeal to the supposed possibility of absent or inverted qualia, i.e., the possibility of beings who are functionally equivalent to normal humans but who have reversed qualia or none at all. The status of such possibilities is controversial (Shoemaker 1981, Dennett 1990, Carruthers 2000), but if accepted they would seem to pose a problem for the functionalist. (See the entry on qualia.)
Those who ground ontological physicalism on the realization relation often combine it with a nonreductive view at the conceptual or representational level that stresses the autonomy of the special sciences and the distinct modes of description and cognitive access they provide.
Non-reductive physicalism of this sort denies that the theoretical and conceptual resources appropriate and adequate for dealing with facts at the level of the underlying substrate or realization level must be adequate as well for dealing with those at the realized level (Putnam 1975, Boyd 1980). As noted above in response to the How question, one can believe that all economic facts are physically realized without thinking that the resources of the physical sciences provide all the cognitive and conceptual tools we need for doing economics (Fodor 1974).
Nonreductive physicalism has been challenged for its alleged failure to “pay its physicalist dues” in reductive coin. It is faulted for supposedly not giving an adequate account of how conscious properties are or could be realized by underlying neural, physical or functional structures or processes (Kim 1987, 1998). Indeed it has been charged with incoherence because of its attempt to combine a claim of physical realization with the denial of the ability to spell out that relation in a strict and a priori intelligible way (Jackson 2004).
However, as noted above in discussion of the How question, nonreductive physicalists reply by agreeing that some account of psycho-physical realization is indeed needed, but adding that the relevant account may fall far short of a priori deducibility, yet still suffice to satisfy our legitimate explanatory demands (McGinn 1991, Van Gulick 1985). The issue remains under debate.
Although there are many general metaphysical/ontological theories of consciousness, the list of specific detailed theories about its nature is even longer and more diverse. No brief survey could be close to comprehensive, but seven main types of theories may help to indicate the basic range of options: higher-order theories, representational theories, interpretative narrative theories, cognitive theories, neural theories, quantum theories and nonphysical theories. The categories are not mutually exclusive; for example, many cognitive theories also propose a neural substrate for the relevant cognitive processes. Nonetheless grouping them in the seven classes provides a basic overview.
Higher-order (HO) theories analyze the notion of a conscious mental state in terms of reflexive meta-mental self-awareness. The core idea is that what makes a mental state M a conscious mental state is the fact that it is accompanied by a simultaneous and non-inferential higher-order (i.e., meta-mental) state whose content is that one is now in M. Having a conscious desire for some chocolate involves being in two mental states; one must have both a desire for some chocolate and also a higher-order state whose content is that one is now having just such a desire. Unconscious mental states are unconscious precisely in that we lack the relevant higher-order states about them. Their being unconscious consists in the fact that we are not reflexively and directly aware of being in them. (See the entry on higher-order theories of consciousness.)
Higher-order theories come in two main variants that differ concerning the psychological mode of the relevant conscious-making meta-mental states. Higher-order thought (HOT) theories take the required higher-order state to be an assertoric thought-like meta-state (Rosenthal 1986, 1993). Higher-order perception (HOP) theories take them to be more perception-like and associated with a kind of inner sense and intra-mental monitoring systems of some sort (Armstrong 1981, Lycan 1987, 1996).
Each has its relative strengths and problems. HOT theorists note that we have no organs of inner sense and claim that we experience no sensory qualities other than those presented to us by outer directed perception. HOP theorists on the other hand can argue that their view explains some of the additional conditions required by HO accounts as natural consequences of the perception-like nature of the relevant higher-order states. In particular the demands that the conscious-making meta-state be noninferential and simultaneous with its lower level mental object might be explained by the parallel conditions that typically apply to perception. We perceive what is happening now, and we do so in a way that involves no inferences, at least not any explicit personal-level inferences. Those conditions are no less necessary on the HOT view but are left unexplained by it, which might seem to give some explanatory advantage to the HOP model (Lycan 2004, Van Gulick 2000), though some HOT theorists argue otherwise (Carruthers 2000).
Whatever their respective merits, both HOP and HOT theories face some common challenges, including what might be called thegenerality problem. Having a thought or perception of a given item X—be it a rock, a pen or a potato—does not in general make X a conscious X. Seeing or thinking of the potato on the counter does not make it a conscious potato. Why then should having a thought or perception of a given desire or a memory make it a conscious desire or memory (Dretske 1995, Byrne 1997). Nor will it suffice to note that we do not apply the term “conscious” to rocks or pens that we perceive or think of, but only to mental states that we perceive or think of (Lycan 1997, Rosenthal 1997). That may be true, but what is needed is some account of why it is appropriate to do so.
The higher-order view is most obviously relevant to the meta-mental forms of consciousness, but some of its supporters take it to explain other types of consciousness as well, including the more subjective what it's like and qualitative types. One common strategy is to analyze qualia as mental features that are capable of occurring unconsciously; for example they might be explained as properties of inner states whose structured similarity relations given rise to beliefs about objective similarities in the world (Shoemaker 1975, 1990). Though unconscious qualia can play that functional role, there need be nothing that it is like to be in a state that has them (Nelkin 1989, Rosenthal 1991, 1997). According to the HO theorist, what-it's-likeness enters only when we become aware of that first-order state and its qualitative properties by having an appropriate meta-state directed at it.
Critics of the HO view have disputed that account, and some have argued that the notion of unconscious qualia on which it relies is incoherent (Papineau 2002). Whether or not such proposed HO accounts of qualia are successful, it is important to note that most HO advocates take themselves to be offering a comprehensive theory of consciousness, or at least the core of such a general theory, rather than merely one limited to some special meta-mental forms of it.
Other variants of HO theory go beyond the standard HOT and HOP versions including some that analyze consciousness in terms of dispositional rather than occurrent higher-order thoughts (Carruthers 2000). Others appeal to implicit rather than explicit higher-order understanding and weaken or remove the standard assumption that the meta-state must be distinct and separate from its lower-order object (Gennaro 1995, Van Gulick 2000, 2004) with such views overlapping with so called reflexive theories discussed in the section. Other variants of HO theory continue to be offered, and debate between supporters and critics of the basic approach remains active. (See the recent papers in Gennaro 2004.)
Reflexive theories, like higher-order theories, imply a strong link between consciousness and self-awareness. They differ in that they locate the aspect of self-awareness directly within the conscious state itself rather than in a distinct meta-state directed at it. The idea that conscious states involve a double intentionality goes back at least to Brentano (1874) in the 19th century. The conscious state is intentionally directed at an object outside itself—such as a tree or chair in the case of a conscious perception—as well as intentionally directed at itself. One and the same state is both an outer-directed awareness and an awareness of itself. Several recent theories have claimed that such reflexive awareness is a central feature of conscious mental states. Some view themselves as variants of higher-order theory (Gennaro 2004, 2012) while others reject the higher-order category and describe their theories as presenting a “same-order” account of consciousness as self-awareness (Kriegel 2009). Yet others challenge the level distinction by analyzing the meta-intentional content as implicit in the phenomenal first-order content of conscious states, as in so called Higher-Order Global State models (HOGS) (Van Gulick 2004,2006). A sample of papers, some supporting and some attacking the reflexive view can be found in Krigel and Williford (2006).
Almost all theories of consciousness regard it as having representational features, but so called representationalist theories are defined by the stronger view that its representational features exhaust its mental features (Harman 1990, Tye 1995, 2000). According to the representationalist, conscious mental states have no mental properties other than their representational properties. Thus two conscious or experiential states that share all their representational properties will not differ in any mental respect.
The exact force of the claim depends on how one interprets the idea of being “representationally the same” for which there are many plausible alternative criteria. One could define it coarsely in terms of satisfaction or truth conditions, but understood in that way the represent |
There’s no denying the Detroit Tigers played some bad baseball in the month of May, squandering a handful of excellent Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer starts while getting shut down by the likes of Mike Pelfrey and Eric Skoglund. The Tigers had a 4-7 record on their recent road trip, and only managed to put up a .500 record during their last stretch of games at Comerica Park.
FanGraphs currently gives the Tigers a 14.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, while FiveThirtyEight is a little more optimistic, giving the Tigers a 20% percent chance of a playoff berth — although a nice win streak would put both of those numbers back in more respectable territory. The team currently sits three games below the .500 mark with a 25-28 record. Despite their recent series win over the Kansas City Royals on the road, rumors of a trade deadline fire-sale are beginning to bubble up.
Nonetheless, there is reason to believe things could get better for the Tigers. They have had one of the most difficult schedules of any MLB team so far — ESPN’s data suggests the Tigers have had the fourth-toughest schedule in baseball. Without a deep statistical dive, it’s easy to see how Detroit’s June schedule is much more favorable than the previous month. Their next six games are against the Chicago White Sox (24-28) and the newly Mike Trout-less Los Angeles Angels (28-29). The Tigers then take a brief trip to Fenway Park for a three game set against the Boston Red Sox (29-24), followed by another stretch of five games at home, hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks (34-22) and Tampa Bay Rays (29-27). After another West Coast road trip to play the Seattle Mariners (25-30) and San Diego Padres (22-33), the Tigers end the month with a three-game series against the Royals (22-30) and the first game of a series against the Cleveland Indians (28-24).
Five of the Tigers’ nine June opponents currently have a .500 record or lower. Fifteen of their 26 games will be within the friendly confines of Comerica Park. Between all the home games and weaker competition, the month of June represents an excellent opportunity for the Tigers to climb back into the AL Central division race, where they currently sit just 3 1⁄ 2 games behind the Cleveland Indians.
If you paid attention to the 2016 season, this is a familiar dynamic. One calendar year ago, on May 31, the Tigers were 24-27 after a brutal May that saw them win 11 games and lose 17. They put themselves back in the playoff competition with a strong 17-11 record in June.
In spite of their disappointing May in 2017, there are still several dynamics working in their favor. First, the Tigers are finally going to get some much needed days off after a brutal stretch where they played 17 games in 16 days. Second, their bullpen has stabilized, posting a 3.56 ERA in May after an abysmal April.
Most importantly, some problem areas have been addressed. Although the team still has pitching issues and a hole in center field, the front office has been slightly proactive by taking Anibal Sanchez and Tyler Collins off the 25-man roster, both of whom had been dragging down the team.
Meanwhile, the AL Central is wide open. The Indians have not ran away with the division as anticipated — largely because their starting rotation has been just as unstable as Detroit’s thanks to lackluster performances from Josh Tomlin (5.79 ERA), Trevor Bauer (6.00 ERA), and Danny Salazar (5.50 ERA). The Minnesota Twins seem primed to regress giving their recent pitching struggles and the fact that they will play 18 of their next 29 games on the road, including a nine-game West Coast road trip. It’s not hard to see the Tigers giving Cleveland a run for their money (or at least making a bid for a Wild Card spot) if their starting pitching gets a little better and the offense becomes more consistent.
However, the Tigers still have to execute. June looks like an easy month on paper, but bad luck, poor performance, or injuries could all intervene to make it another hard-to-watch month of baseball. But, if you’re inclined to look for light at the end of the tunnel, there is plenty to be found in the Tigers’ June schedule.
Just when you had given up on the Tigers... |
Image copyright AP Image caption So-called Islamic State is alleged to have carried out a string of mustard gas attacks
State media in Syria have accused militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) of using mustard gas against government forces in the north-east.
Troops came under fire at an air base which IS has been trying to capture in Deir al-Zour, they say.
Meanwhile, rebels have shot down a Syrian fighter plane over the province of Aleppo.
Unconfirmed reports say militants from Nusra Front have captured one of the crew alive.
Reuters news agency cites monitoring and rebel sources as saying the pilot was taken by the al-Qaeda-linked group after the plane crashed in countryside.
Syrian state TV said the plane had been shot down by a surface-to-air missile and a rescue operation was under way. It did not say whether the pilot had been captured.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Frame from a video purporting to show the pilot parachuting after his plane was brought down
'Chemicals in rockets'
Reporting on Monday night, the Syrian state news agency Sana said, "Daesh [IS] terrorists attacked Deir al-Zour military airport with rockets carrying mustard gas, causing some people to suffocate."
Large parts of Deir al-Zour city containing about 200,000 people have been besieged by IS for months. Earlier this year the UN started dropping aid to civilians trapped in government-held areas.
The air base, south of the city, is the government's last strategic asset in the province, which is mostly under IS control.
Last month IS was suspected of carrying out a mustard gas attack on the northern Iraqi town of Taza, killing three children and wounding hundreds of people.
It is also reported to have used mustard gas against rebels in Marea, northern Syria, and against Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq last August.
Sulphur mustard - commonly known as "mustard gas" although it is liquid at ambient temperature - is a powerful irritant and blistering agent which causes severe damage to the skin, eyes and respiratory system and internal organs.
The Syrian government has itself been repeatedly accused of perpetrating chemical weapons attacks, something it vehemently denies.
Syria is supposed to be free of chemical weapons since June 2014 under a UN-backed deal. |
If you want to stop police from disproportionately ticketing black communities, a recent study has one potential answer: Elect more black people to local government.
The study, by political science researchers Michael Sances of the University of Memphis and Hye Young You of Vanderbilt University, had two major findings.
Using data from more than 9,000 cities, the researchers first found that cities with larger black populations rely more on fines and court fees to raise revenue. The average collection was about $8 per person for all cities that get at least some revenue from fines and fees, but that rose to as much as $20 per person in the cities with the highest black populations. The findings persisted even after controlling for other factors, such as differences in crime rates and the size of cities.
Then the researchers wanted to look at how much this disparity would be alleviated if at least one black person is on the city council. Using a smaller sample of about 3,700 cities due to data limitations, they found that having at least one black person on the city council reduced the relationship between race and fines by about 50 percent.
“What a lot of cities do is rely on a source of revenue that falls disproportionately on their black residents,” Sances told me. “And when blacks gain representation on the city council, this relationship gets a lot better. The situation doesn’t become perfect, but it becomes alleviated to a great extent.”
The study does not prove causation, and the researchers caution against drawing definitive conclusions from just one study. Although they tried to control for all sorts of variables that could explain the findings, it’s always possible that something else is going on that they missed. The researchers hope to address some of these limitations in future studies.
Nonetheless, the study’s findings are corroborated by a lot of evidence we’ve seen over the past few years — particularly since Black Lives Matter protests rose up in Ferguson, Missouri, following the August 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown. Time and time again, we’ve seen that when cash-strapped cities need revenue, they use their police departments to ticket vulnerable populations, particularly racial minorities.
The study adds to the existing evidence by offering a potential solution: electing more black representation to local governments. The researchers can’t definitively explain why this is the case. But one possibility is that black politicians are more receptive to black voters’ concerns, so they’ll often hear complaints about fines from their black constituents and tell the local police department to stop exploitative practices.
One caveat, though, is that the researchers don’t expect even full black representation to completely solve this problem. “There’s a degree of influence there for sure,” Sances said. But “we don’t assume city councils have perfect control over the police.”
The study gives more evidence to a long-existing concern
The exploitation of black populations for local revenue is not new. This has often been a big concern in many cities with large black populations, including Ferguson.
After Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, the US Department of Justice released a report validating many of these concerns. The March 2015 report found that city officials worked together at every level of enforcement — from city management to the local prosecutor to the police department — to make as much money from fines and court fees as possible, ranging from schemes to raise total fines for municipal code violations to asking cops to write as many citations as possible.
Law enforcement appeared to deliberately target black residents: Although black people made up about 67 percent of Ferguson's population, about 85 percent of the people stopped and about 90 percent of the people who received a citation were black.
So what explains this? One possibility is that police are simply targeting the people who are most vulnerable and less likely to have any political clout.
Some cops have admitted to this. “When you put any type of numbers on a police officer to perform, we are going to go to the most vulnerable,” Adhyl Polanco, a New York City police officer, told WNBC last year. “We’re going to [the] LGBT community, we’re going to the black community, we’re going to go to those people that have no boat, that have no power.”
Indeed, Sances named this as one of the possible explanations for his study’s findings. “These city officials are taking advantage of a population that’s basically voiceless,” he told me.
This would also explain why local black representation seems to offer a bulwark against the problem: By electing a black council member who’s more likely to listen to black voters’ concerns, black populations see their political clout — and ability to complain about potential police exploitation — grow.
These kinds of issues lead to more distrust in the law, which can lead to more crime
The practices exposed by the study are not only unfair but also may make it more difficult for police to do their chief job: fight crime.
The idea, known as “legal cynicism,” is simple: The government is going to have a much harder time enforcing the law when large segments of the population don’t trust it or its laws.
This is a major explanation for why predominantly minority communities tend to have more crime than other communities: After centuries of neglect and abuse, black and brown Americans are simply much less likely to turn to police for help — and that may lead a small but significant segment of these communities to resort to its own means, including violence, to solve interpersonal conflicts.
There’s research to back this up. A 2016 study, from sociologists Matthew Desmond of Harvard, Andrew Papachristos of Yale, and David Kirk of Oxford, looked at 911 calls in Milwaukee after incidents of police brutality hit the news.
They found that after the 2004 police beating of Frank Jude, 17 percent (22,200) fewer 911 calls were made in the following year compared with the number of calls that would have been made had the Jude beating never happened. More than half of the effect came from fewer calls in black neighborhoods. And the effect persisted for more than a year, even after the officers involved in the beating were punished. Researchers found similar impacts on local 911 calls after other high-profile incidents of police violence.
But crime still happened in these neighborhoods. As 911 calls dropped, researchers also found a rise in homicides. They note that “the spring and summer that followed Jude’s story were the deadliest in the seven years observed in our study.”
That suggests that people were simply dealing with crime themselves. And although the researchers couldn’t definitively prove it, that might mean civilians took to their own — sometimes violent — means to protect themselves when they couldn’t trust police to stop crime and violence.
“An important implication of this finding is that publicized cases of police violence not only threaten the legitimacy and reputation of law enforcement,” the researchers write, but “they also — by driving down 911 calls — thwart the suppression of law breaking, obstruct the application of justice, and ultimately make cities as a whole, and the black community in particular, less safe.”
The fiscal exploitation of black communities could have the same effect. When you’re pulled over as many as dozens of times for petty offenses, you’re going to be much less likely to trust the police are working to keep you safe — and much less likely to call on them when you need help. And that could ultimately make it much harder for police to do their jobs. |
Image copyright AFP
So, now we know. After much speculation and oblique references, Mark Carney has made it clear. The Bank of England has contingency plans whatever the outcome of the Scottish referendum.
This is what he said at the Inflation Report press conference this morning. The words are significant, and are his strongest on the issue of post-referendum planning.
"In terms of the financial stability questions - whatever happens in the vote, the Bank of England will continue to be the authority for financial stability for some period of time, certainly over the interim period."
In short, on the day after a referendum vote - if it's a yes to independence - nothing actually changes.
The Bank of England remains the lender of last resort to Scottish financial institutions and the guarantor of the currency during the period of negotiation over how Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom separate.
We don't get a vote in this and we don't want a vote Mark Carney, Bank of England Governor
"We will look to discharge our responsibilities accordingly," Mr Carney continued.
"Uncertainty over the currency arrangements could raise financial stability issues. We will - as you would expect us to have - contingency plans for various possibilities."
Currency uncertainty
At this stage, Mr Carney is not going to tell anyone what they are.
"It's never good to talk about contingency plans in public other than to assure that we have contingency plans."
Sources in the financial world have told me that the plans are likely to focus on two issues - currency uncertainty and what is known as "deposit flight".
I asked the Governor directly about both, and specifically fears raised in a recent report by UBS that in the event of a yes vote on independence, customers of financial institutions based north of the border may decide to move their money southwards.
Some leading executives in the financial world are so concerned they had been hoping for a message of reassurance from the Bank.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption 'Yes' campaigners said Mr Carney's comments were reassuring
Mr Carney suggested he was across the issue, which I have been told by senior banking figures is of concern to at least four major financial institutions which are based in Scotland.
"In terms of our responsibilities for financial stability - we have a wide range of tools," the Governor said in response to my question.
"We are not the only authority that has responsibility for financial stability - some of the powers that we have are held jointly with Her Majesty's Treasury - so we are not the sole decision maker in the process."
His views will be welcomed by campaigners for a "yes" vote who will play up the reassuring nature of the Governor's words.
And will spark a sigh of relief among those same Scottish-based major financial institutions I have been talking to which are fearful of customer reaction should there be a vote for independence.
There has been much debate - to put it mildly - on the currency relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the event of a yes vote.
Will Scotland still use sterling? And if they do, how? The three main political parties in London have said they are against a "currency union".
The Scottish Government has made it clear it still wants to use sterling.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The 'Better Together' campaign said Mr Carney's remarks confirmed he would implement whatever currency union he was asked to by politicians
Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling have, ahem, rather different views on the matter.
You can read about their fiery exchanges in last week's STV debate here.
Financial stability
Mr Carney made it clear, once again, that whatever the outcome, the Bank is ready.
"We don't get a vote in this and we don't want a vote," he said of the referendum.
"The Bank has operational independence in the conduct of monetary policy - others, that is elected officials make decisions about our remit, our mandate.
"They will make the decisions about the currency - whether or not there is a currency union between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the event of a yes vote in the referendum.
"We do take note of the decisions of the three main Westminster parties to rule out a currency union, I will reiterate that we will implement whatever we're asked to implement.
"We have responsibilities for financial stability in the United Kingdom, we will continue to discharge those responsibilities until they change. We will continue to discharge those responsibilities regardless of the outcome of the vote on the 18th September."
The UK government has always insisted that it is not contingency planning for a yes vote. The Bank, it seems, is. |
COLUMBUS, Ohio — State Rep. Sandra Williams, a Cleveland Democrat, was charged Thursday with illegally spending $2,255 in campaign funds in 2010 for two Ohio State football season tickets.
Williams, an eight-year House veteran who is running for state Senate, is accused of then selling the tickets and pocketing the money, according to charges filed in Franklin County Municipal Court.
The lawmaker's campaign listed the expenditure in a campaign finance report as a "ticket for campaign volunteers," according to the charges.
She faces one count of failing to file statements and one count of attempted election falsification. Both are first-degree misdemeanors.
If convicted, she could face up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Her arraignment is scheduled for Friday, according to court records.
Williams didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Thursday. In an interview Wednesday, the lawmaker said she wasn't yet sure how she intends to plead to the charges, but she admitted to making errors.
"We screwed up. And I'm truly sorry for it," she said. "We've corrected everything, and it will definitely never happen again."
Williams, 46, is running for state Senate after serving eight years in the Ohio House.
The charges come a day after a second Ohio House Democrat, Rep. Dale Mallory of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to charges that he wrongfully accepted NFL tickets from lobbyists.
In addition, a Franklin County judge on Thursday ordered the early release of former Rep. W. Carlton Weddington, a Columbus Democrat serving a three-year prison sentence for bribery and election falsification.
Here are the two charges against Williams:
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated, in error, that first-degree misdemeanors are punishable with prison time. Under Ohio law, people guilty of such a crime may receive time in a local jail, not a state prison. |
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